Ideas for Becoming Better

Yesterday's message was Jim Rohn talking about becoming a "better you" as the secret for becoming more successful. I believe that is what we all want in all areas of our life, not just in the area of building a business. I know for a fact that the personal development factor for "becoming a better you" is a huge element for building a successful life and future.  

So the question I have is simple: how can we become the kind of person Jim Rohn is talking about? Below is an incomplete list. When we get better at these factors, the fruit will show up in our daily lives as well as in our bonus check each month.

- Focus on what others want

- Pay attention to our thoughts

- Be a good listener

- Set goals

- Have patience (my mother was shocked when she heard I was patient!)

- Be the example

- Have a good work ethic

- Be on time

- Do what you say you're going to do

- Ignore negativity

- Handle obstacles with a great attitude

- Expect adversity and be an "over-comer"

- Maintain a positive attitude

- Do not convince yourself of things you think you can't do

- Do the things that make you feel uncomfortable

Add anything you feel fits. That's it. What you might want to do as you read these steps is kind of take a personal inventory of yourself for each of these ideas for "getting better." Have fun!

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

The Secret to a Better Future

I'm sure many of you may know what this message from Jim Rohn is focusing on because you have done what he's suggesting. At the same time it's worth reading again and I say that because this message is THE ANSWER to becoming more successful in any walk in life. 

Gary Burke

 

The Secret to a Better Future? You.

by Jim Rohn

Of all the things that can affect your future, personal growth is most important. In other words, the major key to your better future is you. Now, there are many things that will help your future, professional and personal.  If you belong to a strong, dynamic, progressive company with good leadership, that would help. If the company has good products and services you are proud of, that helps. If there is a good training program, that, too, would help.

If it doesn’t storm, if your car doesn’t break down, if the kids don’t get sick, if the neighbors stay halfway civil, if your relatives don’t bug you, if it isn’t too cold, if it isn’t too hot… all of these things, too, would help your better future. We could go on and on with the list, but remember this: The list of things that I’ve just covered and many more—all put together—play only a minor role in your better future. Because the major key to a better future is you. Lock your mind on this. When my friend is asked, “How do you develop an above-average income?” he says, “Simple. Become an above-average person.” Work on you. “Develop an above-average handshake. A lot of people want to be successful, and they don’t even work on their handshake. As easy as that would be to start, they let it slide. They don’t understand,” he says. “Develop an above-average smile. Develop an above-average excitement. Develop an above-average dedication. Develop an above-average interest in other people. To have more, become more.” Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. Strangely enough, with two different people in the same company, one might earn $100 or even $1,000 more a month. What could possibly be the difference? If the products were the same, if the training was the same, if they both had the same literature, the same tools, the same teacher, the same compensation plan, if they both attended the same meetings… why would one person earn more? Remember the difference is personal—inside, not outside. Someone once said, “The magic is not in the products. The magic is not in the literature. The magic is not in the film…. The magic that makes things better is inside of you, and personal growth makes this magic work for you.”

 

 

A follow up on giving and taking advice

I think that all of us at one time or another  have thought about the idea that it would be great if a certain person would do this or do that. In other words we want to give advice to some people whether they ask for it or not. I received a message from Sandy Dietrich with the following statement in it: "This world would be a much greater place if we all took our own advice."

This one really kind of grabbed my attention - in fact, it almost jumped off the computer screen. Wow! What if I would always take my own advice? I wonder what would happen? Especially in this business. What would happen in your business? Something to think about isn't it?

Thanks to Joanne Nistico for this comment that fits in this message: "We Shaklee people hide our light under a bushel. Now is the time to spread our wings of information and to not sit complacently behind. Lead by example is a true statement. Now more than ever we have the ability to assist others in creating a wonderful life sharing solid and beneficial products above all else and then the same is true for the Shaklee opportunity. Just a few thoughts."

Let's finish out this week by doing some business activities that we have been thinking about doing but just haven't made the time to get it done. That is my advice; I wonder what I should do?

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

I'm taking my advice

I decided that I would take my advice I gave yesterday about having a mentor and asking for help. After reading my message Faye very simply asked if I had a golf lesson on my schedule since I've been talking about having a lesson for about a month. Yesterday I went out to practice my chipping and pitching and I got there as a class was just finished.

I went over and introduced myself to the golf pro and asked him a few questions.   I asked him how long he's been doing this and he told my about 15 years.  I then said, "You must be a pretty good teacher." That wasn't a question but he informed me he was the head teaching pro. We set a time for today so as some of you are reading this, I am having my golf lesson. Like I told him, I need some help.

