Today’s discussion is designed to make you think.  I am going to share some of my personal story today.  This is not done to make you believe the way I believe, but to help you understand the process that ideas have on your thought life.  Please think through your own beliefs and convictions as you are reading about mine.  My goal is to help you think better by understanding the power that ideas have to change lives.  I like to review my core beliefs every year to ensure that my beliefs are corresponding with the world that I am living in.  I think this is a good thinking habit for all of us to practice.

Yesterday, we talked about how encouragement is the oil to keep the engine cool.  Today, let’s talk about the gas that powers the engine.  Human beings act on the ideas contemplated in their minds.  Better ideas lead to better actions, just as better gas leads to better performance in an engine.  I have had a couple of breakthrough years that led to better thinking. 1993 was a groundbreaking year for me, because I learned the power of better ideas leading to better results.  I read extensively on personal development and improved my outer results greatly.  Outside, I was achieving great results, but inside I was miserable and unhappy.  1997 was another groundbreaking year.  This was the year that I truly surrendered to Jesus Christ.  Until then, I had my will and I thought I had added Jesus to my team on a part-time basis.  After 1997, I realized it was His team and my part was to do His will on earth fulltime.  A major idea shift!  When it was my team, the roadblocks and setbacks stopped me because I was never sure that the price was worth the reward.  When I joined Christ’s team, I no longer doubted that any price is worth the rewards – even if the rewards were not on earth. 

Think about the gas that you are pouring into your tank.  Are you beset by doubts and fears?  My good friend Tim Marks says, “Know why you believe what you believe.”  Every great achiever is a believer in something bigger than themselves.  Protagoras said, “Man is the measure of all things.”  This was my philosophy for several years and I personally found man to be too small a measurement.  If man is the measurement of all things, then there are no absolutes that relate to all men.  Each man will set his own measurements.  If there are no absolutes, then there are no convictions that relate to all mankind. If there are no convictions, then courage is weakened.  Less courage leads to less leadership.  A leader leads with the courage of their convictions and people follow people with convictions.  I say all of this to ask a few questions.  What are your convictions?  What principles do you feel so strongly about that you would suffer for them?  Are you willing to die for your convictions?  In our post-modern world, few people have convictions worth dying for. 

Patrick Henry’s famous statement, “Give me liberty or give me death”, rings hollow in today’s relative world.  We can laugh at Mr. Henry or we can ask what beliefs gave him the courage to stand against the overwhelming force of England and King George?  No one who reads the history books can doubt that the founding fathers had beliefs that were non-negotiable.  No one doubts that they were not perfect and fell short of their ideals. but at least they had ideals.  What concerns me about the daily buffet of post-modern ideas is the glorification of the cynic over the courageous.   Please tell me what countries erect statues in the main square to the cynic who said it couldn’t be done?  Or the cynic who said it isn’t worth being done?  Only someone who is fixated on themselves (man being the measure) could say that.  Anyone with the courage of their convictions and focused on the welfare (economic, political, and spiritual) of others would never say it isn’t worth it.   When you are setting your goals for 2009, I ask that you begin with the end in mind.  Start with your core beliefs and convictions.  Why do you believe what you believe?  What are the long-term results for believing this?  Do these beliefs lead to a world-view that accurately describes the world that we live in?  The closer your world-view accurately describes reality, the better you will do at living in the world.  These are some points to ponder as we move into 2009.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

Milton Friedman is another famous economist with a critical message for our generation.  Milton and his wife Rose both taught the importance of freedom for the individual in making economic choices.   A video series was produced based upon their best selling book Freedom to Choose.  Here is the first video in the series.  I particularly like the introduction from Arnold Schwarzenegger as he describes why he wanted to come to America.  America has always been the beacon of freedom and hope for the rest of the world and we must not lose this on our watch.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

Pastor Robert L. Dickie’s new book Living for Jesus ought to be required reading for all Christians.  It would be a great book for non-Christians also to help them understand the Biblical worldview. Pastor Dickie teaches lessons in this book that all need to hear.  Many people feel that faith and conviction have nothing to do with leadership, but I have been mentoring people for over a decade and their worldview is the number one factor in determining their success.  How you think, leads to how you act.  While you are learning to do the right things, you must also be learning the proper leadership worldview to think the right things.  Otherwise, no matter how big you build your team, the first big storm will knock you out of leadership. What I am saying is: A person’s worldview matters!  In my opinion, the Christian worldview explains the world the best as it really is, not as people want it to be.  Yes, there is a culture war and it begins with how you see the world, you worldview. 

I am not trying to convince you to believe what I believe, but I am trying to convince you to know why you believe what you believe.  This book will help you understand clearly the Christian worldview.  The sad thing is that many Christians do not understand the implications of their beliefs as applied to the world.  This book is filled with applied Christianity and a must for any Christian who desires to live for Jesus.  My faith in Jesus Christ has allowed me to endure many heartaches and setbacks with a peace that passes understanding.  I have a faith that God’s Will is being done through His servants.  I cannot even fathom handling the leadership challenges without my faith.  Read the book and please share some of the key learning points for the rest of our reader audience.  Share it with your Christian friends and bless their lives also.  Have a blessed Sunday.  Orrin Woodward

I have been asked my thoughts on free trade numerous times.  I believe the World is Flat as Thomas Friedman says and that America must learn to compete with the world.  Protectionism does not work and we know this from the world of sports.  Can you imagine going to the Olympics and learning that certain countries were penalized for being too competent?  The Olympic ideal is may the best person win and the best country win.  In economic parlance, their win does not have to be another countries loss.  Adam Smith, at the time of the American Revolution, clearly spelled out the advantages of specialization and economies of scale in his Wealth of Nations.  America must not fear other countries, but embrace a win-win trading policy with other countries. 

David Ricardo shared the concept of Comparative Advantage that is essential for the specialization between trading partners.  As I began my research for this paper, I realized that Alan S. Binder had already captured all the essentials in his excellent article.  I will share his well researched and reasoned article with you.  Great job Professor Binder in providing quality information that is explained simply.  America must remain free for the best entrepreneurs to try different ideas and processes to satisfy customers’ wants.  Every time we lose freedom, we lose the ability to compete.  Let’s replace fear with hunger to learn and grow.  Chris Brady and I wrote our WSJ #1 Best Seller, Launching a Leadership Revolution to encourage all people from every country to grow personally and be part of the global community.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

About the Author:

Alan S. Blinder is the Gordon S. Rentschler Memorial Professor of Economics at Princeton University. He wrote, from 1985 to 1992, a regular economics column for Business Week and is the coauthor of one of the best-selling textbooks on economics. He has served as vice chairman of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors and as a member of President Bill Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisers.

For more than two centuries economists have steadfastly promoted free trade among nations as the best trade policy. Despite this intellectual barrage, many “practical” men and women continue to view the case for free trade skeptically, as an abstract argument made by ivory tower economists with, at most, one foot on terra firma. These practical people “know” that our vital industries must be protected from foreign competition.

The divergence between economists’ beliefs and those of (even well-educated) men and women on the street seems to arise in making the leap from individuals to nations. In running our personal affairs, virtually all of us exploit the advantages of free trade and comparative advantage without thinking twice. For example, many of us have our shirts laundered at professional cleaners rather than wash and iron them ourselves. Anyone who advised us to “protect” ourselves from the “unfair competition” of low-paid laundry workers by doing our own wash would be thought looney. Common sense tells us to make use of companies that specialize in such work, paying them with money we earn doing something we do better. We understand intuitively that cutting ourselves off from specialists can only lower our standard of living.

Adam Smith ’s insight was that precisely the same logic applies to nations. Here is how he put it in 1776:

It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family, never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to make than to buy.. . . If a foreign country can supply us with a commodity cheaper than we ourselves can make it, better buy it of them with some part of the produce of our own industry, employed in a way in which we have some advantage.

Spain, South Korea, and a variety of other countries manufacture shoes more cheaply than America can. They offer them for sale to us. Shall we buy them, as we buy the services of laundry workers, with money we earn doing things we do well—like writing computer software and growing wheat? Or shall we keep “cheap foreign shoes” out and purchase more expensive American shoes instead? It is pretty clear that the nation as a whole must be worse off if foreign shoes are kept out—even though the American shoe industry will be better off.

Most people accept this argument. But they worry about what happens if another country—say, China—can make everything, or almost everything, cheaper than we can. Will free trade with China then lead to unemployment for American workers, who will find themselves unable to compete with cheaper Chinese labor? The answer (see comparative advantage), which was provided by david ricardo in 1810, is no. To see why, let us once again appeal to our personal affairs.

Some lawyers are better typists than their secretaries. Should such a lawyer fire his secretary and do his own typing? Not likely. Though the lawyer may be better than the secretary at both arguing cases and typing, he will fare better by concentrating his energies on the practice of law and leaving the typing to a secretary. Such specialization not only makes the economy more efficient but also gives both lawyer and secretary productive work to do.

The same idea applies to nations. Suppose the Chinese could manufacture everything more cheaply than we can—which is certainly not true. Even in this worst-case scenario, there will of necessity be some industries in which China has an overwhelming cost advantage (say, toys) and others in which its cost advantage is slight (say, computers). Under free trade the United States will produce most of the computers, China will produce most of the toys, and the two nations will trade. The two countries, taken together, will get both products cheaper than if each produced them at home to meet all of its domestic needs. And, what is also important, workers in both countries will have jobs.

Many people are skeptical about this argument for the following reason. Suppose the average American worker earns twenty dollars per hour while the average Chinese worker earns just two dollars per hour. Won’t free trade make it impossible to defend the higher American wage? Won’t there instead be a leveling down until, say, both American and Chinese workers earn eleven dollars per hour? The answer, once again, is no. And specialization is part of the reason.

If there were only one industry and occupation in which people could work, then free trade would indeed force American wages close to Chinese levels if Chinese workers were as good as Americans. But modern economies are composed of many industries and occupations. If America concentrates its employment where it does best, there is no reason why American wages cannot remain far above Chinese wages for a long time—even though the two nations trade freely. A country’s wage level depends fundamentally on the productivity of its labor force, not on its trade policy. As long as American workers remain more skilled and better educated, work with more capital, and use superior technology, they will continue to earn higher wages than their Chinese counterparts. If and when these advantages end, the wage gap will disappear. Trade is a mere detail that helps ensure that American labor is employed where, in Adam Smith’s phrase, it has some advantage.

Those who are still not convinced should recall that China’s trade surplus with the United States has been widening precisely as the wage gap between the two countries, while still huge, has been narrowing. If cheap Chinese labor was stealing American jobs, why did the theft intensify as the wage gap fell? The answer, of course, is that Chinese productivity was growing at enormous rates. The remarkable upward march of Chinese productivity both raised Chinese wages relative to American wages and turned China into a world competitor. To think that we can forestall the inevitable by closing our borders is to participate in a cruel self-deception. Nor should there be any worry about failing to forestall the inevitable. The fact that another country becomes wealthier does not mean that Americans must become poorer.

Americans should appreciate the benefits of free trade more than most people, for we inhabit the greatest free-trade zone in the world. Michigan manufactures cars; New York provides banking; Texas pumps oil and gas. The fifty states trade freely with one another, and that helps them all enjoy great prosperity. Indeed, one reason why the United States did so much better economically than Europe for more than two centuries is that America had free movement of goods and services while the European countries “protected” themselves from their neighbors. To appreciate the magnitudes involved, try to imagine how much your personal standard of living would suffer if you were not allowed to buy any goods or services that originated outside your home state.

A slogan occasionally seen on bumper stickers argues, “Buy American, save your job.” This is grossly misleading for two main reasons. First, the costs of saving jobs in this particular way are enormous. Second, it is doubtful that any jobs are actually saved in the long run.

Many estimates have been made of the cost of “saving jobs” by protectionism. While the estimates differ widely across industries, they are almost always much larger than the wages of the protected workers. For example, one study in the early 1990s estimated that U.S. consumers paid $1,285,000 annually for each job in the luggage industry that was preserved by barriers to imports, a sum that greatly exceeded the average earnings of a luggage worker. That same study estimated that restricting foreign imports cost $199,000 annually for each textile worker’s job that was saved, $1,044,000 for each softwood lumber job saved, and $1,376,000 for every job saved in the benzenoid chemical industry. Yes, $1,376,000 a year!

While Americans may be willing to pay a price to save jobs, spending such enormous sums is plainly irrational. If you doubt that, imagine making the following offer to any benzenoid chemical worker who lost his job to foreign competition: we will give you severance pay of $1,376,000—not annually, but just once—in return for a promise never to seek work in the industry again. Can you imagine any worker turning down the offer? Is that not sufficient evidence that our present method of saving jobs is mad?

But the situation is actually worse, for a little deeper thought leads us to question whether any jobs are really saved overall. It is more likely that protectionist policies save some jobs by jeopardizing others. Why? First, protecting one American industry from foreign competition imposes higher costs on others. For example, quotas on imports of semiconductors sent the prices of memory chips skyrocketing in the 1980s, thereby damaging the computer industry. Steel quotas force U.S. automakers to pay more for materials, making them less competitive.

Second, efforts to protect favored industries from foreign competition may induce reciprocal actions in other countries, thereby limiting American access to foreign markets. In that case, export industries pay the price for protecting import-competing industries.

Third, there are the little-understood, but terribly important, effects of trade barriers on the value of the dollar. If we successfully restrict imports, Americans will spend less on foreign goods. With fewer dollars offered for sale on the world’s currency markets, the value of the dollar will rise relative to that of other currencies. At that point unprotected industries will start to suffer because a higher dollar makes U.S. goods less competitive in world markets. Once again, America’s ability to export is harmed.

On balance the conclusion seems clear and compelling: while protectionism is sold as job saving, it probably really amounts to job swapping. It protects jobs in some industries only by destroying jobs in others.

