Gold Star - part 2

Last week, I said I'd let you know what happened at my Gold Star meeting.

We met for breakfast at Hot Rod Diner. The food was really good and there was a lot of it! I had the Juke Box. The pancakes were each as big as the plate!

There were 7 members of our group, including me, plus two cross-clubbers...members from different clubs.

Ceres Business Builders members

Justin Duncan - Small Business Voice, a TV show highlighting business owners in the Central Valley
Annie Peña - Natural Health Consultant, she offers reflexology, therapeutic oils, health coaching
Wendy Sisneroz - Fairway Mortgage, financing to build, buy, or refinance your home
Amber Peña - Drysdale Properties, real estate agent

There were a couple of other members but I didn't get their business cards. I'll have to highlight them at another time.

Cross Clubbers

Carla Carroll - Tracy Business Builders, Carla is the Director for the Tracy Gold Star club
Steve Richardson - Goosehead Insurance, property and casualty insurance

Hopefully, I'll be meeting with Steve today to talk about SendOutCards...he's interested. We did talk on the phone a little bit yesterday.

And I have a meeting scheduled with Wendy for Tuesday afternoon.

Everyone was given 60 seconds to talk about their business. And every week a member gives a 10 minute presentation. The first presentation will be given by Justin today. This group is very new, so the officers were just elected and the presentations are just starting.

Interesting days

Today - Lighthouse Day, Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day, Professional Speakers Day and Aged Care Employee Day

Tomorrow - Top 8 Challenge Day, Scottish Wildcat Day, Bowling Day, International Cat Day, Happiness Happens Day and Odie Day

Next Wednesday - Creamsicle Day, Social Security Day, World Calligraphy Day and Tattoo Removal Day

Week long celebrations:

August 12 - 18: Afternoon Tea Week

September 7 - Acorn Squash Day, Salami Day, World Beard Day, International Turkey Vulture Day, Superhuman Day, Beer Lover’s Day and World Duchenne Awareness Day

BIG change in plans since yesterday's post

BIG change in plans since yesterday's post. It's still going to be a busy week but in a very different way.

I started with getting my car checked...unfortunately it needed about $400 worth of work, which wiped out a big chunk of convention budget. So, I cancelled my hotel reservation, bought the live stream for Thursday through Saturday, and canceled my substitute for my Gold Star meeting on Wednesday.

With the live stream, I won't be able to view the training sessions on Wednesday, but everything else (except the closing party on Saturday night) is available.

I tried to see if I could still work out the trip. I had Citi Bank ship my new credit card overnight, but I had no idea when it was going to arrive. I could've probably still made the trip but I'd have to get another sub for Gold Star since my original sub had made other plans. I had no idea when I'd be able to arrive, and since I've only had cataract surgery in one eye so far, I don't really like driving in the dark still.

So, Wednesday morning I'm going to my Gold Star meeting, and then to Dunkin' Wednesday afternoon. Thursday and Friday I'll be watching the Relationship Marketing Grand Summit from the comfort of my living room, as well as the new product announcements on Thursday evening and the SendOutCards convention itself on Saturday.

I'm going to miss seeing many of my old friends and making some new ones this week, but everything happens for a reason. I'm not sure what that reason is and I may never know, but there is one.

Thanks Dwight!

Interesting days

Today - Night Out, Fresh Breath Day, Wiggle Your Toes Day, Root Beer Float Day, International Sailor Moon Day, Farmworker Appreciation Day and Balloons to Heaven Day

Tomorrow - Lighthouse Day, Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day, Professional Speakers Day and Aged Care Employee Day

Next Tuesday - International Lefthanders Day and Filet Mignon Day

Week long celebrations:

August 12 - 18: Afternoon Tea Week

September 6 - Bring Your Manners To Work Day, Read a Book Day, Coffee Ice Cream Day, Fight Procrastination Day and Lazy Mom’s Day

Busy week this week

This week is going to be extremely busy for me!

Today I'm taking my car in to get it checked before I leave for Salt Lake City tomorrow. Also, I have to do laundry and pack for my trip. And shampoo the carpet in my bedroom. And probably a few other things that escape me at the moment.

Tomorrow I'm driving to Salt Lake City. It's a 10 hour drive if I never stop, so I'm planning on about 12 - 15 hours for a couple of pit stops plus something to eat. Plus it's Root Beer Float Day. A&W has free root beer floats from 2 PM to 8 PM. I should get into Salt Lake City in time and they have several there.

Wednesday - A full day of seminars on how to build my business at SendOutCards headquarters.

Thursday and Friday - Two full days of the Relationship Marketing Grand Summit. Also, on Thursday evening will be some big SendOutCards announcements plus a SendOutCards system training incorporating the new changes. I put on a system training on the 4th Saturday of every month.

Saturday - The SendOutCards convention, followed by a S'mores party in my hotel room, followed by the SendOutCards closing party. The theme of the party is Elements...I'm not exactly sure what that means...I guess I'll find out and let you know about it next week.

Sunday - I drive back home!

Interesting days

Today - Work Like a Dog Day, Underwear Day and Oyster Day

Tomorrow - Night Out, Fresh Breath Day, Wiggle Your Toes Day, Root Beer Float Day, International Sailor Moon Day, Farmworker Appreciation Day and Balloons to Heaven Day

Next Monday - Vinyl Record Day, International Youth Day and World Elephant Day

Week long celebrations:

August 12 - 18: Afternoon Tea Week

September 5 - Be Late For Something Day, Cheese Pizza Day, International Day of Charity and World Samosa Day

The month in review - July 2019

The week ending July 5:

Monday - "How to Grill the Perfect Burger" All three of the main posts this week are from The Art of Manliness.

Tuesday - "6 Deficiencies That Are Sabotaging Your Social Life" All three of the main posts this week are from The Art of Manliness.

Wednesday - "The 5 Universal Laws of Success" All three of the main posts this week are from The Art of Manliness.

Thursday - "May The Fourth (of July) Be With You #TBT" Apparently, every year I do a 4th of July post.

The week ending July 12:

Monday - "What Is Wit and Why Does the World Need It?" From The Art of Manliness.

Tuesday - "No blog post today" Still need to build up a store of backup posts for times like this.

Wednesday - "Business Acceleration Workshop" Time to bring these back.

Thursday - "Reasons to send #TBT" You know I love celebrating fun days.

The week ending July 19:

Monday - "No blog post today" I do have a plan to avoid this going forward.

Tuesday - "The Science of Facial Hair: What Signals Do Beards, Stubble, and Mustaches Send to Others?" From The Art of Manliness.

Wednesday - "The (hot) dog days of summer" Unfortunately, the website I used had the wrong date for Chili Dog Day!

Thursday - "Whose dream are you building? #TBT" If you're working for someone else, you're building their dream.

The week ending July 26:

Monday - "The 3 Elements of Charisma: Presence" Part 1 of a 3 part series from The Art of Manliness.

Tuesday - "The 3 Elements of Charisma: Power" Part 2 of a 3 part series from The Art of Manliness.

Wednesday - "The 3 Elements of Charisma: Warmth" Part 3 of a 3 part series from The Art of Manliness.

Thursday - "Do your habits match your dreams? #TBT" From the SendOutCards Corporate call.

Interesting days in review

Your weekend guide to interesting days - July 6, 2019

Your weekend guide to interesting days - July 13, 2019

Your weekend guide to interesting days - July 20, 2019

Your weekend guide to interesting days - July 27, 2019

Your weekend guide to interesting days - August 3, 2019

This week

Sunday - Milk Chocolate Day and World Hepatitis Day

Monday - Rain Day, Lasagna Day, International Tiger Day, International Chicken Wing Day and Lipstick Day

Tuesday - Cheesecake Day, Paperback Book Day, Father-in-Law Day and Share a Hug Day

Wednesday - Raspberry Cake Day, Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day and World Ranger Day

August will be Inventor’s Month, Catfish Month, Anti-Frizz Month, Happiness Happens Month, Water Quality Month, Peach Month, Romance Awareness Month and Fishing Month

Thursday - Girl Friends Day, Respect For Parents Day, World Scout Scarf Day, Yorkshire Day, Raspberry Cream Pie Day, International Childfree Day, World Wide Web Day, Rounds Resounding Day, India Pale Ale Day, Earth Overshoot Day, World Lung Cancer Day and Planner Day

Yesterday - International Beer Day, Ice Cream Sandwich Day and Coloring Book Day

Today - Watermelon Day, Mustard Day, Clean Your Floors Day, Sandcastle Day, Disc Golf Day and White Wine Day

Week long celebrations:

July 20 - 28: Moth Week

Next week

Tomorrow - Psychic Day, Friendship Day, Coast Guard Day, Sisters’ Day, Mead Day, Assistance Dog Day, Doll Day and Single Working Women’s Day

Monday - Work Like a Dog Day, Underwear Day and Oyster Day

Tuesday - Night Out, Fresh Breath Day, Wiggle Your Toes Day, Root Beer Float Day, International Sailor Moon Day, Farmworker Appreciation Day and Balloons to Heaven Day

Wednesday - Lighthouse Day, Particularly Preposterous Packaging Day, Professional Speakers Day and Aged Care Employee Day

Thursday - Top 8 Challenge Day, Scottish Wildcat Day, Bowling Day, International Cat Day, Happiness Happens Day and Odie Day

Friday - Book Lovers Day, Rice Pudding Day and Melon Day

Saturday - Lazy Day, Duran Duran Appreciation Day,Garage Sale Day, World Lion Day, Skyscraper Appreciation Day, Middle Child’s Day, S’mores Day and Vlogging Day

Next month

August 28 - Bow Tie Day, Race Your Mouse Around The Icons Day, Radio Commercials Day, Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day, Crackers Over The Keyboard Day and Cherry Turnover Day

August 29 - More Herbs, Less Salt Day, Lemon Juice Day, Individual Rights Day, Chop Suey Day and Potteries Bottle Oven Day

August 30 - Slinky Day, Toasted Marshmallow Day, Frankenstein Day, International Whale Shark Day, Holistic Pet Day, College Colors Day and Grief Awareness Day

August 31 - Trail Mix Day, Franchise Appreciation Day, Love Litigating Lawyers Day, We Love Memoirs Day and Overdose Awareness Day

September will be Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Chiari Awareness Month, Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, Preparedness Month, Suicide Prevention Month, Mushroom Month, Shake Month, Library Card Sign-up Month, Friendship Month, Sourdough September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Sewing Month, Read A New Book Month, Piano Month, Happy Cat Month, Hunger Action Month, Honey Month and Chicken Month

September 1 - Cherry Popover Day, Pet Rock Day, Ginger Cat Appreciation Day Building and Code Staff Appreciation Day, Letter Writing Day, Emma M Nutt Day and Tofu Day

September 2 - Blueberry Popsicle Day, V-J Day, Calendar Adjustment Day and Mouthguard Day

September 3 - Skyscraper Day, Another Look Unlimited Day and Welsh Rarebit Day

The week in review - August 2, 2019

Monday - "7 Ways to Sleep Better in the Next Heatwave" From Dr. Michael Breus. "Sleep is highly dependent on temperature. Internal body temperatures play a critical role in sleep onset and sleep maintenance—those are scientific terms for our ability to fall asleep and stay asleep."

Tuesday - "SendOutCards Convention" Coming soon. "The second part will be on Thursday and Friday and should be of interest to any business owner or salesperson. These two days are the Relationship Marketing Grand Summit."

Wednesday - "Gold Star" Gold Star Referral Clubs. "Gold Star is a business networking group that specializes in helping you grow your business."

Thursday - "Embrace your skeptics #TBT" Skeptics are not bad. "Skeptical people want to have evidence of something before they will believe it is true. Cynical people do not trust any information that they do not personally agree with."

Interesting days

Today - International Beer Day, Ice Cream Sandwich Day and Coloring Book Day

Tomorrow - Watermelon Day, Mustard Day, Clean Your Floors Day, Sandcastle Day, Disc Golf Day and White Wine Day

Week long celebrations:

July 20 - 28: Moth Week

Next Friday - Book Lovers Day, Rice Pudding Day and Melon Day

September 2 - Blueberry Popsicle Day, V-J Day, Calendar Adjustment Day and Mouthguard Day

Embrace your skeptics #TBT

Today's blog post was originally published two years ago:

This post is based on Jordan Adler's SendOutCards call from yesterday. Even though his weekly calls are aimed at SOC distributors, much of what he says is generic in nature, such as the first part of this call.

There's a big difference between a cynic and a skeptic. Here's a good comparison of the two terms from DifferenceBetween.net:

Skepticism is an open-minded way of thinking about things. Cynicism, on the other hand, is close-minded because it is often a quick reaction or immediate belief that someone is being dishonest.

Usually a skeptic just needs more information to reach a conclusion. A cynic makes a decision without any information.

More from the same article:

In a very basic sense, skepticism challenges views and questions if assumptions are correct or not. Cynicism focuses on the negative parts of a problem. It is good to be a little bit skeptical. It is not good to be cynical. Skeptical people want to have evidence of something before they will believe it is true. Cynical people do not trust any information that they do not personally agree with.

Jordan talks on the call about running into skeptics, cynics and players in your network marketing business in the following approximate percentages:

20% will be cynics...they won't sign up no matter what you say or do
10% will be players...they'll sign up on the spot or with just a little research
70% will be skeptics...they're the ones that will need the 4 to 12 followups to get them to signup

When I joined SendOutCards I was pretty much a player. I looked at the website a little and I signed up 4 days later as a distributor because I knew it was what I needed to promote the other NM business I was in at the time.

There's a saying in network marketing that "You can't say the wrong things to the right people and you can't say the right things to the wrong people". I recently heard a slightly modified version of this: "You can't say the wrong things to the right people AT THE RIGHT TIME and you can't say the right things to the wrong people AT ANY TIME". The cynics are the "wrong people", no matter what you say to them, they won't be interested in your "pyramid scheme" and when the "right people" are ready, they're ready.

If somebody tells you that they need more information, that's a good sign. Be sure to share your 3rd party tools...videos, 3 way calls, whatever your company provides for you. And when a skeptic does finally sign up, they're likely to be one of your best team members!

Interesting days

August will be Inventor’s Month, Catfish Month, Anti-Frizz Month, Happiness Happens Month, Water Quality Month, Peach Month, Romance Awareness Month and Fishing Month

Today - Girl Friends Day, Respect For Parents Day, World Scout Scarf Day, Yorkshire Day, Raspberry Cream Pie Day, International Childfree Day, World Wide Web Day, Rounds Resounding Day, India Pale Ale Day, Earth Overshoot Day, World Lung Cancer Day and Planner Day

Tomorrow - International Beer Day, Ice Cream Sandwich Day and Coloring Book Day

Next Thursday - Top 8 Challenge Day, Scottish Wildcat Day, Bowling Day, International Cat Day, Happiness Happens Day and Odie Day

September will be Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, Chiari Awareness Month, Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, Preparedness Month, Suicide Prevention Month, Mushroom Month, Shake Month, Library Card Sign-up Month, Friendship Month, Sourdough September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Sewing Month, Read A New Book Month, Piano Month, Happy Cat Month, Hunger Action Month, Honey Month and Chicken Month

September 1 - Cherry Popover Day, Pet Rock Day, Ginger Cat Appreciation Day Building and Code Staff Appreciation Day, Letter Writing Day, Emma M Nutt Day and Tofu Day