The Story of a CEO Who Grew Up on Food Stamps

CHELSEA BERLER CONTRIBUTOR - Entrepreneur and CEO of Solamar

What do you think when you hear about a 30-year-old CEO (now running a marketing agency of 20 staffers) who grew up eating meals paid for by food stamps? You might find it intriguing. You might want to learn more about that road from poverty to success Or you might just roll your eyes and think "another rags to riches fairytale." But my path from a tiny North Dakota town of about 300 people to starting a company eight years ago (that I relocated to Birmingham, Ala. in 2009) has been full of incredible highs and gut-wrenching lows. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Each of my humbling low points led to a triumphant success down the road. What I've learned can easily be applied to your life, too. My childhood is full of memories of buying the simplest of nourishment with government funds. I can still recall that distinct feeling of embarrassment when my mother laid down the food stamps at the cash register. It's that swirl of emotion that says, "We don't have enough." And the truth is we didn't. Now I'm not saying there was anything wrong with that time in my life because my mother worked extremely hard to provide for her family and she dealt with the residual baggage of my father's struggle with addiction and his death. But this is where my motivation for more out of life was born. During those humble experiences when feelings of shame and guilt came into play, I became increasingly aware of my family's situation and even more determined that this would not be my life forever. I didn't know how my life would change but I knew that someday it would. I understood then that I could use my creativity and common sense to take me higher than the life I knew.
 

Image credit: Solamar

Seeking change.

OK, so maybe you were raised much the same way I was or you're living that very life right now. You may even feel a little hopeless. Sure you have great ideas and even the passion and know-how to fuel a great business. But how do you get there? My barebones upbringing and observations of my mother's innate strength have shaped my style of leadership and now the way I run my company. From my first "career" job in sales to now while I serve as a CEO, I have carried those early experiences with me and they have influenced every move I make. My first and only corporate job prior to my starting a business was at an international distribution company. I was hired to do customer service and quit college so I could earn a full-time paycheck (with benefits!). About a year in is when I started to work my way up the corporate ladder. My role evolved pretty quickly into having more of a sales component. I saw a need for someone to answer the phone and sell customers on the company's offerings instead of their having to wait for a call back from a person in sales. That's exactly how I got to where I am today. I searched for opportunities even if they weren't readily available. And I ended up as director of sales and business development, reporting to the vice president and CEO by the time I was 21 years old. I just jumped right in and did what needed to happen to keep the customers happy. I didn't worry if I was qualified to do the job. I just did it. And in those moments, I felt like I was making a difference and I knew I needed to find a way for my life to be more focused on that feeling. So I started my own business at age 22 and eventually quit my corporate job because I was able to make enough money on my own to pay my bills. If you can't be thankful and thoughtful about where you've come from and what it took to get you where you are now, then you will never fully appreciate (or own) being there. That is the first step to being truly successful. I realized that being humble, forgiving and optimistic would bring me so much more success than any monetary value could. And as I came to terms with family members who came before me, who I really was and what I wanted my life to look like going forward, I was equipped to step out on my own and really shine.

Being different.

Image credit: Solamar

While I didn't have much growing up in the way of material things, my siblings and I were encouraged to develop and indulge in our curiosity. My love for the playground of life started very early on and I've held onto it ever since. As I became an entrepreneur, I began to witness real freedom and success from believing in myself, when others did not. I started my company, Solamar, knowing that my business model would be different and it would embrace my individuality. I love interesting, creative and often quirky people like myself. So I built a company that lets me surround myself with those types of individuals. My intention was to start a small business as a way to pay the bills and do more purposeful work. What it became was something much bigger. As soon as I started hiring a team, the world I once knew was gone forever and I never looked back. Working with freelancers and staffers alike, I am now able to help others live their dreams and reach new heights in business.                                      

Overcoming roadblocks.

The truth is my road to owning a successful business was full of setbacks, disappointments and ugly truths -- the sort that no one wants to talk about. One of my greatest lessons came from being in a place of hopelessness and despair. I was in a situation where I didn't think there were real possibilities for my life. I felt stagnant and no matter what I did, I felt like my options were limited. But I was wrong and I overcame that mindset. Both my brothers died as a result of two separate car accidents while I was in high school. I didn't know what to do with the rest of my life. When others were filling out college applications, I was just lost, struggling to figure it out. The corporate job helped me get set up in the right direction, although I still felt emptiness. Something was missing. A little of that feeling came back again. I struggled to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. I wondered, Is this how it's going to be forever? Me in this corporate job, doing this very thing? Trying to reprogram my thoughts has been one of my biggest challenges and has led to my greatest victories. When I realized that I had a say in my life and vowed to not let my past define my future for me, I started living and working differently. I put 150 percent into everything I did. I worked hard to become something that so many people thought I could not be. I wanted to create something bigger than myself. And I did just that. That is my hope for you. Believe in yourself, in your talent and what you want to do in life. Then make it happen. Period. Nothing can hold you back. Here are my guiding thoughts for you: 1. Everyone has a past. Don't let yours define you. 2. Embrace your individuality and let it shine in all you do, including your business. 3. Be humble and appreciate every struggle that got you to this point. 4. Don't give into hopelessness. There is always a way to climb higher if you believe you can, even when no one else does.

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World-class Company that Supports Your Business Herbalife operates in more than 90 countries around the world with net sales of $4.8 billion in 2013. Our commitment to helping people achieve good nutrition and a healthy, active life directly supports the goals of our Independent Herbalife Members to grow their business. Transparent Distribution Model We are a member of respected direct-selling associations around the world. Compensation to Independent Herbalife Members is based on product sales, and building an Herbalife business takes skill, dedication, time and hard work. Competitive Compensation Plan Members can earn retail and wholesale profits, plus income through Royalty Overrides and bonuses. Repeat orders from satisfied customers can lead to sustained growth of your Herbalife business. Training Programs to Help You Start and Grow Your Own Business A number of online marketing and sales tools and training events are available to support your business close to home and around the world. Clear, easy-to-replicate business methods continue to be refined and improved to meet evolving customer demands. Products Based on Proven Nutrition Science Under the guidance of our Scientific Leadership, we are committed to nutrition research and development, a rigorous quality assurance program and control of product integrity from Seed to Feed. High-Profile Athletic Partnerships Our brand visibility is significantly enhanced through over 250 sponsorships of sporting events, teams and athletes around the world, including world-renowned soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo; MLS Champions, LA Galaxy; U.S. triathlete Heather Jackson; Colombian golfer Paola Moreno and Indian cricket star, Virat Kohli; among others. Commitment to Social Responsibility The Herbalife Family Foundation and its Casa Herbalife Program provide funding to improve the nutrition of children in need in more than 100 Casa Herbalife programs around the world. HFF also supports disaster relief efforts. Why Herbalife? Because our products and business opportunity can help you achieve nutritional and personal success. Income applicable to the individuals (or examples) depicted and not average. For average financial performance data, see the Statement of Average Gross Compensation paid by Herbalife at Herbalife.com and MyHerbalife.com.  

7 Unexpected Signs You Might Be an Entrepreneur

LinkedIn Influencer, Ryan Holmes, published this post originally on LinkedIn. 

Remember Jeff Foxworthy? The comedian made a splash back in the ‘90s with his (slightly un-PC) “You might be a redneck” routine. Among his classic one-liners: “If you own a home that’s mobile and five cars that aren’t … you might be a redneck.” Well, inspired by Jeff, I’ve been thinking about a “You might be an entrepreneur” routine—in other words, slightly unexpected signs you’ve got what it takes to go through the thrilling, punishing, life-changing experience of starting your own company. Yes, you’ve got to be passionate, resilient and all that other good stuff. But there are more subtle qualities needed, as well. Networking with other entrepreneurs over the years through Hootsuite and working closely with young up-and-comers through my foundation The Next Big Thing, I’ve noticed that a lot of us share some common personality traits. So, without further ado, you might be an entrepreneur if...

1. You’re restless, and no achievement ever seems good enough.

When most people reach a goal they think, “I did it! Time to sit back and enjoy it for a while.” An entrepreneur thinks, “Great, what’s next?” Take the late fashion maven Coco Chanel. She started with a simple hat line, expanded into women’s clothing, and eventually moved into jewelry, accessories and perfume. By the time of her death in 1971, Chanel had not only left behind an iconic brand, but a business empire that was bringing in $160 million annually. Entrepreneurs like Chanel don’t stop with one big achievement. They’re always itching to find and take on the next challenge.

2. You’re a control freak.

Throughout my career, I’ve had to make a conscious effort to strike a balance between controlling my business and letting the talented people around me take the reins. It turns out that many of my entrepreneur friends struggle with the same challenge. It’s great to have a CEO who cares about all the details of a company, but when that person needs to be involved at every level, it can become detrimental to getting things done. It can also stress out employees, who have been brought on precisely so you don’t have to make each and every decision. Luckily, we can take some comfort in knowing that super entrepreneurs like Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates have all been described as control freaks.

3. You’re a masochist.

As an entrepreneur, you’ve got to love a little pain and a lot of risk. Consider the fact that 75 percent of new startups fail. Only a masochist sets himself up to face those kind of odds, straight out of the gate. And it doesn’t get much better after that, at least not at first. You’ll struggle for money. You’ll work unimaginably long hours. You’ll be lonely, because while everyone else is out partying or watching movies, you’re toiling away … often alone. Serial entrepreneurs—who start and run businesses one after another—could be considered even more masochistic, because they go into each new venture knowing what’s coming.

4. You have a love-hate relationship with money.

Entrepreneurs generally fall in love with making money really early in life. A young Warren Buffett, for instance, had a paper route for the Washington Post and made money selling everything from lost golf balls to gum, stamps and magazines—all before he graduated from high school. I got my start washing windows of local businesses and selling snacks on paintball fields when I was still in elementary school. But, eventually, many entrepreneurs are driven less by money and more by the innate thrill of launching a new venture and the freedom and control that come with it. By the time I reached college, my own attitudes had already started to shift. I was on the path to a law degree and a secure, well-paying job. Instead, I dropped out to start a pizza restaurant because it was more of a challenge and I could do it my way.

5. You’re a black sheep, and maybe even a dropout.

Many entrepreneurs describe themselves as not fitting in with the crowd. I definitely felt that way in high school. Lots of notable entrepreneurs have even ended up ditching the traditional education system altogether. Tech titan Bill Gates, billionaires Ted Turner and Li Ka-shing, Richard Branson and McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc are just some examples of widely successful entrepreneurs who all dropped out of high school or college. While it’s not always easy to be the outsider, it’s exactly this quality— seeing things through a different lens from the rest of the world—that can help move society forward and drive innovation.

6. People think you’re crazy.

Because entrepreneurs tend to think along different wavelengths, their ambitions can often come across as crazy to friends and family—especially before the vision has been made a reality. Take, for example, Ruth Handler, who created the world’s most iconic plastic doll: Barbie. In the 1950s, Handler was met with doubt and criticism (including from her own husband) for proposing a doll that looked more like an adult than a baby or child. She came up with the notion after seeing her own daughter playing with paper dolls that looked like adults. Handler, of course, went forward with the idea anyway, and the rest is history.

7. You’re somewhat introverted.

To lead a business, you need to be super outgoing and salesy, right? Not necessarily. It turns out that roughly four in 10 top executives—including Google CEO and co-founder Larry Page—identify as introverts. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is also a well known introvert.Research suggests that introverts in the workplace foster a better team environment than their extroverted peers. And introverts are also known to be good listeners, a greatly overlooked but essential asset for good leadership. Few of the entrepreneurs I know are loud or assertive, especially not in big groups or meetings.

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Take some of that hard work and energy and redirect it towards yourself. Do what I did and start working your own business with the intention of being your own boss one day. Start your own business where you’re in business for yourself but not by yourself with a company that already has tools and systems that are in place that will help you start earning money right away. Join the team and fire your boss! Click below for more details.


 

I Need Money!

Do you need money? Read on.. It seems that one of the most common problems that people experience are those that have something to do with money. This is not surprising though, with economies changing so often and with prices so quick to rise, it is not something new when people say "I need money!" To earn the money you need, it is very important that you first establish that you need to have the right attitude in approaching ways of earning money. This means you'll have to be ready for some hard and sometimes repetitive work. Rarely does it ever happen that the lazy person makes all the cash! A lot of people approach situations like this with the attitude that they want to make money easily and instantly. If your saying I need money, then must know you'll need to put the work to make it.

   

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5 Successful Family Ventures Which Began With Epic Failures

By: Nettra Pan

The magnificent city of Rome and its buildings old and new were not built in a day. And neither were the successful, go-down-in-history type family endeavors which color our day-to-day lives. If a project you’re working on is currently not working out, consider these five stories before pulling the plug. These historical figures hit rock bottom, leaving them nowhere to go but up. Your low point may be bringing you one step closer to success.

 

1. R.H. Macy

The iconic department store in New York City, Macy’s, was founded by R.H. Macy at the age of 36. But prior to his success, Macy had launched and failed four different retail stores in Massachusetts. Though the ownership of the company was initially passed down through the Macy family, the company was later acquired in 1895.

2. Walt Disney

The amusement parks, movies and merchandise that define the childhood of millions of people around the world were started by two brothers Walt and Roy Disney. Walt Disney, the creative force behind the company, was originally fired from his newspaper job because he “lacked imagination and good ideas”. He failed a series of companies, including his first animation company which went bankrupt in 1921, forcing the artist to eat dog food to survive. After more false starts, the brothers finally founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon studio in 1923. Through initially family-controlled, the company was taken over by stockholdersin 1984. Today Disney is the largest multimedia company in terms of revenue.

3. Henry Ford

In 1899, an engineer working the nightshift at the Edison Illuminating Company quit his comfortable job to join many others who believed they could create an automobile with a gas-powered engine. Henry Ford had produced two working prototypes and was seeking capital to produce his invention at a larger scale. However, after obtaining $150,000 in investment, the production of the vehicle was still too complicated. In 1901, the company went bankrupt. Still believing in his ability, the same investors backed Henry Ford a second time, bringing in a supervisor to ensure that the invention would make it to production. But the interference did not suit the inventor and he soon left the company. If the odds were not already against him, now they definitely were. Henry Ford lost his investors’ money twice, and, some believed, permanently damaged his reputation in the industry. But Henry Ford was undeterred. To his friends and family, he explained that the investors were not willing to give him enough time to work through the kinks. Four years after quitting his job, Henry Ford finally found the right investor, willing to give him full control over the production process. The Ford Motor Company was established in 1903 and the inventor was the first to introduce the automobile to the mass-market with the Model T. Today, Ford is a publicly listed company controlled through shares by the Ford family.

4. The Wright Brothers

The Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, are best known for flying the first powered, controlled, heavier-than-air airplane in 1903. What is less known are the years of failures and hardships which led to their success. Though raised in an intellectually encouraging environment, neither brother received a high school diploma. At the age of 18, Wilbur Wright was hit in the face with a hockey stick, causing him to lose his front teeth. In the following four years, he was thought to have suffered from depression and a heart disorder. He stayed at home in the late 1880s, caring for his mother who was dying from tuberculosis. In 1986, tragedy hit again. The Wright’s inspiration for manned flights, German engineer, Otto Lilienthal, died in his own creation in 1986. The brothers themselves worked for three years with kites before discovering the setup which would allow for controlled, manned flight. The Wright brothers remained committed to each other and to their craft, never marrying. In the end, Orville Wright died of a heart attack at age 77. Wilbur Wright died much earlier, from typhoid, at age 45.

5. Jay-Z & Beyoncé

Arguably one of the most financially successful rappers today, is Jay-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter. In his early 20s, Carter was turned down by all the record labels in his business. He was told he was too old, not “hard” enough (he did not rap about drugs or crime). But instead of abandoning his dream, he released his own album on his own label at the age of 26. When Jay-Z was offered a weak deal from a clothing brand who was benefiting from his endorsements, he rejected it and started his own clothing line to compete with the brand. Today, Jay-Z and his wife, Beyoncé, are worth an estimated $900 million. The couple welcomed their first baby in 2012.   Nettra Pan is a blogger for The Entrepreneurs’ Ship. Her research interests include entrepreneurial education, meaningful work, and sustainable development. She can usually be found in Lausanne, Switzerland, thinking about sustainability, or on Twitter @nettra. For a more detailed description of Henry Ford’s innovative start see here. To see who is carrying on the legacy of family businesses today, see our infographic: Next Generation Family Businesses: Succession planning does not always have to happen late…

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Things You Should Know About Goals

Setting and reaching goals is a mainstay topic in research across a range of disciplines, including psychology, neuroscience, marketing, and communications. Below is a survey of 10 recent findings about goals, chosen from these and other topic areas, that throw some light on the ups and down goal
achievement.


 1. Giving up a goal takes a psychological and physical toll. First a word of caution – goal achievement is risky business. If setbacks start accumulating, and you begin doubting whether you can reach your goal, you’re on your way to what psychologists call an “action crisis.” This is the crucial point at which you experience an internal conflict about whether you should keep going or give up. Research has shown that experiencing an action crisis increases production of the stress hormone cortisol, which is your brain’s way of sounding a body-wide alarm in response to the internal conflict. The problem is, the extra cortisol doesn’t help your performance, and may contribute to giving up sooner. It also increases blood pressure, which takes a toll on your blood vessels. 2. Being more specific can help you reach your goal. We like flexibility in our lives, but some recent research (PDF) from consumer psychology suggests that being more specific and less flexible may be more effective in goal achievement. The premise is simple but not easily accepted: specific steps, accomplished in strict order, seem harder to do at first, but ultimately lead to greater goal achievement than an ambiguous plan. The problem is that more ambiguous, flexible plans seem much more appealing upfront. 3. Our brains may have an internal guidance system for reaching goals. Research from neuroscience suggests that our brains use the neurotransmitter dopamine as an internal guidance system to reach goals. An animal study showed that the dopamine signal in the brain gets stronger as the goal gets closer. It’s sort of a “Marco Polo” effect that influences choices made to direct action toward a goal, and adjusts expectations about how close or far away the goal really is. 4. Your inner voice is a potent goal-achievement tool. Reacting impulsively can thwart goal achievement, and research shows that your inner voice is an effective way to control impulses. A study suggests that simple things like telling yourself “Keep going, you can do it” while you’re exercising really does help keep you moving, and sidetracks the impulse to give up because the activity is getting harder. 5. Fist power could keep you from choking. A study earlier this year showed that clenching your left (but not right) fist can prevent you from choking under high pressure situations, as you might experience on your way to achieving a physical performance goal. The effect was studied across three experiments with athletes as test subjects, and the results were consistently significant. The researchers believe that left fist clenching primes the right hemisphere of the brain, aiding automatic skill performance (the opposite of conscious deliberation, which is thought to be controlled in the left hemisphere and actually contributes to choking). 6. Sharing your goals with friends improves your chances of reaching them. More research from this year indicates that writing down your goals, sharing them with friends, and sending your friends regular updates about your progress can boost your chances of succeeding. The study showed that people who merely thought about their goals and how to reach them succeeded less than 50% of the time, while people who wrote goals down, and enlisted friends to help them by sending regular progress reports succeeded closer to 75% of the time. 7. Overmotivation can undermine goal achievement. Motivation is essential to goal achievement, but overmotivation can lead to exactly the opposite. When your brain is in a hyper state of arousal about wanting something, the neurotransmitter dopamine floods your brain’s reward circuits. Research shows that when this happens, your chances of failing increase no matter how hard you try. Mental focus and precision are deluged by the flood. The trick seems to be to find the happy motivation balance that keeps you moving forward without tripping on your brain’s in-built foibles. 8. And so can fantasizing. Even though it’s tempting, research suggests that fantasizing too much about your dream job or any other major goal can undermine success. It’s all about expectations. Realistic thinking fosters more realistic expectations; fantasizing blows expectations out of proportion, obscuring vision of what must actually be done to reach a goal. 9. And so can overthinking. Although an incredibly powerful organ, the brain can get in its own way (in many ways) – and, ironically, thinking too much is one of them. A study indicated that there’s an interesting connection between memory and performance. Once the right skills for a given task are internalized (like the many parts of a perfect golf swing), thinking about them when trying to perform doesn’t help, it hurts. 10. Finally, try to stay optimistic. While easier said than done, keeping an optimistic mindset appears to enable people to deal with stress more effectively — a key to goal achievement. Looking on the bright side actually is good for you, and an effective way to help reach your goals.

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The Herbalife Opportunity

Herbalife is a global nutrition company that has been changing people’s lives with great products since 1980. Herbalife is in over 90 Countries. Last year Herbalife did 7.5 Billion Dollars in retail sales! With that being said this is the company to join! Start your own business making money part-time, full-time or best of all on your own time with Herbalife. There are plenty of other opportunities out there you can do to earn money. You can get a second job, mow lawns, Deliver newspapers, walk dogs, baby sit or you can start your own business part time or full time. You can join a Multi Billion Multi-level Marketing company that has training's, coaching, tools and systems put together that will show you how to make money on your own time. Wouldn't that be fantastic! For more information click on the link below.

How to Not Be Sick and Tired of Your Job

by Melissa King, Demand Media

No matter how much you love your job, it's natural to have days when you'd rather sleep in and stay home than head to the office. But if you constantly feel irritated, grumpy and bored at work, you may be suffering from a condition known as burnout. Burnout, caused by excessive stress, leads to mental and physical exhaustion. If you're feeling sick of your job, learn to recognize the signs of burnout and know what to do to rejuvenate your enthusiasm for work.

 

Causes

Feelings of dissatisfaction have many causes in the workplace, where you may feel like your efforts as a hard-working employee go unnoticed. You might feel sick and tired of your job if it entails doing a boring or unchallenging task repeatedly. Burnout occurs when you work too much and don't have time to relax. It happens if you work in a stressful or chaotic environment. You may feel sick of your job if your boss expects too much out of you but doesn't praise or reward your good work.

Recognize the Signs

Look out for the signs of job dissatisfaction so you can take steps to correct the problem. You might feel hopeless, helpless or detached if you're sick of your job. You may feel emotionally blunted or depressed. If you're irritable with coworkers and no longer want to socialize with them, you may be suffering from burnout. Burned-out workers feel apathetic and unenthusiastic about going to work. You might find yourself arriving at work late and leaving as early as possible. Job dissatisfaction can even result in physical symptoms, such as tense muscles, insomnia, headaches and exhaustion.

Prevention

Separating your work from your home life can make a big difference in not feeling sick of your job. Avoid bringing your work home with you, and when you have a day off, use it to relax. Turn off your phone and don't check your email for a set amount of time each day. Get enough sleep, exercise and eat a healthy diet so that you feel your best at work. If you're already sick and tired of your job, evaluate what's causing the problem in your life. Determine how you can improve the situation. Surround yourself with family and friends and talk about how you feel. Ask your boss for some time off or a workload reduction. Commit to fewer activities and projects until you recover.

Moving On

Sometimes, the situation at work gets so bad that you truly never want to go back. If you feel like you're in a dead-end job with no chance for advancement, for example, it might be time to start looking for something new. If the company is laying off employees, issuing pay cuts or closing offices in some locations, it would be wise to start looking for a new job. Working for a company that holds moral standards that differ from your own also is not a situation that's likely to improve. For example, if your company sells fur coats and you're an animal-rights advocate, you're probably going to be unhappy there. If the company or your boss never supports you, you'd be better off finding a job where your skills and accomplishments are appreciated.

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NEVER LET FEAR STOP YOU FROM GETTING WHAT YOUR WANT IN LIFE

 Is it time for a change? Been letting fear and procrastination stop you from reaching for financial freedom? Starting your own business can be scary but worth it to you and your family. Who doesn't want more out of life! I know I do! It’s time for you to make a stand and start earning more money! There are many ways to earn money. You can get a second job, mow lawns, Deliver newspapers, walk dogs or you can start your own business part-time just to get started or even Full-Time.

 

 Are you really ready to make things happen in your life? Join a company that’s been in business for over 34 years that has trainings, coaching, tools and systems put in place to teach you how to make money on your own time. I found the tools available to be very beneficial in maximizing earning potential, managing my free time and enjoying life! To receive more information click on the link.

 

Famous Failures Who Will Inspire You

Articular by:  Meiko Patton

What do Sylvester Stallone, J.K. Rowling, Abraham Lincoln and Jay Z have in common?

Believe it or not, they were all failures or struggling amid hardscrabble circumstances before they became famous and hit it big. Reflect back over your past year. Did you achieve everything you set out to do for your health, business, spirtuality, finances and relationships?

If not, don’t despair: You'll get another crack at things in 2015.

But maybe a better thought to ponder is the one posed by millennial motivational speaker Jake Ducey in his new book The Purpose Principles: How to Draw More Meaning into Your Life.

“What would have to happen in the next year for you to look back and say it was your most successful and fulfilling year?” Ducey asked. Confronting an introspective question like this can really get your creative juices flowing. Contemplate the examples set by some of the people Ducey described. Here are just a few:

In one chapter, Ducey profiled Sylvester Stallone, who wrote many movie scripts but couldn’t sell any. He barely had any money and sold his dog in order to buy food. Not long after that ordeal, he got the inspiration to write Rocky and did so in short order.

But what’s so impressive about Stallone is that when movie studio managers offered him a large sum for the script with the caveat that he not play the lead role, he said no. They came back again and offered him more and he again declined. Eventually he was offered less along with the lead role and he took it. Stallone was determined to stay on his path despite the outcome.

Are you just as determined?

Another person profiled by Ducey is J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series. According to Ducey, Rowling considered herself the "the biggest failure" because although she had graduated from a university, her marriage failed and she had a child to care for but no job. She was living on government benefits.

“Failure meant a stripping away of the inessential," Ducey quoted Rowley as saying. "I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy to finishing the only work that mattered to me.”

Rowling now is the author of best-sellers. She hit rock bottom and let herself learn from the situation. What have you learned from your failures in 2014?

Ducey also profiled rapper Jay Z, who grew up in New York City public housing.

He was raised by a single mom after his father abandoned the family. When no one would give him a record deal, he sold CDs out of his car. He and a few friends decided to create their own record label. Jay Z did not stop when all the circumstances around him told him no. He forged ahead.

Jay Z believed he is a great artist and that’s how he became a millionaire despite growing up amid limited circumstances. What beliefs do you hold about yourself?

Ducey's chapter on persistence is one of my personal favorites. Born into poverty, Abraham Lincoln struggled to overcome every setback in his life. His mother died while he was young. He acculmulated debt and struggled to pay it back. Lincoln ran for office and lost more than once. A fiancée died, prompting a nervous breakdown.

Still Lincoln did not give up. Finally he ran for president of the United States -- and, of course, you know the rest. Lincoln failed numerous times but did not stay down in defeat. He learned, pivoted and is remembered as one of the best presidents in history.

Ducey has provided other marvelous insights about how to draw more meaning into life, contending that you don’t know how strong you are until you have no choice but to be that way.

These achievers didn’t know they had what it took to succeed in life, until they were forced to test their inner strength. New doors open in life only after you rise from a previous defeat and begin to walk anew. When you refuse to let failures hinder your progress, you will eventually arrive at your new destination.

So I'll ask again, “What would have to happen in the next year for you to look back and say it was your most successful and fulfilling year?”

Do what it takes to make 2015 your best year yet.

Steve Harvey On Success (You Have To Jump Powerful Message)

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How to Succeed in Business: the First Steps

Let's begin where the majority of successful entrepreneurs begin--"follow your passion." It may be a shopworn phrase, but this advice is as valid today for how to succeed in business as it was a hundred years ago, and it has certainly proven true for me. I have been successfully following my passion for seven decades.

The word passion has a direct application to business. It means a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something. A new entrepreneur will need this emotional charge to sustain his or her motivation when facing the unexpected challenges that all startups encounter. The power of personal attachment will energize you and keep the momentum going. According to one estimate, 8 out of 10 businesses fail in the first 18 months, so passion's role will likely be crucial for survival.

At age 90, I'm bold enough to speak about the importance of this topic to younger generations since I can draw from experience, not theory. Recently, I produced a new streaming video for entrepreneurs called, "How To Succeed In Business," in which I discuss why passion is such a vital factor.

Self-motivation is the key to success and will achieve powerful results.

Lately, many self-proclaimed business gurus have maligned the idea of pursuing a passion as bad advice. They dismiss it as an oversimplification, and to an extent, they are right. It is not as simple as it sounds. Clarifications and additional considerations are essential. So, what is the best way to tap into your self-motivation and start a new business? First, you need to do some self-reflection. What are your core values? What experiences have shaped you? How do you define success? Next, think of your dream job as actually a constellation of overlapping desires. Yes, you want to pursue something you love, but you also want to make a reasonable income, have time for leisure activities, save for retirement, and live where and how you want to. Along the way you will undoubtedly have to make some compromises and adjustments. It is important to recognize that career satisfaction will emanate from many sources.

Also, you need to clearly define your passion. It cannot just be a broad area. You must translate your dream of success into a series of small and large goals and differentiate them from wishes. As I wrote in my latest book, The Evolution of an Entrepreneur, "A wish might be to play point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. An achievable goal might be to work with an NBA team in their marketing department or to become a supplier to an NBA venue or retail outlet." What begins as a vague or hazy vision must then be articulated into very focused objectives that are within the scope of your abilities and finances. I've narrowed down the startup process to five sequential steps called The Nadel Method to get entrepreneurs on the right track.

In addition, here are seven goal-setting steps that I think allentrepreneurs will find useful.

• First, you must write your goals down. Otherwise, they are simply New Year's resolutions, which are soon forgotten.

• Next, be as specific as you can when writing goals. Instead of, "I want to raise my company profile in the community," write, "I will volunteer my company's resources once a month to a specific community organization."

• Express goals in positive words. Don't think about driving the competition out of business; think about how your product or service can fulfill an unmet need.

• Make sure the goals you choose are yours and not someone else's. (See motivation above.)

• Put time limits on your goals. How else can you hold yourself accountable?

• Give yourself a score at the end of your timeframe. If you didn't succeed, do you want to keep trying for this goal or do you need to make some alterations?

• And finally, set goals in all areas of your life. You need to stay balanced to be truly happy. Your emotional and physical health is as important as your financial health.

Keep an open mind about following your passion. Be flexible. Don't assume you will hit the center of the target on your first try. Once you embark on your business idea, you may discover business categories you never knew existed that can relate to following your passion. For example, the emerging technology of 3D printing has created a slew of new entrepreneurial opportunities that weren't even possible two years ago for a variety of industries. With a modest investment of under $5,000, a budding entrepreneur can start a 3D printing business that can provide multiple applications, whether it be crafting custom wearable designs or creating vintage auto parts. According to both to Forbes and Business News Daily, the concept of 3D printing-as-a-service franchise is about to go mainstream.

Overall, be willing to learn from your mistakes. I sometimes think we should declare a national holiday to honor the errors we make because this is how all of us learn. Mistakes are a key element of growth and success, especially for new entrepreneurs. Those who ignore the lessons mistakes teach us won't stay in business for long.

And don't overlook the many helpful resources for new and existing business owners. For example, the U.S. Small Business Administration has Small Business Development Centers in all fifty states and supports thousands of S.C.O.R.E. volunteer mentors nationwide, not to mention the national focus they bring to light each May with various events for entrepreneurs through the SBA's coordinated efforts for Small Business Week in cities from coast to coast. In addition, there are useful tools offered by service providers who genuinely want to see you succeed. I just recently learned that Visa has an entire division focused on supporting and promoting small business ownership through Visa Small Business, after they decided to feature several of my Huffington Post articles on entrepreneurship through their social media.

And lastly, never forget that you live and do business in a community. Temper your sense of "rugged individualism" with an appreciation for the roles others play in helping you pursue your passion. Create a business that is uniquely yours, but also find a way for your business to contribute to the well being of your community. As Thomas Watson of IBM once said, "To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart."

As I've indicated many times, I am strongly motivated to share insights about my entrepreneurial success, and I likewise encourage you to share your tips for success. You will never know the people you might be helping, but by sharing, you will be validating your own passion, and your enthusiasm for entrepreneurship will deepen.

Jack Nadel is the author of the award-winning book, "The Evolution of an Entrepreneur: Featuring 50 of My Best Tips for Surviving and Thriving in Business" - winner of five Global Ebook Awards including three Gold Awards for BEST in Business, Leadership and Careers/Employment - part of the popular Ultimate Crash Course for Entrepreneurs set, available on-demand online (www.JackNadel.com). He is the founder and chairman emeritus of Jack Nadel International, a global leader in the specialty advertising and marketing industry. Jack, founder of more than a dozen companies worldwide, is also the author of other books, including, "There's No Business Like Your Bu$iness, How to Succeed in Business Without Lying, Cheating or Stealing," "Cracking the Global Market," and "My Enemy, My Friend."

GRANT CARDONE’S 5 TIPS FOR CLOSING THE BIG SALE ON THE PHONE

It's 5:45 p.m. one recent afternoon at the Miami Beach, Fla., headquarters of Cardone Training Technologies Inc. Founder and sales guru Grant Cardone is about to cut out for the day when he stumbles upon one of his salespeople on the phone with a customer. It's a heated discussion. The customer is on the fence and unwilling to budge over a mere $100. The salesperson has hit a wall and isn't making any progress.

That's when Cardone jumps in to close the sale. Check out the video above to see the interaction.

The type of situation depicted in the video happens every day at startups all over the world. To lock in the sale, you have to have confidence in yourself as well as the product or service you're selling. Plus, you and your team need to have what it takes to close big sales -- otherwise your business will die.

Here are Cardone's five best tips for closing the big sale:

1. Know when to close.
Whether it happens in person, on the phone or over video, a salesperson needs to know when it's right to move from the sales pitch to closing the deal. There's only so much selling you can do. At some point the customer is going to have to tell you yes or no.

"Ninety-two percent of all customer interaction happens on the phone," Cardone says. "Companies must learn to engage, sell and close when the buyer shows interest."

2. Once you're in the 'close zone,' stay there.
Note in the video that once Cardone got on the call he didn't start selling the features or benefits of his product. He was there to close, not to deliver a sales pitch. The customer needs to make up his or her mind.

3. Be clear with the customer.
In this video you can see that Cardone didn't beg for the business -- he didn't need to. The customer was ready to close but was stuck on the $100. Cardone made it clear the $100 over a three-year commitment wasn't the issue. He put it on the customer to say "yay or nay, yes or no."

4. If your sales person is having trouble, step in and get it done.
Sometimes someone on your sales team can go only so far with a specific client. If the sales pitch was on point and your employee can't get the client off the fence, sometimes it's best to have an experienced manager step in. The last thing you want to do is lose the business because you weren't able to close it.

"Managers need to get involved in more customer interactions sooner," Cardone says.

5. Be realistically confident.
Sometimes a sale simply isn't meant to be. But if the client is truly on the fence, a little confidence in yourself and your company can go a long way.

"I am not worried about pressuring the customer or appearing desperate," Cardone says. "I know my product is good for people so I am in a hurry to get it to them."

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