I discovered some great news today.  Guy Kawasaki’s new site Alltop has included this leadership blog in its Alltop Leadership category.  This blog is listed just a couple of sites below Seth Godin’s blog! I have followed Guy Kawasaki since his book Selling the Dream.  Over a decade ago, I bought this book because I loved the title.  After reading it, I thought the content was spot on also.  We need to sell the dream to people and then teach them how to accomplish that dream.  I believe strongly in the principles that Kawasaki teaches in the book on evangelizing your products and services.  The best products in the world without a passionate and enthusiastic community to share the benefits with others will not succeed.  If you don’t believe in your product, how can anyone else?  Guy has succeeded in many endeavors by focusing not just on making money, but in making an impact in our society.  Kawasaki’s mission ties right in with the Team’s goals of Having Fun, Making Money and Making a Difference.  I am not sure how this blog was selected for the list, but I am honored and will continue to provide first rate leadership teaching to the incredible reader audience on this blog.  When Chris Brady and I wrote our book, Launching a Leadership Revolution, we had no idea that it would hit #1 on the Wall Street Journal best seller list for two weeks in a row.  But I do know that a key ingredient was the evangelizing from our blog audiences.  More evidence that a committed minority can make a huge impact!  Enjoy your family time during the holidays and set a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) for 2009.  2009 is the year to shine! God Bless, Orrin Woodward

Christmas in Florida is a little different than Christmas in Michigan.  Tim and Amy Mark and their kids plus Mark Ludwig joined us for Christmas 2008.   On Christmas eve, we read the Nativity scene from the Book of Luke.  After reading about how Christ brought peace and goodwill towards men, we talked about what Jesus meant to each of us.  I was impressed by the answers from all of the kids.  We then had each person sit in a special chair and all others shared what they admired and respected most about them.  We truly felt the peace that passes understanding as each child and adult shared what they respected from their siblings, parents and friends.  Many tears were shed and this will certainly be a tradition each Christmas eve from now on.  Here are a couple of pictures to share from our Christmas morning.  Merry Christmas to all!  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

                                                                    Sunrise Christmas Morning

                                                             Laurie and Amy - Scooter Racing in Pajamas

Merry Christmas to everyone!  Here are some pictures from our trip to New York City with Dallin and Karee Larsen just a couple of days before Christmas.  What a super day we had together!  On this Christmas day, take some time to reflect on all your blessings.  A baby born in Bethlehem has offered peace to you with God and man.  Jesus died on the cross to atone for our sins.  He payed for our sins by dying on the cross.  Glory to God! 2008 has been an incredible year of learning and growth for so many.  2009 will be a breakout year for the MonaVie Team on their quest for freedom.  In my opinion, true freedom begins with freedom from the bondage of sin.  I am proud to be associated with this phenomenal leadership community.  Here is a portion of the Christmas Spectacular at the Radio City Hall that we saw in New York City.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

This talk, in 1964, launched Ronald Reagan's presidential aspirations.  This was given as a paid for ad to help Barry Goldwater's failed presidential run.  Listen to the principles discussed and please share how many of these issues are still relevant today.  Techniques may change, but principles never do.  Ronald Reagan lived his principles and we need a few good leaders to live their principles again.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

Here is a question to all the thinkers on this blog.  What is wrong with the thinking on this video?  I will share my thoughts when I have a little free time.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

Great job to all the commenters.  You have nailed the key points!  How can you abandon your principles to save your principles.  I respect George W. Bush and I believe that he is doing his personal best, but I cannot sit by and let this thinking go unquestioned.  The Republican party has lost its way.  Similar to the split in the part when Barry Goldwater and Nelson Rockefeller were fighting for party leadership.  Republicans are terrible me-too Democrats and must quit trying to play that role.  Republicans must go back and read the history of their party during the 1960's if they wish to be relevant in the 21st century.  History is repeating itself again.  The Great Depression has been aptly explained by Murray Rothbard in his book with that title.  Government abandons Free enterprise is principles, socialism doesn't work and government's answer is to abandon free enterprise even further.  It is like taking a healthy patient; drugging them to "improve their life", realizing the drug has bad side effects, and drugging them further to "save" the patient.   Here are some other future quotes if this thinking goes on unchecked.

1. We have abandoned chastity to save our purity.

2. We have abandoned faithfulness to save our faith.

3. We have abandoned our wealth creating principles to save our wealth.

4. We have abandoned our Christian principles to save Christianity.

5. We have abandoned defense of our country to save our country.

6. We have abandoned our our families to save our families.

7. We have abandoned thinking to save our thoughts.

8. We have abandoned convictions to save our character.

9. We have abandoned belief to save us from unbelief.

10. We have abandoned holiness principles to save holiness.

11. We have abandoned the principles of leadership to save our leadership.

12. We have abandoned our brains to save our butts.

On this Lord’s Day, I woke up early in a search for a video teaching about our Creator. I stumbled upon this phenomenal discussion between Dr. R. C. Sproul and Professor Ben Stein.   This interview covers a lot of ground in less than 30 minutes.  America needs more people discussing issues and not name calling and expelling heretics.  The case for Intelligent Design increases daily as more is learned of the intricate details involved in life.  The micro-biology field itself has virtually ruled out an explanation outside of an Intelligent Design.  My point today is not to convince anyone that life was created by Intelligent Design, but it is to ask why a professor’s job is threatened or lost for broaching the subject of design.   Can we maintain a free society if society is not free to ask questions on how life was created?  I love the quote from Ben Stein in this video where he says, “There is no State Church in America, whether it is Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Moslem or Darwin.”   Ben’s point was a State Church would eliminate any discussion that would be against their dogma.  Darwin is now accepted as dogma in our higher learning centers.  Anyone questioning the dogma is laughed at, castigated and eventually expelled if the first two options do not work. 

I love the quote, “A mind is like a parachute, it only works when it is open.”  We have closed the American mind to open inquiry and are losing valuable discussions in the search for truth.  No matter which side is right, why is intelligent discussion on Intelligent Design practically forbidden in universities?  This is why I love the internet.  We are free to discuss and educate ourselves, without the constraints of the ruling dogma.  I may disagree with someone’s opinion, but we must rationally discuss it, if we are both to learn.  Name calling, rants, and attacks under anonymous postings are the sign of dogma police, not free discussions.  The reason I discuss these points under my own name is that I truly desire to learn.  Why is education and truth so threatening to so many people?  I have been wrong many times in my life, but the PDCA process is self correcting and I get better through the process.  Just as a toddler fails 999 times before their first successful step, exposing ignorance is part of the education process.  I don’t take that personally, but professionally.  I have learned so much from the discussions in this blog and from the videos people have shared.  I believe the term is autodidact, which means someone who self educates themselves.  We as a group must be autodidacts to continually learn and improve ourselves.   Enjoy this video and please share your thoughts to improve all of us. God Bless, Orrin Woodward

I love what I do for a living and the people I am blessed to work with.  Every once in a while the water is too enticing and I have to go out and catch some fish.  But as all of us know, fishing can be a hit or miss affair.  In case of miss, I always pack a book or two to read and enjoy the sunshine.  It was 80 degrees and sunny in Port St. Lucie.  I wanted to go fishing and the kids wanted a bullet ride.  We did both!  I took the kids out for the bullet ride while Captain Billy cast net and captured the bait fish.  When the kids were worn out, I dropped them off, picked up Captain Billy and went to a new spot in search of tarpon or jack crevalles.  I packed Malcolm Gladwell's new book Outliers and had a ball.  I am three chapters into the book and it is phenomenal.  Malcolm states that mastery in any area requires 10,000 hours of investment.  For me and all the people that I mentor, I know that Malcolm speaks a true statement! 

