Category: Money

Why I chose Network Marketing

Have you ever questioned what you’re doing, or wondered what
you “should” be doing to make a living and make a difference?

The other day I was listening to one of the founders of the
company I’m partnered with talking about how when he grew up,
people would say, “Do what you love.”

Probably something you’ve heard before and thought about, too,
just like me. 

He said that phrase was confusing for him, though, because he
loved to play basketball and he loved to ski, but he wasn’t
sure how he could make money doing those things.

It was later on in life that he discovered that the key for
him was to find something to do that was in alignment with his
values.  From there he could derive passion and purpose.

So as I reflect on my journey into network marketing – from
electrical engineering to medicine, and now to developing an
international business team from the comfort of our home in a
resort town in Michigan, I remember a vivid & key moment for
me about eight years ago.  I was standing in our first home at
the edge of our small kitchen facing the end of our living-room
couch, and found myself asking God to enlarge my heart for people.

I don’t remember what pre-ceded that moment, but I distinctly remember that moment.  Perhaps you’ve had moments like that which still stick in your memory today.

It was shortly after that that I was introduced to the business team that would transform both mine and my family’s life. 

And as I’m sitting here on the roof of Joe’s overlooking the harbor (that’s where I was when I recorded a quick message to myself with these tho’ts), one of the things that stands out to me is the answer to this question:

What are the values that have brought me here to network marketing?

And I realize that the core value that’s brought me here is the desire, and the purpose, and the passion to empower people.

That’s one of the things I love about network marketing – much like what was at the heart of what I did as a physician – the opportunity to work with people to improve their lives.

What drove me here was a desire for freedom and flexibility to be with my family, and what’s kept me here is the opportunity to work with people to change their lives – people whom I might otherwise never have known.

Oh, and my wife’s leaning over to say in my ear, “I love our life” as I’m listening to the soundtrack of Prince Caspian and typing this doesn’t hurt either…as well as the whole world of learning and growth that has opened up to us and our children through the doorway of entrepreneurship.

But it wasn’t always this way – there’s definitely been a journey and a process…and having a core vision and values – even ones that have developed, been tested, and become more clear along the way have been key.

So here’s a question for you – what are your core values?

What’s important to you?

And how can you connect what you’re doing daily to what’s important to you?

Look forward to hearing your own thoughts in the comments below, and in the meantime, here’s a video shared with me by my 13yo daughter – and choreographed by a very gifted young choreopgrapher in the Chicago area. Both the song and the dance communicate a simple yet radiant joy and spirit that I think you’ll appreciate as well. 

Enjoy!

Dr. Ben

The Call

What Drives Behavior…

Last night I watched a 20 minute “talk” on TED.com shared with
me by a business associate that succinctly and articulately
identifies fundamental keys to what drives behavior…and
“how great leaders inspire action.”

The talk was by former student of anthropology Simon Sinek,
and I’ve posted it below, with a few intriguing quotes from
Simon here:

     People don’t buy what you do; people buy why you do it.

     And what you do proves what you believe.

     The goal is not to do business with everybody who needs what
     you have; the goal is to do business with people who believe
     what you believe.

     When we communicate from the inside out, we’re talking directly
     to the part of the brain that controls behavior, and then we
     allow people to rationalize it with tangible things we say and
     do.

     If you talk about what you believe, you will attract people who
     believe what you believe.

Take a few moments to watch the video here, and then here’s a key:

Note for yourself how Simon’s perspective can impact your own
thinking and actions in something that matters to you.

Would love to here your comments below…Enjoy!

Dr. Ben

What Experience Are You Creating…?

Just recorded this in town this morning while out with my son…some key thoughts on creating an experience–after seeing thought leader & brand consultant Matthew Sapaula last night–applicable to both business and personal relationships. A bit dim because I’m next to a fireplace, but you’ll get the gist…Enjoy! And let me know your own stories in life and business of “creating an experience” in the comments below!

What It Takes to Be Great – Does Talent Matter?

Click on the 2-minute video intro above (you’ll see me in a fun spot), then view the article below (actually by Geoffrey Colvin from 2006 but shared with me this weekend!), and come back and leave a comment on the key questions raised that are very relevant to how you approach your life, health, or business today!

Secrets of Greatness – Is Talent Irrelevant?

Pay special attention to the example of the golfer and the bowler, and then ask yourself,
how can you apply these distinctions to your own life?

What are you wanting to be “great” in?

I recently spoke with a young man who told me his greatest dream is to “be the best
dad ever.”

Whatever you’re wanting to be great in, this article has some key insights…and raises
some key questions, that can set you further on your own path to greatness…and creating
the results you want.

Enjoy, and come back and leave your own take on:

What role does talent play?

How could “deliberate” practice, feedback, and frequent adjustment make a difference
in something you’re seeking to excel in?

What role does consistency play–and what factors have you found key to developing
long-term consistency and results?

Look forward to hearing from you, and to an intriguing discussion!

And here’s the article again:  Secrets of Greatness – Is Talent Irrelevant?

Dr.  Ben

An evening with “wine guy” Gary Vaynerchuk, and living your passion.

Had the special treat of riding the South Shore Line from
Michigan City to Chicago Thursday evening, and then walking
up the brightly lit Michigan Avenue to a special evening with
“wine-guy” and bestselling Crush It author Gary Vaynerchuk,
hosted by Kelly Olexa and a number of Chicago-area entrepreneurs.

Walking up Michigan Avenue and glancing in all the amazing
store windows, I felt like a tourist, and realized how long
it’s been since I was last there…I’ve been enjoying forests,
beaches, and sand dunes with my wife & 6 kids here in Michigan.

That evening was powerful–both because of the rather “intimate”
time with Gary, as well as the camaraderie with so many
energetic and visionary entrepreneurs, and I wanted to post
a few take-aways from the evening here, both for myself, and
for those of you fortunate enough to stumble upon this post. 🙂

First off, a comment on connecting at events like this–when
I first walked in and saw the “venue” – no chairs or sitting
down to be “presented to”…I felt a little inward groan…even
though “connecting” is a large part of why I came…

Initially I didn’t see a familiar face…

So…

The first step was to connect with a few people there…ask
a question, introduce myself, be interested in finding out
what others do and what had brought them to this event.

Along the way, I ended up encountering both people I’d
recently met at other events and begun to develop a connection
with, as well as meeting some really great “new” people and
even a few I was able to “share” the evening’s experience
with.

Now to Gary…for those of you that know anything about him,
he’s the same in person as on his videos…though one thing
that perhaps strikes you even further in person is the
wonderful combination of extreme energy and self-confidence
combined with a wonderful ability to be self-depracating
and truly connect, care, and be interested in everyone
around him–whether it’s as a group, or afterward when he’s
signing books.

It must have been a long evening for Gary, with all the traveling
he’s been doing…and he ended up forgoing food while he
spoke with us…and then the food was gone…and yet
the compassion & appreciation in his eyes as I thanked him
briefly after getting a picture with him and receiving
his signature on my book was very impactful, and I hope
you all get a chance to meet him in person someday, as well
as to learn from him “from afar.”

Gary Vaynerchuk & Ben Lo at CrushIt Chicago 11-5-09
Gary Vaynerchuk & Ben Lo at CrushIt Chicago 11-5-09

I also took special note that during the evening
I heard several people mention specifically that they had
made decisions that had set them on a personal or business
course which they were passionate about, and which they
attributed fully to Gary and the vision and passion they
received from him at some point in the past year or two.

Very powerful to see a living example of someone living &
sharing his passion, and seeing firsthand the impact this
has on others’ lives…and I believe the cascade effect
is only just beginning as Gary and others like him live
true to who they are and inspire others to do the same.
…though Gary certainly is leading the way.  In fact, Seth
Godin apparently recently sent Gary a very flattering
email that simply said, “You’re making the rest of us look
bad.”

