Critically Thinking Out Choices You Make

Posted on September 29th, 2009 in Critical Thiking, Self Development, Personal Development, Recent Posts by Laurie

Critically Thinking Out Choices You Make can indeed lead to a richer life.

I read a story today that brought on an emotional outpouring I didn’t understand.  Where did that come from and why did I react so strongly?

The story was about a man going on vacation with his wife and children.  He hears a commentator talking about husbands being thoughtful of their wives, “Love is an act of will.  A person can choose to love.”

The man decides to purposely choose to act in love no matter what during the entire vacation.  The first few days he reminds himself of the choice he’s made, and thereafter, the vacation was a wonderful experience for his entire family.

The last evening of their vacation his wife stares at her husband with the saddest expression.

“What’s the matter?” he asks

“Do you know something I do not?” she asks.  “That check up I had several weeks ago…our doctor…did he tell you something about me?  You’ve been so good  to me…am I dying?”

It took a minute but the husband realized where this came from and burst out laughing,

“No, honey, your not dying; I’m just starting to live!” (Ref: How Love Came Back, by Tom Anderson)

There is great value in individual attention; I wonder how many times in life we forget we have a choice of kindness, a choice to give focused attention to an individual, anyone within our circle of friends, family, acquaintances, even strangers, that could return such richness back to us.

I’m guilty I’m sure of turning down a request for my time and/or attention, all wrapped up in a job, finishing a task I set myself to complete.  What did that cost me?  We all make choices for ourselves sometimes with the best of intentions, then seemingly get caught up in the achieving instead of the original intention.

Consider the leader who chooses to remember the worth of the individuals who follow them.  What would the leader gain by taking time out to give individual attention, let someone know and recognize their value, their importance and unique worth?  What would this attention mean to a spouse, a child, student, friend, co-worker, team member or acquaintance?

In true critical fashion, perhaps we should evaluate our choices and ask if the choice at the time has served it’s purpose, needs to be rethought? What would be in Your best interest; Serve Yourself or would it serve Your purpose better by serving others?

We all have busy lives inside the home as well as out; yet we most certainly have a choice on how we live it.

For me, it seems more desirable to chose to live in love and kind intention, with passion rather than being detached, wrapped up in day to day responsibilities that seem to grow larger than life itself, maybe ignoring someone’s request for my time or attention.

I wonder What have I gained, or lost, by the choices I’ve made?

Critically Thinking on a Deeper Plane

Posted on September 16th, 2009 in Critical Thiking, Self Development, Skills Training, Personal Development, Recent Posts by Laurie

Critical thinking is thinking on a deeper reflective plane. It demands that we dig beyond what we are told. It requires us to stop and observe, ask questions, analyze problems; to search for cause-effect relationships, comparison and the connection of ideas and solutions.  This helps us measure and evaluate results and possible outcomes.Critical thinking is the result of analysis and judgment that helps us work through problems, to make the best decisions.

Recently I was compelled to answer the phone even though the ID showed “unknown.”  Normally I ignore an “unknown” caller since most often it is some solicitor I don’t care to talk to.  Anyway, for whatever reason I answered and found myself listening to a financial groups “plug.”  Coincidentally, this caller was addressing an idea I was pondering and I listened.  I asked questions, wrote down info, ended up talking to three different people and eventually decided this was something I could be interested in.  I tentatively signed up for more info.  If the company performed as stated, I was even ready to recommend them to others.

A week or so later I again answered an “unknown” call and again found myself talking to another financial group.  What, is there a season for these types of calls?

Feeling magnanimous, I listened to their spiel. Huh, well this was a different take on the same issue; why did I care?  Being a critical thinker (wanna be), I thought to compare the causes and effects of both programs, check out the best possible outcome from both before I made any decisions.

Wait a minute, back up, what really happened is I JUMPED at the other company because I felt a better “connection” with this speaker than I did with the first one.

I asked the second company for more info (a 15 page email was on the way before I even hung up the phone).  I decided it was common courtesy to call the first company and let them know I was no longer interested in their program.  I was sent to the “manager” of the department, presumably to explain why I was no longer interested.  Lo and behold we connected and I received further clarity about the Companies program I was originally interested in.  In fact, I received more information in 10 minutes from this guy than in all the previous calls I had with the other reps with a much better outcome.

That’s when it really dawned on me to compare and analyze all the information I now had to make the best possible decision.

The basic steps to critical thinking include:
1. Questions, Asking why,
2. Observing the problem or issue
3. Collecting and surveying all the facts and facets of the situation,
4. Analysis, what I know; determining the cause and effect, compare, contrast and connect ideas
5. Finding the solution(s) available (pros and cons)
6. The results or outcome of the evaluation

Imagine someone tells you that vaccines are dangerous and can cause severe reactions and/or adverse side effects. Do you accept the statement given as the absolute truth never to have another vaccine? Thinking on a deeper plane of thought, you might think of other perspectives, like: where the information on Risks of vaccines originally came from; is there any statistical support for the statement, how about the dangers of not using a vaccine, how does the risk of taking the vaccine compare to the risk of contracting the disease.

Once I paused to reflect on all the information I had gathered using my Critical Thought process, investigating each companies programs from various different angles, I felt better equipped to make the best, well informed decision.

Critical Thinking requires that you reflect on your thought process. It does not come naturally, it takes effort.  The alternative?  You slip into a “lazy” mode of thinking letting the ideas of others become your own, whether they are in your best interests or not!  Your decisions are then based on another’s thoughts.

Developing critical thoughts or thinking skills help you avoid programmed thinking and learn How to think and not What to think.

Would It Be Ok To Recieve Mentoring For Free?

Posted on September 16th, 2009 in Critical Thiking, Self Development, Whats Your Plan?, Skills Training, Recent Posts by Laurie

On my social sites, I notice a multitude of “opportunities” offering help in building a successful income on line through Network Marketing or an MLM Opportunity.  One after the other touts why THEIR course, their system is THE way to generate leads, traffic and earn instant financial rewards.  Videos open up when I click on the links, even when I thought I was clicking on a bio of the advertiser, all sorts of noise seems to be shouting at me, confusing my mind with chatter.  Do this, start here, this is the ONLY system, it’s new, it’s better, its cutting edge; throw out old school (I’m really tired of that term now, aren’t you?).

If Your are taught once, taught right, and supported by a team of mentors with YOUR success upper most in their minds, would that be ok?  Would it be OK if it didn’t cost you one red cent?

Most people will agree that times have changed, there is a constant stream of information as well as opportunities coming at You from all sides, BUT people haven’t changed.  The bottom line is still and will always be PEOPLE.

If You want people to view Your opportunity, You still have to create a relationship with them.  Success isn’t going to depend on how many courses You’ve bought into (how many different “guru” courses do You need pay for to tell You the basics that can be found for free?); Success isn’t how many books you’ve read (continuing education and learning is important but unless You put Your knowledge to action, it isn’t going to matter how many books You’ve read - the results will be the same - ZERO).

Success isn’t dependent on how well educated You are either.  What’s the point, if all You ever do is get educated enough to get ready, to learn more and be a spectator who observers rather than acts? In reaching Your Dreams and Goals Your Ultimate Success or lack of Success comes down to taking action, and using Your critical thought process to discern the best choices necessary to achieve Your dream.

Would You agree that a successful team of professionals offering their expertise as a gift is priceless?

Propel your Desire, Faith and Belief knowing You are perfect just the way You are.    Check out a proven system and Team of Professionals that offer to coach You, mentor You every step of the way and give You all the skills training You need to get into action and achieve Your dreams; get the straight scoop by downloading “Success in 10 Steps,” free.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SAY; IT’S THE WORDS YOU USE!

Posted on September 14th, 2009 in Self Development, Critical Thiking, Marketing Tips, Whats Your Plan?, Personal Development, Skills Training, Recent Posts by Tracey

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SAY; IT’S THE WORDS YOU USE!

Knowing the correct sequence of words to use when talking with a prospect or potential customer is a skill that you must master if you want to find success.

To know what words to use you must understand how the mind works and makes decisions.
Master Industry Trainer, ‘Big Al’ Schreiter, shared with some of us, a study that was done to find out how people go about making decisions.  Researchers found some interesting if not for some unsettling facts.

ALL, yes that is A-L-L; ALL decisions are made by the subconscious mind and within 7 seconds!

This information shocked and insulted many of us!  THIS COULDN’T BE!  We are smart, intelligent people and we’d like to think that we make conscious decisions that are contemplated longer than 7 seconds!  That would be no, we don’t.  As brilliant as the conscious mind is with all of its intelligence the conscious mind is about the size of a pea.  Compare this to the subconscious mind that is enormously vast.  The complete filing cabinet of your life, every memory, every lesson and things learned; all thoughts regardless of their origin, worthiness or truth, the part of our brains that accepts and internalizes any little thing that enters it?  This is the part of our brain that makes ALL our decisions?  I was growing weary, in total disbelief if not boarding angry…how could this be?

Then, “Big Al” went further, he proved it!  He asked us to tell him what thoughts we have when he said…”Would you be interested i…” & before he got the word ‘in’ out of his mouth, half the room loudly said, “NO!”  This was Before he could tell us anything about a business or product!  Our subconscious minds had already shut him down; he was DOOMED BEFORE HE GOT STARTED!  Therefore the commonly used words of “Would you be interested…” need to be removed from our conversations with everyone, why just limit this information to business when it is applicable to life in general and all people and relationships.

Let’s replace this phrase with a sequence of words that will allow the subconscious mind, the decision maker, to be open to what we have to say, that is what we want after all isn’t it?  Let’s replace ‘Would you interested with “Would it be okay if…”, when the subconscious mind hears this sequence of words it is always willing to go along with what you have to say next, as long as it is logical, not illegal or harmful to one’s self or other.  You’re asking permission, offering an option, this takes the pressure off.  There is just one rule, the shorter the statement the better; remember the subconscious makes up its mind in 7 seconds!  So I will use different example on various type products or reasons to join your organization so you can understand how this works and sounds:

Would it be okay if…
I showed you how to earn an extra $500 a month?
you could help your arthritis naturally?
I could show you how to save money on your electric bill?
you had more energy than your Grandkids?
someone else paid for your vacations?
worked 3 weeks and got paid for 4?
You get the idea!

The next piece of realization is that our vast, not so smart subconscious also makes decision based on no proof of information or knowledge but simply on “social proof” or ‘Herd Mentality’.  For example, you are walking down the street and you are hungry, there are two restaurants ahead but have never eaten at either.  The first one is almost empty so you walk to the next one and you see inside many people all eating, drinking and talking…in which restaurant do you decide to eat…?  The busy one of course!  But why?  Your subconscious mind decided that because all the people are there it must be better, why else would they all be there.  But that is not necessarily true, you don’t know that the food is any better or cheaper or that the second is where the fun is; for all you know the first restaurant, just opened for the day’s business or that the food is so good everyone left to get their families to bring back with them.  You really don’t know, your subconscious just decides based on nothing more than the fact there are more people at one place than another, ‘social proof’, ‘herd mentality’, that the second restaurant is better than the first.  How stupid is that, not to mention this decision was made with no validity knowledge or real proof, just assumption.  That is just how arbitrary our subconscious mind, our decision maker is!

So since the subconscious mind is the decision maker and loves to be doing what everyone else is doing, knows or says, maybe you should try this sequence of words…
’Most people…’ or ‘Everybody knows…’ or ‘Everybody says…’.

Now that the subconscious knows it needs to do like everyone else, you need to tell it why it needs to make a decision, to do what you are suggesting.  Using the word sequence of ‘If you’…(what you want them to do)…’then’…(result).  An example would be: ‘If you’ incorporate these word sequences in your conversations ‘then’ you will see an amazing change in your business.

We also need to keep in mind that our job is to get our prospects or our customers to make a decision.
Closing seems to be very hard for some folks and something the person on the receiving end doesn’t like
to have done to them, so again let’s use some words that are going to allow them to be open to what we say and to make a decision.  Use the word sequence of ‘So what is going to be easier for you…’ followed by an and/or statement.  For example: ‘So what is going to be easier for you, to get 400 people
in your organization or 2500 to earn $10,000 a month?’

Here I will give you an example using them all; it goes something like this:

Everybody knows it takes skills to be successful in any profession.  Most people want to be
successful in their network marketing business.  Everybody says that Mentoring For Free is
the best place to learn the necessary skills for success.  Would it be okay with you if I showed
you the skills you need to be successful, for free?  If you plug into Mentoring For Free, then you
can begin to change your business and your life.  So what would be easier for you, to learn the
skills you need for success or to keep struggling as you have been?

Now this is using all of them at one time and not what you would want to do in real life, you would want to sprinkle these throughout your conversation.  I just did this for illustration purposes.

Also keep in mind this is a new skill, it will require practice.  So practice out loud.  Share these skills with your team members and practice with each other, until you don’t feel uncomfortable saying any of these sequences, because you shouldn’t.  It is our job to get people to make a decision and we need to talk to the decision maker, which is the subconscious, so learn to talk to it directly so it will be open to what you suggest.

Learn all you need to own your life and have a successful business, it all starts with this free book, download your copy today!   http://tinyurl.com/blogst1

DNA and Critical Thinking

Posted on September 10th, 2009 in Critical Thiking, Companies/Opportunities, Scams and Ripoffs, Recent Posts by Ken

 Oh, the things I hear in MLM!

Some one says they can look at my DNA and match
nutritional supplements to my body’s needs.

REALLY!

I’m pretty sure my DNA never changes during my life,
regardless of the choices I’ve made.

Now, what if some one with my DNA decided years ago to
become a professional athlete, and I decided to become
a couch potato?

Even though we have the same DNA, are our nutritional
needs the same?

Another question: Would it be wise for me to spend the
funds to have my DNA typed and then send the data to a
company?

What if the company sold or gave the data to the
insurance industry - or worse - the government?

I might never be able to get good health insurance
because of some genetic pre-disposition.

Just a little critical thinking here.

Want the Secret to MLM Success?

Posted on September 10th, 2009 in Marketing Tips, Self Development, Skills Training, The 5 Pillars To Success, Personal Development, Recent Posts by Laurie

Want to know the Secret in successfully building an MLM Business?  I’ll give it to You in five simple steps.  In order to grow Your network marketing business You need to have:

1. Targeted lead generation
2. Automated prospect follow-up
3. One-on-one relationship building
4. Sponsoring and
5. Training

Naturally, it’s best if You have a single system to perform all these functions. If your MLM company or upline group does not provide system(s) to accomplish these targets, You absolutely have to set them up Yourself. But it’s a lot easier to go someplace where they understand these MLM sponsoring secrets and already have an established, tested & proven system.

Let me tell You  about the Relationship Building aspect of the sponsoring system that I use.

One-on-one relationship building:

Your most important MLM sponsoring secret IS relationship building. Network marketing is a relationship business. You want to sponsor them one at a time and bring them in one at a time.

The only way You can do that is to build a one-on-one relationship with those people.

You may have witnessed many organizations come online and they sponsor, sponsor, sponsor, recruit, recruit, recruit, using some downline building system. But none of those people ever upgrade, none of those people ever buy product, because there’s no relationship. If You ever tried to call one of those people and say, “Hey, I’d like to visit with You “, they won’t even return a phone call.

It’s of the utmost importance to have relationships when You are building Your business. They’ve got to know that You care.  And Sincerity counts here, because if You have Your own agenda, Your prospect will see right through You and they will run as far away from You as they can get.

This step is crucial, so much so we at Mentoring For Free are constantly training and coaching people about building relationships.  We have a generic MLM “relationship-building” training call 5 nights a week. No company is EVER mentioned on these calls. No products are EVER discussed.

If Your seriously  looking for a good way to make extra money from home and understand this is a relationship business, begin Your journey to success by downloading  this free ebook now.  And I promise You, if You build people, then people will build Your business!