Success or Failure - Which Do YOU Choose?

There are so many reasons why some people just don't see the success they are looking for when working from home.


The first key to success is finding the right company.

• Company track record
• Consistent growth
• Been in business longer than 10 years
• Debt-free company
• Annual Income Statistics in print and available to everyone
• High retention rate (published by company)
• Company has won many awards
• Does the company offer products/services that REAL people ALREADY need, use, run out of and HAVE to repurchase??

Once you have found the right company... Are YOU willing to take ownership for YOUR business?

If you are going to sit there and wait for something to happen, guess what?  NOTHING will happen!

• Be accountable!
• SHOW UP!
• If there are team calls.... BE THERE!
• Do the work!  Anything worthwhile is going to take some work... nothing happens on it's on.
• Don't make excuses!  You can either have a successful business, or make excuses as to why it isn't working
• Do NOT give up!  Think about this... if Albert Einstein gave up, if Wayne Gretzky gave up, if Terry Fox gave up... I could go on... but you get the point.
• Do not jump from business to business... that will follow you and it WILL eventually destroy your credibility.
• Be honest - the truth is enough.  If you need to use hype and gimmicks to lure people - maybe you ought to give up now rather than hurting people.
• Under-promise and Over-deliver!
• Keep moving... do not stop... do something every day...

Don't be afraid to ask questions.  You WILL find the right company and you WILL see success.... if YOU choose to!

How Professional Are YOU?

How professional are YOU?

So many of us today are using Social Media as a form of advertising our businesses.  However, we are also using these same forms of Social Media for personal connections.

Is there a way to be able to mix business and personal lives online?

Think about it... you see someone who is marketing their business online... then you see a post that says something like "Wow did I ever get drunk last nite... good times!"  " To the biatches who think they can steal my man... back off!" " My baby daddy is a deadbeat." "I got my xmas lites up n we rady to parti"

You get my point.  Sure, we want to come across as real people, as human - but there is a way to do this without sounding uneducated.
 
Some people may think I am being too picky here, and that's ok.  Maybe I am simply being a snob.  I feel if you are building an online business, you need to represent yourself that way.  You want to be a leader.

There are several authors and motivational speakers whom I "like" on Facebook.  Would I ever see them post something like the above examples?  Absolutely not.  If they did post anything like that, I would likely think twice about regarding them as leaders.

There is a way to balance your personal life and your business life.  You want to be real of course... but if you are befriending prospective customers online, it's incredibly important to be professional.  If you can't be professional, it may be in your best interest to have 2 separate Facebook accounts.  One for business and one for your personal life.

Next time you're going to post a status online... ask yourself this... If I saw this post... would I look at the author in a professional manner?  Would I want to work with this person?  Is this someone I want to follow?

We don't all have to have the best grammar skills... but we can sure give it a try to sound like we know the English language.  I've seen posts from people who aren't even in North America that have better grammar than some who have lived in North America all their lives.  I don't say that to be negative or to put anyone down.  Just being real.  Isn't that a trait of a good leader? 

Take The First Step!!!

Does the Internet Scare You?

When I first starting working from home 11 years ago it was extremely different than it is today.  The internet wasn't anything like it is now.  Advertising a business was simple.  You could go to a few sites, post an ad and BAM you would have people requesting information about what you do.

Things have seriously changed!  It can be a scary place for someone trying to build a business via the internet.
Over the years, more and more businesses took to the internet... more and more businesses were created... It amazes me how many businesses have come and gone over the past 11 years.


For me... I am still here... with the same company and the same team. 

Sure, we do things differently now... but that's a GREAT thing.  We must keep up with the times.  The internet changes daily.  The question is... HOW DO WE KEEP UP??

We see the ads everywhere.  People advertising their services to teach you how to generate more contacts.  How to advertise online.. some even offer to do the advertising for you.  But none of this comes without a cost.  Will it actually get you further ahead?  Or are these people just looking for ways to tap into a market, to make some money saying they will educate you... they will help you... they will mentor you... guide you...etc...?? 

When you are looking for a recipe, where do you turn?  What about to read a movie review?  To research a product?  To find a store?  To find solutions to a health problem?  We all turn to the internet.  Again, how times have changed.  How much does it cost you to do this research?  It costs nothing.  So then, does it not make sense that if you search hard enough you will find all types of information for free?  Why then are people charging such astronomical amounts of money to teach you how to build a business online?  Oh, right, because the internet has changed.

Finding contacts and building an online business takes work.  Being successful in your business takes time amd work.  There is no such thing as "get rich quick".

Social Marketing can seem extremely overwhelming.  I personally think one of the biggest problems is people are afraid.  People are looking for a list of steps on exactly what to do and how to do it.  Guess what?  There is no list.  There are no secrets.  Stop thinking about it so much... and just do it.  You don't need to pay some so-called expert to teach you... you need YOU.

What is your target market?  What types of people are you looking for?  Go to where these people are... google, google, google.  Network with people.  Always remember ~~~ No one cares how much you know till they know how much you care!

If you are jumping from business to business... people will not look at you as someone with integrity.  It tells people you don't really believe in what you're doing.  You are simply looking to make money.  And, you might actually make some money... but it WILL NOT LAST.

To be successful:

1. Find a company you can truly believe in. (this includes believing in the product or service they provide as well as understanding and believing in the compensation plan)
2. Go through the training provided by your company/team/mentor (this should NOT cost you extra money)
3. Use your mentor... they got you started... now use them to really get you moving.  Do NOT wait for them to call you --- Be the squeeky wheel!  Call them, email them....Show them you are serious!
4. Attend every training call that your team provides.  By showing up, it tells your mentor that you are someone who is SERIOUS!
5. Set time aside to build your business.  This can be tough with young kids at home, or working around a job... but it CAN be done!  30 minutes here, 30 minutes there... etc... 
6. Be willing to make sacrifices.  I am talking unproductive things that take up your time... TV for example... how many evenings do you spend sitting in front of that box?  How much money does that generate for you?
7. Make your family part of your goal setting.  If they understand why you are doing what you're doing, they will be your biggest cheerleaders!!
8. Have a thick skin!  Not everyone you talk to will be as excited about your business as you are.  If they aren't, who cares... MOVE ON!
9. Take ownership.  This is YOUR business.  Do not sit there and wait for someone to do it for you.  It's up to you to make this happen.  
10. HAVE FUN!  If you aren't passionate about what you're doing.. it will be transparent. 