The point of this message today is about knowing where in the business you may need some guidance. Then think about the areas in which you may need some improvement and make an appointment to talk to your mentor. When you do this (not if you do this) be prepared to communicate the part of the process you need some help in. I think it would help if you would make a decision before hand that you are willing to be coachable. Ask some questions, listen, takes notes, then be willing to work at getting better.

If you do the work, you will get better.  Once you're getting better you're going to learn that it gets easier mentally. You'll be growing and eventually you will become a mentor for people in your downline. 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Do you have a mentor?

I want to improve my golf game so the obvious thing for me to do is to make a call to a golf instructor and set up a lesson or two....maybe three. I have gone to a couple of 3-day golf schools over the years, plus I have had lessons at our golf club; it's always been helpful for me because the instructor usually spots the problem rather quickly.

As we build our Shaklee businesses we will probably need some help at times because we want to get to the higher levels of achievement. In order to improve it always seems that I will have to do something I've been trying to avoid.   This is when my comfort zone kicks in and I just do the things I like to do and not what is the most difficult. Our comfort zone is probably our worst enemy because it keeps us from accepting challenges and doing the things we should be doing in order to grow.

Everyone should have a mentor (like a golf instructor) that can help solve problems that are stopping us from growing our business. We all face challenges, have setbacks, get discouraged, and face adversities of some kind. That's just life. If we don't challenge our comfort zone and start to do the things we're avoiding there is zero chance for making the kind of progress that is possible.

Do you have a mentor? Yes? Great. No? Why not? A mentor is simply someone who you know will have your best interest in mind and doesn't criticize. They teach.  They guide. They encourage. If you ever want some help the thing to do is to talk to someone you consider your mentor.  Or someone who has done what it is you want to do. It's all a matter of asking for help. Think about it.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke 

Is opportunity knocking?

The quote below is interesting in that it is asking a question and answering it in the same paragraph. I've read this a few times in the past week and the same thought comes to mind every time I read it. It's the same story every time and that story is saying that YOU are the answer - not the opportunity. Do you feel ready to take advantage of the Shaklee opportunity? Are you prepared to make things happen? I suggest you might read through this interesting message slowly and you might even take some time to break it down and write out what this might be saying to you. Whatever it may take to be 100% prepared is well worth the effort. We have the opportunity.

"What is opportunity, and when does it knock? It never knocks. You can wait a whole lifetime, listening, hoping, and you will hear no knocking. None at all. You are opportunity, and you must knock on the door leading to your destiny. You prepare yourself to recognize opportunity, to pursue and seize opportunity as you develop the strength of your personality, and build a self-image with which you are able to live -- with your self-respect alive and growing." - Maxwell Maltz

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

A key factor for growth

Last weekend there was a Presidential Masters Builder conference in Arizona.   Roland Oosterhouse was asked whether the weekend include any "nuts & bolts" and he replied that it would not. Now I'm not entirely sure what this person meant by nuts and bolts, but I expect she meant training on what to say, how to follow up, how to sponsor, how to get an appointment, what are the 7 or 10 or 12 steps for success in Shaklee, and so forth. Instead the weekend was focused on a bigger picture: Master Coordinator.

That was our focus in 1970. We wanted to make Master Coordinator. We wanted to  have a big organization. So we became students of multi-level marketing. Do you want to reach a higher level in Shaklee? Here's a suggestion: learn how a multi-level business is developed.

- Why is it better to sponsor & build deep rather only than across the top?

- Why should I build in depth?  What does that even mean?

- What do you mean when you say have your leaders backed up? 

- Why show Master Coordinator & Presidential Master Coordinator to everyone? 

Have a big dream for yourself. Then believe in a big dream for others. Find out how Masters and Presidential Masters think and the nuts and bolts will start to fall into place for you. Then get into action!

Faye was asked once why it took us 8 years to make Master and she said it was because I wasn't any good - I had to get better. She was right. Every presentation I made, every person I showed the dream to, every meeting I held, every  product event I held made me better until eventually I got pretty good. My own activity - being in motion - that was my training ground.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

It was about the mission

Here is a interesting question: what will it take for each of us to become what we're capable of becoming? 

First of all I think we have to acknowledge that each of us has potential to do much better than we've ever done before. The bottom line is that it takes courage to be successful in any business and that includes Shaklee. As I have said many times before, this is a simple business but that doesn't mean it's easy.   

I know when I came into Shaklee I had this nagging question, "I wonder if I will ever become successful like the people I hear speak at meetings."  Most of the time that thought came to my mind when I was alone in the car.   Other thoughts I had started with, "what if," "yes but," and "I wish," plus "why don't people do what they say they will do?"

We never grew as fast as many others did. I had so much to learn. But once I knew it was true that people could become highly successful in this business I was willing to do whatever it would take to make it work. Yes, I had doubts and felt fearful at times, but the opportunity for a different future was stronger than the doubts and fears. The following statement is one that helped my understanding: Dealing with fear and risk is what drives achievement and it's that sense of mission that overcomes fear and drives people to success.  

The part that helped me to think differently was the words, "that sense of mission." Aha! My mission was to get to Master Coordinator is what kept the dream alive. I've never been afraid of hard work so I kind of knew I could make progress and figure it out. So can you.

Are you ready to do whatever it takes

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Do you have a vision of your future?

I've read a lot about vision over the years and how powerful it can be for people to have a dream, a goal or a vision of their future. I can recall my first few years in this business and how the future seemed to constantly be on my mind. I would think about what it would be like for our future once we got to Master Coordinator. Our lifestyle would be different, we would be able to live debt free, education for our daughter wouldn't be a issue, and we would have more than we needed so we could help other people in some way. 

What do you see for your future? Will you allow yourself to think beyond today?    You can create a dream for yourself.   What I learned about vision is that it creates enthusiasm. It also generates activity, and it inspires consistent effort.     Finally, vision also leads people to have passion about whatever their dream or goal is. So what that means is you can't have vision and not have passion. Vision produces passion - it just does.

The other thing that seems to happen once a person has passion for a specific goal is that person seems to become more disciplined - which of course means that success is not far away because they become more consistent with their effort. All of this takes place because a person has created their dream and have set very specific goals and they have a vision for their future.

The biggest challenge we have in this business is having the discipline of saying "No" to things that will divert us off track.  There are people in this world who seem to think they have the responsibility to discourage people about what they are doing. They are called "basement people" because they want to pull people down to their level. Be careful. Listen to your mentors. Listen to the people who care about you.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

How many things do we have to be doing?

I was reminded of something this past weekend that I want to pass along.  We attended a terrific meeting here in the Phoenix area. The mind seems to work better as it's getting inspired. Faye made a comment in response to Roland Oosterhouse as he was talking about his view of training. Faye raised her hand and said, "We got to Master Coordinator and never went through any training in order to get there." Roland just kind of laughed and said, "Right." I was sitting there and my immediate thought was, "That's right."

I want to pass along an idea that I may have sent out before but it is worth having you read it again. About three or four years ago I heard an ad on the radio that really caught my attention. In fact I heard this same  ad many times and here is what it was saying. I've talked about this recently, but here it is:

"You don't have to do 1000 things to become successful, but you will have to do 5 or 6 things 1000 times."

As I've said, this is a simple business and my suggestion to you is to do everything it takes to keep it simple. Complexity just slows everything down almost to a halt and in many cases it stops many people in their tracks. Lots and lots of details help to complicate things. Some people never seem to have enough information and it's kind of...."Give me more details."  People want more information and what they really need is more activity.

Read that radio ad again. Identify the 5 or 6 things that help create progress. Talk to someone, ask questions, get an appointment, give a presentation, follow-up, attend and conduct lots of meetings, focus on helping others do the same.  Getting yourself in motion is the key to growth in this business. THINK  ABOUT  IT.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

This will help you grow yourself and your business...if you do it

Today is short and simple but very meaningful if you want to experience success. I received the following from Darren Hardy who is the publisher of SUCCESS magazine. Our business is simple but that doesn't translate into easy, which of course means there is a learning curve. The message below is how you and I have learned ever since we were born.  Let's continue the journey.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein

Action for today:
In honor of Einstein's birthday tomorrow, go out and make mistakes.

It's ok if you fail.
It just means you are doing what others won't do: try new things.

And remember this:
The doer makes mistakes.
Mistakes come from doing.
But so does success.
So go make some mistakes  today!

When is the right time to start to change something?

The following quote addresses something that most people want to do: change something.  I have read this a number of times and it is actually so simple, yet so powerful. I suggest that you read this slowly and think about what Mr. Finley is saying. Maybe even do what I've done and read it several times and make some notes.   

“No one rises above who he or she has been without first having fallen down. The best time - in fact, the only time - to make a real change in your life is in the moment of seeing the need for it. He who hesitates always gets lost in the hundred reasons why tomorrow is a better day to get started.” - Guy Finley 

When is the best time to start making a change? Today! I think the toughest part of getting started in anything new is that first step. What is it in your life or business that you want to see change?   Don't try to change everything because what happens if you do is you'll get overwhelmed and that's when..."I'll do it tomorrow."  

