Larry Hochman

Breaking Barriers, Having Fun, Achieving Success

The Answers AREN’T Right In Front Of You

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Another day to fully absorb the training we got from Gary Vaynerchuk this past Saturday.

Not to mention the training from Diane, and myself…and a very powerful message from Martin Danzer.

There were a million takeaways, and one of the most powerful was something that just came to me…

The answers to what you’re looking for in  marketing, branding, sales…

They’re right in front of you.

And they aren’t.

They are, because most of the things you need to do in order to succeed in a home business of any kind are the things you would want done to, with and for you, if you were the customer.

In other words, think like your people!

They’re not in front of you for two reasons…

1. People in business often don’t want you to see solutions clearly. That way they can charge you for them.

2. Most of us have vision that is clouded by our own lack of confidence in ourselves.

In our own judgment.

In our own fear.

In our own greed.

In our own lack of self worth.

If you lift that veil of ignorance, some amazing sh-t happens.

Yes, you make money. Often a lot of it.

More importantly, as Gary Vee says, you create a legacy.

Move to where the answers are.

Go inward.

Then look confidently but critically outward.

Learn stuff.

Diane is the best teacher I know.

Get strong and confident.

Mind Intensive will help you.

Peace Out,
Larry

P.S.: Photos and soul shaking quotes from the Ask Gary Vee event are up.

Take A Look!

 

Grace And Money

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This was in two places yesterday…

This isn’t directed at any individual, but if you see yourself in it, please accept it in the spirit of love and my desire for you to break through…

There is an energy in which we ask for and accept things (a topic we are covering in ‪#MindIntensive‬ at the moment).

Some of us are way too passive and don’t have the self-respect to ask for what we want. And when we don’t, it’s a stone cold guarantee no one will give it.

Others have what seems to be an opposite problem, but is really the same problem manifested differently. They make demands, act and speak without grace or consideration of the person they’re interacting with, and fail to do all they can.

That is another form of passiveness…putting the responsibility for your success on someone else, then blaming them when in your heart you know you didn’t do everything you were capable of.

My desire is for each of us to find that sweet spot. Enough self-respect to ask for and receive what is ours, and personal responsibility to grow into someone who serves and is served…to the tune of a thriving and prosperous business.

 

First place was in our Facebook Summer School group. It got 82 likes and 29 comments…out of 581 members. That’s an insane number of likes for a group of that number of people.

Second place was on my wall…yesterday. So far: 13 likes…out of 4746 Facebook friends.

What’s up with that? Wouldn’t you expect more likes from a larger population?

Some of you figured it out. The smaller number is a group who are interested in the topic. They signed up for it, and a decent percentage upgraded to a paid course (Mind Intensive).

So yeah, the environment you run with has a lot to do with your success. Make sure you promote in a place where people are receptive to your message.

And more than that (and this is what I wanted to talk about in the first place)…

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The average person wants what they want, and aren’t really that concerned with how they ask for it.

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That why the average person isn’t getting rich, or having an amazing life experience. They’re having an “average” one. Nothing wrong with that.

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The above average person knows how to ask for help in a way that makes people want to give it. They have appreciation and grace.

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And because of it, among other reasons, they make an above average income. And they have an above average life experience, above average fun, above average everything!

Definitely nothing wrong with that!

The Mind Intensive People are picking it up already, even though we aren’t even halfway through the class.

And many of them are making money. More than they’re used to.

Like Katie.

Many more of them are getting happier, sorting out complicated parts of their lives and are just functioning better.

That’s an important step on the way to making money.

 

Mind Intensive, the audio series is available.

How to be more graceful.

And how to make more money.

For real.

Take a look.

Gotta run!

 

YOUR TURN

Have you had an experience with making money by being more gracious and good to people? Tell us about it! Comment below. Like, share and Tweet above. Someone is waiting to hear from you!

You Have Got Balls

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No, it’s not a clever play on words.

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Well, I guess it is. But it’s exactly what you think it is.

Someone told me recently in anger, “You have got balls.”

Well, I do. For one, I’m a man. Father of two daughters in fact. So there’s no doubt I’ve got them.

It just occurred to me…someone might get offended by the use of the word balls in this post. The bad language filters, or whatever is used to censor stuff won’t pick up balls. Heck, I’m a juggler, so I say balls all the time.

But if you read my stuff, you get the sense I’m a pretty benign guy. If I get in your face once in a while it’s out of love. And I rarely pull out the swear words, other than to say “ass” once in a while.

Funny, the bad language filters don’t pick that one up either. It could be the donkey type of ass.

But they will pick up “free.” Crazy, huh?

Back to the point. I was told I have got balls. I was at the beginning stages of setting up a workshop series with an author that was based on some of his work. He’s a good guy. Even though it ended badly I won’t name him. And I genuinely wish him the best, and that he breaks through to the success he desires.

