Debbie Ruston - Success Educator & Home Business Mentor

2011-04-20T13:07:00.001-04:00

Women's Income STILL Less Than Mens, Despite Their Strong Qualifications

2011-04-20T12:02:00.008-04:00

I just read an article that addressed the issue of womens income being less than their male co-workers for doing the same work. The article also stated that in order for women to succeed in the corporate world, they require a group of "promoters" to push for their rights to a position. Basically, a group of people in their corporate structure that will go to bat for them and speak on their behalf for promotions, wage increases, etc.

If a women has the skills required to do the same job a man can do, why would they not speak up and take a stand for what they want and deserve? We are not referring to male dominated work that requires physical strength....this article was referring to corporate leadership positions.

Here is a direct quote from the article "Women who are qualified to lead simply don't have the powerful backing necessary to inspire, propel and protect them from the perilous straights of upper management." Sounds like "the old boys club" to me! This is 2011!!!! "Qualified to lead" however, what they require is "protection from the perilous straights of upper management". We ARE talking about educated women with leadership qualities right?

I find it hard to believe in this day and age, that women are not taking a stand for what they are capable of and what they deserve, and still playing the "game" of the corporate world. It is time to educate women that they do not have to wait for the corporate world to promote them or pay what they are worth...and you do not have to sacrifice your personal life to have a career.

LEADERSHIP starts with leading yourself first. When you take a strong stand in your own life and career and clearly demonstrate leadership by your own actions, you do not fall victim to this type of ridiculous corporate outdated way of doing business.

Our prior generations of women took a stand for women to have the right to vote. That took courage and leadership. Any woman that calls herself a leader, must take this same type of stand for what they deserve in the work world. If the male dominated upper corporate world does not recognize the value women with these qualifications bring to the table, the qualified women must learn to either fight for it, or take her skills elsewhere and build her own dream. Do we want to see this pattern repeat into our children's generation? Then we must take a stand as leaders to create positive change.

I have been self employed for 25 yrs, spent every day with our children as they grew up and built two very successful businesses. Women can take the skills/passions/knowledge they have and put them to work building their own business, giving them complete flexibility around raising a family.....which although it is not stated, is most likely the reason that men are still outdoing women particularly in the child bearing years - a form of discrimination! I for one take a stand for women and what we are capable of and fortunately in my industry, women are the ones that are excelling over the men in our business.....we are the ones that are providing the mentorship, the training and the inspiration to teach men how to create success...what a refreshing change!

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
http://www.TheSuccessEducator.com

Prepare To Be INSPIRED!

2011-04-13T16:37:00.002-04:00

WOW....want to be inspired? SUCCESS comes in many forms! This is an AMAZING clip from Roger Ebert...

Roger is a beautiful example of continuing to live life in joy, happiness, positivity, hope, and uses his humor to connect with people. He has pushed through adversity and found a way to be heard, despite his obstacle. He finds opportunity ...in the challenge, and does so with that beautiful smile in his eyes! Just look at the radiant joy on his face, what a gift he is giving the world! THANK YOU Roger Ebert, for inspiring us and continuing to push yourself to find your new potential! You are a wonderful demonstration of continued success, despite challenge and adversity!

Roger Ebert: Remaking my voice | Video on TED.com

www.ted.com

2011-04-07T11:05:00.001-04:00

Do the people in your life/work etc. reach out to this extent to help you be more successful? Surrounding yourself with people that will extend their hand to teach you and mentor you to live into your potential is a basic success strategy. If you want better results, be sure that you are surrounding yourself with the right mentorship.... http://amplify.com/u/by7lg

2011-04-04T14:55:00.001-04:00

Anyone can create more success, by observing successful people and implementing what works for them.

Richard Branson is a great example of massive success. He has developed more BILLION dollar companies than anyone else.

Recently I had my first experience with the Virgin brand. I bought a new BB and had always bought through the established carriers over the years and there has never been any difference. But there definitely is a totally different customer experience with Virgin mobile. They call it the "virgin experience" and I am totally impressed! Authenticity, honesty, FUN, sense of humor, being different, not following the "herd" mentality, making their own rules, being different, giving more value. This is not the typical corporate mindset. However, they know what they stand for, and they make the customer experience something positive that feels great!

What experience are your customers having? Follow the clues.....DARE to be different! http://amplify.com/u/bxmsh

Success Comes From Continued Learning

2011-03-02T20:30:00.003-05:00

I had a conversation recently with a young man that is excelling in his field at a very young age. Why is he excelling when other young men his age are still searching for their direction in life? It became very apparent that it is not a result of college or university degrees, which one might expect is the only way to create success. He dropped out of college because it just didn't interest him. It is absolutely a result of this young man's desire and commitment to continued self improvement.

He continues to study successful people. He reads books, listens to audio's, attends ongoing teleseminars and conferences. He asks questions from people having more success in his industry and learns from their experience. He constantly quotes messages from the top of his head from authors, and speakers he has heard. The accuracy he has in remembering the exact quote and who he heard it from is remarkable. He puts into practice the concepts he has learned.

In a world where many are complaining about young people "not being able to get jobs", I witnessed a young, 22 yr old man, taking full control of his future. Not because he has a degree. 100% of his success is a result of him taking responsibility for his own life, and studying successful people, then taking the action, doing what it takes, and applying the success principles to his own life. A wonderful example of possibility, desire, and taking responsibility for his own continued education.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston

The Success Educator

For Free Success E Course + Social Media Training:

http://www.TheSuccessEducator.com

SUCCESS REQUIRES COMMITMENT

2011-01-17T13:08:00.006-05:00

Like this drop of water creating a ripple effect, learning a success principle in one area of our lives, will ripple the success effect into every area of our lives.

I just got back from the gym...interesting..... mid Jan, -17 degrees celcius, and there are 1/3 the people in my yoga class as there were the first week of Jan.....is it too cold...is it too hard...success comes in every area of life by committing to what we "say" we want - NO excuses.......

We see this every Jan. The first week, the gym is packed. The second week it is still packed but starting to thin out. By this point, the 3rd week, we are pretty much back to the committed individuals that are there every day of the year. This doesn't just happen at the gym. It is a common occurance in society in regard to setting goals.

How does one overcome this failure rate and achieve the goal? It starts with being passionate about the goal you set, and committing to it, no matter what. NO EXCUSES! It doesn't matter if it is achieving a fitness, or weight loss goal, or, if it is more business/career related. It works the same way. There will be challenges along the way. You may not feel like taking the action. It would be easier to do something else instead. There is an endless list of excuses. Commitment to yourself and your goal is the basis to achievement of the goal. When you are committed, nothing gets in the way. You become self motivated, empowered, and solution oriented.

Often people think that success is difficult, or competitive. It is actually the opposite. There is so much less competition at the top because so many people never see their commitment through. Like the gym - it is crowded the first week of Jan. but as people lose their commitment to themselves, there is lots of room for those of us that are committed.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

Is PASSION Important To Success In Business?

2010-11-24T15:01:00.006-05:00

Observe the most successful business people you know.....a common characteristic you will find is that successful people are passionate about what they do.

Without passion for what you are doing, you might as well stay in a job you don't like. Business ownership gives us a new freedom. Freedom to choose what we want to do, where we want to do it, and work with the people we want to work with. It gives us an opportunity to raise the bar in our income level and build our own dream, rather than an employers. This is all fantastic, but, if you are not passionate about what you are choosing to do, it will be a struggle.

I observe success. I observe what other business owners do to create success. This is a basic success principle...."learn what individuals do that are getting the results you want, and do what they do". This is where a lot of people steer wrong.

Attract passionate customers by doing something YOU are passionate about! Here are a couple of examples:

1) I recently had a conversation with two women that each had a makeup business. Neither had success with that business. They both shared with me that they didn't wear makeup, and could not get excited about their products. That makes perfect sense. Why would someone be excited about selling makeup if they didn't even wear it themselves? Now take the other side of the coin....another person selling makeup is so excited about a new revolutionary "lipstick" she offers....she has personally worn the lipstick and found it to stay on for the entire day during which time she has eaten, gone to the gym, and done all her regular tasks throughout the day. She looks in the mirror at the end of the day, and it looks as if she just applied it! She is so excited and can't wait to share this with her customers. This person will do extremely well...she is excited about her product, has a personal, positive experience with it and can authentically relate that passion to her clients.

2) Another person I observed was at my gym - the individual was in a sales position selling gym memberships. This person was very overweight. My first thought was, how are they going to sell memberships to the gym if they are overweight themselves? I decided to observe this person, knowing that if they took their role seriously, and started working out themselves and could share their own success story with people, that this could lead to incredible success that a naturally trim person may not be able to achieve. If they committed to this personally, this could actually give them the "edge". As I observed this person over a couple of months, I noticed that they never took a fitness class or used any of the workout machines (I am there everyday, so was able to notice this) There was zero change in weight, and from my observation, absolutely no effort to improve. This person no longer works there.

3) Another person I observed bought an existing business. This was a business that they were a loyal customer of prior to purchasing it. They loved the product, told other people, and when faced with a layoff at their job, decided to do something they already liked, saw a need for and could stand behind, because they were one of the top customers who experienced the value of the products. Six months later, business has increased dramatically, they are happier and more fulfilled than ever, and this has affected other parts of life as well....this individual has lost 20 lbs through having the time to walk every day. A great success story!

4) Musicians are a great example of passion. Make it a point to watch a live musician.....watch how their whole body gets into the grove of the song...they close their eyes, sing from the heart, sway to the music and just give it everything they've got. Musicians are such a great example of passion! They follow their dream and do what they love! We can learn from musician's passion, and implement this same principle into business ownership.

Many times people struggle in business because they are doing something they don't like, don't believe in, or, have no background or interest in. It seems logical, but many miss this point:

MAKE A LIST OF EVERYTHING YOU LOVE AND FIND A BUSINESS CONCEPT THAT MATCHES YOUR PASSION!

When you DO what you love, the money follows. Unfortunately, many people work a job or start a business just for the money. They have no passion or belief in what they are doing. This is exactly why the person at the gym and the people selling makeup did not get the result they wanted. The other person that bought the business that they were already a top customer of, naturally created success and is continuing to build that business to an even greater level. I know this individual personally and know that this was a huge step outside of the comfort zone to invest in a business, and they knew nothing about business ownership. This person has succeeded because of pure passion....and a willingness to step outside of what they had always done and were willing to learn and make decisions to reach their goal.

Success always leaves clues - if, you observe and follow them......

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

Does Personal Responsibility Relate To Success?

2010-11-16T21:11:00.002-05:00

Are we responsible for everything in our lives? Does this lead to success? The answer is yes. People that live a life of high integrity that are at cause in their lives, take full responsibility for everything....

There was recently a court case in which employees of a fast food restaurant were suing the company because of gaining weight eating the food from the restaurant. I could hardly believe what I was hearing! To think anyone with a brain in our legal system would actually process a case like this seems absolutely laughable. Tax payers well earned dollars are tieing up a courtroom to process a case of people putting food in their mouth that is not healthy for them. Most restaurants offer their employees discounted or free meals during their shift as part of perk of working there. It is always the choice of the individual whether or not to eat that food, or bring a lunch. The individuals in the fast food case have not been force fed, they have chosen to eat this food, even though it is not rocket science to know that this food is not healthy for you. They are choosing to do it anyway and are now blaming the company for their own poor decisions. This is an extreme case of lack of personal responsibility.

What does this have to do with success? Everything. It is the mindset that is important to understand. If an individual is thinking from this type of mindset....believing that the restaurant's food caused them to gain weight and feel justified in creating a court case out of this issue, it is an indication this individual does not take responsibility for their actions. They believe they are victims, at the effect of everything around them. The "poor me" attitude. They believe that everything goes wrong in their lives and the only control they have is to blame others. It is in fact their own poor decisions and lack of responsibility that has caused their result.

When one has this type of mindset, it will not just affect one area of life. The way we think affects every area of life. Poor results in this area of health and weight, have most likely translated into financial, relationships, everything in this person's life.

When one learns to take control in their lives, accepting personal responsibility for their actions and their results and stops believing they are the victim in every aspect of their lives, a shift will start to happen, and the same person can start creating the type of results they really want to be experiencing. Accepting personal responsiblity is a choice, and when one makes this choice it will lead to higher levels of success in every area of life....

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

COMMITMENT Leads to SUCCESS

2010-11-03T12:05:00.007-04:00

Ask any successful person from any walk of life about the importance of commitment. You will find that anyone that has had or is having success in any area of life is totally committed to do what it takes. Does this mean that individual doesn't have life's challenges that get in the way? Not at all...they have learned to work around the challenges.

Let's break down what this looks like. Here are a couple of scenarios that could come up....

First example - I have decided to do specific things to get the result in my business I am looking for. It could be doing some marketing for my business, or it could be finishing a project for an existing client. Some sort of challenge arises. It could be a number of things. Maybe the phone lines are down so I can't make the calls or the internet is down and I can't do the computer work required until technology co-operates again. There are any number of possible challenges that can/do arise in life and in business. What to do?

-reschedule your day to fit in what you missed doing - if the phone lines/internet are down and you require this to get the job done...go on to something else on your "to do" list and come back to this later in the day. If someone else is affected by this change, be sure to let them know the change in plans. The secret is - do not let the task go undone....simply find a way to get it done either later in the day or reschedule to the following day. Be committed to getting the task done.

Let's say I commit to being somewhere for a business appointment at a specific time. It requires a 1 hr drive to reach the destination. I leave an extra 20 minutes early to be there on time, but despite best efforts, there is a traffic jam that leaves me stuck in traffic. What does the successful individual do? There are a couple of options that can be determined through a simple phone call. I would call the person I have the appointment with and go over the options. One option would be to change the time for later that day. The other option would be to reschedule a suitable time, or perhaps even a different location would be a solution to get around the traffic jam. By having the professionalism to contact the person, one is able to show the commitment level, and,find a suitable solution.

There is a very definite distinction in the area of commitment between successful individuals and unsuccessful. Unsuccessful people tend to buy their excuses - I got stuck in traffic, the phone lines/internet were down, I was going to, but...., I planned on it, but..... These people basically buy their own excuses and wonder why their life never changes or gets better. They are a victim of circumstance and can't see past their own challenges. And "co-incidentally" challenges keep coming up for this individual and they believe that the "odds" are against them. In many cases, these individuals believe the "timing" is just not right for them....

We can learn so much from other people that have success - this applies to everyday life situations as well as business. For example, I have a friend that invited some friends for dinner a couple of weeks ago. Another event came up that she wanted to be a part of on the same date. It would have been easy to cancel the dinner date with friends, but, she shared with me that if we don't keep commitments like this, sometimes they never happen and then we regret it. She is a beautiful example of keeping personal commitments and is a total inspiration to everyone that knows her. She has tons of people that love and admire her and treasure her friendship.....total success in terms of friendship.

Successful people have all the same challenges, as unsuccessful people. The difference is we are solution oriented. We find a way where there seems to be no way. We look at challenges as a Y in the road, not a stop sign. We realize that there is a solution around the challenge, we just have to explore the options and find the way that will be best. It isn't difficult. It is being willing to look at possible solutions, instead of looking at every challenge as a stop sign.

There is huge benefit to the individual that understands and lives their life by keeping commitments. It also builds self esteem, confidence and leads to greater success in every area of life!

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

Does The Economy Determine Your Success?

2010-10-28T10:17:00.004-04:00

Attitude more than anything will determine success in business. Not the government, not statistics, not the economy. Individuals who buy into these factors will always struggle, believing they have no control in their results.

The innovative entrepreneur will always find a way to succeed, knowing that success does not depend on anyone but themselves and their willingness to think outside of the box and stop letting some outside force control their results. This is the type of individual that creates success, no matter what the "economy" is doing.....

I just read an article that states statistics, what the experts are saying, etc about the current state of economy. However, within 15 seconds of reading this article I started thinking about how valid this is in "my world". I thought immediately about 6 business people I personally know within a 1 hour radius of me. Let's take a look at these individual businesses:

1-I had a conversation just 2 wks ago with this person. The individual works for a busy professional. Her words in the conversation were "there is no bad economy in my world - the person I work for is so busy, we can't find a minute more in the day to squeeze in another appointment" Therefore, this employer and all their employees are experiencing abundance!

2-This person has a farm. They purchased some additional inventory to create an additional stream of income a couple of years ago that is seperate from what they are doing in their main business. This has been so successful they literally can't keep up, and this new source of inventory has become even more successful than their initial main stream.

3-This individual was downsized from a factory a few years ago. Instead of complaining about their raw deal, they re-educated on an entirely new skill which was totally unrelated to what they had done for 20 years. They started a new business in what appeared to be a very competitive local market. They provide a service within that business that non of the other businesses are offering. Result - they can't keep up and are doing double the business that most of the other related businesses are doing.

4-This individual was also downsized from a factory in the past year. Again, instead of complaining they took their payout from the layoff and bought a business.....the key to this person's success is that the business is something that they were already passionate about, and were a customer of prior. I have never seen this person happier, healthier or more vibrant! They are busier than they ever were working their job, are actually working physically harder, but absolutely loving it and have increased the business substantially over the last business owner. And, they now have time to walk their dog everyday!

5-These business owners are having tremendous success in their company, despite the fact that they are in an industry that has had tremendous adversity due to challenges with their product line. When many other business owners in other cities are experiencing downsizing due to the challenge with the product line, these business owners are growing, hiring and prospering with the exact same challenges! They are innovative, they provide excellent customer service and they treat their employees with massive respect and support.

6-This business owner has an existing business that has been around for a couple of generations. It would be easy to be complacent and just keep doing things the way they have always been done over the years, especially in this "economy". Instead they decided to knock down some walls, do some renovations, and expand their product line. They have created a new way for people to do business with them, and are not limiting themselves to what has worked in the past.

What do all of these success stories have in common?

-They don't get sidetracked by statistics of the so called "experts"
-They are passionate about what they are doing
-They think outside of the box - offering something that others are not
-Instead of playing it safe because of the fear that is being instilled by the media, they are stepping out and playing big, taking risks and creating opportunity for themselves
-They are willing to do something they haven't done before to get a result they haven't experienced before
-They are willing to let go of the past comfort zones to create new possibilities
-They don't let adversity stop them, they find ways around challenges

These are the qualities of success! We truly create our own realities. We will either buy into the government, the economy or the statistics, and believe these factors determine our success, OR, we will make a choice to go out and create our own success our own way. That is what successful entrepreneurs do.....we find a way when there is no way. THIS is the future of our economy.....entrepreneurs, small business owners that are willing to do what it takes to turn the economy around. When we as individuals are willing to do this for ourselves, we are creating opportunity for others as well. When enough people start doing this, a shift starts to happen, and it becomes evident that we do have control and we do not need to rely on the government, corporations, experts or statistics.

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

Success Conversations

2010-10-12T20:09:00.004-04:00

Start having conversations with people that are getting the results you want, and reduce the conversations with the people that are not......success conversations breed success!

This success principle applies to every area of life. If you are raising children and want advice on a parenting issue - go to other parents you know that have raised great kids or that you have respect for because they have been through a similar situation and handled it well.

If you want to improve your relationship with your spouse, look to have conversations with people that you know that have great marriages....not to those that complain about their partners.

The same success principle applies to business - the people that are having the success you want. Often in life, we get caught up in conversations with people that are full of complaining, struggle and complacency. We have these with the people closest to us, without realizing that we actually have a choice. We choose the conversations we have by our participation in the conversation.

If the results in any area of life are not what you want, take a good look at who you are having conversations with, and what those conversations are about. It is a good eye opener. Start making the choice to have conversations with the people actually getting the type of results in that particular area that you want to have and you will dramatically change the type of result you have and create the success you are looking for.

In your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

What's Holding YOU Back From Success?

2010-10-03T14:36:00.002-04:00

Setting goals is a critical part of achieving success in any area of life. Those that achieve success, will always refer back to the goals they set, the visualization, action steps and consistent perseverance it took to reach the goal.

However, there are those individuals that just can't seem to hit the target. They seem to set goals, but never seem to be able to see them through to fruition. What is the difference?

Much of what stops people from reaching their goals is the thought patterns and word tracks they have learned along the way that literally is like self sabotage. Let's look at some examples:

-Nice guys finish last
-Money doesn't grow on trees
-Be happy with what you've got
-If it sounds too good to be true it probably is

Many individuals don't even realize that these word tracks are directing every move they make and are exactly what is stopping them from achieving any level of success. What words or phrases are stopping you from creating the life you want to be living? How many more can you list that you have playing over in your mind?

This is what happens in the pursuit of the goal with negative self affirmations like this playing over in the mind:

-Let's say an individual sets a goal to start a business and take control of their life so they can stop relying on a corporation, putting in long hours and missing valuable time with family.

This individual is a nice family person that has been taught that the only way to make a living is to work hard, sacrifice and play it safe.

-They come across a business that will allow them to have more free time, be with their family more, work from home, set their own schedule and create more income than they could ever make with their current job.

