“The secret of success is learning how to use pain and pleasure instead of having pain and pleasure use you. If you do that, you’re in control of your life. If you don’t, life controls you.”

—Anthony Robbins

Today, in one of my weekly trainings, I shared about the Pain-Pleasure Principle (PPP) that was popularised by Anthony Robbins. The PPP explains that all decisions and choices that we make in life are motivated by either:

• gaining the pleasure of; or
• avoiding the pain of not

making those decisions and choices.

Think about it. You’ve made the choice of getting into that job, relationship or business at some point in time. You did it probably because of the promises you saw in it. Or you probably did it because of the pain of not having it. Either way, you were motivated by the PPP.

In the training today, I asked the participants what were the motivating factors (pleasure) behind their reasons to want to achieve success in life. Most shouted out the promises of having more time and money freedom, the sense of achievement and the ability to leave a legacy for their generations to come. I then asked them about what were the pain of not achieving success. They shouted even louder this time. “Being looked down at”, “Being criticised”, “Tarnished reputation”, “Being broke”, “Feeling like a loser” etc. were just some of the most common reasons.

“People change only when they hurt enough that they have to, learn enough that they want to, or receive enough that they are able to.”

—John C. Maxwell

Personally, I believe that one of the ways to use pain and pleasure effectively is to:

1. list down in a piece of paper all the pleasure you will gain from making that decision or choice and taking the necessary actions; and
2. on another piece of paper, list down all the pain you will get for NOT taking the necessary actions and thus not having the results you desired.

The first list will be your source of motivation and willpower. Look into this list whenever you feel that you are about to breakdown or give up. These are your intentions—your very reasons for doing what you’re doing.

The second list will be your source of urgency. Look into this list whenever you feel like you’re not fast enough in achieving your results, or stagnant. Many people completely ignore this list because they fear being reminded of the things in this list so they can avoid taking actions and thus avoiding the responsibilities to make things happen. But we all know that we owe it to ourselves to create what we want in life, and no one else.

If it’s to be, it’s up to me.

You only have one life in this lifetime. Own it. Live it. Make it the best life you’ve ever had in this lifetime.

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“It’s a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much,” he said. “Let me tell you something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities. You see, one day I sat down and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and came up with 3,900, which is the number of Sundays that the average person has in his lifetime.

“It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail,” he continued, “and by that time I had lived through over 2,800 Sundays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy.”

He went on to explain that he bought 1,000 marbles and put them in a clear plastic container in his favourite work area at home. “Every Sunday since then,” he said, “I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There’s nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight.”

Then the older gentleman finished, “Now let me tell you one last thought before I sign off and take my lovely wife out to breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Sunday, then I have been given a little extra time.”

We can’t choose whether we will get any more time, but we can choose what we do with it. You write your own destiny. Make the most of the time and talent that God gives you.

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Today, I had a different experience from all those times I visited the grave in the past years.

As I looked at the huge graveyard, I saw hundreds or tombstones. They are all different in colour, design and size. But there’s one thing that is common. Each one represents a deceased person. Each represents someone who had once lived—someone who had once written a story called “My Life”.

I was thinking to myself: How did they look like when they were alive? What kind of persons were they? How did they live their lives? Did they struggle financially or did they live a carefree lifestyle? Were they once young, ambitious and energetic youngsters too? Did they enjoy what they were doing in life? What kind of dreams did they have back then?

And the question that stood out among the rest that struck my mind was: Did they bury together with them their unaccomplished dreams, their unattained goals, their passion, their ambition, their dignity and their self-worth?

I “saw” a new perspective towards life.

Life indeed is a journey. This journey is unique as it’s a single-way journey. There’s no “U-turn”, there’s no “Reverse” gear (or “Rewind”); there’s no “Pause”, no “Fast Forward”. Life is just that journey. That unique journey. In fact, you have only one chance to live through this journey—no second chances.

Imagine if there is a gigantic satellite camera that captures every single moment of your life in great detail, with narrations of what you were thinking at any moment, from the day you were born until today. All these pieces will be put together to compile a movie called “[Your Name]: My Life” with you being the main character. This movie will be broadcasted to the world after you exhaled your last breath. What kind of comment, feedback and/or review would you want to get for this movie of yours? How do you want to be remembered? Would you have made a difference in the world or impacted the lives of the people around you that your movie will be played over and over again to impact more lives, long after you’ve passed on?

