ENTREPRENEUR'S CORNER

GROUP HUDDLE

Every Networking Entrepreneur should have a mentor ‑ someone who's been down that road before and can share their wisdom in the process.

1. Frequency of contact is important in the relationship to keep the learning process moving forward. Group huddle should be held every week. Each new discussion with the mentor should include updates.

2. Be creative. Each session should have a light mood and encouraging. Remember to have fun too!

3. Take interest in the person as a human being. Ask him about what's going on in his life. Show your sincerity and compassion in helping him become an achiever.

4. Aside from current issues, focus on short term and long term goals. How many bottles of juice should we sell this week? How many sales calls do we need to make this week? How close are we to our 4x4 goal?

5. Raise any concerns and try to find a solution. Be proactive rather than reactive, taking each situation as an opportunity to grow.

6. Don't hold your Mentor totally responsible if your business is not doing well. Don't put him in a position where he has to figure it out all for you. You're not a baby. The job of a Mentor is not to take you by the hand every step of the way. It's to give you some guidance as you're on your way. Your job is to make the link between what you are told and how you will apply it to your business. Make mentoring a relationship that is mutually rewarding.

7. To the Mentors, becoming one is both challenging and rewarding. Live a life based on our Core Values. Most of the time, it is not what you say that is imitated by your Network member's but the kind of lifestyle that you practice. Lead by example!

DUPLICATION

Make your Network grow. But remember that in expanding your territory, comes greater responsibility. Religiously following the above steps will ensure you of success. 

APPROACH

The first one minute of any sale is critical. It is the first moment of contact between the Networking Entrepreneur and the prospect. In approach, your sole objective is to set up a time for your presentation or get the prospect to attend the business opportunity meeting in GEM's office under favorable conditions. Those conditions are the following:

- the prospect's willingness to talk to you
- a suitable atmosphere for talking
- a promise of enough time to tell your story.

Note: It is important to keep in mind that you are not selling any product, rather you are selling the IDEA that it will be worthwhile for the prospect to talk to you.

PRESENTATION

A presentation is much like a baffle. You have to be prepared and properly armed. Our Module 1 provided you with the "BULLETS" in facing the battle ‑ your BELIEF in the COMPANY, belief in the MARKETING PLAN, belief in the PRODUCTS, and belief in YOURSELF. Now we will give you some "STRATEGIES" how to win the battle.

1 . Physical Preparation. Earn the trust and confidence of your prospect. Dress properly. You are the object of all eyes and ears. The way you dress acts as an introduction. It's essential to always project a polished, professional image. Your presentation materials should be well organized and impressive. Check your presentation materials and other things needed. Don't borrow anything from your prospect. Most importantly, SMILE.

2. Mental Preparation. Do your homework before the presentation. Know your prospect. Find out the prospect's need by researching on their family background, work, hobbies, affiliations, etc. In martial arts there's a saying that "If you understand yourself and not your opponent, you win half the battles. If you understand your opponent and.yourself, you win 100 percent of the baffles. If you understand neither, you win no battles" If you really understand yourself and what you're selling, and you really understand the prospect, you will come away with a win‑win situation.
Working smart on the right people starts with learning how to QUALIFY your prospects if they
C.A.N. go the extra mile ...

Character

‑ does his personal values match with your own and that of the company's? What is his reputation in doing business? Check if he had any affiliations, past or present, with any MLM companies and verify how he has performed. While GEM does not ban other networkers to join in its alternative business program, any bad record from his former/present affiliations may do your network more harm than good. Think WISELY!

Ability to do the Business and Ability to Pay

‑ being just a plain consumer is different from one who has the motivation to become an entrepreneur and share the company's passion to develop other networking entrepreneurs. You should be able to measure the prospect's potential that will enable him to do the business well.

Need
‑ identify the prospect's need in doing the business. A good prospect would be one who is using a competitor's product like softdrinks or artificial juices in powder and concentrate form or tetra packs. If client says, he's got enough of everything, you should be able to CREATE the need!

Carefully qualifying your prospects is the fastest way to a sale, as you'll be approaching prospects likely to buy our products. It takes much longer to create a need than to fill one. So it's best to find prospects who already understand the usefulness of the type of product or service you offer.

APPLICATION EXERCISE:

From your list of Prospects, check the ones who you think C.A.N. go the extra mile
 

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SIXTH COMMANDMENT OF SUCCESS

"Thou must realize that plans are only dreams without action."

     He whose ambition creeps instead of soars, who is always uncertain, who procrastinates instead of acts, struggles in vain against failure.

     Is he not imprudent who, seeing the tide going toward him, will sleep until the sea overwhelms him? Is he not foolish who, given the opportunity to improve his lot, will deliberate until his neighbor is chosen instead?

     Only action gives life its strength, its joy, its purpose. The world will always determine your worth by the deeds you do. Who can measure your talents by the thoughts you have or the emotions you feel? And how will you proclaim your abilities if you are always a spectator and never a player?

     Take heart. Know that activity and sadness are eternal opposites. When thy muscles are straining and fingers are gripping and feet are moving and your mind is occupied with the task at hand, you have little time for self-pity and remorse. Action is the balm that will heal any wound.

     Remember that patience is the art of waiting, with faith, for the life you deserve through your hard work, but action is the power that makes good works possible. Even the length of thy wait, for the good things you have earned, seems less when you are busy.

     No one will act for you. Your plans will remain no more an idler's dream until you rise up and fight against the forces that would keep you small. To take action is always dangerous, but to sit and wait for the good things of life to fall into thy lap is the only calling where failures excel.
     

     Everything that lies between your cradle and your grave is always marked with uncertainty. Laugh at your doubts and move ahead. And if it is leisure you seek, instead of work, take heart. The more you do, the more you can do, and the busier you are, the more leisure you will have.

Act now or you will be acted upon.

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THE SENSE OF THE GOOSE

     In the fall when you see geese heading south for the winter flying along in the "V" formation, you might be interested in knowing what science has discovered about why they fly that way. It has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

     PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF A TEAM AND SHARE A COMMON DIRECTION GET WHERE THEY ARE GOING QUICKER AND EASIER, BECAUSE THEY ARE TRAVELING ON THE TRUST OF ONE ANOTHER.

     Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go through it alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the power of the flock.

     IF WE HAVE AS MUCH SENSE AS A GOOSE, WE WILL SHARE INFORMATION WITH THOSE WHO ARE HEADED THE SAME WAY WE ARE GOING.

     When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose takes over.

     IT PAYS TO SHARE LEADERSHIP AND TAKE TURNS DOING HARD JOBS.

     The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep their speed.

     WORDS OF SUPPORT AND INSPIRATION HELP ENERGIZE THOSE ON THE FRONT LINE, HELPING THEM TO KEEP PACE IN SPITE OF THE DAY-TODAY PRESSURES AND FATIGUE.

     Finally, when a goose gets sick or is wounded by a gunshot and falls out, two geese fall out of the formation and follow the injured one down to help and protect him. They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and then they launch out with another formation to catch up with their group.

     IF WE HAVE THE SENSE OF A GOOSE, WE WILL STAND BY EACH OTHER WHEN THINGS GET ROUGH.

     The next time you see a formation of geese, remember... IT IS A REWARD,

     A CHALLENGE AND A PRIVILEGE to be a contributing member of a TEAM.

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THINGS TO PONDER

The man who wins is the one who thinks he can.
If you do not stand firm on your faith, you will not stand at all.
You must believe that you deserve to be prosperous and successful.

• People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
• You will learn faster and more powerfully by teaching what you're learning to others.
• A well-trained person is a competent, confident person.
• Training is the foundation upon which you build your success. The fastest way to master a subject is to teach it. 
• Successful people immerse themselves in excellence. You must seek out excellence in all that you do, in all that you say, in all that you are.
• To guarantee failure - don't talk to enough people.
• To guarantee success - talk to more and more people. When you make a habit of making friends out of strangers, making money will also become a habit with you and remember, some will, some won't, so what - NEXT!
• A Master Prospector is a Master Game Player.

“ A POSITIVE OF ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN A NEGATIVE OF NOTHING”

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A DREAM PREDICTS OUR FUTURE

Katherine Logan said, "A vision foretells what may be ours. It is an invitation to do something. With a great mental picture in mind we go from one accomplishment to another, using the materials about us only as steppingstones to that which is higher and better and more satisfying. We thus become possessors of the unseen values which are eternal."

Our dream, when pursued, is the most likely predictor of our future.

When we have a dream, we're not just spectators sitting back hoping that everything turns out all right. We're taking an active part in shaping the purpose and meaning of our lives. And the winds of change don't simply blow us here and there. Our dream, when pursued, is the most likely predictor of our future. That doesn't mean we have any guarantees, but it does increase our chances for success tremendously.

Dare to dream and act on that dream. Do it in spite of problems, circumstances, and obstacles. History is filled with men and women who faced adversity and achieved success in spite of it. For example, the Greek orator Demosthenes stuttered! The first time he tried to make a public speech, he was laughed off the rostrum. But he had a dream of being a notable speaker. He pursued that dream and grew toward his potential. It is said that he used to put pebbles in his mouth and practice speaking over the sound of the crashing surf at the seashore. His persistence paid off. He lived his dream: He became the greatest orator of the ancient world.

Others dared to dream and became successes. Napoleon, despite humble parentage, became an emperor. Beethoven brought to life his inner vision for music when he composed symphonies, even after he lost his hearing. Charles Dickens dreamed of becoming a writer and became the most read novelist in Victorian England—despite being born into poverty.

Oliver Wendell Holmes noted, "The great thing in this world is not so much where we are but in what direction we are moving." That is also one of the great things about having a dream. You can pursue your dream no matter where you are today. And what happened in the past isn't as important as what lies ahead in the future. As the saying goes, "No matter what a person's past may have been, his future is spotless." You can begin pursuing your dream today!

STAGES FOR DEVELOPING A DREAM

Over the years I've learned a lot about vision and what it means to have a dream because it's such a critical part of leadership. I've observed that there is a big difference between those who dream and those who make their dreams come true. As Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari, said, everyone gets an idea in the shower. But the successful ones get out of the shower, dry off, and do something about it.

Here are the stages in developing a successful dream, based on my personal experience and observation: 

I Thought It

The whole process begins with the seed of an idea—a vision that grows out of a heartfelt desire. Many people discover their dream in a flash of insight after working in an area for years. Some receive it in a time of prayer. Others are motivated by an event from their past. Maybe you've already experienced the "I Thought It" stage and discovered your dream. If you haven't, read the following five steps that will help you clear away the clutter and discover (or fine-tune) your dream:

1. Believe in your ability to succeed.

As I said before, no person can consistently perform in a manner that is inconsistent with the way he sees himself. You must believe that you can succeed if you are to succeed. You must acknowledge to yourself that you're capable of discovering your dream in order to find it. You don't have to be a genius, lucky, or rich. You just need to believe it can happen.

2. Get rid of your pride.

People full of themselves usually don't have much room left over for a life-changing dream. That's why it's so important to get rid of pride; it can keep you from trying new things or asking questions because you are afraid of looking stupid. It makes you want to stay in your comfort zone instead of striving for the end zone. Pride puts your focus on appearance instead of potential. And it prevents you from taking risks—something you must do to discover your dream. If you are a prideful person, it's time to let go of your pride and grab hold of your-dream.

3. Cultivate constructive discontent.

Discontent is the driving force that makes people search for their dreams. Think about it: Every invention registered in the United States Patent Office is the result of creative discontent. Each inventor, not satisfied with something as it was, found a way to constructively overcome her dissatisfaction, either by creating something new or by improving what already existed.

The same is true for you. Complacency never brings success. You must desire positive change. Only constructive discontent will motivate you to find your purpose and grow to reach your potential. Earle Wilson commented, "If what you did yesterday still looks pretty big to you, then you haven't done enough today."

4. Escape from habit.

A habit can be defined as something you do without thinking. (Maybe that's why we have so many of them.) Habit can kill a dream because when you stop thinking, you stop questioning and dreaming. You begin to accept what is without considering what could be. Habit can cause you to go through the motions rather than think about the possibilities. It slowly closes the door on potential.

Examine all the things you're currently doing by rote. Then shake things up. Look to your horizons. What do you really care about? What are you currently doing that doesn't propel you in the direction of your purpose, develop your potential, or help other people? Start making changes. Be creative. Break out of a rut and start searching inside yourself for your dream.

5. Balance creativity with character.

Releasing your creativity to get yourself out of a rut and think about your dream is a basic part of the process, but nothing will come of it if you don't have the character to follow through with action. When it comes to their dreams, truly successful people have enough creativity to think it out and enough character to-try it out. They have enough creativity to picture in their minds and enough character to produce it with their hands. All the dreaming in the world won't do a bit of good unless you're ready to wake up and go to work.

I Caught It

The moment you discover your dream—the thing you were created to do—is an incredible experience. But that alone is not enough to take you on the success journey. The development of a successful dream is a process. And the next step of development requires you to invest in your dream emotionally. It needs to grow beyond your thoughts and carry over into your feelings.

In 1935, Hubert H. Humphrey wrote a letter to his wife during his first trip to Washington, D.C. It captures the emotion of the then twenty-four-year-old pharmacist from Minnesota. It says, "I can see how someday, if you and I just apply ourselves and make up our minds to work for bigger things, we can someday live here in Washington and probably be in government, politics or service.... Oh gosh, I hope my dream comes true—I'm going to try anyhow." Humphrey's dream did come true. In 1946, he became the mayor of Minneapolis; in 1949, he successfully ran for the U.S. Senate; and in 1964, he served as the vice president of the United States under Lyndon B. Johnson. In all, Humphrey served in government for thirty-two years.

I Sought It

An old Italian proverb says, "Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out." Lots of people have dreams. And many of them have strong feelings about them. But what separates the developer of a successful dream from a mere daydreamer is committed action. Between the "I Caught It" and "I Sought It" stages, dreams don't die—they fade away. It takes hunger, tenacity, and commitment to see a dream through until it becomes a reality. Once you discover your dream, go after it.

A Few Shot It

If a dream faces the risk of fading away before it gets to the "I Sought It" stage, then the danger after that stage is that it will be suddenly and deliberately shot down. During its early stages, a dream is an incredibly fragile thing. As corporate leadership expert, management consultant, and friend Bobb Biehl says, "Dreams are like soap bubbles floating close to jagged rocks on a windy day."

Dreams are so fragile at this stage of the journey because they are so new. We haven't had time yet to let them grow or develop. They're not established, and they don't have a track record yet. When a seedling oak is only a year old, a child can tear it out by the roots. But once it's had some time to become firmly established, even the force of a hurricane can't knock it down.

Dreams are also more easily shot down at this point because if they are attacked, close friends or family members are the usual attackers since they're the only ones who know about them. Our hopes and desires may be able to weather the criticism of a stranger, but they have a more difficult time surviving when undermined by a loved one.

In her book Silver Boxes, my friend Florence Littauer tells a story revealing the power over our dreams held by those who are close to us. It's about her mother-in-law, Marita Littauer. After knowing her for many years and being a little intimidated by her, Florence one day asked the aging woman what she would have been if she could have been anything she wanted. "An opera singer," Marita answered without hesitation. "I wanted to study music, but my parents felt that was a waste of time, that I'd make more money in the millinery business. But I was in one show in college, and I had the lead."

The memory of that dream never left Marita Littauer, even though her mother had shot it down. In her last days, her mind faded and she could no longer speak. But some evenings she would stand proudly by her chair and sing opera to her nurse. Even in the twilight of her years, that deep desire never left her. Florence said, "Mother had talent that was never developed, a music box that was never allowed to play, a career that was never begun. Mother died with the music still in her."l

I Got It

Most people have no idea how close they are to breaking through and living their dream, to reaching the "I Got It" stage.

Success is achieved in inches, not miles. For example, the average player in major league baseball hits about .250. Another way to say it is that he gets a hit once for every four times he bats. Someone with average fielding skills that bat .250 can play in the major leagues, but he probably won't be remembered after he has left the game.

Contrast that with someone like Tony Gwynn who plays for the San Diego Padres. He is considered one of the best hitters in baseball. He has already won seven National League batting championships in the fourteen seasons he has played. Someday he'll be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Your ability to live your dream may be closer than you think.

If you didn't know baseball, you might expect that in order to be as successful as he is, he would be twice as good at hitting the ball as the average player. But that's not the case. As I write this, Tony has a lifetime batting average of .336. That means he gets a hit one in every three times at bat. You would have to go to three baseball games before you saw the one extra hit Tony got compared to the average player hitting .250.

Your ability to live your dream may be closer than you think. You need dedication and perseverance, and you have to survive the doubts and criticisms of people closest to you, but you can make it to the "I Got It" stage. And when you do, you'll share the opinion of Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Namath, who said, "When you win, nothing hurts."

Some Others Fought It

Unfortunately, not everyone will want to celebrate with you when your dream begins to become a reality. I think you'll find that people will fall into two groups:
• Firefighters: These people want to put out the fire that you have for your dream. No matter what
you're for—they're against it. The way these kinds of people criticize everything, you'd think they get
paid for it. And nothing you do or say can change their attitude.
• Firelighters: These people want to help you and are willing to do what they can to stoke the flames of
your success even higher.

When you're trying to realize your dream, sometimes you'll be surprised by which people want to light your fire and which ones want to put it out. Let me tell you a humorous story that vividly illustrates this point. A Canadian bird decided that it was too much trouble to fly south for the winter. He said to himself, "I can brave a winter. A lot of other animals do it. It just can't be that hard." So as all the other birds flocked away toward sunny South America, he stayed behind and waited for winter.

By the end of November, he was having serious second thoughts. He had never been so cold, and he couldn't find any food. Finally, he broke down and realized that if he didn't get out of there soon, he wasn't going to make it. So he started flying south all by himself. After a while, it began to rain. And before he knew it, the water was turning to ice on his wings. Struggling, he recognized that he couldn't fly any longer. He knew he was about to die, so he glided down and made his last landing, crashing to the ground in a barnyard.

As he lay there stunned, a cow came by, stepped over him, and dropped a plop right on him. He was totally disgusted. Here lam, he thought, freezing to death. I'm about to die. I'm on my last breath, and then this! What an awful way to go.

So the bird held his breath and prepared himself to die. But after about two minutes, he discovered that a miracle was happening: He was warming up. The ice on his wings was melting. His muscles were thawing out. His blood was flowing again. He realized that he was going to make it after all. He got so excited and happy that he began to sing a glorious song.

- At that moment, the farm's old tomcat was lying in the hayloft in the barn, and he heard the bird singing. He couldn't believe it; he hadn't heard anything like it for months, and he said to himself, "Is that a bird? I thought they'd all gone south for the winter."
He came out of the barn, and lo and behold, there was the bird. The cat crossed over to where he was, pulled him gently out of the cow plop, cleaned him off—and ate him.

Any dream worth living is worth sharing with others

There are three morals to this story: (1) Not everyone who drops a plop on you is your enemy; (2) not everyone who takes a plop off you is your friend; and (3) if somebody does drop a plop on you, keep your mouth shut. The same can be true for you as you realize your dream. Some people you consider friends will fight your success. Others will support you in ways you didn't expect. But no matter which people criticize you or how they do it, don't let them take your focus off your dream.

I Taught It

Any dream worth living is worth sharing with others. After all, that's a big part of what it means to be successful. But that's not how everyone looks at it. I've observed that when people realize their dream, they react in one of two ways. Some hold the dream close, trying to keep all of it for themselves. When they do, their dream often shrinks. Because they haven't shared it, they have to sustain it all by themselves. Everything depends on them. They don't get the help of others, the benefits of teamwork, or the joy of sharing their blessings.

But the person who shares her dream gets to watch it grow. The synergy of shared ideas often takes it to a whole new level. The dream becomes greater than the person launching it ever imagined it could be. And the others who participate in it often adopt it as their own dream.
As you give others an opportunity to share your dream, paint a broad picture for them so that they can catch your vision. You may want to include the following:

• A Horizon: to help them see the incredible possibilities ahead
• The Sun: to give them warmth and hope
• Mountains: to represent the challenges ahead
• Birds: to inspire them to soar like eagles
• Flowers: to remind them to stop and smell the roses, to enjoy the journey along the way
• A Path: to offer direction and security, to give assurance that you will be leading them the right way
• Yourself: to demonstrate your commitment to the dream and to them
• Them: to show where they fit in and to communicate your belief in them

When you are willing to share the dream by including others, there is almost no limit to what you can accomplish. The impossible comes within reach.

Others Bought It

If you live your dream and successfully share it, others will buy into it. People have a desire to follow a leader with a great dream. Now more than ever, people are looking for heroes. Unfortunately, many are looking in places that are likely to leave them disappointed: sports, music, movies, and television. But real heroes are leaders who can help others achieve success, people who take others with them. And it all begins with a dream. As Winifred Newman said, "Vision is the world's most desperate need. There are no hopeless situations, only people who think hopelessly."

When I was a pastor, I did many things to share my dream with others. For a while, I even carried copies of a card that I would give to people to remind them of the importance of the dream and how much I wanted them to be a part of it. Here's what it said:

I Have a Dream

History tells us that in every age there comes a time when leaders must come forth to meet the needs of the hour. Therefore, there is no potential leader who does not have an opportunity to better mankind. Those around him also have that same privilege. Fortunately, I believe that God has surrounded me with those who will accept the challenge of this hour.

My dream allows me to ...

• Give up at any moment all that I am in order to receive all that
• I can become.
• Sense the invisible so I can do the impossible.
• Trust God's resources since the dream is bigger than all my abilities and acquaintances.
• Continue when discouraged, for where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.
• Attract winners because big dreams draw big people.
• See myself and my people in the future. Our dream is the promise of what we shall one day be.

Yes, I have a dream. It's a God-given one. It is greater than any of my gifts. It is as large as the world, but it begins with one. Won't you join me?

GO FOR THE DREAM

If you haven't already discovered your dream, you're probably realizing how much you've been missing. A dream will provide you with a reason to go, a path to follow, and a target to hit. Besides, as Yogi Berra remarked, "If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else." Wouldn't you say it's about time you got started?

Not long ago, I saw a segment on television's "60 Minutes" in which Mike Wallace was interviewing one of the Sherpa guides from Nepal who help climbers reach the top of Mount Everest.

"Why do you do it?" Wallace asked.

"To help others do something they cannot do on their own," answered the guide.

"But there are so many risks, so many dangers," said Wallace. "Why do you insist on taking people to the top of the mountain?"

The guide smiled and said, "It's obvious that you've never been to the top."

Going to the top takes a dream and a strong commitment. The greater the journey, the more committed you have to be to take it. As you prepare to continue on your success journey, make a commitment to yourself to find your dream and follow it. The road that lies before you is one that I know well because I made that commitment and have traveled on the journey for more than thirty years. I will travel alongside you until you are ready to carry on without me. But no matter how much help I can give, you won't make it without commitment.

The greater the journey, the more committed you have to be to take it.

Take a look at the statement below. Examine what it will mean to commit yourself to the journey, and sign it. Then be prepared to begin living your dream.

Commitment to the Success Journey
I commit myself today to being successful.
I recognize that success is a process, not a destination.
I will discover my dream and do what I can to ...
Know my purpose in life,
Grow to reach my maximum potential, and
Sow seeds that benefit others.
Although the road may get bumpy,
and it may require me to learn a new way of looking at life,
I will do what it takes and persevere.
I will take the success journey.

Signature: Date:
The potential for greatness lives within each of us. The key to achieving greatness is found when we discover and then develop our dream. You are on your way!

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