Everyone has the potential to improve

We all have potential to be more and to have more. Here is what I found on dictionary.com about the word potential: Someone or something that is considered a worthwhile possibility.

Possible, as opposed to actual

Capable of being or becoming

I think it's fair to say that no matter who you are we all are capable of more and all of us are certainly a worthwhile possibility.   I read recently that the people who seem to reach their potential think and act on getting better in various areas of their life and/or business. This applies to every kind of business or profession and to every person.

Let's assume it's true that all of us are capable of doing more and being more.  My suggestion is that over the upcoming weekend you might sit down where it's quiet and think about what it is in your life or business you want to improve. Make a list. You might even talk about it with a friend or spouse. If you have a long list then choose the two things from your list that right now, today, you would be willing to start improving. Then write out a simple plan for getting started.

Getting started on a new idea is always the most difficult. Don't get intimidated.  Just get started. We are all independent contractors which means our boss is us.   We're in charge of ourselves. We are only accountable to ourselves. Kind of scary isn't it? Get a plan, then do whatever it takes to get yourself in motion.

Remember, new goals always require two things: new thinking & new behavior.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

10 unforgettable quotes by Jim Rohn

Today's message is from Success magazine.

The late personal development legend’s words still ring true with his millions of fans.

    

When personal development legend Jim Rohn passed away in 2009, he left an incredible gift: his encouraging, uplifting messages and inspiring, thought-provoking quotes, beloved by millions and shared throughout the world to this day. 

 

1. “Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.”

 

2. “The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not a bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.”

 

3. “We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.”

 

4. “Days are expensive. When you spend a day you have one less day to spend. So make sure you spend each one wisely.”

 

5. “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”

 

6. “If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.”

 

7. “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”

 

8. “Success is nothing more than a few simple disciplines, practiced every day.”

 

9. “Don’t join an easy crowd; you won’t grow. Go where the expectations and the demands to perform are high.”

 

10. “Learn how to be happy with what you have while you pursue all that you want.”

Credit: http://www.success.com/mobilenodeview/22427

 

Some excellent thoughts from Jim Rohn

Excellent ideas from Jim Rohn. Application is the key to ideas. Learn and enjoy.

 

Gary Burke

How to Turn Ideas into Action

by Jim Rohn

Being genuinely disciplined requires that you develop the ability to take action. You don't need to be too hasty, but you also don't want to lose much time. The time to act is when the idea strikes us—when it is hot and the emotion is strong, before the feeling passes and the idea dims. If you don't, you’ll fall prey to the law of diminishing intent. A month from now, the passion will be cold—a year from now, it won’t be found. So take action. Set up discipline when the excitement is high and your idea is clear and powerful. You've got to take action—otherwise the wisdom is wasted. The enthusiasm will soon pass, unless you apply it to a disciplined activity. Discipline enables you to capture the emotion and wisdom and translate them into action. The key is to increase your motivation.  The greatest value of discipline is self-worth, also known as self-esteem. Many people who are teaching self-esteem these days don't connect it to discipline. But once we sense the lack of discipline within ourselves, it starts to erode our psyche. One of the greatest temptations is to just ease up a little bit. Instead of doing your best, you allow yourself to do just a little less than your best. Sure enough, you've started in the slightest way to decrease your sense of self-worth. Make the commitment: I will discipline myself to achieve my goals so that in the years ahead I can celebrate my successes.

Today is the day

Over the weekend I found this comment in a magazine by John Green, young adult author and winner of the Los Angeles Times Innovator's award: "What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remarkable."

When I read that it got me thinking about what I can do that I might consider remarkable. So I had the thought that it made me stop and think for a while and it might do the same thing for those of you who receive these messages. What do you think? Do you feel it would be worth it to try something that for you would be remarkable?

Maybe it's sponsoring one person every day this week. Maybe it's to have your best week ever for PV growth. How about calling the people you've been thinking about talking to but just haven't gotten around to it yet? Maybe it's setting new goals that will stretch you to do something that would be remarkable.   Think about it.

Stepping across the line in the sand and doing the thing that maybe you fear doing is always a huge challenge. But why not make this week the week you've been dreaming about? Do something for  yourself and/or your business that challenges you. As has been said - JUST DO IT!

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

How to make great things happen

Here is a very interesting quote.  "Great things happen if you have a work ethic.  It's about working hard and learning the little things and being coachable. Success has a process you have to go through."

If I read that statement I would guess it was some business person who was trying to make a point of what it takes to be successful. The statement comes from Trenna Dumba who is the mother of two sons who happen to play hockey.   One of her sons is playing for the Minnesota Wild who are in the playoffs for the Stanley Cup of the NHL.

Trenna is a mom who watched her sons grow into excellent hockey players and my guess is she is probably a main reason her boys became highly successful. I can almost hear her at home talking around the breakfast table before they go to school and telling them to "Hang in there. Work hard. Listen to your coach. It takes time and I know you'll make the team."  

I want to repeat what Trenna said...."Great things happen if you have a work ethic." I wanted to repeat those words just in case there might be someone who reads this message and is wondering what it takes to be come highly successful in Shaklee. It's the same in anything a person might want to do. It's about work ethic. There are no secrets about growing our business.   There are fundamentals and those are what you have to master because when you do you will have a fun, growing business and a future that people dream about.

Think about it.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Something has to change. What is it?

I know that many of you who read these messages have been in Shaklee for many years, and some a shorter time. You have experience but maybe you would like to see some changes, positive changes of course, in your business and perhaps in yourself. The personal development side of this business is huge.

I have learned that what comes first is new thinking and what follows that is new behavior. But it is always the new thinking that comes first. Maybe you heard something that inspired you, or maybe you have more needs and wants. The point is in order to have a turnaround in yourself and your business, you must be willing to change something. 

1. What will be my new thinking?    

2. What will be my new behavior?

My suggestion is that you take some time today and sit down with a pad of paper and a pen and start writing a list of what you might want to see changed or improved. It might be a short list and then again it may have a few things that maybe you haven't considered before.  Regardless, take some time to read your list and pick out a couple things you are willing to work at. It will take time and effort but I'm sure you will never regret making the changes you want to see. Will it be easy? No! Will it happen overnight?  No! Will you be glad you did the work? YES! Think about it.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Asking questions & curiosity

The below message from Dan Henderson is the kind of message you might want to print out and save on your computer. Asking questions is an important skill in building this business.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

 

Curiosity!

The former first lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt said: “I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity.” The ability to ask great questions is an important life skill. What you are really trying to do is to find Areas of Commonality. Ask open ended questions. Avoid questions that require simple yes or no. People love to talk about themselves. Here are a few simple questions that can get the conversation started: Where you are from?  Tell me about your family.  How long have you been doing this?  What do you like most about your job / business?  What do you like least about it?  What would you like to wave a magic wand and change?  What do you like to do for fun?  What do you see yourself doing five years from now?  What has been your biggest challenge in life?  Tell me about a perfect day for you and your family. Einstein said:  “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” In a February 2013 article in Forbes magazine entitled, “Things Leaders Do”, we learn that great managers “ask questions and seek counsel all the time.” From the outside, it appears they know everything but “inside, they have a deep thirst for knowledge and constantly are on the look-out to learn new things.” In other words, they are curious. Sometimes we become intimidated by over thinking the process. If you want to increase your impact with people, get interested! It’s that easy.

What's needed: more information or more experience?

On March 13th & 14th I took part in an event here in the Phoenix area. I received a very interesting e-mail from one of the people who was at this event for the weekend. I have asked her for permission to use her message and she responded, "Gary you bet you can use it." The following is an excerpt of the message she sent.

"Funny how I have spent the last 8 years in Shaklee and have struggled and now have decided to make some changes within myself thanks to you and Roland from the training. It sounds so simple and guess if you keep it simple, it is simple. I have been planning and learning all these years and I have forgot to go out and DO! That has changed :)"

Dawn spent 8 years planning and learning and literally forgot how to go out and make things happen. Of course it's important to learn and in today's business environment it's easy to do --there are webinars probably every day, in many areas many meetings to attend,  plus CDs and other tools that have loads of information. 

Getting yourself in motion DOING the basic fundamentals will teach you very quickly plus you will be gaining experience as you're learning. Getting more experience is a huge factor for growing your business and your future.  So a thought you may want to consider is, "I want to get myself in motion working and getting better at doing the basics of this business so my business will grow." I believe that most people have loads of information and what is needed is more experience.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke 

What happens between an idea and success?

On May 1st Faye and I will start our 45th year in Shaklee. Hard to believe! Little did we know how our lives would be changed because I made a phone call to a guy who was looking for people and I was a very discontented young guy. I went to my future sponsor's home and he made a simple presentation and I felt compelled to learn more about this new idea.

That was the beginning and I'm thankful that my sponsor had a strategy for building this business. He asked me to attend his meetings and I did every week.   At times I wonder what would have taken place if he didn't have meetings to attend. I'm sure I would have slipped through the cracks like many new people do and just gone on my way to something else.

So what happens between an idea and success?  I attended meetings, my sponsor introduced me to Chuck & Joyce Hoffmann and we learned a lot from them in those first few years. I took lots of notes at the meetings and learned about goal setting, getting appointments and making presentations and much more. Bottom line what happened is this, I heard a good idea and then started to learn by listening to those who were successful and took action as best I could.

Here is my thought for you: let's say you sponsored me today. What would you suggest to me for getting started?  Use the products, maybe a CD or DVD, attend your meetings? What are the steps you want me and every new person who comes into your group to follow? In other words, "What happens between an idea and success?"  

Of course I'm assuming you have a strategy for growing your business and for helping the new people to do the same thing. If you don't have a simple game plan for getting people started I suggest that this weekend you might ask your sponsor or your mentor for some help in writing out a good, simple plan for getting people started. You'll be glad you did.  

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

What motivates people?

One thing I think that many of us try to do is to motivate other people. I know that when I first got started in building this business I tried to figure out how I could motivate some people. I thought about it often because I thought that maybe that is one of things we had to do. Some feel that if they talk loud or fast that maybe that's what helps to motivate others.    Some people just seem to have a gift for inspiring and motivating people. Most of us aren't necessarily gifted but we can talk about ideas to people. 

So what does motivate people? When I think back about what motivated and inspired me it was about having a new future. Being self-employed sounded great. Earning more than I needed was also a terrific idea. I got inspired about the idea of building two sales leaders a year because I heard that if a person could do that they would have very unusual financial future. So what was the answer for me about this word "motivation?"

I'm not entirely sure when or how I learned this but for me it is THE ANSWER to what motivates people: IDEAS MOTIVATE PEOPLE. You might say people motivate....some do. But when I reflect back to what really did the job for me it was the ideas I was hearing at meetings. It didn't matter to me what a person's title was. It was the ideas that made the difference. Better health is a great idea. Earning more than I'll ever need is another terrific idea.

So what this means is our job isn't to go out and try to motivate people. Our job is to find people to talk to and share some ideas with them. Believe me, when we go out with the attitude that we are going to share a few ideas with people, it takes prospecting to a new level of simplicity. Think about it.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke 

Here we go again - it's about growth

When I sit down to write a daily message I try to think about things that people in our business might wonder about or a word that might help a few people get themselves moving in the right direction. The one word that I would say continually comes to mind when I sit here and try to figure out what to say is GROWTH. Personal growth as well as PV or income growth.  

I read a lot and when I read I highlight things that kind of jump off the page at me. So when I want an idea I just pick up a book or two and read some highlights. Here is what I came across this morning, from John Maxwell: "Are you ready to reach your potential? Growth is made up of small, incremental changes. By modifying your priorities, you can move toward more success and effectiveness in everything you do."

John Maxwell has written many books, especially about leadership and personal growth so I'm not surprised to find such a meaningful statement by him about growth. It seems very simple but the bottom line is that we out here in this world have to decide what it is about ourselves or our business that we want to change. To get better. To be more effective. To be intentional about.

Read his quote again, slowly. Think about it. It's about small changes. Change isn't an event, it's a process. Do you want to experience more growth in various areas of your life and business? That is a question you must ask yourself. What small changes can you make in prospecting? In talking to more people? Doing more in-home events? I think you can take it from here by writing down what kind of changes you want to see, then take the first step, which is always the most difficult, and get change started. You'll be glad you did.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Thoughts about having a plan

Everyone should be working from a simple plan in order to ensure they're doing the right things that create forward movement. If a person doesn't have a plan then it seems to me it's just "Doing Shaklee."  If a person isn't performing at a level they are capable of it's probably because of the lack of a vision with clear goals and working from a plan.

Allow me to suggest some thoughts on having a plan. A plan is essentially about five things: a method of proceeding, a blueprint, a road map, a game plan, or a path to follow. Here is an example: We would never consider building a home without a blueprint  but yet we're trying to build a business by what I call "Doing Shaklee." 

I believe it's always good to ask yourself some questions - so ask:

What am I trying to accomplish?   A plan would have two main elements:

What do I have to do to grow this business?  

How often am I going to do the things it takes to grow? 

Potential things to learn how to do are: prospect, give presentations, follow-up, sponsor and recruit to build your core group, attend and conduct meetings, listen to a mentor and keep a positive attitude (keep the dream alive), recruit weekly, conduct in-home events. Bottom line is it takes some thinking to create your plan, and then the passion to make it happen.

Maybe this quote from Jim Rohn will inspire you in some way or at least give you an idea of how Mr. Rohn viewed what it takes to be successful.

"Success is neither magical nor mysterious.  Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying the basic fundamentals."

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Is it time for a decision?

I've been making some decisions about what I want to be doing in the coming months and I've been thinking that all of us make decisions every day. We have to decide what we're going to do, where we might want to go, who are we going to listen to and who will we not listen to, and maybe who we are going to call for an appointment. Lots of decisions every day. Of course when it comes time to decide there are always options to consider. I think that in order to make good decisions it's a matter of thinking things through. Some things might take weeks or even months to decide on which way to go.

If we decide to not make a decision that also means we will without question lack direction for getting where we might want to go. I guess what that means is no decision equals no direction and without direction there will be no movement. No progress. No growth. No new people.  No increase in income. Nothing will happen. I don't think any of us want the kind of life that isn't going anywhere.  

