Orrin Woodward on LIFE & Leadership

Inc Magazine Top 20 Leader shares his personal, professional, and financial secrets.

  • Orrin Woodward

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    Former Guinness World Record Holder for largest book signing ever, Orrin Woodward is a NY Times bestselling author of And Justice For All along with RESOLVED & coauthor of LeaderShift and Launching a Leadership Revolution. His books have sold over one million copies in the financial, leadership and liberty fields. RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions For LIFE made the Top 100 All-Time Best Leadership Books and the 13 Resolutions are the framework for the top selling Mental Fitness Challenge personal development program.

    Orrin made the Top 20 Inc. Magazine Leadership list & has co-founded two multi-million dollar leadership companies. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the Board of the LIFE. He has a B.S. degree from GMI-EMI (now Kettering University) in manufacturing systems engineering. He holds four U.S. patents, and won an exclusive National Technical Benchmarking Award.

    This blog is an Alltop selection and ranked in HR's Top 100 Blogs for Management & Leadership.

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Archive for the ‘Life Training’ Category

True teams bring immeasurable joy through friendship and fun.

Frontline Community Leadership

Posted by Orrin Woodward on October 24, 2016

“Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight Eisenhower

Dwight Eisenhower

Having practiced leadership for nearly twenty-five years, I don’t believe anyone has captured the essential difference between effective leadership and ineffective management in community building any better than Eisenhower did in his pithy statement above.  Building communities requires three steps: 1) Learn, 2) Do, and 3) Teach. For some unknown reason, managers believe they can skip the vital second step and move directly into teaching what they have never done. Predictably, the managers fail miserably in this endeavor, but then, even more bizarrely, some then blame the lack of results on the community building model versus their lack of leadership. 

For instance, I don’t care what community building business one is in, if a potential leader desires to build a big community he must do more than simply recommend the proper teaching CDs on contacting and showing the plan. He must also master contacting personally before he can effectively teach it to his community in business launches. Further, if he desires to teach how to show the plan and share the products with others, he must be doing it himself at least 15 times per month. Indeed, before he can run successful house plans, he must know his message inside and out and have encouraged through his example how others can do one on one’s as well to ensure new people are at his house plans. In other words, the leader learns before he does, and does before he teaches. If this process gets out of order, the person is managing, not leading, and his business flounders.

Successful house plans revolve around new people seeing a bigger vision for the company’s products and vision than the new member is capable of providing. As a result, if no new people are at the house plan, then the leader has most likely fallen into management mode. First, learn the skills of contacting by doing it over and over before presuming to teach it others. Second, learn how to show the plan and share the products by attending opens and then show it over and over again before presuming to teach others how to do so. Successful house plans only occur after the community is confident in showing the plan and sharing the product with others through numerous one on ones. The people who showed interest from the one on ones are then fed into house plans or open meeting to see a bigger picture. Top leaders will promote the next seminar to help the new people see the community in action that will help them get financially free. Miss any of these steps and the potential leader is competing for manager of the year, not leader of the year. 🙂

What are you waiting for? A person can dream all day long while listening to all the CDs, reading all the books, and attending all the seminars, but until he starts DOING the work, he is not qualified to teach. The future has never been bright for those who will act towards their dreams. Learn, Do, Teach works, the only question is will you work. 🙂 True education, in short, leads to ACTION! Quit pushing others strings. Instead, tie the communities strings to your leadership and move in the direction of financial freedom. Your team is sure to follow a person who leads. Plug into LIFE and start the process of learning by doing so one can eventually teach what one has learned to others. In the process, not only will you change your life, but the lives of many others who had no other way out of the Financial Matrix.

Sincerely,

Orrin Woodward: LIFE Chairman of the Board

Posted in Leadership/Personal Development, Life Training | 7 Comments »

The Law of Averages Produces Results

Posted by Orrin Woodward on November 17, 2014

Most successful people realize that the Law of Averages (LOA) is a key part of success in any field. For when a person leverages the LOA properly, the seemingly unpredictable becomes very predictable. Unfortunately, most people do not allow the LOA to work in their favor and then label themselves failures when actually they have only failed to apply the LOA. Here is a short segment from the LIFE Leadership major function where I share how to leverage the Law of Averages to produce results!

