It was a wonderful summer evening. The tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and onions were ripe and ready to be chopped and garnished with fresh cilantro, lime juice and real apple cider vinegar (not the fake stuff). A heavy dash of cumin, some oregano, sea salt and a couple of jalapeños for a little kick. So I chopped and mixed and the famous Cloward family Summer Salsa recipe was prepared and ready for delivery to the widows and friends on the mountain.
It was getting late so our visits Monday evening were quick as the moonlight cast its spell over the lake and season's last hatch of snow flies smashed on the window as we drove back to the lodge. We knew I was at, or near, the bottom of the CHEMO cycle and would likely experience the now all too familiar "drop" in energy and vitality. We just didn't know it would catch me that night with a vengance unlike the previous collapse.
At 10 pm Judy found me chilling and very feverish and I wanted to try to sleep. Sleep for me has become a memory from my prelymphomic night dreams. I was badly in need of rest. However, rest was the last thing on the agenda that Monday night. The night was long and I was far from the hospital when at 4:30 AM I finally got up one more time to get to the bathroom. This time, however, like the parking lot at the office after the last CHEMO cycle, I collapsed. Judy heard me hit the floor and was at my side in a flash. Luckily, John, one of our two not-so-near neighbors, was on the mountain and had his cell phone on. He was quick to get to us to assist Judy in getting me to the car. I didn't remember the ride down the mountain being so long before.
At the emergency room in Provo they again found my blood pressure at 70/30 and suspected with the 103+º temperature meant that we were dealing with a sepsis blood situation due to the absence of the white cells. They put me in ICU and started pumping fluid and antibiotics. I was was in pretty bad shape.
It has been a most difficult week since that flight down the mountain. But, as with all challenge, pain, difficulty and struggle, there has been growth and goodness, faith and friendship and blessing sufficient to the test. Thank you, thank you - please keep the prayers coming. I am off the mountain, but a long way from out of the woods.
The week was oh, so long. As I lay in the hospital bed and watched the coming and going of the life-flight choppers over the long holiday weekend, I was again pained to realize how many others were being called upon to suffer and die in accidents and traffic tragedies. The weekend traffic was heavy and the storms were fierce for so early in the fall. As I looked out at the mountain, the pale of the moon on the aspens from last Monday night's flight had changed to the pale of a new dusting of snow. Oh how I am so not ready for the summer to be past and my labors unfinished.
There is wood and coal to haul, chop and stack. There is staining for the logs and a bit of cement work that has been waiting since spring. And there is the proverbial cleaning of the lodge of the dust and growth of summer which has passed largely with me away from my mountain retreat. Alas, time, summer and life waits on none of us, lymphoma or not. It will all either get finished somehow, or it will wait. Today it will wait.
I am confined to the hospital until my
white cell and neutraphil counts rebound. That could be yet days, maybe weeks. So I continue to work from the bed and cell phone and hope and pray that things will resolve for me to be with each of you at the Reunion Convention - again, prayers please.
As the gurneys shuttled back and forth from the ambulance and the choppers, I couldn't help ponder the lives represented and touched by those on and at the side of the victims. How had they lived? What were their priorities? How had they spent their day, weekend, summer, life, love, passion, service, priorities and values - so far, or totally?
Each of us live in the shadow of the unknown. This allows us to freely choose how and on what we will spend our lives. It allows us the freedom and the agency to determine the "most" important things. For some of us it is "things," for others it is "people" and for some of us it is "cause." For the best of us it is a good balance of each, such that we are not left wishing and wondering when we are called from, or to the mountains of our lives. Balance is tricky business because a choice to focus on one aspect of living is also a choice to not spend it on another. The key is knowing, rather, choosing on what to focus on, when. It seems to me that it is a matter of seasons.
If we are in harmony with the seasons of our day, year and life, we will experience the least regret, loss and disappointment. If we "render" to God, children, spouse, health and work, that focus and time that rightfully belongs to them -- "their" seasons with us, we, while still having wood to chop, will not be so burdened by its constant call to spend our hours, days and summers.
We have just completed a season of summer, with kids and vacations, goings and comings and now back to school. For most Heritage Makers, this has been a season of putting the cause of heritage on back burners, or at least on simmer. It has been necessary while we have tended to the balance of the season of heritage we are both making and protecting. Now, however, the season has changed. It is time for heritage makers, particularly leaders, to rebalance and focus on the business and the "cause."
We have seen a drop in the attendance on Leader Calls and Sr. Leader calls over the summer as the balancing act has taken its toll on time and business priorities. And there are those of you who are not able to connect in at the time of the call, due to work. But now we issue a clarion call to each of our Heritage Makers consultants and leaders. Now is the time to shift and prepare for September, Reunion, fall selling, workshops and your clients and teams.
Important announcements are being made on the Leader call today. If you are qualified, please do not miss the call. If you are not yet a Director, please get with your Director after the call for details and then, please stretch and become an HM Director. We need you. The cause needs you and there is growth and excitement in the days ahead that you will not want to miss. Now is the season for "Fall Selling Salsa" and we have a great recipe for you. Things are about to get really "hot" and we don't want you to miss out on a single bite of the new taste of heritage in the making.
Leaders, today we will be discussing the Leadership Principle of Life and Death. I believe it will help to move you into the new month, season and mindset. I look forward to sharing some impressions from my bedside with you. Please be there.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Now is the Time - Your Time - You, yes you, are in my thoughts today
Greetings! Of all the many things that are racing through my mind, life and heart that I could share today, I am moved to write about you. You? Yes, you. You who have had the interest in me and my thoughts to log in, this posting is for you--whether you are a member of my family, my heritage family or someone I have not yet had the great privilege to meet.
If you are reading this blog, this post is because my thoughts were on you. Many of you I know by name and by heart, others by reputation and comment, but all of you I know by your interest, faith and good will to me, my family and our shared vision of creating and supporting heritage makers in the homes throughout the world. You are likely here, reading this posting, because we share a mission of strengthening families and homes through the power of the stories of the events, traditions, values and heroes that make up their heritage.
Knowing this about you gives me the right and perhaps the responsibility to declare that this blog is for you. While I don't know if that is one or one hundred, I hope and pray that these thoughts will strengthen our connection and your resolve to the service and work of heritage making in your own family, team and community.
In these days of growing uncertainty in the world with so many voices and so many unsettling possibilities, there are likely many storms on the horizon. These are the days that challenge and try the hearts of men and women, moms and dads. These are the days we instinctfully search the horizon for safe haven from the storms. There are few constants that we can look to to find anchorage and safe harboring for our families. But there are safe harbors and safe principles and there are communities of refuge and there are paths of safety and there are leaders who know and can guide you on those paths. It is a gentle reminder of what, where and who these constants, harbors, principles, communities, paths and leaders are that I make the subject of my post to YOU today.
First, the constants I know are even firm and true and upon which we can tether our life and confidence in weathering the storms - well and secure. The first constant is that God lives and is a loving and understanding Father who knows you and me, His children and is powerful to save us and guide us when we turn to Him. This I know is true - He is constant and dependable. Next, His son, our Savior, is real. He lives and He knows the end from the beginning and is certain of the times and the challenges of our lives - your life, your family, your trials and your hopes and needs. He is there and He is approachable to all who will, in simple faith, believe that He is. We can speak to and with Him and He will answer in calming assurance and peace and will direct us specifically through His word (the scriptures and the Holy Spirit's promptings). This I know and testify is true - it is true.
Although it seems that the world is on a reckless runaway course with crazy people in powerful positions doing selfish, sinful, unthinkable things, yet HE, the God and Father of us all, is in perfect control knowing the beginning from the end. While He allows all men their agency and power in the day of their glory, yet in and through it all, He works His perfect work of bringing those who will come unto Him to ultimate safety, security, peace and happiness. Be assured by this man's testimony that this is true. He is the anchor you can rest fully assured for safety from the storms that He has warned us must come.
I also know that He is moving, not hiding, not resting, not waiting; He is moving in His preparations for His return to draw men, women, families to Him. Those who are not blinded by the craftiness of men and media and dogma and selfishness can see His hand and His people and His voice through His word and His servants as He keeps His promises to restore all things and complete every jot and tittle His prophets have spoken. This I know with absolute confidence. We are where we are in the history of His great plan of life for His children at a most wonderful, exciting and challenging time. We are so blessed to live in the here and now.
Though we each struggle under the burdens of our own heavy loads and trials, yet the blessing of living here and now with the blessings of knowing He lives and loves and is coming is incredible. Let us never loose sight of that fact, knowledge and comfort. Though we may momentarily take our eyes off of Him and the plan of happiness He has given us, yet we must remember where and how to turn back to Him in a moments notice when we need to set our anchor.
Now, as to safe principles - I have found that there are several critically important principles that will increase our sense of security, support and peace, especially during the trying times ahead. The first principle is that of obedience to eternal law. Eternal laws are the truths upon which the universe operates. They are constants and obedience to them will render absolute predictable results. The harvest of the results can sometimes vary, but the harvest is sure. These laws include the law of the harvest itself. That is, we will reap what we sow. That is, all seed returns to the sower pressed down and running over. Therefore, we should sow only good seed, the seeds that we want to be returned to us. Seeds of faith and trust, seeds of forgiveness and love, seeds of patience and forbearance, seeds of integrity and truth. IT is such a simple principle, but what a difference it makes in life generally and so importantly as we move into times of more uncertainty.
Another principle is the principle of work. The laborer is worthy of his hire when he/she works. This, too, is connected to the principle of the harvest. Eternity keeps a perfect balance and all accounts come due and are paid in full measure to the merit of the labor performed. We have all seen people who think that they are working, but in close review we discover they are more often "talking" about working rather than really working. In terms of payment for talk, well you know the saying "talk is cheap" and so is its reward. Those who will be most secure during the coming challenges are those who know what to do, how to do it and then go to it and WORK. If you are going to talk, make sure you are talking about the joy of the work and its rewards and the security it produces, but don't just talk about it - WORK.
Another vital principle is the principle of self-reliance and frugality. We are living in a time when so many seem to think he or she needs to respond to every marketing ploy to buy and have all the cars, toys, clothes and things that life can offer. So many couples succumb to the enticings of debt-burdened homes, furnishings and trappings, they feel that they "deserve" the good life, even if they can't pay for it yet. They extend themselves far beyond reasonable ability to repay the leverage on their paycheck and credit cards. These chickens are even now coming home to roost and are finding that the roost is ruined and so are the lives of families who have violated the principle or prudent self-reliance. Debt is a merciless taskmaster. He can and will pull you from any safe harbor and from the grasp of all security. Get out and stay out of debt is the message and principle we should speak, live and bake into our heritage.
Another principle upon which we can build our trust is the principle of enduring to the end. We see so many who put their hands to the plow - the plow of commitments, relationships, contracts, marriage and yes, consultantships, only to let go prematurely, before the job is done or the goal achieved or the book published, or the child raised, or the life and love matured and rewarded. Yet we also see the more rare, but inspiring examples of those who know and trust this principle and receive the rewards of success, happiness and power. I would hope and pray that every reader of this posting would evaluate their willingness to make and keep commitments, that they will endure to the end and receive the reward of their hopes and goals. By enduring to the end, you will bring your family with confidence into safe harbor. Chart your course, tell them where you are going and then stay on course, at the helm. Make and keep your commitments -- endure to the end.
The safe communities that you can be a part of during the troubling times are those who share your heritage, your family, church and your Heritage Makers team. Those like-minded and committed people with whom you associate can be communities of refuge and will strengthen your foundations and resolve to not only weather the storm, but to fully ride it out, to harness its furry to your advantage and success. Your association, conversation and shared convictions are what make the walls of the community strong and secure. They are the people and the places where you can rest assured that you are supported and secure. Build and expand the communities of your heritage.
As for the paths that lead to security in troubled times - they do exist. Interestingly, the path of direct selling has long been found to be a path leading to solution to the tight and troubled times of previous economic downturns. Why? Two reasons. First, people stop overbuying the more frivolous big things that create debt because they have less discretionary money to spend, but they are willing to spend it on more meaningful significant investments at lower costs. Heritage Makers products and services are a perfect fit to people looking for simple joy and value in times of tighter wallets.
Second, in tight times more people consider the opportunities for extra income to ease the budget and to restore a little more discretionary spending ability. Tight times also change careers with layoffs, downturns and slowdowns. There are more who are looking for options to the uncertainty of the time clock, the boss, the economy and who are considering a new need to enter the workplace. The realities of the Heritage Makers no previous experience, time flexibility, home-based work place, no inventory to invest in or manage, a simple you-do, you-get reward system that is predictable and virtually unlimited all shine brightly in contrast to the help wanted listings and options. Tough times are the beginning of good times for direct selling companies that offer real solutions and values to end consumers and who are looking for feel good, wise investments in things that matter and opportunities that open doors of possibilities. That is, if they know where these paths are, if there is someone to lead them to the path. This brings us to the issue of leaders.
These are indeed the times that try mens souls and they are the times that make real leaders. These are the times when the wise and prudent men and women see opportunity, not adversity. They see exciting openings in possibilities that can accelerate their success. They truly see that from the tough times come the great times. For those who are watchful, fearless and faithful, apply the principles and the promises that define and make leaders. These are the days that will make YOU, my friend and reader, the leader I know you know you can and should be. These are the days when all eyes are on you to see what trail you will walk through the storm, what principles you will live by, what faith in the reality of the ultimate plan of life you adhere to and testify of in how you live, love and serve in your family, your community and your heritage team.
NOW, not tomorrow, not next week or month or year, NOW they are looking to YOU. What you do today, in August, September and through the Fall will be vital to your success. As the shoes of our time continue to drop and the uncertainty of the world, its politics, its wars, its economy and its selfishness continue to pound the TV, the papers and the communication, people will be looking for answers. Now is when your words, voice, actions and commitment to things that really matter and your message of heritage in the making and Heritage Makers will make the difference for many who are watching you and waiting for you to speak out. Now is the time for you to unveil and unleash your passion, faith and trust in your commitment to being a Heritage Maker in your home and your community. Now is the time to step into real leadership.
These are the thoughts of my heart for YOU who have come to know and read them. I know, more than I may be able to convey, that now is the time, YOUR TIME.
Onward and upward,
Love Doug
If you are reading this blog, this post is because my thoughts were on you. Many of you I know by name and by heart, others by reputation and comment, but all of you I know by your interest, faith and good will to me, my family and our shared vision of creating and supporting heritage makers in the homes throughout the world. You are likely here, reading this posting, because we share a mission of strengthening families and homes through the power of the stories of the events, traditions, values and heroes that make up their heritage.
Knowing this about you gives me the right and perhaps the responsibility to declare that this blog is for you. While I don't know if that is one or one hundred, I hope and pray that these thoughts will strengthen our connection and your resolve to the service and work of heritage making in your own family, team and community.
In these days of growing uncertainty in the world with so many voices and so many unsettling possibilities, there are likely many storms on the horizon. These are the days that challenge and try the hearts of men and women, moms and dads. These are the days we instinctfully search the horizon for safe haven from the storms. There are few constants that we can look to to find anchorage and safe harboring for our families. But there are safe harbors and safe principles and there are communities of refuge and there are paths of safety and there are leaders who know and can guide you on those paths. It is a gentle reminder of what, where and who these constants, harbors, principles, communities, paths and leaders are that I make the subject of my post to YOU today.
First, the constants I know are even firm and true and upon which we can tether our life and confidence in weathering the storms - well and secure. The first constant is that God lives and is a loving and understanding Father who knows you and me, His children and is powerful to save us and guide us when we turn to Him. This I know is true - He is constant and dependable. Next, His son, our Savior, is real. He lives and He knows the end from the beginning and is certain of the times and the challenges of our lives - your life, your family, your trials and your hopes and needs. He is there and He is approachable to all who will, in simple faith, believe that He is. We can speak to and with Him and He will answer in calming assurance and peace and will direct us specifically through His word (the scriptures and the Holy Spirit's promptings). This I know and testify is true - it is true.
Although it seems that the world is on a reckless runaway course with crazy people in powerful positions doing selfish, sinful, unthinkable things, yet HE, the God and Father of us all, is in perfect control knowing the beginning from the end. While He allows all men their agency and power in the day of their glory, yet in and through it all, He works His perfect work of bringing those who will come unto Him to ultimate safety, security, peace and happiness. Be assured by this man's testimony that this is true. He is the anchor you can rest fully assured for safety from the storms that He has warned us must come.
I also know that He is moving, not hiding, not resting, not waiting; He is moving in His preparations for His return to draw men, women, families to Him. Those who are not blinded by the craftiness of men and media and dogma and selfishness can see His hand and His people and His voice through His word and His servants as He keeps His promises to restore all things and complete every jot and tittle His prophets have spoken. This I know with absolute confidence. We are where we are in the history of His great plan of life for His children at a most wonderful, exciting and challenging time. We are so blessed to live in the here and now.
Though we each struggle under the burdens of our own heavy loads and trials, yet the blessing of living here and now with the blessings of knowing He lives and loves and is coming is incredible. Let us never loose sight of that fact, knowledge and comfort. Though we may momentarily take our eyes off of Him and the plan of happiness He has given us, yet we must remember where and how to turn back to Him in a moments notice when we need to set our anchor.
Now, as to safe principles - I have found that there are several critically important principles that will increase our sense of security, support and peace, especially during the trying times ahead. The first principle is that of obedience to eternal law. Eternal laws are the truths upon which the universe operates. They are constants and obedience to them will render absolute predictable results. The harvest of the results can sometimes vary, but the harvest is sure. These laws include the law of the harvest itself. That is, we will reap what we sow. That is, all seed returns to the sower pressed down and running over. Therefore, we should sow only good seed, the seeds that we want to be returned to us. Seeds of faith and trust, seeds of forgiveness and love, seeds of patience and forbearance, seeds of integrity and truth. IT is such a simple principle, but what a difference it makes in life generally and so importantly as we move into times of more uncertainty.
Another principle is the principle of work. The laborer is worthy of his hire when he/she works. This, too, is connected to the principle of the harvest. Eternity keeps a perfect balance and all accounts come due and are paid in full measure to the merit of the labor performed. We have all seen people who think that they are working, but in close review we discover they are more often "talking" about working rather than really working. In terms of payment for talk, well you know the saying "talk is cheap" and so is its reward. Those who will be most secure during the coming challenges are those who know what to do, how to do it and then go to it and WORK. If you are going to talk, make sure you are talking about the joy of the work and its rewards and the security it produces, but don't just talk about it - WORK.
Another vital principle is the principle of self-reliance and frugality. We are living in a time when so many seem to think he or she needs to respond to every marketing ploy to buy and have all the cars, toys, clothes and things that life can offer. So many couples succumb to the enticings of debt-burdened homes, furnishings and trappings, they feel that they "deserve" the good life, even if they can't pay for it yet. They extend themselves far beyond reasonable ability to repay the leverage on their paycheck and credit cards. These chickens are even now coming home to roost and are finding that the roost is ruined and so are the lives of families who have violated the principle or prudent self-reliance. Debt is a merciless taskmaster. He can and will pull you from any safe harbor and from the grasp of all security. Get out and stay out of debt is the message and principle we should speak, live and bake into our heritage.
Another principle upon which we can build our trust is the principle of enduring to the end. We see so many who put their hands to the plow - the plow of commitments, relationships, contracts, marriage and yes, consultantships, only to let go prematurely, before the job is done or the goal achieved or the book published, or the child raised, or the life and love matured and rewarded. Yet we also see the more rare, but inspiring examples of those who know and trust this principle and receive the rewards of success, happiness and power. I would hope and pray that every reader of this posting would evaluate their willingness to make and keep commitments, that they will endure to the end and receive the reward of their hopes and goals. By enduring to the end, you will bring your family with confidence into safe harbor. Chart your course, tell them where you are going and then stay on course, at the helm. Make and keep your commitments -- endure to the end.
The safe communities that you can be a part of during the troubling times are those who share your heritage, your family, church and your Heritage Makers team. Those like-minded and committed people with whom you associate can be communities of refuge and will strengthen your foundations and resolve to not only weather the storm, but to fully ride it out, to harness its furry to your advantage and success. Your association, conversation and shared convictions are what make the walls of the community strong and secure. They are the people and the places where you can rest assured that you are supported and secure. Build and expand the communities of your heritage.
As for the paths that lead to security in troubled times - they do exist. Interestingly, the path of direct selling has long been found to be a path leading to solution to the tight and troubled times of previous economic downturns. Why? Two reasons. First, people stop overbuying the more frivolous big things that create debt because they have less discretionary money to spend, but they are willing to spend it on more meaningful significant investments at lower costs. Heritage Makers products and services are a perfect fit to people looking for simple joy and value in times of tighter wallets.
Second, in tight times more people consider the opportunities for extra income to ease the budget and to restore a little more discretionary spending ability. Tight times also change careers with layoffs, downturns and slowdowns. There are more who are looking for options to the uncertainty of the time clock, the boss, the economy and who are considering a new need to enter the workplace. The realities of the Heritage Makers no previous experience, time flexibility, home-based work place, no inventory to invest in or manage, a simple you-do, you-get reward system that is predictable and virtually unlimited all shine brightly in contrast to the help wanted listings and options. Tough times are the beginning of good times for direct selling companies that offer real solutions and values to end consumers and who are looking for feel good, wise investments in things that matter and opportunities that open doors of possibilities. That is, if they know where these paths are, if there is someone to lead them to the path. This brings us to the issue of leaders.
These are indeed the times that try mens souls and they are the times that make real leaders. These are the times when the wise and prudent men and women see opportunity, not adversity. They see exciting openings in possibilities that can accelerate their success. They truly see that from the tough times come the great times. For those who are watchful, fearless and faithful, apply the principles and the promises that define and make leaders. These are the days that will make YOU, my friend and reader, the leader I know you know you can and should be. These are the days when all eyes are on you to see what trail you will walk through the storm, what principles you will live by, what faith in the reality of the ultimate plan of life you adhere to and testify of in how you live, love and serve in your family, your community and your heritage team.
NOW, not tomorrow, not next week or month or year, NOW they are looking to YOU. What you do today, in August, September and through the Fall will be vital to your success. As the shoes of our time continue to drop and the uncertainty of the world, its politics, its wars, its economy and its selfishness continue to pound the TV, the papers and the communication, people will be looking for answers. Now is when your words, voice, actions and commitment to things that really matter and your message of heritage in the making and Heritage Makers will make the difference for many who are watching you and waiting for you to speak out. Now is the time for you to unveil and unleash your passion, faith and trust in your commitment to being a Heritage Maker in your home and your community. Now is the time to step into real leadership.
These are the thoughts of my heart for YOU who have come to know and read them. I know, more than I may be able to convey, that now is the time, YOUR TIME.
Onward and upward,
Love Doug
Friday, August 8, 2008
The Message creates the Membership, the Membership drives the Movement
Greetings!
On Wednesday we had a small group of leaders gathered at the office to work on the Workshop flow and Que Cards we will be introducing at Reunion. We had a great morning of challenging dialog and wordsmithing the framework for the "official" message of the HM story for new clients. . At noon while the team had lunch in the conference room I slipped into my office to lie down for a bit (I was at the bottom of the chemo cycle and needed a little rest). I laid down on the floor under the air conditioner and got chilled. I then went out to the parking lot to the car to sit and warm back up. Bryndi went out with me.
Something in the combination of the cold and heat and the chem cycle's low blood count triggered a sudden rapid drop in blood pressure and as I was trying to get out of the car I collapsed. Bryndi caught my fall to the pavement and went in for help. I was not out very long but unfortunately it was long enough for the leaders to gather and get a look at a fallen president.
Brytt and Marshyl gave me a priesthood blessing while I was still out and they got me home. They called Judy who drove down from the Lodge. She checked my temperature which was over the limit that signals potential infection in the chemo process. So I made the trek back to the hospital. They found my blood pressure was extremely low and they were concerned about illness and infection, so they put me in ICU. They cut in a central line, IV, and direct artery pressure monitor. They dumped a lot of fluid in me and I was feeling chipper and wanting to get back to work the next day.
But my white count and a couple of heart-stopping and self-restarted flutters kept me in ICU another day and then the low white cell count kept me yet another day. I feel great and motivated to get on with the work and life of heritage making and heritage makers. I fully expect to be released tomorrow. Besides that, I think that the hospital is considering charging me office space because I am always on the computer, cell phone and visiting/working with my HM visitors. There is still so much to do to get the vision, mission and methods planted in the hearts of our people - and yours.
As with the former time out in the hospital, aside from just moving my office here, there have been some pause moments for reflection, prioritizing, a lot of prayer and vision time. I have come to know that vision is the flow of thoughts and insight that is directed and connected by divine influence when one is seeking for and open to it. In other words, ASK ing for it. That is Ask, Seek and Knock ing. When I "ask" for answers, I usually find them in the scriptures. When I "seek" understanding, I find it their (scripture's) principled teachings and when I "knock" for application, I find that it opened, unlocked to my understanding, in His words - spirit. Thus, my vision becomes more clear and more timely to the needs of my life and the business as I make the time to ASK and am willing to accept His gifts and simple directions.
Some may be offended at the suggestion that I firmly believe that He is in the details of my life and our business. Make no mistake, His business is not ours. His is saving souls and bringing to pass their eternal life. Ours is helping mothers, and fathers, who will take the time, to proactively build a heritage of values, traditions, heroes and relationships that will carve their priorities, attitudes and ultimately choices -choices that are in harmony with those wholesome, contributive values and traditions. We help them build heritage fences that can keep their good things in and the bad things out of the lives of their children.
Sometimes in the "mechanism" of the business and the magic of the storybooking process we can put the cart before the horse and the process ahead of the purpose. Even the most Sr. Consultants and staff find themselves in this battle of vision/priority definition and messaging.
It was actually in the energy of this conversation that we were working on for the new workshop flow before I collapsed in the parking lot on Wednesday. It seems impossible that it can happen that we can get the story of Heritage Makers turned around to something that might better be titled "Storymakers."
So once again, I lay the vision before you, with the historical details of the convergence of people and preparation that has combined together both the vision (purpose) and the mission (process), which I sometimes refer to as the the cause and the crusade of the business.
Heritage Makers is a business that seeks to help families build, create, and share their heritage. That is the vision and core of our message and at least 10% of the story (time) and 90% of the impact (buy-in and buying rational). We complete this vision by implementing our mission of storybooking the events, relationships, values and heroes of the family. This makes up 60-70% of the story, our message, explanation and time.
How we achieve the mission is through our independent direct salesforce of consultants who bring mothers, fathers and families the message of heritage making - the why (vision) 10% and the how (Mission) 60%. The message of the business and service opportunity is the remaining 20-30% of the message.
If we get the message sequence or balance wrong, we miss the mark and success eludes us and the movement of heritage and Heritage Makers slows. For the most part we have been putting too much time in the how and what of storybooking (less than effective time) because of the complexity of the process and the tendency to add too many embellishing discussions, we can dilute the message and over extend the celebration time and complexity. We then put far to little time into the business message of opportunity for profit and sevice sponsoring. The result of not having the message right and tight has been slower than desired growth, progress, consultant career advancement progress and profit.
The vision of heritage, our purpose is understood quickly and mostly intuitively with the mention of some simple key concepts and words - heritage, traditions, heroes, family, traditions and values. Woven together the message of heritage, the why of our what we do, is clear. Simply holding a picture and a storybook up before a prospective client/consultant while making this heritage making vision statement is self evident and needs only a few carefully crafted and passionately articulated sentences and personal testimony. This can be guided and prompted with a few bullets on a single Cue Card. The bullets references a script (The Heritage Makers Message). Done effectively, the prospect "GETS IT" - quick. Not done well, the prospect does not get the impact and significance "priority" of why, why it is worth it and why now.
The mission, the how we do it, storybooking can also be simplified into an explanation with key concepts and triggering words. Then followed with an effective video presentation of how Studio works the mision message is exciting and compelling. This is best done with a TV showing the DVD that gives the prospect a quick, but thorough overview of the process. Done right the explanation and video can take as little as 20-30 minutes. This part of the message gives then the "BIG PICTURE" of the process and the understanding that - yes, they can do it and that it is fun and easy.
The sequence of the "How" message is simple pictures, to stories, to storybooks, to studio.
This leads right into the membership discussion and on into product package options (Studio and publishing). The idea of membership is not understood by most of our consultants or clients. Our "members" become such when they determine to become a heritage maker for their family, not when they choose a product or choose Studio basic or premier. In essence, when they hear the clear message of heritage making and buy into the idea of their ability to create and perpetuated their family heritage, story, they are a heritage maker. Yes, even before they become a client, they can be a member of your heritage making group. They should be invited to your monthly personal Digi Crops or your team's weekly Digi Crops, as new members of your heritage makers group.
There is much more to discuss about the Workshop structure and Cue Card and DVD tools that will have to wait until Reunion for the full explanation. This will be a very important simplification of the message process. We owe much to the efforts of Wendy McGee, Mary Hansen, Hallie Redd, Heidi Arave, Lena Fleming and Virginia Dixon in the work of helping to forge the message. Much is still needed to get this "cookie cutter" duplicatable message accepted, learned and implemented as our standard for the story of heritage makers -- the message of our business, the invitation to our membership and the progress of our movement.
This is the formula for our success: The message (words) and workshops drive the membership (mission- clients and sales). The membership (new heritage makers) drive the movement (vision-growth, progress, branding and recognition) success.
Again, the message drives the membership, the membership drives the movement, and the movement is our success.
It all starts with getting the message right, and tight (simple and short) with a "little" personalization and minimal customization. This will be the task and the trial of leaders to do it and teach "the HM way" not "their way," good as their way may be. To unlearn and relearn and implement the simple messaging system of the business is, with the introduction of the template system, the best shot we have for faster growth in membership and the movement - growth and profit.
Remember, the message creates the membership and the membership creates the movement.
Lets start now in getting the message right and tight - clear and simple. You might want to get a message to your members to read this blog post - now. Comments are welcome.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
On Wednesday we had a small group of leaders gathered at the office to work on the Workshop flow and Que Cards we will be introducing at Reunion. We had a great morning of challenging dialog and wordsmithing the framework for the "official" message of the HM story for new clients. . At noon while the team had lunch in the conference room I slipped into my office to lie down for a bit (I was at the bottom of the chemo cycle and needed a little rest). I laid down on the floor under the air conditioner and got chilled. I then went out to the parking lot to the car to sit and warm back up. Bryndi went out with me.
Something in the combination of the cold and heat and the chem cycle's low blood count triggered a sudden rapid drop in blood pressure and as I was trying to get out of the car I collapsed. Bryndi caught my fall to the pavement and went in for help. I was not out very long but unfortunately it was long enough for the leaders to gather and get a look at a fallen president.
Brytt and Marshyl gave me a priesthood blessing while I was still out and they got me home. They called Judy who drove down from the Lodge. She checked my temperature which was over the limit that signals potential infection in the chemo process. So I made the trek back to the hospital. They found my blood pressure was extremely low and they were concerned about illness and infection, so they put me in ICU. They cut in a central line, IV, and direct artery pressure monitor. They dumped a lot of fluid in me and I was feeling chipper and wanting to get back to work the next day.
But my white count and a couple of heart-stopping and self-restarted flutters kept me in ICU another day and then the low white cell count kept me yet another day. I feel great and motivated to get on with the work and life of heritage making and heritage makers. I fully expect to be released tomorrow. Besides that, I think that the hospital is considering charging me office space because I am always on the computer, cell phone and visiting/working with my HM visitors. There is still so much to do to get the vision, mission and methods planted in the hearts of our people - and yours.
As with the former time out in the hospital, aside from just moving my office here, there have been some pause moments for reflection, prioritizing, a lot of prayer and vision time. I have come to know that vision is the flow of thoughts and insight that is directed and connected by divine influence when one is seeking for and open to it. In other words, ASK ing for it. That is Ask, Seek and Knock ing. When I "ask" for answers, I usually find them in the scriptures. When I "seek" understanding, I find it their (scripture's) principled teachings and when I "knock" for application, I find that it opened, unlocked to my understanding, in His words - spirit. Thus, my vision becomes more clear and more timely to the needs of my life and the business as I make the time to ASK and am willing to accept His gifts and simple directions.
Some may be offended at the suggestion that I firmly believe that He is in the details of my life and our business. Make no mistake, His business is not ours. His is saving souls and bringing to pass their eternal life. Ours is helping mothers, and fathers, who will take the time, to proactively build a heritage of values, traditions, heroes and relationships that will carve their priorities, attitudes and ultimately choices -choices that are in harmony with those wholesome, contributive values and traditions. We help them build heritage fences that can keep their good things in and the bad things out of the lives of their children.
Sometimes in the "mechanism" of the business and the magic of the storybooking process we can put the cart before the horse and the process ahead of the purpose. Even the most Sr. Consultants and staff find themselves in this battle of vision/priority definition and messaging.
It was actually in the energy of this conversation that we were working on for the new workshop flow before I collapsed in the parking lot on Wednesday. It seems impossible that it can happen that we can get the story of Heritage Makers turned around to something that might better be titled "Storymakers."
So once again, I lay the vision before you, with the historical details of the convergence of people and preparation that has combined together both the vision (purpose) and the mission (process), which I sometimes refer to as the the cause and the crusade of the business.
Heritage Makers is a business that seeks to help families build, create, and share their heritage. That is the vision and core of our message and at least 10% of the story (time) and 90% of the impact (buy-in and buying rational). We complete this vision by implementing our mission of storybooking the events, relationships, values and heroes of the family. This makes up 60-70% of the story, our message, explanation and time.
How we achieve the mission is through our independent direct salesforce of consultants who bring mothers, fathers and families the message of heritage making - the why (vision) 10% and the how (Mission) 60%. The message of the business and service opportunity is the remaining 20-30% of the message.
If we get the message sequence or balance wrong, we miss the mark and success eludes us and the movement of heritage and Heritage Makers slows. For the most part we have been putting too much time in the how and what of storybooking (less than effective time) because of the complexity of the process and the tendency to add too many embellishing discussions, we can dilute the message and over extend the celebration time and complexity. We then put far to little time into the business message of opportunity for profit and sevice sponsoring. The result of not having the message right and tight has been slower than desired growth, progress, consultant career advancement progress and profit.
The vision of heritage, our purpose is understood quickly and mostly intuitively with the mention of some simple key concepts and words - heritage, traditions, heroes, family, traditions and values. Woven together the message of heritage, the why of our what we do, is clear. Simply holding a picture and a storybook up before a prospective client/consultant while making this heritage making vision statement is self evident and needs only a few carefully crafted and passionately articulated sentences and personal testimony. This can be guided and prompted with a few bullets on a single Cue Card. The bullets references a script (The Heritage Makers Message). Done effectively, the prospect "GETS IT" - quick. Not done well, the prospect does not get the impact and significance "priority" of why, why it is worth it and why now.
The mission, the how we do it, storybooking can also be simplified into an explanation with key concepts and triggering words. Then followed with an effective video presentation of how Studio works the mision message is exciting and compelling. This is best done with a TV showing the DVD that gives the prospect a quick, but thorough overview of the process. Done right the explanation and video can take as little as 20-30 minutes. This part of the message gives then the "BIG PICTURE" of the process and the understanding that - yes, they can do it and that it is fun and easy.
The sequence of the "How" message is simple pictures, to stories, to storybooks, to studio.
This leads right into the membership discussion and on into product package options (Studio and publishing). The idea of membership is not understood by most of our consultants or clients. Our "members" become such when they determine to become a heritage maker for their family, not when they choose a product or choose Studio basic or premier. In essence, when they hear the clear message of heritage making and buy into the idea of their ability to create and perpetuated their family heritage, story, they are a heritage maker. Yes, even before they become a client, they can be a member of your heritage making group. They should be invited to your monthly personal Digi Crops or your team's weekly Digi Crops, as new members of your heritage makers group.
There is much more to discuss about the Workshop structure and Cue Card and DVD tools that will have to wait until Reunion for the full explanation. This will be a very important simplification of the message process. We owe much to the efforts of Wendy McGee, Mary Hansen, Hallie Redd, Heidi Arave, Lena Fleming and Virginia Dixon in the work of helping to forge the message. Much is still needed to get this "cookie cutter" duplicatable message accepted, learned and implemented as our standard for the story of heritage makers -- the message of our business, the invitation to our membership and the progress of our movement.
This is the formula for our success: The message (words) and workshops drive the membership (mission- clients and sales). The membership (new heritage makers) drive the movement (vision-growth, progress, branding and recognition) success.
Again, the message drives the membership, the membership drives the movement, and the movement is our success.
It all starts with getting the message right, and tight (simple and short) with a "little" personalization and minimal customization. This will be the task and the trial of leaders to do it and teach "the HM way" not "their way," good as their way may be. To unlearn and relearn and implement the simple messaging system of the business is, with the introduction of the template system, the best shot we have for faster growth in membership and the movement - growth and profit.
Remember, the message creates the membership and the membership creates the movement.
Lets start now in getting the message right and tight - clear and simple. You might want to get a message to your members to read this blog post - now. Comments are welcome.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Residual Effects - the secret of heritage and healing
The fourth round of chemo has come and now nearly gone it was a bit tougher to recover from this one. I am discovering, somewhat painfully, that there is indeed a thing called residual effects associated with the chemo process. This and next round brings us to a decision point of a stem cell transfer, or a Rituxan maintenance regime, or/and other and continued alternative therapies and lifestyle changes. We will be doing more research and consulting on these options over the next three weeks. But for now, life is good, so good and I count my blessings daily for life, love, faith, family and you who take an interest in our heritage in the making. I have had some insights that may help you in your own heritage and healing.
We had a wonderful family reunion at the lodge this month. The whole family gathered and celebrated with the traditions we have come to love and a review of the values we share and cherish. We rode the ATVs over the top of the mountain on the Skyline Drive. We took in the panorama of beauty and inspiration of the vibrantly colored wild flowers, breathed deeply the crisp morning mountain air of nearly 10,000 feet. And we drank in the cold spring waters and near intoxicating fragrance of the horehound hillside that surrounds the Sheepherder's potty.
Then on the boat we skimmed across the reservoir to our favorite fishing spot and listened to the grandchildren (and their parents) scream with delight as the big trout challenged their patience and then skills. The pictures will only verify the size and the memories long after the grill goes cold and the last morsel of lemon-peppered fillet is forgotten.
But, when the Cloward's meet, they eat! And we had some great feasts that always begin and end with all the family members working together creatively and joyfully in the kitchen and around the campfire. But the kitchen was not the only place we found joy in working together. At the lodge there is always work and projects. It is a never ending project to build and live in a log home in the wilds where nature and the elements combine and are largely left to decorate and landscape. So, there was wood to move, cut and haul. And there were weeds to pull and flowers to gather. For the grandkids, the rewards are ATV riding time, treasure hunts interspersed with grandpa's heritage stories about near-death miracles -- getting shot, crushed by a tractor roll-over, nearly drowned (twice), frozen to death and now the mysteries, magic and miracles of mantle cell lymphoma. The clues and the surprises (complements of Krysti) were great rewards of the adventure of the treasure hunt. But the deepening of family ties and the stories of struggle, prayer and faith, will long outlive the toys and goodies.
Family Reunions are always heritage in both the making and the celebrating. This year's gathering, however, added a new challenge and opportunity for growth, understanding and deepening of understanding and the ties that bind us together. It was a powerful lesson in another kind of "residual effects."
In our late night adult discussions with the siblings, we discovered that there had been holes in our vision, understanding and parenting over the years that had left some members of the family with some unprocessed, painful, memories, questions and misunderstandings. In pulling those bits of heritage past from the attic and clearing the dust and refocusing on the images, we were able to work through the meaning of the memories. Reopening old wounds can be both painful and healing. The pain comes to both the injured and to the offender. The healing comes from the understanding , acknowledgment, forgiveness and increased love from both. Hindsight can reveal both reality and misperception. It can reveal what was not understood, intended, or even real.
Once these "out-of-focus" or missed memories are revisited, the clarification and re-focusing can give new understanding, clarification of significance and meaning. While unintended injuries cannot be undone, the "lancing" and "venting" under the spirit of trust and love can provide needed healing and new depth to security of the relationships.
The "aha" of the process for me was the realization that heritage, that which occurred in the past and which we carry forward, can be the product of misunderstanding, or misinterpretation. More importantly, it can be "re-interpreted" correctly, or where necessary, its residual effects can be resolved and even changed from negative to positive, pain to joy, from limitation to empowerment. The residual effect of what was done, or not, done to meet the needs or build the heritage in the past can be the basis for building a stronger, positive heritage in the present and a more rich family legacy for the future.
I recommend that if you discover or suspect that children, siblings or parents have memories that may be having residual negative, or simply lack of positive effect in your heritage, that you counsel together in the spirit of strengthening your relationships, understanding, forgiveness and love. You surely may use the Cloward story of discovery, pain and healing as a reason to consider, examine and process the residual effects of your own family's past for potential strengthening of your family heritage. After all, its all a matter of the story and our understanding and interpretation of it anyway. So, don't hesitate to rewrite the meaning of your past for a better ending of your story. You to can use the power growing and healing from the residual effects of the journey of heritage making.
Onward and Upward,
Love Doug
We had a wonderful family reunion at the lodge this month. The whole family gathered and celebrated with the traditions we have come to love and a review of the values we share and cherish. We rode the ATVs over the top of the mountain on the Skyline Drive. We took in the panorama of beauty and inspiration of the vibrantly colored wild flowers, breathed deeply the crisp morning mountain air of nearly 10,000 feet. And we drank in the cold spring waters and near intoxicating fragrance of the horehound hillside that surrounds the Sheepherder's potty.
Then on the boat we skimmed across the reservoir to our favorite fishing spot and listened to the grandchildren (and their parents) scream with delight as the big trout challenged their patience and then skills. The pictures will only verify the size and the memories long after the grill goes cold and the last morsel of lemon-peppered fillet is forgotten.
But, when the Cloward's meet, they eat! And we had some great feasts that always begin and end with all the family members working together creatively and joyfully in the kitchen and around the campfire. But the kitchen was not the only place we found joy in working together. At the lodge there is always work and projects. It is a never ending project to build and live in a log home in the wilds where nature and the elements combine and are largely left to decorate and landscape. So, there was wood to move, cut and haul. And there were weeds to pull and flowers to gather. For the grandkids, the rewards are ATV riding time, treasure hunts interspersed with grandpa's heritage stories about near-death miracles -- getting shot, crushed by a tractor roll-over, nearly drowned (twice), frozen to death and now the mysteries, magic and miracles of mantle cell lymphoma. The clues and the surprises (complements of Krysti) were great rewards of the adventure of the treasure hunt. But the deepening of family ties and the stories of struggle, prayer and faith, will long outlive the toys and goodies.
Family Reunions are always heritage in both the making and the celebrating. This year's gathering, however, added a new challenge and opportunity for growth, understanding and deepening of understanding and the ties that bind us together. It was a powerful lesson in another kind of "residual effects."
In our late night adult discussions with the siblings, we discovered that there had been holes in our vision, understanding and parenting over the years that had left some members of the family with some unprocessed, painful, memories, questions and misunderstandings. In pulling those bits of heritage past from the attic and clearing the dust and refocusing on the images, we were able to work through the meaning of the memories. Reopening old wounds can be both painful and healing. The pain comes to both the injured and to the offender. The healing comes from the understanding , acknowledgment, forgiveness and increased love from both. Hindsight can reveal both reality and misperception. It can reveal what was not understood, intended, or even real.
Once these "out-of-focus" or missed memories are revisited, the clarification and re-focusing can give new understanding, clarification of significance and meaning. While unintended injuries cannot be undone, the "lancing" and "venting" under the spirit of trust and love can provide needed healing and new depth to security of the relationships.
The "aha" of the process for me was the realization that heritage, that which occurred in the past and which we carry forward, can be the product of misunderstanding, or misinterpretation. More importantly, it can be "re-interpreted" correctly, or where necessary, its residual effects can be resolved and even changed from negative to positive, pain to joy, from limitation to empowerment. The residual effect of what was done, or not, done to meet the needs or build the heritage in the past can be the basis for building a stronger, positive heritage in the present and a more rich family legacy for the future.
I recommend that if you discover or suspect that children, siblings or parents have memories that may be having residual negative, or simply lack of positive effect in your heritage, that you counsel together in the spirit of strengthening your relationships, understanding, forgiveness and love. You surely may use the Cloward story of discovery, pain and healing as a reason to consider, examine and process the residual effects of your own family's past for potential strengthening of your family heritage. After all, its all a matter of the story and our understanding and interpretation of it anyway. So, don't hesitate to rewrite the meaning of your past for a better ending of your story. You to can use the power growing and healing from the residual effects of the journey of heritage making.
Onward and Upward,
Love Doug
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Because Freedom Isn't Free
It is the season of parades, fireworks, family picnic, a three-day weekend and great sales for local merchants. And what is the reason for the season? Oh yes, it is the 4th of July.
I’ll bet that your family, like my family, made the priority to gather and feast and celebrate. But what will we celebrate, besides being together? Did we take the time to remind our children and grandchildren of the great inspired founding fathers struggle to birth this nation of freedoms they so much wanted and that we may take so much for granted? Did we remind them of our love and loyalty to our great nation. Did we build their understanding of the heavy price our ancestors paid and that our military continue to pay for the luxury for us to sleep at night unafraid and safe. In our celebrating, did we enumerate and celebrate each of the grand freedoms of the the bill of rights? Did we celebrate and build upon their understanding of their national heritage? Did we remember and celebrate the reason for the season?
As I sat with my children and grandchildren around the campfire and sang the songs of patriotism and freedom, I remembered. As we expressed our love of country and prayed for the the safety and welfare of those who are not with their families this 4th of July, I was reminded. We, Heritage Makers, have a grand and important role to play in preserving our nation’s heritage – one family at a time, starting with our own. With so much media focus on what is wrong with government, I wonder if we see in the mirror of reality that what is wrong with America is centered in the homes of Americans, not in the seat of government. I fear that parents grumping and lack of grateful comment on being an American largely has caused the loss of the strength of our country – the faith and commitment of its citizens. It is so easy to place the blame on politicians for fading freedoms, that we forget who put them there and sustains them, or not. Do our children know how we feel about our country? What do they know? The answer is what they hear us say day-to-day and what we share with them heart–to-heart, and bedtime story-to-story.
What storybook have we written and read to our children and grandchildren that defines what it means to be an American, or Canadian? Have we done enough to celebrate the sacrifices of service of our grandparents and great grandparents in the military and wars of the past and of fathers, brothers, uncles, friends and countrymen who serve now?
Do we realize the power, the priority and the principle of our national heritage? And do we realize the price we will pay if we fail to remember and build a national heritage within the weave of our family heritage? We must realize and remember--that which we fail to remember and to celebrate--soon fades. Freedom without celebration is patriotism lost. Children without celebration of national heritage are patriots lost.
This is a year of deciding and setting the stage for so much serious consequence for our future, Americans and Canadians - families. No, I am not referring to the coming political jostling and rhetoric we will be bombarded with over the next several months. I am referring to this being the year that all heritage makers place their votes for the freedom and the national heritage in the voting box of the minds of our children.
We can campaign and vote for freedom with storybooks and celebrations that focus our children and families on the principles and the values that make our families and our nation great. Let us teach them, with the tremendous power of our stories, about the real strength of a, our nation. Lets teach them the principles of freedom and the responsibilities of free men and women. Let teach them throughout the remainder of the election process as it sets the stage for meaningful conversations and family discussions about why we support who we support and about why and how we vote for the candidates whom we feel will best represent our principles and freedoms.
Please, let's be freedom makers, as well as heritage makers. Perhaps we should begin by considering that it is one of our greatest freedoms to be able to be heritage makers. Let us not forget, that we might not lose by neglect or apathy. Rather, let's become known for the contribution we are to freedom, patriotism and strong families who carry the pledge and the flag proudly and responsibly and who have effectively integrated nation and family heritage.
Onward and upward.
Love,
Doug
I’ll bet that your family, like my family, made the priority to gather and feast and celebrate. But what will we celebrate, besides being together? Did we take the time to remind our children and grandchildren of the great inspired founding fathers struggle to birth this nation of freedoms they so much wanted and that we may take so much for granted? Did we remind them of our love and loyalty to our great nation. Did we build their understanding of the heavy price our ancestors paid and that our military continue to pay for the luxury for us to sleep at night unafraid and safe. In our celebrating, did we enumerate and celebrate each of the grand freedoms of the the bill of rights? Did we celebrate and build upon their understanding of their national heritage? Did we remember and celebrate the reason for the season?
As I sat with my children and grandchildren around the campfire and sang the songs of patriotism and freedom, I remembered. As we expressed our love of country and prayed for the the safety and welfare of those who are not with their families this 4th of July, I was reminded. We, Heritage Makers, have a grand and important role to play in preserving our nation’s heritage – one family at a time, starting with our own. With so much media focus on what is wrong with government, I wonder if we see in the mirror of reality that what is wrong with America is centered in the homes of Americans, not in the seat of government. I fear that parents grumping and lack of grateful comment on being an American largely has caused the loss of the strength of our country – the faith and commitment of its citizens. It is so easy to place the blame on politicians for fading freedoms, that we forget who put them there and sustains them, or not. Do our children know how we feel about our country? What do they know? The answer is what they hear us say day-to-day and what we share with them heart–to-heart, and bedtime story-to-story.
What storybook have we written and read to our children and grandchildren that defines what it means to be an American, or Canadian? Have we done enough to celebrate the sacrifices of service of our grandparents and great grandparents in the military and wars of the past and of fathers, brothers, uncles, friends and countrymen who serve now?
Do we realize the power, the priority and the principle of our national heritage? And do we realize the price we will pay if we fail to remember and build a national heritage within the weave of our family heritage? We must realize and remember--that which we fail to remember and to celebrate--soon fades. Freedom without celebration is patriotism lost. Children without celebration of national heritage are patriots lost.
This is a year of deciding and setting the stage for so much serious consequence for our future, Americans and Canadians - families. No, I am not referring to the coming political jostling and rhetoric we will be bombarded with over the next several months. I am referring to this being the year that all heritage makers place their votes for the freedom and the national heritage in the voting box of the minds of our children.
We can campaign and vote for freedom with storybooks and celebrations that focus our children and families on the principles and the values that make our families and our nation great. Let us teach them, with the tremendous power of our stories, about the real strength of a, our nation. Lets teach them the principles of freedom and the responsibilities of free men and women. Let teach them throughout the remainder of the election process as it sets the stage for meaningful conversations and family discussions about why we support who we support and about why and how we vote for the candidates whom we feel will best represent our principles and freedoms.
Please, let's be freedom makers, as well as heritage makers. Perhaps we should begin by considering that it is one of our greatest freedoms to be able to be heritage makers. Let us not forget, that we might not lose by neglect or apathy. Rather, let's become known for the contribution we are to freedom, patriotism and strong families who carry the pledge and the flag proudly and responsibly and who have effectively integrated nation and family heritage.
Onward and upward.
Love,
Doug
Monday, June 30, 2008
A Leadership Makeover
Sorry for the long delay in posts, but as they say, life flies on wings of lightning. So it has been this last week. We had the privilege of spending the first half of the week with new HM Executive Director Virginia Dixon and her family. We rode the ATVs, fished the lake, shot clay pigeons and black powder and cooked, ate, cleaned, played and prayed together on the mountain and created a lasting legacy of friendship with the Dixon family. What a wonderful way of getting to know and appreciate our leaders and their families. It was especially great to get to know Ray better and to feel his love and leadership of his family. Thanks Caleb, Jordan, and Morgan for joining your mom for the celebration of her HM success and spending time with the Clowards at Aspen Lodge. We loved getting to know and love you more.
On Thursday we traveled to Park City for the Sr. Leader Round Table and Leadership Conference. We were at the the new New Park Hotel and the facility and comradery were great. The discussions insightful and energizing. The leadership training was invaluable and the friendships and networking supercharging for the business. We look forward to more of you attending with us at Reunion in September and at next year's Leadership Conference.
The most important information of the Conference focused on the shift from Heritage Celebrations to Heritage Workshops. Thanks to Wendy McGee, Hallie Redd, Heidi Arave and Mary Hansen for their roles in developing the new Workshop format and for the presentation to help Leaders get the vision of how we will move forward with the goal of every attendee becoming a heritage maker, not just a story keeper. We will continue to pilot this exciting shift in the way we present HM and will have Workshop Kits ready for Reunion. In the meantime we encourage all consultants to get with your upline leader to get the picture and start the transition of how we explain and teach heritage making in a workshop format.
The basic focus is a sequence of simple discussions and interactions with a small group (six) participants (not guests). The sequence is -- photos, stories, scanning, heritage, studio (new demo DVD is coming), premier, membership, packages, opportunities (workshop hosting, scanning and consultancies). As we get our entire consultant organization using the system and the simple scripts that will come on cue cards in the Workshop Kit it, we will "cookie cutter" the business so that it is simple and duplicative for all our new people. This will truly position us to move into momentum growth this fall and on into the next year.
It was an intense training and development event, but it wasn't all work. After all, it was a Leadership Makeover. There were the professional massages at check in, the spa products in the rooms, the Jacuzzi tubs on every balcony, the Alpine Slide after the ski lift to the top of Park City mountain. But the absolute best was just being together again with the other HM Directors and Sr. Leaders from across the country. To sum up the experience, we were truly --- inspired, instructed and motivated. Please get with you upline Leader to get more of the details about her Leadership Makeover and what she has brought back for you.
The next post will come after a bit of R & R on the mountain preparing for the next round of chemo and contemplating some tough decisions we must make about my treatment and life going forward. Until then,
Onward and upward
Love Doug
On Thursday we traveled to Park City for the Sr. Leader Round Table and Leadership Conference. We were at the the new New Park Hotel and the facility and comradery were great. The discussions insightful and energizing. The leadership training was invaluable and the friendships and networking supercharging for the business. We look forward to more of you attending with us at Reunion in September and at next year's Leadership Conference.
The most important information of the Conference focused on the shift from Heritage Celebrations to Heritage Workshops. Thanks to Wendy McGee, Hallie Redd, Heidi Arave and Mary Hansen for their roles in developing the new Workshop format and for the presentation to help Leaders get the vision of how we will move forward with the goal of every attendee becoming a heritage maker, not just a story keeper. We will continue to pilot this exciting shift in the way we present HM and will have Workshop Kits ready for Reunion. In the meantime we encourage all consultants to get with your upline leader to get the picture and start the transition of how we explain and teach heritage making in a workshop format.
The basic focus is a sequence of simple discussions and interactions with a small group (six) participants (not guests). The sequence is -- photos, stories, scanning, heritage, studio (new demo DVD is coming), premier, membership, packages, opportunities (workshop hosting, scanning and consultancies). As we get our entire consultant organization using the system and the simple scripts that will come on cue cards in the Workshop Kit it, we will "cookie cutter" the business so that it is simple and duplicative for all our new people. This will truly position us to move into momentum growth this fall and on into the next year.
It was an intense training and development event, but it wasn't all work. After all, it was a Leadership Makeover. There were the professional massages at check in, the spa products in the rooms, the Jacuzzi tubs on every balcony, the Alpine Slide after the ski lift to the top of Park City mountain. But the absolute best was just being together again with the other HM Directors and Sr. Leaders from across the country. To sum up the experience, we were truly --- inspired, instructed and motivated. Please get with you upline Leader to get more of the details about her Leadership Makeover and what she has brought back for you.
The next post will come after a bit of R & R on the mountain preparing for the next round of chemo and contemplating some tough decisions we must make about my treatment and life going forward. Until then,
Onward and upward
Love Doug
Friday, June 20, 2008
Binding Families Together
I had a few tough days this round, but am up and running toward our HM Leaders Conference and our second Executive Family Retreat with Virginia Dixon's family at the lodge this weekend. Life is good and the adventure continues.
As we have developed the HM venture, we have struggled a bit to get clarity of the vision, mission, values and the message of the business. I am not talking out of school to share with you what has been a learning experience for many in this forging of a common vision and articulation of what our business is. I trust that this confession and explanation will shed light and help to clarify who, what and why we now declare we are as Heritage Makers - the company. For family and friends not associated with our business, I hope that you will find, that since my life is so fully entwined in our business that this is my, life journey and purpose for whatever days remain and thereby may be of interest to you as well.
This is the story of our story. It all started, really, with the creation of a concept word called storybooking, the process of creating a scrapbook with more focus on the story behind the pictures and the art, than the art itself. The new concept storybook was also to be a hard bound book, rather than an album of pages and pictures in a binder, the traditional scrapbook approach.
The authors of this novel new approach to capturing important life information in a storybook were Candace May and mother, Sharon Murdoch. This was their concept and they paid dearly to develop the idea into a real product service and eventually a business called "My Family Tales." They were joined in the crusade, to launch the fledgling business, by three other equally committed people who have ownership in the birthing of the storybooking venture. They included Christine Crandall, Heidi Arave and Lisa Nelson. There were others who made contributions including Mary Strand who put financial support behind the new business.
This history and the people of the storybooking concept and My Family Tales in the early 2000's set the foundations for what has become Heritage Makers. Their vision and mission statement was to "put a storybook in every home" for the purpose of creating real life heroes for the readers, usually children and the heroes were often the authors. Their ground breaking work was a vital preparatory part of the eventual creation of Heritage Makers business. From that first storybook for a beloved grandpa, a book that made him a real life hero for his posterity, we now have hundreds of thousands of storybooks, author's, heroes and children who understand, relate to and continue the legacy of their heroes, traditions, values and heritage.
As we moved the storybooking concept, product, people and business into the direct selling system, we did so with the focus of using the heritage enriching power of peoples' stories to the purpose, or vision, of strengthening home and family through those stories' ability to capture, preserve and celebrate family heroes and heritage. In a sense, the story became the means to the ulterior end, or motive, of strengthening the family and clarifying and celebrating the family heritage.
We have now grown our business and extended the storybooking process to a much wider audience. With the growth has come the need to clarify the Heritage Makers message and make it more succinct and duplicable. There have been many discussions around this subject. Some of those discussions have sought to broaden the vision, mission and business concepts, but we continue to come back to the foundations of story, family and heritage. Heritage Makers is a family centric message, business and mission.
So, who are we - Heritage Makers? What are we? What are we about? And how do we tell our story - clearly, concisely with a reverberating sameness that creates a resonance and conversation that can carry us into the homes and hearts of those who have not yet heard our name nor our story?
For the record, Heritage Makers is about family heritage. And heritage is captured and transfered though the medium of the family's stories, even when it is about individuals' stories.
In one sense we are a business of "family life publishing." We publish books about family life.
In is simplest terms, Heritage Makers is binding families together through the power of their own stories.
As we move forward to further clarify and script the HM story we will continue to focus on families and values and traditions and the incredible opportunity to be both an author and a teacher of the storybooking process.
This is why our passion is so focused on remembering the stories and the heroes and values they pass on and perpetuate. In the months ahead, our leaders will be focusing and sharpening their story-telling skills on a standardized approach to the Heritage Makers message, our story. The better we become at telling our story with that consistency, the more powerful our message and branding will become. We invite all of our community members to be ready to learn and share the story and message of heritage making.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
As we have developed the HM venture, we have struggled a bit to get clarity of the vision, mission, values and the message of the business. I am not talking out of school to share with you what has been a learning experience for many in this forging of a common vision and articulation of what our business is. I trust that this confession and explanation will shed light and help to clarify who, what and why we now declare we are as Heritage Makers - the company. For family and friends not associated with our business, I hope that you will find, that since my life is so fully entwined in our business that this is my, life journey and purpose for whatever days remain and thereby may be of interest to you as well.
This is the story of our story. It all started, really, with the creation of a concept word called storybooking, the process of creating a scrapbook with more focus on the story behind the pictures and the art, than the art itself. The new concept storybook was also to be a hard bound book, rather than an album of pages and pictures in a binder, the traditional scrapbook approach.
The authors of this novel new approach to capturing important life information in a storybook were Candace May and mother, Sharon Murdoch. This was their concept and they paid dearly to develop the idea into a real product service and eventually a business called "My Family Tales." They were joined in the crusade, to launch the fledgling business, by three other equally committed people who have ownership in the birthing of the storybooking venture. They included Christine Crandall, Heidi Arave and Lisa Nelson. There were others who made contributions including Mary Strand who put financial support behind the new business.
This history and the people of the storybooking concept and My Family Tales in the early 2000's set the foundations for what has become Heritage Makers. Their vision and mission statement was to "put a storybook in every home" for the purpose of creating real life heroes for the readers, usually children and the heroes were often the authors. Their ground breaking work was a vital preparatory part of the eventual creation of Heritage Makers business. From that first storybook for a beloved grandpa, a book that made him a real life hero for his posterity, we now have hundreds of thousands of storybooks, author's, heroes and children who understand, relate to and continue the legacy of their heroes, traditions, values and heritage.
As we moved the storybooking concept, product, people and business into the direct selling system, we did so with the focus of using the heritage enriching power of peoples' stories to the purpose, or vision, of strengthening home and family through those stories' ability to capture, preserve and celebrate family heroes and heritage. In a sense, the story became the means to the ulterior end, or motive, of strengthening the family and clarifying and celebrating the family heritage.
We have now grown our business and extended the storybooking process to a much wider audience. With the growth has come the need to clarify the Heritage Makers message and make it more succinct and duplicable. There have been many discussions around this subject. Some of those discussions have sought to broaden the vision, mission and business concepts, but we continue to come back to the foundations of story, family and heritage. Heritage Makers is a family centric message, business and mission.
So, who are we - Heritage Makers? What are we? What are we about? And how do we tell our story - clearly, concisely with a reverberating sameness that creates a resonance and conversation that can carry us into the homes and hearts of those who have not yet heard our name nor our story?
For the record, Heritage Makers is about family heritage. And heritage is captured and transfered though the medium of the family's stories, even when it is about individuals' stories.
In one sense we are a business of "family life publishing." We publish books about family life.
In is simplest terms, Heritage Makers is binding families together through the power of their own stories.
As we move forward to further clarify and script the HM story we will continue to focus on families and values and traditions and the incredible opportunity to be both an author and a teacher of the storybooking process.
This is why our passion is so focused on remembering the stories and the heroes and values they pass on and perpetuate. In the months ahead, our leaders will be focusing and sharpening their story-telling skills on a standardized approach to the Heritage Makers message, our story. The better we become at telling our story with that consistency, the more powerful our message and branding will become. We invite all of our community members to be ready to learn and share the story and message of heritage making.
Onward and Upward
Love Doug
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