The most important thing to me is some decisions have the potential to be life-changing. I remember very clearly when I first was introduced to this business that it seemed exciting but I didn't understand much. I made the decision to use some of the products, attend the meetings that were available, listen and ask questions, and it took me 4 months to make the decision that this business was everything they said it was. I decided I wanted to get involved and build a future.   That decision was literally life-changing for us.

How are you doing with your decisionmaking about your life and your future? What do you want your business to look like a year from today? How about 3 years from today? How about 10 years from today? Have you given it any thought? Have you decided how much time per week you'll be investing for growing your business? All important questions. Remember, no decisions mean no direction and no movement.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

The key for making it look easy to build

Last night Faye and I were watching the Women's National Championship basketball game which UConn won. This was the 10th national championship they have won under the same coach, Geno Auriemma. The most important thing to me personally is a comment the coach made in an interview a few years ago.  The comment the coach made was about the late screen legends Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I always loved watching them dance and last night I went online and watched them again.  Coach Auriemma said that the reason Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers made it look so easy was because they worked so hard at their routines. 

The story says that at one point Ginger Rogers asked why they had to practice so long and so hard. Fred's answer was simple but to me very profound. He said "That's the only way we can make it look easy." What a great comment! For those of you who remember Fred Astaire you know exactly what that comment means because he just made his dancing look so easy and it was so fun to watch him perform.

A few nights ago, I did a webinar and mentioned it takes hard work to build this business. Afterward, someone asked, "Could you explain what you mean when you say hard work?" I said, "If you only have 5 hours a week to work at your business, then work 5 hours every week if that is all the time you have. If you have 10 hours a week to invest in your future, then work 10 hours every week. That is what hard work means in this business.   Every week! You don't miss a week, you put in the time and don't accept any reason for not being consistent with your effort."

If you are consistent the day will come when the business has gotten easy for you to do. Just like the dancing took untold hours of practice for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers "so it would look easy." Others will hear about your success and wonder why it's so easy for you to build your business. You will smile and just say something like "I worked hard."

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

How to reach higher levels of success

Let's start this week off with the idea of challenging ourselves to be really intentional -- to do things we haven't been doing, but we know we probably should be doing. I'm including myself in this challenge as well as anyone who might be reading this message. 

If you're reading this message, you probably know the basic fundamentals for building consistently and you have the desire to be on track for reaching your 2015 goals. A question came to me a few days ago about what stops people from becoming what they are capable of becoming, whether that's higher monthly PV or developing first generation sales leaders and getting to the higher ranks that prove a person will earn more. I certainly don't know all the answers to anything but we've been in this business for over 44 years. We have lots of experience, and with that an opinion of what stops some people from getting to where they want to be.

What I see is that people create boundaries for themselves. For example, some reach a monthly PV level and they stay at the same level for months on end.   Some have mental boundaries for developing first generation sales leaders because they might have the view that their personal group PV will go down when they break out people. Mental fences are built that might be keeping us from reaching new levels of PV and of having more sales leaders on the monthly recap.

My challenge to you today is take a look at what might be holding you back from reaching new levels of success. Being busy isn't the same as being effective.   Do you have a mental boundary that tells you what you can't do? Boundaries and fences are meant to stop people. It's time to erase any boundaries or fences you may have and start becoming what you're capable of becoming.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

A major factor for succeeding is investing in yourself

I have learned from various sources over the years, but the messages from Jim Rohn have been the most valuable for me personally. I attended a Jim Rohn seminar over 30 years ago and I still have my notes from that 4 hour evening in Minneapolis. I have also learned from purchasing his CDs, book, and whatever else was available from him. He teaches about personal development better than anyone I have ever come across.

The point I want to get across today is about investing in yourself. If you truly want to become that person who can achieve at higher levels, you must consider investing in yourself. The reason to invest in yourself is simple. No one else cares about your success more than you do. If you don't invest in yourself, who will?

I received the below message this AM from Darren Hardy. I just ordered the album mentioned in it; I just invested in myself. I strongly urge you to consider investing in yourself by purchasing the available CD album. I know this, you will be inspired, you will learn, and you will not regret making this investment.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

 

We created a special 4-Volume audio program where we “reincarnate” the great Jim Rohn. I ask him all the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask him on the topics of success in business and life, time management and productivity, building wealth and the art of communication. It was a massive project and one infused with tons of love. Check it out if you are inclined:

                                                http://lessonsofalifetime.success.com/

 

                                                                          Darren Hardy

The Empty Pickle Jar

Thanks to Carol Dinkel for sending this creative method to look at life and of course business. Very worth the time to watch.

http://play.simpletruths.com/movie/the-empty-pickle-jar/store 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke