On Wednesday afternoon, I had the opportunity to run with Dean Karnazes and Greg Hardesty. Greg, an Orange County Register reporter and fellow ultrarunner, was doing an interview with Dean and set it up as an interview on the run. It was a beautiful day for a beachside run and we had a great time cruising together talking about running, life, and Dean’s new book about lessons learned from running 50 marathons in 50 days in 50 states. See OCRegister.com for the article.

I love Dean’s story because he made a dramatic shift in his life. For a long time he climbed the corporate ladder. However, dissatisfied with his life, he began to pursue his love of running. One thing has led to another and now he is able to use his passion to positively impact others. Dean’s goal is to get the message out of wellness and touts the philosophy of, “Do what you love, and you’ll be fulfilled and happy.”

Although running may not be your passion, the real question is what is it? And, more importantly are you pursuing it? Your passions often lead to your purpose.

Too often, unfortunately, people won’t pursue their passions because they think they are too busy, they are concerned about what other people will think, they don’t believe enough in themselves, or simply they fear something (most often it’s the fear of failure). I submit to you that these concerns, although relevant to you right now, will not mean much when you get to the end of your life. At that point, all you will care about is what did you do with your life. Live a life that you can reflect back and smile knowing that you went for it!

There is a saying, “Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming, ‘Wow, what a ride!!!’”

Perhaps, my ultrarunning friends and I take this quote a bit literally but the point is to go for it! Don’t worry about what other people think. Value your own opinion. What do you think? Is it God's will? Your passion may be a bit nutty, but that’s okay. Even Dean said to Wendy, as he remembered her crewing for me during the 2007 US 24hr Ultrarunning Nationals, “You’re welcome to call my wife anytime for counseling.”

Live a life that is exciting to you. And, most importantly, search for how you can use your passions to serve others.

My college swim coach, Gregg Wilson, has gone down in the coaching history books with the NCAA record for most consecutive conference titles in any sport with 23 straight Big West conference championships from 1979-2001. One of his greatest strengths was his regular review of results and consequent modifications. He would often start off his team meetings with the same phrase, "Well, we had some good swims and some not so good swims..." It was regular and predictable. In fact, often we would all say it together as he would start. The success of this approach is that the review was expected and, therefore, there was ...   more »

Discovering your purpose is exciting and obviously life transforming. Once you understand that you were uniquely designed to be just who you are, then it would make sense that you would have a specific purpose. Think about it, what object has ever been uniquely designed and produced without purpose in mind for it? The automobile was designed and produced to help people travel faster, farther and with more comfort. The telephone was designed and produced to increase our ability to communicate. Preparation-H, I've been informed, was designed and produced for puffy eyes. Just kidding...not totally. But, you get the point. Everything was designed and produced for a specific purpose and often, such as my last example, it may have related and surprisingly additional purposes to its original primary intent. The bottom line is that nothing was designed and produced without value and a purpose. Most importantly is that you grasp your value and purpose. 

After several hundred people took the time (thank you by the way) to respond to my On-Purpose survey, it is obvious how important this topic really is. The following is a quick listing of some of the results. I plan to address each of the topics listed below in the near future with the goal of assisting each person to truly discover and live life on-purpose rather than merely by accident.

Over 85% of people surveyed concluded that they are somewhat to not at all living their life on-purpose. Similarly, and I don't believe coincidently, nearly 80% of people stated that they are somewhat to not at all living with complete inner peace.

The following are questions which received less than 4% response as "100% Me":

My life expresses my life purpose.  2.74%
Those around me clearly know me as my life purpose.  2.11%
My work fully utilizes my talents and gifts.  3.93%
I regularly make time for personal restoration.  3.60%
I feel I am fully living my life.  1.82%
I have complete inner peace.  2.72%

Each of us was indeed designed and created for a specific purpose and to fulfill a specific assignment or calling. Combined, it is often referred to as your Life Purpose. Consequently, your Life's Mission (should you choose to accept it) is to discover, pursue, and fulfill your Life Purpose. The success of your life, therefore, will be directly related to the success of your mission.

I look forward to living a life On-Purpose with you!

 

The article below would not be a complete read without also reviewing the comments people have posted. The perspectives and personal insights shared in the comments are extremely valuable. Thank you to those who contributed. Some people need medical help and other people do not. Everyone, however, needs love.  Treat people with dignity as you are reminded, "There, but for the grace of God, go I."

