The rules still apply. If you are in network marketing, own a franchise or just doing some fun team-building event, it means more than ever in 2013 going into the new year, 2014.

Many companies underestimate the importance of teams in fulfilling their overall mission. In reality, every company with more than one rep/distributor needs to assign tasks to a team —  not an individual. In today’s complex and fast paced industry, you’ll get left behind if you try to make it alone, reinvent the wheel, or don't follow your team's system (if one is in place - there should be).

That’s because no one can contribute everything, but everyone can contribute something. One team member might have outstanding leadership talents while another team member excels at providing administrative support, team tools and materials, or even a great closer.
A huge benefit to team building is being grouped together with like-minded people who are all working toward the same goals. A side-benefit to this is being surrounded with the positive attitudes and actions of people that will progressively motivate you to reach your own potential. This. Is. POWERFUL. 

The synergy of team work pushes everyone into excitement. Everyone is feeding off of each other. This is why it is so important to have face-to-face meetings, whether it be for building or training.  
 
When working with a team, many individuals discover abilities that were unknown to themselves and to the team as a whole. Enters personal development . Stretching boundaries and known limits within a group will allow more ground to be covered in a shorter period of time. This is a great time to uplift and draw out strengths one didn't know they possessed, and gets one out of his/her comfort zone, which is required. 

Plus, a team can act as a support group to weaker team members and assist in overcoming obstacles that would have seemed impossible if tackled alone.

So I don't care WHAT is said.   TEAM = Together Everyone Achieves More.  EVERY. TIME.

This is precisely why I joined my team, The Digital Entrpreneurs. Of course I want to invite you to check it out...but even if not my team, do SOMEthing and make dern sure there is a solid team in place.

Til next time,

~KMO

99 Problems But an MLM Junkie Ain't One 

So a couple days ago, my girl posed a really good question in a business group I belong to, for entrepreneurs.

The question was (I'm paraphrasing) Would allow someone who has been in a gazillion 10+ businesses in one year to join YOUR business?

There were a ton of great answers, that ranged from folks saying yes because a person may need to be groomed, or take accountability. Still others said yes because the business they join could be their last, and the list goes on. But by experience, and graduating from MLM Junkie Academy years ago, my answer is NO.

We all know people that do so, and you may be reading this and one yourself. Now, I'm not judging one who does that because everyone has their reasons. But we also have preferences, and I choose NOT to.


I love everyone who strives to make it in business. Entrepreneurship is no joke! It's risky but network marketing or the business I work, allows you to explore without too much risk. But I prefer someone who wants to focus. My story and I'm stickin to it. :)

Your girl,


KeishaMonique Official

I DON'T believe in coincidences. People come into your life for a reason or a season...

So yesterday, I was burying my needle and driving on 'E'...saw the closest gas station but wanted to go to one closer to my destination. Shame on me, but don't judge me. I'm just a typical girly-girl that just gets in and drive. lol Yes....I ran out of gas. I HATE putting gas in my car. If they had some people come out and do it for me, it would make my life lol.

As my car died at the car wash entryway, a gentleman who worked there came to help right away. I didn't have to wait for hours the second time I did this or 30 minutes the first time it happened.  He walked with me to the gas station (boy was it hot in Houston).
I didn't have my gas can. I left it in Washington state from the second incident. Anyway, he filled up for me an empty milk carton he had on hand. As we walked back, we got to talking. Asked what I did, I shared, and he says: "I don't believe this meeting was by accident. I think I was put here to lead you to where you need to go, to get connections in Houston". And he proceeded to tell me about a building up the street where business owners meet all the time to network. Told me to go there get a flyer, find out how often they meet and go to those places because Houston is a huge market.

When I told him I just moved here he said "Yeah...you came to the right place." He said, "I work here at the car wash so if you ever need it washed definitely consider me." He told me his name. "I'm making ends meet but I make the best BBQ in Houston. I've worked at all the top restaurants here, and I want to start my own business. The owner of the car wash is letting me set up a tent and my grill etc to start small. If I make it I can move to a new spot.

I corrected him.  'You mean WHEN you make it." He smiled and said "Yes you're right."

At the end he said not to forget him. I told him I would definitely support his growth, I love me some BBQ. I gave him my name, and there it is...... I share all that to say how important it is to build relationships no matter what, that sometimes the 'Universe' shifts things to work in your favor, you don't always have to know the HOW, just know to discern and see something when its presented - that could be a life-changer if you act on it. I'm excited for what's to come.

Though he gave me a tiny lecture about not driving a car like mine - a Volvo XC90 - into the ground by not putting gas in it, he was full of knowledge and I'm glad to have made that connection with him. Running out of gas was a blessing in disguise, the best thing that happened to me that day.

Get your blessings, and count the ones you already have.

Til next time,

Keisha Monique Official!

Find That THING That Makes You Tick 

 What gets you going? When you wake up every morning, what motivates you to get up, and start your day? Do you ever have 'down' moments where you feel like 'Man, Keisha, XYZ is getting me through...if it wasn't for XYZ, I don't know if I could have done it' Or you need that something to feed your mind, that thing to stimulate you...to kind of light that fire under your ass to get you moving! We all need it. I need it. And we need it daily.

“People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.” ~ Zig Ziglar

We NEED it. Whether an encouraging word from your child, significant other, or during your personal development time - someone you follow for inspiration - we need to feed our minds with things that will move us to action. It does start with us, but an extra push never hurt anybody.
 

Use It to Motivate You
What's your thing? See the video to see mine.

Stop Lying To Yourself

Its inevitable as a  business owner. Anytime you are building your business and it involves getting other business partners on board in the network marketing industry, you are bound to come across dishonest people.

No I'm not talking about the shady kind, I'm talking about those who become a business owner, but refuse to REALLY commit. Refuse to put in the work. Always make excuses....everything but keeping it real.

In this industry it's always a numbers game. You talk to people, and the ones who really want it, sticks. Everyone else falls by the wayside. It sucks because valuable time is wasted.

But what if YOU are the one? The one, that wants the breakthrough in your business? You know deep down you are not successful because of YOU.  You have to be honest with yourself first. Watch my video below as I go over a few different things.  As always I keep it real.

At the end of the day though, until you are brutally honest with yourself, you can't meet that potential you have in life, and in business.



Please comment on your experiences!
Til next time,

KeishaMonique Official

GoFunPlaces is gone.

Damn.

I was privy to this info late last night with a friend who's team was part of the largest group in GoFunPlaces. Yea EVEN before the infamous Troy DOOLY put the video out. How you like me now! lol Anyway, she advised that she tried to log in and that she got a message that she was terminated.
Her shady sponsor (and I use that term loosely) didn't even tell her THAT...but DID proceed to ask her to join him in another business after she lost thousands of dollars on his word. She had to find out on her own...and when she DID approach her sponsor he decided to be forthcoming THEN. Can't STAND greedy mo-fos...but that's another topic.

Focus.

With the HUGE fallout of Zeek Rewards aka Zeek, called the biggest Ponzi Scheme on the planet, people scrambled to many other copy cats to try to recoup what was lost...Vultures were everywhere with rescue programs. Some left networking altogether but not before losing friends, homes, cars, and respect and confidence in this industry.

What exactly WAS GoFunPlaces?

Well, like Zeek, you placed an ad everyday. Instead of a penny auction they had a lifestyle auction; it revolved around the travel industry.
This program specialized in niche markets of:  Lifestyle, Leisure and Travel. Their program stated that members save up 95% on lifestyle, leisure and travel products and services like electronics, sporting gear, luxury items, dream vacations and more.
They made purchases with the use of what they called Lifestyle Dollars to purchase products.
Like Zeek, where you gave away bids to customers to play in the penny auction, you gave Lifestyle Dollars to friends to purchases from the travel site, auction and shopping mall.

As an active qualified affiliate, every time someone purchased products and services from you or your team with Lifestyle Dollars, you get paid! <-- Sounds exactly what Zeek was saying. But you had to place your ad to qualify! Just like Zeek.
And just like Zeek, you had to have the mindset of deferred gratification. You watched your income build over time until you make a certain amount daily to begin withdrawing funds. Depending on your skill level...it could take up to a year before you see any of that money.

See where I'm going with this? Now I was singing the Zeek praises...but after all this stuff came to light AFTER the fact (the shutdown), I began to deal with that wonderful thing called hindsight...after I got through denial, depression and anger. Anywho moving on.

 Click below to learn more about GoFunPlaces...before the site goes away:


Side note - Its so funny now I can talk openly about this...I used to wonder when people would stop talkin about Zeek Rewards...I was one of the folks that took part of the program and lost a lot. But after that, I learned my lesson, and didn't look back or join any of the other copy cat auction businesses...but the APPEAL of TRAVEL got many....it really was a Zeek covered in Travel wear. And now many have been screwed out of thousands. Again.

Here's the interesting part though. This company is legal in other countries. JUST NOT in the US. The owners of GoFunPlaces actually got legal involved to look at their compensation plan to determine what needs to be done. After legal counsel advised that it wasn't a sustainable model for the US they VOLUNTARILY SHUT THEIR DOORS.

I think that's commendable...aside from the fact people lost 5figs or more in a matter of overnight...leaders JUST purchasing a home and bringing ALL their colleagues along for the ride - only for the ride to come to a screeching halt before it got started.

But you know what? Hear it from the horses mouth. He is not a favorite of mine because he blows which ever way the wind decides...cheerleader for a company one sec and hater the next day. But he does present some actual facts so watch this video from Troy Dooly on the official shutting down of GoFunPlaces

And to all the networkers who seem to think they are doing those folks who may be doing people a favor to those who may have lost a LOT...leave them alone. Some may pick right back up, some may need time b/c they invested so much into GoFun, others may need to do something asap (like a job) so they don't lose everything and the LAST thing they need is you all in their faces telling them to join you in something you know takes time to build, or they are not interested in, OR not have the money for. DUH......Keep the vulture in you at bay. Be mindful!! And they just may come find YOU. What you can do as a fellow networker though...is understand, be there to uplift. That's the better way.
I know because I've been through it. My sponsor in my company knew me and what I was going through, what I lost, how I felt..she almost JOINED me in Zeek...but she stayed in touch and pitched NOTHING. When time was right...I went to her. Now we are FEARLESS and hustlin.

Til next time,

KeishaMonique

Use Facebook To Build Relationships

If we do our research of the reason Facebook came to be, we see early on the importance of making connections and building relationships. Originally for college students to keep up with their peers, it has expanded to family and friends, and now has completely evolved to include businesses and entrepreneurs alike.  We stay connected so we know how our peeps are doing, read
dramaother posts and thank our lucky stars where we are compared to them. But we also go on there to support our store brands we love, and to promote our business.
When we build a business, we create a rapport with our customers. We gain trust, we engage, make everyone that comes in our path know that we really care. We say hi, call people by name, and actually engage in stimulating conversation…..at least that’s what we’re supposed to do….but don’t.

….Instead of Spamming In Networking Groups

The problem comes when we promote our business. I have been a rookie, learned from it, and years later still see the same type of thing happening, and it just gets worse. I am a part of quite a few Facebook Groups, and admit that sometimes I fall prey to what everyone else does…but I decided to go against the grain, as you’ll hear about in my video.
A question was asked, ‘Can you build a sustainable business promoting your business in all of the networking groups on Facebook?’ Well…the answer is yes and no. Watch my video below that explains what I mean.

Ready To Learn?

Well then, put into action RIGHT NOW what you watched on the video, and watch your business results change. Build relationships on Facebook first before spamming in networking groups! Need some guidance? Subscribe to my blog and get the Free 5 No No's on Building Your Business on Facebook. I show you how without all the fluff.
Til next time,

KeishaMonique

I Jumped Out of A Perfectly Good Plane

I never heard that popular phrase before until I announced one day on Facebook that I was going all out on my 35th birthday – skydiving, for the first time.  Yes, I jumped out of a perfectly good plane.
If you know me, you’d KNOW that skydiving and Lakeisha in the same sentence doesn’t even make ANY sense. For years I have always talked down going to certain amusement parks because I was deathly afraid of roller coasters. When I would go to the local carnivals, I was the one taking pics and encouraging others along. I was the baby/stroller watcher, the food and purse holder, and laugher-atter lol. (my own word)
I remember a few years back, going to Sea World, and there was one ride that looked like a big wooden log that slowly ascended upwards, I dunno about some 40 feet up and then seemed to free fall down until you reached the water…I let my stepson talk me into going on that ride, because it didn’t look THAT scary.
That feeling…you know what I’m talking about, when you go down fast, and it literally feels like your SOUL is about to be snatched out of your body and left behind? Your body kinda trembles as you try to keep your soul inside? Yeah, I don’t like that feeling at all. Some people get a rush out of it.  Well…after going down like that I was so upset. I angrily told them to NEVER make me go on ANY of those rides AGAIN!

Back to Skydiving…

So imagine everyone’s surprise when I said I was going to skydive? Yeah people didn’t believe me. Others egged me on, and still most others kept asking, ‘Why would you jump out of a perfectly good plane?’ My ex told me I was going through a midlife crisis. Nah! I wanted to do something exciting, spontaneous NEW, and test my risk limits.
And believe this…the little old lady in the video, was jumping her 964th jump. She was trying to get to 1,000 jumps by her 65th birthday which was at the end of August.We also got a cup of beer after the jump. A couple days later, we went to Six Flags and I braved it – went on EVERY SINGLE big roller coaster there. With a little coaxing and reminding myself I jumped 12,000 feet out of a perfectly good plane, the comparison was nothinnnn, and I did it!  Happy Birthday to me!
Life is about taking risks sometimes, breaking the rules…or maybe amending them a little bit. I am living life to the fullest but I do think sometimes we have to be uncomfortable to get what we want! Do you want something? Do you take risks? Be your OWN boss.

Til next birthday!
Lakeisha M Williams
P.S. I would do it again!

Self Sabotage Is NOT Your Friend

It happens to the best of us! Though it is NOT the best of us. (ooo quote!) But it happens all too often, and this is something that I’m combating myself. Self-sabotage.
What is it, and how does it happen? Most of you can relate to this. Its not all business related. It can happen when you’re trying to lose weight, when you’re trying to move on from a toxic relationship, when you’re trying to focus on school, break some type of addiction….and of course when you join or start whatever business you decide on.

 How Does Self-Sabotage Even HAPPEN?

Every situation has the EXACT same steps to self-sabotage…if we let it sink in, it won’t go away…it loves your company:

• First you get excited.
• Then you commit to it, and VOW that you will NEVER give up you are SOOOO excited.
• The excitement wears off when you don’t see the results you hoped to have in a given amount of time.
• You start backing off of that thing you were SOOO excited about.
• You talk to yourself, and excuses begin. Why you cheated for the day BUT will restart tomorrow…why you went back to him/her for that tenth one time, BUT you won’t do it again…you turned in your homework late BUT its okay you still have time, why you didn’t call follow up with your prospects/build a list/return a call, BUT you’ll get to it asap.
• Then tomorrow comes. It still isn’t done. You push it to another day.
• Then another day.
• And another.
• Before you know it…you are not excited anymore. People are still there to support you but you’re not feelin’ them. You don’t know why you started in the first place. Maybe it wasn’t for you. You’re not making any money. You gained 2 pounds back. Your teacher gave you C. Dude/dudette still doesn’t want you. Oh this can’t be good, so why are you still doing it? You ask.
• People begin to ask questions. Where are you? They haven’t seen you in the gym lately…you’re not back with WHAT’S HIS/HER FACE are you? Are you still in ABC Business??
• The excuses continue…and theennnn….
• You say eff it. You’re done. Nothing’s happening (damn right nothing’s happening. You did it to yourself. And You quit.

Then you see everyone around you STILL going on with life…and you feel like an outsider. Why can’t YOU have the same success…because it seems like all the successful people are thrown in your face all of a sudden, right?
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN…..Self-Sabotage.
Self-sabotage is NOT YOUR FRIEND. It hangs around the back of your mind, waiting for any reason for you to doubt yourself. It plays with your emotions. It makes you second-guess your talent, abilities, skills. Keeps you unfocused. It’s all about you.  Self-sabotage loves making you feel this way.

No More! How?  (And It’s Not Always Easy)

The only way to get rid of it, is to flood your mind. Flood it. With:

• Personal/Self Development
• People who are heading the same direction as yourself.
• Taking all of the ‘bad words’ – like, failure, quitting, no, you can’t, and it’s impossible, out of your vocabulary.
• Shifting your mind and shaking self-sabotage completely out of your system.
• Discipline yourself to go beyond yourself. You will look back and be AMAZED with your new self.
• Pray about it! – Definitely NOT the last thing to do, saving the best FOR last.

Perfect example is my blog! I am supposed to blog everyday! But as you can see, time has lapsed! Its no one’s fault but my own, but it was b/c I became LAZY.  No excuses…especially with what I’VE been through! So…JUST SAY NO TO SELF-SABOTAGE!

Soo…I was to do two posts but I worked late (I’ll blog about that later) and got tired so here is part 2.
So, I spoke about entrepreneurs go on and on about network marketing and why people won’t live their dreams working a J.O.B. Well, I can speak on BOTH ends because I am working now! (My story later).
Plain and simple, people who have jobs that don’t like like MLM or Network Marketing are under one of these categories:

• They LOVE their job and complacent, they can’t see themselves ANYWHERE else
• They think running a business is too hard may not have the discipline to stick it out.
• Need a guaranteed paycheck and think that Network Marketing does not give the income needed RIGHT NOW.
• Thinks every MLM or network marketing business is a SCAM
• Been in a MLM or network marketing business and HAVE been scammed, burned, failed.

Notice I didn’t say why people with jobs don’t JOIN them, because people do, find it’s not for them and happy to work.
Here are some arguments with rebuttals on excuses that employees make on why they won’t invest in themselves:
Employee: I don’t want to pay an autoship. They will take $XYZ out of my check.
Rebuttal: Your employer takes 20% out of YOUR paycheck every 2 weeks. No one says anything. So your salary is $25,000 but really it’s $20,000 a year.

Employee: If I have my business, when tax season comes, I will have to pay it back.
Rebuttal: No, as a business owner, you fall in a different tax bracket. You will put MORE money in your pocket because you can deduct expenses you CAN’T as an employee. See your CPA.

Employee: Yeah, all you do is sit on your ass everyday.
Rebuttal: Yeah? Okay…blogging, taking calls, checkin’ emails, surfing the web, playing on Facebook, and webinars with teammates…I guess I do. But so do you. Only difference is, I come and go as I please, I determine my hours, my pay, I can see my kids before and after school. I don’t have to ask permission to even excuse myself to the restroom, or see the look on my boss’s face if I run in a couple minutes late for lunch – because I AM my own boss!

Employee: Yeah but I need money now, and at least I get a guaranteed paycheck.
Rebuttal. You’re right. But see, you will get that over the next 20, 25, 30 or more years and still be working hard. As a business owner, I may start with zero, but I determine my future, and when I start getting paid, it will INCREASE and so I may only have to work for 1, 2 to 5 years making 6figures or more, retired, living life, having free time…I won’t have to wait for my job to tell me when to to retire before I can live.


But let me stop right there. If I get resistance I have to move on? Why, because you can’t go through life CONVINCING people against their will. You just can’t. If they resist you, but come on board because they feel obligated, they will waste MY time, and they will set THEMSELVES up for failure!

Did you know we are ALL supposed to prosper? We are NOT MADE to be broke, stuck, busted and disgusted. We are all meant to have a prosperous life! But that idea was somehow buried with the way our society feels is the ‘American Way’ and conditions MOST people that without a job you are not going anywhere in life. That’s not to say if you have one you’re a loser…not even that. I commend those that do what they have to do (like myself for now)…but we all have dreams, we all have a goal, and when you are trading time for money, are you truly happy?
I say, if you have a job but looking for more, do a business you will love, on the SIDE to supplement your income. Then when you won’t have to worry about life just flying by.
I have a goal in mind and my goal is to be back where I was last year. I’ll have to tell ya all about it, in my next blog post.

You see it on your Facebook newsfeed. You see it in blogs posts such as this. You see it in articles, forum posts, group discussions. You get to hear from all the entrepreneurs who did it big, and aspiring networkers, as they build their own home-based business.  It gets to the point where you feel you got the short end of the stick or actually doing something WRONG by working job, for being an employee for someone.  Those who actually work a job become insulted, offended, and even put off  by the person(s) that talk about how having a job is the fastest ticket to NO WHERE.
You know the famous initials. Just. Over. Broke. But you just don’t understand.
 
We talk about jobs because we’ve been there. We’ve had the 9am – 5pm clocking in, and knowing no matter how hard we worked, how long we are there, how much our bosses LOVED us, how much overtime we put in, how many job shadows, or development courses we complete, we would NEVER EVER make more than the manager or their boss or their bosses boss, or the CEO of that company.

I thought in my career in insurance, I would eventually be a boss, and boss people around. ‘Cause I’m bossy.  Deep down I wanted more BUT I was complacent with a job. It’s a guaranteed check! I was introduced to the network marketing  bug early on but didn’t quite get it. I won’t bore you with the details, but I failed and failed and failed again. Then I hit success in my business.

I saw my checks go up to the four figures a month, watched my team grow into the thousands. And the crazy thing was, I worked my butt off for an entire year, but when my business exploded, I didn’t do a LOT of work! But checks just KEPT GOING UP! Now that, my friend is the power of residual income. Once you got a piece of that freedom, you didn’t want to lose it!

So then, you see the business owners, independent contractors, all of us get EXCITED! We worked umpteen YEARS at ABC company in a cubicle but now we call the shots and we are paid much MORE, the skis the limit. Then you start seeing the comments…that pretty much seem anti-job.
But I’m telling you! You see the comments it because WE’VE BEEN THERE. Once you see the income that can be made working from home…and being able to wake up when you want, (except if you have kids like I do), be able to take calls, run your errands,  travel, set your OWN hours, head to the bathroom without asking permission, meet new people you WANT to work with…there is NOTHING LIKE IT.

But people at jobs who have a closed mind don’t see the blood sweat and tears we have to go through to get there! Most folks with jobs think we just get into business, wake up, successful and that it came easy.  NO! We have to go through:

• Sacrificing normal activities we enjoy at first
• Working LONGER hours…up to 16 hours sometimes!
• Missing time with family
• Disciplining ourselves and having to do what most won’t
• Constant rejection
• The phone attached to our cheek and ear
• Working hard until…
• Going through obstacles
• Dealing with haters who really think you do nothing all day
• Getting up and doing it all over again with no GUARANTEE of getting paid!

But boy the rewards….the rewards make it well worth it! Its BLISS when you can do more than your normal activities, you have nothing BUT time with family, you see yourself blossom in personal development, you aren’t killing yourself, you turn haters into motivators, and you are getting paid beyond your wildest dreams. Who would WANT to go back to a job after that?? Once you get that you will understand WHY you see us.
Contrary to what you believe, we don’t necessarily knock a job. Because in tough times, most have to do what they have to, to support their families. But those who keep and open mind and want to make THEIR dreams come true and not someone else’s, will have a light bulb go off, and you too will see the difference of being your own boss and being bossed by one.