A Brand New You: Helping families transform their health, one family at a time.
You Can Do This Also: A team that uses the Mentoring for Free system and training to help families achieve the life of their dreams through education and teamwork.
Sytoomba Mountains Layout: A layout based on our version of the Sydney to Blue Mountains with mountain ranges.
For the Disabled Network Marketer: Rewriting Your Relationship Story, One Authentic Connection at a Time
Growing up with a disability and a chronic condition often meant living in a world that wasn't quite built for me. Beyond the physical barriers, there was another, more subtle, and perhaps more profound, challenge: learning how to build relationships.
When you're frequently in and out of hospitals, or when your energy levels are unpredictable, or when physical differences set you apart, the typical playground dynamics or easy social cues often get missed. For me, childhood wasn't a masterclass in effortlessly making friends, navigating social hierarchies, or understanding the subtle art of connection. Instead, it was often a lesson in observation from the sidelines, and sometimes, unintentional isolation. This meant that by the time I entered adulthood – and especially when I stepped into the world of network marketing and entrepreneurship – I carried a significant handicap. Not the one defined by my physical body, but a social one. I hadn't developed those innate, unconscious relationship skills that many take for granted: how to effortlessly build rapport, create trust quickly, or nurture long-term connections.
The Unseen Challenge in Business
In network marketing, direct sales, or any entrepreneurial venture, relationships aren't just a nice-to-have; they are the currency of your business. Your team, your customers, your mentors – they all hinge on your ability to connect authentically.
When I started, I tried to mimic what I saw others doing. I pushed for sales, focused on the product, and tried to "network" in a very transactional way. But it felt forced, inauthentic, and frankly, draining. It often led to rejections that stung far more deeply because they echoed the feelings of social awkwardness from my past. My chronic condition meant my energy was already limited, and wasting it on ineffective, uncomfortable interactions was a fast track to burnout.
I realized I couldn't "fake it till I make it" with relationships. I needed to learn it. I needed to unlearn the patterns of childhood isolation and consciously build the skills I hadn't acquired naturally.
Rewriting Your Relationship Story
This journey has been one of intentional self-development, particularly crucial for those of us navigating business with a disability or chronic condition. It’s about understanding that our unique experiences can, in fact, become our greatest strengths.
Here's what I've learned about building genuine relationships, which is vital for anyone, but especially for those of us who started from a different social baseline:
* Authenticity Over Performance: You don't need to be the loudest or the most charismatic. You need to be genuinely you. Your unique story, including your challenges, can be your most powerful connector. People connect with realness.
* Listen, Don't Just Wait to Talk: This was a huge one for me. Instead of focusing on what I needed to say to sell a product or opportunity, I learned to truly listen to others' needs, struggles, and aspirations. Empathy builds bridges.
* Find Common Ground (Beyond Business): As a dadpreneur, mumprenuer, or someone focused on health, these shared life experiences are powerful points of connection. Talk about family, health goals, daily struggles – these build rapport far faster than a sales pitch.
* Small Consistent Efforts > Grand Gestures: A simple, thoughtful check-in, remembering a detail about someone's life, or offering a small gesture of support builds trust over time. This is sustainable even on low-energy days.
* Leverage Your Story: Your journey with disability or chronic condition isn't a weakness; it's a testament to your resilience, problem-solving, and unique perspective. Sharing parts of your story can inspire and connect you on a deeper level.
Building relationships in business, as in life, is a skill. And like any skill, it can be learned, practiced, and mastered. It might feel uncomfortable at first, especially if you're unlearning old patterns. But for us, for the disabled entrepreneur, for the parent trying to build an empire one small step at a time, authentic relationships aren't just a luxury; they are the bedrock of a sustainable, joyful, and deeply rewarding journey.
You're not alone in feeling like you missed some lessons. But the beauty is, you can start learning them now. Your capacity for genuine connection is waiting to be unleashed.
"Are you ready to transform your approach to building relationships and unlock true success in your business and life? My free e-book, 'Success in 10 Steps,' is designed to guide you through fundamental principles that empower you to build a thriving business, starting with powerful connections. Don't let past struggles define your future potential.
Download your FREE copy of 'Success in 10 Steps' by Michael Dlouhy now and begin rewriting your story!
A Brand New You: Helping families transform their health, one family at a time.
You Can Do This Also: A team that uses the Mentoring for Free system and training to help families achieve the life of their dreams through education and teamwork.
Sytoomba Mountains Layout: A layout based on our version of the Sydney to Blue Mountains with mountain ranges.
Mastering Your Inner World: How Your Subconscious Can Propel You Forward, Even with Chronic Illness 🧠✨
Hey there, fellow dreamers, doers, and hustlers! Whether you're a network marketer building your empire 👑, a parent juggling family and business 👨👩👧👦, an entrepreneur carving your niche 🚀, or someone, like me, navigating the unique challenges of a chronic condition ♿ – we all share a common desire: to create success in our pursuits.
Chapter 12 of Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich delves into the incredible power of the subconscious mind. It's a concept that, for a long time, felt abstract to me. How could something I couldn't "see" or "touch" truly impact my daily struggles with chronic pain and fatigue? But as I delved deeper, I realized its profound relevance, especially for those of us with disabilities or ongoing health battles. 💪
The Subconscious: Your Unseen Partner (or Saboteur) 😈😇
Hill explains that our subconscious mind acts like a fertile garden 🪴, accepting whatever seeds we plant – positive or negative – and bringing them into reality. For someone with a chronic condition, it's easy to accidentally plant seeds of doubt, fear, and limitation.
"I'm too tired to work on my business today." 😴
"My pain will never allow me to achieve that." 🛑
"No one will take me seriously with my health issues." 😔 These thoughts, when repeated, become deeply ingrained in our subconscious, shaping our beliefs and ultimately, our actions. The beautiful truth, however, is that this garden can be cultivated. We have the power to choose what we plant. 🌱 Planting Seeds of Success, Even When Your Body Rebels This isn't about ignoring your pain or pretending your condition doesn't exist. It's about consciously shifting your focus and beliefs, even when your physical reality feels overwhelming.
Affirmations with Feeling: It's not enough to just say positive words. You need to feel them. ❤️ When you affirm your goals, connect with the emotion of achieving them. For example: "I am building a thriving business that allows me financial freedom and flexibility, despite my health challenges. I feel empowered and capable." 💰
Visualization that Acknowledges Reality (and Transcends it): I visualize myself succeeding while managing my condition. I see myself working productively during my good hours, effectively delegating when needed, and celebrating milestones with genuine joy. 🥳
Harnessing Your Desire: Hill emphasizes the burning desire 🔥 as the starting point for all achievement. For us, this desire might be even more intense. Tap into that deep well of motivation. What do you really want, and why?
Auto-Suggestion as Your Ally: Feeding your mind positive, goal-oriented thoughts, especially before sleep 🌙 and upon waking ☀️, primes your subconscious to work on your behalf. The Power of Persistence (and Pacing) 🐢➡️🐇 For many of us, "persistence" takes on a new meaning. It's not just about pushing through obstacles; it's about pushing through them smartly. We might work in shorter bursts, or accept a different timeline. But the core principle remains: do not give up.
Your subconscious responds to the intensity and consistency of your dominant thoughts and desires.
My Personal Lesson:
What are your thoughts constantly saying to you. How have you been programmed from friends and family. It's all put into our minds what we let in.
When we believe money is an issue it fails to appear. It’s the same with love, friendship, health results or any number or areas of our lives.
When we say there is enough it turns up. When we listen to others programming it messes up our lives in many ways. We have to the positive thoughts in.
Thank you so much to Linda and Michael Dlouhy for helping us grow. Thank you so much to the team from mentoring for free for your friendship. Thank you so much to my amazing mentor for Life Ken Klemm. Thank you so much to my amazing wife for life Jenny for being the best wife ever.
Your friend and mentor for life
Big hugs my amazing friends
Ben Drake
West Ryde NSW Australia
Helping families to live better lives through education and teamwork
Your Journey, Your Mind, Your Victory 🏆
Embracing the power of your subconscious is perhaps one of the most empowering things you can do, especially when your body feels like it's betraying you. It gives you back control over your inner narrative, transforming your mind from a potential source of limitation into an unstoppable engine for success. 🚂
What's one positive affirmation you can commit to repeating daily to reprogram your subconscious for success? Share it in the comments below! Let's inspire each other to cultivate minds that transcend our physical limitations. 👇
About the Author and Our Supporters
Author: Benjamin "Ben" Mathew Drake of Coach Freedom and Friends
Supported By:
Mentor Ben Drake: Get your free eBook, Success in 10 Steps, written by Linda and Michael Dlouhy for the Mentoring for Free system.
Ben's Customer: Discover fantastic health and wellness products to help you achieve your health goals.
A Brand New You: Helping families transform their health, one family at a time.
You Can Do This Also: A team that uses the Mentoring for Free system and training to help families achieve the life of their dreams through education and teamwork.
Sytoomba Mountains Layout: A layout based on our version of the Sydney to Blue Mountains with mountain ranges.
A Brand New You: Helping families transform their health, one family at a time.
You Can Do This Also: A team that uses the Mentoring for Free system and training to help families achieve the life of their dreams through education and teamwork.
Sytoomba Mountains Layout: A layout based on our version of the Sydney to Blue Mountains with mountain ranges.
A Brand New You: Helping families transform their health, one family at a time.
You Can Do This Also: A team that uses the Mentoring for Free system and training to help families achieve the life of their dreams through education and teamwork.
Sytoomba Mountains Layout: A layout based on our version of the Sydney to Blue Mountains with mountain ranges.
