The Little Engine That Could, Could be You

Cover of "The Little Engine That Could (O...

In recent months I’ve been reminded of a childhood book we all remember, and remember with fondness. The Little Engine That Could is a children’s book, published in 1930 and written by Watty Piper. In recalling this tale I am reminded of a more recent adult self-help book by Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned In Kindergarten. Don’t hit, don’t fight, be nice, share, listen to your teacher, etc.

Cover of "All I Really Need to Know I Lea...

And we also learned, or should have learned, to try hard and to help others. Few books teach this lesson with such clarity as this little children’s book. I recommend you click on the link below and refresh your memory of the old story.

Watty Piper’s 1930 “The Little Engine That Could” – Print Magazine.

I continue to represent AdvoCare Health/Nutrition/Weight Loss products while continually saying to myself and my wife, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…” And we’re chugging up that mountain and as in that story we’re slowly going faster and faster.

In the story the toy train‘s engine breaks down and strands the toys and nutritious food intended for the children on the other side of the mountain. The toy clown asks for help to get the train and its toys over the mountain to the children. But nobody will help.

And think about who these big arrogant train engines represent. The Shiny New Engine might be the bank that turns down your home refi. The Big Strong Engine might be your boss that turns down your raise AND asks you to work extra hours away from your kids. The Rusty Old Engine might be your parents who look at your Multi-Level-Marketing or Direct Sales company and say, isn’t that nice while they turn away and provide no referrals, help or encouragement.

The little blue engine is you; anonymously doing your work around the train station. You’re moving train cars from one place to another. You’ve never been over the mountain. But you could…if you tried.

No if you’re going to get that train over the mountain, you’re going to have to do it yourself. We’re going to have to do it ourselves. And…I think I can…I think I can…I think I can. As we chug chug chug along it gets easier. There is no question you, we, can make it up that mountain and get over to the other side to help people who need us. But we can’t do it if we stop; if we give up.

Chug chug chug your way to the top. Then you can coast alllllll the way down the mountain, all the way saying happily, “I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could…”

Robert Fulgham was right.

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

Click to go to our AdvoCare website.

Click to go to our AdvoCare website.

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August 22, 2013
Categories: Business, Washington State, Weight Loss . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: Comments Off on The Little Engine That Could, Could be You

Proper Weight for Height and Age

About 10 months ago I got on a weight loss program that actually worked. But a strange thing happened on my weight-loss and fitness journey. My end-results goal kept changing. And, it still does today.

I’ve lost 40 pounds in the past 10 months and am now at a weight I’ve not been since I was 21-22 years old. It never occurred to me that I would ever approach what actuaries call the “ideal weight” for a 6′ 1″ 49 year old man with a medium build. Interesting to note that prior to this weight loss I would have said I have a large build. Shortly I’ll share ONE suggested way of determining whether YOU have a small, medium or large build.

The link below takes you to  a site that helps you calculate the “ideal weight” for you.

Proper Weight for Height and Age.

At 20 yrs old I weighed maybe 195 lbs.

At 20 yrs old I weighed maybe 195 lbs.

In High School I was my full height and at graduation weighed 185-190. I played football and basketball, and was generally very active. I absolutely possessed a healthy, if not ideal weight at that time of my life. In the thirty years since that time I’ve worked-out with weights regularly, including religiously over the past ten years. So its fair to say I’ve added muscle and so I’ve added muscle weight. Subsequently I would expect my “ideal weight” to be somewhere at or near 200 lbs.  But as of this morning I hit a new low of 203 lbs. and am quite certain I could easily lose another 10-20 lbs. and maintain a healthy body. Now we’re talking about a better more solid, healthy, muscular body than when I was a high school athlete, or in college.

When I started on THIS weight loss program I honestly had a goal of losing 10-15 lbs. and getting under 230. I honestly thought that would be great for me since I was unwilling to give up the food and drink I liked, and I was unwilling to expand my workout routine beyond the 1 hour-5 day per week schedule I’d long-ago established. But I got that weight ten days into my Challenge. So, then after realizing how easy it was for me to lose weight I set my sites on what at the time I thought would be an “ideal weight”. I was 210 pounds when I married my bride at age 23 in 1987. My program got me to 211 only 3 months later, and there I sat for 3 more months (The holiday season), never reaching 210 on my scale. Still, at 211-213 lbs. I could look at myself and know that getting below 200 pounds for the first time since I was a teenager was not only possible but necessary. I wasn’t going to come this far and stop. Why would I? I thought, I have in my possession a vehicle that can give me what anyone and everyone would constitute an ideal weight and ideal body for a man my age. It’s not vanity. It’s practicality. I can be the best I can be.  Not someone else. Me. And I’m going to do it.

And here’s a big, big, big surprise for me and I’m betting for you too. I haven’t given up anything that I enjoy eating and drinking. Pizza is still my favorite and I usually have it once per week. I still eat my wife’s delicious spaghetti and pasta meals. A piled-high cheeseburger with bacon, ketchup, mustard, and mayo is still part of my life. And I still ONLY work-out for 1 hour every morning Monday-Friday. My point is…anyone can do this if they decide to do so.

When I was 245 pounds I thought, I’m not THAT bad. I’m just a big guy. I have a large physique. And something the actuarial tables never factor into weight is hat-size. I’m serious. The head is the heaviest portion of the human body. I got a 7 5/8 hat size. So I got a real big melon. I was fooling myself.

Now that I’m within 14 lbs. of what the Center for Disease Control considers the ideal weight for a 6′ 1″ man I wanted to know how to determine whether I was of small, medium, or large build. I know I am not “small”. I thought I was large. But now I’m not so sure. Ehow.com has this article that says to determine your build measure your wrists. The smaller the diameter, the smaller your bones are. Smaller bones are usually less dense and therefore lighter. Consider your frame size because it can affect your measurements; a person with a large frame might mistakenly think she’s overweight. For an approximate idea, if you wrap your thumb and index finger around your opposite wrist, you can estimate your frame size. If your fingers overlap, you have a small frame; if they barely touch, you have a medium frame; if they don’t touch, you have a large frame.

Me at 203 lbs. the day of this blog's writing.

Me at 203 lbs. the day of this blog’s writing.

Based on this means of measurement I have a medium build. I’ve always known I had small arms. HA!

Cynics will read this blog and call it a vanity exercise. So be it. My sincere hope is that people can be inspired by a former fat guy who is now not only much much healthier but well on his way to what might be near perfect health for my age, height and size. Wish me luck….and join me.

Thanks for visting. Comments are welcome.

Read more: How to Figure My Ideal Weight for My Age | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7514339_figure-ideal-weight-age.html#ixzz2R8xMvCZW

Go to our website, read our story and try some AdvoCare. You won't regret it.

Go to our website, read our story and try some AdvoCare. You won’t regret it.

April 21, 2013
Categories: Sports, Washington State, Weight Loss . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: 2 Comments

Why Network Marketing is an amazing tool – Robert Kiyosaki

Robert Kiyosaki is the author of the huge financial advice book, Rich Dad Poor Dad. His tale of common sense advice on getting ahead financially in life has inspired millions. In this video he explains why a network marketing business, like AdvoCare, is perhaps “the perfect business”. At the end of this video ignore the phone number & email address posted. You can contact us for whatever questions you may have. 

My wife and I chose AdvoCare as a direct-selling, or network marketing, business because it’s products are so wonderful. We also became Advisor Distributors because we saw a long-time friend and his wife build an incredible income through AdvoCare in only 3 years. Could you do the same? That’s entirely up to you. Just like any business, job, endeavor, what rewards you receive from Advocare will be in direct proportion to the amount of effort you put in over an extended period of time.

Contact us for friendly advice, with no commitment required.

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

Go to our website, read our story and try some AdvoCare. You won't regret it.

Go to our website, read our story and try some AdvoCare. You won’t regret it.

March 25, 2013
Categories: Uncategorized . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: Comments Off on Why Network Marketing is an amazing tool – Robert Kiyosaki

US Housing Crisis – Negative Equity Infographic – Zillow

Peoria - My House from the Air

 

You think you got it tough? You think, how am I ever going to get out from under this crushing debt? You are not alone.

 

Click on this link for the Zillow Negative Equity Infographic. It shows in startling detail the percentage of homes by county throughout the U.S. that are Underwater and delinquent on payments.

 

US Housing Crisis – Negative Equity Infographic – Zillow.

 

At the peak of the housing crisis over 40% of homeowners owed more on their houses than the houses resale value. According to the most recent information (I could find) from September 2012 over 22% were still underwater. In a healthy housing market only 5% of homes are underwater, or have negative equity.

 

The effects on the economy are enormous. When a family has negative equity their ability to borrow money is extremely limited, preventing wanna-be entrepreneurs from using seed money from their homes, their largest investment, to start a new business. Families can’t refinance in order to take advantage of record low-interest rates. And they can’t sell their house and buy a new one because in most cases they won’t have money left over after the sale to use as down payment on the new home.

 

Snowcapped peaks are a backdrop to many Puget ...

 

In the Puget Sound 26% of King County homes are underwater and 10% are delinquent on their mortgage payments. In Snohomish County it’s 40% and 11%. Pierce County is the worst; 45% and 12%. Throughout the Puget Sound and south to Portland, OR not one county is below 21%. Most are above 30%.

 

Since a decade low of only 60% of Americans own homes we can then do some simple math to determine a majority, over 53%, either don’t own a home or have negative equity in the homes they do “own”. 

 

As someone who isn’t underwater on our home (in fact we have pretty descent equity) but is extremely familiar with the suffocation of debt let me tell you I can relate. A recent ABC News report indicates that a majority, 55%, of Americans have more credit card debt than money in savings. Sadly, I would be among the majority.

 

Getting out of debt is one of my families top priorities. And for this economy to flourish all Americans should make that a priority.

 

As an AdvoCare Advisor Distributor I’m happy to have the award-winning DebtBuster program provided to me for free by AdvoCare. The methods for getting out of debt are simple to understand and follow. If great nutrition, weight loss, muscle gain, and great financial opportunities are not enough to compel you to get happily involved in this great company perhaps the kind and generous help and advice AdvoCare provides FOR FREE to get the stress and suffocating burden of debt off your back will allow you to make this wise decision.

 

We’re following the DebtBuster program and we’re making more money thanks to AdvoCare. I invite you to contact me to learn more. And based on statistics…a majority of you need to do so.

 

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

 

Go to our website, read our story and try some AdvoCare. You won't regret it.

Go to our website, read our story and try some AdvoCare. You won’t regret it.

 

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March 23, 2013
Categories: Business, National Politics, Washington State, Weight Loss . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: Comments Off on US Housing Crisis – Negative Equity Infographic – Zillow

Get Your Dreams Answered by Overcoming Disappointment

In the short time my wife and I have been involved in Direct Sales with AdvoCare I’ve come to realize that my friends, leaders and coaches were right. You must overcome disappointment in order to succeed. This is true of anything in life. But in the field of multi-level marketing it’s especially true.

I went from 245lbs in May to 210lbs in February with AdvoCare, achieving a weight not seen by my scale since 1987.

I went from 245lbs in May to 210lbs in February with AdvoCare, achieving a weight not seen by my scale since 1987.

Here is the most important thing to know. Your friends and family will not support your new business venture or your enthusiasm for it. And this more than anything else leads to people quitting and saying “Direct marketing doesn’t work”. Where we benefit in AdvoCare, perhaps more than other Direct Sales companies, is that we are told this repeatedly by those who have been successful representing AdvoCare before.

I know some will read this and scoff that I’m just expressing sour grapes over our failure to “sell” to friends and family. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. Mrs. Blah Blah Blah and myself are truly enthusiastic about the health, energy, and nutritional products produced by AdvoCare. We really know and believe them to be the finest in the world. Using AdvoCare we have combined to lose more than 70 pounds of fat in only 8 months, we have more energy than ever before (or certainly in years), Prostate issues have been completely solved, arthritis pain has been eased, muscle toning has developed like never before, and we’re making a little money with every expectation that we’ll make even more. More importantly, we’ve helped a couple handfuls of people lose weight and feel great. And based on the fact they keep buying product without prompting is clear indication that they like/love AdvoCare too. No I don’t feel sour grapes for the naysayers, the deniers. I feel sorry for them. I only wish I could find the words to properly convey my feelings. My wife and I have a desire to help those who have similar needs or problems that we faced when AdvoCare was introduced to us. But if they won’t take the time to listen or try the products we can’t help.

Advocare solves so many solutions for so many people.

Do you want to lose weight? AdvoCare is unmatched in helping all kinds of people lose weight.

The 24 Day Challenge is cheap compared to what we all normally spend money on.

The 24 Day Challenge is cheap compared to what we all normally spend money on.

Do you have high blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar? Are you pre-diabetic? While it’s important to state we’re not making any medical claims nor is AdvoCare I can say these issues evaporated in my case and in the case of many others after using AdvoCare.

Are you in debt and need an infusion of cash? By applying a mere 3-5 hours per week to AdvoCare; in only 6 months we’re making about $500 per month. By the end of our first year we have every expectation of making $1000 per month. Would you work an additional 3-5 hours per week for a year in your current job if it made you and extra $12,000 per year? Also, my friend and his wife who introduced us to AdvoCare built a business paying them over $20,000 per month in just three years.

Are you working long hours at your job and missing the opportunity to spend time with your family, your kids or grand kids? Is someone other than you raising your children? AdvoCare Distributors work from home and many do make full-time incomes.

Are you a hard-body? A fitness freak? A weekend warrior athlete who can’t get enough endorphins and is looking to take your physical fitness to a new exceptional level? AdvoCare is used by countless professional athletes and Olympic athletes. Our list of non-paid endorsers includes NFL MVP‘s, Olympic Gold Medal Winners, Heisman Trophy winners, NFL Man-of-the-Year recipients, and Super Bowl Champions. If it’s good enough for them, you better believe it’s good enough for you.

AdvoCare awards $20k in bonuses twice per month to the top Rookie Advisor-Distributors.

AdvoCare awards $20k in bonuses twice per month to the top Rookie Advisor-Distributors.

Direct Sales, or Multi-Level marketing companies, are not a scam. They are not pyramid schemes. They have existed proudly in this country for well over 100 years. And some of the finest producers of products in their respective fields are direct sales companies. Amway, in spite of its bad reputation in this country, is a billion dollar enterprise and sells the world over; and their products are top quality. Mary Kay and Avon cosmetics are wonderful (or so I’m told. My wife buys Mary Kay and has for years). Mary Kay Distributors sell $3-billion of product, Avon, $12-billion every year. The Pampered Chef, Party Lite, Tupperware and on and on. Many multi-level direct sales companies are household names with fine products and reputations.

Spark is loaded with 21 different vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. It contains no sugar. And it works!!!

Spark is loaded with 21 different vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. It contains no sugar. And it works!!!

But none of this means anything to the cynical friend or family member. And let’s face it, these are the people you will approach first when you decide to represent AdvoCare, or any other direct-sales company. And that is why this blog is titled as it is. You have to overcome what initial disappointment might come your way from the utter rejection you get from the people who are closest to you. You have to realize to be successful with AdvoCare you have to be open and eager to talk to STRANGERS. GASP! Here’s the good news…you’d have to do that in any other job also. So what’s the problem?

The Performance Elite line of products will develop muscle and help reduce the risk of injury.

The Performance Elite line of products will develop muscle and help reduce the risk of injury.

If you make the decision to try AdvoCare and grow it as a business you make a great decision. But you want to prepare yourself for meeting and enjoying new people. You will want to prepare yourself for working occasional evenings at PARTIES. You’ll have to prepare yourself for making more money and getting out of debt. And you will have to do all this while keeping your old friends who will probably not support your new venture, and making new friends who will.

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

Go to our website, read our story and try some AdvoCare. You won't regret it.

Go to our website, read our story and try some AdvoCare. You won’t regret it.

February 28, 2013
Categories: Uncategorized, Washington State, Weight Loss . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: Comments Off on Get Your Dreams Answered by Overcoming Disappointment

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