I am sure that every manager, business owner, entrepreneur, net-worker, team builder, religious leader, non-profit director… has faced the issue of loyalty at some point or other.

Loyalty is the end-goal of a well-traveled mountain path littered by barriers and detours.

I’m just sounding off on the topic, as I ponder on this after 2 years of developing and overseeing the growth of a non-profit. The core program of the non-profit is to provide community relief in the sector of housing counseling; with ancillary programs of youth development, community education, and food drives.

The initial mission was targeted towards youth development, but as the housing crisis blossomed the need for housing counseling services grew. Without a fund raising portal to hold the foundation together, the need to create a work program around the counseling service was identified.

We brought in the first core of close acquaintances and taught them in the areas of marketing, team building and housing counseling. Providing countless hours of training via website information, conference calls, quarterly training and many selfless one on one session.

Many people came through the unseen doors of The Helpful Hands Foundation receiving more than they ever gave. Some were in foreclosure and learned key points on home preservation and lender requirements. Many were at the doors of court houses and were empowered with hope; armed with confidence and knowledge they were able to talk to judges and attorneys and restore home ownership.

In a period of two years over 1,000 people were saved from foreclosure.

In those same two years we watched over 600 people come into the housing counseling work program of the non profit and… we watched them leave. People were paid on commission. What ever money came in for services was all disbursed back to the counselors. Incentive was built into the same commission so that managers can rise and build teams and get compensated for helping the non profit grow and train more counselors. This effort would maximize the community outreach.

Today The Helpful Hands nonprofit organization survives on hope, the income generated barely covers the office and overhead.

What pains me is that those that have been brought into the inner circle claim to want to help… but money is their boss. Not loyalty to a cause.

The Cause at The Helpful Hands Foundation: Helping People. The motto: “helping one hand at a time”
How do we help? Through service.

Many say they will support you … but that support comes when they pay their bills. Does your opportunity help fill other peoples pocket?

Is your organization filling a need? What kind of need? Does it create jobs? Does it fill an emotional need? Does it educate others?

I still find myself with the initial question, how does a non profit create loyalty when income margin is based on volume? People helping people. What a novelty: people helping people!!?

Why would anyone want to join a non profit and help it grow (or church, company, team etc)?

Again, I find myself at the mercy of God defining my mission as one that serves the many. Reminding myself that if I share my knowledge, my love, my compassion then in His wisdom I will be blessed.

If you are a leader and believe in your company, if you believe in its mission statement, if you believe in touching peoples lives… then let that define you. Become the best at your trade whether it be leadership, recruiter, trainer, manager.

If you are a leader and believe in the money your position can attract. Then let that define you and follow the money.

Don’t stay in a company where you will not be fulfilled (whether you are the founder or a manager).

If you are a hiring manager, recruiter or trainer (church leader, business owner etc)- remember you are influencing the make-up of the organization by the people you bring and train; and it is a privilege to be a mentor to someone. The opportunity of interaction and giving to another human being is priceless.

I have learned that many people place ZERO value on knowledge that is given freely or even emotional goodwill they receive from a kindred spirit. If they don’t see it with their eyes, if they can’t touch the results with their hands you just haven’t done enough for them.

I have been a trainer for over 25 years and I’ve embraced with much pain the lesson from the above sentence and practice the Catch and Release philosophy.

Many walked through doors of The Helpful Hands Foundation and this has allowed me to be on many Catch and Release expeditions; in these expeditions some were saved from foreclosure, others were hungry and were fed, and I’m not talking just about food… I’m talking about knowledge. Knowledge that now is theirs to grow and share with others.

The Helpful Hands Foundation the non profit that changes peoples lives.

Perhaps one day we will find a few good people that will help it grow.

Your actions will soon DEFINE… YOU.

In honor of Independence Day…
the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes U.S. citizens.

Let’s savor the freedoms we so much enjoy…
now we must be weary that we may be our worst enemy to endorse over regulation and become prisoners of our own doing.

Pray that ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ have the common sense and integrity to HONOR each other.

Daisy Says: Happy Fourth of July… Our American flag.. Long may you wave!.

Once you embark on the journey towards self-growth you will be on the most amazing trip of your lifetime. What I’ve discovered through my journey… is that there may be parts of you that you will need to let go, ‘truths’ that no longer have meaning to the person that is ready to emerge and for all exterior purposes at times it may feel that your whole reality is falling apart.

Know that it is okay and you are in the process of the metamorphosis. You will emerge strong, beautiful and empowered.

Through self-growth you will learn how to look inside yourself and get clear about certain things. You will come straight with the walls that block you from your dreams. These walls usually are your deep-rooted beliefs that were formed in childhood, or at least the early part of your lives. Once you see that those “truths” (beliefs) no longer apply to the YOU that you will become… you will release them revealing the most beautiful and tender part of you. Your butterfly will emerge.

Be Confident
Stand tall. Look people in the eyes. Meet people with a firm handshake. Speak with a tone of enthusiasm. Stay positive.

Be Consistent
Remember victory belongs to the most persevering and no one is perfect without trials. Keep in mind that life is a “marathon”, not a “sprint”. Enjoy the journey.

Look Good
Wear clothes that make you look good and feel good.

Develop a New Personality
“Who” you are is not about how talented you are but it’s about how willing you are to continue on your path of self-development as you reach out to help others.

Be Committed
Love your family and be committed to them. Know your business and be committed to it. Respect your peers and be committed to them.

Set Big Goals
Write down short term (30 days) and long term (90 days or more) goals. Post them where you can read them and work to achieve them everyday.

Take charge and be a leader
Be a do-it-first leader. Never expect your up line to do everything. Learn it and then do it.

Develop a Positive Attitude
People are attracted to people who react positively, even in the most difficult situation. And remember people buy the good feelings, the excitement, the enthusiasm, the vision and the belief that you convey.

Share the “Big Picture”
Remember to share your goodness with others who may be blind to the exciting life that you are discovering.

Express your Passion
Be passionate about what you know or do. Enthusiasm is infectious. Spread it around.

When you are on a journey to Self-growth you live life at Maximum Speed.
Remember… you DESERVE to experience the BEST life Ever!

What does it mean to experience life at maximum speed?
–To feel Free, Invigorated, Joyous, Alive, Limitless
–To experience Peace within yourself.
–To become immune any Venom that may be directed at you.
–To live in the Spirit of Self, flowing with self Love, Acceptance and Harmony.
–To become Self-directed and begin directing the course of your life as opposed to reacting to outside events.

Daisy Says: The journey towards self is an expression of Love.

Open to receive were words I was contemplating after a conversation with a dear friend. I was taken aback when she told me that I needed to be open to receive… that I was too busy giving and never stopped to allow others to give.

Now, you can imagine how struck I was to hear these words reverberate within me. Me? Not open to receive? How could anyone have that image of me? I asked her to remind me of an incident when I was not open to receive? She didn’t point out any particular one so you can see … put in a position like that, it’s hard to learn from the lesson.

In this introspection I will admit that I do not tend to ask for anything. Yet… I do. … and here lies an area I tread with trepidation.

Of my friends… I ask for their company… I am so fulfilled with their company that their conversations and everything they offer are bonus … I’m humbled.

Of my co-workers or associates I ask for their “best”. I ask for their commitment, time and to honor ‘their word’.

Of my family… I ask … that they allow me to LOVE them, anything they give me beyond that… again I am humbled that I can share in their life.

Feeling Loved and that someone Cares for me, my ideas, projects and dreams… becomes alive when the people that I draw into my world enjoin me in my quest… and this truly makes my life even more magical than I could have ever imagined it.

To Love people and then to have them Love me back and they share in my life and I in theirs is truly (for me) being Alive.

Perhaps the only thing I am guilty of quietly asking is: TO BE LOVED.

Daisy Says: Open to receive LOVE.

“The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men.” – Minot J. Savage

Daisy Says: For all we love and believe in, let us stand united.