I was conducting yet another Public Speaking event today, this time in Da Nang, Vietnam for 300 eager, hungry and dynamic Oriflame Entrepreneurs. Below you will find an extract of what I focused on during my speech. If you want the full speech join me for the next engagement. Use it, copy it and make it yours, if you wish. That’s what I do, all the time!

• First and foremost you need to realize that you are the CEO of your own life. What happens to you and how successful you become is actually up to you… you are responsible!
• So if you are the CEO of your life ensure that you are the Chief Excitement Officer or the Chief Enthusiasm Officer of your future. Most of us never are though, are we? Most of us are the Chief Excuse Officers of our lives. It is time to stop making excuses for all the things you could have done or could have been and instead just decide to be the best you possible can!

Ingredients a successful Entrepreneur needs: 

• Inspiration
  • You need to be able to inspire others to do what you want them to do, voluntarily… That’s inspiration! Find out what they are dreaming of, what they are aspiring to become? And work from there – that’s the base!
  • You need to be inspired by your own dreams, goals and aspirations! Why are you working hard? What do you want to achieve? Who do you want to become? Why? Get on top of it and work on it from every possible angle.
• Information
  • Seek to learn everyday. Educate yourself on Leadership, on how relationships driveloyalty and motivation, negotiation, recommendation and anything that will be useful for your growth. Become better by becoming more knowledgeable. Spend 20-30 min/day honing your skills – practice makes perfect!
• Perspiration
  • The only way to become successful is by hard work and determination. There are no shortcuts to success. Work hard today, do what others won’t and you will have what others don’t. Do you want to lead a life of abundance? Appealing? Heck yes! That’s what this business can do for those who take it seriously. Don’t shy away from perspiration, a few tears and from time to time a bit of frustration and perhaps momentary fatigue – They’re all prerequisites to success!

• Don’t take yourself too seriously: no one else does. You are not that special, neither am I. Taking yourself too seriously will limit your interactions, relationships, it’ll probably make you stiff and your life less exciting. Relax, be the person you want to be! Do however, take this business seriously because you do have the possibility to build something today that will last a life-time and perhaps for generations to come. Success can create big egos, this is a danger in business and leadership. If I had listened to all the positive stuff people tell me in this business my head would have exploded along time ago. Be grounded, remember who you were before your success. Again, don’t take yourself too seriously, be yourself and be humble – That’s world class Leadership!
• Work on your story: Having a compelling story and sharing this story with others, as often as possible, is the best recipe for success in any business. Your favourite product story, the actions you took to reach where you are today etc… Sharing personal stories and your own product experiences are far more powerful than any type of advertising be ever be! Sharing your why, how and your what – inspirational and educational.  Work on your story – and share it, all the time!
• Work on strengths: Ordinarily, we are good at the things we like to do – and that’s probably why we like doing them. If you wish to excel at something you must work on what you are effortlessly good at. If you work on your strengths, your weaknesses will automatically improve and you will maximize your skill-sets and capabilities. Powerful! Challenge yourself at every juncture, that’s how you excel!

Finally, in order to become a strong leader you need to:

1. Lighten up – life is too dull as it is. The World needs positive and upbeat people! People who believe they can make a difference, if ever so small. No need for yourself, or for the world, for you to contribute, if not positively! So be the most positive person you can ever be, always!
2. Grow up – stop letting small and insignificant things get to you – FOCUS and work your plan! Nothing can stop you.
3. Shut up – listen to people around you, learn and adapt. You have two ears and one mouth for a reason! Listening is empathy, is smart and leads to loyalty in a leadership situation. Nobody wants to follow a leader who think they know better all the time.

Good luck being the best that you can be. This is your life! What you do with it is your responsibility. You are indeed the CEO of your own alternative future!

Get in the game!