"True LOVE comes with great discipline and sacrifice"

It has been 5 days since I’ve had any social media activity or blog post and I truly am having withdrawals!  Now more than ever, I realized how I truly appreciate my TRUE FRIENDS out there, who continue to support me with comments on my blog and on my Wall…

Please know that while I haven’t had a chance to comment, I sooo appreciate each and everyone of you and I promise I will to get back to all your comments in 2-3 weeks!  I am so blown away by your encouraging love and for taking the time to leave your wonderful comments which continue to inspire me!

The reason I have taken a forced “hiatus” from my Blog, Facebook and Twitter and social media presence was because for the past week I have spent my time and will continue:

1) Scouring Craigslist and MLS Searches looking for a new home to move into in 13 days before close of escrow!
2) Researching and scheduling movers for estimates.
3) Purging our 3,100 sq. ft home to fit in a home 1/2 that size.
4) Taking Garrett to his Reading Bootcamp and Math Sessions
5) Contacting friends, old housekeepers and gardeners who might be able to use some of our stuff or share it with those who need them most.
6) Planning and creating spreadsheets numbering the bins, tubs and boxes so movers will know which rooms they will go to in the new house.
7) Calling utility companies, etc. to open and close accounts
Change of address requests .
9) Sorting every piece of item in the house – Keep, Store, Donate, Throw Out
10) Last but not least, when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, I had to coordinate with our wonderful CPA about the unexpected “love letter” we received from Uncle Sam that they would like to “review our ‘07 and ‘08 tax returns! How’s that for a cake topper?  We’re not concerned at all as we do our best to stay in honor… I’m just wondering about the timing as I have to dig into my files and prepare for it on top of everything else!

Okay, most of you who read my blog and and know me personally understand that that I love writing about positive, uplifting and motivating stuff.  However, I do believe that while I am going through a situation that probably most  Americans are going through right now, I am hoping that my posts regarding our current plight will somewhat bring a glimmer of hope to many.

I chose to be transparent and share our story because I believe that THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HURTING OUT THERE – people who are looking for people like them, whose story could empower them and let them know they’re not alone.  People who found themselves spiraling and wondering what happened to their dreams and why the rug was pulled off right from underneath them.

I am speaking about people of integrity and pride,  who really work hard, are diligent, have dreams and are doing what they can to move towards those dreams.  People who are committed to never give up on their dreams -

And yet… they find success highly elusive…

From time to time, I have many questions… why this, why that… how did this happen?  Why to us?  We’re good people, we give unconditionally, we know our faith is strong and we’re committed to living our lives on purpose with the “Spirit of Excellence”… why did this still happen to us?

Every time I ask that question,  I hear this phrase over and over in my head….   It’s a phrase a trusted friend and spiritual advisor told me 3 years ago on what God must be saying to me as I go through trials in my life:

“I love you too much to let you stay that way….  I love you WAAAY TOO MUCH to make you stay that way….”

Then it dawned on me, as a parent, I know how to love and I know how to discipline.  There is a fine balance. If I know my child is straying, I know that there is discipline coming.

Looking back through the highs and lows of my life, every event – good or bad – has had a major lesson, a purpose and produced results.  For every trial, there always has been a corresponding triumph.

Like my Mentor Joel Bauer says, “Problems = Happiness” – overtime you solve a problem you become happy until the next problem comes along.  I am a living proof of that… I used to be afraid of problems but now I realized they are part of what shapes my life!

How is the finest gold purified? Through fire! I believe that God has a way of “purifying” us and removing the dross or the yucky black stuff that makes the gold dull.  Some people call it pruning – and like anything else, when something is trimmed out of you, it can hurt.

I compare it to a butterfly coming out of the cocoon… it’s so uncomfortable but the only way for a caterpillar to become a butterfly and be able to fly high is by going through that cocoon…

What about you? What areas in your life are you being asked to change? What areas are you getting disciplined lately?

Perhaps it’s time to listen to what it is that you need to change in your life so you can get different results?  What are you holding on so tightly that could potentially be holding you back from success?

