“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” -Mother Teresa
The following post is part of my weeklong series “Lessons Learned from Mother Teresa” (read that post first). This excerpt is part three, the final component, of the Direct Selling News article from March. I’ll post the full article and link this weekend. “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” [...]
“One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody.” -Mother Teresa
“One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody.” -Mother Teresa There’s a lifestyle component to our industry that sometimes we feel that we need in order to sell “the opportunity.” There’s nothing wrong with lifestyle; nice homes, comfortable cars, and exotic trips are all part of our industry at various times. There’s [...]
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” -Mother Teresa
The following post is part of my weeklong series “Lessons Learned from Mother Teresa” (read that post first). This excerpt is part two of the Direct Selling News article from March. “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” -Mother Teresa When you arrive in Kolkata, despair, more [...]
Lessons Learned from Mother Teresa
In January I took two weeks off to go to Kolkata, India to do some volunteer work and personal study at Mother Teresa’s organization called the “Sisters of Charity.” About the time I was leaving, I was asked to write an article on Servant Leadership for the Direct Selling News publication. So the decision of [...]
Energy (UPDATED WITH PICTURES!)
Starting this weekend I’m going to do a multi-part series of posts over the next week on Servant Leadership, specifically as it relates to some of the lessons I learned from my trips to Kolkata, India. Originally, I was going to start the series today, but today, after our most recent Univera Celebration Cruise I’ve [...]
And to Paul Potts, too
So with all the fanfare with Susan Boyle and her amazing performance on “Britain’s Got Talent”, and my many many views of her performance in the last few days (to the point that my wife is teasing me), I’ve become captured with a few other great stories ofnormal people doing exceptional things that have been [...]
A Tale of Two Gates
Travel can be a lot of fun, albeit in doses. And I certainly prefer personal over business, as a lot of the road wears on you and in many ways that people who don’t have to travel simply do not realize or appreciate. But it can also be very rewarding and the experiences provide so [...]
Find a Cause
Over the past year I’ve found meaning in finding a cause. Outside of work. Work is meaningful, and in fact I genuinely ENJOY work. I doubt I will ever retire–though I’m sure if you’re a bit more “experienced” in life you’re thinking “well that’s easy to say at 35 years old”, right? Work is a [...]
The Problem with People
I know it’s a negative sounding start, but there are–indeed–quite a few problems with people. All of us. Without railing against humanity, as there’s good to humanity as well, the problem with people is we’re often greedy and selfish. I’ll forego the whole “well is it nature or nurture” debate, partly because it doesn’t really [...]
Thoughts from 3am
I have heard of counting sheep. Drinking warm milk. Reading boring text. Taking S4. Prayer and/or meditation. Ambien. And others, in order to fall asleep. At some point I have tried all of these things. But tonight, I thought I would add “Blogging” to the list of dream-inducing events. I do not think this will [...]
Doctors, McDonalds, Airports, Associates, Oh My!
This morning I departed Orange County to head back to Seattle. At the airport and in line at McDonalds (Egg McMuffin w/ only one piece of bread, extra egg—280 cal’s, not bad—but for that and a decaf $8.91—not good! Makes Essentials seem like a bargain) I chuckled, reflecting back on our Road Tour in the [...]
Secret Diet Revealed!
It’s finally arrived. The secret diet. It’s the magic bullet. And it all comes from a peer reviewed medical journal, the New England Journal of Medicine. Ready? Would you guess South Beach? Atkins? Zone? Pritikin? Grapefruit diet? The amazing Inthinity System from Univera? (http://www.youtube.com/watchv=XLmglkG45jQ) You’re wrong. And you’re right! The magic diet? It simple. It’s [...]
Regrets
Today at the gym I was on the elliptical machine and there was an older woman in front of me who had really short hair. I wouldn’t have noticed, apart from the large tattoo on her neck of a pink “Care Bears” fully exposed given the short hair. If she doesn’t already, my guess is [...]
An Entry Without a Subject (yet!)
It’s rare that I start blogging without a specific purpose or subject, but today’s entry is starting just with that. As my fingers pound the keyboard (quite loudly; I’m among the loudest typists in the world–if “Surf Lifesaving” made it as an Olympic event one year during the last hundred years, why not “loud typing”? [...]
Lose It!
There are all sorts of gizmos, gadgets, and fads as it relates to weight loss. We all know that and each of us probably has a story or two of some purchase we either regret, or are embarrassed to admit, because it was one of those too-good-to-be-true panaceas. So often we enjoy a bit of [...]
Happy Valentine’s Day
Given the nature of the day, I thought I’d write a quick diddy about love. Now, generally speaking, worldly love is pretty conditional. This is especially true with business love. In fact, it’s usually business lust (love). Business lust is the kind best expressed by the expression we all know: “What have you done for [...]
What’s the definition of a “Depression”?
This graph hits hard visually. Very hard. It’s a sobering reminder of the mess we’re in, and what won’t leave us soon. It’s not hopeless, at all, but it’s a reality of the challenges we’re facing in the United States, in Canada, and ultimately the effect being felt around the world. And next door. Today [...]
Hey, Big Spender!
So there’s a lot less buying going around these day, we all know that. But did you know what people are still buying? Their health and appearance. Among a few other things. At least, those are a few things I read out of this recent article from Forbes–that lists the ten things we’re still buying. [...]
Why You’ll Work Through Retirement
For some, this is a pretty somber reality they are now facing. And the fact is that that more and more people working through retirements will trickle down to the generations below. In the traditional sector, it means fewer jobs, less opportunity for advancement, and it will clearly affect other industries such as travel, hospitality, [...]
So Goes Leaders, So Goes the Team…
One of the things that I love about spending time in the Field is hearing the excitement and enthusiasm of Associates, particularly the newer ones; and business testimonials are a great way for these to manifest. One of the most memorable messages came back in early November at the Portland Super Regional. The Friday night [...]
PLAYING TO WIN IN 2009
As many of you saw and heard today, we launched a very aggressive plan for this year via a video on our corporate site (us.univera.com), followed by a live call which is available for playback (check your back office for numbers). It’s a plan to go on offense. It’s a plan to win. It’s a [...]
Minors Buying Booze: A Lesson in Serving Others
Most of you are familiar with my two kids, Royce and Zoe (ages 6 and 5). I realize I’m biased, but they really are adorable and what I love so much about them is their hearts are–usually–so passionate and giving. They are really sweet kids and we’ve been blessed by them in so many ways. [...]
Reflections from Hilltop Gardens
I’ve been on the road a lot the past two months. Singapore for the WFDSA, Australia for preliminary assessment, Road Tour, Super Regionals, among other activities and events. One that many of you might not be aware of is a recent trip to Lyford, Texas, where all the ECONET management participated in a three-year planning [...]