I read an article stating that the USA could now be referred to as "Medicated America" because so many Americans (nearly 10%--two thirds being women) are taking antidepressant medication. In the poll I recently posted, “Which emotion do you experience most often?” the number one answer was: “Stress.” Yes, people are stressed out, tired, hopeless, full of worry, and, now more than ever, medicated.  Depressing, isn’t it?!  Oops…didn’t mean to say that.  J   Okay, let’s just say it isn’t uplifting! 

So, what’s happening?  First of all, antidepressant drugs are now plentiful and readily available.  Nearly half of those who take antidepressants have never actually received a psychiatric diagnosis or any mental health care beyond just the prescription of the drug. Many people simply feel stressed and are looking for something to help them.

Believe me...I understand facing difficult times in life and wishing to numb some pain. However, whether taking medication is the right thing or not for you to do (I’ll leave that between you and your doctor), I would like to encourage you to also take something else.  That something is a different perspective.  Rather than seeing your challenges and pain as something bad, see them as something to help mold you into something better.  There is a saying, “Don’t pray for an easier life.  Pray to be a bigger man/women.”  Sir Edmond Hillary, after summiting Mt. Everest said, “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” It may not be easy but it will be worth it. 

At some point, you must choose to win in life even when life seems to have the upper hand. Ironically, however, the first step in this victory is to understand that your battle really isn’t against life but rather with yourself.  You can’t change what happens to you but you can learn to change how you assign meaning and respond to it. “Extraordinary change always starts with the act of reframing,” teaches author/speaker Malcolm Gladwell. If you want to change your life, first change the way you see it. Don’t see yourself a victim of life. See yourself polished by life’s abrasiveness.  Then, choose to take positive action.

Consider applying the following three principles in your life:

1. You control the meaning that you assign to the events of your life. Assign it wisely.

Every adversity that you face can add to your bitterness towards others and life in general or it can be the experience that makes you better. Your challenges can help you relate to people. They can help soften you so that you may feel more for other people. Your challenges may, in fact, cause you to reach out closer to your creator seeking comfort and guidance.

Consequently, although your past choices may well be the cause for your challenges, the present meaning you may assign to them can be positive.  For example, the challenges have been necessary in order to help me connect with other people better.  They have softened me and made me more sensitive.  They have led me to a closer relationship with my creator.  That is, there are many good, positive answers to the question of what is the meaning or purpose of all of this?  Search for a positive meaning and be transformed. 

2. Attack or be attacked.  Choose to attack life rather than waiting for life to attack you.

One of my former coaches used to say, “Don’t wait for your competitor to do the attacking.  That leaves you racing their race. You choose when to attack and make it your own race.”  I have found that life is the same way. You won’t get far curled-up waiting for life’s next blow to you. Rather, get up, decide where you are going and get on it! 

If you don’t like the decisions you have made in the past…attack wisdom! 
If you don’t like the quality of people you associate with…attack the creation of new friends!
If you don’t like the state of your physical condition…attack good health!
If you don’t like your financial situation…attack creating a new income stream!
If you don’t like to worry…attack a higher level of faith!
If you don’t like your life…attack living on-purpose (ie, discover your purpose and calling and live it!)

3. Motion creates emotion. Choose to act the way you wish you felt…and you’ll feel it.

When I was a kid, I remember my sister had a poster hanging on her wall with a picture of a sleeping polar bear and a caption that read, “Act enthusiastic and you’ll be enthusiastic.”  I thought the irony of poster was kind of funny yet never realized how truly powerful the caption really was.  It didn’t say, “When you feel enthusiastic you will act enthusiastic.” It made a profound point that motion will create emotion. If you will act the way you wish you felt, you’ll feel it.  When you feel happy, your brain naturally triggers your eyes to look up and your face to smile.  However, if you start looking up and smiling, interestingly it will trigger your brain that you are starting to feel happy. Seems nuts?  Give it a try. 

Want to feel grateful?...start writing down what you are grateful for and really think on it. 
Want to feel happy?...serve others to help them be happy. 
Want to feel energized?...get into motion and go after something you value!

How about if you decide to take on life by taking on yourself?  We can continually look for ways to further escape life and its apparent challenges, or we can fully embrace it. Carefully assign meaning to the events in your life.  Choose to positively attack the areas in life you wish to improve rather than waiting for those areas of your life to attack you.  Finally, choose to get into motion--letting your motion create your emotion rather than waiting for the emotion to arrive first. Remember Helen Keller’s words, “Life is a daring bold adventure or it is nothing at all.”  Live bold and love life.