Let me close with a few key quotes I jotted down from
Gary…and also highly encourage you to get a copy of
his book Crush It, as well as visit him at his Wine Library TV video blog

or GaryVaynerchuk.com and then ask yourself, what’s key about
the next step you take in YOUR business and in YOUR life…

…and see which quotes below trigger something in you that you
can act on or apply right away.

Gary Vaynerchuk & Kelly Olexa at CrushIt Chicgao 11-5-09
Gary Vaynerchuk & Kelly Olexa at CrushIt Chicgao 11-5-09

First, Gary admonished us all to really, really
appreciate this time that we’re in…he essentially
said if we can’t appreciate this time, then we’re not
paying attention.

Then telling us a bit more about himself and how he
thinks, here’s some quotes:

“I desperately want everyone to win.”

“I wrote Crush It in order to get emails from everyone
in this room in January or February saying, ‘Thank you.'”

“I have no emotional attachments to ‘converting’ anyone…
though I love when people ‘get it’.”

**Know who you are.**

“When people don’t like me, I get it.  I respect people’s
opinions, and I try very hard to meet them and let people
know who I am…I outcare everyone.  It’s who I’ve always
been.”

“I’ve only tried to be really good at what I’m good at
instead of focusing on what I’m bad at.”

“I’m grateful & I’m aware.”

“Your self-esteem & your positive energy is by far the
difference-maker.”

“People that are enthusiasts ARE experts.”

“I’m a very good messenger.”

“When’s the time to leave your job?  The second you
can afford it.  I’m extremely practical.  But you
can live pretty ‘raw’ – that let’s you jump quicker.”

“The softer you sell, the better you sell.”

“Content is at a record low in being monetized & at an
all time high in value — it’s the honey that gets the
bees.  You’ve got to have it.”

“If you’re not talking to the world, you are not going
to be in a positive business situation.”

And with your content–“come at it from entertainment,
education, and value — not sales.”

“You’ve got to bring value.  The second you stop trying
to sell, the second you start selling better.”

“The reason people root for me to win is because I rooted
for them to win first.”

“I don’t make decisions based on the money; I make
decisions based on the brand.”

“Anything I believe in, I invest in.”

“Education is the game.  You don’t win by accident.”

“Hard work, effort, & caring is going to be the game-
changer.”

Here’s to living your passion, making conscious choices
in your own life and business, and becoming one more
person who impacts others by knowing who you are and
sharing it with the world!

And thanks, Gary!

Dr. Ben

Gary Vaynerchuk & Ben Lo at CrushIt Chicago 11-5-09
Gary Vaynerchuk & Ben Lo at CrushIt Chicago 11-5-09

P.S.  If you were there that night, or have been impacted
by Gary or any of the ideas above, would love to hear
your own comments & stories below!

For entrepreneurs – how I used Facebook this week to connect with local business prospects I didn’t know previously

Just a quick note as Social Media continues to explode new
ways to connect and re-connect faster than ever before.

Just this week, in looking for referrals for a key project
I’m working on,I was given a couple local names that may be
a good fit.

In the past, I may have called them directly using the 3rd-
party reference, but still essentially coming “out-of-the-blue”
and “cold”.

What I was able to do instead this week, was find them on
Facebook and discover we have several mutual “friends” including
the person who referred me.

So rather than call them immediately, I sent them a quick
message referencing our mutual contacts and shared interests,
and that I was looking forward to connecting further.

They immediately reciprocated, and now I have a channel for
creating “familiarity”, as Facebook expert Robert Grant puts it,
and building a connection from which it will be much easier
to then explore the possibilities of collaborating on a project,
rather than approaching them “cold” when they still have almost no
reference for how I fit into their “map of the world”.

So Facebook (as well as Twitter and other forms of social media)
now allow avenues of communication and connection that previously
didn’t exist–and which can happen fast–to create new associations,
partnerships, and business and personal results, depending
on what you’re seeking.

