The World According to Bridgett

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noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 06:28:00 +0000

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We're Not Raising Children--We're Raising Adults Going Through Childhood

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 03:56:00 +0000

My friend Tony is a nice guy. He is compassionate, patient and has a genuine love for people. So when he started criticizing a certain type of parent the other day, it got my attention.

He recently moved back to Chicago and was struck by the prevalence of parents—moms, in particular—who mislabeled their young children’s behavior. Rather than calling it for what it is, they shrug it off as kids doing what kids do.

While he was eating at a restaurant, explained Tony, a boy of about four years old in the adjacent booth reached over and began rapping on Tony's head. Not a cute and cuddly love tap, but a fistful of knuckles kind of assault.

To Tony’s amazement, that mom didn’t apologize or correct her son. Instead, she chalked it up to the boy “exploring the world.”

My kids have never violated people's personal space. And they certainly have never gotten physical with strangers. I thought about this, and why that was so, and the answer is simple: my husband and I would never allow their actions to go that far.

Our children are certainly not perfect. We've had lots of "teaching moments." But that's just it--we recognize the need to correct, while some other parents merely excuse their children's behavior because, well, that's what they see from other, similarly uncorrected 4-, 5-, 6-, 9-, 12-, and 15-year olds.

Someone who has made a great impact on our parenting approach is Greg Duncan, a Triple Diamond in the Amway Business and one of the leaders of World Wide Group.

In relating how he and his wife, Laurie, raised their own two children, now in their 20s, Greg has said, "We're not raising children. We're raising adults going through childhood."

Love that! Not that I'm rushing my kids into premature adulthood. My kids are kids. They play, they laugh, they do kid things. But as they do, my husband and I are treating them as individuals going through a stage in their lives.

The goal is to help these adults-going-through-childhood prepare so that they can make a successful transition to that next phase.

In NurtureShock, authors Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman reveal how, collectively, American parents have abdicated our responsibility to actually raise our children.
Instead, kids are left learning life skills from one another. (Question: Do you think this dynamic plays a role in all the bullying making headline news?)

The result is that we have poorly behaved youngsters who don't "get it" until they are in their 20s. And by then, they have developed bad habits that are tough to shake.

There's a lot more to raising a child than feeding, clothing and housing them, and making sure their homework is done. Restraining your adult-to-be child from pummeling the guy in the booth next to you? That's a good start.

Organic Homemade Sports Drink

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 06:05:00 +0000

Water is what my eight-year old son and daughter consume 99% of the time. Fresh, purified water from our eSpring system.

However, now that they started the Fall soccer season, and are on a field much larger than before, they are sweating up a storm. And I'm concerned that they don't have enough carbs and electrolytes to keep them going.

But for a variety of reasons, rather than buy pre-made sports drinks, I've decided to make my own.

The benefits:

*organic ingredients
*natural ingredients
*no high-fructose corn syrup
*no artificial sweeteners
*no artificial colors
*no plastic bottles to recycle--the more eco-logical strategy: reduce
*less expensive--about 25 cents per pint
*fresh, clean taste

It's ridiculous how easy and fast it is to make this sports drink. The whole process, including heating the water, takes about seven minutes. I usually double the recipe to make a quart, fill their reusable water bottles, and chill them in the fridge, ready for service.

Here is the recipe to make 16 ounces:

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup hot water

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

3 1/2 cups cold water

In a pitcher, dissolve sugar and salt with hot water. Add juices and cold water. Mix.

Jan Severn: Amway Legend Dies

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:12:00 +0000

A thoughtful obituary has been written for Jan Severn.
(Jan Severn obituary)

So rather than try to duplicate something that accurately captures her essence, instead I just want to say "Thank you" to her and her husband, Dave Severn.

I know Dave and Jan Severn through the Amway business. They are considered legends with Amway, known by many around the world, particularly because of Dave's classic "Pigs Don't Know Pigs Stink" talk.

I have been fortunate enough to have them in my specific "line of sponsorship" spending dozens of hours with them over the years.

