2011 A Look Back

2011 A Look Back

2011 was a remarkable year for the Diversity Networking Group. We started out the year with low expectations but a huge mandate to see our organization grow and grow it did in deed. January we were still meeting at Beanos Bar and Grill, who had so graciously allowed us to meet within their facilities. It was a great local for us to cut our teeth on but we believed that things would change. This change would necessitate a move to a new place. 

As I spoke to the handful of folks who attended our first quarter of the year meetings, we were planning on having an Expo at the Sante Fe Station Hotel and Casino. This would prove to be a learning experience that I would never want to repeat again. 

During that first half of the year, we were pleased to host some of the local dignitaries from the political as well as the religious fields. Once again the stage was being set for the branding of the organization. We had encouraged all of our members to be at all of these meetings because they would learn things that no one else in the networking realm was being exposed to and those words were prophetic.

In late May the decision was made to move the group to our current location at Panera Bread. It was a huge emotional as well as tactical move. Ties had to be cut with Beanos and new friendships had to be made with Leslie and the new digs. There were still emotional baggage associated with being in a smaller space but once we made the move, it was "Don't look back, full steam ahead."

This move would prove to be the best that we ever made. The new location brought in a whole new membership. We began to grow from day 1. In additon to the new members came a new focus on where we would go as an organization. There was a renewed emphasis on "What more could we provide to our Family". 

By September we were in full momentum. The morning sessions were awesome. Chatter, fun, networking, referrals all of this was happening within that short hour window as we met and special guest speakers like you wouldn't believe. This was getting good. We had to formalize this thing (DNG) before it got totally out of control.

October DNG1 began formally accepting dues. The news was received with encouragement and we too were encouraged. But with much trust from our new members came the challenge to produce. We brought in the heavy-weights of the speaking world. Hedges, Bailey (listed among the top 25 speakers in the country) .

November DNG2 was launched at the Marie Callenders location. The new group was electric and within the first month it already had a core group of people who had committed to being a happy healthy networking group. 

December welcomed our Second Annual DNG Christmas Party. Were as the first Christmas Party sported a respectable 8 people, this gathering garnered well over 50 people!!! I almost cried at the sight of how much we had grown. We truly have been blessed with some great folks that I love and cherish. At times I pinch myself in disbelief.

At the close of 2011, we sit on the doorstep of something remarkable. I haven't mentioned any names in this lookback not because I've forgotten names but because there are so many people involved in the success of DNG to this point that it would do them all an injustice to try and convey the gratitude that I and the "Lovely Mrs Ray" truly feel. We want to tell all of those people who have become a part of the founding and continued growth of DNG that we thank you all for the hours and hours of attendance, participation and prayers that you have extended to your group.

In 2012 we look forward to even more value-filled projects, class, parties and events. With all of us doing our collective parts we can look to an even better 2012. Our hope is that you will all make suggestions, comments and above all compliments on what we hope will be the networking group of choice in the Las Vegas valley.

Once again, on behalf of the DNG Executive Committee and the "Lovely Mrs Ray" and I thank you for 2011 and we will see you soon in 2012. 

Sherman 

Customer Service

Launching any new business has its share of ups and downs. There's the money thing and of course office space, not to mention the logistics of when and whom you are going to have lunch with. Yes having your own business, especially in this day and economy can be a real challenge.

Many of us have the same problems and they can all be rooted in a common place. I call this place the "lack o customer service-itis" Or in other words, we put the all mighty buck before we put the customer and their wishes. Now don't get me wrong, if you aren't in business to make money then you are neglecting a fundamental reason for getting up before any human being should, worrying about every little incident like it were the Tienanmen Square uprising and going to bed way too late, on most days. No making money is a pivotal part of being the captain of your own ship but it isn't the bottom line.

The bottom line to each and every business is to be the best that you can be to the people that you are performing a service for. In a biblical sense, you are doing everything as unto your Maker. Every time you do a job you are making your God smile. That's why you take the extra effort to make sure what you do is right. That is why you don't leave early and you put everything back the way it was when you got there.


The reason for you to do all of this isn't so you can make a buck, even though making a buck is terrific. But any old fool can make a fast buck. Pimps, prostitutes and drug dealers do it everyday and alot of it. You Mr. Businessman are no Pimp, prostitute or Drug Dealer. You represent something so much bigger than that and that's why you are so proud at the end of the day to say that you own your own business. It is a reflection of you and what you believe in. So stand proud at your accomplishments. Be prideful of your people that you've trained to do the very same thing that you expect of yourself, only the very best. In the end it isn't about the all mighty dollar to you. It is about Customer Service. In doing so you reflect the Maker who made you.

Learning Something Everyday

I've been a career student all of my life. Since I was able to discern that there was more out there than what I already knew, I have been in a constant search to develop myself academically and spiritually. To this end, I make it a policy to at least end the day knowing that I have learned something new.

Now learning something new everyday can take on many forms. I can read a book, see a TV show, watch an event in progress and glean something from it but whatever form the learning comes from, I end the day a little bit richer.

Today I learned that I need regular emotional rest. If I don't I can become pretty grumpy and take out my emotional drain on whomever is around me. That didn't take me very long to see that this is an area in my life that needs to be tamed.

My encouragement to all of my readers is that they do the same thing. Take advantage of life's simplest situations and learn from it. There is a lesson in every facet of life. Don't allow a moment to pass you by without learning valuable lessons that will be used down the line..

Seeing the Silver Lining

Finding the Silver Lining in every situation can be a wonderful exercise in breaking from the pack. Let's face it, most people see the glass half empty rather than half full. They see the dirt in the forrest rather than the grandeur of the Grand Canyon. Today, rather than spend all of your precious breath worrying about how terrible your lot is in life, why not see the silver lining that is inside each and every situation you come up against daily.

When you begin to adopt an attitude of gratitude about everything and refuse to allow your natural tendency to be pessimistic enter into your day you will find that your energy is renewed. You'll also begin to attract around you like-minded people who too want to see the world differently.When you begin to look for the silver lining, surprisingly, you will find the silver lining that has always been there. People will start to treat you better, the food will taste better. You job or business will begin to take on a new hue when you start to say to yourself that everything is gonna be all right. You will begin to become more creative because all of those negative thoughts that used to take up residence in your head have been replaced with the God-given creative mind that you had when you were a kid.

You were built for creativity and to enjoy all that is out in creation. Creation in all of its beauty was meant for you to enjoy. Together, your creativity and  creations beauty were meant to work in harmony to produce a symphony of beauty. Like Picasso and Micheangelo before you, your god-given talent will begin to manifest itself in truly amazing ways.