Little nuggets like this can transform the way you do business,
and make it a lot more rewarding and fun as well, and if you’d
like to dive in and learn more right away, I just learned of a
recorded interview of Robert Grant (from yesterday) on how to
use Facebook effectively for business.  Robert is interviewed by
online educator and entrepreneur Alex Mandossian, and you can
access the interview right here (affiliate link).

If this is an area that interests you, I’d hop on this first
thing this weekend, as I understand there’s some special training
you can choose to access as a result, but only until Midnight
Sunday.

Enjoy!

Dr. Ben

The “missing link” to the “Think & Grow Rich” Formula

Just came across Robert Anthony’s new “Secret of Deliberate
Creation” course – a more advanced and “updated” version of
his excellent “Know How To Be Rich Course” which I’ve listened
to multiple times, and which greatly aided me in my transition
into free enterprise…and the principles are applicable to
any deliberate change you want to create in your life–whether
it’s your health, finances, or some other aspect…even though
the examples given largely have to do with getting over lack
and into an experience of abundance with money.

The free report is excellent and presents a core question &
thinking that I haven’t seen presented this clearly or
succinctly before, and which directly addresses what many
leave out when applying the “Law of Attraction”…

…and the first email you’ll receive on certainty has already shifted
my thinking another level as I apply it to my own business and
cash flow.

If you’re interested in the full program, I’ve secured a
special discounted link for you…though even if not, the free
report is definitely worth a look this weekend and will only
take a few minutes:

Robert Anthony’s Secret Of Deliberate Creation & free report

Enjoy, and be sure to leave a comment on your own shifts in
thinking and results below!

Dr. Ben

An emotional key to manifesting any change you desire.

In working with my business team, I’ve noticed a pattern that
tends to get “overlooked” in practice, but is extremely key
to the success or failure of “manifesting” a desired change
in any aspect of your life.

Whether it’s a result in your business, a change in your health,
or some other area of your life where you’re wanting to create
something that’s not yet in your physical experience…

I’ve noticed a consistent pattern that’s key to actually seeing
fulfillment of what you’re wanting to manifest—-and there’s lot’s
of historical precedent for this pattern as well. 🙂

The key seems to be that there’s a “necessary” amount of time,
which may vary for the person or situation, that’s required to
keep our attention on the change or result we’re wanting to see
(rather than the lack of it), and it’s this attention, and the
emotional consistency that follows from it, that’s the key
difference between someone who “tries” for awhile and then
gives up, vs. the person who actually sees and experiences the
fulfillment of their “dream”.

Here’s two examples that will better clarify what I mean—-one from
an “ancient” text, and the other a simple analogy.

The “ancient” text is the biblical story of the Children of Israel
wandering in the desert for 40 years when they could have entered
the promised land almost right away.

What led to the delay?

Well, one key factor seems to be the recurrent tendency to “give up”
emotionally on the promise they’d been given…and to “murmur and complain”.

Keep that in mind as we consider the following analogy.

Imagine that the result you’re wanting to manifest—-whether it’s
in your health, your finances or business, or some other area of
your life—-is like a crop, say of corn.

And let’s say your crop has a set time—-say 90 days—-to grow fully
and bear fruit.

Well, what if every 45 days, or every 85 days, you “throw in the towel” emotionally,
and walk away from your “crop” because nothing seems to be “happening” yet–at
least not what you want?

Can you see how you could painfully prolong receiving the very fruit
you’ve been sowing toward, much like the Children of Israel delayed
their entrance into the promised land?

So how about making a deal with yourself.

How about taking a moment to reflect on something that you’re really
looking forward to experiencing—-maybe it’s more energy, a better physique
for the summer, growth in your business, or an increasing amount of surplus
at the end of each month—-and taking off the internal “time limit” when you
tend to judge whether something’s “working” or not…and instead, hold to
the promise…the “dream” that draws you…and keep your attention and
your emotions steadily in line with that dream regardless of how things
“look” at the moment…

You may soon look around and find the very thing you’re wanting to experience
is “suddenly” here.

Dr. Ben

P.S.  I’d love to hear your own stories of holding fast to a vision or dream
despite how things looked at the moment, and you can share them in the
comments below.