Be in the Know

I Believe #10 – The Education System Stymies Creativity

2012-02-21T05:29:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Richard Norris

I believe the education system stymies creativity. I just watched Sir Ken Robinson's 2006 presentation to TED in which he said education kills creativity in kids. I wholly agree. He put it far more eloquently than I could.

In all my education, including 11 years of university and various degrees, I came to the realization that current education only knows how to educate children toward employment. That seems to be its focus. That's what I remember my career counselor saying in high school and at university.

But as we know today, that system is failing to service our future needs. Why? Think about it. The information curve is accelerating at a rapid rate. What is being taught is generally outdated. I recall speaking at St. Andrews University a couple of years ago and informing the students about this as I threw textbooks into the garbage bin. The looks of shock and dawning realization said it all. Education, by its nature, puts us in a box and then expects us to think our way out of it. Education wants everyone to conform to a set standard. But we have all seen the standard distribution curve. No two people are alike. How can we compare apples with oranges?

Some stats I have seen purport that by 2050, 50% of the population will be self-employed in the US alone. Jobs? Jobs will become extinct. Now and into the future is about fulfilling our purpose—our divine design, our DNA hard-wiring. I thought I was meant to be a veterinarian. I was one for 12 years. I was pretty good at it, but something was missing. Over the past 10 unfettered years, I have been realizing on my journey of self-leadership who I truly am, what my gifts are, and what my purpose is. Now I am a messenger to help others just like me find, in the words from the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance, "their true authentic swing." This transforms lives.

Pre-school kids are the most creative beings on the planet. I know, I have one—my son. He is three. My five-year-old daughter just "graduated" into primary school. As my daughter has entered the school system, I have already noticed that her creativity is being stymied. Considering the hierarchy of curriculum, she is a pawn in a system that is teaching people to conform and "think with a limp." If you limp, you don't run very well. And things are speeding up. If you limp, you fall behind.

We need to create a system that teaches and encourages our children to "think at a run." As Sir Ken said, “Kids are not frightened to be wrong.” Our role is to help them with their FAILURE—Focused And Insightful Learning Using Real Experience. Failure does happen and needs to be embraced because of the lessons shared and the whole made wealthier for the knowledge and experience.

Considering the various forms of crisis around the world today, our situation requires a new creative leader. One who thinks like a child. It is my belief that kids have the answers. We need to ask them. Then, we need to listen. We are to encourage and equip children as best we can so they can push the boundaries of creativity. When a child comes up with a creative idea, the rallying cry must become, “Why not?!”

We are created to be creative. I don't know about you, but I am finding my creativity by drawing and playing with my kids. Now there is an idea worth spreading!

What do you believe?

I Believe #9 – A Healthy Body Is a Healthy Mind

2012-02-07T05:43:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Richard Norris

I believe a healthy body is a healthy mind. This one is a legacy from my dad—a pearl from my pop. I miss him so much. I can still hear his voice from years ago when he started to emphasize this message time and again to me and my older brother, Andrew.

My dad competed in the pentathlon and was a boxer while in the British Army. Out of the army, he found rugby. He played that into his 60s!! Along the way, we shared many hours (precious time is his busy life) going for a run down the track, going for a swim, playing squash, or latterly, (when I got too fast or beat him) playing golf.

My dad made sure that sports were an important part of our lives—an integral part of our self-leadership. From as far back as I can remember his adage always seemed to be a central part of our lives. Dad linked healthy bodies with a clear and effective mind. He was living proof. He walked the talk.

Both my brother and I got involved in competitive swimming. My brother was the better swimmer and enjoyed it more than me, at least in the beginning. I had asthma like my dad. He never let that stop him, and he did not want it to stop me. He had heard from doctors, in those days of the early 70s, that swimming was good for people with asthma. He joined Masters swimming. He sat me down one day and asked if I wanted to swim. I said, "No." That did not stop Dad. He made a deal with me. If I swam for a year on a local team and did not want to do it anymore, I could say so and that would be that. Well, a year passed, and when he asked me I said, “No” again. This time my Dad leveled his rightful authority as a parent because he knew better than I did. I became a competitive swimmer for 23 years! At times I was training 4 1/2 hours per day and more than 69,000 meters per week. Along the way, my brother and I had time to play ice hockey in the winter, soccer in the summer, and the other sports along the way. I was addicted!!!

In addition to these sports, I got into triathlons, aerobics, and generally, anything that allowed me to sweat and keep myself in shape. Indeed, it has always helped me to keep my mind clear and alleviate the strain of other adverse factors in my life.

But please note, my father asserted that if our grades ever slipped our sports would stop. Education was very important to him, considering he had nothing more than a 10^th grade education. I bought into this because I so admired my dad. Both my brother and I became high school scholars, and I got admitted into veterinary college. My education has not stopped. I am always keen to grow my mind.

We always ate well. We never overindulged. Any indulgences were sweated out of our bodies. I never did like alcohol so that has not been a part of my life. Today, I am predominantly a vegetarian, with the occasional foray into fish. I must confess my one indulgence is chocolate. However, right now I am on a 40-day fast from those things, which I have allowed to have some control over me. Call it self-awareness—an important attribute in self-leadership. So chocolate, bread, biscuits, and a few other less healthy eating options are on hold. Hey, I am human.

My father made a pact with my brother and me when we were young. He did not like smoking and believed it was an unrealized threat to our health. So, he sat us both down and encouraged us to not smoke until we were 21. If we did that, he would give each of us $1,000. Once again my dad proved to be smarter than the average bear. Both my brother and I achieved that objective and along the way, entrenched in our lives habit patterns that became a shield to unhealthy life choices. Those habit patterns stick with us today. We both enjoy our regular endorphin fix. We both make time to keep fit. Me? I am back into triathlons and really enjoying it!

We both have families. And you know what I find myself already saying to my two toddlers, Dreanna and Jensen? A healthy body is a healthy mind. And they already get it!

I Believe #8 – Your Business Will Grow When You Do

2012-01-31T05:43:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Richard Norris

I believe your business will only grow when you do. Here is a blog specifically for business owners and organization leaders (all the other blogs are too by the way, but this one is definitely!). Indeed, you can consider this one when thinking of yourself, your organization, and your people.

The term grow here can be applied to three lines in your organization—top, bottom, and third. Third line? The third line, to me, applies to your people—their growth—not just in numbers but also in skills, knowledge, and experience.

From my experience of coaching and speaking with leaders of organizations, especially those right at the top, one question I ask them is:

"As the leader of your organization, you are to help your people grow, right? If that is the case who leads you to help you grow?"

In many instances, this stops them in their tracks. This is particularly true in those organizations where the leader prefers to have followers and does not develop future leaders (usually because they feel threatened by the up-and-coming). Often, it is an ego thing. In such organizations, their turnover is usually quite high because people are not allowed to flourish and grow. When that happens people leave. After all, people ideally desire, at some level, to reach their full potential. An organization where the people are not given the opportunity to grow along these lines will often plateau in performance on all three lines, or at best, their performance curve will slow down.

Grow yourself. This is key to your self-leadership; it is key to your leadership; it is key to the future success of your business. Grow your people—or else! Do that and you will grow your organization.

I Believe #7 – You Are Either Growing or You Are Dying

2012-01-24T05:42:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Richard Norris

I believe that you are either growing or you are dying. Hey, I am not the first person to state this. I am not even sure who said it first. But I do know that I absolutely believe this to be true. I have been growing my entire life. While our bodies may stop growing physically to our genetic potential in our late teens or early twenties, our own triumvirate of body-mind-spirit has an infinite capacity to grow.

When I say grow, I mean to continue to explore our limits, to push them and break through them through knowledge, experience, training, meditation, prayer, etc. In essence this is about growing and living each day to maximize your life and your potential.

This truth was a revelation to me as I was transitioning from my chosen career of veterinary medicine into the one I felt led into—leadership and personal development. To make a long story short, I have invested over £200K in my own growth over the years, and that's just on my mind.

On the body side, I am still pushing the limits. That journey started when at the age of 9, I entered competitive swimming. I did that for 23 years, and it has left a legacy that still sees me pushing my limits in the gym, on the road, and in the pool. And I am not finished. I have some big goals on this side of things.

My spirit growth really began when I was 15. I came home from the school one day and asked if we had a Bible. Since then the Bible and the Lord have been an important part of my life. Even now, I am going through a 40-day fast to grow my spirit. This is a time of self-discipline and focus with a view to taking my spiritual life, mind, and body (these 3 aspects are interdependent) to a whole new level.

“Growing” means you are adding value. "Dying" means you are not growing or you are actually subtracting value. If you are not stretching and applying yourself to learn, improve, and grow in one or all of these three disciplines, then you adding very little value and are, in fact, dying. Your life is depleting.

So, are you growing or dying?

Self-leaders grow. Self-leaders are successful. Self-defeaters die. Self-leaders fail more often than they succeed, or they just quit.

I Believe #6 – Fulfill Your Life When You Fulfill Your Purpose

2012-01-17T05:41:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Richard Norris

I believe you can only truly fulfill your life when you fulfill your purpose. Occasionally, I come across people who bemoan that their lives lack meaning. It happens less and less because I do not move in those circles anymore. I used to. It was certainly not helping me in my search for meaning.

Part of the grumble with such people is that their lives are missing something. They cannot put their finger on it. They claim their lives are unfulfilled. Part of the challenge is that they are, perhaps, not asking the right questions or actually seeking an answer. Sound familiar? I can relate. Perhaps you can too?

When my quest to discover, discern, and live my purpose came to fruition a few years ago, a continuous stream of revelations have arisen. Most of the time, I do not know when they will come, but come they do. One such moment of clarity arose when I noticed my own grumbling, or rather, when God stuck a mirror in front of me and asked me what I saw. A self-portrait can be so revealing. What I saw made me uncomfortable; however, I pressed in for the message behind the mirror. The message that came back from God was that my life will only truly be fulfilling when I live and fulfill my purpose.

Only when you know and live your purpose will that deep inner sense of fulfillment arise, pervade your being, and become a beacon for the direction of the rest of your life.

My purpose is transformation. What does that mean? Whatever I am doing in whatever role in my life, for it to be fulfilling, the essence of helping bring transformation to people's, teams', and organizations' lives must be at the core. This is particularly true when I am presented with opportunities and decisions. If that opportunity or decision moves me along in my purpose, it gets a green light; if it does not, I say, "No."

Discover your purpose. Live your purpose. Fulfill your purpose. Fulfill your life. Do that and it will make your journey of success far more enjoyable.

I Believe #5 – I Believe You Must Be True to Your Values

2012-01-10T05:40:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Richard Norris

I believe you must be true to your values. I don't know about you, but there is much talk about values, but only a few, it seems, who know their values and live them.

So, what are your values? Your family’s values? Your team’s values? Your organization’s values?

Today, values get a lot of talk. That's right—talk. Or let's put it another way—lip service. This is particularly true in the business world. It seems that the larger the company or organization, the more likely it is that values are diluted and do not really mean anything. They are posted on the website, the marketing materials, and on the wall in the lobby. Why? Because it is expected by everyone who the organization thinks matters.

Sure there are people, teams, and organizations who live their values, but sadly, that is the minority. The majority don't. They may have them, but they either don't understand them, or they ignore them. Just think of some of the major banks. Need I say more? Their original intention to discover and assert those values was honorable, but somehow their true meaning and value has been lost.

I heard an interesting description of what a value is recently, and it certainly clarified my thinking. A value is something you are prepared to fight to uphold; something for which you are prepared to die. So, what are you prepared to fight for or even die for?

We just experienced Remembrance Day on November 11. The men and women remembered, lest we forget, died to uphold the values of peace and freedom (at least).

I have been involved with organizations who have a list of values as long as your arm—too many to remember, too many to comply with, and too many to really make an impact and attract the right people and/or business. While I bought into the values, I realized that they were just lip service, especially when I noted the leadership seemed to put them on and take them off as they saw fit. No walking the talk there!

So I ask again. What are your values? Know them. Be true to them. Live them. You will stand out in the crowd because you will stand up for them!

I Believe #4 – I Believe in You

2012-01-03T05:39:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Richard Norris

I believe in you! Some people lack encouragement. Some people lack encouragers. Most people at some time in their lives need encouragement, and for some of you reading this, that time is now. Let it be known that, even if there is no one else in your corner rooting for you, I am!

Some people need someone else to believe in them so that they can then believe in themselves. Start believing! I believe in you!

Some people have lived in a famine of self-belief and encouragement—at work, rest, and play. The famine stops today. I believe in you!

For some, it started before you were born. But remember, everyone is born a winner! That includes you. So begin to live like one.

For some, it started shortly after you were born, and you were told you were a mistake or too much trouble. Your family and those around you cursed you. They uttered words of death of you. They told you that you were good for nothing. That saga continued in the classroom. It continued in the locker room. For some of you, it has continued into your career.

Know that from today, at least, that I believe in you!

Now you can either play the victim and let their opinions and judgments determine the course of your life, OR you can take control and realize you have a choice. You can accept what they have been telling you, or you can reject it. Assume your mantle of self-leadership and believe in yourself! What other people think of you is none of your business—unless you want it to be. I am making it my business to get you on track and keep you on your journey of success. You matter! You matter to me! You have what it takes to live the life you deserve and desire. Go for it! I am rooting for you! WAHOO! Be Awesome! I believe in you!

I Believe #3 – Everyone Is Born a Leader

2011-12-27T05:26:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Richard Norris

I believe everyone is born a leader! This is very similar to the previous blog with the distinction that it is about being a leader rather than a winner.

Some people declare that there are natural-born leaders. That theory certainly applies in the animal kingdom—although they often have to fight for it!

There is, of course, the other camp, who assert that leaders are made. I am sure we can all come up with an example that supports this argument, from an entrepreneur with a bright idea to the executive ladder climber. As I went to Officer Training in the Army, I saw this theory in action. If an Officer Cadet was not a leader going in, they were given extensive training (the good, the bad, and the ugly) to make them a leader. I am of the former declaration. I hear you asking once again, “Why?” Once again, the answer is simple. It took me a few years to figure this out for myself. When I did, my life turned around.

It is because you and I are born to lead ourselves. That is a minimum.

We may never climb the corporate or success ladder; however, we are 100% responsible for leading ourselves. You and I are where we are today because of where we have led ourselves.

You can choose to be a victim and allow the world to dictate your life or make excuses about why you aren't where you believe you should be. That means you have surrendered leadership of yourself to someone or something else. Then, you are not in control of yourself. You are not leading yourself.

Or, you can integrate the knowledge that you are the leader of yourself, first and foremost, and make the choice to assume this as your primary mantle of leadership.

Please note that such leadership is also contextual and role-specific. At times in my career, I have been low on the totem pole and followed directions from the leader directing my efforts. Sure, I might be working for someone, but when I come home, I am a dad and a husband. I have a family to lead.

Regardless, we are all born to lead ourselves. Now, choose to lead!

I Believe #2 – Self-Leadership

2011-12-20T05:25:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Richard Norris

Okay, this is the second in the series of many. I will be playing around with the format until I find what works best and feels right. Until then, please be patient. Besides, it's the message, not the package that is important.

Here goes I believe #2. I believe you cannot be a great leader unless you can lead yourself well first. Paraphrasing, this is about self-leadership. Self-leadership must come first before you can lead others. This one manifested in neon in my thoughts as I was praying and fasting, seeking direction and focus for my own journey of success.

Leadership is a constantly leaking bucket in any team or organization, no matter how big or small. If you have ever read the DDI World Leadership Forecast 2008/2009, it stated that 75% of the more than 17,000 C-level executives surveyed across 72 countries said the #1 need in their organization was leadership development. Leadership will always come and go so long as the human race remains mortal. We live. We lead. We die. We need to be replaced—a leaking bucket.

Think. Of all the leaders you know of in life, who stands out as the best of the best? The list is likely short. And it won't necessarily include the big names in lights. Most of them (and I will let you fill in the names) were or are great leaders in one aspect of their life, more often the professional one. Often, these are one-dimensional leaders.

However, great leaders are multi-dimensional; that is, their leadership crosses all areas and roles of their lives. Great leaders discover and learn about themselves first. Doing that means they have to lead themselves first—personally before professionally. Many are unsung dads, mums, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, single parents, etc., and one hallmark is that they put others first where family is concerned. Family takes priority. But that is, perhaps, for a future I believe. So, what do you believe?

Leadership Lessons from Jensen: #1 – Keep Swinging

2011-12-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

Dr. Richard Norris

I’d like to start the first of a series of blogs based on lessons in life, business, and leadership I am learning from my toddler son, Jensen.

I suppose a good place to start is to provide some context. My wife, Nancy, and I are Canadian. We live in Scotland. Our two children, Dreanna (nearly 5) and Jensen (nearly 3) are Scottish—at least they sound Scottish. Nancy and I are intent on them understanding their Canadian heritage. This is where we shall begin.

Enter ice hockey. Every Canadian child grows up with hockey. More often than not, as ice hockey is considered the national sport of Canada, boys are seemingly born with a hockey stick in their hand—not Jensen, so that had to be rectified!

Last fall the family traveled back home to visit Nancy’s family in Ottawa. As a surprise to Nancy, we managed to get some pre-season tickets to watch the Ottawa Senators play the Montreal Canadians. Pre-game, I went to the Senator’s store and felt pulled in the direction of the souvenir hockey sticks. Shortly, I was armed with two sticks (pink for Dreanna and white for Jensen) and a rubber puck—all toddler sized.

Needless to say, Jensen seemed to understand, generally, what it was for—hitting things! Good thing I bought the puck.

Fast forward to a couple of Saturdays ago. On Saturdays, I am the CEO of Daddy Daycare. Nancy works Saturdays. Breakfast had just finished, and I was busy clearing and cleaning up. Suddenly I sensed a “wee” person (as we say in Scotland) leaning into my leg as I worked at the kitchen sink. “Daddy, come and play with me,” Jensen said.

For those of you with toddlers, you will understand this is less of a question and more a directive. Jensen held the two hockey sticks jumbled together in his arms and a large rubber ball. Jensen had decided that it was time that he and Daddy play hockey in the living room.

Now before you gasp in alarm, I was smart enough to clear the fragile items—good thing. Here’s why. What Jensen lacks in coordination, he makes up with enthusiasm and determination! As we began, Jensen handed me the pink stick (slightly bigger), told me where to stand, and then said, “Hit it to me, Daddy.”

Now, all my childhood years of hockey came flooding back, and although firing from on my knees due to the stunted length of the stick, I managed to accurately hit (rather tap) the ball gently and directly to Jensen. This is where it got interesting.

Despite having shown Jensen how to properly hold the stick, he quickly reverted to his original cross-handed grip. It felt alight to him; he had no real experience of the nuances of the game. Then with a look of absolute concentration, he swung. The result: Jensen hit the floor behind the ball by about 4 inches and totally missed the ball. Did that stop him? No! He kept swinging, with the same intent look on his face.

Side note: Please remember back to anytime you have attempted something brand new that appears exciting and perhaps, easy. You can possibly relate.

Anyway, after about 3-4 attempts, Jensen connected a magnificent glancing blow that sent the ball off limply in a direction that appeared to have no destination and little force behind it.

That did not matter. To Jensen, it was a moment of triumph. Being a supportive and encouraging father, I applauded his success, praising his shooting prowess—next stop Winter Olympics 2034!

Despite Jensen’s lack of hand-eye coordination, he never lost sight of his outcome—hit the ball. Over the next half hour, Jensen never stopped swinging. At times, pieces of furniture and Dreanna became dangerously close to being hacked within an inch of their lives; however, the ball traversed with different levels of momentum around the living room to the sounds of various grunts, groans, and giggles from my star hockey player.

Lessons:

Here is what Jensen taught/reminded me regarding leadership and my own life and business:

1. Approach things with the attitude that it is better to have swung and missed than to have never swung at all.

2. Keep swinging. Eventually, you’ll make contact. After all, sometimes it is better (and more fun) to “ready…fire…aim” than “ready…aim…fire.”

3. Support and praise others when they approximate getting it right. It will encourage them to greater efforts and bring them closer to success.

Dr. Richard Norris is Europe’s foremost speaker, author, and leadership coach on transformational self-leadership. To contact him please email rnorris@ypncompanies.com or visit his website www.drrichardnorris.com.

Leadership Starts from Within

2011-12-06T05:55:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Richard Norris

The global recession, directly or indirectly, will impact leadership—yours, your market, your competition, your region, and yes, your nation. Why? Because leadership is ubiquitous. It is all around us. It is of primary importance. Yet, it is seemingly underserved, undervalued, and under resourced. Need some proof?

According to Development Dimensions International‘s Global Leadership Forecast 2008/2009¹ from research of 1,493 HR professionals and 12,208 business leaders across 76 countries, they found:

75% of business leaders identified that improving or leveraging leadership talent was their number one priority.
Only 41% of business leaders are satisfied with the help they get to develop leadership capabilities.
One of the core needs within organizations is to create a sustainable supply of quality leaders.
The primary skill shortfall among organizations is in leadership and interpersonal skills.

Leadership is a leaking bucket. All organizations—large and small, from the family, to the local sports team, to the government, or to the boardroom of a leading global company—will at some time need to replace leaders. This arises from necessity and/or natural attrition. From the information above, there is clearly a pervasive problem, or in a more positive tone, there is an opportunity—an opportunity to address this chronic shortcoming. How? Start with yourself. Leadership starts from within.

Insights

Definition

To begin to explore this important distinction, let’s start by looking at the definition of leadership. According to the Oxford Dictionary, leadership is the action of leading a group of people or an organization, or the ability to do this². To lead is to cause (a person or animal) to go with one by holding them by the hand, a halter, a rope, etc., while moving forward³.

Leadership, therefore, requires influence, direction, and action. However, for leadership to manifest so that others follow, it stands to reason that the leader, whoever that may be, must first influence himself, give self-direction, and act on that direction.

Chronic Question

There exists a perennial question about leadership: “Are leaders born or made?” Why does it need to be one or the other? Do you see many babies leading Fortune 500s, governments, or local sports teams? Regardless of your opinion or perceptions, one thing is for sure: Leadership is something into which you grow. Importantly, we are all born to lead ourselves at least!

In nature, there must be reasonably synchronous growth regardless of the ecosystem. Teenagers may experience growing pains when their bones are growing at a faster rate than their muscles. Our DNA is programmed so that eventually growth levels out and all systems are aligned and developed to their full design specification.

An individual promoted to a new role in an organization can experience a skill, attitude, and/or ability gap compared to the new demands. To address the gap or deficit, the same individual must seek within himself first and begin the process of change there.

Admittedly, in organizations, it is possible to experience growing pains too—sales and demand exceed the ability to supply and/or service the customer. Leadership must, therefore, develop within the organization to address the imbalance and ensure that harmony is restored.

What Does Google Have to Say?

As Google is the number one search engine, it gives an impartial and objective perspective on leadership. If you type in leadership, it yields 118 million results—sites, references, etc. According to Google Adwords, searches on the word leadership receive more than 4 million hits globally per month. Both of these facts suggest that leadership is a topic of significant interest and that there is a huge diversity of data, opinions, perceptions, models, styles, concepts, and experts. The monthly searches also suggest there is a perpetual quest for answers, solutions, and information on leadership.