Seriously, how would you like to be remembered? How would people describe you and your life? Really, take some time to think about it. How would your “movie” end?

As the famous Dr. Stephen R. Covey put it wisely: “Begin with the end in mind.” And as the saying goes, “If you know how you want to die, you’d know how to live.”

The good news is: you’re still alive and the film is still rolling to capture the rest of your life. In fact, you are the director, producer, main character and scriptwriter of this movie. How will the story go from here?

You take it from here.

Don’t be a “walking dead” who merely exists in this world without a purpose in life. Life—just like any event—has a beginning and an end. What happens in between is up to you to put meaning to it. Give your life one great meaning. What would it mean in the future that you once lived in this world? Are you going to be remembered as a warrior who fights for your own destiny or a weakling who submits to the circumstances in life? You have every right to choose the kind of life you want to live and how it’s going to end. You know you have the unlimited potential to realise your dreams in this life. What’s more urgent is that you get to live this life just once. One life, one chance. All you need to do is to make a DECISION to take control over the rest of the “movie” and start shaping your destiny.

“It is in your moment of decision that your destiny is shaped.”—Anthony Robbins

I wish you true success and freedom; to live life with great dignity and passion.

Be blessed.

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There are many factors in the equation for success in network marketing. The more of these factors that you familiarise yourself with, the greater is your chance of mastering the equation and achieving success. Network marketing is one of the few avenues through which individuals from all “walks of life” can achieve sizeable incomes and a great degree of “freedom of time.”

During my 32-year career, I have been witness to truck drivers, waitresses, plumbers, clerks, factory workers, the young, the elderly, along with accountants, bankers, lawyers, and physicians that have earned five, six and seven figure incomes in this industry. On the other hand, I have seen thousands of individuals waste time, lose their investments, have their dreams extinguished, and live in the frustration of perpetual pursuit without achievement.

Success by Design

You can aimlessly test one program after another, searching for one that will work for you, or pursue success by design. Generally programs do not work for you. You must select a program with the right dynamics and then learn to work the program. Learning how to be a true networker should be your goal. Articulating effective marketing strategy and learning to effectively communicate the benefits of your program are paramount to maximum success. Understanding the equation for success is vital to the preparation process for achieving maximum success.

One of the most important steps in your journey is selecting the right program. Success at the company level does not always equal success at the distributor level. There are very successful companies that have very high distributor attrition (drop-out) rates. Many companies “waste” thousands of distributors in the process of developing a product user base. Often there are flaws in the strategy of the company leaders that directly affect the distributors’ success.

5 Crucial Factors

You can reduce this risk by carefully examining the dynamics of the program that you are considering. It is not necessary to be in the “best program.” There are thousands of distributors in dozens of companies earning exceptional incomes. What is important, is to choose the program that has dynamics that will best work for you. There are five basic factors that you should examine:-

1. paradigm of company leaders

2. product philosophy

3. compensation strategy

4. marketing strategy at the company level

5. the support that is available to you from your upline and from the company

The security of the program goes beyond the financial realm. Although the financial condition of the company is important, real security is more complex. Having adequate funding available does not tell you how much the founder is willing to lose or risk. Don’t hesitate to ask the right people the “hard” questions. Talk to the company leaders, industrial leaders, competitors, and editors of networking magazines. You will be surprised how many people will be willing to chat with you.

1. Paradigm of Company Leaders

The paradigm or thinking patterns of the company leaders is very important. Experience in business as well as in marketing is useful. How do they think? What is their focus? How do they handle market challenges? What is their background? What is their marketing philosophy and strategy? Will the company’s strategies compliment your success as a distributor? Are they egotistical or arrogant when put on the spot? What is their perspective of the company’s responsibilities to the distributor? What are their projections and what are these projections based on? You can find industrial leaders who know these founders.

What are the company leaders’ attitudes toward service? Call the company a few times and check out their customer service. A poor customer service department can damage your business. You can’t just automatically believe claims of quality service; you have to check it out. Take time to gain an understanding of the industry in order to avoid wasted time and money. Network marketing is a serious business with the potential to change your life forever. It deserves serious consideration.

2. Product Philosophy

More than 80% of all successful networkers belong to companies that have nutrition products involved in their programs. Network marketing companies with products and services that directly compete with strong conventional markets have a very high failure ratio. Typically, in the conventional market, companies such as GNC and Wal-Mart have tremendous pressure to compete on a price basis. They do not have the personal service available to explain why one bottle of nutrients costs twice a s much as another bottle. Price becomes t h e determinant factor for which product will sell. In the past six years, 80% of all new distributors that have entered the network marketing industry have joined companies that include nutrition in their agenda.

The product philosophy of the company leaders is a cornerstone to success. Growth without responsible product strategy is short-lived. Product philosophy should be balanced between growth and stability. In order to achieve quick and progressive growth at a “grass roots” level, the program needs a flagship product that will open doors. The more unique and exclusive the product is, the easier it is to gain the interest of prospects. Be careful that the company does not hide a poor pay plan behind a “sizzle” product. Success requires a balance between these two factors. The flagship product should be backed up with a number of quality and diversified products. Although many networkers join this industry to supplement their income, history teaches us that the product is generally the primary consideration in determining which program they will join.

A company with an internal research and product development department is more inclined to provide quality, cutting edge products. Product formulas that are backed by scientific research and clinical testing can better withstand the “battle of the hype.” Be careful to examine the claims made by distributors. Often clinical studies quoted do not verify the effectiveness of the actual products being promoted.

An example of this is the recent HGH precursor “wave.” A great majority of the claims being made about the product refer to the research conducted on individuals who had the actual HGH hormone administered intravenously. Very little research has been conducted on precursors. A few years ago another similar marketing scenario occurred with a DHEA precursor. Dozens of mainline network marketing companies were promoting a precursor that supposedly increased the body’s production of DHEA. Research data on the benefits of DHEA was used to promote the precursor. The Life Extension Foundation, an independent non-profit organization, performed a clinical trial on 1,000 individuals to discover if the precursor actually elevated serum DHEA. Not a single individual experienced an increase in blood levels of DHEA. I suggest that you personally study out the science behind product claims. A bogus product will not maintain long-term growth or retention.

3. Compensation Strategy

Another important consideration to your selection is compensation strategy. I suggest that you carefully examine different perspectives on this subject. My preference in compensation strategy is based on balance. There are two fundamental aspects to compensation strategy; the pay structure used and how the commission percentages are arranged. Breakaway, uni-level, binary, matrix, and the Australian two up are examples of the various compensation structures. Each of these structures has advantages and disadvantages. I have found that only a few very experienced networkers really understand the dynamics of these structures and will promote the one that profits them the most. Overall, I believe the uni-level has the greatest capability of providing the best balance in compensation.

There are several considerations in analysing pay plans. It is important for a plan to adequately compensate the part-time marketer within the first three levels. Traditional programs have “stacked” the commission structure in favour of the “heavy hitter,” resulting in excessive attrition. One of the keys to low attrition is to allow the part-timer to get into profit with a small number of customers or distributors. On the other hand the pay plan must adequately compensate the experienced, full-time marketer in the deeper levels. The compensation strategy must be balanced between these two segments.

Part-timer vs “Heavy Hitter”

A successful program must attract leaders who can develop effective marketing strategies and support systems. Without this segment the organization will have a weak foundation and will not achieve and maintain maximum growth. If the part-timer is not adequately compensated, attrition will erode incomes and will begin the unwinding process from the bottom up that can even destroy companies.

The company must balance its investment between compensation to distributors, product development, competent corporate leadership, logistic support, and effective marketing sales aids. If the company invests too much into compensation it may fail to finance other areas that directly affect the ability of the marketer to build his business. As ironic as it may sound the highest paying program is the last program you may want to be involved with. I have existing downlines in several companies and some of the best paying programs have been the most difficult to build.

Programs that compete on the basis of “pay out” alone, generally, do not have enough money left over, after paying out commissions, to invest in product research and development, nor in state-of-the-art marketing materials. In the past six years four companies have each enrolled approximately one half million distributors. In my opinion all of these companies have inferior pay plans but have product focused programs. Not one of the programs with the most lucrative pay plans have approached that kind of growth. When you examine programs look for balance.

4. Marketing Strategy

When you examine a program, study their marketing strategy. Does the company have marketing “tools” in place that will support your strategy? What is your personal strategy? Are you going to work this business from a warm market perspective? Are you going to “work the phone,” advertise, build through the Internet, or use direct mail? Does the company have videos, cassette tapes, a strong Internet presence, toll-free message support, or effective literature? Building a successful business requires more than a lucrative pay plan or a “sizzle” product.

5. Support Available

When you are introduced to a program, shop around for the right upline support group or sponsor. Even an experienced marketer can be more successful if they have the right upline support in place. Your organization will need all of the support they can get. You are not obligated to join under the first person that prospects you. This is a business not a hobby or game. You have a responsibility to yourself and your loved ones to make a good business decision. The company and upline you select will, to a great degree, determine the boundaries of your success.

See you at the top!

Mike Akins

About Mike Akins

— “The Greatest Networker In The World”
Click here to find out why Mike Akins is known as The Greatest Networker In The World

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They’ve shown me that age is never a barrier towards achieving extraordinary results in life. The only things that matter are the 4 very crucial characteristics of leadership, as followed:

1. Compelling Desire
   It takes not just a desire, but a Compelling Desire to achieve something great. You need to feel emotionally connected to your goals in order for you to get started with full of energy to get going towards accomplishing your goals. Many people set goals they are not emotionally connected to. Often they find the goals getting more and more out of reach as time goes by. This happens because you don’t feel a sense of ownership of the goals you’ve set. The goals seem so far away from you. So you need to start “feeling” your goals and get emotionally connected to them in order for you to get started, with passion. Keep asking yourself why you want to accomplish the goals. Keep asking why until you get to the deepest core reason that will move you forward.
2. Solid Belief
   In times of turbulence, you need to find something solid to stand on so that you won’t fall even if everything around you is falling apart. If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything. Have faith in yourself in whatever you do. Find something you are certain about yourself and your ability. Keep affirming to yourself what you’re absolutely certain about. Keep expanding your list of affirmation of what you’re certain about. Keep repeating your self affirmation to yourself. You will find them very valuable in times of challenges. Believing is the beginning. A solid belief is everything.
3. Effective Actions
   Often times, people do a lot of activities without accomplishing anything. Activities keep us busy, and may not necessarily have a specific direction at the end. Accomplishment, on the other hand, comes with an intention. If you’ve gotten emotionally connected with your goals and dreams, and you’ve affirmed yourself about the things you’re absolutely certain about and form a solid belief around them, then you start taking actions towards accomplishing them. There are times when our actions are not producing the results we want at the end. Go back to the first 2 steps. Are you still compelled to accomplish your goals? Do you still have a solid belief about accomplishing them? If no, then repeat the processes mentioned above. If yes, then change your course of actions so that you can start producing different results. Remember, insanity means doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result. Keep changing your course of actions until you get the results you want.
4. Iron Will
   This final crucial characteristic is self explanatory. It’s about persistence. No diamonds are produced without great pressure put on producing them. It is in times of hardship and critical moments that you need to draw out your iron will. Keep persisting and persevering with a compelling desire and a solid belief, and then keep taking effective actions, changing your course of actions as and when needed. Keep pushing forward. Keep your passion burning. Keep your belief alive. Have faith in yourself and in everything you do. A bad result is not bad if you learn from it and move on wiser after each encounter. Success is not measured by how many times you’ve failed, but how many times you stand up again after each failure. You will achieve great things eventually if you persist long enough.

I’ve had the honour to work with this group of passionate and loving group of people who are committed to achieving great, extraordinary results in their lives and in the lives of others around them. We’ve worked together around the 4 crucial characteristics of leadership for the past 13 weeks. Numerous incredible experiences have been generated from the results they’ve accomplished in their lives, week after week. They’ve made one thing very clear: Leaders are made, not born.

So, master the 4 crucial characteristics of leadership and you will well be on your way to becoming a great leader.

Be blessed.

