Archive for November, 2011


I want to share an article from Orrin Woodward that I was reading this morning about creative destruction in the business world. What impresses me most about Orrin is how well read he is. Whenever I hear someone criticize Orrin or LIFE it is strictly hearsay and gossip, where Orrin always has data and history to back up his choices and thoughts. I like the saying, “In God we trust, everyone else must have data.” I have worked with Orrin and the Team for 8 years now and everything they do can be traced to numerous sources for the principles they are following. As soon as you start to study business, leadership, people and history you quickly see why Orrin does what he does and realize the greatness of the-life-business.com.

Orrin Woodward: With freedom, entrepreneurs are always thinking of better ways to serve the customers. When a better idea is implemented, cost go down, quality goes up, and customer satisfaction is rewarded through increased profits for entrepreneurs.

This is how the-life-business came about, a group of entrepreneurs wanted a better way, a way to get life changing information that is affordable for the masses.

Orrin Woodward Woodward: Networking is long overdue for a gale of Creative Destruction that will improve the entire industry. When existing non-innovative companies run into this gale, they can respond in several ways.

The first, and best way, is to compete by developing better ideas, improving the value to all networking consumers. The second, and more common way, is to legally restrain or coerce potential competitors not to compete. This is the worst method, but sadly all too prevalent.

The third way, used when older staid companies refuse to compete in the marketplace, is to support sites who smear the new leaders. These leaders, if allowed to compete in the marketplace, would help to improve the entire industry. However, the older, more established firms view the new companies as competitive threats that must be destroyed or tamed. Therefore, if they cannot tame the new business through legitimate competition in the marketplace, then they must believe supporting an online smear campaign is their next best alternative.

Read the rest of Orrin Woodward article:

This is an interesting time in business where the internet is used to both build and destroy business. I love the freedom of speech the internet allows, however how does the person searching for truth know fact from just plain slander?

What I find interesting is the people using the internet to gossip and smear others hide behind the secrecy of the internet, not showing their face or real name! If someone has something honest to say, why hide?

I encourage you to read and listen to the information provided by the business you are looking into and make a decision based on that information. If some nameless, faceless person is giving you opinions online you can assume they are hiding and spreading false information to protest their company or just to hurt others.

Second, go to the-life-business.com and check out the testimonies that are coming in daily from around North America. These people are willing to put their name and face to their opinion. Some are even speakers around the country that you can meet in person and look into their eyes, some will be the very people who are directly helping you build your business!

The LIFE founders have resolved to learn from our previous networking experiences, vowing to creatively destroy any parts that we did not believe satisfied or exceeded the customers’ expectations. We plan on doing this through applying free enterprise principles in the marketplace, not feeling the need to resort to reputation assassinations of our former associates. Perhaps both sides would benefit from applying this highroad principle. Certainly, the consumers would benefit by enjoying the freedom to study the pros and cons of each potential business models on its merits.

A person only has so much mental energy. The question is: what is he investing it in – dreams or dramas? The more he fills his head with dramas, the less room he has for dreams. In truth, I have never met a dream achiever who invested much time in drama loving. Conversely, I have never met a drama lover, who invested much time in dream achieving. This is why I have invested my life in dream achievement and quickly identify and disassociate myself from the drama lovers of life. Victors love dreaming for it keeps their mind free from dramas. Victims, on the other hand, love dramatizing for it keeps their mind free from dreams. Whichever group you choose to associate with determines your future destiny.

If anyone reading this has a dream and desires to achieve it by helping LIFE TEAM apply the free enterprise creative destruction principles to the networking profession, then I welcome you. If anyone reading this wants to join the online agenda-laden purveyors of dramas, then I support your right to do so. I only request that you ponder this: why is it that one side uses its freedoms to create a new business model, which benefits the consumer; while the other side uses its freedoms in an attempt to destroy the new model, which hurts the consumer? When a person realizes the economics consequences of Creative Destruction upon the older business models, the fog is lifted and the truth is revealed. Ponder wisely. :) Sincerely, Orrin Woodward

God bless, Dan Hawkins

First Thanksgiving Day

First Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We are so thankful to have all of you in our life! My God bless you and yours today!

Dan and Lisa Hawkins

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving

(Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer)


Let us give thanks to God above,
Thanks for expressions of His love,
Seen in the book of nature, grand
Taught by His love on every hand.

Let us be thankful in our hearts,
Thankful for all the truth imparts,
For the religion of our Lord,
All that is taught us in His word.

Let us be thankful for a land,
That will for such religion stand;
One that protects it by the law,
One that before it stands in awe.

Thankful for all things let us be,
Though there be woes and misery;
Lessons they bring us for our good-
Later ’twill all be understood.

Thankful for peace o’er land and sea,
Thankful for signs of liberty,
Thankful for homes, for life and health,
Pleasure and plenty, fame and wealth.

Thankful for friends and loved ones, too,
Thankful for all things, good and true,
Thankful for harvest in the fall,
Thankful to Him who gave it all.

Founders of The Life Business

LIFE Founders:Bill Lewis, Dan Hawkins, Tim Marks, Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, Claude Hamilton, George Guzzardo and Rob Hallstrand

The LIFE business is now in full swing and ready to make a difference for thousands and soon millions of people! Orrin Woodward began to study business back in the mid to late 90′s. The LIFE business is the result of years of education, both from training and experience. I am so thankful that Orrin was able to learn the Cashflow Quadrant from Kiyosaki in 1998, because it has drastically changed my life. I believe the LIFE business is the perfect business. The founders of LIFE are taking all of the principles Kiyosaki covers about networking and improve them! We are rewriting the rules of networking to be the perfect model for anyone who is ambitious, looking, teachable and honest. Please attend the next the-team.biz meeting to learn what this community is doing to make change happen!

Please enjoy this video I grabbed off of Orrin Woodwards’ Blog, and learn some of the basic principles behind owning your own business.

God bless, Dan Hawkins

I remember hearing Robert Kiyosaki for the first time in early 1998.  His Cashflow Quadrant message had a profound impact on my thinking and plans.  I realized that our key objective in our community building business was to change the way we think about money and people.  No longer was I working for money.  I was working on developing myself, a team, and a system to create duplicatable results.  If you get yourself, the team and the system right, the financial results would follow. This is an excellent video where Mr. Kiyosaki shares his business philosophies and why community building is the perfect business.  Enjoy the video.  God Bless, Orrin Woodward

What should I look for when considering starting a business? Orrin Woodward shares his perspective.

When you live in a world where 95% of the people make a living by having a job or running a self-employed business, many do not know what to look for when starting their own business. It was eight years ago when I first started considering launching as an entrepreneur. My first thought was to follow the herd and start a traditional auto repair shop, until I checked the cost, at least $500k just to open doors! Then I looked at the quality of life that business could provide and lets just say the long hours, low return and headaches were not much of an upside! :)

LIFE successOrrin Woodward and the LIFE founders are ready to rewrite the rules of networking. We want to provide the best opportunity to improve your life and live your dreams. The downside risk is a better you for the lowest cost in the life coaching/leadership development market. The upside…..freedom, in all areas of life, the LIFE you have always wanted!

God bless, Dan Hawkins

When I worked at Delphi division of GM, I completed half the classes for a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Although I received good grades and enjoyed the classes, I stopped pursuing my MBA in order to build my own business.

Many thought I was crazy to quit by MBA, but I just had a feeling that it was time for me to build my own business rather than continue to learn about business. In truth, I was ready to implement some of the principles that I had learned along with continuing my education in “the school of hard knocks”. :)

One of the best principles that I learned through my MBA program was to study business by asking two questions when studying any business:

1. What is the downside risk?
2. What is the upside reward?

Read more…..

The-life-business recognition!

Hey everybody, I am so excited about the growth in the Team right now! Orrin Woodward and the rest of the LIFE founders said we are going to 1 million and we meant it! We are off to a fast start and numbers are growing across North America. Orrin shared some of the new growth at the last leadership convention on his leadership blog.

The LIFE TEAM Leadership Conference wrapped up on Sunday. With over 18 new RT’s, Triples, and Quads, along with a new PC – Chris and Danae Mattis, the TEAM has experienced its best three months in its history.

Not too mention Tim and Amy Marks and Chris and Terri Brady going Quad PC. Wow!

I wanted to take the time to recognize another couple on Team Stealth who is treating the-life-business like a business and growing fast. Dan and Deb from Oconomowoc, WI are leading in a big way. At the November the-team.biz seminar they were recognized for hitting an incredible leadership level of turbo 25! We are so excited to have watched this couple dream, struggle, learn and grow. Please take the time to congratulate Dan and Deb when you see them at the next event!

God bless, Dan Hawkins

New levels in LIFE at the-team.biz

Dan and Deb

I have now been partnered with Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady for almost 8 years. The stories are legendary of the times Orrin and Chris get together and brain storm! Most of the core ideas that are propelling the Team to new heights were conceived in meetings just like this. Chris Brady has an amazing gift of explaining ideas and helping us understand at new levels. Here is an article from Orrin Woodward blog that explains why the LIFE business is going to make such a difference to so many. Thank you Orrin and Chris for continuing to poor your lives into the-life-business to provide a better tomorrow for us all.

God bless, Dan Hawkins

Chris Brady and I flew up to Atlanta for a 6 hour mastermind session on Tuesday. Here is one of many concepts that were generated from brainstorming together. Generating ideas with Chris Brady is like drinking water from a firehose – fast and furious! :) I love our 17 year business partnership! LIFE is something special and I have never felt as good about community building as I do today. Laurie and I started a new leg 10 days ago and it is now over 10 levels in depth! The LIFE Business is good because it helps people become good in their Circle of LIFE. Here is Brady’s article explaining what our products do in a person’s life. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward

I had a very engaging conversation with my friend and co-author Orrin Woodward today.  As usual, we kicked around a ton of stimulating ideas and pieced together something that, in our estimation, will immediately convey greater understanding as to the purpose of the LIFE business.  (See the inset diagram).

The CIRCLE of LIFE

In each of the 8 F categories of Faith, Family, Finances, Fitness, Following, Freedom, Friendship, and Fun, one can imagine a certain grade based upon how one is doing in that category. In the diagram the center represents horrible, as in, you are totally “stinking up the joint” (as my kids say) in a certain category. Working your way out from the center to the outer ring in any of the categories represents a stronger grade.  So someone with a dot near the outer ring is doing well in that category.  By connecting the dots on your subjective personal estimation of your life at this moment in each of the categories you can come up with a shape that roughly represents your life right now in each of the 8Fs.

Quite simply, the LIFE business supplies life-changing information to help you increase your score in each of the 8Fs.  The goal is to take someone from the not-so-good black shape represented toward the center of the diagram to the much improved (and happier, we would think) life represented by the red outline toward the outer ring of the circle.

Who doesn’t have at least a category or two, or three, or eight, in which he or she would like to have a better score? Who wouldn’t want to transform his or her life from the tiny blob (and who among us hasn’t felt like a tiny blob from time to time?) in the center to the big wheel (and who hasn’t wanted to be a big wheel at least once in his or her life?) toward the outer ring?

That’s it.  From little blob to big wheel.

But all kidding aside.  This CIRCLE of LIFE is the snap-shot diagram to which people can easily relate when it comes to understand the goal of LIFE and the life-changing information we offer.  We will help people learn and apply truth in each category and thereby improve their shape.

LIFE: Because leadership is for everyone!

Resolved 13 Resolutions for LIFE book cover

Orrin Woodward Leadership

It is finally here!!! Orrin Woodward’s new book is out and already impacting so many. Within my leadership community I have received numerous texts and messages on how this book is impacting their lives. Orrin is not just a leadership author, sharing principles, but he is in the world leading. This gives Orrin leadership experiences everyday to learn from and then teach. This is the most comprehensive read on intentionally improving ones life, Resolved 13 Resolutions for LIFE is leadership in action.

I wanted to share the foreword from best selling author Chris Brady. Chris has had a front row seat to watch Orrin rise to the top of leadership.

God bless, Dan Hawkins

FOREWORD

It has been said that everyone wants to change the world but few feel the need to change themselves.  Even a basic study of history, however, demonstrates that those who first focus upon self-improvement usually end up doing the most good in the world.  Why should this be so? It may stem from the fact that excellence doesn’t occur by accident, but rather from intentional effort correctly applied over time.   Subsequently the example of excellence increases the ability of the bearer to influence others and the much touted “ripple effect” takes hold, change resonating outward in ever widening circles from the genesis of a lone individual who cared to change his or her own life first.

I have had the unique position of nearly two decades observation on a real life example of the above.  At age eighteen I made the acquaintance of a young man roughly my age as we entered into an engineering co-op program together with a handful of other equally bright-eyed but naïve students.  Orrin Woodward came from humble origins, a sometimes-stressful home life, extremely tight finances, and no connections whatsoever.  With nothing but hope and ambition he worked his way through college and into an engineering position, where he not only thrived but was also quickly recognized as a dedicated worker and creative problem solver.  He soon won several accolades and promotions, including four US patents and a national benchmarking award.  Then he decided to try his hand at being an entrepreneur, and this is where our paths once again crossed.  I had known of his corporate success and seen his achievements from a distance, but when he chose to invite me into his business endeavors I at once had a front row seat for what would become a true Horatio Alger story.

Very significantly, Orrin Woodward began his business journey by immediately going to work on himself.  A voracious reader, he devoured books on people skills, sales techniques, relationship building, success, leadership, and attitude.  Over time, his self-directed education went deeper, from the surface level genres of skills to the heart level categories of principles.  His education also broadened, taking in economics, history, theology, literature, philosophy, and even art.  As he applied his aggressive learning to his entrepreneurial activities, his business (eventually) thrived.  Today, Orrin Woodward is widely recognized as a top leader in several business categories, and is a sought after expert on leadership – having recently been named one of the World’s Top 10 Leadership Gurus.  Today his success (which, in addition to professional achievements includes a healthy and productive family life, a marriage of twenty years, a worshipful faith, and a worldwide network of friends and supporters) and lifestyle are diametrically opposite of where he began.  A larger contrast between origins and accomplishment would be hard to imagine.

Success of the kind obtained by Orrin Woodward is admirable and desirable, worthy of study and emulation.  It is for this reason I have been encouraging him to endure the hardships and hard work of crafting this book.  Although we’ve collaborated on a number of other books before, and Orrin already enjoys best-seller status, this project is different.  It is his answer to the question, “How did you do it?” It is therefore extremely personal (though he doesn’t wish it to be about himself) and therefore laborious.  It is full of historical research and illuminating examples, and inasmuch required much study and fact checking.  And, quite frankly, in the depth of its content and the width of its application, it is stunning.  Anyone who reads this book will be immediately struck by the scholarship of its author.  But it is so much more than a well-researched tome; it is a roadmap.  In a world full of formulas for success and quick fixes, Resolved: 13 Resolutions for LIFE goes all the way to the core.  It reaches into the heart, stimulates the mind, and motivates the will.

In my book Rascal: Making a Difference by Becoming an Original Character, I attempted to depict the type of person who musters the courage to go against the grain, and to boldly pursue a God-given direction, regardless of who followed or fought against such a move.  If indeed that book succeeded in showing how to step out from the crowd, this book shows what to do once having done so.  Through thirteen profound resolutions, readily applicable to daily life, Orrin Woodward gives us a window into the reasons undergirding his own monumental success, and a very specific ladder of success to climb for our own. More importantly, he shows us how we can maximize our own personal potential, and yes, perhaps even change the world, by first working to become the best we can be.  In these pages it becomes clear that success is no accident, and significance is ever more the result of strenuous intentionality.  I believe the overall effect of the book on the reader will be a life transformed, and that, I surmise, would be Orrin’s greatest wish.

I was recently reviewing some old articles leadership expert Orrin Woodward had in his blog archive. I began to read the top 10 habits and realized these are the very habits I have learned from the LIFE business and strive to apply everyday. By applying the 10 habits it has literally transformed my life in all areas.

I stopped into my old place of employment a week or so ago and talked with a few of my old co-works, it was like time stood still since I left over 4 years ago. You see when you chose not to  apply the 10 laws they actually act against you, leaving you stuck in your current situation or worse going backwards everyday. Just about everyone there was still having the same struggles in life, just now at an older age. My wife Lisa and I have decided to get better everyday, make this life count and become our best. I encourage you to review the 10 habits and make them apart of who you are, your best is waiting!

God bless, Dan Hawkins

Orrin Woodward’s top 10 habits

Many people are born leaders, yet the ability to lead is actually an art and an amazing collection of skills which can be learned and sharpened. The following top ten daily habits will help you and/or your clients grow as a leader personally, professionally, and spiritually.

The Thinker picture

1. Spend 30 minutes each morning looking for “cracks” in the major
areas of your life. 

Your depth of character is key to
determining your success as a leader. It is easy for us to say that we are “in
integrity,” but your actions are the real indicators of strength of character.


Spend 30 minutes each morning looking at the major areas of your life: career, marriage, family, community, and spirituality. Write down any instances where you see “cracks” (you have cut corners, something is inconsistent, you have not kept your word, you have been dishonest, etc.) Do all in your power to repair those cracks by apologizing and dealing with the consequences of your actions. After facing up to past actions, begin a plan that will rebuild you and prevent you from making further mistakes.

2. Show up and be ten minutes early for every appointment.

Great leaders show up for every appointment, and they are always on time. Each day, practice not only showing up but being ten minutes early for each and every appointment. “The early bird gets the worm” has never been so true than when it applies to becoming a great leader that others want to follow.

3. Be dedicated to a high level of learning.

Great leaders are highly competent, because they are dedicated to a high level of learning, growth, and improvement. Spend 15-30 minutes each day devoted to learning something new. Do not settle for knowing “how” to do something. Dig deeper by asking the question “why” and then, go find the answer. Search the internet, interview an expert, or take a day trip to find the answer to a question that is on your mind or the minds of those who follow you. 

4. Be simple and crystal clear in all communication.

As a leader, your communication should be simple, clean, and clear as a bell. Examine both written and verbal communication for simplicity and clarity. Use as few words as possible, and eliminate jargon and “big words” from your vocabulary. Express yourself in a way that your listeners can understand.

5. Surround yourself with great people.

One of the secrets of a great leader is great people. Hire the right staff, surround yourself with a strong inner circle, and spend time daily with people who have a variety of gifts. With the support of a strong circle of men, women and children, you will be ready for anything that comes your way.

6. Develop a sense of commitment and responsibility. 

People do not follow leaders who are not committed and responsible. Commitment and responsibility can be measured by the hours you spend and how you spend them, the money you spend and how you spend it, and by what you do for others. Spend 15 minutes each day analyzing your time, your checkbook, and your volunteer work. Look closely at how much time you spend with family and friends as compared to work, how you spend your money, and how you give back to the community. You may be very surprised at what you find.

7. Develop a positive attitude by altering your mind.

It is very possible to alter your attitude by altering your mind. Saturate yourself daily with motivational literature, positive people, and inspiring music/art. By conditioning your mind to be more positive on a daily basis, you will find that winning will be a daily reward of your life.

8. Accept responsibility.

Great leaders never play the role of a victim. They recognize that part of being a great leader is being ultimately responsible for all successes and failures. On a daily basis, analyze your current projects, and ask yourself “Have I done all that needs to be done? What have I not done that I should?” Once you have analyzed each project, if you find a weakness, go the extra mile by working extra hours, hiring an outside expert, or getting really creative to repair the weakness or to turn it into a success!

9. Make self-discipline a part of your lifestyle.

What do you need to develop self-discipline? Following a better diet or exercise routine? Getting up one hour earlier? Being rigorous with your spending? Learning something new every day? Eliminate excuse-making from your life, and begin to develop habits that will invite self-discipline to become the foundation of your life. Hire a coach to support you during the development of a routine of self-discipline, and remove rewards until the job is done!

10. Develop courage by facing fear.

By a show of courage, you will inspire others to follow and to walk in your footsteps. Spend 15-30 minutes each day doing something simply for the sake of developing courage: speak to an audience, make a difficult phone call, learn a new skill, write an article or a top ten, or visit someone you have always wanted to meet. As Eleanor Roosevelt acknowledged: “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

Orrin Woodward – Motivation or Scam?

Is Orrin Woodward’s leadership and training motivating you to become your best?

Orrin Woodward picture

Orrin Woodward

What is your motivation?

What keeps you up at night?

What is it that will push you out of your comfort zone to become your best self?

I remember some of the early Team/LIFE meetings I would attend and hear these kind of statements or questions. My first thought was, give me something tangible, some details, tell me what to do! “Those who know how will always work for those who know why” Henry Ford. Ouch that hurt! It was interesting I was sitting in a meeting trying to learn how to get different results, but expected to hear what I already knew. Those who know and not do, really do not know! Every success book I have picked up has discussed at some point (usually the beginning) how it started with a dream and you will have too as well. This is not some scam to get your hopes up and get you to do something for someone else, my job was good at that. The promise of a bigger raise, more time off, a promotion.

The-life-business.com is real!

Orrin Woodward has gone on a mission to get Americas hopes up again, just like when this great nation was founded. Only he has also created a vehicle you can use to accomplish your dreams! Can you image the amount of courage it took to do what the founders did. This country, our freedom, was started on a hopes and a prayers of a few, and has blessed many for a couple hundred years.   Take time to find your dream, your purpose and go do the work.  Here is a great video from Launching a Leadership Revolution that will help you find your motivation.

What if a community called LIFE/Team began to dream, got peoples hopes up and reestablished this country to its roots. This is real and you can do it, dream big!         God bless, Dan Hawkins

The life business.com is making a splash and it has only been 10 days since the launch! Orrin Woodward has created a game changer in business.

I wanted to take some time to recognize some of the leaders that are making a difference in the team. Mike & Emily, Tony & Andrea and Nick & Jess all hit a significant leadership level at this last seminar, Turbo 25! This means each of these couple are leading at least 50 households to a better life.

Why is Turbo 25 significant?

There is a saying, you can lead a horse to water but you can not make him drink! The LIFE/Team is the same thing, you can sign someone up to learn, but they have to do the work. When you build a Turbo 25 group that means you are inspiring those people to take action. They have not only signed up for LIFE but are doing the necessary steps to change and help others do the same. When you can influence people to get into a seminar that will help them change and grow you are leading and making a difference!

Congratulations to all of the couples in this photo for going out and leading, your future is bright!

Orrin Woddward and new Turbo 25s picture

Orrin Woodward with new Turbo 25s

God bless,

Dan Hawkins