Interestingly, when the global search is narrowed, there are only:

4,400 hits per month for “successful leadership”
33,100 hits per months for “effective leadership”
18,100 hits per month for “self-leadership”

It is interesting that in the face of all the need out there for leadership, the refined search on successful and effective leadership globally produces significantly fewer hits. Why is that? Is there a global delusion that we just need to know more about leadership or just understand it better rather than define what it takes to make a good leader or to establish a legacy of outstanding leadership?

People – Your Most Important Asset

The mantra that people are your most important asset is spoken around the world. Too bad the mantra is wrong.

People are not your most important asset—the right people are. And that is especially true for the right leaders. The right leaders will attract, inspire, develop, and retain the right people. The right leaders will be intent on growing other leaders. The right leaders will start by growing themselves from the inside out. They know that to be a great leader they have to establish their own strong foundation of principles, values, and attitudes.

A skills-based approach to leadership, however, takes an outside-in approach. That is where many individuals, teams, and organizations get it wrong and contribute significantly to the statistics of the Global Leadership Forecast 2008/2009. A skills approach to leadership assumes that a good foundation has been laid, upon which to lay the skills. To outright ignore examining and establishing the right foundation is a huge risk. Regrettably, whether assumptions have been made or the matter outright ignored, this often equates, effectively, to throwing skills on Teflon. The result is that the skills will not stick.

When applying the skills-based approach, consider this formula for success, applied here to leadership:

Be x do = have
Have = good right leadership
Do = skills
Be = ?

Without addressing the “be” it is no surprise that leadership is chronically found wanting. You get the people you deserve. It’s your decision. For you to attract and lead better people, you need to become the leader those people need and desire. That means you must invest in yourself first.

Where to Start

The majority of leaders should know and understand that people are the core building blocks of their team or organization. But to be an effective leader, you need to know the core building blocks of your people—their respective roles.

Many organizations just look at their people in their professional capacity. While they may invest in their development and endeavor to lead them, they often miss the mark. To ensure that your leadership fits and attracts the right people who are doing the right things to generate the right results, you need to ensure that you take into account all the roles each person comes to work with—inside and outside the team or organization. This means you must address their personal roles outside of work e.g. parent, spouse, charity volunteer, team captain of the local hockey team, and coach of daughter’s swim team (5 roles).

All of a person’s roles show up at work. A leader is no different. They have just as many, if not more, roles. The right leader will be addressing their growth and development in each role according to priorities and available resources (time, money, etc.).

Self-leadership begins by identifying core roles, prioritizing them, planning their development, and then acting on the plan. To do all that, it must begin from within.

Relationships

Interestingly, a leader will attract people and circumstances from which to learn and grow into their lives. Life is, after all, a mirror. The quality of your leadership is determined by the quality of your relationships.

There are two often quoted adages: Love your neighbor as yourself and do unto others as you would have them do unto you. These both stress the importance of meaningful relationships and emphasize that all relationships start with you.

So leadership starts with your relationship with yourself. To improve your relationships with others so that you can become a better leader, you need to improve your relationship with yourself first. Regrettably, this revelation is often overlooked or not given the attention it is due.

A Critical Ingredient

Any relationship starts with you. Leadership starts with you. Effective self-leadership (and any leadership for that matter) is dependent upon the ability to communicate well, internally and externally. There is plenty of focus on external communication. For example, throughout the school systems around the world, there is an emphasis regarding training around the messages from our mouth and from our pen or keyboard. However, what has been sadly overlooked is the greater importance of our internal communication.

All communication starts as a thought before it is translated into words and messages. How many of us have allowed ourselves to speak first and think later? What was the result? In many instances, it likely created some unwelcome ripples in your life and in your leadership.

We all have an internal voice—actually we have two—our internal ally or our internal adversary. Our ally is working for us. Our adversary is working against us. As a leader, which voice is louder more often or which one do you listen to more often? When the adversary prevails, it is often because we are reacting to a situation or challenge. Self-leadership knows to proactively and consciously control the voice to which it listens.

With self-leadership, our internal (and external) communication must be open, honest, clear, timely and, at times, radical. Integrity then flows from this. When our thoughts line up with our words, our actions will follow in alignment. We are congruent. We walk the talk. When we do that, people do what they see. Your self-leadership then flows into leadership.

Parting Questions

To help initiate your self-leadership, here are some extremely helpful questions for you to consider:

What is the detailed profile of the ideal leader for you, your team, or your organization?
What are the foundations for self-leadership?
On a scale of 1-10 (1 being poor and 10 being excellent), how do you score on self-leadership?
In the event you did not score a 10 for #3, what do you need to be and do to improve your score to an 8+?
How do you encourage and develop self-leadership individually and as team or organization?
Where applicable, how will you integrate self-leadership into your existing leadership development?

Summary:

There is a global need for leadership—always will be. The important distinction is the need for great leadership. Great leaders lead themselves well first. But before they become great, they know they have to grow into it. To do that means they must invest in themselves first and begin that by developing themselves from the inside out, role by role. Ultimately, the quality of your leadership is determined by the quality of your relationships, which are determined by the quality of your internal or self-communication.

Leadership brings change. Change is inevitable; growth is optional. To grow as a leader, whether as an individual, team, or organization, you must change. That change must begin with you. Leadership starts from within.

References:

¹http://www.ddiworld.com/thoughtleadership/globalleadershipforecast2008.asp

²http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0461480#m_en_gb0461480

³http://oxforddictionaries.com/search?searchType=dictionary&isWritersAndEditors=true&searchUri=All&q=lead&contentVersion=WORLD

Military Community Takes on Unique Role in Direct Selling

2011-11-29T05:52:00.000-08:00

As the effects of the economic downturn continue to impact the U.S. job market, direct selling companies can look to one demographic in particular to provide the industry with a unique, far-reaching network of potential recruits and customers, an invaluable determination to succeed and a propensity to establish teams across many regions simultaneously: the military community.

According to a report issued earlier this year by the Military Community and Family Policy office at the Pentagon, the unemployment rate for military spouses stands at 26 percent, despite the fact that 80 to 85 percent of military spouses are actively seeking employment. Additionally, the DSA-commissioned report,“U.S. Consumer Trends Impacting the Direct Selling Industry,” issued earlier this year by GfK Roper Consulting, predicts that over the next decade a decline in traditional employment and an increase in access to entrepreneurial education will lead to a rise in small businesses and expanded participation in direct selling—a trend military spouses are uniquely positioned to take advantage of.

Among those within the military community who have struggled to find full- or part-time jobs, many military spouses, in particular, have launched direct selling businesses as a means of earning an income on a flexible basis, even when their military connection requires them to move across the country on short notice.

“We find that members of the military community are very motivated to make this work for themselves because often times their opportunities are somewhat limited. They find it is difficult for them to get a full-time job because employers become concerned about them leaving to re-locate,” said Cari Christopher, President of Signature HomeStyles, a home décor and accessory company. “Members of military communities turn to direct selling eager to make this work for themselves, and they bring with them a very strong network within the military community—especially those that live on a military base.”

Not only do military spouses rely on direct selling as a means of financial independence while their husband or wife is deployed, but also those men and women who represent the military community on the home front become part of a camaraderie of thousands of individuals across the country who empathize with their experiences.

“The unique element to military communities is that members of these communities have already connected with each other even before they meet,” said Courtney Hauser, Communications Specialist for Silpada Designs, which specializes in jewelry and accessories. “They understand the lifestyle, they understand the situation—it’s kind of engrained in their DNA to want to extend a welcoming hand to new people and create communities. For someone with that type of mentality and way of life, direct selling is just such a great choice for them because they can create a huge network of relationships that are life-long, even across the miles. It’s such an ideal career and life choice for someone that is a part of the military community.”

For Dian Oatman—an independent representative for Silpada and the wife of a Green Beret who has served in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Africa, South America and South Asia—direct selling presented a viable career option after she and her family first moved to Colorado as a result of her husband’s military assignment.

“I did my research into other businesses and determined that this was for me because it offered me so many benefits and the flexibility of time, and that’s when I signed on with Silpada,” Oatman said. “I love what I do and I make sure everybody knows that! I invested $2,000 in Silpada products when I first started and I was able to make back my investment in less than three months.”

Oatman, who had a background in business in Trinidad and Tobago before she met her husband and moved to the U.S., realized soon after the launch of her direct selling career that this path would provide her with countless intangible benefits.

“For military wives whose husbands are deployed consistently—sometimes back-to-back, 18 months at a time—they really believe in creating new friendships,” Oatman said. “Joining Silpada was exciting for me, and every time I would go to meetings or events or parties, it became an opportunity for me to share where I came from and share my background. It’s about the adult companionship we crave when our husbands are deployed, and our direct selling businesses fill that void while allowing us to contribute to our households as well.”

While for those outside the military community, the concept of “picking up” one’s business and moving across the country on a moment’s notice may seem a daunting task, for direct selling companies that recruit large numbers of military spouses and families, these re-locations provide a unique benefit in terms of field expansion and brand promotion.

“Because of my husband’s military career, I have moved my business five times in the 11 years I’ve been a consultant, and each time my business continued to grow in the areas I left as well as the areas I moved to,” said Tess Patino, a director with photo and scrapbooking product company Creative Memories and wife of a lieutenant colonel and interventional cardiologist for the Air Force. “I quickly learned that moving was an advantage. Rather than having a direct selling team in a particular region, my team is all over the country. Being my own boss has allowed me to work around the demands of being in a military family, and it’s helped me build a community very quickly with the women I need for my business. I would have never built a business that was in 17 states had it not been for my connection to the military.”

Although many individuals first launch their direct selling businesses when their spouses become actively involved in the military, countless independent representatives find that they continue their businesses even after their husband or wife returns from active duty.

“My husband retired 20 years ago and I still have connections with the military, and we still live within the military community,” said Meg Duarte, who first started in direct selling in the 1970s and today works as an independent representative for Clever Containers, an organizational product company. “It’s hard to describe the military mindset, but it’s such a close-knit community. I’ve moved 23 times, but I’ve found that if you want your business to work, it certainly can—you just have to be willing to put in the work.”

Reprinted with permission. This article was written by the Direct Selling Association, of which Simplexity Health is a member. Learn more about DSA at www.directselling411.com.

Gratitude: The Key to Your Continued Growth and Success

2011-11-22T05:32:00.000-08:00

During the holiday season, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of organizing, preparing, and following through with all of the plans that you have made. With this, it’s easy to forget to take a moment and remember why this season is important to your overall health and well-being. This is the end of a year and the preparation for the start of another. It’s important to remember all that you have gone through and accomplished so you can know how to grow and succeed in the coming year.

Everyone has heard that it’s the season for an attitude of gratitude, but we often forget exactly why we need to take the time to appreciate this attitude, and why it’s so important for our growth. After going through a difficult and stressful time, isn’t it important to take a deep breath and let yourself recuperate afterwards? Then why wouldn’t this be true of going through an entire year? Take a moment to see everything that you have accomplished and give yourself the gift of an attitude of gratitude to benefit yourself and others.

Celebrate the success that you have achieved by following through with the 365 days of 2011. Sometimes we get so accustomed to getting to the end, that we breeze past the successes and move to the next goal. Take a moment to reward yourself and celebrate your year. Don’t take the time to think of poor results you may have gotten this year. Instead, go over all that you have done to grow yourself and your business. The fact that you are taking the initiative to read this is in itself a show of your drive!

Here are some little ways that you can celebrate the end of 2011…

Thank your business partners and those in your upline. Go through a list of those who have given you support in your endeavors and taken the time to let you know that you are important to them.

Thank your mentor for his or her tough advice and straightforward guidance. He or she gives you time and interest when there is little to spare. If that person has given you some honest feedback that no one else was willing to tell you, it may have been tough to hear, but they cared enough to tell you the truth so you could do something about it.
Tell them 2 ways they have mentored or supported you and the difference it made in what you do and how you treat others.
Let them know how much their loyalty means to you and how much value they add to the business.

Which of your associates have shown ambition to achieve their own goals in this business? The benefit of network marketing is that when an associate strives to achieve a goal, it means that you benefit as well! Be sure to give them proper support and appreciation for their continued efforts.

Thank your best customers for their business. Sometimes we take our loyal customers for granted and spend more time chasing new business than adding value to the business we have. Tell your favorite customers why you enjoy working with them.
Take the time to call 3 additional customers to just say hello and to tell them how much you appreciate them.

Give thanks to the community by giving back. Adopt a highway and take the afternoon off to pick up trash, give to the needy during the holidays, hold a food drive, or do something else that provides you an opportunity to involve yourself in giving back to the community.
Let those closest to you know how much they have helped you in the last year. Tell 5 friends or family members what they have done in the last year that you really value—what it was, what difference it made, and why you appreciate having them on your side.
Reflect on your greatest accomplishments of the year and set goals for what you want to achieve in 2012. Remember your feelings towards your 2011 accomplishments and let that be your guide for what you want in the upcoming year.

This is a time to realize how much you have been given, to recognize what you can do to give back, and to reflect on the beauty in your life. Take a deep breath and appreciate yourself, those close to you, and all that you have accomplished. Prepare yourself for another year to be at the top of your game in your life and business.

7 Essentials to Pack for Your Journey of Success

2011-11-15T06:30:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Richard Norris

Is your intention to be a success?

Ever wondered, if success is a journey, then have you taken a detour?

Are you frustrated, and/or do you believe you, your team, or even your organization still have untapped potential, and that perhaps, something vital is missing?

If you answered yes to one or all of these, then welcome to the club. Many people, teams, and organizations are intent on achieving peak performance, fulfilling their potential, and achieving “success.” Perhaps, like me, you have heard the expression, “Success is a journey, not a destination.” If that is true, then you need to know two things up front. First, what’s your definition of success and second, what to pack.

Your Definition of Success
According to Collins Dictionary, success is the achievement of something attempted; the attainment of wealth, fame, or position; a person or thing that is successful. Note, however, that these are general definitions. A key question to now ask is “What is your definition of success specifically?” Whether you apply this to yourself, your team, your department, or your organization, success will likely be defined differently. Why? Because the context will vary by role, experience, situation, market, sector, etc.

Now before you go off and compare yourself to others and how they are doing with respect to being a success (and don’t say you haven’t done this before), keep in mind that your experience, context, and definition will be unique to you. You cannot truly compare apples with oranges, can you?
I am sure you have also heard others or even yourself state, “When I am successful, I will…” Right? Well, take stock. Compared to most of the world, you are way ahead already. If success is a journey that everyone in the world is traveling, you are further along than most. Instead of looking ahead and comparing yourself to those ahead of you (when you do this you are running the risk of having a lose-win perspective), look back occasionally and take some encouragement from just how far you have already traveled in relation to the majority.
Everyone deserves to be a success by his or her own definition—a true win-win perspective. Everyone has that potential. Just make sure you get clear on what success means to you. What does it look like, think like, feel like, and behave like? With that clarity, you then have a personal standard with which to compare yourself.

Okay, now that you have defined success, you need to ask, “What do I need to pack?”

Your Packing List
Generally, it is said that we spend a lot of time, likely more time, planning a holiday than we do our own lives—our own success. It is sad but too often true.
Keeping a holiday in mind, depending on your journey, where you are going will determine exactly what you need to pack. However, there will be some items on your packing list that are essential along the way. For a holiday, that may well be passports, tickets, money, toiletries, directions, a change of underwear, etc.

Regardless of your journey of success, there are at least 7 essentials you will need to pack. They are key attributes which every successful person, team, or organization have. Have all 7 and the odds are stacked in your favor; you will know success. You will fulfill your definition.

Item #1
To ensure you stay on the right track for your success, you need a strong and clear vision. Without a clear vision, how do you know where you are headed? A clear vision will keep you on the right route.

Item #2
To ensure others will help you be a success, you need to be abounding in passion. Passion is contagious. You need to spread it so that others along the way will help you along your journey. Who are those others? Well, a solopreneur needs suppliers and clients. A team or organization needs everyone to work synergistically—employees and other stakeholders.

Item #3
To definitely help you maintain momentum on your success journey, you need commitment. That commitment must be absolute. “Try” is not an option. “Try” gives you an opt-out clause. Just do.

Item #4
To continue to grow and to progress your journey, you must be prepared to change and learn. Change is inevitable; growth is optional. For you to travel along your journey, you must embrace change. Then and only then will you grow to your potential and reach your destination as the success you are meant to be.

Item #5
To prevent a traffic jam, slow down, or detour on your journey, you must be decisive. Missed opportunities are often the result of indecision or procrastination. The more decisive you become, the better decisions you will make. You will be fine-tuning your intuition and decision-making.

Item #6
To know the success others enjoy, you must take action. Once a decision is made, act on it. Speed is often of the essence. It keeps you ahead on the journey, and keeping your vision in view, it keeps you moving in the right direction. To get to where you are going, you need to move. Just ask Usain Bolt.

Item #7
To keep going when things get tough or don’t go the way you planned, you need to have fun. When you are doing what you are passionate about, fun should be synonymous, even when things get tough. It keeps things in perspective. When we are having fun, solutions and answers come easier because we are operating from a place of positive energy. Like attracts like.

So, pack all seven. These will catalyze your success and further your journey. Regardless if you are an individual, team, or organization, if you do not have these and/or you do not have these items “packed” in strength, then you now know, at least, what’s missing.
In conclusion, consider this: Success is the journey of a lifetime—yours. So what’s your definition? Make the most of it. What are you going to pack? Pack right. Have fun. Enjoy the journey.

For more detail on these 7 items and how to build a simple, practical, and effective action plan for your success (and some added bonuses), check out my book Hoof it! 7 Lessons on Your Journey of Success or go to www.hoofitbook.com.

Legacy coach & author of Hoof It!, country founder of Scotland Leaders Cafe 2020, and director at Serendipity Global Ltd., Richard believes that leadership development begins with self-leadership for individuals, teams, and companies predominantly at the executive level. He works with them to enhance peak performance and create and free up time to impart a legacy of leadership and success.

Branding: What’s in a Name?

2011-11-08T05:54:00.000-08:00

by Yvonne Underwood, Director of Brand Marketing

We all know what brands of products we like such as Heinz ketchup, Coca Cola products, Bounty paper towels, Estee Lauder cosmetics, etc., but what do these brand names represent—what’s in a name? According to the American Marketing Association (AMA) definition, a brand is a "name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers.” More simply stated, a brand is an identity, an image of what people think and how they feel about a brand name or logo.

When you see the simpleXity, plaHARD, kor30X, and ez30X brand names on product packages and materials, what do you think of, and how do these names make you feel? Here’s what comes to mind when I think of the following brand names:

simpleXity: We are the original blue-green algae company in Klamath Falls, Oregon, that’s known worldwide for this remarkable algae from Upper Klamath Lake, has a premium quality line of natural and organic whole-food products, is well established, and has been in business for over 29 years. The company is the forerunner in blue-green algae science, technology, and product innovation. SimpleXity has established itself as a world-renowned life sciences organization that manufactures algae-based nutritional products specially formulated for both health-conscience consumers from all walks of life and with targeted nutrition for athletes and people with active lifestyles. I think of simpleXity as a thriving company that has withstood the test of time, has dedicated employees, and is taking both its marketing and business opportunities to new and higher levels of performance. It’s fun, simple, and cool!

Wow! This makes me feel proud of the company. It instills confidence that I’m getting the best quality products available and that I’m buying them from a reliable, trustworthy, and safe supplier whose products are backed by science, not just another “here today, gone tomorrow” superfood company that we see come and go all too often.

Branding is about getting customers and prospects to see the company, its products, and even its employees and representatives (IBAs) as a viable solution to their particular problem. In this case, it’s about good health—how to achieve it, how to keep it, and how to enhance certain aspects of it.

The brands within a brand, such as plaHARD, kor30X, and ez30X, were developed to appeal to specific consumers with specific goals by utilizing targeted product groupings from within the entire product line.

plaHARD: Work hard and play hard! The plaHARD line is geared toward the competitive athlete, the regimented workout crowd, the daily exerciser, and for those with very active lifestyles. These products are specially formulated with both physical and mental preventative and recovery nutritional properties. Their tag lines say it all: Juiced–next level performance, Reflex–think fast, Rebound–bounce back faster, and Twist–love your joints!

kor30X: This line features the core nutritional products presented in a 30-day-supply package. The products bearing this brand are clearly identified as being part of the backbone of the line or the most nutritionally supportive of all the algae products in one convenient grouping. The key foundational products—Alpha Sun^®, Omega Sun^®, SBG Zymes^®Plus, Spectrabiotic^®,and SuperQ₁₀—supply a well-rounded and vast nutritional profile that nourishes, energizes, and helps protect the body’s cells, organs, and tissues.

ez30X: We made an easy and convenient way to receive excellent daily nutrition with a 30-day supply. Besides being a great way to introduce beginners to the algae, this package is also ideal for people on the go. Simply grab a packet or a handful of Essentials^TM packets and BG Bars^® as you head out the door for the gym, office, or workplace or toss them in a weekend getaway bag or suitcase to keep a supply on hand. It’s easy to use and easy to carry. Don’t forget the small bottle of StemPlex^®—that’s good stuff!

What Does It All Mean?

Strong brands are essential and invaluable as the battle for customers in every industry across the globe intensifies from day to day. After all, brands are the source of delivering a message and promise to consumers. Every brand name and logo is a foundational element in all marketing communications and one that should never be left out. Think of a brand as a signature that authenticates a product.

Branding isn’t just about getting your target market to pick your products or to choose you over competitors, it’s about getting your prospects and existing customers to see your products and company as the only solution to their problem—in this case, getting good nutrition and improved health from simpleXity products.

Good and effective branding should achieve the following:

Confirm company and brand credibility (reputation)
Create an identity—corporate image
Be visually appealing
Deliver a clear message
Provide an emotional connection
Motivate the consumer to take action
Create consumer loyalty
Instill consumer confidence

When a company puts a brand name on its packaging, labels, business cards, stationary, website, brochures, t-shirts, water bottles, etc., its corporate image (identity) is on display for the whole world to see. Corporate image will be judged on what consumers and prospects see and how these people feel about (interpret) what they have seen. Both physical and mental images will become branded in their minds and hearts—a physical and emotional connection has been created. Just as cattle farmers brand their livestock, companies brand their products as solely belonging to them.

Branding is everywhere; we can’t escape it. Some of us don’t even understand why we are drawn to a particular brand. Many people say, “I’ve always bought this brand; that’s what my mother always bought!” Brand awareness can be created by consistent and repeat exposure to the brand (TV ads, magazines, articles, etc.) or by seeing someone you admire wearing Nike brand running shoes or an actress drinking a certain brand of soda. We tend to think that if a certain type of person is using a certain product, then it must be good! If Dan O’Brien won an Olympic gold medal while taking blue-green algae products, maybe they’ll make me run faster too! If people see me wearing these cool jeans, then they’ll think I’m cool too! If these jeans make her look good, I’ll look good too. Cool! It’s all about corporate image and how products make us feel. If you look good wearing a company shirt, you tend to feel good too.

It can also be said that branding is about attraction. What draws us to certain brands? Corporate identity. Corporate image. Call it what you want. It’s about creative and effective branding to carefully targeted demographics. Great examples are the plaHARD, kor30X, and ez30X product packages. I personally don’t like to have to gather up, open, and shake out several bottles of capsules and tablets. That’s why I like the Essentials^TM in the ez30X package so much. Sometimes peeling veggies and having to chop them up seems like such a chore. That’s why I like Freggies! When I see these package names, I instantly know what they’re for and the benefits I’ll be getting. I can identify with these brands. I know where they came from and how they were made. I know the company that makes them has strict quality control procedures. I don’t have to worry about these brands. I know these products are safe.

