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[Stephen Meyer Company: Organo Gold, Inc. Contribution Level: 3]

I'ver had a good chance to do some thinking and re-evaluating my plan. Since I've changed jobs I've stayed off the Internet and that includes facebook for the most part so I could think my plans through. After a while I started browsing the Internet and looking at the different people who are my FB "Friends" and the BS started shining like a spot light.

People who go to forums acting like "Leaders" when i know they're not even close, BS about making millions in NWM with some ones products and programs, big houses, BMW's, people who make very very little in NWM yapping about all the money and on and on.

Is it OK that my plans are a little more humble, actually a lot more humble. I'm not interested in million dollar homes, expensive cars, flashing my money around, or showing everyone how successful I am. Is that OK.? Or do i have to be like all the BS I see and read to make a good living in MLM or any business I choose?

[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 9]

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I agree 100% Stephen!
Seriously man, Ive been trying to get this message out there for over 2 years.

It's funny too...
I hate BMWs. Mercedes too. Porche, Ferrari. Ive driven them all.
I dont like those kinds of cars, which is why that campaign doesnt work on me.
Its funny though, not one person has even bothered to ask if I do.

I like luxurious SUVs with 4x4, big tires, a sun roof, dvd players and awesome sound with leather seats and booty heat... something that sits high so I can see over everything on the road and know whats coming at me. Room for our snowboards, bikes, camping gear, fly rods, or a load of friends to come along for the ride.

Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
GMC Yukon Denali
Ford Expedition King Ranch

Something built like a tank that I know is going to protect my family when some dill hole flying down the road decides to drive his "luxury" sedan under my truck.

We dont want a McMansion either.
In fact we're shopping right now and we're more interested in the land and resources that come with the house. A place to grow food, with horses, sheep, a cow and chickens. Something with a fresh water source, easily fortified where my kids and our dogs can run free and we dont have to worry about another crazy loon speeding through the neighborhood in their sports sedan. Something I can build guest cabins on for retreats to spend time with our team and have plenty of room when family come to visit.

The conversation went like this last week...
Do you really want to spend $650k on a house?
Why not find something for around $300-350k and use the other $350-300k to invest, travel, expand the business, improve on the property and fortify our position. Why throw it all one deal?

But that's our "dream."
Someone else may want the bimmer and the mansion and thats perfectly cool too - for them.

As for flashing our wallet around - no thanks.
The reality no one ever seems to talk about, as much as everyone wants to believe in happy endings is there are serious psychos out there. I know, my wife has been stalked twice.

We decided never again. I would never jeopardize my family by flaunting our income and private lives around the internet for every nut job to freely see. If someone is that hard up to see a big check to realize the value we bring to the table, Im happy to let them bounce. Its not worth selling out our privacy and security. Nothing is.

I know of at least 4 marketers that flat left the arena, wiped everything from Facebook to their blog in the last year because of stuff like that. We've been on the verge several times.

The point...
It doesnt matter what someone else accomplishes.
It doesnt matter how big the check is that someone else carries across stage.
It doesnt matter what their wife, girlfriend husband or boyfriend looks like, the cars they drive, the vacations they take, the homes they own, the bling they flash... none of it matter to you.

- Its Not Your Life - its theirs -
Its not your dream, its theirs.
But most of all, its their results, not yours.

In all my years, I have yet to see a single copy cat success story.
Sure you'll find similarities, but I assure you you'll see far more unique aspects in every case.
Unique victories, unique challenges.

At the end of the day it makes no difference how much money you make.
What matters is how much you keep and what you do with it.

Just look at all the stories of ruin and despair from people that "chased the dream" only to have it all crumble in a shallow pile of ashes. Homes fall apart. Cars crash and breakdown. Diamonds may be forever, but they're easily taken from you. All the stuff, DooDads as as they say in Cashflow, all of it is just stuff.

Like the stripes on the Yankees uniforms, the hype and glitter is nothing more than a distraction.
A distraction that holds so many people back from seeing the beautiful simplicity of a home business.
A distraction that has so many people chasing ghosts and false pretenses.
Its sad to watch.

There are happy endings...
Every time you see someone who did it their way, without a care in the world what someone else had. Without a care in the world how fast "someone else" got somewhere. Without a care in the world if someone judged their "modest" dreams and pursuit of happiness as they defined it.

Live your life.
Dream your dreams.
Thats the greatest metric of all.

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[Joyce Penner Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 8]

I wish there was a like button on here because both of you showed your heart in the above posts. Both of you showed the integrity, honesty and authenticity that is missing online as all these so called "leaders" take posture as a license to BS.
Good post Stephen !
Joyce

[Mario Sanders Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 6]

I like what you said, Richard.
I've looked at houses ranging upwards of $500+. I was not impressed. I felt that it was a lot of wasted space. Next try to clean all of that acreage! It will take you all week, then it's time to do it again.
Some of the more luxurious vehicles I would not feel comfortable to drive on the conditions of some of these streets.
Bottomline, who am I trying to impress?
Many of our tv evangelists have eloquent lifestyles and try to show everybody how to live. Aren't they suppose to live a humble life and give up the material wealth and seek a higher self worth?
In meeting people, I met some people that are very comfortable living their lives. To look at them, you would not think twice on how they are living. But when you talk to them, they can buy whatever they want with cash and can take care of their grown children needs as well.
As in the movie, "Sweet Home Alabama", it was said, 'you can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl.'
Enough said!

[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 9]

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You know that's the other part no one is talking about Mario... debt.

How far into debt with high mortgage payments, car payments, credit card payments, store credit payments, 2nd mortgage payments, lines of credit, etc etc., how far have people gone into debt to live that lifestyle?

You're right... Who are you trying to impress?
The answer should be no one but yourself.

What no one is talking about is its all just one or two slow months from the bonus car payment being missed, the mortgage payment being late. One illness, accident, lawsuit or death. One shift in company policy, one change to the comp plan, or the doors shutting all together. To think it wont happen is extremely naive.

The missing piece, the message Ive been trying to get into the market place is that success doesnt mean you're up to your eyeballs in debt to live a lifestyle someone else approves of, a lifestyle someone else deems successful. A lifestyle that makes for good Facebook publicity but that you really cant afford.

I'll take a modest home thats paid for over a $4000 month mortgage payment any day.
I'll take a used car thats paid for over a $1200 month car payment any day.
I'll take a simple vacation paid in cash over a 25% credit card interest rate any day.

Modest living may not be flashy, but its secure.
It may not be sexy to some, but the bank cant take your things - you own it, out right.
You cant buy or finance that kind of peace of mind and low stress.
And that's ultra sexy to me.


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[Mario Sanders Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 6]

That's right, Richard.
That term, 'fake it 'til you make it,' really has holes in it. It just doesn't work like it sounds. Do not take on more debt than you can afford to pay cash.
I have been on two vacations this year, bought new furniture and ready to go again on another in about a month. No credit cards used or needed. The furniture was cheaper because I used cash. Financing was not an option.
The 'Jones' can't keep up when they use credit cards to live on.
Running a business is like that as well. Do not spend more on business tools and training than you can afford as an expense. It may take longer to pay that off. But it also should not effect your personal income.
Live well and proper!

[Stephen Meyer Company: Organo Gold, Inc. Contribution Level: 3]

Don't know nothing about Denali's and Escalades, I'll take a 3/4 ton Ford Diesel 4x4, not sexy, just tough.

Anyway, the point has been explained very well. I don't have dreams of BMW's and Mansions and honestly believe those types of dreams can cause major let downs for most who join a MLM company. Keeping it realistic will make for much happier people.

Anyone ever hear of Dennis Becker's "5 Bucks a Day" book? It teaches people to concentrate first on making 5 dollars a day every day. Of course that doesn't sound like much until you repeat the process and do it again, then again, and again, and again. The entire point of the system is to be realistic when you start out. Not trying to hit a million with every phone call or every presentation. Simply doing something productive every day that will make a little money. In time that little bit of money will start adding up.

That's my dream, start little and build to something bigger but I'm not looking at aiming for millions and don't care to spend my time trying to make it. It doesn't take a million bucks to make me happy and I'm willing to be it would take a lot less than that to make most people happy with their finances.