We asked the #3 Top Vitamark Diamonds for 2007, Roberto & Cleta Torres, to tell us how they built a successful Vitamark business. Here is their story:
Our Vitamark Story
Cleta and I discovered network marketing through one of our martial arts students. Cleta was always after me to join one of these companies as she used to say. I always told her no way! Those things are scams. Here I was commenting on something I knew nothing about.
However, I knew that I did not want to be a Police Officer for 30 years and continue to live in Long Island, New York. We knew we eventually wanted to move to Florida, the Sunshine state.
Although I loved my job, I did not like being told what to do or when I could have a day off. We both come from entrepreneurial families. Cleta is from Jamaica West Indies and had learned from an early age to work hard for what she wanted in life. My parents came to the United States from Puerto Rico in 1952 and instilled in me the same values.
So, we decided since I had six years to go on the Police force we should do something so I could walk away when I was eligible for a full pension. Having been involved in the martial arts since I was eight years old, then appearing on the cover of Inside Kung-Fu magazine, the natural conclusion was to open a martial arts school.
Well, just to open the doors of that school cost us $30,000 dollars! Then we had to build the cliental and all the bills were due the next month. Nobody asked me, are you doing ok, can I help, and is your business growing? Nope. All I knew was I had to pay those bills. Thank God, our school grew very fast and we had to expand in 90 days to a bigger location.
However, we had lost all our time freedom. We were working at the school from 4:30PM to 10PM Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 9AM to 12PM. Then Sunday was spent cleaning the school and preparing for Monday.
We were coming home during the week at 10:30PM – 11PM to have dinner as a family. Plus, I was still working full time as a Police Officer.
After being in many companies and having various degrees of success, we came upon Vitamark International. Because of Vitamark’s management and streamlined business model, we knew it was the right business for us and our family.
We also knew with the way Vitamark is structured it was the best option for the average part-time person to be successful.
We thank God we found this opportunity and grateful that Michael and Linda Dlouhy chose to be our sponsors.
The Value of Good Advice
I was taught by my parents don’t quit. Go after what you want. If you want to be something, you can do it. I also learned from John Milton Fogg how to take my dream and turn it into my vision, and then turn that vision into reality.
John taught me to write down what I wanted in life as if I was already living it. Then he told me to go start to experience it. Go look at the kind of house you want, the kind of car you want. Make it real in your mind. We appreciate John for teaching us this important lesson. Today I continue to grow and learn from two great mentors, Mr. Art Jonak and Mr. Tom “Big Al” Schreiter. We are truly learning how to be professional network marketers from these two masters of our profession.
Overcoming Obstacles
The biggest obstacle I would say we had to overcome was having belief -- both our own and that of our family and friends. While some of them did not believe we could be successful, we had to make a choice as to what we were going to believe as our reality.
We chose to believe in abundance, success, empowerment and prosperity. Today we are very glad we chose that as our reality.
What you believe is so important, you must choose carefully.
Our Life With Vitamark
Vitamark has been a blessing. It is part of the reason we are able to now travel the world in luxury and live in our dream home. It is amazing to be involved in an opportunity that is not only paying us well, but also has life changing products.
Limu Plus is a big hit in our home. Everyone drinks it from our ten year old daughter to my 84 year old mother. The results have been amazing. In fact, my mother is now learning to swim in our pool with her granddaughters due to the way she feels by taking Limu Plus.
Our Support System
My mother and our daughters are the in home cheering team. They are cheering us on all the way. They keep up with what is happening with our Vitamark business. Even watching the volume on Saturday nights and asking us. Did you guys make Diamond again? Then comes the victory dance. We are joyful that we have such support from our family.
Our sponsors and upline team have also been supportive with systems and tools in place to help us build our business. They always do their best to be available for 3-way calls and some coaching when needed.
We now look to offer the same to all our brand new team members as they join us in the great opportunity called Vitamark International.
Our Advice To New Affiliates
We would say focus on the activities that will allow you to grow your business.
Never quit and don’t worry about what everyone else may be doing. Follow the system your successful upline has laid out for you and don’t re-invent the wheel.
Spend at least two hours a day on the activities that will create success.
Those two activities are sponsoring and retailing. This is how you build your check.
The last thing we would say is focus on building your check and everything else will fall into place. Team growth and pin levels will be achieved by focusing on these things.
Our Dream for the Future
We are looking forward to building a large Presidential distributorship with Vitamark International.
Our goal is to help as many people as possible achieve their goals and dreams. We are also looking forward to doing more travel as we gain more time freedom. Some of these trips will be with our team members. That is exciting!
Our Message to the Vitamark Family
You have found the best opportunity in Network Marketing today. Take advantage of what you have in your hands right now.
We want to thank David and Judy Bertrand for their support and encouragement, the entire Vitamark support staff, what an awesome job you do.
Special thanks to Tom “Big Al” Schreiter for your mentorship and guidance.
To Art and Ann Jonak, thank you for your insights, mentorship and leadership, we appreciate you both.
To Michael and Linda Dlouhy, thank you for being our sponsors, friends and believing in us.
We are just getting started!
Roberto & Cleta Torres
4 Star Diamond Affiliates
http://www.vitamark.com/965463
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
FOCUS ON A PRIMARY INCOME, FORCUS AND DIVERSIFY,
FOCUS
Thank you for being a part of our incredible program
Again here is a review of the 8 keys and your LESSON for the day...
#1: OWN your own business .
#2: Commit to SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE
#3: Discipline Yourself to SAVE
#4: Look for RISK
#5: Become a PROBLEM seeker
#6: Do what you LOVE to do
#7: PATIENCE
#8: FOCUS on a Primary Income and Diversify
Today's lesson is to concentrate on Principle #8:
FOCUS on a Primary Income and Diversify....
Lesson #8 is one that I discovered the hard way. It is a simple method that will allow you to move from survival to significance, from scarcity to abundance and prosperity.
When I was 22 years old I started my first company- on a shoestring budget. I was lucky. Within 3 months we had grossed over $200,000 in sales... and then reality set in... expenses set in... lack of knowledge set in... and FEAR set in.
And like many of us have probably learned, FEAR can either motivate us to ACTION... or paralyze us to STOP...
Well, I've always been (and probably always will be) someone motivated to move forward, so even though some of the signs we're there, I kept pushing on...
My partner quit working and left me with both his and my work load. Times grew frustrating... Here I was at 22 years old and built what I would even say today was a solid foundation with over $200,000 in about 90 days...
The unfortunate part is that I put all my eggs in one basket with my partner. I was young, vulnerable, influencable and before I knew it, within about 8 months our bank account was virtually empty, I was STRESSED OUT and had had ENOUGH...
I'll never forget it... We were at a clients location on my BIRTHDAY and I was reading the sports section thinking about my options...
I had had enough. Even though I didn't want to. Even though my EGO was holding me back from getting a J.O.B. I made a decision, that it was time to regroup.
I closed the newspaper, walked over to my partner and said goodbye... then walked over to our CLIENT and wished him well...
It was one of those CRUCIAL moments that happen in our lifetime where we define the moment or it defines us...
I share this story with you because I have met many people in the business world, who get so hung up on being there own boss they never get the chance to move from getting by (survival) to a life of significance.
Granted... taking that job, was a humbling experience. It was NOT what I was really excited to do. However, I knew from my sports background that we've got to go back to the fundamentals. We've got to have a BASE to build from. We've got to have the FOUNDATION in place to EXPAND from.