Cheanu Chew

Source: The 4 Crucial Characteristics of Leadership is the original work of Jim Poulos, President of Bridgestar Consulting. I have personally attended leadership programs taught by his wife Kelly Poulos at Asiaworks Training.

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Click here to view the embedded video.

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90% of them chose to work at the profession that they studied for. And 90% of those 90% continue working in that particular profession without feeling satisfied with their career.

Why? The reason is that most people don’t work out of their own passion. They work because of money. While money can solve most of their financial problems, they don’t feel satisfied because there is no happiness in their lives. There’s no sense of fulfilment in their lives.

I studied for accountancy when I was 16 years old. After I graduated from high school, I went straight to pursue my diploma in accountancy and then my ACCA professional degree. I ended up working as an accountant at age 23.

I started to look at the lifestyle of my bosses who were at the top of the career path that I was pursuing. It didn’t impress me at all. They still had to work their lives off with even more commitment and responsibilities, that comes with greater overtime and over the weekend working. I understood that if I were to continue working my life off, I’d have lost my life, my time, my friends, my health and eventually having a lifestyle that didn’t impress me at all! After 18 months of working my life off, I’ve decided to take a second look at my career, and ultimately my destiny.

I realized that my decision to work as an accountant was based on my past education—I studied for accountancy. As I looked deeper into it, I realized that my past decision to study for accountancy was based on two things: a) my high school teacher thought that I had a potential in accountancy because of my good grades in accountancy back then; and b) a diploma in accountancy was one of the cheaper options among all professional qualifications—and my family was not doing well financially, back then.

Of course, as I was more matured and more aware of the real world out there, I could make a better and clearer decision than when I was just 18 and decided to study for accountancy. I’ve made a move to leave the accountancy industry—and I eventually left the whole employment industry. The great feeling of satisfaction and fulfilment is beyond words as I wake up in the morning, not feeling pressured and obliged to report to work and getting stuck in doing things which are out of alignment with my passion in life.

On the other hand, being able to wake up and enjoy life with time freedom on my side is a blessing. I’d like to help others who want a way out from their unsatisfied daily routine. I want to see a world full of free men and women who are able to live their lives to the fullest, to pursue their own passion in life.

Give yourself a second chance. You are matured enough today to re-evaluate the life path you’ve had set forth for yourself yesterday. Go towards your passion. You will live a life of satisfaction and fulfilment.

It’s a big beautiful world out there. You don’t want to stay stuck in one spot in an office for a few decades without realizing how much you have not experienced, discovered and explored in this life.

What are your dreams? You only have one life. Why not realize your dreams in this life?

Be blessed.

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Source: The Star

Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong had a vision so big that he foresaw a prosperous Malaysia of the future desiring a cool mountain holiday resort within the reach of all Malaysians. The task to transform a remote mountain into Malaysia’s premier holiday destination seemed impossible to anyone… but not for Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong.

Despite all challenges and setbacks, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong had successfully developed Genting Highlands.

To date, Genting Highlands Resort has five hotels (namely Genting Hotel, Highlands Hotel, Resort Hotel, Theme Park Hotel and First World Hotel) and two apartment blocks (Ria and Kayangan Apartments) at the hilltop and Awana Genting Highlands Golf and Country Resort.

Genting Berhad is now a leading multinational corporation in Malaysia. The Group has constantly been acknowledged by various organisations for its exemplary leadership and management. Genting Berhad was acknowledged as the No.1 Leading Company in Malaysia for 10 years, ie in 2004 and for 9 consecutive years (1994 – 2002) by The Asian Wall Street Journal 200 (formerly Far Eastern Economic Review 200). Genting Berhad was also rated No.1 in Malaysia and No.2 in Asia for Overall Best Managed Company for the Decade by Asiamoney.

“Once the goals have been clearly defined, with the greatest amount of determination and hard work, one can conclusively realise one’s goals.”

—Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, Founder

Source: Genting Group Website

What we can all learn from Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong is the willingness to stand firm and show up for our vision and dreams, to commit whole-heartedly to making our goals happen and to call for the willpower to presevere and persist through challenges and setbacks, no matter how impossible the road may seem. It takes full belief and faith in oneself to achieve great success in life.

PS: If you are a visionary too, I invite you to visit www.myunlimitedincome.com to explore your true potential.

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