The Lonely Coal

You may have heard this story before since it is popular in sermons and devotions. A pastor visited a gentleman he hadn’t seen in a while. While they were chatting in front the fireplace, the pastor gently reached for the poker and moved a red hot coal from the midst of the roaring fire and onto an isolated corner of the hearth. The fire died and eventually the coal grew dark and cold. Before taking his leave, the pastor moved the lonely coal near the fire where it quickly glowed and became warm again. The gentleman told the pastor he would see him in church on Sunday.
As a leader in our network marketing company, I enjoy mentoring those who saw this business as their avenue for creating the life of their dreams. When people start such a business they are both excited and afraid. These are the same feelings we experience when starting anything new – a course of study in school, a new job, or a move to a new location. Everyone feels both excited and afraid.
After the newness fades and we become more comfortable with this new place, these feelings begin to change. On the days when we know we are doing what we love and experiencing success, then we feel rewarded and happy with our decision to be here. However, we all know what it feels like on those days when things are not quite the way we would like them to be. We feel that being here is a struggle and we start to doubt if we made the right decision after all.
How many college students do you think consider dropping out of school? Or how many people wonder if they married the right person? How many network marketers give up because they doubt themselves and the company they have partnered with?
Having second thoughts about a decision is very normal, especially when the “honeymoon” is over and some adversity arises. These are the times when it is vital to reconnect with the fire. Remember your reason for making the decision initially. What are your goals for being in school, or starting a business, or writing a book?
Anytime you start to feel doubtful about where you are and what you’re doing, realize you are the lonely coal. Call someone who understands what you are experiencing. Reconnect with your mentor and become close to the group again. These simple steps will warm you up and reconnect you to your original passion. The lonely coal offers no light or warmth to anyone, but when connected to the coals in the fire, the light and warmth will last a long time.

At Last, The Truth About Why People Fail In Home Businesses

Have you noticed the failure rates in home business arena?  Thousands of people worldwide start home-based businesses every year.  But how many of these people actually stay in business and make the money they hoped they would?  I’ve seen reports such  as 97% fail in the home business market.  Are you ready for the real truth about why this happens?

I could summarize the reasons in two words, “THEY QUIT.”  As true as this reason is, there are underlying sub-reasons.  First of all, many people start a home business for the wrong reasons.  They think of it as a lottery ticket and say something like, “I hope this thing works,” just as they might say,”I hope my numbers get picked.”  Deep down they are doubtful which in itself practically guarantees their failure.  These hopeful but skeptical gamblers rarely treat the business like a business and therefore “fail.”  Sometimes they fail after a week, and some may wait 6 months before admitting that “it didn’t work.”  But they rarely take responsibility for this failure.

Other people may start out very excited and motivated.  They take “some” of the steps that their leaders teach as being fundamental to success.  But some of the recommendations are too much work or simply not fun.  They may not like writing ads.  Or they may not like calling the people who answered their ads.  Their commitment level is not high enough to develop the habits required to succeed.  Their goals are not exciting enough to overcome the lazy factor.  If the picture of success does not engage one emotionally, then most people will follow the path of least resistance and fall back into their old “comfortable” way of thinking and behaving.

After all, if massive success were simple, everyone would be successful.  Instead, we hear that only 3% of people actually achieve the results they say they want.  I’m here to say it’s because the desire is not strong enough to overcome resistance.  And life is full of resistance.  Ask any Olympic chanpion – and to participate in the Olympics is in itself an achievement.  Only a few people are willing to take the daily action to develop into successful athletes.  Many people would “like” to be great.  Only a few stick with the training long enough to see it happen.

There are many endeavors I personally started with good intentions and gave up on.  One is a master’s degree in counseling. That goal was not compelling enough for me to do the work required.  Weight loss is another area of struggle for me.  The distractions, like ice cream, are more compelling some days than my goal of a healthier and more energetic body.  But the PRICE OF FAILURE is greater than the PRICE OF SUCCESS.  The price of sucess is temporary – self-discipline and persistence even when my lazy self desires ice cream.  The price of failure lasts for as long I accept failure, in this case being overweight, as my reality.

So is success in home business a matter of luck, or the right business, or some special talent?  When I interview those who have reached the consistent income level many want but don’t achieve, I discover one recurring trait.  The successful people  simply keep at it.  They don’t quit regardless of how tired they feel or how discouraged they may get.  The vision of their goal is so powerful that they are willing to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes.  And when victory comes, it is very gratifying.  We look up to people who achieve what appears superhuman.  If one person can do it, anyone can, as long as they don’t quit.  Self-discipline and persistence are the keys to the kingdom of success.

Real Success Is Loving The Process

First of all, I have been a registered nurse for greater than 33 years.  I don’t know the demographics on that right now but a sizable part of the earth’s population hasn’t been alive that long.  Does than mean I have learned everything there is to know?  We all know the answer to that question – none better than my husband and children.  Does that mean I have achieved ultimate financial success and can sit back and relax, drinking mint juleps, and do anything I please for the next 40 years?  What would be the adventure or enjoyment in that?  Isn’t real success the art loving the process?

For some reasons, each generation seems to arrive on the planet thinking that life can be figured out, conquered, so that everyone can live happily ever after.  There is always the sense that “if only” such and such would happen, all our problems would disappear.  For those touched by cancer, it’s “if only we could find a cure for cancer,” then all my problems would disappear.  For people who have lost family members, especially children, to communicable diseases, it’s “if only we had a vaccine” to prevent HIV or hepatitis C, then life would be perfect.

For those who struggle and work 40 – 60 hours a week without getting ahead, it’s “if only I could find a job or business that paid me a decent income and left me time to enjoy the people I love.”  For business people, and many home business people I know, it’s “if only I could find a cost effective way to attract lots of people to my business without my having to research lead generation again,” then I would achieve the success I really deserve.

Regardless of the challenges humans have faced throughout the past 5,000 years, there are always new ones ready to replace the old ones once they are solved.  Take medicine for instance.  Actually I’m going to save medicine for now because it deserves a blog of its own.  So take business for instance.  Progress dictates that each victory makes room for another.  However, this isn’t the mindset of most people.  Rather, most people see it as a problem solved which then created another problem.  For successful people, the thinking here is “wow, how can I make this process work better?”  And then ask the same question the next day and the next…

With all the “problems” or “challenges” that have been solved and conquered in my lifetime, there are as many new ones still looming before us.  When my life is over, there will still be a plethora of challenges left to be figured out.  That’s good, for without challenges, what is the point of life?  Success lies in the enjoyment of the game, not just the victory.  Right now millions of people are wringing their hands in anguish over the state of the economy – or the fear of flu season.  For me, I  am enjoying the book I’m reading, the glass of wine I’m drinking, and the home where I comfortably live. 

When I finish this book, my challenge will be to read another.  When I finish the wine, my challenge will be to wash the glass and purchase another bottle for another day.  When the floor gets dusty and my clothes become dirty, I will take the necessary steps to put things right again.  And I do this over and over with gratitude for a life of challenges and opportunities for loving and learning.  You see, the point is that life always presents us with a new challenge.  It’s our attitude and approach toward that challenge that determines our success.

New blog post: Home Business – The New Family Farm.http://ping.fm/IrVwg

Home Business – The Modern Family Farm

Just a few generations ago, people supported themselves and their families on what was known as the family farm. Generations of families passed down the land, resources, and skills to produce crops and manage livestock. Then the industrial revolution changed all that.  As a result, people sold their small farms and moved to cities. They got jobs in factories, retail establishments, and in many forms of service. This marked the end of families living and working at home together. It marked the beginning of day care, 40 plus hour work weeks, and limited time to spend with the people we love the most.

This revolution, as it’s been called, also marked the beginning of many social ills.  Juvenile delinquency, teenage pregnancy, and substance abuse have become way too common in modern society.  Parents only have a brief amount of time to influence their children.  Meaningful relationships, whether they are between parents and children, husbands and wives, or friends, require time and attention to develop any depth.  It’s no wonder, therefore, that our society has suffered since modern ideas about employment have prevented families from spending enough time together.

It is so encouraging that many parents of today are finding a way to take back this precious time.  Home business opportunities have been around for decades.  However, most of them have not been lucrative enough for many people to be able to support their families in the way they would like.  This situation has been changing dramatically in the past decade or so.  Twent-first century families require at least a 6 figure income to have the money freedom to live comfortably in today’s world.  Only by being a home based entrepreneur can people also have the time freedom they and their families deserve.

It does take a leap of faith to strike out on one’s own in a home business.  Many people have fears and limiting beliefs based on stories they have heard about previous companies.  Today is the best time ever to take a look at what’s possible in a home business.  There is a new company set to launch on 9-9-09 that takes this vision to a new level.  Previously there have been companies with low-end products and profits or very high end exclusive products.  This new company, Polaris Media Group, bridges both worlds. 

We, our families, and our world deserve a new idea that allows people to create the lives that best serve everyone.  Imagine being able to spend time with loved ones, while operating a business from home, during the hours that fit your schedule, not your boss’.  Our business is personal development using media channels unique to the 21st century.  Just like the family farm evolved in response to changes in technology, so today’s economy is evolving to better meet the needs of modern families. 

In a sense, we have come full circle. The family farm offered the time and resources for families to work and play together.  Today home businesses are doing the same thing. For anyone looking for an alternative to the high pressure corporate world, now is the ideal time to take a look at a home business.  Improving our relationships, our communities, and our world begins at home.

To the success of families everywhere.

Sandra Hayes

800-852-7695

The Secret to Entrepreneur Success?

