According to the couple responses to the link that I recently posted, my impression is that most people believe that being nice is not only a way to get a desired result, but that it can play a part. There was an interesting response that was slightly bothered by the author's tone. It never occurred to me that the author may have been jumping to dramatized judgments about someone, but re-reading the article after reading the responses changed how I read it.
I see both sides (the author's and the responder's), however. I do believe that there is a certain way that people act when they want something from someone, and this can come off as manipulative, but I also believe that as human beings, we can't really help that, and we are made to adapt how we act in certain situations.
I wish that it was more natural to act exactly how we were feeling all the time, instead of changing how we treat people to get a desired result, but this might be an unrealistic hope.

What are your thoughts?

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/239600

Above is the link to an interesting article I recently found. I am interested in what people think when they read this article: do you agree or disagree? Are the majority of people we encounter only nice when they want something from us? And how are certain characteristics (age, gender, race, etc...) a factor in how people react to general kindness?

What do you want your subconscious to do for you?

John Chatman, a successful Network Marketing and all around life coach, brings forth an interesting approach to getting things done: Just tell your subconscious to do it! One of my favorite ideas that he has is that if you have your mind set on something, you will do it. Now, I know what you're thinking. This is the oldest cliche in the book. "Believe and you will achieve!" We have all heard it. However, Chatman takes a different approach. Instead of loading his readers up with stale, hokey phrases to motivate action, he gives a reasonable, somewhat scientifically based game plan:
1. Make sure you're clear about what you want.
2. REPEAT. The subconscious mind only connects with and processes things that it considers important. These are the things that we do constantly, mixing them into our everyday routine. The subconscious is working with your body to help you survive, so if you make it clear that whatever you're doing is important enough to repeat, your subconscious will associate that with things that are necessary to your life.
3. SPEAK to your subconscious. Actually. Out loud. Talk to your brain.
This goes with anything. Personally, I will tell my subconscious to be a successful Network Marketer, among other things, but what about you?

What do you want your subconscious to do for you?

On Saturday, I sat down at Starbucks with a friend who I had not seen in about year. We spent the first 20 minutes catching up over our caffeinated drinks. I felt a little guilty that most of the reason I asked her to meet with me was to talk to her about Arbonne, curious if anything I had to say would spark her interest. In high school, she was a social butterfly, bouncing around between various "social groups". She ate extremely healthy food; Whenever I was at her house the cupboards were stocked with organic food. She was the perfect candidate for this business: a talkative, social, young person who cares about what's put into her body. 

As she told me about her job, a minimum-wage cashier gig, I realized that she was an even better candidate than I thought, and I nodded and "mmhm"ed while I thought of how to inform her of an alternative job without making her feel like she was being attacked. 

Finally, I asked her if she had ever heard of Arbonne. She shook her head so I took this as an opportunity to rant about the freedom the company gives you and negative connotations about network marketing. I attempted to cover everything, with as many words as possible, in as little amount of time. I gabbed about the safe and beneficial ingredients, the financial freedom, and the amazing, successful people I have met.
By the time I was done and gasping for breath, her eyes were as big as silver dollars. 

Dammit, I thought, I have completely overwhelmed her. 

I was right. She replied with something along the lines of, "Uh...It sounds like you're really passionate about it," in a slightly confused voice. I took this as another opportunity to share my excitement with her.

"I am! I'm very passionate about it! I would love for you to come to a meeting with me and see what it's all about!"

After that, the conversation slowly dropped off a cliff. She nodded meekly, mumbled something about "letting me know", and we chatted for a few more minutes about different topics before we went our separate ways once again. 

I realized that it was not my best attempt. My concerns of "attacking" her and coming off as pushy were totally confirmed by her standoffish manner after I blabbed for too long about Arbonne. 

Talking to people about a business is tricky, espescially because I knew that the opportunity would benefit her in so many ways, but to her, it probably seemed like I was only interested in benefiting myself. My failed attempt was a huge learning experience for the next time I try to inform someone about Arbonne.

  Less words and more casual conversation is the way to go, as to avoid turning the relaxed meeting into a lecture. 

What runs through your mind when you hear the term "Network Marketing?"

    Do you think of pushy salespeople, "pyramid schemes", or organizations with ambiguous promises? I know that I did before I joined Arbonne.

    My roommate, a spunky and intelligent 20 year old, had been a consultant for the company for two years when I decided to join her in the journey. Prior to this, I had laughed along with my other friends when they jokingly called Arbonne a "money making cult", and my roommate would smirk as if she had a private joke.
    I knew that the company had a lot of integrity. They had completely organic ingredients in all of their beauty and health and wellness products; No preservatives or parabens, which was the main reason I finally decided to become a consultant. The 35% discount on safe and beneficial everyday products was my biggest incentive.
    However, I was in for a big surprise. I had no idea that their integrity carried much further than the ingredients in their products.
    The first meeting that I attended as a consultant for Arbonne included various speeches from people who were at different management levels in the company. They shared their stories of how they got involved with Arbonne and how it had changed their life. It occurred to me, as I was listening to our National Vice President share her journey from being bankrupt with three kids, to earning a 6 figure income in an incredibly short time, that Arbonne was much more than beauty products. A company that can offer a fun job for college students who want an extra $300 a month, or a full-time (still fun) career for anyone who has either been defeated by the corporate world, or in need of a way to support themselves and the people they care about? It sounds unbelievable, but I have witnessed it.
    With this blog, I want to document my journey with Arbonne, whether it is the rejections I face as I try to share the company with people, or the things I learn along the way.

 I hope that you learn a little something about the positives of network marketing, particularly this company and the independence that comes along with it.