Just identify one thing you want to change and take that first step. Is it prospecting? Following up? Giving more presentations? Doing that in-home event? Sponsoring? Reaching a new title? GO FOR IT!

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

A great example of using modern technology to learn and grow

The following is a great example of how to use technology to build your business.   In about my 2nd week in the business my sponsor told me he wanted me to meet a couple who were doing really well. It happened to be Chuck and Joyce Hoffmann; they were strong Coordinators at the time running over 10,000 PV a month. They went on to become Lifetime Master Coordinators. The Hoffmanns became my first mentors because we got to know them and I learned so much from them during my first few years. 

They have been great examples for many years. Read, learn and enjoy.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke 

I did something new a couple of weeks ago.  Our most recent first level lives in Mississippi, where her husband is a professor at Old Miss.  She is a young Mom, who is really focused on growing her business.  She is a new Senior Director. I help her in any way I can.  So, since my traveling is somewhat limited, I spoke at a Skype meeting in her home for her with 5 guests a couple of weeks ago.  It was really neat, I could see my audience and they could see me.   Makes it so much easier to relate, when you can see your audience.   It went over well.  Amazing this 80 year old lady can do power points and address audiences wherever they have a computer and phone, or in the above case Skype.   Chuck and I have always told people, "Where there's a will, there's a way!!!"

Joyce Hoffmann

When does commitment start?

One word that we think about and of course use in any kind of business or organization is commitment. To build a business takes a lot of time and effort and of course it takes commitment. A question might be, "when does commitment start?" I don't recall the source but I found the following comment and it makes sense to me.  Let's see if you agree.

Commitment doesn't start just because a person says, "I'm committed." Commitment starts when some kind of adversity shows up.

We have all faced various problems that were challenging and difficult to overcome. Whether we like it or not adversity is part of life. The following are some quotes about facing difficulties:

"It has been my philosophy of life that difficulties vanish when faced boldly." 

- Isaac  Asimov

"There is no education like adversity."

- Benjamin Disraeli

"In prosperity, our friends know us;  In adversity, we know our friends."

- John Churton Collins

So don't be surprised when adversity raises it's ugly head. It's part of life and I think part of the answer to the question what does it take to build a large successful Shaklee business is be bold, face the problem, do the best you can, and continue to move forward. The better a person gets in solving problems, the easier it gets to make progress.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Follow up!

Thanks to Rod Larkin for the following message regarding follow-up.  Learn and enjoy.

- Gary Burke

Greetings!

Pay close attention to what this image says. It says that if you do not have a good follow up system in place, you are not going to have very good results.

 

We have always taught that follow up must take place after EVERY contact with a person. A new prospect you contact-- follow up. A presentation you just gave-- follow up. A group event you just had, follow up. You get the point. It is proven-- the more times you follow up, the more and bigger results you will get.

BUT! The most important follow up we do is the ONGOING follow up with our members, our distributors, and our business leaders who are our customers. For example-- we follow upEVERY order placed by our members and distributors with either a follow-up thank you email, or a follow up phone call. In the past year I have sent 380 follow up email order thank yous and made several dozen follow up phone calls to people placing orders that don't have an email address on file with Shaklee.

 

Here is a sample of the email thank you I send.  I change them from time to time and I always personalize each email to the person I'm sending it to....

 

The Subject Title says: About Your Shaklee Order

 

Hi Sheryl,

 

Wow it's been cold! Hope you are keeping warm!

 

We just want to say thank you for the order you placed for Shaklee products over the weekend. We appreciate your business!

If there is ever anything we can do to assist you, answer questions, provide information you want--- please don't hesitate to contact us as we are here to offer you any Shaklee support you may need.

For all of your Shaklee product information and news, and to place your orders online, go to yourwww.myshaklee.com member center. If you have never set up your FREE MyShaklee online account, just click the Activate Now box and follow the prompts. It's easy to do and only takes a minute.

Rod & Danette Larkin

     

A made-up mind is powerful

There is nothing more powerful than a made-up mind; it can be the secret behind explosive growth in your business. We know people are very busy in today's world. The pace of life for everyone seems to move faster and faster. As a result, it seems to be more difficult for people to keep their dreams in sight; they lose confidence in achieving their goals and give in to the inevitable obstacles that pop up. Don't allow this to happen to you.

Determine to have a made-up mind. 

• Make up your mind to build your Shaklee business regardless of obstacles.
• Make up your mind to settle for nothing less than a minimum of 5,000 GPV each month.
• Make up your mind to prospect like never before regardless of what others might think or say. Consider settling for nothing less than 10 to 15 NEW members/distributors coming into your personal group EACH MONTH.  (Personal & Downline)
• Make up your mind to develop a minimum of 
  2 - 3  NEW 1st LEVEL DIRECTORS each year.