Sincerely,

Orrin Woodward

Posted in LIFE Leadership, Life Training, Orrin Woodward | 12 Comments »

Dan and Lisa Hawkins: Past and Future

Posted by Orrin Woodward on November 13, 2014

Two traveling monks that were sworn to avoid contact with females reached a river where they met a young woman. Wary of the current, she asked if they could carry her across. One of the monks hesitated, but the other quickly picked her up onto his shoulders, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other bank. She thanked him and departed. 

As the monks continued on their way, the one was brooding and preoccupied. Unable to hold his silence, he spoke out. “Brother, our spiritual training teaches us to avoid any contact with women, but you picked that one up on your shoulders and carried her!” 

“Brother,” the second monk replied, “I set her down on the other side, while you are still carrying her.”

I love this story because it teaches a great principle of success, namely, one must not let his past hinder his future. So many people continue to replay a bad experience from their past which only ensures that their futures are as bleak as their pasts. What is the use in doing that? Most people simply do not understand what they are doing, but for anyone who has listened to LIFE Leadership materials, he/she cannot use that excuse. For them, it is simply a lack of mental discipline to feed a new empowering story to the subconscious mind that ultimately changes the outside to what is said repeatedly on the inside.  

Thankfully, Dan and Lisa Hawkins did not let their past predict their future. Through mental discipline, this couple changed the inside story from one of repeated failures due to overwhelming fear and lack of faith to one of the most inspiring entrepreneurial stories in America today. From a shy mechanic and a harried daycare provider to financially free LIFE Coaches leaders and Co-founders of LIFE Leadership! The Hawkins family legacy will never be the same.

I want to personally thank Dan and Lisa for their impressive vision, courage, and discipline to change. The reason Laurie and I refuse to slow down is because we know there are more couples like you who are looking for a way to let go of their past so they can seize their future by getting on The Leadership Train

What about you dear reader? Don’t you think it’s time to stop focusing on your hurts from the past so you start to create your victories in the future?

Sincerely,

Orrin Woodward

Posted in LIFE Leadership, Life Training | 14 Comments »

Bird-Dogging Using the Law of Averages

Posted by Orrin Woodward on November 4, 2014

One of the talks that I shared at the LIFE Leadership Fall Convention and also the MasterMind Event was on utilizing the Law of Averages to produce better results in one’s Compensated Community. Here is a short segment of the Bird-Dogging talk for your viewing pleasure. I call the concept bird-dogging and it applies the concepts of leverage that I shared in my recently released new book The Leadership Train. Anyone involved in Network Marketing will benefit from the new book as it teaches why this profession is not a life scam, pyramid scheme, or merely a door-to-door business. Network Marketing is going mainstream thanks to the efforts of its early pioneers like those reading this blog.

Sincerely,

Orrin Woodward

Posted in LIFE Leadership, Life Training | 17 Comments »

No Dream; No Guts; No Story

Posted by Orrin Woodward on July 7, 2014

Here is a short segment from the LIFE Leadership Summer Convention. Cinderella Man is one of my favorite movies because it is based upon the true story of James J. Braddock. Don’t tell me the size of your obstacles, tell me the size of your dream! Chris Brady, Tim Marks, Claude Hamilton, Bill Lewis, Dan Hawkins, and George Guzzardo have dreams that power them past their obstacles. How about you?

Sincerely,

Orrin Woodward

Posted in LIFE Leadership, Life Training | 10 Comments »

LIFE Leadership Animation Series

Posted by Orrin Woodward on February 3, 2014

My son (Jordan Woodward) continues to develop his creativity through working at the LIFE Leadership office. Recently, he sent me this hilarious video of George Guzzardo sharing how George and Jill began working with Laurie and me. This is funny today although it wasn’t so funny at the time. 🙂 But like they say – Tragedy plus time equals humor. 🙂 LIFE Leadership is having fun, making money, and making a difference!

Sincerely,

Orrin Woodward

Posted in LIFE Leadership, Life Training | 42 Comments »

LIFE Leadership Seminars

Posted by Orrin Woodward on May 13, 2013

LIFE Leadership Seminar weekend just wrapped up Saturday night. Across North America, communities gather to learn leadership, life principles, and strategies to move their life forward. Laurie and I had the honor to speak in Pennsylvania with Jerry and Polly Harteis. We packed, fully packed, the high school auditorium with over 1,000 people and had an amazing day. Recognition included several new Turbo 100s along with LIFE Leader and LIFE Coordinator levels. Jerry and Polly were fantastic, bringing their A-game with posture, wisdom, and humor mixed together in a relatable style.

The LIFE Major Convention will have several new PCs recognized and numerous new RT and LIFE pin levels. Momentum is hitting across the community and I want to personally congratulate all the leaders who have stepped up and are moving on by serving customers, serving communities, and leading from the front. We are creating a LeaderShift across North America that will soon spread across the world. What part is the reader intending to play?

If you attended on of the seminar locations, please share who spoke and what nuggets did you learn to propel your life forward? My personal favorite from Jerry was when he said love is blind, but marriage is an eye-opener. 🙂 He had the crowd rolling and learning all night!

Sincerely,

Orrin Woodward

Posted in LIFE Leadership, Life Training | 95 Comments »

LeaderShift Book Tour Video

Posted by Orrin Woodward on May 1, 2013

It’s great to be back home after a powerful two weeks of seeing people, sharing leadershift, and teaching leadership. I only have one word for the excitement generated by the release of LeaderShift, namely, Wow! I have not seen this type of enthusiasm and belief in our country’s future since I started in building communities twenty years ago. I wanted to share the video that the LIFE office put together from the events and thank everyone for sharing the message of hope and change offered in LeaderShift.

Sincerely,

Orrin Woodward

Posted in Freedom/Liberty, Life Training | 23 Comments »

Business Is Relationships; Great Business Is Great Relationships

Posted by Orrin Woodward on January 17, 2013

I have taught the principle of going slow in order to go fast for years. This doesn’t mean build your business slow, but it does mean take the time to truly get to know your community. You can still go fast by having more people that you are cultivating relationships with and getting them around a community of winners. Sadly, however, many people rush through dealing with others, not understanding that all business is relationships and the best businesses have the best relationships. In fact, all of the LIFE business founders have a huge business because they are huge builders of deep relationships with their leaders. Below is a segment from a talk I did last year on the importance of relationships. If you want 2013 to be your best year yet, then start with building the best relationships today by applying the principles from the Top Five books and from the friendship chapter of my book RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions for LIFE. Enjoy the video.

Sincerely,

Orrin Woodward

Posted in LIFE Leadership, Life Training | 31 Comments »

Larry & Stacey Allswede: Testimonies over Titles

Posted by Orrin Woodward on January 14, 2013

The Allswede Family

The LIFE business continues to change lives and impact communities across America. What is so special about LIFE is that whether someone makes hundreds of thousands of dollars from the LIFE Business Compensation Plan or makes just a few bucks, it still changes lives for the better. Only a materialistic person would define success in just dollars. What about better relationships between spouses or between parents and their children? What about improved mobility at one’s profession due to increased leadership and people skills?

Simply stated, I believe the LIFE business is the best educational system for success in the marketplace at less than 1/10th of the cost of conventional educational systems. In Oliver DeMille’s and my new book LeaderShift, to be released in April by Business Plus, we teach the difference between credentialists and creators. Credentialists focus on titles while creators focus on leadership. Leaders are leaders because people trust them and follow them, not because of titles. In other words, testimonies trump titles every time! It was in 1994, when I quit my MBA from the University of Michigan, that I made my personal decision to stop focusing on titles and build a life of testimony. This fork in the road was highly significant for Laurie’s and my future.

In the same way, Larry Allswede and his wonderful wife Stacey reached a fork in the road. Larry had started working at the Team office, but quickly realized he was better suited in the field as an entrepreneur. Today, the Allswedes are achieving success in all 8F’s of LIFE (Faith, Family, Finance, Fitness, Freedom, Fun, Friends, and Following) and living as creators, not credentialists. Their story is one of many I receive. In fact, not a week goes by without receiving several emails like this confirming the huge impact LIFE is having upon lives. Thank you Larry and Stacey for having the courage to grow, change, and lead. Larry reached 1 million in sales revenue for his company in 18 months! Your story inspires others to step up, step out, and move on! It won’t be long before employers sort resumes based upon applicants’ LIFE business education.

