And! We’re always supposed to be upbeat and positive (yes, I heard this on a call recently).

What’s the Big Secret?

Well, here’s my take on it. If the internet today, social media, removing six degrees of separation, etc. is supposed to be about transparency and allowing others to see us for who we really are, then aren’t we supposed to be real and true to who we are?

Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s a big difference between expressing your faith (very cool) and publicly bashing somebody else’s beliefs (not cool at all).

And I am all about surrounding myself with positive people. Seriously, who wants to be around negativity all the time? Not me! But, sometimes negative ‘stuff’ happens and you know what? It’s perfectly o.k. to talk about it, deal with it, and move on.

Seriously, what are we trying to hide behind?

OK, Here it Comes

Personally? I would not be doing what I am today if it were not because of my faith and putting all my trust in my Lord and Savior.

It’s because of my faith that I didn’t give up on this Internet gig a long time ago.

It’s because of my faith that I’ve stayed somewhat sane during these last nine months while both of my sons are deployed to the Middle East.

It’s because of my faith that I am FINALLY listening to God and following what He wants to do with my life and my business.

Yes, I’ve been fighting it for nearly 4 years, so it’s about time I paid attention.

Yes, I am a follower of Christ (whew! there I said it!). No, I don’t stand on the street corner waving my Bible and I won’t be posting scripture on blog comments.

However, my faith is the foundation of my story. Today’s Internet is about telling stories, so I believe I have an obligation to tell the whole story, not just part of it because ‘we’re not supposed to talk about it’ as business owners. Maybe this resonates with you, too?

So, What Happens Next?

Nothing. I’m still the same person I was before. You just now know something about me that perhaps you didn’t before and hopefully, it’s inspired you, too, to be true to yourself, whatever that may be!

If I lose a few subscribers, Twitter followers for Facebook connections because I may talk about my faith, I can’t help that. I won’t pretend to hide behind or be something that I’m not. I am not here to please the world. That isn’t my job.

I AM here, however, to make a difference, to serve my clients and team members regardless of what they believe (or don’t believe) as long as it glorifies His purpose for my life.

How About You?

If anything, I hope this post got you thinking about the stories you want, and perhaps need, to tell. This is why people do business with you, because of your stories, not because of some grand illusion that claims to be in the name of ‘professionalism’.

It’s cool to tell the whole story, whatever that may be, so I encourage you to start telling yours. You will be amazed at what happens next.

I hope you have an amazing day!

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You can read all the details on the SEC website > > Donahue & SEC

Why do I bring this up now and what does this have to do with network marketing?

I bring it up now because, given what’s happening in our economy today, it’s important for people to hear some of the corporate horror stories from those of us who lived that 9-5 commute and found a better way.

Back in May of 1999, I went to work as the Director of Trading / Operations for a securities firm in Cincinnati called Donahue Securities. Steve Donahue was the president of the firm and while I did not report directly to him, he ran the show.

I left the firm (reasons for a new post!) about a year later. Emily was born in December, 2000 and while I was on maternity leave with a different firm, I received a phone call from one of my former assistants from Donahue.

The SEC Welcome Wagon

I could hear how upset she was as she proceeded to tell me that the employees of Donahue Securities were greeted by the SEC (Securities & Exchange Commission) and the county sheriff on their way into work. That was February, 2001.

I can not even imagine the sinking feeling in the pit of their stomachs seeing those officials by the elevator doors.

They (employees) were required to be escorted up to their offices or desks and only to retrieve their personal belongings. In an instant, 125 people were without a job, no income, or health insurance… all because of one man’s greed.

I could have been one of them.

Asleep at the Wheel

After all the details were unraveled, it was found that Donahue had set up a phony bond fund in which he ‘invested’ 123 of his clients’ money in… for nearly 12 years! In total, $6 million dollars of money used for a variety of things in his personal life, which is detailed on the SEC website.

All financial firms, large and small, are required to undergo an audit by the Securities Exchange Commission every 2 or 3 years. Donahue later admitted that this fraud had been going on since the firm was founded in 1989, which begs the question..

“Why did it take the SEC 12 years to catch it?”

It didn’t take the SEC 12 years to catch it because they never did. Donahue had undergone regular SEC audits like any other firm. It was later revealed that a fairly new employee working directly with Donahue’s personal assistants sensed something wasn’t right when she was balancing client statements.

She is the one who tipped off the SEC.

Given the state of things happening in today’s financial markets, it sounds like the SEC is still asleep at the wheel. In the fall of 2008, over 23,000 people instantly lost their jobs when Lehman Brothers collapsed and millions followed in the snowball effect since.

Zebra Stripes for Donahue

Steve Donahue was sentenced to 5 years in prison in 2003. He served the full sentence and was released from jail in 2008. I have no idea what or where he is today and I can only hope that somehow he has redeemed himself to all those that he deceived.

Some of the former associates from Donahue Securities have long since found employment with other firms, some I lost track of.

I am now 9 years removed from my former corporate life. While I can’t ever imagine ever going back, these stories serve as a reminder of why I do what I do and hopefully will resonate with those considering trading that rat race for something better.

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Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, we all have those times when we seem like we’re either not moving forward, or something happens that makes you stop and think, “What is it, in life, that is truly important?”

Such was this week. My son’s FRG (Family Readiness Group) leader lost her husband to an IED attack in Afghanistan. When I read the news on Facebook, my heart was broken and I cried for what seemed like two days.

As I write this, I am still just heartbroken and in shock.

This sweet, strong woman, who is our strength during this deployment, who keeps us informed and upbeat, is now was facing the unthinkable that she helps others to get through.

A young woman became a widow, a little boy will grow up without his daddy. The men, including my son, lost a fellow soldier, a hero, a brother in arms.

Step Back and Regroup

Sometimes, you just need to stop, step back and regroup. I had to take some time away from the computer, away from Facebook and away from my business for a couple of days. I needed time to cry for this family.

When ‘life’ happens, business will be there when you get back. Your clients will understand, as will your team. The most important thing you can do is take care of what is most important.

The Gift of Life and Time

Life is a gift, never to be taken for granted. Time is a gift we are all given the same amount of. How are you spending yours?

I truly believe that without all the daily self-development and positive things we read and do, how we react to when ‘life’ happens is how we get through.

There are few other industries, if any, that include self-development as an integrated part of the profession.

My question for you, to think about and post about here, is “What do you do daily for your feeding on your mind?”

What do you read, who do you follow, how do you block out the garbage so that when life happens, you’re able to get through and see the other side?

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However, this post is not about debating the issues.

It is meant as a very strong reminder that you absolutely have to address health insurance before making the CHOICE to leave your job and transition to a career in network marketing.

Don’t Get Stranded

This is an area that can leave many people stranded when they leave their job to pursue their dreams of working from home, although it doesn’t have to be. Some options are: if you are married, check with your spouse’s company plan to see if you can be added.

What About the Kids?

If you have children, they will need to be covered as well. Do you or anyone in you family have special needs? These may present issues later on. Only you can determine what your needs are.

I am not in a position to recommend one health insurance company or resource over another. Google is a great place to start your research, gather as much information as you can so that you can make the best decision for you and your family.

Health Insurance Resources

The National Association for the Self-Employed: NASE.org

www.Ehealthinsurance.com If you are not currently employed outside the home, the same business planning principle’s will apply as it will still take time to get things up and running.

Next Week: Part II of Your Great Escape. Direct Sales & Network Marketing – Do You REALLY Know the Difference?

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Still, in Part I of our “Your Great Escape” series, let’s take a look at employer financial benefits.

Your 401(k1) Plan

If you have been contributing to a company sponsored 401(k) plan, this will cease as well as your employer’s contributions when you quit your job (but you knew that already). The first thing you need to do is verify the balance based on the most current statement.

You may or may not be required to roll these funds into an IRA Rollover account after a certain time period once you leave your employer. Different companies have different requirements, so it is best to check with your plan administrator for details. Checking into your rollover options now will save you headaches about it later on.

While I cannot recommend to you which financial firm to choose for a rollover, it is important to do your homework first about IRA rollovers before talking to a financial consultant. There are a number of reputable resources on the web to learn more about IRA Rollovers.

Company Pension Plans

If your company offers a pension plan, the rules may be a bit different than that of a 401(k). Many traditional pension plans have a vesting (see definition below) component and you will need to verify whether you are fully or partially vested.

This is usually determined by how long you have been with the company and what their percentages are. For example, a company can determine that you must be employed there for 5 years before you are 100% vested.

*vesting: the process by which employers accrue non-forfeitable rights over employer contributions that are made to the employee’s qualified retirement account, usually based on years of service in the company.

Next in our “Great Escape” series: Health Insurance (I know… it’s a big issue)

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We’re only one month into 2010, 11 more to go.

For my international readers, today happens to be Groundhog Day in the U.S. This is the day where Punxsutawney Phil either sees his shadow, indicating six more weeks of winter.. or he does not, supposedly an indicator of spring on its way.

I live in Wisconsin, so I can tell you that we’ll definitely have six more weeks of winter regardless of whether he sees his shadow or not.

Ground Hog Day Do-Overs

What I want to talk to you about today, though, is not so much about a groundhog that sees his shadow. In the 1993 film, “Groundhog Day”, Bill Murray plays a self-centered meteorologist who is covering the Groundhog Day story with his producer and cameraman. He winds up stuck in his some kind of time warp in which he is reliving the same day over and over and over again, while they are not.

I remember watching the movie, years ago, and tried to figure out exactly how many do-overs there were, and lost count. The movie is funny, although when you really sit down and think about it, the message is, well…not so funny.

Real Life for the Rest of Us

We don’t get do-overs like Phil Conners (Bill Murray) does. Sure, every year, January 1st comes around and we have our brand new business plans, our “This year is our year!” game-face and occasionally throughout life, some of us do get a second chance.

Unlike the movie, though, our second chances are not guaranteed. We don’t get to relive the same day over and over again until we get it right.

Lessons Learned

For me, the biggest takeaway is that THIS is it.. meaning today. I need to take each day, look at it squarely in the face and make the best decisions I know how, or seek those who can guide me, to achieve my business and personal goals.

What is it that is most important to you?

For us, tomorrow is not February 2nd .. again. Tomorrow will be February 3rd

Make the most of it! Enjoy the clip.

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If you struggled a bit, that’s perfect normal. It takes about 30 days of consistent daily action for a new activity or plan to become a habit.

This is why most new year’s resolutions fail because most people don’t give them that chance.

Consistency is Key

Little steps taken each day become big changes over time. Think about it this way. When you start working out, whether it be walking, running, or going to the gym every day, you do know that it takes nearly 8 weeks before you start seeing the physical results, right?

Yes, you’ll probably start to feel better right away, however, ask most professional personal trainers and they’ll tell you that it takes about 6 – 8 weeks before you start seeing the outward physical results of your efforts.

Here’s the trick, though. Ready? Come a little closer for the big secret. Shh!!! Don’t tell a soul!

The big secret is this..

(whispering) “You have to do it every day until it become a habit.”

“Well, that’s no secret, Patty.” Yea, I know. That’s the point! There is no big secret to a fitness plan and there’s no big secret to success in your home business, either.

That’s just the way it is. No quick fix, no ‘magic’ pill or potion. If there is any secret to this it would be this…

Stay focused on the process of staying consistent.

Cut Yourself Some Slack

Your business is the same way as the person trying to get fit. If you’ve created new goals, new daily actions, and new plans, it will take some time before you start to see the outward results of your plan.

We’ve just finished the first full week of 2010, so if things haven’t started out quite how you expected, cut yourself some slack! You still have 51 weeks left.

If you started the new year messing up, so what? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve messed up over the years, and yet, I’m still here.

We all mess up, we all make mistakes, yet it is those people that keep moving forward anyway, who will be successful and achieve their dreams!

I’d love to see you be one of them.

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Do you like brownies? (Who doesn’t!) If so, continue reading.

Over the years, most of us have been taught that we have to have some type of report, e-course, or whatever, in order to entice our visitors to subscribe or opt-in to our newsletters or RSS feed.

This really got me thinking last night because it’s something I’ve done in the past, too. I’ve written reports, e-courses, etc.

I truly believe that providing value is the most important thing I can do for you, and while I was trying to figure out what type of report I could write, I came up blank.

There are a lot of ways to offer value. This blog offers value as you read and participate in my stories and journey, ups & downs on sharing my life as a successful network marketer. My hope is that it will inspire and encourage you to keep moving forward in your network marketing journey, too.

What I didn’t want to do is re-write a re-hashed or irrelevant “How To” or “5 Steps to (Whatever)” that’s been sitting on my hard drive for the last decade. Besides, there are enough of those on the web already.

And, the more I thought about it, it got me thinking that you probably have a gazillion pdf reports sitting on your hard drive, too. How many of these have you downloaded over the years only to have them wind up in some folder on your computer collecting ‘virtual dust?’ Probably more than you care to think about.

So, I am going to do something a little different.

I am going to give away a box of THE most amazing ooey, gooey, gourmet brownies that you have ever tasted. Seriously, these brownies are absolutely to die for! Just ask my good friend, Moni Tucker from Army Wife Magazine.

Here’s How this Works:

Every month, I’m going to randomly select someone to receive a box. They come 4 oversized brownies to a box as a gift from me. If you’d like to be participate, enter your email address in the box in the right column that says, “Enter Your Email Address.” You’ll also receive an update when I make a new blog post.

Here’s a couple of things to keep in mind.

Please use a valid email address. If you are selected to receive a box of brownies, I’ll need to be able to get in touch with you so I know where to send them.

Once you enter your email address, please check your inbox right away as you’ll receive an email with a confirmation link. It’s very important that you click on that confirmation link.

That’s it! Pretty simple and I promise if you receive a box, you’ll never eat any other brownies again!

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There isn’t a person I know that hasn’t been touched by breast cancer in some way.

My dear friend, Toni, who had been one of my closest friends from junior high, was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of 1997 at the young age of 37.

The letter she sent me is still tucked away in a special place in my Bible. She just couldn’t bring herself to call me on the phone to tell me.

My grandmother was on in years when she found out. My mother’s cousin AND her daughter both fought and won!

In October, pink ribbons will be found on Yoplait yogurt, t-shirts, and just about anything else we can think of to continue bringing not just awareness, but to wage an all out battle against this dreadful disease.

A lot of progress has been made in the last 20+ years toward treatment, yet a lot of work still needs to be done toward prevention.

Breast cancer isn’t just an “October” disease. It happens all year round and does not discriminate…poor, wealthy, black, white, famous and not so famous…

Cards for a Cure

Personalized greeting cards offer support, encouragement and hope. You never know how you are going to impact someone’s life by sending them a simple greeting card in the mail.

I am thankful to be partnered with a greeting card company that celebrates life and offers hope in a way that no other card company does.

In the month of October, I am holding local and online “Pink Ribbon Parties” to help others celebrate breast cancer survivors encourage breast cancer patients.

It’s as simple as 1 – 2 – 3

1. You go to our website and send a free greeting card to someone you care about. You type in what you want to say. We print it, address it and mail it with a real stamp for you.

2. In a few days, your loved one will receive an “enveloped hug” in the mail that will make them smile.

3. If you decide to purchase our brand new product for only $49 through my website, I am personally donating $5 of my profits to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

It’s a win-win for everyone and especially for the people you care about most.

Complete the form below and you’ll immediate receive detailed instructions on how to send the free greeting card.

Cards for a Cure Registration

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