Why You Need to Dream and Be Inspired
The critical difference between "Can I?" and "Will I?"
Tim Sales of Brilliant Exchange
Adapted from a Tim Sales Newsletter.
Used by permission.
I often get asked the questions, "Tim, what did you do when you first started in this business?"
I've never answered this question in a newsletter before, because I'd never felt I could add any value to my readers by answering it. Even at live events, when asked this question, I dismiss it by stating that it's irrelevant, as the conditions today are different. By conditions, I mean: When I started out, the objections I received were slightly different than today, I mailed VHS videos, there weren't purchased leads (instead, I ran newspaper ads), we have the Internet today, etc.
But, while reading several questions that have come in, it occurred to me that, while some conditions have changed over the years, one main one has not. And, perhaps it's this one thing that people are really asking me. This "thing" hasn't changed in the 15 years I've been in MLM; nor, is it likely to change in the next century.
The "thing" I'm talking about is the answer to the question: "Will I?", versus "Can I?" Put another way, "Will I do it?" versus "Can I do it?"
The reason I point this out is that, when I joined MLM, I most certainly could not do it. But, I was willing to do those things that, based on my results, I evidently couldn't do!
This also defines for me who I sponsor and work with, versus who I don't sponsor and work with.
"Can I do it?" is not the same as "Will I do it?"
I truly believe that the difference between success and failure is one's ability to see and recognize the difference between "Can I?" and "Will I?" If one asks himself, "Can I do it?", then the answer is normally "No". That leads to either not starting at all or quitting.
For me, I realized the difference as a boy.
When I was about 10 years old, I read the first book of my life. It was, and still is, the greatest inspirational book I've ever read. I've read the book over 100 times. It's called Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls.
The story is about a boy who lives in the country and really wants two coon hunting dogs. The personal development part is in chapter three, and is about what he goes through to earn enough money to buy his dogs and then, later, how and what he does to train his dogs to hunt.
The boy in the story and I had a lot in common. I too lived in the country and was fascinated by raccoons — that's why I was willing to read the story. Also, my family didn't have a lot of money, just as the boy in the story — this made me feel like there was someone else like me.
I didn't use the book to figure out how to get two coon hunting dogs; I used it to get a bicycle. It wasn't just any bike; it was a top of the line 10-speed with disc brakes — which was the first bicycle with disc brakes.
I sold worms to the local fishing store for $1.50, I picked blackberries for $3.00 a bucket, I mowed yards for $5.00, I raked leaves for $7.00 and I cleaned up construction sites for $10.00. I did this for two years to get enough money for the bike. The day I brought that bike home and rode down the street, feeling the wind on my face with tears in my eyes, was the day I realized that my dreams do come true, and that victory is worth the effort.
That event set in motion a "success formula" for me.
My timeless formula for success
What I learned from Where the Red Fern Grows and my success in getting the bike had much to do with my success in wrestling and in the military. It also had as much to do with the success in my MLM career as all the detailed training I've provided for you, thus far and into the future. My point really is this: If it hadn't have been for that inspiration, I don't know if I would have even joined MLM, or would have ever come up with the training that has helped so many.
So, what did I do in the beginning of my MLM career that is timeless?
- I realized that I was again in a situation where it was evident that I didn't know how to do it — but, as before, I wouldn't let that stop me.
- I realized that, as before, everything looks confusing and impossible — that's just how everything looks in the beginning. The trick is to take a big chunk of stuff that's confusing, and cut it in half; once I understand the first half, pick up the other half and figure that out.
- I realized I was to keep my eye on the goal, not on the little problems — like people saying no and people quitting. When focused on getting my first bike, I dug up worms for 4 hours and walked to the store only to have the owner tell me he'd only buy the night crawlers (a specific type of worm). There were hundreds of people that didn't want me to mow their yard. When I went to buy the bike, Sears had raised it price. That set me back two months.
If you're looking for the specific actions I took when starting my MLM business, you can read the document "How To Build a Huge Organization Part Time", which is the first article you get when subscribing to this newsletter. (If you're not subscribed yet, you can do so here). But, please, recognize that what I'm imparting to you in this newsletter is this: It isn't just about specific actions. You have got to be able to dream. You have got to be able to be inspired.
You need to be able to be inspired.
The most difficult situation I ever face, when training another person in MLM, is when that person cannot or does not allow himself to be inspired. To me, any person who cannot create inspiration or get inspired has one foot in the grave.
In my view, a person stops dreaming, and stops allowing himself to be inspired, because he doesn't believe in himself to do what he says he will do. This person has to start back on simple things, things that are not very challenging, and "prove" to himself that he can and will do what he says he will do. In other words, he needs to go back and create that "success formula" I wrote about above. Things like:
- "I will wake at ____ time and get up."
- "I will go to bed at _____ time."
- "I will eat only _____ today."
- "I will make 5 phone calls today.
Imagine the person who says (to himself) that he will do these simple tasks, then doesn't. Each item is insignificant, at face value. However, it's perhaps the most damaging thing in the world; because now, the person doesn't believe in himself. That, in my view, is how a person ceases to dream, thus ceases to live.
Dream it, create it, enjoy it!
Tim Sales
About the author:
Tim Sales helps network marketers gain the skills necessary to be successful in MLM. His MLM training is based on his personal success of building a downline of 56,000 people. Instantly access Tim's free MLM training and learn the steps to achieve MLM success at www.brilliantexchange.com/mlmtraining.
