Your Independent Business Consultant

I’ve just watched China Air Flight 006 on Discovery Channel and I can’t help but be moved by it!

From Wikipedia:

China Airlines Flight 006 (callsign “Dynasty 006″) was a daily non-stop flight departing from Taipei at 16:15 and scheduled to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport at 07:00 local time. On February 19, 1985, it was involved in an aircraft upset accident after the No. 4 engine flamed out. The plane rolled over and plunged 30,000 ft (9,100 m), experiencing high speeds and g-forces (approaching 5g) before the captain was finally able to recover from the rapid dive, and then to divert to San Francisco International Airport.

You can watch it on YouTube:

There’s been much debate as to “Why” it happened, Equipment vs. Pilot Error, however, regardless of the reason, watching is riveting and as I watched, and saw the conclusion, I was struck by two important facts!

The first is a lesson I learned as a child in a family of Hunting and Fishing Guides, and that is to “Always Trust Your compass”. If there was Pilot, or Crew, Error aboard China Air Flight 006 it was because they failed to trust their Tools, and make use of all the tools at their disposal. Despite the reason, the Pilot and Crew were able to bring the Airplane and all aboard through a very frightening flight to surviving a near death experience which has impacted and changed many lives!

Why? In my opinion, the reason the Pilot and Crew were able to pull of an amazing rescue of the plane and all aboard, even if they may have caused the problem, was that they never gave up!!!

They knew the importance of persistence, and by relying on their skills and abilities they persisted in bringing the Flight 006 to a safe landing, despite many challenges along the way!

Now, if the Pilot and Crew made mistakes, I believe the biggest reason for any mistakes made, was a lack of patience! When We experience a lack of patience, especially under pressure, we turn to panic! Panic usally leads to poor judgement and often tunnel focus! Focusing only on what’s going wrong, and not allowing us to see the bigger picture and providing us with the ability to see and use our other tools and possibilities to overcome the situation We find ourselves in! Thus, by employing patience it helps us avoid panic and often allows us to see the bigger picture, employ all tools and resources to deal with whatever situation We’re in.

So, it become a life lesson to, Trust Your Tools And Rely On Patience And Persistence, and overcome the situations, the turbulence we all encounter in life!

Recently I had the pleasure of fulfilling one of my Dreams by accepting an invitation to be a Public Speaker and to speak on stage at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas at a recent Leadership Conference for my Primary Network Marketing Business. I was asked to speak on how this Network Marketing Business has changed my life!

I had an amazing time, was able to deliver a good speech and have been told by friends, family, and colleagues that it has helped them and their families! That’s pretty amazing as a milestone on my road to becoming a Public Motivational Business and Personal Self Development Speaker.

On my way home, the flight I was on was delayed due to our airplane not receiving proper security clearance until We, the passengers, were on board! This caused me to miss my connector flight in Toronto, and since there were no available flights till the following day the Airline put Me up at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in the Toronto International Airport.

The Events that followed were less than stellar! When I arrived at the Hotel, I had to furnish a Credit Card or $200 in Cash as a security for incidentals, even though it was the Airline that was covering the Hotel Room!!! Thankfully I did have the $200 Cash, as there was no room on the Credit Card I had with me! Imagine what would have happened if I had not had either, needless to say, I would have spent a less than stellar night in the Airport!

The other thing that was less than stellar was that although the Airline, Delta, put me up in the Sheraton for the night, they provided Me little in the way of Meals, or compensation for meals! I was given three $6 Meal Vouchers, if You’ve ever had to eat in the Toronto Airport you know that $6 per meal barely covers the tip, let alone a meal!

Then, after spending a comfortable night at the Sheraton, I proceeded to the Boarding Area for my flight home to Nova Scotia. When I arrived, I was told that when the Delta Agents had rescheduled my Booking, they had confirmed there was space on the Flight, but they had not confirmed a Seat! Therefore I was on standby, and had to wait, and rescheduled once again for a later flight!

