I just heard the news…and it sucks.

Jobs is dead. Cancer. Again…it sucks.

Apple has become one of my favorite brands in the world.  I love everything about the products, the stores, the culture and the vision that goes into building something like that.

He drew a salary of just $1 a year as CEO of Apple.  He took his pay in stock.  Gotta love a leader who says…”I win only if we win.”

The world is definitely better because Steve Jobs lived.  More importantly, we are better because Steve Jobs chose to live FULLY.  There are any number of people who have similar talent, ability and opportunity as he did…I truly believe that.  But Mr. Jobs chose to play a Big Game.

He rocked his life…

And his life touched millions.

And in one of my favorite speeches over the last decade or so…this is what he had to say to a graduating class of Standford.

His speech, aptly entitled, “How To Live Before You Die.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

Perspective impacts everything.

Change your Perspective, Change your Life.

From the home of one of my good friends, another Million Dollar Industry Leader, you will get a perspective worth working for!

What paid for her view?

Network Marketing…and her drive to build a life she loves.

Click here to view the embedded video.

When you are done, take a minute and watch one of my favorite all time videos on the Power of Perspective by National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones.  This is just a clip…but you’ll get the point…big time.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Dewitt’s Strategy?  Like most things, it’s really pretty simple.

1. Focus The Vision

2. Training Your Technique

3. Put Yourself In The Place Of Most Potential

4. Stay Open To Possibilities

This is the exact process I have used over the last 7 months in building my new team.  To learn about The Vision, Training, Potential and Possibilities that exist in our team for you…let’s talk now.

Today I did a bunch of yard work.  It was long overdue.  Combining my recent travel schedule, my regular business schedule and just flat out not wanting to do it…I have let the landscaping slide.

Honestly, I love doing it.  It’s meditative for me.  A few years ago I took my front and back yard completely down to new dirt and started over.

In my back yard, just behind the pool, I have a small area with a night blooming Jasmin tree that was in dire need of a trim.  It was insanely overgrown.  It smells amazing…but it was looking pretty bad.

So, today I dug in.

I mowed.  I trimmed.  I weeded.

And then I started on the Jasmin tree.  It was a real mess.

Whack. Whack. Whack…it started looking good.

As I tour into the side nearest my house I noticed something.

The tree was so overgrown, so forgotten about that I had totally forgot what was in the bed below.

A beautiful Amaryllis that had just bloomed.

Honestly, had I not actually trimmed back the Jasmin tree today I would have completely missed this beautiful display of Mother Nature in full view.

I would have missed it.

I realize we do this all the time.

How many beautiful qualities do you have, or what potential greatness are you missing simply because you haven’t focused on clearing away some of the debris to let the light shine?

It’s really hard to see the sun behind the clouds…and yet the sun is still there…longing to get out.

I think there are beautiful Amaryllis flowers within everyone.  Everyone has layers of beauty within…and unfortunately, some never, ever let their light shine.

For those of us in network marketing, think about how this applies to your team.  How many people have the potential to be great if you would just take a little time to help them clear back the debris?

How many rock stars are wasting time in your team, their talent hidden by the years of overgrown weeds of neglect, poor self-image, past pain and broken dreams?

What could a little attention, a little focus and a little effort create?

What flower could bloom in YOU if you invested just a little more time to make things beautiful in and around your world?

It’s time to let all that is beautiful in you out.

It’s time for you to connect with all that is beautiful in others.

What starts to grow may just surprise you.

While many Americans are out of work…millions and millions have found peace and security in part-time jobs.  However…it may not be what you think.

So what’s the part time job of choice for the average American?

Is it retail?  No.

Is it fast food?  No.

Is it telemarketing?  No.

Is it the home business industry?  Unfortunately, no!

So, what is this industry that is getting so much attention from people?  In the midst of some of the most challenging economic times of the last few generations…where are people placing their focus?

TV.

You mean, like trying to become actors, producers or work behind the scenes?

