October 26, 1883 – November 8, 1970
One of my life’s favorite heroes and mentors, Mr. Hill left us when I was 8. He remains as one of my best models for what it means to leave a legacy behind, one that has saved this butt’s bacon on more than one occasion over the last 2 decades, especially so over the last 10 years as I committed to complete responsibility for my personal development.
Thank You for your continued guidance Mr. Hill!! May our paths cross again! Cheers!
This past summer while enjoying a cold beverage in the shade of the backyard, my friend made a remark that I have thought about ever since. We were talking about business things and in a break in the conversation he made the statement, “there’s a LOT of MLM in this town.”
Without hesitation I replied, “It’s not a sign of the town it’s a sign of the times.”
“The one who follows the crowd, will usually get no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone is likely to discover places no one has ever been before.
Creativity in living is not without its attendant difficulties, for peculiarity breeds contempt. And the unfortunate thing about being ahead of your time is that when people finally realize you were right, they’ll say it was obvious all along.
You have two choices in life: you can dissolve into the mainstream, or you can be distinct. To be distinct, you must be different. To be different you must strive to be what no one else but you can be…”
— Taken From “Creative Problem Solving”
This long overdue posting serves as my “What I Did This Summer Report.” Summer? We had summer in there? I had no idea the whirlwind I would experience going into it, and as usual, with clear intentions around me, I am amazed looking back at the previous 4 months at how time gets all outta’ whack when I am in the zone of following my bliss and single focused to an ultimate end. And we know that every ending is just a new beginning…
It’s been an unusual and turbulent year for just about every Being on this precarious planet and although I am blessed to be having a different ride than most, the last few months was not without its attendant challenges. Seems once summer hit, I had a strong calling to go find some more bliss for myself. I didn’t quite know what that looked like or what it would take and I had to brake through some inertia and excuses I had running to recreate that wonderful feeling of momentum again.
I learned while away, that I am in good company in my “not knowing” what the future really holds in store.
After a few trips around North America to be in the company of some of our most masterful business and investor folk, it appeared to me that no one, from the top down, really knows for sure what’s next, although there are some obvious solutions popping up as most likely, it seems that we are creating our restructuring as we go. What is crystal clear is, just about everyone in these circles are over the top excited about where we’re headed, and consequently, so am I!
I set out to find the inspiration for “re-invention” of myself. I wanted to find new solutions and ways of “doing things”, to run with a new crowd, find a different perspective and develop my skills of benevolent influence and persuasion in order to further enhance and develop my roles as leader, entrepreneur, and investor.
Just when you think things are as perfect as perfect gets, something – and usually someone with it – more perfect comes along to add to the mix of fun and abundance!
While I was away I found another Golden Goose for my multi-stream income nest, amazing new friends, eager to learn, to play, to have fun with life, and, some new and different mentors to follow and model.
I heard a statement recently with regards to advancing up the ranks in my main business. I have it now filed as a “Universal Truth” as it applies to life as well:
“The people that brought you to this level or that take you to the next level may or may not be the same people that take you to the top and beyond.”
In my last post I was just going into a formal coaching relationship – that was July, the exercise has been priceless…and not too similar to what I had pictured for the experience.
When I go after what I need, a whole bunch of what I didn’t know I wanted shows up!
Taking a leap of faith for me is like jumping into a cold lake on a hot day. I generally take a while to jump in and get it over with. I am sensitive to the contrast of the immediate environment change; I have to go through some short term discomfort to get to the fun and ease of swimming. Albeit it uncomfortable, the short term suffering is worth the end goal – have fun with my friends…and…
“How we do anything is how we do everything.”
My fellow healthy chocolate Peeps are inspiring and astounding me in their persistence and determination. It’s been almost 3 full years focused on that business and after experiencing the battle of “attrition” together this past year, those of us left standing are they that really understand and see the bigger vision focused on solution.
We learned first hand that attrition happens when the market/the people panics – and it’s only temporary if one takes action and tends to it. We are a force and viable source to be reckoned with and are rallying together to get the word out about the solution we have for saving lives, and mostly…
“We are listening like we’ve never listened before.”
Something else I found out, there is massive opportunity in panic and change!