Take it from me. The people who created raspberry tea and cocoa crispies weren't allowing the fears of life, lack of resources and opposition stop them. They saw nothing but possibilities ahead of them. That is what drove the greats to invent the automobile, V8 Juice and Paper Plates. The Silver lining is what Steve Jobs saw which propelled him into pursuing the PC and it can be the same for you.

Here are some tips to help you see the silver lining in each and every situation.

1) Start with a mental picture of happy good thoughts
2) When you sense anything really try and experience it.
3) Don't be in a rush to sense things, take your time.
4) Thank God for everything, good or bad.
5) Get plenty of rest.
6) Try and remember your dreams (They hold the key to many underlying thoughts
7) Borrow yours or someone elses kids crayons and color on a weekly basis.
8) Don't be a know-it-all. Accept others input.
9) Watch less news

-Sherman Ray

Sherman Ray is the founder and President of  the Diversity Networking Group. He is also an author and motivational speaker. As a leadership development coach Sherman has been involved in many projects and teams throughout the U.S. and Asia.

Does Social Media Work

I know you've probably read countless articles on how if you follow 7 simple rules that you can build a social media dynasty. You know the articles, written by people who have never ever done anything other than write about how simple it is to do the impossible with Facebook or Twitter. Well I have built a pretty successful organization and it has all been done using only Facebook. Let me tell you how we did it.

About a year ago we decided to organize a group and wanted to know how to do it, so we did all of our research via Facebook. You can find almost anything you want about people who have gone before you by just typing in a search on the subject. After doing our premliminary work of finding out how to do the project, we formed a presence on Facebook and started to contact people. If you are like most of us this won't be an easy thing to do but it is a must. You must start to contact people. During the early days I would just contact the most famous person I could, friend them and then check out their friendslist. Going through their list I would friend a few of their friends. After that I would join in on their conversations and build a reputation as someone who was interesting.

During that time I started a Youtube account. I would try and post a new video article once or twice a week until people started to talk about me. Most of my thoughts surrounded my interest in business and helping other people recognize their strengths. People I didn't even know would start to talk about how optimistic I was. This set the stage for our main organization.

When we started our networking group we did everything via the internet. We tried to contact people, market and inform our members via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Slowly but surely people started to take interest what we were doing. Whenever we would have a meeting, we would post it online. Whenever we had something to say to each other, we would prominently post it on Facebook or Twitter. When I had an insight on a business related subject, you could be sure that I would video it via Youtube. I would post when and where the meetings and events via the message boards in our local area. This was utilizing Social Media like a machine.

Then I got a little crazy. I started to contact city officials via Facebook. Maybe I was just at the right place at the right time but everytime I would friend one of these folks and ask them if they would like to be a special guest speaker, they would say yes. This would set the tone for our group as one that specialized in getting big name speakers. This ability to attract these highend speakers still exists to this day. Our latest guest speaker makes an incredible amount of money for a single speaking engagement. We were able to get him... you guessed it, through Facebook.

Our group has now grown to 90 online and two local groups in our city and we are contacting people all over America, from California to Florida to join our network as charter members. All of this has been done via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. So does Social Media work? Oh yeah...just ask our members. They are the richer for the existence of the internet and the ability of our being able to communicate via, Social Media.

Hearing "You've Got the Job"

Recently our Interior Design firm was contacted by a prospective client about giving them a bid on some design work for their office. I was really surprised because 1) How did they get our phone number 2) Why would they choose a small firm like ours for their rather larger business. But not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth I didn't question the offer, instead we went to work preparing all that we needed.
Our office for the next few days was all abuzz with putting together colors, fabrics, styles, lights, prints, I mean we went all out. Our objective was to give them the very best that we could in the shortest amount of time possible. You see we were up against at least 2 other firms in a climate where it is as cut throat as can be. Designers were undercutting and doing all kinds of things just to get work. This would be no different. It was a large job and everyone wanted it.

I tend to be a worrywart when it comes to getting things done on time. I want it all to be ready 2 days before hand and if it isn't you can tell. I get irritable and short with everyone. No one gets a day off for any reason. Lunch is done in house and you better not call in sick. This is serious business. We are potentiall going to make more money than we have ever made to this date and if something is to hinder this project it aint gonna be us.

We worked the entire weekend and much of the next week to complete some preliminary drawings, color-boards and tile samples. It was time to present the package to the client representative and we had everything ready the night before. As Linda and I drove to the meeting we prayed for two things to be done. 1) That the client would ooh and ahh 2) That there would be an immediate response to our presentation. We ended the prayer with a confident AMEN and proceded to the meeting. At the end the representative said, "Where's the contracts, let's sign right now".

Oh crap...we didn't bring a contract. I told them that I would have one drawn up and ready by noon. Linda said that we had an appointment and that it wouldn't be until the next morning. Arghhhh....The client said OK let's do this right now and they wanted to start immediately. They asked if they could keep all of the presentation materials to show the principles of the company. (Something that we said we wouldn't do) Of course, since they said that we were hired, we left the boards and samples.
We left and smiled all the way to the car. As we drove away Linda kept asking, "Did we get the job, did we really get the job"? I told her yes, we had a verbal committment by the representative and as far as I was concerned this was a done deal. The next few days would prove to the be the longest ones of our short careers.

I prepared the paperwork within the next hour and called back the representative to have her sign the docs. She was unavailable at the time. One hour passed, then two, three and then four hours. Nothing came back to us. Had we really gotten the job? If so, then why didn't they at least call us back when we left a message? We had a friend come over that afternoon. We shared what had happened that morning. We told her that we still hadn't signed any contracts but that we felt we had a committment. Her face bore the look of doubt. So did Linda's. She thought that we had been dooped and that our drawings were being used by the client to move forward with their remodel without us.
The next morning, the same thing, nothing. I left another message. I even almost went down to the project to see if I could find out some news for myself. This was getting crazy. Why hadn't they called us back.

The shadows of doubt began to creep into my usually optimistic head by now. There just had to be some logical reason for the no call no show. I kept an upbeat exterior but under the surface I was shaking. Now just a few days before we had been thanking Jesus for the provision of this project. We had put out the fleece and God had shownup in a bigtime way. He had proved that he could move mountains in our personal lives. Now a few days later, doubt, disappointment and sadness had crept in. What were we to believe? Would we believe the promises of a Loving God or the doubt-filled ramblings of our own minds?
It was two days later and all of the sudden my phone rang. It was the company representative and she sounded tired. She said that she got my messages but that she was in another facility working on another project. She assured me that not only did we have the job, "AS IS" but that they had another facility that they wanted us to take a look at. This time it wouldn't just be part of the entire building but it would be the entire building.

We set a time for us to meet with the principles the following week and not only that but that we had much more time to prepare the finished product. I was so overjoyd that my most dreaded thoughts were unfounded that all I could do was say, "Thank You Jesus".

Passing Off The Baton

Try to take stock of where you are now in life in relationship to where you are going is an experience we all should enjoy at least every six months. In our case it is something that I think about every week. You see, we've been on this rollercoaster of achievements the past number of years and if you don't keep looking and rechecking where you are now in relationship to where you want to be in the future, I can tell you now, you can get lost in the shuffle.

Linda and I find ourselves in an enviable position. We have spent many years working at project after project as leadership development and team building workers. In our experience, we find that at the end of every project you spend the later half of it looking for your successor. I know many of you are probably thinking, "These two are just looking for an excuse to move on". Well, nothing could be farther from the truth. We don't look forward to moving away from our friends, who we've established great relationships with over the past number of months and in some cases years. We don't like moving to another place. It isn't pleasant doing any of those things. But God has different ideas for us. So as obedient slaves we do what the Master says.

What do you do though when you feel that the Lord is calling you to move on and there isn't a replacement for you? Let me tell you, we've built a firm foundation in our current project. It would continue to move forward even if we left tomorrow. We couldn't stop it now, even if we tried. So we figure that it is time for us to get moving on to another thing. Oh no, no one is willing to step up to the plate and make the committment that it takes to take our foundation and make a great work out of it.

Well, there may be an answer to this dilema. And I can tell you it is just that. Now don't get me wrong, I love my peeps, relationships, meetings, achievements, all of that stuff but it really becomes a dilema when you know that these folks need and deserve so much more. If someone would come in and knowing what they are doing, take our clay and make it into a masterpiece. They would know exactly what to do with what we've already started.
But as I said, NO TAKERS.

So, this is what we are forced to do. We are going to do the best we can until we are moved out of the way. No more am I going to look for someone to replace me. As a matter fact, if someone does come a callin then I am gonna push them off to the dise and let them know that there is no room at the Inn. So watchout all you aspiring Jr. Execs. my position is officially off the list as available.

Setting Priorities

It's amazing how things can get out of hand when you are having fun. For me and my temperament I am especially susceptable to putting so much on my plate that I can't even tell which is the peas and which is the carrots. With all of the events, people and opportunities that come my way on a weekly basis, I am surprised that I haven't got more than 3 businesses going. This weekend was no different. Another opportunity another deal to weigh.

Our networking group was really blessed this week. We had a world-famous author and speaker come and address our group. He was fantastic. Polished, clean, sophisticated, and a snappy dresser. At the end of the meeting, he signed a copy of a book for me and the "Lovely Mrs. Ray" and I. It was all really heady stuff.

That same day, while we sat at brunch discussing how we were going to make the next deal or market the newest product line, my phone rang. On the other line was a job offer to do the largest project that we would bid on to date. We were so excited that I didn't even ask how the business got our phone number. When you get a job of this magnitude you don't even care. All you think is, "Thank you God"...

Back at the office we put together the team and started working on the projectboards and preliminary drawings. All of the sudden my phone rang again. On the other line was our special guest speaker from the morning networking mixer. He was inviting us to attend a meeting where his business associates would be attending. I said, "Sure, if you are there then I know there has got to be good things involved." Little did I know that this meeting would be the very thing I needed to get my head and prioritites in line.

The meeting was excellent. Motivated, positive people. Speakers with a message and a product that was reputable. I took notes, got inspired to continue to move forward. Met a bunch of people who are 6 and 7 figure earners. People who earned BMW's for just making a great living. In many people's eyes this kind of weekend starter would be a sign to get MORE involved in whatever was happening in the cosmos. We were asked to join this company and become leaders in our town. Whew!!!

I had a moment of hesitation, a "Come to Jesus" moment. "What was I doing?" "Why yet another business?"
My heart was telling me one thing and my emotions yet another. I was torn between getting back on that MLM rollercoaster and being satisfied with what I had already and making the most of it. Then all of the sudden it became crystal clear.  I was so out of control up to that point with more, MORE, MORE. Now I was hearing that still small voice telling me to Stop STOP, STOPPPP....

I've said this before but when we get so many things on our plate that we don't have time to enjoy the things that we already have then maybe it is time to take a step back and reassess. Now I know there will be those out there that will dispute my position but for me I am at peace with my decision. I will be content with a handful of businesses, a growing family and my home church. That's enough for me, I don't have to prove anything to anyone.

Innovation Means Innovation

Alright, so I stopped mid-sentence and decided to change my subject for this weeks blog. I was going to write it about being innovative in business. You know, how to make purple the color of springtime, tall is in and all that stuff. When all of the sudden I saw on the screen, Herman Cain. Many of you know this man. He is one of the nominees for the Republican party to become President of the United States. In recent months he has been really moving up in the rankings of potential nominees.
Mr. Cain was a corporate titan in Burger, Godfathers Pizza and head over the Restaurant Association. No small marks on anyones resume but the thing that gets e going more than anything else is his stance on the folks down at the corner of Wallstreet.
Many of you know what is happening down in the Big Apple. And Herman Cain ain't holdin no punches.
http://youtu.be/KcWompIc--U

This guy is so passionate about being a full fledged American if he got a cut, he would bleed Red, White and Blue. The coming months will be interesting indeed. Are we watching the making of the next President of the United States? This I don't know but I'm sure excited to see what will happen.

Sticking With the Program

Anything worth having is worth the time an energy in developing. That saying is especially true when it comes to building a business or for that matter a networking group. In our case, it applies to both. You see for the past year Linda and I have been knee deep in developing an Interior Design firm and simutaneously building a networking group.

I know what some of you are about to say, "What are you kidding me?" I get a lot of that. Most people are just overwhelmed with just getting up in the morning and going to work, for someone else, let alone run a startup business. Linda and I have had a great training bed even before we decided to go into business, full time for ourselves.

We started out many years ago working for various church organizations. We would be the first ones in the door in the morning and help lock up at night long after everyone had gone home. In our travels we had started many programs and built teams of people to satisfy the need. In addition we would still have to do our regular 9-5. So working on a few businesses really isn't all that hard.

The hard thing to do for most of us though is to stick with the program when we haven't had the advantage of being workaholic slobs like the Rays. When you don't have this foundation, what do you do?
I wish I could tell you that there are seven wonderful tips that I could give you that will prepare you for this sort of dedication but alas I don't have any tips. I can tell you what helped us and maybe you can glean something from our experience that may prepare you for your own venture.

We established a relationship with an organization that was moving forward.

This may be the foremost important thing that you can do. Align yourself with an organization that already is moving forward. This relationship will ensure that you won't be involved with a crew that is going nowhere, In our case it was the International Church of Las Vegas.
ICLV was a small church with a global vision. It's pastor is a driven man who demands excellence and innovation from his people. This sort of relationship is vital to their forward movement and global impact.

Seek out mentors who are driven more than you.

It is easier to become better when those around you are better than you are. In my case we were surrounded by people who were well travelled, educated, financially able and dedicated to becoming successful. In this inner circle of people there was no room for losers. You were either a winner or poised on the vurge of being a winner. As a matter of fact, we spent more time praying that everyone around us would become a winner than we did worrying about if someone had failed or not. You see we just didn't have time to think about failure. We were too busy building and achieving.

Volunteer for the hard jobs.

During our formative years we were urged to step out of our comfort zone and become well-rounded workers. You see up until that point all Linda and I had really done was teach a few classes and sing alot. At the urging of a mentor, we immersed ourselves in areas that we had never even thought of going. That proved to be the best thing we ever did. Within a few short years, we found ourselves utilizing these new skills in ways that were beyond our expectations.

Sticking with the program is all about seeing your dreams come to pass. In most cases it is a muscle that needs to be put to work. It may take a while to see the dream come to pass but like anything else that is worth having....it is worth waiting for.

It’s All a Mindset

It was almost time for me to close the meeting. I only had a few seconds to compose myself and deliver the benediction and send our members on their way. It had been a great meeting. If I didn’t give em something to really seal the deal everything else would have fallen flat. Then it came to me.

Earlier in the week I had the opportunity to speak in front of a Christian businessmen’s meeting. It was great speaking in Christianese and cracking open my bible to this verse and that. The flow in the room was awesome. I mean it was tangible how the ideas and confirmations were being received. Now how could I translate that same course of ideas into my beloved group? It wasn’t long before I found out.

How is it that Jewish people and those who come to our Americas become so influential and rich, while we who were born here don’t prosper on such a large scale? The answer is really found in scripture and the Old Testament. From the time that a young Jewish lad or lady able to understand they are indoctrinated into a cult of success. You heard me right, a CULT of SUCCESS. They are brainwashed into believing that they WILL become Doctors, Lawyers, Politicians, Business owners, Leaders, etc… This isn’t an option for them it is a MINDSET.

The Success mindset is one that has been studied, written about and disseminated in so many books that if I were to begin listing just the ones written in the last quarter century, there wouldn’t be enough paper to list them on. It is the thing that all great business people aspire to acquire and the one thing that separates those who have and those who have not.

The Success mindset goes something like this. You are born to be successful. Everything that you do leads you to a place of completion. You are going to make it to the top of whatever you put your hands to. There is an outside force that is driving you to this ultimate end and there isn’t anything you can do to stop it. You were born to achieve great things. You are to be the head and not the tail. You are to be the lender to many and never to be the borrower. Abundance is deep within your DNA. Aside from times of respite, creative thoughts are continually overflowing from your mind.

This is why Jewish people are so successful. They were taught it from their parents, it was nurtured by their society and they in turn pass this down to their children and their children’s children. When I asked this of one of the people who was in our group, who happens to be Jewish, he nodded in agreement. He didn’t have a choice in life whether to be rich or poor. It was something predestined for him to be. If he wanted to be something other than successful, he would have to find another family. It just wasn’t going to happen in his father’s house.

The key for us today is how are we to foster this same mindset in our own families? Just like the Vanderbilt’s, Kennedys, Rockefellers’ and Schwab’s of this current age, we need to begin by instilling this vision of greatness in our children. Take them with us to our businesses, expose them to great thinkers and sights, let them experience the exchange of barter. These will begin to show our children that working for someone else isn’t in their DNA stain. They were meant to be the Head. I myself am always taking my children and grandchildren with me to events, business conferences and sites to expose them to where they will ultimately be.

This is the Success Mindset. Bind it upon your forehead. Teach it to your children daily. Tell them about the past and show them where they shall be in the future. Never allow them to settle for second best. For they were meant to be the next generation of leaders in our society. They just need someone to show them the way.

Educate Your Clients

This may seem really stupid to say but "HGTV isn't real, no more that WWF wrestlng is". "No, you can't build a full scale Adirondack chair in 30 minutes and that simple antiquing project isn't that simple." The point I'm making hear is that most people literally believe what they see on TV. They truly believe that if Rachel Ray can cook a perfect Beef Wellington in 15minutes with her high heels on while drinking a bottle of Dom Lefit, then so can they.

I can't tell you how many clients I've encountered who are DITYS, do-it-yourselfers. They have consumed the Home Depot KoolAid and are among the perpetually blinded to "Pay for a professional" standard. Well I am hear to tell you, "The biggest problem in America today isn't recession, it is the Do-it-Yourself industry.

Once the bastion of craftsmen and luthers, now anyone with a television guide and the stones can attempt a  home renovation project. They have become quasi Interior Designers, Electricians, Plumbers and Carpenters. Professional painters have been replaced by bespeckled secretaries. Trained plasterers have gone the way of the dodo bird, replaced by the common red-shirted night watchmen.

Now I am not begrudging anyone the right to be a (DITYS) do-it-yourself. I am torqued at the mentality one gets after watching a few weeks of  the Ye Old Yankee Workshop though. Now everyone thinks that because they've seen a dovetailed joint that this qualifies them to give advice to their neighbor who chooses to hire a professional to do their renovation "THE RIGHT WAY".

I spent a considerable amount of time with a client "Talking her off the cliff" because she spoke to her DITYS friend. He knew just enough to be dangerous and to tell you the truth I had to be real sensitive to the clients position because they were just a victim of DITYS indoctrination. The battle for the control of their mind was intense.

As a businessman I have to do more in the future to help people who have been a part of the cult of DITYS. My part is to do all I can to educate them and detoxify their minds. The damage that has been done isn't permanent just persistent. Everyday the reinforcement of DITYSism is at work throughtout the cable airways. With our continued vigilance and determination we will see DITYS and its ilk come crashing down and together we can see a return to reaity.

In closing, I would just like to say that under no cicumstances can a quality Adirondack chair be built in 30minutes with the leftovers from yesterdays filing cabinet. Yes, painting is an art and not a weekend warrior project. Finally, if you want professional quality results, HIRE A PRO.

CEO Series

In the coming weeks I will be launching a series of webinars unlike any other that I've done before. Now before you get all bent out of shape, this isn't going to be another one of those "I'm the expert, so look at me" type of webinars. I won't try and hype you over some pie in the sky analogies on how if you pay me $29.95 plus shipping and handling you will become a six figure earner in your MLM. No I won't even try and sell you on some auto-ship scheme. What I will share with you are my real life experiences over the past 20 years of working with some of the best minds in leadership and business. Most specifically, I will share with you my odesse over the past year of building a pretty successful networking group.

I've entitled the series the CEO Series because what I have learned over the past months and years have prepared me to become a leader in my organization. I have had to learn many of those lessons the hard way but in the end they have been labors of love and I would never change them for the world. Many times I can tell you I wished that I hadn't started the thing because once you've shoved out into the deep, there is no turning back So, I knew that I had stepped in some deep doo doo and it wasn't coming off without taking off some skin too.

Becoming a CEO is much like the beforementioned analogy. You put your heart and soul into a matter and you don't even consider taking it back. Your heart is just out there. People can say all that they want to say but you know that you are committed to this endeavor and nothing else is going to deter you. Linda and I had made that committement to our team of business people and we had a responsibility not to give up on them.
One many occassions we would be the only persons to meet in the room but we knew that this wasn't going to be an easy thing. If it was going to be easy, then they would have had little old ladies and little girls doing it. Nothing worth while is ever easy but in the final analogy no amount of paint would make you stop.

I liken our trip through the past year, to that of a woman carrying a baby for 9 months and then 14 hours of hard labor. The doctor and medical team are all there waiting for this miraculous thing to happen. For the past 9 months you have shown all the signs of being pregnant. You have been waddling all over the place, eating everything in sight. You've been having pains, spasm, contractions and all the signs of someone who is about to give birth. And now is the time when you are to deliver. You are expecting and they've been expecting you to bring forth a child.

In our case our child was a growing healthy organization. We have seen the birth of something that many people had started but didn't want to pay the price to see come to full term. That is the story of the CEO Series. How can you as a business person take your endeavor from zero to hero. You can find out by taking advantage of our webinars and videos we will be producing in the coming weeks. I'm looking forward to producing it.

Destined for Prosperity

Just finished a really spectacular day. Started out with a networking meeting with our Diversity Networking Group. Had around 30 people in attendance as special speakers shared how they have achieved financial success. It really was a great time.

Then it was my turn to share. I remembered a few days prior when a colleague told a group of us how he was so blessed that he started to turn down work. He said that his few employees were tired, so he just told wouldbe clients no. There was a stirring in my spirit as I heard him say this. As I addressed our group the spirit of God just rose up within me and I told them this.

You were meant to be rich. You were put in a position of power, entrepreneurship and vision for a reason. That reason was not for you but for 10's, 100's or even thousands of people. This was something that I wanted our small but growing group to really get deep down in their spirit. "You were specifically chosen to be a provider for others, that is why you are an entrepreneur".

Many people only ask for enough for themselves and their family. This is the most selfish of desires. When you say this you are in essence saying, "I only care about me and mine." This is shear selfishness. That's not the reason why you were given the ability to make money. You were given a true gift because God knows you can take what you have and make it a mountain.

So as you begin your next day, believe that you have a mandate to produce because if you don't that ability you've been given will be given to someone else who will.

Fadi's Story

You can't ask a Free man the meaning of Freedom because he doesn't have a frame of reference to judge not being free. I spoke to Fadi, who knows the difference. See if you can judge now also.

Progress Pains

So you've started this awesome company. Planned for funding, infrastructure, networking and all the other things that the SCORE volunteer told you to put on the Business Plan. The only problem, a year into your first year the unexpected happens. This thing starts to take hold like a wild fire. I mean you are growing so fast that you can't keep up with the pace. So what do you do? What do you do when the very thing that you prayed for happens IN SPADES?

Access- There may be  many routes to get to Rome but only a few paths will get you there with the least amount of trouble. The first thing I'd do is to access where the heck I really want to go. Let me give you an example. You started out a 98lb. weakling and now you are sporting a size 23 neck with a 30 inch waist and 30 inch biceps. Things are just not the same as they were  before. In the old days all you wanted was to be able to pay the bills and maybe at some point be able to take a well deserved vacation. Now that you have more muscles than the ex-governator of California, your perspective may have changed. You find that you can lift more, run faster and use up more sun tan oil that you ever thought you would ever use. Now would be a good time to access really what your options and possibilities are. In other words, the Business Plan needs to be readjusted.

Align- Your little boy has grown all up overnight and you're thinking to yourself, "I can't imagine anyone else coming in and taking credit for all the hard work I've put into this wee one. Letting go and bringing in someone with a bit more experience is exactly what you will have to do in order for that child to benefit from his or her increased size, potential and spirit. Many business owners literally cripple their fantastic businesses because they are so fearful of losing control. Well, get over it Bill Gates. Your baby needs more air and since you can't provide it, call someone in who can.

Allow- This brings me to my last point. Allowing someone else to take over and take your business to the next level just makes good business sense. I don't know of any successful Fortune 500 company that didn't allow others in. It's like a rope who says that it would be just fine with only one cord. No there is power when you team up with a few more cords. You become stronger and get a better return when you team up with others.

Accessing, Aligning and Allowing others to help take your baby to the next level are excellent ways to continue your business on its way to the top of the corporate world. Don't cripple your business by trying to do it all yourself. Allow others to help you, it could mean the difference between winning and losing.

Speaking As Though It Were So

I'm a firm believer in speaking positive words. In a world of excessive negativity and 24/7 news feeds heck you have to speak positive words to your self all day just to keep your own sanity. But today I'm  writing about a concept that goes way beyond positive confessions about your situation. Positive confession can do much in the way of setting the tone for your attitude but that's about it.

In the bible, there is a passage of scripture that says that God spoke the world into existence. What the writers of the bible meant was that by the very force of his creative will, God was able to literally manifest in the physical that which He saw in the spiritual. OK, hope you got your mind around that one because we are moving on. God, the creative force in the universe has conveyed that very same creative ability upon us, his creatures. We are not God, we are his ambassadors here on earth. As ambassadors we have the authourity of him who sent us. That would mean that we are able to act in the same capacity of the person we represent.

If I were from Slovinia or Africa, I would have the same authourity as that of a Slovinian or an African. I would have all the riches and access that those countries have. Now let's get back to the focus of our article.
As children of the most powerful being in the universe we have been given a measure of that same creative force that our creator has. Which means that we can manifest (to a certain degree) that which we will to be.

Let's put this concept into practice. If I want to become a rich person, all I have to do is concentrate on becoming  that person. I would need to do all the things that  it takes to acquire riches and it would occur.
This is pretty simplistic but the point is, "The only person stopping you from becoming, attaining or acquiring anything in this life is you."

If you can dream about a matter, then you can attain it.The only thing that will stand between you getting to that goal is you. Think about the milestone of breaking the 4 minute mile. No one, not even the physicians, thought that man could physically break that barrier. We know now that all of the naysayers were wrong. Once the barrier was broken it became common-place for people to run sub 4minutes.

Now, the torch has been passed to you. What thing do you want to achieve? What milestone do you want to break? Is there a purpose that you feel called to that needs you to be there now? Then get up off the couch of life and get back into the game. You can't hit the ball unless you swing.

                                                                                                               

New Networking Mixer Protocol

Just wanted to give everyone an update on a simply fantastic event Linda and I attended a few nights ago. It was put on by a local networking group here in Las Vegas. The venue was set high atop the Mandalay Bay in one of their executive rooms. The view from the penthouse suite was SWEET!!! It really made you want to get to know the people who were invited to attend the gathering.
In particular we met a few people that made our night. This is the focus of my blog. In the past we've all been told to go into networking events and blast through all of the would-be prospects and then go home. IMPERSONAL!!!! At the end of the night you almost feel dirty. You've gone in to wipe your mouth off on the sleeve of whomever was near you and then you've left without so much as a thank you or even stayed long enough to have a smoke. (Pardon the metaphor)
But networking has turned into this really sleezy exercise in getting phone numbers and hopefully contacts.
I'm here to dispel the notion that networking is a terrible way of getting contacts. It can be a fun and rewarding time spent making new relationships and promising business associations.
Here are some tips on how to turn a bad date (networking mixer ) into a romatic relationship.
1. Look for the right person
2. Look for the right person looking for you.
3. Spend more than a minute
4. BMFM
5. Followup

1. The Right person- Physically, posturing... Is the person you want to be in a relationship with business-wise, someone who fits the build? Are they flashy, outgoing, bright looking.

2. Looking for You- Someone who is cowaring in the corner isn't looking to make connections. Look for the person who is looking for you also. It is obvious. They are outgoing and respond as you glance at them.

3. Don't look for the one night stand approach to networking. Spend some quality and quantity time with your future association. Build the relationship starting that night. At the end of the meeting give them a sincere hug or handshake. Don't be in a rush to get to the next person. You want quality relationships not quantity.

4. Book a meeting From a Meeting- Don't leave it up in the air about your next meeting with your new friend and associate. Make concrete plans to get together and let them know that you are seriously interested in being a part of their near-term and possibly long-term business life.

5. Followup- Call them when you said you would. Emails are fine but a phone call, lunch are much better. Get in the habit of staying connected. That is the only way you will be able to translate that first meeting into a series of meetings and ultimately success.

Take these tips to heart and see if they are as effective for you as they have been for me and my short networking  experience.

Sherman

Sherman Ray is a noted speaker, author and businessman in the Las Vegas area. He is founder of Diversity Networking Group and contributing writing to Red Letter Media.net leadership site. He is available for speaking engagements and can be seen at major events in the Las Vegas valley area.

The First Hour of the Day

Looking back on all of my writings throughout the years, I don't believe that I have ever written on this subject. It's like I've been blind to a part of everyones life, that really needs to be reiterated over and over again. The subject is "You, or ME Time".
What do I mean by "Me Time"? That is the time before everyone else in the house wakes up and you are all by yourself. In my home, which now consists of around 7 people, it is something that I cherish. Once everyone in the house wakes up, it is nonstop pandemonium until 8:30pm. That's when I shut everyone down and there is silence.
Between the time that all are awake and all are sleeping can be the most draining part of each day. You need a time to recharge your batteries and energize your soul. That is "Me Time".
Here are some suggestions on how to really get the most out of that special time totally devoted to you.
1. Exercise
2. Spiritualize
3. Socialize
4. Visualize

For me, I try and incorporate all 4 of these treats into an hour and a half each morning. I start off with some vigorous riding or running. As I am out on the road course or track I am speaking with the Lord. I generally am asking for guidance and mercy.
As I wind down my morning I stop by a local watering hole to see who is in the mood to socialize. Whether it be the counterhelp or the crazy people who, like me, are out looking for strangers to speak with, it is all part of the energizing of my soul.
Finally, I spend a bit of time visualizing where I would like the day to go or maybe a project that I am working on.

If you spend a bit of time on yourself, each and every morning, then you will find that all else goes pretty well. You have the energy to take on the day unlike those folks who just jump out of bed and hope to get it done all on their own.

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Today we finally got to find out if an empanelled jury of her peers was able to render a verdict of guilty on Casey Anthony. This thing had been going on for months. I mean was she guilty, a bad mother, a liar...what was she thinking of for 30 days as her child went missing? The questions after the verdict were more than the ones during the trial. In the final analysis, Casey was found not guilty of the death charges but guilty of being a liar. Duh?

I think we all knew that she was a liar. The real question was whether or not she was a killer too. In my mind and in the minds of many others, she just wasn't smart enough or gutsy enough to go through with the whole thing. In order to do this kind of deed you really have to have that special something that only a few possess.

On a brighter note, I view the whole Casey Anthony case as a metaphor for myself and people like me who are in business or are pursuing anything worth their time. When you are in business you are actually on trial on a daily basis. You have put yourself in a place where you are saying to the rest of the world that you are going to do this or that. Whether it is in the business of salvage, architecture or in my case Interior Design, we are all on trial for being guilty of practicing our trade. The pivotal question that needs to answered,. Is there enough evidence against you to find you guilty of being a business person or are you going to be found not guilty for lack of evidence?

Here is the case.

Can anyone say that it is beyond a shadow of doubt that you are what you say you are? Can they bring witnesses against you? Is there remains of your work? Are you GUILTY? Can they prove that you are a calculating, cold-blooded business man or woman. Can they search your phone logs, email, letters, tapes, friends who might have overheard you bragging about your latest JOB?

This is what it means to be guilty on all charges. If you are found stone cold, dead to rights guilty then maybe you need to decide whether or not you are in the right line of work.

It's like I told my kids, "Don't lie because you aint good at it." If you are gonna lie, cheat, steal then at least be good at it. In a twisted way there is alot of truth in this statement. If you are going to call yourself, a business person then at least be good at what you do or get good at it.

When I go before the judge and jury, I want to be found GUILTY on all counts.

Real Weight Loss

Back in late 2009 I found myself at a major crossroads in my life. For nearly 15 years I had worked as an electrician in one of the most exciting places to work in the country, Las Vegas. As a union electrician I made great money. As a foreman my pay was even more impressive, so I never really worried about the day when I would find myself out of work but out of work I was and just before Thanksgiving.

January of this year Linda, my wife  and I had started a conversation on how we would earn a living in the coming years. It was that time of year when we would plan out what the remainder of the year would look like and this was the same as any other year save for this one area. The economic climate of our country was forcing employers to layoff hundreds of workers on a weekly basis. My job had been secure for the past 13 years but this year things seemed different. Was my job the next one headed for the chopping blocks?

Now it was November and I had to layoff at least 20 guys during the year. Each time I would encourage my employees that there was a bright spot in the lining of this dark cloud. Easy for me to say, I still had plenty of money coming in and since I was the foreman, I was a valued employee. Or at least I thought so.


My advice to everyone was the same. This economy was going to be a good thing because it was going to force everyone to change their tactics on how they would earn their own money. This was a boon and not a tragic thing. I kept telling this to each and every person I fired and all the while I was preparing myself for my own prophetic utterances.

It was now November and the chopping block had come round to me. That last paycheck was a bitter sweet ending to a long uninterrupted run of work. Now I was looking in on the playground as all the other kids were playing. This would prove to be the turning point in my life and business career.
The first thing I did when I was told that this was the end, I cheered albeit on the inside. I hated my work surroundings. There were issues at every turn and as a person of faith I was fed up with the climate. I needed to be my own boss and that meant I had to start my own thing or go crazy.

For the next few months I had to really take a crash course in business and self-sufficiency. Up to that point I had always been taught to look for an employer that would take care of my every need. He would find the work for me and all I had to do was show up in the morning. Do what he said to do and hope that at the end of the week the paycheck would clear and that my work was adequate enough for him to ask me back for another week. What a load of stuff.

Like most of us I had fallen into the trap of trading my freedom for security. Was I truly secure? I think not. I was in fear of losing my job each and every week. My security was dependent on the good intensions of my boss. If he didn't like me that week then I could very well find myself in the unemployment line. That, isn't security, it is the purest form of insecurity.

In America we have been duped into believing that this kind of lifestyle is the way things are supposed to be. This wasn't the way our grandparents grew up. Even my mother grew up on a farm where they grew their own food, they got up when they needed to and worked for their own sustainance. What happened to us as a people that now clearly the trend had shifted from a farm to a factory?

In a spiritual world we would call this shift, a poverty mentality. A spirit of poverty had decended on our nation. This spirit tricked us into believing that it was better to have someone else take care of you. At first it was a subtle shift. A few people would decide to work for others. It was only a few people. They were factory workers, or line people. It was only a few people. There were plenty farmers working their own land. A hearty breed was still out there so no one blinked when the first 100 or 1000 or so left the farm for the factory. This shift was only a drip in the flood that was soon to follow.

By the late 1800 and into the early 1900's the industrial revolution in America was ramping up. The farmer had left HIS land and gone to the cities. The Great Depression had forced people to forget about the land and now they were flocking to Egypt. Reminders of the OT book of Genesis. Dustbowls, boilweevils, famine, they all pushed and solidified the poverty mentality in its place.

The natural outcome would be ingrained in American culture for the next 80+ years, until the Great Depression of 2009. In this year Americans, the new breed, decided to go back to what worked before the Industrial Revolution. It was time for us to through off the weight of the Poverty Mentality. It had clung to our necks for far too long and now we were on a weight loss program of epic proportions.

In my own life, we are experiencing this same revolution. I have never been a business person but now I find myself being repulsed by the thought of ever working for another person again. I have lost some major weight (poverty mentality) and I don't want to go back to that cookie store and get fat again.
I believe that I am not alone in my quest to shed myself of these ugly pounds. They have literally killed generations before me and I will not allow it to happen to me also.

Extreme Makeover- Over 50 Version

Extreme Makeover- Over 50 Version

Doing all the things you didn’t do cuz you were too young to appreciate them.

Morgan Freeman, Jack Nicholson and a supporting cast showed us a lighter side of a part of our life that many of us really should take more to heart. Their portrayal of two over the hill men spoke volumes to me as I watched my own youth passing before my life. Not only was I about to turn 50 but there was in the back of my mind the remembrance of things yet accomplished and opportunities yet realized. In my haste to take care of family, friends, ministry and career I had forgotten to take care of the closest thing I possessed, me.

Now before you reach for the mouse to click to yet another dull and boring site let me expand on this idea. If you are like me and I suspect you are, you have spent many of your best years investing in the lives of your kids, church, business, or boss. You have gotten up at maybe 4am or 6 and made the trek into that mill we call life and done your duty to make ends meet, bring home the bacon. You have done your duty.

Now you are half a century old and reflective on life. Have I made any mistakes, have I done the right thing. Could I have done this or done that. Will the Cubs ever win the pennant? All of these ideas circle your mind like the Indians at Custards last stand. The hardest part of this whole thing is that you are still relatively young.

In my own case my family lives a long time. My parents are still both going strong, if not physically at least mentally. So I can look forward to another 40 years plus of life. It would be different if I only had a few short years to kick it but I have a long to time to get things done. So what will I ever do?

Getting going right now in life while life is good for the getting sounds like the best medicine for me. Maybe I’ll take up skydiving, write that novel, and become a doctor, a lawyer, or whatever. The main focus needs to be, “Get going”.

If I had only know then what I know now, I would have started a business, became a lawyer, or done so many other things that would have benefited me now in life. I would have become a totally different person, maybe even a better person. But at the time when I was going through those situations, I was way to young to appreciate what I had.

Now I’m not here to cry over spilled milk. I am here to tell the world that life is way too short and is wasted on the young. Their comprehension is so limited that they aren’t able to really grasp their limitless potential, rather they, well we all went through it, so there is no need to rehash the past.

Right now, I am bent on getting all that I can out of life. From the time that I wake up in he morning till the time I lay my head on my oversized pillow at night, I plan on squeezing the most out of the last half of my life.  What that means is that I am less fearful and more fearless. Less skeptical and more optimistic. Less Cynical and more Open-minded about the wide variety of life. This is what Life is all about.

So for the rest of you out there that are spending your final 40 or 50 years of life in a stupor, on a video machine in Vegas, or at a seminar on “Being Quiet”, Get out of my way. I plan on living a full life. Full of fun, excitement, risk taking and people touching. When they finally put me in that old pine box, on my tombstone will be written the epitaph “Here lies the worn out carcass of what was once the happiest Mamma Jamma in Vegas, He lived, loved and went out in a blaze of glory”

Sherman

Sherman Ray is the founder of Diversity Networking Group, a mentoring and networking group in Las Vegas. He is also a businessman, speaker and author. To see more of his work contact him via Facebook, Twitter, Ustream, Youtube, LinkedIn. Also look for other leadership and articles that will encourage you at www.redlettermedia.net

The Answer to US Economy

Had a brilliant idea today. The US economy is in its worst shape since the great Depression. During that time nearly 25% of the workforce was on the public dole or just sitting on street corners waiting for something to happen. And happen it did. We had a huge influx of jobs due to wars and the greatest surge of hiring due to the Industrial Age here in the US.
This same sort of infusion needs to occur in American in order for us to just keep up with the pace of people coming into the workforce in the next 20 years. Unlike in past times we can't look forward to a war or some major upheaval to occur, so we need to look at some more obvious tragedies that we can all attack to make things work out for the global community. If America doesn't take the lead in this battle then our competition, i.e. China, Hong Kong, Japan, etc... will.

Operation Africa
Northern Africa is argueably the most destitute area on the planet. There is drought, famine, homelessness on an epic scale and warring factions that need nothing more than direction and stability. In many parts of the world the overarching reason why there was fighting was because there were so little resources to go around, subsequently it was "Every man for himself".
Here is my plan. We need jobs. Africa needs...well everything. Why not accomodate them and us at the same time. In order for us to have jobs we need someone to buy or use our products and services. I can't think of a better if not in an alruisitc sense project to work on.
Africa needs infrastructure- we'll build thier roads.
Africa needs food- We'll give them food. Release our American farmers to grow in areas that have long since been laid fallow because we are trying to artificially keep prices low.
Africa Needs Water. Desalinazation- We can build the largest desalinization plant and system the world has ever seen.
Africa needs energy- We can build them a new energy grid.
Africa needs Technology- Bill Gates get out your checkbook and pen. We can use our American know-how to help them leap forward. Can you imagine cellular towers, cable underground feeds, Electric grids erected?
Africa needs housing- millions of new homes could begin in earnest. The building boom would last for literally generations with no end in sight.

The rest of the list could fill not only this page but volumes as the basic building blocks of a society are put into place.
Now if only others would see this simple solution to a US and global problem. If we don't do it...someone else will.
Who would pay for all of this?
Africa sits on the some of the largest oil, mineral and gas reserves on the planet. Contractors and private entities could negotiate their pay with African governement officials to get paid through this countries natural resources. It is a win-win for everyone. America gets to go back to work and Africa gets to become a viable partner in the future world stage. We get immediate money and a future trading partner, they get to come out of 3rd world poverty and become a major force on the world stage.

WooHoo
Operation African

50 and Counting

Tuesday marks a milestone in my life, I turn the dreaded 50. That's right, I hit that time in life when most men are either still on their way up the corporate ladder of success or looking for a new girlfriend. I am neither. I am securely in a relationship with the most wonderful woman a man could ever want or need and as for looking for some pension with a gold pocket watch that's also not in the cards. Linda and I are rather building our own business and life together. We are actually living the American Dream.

The one thing that I am reflective about, is the fact that I  have never had any biological children of my own. I do have 4 step-children and 8 grandchildren but none of them are from my loins and to tell you the truth that doesn't always set really well with me. Not that I am afraid of them ever putting me in the old folks home and never visiting me, I am more concerned with my own biological legacy.

Legacy is something that we all want to leave behind. Some of us more than others. But in my case I am  hung up on the prospect of leaving a legacy of the Ray family line, Sherman branch. This may be the only way I can acheive immortality that by writing and leaving a digital legacy for future generations to see and hear, so this may be my masterpiece in work.

In the weeks and years to come I hope to continue this work of mine. It is my baby that I want to nurture and prune. Unlike a biological child I won't have to worry about it getting into the fridge at 2am.

http://www.redlettermedia.net/

Honesty Is The Best Policy

The life of a business owner has its ups and of course its downs. Most of the time all I do day in and day out is find different ways of helping people get what they want and as a result I get what I want. Today was a particularly impressive day because what the customer wanted wasn't something that I was able to get for them, nor would I ever.

Maybe you've found yourself in a position where your morals were put to the test and you had to choose whether or not to cross that line between good and evil. Now I don't want you to think for even an instant that I have gotten to the point where I am sinless. Heck, I sin on an everyday basis. Sometimes I crapout on an hourly basis but there are just some lines that I am not willing to cross.

Without going into all the details. (I just erased all of them and realized that I could get alot of people, including myself, in trouble) I had to decide whether to cross over a line of morality, business-wise that surely potentially had immediate as well as future consequences. Not only did I refuse the first advance but when I was offered a second time, with rationalizations by the tempter, I had to refuse again.

Ok, so I know that I am being cryptic but in order to not get people in trouble I just have to. Now hear is the point of the whole story. If I had fallen to my temptation, then why would anyone ever trust me with the things that I am currently being trusted with? I don't even think the tempter even realized what they were asking me to do. If I was willing to steal, lie, short, stretch the truth or anything less than the truth then what would make them think that I wouldn't steal, lie, short or stretch the truth with them also?

The reason that people do business  with us is the very thing that this person was trying to get me to jeopardize, our honesty. Honesty is all we have that makes us different from the rest of the pack. If we loose that edge then we become just another dishonest businessman.

My hope is that you, Mr or Mrs businessowner become disgustingly honest. The Bible says that you should not give false measures. That means that you need to be honest. Not only is it satisfying but it is right.

An Open Letter to All My MLMer Friends

I recently finished my run with a promising Network Marketing company that we had hoped would do some incredible things. It proved not to be "The One" and we parted company none the worse. As a matter of fact, I learned alot during the 6 or so months that we spent with the company.

One of the best things we learned was that there are alot of people involved in MLM or network marketing. The average person spends only 90 days as an MLMer and in that time only makes a small amount of money. That means that 90% of MLMers are looking for that next ship to roll into harbor everyday.

For Linda and I we decided to chuck the whole thing (this has been our 3rd go around in the last 20 years) and focus on our traditional business that being an Interior Design company.
The problem with ending our MLMer days is that once you have been branded an MLMer you always get people thinking that you are just an MLMer in between jobs. Not only are you never quite out of the loop but the loop follows you from station to station in life.

Most recently, I received one of those, "You can get in on the ground floor opportunity calls." I can't tell you how annoying it all is that someone who knows that you are building your own business would present their opportunity and basically discount that your dream is already being fulfilled. That is the problem with the whole MLMer thing. Everyone who is in an MLM is taught that their opportunity, comp plan and product is what you are looking for. The truth is not everyone is a candidate for your product or service. As a matter of fact I would go even further and say that unless you are very choosy in the people that you present your opportunity to the MLMer is doing the very same thing that all of his coaches and mentors tells him people will say about his OPPORTUNITY.

The mentor or coach or upline will tell the sincere new protege that those people who don't get involved with your new business are lost or dillusioal or dream stealers, etc... Unfortunately, those same well meaning MLMers are saying in essence to the business person that their business that they have dreamt of starting and are actively building is wrong. What an outrage.

Now I know there ARE people who have businesses that DO change direction and become very successful in network marketing but the numbers are extremely low. I've done my research on this one folks. As a matter of fact, if only 10% and that is being generous, of MLMers make any kind of money at all then someone quitting their dream and becoming an MLMer would have to either really be getting into THE ONE or be out of thier minds.

So, to all my MLMer friends and relatives, please be more choosy in your network marketing companies. There is a new comp plan, product and ground floor opportunity started everyday and they are not all ONE SIZE FITS ALL. Not everyone needs to be in your business. Especially those who already OWN their own business.

Lastly, I am off the market and will be working on my dream until it becomes a raging success. Anyone trying to introduce me to their opportunity will be soundly removed from my life (I will still pray for you) because you are a DREAM STEALER. Don't be a Dream Stealer and stay my friend because I love you all.

Sherman Ray
Owner, Linda Ray Designs