| Last Friday night my girlfriend and I experienced a | | | | part of success, no matter what industry you're in. |
| real treat when we attended a performance by | | | | They are willing to put in that hard work and accept |
| Alasdair Frazer and Natalie Haas. Alasdair Frazer is an | | | | the concept of delayed gratification because they |
| absolutely amazing fiddle player while Natalie can tear | | | | have no doubt that it's going to pay off, and pay off |
| up a cello. (Yes, I said cello.) If you remember the | | | | big, in the end. |
| haunting fiddle tunes from the movies "Last of the | | | | How often, after going to a concert like I just did, |
| Mohican's" and "Titanic" then you've heard Alasdair | | | | have you heard someone say, "I wish I could play |
| play. These two team up to perform both traditional | | | | like that."? Most of us wish we could play like the |
| and new Scottish fiddle and dance music. The two of | | | | great performers. But very few of us are willing to |
| them together took us from energizing jigs and reels | | | | put in the day upon day, week upon week, year |
| to relaxing melodic tunes from old Scotland and back | | | | upon year of seemingly endless hours of practice |
| again. It was a wonderful experience. | | | | required to reach that level. |
| Why am I writing about a concert of Scottish fiddle | | | | In the same way, many newcomers to network |
| music? Don't worry, I'll get to it. | | | | marketing and/or direct sales will say, "I wish I was |
| Afterwards, we were relaxing with a glass of wine | | | | making the money they are" or "I wish my business |
| while listening to the cd we bought at the concert. | | | | was growing like theirs is". But the reality is most are |
| We were talking about how amazing the | | | | unwilling to put in the time and do the work |
| performance was and what world class musicians the | | | | necessary to achieve that level of success. A woman |
| two of them were. My girlfriend mentioned how | | | | whom I greatly admire named Artemis Limpert is one |
| much they must enjoy the music they make and | | | | of the elite leaders in her chosen network marketing |
| how their passion for the music enabled them to | | | | company. She once said, "People want what I have |
| become such virtuosos on their respective | | | | but they don't want to do what I did." And therein |
| instruments. | | | | lies the sad story of failure for so many network |
| At great personal risk (Just joking, sweetie!), I | | | | marketers. They want the success but they are |
| reminded her that becoming that good involved much | | | | unwilling to do the work to get it. |
| more than just being passionate. There must have | | | | Why? Most have no clear vision of where they are |
| been many days in their early development when the | | | | going. They have a lot of wants and wishes. But |
| practice was anything but enjoyable or fun. Rather it | | | | they never really set down and make a firm decision |
| must have often been dull, monotonous, and boring. | | | | (key word there, decision) about where they are |
| Sheer drudgery! I opined that it was not just their | | | | going to be. No matter how hard it may be. The |
| passion and enjoyment of the music, but their vision | | | | decision's made. |
| of becoming virtuoso performers on their respective | | | | Or they make what they feel like is a firm decision |
| instruments that kept them going when part of them | | | | but they give up when it gets hard. Remember that |
| must have wanted so badly to quit. | | | | advertising slogan, "When the going gets tough, the |
| (Now, here comes the business application...) | | | | tough get going"? Well, apply that to your business |
| The top earners in the network marketing/direct | | | | endeavor. |
| sales field are like virtuoso performers. Do they have | | | | Many people never consider what it truly takes to be |
| a passion for what they do? Of course! But did they | | | | successful. There's a passage in the bible that talks |
| enjoy everything they had to do to get to where | | | | about counting the cost before you start building the |
| they are? Absolutely not! No matter how passionate | | | | barn. Many people never count the cost of building a |
| one is nor how much pleasure your particular | | | | successful business. Once again, in our fast-food |
| endeavor gives you, the fact is that there are going | | | | culture, they want the get-rich-quick avenue. They |
| to many instances of activities necessary to ones | | | | want the reward without the hard work. And they |
| success that are not going to be fun. | | | | want it now. While it's true that wealth, and |
| However, the top earners have a vision of where | | | | occasionally success, sometime come quickly and |
| they are going to be. Notice I said "are going to be" | | | | easily, the reality is that it usually takes time and hard |
| and not "want to be". There's a huge difference. One | | | | work to reach the level of achievement of the top |
| assumes success. The other is merely a wish. And | | | | earners. |
| wishes don't always come true. But a vision, also | | | | So, if you want to play like a concert pianist, be |
| known as a goal, have a much greater likely-hood of | | | | willing to put in the practice and work that's required. |
| becoming reality simply because they are more likely | | | | Even the most talented have to pay their dues in the |
| than a wish to motivate someone to continue | | | | practice room. |
| through the hard part in order to get to the good | | | | And, if you want to make a lot of money and have |
| part. (This is also known as deferred gratification. | | | | the same level of freedom that the top earners in |
| Something we rarely see in our fast-food culture | | | | the network marketing and direct sales industry |
| anymore.) | | | | have, make a decision and not just a wish. Be willing |
| Top earners, the truly big dogs in the industry, have | | | | to put in the time and effort that is required, |
| a vision of where they are going to be long before | | | | regardless of whether it's always fun or not. If you'll |
| they get there. It's this unwavering knowledge of | | | | do those two things, then you'll see your dreams |
| where they are going to end up that enables them | | | | come true. |
| to bore through the hard work that is an inevitable | | | | |
