Archive For The “Uncategorized” Category
Earlier today, I was out in my front yard doing my best Johnny Bench imitation.
It wasn’t a very good impersonation, but first my son and later my daughter needed someone to help practice pitching. I managed to keep the ball in front of me most of the time and give each pointers along the way.
photo credit: Bee Skutch
One thing I noticed is that my son’s baseball pitching and my daughter’s fastpitch softball pitching both got better when they focused on my glove. When they kept their eyes on the target, the chances of hitting it greatly increased.
There is an obvious lesson that in our lives and in our business we should focus on the goals we want to achieve — the targets we want to hit.
But less obvious is what happens after the pitch. During a game, once a pitcher has let go of the ball, he or she must immediately prepare in case the ball is hit.
Of all the players on the field, the pitcher has the least time to react to a hit ball. The ball often comes back toward the pitcher as fast or faster than he or she pitched it.
What can we learn from that?
First, concentrate on one thing at a time. When the pitcher is pitching, that’s what requires focus. If he or she starts thinking about fielding while pitching, a strike is not a likely result.
In our lives and in our businesses, we often get ahead of ourselves. We waste time by focusing on things that might or might not happen.
Similarly, we get often spend too much time worrying about what we did in the past. While we need to learn from our mistakes, dwelling on them unnecessarily drags us down.
Second, know when to change your focus. Once the pitch is away, the pitcher has to immediately get ready to field the ball if it is hit.
In life and business, we often run around from one unfinished task to the other. We’re often lured by the latest, greatest strategy, when mastering earlier tasks would gain us more ground on the road to success.
Steve DeVane
I got tired of saying something lame like, “Congratulations! I know you’ll be very happy!” So I thought about what I wish someone would have said to me when I got married. Here’s what I say now:
“There are two rules to a happy marriage. Only two. The first rule is to realize that it’s not your spouse’s job to make you happy. The second rule is to act like it is your job to make your spouse happy. Do this and you will have life.”
Those two principles have helped me, although I admit I’ve still got work to do on rule number two.
It occurred to me that variations of those two rules apply to sponsoring in network marketing. After all, the best sponsors have good relationships with those they sponsor.
The first rule might be to realize that it’s not your sponsor’s job to make you money. Many networkers are constantly thinking that the next person they sponsor might be the one who makes them rich.
Such an attitude tends to dehumanize those you’re trying to recruit. Moreover, you tend to prejudge people and often unfairly give too little attention to those who likely need your help the most.
The second rule would be to act like it is your job to make those you sponsor money. Think about how different your relationship with them would be if you were willing to do whatever it takes to make sure they are making money.
And think about how much better your business would be if all those in your downline were making money. We can’t do the work for them, but we can be sure they know what they have to do to make money. The best way to do that is to show them. Once they see it, they’ll believe it and achieve it.
Do this, and you’ll have business.
Steve DeVane
Teamwork is one of the leading indicators of a strong network marketing system.
photo credit: ArtemFinland
I considered that recently while reading “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” by Patrick Lencioni. The book, which is described as a “leadership fable,” is a fictional story about how a newly hired CEO leads the executive staff of a troubled technology company.
Lencioni then follows the narrative with an overview of the model it describes. As a strong proponent of using teamwork to build a network marketing business, I appreciated his work.
According to Lencioni, dysfunctional teams have an absence of trust, a fear of conflict, a lack of commitment, an avoidance of accountability and an inattention to results. Or, spoken positively, functional teams trust each other, engage in unfiltered conflict about ideas, commit to decisions and action, hold each other accountable, and focus on achieving results.
As I read the book, I was struck with how the characteristics applied to network marketing.
• Trust. In network marketing, people have to rely on each other. When you sponsor someone, that person has to be able to trust you.
At times, you might want to sugarcoat something your company has done. It’s especially tempting to make network marking seem easier than it really is. As my sponsor likes to say, “There’s a reason they call it net-‘work’ marketing.”
If you want to be a good upline, be upfront with folks. No matter what’s happening, it is what it is and they’ll probably find out eventually anyway.
• Conflict. This one might seem counter-intuitive. Most people think conflict is bad. But conflict can be good if it’s centered around ideas and not around personalities. Healthy discussion and debate is a good thing.
When someone on your team is on the wrong track, call him or her on it. The person might not appreciate it immediately, but later on, if you’re being truthful and trying to help, they’ll realize it and be grateful.
• Commitment. One of the most important factors that will guarantee your success is to decide that you won’t quit until you’re successful.
When you make that kind of promise to yourself, the way you conduct yourself will show it. You’ll be confident, because you know that success is only a matter of time.
