It's about you and...

All of us face challenges of various kinds. Shome are challenged by making a call or asking someone a simple question.  Others may feel challenged by giving a simple presentation or maybe the biggest challenge is speaking in front of a group of people. The reason I know this is accurate is because I know how I felt as I was learning the process for making this business grow.

Once we accept the challenge to move out of our comfort zone and start to do those things that we've been avoiding we start our personal development. This is without question as far as I'm concerned one of the most important assets of this business. Our personal development.   Just think about that for a minute. It's not so much about working the basic fundamentals of this business and developing those skills - asking questions, making appointments, giving a simple but effective presentation, etc.  It is about developing YOU. When the person gets better, the business gets better.  

I don't think the main issue is about selling these great products and giving opportunity presentations. I believe it's more about selling ourselves on ourselves. The best proof that something can be done is that others have paved the way and have done it. Thousands of people have been challenged with this opportunity and they have stepped out made it happen.

Why not you? Why not now? Accept the challenge to work more on yourself than on the business. As you step out and do what has to be done I guarantee that as time goes by you will have developed yourself and people will start to view you differently. They will think you're lucky, but the truth is you will have worked hard on becoming what you are capable of becoming. My congratulations to you for working on yourself.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

It's our job

One of the things I've always loved about this business is the idea that if growth is going to happen it is 100% up to me to make it work. Sponsoring is up to me.  My goals are up to me. My attitude is certainly up to me. Being encouraged is also up to me.   

As I was golfing yesterday a thought came to mind and it was: how have I encouraged myself over the years to continue to do what we do? We are in our 46th year and I still love doing what I do. I got home from a great day being outside with friends and golfing and the thought wouldn't leave so I decided that maybe this could be a daily message. How do we encourage ourselves? The following are some ideas.

- Work at keeping a positive attitude. It does take work.

- Read good books. How many books are you reading every year?

- Invest in yourself. Buy good books.  Attend events.

- Listen to your mentors...to those who have already made it work.

- Be consistent with effort; it will help build your confidence.

- Pay attention to your self-talk! Be nice to yourself and others.

- When doubt appears read this list and take action. Doubt is something to fight.

YOU CAN DO BETTER. YOU CAN REACH YOUR GOALS.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

The opportunity is for everyone

I was thinking this past weekend about the business we have and how blessed we truly are. I started to wonder what we did that helped us to build the kind of business we dreamt about. We aren't any different than any of you but I think I know why some do and some don't go after their dreams. In my mind it's very simple. When I thought about it and  listened to the people who had already made it to the level they wanted to be at, what was the difference between those who made it happen and those who didn't make it happen?

We wanted what the Shaklee opportunity made available and we wanted all the benefits that went with having a successful Shaklee business. It comes down to this: if you want what the Shaklee opportunity is offering to you it's all a matter of stepping out of your comfort zone. What that means is we and everyone else who experienced success in this business had to be willing to do things that maybe we weren't very comfortable doing. I can say for sure that describes me.  felt very uncomfortable at times in the first year or two attempting to do things I wasn't very good at. But I knew I could learn the "How to's" as long as I kept at trying to do the right things.

Somehow I knew that my dream was more important than the "How to." So many people seem to want to know all the "how to's" before they are ready to get started. Fact of the matter is that people who need all the answers first never seem to get started. The following is what I've learned that helped us to build and be consistent with our efforts: what you prepare for and what you work for is exactly what you'll get. It's simple.  Prepare and put in the work it takes.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Want to increase your success rate?

Here is a great tool for learning how to succeed in life as well as in business.  This book has only 80 pages but as Barb Madorin said in a message she sent to me, "this book can change lives."   If you are looking for some ideas about growing your business this book is a must.   If you go online to GoForNo.com then click on the button that says SHOP.  This book is only $12 plus freight.  You'll be glad you did.

Below is what was on the  Go For No  web site this morning.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

 There's One Major Roadblock Standing Between Most People and Sales Success... We're about to Remove It Forever!