No…I mean like WATCHING it.

The average American now spends 5.1 hours per day in front of the tube.

5.1 hours!!!

To put that in perspective, that is nearly 1 full week a month.

Or, if you take the average lifespan of 78…that means the average peep will spend almost 17 years of their life watching TV.

Let that sink in a bit.

17 years.

And people complain that they don’t have enough time, money & freedom.  I find this statistic horribly bothersome for so many reasons.

Now, before I start in let me say that I enjoy TV here and there, although it’s on my “Do Less Of” list for 2011.  I find some shows entertaining, however I am clear what TV is for me…a pure, mindless escape (I am working on that one).  Herein lies the problem.

So what is this new part time job really doing to us?  It has more impact than we think.

1. Entertainment Has To Be Mindless – this is a horrific trend in America.  Entertainment used to stimulate the senses, make people really think and in the best of cases, educate.  How many times have you heard someone say, “I don’t want to think!  I just want to sit and veg out in front of the TV!”?

Since when did “thinking” become a life occupational hazard?  Of course TV has made what used to happen in theaters more convenient…but have we incubated ourselves from the real, human social interaction that we all crave?

2. Lack Programming – let me say that there are definitely some channels and TV programs that have intellectual benefit, however, the vast majority don’t.  It’s easy to say that it’s just entertainment, however, our thinking and choices are run by our subconscious programming and we simply can’t ignore the power of TV to influence our subconscious.

Most shows depict people in some level of victim mentality, poverty consciousness, powerless to change, playing small, violence, negative portrayal of women…it goes on and on.

Much of these messages are not obvious…they are subtle.  They slip in the back door and are often so quiet…you don’t even know they are there.

You just can’t constantly feed your mind messages of lack and limitation and expect to live free and fulfilled.

3. Playing Small - Alright, now this is certainly not the case ALL the time…but for many, TV becomes a way to not do nothing.  A lot like the “mindless entertainment” point above…TV distracts.  For many people, this is the point of TV.  It’s certainly easier to watch someone else live out their dreams then it is to manifest your own.

What about you?  What do you use TV for?

Has it become a crutch, an escape, a distraction from what’s important in your world?

And if so, how much time are you giving your addiction?

17 years of TV.

To put that in another context, there are many Countries in Africa where the average lifespan is only 38, 39 or 40 years.

The AVERAGE American will watch TV half that much in their lifetime.

Does that seem right to you?

I think we need a new part-time job.

I have to admit.  I am not really into pop culture.

I don’t care who did what, who is wearing what and who is dating whom.

I do, however, study pop culture.  It’s full of amazing lessons of what people find interesting, emerging trends and yes, lots and lots of examples of both effective and ineffective ways to live our lives.

I just wrote an article about Charlie Sheen and the Marketing Lessons we can learn from his current antics and it got me thinking about the rest of the celebrities who are total Hot Messes and what we may be able to learn from their redonkulous behavior.

With that said, I know it’s probably not their fault…they are thrown into the spotlight, they have so much pressure always needing to be on…

Bahahahahahahaha….

Yeah, right, whatever.  That’s such crap.  They are people.  They are getting paid for their passions.  They make choices just like everyone else…so I have zero sympathy for their Hot Mess lives.

But as you will see…even in the midst of their dysfunction…there are many important lessons to be learned.

Although he totally takes 1st prize right now, I am going to leave Charlie Sheen purposely off the list.

Alright…let’s jump right in.

BRITNEY SPEARS
She has come a long way since her days as a Mouseketeer!  That is for sure.  She’s made some good music (well, at least popular), she’s become a performer who has entertained millions and her onstage lesbo-erotica moment doesn’t even bother me.  She makes the list simply because she’s handled herself…and now influencing her little sister…we very little class.

Going commando in a short dress in a sports car for starters…the girl is just on a downward spiral with her baby sister following right in her footsteps.

Her total “Jump The Shark” new video Hold It Against Me is a product placement bonanza…really Britney?

