Most of us have no problem coming up with perfectly valid reasons for not
taking action. Our excuses may temporarily make us feel better, yet they do
not bring any value to life. Excuses do not pay the bills, they do not solve
problems, they just allow us to justify not taking action.
In this article we will look at a long list of excuses, of reasons not to
take action, and turn them on their head. For every excuse, a compelling
answer is offered to counteract it. The result is a list of powerful reasons
for taking action now.
What would other people think?
Are you afraid of looking foolish for some reason? Why? You know what you
need to do, and you're committed to doing it. Don't worry about looking
foolish. What will really make you look foolish is if you just sit around
making excuses. An honest effort is nothing to be ashamed of. What other
people think is their problem, not yours. Let them think what they will. It
doesn't matter. Do what needs to be done. Get on with it.
It's uncomfortable
Sure it is uncomfortable to take action. But what is so great about comfort?
Are you committed to comfort or to accomplishment? A cow grazing in a
pasture is comfortable. You are capable of much more. You have possibilities
to be explored, and to explore them you'll need to get your hands dirty. But
a little discomfort right now is much less painful than the regret you'll
eventually feel if you don't ever take action. Discomfort can eventually be
overcome, but regret will never go away. Get up out of your comfort zone and
start making a difference.
I'll never be as good as ____
The only person you should compare yourself against is yourself. Your
obligation is to do your very best. Don't worry about how that compares to
someone else. Just do it. Everyone is unique. Everyone has their own special
contribution to make. You'll only discover yours by taking action. If you
decide in advance that you'll never be as good as so-and-so, then you forgo
the opportunity to find your own unique skills. Winners refuse to even
acknowledge the competition, by blazing new trails. Comparing yourself to
others will only bring you down. Set off in your own unique direction. Get
into action make it happen.
It's too complicated
Often a new task can appear complicated because you're not familiar with it.
Once you dive in, once you get a little experience, you'll get the hang of
it. Think of all the things you've learned in your life. You're good at
learning, and the best way to learn is to start taking action. Whatever you
see as too complicated, there's something about it that you can understand.
Use that as your starting point. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be
afraid to make mistakes. That's how you learn. There's no reason to be
ashamed about not knowing something. Everyone had to learn it at some point
in time. Now is your time to learn. Dive right in, take on the challenge,
take action, learn, grow and you'll accomplish things you never thought
possible.
It will take too long
Then you better get started as soon as possible. It will take even longer if
you sit around bemoaning the fact that it will take too long. Great
accomplishments take time and effort. And the most fulfilling part of any
accomplishment is not in finishing it, but in doing it. The journey is the
reward, so be thankful that you'll be rewarded over a long period of time.
If the end result suddenly appeared out of thin air, with no effort on your
part, of what value would it be? If it will take a long time, then it will
be valuable and worthwhile. So by all means get started as soon as possible.
Start making it happen and enjoy the long, fulfilling journey.
No one will care whether I do it or not
That's not true. You will care, and you are someone. The world is not
anxious to hand success to you on a silver platter. If no one cares about
you, it is probably because you don't care enough about anyone else (or
yourself for that matter) to do what it takes to make a life of
accomplishment for yourself. If you start taking focused, directed action
toward your goals, you can be sure that people will start to take notice.
The world is indeed indifferent to those who sit around and make excuses. If
that's all you do, you're right-no one will care. But if you stand up, step
forward and take action, you'll be amazed at how many people are waiting to
cheer you on. What are you waiting for? Get busy and you'll get noticed.
I'm overwhelmed
Sometimes you're just so overwhelmed, you feel like throwing up your hands
or crawling into a hole and curling up in the fetal position. WRONG! That's
exactly what you must not do. When you're overwhelmed, that's all the more
reason to start taking the actions that will rectify your situation. When
you're overwhelmed is when you're the most frustrated and the most
motivated. Now is your chance to really take action with dedication and
commitment. Don't blow the opportunity. The frustration you feel is good,
solid positive energy waiting to be released. If it is not released in a
positive direction, there is a very big danger that it will become
destructive energy. Use that frustration to your advantage. You're
overwhelmed? GREAT! Do something about it right now. Quit complaining and
start taking positive action. If you're overwhelmed it means that there are
plenty of things which can be done, things which will most likely make a
difference very quickly. Pick something and start doing it right now. As
soon as you get busy your frustration will start pushing you forward.
