The Story of the Eagle... and Change

I had been thinking about the topic of “change” as a fitting piece for one of our upcoming articles, because as with most successful business ventures, in network marketing some personal change in skill set, organization and discipline must occur to reach the top. And then just as these things frequently occur, I heard a story that made it all come together. Many of you know I have been very involved in Women’s Empowerment Workshops over the years, and last weekend was the fourth such event this year in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I was asked to speak on Developing Business Leaders in Network Marketing. The speakers were all wonderful, some really useful points were made and I hope we sparked a “change” for the women there. One presenter used a story I had heard many years before but never had written it down (which was a mistake) and I was delighted to get it again. It’s a true story, the story of that great American symbol – The American Bald Eagle. As you read this, FEEL the power of change.

The Eagle has the longest life-span of its species. It can live up to 70 years. But to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision in its 40's. Its long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food. Its long sharp beak becomes bent. Its old age and heavy wings due to its thick feathers, become stuck to its chest and make it difficult to fly. Then, the eagle is left with only two options: die or go through a painful process of change which lasts 150 days.

The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its nest. There the eagle knocks its beak against a rock until it plucks it out. After plucking it out, the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back and then it plucks out its talons. When the talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking out its old-aged feathers. After 5 months, the eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth and lives for another 30 years.

The question then is quite simple...Where your own goals are concerned, where the welfare of your family and your future financial freedom is concerned...DO YOU HAVE THE HEART OF AN EAGLE?

When you bring it down into practical, every day terms, ask yourself if you are prepared to “soar”:

• Do you have written goals
• Do you set aside the time daily/weekly to take the required action to achieve those goals
• Are you registered for training events and convention
• Do you purchase the training tools, read the books
• Do you attend the conference calls by upline coaches
• Do you tell the story every day

If you can answer affirmatively to the above, then two things are happening – You are undergoing a process of rapid change in your basic skill set which is so important. You are becoming an active student and striving to improve your network marketing confidence. And, at the same time, you are growing and changing in terms of your personal confidence. The term “success breeds success” is a very true concept. As your own success begins, you begin to soar.

We all come into this business with matted feathers on our chest. We have to learn new techniques, we have to experience a rebirth. We go through that metamorphosis because we believe that our future can be much brighter than the past. Perhaps it is not quite the life and death struggle of the eagle, but then again, perhaps it is. I think of the many friends I have in this industry whose very life was completely uplifted and changed. And isn’t it a kind of death to be stuck in unrewarding, grinding boredom in jobs that pay just enough to keep you in the poorhouse and yet you can’t quit because someone has to pay the mortgage!

I’m going to my company’s National Convention this month, and I think of each convention as a time of rebirth and recommitment. We come together to celebrate our involvement in a company with the right ideals, the right principles and we emerge from that experience renewed and ready to hit new heights.

With determination, will and sacrifice, you can be, do, and have whatever you desire.

I love this industry because I love freedom of choice and control of my own life and I love the financial freedom this industry has provided in my life. If you are just “sniffing around” the industry, I would advise you to take the plunge. Make the changes necessary to have the life you deserve!

As always, have fun, be profitable and be in touch if there are any issues I can clarify or questions I can answer.

Good luck, and happy networking!
Your Network Marketing Coach, Candy Webb
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