If a company’s brand is so strong, why do they sometimes change it? Circumstances and situations are constantly changing. New markets are realized. New and improved formulas are created. Perhaps scientific research uncovers something previously unknown. New and exciting applications are revealed. Why didn’t anyone think about providing blue-green superfood products to our troops before? How in the world did we overlook our uniformed men and women in the Marines, Army, Navy, and the Coast Guard? We have sent troops BG Bars^® in the past, and we know they liked them—they told us so. It appears we have discovered a market that’s new to us, and we have a solution for their need for enhanced energy, mental clarity, stamina, and overall peak performance. We have the simple and effective superfood nutrition from blue-green algae.

Marketers, especially successful ones, realize that change is sometimes necessary in order to compete in today’s market place. With new products coming out of the woodwork in virtually every industry, a company must keep up with the pace of today’s markets and consumers. Today’s consumers are entirely different from those of even the last five years, let alone 20+ years ago. Think computers and internet access!

Sometimes brands need tweaking or updating in just a few ways, or they may require a total overhaul. If public perception of a company has become negatively influenced, for whatever the reason, corrective actions must be taken to rectify the situation and repositioning of the corporate identity must be made. No matter what, the situation or problem that’s holding a company back must be resolved. Reputations can be ruined, images shattered. Then again, reputations can be rebuilt and images restored or made even better than before! Effective branding allows these transitions to happen. How a company and brand presents itself to the world is everything. How people perceive a company is crucial. First impressions count. If you’re selling a premium quality product and asking for a premium price, then you’d better present that product in a pretty package. Image counts!

What about change? Change is a reality of life. Consumers recognize change. Some consumers don’t like any type of change. Changes must occur in all aspects of life and business. In the case of a company, it shows the consumer that a company is aware of what’s going on in the marketplace, that it understand trends, and most importantly, that it listens to its consumers and representatives. It shows corporate eagerness to meet consumer demands, whether it’s in the form of new packaging, new products, a new logo, or new branding. Good companies listen.

Without branding, how would we determine which brands and companies, big or small, are the ones we should do business with or want to do business with? Would we all be satisfied with just one brand of car? I think not. We want choice. We choose a brand that we can identify with and that somehow we have an emotional and/or physical connection with. We see labels and boxes with catchy brand names and logos that immediately make us identify with a company, what it represents, and who its representatives are. Wearing clothes, hats, and carrying an umbrella with a corporate brand name and logo on them lets the world know that you approve of this company, like its products, like what it represents, and are proud to be part of its marketing arm.

So, what’s in a name? EVERYTHING!

Fear Is the Killer of Dreams

2011-11-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

by Madison Burgess

"Call Reluctance" is a term used in sales and network marketing to describe when a salesperson or a network marketer hesitates or procrastinates making calls to their prospects. To help you and your distributors get past this hesitancy, it is essential to uncover the root cause of this reluctance.

The dictionary definition of reluctance is "unwillingness, offering resistance, or opposing." It's like this, as network marketers, we know we must connect with people, promote, invite, and make calls in order to build our business, but there is often unwillingness or resistance to making the calls.

Why is this? Simply put, it is generally a sign of a lack of confidence that the call will be successful. This is the result of the poor skills that come from an unwillingness to be coachable and not developing and honing the required skills. We must all develop the skills of being a professional caller, interpersonal connector, and expert promoter and inviter. After all of that, let's not forget about the critical nature of follow-up. Without follow-up, no one gets what they desire. The most effective way to develop these skills is to make a commitment to listen to the weekly Success Training System (STS) and put into practice what you learn.

So instead of making calls, people will bury themselves in a guilt- ridden corner and mentally beat themselves up. Sound familiar? So just what might cause a person to be unwilling to make calls?

The following is a list of reasons that may "cause" you or one of your distributors to be unwilling, resistant, or opposed to making the calls.

· You are not fully engaged. You have not made the decision and commitment—no ifs, ands, or buts.

· You have not emotionally connected to your “why.” How is simpleXity supporting what is important to you?

· You have not made a list of all the people you want to help.

· You have not enrolled into the Success Training System. Your first month is free. Get started today. It is just a click away! http://www.simplexityhealth.com/simplexity/training/sts.jsp

· You have not contacted your sponsor to learn how to be a great connector, promoter, and inviter.

· You have not asked your sponsor to help you make calls until you are skilled at it.

· You are not following up with your prospects.

· You are not following the 5 Core Actions.

Fear of calling, fear of rejection, fear of success, or any other fear is the result not being able to predict the outcome—fear of the unknown. The truth is you will never be able to predict the outcome (future); however, what you can do is make a decision to be fully engaged and be willing to be coached and trained by your sponsor to help you achieve what is important to you. I promise you, your algae business will grow by leaps and bounds when you do. Simply stated, you can improve the probability of success by reducing the probability of failure—learn, do, and teach.

Thank you for caring about your present to gain a greater future!

Master of Your Fate, Captain of Your Soul!

2011-10-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

by Rich Hosking & Donia Alalawi

So you want to become successful in this wacky, wonderful world of network marketing. All you have to do is know where you’re headed, have a plan of action, execute your plan (action steps), and cash your ever-growing checks. Well, not quite!

When we started in this field, we were looking for an escape. We wanted to escape the time constraints of our suffocating business. We wanted to escape the constant worry over financial issues. We wanted to escape having to work and deal with people we really didn’t want to work with. Escape would lead to freedom, and it did. The costs of doing business were dramatically reduced, and we could work when we wanted. We actually giggled when we made decisions not to work with certain difficult individuals, and we eased into the grasp of a new kind of freedom.

Reporting to an employer did not easily accommodate us when we really wanted or needed to become temporarily free to handle pressing personal business. So, what was (and remains) extremely important to us was the ability to spend time on major family health issues, extended vacations, and home remodeling and recreating, all by not showing up to work, while our check continued to show up in our mailbox each month.

The new freedom said that if we wanted the moon, it was ours; we just needed to do what was necessary to reach it. And we quickly learned that freedom meant becoming masters of ourselves. If there’s just one piece of advice we would give those who are betting their futures on succeeding in NWM, it is that the only power to which you should aspire is that which is exercised over yourself.

You are going to need to plan, act, keep records, commit deeply, handle details, become and remain motivated, have self-discipline, be persistent, learn people skills, become a leader and a teacher, learn how to use technology to your advantage, etc. We are not talking about easy and simple, but we are talking about something that is comfortably learnable and certainly really doable.

In our nearly 19 years of successfully running our network marketing endeavors, we have learned that what needs to be done rarely is. Of the thousands of hopeful downline builders that have passed our way, few ever get it together and keep it together. Could it be that it’s too often thought to be a simple business where very little could get in the way?

Our observations are that few really commit to success and fewer yet follow the well-worn pathway to success that is usually staring them in the face and persist to the point of completion. And, in many companies, it is true that the steps aren’t clearly defined, so let’s make certain they are.

Step 1: Know where you are headed. Having dreams and defining your goals in writing are essential starting points in this whole process. We’re not talking about vague statements of things you wish for and hope will happen; we mean spending hours defining and discussing your life’s dreams and the specific milestones (goals) that mark the way-points on your journey. Make certain you have a clear vision!

Step 2: Make a plan that you can stick to. Figure out things like:
When are you going to do your work (days/hours)?
How many hours are you going to put in weekly or monthly for the first few years?

Will there be time left for your loved ones, recreation, and relaxation?
How you are going to get trained and fully equipped to handle the contacts in the field that will build your business?
Who will become your prospects? How will you approach them?
What kinds of tools will you keep in stock? Why?
How will you become ready to train and develop your future leaders?
Who/What will you use to develop yourself?
Can you commit, be self-disciplined, and persist?
What year do you plan to retire?
How much monthly income will you need to be earning from your simpleXity business at that time?
How much money will you have saved? Where will it come from? Where will you have it invested? At what rate of return?

In short, you’ll need to have a specific plan of action that will guide you toward success and at the same time keep you motivated. Not a rigid or inflexible plan, but one that will allow you a little “wiggle” room when things don’t go as planned.

Step 3: Take action steps! Set flexible time tables for achievement and do the small, medium-sized, and large steps required to reach your milestones on time. This step is going to require some character. Committing to your dreams, goals, plans, and daily effort for achievement is part of the equation, and facing your fears, reluctance, laziness, and sometimes lack of know-how will be necessary to succeed.

This also means self-determination and persistence will be necessary to obtain the “brass ring.” And, it will help tremendously if you have or develop passion for our products, the company, network marketing, and achieving your goals.

Step 4: Collect and cash your ever-growing checks. Your paycheck is generated by product sales. You personally need to be able to distribute products, find others who can personally distribute products, and find and train others who will do the same thing.

Now you know the truth. Only you know if you’re ready for the challenge or if you’re willing to develop yourself until you are ready for the challenge. We do know that if you want the brass ring in life and you’ve decided to earn it via NWM, it’s simply up to you. Your job is to just go do it!

Go for No

2011-10-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

The only reason you aren’t further ahead in your life and business right now is because you haven’t failed enough. Life will keep giving you the same test over and over until you learn the lesson it’s designed to teach, and then it moves you on to the next grade, the next test, and the next challenge. You will either pass that test or fail it. If you fail, life will keep giving it to you over and over again.

Those that perpetually have relationship problems will continue having them until they learn from those failures. Those who continually experience financial lack will stay broke until they pass the money tests and learn from their failures. People with continuous health challenges will continue to experience poor health until they learn from the failure and better maintain their bodies.

The reason we do not have more than we have or are not more than we are is because we haven’t failed enough. If you want to be a National Executive Director, the short answer as to why it hasn’t happened yet (assuming you’re following the 5 Core Actions) is that you haven’t failed enough yet! You haven’t been rejected enough times. If you register as an IBA, one out of every five people you present the business opportunity to will register, so then you know if you talk to 100 people, you’ll have twenty first-level IBAs. Of those twenty, ten will do something for the first ninety days. After ninety days, you’ll have five of those twenty who actually stick with the 5 Core Actions long enough to be successful. If you want ten first-level IBAs building the business, then you’d have to go talk to another hundred people, have eighty of them reject you (that is a good thing!), and twenty of them say yes, knowing ten will never do anything and five of the ten that are initially active will fizzle out in ninety days. Then, rinse and repeat based on the size of your goals and dreams!

The problem isn’t that people aren’t interested or the products cost too much or the Pay Plan is hard to understand. The problem is we haven’t talked to enough people. We haven’t gotten enough no’s! If we aren’t careful, we start to sound like the eighty people who told us no—the no’s we were supposed to expect and welcome! Instead of dreading the no’s, embrace them and see how many you can get. The more you get, the bigger your business will grow. The faster you get them, the faster your business will grow.

100 No’s to Get 10 Yes’s

2011-10-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

by Donia Alalawi

One evening, I told an IBA as we talked on the phone that she gives up too easily on her simpleXity business because of the many rejections she gets from her sales and marketing efforts. I also told her that if I could to tell her all of the disappointments I have gone through in this business, she would say to me, “And you are still doing this business? Are you nuts?" Yes, I'm still doing this business with the thousands of rejections I’ve gotten after being in this business for 19 years. My reasons are very simple. Without the disappointments and rejections, I would have never learned how to do this business right, and I would have never reached the good success I'm enjoying now in simpleXity.

I have a list on my bulletin board that my husband Rich gave me 18 years ago when one evening I was really down on this business and giving up.

The list said that I needed the following situations to happen 100 times:
• Rejection
• Indecision
• Disappointment
• Small Failures
• Lies
• Broken Promises
• Failed Expectations

In order for me to receive the following 10 times:
• Joy
• Satisfaction
• Freedom
• Financial Well-being
• Happiness
• Passion

So remember that you must get 100 no’s before you get ten yes’s. In our business, that is absolutely true.
Is it worth it? Yes. I would never substitute this business with any other business. It is truly the best when it comes to financial and time freedom.

Procrastination & Indecision: Silent Killers of Your Success

2011-10-04T06:19:00.000-07:00

by Dr. Richard Norris

Have you ever sabotaged your success? Not sure? Well let me ask this another way. Have you ever been indecisive or procrastinated in your past and you know it has cost you? It’s time for some honesty. To both questions I can categorically say yes. From experience and from study of the human condition, I know that the majority of us have at some time on our own journey of success been saboteurs.

By way of example, picture yourself going for a walk in the countryside. You are following a meandering but trodden path, and you come to a fork in the path.

Scenario #1: You have no map. Which path do you take? Will either do?

Scenario #2: You have a map. Which path do you take? Why?

What you have before you is, therefore, a choice—a decision.

To make that choice, to enhance your self-leadership, and to prevent you from staying stuck at the fork and sabotaging your journey of success, you must be decisive. Every day we come across forks along our path. Every day we must face and make decisions. Some decisions are reasonably simple, such as choosing what to eat for breakfast, which route to take to work, or what to wear. This is Self-Leadership 101. We don’t tend to spend too much time at these forks. Other decisions are more complex—buying a house, choosing a career, or accepting a promotion. This is Advanced Self-Leadership. The more complex or difficult a decision is for you, the more you need to weigh the benefits versus the consequences. These decisions often keep us at the fork, sometimes too long.

Some people will come to that fork, make a decision (right or wrong), and move on quickly—the Hare. Some others will arrive there and move on after due consideration (it is assumed they have a “map” of where they are heading)—the Fox. Still, others will just stay at that spot and delay making that decision—the Tortoise. Then there is that final group who head back the way they came—the Mouse. Interestingly, we have all likely been one of these four types of decision makers at some point in our lives.

Now cast your mind back to 12 months ago. In comparison, consider where you are today compared to then.

Question: Right now, are you where you expected to be?

No? Why not? What decisions did you fail to make, or which wrong ones did you make? Which type of decision maker do you most often represent?

You and I are exactly where we are because our lives are the sum total of all the decision we have made. So, if you don’t like where you are you right now, you need to become more decisive. You need to lead yourself better. If you, like me, desire to progress your own journey of success and develop the leader within, you must, therefore, be prepared to make effective, new, different, and/or faster decisions. A lifeguard on the beach, like a doctor, is trained to save lives. When someone gets in trouble in the water, that lifeguard must be decisive. Skills, knowledge, and experience are all weighed up quickly; a decision is made and a path chosen.

Question: Are you a Tortoise? Have you ever procrastinated?

If you are not sure, stop procrastinating!!

Procrastination

Contrary to popular belief, procrastination is not a decision. It is a protracted pause before making one. Sadly, people and organizations will often justify their procrastination and dress it up by saying that they are awaiting more information or they need someone else to make the decision. These are often just excuses, and they are in denial.

Fear & Lack of Confidence

A lack or inability to make a decision can arise because of fear or lack of confidence. They fear because they don’t want to get it wrong (perhaps this has happened in the past and they associate it with such negative emotions that they don’t want to go there again). They fear because they are outside their comfort zone and in the area of the unknown. They have a lack of confidence because they believe they need more information and/or they don’t know how to make a decision; i.e., they do not have a decision-making process in their organization, or they do not understand their own strategies for making effective decisions.

Let’s consider the need for more information. This is where the 80/20 rule or Pareto’s principle applies. In this instance, what it means is that you will glean 80% of the required information to make your decision in the first 20% of the time you deem required to make the decision. Sadly, there are those who don’t just need more information; they need all of it. There is a name for such people—perfectionists. There is no such thing as perfection. Considering the Information Age we live in, be realistic. If you are a perfectionist, then that means you are a saboteur of your success. That used to be me. As a perfectionist, you will never have all the information. You will be stuck at that fork forever!

Don’t let perfect get in the way of excellent!

Speed & Intuition

The obvious desired outcome from a decision is to make the right choice. You will never learn to make the right choice if you flee from making decisions (Mouse) or stay stuck at that fork for too long (Tortoise).

From what I have read, observed in others, and experienced myself, the more decisive you become, the more effective you become in due time. Why do I say this? Initially, you may be the Hare and also be impulsive in your decisions. Sometimes you will make the right decision. Sometimes you will not. When you don’t is when you need to stop and understand how you went about making that decision and why? Study your decisions and their outcomes. Understand their context. Seek out what makes the good decisions good and delivers your desired outcome. Discern your decision-making strategy or strategies.

Recall times in your past when you were taking exams. Remember those multiple-choice questions? Early on in my education, they confused me and even scared me at times. Even when I knew the subject material well, these questions often intimidated me. Sometimes, I immediately knew the answer. Other times, (and I am sure you can relate to this) I would ponder over the various choices, eventually make a choice, and mark my examination paper; then I would go back and change my answer. When I got the test back, I often found that my first answer had been right. Imagine the impact, as at that time I was a perfectionist!

My mum then taught me to trust my gut and go with my first choice. Her advice proved sound, and it should for you too! You’ll move down the right path the more you trust your gut.

Risk & Benefits

With every decision, there is an associated risk. The size of the risk will be both subjective (based on your perceptions) and objective (based on tangible factors that can adversely affect the outcome of the decision). You will, therefore, need to do a risk assessment. Small decisions and decisions that have previously created repeatable results will have minimal risk, so your risk assessment will likely be completed intuitively. Significant big decisions, where everything to be considered in the decision is new, carry a higher-risk profile. These require more time, information, and even people to make an effective decision.

How do you assess those risks? Depending on the fork and the different path options before you, one simple approach I use is to write down the answers to the following 4 questions:

1. What are the benefits of making this choice?

2. What are the consequences of making this choice?

3. What are the benefits of not making this choice?

4. What are the consequences of not making this choice?

If you address those, you are far more effective at weighing the risks and making the right decision.

Conclusion

What is your tendency—to be a Hare, a Fox, a Tortoise, or a Mouse? Which do you need to become to make more effective and efficient decisions and progress your journey of success?

Choices arise every day. Decisions need to be made every day. Reduce their cost. So that means, you must make them—no procrastinating. You must know how—no indecision. You must trust your gut.

Imagine. What would it mean to you personally, to your family, and to your life today when you become more decisive? What would it mean to your team? Your organization?

Efficiency. Effectiveness. Growth. Progress. Results.

Now go forth. Decide.

Dr. Richard Norris is a speaker, author, and leadership coach with a focus on self-leadership. To contact him, please email rnorris@ypncompanies.com and visit his website www.drrichardnorris.com

Don't Sell…Educate!!

2011-09-27T06:18:00.000-07:00

by Donia Alalawi

Here's a scenario that you might consider as a solution to the "I don't want you to try to sell me something" attitude that you encounter from your office co-workers, family members, etc., as you start your marketing efforts for your simpleXity business:

You're in the office and one of your coworkers complains about a headache, so your response might be something like this: "Have you ever looked at what alternative medicine says about the causes of headaches?" Mostly, the answer will be "no." Then you can say, "I have a part-time business that promotes the concept of healing with foods, and one of my business associates has written an article on headaches. Would you like me to get you the article so you can learn how to get rid of your headache through natural means?"

What am I doing here to lower any resistance or barriers to the attitude of "she's going to try to sell me something"? I'm telling her that I have a part-time business, but I didn't talk about selling products so I wouldn’t raise any barriers. I'm telling her that I'll educate her with a free article so she can find the solution to her pain. Most people are very open to that.

When I give her the article, I'll say something like this: "If you think that the article makes sense, then you may want to listen to a great audio tape that will continue your education about natural healing."

Again, there is no selling yet, just helping with education to create more trust and a strong belief that they will eventually have a solution for their pain (need).

I think that I don't have the problem of a "she's trying to sell me something" attitude from prospects because I give them educational materials first and send them home to read it. Then when they’ve completed reading it, they seem far more willing to ask questions and have a continued conversation about their health condition, and this will eventually lead to products sales.

What Do You Subscribe To?

2011-09-20T06:06:00.000-07:00

by Madison Burgess

In general, most people subscribe to one of two different fundamental philosophies: “What will be, will be,” or “If it is to be, it is up to me.”

Individuals who embrace the philosophy of “what will be, will be” choose to live their lives by chance or by accident. They accept the premise of having little or no influence over the daily events in their lives or results that are produced in their lives, health, or business; therefore they are accepting of any result. Individuals who subscribe to “what will be, will be” are not ready or willing to take full responsibility or to be accountable for the results of their lives, health, or business. They have chosen at this point in time in their lives not to reach out to the people who have the experience to help them or to engage in a process focused on gaining the knowledge, tools, or skills that may help them become who they long to be.

Individuals who embrace “if it is to be, it is up to me” are choosing to live their lives by design. They are rooted in the concept of being responsible, accountable, and action-oriented. They remain aware of their progress and setbacks. They are adaptable and therefore, willing to be flexible with their actions to gain the greatest results. They understand that success leaves clues and see the value of seeking out and surrounding themselves with the people who have the experience, knowledge, tools, and skills that will help them reach their personal life, health, and business goals. They are willing to ask themselves some very powerful questions: Is the information valuable to me? Does it support my goals? How can I apply it?

More Importantly:

They are willing to take a leap of faith and dive into the unknown.
They don’t burden themselves with having to know everything to begin creating a more expansive and profitable life.
They are willing to spend the time to define and refine the areas that are stagnant.
They see the value of teaming up with their leaders for knowledge and direction.
They understand as they develop and grow that their business will grow.
They are confident in their direction.
They are patient with the process.

To be more expansive with your algae business:

Make a commitment to excellence.
Utilize simpleXity’s expansive resources.
Implement the business fundamentals.

Define and refine your belief and vision.
Follow the System—duplication is the key to your success!
Become masterful at P.I.F. (Promoting, Inviting, and Follow-Up).
Do the Five Core Actions—do this and you will succeed!
Repeat the skills by doing specific actions and teach the System to your team.
Apply the guiding principles to all the specific actions that grow your business—learn, do, teach.

Life is a grand adventure. Play and love much and keep your glass overflowing with knowledge!

Don’t Be So Cool

2011-09-13T06:48:00.000-07:00

by Ridgely Goldsborough

Fred always blurts out the best comebacks.
“How’s your Mom, Fred?”
“Dumb as a mule and twice as stubborn.”
He delights in the art of cutting others down, without discrimination. When questioned about anything, Fred spews an adverse slant.
“How was your weekend, Fred?”
“It came after the week is about all I can say,” he answers. “The storm knocked out the power, and if it hadn’t been for my back-up generator, the rain would’ve flooded my basement. Then our worthless quarterback almost threw the game away. That’s the worst undefeated team in history.”
His glass is always half empty. He always sees the hole in the donut.

What causes Fred, and so many others, to revel in trash talk or witty cynicism, laugh at someone else’s expense, sneer at misfortune, and make all-knowing comments?

Some people find it hip to act negative, as if the stream of digs and snide remarks props them up. Does it? Do they truly feel better? I don’t think so. A wicked irony underlines the very premise. They may think, “I put someone down, it makes me feel up.” Maybe so, but here’s the catch. When you cast aspersions, you throw your own anchor into Loneliness Sea. A fog bank blankets your heart as fast as the water engulfs the rusted metal. Disdain and contempt lead to hard-lined faces and shaded eyes. Compare and despair.

On my way to work today, I tried to think of who I’ve spent time with that condoned this behavior—the resident mock and scoff comedians, jeer and taunt quipsters.

I couldn’t remember any. I no longer speak with nor maintain a connection with the people whose names came to mind. Harsh? Perhaps. I admit a certain frailty of spirit. I don’t want to hang out with downer types—no matter how canny their commentary. Their gunk rubs off like a greasy film that takes forever to expunge.
Do you read violent books that cause you to ride the violence in your dreams, watch ugly programming that casts a pale veil over your world view, or listen to deft reprobates so you learn to look for the dark side? Not me. I can’t go there. I miss too many of the beautiful moments to add an unneeded shroud. I’m looking for comrades who celebrate victories, challenge obstacles, mourn soulfully over losses, absorb the lessons and the pain, take responsibility for all of it, and move on with a smile or at least the intention to find one as soon as possible. We drudge up enough faults in ourselves. We don’t need to cut each other down. It never serves. It’s not that funny.

Next time those nimble words creep up your throat, ask yourself who hurts the most from their utterance. Do you really want to launch that snide remark? No one ever erected a statue to a critic.

Key Points

Cynicism is simply not that cute. Putting others down “for sport” is in no way “sportsman-like.” And yet, people still do it. I’ve often asked myself why. Do they gain any true benefit? Is it just a bad habit? Are they that deluded or deranged? No one can achieve any great victory on the shoulders of someone else’s misfortune. We can’t find happiness through someone else’s unhappiness. It won’t work. Every time we put down someone else, by nature, we put ourselves down. We fail to respect the dignity inherent in every human being and miss the opportunity to raise the spirits of someone else, which, in turn, raises our own spirits.

Think celebrate, not criticize. Compliment, not demean. Search for a reason to say something positive, and miraculously, positive will return to you. If someone is missing a smile, offer them yours. If someone needs a kind word, fill that need. It takes so little to make a big difference. Be a lighthouse, not a black hole. In difficult times, remember that a smile is a gentle curve that sets a lot of things straight.

Gut Check

2011-09-06T06:20:00.000-07:00

by Donia Alalawi

Did you know that there is a direct relationship between the present state of your skin and the billions of beneficial microorganisms that live in your intestinal tract? Did you know that these microorganisms keep your intestines clean by feeding on putrefied waste, fungi, harmful bacteria, yeast, poisons, and other nasty substances? Even further, these microorganisms aid your body in producing essential elements such as hormones, vitamins, and proteins needed for proper growth, immune function, and maintaining healthy skin. When your body’s intestinal flora is chronically compromised, devastating ill health is likely to follow.

Many strains (types) of bacteria live in the digestive tract. Usually they move in and establish colonies in the area of your intestine where the acidity and other conditions are suitable for them to flourish. While most bacteria show neither beneficial nor harmful effects, some of these bacteria can cause disease (pathogenic), yet others produce specific benefits (probiotic). Often the first strain to become established in an infant’s digestive tract is bifidus bacteria. As the digestive tract matures, bifidus begins to be found in the large intestine, and as a greater variety of foods are eaten, acidophilus (acid-loving) bacteria become established and occupy the small intestine, too.

Studies have shown that friendly bacteria provide many health benefits: they produce B vitamins; help digest food; produce lactase enzymes (which digest the milk sugar lactose, helping many people who have an intolerance to milk); prevent free radicals, pathogens, and undigested fats and proteins from penetrating the intestinal wall and entering the bloodstream; help inhibit gas and bloating; and provide crucial support for overall digestive system health.*

It’s interesting that in our preoccupation with cleanliness and disease control, we often destroy these friendly assistants. For example, in many areas, the water supply is chlorinated to kill disease-causing bacteria. Yet chlorine in our drinking water may kill most of the friendly bacteria found in our gut. Other common substances that kill friendly bacteria include the use of certain antibiotics and birth control pills. We need to be especially careful with foods that may contain antibiotic residues (most conventionally raised chicken, for example), herbicide or pesticide residues, and many food preservatives. Without these friendly bacteria, the health of your skin is affected.

Acidophilus, bifidus, and other strains of bacteria are so beneficial to us; it is only logical that we would want to keep a healthy population active in our gut. With daily exposure to so many harmful substances, we need to look for ways to make the environment in our digestive tracts less hostile.

Reduce your intake of those substances that kill friendly bacteria as much as you’re able.
Eat fermented foods containing friendly bacteria, such as yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut.
Add probiotic supplements to your diet.

In summary, a good health plan should include knowledge and use of the beneficial bacteria that can be commonly found in and on raw, unprocessed foods. As much as possible, avoid the harmful factors that disrupt or destroy the beneficial intestinal ecosystem. Eat properly, drink pure water, and avoid frequent use of antacids and antibiotics. Eat foods that are fermented and contain live cultures, and above all, use a high-quality probiotic supplement.

Is it necessary to take probiotic supplements? Absolutely. Without both food and probiotics, the digestive system doesn’t run at peak efficiency. With probiotic supplementation, you are boosting your immunity with a healthy digestive system.

Donia Alalawi, B.A., has written numerous articles for natural healing and holistic health magazines. She is a health educator and researcher and is a long-time simpleXity IBA and CEO of Organics USA, Inc.

Lessons from the Cockpit

2011-09-06T06:16:00.000-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

I’ve been in intense flight school during the month of August. I had no idea how much went into getting your pilot’s license. It’s a whole lot more than just learning how to fly an airplane! It’s been a major challenge learning all of the weather patterns, aerodynamic responses based on airplane structure, mapping and sectional mapping, engine components and how they work on various aircraft, and the various intricacies always involved with learning a new skill.

Building this business is no different (except it’s a lot easier!). There are new skills to learn. You don’t necessarily feel overwhelmed with trying to learn everything, but you will probably feel overwhelmed with not being at a certain level when you wanted to be there. To learn a new skill and reduce the frustration in doing so, here are four truths that have helped me (and are currently), and I’m sure they will help you!

1. Have a coach/mentor (flight instructor).

Find someone in your upline that is plugged into the System and work with them. If your upline is not plugged in (on STS and going to events), do not mentor with them! Be friends, but don’t put your future in their hands. My instructor cares about my success in becoming the best possible pilot, and he won’t let me cut corners like other instructors would. He demands excellence and strict adherence to piloting best practices and so should your coach!

2. Follow the system (flight checklist).

In flying, it’s just not an option. You have a checklist for everything: pre-flight, before starting the engine, before takeoff, after takeoff, before landing, during landing, after landing, taxiing, and so forth. They minimize failure by requiring pilots to follow the system. Our business is no different. Lasting success will only be achieved by following the System (STS, events, miXers, etc.).

3. Be consistent (flight hours for muscle memory).

We practice the same maneuvers over and over and over. I’ve spent hours early every morning, hours late every evening, and many hours over weekends this month practicing flying maneuvers, often doing 10+ takeoffs and landings an hour! The reason for consistency in following the checklists and flight maneuvers and techniques is to build muscle memory. I had to really think about every little thing I was doing when I first started flying. The more I did it, the more comfortable I became with it to the point where I don’t even think about some of the sequences for reducing power or getting the airplane ready for landing. In this business, you’ll eventually get to the point where you are doing the things it takes to be successful without conscious effort at all—but only if you are consistent over a long period of time.

4. Practice what you fear (stalls/emergency landings).

Ladies and gentlemen, there is nothing scarier than hearing your instructor say, “Let’s climb to 5,000 feet and stall the airplane!” There’s also nothing scarier than when you’re at 5,000 feet gliding gently through the air and your coach pulls all power to the plane, sending it into a spin to see how well you recover the plane—before you’ve been taught how to recover it! Now, I look forward to practicing stalls and emergency landings because it removes the fear and gives me a confidence that I can handle whatever happens—including losing an engine (bad news when you only have one!). In this business, you’ve got to do what you fear over and over again until you are confident in your skills. Practice promoting, practice follow up, practice working on yourself. Discipline yourself to read, grow, and get better.

Health and Fitness

2011-08-30T06:18:00.000-07:00

by Shannon Miller

After I retired from Olympic competition, I spent most of my new-found time watching television, studying, and eating…and eating…and eating. Several pant sizes later, I knew I had to make a change. I tried every quick fix I could think of but nothing worked. That’s when I decided I had to attack the issue just as I would a competition. I set a goal, created a plan of action, and then got to work. While it certainly took me a few years to find that balanced lifestyle I was looking for, it made me realize that many other women are going through the same thing. The Olympic training gave me a great background in fitness and nutrition. However, life gave me the ultimate crash course in creating balance and moderation.

My goal with Shannon Miller Lifestyle is to empower women with the knowledge and education they need to make informed decisions on health and fitness for themselves and for their family.

Regardless of their profession, all women struggle to find time for themselves. They are always on the go and often serve as the primary caregiver for their family and friends. We focus on interactive user content in critical areas such as health and nutrition, fitness, pregnancy, and motherhood. Last year I launched my line of fitness “To-Go” books on yoga, abs, and stretching, the Healthy & Balanced Pregnancy Cookbook, pre- and postnatal workout DVDs, and journals on fitness and running, to provide women with convenient tools to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Over the past year, my company, Shannon Miller Lifestyle, has been hitting the streets and talking to women about their health and fitness needs. We received the overwhelming response that women need help getting started on a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

That’s why I created the Shannon Miller Walk-Fit Program: An Online Tracking & Incentive Program.
Walking is one of the easiest and most profitable forms of exercise. Increasing your daily steps can give you more energy, less stress, reduced weight, and a decreased chance of developing diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.

Walking is a great way to lose weight—and keep it off—and it’s something that we already do every single day!

Participants log on to www.shannonmillerlifestyle.com and register. My Walk-Fit Program is free for all participants and provides an online tracking and incentive program just for logging the steps you walk each day! Why not get fit and earn rewards along the way?

I believe in an “everything in moderation” approach to fitness and nutrition. I know from experience that if you ditch the quick-fix diets and focus on making small changes each day, you will create a healthy lifestyle that you can maintain.
I’m competitive, so I love counting steps. I can compete with myself everyday to see how many steps I can log. Wearing my pedometer has increased the amount of walking I do significantly. I no longer drive around for 5 minutes looking for the parking spot 10 feet closer to the door. Now, I make a point to park farther away just so I can gain steps.

You don’t need to walk 5 miles all at one time. Fitting exercise into your personal schedule will help you stick with it for the long run. Pace while you’re on that long conference call, walk with friends during your lunch break, or take an after-dinner stroll with the family.

Shannon Miller is a seven-time Olympic medalist (2 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze). She is the only American to rank among the top ten all-time gymnasts and is the only female athlete to be inducted into the US Olympic Hall of Fame twice (Individual 2006 and Team 2008). Shannon is now a professional speaker, author, and radio and television host, and she recently launched her company, Shannon Miller Lifestyle: Health and Fitness for Women.

Networking: Understanding the Reality and Exposing the Myths

2011-08-23T06:16:00.000-07:00

by Barbara Swanson

There are myths about how you “do” the business of NWM. These myths are pervasive and can lead to an eventual breakdown in maintaining true residual income.

The Myth
Your business will be small if you focus on product sales only, or your business will be big when you focus on finding other business builders.

The Truth
The focus of whom you are prospecting for—be it other business builders or product consumers—is how you build your business, not a definition of how large your check will become. Any legitimate check is dependent upon product sales by law. It is illegal to make money only selling a business “opportunity.”

The Rest of the Story
Sharing the products alone can lead you to a large check! If you desire to share product only, in order to build a sizable and stable check, you will need to find and connect with, then support and maintain, a large group of consumers. Truly residual income is dependent upon satisfied, connected consumers (whether they also do your business or not) and great products that they would not willingly live without—hopefully, for the rest of their lives.

Sharing the business alone gives you massive time and energy leverage! Sharing both the products and the business opportunity will lead to true leverage of your time and efforts because the work you do is echoed and magnified by the efforts of others doing the same thing. If you know a few people who have a large desire to share and connect, their efforts will propel your income far beyond what you can make using only your own personal efforts.

The Final Truth
It is your ability to connect, coupled with your desire to share and your persistence, that determines the size of your business.

Why So Many People and Companies Fail
So many people fail because of the myth that “large business builders” focus on finding other business builders, and only “small business builders” look to sell products. Many companies encourage two actions which ultimately undermine the ability of a new entrepreneur to build and retain a large organization and secure a long-term residual income check: They encourage their new business associate to focus on looking for those who want to “do the same thing”; then they teach that the “same thing” is looking for business associates to help build a big business. They encourage their new business associate to make a large financial commitment in products to sell at retail and teach them to “do the same thing” without training them about the difference between a new business person’s order versus a new consumer and what is in their best interest to order.

Why Are These Seemingly Logical Actions Destructive?
If a new business associate believes that building a large check means finding other business people instead of also and equally focusing on building a solid consumer base, then that person is not developing a long-term income, which is one of the greatest benefits NWM has to offer.

Why? Because long-term residual income is dependent upon regular sales of products on an ongoing monthly basis to satisfied consumers. You must be taught that monthly consumers are an essential component of a check with longevity.

It is not uncommon for NWM companies to train their business associates to augment their checks by encouraging—or even requiring—single sales of several hundred dollars. While this definitely does result in larger checks in the beginning, it does not encourage a consumer for life—and they are the key to a stable residual income. The mainstream consumer will, in general, feel comfortable spending between $40–$150 to try a new product. While they might be talked into trying a much more expensive program, they are also much less likely to stick with the products over months or years.

So, do you sell? Of course. Sell as much of the appropriate products as that consumer both needs and is comfortable with. But if you go over that amount, you may have a person who is hoping these products are not too great because those great products are now also perceived as too expensive to use on a daily basis.

The Secret
Your ability to attract other BAs who have a large desire to share—either product or business—is magnified by your company’s ability to produce a product that people will use daily, for the rest of their lives!

The reality is that if you have an amazing and unique product at an easily budgeted price and the materials to share why it is essential with many people, then you will have the ability to earn a significant long-term income and the ability to attract other business people to this opportunity.

Think about it. McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Carl’s Jr. all began with a great product that became an amazing business opportunity that entrepreneurs sought out. Now, having said this, if you want a serious income, finding entrepreneurs who want to build their own income is an essential tool.

Duplication and Leverage: Finding Financial Rewards for the Future
While the key to residual income lies in finding, supporting, and maintaining an organization of satisfied consumers, if you desire to earn a large income—six figures or more in a year’s time—you need to also find other entrepreneurs who want a stream of income. The growth of a good networking/direct-sales organization yields geometric increases in your check. It is this truth that leads to the mistake of focusing on finding people with a large desire to develop a business to the exclusion of also developing an organization of satisfied consumers.

To go back to the analogy of restaurant franchises, without consumers by the thousands who use these restaurants on a daily basis, there would be no opportunity for entrepreneurs to use the franchise as a business opportunity. The business opportunity is dependent upon the sale of a legitimate and desirable product. Yet, with a franchise, income is eventually limited by geography. How many consumers can be found in that area? The same can be true of you. You are limited by the time you have to spend to find consumers, by the resources you can utilize to reach prospects, and by the ability you have to support and maintain your customer. By finding other entrepreneurs, you virtually expand your geography. This is the key to the power harnessed by the industry of NWM.

Reality Check
The three immutable concepts in working a fair and legitimate business:

Never expect someone else to do what you are not willing to do yourself. If you would like your BAs to find and keep a solid consumer network of at least 30 consumers, do so yourself—first!
Always remember, they are paid more for their work than you will ever be paid for their efforts—and this is as it ought to be. This makes all efforts a win-win for everyone.
You are ethically required to offer and maintain business support to those people who are integral to your long-term financial security.

One Reason People Fail

2011-08-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

One of the main reasons people fail in this business, or anything else in life, is that they are not consistent. Consistency separates the winners from the losers, the champions from the average. The critical importance and role that consistency plays in your success or failure cannot be overstated. Consistency is faithfulness.

Did you know that all of us are already consistent? I do not need to speak another word about consistency for you have already mastered it. The million-dollar (or multi-million) question is: What are you consistently doing or not doing? It is just as wrong to consistently not do something as it is to consistently do something.

Most people today consistently think the wrong way. They consistently and habitually follow the same habits that have led them to negative or limited growth at best. Likewise, they have consistently not done what they need to do to grow themselves or their business. They consistently do not hold miXers. They consistently do not absorb and thoroughly immerse themselves in STS. They consistently do not promote STS and events to their organizations every time they see them. They consistently do not attend events. In fact, attendance at events may even seem optional to them! Their consistency at not handing out two tools a day and keeping ten prospects in their personal pipeline (2 a day/10 in play) indicates the attitude or belief that they can still be successful in this business apart from this. Ludicrous! If you are guilty of any of these things, shame on you! You are only kidding yourself and hurting those who are watching what you do and don’t do so they can follow you.

This business is built best when it’s built fast. You’re already consistent; now I want you to get consistent at doing and not doing the right things. Consistently read, grow, and develop yourself through STS, books, and events. Consistently share two tools a day. Consistently attend events. Register for Unleashed today and promote it to everyone in your group every time you talk to them until they register as well. And once they register, keep talking to them about how great it’s going to be every time you see them! Consistently hold weekly miXers and encourage your group (even the newest IBA who signed up yesterday) to hold a weekly miXer. A new IBA’s first miXer should be within 24-48 hours! Consistently champion the AutoShip packages and the Free at Five Challenge. Consistently eat right and exercise. Consistently surround yourself with only positive people who have a championship mentality.

Consistently walk away from negative people. Consistently refuse to gossip, criticize, or condemn. Consistently refuse to listen to gossip or people that criticize or complain. Consistently turn off the TV. Consistently refuse inertia. Consistently refuse to take or make excuses. What are you consistent at doing and not doing? The secret to your future and the accomplishment of your dreams through this business is 100% related to what you are consistent at doing and not doing.

Guidelines for Achieving Success in Business

2011-08-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

by Dr. Dallas Humble

    Why do some people enjoy more free time, have more money, and experience more success than someone else in the same business, in the same town? What is their secret? Is there a specific formula that anyone can follow that ensures success?
    I have been asked about success by those in business for quite some time. Having operated multiple businesses in various locations—some successful and some not—many of the questions have been answered.
    Most of us have learned about success in the broad spectrum with the limitation money has on its meaning. The purpose of these guidelines is to discuss specific ways of achieving success in your business life. You can do all the right things, balance your life to your best ability, and still fail in business. With that fact known, taking note of some specific guidelines to follow in your business life will assist you in achieving your financial goals.
    A strategy or plan of action is a must; however, a plan of action will not work for you if you do not take the responsibility of putting the strategy to work. Considering that you are willing to do this, we will examine some specific strategies that are possessed by the most successful business people of today. If there were a secret formula for success in the business world, most who have obtained it would agree that the following 12 strategies are the secrets unfolded. Many are short and sweet. But each contains meaning that will assist you by guiding you down the proper path toward achieving success. Let’s examine each of these strategies in detail.

Strategy #1 – The Willingness to Learn and Change If Necessary
    A willingness to learn and to make changes, if necessary, is one of the most important—if not the most important—components to becoming successful in business.
    Some people with unsuccessful businesses baffle me. They seem so committed to failure by closing their minds to anything that may help them. Whether they have new businesses or existing ones barely making it, they ask questions but do not listen to the answers. Many are convinced that they are already doing things the right way and what they’ve read will not work in their business for a variety of reasons.
    These reasons are actually excuses in disguise; they make evident their unwillingness to learn and accept the fact that their success concepts are actually failure principles. They are usually too prideful to admit they are wrong and too lazy to put any successful strategies to work for them. Accepting that we all can learn and improve and have a hunger for the knowledge necessary to do so is the first step in achieving the success you desire.

Strategy #2 – Understanding Your Business, How it Works, and Servicing Your Customers
    Once you have accepted the first step, understanding how your business works is a must.
It may sound simple but I have seen some of the most organized, efficiently run businesses fail. By the same token, I have seen unorganized, inefficiently run businesses succeed. What do they attribute their success to? You guessed it—understanding what the customer wants and providing it. It is important to understand what your business sells well enough to sell it, even if it meant you wouldn’t get paid for it.
    In the health care business, much of the success comes from providing service above and beyond what is asked for. I once wrote an article that was published for the chiropractic profession titled “Why Are Some Doctors Successful, While Others Are Not?” The article centered on much of what I am relaying to you in this article. Regardless of whether you are in the health care business or some other business, the principles are much the same. Deliver a good service that people want and do it better than anyone else.
    Businesses are closing everyday that should not be. No one smiles. No one helps you. No one goes out of his or her way. I am convinced that most businesses could prosper if only they serviced their customers properly. I can almost predict whether someone will make it in the business world by talking to them for a short period of time. Next to undercapitalization, I believe poor management (of which good service is included) is the number one cause of business failures. If you don’t understand your business, its workings, and what it does on a regular basis, perhaps someone else will down the street or around the corner from you.

Strategy #3 – Having Purpose While Staying Focused
    Most businesses start with a business plan. It is difficult to get financing without one. In the plan, you state the reason your business will exist: to make or service products, service people, etc. This is your business’ purpose.
    As important as it is to understand your business thoroughly and service your customers, it is crucial to stay focused on your purpose and goals to be effective. It’s much like practicing what you preach. To understand something is one thing; to live by it is another. It is imperative that you do not move away from your business’ purpose. Stick to the basics.
    With all the complaints you may hear from customers, it’s no wonder why people unfocused on their business’ purpose suffer from burnout every four to six weeks. Keep your eyes focused ahead and remain on purpose. Read educational material pertaining to your business that keeps you up to date and ahead of your competition. Read healthy, motivational articles and books and attend seminars that focus on inspiring commitment to your business. Above all, only associate with people that have the same or a similar belief system as you. Then you will reap the benefits of staying on purpose.

Strategy #4 – Take Responsibility for Your Business
    “My business is not doing well because my employees are not doing their job correctly.”
    “Things would be better, but people have been sick all over town with the flu.”
    “The weather has been bad and no one’s going out.”
    The list goes on and on. Although there are certain things that may definitely contribute to the success or failure of your business, you are the one who controls it. The buck stops with you. Just as a parent must take responsibility for a child, a business owner must take control of a business. To do less than this is a cop out.
    Pointing the finger at someone else will not make you a stronger person. Besides, when you point your finger at someone, three fingers are pointing back at you. Take responsibility for all aspects of your business. You will become a better person for it. It can give you the strength to take on obstacles you would have never thought possible.

Strategy #5 – Don’t Pay Attention to What Others Say
    No one who is successful at anything is going to have good things said about them without hearing negative comments as well.
    The difference between successful and mediocre businesspeople is they pay little attention to the negative comments that are said about them. They focus on the business’ purpose to exist. No obstacle will get in their way or distract their attention. It’s what I call the “duck theory.” Negative comments roll off their back like water on a duck’s feathers. Business owners that do not hold firm to their beliefs and their purposes are easily distracted. Without the eye of the tiger, they lose sight of their goal.
    Think back through history, even to biblical days. Success breeds jealousy, and with jealousy comes criticism. Don’t pay attention to it. Remember, if you are talked about frequently, you’re in good company. Being a good person will not stop it from happening. Anyone that has accomplished anything great has been criticized, even Christ himself.

Strategy #6 – Avoid the Rubber Mouth Syndrome
In short, if you are going to have more customers and deliver quality service, you are going to have to learn to quit talking and start working. Contrary to most beliefs, people do not want to talk about bass fishing, the economy, or the news when they are in a hurry. They can do that anywhere. Take, for instance, the banking industry. People used to go in, have a cup of coffee, and talk to their banker—no more. Now, because of the computer age, they’re lucky if you even go to the drive through window. People want fast, quality service. It’s a fast-paced society revolving around service. Either conform or be left out.

Strategy #7 – Take Your Mind Off of the Geographical Syndrome
    “Is it my location?”
    “Do the people here have the money for my services?”
    “People would not go for that concept or advertisement in my area?”
    These are typical geographical comments (demographics) of concern. In most cases, the answers to the above questions are no, yes, and bologna.
    I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard an excuse that centered around demographics. It all goes back to taking responsibility for your business. Although there are legitimate concerns, they are few and far between. I have seen people succeed in some of the worst locations around.
    Years ago, while visiting a successful doctor in California, I noticed that there was little parking available without an effort on the patients’ part. The office was not located in a highly visible area either. His office, however, was seeing in excess of 2,000 patients weekly between all of the practitioners. When I asked him about the location and parking problem he replied, “I never paid attention to it. I’m not in the parking business.” Get the picture?
    Let’s look at my example. Would you go to a doctor only because he had adequate parking if he were not competent in what he did? I don’t think so. Likewise I’m sure most of us would walk further to get superior service. This doctor knew that because of the superior service his office delivered, people wouldn’t care about parking.

Strategy #8 – Avoid Burnout Syndrome
Everyone needs time off to spend doing the things they enjoy and to spend time with their family. Burnout syndrome, however, comes more frequently with the business owners who are in business without knowing where they are going. They have little or no purpose and feel beat up after several complaints or negative comments from others. For the people who have purpose and excitement about their work, vacation time becomes a want rather than a necessity.
Since your family should obviously come before business, you should schedule time away from the office occasionally according to your needs. We should all take time to enjoy the things that life has to offer but not so often that you can’t serve your customers as they deserve.

Strategy #9 – Desire to Break Out of Your Comfort Zone
Comfort zones are easy to get into. You work hard for a period of time and reach a certain level of achievement. While your business is in the affluent trend, you are excited and have your attention on the goals you had established. Suddenly you reach a plateau and can’t seem to get above it. You may fluctuate above it for a short period of time only to return below the magic number, whatever it may be.
Granted, there are plateaus that you will reach and max out in business. If this is where you are happy and satisfied, fine. However, if you have reached a plateau and desire to grow, you definitely can. The key word is desire.
You must truly possess the desire to grow because you will be required to go through changes. You may have to add a staff member, work extra hours, add more space, and become more involved in the community. Or if you are maxed out to your capacity, hire a manager. Whatever the change is, you must be willing to do just that—change. I do not know of anyone personally who has had success knock at their door or come looking for them. You must seek to find the doors of success and knock on them for them to be opened to you.

Strategy #10 – Establish Goals and Be Committed to Them
There are goals, and then there are goals. The first type are the goals you talk about but never take the necessary action steps to achieve. The second type are the goals you establish with action steps and commit yourself to accomplish no matter what it takes.
Playing in the game of life without goals is somewhat like playing a game of basketball without a basketball, goals, or net. You may try to play the game, but you can never achieve anything. Establish your goals. Put them in writing. Commit yourself to them, and do not let anything stop you from achieving them. You will be amazed at what you can do.

Strategy #11 – Take Control of Your Own Finances
No matter what success principles you establish, the financial aspect cannot be dismissed. If it is out of sink, then the concentration it will drain from you will bleed you of the energy you need elsewhere. The result is failure or success to a much lesser degree.
To design a financial plan does not necessarily mean finding a financial planner. It means to take control. Learn all that you need to know.
Establish good spending and saving habits. Set out to learn all you can about how to handle money. Remember, no one is going to look after your money like you will. Learn to take control of your own finances.

Strategy #12 – Be Willing and Prepared to Work
    Last but not least, be willing to work for what you desire in life. As stated before, success does not generally knock on your door. For the few that receive it by lotteries, inheritance, etc., many times the result is disaster, failure, and unhappiness beyond comprehension.
    Unless you have learned the value of a dollar and what true work ethic is all about, success will always be waiting for you at the other end of the rainbow. But, if you put these components to work for you and commit yourself to working for your goals, success is sure to become a reality.
    Whatever your definition of success is, remember this: believe and achieve; doubt and do without. If these strategies sound simple to you, remember the simple things are put here for the wise man to see. Wise up and you too can accomplish things in your business and personal life that you may have thought were impossible.

Dr. Humble is often referred to as America’s Success Authority. He has written numerous articles published in professional journals worldwide as well as authored numerous books on business management and success principles. Dr. Humble has spoken to and consulted with thousands of his colleagues and individuals on inspiration, personal development, motivation, leadership, and business management. His positive messages have placed him among the top inspirational speakers in America creating hope, belief, and a winning attitude in people from around the globe.

Find Your Niche

2011-08-02T06:26:00.000-07:00

by Barbara Swanson

What does network marketing offer you? It offers you a chance to get out of the box and create an income by literally doing what you love.

This is accomplished through niche marketing. It is the single most effective method we have of presenting what we are passionate about to people who are actively looking for what we offer. By focusing on people who are either already passionate about the same things as we are or who are looking to find a passion, we come from a position of emotional strength.

What is your niche? Your niche is determined by these elements:

What you love or are interested in sharing
How you enjoy communicating and connecting
Your personal experiences
Your personal style

Here is how this might look: Allyson loves yoga; in fact, she got a certificate in teaching yoga. She loves to talk to people as well. She is happy to show a group of strangers exactly what they can do and in the process becomes their mentor.

Al, on the other hand, loves the game of creating alternative income sources. He isn’t much of a talker, but he can really write! He knows the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur.

Allyson created a business through her personal yoga contacts. Because they have many interests in common, her communication is enhanced.

Al has a website where he sends out regular e-letters about creating a successful, home-based stream of income. As such, he is a mentor to others who are looking to create similar financial success.

These two people could not be more different in content, experiences, or style, yet they both have the ability to create a very successful business with a network marketing company!

Translating what you love into an approach
The keys to effective prospecting are what we offer, how we offer it, how we present our offer, and whom we present our offer to.

What we offer
Know what solutions your company offers. How to frame these solutions are open to our individual passions and beliefs. Indeed, to be effective you must imbue any offer with your personality. You need to be able to make a genuine connection with others.

How we offer it
You need to be able to communicate effectively. Scripts, coaching, and practice are all important ways to make sure we learn how to talk to people. More importantly, we need coaching on how to listen to people!

The most effective approach includes a combination of features and benefits, powered with personal experience.
Features are what make your product unique. Features are the facts.
Benefits are what your new prospect will gain. They are the hopes and dreams or expectations.
Personal Experience is your story or testimony. It includes what you have personally experienced. It can also include what you know is true, even if you have not experienced it yet. For example, you can be assured of where this business will take you by the examples of your mentors.

How we present our offer
This is where we go to connect and what we use to do so. Different modes of connection include the Internet, either through sites to reach people (niche sites) and/or social networking; events and booths at events; advertising, which can be online, in print, or even flyers; and lastly, other marketing methods like mailings and lead generation sites.

Whom we make our offer to
This is your target audience—your niche. Some people are athletes who want to reach out to others in that field. Professionals such as massage therapists, naturopaths, and counselors want to connect with people who are interested in health and healing. A professional businessperson could focus on other corporate people looking for alternative income sources, etc.

If you are a professional, you may have clients you want to refer to your opportunity or products. You might even just hand out literature to people you meet (the three foot rule).

The Bottom Line
You can take classes (and should consider, if needed) to learn effective communication skills. You can hire a person to help you with web design or to create an effective ad. SimpleXity offers business training in our specific industry as well as providing you with tools specific to the opportunity. There are numerous personal growth books, sites, and even seminars that can also be found about networking.

However, the one element of success that cannot be taught is the one that is most critical to you—what you bring to your business.

Who are you? Who do you wish to become? What do you feel most passionate about? What would inspire you to wake up every morning, grateful for another day?

Find a mentor who will help you bring out these passions. Find the company that fits your needs. Firm up a plan of action based on your desired outcome and tailored to your strengths and allow the energy of your passion to create a business you love.

Pregnancy & Parenting with simpleXity Products

2011-07-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

by Abbie McClung

How has working for simpleXity for almost 17 years shaped your view of good nutrition?
I was fresh out of high school when I started working here, and I didn’t have a view on nutrition or supplements. I had always enjoyed good health and grew up eating fresh, local food and swimming in the lake. I had no idea that hundreds of thousands of people were eating that algae! Other than an occasional chewable vitamin, the world of dietary supplements was brand new to me. When I started working in the call center, it didn’t take long before I began hearing testimonials about the profound properties of Super Blue Green® Algae and the incredible impact it was having on people’s health. I quickly turned in my first employee order. Not long after that, I heard my friend Russell Mariani’s product presentation for the first time, and it became crystal clear to me why everyone needs these amazing supplements.

Do you have a personal “algae story”?
I have been regularly consuming a broad array of simpleXity products for half my life and can say with absolute certainty that the power of prevention is immeasurable! I have a very strong immune system, lots of energy, and have no need to see a doctor (except during pregnancy, of course). I have also enjoyed two healthy pregnancies after the age of 30. Over the last 17 years, I have regularly increased my product consumption based on current life circumstances. When I was working full-time and earning my college degrees, I quadrupled my intake of Omega Sun® and reaped the rewards of enhanced mental clarity and the many benefits of feeding my brain the raw materials it needed to function well during a stressful time. I have also shared these products widely in my personal life and observed many health benefits with my friends, family, and pets.

What kind of benefits from simpleXity products have you experienced during pregnancy?
Well, I could tell you a lot of stories and details in this area, but in general, simpleXity products support the most common needs and complaints during pregnancy very well. You need good nutrition more than ever because you are creating a whole new human body. And you need a strong immune system to protect you and the baby during the gestational period and also to aid in recovery from labor and delivery. Pregnancy can have a negative influence on your digestion, and I have been free of any complaints.

You mentioned that digestive issues are a common challenge during pregnancy. Can you say more about that?
Almost no pregnancy is free of digestive challenges for a couple of reasons. The primary culprit is the pregnancy hormone that relaxes smooth muscles throughout your body, including your gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation significantly slows your digestive system down, which can lead to all sorts of discomforts. With a good diet, lots of clean water, and my daily intake of digestive enzymes and probiotics, I have never experienced problems in this area. This makes me feel good because I know that all of the important micronutrients from the algae are being properly absorbed and assimilated so they can benefit me and my baby. The second problem that gets worse as you enter the last trimester is the complete lack of space in your body! The growing baby begins to displace your internal organs and confine them to cramped spaces. When you get to this point, you need a highly functioning digestive system in order to keep things moving along.

Why is eating algae during pregnancy important to you?
I’ve done enough training on our products to know that simpleXity’s algae nourishes the human body on a cellular level, and each cell needs a broad array of vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients to do its job well. I can’t think of a time that cellular nutrition is more important than when a human life is starting from a single cell and growing into trillions. The gestational period creates the foundation of the body you will have for the rest of your life, so there is a very high demand for good nutrition. This is why every pregnant woman is prescribed prenatal vitamins. I’m so grateful that I have my daily algae in addition to regular vitamins! The algae also contains essential fatty acids, which are critical to healthy brain development and all 20 amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins and make up a large percentage of the physical structure of cells and tissues. Eating algae also helps with the moodiness that can sometimes come with pregnancy. I’m glad that I have Omega Sun for its positive impact on mood!

Is it safe to start simpleXity products during pregnancy? How would you recommend someone newly expecting start?
First, I’ll say that you definitely want to talk to your doctor about any major changes to your diet or daily routine when you’re pregnant. With that said, these products are foods, not drugs, and totally safe. Good nutrition is just one part of a healthy lifestyle, so if you haven’t already, I would also recommend that you start to address the basics, like proper daily hydration, quality food choices, and daily movement. If you’re pregnant and starting our products, I would encourage you to watch the Functional Nutrition and Our Products video, read The Journey to Better Nutrition (both are available on our website), start slowly with one packet of Essentials, and then listen to your body.

With an active toddler and a baby on the way, how do simpleXity products support the demands of parenting?
Parenting is busy and hectic! Pregnancy and young children bring a chronic lack of sleep, and that combined with an increased need for energy, stamina, and focus make good nutrition and convenient superfoods critical to a healthy lifestyle. Parenting is a wonderfully exhausting experience, and most of us can use all the extra dietary support we can get.

We hear a lot about “algae babies.” How did you start your son on algae, and what benefits have you noticed?
My son is fortunate that he’s been receiving the benefits of algae through my body from conception, gestation, and then nursing (The amino acid profile is especially important when producing breast milk!). Once he stopped nursing, I opened capsules, mixed the powders together, and then dipped his pacifier in it throughout the day. Now that he’s a toddler, I can give him BG Bars® or mix algae, enzymes, and probiotics in his juice. Every time I’m in the baby food aisle, the advantages gained from these supplements are reinforced by all of the commercial products that are now being fortified with algae-derived essential fatty acids as well as digestive enzymes and probiotics. As far as benefits go, first and foremost, my son stays healthy throughout the year. And he certainly has no shortage of energy! As a totally biased parent, I would also add that he is quite brilliant and consistently screens at a higher age on developmental tests.

What would you say to other women about how simpleXity products can support pregnancy and parenting?
Children, especially infants, are in a rapid period of physical and mental development that is unparalleled at any other time in their life. Their bodies and brains need a quality source of daily micronutrients that can be properly absorbed, and simpleXity products provide this. All parents know that life is busy, and I can say with total confidence that the peace of mind that supplementing your child’s diet with our amazing products brings is priceless!

Abbie McClung, our current Field Relations Manager, started as a call center agent in 1994 when she was just 17 and has served in a variety of roles, including Customer Service Supervisor, Website Coordinator, and Product Trainer. She is a passionate advocate for simpleXity’s transformational product line and has experienced amazing benefits in her own life. Now 34, Abbie is the mother of an active toddler and just had her second child.

Do It Now...

2011-07-19T06:39:00.000-07:00

by Ridgely Goldsborough

“Momma, more boo-boo, right now,” the baby squeaked for the fourteenth time in sixty seconds.
As a raw bundle of emotions, she displays an uncanny sense of urgency about what she wants and no compunction whatsoever about demanding it repeatedly until she gets it.

As young children, we all had that urgency. Over time, complacency eases its way into our system and gives rise to a blasé, I’ll-do-it-later-if-at-all attitude. We convert procrastination into an art form—as if that’s okay. It’s not. Complacency leads to laziness that in turn leads to compromise and the eventual demise of our dreams. Let’s consider a few examples:

How many of us step into our bedrooms to be greeted by two or three leftover pieces of clothing from the day before—items that in less than 20 seconds could be hanging in our closet or dumped into a hamper?

How many of us fill our car-door pockets with McDonald’s fries’ containers, napkins from Subway, or a favorite candy wrapper?

What if we trained ourselves to swoop our arm down from the door handle and grab that stuff each time we step out. This is a simple solution with no extra time needed.

What about the files, the thank-you notes, the bills, the phone calls, and the emails? If we put them off, they occupy rent-free space in our mind and clutter our brain. Many of them never get touched.

We need to bring back some child-like urgency and fight this smug, vainglorious disposition for the monster that it is—a major dream killer dressed in sheep’s clothing. “Oh, don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal,” we might say. It is just a little overlook here or a forgotten detail there or push this back or handle that later.

No.
Do what you gotta do—today.
Train yourself with the little things.
They carry over into the husky ones.
When you face that crossroads again—left fork loiter, right fork act—hang a right.
You will notice two things:

First, action equals accomplishment, and accomplishment feels good. Second, it’s easy.

Challenging procrastination is much like riding a bike.
You push off, roll a few feet, and keel over.
You pedal again, manage a tad further, and fall.
You start, go, and crash until it sinks in.

Before you know it, you seldom teeter and almost never wreck. You can ride forever.

Clothes live in closets.
Wrappers need recycling.
Files hang in cabinets.

Pick an area of your life and challenge the “tomorrow syndrome.” Decide to take immediate charge and begin to build your urgency muscle. Set yourself a small goal with defined time frames. You’ll find that a deadline can be the ultimate inspiration.

Observe yourself—the inner smile that follows the completion of a task you would normally defer. Bask in the glow. Feel the urgency muscle flex.

Before you know it, your dreams will drive the drivel from your mind—you’ll tap into that volcanic childhood energy.
Watch out world.
You’re back.

I’m looking forward to making this great—let’s do it together!

Yours in success,
Ridgely

Ridgely Goldsborough is author of 10 books, founder and publisher of Network Marketing Lifestyles, a television talk show host, entrepreneur, and most recently, a keynote inspirational speaker at simpleXity’s Dream Weekend 2011. To find out more about Ridgely, visit his website at
www.aviewfromtheridge.com.

It Matters...What Do You Subscribe To?

2011-07-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

by Madison Burgess

In general, most people subscribe to one of two different fundamental philosophies: "What will be, will be" or "If it is to be, it is up to me."

The individual who embraces the philosophy of "what will be, will be" chooses to live their life by chance or by accident. They accept the premise of having little or no influence over the daily events in their life or the results that are produced in their life, health, or business; therefore, they are accepting of any result. Individuals who subscribe to "what will be, will be" are not ready or willing to take full responsibility or accountability for the results of their life, health, or business. They have chosen at this point in time in their life not to reach out to the people who have the experience to help them, or to engage in a process focused on gaining the knowledge, tools, or skills that may help them become who they long to be.

The individual who embraces "if it is to be, it is up to me" is choosing to live their life by design. They are rooted in the concept of being responsible, accountable, and action- oriented. They remain aware of their progress and setbacks. They are adaptable and therefore, willing to be flexible with their actions to gain the greatest results. They understand that success leaves clues and see the value of seeking out and surrounding themselves with the people who have the experience, knowledge, tools, and skills that will help them reach their personal life, health, and business goals. They are willing to ask themselves some very powerful questions: Is the information valuable to me? Does it support my goals? How can I apply it?

More importantly, here are some other things they do:

They are willing to take a leap of faith and dive into the unknown.
They don't burden themselves with having to know everything to begin creating a more expansive and profitable life.
They are willing to spend the time to define and refine the areas that are stagnant.
They see the value of teaming up with their leaders for knowledge and direction.
They understand as they develop and grow that their business will grow.
They are confident in their direction.
They are patient with the process.

This is what they know for sure:

They believe in their vision.
They believe in their business partners and clients.
They believe in the algae.
They believe in Rollan Roberts II and the Home Team.
They believe in the health and wellness industry.

To be more expansive, this is what we know for sure:

Make a commitment to excellence.
Utilize simpleXity’s expansive resources.
Implement the business fundamentals.
Define and refine your belief and vision.
Follow the System—duplication is the key to your success!

Become masterful at P.I.F. (Promoting, Inviting, and Follow-Up
Do the Five Core Actions—do this and you will succeed
Repeat the skills by doing specific actions and teach the System to your team.

Apply the guiding principles to all the specific actions that grow your business—learn, do, teach.

Remember, there are still dragons to be slayed, princesses to be rescued, and buried treasures to be discovered. Take the leap of faith, dive in and be adventurous, have fun and play, and help many achieve their vision.

Life is grand!

Madison, Thomas, and Christopher

Top 10 Qualities in a Leader

2011-07-05T06:11:00.000-07:00

by Barbara Swanson

There are many “How to Be a Leader” books, videos, and seminars available—you would think that learning to be a fantastic leader would be easy for anyone who really wanted it.

However, my experience is that most people don’t translate the precepts of being a leader into the actions they must take to actually live as a leader.

Some of the seminars offer steps, which can seem great in the excitement of a closed room filled with enthusiastic peers, but much harder to do in the loneliness of a home office!

Others of these tools are blatantly manipulative. For example, you learn how to read another person’s needs and weaknesses so you can be able to get what you need from them. While this may be effective for a manager, it is not teaching you to act as a leader.

So, what is a leader? In my personal definition, a leader is a person who helps others to achieve a stated and desired goal, and in doing so, they themselves achieve their goal. What the goal is—not so important! It is their ability to offer insights, actions, and effective feedback that defines them as a leader.

Here are my “Top 10” (plus one) leadership qualities that offer a real basis of leadership:

Listen. Listen. Listen. This is one trait you cannot hire out. Learn how to hear others. Take classes if necessary. You will never be effective unless you know what others need and want.
Don't ask others to do what you won't do or haven't even tried.
Create a team. Look for people who are better than you at specific tasks; then have them join your team. Have people whom you like to work with and support one another to do what works. Have a mentor and be a mentor.
Emulate traits you admire in others.
Prioritize your time. This is easy to say, not always so easy to do. Mostly, we want to do what we enjoy or feel accomplished at. Facing a problem, shortcoming, or thorny issue is usually at the bottom of our list, yet often it is the most important action to tackle in order to move forward.
Do what you dislike most first—get it over with! This goes along with prioritizing.
Be in action, daily.
Don't lie to yourself about what is not working. This goes hand in hand with taking daily actions and in order to clarify the following step.
Review your action steps and plan of action regularly. By “regularly”, I do not mean once a year! Weekly and monthly reviews are best.
- If you find you are not achieving your goals, first check that your actions lead to success. If the actions are correct, next check your level of expertise at the execution of those actions. Talk to a mentor for clarity when needed. Change what is not working.
Practice. If you have a real weakness in a specific area, such as phone skills, practice. If that doesn't work, pay someone to do what you won't or don't do well!

And here is my last recommendation for our leaders: have fun. If you hate what you are doing, you will fail. Your mind is smart! It will not want you to succeed at what you dislike doing because then you will have to do more of it to create more success!

Expense or Investment?

2011-06-28T06:33:00.000-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to answer it honestly and out loud. Deep, deep down in your heart and soul, do you view STS and events as expenses or investments? In other words, do you think events and STS cost you money or make you money? Whatever your instinctive answer was or whether you mustered the courage to utter the response out loud or not is the way you truly think about events and STS.

Let me share a thought that can alter the course of your business if you grab hold of it and help your team get it in their heart and soul. Events and STS are not expenses. Did you get that? You may not believe it yet, but I hope you will. Events and STS are investments. They are investments in you, and they are investments in your business. Your business will not grow until you do (same goes for your people), and events and STS will grow you and your people simultaneously!

Expenses cost you money; investments make you money. By acknowledging that elementary concept, you will realize that events are not an expense. STS is not an expense. Because both of these functions are critical, foundational, and fundamental to the health and growth of your business—which is the engine that creates passive, residual income for you—events and STS cannot be expenses!

That’s why you should never let money be the reason you or anyone in your group doesn’t attend an event or get on STS. You (or they) do not have a money problem; you have a priority problem. You have one of two positions if this is you:

1. Your dream isn’t big enough, so a $300 event seems like a lot to pay if your goal is an extra $25/month.

2. You’re not as serious about building this business and your passive, residual income as you thought you were.

I could say I want to lose weight all day long, but if I keep overeating while affirming my desire to lose weight, I’ll be 300 pounds and still wanting to lose weight. My actions did not confirm what I said I wanted. Actions do speak louder than words. Words won’t grow your business. Action will grow your business. We’ve all heard the saying “put up or shut up” or heard the song “A Little Less Talk and A Lot More Action.” Both of these thoughts illustrate the point.

The problem isn’t money. The problem isn’t time. The problem isn’t the job. The problem isn’t your spouse. The problem is a priority problem. You can choose your priorities. You can choose what’s important to you. Even if you have no intention of growing this business (i.e. making money from this business…which is usually why people go into business), events and STS are still not expenses! How can that be so? Because the personal growth you experience and the person you become by going through this process and System will elevate other areas of your life, creating a much greater return than the investment you put into events and STS. I’m asking people to give me one year of their life and dedicate it to this business and this System. They can walk away after that if they want, but their life will never be the same.

The Difference Between Fate and Destiny

2011-06-21T06:46:00.000-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

Do you believe in fate? That is, whatever happens is bound to happen regardless of what you do? Fate is inevitable. Fate is unavoidable. But here’s the real question that makes the difference as to what kind of life you will live, “Is your future in fate’s hands or destiny’s hands?”

Destiny, you see, is vastly different than fate. Fate is what you let happen; destiny is what you make happen. Fate is unintentional and a result of the subconscious. Destiny is very intentional and a result of a conscious decision. Destiny says that it doesn’t matter what fate has in store for you; you have a higher purpose and calling that can change the course of fate. Maybe fate had a lot of crap in store for you. Maybe fate said you would be overweight, tired, poor, unhealthy, and unhappy. But then destiny shows up. Destiny kicks fate to the curb and says that it doesn’t have to be that way. There is a higher calling on your life—a higher level of consciousness for you to attain.

So who will win in your life—fate or destiny? The answer to that question is not merely a verbal one. The answer is dictated by your beliefs and actions. Destiny is a choice that must be pursued. Destiny is an action answer. Fate is a passive answer. Fate will happen if the choice to pursue your destiny is not made firmly and without question.

If your life and business aren’t where you want them right now, take an objective look at how you perceive the circumstances. Are the circumstances you’re in right now a result of fate (because you were not pursuing your destiny with specific and vigorous intent) or are you daily pursuing who you were meant to become (thus living your destiny even prior to the accomplishment of the goal)? Victory is not found in final achievement at the end of the race; it is in the race—the energy created by motion where your destiny is being created and lived out.

People usually come to the algae business from a life of fate. They are searching for something even though they don’t know what it is or perhaps that they are even searching at all! Their decision to engage with us changes their life and circumstances from one of fate to one of destiny. You are destined for greatness. Every human being has the seeds of greatness within themselves, but it is their responsibility to individually decide to fulfill their destiny. Don’t rely on fate. Take control of your destiny. Make the decision to commit to the new you and your business. Only then can you live the life and become the person you were destined to be! The world needs you to be the best you that you can be—which is what this business and our System is all about!

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

Stop…Just Stop

2011-06-14T06:11:00.000-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

Stop what you are doing for just a moment and think about this question: is what you are doing at this moment the highest and best use of your time? In commercial real estate, land is valued at its highest and best use (if it can support a high-rise mixed-use facility, it appraises for more than if a gas station goes there). You know to take action every day on your business to move forward whether that means having miXers, handing out samples, or building relationships. But not all activity has the same value. There are some things you can do to reap better results in less time than other things.

So before you get too busy being busy, make sure you’re busy with the few things that make the biggest difference! I’d hate for you to be busy with activities that produce little results. I have talked to some distributors in the past couple months that have spent time, money, and resources on activities they thought would produce the results they wanted but did not. You will quickly get jaded on this business if you do not follow the System. I speak from first-hand experience. Stop trying to reinvent the wheel and just follow the System. Stop trying to be the System and just plug into the System. Stop treating this like a traditional business and wasting countless dollars on useless advertising. This can be the most simple and fun business in the world to build, but you have to follow the System.

The three most powerful things you can do to build your business are being on STS, going to events, and having miXers. That’s the secret success formula. That is the shortcut. It’s difficult for me to swallow how many people will read this and still not follow the shortcut. It hurts. But for those of you who are committed to your future success, here are two principles you need to know to live this moment at its highest and best use:

1. Prioritize. There are a lot of things you can do right now, but chances are that there are only a few that make a real difference. In business, I call this the "critical few" vs. the "trivial many." The critical few move the needle; the trivial many do not. The critical few are non-negotiable; the trivial many are. Most people are busy doing the trivial many and neglect the critical few (STS, events, and miXers). If you don't focus on the critical few first, you'll never get to the critical few because the trivial many keep you so busy. The trivial many are like weeds that choke the life out of you. You will be so busy with the trivial many you don't have time for the critical few. This is what happens in life. We get so busy doing so many things for work, charities, athletics, etc. that the most important things get neglected like relationships, friends, and health. Prioritize the important critical few first, and then add in the trivial many based on what your schedule allows. Build your life around your priorities; don't let life just happen to you.

2. Leverage. Stop trying to do everything yourself. This is the difference between self-employed people and business owners. Self-employed people tend to do everything themselves (dentists, attorneys, accountants, salon owners, body shop owners, etc.). Business owners employ the concept of leverage. The uber-wealthy understand this concept and have employed it for generations. Instead of working themselves, they hire people to work following a system that produces a predictable result. They leverage people, not just money. And just like money compounds when leveraged, they leverage people to create money. We are familiar with leverage and compounding with money, but most people do not understand that they are either being leveraged or doing the leveraging! Which are you? If you're focused on maximizing every moment of the precious life we've been given to its highest and best use, leverage yourself by building a community—a team—of business builders.

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

Why Franchise?

2011-06-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

Entrepreneurs purchase franchises because they know what to expect. There are fewer surprises starting a franchise than there are with other kinds of businesses, even if they are in the same industry. They know what the earning potential is if they own one store or ten stores. They understand the process and the work it will take to get there. They are aware that it takes time to get there.

Suppose for a moment you were to buy a McDonald’s franchise. You’ve invested nearly one million dollars with the expectation that you will make $100,000 a year starting with your fifth year in business. Can you imagine saying, “I want the walls to be pink. I want comfortable chairs. I want to add my favorite cheesecake and amazing brownie recipe to the menu. Oh, and since I eat more chicken and fish than beef, let’s add a few family favorites to the menu!” How long do you think you’d be a McDonald’s franchisee if you did that? Not long! McDonald’s, and most other franchises, knows that your success and their income expectations are only good if their system is followed. They want every McDonald’s consumer to have the same experience whether they are in Dallas, TX or Hong Kong. They want every franchisee to earn what they expected to make. That cannot happen if every franchisee has their own version of the system.

So it is in our business. We have a System that works. We have a System that creates six and seven figure incomes. We have a duplicatable System that can scale bigger than you can grow your business. Follow the System. Do not recreate it, add your spin to it, or change the “paint color” (fill in the blank with whatever you would do differently). Just follow the System so you can reach your maximum level of success. STS, events, and miXers are the System, and they are not optional for long-term exponential growth.

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

Making Dreams Come True

2011-05-31T07:43:00.001-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

So you have this dream. You want it more than anything else. It is the purpose and mission of your life. What now? How do you make your dreams come true? Dreams come true by developing as a person, working diligently and consistently, maintaining the right spirit, heart, and mind by controlling your thoughts, and giving everything to it that you have been given, and in time your dreams will come true.

You have been given all of the tools, connections, and finances you need to accomplish the next step and take you to the next phase of your dream. It is in your life at this moment. Your mission is to discover these things that are currently present in your life.

Belief and persistence has helped many a dreamer live their dreams. They just kept knocking; they just kept asking. They did not quit. They won because they were the last ones standing. They were the only ones left. When everyone else was quitting, they put a stake in the ground and refused to give up the ground they had taken. You have to believe in yourself. You have to believe in your dream. You have to believe in your cause, and you have to believe that your success is not rooted in yourself, but is the culmination of other people in your life and the Almighty working in you to accomplish all you were destined to become. You must believe that all things are possible if you are called to do them. There are a lot of things that are impossible to me that are possible to someone whose mission it represents. It is impossible for me to compete in the NBA, but it is more than possible—it is reality—for those who are in the NBA.

Dreams do come true. If you were to ask a sports star, movie star, or musician what it takes to make it to the major leagues or to hit the big time, they would probably say they had an idea that they believed in, worked hard, persisted in the face of adversity, and determined to keep trying no matter how many times they were rejected and no matter the odds because they had nothing to lose no matter what they had. If you don’t have your dreams to chase, then you really don’t have anything at all. I have heard relatives of people at the end of their lives say that their loved one died because they lost the will to live. This is often true, but I am afraid it happens before the physical death more times than naught. There are people dying every day that have not lived in years. They lost hope a long time ago. They gave up on their dreams long ago. They gave up on discovering their purpose and living their life according to that purpose years before. If you are breathing, you can live and pursue your purpose with a fierce and fiery passion. There are people who cannot read the words on this page that have every opportunity for great success because they believe in their dream, do not know the meaning of the word ‘no,’ and have the persistence, determination, and will to never quit.

Higher education is not a requirement of success. Coming from a family of means, wealth, and prominence is not a requirement of success. Unusual talent is not a requirement of success. You can be successful and have all of your dreams come true by believing in your dream, believing that you have been equipped by the Almighty to accomplish it, refusing to quit or give up, working hard, and doing your dead level best at what you have been called to do no matter how minor or unimportant it may seem. If you are doing these things, then your mind is in the right place. You are thinking the right thoughts and controlling your mind. If you are having a difficult time believing that you can achieve your dream, you need to go to work on your thought life. The battle for your life is fought in your mind. Be a defender and a champion of your dream. If you don’t fight for it, no one else will. I cannot accomplish your dreams for you. Only you can do that. You cannot accomplish my dreams for me. Only I can do that. But we can work together to help both of us achieve our dreams. Dreams were made to come true. They were not designed by the Creator to drive you to insanity or endless frustration just to leave you feeling empty and like a failure. You have the seeds of greatness in you along with everything you need to move your dream forward in your life right now.

Time to Play!

2011-05-24T07:40:00.000-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

I loved playtime as a kid. Like many children, my favorite subject in school was recess! Not much has changed. We all have lives that are insanely busy. We all work hard and have crazy hours. That’s why building a simpleXity business should be fun. If you aren’t having fun, then you aren’t doing it right!

Here’s the takeaway: the team that plays together, stays together. Having miXers is the absolute best and most cutting-edge form of lead generation in the direct sales industry today. We are on the cusp of starting a movement that will sweep the industry. It’s an idea whose time has come. People are inundated with information from everywhere. Our senses are constantly bombarded from news and images on TV, commercials, newspapers, magazines, email and text updates, and marketing campaigns. We continually become more and more desensitized to tragedy with all of the intentional and alarming headlines that are everywhere.

The cause for which we are engaged is a serious one. It is one that has lasting and global impact. But people are already tired and overworked, so they aren’t looking for another job. They are looking for meaningful ways they can make a real difference in the world and supplement or replace their income or retirement. They want to work hard and play hard!

You’ve already mastered the working hard part; now, I want you to focus on the playing hard part! I see the pictures, hear the stories, and experience the fun of miXers with you firsthand. That’s just the beginning. You want to have miXers a minimum of once or twice per week. You don’t have to stop there though. We’ve been having travel miXers! How cool is that?! Whether it’s an evening BBQ, whitewater rafting, hiking, kayaking, an overnight trip to a drive-away destination, or a quick trip to the Caribbean, be creative in ways to have fun. It should be scheduled regularly at a minimum of once per month. You need to work at having fun and playing as hard as you work! Remember, the team that plays together, stays together.

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

Want More Leads?

2011-05-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

Lead generation and prospecting are perhaps the most discussed topics in the network marketing industry. There are more online lead generation programs and systems and offline prospecting approaches and tactics than you can fathom. For the record, I have never met a single distributor from any MLM organization who was making six or seven figures who built their business from online lead generation. Now, I am not opposed to online lead generation, but I do not believe that it is the best way of prospecting, and it should not be done by itself.

In fact, I have seen distributors in the industry that spent the equivalent of a

full-time job following up and hand-holding the high volume of leads they received, and after a period of years, their income was still less than $50,000. Their business is not scalable or duplicatable, which is why they cannot walk away from it and still receive a nice residual check. It’s also why no matter how many leads they get, they can’t do enough to build a strong six or seven-figure income.

So what does the simpleXity IBA do that wants to generate leads and grow their business? One word—miXers! The best way of building your business, generating new leads, and prospecting is to have a weekly miXer! You may even have miXers several nights per week at different types of restaurants or in different communities. You want more leads? Have more miXers. The leads you get will be more solid. You will retain them longer. They experience the culture. The best part is that it’s duplicatable and scalable. This means that you have the ability to earn a truly residual income. You don’t have to become a webmaster and follow up with online leads 24/7 just to make thirty grand per year. There is a better way. There is a way that’s more fun. Here’s the formula:

Lead Generation = miXers

Don’t forget that. The principles that the biggest income earners in the entire industry have used are built into this simple, cheap, duplicatable lead generation machine called miXers. I recommend having them weekly. As your business grows, you will want to hold more than one per week. When a new IBA registers, one of the core actions is to have a miXer. Schedule it right there on the spot so they can invite their friends to meet and hang out with you and one or two other IBAs on your team. Everyone should be hosting their own miXer and attending others when they can. This is the work of the business. Are you up for it? Do you want more leads? Follow the formula: lead generation = miXers!

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

Change or Transformation?

2011-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

The thing about change is that it’s always changing. Change is the only constant thing with change. When things change, they can also change back. This is the type of change most people are familiar with. They change their eating habits and change them back. They change their exercise routine, and they change it back. They change their thought patterns, and they change them back. However, there is a type of change that goes beyond normal levels of change and enters a realm that is way beyond ordinary change. This realm beyond is referred to as transformation.

Transformation transcends change. When something is transformed, it cannot revert back to its original form. Most of the change this company has seen over the years has been just that—change. Things would change, but if you gave it long enough, it would change back. Just like in many of our lives, it has happened in the life of this company.

This is not the same company it was six months ago. This is not the same company it was one, five, ten, fifteen, or twenty years ago. The company has undergone a total transformation. In many respects, it is a new company altogether. I’m proud of our Cell Tech heritage. I’m proud of the pioneering efforts this organization made in the life sciences field with the algae and in the network marketing industry. We have a lot to be thankful for and proud of. But simpleXity is not Cell Tech. A transformation has taken place. This transformation is taking us to greater heights and places we have never been before. As great as Cell Tech was, simpleXity will be bigger and stronger because of the values, culture, and System that separate us from every other company! Forget change—be a part of the transformation!

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

Follow the Signs

2011-05-03T07:16:00.001-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

Many people lend credence to the power and significance of signs in their lives. They take the good and bad things that randomly happen to them as an omen or as a sign as to why they should or should not do something. The sign may be something a friend tells them who is unaware of the full meaning it has to them at that time, or it may be the mountain of circumstances that seem to favor one choice over another. Most people have been taught not to force things to happen and that whatever happens, happens and therefore, is meant to be.

While there is much truth to this in many situations, when it comes to building a business or pursuing your dreams, this philosophy is dangerous and destructive. Here’s why: most people confuse obstacles for signs!

Building a business pulls out the best and worst in people. It forces them to get to know themselves. As some families can testify, this can often be awkward and uncomfortable because everyone is seeing sides of loved ones they haven’t seen before. What happens is personal and business problems start to come. Business owners who are not clear about why they are in business or passionately rooted in the cause quit when the waves of problems start to pile up. They are able to weather the first few, but it’s when they all come at once that it seems as though the sky is falling, and many people become a Chicken Little and quit.

The mistake they make is confusing obstacles as a sign that it is not meant to be. Things may not be further from the truth! You won’t achieve great success without a significant struggle. We wouldn’t have planes or electricity if someone didn’t ignore the “signs” and hammer through the obstacles. Winners do not confuse obstacles with signs. You should certainly consider everything in its proper context, and circumstances will influence decision making. But when the cause is clear and when the why is big enough, no obstacle or sign can hold you back or keep you down. The human will and the power of belief is greater than them all.

So the last 20 prospects rejected you. So it seems the whole world is against you. So a series of things aren’t going your way. Don’t doubt in the bad times the decisions you made in the good times. Don’t confuse obstacles for signs. Know who you are, know what you stand for, know what you are about, and don’t let anyone steal your dream!

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

Introducing SimpleXity’s Inaugural Science and Medical Advisory Council

2011-04-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

SimpleXity is proud to introduce our inaugural Science and Medical Advisory Council (SMAC). We are entering a very exciting growth phase, and basing our marketing efforts, success, and product development in sound science is of utmost importance to our future. The SMAC objective is to serve in an advisory capacity to the simpleXity corporate office on medical, science, health, and nutrition topics.

These successful and influential doctors were selected because they are committed to our company and products in their personal and professional lives. We are honored that they have graciously accepted our invitation to serve. Each of them has demonstrated sound wisdom, good judgment, discretion, and discernment in science, health, and nutrition and a thorough understanding of medical, health, science, and nutrition subject matter.

Todd Rappaport, M.D.

Dr. Rappaport, a board-certified anesthesiologist, received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and completed his medical degree at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University. He is an active member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) and the Fellowship for Anti-Aging, Regenerative, and Functional Medicine (FAAFM). Dr. Rappaport practices preventive and functional medicine and treats patients using personalized wellness programs that pinpoint and address the needs of each patient on an individual basis. In addition to holding medical licenses in Florida, North Carolina, and New York, Dr. Rappaport is a lecturer for Hippocrates Health Institute’s Health Educator program.

“AFA gives me the energy and mental focus necessary to accomplish what I need to get done on a daily basis. It has expanded my consciousness to that of my childhood, where I truly believe everything is possible.”—Dr. Todd Rappaport

Jeffrey Bruno, Ph.D.

Director of the Peninsula Child & Youth Assessment Clinics in California, Dr. Bruno holds a master’s degree in experimental psychology from the University of Wisconsin and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. A noted lecturer on the relationship between diet and behavior, he is the author of Edible Microalgae: A Review of the Health Research and has conducted clinical research studies on the benefits of our species of blue-green algae on children with learning problems. Dr. Bruno is a licensed psychologist who provides a full range of psychological and neuro-developmental evaluation services and specializes in working with children, adolescents, and families. Dr. Bruno has a distinct interest in holistic, drug-free approaches for families struggling with ADHD and other emotional and behavioral challenges.

"Wild blue-green algae is the most ancient super food on the planet. Gram per gram it's packed with more nutrition and brain enhancing factors than any other single food source that I know. Most people notice health benefits from regular use. It is a food that I consider most essential to safeguarding all of my families’ optimal wellness."—Dr. Jeffrey Bruno

Johnnie Strickland, M.D.

Johnnie Strickland is a board-certified family practitioner and President and CEO of MEDAC, PC, the first concierge integrative medicine clinic in Alabama. His focus is not only on treating current disease and illness but also on moving patients to a higher level of health and wellness so that the incidence of disease is minimized or nonexistent. His philosophy is combining the best of mainstream and integrative medicine to provide the best health care and service to his patients. He has served as chief of family practice, allergy and immunology, diabetic education, and triage at Maxwell Air Force Base. Dr. Strickland authored The 7 Secrets of Vibrant Health and lectures nationwide on the importance of an acid-free diet, the danger of hyperacidity, and the need for supplementation.

“SimpleXity’s blue-green algae has changed my life, and I feel better than I did 20 years ago. It has helped many of my patients live healthier and feel much better. Things are changing because MDs are now prescribing vitamins…now we just need them to prescribe the right ones! You have to have an organic, wholefood vitamin and mineral supplement that is cold processed in order to get the nutrients.”—Dr. Johnnie Strickland

10 Things I Hate About Network Marketing

2011-04-19T07:14:00.000-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

1. The Arrogance.

Just because you make a lot of money, have a lot of people who think you walk on water, sign a lot of autographs, and have your picture taken like you are a celebrity, doesn’t mean you are better than anyone else. It means you are blessed and should be humbled by it. Conversely, some of the most arrogant people I have seen are dead broke. They are the piously poor people who almost condemn wealth and embrace poverty. They somehow believe that this is noble and places them above everyone else. Both are arrogant, and both make me sick.

My Company: This will not be tolerated. Only servant leaders get the stage.

2. How Fake the People Are.

They like you as long as they think you are interested, but the moment you aren’t interested or active, they no longer want to have anything to do with you. They may have the fancy cars, luxury homes, private planes, and big boats and talk about their amazing marital relationship, but get them behind closed doors, and you haven’t seen such fighting.

My Company: I’m building this company on authenticity and genuineness. The world needs you to be you. You are special just the way you are.

3. The Gossip

Some of the most vicious and hurtful things you have ever heard have been said in MLM organizations. The backbiting and backstabbing are epidemic because of the lack of personal and/or corporate core values. Small minds like to stir up trouble just to see how leaders handle it skillfully. This is warped, twisted, psychotic behavior that explains the pervasive, incessant rumor mills and gossip prevalent in this industry.

My Company: If you want drama, watch a soap opera. We are here to uplift one another, not tear each other down. You get enough of that already!

4. The Jealousy

You hear them say that they want people to be more successful than them, but they really mean that they only want the people on their team to be more successful than them. The moment someone outside their line starts to rise to the top and shine like the stars, the attacks and destructive behavior begin. They want the limelight and are only willing to share it with people they profit from. This is the primary cause of gossip and rumors.

My Company: We focus on genuinely celebrating one another’s success regardless of where it comes from and who stands to profit. We are not the enemy. We are not in competition with anyone inside the organization. We are our biggest competitor. We compete against our personal best.

5. The Loss of Social Capital

You know what I mean. The moment someone finds out that the distribution and sales model is network marketing, your credibility and social position take a hit. So many people have been so abrasive, arrogant, and in your face that it has turned many people off to the idea.

My Company: We teach attraction marketing so we aren’t prospecting. Because we are fundamentally a life sciences company, we are not positioned as a traditional network marketing company. Most view us more like a robust referral or affiliate program or like a franchise. Because we do what we do for the cause and not money, it does not affect or risk our social capital.

6. The Sleaziness

The network marketing industry seems to be inundated with sleazy people. Some of those that appear to be successful are more of a “slick Willie” than a strong leader. It is this slime that taints the industry as a whole, causing many to view it as second class or something you do when you can’t do anything else. I don’t like the fast talkers and the silky-smooth rhetoric that makes me reach for my wallet to make sure it is still there. The preeminence and preoccupation of image and wanting the affection and admiration of downline tends to cause distributors to say what the people expect to hear. People outside the industry see right through this, which is why they want nothing to do with it.

My Company: Everything we do is about excellence. We promote and attract authenticity. You don’t have to live a certain lifestyle to be recognized by our organization. You don’t have to drive fancy cars and take luxury vacations or be a charismatic speaker and have a dynamic personality. We celebrate you. The world needs you to be you. We help you become more of what you already are.

7. The Prospecting

If I were not in the industry, I would hate being prospected. I even hated being prospected before I was in the business. It’s because I felt played. I felt as though I was being tricked. I didn’t want a strategy used on me. I didn’t want to be the experiment for a tactic learned at the latest conference. Even if people don’t know they are being prospected, they will look back and see your intentions, which will place you in category #6—sleazy.

The other side of prospecting I don’t like is the overly enthusiastic, I-just-signed-up or just-came-back-from-a-conference disposition that blows people out of the water. You are excited—that’s great—but that enthusiasm must be channeled appropriately. We aren’t drinking Kool-Aid here. It’s not a one-time offer. This is a relationship business, and most people are in the business of blowing people out of the water. On one hand, I’m glad they are trying, and I’m glad they are pursuing their dreams. On the other hand, they will not be successful focusing on prospecting.

My last beef with network marketing prospecting is thinking that it can be done exclusively online. Online communities are built online. Word of mouth advertising is a person-to-person action and is done among friends or respected acquaintances. Online lead generation is great and recommended, but that’s just the beginning.