There is nothing more powerful than a made-up mind!

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Why not you?

My sister-in-law mentioned that her high school age grandson was recently taking French and he wasn't doing well. He just didn't seem to have much interest so of course he didn't study. He went to class but that was about it. He heard there was going to be a class trip to France, and to make a long story short, he got inspired to make that trip. By the end of the semester he earned an "A" in his French class. Way to go!

"Inspiration is contagious. Once inspired you are capable of anything." - Unknown 

What does it take to get you inspired? Is it a meeting? A book? A story of success? A certain level of earnings? An upper level title? A new idea? Maybe a trip like it did for my sister-in-law's grandson. There are untold reasons people get inspired and then set out to do what they never thought they would or could do. Inspiration is like magic in a way because we can't see it, but we feel it. We think differently when inspired. We work differently when inspired.

I get inspired by reading certain books and listening to certain music. When I was getting started, I also got inspired every time I attended a meeting. I've attended over 40 of the Shaklee annual conferences and have always been inspired. I'm looking forward to Cleveland this summer because I know it's going to be a great conference - and I will be stretched in my thinking because of the inspiration that conference will provide.

My suggestion is that you should do whatever it takes to get yourself inspired.  Start thinking differently. Start dreaming about what would be the greatest thing you could have or become or earn.   Fight the potential negativity. Create your dream in your mind and then get in motion and start doing whatever it takes for that dream to become a reality. 

WHY NOT?   

WHY NOT YOU?   

WHY NOT NOW?

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Incentives announced - are you ready?

Last night Shaklee announced the travel incentives for the coming year. Fewer points required...and a longer qualification period! The destination for the Dream Trip is LOS CABOS. Then Top Achievers will tour TUSCANY, ITALY...Florence, a day trip to Rome, and more! Basically, become a Coordinator to make Mexico. Become an Exec Coordinator to make Italy. 

There we have what is on the table to work for. When I look back at the various travel we have experienced in this business, some of the best times have been on the Shaklee trips. Incentives like this are also what really helps to build momentum for not just qualifying for these trips but it has carry-over affect that will help you and your business to grow for many years following your effort to qualify for the trip.  

What this means is we have choices to make. Are you going to go for it? Why not go for it because as I said above, by putting in the effort to qualify for a trip it will be momentum for years after the trip has been enjoyed. So to put it simply, why not go for it because you are the one who will benefit and it will also help Shaklee to grow like it is capable of growing.

I heard an ad on the radio here in Phoenix about three years ago that really captured my attention. Actually I heard it almost every day for a few weeks. It said,  "To be highly successful you don't have to do 2000 things, but you will have to do 5 or 6 things 2000 times." I love that simple sentence.    That describes what you will have to do  to qualify for a trip of a lifetime.

It's all about choices. You will benefit for years to come by doing whatever it takes to qualify. Heck, even if you don't qualify but you work for it, you are still going to come out way ahead of the game because your business will have been improved. Think about it. Talk about it.  Create your plan for growth. Start today.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

What do I do now?

Below is a great example of doing the right things when you know you want or need more business. This message is simple, powerful and about leadership and how a leader thinks. If you are wondering what you might do to meet people and grow yourself and your business, this might be of help for you.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke 

 

Good Afternoon Jo & Gary,

Last Tuesday I woke up and thought, my PV is down. What do I do now? I remembered what Gary said, if you need more PV, you need more people. I thought okay where are they? I got my church directory out and found a couple that I didn’t know.  I called them up and asked if I could come over and visit. They said YES. WOW! They both have health problems. I told them what I was passionate about and what Shaklee has done for me. We visited for 1 1/2 hours. I called them back 2 days later and have an appointment next week.

I had to go the hospital for blood work and had to register. The gal said you do Shaklee and I said yes. She hadn’t used Shaklee for years and I asked her if she  would like to see all the new products that we have and she said YES. She gave me her name and phone number and I gave her my card. We get together next week.

I stopped at church and visited with the substitute office manager for half an hour and got to know her a little. I didn’t know her name and was looking for something that we would have in common. Finally it was outdoor flowers and birds. I asked she would like to come out and she said YES.  We talked for two hours about their health problems about nutrition and she was very interested in that. She asked if she could take the Nutrition & You booklet home.  I said YES.  We will get together next week.

I work at getting referrals from my members.  One called me this morning from Florida and asked if would talk with the couple he is staying with.  I said YES.    She gave me their phone number and email address and I sent information to them.

This business really works when we work it.

Margie  Mischler Ü