Is it fear, clutter, doubt, procrastination, feeling of not being good enough? Or could it be ignorance with money, living beyond your means or what we say in the Philippines,

“Counting your chicks before your eggs are hatched.”

If you relate to what I wrote here, you must be wondering the same thing: “What do I need to change?  Where should my focus be?  How would I know I am on the right path?

I can’t really answer for you… all I know is that when my priorities shifted from:

Business
Family
God

And switched to:

God
Family
Business

I heard this message even louder!

“I love you too much to let  you stay that way…”

Just the knowing that I am loved, is enough to strengthen me.  On top of that, I also get a huge bonus of knowing that there are plans to prosper me beyond my wildest imaginings waiting for me and that after this is said and done I will come out with stronger faith and character…

And the stronger I become, the more people I can help empower!  I know in 3 weeks, I will be back with MORE clarity and MORE of me to give!

Do you believe that there are plans to prosper you too? Are you willing to go through the discipline and do what it takes to see what lies ahead, if you knew that there truly is a big reward around the bend?

I would absolutely love to know….

Cheering You On To Your Success!

Emma

"My Favorite Room In The Tiebens' Home"

It has been a rough 90 days for myself and my family.  The good news is that we’re all healthy, have all remained happy and have stayed together!  The bad news is that we made a decision to sell our home of 11 years!

Ever since we made that decision 90 days ago there have been many challenging twists and turns that needed to be dealt with.  They were so challenging that I was on pins and needles most of the time and have experienced a few breakdowns here and there!

Sure… through it all, I have managed to function – continued to attend events, connect with people, encourage my social media friends, empower my clients and still give Garrett and incredible summer experience.

However in the past few days, I decided to take a break and focus on things that mean most to me: MY FAMILY.  In my silence, I have received tons of love and support that I felt a sense of responsibility to share what’s going on.

Some of you may wonder, ‘Wow Emma, this is rather personal… are you sure you want to share this with the world?”  Well, I thought about it long and hard and I decided to do it because of this:

I believe that “We go through darkness so we can tell our stories and guide others to the light”.

Please don’t feel bad for us.  It was a decision we’ve contemplated on for years  but have been putting off because we thought for sure that if I work any harder, we just might be able to pull it off…  My hope for this post is for you to get inspired and somehow learn from the mistakes we’ve made.

Like many “aggressive” and risk-taking investors, we made decisions that proved great 7 years ago and purchased investment properties not anticipating what was to transpire with our economy.  We though for sure we were infallible and NOTHING will happen in the next 20 years!

Boy were we wrong… so with many others…

For the past 2 years I dove in head first learning online marketing, connecting with powerful people, building incredible relationships with them and my favorite part was empowering and helping other entrepreneurs and getting paid for what I love!  Needless to say, I neglected paying attention to what’s really going on, hoping and believing that the market will turn around soon!

Sure we were able to generate enough money to meet our enormous financial obligations to the banks and remained in honor for years and years, sacrificing lifestyle but making a choice to invest more in my business education, pushing forward because through it all, I continue to believe and hold on to my dream.  A dream that one day, I will have a HUGE business that will enable me us to invest again in what we love… residential real estate, gold and silver.

What we didn’t realize was for 4 or so years, we have “chased” a fantasy. We thought that if we only worked harder and seasoned it with time, we will get caught up.  We really believed that the “big money is right around the corner” and it just takes that one big break for us to be able to make our millions and pay of all our financial obligations in lump sum!

In January 2008, we met Dani Johnson for the first time and one principle that we learned from her was  to “Prosper Where You’re Planted…”.  We so got it at that time.  We realized that for us to get “promoted” in the universal sense, we need to be able to progress or succeed with what we have NOW and what we think we’re going to make in the future!

We can’t rely on future earnings, spend it now and expect to generate more…

Please listen to what I am saying here because there is a major lesson here… I am not “preaching” – I just want to drive this important principle as close to home as possible because I this is one of the major lessons we learned in this painful yet rewarding experience!

If you’re an entrepreneur who has mounds and mounds of debt, running around in circles, close to broke but continuing to live an “irresponsible” lifestyle you had prior to becoming broke, spending money you didn’t have with hopes that money is around the corner, I have news for you… YOU WILL STRUGGLE WITH SUCCESS.

It’s the Universal Law of Cause and Effect which says ‘what goes around comes around…” or the Golden Rule “do unto others as you would have others do unto you…” or “what you send out comes back to you tenfold…” I love what Joyce Meyer says all the time:

“YOU CAN’T EXPECT MONEY IF YOU DON’T RESPECT MONEY!”

The Bible says, “To whom much is given, much is expected…”  The irony of it all is that in the Parable of the Talents, the one Steward who was able to invest his money wisely was given more and the Steward who chose to be irresponsible, well, instead of being give more, everything he had was taken away from him!  How’s that for a lesson?

I guess I am sharing this VERY PERSONAL and painful lesson with you because 2 years ago, I heard the lesson and started doing something about it.  However, when things started looking up, I went back to my old ways – to what’s comfortable and somewhat “irresponsible”.

In the process of playing catch up with success and what my mentor Joel Bauer says “living along to get along”, we realized that we were slowly sacrificing something:

QUALITY OF LIFE…

I remember before Gary and I became parents, we would go on 4-5 trips a year as we absolutely love to travel!  When Garrett was born, the destinations changed a bit but we still traveled… we went on cruises, resorts and most of the time, they were top notch and on occasion, we even have our very own butler on board!

However, for the past two years, our family travel has been limited to a few trips here and there.  Gary’s not able take time off work as much as he used to and my time was spent servicing clients, building my online infrastructure,  further my studies via seminars and mentors and invest back into the business and in myself.

In January 2010, when I went to the Internet Marketers Caribbean Cruise I had a ton of fun but there was one thought that stuck in my mind the entire time:

“I wish Gary and Garrett were here…”

It dawned on me that we have not taken any major trips for 3 years!  I remembered always imagining that when we have our child/children, we will be traveling extensively, taking them to see museums, dining in the best places and introducing them to various cultures so they will grow up respecting all cultures of the world and loving the history of those cultures.

But instead, due to time and money limitations, we’ve opted for San Diego, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara… Sure they’re not that bad for most people but for us, we knew it was time to:

Buckle down… re-assess… re-group… learn to “prosper where we’re planted” – be able to live within our means.  We were ready to no longer be:

HOUSE RICH AND CASH POOR…

Quality of life means so much more to us now that Garrett is 8 years old.

And so, on June 2, 2010, after dodging the decision for 2 years, we have painfully decided to put our home of 11 years in the market… a home we helped design, where we have experienced incredibly beautiful memories – the home that housed our dreams.

Here are some photos our our beloved home… while we’re going to miss it, we know it will house a new family who are yet to create beautiful and memorable dreams for them.  I know that the best is yet to come for us!

I have learned a ton of painful lessons and joyful miracles during the past 2 1/2 months from when we made this decision.  I plan on sharing them with you, my wonderful friends and readers in my upcoming blog posts with hopes to inspire you and give those of you who are probably on going through the same experience some tools, techniques and resources to help guide you through this painful though “cleansing” process.

I thank all of you who continue to support and cheer me on as I go through this ordeal… Your friendship and love means sooo much to me!  I am creating this “series” as this is my way of paying it forward…

Cheering You On To Your Success!

Emma

I have been up since 2:45 am PST, sitting on my bed in my hotel room here in Austin, TX digesting the Mastermind my partner Stevi Sullivan and had yesterday with Mike Dillard.

Emma and Stevi Masterminding With Mike Dillard

I was one of Mike’s “pioneering” students 2 years ago and when I came to his Traffic Formula LIVE Event in this same hotel in June of 2008, all I wanted was to find a better way to market my network marketing opportunity online to create more leverage for myself and my team.