The Secret to Entrepreneur Success?

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3 Steps To Have Success Today

Have you been successful before?  Of course you have!  You have succeeded in a lot of ways.  Acknowledge your strengths and successes to yourself and others.  Right now, write down everything you have succeeded in accomplishing so far.  Can you walk, talk, read, write, drive a car, cook a meal, or turn on a computer?  This is an empowering and confidence-builiding exercise.  It reminds you of what you are capable of achieving.

Now, identify something you have been wanting to do but have continued to put off.  What dreams have you ignored?  Do you want to play a musical instrument?  Paint?  Skydive?  Travel?  Ski?  Wite it down.  Make a commitment to achieving this by a certain date.  Then, sit and visualize how you are going to feel when you accomplish this feat.  Write this vision and the accomanying feelings as well.  Woohoo!!  Doesn’t that excite you?

The third and final step is to take action!  Read a book.  Enroll in a class.  Buy whatever tools or gear the activity requires.  This can be as simple or as complicated as you choose.  The main thing is that once you decide what you want to do, know that you are on your way to doing it.  Look at others who have already achieved your goal.  Talk to them either in person, online, or on the telephone.  Then do it.  Afterwards you will have one other success to add to your list. 

After all, we were created to be successful, right?  Success gives life and energy to everyone around us.  It especially fuels our own self-confidence that will lead us to greater levels.  Focusing on past successes gives us the energy and faith to dream bigger and accomplish more.  In a world full of doubt and fear, lets all be a beacon of hope and courage.  I’ll be sharing my successes here and would love to hear yours as well.

Have a wonderfully successful day.

Sandra Hayes

http://achieveproseperitytoday.com

800-852-7695

Achieving Prosperity With Laser Focused Clarity

Our well-thought-out, written goals have a much stronger impact than most people believe. My goals have to be personal and exciting enough to motivate me to take bold action. However, they cannot be so lofty as to deny any realistic thought. If we don’t believe that we can attain a goal we state, then we won’t. For instance, someone who has earned $30,000 a year for the past 5 years won’t believe the goal of $1,000,000 this year. They will believe a goal of $120,000 a year, which is 4 times the previous amount. After reaching this goal, then it is simpler to quadruple that number. Once we realize we can achieve something, it gets much easier to set bigger goals and attain them as well.

We Earn What We Believe We Are Worth

Most people say they would like to earn more money.   They would like to take nice vacations.  They would like to live in a nice house in an upscale neighborhood.  They would like to drive a nice car.  So why don’t they?  This is a question philosophers have pondered for years.  Why do people with the same backgrounds arrive at totally different socioeconomic standards of living?  Sociologists, psychologists, and philosophers have pondered this for years.  In my own readings and analysis of this phenomenon, it has become evident to me that we earn what we believe we are worth.

Strange, isn’t it?  Most people would say that the key to financial success is a better education or wiser investing.  If you look at the wealthiest people in the world, this does not prove to be the case at all.  Education and wise investing don’t hurt, but they certainly aren’t the ticket to wealth that most people believe.  The real key to wealth is knowing without a doubt that you are worthy of wealth.  It is totally believing that your services are worth more in use value than you receive in money for them.

For people like me, who grew up in a blue collar family, this can be a hurdle to overcome.  I was often told that we lived “on the wrong side of the tracks.”  My parents never really saw themselves as wealthy and often struggled to make ends meet.  They were proud and avoided debt at all cost.  My parents built a small home before I was born and lived in it for more than 50 years.  In fact, my father died in that house and my mother only left it because she needed to move into an assisted living facility at age 85.

So, is it possible for someone like me to actually break the six-figure income barrier?  The first step is an awareness of my deep-seated beliefs. The second step is to journal my thoughts thoroughly so I really understand where my beliefs originated and how they can be flawed.  Finally, I must guard my company.  In other words, if I consistently hang out with poverty-conscious people, I will take on their characteristics and beliefs.  However, as I spend time with wealthy people, I realize they are just like me.  Their primary difference lies in how they view wealth.  As a result, I begin to view wealth in a refreshing and totally attainable way.

There is plenty of money in the world for everyone to be wealthy.  The idea that the supply is limited is what causes poverty consciousness. In a so-called down economy, people tend to think the money supply is severely limited, which it is not.  Also, each of us is just as deserving of wealth as anyone else.  Why should it be otherwise? 

Once I believed I deserved to have wealth, I started acting like someone who is wealthy.  I became an entrepreneur rather than an employee.  I started doing the things an entrepreneur does which included making investments of time and money in my business instead of in someone else’s.  As a result, I then began having the results and income that the wealthy have.  After all, it is a proven fact that we earn what we believe we are worth.  How much do you believe you are worth?

Andy Andrews – Inspirational Corporate Speaker – Bestselling Author

Andy Andrews – Inspirational Corporate Speaker – Bestselling Author

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