You’re Already An Entrepreneur – Now Get To Work!

There is no such thing as a free ride. It all gets balanced at the end of the day, so you might as well put in the effort NOW!

Sometimes the payment is currency, sometimes it is pure energy (which is actually one and the same, and will be explained in another post). There are a lot of slackers out in the world that just want to make a quick dollar. There is nothing wrong with the desire to get rich overnight. Everyone should be so lucky! For most of us it takes work and focus, no matter what “business” you’re in. I personally have been guilty of being lazy minded, in the past. I always had an excuse that sounded good to me at the time, only to realize later that it still didn’t get me any closer to what I wanted.

The time for excuses and laziness is OVER!! We all have the desire to live a comfortable life, free from debt, a life of luxurious places and things. How many of us are willing to do whatever it takes to get there?

It takes work to get to the point of enjoying the fruits of your labor. Just like you have to make plane reservations to take a trip overseas (and pay for it), you have to do things (take action) to succeed and have freedom, no matter what industry you are focused on.

Notice I said FOCUS.

Stop career hopping! Too many times, we are approached by well-meaning friends and family members, trying to sell us on the next big thing. We fall for it because it sounds good, and looks promising on paper. We put in our hard-earned money to sign up, all the while praying for payday, or at the very least to break even!

Did it occur to you at that point what it was going to take to WORK this new business? Less personal time? Money? Emotional setbacks? Loss of family time? And what about the HUGE learning curve at the beginning of this new venture?

If you have never owned a business, or been in a high level position at your job, then you may have a long road ahead of you. Those who have successfully worked in MLM’s, Marketing, and even Network Marketing, have an advantage over those who are not familiar with the “politics” or the business of business. There is an overwhelming amount of information online, and can be difficult to navigate if you don’t know what sources to trust. It’s not impossible, though, and can be great fun. You just have to know where to go for the answers.

I love to read, I love to do research. But MAN! You can waste your life away trying to weed your way through all of that “stuff” to get some tiny little nugget, that you can only hope will help you expand your new business and make you TONS of money. I discovered along the way, that while learning is a good thing, and should be done, there is much to say about just DOING IT!! Don’t hide behind the excuse of “Well, I’m trying to learn all I can BEFORE I do anything.”

The best teacher is ACTION! You will feel less overwhelmed if you are taking action with what you have learned.

If you are looking for leadership and inspiration, check out the company you’re with. Who are the leaders? Who is living the life you want? Get to know them and what they do on a daily basis, to achieve the level they maintain. If you are not yet involved with a company, or currently on your own - starting out or lacking progress, look to those who already inspire you. There are plenty of personalities to choose from! I have some personal favorites, if you are interested!

Let’s go back to FOCUS for a minute. Pick one company. Two, if you know what you’re doing, and understand what you’re in for. If you are involved with an MLM company or some form of Network or Direct Marketing, stick with it for a while. I don’t mean 6 weeks and you’re out,  if it “doesn’t work”. Chances are, it’s YOU that isn’t working! You have to give it at least ONE YEAR of true work and learning, sometimes longer to reap the benefits of the seeds you have planted. Go ahead and learn, but do it while you’re WORKING the business! If you are involved with a great company, you will have mentors to help you along the way. Not those people who just set you up in the computer and get your credit card information, but true leadership and support. They will have meetings, phone calls, webinars, etc. They will be the kind of people who will “show up” for you in every way. These are the people you WANT to work with while growing your business. They are the people YOU will be one day, once you have a handle on what you’re doing. But give it time, and give it your ALL.

You are already well on your way to an AWESOME life because you’re searching for information and answers. Don’t ever stop learning. Just don’t forget to DO THE WORK!

Enjoy the ride!

(Originally posted March 11, 2010 under my old site. Copied and modified for MultiLevelMommy.)

Mommy, Businesswoman, or Both? Should We Have To Choose?

Sitting here trying to work, while my kids are in the tub, is sort of an oxymoron – my kids don’t leave me alone for a second! My 2.5 year old is really good at getting out, and wanting to join me while recording a video.

I wanted to touch really quickly on Mommyhood, and trying to grow your businesses – two things that are beyond “full-time” each in their own right! In the past, I had complained and was stressed about not having enough time to get it all done, but am currently working on a way to make it so there are few or no compromises.

As you will see below, I was not able to record the “professional” video that many bloggers do. However, this is the most RAW version of myself and my situation, so I felt it relevant to this particular blog.

Now, after looking this blog over, I realized there was not really anything to it! It’s almost like a Facebook Notes entry, and that’s not why people read blogs, right? So let’s get a little deeper into what I was trying to say!

My friend Donna Vail has helped me tremendously, with one simple exercise. It’s called “What’s On My Plate?”, and gets you to the point of understanding all you have going on in your life. It also allows you to take some stuff off your own plate, and hand to over to someone else. Remember, you don’t always have to finish everything on your plate. Just make sure you get enough good food, and save room for desert once in a while! Contact Donna Vail directly and ask her about the “meat and potatoes” of this eye-opening exercise, either through her Facebook account, or her website. I would post it here, but I don’t want to step on any toes!

After I took a good honest look at all I was doing (and not doing), it was time to figure out how to get it all done, and what was the priority of each thing. This next phase required some creativity and the ability to consolidate. Long gone are the days of putting each “To Do” item on my list as a separate entry. For example, because my girls are not in daycare, I had to find ways to get certain things done, with their “help”. Dishes, vacuuming, sweeping the floor, picking up toys – all of these things can be done with your kids (for the most part), and can even be made fun. Not only does it help to get everything done while still spending time with my kids, it teaches them real world skills, and shows them that it can also be fun. We dance, sing, chase each other around the house, play against the timer, whatever it takes to get the work done.

When we have to go out and run errands, I try to make that enjoyable as well. I have found pleasure in taking my kids to the grocery store (most of the time), while the other parents there seem put off by our good times! We sing, laugh, and have a great time. My 2.5 year old likes to either ride in the little car (attached to the front of the cart), while her sister is facing me in the seat, or push the kiddie cart by herself. We’ve had some not so fun adventures, but for the most part it’s an enjoyable experience for all of us. Like I said, the other parents there seem sort of out of it, or disconnected from their kids. No wonder they’re all screaming and crying! It’s not a fun experience for any of them. Now don’t get me wrong – I have taken them out at bad times – hunger and nap times need to be factored into the equation, but overall I have been really good about knowing the best times to go. Same thing with the post office, getting gas, doctor visits, and going shopping for other things. I even try to consolidate my running around as much as possible, while also making sure there is something fun for them to do, so it’s not just me dragging them everywhere.

As a stay at home mommy, I have the luxury of doing things with them in the middle of the day if need be. However, there is one area I have found to be the most challenging – WORK. This whole Network Marketing thing is somewhat new to me still. There is an incredibly sharp learning curve and overload of information. Not only is there much to learn, but you’re not always sure who to trust, and what (or who) to spend your money on. FOCUS is a key factor, and something that does not often happen during the day, because of my kids. They are not yet old enough to put in the playroom with some coloring books (or whatever), for an hour by themselves, while I watch a webcast, listen to a recorded call, read through my emails, etc. At this very moment, my 1 year old is taking a nap in her room (though she will be up in a minute), and my 2.5 year old has fallen asleep on the coffee table (long story!). I started this blog early this morning, and it’s now 5:22pm. This has actually been a good, productive day, considering I’m running on 4 hours of sleep! I don’t believe I should have to choose between being a Mommy and being a Successful Businesswoman. For me, being a Mommy and Businesswoman is one and the same!

As I grow personally, I also grow professionally. The more I learn about myself, the more I learn about this business. It’s amazing to me how much information is out there in cyberspace, and how much people charge for it! I will do the best I can to give people the information they need to succeed, without making them have to choose between an Ebook and food.

Like I said before in the video, at the end of the day, it’s all about having FUN! What kinds of things can YOU consolidate and make fun?

Do me a favor, and leave me a comment. I value your input, and would like to know what you think!

Have an AWESOME Sunday night!

The Perfect Prospecting Message – In A Movie?

With all of the “How To Win At Prospecting” lessons out there, it actually occurred to me that there is a way to keep this lesson Super Simple – short and to the point.

The movie “40 Year Old Virgin” touched on this point….did you catch it? See if you can find it in the movie Trailer:

What do Network Marketers, MLM Independent Distributors, anyone on a relationship of any kind, and this movie scene have in common?

“Just ask questions.” That’s pretty much what it boils down to. After you ask the questions, however, you then must LISTEN. It’s the nuts and bolts of being a great Leader.

When you learn to LISTEN, you STOP Selling!

Get it?  Excellent! Now go practice on anyone you come into physical, phone, or online contact with. Just ask questions and listen. Be genuinely interested in what the other person has to say.

Here’s your challenge for this weekend.

Whether you’re talking to your spouse, your kids, your co-workers, the checkout person at the grocery store…Just Ask Questions and Listen. Now don’t go off the deep end, like Steve Carrell’s character Andy did in the movie, but you know what I mean. At the end of the day, your business is about PEOPLE. Let’s get to know them! Besides, how will you know what business opportunity will solve their problem if you don’t ask questions, and listen to their answers?

Sometimes you have to keep asking questions to get the deeper answers, but then you know how to TRULY help them. Your genuine interest also means you are more likely to gain their trust, appreciation, and respect. You will then have their business for life.

Please leave me a comment or a question about this post. I’d LOVE to hear from you!

Man! Is It Hot In Here Or Is It Just Me?

My husband and I were in Cancun when I wrote this title. It seemed appropriate at the time, since I had just returned from using the exercise facilities at the resort.

Why would I work out while staying at a resort??? My body craved it, thats why! It had gotten used to feeling the rush from sweating out the bad stuff and getting my blood pumping! There’s also peace that comes when I work out, and I’m sure I’m addicted to that somewhat. I told my husband that I needed to go work out because it was the only way I knew to get my brain to shut up long enough for me to relax! I get clear when I work out. That’s why I did it even while we were on vacation. What a great way to actually enjoy my vacation – not thinking so much!

Of course, this was just another opportunity for me to “work”, since I started thinking of all the things I wanted to write about, and changes I want to make, and things I want to read, and people I want to talk to and send cards to, and…….WOW! Maybe I need to go work out some more (that way I’ll just pass out and stop thinking!).

It occurred to me that I never really stop “working”. Or is it that I never stop being on vacation? What’s the difference anyway? My life is pretty good – I can’t complain. I’m a Stay At Home Mommy, with an Entrepreneurial lifestyle. I get to raise my kids at home, and work when I want to (or have the time to!). My kids can be my first priority – whenever they need me, I’m there. Having a Networking career allows me that freedom. So, whether I’m at home, at the grocery store, or on vacation in Cancun, I always have the freedom to do what I love! At the end of the day, it’s all about relationships. Building someone up. Showing someone the way. Taking the time to listen to them, their needs, and try to help them find a solution. Be the LIGHT!  You never know if the smile you give someone will change their life.

“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!”

If you can’t stand the heat of parenthood and entrepreneurship, then get out now! Well, if you’re already a parent, you can’t really “get out” of that! But you can make other arrangements, if being a stay at home parent is not for you.There are times you will reach your Boiling Point with both. It’s important to be ready for those times, and working out (for me) has been a lifesaver in those areas! I have learned so much about myself just in the last month alone from working out and taking a vacation (from everything). I will go into more detail about our trip to Cancun in another post, so stay tuned!

There are things you have to do if you want to get ahead in your business, however, I have never felt it to be at the expense of being at home with my kids. Next month I will be attending the No Excuses Summit in Vegas, and Daddy will be taking over parenting duties while I’m gone. Some might consider that a “sacrifice”. That’s not how I see it, though. I view a “sacrifice” as having to give something up in order to get something else. To me, it’s more of a GIVE-GIVE situation: My kids are GIVEN a vacation from Mommy and GIVEN some time with Daddy. I am GIVEN some time and tools to grow my businesses, and that will GIVE me the ability to GIVE to others! See how that works? A little mind shift will make all the difference!

Bottom line: It’s not just me, It’s HOT in here! But I can take it, so BRING IT ON!!!

Leave me a comment and tell me what you think!

Yours In Sweaty Success!