Lesson: Never Lose Your Moral Compass

TOM SIZEMORE
This guy is a hot mess personified.  I’ve actually really, really liked many of Tom’s roles in movies.  He‘s been that quintessential tough guy…and he has done it well.  But his personal life has fallen into an abyss of drugs, violence (against women ) and laughable choices.

The best of which is when Sizemore tried to pass a drug test by using a plastic fake penis.  Really, he did.  He got busted because the urine wasn’t sufficiently warmed.  Just imagine how messed up you’d have to be to strap a hollow fake penis filled with someone else’s urine on you…insanity.

Lesson: If You Are A Dick, You Should Strongly Consider Changing 

 

 

 

JOCELYN WILDERSTEIN
Some of you may not know who Jocelyn is…I believe she is only famous for one thing: an endless barrage of plastic surgeries.  Reportedly, she has spent over $4 Million on, what would appear to be, every possible surgery available.  Regardless of what you think about elective surgeries…this has gone way past the line of “empowering choices.”

It’s very difficult to find a true “before picture” of Jocelyn…this black and white will have to do.  This is a great example of how our mind can get fixated on something and not rest until we have it…regardless of how warped.

Lesson: Own, Accept And Love Who You Authentically Are

LINDSAY LOHAN
Honestly, where do I start.  Child Star turned…well, everything.  Drugs, jail, alcohol, violence, rehab, jail, rehab, jail…if she were getting frequent flyer points for getting busted…she’d have a few world tours paid off.  LiLo needs some help.  Apparently, she’s gotten plenty…but still goes at it.  She’s been arrested twice while on probation and can’t seem to stay off the booze or drugs.

What happened to the sweet girl from Herbie Reloaded?

Hmmm…thinking about it…that is sort of ironic.

Lesson: With Success Often Comes Power…Abuse It And You Will Lose

MICHAEL JACKSON
I know I am probably going to get some heat for this one, seeing that Michael died last year.  But come on…how could I leave him off the list.  I will be the first to acknowledge and admire MJ for his brilliance as a song writer, performer, pioneer, choreographer and visionary.  No one can argue with that.

His personal life on the other hand…well, that’s another story entirely.  Think about the last few years.  Holding babies out the window, a endless number of surgeries and procedures that took a once adorable little pudgy cheeked boy to look like a wax museum monkey-man (too harsh?), his alleged affection for those younger than him…well…it’s all there.  Hot mess.

Michael, I love your style, I miss your innovation…but you had to make the list.

Lesson: Strivin g For Perfection At All Costs Is A Dangerous Path

There you have it…the list could go on and on.  For me, it’s not about celebrities, gossip or following these people’s lives.  For me, it’s about learning what we can from those who put their lives out there for all to see.

There are lessons in EVERYTHING…if you pay attention.

Check out this TED talk by Beau Lotto about how our senses really work and what they mean to us.  Consider this statement…

“Our mind draws conclusions through sensory data based on what has been historically useful to us.”

How does that support our desire to change and create new and different futures?

This gives empirical evidence to the statement – we become what we think about and do all day long.

This, once again, gives us proof that our minds our completely trainable. We can start feeding it new information and evidence and as long as our mind finds that information useful for us…it will lock it in as a historical reference point.

The illusion with the desert scenes is incredibly powerful. It took only 30 seconds for us to “retrain” our brains to see something different.

Just 30 seconds.

This is empowering.

This is liberating.

The question remains…what are you feeding your mind and what are you training it to see?

It will come as no shock to most of you that I love the game of poker.  I do, really, for many, many reasons.

Yes, I have a few businesses in the industry, but I loved the game way before I went into the poker business.  For me, there is an attitude and a philosophy in poker that is so beautiful when transferred over to our lives…and that is the commitment to BEING All In.

In poker, going all in is when you put all of your chips in the middle.

That’s worth repeating.

Putting all of your chips in the middle.

