Over the years, one of the most successful investments I have made in my business is building for and utilizing Events. Events are opportunities to EXPOSE possible customers and distributors to our business culture. Some are small Events like Wellness Presentations. Others are much larger Events like our company’s conferences that are held around the world. While you can always tell people about your business, product or opportunity, it is exposing them to events that allow them to see things with their own eyes. Events open their minds to possibilities and strengthen their perspectives about why they would want to be a customer or part of our business. EXPOSURE is a better strategy than a sales pitch or even information in many cases.

I have found that while I view Events as an investment, others often see them as an expense. Why is that the case? The answer is simple. The difference between an investment and an expense is a RESULT. The reason I see Events as one of the best investments in our business is because they have produced the largest returns. Fortunately, I realized the power of Events early on in the beginning of my journey as a distributor in the Network Marketing business. Even when I did not have the money to invest in Events, I found a way because I knew their importance in building my business. Initially, I had to operate with some blind faith in my mentors’ wisdom that investing in Events would be so critical to success in my business. Now with years of proof and countless examples of returns from people I invited to Events, I invest more in them now than ever before.

I do understand that not everyone who has invested in Events has seen the returns. If you are one of those people, I have some advice that should help you make your investment into Events pay off:

1. Expose them to as much as possible  – Everyone has needs. Since people make decisions based on their needs, it is important to “cover all the bases” and make sure they see the potential of ANY NEED being fulfilled by being involved with you, your business or your team. They need to see the financial possibilities, so let them see (and talk to) successful people (the need for Certainty). They need to see people having fun (the need for Uncertainty). They need to see people driven by a purpose or receive special recognition for their accomplishments (the need for Significance). They need to see magical relationships (the need for Love and Connection). They need to see people’s lives transformed because of who they become as a result of being involved in your business (the need for Growth). Finally, they need to see that people in the culture are making a difference in the lives of others (the need for Contribution). Remember, all “needs” look for a place or “need vehicles” to be fulfilled. The more possibility they see that our business may fulfill these needs in their lives, the more success you will experience from investing in Events.

2. Never come alone – Events will strengthen your belief. They have a way of moving people emotionally and will allow your prospects to experience the Juice Plus family as a company with a heart. Bringing people to Events will drive the growth of your business. The bigger the Event, the more people I brought with me. Even if I had to pick them up or help subsidize their way, I never showed up alone at an Event. For those who planned to show up alone, I would always encourage them to quickly recruit anyone around them to attend with them. The distributors in my group who grow the fastest seem to also be the ones who utilize Events the best. While some might argue that is a coincidence, I believe it is documentation of the Power of Events. Even if you do not succeed in bringing someone with you the first time, YOU show up to solidify your belief and it will be far easier to attract people that see the value of events. If you go, they will come with you going forward. We cannot expect that our team will see value in something we are not doing or willing to do.

3. Lead by example at Events – I make it a rule to always be in the front row of any conference and taking notes. At the big events I make it a point to attend every possible session. At smaller Events, I like to speak or get involved in some way. These smaller events are also a great opportunity for you to get new leadership involved and plugged in. Make sure you always come with the best attitude possible, keep a smile on your face, demonstrate desire through your actions, and let everyone see love in your heart. Your guests will pay a lot of attention to your actions. Because of that reality, do your best to set an example to all in attendance. I have found that by “playing full out”, others play full out. This elevates the experience for everyone. People can always read your belief and your level of passion. Make sure that you are being the “best you” that you can be. Others are paying attention and observing.

4. Remember, failure leads to success – I certainly don’t want to give anyone the wrong picture. Not everyone you invest into will reap a reward for you. Sometimes I end up with the expense and never get the reward. However, there are two critical lessons as it relates to this reality. First, the expense of the failures is minimal compared to the MASSIVE return of the successes. Second, the only failure in anything in life is the one you fail to learn from. I see failure as a gift to learn and grow. Events work for everyone in our business. They always paint a bigger picture and serve others. If you are not getting the results you want, take a look at how you are inviting and “showing up.” Don’t make the BIG MISTAKE of letting failure bring you to the conclusion that Events are not a powerful way to grow your business. If so, failure has not served you but instead created a major deterrent to your success.

In closing, I’d like to leave you with a final thought. The Network Marketing business is like any other business – you have to invest in it in order for it to be successful. It is important to keep in mind that your business is just that … a business, NOT a hobby. Events are one of the best investments we can make in our business. In the end, if you view them as an expense vs. an investment, then you are only hurting your own potential success. As one of the biggest income earners in the history of this business, I can tell you with 100% certainty that Events work and pay back huge dividends. Don’t miss out!

