Have You Gotten Thrown Off Course?

We've all been there.  Life is moving along at a good pace.  Your business is growing.  You're making progress toward your goals.  You're excited about what the future holds.

For some of us, that is the story of our lives.  But for others, everything changes in a moment.  You encounter disaster, disease, or discouragement.

But you’re not alone. Here is my story, along with the stories of two other women, friends of mine, whose lives were thrown off course by events outside of our control…

Facing Disaster

Betty was a stay-at-home mom who loved being with her kids.  She and her husband had saved for years to create their dream home in Joplin, MO.  Then they’d built it themselves, only outsourcing to two contractors where necessary.

You all know the story of Joplin.  On one spring afternoon, a tornado ripped through the town. It destroyed many buildings including Betty’s home. Fortunately, no one was in the house when the twister touched down.

Dealing with a Diagnosis

It was time for my regular GYN visit.  I went to these faithfully, twice a year.  Why twice?  Isn't the normal schedule once?  Yes...for most women.  But I always went twice.  Once for my normal checkup when I would inevitably be told they had found "atypical cells."  And I would be advised to come back in 6 months for a followup...just in case.  I had been going through this routine for years.  I had been feeling a little run-down and tired.  But still, when I went to the doctor, I was expecting to be told that the results were normal (this was the followup), and that all was well.

So I was stunned when the doctor told me I had cancer and explained that because of my exposure to DES, it appeared to be particularly aggressive.  I had always considered myself healthy and the new diagnosis caught me by surprise.

Encountering Discouragement

Lydia was a network marketer and the sole breadwinner in her family. She loved that her products helped so many people. When she was finally making enough to quit her regular job, she was ready to take the opportunity.  She looked forward to her next scheduled work day so she could turn in her notice.

After years of hard work, Lydia had finally achieved her dream…right as the company closed with no warning. 

Your life can change in an instant through no fault of your own. Adversity can strike at any time and throw you off course. The good news is that you can overcome these circumstances and continue to build a beautiful life even after devastation.

How do you find your way back?  When all your plans for the future are suddenly turned upside-down, how do you keep moving?  That's the subject of my upcoming series.  Don't miss it!

Using Live Events to Grow Your Business

Attending my first ever live multi-day event back in 2000 literally changed my life and my business. Up until that point for about two years, I had been working as an event planner for a site selection company.  This was my first foray into doing something other than a regular job.  I was an independent contractor!  I was making okay money. But not enough that I could actually quit my regular job quite yet.  I knew I needed to find something else.  I either needed to find a way to better market my services.  Or I needed to find a totally new job.  At that time, starting my own business - other than the network marketing I was involved in, didn't even enter my mind.  But one of my event clients was hosting an internet marketing seminar.  Maybe I could learn something about marketing there.  That's why I attended.

Because of some fabulous opportunities I had to meet other successful people and to learn from some of the best minds in internet marketing, three weeks after that event, I dived headfirst into the world of online marketing and network marketing.  This was when my dad moved in with me and I needed to be able to work from home.  I knew I could make everything work, thanks to all I had learned and the connections I made.  I've never looked back!


At first, registering for a multi-day live event possibly even in another state, might not sound very budget-friendly. I mean a ticket can be in the hundreds or thousands of dollars, not to mention airfare, the hotel stay and meals. But if you choose the right event to meet your needs, you can benefit from that one single event for years to come. You never know exactly what will happen at a live event, but if you go knowing you will get an amazing outcome, then you will!  My experience with just my first live event has led me to:

• Meeting other marketers in person and being asked to help with their events.
• Building friendships with key business owners that have led to profitable joint ventures, affiliate relationships, and having my products and services promoted to others who would not have known me otherwise, leading to more sales of my products and services. 
• Had a professional photographer shoot some headshots of me that I used in my marketing.  She was at an event I spoke at and took photos of all the speakers. This was one of those "you never know what'll happen" moments.
• Being interviewed on an internet radio program where I was able to spread my message far and wide.
• Meeting people who have become instant clients and others who I've developed longer-term relationships with who became clients years later.

And all because of who I met and what I learned at that first event.

Of course I've since spoken at and attended many other live events and I've learned a thing or two about choosing the right one. You've got to attend the right event to make sure you get the best return on your time and financial investment. For the best results, I look for events where:

• I will learn something useful for my own business during the sessions.
• I will likely meet people interested in my products and services.
• I will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with the speakers in an intimate environment (instead of being lost in a sea of thousands).
• I will have time to network with others as part of the event at breaks, meal times and after hours.
• I will meet others serving a similar market as me so I can create joint ventures and become an affiliate for others, all leading to more cash for ME!

Be picky about the events you attend and you'll be amazed at the huge return you'll get. Just one idea or one connection could lead you to massive success!

It's So Predictable!

I am cracking up right now...seriously!  What's so funny?  People.  People are funny.  

Here's the scoop...

If you are part of my mailing list, you got an email the other day.  In it, I invited guests to attend a webinar with Mark Harbert.  Yes...THE Mark Harbert.  The topic was how to put your lead generation on autopilot.

It was an awesome webinar.  Really high level stuff.  Mark shared the exact funnel he uses to attract new prospects all day long. People pay big money for the information he shared, but he gave it to my folks for free.  So that's not what has me laughing so hard.

The reason I am cracking up right now is that the subject line of the email I sent was NO BULL INVOLVED...

I explained to my coaching class why I used that subject line and why it was so irresistible.  And no, I'm not sharing that in a blog post.  It's for my folks only.  Sorry!

But right now I am giggling as I just saw that the open rate on the email was over 50%!!!  That is unheard of!  And I knew it would happen.  A good email open rate is 37% and yet I consistently get open rates of 50% or higher.  And I am not an email marketing expert.  So if I can do this, so can you.

I spend my days on a crusade to teach people that you do not need to be an internet pro to get silly results.  You don't need to know much about hits, clicks and analytics to make money.  The answer lies in understanding PEOPLE and what drives them.  Once you understand that, the rest is easy.

I don't worry about driving people to my website with SEO or crazy marketing funnels.  Sure, I use them.  Every marketer should use all the available tools.  But I focus mostly on my email list and this blog.  Why?  Because they work.

There are only two things online that are totally yours.  Your blog and your list.  Social media platforms can come and go.  Algorithms change.  Technology changes.  But your blog and your list are yours.  So if you are listening to the people that tell you email marketing is dead or that blogging is unnecessary, you are listening to the wrong people.

And once you have these tools set up and running, you can use them to focus on your PEOPLE and on learning what makes them tick and giving it to them.

So let me ask you...do you know why the subject line NO BULL INVOLVED was so darn irresistible?  If not, you need to brush up on your study of people.  (Maybe that's the topic for another blog post).

If you do understand why NO BULL INVOLVED grabbed attention, then good for you!  You are farther along than 98% of other marketers.  But let me ask you this.  Are you truly using this knowledge to expand your business?  Very few do.  The extent that you resist your greatness is the extent that you are ruled by other people.  Someone said that.  I don't remember who.  But it is true.  And what is so predictable...besides my email open rates...is the number of marketers who continue to resist stepping into their greatness and building their dream.  

Over 50% of my list opened my email.  A large portion of them registered for the webinar.  Many of them even attended.  But what's sad...and predictable...is that very few will actually implement what they learned.  Isn't it time that you realized that to a large extent the only thing holding you back is you?

Are you ready to stop resisting?  Are you ready to become UNPREDICTABLE?  You know you are!  Just say YES!  Then take the first step...sign up for my email list so you can be the first to hear about incredible trainings by people like Mark Harbert. 
P.S. Are you following me on Twitter?

Great Books on Leadership

You know I love to read. It's a great way to learn new things. Reading books on the topic of leadership can help you develop and strengthen your skills. Not only that but books for leaders can inspire you, motivate you, and even boost your productivity. But if you’re not sure which leadership books to read, here are some of my favorites…


Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't by Simon Sinek

Leaders Eat Last is a wonderful peek into the world of servant leadership. By focusing on serving their team, smart leaders create rich and fulfilling workplaces. They value new ideas and respect viewpoints that differ from their own.

Simon wrote this book after being inspired by the military. On seeing that the high-ranking officers ate after the new recruits, he realized the concept could be applied to the business world, too. This incident made him focus on the importance of serving and protecting your followers.

Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 by John C. Maxwell

The author believes that “born” leaders are rare. He believes that everyone can be a leader no matter what their occupation or personality type. His book focuses on helping people develop the traits they need to become exceptional leaders.

In Developing the Leader Within, you’ll discover leadership principles that you can apply to every area of your life—your company or business, your family, your church, or your ministry. At just 256 pages, this book is short and easy to read. It’s packed with wisdom and knowledge that will help you blossom into a true leader.

Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Box by The Arbinger Institute

Leadership and Self-Deception is told through a fictional character’s experiences at work and home. As he learns more about his own motivations, his conflicts at his company and in his marriage improve.

This book emphasizes the way leaders treat their people, encouraging them to focus on others. Rather than using leadership to control others, you’ll learn real strategies for influencing and impacting those around you.

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. By Brené Brown

It takes bravery and courage to step up and lead others. It’s not about having the right answers but a willingness to ask questions, seek feedback, and learn with those you’re eager to serve.

In Dare to Lead, Brené uses fresh examples, new research, and powerful stories to illustrate each chapter. While you can use this book to improve your leadership skills at your job, it’s also filled with nuggets that are sure to help you lead at home, too.

Reading books on leadership is like having a mentor to guide you. You’ll develop your skills faster and enjoy the journey more, thanks to the wisdom of those who have gone before you.

How To Lead With Grace And Grit

Several years ago, I left a network marketing company that I had been with for years to move to another one...and I took a large portion of my team with me. I thought I knew what I was getting into. But it wasn't long after the move that I began noticing serious problems. The company had originally seemed like a fabulous company to be part of, but as time went on it began seeming more and more like a pyramid scheme.

In the beginning, the products were ones that I was proud to represent. Cell phone plans with most of the major carriers. Nutritional supplements that actually worked. Identity theft protection with one of the leaders in the industry. All at reasonable prices. The comp plan was solid. Making sales was easy. Recruiting was a snap. Many people joined just so they could get a better deal on their phone plans. Everything was okay. My team was growing their business. Then everything changed and the complaints started coming in.

I was shocked as slowly the initial products were no longer offered and instead were being replaced with things that had little to no value. The focus shifted from product sales to recruitment. People who had signed up as customers stopped buying. Recruitment became more and more difficult because no one was making any money except those of us with large downlines that hadn't been hit too badly by attrition...yet. But I new it was only a matter of time before my most loyal team members got frustrated and left. I knew that I had to step up and do something drastic if I was going to keep their trust and respect. I reached out to a mentor who advised me to take four important steps:

Evaluate What Went Wrong

As soon as you notice an issue—whether at work or at home—it’s best to take a step back and figure out what went wrong. This isn’t about assigning blame or looking for a scapegoat. Instead, your focus should be on getting to the root of the problem.

I did this by researching complaints against the company. I found that while everything had been good, the founder of the company ran it exclusively. It was only after he became seriously ill and turned control over to other parties that problems arose.

Pay the Price

Once you know what the issue is, you need to find a way to make things right. Think about who was hurt by your actions. Then brainstorm possible solutions by asking yourself, “What would delight my customers/employees/family/team?”

Sometimes, all that’s needed is a quick apology and a correction. For example, if you sent out an email to customers that gave them the wrong link, then a new email with an apology and the right link is more than enough.

But for bigger issues, like a shopping cart that breaks down, offer a little incentive to customers who complained. This can be as simple as a 25% off coupon for their next purchase.

Acknowledge What Happened

Part of being a leader is calling out yourself or your organization when you’re wrong. Don’t be afraid that doing this will hurt your image—just the opposite usually happens. That’s because people like employees, customers, and other brands respect leaders that acknowledge the truth.

So go ahead and make a formal announcement. You don’t have to call a press conference but do talk about what happened. Make it public knowledge and share what went wrong, what caused the issue, and what you’ll do to make it right.

I set up a conference call for my team and explained what had I had discovered. I told them that in my opinion, the company was no longer legitimate and that I felt it was just a matter of time before they found themselves in legal trouble. I offered to find us a new home and promised to do everything in my power to help them rebuild if they would trust me one more time. I acknowledged that perhaps I had been too quick to leave our previous company where we had been earning reliable income for the promise of a quicker path to wealth.

Create a Plan

Put on your problem-solving cap and think about how you can prevent this issue from happening in the future. For example, if the videos in your course were low-quality, then you could add a note to your pre-sales checklist to double-check the video resolution before you go live.

It’s easy to lead when everything is going well. But leaders aren’t made during the easy moments—they’re developed during hard moments and bumpy roads. If you’re facing difficulties at home or at work, don’t give up. Lean into these experiences and let them make you a better leader.

For those of you wondering, we did indeed, find a new home. Much of my team made the switch with me and we did rebuild much of what we had lost. I did lose some in the process, but we are all still connected. Who knows, they may even jump back into the biz some day. I recently got hardcore back into it! Most importantly, I retained the trust and respect of the people I had worked with for so many years.

Oh...and the company? They were eventually shut down by the FTC as an illegal pyramid scheme. Looks like that time I made the right call!

What is Leadership?

When I first moved to Arkansas, I spent much of my spare time volunteering with an annual women's conference sponsored by the University of Arkansas. One year when the conference chair quit unexpectedly, I stepped up to keep the conference running. I handled the publicity, organized the programs and special events, worked with the speakers and recruited even more volunteers to keep the conference going.

Still, I was shocked the following year when everyone just assumed I was now the conference chair. I had never considered myself the leader and the thought made me a little uncomfortable. I wondered if I was equipped to fully handle such a large event. But it seems I had already been designated the leader, simply because I stepped in when others wouldn't.

Leadership Isn’t Being Bossy

Some people have a mental image of a leader as the person who sits behind an oak desk and demands their employees or volunteers do all the heavy lifting. They’re available to take the bows…but not share in the workload.

While it’s true that managers like this do exist, they aren’t truly leaders. Leaders get in the trenches with their people, inspire them with a bigger vision and encourage them where needed.

Leadership Starts with Your Life

Your first leadership role is being the leader of your own life. Embracing leadership starts with owning responsibility for what shows up in your life rather than playing the victim or running a constant blame game. 

No matter what happens in your life, you're in charge of doing something about it. It doesn't matter who's to blame for a situation or event. It’s on you to take ownership and determine what happens next.

Leadership Leans in to Listen

When some people think of leadership, they think of billionaire CEOs issuing memos and creating new regulations from a great distance away. But the best leaders aren’t distant beings who are far removed from the day-to-day lives of their team members, employees, volunteers, or students.

The best leaders take the time to listen to their followers. They’re willing to hear feedback—even if that feedback is negative. They can respond to criticism without retaliating later and they can separate their vision from their feelings.

Leadership Loves People

The most effective leaders love their people. They genuinely want to see them succeed and try to make sure they have the tools they need. They don’t just see a team member or volunteer as another cog in the machine.

Instead, they care about helping those around them become the best version of themselves. This means they inspire others by building them up and believing in them. They encourage growth and support it when their followers take smart risks.

 

Leadership can mean different things to different people. The more you get clear on what leadership looks like to you, the easier it will be to lean into your values and honor those who are working with you.

Do You Have The Personality of a Leader?

When you think of a leader, what image comes to mind? Is it the high-powered executive who always completes her projects on time and supervises an amazing team? Is it the author and speaker who runs a national organization?

Do you imagine these people are vastly different from you? Do you assume they have leadership personalities? It’s easy to believe that but it’s not always true. Here are a few surprising facts about leadership that you may not have considered…

 

Fact #1: Introverts Can Be Leaders

There’s a big myth that all leaders are people-loving extroverts. If you’re not familiar with the term, an extrovert is an outgoing person that finds interacting with others energizing. By contrast, an introvert often feels that interactions are draining and needs recovery time after lengthy social situations.

But many famous leaders were introverts. One of the most well-known introvert leaders was Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a quiet child who lost her parents at a young age. But she went on to become a passionate (and vocal!) supporter of many important causes including The League of Women Voters.

 

Fact #2: Gentle Spirits Can Be Leaders

Some people don’t like the idea of being leaders because they’ve only seen examples of authoritarian leadership. These leaders tell their followers what to do and expect it to be done simply because they said so. Many military systems rely on authoritarian leadership.

If you have a nurturing spirit or highly value community input, this style of leadership probably doesn’t appeal to you. But that’s not the only way to lead—there are plenty of leaders that quietly guide their followers with kindness and compassion. They embrace feedback and invite others to journey with them.

 

Fact #3: Big Thinkers Can Be Leaders

It’s easy to assume that the best leaders are Type-As who organize every moment of their days. While it’s true that those with administrative traits can be leaders, it doesn’t mean that there’s not room at the table for your gifts!

If you’re a creative who thinks about the big picture, you’re already leadership material. Leaders inspire and motivate their followers to come on board and pursue exciting, new adventures. You do this naturally! Your ability to chase your dreams can be a huge asset to any organization or brand you work with.

 

Too often, people look at who they are and decide they can’t possibly lead others. But the truth is that you can shape your leadership style around your strengths. You can intentionally cultivate the leadership skills you need to become a leader.

 

It does take work and effort. You may need to learn new communication methods, experiment with different leadership styles, or work with a coach. But whatever you do, don’t give up. Leaders like you are needed!