It's a question I hear all the time. "I thought you were a Christian. Why are you always talking about growing your business? Aren't you supposed to live in poverty?"
Absolutely not! We were made to live in abundance and prosperity. And I'm not going to get into a teaching of Scripture here. Let's just say if you want to go read the Bible, there are plenty of passages about abundance throughout.
We are supposed to be blessings in the world. And let's be real. It's hard to be a blessing to anyone when you are poor. If you feel called to be a doctor but you can't afford college and medical school, that's a problem. If you feel that you should foster children, that's hard to do if you can't afford to care for them. If your work is to feed the hungry, it's hard to support the charities that make this possible without money.
Everything in our society today takes money. Healthcare is expensive. Food is expensive. Homes are expensive. And so, yes, I talk a great deal about building your business and making money. Because my family and I require all of those things and more to live to our fullest potential. And I want to help others have them to - which takes money in order for me to have the tools necessary to reach and teach them.
And since I am passionate - called if you will - to help others fulfill their missions, it stands to reason that I am made to live in abundance.
I don't make any pretenses about it either. My goal with my business is to make as much money as possible. I need healthcare for my husband. I want all 7 grandchildren to go to college and not graduate with a mountain of debt.
I want to start a group home for foster children that have aged out of the system and have no place to go. I want to help ensure that no child ever goes to bed hungry. I want everyone to be able to live up to their full potential and use the gifts they were given to help make this world a place that is safe and prosperous for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Lofty goals? Perhaps. But with money, I can make a start.
So yes, I want to be rich. Because I cannot fulfill any of these goals without the necessary tools to do so. Healthcare costs money and I want the best for my husband. College gets more expensive every year and I want my grandchildren to be able to go where they wish to get the education they need to fulfill their purpose.
It will take money to remodel my home or purchase another property to turn into a group home. And even more money to furnish it and pay daily expenses and so forth. I already support a charity devoted to ending childhood hunger. But think how much more they could do if I - and everyone who supports them - could double or even triple our contributions! Which is why I work so hard to help others build abundant lives. But how many more could I reach if I could afford more tools, better tools, more help?
I was given the gift of being able to communicate and connect with people. And I would be a failure if I did not use that gift to do the most good. This is what I was meant to do. And in doing it I become successful. But it takes money. And so to become what I was meant to be, I will need to be rich. And there is nothing wrong with that! In fact, I believe that if I didn't do what God had called me to do and prepared me to do and gifted me to do, I would be derelict in my duty to Him.
So why am I going on this crusade today? Because I am tired of people using the "nobility in poverty" excuse for their failure. I am done watching people tear down those that are trying to better themselves as if there is something wrong with that. I have had enough!
I am also fed up with those who purport to help others but in reality all they are helping is themselves. I am not going into details here, but you know who you are. You are the ones who keep promising the next breakthrough is right around the corner, if only you can pay just a little bit more. The ones who teach that it's okay to leave your integrity at the door when it comes to your business. After all, it's not like you're really hurting anyone. The ones who keep quiet when they know things aren't right but they don't want to jeopardize their own cushy set-up. Yes, we were made to be abundant but not at the expense of others.
If you want the best possible life for your family, it's time. If you feel called to do something with your life but don't know how to get there, it's time.
If you've been trying to grow in abundance but deep inside you feel it's not supposed to be, I'm here to tell you, YOU ARE WRONG! So let's work together to get past that mindset of lack.
If you've been listening to all the naysayers tell you that money is the root of all evil, remind them that the correct proverb is "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil." Then dump those negative nellies and surround yourself with people who love and support you in your growth.
And if you are experiencing some success but in your heart you know you are not acting with integrity, then it's time to stop and look at what you are doing.
You've read my passions. What I am called to do. What are yours? And how can I help you live them? Share in the comments.
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My grandma had a saying whenever one of us was going through a difficult time. "This too shall pass." And even though at the time we sometimes doubted, it turns out grandma was right. The situation always changed.
I have found myself repeating that phrase many times in my life. Especially as an entrepreneur. Business slow? It will pass. Difficult client? It will pass. Team members dropping like flies? Yes, even that will pass. Technology issues, impossible deadlines, short on cash, doubtful family and friends, health concerns, fallout from doing something when you knew better (😐) - all this will (and did) pass.
Things aren't suddenly going to be all rainbows and unicorns just because you have decided to pursue your passion and become an entrepreneur. There will be good days. There will even be great days. But there will also be bad days. But you will get through them. This too shall pass.
The trick is to know that bad days will come and to be ready.
Now some crises really aren't. They are just imagined. And when that happens you need to take time to get your mindset straight. That's why it is so important to surround yourself with a group of people who will lift you up and support you while you are struggling with your doubt and fear. I know what it's like. Why would anyone listen to me? I'm just a poor girl from the wrong side of a small town from nowhere. When those feelings hit, my support circle quickly pointed out how wrong that thinking was. And it passed. And became less frequent as I realized I did have something to share that people wanted to hear.
Tip #1 - surround yourself with the right kind of people. The ones who will lift you up when need it - and who will give you a swift kick when you need that.
Some crises seem worse at the time than they really are. Your business will experience many little bumps in the road. Don't panic! Actions taken in panic mode will often only make things worse. Assess the situation and determine if you need to take action or if you simply need to wait it out. If action is required, look at all options before making any decisions. If you're unsure, find a trusted mentor or coach and ask their opinion.
Tip #2 - Never make a decision out of fear or panic. Look at all of your options. Get help from a mentor or coach. Remember that sometimes doing nothing really is the best choice!
Of course, there will always be the chance that something will go horribly wrong with your business. When that happens the steps are pretty much the same as for minor crises. Don't panic. Assess the situation. Look at all your options. Take the necessary action.
Many major crises can be averted simply by reviewing what is happening in your business and in your industry and adjusting as necessary.
Tip #3 - Be proactive not reactive. Know your numbers (income, outflow, etc). Periodically review your business and make any adjustments necessary to keep on track. Keep current with your industry but be careful not to jump on every new trend that comes along. Make sure it's right for you and your business before you do.
These three tips will help you over the daily hurdles that come with running a business. But when all else fails, just remember what grandma said. This too shall pass!
No more excuses! With all the resources available today, if you are not where you want to be - in your life or your business - it is probably your own fault.
Yes! I dared to say that! With today's technology, you have access to the combined knowledge of hundreds - maybe even thousands - of the best minds in the business (no matter what business you're in). And that same technology allows you to perform most of the tasks related to your business with an ease never before experienced. It gives the marketer working from his bedroom the same global reach as even some of the largest companies.
Network marketing is not hard. Business in general is not hard. Most of the obstacles we find along the way are actually of our own creation. (Yup! I said it again. It's your own fault).
I know. There's a lot of conflicting advice out there about building your business. Why is that? Well, what works for me and what I'm comfortable with may be very different than what works for you. I hate cold calls. In fact, I hate the telephone in general. And so all the advice out there on this topic is a waste of my time. I do the bare minimum necessary. But I have a friend and team member who LOVES the phone. I think one day we may have to have it surgically removed from her ear! I tried to teach her how to build her list and how to blog. And she hated every minute of it. So how do you sort through all of the information out there to find what works? Well, first, look for what feels right to you. Focus on your strengths and make them stronger. We all need to learn new skills. I may learn to perfect my phone technique one day. But right now I prefer to write. And it works for me. So I'm taking coaching and training in copywriting and blogging. My friend is perfecting Facebook Live and video. Because she likes to talk. Both methods work, as long as they are being used by the right person.
I've been told that I need to "get with the times" and do more video. And maybe someday I will. But that's your belief. I'm doing fine right now with my own DMO (daily method of operations *smile*).
"But not everyone believes in network marketing. They won't listen. They think I'm a fraud!" Ok. Some will. Some won't. Who cares? Work with the ones that do. Ignore the rest.
You can do this! I know you can. You have the power within you to live your life on your terms. Many of you won't and that's sad. But some of you want something more. Go get it!
I have a small group of friends. We call ourselves the Ninja Marketers. Our sole purpose is to share our skills and knowledge with others in the business and to support and motivate each other. We are a team. When one of us succeeds, we all succeed.
Find your Ninjas. And if you can't, you are welcome to come and hang out with us. Either way, find others who share your vision and work together to live your dreams.
Don't waste another minute! Get up right now and do something - anything - to get your business back on track, to build the life you want to live, to move closer to your goals. If you don't have goals, write some! I have a blog post about that! Then take MASSIVE action - to COMPLETION - to achieve them. And yes, I have a blog post on that too.
It's time. If you truly want to live the life you were meant to, the life you dream of, then stop making excuses. As Henry C. Link stated, ""While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior."
