A Green and Healthy Lifestyle

Shaklee provides an opportunity for many different people to build a successful business to achieve financial independence. But fitness instructors come to the program with several advantages compared with other professionals and experienced business leaders.

What are these advantages for fitness trainers?

1. They are typically already entrepreneurs.

Most fitness instructors are already entrepreneurs – even the ones working at large gyms. They are successful if they develop a large group of repeat clients and it is up to them to encourage people to continue with the program.  There are also many fitness professionals who work on their own without the structure of an established gym.  These people are true entrepreneurs if they are successful in developing their own business.

2. They work with people who want to improve their lives.

Clients at a gym are interested in developing a better, healthier lifestyle. They may be interested in losing weight or gaining muscle mass and these are some of the best quality products Shaklee offers. The Cinch Inch program is designed to help people lose weight and not sacrifice lean muscle mass. These gym-goers are also good customers for vitamin and nutritional supplements to maintain their health and immune system. Vivix Anti-Aging Formula is one of the company's top sellers

3. Their clients are usually health conscience

Gym customers are generally healthy and want to stay that way. The healthy Shaklee products are the type of merchandise that anyone can feel good about promoting and fitness instructors will see that importance. Shaklee’s product line includes healthy vitamin supplements, weight management, green living at home, and healthy beauty products.

4. They are familiar with the types of products Shaklee offers

Talk to a fitness counselor and they will already know the language and terminology of the healthy products offered. They know how a person can lose weight. And how a person can increase their muscle mass.  If the instructor knows his business and is successful he or she will come to the program with more knowledge than almost any Independent Distributor so it won’t take long to become familiar with the program.

5. They are smart, educated, energetic, and optimistic.

The younger – and older - generation of fitness instructors is highly educated. The stereotype of the dumb jock doesn’t describe them. They are smart and want to use their training and skills to build a successful career. These entrepreneurs in particular will see that the Shaklee program can provide an opportunity to be rewarded for their hard work.

Any selling program involves a certain level of rejection. Optimistic instructors energy and natural optimism gives them a resilience others may not have. They can look at the bigger picture over the long run and see that a few “no’s” today can be offset by the potential rewards from the “yes’s”.

6. They have a level of authority on health related issues and products

When a client starts working with a professional instructor they look up to them as being experts in how to live a healthy life. This authority can be useful when presenting the Shaklee product line.  And because the nutritional supplements and other products offered are of the highest quality, they know that they won’t be steering their clients wrong.

7. They appreciate the low cost of investment

Even successful trainers at the gym can be looking for programs to join that don’t take a large investment. Shaklee is a perfect fit with an initial investment of only $299 needed to get them into the program.

8. Can Work Part-Time and Still Be Successful

Many fitness trainers don’t have the time to get started in a full time business. Most are already working with clients. With Shaklee they can take advantage of being able to work at their own pace and still be successful. And as with any new entrepreneurial project, the reward will be directly related to the time and effort invested.

9. Looking for Alternative Employment in the Current Economy

No one has to tell any member of the work force how tough it can be to keep a job in the current economy. But by creating a job by starting a Shaklee business it will be possible to eliminate that problem. Shaklee has exceeded its sales goals in each of the past 6 recessions and has proven that it doesn’t take a strong economy to be successful.

10. They are good networkers

Trainers know other trainers. So they already have the opportunity to develop other potential distributors.  Once they become successful and their co-workers see the benefits, it will be easy to pass along the opportunity.

How Does a Fitness Entrepreneur Get Started?

1. Learn more. Check us out. Look over our website. Check out the products and learn more about the Shaklee Difference. Here are our online resources:

Shaklee Web Site
The FASTTrack Plan site for more information on the opportunity
Follow us on Twittter
Check out our blog
See our YouTube Channel

2. Ask Questions. Use the CONTACT ME link at the top of each page of our web site to ask any question. We want to hear from you.

3. Join Shaklee. Start today by joining our Shaklee Team by registering as a Gold Ambassador. For only $299 you will receive over $500 in products and will be on your way!

4. Click here to join today.

Webinars can be a powerful online tool for building an online business. But to be successful they also require planning, practice, and a certain level of expertise.

10 Steps to a Successful Webinar

1. Outline your goals for the webinar

What do you want to accomplish? You can:
a. Sell products or services
b. Recruit others for your business
c. Provide training and other information

Decide on your objectives and keep it simple. Don’t try to do too much or you will lose your audience.

2. Select your webinar platform

There are many webinar programs out there. Some are complex and expensive. Others are free – usually for a small audience. We have used DimDim and have found it to be a very good program.

3. Learn how it works

Take time to check out all of the features. You will want to look like the professional you are when your audience shows up. At first it may appear to be complicated, but remember it is just like making a presentation in person only using the latest technology to reach a broad audience.

4. Make it simple for your audience

Many people who would be interested in hearing what you have to present are not going to be technical wizards. So make it simple by using a simple link that anyone can use. Most programs don’t require participants to download software onto their computer. All they need is an internet connection and a phone line for hearing you.

5. Prepare your presentation materials

In most cases you already have your presentation materials on hand. They can be in PowerPoint or even PDF files. You can also use videos and even show the audience your web site as part of the webinar. You just need to be prepared in advance.

6. Practice first without an audience then with a select audience

If you think of the webinar as just like talking to a small group in your office, then you know that you need to practice what you are going to say first. By using the program you will quickly learn how to make the best impression. Then when you have it down, invite a select audience you know to view your presentation so you become more comfortable with the format.

7. Use all of the tools available

A webinar can be a multi-media event. There are many tools such as using PowerPoint so everyone is following along at your pace. But you can show videos, web sites, and even use the screen to type information that is important for everyone to see. You can use a web cam during the presentation so all of the participants can see you. There will be a chat feature where you and your staff can interact with participants; answering any questions that come up.

8. Promote your webinar

You will want to set a schedule for most of your webinars. You can then invite anyone to view them. By using a link to your webinar site you will be able to invite people to come see what you have to say.

9. Record your best webinars for others

Most webinar programs allow you to record the presentation. You can then post that recording on your web site for others to view at any time in the future. This is a great feature to make sure that others can see your information even if they weren’t able to make it to the webinar.

10. Ask for and learn from feedback

At the end of the webinar always ask for feedback. You want to hear what the participants have to say. Learn from their input to make future webinars even more productive.

We have developed a series of webinars for learning and training for our Shaklee distributor network. Check them out on our Nutritional Webinar Web Site. We know from experience how important it is to reach a large audience – anywhere in the country or even around the globe using this latest technology.

Have fun!

Take Something You Like and Make it Your Own.

This can be a powerful tool when building any business. There are many marketing programs, techniques, and processes that can be implemented to grow your online business. But one key to success is to build on something you like.

Traditional direct marketing has always been based on the concept of checking out what the competition is up to. A good direct marketer will be interested in seeing what others are doing and if something shows up over and over, you can be assured that it works. The next step is to adapt your marketing program to use that information to build your own business.

For example, if you see your competition using online webinars to build their business, then it is worth checking out. If they are using Google AdWords to beat you to the customers first, then it is going be valuable for you to learn more about online search marketing. And if you see a similar program using Twitter to reach out, you should also see if Twitter can work for your business.

Do you just copy someone else’s program? Is that okay to do?

Exactly copying the online marketing program that someone else has developed rarely meets your needs. Maybe they are trying to attract a different audience. Maybe their products are different than yours. Or maybe they have just duplicated someone else’s program in hopes that it works for them.

Five Steps for Online Marketing Success

1. Identify the Competition.

You should already know who your online competition is. If not start researching now. See who is appearing everywhere online marketing the same type of products and services. And make sure you have found the entrepreneurs or businesses that are successful to study.

2. List the ten things you think make them successful.

Of course there are going to be many things that a successful business – online or offline – will be doing to promote their business. But rather than trying to figure out everything just concentrate on the top ten things that you have determined to be their keys to success. And see if these programs are used by more than one successful competitor.

3. Narrow that list to the top three things that you would like to be doing.

Your most valuable asset is time. And since you can’t be doing everything, you should focus on the three things that you feel are productive and that you would like to be doing. If they are using Facebook and you like spending time there, put that on your list. If they are using Craigslist.org ads but you don’t like all that detail work, leave it off.

4. Map out a plan on how you can start using those three techniques yourself.

You already know your products and services; your strengths and weaknesses; and use that information and your imagination to determine how you can apply these proven methods to your business. Create your map using a timeline showing what you can do this week, this month, and this year.  Be as detailed as possible in your planning.

5. Try these new programs out for yourself.

Start right away so you have time to test things out. As you continue to develop your marketing plan you will be able to test and learn. If things are working, build on those techniques. If some programs are not turning out how you would like, make adjustments and keep at it.

This may sound like just common sense. But most successful marketers don’t have a magic formula. They are continually learning about what works for them in their business. You can use that same technique to grow your business as well.

Good luck!

Who Wants to Live a Healthy Lifestyle?

This is an easy question. Almost everyone.

But what can make this such a hard thing for us to do these days? In the US we typically live an eventful, busy life – filled with so many activities that to remember to treat ourselves well sometimes gets lost.

Journey to Optimal Health

To be healthy we should focus on five areas:

1. Good nutrition – what we eat matters
2. Weight management – how much we eat matters
3. Fitness – to make our bodies stronger and healthier
4. Stress management – to minimize unwanted influences to impact our well-being
5. Taking the right supplements – to give our bodies the best nutrients to stay at our best

Good Nutrition

Many times our eating habits are developed based on the wrong influences – eating what is handy, cheap, easy to find, or what tastes the best. Most people know what makes up healthy nutrition. We should cut back on fast foods, junk foods, and reduce soda intake.

Instead we should eat a healthy diet of the proper balance of macro-nutrients, healthy protein, heart-healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, as well as the all important Omega 3 supplement.
Easier said than done – right?  But many times it takes just as much time, money, and effort to eat the wrong things.

Weight Management

Sixty percent of Americans are overweight. There are many causes, but we need to find the solution for what works for ourselves.

The diet cycle is tough on our systems and eventually results in ending up back where we started. This cycle can actually cause us to lose ground by ending up with lower muscle mass. Lean muscle is important because muscle equals metabolism. The greater our metabolism, the more calories our body uses and that means being able to lose weight or keep our weight where we want.

40%-50% of our diet calories should be made up of complex carbs, 25% to 30% of lean protein, and the remainder from healthy fats. Of course the exact formula for each individual can be different. And it is always recommended that a health professional – doctor or dietician – should be consulted to make sure you are on the right track.

Fitness

Exercise is important for our well-being and healthy lifestyle for multiple reasons. Working out can be an important activity in any weight management program. Stress can also be reduced from physical exercise. Cardio exercises can be very useful in making our bodies more healthy and can reduce the cause of many of the factors in making us unhealthy.

One hour a day is recommended by many professionals as the required fitness training each day. But that does not mean that you need to spend that time in the gym. Just by taking the stairs at work, walking whenever possible instead of using the car, and staying active in the back yard with the kids all count.

Stress Management

Stress takes its toll on our physical and mental health. A healthy lifestyle includes reducing stress whenever possible. You can start by recognizing the biggest stress factors in your life and minimizing them if you can. Even taking 10 minutes of breathing exercises can help out. And it is important that we all get as much sleep as we can with our busy schedules – eight hours a night can do wonders.

Taking the Right Supplements

If we are conscious about eating a healthy diet, we still may not be getting every nutrient we need to keep us in top shape. Poor foods, less desirable food sources, pollution, and even junk food do not help out.
The recommended supplements include multi-vitamins, antioxidants, calcium, fish oil for omega 3’s, and probiotics for a healthy intestinal tract. There are many sources of natural nutrition vitamin supplements. This may take some time to educate yourself on what is best for you. But the time will be a good investment. And don’t forget to check with your doctor to get their advice as well.

Once you make the decision to leave a healthier lifestyle, you will probably discover that you have more energy, feel better, and want to do more in your active life.

And it is very important to remember that even small changes make a difference.

Good luck and get started today!

Simon Prentice on RichGrads.com posted on May 24, 2009 a list of the the types of questions you should ask when checking out any business opportunity such as Shaklee.  Here is a link to his posting:

Full Article on RichGrads.com

In order to help you filter out the good companies from the bad, I have put together a post that discusses the Top 10 Qualities to look for when selecting a network marketing company.

These 10 characteristics are based on research put together by D.C. Falter Marketing, The University of Illinois Network Marketing Faculty, MLM Insider and Networking Times. By finding a company that has all of these qualities, you can feel assured that you will be getting involved in a company that will give you your best chance of achieving success.

Here is the list and how Shaklee stacks up:

1.) The founder of the company started the business for a purpose he or she was passionate about.

• Shaklee was founded by Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee in 1956 and was passionate about improving peoples' lives through better health and a more healthy home.

2.) The products are consumable. For example, if the company sold water it would meet this criteria as water is consumable. Vitamins are another very good example.

• All of Shaklee products are consumable - from vitamins, Cinch weight management products, Get Clean home products, and all healthy beauty products.

3.) A binary compensation plan is used. It is far easier to make passive income with a binary compensation plan.

• Shaklee does not use a binary compensation plan, but is a type of "stair-step" program which is often described as being driven by both product and performance.  This doesn't mean that binary plans are not good, they are just a different format. What is important is that the compensation plan is built around selling product, not recruiting new distributors for a fee.

4.) The company has a good reputation. Google it! Sketchy companies will have many negative comments written about them. Good companies will have more positives than negatives.

• Check it out and see for yourself. Because Shaklee has been successful for so many decades means that they are doing something right.

5.) The company has been in business for at least seven years.

• Shaklee was started in 1956 - over 50 years and growing.

6.) The industry the company is based in has a future not a past. Therefore, there is growing demand for the products. A good example would be products that serve the baby boomers (a growing segment).

• Shaklee is in the center of the nearly $1 trillion health and wellness industry, focusing on health and wellness, anti-aging, green products, nutrition and beauty, and home-based businesses.

7.) The company has exceptional training programs and marketing materials.

• Shaklee provides comprehensive training for all new distributors, such as the online Shaklee University. Training continues through local, regional, and global conferences. The most important training comes from your sponsor.

8.) The product or service is distributed through online systems.

• All distributors have a personal web site (PWS) which is used for processing all orders. No distributor needs to order, house, or ship products.

9.) The company prides itself on HELPING people not selling to people. Sketchy companies focus most of their energy on training you how to just recruit other distributors. Good companies focus on training you about their products and why they help people and how to help people achieve their goals.

• Shaklee likes to focus its products as designed to help individuals and their families live a healthier life while treating the planet well. Of course the most successful Shaklee distributors work on developing new business leaders, but their compensation is based on total product sold - not income from new memberships.

10.) The company has an exceptional product or service that people will want to recommend to their friends.

• You have to determine this for yourself. Our household has been using Shaklee products daily for over 20 years and we do not hesitate to refer others to these products.

Corporate America has becoming an increasingly accepting opportunity for members of the LGBT community. There are more and more companies that offer non-discrimination policies for sexual orientation and even benefits for partners. Co-workers and management can be supportive and allow gay and lesbian workers more freedom than in the past.

But being an open member of the LGBT community in the workforce can still be a tough situation. In some parts of the country it is more accepted than others.

What is a good alternative?

Becoming your own boss and building your own business has been a way for gay entrepreneurs to earn a good living and live their own lifestyle. But starting out on your own can be stressful, take an incredible amount of initiative and effort, and often requires a significant investment. One good opportunity we have discovered is to build a Shaklee business as an Independent Shaklee Distributor.

10 Reasons for Gay Entrepreneurs to Build a Shaklee Business:

1. You can be your own boss.

You will have flexibility in your time and schedule, deciding on the best use of your time. And you will have the opportunity to truly enjoy your work.

2. You can select your business partners.

When you decide to join Shaklee and start building your business you will be able to select the people you will be working with on a daily basis – no boss or company will tell you who your co-workers will be.

3. You get a choice in who are your customers.

In addition to having a choice in your business partners, you will also be able to have a say in who your customers are. You can promote Shaklee products to anyone so why not select people you like to see every day?

4. You can build a business promoting healthy products in the $350+ billion health and wellness industry.

Shaklee has been in business for over 50 years and is the number 1 natural nutrition company in the US. Shaklee is the first company in the world to be Climate Neutral™ certified. The Shaklee products are excellent quality and you will be genuinely helping others to live a more healthy lifestyle.

5. You will have the opportunity to promote three of the most valuable products for the LGBT community:

• Vivix Anti-Aging Formula
• Vitalizer Healthy Nutrition Supplements
• Nutriferon Immunity Boost

6. You can be rewarded based on your efforts.

The Shaklee program provides you with unlimited income potential. There are 7 ways to generate income and it one of the best in the industry. And importantly you will be recognized for your achievements

7. You can work in a supportive organization that values individual contribution

Instead of working for someone else, being constrained by the existing structure, you will be part of an organization that recognizes individuals based on contribution – not on who they are.

8. Becoming a Shaklee Independent Distributor does not require a large investment.

Starting as a GOLD Ambassador costs only $299, providing a $500+ value. There is no inventory, customer service, or transaction costs. And you can build your business online, giving you the chance to promote your business nationwide and even globally.

9. Shaklee provides comprehensive training to get started.

Shaklee is not looking for just sales people. We are looking for entrepreneurs. The training is extensive, including online and printed material. Shaklee University will give you the tools needed to business a successful business. And most importantly the person who sponsors your member will become your mentor.

10. Become part of the LGBT Shaklee “family”.

We all spend a tremendous portion of our time in our work. We feel that this time should be spent with positive individuals who want to work with us no matter what community we belong to. And at Shaklee we are working to build a large and successful LGBT network of distributors.

Does this sound interesting to you? Do you want to know more? We hope so and want to hear from you.

What’s next?

• Click here to learn more about Shaklee Products and the Shaklee Opportunity on our web site

• Check out our Green and Healthy Vitamin Supplements blog

• Sign up for our Shaklee Opportunity and Training Webinars

• View our Shaklee Videos on YouTube

• Follow us on Twitter

And most importantly you can Sign Up with Shaklee today!

You can always reach us to ask questions and get more information by going to our Shaklee web site and clicking on the CONTACT ME link at the top of each page.

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

“Your future life will be exactly what you decide to make it” – Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee

Find out more about the ingredients in Shaklee's Get Clean home product line.

This glossary includes general terms used in connection with the science behind Shaklee skin and hair care products, and an extensive listing of ingredients currently used in the Enfuselle®, Minerelles®, Meadow Blend®, and ProSanté® product lines.

The Shaklee Ingredient Philosophy

When Selecting Ingredients, We Look to Nature First

Founded on the philosophy of offering products in harmony with nature and good health®, Shaklee adheres to the principles that were established by our founder, Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee. When we select ingredients for our products, we hold to two important principles. These principles set us apart as a company and are the basis for our advanced approach to product development and production.

First of all, our ingredients must be as natural as possible. Secondly, those ingredients must reflect the most recent scientific and technological advances. The superior quality of Shaklee products is a result of our respect for nature’s wis- dom and our use of state-of-the-art research and production methods.

The Nutritional and Herbal Products Ingredient Glossary that follows is a testament to the principles and philosophy es- tablished by Dr. Shaklee. Information is the key to understanding. In our ingredient glossary, you will find a description of every ingredient found in Shaklee nutritional products. We’ve included information about ingredient sourcing and process- ing, as well as the roles the ingredients perform in our products and in our bodies.

The Shaklee Difference — The Highest Standards

Our Nutritional and Herbal Products Ingredient Glossary is a reflection of the Shaklee philosophy and principles at work. Each ingredient is as natural as can be and illustrates the leading advances in science and technology. That’s the approach to making products that Dr. Shaklee pioneered, exacting the highest ingredient standards possible.

The ingredients, though, are only one part of the Shaklee Difference. Our unique blend of ingredients, ingredient deliv- ery systems, and product forms, coupled with the cumulative power of the ongoing science behind our products, make Shaklee unique. Furthermore, as we constantly strive to make exceptionally high quality products, we place great value

in being ecologically and socially responsible. The Shaklee Difference is reflected in our research, in our product develop- ment, in the care we take to adhere to strict clinical testing and in our meeting the highest manufacturing standards in the industry, while minimizing our impact on the environment. That’s the combination that sets Shaklee products apart from all others. That’s the Shaklee Difference—demanding and providing the best and the purest—by setting the highest standards.

Natural Ingredients

Our number one priority is to use natural ingredients in our products whenever possible. In fact, when you look through the glossary, you will notice that the vast majority of our ingredients are naturally sourced and are categorized as natural. Ingredients in this category are primarily obtained directly from a natural source, or they may be obtained through simple chemical reactions such as acidification, basification, hydrolysis and fermentation. Such reactions do not significantly alter the chemical structure of the original natural ingredient. For example, beta carotene is harvested from specially grown algae, and vitamin E is obtained from soybean oil. We also include many plant-derived ingredients in our products as po- tential sources of other plant compounds that may be important to health but have yet to be identified by scientists.

The mineral ingredients that we use are also categorized as natural ingredients. Minerals are natural elements of the earth, and some are dietary essentials for good health. Sometimes, essential minerals can be sourced directly as they are found within the earth — for example, calcium from limestone. But more commonly, minerals must be purified and bound to specific carriers to enhance their bioavailability and digestibility. When a mineral source has a carrier, it is noted in the Nutritional Products Ingredient Glossary. Mineral carriers include natural compounds like mineral salts, organic acids, and protein/amino acids.

Naturally Derived Ingredients

Although an ingredient may be found in nature, it may not occur in a concentration that is high enough for our high-po- tency formulations. Fortunately, such ingredients can often be derived from natural sources through a series of chemical processes including many of those described for natural ingredients (e.g. fermentation). Vitamin C is a good example. Rose hips and acerola are two of nature’s most concentrated sources of vitamin C, but they are not concentrated enough for high-potency vitamin C–containing formulations. Fortunately, vitamin C can be derived from the carbohydrate that is present naturally in corn through a multistep process that includes fermentation. Ingredients like these are categorized as naturally derived.

Nutritional Products Ingredient Glossary

Updated 02/08

There are certain ingredients that are derived from natural sources that may be modified to perform a certain function. For example, soy lecithin can be modified to make hydroxylated soy lecithin. This modification of soy lecithin increases its solubility in water and enhances its ability to coat and protect tablets. So, modified natural ingredients like these are also categorized as naturally derived.

Naturally derived also includes ingredients originating from natural sources which undergo significant modifications so that their final form is structurally and functionally different from the starting material. Although properties of such ingredients have been changed, they are extensively tested for safety and efficacy. This subcategory of “naturally sourced” ingredients includes the ingredient hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. Cellulose is a natural plant fiber, originat- ing from wood pulp. In this case it is custom tailored by a series of chemical modifications so that it takes on different properties that make it functionally advantageous to certain products.

Scientifically Formulated Ingredients

Sometimes, a sufficiently concentrated source of an ingredient cannot be found in nature, nor can it be derived from natural sources. In these instances, advances in nutritional technology allow us to use highly bioavailable ingredients formulated from biochemical building blocks. Whenever we use these types of ingredients, they are tested thoroughly to ensure bioavailability, purity, and potency. The B vitamin, folic acid, is an example of a nutrient that is formulated from biochemical building blocks and in clinical studies has been proven to be more bioavailable than the folate found in foods.