I don't deserve to succeed
You are just as good, just as worthy, just as valuable as anyone. No one can
intimidate you, no matter what kind of car they drive, or what their
business card says, or how big their house is, or how big their factory is.
No one is better than you. You are the best there is. Inside you is the
potential to do, or be, or have anything you desire. No one has more than
that. Some may have progressed farther down the path at this moment, but
that doesn't make them any better than you. If you start to take action
right now, you will be working your way down that same path. No matter what
anyone says, or does, no matter what your situation-personal, financial,
social or otherwise-you can choose to live your life in your own way. And
there is no greater success than that. But you must be the one to achieve
your success. Though no one can hold you back if you're determined enough,
by the same token no one can do it for you. You've got to step up to the
challenge, believe in yourself, and do what it takes. Right now is a great
time to start. You deserve the best that life has to offer. Do whatever
needs to be done to make it happen.
It's too hard
Anything worth having, or doing, or being, requires effort. What if you
could have whatever you wanted, again and again, just by snapping your
fingers? And what if everyone else could, as well? How much would you value
and appreciate the things you had? What would you do with your life, if
there was no need for effort? Where would you find meaning, what would give
you satisfaction? The value of effort is not only in what it produces, but
also in what it demands of you. The greatest opportunity in life is not for
a free ride. The greatest opportunity is to be fully challenged, and to meet
challenge with effective effort. The things we value are the things to
which, and for which, we give of ourselves. There is no way around that.
Some of the hardest working people are those who are wealthy enough that
they don't need the money. However, they do need the effort, and the
accomplishment, and the challenge. We all do. Without it, life is shallow
and empty. Make the effort. Do it now. Start today to meet the challenge.
I'm too tired
What are you tired of? Doing nothing can be just as tiring as taking action.
If you're physically tired, then go to bed and get a good night's rest. Then
get up in the morning and get started. Whatever you do today, you'll be
tired tonight. You can be tired after a day of effective effort and
accomplishment, or you can be tired after a day of getting nowhere. The
choice is yours. If you're going to be tired anyway, it makes sense to get
something out of it. To put forth your best effort, to move in the direction
of your goals, to make a difference, to make a life of excellence for
yourself and the world around you. Take action toward an exciting goal, and
instead of being tired you'll be exhilarated.
It won't matter anyway
What you do, matters. You can make a difference if you choose to do so. If
there's something that needs to be done, doing it will make a difference.
You know that. Thinking that is won't matter is just a petty
rationalization. Of course it matters. If it doesn't then find something
else that does. You are a creative, effective person who is full of
possibilities. The job at hand may not be the most important thing in the
history of the world, but if it gets you into action, then it matters very
much. Because no matter how small the effort or consequence, it is a start.
It revs up the momentum of the intelligent, creative, productive person that
you are. And once you get going, there's no telling how much you can
accomplish. It all starts with taking action. Don't hide behind the thinking
that it won't matter. Jump in and get started. It does matter. Do it now.
It's no fun
How do you know if you haven't even started it yet? Most things are
precisely as enjoyable as we make them. Is making excuses fun? Look at what
you need to do, and realize that it is an exciting opportunity to make a
difference. Sure, there are probably tedious parts to the job. But look
beyond those. Look all the way to the end. Look at what you will be
accomplishing. It will probably be a lot more fun than you imagine. Just get
started and you'll see.
I'm afraid I would fail
You never fail-you always succeed in producing results. If you don't like
the results you are producing, then you can learn from your mistakes and
change your strategy. By taking action, you will not fail. In fact, the only
way to fail is to not take action. By taking action you always achieve a
result. The result could very well be the achievement of your goal, or it
could be a learning experience that will eventually bring you to the goal
you desire. But you never fail. After Thomas Edison had tried 9,999 times to
perfect the light bulb, and had not succeeded, someone asked him if he was
going to have 10,000 failures. Edison replied that he had not failed- that
he had just discovered another way not to invent the electric light. Failure
is simply not an option. Everything you do has a result and eventually those
results will lead you to the achievement of whatever you desire.
I'm not committed to this
Then why are you even considering it? If it's something you know you need to
do, then think about why. Find a reason that is meaningful and compelling to
you, why you must take action. You may not be committed to this particular
action, yet you need to do it because of something else to which you're
committed. Remind yourself of what that is. Remind yourself of why it is
important. Get committed and do it, or move on to something else right now.
I'll do it as soon as I get back on my feet
Taking positive action toward your goals is precisely what will GET you back
on your feet. If you wait for conditions to be perfect, that time will never
come. Even if you could somehow get things perfect before taking action,
problems and obstacles would come along soon after you started anyway, so
why bother waiting. If something needs to be done, waiting will only make
your situation worse. Yes, there are problems to deal with. That's part of
the challenge. Just step right in and start to work on the first problem.
When that's solved, get busy on the next problem. Suddenly you'll be making
progress-infinitely more progress than if you waited for things to be
perfect before starting. Stop waiting for things to be perfect. Start now.
Get going. It's the best thing you can do.
I'm too busy
What are you accomplishing with all that busy-ness? Simply being "busy" gets
you nowhere. Stop being busy, evaluate your priorities, and start taking
focused, directed action. Anyone can be busy, but so what? Accomplish
requires more than just burning up time. Accomplishment demands action and
results. Stop being busy and start doing something today.
I can't decide
If you are having trouble deciding on a course of action, then there's
probably not all that much difference between the various choices. Evaluate
them all objectively and sincerely. Project each choice into the future. If
you still cannot decide which course of action would be best, just choose
one. You can always make adjustments along the way. Going forward is much
better than being paralyzed by the inability to make a decision. The optimal
decision is the one that gets you where you want to go, and for that to
happen you must pick one and make it work.
I can always do it later
Yes, that's right. You can always do it later. And when it's later, you'll
probably say the same thing. Nothing gets done by putting it off until
later. The fact is, you are alive and making decisions right now. Right now
is the period of time over which you have control. Right now is the time
that's available for you to take action. Action that is not taken now,
doesn't get taken. As you're reading this, try to do something next week.
Really put out all the effort you can to get something done next week. Were
you able to do it? Of course not. Because next week isn't here, and it never
will be. It is always now, and now is the time to act. Do it now and it will
get done.
I've already tried
Trying is not enough. The only way to accomplish something is to do it, to
do whatever it takes, to keep making the effort until the goal is reached.
If at first you don't succeed, you've still learned something valuable about
how to proceed. If you've already tried, that's fine. Keep going. Make use
of that experience. You've got a valuable perspective on what works and what
doesn't. Stop trying and start taking whatever action is necessary to reach
the goal. Learn from the mistakes and disappointments. Keep going. Start
right now to really make it happen.
I don't know where to start
There is always something you can do, some step that will start to move you
in the direction of your goal. Envision the ultimate goal, and work
backwards, step by step, until you arrive at something that can be done
right now. Then do it. "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single
step." Take that step right now, and then the next one. Repeat until done.
Why not
Whatever you wish to accomplish, there's no reason why you cannot start
right now. When you're truly committed to reaching your goal, there will
always be something that can be done right away, to get started. Action will
get you where you want to go. Excuses will hold you back. The choice is
yours. What are you waiting for?
Baby boomers will spend golden years at workAs work force ages, companies must adapt with flexible policies
About 69 percent of baby boomers anticipate working past traditional retirement age, and money and health care are the top reasons.
View related photos
By Eve Tahmincioglu
MSNBC contributor
Updated: 9:11 a.m. ET Aug. 8, 2007
Eve Tahmincioglu
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• Profile
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In the next decade or so, the U.S. workplace will be transformed with an explosion of flexible work schedules and a host of technologies that will make work tasks easier.
What will cause these changes? A boatload of middle-aged workers.
That’s right, by 2020, there will be more 55-plus workers grinding away than at any other time in our history. As a result, labor experts foresee a rush by the nation’s businesses to accommodate the aging workforce.
But it won’t all be milk and honey. Generational differences in the workplace are expected to rise, there will be unprecedented shortages in many industries as large proportions of the work force retires, and we may also see more workers getting sick on the job, with a possible rise in strokes and heart attacks as they age.
“It’s like a train wreck in slow motion,” says Tamara Erickson, co-author of the “Workforce Crisis: How to Beat the Coming Shortage of Skills and Talent,” about the impending shortage of workers and the challenges employers will face.
In 2005, about 24 million or 17 percent of all adult U.S. workers were over 55, compared with a projected 38 million or 24 percent by the year 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 65-plus work force will almost double to 10 million, or 6.4 percent of the total, in 10 years; and those toiling away at age 75 and over will make up about 1.2 percent of the workforce, or 2 million strong.
With the work force graying, many workers will choose to punch out and head for the golf course. At typical large companies today, one in five workers are already eligible to retire, and another 30 to 40 percent will be of retirement age in five to 10 years, says Roselyn Feinsod, and expert on the aging work force for consulting firm Towers Perrin.
No one knows for sure how many workers will take their Social Security checks and run, but surveys suggest quite a few may have to work deep into their golden years.
About 69 percent of baby boomers anticipate working past traditional retirement age, and money and health care are the top reasons, says Deborah Russell, director of workplace issues for AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons.
So what’s in store for the world of work?
First the good news. Even though working moms and dads have been hitting their heads against the wall for years trying to get flexible schedules to balance work and family, it won’t be their efforts that finally get corporate America on the bandwagon.
The tipping point, says Feinsod, is the aging work force.
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Vote: When do you plan to retire?
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Help! I haven't saved enough to retire
Companies will be forced to widely adopt flexible hours, job sharing, telecommuting, and more vacation time and less overtime because older workers won’t be willing or able to stay on the payroll unless their employers make some concessions, explains Melanie Holmes, vice president with staffing company Manpower.
There will also be opportunities for employees to work out of different company locations, adds Feinsod of Towers Perrin. If a firm has divisions in Northern and Southern cities, for example, workers may be able to live up North during the summer months and in Florida or Arizona during the winter months.
Besides workplace flexibility, job-enhancing technologies of all types are expected to pop up in most industries.
What is a legal network marketing company?
Network marketing is legal when distributors earn commissions based on product sales not recruitment of new distributors. Recruitment is legal when it leads to the increased volume of sales of consumable products. USANA is a legitimate network marketing company moving quality product to people through Associates involved in selling products through person-to-person recommendation. USANA belongs to the Direct Selling Association. This is your assurance that USANA uses a legal marketing system.
USANA is a legitimate network marketing company moving quality product to people
What is an illegal pyramid?
As defined by anti-pyramid laws, a pyramid is an illegal system that compensates participants, either directly or indirectly, primarily from the recruitment of other participants into the program. Illegal pyramids are chains that move money rather than product sales.
Building Retirement Security
How to build retirement security
Knowing if you have saved enough is just part of retirement security. The other part involves creating an investment scheme that will create income without touching your savings.
If you're past 40 or in your 50s, things are a little more difficult. It's difficult to predict the amount of income that you'll need during retirement. The needs and interest rates are bound to vary during that period.
In an investment plan, the traditional advice of putting your savings in dividend-paying stocks and corporate bonds can't be relied on anymore. A portfolio like that tends to hurt over time and risk using your savings too soon.
Have enough savings.
To determine if you have saved enough, there are web tools available. Make sure that you understand the assumptions in the tool. You may also hire financial planners to do the numbers for you instead. Look for one that uses the latest income-planning tools. Do not make unrealistic assumptions on the returns of the savings and the investment incomes. Worst, do not make bad assumptions on your spending.
Be prepared for deep and long recessions. Assume that you'll spend at least as much as you do now.
Create a portfolio for both growth and income.
As soon as you have enough saved, you need to set up a system that allows you to put your money into stocks for the long-term, while putting away enough for fixed income.
Many financial planners advise you to place your retirement money into three portfolios.
1. The first portfolio is for expected expenses next year.
2. The second portfolio is for fixed income investment whose income goes to the first one
3. The third portfolio is for stocks that will grow and go into the first two
A constant flow of income can be generated when the fixed-income portfolio is diversified into investments with varying maturity. If you're thinking of how much money to put in, carefully evaluate your risk tolerance and needs. This helps you determine how much to save and how much cash should be available. This is a critical decision, because it can make or break your retirement.
Try to get the most from your fixed investments. The classic approach is to diversify your fixed-income portfolio. Treasury bills and investment-grade Corp-bonds of different maturities are the most commonly used vehicles.
Here are some alternatives:
1. Treasury bills
2. Corporate bonds
3. Real-Estate investment trusts
4. Convertible bonds
5. Municipal bonds
So how do we get this moeny in the first place.
Have you considered Netwwork Marketing as an option to create this nest egg so that you can invest. We have a suggestion. Check the right hand quick links and our home business option. You maybe suprised at what you shall see.
Best wishes
Claude
Home based Business Idea Session 1
Its been good talking to you the other day about why you should look at a home based business.
Well! I am first going to mention two important benefits for a home based business:
Financial Freedom
Time leverage-- where you with a group of people can do more than just 1 person
Now I want you to understand why we are doing this today, not to impress you but more so to impress upon you why Timing is so important. If you see this as I did 30 months ago then you will be impowered with vision and determination to succeed in the Wellness Industry and improve upon your lifestyle whether it be money, time or health or all three.
Here is some interesting reading for you to do.
Warm Regards
Claude
We are paying a painful price for our modern lifestyles.
We live and die by the clock and never seem to have enough time for our family - and our children are at increased risk of emotional, educational, health and even criminal problems when we are not there.
We are looking for a fast answer to our problems - easy solutions, quick fixes, and elevators to success. They don’t exist... and, don't believe anyone who tells you so.
But, there is a better way to live;
A Home Based Business that would give you complete autonomy
- the freedom to live life on your terms, to be there for your children when they need you and still have enough money to pay the bills and more.
This is an incredible opportunity that can lead you along a beautiful pathway to an enriched and fulfilling life... and, it's yours if you decide to act quickly.
Tomorrow I shall send you more information
Taking Time for Yourself in a Relationship
Taking Time for Yourself in a Relationship by John Gray
We have all heard this advice before. No matter how wonderful togetherness feels in a relationship, it is still crucial for partners to take time for themselves. There is simply no way that a man or a woman can fulfill all of their partner's needs; it's just impossible to do. Too often people will give up a favorite hobby, sport or pastime in the beginning of a relationship in order to devote more time and energy to making the relationship work. But, what happens down the road when one or both partners realize that they are terribly out of balance and not taking time for themselves? Relationship stress, miscommunication, or worse: resentment and emotional pain can result.
It is healthy to have different interests. In fact, giving up our own interests and the little things that we do to nurture ourselves when a relationship starts will eventually lead to resentment down the road.
It's important for both partners to value quality relaxation time. There is absolutely no need to feel guilty about spending time alone. Independence is good for both men and women, no matter how close they may be in the relationship. Typically, when one partner actively takes some alone time, their partner is encouraged to do the same.
How our differences compliment each other:
Just as men and women have different needs in a relationship, they also have different reasons for needing time to themselves. Too much togetherness usually results in partners expecting too much from each other. Women may tend to smother their mates, while men may seem cold and uncaring. It is healthy for each partner to take time out to explore his or her individual interests.
What Men Need:
Men need to periodically pull away. Remember that men are like rubber bands. It is his natural cycle to get close, pull away, and get close again. It is important for men to fulfill their need for independence. Men automatically alternate between needing intimacy and autonomy. Give a man his space and he will be a better, more attentive, partner. When a man gets too close and doesn't pull away, he often experiences increased moodiness, irritability, passivity, and defensiveness.
Also, when a man is in his cave, he wants to be left alone. He is working out his problems and frustrations by either doing something alone, like reading the paper or watching TV, or doing something active with his male friends.
Most men are happy when their mates do something fun for themselves at these times. It means that she is not sitting around waiting for him to come out of the cave. He will come out ready to talk and be intimate again, and she will have curbed her frustrations by being good to herself and having some fun.
What Women Need:
It is good for a woman's self esteem to take care of herself. She can get wrapped up in taking care of her family and forget how much she needs to nurture herself. Particularly when a man is off in his cave, she can enjoy the time alone to go shopping, work in her garden, go to a class at the gym, or simply languish in the simple pleasure of soaking in a hot bath with a glass of wine.
It is especially important for a woman to cultivate relationships with other women. Women need to talk about what's happening in their lives. On Venus, this is an important part of relationship building. Since this is not the case on Mars, it is wonderful for a woman to get together with her girlfriends so that they can talk about, and listen to, each other's problems, without judgment or offering unsolicited advice.