How about the readers? Are you living a life of testimonies or titles? Only a few times in a person’s life is he given an opportunity to rewrite his script. LIFE is one of the few opportunities left for people to change their life script!  Here is Larry’s email to me with the rest of the story. I LOVE it!

Sincerely,

Orrin Woodward

As you might already know, I have been a part of Holger and Lindsey Spiewak’s team since 2006. I went to my first seminar in the fall of 2005 to see Jim and Dolores Martin and ever since then I was hooked! I wasn’t quite sure about the business, but I was certain that I wanted to be associated with Holger and that group of people! There since began my leadership journey! Since then, I can remember being completely addicted to the Audio CD’s mainly because I was so angry for never being taught ANY of the principles I was learning!

Let’s fast forward 5 1/2 years later. In the Spring of 2011, I caught wind of a job opening for a virtual school. I applied. The problem? The applicants were required to have a MINIMUM of a BS Degree, “Preferred” to have a Masters Degree, year of Student teaching, a year of community service, and a whole laundry list of other qualifications that I did NOT have. I only have SOME college, but I did not finish. I do not even have an associates degree, let alone a MASTERS degree. The only thing that I had off their requirement list were the objective things like “Team work…commitment…energetic (I’m part sanguine, of COURSE I’m energetic!)” etc. Needless to say, my resume was looking pretty unimpressive…until I added “Other Education” where I entered “Liber/Leadership Education – 10,000 Hours” (When adding up all the Audios over a 5 1/2 year period, all the Opens, Seminars, Majors, Mentor sessions with Holger Spiewak and Bill Lewis, Those hours put my right around 10,000. Not to mention roughly 100 personal development books)

Somehow I landed an interview. In the interview, there were 2 people and myself; the president of the company, and a consultant who was brought in to help the president hire in the right people) The consultant (Kim) took one look at my resume with a confused look and asked “What is a ‘Liber’ Education?” To which I replied “That is a great question!! Liber really means “tree bark” because it is what the ancients used to write on tablets when engaging in contract, communicating, etc. But it is also the root word for LIBERty and LIBERary…which those two words were closely connected in history. Those who were free knew HOW to think for themselves and could engage in contract. It’s a self directed, leadership education that teaches one how to think.” (Basically, I took the definition almost directly from Oliver DeMille’s 4 Lost American Ideals CD in the Freedom Pack) But their mouth’s about hit the table! Kim quickly said “Well, 10,000 hours of leadership training…that’s a lot of training… What was it all for?” To which I replied “well, I never felt like I fit within the boundaries of a formal education setting, where the methodology is curriculum and professors and experts. My heart sang when I was working in the classics with mentors who had a life that I aspired to have. So I chose the route to have a self directed leadership education, rather than a formal education.”

There were a whole host of other questions that were asked, and I don’t really remember what else I said, but I had a REALLY good feeling that they were impressed! After the interview, I was told that I would receive a phone call within a couple weeks to know if I got the job or not. By 8:30am the NEXT morning I got a call : “Good Morning, Larry! We are excited to call you and offer you a position at Clintondale Virtual School!” WOW!!!

Here’s the kicker… There were 12 (TWELVE) other applicants who interviewed. They ALL had Bachelors degrees, and 6 (SIX) of them had Masters Degrees!!! I was the ONLY ONE who did NOT have a degree, but rather had a leadership education from the  LIFE/Team community and I’m the one who got the job making a mid-range teachers salary. WOW!

LIFE is not only good to help people live the lives that they have always wanted, but it is also the best resume builder that I have seen so far! Talk about reinventing yourself and standing out from the crowd at the same time!

Since then, Kim and eventually her husband Ron have taken me under their wing here at the company with the virtual school and has helped mentor me to be excellent on the job. By this fall, 2013, I will have brought in over 1 million plus dollars of revenue to the company since starting with the company in March 2011.

I apologize for the length of this email. Thank you for taking the time to read it. You have changed my life in more ways than you possibly could have imagined! Thank you for your service! A Million times (people) Thank you!

Larry Allswede

Posted in LIFE Leadership, Life Training | 78 Comments »