Looking back on a journey for excellence, I realize how free enterprise has been a vehicle for personal growth and a catalyst for developing and enriching all I hold dear.

In the beginning, back in the 70’s, I was always willing to do what it took to overcome my reluctance and fear of approaching others because I could see what doing that had brought for others financially, but especially I could see what a leader looked and acted like, and I wanted to have that persona. I wanted desperately to be viewed as a leader, of being and helping those who were seeking change. I always did my “chicken list”, went to the events, acted “as if” and tried to fake it until I made it. But when it didn’t work for me, I just knew it was my fault. It had to be. All those others were successful, the program worked, it just was me that didn’t have it together.

Over the years, I tried many, some I found were just too time consuming and “messy”, taking so much room and time for delivery that I just quit them. I had six children under the age of 11. I wanted to give them more in life, but the stress was too much. My husband liked the house to look like Better Homes and Gardens was coming, and I loved being with my children. They were my life, my reason for living. We had so many wonderful times together and we focused on the things I feel are most important-- our time and love for each other. Although I held a bachelor degree in teaching, it was never worth the cost to work full time and leave my children in day care.

I tried part-time work as a diet councilor in various establishments for weight loss and did very well. I was successful, but it took time away from my family. We moved a great deal and those opportunities were not transferable and depended on availability.

After twenty years of marriage, we moved to Kentucky and a whole new world and adjustment. Again, the lore of making extra money led me to respond to another MLM, this time in insurance, mortgages, debt consolidation and securities. The concept of educating and assisting others to save money and make a better life for themselves was my desire.

I moved forward and experienced some success, but I had not learned the keys to true success. Sacrifice, do what it takes, I did so much driving myself long distances to meetings and laying on office floors overnight to attend events, but was ashamed. I went to a few business leaders I knew and they loved what I taught them, then several went to men to do their business. I went to the university and established relationships there, but others had come and taken advantage of what I had arranged, but I was able to correct it. Then politics took over and I lost that potential. My father, after my sharing what I had learned with him, he asked me not to speak of it again to him, then called me months later to tell me I had caused him to loose 10K. You see, he had gone to someone else, not me and invested in an extremely risky investment vehicle, not one I would have recommended at all, but I allowed that to be my excuse to quit. I allowed my dreams to be stolen by others.

Then one day I was on the Internet seeking to “earn” a laptop for my married daughter who needed a laptop for her online college classes. Their computer fit only in the bedroom of their tiny house where her husband slept during the day. One of my responses led to a phone call from a young lady telling me of a home-based business with high financial earnings potential. I had learned over the years how free enterprise allowed so much freedom and potential earnings, but had also “learned” I didn’t have what it took. When she mentioned coaching and mentoring available my heart opened again. Surely, if I just had a coach and a mentor to assist me along the way, I could achieve. And I am.

I learned there are six steps to achieve success in free enterprise.

Know what you want. Have a measurable goal that you can see, visualize how you will feel having or accomplishing the goal. Then the energy and power of that feeling will propel you forward. If you don’t know where you are going, how are you going to get there?

Believe you can achieve it, that you are worth it. Connect to the Divine within you. Breathe into your own intuitive connection with God. Love and let go is a principle along with gratitude for the Source that connects us. Be grateful for challenges too, because we grow through them. They help us stretch, and it is through discomfort that we realize we are growing.

Be open to opportunity and take responsibility for your success. Invest in yourself and self-development. Set aside time to read and meditate; to be coached; to improve your skills. Read 11 pages a day minimum; make and read affirmations; practice your skills; learn to listen and ask questions and listen some more. Be consistent in productive actions. Be grateful along the path.

Make choices in your actions each day based on your goals. Ask, will this take me closer or further from my goals! Be accountable and treat your business as a business, not a hobby. Hobbies cost money and businesses make money. Be dedicated to your enterprise as you would to a job you loved. Direct marketing is a numbers game. Take the actions to reach the numbers.

Follow the system and keep it simple. Give it time to work. Each of us have our own learning curve, but the main thing is to self correct, but not be critical and say why not me? Those negative thoughts will sap all your energy. Personal growth is a lifetime process. Trust the process and realize free enterprise is a personal growth program with a compensation package attached. Look for systems that are simple to duplicate and follow it exactly. Focus on finding and connecting with prospects, then on closing (getting their decision) not on growth. Growth will follow naturally.

Create a mastermind group. Connect with others who are like-minded, positive, grateful, persistent and accepting. These people will assist you, energize you and help lift you up by their positive energy and gratitude for life. If your system does not have such a group within, then you create your own. Leaders step out of their comfort zone, make decisions, face fears and do it anyway.