I am a great fan of Max Steingart. I first learned about his work in my network marketing days and have been a subscriber of his Daily Motivation and other newsletters for a while now.
Max is what you might call a Relationshipping Expert. Some might even call him the Sultan of Schmooz. 
He teaches people how to network and create relationships online — relationships that can build trust and even turn into increased business. In case you haven’t noticed, it’s not exactly easy trying to build a business online. People can’t look you in the eye or hear your voice most of the time (although that is changing). Plus, I don’t need to tell you there are some pretty shady characters doing business on the Internet. So how do you build credibility and create networks without having to go to every networking event and Chamber of Commerce cocktail party in town?
Max has made it his business to teach people how to easily network over the Internet, and very successfully, too. Anyway, suffice it to say that I have learned to know, like and trust what he has to say on that subject and on a score of others, including personal development. Here’s an email I got from him recently that I thought would be of interest to all of you who are working to build a successful business, whether it’s in network marketing or some other modality, online or offline. These lessons really are timeless:
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Dear Sandra,
If there’s one thing I’ve noticed as I’ve built my businesses and helped thousands over the years, it’s that some lessons, if learned and lived by, will never get old and will always turn heads and raise eyebrows if implemented correctly and consistently.
Here are my top 5:
1. SELF-DISCIPLINE SEPARATES WINNERS FROM WISHERS
Plato said, “The first and best victory is to conquer self”.
Do you know the story of the poor child from the country-side? She was born prematurely and nearly died. Then she contracted pneumonia as an infant. She survived that and then got Scarlet Fever. Somehow she survived that! And then got Polio!
When she was 12 years old, her mother taught her about self-discipline. She mastered HERSELF. Even though she was in a brace, she stayed disciplined in healing herself.
Her discipline led to complete healing. Combined with her vision, she decided to become a world-class runner.
Everyone laughed.
But she had discipline on her side. At the age of 20, Wilma Rudolph became the fastest woman on the planet. She won three Gold Medals in one Olympics!
The most successful networkers are disciplined. They know their strengths and Sandra-mize them, and they know where they need to do better and set out to improve themselves.
Where do you need discipline? Do you need to work your business every day? Do you need to eat healthy ALL the time? Do you need to exercise every day? Do you need to do more follow-up? Get a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly method of operation and
stick to it!
Your self-discipline determines your results. Really! Just think of Wilma.
2. COURAGE IS CONTAGIOUS
Someone once said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers”.
I know some of you have a lot of pain and fear in your life. You’re not alone. But these things give you a chance to show your courage and bring out your true character.
It’s easy to be happy and productive when things are going great, but what inspires us are those who do it when things are not so good.
Christopher Columbus set sail for the New World while most people thought he would fall over the edge of the earth. When his men were starving, tired and scared, his courage gave them hope. When they fell apart again and decided to mutiny, he drew from his deepest courage and said, “Kill me now and you will surely die. But sail on with me and I can promise you the hope of finding more gold than you could ever imagine.”
Sometimes you need to say that to yourself. Times do get tough, but that’s your test! Say your prayers and sail on. When you least expect it, land will appear over the horizon.
3. THE BEST TEACHERS ARE THE GREATEST STUDENTS
Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher, once said, “A great master has the eyes of a novice”. Where can you learn?
Do you feel like you’ve learned it all? Do you sometimes find it hard to get out of your own way?
EVERYONE, even the leaders in their companies, had to do the hard things to get ahead. Everyone starts in the same place. But the most successful ones are those who kept their eyes focused on the end result and never wavered.
Be a student first. Listen to advice from the experts. Invest in your prospecting education and you’ll reap the benefits over the long term.
4. PASSION IS THE EXCLUSIVE DOMAIN OF THE EXTRAORDINARY
Have you ever been graced by the presence of a person with complete, undeniable passion for life? They are so magnetic. Their enthusiasm is contagious and they seem to bring forth this amazing positive energy.
People with passion make things happen. It’s in their cells. They don’t have it, make it, create it… they have become it. They have that ‘wow’ factor. They are in the zone all the time and it shows.
Bill Cosby said it well: “Anyone can dabble, but once you’ve made a commitment, your blood has a particular thing in it, and it’s very hard for people to stop you.”
Passion is unstoppable.
Passion was the force behind some of the greatest achievements in the world and it constantly gives us inspiration if we let it.
For example, if Joan of Arc can liberate France, then you can liberate yourself and your downline from old sales and prospecting methods and live to fight another day.
If Andrew Carnegie can build an empire of steel then you can certainly build an empire of like minded entrepreneurs.
How do you get passion? First, you must act passionate. If you’re not passionate, act like you are anyway. That mindset will guide you to find reasons to be passionate,
and then you won’t have to act anymore. It will become part of you.
Second, hang around passionate people. You are a combination of the five people you hang around most. So find some passionate people and just hang around them.
Third, find a purpose in life that inspires you. Nothing will make your life more satisfying than knowing you are on purpose with your life.
When you discover passion, you discover the secret of the rich, and the domain of the extraordinary.
5. SERVICE IS THE ONLY TRUE LEADERSHIP
If you want, you can lead by fear.
Many have done it.
Think about Hitler, Genghis Khan, and Stalin. They were effective in the moment, but their leadership didn’t last.
Or you can lead with love. Think about Gandhi and Mother Teresa. Their leadership lasted well beyond their death. They lived a life of service to others.
The same is true with network marketers. Look at the companies that have stood the test of time. Their true focus was the service of others. They’ve committed themselves to their organization first and their own wealth second. They are true servant leaders. Then look at the money games and the over-hyped get-rich-quick schemes that plague this industry.
You hold the power to improve yourself and a multitude of others. What will you do with that power?
Carpe Diem - Seize the Day!
Warmest Regards,
Max Steingart
“The Master of Online Mining”
Copyright 2007 www.maxsteingart.com