Everyone loves the sound of the word YES... it’s so positive, so empowering. And then there’s “NO!” For most people, NO is just the opposite: negative… draining… the antithesis of yes. But what if that could change?

What if you could achieve every quota… hit every income goal… and reach every personal dream… simply by changing the way you think, feel, and respond to hearing the word NO? Well, you can.

Welcome to Go for No!®considered by many to be the most effective strategy ever created for turning the negative effects of failure and rejection into a powerful positive in your career.

The relationship you have with the word NO… what you think and feel when you hear it, and what you do afterward as a result... is THE single most important factor in determining the level of success you will achieve in your life. That’s why despite having a great product, service or opportunity to offer, so many people fail to succeed in business... and in life.

But it doesn't have to be that way. A simple change in attitude and perspective could transform you from someone who is slowed down by failure and rejection into someone who is actually energized by it.

Turn Your Greatest Obstacle into Your Greatest Asset… Learn to Go for No!

What does it take?

If you or someone in your downline has the desire to learn the kind of skills it takes to build this business to whatever level they might choose, those skills are as follows:

1. Finding Prospects

2. Inviting Prospects to understand the products and opportunity 

3. Presenting The Products / Opportunity to your prospects

4. Following Up With The Prospects

5. Helping Your Prospects Become Customers or Distributors

6. Helping Your New Distributor Get Started Right

7. Promoting Events

Wouldn't it be helpful if there was a book of some kind that would teach and give suggestions on how to develop the skills needed, step by step? Like any other job or profession, there are some skills that are needed and it is up to each individual to learn them. It is also up to each leader to make sure that the people they have in their downline has access to learning what these skills are. Then each individual must take it upon themselves to learn the HOW TO part by starting to do what the book suggests.

By the way, the skills that are listed above are the Contents in the book GO PRO by Eric Worre. Many of you already have this book. In my opinion this is by far the best book I have ever read about our business. IT IS THE BEST. You might want to ask yourself if you would like to have people on your team be skilled with doing the basic fundamentals. This book is a great place to start.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

If they can do it...

Most of us who come into this business have never done many of the things we must do if we expect growth and change to occur. The following is a great quote from Eleanor Roosevelt.

"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face. We must do that which we think we cannot."

The part that strikes me the most is when she says, "We must do that which we think we cannot." I'm sure many of you had some doubt when you first saw this opportunity. I know that I wondered if it were really possible to have the kind of future that I heard about at the meetings I attended. I recall thinking, 'it's easy for them (the speaker) to talk that way' but I had loads of doubt; at the same time I wanted it to be true.

The more meetings I attended the more my belief grew. I met and heard lots of average people who had already made it to higher levels of income. That was the part I liked best about the meetings - the stories. The more stories I heard the more my thoughts started to change to, "I think I can do this. I just have to learn how to do this. If they can do it, I can do it." Those simple words were like magic for me because I bought into it 100%....IF THEY CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT."  

The reason you can build to whatever level you want is because others have done it hundreds and thousands of times before you. How's your self-talk? Are you nice to yourself or do you beat yourself up verbally? This business is more mental than we give it credit for. My suggestion for this week is pay attention to what your thoughts are every day. You'll learn what thoughts have to be eliminated, and what you have to accept.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

It's been proven to work

There are many proven principles that will lead a person to success in whatever it is they want to do. As I reflect back over the years I have learned that there are hundreds of ways for saying the same thing. As I read various books or articles that is what I've looked for as it seems to move me when I find a new way to think or talk about the same thing. The following is a great example. This comes from the book Lead by Sam Adeyemi:

"One of the most critical factors in leadership is vision.  Without vision, we cannot inspire people to follow us.   Whether you're leading a family, organization or nation, you must develop the ability to see people, places and things, not just as they are now but how they could be in the future."

Let's keep this really simple. Having vision simply means a person has given thought for what they want to do, become or achieve. Have you given much thought about what you want your business to look like 3 to 5 years from now? Have you given thought to your own personal development and what it is you want to become as a person? Do you have your goals (Thoughts) on paper? If yes, great. If no, why not?

