Pour mes amis Québequois! (translated: For my Quebec friends!)

Mes chers amis québequois…

C’était réellement un plaisir de partager avec vous autres samedi dernier.  Vous avez tellement une belle énergie et une bonne synergie entre les différents groupes.  Vos leaders ont tellement montrer une belle exemple de persévérence et de tenacité pour finalement avoir le système et les produits de LIFE en français en pleine production.  Ne changez jamais et continuer le beau travail!

En raison des maintes demandes pour une copie du poème que j’ai composé pour vous, j’ai cru plus facile de l’afficher ici.  

Au plaisir de vous revoir à Columbus

 

Now for my english speaking friends. If ever you have the honor to go speak at the Quebec (french) seminar you will be in for a treat. There is such a special energy and synergy within these teams that it a pleasure just to watch.  We had the honor of being ask to speak there last Saturday and help them continue growing.  To think that these guys built a business for years in a language that is definitely the minority language in that province is simply extraordinary!  My hats off to all the leaders up there and continued success in the future.

Below I have posted a poem that I had done for them, its basically an adaptation of my ”Must be nice” one that I had previously done in English.

Can’t wait to see them all in Columbus

 

”Gang de Chanceux”

Ça m’a pas pris longtemps à réaliser que la vie était pas facile

Travaillé tellement dure sans aucun résultats, j’me sens imbécile

Là perdre ma mère, perdre ma job, et un marriage tellement brûmeux

Pendant que tout le monde autour de moi semblent tellement heureux

Et moi je suis assis ici et je pense ‘Gang de chanceux’

 

Là un jour je reçois un appel totalement inattendu

Elle a dit: ‘Je travaille sur un projet et je me sens un peu perdu

J’ai besoin de ton aide arrête dont d’être méfiant

On sera là lundi soir, tu vas aimez ça j’en suis confiant’

 

Ils arrivent et commencent à parler de vieux rêves stupides

Je ne peux pas m’arrêter de penser que c’est encore une de ces méchantes pyramides

Cependant les détails faisait du sens et je savais que s’avait changer leurs vie

Qu’est-ce que j’avais à perdre?  Je leur faisais confiance, c’était quand même des amis

Juste de sortir de nos dettes et répondre le téléphone sans être peureux

Wow, ça doit être le fun d’être comme eux, gang de chanceux

 

Contre mon bon jugement, ils m’ont forcé d’aller à mon premier séminaire

Et juste comme je m’en méfiait, vous étes ben qu’trop excité et vraiment juste trop bizarre

Hey, entre les cris et les sifflements, assis debout assis debout c’était juste pas raisonable

Au début je ne croyais pas pouvoir réussir, mais maintenant je me sentait capable

 

Les orateurs ont monté sur l’estrade et je ne me rappelle rien de leur discours

J’avais trop d’idées dans la tête que j’ignorais tout les choses alentours

À voir des gens comme vous qui touchaient le succès

C’est quoi le pire qui pourrait m’arriver si je me déciderais?

Donc on s’embarque même si je vous trouvais ben qu’trop affectueux

Si seulement vous réaliseriez l’effet que vous avez eu sur nous ma gang de chanceux

 

On a fait notre liste de chums pis on a essayer de montrer des plans

Non après non après non, ça deviant redondant

On a eu notre part de personne negatives qui nous partageais leurs critiques

Je ne comprenais pas pourquoi qu’ils ne voyait ceci comme étant bénéfique

Simplement avoir Lisa comme maman à temps plein serait glorieux

Pourquoi pas nous et pas juste la gang de chanceux?

 

‘Appelle nous lorsque t’es riche’ semblait être leur ligne préférée

Saurait été tellement facile d’abondonner, mais moi je joue pour gagner

Donc soir après soir et plan après plan on a continuer à payer le prix

J’ai tu pas ben hâte que ça soit toute fini

Même un p’tit peu de succès, ça ferait du bien

Ya jamais été doué avec trop de patience ce p’tit Acadien

 

Mais maintenant après seulement quelques années d’apprentissage et d’application

Nos résultats sont incroyable et notre vie est en pleine évolution

Nos critiques sont encore là mais leur chanson à fait demi ronde

‘On s’avait que vous autres vous étiez capable mais c’est pas pour tout le monde`

 

La victoire est douce et votre récompense est la liberté

À vivre votre vie sur vos termes, une chance à ne pas manquer!

Pas de patron, pas de stresse et pas d’alarme le matin

Oh t’as oublié de couper le gazon? Pas grave tu le fera demain

 

Donc la prochaine fois que ça devient difficile, et tu doute de tout ça

Fonce de l’avant, dis toi que t’es capable et surtout n’abondonne pas

Rappèle toi de ton rêve que tu désire tellement

Au lieu de concentrer sur l’obstacle présent

Et quand ta victoire arrive et tu entends ‘Oh t’as juste été chanceux mon ami’

Dites lui qu’il te fasse confiance, et puis tu pourra changer sa vie!

 

Fais-en plus, soyez meilleur!

Do more, be better…

 

Denis

 

“Must be nice”

Alright…I apologize, I’ve been away from this blog for a while and I have no worthwhile excuse to give you.   Come to think of it, can any excuse be worthwhile? …we’ll save that for another post.

As I sit here and think about the weight of this day and how the memory of 12 years ago still rings loudly in our minds.  I can’t help but to be grateful for everything in our lives, knowing how quickly things can change and get turned upside down.  I keep thinking of the brave men and women who risked their lives trying to help others and it makes all of our daily whines and complaints seem so childish.  For all of those who work to serve and protect our countries and our freedoms I give you my most sincere thank you, without all of you the world would be a much scarier place.

Now I don’t  run into fires or physically save people’s lives but what we do in the LIFE business does impact lives in many different ways.  This business has provided us with opportunity to share our experiences with many people in many different parts of North America.  Over the last few months we’ve had the honor and privilege to speak in front of many different crowds in many different locations, Moncton NB, Syracuse NY, Kitchener Ont, Harrisburg PE and Ottawa Ont to name a few.  It’s been an absolute pleasure to share stories, teachable moments and insights to all of you.  During these seminars we were asked to share our personal journey throughout our last 7 years of Community Building.  In finishing off these talks I had taken the time to compose a little poem that represents our story and many of you have asked for a copy of it…so instead of wasting time photocopying this I figured it would be much easier to simply post it here.

So in my moment of reflection and gratefulness I would like to take a moment to personally thank Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, Claude Hamilton, Tim Marks, Bill Lewis, George Guzzardo, Dan Hawkins and Rob Hallstrand for standing up for us when we needed it and doing what was right because it was the right thing to do…without you guys we wouldn’t have the opportunity that we have today.

Finally, on a even more personal note I REALLY have to thank Claude & Lana Hamilton and Joce & Cynthia Dionne for personally helping us through our struggles and our victories and shaping us into the people we are today.  We will forever be thankful and grateful to have you guys in our lives.

“Must be nice”

It didn’t take me long to figure out that life isn’t easy

Working my butt off but my future always seemed so hazy

Then losing my mom, losing jobs and almost losing my wife

While everyone else seemed to be living the life

And I’m just stuck here thinking “Man…must be nice!”

 

Then I get this phone call right out of the blue

She said: “I’m working on this project and I thought of you.

It’s right up your alley, you’ll like it you’ll see.

We’ll be there on Monday, just shut up and trust me”

(those were her exact words too!  🙂 )

 

They showed up on time and built up the dream

But I still couldn’t get it out of my mind that this was just another pyramid scheme.

The details made sense and I knew it had changed THEIR life,

I thought to myself “What if this would work, man, wouldn’t that be nice”

 

They dragged me to my first seminar and it was just as I feared

You guys were way to excited and really just plain weird.

You cheered and you clapped and you sat and you stood

I didn’t think I could do this, but all of a sudden this made me think I could

 

The speaker came on and I don’t really remember what he said

I just had way too many things going on in my head.

What did we have to lose by rolling the dice?

Just to get out of debt, boy would that ever be nice.

 

So we said what the heck, we’ll give it our best

We had nothing to lose and no time to rest.

We had our fair share of critics, laughing and taunting

I can’t really blame them, the task did seem daunting

 

“Call me when you’re rich” seemed to be my friends weapon of choice

I just couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t simply rejoice

Of the fact that we were trying something and not just giving up

Maybe they were afraid that we might just show them up.

So night after night we kept paying the price

Just even some decent results…that would be nice

 

And now after a few short years of learning and applying

The road hasn’t been easy, but now we get it and boy are we flying

The critics have been silenced, the battle has been won

Now we hear “For sure YOU could do it but this isn’t for everyone”

Or “My cousin’s brother’s girlfriend tried it and she said it was dumb”

 

Victory is sweet and your reward is freedom

To live your life on your own terms, the chance is seldom

No boss, no stress and no alarm clock beeping

You can now just wake up whenever you’re done sleeping

 

So the next time you are out there and life gets tough

Don’t give up and say enough is enough

Remember the goal and what it is that you are heading to

Instead of focusing on the stuff you are trying to go through

And when you end up winning and hear “Ooooh it must be nice” too

You can say: ” You’re darn right it is and YOU can have it too!”

 

Do more, be better

Denis

LIFE: Now that’s a rookie season!!

Well the LIFE business has completed its first year of existence and what a year its been!  From free trips, to amazing cash bonuses, to millions in payout and a few retirement parties along the way, its easy to say that Year 1 has been a smashing success!

I remember a year and some ago when my good friend and mentor Claude Hamilton told us that the opportunity of our lifetime was coming and to be ready for an amazing run and boy was he right!

Claude has always been a man of integrity and character in me and Lisa’s eyes but as I follow other leaders’ blogs I see how much of an impact he has had on other people’s lives as well.  

I could easily go on and on about Claude and Lana and what an impressive and awesome couple they are but why take it from me?  I recommend you check out the following links and see what other people are saying about these guys.

We are truly blessed to have met these guys and are honored to call them business partners, mentors and especially, friends.

www.jocedionne.com

www.alexnickersonleadership.com

www.waynemacnamara.com

http://orrinwoodwardblog.com/2011/12/13/claude-lana-hamilton-life-founders/

 

 

Do more, be better.

Denis

The LIFE Compensation Plan…

When Claude Hamilton told us to get ready for the launch of an amazing compensation plan back in October of 2011 we expected good but not this good!

I mean if you had to design the perfect pay plan what kind of things would you want to include in it?

–  A strong dollar to point ratio?  How about $1/point or at worse $1.4/point?

–  A superior payout on commissions to the group?  How about a 50% payout?  Add on some one time cash awards and you’re creeping closer to a 70% payout!

–  Maybe a few short term incentives to reward people early in the process?  How about some free trips?  And we ain’t talking about a trip to the local beach with a night’s stay at the Motel 6…we’re talking Disney, Costa Rica or a cruise on the Oasis of the Sea!

Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady and the Policy Council have hit a grand slam this time!!  It’s refreshing to finally see leaders that walk their talk in today’s society.  Orrin Woodward is widely known as the whistleblower that courageously exposed things that needed to be fixed in a previous business in order to ensure that the newest person in the organization has a better opportunity then anybody else.

The LIFE business not only gives everybody an opportunity to benefit financially but the product as such is truly the life changing element.  I’ve never been so proud to represent a company, a product and an opportunity as I am with the LIFE business.  You really can’t lose!