In a tournament, that means you are completely at risk.  Win and you are still in.  Lose and you are out.

Now THAT is commitment.  It’s exciting.  It’s bold.  It’s risky.  It’s powerful.

Sure, it’s a little scary…but you know what…it’s fun as hell.

In fact, it’s down right exhillerating.

I started to think what being All In really means to me…and I woke up the other night and created what I call the All In Commitments.

Here you go.

1. Live Life To The Fullest – Play Full Out
2. Create Freedom – Personally & Financially
3. Be Bold, Take Risks and Have Fun
4. Give Back & Make A Difference In The World
5. Be A Lifelong Learner – Constantly Challenge Yourself
6. Live With Passion & Purpose
7. Lead By Example
8. Consistently Challenge Yourself – Play BIG

Are you up for that game?

Are you All In in your business?

Your relationships?

Your parenting?

Your health?

Your wealth?

Are you living an All In life?  I would love to know.

What is one thing you have done in the last week that showcases you are All In?

February is Black History Month in the US.  Throughout schools all over the Nation, they will be studying the lives and impact of influential black leaders and what they have meant to the world we live in.

There are so many worthy lives to look closely at…where do you start?

While kids throughout America will be learning about Martin Luther, George Washington Carver, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson and yes, Barack Obama…there are a few that probably won’t get much airtime.

And I for one, can’t stand for that.

While all the above are amazing human beings and have made a huge difference in the world…I’ve got to represent!

So, here you go with some of my favorite black role models of my lifetime.  If you grew up in the 80′s…well, nuff said.

Homey The Clown

Click here to view the embedded video.

Wanda The Massage Therapist

Click here to view the embedded video.

Buckwheat

Click here to view the embedded video.

Brothers Like You

Click here to view the embedded video.

Everyone In The Barber Shop Scene From Coming To America

Click here to view the embedded video.

Men On Football

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Do what you love and the money will follow.”  This is such crap.

There is SO much more to making money from your passions than just doing what you love.

I love to play videos games & drink cold beer while simultaneously getting a shoulder and foot massage from two different people…however, there is not much of a market for that.

This is one of the most misguided and overused sayings in our culture.

Of course I believe it’s important to be passionate about what you do.  Of course it’s important that what you do brings you joy.

However, this statement leads people to believe that if you just do what you love, the money will somehow just magically appear one day.

There is so much more to it than that.

As we have seen from American Idol…just because someone loves to sing doesn’t mean they will make money as a singer.  William Hung and the “Pants On The Ground” guy are exceptions to talentless income.

Does it happen sometimes?  Are there examples of people just putting themselves out there passionately, getting that break and making it big?

Of course.

But most of us need to use our brains a bit more to have it happen.

Yes, you should LOVE what you do.  Yes, you should put LOVE into what you do.  And Yes, you should, whenever possible, build WHAT you do around what you LOVE.

And, if you want to be able to do what you love for a long, long time…you also better follow a few important LOVE steps:

• WHERE IS THE LOVE? – You must see if there are enough people who love what you love to support a market.  Generally speaking, if you look hard enough, you can find a market for just about anything.
• SPREADING THE LOVE – Create a way to get your love message in front of the people who are most likely to share their love back by giving you some of their money.  This way, you can have a love fest of sorts.  If you are just loving on yourself and no one else ever sees it…well, that’s another post all together.
• EMPLOY LOVERAGE – Make sure your message is compelling enough to move them into action.  Buckminster Fuller said, “Give me a lever long enough and I can move the world.”  LOVE, applied to the right places, is the most powerful lever in the world…bar none.  (Thank you Franco Gonzales for my new favorite word – loverage).
• ME LOVE YOU LONG TIME – Once someone has come into your circle of love…shower them with so much love they never want to leave.  Keep the love fest going and going and going.  If you create a way for people to feel loved & express their love…you will never have to worry about money again.

It’s never just, “Do what you love…”

We see this everywhere.

Talent alone doesn’t win championships.

Love alone doesn’t keep relationships together.

But instilling LOVE into all that you do and having it come alive as you execute a well developed plan…well that just may lead you to the life you were born to live.

You just enrolled in your MLM.  You’re excited.  You have visions of what you are going to do with the extra income.

Pictures of sleeping until 10am, working from your underwear and going to your mailbox to find massive checks dance through your head as if you are a 6-year-old waiting to see Santa on Christmas Eve.

Then it hits you.

You have absolutely NO IDEA what to do.

Then you fall upon the one single idea that most brand new people forget as fast as they learn it.

“I just have to get people to the ____________ (website, webinar, live meeting or whatever your team/company system is.)

It’s almost as if you subconsciously complicate it immediately.  Your brain says…”there HAS to be more to it.  That is too simple.”

“Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb-nail.”
~ Henry David Thoreau

The truth is, there are many, many other aspects to building a big network marketing organization, however when you first are getting started, it really is as simple as:

1.     Quality Exposures

2.     Quality Follow up

3.     Quality Training For New People

You don’t have any responsibility for training, hosting events, creating marketing campaigns or anything else.

You have 1 job.

Enroll new people.

And more specifically…invite new people to listen to the story of your products/company and follow up.

That’s it.

But our funny little minds tend to try and defocus us, confuse us and scatter our attention.

Remember, in this industry we get paid for sales volume…period.

Product knowledge doesn’t pay the mortgage.  Knowing where the President is from doesn’t get you any closer to leaving your job. Understanding all the nuances and functionality of your virtual office doesn’t put your kids in private school.

I am being a bit extreme here to make a point.

Is it important to learn these things?  Sure it is…eventually.

But what so many people do is fill up all their prime contact time with busy work.  They fill it with activities that don’t directly result in any new income…and never will.

Trust me, you will learn all of those things as you go.

And, if you don’t get to work on income producing activities, you won’t make a check.  If you don’t make a check, you have striped the magic away from the industry.

Most people think it’s the guy/woman who tells the story about making $20,000 a month that gets people to enroll.

Well, that is true sometimes.

But more times than not, it’s the story of the BRAND NEW person who is only working 8 hours a week and makes $500 in his second month that moves new prospects into action.

EVERYONE can see themselves working 8 hours a week.

EVERYONE can see how an extra $500 a month will impact their current life.

You see, the first story requires them to envision substantial change (change of schedule, effort, skills, lifestyle, friends, etc.).

The second story, which is why it is the real magic of our industry, doesn’t require the new prospect to change anything really.

Anyone can carve out 8 hrs a week.  Anyone can simply invite people to check out the __________.

It’s simple.  They can see themselves doing it.

That is why you got started.

Then your mind takes over and screws everything up.

This is what happens.

You make a decision to join a company based on whatever knowledge you have at the time.

Then you dig into all the material, websites, literature the company puts out and you start learning stuff.

And your mind says, “well, someone needs to know ___________ before they will join.”

It tricks you.

Because it just isn’t true.

You didn’t need to know all of that stuff, and for the most part, either do your prospects.

You know what you needed to know?  It’s probably a variation of these statements.

1.     Can I do this?

2.     Do I have time to do this?

3.     Do I want to do this?

4.     Can I trust the people I am going to do this with?

But man do we like to complicate things.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
~ Leonardo Da Vinci

If I had 8 hours a week to get my business started, this is what I would do.

1.     1-2 hours a week – learning about product/company/systems

2.     1 hour a week – training on personal development, marketing, MLM or success related

3.     5-6 hours a week – contacting, exposing and following up with prospects & new team members.

If you stay focused on the activities that MAKE YOU MONEY, you will seamlessly pick up the other stuff as you go.

Your mind will try and pull you in different directions.

Be bigger than that.

Your mind will try and distract you.

Focus on simple, income producing tasks.

It’s time to put the magic to work.

Dream big.  Start small.  Do it now.