At Mike Dillard's "Green Room" in MS Headquarters

Little did I know that 2 years later, I would be back to see Mike but this time in a very intimate and exclusive Mastermind Group where we get to consult individually with him and create a marketing strategy that is congruent with what our strengths are.

I asked Mike if he would be willing to share on video, what it is that he thinks I can offer to online entrepreneurs and he graciously gave me a response that validated why I love what I do, but it also clarified why it is important for entrepreneurs to learn this simple strategy that I teach:

BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR LIST.

It sounds simple, but let me tell you, it’s not as simple as it seems. You have to make a conscious effort to really build a relationship with your list and not just treat them as numbers…

How can you create a powerful relationship with your list?

1) Have the genuine desire to truly help them.
2) Give something of value – an article, a book recommendation, links to relevant videos and blogposts.
3) Send them personal messages even though they are delivered by an autoresponder.
4) Become a Connector… if you know people who can benefit from each other, make the introduction
5) Be a Listener… sometimes people just want to be heard.
6) Encourage others – even just a simple encouraging word can change lives!
7) Do what you say you’re going to do – trust is the #1 currency online!

Mike’s “Words of Wisdom” on this video are highly profound and powerful! If you heed his advice, and really do what you can do to build a relationship with your list, you just might find your most loyal advocates, just waiting for you to connect with them.

Click here for more photos of our exclusive Mastermind With Mike Dillard.

You probably already know Mike Dillard and already own Magnetic Sponsoring.  However, if you don’t own one yet and if you’re an entrepreneur wondering what Magnetic Sponsoring is, I urge you to  find out as the lessons there can  potentially change your lives, I invite you to click here to order your own copy Magnetic Sponsoring.

This will be the best $39 you’ll ever spend!

Cheering You On To Your Success!

Emma

I’m here in Austin with my Business Partner Stevi Sullivan and it’s our first day here in Austin, TX for our Magnetic Sponsoring Elite Mastermind with Mike Dillard.

It was a very exciting morning! Gary and Garrett took me to Long Beach Airport and as I sat at the waiting area, I suddenly missed them.  I was leaving again them again for the weekend to spend time Masterminding with a gentleman who started me off the right path to internet marketing, Mike Dillard.

Getting on my Jet Blue Flight In Long Beach, CA

It dawned on me that I am going back to where I was in June of 2008 when I first got introduced to Magnetic Sponsoring or the concept of being an “Alpha Networker”.  Prior to reading this book, I have always thought that for me to build a success online business I just need to sell.  I never understood what attraction marketing meant and I had no clue on what it meant to “brand myself as a leader”.

As I realized the sacrifices of time and money I had to make to come back to Austin, TX for this Mastermind, a thought dawned on me… I haven’t read Magnetic Sponsoring in months!  It was time to revisit it..

So, on my 2 1/2 hour flight from Long Beach, CA to Austin, TX, I immersed myself in reading Magnetic Sponsoring and Building On A Budget and Copywriter’s Guild (yes, if you click on the highlighted words it will direct you to live links that are affiliate links where I could potentially make some money if you purchase the course).  I wondered to myself, why did I not re-read these courses sooner? It would have saved me a lot of headaches! And if these courses did something so life changing for me, then I have a responsibility to share them with you, and here is the major epiphany:

IF I GET PAID FOR THE VALUE I PUT OUT THERE, THERE REALLY IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT, IS THERE?

I’ve always known that by holding back the resources we know could help others, we are doing our friends and our audience a disservice…

Emma Tiebens and Stevi Sullivan at Ironworks Barbeque

It was so amazing that there were nuggets in there that are so relevant still to this day and I read it from a different perspective…  A perspective with more certainty, more confidence, more clarity…

I then realized something…  Finally, after 2 years, I have actually become the ALPHA NETWORKER Mike described in the book and I was so ready to step into that greatness and get out of my own way!

Now, I don’t know the exact time I became one because I totally forgot what one looked like!

There was a surge of satisfaction that came over me with this realization.  I felt like somehow, I have arrived…

My question to you is “Do You Know What Success Looks Like?”  Success doesn’t necessarily mean money… it means different things to different people.