What I love about Florida is that I can multi-task by investing time in reading to grow myself and catch three jack crevalles over 15 pounds in the same afternoon.  The biggest jack was 30 inches and approximately 25 pounds!  A stellar day indeed.  Are you investing in yourself and your business and building your 10,000 hours to master your profession?  Laurie and I from 25 through 31 years of age invested over 10,000 hours and mastered the skills of networking.  We were fanatics (what unsuccessful people call a winners commitment) :) for that period of time and built the lifestyle of our dreams.  It has made all the difference in our thinking, lives and leadership.  If you choose to be a Master Network, I have a few words of advice. 

Success is three things.

One, what do you want? 

Two, what does it cost? 

Three, pay it! 

So many people wait for success/mastery to go on sale, but success/mastery will never be discounted.  They put in a 1,000 hours here and a 1,000 hours there.  They get bored and begin to dabble all over losing the focus necessary to finish what they start.  They are always on the lookout for that proverbial success coupon.  Decide now to pay in full and quit haggling over the price!  If you are new, you have 10,000 hours and counting down to mastery.  The picture below does not do justice to the size of this big boy, but if you imagine flipping the fish vertical, it would almost blot me out of the picture! God Bless, Orrin Woodward

I had the privilege to be invited as a guest on the Art Jonak Show, a video program for Network Marketing.  I was introduced to Art through an interview that Chris Brady and I did for Networking Times.  Art has quickly become a good friend and his vision for taking the Network Marketing field mainstream is in line with the leaders of the Team.  Art has accomplished many things in life, but what impressed me most was his heart for people and his humility to learn and grow.  Art’s show brings the best of the best in the Networking field and discusses the principles that build and unite large organizations.  I met some incredible leaders in both the Network Marketing and the Social Networking field.  Talk about a Mastermind group!   On Wednesday night, the group met for dinner and discussed the industry and the leadership challenges to take networking mainstream.  Then on Thursday, Art interviewed the top leaders, one after the other.  Art had a full day of interviewing the best minds in networking for his show.

See a portion of the show - Orrin Woodward

When you meet Art, it doesn’t take long to realize that he is the consummate professional.  His ability to focus on what is relevant during the interview and what will resonate with the audience is impressive.  There is a fine art to proper interviewing and Art has mastered not only the art, but the science of a good interview also.  By asking the right questions and creating the right atmosphere, Art draws out the leader to share their key ingredients that lead to success.  I am now officially calling Art Jonak - Networking's Networker.  Art has built key relationships with the biggest and best leaders in the entire industry to serve in taking the networking field mainstream.  The MonaVie Team community plans on playing a huge part in helping to carry this vision to fruition.  We must focus on building numbers, building volume, and building solid win-win relationships throughout our teams.  Are you ready to take Network Marketing mainstream?  Then it is time to sell out to your dreams, the pattern and personal development to become the person necessary to live your dreams!  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

Since World War II, Keynesian economics has been the main current in economic thought in America.   I have taught that “Ideas have Consequences” for years and we are now reaping the bitter harvest of this poor set of ideas.  Anyone that would take a cursory look at the economic indicators and our government’s budget would have to admit something has gone drastically wrong since World War II.  Deficit spending has skyrocketed; savings for Americans are at all-time low numbers, government spending makes up 25% plus of our economy and many more.  The numbers are a dismal reminder that no one can overturn economic law, not even the largest government in the world.  America’s politicians have been on a spending spree since WWII and have financed it with the American taxpayers' money.   Marrying a defective economics system that glorifies government spending with power hungry politicians that are looking for any excuse to spend our money is a recipe for disaster. 

Why is it that every responsible American family must balance their budget monthly or run the risk of serious consequences, but our elected officials cannot seem to master this standard requirement?   Chris Brady did a post on the 545 people that are responsible to run our government.  He attached some thoughts by Charlie Reese

There are one hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices. A total of 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

Are you telling me that in America, there is not 545 people who can learn to balance the budget and tell their constituents, no, when they have to?  You cannot have the proverbial cake and eat it too.  The government continues to spend billions more in dollars than it is taking in which makes it the least effectively run business in America.  Yet I hear people all the time that state, “What we need is more government involvement.”  Ok, let me get this straight.  The government that cannot balance its own budget (even though it has the largest revenue stream) will now be teaching its techniques for success (failure) to the rest of the private economy?  That is like going to the homeless shelter and assigning one of the unfortunates to teach their business acumen to the Chamber of Commerce. 

We are systematically robbing our children of their birthright in an orgy of spending and irresponsibility.  Americans need to demand responsibility in their government and find 545 people with the following skills and character: budgeting, ability to say no, integrity, principle centered, confronting reality, economic principles, historical understanding, vision casting and leadership.  I refuse to be part of the generation that sat by idly and allowed our great nation to spend itself into poverty!  Every businessman is held responsible to the bottom line by the market and profit and loss.  As Americans we must hold our politicians responsible for the bottom line.  We can right this ship, but we need less rhetoric and more confronting reality on the issues.  Here are just a few suggestions.

1. A government amendment to balance the budget yearly.  Leadership requires tough choices and without this amendment tough choices are put off by borrowing money and leaving a bigger problem to the next generation of leaders.

2. Back to a Gold standard or a hybrid system that only produces money when real value is produced in this country.  It is too tempting for politicians to artificially produce money and inflate when in a pinch.  Real money is only a measurement of value produced, not something that can be printed by fiat.

3. Reduce our foreign soil commitments of troops.  If countries desire us to be the police force for them, then they must foot the bill.  Who exactly are our troops in Western Germany defending against?  Isn’t this an appendage from the Cold War?  Cannot Germany defend themselves at this point?

4. Reduce the influence of special interest in the voting process.  The elected officials need to represent the voters, not the special interest.  Until we can have elected officials that are not owned by special interest, real change will be slow in coming.

Here is an educational video on Keynesian economics that is a must see for all responsible Americans that are concerned about our present financial crisis.  Thank you Vince for sending me the link to this video! Please share your thoughts to clean up our government's mess.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

Here is some exciting news about a new market that the MonaVie Team will be participating in big time!  If you have any contacts that speak Spanish and have connections in Mexico, now is the time to talk to them.  I am so proud to be part of Dallin Larsen and the MonaVie organization.  Dallin told me he would open MonaVie to the world and produce world class products for the world.  He has followed through on his commitments and now the MonaVie Team will follow through on ours.  Laurie and I are reviewing the market and determining potential Mexican personals to add to the MonaVie Team.  The best way to lead is from the front line!  What part are you going to play in the MonaVie Mexican Team?  Here is the announcement from MonaVie.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

MonaVie is pleased to announce it is now accepting pre-enrollments in anticipation of our launch in Mexico.

Take advantage of this exciting opportunity and begin building your organization today. You can get started with pre-enrolling distributors into your organization by visiting MonaVie’s Mexico site at www.monavie.com, and selecting “Mexico” from the country

Please pass this on to your email list to help educate the American Electorate.

"A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins." - Benjamin Franklin

My subject today is on the lowering standards for spiritual, political, economic, and historical literacy in America.  I fear for our country when people can be whipped into a mass frenzy by a speaker’s style more than his substance.  Now don’t misread me here.  I believe strongly in having a pleasing public speaking style, but that should be secondary to the truth of the speaker’s statements.  To follow someone because of their communication skills with no understanding of the underlying message is a breeding ground for disaster.  Without an understanding of our American heritage, how are American voters discerning between the spiritual, economic, political and historical issues?   Without a basic understanding of our American history all decisions are chosen upon how they make people feel, not on what people think.  Sadly, in today's society, belligerent ignorance is as highly valued as diligent study.  You can look at any comments sections of any public blog to see the truth of this statement.

“Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.” – Thomas Jefferson

Thinking requires a general knowledge of the subject.  I cannot have an educated discussion on Albanian politics, because I do not have all of the issues and their historical relevance at my fingertips.  If I were asked to be involved in a discussion on the subject, I would have to do some homework to get up to speed.  Every four years, people place a vote for the most powerful person in the world.  I have wondered, for years, how much homework they have done to apply this nearly sacred honor.  I am not one of the people who believes that "image is everything."  In fact, I am one of the people who believes the exact opposite.  Give me character over reputation any day of the week.  I have learned enough about the media to understand their goal is to paint an image.  But as John Wooden says, “Reputation is what people say you are and character is who you are.”  Just like a book, I focus on content of the book, not just its cover.  If I had to choose, I would take great content with a poor cover than the reverse.  In order to understand the content, you must be educated on the principles yourself. 

“Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people.” - John Adams

 Here is a phenomenal test given to Americans to determine their knowledge of American Civil Literacy.  Please click on the link and take the test.  There are 33 questions in all and it is closed book with no notes.  Do not click on the comments as some of the answers are discussed there.  Please take the test first.  Let's determine your American Civil Literacy score currently, to help us focus your reading in the proper areas.  Tyler Libby, a good friend, a great reader and excellent leader in America, sent me this test with this blurb attached.

Are you more knowledgeable than the average citizen? The average score for all 2,508 Americans taking the following test was 49%; college educators scored 55%. Can you do better? Questions were drawn from past ISI surveys, as well as other nationally recognized exams. 

“I know of no safe repository of the ultimate power of society but people. And if we think them not enlightened enough, the remedy is not to take the power from them, but to inform them by education.” – Thomas Jefferson

I knew that people on the Team have probably done more reading than the average population and even the average college educators/professors.  I was concerned that the average scores were coming in around 50%!  How can we play our part in our Republic if we only understand half of the principles behind the specific issues?  I reflected back on the numerous books in our MonaVie Team system designed to educate our teams and excitedly took the test.   I quickly went through the questions and without reviewing them I sent them in for my score.  Here is what I received back.

You answered 33 out of 33 correctly — 100.00 %

Average score for this quiz during November: 78.0%
Average score: 78.0%

You can take the quiz as often as you like, however, your score will only count once toward the monthly average.

Since it was early November, I assume there were not many that had taken the test yet for the month.  I would ask that everyone on the blog take a few minutes and take the test.  Read the questions and answer without using any notes or searching the internet.  See what you know currently and that will give you a baseline as you learn and grow in the Team educational system.  There is no failure, only a beginning point for further growth!  I feel this is one of the most neglected parts of the value of the MonaVie Team training.  We do not just train people to be good networkers.  We educate people to be good citizens of their countries!  Learning and growing should be fun and if it is not then someone took your curiosity from you.  A nation that does not know its past cannot possibly chart a proper course for the future!  Please share what you learned from taking the test and I will recommend different books based upon your comments to help in your education process. 

Here is a website that has some great thoughts on freedom and education.  I will post a few paragraphs here. Our Founding Fathers were extremely aware of the importance in a proper moral education for the people in order to have a government of the people, for the people, and by the people. 

“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never can be.” - Thomas Jefferson

Our founders gave us a nearly perfect form of government, that combined responsibility and accountability. It gave us the responsibility to hold our government accountable for their actions. However, in our prosperity, we have been lulled to sleep.

A system wherein if we shirked our responsibility, then our government would no longer be accountable. Sadly, most of us think the type of government we have is a democracy. The better educated can proudly say that we have a republic. However, among those better educated, not one in a thousand understands the true substantive difference between the two.

There are two main reasons for the dilemma we find ourselves in:

1. We are prosperous—the most prosperous nation on earth, and our prosperity has made us comfortable, and in our comfort, we have abrogated our duties to those who promise to do them for us without any serious scrutiny. And as generation to generation pass, we grow more firm in our lack of understanding, and we do not even know the standards to which our officials should be held.

2. The deliberate dumbing down of our education system in an effort to enslave the public through ignorance and prepare them for world government.

"We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." – John Adams

Don't beat yourself up if you didn't score well.  If you make a decision to improve then you are becoming part of the educated electorate.  The question is: are you going to be part of the long-term solution or part of the long-term problem?  Spiritual, economic, historical, and political principles must all be learned if we are to be part of the solution!  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

In my opinion, economics is the least understood of the sciences.  Economics affects every person that desires to provide for their families, but most people rely on government or the media for their (usually incorrect) snippets on economics.  The Austrian School of economics has the most logical descriptions of what occurs in an economic transaction and aligns with my personal experiences.  I believe that to learn economics properly, you must read and then apply the principles into your business endeavors.  We have watched our government since the 1920’s take over our economic freedoms.  With every loss of economic freedoms, political and religious freedoms are sure to be lost also.  Ludwig Von Mises is my favorite author in economics, but they may be a little deep for your first economics book.  Paul Pilzer wrote a book called Unlimited Wealth, Warren Brookes wrote a book called Economy in Mind, and Friedrich Von Hayek wrote his classic, The Road to Serfdom.  All three of these will give a great foundation for understanding what is happening in our economy today.   Ludwig Von Mises magnum opus, Human Action is the best book on economics ever written in my opinion.

If we go to our economy today, we will see major violations of economic law.  The sad thing is that the government will violate economic law with its interventionist policies and then when it fails – the government blames free enterprise.  This allows the government to do more interventionist policies.  It is like a mad doctor who gives the patient a drug and it makes the patient worse.  The doctor then states the patient is very sick and will need further drug injections.  The process ends only in the death of the patient.  Socialism/Communism has never worked anywhere!  I hear all these poetic words on the joy of government regulations and control to stop the greedy entrepreneur, but in Cuba, North Korea, Soviet Union, etc, they only succeeded in stopping their economy.  The Austrian school of economics recognizes that all economies rise and fall on the economic calculations and predictions of the entrepreneur.  If you kill the entrepreneur then you kill the catalyst for the entire economy.  China has transformed itself into a pseudo-free enterprise country by allowing entrepreneurial profits.  The Chinese totalitarians saw the economic writing on the wall and modified their economics (in a blatant disregard of their Marxian roots) to maintain power.