 

 

Have you ever asked the question, "How did I get here?"  I know I've had those moments.  What about your occupation--how did you get there?  Most people trade the majority of their day at work.  Do you love it?  If you were financially independent, would you still work where you do?  Would you work for free? 

Below is a poll asking you to remember how you ended up doing what it is that you do for a living.  Please take a moment to click on the box that tells your story:

 

What if you only had 30 days to live?  What would you do?  I know it may be a disturbing question, and I realize that I'm asking it on April fool's day, but entertain it just for a moment.  If that was suddenly your situation, what would become your main focus?  Please click on the survey to provide your answer. 

Now, with that uplifting thought, enjoy your day!  :-) Really!

 

Hey Everyone--"All three of you!"  (to quote my friend Chris Brady ),

First, I want to thank you.  My goal with this blog is to be a service to lead, teach and inspire people to live life to its fullest.  Yet, I have received a great number of wonderful comments that have personally touched and inspired me!  So, thank you.

Second, in order to make this blog all that it can be, I am looking for your feedback.  I would love to hear from you as to what you would like to see here--topics, ideas, questions,...?

Although I have been light in posting this month, I haven't been short in writing.  In fact, much of what I have been writing I plan to publish later in the year. But for now, please let me know how this blog can best serve you. 

Thanks and God Bless.  Chuck

 

Take a look at the photo...check out the poor kid in the middle?  Have you ever felt like you were being squeezed by the less desirable aspects of life?  The pressure is significant, you may not be sure how long you will feel this way, and all the while you are cruising down the road of life. 

 

First, let’s establish the fact that, although at the moment it may be hard to believe, your life has purpose and meaning.  In fact, you were specifically and uniquely designed to fulfill an assignment on earth and you have gifts intended to be used for your purpose. 

 

Unfortunately, however, some people have a hard time believing that their life could have any particular purpose.  "I was just an accident" I have heard many times.  "How do you know?" I always ask.  "My parents told me..." is typically the response. 

 

Friends, nobody is an accident.  Your life is not an accident.  As Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, has said, "There are accidental parents. There are no accidental children. There are illegitimate parents. There are no illegitimate children. Your parents may not have planned you but God planned you. Really it doesn't matter whether your parents were good, bad, or indifferent. They may have even abandoned you. But they were the parents God chose for you. Why? Because they had just the right DNA to create you. And God was more interested in making you than He was in their parenting skills."  Interestingly, Pope Clement VII, Leonardo da Vinci, Alexander Hamilton and even Josephine de Beauharnais (Napoleon's wife) have something in common...they were all born of illegitimate 'parents'. 

 

How did you get here?  Choices—the choices made by you and by others.  The good news is that regardless of how much we all mess things up there is God that desires to make good of it all.  Follow the process—

 

Stuff Happens.  I know that my not be the most popular version of the saying but the meaning is the same.  Stuff happens and it happens for a reason all right—people make choices and there are consequences because of them.  Unfortunately, we all make poor choices throughout our life.  Hopefully, we learn from them.  However, in the meantime people are affected by our choices just as we are affected by the choices of others. 

 

Our ability to choose—our freewill—is God’s greatest blessing and curse that He gave us.  If we didn't have freewill, then we really wouldn't be living.  Rather, we would simply be puppets with strings attached to the hands of God.  We would merely be an extension of His imagination.  We certainly wouldn't have a purpose to fulfill anymore than does a doll laying on your child's bedroom floor.  We would be more like a programmed robot sent to earth.  A program has predetermined functionality--if this...then that...  No, we are not puppets with strings nor are we programmed robots walking the earth.  We are living, thinking, and personally responsible beings.  We exercise our freewill to act and, consequently due to our poor choices, the world is no longer a perfect place. If God were not to allow evil to happen, then He would have to stop our freedom of choice.  

 

If our freewill to make poor choices is what causes stuff to happen in the world, then why did God give us freewill?  The Bible says that we were created to love God.  In fact, Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:36-37) However, if God forced us to love Him than obviously it wouldn’t be true love, would it?  Only if one has the ability not to love but chooses to love anyway, is it genuinely true love.  Consequently, God gave us the freewill to choose to love Him or reject him.  That freewill extends to choices we make throughout our life. 