I figure the whole thing cost me at least $150 in unexpected spending, and what would have happened if I had not had the $200 Cash Deposit, or Credit Card, for the incidentals at the Hotel!? My Life Partner calls these little, or not so little, situations in Life, Speed Bumps; thus the Title of this Post!

The reason I thought it was important to write this is so perhaps, the next time Your Traveling You’ll be able to plan ahead, and Be Prepared For Speed Bumps When Traveling!!!

That is the question, no matter how long you’ve been in Business, nor the type of Business Your in, that is the question, “Is Your Why Big Enough To Survive Life’s Storms?”

Why are You doing what Your doing right now?

Does Your why keep you up at night?

It’s currently 4:19am, I’ve been awake since about 3:49am, and I’m excited!

I’m excited about what’s happening in my Primary Business, how We’re truly helping people, how people are advancing, earning not only an income, but also earning cash, prizes, and trips, and other rewards!!!

More importantly to Me, We’re seeing people grow, develop self confidence, self esteem, and the non-material things and the friendships we make and memories we create, these are the things that matter most to Me! These are the truly priceless benefits of building a Business, especially a MLM, Networking, or Direct Sales, type Business.

My original goal was to earn enough to bring home my Life Partner, to have a choice whether or not either of us had to work in the regular workforce again! Being able to create a future for ourselves, and not just be at the mercy of someone else’s whims, or the whims and dictates of a job! Now, after about two years we’re pretty close to being there! It’s an amazing feeling!

Now, my “Why” for doing what I’m doing, not only in my Primary Business, but here on this Blog, on the Sohoos.com Blog where I’ve been asked to write, and last month when I was asked to speak on stage in Las Vegas, my goal now is to help other people to be free!

So, when We hit speed bumps, as my Life Partner refers to them, We keep going!

What would You do if your Competition started underselling You on some of your Products?

Would You quit? r would You focus more on the other Products, and providing the best Customer Service available, to try to keep your Customers, and maximize on your profits by focusing on your other products?

What would You do if Your Mentor, or Sponsor, quit, or slowed down, or became discouraged?

Would You quit, or would You realize that We all have different priorities in Life and that even though it may not be their focus, or be the right thing for them, it may still be the right thing for You!? Would You work harded, rely on other Business Experts, Your upline, or other industry leaders who are succeeding and who are there for You, to teach You and help You succeed?

What would You do if Market Conditions changed and certain Products become unavailable, or were back ordered, or discontinued?

Would you quit? (I probably also should say, or would you allow it, whatever the it is, to cause you to loose focus?)

If your “Why”, the reason Your doing what Your doing right now, the reason you are awake at night, the thing that get’s you excited, is big enough, means enough, and your committed to “Your Why” enough, Your not going to let anything stand in your way!

When Your Competition undersells You, You’ll find a way to off set it.

When Your Mentor, Sponsor, or Upline, jumps ship, or decides to re-prioritize their lives, You’ll keep going!

Whatever challenges and situations arise, because they always will, You’ll recognize them for the road bumps they are and you’ll resolve to find a way!

When “Your Why” is big enough, You will find a way, and that is why, the most important thing in your life, next to God and Your Family, and sometimes because of God and Your Family, is “Your Why”! Not someone else’s, not anything that’s thown at you, but “Your Why”… because when Your Why is big enough, and Your committed enough to seeing it through, to finding a way, then You’ll succeed, because “Your Why” is big enough!

So, I ask You, Is Your Why Big Enough To Survive Life’s Speed Bumps?

If not, or if you’ve not thought a lot about “Your Why” do so, find it!!!

If Your Why is big enough, if Your excited over it, if it motivates You, and keeps You up at night, and Your Why is Big enough to help You Survive Life’s Speed Bumps, then hang on to it, tell someone about it, tell your Mentor, or Sponsor, or Upline, and make it known!

When Your Why is big enough, and you share it with others, it won’t only help you in Business, it’ll help you survive in Life!!!

I’d love to hear about Your Why, your experiences, and your comments on this Post, fel free to Post your Comments below, or contact Me, Brian Hurlburt, Your Independent Business Consultant, toll free at 877-822-8463, or email me brian@yourindependentbusinessconsultant.com

I know how lame that sounds!

Before joining my Primary Business, I had tried at least 6 MLM, Network Marketing, Companies. As well as working at least 4 Direct Sales Companies, and even attempted and ran 3 more Traditional Businesses!

Even though I was always in the top producing new Agents, either the carrot (rewards) were just out of reach, or the expenses were to much to bare! So, I became so discouraged I stopped planning, didn’t set any goals, and drifted along!

Most of my Hourly Wage Jobs were short lived, I simply got bored and quit after 3 – 4 months!

So, when I started with my current Primary Business, I did so simply to get my own discount and so my neighbours could get gluten free products from Me, and so I could get natural products that were less likely to cause my allergies to worsen.

So, when My business began to grow in spite of Me, and then when I began to treat it as a business it began to flourish, I was surprised! When, in second year I became one of 33 Business Leaders, and qualified for Free Trips, Cash, and Prizes, it really surprised Me!!!

Now, after two and a half years with my Primary Business, a NWM Company, I’m preparing to go be a Public Speaker on Stage in Las Vegas!!! It’s actually very surreal, and though I’ve known I’m going to be a Speaker for over 3 months, it really only hit me yesterday!

You see, I’ve always dreamed of being a Public, Motivational, and Business Speaker, and yesterday I remembered reading a Magazine Article, the Opportunist Magazine, I think, about Planet Hollywood. I remembered thinking, dreaming, about what it would be like to be a Public Speaker on Stage in Vegas! Well, it’s happening! For Me!

What I want you to understand, is that it can happen for You too!

I most likely don’t have anything You don’t have! What I mean is, You have the same potential to achieve your Goals and Dreams as I do! Really you do!!!

I had tried, and all but given up!

Then I found the right Company, the right Company for Me!

I’m here to tell you it works, it really works!

So, don’t give up, find the right business, the right business for You!

When you reach the point when you know it’s possible, when You know truly realizing your Dreams is possible, it’s worth the effort! I’ll be Speaking on how my current Primary Business has changed my Life!

I’ll go into this, the “Changes” in another Post, but for now, suffice to say, I once again am setting, and achieving my goals, and My Dreams, Free Travel, Public Speaking, Bonus Awards, and Bonus Incomes!!!

Most importantly, helping others, not only the Associates in my Primary Business, but those in other similar businesses, and beyond. Not only helping them earn incomes, trips, cash, and prizes, but more importantly helping others to reach their goals, help their Customers, build their self esteem, self confidence, and to help others, and themselves in the process! I’m loving it!!! (And You can too!!!)

We’ve been using the Free Version of Insightly for about two years, and finally upgraded recently so more of the Associates in our Primary Business can use it. We use it along with our Google Apps Site, and the combination, even the Free Version of http://insight.ly allows us to keep an eye on our Business and Customers and share and assign tasks, and contacts, and it gives us an opportunity to get better insight into our Business!

Insightly was designed around Google Apps and has a set of simple, powerful web based communication and collaboration tools for business. Insightly is tightly integrated with Google Docs (on-line office suite), Gmail (group email and communication) and Google Calendar (calendaring services). Insightly uses Google Apps for login and authentication too, so you don’t need to remember multiple passwords – just log into Google Apps once and you’re done.

Since Insigtly takes care of all the IT stuff like backups, upgrades, and security so we don’t have to worry about anything technical like server upgrades or security fixes. Allowing us to concentrate on what matters most, running our business and getting on with things that matter, like Customers, Associates, and Sales!

We believe web based software is the best choice for small business, and http://insight.ly allows us to create better Customer Service, better and more Team work, and gain more focus and insight into our Primary Business.

If your not using Insightly, you should check it out at http://insight.ly

Audible.com is the internet’s leading provider of digital audiobooks featuring more than 100,000 titles available for download. These titles include books, magazines, radio shows, podcasts, stand-up comedy, and speeches. Audible features the best narrators interpreting bestselling books by top authors. Listeners can download audiobooks to their MP3 player, mobile phone, Kindle or over 500 devices including iPod, iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry. With Audible’s new apps for iPhone™ and Android™ listeners can browse and buy audiobooks wirelessly on their mobile phone.

Consumers can receive 50% off their first 3 months of the AudibleListener® Gold membership plan. In addition, their subscription includes the following member benefits:

- 1 audiobook per month
- Save 50% for 3 months at $7.49/month ($14.95/mo thereafter)
- Members save 30% on additional purchases
- Free digital subscription to the New York Times or Wall Street Journal
- Member-only special sales and promotions
- Now Over 100,000 titles to choose from
- Compatible with iPod, iPhone, BlackBerry and over 500 mp3 devices

Special Offer - Get Your First 3 Months at Audible.com for $7.49/month!

Yes, you can, and this SohoOS Blog Post shares easy ways to make it happen!

I’ve just read their blog Post and want to share it with you too.

Most of the bigger companies do use Psychological powers, and now you can too,
SohoOS shows how to use such things as

1.Color Perception

2.Effort Justification

3.Ben Franklin Effect

4.Informative Social Influence (a.k.a Bandwagon Bias)

5.Mere Exposure Effect

These are a few of the Psychological techniques used by larger Businesses, things that influence us, everyday!

Learning to use these things in your Business will help you connect with Your customers in ways only they can imagine!

If you’ve been reading my Blog for a while you know I’m really here to help!

I try to bring you the best programs, tools, and resources, that I find and use in my own Business and in marketing my own Primary Business!

So, the other day, when a friend introduced me to Wave Accounting I knew I had to check into it, see how it works, what it has to offer, and I even attended an excellent online conference that helped me to understand how to use the system, and inspired me to begin using the Wave Accounting System for myself!

Now, I’m bringing this to You! …

So, here’s the deal…

We ( You and I) Pay Sweet Nothing!!!

Here’s the pricing plan for Wave: It’s free!!!

From Wave,
“That’s right. No complicated options to choose from. Just awesome accounting for small businesses, for free. And we’re not talking a free trial, either. There’s no cost to you, period. Not now. Not later.”

honestly, it’s amazing, it has a Contact Database, allows us to create invoices, transaction tracking, income and expense reports, and more! I know it sounds to good to be true! Yet, it is!!!

If Your interested in leaning more… Click Here to Get the Details on Wave Accounting!!!

We all know that knowledge is power and one great way to gain knowledge and stay motivated is to read!

We also know that the average reader, only get’s through about 5 books per year!

Imagine if there were a way to get there three times faster!!!

According to our friends over at Audible “the average AudibleListener® member listens to 17 books a year.”

By Multitasking, listening to your Books while on the go, traveling to work, or to Your next meeting, You’ll be able to absorb 3 times what You’d otherwise get in an entire Year!

With over 100,000 Audio Books, Audible has what Your looking for!

Be sure to come back and let us know what you think?

Find a great Book? Let us know?

Post Your Comments below!

It’s because they, and their teams, have mastered the Cycle of
Duplication!

It’s what I’ve learned to do in my Primary Business and it’s what all successful Network Marketers have learned to do!

Some of the most successful, and best teachers, for learning this are our friends over at Build a Better Web!

Now you can learn these secrets and create duplicating down lines also!

Tomorrow,  Saturday, February 4, 11:00 a.m. EST, attend the  bwbconference.com to discover how you can implement the Duplication Cycle to experience explosive growth in Your Business!

This is a great way to tap into the success others have found, and since it’s free, and pretty much generic, it is good for, and can be applied in any Business, so don’t miss your chance to Build a Better Web!

Audio is provided in the room, so turn your speakers up. But
if you can’t get on your computer, you can listen by calling:

Listen Only: 858-200-4950 PIN 377-4721#

Invite your team members and prospects –
It will be a great morning!

See You There!
Brian Hurlburt
Youe Independent Business Consultant