My Company: My approach is to make friends. It doesn’t matter whether they do the business or not. It doesn’t matter whether they buy the product or not. I do not even mention the product or the business to anyone until I know what need it can meet in their physical, financial, emotional, social, or spiritual life. Anything less is a sales pitch and not a genuine concern about adding value in their life. You know the saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

8. The Fickleness of Friendships

To see and hear associates at an event, you would think that everyone loves each other, celebrates each another, and loves the whole world. But focus on areas of your life other than the business and you are an infidel. People who you thought were your best friends and who would be there for you for the rest of your life suddenly disappear when your activity level decreases, or you don’t get mega results quickly. People in your downline who were loyal to the core and swore to be with you for life suddenly quit, and you never hear from them again. It always seems to happen right when you start to love them! People will tell you how much they love you and use the same lips they use to kiss you to gossip and create doubt and rumors about you. The same hands that hug you are used to stab you.

My Company: Friendships are built on trust and respect. This requires authenticity so the friendship is based on something real. Friendships aren’t based on an image of who you are; deep, life-long friendships are based on knowing who the real person is and loving them in spite of their faults for who they are and what they stand for. I wish every associate that comes to us would be a friend for life. I know that is unrealistic, but our culture fosters and promotes that. So if they do not, it is because they choose not to, not because it isn’t available to them.

9. The Expense

The inside joke of most MLM companies is that they are a personal development company with a product. In fact, many of them even make a high percentage of their revenue off the training and marketing materials! Personal growth, while certainly required, has become as big or bigger than the product in many companies. These are the ones that tend to come and go. It can get very expensive for associates in most organizations to buy $500-2,000 per month in personal products, plus spend $1,000 on support materials per month, along with a couple thousand for the trainings. I know it’s a business, and if you had a traditional business, these expenses are normal and expected.

My Company: This is not a traditional business, and the beauty of it is the small upfront investment, minimal risk, and huge upside. We keep the cost of the products, support, marketing, and training to a bare minimum to cover expenses. We are here to help you achieve your goals and dreams, which probably requires currency. We want to help you get some, not take whatever you have away! You should invest in your business, but we want to help you grow fast so that you can offset your investment as soon as possible. That is the goal when you start any business! Of course, in most businesses, it takes 2–5 years to make your money back. The ability to do it in 30–90 days is quite attractive.

10. The False Hope

I’ve heard heads of network marketing companies tell their audiences of 5,000 people that their business was one they could leave to future generations while they were negotiating the sale of the company to a non-network marketing company that had no intention of keeping that distribution model intact! The fact is that everyone who joins will not become a millionaire. Most will not make six figures from it. Most people do not grow enough personally, work hard enough, work long enough, or invest enough into their business to be successful. Yes, anyone can do it, but maybe not the way they are.

My Company: I favor teaching people how to be good entrepreneurs and business owners. It is not easy. It will be hard. But it is worth it! Anyone can be successful in a network marketing business, but most people can’t or won’t overcome the personal gaps and baggage that exist in their lives to achieve great success. We created a system that allows anyone to be successful, but they have to follow the system. Even still, many will not follow the system.

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

Show Me the Love!

2011-04-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

You’ve heard the famous line from the movie Jerry McGuire where Tom Cruise, playing Jerry McGuire, is made by his client to repeatedly yell louder and louder, “Show me the money!”

In our business, what you should be doing is showing your people the love! Love is what people need. They need to be needed. They need to be wanted. Everyone has room in their heart and life for one more person to take a personal interest in them and love them where they are while challenging them to grow.

People everywhere are hurting. They are living lives of quiet desperation in their relationships, career, finances, or health. Many are out of shape and most are in debt up to their eyeballs. Yes, people need our love. They need a loving smile and a loving hug. Love your people. Love your prospects. Show love and kindness to everyone you meet, and you cannot imagine how big and how fast your group can grow. Love on people.

Most people in this industry do not have this as their single objective. They are trying to sign people up or sell them something. Both of those are derivatives of something more meaningful. Sales and new associates are byproducts of doing the right thing and loving people. See their potential. See them for who they can be, not for who they are. True love wants what is best for the individual. It is not selfish or self-serving.

So if you want your business to grow, start showing the love. Care about everyone you meet. Try to get to know them—not for what they can do for you, but for what you can do for them. Look for tangible ways you can show them the love. That is what our community is about. That is what this organization is all about. Showing the love is what we are all about and is a part of why we are here. Showing the love is not a part-time or full-time endeavor. It is an all-the-time thing. No one builds this business part-time or full-time. If it gets built, it’s because someone is showing the love all the time to everyone they meet. It is real. It is genuine. It is authentic. The world is searching for something meaningful that is real, genuine, and authentic!

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

So You Think You’re Active?

2011-04-05T09:06:00.001-07:00

Ever wondered what an “active IBA” looks like? What does it mean to be “active”? It’s always amazing to me to hear associates talk about how active they are in the business, and they don’t have a clue about what is going on. They clearly are not in the loop and do not see what is happening. They think that the simpleXity today is the same as the simpleXity of yesterday. That is an erroneous assumption—and you know what they say about assumptions!

One of the best questions you can ask yourself is “compared to what?” What or who are you comparing your activity level to? Most people compare themselves to people who are doing less than them. Rarely do they see what top performers are doing and measure themselves against them because they know the outcome. Some genuinely don’t think they can get more active than they are, even though the truth is they are more disconnected than ever. In times of rapid change, you must grow and keep up with the rate of change or keep falling further and further from the heart of the company and algae. Since we are changing so fast, many people who have long considered themselves active have never been more inactive!

Missing one event is catastrophic. Missing one edition of The Source puts you behind. Not visiting the website weekly and Facebook daily will make you disconnect fast. It’s important to ask yourself why you want to be active? If you’re active, it means you’re working toward a goal or an end of some sort. You have a desired outcome that you hope to achieve. I don’t want you to have false hope, which is what you have if you are not active in a way that yields results in the desired time frame. Here are the behaviors active simpleXity associates demonstrate:

1. On monthly AutoShip

2. On STS

3. Attend all major events

4. Share algae with prospects

5. Contribute to the community on Facebook/website

6. Keep up to date on everything at the company

7. Promote what the company is promoting (see The Source/website)

If someone is doing these things, they are active and will get the results they’re looking for. If you do five out of these seven things, you won’t get the success you’re expecting, or it won’t be sustainable if you do—and you still aren’t “active.” If you do six out of seven, you still won’t achieve the passive, residual, growing, sustainable results you seek—and you still aren’t “active.” This list is the bare minimum of being active. The only way to be more active is to do more of #4. He who shares the algae with the most people—and teaches his team to do the same—wins!

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

Why Events Are Critical

2011-03-29T08:35:00.001-07:00

You’ve heard the stories and seen the videos, live streaming, and pictures from Spring Training. Starting with the Directors and Above Meeting on Thursday and ending with the wild and rocking pool party Saturday night, it could not have been a better meeting. The speakers were amazing. The hotel and location were great. The food was excellent. The event was conducted in a first-class manner. But best of all, the people were fired up! You have never seen such excitement, energy, and enthusiasm as was exhibited over the weekend. Here’s a snippet of what they experienced:

New upcoming products
New business-building strategies
New rewards program
New simpleXity gear (shirts, hats, bumper stickers)
First dibs at ordering DVDs of the event
Special discounted price for Dream Weekend

This was just the start. Words cannot impart what happened in Scottsdale. It’s one of those things where you just had to be there to know what any of us are talking about. So what’s the big deal? Why is it so important to attend all major events? Let me explain.

Missing a major event causes your business to delay growth by six months. With a major event every four months, you could literally fall further and further behind in how to grow a worthwhile business with simpleXity. There are a multitude of reasons for this:

Events create belief.
Belief creates action.
Action creates results.
Results create momentum.
Momentum builds businesses.

Your team will only do what you do. If events are a priority in your life, your team will make it a priority in theirs. If you do not, neither will they. True field leaders make attending events a priority. They have hundreds and thousands of people looking to them for leadership and guidance. We have new leaders stepping up in the organization. Madison Burgess and Chris Scripoli rocked the house (and the pool party and everything else!) at Spring Training. Their leadership and commitment to simpleXity is exemplary and worthy of every new IBA following. Their growth is explosive, and their command of how to build a successful business is extraordinary.

The only regret people have when leaving major events is that they did not have more people there. If the only thing you did in between major events was promote the next major event, you would build a huge business. Your volume, BV, and simpleXity income depend on the number of people you have at major events. It’s not about you coming or not coming. It’s assumed you are coming. The question is how many people are you bringing with you? Your business should spike 30–60 days after major events, but you will only experience this if you have a large group there from your first two levels. Invite everyone you talk to and everyone you register to Dream Weekend in Las Vegas. They don’t have to be an IBA to attend. We have several people already registered who just want to see what this community is all about. Dream Weekend is our biggest event of the year and can be a new beginning and a fresh start for you and your simpleXity business.

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

2011-03-22T21:44:00.000-07:00

Due to the impending nuclear catastrophe in Japan, much focus has been placed on obtaining potassium iodide in order to protect our thyroid glands.

The thyroid gland needs iodine to make thyroid hormones. Typically, we obtain iodine from the food we eat. Radioactive iodine released during a nuclear emergency/reactor accident is of great concern because radioactive iodine can make its way into the body through breathing, eating, or drinking. Once radioactive iodine has been ingested, it is quickly absorbed by the thyroid gland, resulting in damage to thyroid tissues. Potassium iodide cannot prevent radioactive iodine from entering the body, nor can it "cure" already damaged tissues or protect other organs.

The uptake of organic iodine from supplements and foods rich in iodine help prevent the thyroid gland from taking in further amounts of iodine in the form of radioactive iodine. It has been determined that the human body needs approximately 140-150 micrograms (mcg) of iodine per day. Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, blue-green algae, does contain organic iodine: Alpha Sun contains 0.4mcg of iodine per serving (4 caps/tabs or 1 gram of algae); Omega Sun contains 0.3mcg of iodine per serving (4 caps/tabs, or 1 gram of algae).

What other products can supplement organic iodine?

Marine (sea) algae tends to contain greater amounts of iodine. Very small amounts of marine algae can contribute to our iodine requirements. Our Super Q₁₀ and Super Sprouts & Algae both contain red beta algae (D. salina), which is a marine algae. Since the blends are proprietary, we do not have the amount of iodine contained in these products.

SimpleXity BG Bars and Go Green also contain marine algae: dulse (a red algae or seaweed) and kelp (a large brown algae or seaweed). The blend in these is also proprietary.

Strontium 90, also released during nuclear events, is known to deplete vitamin D levels. Once absorbed into the body, Strontium 90 can be assimilated into the bones like calcium. StemPlex contains 2,000 IU of vitamin D per serving (2 capsules) in the form of vitamin D3 and may help compensate for depleted vitamin D levels.

Are antioxidants beneficial towards protection against radiation?

Many studies have reported the protective effects of chlorophyll on irradiated animals. In the 1950s, experiments were conducted using radiation on lab animals. The rats that had been given alkaline foods, such as dark green vegetables (rich in chlorophyll), experienced fewer deaths. Klamath Lake, with a pH ranging from 8 to 10, is alkaline and therefore, provides a generous supply of alkaline elements for uptake by algae. Because the minerals in algae are from an organic source, they would be quite easily absorbed. The algae is listed in the alkaline-forming range.

AFA algae is rich in the antioxidant chlorophyll

Antioxidants can help promote healthy aging by preventing damage [to cells] caused by oxidation, but more importantly, they may inhibit gene mutations. After the nuclear accident in Chernobyl, children with radiation sickness were given blue-green algae for a period of weeks due to the chlorophyll content it possesses. In the instance of the Chernobyl incident, the algae that was used was considered to be an immune enhancer. In addition, further studies from Chernobyl affected areas demonstrated that the algae offered some help in aiding the body to eliminate ingested radio-nucleotides, such as Strontium and Cesium, obtained from contaminated foods. While the algae given to them was not AFA, the chlorophyll content within our algae makes AFA a superior choice for antioxidants.

How to Connect with People

2011-03-15T08:31:00.001-07:00

by Rollan Roberts II

I like energy. I like being around people who have calm energy. I don't like hyper and jittery—electrifying yes, fidgety no. I like in-control, confident energy. If you enjoy watching people, you know what I mean. When people connect with their friends and finish each other's sentences, we say they are on the same wavelength and are in sync. Our energy transmits thoughts and feelings without words being spoken. That is why we put so much stock into hunches and gut feelings. That's why people say to trust your instincts.

Energy is a powerful force. It is a force that should be managed. This is why people sit in Starbucks, focused on their computer or listening to an iPod, zoning out the rest of the world, but surrounded by people. If they wanted peace and quiet, the coffee shop would not be the place to go, but they do it for the energy. They don't want people talking to them, but they want to be around people. Why? They feed off of the energy and vibes that other people put off. Most people have never thought about energy this way. You can manage your energy and that of others. Do you know someone that lights up a room the moment they walk in or perhaps someone whose presence can alter the mood of a room, meeting, or conference? That is managing energy. Those who aren't in tune with this energy subconsciously acquiesce to the dominating force whether it is good or bad. Leaders and champions set the tone; they manage the energy.

Here are 3 ways to manage your energy and that of others:

1. Posture. Be cognizant of your posture. Hold your head up and your shoulders back. Don't slouch when you sit. Be appropriate naturally. Throw rigidity out. Move at a measured but sure pace and with purpose. Remain calm and in control regardless of what happens. Don't panic. Don't raise your voice. Resist the urge to get upset. Respond—don't react. Remember, it's not what happens; it's how you handle it. How you handle it creates positive or negative energy. All movement creates positive or negative energy based on the type and volume of movement, so posture, pace, tone, and self-control of emotions all directly impact the energy you project. The energy you project makes things better or worse in everything you do. It makes people naturally gravitate to you or naturally repels them.

2. Thoughts. While you are maintaining external composure, you should project your thoughts externally. Our thoughts are like a projection screen. They behave like radio waves. Just like music is piped through radios around the world through waves that we cannot see, so our thoughts are transmitted one to another. This is why you can think of someone you haven't seen in years and within a couple days, they call. The thought waves travelled to wherever they were. Or perhaps with someone to whom you are closer, you get ready to text or call them only to receive a call or text from them at the same time. How many times have you said, "I was just getting ready to call you!" or "I was just thinking about you!" Thought is energy and it should be managed. The moral is to only think about what you want to happen. That's why focusing on the negative and focusing on what you don't want to happen is disastrous, but it explains why so many people lead the lives they do. They believe no one knows what they think, but they don't realize that their lives are a mirror of their thoughts.

3. Personality. Be interesting. People are not interested in a boring person. You do not have to have amazing charisma and be an orator to manage energy. You have to be confident in who you are. If you aren't, decide what it would take for you to be proud of yourself and confident in who you are (education, financial, giving, legacy, status, etc.). Confidence is the source from which amazing energy is transmitted. It's not arrogance; it is being comfortable and proud of who you are and what you represent—your belief system. Confidence is not a have or have-not issue.

A secret to managing other people's energy is to be interested in them. Listen to them. Be present in the conversation. It is irritating when you're talking with someone standing right in front of you and they aren't “there.” Their mind is somewhere else altogether. Pay attention to people. Compliment them. Look for the good. Do not live as an island unto yourself. Meet new people—not for what they can do for you, but just as a genuine interest in them. Seek first to add value by sharing friendship. Everyone needs a smile. Everyone needs a hug. Depending on what's appropriate, you can meet that need and thus facilitate the transfer of energy. That is the basis of what makes people connect. When energies meet, it makes chemistry. As with all chemistry, the interaction of elements creates different levels of connection—some are stronger than others, but the science is the same. Altering your energy changes the chemistry between you and other people.

How to Build a simpleXity Business

2011-03-08T07:40:00.001-08:00

by Rollan Roberts II

In earlier posts, we established the 5 Core Actions that successful IBAs should demonstrate. These behaviors are the starting point and should be followed personally before embarking on building a business. Success starts with us. We must exemplify what we want to see in others.

Now that you are prepared to build, it starts with being excited. This is not a manufactured emotion. It will come naturally as you discover your dreams and a cause worth pursuing. As you experience the power of Super Blue Green® Algae, you will have organic enthusiasm and a desire to introduce others to its power. What follows are some general parameters about channeling this newfound enthusiasm to a productive end.

It all starts with talking to people. The majority of network marketing success is built with people you haven’t met yet. Many people join because they know a couple of people they think would be interested in the opportunity. However, large organizations are usually built with people you didn’t know prior to launching your business. A rookie mistake in prospecting is to treat all prospects equally. While anyone can become the person necessary to build a business of any size given enough time, you want to look for people that already have social capital. This will greatly expedite your success. People that have centers of influence and existing platforms or channels for distribution or promotion are highly desirable. This is called “sponsoring up.” You’re looking for people who do not need this. Most beginners do the opposite and look for people who are broke or broken. While our System and the algae can fix the broke and broken, that process takes considerably longer than sponsoring up. It’s easier to find leaders than develop them, but you have to do both.

In order to sponsor up, you must prospect up. Remember that eagles don’t flock—turkeys do. You find eagles one at a time. When you meet someone you want to introduce to the algae and business, you must decide the best approach and most effective strategy for sharing what we have with them. Timing is very important in this process. The person’s history, social capital, and current standing in society should guide you on the most appropriate and effective way of introducing the simpleXity community to them. For example, if you wanted to introduce a high-powered attorney, world-renowned surgeon, or extremely successful entrepreneur to the algae, their first introduction to the company should not be the Tuesday evening webinar. It should not even be a live Opportunity/Training meeting! It should be a one-on-one and may just be a conversation, not a series of “x’s” and “o’s.” It may start with coffee, lunch, or happy hour. In this case, the webinars or live overview should be a follow-up to get more information or to take a closer look at the opportunity. The webinars and live overview meetings are not designed to win everybody. They are a strategic tool that must be used appropriately to be effective. In most cases, you are the one that should introduce them to the overall concept. Use the webinars and live overview events as a follow-up for more information and to meet the team that will help them to be successful. Using a hammer when you should be using a saw creates havoc on the goal, so make sure you use the tools provided as intended.

If you know someone has had a negative experience with the MLM industry in the past, the strategy required to win them over is very different than for someone that is taking a look for the first time. A one-on-one is going to be a much more effective introduction than a live meeting. One word of advice here is to look for people who are looking. People find what they are looking for. If they are looking for reasons why this won’t work, why they can’t right now, why this is the same as Amway, or whatever else, they will find it. You are only looking for people who are looking. We are not in the convincing business. We don’t have to be because of the power of the algae and the uniqueness of our community that is rooted in the 10 Core Values. It helps to be reminded occasionally that you won’t win them all. Not everybody will get it. Sometimes it will be you. Other times it will be me. But we can’t win everybody. The good news is you don’t have to win everyone you talk to in order to achieve great success! You only need a handful of committed IBAs exhibiting the right behaviors (5 Core Actions) and the right amount of activity (sharing the algae and opportunity with 5–6 people a week) with the right consistency. As people grow and develop personally through time on STS, they will be more effective in their attraction prospecting. People will want to be a part of what you are doing because they want to associate with you!

One of the main purposes of the live Opportunity/Training meetings is to be around the local algae community. The opportunity side is not just sharing the plan with new prospects, it is teaching existing IBAs how to share the opportunity as well. It is about the camaraderie that is created by being together. The training portion of these live events is not to convince people that they are in the right place at the right time (although that should always come through); it is more about sharing how to get people started right and sharing where we are, along with upcoming events and activities. The assumption is made that those who stay for the training portion want to be trained on whatever the speaker is training on. Once again, the main value you and your team will receive from live events takes place before the event starts, on the breaks, and after the events. The most fun people have at events is when they all go out afterwards and strategize about how they’re going to put this thing together as a team. That creates excitement and momentum! Excitement and momentum build community, and community is what we are all about!

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

Success with Prospecting

2011-03-01T07:58:00.001-08:00

by Barbara Swanson

In most companies, a prospect's initial introduction to its products or services and business is focused on features and information. In network marketing, the other common introduction (unfortunately) is the one filled with buzz-words, a lot of hype and promises and perhaps, an occasional fact or two thrown in.

Features and facts convey information, but they do little to grab and hold the prospect's attention. Facts are cold. Unless a fact is married to a need, it won't evoke emotion, a required ingredient for your prospects to take action.

With the hype approach, buzz-words and promises grab attention (that is why they “buzz”). This technique does inspire an emotion, such as desire or excitement, but it does little to inspire belief or confidence.

Let’s compare the two approaches and offer a solution for an effective, ethical, and personal approach to prospecting.

Traditional Selling: Dry, Dry, Dying of Thirst

This is when you use facts and information to “sell” your products and opportunity. The following is a typical example of a traditional sale's prospecting approach that closely mirrors the copy on a particular company's website (names have been changed to protect the guilty).

“For more than twenty-two years, Production Max Associates has helped injection molding manufacturers maximize production throughout, improve quality control, and reduce reject rates through a comprehensive workflow analysis and the development and implementation of optimized process protocols.”

Technically, there is nothing wrong with this description. It highlights aspects of the company's services and mentions a few features. It even mentions a few benefits—but it leaves you flat. What is wrong with this approach?

It doesn’t arouse your curiosity. Okay, maybe it stirs your curiosity about what an "optimized process protocol" might be. But, do you really want to stick around and find out? The language of this approach offers nothing for a prospect to latch onto emotionally, and that is the key difference between an informational (facts and features) brochure and a marketing brochure (benefits to inspire emotion).

While the above example is a sales approach outside of our industry, I have heard dozens—maybe even hundreds—of networkers use the same tone and belief system promoting their company or products. They operate under the belief that if only their prospect has enough “facts”, then, of course, they will use the products (do the business)!

The problem with this approach is that you sound like every other product and business. It is like a well-used template with a series of verbs, adverbs, and adjectives; just insert the product or company. Let’s face it—most of us believe our product (insert name here) is proven to help, has good quality control, or offers the best option.

There is a difference between explaining what our products do and why or what our business is and offers and getting a new person to believe in our products or trust that they will get what they need with our business.

Go for the Gut: Marketing Without Substance

This is an approach particularly popular with many networkers. It features what I call “the hype and fever sales pitch.”

Act now!
You can’t afford not to take this product!
We cure diabetes!
For the next 15 minutes only!
Get in now on the ground floor opportunity!

This is particularly prevalent at shows and events or in anonymous email blasts. This approach certainly does appeal to the emotions. Often, any actual information or facts are completely absent.

Most often the emotion being evoked is fear—that the opportunity will not last or that the person is “missing out” on something with dire consequences. This approach works! People respond to fear; that is proven. But is it in your best interest to appeal to another’s fear?

While you can certainly get the attention of a prospect with this approach—which is why it is used so often—you will not gain trust or inspire confidence. And often, this approach winds up becoming an outright lie or an illegal claim.

The New Marketing Paradigm: Ethical and Effective

Effective marketing is an essential part of creating a successful business. We cannot afford to be ignorant of what works. As mentioned earlier, using fear works as a marketing technique; it evokes a strong emotional response that can be used to create urgency to buy or join. However, in my opinion, it often skirts the edge of ethical marketing. More times than I care to remember, I have heard someone swear that his juice, water, bracelet, or patch cured his wife’s cancer and his mother’s diabetes, and he lost 40 pounds. Or he is making more money now, in just 8 weeks, than he did in the year before—all while golfing or sailing.

Now, all these benefits may be the truth of his results, but I have a great dislike of promising those kinds of results. First, it is illegal. Second, it is not ethical. Most people do not get magically “healed” with a single product or even a combination of products. Most people will not earn a five-figure monthly income in a few short weeks. Healing can occur, and it is most often with other lifestyle and emotional shifts. Wealth is achievable—usually with persistence and personal growth.

The bottom line: It is not in your best interest, nor in the best interest of your company, to make claims like this.

In the industry of network marketing today, we have an opportunity to combine the best of all techniques and tools with our business. If you are with a company that offers health products, you know that discussing feared diseases will bring you attention and might bring you people who expect you to heal them. Rather than claim healing, instead find out what they hope for with better health; then discuss personal choices and talk about the natural healing process.

If you are discussing your company’s income opportunity, it is tempting to encourage your prospect to join with tales of amazing wealth, only to, perhaps, set them up for unrealistic expectations. It is a better choice to talk about what they want and need from a home-based business, your own personal growth, and the freedom that can be found along the journey.

By listening to what people need, you can begin to speak the language they will hear. When you have the ability to describe your business, product, or service in the language of personal choices, personal growth, and support and mentoring, you breathe life into what you offer.

Tips for Successful Prospecting

Listen

You will never know if what you have to offer is what they desire unless you hear what they need. Some people truly do not want what you have to offer, and that is their right. Respect them enough to allow this!

Tell a story

In the beginning, the biggest difference to a prospect between your product/business and another company’s product/business is you. You are the heart to which their emotions might respond. Telling your story from your heart is a true and honest way to imbue what your company offers with emotional content.

Add benefits

This is different than a feature or a fact. A fact might be that your company offers food-based supplements. A feature might be that those supplements are 100% organic. A benefit could be that your company’s products have given you more energy and mental clarity.

Add names. Add numbers.

Make it real and relatable. Your presentation needs to connect what you have to what your prospect is looking for. Names and numbers make the description more interesting and give the reader or listener something to connect and compare. Descriptions should refer to real situations, and when permissible, reference yourself or real clients and customers.

Practice

Practice in front of a mirror with your friends, co-workers, or upline support. We are in a profession, and when we take what we say seriously enough to say it well, we are ready to be in charge of our business.

Barbara Swanson, a professional artist and licensed aesthetician, joined the company in 1993 and achieved the (then) highest title of Double Diamond just two years later. She is currently the only IBA holding the top title of National Executive Director. She is a coach, teacher, trainer, and a presenter of simpleXity’s nutritional health model.

Looking for the "Big Fish"

2011-02-22T09:33:00.000-08:00

by Barbara Swanson

There is nothing wrong with pursuing big growth opportunities. However, it is important to not focus on these at the expense of other opportunities. It is essential to be realistic about what will attract other experienced entrepreneurs to your opportunity.

In network marketing, there is a myth about finding the “big fish.” This myth takes advantage of the (often secret) desire to have a huge business “just happen.” The myth is founded on the hope that with very little work—and because your company is just perfect—you will be able to enroll that one magic person who causes your organization to “explode”—and you will have financial freedom ever after!

This has happened to some of us, of course; we (knowingly or not) have enrolled a person who quickly grew our organization into quadruple or more digits. This is exciting, of course, and these successes lead some network marketers to develop tunnel vision. They are so focused on finding and developing the “big deal” that they lose sight of other opportunities before them—the smaller “little people” (who are much more plentiful).

Be careful not to fall into the mindset that if you take the time to develop a small or modest-sized opportunity, a big opportunity will be "getting away." It is important to recognize that you can't lose an opportunity—big, small, or otherwise—that never existed!

Historically and statistically, in most organizations the number of people enrolled through small or modest-sized businesses (created by “regular” people) wind up being equal to or more than what would have been created by the elusive “big fish.” Plus, often it is the new business associate who appears to want a modest-sized business who will, with the addition of go-getters in their organization, grow into a big deal.

I have seen many networkers invest insufficient effort in developing a relationship with the small or modest-sized business people they meet, and so often they wind up enrolling very few of them. Even worse, these “small” builders are sometimes ignored once they are enrolled, as though the effort to provide ongoing support would not be worth the financial gain.

So, let’s take a look at the “big fish”; what does a legitimately powerful and experienced networker look for in a business opportunity?

It is important to understand the dynamic of how those “big fish” look for an opportunity.

Typically, a professional networker is always looking for a great opportunity. This will be a combination of a stable company and a great, unique, and market-fresh product, a good compensation plan, and the right time. They are looking for something that already demonstrates interest and sales to consumers. In other words, develop the small and passionate people, and their sales success and activity will attract the “big fish” to you!

If you've been operating with blinders—focusing too narrowly on the elusive "big" deal—take the blinders off and broaden your view. Focus your energy on identifying, qualifying, and developing opportunities, regardless of your preconceived idea about their potential.

When you stop looking for the "big" sale, it will show up on its own—perhaps disguised as just another modest opportunity.

Short on Time?

2011-02-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

by Rollan Roberts II

How often do you hear someone say they do not have time to do something? Ask if someone is going to an event, meeting, game, recital or shopping, and the answer might just be "if I have time."

The problem is not that you and I do not have time. We have all the time there is! We do not get short-changed some days or go over on other days. What society is short on is discretionary time. For those who are chronically short on time, you do not have a time problem; you have a priority problem. We do not have time for something because we are currently engaged in an activity we deem of greater importance. If something of greater value or priority came up, then that would capture our time so that we "don't have any." That is, until something of even greater priority comes along. And so life goes. The net-net here is that people are busy doing whatever it is they are doing because that is the activity of greatest importance in their lives at that time. There is nothing inherently right or wrong about this. In fact, the system works. I am going to occupy my time with the highest value activities I can that will produce the greatest return. Occasionally, something of greater importance comes along where I choose to divert my focus and attention to something else for a period of time, whether it is 5 minutes, 5 days, or 5 years.

Here are 3 steps to stop "losing" time:

1. Align

Align your schedule with your priorities. Companies fail because their activities do not align with their priorities. When you compare what their initiatives are with the work they are engaged in, there is often a disconnect. Away from the office, most everyone I talk to says that their family is more important to them than anything else. That interests me considering they spend 8-10 hours at the office, then spend 1-2 hours at the gym, and finish the evening hanging out with friends watching sporting events at the bar, playing games, or watching TV. Outside of earning a wage to provide for your family, how much family time is scheduled where nothing can interfere (if the belief is that nothing is more important)?

2. Commit

Learn to make time commitments. This is the fastest method I know to teach people how to better manage their time. What happens is you start committing and then something of greater importance comes up, but you've already committed. There is no such thing as de-commitment! After this happens a few times, you learn which activities are truly aligned with your priorities, and you will see dramatic improvements in your time management skills. You will be surprised how much more time you have (for what you truly value!).

3. Schedule

The daily items that soak up time are the things we fail to schedule. The more you account for your activities and schedule them, the more discretionary time you will have. It's more than a day-timer, planner, or to-do list. My days are planned in time increments. Unexpected things come up every day. That's fine; there is a time set aside to address them. When I start a new year, I block of key dates, conferences, events, vacations, and meetings for the year based on busier and slower times of the business. Scheduling becomes a fill-in-the-blank exercise from that point. My assistant knows exactly when I am available and when I am not as a result of this type of scheduling. Aligning, committing, and scheduling your time will give you discretionary time you never thought you had!

What is your Business?

2011-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

by Barbara Swanson

I think most people would agree that if you want to have a successful career, you have to know the nature and goals of your business!

If you are a cashier, the person who comes to you doesn’t want your opinion on their purchase. However, if you are a personal shopper, that is exactly what they are paying you for!

It is not uncommon for networkers to be taught that the most important job they have is to learn how to close a sale—wholesale, retail, the business, or all three.

While it is certainly important to learn how to ask if a prospect is interested in trying the products or business, this is NOT your job—it is a skill.

If your goal is to be a successful networker who attains true residual income, your job is to:

ASK what your prospects are looking for
OFFER what you have that fits their need
MENTOR them to their best result
TEACH those who want to learn how to gain success themselves

The focus of a successful networker is on fulfilling the needs of others. Success comes with finding ways to put yourself in a position to find out their needs and offer solutions. We are in a people business!

So study people; find people you want to connect with. Learn their dreams, not yours—theirs. If what we have can help them achieve their dreams, talk to them about that.

While there is truth that “it is a numbers game”, truthfully, you do need to find a way to continually meet and build relationships with people—it is the focus on “building relationships” that creates success.

Focus only on “who’s next?” and people will leave.

Consumers

When you focus on your people and when your “job” is to help them achieve the benefits they want, you truly create an organization of consumers for life.

Business Associates

When your focus is on helping them discover and define their financial needs and goals and using our company’s great duplicatable methods and proven materials to teach them what to do and how to do it, you will create a team of people who work together for a lifetime of success.

Today’s summary

Take the time to discover people you want to talk with and work with; then find ways to connect to people with similar interests. Build relationships. Listen and offer solutions you have when the opportunity arises. When someone joins your organization, stay in contact and continue to mentor them to the type of success they desire.

How to Win with simpleXity

2011-02-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

by Russell Mariani
Have you ever wondered how to win big with simpleXity? Here’s how:

Keep it simple. Keep it fun.
Make a commitment and stay committed.
Take only the best and most effective actions. Take these actions consistently. Don’t get distracted.
Celebrate the good fortune of what we are doing and how we are doing it. Celebrate the way we are creating success. Celebrate our core values.
Expect Success. Expect the best from yourself and others. Expect the best results to continuously manifest until the mission is accomplished.

How can you ensure maximum success? The simple answer is STS. The best way to master STS includes taking the following actions:

Invite people to the Opportunity Presentation daily, constantly.
Find out what they want to do afterwards.
If they are not ready to get involved—fine. No problem. Next!
If they want to be clients or product consumers only—fantastic! Explain the best options for them. Show them how to enroll themselves and how to optimize the benefits from their purchases.
If they want to be IBAs—fantastic! Show them how to enroll themselves and get started in the best way possible.

Here’s the best way to get started as an IBA:

Enroll with a Quick Start Package for $300.
Get on STS.
Get on AutoShip for at least $100 per month.
Register for the next event.
Repeat the process.

How do we invite people to participate in the Opportunity Presentation?
There are many good answers to this question. How would you personally go about inviting people to a great party you were hosting? How would you personally go about inviting people to the most fantastic, most fun, most amazing celebration of life and love and opportunity that you have ever been a part of?

Footnotes

Our Mission is to make Super Blue Green^® Algae a staple food in everyone’s diet on planet Earth.

Russell Mariani, author, health educator, and digestive wellness counselor, holds a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in nutrition counseling from Norwich University. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in the area of digestive wellness. Russell authored Healing Digestive Illness, created our online tutorial The Journey to Better Nutrition, and co-created the DVD titled Functional Nutrition and Our Products. Russell can be reached through http://www.healingdigestiveillness.com/.

Team Pay

2011-01-25T09:10:00.000-08:00

by Barbara Swanson

Do you feel that your success in this business is on your shoulders—and yours alone? There is no doubt that no one can “make” you succeed—only you have control over your thoughts, feelings, and actions. But the truth is, if you are doing this business alone, you cannot succeed!

Could a skyscraper be built by a real estate agent?
Could a jet be made by the pilot?

Of course not! You need glassmakers, bricklayers, construction workers, machinists, electricians, carpenters, etc.

In our industry, one person alone cannot build a successful organization. You need a team! No matter how great a product you have, if you don’t have a team, you can’t build an organization.

So, how do you create a team?

You need a company that has a great product. (That would be us!)
You make sure this company has good management. (Us again!)
You make sure your company has excellent customer service. (And wow, this is really who we are.)
You make sure your company has affordable tools for sharing what you offer that are simple to use and can be used by everyone. (I think there is a theme here!)
You use these tools to create a network of consumers. (This is you!)
Then you find others who have financial and lifestyle goals that your opportunity will fit. (This is building the rest of your team and sharing your success.)

In other words, you use tools to offer your service or products to people who want what you offer, and by doing so, you create relationships. The cultivation of relationships will naturally lead to the creation of a team.

It is your experience and your caring that create a team. The best tools in the world can only bring people to your door—it is up to them to decide if they want to actually come into your house!

Isn't Network Marketing an Illegal Pyramid?

2011-01-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

by Rollan Roberts II

The short answer is no—in case you were reading to genuinely find out. Illegal pyramids (like ponzi schemes) are designed so that those at the top and those who get in early enough make the most money. When it is functionally impossible for the newest registrant to earn the income that those at the top are making, then that is considered a pyramid. When a person down in your organization cannot pass you in title, rank, and pay, then that is a pyramid. And when commissions and over-rides are paid primarily on the recruitment of new associates as opposed to on products, then that is a pyramid. When commissions are paid from the registration fees of new associates (with no real underlying product, service, or value) and when the business stops when recruiting stops, that is illegal.

So, let's think about the question "aren't pyramids illegal?" The answer is "yes, they are." But why do you relate network marketing to an illegal pyramid—because it structurally looks like this?

Okay, I understand how you could think that initially. But once you know that you can surpass anyone above you in rank, title, and pay and that the compensation is awarded primarily on the movement of products and not signing people up, then you know that it cannot be a pyramid, regardless of the direction the people are laid out. So maybe the structure could be drawn differently so that it isn't shaped like a pyramid—circular like this (or perhaps horizontal instead of vertical):

Don't let the image of a pyramid confuse the issue. In closing, I want you to think about it this way. The first image I shared of how most network marketing companies present their business looks like a pyramid, since it is triangular in shape. There is nothing wrong with pyramids—the Egyptians built some that are standing thousands of years later, and they outlived the world powers from that day. But considering the definition of an illegal "pyramid" scheme, isn't that the structure of most companies today? Here, take another look:

You have the CEO at the top, and he makes more money than anyone else in the organization. No one can surpass him in title, rank, or pay. He makes money off the work that everyone under him does. Hmmm? Sounds exactly like an illegal pyramid to me! But people don't mind going in to work every day to support the massive pyramid scheme, and the first time they see an opportunity that resembles free enterprise, personal accountability, and pay for performance, they freak out and declare that it must be illegal! If you want to get mad about anything, get mad about that! Government needs you to be employed because employees pay more in taxes than any other entity or individual! They want to encourage entrepreneurship, but not too much—only in moderation.

Do you realize that before the world wars, the vast majority of people in America were business owners? Immigrants understand this, which is why statistics say they are 10 times more likely to become millionaires than natural born citizens! Employment is a new phenomenon of the 1940/50s and the Industrial Revolution. What network marketing provides is an opportunity to use the most powerful principles of success and wealth on planet earth: leverage and compounding.

As business owners and members of a broader team, we leverage each other's time and strengths. I cannot be in 100 places at once, but I can have a team of 100 people in 100 places at once. I can't be in every time zone building an enterprise 24/7, but I can have a team in every time zone. That's what one of the wealthiest men to have lived in the modern era, J. Paul Getty, meant when he said, "I'd rather have 1% of the effort of 100 men than 100% of my own." See, if I got sick or incapacitated, my income would stop. But if I have leveraged other people, even 1% of their effort, then if I am forced to stop, I've only lost 1% and still have 99% of my income. I may be weak in certain areas (i.e. prospecting, follow up, presentation, etc.), but I can surround myself with people who are strong in my weak areas and still win. And when most people think of compounding, they think of money—compound interest. The principle of compounding works in nature as well. Compounding is an energy that becomes systematically uncontrollable. The question is are you compounding positively or negatively? The effort of others not only produces leverage, but it also compounds the activity. It exponentially compounds the results.

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

A Real Opportunity

2011-01-10T09:21:00.001-08:00

by Barbara Swanson

One of the most important questions a new business prospect needs to answer is how to tell a “real” business opportunity from one that is only a beautiful package (i.e., great marketing). How can someone new to our industry be assured that this business will create the income they desire and continue to do so for as long as they remain involved?

What is a red flag for any networking opportunity?

Is it a lack of a great product?

Well, if that were so, there would be several flourishing companies out of business!

Is it a lack of great marketing materials?

This can hurt growth, but many newer companies thrive on simple word-of-mouth excitement.

A red flag that an opportunity is not first rate is when a company promotes and pays the sponsor serious money for selling expensive, non-product based start-up packages. Sign-up specials that focus solely on expensive training and training materials rather than great products are a bad sign. While all business people need to be trained in their company’s opportunity and business plan, such trainings work best when they are both easily available and affordable.

Many direct sales startups appear every month. Often, these companies focus on the promotion of expensive “fast-track” sign-up options that focus on trainings instead of the promotion of core product sales. Many of these “opportunities” don’t last—and in fact cannot last—because a company that is not focused on paying commissions based on the sales of great products through a well-paid sales force is not a long-term opportunity at all!

This single red flag can assist you in helping a new person sort through opportunities!

Here is to your successful business throughout the New Year!

2011-01-03T12:13:00.001-08:00

I get asked quite often what it takes to be successful in network marketing. How do you grow a big business? How do you systematically recruit, train, retain, and inspire a volunteer army? We have all seen and heard the horror stories about network marketing. We have heard the sob stories about how people invested so much money and nothing happened. We read statistics about how many people hit it big using this business model. Most use the statistics as an excuse to quit, give up, or blame something outside of themselves for their lack of results. What statistics do not take into account is that many people who join MLM organizations do not desire to become millionaires and live lavish lifestyles. The vast majority of people who join MLM companies do so to make an additional $200-300 per month. By that definition (using the average income goal), success rates of legitimate MLM companies are much higher. The assumption and philosophy that "if you aren't making millions, then you were lied to or done wrong" is contrary to the principles of freedom, liberty, and free enterprise upon which this country was founded!

You will be hard pressed to find a more brilliant model of free enterprise than network marketing (or referral marketing, affiliate marketing, multi-level marketing...whatever you want to call it). Network marketing creates individual accountability based on your ambition, persistence, and personal growth. A lot of people don't like that. We live in a society that doesn't like failure to be a black and white issue. We like to blame everything and everyone else for why we are where we are. It's the ex that left us with nothing, the business partner that did us wrong, the home life we had as a child, or the business or investment that went bust.

Look, network marketing is not like your job. You do not get paid on effort; you get paid on results. Non-entrepreneurial people do not comprehend this concept, which is why some resent it. They think the company is ripping people off or getting low cost labor, but the best thing and worst thing about network marketing is you get paid on results. Unfortunately for some, it doesn't matter what you look like, how much education you have, or who your family is. Some people who have more degrees than a thermometer still struggle building this business. But anyone, with any background, can be successful—maybe not as they currently are but certainly by who they can become. People want to be successful in MLM without changing who they are, but that is impossible. There is no growth (revenue or income) without change. If you want something you've never had, you must do something you've never done. If you continue life's journey staying who you are today (as opposed to growing), then you will continue to reap the same rewards.

So if you put in 100 hours this month and make $20, no one did you wrong. If you put in 100 hours for a year and are making $100, then no one did you wrong (although I would suggest getting plugged into a mentor and success training system for continued personal development!). I'm reminded of the story of the residents of an ancient village who used to spend their days carrying buckets of water from the river back to the village. They did that all day, every day. Let's suppose that they made $1 per day. Now, there was one villager who chose not to be employed by the village. Instead, he went to work on building a pipeline that would pump water to the village so he didn't have to carry water for the rest of his life. Perhaps this was his motto: "I will be temporarily ambitious so I can be permanently lazy" or "I will do today what others won't so I can do tomorrow what others can't." Every day, his friends who made $1 scoffed at him. They kept asking him how much money he had made—then showed him the $1 they had earned. They showed him the $5 after a week, the $20 after a month, and the $1040 after a year that they had earned. He had spent everything he had on the pipeline—all his time, money, and energy—and not a single drop of water to show for it. After several years, he finished the pipeline. At first, nothing happened. Then there was a trickle (a small MLM check). Then there were some drops (we're up to a $20 bonus check). And then it happened. All of a sudden, there was a gush of water flowing into the village (blank check)! Now this man started to employ many of the townspeople who had ridiculed him because the main industry (carrying water) in the village was no longer needed. That's the best way I know to explain network marketing. We are building pipelines to protect and insure our futures as opposed to relying on someone else to do it for us (company or government). We are accountable for our results and destinies.

So here's what it takes: you must be dedicated to growing as a person. The person you are today is what has gotten you the results you have. To get the results you want will require you to grow in some areas. Our Success Training System (STS) is the secret. It's a continuous personal development program that will systematically take you from where you are to where you want to be. It works. It's duplicatable. There is no question that this is the main requirement for building a big business. The pain of discipline is temporary; the price of regret is permanent. You can do it.

I love you and believe in you!

RR2

Welcome to the new simpleXity!

2010-12-14T11:26:00.001-08:00

    The past month has been invested in reinventing our culture, philosophy, energy, and future. Significant strides have been made over the past several weeks due to the commitment and support of the Home Team and leaders in the field. Our renewed focus is on your success and yours alone. We exist to serve you and do so enthusiastically. Between the internal and external corporate makeover and the launch of ALERT™, there is a contagious excitement and energy that is resonating throughout our thousands of business owners. People who have been on the sidelines for years are starting to perk up. Those whose backs are sore from sitting in the bleachers are starting to make their way down to the field to see what the buzz is all about. This is a new beginning. It is the dawn of a new era, and it is the first time in the company’s history that it is all about the IBA!

      Due to the revolutionary happenings in our company right now, we are holding a one-time, non-qualifying Leadership Summit at the Hilton in Anaheim, California, on Friday, December 10 beginning at 5 pm and ending Saturday, December 11 at 4 pm. If you are in the Los Angeles area, you are welcome to join us for meetings on Saturday, December 11 beginning at 8 am. I will be unveiling the new, scalable, and duplicatable training system being launched in January 2011 that will exponentially grow your business without increasing the time you invest in it. You will also hear about the many business-building tools we will be unveiling in the first part of the year along with an event schedule unlike anything this company has seen in its entire history (including all-expense-paid qualifying incentive trips)! There are so many more things we will be sharing during this power-packed, fun-filled day, but for me, the best part is that we will be meeting in an intimate setting. This is not a typical event. You will have the chance to interact, plan, and contribute to the 2011 strategy!

    Many people will be setting goals for 2011 over the next month. Perhaps one of your goals is to increase your income, secure your retirement, or increase your level of physical health and fitness; regardless, you will walk away from the Leadership Summit knowing exactly how you can achieve those goals with SimpleXity. We are committed like never before to making this the absolute best company in the world to be a part of. If you are not as active as you once were in the business, this may be the perfect time for you to experience the new SimpleXity. There is no better way to “Be in the Know” than to be at this event. All the leaders, winners, and champions will be there, and I look forward to investing time with each of you in a casual setting, collaborating on the amazing days ahead.

    Something special and unique is happening right now. People are looking for our products and an opportunity like we have. The deteriorating health of our citizenry, institutional and personal economic collapse, social insecurity, and job instability have created an unprecedented market for who we are and what we stand for. This is the time to get in the game. We have the right products, the right people, the right leadership, the right opportunity, and a right and just cause at the right time. The train is leaving the station. Will you let us help make 2011 your best year yet? Will you make the commitment to yourself, your goals, and your aspirations that you will grow your SimpleXity business larger than it has ever been? Will you commit to enriching the lives of more people than you ever have with our world-class algae-based superfoods? These are, indeed, exciting days, but the best is yet to come. We are just getting started!

I love you and believe in you!
RR2