As my chocolate business grows and thrives, I find myself acclimating to a new environment the last 2 months. It’s been 4 solid years since I was scared straight into the unfamiliar territory of finances and investing. Finally after this much time and much discomfort, absorbing and wading through information and concepts that used to flat out scare or bore me, I heard something at this year’s investment festival calling out to me. It had always been there and I guess now I was ready to notice and embrace it…
I set my alarm every morning and pop out of bed to head to the desk and out onto the FOREX yard for a morning of play. If all goes well and I’m good – I will collect a lot of “pips”. I am fascinated as I watch the constantly changing red and blue “candlesticks” and become familiar with the ripples of movement as trillions of dollars move about the planet in reaction to the collective vibration! Riding the waves of the open Foreign Exchange Market is my newest passion and as I have discovered – one of the quintessential skills one might like to master going into the future. I have taken to it like a duck to water and it is the something I didn’t know I wanted and was right under my nose for quite some time. Confirmation once again that I will hear and see what I’m truly ready to hear and see.
FOREX trading is being touted as the next big skill open to the masses to learn, it has become the perfect fit for my portfolio of income streams. It fits the number one criteria and that is, that it doesn’t mess with my first love – my chocolate business. Instead, what has occurred is that, as I learn the disciplines required to be good at day trading, my other business is benefiting from the experience!
My days now have more structure and I get more done in less time. I am surrounded by masters cheering me on to the finish lines of my goals in all endeavours, and I now have 2 ways to ensure the lifestyle and freedom I prefer! Everyday I hear the personal results of those that know the nature of this thriving market, I am motivated to get good fast. I’m also acutely more aware of how much I can actually accomplish while having fun doing what I must do.
If I have to pick one, my chocolate business gets priority focus, it’s got the satisfaction of helping people in all matters, the leverage of everyone doing a little bit and the passive residual returns over time.
The FOREX yard is almost always open for when I’m ready to step in and out of it, and in it I must be to scoop out the profits of the pips! It represents the pulse of the global collective and adheres to natural laws that I can bank on. It satisfies my need to observe patterns of behaviour while I practice remaining detached from outcome, it hones my patience while I learn the art of following a system and the skill of wisely responding instead of gut-reacting.
So as I consume my healthy chocolate, counsel and plan with my fellow chocolate peeps and play my trading games every day, I am aware of how peculiar my way of earning a living and doing life must appear to those on the outside of it looking in.
I am resigned to master one thing for sure and that’s “rolling with change”, I commit to being flexible and adaptable to new environments no matter how uncomfortable it is to dive into them, because, after what seems a few moments, I’ll be shouting to those still dry, “C’mon in the water’s fine!”
“So she’s beginning to feel invincible.
She’s beginning to feel that there isn’t anything that,
hear these carefully chosen words…
She’s beginning to feel that there isn’t anything that she can’t work the
bugs out of HER about.
Not out of the government, not out of the economy,
[not out of the opportunity she has], out of HER!“
Abraham-Hicks – Los Angeles, 3/29/09
“They say”, “if you want to get a different result or break through to another level you must ask some different questions and definitely take some different actions.”
I get that. And, what does that really look like on a daily or minute to minute basis for me specifically?
Tomorrow begins a whole new ball game for me and the direction of my business, and likely my life! I have been invited to play in a unique and “elite” coaching program, it would be “unwise” of me to say, “no thanks”. I am Knowing what I have been wanting and am now asking for and have little idea of what “the next level” really looks like for me specifically, I just know there’s some solutions in the forthcoming workout.
For the first time I have implemented 2 things:
1. Hired a personal assistant. Time to let go of the tasks that tie up my time and focus.
2. Hired a personal life and business coach to run with me over the next few months, we will be working on “mindset”, “influence” and after 16 weeks of that comes 10 weeks of “concept training”, things specific to my field, talents and gifts. I have come to know “Me” about as much as I can without some outside support and guidance by those that can see me “better”!
My investment was insignificant with regards to both money and time by comparison to the results I know I will achieve through the exercise, I feel I’ve hired the best I’ve experienced so far. At the same time, by comparison to any other investment I’ve made in myself in the past, this is by far the single largest and most significant. It is causing me to feel that familiar feeling of being “stretched”, it is a place of faith that no matter how uncomfortable I’m feeling right now, it’s a good uncomfortable – excitement if I focus on my intended results! I feel like I’m about to jump out of an airplane or off the side of a mountain – nervously in tandem at first and looking forward to flying on my own alongside the others!
