Sunday, August 28, 2011
Orrin Woodward LIFE TEAM Systems
Here is a super message from Orrin Woodward on LIFE TEAM Systems. Every business runs better when systems are applied to it.
Orrin Woodward loves systems. Thats right, I love them. As a boy, being mathematically inclined, I develop statistical permutations to simulate a baseball game with my baseball cards. In fact, I realized years later, in my Statistics class at GMI, that I was being taught similar techniques to the ones that I developed when I was 12 years old. I LOVE SYSTEMS!
When I went to GMI-EMI (now Kettering), my bachelor of science was in Manufacturing Systems. I learned so much about manufacturing processing, theory of constraints, and cost analysis to become dangerous in the systems field. Becoming an engineer was one of the better decisions I made, helping me to think systematically when challenges arose.
Now I am a leader and networker, but I still love systems. Indeed, if it weren’t for my systems background, I would have never accomplished the result in networking that I have. To date, I have been blessed with 12 separate teams that gather over 300 people (some many more) at seminars monthly. How can anyone have that many organizations growing at the same time? Simply put, through systems.
On the last day of my all expenses paid trip to Hawaii courtesy of MonaVie, Dallin Larsen presented me with a $300,000 bonus. What for do you ask? For simply repeating the Presidential rank. Last year, Dallin announced that he would pay a one time cash award for anyone in North America who repeats or advances their rank. Laurie and I were the highest ranking distributors in MonaVie to repeat rank. How did we do it? Again, through systems thinking and the great group of leaders developed through the TEAM system. I know, I know, many people had written the TEAM off, like they always do, but lacking in systems thinking, their predictions consistently fail.
While amateurs, who have no systems training rail against systems, those in the know seem hungry to learn the secret of systematic success. In my former company, several of the top distributors with the largest businesses, sat down with me for hours at a time, seeking to learn how to run duplicatable processes and systems within networking. I was more than happy to help as I believe a rising tide lifts all ships. A person either builds a system to do the heavy lifting in networking or he becomes the system until he falters through sheer exhaustion. Building leaders and building systems has been, and will always be the path that I choose to build networks. In reality, there simply is not other way to build a long-term sustainable business, regardless of how many failed non-systematic networkers believe otherwise.
One of the systems gurus of the 20th century is a man named Buckminster Fuller. When Fuller was a young man he initially felt he had wasted his life. When he was 32, his only daughter died leaving him severely depressed. Soon afterwards, alone at an ocean beach, Fuller waded further and further from shore contemplating ending his life. But at the point of surrender he realized he hadn’t really given life a chance. From the brink of suicide, he resolved to spend all of his energy discovering what a single human life could achieve. In a 1972 interview, Fuller explained the power a single human life had to change the direction of the world:
Something hit me very hard once, thinking about what one little man could do. Think of the Queen Mary — the whole ship goes by and then comes the rudder. And there’s a tiny thing at the edge of the rudder called a trim tab. It’s a miniature rudder. Just moving the little trim tab builds a low pressure that pulls the rudder around. Takes almost no effort at all. So I said that the little individual can be a trim tab. Society thinks it’s going right by you, that it’s left you altogether. But if you’re doing dynamic things mentally, the fact is that you can just put your foot out like that and the whole big ship of state is going to go. So I said, call me Trim Tab.
LIFE is the Trim Tab for Network Marketing, taking systems thinking to the next level. I am so excited to help more people than ever accomplish their dreams through a systems mindset. If a person chooses to be a student, then get ready for the best year of your life. With that said, I have neither the time, nor the inclination, to convince people against their will. If a person doesn’t see value in our system, then quit. If he doesn’t enjoy the CD’s, then quit. If he doesn’t like me, then quit. But even if one chooses to do so, you have no right to criticize someone more courageous than yourself. You, in other words, are not God and your perception of the facts is not valid for all. Since 15,000 people plus are enjoying the benefits of the TEAM system perhaps your opinion is wrong. Is anyone truthfully saying they are smarter than the combined intellectual firepower and leadership capabilities of 15,000 people? This doesn’t even account for the over 100 plus businesses buying thousands of LLR CD’s yearly. Free Enterprise means that people and companies are free to choose or free not to choose. LIFE certainly isn’t for everyone as it takes a dream, courage, guts, determination, and drive to fulfill one’s destiny. My goal is not to sponsor the world, but only the people who are sick and tired of being sick and tired by what the world has to offer.
