Reaching Goals

President's Message By
Frank L. VanderSloot
President & CEO

April 2006

When we first started Melaleuca, we established a mission statement that we hoped would guide our activities and our focus throughout our future. It is a simple mission statement. It was not designed in boardrooms with the help of high-priced consultants. Every word was not scrutinized and debated by corporate executives. We did not have corporate executives when it was developed, and we surely could not have afforded consultants at that time.

But it was from our hearts. It is how we felt. And contrary to other mission statements that are often framed in a beautiful oak frame and hung in a corporate hallway somewhere to soon be forgotten, everyone knows what our mission is. Every employee knows it; every Marketing Executive knows it. It has been very effective in guiding our activities and our focus, and it has been very rewarding as we accomplish its message: “To Enhance the Lives of Those We Touch by Helping People Reach Their Goals.” It sounds simple enough, but too often we find that many have difficulty understanding that the magic is in helping others reach their goals and not in trying to reach our own goals.

Nevertheless, literally thousands that have joined Melaleuca have gotten caught up in the idea and magic of helping others.

Helping does not mean pushing or coercing or convincing. Helping does not mean badgering, nor does it mean doing it for them. We are in the business of teaching men and women to fish, not giving them fish.

The first secret of helping someone reach their goals is to find out what their goals are. Too often we want them to have the same goal we have, or want them to adopt our goal as their own. But, of course, that never works. We must take time to find out what someone’s goal is and why it is important to them. If we can understand the “why” behind their goals, we will hold the key to their motivation. And we will be able to be much more effective in helping them reach those goals.

I believe it is our nature to be out working to achieve our own goals, as opposed to someone else’s goals. Yet only those who master the art of helping others will be truly successful in this business. Our whole program is designed to reward those who help others. You might find yourself thinking, “Well, no wonder I haven’t been very successful—no one is helping me reach my goals.” Oops. If that is what you are thinking, you don’t get it! You have missed the whole concept. The idea is for you to help someone else to reach their goals. You may be asking: “How can I help someone else reach their goals when I haven’t reached mine yet?” You still don’t get it. Put your goals aside for a moment and go help someone else reach his or her goals. Actually, the reward of helping others reach their goals can be greater than you reaching your own—that is, unless you are doing it to get a “thank you” from them or for them to appreciate you or be impressed by you. Those motivations are again your goals, not theirs. You must be able to simply take joy in someone else’s joy, and to feel great because of their accomplishment.

At Melaleuca, because of how our program is structured, if you help someone else reach their goals you automatically reach yours at the same time. It’s almost magic—except it’s a lot better than magic!

The problem some people get into is that they try to push people to go to work. Again, that’s you trying to reach your goals. That type of activity is not only unproductive, it’s frustrating to both you and them. A big part of the key is to find people with valid goals. Many people have never established goals for themselves. Although we might find that sad and frustrating we really can’t help them reach goals they don’t have.

But many people do have goals and are willing to work to achieve them. They are just looking for a way to get there—a vehicle to take them there. We have that vehicle. You have that vehicle. I’ll bet more than 95% of the adult population have never had someone come up to them and say, “Tell me what your goals are … I’d like to help you reach them.” That’s because everyone is so tied up trying to reach their own goals or they have given up and have decided to be satisfied with whatever life has given them.

We have a message to the world, and to you and to your neighbor: Remember the goals you had when you were younger. It is not too late! You can reach those goals. We have a way. If you will work we will help you. We will do it together. We will not do it for you. You must do your part. Remember, our goal is to help you reach yours. We will help, but you must reach.

We invite you to join us in our quest to help others reach their goals. We take great joy in this mission. It is what drives us forward. In the end we all reach our goals together because we helped someone else reach theirs. It is a wonderful concept and not only are tens of thousands of families prospering because of their involvement ... it;s also a lot of fun! We appreciate all those who have joined us in this worthwile venture. And we delight in their achievements and successes as they strive to help each other.

Sincerely,

Frank

Copyright ©2004 iGlide.net   All Rights Reserved