STILL WITH PURPOSE!!!

Purpose – schmurpose! LOL 20 days down and I've spent most of it rather down … but not quite out... due to some of life's unexpected troubles. :( But, as usual, it's not going to stop me from moving toward my goals! The damages are reversing, healing, returning to normal, slowly.

And I am still moving ahead WITH PURPOSE! I am determined that even starting my business month 33% behind (so to speak) will not keep me from building my business!

On the green front... we are doing LOTS BETTER at eating REAL FOODS! I found a few new blogs to follow in this effort of avoiding processed foods more:

100daysofrealfood.com and foodformyfamily.com and eatingrules.com

If you have any interest at all in eating less processed foods, more organic foods, or more local foods you may find one or all of these very helpful! :)

Same for SPARKnEarthlyBest – no progress to report, but no backsliding either!

And with ANDEE365 – Wow! Have we been 'thru the ringer' and then some! It wasn't fun. It wasn't pretty. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. :( However, we have had some extensive family discussions about the things that have happened and the things that could yet happen. These have resulted in a number of things improving around here. But there are still some “issues” to resolve ~ aren't there always such things in large families? LOL So, we move ahead! We go forward WITH PURPOSE! We take stock of where we are at; where we want to go; and which path(s) we want to take to get there.

I do have to say this: In the last 20 days I've talked to a number of locals and met some really nice people! This makes me look forward even more to what's ahead as I seek out more and more of the people of my little town and help them understand what a wonderful thing I have for them with my company! :) There are lots of hard-working folks around here who are barely getting by and really struggling to find that “something” that will help them get to the next check, help them get to feeling better so they can do more to meet their families' needs, and give them hope for a brighter future. Before long they will all know! I can't wait to share what I have with all of them!!!

I close with this:

"Your time is limited so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

~ Steve Jobs (Feb. 24, 1955 – Oct. 5, 2011)

Doing It On Purpose!

Back in November of 2010 I posted some goals I had for my business. Even though I haven't blogged much since then I did meet many of those goals. I am now a Director! I have also earned All-Star status as well as Circle of Influence again. Back then I had some high hopes for my business to grow. But I realize now I was lacking in a few things. It's hard to pin it down exactly but it involved a little bit of Persistence (not slacking off when things weren't easy), a little bit of Posture (confidence in what I was doing), and a lot of Purpose (fully believing that what I was offering others was in fact going to make their lives better; and having a firm idea of how fast I wanted to go with this).

See, I knew I was not going to give up doing this. So I had some persistence; but it was still too easy to back down when things got challenging. And I knew what I was doing; I had the confidence that it is the best there is out there; but my knowledge was not nearly as solid as it is now. Finally, the key, at least for me, is PURPOSE! DOING IT ON PURPOSE (to borrow a phrase from Eddy, thank you E.B.); doing it in a way that tells everyone THIS IS IT, FOLKS! People just need to take a look at what I'm doing and if they don't see what I see in it then it's time to move on. There's no point in trying to convince people about this. It's simple. It's financially sound. It's envionmentally sound. It's physically sound. It's - Well - IT IS WHAT IT IS!

Once you GET IT then the rest just falls into place – you use the products – you love the products – you tell others – they open their accounts – the company totally takes care of everything else – your business grows – people copy what you do – your business grows more – and the cycle just keeps expanding without you doing much more than what you did to get started. And all along the company sends you a check every month that also keeps on growing!

My PURPOSE is SIMPLE --- Share this with every living soul I know! :-D That includes people online (friends & family around the world) as well as people I meet in person while doing my typical everyday stuff (running errands, tending to various appointments, shopping, etc.). My dream goal would be to get 20% of all the households in the county to become a part of this wonderful thing! There are approximately 16,000 households here; making my goal about 3,200... give or take a few, we're talking about 10,000 people that are not only saving money in their personal budgets, reducing toxic exposures, and helping the environment, but they will have more money and an income that will keep on growing. That could increase the local economy an ever-growing amount year after year! Doesn't that just blow you away?!!! 8-D

I know, big dreams. :( But, hey, what's wrong with dreaming?

Every dream starts somewhere with one little step. To that effort, I'm beginning a countdown of 100 days to a better life, or 100 days to change 100 lives. ;-) Let's see where we are at in 100 days from now!

If you'd like to become a part of this big dream then please visit my website: www.andee.ecomomteam.com and submit a “Request Info” form so I can contact you with details you'll want to know.

Just for the record, as of today, my business stands with 15 accounts opened. I have personally enrolled 14 of those, 6 of whom are wanting to grow their own business. So far only one of them has actually opened any accounts. Each of us works at whatever pace is good for us. The only pressure is what we put upon ourselves.

Eco~Mom~Andee

100 DAYS!

STARTING TODAY!

