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Stress gives the Advantage!

by Lisa Molina

At a recent business Conference in Whistler, BC, Canada with over a hundred of my team members, we got the good fortune of hearing from a man named Thomas Crum.

He talked about the benefits of Stress.    Yes, I said BENEFITS!  



Whether you realize it or not, stress actually has many positive qualities!
Stress increases brain processing, memory, and attention.
It speeds recovery, enhances immunity, fosters mental toughness, allows for deeper relationships, and allows for a greater appreciation for life.

When we resist stress we get more of it.  We think we have to push it away, and in doing so, it continues to attack us in ways we don’t wish it to.  In stead of resisting it, let’s simply thank the stress for being there, to do all the above.
Thomas, being an Aikido instructor, said, “The ‘attacker’ (what we do want in our life) will only continue to attack when we give them the advantage.”

Compassion will serve us, as we know, and when we learn to acknowledge and embrace the ‘attacker’ (the Stress)  it will remove  the negative charge, and allow the energy to flow where we choose it to flow!  We have FULL control over where the energy goes.

So when stress enters in,  decide to use it to your advantage.

Don’t resist it.  Embrace it.  Be Grateful for it!

Breathe it in.

With your breathe, breathing in the qualities you want in your life, use that raw energy, to further propel your goal!

When Stress shows up, be grateful for the Energy!  Now, take that Energy and use it to your advantage!

With all the tips I received, If you desire more information, contact me and say “I am a ready to use my Stress to WIN!”

New meaning to Stress filled Holidays everyone!

Here’s to an energy filled Happy, Healthy, therefore, Wealthy 2011 !


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Posted in Entrepreneurial Tips, General, Parenting Tips | 12 Comments »

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You are a Leader. Where are You Leading?

by Lisa Molina

There have been conversations lately in many of the online social circles I am in, posing questions like:

What is the best quality of a leader?

If you could only teach one thing to a young person about leadership, what would it be?

These conversations are interesting.  I’d like to take it a step further.

It seems to me the hundreds of different answers all say the same thing in one way or another….Be the Example!

We know leadership skills can be acquired, and the way we learn leadership, is by emulating another.  Even when we study the list of qualities of a leader from a book or a class,  it is the actual examples, that we learn most from.  As social beings, we learn by mimicking.

Who do you think of when you hear the word,  ”Leader”?

We may think of a parent, a mentor, grandparent, teacher, aunt, uncle, a friend, a hero from the past, etc.   Any of you think of yourself?!

Through out our years, we recognize a person that has has impacted us and take note.  For others, we learn how to lead by not doing what was demonstrated to us.  Some of us were brought up with the forceful mentality, “you’ll do this or else!” This way of  being with another, can hardly be considered leading.   Whether we agree or disagree with the way we were raised by our parents, the influence of  adults and other people in our lives, shapes our own leadership behaviors.

For some of us, leadership happens upon us and can take us by surprise.  We may land a certain position or find ourselves in a place where all eyes are on us. (OMG, I am leading this group!)   And yet for most of us, leadership is something we choose into, because we want the responsibly.

In all cases,  a leader is one whom is leading in their own life.  They are taking responsibly for their own lives, and through being the example, it is natural for them to lead others.  Naturally, a person that is living on purpose and being the best they can, setting and going for  their personal goals, would be a person  who is being a great example to others, aka a leader.

One of the greatest principles being taught in some schools, is asking the children, age 3+, “Are you being a good example?”

Brilliant!

We have agreed as a society that older kids should be a good example to younger kids.  Because of this agreement, anytime children can be in school where they have a mix or older and younger children, this principle will naturally come into play!  Love it.  Or it will naturally show up where you have older siblings.  Unfortunately, most schools segregate children by their age, therefore, within the school systems where children receive their structural learning, this simple, yet profound principle,  is not being taught.

The responsibility of teaching leadership is left to the parents.  I am satisfied, that our son get lessons of leadership at school, and also at home.

However, it surprises me that most people I come in contact with on a daily basis,  do not consider themselves a leader. They reserve that right for people with fancy titles, who have loud voices, who stand at podiums, show up on TV , etc.   This fact, has prompted to write this article.

Here is where I will state the obvious!  If you are a parent, YOU ARE A LEADER!    If there is any children in your environment EVER, you are a Leader!  However you show up to that child, if only for a second, you are being an example of leadership. There is no amount of verbal communication from parent/ adult to the child,  that will have the child learning the principle of leadership.  Remember, we are human beings, we mimick.

Whether a parent or not,  Our actions speak so loud, they can not hear a word we are saying!

It is so relevant to take a look at our actions.  Our words are so secondary.

Lists of the attributes of a leader , are nice and fun to ponder, however taking one quality from the list and implementing it, is of much more value.

Yes…  Be the example.  Be the change you want to see in this world.  (Thanks Gandi!)  Show up to win, and on purpose in your own life.

You are being an example right now.

The question, Is the example you are being right now, leading people where you want them to go?

Share your thoughts about being a leader, and  share your ‘everyday’ examples of  leadership here.  And please be sure to share for all those out there who don’t see themselves as a leader.                                                 Let’s hear it for our leaders!!



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Posted in Entrepreneurial Tips, General, Parenting Tips | 11 Comments »

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The law that works all year GIVING THANKS

by Lisa Molina

My son is sooo excited for us to hang out as a family, cook as a  family, play games, and celebrate our gratitude this Thanksgiving.
The other day we were out and about in Los Angeles, and he says, “Mom, so what are you grateful for?”

I answered him with the first 5 things that came up.  He proceeded to ask Dad (Bob).   Bob very happily answered.

Happy with himself, Skye then answered his own question.

My heart sang.

This was something I did with him when he was just age 1 and 2, when he was first saying words, when I’d put him to bed.  He would repeat the words that I would say I was grateful for.

Then one day, he didn’t want to do it.  He wasn’t interested.  He didn’t want to repeat nor say anything he was grateful for.

Although admit-tingly a bit sad, I let it go.

Now he does it spontaneously, and as often as he wants to.   And man, if that doesn’t just feel like the best ever!

You can utilize this tip all year long! For sure picking 5-10 things you are grateful for each day is an instant mood lifter, vibe enhancer, and result attractor! Not to mention one amazing way for a family to express their thoughts and open up to each other.  When you are feeling defeated, angry, sad, frustrated with your results, lonely, or to attract even more of the things you find gratitude already, watch what happens when you simply say I am grateful for  ….x……!

Have a FAB Thanksgiving!


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Posted in Entrepreneurial Tips, General, Parenting Tips | 4 Comments »

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Are you Communicating?

by Lisa Molina

Feel like you are not being listened to?

Having challenges getting your point across, with your child or with your colleagues?

Would you like more control over the effectiveness of the way you speak?

Communication or lack thereof, is the cause of much stress, heartache, loss of jobs, divorces, troubled teens, and all different sorts of  insanity, in our lives and culture today.

Communication is simply the exchange of ideas or things between people.  It is something that is sent AND Received.

This information has changed the way I communicate – Forever!

When I first started studying Communication, I thought it simply meant how I spoke. (Some of you are busted right now!)  What’s funny is I also thought I was a pretty good communicator!  (still do, lol!)  and that I didn’t really need any assistance with communicating.  I tend to be fairly direct when I communicate.  I have affectionately termed this  ”heart of the matter sort of gal”.  Little did I know, I had MUCH to learn about communicating. (and of course I still do)

What I realized was communication, is much more than just sending your message.  It is also about someone on the other end RECEIVING IT,

and  most importantly, DUPLICATING IT.

Have you ever been around someone that just loved to talk.   He/ she just kept talking.  Ugh, so annoying.   On the contrary – Have you ever been around someone who didn’t respond when you said something; just flat,  no comeback.   Both ways are extremes, and yet,both examples are typical.

We live in an under-acknowledged world. So many messages, so little real communication occuring.

You have heard that people just want to be heard.  I have learned this as people just want to be understood.

What will it take to truly communicate?

The following 2 things will have you aware of how to most effectively communicate:

1.  Your desire to improve, therefore your willingness.

In Sales training, we learn to listen.   To do this it takes being able to simple BE THERE.