Peter D. Schiff is the president of Euro Pacific Capital Inc., a brokerage firm based in Darien, Connecticut.  He is a follower of the Austrian school of economics and has predicted our current crisis years in advance.  Peter, by using the logical conclusions drawn from economic analysis, predicted the credit crisis, the housing devaluations and many more of the economic maladies.  Here is video footage of news programs where Peter was laughed and mocked for his economic views.  Notice how he stands his ground and does not give in.  Like the old saying goes, “A man with the facts is not at the mercy of a man with an opinion.”  I salute Peter Schiff for his economic stands against the hysteria of the crowds.  We need more men and women that learn the truth of economics for themselves so we will not be led down rabbit holes by our government and media.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

I believe that all leaders have a responsibility to learn truth in their life.  They also have a responsibility to live truth in their life.  Lastly, they have a responsibility to share this truth with others.  I am so thankful that God has blessed our business and given us the opportunity to share truth with others.  Are you learning, living and sharing truth in your leadership journey?  Francis Schaeffer was an explosion of ideas for my leadership journey and I believe will help all of us understand the role we play in the future of our countries.  God will not be mocked and we must surrender our wills to His will if we desire our countries to be blessed.  No one describes the condition of our cultures better than Dr. Schaeffer and his book, How Shall We Then Live? is a classic that all leaders should read, in my opinion. 

Here are a couple of videos that share some of the concepts from the book.  Remember, no one can think for you.  I strongly disagree with any leader who tells someone that they must believe the same as them.  I learned a long time ago that a person convinced against their will is of the same opinion still.  True learning only occurs when someone is open to think through all the sides of the issues.  Not arguments and name calling, but only reasoned discussions guided by the Holy Spirit will help us unite around the Truth and make a difference. Have a blessed Sunday!  Orrin Woodward

I received an inspirational message from Don Poole, one of the assistant coaches at the Muskegon High School football team in Michigan.  I had met Don at an open meeting where I was speaking at in Grand Rapids during the summer.  Don read Chris and my #1 Wall Street Journal best selling leadership book and then introduced the book and principles to Head Coach Tony Annese.  The entire coaching staff incorporated the principles from Launching a Leadership Revolution into the culture of their team.  Here is the first email that I received from Don.  Unfortunately, with my schedule booked 30 days in advance - I could not make this speaking engagement at short notice.  I do plan on congratulating this group of young leaders in person at my first opening!

Hello Orrin,

My name is Don Poole, Mark Vanbeek is my upline.  I had the amazing opportunity to hear and meet you this past summer at the Hudsonville open. I coach football at Muskegon High School.  After reading your leadership book, I let my head coach, Tony Annese read it.  He loved it and read it 3 times, we then developed a leadership class based on the book to inspire some young leaders.  In Hudsonville you offered to speak to our team if we made it to the finals. Well this past weekend we beat Lowell (#4 in the nation) and now we face Davidson in the semi-finals.  I feel very confident that if our young leaders show up and play the way they have all year we will be at Ford Field house on Nov. 28^th 1:00 pm.  I am just wondering if your offer still stands, and hoping it could work out for you to talk to the team the day of or the night before. If you might be available to speak to our team I can give more concrete places and times.  We usually spend the night before the game some place near Flint. Thank you in advance for your time, wisdom and inspiration that you have given Tony Annese, our team, and lastly myself.

    Sincerely,

    Don Poole

They generated a study guide from the book and many of the young leaders volunteered to go through the book study to improve their leadership.  The results were phenomenal! The goal of any leadership team is to create a Culture of Excellence.  Muskegon has created this Culture of Excellence through Tony Annese's leadership!  They started as an unranked team of mostly underclassmen and finished number one in the state of Michigan in their division.  This is an exciting testimonial to the power of leadership in a persons or teams life.  Here is Don’s description of the playoffs. 

A little update about our season.  We were playing Davidson for the semi-final game at Michigan State University.  As I had stated previously if Muskegon showed up and played the way we had against Rockford(Div 1 State Champs) or Lowell (Ranked #1 in the state, top 25 in many national polls) Davidson would be little challenge for us.  Well on that Saturday Nov.22 our kids showed up but just had a combination of adversity, bad luck, poor performance, needless to say we had 6 turnovers, 3 unforced.  The score was 35-19 with 4:30 left to play, our kids were upset and discouraged, nothing was going our way, Davidson was driving on our 20yd line with a 1st down.  Our kids, not wanting their dream to end fought hard and stopped Davidson and got the ball back with about 4 minutes.  On The first play we hit a big pass play 78 yd touchdown.  Now we needed a 2pt conversion, it failed stopped by an 1 inch. 35-25 with 3 minutes left.  We went for an onside kick and got it( we do this every week in practice and only have gotten 1 in about 40 attempts).  Then we went down and scored again, needing an extra point to make it a three point game we missed it score now is 35-31.  Now we had the impossible task of kicking another onside kick, get it and score with less than 2 minutes and no timeouts.  Our kids not wanting to let their dream and season end lined up, knowing this was our only shot.  The kick was bad wasn't going ten yards but a Davidson player not seeing tried to block our player and the ball hit him in the back and we recovered it. Then with no time outs we went down and scored with 43 seconds remaining. Davidson got the ball back and moved it to our 40yd line then we intercepted it in the end zone on a hail mary to preserve the win. 

We went on to Ford Field and faced Warren Delasalle, Catholic league Champions, 13-0.  We played great and with 3 minutes left the score was 34-7, they scored against our 2's & 3's making the final 34-14.  Muskegon is Div. 2 state champions, #25 in USA Today paper, Top 5 in many national prep polls. The cycle of achievement was a part of our success along with some of the leadership lesson's from Chris and your book.  Thanks again and Maybe something in the future will work for an opportunity to speak to the team.
Don Poole

This has the makings of a movie with the Dream, Struggle and Victory all included.  That is what life is about, getting a big worthwhile dream and spending the rest of your life chasing it.  You will have setbacks, naysayers, fans, coaches, mentors, and heartaches, but you must finish anyway.  With or without the dream, you will have the struggles, but with a dream, you will know that you did something worthwhile to help others.  I salute the Muskegon High School football team from head coach Tony Annese on down for their Dreams, Struggles and Victories.  Take the lesson learned here and apply them to all areas of your life for the rest of your life.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

Are you applying the principles from Launching a Leadership Revolution in your life so you can launch your revolution?

