Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. ~Hal Borland
Dear Folks, January 2, 2009
Entering a new year causes one to reflect on the past year or years and think about what the next year might bring. It also is a time where many look at last year’s goals with a smile of triumph or a sigh of frustration. If you have the big smile, guess what? It is time to set new goals. If you are sighing with frustration, take heart. We have a chance at a fresh start. Not too many people can bring a chance of good health and good earning opportunity into the lives of others and that is what each one of you has the privilege of doing through partnering with others in 4Life Research. Just think of where you were 5 years ago compared to where you are now. (I was in personal and financial ruin 5 years ago). Has anything changed? Did you take the risk of telling someone about Transfer Factor? Did you take the risk of inviting someone to hear about the 4Life business opportunity? How many new people will be added to your business this year? How many new people will have better health because you told them about Transfer Factor? Yes, the world is in turmoil and there is a feeling of uncertainty in our various countries, but the good news is that we can show people a better way to live and give them hope of health and offer them a business to help them weather out the financial crisis in the world. Never before have we had such a timely opportunity of growing our business in the world. What a great year 2009 can be for each one of you!
Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire. ~Arnold H. Glasow
I thought this would be a great time to review goal setting strategies with you. If you do not know where you are going, how will you get there? Goals are essential if you are to reach the right destination. A common analogy used in organizations is that a goal should be SMART if it is to be achieved (I will use the example of physical fitness in this analogy):
S for Specific -- Choose a specific outcome to achieve as a result of your plan to be fit. For example, I want to lower my cholesterol or lose weight versus I want to be healthier or look better.
M for Measurable -- I want my cholesterol to be under 5.0 or I want to lose 10 pounds are measureable goals.
A for Achievable -- If the smallest you've ever been as an adult is a size 10, it might not be achievable to aim to be a size 0. Perhaps if I'm currently a size 18, was a size 10 when I was 18-years-old, then now I would like to be a size 14. That seems achievable.
R for Realistic -- Maybe running a marathon is not a realistic goal given your commitments, even though it might be achievable if you had unrestricted time to train. Be realistic about what it is you want to do -- if it's not something you enjoy, you're less likely to stick with it. Remember, physical activity can be any activity that elevates your heart rate and uses your muscles. If you enjoy hiking in the outdoors, plan brisk walks or snow shoeing. Go dancing if that's what you like to do.
T for Time Bound -- Set a deadline, or set multiple deadlines for various stages of progress towards your goal. For example, I want to lose 10 pounds by May 24, so I need to lose about 2 pounds per month.
Commit your goal to paper - When you write out your goal, make sure it meets all the criteria for being a SMART goal. By committing your SMART Goal to paper, you're demonstrating a serious commitment to achieving your goal.
Keep it visible -- post your written SMART Goal where you can see it -- on your bathroom mirror, on your fridge, on your office wall, in your electronic task list, written on piece of paper in your pocket, etc. If it's visible, it will be harder to forget about.
Share your goal -- if you've shown your written SMART Goal to a friend or family member, you'll feel a greater sense of commitment to your goal. Now it's not just you that will want to see you succeed in attaining your Goal.
Be accountable -- ask your friend of family member to check in with you at specific time intervals to see how you're progressing towards your Goal. Maybe set regular times for a brief meal together or a phone call once a month to check in.
Work as a team -- encourage a likeminded friend or family member to work towards their health and wellness goal alongside you. It's been proven that people are more likely to stick with their exercise plans if they do it with a friend.
Make appointments with yourself -- Treat your exercise times as you would any other important meeting. Put your scheduled exercise time into your day timer. If someone wants to meet with you, these time slots are unavailable.
Hire an expert -- what do organizations do when they have a goal but don't know how to get there? They bring in the consultants. If you're not sure how to get started on your Physical Activity plan, consult with a certified trainer or qualified group exercise instructor. Not only will these coaches teach you what you need to do in order to meet your goals, they can help you stay motivated as well.
Plan a reward -- establish a reward system for yourself to recognize the achievement of each stage of your goal. For example, write down on your SMART Goal page that for every 20 workouts, you'll buy yourself a new exercise top, or a night out at a show. This will give you something to look forward to as you reach each target. Plan a larger reward for when you reach your ultimate goal.
Think positive -- don't let small setbacks defeat you. Think of exercise like brushing your teeth. We all know we should do it regularly. But every once in a while, we miss a session, and we just don't feel right until we brush our teeth again. Exercise is much the same. We feel great if we do it consistently. If you find an activity you enjoy, and you stick with it, eventually it will become like brushing your teeth. You'll look forward to the way you feel once you're done, and will miss it if you don't.
What is the best way to build your 4Life business? Review the Power Pool qualifications. Make the Power Pool your goal of choice for the first 5 months of the year. Teach the Power Pool to one new leader every month. If you do not know what the Power Pool is, just email me and I will tell you or go to www.4life.com, click on ‘success’ and you will see what to do to be in the Power Pool.
What is the best way to tell others about Transfer Factor? What did TF do for you? What did it do for one of your parents? What did it do for your uncle? What did it do for your baby who was having an asthmatic attack? Tell the story of Transfer Factor. Don’t have a story? Then borrow someone else’s story until you have your own.
Terms and Definitions of 4Life PayPlan
Seamless Pay Plan: The 4LifeTM pay plan is seamless internationally. This means that we have the same pay plan throughout the world. You only need to enroll in one country to receive bonuses on all distributors in your organization throughout the world.LP or Life Points: This refers to the credit you are given for a product purchase. A bonus is paid on the LP and not the wholesale purchase price. The purpose for LP (some companies call it CV, BV, PV, etc.) is to compensate for the difference in profit for each product. The cost of raw materials, research, competition or other manufacturing factors will cause the profit in different products to vary. Instead of having a different bonus scale for each product, it is more efficient to assign a different credit value to each product. In comparing pay plans, it is important to compare the actual credit value of the primary products promoted by each company.
The following example illustrates the relevance of the credit value assigned to each product:
Company A: Cost of product: $100. Credit value of the product: $75. Bonus paid: 30%.
30% x $75 = $22.50 bonus amount
Company B: Cost of product: $100. Credit value of the product: $93. Bonus paid: 25%.
25% x $93 = $23.25 bonus amount. As you can see, even though Company A paid a 30% bonus, it actually paid less cash to the distributor on the same wholesale price.
GLP: The total group LP volume within the individual's first three levels. (No compression.)
Organizational Volume: The total group volume within the distributor’s total organization.
Autoship: The distributor sets up a bank draft or credit card draft for a particular order on a particular date each month. (Please note that not all countries require an Autoship).
Back-Up Autoship: The distributor sets up a back-up bank draft or a credit card draft for a particular order that will only be activated if the individual does not place an order before that date.
Personally Enrolled: The individual that actually enrolls the new distributor is considered the enroller.
Personal Volume Requirements: The LP purchase or retail sale that is required of each distributor in order for that distributor to qualify for a particular achievement position.
Sponsor: The individual directly above the distributor. The enroller and sponsor can be different people.
Volume Rebate: After a distributor's first purchase, the distributor can receive a 25% rebate on purchases over 100LP. The distributor must be at least at a Leader 4Life level. The key to helping individuals at this level is to make sure they have a clear understanding of the products, and keep reinforcing their belief in the product through the sharing of research and testimonies. Also, conveying a sense of value (their value to you) and appreciation is important.
Power Bonus Pool: Three percent of 4Life'sTM International sales is divided into a 2% cash bonus pool and 1% into a luxurious travel program. The cash pool is divided into shares. When a distributor enrolls three new distributors that purchase at least 100LP in product within a single month, and these distributors reorder in the second month at least 100LP in product, the enroller earns a share of the International Power Pool Bonus. Multiple shares can be earned with a $1,000 cap. One percent of the pool will be used to finance the "The Great Escape." Each month, from a random drawing, 4LifeTM distributors are awarded this dream vacation for two. Distributors qualifying for this Power Pool will receive one drawing ticket for each new distributor brought in with at least 100LP and two tickets for each distributor that joins with at least 400LP. In order for the enroller to earn his shares, the new distributors must submit to 4Life a completed application and a W-9 or W-8 form.
Premier Bonus Pool: The Premier Pool represents two percent of 4Life'sTM monthly LP. International Diamonds and above qualify for this bonus. One-half of the amount paid through the bonus pool is paid on a pro rata basis based on shares earned. Each month that a distributor qualifies as an International Diamond, one share is earned. Each month that a distributor qualifies as a Gold International Diamond, two shares are earned. The remaining half is paid on a pro rata basis monthly based on the volume upon which the individual is paid.
Customer: A consumer that purchases 4LifeTM products that is not registered as a distributor. An ordinary customer will purchase product from a 4LifeTM distributor at a retail price.
Preferred Customer: A preferred customer (PC) receives special customer ID # and orders directly from 4LifeTM. The 4LifeTM distributor who enrolled the preferred customer receives credit for the PC's purchases. (Preferred Customer is not yet available in India).
Pass-Through: A bonus paid to a 4LifeTM Distributor for which another in the downline has not qualified to receive.
Infinity Bonuses: Diamond positions and above earn Infinity Bonuses. The definition of “infinity” is “an indefinitely large number.” The definition of “indefinite” is “Lacking precise limits.” The depth of an Infinity Bonus is determined by components of each individual’s downline organization. You always continue earning an infinity bonus until someone under you begins earning that bonus. Generally, you are paid down through the 3rd level of the blocking distributor. You start earning an infinity bonus on the level that you qualify for it which is the 4th level.
There are single level Infinity bonuses and Group Infinity Bonuses. The Diamond Infinity Bonus is 6% on each individual from your forth level down until you are blocked by another Diamond or higher pin level position. The single level Presidential Diamond Infinity Bonus begins on the 4th level and continues until blocked by an equal of higher level pin level position. For a Diamond and above the 4th level is a guaranteed infinity bonus. Guaranteed means that your 4th level bonus cannot be blocked. A Group Infinity Bonus is paid on a downline leader’s complete organization down through the 3rd level of the blocking distributor. I realize this can be quite confusing but I have gone on long enough. I will further elaborate on infinity bonuses in the next newsletter.
Have fun setting your goals. Put some family ones in there…attention to family is most important.
I would be happy to discuss your goals with you…please feel free to contact me about this.
Take care everyone.
Please know that each one of you is special to me.
Linda
Ps : hope to see you in Orlando
at the next 4Life convention.
Make it a goal to be there. It
will change your life!