The 3 ways one can listen are:

1.  Agree with

2. Disagree with

3. Be with

Agree with.  We know this well.  We seek for the ways you agree with what the person is saying. Head nods, yeps, I agrees indicate one is agreeing.

Disagree with. We know this too.  We  seek and find what we disagree with. Interruptions, shaking the head, either silently or not are indications of this.

Be With.   Now, this takes some practice; to simply be with the person and hear what they are saying.  We don’t have to agree, we don’t have to disagree. Just Be.

What a concept!

Clearly, to communicate, it takes receipt of the communication. So when someone communicates to you, it is not a communication until it is received.  How do you feel when you communicate and there is no acknowledgment.  (some of you consider this very normal. I know I certainly did.)

2.  Acknowledge that you heard the communication when someone communicates to you.

A simple, “I heard you”, or “I understand”, “O.K.”  is adequate.  Let them know you received what they said.  This has nothing to do with you agreeing or disagreeing. This is simply you being a recipient of their communication.  This will change the way they view you.  You become valued, as you are BEING WITH them!

Acknowledging simply means you let the person know you “get” what they are saying.  That you heard it and understand.  It does not mean you agree with it.

You can always agree or disagree after you received their communication.   To acknowledge someone does not mean you have to listen to or agree with every thing you hear.  The effectiveness of what you communicate, will absolutely GO UP when you are willing to acknowledge others.  Now, when you are communicating to them, they will begin to learn from you, and you can expect them to begin acknowledging and really duplicating what you say.

At first it felt really weird to acknowledge everything I heard from the people that matter to me.  Now, if there is no acknowledgement, the words get repeated until there is acknowledgment.

Last night I heard my son, Skye, saying, “Thank you!”, as my husband, Bob  left his room at bedtime and flipped on the hall light.  Bob walked into the dining room and didn’t hear Skye.  Skye shouted this time, “Thank You!”, waiting for the response, not getting it, and then yelled louder, “THANK YOU!”.  Realizing what was going on, I hightailed it to dining room to let Bob know that Skye was looking to be acknowledged!  Bob moved quickly to say, “You’re welcome!”, which had Skye promptly drift off into dreams.

Skye knows the valuable lesson that what he said, had not landed, therefore was not yet communication!   (happy mommy dance!)

When we speak, we are communicating, but does this mean we are Effectively Communicating?

Let me know your thoughts on effective communication, and  I would love to hear your wins when you give the acknowledging part a go!   If you are already effectively communicating, share any other tips, and share this info with your friends.   I am working with Skye’s school on a Communication Workshop here in LA this weekend and would love to meet any of you in the area.

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Posted in Entrepreneurial Tips, General, Parenting Tips | 5 Comments »

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Network Marketing Basics 101

by Lisa Molina

The other day, Skye, my five year old, shared with me how he was being a good example at school when he took his lunch and went to the lunch area to eat, before he played on the playground.

Today in Los Angeles,  when he saw someone had stuck gum to the back of bench, he said to me,  ”That is not being a good example“.

Of course it lights me up to see this basic, yet often overlooked, principle in play for him at his early age.

When I first got into the industry of Network Marketing I was blown away that I had never learned about this business model before.

Age 30, ready to be an entrepreneur…I fell in love with the industry.  Sadly, I started noticing, not everyone loved the industry as much as me.  Some people even cut off communication with me the minute they learned I was a “network” marketer.   Of course, being green, I took this personally at first, and over time, accepted, it was not about me….

After 10 years in the industry, I find network marketing to be so powerful!  It feels great to be in the people building business with so much opportunity! With so many greats, like our Rich Dad, Robert Kyosaki, and like the great Brian Tracy, shouting our industry from the rooftops,  what’s even more valid, is my own first hand experience of my life transformations and observing thousands of everyday, ordinary people WIN at this game!

I have come to learn what it is that turns people sour on this industry.  It still surprises me when someone is willing to make a decision to join the industry, however, is  not willing to make the decisions to take responsibility for getting the results they want to get.  <like being the example goes right out the window…>. This shows up in a myraid of ways.. things like,  not taking responsibility to do their marketing/ advertising to get the results, blaming the company -that  ’took their money’ <laughable!>  or blaming their  leader who jumped ship or disappeared, or in general, blaming something outside of themselves…for their lack of results.

Now, we all know, not all companies are created equal, and we know some are not built to last. We can say the same thing about people…(tee hee)  Wait a minute.. companies are made up of people!  lol

We also know with certainty, that if we don’t get the results we want in our life, it is not anyone’s fault but our own!

These people in turn out of their own lack of responsibility, will attempt to put blame onto all the things external.. and show up on their take-no-responsibly blogs.. which tend to attract those who also hold the NO RESPONSIBILITY picket sign.

Speaking of responsibility in our industry, I recently read a very well written article by Art Robbins that he wrote for the Downline News Magazine, December/ January 1994, called

Networking Marketing Ethics & Etiquette Focus on Cross Sponsoring

Although written over a decade ago, what great words of wisdom were his, that still ring true today.

We do have a choice of who we are in business with.  This was another reason I joined this industry. No longer did I have to be in business with anyone I didn’t want to be in business with; freely being able to choose who I align myself with and partner with.  What a beautiful thing!

A person’s success, financial and otherwise, can most definitely be predicted to the extent that individual is willing to take responsibility.

Participating in our industry with Ethics and getting the results we came here for is one giant major step for our cause! Growing our industry and showing others  an ethical solution, that does not pend on politics or corporate ladders.  It does not depend on who a person knows. It doesn’t matter a  person’s past experiences, nor current skill set.  NO matter where the person lives, remote rural living is just as good as bigcityUSA.

Network Marketing is a game where EVERYONE can win.

It’s amazing what an environment of success will do for the ethical person.   So it’s up to us to weed out the few bad seeds.  The only way we can really benefit our team or anyone, is when we are in action getting our goals!

When someone shows up to me with the a shiner, newer, piece of opportunity, I love to let them know,  that where ever you go there you are… so you might as well choose to be responsible right where you are!

Ethical principles never go out of style and  neither do Being the Example!

Just as my five year old would have it……call it wisdom, nah…. better said – just a Basic Elementary Principle!


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Posted in Entrepreneurial Tips, General, Parenting Tips | 21 Comments »

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Is Everyone in Your Environment Worthy of Your Company?

by Lisa Molina

We have heard time and time again how important our Environment is to our success.

How closely are we willing to look at who in our environment is keeping us growing and who is keeping us from growing?

This one basic thing, will make or break our success.

Doubt or Certainty

As social beings we are influenced. Not only with picking up another’s vibration,  <happy, mad, sad, bad….>  but also mimicking another.

We do it sometimes without thinking. All the more reason to take caution of who we allow into our social environments.

People really can make or break you. It is vital to determine who to allow in our company or who to remove.

There are two types of people in the world:

Ones with good intentions

and

Ones with bad intentions.

I can imagine we all have the goal to steer clear of the ones with bad intentions, however, most often, the people with bad intentions stay hidden well enough to cause all kinds of havoc before we discover them.

Let’s take a closer look at this.

Think about when you were  a child (or perhaps you have had this experience as a parent of your child) and remember a time there was a fight between you and someone else.  Each time this occurred, whether you noticed it or now, there was someone in the mix stirring up the trouble.  They would have been whispering to your friend or whispering to you, but spreading negative thoughts, nonetheless, to stir up trouble.

Thank Goodness our world is filled with mostly people with good intentions!

It is true, however, that the small percentage of people with bad intentions have a dramatic impact.

Anytime there is a argument, a fight, a conflict, an upset of any kind, whether with children, teens OR adults…  there is someone in the mix, usually NOT present, who has stirred up the trouble.

Someone who is secretly and maliciously  planting thoughts, whispering negative comments, basically creating chaos in the background.  This person has bad intentions and will usually place themselves around people who have good intentions; almost as if there very existence comes from feeding off the positive; they weave their venomous web over another.  Almost trance like, the person who has no malicious intent what so ever, is pinned as the trouble maker… while the Silent, Covert, Evil Weaver, slyly smiles with victory.

I see this occur far too often and I see it be the reason a person does not have the results they are seeking.

When one is experiencing a rollercoaster effect in their business and in their life, it is evident someone in their environment is at fault.