Of course the sequence is simple, so as you have a goal the next step is to create a plan. What are the steps a person must follow in order to experience success in Shaklee? Do you have your plan written?  I don't think the question is "What do I do?" The question might be, "Who do I learn from or who do I follow?" We learn from models or to put it another way, we learn from those who have gone before us and they have proven that taking the right steps leads to success. That is exactly what we have done.

I listened to people who were successful, asked questions, so they became my model if you will. The fact of the matter is once you have a model to follow, you'll know what to do. Don't waste time doing it your way. Follow success. It works.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Want to grow? Become skilled.

Yesterday I sent out a message about The Two Step Training Program:

1. Keep doing things you don't feel you do very well.

2. Start doing things you don't want / like to do.

The following is a response I received from Toni Parker. This is a very simple message and at the same time it is very inspiring to me and I hope for you. 

--------

Thank you for this Gary!

It's funny because as I was driving this morning, I had an epiphany that I need to become really good at inviting people to look at Shaklee.

And I was thinking about how my business would grow by mastering this skill!

Toni Parker

-------

My hope is that every one of you who reads this message from Toni will think as she did about mastering a certain skill. Toni, you and your business will grow beyond what you can think or imagine as you master the skill you mention in your message. Go for it. Don't allow anything or anyone stop you from becoming highly skilled.

What skills could you master for you and your business?

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke 

A two step training program

 I would like to suggest that this business can be very simple if we want it to be that way. So the following is a thought I have that for me describes what it takes to build, have higher PV, earn more that you can imagine, and even develop some sales leaders along the way.

The Two Step Training Program

1. Keep doing things you don't feel you do very well.

2. Start doing things you don't want / like to do.

What is it that you know has to be done in order to grow your business, earn two to three times what you are currently earning, and be having fun along the way? Most of us avoid as much as possible doing things that we know we aren't very good at. The fact of the matter is that most of us come into this business with very few skills that relate to growth for this business. I think it's fair to say that our biggest challenge is for us to very simply get better. We can't get better just attending meetings, going on webinars, etc. The only way to get better is to be active doing the fundamentals every week. Just think about it for a minute. Imagine yourself 2 to 3 months from now with a growing business all because you decided to get better.

Of course there are also things we don't like to do and so we don't do it. Such as making calls to find new people to join our team. Giving opportunity presentations to every person you have an appointment with. Speaking at meetings. YIKES! All I'll say on this is I certainly didn't want to do some of the steps that help create success. I really didn't want to make calls or sell, sell, sell.   I for sure didn't ever want to stand up in front of people and speak. And there's more!

The reason we have the business we have is because the desire to have what this business offers out weighed the fears about doing what I didn't want to be doing. We did the things we didn't want to do and over time developed a large business. Actually much larger than I ever thought about.  

Think about it. It's all about getting better.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Four lessons

Thanks to Dan Henderson and Dan's Bullets for the following excellent message. As you read each point I would suggest that you pause after each point and think about what it is saying to you.  Enjoy and learn.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Richard Branson is he one of the most famous and respected entrepreneurs in the world. He shared some of his wisdom with sales guru, Ari Galper. I concur…  1. Curiousity Is King  To build and grow a successful business, means to have an innate ability to be curious. The sands around your business are constantly shifting. Look for the “dips” as new opportunities.  2. Be Passionate About Others  If you are not passionate about the people you can help the most or not passionate about your team’s potential, success will be elusive. Focusing on the core needs of others and connecting to those needs are the key elements of trust between people. Make that bond so strong, that others around you can feel that you are not just passionate about what you do, but you are passionate about what they do.  3. Listen and Learn Many ambitious entrepreneurs have a tendency to talk a lot and listen a little. They talk a lot because hearing themselves makes them feel in control. Richard shared that if you are contantly listening, no matter how successful you are, you’ll reach beyond any obstacle that might try to stand in your way. Listening to others exponentially speeds up the time that you find new opportunities to get you back on track.  4. The Enterprepenuerial Journey is an “S” curve Richard points out … the journey is NEVER a straight line. There will be bends, twists, and turns that could easily take you off course. But when you realize that coming off an “s” curve is exactly where you are supposed to be, you reach a level of calmness that gives you the strength to move forward.

Finishing is the key factor

I know many of you are excited about the incentive Roger Barnett has given the field about attending a special conference in California. I also know that many of you have a great start because you got home from Cleveland and when your feet hit the ground you were off and running. Headed for your goal.  

My message this AM is about challenges. I don't think a person can be at their best if they are under-challenged. You have to be willing to step out across a line in the sand and challenge yourself. It comes down to demanding more of yourself and only you can do it for you. No one can decide for you on this.

What is your challenge for the 100 Days To Amazing? Is it about sponsoring? Or maybe about doubling your PGPV? Maybe having X number of appointments every week. Or making more calls. To qualify for this incentive it is vital that you decide to have a new mindset for these 100 Days To Amazing.

Getting started on a new idea is always the easiest step. What follows that initial effort is what really counts because the mindset you want to have is to finish your project and don't let up. So the key thought you want to have with you every hour of every day, regardless of what has or hasn't transpired, is that no one is going to stop you from finishing. 

GO FOR IT! YOU CAN GET IT DONE! FINISHING IS THE KEY!  

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

A powerful principle

I want to give you a principle that I hope will encourage you to think.

The Magic Principle

Keep saying what you want to achieve, until you start seeing what you've been saying.

Read that again, slowly. Think about what it's saying to you. I don't know who the person was who said this, but I know it's a very powerful principle because I experienced it. Here is my story that goes with that simple but powerful principle.  

When we were building we would have been considered to be growing slowly. We grew slowly because I just didn't know how to grow faster. There were people qualifying for Master Coordinator in 3 years, with 15 first level leaders doing 3000 PV. Some grew slowly and some grew quickly. I never felt I was in a race and that was a good thing. My view was I just had to learn from the people who were growing faster. It took us 8 years to the month for us to get to the Master level.

Now to the above principle. There wasn't one day when I didn't think about Master Coordinator. Not one day. I thought about it every day for 8 years. I believed we would eventually get there. We were consistent with our efforts. I never thought about quitting. I was focused on getting to that highest level. My vision was to become Master Coordinators. I also must say that we were not surprised when we got there. My point for telling you this is because of the above principle.

Plans and strategies can always be adjusted, but the vision is the vision. You never want to change your vision. It is what it is. You might have to adjust your plan and strategy once in a while, but don't ever lose that vision. What's your vision for your future? Do you think about it every day? Even the days when things aren't going the way you want them to?   Keep your vision alive in your mind and just keep doing the right things and the day will come when you are seeing what you've been saying.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke     

Excellent example of what it takes

The following is a great message from Master Coordinator Barbara Hill Behar. The two most powerful things in the world are prayer and example. The following from Barb is a terrific example for many because it describes what happens when someone changes their mind and sets out on a mission.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

I am excited about earning the Chairman's Trip to Palm Springs and visit to the Barnett home.  I have talked with a number of you to find out who is going to earn it.  You notice I said "who is going to earn it"...not "who wants to earn it."

I want to congratulate two team members, in particular, who got into action in the month of August and hit their first target for the 2000 PV increase needed.  

Jan Christensen, Northfield, Minnesota made the decision to earn the trip. Wow, did she get into action right away. She began making phone calls, appointments and activity. She excitedly told me yesterday about the road trips she has planned in the next 45 days. That, along with the other action she has on her calendar, will land her in Palm Springs!!  So proud of you, Jan!

Cindy Jacobson, Grand Rapids, Michigan took off like a shot, too!  She loves fun, loves travel and doesn't want to miss out. That 12,800 target looked daunting! On the last day of the month, she hit her base volume but needed the 2000 more to achieve her goal. She went to work like the road runner and did 2000 volume in one day to achieve 13,000 personal volume for August. She said "If I had another day I could have done another 5,000" That power of a made-up mind!

