Here is an article that was written by Rick Houcek, a friend of mine, about a women in our neighborhood. Her business message is inspiring and should resonate with everyone no matter what your age.
“There’s a very friendly lady in my neighborhood -- her name is Nell -- who owns and operates a small fruit and vegetable stand called “Nell’s Produce” under a red and white tent in a nearby strip mall parking lot.
Rain or shine, she’s there, April through October, six days a week, from 10 to 6. She actually runs two such tent locations, several miles apart.
So far, nothing unusual -- it’s basic retail. But listen to the rest of her story.
She’s up at 3:45 am six days a week, while most are asleep. By 5 am, she’s already at the Atlanta State Farmer’s Market way south of town, buys her stock for the day, fills two trucks with fresh-bought produce, then hauls it to her two locations on the other side of downtown, over 40 miles away.
She stocks her tables, greets customers, and has a loyal clientele of locals who swear by her produce.
She has help. Her kids and grandkids are on the payroll, but she’s the lead-by-example matriarch. Yes, I said grandkids.
And that brings me to the zinger: Nell is 82. And she has more energy, more zest, more pep, more grit… than people half her age. And she just celebrated her 25th year in business.
In that time, she’s been booted out of two parking lots because big chain grocery stores moved in. She had to find new locations both times… and did. One chain grocery has since closed -- Nell outlasted them -- and she lumbers on at her tiny stand unaffected -- providing her friendly service, unbeatable products, and great prices -- paying no heed to the giant chains.
Nothing stops this lady. We customers hear no complaints, no my-back-hurts, no I’ve-got-it-rough stories.
Nell grew up on a farm and worked the fields… then spent nearly 30 years at GM in data processing and inventory control. She took early retirement in her late ‘50s -- but after only one year -- she and her husband decided to launch a new business and opened the produce stand. He died soon after, and Nell chose to keep the dream going.
One more time: she’s 82.
I tell you about Nell -- not because I’ve been a delighted customer for 17 of those 25 years -- but because every time I drive by her stand -- whether I stop in or not -- I’m inspired. I smile and light up like a Christmas tree.
And why wouldn’t I? Nell is the American dream in action. Doing her own thing, her own way, serving others well, passionately enjoying it, and proving that with dogged diligence and steadfast resolve, anyone can -- you and I can -- create the life we want.”
We all have the opportunity to create the life we want to have through the Amway business. As with Nell, building a business will take some work. That work starts with a decision that you want to take control of your life. Control begins with buying products from your own store, sharing the opportunity with at least two people a week, giving out samples and suggesting they visit your website. One of the keys is constantly feeding your own mind with positive stories through reading books or listening to CEP. You will be surprised as people remark “you have changed.”
ACTIONS FOR YOU
What is your dream? Have you been putting it off, saying I will get to that when I finish ………..?
People too often put off control of their life until later. Unfortunately later never comes.
I challenge you to “Dust off that dream.” Don’t waste any time to take control of your future. You have the tool, the system to become whatever you want to be.
Remember, a tool is something you use to complete a task. Just because I used a hammer to drive a nail, does not mean I want to become a carpenter. Network 21 and Amway are tools to achieve financial freedom or whatever else is your goal. Amway is not a career decision, only a tool.
Your dreams can become real if you decide that you really want to achieve them. Only you can decide to dedicate the effort to make them real. The decision is yours alone, not your parents, your brothers, or your friend. You have to live your life, they will not live it for you.
Think of Nell at 82 getting up at 3:45 to do what she loves all day. What do YOU really love to do and what is stopping you from doing it – every day.
“There’s a very friendly lady in my neighborhood -- her name is Nell -- who owns and operates a small fruit and vegetable stand called “Nell’s Produce” under a red and white tent in a nearby strip mall parking lot.
Rain or shine, she’s there, April through October, six days a week, from 10 to 6. She actually runs two such tent locations, several miles apart.
So far, nothing unusual -- it’s basic retail. But listen to the rest of her story.
She’s up at 3:45 am six days a week, while most are asleep. By 5 am, she’s already at the Atlanta State Farmer’s Market way south of town, buys her stock for the day, fills two trucks with fresh-bought produce, then hauls it to her two locations on the other side of downtown, over 40 miles away.
She stocks her tables, greets customers, and has a loyal clientele of locals who swear by her produce.
She has help. Her kids and grandkids are on the payroll, but she’s the lead-by-example matriarch. Yes, I said grandkids.
And that brings me to the zinger: Nell is 82. And she has more energy, more zest, more pep, more grit… than people half her age. And she just celebrated her 25th year in business.
In that time, she’s been booted out of two parking lots because big chain grocery stores moved in. She had to find new locations both times… and did. One chain grocery has since closed -- Nell outlasted them -- and she lumbers on at her tiny stand unaffected -- providing her friendly service, unbeatable products, and great prices -- paying no heed to the giant chains.
Nothing stops this lady. We customers hear no complaints, no my-back-hurts, no I’ve-got-it-rough stories.
Nell grew up on a farm and worked the fields… then spent nearly 30 years at GM in data processing and inventory control. She took early retirement in her late ‘50s -- but after only one year -- she and her husband decided to launch a new business and opened the produce stand. He died soon after, and Nell chose to keep the dream going.
One more time: she’s 82.
I tell you about Nell -- not because I’ve been a delighted customer for 17 of those 25 years -- but because every time I drive by her stand -- whether I stop in or not -- I’m inspired. I smile and light up like a Christmas tree.
And why wouldn’t I? Nell is the American dream in action. Doing her own thing, her own way, serving others well, passionately enjoying it, and proving that with dogged diligence and steadfast resolve, anyone can -- you and I can -- create the life we want.”
We all have the opportunity to create the life we want to have through the Amway business. As with Nell, building a business will take some work. That work starts with a decision that you want to take control of your life. Control begins with buying products from your own store, sharing the opportunity with at least two people a week, giving out samples and suggesting they visit your website. One of the keys is constantly feeding your own mind with positive stories through reading books or listening to CEP. You will be surprised as people remark “you have changed.”
ACTIONS FOR YOU
What is your dream? Have you been putting it off, saying I will get to that when I finish ………..?
People too often put off control of their life until later. Unfortunately later never comes.
I challenge you to “Dust off that dream.” Don’t waste any time to take control of your future. You have the tool, the system to become whatever you want to be.
Remember, a tool is something you use to complete a task. Just because I used a hammer to drive a nail, does not mean I want to become a carpenter. Network 21 and Amway are tools to achieve financial freedom or whatever else is your goal. Amway is not a career decision, only a tool.
Your dreams can become real if you decide that you really want to achieve them. Only you can decide to dedicate the effort to make them real. The decision is yours alone, not your parents, your brothers, or your friend. You have to live your life, they will not live it for you.
Think of Nell at 82 getting up at 3:45 to do what she loves all day. What do YOU really love to do and what is stopping you from doing it – every day.