Thursday, September 30, 2010
9:42 PM
We are having a great time here in Atlanta and excitement is high!
I recently heard about two elderly ladies who were best friends who went shopping together. On the way to the mall the lady in the passenger side thought her friend ran a red light, but she wasn’t paying a lot of attention so she didn’t say anything. Then they ran another red light and the passenger thought wow I am pretty sure that was a red light. I am going to pay attention now I don’t want to hurt my best friend’s feelings but this is dangerous. Sure enough the driver ran a third red light. The passenger said “You just ran three red lights” the driver said “Oh was I driving?” The driver wasn’t paying attention. Let me ask you something are you paying attention to your life and to your dream or do you think someone else is driving?
Your dreams matter.
I want to share a personal story with you that I told at our convention tonight. It ties in with our convention theme, Embrace Your Dream.
When our founder and my father, Dick Loehr, was a young man, his dream was to be a racecar driver. He became the Ford drag racing captain. He then dreamed of owning his own business and he went on to become a successful business owner of a car dealership, a fast food restaurant owner and then began Team National, truly his greatest joy.
I, as a young girl, dreamed of being a part of our family business and also wanted to help others. I wanted to be the family's corporate attorney. While I was in college, my dad sold his car dealership and retired to Florida. My dream of working in the family business now seemed impossible, or so I thought. I didn't know then that my dad would have another business. So, I focused on what I could do to still help others since that was the second part of my dream. In the back of my mind, I tucked away my dream of working in the family business.
I had an opportunity, after graduating from college, to work at a super family business, not ours, but a good friend's. It didn't completely fulfill my dream or the need in my heart. My dream was still there, even if I didn't consciously think about it all the time. I left there wanting my own family business and entered into direct sales. Wrong company, Right industry.
I was getting close. I believe God doesn't put anything truly in your heart that you can't do. All dreams are possible.
You know the ending, in 1997, Dick Loehr developed our "membership" then called a Benefits Package. He bought a small direct selling company, with then only 750 Independent Marketing Directors (IMDs). I was excited for my Dad. At the time, I was living in Michigan with Phil. However, in 2000, I became part of the team and my dream of being part of a family business and helping others was fulfilled. When people ask me "how do I know your family won't sell or you won’t leave?", my answer is, "I am living my dream...it took me several years to get here and now my dream has evolved. I plan on staying."
In the DSA, there are a handful of companies owned by the 3rd generation. So while my dream is still to help others and run a family business, I now also dream of being a DSA company that is 3rd or 4th generation-owned, with IMDs whose parents were top leaders. I dream of the next generation for both of us, my family and your family being partners in Team National.
You can live your dreams. God bless!
I recently heard about two elderly ladies who were best friends who went shopping together. On the way to the mall the lady in the passenger side thought her friend ran a red light, but she wasn’t paying a lot of attention so she didn’t say anything. Then they ran another red light and the passenger thought wow I am pretty sure that was a red light. I am going to pay attention now I don’t want to hurt my best friend’s feelings but this is dangerous. Sure enough the driver ran a third red light. The passenger said “You just ran three red lights” the driver said “Oh was I driving?” The driver wasn’t paying attention. Let me ask you something are you paying attention to your life and to your dream or do you think someone else is driving?
Your dreams matter.
I want to share a personal story with you that I told at our convention tonight. It ties in with our convention theme, Embrace Your Dream.
When our founder and my father, Dick Loehr, was a young man, his dream was to be a racecar driver. He became the Ford drag racing captain. He then dreamed of owning his own business and he went on to become a successful business owner of a car dealership, a fast food restaurant owner and then began Team National, truly his greatest joy.
I, as a young girl, dreamed of being a part of our family business and also wanted to help others. I wanted to be the family's corporate attorney. While I was in college, my dad sold his car dealership and retired to Florida. My dream of working in the family business now seemed impossible, or so I thought. I didn't know then that my dad would have another business. So, I focused on what I could do to still help others since that was the second part of my dream. In the back of my mind, I tucked away my dream of working in the family business.
I had an opportunity, after graduating from college, to work at a super family business, not ours, but a good friend's. It didn't completely fulfill my dream or the need in my heart. My dream was still there, even if I didn't consciously think about it all the time. I left there wanting my own family business and entered into direct sales. Wrong company, Right industry.
I was getting close. I believe God doesn't put anything truly in your heart that you can't do. All dreams are possible.
You know the ending, in 1997, Dick Loehr developed our "membership" then called a Benefits Package. He bought a small direct selling company, with then only 750 Independent Marketing Directors (IMDs). I was excited for my Dad. At the time, I was living in Michigan with Phil. However, in 2000, I became part of the team and my dream of being part of a family business and helping others was fulfilled. When people ask me "how do I know your family won't sell or you won’t leave?", my answer is, "I am living my dream...it took me several years to get here and now my dream has evolved. I plan on staying."
In the DSA, there are a handful of companies owned by the 3rd generation. So while my dream is still to help others and run a family business, I now also dream of being a DSA company that is 3rd or 4th generation-owned, with IMDs whose parents were top leaders. I dream of the next generation for both of us, my family and your family being partners in Team National.
You can live your dreams. God bless!