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Click on photo		Act Enthusiastic and You Will Become Enthusiastic! *A lesson from Mary Kay.* "Enthusiasm is a way of life. It's a magic spark that transforms being into living, and it makes hard work enjoyable. Nothing will help you to sell yourself better than the power of your personal enthusiasm." Work Will Win Where Wishing Won't *A lesson from Mary Kay.* "Remember, if you do the things you ought to do when you ought to do them, then someday you can do the things you want to do when you want to do them. Whatever you do - or dream you can do - begin it." Give the Gift of Positive Thinking *A lesson from Mary Kay.* "The most valuable gift you could give your children is not money, but instead it is the ability to think positively. The money will soon be gone, but the ability to think positively will go on to help your children be a success throughout their entire lives."

Who is Mary Kay Ash? - by Gloria Mayfield-Banks		Mary Kay ... The Lady- by Zig Ziglar

The March 2006 Issue of GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MAGAZINE quotes our beloved MARY KAY ASH!

Your Good Life - 4 Simple Steps to Get You Motivated

So as not to re-type the entire article, only segments, I thought I'd start where the issue
really begins to dig in...Plus, I have added a few comments in parentheses.

- Gretchen Runkle, Independent Sales Director

DREAM BIG - Just START Small...

Tape these to your mirror!

Why is it that some women seem to be able to do it all? You know the type: She sews costumes for the school play, and her house is so perfect that it looks as if she hired a decorator. Meanwhile, you're still struggling just to put up blinds in the guest room. Turns out, you can blame it on biology. "Some people are more likely than others to try new things," explains Frank Farley, Ph.D., a psychologist at Temple University. "They have a Type-T personality (T stands for thrill seeking). They seek out challenges more often than others." You say your goal of de-cluttering the family room isn't exactly a thrill a minute? True, but it still requires the kind of energy that thrill seekers enjoy in abundance. Even if you're not a natural Type-T, that doesn't mean you're doomed to couch-potatodom. It just means that you need to motivate yourself.

The trick is to break down your goals. Painting the house is daunting; painting the kitchen is doable. Writing a book is scary; building a file of information on an interesting topic is fun. Cleaning out the garage on Saturday? Don't do it, says Jill Spiegel, founder of a motivational firm in Minneapolis: "You'll get frustrated and quit." Instead, declare Clean Out the Garage Month. The first week, throw away the big stuff. Next, clean off the shelves. Finally, clean the woodwork and floor. As you see the effects of your efforts, they'll motivate you to keep going.

Setting reachable goals also silences our inner critic, the voice that likes to remind us how many times we've forgotten to write in our journal this week. Instead of psyching yourself out with negative self-talk, "the important thing is to get your feet wet," says Farley. Jump in! Clean one drawer. (Instead of calling all 50 of your Customers tonight, just call 5 tonight, then 5 tomorrow night, then..) Download one party's worth of digital photos. Run one lap. Dust one baseboard. And watch what happens.

Step 2 Get inspired!

You can get revved up by external things - like reading a great (Mary Kay) success story or listening to your favorite Kenny Chesney CD - but to stay on track long term, internal motivation is key.

First, you should address what's keeping you from reaching your goal. We tell ourselves, "I just can't get around to it," but Edward L. Deci, Ph.D., Gowen professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, knows better. "There's a reason you're 'not getting around to it,'" he says - and it's not just a lack of time. "Anxiety or a fear of failure may be holding you back. You're getting something out of sitting still. It may involve playing out old scripts in your mind, like "Don't stick your neck out too far,' or 'People won't like you if you fail.'"

If you're avoiding a task like cleaning the basement, the reason may seem obvious : It's just not a fun job. But there may be deeper explanations as well, says Deci. Perhaps you're annoyed at your husband and kids for leaving you to deal with their junk. Before you can move ahead, you need to figure out if there's an emotional reason you've been putting things off.

Another motivation squelcher: The goal may be something that's important to your husband, your mother, your doctor - but not to you. "If you do things out of a sense of 'I should really be doing this,' rather than a true personal commitment, you won't stay motivated for long," says Deci.

"Look for times in your life when you felt great joy," suggests Kathy Nelson, a life coach in San Diego. Were you helping a friend? Taking a class? Receiving a compliment? (Receiving recognition for a job well done and a great prize?) Laughing with your kids? These memories can help you figure out which projects will be most satisfying.

Step 3 Renew your Focus daily.

Keep the Goal top of Mind! Write it down everywhere. Sticky notes on the fridge, memos on your pillow. Log on to www.mygoals.com to sign up for daily pep-talk emails. If you're dieting, there's nothing like a 4:00 PM reminder to "eat an apple, not a chocolate bar!" to put the afternoon cravings in check. The same site will let you set deadlines and email you, urging you to meet them.

Procrastinating? Try something new.

Can't get up the courage to go to that yoga class? Try anything new and you'll boost your risk-taking skills. Order a dish you've never had at your favorite Italian place, check out an art exhibit at a local museum - whatever breaks the routine.

Prepare for roadblocks.

Don't let the "I'm too busy" excuse get in your way. Maybe you'll have to get up an hour earlier two days a week. "Realize it's going to be difficult," says Deci. Once you acknowledge that an excellent goal like playing tennis one evening a week, (attending your Mary Kay Success Event) will interfere with your schedule, you can talk to your family and come up with a plan. They need to know that you won't be home for dinner on tennis or your Mary Kay Night. Maybe Monday should become their pizza party night.

Confide your goal to friends.

Your buddies and relatives want you to finish the 5K race (or build your Mary Kay business to 50 customers strong); some will even show up to cheer you across the finish line. And once you tell everyone that you're giving up caffeine or walking to the office, they're going to notice when you slip - and remind you of your goal.

Stake out the environment.

Our children, however charming, can be distracting. Ask a friend or relative to babysit your kids while you put up wallpaper or attend a night class. And offer to return the favor.

Give yourself frequent pep talks.

Replace discouraging thoughts with positive reflections on how much you've already accomplished. That scrapbook is half full, not half empty! (Look at what you have already built for yourself with your business and the relationships you would never have built without your business!) Instead of thinking I will or I'm going to, you should tell yourself I'm doing it! I'm making progress toward my goal.

Step 4 Reward yourself

Reaching your goal is its own payoff, but extra goodies will help you get there. "To persevere, you need to know there's a payoff coming," says Nelson. Let's see, what do you want...a spa day? A fluffy bathrobe? The latest hardcover book by your favorite author? A special bottle of wine? Be creative. Pick something indulgent, something you tend to think you don't deserve.

If your goal can be achieved in one shot, pick a one-shot reward. For example, you spend Saturday morning re-potting your household pants, then you reward yourself on Sunday morning by going out for coffee and bagels.

If your project requires weeks of sustained effort, like attending a class, (completing your Star Consultant Status) or getting ready for a marathon, choose a series of small but wonderful rewards for each step you take toward your goal - a manicure, a supply of your favorite chocolates. Or maybe your reward isn't something you can buy in a store. Maybe what you really want to give yourself in return for effort is the gift of time - time to read, time to paint your toenails, time to cruise in the mall just for fun.

The best reward may be something you put off or set aside in order to accomplish your goal. If you traded in your favorite TV program for time at the gym (a class, facial or time on the phone with your Customers), rent the season on DVD and watch it on your own schedule. If getting extra job training meant time away from your family, plan a family vacation.

Don't postpone thinking about your reward - decide on it when you set your goal. Thinking about your incentive will motivate you to stick to your program. To make your reward more concrete, cut out pictures of your prize. Clip them in your calendar, post them alongside your reminders, make them your screen saver. Every time you see a picture of your payoff, you'll be reminded of yet another benefit of sticking to your plan. (This is one of our #1 Rules in Mary Kay! Think Goal Poster, too!) The sweeter you can make the reward, the more likely it is that you'll succeed - and the more motivated you'll be to attack the next goal on your list.