The old "word tracks" they have been hearing their entire lives start to replay in their mind....
-it sounds too easy - I remember my parents warning me - be careful, if things sound too good to be true it probably is!
-I am not a "greedy" person, I should be happy I have a job
-I'm not sure I'm cut out to be a business owner, afterall, I am just a nice family man/woman, I just want to spend more time with my kids, and I am not aggressive -everyone I know hates their boss....I just want to be liked
-I know that money doesn't grow on trees, and it takes money to start a business, which I don't have

There are literally dozens and dozens of these type of word tracks that people buy into, that literally direct them to fail before they even start in many cases.

In the example above, we have an individual that says they want to be self employed for all the reasons they list, but before they even give themselves the chance to prove to themselves how capable they are of achieving this, they allow old word tracks to replay in their brain before they even get out of the gate. They fail before they even start! All because they have bought into limiting "word tracks/phrases", and unfortunately, don't even know this is why they are struggling.

Examine the word phrases that play in your mind and ask yourself how those limiting beliefs are holding you back....put in the time and effort to identify what words are coming up for you and then replace the words with empowering words that will assist you to reach the goals you have. Success starts in the mind first, and then manifests in the physical reality. If you say you want success, and then allow these type of words tracks to play in your mind, you are self sabotaging and destroying any possibility of belief that you have.....and you must have belief to achieve your goals.

Simple stated, we get what we think about....and we cannot have success if we are affirming all the reasons why we can't be successful.

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

Do Words Have an Effect on Our Success?

2010-08-09T16:34:00.007-04:00

Words are very powerful and bring either a positive or negative effect to ones mindset. But, many don't realize just how much of an impact simple daily activities have on our minds.....and how these words can either lead us to success or steer us away.

I thought I would check the weather online just a moment ago, since I have an outdoor party to attend tomorrow. All I wanted to know was "is it going to be sunny or rainy", so that I could plan accordingly. When I visited the weather website, these were the headlines:

Portgual BATTLES wildfire
DEADLY flooding STRIKES Europe
Rain FINALLY arrives in B.C.
Hail HAMMERS Saskatchewan
THICK smog BLANKETS Russia

An instant reminder of why I have chosen to have a permanent media fast in my life! No newspapers or daily news. A simple exercise of wanting to know if it is going to rain tomorrow or not, and all these negative messages were flashed in front of my eyes. And this wasn't even from reading the paper, or listening to the news, which bombards people daily with negative conditioning. It is sad that not even the weather is free from all this negativity and complaining! It is either too hot, or too cold, or too dry or too wet....everything is magnified to be worse than it is. This carries on to conversations that people have in society about the weather....people complaining about how hot it is - and these are often the same individuals that complain about the cold in the winter.

With so much depression and anxiety in people's lives nowadays, is it any wonder, when we are bombarded with negativity and complaining from every possible news feed! Society is so conditioned to buy into what the media feeds and most don't realize we can make a conscious choice to actually turn off these feeds.

If there is this much negativity being fed through the weather reports - maybe it is time to ask oneself how much of this daily negative garbage through the media am I prepared to accept into my life and how does it affect my mood, my thoughts, my actions and my results. I challenge anyone reading this post, pick up your newspaper or turn on your local news channel....count the times that ANYTHING positive is reported, and after you have finished really access, for yourself, how you "feel" inside. Do you feel happy, excited, inspired or like anything is possible? Or do you find yourself feeling grumpy, irritated, depressed, unhappy, uninspired, and low on hope.

We absolutely have a choice what we allow our brains to focus on......if your success/results are not where you want in your life....ask yourself how much time you put yourself in front of these type of negative feeds and how much you get in discussion with people around you about the information. It has been scientifically proven that our brains cannot think two thoughts at the same time....so, are your thoughts are leading you to the success you want or leading you away?

In your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-1917 or
1-519-342-4050

Business Lesson From Einstein

2010-07-23T10:29:00.006-04:00

Albert Einstein is one of the most successful individuals in history. One of the easiest ways to duplicate success in our own lives, is to study successful people and determine the key ingredients to their success and then simply duplicate these strategies in our own lives.

Einstein is a great example of success and has many success principles we can learn from to duplicate success in life.

One of my favorite principles is "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

Here is a basic example - Years ago I worked with a company that started to experience transition in business. Bottom line was the company needed to change with the need in the marketplace. They did not do that. They continued to resist change. The first 13 years I was with the company, I experienced a lot of success....the last 5 (during this time) my income dropped to 1/3 of what I had been accustomed to. I thought that if I just worked more hours and worked harder that I could compensate for it. So for 5 years I doubled the effort and time that I was putting in. Nothing changed. The reason nothing changed is that we were all doing the same things over and over again, and expecting different results. It wasn't about putting more time in and working harder. This is a pre-conditioned belief that has been ingrained in us growing up. What needed to happen was the company needed to address what wasn't working and be willing to make the changes necessary to facilitate the new marketplace. Because they were not willing to change, and kept doing everything the same as they had for the previous 20 years, 2 years after I left, the company went bankrupt.

After I left, and was able to look at that company through a different perspective, without the emotion tied to it. I was able to identify that we had indeed been living in insanity, doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. Change is necessary for growth in every aspect of life, both business and personal. If you are experiencing this type of insanity, take a look at what you have been doing over and over, and ask yourself - what needs to change in order for me to move forward towards the goals I have. This is where you must get authentic with yourself and be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and be willing to take on a new way of thinking and a new way of doing. Don't be afraid of change, in life and in business, this is indeed where growth happens and will lead to your success!

In your service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

What Stops People From Becoming Entrepreneurs?

2010-06-25T09:13:00.007-04:00

As an entrepreneur, I am always observing people and thinking about how they could put their own talents to work for themselves. It puzzles me to see so many talented people giving their time to employers that could care less about them.

I have observed many people from all different fields, posting their resumes on job boards, attempting to sell themselves and their incredible talents to an employer.....

Look at some of the phrases I have observed:

-"Given my strengths in managing day-to-day operations...."

-"Highly-skilled Senior-Level Customer Service and Relationship Manager with a wealth of experience in...."

-"Seeking a suitable position that utilizes my years of industry experience and skills, to exceed company goals...."

-"Strong leader in discovering, developing, negotiating, and managing regions, teams, and enterprise accounts...."

-"If you are looking for a leader that is an ambitious self-starter, give me a call and let's discuss how we can grow your organization...."

-Sales people explaining how they have increased sales and profits for previous employers.

-Customer service people explaining the value they bring to the table and how effective they are in resolving customer service issues

-Offers to exceed company goals and grow your organization.

-Successful managers & people with incredible leadership skills.

WHY then, are these individuals not developing their own businesses? They clearly have the skills for success. I also take the opportunity to talk to these type of individuals and ask them if they have thought of putting their skills towards starting their own business. It is absolutely shocking how few have considered, or would consider this option. Society is so conditioned that the only way to earn a living is to work for an employer. This is what is taught by educators, family, friends, the media - "get a good job".

This thinking is based on fear, limiting beliefs and past conditioning. Society is so conditioned to buy into "security", and believe they can't survive financially without a steady paycheck. When I look at these statements that employee's are making to sell themselves to an employer, it reminds me how important it is to realize the value we all have. We are all capable of utilizing our skills to build our own businesses....clearly these individuals that posted the statements above are talented, creative and valuable. Unfortunately throughout their lives they have been brainwashed to believe that the only way they can put these skills to work is to sell their lives to an employer for an hourly wage, and sacrifice their freedom of time.

I challenge everyone reading this post to really search within....make a list of all the things you are good at, have knowledge or expertise in, the things you love and are passionate about. Take the time to make this list in detail. Now, look over that list, realize how talented YOU are and ask yourself, why I am I being told what time to go to work, when to take my holidays, what clothes I must wear to work, whether I can stay home with my children if they are sick...why am I settling for the pay level I am at, waiting for a promotion, or stuck at a dead-end job with no room for growth. I would bet it is because someone, somewhere, told you this is how it is supposed to be, and of course most people around you are stuck in the same thinking, and when you are surrounded by people that think that same way, then you believe it must be true.

If you are willing to step out of your conditioned thinking, your comfort zone, and entertain a new way of thinking, you will learn that there are other options available to you, if you have an open mind. There is something that you can do for yourself with the interests/skills/training/knowledge you have acquired. Stop selling yourself short....realize there is an entrepreneurial idea within you that you are fully capable of being successful with! If you don't know where to start....if you have the desire, but just need a solid business model you can follow, contact me directly...I assist individuals in setting up their own "business in a box". Either way, I wish you the best in unleashing the entrepreneur that is within you, just waiting to come out!

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050
http://www.BeHome2.ca

Tremendous VALUE Baby Boomers Bring To The Business World

2010-06-13T12:02:00.008-04:00

I just read an excellent article in Forbes Magazine about middle age and the brain. It is being discovered and proven scientifically, that as baby boomers, we are definitely getting smarter. This generation is more experienced than ever and there is actually something to be said about "older and wiser".

Why is this important? There are more individuals in this age range than any time in history. People are living longer and there is a huge amount of people in this particular age group due to the baby boomer generation. This also represents a bigger population of individuals that are still in the work world and have often been written off as "too old for the job".

Most people have been conditioned to believe that mid life means we have "mid-life crisis" and "empty nest syndrome", "lose our memory", "can't see close up without reading glasses", etc, and other derogatory terms that cast a negative attitude towards aging. Although our close up vision is more challenging, it isn't something that stops us-we just pick up a pair of reading glasses!!!! During this age, we are more knowledgeable, more experienced, more committed, more responsible, have more credibility, contacts and resources than we ever had in our younger years.

This month I am celebrating my 51st birthday. The photo above is on my 50th birthday...... when I was growing up, 50 was thought to be old! That is still believed by many, and some of the people that believe it, are people in this age category. Unfortunately many "buy into" the conditioning they have been fed....they are their own worst enemy - they are often the people that wonder why no one will hire them "at their age" after being downsized. I feel the best I have ever felt in my life. I have more energy, I am more experienced, I am stronger, fitter, healthier and happier than I have ever been. My mind is clearer, sharper and more focused than it has ever been. I have a wealth of ideas swirling through my brain, non stop. I see so much potential, and possibility, when other's see doom and gloom. Of course there are individuals that will tell you the opposite. They have "accepted" the negative brainwashing that has been cast throughout the years, and "bought into" what other's have "taught them" about what it is supposed to be like at this stage of life, and they "live into" that conditioned belief.

At any age of life, we have a choice. We have a choice to buy into what the masses are programmed to believe by society, the media, the educational system, the corporate world, etc. , and, there are many individuals that "buy into" this conditioned thinking that limit's our potential.

At any age, we can believe we are limited, or we can look to people that are achieving what we want to achieve and simply follow their actions to duplicate the results in our own lives. Want to be a fit baby boomer - find a fit baby boomer - learn what they do (eating habits, fitness routine, etc) and start doing what they do. Want to be successful financially - find a financially successful baby boomer and learn what they do - (are they self employed, what kind of work do they do, what kind of investments do they make, what kind of people do they associate with) - start doing what they do. Have you been downsized - STOP playing the victim! Use your past experience and go out and create your own business - use the incredible experience you have gained....tap into your passions and find something you can do for yourself!

I have a close friend that loves photography. She has some brilliant ideas and takes beautiful pictures. All her life she has been working a job. Now, in her 50's, she is taking more pictures, following her passion and just loving her hobby, and is starting to gain exposure and recognition for her work. This is how successful businesses often get off the ground. People just doing more of what they really love, and combining their passion and experience. This is exactly how many successful entrepreneurs are born....they end up running a thriving business and are able to leave the restraints of being an employee.

One thing I can recommend that has made a massive difference in my own life is to work on yourself - through personal development. Read books, attend seminars, listen to CD's, learn from other successful people. Stimulate your brain! The more you work on your "thinking" the more you increase your results in absolutely every area of your life. We have SO much to offer society at this age - whether it is the knowledge we offer an employer, or branching out to start your own business, or devoting time to a charity - this knowledge we have gathered throughout years of real, hands on experience is what it takes for an individual to go out and create their own business. Don't limit yourself to working for employers who have bought into the conditioning of hiring younger people. Why be at the effect of this negative programming? Go out and do something for yourself! Take control of your life, realize how much value you have, follow your passions, live into your potential! Take a stand for changing the negative "label" that has been placed on baby boomers by being the EXAMPLE that people can follow. Be a clear demonstration of the VALUE that we have and the wealth of experience and knowledge we offer.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

Integrity In Business

2010-06-03T10:20:00.008-04:00

Is integrity important in business? Seems like a silly question, however, a subject that many really don't grasp the importance of. What does integrity mean? The Wiki answer is this: Keeping your integrity would be keeping your good name or maintaining your respectable character.

I recently observed two very well know individuals, that I had previously had a lot of respect for, have an online battle of words against each other. They were both in the same industry and had a falling out of some sort. As I observed their conduct and how they were handling their personal situation, (which should have been private) - I went from having respect for both, to being disgusted by both. They both cut each other up, throwing accusations and attempted to make themselves look like the expert and the guru. They both sent personal emails to their entire email list, and published websites cutting each other up. They looked like a pair of 2 year olds that didn't get their own way. Why is it that people think they can or should use the internet to voice their battles? It actually did the opposite for me....I lost all respect for both and now do not believe a word either of them have to say. I can't believe in someone that is teaching a topic of ethics and good business practice, (which is their claimed expertise) that is blatently destroying a former colleagues reputation. Because of their public quarrel, they have just destroyed their own reputation. Isn't that interesting.....they were attempting to make each other look discredited, but by doing so in such an unprofessional way, they actually discredited themselves!

Integrity is something I believe every individual should develop and understand. People have a right to their own opinion and their own choices. However, it is no ones right to publicly destroy another human beings reputation because of their difference in opinion or direction. Someone of true integrity can respect differences in opinion and walk their own path without feeling a need to destroy someone else's path.

There is a rule of abundance in the universe. We live in a very abundant world...there is not a limit to success or opportunity. There is enough for everyone. We do not have to do business in a way that destructive to other people's path. It is a big world and with technology today, we truly have the opportunity to do business worldwide. Technology is a great thing, if you use it properly and not to destroy another human being.

I challenge every single business owner to really understand the importance of this concept - it doesn't matter what type of business you are in...from running an ice cream stand to an international business....find your own niche, be of service, be of integrity, open your arms wide and give everything you can to your client base - this is how you build a successful business - NOT by getting out your sword and slaying the competition, in an attempt to build your own interests! Stand on your own two feet and promote what YOU bring to the table. If you can't do that, and can only build a business by throwing rocks at the competition, it is time to take a serious look at what value you provide.

Yes, integrity in business is important....but it is a concept that we have all learned as children, if we just stop and think - treat other people like you would want to be treated!

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

Does Personal Development Lead To Success Outside of Business?

2010-04-27T18:12:00.005-04:00

I have learned from my study of personal development, that you can't make an improvement in one area of life, without it spilling over and giving you better results in another area.

I want to share an experience I had over the last couple of days, that on the surface seems to have nothing to do with business success. I have been going to a gym for over a year now, attending a 1 hour yoga class, 5-6 days/week. Every few months, the routine is changed and a whole new set of moves and music is released. This is wonderful because it allows you to work different muscle groups and get a better overall workout. I am always excited to see what we are going to tackle next! This is new release week at the gym. When I experienced the new release yesterday, that one hour class felt like ten...I watched every minute of the clock, hating all the new moves we were following along with. Since I attend the class at least 5 days/week, the thought of doing this routine for a minimum of 25 more classes was enough to make me want to quit going for the next 2 months, if I wasn't so committed to my personal fitness. I just couldn't imagine doing this particular routine every day for the next 5 weeks!

So with a strong personal opinion of this particular class and how much I was not enjoying it, I pondered how I could get through it. Now before I developed the thinking skills I have through our Polaris product line, I would have just given up....waited a couple of months and then went back when they changed the routine again - if, I could have gotten re-motivated. Who would that have served? I would have gotten out of shape, put on weight, not felt as healthy...etc., etc.

I am SO grateful I have learned to observe my own thoughts and make powerful decisions that lead me towards my goals. I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I was not giving up on my fitness commitment. I simply had to find a way around it! I made a conscious decision to go back today and put some of the other moves into the routine that I did like. I followed along, and when it came to each specific routine that I didn't want to do, I just improvised and put my own move in, instead. I had a totally different experience than I did yesterday, doing the same class! I looked up at one point and the class was almost over....I hadn't even noticed the time, it had flown by!

This was such a great reminder to me of how powerful our thoughts are, and how we can CHOOSE to react, or take action in the direction of where we are going. One of the things I am most grateful for, is how I have learned to observe my own thoughts from a different perspective. I have become solution oriented. I have learned that there is always a way, even if you can't see it in the moment. I have learned to focus on the end result, and not give in to obstacles. I have learned to ask myself better questions that do lead to a solution. I have learned to take control of my life and I realize that I am in the driver's seat and taking my life in the direction I want to go.

These are all things I have learned as a result of immersing myself in personal development. It isn't just about having more business success. What we learn serves us in every area of our lives, and allows us to become more successful in absolutely everything we do! The more we choose to work on ourselves, our mindset, the more we create possibilities to live into our full human potential!

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

Is There A Connection Between Positive Thought & Infinite Possibilities?

2010-04-26T21:32:00.006-04:00

We live in a very abundant world - a world FULL of Infinite Possibilities! I find very often though, people are so busy just "surviving" they can't see the possibilities around them.

Why is this? When it is so evident to many of us that there are so many possibilities, why do so many people struggle and barely survive? I believe it is a result of the past conditioning, and limitations that so many of us have grown up with. Do any of these sound familiar to you?

-don't get your hopes up
-if it sounds too good to be true it probably is
-there's got to be something fishy about that
-save for a rainy day
-it won't last forever
-money doesn't grow on trees

I could go on and on, but that is far too depressing! These are the types of things that many of us heard growing up. Depending on your network of co-workers, family and friends - people you spend most of your time with - some of you may still be hearing these type of phrases (and hundreds of others) and actually believe them - because, you don't know any different.

That type of thinking is what is stopping you from living an extraordinary life - a life FULL of infinite possibilities. Limited beliefs of what you are capable of, past conditioning, thinking in terms of survival, rather than how abundant this world is, and how capable YOU are of achieving anything you desire - these thoughts are holding you back from living into your greatness, your full potential of infinite possibility!

But, you can CHANGE your thoughts. You CAN reprogram your thinking and eliminate the doubts, fears, anxiety or limitations you have had in the past. However, you must WANT to change your thinking and you must work at it. Our brains will believe anything we say to ourselves - good or bad. And it is 100% your CHOICE what you put into your brain.

What Steps Can You Take:

-Turn off your TV
-Stop reading the negativity in the news
-Surround yourself with positive people
-Study personal development, learn, grow, read, attend seminars, journal, expand your mind, challenge your current thinking.

Look at the limiting beliefs that you personally have right now, and ask yourself - "what benefit does it provide me to believe this statement"? When you really look at this, you will find these statements are not serving you, they are holding you back. It is then your choice to continue on this path of self limitation, or to create a new path.

When you change your thoughts - you change your life. Positive thoughts give off positive energy, that will allow you to see the infinite possibilities that are all around you, and be able to take advantage of them! It is almost like a rebirth - a new opportunity, a second chance. The thoughts that you plant in your mind are the "seeds". The more you water these "seeds" of positive thought, the more they will take root and bear the fruit (or results) that you desire. When you understand this principle, it is so simple to stand above the crowd and reach for the stars...those infinite possibilities!

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

Successful Entrepreneurs INSPIRE Others!

2010-03-31T07:34:00.008-04:00

I am inspired when I witness other people's greatness! Many times in life, we do not realize how much inspiration we can be to other people, some that we do not even know, simply by living into our own potential.

There is a business in my area that is extremely successful. For the purpose of this article, I am simply going to name the business owner "Joe" (which is not his real name) Joe has recently expanded and added a new line of product. Seems like a normal business activity, right? Here is the amazing part. The product line that Joe has recently added, is something that is experiencing very bad press currently. Joe, not only added the product line, he built a new facility to store the product, hired new staff and is moving forward with his goal, despite the naysayers and bad press. He is one of the most successful business owners in the area, and is focused on achieving a huge increase in his business, despite outside circumstances.

This comes at a time, when other business owners that are carrying the same product, are cutting back and playing it safe. They are unsure of the outcome, so they are doing what many in life are conditioned to do - buy into fear.

Joe is a big thinker. Joe has a goal. He is moving forward 100% full steam ahead with his goal, despite what may be perceived to be happening around him. He has blinders on, and is only focused on where he is "going". He has customers lining up, he has a full staff of employees that are moving forward with him. He is successful. Joe is an example that inspires others!

Joe doesn't know me. He is not attempting to inspire me. I have never even spoken to him, and don't know what he looks like. Yesterday, I was at Joe's business facility, and because of his incredible vision, tenacity, and focus, I witnessed a busy, thriving business. You would never know there was any challenge to overcome, because Joe is only focused on the outcome, focused on where he is going.

This was a great reminder to me that successful entrepreneurs do not get sidetracked. They decide what they want, and then play full out. They are not sitting on the "sidelines", waiting for this or that to happen so that they can be successful. They do not let challenges get in the way of their dreams. They decide what needs to be done, and then simply do it. They don't buy into excuses. They move forward and find, create or invent new ways of creating the end result they want, despite any challenge that may come up.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

Does Tenacity Play a Role In Being A Successful Entrepreneur?

2010-03-26T09:51:00.007-04:00

One of the most important qualities anyone can master in life is tenacity! It does not just apply to being a successful entrepreneur. This quality is something that serves us in every aspect of life.

Time and time again, I have pulled this quality from my "entrepreneurs toolbox" to assist me in getting the type of result I am looking for. This does not just apply to business.

This is one of the basic principles of success that a lot of people miss. Society is conditioned to "give it a try" and buy into the excuse "at least you tried your best", when something does not work out. Giving "per mission" that it is ok to give up, as long as you "tried". This is one reason so many people live a life of mediocrity, never living into the potential they have, and just going through life, "accepting" whatever life/bosses/friends/family/government/media/circumstance throws at them. This is why people "settle".

It amazes me how often I see people "give up" on something they say they wanted. This applies to every aspect of life - fitness goals, personal goals, business goals, etc. Someone joins the gym in Jan., saying they are determined to get in shape. By Feb., they are not going to the gym any more - it's too hard, they are too busy, the classes don't work out for them. Excuses!

Then there are the excuses people make for not reaching their business or personal goals. They all boil down to the same thing - society is so conditioned to give up at the first sign of challenge. And because this has been part of the social conditioning for most of our lives, it seems to be accepted because "everyone" else they know believes this to be true as well. This should be a red flag - if everyone you know believes it is ok to give up on something you say you wanted - you are not networking or associating with the right people if you want to take your life to a different level.

Here are a couple of personal examples:

A year ago my daughter graduated as a web designed/graphic designer. She applied for some jobs in her field. There was one job that she particularly wanted - working for a very large, reputable, successful company. She went for the interview - was told they would get back to her. After about a week or so, she hadn't heard anything - she called me and asked what I thought and I advised her to call them to see if they had made a decision. They were very surprised that she called and that she was indeed still interested! She got the job and 1 year later is absolutely loving her work. It was her tenacity that got her the job. Her willingness to step outside of her comfort zone and make a call, and not wait for it to fall into her lap.

Our son has recently started working in the auto industry as a salesman. He is working for one of the most professional and successful dealerships in our area. One of the things in his personal life he is committed to is physical fitness - he goes to the gym 6 days/wk and is totally committed to his physical health/development. He typically goes to the gym after work. There have been some days that his schedule was changed at the last minute. He did not miss a beat. He simply re-arranged his plan, went to the gym on his break, and went back to work to finish his shift. He is tenacious in his commitment to himself. He will not let anything sidetrack him from his business goals or his personal goals outside of his work.

The other day I had one of those little business challenges that stop many individuals. I required some assistance with some technical issues, that was stopping me from conducting my business, and was dealing with a customer service rep. This rep would not assist me in getting the result I required to conduct my business. "It was out of her control" I asked to speak to her supervisor for assistance - I was informed her supervisor could not assist me either. Now to some people, this would be a stopping point. They would throw up their hands in frustration and give up. Their business would either be put on hold or they would simply give up and pack it in. I simply ended the conversation with this rep, called back into customer service, got a different rep who totally and happily solved my technical issue. I could have been frustrated, I could have given up, I could have used this as an excuse on why I couldn't run my business or have success that day. That is the way most of society handles these type of things. But like any successful entrepreneur I have tenacity - I do not let roadblocks get in my way! There is always a way around things. You must be solution oriented. You must not buy into excuses. You must be committed to yourself and your goals and be willing to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.

Successful Entrepreneurs understand this success principle very well. However, this principle does not just apply to entrepreneurship - Tenacity is a success principle that every single individual can implement into their lives to start living the life they truly deserve and want to be living!

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

Why Would Anyone Want To Step Outside of Their Comfort Zone?

2010-03-14T01:12:00.005-05:00

Successful Entrepreneurs understand the importance of continually stepping outside their comfort zone.

Why is this important? Let's first take a look at what occurs within the comfort zone.

Within The Comfort Zone:
-There is No Challenge
-It is Easy
-It is Comfortable
-There is no personal growth
-Everything stays the same - nothing changes
-Live a Life of Mediocrity
-Boredom
-Depression
-Low Self Worth/Self Esteem/Confidence

If this is what an individual wants from their life, then the comfort zone is the place to be. If however, one wants to have a different/better experience at anything, it is important to take that step outside of the comfort zone.

What Occurs Outside of The Comfort Zone:
-New Experiences
-Personal Growth
-Adrenaline Rush
-New Opportunity
-Better Results
-Improved Self Worth/Self Confidence/Self Esteem
-Excitement/Fun
-Happiness
-Develop Leadership
-Diminish Fears

I have been on both sides of the fence. I have had times I stayed within the comfort of my own comfort zone. I have had more times though outside of my comfort zone, and that has given me so much more fulfillment. This realization is only something you know when you experience it and it applies to every area of our lives.

I have had times when I did not prioritize my own physical fitness. I did not go to the gym, I ate what I wanted and did not exercise. How did that play out? I could feel myself actually aging....aches, pains, gaining weight, not feeling good in my clothes, lack of energy - and this was all in my younger years! Just before my birthday of the start of the 2nd half of my life (50) I decided to join the gym. Having spent the first 49 years not prioritizing my own fitness, this was a big step out of my fitness comfort zone. It takes effort to go to the gym 6 times/week. It takes a change in thinking, a change in priorities, a change in focus and in personal fitness goals. What are the benefits...why would someone actually choose after 49 years of doing something the same way, to take a dramatic turn like this? Looking back 1 year later, I have lost 20 lbs, have zero aches or pains, have built strength I never realized I was capable of, I have built my confidence in an area that I didn't even realize was lacking, and have more energy and feel better and healthier than I ever have in my entire life. I honestly wonder why I waited so long to take control in this area of my life. I look back and know that I simply made a conscious choice to take that step outside of my fitness comfort zone.

This same concept of stepping outside of our comfort zone applies, of course, to our career or our business life as well. I think back 25 years ago when I first became an entrepreneur. I was extremely shy and part of my role in the business I started was to do presentations in front of small groups of 5-10 people. The first one was dreadful, I looked at the floor the whole presentation. I didn't have the confidence to look up and make eye contact with anyone. But I kept at it, and eventually I got very good at it. Then about a year later I was asked to speak to a group of about 500 people to train on what I had learned in my business. I will never forget how scared I was. I literally thought I was going to throw up and just felt like crying. But I took a deep breath and did it anyway. What really amazed me was the fact that I felt the fear tremendously before the event (for months). I felt the fear tremendously when I got on stage - but after about only 2 minutes on stage I started to relax and it wasn't nearly as bad as I had built up in my mind. That is when I learned for the first time that fear is simply False Expectation Appearing Real.

After this experience, I learned that I could face fear and get through it, and was determined to learn how to get better at pushing through fears. So in this particular area - speaking - I started reading books, going to seminars, learning techniques and teaching myself how to get more comfortable at speaking. Here I am almost 25 years later and I spend a lot of time speaking and doing trainings. There are still times when those little butterfly's go through my stomach, but I know that they disappear very quickly, and that it is just my imagination that is causing them, and I know that I feel SO much better when I push myself. Who wants to stay a shy wallflower and be uncomfortable their whole life? I could have done that, very easily because that was my personality 25 yrs ago. But looking back I am so grateful that I took that first step outside of my comfort zone. It was the starting point to allowing me to spend the last 25 years in a state of adventure, personal growth, success, fun, happiness, self fulfillment, and confidence. I have learned that these steps I have taken, are not just for me - when we learn something new, or get better at anything, then we get the benefit of that, but so do other people in our lives. Our children, our partners, our family/friends, and people that we come into contact with through our life in business and socially. It is a ripple effect and sometimes we are not even aware how something we do, that we strive for, opens the door for so many other people.

Here's a little exercise I learned many years ago about the comfort zone. Draw a circle. That is your current comfort zone. Now, put an X outside of the circle. Draw a new circle around the 1st circle making sure the X is within that new circle. The X represents the step you take outside of your comfort zone. The beautiful thing is, that when you take that step, you have just made your circle bigger, ie - your comfort zone has expanded. You can't go back, you can only go forward. Think of it like this - if you speak English only and you learn a new language - you can't go back to only knowing English - you now know two languages. You have learned. You have grown. You have expanded. You know how to speak a new language and can also teach someone else how to say words in that language. It is not just for you. You may have done it initially for your own benefit, but once you get there, you can now share that with other people.

When you understand the concept of the comfort zone, you also understand that it applies to every area of our lives. This is where the excitement in life is - outside of our comfort zone! We can't learn a concept, and not have it affect every area of our lives. That is what personal growth is all about.

In your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or
1-519-342-4050

Women Entrepreneurs Setting the Pace

2010-01-31T10:39:00.004-05:00

Women today, have a much more entrepreneurial, gutsy spirit, than they did 40-50 years ago. I have been a successful entrepreneur since 1986, and I have seen for myself the number of women that take bold step into the world of entrepreneurship, often driven by the desire to spend more time with their families, and these women are setting the pace for what is possible, for women and men alike.

When we were having our children, many years ago, that is precisely what led me to this wonderful world of being an entrepreneur! I wanted to be home with our children, but needed to make some extra income to do so. So, like many young mom's, I looked for a way to do that and entered the wonderful world of being an entrepreneur. Looking back over my 23+ years I wouldn't have it any other way!

There are so many benefits to being an entrepreneur, especially when you work from a home office.

-set your own schedule
-work around your family commitments
-volunteer at your children's schools and extra events
-take the time off during your children's school holidays and really be present with them
-be home with your children if they have a sick day
-no day care fees
-life balance
-less stress

As we progress in age from having small children to becoming empty nesters, the benefits are even greater! Many of the same benefits apply but there are some extras:

-time to travel for extended periods of time
-spend more time with your partner
-being available for your grandchildren
-volunteer work
-total freedom - time & financial

In today's world, there are so many opportunities to be able to create a business from home and with the support of technology today, you can literally do business all around the world, while being at home with the people you love most. As I write this blog article, I am amazed still at how incredible it is to be able to sit here in front of my fireplace, with a cup of coffee - my little dog resting on my knee, while typing on my 8" laptop, listening to some beautiful background music.

There is no need to run around like a mad women, through rush hour, jumping to every order that the corporate world dishes out, just to make a living. I have learned that we work to make our family life better so that we can do the things we want to do, with the people we love most. Many people in society have this backwards - many people are working so long and so hard, that they have lost touch with their family - they are working to survive. Many people have literally lost touch with why they are even working - they are in survival mode. Put your family first - find a way to make your family life better and a business that supports that - there are SO many options available today!

I encourage every women reading this post that has the desire within them to take that next step - Do not let fear, past conditioning or limiting beliefs hold you back. Do not be swayed by family or friends that might give you "their best advice" to stay in your "secure" job. Follow your heart, that is your guiding light! When you are following your own guiding light, you can never go wrong. Becoming an entrepreneur has been and continues to be one of the most rewarding things I have ever done - I am grateful to my children - for if it wasn't for them coming into our lives, and being inspired to be home with them, I may not have discovered that there are other options than working a job your entire life.

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Leadership Is The Most Powerful Commodity On The Planet!

2010-01-18T21:36:00.003-05:00

Leadership Is The Most Powerful Commodity On The Planet, but unfortunately, most people have been conditioned in our society to follow the herd - do what is safe. It can be compared to cows in a pasture….cows spend every day of their lives doing the same thing, eating grass, and doing what all the other cows do. Cows don’t think for themselves, they do what they are led to do – they would never consider going outside the pasture, it is safe there – within the pasture - and has everything they believe they need. Unfortunately, many people go through most of their lives like the “cow in the pasture”, living a “conditioned” life. This conditioning contributes to a lot of negativity in life and affects every area of our lives:

- Settling – working a job you hate, but stay there because you have been conditioned to believe you should stay where you are because - it is a “good job” and it is “secure”, and some people don’t even have a job so you should hold onto it. Leaders do not settle. Leaders go out and find what they want and if they can’t find it, they create it. Leaders do not stay stuck doing something they do not want to do.

- Not reaching your full potential – this goes hand in hand with settling – when you are in a job you hate, chances are that you would like to accomplish more, but there is a ceiling on your income and advancement potential. We are not meant to stay the same – if you are not learning and growing, you are regressing. Leaders are always striving to reach their full potential, knowing that when you have made an achievement, it is time to stretch for something new, something bigger. Leaders compete against themselves to continually take their lives to the next level.

- Unhappiness – if you are unfulfilled in your work or in your personal life, you cannot possibly be happy – and, you cannot make anyone else happy. Leaders understand that their happiness is up to them to create. It is not dependant on a good boss, good job, good relationship, good family, good government, etc to make you happy. Leaders find and create their own happiness.

- Fear – the media feeds us all kinds of fear, one of the latest being the H1N1 and the “need” to get the shot. Because the government marketed this shot, and instilled fear through the media, people lined up for hours to get their shot because they were so fearful, and they were “told” to do so by the media, the medical community, friends, family, and co-workers who all bought into the fear. I just got back from a weekend conference, and there was even a booth set up in the airport for people to get their “shot”. As a leader in my own life I made a decision that I was not buying into this fear – I will not have that shot no matter who around me does – I take responsibility for my own health, I can make my own informed decisions. I am not at all swayed by seeing people standing in the “herd” line on the sidewalk, at community centers, and airports – that does not at all make me think that I too must “line up” and buy into this fear. A leader trusts their own decisions.

- Stress, even illness – it has been proven that stress leads to illness, and much of the stress people experience is within their control – but most don’t realize that they have choices in their lives. So, they keep following the herd, and many do not know that they can make different choices and by doing so will eliminate much of the stress they experience. Leaders understand that they do have choices. If life isn’t going in the direction they want – leaders understand that they must make different choices to course correct and get better results – this eliminates stress when you are in positive action.

So, how do you leave the herd, and become a leader in your own life? How do you stop buying into the “norm” which is really complacency and mediocrity.

It starts with learning to think for yourself. This is not something that most people are accustomed to doing. People follow leadership. But, most people are the followers and don’t have the knowledge or courage to be a leader in their own life. Most people get up in the morning, go to a job they don’t really like, come home, watch TV and go to bed – and do this over and over, every day. If you ask someone in this pattern, why they are doing this every day, most wouldn’t have an answer because they haven’t really thought about why they keep doing it. When asked, most would say, “they have to pay the bills”, or “what else would I do”, or “that’s what everyone does”. Go for a walk at night, and just observe how many people are sitting, staring at their TV – for hours – being brainwashed into believing what they hear and see. It is time to get out of the trance that most of society is in - to be a leader in your own life and start directing the way you want it to go. You can do something as simple as turning off the TV or stop reading the news. Will that seem odd to everyone around you? Most likely! What would you do with your life? – read something educational, learn something new, start a business of your own, go to the gym, go for a walk, visit friends or family, live your life, rather than watching other people on TV living theirs! This is a really basic way to make dramatic change in your life. When you are not being fed all the nonsense and fear from these negative media sources, you learn to create your own results and start thinking for yourself. New and interesting things start to happen. You learn more, you grow more, you have new experiences, you feel better, have less stress and start seeing things in a different light. The walls of the “cow pasture” start coming down, and you start to realize that you can actually go into another field and there are new things to experience there. You learn that you can be more like a “rhino” and not wait for all the cows to follow you – you can venture out, do new things, learn and grow and live into your potential, into your own leadership.

People are hungry for excitement, adventure, fulfillment, and change. Leaders take a stand for what they want in their lives and then make powerful decisions that lead them towards their goals and take bold actions to get there. Leaders do not settle. Leaders do not limit their potential, they create it. Leaders still experience fear but in a much different way – when fear shows up, they push through it, make powerful and bold decisions. Leaders show people what is truly possible. Leaders inspire others. Leaders create new opportunities. Leaders are needed. Everyone is looking for leaders. It is the most powerful commodity on the planet – YOU have the choice – are you going to be the leader or the follower?

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston

1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Why Work From Home? It Creates a Green Workplace!

2010-01-04T15:35:00.007-05:00

When you are a successful entrepreneur working from home, a side benefit that many of us don't think of, when we start, is how much better for the environment it is!

There are so many benefits that are obvious to entrepreneurs that choose to work from home: - flexible work hours
- own boss
- more time with and around family
- increased income
- less stress
These are a few of the obvious benefits. But there are environmental benefits that many people don't realize.

-Since there is no commute to work - home business owners commute is typically from the kitchen to the home office - think of the gas this is saving! If you live in a winter climate this can be substantial, since cold climates, require car warm up time, ice scraping, extra windshield solution, etc. - none of this is required when you work in a home office.

- You really don't need a huge wardrobe when you work from home, and will also
save on dry cleaning, so no chemicals! I can't remember the last time I had something dry cleaned!

-Email, EFax, Instant Messaging, have all allowed us to use far less paper - save messages in files online and open them when required, rather than printing everything off. When printing is required, using recycled paper is a great option.

-The option to work outside in warm climates is something that saves a ton of energy - lights & air conditioning don't need to be turned on, when you are outside working on a cordless phone. The months of May-Sept are typically months that I spend every day outside working from my lawnchair. Not only does this mean I don't have to turn on the lights, but what a treat to be out in the sunshine all day! It is good for the soul!

-Something we often don't realize is that when you are working a typical job, most people take their lunch. When you work from home, you walk out to the kitchen, eat something fresh and don't have to use plastic bags, wrap, paper cups, etc. You can even use the same coffee cup all day, something that you wouldn't do if you had to buy your coffee from a machine or a vendor at an outside job.

-In the summer months you can also hang your laundry outside to dry, rather than using the dryer. People that work a full time job outside the home with long hours and commuting, typically don't have the time to do this - it is easier and quicker to throw the clothes in the dryer.

With changes to the economy, more and more people are starting to work from home, and these are all benefits to the environment that many people don't realize when they start a home business. Isn't it great to identify all of these additional benefits on top of the obvious ones!

In your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Successful Entrepreneurs - Set Powerful Goals, AND Keep Their Focus All Year!

2009-12-30T15:00:00.004-05:00

Successful Entrepreneurs understand the importance of setting powerful goals and keeping their focus, no matter what. This is a skill that serves well in every area of our lives.

Going into 2010, it is time to step away from the pak, and take on a real leadership role in your own life, if you are truly serious about creating dramatically different results. This little picture is a great visual....it is time to stop thinking like you have always thought, doing what you have always done, and getting stuck in masses thinking. You must be willing to leave all of this behind you to take the next step in creating dramatically different results than you have had up to this point. This is going to be the decade of massive change - you will either be a part of it, by being the leader in your own life, or you will be left behind.

Ask yourself - did YOU reach your goals last year? Think back to this time last year....bring to mind the goals you set and the resolutions you made. Did you keep those resolutions and reach the goals you set? For most people that answer is no. So, how can YOU go into 2010, set powerful goals, make firm resolutions, and stay committed?

It starts with sitting down and allowing yourself to gain FULL clarity on what you really want to accomplish this year. I'm not talking about "It would be nice to lose 10 lbs" or "I want to make more money". These are wishy washy goals with no "teeth" in them. It is imperative that you spend time and get 100% clarity on what you want, why you want it, develop a plan of action, and then add the "emotional" connection to the goal. If you are not 100% totally committed to your goal, you will let some distraction, challenge, or excuse get in the way. That leads to disappointment in yourself, destroys your belief system, and attacks your self confidence and self esteem.

Let's take 1 basic example of how this looks. Keep in mind once you know "how" this works, you can implement this same strategy into any goal you have for yourself.

Let's say your goal is, "I want to double my salary this year". Now, dig deeper. First, is it possible to double your salary doing what you are doing right now? If not, something has got to change - either you have to get a promotion, change jobs, start a business for yourself, or if you are a business owner - you will have to change something in your existing business or perhaps change businesses. Understand you will NOT double your salary by doing exactly the same thing as you did last year. Something will have to be different. This is where most people get off track, they set the goal, keep doing the same things as they have always done, and wonder why nothing changes. You MUST understand that something has to change - and it is usually your THINKING that must change to get better results.

Understand also that doubling your salary is a "requirement" to reach your goal, but that is not really your goal. There is a powerful reason underneath that statement, THAT reason is what you must uncover. This is why you really have to get crystal clear on what you want. What is YOUR powerful reason? What do you really want in your life? You must have clarity on that, or you will be sitting in the same spot next year at this time wondering what happened to the great goal you set.

Perhaps you are struggling at the income level you are at right now, and you are working long hours to earn some extra money, which means you don't spend enough time with your family. Look at THAT statement: because you are struggling financially, you are working long hours, and therefore do not spend enough time with your family. THERE IT IS - what you REALLY want is more time with your family! Now, go further. What does that look like for you? Do you want to volunteer at your kids school functions. Do you want to be there when your new born does all the first things and see those first things with your own eyes? Do you want to be able to help your aging parents more? Do you want to home school your children? Do more volunteer work, travel, do you want to eat breakfast every single morning with your family? Do you want to tuck your kids into bed every night? Allow yourself to actually FEEL what it would be like to do any of these things that would be important to you and picture in your mind it actually happening. If I said to you "I want to make a movie of YOUR perfect life -only YOU know EXACTLY what that looks like, so I want you to be as descriptive as possible...." Close your eyes and picture this perfect life for you - what are you doing, what are you wearing, who are you with - FEEL it with every fibre of your being. Now, ask yourself, am I committed to this goal? Yes or no. If the answer is no, go back to the first step and get absolutely clear on what you are committed to. If you are not 100% committed to it, you will get off track and any excuse will do.

If the answer is "Yes", then you move on to getting more authentic with yourself. Now ask yourself, is what I am doing right now bringing me closer or further away from this goal? So, if the job you are working requires you to work long hours away from your family, that is taking you further away from your goal. Consider changing jobs, becoming more efficient with your time. Can some of your work be eliminated? Are you doing tasks that are not really necessary, but you are doing out of past habits? Maybe starting your own business is a solution? Or if you are already a business owner, ask yourself what do you need to change in your current business that will give you more free time? Do you need to add or change some of your products or services? Do you need to train more people? Are you doing everything yourself (you can outsource work that can be done inexpensively by someone else to free you to do what can only be done by you)? It is easy to keep doing the same things over and over and think because we are working "hard" that this is the solution. It is not about how hard you work. You must learn to make decisions that bring you closer to what your heart wants.

Now that you have the emotional connection on how it "feels" to spend more time with your family, start visualizing your new goal as if it has already happened. Remember to add gratitude into the affirmations and visualization. Example: I am so happy & grateful, I spend a ton of time with my family. We eat breakfast together every morning, we home school our kids, I coach Johnny's soccar team, I am working less and have doubled my previous salary....my life is so good and I am so grateful!

When you read that statement, I'm sure you will agree, it sure FEELS different than the statement "I want to double my salary". Just close your eyes and FEEL the difference: When you put your heart and emotion into your goal is it like magic that will push you in the right direction.

Next, write the new powerful affirmation on a goal card, take a picture of you and your family and put it everywhere...on your bathroom mirror, by your computer, on your fridge, in your car, at your office, put it EVERYWHERE you can see it several times a day. Continue to visualize and meditate on that goal as if it has already happened. You are already the person that IS living this life.

Now, this is where a lot of people steer wrong, so really get this: Every time you make a decision, ask yourself, "Will THIS decision bring me closer or further away from my goal"? So, in this example, |"Will this decision bring me closer or further away from spending the time I deserve and want with my family?" If the decision you are going to make is going to take you further away, it is gut check time. Now it is time to get authentic with yourself - again - ARE YOU COMMITTED TO THE GOAL? Yes or no? It is either yes OR no, not "I'd like to but", or "I will but", or "I was but" - these are the excuses that are stopping you. And most people live their entire lives like this! That is why most people set goals and give up on them.

If your answer is "no", you must go back to the beginning and set a goal you are 100% committed to, make the emotional connection to it, and go back to how it "feels" to reach that goal.

If your answer is, "yes I am committed to this goal" then you will likely find that you are going to have to make different decisions than you used to, perhaps make tougher decisions than you have in the past, and, step out of your comfort zone. Don't be afraid to do this. Do NOT let fear stop you - push through it? THIS is the difference that will help you get there. By just keeping the visual picture of what the powerful decision is going to do in front of you and in your mind by making powerful decisions that only take you towards your goal, you will accelerate your results and start taking more control in your life.

It is important to note that although you don't have to know EXACTLY how you will reach it, you must be willing to take the actions steps consistently. You must eliminate doubt, fear, and frustration. Just KNOW that if you are willing to do the work and make the RIGHT decisions, you will get the result you want; just may not come exactly the way you thought it would. That is the beauty of the universe. It has a bigger picture in mind for us than we can even see. Trust in that, be willing to do what it takes to reach your goal, and know you will get there!

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

What Does Being A Successful Entrepreneur Have To Do With Going To The Gym?

2009-11-23T13:20:00.007-05:00

Last April I joined a gym for the first time in my life! At the time I didn't realize how my entrepreneurial skills would help me reach my fitness goals. One may wonder, what does being a successful entrepreneur have to do with going to the gym?

To the average person, there would be no connection. But to be successful at the gym, just like anything new, we have to push ourselves to do activities that we are not good at, don't know how to do, and in many cases, just don't "feel" like doing. When I started this fitness commitment I signed a 1 year contract.....and to me it was exactly THAT....a COMMITMENT I was making to myself.

When I started I was clumsy in the classes, I was probably the weakest in the class in terms of physical strength, I had no stamina, and I even showed up for my first cardio dance class in sandles and didn't even own a pair of sneakers....much to the eyebrow raising of the instructor! So this was not an area I had expertise in or was a born natural at!

This can be comparable to becoming an entrepreneur for the first time. Many people are like this "fish out of water" scenario. But, like the new gym member, there are some specific strategies I have learned being a successful entrepreneur that I have applied to the gym as well...

-I put all my class commitments in my daytimer prior to each week and I work around them.

-If I have to miss a class due to a commitment, I find a replacement time to get an extra workout in to replace it

-When I was new and felt clumsy when all the class knew the routine - they were going left when I was going right - I just kept with it until I got the routine

-When I started I literally could not lift my body weight off the yoga mat, I was too weak - but I pushed myself to do what I COULD do - today, I held my body up in a push up position on ONE HAND AND ONE LEG! The strength has come because I keep showing up and doing what I can do to the best of my ability.....I have learned in business - this leads to breakthroughs!

-I push myself to keep doing better each time I go - I don't worry about what others are doing, I compete against myself.

-I had a committed attitude right from the start - not "I'll try this for a month or two and see how it goes" This was a commitment I was making to myself.

Here I am 8 months later..... I have never felt better or healthier, I lost a ton of weight, have more energy, and have really taken control of my body, instead of letting "aging" take control of my body. What an empowering feeling this is!

I recognize the growth I have experienced in my physical fitness and how connected this is to the disciplines I have applied to become a successful entrepreneur. It all comes down to the power of our minds, and removing the limitations and past conditioning we have around our thoughts. When you learn to do that in any area of your life, it will transfer great results into other areas of your life as well....

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Successful Entrepreneurs - Walk Their Walk AND Talk Their Talk!

2009-11-21T12:41:00.007-05:00

Credibility is an absolutely HUGE part of being successful and every truly successful entrepreneur knows to walk their walk and definitely be a person of credibility in every area of their life. You cannot "promote" one way of thinking and being and DO the exact opposite if you want people to believe anything you say!

Today I was going through one of the social networking sites I belong to and came across a "post" from a person that has a yoga practice.... here is that person's post: "Is hating life this morning opening the gym on 2 hours of sleep lying awake dreading how I'm going to feel like crap today" I found this quite fascinating because it was like a red flashing light in the wrong direction! This person's bio goes on to say: "A Yoga mat is a place to turn when talk and antidepressants don't work." When I visited their blog, it is full of positive advice, wonderful suggestions and quotes....but how can you believe any of it, if the first introduction you see is a post about hating life, feeling like crap and dreading the day!

When we are in business for ourselves, it SO important to walk our walk! I had a ladies wear business for 18 years, and while I was in that business I wore the clothes that I sold....I did not shop anywhere else, I was a walking billboard for what I was offering my clients. I felt if I expected anyone to become a committed client to my clothing line, then I better be committed by wearing it myself!

Credibility is something I believe many individuals overlook in their own businesses....but it really is common sense and you can see indications of this in your own every day life to confirm to yourself how important it really is.....

-would you hire a personal trainer that was overweight or not in shape?
-would you buy clothes from a sales person with a poor self image in sloppy clothes?
-would you go to a yoga class with an instructor that is overweight and negative?
-would you hire a decorator that lives in a dump?
-would you go to a hairdresser that hasn't updated her own look in 20 years?
-would you hire a financial planner that is in huge debt and struggling?

I was recently at a networking group and was talking with a lovely woman I have known for years. She and her husband have a thriving decorating store they started themselves. They have grown to about 14 employees and take absolute pride in their employees, the products and services they offer, they have a beautiful home, and it is a priority to them to have staff that people love and can talk to for great advice. They actually look more for great people rather than prior experience, because when you have great people, they can be trained. They know the importance of this because when you have happy, great employees they are adding value to your customers.

It really is common sense, but many individuals just don't realize how important it is to be a person of absolute credibility. When you commit to being a successful entrepreneur, and you absolutely believe in what you do, and what you offer your client, you must also commit to being a "stand" for what you say you believe in - or no one will believe anything you say...and THAT will cost you much lost business. Remember, your actions must match your words....

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Successful Entrepreneurs Know Their Purpose & Have A VISION Bigger Than Themsevles

2009-11-19T21:25:00.003-05:00

I have had the opportunity to learn from and observe many successful entrepreneurs over the years and I realize that every one of them has a commonality....they all know WHY they do what they do, or put more simply - they have a sense of purpose and are completely passionate about their vision!

Why is this important? Well, there will be times that we are challenged....this could be in personal life or in business. It is really interesting to observe how differently people react in the face of challenge or adversity, or even change. Many people will totally give into fear, abandon their original vision and jump ship on what they said they were totally committed to. This happens every day in basic every day things like physical fitness as an example.

Many people go through life jumping from one job to another, from one business to another and from one relationship to another. Always thinking the grass is greener over "there" somewhere. And as soon as the grass needs watering, or there is a draught, or bugs eat their grass, they move somewhere else. Always wondering, always searching, always coming up short. These people can be referred to as "opportunists". In life and in business, opportunists are just looking for that next "big" win....and as soon as they are challenged in any way, they are on to find the "next big win". If these individuals spent time getting absolute clarity on their purpose and committing to it fully, they would learn to ride out the draught, or the bugs or whatever challenge because they would KNOW that they are going in the direction of their purpose...they would KNOW they are absolutely steering their ship in the direction of their own North Star.

True success comes from really knowing what your true vision is and staying committed to it. In relationships and in business, it doesn't matter if there are challenges - when you have made a total commitment to what you stand for, nothing gets in the way of that.

True success comes from this success principle...having that knowingness of what your purpose is gives stability, and successful individuals use this assurance to keep a steady pace, ride out whatever "storm" may be happening around them, because they have a "North Star" they are following. They KNOW the desired outcome....they KNOW what they believe in and NOTHING can shake their confidence, belief or vision. This is one major difference between successful entrepreneurs and opportunists.

How Do You Prevent Interruptions When You Are An Entrepreneur Working From Home?

2009-11-04T19:32:00.007-05:00

Organizing yourself and your workload in a way that prevents interruptions is a pivotal entrepreneurial skill that must be developed. However, that can be easier said than done, especially for new entrepreneurs starting up, when you are responsible for many of the day to day functions of your business, and you are working out of a home office. Many day to day distractions can get in the way....unexpected drop ins, family/friends calling, demands of children or spouse, dogs need to go out, laundry, outside chores.....the list is endless. When we work from a home office, we tend to "see" all the other things that need to be done in our home and it is so easy to get distracted or interrupted. I read a study recently that people are interrupted an average of 15 times in their 8 hr work day, and the challenge with these interruptions is even if they are only 5 min, when we lose our train of thought, it takes an average of 20 minutes to get back in the swing of things again, and if you were on a roll with something important, it takes time to get the ball rolling again.

So how do you get yourself organized, get important things done and maintain balance in your life? Well it actually starts with the word "organized", as lame as that sounds.....if you are not organized, everything and anything will get in your way.

Here are some key strategies in keeping yourself organized so that interruptions do not get in the way of your success:

-Be very clear on the fact that when you have work to do, you must be COMMITTED to yourself. Do what you say you are going to do and give yourself more loyalty and commitment than you gave to your previous employer. You deserve that!

-Use a daytimer - slot in all the important tasks you need to personally look after and put time frames on them. I recommend doing this a week in advance. Each Friday I look at the following week and slot in all my commitments, starting with my fitness classes....these are not flexible so I put them in first to keep that commitment I have made to myself to go to the gym 5-6 times per week. Then I slot in everything else....including my down time to be with family and friends.

-Be sure you have a voicemail system. If you are busy with another task, let the calls go to voicemail. You will get far more done if you stay focused on what you were doing and then return calls, than if you allow an interruption in the middle of something. This applies to all other technological interruptions - email, skype, social media, etc....

-Set appointments with friends or family that want to drop by rather than having people drop in "whenever". You are self employed - if you want to spend time with someone that is coming over you can time slot as much time as you want - but if it is a surprise drop in, your time spent with them will not be of the same quality because you will be thinking about all the things you should be doing.

-Make sure you have a private work space, preferably with a door! When your door is closed it is a sign to anyone else in the home that you are "working" and can't be disturbed unless it is an emergency. Some successful home business entrepreneurs even have an unwritten rule in their home - if the door is shut, unless someone is bleeding, do not open that door:)

-When you have calls to return, sit down and return the calls and do not get sidetracked with getting a coffee, throwing in some laundry or any other household task you see on your walk to the kitchen. Do not allow yourself to move from that phone until you have returned all the calls you have.

Really this all is just common sense. Decide what you want to achieve and remember that nothing will interrupt you unless you allow it. When you are an entrepreneur working from home, YOU call the shots, YOU have the control....be at cause, not the effect of things going on around you.

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 519-342-4050

Successful Entrepreneurs - Carry A "Treasure Chest"

2009-10-26T10:02:00.006-04:00

Successful entrepreneurs understand a simple philosophy - In life and in business there are victims and there are victors. It is an absolute choice which each individual decides to be....

I recently had the opportunity to hear an incredible speaker, Neal Petersen. Neal has an unparalleled adventure - the longest, most extreme race for any man or woman, 27,000 miles in a sailboat, nine months at sea - ALONE!

Neal enters the stage with an old beat up treasure chest. He pulls out several things during his talk from this old treasure chest. He starting sailing in a home made sailboat, with a sexton, and a book on how to read a sexton. He had a clothes pin, a needle and thread and a few other basic things inside this treasure chest. He had a walking problem when he was a child and was born and raised in South Africa during Apartheid... Neal brings these things out as he tells his story, and shares his dream from childhood, a dream that everyone told him was impossible.

My favorite message that has really stuck with me is when he was at sea in this home made boat, and the wind picked up and the sail came flying around and struck him in the forehead, by his eyebrow....he was bleeding profusely and was alone....he didn't have a first aid kit, because he couldn't afford one....he knew he would bleed to death all alone at sea if the bleeding did not stop. It truly is when we are backed into a corner, that we sometimes become more creative! Neal grabbed a clothespin and clipped his eyebrow together with this, and it served as stitches would. Some people would have been a victim and cried the blues that they couldn't even afford a first aid kit and they tried their best! Not Neal, he grabbed that clothespin and carries it in his treasure chest as a reminder that this clothespin saved his life, and THAT is a TREASURE to him, not an obstacle!

Neal truly had obstacles that would seem like mountains to most, and most would have given up on their dream. But as with most successful people, Neal did not give up, he would not accept being a victim of circumstance. He was committed to his dream and in the face of every single adversity, he found a way through it or around it.

His beautiful smiling face was such an inspiration of the power of the human spirit...Neal carries these seemingly useless props in this old treasure chest to demonstrate to individuals that in life or in business, you can either look at what you have as an obstacle and be that victim of circumstance, or you can look at each challenge, each obstacle as the treasure that will get you through to live the successful life or become the successful entrepreneur you want to be.

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

3 Strong Skills of Women Entrepreneurs

2009-10-19T21:17:00.007-04:00

Women have skills that are magical when applied to building a business, and tend to naturally utilize these skills because they are so much a part of their everyday lives....this translates to very successful women entrepreneurs.

1-Intuition-Women naturally have a stronger intuition than men....and tend to listen more to how they "feel" ...that "gut instinct". When beliefs or integrity are in question, women tend to get that sick feeling in their stomach and therefore act accordingly on that feeling. When you combine this strong intuitive skill with strong leadership and intellect, it creates a winning combination.

2-Multi Tasking - Most women are absolute masters at doing more than one thing at once....in the home, doing the laundry, cooking dinner and cleaning the house can all be done simultanteously. I remember when our youngest child was a baby, I had our daughter in the high chair feeding her at the same time I was nursing our son, while dinner was on the stove and I was returning business calls (with my headset on) all at the exact same time. This is a definite advantage when you apply this multi-tasking to business situations....you can get far more done in less time.

3-Attention to Detail - Women tend to be able to give a lot of attention to detail while at the same time being totally focused and emotionally involved with their end result.

When women are given an even playing field and they have a burning desire to succeed, they draw on these natural skills and create very successful businesses. Women are leading the way starting new businesses at twice the rate of men...they are utilizing their natural skills and many have taken advantage of being able to work a business out of their homes while raising a family. Gone are the days when you had to have a career or have a family. With so many incredible home businesses available, it is simply a matter of finding the best fit and then following the mentorship of people who have had success....all this while working around your family, right out of your home!

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

You Want To Be An Entrepreneur - What Kind of Business Should You Start?

2009-10-06T11:35:00.005-04:00

More and more people are thinking about starting their own businesses, taking that step to become an entrepreneur! Although this can be a very exciting time, one thing that delays individuals is simply deciding what type of business they want to open, and many don't make that decision until they are forced to.

This is becoming increasing more important these days with the changing economy...USA Today and the Gallup Poll did a study recently and found that 1/4 of all full time and part-time working Americans have thought about leaving their jobs and starting their own business. Many times, entrepreneurs do not make this decision until they are forced to do so, either by downsizing, or other forced changes in their lives. It is often the best thing that could have happened for people, but until they are forced, and can't see any other "job" options, they stay frozen in fear and limiting beliefs on how to earn a living.

Being an entrepreneur gives you so much freedom, it is interesting that many individuals have to be backed into a corner to start entertaining the idea for themselves. As the trend in the change in economy continues, we will see more and more individuals looking to entrepreneurship as a new solution to earn a living.

So how do you find the right business for you?

-Make a list of the things you are really passionate about
-Narrow the list down to your top 3 passions
-Evaluate your skills and determine how you can apply your skills to the passions you have
-Find the matches - what skills match your passions
-Determine your goals - is it possible to reach your goals with the passion and skills you have

Learn to ask yourself new and better questions. Rather than, I am losing my job, now what am I going to do? Instead, ask yourself the questions above...get excited and realize that you are now taking control of YOUR life! You are now in the drivers seat and can put your passion into growing a business of your own. That is what being an entrepreneur is all about....someone who takes responsibility to learn, to understand and to create opportunity for themselves and others.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

What Do Stay at Home Entrepreneurs Require?

2009-09-28T19:45:00.007-04:00

If you conduct a survey of how people get started as an entrepreneur, and what they have in place, you may be surprised! Everything does not have to be perfect, and successful entrepreneurs know this.

I have been an entrepreneur for over 23 years, working out of my home. I had one business for 18 years while our children were small, and my current business since 2005. The number one thing that I required to start both of these businesses was an absolute desire to reach my goal, which was my driving force. My goal in the first business was to be able to be at home to raise our children, and make some extra money to contribute to our family expenses. That business grew to a 6 figure/yr business...not bad for just wanting some extra money once a week to buy a pizza! My focus was always on being able to be home with our kids so that I didn't have to go out in the traditional work world and leave the kids. That focus, that passion was what drove me to do the things I required to live that dream. Did I have everything perfect....not at all...the first two years, my office consisted of a card table for a desk, a box for a filing cabinet and this was at one end of our rec room.

As that business grew, I bought a real desk, had a dedicated phone line to keep our business and family life seperate, a daytimer (to stay organized and be sure that I was able to keep balance in every area of my life) and we eventually moved to another home where I had a "real" office, with a door that I could close and "a do not disturb" sign. I also had a wonderful lady come into our home to entertain the kids when I was in my "prime" work hours (a couple of days per week). This allowed the kids to be in their own home, my office was right beside their playroom, and they could see me whenever they wanted. THAT is the beauty of being self employed from home!

So here I am 23 years later, kids are grown, still loving being self employed from home....and really the same tools are in place....a home office, a dedicated phone line, printer, and of course in today's business high speed internet is a must. Skype is a fabulous tool that allows us to do business all over the world, right from an 8" tiny laptop that actually fits in my purse and weights about 1 lb! There is so much new technology available to entrepreneurs today.....skype, (www.skype.com) efax (www.efax.com) (virtual dedicated fax line - so you don't have to have a fax machine and can receive faxes directly to your email wherever you are on the planet)

Being a successful entrepreneur starts with a burning desire to achieve your goals, and being willing to do whatever it takes, for as long as it takes to reach that goal....tools in place are great, but mean nothing if you don't have that burning, driving force deep in your heart....that leads to greatness in anything you do!

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Recession - Over or Not? YOU Be The Expert!

2009-09-23T12:34:00.005-04:00

We are living in a world where we are bombarded with "information" and "experts" telling us "the way it is"....

How do you actually know WHAT is true?

Within the last two days I read these two articles:

#1 -"The bank failure total for the year is now 95 and includes three of the largest and most troubled -- Guaranty Bank in Austin, Colonial Bank in Birmingham and Corus in Chicago.

We project the number will top 1,000 over the next year and a half. The majority of the banks that will fail are Community Banks and Regional Banks where the impact will devastate entire communities. The FDIC is running out of money and will soon have to tap taxpayers - only the second time in the 75 year history of the FDIC that it had to do so.

-Personal bankruptcies will hit a record 1.4 million this year.
-Business bankruptcies are 250% over their previous high - and rising.
-Unemployment is at 9.7 - heading for 10% (Department of Labor says real unemployment rate is 16%).
-Credit Card charge-offs are at 10.5% and Moody's predicts they will go to 12%.
-Mortgage foreclosures and "walk-aways" continue at record pace.

Any discussion of the Recession ending and the recovery beginning are based on wishful thinking, while ignoring the brutal facts."

#2 - "It's official: Household wealth is on the rise. Goodbye Recession!
An article in the Financial Times reported today that household wealth is increasing! Great News! Over the past 90 days, US household wealth increased by over $2 Trillion dollars, demonstrating that America is once again gaining momentum. "

According to the Bloomberg News, "Gains in Wealth will help Americans rebuild finances more quickly, shortening the time when consumers will again be able to lead economic growth. Economists project spending may take years to fully recover from the worst slump since 1980 after stocks and home values plunged."

So... WHO do you believe? Which article is correct, is the recession over or not? This is just one topic of discussion and you could find conflicting articles and information on any topic you choose.

It is important for individuals to WAKE UP and realize that they CAN become their own experts.....here is a simple exercise - Drive to your local mall or favorite restaurant and simply LOOK with your OWN eyes.....is it busy, are people buying, are people eating out....if things are really so gloomy out there, WHY are there people out there spending and enjoying life?

You can take control of the information that filters into your mind...you do not have to be spoon fed by the media. You can learn to Know For Yourself, and learn how to create your own economy and your own results in life. The answers are within you and you can learn to become your own expert. Visit http://www.KnowForYourself.com This is the newest DVD on the market that is designed to assist individuals in becoming their own expert, to create internal confidence and self empowerment and to really live into their full potential. My gift to you....enter COUPON CODE 112243 for a $5 discount....This DVD is the next revolution in human potential!

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

DVD On Reaching Full Human Potential Taking the World By Storm! -Perfect Tool For Anyone Wanting to Be a Successful Entrrpeneur

2009-09-11T14:55:00.003-04:00

New Release of DVD "Know For Yourself" is Taking the world by storm...with over 10,000 copies sold in first 48 hours! This is not like everything else on the market...this is a documentary style DVD that provides the resources to ignite your creativity through practical exercise and real-world experience. Clarity of purpose. Instant insight. Entrepreneurial development. Cause discovery. The life you are capable of, the life you want. To join the evolution in true human potential visit http://www.knowforyourself.com and enter COUPON CODE 112243 for $5 discount.

This DVD will assist anyone in becoming a successful entrepreneur in any industry they choose!

Successful Entrepreneurs - Work Through Challenges

2009-09-08T09:14:00.005-04:00

One major difference in an "employee mindset" and the mindset of a "successful entrepreneur" is that when challenges arise, employees tend to go through a series of emotions.....fear, avoidance, frustration, sometimes anger.

Here is a very basic example: An employee (let's call him "Joe") working in a customer service position has an upset customer to deal with. Joe is just there to make his hourly wage and really doesn't care about the customer, or their problem. Joe is not sure how to handle the situation..he experiences some fear in picking up the phone, unsure as to what he is going to say to this customer.....he feels anger building and wonders why should he have to deal with this? Joe's anger turns to frustration and so he just avoids the whole thing....after all he is not getting paid to worry about this.

Succcessful entrepreneurs have trained themselves to push through these emotions....mainly because their goals are so much bigger than any challenge they could face, and they take responsibility for building a successful business. Here is the different way this successful entrepreneur may handle the exact same challenge- let's call this person Mary. Mary learns there is an upset customer.....she calls in anyone that may have been involved in the situation to get clarity on the situation...Mary masterminds with key people on a viable solution and either makes the call to the customer herself or delegates it to someone that is fully capable and informed on how to handle it. Now here is the key point - Mary could have had the same initial emotions as Joe did, however, Mary is thinking so much bigger than Joe...Mary takes responsibility for the future of her business, she believes in win/win situations, she knows there is a solution and even if she doesn't initially know what that solution is, she will figure it out to come to a positive solution.

Now, take this example a step further.....because of the way Joe handled the challenge, he personally went through the range of emotions, fear, avoidance, frustration, anger, stress, and most likely affected his co-workers in a very negative way, and then probably went home and took it out on his family.

Mary on the other hand, went home after a great day of work and even though she had some challenges to deal with, felt empowered, created some great relationships with her staff members and allowed them to feel the win of building something great together, and the customer was taken care of in the best possible way. A win/win situation.

We all have the choice to make powerful decisions like Mary did...even if you are currently the employee...developing this type of skill is a stepping stone to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Successful Entrepreneurs - Make Decisions Quickly

2009-08-24T12:44:00.006-04:00

Successful entrepreneurs make quick decisions and stick to those decisions and rarely, if ever change their decision.

Part of creating success in any area of your life, involves confidence in yourself, listening to your own inner voice. This is an area that a lot of people steer wrong.....because they have not learned to "trust" that inner voice we all have.

Here is an example: An individual is working a "job" and they have an opportunity to take a promotion which may mean stepping out of their comfort zone (this could be moving, working more, doing something they have never done, etc.) They are "offered" the promotion and their initial thought is "fabulous, I have wanted this promotion!" Then the monkey chatter starts....."what if I can't do it, it means I have to relocate, I will have to put in more hours, maybe I should ask my "friend/relative/neighbour" what they think" .

This is exactly the process of thinking that so many people go through on an ongoing basis. It' called "monkey chatter". This is one of the reasons that people do not achieve their goals.

To overcome this self sabotage, you must start with being absolutely crystal clear on what you want - what is your goal. Once you have clearly defined your goal, you must learn to take consistent action on anything that will lead you towards that goal.

So, if your goal is to gain that promotion, you must act on the offer when it comes with 100% certainty and confidence.

If you are not willing to take the action in the moment of decision, then you are not committed 100% to that goal, and you need to go back to square one and get totally clear on what your goal is. THAT is the start of success for any successful entrepreneur!

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Successful Entrepreneurs - Do What It Takes

2009-08-24T09:53:00.008-04:00

One of the main differences between success and failure at anything is being willing to do what it takes. Successful entrepreneurs know that you must be willing to do what it takes every single time, whether you feel like it or not, no matter what!

This is one of the main differences between being an employee and an entrepreneur. Successful entrepreneurs do not wait to "feel" like taking action on a task. There is a very simple question I learned many years ago, that will allow existing entrepreneurs and budding entrepreneurs to make the best decision every time in their businesses...."Will this decision bring me closer or further away from my goal". This is a very simple question to ask yourself but do not under-estimate the power behind it.

Here are some examples to put this to the test:

-You have a difficult client to call - however, if you take the action and call this individual, you will be able to collect a substantial payment they owe. Some people have a hard time picking up the phone to call an individual like this - however, just ask yourself, "If I call and assist him with his concerns, can I collect the payment he owes....ok, will this bring me closer or further away from my goal?

-Perhaps you are in an industry that requires ongoing training and updated knowledge (this is every industry, by the way) - there is a training event coming up that will teach you new skills you can apply to your business - simply ask yourself "will going to this training help me learn something new and can this assist me in building my business - now ask - will that bring me closer or further away from my goal?"

-Maybe you need to get the "word" out about your business to increase revenues....you are finding not enough people know about your business. It is time to do some targeted marketing....but you are concerned about the cost because business is not yet where you want it to be - ask yourself "will putting an advertising plan into action bring in more new clients? - ok, will this bring you closer or further away from your goal?

This is one of the most powerful questions I have learned and implemented as an entrepreneur. This one question will help you push through the excuses that so many people buy from themselves that really keep them stuck in struggle and mediocrity - and keeps them stuck being an employee their whole lives.

To be a successful entrepreneur, you must learn to stop thinking like an employee, stop making excuses, take the actions that other successful entrepreneurs have taken, and be willing to be "different". Be willing to make decisions that ONLY bring you closer to your goal....at times this may be a challenge to you, but if you are willing to stop buying your own excuses and are willing to get "uncomfortable", you will become the successful entrepreneur you are striving to be.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Entrepreneurs & Long Weekends

2009-08-05T22:34:00.003-04:00

Entrepreneurs & Long Weekends go hand in hand. Most of us become entrepreneurs for exactly that type of freedom!
Do you believe it's possible to have a long weekend - EVERY weekend of the year?

Today I was at the fitness club and the instructor of my class said "I hope everyone had a great long weekend...I think every weekend should be a long weekend". Most of the class moaned and wished it could be....and at that moment I realized that I had what most people wish for. I have a 3 day weekend EVERY weekend! I work Mon-Thurs and take off Fri, Sat & Sun every single week. AND, I spend every work day sitting in my backyard on a lawnchair beside my pool, with a headset and a laptop working my business a few hours a day.

Being an entrepreneur is what has allowed me to do that! Taking a stand for what I really wanted in my life and then going out and finding it, without compromising what I was looking for. Am I lucky? Yes and no. I knew what I wanted and I went out and found it....successful people understand they create their own luck!

Some entrepreneur opportunities do not allow you to set a schedule like this....some businesses require working long hours, always being present in the business. Many take years to build, and require that you really put your life on hold and focus only on the business.

In Canada, we have several long weekend during our summer months, one in each of the months of May, July, August and Sept, then another one in October....people that work regular jobs live for these long weekends, it is often the "reward" of getting from one month to another in the job they hate.

If you are that person that is just getting from month to month "waiting" for that next long weekend - DO something about it....stop accepting this as a "normal" way to live life. Realize that there are ways to become an entrepreneur and start living your life with the personal and financial freedom that you deserve. You simply have to let go of your present way of thinking, open your mind and know what you are looking for.

-make a list of all the things you would like (ie - shorter hrs, more holidays, increase income, more time with family, no commute, shorter work week)

-identify all the things you don't want (limit on holidays, long work hrs, negative co-workers, no opportunity for growth, etc.)

Start your search with these factors in mind. When you have clarity on what you would like, and are open to finding it, opportunities will come your way, often when you least expect it. Follow the inspired ideas you get, stop holding yourself back living in fear, and start creating the life you truly want to be living.

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

How To Be A Successful Entrepreneur

2009-07-14T10:28:00.004-04:00

Do you have the desire to be a successful entrepreneur? Desire is where it all starts, however, desire alone does not create success. To build a successful foundation to be self-employed, there are some specific qualities that are necessary....

-It is important to have a strong FOCUS

Know what you want to achieve, and then get laser focused...don't get sidetracked. There are so many people that believe they have to do several businesses to create the level of success that they desire. Unfortunately they get so busy putting their efforts and energy into several things at once, that they don't do anything well. They lose their focus.

Learn to focus on one business with total commitment and focus and don't take your eye off what you are working towards.

-Be Persistent & Take Action

This is a success quality that really applies to any area of life that is important to you. Whether you want to become great at golf or you want to build a successful business, you must persistently keep taking the right actions towards your goal. You will never have success at golf, at the gym in your fitness routine, or in business, unless you keep taking that correct, persistent action towards your goals. If you hit a challenge that is too big, regroup, get advice, whatever it takes to find a way around it, and don't give up.

-Be An Expert In Your Business

This is one of the most basic success principles for any entrepreneur! Whatever business you have - KNOW it inside and out. If you own a restaurant, know what each entree tastes like, know your different wine selections ..... we were in a restaurant in Florida this past Jan/Feb....and the owner, Ricardo, was very personable, he knew every wine, every dish and went to each table talking with the customers, he even got out on the dance floor and danced with us....we loved the energy, the expertise, the positive vibration of the place so much, that we went back several times a week during our stay there. Ricardo is an expert at creating the "feel" and the "trust" that people are looking for...he personally knew what went into every dish, he personally knew what each wine tasted like, he took the time to personally know and great each customer and make them feel welcome.

There are many different types of businesses....continue to educate yourself about your business....mastermind with other business owners, go to seminars on your industry, read books...be committed to learning as much as you can.

If you are in a product driven business, immerse yourself in the product you are selling, know it inside and out, be a product of the product. People appreciate experts and will reward you by being a loyal and long time customer....when people like you, your product, your service and your business, you will find it is easy to hit your goals and become the successful entrepreneur you want to be.

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Does Retirement Only Come at 65?

2009-07-06T13:56:00.007-04:00

Why is it people believe they have to work until they are 65 before they can enter retirement? Why is it people have bought into this idea and wait sixty five years before they get out and live and do what they really want to do? Why do people think they can't retire young? Why do people think that you have to be a "wage slave" your whole life?

-people have been conditioned to think that you must wait until 65, because that is the "retirement age"
-people have been conditioned to think that you must work hard your whole life, and then when you have saved enough money then you can retire
-people have been conditioned to think that they have to do what most people in society do...after all if "everyone else" works until 65, then "who am I to think I could retire any younger?"
-we have been taught this growing up by every so called "person of experience" (family, teachers, etc)

What if you could break the mold? What if you could retire from being a "wage slave" in your 30's, 40's or 50's? There are lot's of alternatives to creating wealth in your life so that you don't have to be one of those individuals that "buy into" this concept of waiting your whole life to retire and then start living your life!

Ask yourself a simple question "Why Am I working?" Get clear on WHY you are working....Ask your closest 5 friends this question - you will be shocked at their answers.....it has become so robotic, that most people haven't even entertained the thought of why they work where they do.

-to pay the bills?
-to live the lifestyle you want?
-to make your family life better?
-everyone else does?
-what else would I do, no other known options....

So many people are working a job they hate, not earning the amount of money they want and spending more and more time away from the people they love. If you really get authentic with yourself and ask yourself what is it you really want from life, I would bet it is not going to work.

Most people work to make their family life better, spend more time with those people they love, to save for retirement so they can be financially free in their later years.....what about now? Are you one of those individuals that are working so hard to create the lifestyle, to make your family life better.....that you have lost touch with living your life now? So many people are caught up in this way of thinking that they totally miss the best years of their lives, miss their children growing up, and then wonder what happened to those years. Unfortunately most people are so busy building someone else's dream, that they never live their own.

Start challenging your present thinking! Start asking yourself better questions - Why would people spend the first 40-50 years of their adult life trading their precious time for money, building someone's dream, so they can make it "safely" to the magic age of 65 when they are told they can retire and then start enjoying life? Wow, doesn't that seem wrong? What are we here for? To miss the best years of our lives working at jobs we don't even like?

Start looking outside of your current circumstances....if you are still a wage slave, start opening your mind to other alternatives...realize you can retire at any age you want.....there are lots of solutions out there that will allow you to work less, set your own hours, increase your income and spend more time with the people you love.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Canada Day & 4th Of July

2009-07-02T11:09:00.004-04:00

Canada Day was yesterday and this weekend is the 4th of July in the US. As I was driving home from my workout at the gym, I noticed from a distance, some young guys (19-20) walking along the sidewalk with big Canadian flags, cheering and waving to cars passing by. I immediately started to observe the reaction of people in the cars that they were attempting to get the attention of.....NONE of these drivers acknowledged, waved, honked their horns or did anything to join in the common thread we all have in common...being Canadian!

When I got closer to these young fellows, I rolled down my windows, honked my horn over and over, waved, cheered out the window and gave them some recognition for being enthusiastic about our country. It was a GREAT moment....they loved it, I loved it, and for a brief moment I had a patriotic connection with some young men that were actually strangers to me.

I couldn't help but wonder why the people in other vehicles didn't respond at all....this was a day that is a national holiday, people are off work, there are parades, fireworks, parties, celebrations.....but these individuals were inside their cars in their own worlds. After thinking about it for a moment it became another clear example to me that people in society are so regimented, so "inside the box", so "follow the masses", that when a simple opportunity to do something "different" comes up, most won't jump in and have a new experience that might just break them from the rut they are living in.

Wow, yet another time that I am SO grateful that I have learned to think for myself, to jump in and experience new things, to follow my heart instead of analyzing everything in my head, and to take advantage of every moment.

Did this change the world? No, but for a brief moment it added value to my world, to these young men's world and if more of us learned to follow our hearts like this more frequently and share our enthusiasm for something we believe in, it would certainly make the whole world a better place! So, whoever you were fellows...thanks for being a wonderful part of my world yesterday....Happy Canada Day and to our friends in the US....ENJOY your 4th of July!

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Get Inspired From Others Success

2009-06-30T16:05:00.005-04:00

We just had some incredible examples of massive success in our company this month....income records being shattered and the bar of success being raised. This is such an pivotal moment of celebration for everyone in the company....not just the individuals achieving the result. It provides evidence to other people what is possible.

Evidence - when one person raises the bar, they demonstrate by their example what is possible.

We see this in business, sports, all walks of life....people achieving what no one before them had. People raising the bar, pushing the limits, thinking outside of the box of what is possible, and then going after it, taking action and achieving it.

Why is this important? Because there are so many different examples of greatness, and when one person does the so called "impossible", it brings a new awareness to the observers.....the observers then have new hope of what is possible for them, and once again, the butterfly effect happens.....one person's example of greatness becomes the inspiration for others to grow into their greatness....and the bar of success keeps going up!

Wow, I love being a witness to others people greatness.......people living into their full human potential! Ask yourself, what am I truly capable of, what potential do I have that I am holding back on....what is really possible for my life? Every individual has greatness within them waiting to be unleashed....it is our personal responsibility to live into our full potential...to raise the bar in our own lives....knowing that we all have the power to be the example that changes other people's lives.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Leadership Starts With YOU

2009-06-25T18:35:00.008-04:00

Leadership is one of the most powerful commodities on the planet! Everyone is capable of being a leader, but few actually live into that potential.

We are surrounded in society by people that have conformed to negative self talk, negative beliefs, and lack of vision and hope. How can YOU get past this to create the type of success you want in your life and live into your full leadership potential?

1) Separate yourself from negative conversations - it is a CHOICE to be involved in conversations or complaining, and negativity...understand that you have full control in your life, and you can choose to remove yourself from any conversation that is not beneficial or positive.
2) Turn off all media -newspapers, t.v., etc. - CREATE your own reality and don't "buy into" what the media feeds you
3) Read and listen to positive material that will enhance your attitude, and increase your knowledge, and increases a positive energy in you
4) Surround yourself with people that you can learn from, people that you feel great with, people that are energetic, positive, successful

Be willing to walk a different path - think outside of the box - look at the people in your life and ask yourself if they are getting the type of results that you really want. If not, start limiting your time with these people, and start putting yourself into different environments....join a gym, or a golf club, find a mastermind group to join, eat in different restaurants, anything to change it up.

Be willing to meet new people, do new things....be willing to do whatever people that are getting results do.

Success is simple when you take on the role of leadership and follow the path of other successful people. It requires moving out of conformity, fear, negativity and masses thinking, and moving in the direction that leaders follow. It requires taking a firm stand in your life for what you want, and only moving in the direction of decisions that move you towards that goal.

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Leadership & Building Successful Careers

2009-06-16T23:26:00.004-04:00

Today we attended our daughters college graduation! It was an opportunity to see young people living into their goals and launching their new careers. It is so great to witness peoples greatness and share in the joy of achievement!

As the ceremony got underway, the president of the college and other "dignitaries" were seated on the stage. Several got up to speak their words of "wisdom". This was the most uninspiring, unenthusiastic, event I have ever witnessed. There was no smiling, no excitement on behalf of the "dignitaries"...they all looked depressed! Several got up to speak, and not one of them just stood and spoke from the heart....they all read "pre-canned" speeches and demonstrated no real leadership. Anyone could have stepped behind the podium and "read" the speeches they delivered and handed out the awards. These are the people in charge of teaching our youth on how to build a successful career! These are the people in charge of teaching our youth leadership! No enthusiasm, no heart, no passion, nothing.....

In the program, it read "Please reserve applause until the end of the presentation" So, as the first 100 or so students walked across the stage to accept their diploma's, it was silent, you could have heard a pin drop. I couldn't help thinking this was unacceptable....these students have worked day and night studying, many have worked 1 or 2 part time jobs to put themselves through college and in this moment of greatness, this moment of celebration, this moment when we were celebrating their launch into new careers they have worked 3 years to achieve, we were not supposed to recognize their greatness and applaud? That was just unacceptable to me! There was NO way that my daughter was going to walk across that stage and quietly accept her diploma.....without some excitement, something to remember! If that is the best our school system can do....if they can't be more creative than that, why don't they just stick these diplomas in the mail? Getting mail would have been more exciting than what was being demonstrated on that stage!

So, when our daughter walked across that stage our family let out huge whooohooo's, clapping and cheering! This was in the gym that was totally silent up to that point! She now has a "memory" of her great moment of achievement!

An interesting thing happened after this......more people started letting out little whoohoo's and claps came from various spots in the room. More and more people caught on to this and one young fellow in front of us stood up and yelled and cheered and whistled when his brother was on stage. THAT is enthusiasm! That is passion! That is non-conformity! Why is this important? Because, the people that have been "conforming" to society's "way of doing things" are losing their jobs and don't know what their future holds! People that don't conform, realize it doesn't matter if they lose their job, because they will go out and create something better!

People that have the most success in life, live with excitement, passion, non-conformity, and think outside the box. They learn how to be effective leaders and then share their knowledge to assist other people.

Here are some tips to assist anyone (new or seasoned) in creating a successful career...

-Never be afraid to do something GREAT - fear is crippling and holds many people back their whole lives

-Believe in your own ideas

-Set goals you are passionate about and only take actions that lead you towards these specific goals

-Live on the edge and do not follow the "masses" mentality

-Don't take no for an answer

-Live life with ENTHUSIASM

-Find mentors that can teach you and lead you in the direction of your goals

-Go after what you really want, and don't settle

-Be willing to step out of your comfort zone

-Take a stand for your own greatness and be wiling to do whatever it takes for as long as it takes.

-Be a LEADER - take people in bold new directions, let go of the "masses" mentality that is so prevalent in our society and BE the person that steps outside of "what has always worked" and "what people have been doing and thinking for years" and lead people to new possibilities

-Continually educate yourself, keep learning and growing into your full potential. Study successful people, learn what they do and then implement the success strategies into your own life.

And most of all, have FUN doing it.....life is meant to be lived, enjoyed....not to crawl through in a comotose state safely making it to the end!

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston

1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Executive Careers & Downsizing

2009-06-08T12:58:00.006-04:00

If you have had a successful executive career in an industry that is downsizing, perhaps the time has come to consider what other industries are growing that you can utilize your skills in, or even a consider a total career change. Gone are the days that individuals keep working the same careers until retirement.

There are many options to consider to put your personal strengths and professional experience to work for you, so that you can create success within a totally different industry. It is a process that thousands of successful executives have faced. There are many opportunities....you just need an open mind, and for some individuals it will require learning to think outside of the box.

To start, identify all of your interests, skills, passions and your core values ... many times individuals have been stuck in a career they didn't even like in the first place, and stay because of the financial rewards, not knowing what else they can do to maintain the level of income they have become accustomed to. When that income disappears it forces people to get more creative, and define what they want in their lives. For instance, if you have been working 80 hours week, you may define in your new career that you want to work less hours and be home more. Maybe you have realized that you have been selling your life to an employer, missing time with your family....for what? To be downsized by a company that didn't care about you in the first place? Tough pill to swallow, but true....and so many high level executive careers have demanded that type of commitment.

The good news is, you now have a choice where YOU call the shots....you can absolutely design your next career to be deeply satisfying, expressing your talents and passions that are unique to you, and take your income to an even higher level than you previously made. In many cases, these moments in life, when we are forced to make a change because of outside circumstances, actually are the starting point of a magnificent new direction in our lives.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Action VS Inaction

2009-06-04T11:30:00.003-04:00

Building success is no secret when you know what successful people do. Successful people are no different than anyone else....the only difference is that we have learned and mastered some very basic success principles that we apply to our lives on a consistent basis.

Success principle #1 - Get the energy to do the thing, and you will get the energy to do the thing! Have you heard this before? Maybe you have heard it, but have you actually implemented and mastered this simple success principle?

Here is a basic example of this success strategy.....have you ever "not felt" like doing something that you know would move you towards your goal and put it off until you "felt" like it. Many times, individuals buy this excuse and actually never get started because they are waiting to "feel" like it. Let's take going to the gym - last week it was raining and cold outside and we were comfy inside watching a great movie. Barry & I were scheduled to go to the gym for our fitness class. 15 minutes before I got up to leave and we had a moment of "should we go...or just stay here"....we really wanted to stay and watch the movie....but, we got ourselves up and went to the fitness class. Afterwards we were so grateful that we went and felt fabulous after the workout! It was absolutely energizing! Such a basic example of "get the energy to do the thing, and you get the energy to do the thing" It would have been so much easier to stay on the couch, but when we mustered up the energy to get ourselves to the gym, the energy came to us and we both felt great!

Business works the same way, when you simply get started with the task you are avoiding or don't want to do, you will get the energy to continue. This is something that all successful people have mastered and do on a consistent basis.

Here is a quick example relating to business - this morning I was scheduled to speak on a company training call. I woke up with flu type symptoms and contacted one of my business partners to find a replacement for the call. I then went to the hot tub to relax and started reflecting and thinking about my decision and I realized that I could buy my own excuse and have a pity party, or, I could use this as a powerful example of this success principle. So I recommitted myself to the training call. It was actually amazing how much energy I got from this call....I decided to commit to the call for the benefit of the listeners and felt I could provide them with a powerful message. But something interesting happened.....I got a ton out of it myself! My energy went through the roof, I felt adrenaline pouring through my system, I was excited, and didn't feel sick any more. I did a bit of work in my office, went out for a 2 hour lunch with my son, did a bit more work, and then went to the gym for 3 hours. I came home and have been catching up on some things I had to do and here it is 1:40 am and I am not even tired, and haven't felt sick since!

This was a fabulous experience for me to have today! It was repeated evidence for me personally that when you are focused on your goal with full intention, and you apply some basic success princples even when you don't really feel like it, you will create success in your life and in your business.

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Building Confidence

2009-06-01T17:03:00.007-04:00

When taking on anything new, there is usually a level of uncertainty and lack of confidence. It is a sign we are stepping out of our comfort zones. For some people this will be too daunting, and therefore, they stay stuck in their own comfort zone because it is too uncertain, they are too fearful, they lack confidence.

I recently joined a gym and began going to some fabulous exercise classes offered there.. I have never been an exerciser! As in many spots where you are following an instructor, there are mirrors all around the room......I had no idea why they would put mirrors up all over so you could see how out of shape you were no matter what direction you were pointing! I have learned is so that as you turn in different positions of exercise, you can still see the instructor without turning your head. It is extremely helpful! However, when I started at the gym, I was like most new folks and didn't yet know all the movements that were being done, so when the group was moving in one direction I was moving in the other direction.....I just didn't have the "beat" of the movements yet. I found myself looking in all the mirrors at how clumsy I was looking compared to the rest of the group. My confidence was not yet there and I definitely felt clumsy and was very aware of my "newness".

This is comparable to many things in our life that we take on and are new at...a new job, a new business, a new relationship, a new hobby....the list goes on. So often, this is a transition that is uncomfortable for people....and they quit before they ever get off the ground.

As I kept going back to the classes at the gym, I noticed something really interesting....each class I was getting less clumsy and was gaining more strength and was actually getting a bit better at the movements each class. I was focused on the enjoyment and the progress and last week as I sat in the sauna afterwards, I was reflecting on the progress I had made over the last 6 weeks and realized something really important. I hadn't looked in those mirrors to look at myself since probably the 2nd week....why is that important? I realized that at the beginning I was so focused on all the things I was doing wrong and wondering how clumsy I looked, how out of shape I was, and was anyone else noticing it? Because I pushed through this time frame of learning, I got into flow, and was just totally enjoying the experience and the feeling of success I was experiencing from the exercise. I was using the mirrors to simply follow the instructor and didn't care what I looked like and actually don't even know what I look like in the movements because I haven't been focused on that.

It is like putting a magnifying glass on ourselves when we start something new....initially we don't have confidence, we feel like we are making mistakes, and we are self conscious about looking inadequate. But, when we push through these feelings and keep focused on the goal, all of a sudden you will come to the realization that wow, you have actually become confident, and proficient in what you are doing. That builds your self esteem and your confidence and that is when the activity actually becomes fun and almost effortless.

I have become addicted to the gym...it is amazing how much you learn from physical activity that leads to breakthroughs in other areas of your life as well.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Applying The Law Of Attraction Will Change Your Life

2009-05-28T14:54:00.005-04:00

For those of us that have studied and live the principles of The Secret, we understand that like attracts like. This means as you think a thought, you attract it to you. Thoughts actually become the things in your life. Our thoughts actually become things!

Bob Proctor is quoted as saying "If you see it in your mind, you're going to hold it in your hand". Those that understand this secret, and apply this knowledge purposely, can change everything in their lives. You actually become what you think about most, and you also attract what you think about most.

Individuals must understand that wherever they are in their life right now, it is a result of their past thoughts....in many cases, their very best thinking. To make changes towards what a person does want, requires the individual to "change" their thinking...to think about what you want in your mind so much that it becomes your dominant thought.....then take the actions required and you manifest it in your life. Nothing will change until we change our thinking, and that is why many people stay stuck in their lives, because they never step out of the current level of thinking they have.

The challenge most people have is they spend most of their time thinking about what they don't want and living in the so called "reality" that most of society has bought into. The law of attraction is obedient, you always get what you focus on....you must learn to listen to your thoughts and words you use. There are no exceptions with this.

It is helpful to be aware of who you surround yourself with to accelerate the results of applying the law of attraction in your life. If you are surrounded with negative, skeptical people, chances are, you too will buy into this way of thinking, and you will be negative, skeptical and things just seem to keep going wrong for you. If however, you surround yourself with positive, like minded, enthusiastic people that are passionate about personal development and the teachings in The Secret, chances are wonderful things start to manifest in your life. If you are looking for people like this, here is a great place to find them http://www.BeHome.ca

With so many people learning about and studying the law of attraction and The Secret, it is a time in history when a shift is taking place and those of us that embrace this and share our knowledge with others about this thought movement have an opportunity to make significant positive change in our own lives,and in the lives of the people we come in contact with around the world.

It feels magnificent to a part of something so great that changes people lives in such a positive way!

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Wealth Building Strategy - Business Ownership

2009-05-26T14:31:00.006-04:00

I have referred to T Harv Eker before....he has so many great success strategies that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from. I have his"Secrets of the Millionaire Mind" cards on my desk, which are quick daily "thoughts" based on his international bestselling book of the same name. The insights are fabulous....they are designed to show you how to think and act like wealthy people do, and get rid of the conditioning and past beliefs we have all grown up with about money. I pull one out of the deck each morning and reflect on the message....

Here is the message I got today - "Start a business full or part-time, work on commission, get a percentage of revenue or company profits, or get stock options. The vast majority of millionaires became rich by being in their own business."

This is so true! Business owners take control of their lives, they control their incomes, they control their time, and their results. Employees on the other hand, are victims of "circumstance" - downsizing, low pay, not enough holidays, no chance of advancement or promotion, etc. Business owners understand they can work for someone else and build their dream, or they can take a stand, make a bold move, become a business owner and start building their own dreams. Again, as I often say in my posts here, it is all a choice. We can all be victims of employers decisions or we can be victors in our own businesses. Bottom line, you will NEVER get rich working for someone else! I am so grateful that I have been a business owner for the past 22+ years, and now have the pleasure of teaching other people how to start their own businesses and create the type of wealth and freedom I enjoy, AND, how to do that working from their own backyards!

Harv Eker has an excellent program that I highly recommend to anyone that wants to shed their limiting beliefs about money....it is a 3 day intensive weekend that is done worldwide to assist people in getting their heads straight about creating wealth in their lives. Check it out on google....it's called the Millionaire Mind Intensive.

In your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Applying The Secret Through Business

2009-05-25T21:39:00.005-04:00

If you have read the book or viewed the movie, you realize that The Secret has been transforming lives all around the world for several years now. Many talk show hosts have done segments on The Secret - Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, Larry King....the strategies and success principles taught are fascinating to people, and for the first time for many people, these teachings have been the start of creating many new possibilities in their lives.

People are learning that their old way of thinking is not working any longer, and many are realizing that there is a better way and are searching for new possibilities in their lives. Old fears, past conditioning and limiting beliefs are being replaced by more positive, focused thinking to bring about better results.

This has been wonderful for people! Society is starting to see the connection between their thinking and their results and that by changing their thinking and their actions, that they can attract what they really want in their lives.

It is interesting how things work and all fit together in our lives. About 5-6 years ago a dear friend of mine gave me a book for Christmas "The Law of Attraction" by Michael Losier. (at the time I had never heard of this) I read it right away and found it very interesting and then about 6 months later, I had the opportunity to hear Michael speak. The whole concept of the Law of Attraction was playing on my brain, and I was starting to ask myself different questions, and began questioning what I really wanted in my life.

About a year later I was looking for a new business ...... I didn't quite know what I wanted, but had identified all the things I didn't want..... and the business I found was based around the teachings of The Secret and the Law of Attraction... http://www.BeHome.ca ..and look how the universe works......Michael Losier and Bob Proctor were people that spoke at our company events and do a lot of teaching in our company. There are no accidents in life.....we attract to us what we think about. When people really understand this and start deliberately taking actions that support their goals, they start living a life by design.

In Your Service

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Big Thinking & Big Actions = Big Results

2009-05-22T11:14:00.007-04:00

I love this quote from T Harv Eker: "Small Thinking and Small Actions Lead to Being Both Broke and Unfulfilled. Big Thinking and Big Actions Lead To Having Both Money and Meaning. The Choice Is Yours".

If we are authentic with ourselves I am sure we can all think of a time that we can relate to in our own lives where we have thought small and took small actions, and where we have thought big and taken big actions. Until about four years ago I was definitely in the "small thinking and small actions" category....I had a business that was failing, I thought the only way to survive was in that one business and by working "harder". I was afraid to make a move and do something different....what if I failed, what if I lost my material possessions, what if......there was literally dozens of "what ifs". Actually, I was afraid to even admit to myself that I didn't like what I was doing! I realized I was surrounded by people that thought like I did. Most of us have been raised to go to school, work hard....if times get tough, work harder....and to fear all these "what if's".

Ask yourself this question - Am I being totally authentic with myself, with what I truly want, and with what I absolutely don't want in my life? Tough question for most people to answer. I avoided even thinking about this question for years. And, I was stuck in the "small thinking and small actions" category.

I realized that I hadn't admitted that to myself because if I had of been absolutely honest and authentic with myself, that would mean I would have to make a change....and change is not a comfortable spot for most of us to be in. It means we have to do something different, perhaps step out of our comfort zone, take a risk, do something we have never done. That is why most people walk around in a fog, play it safe and wonder why they are broke and unfulfilled.

Thank goodness I woke up from that fog! I admitted to myself that what I was doing for a living was not working any longer, and that it was unfulfilling and I needed a change. Because I was able to get authentic with myself (for the first time in my life) it was like a sense of freedom. When you are backed into a corner and you can't go anywhere else, THAT is when wonderful things can happen.

Because of that experience, I found a new sense of determination, I let go of the fear that had been holding me back for years, I learned that playing small in life had only led me to being broke and unfulfilled. I learned that it was time to decide what I really wanted, and then take the action that would lead me to that goal - even when it was uncomfortable, even when I was afraid, even when I didn't know what to do. I learned to take a risk on MYSELF and trust in my decisions, my actions and my belief in what I was capable of....wow, THAT was a new concept.

I learned, actually I simply ALLOWED myself to think big, ALLOWED myself to think of all the possibilities in my life, starting taking different actions than I had ever taken, surrounded myself with people that had the results I wanted and followed their lead.

This process has been life changing for me! Because of that corner I was backed into, and the willingness to start thinking big and taking BIG actions, I now have the life I once dreamed of. Working part time hours from my lawnchair by the pool, spending every day with the people I love most, travelling the world several times a year, retired my husband at age 45 (not 65), having the financial freedom to live life the way we want.... Of course the money part is great, but money is simply a tool to let you live the life you truly want.....a life of meaning, doing the things that are important to you, with the people that are important to you, rather than running around working 50, 60, 80 hours a week, to pay the bills to live in the house with the people you love that you never get to SEE because you are working so much!

As Harv says "the choice is yours!" I am so grateful I woke up from that fog and made conscious choices to create the life I now live.

In your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Qualities Of An Entrepreneur

2009-05-19T14:40:00.006-04:00

Transitioning from being an Employee to becoming an Entrepreneur can be a bit of a learning curve. There are specific things you can do to make this transition smooth and prosper as an entrepreneur....

-Start thinking bigger - entrepreneurs are big thinkers and don't limit their potential
-Learn from an experienced mentor - entrepreneurs are independent, however, they learn from people that can mentor them and accelerate their success (this can be a business coach, a speaker at a seminar, books, audios, etc from successful people) and also from other business owners in their field of business that can network and mastermind ideas with
-Understand that ANY business will require start up and running capital. Business owners do not take this capital out of their own pocket or "save up" until they can start a business. They understand leverage and find ways to finance their expenses to get off the ground, and to put them into a position to profit.
-Take advantage of all income streams available in the business....i.e. a fast food restaurant franchise - if you were buying one of these franchises, you would want to profit from the hamburgers, the fries, the milk shakes, the apple pie, and and other producs offered. You would also understand the value of having a drive-thru. Someone buying a franchise like this would not limit themselves to just selling hamburgs and fries and send them down the street to another fast food spot to buy the milkshake and dessert. And, they would also understand the value of a drive-thru and treat it as another way to generate sales. If you are getting in the game of being a business owner, GET IN THE GAME! Don't stand on the sideline and "wait" until you have saved enough money to put all the pieces in place. Ask yourself "What do other top successful business owners in this particular business do" and then just duplicate that exactly. For instance if all the fast food spots have a drive-thru, and this is something that is important for the success of this type of business, then YOU should also have a drive thru...it is not about whether you can "afford" a drive thru or not - If that is your thinking, you are definitelly thinking like an employee. It's time to make that transition to thinking like a business owner.
-Learn as much as you can possibly learn on an ongoing basis about your industry. Knowledge is power.
-Know who your target market is and direct your marketing efforts towards that specific group. There are so many basic, cost effective things you can do....
-Do something you are passionate about! When I started my business back in Feb/05, I had been an entrepreneur for 18 years prior.....I knew I did not want to work for someone else....I also knew all the types of businesses that I was not interested in. I couldn't define exactly what business I wanted to start, but, I knew all the things that were important to me....so I made a list of what I was looking for:

-I wanted to have a home based business
-I wanted a business that was portable, so I could travel for 3-6 months at a time if I wanted, and still be able to run my business from anywhere in the world - preferably from a lawn chair by a pool, or on the beach
-I wanted time leverage so I could reduce the number of hours I was working
-I wanted to set my own hours and work when I decided to work
-I wanted to take as much time off to spend with my family as I choose
-I wanted to work with like minded people
-I wanted to find a business that was of great interest to me.....I only wanted something I could get excited about in terms of what it offered people
-I wanted something extremely lucrative so that I could retire my husband and we could start living a life of total freedom

When you first make the list for yourself, sometimes it can seem daunting and you may wonder if what you are looking for even exists? When I made this defined list, these were the things that were important for me to find in a business, even though I didn't know what that business would be. But, because I was crystal clear on WHAT I wanted, when it came along, I knew I had found the perfect match! There was no "thinking or deciding" required to make my decision. I found the business that met all of this criteria and the decision was then very simple.

Being in total control of your future is what being an entrepreneur is all about. People never get that luxury by being an employee. If you are willing to get clear on what you truly want in your life, and then are willing to do what other successful entrepreneurs do, you will develop a life for yourself that people dream about. A life that employees think is just for a select few. But here is the key - YOU can be part of that select few - you simply have to stop thinking like an employee and start thinking like an entrepreneur and take the actions we take.

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Utilize This New Economy

2009-05-12T09:01:00.005-04:00

It's time to wake up, stop living in fear and realize that what is happening in the economy right now is one of the greatest opportunities in our lifetime!

Some people are choosing to resist change and resist what is happening around us in the global economy. Yes, companies are downsizing, jobs are being lost and people are panicking. Much of this panic is being fed by the fear promoters in the media! What are some constructive steps you can take right now to become one of the people that not only survives these next couple of years, but actually creates financial freedom for themselves?

-Stop reading the paper and listening to the news....make a bold decision to create your OWN economy
-Find the opportunities in the "problems" - some people only see problems....Stop "resisting" the economy.....successful people see the problem and invent an opportunity .... they "utilize" what is happening in a positive way
-Use your intelligence and don't let emotions rule your intellect
-Think long term.....successful people ALWAYS think long term.
-Gain knowledge - learn, read, go to seminars....add to your skills
-Learn to trust yourself....don't be swayed by your broke co-workers and friends - know that you can always find or create a way. With self trust you will gain confidence.
-Be one of the people that is willing to do what it takes - Most people are NOT willing to do what it takes - they say they are, but they make excuses....if you are 100% willing to do WHATEVER it takes to reach your goal, you will put yourself in the top % of people that absolutely creates massive success during these next couple of years
-Build passive streams of income....real estate is a great option...think about this....during the next 5 years, how many houses can I buy for the least amount of investment....one every 6 months?......in 5 years you would have 10 houses, that could all be rented, paying off your mortgages and creating passive income for you.
-If you have been downsized or are afraid of the future with your employer, make a decision to find a business for yourself that is growing and prospering BECAUSE of this economy! http://www.BeHome.ca
-Surround yourself with like minded, goal oriented, driven, positive people. This in itself will lead you to more opportunity than you can even imagine.

Wealthy people have been waiting for the opportunities that exist right now! We understand that this is one of the greatest times in history to build wealth. Just make a choice to surround yourself with these type of people, that are optimistic, positive, that can teach you how to be a part of this exciting opportunity.

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

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Grateful for Motherhood! Living Life With the People I Love Most!

2009-05-09T11:24:00.004-04:00

I am so grateful to be the mom of two incredible young adults! Our daughter Amy is a a recent web designer/graphic design graduate, (Multimedia Design and Production and 3D Animation) has started her own design business, http://www.wickedwench.ca works part time in a high end Thai restaurant as a server/bartender, and is focused, professional and goes after what she wants. She is a beautiful young woman, and besides being our daughter is one of my best friends.

Our son Jeff is working in a sales position utilizing the personal development knowledge he has been passionate about for the past 4 years His thinking is more advanced and focused than most people twice or 3 times his age. A true testimony of what personal development can do for someones life that makes a decision to learn success principles and then actually apply them to their own lives. He is strong in character, integrity, determined, and besides being our son, is also one of my best friends.

None of this would have been possible without my incredible husband, Barry.....who has taught me patience, incredible love and is such a great dad.

All of us that have experienced motherhood know all the good and the sometimes challenging times that come with the role....to me, it is an absolute honor and privilege to have been and continue to be a part of our kids lives and to be the one Amy and Jeff call "mom"....

Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there!

Do "What If's" Hold You Back?

2009-05-08T11:35:00.001-04:00

How many times in your life have you wanted to do something and you said "yes, but...what if?....." It is so common for most people to live their life this way.....

This is just one of many phrases that have been drilled into our brains growing up....we have been "conditioned" to think this way, however, that does not mean it is the RIGHT way to think!

Here is another example - "get a good job, work until you are 65, get a pension and then you will be set". Set for WHAT? How about this instead "take control of your life, work for yourself, find something you are passionate about, retire in your 30's, 40's or 50's, travel the world and live life with the people you love most". I guarantee that most people that read this statement will never believe that is possible for them - because, they have been conditioned to buy into fear and limitations and the "it sounds too good to be true" phrase (another classic example of limiting beliefs)

But, here is the exciting news....you don't have to keep thinking that way! Living your life by the "what if's" means you will not take chances, that you are fearful, that you miss out on incredible experiences, and opportunities in every area of life. Really, the "what if's" are just fear based excuses.

Most of these "what if's" NEVER come true.....but people waste so much time and energy playing their lives "safely" in their perceived "safety net" just in case.....then life passes them by and they wonder what happened to all the possibilities....they wonder why they didn't experience more, they wonder why their life wasn't what they wanted it to be.

It is never too late....anyone can take a firm stand for what they want in their lives, and make a bold decision to move past the excuses, the what if's, and start living the type of life they want and start experiencing all the things that are possible.

We are surrounded by abundance every single day....some people will choose to see it, embrace it and be a part of it....others will stand by frozen in their past conditioning and keep "waiting" for the perfect timing for something they want to be, do or have...these are the people that get to old age and wonder what happened?

It is all a choice....

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

Global Economy - We Are In A "Changing" Economy

2009-05-07T16:59:00.002-04:00

It is interesting to observe all the doom and gloom talk that so many people are engaged in regarding the "global recession". I have recently read several excellent books that addressed the need for peoples thinking to change....the people that will survive are the people that are willing to change the way they think and become innovative and creative in terms of their futures and stop holding onto the past way of earning their livings. I have personally observed this in my own business. Our sales are up approx. 60% over the same time period last year....at a time when everyone around us are complaining about the lack of jobs, or opportunity or money, etc., we have people prospering at a higher level than ever before. Ask any successful business person, this is a time where fortunes are being made by the people that embrace this time of change and take control of their own futures, and stop buying into the media and the mass panic. You can be part of the problem, or part of the solution! We welcome anyone that wants to be a part of the solution to contact us.

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050
1-800-576-2917

It's time for people to get their foot off the brake and put the throttle down...we are surrounded by huge opportunity right now...but not for those that live in fear and limiting beliefs and buy into the mass panic the media is feeding everyone!

Take Responsibility For Your Future

2008-06-16T17:45:00.003-04:00

I have mentioned many times before, that the only "job security" you have is the security you create for yourself.....I worked with a company for 18 years before starting the business I now have. Things were good there for about 13 of those years....the last 5 years, business was not good.....after doing everything I knew to do I came to the realization that my income was MY responsibility, my future was MY responsibility and my choices were MY responsibility! I could not rely on the company I was working with to give me what I truly wanted....if it wasn't there, I had to find it elsewhere....

And that's what I did.....I decided that after 18 years of commitment, loyalty and love of the business I had been in, that it was time to move on, to create my own dream and take a stand for what I really wanted in my life. Was that against conventional thinking? Absolutely! People couldn't understand why I left, why I would make a change.

It's so interesting how the mind works.....people don't want to see the obvious...it is easier to bury your head in the sand and "hope" things will work out. That is not what smart business people do. Successful entrepreneurs realize that they are in control of their results, they play full out and make changes when necessary and don't let fear, or limiting beliefs hold them back.

So, 3 years ago I left that company to build my own dream. Last week the company that I left went out of business....was I surprised.....no of course not, the writing had been on the wall for the last 8 years...that's why I left 3 years ago. But even after all challenges that company had for the last 8 years, most of the people that were still there in the end were in shock, they couldn't believe the doors closed.

It's time to wake up people! YOU and only you are in control of your financial well being. You either take control of your future or someone else will control it for you. You are either a victim of circumstances or you are victorious because of your choices.

Life is a choice.....stop letting fear and limiting beliefs control you and take a stand for your life and choose what you really want!

In your Service,

Debbie Ruston
www.Abundant-Lifestyle.com
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

So, What Is Stopping YOU From Starting Your Own Business?

2008-05-02T14:55:00.004-04:00

Richard Parker, is one of America's leading business consultants, and he believes that buying a business is a much smarter idea than starting a new one.

People that are interested in buying a business often have some questions and reservations.

-"I'm afraid to leave my secure, well paid job"

Think about this...if you have been smart enough to land a well paid job, then you are smart enough to run your own business. You obviously have a high work ethic, take responsiblity for your work, and have leadership qualities....these are all the same qualities it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Don't let fear stop you....you are either going to stay stuck in a rut of working for someone else building their dreams or get past your fear and start taking control of your life and start building your own dreams.

-"What if it doesn't work - what are the downsides?"

Think about this....what if your j.o.b. doesn't work...what if there is a slowdown....what are the downsides of that? You are getting laid off! You have absolutely no control over that....you are in the hands of a corporation....all you are is the "worker bee"....if they decide to lay you off, that's it, you are out of work. This is a lot risker than being an entrepreneur because you have absolutely no control over this.....society has simply conditioned people to think working for someone else is job security! It's a load of rubbish! There is no "job" security...the only security you have is taking control of your life and knowing that YOU call the shots.

-"I don't have any experience in running a business - how would I know what to do"

This is why buying an existing business is such a great option...you will be mentored by the previous business owner in many cases. Another option is to join a network marketing company with a proven system in place. Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki are huge supporters of this industry. With the right company, there is mentorship in place, and a proven duplicatable system to follow. This is why franchises are so successful, although they are very expensive to start up. Again, network marketing companies require lower capital investments and have huge profit potential.

This is where we come in....so many people stay stuck in their lives because they don't realize they have options. And even when they start to explore their options, fear, limiting beliefs and past conditioning get in the way of them making solid business decisions. Feel free to contact us at either number below for details on starting a business and getting past the limitations that have been holding you back.

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050
www.Abundant-Lifestyle.com

Why Own Your Own Business?

2008-02-19T21:16:00.003-05:00

Gone are the days of working somewhere for 40+ years, and retiring with a pension, gold watch and a going away party! That just does not happen anymore.

Today, people that are financially independent at retirement are the ones that take control and build their own dreams rather than working for someone else building their dreams.

And retirement can come much earlier than 65 if you find the right business. We are surrounded by abundance and have the opportunity to create whatever level of success we truly want.

To do that, you must step away from the "pack" mentality....you must decide exactly what you want, and take control of your life. You will never get rich working for someone else, but you absolutely can if you stop thinking like an employee, and start acting like an entrepreneur!

In your Service,

Debbie Ruston
WWW.ABUNDANT-LIFESTYLE.COM
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Are You a Baby Boomer and Is Retirement for You?

2007-10-28T19:48:00.000-04:00

I recently read an interesting article on retirement, with some equally interesting statistics from the survey they conducted....Nearly 1/5, or 18% of men aged 45-60 who either retired early to start their own business or plan to do so said they expect to work for themselves "until they die". Among the boomer businesswomen, 12% said they will run their own businesses indefinitely.

The survey also found that this baby boomer group plans to work longer than ever. One in five said they expect to run their business for more than a decade while 38% targeted a working span between 6-10 years.

What the survey found is that many baby boomers are looking at this next stage in life as an opportunity to start new careers and new businesses. When these folks were questioned on why they want to keep working, 46% of men and 34% of women said it was mainly to stay occupied, .....27% of men and 31% of women said it was something they had always dreamed of......and 26% of men and 25% of women said they needed the money.

The most important thing for anyone to remember, whether you are a baby boomer or not.....everything in life is a CHOICE.....so many people dream of being their own boss, starting their own business, but at the same time THINK they have no choice....that they have to keep working at their present job, and let every possible fear hold them back from doing what they truly want. Take control of your life! If you have the entreprenuerial spirit, follow your dream and stop letting circumstances or fear control you.....Life is a choice.....YOUR CHOICE every step of the way.....so choose well and start living your life on purpose!

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
WWW.ABUNDANT-LIFESTYLE.COM
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

How Do you Think?

2007-09-19T22:39:00.001-04:00

Are YOU exactly where you want to be in your life? Do you have the freedom to do what you want, work at what you love, do you travel whenever you like, are you financially free, do you have great releationships? Are you living the life of your dreams?

If not, the only reason that you are not is because fears, and limiting beliefts were programmed into your mind as a little child. So, this translates into money as well....the only reason you don't have enough money to enjoy the life you truly want is you still believe all the crap you were taught as a child.

When you were growing up, you learned certain "facts" about life that actually beame a part of your subconscious operating system. Here is the scarey part....this subconscious operating system actually creates the life you are now living. If you are not living the life you want, then these beliefs you have need to be changed!

Most people simply don't want to hear this. They are living lives of desperation, of struggle, of limiting beliefs of what they think they are capable of and so many people are living in fear and only know how to make fear based decisions. So many people are so busy trying not to fail, afraid to take a risk, playing it safe, that they can't see opportunities when they are right in front of them, or even if they do, they are too afraid to act on them. These beliefs were given to you from parents, teachers, relatives, friends, neighbours, people in a leadership role have planted these "seeds" into your mind and many of these seeds simply are not serving you.

So how do you change these beliefs? You need to learn to reprogram your mind. Think about it this way.....if you are not where you want to be in your life, and your very best thinking has brought you to this point.....then you must learn to change the way you think! It really is that simple. If you don't, then you will continue to live a life that is not fulfulling to you.

If you are interested in reprogramming your mind to create the success you want in every area of your life, I can assist you.....feel free to contact me directly.

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
WWW.ABUNDANT-LIFESTYLE.COM
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Ever Feel Overwhelmed?

2007-08-28T14:13:00.000-04:00

It's interesting how we can get overwhelmed with things that don't really matter......life is busy, and people tend to get so stressed about all the things they have to do, and agonize over all the things they don't get to on their list.

Twenty years ago, when I became self employed, I was at home with our two young children, and because I had an adminstrative background, one thing I was good at was getting organized. I decided that if I was going to be effective in every area of my life, and not let one area suffer because I was too busy spending time in a different area of my life, it was imperative that I got organized. I was committed to being a wonderful wife, and mother, wanted to keep up my commitments in our home and had just started to be an entrepreneur.

That was certainly a time that being overwhelmed would have been easy, but because at that time I was also very perfectionistic, I developed a system to stay organized and not let any area of my life suffer.

The tool I use is very simple ......it is simply using a daytimer. I am amazed when I train people in my business, how many people have never used a daytimer. This should be taught in school!!!! It is a way to prioritize the important things in every area of your life. I find having a daytimer with 15 min increments, between 8 am-10pm works very well. There is a great one that I use made by "Mead" - Weekly/Monthly Planner. When you time slot your priorities, it really helps you see what available time you actually have to fulfill all your commitments and helps you realistically put things in your day that you will have time to accomplish.

Now this may sound like a bit too detailed, but if you want to keep balance in your life and you haven't found a way to do that yet, this is something that will assist you with that......put EVERYTHING that you have to get done in a day that is a priority to you, in the time slots throughout that day.....When our children were small, I would time slot everything from bathing the children, to cooking, housework, reading stories, taking them to the park.....then I would also time slot my business responsiblities in between all of these things, and I would also slot in time with my husband, because my marriage was at the top of the list, and even though I was committed to being an entrepreneur, I was not going to let my marriage or my children be put on the back burner.

So, needless to say, my daytimer had a lot in it....all different areas of my life that were important, and everything had a time frame to accomplish whatever task it was. I'll tell you what, that saved my life! It was a way to keep the balance in my life and only work on the things that truly mattered, and not get lost in all the things that don't really matter.

So as a new mom, new entrepreneur and in a new marriage, that daytimer kept me organized.....Did it work? Absolutely! Never missed any of our kids school functions, enjoyed every holiday with them while they were growing up, retired my husband at age 45, and have a fabulous marriage, great kids and a thriving business. And, I still use it today....even though 20 years later our kids are grown and on their own so there are fewer responsibilites in that area, I still want to use my time effectively. So, I still use the same daytimer I have for 20 years, and I still time slot everything in that is important, in every area of my life. It has helped me stay organized, to eliminate stress and realistically look at my day at a glance and see what I truly have time for and prioritize what is important in my life.

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
http://www.abundant-lifestyle.com/
1-800-576-2917
1-519-342-4050

Is Your Income Controlled By Outside Sources?

2007-08-08T11:24:00.000-04:00

I just had an interesting experience…..early on Sunday morning the power went out in the area I live in….now, at the time, we were in a drive through line up for coffee. Fortunately, we were at the front of the line, and our coffee was handed out the window. But here is what happened….the manager of the establishment came outside, her headset for taking orders was not working, she went car to car and turned people away, their tills wouldn’t open, the drive through window wouldn’t stay open, and I’m sure many other things on the inside were not operational.

We were just heading up to the lake in our convertible to go out for breakfast at the lake, so I am not sure how long this lasted.

But, as we were driving, my husband Barry and I got into a conversation about how something like this really affects traditional business, and thought about all the spin off effects. If indeed it did last any length of time, the staff would probably have been sent home.

There is also a little breakfast diner just a couple of doors down from that coffee shop….if this lasted, they couldn’t cook breakfast, and Sunday morning is their biggest day of the week. That means, not only would that staff be sent home and not make their hourly wage, but the servers who rely on tips, wouldn’t have any tips from the biggest morning of sales for the week.

There is a department store just down from that as well, and it employs dozens of students saving for college and university…..now, it is the beginning of August, with not many shifts left for them, and this would affect their savings for school, not to mention all the adults that work there for a measly hourly wage – how would this affect supporting their family?

Now, I don’t know how big an area this actually affected, but think about this for a second….gas stations would have to turn business away, grocery stores would not only have to turn business away, but I have seen this happen before (Barry used to work in the grocery industry) and when there are power outages, they often lose thousands and thousands of dollars in frozen merchandise. Factories would have to close down and therefore lose production and the workers lose their pay for that time.

This list is endless on the affect on business revenue and employees income when something like a power outage, that seems so minor, occurs.

This week I have been having a challenge with my internet and phone system…technical support has been working on it all week, and still no resolve…...but here is the difference……I work from home, as long as I can get an internet connection somewhere and I use my cell phone, I can conduct business! I do not lose out on revenue…..I am still in control! I take my laptop and find a wireless connection somewhere around town, and with my cell my business does not miss a beat! Yes, it may be a little inconvenient….it means I have to get out of the pool which is where I normally do my work, but that is no big deal! I still have complete and total control of my income and the business that I generate!

Wow, again I have realized how grateful I am that I made the choice to be self employed, take control of my life and not be controlled by employers or outside circumstances! As a matter of fact, I just had an extremely profitable week! I’m sure that these other traditional businesses can not say that.

It all comes down to a choice…..do you let circumstances control your life and your income?

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
WWW.ABUNDANT-LIFESTYLE.COM
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

My Life Rocks!

2007-07-17T18:41:00.000-04:00

I just had one of the most empowering experiences of my life! I just got back from Australia after attending a conference relating to my business.

While there, I had the opportunity to participate in a firewalking exercise with over 500 other like minded entrepreneurs. I must say, I had some apprehension beforehand....the scientific stats are that you receive 3rd degree burns at 140 degrees...these coals were 1,100-1,200 degrees.

Here you can see a picture of when they first "lit" the firewalk. Yikes....looks kind of scarey to say the least!

So, why would someone actually "choose" to participate in an event like this and why would someone choose "not" to participate.

First of all, choosing "not" to participate really boils down to a couple of things - fear and limiting beliefs. And here's the thing....fear and limiting beliefs affect every area of life and hold people back from really achieving what they want in every area of their lives. And, most of society doesn't even realize how facing fear and limiting beliefs head on, will help you grow in every area of your life.

It may be as simple as being afraid to really express your emotions with people you love, and therefore, your relationships suffer. It may be being afraid to learn to do something new - and therefore you stay stuck in limitation. Possibly you are afraid to take take risks with investments, and miss out on huge financial gains. Perhaps you have always wanted to quit your job and do something for yourself, be your own boss, but limiting beliefs stop you from taking that step because you are stuck in the limitation - the perception of "security" that traditional jobs offer.

There are many, many reasons that people will choose "not" to participate in an event like firewalking....and as I said earlier, it boils down to fear and limiting beliefs.

That is exactly why I choose to participate.....I don't allow excuses to get in the way of living my life the way I truly want. I don't allow fear to stop me from having extraordinary experiences. I don't allow limiting beliefs to control what I think I am capable of.

I am have taken a stand to live my life fully, with no limitations, with freedom to choose what I want and what I don't want in every single area of my life, to grow personally every day, to live into my full God given potential, and not be afraid and realize that I am capable of being, doing and having ANYTHING I truly want in my life, and to be an example for others that choose to live a life without limits.

That is empowering, and when you are empowered, you can be, do or have ANYTHING that you set you mind to!

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 519-342-4050
WWW.ABUNDANT-LIFESTYLE.COM

Can Baby Boomers Retire?

2007-07-03T22:14:00.000-04:00

People used to look forward to age 65 as that "golden age" of retirement......they had dreams of travelling, spending more time at home with the people they love, taking up hobbies, etc. But not now....as baby boomers are hitting the 60 mark, most are looking at delaying their retirement - why? - because they can't afford to retire!

How sad is that? Working all your adult life well into your 60's and still not having "enough" to retire. Today people have to work harder and longer than previous generations.

All this in the land of abundance! What happened? Divorces, longer life expectancies, and poor financial planning, and getting behind the eightball due to downsizing and having to start careers over, which lead to greater financial hardships.

There are some individuals though, that simply like to keep busy, like a new challenge and are not ready to roll over and do nothing at that age. I know a gentleman in my town that is in his 70's and still buying hotels and renovating them into masterpieces! He is a true entrepreneur and loves to create new things. That is what keeps you young, is having a passion and doing what you love.....because then it doesn't feel like work!

You can be a baby boomer "victim" of circumstances....divorce, poor financial planning, downsizing etc., or you can let those points in your life motivate you to make better decisions in every area of your life so that you can start taking control and truly start living the life you choose.

And make no mistake, life is full of choices. The secret is to choose well and prosper in every area of your life.

In your Service,

Debbie Ruston,
WWW.ABUNDANT-LIFESTYLE.COM

1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Where are Your Earnings Headed?

2007-06-19T22:44:00.000-04:00

A follow up to my last entry....more stats on income averages, this time from the U.S....A new report shows that American men in their 30s earn significantly less than their fathers.

This is pathetic! Can't society see that they are actually going backwards....when the costs of living are rising, incomes are actually decreasing and again, society buys into this and accepts it as being ok!

After inflation, the report determines that men in their 30s now have a median income of about $35,000 per year - This is a 12% drop for men in the same age group 30 years ago, who were earning $40,000 per year.

According to Donald Trump, income in your 30s is usually a good indicator of your lifetime earning. So this survey could mean that overall, this generation might be one of the first to not do as well as their parents, unless they start to "think" differently and take different actions.

Understand there is no job security any longer....people tend to stay at jobs they hate, are not content with their income, work long hours, don't see their families....all for what they perceive to be "job security".

Job security is an illusion! The only way to create job security is to take control and work for yourself. What stops people from doing that? Fear and limiting beliefs, period! Society has been so conditioned to think that you go to school, get an education, get a "good" job and stay there until you retire and the "corporation" will look after you. Wrong. There is no job security these days.

It's time to work smarter, realize your potential, take a stand for what you really want in your life and stop letting fear and limiting beliefs hold you back. Do you know why business owners make more than employees? Because they are willing to take a risk, they don't need the approval of everyone around them, and they go after what they truly want.

You can be part of the declining statistics of the masses of society that don't know how they are going to save for retirement, based on the declining income stats, or you can break free from that "victim" mindset and go out and create your own results. It is simply a choice....life is a choice....choose well!

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

WWW. ABUNDANT-LIFESTYLE.COM

Income Level Stats

2007-06-13T00:22:00.000-04:00

I just read some interesting stats regarding income levels that are quite disturbing.....and this really fires me up!

Here is the headline.... "Median Total Income reaches $25,400 in 2005, Largest Increase In Four Years"...The report from Ottawa, Canada states that the median total income of individuals in Canada amounted to $25,400 in 2005, up 1.9% from 2004 after adjusting for inflation. The report went on to say this is the largest annual increase in median total income - the point where half of incomes are higher and the other half are lower - since 2001!

Now tell me, how does the average Canadian survive on an income under $30,000 annually? How can you raise a family on this income.....how can you buy a home on this income.....how can you simply provide the basics, like food, hydro, phone, insurance, car expenses, etc. And I'm sure this isn't happening just in Canada.

What is more shocking is that society has accepted this mediocrity! People actually continue to work for this slave wage and are conditioned to believe that they should be thankful for having a job and believe this is all they are worth!

Wake up Canada! This is NOT acceptable! You ARE worth more than that! As long as you believe that is all you are worth, and as long as people are willing to work for this pathetic wage, the illusion that a headline like this is actually good news will continue.

It is time to take a stand for what you really want in your life....stop accepting your "lot" in life and decide what you want, what type of income you DESERVE, and then go and make it happen.

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

WWW. ABUNDANT-LIFESTYLE.COM

Learn More To Earn More!

2007-06-06T01:20:00.000-04:00

If you want to increase your income, you have got to do something different! Keep doing the same things over and over and you continue to get the same or worse results. You must learn new ideas and implement the ones that resonate with you.

One thing that all successful people have in common is their appetite for continued learning! So many people in society have not read a book since they left school, or the books they have read do nothing to help them learn and grow. Ask yourself, when is the last time I read a book that helped me learn something? If you are not earning the money you want, I'll bet that most people you know haven't read a book on self development recently either, because we tend to surround ourselves with like minded people.

To earn more, you have to be willing to learn more.....read self development books, attend seminars and workshops, study successful people, network with successful people, turn off the TV and get rid of the newspaper, and use that time you would have spent on those activities working on yourself.

We are not meant to stay the same, and stop learning. We all have SO much potential and most people have not tapped into that potential for years.

Think about this....if you knew that by working on yourself, to be the best you could be in any area of your life, would double, triple or quadruple your income, would you make it a priority to spend some time reading, attending seminars, studying successful people? What if you could turn your annual income into your monthly or weekly income....would that be enough incentive for you to start working on yourself? Knowledge is power!

THAT is what all successful people do.....they sharpen their saw....they make time to work on themselves so that they can continue to become better in every area of their lives and this translates into increased earnings.

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

WWW.ABUNDANT-LIFESTYLE.COM

How Many Ways Are There To Make Money?

2007-05-30T13:37:00.000-04:00

How many ways do you think there are to make money? Hundreds, thousands? Actually there are only TWO ways....either YOU work for your money, or your money works for YOU!

Wealthy people believe that their money should work for them. It is so interesting to look into the way wealthy people think and the way that the masses think. Wealthy people realize that investing is the key to abundance. The masses believe that investing is the key to having just enough when they retire.

The masses also believe that if they could just make more money, then they could be wealthy and then they could put some aside into investments. But here is reality....people that have this type of thinking that acquire more money immediately look to where they can spend it....a nicer car (thinking they can now afford $250 extra car pmt per month) , a big screen TV (they finance over 5 years) , and they are immediately back in the same boat as they were before they acquired the new found funds.

Wealthy people immediately look to where they can invest the extra money. They keep the car and the same TV and look to where they can invest the extra $250 per month so they can turn it into millions.....then they buy those toys out of the abundance they created.

The masses buy out of lack, the wealthy buy out of their abundance. The masses see money as a way to buy "stuff"...the wealthy see money as a tool to create more money.

Here's the thing....think about where you were financially 10 years ago. Now think about where your income is at today....you are probably making more money, however, what did you do with those raises? Bigger TV, a boat, a snowmobile, a car....maybe you don't even know where it went! After paying all your bills, you are basically in the same financial position you were 10 years ago - struggling!

So, what is the solution? Unless you change the way you think and start THINKING like wealthy people, it doesn't matter how much money you make, you will never become wealthy. You MUST learn to change the way you think!

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917

WWW.ABUNDANT-LIFESTYLE.COM

Do Rich People Think Any Differently?

2007-05-25T13:41:00.000-04:00

YES....Rich and successful people think BIG, poor people think small! Rich and successful people think how can I make this work, poor people think why I can't.

Rich people have certain characteristics....a positive attitude, integrity, trustworthiness, courage, persistence, optimism, responsible, and high energy. Rich people choose to be paid based on their RESULTS which creates their success, not on how much time they put in.

Rich people choose to take risks, because they know that is how to get ahead in life. Poor people always need "a guarantee" and they struggle their whole lives thinking the world is out to get them.

Rich and successful people do not need the approval of the masses....they are willing to step out of the pack and do things differently. They make decisions quickly and stick by their decisions.

Regardless of circumstances we all have the power of how we think. Our thoughts are so very powerful! For instance "I am responsible for what I CHOOSE to think and I hold the key to my own life" is a lot more empowering than being a victim of circumstances.

Rich and successful people don't look at their circumstances, they only look at their possibilities! If you are not there yet, ask yourself.... "Am I willing to give up who I am now for who I can BECOME!"

Are you willing to pay the price? Are you willing to do what the masses are not willing to do? THAT is how you create success and wealth in your life! Successful people have formed the habit of doing what unsuccessful people are not willing to do!

Being a victim of circumstances is a choice. Struggling is a choice. How could YOUR life be different if you made different choices? What if you chose to prosper instead? It depends on the ACTIONS you take. If you want to be rich, you can't keep doing the same things and expect different results....you must make different choices and take action on those choices, and simply follow the advice and actions of other successful people.

In Your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050 or 1-800-576-2917
WWW.ABUNDANT-LIFESTYLE.COM

Women Still Earning Less Than Men?

2007-05-22T12:16:00.000-04:00

I just read an interesting article from Donald Trump's site http://www.trumpuniversity.com/link.cfm?id=6752 about women's earnings that is quite disturbing.

In this day and age, women in "traditional" businesses are still being paid less than men. My hat is off to Donald Trump with his statement "Talented people are talented people, no matter what. " He strives to make sure that everything is an equal playing field at the Trump organization. It appears that in the traditional work world, women are still not considered as equally competant to perform the same jobs as men.

Could this really boil down to the fact that women in their younger years will most likely be taking time off for maternity leaves? A sad but true fact I'm sure if you got to the real reason behind this.

Again, the beauty of being self employed! For women that take a stand for what they really want in their lives, family time, flexibility around their families needs, but still a flourishing, healthy career, self employment gives women the opportunity to create wealth and be paid what they are truly worth.

Network marketing is something that Donald Trump is also a big supporter of. When asked on a TV interview what he would do if he lost everything, he responded that he would find a good network marketing company. Network marketing is a way to work the hours you want, have flexibility around your family commitments, have more time off and create wealth. Many people are not aware of the financial possibilities, and this is definitely an area where many women are outdoing men in earnings.

I am so grateful, that for over 20 years now, network marketing has been my business. I have been home to raise my children, I have travelled around the world with my husband, I was at every school function with my kids, took every school vacation off with them, and now that they are grown and off on their own I have retired my husband 20 years early and we now spend every day together, and continue to travel and experience life. This is thanks to network marketing!

I am very proud to be a part of this industry and I am passionate about showing other people how to stop being controlled by society, statistics, and the corporate world and to start living the type of life I have been able to create. There are no secrets to this type of life....it is simply making a choice that you don't want to settle, and then taking action and following the advice of people that can help you get there.

In your Service,

Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917
1-519-342-4050
WWW.ABUNDANT-LIFESTYLE.COM

Paid on Results VS Paid On Time

2007-05-17T23:07:00.000-04:00

Wealthy people make a choice to be paid based on their results. Poor people choose to be paid based on the time they commit.

Society has conditioned people to think that they need to go to school, get good grades, get a "good" job, get a steady paycheck, be on time, make sure you have benefits, work hard......and everything will work out in your favor.

How many people to you know that do this and are wealthy, that are happy, that are content with their financial results? Probably none!

This is the thought pattern of those that want security, live in fear of loss, and these people settle for earning whatever their employer pays them so they can "survive" or stay "comfortable". The truth is, they are NOT surviving, and they are NOT comfortable...they are living paycheck to paycheck and wonder why they are stressed out and unhappy. They are trading their time for money.....working hard, but never able to make ends meet. The problem with this is, your time is limited.

Wealthy people choose to be paid on their results, not based on how many hrs they work, because they understand that there are only so many hours in a day and once you have worked as many hours as you can, your income is capped, you can't earn any more.

Most wealthy people choose to own their own business in some form. Many work on commission or from a percentage of revenue, they choose stock options and profit sharing rather than high salaries. Why? They believe in themselves, in their value and their ability to deliver it .....they do not need "guarantees". They also realize that the work that they do can either build their dream of wealth, or they can work for someone else and build their dream of wealth.

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050
1-800-576-2917
www.abundant-lifestyle.com

Move Away From the Masses - Start Your Own Business

2007-05-09T14:52:00.000-04:00

What do billionaires have in common? They came to a point in their lives where they understood they would never reach their dreams and truly live the lives they wanted by working for someone else....so they took a stand to live the life they truly wanted and started their own business.

I took that same stand over 20 years ago, and that was the start of my financial freedom. So, what about you? Where do you stand on this issue? Do you want to work for an employer the rest of your life, settling for what the employer wants to pay you, giving you the number of holidays they assign, missing out on precious time with your family, working long hours, commuting, being stressed....do any of these things ring true with you?

Are you ready to start your own business? Have you thought about this before? Why haven't you taken action yet? What is stopping YOU from truly living the life you deserve? Take a good hard look at this, and ask yourself "why haven't I started my own business yet?"

Now, what was your answer? I can almost guarantee that it has something to do with limiting beliefs, self doubts or fear. Society has bought into the idea that you should go to school, graduate and get a good job you can stay at until you retire....and why? Because of limiting beliefs, self doubts and fear. Those are the very things that hold people back their entire lives.

Our school systems teach young people that this is the way to create a successful life....in reality it is creating a life of mediocrity, financial struggle and limitations. But people keep doing it and repeating the cycle of stress, long hours, no family time, limited vacation time and poor wages.

It is easy to break free and create a life of freedom.....all you need is a mentor to show you the way. It starts with making a decision that you want a better lifestyle....a lifestyle of abundance, wealth, fun and freedom.

You will never create wealth working a job. Billionaires understand this....now that you understand this, you can go out and start your own business and start living the life that you truly want.

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050
www.abundant-lifestyle.com

Play The Money Game To Win!

2007-05-01T21:58:00.000-04:00

When it comes to money, there are two types of people....people that play the money game to win, and those that play the money game "not to lose".

Have you ever thought about this concept? Successful people understand that to create the results they want in their lives, they must play the money game to win.

However, most of society plays the money game "not to lose". And that is the way people are conditioned to think by the media, by friends, family, the workplace, the government, etc, etc.... What a fear based society!

People are brainwashed to think that playing it safe, avoiding risk, being conservative is the way to get ahead....stay at a job for 30-40 years (if you can find one that doesn't downsize), don't change jobs because you will lose your seniority and your benefits and have to start all over again at the bottom, if something sounds too good to be true it probably is - who invented that ridiculous sentence....no wonder people are paranoid and can't even trust their own judgement! This is all simply a sense of control brought on to keep people dependant.

We are all born with something called intuition, and if we learn to listen to our own intuition, our own internal guidance system, we will learn to make better choices instead of listening to the "fear based" advice of society.

Understand that you succeed in life by pursuing BIG wins, not by avoiding small losses! So step out and stop being afraid....afraid you will lose your job, afraid you will lose your house, afraid you won't get a raise, afraid ..... you fill in the blanks.

Learn to take risks, make smarter financial decisions, pursuing BIG wins....play the money game to win and stop being afraid and trying "not to lose". This is the way to success in life and every wealthy person understands and applies this.

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050

Thinking About Self Employment?

2007-04-26T22:04:00.000-04:00

Do you realize that according to the latest Census Bureau figures, we are in the midst of a major self employment boom?

People have finally had it with corporate life....long hours, too much time away from their families, no vacations, the list goes on.

They have the entrepreneurial drive, and are deciding that enough is enough and want to take control of their lives. People are starting to realize that they have choices in life, and they do not have to stay stuck in jobs they hate, working for corporations that really don't appreciate them.

There is no job security anymore, so why stay stuck in a job that is not fulfilling? People spend most of their day working, and are really starting to realize that if you are going to put that much time into something, you had better enjoy it.....not to mention they really want to get their lives back, spend more time with their families and start living life on their own terms, rather than "the corporations" terms.

If you are self employed, congratulations! I have been self employed for over 20 years, and wouldn't have it any other way. I don't use an alarm clock anymore, I wake up when my eyes open, much more natural! I start every day with a lovely bubble bath, and then make the commute down the stairs to my home office. (which by the way is beside my pool in the summer months) I work when I want to work, 4 days a week, Mon-Thurs about 4-6 hrs/day. I go out for breakfast in the middle of the morning when everyone else is at work, I walk our dog in the middle of the afternoon and go for coffee for an hour or two, I vacation 4-5 times a year, I spend every day with my husband who works along side me (most people wait till their 65 to start spending time together as a couple)....I love my life....

I encourage everyone, to take a stand for what you really want in your life....break the corporate ties and start your own business, fullfill your entrepreneurial drive. You don't have to stay stuck, find a business and take your control back.

Not sure where to start? Feel free to contact me if you want to become an entrepreneur and are looking for something lucrative ..... I help people get out of the rat race and create freedom and wealth in their lives through self employment.

In your service,

Debbie Ruston
1-519-342-4050

Prosperity Can Be Yours

2007-04-24T00:38:00.000-04:00

To obtain prosperity in your life, you must get specific---do you really know how much money you want?

It isn't enough to say I want to be wealthy or I want to be rich, or I want more money....you have to realize that you are working with your subconscious mind, and your subconscious mind does not have the ability to think.....it simply accepts the images you present and then moves them into form.

There are certain things that you must do and the first one is to DECIDE how much money you want. To answer this question properly, decide what you want the money for....get specific....visualize how you really want to be living and then fill in the amount of money it will take to do so.

Visualization is a powerful part of the process to take the idea, the goal from your conscious mind, to be accepted by your subconscious mind. Visualize your new prosperous lifestyle as if you are already in possession of it. See yourself doing all the things you would be doing once you have created prosperity in your life. Once your subconscious mind accepts the idea, you will find that all the right things fall into place to bring your goal to fruition.

Remember that your subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between actually doing something and visualizing yourself doing it, so this exercise will assist you in quickly developing a prosperity consciousness.

In your service,
Debbie Ruston

To Be Successful, Stop Buying Your Own Excuses

2007-04-10T22:22:00.000-04:00

Another success principal that I have applied to my life is "I won't buy my own excuses".

How often in life have you really wanted to do something and a challenge gets in the way of your achievement, so you buy your own excuse and give up.....

For instance, let's say that you want to lose weight. You set the goal, and are motivated and excited about what you want to accomplish. A week or two into the goal and challenges come up....you have cravings, you go to a friends for dinner and they serve something that is not on your diet menu, you eat at restaurants for lunch and it is too hard to stick to your diet....the list of excuses goes on and on.

Bottom line is if you really want to reach the goal, and you are passionate about it, you have got to stop buying your own excuses. You are the only one that believes them anyway. You can't expect to reach the goal (in this case - lose weight) if you are going to let these little challenges get in the way. You must want to be thin more than you want to eat the thing that isn't on your list of acceptable menu items.

So whether you are looking to create success in business or in personal life situations, you must learn to stop buying your own excuses, get out of your own way and commit to yourself.

In your Service,
Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917 or 1-519-342-4050

Creating Success

2007-04-03T18:55:00.000-04:00

There have actually been a number of principles that have assisted me in creating success ...... the beauty of it is that anyone can learn and use these principals to create success in any area of their life, because they work every time.

Have you heard in life that you can Be, Do or Have anything you want? I'm sure you have and it's true .... but there is more to it than that.

There is a principle called the Be, Do, Have principle.....and it works like this: Let's say you want to be a millionaire, but currently you are earning $50K/yr. Take on the role of BEing that millionaire right now, today. If you were already a millionaire, how would you act, how would you think, what would you be doing, etc. Study millionaires, learn what kind of decisions they make, and start DOING what millionaires do to get results. When you BE-come that successful person, and then DO what that person would do if you were already successful, you will then HAVE the result you are looking for.

Most of society has this backwards....they think "once I have the results, then I will take the same actions that "those" people take, and then....then I will BE-come successful like them". This is why most of society struggles, stays broke, working paycheck to paycheck their whole lives and wonder why they never get ahead.

If you want to break away from the herd and start living a life by your design, you must start changing the way you think.....successful people understand and live the Be, Do, Have principle.

In your service,
Debbie Ruston
1-800-576-2917

Learn to Stay Focused on Your Goal

2007-03-29T22:26:00.000-04:00

Once you have set a goal, how do you stay focused on it? I learned a very powerful principle that has assisted me in creating massive success....it is very simple - With every decision you make, ask yourself "Is this decision going to bring me closer or further away from my goal?"

As I mentioned earlier, your goal has to be something you are passionate about! It can't just be about money....what are you going to do with the money?

Here's an example - I had a goal to retire my husband from his job. We are in our 40's and I just couldn't accept doing what most of society does....waiting till they retire at 65 to start living life and spending some time together and maybe taking a trip or two. I wanted more from life than that! I had started a business and my goal was to retire him within 6 months...in order to do that we had to eliminate all of our debt....

Here is the important point.....I did not focus on the debt. On my goal card it said "It is August 31st, 2005, and I am so happy and grateful, Barry has left his job and we now spend every day together living life on our terms". I wrote that goal in Feb, 2005 as if it had already happened.

Every day as I did my work, I focused on what our life would be like when he was able to be home every day. The freedom to do what we want, when we want. Go for breakfast in the middle of the morning, take a 2 hour walk in the afternoon with our little dog, take 4-5 trips a year, take time off to be with our kids when they come home from college. I pictured these things every single day in my mind as if it had already happened!

Were there any challenges that came up? Absolutely! There are always challenges that get in the way, thats life! But here's the thing - if you are committed to your goal or "your why", if your why is strong enough, you will get through ANY challenge.

As those challenges came up and I had decisions to make, I kept asking myself "will this decision bring me closer or further away from bringing Barry home in August?"

This is so very powerful! This principle helped me always make the best business decision, and taught me not to let fear, or limiting beliefs get in the way. To push through even when the decision was uncomfortable.

Did it work? Absolutely! We hit the goal 1 week early....brought him home from a 30 year job and now live the life we designed. Wow, this is so powerful!

Creating Wealth - Start With Setting a Goal

2007-03-27T01:25:00.000-04:00

I have learned some incredible principals that have not only created success in business and created wealth in my life, but they are powerful principals to live your life by.

One principal that is very powerful is to set a goal you are passionate about. Do not make it a money goal....instead, what are you going to do with the money?

If you are focused just on the money, when challenges come up, it is easy to give in, and give up on your goal.

Do you want to quit your job, spend more time with your family, be at home to raise your children, buy a new car, take a vacation.....identify what the goal is, and then set a date to achieve it.

Write it out on a goal card, for example....."It is (date of goal achievement) and I am so happy and grateful....I have left my job at ______ and now spend every day living life on my terms, and I experience every day with my family". Put that goal card somewhere you can see it everyday.

Now, focus on the achievement of the goal as if it has already happened. Picture what your life will be like when you have achieved the goal and you have created the desired outcome. In this example, "spending every day with my family" imagine what you will be doing, picture it clearly in your mind.

Wealthy people have learned to master this concept. They do not let anything get in the way of the achievement of their goal. They are laser focused, and do not buy their own excuses. Learn to make your desires (your goals) stronger than any circumstances that come up, and you will start living the life you truly desire.

Debbie Ruston www.abundant-lifestyle.com

Wealth Strategy #2

2007-03-22T23:54:00.000-04:00

If You Don't Like Where your Parents Were at Your Age - Do Things Differently

The old cliche' that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results", holds just as true today as it did when it was orginally written.

If you don't like where your parents were at your age, stop what you are doing. During your childhood, they taught you all they knew about wealth and money.

For many people, these early years established how they feel about their finances today. In order to become financially successful, you must do something different than they did. Otherwise you will end up exactly as they are.

Wealthy people take advice from people who are wealthier than they are. Poor people take advice from their friends and family, who are just as broke as they are.

Wealth-Strategies

2007-03-22T22:32:00.000-04:00

March 22, 2007 - Wealth Building Rule #1 - With the advent of the internet, and other technological advances, you are no longer limited to supporting yourself or making a living by your physical labor.

The only limit you have on yourself now is your own imagination - your ideas are the most valuable things you possess.

If you are not creating the wealth you truly want in your life, then you need to change your thinking and access some new wealth strategies.

The gap between the rich and the poor does indeed grow larger with each passing year, but not because of inequalities or any other such injustices. Instead, it is because the rich understand money and how to use it.

Capital is literally a seed; learn how to plant it to produce the best harvest. When you do this you will rule your finances, not the other way around.