I recently won two iPads in a sales contest for a big product launch this summer...

I tell you this for two reasons:

1) Most people take it easy during the summer and market less. Not me.

2) Most people lose momentum during the summer. And they rarely get it back. Not me.

Momentum is a funny thing actually. It works well in both directions. Many don't realize that until it's often times too late.....

Now that the summer is over and the fall is here, it's time to get back on track (if you fell off) or ramp things up, if you maintained your momentum through the dog days of summer. And I have just the thing for you today, which is one of the ways I maintain momentum at ALL times in my businesses....

So on to my topic here.....

"Protester" or "Producer"  ??

Hmmmm....

I heard this distinction awhile back from human achievement expert, Dennis Waitley, and it stuck with me. He said: "in life, you can either be a protester or a producer, but you can't be both."

How true.

Have you noticed nowadays that a large segment of the population are always complaining, pointing fingers, justifying, and blaming someone or something for their shortcomings (protesting)? While a much smaller segment of the population are quietly creating more value, inspiring, and influencing others positively with their ideas and actions (producing)?

Unfortunately, the latter group is shrinking and the former group is growing, fast. You see, the latter group feels it is "someone else's" responsibility while the former group feels it is "their" responsibility. A monumental difference. And a difference that, no doubt, separates one from happiness, success, and prosperity in ALL areas of their lives...

I bring this up here today because as we head into the fall and the late part of 2011, this is an ideal time to identify whether or not YOU have been a "protester" or a "producer" thus far, this year....

I've always felt that September is a pivotal month in the Direct Selling industry, only behind January, because it is the month that begins the fall and sets the tone for the close of the year AND sets you up for the beginning of NEXT year. This is great time to re-analyze where you're at with your goals and big ideas you came into 2011 with. Many fall short a few weeks into the New Year, others a few months into the New Year. But here's what almost everyone makes the mistake of doing...

They stop. They chalk it up as a loss because they fell off course. They say: "oh well, maybe next year." And ya know what happens?

Year after year goes by... and no "production." And then they "protest." They start placing blame, pointing fingers, justifying, and making excuses. It's a vicious cycle. It spreads like wildfire...if you let it. Momentum... remember, it works in both directions....

I'm asking you to draw a line in the sand right now, right here as we kick off the fall, and to reject those thoughts. I'm asking you to take responsibility for your outcomes, to stand for nothing less than deliberate "production" in ALL areas of your life, both business and personal. I'm asking you to no longer stand for blaming, finger pointing, excuse making, and "protesting" of any kind.

(I'm guessing because you're a subscriber to my Blog you already don't stand for these things. But I still had to put it out there)

I've lived my life this way since I was as a young boy in high school. Playing football at a highly competitive level in both high school and college began this journey for me.

How?

Because I forced myself into an environment that, initially, was way over my head. On paper, I shouldn't have even played the game. I was too small and not fast enough. I was cut from my freshman high school football team. I could have made every excuse in the book not to continue. My best friend at the time did. He was also cut. We never really spoke again...

Instead of making excuses and pointing fingers, I persisted. I even had to play little league football that year, as a high school freshman, with all the 7th and 8th graders. Embarrassing. I worked through the pain, frustration and discomfort though. I took responsibility for my short comings and I improved in all areas I could.  By the time I was a senior, I led the entire school in touchdowns that year and was the only player who went on to play football at a Division 1 college...

Momentum.

Somewhere in your life you may be pointing fingers or making excuses for not being where you want to be, and you may be justifying why. You may not be forcing yourself into an environment that forces you to step up, step out of your comfort zone, and "produce." You may not be asking enough of yourself. It's common. But, it should be unacceptable to you....

You can get past it though... if you want to. You'll first need to relinquish all blaming, excuse making, and justifying... all "protesting." When you do, you can't help but "produce." Trust me.

I promise you this... the feeling you get, the control you gain, and the liberation you'll feel, is like no other when you take responsibility and make the choice to live this way, to push yourself a little bit more, to live as a "producer" not as a "protester." It, also, spreads like wild fire...if you let it.

Momentum.

This is the way I maintain my momentum throughout the year - by choosing to be a "producer" in ALL areas of my life. Each and every day. Because small changes in language lead to BIG changes in behavior. Doesn't work the other way around.

So are you up for my little challenge here?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Leave your comments and feedback below. I'll be watching.

Take action. See you next week with a BIG announcement....


Best,

Andrew J. Cass