Happy new year! It's a choice to make it happen.

As 2016 is almost totally behind us, and it's time to decide if you want 2017 to be better than this past year. I think having a good, simple, definition of success is vital. Below is my favorite definition of success- it's from Harvey Mackay who is a highly successful business guy who lives in the Minneapolis area.

 

"My definition of success is having a predetermined plan, successfully carrying it out over a long period of time and having a good time doing it."

 

I want to break that down into three (3) points.

    

1. Have a predetermined plan.   This means to not just hope or wish this new year will be a success. Plan for it!

2.  Carry it out over a long period of time.   Carrying it out means to invest your time and effort in working at the basic fundamentals and be consistent with your efforts. Growth doesn't just happen.  You make it happen.

3. Have a good time doing it.  I can attest to the fact that when working at building this business it is in fact fun. It's always fun when we have new people coming into Shaklee and to see their excitement about the products and the idea that they can increase their income to whatever level they choose.

THINK ABOUT IT! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Here we go again

At this time of year many leaders are talking about goal achievement and what it takes to make goals become a reality.  The following is an excerpt from a article out of the Minneapolis paper by Harvey Mackay:

"Passion and persistence are at the top of the list of skills you need to excel.  If you don't have an intense, burning desire or what you are doing, there's no way you'll be able to work the long, hard hours it takes to become successful."

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

 

Growth is a choice

Well, here we are in the final week of 2016. Ending something also means it's time to start again, so a good question to ask ourselves might be, "Okay, did 2016 turn out like I hoped it would? Did I do what I wanted to do business wise?" Of course the most important question must be about the future. The past is exactly that. Past. Done. Over with. Let's be future driven and not live in the past.

 

The following principle is worth thinking about. Saying "Yes" to one thing always means saying "No" to something else.  

 

For 2017 I say "Yes" to the following two goals.

1.___________________________

2. ___________________________

 

I am saying "No" to the following.

1.____________________________

2.____________________________

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Intention or activity?

Here is another thought about the new year we will be facing in a few days: do you happen to have a list for yourself of what you intend to do in 2017?  What are your intentions or maybe I should ask, are you willing to do what it takes in 2017?

 

I would suggest you consider to sit down at some point after the Christmas season and make a list of what you intend to do.  Here are some questions you might consider answering:

- I will commit ______ hours every week working my business.

- My monthly PGPV goal is ___________.

- My monthly earnings will be _________.

- I will advance to ______________ rank in 2017.

    

Those questions are just the beginning.  You know where you have to improve yourself and/or your business so I suggest you think about it and ask yourself the right questions.

 

What comes to mind is something I read in a book a few years ago. It goes something like this: we judge ourselves by our intentions, but others judge us by our actions.

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

    

   

Life is like a cafeteria

Some people continue to wonder what it might take to get what they want. There aren't any secrets but there are many principles that can help a person understand what it's going to take. The following might help someone to understand what has to happen. 

 

Gary Burke  

 

The following was taken from the book 7 Moments That Define Excellent Leaders by Lee J. Colan

 

A friend's grandfather came to America from Eastern Europe. After being processed at Ellis Island, he went into a cafeteria in lower Manhattan. He sat down at an empty table and waited for someone to take his order.   

 

Of course nobody did. Finally, a woman with a tray full of food sat down opposite him and informed him how a cafeteria worked. "Start at that end," she said.  "Just go along the line and pick out what you want. At the other end , they'll tell you how much you have to pay."

 

"I soon learned that's how everything works in America," the grandfather told my friend. "Life's a cafeteria. You can get anything you want as long as you are willing to pay the price of learning. You can even get success, but you'll never get it if you wait for someone to bring it to you. You have to get up and get it yourself."

 

 

Something to think about

I'm kind of pushing the pause button what just means I'm doing some thinking about this business and what's possible.   As always the good thing for 2017 is we get to start over. Maybe set new goals, commit to do the things that really count and be serious about doing what we're capable of doing.