As one that has lived life “hacking things out for herself” – and I might add, has done well by the hacking alone – it is time to refine my hacking skills and lay plans for carving out something more deliberate and significantly more powerful for me and mine.
Today I draw some lines in the proverbial sand, make plans, set intentions and get as clear a vision as I can about what a year out from now could possibly look and feel like from every detail! There are some things I want to accomplish and just can’t seem to get done without a little support on the side.
As a wanna’ be accomplished entrepreneur, I’ve hired myself a Millionaire boss and mentor for a while. I’m sure there are old habits to release and fabulous new ones to replace them with, that I don’t even know about yet! All things considered, if you’re reading this you’ll likely be a part of the journey, I’ll be sharing as much of it as I can express in words…all sides of it, the good, the bad (cause we’re usually bad at something before we get good) and who knows, perhaps even the ugly side just to hone our preferences by!
Wish me luck, a lil’ of that always goes well with faith!
“When the archer misses the mark, he turns and looks for the fault within himself. Failure to hit the bull’s eye is never the fault of the target. To improve your aim – improve yourself.”
— Gilbert Arland – Writer
Use The Power Of Online Social Media To Shine Your Light And Point The Way…
You don’t have to look far or listen too long before you see or hear something about “Web 2.0”, a newly evolved version of the Internet experience that includes the massive power of things like “Social Networking” and “Social Media Sites”. You know them as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or YouTube.
As a pioneer and surfer on the leading edge of technology and “online collaboration”, and an expert in “long-distance” relationships and team-building, I don’t really see “Social Networking” as anything new, in fact I consider “socializing” a lost art – long gone lost.
No matter what instrument one uses to get their thoughts and feelings across, they have to be willing to share them first and listen to those of others – first we sow, then we reap.
I am often complimented on my “writing skills”. From my side of that – and thank you – the ability to put my thoughts and feelings here on this web page is not because I’m a writer, it’s because I don’t particularly give a rip what people think about what I think, say or write…(wasn’t always so) and well that’s not entirely true, I care what SOME people think…and I am continually letting go of the “need to please everyone” mentality.
Doing anything to please another is a trap in itself, let alone trying to please them ALL, it’ll never happen and it’ll drive anyone to some form of private debauchery for trying!
I have learned how to tell a story, and I call this story-telling over the net, “talking in type”…proper spelling, grammar or punctuation is optional and, if you’re a texter, as you know – not recommended! I feel free to invent new words along the way if it helps to get a concept across or meld together ideas and we now have video and audio for those that aren’t comfy with their “thoughts-to-words” assembling skills.
I believe what we are seeing manifest here and now is another go-round of the “Mom & Pop” days, this time on a global level, with exponentially more leverage for each individual involved. Some newly coined words for this phenomenon as it is unfolding are popping up to define the direction we are headed, “brandividuality” or “brandividualism” are recent additions to the new dictionary.
“Your Name” is what you are building the credibility of, not the companies, partnerships and products that are part of your business or financial portfolio. There is only One “You” – that “individualism” you bring to the global marketplace is what’s irreplaceable and in-doable by any other individual in the Universe!
If you are good at offering value, anything behind you is good and others will want to know what you’ve got, what works for you will likely work for them too.
The more value I bring to my marketplace, the more I know I will be rewarded in kind and beyond, my spreadsheet shows me that I’m beginning to understand the concept, the understanding shows up in real numbers called “positive results”, which equates to real dollars in my bank accounts.
Perhaps those too familiar with you or that have “history” with you are tired of hearing about or from you for one reason or another? Maybe you came from a place you want to forget about, start fresh and create a new environment or a new You altogether?
I’ll guarantee you there are an unlimited number of people just waiting to hear your stories, what you learned from your failures, they’ll cheer you on and help you to celebrate your successes, if you share them.
Share that which inspires you in your moments of inspiration and your voice will carry farther than you can imagine and land exactly where it needs to be heard. Your voice matters and you will be heard if you just show up and give a shout out!
I have an associate that calls herself, “The 10 Years Too Late Girl”, although “late” is, most definitely better than never with persistence, by comparison to my friend’s story, I then have to call myself, “The 10 Years Too Early Girl”. It seems I’ve been waiting for at least that long for my vision to come together and manifest into my physical reality, for others to “get it”, interesting thing is, 10 years later, my unique offering is still needed, my niche still exists! As much as I come and go, my “calling” remains the same.