• Accountability. One of the best things you can do for your business is to find an accountability partner. Once you have someone who will recognize your excuses, you’re less like to make them.
After a while you’ll even start making those excuses to yourself.
• Results. Many times in business, we feel like we’re like spinning our wheels. Often it’s because we are spinning our wheels.
One key to success is learning the difference between busywork and efforts that bring about results. If it’s not clear to you, talk to someone who’s already successful. Chances are, they’ll set you straight.
Any successful networking system will be run by a well-functioning team. Find such a team and you’re on your way to living your dreams.
Steve DeVane
I moved the blog to a new server today and learned a lesson along the way.
The move was not as simple or as easy as I’d hoped. To be honest, it was kind of intimidating. Numerous times along the way, I’d read the instructions for what to do and say to myself, “Huh?”
Several times, I wanted to just stop and forget it. Have you ever been trying to accomplish something and a little voice keeps telling you that you can’t do it, that you ought to just give up? That’s what happened to me over and over.
But I knew that moving the blog made good business sense. It was something I needed to do.
So I stuck with it. It wasn’t simple. It wasn’t easy. But I got it done.
The move in that way symbolized my recent business life. There have been times when a part of me wanted to give up, but I kept going, knowing that it’s the right thing to do.
In due time, I’ll be rewarded.
Steve DeVane
While taking a walk along the beach the other day with my wife and son, we noticed a fellow surfing in the Atlantic Ocean.
I spent the first few minutes watching the guy thinking about how cold he must have been. Water temperature in the area averages about 55 degrees in March.
But the more I watched, I noticed the way the surfer would time his attempts to ride waves. As a suitable wave approached, he’d paddle with the wave before standing up and trying to ride it.
Of course, this didn’t happen often. The waves weren’t very large. He had to wait several minutes just to find one large enough to try to ride. We watched him for about 15 to 20 minutes. He only tried to ride five or six waves and only managed to stand up on his board two or three times.
The surfer reminded me of a couple of good lessons for life and business.
First, you have to recognize when the time is right. If you’re thinking about starting a home-based business, now is a great time. When economic woes hit, home-based businesses often thrive.
Second, you have to realize when the right business comes along. If you’re ready to start a business, find an opportunity and company that gives you the best chance of success.
Remember these tips and you’ll be riding the wave of success.
Steve DeVane
A few minutes ago, I heard some noise coming from one of my daughter’s rooms upstairs. It’s late, so I hollered up to her that she needed to get to sleep.
She said OK, but she was putting up some of her clothes. Not wanting to stop her from something that needed to be done, I let her go.
A couple of minutes ago, she yelled down for me to come upstairs because she wanted me to see her room, which she had just finished cleaning.
I went up and saw her nice, tidy room. It was a beautiful sight. Everything was cleared away and in it’s proper place. I could tell my daughter felt better to be in a clean place.
As I came back downstairs, I thought about how I feel like my mind is much like my daughter’s room. All the junk that used to crowd my thoughts have been cleared away. My thoughts are almost always positive now, and even when a stray negative thought sneaks in, I recognize it and do away with it.
It wasn’t always this way. Until about six months ago, my mind was full of useless chatter. Now I’m much more focusedthanks to the Mental Cleanse.
The Mental Cleanse can help you clear your mind and get you on the path toward success in 30 days.
Below, Michael Dlouhy, the founder of Mentoring for Free and the originator of the Mental Cleanse, explains how those 30 days can change your life. Michael, my good friend and mentor, made the video for me.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSFIrdfO1Mw&hl=en]
Steve DeVane
This free e-book started me on the path to success and happiness.
Success in life comes easier when we decide to take our own path.
Knowing that direction comes with knowing ourselves. Once we become familiar with our strengths, gifts and talents, we’ll more easily recognize the way we are meant to go.
Another key factor in getting to know ourselves is understanding which of the four generally recognized personality types most closely characterizes us.
Everyone is perfect just the way they are. Realize that you don’t have to change to be successful in business or in life.
One of the best ways to think about the four personality types is using colors to represent them. The four types can easily be determined by considering how you interact with other people.
About 35 percent of people have a yellow personality. Those with this personality are open, but indirect. They answer questions, but tend to give short answers. They are nurturers. They value their families. They want to help people.
People with a blue personality represent about 15 percent of people. Those with this personality are open and direct. They will let you know their feelings. They want to have fun and like to talk.
Another 15 percent have a red personality. They are direct, but self-contained. They will answer questions, but won’t reveal much. These are usually people in power.
Those with a green personality make up about 35 percent of the population. They are indirect and self-contained. They are the least likely to directly answer a question. There is often dead space in conversations with them because they have to process the information before answering. The are analytical and want to have as much data as possible.
Knowing your personality will help you understand yourself better. You’ll understand why you do the things you do. And you’ll realize that you’re a great you just the way you are.
Steve DeVane
This free e-book helped me understand my personality better.
Have you ever thought about why you’re in network marketing? What is it that most keeps you going toward your goal?
I’ve been giving that a lot of thought recently. I’ve been trying to strip away all the peripheral reasons to get to my core desires.
All this has forced me to ask myself a lot of question. Some of them were tough questions. Some were downright scary.
For example, I’ve thought about what I want to be said at my funeral. At first glance, that doesn’t seem to be a pleasant thought. Why would I want to think about my death?
I think about it because it forces me toward a better perspective on the present. By thinking about then, I get a much clearer look at now.
Moreover, it crystallizes my view of myself. Truth is, we look at other people the way we look at ourselves. We view them through our own eyes, our own lens. If we don’t trust others, we’re presenting ourselves as less than trustworthy. We are measured by the standard we use to measure others.
Before a plane takes off, the stewardess always talks about safety issues. For those traveling with children, she says, be sure to put on your oxygen mask before helping you child put on theirs.
It works much the same way in our lives. We must help ourselves before we can help others. Once we know the path to success, we can show others the way.
That’s why your “why” has to be about you, not about your friends, your family or anyone else.
Once you find that reason, nothing will stop you, because MLM is about you, not about products and companies.
Steve DeVane
This free e-book saved me from failure and frustration.
Do you remember when you first saw the potential of network marketing, when you realized the possibilities of MLM?
I can. I remember thinking to myself, “This really evens the playing field.” I could see that the old adage that “you have to have money to make money,” was no longer valid.
You remember, too, don’t you? All of a sudden you thought about providing everything your family never had. You reclaimed those early dreams of spending more time with each of them. And you wanted to help others just like you be more successful.
But somewhere along the way, something went wrong. You spent time and effort, but what seemed great in theory was not very good in practice.
You did your best but then not only were you still a thousand miles from financial freedom, you were way worse off than before you started. You had less money and fewer friends who would talk to you, and you worried that your family would think you were an idiot.
And losing all that money wasn’t the low point. There’s a joke that when you sign up for MLM, you also join the NFL. You’ve become part of the “No Friends Left” league. They don’t answer their phone when you call. They hide when they see you coming. They know you are on a mission, and they are the target. And no one wants to feel like they’re being tracked and hunted down.
OK. Nothing you can do about the past. But what’s next? You are smarter now. So how do you REALLY get what you want in life? Good question. I have some answers for you.
I’ve been where you are. You want to give up but something deep inside you knows you can be successful. Let me show you what changed my attitude, my business and my life. Start here.
Steve DeVane
I just listened to a a great training call featuring one of my friends and mentors, Richard Dennis. He focused on the power of making decisions.
Richard pointed out that the speed of your action determines your success. It’s not whether you’re right or wrong. It’s whether or not you act.
The call reminded me of something Napoleon Hill said in his book, “Think and Grow Rich.” Hill analyzed several hundred millionaires. He found that everyone of them had the habit of reaching decisions promptly and changing decisions slowly, if and when they were changed.
Those who decide, succeed. Those who don’t decide, fail.
Those who know what they want, get it.
While some are waiting and only doing one thing, someone else is doing 20, Richard said. Even if the second person got 15 wrong, they were still right five times. Meanwhile, the first person only did one thing, and it was probably wrong.
He pointed out that you’re not going to make the money you want in network marketing unless you’re a leader and you’re not going to be a leader unless you make decisions.
I once heard a MLM leader say that one of the questions he was most asked was, “What should I do?” His response: “I don’t care what you do. Just do something.”
Some networkers are often striken by the paralysis of analysis. They think they have to know everything before they do anything.
Richard said that if you want to be a leader you have to “put yourself out there.” You never know what’s going to happen, he said, but if you don’t take the leap, you know where you’re going – that’s nowhere.
Leaders leave their comfort zone. He suggested that you write down where you’re comfortable. Then write down where you’re not comfortable. You’ve got to go where you’re not comfortable. That’s what makes you a leader.
Most people get scared and stop, according to Richard. You can’t do that. You have to make decisions. Get in action. All the planning, thoughts, and resolutions with no action is not going to get you what you want.
Michael Dlouhy, another one of my friends and mentors and the author of “Success in Ten Steps,” urged those who want to be successful to “Launch and learn.”
“Fail forward,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just take action.”
Steve DeVane
(NOTE — Richard’s call and Michael’s book are part of a no-cost MLM training program that changed my life.)