Another competitive advantage that MonaVie has is its incredible jet credits program.  MonaVie has their corporate Hawker 1000 jet plus access to other jets when the Hawker 1000 is booked.  Laurie and I left our house after 12:30 pm to arrive at the Stuart airport at shortly after 1pm.  A Lear jet and two pilots were waiting for us and by 1:15 pm we were in the air and heading to St. Louis for the seminar.  No lines, no check in and all we had to do was show our ID to the pilots.  I looked at Laurie during the take off and told her that we were a long way from our trailer in Davison, Michigan where we started life together.  There is power in a dream and the perseverance to see the dream through.  Here is a picture of Mark Ludwig with Laurie and me in front of the Lear jet.  Mark is a new Turbo 25 and just missed Turbo 50 at the St. Louis MonaVie Team event.

Dallin Larsen is known as the distributor CEO for a reason!  Dallin focuses on serving the leaders who serve their communities and move the products.  I am honored to be in business with Dallin, MonaVie and the incredible MonaVie Team.   I love the product and am blown away by the personal testimonies that I am hearing from customers and distributors on the Team.  Healthy, Wealthy and Wise is the way to be.  Thank you Dallin and the rest of the MonaVie leaders for creating a dream opportunity for entrepreneurs to truly own their own business.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

There is an ideological battle blazing in the Network Marketing industry.  At stake is the Soul of an entire industry and whether it retains its free enterprise roots or morphs into a totalitarian control by the few.  On one side are the totalitarians that demand control and obeisance from the “proprietary trade secrets” otherwise, known as your friends and families.  On the other side are the libertarians that believe in free enterprise and the "right to own your own business."  There can be no middle position here.  Either you are for companies owning the people who freely join their business, but are not free to leave or you are for the free enterprise principle that customers will stay only if you serve them.  Most people begin in business as libertarians and love freedom until they get a big community and then they want to use coercion to keep them.  I don’t believe this can nor ever will work.  People join networking to get out of the bureaucracies and coercion of a corporate job and are highly disappointed when they find out that some networking companies claim to have more control than their corporate jobs had over them.

Networking companies have always touted free enterprise and personal freedoms.  I have attended years of seminars and have heard speakers share quotes from Ludwig Von Mises, F. A. Hayek, Milton Friedman, Ayn Rand, George Reisman and others on stage for their stand on free enterprise.  I love the Network Marketing/Community Building field and what it can do for people’s thinking and lives.  I read most of the books of these giants of free enterprise and economics and was inspired to build a large free enterprise networking community.  I am now very concerned with the totalitarian direction of many in the networking industry.  Why is the networking field moving away from its free enterprise foundations that drew so many incredible entrepreneurs into the field in the first place?   Is the Direct Sales Association the group that can fix this or do they represent only the company’s perspectives?  Perhaps a field led association needs to be created to ensure that free enterprise reigns throughout Network Marketing?

"To deal with men by force is as impractical as to deal with nature by persuasion." – Ayn Rand, a free enterprise and founder of the Objectivist school

When Lee Iacocca was fired by Henry Ford II, he simply took his ideas, many of his top leaders and went to a competitor Chrysler.  If Ford thought Lee was not fit for their company then they have every right to fire him.  But to then forbid him from getting another job in the automotive field sounds totalitarian to me.   Ford did not stop him from joining Chrysler and Lee did bring over 25 key lieutenants from Ford to Chrysler.  Any sane company would know that firing a top leader will create havoc in their leadership team.  The totalitarians in Networking desire the right to fire people at will and then sue the fired person.  They sue to steal the years of effort in building a community and deny the fired person the ability to compete against them in a free and open market.  Anytime competition suffers, society suffers.  The DSA should encourage competition as it helps the entire industry.  Currently, if the community chooses to follow the leader and not the totalitarians, the leader is sued by the totalitarians either in a public court or worse yet in a confidential arbitrations proceeding.  It may be only a couple of hundred dollars to join most networks, but whoever said it would be several million dollars for the right to leave even after you are fired?  This is not an idle discussion as big corporations are suing numerous top leaders in the networking industry as we speak.  There are multiple top leaders that are being sued for requesting the right to join another network.

The truth is that economic competition is the very opposite of competition in the animal kingdom. It is not a competition in the grabbing off of scarce nature-given supplies, as it is in the animal kingdom. Rather, it is a competition in the positive creation of new and additional wealth. – George Reisman, professor of Economics

Are networking field leader’s chattel or independent business owners with the right to choose where to ply their trade?  I am not for dabbling in numerous enterprises because I strongly believe that focus is essential for success.   Having a “free agency” mentality in our industry I believe is the key.  People should have the ability to come and go as they please, to work with companies and leaders that will serve them.  This ensures that all companies and leaders will serve their communities and put the customer’s best interests first.  If they don’t, just like every other market, their customers will leave and buy product and services from a competitor that does a better job.  Isn’t this what free enterprise is all about?  When a big company decides to insert rules into contracts and sue their top performers rather than serve them, I believe it puts the whole basis of Network Marketing at risk.  Big companies with good will can lose it quickly by inserting rules into existing contracts and destroying the free enterprise principles the company was founded upon.  No other market or industry in the free world operates like this.  To see the devastation of this type of mentality, you have to look no further than the economies of Cuba or North Korea.

“The role which good will plays on the market does not impair or restrict competition. Everybody is free to acquire good will, and every bearer of good will can lose good will once acquired.” – Ludwig Von Mises, the greatest economist of the 20^th century

Networking has always been about free enterprise and business ownership. The totalitarians are turning the meaning of these words into Orwellian double speak.  They want to be the only true business owners and everyone else they label business owners even though they are their “proprietary trade secrets”!   What is proprietary to a Networking Company about your neighbor or you friends at church?  Why haven’t the big leaders that are more like prisoners than business owners done anything to rectify this abuse for themselves and their groups?  In corporate America they called this golden handcuffs.  Not happy with the situation, but unsure of what to do.  Many big leaders are stuck in totalitarian organizations and would leave, but are afraid of being sued and bankrupted.  What kind of compassionate capitalism is this?

"Capitalism demands the best of every man – his rationality – and rewards him accordingly. It leaves every man free to choose the work he likes, to specialize in it, to trade his product for the products of others, and to go as far on the road of achievement as his ability and ambition will carry him." – Ayn Rand

The whole argument sounds frighteningly familiar to the history of Major League Baseball before the reserve clause was eliminated.  A player could play out his contract and be a free agent, but the owners of the team has a reserve clause that allowed them to still own the player.  Players would leave the game and have to get side jobs to survive because the owner raked in the profits at the players’ expense.  Curtis Flood fought over this reserve clause and eventually won.  The owners argued that it would destroy the game of baseball by having free agency and that there would be no stability in teams.  Economics theorized that free competition for the best players would raise all salaries and it did.  History has proven the owners wrong and all the major league players have benefited by higher pay and better retirement packages and the owners still make big money.  Freedom of movement for entrepreneurs is essential to create true competition. 

