The Mill

Last week we discussed the importance of our choices and how each decision we make plays a role in determining what the future holds for us.  Today as a follow up, I want to address something that you’re going to face in your life and your career, sooner or later, if you haven’t already.  I want you to be prepared to make the right choice when that choice comes your way.

What I’m referring to is the mill.  No, not the treadmill, the pepper mill, the gin mill or the run-of-the-mill.  I’m referring to the rumor mill.  Recently, a good friend of mine who has been a long time participant in our industry and I were talking about this very subject and having a few good laughs.  People can be so creative (and determined) when creating drama for themselves and for others.  As comical as it is to think about, at times this mill can be damaging to your psyche and to your business.  In fact, the rumor mill and those turning it’s crank, recently played a role in ending some of my long time friendships and several business relationships.  So, from first hand experience, I can tell you that those rumors can also be dangerous.  Let me shed a little light that can help you stay focused and rise above it.

First, you have to keep in mind that rumors are started and spread intentionally, which means you have to try to find the intention behind the rumors.  For example, if someone calls you to tell you that your company is experiencing some problems, you can be pretty sure their intention is to try to recruit you to their company by casting doubt about yours.  If it’s a rumor that you may think is true, call a trusted member of your upline and try to get reassurance.  Then, move on unless you see for yourself that these things you’ve heard are in fact true.  They could be.  Just look for patterns…history has a tendency to repeat itself.  If there are no red flags, definitely move on.

Next, if someone calls to tell you that someone else told them something and said something about you….beware.  A friend of mine once told me, “Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see.”  In most cases, that’s pretty good advice.  Again, look at the intention behind it and the people who utter the words.  It’s likely motivated by greed or insecurity.  If in the process, you determine who those folks are and that their intentions are less than pure, do what I did.  Try your best to ignore it and if you can’t, cut those people out of your life.  You don’t need the drama.  If the rumors are about you, and this is really hard…. try your very best not to let them bother or deter you.  You’ve got to keep in mind that sooner or later, the truth reveals itself and those trying to harm you do as well.  The universe (karma) always, ALWAYS works itself out sooner or later. I know this may sound a little like high-school…but when you deal with enough people, these things do happen.

Let me also point out a very common mistake; one I’ve made over the years.  Do not even entertain those conversations and definitely do not pass them on.  When you hear a rumor, just ignore it and change the conversation.  Every minute you spend thinking or talking about it, is time taken away from the task of getting you to your goals.  In many cases, what you hear will be untrue or a trumped up version of the facts.  By the way, have you ever noticed that rarely do you hear a “positive” rumor?  Most of them are negative, which we’ve discussed before, can bring you down, like the news or a negative person.  Run away.  Run like the wind! :-)

One trait that truly successful people share is, they don’t allow themselves to be dragged down and they don’t spend their time and emotions on negative things.  Please understand, I’m not suggesting that you shouldn’t be a free thinker and that you should blindly follow under all circumstances.  No, I’m just saying think: if needed, seek counsel from those you respect, and then use your common sense.  And when you feel like you’re in a real-life “reality” show, be a professional and rise above it.  That’s always the best advice in the face of negativity, as hard as it may be at times.  After all, you don’t have time for that trash.  You’ve got an AMAZING future to create!

Ignore the mill and have a great week!

JM

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Choices

Today is a special day for me. It is the 91st birthday of a man who I admire and inspires—my father.  The celebration has been fun! I’ve been able to spend time with my siblings and all of us have taken the opportunity to demonstrate our love and appreciation for the example he provided.  But it’s also given me pause to remind myself of several things in our business and it will be a great follow up from last week’s Do It Now  post.

When I look at my dad and others, from what Tom Brokaw has called the Greatest Generation, one thing sticks out. These men were men of principle. Whether it was service to their country, focus on the family, or dedicated service to the community, their principles guided them every day. I am proud to say my father was one of these men.  He had a clear picture of how he wanted to live his life; in the present and for the future, and he had the discipline to make the daily decisions that would ensure a good life for him and his family.  That’s the thing that really sticks out in my mind.

Be it a new year’s resolution, a financial goal, a fitness goal or anything else you want to accomplish, each day is going to bring you multiple opportunities to make a choice.  You can choose the easy path or the path that will get you where you want to go long-term.  In most cases, they aren’t likely to be the same choice.  Make that purchase and have some instant gratification or save your money and get out of debt.  Make those phone calls or watch TV and relax.  Work that extra hour or two or go to dinner with your friends and miss that deadline.  These and countless other choices face us every day.  The path we choose will determine how productive our days, our weeks, or our months will be.

I’m sure that after 91 years, my father has some regrets.  However, in the areas that are the most important to him, he is very satisfied at how his life has turned out.  In 1970 he decided to quit smoking.  In 1975 after back surgery, he took up swimming.  Today, he still swims nearly a half of a mile, three times a week.  Those two critical decisions, I believe, were instrumental in his longevity and quality of life. Do you have a health plan to ensure your long-term good health?  How about your financial future?  Do you have a plan to get you where you want to go?  Do you have a prospecting plan to help you grow your business?  If so, are you doing the daily activities set forth in your plan?  If not, why not?

This weekend was a good reminder for me of the principle that in most cases our lives  are a reflection of our cumulative daily decisions.  The same can be said about our business.  The foresight to see beyond the immediate, and the discipline to make the choices each day that will get us where we ultimately want to be, are two traits we must develop in order to live the life we want and to minimize our regret later in life.  The best news, is that it’s never too late to start.  It merely is a decision.

I hope today’s reminder helps put you on a path to an even better 2012 and beyond.

Thanks Dad for the example and the reminder.

JM

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