 

For many it might be to double your efforts. Maybe to read more inspiring books. Maybe this new year will be your best year ever. Here's an idea: look at your business as it is today, December 13th and sit down and write your 2017 story in advance. This is about looking ahead and deciding on your future results in advance. Some will call this dreaming.  Why not?

 

This is a season of expectations so why not design your future in advance.  Dream. Open your mind to new ideas of growth for yourself and your business.   It's free to dream so THINK BIG.  Challenge yourself.   

 

All of us can do better than we did this past year. Think. Dream. Believe.  

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke 

A great example of growth and leadership

The following message is a response to yesterday's message from Linda Lavold.   It's always interesting and inspiring to me when people like Jim and Linda start to make changes about their business. As  you read this message remember that this could be your story.

 

Enthusiastically,

 

Gary Burke

 

Hi Gary,

This really makes sense!

Who would have believed that Jim and I would be increasing our business... when 1 1/2 years ago, we weren't even attending meetings?

Now, here we are:

-Having meetings in our home twice a month

-Setting our monthly PV goal at 5200 when 1 1/2 years ago we were only trying to get to 3000 a month

-Thinking about Shaklee every day

-planning ahead

-weekly accountability call

-monthly sales flyers

Yep!  I'm thinking maybe... just maybe... we can have a future here!

Hah!  What do you think?  

Can't wait to come to your meetings in Arizona in February!  Yeah!

Merry, merry  (and blessed) Christ filled Christmas with your precious ones!

Love you guys!  Thanks for everything you do and mean to us!

Linda Lavold

Do you have to re-wire your thinking?

Imagine that this article is talking about your Shaklee business.

 

Enthusiastically,

 

Gary Burke

The following excerpts were taken from an article in last Friday's Minneapolis sports section.

 

Paige and Hannah Tapp are twins who play volleyball for the U.of MN.  They admit that they didn't understand their true potential until arriving at the U.  Coach Hugh McCutcheon saw it all along. Early in their careers, he pushed the Tapps to expand their idea of what is possible, and in raising the bar for themselves, they lifted the entire program.

 

McCutcheon's goals and vision are so high they said. At first you don't think you can work that hard; you think there's no way you can sustain that every day. And then, you learn your limits are not your limits, and you see how much farther you can go.

 

Hannah and Paige were willing to do whatever the coaches suggested. They wanted to dream some big dreams and they were prepared to do the work. The sister's reshaped their thinking, freeing themselves from notions of what they could achieve.  

 

Hannah said, "During my first spring here, I thought I was working hard, but I had to redefine that.  I had to rewire my thinkng."  The sisters know now what is possible, as both have received All American honors.

 

 

"Hi handsome, my name is Rose"

This will take you about 2 to 3 minutes to read this wonderful message.  I think you'll enjoy this.

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. 

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.. 

She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?' 

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze.. 

'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked. 

She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...' 

'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. 

'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me. 

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. 

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. 

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she revelled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. 

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. 

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.' 

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, 'We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. 

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humour every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. 

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! 

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. 

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. 

Anybody! Can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. 

The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets..' 

She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.' 

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those months ago. 

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. 

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. 

When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it! 

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE. 

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give. 

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. 

What is it you want to do?

At this time of the year I seem to think about how the year was regarding business and life in general. First of all I feel blessed because I feel very healthy. I go to the LifeTime club every morning, seven days a week to work out. I always feel better when I leave than when I arrived.  

 

We've had a great year for our business but I usually ask myself what I can do that might help this next year be better.  What I've always loved is the idea that it is up to me to make sure I do the right things to make the next year better in some areas.  

 

The toughest part of this business is we have to decide what we want to happen, then we need a simple plan, then it's a matter of getting ourselves in motion. I had a message a few days ago from someone that said most of us spend more time planning than doing what has to be done. I think that thought is right on the mark because I've experienced that myself many times. But eventually I get myself back in motion.

 

Here's a thought: we do what we have to do so we can do what we want to do.   Think about that. What is it you want to do? Make 2017 the year you did things that maybe you didn't want to do, so you can do what you want to do.

