I came up with this the other day. I realized that so many people think Direct Sales or Network Marketing is a pyramid scheme. Although there are plenty of those out there the industry as a whole is not bad. It is actually a very good way to bring in extra money while keeping your current employment. So you don't have to risk anything to get going. Network Marketing is truly based on teamwork. Those at the top don't become successful unless they help those below be successful. It is everyone's best interest to make sure everyone else does well. Contact me if you are ready to be a team player and let me help you be successful at www.joinfran.com 

The Best You!!

You should never deny what your past is because it is what made you who you are today. With out that joy or pain, memories good or bad you would not be you. I am sure a lot of you have situations you wish you could change in your life but no matter what it is you would be different than who you are today.

While not denying you should also not play victim to your past or your present. Yes some things can never be undone or unsaid but your reaction and response to those situations can be changed at any time you decide you are stronger than those events. Some of you may have been victimized or have lost someone very dear and it is extremely painful. But if you allow it to stop you from becoming the best you you can be you are allowing it to continue to hurt you.

I am not saying forget what happened or that it will be easy to say I am over it I am moving on. I am saying you have to fight to make sure it does not stop you from living your life now.

Also, don't compromise who you are to please someone else. You will be miserable and the person you are doing it for couldn't care less what you do. Because if they cared enough in the first place they wouldn't ask you to be anything but the best YOU. True love means that they support you and allow you to be who you are and don't judge that.

Now you may find that certain things in your life have affected you and you are not on the path you want to be on. That is fine. Stop right where you are, look around. What don't you like? What do you like? What would you rather have? You may not have to change the direction you are heading or find a new path. You just may have to change the scenery of the path you are on. Cut down the weeds (negative things in your life), plant new growth (YOUR dreams and goals) and create the path you want to be on, make it YOUR own. Fill it with what makes you happy, what drives and motivates you. Now continue on your path. The process may be painful because you may have to cut down things you thought you enjoyed but now realize they were just holding you back.

YOU are worth it and only YOU can change it. If you need help please contact me, I will be a listening ear and hopefully someone who can help keep you strong as you landscape the path of your dreams. You can do it and deep down you know you can.

Sometimes a Negative is Positive

If you are making the changes in your life to live a healthy lifestyle than you may want to know something. There is such a thing as a negative being positive. Just in case you don't know what I am talking about, I am talking about food.

There are foods out there that are considered to be negative calorie food. How is that, you may ask. What happens is the food has less calories that you take in then you burn eating and digesting it. This ends up having a negative calorie effect.

For example: These numbers are not an accurate count just an example. Let's say you like to eat mangoes. Now, let's use 50 as the count. This mango you eat has 50 calories and in eating and digesting it your body burns 60 calories you now have a -10 calorie count. So you have burned off the 50 calories of the mango and 10 calories of another food you ate.

No, you cannot eat an entirely negative calorie food diet. However, if you were to add some of these foods into your healthy eating it will be a benefit over time. Also, you do not have to replace anything with these foods just add them into your diet. Also, some foods such as jalapenos will also help you burn more calories than you take in by revving up your metabolism.

I hope this information helps you make some better choices and gets you on your way to health.

What's your Circle?

I am sure everyone has heard of the old adage "you are what you eat". So you should choose to eat Healthy so you can be healthy.

Most people have also heard that "you become who you hang out with". So just like eating healthy to be healthy shouldn't you hang out with wealthy people to be wealthy.

It is true you tend to develop the same skill set of those you spend most of your time with. If you hang out with people who complain and gossip you will be doing the same before long. If you hang out with people who study and work hard you will do the same.

It has nothing to do with being a follower it has to do with the fact that whatever characteristics the people around you demonstrate start becoming what you also do.

So, if you have not been very successful in your life then you need to assess your circle. You may not have to get rid of those in your circle right now but you definitely have to widen your circle. Join groups or do activities that the people who are doing what you want to do in life are participating in. Find mentors, read books about the people who are accomplishing what you want out of life. Learn from anyone and everyone you can that have gone where you want to go. Soak up the information and then apply it to your life.

Then when you become successful and you are living the life you want to live take a look back. Find someone who is where you were and become a mentor and help them achieve what you have achieved and then do it again and again. The most rewarding part of life is not when you achieve all you want to achieve but when you can help others do the same.

Directed Concentration or Focused Efforts

Today I wanted to talk about really focusing on something you want to accomplish or just doing busy work. You may ask me what I am talking about. Well let me explain.

We all know that there are things we do just to stay busy so we can say we did a bunch of work today but at the same time you know nothing got done. For example, when I am home sometimes I say every room I go in to today I will leave a little cleaner than when I got there. I do something in every room and straighten up stuff everywhere all day long. I keep busy and I do a lot of work. But at the end of the day it doesn't really look like I did anything.

Now if I focus my attention on one area and say I am going to fix this space first and I direct all of my concentration in that one area before I know it I have completed everything there and I can move onto the next spot. Then I do the same focusing of my efforts in the next area and complete it and keep moving on to the next area completing each area before I move on. By the end of the day I may not have finished everything but there are quite a few spots that look great and are finished.

The same thing happens at work. I have managers over me and they nit pick different things throughout my department and I fix everything they pointed out but nothing overall was done. Or I decide today I am fixing this section and I do it. The next day or later that same day I can fix another area and move on and things look better by the end of the day.

Many people do the same thing in their business. They jump from one idea to another learning this doing that but never really accomplishing anything. I propose we all decide to direct our concentration or focus our efforts on doing things a step at a time until that step is mastered then move onto the next step. Learn from those who have done what you want to do, learn their steps, ask their advice and duplicate it until you achieve the same level of success.

So stop jumping around, focus your attention and watch your success rate rise to where you want it to be. Let me know if Team Hard Corps can help you achieve your dreams. We are assembling a team of trainers in different areas and we are working on building success one step at a time. Join us.

Take the first step

You know at some point you need to stop with the excuses and just take the first step. I hear a lot of people say there has to be a better way. Well there is a better way. When you tell those people that they start coming up with it is too expensive, it is a risk, now is not a good time. Then later when they are still in the same place they were in they complain and say it was my job's fault, I couldn't get the time. It was my money's fault, I didn't have enough or they find someone or something else to blame for their circumstance.

It is called the victim syndrome. As long as it is not their fault you have to feel sorry for them. Well I don't. This opportunity I have to offer is on a growth spurt that is going to change the lives of countless people. How do I know, it has already done so and is poised to do it again 10 fold globally. It also scares people who want to play the victim because if they try it and fail because they don't really want to put in any effort they will have no one to blame but themselves.

Anyway, if you are done with excuses and looking to make a real change in your life then you need to join Drink A.C.T. through Team Hard Corps. Go to www.gohardcorps.com and watch the 10 minute video then sign up as a preferred customer or distributor. This is an opportunity you don't want to look back on and say I wish I would have gotten into that one.

Hobbies

Happy Monday morning to all out there. I hope you had a good weekend and I wish you all a good week ahead.

Today I am going to talk about something that I feel is an overlooked area of a healthy life. That area is hobbies. Hobbies range from art to Zoology and everything in between. It can be a little something to a huge venture that can take years to complete. No matter what it is the point is to have something that takes you away from the everyday and gives you a time to focus on something you enjoy.

Hobbies can help you focus, relax, clear your head, lower blood pressure and countless other benefits. You can do something by yourself having a bit of me time or it could be something you do with a large group that enjoy the same past time.

The actual hobby isn't as important as what it does for you. As long as you get joy and an escape from what you do everyday to do nothing but take time to do something you do just because you want to. It also doesn't matter how much time it takes. It could be 30 minutes a day, once a week, you could finish each item in minutes or take years to finish one. It just has to be something you do for you.

I have a lot of interests but haven't pinpointed anything I want to spend time doing on a regular basis. Right now this blog is the closest thing I have to a hobby. So I would appreciate it if you left a comment on what your hobby is and leave a little info about it. What got you started? How often do you spend time doing it? Do you do it alone or with others? Help me figure something out I want to do to spend some down time. Thanks.

Feel Good About You

Hi everyone, I just wanted to drop a quick note on feeling good about yourself for yourself. When you start living your life for you that is when joy enters into your world.

You have to pursue the things that are important to you and that is when you will work hard enough to make things happen. I'm not saying that it doesn't or shouldn't feel good when others recognize your achievements. What I am saying is that should be an added benefit to what you are doing for yourself.

For example I just use a program that helped me lose 14 pounds in two weeks and I dropped my body fat percentage by 13% and I feel great. I didn't do it to impress anyone, to live by someone else's standard or anything like that. My drive came from me for me. My goal was to feel better and to feel better about myself. The added benefit is my wife and kids are happy that I am now healthier. And, I have to admit, it feels great to hear from people at work and in my life that are saying "wow you look great", "you lost a lot of weight", "what did you do and how do I do that". 

So, even though I did it for me it feels good to be recognized for my efforts. All I am trying to say is to live for yourself and then you will be at your best so you can take care of those in your life that mean the most. If you are living for someone else you will not be able to be at your best and your loved ones will suffer.

From me to you "Go Large and Take Charge".

Ignite 15

It is time to introduce you to a program that is so amazing that everyone who has tried it so far has lost weight. That product is none other than Ignite 15. You may ask how this is different than all the other products and programs out there. Well, I am here to let you know.

First of all it is built around what your body is suppose to do for itself. That would be to burn fat and not store it and it does that by Igniting your own metabolism. Second it does not ask you to skip meals only to tweak the way you eat so that your body is running at a higher level all day long. Third it gives your body the much needed energy to make it through a day without a bunch of useless stimulants. Instead it uses natural herbs, minerals and vitamins. Fourth you can either buy it Retail, Wholesale or create an income by letting everyone you know how good it is for you.

I can probably go on and on about how it is different but the truth is if you need persuading beyond what has been stated then you aren't ready to make a healthy change in your life. And armed with that fact I would venture to say no matter what system or product you use it will not be beneficial to you. Sure you will lose weight with this product if you follow the easy to use directions. However, if you are not ready to make a real commitment to your own health than you will be right back where you started anyway.

The picture above is my actual before and after picture. My results may or may not be typical but they are real. So if you are committed to you and you are looking to help others be committed to themselves also then Team Hard Corps is the place you need to be and Ignite 15 is the program you need to be doing. Join my wife and I at http://www.drinkactweb.com/anacollins and we will help you reach your goals. Hope to see you soon.

Get In, Get Out or Get Over: Part 3 Get Over

I imagine that a lot of you are thinking the get over is along the lines of get over yourself and just make it happen. That is not the way this post is going.

If you either have done everything you can or you just can't bring yourself to do more for any reason and you are not having the success you want then you need this part of the series. This part is Get Over.

I know that the old saying is "if at first you don't succeed try try again". I also heard, and right now I can't remember where, "if at first you don't succeed try try again, if you still don't succeed, try something else".

Now I believe that Network Marketing is the best way to inexpensively get into a profitable business. I also believe there is a multitude of legitimate companies out there you can find to work with.

So, to my point. What if the company you are with is not the company you gel with? Take a long hard look at it and make a choice. Could it be the product line, the people, the way business is done or something else that just doesn't really get you going? Don't get me wrong, they may be a great company with products people want and many are doing well with. But maybe their line is nothing you can get passionate about. Maybe some of the people you have met just aren't the circle of people you would hang with in other circumstances. And like I said I am not saying any of them have done anything wrong or it is a bad company, it's just not your cup of tea.

Well then you need to Get Over. Research other companies. Look at their product line, their leadership, their direction for the future and anything else you find important. Then when you find one you know fits you better then Get Over to it and become the success you are meant to be. You know in the past you had jobs that were perfectly good jobs but they just weren't the one you saw yourself in long term. What did you do? You found a new job. This is the same thing. Not all companies, no matter how good they are, are for everyone. So find the one for you.

If you are looking for a new home I ask that you look into joining with Team Hard Corps at http://www.drinkactweb.com/anacollins and after doing your research hopefully we will be the fit you have been looking for.

So, look over the 3 part series, ask the questions and be as honest as possible. Then Get In, Get Out or Get Over. Here is to all the success you work for no matter what route you take.

Get In, Get Out or Get Over: Part 2 Get Out

Welcome back, this is part two of this series. Hopefully, if you are returning to read part two you have asked yourself the hard questions. Also, you have decided to stay in and want more information to make your journey more successful or you are not quite sure yet so you are searching for the other questions to ask.

If you decided to stay in or get in, if you are just starting, than congratulations and I wish you all the success you want out of life. Please let me know if I can help in any way. If you are not sure yet than read this section and come back on Thursday for part three.

I don't know if I have any more questions for you to ask but we can go over your answers. If you said yes it was you because you weren't putting everything you could into it but you are not sure you want to Get IN then your decision may be to Get Out. So I may have more questions. If you haven't done everything ask yourself: Am I capable of putting in more? Do I want to put in more? Am I interested enough to try harder?

If no is your answer then you most definitely need to Get Out. I don't say this disrespectfully but not everyone is cut out to run their own business. Michael Gerber said on a training course I took said "that sometimes people get into business because they are technicians suffering from an entrepreneurial seizure". What does that mean, you may ask? That means, just because someone can fix a car does not mean they can run a shop. Just because someone knows how to help someone get a good workout doesn't mean they can operate the entire gym.

Times are getting harder and a Home Based Business is an excellent option to try and beat that. It is not for everyone. Some people can't handle the stress and being an employee is the choice for them. So, if you have not decided to Get In then your choice may just be to Get Out. Don't act to hastily though, stick around for Part 3 before you make your decision.

Also, if you answered yes that you have done everything possible and you still haven't had success then you need to ask the questions above. If you answer yes to those than Part 3 just may be your answer. You also have to ask yourself do I have the circle of support to make this happen? If yes, great if no, widen your circle.

So whatever you choose to do I hope that Team Hard Corps can be of help. We can help you when you join us at http://www.drinkactweb.com/anacollins and we can also help you if you don't join by providing what we hope will be useful information and inspiration to keep moving toward your dreams. Until next time just keep looking to yourself for the hard questions and find out what your answers are.

Get In, Get Out or Get Over: Part 1 Get In

This will be a wordy series but it will be worth it. The information in this series can be used for any area of your life. For example: If you are in the corporate world climbing the ladder, for a hobby you would like to take to a new level, working at a job or your own business. However, I will be specifically talking about Network Marketing since that is where I am coming from. So, if you are in your job for quite some time and haven't moved up, your hobby is so-so and you can't get to the level you desire, you are stuck in a dead end job or you are in a brick and mortar business or Network Marketing, feel free to apply this to your situation and assess your current status and make all necessary changes accordingly.

Okay, if you are in the Network Marketing business or are thinking about Network Marketing then I am sure you know many of the success stories and also some of the not so successful stories. My belief is that the potential of this industry is that in a very little time you should be able to make a decent amount. Within a few months you should be able to get enough coming in to at least cover your cost for the product you purchase through your business. Within the first year, if not sooner, you should be making enough to completely replace your current income.

So, if you have been in Network Marketing for a year or more and you are not being successful you need to ask some serious questions. Are you doing everything possible to be successful? Now I mean really. Not just letting people know about it once in a while, or getting on a call now and then. I mean, day in and day out, doing all you can to promote you and your business and create the life of your dreams.

I am pretty sure that most of you will say no. You are probably treating this as a hobby. Or you may be under the misunderstanding that you can join a business, sit back and watch the money roll in so you haven't lifted a finger to make it work. Unfortunately most people who do that later say that business is a scam. I didn't make a dime. Well, if you don't work, you don't get paid. Just like having a job. You go to work, you work, you get paid. Or you go to work, you don't work, you get fired. So it never ceases to amaze me how many people start a business, of any sort, and think they don't have to work to well...make it work.

After taking a serious look at myself I realized that I could have been much further along had I assessed myself. But, I was viewing it as follows: I love these products and it would be great if someday I could make some money at it. Well, no more hoping. I decided to work this as a business and get into doing everything possible to get this thing where I want it to be.

My challenge to you right now is to take a long hard look at yourself and where you are in your business. If it is not where you want it then decide why. If you are the reason then I say to you GET IN. Try for one year doing everything you can everyday to make it work. Tell everyone, market, get on calls, make calls, follow up, share your product, your plan, your vision, do webinars, parties and anything else you can think of to get yourself at the top of your game. You may only have 2 hours a week or two hours a day to dedicate to it but make them the most productive hours you can by having a plan of action written out for them.

If you are just now thinking of getting into your own Home Based Business ask yourself the hard questions. Make sure you are going to be serious about building your business. After all the only one who is negatively affected is you. That is why you need to know why you are doing this and make it happen. If you are looking for a home then I invite you to join Team Hard Corps at http://www.drinkactweb.com/anacollins and let us help you build your dream.

I'm IN, are you?

Assessment Time

Okay, just a quick post. It is time for some serious assessment. The only way anyone can be successful is to be completely honest with yourself. Look inwardly this week and assess your life. Are you where you want to be? If so, good for you keep up the good work. If not, dive deep into yourself and find out why. Don't blame anyone else, you are not a victim. Don't blame yourself, you may not have realized what is happening. Now is not the time for blame it is the time for inspection. Find out what you are doing right and wrong. Improve what you are doing right and fix what you are doing wrong. Decide whether you are on the path YOU actually want to be on. We are not talking about being on a path someone else wants for you, regardless of how successful you may or may not be. I am talking about living the life YOU want for YOU.

On Thursday, July 19th I am starting a 3 part series on assessment and what to do when you learn what you need to learn. The series is going to be "Get In, Get Out or Get Over". So look for it on Thursday the 19th (Get In), Monday July 23rd (Get Out) and Thursday July 26th (Get Over).

In the meantime while you wait to find out the path you want to be on do some research and look at options. One great option I have found is at http://www.drinkactweb.com/anacollins and the reason is that we have a great team dynamic and we are on fire to help you succeed. We are Team Hard Corps and we are with Team BRDiamonds. We hope that when you find your Get In path we are a part of it. Either way look for the series and we will help you find out your true path.

Why Auto-ship

Many people who are new to Network Marketing wonder why they have an auto-ship requirement. I would like to take some time to explain that to you now.

Because of the many scams out there the Federal Government defines a LEGITIMATE BUSINESS as one that has an actual PRODUCT or SERVICE that is the main focus of the money making phase of any business. Unfortunately most of theschemes out there have fees and money that exchanges hands for things other than product or services rendered.

This makes a perfect breeding ground for people to be ripped-off of their hard earned money. If you are looking into buying into a business or system that the majority, or all, of the money you make is by selling the business or system to someone else then I highly suggest you look elsewhere. If the only money being spent or made is in the reselling of the business or system and there is no real product or service being bought then you are heading right into a scam.

So the first steps you need to take is to find out how you make the majority of your money with your potential investment and then check the BBB for the company you are looking into investing your money with.

This is where I tell you a little about DrinkA.C.T. because they fill all of the requirements of being a SOLID BUSINESS ENTITY.Every penny you spend with this company will be for product that you will either USE or SHARE with potential clients. There or no fees or costs to be in this business other than product purchase and auto-ship requirements that happen to beamongst the lowest in the industry. The only money other than product you may spend is any marketing that you may do. For instance, business cards, flyers or anything else you may choose to use to spread the word. However, any marketing you do is completely voluntary and not a requirement of participating in the business. It is recommended but not mandatory.

So, auto-ship is a great tool that legitimate companies use to not only protect themselves but also those who choose to do business with them. The fact of the matter is that if you buy a system to only make money on selling the system you are engaging in illegal practices as well as the company that you signed up with in the first place. That is why DrinkA.C.T. will never charge you money for the system. Rather you must buy, use and exchange product and only product to make an income with us.

I hope this explains the benefits of auto-ship and shows you thatDrinkA.C.T. fills the requirements of a legitimate business. We are in no way the only one but in my opinion we are the best. Be sure to check out my web site to view the extensive product line we have as well as an overview movie that explains what we are all about. Go to http://www.drinkactweb.com/anacollins and feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thank you

A Little about me

Hi, I would like to introduce myself. This should have been my first post but I wanted you to see what I am about in the information I am providing. So now a quick post about me.

I was born and raised in New Jersey. Worked part time through High School. Put myself through 8 months of Aikido classes and went to a blue belt. I worked for a shipping company in Newark right out of HS.

After a few months of that I moved to Oklahoma. My first job was as a temp in an oil field. Then I got into construction. I framed houses, did concrete, roofing, remodeling, built retaining walls with railroad ties and just about anything else in construction.

After 4 years of that I joined the Marine Corps. I went to the rank of Corporal and left when my 4 years was up. I got out, met someone and got married. We had a daughter and just before her first birthday I got orders to come back to the Marine Corps for Desert Storm.  We had lived in Pennsylvania when I was called in and moved back there when I got out.

I have worked in many warehouses, am trained with a forklift. My family and I moved to Florida in 93. I have done warehouse work, construction and even owned my own tile setting business. Lost my business, got hired by a tile company and lost my job there also. I was unemployed for ten months and then got hired at Wal-Mart. Started as a door greeter and within 6 months I had moved up to Department Manager.

On the side I am building a Home Business of which I am most proud of career wise. My wife and I have three children and my family is my greatest joy. Together we are creating Team Hard Corps. A group of persons working together with great Energy and persistence to build our dreams. I hope that you will follow our journey and possibly join us on Team Hard Corps and let us help you build your dreams.

Compensable Time

Here is the equation most people live by: Compensable Time, which means Hour Worked=Hour Paid. In essence you sell your time. You work one hour and you get paid for one hour and you are done. To make more money you sell more hours of your time. Once you are paid you have to keep selling your time to continue to receive pay.

With this method you can make more money by working more hours. You can do this by having a full time job that hopefully will let you work overtime. These days it is hard to find those with all the cutbacks. You can work a full time and part time job or several part time jobs. You can prove yourself valuable enough to get timely raises. Or spend your hard earned money for training that will make your hour worth more to an employer.

The issue with this is that there are only 24 hours in a day and no one can work 24/7/365. So there are only so many hours in a day that you can sell and still have sleep and personal time. The hours you are selling are taking time from your family, personal time, hobbies and other things that bring you joy. And your worth is determined by someone making way more for their hours than they are willing to pay you.

Another option to make more money is to be the one starting the business and hiring other people and you get to determine the worth of the hours they sell to you. One problem, I have heard from many people, with the traditional business is that it can take years and many hours before it becomes profitable. In essence you buy yourself a job. And a lot of the time you are selling your own hours for free for years to get your business off the ground.

Now for a more viable option. Network Marketing. Most people have heard many scary stories about this but there are many legitimate Network Marketing opportunities out there. The key is that there needs to be an actual product or service offered in the business plan. Not just fees to be in the business and selling the business for more fees. One company I have found that fits the legitimate business formula for years now is Drink A.C.T. (Parent Company-Youngevity) and they strive to make sure people are successful.

Another thing to be leery of is outrageous guarantees. The potential of Drink A.C.T. is more than most people can dream of and there are plenty of people seeing this first hand. However, they realize that every individual is different. As with any business you WILL have to put in an effort to make it grow. Many people won't put in any effort and say that it didn't work so a good company would not guarantee you will make a fortune. The great thing about Network Marketing is there is one out there that represents almost anything you could ever want to get into. You can start for minimal costs and you don't have to leave your current job to build it.

With Drink A.C.T. you can build a global business from your kitchen and make residual income. That is money that comes in month after month off of a one time effort. Sort of like Hour Worked=Hour Paid-Hour Paid-Hour Paid on and on and on. And you can make money off the efforts of others on your team without having the headache of employees because everyone is their own individual business owner. Now wouldn't it be nice to say Hour Worked=Hour paid again and again, Hour slept=hour paid again and again, Hour Vacationing=hour paid again and again.

Seems a logical option to me. But like I said there are many Network Marketing Opportunities out there. You don't have to join ours, although I have found it to be the best one, just find one you can relate to and join it. The tax benefits of a home business alone are worth investing in it. We have over 150 products and adding all the time. So try some of our products and if you can't find at least two you love then you should find another business to be a part of. I hope to see you on my team in the future and we can help each other grow our empires.