My son (Jordan) turned 18 last week. He was given the free choice to either choose the business path, building his own business and setting himself financially free or the employee path through attending university. I explained to him that if he chose the 5% path, then he can self-educate himself as many leaders on the TEAM have. However, if he chose the 95% path, then he needs copious amounts of educational training through respected universities in order to advance through Corporate America. In fact, I told him that we would give him one year to display either his hunger to build a business or its off to 95% university training. Life passes by those who are not committed, and, in my opinion, too few people make and keep commitments. My son has chosen the path of entrepreneurship. Now let the dreams, struggle, and work begin to achieve his victory. Jordan asked me what it would take to succeed, and I told him he needed to find a job or conventional business to invest in books, CD’s, attending seminars, and showing the plan to earn his freedom. Sound familiar? I hope so. No one gets a special deal on the TEAM, no one, not even the founders son. In a nutshell, I told him he had to master systems! It never changes. I love systems.
I believe that if a new person were to ask for and listen to any random ten Launching a Leadership Revolution CD’s, that he would quickly realize why LIFE is going to be so huge. Indeed, each person ought to listen to 10 CDs as quickly as possible to decide for himself the value of the system. Remember, a man with the facts is never at the mercy of a man with an opinion. No organization has married so many of the correct principles of a systems mindset together in one place as LIFE will on November 1, 2011. The only question is: are you ready to work for your dream. If you are, then welcome to your destiny. If you are not, then you are already fulfilling your destiny. Destiny is not in the stars, it’s not even in the circumstances, but it’s definitely in the decisions that you make and keep. I decided years ago to master systems, it has made all the difference for me, my family and the TEAM. Perhaps is time you revamped your life, making LIFE the Trim Tab that changes everything. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward
Posted by OrrinWoodward
at 5:26 PM EDT
Sunday, August 21, 2011
LIFE TEAM - The Five Principles for LIFE
Here is an excellent article on the planned intentional excellence for LIFE!
In the past few months, since the announcement of LIFE, the TEAM, and more specifically me, have been under increasing online attacks. Why the sudden surge of negativity? Simple, LIFE is a game-changer that will change the rules of the profession. Since the LIFE business cannot be attacked, the next best thing is to attack the owners. Not being intellectually honest, they follow the principle if one cannot attack the message, then attack the messenger. I know I am not perfect but these critics must believe they are.
When I was younger and naive, I was befriended by several “legends” in my old network marketing company. Since my business was the fastest growing in North America, I was exposed to the society of “Haters” early. People who didn’t know me, but with an axe to grind against Network Marketing, shot at me. In my inexperience, I took it personally, not professionally, wanting to fight back. However, the company’s rules, at the time, forbid any online discussions from distributors, so my hands were tied. When a person on my team started an anonymous blog, I realized this was the only way to get our side of the facts out. I didn’t start the blog, but I did contribute content. In fact, many of the board members, of which I was not a part of at the time, provided facts, figures, and later gossip that I passed on. For this, I am sorry. This was not helping my cause, but only hurting my attitude. Later, I requested for the blog shut to be down. It stopped posting, but for whatever reason the blogger refused to take down the content. In late 2005, I made a commitment not to fight back against critics, but instead, let the truth be my first, last, and only defense. I heard a beautiful quote that exemplifies this principle, “Don’t criticize the old, but just create the new.” LIFE is not about criticizing the old, merely focused on creating the new.
Although I am more than happy to entertain any genuine questions or concerns about the LIFE business model, I will not stoop into mud-slinging. In truth, LIFE shouldn’t even be perceived as a business threat because it will not accept applications from distributors under contract with other companies. We simply are not interested in building a business by raiding others networks. If any company has a leader under contratual obligations attempting to move over, all that it has to do is contact LIFE when it’s launched, we will remove his number immediately. Our goal is to build a business and help people, not hurt any current companies. Of course, anyone in networking can enjoy the benefits of the leadership as a customer only, helping him to become a better leader. The goal then, is to grow an organic community that reaches one million people.
With that said, let me share why I believe LIFE will reach one million people. Scott Larsen, probably Network Marketing’s most logical critic, was an engineer as I was. He pointedly reasoned why Network Marketing doesn’t work for most people, identifying the cost of of buying premium products as excessive. In fact, his price comparisons made the products offered look ridiculously overpriced compared to what a person could purchase similar merchandise at Walmart or Target. Larsen also identified that the compensation plans did not reward distributors appropriately for the level of work involved, leading to top networkers using system money fill the gap instead. Although I have no issue with someone making money from quality training, Larsen pointed out that the system became the main business and the products were just along for the ride. After reviewing his concerns, I had to admit Larsen was onto something.
