No Venture, No Gain. How Taking Risks Pays Off

Great change cannot occur without taking great risks. We take a leap of faith in hopes of extraordinary personal and professional fulfillment. Unfortunately, taking a giant leap means a risk of failure. One can’t help but wonder: Will it be worth it?

Before joining WorldVentures, many Representatives shared struggles of unfulfilled dreams and potential. No venture. No gain. In each case, the need for success became stronger than the fear of failure. This realization brought men and women from 28 markets to WorldVentures. Today, WorldVentures, has become the world’s largest direct seller of group travel, with more than 120,000 independent Representatives worldwide.

Still, people are understandably careful about taking unnecessary risks. Don't be scared to fail. Rather be afraid of not trying. If you make decisions that are well researched and calculated, you will limit the possibility of stumbling.

Venturing into the unknown can contribute to unwanted and unnecessary pressure. Also, if security and stability is what you crave, then perhaps start with smaller more manageable risks.

The truth is: You take risks every day. It could be something as modest as introducing oneself to someone new or something as significant as making a public speech. Often, we take risks without being aware of it. But it's the big risks, the giant leaps, the potentially earth-shattering decisions that not only affect you but also others―that’s where the real reward lies.

So, whether you're negotiating with a future employer, changing careers mid-life, or speaking up and making others aware of your presence, keep doing it, and you may get what you’re seeking.

"There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing."  – Denis Waitley, American motivational speaker and writer, consultant and best-selling author.

How Do You Properly Live Fun, Freedom and Fulfillment?

It’s the WorldVentures corporate motto: Live fun, freedom and fulfillment. And the company’s top core value? “Look for ways to integrate more fun, freedom and fulfillment into everything we do.”

Regardless of what you do for a living, it’s crucial to weave more of the three F’s into your life. You will be a happier person because of it. You will accomplish more. You’ll have a better, more positive outlook on life. And you will not only have more energy, but you’ll emanate it out to others around you.

And if you’re interested in exploring life as a WorldVentures Representative, fun, freedom and fulfillment will guide you on your direct-sales route to being your own boss, having more time to spend with your family and having unique experiences through travel.

WorldVentures Representatives fulfill several needs: the needs to travel, to work and earn money, to enjoy life, to spend valuable time with family and friends, to meet new people and to control their own personal and professional destiny. That’s what fun, freedom and fulfillment means to many WorldVentures Independent Representatives.

Changes Lives Around The Globe

One of the many unique things about WorldVentures™ is its commitment to making a genuine difference in the world. When Mike Azcue and Wayne Nugent founded WorldVentures six years ago, they set out to create a special kind of company - a company with a great product, solid business opportunity - but also a company with a big heart. To that aim, in May 2010, encouraged by the field, the company launched the Manifest Foundation, a registered 501c3 aimed at serving social needs around the world by helping the most vulnerable among us - children. Thus far, the foundation has funded projects that provide water purification systems in Latin America and Africa, computers for Third World classrooms, and vocational training and microloans for mothers in Africa. Working with grassroots partners like Hug It Forward, WorldVentures volunteers have helped build "bottle schools" (structures built out of plastic soda bottles filled with inorganic trash to create "eco-bricks") in Latin American villages.

It has been my great privilege to be the steward of Mike and Wayne's vision as executive director of the foundation for the past two years. I am very proud of how much we have already accomplished; very excited by how much more we can and plan to do.

Recently, I had the good fortune to develop and lead another of the company's "voluntourism" excursions. As the name implies, voluntours are travel adventures with a social purpose, in this case a team of 15 WorldVentures volunteers from three continents traveled in September to Kenya to help an orphanage in the slum village of Degorretti in Nairobi become self-sufficient. We brought three clean water systems, and built a chicken coop to house 100 chickens. All this not only provides clean drinking water and food for the orphans, but establishes a sustainable income source, as thousands of villagers now have convenient access to clean water. Lack of clean water is one of the most serious problems facing the developing world, particularly in Kenya, where abject poverty and deprivation is the norm, where most people live on less than $2 per day, and where containable diseases such as AIDS continue to tragically ravage families.

Our work in Degorretti centered on an amazing and inspiring place called the Lighthouse Grace Orphanage. The orphanage is home to 60 children and provides schooling to another 100 students every day. The home was well-named - despite the poverty and desperate lack of resources, grace was in abundance everywhere at this oasis amidst the squalor. Founded and led by an amazing woman named Regina Ngige, the orphanage is a beacon of hope to the entire community. I can still see the beautiful beaming faces of children who despite living on usually one meal a day of maize or rice, and having no access to clean sanitation or a health aid when they feel sick, are positive and hopeful about their lives. When you ask them if they have a dream, they all say, "Yes," and are eager to tell you. It was an honor to make a difference in their community; installing the water filtration systems will change many lives in Degorretti forever. Of course, speaking for all the WorldVentures voluntourists, I can safely say that our lives were also changed on that trip: it is impossible not to be transformed by the experience. One such transformation was shared by International Marketing Director, Matt Morris about a week after the trip, saying, "A surprising, and noticeable change for me is in my parenting. I made pancakes for breakfast the other day and my daughter said she didn't want them, but wanted eggs instead. In the past, I would have probably just made her the eggs. But this time, I asked her, 'What do the children at Grace eat?' She replied, 'Rice, Daddy,' and proceeded to happily eat her pancakes without any fuss."

That's the power of voluntourism and the generous spirit behind WorldVentures' Manifest Foundation. It is a rare organization that really walks the walk - we can all be proud to be associated with a company that actively practices its values every day. If you'd like to contribute, volunteer or participate in an upcoming voluntourism opportunity, please do not hesitate to visit our website www.manifestfoundation.org.

Who's in Your Circle?

Let’s face it. We all do it and a lot of it. Tweeting. Liking. Updating. Sharing.  Social media has gone from a fun distraction to a daily “must-check” and “must have” tool that businesses use to increase awareness, garner positive publicity, share daily happenings and to, frankly, stay relevant.

And though businesses use social media for their own purposes, the truth is, we as individuals are pretty plugged in too. Social networking (in all its avenues) now accounts for one out of every six minutes spent online.  Considering the average time a person spends on a non-social site is less than one minute, it is increasingly apparent that social media is a big influence on our lives and, in turn, in the lives of those around us.

In life, we all have our circle of friends.  Those we keep around us tend to be positive and uplifting (and if they’re not, they should be) who we turn to for support, come together with to  share a laugh, unite with over a common cause and just simply enjoy having around us.  There is just as much talk about social media circles. And just as in “real life,” it’s best when those in our social media circles are just as optimistic and just as encouraging as our non-virtual friends.

Think about it. Would you allow negative and pessimistic people to hang out with you or constantly fill your days (or timeline) with woe? Of course not! It is important to choose wisely who you associate with, as well as how you associate with them on social media.  Knowing this is true from personal experience, I compiled my top four tips on building the perfect network in social media and thought you might like to see it!

1. Fill Your Networks with Positive People!

As the quote says, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” So choose wisely and stay away from people with bad energy. If they show you who they are—and it’s not uplifting for you and in return, your business—believe them and adopt a zero tolerance attitude towards their negativity.

2. Regularly Evaluate Your "Friends" in Your Networks!

“False friends are worse than bitter enemies.” The truth of the matter is that not everyone who proclaims to be your friend is really your friend. People, teammates and situations change, so out with the old and in with the new! Consider removing those who are not a positive partner supporting your business goals.

3. Stay Positive – Be Polite – Be Respectful!

Be the person you are trying to attract. Birds of a feather often flock together, so surround yourself with those who are like you and vice-versa.

4. Be You!

This is probably the most import word of advice I can offer. Bottom line, people like you because of who you are. Showcase your life of fun,freedom, fulfillment and overall well-being to attract like-minded people!

It’s pretty simple when you think about it, right? Surround yourself with like-minded people who have similar goals and together you will go far in life—and online.

Top 5 Reasons to Join an MLM

Multilevel marketing has gotten a bad rap over the years. And though many reputable companies exist, mere mention of M-L-M can conjure shattered dreams that made headlines over decades past. But you can’t paint all network marketing companies with the same broad stroke. At WorldVentures, we stake our reputation on integrity and transparency, and we have the longevity and legacy of achievement to back us.  

But enough about us. Here are a few reasons to consider multilevel marketing in general:

1. Entrepreneurial freedom:  I know you've heard it before, but it’s true. You can quite literally fire your boss and run your own business with low overhead costs. You may want to gradually build up to this point by starting out on a part-time basis. But if you’re so inclined, you can also pursue direct sales full time. 

2. Unlimited earnings potential: Unlike in the corporate world where your rise in rank may hinge on anything from your talent and tenure to your temperament, MLMs allow you to determine your own worth. No salary caps here. Decide what you want to earn then go for it.   

3. Personal development: MLMs are big on helping you become your best. Personal development ensures that you become a more effective entrepreneur, and it promotes continued company growth. From books and videos to conferences and one-on-one coaching, you have the tools you need to tap in to your full potential.

4. Continuous training: Much like personal development, training is always accessible. No more filling out a training request and waiting for your boss to approve it based on budget. Any and everything you need to know to be successful in your business is at your fingertips.

5. Camaraderie: There’s nothing like connecting with people who share your vision. As the old saying goes, “Iron sharpens iron.” By joining an MLM, you will align yourself with like-minded people who can identify with your struggles and support your success.