Remember... anyone can be successful with the RIGHT business for them.  It's amazing how people transform with passion, integrity, and having belief.

Working from home doesn't have to be intimidating... it can be whatever you choose it to be!

Are You Still Shopping The Traditional Way?

We all do it... head off to our local stores to shop.  It's what the stores are for, right?

However, we do have many options now!

We are all looking for ways to save money.  It's easier than you think.  What saves money... to go to the store "the middle man" or buy direct from the manufacturer?? 

Of course with shopping at a store there area a lot of overhead costs... the building, the inventory, the employees, etc...  Then of course most stores have shareholders... There are a lot of hidden costs in going out to shop at the store. 

Have you ever looked at the mark-up of products??  It's ludicrous.  It just makes sense to buy direct from a manufacturer. 

Now let's look at how stores and manufacturers market their products.  TV commercials, magazine ads, billboards, flyers, in-store displays, etc... Who pays for that?  Well, again, it's all compensated in the price of the product you're buying at the store.  So how does a store like Wal-Mart sell products so cheap?

Cheap being the opperative word here.  CHEAP.  A few years ago Wal-Mart would only continue to carry manufacturers laundry products if they were at least 2x concentrated.  So what happened?  In order to make the product cheaper and go further they added more fillers and more water.  Most manufacturers want their products available in stores like Wal-Mart... in order to do that....they must make their products as less expensive as they can.

What does that mean for the consumer?  It means you don't really know what you are getting.  Scary. 

When parents get pregnant for the first time, lives change.  We become more concerned about safety.  We look for the safest cribs, car seats, strollers, etc... But do we think twice about the cleaning products, laundry products or shampoos, baby wash, etc....?  The commercial says it's safe... so it must be, right? 

We're taught at a very young age to not believe everything we hear.  So, why do we believe that these large manufacturers are indeed producing safe products? 

We're smarter than that, aren't we??

I encourage you to do your own research.

We have safer alternatives available... I have been helping others learn about the toxins in their homes for the past 11 years... what an incredible feeling to have enhanced so many families lives. 

If you or a loved one suffers with asthma, allergies, eczema, ADD, ADHD, joint pain, depression, an auto-immune disorder... what you may not know may actually be hurting you. 

Schedule your free information webcast today.  Simply click on this link and fill out the form.  I am the only person who will receive your information.  Be sure to include the best days and times to reach you.

To Your Health!

How much does it cost YOU to work outside the home??

Over the weekend I was at my son's baseball tournament.  It was out of town... took us just over an hour to drive there.  With gas prices what they are, it was hard paying that money to fill up my car... just makes me shake my head.

While at the tournament, I heard other parents talking about the gas prices.  I was absolutely shocked to hear how much people spend on fuel alone each week.

I have been working from home for 10 years... so apparently I am way out of the loop.  One of the mom's pays $140 per week... FOR FUEL!  Are you serious??  That's $560 per month!  THAT IS $6720 per year!!!! 

That doesn't even touch daycare costs.   From what I am learning, it costs $30-$50 per day to have a child in daycare.  That is $150-$250 per week for 1 child.  $600-$1000 per month.

I have been so fortunate to have worked from home the past 10 years.  I look at how much money I have saved.  I commuted 40 kms to get to my job...80 kms per day... Let's say I filled my car up once per week... I am looking at about $3000 per year just to drive back and forth to work.  Now, add that I have 2 children... let's say my daycare costs were approximately $8400 per year... that would mean over the past 10 years, I have saved $114,000 by working from home. 

So it brings me to a question... why would anyone in their right mind want to work for someone else and pay ludicrous amounts of money to simply have that job?  

Some people will ask me... why does it cost money to work from home?  Well, it's simple.  You are starting your own business.  Think about the traditional businesses you could start... it will cost you literally thousands and thousands of dollars.  I paid $29. 

How much does it cost you to keep a job outside the home??  Bet I pay less...lol

To learn more... go through my information video.  Learn if you have what it takes to work from home successfully.

Cheers to working from home and saving money!!

Where Have All The Minerals Gone?

Minerals: vanishing without a trace. 

Trace minerals are minerals critical to both plant and animal health but are found in only very small amounts, even in virgin, uncultivated soil.  Though in small quantities, their importance is essential to life.

A Worldwide Problem
In 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development made public a report that had evaluated the average mineral content of the world's farm and rangeland soil.  Over the course of just 100 years, the mineral content had decreased dramatically on every continent.

Mineral Depletion from Soil During 1892-1992:
North America............. 85%
South America..............76%
Asia..............................76%
Africa...........................74%
Europe.........................72%
Australia.......................55%

The especially startling number associated with North America can be largely attributed to long-term reliance on synthetic fertilizers and emphasis on industrialized "maximum yield" mass farming methods.

A Devastating Impact on the Food We Eat...
1940 vs. 1991
Reduction in average mineral content of fruits and vegetables between 1940 and 1991.

Mineral                       Vegetables                       Fruits

Sodium                          -49%                             -29%
Potassium                      -16%                             -19%
Magnesium                    -24%                             -16%
Calcium                         -46%                             -16%
Iron                               -27%                             -24%
Copper                         -76%                             -20%
Zinc                              -59%                             -27%

Fruits and vegetables pull minerals directly from the soil, so if there are fewer minerals in the food.  As a result, many of the fruits and vegetables we eat today have lower levels of key micronutrients than those enjoyed by our parents and grandparents.  The table above summarizes the reductions in the average mineral content of 27 vegetables and 17 fruits between 1940 and 1991 in the U.S. and U.K., as originally published in the Journal of Complementary Medicine.

Sure, we all have the option of taking a daily supplement to make up for the minerals we no longer get from our foods.  But, there is also a problem with this solution.  What exactly is in your vitamin and mineral supplements?  Is your body absorbing them?  How is your body absorbing them?  Could your vitamin and mineral supplement actually be harming your health? 

We are such a trusting society when it comes to manufacturers.  Why is that?  We are so skeptical with most things... so why do we put all our faith in a company that produces a tablet that says, "take this to feel healthier"??  Think about it.  Do your research. 

I have information that may just shock you.

Email me... wellnessmommy@gmail.com to find out more.

Your Dreams are Worthy Of Your Efforts....

The following was written by Frank VanderSloot... Simply awesome....

Life is a challenge! That's what makes it worth living.  It's how we meet life's challenges that will determine whether we fulfill the true measure of our potential or whether we drift aimlessly through life, never fully realizing why we really came to be in the first place. 

At least from my perspective, life seems pretty short.  Time seems to fly by.  The options of how we spend our time, and therefore our lives, seem endless.  Wasting time if wasting time itself, and wasting life must be the biggest potential tragedy of all.  

I feel sad, and I feel a sense of urgency when I see people who are "derailed" - people who are wandering about, unsure of where they want to go or what they want to do or even who they want to be.  They are often good people with great potential who at one time had dreams and goals.  But at some point, those people met opposition and hardship and mistook them for defeat. 

It is a very sad thing when people give up.  Giving up is life's only true disaster.  Until we give up there is always hope.  We always have a chance, and the truth is if we don't give up, there is no question that the opportunity still exists that we will make it somehow, someday, someway.  That is, unless we give up.  

We all have had dreams that have not yet come true.  Just because they have not yet come true does not mean they never will - unless, of course, we give up on them.  Worthy dreams are worth working for, no matter how many times we stumble and even slide backwards, especially when our dreams are unselfish dreams that involve our value system and our loved ones.  It is so important that we do not let them die within us.  

At our company, if we could offer anything to those who have given up on their dreams, we would offer hope.  We would encourage them to rekindle the dreams they had in their youth.  We would breathe life into goals long forgotten.  We would inspire them to keep on trying... regardless of how many time they have tried before.

Some of your dreams may not involve our company.  And although we probably cannot help you with them directly, we would cheer you on to go after those dreams also with all your heart. 

On the other hand, often we need finances to make it possible for us to spend time working on higher goals.  If this is the case with your dreams, we not only cheer you on, but we feel equipped to help.  

We appreciate the opportunity to be in business with you and to be a part of your life.  Whatever your dreams were, or are, we not only hope they come true - we stand ready to assist you in any way that we can.  Your dreams are worthy of your efforts.  Don't ever stop dreaming them, and don't ever give up on them.

Hype Hype - HIP HIP HOOORAY

This past weekend I attended a business training meeting.  I have been working from home with the same company for 11 years now, so have been to many meetings.  Not once has it felt like "hype".  The meetings are business meetings.  Corporate shares the numbers... where we are at as a whole.  They share our retention rate, the reorder rate, the income stats, the profit margins, etc....

In the same hotel... in the next room over actually... there was another company who were also having a "business meeting".  I put that in quotations as calling it that, in my opinion, would be a joke.  Never have I witnessed anything with so much.... I'm not even sure what to call it.... ridiculousness??  There, maybe that's a good word for it.

They had extremely loud music blaring while they were setting up and their people were arriving.... keep in mind... our meeting was in the next room... the walls are far from sound proof.  The coordinator of the hotel approached us several times to apologize.  He said they had booked a conference room in the hotel a month prior and it was simply chaos.  He said they were insanely loud and don't like being told to turn it down.   The hotel has capabilities to monitor the level of volume from the speakers... however.... knowing this... the group chose to bring in their own equipment.

The thumping coming from next door was not appreciated.  And, at this point we were simply setting up... as were they... they hadn't even gotten started yet.

Now, someone might say... this other company paid to use the hotel... and yes, you are correct, they did.  However, so did we.  We respected them... I feel we deserved the same respect.

As the two meetings got underway, it was evident the group next door were not going to make any adjustments.  They were yelling, chanting, singing, howling... all the while their music kept getting louder and louder. 

In our meeting, in order for our audience to hear, we had to speak straight into 2 mics.  It was ridiculous.

It made me think.  Do I want to be with a company where everything is complete hype??  Where they have to play loud music, yell, chant, sing, etc... to get peoples excitement levels up??  NO WAY.

I would much rather be with a company where the products and services are enough to get people excited.  Sure, we were excited and having fun over in our room... but we certainly didn't need to turn our business meeting into a concert.

Think about it... find a solid business.  One where you can ask the questions and get the answers.  Not one that covers everything up with a party atmosphere.  This is a business afterall.

For the record... the hotel has given us a full refund and has told us the other company will no longer be using their facilities for their "meetings".  It was brought to our attention that each time a hotel employee approached them to turn it down... they turned it up.  To that I say... REALLY???  Very sad.  Very unprofessional.  Very ignorant.  And these are the leaders of this company??  Wow, sure not something I'd ever want to be involved with.

When this company fails... as most do... I will still be right here, working from home successfully with a reputable company.

Extreme Couponing

There is a show on TLC called Extreme Couponing.  It's incredible to watch these people collect their coupons, organize them and plan their trips to the store.  It amazes me how they can walk out of the store with hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in merchandise and have paid a few dollars in some cases.  I saw a show yesterday where the store ended up owing the customer 32 cents... when she got hundreds of dollars worth of products.

These people are consistent, that's for sure.  It is an art to be able to save that much money!  WOW!

However... yes... there is a "however".  Something that came to my mind while watching a recent show was the safety aspect of stocking all those cleaners and laundry products in the home.

For "home use" MSDS are not required... MSDS of course are the Material Safety Data Sheets that are provided to protect people and educate on proper handling of products.... generally in a setting such as a storage warehouse.  Most average consumers would never think to read an MSDS on their laundry detergent.  I think at this point with society, we all know the cleaners and laundry products contain toxic chemicals... but do we really understand the ramifications?

All of the toxic chemicals in these products do something called out-gas.  This means that even when the bottles are sealed, we are still breathing in the chemicals they emit into the air.  

So let's think about this for a moment.  If you have a laundry detergent in your home that contains bleach... you are breathing in that bleach constantly.  But, the average household has one bottle/package.... Extreme couponers may have 50 to 100 of these bottles/packages.  Wow.  That is very scary.

There is a way to properly store products that contain chemicals... but now people are stock-piling these toxic products in hall closets, basements, garages, kids bedrooms, etc....

Sure, the extreme couponer may be getting an amazing deal at the grocery store checkout... but at what cost? 

How many "average consumers" think to look up the MSDS on the products they have in their homes?  Should MSDS be mandatory for all households so that consumers know exactly what they have in their homes?

There is a great website called Skin Deep where a consumer can look up the tocitity rate of their personal care products like shampoo, bubble bath, makeup, kids products.... but what about cleaners and laundry? 

Come on people... we need to do our research.  We don't believe everything we see on TV.... do we?  Then why do we just trust these manufacturers who are developing the products we clean our homes and clothes with?

Aren't we educated enough to know we should check things out?

Just some food for thought....

Removing the U from Failure

By John C Maxwell

 

Do you think of yourself as a failure? Maybe not in every area of life, but in at least one important one? Well, you’re not alone. Many people think that having failed makes them a failure. Too many people. So many, in fact, that I wrote an entire book, Failing Forward, to challenge that perception.

Seeing yourself as a failure is a negative thinking pattern. It doesn’t make you feel any better, and, even more important, it doesn’t help you do any better in the future. To start “failing forward,” you need to look at failure differently.

Pick any area where you’ve repeatedly failed and do the following:

Examine your expectations for that area. Write them down. Are they realistic? Do you expect to do everything perfectly? Do you expect to succeed on the first try? How many mistakes should you expect to make before you succeed? You’ll probably need to adjust your expectations to allow many more mistakes or failures before success.

Find new ways to do your work. Brainstorm at least twenty new approaches to your job or task. Now, I should point out that people who fear failure have a hard time brainstorming because they don’t want to list a “wrong” idea. Be flexible and list even the most outrageous approaches. Then be even more flexible and try at least half of the ideas on your list.

Focus on your strengths. In areas where you’ve frequently failed, ask yourself, “What did I do right?” It’s normal to focus on what you did wrong in the situation, but everyone has some strengths. Rather than focusing on patching up your weaknesses, determine to use your best skills and personal strengths to maximize your efforts.

Vow to bounce back. No matter how many times you fall down, pick yourself up and keep going. This sounds too simplistic, but it’s really essential. Until you commit to keep going, you will always entertain the option of quitting after a failure.

Don’t wait until you feel positive to move forward. Instead, act your way into feeling good. And stop defining yourself as a failure. That kind of negative thinking will always block you from failing forward.

Honeymoon Phase?

 

Oh the honeymoon phase.  We're all familiar with it.  A new relationship starts and it's just so wonderful, everything you've always dreamed of.  You can't imagine how you've lived to this point without this special person in your life.  For the lucky ones, this phase lasts many, many years.  

But.... let's switch gears.  There is also a honeymoon phase with really everything.  You buy a new home... there's the initial excitement of moving in, unpacking, getting everything just how you want.  Eventually though that honeymoon phase comes to an end.  It all becomes habitual and normalcy sets in.  The daily routines of cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc... Every now and again we'll update something or do some renovations and for a brief time, that honeymoon phase feeling may just come back.

Now, what about starting a new job.  Think about it.  You work hard to get the job... the application process, the interviews and then the wait to see if you are the one who takes the position.  Your first day there's that feeling of nervous excitement.  You go through your training, you start working.... then day in and day out you go off to that job... and before you know it.... you're bored.  You just do what you have to do.

Maybe one day you think about how incredible it would be to be able to work from home.  Be your own boss.  Have no one to answer to.  You start looking online to find so many different options.  You get so excited about the possibilities.  The person telling you about the company is sharing all the amazing details with you.  You start dreaming of an amazing future.  You are excited again.  Look at that, here comes the honeymoon phase again!

We really do live on quite the rollercoaster ride.  The highs, the lows....

How long did the honeymoon phase last once you started your working from home venture?  Did it last until you realized how hard it really was going to be to earn any money?  Did it last until you realized you'd spent a ton of money you really didn't have to spend?

The harsh reality of working from home is this... most people jump in without really doing enough research.  They buy into the dream without asking the questions that need to be asked.

Don't get sucked in.  We're taught from a very young age to NOT believe everything we read or see on TV.  The same rules apply to starting your venture of working from home.  It's up to you to get as much information as you possibly can.

You wouldn't buy a home without an inspection, would you?  Would you buy a car without test driving it?  Do you try clothes on before trying them on?   

People spend more time planning their vacation then they do planning their futures.  Scary, isn't it?

You owe it to yourself to get the facts.  Believe it or not, there are legitimate companies out there.  Companies where real people are making real money.  Companies who have won many awards.  Ask to see the income statistics... this is something that must be provided... if the company is legit.  Don't take anyone's word for it.  That would be like the realtor saying... oh don't worry, that water on the basement floor is from me spilling my drink earlier.

For help in knowing what to look for, check out our Recipe To Success Videos

How Many Businesses Do You Have?

Ever wonder why some people advertise several businesses?  That has always puzzled me.  If you are doing well and seeing success with something, why on earth would there be a need for additional businesses??

That's the key right there... did you miss it?  IF YOU ARE SEEING SUCCESS WITH A BUSINESS THERE WOULDN'T BE A NEED TO ADD MORE BUSINESSES.

Think about it.  If you own a restaurant and you are busy, you are seeing a profit... would you then go and open a clothing store?  Probably not.  You might expand your restaurant though.  You might open a new location. 

Now let's talk about networking businesses.  The majority of businesses available are multi-level marketing (MLM) companies.  If someone involved with an MLM has more than one on the go at one time, what does that say?  To me it's they are keeping all avenues open because really they haven't found the one that will create the income they are looking for.  There is that doubt.  How long will the company last?  Will I ever really be able to earn a career income? 

Look at the number of MLM companies that have closed their doors.  It is very scary.  Recently there was an MLM company who terminated many of their top earners.  WHY??  Oh, yes, because they didn't have the money to pay them.  

Ask yourself this... Do I want to jump around to many different so-called business opportunities, constantly having to create new teams... or constantly having to drag my people around?  Won't you lose credibility with people?  What does that say?  Same thing goes with having more than one business on the go at one time.  What does that say to people?  Maybe that what you're doing just isn't working?  Wow, I'd want to get involved with that...yikes!  

Use your heads people!  If you have found the right company... there is no need for other businesses!  Put your focus on ONE business.  Put everything you have into that one business.  If you truly believe in the company and what you are doing... if the company is stable, not in debt, has a proven track record, publishes their annual income statistics, has been in business for 20+ years... what's the problem??  I say the big problem is people getting sucked into the ground-level start-up companies.  Or the dream of making it big.  How often does that really happen though with those types of companies??  

I've said it before, and will say it again... DO YOUR RESEARCH... ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS!

I have been with the same company for almost 11 years.  In the past 11 years, how many other businesses have I started? NONE!  Why?  Because what my company offers, no other company can even come close to touching.  And again, if you see success... why would you need anything else??

For some education on what to look for when looking to work from home, visit http://www.ceomomsonline.com/nicolebennett

I don't push, pull, drag or convince people.... if you do... maybe it's time to take another look at what you're doing.

To your success!

Nicole

Excuses.... Procrastination....My Life Just Sucks....

No time.  I'm stressed.  How do I change my life?  What can I do?  I hate my job.  I don't have enough money.  I wish I could spend more time with my family.

Sound familiar?

We live in a society where everything is fast paced... yet is anyone really getting anywhere?  

In order to survive, most households need two incomes coming in.  So what ends up happening?  Everything suffers.  Everyone is stressed.  No one really spends any time together, other than maybe a few hours in the evening and possibly weekends.  Even then it's a rush... house work to be done, shopping, kids sports... go go go.

We are a world of procrastinators.  We put things off... we will be happy once ________ happens.  So, what did you fill in that blank with?  We wait for some miracle to happen, yet we continue to do the same things over and over and over.  If this is the case... we haven't really changed anything... so how do we expect to get different results??

I love this quote by Anthony Robbins: “If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotten.”  Or, as Albert Einstein said  "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

What is it though that we CAN change to get the results we are looking for?  What do YOU want?  Have you ever really thought about it?  Or, is that just something else that being put off till..... till when?

With the economy the way it's been, people have actually been looking for options.  Different options.  But,the question is, are they acting on the other options?  Or, is this again something that's being put off for another day.

We all have options.  We can choose to go for it... or to sit stagnant waiting for out lives to change on their own.  Hmmmm.... how's that working for you?  My mentor said something the other day to a group of people that she'd said many times in the past ... "No one is going to give you your life on a silver platter."  Too bad, huh?  Is that what we all do?  Wait for someone to come in and save us?  Guess what... it's NOT going to happen.

This is your life.  This is it.  This isn't a test-run.  Every day that passes is gone.  You will never get that day back.  You can choose to sit and wait for things to get better, for things to be the way you want them to be.  Hoping that one day you'll have more time, more freedom, won't have to go back to that job, have more money, or whatever it is you are wanting.  OR... you can GET UP AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.  Stop waiting!  

We've all heard it... on your deathbed... what are your regrets going to be?  Think about it.  

The time is now to live your life the way you want to live it.

Look at your options and stop making excuses.  Your time is now.  You can do it.  Stop procrastinating.  

Cheers to a new you!

Nicole

Green-Washing, Out-Gassing, TV Commercials.... Huh?

You find out you're pregnant!  Congratulations!  This is one of the most exciting times in your life.  You can't wait to watch how your body changes.  Your first ultrasound is incredible.  This little being growing inside you.  You can't wait to see your baby, hold your baby, smell your baby, etc...

Then a little panic might set in.  You will be responsible for this new little one.  You want to make sure you have the safest environment for your new baby.... you check the safety of car seats, high chairs, cribs, etc... You want nothing but the best for your little person.

How many soon-to-be-parents even think about things like what they clean the house with?  What they do laundry with?  What they plan to bathe the baby in?

Sad fact is, many don't.  Many people just assume that if a product is sold, then it must be safe.  We get drawn into the commercials for baby shampoo... safe...natural...delicate... they use all the right words to suck us in.  But, take a step back and think for a second.  What is the purpose of the commercial?  TO SELL THE PRODUCT!  Does that mean what they are telling you in that commercial is 100% fact?  Come on, we're smarter than that... aren't we?

Every single commercial is trying to sell something... whether it be a product or a service.  They are marketing geniuses, aren't they?  Spraying Lysol around the daycare... on the toys... then the kids picking up the toys.  So, it must be safe, right??  Or is it??

You owe it to yourself and your family to DO YOUR RESEARCH!  Find out what you are really bringing into your home.  Products on the market today are filled with toxic chemicals.  Why?  They are CHEAP.  Box stores like WalMart will only stock a manufacturers product if it falls within their price guidelines.  WalMart promotes what?  Quality products?  Nope!  They promote: CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP.

A few years back when 2x concentrated laundry detergent came out on the market, WalMart told the manufacturers that in order for them to continue carrying their products, they all had to have a 2x detergent available at a low cost.  Guess what happened?  The manufacturers created a 2x concentration using more water and more fillers.  Huh.  So here you are, the consumer, buying a product you think is better... but is it really?

Look around for a moment.  Look at the different health problems people have today compared to 20 years ago.  What the heck happened?  Chemicals happened.  Synthetic products happened.  Lifestyles of fast, convenience happened.  But at what cost?  Our health?


This may surprise you, studies have found that levels of several chemicals around the home are on average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. Hence the important of making good choices in what kinds of products you choose for your home and certainly avoiding renovations, painting the house, lacquering or varnishing furniture and so on throughout your preconception preparation and during your pregnancy. Newly painted wall can outgas for up to 6months after coating!

What is "outgassing"?  This is when the chemicals in your bottles seep through the bottle even when tightly closed.  It is also the chemicals that seep into the air we breathe from residue left on surfaces... clothing... counters, floors, toys, etc...

Let's look at infertility....

1. Chemicals are hormone (or endocrine) disruptors—this means they directly and indirectly negatively affect your health and fertility in a MAJOR way. So by reducing exposure to a great number of the things you don’t really need in your life and that can be replaced by more natural and less toxic alternatives you will maximize your fertility and the chances of having the healthiest possible baby.
2. Chemicals are persistent and linger in the environment (in some cases) forever because they simply do not break down, therefore chemical contamination become our legacy for future generations as well;
3. Chemicals are bio-accumulative, just like heavy metals they build up in our bodies and the bodies of animals, being passed down along generations causing disease.

So, what are the options?  There ARE options.  Stop believing what you see on TV.  Stop believing that everything sold at the store is safe.  Green-washing is HUGE today.  This is when a manufacturer makes their product LOOK like a safer, greener product... but is it really??  Keep in mind ~ manufacturers will do anything to sell their product.  It's up to YOU to do your research and really find what is and isn't safe.

I found an amazing manufacturer of SAFE products.  Been shopping here for almost 11 years.  I don't sell the products, I am not a distributor... I am simply a customer.  Want to learn more?  Visit http://www.switchingstores.com/nicolebennett

I can't be successful....or can I??

What type of person is successful working from home?  If you google this, some of the tips are quite comical.

One says that you shouldn't have any distractions... you need an office space... to decorate it to make it a "happy place" for you... if you have kids to get a babysitter... if you have pets to put them in another room... basically get rid of anything that could distract you.

Hmmmm... Sure, decorating your office space to make it soothing to you and make you want to be there... yes... great idea.

But get a babysitter for your kids?  Really?  So what exactly would the point be to work from home to be with your kids, but ship them off to a babysitter?? 

Chances are, if you find the RIGHT company to partner up with and you love what you do... you will WANT your kids right there with you.  You will be partnering up with other moms who also have their kids right there with them.

For me, when I started working from home I had a 3 month old and a 5 year old.  The reason WHY I wanted to work from home was TO BE WITH MY KIDS.

If you are making calls from home... which you probably are if you're working from home... does it not validate you as a REAL mom if your kids are there with you?

Of course you don't want to neglect your kids... but there are ways to be successful with your kids right by your side.

For anyone to be successful, there are key contributors... find the right company... do your due diligence... research, research, research.  You must believe in the company and what they represent.  You must have some drive.  You must have a vision to be in a better place.  You must have a reason WHY you are working from home.

You don't have a "boss" telling you what to do... that can be a detriment to some people.  It's easy to get distracted with things that aren't going to help you be successful with your business.  At the end of the day, ask yourself this: "if everyone in my business did what I did today, where will my business be tomorrow?".  If you're doing nothing, guess what?  You're business isn't going to move forward.

I have heard some moms saying that it's just too hard to make a success from a business with their kids at home.  It's only as hard as you make it.  When my boys were little, I involved them in my business.  Sure, some days were trying... but we survived!  I made them part of my goals.  They understood that mom was at home with them all the time... but mom was also working sometimes... either I worked at home where they could see me and have me all the time... or I would have to go outside the home to work.  They learned from an early age that even though mom might be on the phone... I was still there with them.

Fast forward to today... my boys are 14 and 9.  Yes, my boys fight.  They are boys...lol  But, they also know (I think) how fortunate they've been to have mom at home all the time.  They know nothing else... I've always been home.  My oldest could probably do my business better than I can... he's listened to me for so many years!  That would likely go for my little one as well.

Saying that you can't be successful because your kids are with you is a cop-out.  It's an excuse.  There are ways to work around your family.  My business isn't my life, but it's given me a life.

If you seriously want to be successful, stop making excuses.  I heard a great quote several years ago... You can either make money, or you can make excuses... you can't make both.

So, what will today bring for you?  Excuses.... or success?

Wow, You're So Lucky That You Can Work From Home.....

Oh, how many times I have heard those words... "You are so lucky that you can work from home."

Hold on!  Lucky??

Luck really has nothing to do with being able to work from home.  The beauty is ANYONE can!  It's all in making a decision.  10 years ago I made a decision that I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.  I wanted to be a stay-at-home-mom.  I had a choice.  To continue doing what I was doing - working outside the home and having my son in daycare... or I could change something.

The amazing thing is, is that EVERYONE has the choice.

How many times I've heard, "I wish I could work from home."  Or, "I wish I had the time to do what you do."  Really?  Let me ask this... If you continue to do what you are doing right now for the next 5 years... will you be in a different place?

Really think about that for a moment.  What will change?  The unfortunate truth is likely nothing will change.

The best determination of future behavior, is past behavior... UNLESS something drastic happens.  When my mentor said that to me, it was like a lightening bolt struck me.  WOW!  We all have choices.  The one thing we all have control over is ourselves, our own lives, our destiny.

Yes, I am "lucky" that I work from home... but it was a choice that I made.

Don't live your life thinking you're doing what you "have" to do.  You have options.  There are other paths you can take.  The question is, are you willing to step up to the plate?  Are you willing to put in the work?  Are you motivated enough to make it happen?  Or, would you rather sit on the sidelines, go off to a job where your income can only go so far and envy that mom who is 'lucky to work from home'?

We're all lucky... we all just choose to use that luck in different ways!

My luck started here... http://www.internetceomoms.com/nicolebennett

The World Needs More Dreamers

The World Needs More Dreamers.

Have you ever had a goal, dream or vision that you shared with someone only to be told all the different reasons that it would not be possible.  Your friends and family probably mean well, but we want to encourage you to pursue those things that ignite your soul and spirit.

Today, Adam Advertising Group shares a message from John Maxwell that will shed light on why most dreams never take flight.

Most of us never see our dreams come true.  Instead of soaring through the clouds, our dreams languish like a broken-down airplane confined to its hangar.  Through life, I have come to identify why dreams don't take flight.

1.  We Have Been Discouraged from Dreaming by Others

We have to pilot our own dreams, we cannot entrust them to anyone else.  People who aren't following their own dreams resent us pursuing ours.  Such people feel inadequate when we succeed, so they try to drag us down.

If we listen to external voices, then we allow our dreams to be hijacked.  At some point, other people will place limitations on us by doubting our abilities.  When surrounded by the turbulence of criticism, we have to grasp the controls tightly to keep from being knocked off course.

2. We Are Hindered by Past Disappointments and Hurts

In the movie Top Gun, Tom Cruise plays Maverick, a young, talented, and cocky aviator who dreams of being the premier pilot in the U.S. Navy.  In the film's opening scenes, Maverick showcases his flying ability but also displays a knack for pushing the envelope with regard to safety.  Midway through the movie, Maverick's characteristic aggression spells disaster.  His place crashes, killing his best friend and co-pilot.

Although cleared of wrongdoing, the painful memory of the accident haunts Maverick.  He quits taking risks and loses his edge.  Struggling to regain his poise, he considers giving up on his dream.  Although the incident nearly wrecks Maverick's career, he eventually reaches within to find the strength to return to the sky.

Like Maverick, many of us live with the memory of failure embedded in our psyche.  Perhaps a business we started went broke, or we were fired from a position of leadership.  Disappointment is the gap that exists between expectation and reality, and all of us have encountered that gap.  Failure is a necessary and natural part of life, but if we're going to attain our dreams, then, like Maverick, we have to summon the courage to deal with past hurts.

3. We Fall Into The Habit Of Settling For Average

Average is the norm for a reason.  Being exceptional demands extra effort, sustained inspiration, and uncommon discipline.  When we attempt to give flight to our dreams, we have to overcome the weight of opposition.  Like gravity, life's circumstances constantly pull on our dreams, tugging us down to mediocrity.

Most of us don't pay the price to overcome the opposition to our dreams.  We may start our inspired, but through time we fatigue.  Although never intending to abandon our dreams, we begin to make concessions here and there.  Through time, our lives become mundane, and our dreams slip away.

4. We Lack The Confidence Needed To Pursue Our Dreams

Dreams are fragile.  They will be buffeted by assault from all sides.  As such, they must be supplied with the extra strength of self-confidence.

In Amelia Earhart's day, women were not supposed to fly airplanes.  If she had lacked self-assurance, she never would have even attempted to be a pilot.  Instead, Earhart confidently chased after her dream, and she was rewarded with both fulfillment and fame.

5. We Lack The Imagination To Dream

For thousands of years, mankind traveled along the ground by foot, by horse-and-buggy, by locomotive, and eventually by automobile.  Thanks to the dreams of Orville and Wilbur Wright, we now hop across oceans in a matter of hours.  The imaginative brothers overcame ridicule and doubt to pioneer human flight, and the world has never been the same.

Many of us play small because we do not allow ourselves to dream.  We trap ourselves in reality and never dare to go beyond what we can see with our eyes.  Imagination lifts us beyond average by giving us a vision of life that surpasses what we are experiencing currently.

Dreams infuse our spirit with energy and spur us on the greatness.

So, what's YOUR dream?

Have a great week unless you choose otherwise.  ~Drago~  

Start Your Dream Today ~ You Are The Pilot Of Your Life!

Why does it cost money to start working from home?

Are you looking for a JOB or a BUSINESS?

If you are someone who is looking online for a way to earn an income from home, know that almost everything you will find is a BUSINESS that you will be starting up.  There aren't "jobs" online where you can sit at home and get paid by the hour.  In order to find an online "job", you need to be hired by someone local who is looking to outsource.... hard to find!

Some people ask, "Why does it cost money to start working from home?"

Well, the answer is simple.  You are starting a business.  It just happens to be an online business. 

Let's say you were going to open a restaurant.  Would there be a start-up cost?  Yep... and it would be an INSANE amount of money!

When looking online to work from home... ASK QUESTIONS!!!  If you are told it will cost you money to simply get the information----RUN AWAY!!!

I have heard recently, more and more stories of people being asked to pay thousands of dollars to start working from home.  This is ludicrous!  What are you getting for those thousands of dollars??  Even hundreds of dollars doesn't make sense to me.

Stop and ask... is the product or service this company offers something that real people ALREADY need?  Do people already go out looking for these types of products or service?  Is this something people will need to repurchase again and again??

There are soooo many businesses out there today.  It scares me when I see people advertising their glamour and "get-rich-quick".  Seriously people, the only way you are going to get rich overnight is by winning a lottery, or you lose a loved one and they leave you a large inheritance. 

Working from home takes work.  It doesn't have to be hard... but it takes time to build.  How much time?  Well, that depends on you.  How willing are you to get things off the ground?  Are you coachable?  Are you open to listening to your mentors?  Do you have motivation? 

When I hear of people quitting their outside the home jobs to start working from home... that also alarms me.  I would never advocate someone quit their job...NOT until you have replaced your income.  Don't get burned.  Do your due diligence first.

Look at income stats, look at growth charts... where is this company going??  What does their history look like?  If the company has started within the past few years... hmmmmm... is that going to be stable?

Like in one of my previous articles... don't lose your head. 

When people look at my company, the are impressed.  The start-up cost is so minimal and is guaranteed.  No one gets hurt.  I have been here, with the same company for over 10 years.  I don't jump ship to other companies.  I don't have more than one business on the go.  This is it.  It works.  We can stand tall and stand proud knowing we are representing a company with such incredible ethics.  How many can say that? 

Are you looking to earn money for a lunchtime or a LIFETIME?  Choice is yours.

www.JoinCeoMoms.com

Don't Lose Your Head!

With the economy the way it is, more and more families are looking to work from home.  With a job... you can only go so far.  Your income is limited in most cases.  You are working outside the home... putting in time with your commute to and from work... and quite possibly in a job that really isn't satisfying. 

So, why do people do it??  It's simple... BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO!

We all need money to pay the bills, we need a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, food on the table, etc...

Many look for different options.  How can I work from home and make more money AND have more time freedom??

Then the search begins.  In today's world people turn to the internet.  Google is an incredible thing, isn't it?

Have you ever tried googling "work from home"?  "how to make money from home"?  It's amazing what you'll find.  The internet has all the answers, doesn't it?

However, you MUST not lose your head.  Remember your parents saying to you, "If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is."?  Don't forget about your common sense.  Chances are, if you read on the internet that you can make thousands of dollars right away.... it's too good to be true.

Don't fall into the trap of getting really excited before you really know what you are getting excited about.

There are reputable companies out there... but it's up to you to do your research!

Just because a website tells you what they have to offer works, doesn't necessarily mean that it does in fact work.  Just because someone calls you and tells you that you can start earning an income right away, it doesn't mean you actually will.

You may be thinking... ya ya... I know all of this..I am a smart person with a good head on my shoulders.   That may be true... but you would be amazed at the different so-called "work at home opportunities" educated people fall for.

Think about what it is you want from working from home.  A reliable income?  Time freedom?  A proven system that WORKS?  Do you want to cold call people?  Do you want to sell a product or service?  Do you want to partner with a company that has been in business for less than 5 years?....Or, would it make sense to partner with a company that has built credibility?  Do you want a company that is debt-free? 

The list of questions could go on and on... but you get the point.  DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't get sucked into the "look at all you 'could' have".  Go for what you CAN have.

Almost anyone can be successful working from home... IF they have a strong why, strong goals, a work ethic and motivation... and of course THE RIGHT COMPANY.

Cheers to your success!!

Passion - Do You Have It? ~ from Monday Morning Motivator

This week some wisdom and motivation from best selling author, Jon Gordon.

The strongest many survive but it is the passionate that will thrive.

In her book SOUP, Nancy, the CEO of Soup Inc, writeds a memo about passion to share with all her employees.  Here's what she said.

If we as a company are going to feed greatness and build a world-class company, then we need to infuse passion into our soup and into each other.  This means that we must be a company that is filled with passionate people.  In the past, you could be lukewarm and medicre and still be successful.  Not anymore.

Now, in today's competitive environment, your passion and your purpose must be greater than your challenges.  To be successful you have to be willing to work harder, learn more, practice longer, lead better, smile more, and love deeper, and this requires passion.

Passion wakes you up 30 minutes earlier.  It dials your phone one more time to make one more sale.  It rallies your team together when times are tough.  It moves you to see one more customer after a long day.  It inspires you to help a struggling collegue.  It provides legendary customer servie.  Passion transforms workplaces, powers champions, and fuels winning teams. 

"What about someone who has a low-paying job or who is in a job that, quite frankly, is hard to be passionate about?"  you might ask.  I've been thinking a lot about this, and it's not the job or the money you are being paid, but rather, it's the passion you bring to your job that matters.  After all, I've met bus drivers who are more passionate about their jobsthan professional athletes making millions of dollars.  I've worked my way up in countless jobs, and I was as passionate about stocking shelves as I am about being CEO of this company.

SUre, I realize that not everyone is going to be passionate about all their daily responsibilities associated with their job.  I'm certainly not passionate about everything I have to do each day.  However, in these cases, you can focus on the one aspect of your job that you are passionate about.  You can be passionate about the organization you work for.  You can be passionate about your team members and helping them improve, grow and succeed.  You can be passionate about your mission and customers.  You can be passionate about making a difference.

To all those in this company who feel they aren't able to express their passion because they are in the wrong position and would rather do something else, at Soup, Inc, I want you to be honest about this.  We will do everything in our power to find a role or position in the company that allows you to use your gifts and stregths to serve our company with passion.

And, if there are no jobs that you are passionate about at Soup, Inc., and you are meant to do something else, that's ok too.  We will do everything we can to help you find another job with another company that allows you to express and live your passion.  This is good for you and your future, and it's also good for us.

Hopping on another bus to live your passion will help you thrive, and it will also make room on our bus for those who are passionate about Soup, Inc. - and with a bus filled with passionate people we, too, will thrive.

How about you?  Are you passionate about what you are doing at work?  Are you living and working with passion?  Is your team passionate?

Have a great week... unless you choose otherwise.  ~~Drago, The Adam Ad Group