Michele Reynolds interviews Brian Cook

Dear CardsAndMohr SOC Team -

If you missed the interview with Michele Reynolds and SOC Executive, Brian Cook - go listen to it.  Here are some great nuggets, but the interview is worth the time!

From Michele's call and Blog, things to take away:

1. Help and serve other people genuinely.

2. Get some of that "Ignorance On Fire!"

3. Be a Master of Follow-Up.  Just a note, someone showed Brian SOC but did not get back to him on a simple question. As Jordan Adler says it, don't start and stop again over and over and over again.

4. Ours "autoship" is simple. It's $31/mo for 50 cards.  Brian shared in some Network Marketing Companies, they require a HUGE auto ship and you almost have to "encourage" people to stick to it.

5. Be a person of your word, hold people accountable and listen to what they want. Play with those that choose to intentionally engage... no need to chase anyone on your team who doesn't "want it."

6. Find your why! Brian shared losing his brother, Shawn Cook, who drown at age sixteen.  You can feel Brian's love and can see how this could change a person forever.

7. Share this with everyone! DUH. (See me smiling.)

8. Become laser focused.

9. Ask for referrals and call them. (Brian did this, and Executives Kim and Dave Welch are here and on his team because of a referral to Brian. Yeah!

10. Never give up. Even when you want to quit - don't! I hold Jordan's advice "never quit on a bad day" to myself.

11. Remember they are NOT rejecting you - they just do not want your stuff... YET.

12. Get to know your business builders and make them life-long friends. Make it be about THEM and not about you. Help them create life-changing stories that will engage others.

13. Be a great coach - and hold people accountable.

14. Be duplicatable!! That is what this whole business is about - it is set up so others can duplicate you, as you duplicate another. No new recipe - do what we know works... "Gather customers and show others how to gather customers."

15. It is NOT about YOU! Give that up and live your life for others. *You know this speaks volumes to me!  I truly believe the more you give, the more you get.

Now that you read this, go out and make a difference.

I'm always cheering you on!

--Danielle

Living Life Now

Thanks for the compliments on the photos. I got a couple emails asking for the Video - so others could feel the moment and be there.... So click here and you'll see the video footage from my Skydive.

What I love the best from the experience was having my kids there - and in the video. I am blessed with an amazing husband who supports me in all my decisions and our children who inspire me as much as I inspire them.

Know your WHYs in life and you'll find a HOW. I will always share my gratitude to SendOutCards & Kody Bateman for what our 'little card busines' has afforded our family to do... the memories and legacy we are making compare to no other.

Always here to help you create your own SOC-cess and make a diffference in someone's life -starting with your own.

Hugs,
Danielle

Bucket List - Live for Today!

Hi Friends and Followers -

Today's entry is short & sweet... My life lesson after an afternoon of skydiving: LIVE FOR TODAY. Tomorrow... Some day... is not promised. I've experienced too many life lessons this year and regret actions I did not take w/ people I care about - and now because of different tragedies and losses, I know longer have that moment.

I tried to put some photos of my Sky Diving Adventure in a photo slide show: Click here to share in my adventure!

Never let anyone ground you from your dreams!
Hugs, Danielle

California Dave & Danielle at 13,500 feet and free-falling one minte @120 mph

What is Your Legacy?

Unexpected phone calls from family make me nervous... We just talked to them - why are they calling? Such was another phone call today as we learned that my husband's uncle had passed away after an auto accident earlier this week.

It is these unexpected tragedies this year (compared to a "prepared loss" as ridiculous as that sounds with an older relative) that has really put a lot of things in perspective for me and *what* is important... From the unthinkable of a parent saying good-bye to an infant as God holds a baby angel to a little girl losing her mom to friends losing parents... and now this unexpected loss in our family.

I'm not going to be a philosophical here, but recently I have often asked myself what legacy and memory do I want to leave... and I am revisiting that question tonight.... What legacy and memory do I want to leave for my children?  What do I want people to tell my kids about me? What impact (no matter the size) will my life have to those around me...? 

As I read the above I realize it sounds "doom & gloom," but it's not meant to be. It's meant to reminde me what is important and how we should celebrate all the little things "now" and not later, as someday or tomorrow is not promised.

So ask yourself, what is the legacy you want to leave? If you aren't leaving the legacy you deisre, change it.  Only you have the power to change the outcome - this reminds me of a quote from Facebook today about CHOICE - CHANCE - CHANGE... Remember: Celebrate the NOW! 

Big hugs all around,
Danielle

SMARTER Goal Setting

It seems we have more success when we review our month of action – here we reflect and revise.  We take a look and evaluate if we achieved the goals set for this month.  Then we edit as necessary – maybe we need to be more realistic or maybe we need to stretch and challenge ourselves a bit more. The most important thing we can do is to keep moving forward and set new monthly goals & action items.  (Remember the “Just Keep Swimming” blog entry. J)

Goal Setting – it’s something we all want to do, but sometimes don’t know how to get started.  Take a moment to write your goals you want to achieve… make a list…. business, personal, family or financial goals.  When you have a list, prioritize your goals – more than one item can be #1.  But after you have prioritized the goals, the next step is a bit tougher.  Why are these goals so important? If you achieve these goals, what does it mean to you? To your family?  There is probably more than one answer to that question.

So, how to begin – just think “SMARTER.”

• S=Specific
• M=Measurable
• A=Action oriented
• R=Realistic
• T=Time deadline
• E=Excuses
• R= Reward 

The first step, write SPECIFIC goals – if you give clarity to your goal, you give clarity to your mind, your partner/family and know what is expected. 

Make your goals MEASUREABLE – if you don’t measure the goal, it is only an intention.  Perhaps your measure is in weight (pounds), finances (manicure or car payment), or time.

There are steps that will help your goal be ACTION oriented.  How are others energized by your goal? These others don’t need to know where you are heading; however, you need to.  I totally believe in an Accountability Partner, so if you don’t have one – get one. J This could be someone to check in with for miles walked, a meet-up at the gym, phone calls or meetings – anything, but we seem to follow-thru when we are accountable to someone other than just ourselves.

All goals are achievable. And we are a “Shoot for the Moon” family, but in all the goals we’ve created, we always make them REALISTIC.  Look at your goals, say them aloud and attain them – stating you want to make $500/month is realistic and achievable to pay for your car payment.  Your subconscious will support this statement & goal more than if you shoot for $1M this month before you hit the other realistic goals. Given the TIME deadline & your resources, are you likely to reach this – keep your goal high enough to stretch, but realistic to obtain.

Speaking of TIME deadlines, do you have a specific date to complete or earn the goal? You can also break the goal down into steps or smaller accomplishments to gauge progress.  Members of our CardsAndMohr team do this – whether than have been with us for a week or a year.  Some of our business goals are now goals for our team. We love coaching others to success.

Now for EXCUSES, get rid of them!  You are the only one standing in front of your success.

And finally, remember to REWARD yourself and your family, after-all your partner & family have been supportive in achieving these goals.

Remember just as you have the goals and action items, you must do just that…. take action every day. For those of us in SendOutCards, it is as easy as sending a heart-felt card a day, a gift a week or doing a gift-account walk-thru in person, phone or Skype session.  And while you are taking action, keep yourself accountable. As mentioned, use an accountability partner or journal about your activities or keep a scorecard.  SendOutCard has a great scorecard called the “Daily 8” and it a great reminder for my action items & keeps our eye on the prize (goal). 

Finally, with all this talk of scorecards, goals, etc… Sign Your Name… Yep, sign on the dotted line below your goals.  Make a commitment to your goal, your business, your family, and your future.  Now shoot for the moon – we are here to help along the way… consider us your Success Coach. Sincerely, Danielle & Tim

Just Keep Swimming

Today at our son’s swimming lessons, I heard myself tell the big boys to “just keep swimming.” Of course, that quote ties us back to the movie Finding Nemo from 2003.  Find the video on You-Tube or follow along the script below – and I’m going to bet you hear yourself singing.  J

Dory: Hey there, Mr. Grumpy Gills. When life gets you down do you wanna know what you've gotta do?
Marlin: No I don't wanna know.
Dory: [singing] Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim, swim.
Marlin: Dory, no singing.
Dory: [continuing] Ha, ha, ha, ha, ho. I love to swim. When you want to swim you want to swim.

Again, another powerful lesson my kiddos (or at least their movie) seem to have taught us today.  And of course, I want to pass on these moments to our CardsAndMohr team and others reading who have their own businesses – especially other mompreneurs in direct sales.  The quote is simple, but by ‘just keep swimming’ you are ready for the entire race – not just the marathon.  We often need reminders of such in business.  I’ve seen so many friends and acquaintances start a direct sales business with a burst of energy… and then after exhausting their immediate circle of family and friends, they’ve run out of prospects. 

There are so many ways to continue this blog.  I could write about your target audience of customers – unlike those of us in Send Out Cards, perhaps your audience has been narrowed to one gender and even slimmer with or without children.  I could write about the “WHY” – Why or what is the reason you chose the business or want to have your own business?  When you know your WHY and if it’s strong, you will “just keep swimming” towards your goal because of your WHY. Despite all the challenges he faced during the course of the movie, Marlin kept swimming to find Nemo.  Finding Nemo was Marlin’s WHY – and he wasn’t going to stop until he was reunited with his son. 

When we ask our Send Out Cards team members for their WHY statement, often the first response is money (or time).  But we ask more questions and dig deeper and break it down– what will money or time bring you? Make $X a month… WHY? …to quit job… WHY? ...because I want to be home with my family (kiddos)… WHY? …because I want to enjoy all these family moments.  When you “just keep swimming,” you don’t lose track of your goal; you keep your focus just as Marlin did.  Sure, Dory got a little distracted – and so may you, your partner/spouse or even your downline, but tomorrow is another day and a chance to improved, refocus and recommit to your goal.  Use your Sponsor or Accountability Partner to help you stay on course for your goals. 

As someone who has been in the business for nine years, I would tell you to remember your goals and “just keep swimming.” It is not a race and really is about the law of averages. You need to give yourself at least six months to make your relationships strong; and really a year is a good ride.  And remember on days that you struggle, “just keep swimming” and you will pass the difficulty and be one step closer to your goal(s).  Always cheering you on - Danielle

Weekend of Blessings & Memories

What a weekend! And it took a bit to catch back up. J Sorry for the tardy blogs this week, but at least you know I’m writing from the heart based on our events and your feedback.  May 6-7-8, 2011 could not have been filled with more fun, family and blessings. 

Friday, we celebrated our middle son turning six years old. Saturday, we celebrate our oldest son’s First Holy Communion.  And of course, Sunday was Mother’s Day! We were blessed to have both my mom and Tim’s mom in town for these festivities. It was nice to celebrate Mother’s Day with everyone in person.

I have to tell you, it’s been years since Tim’s or my First Communion and the memories came flooding back.  Our moms brought photos from those two days and kids, names, and celebration memories were shared.  The boys loved the old photos and our families’ attire from the early 1980s.  They giggled as they asked “why does Uncle Mike look like a Bee Gee?” Of course, they have no idea who the Bee Gees were, but heard the quote from a movie.

This year’s First Communion class was special to me.  Yes, our son was making his First Communion, but it was also my second year of teaching many of these kiddos for Faith Formation (aka: CCD).  Yes, they’ve grown since we first met in first grade; however, I feel like they just grew into little adults these past nine months.  And then there was the fast-forward imagination and tear as you watched these kiddos walk down the aisle in their suits and white dresses with veils.

When you & I have talked (or maybe you’ve read) our WHY about having our own business… this is exactly why!  I own my own business, make my own schedule and prioritize my family first.  If I had any other job, I don’t think I would have been available to teach every Wednesday at 3:30pm.  I know any other parent teaching would have made an impact on my son; however, the bond that I share with him – and 15 other second graders is something that makes my heart swell with happiness.  I dont' want to be working a j-o-b and miss these moments... I don't want to fast-forward to my boys walking down the aisle as a groom and wonder where the years went. I want us to enjoy it "now."

Are you living in the now?  Are you living in the now with your thought or actions?  Or are you waiting til ‘someday?”  Someday is not promised, nor does the word exist in the dictionary.  Having your own business isn’t going to magically change things within the first day… the first month; however, if you put the time into it, you’ll see changes easily within the first year.  I speak from experience… it’s all about the Law of Averages (and that we’ll save for another blog on another day). 

Whatever business you are in… or are starting… start now and start w/ realistic goals and measures for success – perhaps it’s extra income to pay for your child’s sports or dance, extra income for a housekeeper or car payment… or perhaps, replace your j-o-b.  Anything is possible. Find your dream, state your goals and take action.  Always cheering you on as you shoot for the moon - Danielle