But the partnership didn’t work. We had different expectations as to what the parameters were, how the marketing thread would develop and the fundamental nature of the partnership. On both ends there was disappointment and frustration.

I made a business decision which he took very personally. I asked for money he thought I shouldn’t be asking for. It made him think I’m someone who had a lot of nerve to do what I did.

And yes, he said I have balls.

That’s his perspective. Mine is different, but it’s no less valid than his. He has balls too. But in a good way, as far as I’m concerned.

If you want to succeed, to command respect, which turns into customers, clients, money, etc. you have to stick to your position.

Yes, you’re allowed to negotiate, see things from someone else’s perspective, make mid-course adjustments. You should always be respectful and courteous, even if you’re ending the relationship, as we did.

But male or female…you gotta have balls.

Because if you don’t, someone else will.

Got Balls?

Was there a time you had to stand up for yourself, but didn’t? How about when you did?

Please comment and share. Let the world know about your…well, you know!

Herbalife, Pyramids, And A Defense Of Personal Responsibility

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Usually when I take a journey into the comment boards on Yahoo news articles, it’s like sliding into quicksand. It actually only seems like it’s going to kill you, and after a long time you can find your way out.

But sometimes there’s some good stuff that comes out of it.

So when I saw ‘US launches probe into weight loss company Herbalife’ a few days ago, it was hard to stay away.

Full disclosure: my wife and I cut our teeth in the home business industry as Herbalife distributors in 1999. We walked away from it as a business decision. But we both still have a lot of love for the company and many of the people in it.

And yes, we were successful in Herbalife. We made a lot of money and continued to collect commission checks seven years after we stopped building it.

And yes, that is much more the exception than the rule. There are very few businesses that have long term success rates. That goes for network marketing, franchises, corner restaurants, and eBay and Etsy stores.

A small part of that is the marketing and distribution plans.

A larger part is the work ethic and prosperity consciousness that goes into it.

I’m laughing as I type this. I can feel my back hairs raising and gearing up for a debate. Only no one is here to debate with!

Besides, I stopped that argument years ago. If they need convincing, I don’t want ’em!

And that goes for coaching, training and book sales as well. Just paint the picture, get in front of enough eyeballs, and let the right ones show up.

The story itself is about a possible FBI investigation into Herbalife’s business practices, and whether or not it is an illegal pyramid scheme. Bear in mind, this is old news. Herbalife, and pretty much every major network marketing company has end consumers who do not want to get into the business. And it is possible to operate a distributorship simply as someone who moves volume, not sponsors others.

Again…old news. The difference this time is a gentleman named Bill Ackman is attempting to short the stock and drive Herbalife out of business. This isn’t speculation. He has publicly stated this is his intention.

The interesting part is what some of the people who commented are saying. I’ll let them speak for themselves…

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“The only people that sell this garbage are bottom dwellers looking to take advantage of overweight people. I hope they throw the book at these frauds!”

“Is Herbalife a pyramid scheme? Is the Pope Catholic? The only real question is why didn’t the Feds shut them down decades ago?”

“ANYBODY who has ever Dealt with Herbalife can tell you its one of the Biggest & Best Scams the Mormon Church have ever created . Run , if the first thing Shysters do is ask for your Credit Card Number or your Checking Account Number !!!!!”

“There are PLENTY of MLM companies that are legitimately changing the lives of those BRIGHT enough to get involved AND to use ethics within their business to grow a successful team with honest hard work over 3-5 years instead of barely making ends meet pay check to pay check working for some CEO who sits at the top getting paid off of your work! Wait, isn’t that a “pyramid scheme”?”

“Herbalife, Market America, Nu Skin, Quixstar, etc etc.. They are all pyramid scams. I have so many people I know that was victim to it and They try to convince me to join, but I was smart enough not to. Now, they regret joining because they wasted money and time. These scams need to stop feeding #$%$ to desperate people.”

“The Gov’t made these same charges, & investigated the *cough, cough* out of this company back in the ’70s…they did not find anything then & I doubt they will find anything now.

What this all boils down to, is that Herbalife is making more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ than any 6 members of congress combined….congress does not like that…”

“Let me get this right in my mind America….The Feds are worried that Herbalife is running a Pyramid scheme yet they let the vampires at Wall street get away, every single day, of much worse? So this news posts is to what…get our minds of the real crooks? The real crooks being Wall street and the main stream media that glorifies them. Way to go Yahoo. And to the American sheeple.”

“Herbalife IS a pyramid scheme. They run their ads and never say who they are. They want something like $300 up front before they even tell you who they are. The founder killed himself for a reason.”

“Now, I am not a Herbalife representative just to clarify. However, what I love most about reading all of these comments is that most people who are on here ranting about how this is all one big “pyramid scheme” are the same people who wake up every morning to go work for a boss who tells them when to show up, what to do, when to #$%$, and when to go home. Look at your job and I dare you to tell me it is not a pyramid. You got your CEO.”

“The only reason Herbalife is not an outright pyramid or ponzi scheme is because there are products that change hands. Products that are nothing but panacea, a placebo.”

“Most sales people are bullshters anyhow, and I could not sell life insurance to anyone even if we were on a ship that was going to sink out in the middle of the ocean! I am not a liar! LOL”

“Duuuhhh!!! I knew it’s a pyramid when attended their distributors meeting 20 years ago and I was around 20 years old desperately looking for a job but smart enough not to take a bait. Should I apply for a position in FTC and/or SEC? I’m sure I can crack companies like that in much less time.”

“It must nice to be rich and own Senators, the way Ackman does. If I did, I’d have the my boys launch an investigation of the obvious price collusion on gasoline prices.”

And finally, because I didn’t find the strength to resist, my comment…

“Everyone’s got an opinion about MLM. Great My opinion about it is that an ethical one with a transparent marketing plan and a value added product or service is the best way to move someone with ambition from poverty to wealth. I know, because I am one of those people. But if you don’t like it, fine. A good sponsor doesn’t need to convince anyone.

But whatever your opinion is, show me the illegality. Anyone who is mouthing off about Herbalife….show me what they’ve done that violates any law. This company has been more closely scrutinized than pretty much any company you can name, MLM or otherwise. And no one has ever proved any criminal wrongdoing. Yes, they’ve settled a few claims…and show me any company that’s been around for 34 years that hasn’t.

If you don’t like MLM, don’t be a part of it. But if you want to make something good happen in your own life, stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and start taking responsibility for your own situation.”

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I figured there would be enough members of the Peanut Gallery who want to make everyone else responsible for their failure to fill up several comment boards.

So it was nice to see a mix of malcontents, along with people who are tired of the status quo, of looking for someone or something outside themselves to bail them out. There will always be a little bit of everything and everyone.

And like I said, if MLM isn’t your cup of tea, that’s fine.

I really don’t think it’s for everyone, and we need all kinds of people and professions to make things go.

But regardless of where your career takes you, it’s really fun to be in charge of your own emotions, and your own life.

YOUR TURN!

Have you had experiences in Herbalife or any other network marketing company?

Do you think it is a legitimate business model?

Did you grow from it…personally, professionally or financially?

Please…comment and share.

Small, Quick Wins

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One of the coolest things about the 21st century so far is our ability to do stuff that was just goofy sounding in the 20th century.

For example, I’m speaking this blog post into my iPhone on a Friday night, while waiting for my daughter to finish up the play she’s. It’s her school’s production of a Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare.

Speaking words into something called an iPhone, and having them come out as text on a little handheld device would have been strange enough.

Having a beautiful 17-year-old daughter would’ve been equally strange, not to mention the beautiful 20-year-old who’s her older sister.

But, there it is. And it leads me into the subject of this your post… Small, Quick Wins.

This actually was an idea that was adapted from a fellow blogger named Pat Flynn. I don’t feel badly about running with it, since I’ve been telling people to go after Small, Quick Wins for a long time…even when you learn how to juggle.

And going after Small Quick Wins can be the start of something huge. And you probably understand why…

Most of us are programmed with an underlying negativity. We expect things to go wrong, or not nearly as right as they could be.

So of course a thousand little things come along and reinforce that belief. It’s what we choose to focus on.

And it’s what we choose to do. Because there’s comfort in predictability…even the bad kind.

So if you are serious about making more money, finding a different relationship, making the one you have better, losing weight, any of the usual things we’re dissatisfied with…

You’re gonna have to start somewhere.

And going after the moonshot – the big swing of the bat that’ll change everything just isn’t realistic.

Even if you get it (pretty damn unlikely) you won’t have the consciousness to keep it. You’ll lose it all. Check your local lottery jackpot winner for an example.

But, Small, Quick Wins…those are a game changer. If you let them be.

For example, being able to speak your words into a phone means you have a phone, which is a Small, Quick Win.

The MRI results: the ones that tell you whether your sports hernia needs surgery or can be treated with physical therapy…that’s a Small, Quick Win. It means you have access to people and devices that can keep you healthy and fix you when you’re not.

Having a simple product that you can sell to a relative for ten bucks…that’s a Small, Quick Win. It means you can get the confidence of putting a little cash in your pocket, which you can then parlay into more cash, or pay off something that’s been eating at you just a little bit.

And it means you can show others how to do the same thing…and build an organization with a value exchanging, cash generating culture…with you leveraged into that money flow.

That’s a slower, but bigger win.

We can go on and on. But I’d be more interested in you finding your own Small, Quick Wins. And sharing them here!

That’s how the Big Boys and Girls got started!

Got any Small, Quick Wins to share? Place them in the comment section below. There are folks who are waiting for your inspiration!

 

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