It's going to be a special day for someone

Today at an appointment I was asked a couple of questions about what do I do on a daily basis. We got into a discussion about being consistent with our efforts and the kind of discipline it takes to keep moving forward. I found myself saying that one major reason I have been doing these daily messages for the past few years is to keep myself in the game - I want to stay in the game and do whatever I can because staying active in this way of writing some messages is satisfying to me.

One of my very strong beliefs is that everyone needs two things. You and I and everyone we know needs someone to believe in them and we all love to be encouraged in some way. Think about that, because it's really very simple to believe in people, but I also know that some people feel it is their job to find something wrong with anything and everything. I know for a fact that there are people that haven't heard a sincere compliment in years from their employer. I've heard it many times over the years and it's always kind of sad.

So here is a challenge for you and me. Who can we encourage today? I'm sure there must be someone that we'll see today who needs to hear some very nice words about themselves. Let's make today a day for being a "good finder." Look for the good all day long and then make sure you tell at least one person that you appreciate them and give a sincere compliment. Here's what will happen when you do this today. You're going to feel good about yourself. That's not the reason to do it but I guarantee you will feel good by helping someone feel good about themselves.

So let me close this by telling you in advance, congratulations for believing and for being an encourager. Have a very memorable day.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Are you willing to be uncomfortable?

While reading a golf magazine I came across the following from David Feherty, who was a professional golfer at one point in his life. He grew up in Ireland and about 3 or 4 years ago he became an American citizen because he fell in love with this country. He is very popular in the golfing world and this is what he said:

              "It's one of the things I love about this country. If you're willing to

               do the things that unsuccessful people won't do, you'll be successful. You just

               have to put yourself in a place where you know you'll be uncomfortable. And that's

               true whether you're an actor, an athlete, a musician, a businessman or a writer."

He hit the target on those comments about becoming successful. Just ask yourself: what is it that the unsuccessful people aren't willing to do? In our business, it could be many things, but I'm sure you can make a list of the things that it takes to be doing in order to become highly successful in this business.

I challenge you to take a couple minutes and write a list of what you know has to be done to become successful in this business. Then just go over the list and check off what you are doing from your list.

Mr. Feherty also suggests that we all have to put ourselves in situations where we are uncomfortable. I could tell you about the many, many times when I personally felt very, very uncomfortable.  I'm like most people who come into Shaklee, which means I had never done 99% of the things that a person has to do to make it in this business.  But the more I learned about what was possible once a person becomes successful in Shaklee, the more I was willing to be uncomfortable. 

Think about it for a couple minutes. Will you be doing something this week that you know will make you feel uncomfortable?  If you are, good for you because you'll be growing. If you aren't, you might want to challenge yourself and make sure you put yourself in a situation where you know will be uncomfortable.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

How do you view obstacles?

There are many things to learn when building a business such as the one we have with Shaklee.  I was like most people who come into this business as far as having zero experience that related to what it would take to build a large organization.  Lots to learn and many learning curves to face to then attempt to master the basics for building. 

The one area in which I did have some experience was facing obstacles.  If you think about it, that would be an area that all of us have faced at some time in our lives.  From childhood to where we are today, we have all faced obstacles. So I think it's fair to ask this question: what is your view of an obstacle? Is it something to ignore, thinking time will take care of it? Do obstacles discourage you to the point where you back off of a goal or a dream? Or is your view the following: I've got a issue/problem/obstacle and I have to figure out how to solve this thing so I can continue to move forward.

Don't allow obstacles to get you off track for doing the things you know you want to do and should be doing.

Take some time, think it through, ask some questions, solve the issue/obstacle and move on. The more you face obstacles and have a formula for being an "overcomer,"  the easier it gets to tackle the next one no matter what the situation may be. The one thing I know is this: there will always be the next obstacle and I am prepared to solve it as quickly as possible.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Success is not an event

Greetings,

Yesterday I was sending a message to a good friend in our downline and I made a comment that I want to talk about here.  I'm sure at some time in the past 3 to 5 years since I started doing these daily messages I have mentioned this but I feel it is worth bringing it up again.

I know you want to have a growing business and I also know from personal experience that almost everyone doesn't do the things they know how to do 100% of the time.   That's our humanity showing up...that's just how it is.  At the same time we want things to change, make progress, experience growth and have personal development, and of course we want our earnings to go higher as we qualify for the next higher rank Shaklee has.

It's much easier in my view to be consistent with our efforts than it is to stop...start again...stop....start again....stop....start again, etc.   I'm sure you know what I mean.  It's all a matter of doing something about your business, your future on a daily basis.  maybe it's only reading something.  Maybe it's having conversation with a good friend in your downlin, upline or a friend in another organization.   Just establish a routine where you do SOMETHING about your business. Every day.