After 3 years of attempting to drive change within my former company and 3 years of legal proceedings, I am finally free to pursue the vision. My partnership with Dallin Larsen has been a God-send to me. He believes in the dream to reach millions of people and has provided a green light to build LIFE. For a new person, if money isn’t an issue, then MonaVie products can be purchased in the fitness category immediately; however, if money is a constraint, then instead of having nothing to offer him, we can bring him into LIFE until we turn his finances around, eventually making the fitness category affordable for him. This is a true win-win partnership for both companies and why I respect Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the year Dallin Larsen so much.
Maybe, I am mistaken. Perhaps LIFE isn’t the answer for this profession, but I do believe as an American, I have a right to discover this for myself. For anyone to assume that I launched Life to pad my bank account, he must either be living in a hole somewhere or have an agenda. It would have been much easier for me to surrender my dream and keep my money, but the vision refused to die. The TEAM leaders dreamed of an opportunity to change this industry, and we have paid dearly for the opportunity do so. This is not the actions of a money-hungry mob, but instead, a vision-oriented leadership group on its way to one million people.
Here are the five fixes proposed to change the rules of Networking forever:
First, Chris Brady and I wrote the Wall Street Journal and New York Times best seller Launching a Leadership Revolution. The book is used extensively by top corporate leaders. (I would gladly list their names and companies, however to protect them from being internet flamed, I won’t) I receive emails monthly from leaders who are teaching the book’s materials into corporate America. We realized that our leadership materials were world-class, not surprising, since we had to to build communities, despite the anchor of high-priced products. Since this book, both Chris and I have received numerous awards for our leadership blogs, twitter accounts, and online presence, recently commended as two of the Top 30 leadership gurus in the world. Indeed, LIFE is the only company with two Top 30 Leadership Gurus. For the first time in our Networking careers, we had products already in demand in the marketplace, since our leadership materials were selling briskly to customers already.
Second, by thoroughly reviewing the leadership field, we identified the pricing strategies of every major leadership supplier. Leadership CD’s ranged from a low of $12 to over $50 per CD on the high end. Because the TEAM is building and serving communities everyday, we are constantly learning and growing in the field of leadership, ensuring our information never becomes dated or out of touch. Simply stated, LIFE will be the lowest cost provider of the highest quality leadership material in the marketplace, period. No ifs, ands, or buts, about it. New members of LIFE can get started own their own business for under $150 which includes the first leadership materials. Through investing as little as $50 per month for personal development, he is fully qualified for bonuses. Instead of the $200, $300, sometimes as high as $600 a month in purchases, we are bringing Network Marketing to the people, at a price that they can afford. On top of this, if a member or even a customer, refers three other people as customers, his personal leadership subscription will be FREE! After LIFE launches, Network Marketing will be affordable for everyone. Where in the history of networking has a company launched with the proven top quality products, from recognized leaders in the field, all at the lowest price? Has this ever happened before? It will on November 1, 2011.
Third, by taking the best quality, lowest price, and adding the most lucrative compensation plan in the history of network marketing, one can quickly see why LIFE will be world-changing. With the benchmark compensation plans currently running around 50% of revenues, what would happen if a company, which was less concerned about it’s bottom line, and more concerned about helping people get financially free, were to release a marketing plan that started at 70% of every revenue dollar paid back to field leaders in bonuses. How is this possible? Simply put, each of the owners of LIFE has committed to make his money through leading communities, not by riding on his ownership shares. This is revolutionary because it brings field leadership to networking ownership with the goal to change people lives, not become billionaires. We studied leadership, because we experienced first hand the effects that leadership delivers into a person’s life, we intend to pay this blessing forward. In fact, a 70% payout is over twice as much money flowing to the community leaders as many of the top compensation plans in networking today. Don’t forget this is on top of MonaVie’s top notch compensation plan. As the LIFE business grows, I intend to go even higher. Can you imagine, receiving an un-promised and unexpected LIFE profit-sharing check for tens of thousand of dollars, all because LIFE is thriving financially? I can, and intend to make this vision a reality.
