There I was sleeping on a cold park bench in the crime ridden neighborhood of Harrison park in Hammond, Indiana in the spring of 1986 clutching an opened razor sharp butterfly knife that I knew how to use well, homeless for 3 nights.
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All the while somehow remaining extremely thankful yet dreaming as if I had already acquired the lifestyle I wanted. Some say that’s all it was,…..a dream.
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I’m telling you it was a reality I could feel with every cell of my body. I believe there really was a cosmic force many call God watching over me and giving his child what he desired because of a thankful a spirit of gratitude in the midst of adversity.
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I won’t argue with you on this but many times in my life since my first memories I have been blessed with this spirit and never let my circumstances dictate how I would feel about things. My childhood was filled with pain and anguish. I had every reason to be bitter and hatful but somehow I not only overcame but kept a positive outlook on my future.
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Was it easy? Yes and No, but the gratitude is the yes part. I can hardly believe it but it actually works like magic. Note Magicians practice everyday.
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I hated being a runt who constantly was looking for acceptance among my peers who had the great parents with the loving families who never seemed to want for anything. Current news flash to self it seems everyone’s family has chaos in it but I didn’t see it then.
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Me? I was determined to have and live “the good life” as if I were in one of those families I imagined. I failed most of my classes because of my home environment but was keen on learning all the time. I shoveled snow, cleaned houses, raked leaves, had paper routes, painted fences and was even untrusted by strangers at times to look after their homes and pets while they were away to earn so i could at least but the things my family could not afford for me.
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I’ll leave most everything for the book I’m writing because this does not really allow for it nor is it the place.
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So, fast forward a bit.
No matter what I wanted to be successful and help as many people as I could who were willing to do whatever it took as long as it was ethical to also succeed. I have always known, even today as blessed as we are, that there is a better way as long as I am making daily progress.
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I define successful being debt free and being able to enjoy life and the world our creator has made at least to the point of the thing that interest me with my best friend, my wife.
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‘Won a ton of contests selling everything you can imagine starting at 5 years old. I never believed in begging or asking others for help because I didn’t ever want to come off as ‘needy’. However, I never minded hustling to earn as you read already because I always enjoyed providing a service that I knew I could be proud of when I seen you again and I would because I wanted to keep earning.
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I was introduced to a a big network marketing company when I was only 18 years old. I don’t want to be sighted for mentioning a name so I’ll just say it started with an A and their flag ship product was laundry detergent. Since I was a part of maybe 10 more over the next 35 years.
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The one common factor was how they ALL in one way or another wanted you to go chase all your friends, family, neighbors or anyone that came with in 3 feet of you. Even though I earned thousands and did better than most I never felt good about it because I felt terrible always trying to convince someone to buy from me and to become a distributor. All the other contests I won up until I was 18I always felt good about because everyone was always happy with what I was selling. In most cases sort, of like the Girl Scout cookies get typically sold at store fronts is what I did to include going door to door with a smile introducing myself and what I had in about 25 seconds.
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I always knew there must also be a better way of Network Marketing that people should feel good about and proud to be not to mention have people asking me and my team members to purchase with out having to chase ANYONE EVER.
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I was right. Much like I did when I was in the store front or knocking on doors making it quick and enjoyable for any interested consumer so I could sleep well at night, I found the way like it was prepared for me just as I had imagined it would be. It feels like one of those good families I always wanted to be a part of all the while it feels safe too because it is safe.
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So now I am super proud to help anyone who wants to make this the culture on your team or at some point you decide it may be better to be one of us, either way I am here to see you to your dream life whatever you are dreaming.
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I always remember where I came from, no it wasn’t the park bench. It was out of a spirit of gratitude I am here and a blessed as I am and in that same spirit I welcome you to a new way of marketing that literally requires you to enjoy your life with gratitude and simply share it with the world through social media but especially the expressions on your face will let your followers know that you are genuine so they too immediately will feel safe and at home. Of course it still takes time to build that confidence up like a timid animal does and that’s okay and expected.
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Is it hard? Being patient is hard sometimes but we all know what happened to the impatient kids on Willie Wonka and we sure don’t want that. We want to wind up like Charlie, ultimately owning the chocolate factory.
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Welcome we are going to have a lot of fun because that’s what we do and get paid to do so,….in time.
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Always remember, gratitude and patience.