"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence therefore, is not an act, but a habit."-Aristotle
Sometimes I think that when people first start, they think " I can't do that, I am not like them." I have a confession to make, I was really bad at this in the beginning. I am getting better now. I keep learning, I keep trying and above all I keep working. This process will never stop, in a couple of years when I am Master Coordinator, I can relax a bit, but I will still keep building to maintain my position.
I remember last year when I first started, it took an entire week to build up enough courage to make my first call. I told Daniel he had to leave the room. I had excitement and enthusiasm to make up for the overwhelmed, confused state I was in. The emails kept coming in, didn't know if they were from Starteam, or Corporate or if there was a difference. I was trying to keep up with the "30 days of Health", attending IC classes, calling a minimum of 20 calls a day. (meanwhile I was still working 6 days a week) I had a hard time remembering where the coupons were for the leads. I only had one autoship set up. I wanted to know everything right then, so that I could sound experienced on the phone. I had no validity in my eyes, why would any one want me for a leader. I even remember one guy, said he would only talk with the person that was a head of our team, OUCH!
My first check was only $50, but it made it real for me. It took me 6 months to understand the compensation plan. I knew I had to work hard to get to Director, when the time spent would start to even out with the money coming in. I did what Lou Ann Salmon and Zal Fink(my business leaders) suggested I do, I mirrored their actions. I attended all events, Shaklee-ized my home, set up my autoship, finished Inner Circle (our team webcast training), listened to OTJ training calls (again live webcasts), Dani Johnson (an expert trainer/mentor). When they started talking about Global Conference, I thought how can I afford to go...airfare, hotel etc. I was in a financial crisis at the time, this was my plan B, and our Shaklee checks were still small. Daniel didn't quite understand what the importance of going to St. Louis when we needed to save our home, our other business. He thought I was crazy, but he saw how hard I was working, he saw my determination and he helped us to the next goal.
This was my Ah Hah moment, it wasn't just the trip, it is what it meant. It meant that when Zal and Lou Ann said that a commitment was needed to truly succeed at your own business, it truly meant doing WIT! I took this business seriously, I am a professional in the Social Marketing Industry. I am the CEO of my own organization, it wouldn't be right to not go to your own Conference, (especially when 2 people in your downline were going). It is scary, because once you make that commitment it is out there for the world to see, (and scarier still for the world to judge). I didn't want to let myself down, or my family. But you know this push to that uncomfortable, new place is what propels you to grow.
I used to feel like I was lucky, but now I believe that the harder you work, often times the luckier you get!
Keep it up Cheryl!!
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