Racing to the Top

Meet some of the top Fast Track teams

There's no doubt that the new Fast Track program has taken off like a rocket! Nearly 900 teams are participating, and the excitement level is high. As teams across North America reach for their goals, the results will push their businesses on to new heights. Here's a glance at what some of the top teams are doing in their Fast Tracks and how they are keeping their teams accountable and excited.

In California, Ted DiFilippo, Senior Director V, says Fast Track "has really changed my business." He gathers five Fast Track teams at his house every Tuesday, and with 40 to 50 people in the room, the excitement can't be contained.

"The energy is unreal. We recognize a lot of people," says Ted. "For example, we gave a trophy to someone who became a Director in three days and took his picture with it. We have a 20/20 club display and a 'wall of fame' for people who advance."

His Fast Track meeting begins with a presentation so business builders can bring a guest. Then they get on a conference call with Alan Pariser, who teaches some fundamentals of the business. "We also do some training where we allow people to get up and share something. That gives them a chance to become leaders, to learn to lead a group."

One of Ted's teammates, Nelson Paredez, has appreciated the chance to get in front of people and do his portion of the training. "I love getting up to share," Nelson says. "I've also taken on a morning conference call. Every morning, Monday through Friday, I get a number of people on the phone and we all share one thing we will take on that day. The next day we review how we did and if we didn't do it, why not. Then we talk about something for the next day." Nelson's growing leadership abilities show in his success for this Fast Track; just after the halfway point he'd enrolled eight people.

"What we stress," Ted adds, "is that the 40 to 50 people at my house are not there to socialize. They've come to build an effective, long-lasting business. This is a serious business meeting. And because of that attitude and the energy of the combined groups, my organization is growing."

Anthony and Angela Cook in New York know that Fast Track is about more than enrollments. What really creates growth is creating new leaders. Thus their team name, "The Director Factory." So far this Fast Track team is living up to its name: four new Directors were created in August, and Jim & Ruth Thurston, who had enrolled August 1, became Directors II their first month.

The Cooks have also set a goal to have each of their eight current teams spawn off one new team for the next Fast Track. "The teams are grooming their next team leader during this Fast Track. And that will help their businesses grow and duplicate," says Angela. In their Fast Track format, their eight teams meet at the team leaders home then tie in to a conference call. They do some

celebration, then Anthony and Angela do some training for about 15 minutes, then let the teams do specific training that each may need. "We've been very pleased with the format the company has set up. There is a lot of excellent information in the Fast Track CD, and our meetings are shorter and have more enthusiasm," says Anthony.

"We've been running Fast Tracks since January of 1999," says Angela. "The company Fast Track is consistent with what we expected on our own. It rewards the right activities and keeps people focused. We started with three people in our living room, and now we have 69 people and eight teams, and hope to double that number next time."

Hola Motuapuaka is part of one of the hottest teams in the nation, Top Gun, led by Chuck & Cheryl Alimena. And Hola is getting ready to build her own Fast Track team with what she's learned.

"I've been able to advance, not just myself, but also all my personal Directors have advanced above Director II. That's all due to Fast Track. Since coming home from Convention I put into effect a conference call. Every morning at 10 a.m. I get my entire team on the phone and we discuss what we have planned for the day, who needs help and who has challenges. It gives us a chance to create more team effort. Then at 10 p.m. we discuss how the day went. It makes everyone accountable because they don't want to get on the call and say it was a day when they didn't do anything."

The Top Gun team meets with Executive Director VI Laraine Agren and other leaders in the area. And when over 60 people get together for a Fast Track session, the energy is "incredible." Each leader has helped with the training, and Hola herself has been honored to do a training. "We have boards posted all around the room to rank each team and show who has reached Circle of Influence or sold the most Value Packs. It's a wonderful feeling to be recognized." One of her teammates, Veronica Bryant, has been ranked the #1 individual in the country, with over 43 personal enrollments. Another teammate, Tammy Williams, has developed two Directors and has ten enrollments. Plus all the team members have earned Expanded Circle of Influence in August.

"I've already found some new teammates for my next Fast Track team," says Hola. "And I want to make sure my personal Directors continue to advance, and I plan to be a Senior Director. I want to recognize that all of my success is due to a higher source."

Mark Shaner is the leader of a group of "rookies" who all enrolled since last December, except for Executive Director Fred Poneman, who is Mark's enroller. "Until Fred joined the team I had the highest status as a Director IV. We had a couple Directors II, a Director and some who hadn't reached Director yet, who had just been enrolled since June or July."

It was because they were new, and they didn't know any better, that this group of business builders has worked hard and come out on top, says Mark. They've ranked second and third in the nation several times in the preliminary weeks. "My organization has jumped over 7000 Base Points in one month," says Mark. He mentions several of the people on his team who have enrolled 11 or 12 Preferred Customers last month. Now his goal is to help each of these people become their own Fast Track leader. "Fast Track is not just about enrolling, but about training and developing leaders. Helping other people become leaders is what builds a solid business."

Fred Poneman adds that the bonus incentives the company put out created a great incentive for their team. "If you don't take advantage of this now, when will you? This national Fast Track launch has helped many people do immediately what they might have otherwise taken their time to do. That kind of urgency is what really builds the business." Fred has team members all over the country, and even his enroller, Dick DeAngelis, has been burning up the charts with his Fast Track team. "This just punctuates the fact that we're a team. We all benefit from each other and want to support each other. If we're not all successful, than none of us are successful."

John Pax was a "rookie" in Melaleuca, too, when he heard about Fast Track. He wasn't even sure what it was. But the excitement of his team members encouraged him to take part, and now his excitement is growing.

John and his wife Tracy enrolled in May, but didn't want to work the business at first. In the second week of August they were encouraged to start dreaming and take the next step. "My brother, Paul Pax, told us to go out and pick out the house and car we wanted. And my enroller, Bruce Barker, never gave up on us. He was a good friend and kept encouraging us to do it."

In their first month working the business, John and Tracy learned through Fast Track how to present the Value Pack better and teach people how important it was. They gained more confidence and understood the compensation plan better. The competitive environment helped them stay excited, and by the end of August they reached Director II status!

"Fast Track let us bounce ideas off other people," says Tracy. "We were customers for a while, and really didn't think we'd do the business. But now John has picked it up and ran with it." John adds that they're working to create a couple more Directors and help people get to Director II like they did.

"My biggest advice to people is don't wait," says John. "My mentors and the people who enrolled me, including Dr. Michael Johansen, have been seeing great success. I could have done the same a couple months earlier. If I had waited I would have missed out this month on extra compensation. Just know what your why is and find your dreams."

Jeff and Pam Anderson just marked their 1-year anniversary of continuous involvement in Fast Track. They have learned how to gather a powerful team of committed people and make the most of Fast Track.

"We commit to a certain level up front," explains Jeff. "Whether it's two or four or eight new customers, long before the Fast Track starts we know that the team members are committed to the minimum goals."

The Andersons have been gathering about 30 businesses in their home and tracking the progress of each business on a chart in the living room. "People who like a competitive environment like Fast track," says Jeff. "We track the production of the team and show them what they need to do to win. We try to make them feel accountable and want to play as a part of the team. By looking at the board you can see who is an anchor to the team, and help them make a change by the next week."

"There's no doubt that Fast Track has contributed to the growth in our Preferred Customers in the month of August, as well as helping us develop a new personal Director," says Pam. "Many of our team members are developing Directors, too. We also open our home to businesses who just want to come and listen to the training aspect. They sit and watch the fun and want to be a part of the next one."

On the last week of the Fast Track, Jeff and Pam hold a celebration dinner. They make it a productive night as well, discussing the needs of each business and planning where they want to go next and who wants to join in. "There is no one who would tell you they did not accomplish more because of Fast Track," says Jeff.

Editor's note: This is the sixth article in a seven-part series featuring the seven critical business-building activities.

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