Live Your Best Life

Quotes Worth Repeating - Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

"Superior achievement or making the most of one's capabilities, is to a very considerable degree a matter of habit. This was the reason why Joe used to say to the children, 'We don't want any losers around here. In this family we want winners.' They were encouraged to be winners, leaders and victors in whatever they set their minds to...to develop the habit."  - Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

I Think You are a Scam

Five pretty powerful words.

I received an email stating those very words. No reasoning. Nothing. My response? A thank you for the feedback.

Sharing the possibilities with people can be difficult because many people are running their own scam--on themselves. They haven't learned how to discern between the good and the bad.

Perry Marshall has some thoughts on the necessary skill of discernment.

Glowing Review

I recently met Deb from G's Cottage last week when she commented on one of my blog posts. She's a kind, warm-hearted and finding her way in life and I just think thats awesome.

She wrote a review about me and Live Your Best Life at G's Cottage.

Deb, if I could say just one thing. You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you're recognizing patterns in your introversion. To many people consider it a bad thing and a hindrance.

Be proud of who you are. I am

In Service to Others

Each day I receive a passage from the Bible in my Inbox and a recent passage, along with the discusson afterwards really struck a chord with me. In the passage, Jesus heals a woman and immediately after she begins to ministry to the people--she serves them.

The second thing He did, then, was a physical healing that resulted in service to others. This unfortunate woman, who was bound by a disease, is relieved of it by Jesus Christ. Then she rose and immediately served everybody else. This ought to give us a clue—those of us who receive healing—as to what we are supposed to do with our healing. We are to rise and serve.

My purpose in sharing these things is to point out that sometimes its difficult to see our own value. We don't know how we can contribute to the world at large, or how we can serve others (business or otherwise) but the answers are often right there in front of us.

Kim is right ... Again

Last week Kim Klaver wrote a post about ice breakers in Three good ice breakers that are bad for business. This one article has really been on my mind.

In the article she talks about three ice breakers that are inaccurate and mislead people. Taking them down a road thinking something that is absolutely not true. She uses an example for travel companies: "Hello - I market this great travel service where they pay you to travel.  You interested?"

Buzzzzzzzzzz!! Wrong.

Referring travel agents, as the network marketing industry calls them, do market a great travel service but they are NOT paid to travel.

The network marketing industry is littered with statements like the one above. Companies like YTB have so much to offer but when the services and business are marketed in this way we set ourselves up for a fall--especially when the person you've been talking to realizes the statement is false.

It's impossible to police hundreds of thousands of Reps across so many companies.

I've been reading Kim Klaver's thoughts since I started in network marketing and one question has always been in the back of my mind. How can we clean up the network marketing image?

I think a good step in the right direction would be to speak the truth. How about you? Do you have any ideas how we can better the industry? Or better yet, have you had negative experiences that you'd like to share that could shed light on other issues?

I'd like to hear them as I endeavor to be true to myself and my work.

Nurture Number One

We all get busy and it never ceases to amaze me how nobody takes the time to take care of themselves. You can argue that everyone should eat better which is true but I'm referring to nurturing ones soul.

Everyone has basic needs. Food is one of them but having a healthy soul is another.

I captured the image above with my digital camera and seeing the distorted number one in the pavement is what gave me the idea for this post. I started thinking about how we ignore ourselves and the needs of our body and soul in the name of living life.

I have a deadline to reach, I don't have time to relax.

There is to much marketing and keyword research to do. I don't have time.

I'll sleep when I'm dead.

Nurturing yourself is essential to performing at your best. Pushing yourself only diminishes your efforts. Take time to read a book, watch your favorite TV program or do something that you enjoy. Step away from the activities and processes that generate money--it may not feel like work but you still need to take some time away from it.

Relax. Heal yourself.

Extra Effort

I was reading an article written by Sam Walton a few weeks back that I really enjoyed. In the article recounts the words of an unknown author and titles the piece "The Extra Effort Associate" and I'd like to share some points from the authors work.

I recognize that, for success it, is required to give more than the minimum.

I believe people who choose the path of extra effort are demonstrating their love for humanity and posterity.

I believe that extra effort will ultimately result in extra return.

As an extra effort person, I honor those who have an inner drive for excellence. As an extra effort person, I encourage the pursuit of goals with the highest order of integrity, hard work, courage, faith and humility.

As an extra effort person, I believe it is important to give something back to my community and to be active in church and civic organizations.

This article was very inspiring to me, and made me think about my view of myself. Do I consider myself an extra effort person? Do I hold myself to these kinds of standards?

How about you?

Hō‘ike‘ike 2006 - Join the conversation

Recently I was invited by Rosa Say to participate in Hō‘ike‘ike 2006 on her blog, Talking Story. Her request, should I chose to be a part of the discussion was to pick 'just one' article from the past year to be shared or to write something fresh and new.

I tend to be my worst critic so I couldn't pick any one article.

So I wrote a new one!

The article I wrote "The Leadership Character" can be found on Talking Story here. I recently posted it here but I encourage you to head on over to Talking Story and read the other fantastic contributions. Again, I have the distinct pleasure of conversing with a great group of people.

Thank you Rosa, for giving me the chance to join in. Have a wonderful time on your hiatus.

The Leadership Character

"Waste no time arguing what a good man should be. Be one." - Marcus Aurelius

I used to have a severe case of analysis paralysis. Spending so much time talking, thinking and reading about the things I wanted or wanted to be.

I wanted to know all the details.

I wanted to be the best.

Most of all I wanted it to work.

But it didn't because I was continually stuck in the wrong mindset. Excellence is not something a Leader demands, we go out and build it. After all, making demands goes against the very fabric of the word itself--Leadership. And to be a Leader you must strive for excellence but you also have to live it.

Excellence can be defined as "the quality of being excellent" OR "being all you can be" while doing the right thing for your company. And to be a Leader who builds and attracts excellence you have to be a person of strong character and which might be defined as having drive, energy, determination, self-discipline, willpower, and nerve.

Quite a recipe for greatness, isn't it?

Marcus directs us to waste no time talking about being a good person. "Be One" he says, and I can't think of a better model for being a Leader.

Don't get me wrong, I am a huge advocate of discussion, reading and learning but I'm also a strong believer in the ideal that a Leader isn't born--we are developed. It is through the efforts and affects of our character building that we develop and then learn to say "Follow Me."

Be a Leader.

Do what is right.

Then share your experiences.

With warmest regard,

Tim Draayer

Feed 333 - Feed The Children

It's the weekend. You've survived another week, yay you! Rather then meandering into my usual thoughts on life and work I want to take a moment to share a campaign with you. The movement has been named Feed 333 and the video below describes the purpose and the power of what these wonderful women are doing for the worlds children.

This project started because of one person, the founder of the project, viewing 'The Secret'. And because of her intention, her passion and her love the universe is responding. Please take a moment to view the movie and see just what kind of vision can be shared by people like, Spryte Loriano.

Would You Like To Help me Feed 3 Million American
Children In 33 Days......For Just One Dollar?

 

http://www.feed333.com/?fid=34B3BAC2-FB54-3074-29B9B279A60A5ED2 

Where does the money go?

We are partnering with The Children's Hunger Fund (Named the #1 Charity in America by Forbes Magazine, and the ONLY U.S. Charity to hold a 100% rating in all three of their rating categories. More than 99% of all revenue goes to programs serving children in need.)

We are also working cooperatively with The Houston Food Bank (tied for #2 Most Effective Charity in the US by Forbes Magazine), and Feed The Children (one of the largest US children's charities and rated in the top 20 of Forbes Magazine). FEED333 is a project of The World Trust Foundation, 501(c)(3).

It's the dream of a woman named Spryte Loriano.
She watched a movie you may also have seen ~ The
Secret ~ and was inspired to create something that would
make a massive difference in the world, and turn the
impossible, possible: Feed 3 million children in 33 days.
The program is simple, and it offers great rewards. Those
who donate only $1 will have access to many great movies,
e-Books, posters and more--for free. In addition, you'll
have the opportunity to watch your offering grow right
before your eyes as you spread the word! I could go on and
on, but Spryte's inspiring flash movie explains it all. Go
see it at: 

http://www.feed333.com/?fid=34B3BAC2-FB54-3074-29B9B279A60A5ED2 

Most of you receiving this from me are networkers. It's hard to reap what you haven't sown!

Help Feed The Kids,

Tim Draayer
507-363-1870
tldtim@charter.net