Every year in December I like to take some time to reflect on past year. January is the beginning of a new year and it is a time to set goals. I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions. People usually don’t take those seriously, however, I am a firm believer in setting goals and making action plans to achieve those goals.

I generally begin by thinking about the different things that have happened in the year to this point but also in the years prior in my network marketing career. Reflecting on both the good things that happened and things that weren’t so good. I don’t spend much time on the things that weren’t so good but just enough time to take note of anything I learned or ways I could get a better outcome.

Not only is it important to be regularly analyzing things and improving as we go, it is also important to celebrate the successes of the previous year. Celebrating is really important because it sets a success energy that attracts more good things.

Three Reasons to Reflect on and Celebrate Success:

1. We train our subconscious to be aware and open to success and abundance.
2. We give our subconscious and conscious mind PROOF of our success and progress.
3. It builds self-esteem, confidence and belief in our abilities.

Some things to include in your reflection:

Any successes large and small. Even the things you consider small. Some of these small successes are stepping stones to larger successes.

New things you learned – This is a huge one that people often forget to include. Reflect on all the training you have taken, books you have read, videos & audios and live events you have attended, anything that has been good for growth in your personal development or business skills. Really celebrate this one knowing that training and personal development is the biggest success secret of network marketing professionals who earn full time income.

Don’t forget the things you learned by trial and error. Like when you began learning to write a blog or make a video.

There are lots of things you can add to your list. I recommend writing down your reflections. If you have been following my training for any length of time, you should have this done from previous years and have saved them. If so, take out some of your past years reflections and look at the progress over the years. This is really fun.

Reflecting on the progress you have made builds confidence. When I look back on the shy girl who was terrified to be a leader, I am amazed at how far I have come. It always gets me choked up as I write and reflect on how I have changed. Network Marketing is the best business for personal growth.

After you have finished reflecting on the previous year, you can make a plan of action for the next year. What will you do to increase your business? How will you improve on your marketing skills and what will you do to implement. Think about where you want to be at the end of 2012. Write that down. Then make a list of all the things you plan to do to get there.

Writing all of this down is very important. It helps you have a direction for the year. Keep a copy of both the reflecting of the previous year and the plan for next year. It is really empowering to look back at the things you have accomplished in the past and how far you have come, especially when you have the notes for several years. You can see your growth over the years which is such a confidence booster.

There are actually more than 7 secrets to success in network marketing. Well, let’s get real. They aren’t really secrets but to some distributors, it is as though they are.

Here are seven of the more important things that all successful network marketers know and apply. If you are not aware of these and focusing on them, you will have a tough time achieving any level of success.

1. Having a good Self Image – Having a good self image is important. If you don’t, it makes everything a struggle. You may find it difficult to maintain any success that you achieve because something in the self conscious says you aren’t good enough so it begins to put the brakes on.



That is why I started Esteem Power Newsletter. It is centered around helping network marketers raise their self-esteem of self-image.



2. Know Your WHY - This is another crucial one. If you don’t know why you want success in network marketing, you WILL NEVER have any success that amounts to anything.



Your WHY has to be really strong and MUST be emotional. I can’t stress that enough. If you don’t have a really strong WHY, you won’t do what it takes to get things done. Network marketing is an industry with a really high failure rate. I have heard percentage rates of failure in the 90s. I don’t know the real numbers but I know they are high.



The failure rate is not because network marketing doesn’t work. It does work. I am a living example that it works and so are several in my downline and upline that are full time network marketers.



The failure is on each individual who does not do the necessary things. Failure is because people don’t do the work, both on themselves and their business. They don’t study, they don’t learn, they don’t apply what they learn and they don’t do enough marketing. It’s really simple.



3. Believe in Yourself and the Industry – This is HUGE. YOU MUST, YOU MUST, YOU MUST BELIEVE! If you aren’t 100% confident that you can do this, you may as well pack it up and settle in at the JOB.



There are lots of ways you can build belief. Hmmm, I think that will be the focus of my next blog post.



4. Visualize Success – You MUST see yourself reaching your goals. You should actually have goals written down, then daily visualizing reaching those goals. Every night before going to bed visualize goals I want to achieve. I try to get as detailed as I possibly can. What I am wearing, who I am talking to, what I am saying, I visualized myself getting awards on stage. I visualized all kinds of scenarios where I could see my check and others could also see it and be impressed. My favorite was going into the bank to deposit the check and the bank teller wanting to know how I get all these big checks.



I had so much fun when I got to that point. I loved handing the bank teller my check for deposit. Some of them were around for several years and observed my checks growing. That’s one thing I miss now that our checks are direct deposited.



Anyway, think up all kinds of ways you can visualize success. It’s fun and you’ll be amazed how it helps you get there faster. As you are visualizing, keep reflecting on your WHY.



5. Take MASSIVE Action – This one seems like common sense to me. If you don’t take action, NOTHING will happen.



You must make a plan and then WORK YOU PLAN! I see far too many distributors sign up who seem to think that all they have to do is join and their business will build itself as if by osmosis. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble but that’s not how business of any kind works.



Actually you need to take appropriate action. Some people fiddle with this and that doing “business tasks” and are not really doing action that amounts to making progress.



ACTION, ACTION, ACTION!! Every morning ask yourself, “What can I do today to MOVE my business forward toward the realization of my goals?”



6. Learning From Mistakes – It is a fact of life. There will be mistakes, lots of them. In the beginning you are learning. You are learning about your company, learning ways to market yourself and your business and just getting the feel for what fits your style of business building.



This is one that makes me kind of sad. I want to see people experience the freedom of working from home but I’ve seen far too many distributors give up way too soon because the things they did to promote their business didn’t work as they planned.



You have to keep trying and testing until you find what fits YOUR style. There are marketing techniques that fit most anyone. I am an excellent example. I was very uncomfortable approaching strangers and I was not into harassing friends and family. I had to test all kinds of marketing and THAT I DID!



Lots of marketing techniques I tried were abysmal failures, some I spent a lot of money on. In the beginning I was broke so free and really cheap was all I could do. The point is, you have to keep trying and testing methods to promote your business.



Think of each mistake or failure as a lesson. Learn the lesson, make the adjustments and KEEP PROGRESSING!



7. Celebrate Abundance – Be on the watch for anything that is progress. Celebrate progress. Celebrate abundance. Celebrate when you learn something that will grow your business.



Celebrate success in others too. I have a silly fun thing I do with a few of my team members who use MSN Messenger. There is a thing they call a “Wink” that you can send a little animated sequence to someone on your list of contacts. Whenever I see an abundant thing happening in their group, I send a special abundance “wink.” Watch the video below to see what I am taking about.

“When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there.”  — Zig Ziglar

There will always be obstacles but how are we going to react to them when they do arise? Will we sit down in defeat or will we make the necessary adjustments?

For many people, the economy is an obstacle.

As a leader of a large downline with many legs of group volume, I am able to see how some distributors are letting the economy effect their business in a negative way. When I talk to the ones with a dwindling group volume, they make statements like, “The economy is bad and NO ONE is buying anything!”

NO ONE??

As I am observing my own downline with many group volume legs, I can see some leg group volumes thriving and growing. With my own eyes I see proof that your energy can affect your group volume. The ones who have a good attitude and have good abundance energy are growing. These ones see the network marketing industry as a solution to people’s financial situation. We have a solution and we care enough to offer it to people who would like to change things.

The ones that are fearful are stuck. They can’t see past the economy. They are missing that they have help for people who would be willing to help themselves. This is why they see no growth in their business and some actually give up.

Take a look a the short video below. The first time I saw this video it was being shown at a leadership training event. It is pretty funny but it does make for a good illustration on how we might be acting in our business, especially these days with the economy the way it is. Many people are all locked up in fear and not knowing were to turn. It DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY!

Don’t be like the people stuck on an escalator.

Remember, network marketing can be a solution for people who want to supplement their income. Your products are also likely to be an answer to their economic situation. Your health products can help people be healthier and spend less money on doctor visits, fewer days missed of work. That is just one example.

Think about the ways your business is a help to people. Then use that to shift your attitude and your abundance energy. I also recommend using some EFT to help shift your energy toward abundance.

For the past three weeks a little bird has been flirting with his reflection in my office windows. He starts early in the morning and does this all day until dark. He flutters, he taps and he flirts with the bird that is his reflection. He even brings worms and tries to feed that bird he thinks he is flirting with.

As I watch this little bird I am amazed at how persistent he is. We can learn a couple things from this little bird.

Lesson 1. Even though what he is doing is not working, he keeps persistently trying again. Persistence is an extremely important quality we all need as business owners. We all have setbacks it’s what we do when those setbacks happen that will determine how successful we will be. Will we keep giving it another try or will we sit down and give up.



Here are a couple Napoleon Hill quotes on persistence:
“Lack of persistence is one of the major causes of failure.”



“Those who have cultivated the habit of persistence seem to enjoy
insurance against failure”



Lesson 2. If we are persistently doing the wrong thing, we will make no progress in our business. The little bird just won’t give up but he is never going to reach that bird in the reflection. It’s an illusion. In our business, we need to analyze what we are doing to make sure we are not persistently chasing an illusion.

4 Ways we could be chasing an illusion:

• Jumping from one network marketing company to another thinking if you move on you will have success in the next company. Sadly, I see this one all the time. People just don’t stick with one company. I realize that you might not find the right fit with the first company you are with but most people don’t even give it enough time to find out.
  

  
  I stuck with my first network marketing company for 2 years before I decided it was not the right company for me. The company I am with today, I have been with for 14 years now.




• Thinking you will have success in your network marketing business without promoting your business. You will NOT have success if you don’t promote your business. It’s just that simple. You need to massively promote your business and I mean promote in the right way.
  

  
  Think about how conventional businesses promote their business. They don’t make a list of 100 friends and family and hit them up. They do advertising and promotion. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you shouldn’t sell to your friends and family but there are simply better ways to do it than is often taught in “old school” network marketing.
  

  
  Because of my shyness, I looked for ways to get my information out there and get people to come to me. That takes the SCARY out of marketing. I was always directing people to my web sites. I set up things for them to go through on my web sites. Things like newsletters, autoresponders, audios and ways to contact me. Now I also do videos and social media.




• Thinking internet marketing is a magic bullet – Many people are playing around online doing pretty much nothing but thinking they are building a business. You must be actively doing things online if you want success. Create valuable content that links to your website. You must do things to get your web site noticed. If you don’t promote your web site, it will be like an uncharted island in the ocean. No one will ever find it.




• Working on your business in a hit and miss fashion – Persistence means doing daily tasks in your business. Some days you will do more than other days but on those days when you can’t do much, you should always be doing a few basic tasks like checking email.
  

  
  I had one woman call me and tell me she wanted to join my company under me because I was the only one who responded to her email out of 12 people she tried to contact to answer her questions. I was stunned when she told me that.
  

  
  She had done a Google search and was looking for a good sponsor. These 12 people have web sites online but they aren’t acting like serious business people.

The list could go on but you get the idea. There are plenty of ways to learn good marketing skills and success mindset. I encourage you to check out the Home and Small Business Network. There is lots of training available.

Be like a postage stamp and stick with it until you get there!

Wow!! Where did the year go? Just a few days and it will be the start of another new year.

January has always been a time of new beginnings for my business. I don’t mean jumping into another company. I’m talking about looking at where you have been and making any changes necessary to keep moving forward. Make a business plan for the next year.

January, 14 years ago, I started with my current network marketing company. 13 years ago, also in January, I started writing my first newsletter. I still publish that newsletter to this day. It is the core of my business.

It’s that time of year again. A few days away from January 2011. Time to reassess business and make a plan for 2011. This year also has new things in store. I have a new Ebook coming out on “Emotional Freedom Technique for Network Marketers,” I also have a new email newsletter coming out in January. I am still thinking of a name for the newsletter but I am leaning toward, Esteem Power. It will be centered around building your self esteem and confidence with EFT and other related tools.

There will also be many new things in store for all who are involved with Home and Small Business Network. If you haven’t checked into Home and Small Business Network yet, I really encourage you to do so. The site will be unveiling more and more tools and training for business owners. Not only home business owners but any kind of business.

“Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you ready or not, to put this plan into action.” — Napoleon Hill

That is one of many great quotes from Napoleon Hill. If you haven’t read his book “Think and Grow Rich” I highly recommend you add that to your list of books to read in 2011. It’s a book that should be read multiple times.

A Few Ideas For Making A Plan for 2011

Evaluate the Past
First look at the past year or even several years but especially the past year. What have you accomplished already? What has worked and what has not?

Make a list of things that went well and some things that didn’t work out so well.

Spend a little time reflecting on the good things that happened. How could you expand on those in the new year. Make a few notes on things that you would like to expand on. Look at the things that didn’t work out so well. Are there things you should eliminate or can adjustments be made to make those things work out better?

Make A Plan for 2011
Now that you have analyzed the previous year, what will you do with 2011? Decide what you want to accomplish this year. What kind of training and personal development will you include in your plan?

What will you do to increase your business? How will you improve on your marketing skills and what will you do to implement. Think about where you want to be at the end of 2011. Write that down. Then make a list of all the things you plan to do to get there.

Writing all of this down is very important. It helps you have a direction for the year. Keep a copy of both the analyzing of the previous year and the plan for next year. It is really empowering to look back at the things you have accomplished in the past and how far you have come, especially when you have the notes for several years. You can see your growth over the years which is such a confidence booster.

There is a quote: “He who fails to plan, plans to fail.” I don’t know who said it but it is true. Start thinking about your plan for the next year. Spend a little time with it and and enjoy the pricess.

Leave a comment and share your ideas for 2011.

Wishing you an Abundantly Successful 2011,

“Those who want milk don’t just sit in a field and wait for a cow to back up to them.” – Author Unknown

That is my all time favorite quote. I first heard it over 12 years ago on a conference call. It cracked me up back then and it still makes me smile. The illustration is so ridiculous yet so appropriate.

If you want milk you have to do something to get it. Action is required. These days you can go to the store so its pretty easy.

Sadly many people approach their business as though they were sitting in a field waiting for something to happen. I guess they are hoping osmosis will kick in and things will just happen.

They start their network marketing business with a glimmer in their eye. “One day I’ll retire from the drudgery of a job,” or “I will earn a thousand or so to supplement my income”, or “I’ll earn enough to cover a car payment.”

Remember that feeling? You learned about how network marketing worked and bought into the dream. The problem is, far too many sign up as distributors but they don’t take any action. They just wait for something to happen.

Network marketing is a business that you can fulfill your dreams. You can open up unimaginable freedom and lifestyle changes but . . .

. . . one thing is required. Well, actually a few things are required but they all require ACTION!!

Here are 3 ways to help keep yourself motivated for action:

• 1. Know Your WHY -This is really important. Recently I heard someone say your why should be big enough to make you cry. Mine sure did. Even still I can get choked up when I tell my story of how I got started. It needs to be emotional and inspiring. Although others will benefit from your cause, it has to be about you.
  

  
  Example: My why was freedom: emotionally, financially and freedom from health problems – I was financially in trouble and I was suffering from suicidal depression. At that time I was exposed to medicinal grade essential oils. My sponsor, who knew I was in bad shape brought some oils over for me to try. Within minutes of trying an oil blend, I was lifted out of that depression to such a point that I was giggling and dancing around the house. My son came home, not knowing what had happened, asked if I was “On something.” That was life changing for me.
  

  
  Having been in network marketing already but not feeling a good fit, I realized this was the company for me. This could, not only help my husband’s health issues, but also the financial mess we were in. We live in the poorest county in Ohio, my husband had lost his job of over 20 years. He had serious health issues and had been in the hospital. We were in a desperate situation. Being over 40, it was difficult for Mark to find a decent job so we both ended up doing all kinds of things but not making ends meet.
  

  
  Freedom from all that mess was my HUGE WHY!

• 2. Focus Daily on your WHY – When you are doing that, make sure you think deeply for a few minutes and let yourself access the emotion under it. This is VERY important. You’ll find motivation if you focus on this why EVERY SINGLE DAY. Start your day with it so you set the tone for the day.
• 3. Take Daily Action – Read books, listen to audios and conference calls, work on personal development, use at least 3-5 ways to promote your business, etc. Learn what you need to do and do something daily.

Even if you take small steps in the beginning, keep stepping forward and making progress. Visualize, set goals, work on personal development, learn to be a good marketer and leader. Stick to it and have a DMO – Daily Method of Operation.



If you stick to it and keep taking action, you won’t regret it.