The best part of going on a trip is coming home….

Hi everyone! What a trip! I remember when I was planning the tour it was a brutal schedule. I have no idea how I pulled it off, I think the final leg in Japan was on pure adrenaline.  After Australia, I went to Manila, I remember posting there (the hotel had free internet). From Manila, I went to Japan. That was a riot! I’m six feet tall, so it was like some bad B rated Japanese movie… Amazon Woman Looking for Godzilla….

What was strange is that my cell worked in Japan. They have a large Sprint network there.  I didn’t know my phone worked until it rang in the middle of the night. The first night I stayed at the Hilton in Tokyo.  I was starving after my five hour flight from Manila and I ate in the lobby. Guess who was eating at the table next to me? I swear it was Jackie Chan.  He was shorter than I imagined, but everyone was short to me there.  The staff was really making sure he was happy and when he left, he signed autographs for the staff, and was very nice. I wonder how much he tipped?  The next morning I was working with the Waiora office in Japan. They opened On the Ground in Japan, with an office and customer staff.  A three page article and advertisment (in Japanese) was in a recent Japan networking magazine which was creating good interest.

Japan is like a well oiled machine of a city. Everyone has a purpose, and everyone does their job very well, no matter what the job is.  I had to take a train to outside the city, to Okaya in the state of Nagano to meet with a group there.  The train ride provided an opportunity to see the countryside which was beauiful.  The homes were out of the travel magazine. Pagodas.  Rice patties. It was awesome.

Japan was a great place to visit, and of course to do business. But I missed the family like crazy and couldn’t wait to get to the airport and come home. I was able to get lots of shopping done at the airport (am I the only one that does that?) and spend my Yen.  I had the best bowl of Udon Noodles at the airport too!!!!

My flight was direct from Tokyo to Chicago. Then after a brief layover, came into Tampa.  I cannot tell you how excited and relieved I was to see my family at the gate.  I knew on the road that my family is the main reason I do my business… and I found complete gratitude for my life and the relationships I have. I guess when you are on the road for a few weeks, sleeping in strange cities and in strange beds, you get realize why you go through all of it… and too me it was for my family. For the freedom to do what I want when I want it with them. We hugged and of course they were curious and wanted to talk about my trip, but I just wanted to give them sloppy kisses and squeeze them tighter. I swear the kids grew!

I have been home a few days now, back on schedule and excited. I was able to attack my emails, call my new team members that joined me, and thank those that hosted me. I get to spend next week with at home with the kids for Thanksgiving break and thinking of what special things we can do together.

If you get the chance to go on the road for your business; do it. It is an experience that continues to teach me things about myself and my business.  Of course, the best part of going away is coming home and that experience alone it excellent tuition in the school of life!

Donna

Are you in the Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong or Australia?

Hi everyone. Wow, 4 countries, 11 cities in 15 days! It will be an amazing race alrighty!

So I leave November 2nd…. anyone want to connect?

I’m visiting…
Brisbane
Melbourne
Adelaide
Gold Coast
Sydney
Hong Kong
Manila
Tokyo
Nagano

Shoot me an email and let me know… give me the best places to eat (I’m always looking for a great local place in each city).

Take care
Donna

Today is your lucky day!

The start of the Olympics is no coincidence. In fact, the Chinese put great thought into today. August 8th, 2008 is the luckiest day of the century (until August 8th, 2108).

The number 8 holds great significance….according to Wiki “The word for “eight” (八，捌) in Mandarin (Pinyin: bā) sounds similar to the word which means “prosper” or “wealth” (发 - short for “发财”, Pinyin: fā). In regional dialects the words for “eight” and “fortune” are also similar, eg Cantonese “baat” and “faat”.”

Telephone number 8888-8888 was sold for USD$270,723 in Chengdu, China.

The Summer Olympics in Beijing are scheduled to open on 8/8/08 at 8:08:08pm.

A man in Hangzhou offered to sell his license plate reading A88888 for RMB 1.12 million.

So today I figured, why not enjoy a little luck yourself! Hit the phones hard today! Make as many new connections as possible! Reach out for new business, rekindle old business….

Get off the sofa, turn off the TV, and give yourself a solid 24 hours of activity into your business.

My guess is you may feel today was your luckiest day too!

Donna

Are you in the Tribe?

I was forwarded this by another friend today and thought I should share… If Seth Godin is behind this, you want to be involved…. http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/07/are-you-in-the.html 

Pass it on!
Donna

Surviving or Thriving?

The power of words really astonish me. Growing up I used to hear others say how words carry power, they form your beliefs, and that forms your actions.

I witnessed it myself for the first time when I was about 13 years old. My mother, brother and I were living with my uncle in Canada. We didn’t have a lot of money, my mom was doing the best she could, but we were broke. As most poor families, we lived with any family member who had the room. This time it was with my uncle in his basement. He was a drunk. Not a happy one, a rude obnoxious one. You know, the kind you dread when he shows up at family holiday dinners. One night, he was drinking, and started an argument with my mom. Somehow I got in the line of fire, and he yelled at me words that pierced through my heart; his words were like venom. He called me names; he said things to me that were so hurtful, which of course only fueled the fight between my mom and him more. .His words pummeled me harder than any fist, any spanking, any injury, or any other physical contact I have ever experienced. If you ever thought verbal abuse existed, it definitely does and I went through it with him. I cried that night, a deep sobbing, hurtful slobbering cry. I was so hurt that he saw me and believe I was in the context of the words he said. My loving uncle was so cruel, I thought he loved me. How it must have pained him to hate me so much. What did I ever do to him? How could I be that person he was describing?

The next morning after he sobered up, he was completely embarrassed. He regretted what he said, but it was too late. The damage was done. We moved out that day, and our relationship has never recovered. That was over 20 years ago. Sure I forgave him. But I never forgot how I felt that moment his words hit me. Do words have power? You betcha. What I hear can change my day in a moment. That goes for what I say (since you hear yourself talk).

I don’t think about that day with my uncle very often, as you can imagine, it was painful for me. But this week, I heard two separate messages about your beliefs and how your beliefs can truly shape your life. I guess having two completely different, unrelated people tell me this message; it was time to perk up my ears.

If you think you are surviving something, then you consider yourself a survivor. If you are a survivor, then you became the victim of something. Becoming a victim of something means that you were powerless over something that was done to you. Follow me here. If you tell someone how the gas prices are out of control, you’re just making ends meet, or as it pertains to your business….your organization is just barely hanging on, you are surviving the economic storm; the result is then you put yourself in a place of struggling. If you tell yourself you are only surviving, then well, you are. Your stuck. You fasten the bolts and hunker down, you dig your heels in and ‘get through it’. If this describes you, let me ask you this… how’s that working for you?

My bet is you are not getting ahead, your treading water… you are… well….just surviving. And so you should. That is what you believe, and that is what you decided.

But have you ever noticed how you are in that place, and others around you prosper during that same economic storm? Are others in your company growing faster than you can imagine? Do you rack your brain wondering what ‘magic’ sizzle call is that they are using? They are not surviving, they are thriving. How? And doesn’t that really tick you off?!?!

Well, just like you believe you are a survivor, they believe they are thriving. They truly believe that their business is booming. 2008 is really their best year yet! They believe it, they say that; they know that. They decided and made a choice to lose the powerless feeling of being a survivor and took control, they embodied the knowledge that can shift their thinking, their beliefs and their actions to move forward. They don’t dig their heels in, they keep them moving. As far as economics go, sure the economy may be going through some cycle, but a thriver is wise enough to make some decisions to thrive in spite of it. Not whine about it. Thrivers are the people whose business flourishes.

Now, if you are sick and tired of being a victim of some circumstance, fed up with watching others grow around you, if you done with being a survivor, then just don’t survive; start thriving. The good news you can change it for yourself. You have the power to shift and build your belief. Take small steps, and write the words “Don’t survive; choose to thrive!” on post it notes. Stick them all over the place. I have them in my car, on my computer, etc. When you have the urge to complain, or think the world is at it’s end, look at this note and stop the thought. Be grateful for the business you have, the home you live, the clothes on your back and the fuel in your car. Then slowly your outlook will change. Continue to fill yourself with positive messages, stop watching the news, reading the paper, or believing the world is really a horrible place. Believe your business will grow, prosper and that you are NOT a victim. Believe in your faith, believe in yourself, believe in your core that you are moving forward in prosperity… and guess what…. You will!