I bill myself as an “Ambassador For Connection”. I notice the “connecting” part of the equation is still missing for a lot of people, I see them walking, I hear them talking, and still they stand alone and afraid to trust or move forward…
I have 100’s if not 1000’s of people in my organization that say, “I have run out of people to talk to”, the ones that are left on their list, they have reconsidered working with – and usually I cannot blame them! They want out of that existing circle, into something entirely new and are generally both the army and the General of their one-man army in the beginning of their venture. They lack the time and energy to “push ropes” and the financial resources to go out and meet a whole different crowd or even 1 or 2 good friends –
…relationships, no matter how you do them, take time and most importantly personal focus and energy, relationships are the true overhead of any of life’s endeavors. Nothing manifests in my world unless another shares my vision, I have accomplished nothing strictly “on my own”.
All I need to ask a person is “Are you on Facebook yet?” and I can instantly tell by their body language and response what they know about it, few know much – they are where I was 10 years ago, I am called to fill a need, to inspire others to dip their toes in the proverbial waters…
More than once I have been in high-powered marketing seminars and snicker when a speaker makes reference to “the greatest marketing plan ever launched” – in reference to the marketing behind “The Secret”. I snicker because I was in on that master plan from the beginning, and there really wasn’t one! The power of that “little film” was driven by a small handful of people with unstoppable passion and belief in something they absolutely knew worked and would make a difference on a massive scale! Tip the scale it did.
Those of us in charge of getting the word out about this new program all had a talent for “natural promotion”, for putting our excitement “out there”, we had big mouths, worked diligently and had a whole lot of fun along the way! We knew what we wanted “The Secret” to do (before it was even called that) and it did it! We gathered together 1000’s of people online months before there was ever a finished product…we did that on total faith, I invested at least 2 years sweat, energy and real dollars into that project once the dust all settled from it. I recall many times looking up and asking that this project please be a success…it was one of my life’s greatest learning experiences in business.
If a small handful of people can gather the attention and focus of 10’s of 1000’s of others from around the world over a few months, how many can you gather with your enthusiasm and appreciation for life over 1 to 2 years?
If you follow the stories of the successful it is easy to see that their successes were had because of a relationship with another. 1 or 2 great connections can change the course of life and business.
“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Get out there and start spreading your valuable insights, ideas, visions and dreams, you’ll be surprised at who shows up to join you for the ride!
Here’s some statistics that should make you sit up a little straighter!
As an aside note, I noticed just the other day that the first ever Instant Message system I used extensively over a decade ago has almost 1 BILLION ID numbers registered if not more – that would be the legendary “ICQ”, short for “I Seek You”, for it’s time it was brilliant and changed the face of the Internet forever. I’ll never forget the space I was in the first night I fired up “ICQ”, it was one of those moments in life that fueled a vision I continue to chase today, in fact here I am a decade later and as quickly as some things change, other things just don’t change at all, it seems my unique offering is still in high demand…
As I type this, I hear an old friend’s voice in my head, she used to shout to her lingering little ones,
“hey kids get outta’ the house for a while and blow the stink off!”
Go find a couple of new friends that think like you do and dream like you do! These relationships might start on Facebook or Twitter or any of the other nooks or crannies where people hang out on the net, and I’ll guarantee you eventually you’ll be in each other’s arms if it’s a connection that’s meant to be…and who knows what wonderful things you will create for us all together!
I Am an Ambassador For Connection, I facilitate in the connection, awareness and transformation of those ready to take on the journey…and because of that there is always enough money to live the life I choose, to enjoy myself, contribute and invest!
MXI Canadian Ambassadors & Millionaire Members
Ian & Judy Murray from Uxbridge, Ontario
My angels in waiting…
I’m fairly certain by now that chocolate IS here on this planet to fix everything…well almost everything, as we heard this past weekend, and have come to know by our experiences with others over the years,
“Chocolate doesn’t fix stupid!!”
— Kerry Dean – Brand New MXI Ambassador Distributor & MXI Canada Rockstar
(You had to be there; that one-liner and its delivery brought the house down!) And, as a side-note, no sooner were the words out of her mouth and a study was released to indicate chocolate may actually make you smarter after all!