                                          The reason I am addressing this today is this.....

                                             succeeding is not an event...succeeding

                                              is a result of consistent effort over time.

When you are consistent with even the smallest activity and you do that on a regular basis, it's going to help keep your head in the game.  What you don't want to happen is where you're not mentally in Shaklee and that is when the stop...start...stop...start takes place.   Look at your routine.  Think about what you want and start up and then be consistent with doing something about your business every day.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

"42" - A Great Story

Greetings,

We are in New York visiting our daughter to celebrate her son's 1st birthday.  Faye and I decided to go to a movie in the afternoon so we went to see "42" which is a story about Jackie Robinson who became the first African American to play baseball at the highest level.   I want to make a few comments about this movie as it moved me. It's a great story and at the end no one left....it seemed like everyone applauded, so that tells you something.

It's not only about success. This story is about overcoming incredible abuse by people as well as other players and even managers.  Jackie Robinson took on a challenge that very few would be able to withstand.  His personal discipline and inner strength won out.  He was an amazing individual who will always be a part of the history of major league baseball.

What he had to go through in a way reminded me of our business.  It's about attitude, inner strength, personal discipline, not listening to outsiders no matter how difficult it may seem and most of all just being willing to continue on doing what has to be done to become successful.   We will never have to face what Jackie Robinson faced, but in order to build a business we will have to have the qualities Jackie obviously had.

Keep your dream alive friends.  That's your responsibility and only you can make that decision.  Ask the question..."what will it take for me to build to my desired level?"  Then start doing those things and don't avoid the steps that may seem difficult.   Stick with it.  Go to work and pursue what it is you want.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

The Main Goal

Greetings,

 

Over the years, I have purchased various books and booklets about personal development and success. 

I love reading how other people describe things related to growing a business and a life.  The following is from a small booklet I had for many years.

 

                                       Success is keeping the main goal the main goal.

                                                     Failure is not having a main goal.

 

Kind of simple, isn't it?  The question is also very simple....Do you have a main goal?  When I reflect back it was about the 5th or 6th month that I decided I wanted to be a Master Coordinator.   How did I arrive at that goal?  I had the opportunity here in Minneapolis to listen to 2 of the top people in all of Shaklee and both were Master Coordinators.   There were only 3 in the country at that specific time and we had two of them right here.

 

I heard them both speak a number of times those first months and at the time I didn't know squat about how to build this business.  But I determined I could learn to do whatever it took to build a business.  We never really grew fast.  Some qualified as Master in 3 years during those years.  It took us 8 years to the month to get it done.  Here is my point, I had a main goal and there wasn't a day I didn't think about making it happen.

I didn't compare myself to those who grew faster (I learned from them) and that was the smartest thing I did.  I am who I am.

 

Do you have a main goal?  What is it?   Will you stick with it and not compare yourself with people who grow faster?   Just be the best you can be.  Learn as you go.  Be consistent with your thinking and your efforts.

Don't allow anyone or anything rob you of your main goal.   It's your job to keep your dream alive.

 

Enthusiastically,

 

Gary Burke

Dream Bigger Dreams

Greetings,

 

I was looking through a booklet from a class reunion and I came across a quote that I think many of us can relate to. The entire class was sent a form to fill out so classmates could learn how life had gone since they were in high school. One question was: what have you done with your life since graduation?

 

           "I wish I would have dreamed bigger dreams and challenged myself

                            more by trying things I'm afraid I might not be good at." 

 

I'm willing to bet that there are many of us that can relate to that statement. Here we are in a business that has huge potential to change lives in many ways. We have an earning opportunity that to me is stunning because of how we can build something that will pay us for a part-time effort more than most jobs can pay people for working on a full-time basis. We have the opportunity to live a very fun, healthy and prosperous life by simply learning some basic fundamentals and then stepping out and working hard for a few short years in order to get paid for those efforts for many, many years down the road.

 

                        A couple questions that may be challenging. 

                              Are you doing your best to build your future?

                              Are you just "doing Shaklee" or do you have a strategy for growth?

 

                                    We have everything in our favor folks:

                     This is the right time + right company + right leadership + right products

                     + the right compensation plan + Shaklee is a vehicle to take people to

                     higher levels of achievements.

 

To take advantage of this opportunity just takes a decision. A choice to work at this and accept a few challenges along the way. Look at your strategy?  Is it working?  If yes then keep working hard because you'll never regret it. If no, then get inspired to create a new strategy. Think about it.

 

Enthusiastically,

 

Gary Burke