 

What is awe-inspiring, however, is regardless of how bad our choices are and those of the people around us--regardless of the mess that we may have made of life--God can ultimately use it all for our good. It is during these difficult times that our character is developed in such a way that we obtain the ability to fulfill our purpose.  How amazing is that?  God will take our struggles and use them for our strength.  Helen Keller said, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved."  Gothe simply said, "Character develops itself in the stream of life."  Ironically, struggles are necessary to achieve greatness.  Just as a butterfly must go through the struggle of freeing itself from its cocoon in order to develop the strength to fly, we too must grow from our struggles in order to fulfill our mission.  

 

The real question is can you say, "This is will all be for good," during the tough time prior to understanding how it worked out for you?  It is about having faith.  Given God made you for a purpose and has a plan for your life, can you have faith in Him?  A powerful verse in the Bible says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  (Romans 8:28)  Your degree of peace during difficulties reveals your faith.  Imagine the peace you would feel with the security of knowing that the God of the universe has your best interest in mind.  It's like seeing a movie for the second time and knowing all along how well it all works out in the end.  It's a lot more relaxing, isn't it?  

 

So, if you are the child on squeezed in the middle of life, don’t ask, “How did I get here?… Rather, thank God that somehow, someway your experience can be used for good.  Smile.  Have faith.  You are just passing through one frame of the movie of your life. 

 • "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

• "In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

• "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

• "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

• "Cowardice asks the question, 'Is it safe?' Expediency asks the question, 'Is it politic?' Vanity asks the question, 'Is it popular?' But, conscience asks the question, 'Is it right?' And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one's conscience tells one that it is right."



It was August 28, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, when one of the defining moments in the American civil rights movement occurred in front of over two hundred thousand people as Martin Luther King, Jr. passionately shared the words, "I have a Plan..." Or, was it, "I have a Dream..." The plan wouldn't have inspired the people to pay the price of the following struggle, but the casting of a dream did. Without a dream first, nothing happens. How different is America and the rest of the world today because he dared to dream such a dream?

I hope you build the dream of your life to be big. I hope it gives you goose-bumps! In fact, I hope it is big enough that you realize you can't do it by yourself and, consequently, find yourself humbly falling to your knees for help. A small dream won’t lead you to do that. Doesn't it make sense to ask God for help? What could you accomplish with Him as your partner? More importantly, how would you accomplish it?

Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn’t only known for giving great speeches and leading people and change, but he was known for the way he did it. He believed that "the Christian doctrine of love operating through the Gandhian method of nonviolence was one of the most potent weapons available to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom.”(1)

In his own words:

"The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.

You may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. You may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate, nor establish love. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is not an article regarding nonviolent resistance nor should it confuse anyone as to my feelings of sincere and deep gratitude for all the many soldiers who are serving and sacrificing currently for the cause of freedom. Rather, on this day of Martin Luther King, Jr., I am noting that not only did he own a big dream, but he also carefully considered the method by which he chose to fulfill it.

Those who chase their dream with the ‘whatever it takes’ attitude will, unfortunately, have quite an awakening when they realize they sacrificed something greater than their dream if the process wasn’t in alignment with their Core Values. Without clarity of our Core Values and a commitment to making decisions in alignment to them, we will naturally default to fear-based decision making. That is, we will make decisions in our own best interest at the moment in order to avoid the manifestations of our fears.

For example, suppose it is recommended to you to do something at work that compromises your integrity. Internally, it may not 'feel' right. But, if you are not clear on your Core Values or committed to Core-Value decision making, you may well find yourself doing that something out of a fear—in this case, the fear of financial-insecurity. You did it because you feared what you may face financially if you didn’t.

The Christian worldview believes that God will provide for our needs so there is no reason to ever compromise our values. Have you ever noticed how many dramatic changes in the world came from men and women of great faith? Great faith leads to great courage. Or, as the Roman philosopher and orator, Cicero said, “A man of courage is also full of faith.”

In upcoming posts, I will discuss the extreme importance of defining, prioritizing and living by your Core Values. I’ll discuss apparent value-conflicts as well as the ‘Should-Values’ that we mistake as Core Values. Sound boring? Well, if it is excitement that you are looking for, then try recovering from bad decision making due to unclear Core Values. That will spice up your life! Making decisions that maintain alignment between your actions and your Core Values is a key to inner peace. It’s about ‘supporting yourself’.

On this great day of celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and contribution, I want to encourage you to dream big, seek His guidance, and stay true to yourself.





(1) King Jr., Martin Luther, "Pilgrimage to Nonviolence.” The Christian Century 77 (13 April 1960), pp. 439-41.

At some point we all search for meaning and purpose to our life. What is it all about? What is my purpose? What am I supposed to be doing with my life? In order to answer these questions there are a few necessary principles to understand:

1. You won’t clarify your purpose if you don’t stop for a moment. Your first step is to 'Stop!' Just stop for a moment. I know for many it can be a very difficult thing to do, but it is essential. For a few of you, this has never been a problem and we'll discuss the concept of 'Starting' in another posting. But, for the majority, it is all about being very busy. In fact, most people run through life in such a hurry they never stop and consider why it is they are in such a rush. "I don't really know where I'm going but at least I'm making great time!" would be an appropriate life slogan for many people. But, it has gone beyond just a fast pace, our busyness has become some sort of new status symbol--a true source of pride.

"I'm very busy" people say constantly with a proud tone in their voice.
"Me too!" someone else will quickly chime in as to not miss out on the mini-recognition ceremony taking place.
"I'm not" I love to contribute with a smile just to see them struggle to process the thought.
"Your not busy?!" they begin questioning with a look of confusion and even a bit of concern.
"What is it that you do?" they ask.
"I play with my kids. I work out. I love to read..." I'll go on.
Inevitably they interrupt me with, "That's not what I meant; what do you do for work?"
"Oh! Now that's a different question,” I'll respond.

Most people are so busy working to make money that when asked, 'What do you do?' we are just to assume the remaining part of the sentence is 'for work?' and their entire identity has become their work title: 'I am an accountant', 'I am an attorney', 'I am a carpenter'. You are? Is that who you ARE, or is that what you do for a living. It may seem like I'm splitting hairs here but I believe it is actually one of the sneaky traps that keep people from fulfilling their purpose. Because we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of working, paying bills, and generally getting through life, our purpose is merely survival and our vehicle is our work. But, is your work in line with your purpose? Have you even thought about it? I mean really thought about it. Most have not. It's like the guy visiting his neighbor only to see water covering the floor with a sink that is overflowing and a faucet still running. "Why don't you turn off the water?" the friend asks. "I don't have time to think about things like that. Can't you see I'm very busy trying to mop up this floor?"

Yes, we are very busy. We have this innate need to keep moving. But, remember, being busy doesn't necessarily mean you are being productive. Because you are in a hurry doesn't mean you are getting any closer to fulfilling your specific purpose. You will stop, sooner or later. We all will. If you stop now and think for a moment about your life, I am certain your life will represent so much more than it would have otherwise.

2. A key to discovering your purpose is to know where to look. Some people set off traveling around the world in search of answers. They may travel to the highest mountains and dive to the bottom of oceans in their quest but they will still be empty of purpose if they never look in the right place. Ironically, no matter where their travels take them, their answers travel with them. No, this discovery is not found outside but rather it is inside--inside of you. Take a moment and point at yourself. Go ahead, no one is looking. Now, look at your finger. Is it pointing to your head? No, it isn't, is it? It's pointing to your heart. Who you ARE resides in your heart. Your Creator put it there. The process of this discovery is really a matter of clarifying what deep down you already know. Then, it's simply a matter of being open to God's will in your life as you travel along your jouney.

3. Your purpose is not about doing but rather it’s about being. Too often people struggle to discover their purpose because they start in the wrong context. They ask, “What am I supposed to be doing?” It’s the wrong question. What you do is simply an expression of who you are. Your purpose is to be. Remember, we are human-beings, not human-doings. When you clarify your purpose as to who you are supposed to be, it can apply to every area of your life. If it doesn’t apply to one area of your life then you confused an expression of your purpose (eg., your vocation) with your actual purpose. For example, my purpose is to be a leader, a teacher and an inspiration. The way I apply that to family will be different than the way I apply it to work.

Once you have a handle on these principles—slowing down long enough to connect, looking within, and understanding it is about being and not doing—you are ready to clarify your purpose. In the upcoming postings, I will discuss a simple process to do just that.

Happy New Year!!!  There is something about a new year that is so refreshing.  Take an inventory of the lessons learned and the victories achieved in 2007.  Then, look forward to 2008 with great anticipation!  I love the new year because the world suddenly is full of dreamers.  You rarely hear people saying, "I bet this is going to be a real bummer of a year."  No, this is the time optimism rules the minds of people.  The new year is all about improvement. 

Take a moment to see the vision of Dec 31, 2008.  What do you see?  What improvements have happened?  What accomplishment are you most proud of?  Truly explore the vision.  In order to hit a bulls-eye you must have a target.

Next, make a commitment to two things:

1. Stop doing something that's holding you back.  What is it?  Make that decision right now.
2. Start doing something that will contribute most to the realization of your vision.  Put it into your daily routine.

Remember, if you want a change in your life, you must make a change in your life.  I know...that was deep.  However, it is very true.  Give love away.  Smile once a day at a total stranger.  For many, it may really confuse them but, for some, it may be the little act of caring they needed.  Give money away.  There are plenty of people and causes that are in need and no amount is too little.  Give God's Grace away.  Forgive someone that doesn't "deserve" it.  Give these things away in 2008 and see if they don't come back to you in abundance!

Happy New Year Everyone!

 

I recently spoke to over 20,000 excited people affilitated with TEAM in Louisville, KY regarding Personal Mission Statements.  Since then, I have had a number of people asking me questions about the talk.  Here is an outline of the talk and a link to an article that is the best I've ever seen regarding helping someone write a personal mission statement.  Read this posting, click on the link and change your life!  Here it is:

 

In 1970, sociologist Dr. Edward Banfield of Harvard University described a profound study on success and priority setting.  He was searching for why some ...   more »

I was on a plane flying home from a meeting in Detroit, Tuesday, November 20, the person sitting in front of me was reading the New York Times and I found myself in shock by what I was seeing on the front page of the business section.. “No way!” I kept thinking once I was able to read the entire article. “Developed in secrecy over the last two years” the article explained, the new web business was finally launching. “Think of it as part Amazon (online retail), part My-Space (social network) and part Amway (direct pitch from somebody you know).”    more »

As Dr. Phil McGraw regularly says, “What were you thinking?” followed by, “So, How’s that working out for you?” He has become famous using these questions since they get people thinking and realizing that the miserable results they are experiencing are do to their poor choices that lead them there. My question is when you make some poor choices that lead to undesirable results, doesn’t it make sense to take ownership of them sooner than later? Yes, nobody likes to admit that they made poor choices. However, isn't it true that trying to cover them up just seems to dig a deeper hole?   more »

On Aug. 9th, 2007, the original proposal to Quixtar from the TEAM leaders was the following.  This proposal was open to negotiation and was the first draft presented.

 

1. Peaceful exit

2. Joint positive communication – no disparagement

3. IBOs currently within the Team system will have until December 31, 2007 to resign from Quixtar and sit out from any other MLM for a period of 60 days. After December 31, 2007, Team system IBOs will revert to Quixtar rules in effect at that time.

4. Bonuses will be prorated to the resignation date, including any year end bonuses.

5. Any LOA that is currently not affiliated with the Team system will not be approached or communicated with by any Team representative. Quixtar can prepare a statement that Team personnel/leadership will state if approached by any IBO not covered by this agreement.

6. Team will continue to operate their current training system.

7. No legal action of any kind against Team or affiliated IBOs will be instituted by Alticor or any of its subsidiaries, employees or representatives. Also, Alticor/Quixtar will not use any of its connections with any federal, state or local governmental agencies to cause harm to Team.

8. No communication or otherwise forecasting to current Quixtar IBOs that Team’s methods are unlawful or legally questionable.

9. Neither side to communicate with any press entity regarding the separation beyond an agreed upon written statement.

 

After having the proposal for over an hour and a half, Quixtar’s attorneys returned to the room. With no discussion or open dialogue whatsoever, they presented termination papers.

 

John Maxwell was asked a few years ago if he’d care to write a book about business ethics. He responded, “There’s no such thing as business ethics. There’s only ethics.” The “ethical chaos” seen recently in the high-profile corporate scandals develop because people make unethical choices.  Maxwell observes: “One of our problems is that ethics is never a business issue or a social issue or a political issue. It is always a personal issue.”  The fact that ethics is always personal, Maxwell contends, suggests a single, simple way that each of us “can move from ‘mostly ethical’ to ‘always ethical’ … based on the Golden Rule.” That way is “asking the question ‘How would I like to be treated in this situation?’”

I received an email Oct 17th from a business friend in the UK.  In this email, he told me about his situation.  Since then, he has posted his story on his personal web site:  http://www.jerryandmandy.com/.  It once again reminded me that often big businesses are so concerned with growth or preservation that humanitarian decision making becomes something of the past.  Let’s never forget the Golden Rule.