Expect it. Live it. Believe it.

MLM QuickBuilder: it is an affordable tool

If you haven’t heard the names Bob Schwartz & Kyle Schmalhofer from Home Business Advertiser, you should. Bob and Kyle have been marketing experts for the network marketing industry for years, and have created an affordable all in one tool that anyone can use. It is called MLMQuickBuilder. It is a lead “club” where you purchase your leads (there are three various types of leads they offer), and you get a decent contact manager system, autoresponder system, calendar, landing pages, all rolled into one.

When I review many of these types of systems, either the contact manage was so complicated that I would be lost in, or the autoresponders had to be created by scratch (and who has time for that) or the leads were not included.

This system has it all; an easy to use system that is automatic. Auto responders in place, leads that you are downloaded right into your account, or you can input them. A choice of landing pages. And they have an affiliate program that basically means your leads will be paid for just by sharing this system with others.

The system is new and it is only a matter of time before everyone hears about it! Sign up and test it for yourself for a few months!

Thanks Bob and Kyle for doing such a great job!
Donna

Does your business grow in today’s economic enviroment? Who cares!

Right now the big topic of discussion on many internet boards is whether the current state of the economy is good for network marketing or not.  For me, I believe that times are tough for many.  People are losing homes, jobs, and well, really are having a hard time. So why would anyone spend a few hundred bucks to get their business started? Maybe, maybe not.  It isn’t up to me to decide for them, so why fret over it?

But what if I can show someone how take a few hundred bucks and make a profit in their first month?  Would that be a good deal? Of course!  And that’s the bottom line. I think the majority of folks are looking for ways to make more money, not a gazillion, but a few hundred or few thousands bucks a month.  But remember, you cannot control anyone else, only yourself.  Wondering, analyzing the current state of the nation is nothing but a distraction. And for some of you, another excuse not to build your business.  You’re wasting time and energy.  Start doing.

Prospect with pride, with obligation and mission. Talk to people and ask them what they need.  My guess is you will hear from more people interested in making money rather than how much vitamin c your product contains.  Lucky for you, you know how to help them.

To your immediate success!
Donna Valdes
http://www.DonnaValdes.com

One of the mistakes leaders make

Close your eyes, and think of you and your organization.  Do people think of you as a leader? Does your phone ring with people asking for training, tips, and three way phone calls? How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself at the top of an organization, and thinking of all those under you in organization? You worked hard to get there, right? You should be at the top, after all you hear mantras like “climbing to the top”, “see you at the top”; our industry seems to be infatuated with being and staying on top.   If you see yourself at the top of your organization, and everyone else is beneath you, this is a ego driven leadership value.  True leaders know that this is flawed thinking. You are not the king of the hill, queen of the heap; people in your organization are not working to make sure you stay on top.  This is a huge mistake and one that stops leaders from really grasping what true leadership is all about.

When you closed your eyes and visioned you and your organization, think of what it means to be a true leader. Leadership is a skill that you fine tune and I’m consistently learning more about. If you are truly thinking of leadership, you will see yourself at the bottom of organization and everyone is above you. You are serving everyone in your group.  You heard it before, this industry is people buying people. People want to belong to something, they want to join you, they want to succeed. A true leader knows that their job is to whatever it takes to help their organization grow and succeed. This includes sacrifice, time, money, and effort. This is servant leadership and it is the best type of leadership in network marketing.

From Wiki: Servant leadership is an approach to leadership development, coined and defined by Robert Greenleaf and advanced by several authors such as Stephen Covey, Peter Block, Peter Senge, Max Du Pree, Margaret Wheatley, Ken Blanchard, and others. Servant-leadership emphasizes the leader’s role as steward of the resources provided by the organization. It encourages leaders to serve others while staying focused on achieving results in line with the organization’s values and integrity.

Now, go back and think of your organization. I am sure some of you know of  so-called leaders in your company that believe they are at the top of their organization and have that mentality.  You will also identify the leaders that believe they are serving and working for everyone in their group, you know the ones… they walk the walk and talk the talk.  Who do you want to be more like?

Don’t make the same mistakes you see other leaders make. There is a reason you notice their top-down approach, because it isn’t genuine.  Follow a bottom-up approach and work to serve your group.  My guess is you’ll find your group responds faster to this and will grow in action because of it.

Until next time,
Bottoms up!
Donna Valdes

More from John Milton Fogg

Thanks again John! Here is the excerpt from John’s latest blog:

MLM Network Marketing Training: Generating Leads with Donna Valdes

Every time I do one of The MasterMind Sessions now , I make a number of "preview" clips. My intention is to use them for (what my friend Lavona calls "faux"…) podcasts. I usually do five or six. In the recent Session with Donna Valdes , I made 12 of them! Why? (Think about it, please.)

Here’s one with Donna speaking about her favored prospecting methods, generating leads, the lead industry and "free" leads. Bottom-line for Donna is on-line and it’s all relationships. It’s 3′57.

To listen/download via the url: Click here.

You can read more about our mastermind session here .

Thank you John Milton Fogg! You are a MasterMind!

The concept of Mastermind Groups was first discussed by Napoleon Hill in his famous book, "Think And Grow Rich." In his research of the most successful people of his time, Hill found that a key difference that made people successful was being involved in Mastermind Groups. Masterminding involves bringing people together with different experiences and ideas to collaborate, brainstorm, and provide support to help the participants achieve their goals. Multiple studies have since shown that collaborating energies tend to work better together and that mastermind group are very beneficial. I couldn’t grasp the concept early on.

In fact, when I first started in this industry, I thought it was full of clicks. The distributor force reminded me of high school. All the seniors (or leaders) would sit together, hang out. They were the popular guys. The geeks or nerds would hang out together, and the metal heads would do the same. I would try to fit in where I could, and I remember feeling like I wanted to be a part of whatever click I thought was the best at the time. I thought network marketing was the same. You join a distributor’s team, you look for where you fit in. You see the clicks, you hear about the leadership events, the mastermind groups. I wanted in.

But I didn’t realize the full value in the group dynamic until I started my own. It was explained to me this way…. Your network marketing business is like a mountain. You are at the top of the hill. You have a gigantic boulder in front of you, and you have several smaller rocks next to it. Standing next to you are all the other distributors in your click, team, city, or wherever. You can choose to get everyone together to push the bolder down the mountain, or everyone can pick up smaller rocks and throw them down by themselves. The rocks and boulder represent new business, energy and momentum. Knowing the boulder would produce the most momentum, you talk to the others and offer that if they all help you push the boulder, then you would share the momentum with them. Some join you, some don’t. Those that don’t look at you throwing their rocks off the hill, content to enjoy their own momentum and keep it for them selves. You and your friends push hard, and at first the boulder doesn’t budge. But soon, it gives way and as you continue to push it over the ledge, you see it pulling away and rolling over and smashing those other rocks as it speeds by. The mastermind group wins the most momentum.

I have a mastermind group in my business, most leaders have them. There are also mastermind groups in the industry and John Milton Fogg, a legend in network marketing offers an excellent series called The Mastermind Sessions. You can find it at www.themastermindsessions.com . Each week he interviews industry leaders like Jim Rohn, Bob Proctor, Mike Potillo, Randy Gage, Art Jonak, and Tim Sales. The knowledge that everyone shares is priceless. So imagine my honor when John Milton Fogg called me to participate in the session. At first I was a bit intimidated. But John was the most caring, professional, witty and comforting. He and I quickly became friends over a few quality conversations. What shocked me the most about John, is that he is human. Sounds funny I know, but when you are toe to toe with a legend, you expect them not to be human. John was and once again, I was reminded that people are this industry’s product. I was humbled by the experience and am grateful to have found a friend in John. To listen or read more, visit www.thefoggblogg.com . “Donna V has very good stuff. She’s clean, clear, in your face but with a mother’s soft hand.-John Milton Fogg”