Treasure Your Dreams

There is something about a new year that makes me so excited! A fresh start, 365 new days to look forward to. A fresh take on your goals, and a full account of how well (or how not well) you did on the goals you set for yourself last year.

In reflecting on my past year, I am both proud of myself and disappointed. Some goals I reached, even surpassed, and yet of others I fell a bit short.

My number one goal for 2008 was to improve upon myself — and that, I feel, I did quite significantly. I don’t believe that at the beginning of the year I could even fathom the changes I would have the strength to create within myself over the next 12 months, but I did… and for that I am pleased, and grateful beyond measure.

I set a goal to get out of debt — another goal I succeeded in, although I hardly realized it until December 29th when I was finishing up my bookkeeping for the year. After signing one final check, placing it in the envelope and dropping it in the mail, I had accomplished my goal. What a since of freedom and pride that gave me!

I set a goal to double my business. This is one I did not quite reach. I (along with the help of my team) was able to take the number of people in my organization from 253, to 373 — not a bad number, but not what I was hoping for. In all honesty though, perhaps it was falling short of that goal that has lit a fire in my heart for making my business absolutely explode in 2009 — and explode it will, I can feel it.

I have done all the necessary preparations — every possible detail, to create an incredible growth in my business over the next 12 months. Things already seem to be falling into place — there is a feeling in my head and in my heart that simply will not accept “failure” as an option.

To put it even stronger, its as if failure does not exist.

I can’t say what exactly has put me in such an intense state of mind, most likely a combination of things. In part, it comes from a few of the books I’ve read over the past year; “Maximum Achievement” and “Goals” written by Brian Tracy, “Beach Money” written by Jordan Adler, “The Fifth Principle” by Michael Clouse and so many more.

Also, it comes in part from the CDs I’ve listened too; Michael Clouse’s “Building a Better Life”, “The Recepie for Success” and “How to Build the Network Marketing Business YOU Really Want”.

I know it comes in part from the encouragement and support I receive, daily, from Robert — his never-ending unquestioning faith in me… that I am destined to be successful.

I know it comes in part from the goals I have set for myself — and the great want in my heart to achieve them. “A life without a goal is like an arrow without a target”

Possibly it is also attributed in part to my growing up — even if it is just a little more. I feel as thought I have grown immensely in this past year, and for that, I am very grateful.

Regardless of where it has come from though, it’s there — this undeniable desire, thirst, for success. It is a thirst that cannot be quenched until the final destination has been reached, and so reaching it has become my only option.

When I look at this upcoming year in my mind, I cannot help but to smile — a huge giddy smile that is almost ridiculous. Some might call it daydreaming… but I see it as visualizing, seeing MY future in the way that I choose to make it.

I can’t wait — already this year is proving to be more than I have expected, and I have every belief that it will only continue to get better and better.

“Goals are dreams with deadlines.”

 

 

Have you ever read “Beach Money” by MLM Millionaire, Jordan

Adler? This book, and this man were really my inspiration for

seeking out and joining a local BNI Chapter here in my area.

Jordan Adler says that 25% of his monthly residual check of over

$80,000 (yes, I said MONTHLY) comes from people he and/or his

team members while being an active member in their local BNI

Chapters. I don’t know about you, but that was enough to get me

interested!

I searched the website and found a local group that was 1

member short of having enough people to charter and become an

official BNI Chapter. Diane Hart (the regional director for BNI)

asked me to attend their weekly meeting and check it out – she said

this would be the last week they would accept visitors before

chartering and if I didn’t come then I would have to wait about 2 ½ months (until after

the Grand Opening) to attend a meeting.

I was VERY nervous about my first meeting… to the point that I drove into the parking

lot, business cards and notepad in hand, and parked at the back so I could use Michael

Clouse’s “Mirror” method safely without being seen. After about 5 minutes of psyching

myself up I walked into the hotel conference room to find a room full of what at the time

looked like a bunch of grumpy old business men in suits. Yikes!

I was almost back out the door (this didn’t look like something I would be interested in)

when one of the 3 ladies in the room approached me and said “Jordan?”

It was Diane, and she was just “sooo glad!” I was able to make it to the meeting… she

quickly ushered me over to the sign-in table where one of “the suits” wrote my name down

and asked if I would be paying by cash or check for lunch. Unfortunately, I only had a

debit card on me (my checkbook was in the car) so I informed him I would “be right back”

and off I went out of the building.