What does success mean to me?  It’s being in a position where I am capable of making a difference in entrepreneur’s lives.  Enabling them the share their life’s message, so they too can positively impact others and by doing so, getting paid in proportion to the value we contribute in the marketplace.

Take the time to answer the question… “What does SUCCESS look like for you?”  It is important you can somehow answer this question because if you don’t, success just might pass you by…

CLICK HERE For More Photos of Day 1 In Austin, Texas!

Cheering You On To Your Success!

Emma

If you were one of the few “privileged” people who were offered Magnetic Sponsoring Elite via a printed postal service delivered mail from Mike Dillard, my question to you is did you take advantage of the offer?  If not, may I ask why?

If you did, CONGRATULATIONS! What an incredible offering it was!  Just the same, here is a “sneak peek” at the BBOS (Big Box of Stuff) that I just received in the mail.

What made it even more exciting was that Mike Dillard offered a personal one on one Mastermind with him at their new office in Austin, TX as well as dinner with him in Downtown Austin with him and a few other like minded leaders.

I am sooo thrilled that my Business Partner, Stevi Sullivan insisted that we do whatever it takes to be there and thanks to her, she and I will be flying to Austin, TX this weekend to meet with Mike Dillard.

Of course, you know I will keep you posted about the weekend.  I just wish that you could be there with Stevi and I.

I have butterflies in my stomach with great expectation about what will transpire this weekend.  I know Mike as a very wise, savvy, intelligent and highly actualized person that I KNOW FOR SURE we will take home more than one golden nugget…

It could potentially be our springboard… our launch pad to something bigger… something that is overdue…

I know that consulting with Mike Dillard might not be affordable for you at the moment.  The good news is that there are people like Stevi Sullivan and I who continuously seek mentorship only from the best of the best so we can share the “goodies” with you.

Very soon, we are going to pick out a select group of entrepreneurs who are looking to belong to a community of success driven individuals with supportive leaders who follow the vision and are committed to investing in continued education.  Leaders like Stevi and I who know how to follow the footsteps of those who have succeeded massively from the implementation of their strategies…

Now, the question is, how would you like to be mentored those in direct mentorship with Mike Dillard?  If you find value in this question, the stay tuned for our upcoming announcements by making sure you do this:

1) Subscribe to this Blog by clicking the RSS button on the top right hand side.

2) Leave your name and email on the box on the right side of this page.  You will also get your free report and videos

3) Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter and let me know you want to be notified when we launch our Team Coaching.

As always, I am just here…

Cheering You On To Your Success!

Emma

I was at the beach today and captured this priceless and impromptu video to inspire you to take the time to take care of yourself because if you don’t no one else will…

I am guilty… I LOVE doing what I do… one thing I would do if I never get paid for it is to connect with other entrepreneurs and motivate, inspire and empower them! What I offer them, which is to brand their “authentic” selves online so they can attract their perfect clients who will trust and do business with them is truly secondary.

Most of you know that to have a profitable business online is LEVERAGE in the truest sense of the world…. but what we’re forgetting is that time flies by rather quickly when you’re online and it’s imperative that:

YOU MAKE A DECISION TO BREAK AWAY FROM YOUR COMPUTER and spend meaningful time for those you are actually doing all these for!

What good is all the money if you can’t enjoy it with your family…

One of my short term desired outcome is to take my family on a 7 day cruise and yes, WITHOUT MY LAPTOP! Yikes!

Sure I might have withdrawals but I’ll live… after all, they are the prime recipients for my success…

How about you, how are you taking care of yourself? There are so many creative ways to do that and it doesn’t have to be expensive and fancy either…

Go ahead… make a commitment to take a break with your family or friends a few times this weekend… you will come back more refreshed, inspired and ready to go!!!

If you don’t have a system that allows you to have true leverage for you to be able to do the things you love the most, I would love to share the system that is allowing me to have a life!!!

Click here:  Hope In Home Business

Cheering You On To Your Success!

Emma