“If we wish to preserve a free society, it is essential that we recognize that the desirability of a particular object is not sufficient justification for the use of coercion” – F. A. Hayek, Nobel Prize winner in economics

People in sports and networks do not come to see the owners, but do come to see the leaders.  In rare instances, this is the same person.  But many times the owners make the vast majority of the profits and the leaders handle the heavy load of leading and being controlled by bureaucrats.  Just as Curtis Flood stood for all of his fellow players and sacrificed personally for their future gain, I believe the key leaders in the Networking field must stand for the right to freely join or leave a company if they are not being served.  Any leader worth his salt would understand that jumping companies on a regular basis will hurt their credibility and raiding others people’s groups is just poor character.  People have the right to choose who they wish to be in business with and should make these choices with character and integrity in mind.  But adding reserve clauses and threatening to sue any top leader who is not being served properly only hurts the whole industry.  Reserve clauses made the players chattel of the owners with no freedom to leave one team for another.  Non-competes and “proprietary trades secret” clauses make distributors no longer owners of their own business, but “owned” by the company they are in business with. 

“I think that nothing is so important for freedom as recognizing in the law each individual’s natural right to property, and giving individuals a sense that they own something that they’re responsible for, that they have control over, and that they can dispose of.” – Milton Friedman, professor of economics and one of Ronald Reagan’s favorite economists

As a leader, I am moving in the direction that I know will help millions of people have their victory, if they choose to do the work.  If a Networking company is not serving their customers or if I am not serving my team then I have no right to demand anyone to stay.  The ethical way to leave any company is to sit down with them and share your issues.  Perhaps they were unaware there were issues.  If they address and fix the issues then you both are better off.  If you sit down and they tell you to beat feet, then you should be free to pursue other opportunities not get sued.  Everyone ought to have the right to start their own business! Any time the freedom of action is hindered by totalitarians, by that same proportion free enterprise is hindered.  The catalyst for all free enterprise is the entrepreneurs and by denying freedom to entrepreneurs, you lose the competition that brings out the best practices for the end consumers.

“Entrance into the ranks of the entrepreneurs in a market society, not sabotaged by the interference of government or other agencies resorting to violence, is open to everybody.” – Ludwig Von Mises

The totalitarians desire control so they can pay less than their competitors and still fence in the unwilling distributors by fear and intimidation.   We freely join and we should be free to leave any community that is not meeting our needs.  Anything else is not free enterprise and you certainly cannot say that distributors own their own business if they are not free to sell their business and move on.  Totalitarians are unwilling to satisfy the consumers, but unwilling to lose their power.  In order to achieve these contrary principles, coercion is inserted into the contracts by non-competes, costly arbitrations, “trade secrets” language, etc, to restrict competition and maintain power.  My thoughts are: Let free enterprise reign!

Big business depends entirely on the patronage of those who buy its products: the biggest enterprise loses its power and its influence when it loses its customers. – Ludwig Von Mises

These are my opinions, what are your opinions?  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

This is not a bash networks discussion, but a discussion to make the networking field the best for entrepreneurs to enter.  If you won’t post under your real identity then why should I post your opinions?

Here is an article from the Networking Times called Launching a Leadership Revolution on the Brady's and Woodward's community building principles.  Josephine Gross Phd. wrote the article and did a fantastic job capturing the facts.  I love the community building field and was very impressed by all the great people over at Networking Times.  They have the same goal as Chris and I do - to take Networking/Community Building mainstream.  Copies of the Networking Times with the LLR article inside are available on the Team shopping cart.  I also made a new friend in Art Jonak, an industry expert in the Networking field. 

By building numbers, moving product, and serving people using the principles discussed yesterday in the Go-Giver, we can accomplish the task.   The MonaVie Team is exploding in several markets and will be going worldwide.  The MonaVie Team is aligning with leaders across the world to do what has never been done in the Networking field before - go to 1 million people in the seats on a Saturday training session.  Are you part of that million that is Having Fun, Making Money and Making a Difference?  Enjoy the article by a super writer about a world class leadership community in the Networking field.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

The MonaVie Team Book of the Month, "The Go Giver" by Bob Burg and John David Mann is an instant classic.  If you are not on the Team Direct Fulfillment system for book of the month and CDs of the month, then you are missing out big time!  I met Bob Burg many years ago when I was just beginning in community building.  I wasn’t making any money yet, but was hungry to learn.  Bob gave an inspiring talk that kept me going while I was learning to be effective.  Every single one of the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success is a must to learn.  Let me share the 5 Laws with some thoughts on each one.

1. Law of Value – Your true worth is determined by how much you give in value than you take in payment.

I have taught for years to give more than you receive.  The goal should be to deposit more into each relationship that you have than can possibly be given back.  This becomes harder the more relationships that you have and the more servant leaders that you have on your team.  With that said, the goal is still to give more than you receive.  When you add true value into people’s lives, people will want to add value into your life.  Are you giving more in value than you require in payment?

2. Law of Compensation – Your income is determined by how many people you serve and how well you serve them.

Service comes first and rewards come later.  When you have a small team, you will receive a small reward in community building.  When you learn to serve a larger community though leveraging information and systems, you will receive larger rewards.  If you don’t like the money you are making, give yourself a pay raise by serving more people.  It is like Cavett Roberts said along time ago, “Your pay raise becomes effective as soon as you do.”  Are you serving all the people that you can and meeting your true potential?

3. Law of Influence – Your influence is determined by how abundantly you place other people’s interest first.

You cannot have true influence with people until they know how much you care.  They will know how much you care by focusing on their interest first.  Your value, compensation, and influence are all related to taking your eyes off yourself and focusing on others needs, dreams and goals.  This is why a self centered person never achieves or maintains a high level of Leadership because they will never keep other people’s interest ahead of their own interest.  Are you placing others interest ahead of your own?

4. Law of Authenticity – The most valuable gift you have to offer is yourself.

This is one of the hardest laws as it requires character and integrity to give of yourself.  Many people hide their true character behind an image of invulnerability.  With all the incredible gadgets to communicate in our modern world, people have never been more alone.  There are many ways to communicate, but it takes a listener to be really heard.  Everyone is talking, but few are listening.  Offering yourself requires a willingness to be the true you and not an image or a spin job.  Listen to others and be willing to be vulnerable by dropping your guard so they will drop their guard and true communication will result.  Are you a true friend to others or do you see them as objects for your own ends?

5. Law of Receptivity – The key to effective giving is to stay open to receiving.

This is the toughest law for me personally.  I love serving others, but to be on the receiving end of someone else’s service is tough.  I have had to learn to receive and thank the giver who generously served.  My wife is an incredible server and it is very tough to out serve her.  I have a generous group of leaders surrounding me who may it tough to out serve them.  This is beyond, you scratch my back and I will scratch yours.  This is give because you have the ability to give and receive because others desire to give to you.  What make a team unstoppable is this servant spirit amongst all the leaders, where we can focus on giving all we have and sometimes receiving more back though the miracle of God’s Grace.  Can you accept others service and grace with a genuine thankful spirit?

These laws applied consistently into your life will have a transformational effect.  I believe all of these laws come out of Christ’s teachings and would bless our culture radically by implementing them in our personal and professional lives.  Let each person examine themselves.  Please share your thoughts where you have seen these laws at work in your life.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward