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PMHayes
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Joined: 23 Apr 2008
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#1 · Posted: 26 May 2008 23:02
I posted this in another forum. I feel strongly enough about this that i wanted to share it in this one, as well. Comments encouraged and appreciated.
I was having a discussion a while back with another, very successful, member of my organization, his name is Martin. We were talking about motivation, selling out, doing whatever is necessary to succeed in this industry. I asked him what had made him so very successful and his reply almost bowled me over in it's simplicity, yet it was such a powerful motivator that it became a defining moment in my MLM career, in my life, even. He said "Mitch, there is no Plan B." What power, what insight was contained in those simple words. He's right, you know. For me, for many of us in this industry, the industry, MLM, is our one shot at creating a secure financial future. For whatever reason, lack of planning, calamity, sickness, poor financial decisions, we have no other means with which to build enough wealth to retire securely and comfortably.
At that moment, the epiphany that exploded in my mind defined me and set me upon a course not unlike Cortez when he came to the "New World." He comanded his troops to "burn the ships." Why? It left them with no "Plan B." They were sold out! They were committed! They had to be, there was no going back. For me, there is no going back. There are not enough years nor is there enough strength left in this 54 year old body to do it the old fashioned way, invest, save, etc. My personal situation is not unlike many of you, i imagine. Life has dealt me enough curves, some of which i dealt myself, i might add, that i have no savings, no investments, not enough in retirement, pension plans, to survive on, let alone live the "good life." And i don't want to wind up a Wal Mart greeter, or bag boy in some grocery store at 65 years of age. Not even!
No, this is it for me. It is my one and only plan, my one and only course of action, my one and only means with which to secure my financial independence and freedom. In another post we were discussing our "why." This is a major componant of my "why." If this doesn't work for me, nothing will. So it's "damn the torpedos and full speed ahead!" It's sell out, give my all, whatever it takes, i will do, because there is No "Plan B." Sure i want to get completely out of debt. Sure, i was tired of living paycheck to paycheck. Sure, i want to have a legacy to leave my kids, when i am gone. But those motivators, powerful as they can be, pale in comparrison to the realization that, the ships are burned, the old world is an ocean away, my future is in my hands, no one else's. It's succeed or else. I'm not being melodramatic here, it's the absolute truth.
Fortunately for me, and for many of you in the same boat, oh, i forgot they were burned, just kidding. As i was saying, fortunately for all of us, MLM is a great industry! We truly are in control of our own destiny, or own financial security, our own financial future. I'm thankful that there is no "Plan B." If there were, i would have been tempted to give up, quit, because contrary to what many people believe, this industry is not easy. It's simple, unbelievably and amazingly simple, but it's not easy. It requires resolve, a thick skin, determination, commitment. It requires a strong enough "why!" So, in the words of Cortez, i say BURN THE SHIPS! Leave yourself No "Plan B!" It will change your whole approach to this business. It will change your heart, give you the strength to go on in the face of all the doubters, nay sayers, critics, self professed pundits who will try to tell you to just "get a job, take the easy way, MLM doesn't work," or whatever they are saying that has you spooked.
Just remember, burn this into your consciousness. THERE IS NO PLAN B!
Respectfully submitted,
Mitch
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westfam11
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#2 · Posted: 26 May 2008 23:20 · Edited by: westfam11
Mitch,
Oh my gosh! You said this so wonderfully. This is exactly how I feel. I am not quite "54" but closer than I would like to believe.
I always considered what I am doing now my "Plan B" but I am changing my thinking now thanks to how you put it. As of tonight I am "Burning My Ships". No more Plan B.
Everytime I go into Wal-Mart I am motivated to keep going and growing my business because I refuse to end up being a Wal-mart greeter. If there are any Wal-Mart Greeters here I mean no disrespect, I just don't want to choose that path for myself.
NO PLAN B, NO PLAN B, NO PLAN B, NO PLAN B, NO PLAN B, NO PLAN B, NO PLAN B. They say you have to see something 7 times to remember it, so there I did it.
Thanks again Mitch!.
Becky
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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 3044
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#3 · Posted: 27 May 2008 00:29
wow - very well said and no plan B for me, either! You sure have a gift with words, Mitch...
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PMHayes
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Joined: 23 Apr 2008
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#4 · Posted: 3 Jun 2008 21:50
I believe the only way to succed in this business, in life, for that matter, is to sell out. If we don't sell out, if we leave a little escape route, a way out, then when times get tough the temptation to quit will be that much stronger. MLM is a wonderful industry, contrary to what some people, even in this forum, would say. There is no other business model where EVERYONE WINS! If you market your business and your product with excellence and integrity, if you have at the heart of your business the desire to help people, make their lives better, you will succeed. It will not hapen overnight, but you will succeed! And the best part is, you will help others succeed as well. Everyone wins.
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VictoriaNTC
Joined: 12 Mar 2008
Posts: 755
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#5 · Posted: 3 Jun 2008 22:36
Thank you Mitch!
Yours was one of the best success posts I have read in a very long time!
I agree!
Victoria
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seeyalater72
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Joined: 5 Mar 2008
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#6 · Posted: 4 Jun 2008 00:12
I agree with everyone else. Outstanding post Mitch.
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PMHayes
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#7 · Posted: 7 Jun 2008 16:04
Thank you all for the encouraging comments. I'm going to be publishing articles like that one, and ones from some of my mentors as well as some well known MLM leaders on my blog. Check it out once in awhile.
Mitch
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getagrip
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Posts: 2079
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#8 · Posted: 7 Jun 2008 19:12
I would disagree and state that if you are in the wrong industry, you should get a Plan B...
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SteveM30
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#9 · Posted: 18 Jun 2008 11:55
Good post, Mitch. I agree.
I don't think there's anything wrong with trying other entrepreneurial ventures as well, however. You can create much more fulfilling Plan B's than grocery store bagger (I did that!) or Wal-Mart clerk (yuck!).
If you define "Plan B" as working for The Man, then you're right: There Is No Plan B!!! 
-Steve
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Sonni
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#10 · Posted: 18 Jun 2008 13:03
Great post and I agree with everything that I read. I'm one of the newbies you're talking about. Trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing. I have been researching for 2 weeks now, on a consistent basis and have read a lot and learned a lot in this forum and others. There's an upside and a downside to everything, you have to take the bad with the good. Thanks for all the great suggestions and insight.
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PMHayes
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#11 · Posted: 22 Jun 2008 05:07
Getagrip and Steve, what i meant by No Plan B, is not to go into this with an eye for a way out. When Cortez led his troops to the New World, and had them Burn the Ships, he was removing their temptation to look back, run away, go back to Spain. That produced focused serious troops. They had no choice, they had to be. They had no Plan B, no way out. If we enter into our businesses the same way, no looking back, No escape route, if you will, we will be focused, and determined.
getagrip: I would disagree and state that if you are in the wrong industry, you should get a Plan B...
I'm not quite sure what you mean with that statement. If you meant simply that you have joined a bad company, sure, find another. But if you meant the work at home, mlm, online business industry as a whole, I disagree, respectfully of course, LOL!
SteveM30: I don't think there's anything wrong with trying other entrepreneurial ventures as well, however. You can create much more fulfilling Plan B's than grocery store bagger (I did that!) or Wal-Mart clerk (yuck!). If you define "Plan B" as working for The Man, then you're right: There Is No Plan B!!!
Steve, I couldn't agree more, and I kind of think that must be what Getagrip was refering to. Sure, don't be afraid to try more than one venture, multiple streams of income is a good thing. I have people in my downline who are doing my business and selling on ebay, for example. Not a bad idea, at all.
Great input guys, thanks.
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wapahm
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#12 · Posted: 24 Jun 2008 22:34
HI Mitch
I saw the subject line "No Plan B" so I had to see what this was about.
I must say reading your post was enlightening.
Thanks!
I want to add to it..........., when we start out to explore new adventures in our lives, weather it business or personal, we need to know why we are doing this or choosing that, because if we know for certain our "WHY" it keeps us focused!
Now with your analogy, knowing our "why" with the FACT there is "No Plan B" makes our focus that much sharper!
I choose "Plan A" ----------- "Burn the Ships"
Great Post!
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wapahm
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brt
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#13 · Posted: 24 Jun 2008 22:43
Excellent post Mitch, thanks for passing it along.
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PMHayes
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#14 · Posted: 26 Jun 2008 03:58
Thank you wapahm and brt. I truly appreciate your kind words. Don't you wish we had all known when we were young and stupid, even half of what we know now? I'm sure there would have been decisions we would have made differently, mistakes we would not have made.
Perhaps those mistakes hindered us from becoming more than we can now become. Or perhaps instead, they molded us and we would not have been able to become what we are now capable of becoming, had we not gone through that crucible. I won't even pretend to know the answer to that one.
One thing is for certain, leaving open a way of retreat prevents us from going for it with the abandon and whole hearted determination necessary to succeed. I am convinced of that. If I know, in the back of my mind, that there is an escape clause, I am more likely to wilt under pressure and go looking for it. No, I chose to "burn the ships," as well. As I stated, "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"
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A8ch
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#15 · Posted: 26 Jun 2008 10:38 · Edited by: A8ch
Mitch,
You've started quite an interesting thread here.
I think some readers may misinterpret the subject "There Is No Plan B!" and take that to mean there's no need to have an alternative or backup plan. It's clear to me that you're using the title as a metaphor and it isn't to be taken literally.
You're not suggesting that having an alternative or backup plan is irrelevant. What you're really saying is that your commitment and intention should be so fiercely strong and single-minded, that you wouldn't allow any person or set of circumstances to alter your course.
There Is No Plan B means:
- starting out with a clearly defined end result
- being absolutely committed to your objective
- remaining flexible to respond to unplanned events
- framing your goals in the affirmative (e.g. "I will be successful," not "I will not fail.")
- rejecting failure as an option
Just wanted to make that slight distinction. An inspiring post indeed!
Hermas
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luvinarizona
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#16 · Posted: 26 Jun 2008 18:57
Good job, Mitch!
Plan your work and work your Plan. There is no Plan B!
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PMHayes
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#17 · Posted: 27 Jun 2008 05:15
A8ch: I think some readers may misinterpret the subject "There Is No Plan B!" and take that to mean there's no need to have an alternative or backup plan. It's clear to me that you're using the title as a metaphor and it isn't to be taken literally.
Hermas, what do you think Cortez' plan B was? Swim back to Spain? No, there literally was no Plan B. Just playing a bit of Devil's advocate, here. But seriously, in my case, to develop a long term retirement income, at my age, with little or no savings, I only have a plan A. I suppose plan B could be to pull a jewelry heist, LOL!
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A8ch
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#18 · Posted: 27 Jun 2008 12:52
PMHayes: Hermas, what do you think Cortez' plan B was? Swim back to Spain? No, there literally was no Plan B. Just playing a bit of Devil's advocate, here.
Mitch,
In the spirit of meaningful discussion, let's examine Cortez's plan more closely.
By ordering the ships to be burned, Cortez removed any option for retreat for himself and his expedition. This demonstrated his resolve to succeed at all costs or to die trying.
His obvious commitment to conquer the land and seize the treasures infected his men and whipped up their motivation to succeed. They were left with only one way out - forward. It was all or nothing! There was no Plan B.
Only ONE objective remained - Plan A - Do or die!
However, in the execution of Plan A, I don't imagine that everything would necessarily have gone as scripted. There may have been instances when Cortez and his men mounted an attack on the natives and were forced back. They may have had to dig in, gather their resources and then craft an alternative strategy to regain the edge and move forward with their original Plan A.
In other words, within the context of executing Plan A, Cortez may have had to resort to a series of Plan Bs, if you will, in order to stay true to the original objective of Plan A - win at all costs.
So my point is this:
Every absolute plan ought to factor in a series of sub plans, alternate plans, or plan bs.
It is basic, prudent planning to anticipate various scenarios and to have contingencies
in place to address them, because motivation alone is not sufficient to guarantee success.
By the way, pulling off a successful jewelry heist would certainly be cause to celebrate your creativity, attention to detail, courage and superior planning ability.
Hermas
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PMHayes
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#19 · Posted: 1 Jul 2008 06:38 · Edited by: PMHayes
Hermas, I see your point. So, there was plan A, upon which contingencies weighed, causing a a possible plan A-1, A-2, etc. True, in the absolute application of logic there would have to be adaptations to the original Plan A. However, not my point. My point is, absolute resolve and commitment to success. In the case of MLM for me, and for many others, it's still MLM or nothing. I am way past the point where I could invest enough, save enough, to secure any realistic hope of financial freedom for retirement. In that context, there is no Plan B.
Ok, if this MLM or whatever home business one is in fails, or proves inadequate, plan A-1 might be to try another company, or another type of home business. But, even allowing that to come into one's mind prematurely could spell disater. So many people jump ship at the slightest hint of adversity, or at the first obstacle they encounter. That is NOT resolve, nor is it commitment. It's what I call a microwave or fast food mentality. Everything has to happen now, or we move on to someting else. This process usually repeats itself over and over again until the person just quits, altogether. Net result, Failure!
In Cortez's case, it was much the same. They had to succeed or die. Success meant an absolute resolve to conquer the land they had just invaded. There was no way back to "safe harbor." There was no way back home, unless they first finished their mission, found the wealth they believed to be there, and conquered all obstacles that stood in their path. Yes, of course within their Plan A were multiple sub plans, deviations, adaptations, whatever you want to call them. BUT, for the purposes of my article, those were all part of Plan A.
Ok, Hermas, bring it on. LOL!
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