Jan was a gem. A lovely woman. She had a kind and gentle spirit about her that was instructive to this not-as-kind and not-as-gentle woman.

Jan, I look forward to seeing you again someday.

And Dave, I lift you up in prayer for comfort. Your overflowing love for and commitment to your wife of 42 years was awe-inspiring.

Cash In The Mail: What Would You Do?

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 22:31:00 +0000

I almost tossed the envelope without opening it.

Chicago Magazine with the help of Ipsos Mendelsohn sent me a survey to fill out and a $5 bill.

Looking at how long the eight-page document would take to complete, the five dollars doesn’t motivate me. Nor does the carefully worded letter saying I'm "part of a small, carefully selected sample..."

But the fact that they offered me the compensation, in cash and upfront, regardless of whether I filled out the survey, fascinates me.

Would you fill it out? Why? Why not?

If not for $5, how much money would it take? Or would something else push you to do it?

Would you have any guilt enjoying a double-scoop ice cream cone with that five bucks if you simply tossed the survey in the recycling?

ARTISTRY Intensive Skincare Renewing Peel: Video Dynamically Captures Its Face Value

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:22:00 +0000

For years, I've been a passionate believer in ARTISTRY products. But that doesn't mean I've checked my skepticism at the door.

That's why, when I began using ARTISTRY intensive skincare renewing peel in April, I applied the product only to the right side of my face.

I wanted to see if the twice-a-week applications would create a noticeable difference.

Over the first several weeks, every time I examined my face in the mirror to try to decipher any improvement, I grew increasingly bummed. I really wanted this product to work, and yet week after week I was disappointed by the apparent lack of results.

That is, until a few days ago.

Sony bloggie Touch

I was playing with my new tech toy, a Sony bloggie, by taking a bunch of quick videos throughout the day. After my family grew weary of being my guinea pigs, I turned the camera on myself. And when I watched those clips, I was taken aback by the difference between the left and right sides of my face.

So dramatic was the contrast that I marched into the bathroom and immediately started using the renewing peel on my entire face, hoping the untreated side would "catch up" soon.

The reflection of light off your face plays a major role in your skin's appearance. Moving pictures dynamically enable you to see how light hits your face at different angles. Therefore, video and film more accurately capture this product's results than a flat medium like a photo or peering straight into a mirror.

So why did I want to use this product and how does it work?
As we age, we need a little help. Exfoliation, or the sloughing off of old dead skin cells so that the new healthy ones can rise to the surface, slooooows down. The result: dull, drab skin.

A peel resurfaces your skin, and makes it smoother, fresher, younger, more vibrant.

I wanted these results, but I wasn't interested in spending a small fortune (professional chemical peels can run up to $350 a pop). And frankly, I'm scared of any invasive procedure, particularly on my face.
That's why I chose ARTISTRY's renewing peel.

At the 3:12 mark in the news program clip below, Kelli Miller, ARTISTRY Brand Manager, explains how the renewing peel works.

She says the renewing peel uses a gentler exfoliation ingredient (mushroom enzyme instead of acids) and "knows" via your cells' pH level which ones to exfoliate (the old ones) and which to leave alone (the new ones). This minimizes the risk of overpeeling or irritation.

I like the simplicity of ARTISTRY's renewing peel:
*convenience--use at home, any time
*one product, rather than other brands that require two
*fast--eight minutes
*no worries about over-exfoliating (I know someone who sleeps with this product on at night)
*price--less than one-third the cost of clinical peels

If you're a skeptic like me, I encourage you to do only half your face. But learn from my experience and don't rely on the mirror. Videotape yourself, moving your head from side to side. Allow six weeks of application, two or three times a week, to see the effectiveness.

Lastly, if you aren't happy with the results, ARTISTRY products, like all products exclusively from Amway are backed by a 180-day money-back satisfaction guarantee. Love that!

Counting The Cost: Bandwagon Marketing Versus Authentic Core Values

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:46:00 +0000

I broke down this week and am now a card-carrying Costco Member. Yep, these gas prices have risen to such a point, that Costco's lower prices have lured me in.

So after I became a "club member" I thought I'd venture through the store to see their offerings. My seven-year olds were with me, and thought it was fabulous that they both could fit in the honkin' huge cart. I sat for a few minutes in a Brady Bunch style lazy boy chair. I wasn't seriously thinking of spending 300 bucks on it, but my decision was definitely a "no" when my son got his leg caught between the chair and the footstool.
After two hours, I escaped with spending $63.10 and for the first time, I questioned the term "organic."

I bought ten packs of organic butter, which was about a buck fifty cheaper per pack (pound) than Whole Foods Market, my main grocery store for perishables. I calculated a $78 annual savings. I was going to buy a bunch of frozen organic vegetables, until I saw that the country of origin was China. I don't know...that just doesn't sit well with me...from Costco.

And I had three dozen organic eggs in my cart---for about fifteen seconds. I was calculating the $400 annual savings (we eat a lot of eggs) we would have by shifting our dollars to Costco. But there was something about the carton. As I examined the packaging, I realized that there wasn't the informative story on it like the ones from the Amish and Mennonites of Farmers' Hen House sold at Whole Foods.

Where's the info about these eggs being from cage-free hens, allowed to go outside, not treated with antibiotics? I realized that for me, being "organic" was not just about the animal's feed being grown without pesticides. I want them to be well-cared for. I want food to come from real farms, worked by real farmers, and not industrialized factories by folks who could care less about what we put in to our bodies and what we do to the earth.

Have I been duped by good marketing?
Or is there really a difference?

As a Whole Foods shopper since the first store opened in Chicago in March 1993, I know that organic is not a marketing buzz word for them. It's a core value.

Same thing goes for my supplement company, Nutrilite, whose organically grown plant-based supplements have been at its foundation for 77 years. Optimal health and excellent environmental stewardship-- their core values before those phrases were coined.

And the company that bought Nutrilite in the '70s, Amway, is where I get my laundry and cleaning products. They've been "green" since they started in 1959 with their first product, a biodegradable soap. They aren't just now getting on the Green Movement bandwagon. The idea of taking care of the earth and not poisoning it and its inhabitants, is a core value.

I want to support companies whose core values are in alignment with mine. While it's tempting to save $500 a year buying butter and eggs from Costco, the question I must ask myself is: at what cost?

OK, This Is Pretty Darn Cool...

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Fri, 27 May 2011 22:15:00 +0000

What I've always loved about "show business" is this idea that I was a tiny part of something bigger than me. That a bunch of small contributions could add up to something huge.

This video...
*the storyline,
*the choreography,
*the camera moves,
*the props,
*the people,
*the outfits
*the coordination,
*and other things that I don't wanna mention so that I don't spoil it for you.

What a moving experience to see this community come together, and in such a creative way.
Great job, Grand Rapids!

(video doesn't show up in feed. You have to click through to actual blog)

Breathing Is Underrated

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 06:43:00 +0000

A few years ago, I noticed that I had gotten out of the habit of breathing. I mean, really breathing. Taking in this life-giving substance called oxygen, fully and deeply and regularly.

In my early years as a child and then as an actress in tune with her “instrument” I had been a good breather. As I’ve gotten older though, no longer in the environments of voice, acting and dance classes and performing, I’ve forgotten to breathe.

I noticed this couple of years ago. One day I was at my kitchen sink washing dishes like I’ve done a thousand times before, and I noticed that I was stressed—physically, emotionally, mentally. And I thought, “Why? What could possibly be stressful about washing a pan?”

And what I noticed was that I had stopped breathing, that I was holding my breath. “Hmmm, how long has this been going on? How often throughout my day does this happen,” I wondered.

And why? Was I stressed and stopped breathing, or did I stop breathing and become stressed?

Both. Creating a vicious cycle of blocked energy. Around and around we go. And it happens dozens of times throughout the day.

We have something amazing called a body, that moves and stretches and breathes, and is more than an apparatus to carry around our minds.

Take a breath. Take a deep cleansing breath. Allow yourself such a gift…multiple times a day.

How's That Working For You?

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:13:00 +0000

I've been possessed by Mrs. Kravitz for the last week. Sure I can blame it on being sick for an unusual extended period of time (four days instead of my 24-hour annual bug). Or the blizzard that brought us two feet of snow and sub-zero weather. Or the 67% state income tax hike. Or...whatever.

The point is that I became so cranky and grumpy, that I started repelling my own self. Kind of hard to get away from the problem when you are the problem!

The turning point was when I heard my own voice yelling out my window to a stranger doing something of which I didn't approve. Now okay, what he was doing wasn't right. But my shrill voice was so...horrible. As I'm hearing myself, I'm thinking, "Who are you? Have gone mad?"

"Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks" ~God

Self awareness is good. It is the first step to change.

And the how to change is not the hard part. There are plenty of resources on how to change. Everybody and their mother has got a book, a seminar, a this or that, on how to change every aspect of one's life. And all those are worthless if you don't have a passionate desire to change.

So do I want to change? Are there things that I'd like to be different? Do I want to be different?

I'm practical when it comes to personal growth. No fancy explanations or deep character analysis. I have a simple question I ask myself to determine if I'm fed up to the point of being willing to do things differently, and to be uncomfortable as I re-work those deep grooves called "habits."

How's that working for you?

How's that working for you being a Debbie Downer?
How's that working for you seeing all the obstacles and none of the possibilities?
How's that working for you complaining (out loud or in your head) about everything and everyone?
How's that working for you talking poorly (out loud or in your head) about the people you claim to love?
How's that working for you not working out consistently?
How's that working for you not going to bed at a reasonable hour?
How's that working for you not being prepared?
How's that working for you being someone that you don't want to be around?
How's that working for you having a pity party?
How's that working for you not healthily feeding your soul, your mind, and your spirit?
How's that working for you _______________________________________

When I answer "IT'S NOT WORKING FOR ME," is when things get moving in a different direction.

Debunking A Money Myth: The Only Way To Get Out Of Debt Is By Making More Money

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:02:00 +0000

Last week I was asked my opinion of a business opportunity of a company I’d never heard of. My simple answer was, “I don’t know anything about them.” I did end up doing some very little digging, which included going to their website and viewing a three-minute recruitment video.

It was a typical video of happy anonymous people talking about freedom. And then there were the testimonials which included some money figures, with significant amounts of debt that some of them had paid off. The implication was that the money they were making from this particular business opportunity is what they were using to pay off those bills.

The truth is that this company offers its distributors a plan to get out of debt. I think it’s great that the company offers a debt-elimination plan. The video though is misleading because the debt was paid off not necessarily because these people were making any money with this particular business.

What I know about debt-reduction programs is they have little or nothing to do with increasing your inflow, and everything to do with decreasing your outflow.

So the hook for this particular business opportunity is that you can become debt-free. It’s a good hook. Debt is a serious problem. People, in general, are lousy money managers. And because the crazy amount of credit that people have had access to the last decade, people drowning in debt has become an epidemic.

Here is the good news: You can get out of debt. And you can start the process today. There are so many resources, and so many free resources to help you. One of them is Dave Ramsey.

I am late to the party, since I only recently heard of him. But when I mention his name to some folks, they start fawning about how great this guy is. I ended up checking out two of his books, Financial Peace and The Total Money Makeover, from the library and reading them just to see what all the fuss was about. And I gotta say I like how he thinks, what he says, and his plan for ridding oneself of debt and for building wealth.

My husband and I are debt free. We became debt free before we knew of Dave Ramsey, but using the same principles. And he’ll be the first to say that there is nothing revolutionary in what he says. So what sets him a part from others out there?

First, he’s been there. His story of, in his words, the idiotic choices that he made, and all the feelings of fear and stress he felt, makes him empathic and passionate about helping people.

Second, he doesn't sugar-coat the truth. He tells it like it is, and tells us what we need to hear, such as to "Grow up!"

Third, he challenges people to get angry about their debt. He knows that it is emotion, not logic, which moves people. So while his plan for debt-reduction and wealth building is very methodical and logical, he is good at lighting a fire under people to get them thinking differently, and moving them in the right direction.

Fourth, and maybe the most important, he has created a community (live and virtual) of folks who are in the process of, and who have succeeded at, ridding themselves of debt and changing their thoughts about money. It's a community where people can get encouragement and support, just by the mere fact of knowing that they are not alone.

"Future Tripping" Is Not Allowed

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 05:59:00 +0000

Tonight was the first time I "future tripped" about my children. I had a flash, a realization, on an emotional level, that they were going to some day be too big and not interested, in flopping around our home with me.

It was a few minutes before 5:00 pm, their daddy was going to be home soon, dinner preparation could wait a few more minutes. The three of us were sprawled this way and that, on one of their twin beds, as I read from a book I happen to grab off the floor.

I then flipped on to my back and looked over at my daugher lying next to me. I then looked at my son who was lying in the opposite direction as he sat up.

I looked at his innocent little seven-year-old face. I stared actually. Attempting to remember every detail.

"What mamma," he asked.

"You are not allowed to grow up," I blurted.

"Huh," he looked confused.

"No really. This is it. You are not allowed be more than seven years old."

"But I want to get older," my daughter announced.

I took a deep breath. I smiled, squeezing and kissing them, which grounded me and brought me back to the present moment, the present gift, the present joy.

Life is a Theatre...Invite Your Audience Carefully

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:28:00 +0000

When I started realizing the powerful effect the people with whom I hang have on my life and my future, I became purposeful about my association. Not an easy process. Certainly sometimes painful. Just the same, necessary.

I came across this anonymously-written piece over a decade ago. And perhaps because of my theatre background, it is in language I understand. Of how and why I must be intentional about where I let people "sit" in my life.

~ Life is a Theatre...Invite Your Audience Carefully~

Not everyone is mentally healthy enough to have a front row seat in your life.
There are some people who need to be loved from a distance.
It is amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of - or minimize your time with - those draining, negative, incompatible, 'not-going- anywhere' relationships or friendships.

Observe the relationships around you.
Pay close attention...
Which ones lift, and which ones lean?
Which ones encourage, and which ones discourage?
Which ones are on a path of growth uphill, and which ones are going downhill?
When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse?
Which ones always have drama, or don't really understand, know or appreciate you?

The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row, and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.

Ask for wisdom and discernment, and choose wisely the people who will sit in the front row of your life.
You cannot change the people around you, but you can change the people you choose to be around.
Who is in your front row?

Amway: An Equal-Opportunity Business

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:15:00 +0000

In the mail today, amongst all the fun holiday cards and photos, we got the latest copy of Achieve Magazine, Amway's quarterly trade publication.

Inside was page after page highlighting the "Women of Amway." As an Amway Independent Business Owner (IBO) in North America, I was particularly pleased with this focus.

Over the years I have noticed and experienced that there is a segment of the Amway community passionate about empowering men. In and of itself, this is very good and necessary. Unfortunately, and unintentionally, some have done this in such a way that it has disempowered women, hindering them from reaching their full potential as people and as business owners.

Having an unmarried woman as our Amway sponsor, actively building her business, has been a helpful example that the Amway business is an opportunity to all. And it's crucial that the corporation continue sending the message to all IBOs and prospective IBOs that women can--and already do--play a vital role in building Amway businesses.

How fitting to have Holly Chen with her husband, Barry Chi, on this cover. They currently hold the highest achievement level in North America with 70 FAA points (which basically means they have a honkin' huge, highly profitable business). In addition, as they have helped thousands of people make lots of money, they have achieved high pins in other Amway markets around the world, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

Why is it fitting? Because Holly started the Amway business on her own. After she met Barry, he joined her. And while he was satisfied when they hit the Diamond level in 1986, Holly was not. So she has continued to be the one to take center stage, and take their business to where it is today.

This is the third time in 20 months that Holly and Barry have appeared on the cover of Achieve, each featuring a new level of accomplishment.

From Achieve's April 2009 issue, "If you want to learn about building a successful Amway Global business, just watch Holly Chen and Barry Chi in action. Holly is an amazing leader, mentoring groups of Crown Diamond, Double Diamond and Executive Diamond IBOs. Barry is a talented trainer, teaching them how to improve retail sales. Together, they are a force. We are fortunate to have them on our team."

They are examples of using one's passions and strengths, regardless of gender, to get the job done. How they have built their business is directly opposite the gender roles that all too many organizations have long imposed on couples--hubby shows the business opportunity and mentors while wifey focuses on retail.

Given the fact that other direct-selling business opportunities are women-centric, I understand why some in the Amway community wish to focus heavily on men. On top of that, Amway was founded as a partnership of two men--Rich DeVos and Jay Van Andel.

Against that backdrop, then, it's especially important, and timely, that Amway has directed the spotlight squarely on Holly and Barry's business. Their story is a powerfully eloquent reminder that a successful Amway business is possible to anyone willing to do the work.

Amway Australia...You GET It.

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:12:00 +0000

This video from Amway Australia captures in two minutes how social media is the new word of mouth to the n'th degree.

Adults Say The Darndest Things

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:15:00 +0000

This two-minute video sums up every idiotic or inappropriate question or comment complete strangers have said to me...well, almost. I think my "favorite" was when a lady YELLED, across the street, as I am strolling my infants, minding my own business, "DO YOU BREASTFEED THEM?!"

No Turning Off Your True Self When You're Online

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:01:00 +0000

Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill

‎"When it comes to technology in general, and social networking in particular, the heart is simply revealed."

--excerpted from a piece by Mark Driscoll in the Washington Post.

While he is responding specifically to one issue of Facebook and adultery, Driscoll's statement addresses a much broader issue relevant to us all.

‎"Impatient, angry people post flame-throwing statements in haste.

Boastful, narcissistic people post statements and photos constantly to ensure we do not ignore them.

Dissident troublemakers post trolling inflammatory comments, seeking to have the same effect as a hose on a bees' nest.

And the perverted pursue illicit connections, including adultery, as they enjoy posting and seeing sexualized photos and statements."

I can attest to the truth of those words, especially having actively engaged on the 'Net on different platforms over the past few years. My online dialogues with a wide spectrum of people have ranged from MySpace (just who is on there anymore?), Facebook and YouTube to Twitter and a wide variety of forums and blogs.

In that time, I've engaged in diverse (and hot-button) topics such as Amway, homeschooling, politics, religion, sports, family and money.

Are we all entitled to the occasional "off" day, in which we respond in a way that doesn't reflect our authentic self? Absolutely. But what is the pattern of how we engage with the world--both online and offline?

Years ago, I thought it was a given topic that caused people to respond in a certain way. But through engaging online with hundreds of people from many different walks of life, I've witnessed undeniable, and all too predictable, patterns emerge.

Driscoll's diagnosis puts into words what I've come to firmly believe: cyber-behavior truly is a matter of the heart.

Amway's Flawed 'Forever Pin' Practice

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 06:22:00 +0000

As I’ve chronicled around the Net over the past few years, there are many aspects of the Amway Business that I greatly appreciate and admire.

However, I have never been a fan of the Corporation’s practice that once you achieve a certain level of success in the business, you retain that title for the rest of your life. This is regardless of whether you maintain that level or drop off the face of the Earth.

Until yesterday, I had never seen anything in print about their practice. And now that Amway has explained the reasoning, in writing, my disappointment has deepened.

Over at a new blog, Amway Answers, here’s how the rationale is explained:

“In a way, we liken it to someone who has won an Oscar earned a Nobel Prize or even a Master of Business Administration degree. Similar to the presidency, these titles aren’t stripped away the year after new winners are chosen or a person graduates and no longer attends classes. It’s an achievement that stays with one for a lifetime.”

Comparing building a business to earning a degree is missing the boat. I can study the Amway Business, any business, and know it on a theoretical level, just as I studied my field for my college degree. But as we all know: There is a big difference between knowing and doing.

The other comparisons make no sense because with the Presidency, the Oscar winner, and a Nobel Prize recipient, it is understood that it’s only for a moment in time. In those worlds, there is only one slot to fill each year/term. Not so in the Amway Business.

If you are going to use that type of criteria, then Amway would need to say, “Diamond, 2005” or “Emerald, 1999-2008,” as examples.

“Allowing Amway distributors to earn – and keep – their pins is a form of non-monetary leadership recognition.”

This is a description of positional leadership--the lowest level of leadership. Positional leadership is used to describe the “Do as I say because I’m the boss, I have the title, I outrank you” way of leading. It is not true, influential leadership. It is the antithesis of how successful, long-term, pass-the-torch, Amway Businesses are built.

“It shows others what they, too, can achieve.”

Most people in and outside the world of Amway are under the mistaken impression that if someone is called a Ruby, then they currently have a Ruby business. If they have been referred to as a Diamond for the last 20 years, then they have had a Diamondship for 20 years.

So because of this Flawed Forever Pin Practice (F2P2), distributors have a distorted picture of what “achievement” means.

"People who’ve reached these levels of recognition are qualified to teach and inspire others to do the same.”

To do the same… what? Under Amway’s F2P2, one has to maintain a certain level for a mere six months to garner a life-long title.

I can understand a grace period of a year or maybe even two. But a Diamond, or any pin status, being conferred upon someone forever, without any timeline clarification, is disingenuous. If Amway were transparent on this topic, most of the bad business practices would go away.

Having so much attention placed on only achieving a pin:

*diminishes the integrity of that pin.

*makes asking “Are you a currently qualified Diamond, Emerald, Ruby?” seem disrespectful, with a don’t-ask-don’t-tell vibe to it.

* allows some currently non-qualifying pins, who are maintaining the illusion of being a current such-and-such to persist in deception. And their (positional) leadership with their organization is bad.

Bad for the people in their organization, bad for Amway, and bad for distributors who are upfront about their current level of achievement.

*has a chilling effect on those distributors who want to be honest. As an example, if I say something about my business, I am also saying something about my Upline’s business. If I give details about my current qualification, then I am (since my Upline’s pin level is based on my pin level) also revealing details about my Upline’s business.

*leads to some unstable “strategies” distributors have come up with in building their businesses simply to hit a high pin once, in order to achieve a coveted title.

*places undue and unhealthy emphasis on recognition rather than on things that should matter in a business, like profit and long-term income.

I’d rather have a stable Rubyship for decades, than a Diamondship that spans only a few years. But with the F2P2, Amway, intentionally or not, has trained us all to value the Diamond over the Ruby—regardless of their respective stability. And in doing so, Amway is damaging the DNA necessary for its long-term viability.

John Maxwell's Five Levels of Leadership

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 05:54:00 +0000

Position-Permission-Production-People Development-Personhood

Rights-Relationships-Results-Reproduction-Respect

From the book Developing the Leader Within You

Digital Communication Can Damage Relationships

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:26:00 +0000

In this bloggy, texting, email, instant chat, social media world, oh how we need to hear this.

I wish I didn't have to learn the hard way (more than once) just how foolish it is to "say" things that should either be said in person, or not at all.

This short video has many gems of wisdom on this subject...

Picture This: The iCook Wok from Amway

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 06:53:00 +0000

A couple of months ago, I had my eye on Amway's iCook Wok. The challenge was that I didn't feel that I had enough information to make such a hefty purchase, even with Amway's generous 180-day money-back guarantee on all their products.

A week later, an Amway employee and blogger, Gregory Gronbacher, touted the wok in one of his blog posts over at The Opportunity Zone. I suggested that since Gregory likes cooking, maybe he could do a video demonstrating the wok, since Amway.com lacked sufficient information to "sell me."

Apparently I wasn't the only one with that recommendation, because here is the video--Gregory and his co-blogger Jennifer Iracki cooking up some lunch.

Thanks so much!

Ever Have One of Those Days?

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 15:31:00 +0000

Yesterday was not the best day in BridgettLand. I was physically tired, mentally exhausted, and emotionally frazzled.

The combination of being down on so many fronts rendered my spirit joyless. This had not happened to me in a long time. And over the years I've learned that it's much easier to guard against, than it is to recover.

However, I had not realized that certain circumstances beyond my control which I was about to endure on Monday, would require some extra protective gear. So yesterday I was...wiped...out.

The good news was that I had enough awareness to know that even though it all seemed very real, very oppressive, and very permanent, it wasn't.

I also knew enough to engage my will, rather than continue to allow myself to dig deeper into my little black hole that was sucking the life out of me.

Yes, BridgettLand can be a nice little roller coaster ride when the negative invaders gain too much territory.

In order to avoid my foe from getting a foothold in my mind, my weapon of choice yesterday was Aretha Franklin singing "Accentuate the Positive".

Given all the other options I have such as prayer, a supportive husband, God's Word, the listening ear of my mom, it was amusing to me that a simple song, played more than a few times, was so effective!

It was amusing and also quite telling...sometimes we make mountains out of molehills. Sometimes that overwhelming circumstance is really of our own creation, in our own mind.

I've learned that turning around and not engaging with the garbage, and moving forward in the opposite direction towards the good stuff, seems to be the best response.

Life is too short, too precious, filled with so many possibilities and positives, to allow myself to get caught up in the muck and mire. And most of the time it's really as simple as this song says:

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium's
Liable to walk upon the scene

Microsoft Tags...Have You Seen Them?

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:09:00 +0000

I was flipping through an Artistry catalog, and after having it for about a month and looking it a half a dozen times, I finally investigated the little colorful squares that appear on a couple of the pages.

These squares are called "tags." And the purpose, is to direct you to digital content like a video or a website.

How do they work?
*First you download the application gettag.mobi on to your phone.
*Launch the app and scan the tag with your phone. Scanning means holding your phone a certain distance and then let the app "find" the tag. My phone gave a little vibrate when it captured the tag.

*Your phone will then take you to a web address which will, in the case of Artistry's Ultimate Confidence Campaign catalog, show a one-minute video.

I like the mobility that these tags provide, like being able to show a quick video on my phone, because the tags are now in my history that I can pull up anytime.

But I'm thinking that these tags (which could be placed anywhere, even on a billboard) have more impact for those who are high tech and more mobile, like the younger generations. Are their phones the primary way they go online? Are laptops so 20th century?

For more info, even on how to create your own tags, visit the Microsoft Tag website at tag.microsoft.com

The Power Brands--Artistry and Nutrilite

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:09:00 +0000

This is Part Three of our visit to the Welcome Center at Amway. Here is Amway Visit Part One and Amway Visit Part Two.

We then headed over to the Artistry section. It was a highlight of my visit. I really wanted to use this machine.
First, you want to sit comfortably on that black stool, unlike me. Then you rest your chin inside, close your eyes, and it takes five flash images. Within a minute or two, the computer screen displays your skin analysis. So cool!

Next we moved over to the Nutrilite section.
"By growing, harvesting, and processing plants on its own certified organic farms, Nutrilite is able to include a wide array of high-quality plant nutrients in its products."

Lots of information on the oldest (76 years) and largest ($3 billion in annual sales) global supplement company.

Lots of information on health and what factors (air, hydration, diet, lifestyle choices) contribute to the aging process.

My kids' favorite display was learning how a Nutrilite tablet is made, because at the end, you pull the lever and a gold coin pops out. They did it four times, giggling each time, before mamma had to distract them and get us all out of there before the Amway police were called.

“Awesome!”...Really?

noreply@blogger.com (Bridgett) — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 02:56:00 +0000

"Soccer is awesome."

"I had the most awesome cake today."

"You are an awesome mom."

So that cake, that soccer, that person inspires awe in you?

Awe is an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration and fear.

When we use magnificent language to describe non-magnificent things, what words do we have left to describe that which truly is awesome?