I came into the industry back in the early 90′s and everything was incredibly externally focused.  We did business in person…always.

We were taught to look the part, dress as well as we could afford (or go in debt for), never have change in our pockets (change is for poor people) and if we didn’t have a nice car we were told to park around the corner and walk to the meeting.

It was plastic.  It was fake.  It was inauthentic.

And I hated every minute of that part of the business.

When I finally got my feet under me in the industry and started making money, I vowed right then to not ever act that way again and never to teach anyone to build a business that way.

Once I grew up and started becoming clear about the kind of man I wanted to be in the world, I desired a business culture that reflected those values.

I want to help people, our industry and the world evolve, so I don’t use marketing tactics or business tactics that keep people small…even if they are effective.I am an idealist, therefore I believe wholeheartedly in many “best possible outcomes.”

For example, I want real relationships with my leaders, not this removed “untouchable” appearance.  I understand the psychology behind that strategy…but it’s not what I want.

It’s just my choice.  Turning 40 this year, I am clear that I am committed to REAL & AUTHENTIC…in everything I am a part of.

Besides, “fake it till you make it” was never intended to be about faking other people…it was always about reprogramming your subconscious.  Faking your own mind out into believing your were already successful so you can manifest what you want.

Now, as we move into 2012 and look back over the last few years, we have witnessed a whole new fake it till you make it that has emerged.

The last few years as personal branding, attraction marketing and the internet have found their way into the mainstream of network marketing…this concept has taken “fake it till you make it” to an entirely new level.

And I don’t like it.

Not one bit.

Apparently, as soon as you sign a distributor application and read a few courses, you are An Expert or a Coach…whether you have ever made a decent check or not.

Parking your car around the corner has been replaced by weaving an elaborate, inflated story about yourself online about how you struggled and struggled to make money in MLM until you found this magical system that now allows you to generated endless leads.

Reality Check

If you aren’t making a solid part time income from your network marketing company, you are NOT an Expert.

If you aren’t generating consistent traffic, leads and sales online, you are NOT an Expert.

What are you then?

• You are inauthentic.
• You are someone who has lost their way.
• You are someone who has failed to realize one of the most powerful relationships in network marketing.

The relationship of Prospect – New Guy – Upline Expert.

I have always taught people to hang on to that “New Guy/Girl” title as long as possible.

We think we need to know everything…we DON’T.

We think we need to be everything…we DON’T.

Branding yourself as something you are not is killing your business.

STOP IT!

Most people chasing these internet courses and systems have made this business so complicated.  They have educated themselves right out of a check.  They have created so much sophistication in their approach to marketing that no one can duplicate it.

Be real.  Master the BASICS.  Be the “new guy” for as long as you can milk it.

USE YOUR EXPERTS until you are one.

That is what this industry is built on.

You are hurting yourself.  You are hurting the industry.  Most importantly, you are hurting the new people getting started in your business.

Learn how to block and tackle before you start running flee flickers and double reverses.

And trust me…you’ll never need to call yourself an expert.  If you build it right, your team will do it for you.

P.S. Heads up next week for a new course I just completed called “Get Real & Get Paid.”  We will dig into this subject in much greater depth and teach all the core basics of building a successful and authentic business in this industry.

Hear all the dirt right here.  Full audio interview.

http://soundcloud.com/realsavvy/keithobrien

Thank you Kimber & Jodi…two amazing women entrepreneurs and industry champions!

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.

Charlie is at it again, but this time the stakes are clearly higher than before. Once all this craziness started, I was bored after the first interview when the authorities took his kids away. I thought it was always easy to see Charlie was making a play for some big launch/deal of some kind.

For the most part, Sheen has been fairly reluctant to give the media any face time…now, he’s addicted. Shocker, good ‘ol Chuck got addicted to something else.

I don’t care whether you think he is an idiotic, drug-induced, misogynist A-hole, if you take a look at everything unemotionally, there are HUGE marketing lessons to garner from observing how he is rolling out this media frenzy.

Here are a few I believe are worth mentioning. Each of these, done correctly and with enough “oomph” can set your business on fire.

• Go All In – Although it’s easy to have doubts about lots of things Charlie Sheen is doing, it’s virtually impossible to doubt his commitment to this campaign.  He has pushed all his chips in the middle.  Charlie has, as Napoleon Hill says in Think & Grow Rich, “burned his ships behind him.”This all out commitment is essential for the success of any endeavor.  People wonder how other people build massive businesses in relatively short periods of time.This is how.  They totally, without hesitation, GO FOR IT.

• Create Massive Exposure – Charlie baby is everywhere.  He’s on the news, he’s in the paper, he’s everywhere online, he started a Twitter account, he started a U-stream broadcast…the guy is everywhere in just 10 days.  He has created the buzz and is now in the process of advancing the story.  Like him or loathe him…he’s pulled people in.Quality exposures are the keys to building your business.  Simple.If you want the magic pill…that is it.You want to enroll more people?  Get in front of more people.You want to help your group enroll more people?  Get in front of more of their people.

• Build Your Inner Circle – Sheen clearly got a few early adopters on board before going to the masses.  His publicist, agent, the “goddesses” and a few key sponsors all know exactly what is happening, what the vision is and what their role is.Getting a key, core team of leaders together to partner with you on your journey is vital.  This inner circle is huge.  This team, done correctly, can turn into thousands.  These people are taking a stand with you to build something significant.  They are people you can trust and can trust you.  This is also a group that provides council and the opportunity to mastermind.This group may change some over time…but this initial one gets the ball rolling.

• Make “Crazy” The New Normal – Honestly it was today that I just learned about “Tiger Blood.”  Today was the first day I heard the phrase “bi-winning.”  This is great stuff.”Are you bi-polar?” the reporter asks.”I’m bi-winning!” Sheen replies.Brilliant, really.There are people you will talk to that think working 10-15 hours a week on “some deal” is crazy.  There are some who think MLM is crazy.  There are some who think personal development is crazy.

  To me, not owning your own business is crazy…not working on yourself constantly is crazy…not believing you can live a bigger, incredibly fulfilling life is crazy.  Make “crazy” the new normal.

• Don’t Care What Other People Think – Sure Sheen has left a trail of hookers, pills, empty bottles and failed relationships…and no, I am in NO WAY condoning his behavior.  However warped, there is something to be gleaned from his completely self satisfying lifestyle.I don’t think anyone would disagree that Charlie Sheen doesn’t give a rat’s ass about what anyone thinks.In order to develop any kind of success, thick skin is an absolute necessity.  I have many amazing friends in this industry who are wonderful trainers with huge hearts and in my opinion, consistently do right by people.Guess what?  People still say mean stuff about them.  People still complain.Some people are never going to be happy and they get in your way at every turn.  You HAVE to believe in your vision more than you believe in their opinions.  You HAVE to want to build your life more than you want their approval.

We can learn something from everything.  There are success clues all around us…all the time.  Honestly, if you simply put these 5 lessons in place for your business for the next 6 months…you would be Bi-Winning too.

Whatever that means.

Please pass this around…there is enough crap-filled garbage info about him going on…we may as well help people learn something.

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?

“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.