Friday, June 26, 2009

Habakkuk 2:2-Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets.

O J Simpson was a 10 year old, and wanted to be just like Jim Brown—pro football player-and set a goal in his mind to break every record Jim Brown held!.

Make It Come True

In 1957 a ten-year-old boy in California set a goal. At the time Jim Brown was the greatest running back ever to play pro football and this tall, skinny boy wanted his autograph. In order to accomplish his goal, the young boy had to overcome some obstacles.

He grew up in the ghetto, where he never got enough to eat. Malnutrition took its toll, and a disease called rickets forced him to wear steel splints to support his skinny, bowed-out legs. He had no money to buy a ticket to get into the game, so he waited patiently near the locker room until the game ended and Jim Brown left the field. He politely asked Brown for his autograph. As Brown signed, the boy explained, “Mr. Brown, I have your picture on my wall. I know you hold all the records. You’re my idol.”

Brown smiled and began to leave, but the young boy wasn’t finished. He proclaimed, “Mr. Brown, one day, I’m going to break every record you hold!” Brown was impressed and asked, “What is your name, son?”

The boy replied, “Orenthal James. My friends call me OJ.”

OJ Simpson went on to break all but three of the rushing records held by Jim Brown before injuries shortened his football career.

Goal setting is the strongest force for human motivation. Set a goal and make it come true.

With Melaleuca we have goals we set, we have levels we work toward, we plan how we can get there-the road map-and what needs to be done-how many calls we need to do to get those results we need etc. Establish your ‘WHY’ and GO FOR IT!!!.


Thanks for this post goes to Sandra who shared this exerpt from Chicken Soup For The Soul-Page 151-152

Monday, June 22, 2009

Being Led By The Holy Spirit (God)

Romans 8:14-For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons (daughters) of God.

We gave some examples of The Holy Spirit leading Sandra and I to talk to different people on her bike ride yesterday and Daryl at work.

  1. Denise-I felt that I needed to stop while on my bike ride and ask her if I could try sometime to get the paint off her driveway using my products. (She’s the one that cancelled my app’t last week-depressed etc.) She said , “Yes”. Then she asked if she would have to sell anything. I knew then that she was afraid of talking or selling to people. I told her she could just be a customer; she wouldn’t have to talk to anyone like me. I could see more openness to me immediately. (God clearing up obstacles.)
  2. I felt I needed to ride over to the trailer court. I felt God was telling me to go up to Joann’s door and visit. I have never gone to her door and knocked-only said ‘Hi’ as I rode by. She came to the door and I found out her boyfriend couldn’t work construction Jan. or Feb.-no work. She works at heart hospital. They both smoke. They need healthy products and money. I approached on asking if they need extra money. She’ll think about it. I will ’drip’ on them more.
  3. Rode by a woman’s house where I had stopped before asking what color paint their house was-I liked it and wanted to paint my house that color. This time I felt God told me to go up to her door and ask if they need extra money. She said ‘Yes’. I told her I’d come back again-they were in the middle of dinner. Her name is Tracey-young, w/family. This prospect has potential and is only a few blocks from me.
  4. My enrollment this week-Darla Deslauriers-I met while on my bike stopping to compliment her on her fencing at the corner of her property. She will be an awesome customer, I know, and maybe even a business person.
  5. One more example-About mid June Sandra felt God told her to stop at a certain rummage sale. The lady there knew her because she delivered mail to our house sometimes. They need more money. Her husband just emailed us back and we replied last night wanting to set an appointment.
  6. Daryl felt that on this one particular break yesterday that he was supposed to go outside. There he met Amy Cudmore; he’s been trying to get a phone # for her. (During work and being on phone w/customers you can’t do that easily.) God brought her to him outside and he got her first and last name and her phone # and she said she’d be interested in seeing what he has for extra money.

Thanks to Daryl and Sandy for these examples of being led by the Spirit to talk to neighbors and co-workers!

What Can We Learn from a Garmin GPS?

Isaiah 65:24 says: “Before they call I will answer, while they are still speaking I will hear.

