“EdgeUtainment” E-message
February 2008
To The World You Might Be One Person… But To One Person…You Might Be The World!
I’ve been asked many times, why I became a social worker and what it was like to be a social worker. How did I go from being a social worker to being an entrepreneur and a successful, home-based business owner? Well, ever since I can remember, I’ve enjoyed taking an interest in other people. I never could understand why people are so judgmental or even prejudiced against one another. I’ve always had a hard time understanding something like slavery or the holocaust…how people can be persecuted because of the color of their skin, religious beliefs, race, financial status, education or popularity. I’ve always just used common sense. If someone had goodness about them and they were doing the right thing, then why not be their friend? Being a social worker was easy for me even though it was a very difficult position. I’m very thankful that ! my parents and siblings were supportive of me as well as taking a sincere interest in me, nurturing me, disciplining me and, most importantly, loving me. Everyone deserves the chance for that. Although not everyone will accept love and many people will actually reject it, everyone at least deserves the chance.
That’s the way I built my business and that’s what the Gregg Amerman system is all about… giving everyone a chance to feel loved, honored, respected and accepted. When I was a social worker, I never worried about the money. I just wanted all those children and dysfunctional parents not to feel alone, to know that they are important and, that even though sometimes it seems like no one cares, someone somewhere does. I loved talking, sometime for hours, with the children and listening with compassion about how they felt and what they wanted and doing everything I could to give it to them. Sometimes, it was just a game of basketball or a walk in the park or just a hug. Today it’s the same thing. I know everyone thinks I’m so busy, too busy sometimes for them, but most people don’t realize that the busiest part of my life is helping some! one get through the issues in his/her life that are holding them back. Many times I talk to people for only minutes, but sometimes for hours, all with the purpose of improving someone’s life, sharing a different perspective and, most importantly, being a friend.
When I was a social worker, I worked with people to help them resolve issues for their best interest. In this business, it’s the same thing; work with people for them and their best interests. If someone in your business has an issue, listen and be a friend. That doesn’t mean you feel sorry for them or give them sympathy or that we focus on the problem. It means be a friend, help find a solution and be supportive. Sometimes that may require tough love, which simply means direct confrontation and sincere and genuine truthfulness. People cannot grow or improve their lives if we carry around ill feelings or, worse, we share our conflicts and dissatisfaction with everyone else except the person who needs to hear it. If you care about people, you must be willing to confront them…but do so with tact, and always leave that person feeling better about himself/herself than before you talked to them.
Sometimes, when we are building our business, we get so focused and caught up on achieving our own personal success, we lose sight of understanding that each person has a different dream than we have. Some people may be at a place in their life where they just need an environment to heal and be rejuvenated. In addition to everything else our seminars and workshops provide, as a school, if you will, and as a training facility to achieve greatness, the most important thing we pride ourselves in providing is being a support system for everyone regardless of what someone’s dream is. My dream was to create an organization that would help to enable others to make their dreams come true.
Sometimes people will become frustrated with their team members because they are not working the business the way they would. I’ll never forget the time I was approached by a member of my organization who was complaining about the lack of production of one of their team members and how that individual didn’t come around and do as much as they would have liked. I said, “Instead of focusing on what they aren’t doing, why not focus on what they are doing?”. Just like the Farmer on The Big Show DVD program explains, instead of whipping your existing cows to produce more milk…if you want more milk, get more cows. If not, the cows you have will leave. Within days of talking with the complaining distributor, I then personally talked with the individual they were complaining about who said, “I may not be the best financial producer, but my involvement with this system, these trainings and this organization ultimately gives me the strength and courage to continue to go for it and makes me feel great about who I am as a person”. This person went on to say how much he appreciated the respect he received for being allowed to do what he wanted to do and who he wanted to be and, even though you push me to be more and succeed at a higher level, you never make me feel like you don’t appreciate and respect me. And because of that feeling, I will always be a part of your team. I said, “I am very proud to know a fellow dreamer working toward turning your dream into reality and, if I can do anything to help you achieve your dreams, let me know”. As our conversation ended, this individual paused and with heartfelt emotion said, “Gregg, I love you”. As I walked away, I had a warm feeling, a feeling one can only get when you’ve helped to improve someone’s life.
What does all this mean? Does this mean I shouldn’t be aggressive? Does this mean I shouldn’t be money-motivated and want a big house, fancy cars and a first-class lifestyle? Does this mean I shouldn’t want to be the best and compete at the highest level? NO! That’s not what it means. I am very aggressive and very determined. Over the years, I’ve lived in multiple big homes with all the bells and whistles, owned some of the finest cars and have continuously lived a first-class lifestyle and, most of all, I’ve always competed to win! What I am referring to is…just never obtain these things at the expense of other people. Even if someone never does any sales or any recruiting, we should still show that person that they have value and make them feel like a million bucks. That doesn’t mean we! do the sales or recruiting for them or give them things because we should always work where we’re deserved, not where we’re needed. It simply means do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. What a concept…helping and supporting another human being.
In the chase for our own success, many times we don’t realize that someone, at any given moment, could use a pat on the back, a hug, or just a minute of our time. That’s what life is all about. So many people want financial wealth and don’t even grasp that true wealth and riches come from positively impacting the lives of others. And by doing so, believe it or not, that’s what produces incredible financial benefits as well. So be a coach, be a mentor, be a guide, be a friend, but mostly…just be there. Because To The World You Might Be One Person…But To One Person…You Might Be The World!
Live with Zero Doubt!
Gregg Amerman