Sell-Out

 One of the hardest parts of life is the struggle to survive. Some people seem to do this fantastically... they seem to thrive from the outside. For some reason, not only can they get food on the table for their families, but they find a means to splurge a little on fun things like travel, or toys, etc.

I'll bet you know the type of person that I'm talking about! Are you maybe that type?

Then there's the type that gets by, but they never really do much with what they have. They're not really struggling, but they're not really making more than what they need to get by. Can you think of someone you know who lives like this?

Lastly, there's the type that, no matter how many handouts or how much help they get, they just can't seem to find the means to take care of what needs to be taken care of in their life. These people seem to constantly be in a state of crisis.

Which one are YOU?

I'll tell you that my husband and I (because we share all of our income, I count us as one) are a mix of the first and second type. We used to be type two, through and through, but more recently, we've been learning how to create our own lifestyle... to live a life of our dreams rather than building someone else's dream just to get by. It hasn't been easy, but we're working on it, and we've seen big changes come into our lives... which leads me into what I REALLY was intending on writing about tonight... feeling like a sell-out.

Here's the deal, anyone who has worked in an MLM business can tell you that the business model gets a bad rap. It's tough work being a sales-person, and you'll find that some of your closest friends can become some of your worst enemies. I know how annoying it is to feel like all of your friends are trying to sell you something. I've been there! I've bought things I didn't want or need just to 'help my friends get a leg-up in their businesses'. That's why the decision for me to become a Beachbody coach wasn't easy. I didn't want to be that annoying sales friend, but I found something that was absolutely LIFE CHANGING for me, and just like other things in my life, I HAD to share it, whether I got paid for it or not. So, i made the decision to go for it and here's what happened:

I realized that this company model is amazing because "Million Dollar Body, Inc" which is Beachbody, is about more than getting into those skinny jeans. We're taught that if you're not fit mentally, there's no way you can be fit physically. This was the first place I had been taught that concept (besides church) and I was given tools to nourish my mind as well as my body! 

The next thing that happened was unexpected, but it has really drug me through the ringer lately. It seems that all of my friends feel like a have an ulterior motive every time I talk to them or pay them a genuine, sincere complement. Granted, not everyone was like this, but it still surprised me how many of my friends felt that I was doing things with/or/ for them merely because I was hoping they would join one of my Beachbody challenges... and it made me step back and think, "Do you even really know who I am?"

So, with that being said, I'd just like to say that for anyone who is thinking of joining an MLM, DO IT! You will probably not ever find something that will make you stretch and feel uncomfortable and grow as much as this experience. However, don't be surprised when people suddenly forget that you love them and care about them when they start tearing your dreams down, because it will happen.

I've been reading Jen Sencero's "You Are A Badass..." and something that she writes really sticks out to me, We get a lot of lip service about going after our dreams and believing anything is possible, but how do you actually DO this? How do you create a life you love?...do what's in your heart even when you're terrified of falling flat on your face of being rejected or losing all your money, or looking like a complete goober?" How do you do that when the people you'd think would be supporting you are suddenly telling you that 'that dream is not good enough' or 'you'll never be successful with that' or "Oh, I know a guy who did one of those companies. It's a pyramid scheme. You should get out before they steal all of your money."

Well, I'm here to tell you that the most important thing come's from Jen's quote; "how do you CREATE A LIFE YOU LOVE...DO WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART (regardless of your fears, or what people think of you).

That's how you do it.

I'm not going to tell you it's all cake and ice cream, and that it's going to be easy. Nope. It'll probably be one of the hardest things you've ever done, but IF you follow that advice in caps up there, well I'll bet you'll create something you couldn't even dream of having before, and all those friends who think you are just a big sell out, well, I'll bet that when you've seen success and changed millions of people's lives for the better in some way, they'll still be sitting there just about where they were when they told you that following your dreams wouldn't amount to anything (or they'll have joined you because they see just how great you are)!

One last little thing, if you're one of the Debbie Downer's who's trying to crush your friends' dream, maybe ease up a little and look into WHY they are doing what they're doing... it might surprise you how honorable their desires and dreams really are!