I'm starting something new!

Today is DAY ONE!

For the next 100 days I'm going to look at my business

with a renewed focus!

There really is so much great stuff going on in the world of Melaleuca, The Wellness Company!

This is the first thing I've come across that really and truly shows all the potential for helping me gain true financial wellness and to be in a position of sustaining my own income for my entire lifetime from here on out!

I know many who will put down this idea in a heartbeat;

some, even very close to me! :(

But that's not going to stop - might even motivate me!

Within the next 100 days - December 8th 

through March 18th - 

I will work to grow my business so that

I am at the Director VII level

or higher.

I will have at least 40 personal customers.

I will have at least 4 personal directors.

I will have at least 100 people in my organization!

If possible I will post here each day to log progress

or to lament the lack of progress.

For now I'd like to show you

the progress made so far:

Marketing Executive II

June 30, 2010

Circle of Influence Award

October 31, 2010

Circle of Influence Award

October 31, 2010

(again, but more true color)

Marketing Executive III

October 31, 2010

(in true color)

Framed

Marketing Executive III

October 31, 2010

I plan on achieving one or more of these every month

between now and March 2011.

You can watch passively by way of this blog

or you can join me and my team

in all the fun and excitement

in a more direct way,

and make your own great impact

on total wellness in your life!

Well, "dollar days" are done with... and I added 4 more people to my team, or organization!  I'm very happy about that!


Sorry for the long absence but I spent much of October (11th - 31st) and the first several days of November really sick.  I think it was influenza at first - but we'll never know now.  I did have pneumonia diagnosed, along with sinus infection and ear infection.  Suffice it to say now that for well over a week I truly felt the worst I've felt in well over a decade!!!


But I'm better now!  And improving more each day!


The current promotion is VIP status to any Marketing Executive who becomes a Director for the first time this month!  VIP status will provide free shipping on our Melaleuca orders for the next six months!  There's more - but you'll have to get in touch with me to learn what all it is. :)


I plan on becoming a director this month!  ABSOLUTELY!!!


I've set my goals high this month:
1. Enroll 5-8 new preferred customers
2. Become a director.
3. Earn VIP status.
4. Earn All-Star status.


To help me remember these goals I'm putting "this" on my Inspiration Board:
A - amazing
W - woman
E - envisioning
S - success,
O - opportunity,
M - motivation & 
E - energy

Incentive!

The other day I read a quote from Theodore Roosevelt.  He said, "It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. In this life we get nothing save by effort."


Failure is something I have experienced a number of times. 
I failed at marriage: ended up divorced after nearly 20 years.
I failed at school: unable to complete all my classes.
I failed at parenting: none of my kids are doing better than I was at their age.
I failed at pregnancy: eight times the outcome included babies that would never come home.
I failed at having a career: didn't finish nursing school.
I failed at having a home business: 11 times with different products, methods, companies, etc. never making an income to sustain my household.


However, Albert Einstein once said, "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new."  The same could be said of a person who never failed at anything.


In my new business, began on June 1st this year, I feel like I've made a few mistakes already, like I've encountered a few failures.  I have failed to meet the goals I set for every month since then.  There are certain levels I want to reach.  Levels I must reach if I'm to dig up out of this cavern of poverty!


Yesterday I was feeling very discouraged by this! :(  There are all sorts of ideas running around in my head!  Things to do to promote my business; things not to do!  Things that hold me back; things that push me forward!  I keep hearing voices in my head from people who love me telling me that this is something I will never be able to do!  I'm not good enough!  I'm not smart enough!  I don't have what it takes!  And then there's countless, well-meaning folks who tell me times are tough now, people don't want to invest in a home business, no one has the money to buy your products, or just that making a commitment to buy every month (even though they will do so anyway for inferior products bought at the local Wal-Mart store) is too much to ask. Whatever it is exactly, the point is repeatedly made that this isn't going to work - for me.  It never has in the past, so why should it now?


Is now really any different than any of the times in the past when I've tried to build up a home business?


YES!!!
It really is different this time!


This time I am passionate about everything connected to what I'm doing in building this business!


The company I'm partnered with this time is truly ethical, not wanting anyone to get hurt in building this business or in just using their products or even in any other aspect of a person's life.  They are ALL ABOUT really enhancing people's lives!  They want everyone to be able to have a life that's better than the one they have now, before learning about this company!  The products they make are used by people everyday.  You probably would use at least 10 of them daily just in the normal sort of stuff you do each day!  Some I know use twice that!!  While it's true that anyone they help to succeed in building a business with them will help their business to grow, it's also easy to see that's not why they do all that they do!


It's also different this time because I'm at a different stage in my life now.  While my service to God and my ministry of sharing His Good News is and will always be a priority for me, I still must have some means to support my needs in life.  Relying on SSI isn't going to cut it all by itself!  Maybe it might have at some time in the past, but even the federal government recognizes in their own standards for measuring poverty that the amount provided on full SSI payments is below the poverty line!  The only way one person could survive on that level of income is if their housing is subsidized, and their food is subsidized AND all the medical care is fully subsidized!  This certainly is not where I saw my life going before becoming disabled!!!


Perhaps some see the physical side of my disabilities as reasons this will not work for me.  And yes, they will cause some limitations for me.  But so much of this business can be easily managed by phone or online; neither affected much by my physical issues.  My brain certainly is still intact! :)  I remember first coming to terms with not being able to ever do certain things again and wishing there was some way I could use all my knowledge to make a living.  Going back to school wasn't an option then, though it is now perhaps.  I do see my limits making it harder for me to stand up in front of a group of people for any length of time.  That's something I would love to be more able to do as I feel what my business has to offer can easily be presented to groups of various sizes and interests.  When the time comes I'm sure I'll find a solution to work around my limits in that regard.


People don't always understand my situation though.  I try not to take it personally or to be offended.  Still, invisible disabilities can be very challenging to live with.  But I am determined in this endeavor!  I will survive these mistakes and failures and I will go on and keep on trying one idea after another until I do succeed.  Failure is inevitable but it doesn't have to be forever.  Success is inevitable as long as one does not give up after failing!


Aside from digging out of the cavern of poverty... and that could be incentive enough for many... and aside from being determined to never give up my goals... which many feel are crazy and totally unreachable... and even with all the great incentives offered by the company... like extra cash, iPads, trips, double bonuses, etc... my biggest incentive is in knowing that by doing this, by succeeding in this particular business I will accomplish more to help others in their lives right now than in any other business I could possibly choose to do or become educated in right now!


All those failures I mentioned above have all become things that I've turned around and found the silver lining within and I've used those experiences to help others in many wonderful ways over the years!  I'm a survivor - since before I was born - and I will continue to survive and I will succeed!!!                                                                               

Success

We have just a little over 5 days left to this month.  Will I meet my goal of 8 new customers?
(I'll let you know on the 1st) ;-)


It's not so easy building up a new business from nothing.  It is great to have mentors and know that others before me have succeeded.  But I do wish I could find someone who did so with as many challenges to their efforts as I have been dealing with lately!


The other day I came across a video highlighting 7 very important things to building your own business.
1. FAITH
2. GOALS
3. ACTION
4. CONSISTENCY
5. BRANDING YOURSELF
6. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
7. DEVELOPING YOURSELF PERSONALLY


So, in giving some thought to all these things and asking myself if I have these or if I am doing these, here's my own personal results.  Those of you that know me, feel free to add in your thoughts here too, or in a private email. :)


1. YES!  I absolutely do have faith that I can do this new venture successfully.  


2. YES! I have goals and little goals to help me get to the bigger goals.


3. Yes, and No. This is one area I need to adjust, not because of inaction as much as the actions I've been doing have so far not brought me to my goals as fast as I want, so I must make some adjustments.


4. No! It's true! I have not been consistent in my actions.  I need to be setting appointments every day not one or two days a week.  I have to find more time somehow.


5. This one made me wonder if I actually have my own personal brand - something that everyone knows is me!  There are many things I do or have done that others know me for; but is there any one thing that would stand out like a 'brand' such as Dell, or HP, or Toshiba (all computers I've had - and all well known by others for their computers).  This one needs more thought, and/or work.


6. Relationships I've got - hundreds of them, mostly minimal.  If I'm going to be good at my own business I should be building those relationships; get to know those people better.  To truly be building relationships I should probably be finding new ones as well - have a variety of relationships with people at various stages or different levels of involvement.


7. YES!  I am always seeking more knowledge!  Learning anything new is exciting to me! Taking all my knowledge and adding to it is a big part of what makes me ME!  If I can inspire others, I should inspire myself! (working on it) ;-)


OK, out of 7 "essential parts of success" I have 3 without a doubt!  I have another 2 that are coming along nicely but have room for improvement! There is 1 that is needing to be developed from scratch.  Then there is one that I'll have to do some more thinking about.  From a purely mathematical point of view I'm at about 75% there! 


If I look at like Success is 100% and Failure is 0% then I'm much closer to Success than Failure - and THAT is a very positive thing, don't you think?!

Day 2

Day 2 has been busy!  I had 2 dr appts to do - one in town and one an hour away.  Inbetween I made a few calls for appointments - but only left messages. Got a text from a potential enrollment saying we'll maybe do that later this week.  Got two more contacts added to my list.


In my head I feel determined to make this a success.  In actual practice it's not easy fitting in the needed tasks with everything else I'm already committed to getting done in a day.


It's not easy being poor!