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

Great examples

The following are two responses from yesterday's message that mentioned making and working from a list. Good stuff.

 

Gary Burke

 

This is a true gem.  And so right on!  I also work from a list.  In fact, as I am reading this...I am looking at what I accomplished today...and crossing it off.  More to do...and that's the best part...I know what I need to do & attempt to get it done.  Life sometimes gets in the way, but a list keeps me grounded.  Thanx for this reminder!

                                                 Rusty Ost

* * * * *

 

Gary:

Reading the first half of your note reminded me of what master Yoda 

said to young Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars Movie when he told  him to raise a star fighter craft out of the swamp.

 

    "THINK NOT JUST DO !"    

 

Sometimes people over think things  and as a result nothing gets accomplished.  We spend more time planning than doing. 

                                       Roy Moffitt

Do you work from a list?

One thing everyone does every day, every hour is we have what is called self-talk. It's also called thinking. We have hundreds of thoughts going through our minds all day long so it seems like this might be an important thing to pay attention to.   

 

We make decisions all the time about what we're going to do and what we want to have, where we're planning to go, and who we're going to talk to and whatever else might come to mind.

 

The point I want to try to make today is we want to make sure we don't talk ourselves out of succeeding in this business. I think it's fair to say that we talk ourselves into doing things and then we also talk ourselves our of doing things.  

 

I have learned that I achieve more when I make a list the night before the next day.  I can't say I do it 100% of the time, but I do know that making a list helps to remind me what I want to get done and I get more done when I have a list.   Simple isn't it?  

 

What's on your list for today and this week about what you want to accomplish in your business? Don't have a list? You might want to consider always working from a list.

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke

 

 

Don't listen to the negative people

The following story came from author Harvey Mackay.  His new book is The Mackay MBA Of Selling In The Real World.

 

In his book The Man Who Listens to Horses, famed horse trainer Monty Roberts tells about the time one of his teachers in high school assigned a paper called “My Goals in Life.” The teacher, Mr. Fowler, was interested only in practical goals – not fantasies about going to Hollywood to become a movie star, and the like.  But young Monty had a serious dream.  The son of a horse trainer, he longed to own a thoroughbred racehorse facility.  Monty turned in a detailed plan to achieve his dream.

 

Mr. Fowler returned his paper with a failing grade.  “It’s a wild, unattainable dream,” he told the teen.  “I know your family and background; it would not be possible.”  He insisted Monty rewrite the paper.

 

The next day, after talking with his mother, Monty returned his original paper to Mr. Fowler.  He included a note saying he believed in his plan and the teacher shouldn’t limit his aspirations.  Mr. Fowler didn’t respond at the time, but Monty got an A in the course.

 

Monty ultimately achieved his dream through hard work and determination.  Many years later, he received a call from Mr. Fowler, who wanted to arrange a tour of Monty’s stables for his church group.

 

After the tour, Mr. Fowler told the group about the term paper and the note Monty had written.  “There was a time when I told Monty that this was unattainable,” he said.  “Now we’ve all had a good look around, and seen how he proved me wrong.”  His student, he said, had taught him “the most valuable lesson I ever learned.”

Yes you can!

I first started reading personal development books during my first year of teaching in about 1965. I forget which books I read first but I do remember reading the following quote by William James very early in the game.

 

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind."

 

It's these kind of quotes that just seemed to jump off the pages as I read them. I found many gems and just loved being inspired. Just think about what the above quote is saying about you and me. We can literally alter our lives by altering our attitudes.

 

How's your attitude about prospecting?  About sales? About leadership? About speaking in front of a group? About doubling your monthly PV? About increasing your income by $2000 a month in 2017? By altering your attitude you can literally change your life.

 

Would it be easy? No! Would it be worth it? Yes! Can you do it? Yes, if you make the decision to make it happen.

Yes you can!       

Yes you can!     

Yes you can!

 

Enthusiastically,

Gary Burke