For Father’s Day my family got me a Garmin GPS navigation system complete with a carrying case. It is really nice and provides a map, directions to programmed destinations and destinations you can type in. You can watch your progress on the map. The speaker tells you about turns ahead and then lets you know when the turn is getting near and when to make the turn.

One thing I noted is that every time we turned off course to stop at a store or something, the GPS automatically recalculated a new route to the destination. It was relentless until you got there or turned it off.

How does all this apply to our business? When we get off course, the tools and support network we have will get us back on course. But even more importantly, when we are even thinking about getting back on course, the Lord hears and will answer.

May the Lord hear our prayers while we are yet talking about them and answer!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

When Success Is Slow

Do not be anxious about anything, but in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6,7

When Success is Slow, What Can You Do? Adapted from Jack Canfield’s article

When we admire someone's success, or even our own, we often focus on the end result and not so much on the effort (and time) that it took to get there. This can cultivate unrealistic expectations, especially the idea that overnight success can happen through careful strategy and an execution of sound advice.

Success typically follows a series of little events and achievements that can seem to take an eternity, that include a few disappointments along the way, and that challenge everything about you to the core - your stamina, courage, integrity, and even your willingness to keep going.

If you focus on what's not working: You're likely coming from a place of aggravation as your mind wraps around all that is wrong. You may even have negative thoughts like "I'm not good enough," "It will never work," or "Something must be wrong with me." What this mentally does is engender more of these counter-productive feelings. And given what we know about the Law of Attraction, you attract what you are feeling. So negative experiences, people, and results will beget more negative experience, people, and results. There's not much success in that.

The key, then, is to focus on what IS working. To do so, I recommend two simple practices: journaling and meditation.

  • Maintaining a journal (Gratitude Journal) is a great way to steer your attention to the positive and continually renew your vision for yourself.
  • Start each day with reflections on what you are grateful for in your life (list them out!) and end each day with notes on what went right (again, write them down), however small.

Take Action. You may be taking the actions you are used to taking. But therein lies the problem: if you keep doing what you've already done then you'll keep getting what you've always gotten. It's a matter of practicing some new behaviors. Shake things up a bit and see if you can take new actions or modify existing ones.

Remember the Rule of 5. Every day do five specific things that take you toward your goal.

Change up the five actions regularly and be open to feedback so you know when you're off course.

Be patient. It's natural to underestimate how long a certain goal can take, especially a profound one. When I set a goal to become a millionaire the year was 1983. How long did it take? Eleven years. It took time for Chicken Soup for the Soul to hit the bestseller lists. You could say our tenure on the New York Times list was more than a decade in the making. That's a lot of patience for someone who initially wanted overnight success.
Patience is a virtue. But keep at it, and in no time, you'll be only one week, or one day away from your ultimate success. Remember... be grateful, reflect on what IS working and continue to take ACTION!

Thanks to Donna for this post!

Friday, June 12, 2009

The Driver

A driver: What is it? According to the dictionary a driver is----

  1. one that drives, as the operator of a motor vehicle.
  2. a tool, such as a hammer, used to impart forceful pressure.
  3. a machine part that transmits motion or power to another part.
  4. sports. A golf club with a wide head and a long shaft, used for long shots

How a ‘driver’ coincides or relates to Melaleuca:

You need to do some assessing of your potential customers/business builders you present to. Know that in families, a husband or wife-[It is usually one-not both normally] is usually the ‘driver’-the one who ‘gets it’!, or sees the ‘vision’-the one who has the buying power or is the decision maker in the family-the one who usually wants more and is usually more vocal or authoritative-the one who, given the chance, will ‘run with it’ or ‘get things done.

NOTE: A lot of the women we have been speaking to have been the ‘drivers because they want more for their families and they buy more. That is changing with more economy problems now, but that has been our previous experience in our area.

If you speak to the one who is NOT the driver, you will not get an enrollment at all (They hold back to have their spouse decide or give them in-put.) or down the road you will have to try to convince the other spouse about Melaleuca and usually present again to one or both of them-a second time making it not wise time management. Try to get both to a presentation at the same time. Tune in to the ‘driver’ in the family and you will get somewhere. They have power in that family.

As far as the 2. tool definition-We have been using the ax for presentations in the past. As Frank said at launch, “Now we have the chainsaw!” Use it!

One verse-2 translations

  • [NKJ] Proverbs 16:26-The person who labors, labors for himself, For his hungry mouth drives him on
  • [Living Bible] Proverbs 16:26-Hunger is good if it makes you work to satisfy it.

Sharing with the group:

  1. Can’t push a rope.
  2. LIA June issue w/Frank’s article, “You Can’t Catch a Thing Unless You keep Your line in the Water—We’ve been talking about them jumping into the boat!

Prayer with the group for couples working together as a ‘team’ to get more work done than if they tried to do it singly like horses trying to pull weight alone and can’t pull as much as 2 horses pulling together can!, praying for more results-not just a lot of activity that goes nowhere-actual enrollments with the signature on the line. Work and activity being ‘clinched’! (Example-saking cream in a jar making butter-a lot of activity shaking it, and it seems to go nowhere or that nothing is happening but suddenly it starts to thicken and become butter!!)

Thanks to Daryl for this post!

Thursday, June 11, 2009

A Conversation and a Prayer

“Write something motivational this morning, “Kathi requested.

“I can’t, the well is dry, and besides, it does not seem to be doing any good” Steve responded. “Our business has shrunk over the past few months and you are responsible for nearly half of the new customers all by yourself. Those on the daily call do not seem to be able to match your results.”

“Remember the message ‘when we are weak, He is strong?” She insisted. “If you lean on Him, He will provide something for the team.”

“Oh God,” he cried. “What is preventing our friends from finding new customers? What is happening? Is there anything I can say to them that will encourage them?”

“Tell them to stop making it so hard, so structured,” The Rose of Sharon replied. “Tell them to share their business the same way they talk about their families, their favorite recipes, their hobbies, their struggles and hopes. The people I bring into your path are looking for a hope and vision in these troubled times. Tell them they can be a beacon to those people and through that I will bless their businesses. They are here in these times because of my Divine Purpose and Calling. Tell them not to be afraid for I am with them.”

“Father in heaven, Your mercy and kindness are boundless.” Steve concluded.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Saddle your dreams before you ride 'em.

"Write the vision and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." Habakkuk 2:2

After Dwight Eisenhower won the Republican nomination for president from Robert Taft in 1952, a reporter asked Taft about the disappointment that he surely must have felt in setting a goal and not reaching it. Taft admitted, "My great goal was to become President of the United States in 1953." But then he added, "Instead I became a senator from Ohio!"Ultimately, Taft's goal was to be elected to a political office and to serve his nation as a representative of the people. And in that he succeeded. If he hadn't run for an office, however, he would never have been elected to one!

That's true for the accomplishment of any real goal in life. You've got to throw your hat into the ring and start pursuing your goal --- campaign for its accomplishment the best you know how, thoroughly brief yourself on the issues that are important, define your stance and stay true to it, and maintain a positive attitude even in the face of serious opposition.

You can't cross the finish line if you never leave the starting block.

This is a message from "God's Little Devotional Book for Leaders" provided by Donna!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Wisdom for Today

We need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.

We hear God's voice best when we know his word most.

Thanks to Meg for this!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Dawn of a New Day

God says His mercies are new every morning. This is the first morning of the week. If there is mercy and grace for our business, they have been renewed this morning.

So what do we do with that mercy and grace? That is for each of us to understand. It is different for each of us. To the extent you have mercy and grace for business this morning, this week, pursue your business with all of your strength as unto the Lord.

All your strength may not be enough, you are thinking. Perfect! Where you are weak, the Lord is strong. That is the grace and mercy working through you. Cry out to the Lord, let Him know your weaknesses and doubts. Then do what you have grace and mercy to do. But watch out, the results may be different!

May our Creator and Savior grant us grace and mercy for our business this morning and this week!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Don't Let Your Dream Be Stolen

Meleconomics Accountability Group-Devotion by Simpsons Friday, June 5, ‘09

Reading From Chicken Soup For The Soul by Jack Canfield // Pgs. 207-208

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youths at risk.

The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my house. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.

That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables, and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000 square-foot house that would sit on the 200-acre dream ranch.

He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front of the page was a large red F with a note that read, “See me after class.”

The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, “Why did I receive an F?”

The teacher said, “This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it. Then the teacher added, “If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.”

The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, “Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.

Finally after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all He stated, “You can keep the F! I’ll keep my dream!”

Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000 square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same school teacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week. When the teacher was leaving, he said, “Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately, you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.”

[Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.-- Jack Canfield]

Additional comments: Sandra shared on their long time dream to get a new Melaleuca car & be at least Senior Director; she shared on 8x11 drawing in kitchen of a car & steering wheel with ¼ of the way accomplished., graphs, plus their Melaleuca stats etc. in full view. Daryl shared Proverbs 16:9-A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Daryl prayed for the group & closed the call.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Today Does Not Mean Tomorow

"No today does not mean no tomorrow!!" (young Amish woman in front of me).

Lewis Rasmussen: "Why doesn’t everyone know about Melapower? Melaleuca could advertise, but instead we have chosen to have you introduce and explain our products to others, but….You are too slow. He kept smiling and motivating us by telling us……….but you are too slow."

When you and I notice momentum picking up in our area, it makes us want to move faster. It causes us to push ourselves. We pick up the pace. We need to push ourselves today. Kathi has given us a challenge to excel our businesses.

10 presentations ----- 10 days

Now is the time to build your business, like never before!! Because of the economic times Melaleuca Momentum is increasing!! It is time for Meleconomics!!

"It is not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters." Paul Bryant football coach


Thanks to Donna for this Post!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Wisdom for Today

Words to live by:
  • Let your life match your lip.
  • Don't doubt in the dark what God has shown you in the light.

Thanks to my sister Meg for these little pearls of wisdom!

Focus on Solutions

Focus on Solutions -- Do NOT Remain Absorbed in the Problem...

Which End Of The Telescope
Are You Looking Through?

Keeping problems in perspective is essential to solving them and moving on. If you incorrectly believe that a problem is all -- encompassing -- and will forever control your life -- it is, and it will.

Keep your problems in perspective. See them as very specific and merely temporary.

"The idea is to make decisions and act on them -- to decide what is important to accomplish, to decide how something can best be accomplished, to find time to work at it and to get it done." ~ Karen Kakascik

Today's Quest... Answer Honestly:

  • Specifically, how can you take the biggest problem you now face and realistically limit its scope? __________________________________
  • How can you take a new look at your current problem and see that it isn't going to last forever? _________________________________________
  • How can you redefine a current problem by confining it only to its immediate circumstance? _________________________________________

Work Smarter ~ Not Harder Today.

Thanks to Donna for this post from Time Quotient!

Monday, June 1, 2009

$500 Challenge

A new month has started. Last month, no matter how successful or miserable, is past. What are we going to do to make this a pivotal month in our businesses? First we set the Goal for the month, next we make our Roadmap or plan what we are going to do, we then take Action, and, finally, we Measure our progress daily and weekly. Remember GRAM?

The two keys to the success are RA: Roadmap and Action. We set business hours, identify critical tasks (approaches, appointments, enrollments), and we take action. We don’t wait until tomorrow or next week. We start today.

Since our compensation plan pretty much guarantees anyone who refers 8 new customers and becomes a Director for the first time in the same month will earn $500, why not challenge our existing and new customers: “If you can put me in front of 10 qualified customers in the next 10 days, our company will pay you about $500, perhaps more. And, if one of those 10 people does the same, your commission check will be substantially more.”

May our Creator and Savior, Who promises us a future and a hope, pour blessings on our businesses this month.

When you soar like an eagle, you attract hunters

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. I Peter 5:8 NASB

When people are unreasonable, illogical, self-centered and arrogant, love them anyway.

When people insist that your goodness contains selfish ulterior motives, do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win both friends and enemies. People may become jealous of you. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, you will be both honorable and vulnerable. Some will seek to twist your words against you. Be honest and frank anyway.

If you show yourself to be a big person with great ideas, don't be surprised if you are opposed by small people with closed minds. Think big anyway.What you have spent years building, some may seek to destroy overnight. Build anyway.

Mark Twain once said, "Always do right. This will gratify most people, and astonish the rest!"

Thanks to Donna for this encouragement.