Those two examples represent the power of a made-up mind.  It's a "done deal" not "I think I'd like to do that". When you make that kind of decision the world begins to move toward you.

I experienced it myself.  A week ago I was 2500 PV short of achieving my increase. It looked pretty daunting, too!  I kept the goal in front of me but kept contacting, talking, working with lots of energy and enthusiasm. I ended up around 500 PV over the goal which will help my average.

Do you want to join us and make the decision to earn it?  It's going to be a blast!! If you do, let me know and we will cheer each other on. It is invigorating and inspiring to be in action.

Here's to a great Shaklee month in September!

Barb

 

Barb Hill Behar

Hill's Health Enterprises

Creating Healthier Lives with Shaklee

619/750/5309/cell

619/567/5626/office

www.barbhillbehar.myshaklee.com

How's your vision of the future?

I was watching a DVD of Andy Stanley talking about vision. He was talking about how vital it is to make a vision stick. Today I'm writing about some of his ideas about vision - I've heard some of this from other speakers over the years but this guy grabbed my attention because of his enthusiasm. First of all, do you have a vision in your mind about what you want your business to look like 3 to 5 years from now? Think about that for a minute.   Do you have a clear vision? What Mr. Stanley said was if a person doesn't have a clear vision there will be no focus, and where there is no focus there is being busy. Being busy doesn't grow a business the way being focused on a clear vision grows a business.

Plans and strategies always have the potential to change but just because you might need a new plan doesn't mean you change your vision. Once you decide what you want your future and your  business to look like, you do not change your vision. Create a new plan.

I'll give you my example. I heard at some meetings that if a person would find and help two people a year build to being a Shaklee sales leader they could have a very unusual financial future. I bought into that idea somewhere in my first 6 months. That was my vision. Two a year.  I knew I would have to sponsor lots of people to find those who were serious and would do what they said they wanted to do. To make a long story short, we developed 2 a year for 8 straight years. That foundation helped us develop that very unusual future.

I can't tell you how many people quit because there were many. I can't tell you how discouraged I felt at times when we would have setbacks and had many obstacles to overcome. I read something early in my career that if a person isn't willing to risk failing they would never become successful. In other words failing is on that road that leads to success. Having failures is all a part of the process. That's just how it is.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Which do you say: "Can I do this?" or "How can I do this?"

Yesterday I sent a message talking about two powerful ideas or principles.  I received a message from Carla Harris responding to those ideas and her words really inspired me. I will not be one bit surprised when the time comes and I hear that Carla and her business are growing and she's having fun in the process.

THANK YOU Carla for taking your time to share your thoughts. Really good stuff.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Be relentless in pursuing your decisions

Nothing is more powerful than a made up mind.

Yep, Gary, this is true. Finally, I've got my mind made up. Now instead of asking "Can I do this?" I'm asking "HOW can I do this?" Whole different mind set and attitude.  

The things that have been hard for me are still hard. But now I'm finding a way to do them instead of shrinking back. I'm still scared spit-less and know I don't have all the knowledge and skills I need, but I'll get there one step at a time. My mind is made up.

Carla Harris  

Two very powerful ideas

I've been going through some notes of mine that go back a few years looking for something that might help someone to make the decision that will change their life. I came across a couple statements that kind of grabbed my attention: 

-- Be relentless in pursuing your decisions.

-- Nothing is more powerful than a made up mind.

This is such an attitude business and it never ceases to impress me when I hear of people in the field who are working at the basic fundamentals of this business and they are growing. When I think back when we got started in this business the only thing I can come up with that helped us work and try to do our best to stay the course was that we really wanted everything that this business offered. It's that simple.

The two statements above were our strength. We were relentless. Our mind was made up and our decision was that we were not going to allow anything or anyone stop us. Do you find yourself wanting what Shaklee offers? 

I can assure you of a couple things if you will be relentless and make up your mind that this is what you really want. Number one is you will have to work hard and be consistent with your efforts. Number two is you will never, ever regret working hard to build your future and help many people do the same.

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke