"It's the fear of the unknown, the fear of looking foolish that keeps the majority sitting on the sidelines, wanting desperately to play the game, yet unwilling to risk defeat". -Les Brown "The Master Motivator"

Many black women in network marketing are crippled with the idea of failing. Are you one of them? Do you hold yourself back from succeeding in your business...all because you are afraid to fail? I never really understood the phrase, "Fear of success", I mean really...who would be afraid to SUCCEED?? The truth is many people are afraid of success, because they are afraid to FAIL! You may be confused at this point, so let me "break it down" a bit more.

I read an excellent article by one of the masters of personal growth and inspiration, Les Brown. Mr. Brown talked about the importance of "staying in the game" when the times get rough. We all entered our business with the best intentions, excitement and high hopes for the future. However, many of us are simply unable to handle the fear, the challenges and many obstacles that will inevitably come our way. What game plan or shall I say "safety net" do you have in place that will carry you through when times get rough during the building of your network marketing business? See, here's the deal...times will get rough, you will have moments of doubt and you will meet some challenges along the way. Period. The key is to have a daily personal growth plan in place, this will keep you focused and on the path to your success...even when times get rough.

So, what do I mean by a personal growth plan? Les Brown suggest we have a daily plan that includes:

-Reading 10 to 15 pages of something that fills your brain with positive, affirming, and thought provoking ideas you can apply to your own life.

-Listen to at least 30 minutes of an audio message that helps you develop the personal and life skills to prepare you for the opportunities ahead.

-Brainstorm at least 30 minutes a day on the creative ways to get you closer to your goals.

-Write down goals that are way  outside your comfort zone and review them every morning and night.
make sure your goals are the kind that get your heart pumping and your hands sweating!! That's how you know your vision is important enough to carry you through...no matter what!

Don't be afraid of failure, make it okay to fail. So many black women ignore or forget their dreams because they are afraid to take the risk and give it a shot. This is called fear of failure. I remember my grandmother told me many years ago, "British, nothing beats a failure but a try". Grandma's words stuck with me throughout the years. Whenever I start to doubt myself or have fear because I assume I will fail at something, before I even start..I stop and I remember what my Grandmother said. It's true, you gotta give it a try and NOT be afraid to fail. Make the determination to build your business strong, never give up and keep trying...everyday.

Les Brown wrote, "Starting a direct sales business is a risk. Make it okay to fail. Most people don't even want to try because they don't want to look foolish. The truth is, we look foolish if we get to the end of our lives not having gone for our goals".

Make it happen...today! There is no fear in reaching for our dreams...go for it!!!!

British Ford-Hill