Once back in my car I went so far as to start the engine, throw it in reverse and actually

re-park two rows over before I convinced myself that “I am the best” and “Everyone loves

me”. I turned off the car, grabbed my checkbook and headed back in to face the suits.

That was one of the hardest and most beneficial business decisions I have ever made.

I wrote out my check and handed it to the suit at the sign-in table (who I later

discovered is a fellow MLMer) and stood around awkwardly shaking hands with one of the

nicest groups of people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

After finding a seat in as inconspicuous of an area as I could find, sitting through the

hour and a half meeting and standing up in front of the group to give my “Sales Manager

Minute” (more about that later) I was hooked. Diane gave me an application to fill out and

send back and I was on my way!

Unfortunately, my nerves returned as quickly as the adrenaline from the high energy

room left. I spent the remainder of the afternoon convincing (or attempting to convince)

my mom that this “wasn’t for me” but she wasn’t having it. So, reluctantly I returned the

following week with my application and $430 check in hand.

It took about 5 minutes of “mirroring” before I was able to walk in, but I was once again

greeted by a group of friendly people who all seemed to remember my name (though I

could remember few of theirs). I went through the same awkward greetings, sat in the

same seat and recited the same Manger Minute as the week before.

This feeling carried on for quite a few weeks – to the point where I would stress so

much the day before the meeting and I woke up with a severe migraine two Tuesdays in a

row and actually got dressed and ready for the grand opening event before throwing up

and deciding not to go. Luckily, that feeling is gone now – and I can honestly say that I

genuinely look forward to my Tuesday lunch dates with some of Lubbock’s finest business

people!

You may be wondering why I shared all of this with you, and some of you are probably

thinking that BNI sounds like the scariest thing on earth and a person would have to be

insane to even attempt it.

Not insane, just determined.

Every time I got scared, I picture that check. 25% percent of $80,000 – or $20,000 a

month from joining BNI and encouraging his team to do the same. That was enough for

me to get over my fears, step out of my comfort zone and attend those meetings.

In the past 2 ½ months that I have been a part of BNI I have sold 6 gift baskets totaling

$350 in sales (and I was out of town for almost a month during this time). In addition to

that I have received 2 strong fundraising leads and have a meeting with a realtor in the

group this next week to talk about using my gift baskets as closing gifts for her clients – if

all goes well I will be selling a $40-$50 gift basket to her every time she sells a house.

With the holidays coming up several people in our group have approached me about

using my products for Christmas gifts for their clients, employees, family and friends.

Even more than that I now have the opportunity to share my product and what I do

with over 30 local businessmen and women each week – MANY of whom have turned out

to be MLMers themselves.

I highly recommend this for anyone who is wanting to seriously grow their business.

Sure, the start-up fee is a bit steep – make it happen. I will have mine completely paid

back in sales within just a few weeks.

Each week you get 60 seconds to give your Sales Manager Minute stating who you are,

what you do and who your “perfect client” for that week would be. You also have the

opportunity several times a year to give a 10-minute showcase presentation on your

business and product.

Another thing we do is meet up with fellow chapter members in what are called “Oneto-

Ones” for an hour at a time to share a little about ourselves and our businesses with

each other. The entire focus of BNI is to help other people grow THEIR businesses and

have them help you grow yours.

This past week I took my bead stackers to my one-to-one and walked out of there with

an order for a $50.00 gift basket – it’s THAT easy!

It took a lot of work for me to step out of my comfort zone and get involved in this

organization, but now that I am I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity and the

wonderful people I have had the privilege to meet and get to know.

Now, when I walk into that conference room for lunch each Tuesday, I am no longer

greeted with the sight of intimidating suit-wearers. Instead, I am greeted by

- Alan, a veteran MLMer and aspiring public speaker

- Mike, a CPA who recently left the corporate world and started his own firm

- Jonathon, a 23 year old making his future in MLM, just as I am doing

- Greg, a full-time youth minister striving to make his MLM business work for him

- Velma, the lady I’ll go to when I buy my first house

- Tracey, the lady I’ll call to get the mortgage loan for that house

- In addition to the man who now changes the oil in my car, the person I buy my

business cards from, my chiropractor, computer repairman and many more wonderful

people.

BNI has changed my outlook on networking, retail sales and the power of referrals – I

 

 

expect it to do nothing but get better and better over time!