Discipline is a key element for anyone who is successful in life. While there are many ways to create and fuel discipline, I think one of the best is what I call “The Power of Why”. Webster defines “Power” as the capacity or ability to do or accomplish something. The “Why” is the individual part in each of us that fuels that power.

Like so many of you, my why has evolved. When I started in business, my why was driven by desperation. I was behind on my bills. I was behind on my promises to myself. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I was a waiter, was never really motivated by school, but always had a burning desire to be a huge success in life. I remember one of my early mentors, Jim Rohn, saying “For things to change, you have to change. For things to get better, you have to get better”. The simple truth was that I was willing to sacrifice 20 hour work days and work 7 days a week and do whatever was necessary because I wanted all my dreams to come true.

While that strong work discipline was driven by my own desires, over time my view on life began to change. I started to understand that achievement was more about how I impacted the lives of others rather than what I accomplished to fulfill my own needs. In essence, my “why” became driven by inspiration vs. desperation. Today, work (and life) has never been more fun or more rewarding. While I surpassed all my original dreams, I never stopped dreaming. These days my dreams are about providing massive value to the lives of others. I have been fortunate to have NSA and Juice Plus as a vehicle to pursue those dreams. It is great to be able to use my talents, experiences and resources to bring better health and wealth to people all over the world.

I am sure that most of you understand the Power of Why. The question is whether you are applying this principle, not whether you understand it. Action is always necessary to produce results. Since dreams often become the pathway to our “why”, I want to share with you one of my favorite books on this subject, Dr. John Maxwell’s “Put Your Dreams to the Test”. In this book he highlights 10 important questions you MUST answer to test your dreams:

1. Is my dream really my dream? If you want to achieve your dream, you must “own” it. It must be yours, not your parents’, teachers’, or anyone else’s. If the achievement of a dream is not of great importance to YOU, it’s unlikely that you will do what’s required to accomplish it.

2. Do I clearly see my dream? What does it look like? The more specific you are on what your dream looks like, the more likely you will be to achieve it. This is one of the reasons I encourage people to cut out images of their “big” goals and dreams, create a collage, and look at it regularly. At first you may only see a piece of your dream; but each day as you move closer, the clearer it will become.

3. Am I depending on things within my control? This is when you have to be honest with yourself and determine if reaching your dream is within your control. Are you depending on others? If so, who? Do you have the talent, skill or ability to make it come true? If not, can you develop what you are lacking?

4. Do I have the energy to achieve it? This is the passion question. Think of your last great accomplishment. How much energy did it require of you? Is your dream important enough to you that you will put forth the energy necessary over the time period required?

5. Do I have a strategy? I see very few people who take the time to put together a “real” plan to reach their goals. I am often left in awe, wondering, “How do you think you can achieve your goal without putting together a plan?” A plan outlines the things you must do in a prioritized sequence to achieve your desired outcome.

6. Who do I have around me that can help me? Dr. Maxwell said, “A nightmare is a big dream with a bad team.” Who’s on your team to support, encourage, and help you? If you don’t have the right people on your team, identify people you admire and respect; then determine how they can help you.

7. Am I willing to pay the price? This is when you have a gut check and ask yourself, “Am I willing to do what is required of me to see my dream come true?” The bigger your dream, the more it will require of you. Are you willing to put forth the effort, overcome the obstacles, and deal with the disappointments that you will face on your journey?

8. Am I moving closer? This is the tenacity question. Am I closer to reaching my dream today than I was yesterday? Was I closer yesterday than the day before? Look at your “To Do” lists over the last week and identify the steps you have taken toward your dream.

9. Does working toward my dream bring satisfaction? If you are not growing and developing yourself in the pursuit of your dream, it may be time to identify a new one. Your journey must be fulfilling.

10. Does my dream benefit others? If so, Who? Why? If your dream is all about your selfish desires, it’s unlikely that it will ever be realized. Zig Ziglar, the most recognized sales trainer in American history, said, “When you help enough other people get what they want, you will have everything you want.”

In the end, remember that no dream is possible unless it is greater than your biggest obstacle. There is greatness in all of us. While all our journeys will be different, it is the Power of our Why that will have a major impact on our life’s journey and accomplishments. I hope this blog will challenge you to take a close look at the Power of your Why, and inspire you to make it the source of your motivation. In doing so, I think you will find that life will reward you greater than you ever imagined possible.