Couples can even plan these separate times apart. For instance, Tuesday could be his poker night with the boys, and Thursday her night for dinner and a movie with her girlfriends. Both partners will not only appreciate the time to do the things that make them feel good, but will come back feeling renewed and excited to be in such a healthy, well-balanced relationship.
-- John Gray
John Gray is the author of 15 best-selling books, including Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, the number one best-selling relationship book of the last decade. In the past ten years, over 30 million Mars and Venus books have been sold in over 40 languages throughout the world. An expert in the field of communication, John Gray's focus is to help men and women understand, respect and appreciate their differences in both personal and professional relationships. To order John's new release, John Gray Live! Beyond Mars and Venus as an Individual Set (contains one DVD and one CD of the speakers' 'live' performance) at a special discount or to view and learn more about The Complete Ultimate Collection for Entrepreneurs and Sales Professionals -- including Jim Rohn, Jeffrey Gitomer, Brian Tracy, Connie Podesta and More! (10 DVD/CD package) go to http://dvdset.yoursuccessstore.com or call 877-929-0439. (c) 2006 All Rights Reserved.
The 80 / 20 Rule Explained
Like the rest of life, the "80/20" rule applies in our business: "20% of the people produce 80% of the results."
As I have said so many times over, our job is to find "motivated entrepreneurs". It is my opinion that motivation comes from within, and we cannot, nor should we, "drag people across the finish line" if they are not willing to help themselves.
I, too, have found that 80% of the people in my group have done little, if anything, to build their business or help themselves. However, the other 20% have helped me build an outstanding business while attaining all of their goals with my company. More details here
I have found that people usually fall into one of several categories:
The Procrastinators - They'll begin building their business "when they get around to it." They never find the time because they never make the time.
The Know-It-Alls - These people don't take the time to "read the instructions" (The BDS). It's beneath them to take the time to learn from those who have built successful businesses, even though the path to success is laid out for them right under their nose. They couldn't tell you the difference between a BC, SVP and GSV( terms in the business).
The Paralysis By Analysis Victims - These people are constantly in "getting ready to get ready" mode. They are always searching for that perfect "system" that will magically build their business for them. They'll never find it because it doesn't exist.
The Tryers - They say that they will "try" the business to see how they do. Their mentality gives them permission to quit at the first sign of difficulty. You don't "try" a parachute jump. You either do it, or you don't. The same is true of our business. You either do it, or you don't.
The Whiners - Constantly complaining about minor details which have no impact on their ability to succeed in Usana. "If only this were different or that were different, I know I could make money in this business." While these people are whining, there are thousands of people advancing in rank in our business every month.
Finally, there are:
Motivated Entrepreneurs - These people "get it". They know that company's products and compensation plan are unequalled in the business. They set their goals, they develop a plan to reach their goals, and they go on about their business to work their plan. They advance in their business while helping other people do the same. They make things happen while the other 80% are wondering what happened.
My advice, don't try to motivate the unmotivated. Instead use your time to find and sponsor "motivated entrepreneurs", show them how to succeed, and then get out of their way!
We are in interesting economic times.
We are in interesting economic times.
Rising fuel prices and creeping inflation have put increasing pressure on each Australian family’s budget and the recent increase in official interest rates has added to the burden of mortgage payments.
At the same time, most Australians have just received some form of tax relief in the Federal budget. However, it is unclear just exactly how these factors will balance out.In the absence of certainty, most people remain conservative and defer decisions until their household finances crystalise.
Hence, sponsoring has not been easy this past quarter.Now that the Federal budget has been released, my advice is that many Australians will soon realise that they need to look for ways to supplement their income to finance the increasingly high cost of living. People will move from their present state of indecision to a more proactive mode. They will be “looking” for an opportunity like the one you have to offer. The USANA business opportunity.
So, you need to be looking for people who are looking.Invest a little time in reading about current economic and social trends. Browse the media. Become comfortable and competent in discussing these issues with your colleagues.
Then use your knowledge and skill to engage prospects in conversation about these popular topics.
Listen for responses that indicate prospects are looking for a supplementary income earning opportunity.
Then show them what you have to offer!
Grow your USANA business by sharing the opportunity with others.
http://www.unitoday.com/hfpres/index.cfm?distid=2330683
