What happens when life is throwing you multiple curveballs?

When others are talking about how great life is and you look at your life wondering what’s happening?  It’s a tough place to be when the current of life is pulling you down and dragging you in mud…

How can you know what you want out of life when you’re fighting to keep your head above water financially, relationally, emotionally?  These are hard questions to answer directly because each person’s situation is different.

Each person’s experience of pain and belief is different and there we get to meet each person where they are at.

Half the battle is getting to that point where you’re asking, “How can I change how I view my life?”

When you ask that question sincerely and pursue answers, Change is coming.

Here’s a nature lesson to illustrate that when life is throwing you curveballs, you can set your sights on THAT RIGHT THERE. Watch the video to find out what THAT RIGHT THERE is…

Start with what you need most now.  If you don’t know what you need, ask God to show you exactly what you need right now and work to believe that He will.  You can also ask God to give you a vision of what you want so you can keep HOPE alive.

Here are a few tips to take with you when you’re ready for change:

1.  Take a deep breath and take it one step at a time, one day at a time.  Remember God has your back.  He hems you in the present, the past is behind and the future awaits.  (Psalm 139:5)

2.  Find something to live for and set your sights upward on that person or thing.  Ask God to give you a vision because where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)

3.  Find a credible source that can help you heal in finances, relationships and how you view yourself.

For years I’ve struggled in different areas of my life.  You’re welcome to hear more of my story and how I’m changing.  Go to the upper right of this page where it says ‘Gift for You.’  Enter your name & email there to get this audio recording from me.

I’m so excited I get to do the kind of work where I can help people who want change, to get on a path to get change.  I’m happy to share resources and give all that I can to help people get to a better place.

Get a better footing on life.

And I can’t believe I get paid doing this, it really doesn’t get better than this for me.  I’ve dreamed of and worked hard to get to this point and I’m excited to share a project coming up with a community of God-loving, supportive & powerful women who are doing amazing things to bless other people.

Next Tuesday we will be meeting over the phone to discuss this special project near and dear to our hearts.  You’re invited to join us!  It’s a time-sensitive project and it’s not for everyone.  If you are someone who’s concerned about the health, finances and state of future generations, then you are someone who may be qualified for this project.  For access info, visit http://organichomehealth.com/

“It doesn’t matter how much money you make, it’s how much you keep.”  ~Dani Johnson

They are WORSHIPPED by many. Our kids ASPIRE to be just like them. They live a DREAM life. They have tons of MONEY, the nicest CARS, and the biggest HOUSES. That is the life of many NFL players. However, there is a surprising truth that many of those “successful” people end up LOSING it ALL.

This was posted on Dani Johnson’s Facebook fan page for her radio show on Heartbeat Radio 103.5 fm, Wednesdays 9:15 am – 10:15 am PT.  Here’s what I learned listening to it today…

Ken Rutgers, a former NFL Green Bay Packer who helps athletes transition to life after football, reports that 2 years after their last game, 78% of NFL players who have made millions of dollars, within 2 years are bankrupt, divorced or unemployed.  Hard times often come when the cheering from fans die down.  They have grown their athletic skills but have neglected the most important things.

They’ve been coached on many things, but not on their relationships with their wives or how to be an excellent father, or how to communicate with their children.

NFL quarterback Mark Brunell made $50 million and lost it all, now he’s bankrupt.  If he’d been coached on the most important things, he’d be equipped to keep not only what he’s earned, he would have grown his wealth.

What money investing skills do you have?  You’re smart enough to learn how to keep money.  For example, how to use up the food in your pantry before spending more money at the grocery store.  One gal used to spend over $120 every week for food and after learning these skills, is now spending less than $80 on groceries.

What skills are you developing in the financial arena?  It’s not just about making money but keeping it.

Part Time home-based business owners make up the largest majority of our profession and most people start out part time. Don’t be fooled, though! It is very possible to build a full time business with part time effort.

Here are some ideas to make the most of a part time effort:

1. Every Sunday evening, block out your calendar for those time slots that you have available to work your business. This may mean sacrificing a few things like TV for 4 hours a night, lunch out with the work gang, etc.

2. Make every moment count. Again, focus. If you block out 5 to 10 hours per week, you must make the most of that time. That is not the time you spend lost in email; listening to company voice mail, opening mail, designing a flyer, etc. This is time that is spent doing one of three things – presenting your business, asking someone new to take a look, or following up with someone who has seen it. That’s it.

3. You must have a simple, duplicatable and organized system for working through your contact list. Let the tools of your business do the work for you.

4. Be consistent and persistent. Honor your business time and demand that others honor it, too. Get your calls out of the way early on, so you can relax and enjoy the rest of your day, doing whatever.

5. Learn your business and the compensation plan, and develop a quick 5-10 minute presentation for explaining it. Don’t worry about knowing every fine detail of the compensation plan. Know how to explain how to earn a couple hundred to one thousand dollars extra a month.

A full time effort has nothing to do with the hours available in the day. It’s what you do with that time that counts!

There are a few key qualities that every successful home based business professional has in common and one at the top of the list is using your own products! All of them.

The easiest way to do this is to use the trash bag trick. Go through your company catalog carefully and then take a trash bag and bag up every product in your home that your company offers through your own “store.” Don’t hold back, this is an important step in immersing yourself in your company and products. This helps develop your product story and you might be surprised how many people who visit your home will ask about your products.

Also begin to share your products with others through samples and demos. This will repay you tenfold in profit, repeat orders and customer referrals over time. Your products are the best sales aid and tool you have, so why not use them? It’s a solid investment in your business and a tax write-off.

As you sponsor others and grow your team, spend your time with the ones who commit to the product line as well. Those who commit to the product line from the beginning deserve your time and will likely be your most stable business builders.

When you are solid in your belief and use of your products, others will notice and become curious. Commit to yourself and your business through this first key quality – Use Your Products! And then, naturally recommend them to others.

A question that often comes up in running a home-based business is – How do I motivate my team?

Here are some answers and ideas on motivation and leadership.

It’s not possible to MOTIVATE another person. You can INSPIRE them through your actions and efforts, but motivation comes from within. It’s something each person must get on their own.  Ways to inspire include always being in action yourself. Do you have a company top sponsor list; or team building challenge? Be on it so they see and know that you believe and are taking action.

Recognize achievements both big and small. After all, the size of the accomplishment varies person to person and small steps grow to giant leaps.

Have tools and trainings to educate and interact with the team.

Be accessible – return emails and phone calls. Take time to ask how things are going and make note of birthdays, etc.

Consider having contests, challenges and incentives. These don’t have to be complicated or expensive. Start small and see what works!

Attend all company events yourself and encourage your team to attend. Schedule pizza parties; coffee and small team gatherings at events and whenever possible. The bonding and friendships created can really sustain people and inspire them to move forward.

Team work DOES make the DREAM work!

What does leadership really mean in a business such as direct sales or network marketing- and what is required to be a leader?  Who defines leadership?

If you think about leadership as having a group to lead, then to what are you leading them, and for what purpose?

Leadership, and then success comes from developing yourself and then sharing what you’ve learned in the development of others. In the home-based business industry, this is not a difficult task.

LEAD your team to the tools of success. These don’t have to be tools developed by you. Just make sure they are tools that have stood the test of time and have proven effective.  Start with your company and sponsor’s tools.

Get your partners involved in the team environment. Bring them together at meetings, on conference calls, email discussions, etc.

Lead authentically, by being the REAL you and not some made up person. Share both your strengths and your weaknesses. Communicate openly and honestly. You don’t have to be perfect, just be authentic. Acknowledge mistakes and always strive to do the best you can.

Let your leadership evolve and develop around the needs of those you lead, and the desires you have to take on this role. Follow your own values and lead your team along the path you have chosen together, based on mutual values and desires.

What difference can you make today in your leadership?

The beauty of the home-based business industry is the ability to build it whenever you want. You set your hours, go at your own pace and give yourself days off whenever
you need or want.

On the flip side, building whenever you want
can also be one of the greatest hurdles to overcome as a home
business owner. With great independence comes great responsibility,
especially if you’re serious about building a big business.

You have to keep yourself moving.

And that’s not always easy.

One way to keep yourself from staying in procrastinating mode is to
remember…

NOW is the perfect time to build your business and to put yourself
into massive, consistent, effective action. Not yesterday, it’s
gone. Not tomorrow, it never comes. But right now, this moment in
this day.

Build your business with a sense of urgency to get things done for
your future. And, building for the future all takes place TODAY!
Let go of the “all or nothing” concept that so many of us have. If
you find yourself saying things like -

“I only have a few minutes so I shouldn’t call any leads.” WHAT?
Make ONE phone call and applaud yourself for that. It’s one more
action step in your journey.  You never know who might be on the
other end of the phone and what they might go on to build.

“I work full time and it’s easier for those who don’t.” Not true.
Everyone has their own challenges to work with and for those who
work, you are out in the mix daily and what better time to begin to
make some connections with people. Adapt a natural, fun way of
doing this.

“Only the ones who got in early reach the top.” The beginning is
not necessarily the best time to get in to a company.” In most
companies, many of the top income earners come in after the company
is solid and established, 5 years or more later.

TODAY is the day to create your future so you have so much more of
it to look forward to. So, what steps are you capable of taking
today? Will you make just ONE phone call? Pass out ONE business
card? Ask ONE person about a Home Party? Private Business
Reception? Conference Call? Suggest your products?

Begin taking YOUR first steps in your exciting personal journey so
you can be there for the moments you hold priceless!  It is not
always EASY, but it is SO WORTH IT!

When you start a new business, what is the first thing you do to get the word out?  After you’ve spent time and money on developing your skills, setting up shop or creating your online presence…

What’s the best way to advertise your business fast?

You let people you know- know about it.

This is true in any business model- whether you work as a
photographer, salon owner or writer.  Today we’re going to
talk specifically about the direct sales and home-based business
model but again, you can apply these principles to any business
since it’s all about building relationships.

Your first step in starting your direct sales business and
getting it launched successfully is going to start with notifying
your “warm market” about your business. Your warm market consists
of people who you know on a first name basis. Your sole objective
is to let people know that you have a business; what it consists of
and who you are looking for as customers and business partners.

You are simply notifying about your business and what each person
does with that knowledge is up to them. You are offering something
of value, that you believe in and the idea is not to bug or badger
anyone. Just notify!

This list should include immediate family, uncles, aunts, cousins,
etc., close friends, co-workers, church / organizations, former
co-workers, schoolmates, neighbors, everyone you know over 18, and
everyone else. Facebook is a great way to reconnect with those from
your past.

Here are some common misconceptions about notifying your warm
market.

#1 – I need to know everything about the business before I contact
anyone.  This is a simple business and there is not that much to
know. Your sponsor and business partner are there to support you and
provide this assistance. There are tools and systems offered by the
company that you will use to make this simple. Your excitement and
enthusiasm will go a long way with your prospect.

#2 – I want to be successful first, before I contact anyone I know.
As was stated before, you aren’t doing anything but notifying. That
is your one business obligation – let people know. If you can’t
start with that, where are you going to start and how are you going
to generate the success you want to get you to the point of letting
your friends and family know about your business?

We aren’t in the business of convincing, harassing or bugging
anyone. We are in the business of networking. We network our
products and our opportunity and provide more details to those who
are interested. That’s it.

So, make that Warm Market List and launch your business.

Are you someone who- when you start out to do something, you want to put your all into it?

If you are, I know how you feel.

Before getting married and having kids, I used to set out to do whatever I did with excellence.  Actually, more like trying to be perfect.

I would put my all into it and strive to be the best.

Over the years, I’ve learned I have to modify that drive.  There’s good striving but there’s also the striving that leads to burnout, getting angry, making you think you can do everything.

This leads to frustration and mommy guilt.

We have to remember, all you can do is all you can do.  And it’s enough.

This is the relaxed concern I’m continually learning to develop in my life and business.  If you’re building a business, the simplest tip I can give you is this…

Plan your week methodically.  Write down your goals with a balanced view of everything you have to do daily.

What niche are you building in?  How many people are you going to talk to?  Be specific and realistic so you can stick to your goals.

And remember, whatever your goals are, all you can do is enough.

Ah, Wednesday.  First day of school for the kids.  My daughter starts 3rd grade and my son starts 1st.  Even anticipating them starting is a bittersweet experience.  We enjoyed many summertime activities like bowling, playdates, birthday parties, swimming, soccer and camping.

Now it’s time to get into the back-to-school routine.  I’ll miss being with my kids, but I do look forward to what the new year will open up!

Today’s Work at Home Wednesday post is a product review/giveaway.  I don’t usually do product reviews and I’ve not done one before – so when Farm Rich contacted me to write one, I wasn’t sure at first.

Have you heard of Farm Rich?  I hadn’t- but after visiting their website http://www.FarmRich.com, I noticed something cool.  These snacks and appetizers are great for back to school!

I decided what a nice way to start off the back-to-school year, we gotta eat right?  I’m one of those moms who runs out of ideas for food, so a new snack idea is always welcome.  Let’s do this review.  But bear with me, I’m not very good when it comes to talking about products

Farm Rich was gracious to send me a coupon for a free product in their snack and appetizer line.  The kids and I picked the Mozzarella Cheese Sticks.  That night I couldn’t wait to try them and incorporated them into dinner…yes, that was French toast, eggs, and the mozzarella cheese sticks.  Breakfast for dinner.

The Cheese Sticks were quite tasty.  Easy to make, great for someone like me.  I just popped it into the oven for 11 minutes.

Can’t wait to make these for the kids for after-school snack too.

Now…on to the Giveaway.  2 of you will be chosen to receive a coupon good for a free bag of any Farm Rich product of your choice.

Back To School Giveaway Rules

Required Entry: Visit Farm Rich’s full list of products and Leave a comment here sharing which product you’d like to try.

Optional extra entries: (Once you’ve done the required entry, you may do as many of these extra entry options as you’d like!)  Leave a separate comment for each entry.

~Follow me publicly on Google Friend Connect – 1 entry (leave me a comment saying you now follow or already do)

~Follow my blog on Networked Blogs – 1 entry (leave me a comment saying you now follow or already do)

~Like my Facebook fan page – 1 entry

~Follow me on twitter @jinnialow – 1 entry (leave username)

~Tweet the giveaway – may be done once daily, include @jinnialow – 1 entry (leave direct url to tweet)

~Introduce yourself right here, then come back here and leave 2 separate comments – 2 entries

Giveaway Ends on 9/3/11

Winner will be chosen using random.org and announced on Sunday, 9/4/11.  Be sure to leave me your email so I can contact you if you win!  You’ll have 48 hours to claim your prize after I email you or another random winner will be chosen using the same method.  Good luck!