Fourth, the TEAM, with nearly 15,000 plus people attending seminars monthly, either live or through streaming video, is expanding its reach and scope monthly. LIFE Founders and leaders of the caliber of Chris Brady, Tim Marks, Claude Hamilton, George Guzzardo, Bill Lewis, and Dan Hawkins, each personally lead communities of thousands of people. If someone desires to learn leadership, I do not believe there is a better community to learn from anywhere in North America. Since 1999, we have been perfecting our craft, building numbers and building leaders. Because the Team is a performance-based culture, 100% of the profits remaining after expenses are flowed back to the field leaders who qualify as directors. Unlike most training companies, where a few keep all profits, we designed a fair system to reward the leadership team that builds the TEAM. No special deals period, everything is based upon numerical performance. What other training company can say that? Indeed, to my knowledge, TEAM is the only zero profit training company in the marketplace. Anyone who builds a community through serving others can become a Director, helping to train new leaders and be rewarded for doing so. In addition, thanks to the lucrative compensation plan associated with LIFE, the majority of a person’s income will come from the MLM, not the training system. The bigger the community the bigger the leader must be. Building large numbers requires grace, to love people where they are at, long enough for them to want to get better. However, no community is perfect. When issues arise, we have a culture that teaches conflict resolution, gaining “teachable moments,” from every issue, making each leader grow and improve. This is a TEAM difference.
Lastly, I want to thank everyone in Network Marketing. I have met some of my best friends in network marketing, as they are some of the hardest working, best attitude people on the planet. In the West’s current leadership crisis, who knows but that some of the top networking leaders will stand up and do something about this mess. Many Americans and Canadians citizens are are wary of more Big Governments solutions to the problems facing us. Maybe it’s time for communities to grow large enough to solve these issues through social power, not State power. LIFE is a plan for citizens to join together, improving ourselves so we can improve our communities, ultimately improving the world. By combining world-class credibility, compensation, and community together, all at the lowest cost/price, we have designed the 4C’s for your success. If a person chooses to believe rumor, hearsay, and popular opinion, then all I can say is good luck and God bless you. But if a person is truly looking for an opportunity, an opportunity that the LIFE leaders invested millions to gain the freedom to offer, then your journey has ended. Welcome to the LIFE TEAM, and your destiny. It’s time to move on to 1 million people, what part will you play? Sincerely, Orrin Woodward
Posted by OrrinWoodward
at 11:50 AM EDT
Friday, August 12, 2011
This is the most exciting time in TEAM's history. Orrin, Chris, Tim, and the rest of the PC leaders have outdone themselves. Findly, there is a leadership/networking company that is affordable, if not free (with three its free). LIFE is good, but it's only getting better. Watch this video!
Chris Brady and I went to Lansing, Michigan for a Super Open. With TEAM in it's pre-launch phase of LIFE, numbers and excitement are peaking! With over 1500 in live attendance plus 760 TEAM Casts locations, with an average of 15-20 per house, this was the single biggest Open meeting in TEAM's history. Now people can enjoy the leadership training in the comfort of their own or a neighbors house, reducing the amount of time, travel and hotel space needed, while increasing the quality of speaker content across the community. Here is a description of the intersectional quality of TEAM's new business model - LIFE. LIFE's plan is to grow all 8F's, helping serve each member with the only company with two of the Top 30 Leadership Gurus and New York Times Best Selling Authors. Not too mention the lowest priced leadership products, all within the record setting TEAM community. Finally, In November, LIFE will launch the most lucrative compensation plan in the history of Networking. I love win-win-win, and this plan is a win for customers, win for TEAM members, and win for Dallin Larsen. I personally want to thank Dallin Larsen, Ernst & Young entrepreneur of the year, for having the vision and foresight to partner with leaders in a win-win fashion. When TEAM reaches a million people, he will be happy with the results. :) Onward to 1 million! God Bless, Orrin Woodward
Posted by OrrinWoodward
at 7:51 AM EDT
Updated: Friday, August 12, 2011 7:58 AM EDT
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Now Playing: LIFE Business Pre-Launch
Thanks to the dedicated commitment of the TEAM PC and Dallin Larsen, LIFE (Living Intentionally For Excellence) has been officially pre-launched. The goal is to bring Leadership Development, LIFE Coaching, and the value of Social Networking together in one company. LIFE brings leadership and personal development to the masses, providing two of the top 15 Leadership Gurus at the best price points in the industry. In the last 60 days, since we announced we would pre-launch at the the Fresno and Columbus majors, our TEAM numbers have grown nearly 3,000 people in attendance at seminars. LIFE is tapping into one of the most important needs for the West - Principle-based Leadership. If you are sick and tired of waiting for someone else to change your situation, perhaps its time to start LIFE. God Bless, Orrin Woodward
Below is a press release from the Team website that just went up today: Over the course of this weekend and the next, at the Team's Summer Leadership Conventions, details will be rolled out announcing the launch of LIFE: Living Intentionally For Excellence, a business that will monetize materials and information designed to improve people's lives through the "8F's:" Fitness, Faith, Family, Finances, Friendship, Following, Freedom, and Fun. The official launch of business is set for November 1, 2011. With over 100 years experience in the community building profession, the seven members of the Team's Policy Council are excited to continue their partnership with MonaVie as they advance this new initiative. MonaVie will remain the exclusive provider of wellness products in the Fitness "F," and of course, continue to provide their industry-acclaimed compensation plan. The LIFE initiative simply adds to this, pursuing the other seven "F's" directly with resources designed to make the biggest impact in people's lives, while offering to compensate participants for these efforts. Below is a sample of the flyer being distributed to all interested parties at the two leadership conventions this week (click on images to expand).
Posted by OrrinWoodward
at 11:55 AM EDT
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Dan and Lisa Hawkins - Diamonds and New PC
Here is a phenomenal message from TEAM Founder and CEO, Orrin Woodward on a new PC member on the TEAM. Congratulations Dan and Lisa Hawkins and George and Jill Guzzardo!
In a time of turmoil, where many faithless people lost their dreams, the TEAM stood its ground, determined to make a difference. Over the last 6 months, when many pundits had written off our community, leaders of character began stepping up across the country. By averaging over two new RT’s per month, the numbers around the country exploded upward by several thousand people. Many played in a stellar fashion, including the current Policy Council members of Brady’s, Marks’, Guzzardo’s, Lewis’s, Hamilton’s, and my super wife. In addition, it is with great honor and pleasure to introduce Dan and Lisa Hawkins as new PC members. Dan, a talented mechanic with no stage to display his immense talents, and Lisa, a day-care business owner with the inner-courage to succeed, have accomplished the prestigious PC level. Through character, dreams, hard-work, and convictions, they, along with their upline PC’s Guzzardo’s, have forged a new dynasty in Wisconsin. Dan and Lisa continue to play the jackrabbit role in the resurgent quest for significance of the TEAM’s mighty men and women. But not only did they achieve PC, they also broke their second RT leg and third RT in their organization, performing in a true Bannister like fashion. At the July majors, Dallin Larsen, Ernst & Young entrepreneur of the year, will be sharing his gameplan for success in MonaVie. Plus, we will be announcing the details of LIFE, celebrating all the new RT’s and Triple 100‘s, and recognizing a couple who dreamed, struggled, and achieved their destiny.
I am heading to Europe with my son Lance for the next week, speaking at a leadership conference and touring the D-Day beaches of Normandy. Our ancestors fought for freedom with weapons, but today’s generation must fight for freedom with ideas. If we lose the battle of ideas, the real war is already lost. LIFE is a plan to do something, to restore the West to its former ideals. Where are you? Are you concerned with what is happening around you? Will you answer the call? When our civilization needed help in the past, a Washington, a Franklin, an Edward’s, and others were there to answer the call. Will we sit by idly, waiting for others to get the job done, or will we, like Hawkins, step up and claim our destiny? Destiny is within your reach by picking up the marker and writing a new chapter of your LIFE. The significance of your brave actions will echo throughout eternity. God Bless, Orrin Woodward
Posted by OrrinWoodward
at 6:02 PM EDT
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Here is an excellent article on attitude from Orrin Woodward.
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. - Matthew 12:34
It’s amazing how much one can learn from a person just by listening. People who believe that they have a positive attitude, give away their negativity when they speak. I like to begin mentoring sessions with, “Tell me the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good we will celebrate, the bad we will make adjustments, and the ugly we will pray about.” This is sure to get people talking, helping me to identify, not just what happened, but how they are thinking about what happened. Which, in the end, is more important than the event; since the event happens only once, but how they think about the event repeats over and over in their minds and hearts. Painful experiences happen to both achievers and non-achievers. The difference is in the responses, achievers learning from the bad cards, choose to draw more; while non-achievers complaining about the cards of life being stacked against them, choose to quit the game. But what’s actually stacked against them is their own thinking. Winners received the same stimulus, but chose to respond differently than the non-winners.
When something bad happens to a winner, he immediately focuses on minimizing its effects, learning anything he can from the situation. No pity parties, no woe is me attitudes, just resolution and teachable moments. The extent a person wins in life, is many times, related to how quickly he can go from problem identified to problem solved, learning through the pain of the process. When people stay down for weeks, months, sometimes even years at a time, can they honestly expect a positive outcome? There is only so much mental energy, when it’s spent dwelling on negative thoughts, allowing them to enter the heart, eventually pouring out of the mouth, why is anyone shocked that so little is accomplished in life? The key is pulling the weeds (negative thoughts) upon entering the mind, not allowing them to move into the heart and out the mouth. Weeds are much easier to pull when immediately seized when they enter the mind, but much tougher when allowed to root in the heart, eventually flowing out of the mouth. Don’t provide fertile soil in the mind for weeds; don’t allow weeds to seed into the heart; and whatever you do, don’t allow negative seeds to spread out of your mouth, infecting other people. The former leader literally becoming a carrier of negativity.
Leaders are gardeners of their own minds, identifying and pulling weeds quickly. True leaders are never down period, choosing to pull weeds promptly. But if they ever were down, they certainly wouldn’t spread the disease to their communities, since they know that pulling weeds is an inside job. If a weed is extra difficult, then leaders have the discipline to seek out their mentors for help, refusing to contaminate others with their weed seeds. One of the first, and most important, assignments of any would-be leader is consistent and prompt pulling of his own weeds. It’s not an option if he plans on inspiring others, since no one is inspired by a bitter attitude and sour faced person. Pull your weeds, guard your mind, protect your heart, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Leadership occurs when people having confidence in the leader, if a person’s attitude is unpredictable, he disqualifies himself for leadership, until he learns to pull his own weeds. Leaders are dealers in hope, change, and growth, beginning inside of them. Perhaps it’s time that we launched a leadership revolution, let’s start the revolution by tending to our own gardens. God Bless, Orrin Woodward
Posted by OrrinWoodward
at 10:02 AM EDT
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Separation of Education & State?
Here is a thought provoking article by Orrin Woodward. If "Ideas have consequences," then certainly, when the government runs education, it must educate based upon its morality. What if a majority of the citizens do not agree with this morality?
Peeling away the layers of rhetoric from reality in our Public School System, one discovers an interesting paradox; even though Americans enthusiastically support the Separation of Church & State, strangely, they do not feel the same vigor for Separation of Education & State. What are the real differences between religion and education? By lifting the veil, looking underneath the shiny veneer, both reveal underlying presuppositions that are unprovable, making them more a matter of faith rather than science, requiring belief in doctrines that cannot empirically be proven true or false. The administrators (High Priests) of both genres feed the faithful accepted doctrines, brooking no resistance to the approved creeds. Don’t misunderstand me, I am not against organized religion nor organized education, the more of both the better, as far as I am concerned, for man and society. Everything in life boils down to faith when you track back to first principles, since it deals with world-views and beliefs. My question to the State School Board or, if I may be so bold, the Priests of Education, is why, during the founding of America, was it so important to ensure the State never crossed into the religious sphere, protecting the people against a powerful centralized State Church, even going so far as to make it one of the ten amendments in the Bill of Rights? The government wouldn’t consider creating a State Church, requiring mandatory attendance every Sunday, teaching State Doctrines at State Churches in every neighborhood; but we yield to our government the same level of control, requiring mandatory attendance, not on Sundays, but Monday through Fridays, educating all adolescents in State Doctrines at State Schools (Churches). When State centralized education requires mandatory attendance of children at State School schools, teaching doctrines much like churches teach creeds,, reaching into every home, I get a bit concerned. The only options for parents, other than surrendering to tyranny, are to quit the public school system entirely, while still supporting them with their local taxes. This doesn’t sound like freedom to me.
As I see it, religious doctrines and educational doctrines are merely different sides of the same coin. Just as theories abound, teaching various religious creeds, suggesting the proper methods and principles to worship God, so too, theories abound teaching various educational creeds, suggesting the proper methods and principles to teach a child. Yet, somehow, we believe an omniscient State will select just the right creeds for our child, regardless of his or her circumstances, ignoring our child’s family life, religious principles, or career aspirations. Now I am a reasonable person, certainly willing to hear all rational discussions on the subject, but something strikes me as disingenuous, separating a man’s religious beliefs so completely from his educational beliefs. To use just one example, suppose a young man was taught in the home or church, that God made men and women for each other, under the sacrament of marriage. He might have a hard time swallowing any contrary doctrine, offered up in our State Schools. Now before you bash me as a sexist, gender hater, etc, please hear my point, the point is, shouldn’t the same freedoms that apply to religion apply when referring to education? Regardless of the specific doctrines one believes in, a higher doctrine ought to be the freedom to choose, since America is famous for being the “land of freedom.” No one should be forced to endure an indoctrination against his will nor forced to submit his children to the same treatment. If parents choose to send their children to another school, aligning better with their personal beliefs, they ought to have that right, transferring their tax dollars to the school of choice, instead of paying more. I believe in freedom of choice so much, that I would fight for your right to disagree with my beliefs, choosing to send your children to another school; the school of your choice. Freedom ensures that we all get the education for our children that we desire, not what the State desires. Free discussion and free choices makes us all better, that’s what makes America great.
Thomas Jefferson, one of the earliest and strongest proponents of religious freedoms, shared these principles with his fellow Virginia delegates, arguing that it’s unjust to charge Presbyterians, Baptist, Congregationalist, etc, to support the Virginia Anglican State Church. For example, if a Baptist moved to Virginia, he was required to pay a tax to support the Anglican church even though he didn’t attend nor believe the Anglican creeds. Liberty loving Virginians could see the justice in Mr. Jefferson’s views and repealed the mandatory tax supporting the Virginia State Church. The Separation of Church & State became a foundational plank in Virginia, eventually finding its way into the Constitution through the Bill of Rights, inspiring millions to come to America to enjoy religious freedom. An interesting aside is George Washington’s thoughts on the Separation of Church & State, believing that churches built character through faith and creeds, Washington was hesitant to see churches not funded by public taxes; therefore, he proposed to tax all citizens, but give them a choice of which church to support. Mr. Washington proposed a voucher program for religion, giving freedom of choice while ensuring that churches thrived to build character in the people for the benefit of society. No, I’m not proposing launching church vouchers, invoking the name of the great George Washington to bolster my position. I believe keeping government out of local churches, the true meaning of Separation of Church & State, has been a blessing, allowing each church to serve their God and congregations as they please, not requiring, nor asking for, government handouts.
My aside on Washington was merely to point out how important freedom of choice was to our Founding Fathers, a freedom sadly missing from our current Public School System. How many millions of children over the years, having conflicting beliefs with the High Priest of Education, went to private schools by the free choice of the parents, paying a tuition for private school on one hand, while still being taxed by the State School on the other hand. But let’s not forget the recent phenomena, if not outright revolution, called Home Schooling. Over the last thirty years or so, millions of children have been home schooled, a challenging endeavor, where parents choose to educate their children, receiving no pay, giving of their time and money in a labor of love, but still suffering from the tax load of a State School they are no longer employing. A young Thomas Jefferson, when faced with a similar situation in 18th century Virginia, confronted by the injustice of forcing parishioner of other sects to pay for a church they didn’t attend, loved freedom enough to do something about it. Maybe George Washington’s idea, if converted from religion to education has merit. School vouchers, a plan where each parent is given a voucher from the State to spend at the school of their choice, would solve the Separation of Education & State issue. Giving each parent a voucher, allowing each family to choose the school that best fits their needs, brings free enterprise and decentralization to the school system. The school options will increase and conflicts over doctrines will decrease by allowing parents to choose an education that marries with their religious beliefs and student's career choices. Perhaps America, that beacon of light, though flickering a bit of late, will remember its great heritage, standing against injustices, even if it doesn’t directly affect them; because tyranny, when given a chance to seed in society’s soil, sinks it roots deeply, consuming everything in its path.
I purposely kept this discussion at fifty thousand feet, not diving into the details of our State School System, not that there isn’t plenty to say, but only because I didn’t want to take away from my main message. Few will argue that our State Schools are broken, throwing more money at State Schools seems to be the only solution bantered about. I have learned over the years that, if the riverbed is wrong, pouring more water in the river isn’t the answer. Until we start working on the foundation, the riverbed, nothing is going to change. The riverbed change, in my opinion, is Separation of Education & State. Of course, the State System is failing, because the State is involved in an area that is shouldn’t be. Can you name any government program designed to serve the public that hasn't failed miserably? It’s not the teachers, nor the students, but the entire system based upon centralized control that must be rooted out. Thomas Jefferson understood this, which is why he decentralized religion from government, making a riverbed change; we need modern day Jefferson’s to decentralize schooling from government, making another riverbed change. I believe firmly that a free enterprise school system, where parents vote with their vouchers, rewarding excellence while punishing incompetence as all customers do in free enterprise, will build a world class educational system that can compete in today’s “flat world.” The key is for free people to make free choices. As over time, free people making free choices will always thrive over tyrannized people following State bureaucrats. Perhaps a Jefferson will step up, creating a Separation of Education & State as Thomas Jefferson’s created a Separation of Religion & State. God Bless, Orrin Woodward
Posted by OrrinWoodward
at 10:21 AM EDT
Friday, May 20, 2011
New LIFE Book - Orrin Woodward & Chris Brady
Here is an announcement for the new LIFE book from Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady.
Chris Brady has outdone himself again! As one of the most creative people I know, renown across the country as a humorist, leader, and speaker, Chris took his creativity to a new level with development of the LIFE (Living Intentionally For Excellence) book. By taking the top 580 (mostly original) quotes from our twitter accounts, adding in our best articles (after Terri Brady's meticulous edits) from our award winning blogs, and mixing it with world-class photography, what results is an instant masterpiece. It’s a book that once you start thumbing through, it becomes nearly impossible to put down. Each page has a new nugget, forcing one to think deeply on what’s really important in life. I believe this book will have the most impact of all the books co-written by Chris and myself, simply because more people will read and re-read this one than any other. If success is the progressive realization of a worthwhile goal or dream, then our new LIFE book is food for the success journey. I hope you enjoy reading it as much and we enjoyed writing it. BTW: If you have read the book, please share what impact it has had on you. Chris and I may use some of these comments in future additions of the book. God Bless, Orrin Woodward
Posted by OrrinWoodward
at 2:12 PM EDT
Updated: Friday, May 20, 2011 2:15 PM EDT
Friday, March 19, 2010
Reading
A vice-president of a Fortune 500 company was getting to know a newcomer in his division, so he asked him what he liked to read. "I'm not really interested in reading," the man said. To which the vice-president said, "Then you aren't really interested in succeeding around here."
Morton Blackwell of the Leadership Institute said: "People who don't read cheat themselves." In a speech titled "Read to Lead" Blackwell continued: "By not reading, they limit what they can achieve, make mistakes they could avoid, and miss opportunities that could improve their lives. Finally, as the gaps in their knowledge become apparent, they must reconcile themselves to not being taken seriously." (emphasis mine)
Glad that's not the case with the leaders of MonaVie Team. As near as I can tell, the top 10 leaders devour 75-85 books a month between them and they've been doing that for the past 7-10 years. How confident are you that the leaders in your organization are that committed to self improvement?
Leaders are readers. Period. If you're not a reader, you're NOT a leader. You may be a manager, but you are no leader. And if that bothers you (as it should) then start reading. <
Read to learn the lessons of history.
Read to keep up with the issues.
Read to understand why others succeed.
Read to avoid mistakes others have made.
Read for your personal enjoyment.
Read to familiarize yourself with what interests others.
Read to increase your value to an employer.
Read to improve your vocabulary.
Read good writing to learn to write well yourself.
Read to share wisdom with others.
Read to lead.
Find a mentor who you know is well read and ask for guidance in selecting books. I suggest you begin with these 5:
The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz, PhD
How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing With People by Les Giblin,
How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling by Frank Bettger
How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Positive Personality Profiles by Robert Rohm, PhD
Don't like to read? Then start with Read and Get Rich by Burke Hedges. The info in this book will blow you away! And if you haven't read the top 10 books ever written, he gives you the list. Any person who wants to be taken seriously would have these ten in his or her library - and will have read them!
So, how's your reading going?
Or have you just decided to not be taken seriously?
Posted by OrrinWoodward
at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: Thursday, March 18, 2010 7:34 PM EDT
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Action
A couple of great quotes:
"We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once."- Calvin Coolidge
"An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied."- Arnold Glasow
One thing I've always admired about the MonaVie Team leaders is that they are men and women of action. They get things done. Because they take action, the Team has become an idea whose time has come. There is no stopping it. It will become the biggest business on the planet.
That's pretty big.
Thanks for your example Team. Keep moving.
Posted by OrrinWoodward
at 6:13 PM EST
Updated: Thursday, March 11, 2010 6:30 PM EST
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