A few simple steps to follow when there is an upset to determine who should stay and who should go:

1 .  Who is the source of the information?

Simply discovering where the information originated, is not only the only way to go, it also demonstrate to those around you what you expect in your environment of success.  Doing so will also reveal a re-occuring theme, in which to know whom should be removed from this sacred environment.

2.  Get all parties involved into the conversation to handle it.

No matter how big or small the issue, the way to build a solid environment of success is to bring all participants into the conversation.   The way a person responds to your request for clarity will be very revealing.  People who are doing things maliciously or with harmful intentions, do not like to be called out on it.  In fact, they will do anything they can to stay hidden.  The ones that won’t come around to get all the facts on the table are typically the ones that have been silently creating the trouble for the others, hence it becomes obvious.

3.  Stick with the facts.

Any time you find someone who is telling lies, stealing, cheating, lieing or worse than that.. you have an outside party influencing these actions.  Often times the person at fault with the bad intentions is the least likely candidate.  If you are willing to listen, you will discover the truth and better yet,  you will be able to weed out the re-occurring trouble source.

4.  Who is worthy of your company?

Going into the conversation where there is an upset, it’s important to keep your purpose in mind.  You are not there to accuse, nor to be the judge and jury.  You are there to determine who it is that is on your journey to assist you and who it is that you should part ways with.

When we keep this in mind,  we can stay on the UPWARD Spiral of life!

Exactly where we deserve to be!


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Posted in Entrepreneurial Tips, General, Parenting Tips | 22 Comments »

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Star Spangled Banner – Let Your Freedom Ring

by Lisa Molina

Our King quit ruling our country.  And our king wanted to be another country’s king.  That is why our country is not ruled anymore.  And our country is now Free.

Skye Molina – July 3rd, 2010  (age 5)

Today Skye told me the story above and wanted me to act out a scene with him for Bob (Dad).  He had me tape the flag he got from the hardware store up on his bookshelf.   He had me be England and he was American.  We fought in a pretend battle (with swords) where he took me down and conquered me, and Skye then stood under the American flag.

Then he requested I write down all the words of the Star Spangled Banner, as he said them to me.

“I know what perilous means!  It means dangerous!”

Bob and I sat in a bit of amazement as Skye drew us a picture  of ramparts…when we asked him, what does “ramparts” mean.  (we had to look it up!)

What a beautiful reminder of what freedom means.

Just the night before at bedtime, Skye asked us what if he doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life.  Bob reassured him with, you have a lot of years to know.  I felt a bit more inquisitive as to why he was asking the question.  I asked him what he meant, and he kept asking me questions like, “do people get to do what they want to do?”  I let him know, he really does get to choose what he wants to do with his life, and although some people will act as if they don’t have a choice, the beautiful thing is, they do.  ”and so do you.”  He was satisfied with that, and drifted off to a peaceful sleep.

Recognizing now, why he was asking me the question,  It always amazes me how he sees so much.  Today he served as an amazing reminder to what the 4th of July represents.

This weekend is symbolic to celebrating Freedom that the US of A is free, and without a king to rule over us.

Although his inquiry to me last night posed an important question…… are we Really Free?

To me Freedom starts from within.  (Easy for me to say, now, that others have been willing to fight the  battle to keep my country free!)  In your world, do you have a ruler or is your mental space (aka: country) free?   For so many, freedom is quite the elusive word, yet it seems to be what everyone is, still today, going for.

I do know that in order to have our own freedoms, we must be able to clearly define what that means.

How would you define your  Freedom?

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Disney Channel Teaches Kids to “Show Your Parents How to Be Smart Online”!

by Lisa Molina

The other night I sat down with my 5 year old son, Skye, as he watched the Disney Channel.

I had  a great chuckle as I heard Phenius and Ferb covering the Common Sense ONLINE Rules..<click link to watch the short video>  …..teaching our kids what many adults deserve to learn!

Really giggled when I saw the tag line of “Common Sense Media”!   Very smart that Disney is teaching this to our kids and hopefully our kids can then teach all the parents!   ; )

Well done Disney!    Wholeheartedly agree with your simple, common sense message!

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