How's Your "Teach Me" Meter??

When people start building a LIFE business powered by TEAM, each is often confronted with brand new challenges; dealing with people has its way of showing us where we are strong and where improvement is needed.

What I’ve learned along the way is that acknowledging my imperfection, and embracing the fact that I needed personal improvement, has been the most liberating experience of my life. 

Before understanding that I wasn’t supposed to know or better, wasn’t capable of knowing everything, I used to argue to the death to prove my “rightness”.  (A “Socrates” I was not.) A good many nights were wasted with my arguing about how right I was and how wrong the other person’s opinion was.  Just ask Marc, he had a front row seat for far too long.

What changed?  There isn’t blog space enough! The short version is, I allowed myself to  embrace my imperfection.  And I want to invite you to do the same.

I just finished a LIFE top 5 book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, for the fifth time.  I think it’s my new favorite top 5!  Every page of that book is filled with wisdom- golden nuggets of pure genius in relating to people.  And guess what?  Not a single page is devoted to how to prove you are right and how to prove the other person is wrong.  There isn’t a chapter saying arguing is a good way to deal with people, and there isn’t even a word about how certain people have cornered the market on “rightness” while the other poor souls out there are roughing it ignorance. Instead every page of the book boils down to serving others over self.  I think that’s what that book is really all about. 

I believe the reason I got so much out of it this time, over the other four readings, is that my “teach me” meter is at an all time high.  And that is what I wish for everyone out there striving to improve and live for excellence.  Get a “teach me” meter that is off the charts!

I remember the day my “teach me” meter appeared.  It was the day I realized, like I said before, that I wasn’t perfect.  And guess what, I survived.  I not only survived, but I truly began to THRIVE.  I set myself free to learn from everyone around me, just like Emerson said, “Every man I meet is my superior in some way.”  

I began to realize that I could learn from everyone, and it didn’t take away from my own intelligence; instead, it allowed me to add to my intelligence.  By understanding I didn’t know everything, I actually began to learn so much more.  I began to grow in my understanding of people and how to relate with them.  I started to learn how to influence others. And since Orrin Woodward says leadership is influence, I started to become a leader.

Becoming a leader.  That’s what this TEAM LIFE journey is all about isn’t it?  Becoming a leader so we can influence others in the same direction we allowed ourselves to be led: straight to the truth!  

So take heart those of you starting the journey and feeling yourself in the challenge of the personal struggles.  Take my advice and open yourself up and get an off the charts  "teach me" meter!  Trust me....it pays really well ; )

God Bless

Kristine xo

Looking at the Circle of LIFE

Be sure you check out the article by Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady, the Circle of LIFE. 
I love visual things.  What a great way to look at our LIFE business.

In LIFE we need to work on our basics: the 8 f's.  The visual of the circle allows me to easily identify where I need to work.  Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness, Friends, Fun, Following, Freedom.

I know sometimes I get myself caught up in working on everything at once.  If you're like me, you'll be happy to know that in the Resolved book you'll find great help on how to create a plan to start working on your circle so it's round.  Remember though, a plan is only step 1; choosing to neglect the other 3 steps (do, check, adjust) is a certain recipe for failure.

It's incredible to think our profession is building a business that focuses on helping people make their circles round!  Rounder circles lead to more joyful lives, which leads to stronger families, which leads to better communities, which leads to stronger states, which leads to more united countries.....you know where I'm going.....which leads to changing to world!  Remember, start with yourself and make your circle round!

Don't forget though, LIFE materials give us knowledge in how to live intentionally for excellence, but they are not designed to teach us how to build a business!  TEAM is the #1 community builder in the world, and TEAM's system is designed to teach us how to build our LIFE business.

The information we need for success is at our fingertips whether it be rounder circles or big, huge businesses!  But awareness isn't life changing:  applying the information is.  Start today!  Apply the TEAM and LIFE materials into your life and make your business huge and your circle round and we may just make a difference in the biggest circle of all: Planet earth.  Wow.  Count me in!

Kristine

Our Children are Watching

Our daughter Kali recently had a writing assignment for her literature class.  I have decided to reprint it here, not because it's about me, rather because it's an excellent testimony for the LIFE business.

We have been in business with Orrin and Laurie Woodward since Kali was 5 years old.  Reading this proves to me building our business has been 100% worth it.

When I think of my dad the first thing that comes to mind is inspiring.  Many people, not just me, would think that. He has always been there for me and always gives good advice.


The Lord has used my father in my life in many ways.  As any father, God puts them in your life to teach you right from wrong and how to look at life.  But I think my dad takes it up a notch.  Well, first I think my dad knows more than most dads.  He doesn't just teach us how to live, he teaches us how to think, how to dream, how to make the right choices and the consequences of the wrong choices. He always knows just what to say and when to say it. He shows how a dad should be and what true love looks like with my mom.  What my dad does in his life shows me that you can do anything as long as you work hard and believe in yourself. 


I love my dad.  If I end up half of him, I'll be fine. : ) 




The next time you wonder if what you are doing is the right investment of your time, take a minute to think of the eyes that are watching your actions. We can all spout fancy words on what success is, what striving means and even what character should be.  But when all is said and done, unfortunately a lot more is said than done.  Choose today to be different.  Choose to show those watching eyes what success, striving and character is by your actions.

When Kali was 5 years old, I certainly was not the person she described above.  Over the past 9 years my daughter has witnessed her dad listening, reading and applying what he was learning.  Today, Kali sees the results of that effort and the impact it has on her life.  When I read the lessons my daughter has learned because of the effort, I realize it's priceless.

LIFE launches!

Finally November 1st arrived, and LIFE launched successfully!  

The fact that yesterday came and went without a hitch is not a surprise for those of us who have been associated with Orrin Woodward and the rest of the LIFE founders. It's how leaders of character are: They do what they say.  Chris Brady said something last night that rung true to me.  He said that Orrin Woodward and the LIFE founders have always, to the very best of their abilities, done what was right for the newest members of the LIFE leadership TEAM.  And I couldn't agree more.

So the pre-launch and the launch are officially behind us now.....what's next?  Time to build our businesses.  Time to take our stories, our belief, our excitement to the people.  

There's no doubt that the LIFE materials have made a tremendous difference in my life: Faith- without a doubt!  Finance?  Oh yes! When my second second feels as good as my first second, I know that the Militellos are secure. Freedom?  Ask me about my 9 am wake up time!  OH YEAH.  Family? 4 amazing kids and a wife- blessed man. Friends- The BEST in the world!  And we get to build our destinies together. FUN?  Just hang out with the Revolution for  a minute!  FUN it is.  Following:  Nothing like the ROAR of the REVOLUTION REVOLUTION REVOLUTION!  Fitness....well I am working on that....thanks Bob McKenzie for inspiring me.  8 F's, all fulfilled with this one amazing profession!

As my mentor and friend, Orrin Woodward says: Success Never Goes on Sale.  While that is true, LIFE and TEAM have made the success journey one full of purpose and worthy of our best efforts.