For me, I had to LET GO to let it GROW- my DREAM that is.
I only worked that JOB for about a year before I ventured back to doing my own thing because I had gotten things back in order to BUILD FROM-
Today, I would share with anyone starting off with a DREAM of their own thing to maintain a PRIMARY SOURCE of income until their BUSINESS is netting them what the primary source of income is bringing in.
The PRIMARY INCOME gives us the stability, structure and foundation to make SOUND decisions from an abundant place instead of a place of scarcity and survival.
Once the stability is there- and especially mentally- then it's time to DIVERSIFY...
Allow the seeds of prosperity to grow.... allow them to go deep... allow the roots to build... and when you have a tree that would likely grow with or without you (or with minimal maintenance) NOW is the time to plant more seeds...
The seeds of an incredible future. The seeds of PROSPERITY. The seeds of ABUNDANCE.
You deserve it.
You are an expert at something. Take the time to USE your expertise to GROW your DREAM and BUILD the FUTURE you deserve.
Speaking of building the future you deserve...
I'd love the opportunity to meet you personally.
If you haven't had the chance to register for our upcoming F.REE TeleTraining - do it right now.
I like to open up the Training for Questions and Answers and will address your greatest business of
life challenge... http://www.prosperitybasedliving.com/tele/register.htm
AND...
If you're excited about the opportunity to go to the NEXT LEVEL right away, feel free to take advantage of our one on one confidential Prosperity Building Plan. Get the details here:
http://www.prosperitybasedliving.com/pp-app/protege-app.htm
I look forward to talking with you SOON!
Until next time....
Make it a great day!
Blessings,
Dan Kuschell
PS: If you're ready for a step by step action plan to go from survival to significance; If you're ready to go from good to great; If you're excited to start building your legacy today - discover the secrets of the leading mentors in the
World Today: http://www.prosperitybasedliving.com/show_audio/radio_show.htm
http://www.coachme-mentorme.net/focusanddiversify.html
Thank you for being a part of our incredible program
Again here is a review of the 8 keys and your LESSON for the day...
#1: OWN your own business .
#2: Commit to SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE
#3: Discipline Yourself to SAVE
#4: Look for RISK
#5: Become a PROBLEM seeker
#6: Do what you LOVE to do
#7: PATIENCE
#8: FOCUS on a Primary Income and Diversify
Today's lesson is to concentrate on Principle #8:
FOCUS on a Primary Income and Diversify....
Lesson #8 is one that I discovered the hard way. It is a simple method that will allow you to move from survival to significance, from scarcity to abundance and prosperity.
When I was 22 years old I started my first company- on a shoestring budget. I was lucky. Within 3 months we had grossed over $200,000 in sales... and then reality set in... expenses set in... lack of knowledge set in... and FEAR set in.
And like many of us have probably learned, FEAR can either motivate us to ACTION... or paralyze us to STOP...
Well, I've always been (and probably always will be) someone motivated to move forward, so even though some of the signs we're there, I kept pushing on...
My partner quit working and left me with both his and my work load. Times grew frustrating... Here I was at 22 years old and built what I would even say today was a solid foundation with over $200,000 in about 90 days...
The unfortunate part is that I put all my eggs in one basket with my partner. I was young, vulnerable, influencable and before I knew it, within about 8 months our bank account was virtually empty, I was STRESSED OUT and had had ENOUGH...
I'll never forget it... We were at a clients location on my BIRTHDAY and I was reading the sports section thinking about my options...
I had had enough. Even though I didn't want to. Even though my EGO was holding me back from getting a J.O.B. I made a decision, that it was time to regroup.
I closed the newspaper, walked over to my partner and said goodbye... then walked over to our CLIENT and wished him well...
It was one of those CRUCIAL moments that happen in our lifetime where we define the moment or it defines us...
I share this story with you because I have met many people in the business world, who get so hung up on being there own boss they never get the chance to move from getting by (survival) to a life of significance.
Granted... taking that job, was a humbling experience. It was NOT what I was really excited to do. However, I knew from my sports background that we've got to go back to the fundamentals. We've got to have a BASE to build from. We've got to have the FOUNDATION in place to EXPAND from.
For me, I had to LET GO to let it GROW- my DREAM that is.
I only worked that JOB for about a year before I ventured back to doing my own thing because I had gotten things back in order to BUILD FROM-
Today, I would share with anyone starting off with a DREAM of their own thing to maintain a PRIMARY SOURCE of income until their BUSINESS is netting them what the primary source of income is bringing in.
The PRIMARY INCOME gives us the stability, structure and foundation to make SOUND decisions from an abundant place instead of a place of scarcity and survival.
Once the stability is there- and especially mentally- then it's time to DIVERSIFY...
Allow the seeds of prosperity to grow.... allow them to go deep... allow the roots to build... and when you have a tree that would likely grow with or without you (or with minimal maintenance) NOW is the time to plant more seeds...
The seeds of an incredible future. The seeds of PROSPERITY. The seeds of ABUNDANCE.
You deserve it.
You are an expert at something. Take the time to USE your expertise to GROW your DREAM and BUILD the FUTURE you deserve.
Speaking of building the future you deserve...
I'd love the opportunity to meet you personally.
If you haven't had the chance to register for our upcoming F.REE TeleTraining - do it right now.
I like to open up the Training for Questions and Answers and will address your greatest business of
life challenge... http://www.prosperitybasedliving.com/tele/register.htm
AND...
If you're excited about the opportunity to go to the NEXT LEVEL right away, feel free to take advantage of our one on one confidential Prosperity Building Plan. Get the details here:
http://www.prosperitybasedliving.com/pp-app/protege-app.htm
I look forward to talking with you SOON!
Until next time....
Make it a great day!
Blessings,
Dan Kuschell
PS: If you're ready for a step by step action plan to go from survival to significance; If you're ready to go from good to great; If you're excited to start building your legacy today - discover the secrets of the leading mentors in the
World Today: http://www.prosperitybasedliving.com/show_audio/radio_show.htm
http://www.coachme-mentorme.net/focusanddiversify.html
Saturday, September 22, 2007
What is said about MPM
Dear Ginny,
I just read your honest accounting of the current manpower situation in continuing to develop MPM. I want to write a word of encouragement to you to not give up (something I don't think you would do anyway) but just wanted you to know I am "listening" to you when I get the daily and weekly updates.
I am so grateful to be part of the MPM business and network.
It is what the world not only needs but it is quite ready for what MPM offers to people.
Our world is moving at lightning speed to an new and wonderful future world of prosperity and it will be done with concepts and committments lik yours and the My Power Mall WAY!!!
Even though I have not devoted much time to this point in sharing the Mall I do use it and have found great deals, savings and quality. The online DRUGSTORE is a fantastic find and my partner bought nursing uniforms at the uniform site that he could not find here in our area that fit.
I loved "bidding" at BIDZ and bought a lot of fine jewelry at very resonable prices and the gifts were well received!
I am wearing a watch that is of fantastic design and quality and think of the fun I had bidding for it on MPM!
Helen Keller is quoted as having said, "Life is an Adventure or Nothing at All!"
Welcome to the ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME. I'm in this business for the long haul!
Sincerely, Roger Evans, Edgewood, Kentucky
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/12520
I just read your honest accounting of the current manpower situation in continuing to develop MPM. I want to write a word of encouragement to you to not give up (something I don't think you would do anyway) but just wanted you to know I am "listening" to you when I get the daily and weekly updates.
I am so grateful to be part of the MPM business and network.
It is what the world not only needs but it is quite ready for what MPM offers to people.
Our world is moving at lightning speed to an new and wonderful future world of prosperity and it will be done with concepts and committments lik yours and the My Power Mall WAY!!!
Even though I have not devoted much time to this point in sharing the Mall I do use it and have found great deals, savings and quality. The online DRUGSTORE is a fantastic find and my partner bought nursing uniforms at the uniform site that he could not find here in our area that fit.
I loved "bidding" at BIDZ and bought a lot of fine jewelry at very resonable prices and the gifts were well received!
I am wearing a watch that is of fantastic design and quality and think of the fun I had bidding for it on MPM!
Helen Keller is quoted as having said, "Life is an Adventure or Nothing at All!"
Welcome to the ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME. I'm in this business for the long haul!
Sincerely, Roger Evans, Edgewood, Kentucky
http://www.mypowermall.com/Biz/Home/12520
Thursday, September 20, 2007
The system all network marketers must use
Daegan Smith sent this in not to long ago . . .
"Power Prospecting System is giving the average network
marketer all the knowledge they need to explode the income
and their downline. Here are some of the results I got from
using this system. $1180.00 Dollars and generated over 400
prospects. $1555.00 Dollars and 358 Prospects.
I also recruited 3 People into my primary network marketing
company with out making a single phone call. This is the
solution for all network marketers out their!"
Go here now to see how to create these same results in your
business:
http://daegan.getnetmlmprofits.com/profits/intro.php?guid=1e54000c1719-e83390622b&email=freeecourses101@yahoo.com
---------------------------------------
"Power Prospecting System is giving the average network
marketer all the knowledge they need to explode the income
and their downline. Here are some of the results I got from
using this system. $1180.00 Dollars and generated over 400
prospects. $1555.00 Dollars and 358 Prospects.
I also recruited 3 People into my primary network marketing
company with out making a single phone call. This is the
solution for all network marketers out their!"
Go here now to see how to create these same results in your
business:
http://daegan.getnetmlmprofits.com/profits/intro.php?guid=1e54000c1719-e83390622b&email=freeecourses101@yahoo.com
---------------------------------------
Thursday, September 13, 2007
How to Control Your Thoughts
2 Life Changing Techniques
to Gain Mastery Over Your Thoughts Your thoughts are your most powerful asset! You and everything you experience in life are the direct result of your thoughts. The ability to control your thoughts will allow you to choose what experiences, people and the events you attract into your life.
In this lesson we'll explain exactly How to Control Your Thoughts.
Now, you may think this is going to be hard...after all, you think thousands of thoughts every single day. How would you monitor them all?
Fortunately, there is a shortcut...
We're going to teach you two techniques you can use to attain mastery over the thousands of thoughts streaming through your head each and every day.
The key to controlling your thoughts is to simply observe the emotions that come from the thought.
Understanding Emotions All the emotions we feel, be it love, excitement, sorrow, fear, happiness, peace, anger, jealousy or joy - can fall into two categories.
Your feelings about something tell you very quickly whether you should or should not bring that thing into your life.
When you understand the Law of Attraction, you'll learn to become aware of the way you feel and to pay attention to these feelings because they're your soul's guidance system, and will to help you hone in on things that are truly right for you.
Here's an example:
As a kid you may have played a game called hot or cold. You would close your eyes and count to ten. A friend would hide something, say a toy, under a mattress or behind some books. When you're done counting and open your eyes, you now have to attempt to find the hidden toy.
Every time you move towards the location of the toy your friend would shout "WARM". If you moved away from the toy your friend would shout "COOLER". As you start to move towards the toy your friend would say "You're getting WARMER, WARMER..." And as you pinpoint the mattress and discover the toy, he'd shout "HOT - You found it!"
Well let me share something with you.
The Universe is your friend. And the Universe plays this game with you EVERY single day.
But rather than say HOT or COLD, the Universe guides you with feelings. Positive feelings mean you're moving towards something good for you. Negative feelings mean you're headed in the wrong direction.
You may wake up one morning feeling negative about your job. The repetitive work is boring you, you feel underappreciated, you just don't feel you're doing something you love. The negative feelings are a sign from the Universe that you need to change direction immediately. Changing direction does not mean quitting your job this instant - but it does mean you need to do something to fix your present situation.
You might feel the same way about your marriage, your career, your body, your home - the negative feelings are alarm bells going off. The Universe is saying "Warning , You're thinking thoughts that are not the reality you wish to face. Keep thinking them and you'll only increase the likelihood of these situations coming to you. You need to find a way to change your thoughts FAST!".
Your Emotions are therefore, a warning system from your Soul. Pay attention to them, so that you'll only attract into your reality things that are good for you.
The Power of Gratitude The first technique for thought control is simply called Expressing Gratitude
People who let the Law of Attraction work for them are a certain breed of people. You'll recognize them when you meet them.
They are often positive, joyful, in awe of the world, and full of love and compassion.
Sure, they sometimes face bad moments - feelings of despair, grief or sorrow, but they bounce back quickly. They seem to relish life itself.
A simple way to help you move into this state of joy and positive vibes is to start thinking about what you have to be thankful for.
And believe me, you have a LOT to be thankful for.
You may look at your 2-bedroom apartment, cheap car and 15" inch TV and compare yourself to wealthy people living today and feel that you have barely made it.
But think about this - you are richer than the richest people in the world living just 200 years ago. They did not have a "horseless carriage" that could carry them wherever they wanted to go. They could not use a phone to instantly communicate with anyone - anywhere in the world. They did not have a "magic story-telling box", what we would call a TV - to entertain them. 200 years ago, the amount of information that the average wealthy person could consume in a lifetime, would be no match for the amount you can consume in ONE DAY through the Internet.
You may have an average income - but you would not want to trade places with a "rich" man living just 200 years ago. You have much to be grateful for!
So to get the Law of Attraction working for you, express gratitude for what you have. Because here's the BIG secret - when you express gratitude for what you have - you allow the Universe to give you more.
Wallace Wattles hit the nail on its head when he said, "People who order their lives rightly in all areas are kept in poverty because of their lack of gratitude. Having received one gift from God, they cut the ties that connect them to God by failing to make acknowledgement."
Now here's an important thing...
The acknowledgment does not serve to boost the ego of some insecure Universal Consciousness or God. The Universe does not CARE if you're grateful or not.
Why this works is because when you express gratitude for what you have, you put YOURSELF in a frame of mind - one that's of joy and expectancy. Because you now focus on what you HAVE rather than what you DON'T HAVE, the energy you're sending out is I HAVE A LOT.
And in return the Law of Attraction has to reciprocate by giving you A LOT MORE.
Without gratitude, the energy you put out is I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH - and so, by the Law of Attraction, you'll keeping losing more and more until you don't have enough.
Jack Canfield explains how he uses the Power of Gratitude in his life...
AS I explained in the movie, The Secret, I am always grateful for all that I have in my life – I have a magnificent home … I have a tremendous wife …I love spending time with my family. And, I absolutely love what I do in my business every day. I HAVE the best … and, much to my surprise … it just keeps getting better anyway!
But the point is this – I was grateful when I had no home, no wife, no family and no business. You see, it doesn't matter where you are in life. There's a reason right NOW to express gratitude.
So do it. Get in the habit of it. Write your gratitude list every night, or say it out loud in the shower every morning. You'll notice in just a matter of days how long that list begins to grow – and what a change in attitude it creates for you … and that's where attraction finds its way to you.
How to Express Gratitude It's really easy. Just decide to spend a few minutes each day to practice being thankful for what you have.
You could do it during:
Your morning commute While in the shower Just before going to bed at night. In the morning, as soon as you wake up. Some sample statements of gratitude you can use: I'm so grateful for my body. It's treated me so well over the years and is aging gracefully. I'm happy with the way I look. I'm grateful for having such an incredible family, for a spouse that loves me and for kids that are simply wonderful. I'm grateful for being born me - for my house, car, family, health and the feeling of joy with which I pursue each and every day. I'm so grateful now that I am earning _________ per month. I have a job I love, a career that I'm good at and I can afford anything I want for myself or my family. I'm so happy and grateful now that money comes to me, in ever increasing quantities, through multiple sources of income, on a continuous basis. Next...Thought Control when Something Bad Happens But what if something particularly bad happens - an accident or sudden illness?
What do you do then?
The solution is a technique called Energy Redirection
The Energy Redirection Technique We've already explained how your thoughts are energy. And that which you focus on, you attract.
The danger is that bad things do sometimes happen - accidents, illnesses, bad breakups, being laid off work. When this happens and you dwell on the sudden bad situation - you just create negative energy that amplifies the bad situation and keeps you locked in it for longer.
Fortunately, there is a powerful technique you can use to pull yourself out of bad situations. It's called the Energy Redirection Technique and is used by an 80 year-old meditation expert and energy healer in California called Burt Goldman. Burt learned the technique while studying with spiritual leaders and healers from around the world.
Often, a metaphor can show the way. So we'll let Burt tell you a story of an incident that would normally cause a great degree of stress in most people and how he applied the Energy Redirection Technique to this incident.
The Story of the Dented Fender The incident took place during a class I was presenting. I was heading out to lunch at a nearby restaurant with 3 of my students, and offered to drive. As we approached my new car, we saw a big dent in the right front fender.
Someone had slammed into it while it was parked, and had driven off without even leaving a note on the windshield.The three students looked at me and waited for the blowup.
When I first saw that dented fender, my mind flew off into all kinds of directions. For a moment I could feel irritation and my body tightening with anger, and I knew immediately I had to redirect that negative mental activity at once. I used the Energy Redirection Technique and focused on finding a way to change the negative thoughts into positive action.
Jumping into the car I said to the three, "Let's go. There's a body and fender shop just down the street."
"You going to get it fixed right now?" One of the students asked.
"Nope." I answered, "What I'm going to do is to get a price on what it costs to repair the dent, and whatever that price turns out to be, I'm going to create something that I'm not doing right now, and I'm going to make three times the cost of the dent."
We drove to a nearby shop and I was told that the cost of repairing the fender would be $450.00. I immediately tripled the figure and thought, "$1,350, I've got to earn $1,350.00 with something new."
Now whenever I looked at the dent in my fender I didn't mentally start cursing the low life who dented it and ran off. No, not at all. Now when I looked at the dent I thought, "$1,350.00, I've got to earn $1,350.00."
I kept thinking of how I could make that amount of money. It had to be something that I was not doing at that time. I put on my Creative Hat and thought about it, and finally came up with the answer.
I would create a brand new seminar for my friends and if they liked it I would send out a mailing to all the people who had been through my classes, and would set a goal of making $1,350.00 from it!
And so I put the seminar together and did it for free-of-charge for fifteen friends. They loved it. I then sent out a mailing and conducted the new seminar.
Imagine my surprise when I realized that I had made more on that seminar than the new car cost! And all because someone dented my fender.
Emotions create Energy leading to Action By focusing on the positive and using the Energy Redirection Technique, Burt allowed the Law of Attraction to work for him. He made the dented fender bring to his mind, not the negative feelings of loss - but the positive feeling of wanting to earn THREE times the cost of fixing that fender.
In Burt's story above - you can see how he looked at the dent, and saw something positive out of it.
He redirected his negative thoughts into positive ones, and set a goal of earning 3 times the money needed to fix the dent.
Now, of course, with the dominating thought in Burt's mind being the goal of earning money, he allowed the Law of Attraction to bring that into his reality.
The Energy Redirection Technique is really simple. When faced with a bad situation - think of a way to turn it into a CHALLENGE.
Apply creativity to the situation and any negative event can be turned into an exciting challenge.
Now, we're not saying you need to forget or ignore the negative event. That can sometimes be very hard to do. But by finding a challenge, a goal - something that can motivate and inspire you - you now re-allocate a large chunk of your energy away from the negative thoughts.
In other words, thoughts that would otherwise be obsessed with the negative event can now be redirected and focused on something positive.
It's beautiful and so simple! Yet once you learn this, you can free yourself from the many negative thoughts that keep you trapped in present conditions.
As Burt said...after setting his goal of earning 3 times the cost of the dented fender, every time he looked at the fender, he would motivate himself by thinking "I have to earn more money". The negative thoughts, anger at the person who made the dent, frustration at having to fork out money to fix it - were all being DIFFUSED by the positive challenge.
Here are several more examples: Bed-Ridden in Hospital: Decide that you're going to use this free time to learn something fun, say a new language. Now you're thinking about a new skill rather than focusing on your illness.
Got Laid Off: Set a goal to find a job that pays you 25% more than your previous job. Think about this new job and stop thinking about being laid off. Start job hunting. Do not hold any negative feelings towards your boss for laying you off. Instead, think of him as having done you a favor because you're now going to find a better job.
Someone Owes You Money and Refuses to Pay Up: Forgive them. As long as you hold a grudge, you're telling the Universe that you've lost money. And indeed, you'll attract the loss. Instead, set a goal to earn twice the amount of money you've lost.
Got Dumped: Decide that you'll find a new love. Someone better suited to you. Make a list of all the qualities you'd love to see in your ideal mate. Now focus on meeting this new person.
Lost a Business Due to Bankruptcy: Decide that you're going to rebuild a new business and regain your financial freedom. Set a goal to earn 3 times what you previously had. Bonus Points: Decide that you're going to earn so much more than you'll be able to repay all your debts - even though you legally may not have to.
http://www.coachme-mentorme.net
to Gain Mastery Over Your Thoughts Your thoughts are your most powerful asset! You and everything you experience in life are the direct result of your thoughts. The ability to control your thoughts will allow you to choose what experiences, people and the events you attract into your life.
In this lesson we'll explain exactly How to Control Your Thoughts.
Now, you may think this is going to be hard...after all, you think thousands of thoughts every single day. How would you monitor them all?
Fortunately, there is a shortcut...
We're going to teach you two techniques you can use to attain mastery over the thousands of thoughts streaming through your head each and every day.
The key to controlling your thoughts is to simply observe the emotions that come from the thought.
Understanding Emotions All the emotions we feel, be it love, excitement, sorrow, fear, happiness, peace, anger, jealousy or joy - can fall into two categories.
Your feelings about something tell you very quickly whether you should or should not bring that thing into your life.
When you understand the Law of Attraction, you'll learn to become aware of the way you feel and to pay attention to these feelings because they're your soul's guidance system, and will to help you hone in on things that are truly right for you.
Here's an example:
As a kid you may have played a game called hot or cold. You would close your eyes and count to ten. A friend would hide something, say a toy, under a mattress or behind some books. When you're done counting and open your eyes, you now have to attempt to find the hidden toy.
Every time you move towards the location of the toy your friend would shout "WARM". If you moved away from the toy your friend would shout "COOLER". As you start to move towards the toy your friend would say "You're getting WARMER, WARMER..." And as you pinpoint the mattress and discover the toy, he'd shout "HOT - You found it!"
Well let me share something with you.
The Universe is your friend. And the Universe plays this game with you EVERY single day.
But rather than say HOT or COLD, the Universe guides you with feelings. Positive feelings mean you're moving towards something good for you. Negative feelings mean you're headed in the wrong direction.
You may wake up one morning feeling negative about your job. The repetitive work is boring you, you feel underappreciated, you just don't feel you're doing something you love. The negative feelings are a sign from the Universe that you need to change direction immediately. Changing direction does not mean quitting your job this instant - but it does mean you need to do something to fix your present situation.
You might feel the same way about your marriage, your career, your body, your home - the negative feelings are alarm bells going off. The Universe is saying "Warning , You're thinking thoughts that are not the reality you wish to face. Keep thinking them and you'll only increase the likelihood of these situations coming to you. You need to find a way to change your thoughts FAST!".
Your Emotions are therefore, a warning system from your Soul. Pay attention to them, so that you'll only attract into your reality things that are good for you.
The Power of Gratitude The first technique for thought control is simply called Expressing Gratitude
People who let the Law of Attraction work for them are a certain breed of people. You'll recognize them when you meet them.
They are often positive, joyful, in awe of the world, and full of love and compassion.
Sure, they sometimes face bad moments - feelings of despair, grief or sorrow, but they bounce back quickly. They seem to relish life itself.
A simple way to help you move into this state of joy and positive vibes is to start thinking about what you have to be thankful for.
And believe me, you have a LOT to be thankful for.
You may look at your 2-bedroom apartment, cheap car and 15" inch TV and compare yourself to wealthy people living today and feel that you have barely made it.
But think about this - you are richer than the richest people in the world living just 200 years ago. They did not have a "horseless carriage" that could carry them wherever they wanted to go. They could not use a phone to instantly communicate with anyone - anywhere in the world. They did not have a "magic story-telling box", what we would call a TV - to entertain them. 200 years ago, the amount of information that the average wealthy person could consume in a lifetime, would be no match for the amount you can consume in ONE DAY through the Internet.
You may have an average income - but you would not want to trade places with a "rich" man living just 200 years ago. You have much to be grateful for!
So to get the Law of Attraction working for you, express gratitude for what you have. Because here's the BIG secret - when you express gratitude for what you have - you allow the Universe to give you more.
Wallace Wattles hit the nail on its head when he said, "People who order their lives rightly in all areas are kept in poverty because of their lack of gratitude. Having received one gift from God, they cut the ties that connect them to God by failing to make acknowledgement."
Now here's an important thing...
The acknowledgment does not serve to boost the ego of some insecure Universal Consciousness or God. The Universe does not CARE if you're grateful or not.
Why this works is because when you express gratitude for what you have, you put YOURSELF in a frame of mind - one that's of joy and expectancy. Because you now focus on what you HAVE rather than what you DON'T HAVE, the energy you're sending out is I HAVE A LOT.
And in return the Law of Attraction has to reciprocate by giving you A LOT MORE.
Without gratitude, the energy you put out is I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH - and so, by the Law of Attraction, you'll keeping losing more and more until you don't have enough.
Jack Canfield explains how he uses the Power of Gratitude in his life...
AS I explained in the movie, The Secret, I am always grateful for all that I have in my life – I have a magnificent home … I have a tremendous wife …I love spending time with my family. And, I absolutely love what I do in my business every day. I HAVE the best … and, much to my surprise … it just keeps getting better anyway!
But the point is this – I was grateful when I had no home, no wife, no family and no business. You see, it doesn't matter where you are in life. There's a reason right NOW to express gratitude.
So do it. Get in the habit of it. Write your gratitude list every night, or say it out loud in the shower every morning. You'll notice in just a matter of days how long that list begins to grow – and what a change in attitude it creates for you … and that's where attraction finds its way to you.
How to Express Gratitude It's really easy. Just decide to spend a few minutes each day to practice being thankful for what you have.
You could do it during:
Your morning commute While in the shower Just before going to bed at night. In the morning, as soon as you wake up. Some sample statements of gratitude you can use: I'm so grateful for my body. It's treated me so well over the years and is aging gracefully. I'm happy with the way I look. I'm grateful for having such an incredible family, for a spouse that loves me and for kids that are simply wonderful. I'm grateful for being born me - for my house, car, family, health and the feeling of joy with which I pursue each and every day. I'm so grateful now that I am earning _________ per month. I have a job I love, a career that I'm good at and I can afford anything I want for myself or my family. I'm so happy and grateful now that money comes to me, in ever increasing quantities, through multiple sources of income, on a continuous basis. Next...Thought Control when Something Bad Happens But what if something particularly bad happens - an accident or sudden illness?
What do you do then?
The solution is a technique called Energy Redirection
The Energy Redirection Technique We've already explained how your thoughts are energy. And that which you focus on, you attract.
The danger is that bad things do sometimes happen - accidents, illnesses, bad breakups, being laid off work. When this happens and you dwell on the sudden bad situation - you just create negative energy that amplifies the bad situation and keeps you locked in it for longer.
Fortunately, there is a powerful technique you can use to pull yourself out of bad situations. It's called the Energy Redirection Technique and is used by an 80 year-old meditation expert and energy healer in California called Burt Goldman. Burt learned the technique while studying with spiritual leaders and healers from around the world.
Often, a metaphor can show the way. So we'll let Burt tell you a story of an incident that would normally cause a great degree of stress in most people and how he applied the Energy Redirection Technique to this incident.
The Story of the Dented Fender The incident took place during a class I was presenting. I was heading out to lunch at a nearby restaurant with 3 of my students, and offered to drive. As we approached my new car, we saw a big dent in the right front fender.
Someone had slammed into it while it was parked, and had driven off without even leaving a note on the windshield.The three students looked at me and waited for the blowup.
When I first saw that dented fender, my mind flew off into all kinds of directions. For a moment I could feel irritation and my body tightening with anger, and I knew immediately I had to redirect that negative mental activity at once. I used the Energy Redirection Technique and focused on finding a way to change the negative thoughts into positive action.
Jumping into the car I said to the three, "Let's go. There's a body and fender shop just down the street."
"You going to get it fixed right now?" One of the students asked.
"Nope." I answered, "What I'm going to do is to get a price on what it costs to repair the dent, and whatever that price turns out to be, I'm going to create something that I'm not doing right now, and I'm going to make three times the cost of the dent."
We drove to a nearby shop and I was told that the cost of repairing the fender would be $450.00. I immediately tripled the figure and thought, "$1,350, I've got to earn $1,350.00 with something new."
Now whenever I looked at the dent in my fender I didn't mentally start cursing the low life who dented it and ran off. No, not at all. Now when I looked at the dent I thought, "$1,350.00, I've got to earn $1,350.00."
I kept thinking of how I could make that amount of money. It had to be something that I was not doing at that time. I put on my Creative Hat and thought about it, and finally came up with the answer.
I would create a brand new seminar for my friends and if they liked it I would send out a mailing to all the people who had been through my classes, and would set a goal of making $1,350.00 from it!
And so I put the seminar together and did it for free-of-charge for fifteen friends. They loved it. I then sent out a mailing and conducted the new seminar.
Imagine my surprise when I realized that I had made more on that seminar than the new car cost! And all because someone dented my fender.
Emotions create Energy leading to Action By focusing on the positive and using the Energy Redirection Technique, Burt allowed the Law of Attraction to work for him. He made the dented fender bring to his mind, not the negative feelings of loss - but the positive feeling of wanting to earn THREE times the cost of fixing that fender.
In Burt's story above - you can see how he looked at the dent, and saw something positive out of it.
He redirected his negative thoughts into positive ones, and set a goal of earning 3 times the money needed to fix the dent.
Now, of course, with the dominating thought in Burt's mind being the goal of earning money, he allowed the Law of Attraction to bring that into his reality.
The Energy Redirection Technique is really simple. When faced with a bad situation - think of a way to turn it into a CHALLENGE.
Apply creativity to the situation and any negative event can be turned into an exciting challenge.
Now, we're not saying you need to forget or ignore the negative event. That can sometimes be very hard to do. But by finding a challenge, a goal - something that can motivate and inspire you - you now re-allocate a large chunk of your energy away from the negative thoughts.
In other words, thoughts that would otherwise be obsessed with the negative event can now be redirected and focused on something positive.
It's beautiful and so simple! Yet once you learn this, you can free yourself from the many negative thoughts that keep you trapped in present conditions.
As Burt said...after setting his goal of earning 3 times the cost of the dented fender, every time he looked at the fender, he would motivate himself by thinking "I have to earn more money". The negative thoughts, anger at the person who made the dent, frustration at having to fork out money to fix it - were all being DIFFUSED by the positive challenge.
Here are several more examples: Bed-Ridden in Hospital: Decide that you're going to use this free time to learn something fun, say a new language. Now you're thinking about a new skill rather than focusing on your illness.
Got Laid Off: Set a goal to find a job that pays you 25% more than your previous job. Think about this new job and stop thinking about being laid off. Start job hunting. Do not hold any negative feelings towards your boss for laying you off. Instead, think of him as having done you a favor because you're now going to find a better job.
Someone Owes You Money and Refuses to Pay Up: Forgive them. As long as you hold a grudge, you're telling the Universe that you've lost money. And indeed, you'll attract the loss. Instead, set a goal to earn twice the amount of money you've lost.
Got Dumped: Decide that you'll find a new love. Someone better suited to you. Make a list of all the qualities you'd love to see in your ideal mate. Now focus on meeting this new person.
Lost a Business Due to Bankruptcy: Decide that you're going to rebuild a new business and regain your financial freedom. Set a goal to earn 3 times what you previously had. Bonus Points: Decide that you're going to earn so much more than you'll be able to repay all your debts - even though you legally may not have to.
http://www.coachme-mentorme.net
Monday, September 10, 2007
How to pick the WRONG business . . .
http://www.coachme-mentorme.net
Forget cold calling leads, forget those $20 commission
checks for months of effort, forget chasing down dead beat
leads, instead . . . unlock the secret to turning everything
in your business in YOUR favor and have endless streams of
leads chasing you for a change, have people effortless join
your business without you picking up the phone, and create
income regardless of whether or not THEY join. That's the
next generation of network marketing and here's you're key:
http://daegan.getnetmlmprofits.com/profits/intro.php?guid=1e54000c1719-e83390622b&email=freeecourses101@yahoo.com
One thing that is 100% in your control as a network marketer
is the company you choose, but many don't take full
advantage of this fact.
Most network marketers tend to choose the business that
"looks" like it's going to make them the easiest and
quickest money and for many this is a major downfall.
I fell victim to this myself. We tend to go where the buzz in
the industry is and take action on joining a company before
we really think the situation through. We're excited, the
business looks exciting, and in an emotionally heightened
state we jump in.
Or we look for the "person" that's going to make us all the
money. The sponsor with what we think to have the best
credentials.
Making a decision based on either of the above criteria is
natural, but not always in your best interest long term.
We want to go to where the success seems to be, and we think
in jumping on at the launch or finding the guy that knows it
all is going to spell out success in our future.
But is this really where our own personal success resides?
Most don't ask themselves "What type of network marketing
business am I best suited for?" before they get started and
because of this many end up, a few months down the road, not
exactly where they'd like to be.
Why?
Because most don't think about really doing an in depth
study of what network marketing is and what variations
exist and best suit them, and because of this they never
factor these points into their final decision.
I remember when I got started with my first company, I had
purchased a course on network marketing and literally ate
every word the author spoke about the "way" he was doing
business.
So much so that after listening to the course about 30 or so
time I just picked up the phone and called the author and
said "Whatever company you're in I want to be a part of."
He happily obliged and six months later I had lost a bunch
of moolah following my idle.
I didn't realize it then, but now I understand that in order
to succeed in this game you have to see exactly where you
want to be, not so much exactly who is going to get you
there.
But rather the type of company that you most identify with,
the type of marketing system best suited to you, the type of
compensation plan that offers you a level of stability and
reward for your efforts that you are comfortable with.
It takes a certain amount of foundational knowledge about
network marketing to even approach answering these
questions, and most get it through experiencing what they
don't like through a failed first attempt.
This can be avaioded with a little prior research.
It wasn't until I was unhappy with my current situation in
my first company that I actually started doing some real
research on the topic of network marketing and on the topic
of marketing.
Once I knew what I wanted it was much easier to find the
business that fit my ideal.
The first go around I tried to fit my ideal of network
marketing INTO the business I was already trying to run.
I started to see things that I wanted to do in my business
that just weren't possible so I sat there in an
uncomfortable state of trying to figure out how to turn my
current business into the one I really wanted.
It never happened.
What happened was I quit the first business and found the
second business that WAS my ideal.
So if you're not happy with your situation, if you're just
getting started, or you don't feel that you fit your
business take some time to really sit back to study what
network marketing is.
Then find the flavor that fits you and your unique tastes
and you'll find you've put yourself in the RIGHT vehicle for
your success.
To the top,
Daegan Smith
P.S. Forget cold calling leads, forget those $20 commission
checks for months of effort, forget chasing down dead beat
leads, instead . . . unlock the secret to turning everything
in your business in YOUR favor and have endless streams of
leads chasing you for a change, have people effortless join
your business without you picking up the phone, and create
income regardless of whether or not THEY join. That's the
next generation of network marketing and here's you're key:
http://daegan.getnetmlmprofits.com/profits/intro.php?guid=1e54000c1719-e83390622b&email=freeecourses101@yahoo.com
Forget cold calling leads, forget those $20 commission
checks for months of effort, forget chasing down dead beat
leads, instead . . . unlock the secret to turning everything
in your business in YOUR favor and have endless streams of
leads chasing you for a change, have people effortless join
your business without you picking up the phone, and create
income regardless of whether or not THEY join. That's the
next generation of network marketing and here's you're key:
http://daegan.getnetmlmprofits.com/profits/intro.php?guid=1e54000c1719-e83390622b&email=freeecourses101@yahoo.com
One thing that is 100% in your control as a network marketer
is the company you choose, but many don't take full
advantage of this fact.
Most network marketers tend to choose the business that
"looks" like it's going to make them the easiest and
quickest money and for many this is a major downfall.
I fell victim to this myself. We tend to go where the buzz in
the industry is and take action on joining a company before
we really think the situation through. We're excited, the
business looks exciting, and in an emotionally heightened
state we jump in.
Or we look for the "person" that's going to make us all the
money. The sponsor with what we think to have the best
credentials.
Making a decision based on either of the above criteria is
natural, but not always in your best interest long term.
We want to go to where the success seems to be, and we think
in jumping on at the launch or finding the guy that knows it
all is going to spell out success in our future.
But is this really where our own personal success resides?
Most don't ask themselves "What type of network marketing
business am I best suited for?" before they get started and
because of this many end up, a few months down the road, not
exactly where they'd like to be.
Why?
Because most don't think about really doing an in depth
study of what network marketing is and what variations
exist and best suit them, and because of this they never
factor these points into their final decision.
I remember when I got started with my first company, I had
purchased a course on network marketing and literally ate
every word the author spoke about the "way" he was doing
business.
So much so that after listening to the course about 30 or so
time I just picked up the phone and called the author and
said "Whatever company you're in I want to be a part of."
He happily obliged and six months later I had lost a bunch
of moolah following my idle.
I didn't realize it then, but now I understand that in order
to succeed in this game you have to see exactly where you
want to be, not so much exactly who is going to get you
there.
But rather the type of company that you most identify with,
the type of marketing system best suited to you, the type of
compensation plan that offers you a level of stability and
reward for your efforts that you are comfortable with.
It takes a certain amount of foundational knowledge about
network marketing to even approach answering these
questions, and most get it through experiencing what they
don't like through a failed first attempt.
This can be avaioded with a little prior research.
It wasn't until I was unhappy with my current situation in
my first company that I actually started doing some real
research on the topic of network marketing and on the topic
of marketing.
Once I knew what I wanted it was much easier to find the
business that fit my ideal.
The first go around I tried to fit my ideal of network
marketing INTO the business I was already trying to run.
I started to see things that I wanted to do in my business
that just weren't possible so I sat there in an
uncomfortable state of trying to figure out how to turn my
current business into the one I really wanted.
It never happened.
What happened was I quit the first business and found the
second business that WAS my ideal.
So if you're not happy with your situation, if you're just
getting started, or you don't feel that you fit your
business take some time to really sit back to study what
network marketing is.
Then find the flavor that fits you and your unique tastes
and you'll find you've put yourself in the RIGHT vehicle for
your success.
To the top,
Daegan Smith
P.S. Forget cold calling leads, forget those $20 commission
checks for months of effort, forget chasing down dead beat
leads, instead . . . unlock the secret to turning everything
in your business in YOUR favor and have endless streams of
leads chasing you for a change, have people effortless join
your business without you picking up the phone, and create
income regardless of whether or not THEY join. That's the
next generation of network marketing and here's you're key:
http://daegan.getnetmlmprofits.com/profits/intro.php?guid=1e54000c1719-e83390622b&email=freeecourses101@yahoo.com
Thursday, September 6, 2007
TRAINING FOR MLM! YOURS FREE! FREE E-BOOK,! GET THE MOST POWERFUL TRAINING FOR MENTORING
Welcome to the leading daily training.
Here's your chance to get the an incredible training opportunity that is changing the lives of thousands of people around the world.People who wanted to improve their lives, make more money and have the time to enjoy it.
But,just wishing for a better life does not work. You will have to get out of your comfort zone to change your life. You must decide to take action and do it.So Wake Up!
You either believe in free enterprise or you work for someone else who does.
YOU have The Freedom to Live. It’s not about money; it’s about freedom. Free from hunger and want, free to succeed, free to achieve, free to climb as high as your abilities will take you.
There is so much out there in life to explore, experience and enjoy. With freedom, you can live the way you have always wanted. But it isn’t about the money. Money is a means to an end. It’s about freedom. The freedom to spend time with the people you love, the freedom to give your children the best, the freedom to help others and to be there for life’s most important moments.
That’s the kind of freedom this opportunity offers. It can set one free from the clock, free from the nine-to-five grind—free to make a life, not a living. Finding Someone Who Has Already "Been There, Done That" Who Will Lead You By The Hand Every Step Of The Way!US!
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http://www.coachme-mentorme.net
Here's your chance to get the an incredible training opportunity that is changing the lives of thousands of people around the world.People who wanted to improve their lives, make more money and have the time to enjoy it.
But,just wishing for a better life does not work. You will have to get out of your comfort zone to change your life. You must decide to take action and do it.So Wake Up!
You either believe in free enterprise or you work for someone else who does.
YOU have The Freedom to Live. It’s not about money; it’s about freedom. Free from hunger and want, free to succeed, free to achieve, free to climb as high as your abilities will take you.
There is so much out there in life to explore, experience and enjoy. With freedom, you can live the way you have always wanted. But it isn’t about the money. Money is a means to an end. It’s about freedom. The freedom to spend time with the people you love, the freedom to give your children the best, the freedom to help others and to be there for life’s most important moments.
That’s the kind of freedom this opportunity offers. It can set one free from the clock, free from the nine-to-five grind—free to make a life, not a living. Finding Someone Who Has Already "Been There, Done That" Who Will Lead You By The Hand Every Step Of The Way!US!
Free ebook http://doinggreat.successin10steps.com
http://www.coachme-mentorme.net
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
A Lifetime of Planning Pays Off
"You gotta be crazy!" That's what Lee Dunham's friends told him back in 1971 when he gave up a secure job as a police officer and invested his life savings in the notoriously risky restaurant business. This particular restaurant was more than just risky, it was downright dangerous. It was the first McDonald's franchise in the city of New York - smack in the middle of crime-ridden Harlem.
Lee had always had plans. When other kids were playing ball in the empty lots of Brooklyn, Lee was playing entrepreneur, collecting milk bottles and returning them to grocery stores for the deposits. He had his own shoeshine stand and worked delivering newspapers and groceries. Early on, he promised his mother that one day she would never again have to wash other people's clothes for a living. He was going to start his own business and support her. "Hush your mouth and do your homework," she told him. She knew that no member of the Dunham family had ever risen above the level of laborer, let alone owned a business. "There's no way you're going to open your own business," his mother told him repeatedly.
Years passed, but Lee's penchant for dreaming and planning did not. After high school, he joined the Air Force, where his goal of one day owning a family restaurant began to take shape. He enrolled in the Air Force food service school and became such an accomplished cook he was promoted to the officers' dining hall.
When he left the Air Force, he worked for four years in several restaurants, including one in the famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Lee longed to start his own restaurant but felt he lacked the business skills to be successful. He signed up for business school and took classes at night while he applied and was hired to be a police officer.
For fifteen years he worked full-time as a police officer. In his off-hours, he worked part-time as a carpenter and continued to attend business school. "I saved every penny I earned as a police officer," he recalled. "For ten years, I didn't spend one dime - there were no movies, no vacations, no trips to the ballpark. There were only work and study and my lifelong dream of owning my own business." By 1971, Lee had saved $42,000, and it was time for him to make his vision a reality.
Lee wanted to open an upscale restaurant in Brooklyn. With a business plan in hand, he set out to seek financing. The banks refused him. Unable to get funding to open an independent restaurant, lee turned to franchising and filled out numerous applications. McDonald's offered him a franchise, with one stipulation: Lee had to set up a McDonald's in the inner-city, the first to be located there. McDonald's wanted to find out if its type of fast-food restaurant could be successful in the inner city. It seemed that Lee might be the right person to operate that first restaurant.
To get the franchise, Lee would have to invest his life savings and borrow $150,000 more. Everything for which he'd worked and sacrificed all those years would be on the line - a very thin line if he believed his friends. Lee spent many sleepless nights before making his decision. In the end, he put his faith in the years of preparation he'd invested - the dreaming, planning, studying and saving - and signed on the dotted line to operate the first inner-city McDonald's in the United States.
The first few months were a disaster. Gang fights, gunfire, and other violent incidents plagued his restaurant and scared customers away. Inside, employees stole his food and cash, and his safe was broken into routinely. To make matters worse, Lee couldn't get any help from McDonald's headquarters; the company's representatives were too afraid to venture into the ghetto. Lee was on his own.
Although he had been robbed of his merchandise, his profits, and his confidence, Lee was not going to be robbed of his dream. Lee fell back on what he had always believed in - preparation and planning.
Lee put together a strategy. First, he sent a strong message to the neighborhood thugs that McDonald's wasn't going to be their turf. To make his ultimatum stick, he needed to offer an alternative to crime and violence. In the eyes of those kids, Lee saw the same look of helplessness he had seen in his own family. He knew that there was hope and opportunity in that neighborhood and he was going to prove it to the kids. He decided to serve more than meals to his community - he would serve solutions.
Lee spoke openly with gang members, challenging them to rebuild their lives. Then he did what some might say was unthinkable: he hired gang members and put them to work. He tightened up his operation and conducted spot checks on cashiers to weed out thieves. Lee improved working conditions and once a week he offered his employees classes in customer service and management. He encouraged them to develop personal and professional goals. He always stressed two things: his restaurant offered a way out of a dead-end life and the faster and more efficiently the employees served the customers, the more lucrative that way would be.
In the community, Lee sponsored athletic teams and scholarships to get kids off the streets and into community centers and schools. The New York inner-city restaurant became McDonald's most profitable franchise worldwide, earning more than $1.5 million a year. Company representatives who wouldn't set foot in Harlem months earlier now flocked to Lee's doors, eager to learn how he did it. To Lee, the answer was simple: "Serve the customers, the employees, and the community."
Today, Lee Dunham owns nine restaurants, employs 435 people, and serves thousands of meals every day. It's been many years since his mother had to take in wash to pay the bills. More importantly, Lee paved the way for thousands of African-American entrepreneurs who are working to make their dreams a reality, helping their communities, and serving up hope.
All this was possible because a little boy understood the need to dream, to plan, and to prepare for the future. In doing so, he changed his life and the lives of others.
"The most important thing in life is to stop saying 'I wish' and start saying 'I will.' Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilities as probabilities."
David Copperfield
Magician
Lee had always had plans. When other kids were playing ball in the empty lots of Brooklyn, Lee was playing entrepreneur, collecting milk bottles and returning them to grocery stores for the deposits. He had his own shoeshine stand and worked delivering newspapers and groceries. Early on, he promised his mother that one day she would never again have to wash other people's clothes for a living. He was going to start his own business and support her. "Hush your mouth and do your homework," she told him. She knew that no member of the Dunham family had ever risen above the level of laborer, let alone owned a business. "There's no way you're going to open your own business," his mother told him repeatedly.
Years passed, but Lee's penchant for dreaming and planning did not. After high school, he joined the Air Force, where his goal of one day owning a family restaurant began to take shape. He enrolled in the Air Force food service school and became such an accomplished cook he was promoted to the officers' dining hall.
When he left the Air Force, he worked for four years in several restaurants, including one in the famed Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York. Lee longed to start his own restaurant but felt he lacked the business skills to be successful. He signed up for business school and took classes at night while he applied and was hired to be a police officer.
For fifteen years he worked full-time as a police officer. In his off-hours, he worked part-time as a carpenter and continued to attend business school. "I saved every penny I earned as a police officer," he recalled. "For ten years, I didn't spend one dime - there were no movies, no vacations, no trips to the ballpark. There were only work and study and my lifelong dream of owning my own business." By 1971, Lee had saved $42,000, and it was time for him to make his vision a reality.
Lee wanted to open an upscale restaurant in Brooklyn. With a business plan in hand, he set out to seek financing. The banks refused him. Unable to get funding to open an independent restaurant, lee turned to franchising and filled out numerous applications. McDonald's offered him a franchise, with one stipulation: Lee had to set up a McDonald's in the inner-city, the first to be located there. McDonald's wanted to find out if its type of fast-food restaurant could be successful in the inner city. It seemed that Lee might be the right person to operate that first restaurant.
To get the franchise, Lee would have to invest his life savings and borrow $150,000 more. Everything for which he'd worked and sacrificed all those years would be on the line - a very thin line if he believed his friends. Lee spent many sleepless nights before making his decision. In the end, he put his faith in the years of preparation he'd invested - the dreaming, planning, studying and saving - and signed on the dotted line to operate the first inner-city McDonald's in the United States.
The first few months were a disaster. Gang fights, gunfire, and other violent incidents plagued his restaurant and scared customers away. Inside, employees stole his food and cash, and his safe was broken into routinely. To make matters worse, Lee couldn't get any help from McDonald's headquarters; the company's representatives were too afraid to venture into the ghetto. Lee was on his own.
Although he had been robbed of his merchandise, his profits, and his confidence, Lee was not going to be robbed of his dream. Lee fell back on what he had always believed in - preparation and planning.
Lee put together a strategy. First, he sent a strong message to the neighborhood thugs that McDonald's wasn't going to be their turf. To make his ultimatum stick, he needed to offer an alternative to crime and violence. In the eyes of those kids, Lee saw the same look of helplessness he had seen in his own family. He knew that there was hope and opportunity in that neighborhood and he was going to prove it to the kids. He decided to serve more than meals to his community - he would serve solutions.
Lee spoke openly with gang members, challenging them to rebuild their lives. Then he did what some might say was unthinkable: he hired gang members and put them to work. He tightened up his operation and conducted spot checks on cashiers to weed out thieves. Lee improved working conditions and once a week he offered his employees classes in customer service and management. He encouraged them to develop personal and professional goals. He always stressed two things: his restaurant offered a way out of a dead-end life and the faster and more efficiently the employees served the customers, the more lucrative that way would be.
In the community, Lee sponsored athletic teams and scholarships to get kids off the streets and into community centers and schools. The New York inner-city restaurant became McDonald's most profitable franchise worldwide, earning more than $1.5 million a year. Company representatives who wouldn't set foot in Harlem months earlier now flocked to Lee's doors, eager to learn how he did it. To Lee, the answer was simple: "Serve the customers, the employees, and the community."
Today, Lee Dunham owns nine restaurants, employs 435 people, and serves thousands of meals every day. It's been many years since his mother had to take in wash to pay the bills. More importantly, Lee paved the way for thousands of African-American entrepreneurs who are working to make their dreams a reality, helping their communities, and serving up hope.
All this was possible because a little boy understood the need to dream, to plan, and to prepare for the future. In doing so, he changed his life and the lives of others.
"The most important thing in life is to stop saying 'I wish' and start saying 'I will.' Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilities as probabilities."
David Copperfield
Magician
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