No kiddin’ here’s the article:
“Cocoa’s ‘mind-altering’ experience…”
I’ve just returned from my company’s 4th annual general celebration at the Peppermill Resort & Casino in Reno, Nevada. 2000 or so healthy chocolate eaters and sharers poured into the hotel for a weekend of learning, partying and the sharing and celebration of their year’s successes, I heard many inspiring stories and met people that otherwise I would not have the benefit of their valuable wisdom.
This month marks 2 ½ years since I made the decision to run with The Healthy Chocolate business, this is my second celebration and something has definitely “shifted”. It has evolved and continues to evolve into the icon I intuitively felt it would be since the very first time I heard the words “healthy chocolate”.
There’s just something magical about the cocoa bean from Mother Nature! There were folks in the room selling t-shirts with slogans like, “there’s nothing wrong with me that chocolate can’t fix.” We listened to new songs and poems were recited, there was a new 150 page cook-book, jewelry, buttons and even Fifth Avenue clutch purses a brilliant young Lady made out of the left-over wrappers the chocolate comes to us in!! The President of the company wants to run with that one!
Chocolate is the ultimate seduction, by consumption it masterfully and naturally seduces us into feeling better and doing better so that we may have better…and I cannot and shall not resist it!!!
This past weekend was all about “Family”. The business is family-value based and the torch is being passed down to the next generation to run with it and take it to the next level. We were given the opportunity to know life on the inside with the Founders of the company, they laid themselves open to us and thanked us for our support by treating us like Royalty. This one is their Baby and they are doing everything with excellence, the track record is solid, the resources are in place and all that’s left to do is “lift off”, I’ve got my seat on the rocket and I’m hangin’ on for dear sweet life!
Andrew Brooks’ 20-20-60 Rule
The success of this company comes down to 3 things,
20% is the product, 20% is the business management team,
60% is because of the loyalty of its distributors.
The focus was primarily on having fun and building relationships between the different teams that make up the 125,000 chocolate-eaters base. In previous network marketing models “cross-lining” or associating with others in other lines of business was a huge “no-no”. With the subtly new business model we have here it is in everyone’s best interest to co-mingle, swap ideas and even strategically partner for the purposes of assisting each other in this tremendous time of growth.
I haven’t seen so many people speak so much personal truth, it was a bubble I felt comfortable sharing and asking questions in, and in current times, I need to constantly hear more about what’s real and observe what is possible!
We danced the night away in our ball-gowns and tuxes, ate amazing meals and drank way too much, all for the purposes of letting loose, connecting with and getting to know others on the team. Short on sleep and never in our rooms, we played in the casino and danced around the gaming tables to some rockin’ bands late into the night and hung out at the pool sipping pina coladas and mojitos while sharing our stories and rewards of success and challenge!
With this particular opportunity we are re-inventing an industry and moving up the ranks within the compensation plan structure very quickly now, and quicker yet to come…
On Saturday night after the event concluded, several of our “top ‘o’ the pay plan” distributors and team leaders had the top floor of one of the resort’s towers and the suite parties began! The bars were well stocked and the food was plentiful! 100’s of people filed in and hopped from suite to suite to visit with, toast and thank the leaders that otherwise they will only hear and work with over the phone until next year’s event!
My sides are feeling it from the endless laughter, my hips from the dancing and my heart from the connecting. I received the clarity and support I desired to take my business to a level it’s never been to before!
Robert Allen said, “You will make 1000 times more money teaching what you know and love than actually doing what you know and love.“ I believe there’s a bunch of people that need to learn the art of freedom and ease in their lives and it is my intention to teach them by my example.
It’s tough to walk away from a time and space such as this event untouched on some level by the experience. It was “precedent-setting” in the industry in general, we haven’t seen an entity such as this for some years, nor have we needed something that represents the proverbial “hero” so much.
Recession you say? What recession? Some of us out here are choosing not to participate in that…
First I seek joy, and all else follows, sure as day follows night…
“Reward thyself.”
–Sandy Chambers – First MXI Canada Ambassador
“You are not here to fix anything,
because nothing is broken,
but everything is continually
changing and expanding.Release your struggle, and seek
joy and fun, and in doing so,
you will align with the fantastic
expanding rhythm of this Universe.”–Abraham-Hicks Well-Being card