Check out some of the details for yourself:

Bonus Chart
PV                   Bonus %
15,000             50%
10,000             45%
6,000               40%
4,000               35%
2,500               30%
1,500               25%
1,000               20%
600                  15%
300                  10%
150                  5%

Leader Depth Bonus Percentages
• Senior Coordinator – 4%
• Life Coach – 2%
• Executive Life Coach – 1%
• Double Life Coach – .75%
• Triple Life Coach – .50%
• Crown Life Coach – .25%
• Crown Ambassador Life Coach – .15%

1^st Trip Options

1. Disney World, Orlando, Florida – 4-day/3-night stay at Disney’s Beach Club Deluxe Resort. Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a New England-style Disney Deluxe Resort, shaded by broad oak trees and lapped by the gentle waters of the 25-acre Crescent Lake. This trip includes a round-trip airfare credit, Disney Park Hopper Passes, Disney dining meal plan, transportation to and from the airport, and transportation to all Disney properties and theme parks.
2. Arenal, Costa Rica – 6-day/5-night stay at the Arenal Springs Resort & Spa hotel. Perched one thousand feet above the Arenal Valley, the Arenal Springs allows for incomparable views of the Arenal volcano, the lush valley, and the surrounding towns that sparkle at night. This trip includes an airfare credit, daily breakfast, canopy tour, volcano hike, and safari boat floating.
3. Oasis of the Seas, Bahamas Cruise – 8-day/7-night balcony cabin cruise. Experience the ship that revolutionized cruising; its revolutionary and breath-taking design includes seven distinct neighborhoods tailored to create the ultimate experience of enjoyment for all passengers.2^nd Trip Options
   1. Disney World, Orlando, Florida – 6-day/5-night stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Deluxe Hotel. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a Victorian-style Disney Deluxe Resort distinguished as the flagship hotel of the Walt Disney World Resorts and offering world-class dining, entertainment, and luxurious accommodations in its six striking red-gabled buildings. This magnificent hotel sits along the white-sand shores of Seven Seas Lagoon. This trip includes a round-trip airfare credit, Disney Park Hopper Passes, Disney dining meal plan, transportation to and from the airport, and transportation to all Disney properties and theme parks.
   2. Maui, Hawaii – 5-day/4-night stay at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, which is located between two beautiful beaches with pristine white sands and endless blue water. This trip includes a round-trip airfare credit, transportation from the airport to the hotel, Lei greeting, and a helicopter tour ride.
   3. Ocho Rios, Jamaica – 5-day/4-night stay at the Beaches Boscobel, which takes advantage of its stunning seaside locale to infuse all of its accommodations with the flavor of Jamaica. This trip includes a round-trip airfare credit and access to Pirates Island Water Park. Parent magazine voted Beaches Boscobel among the Top 10 Best Beach Resorts.
   4. Celebrity Cruise – 10-day/9-night trip package, including a 7-night cruise from Seattle on the Seattle Celebrity Solstice, 3 nights at a 4-star hotel, and a Mount Rainer sightseeing trip.
   5. Princess Cruise – 10-day/9-night Alaskan cruise on the Coral Princess. This trip includes a 7-day voyage of the glaciers cruise, 1 night at Mount McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, 1 night at the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, a natural history tour, and a 1-night Fairbanks with Sternwheeler Riverboat Cruise. This cruise is perfect for witnessing all that Alaska has to offer.

“The LIFE you’ve always wanted” is finally available and all you need to do is get involved and get moving!

Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, Claude Hamilton, Tim Marks, Bill Lewis, George Guzzardo and Dan Hawkins, I want to personally thank you for having the courage to stand up for what was right and giving us all a chance to finally win in life.

So the only question left is: What are YOU waiting for?
Do more, be better

Denis Leger

Mental Fitness Challenge – The most important “workout” you’ll ever do!

It’s been almost 2 weeks since Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, Claude Hamilton and the rest of the Team’s Policy Council launched the Mental Fitness Challenge in Columbus Ohio and the feedback has been PHENOMENAL!

I know for those of you out there that are thinking “What the heck is a Mental Fitness Challenge?”, I could sum up my response as: “the most important workout you’ll ever do”.  Numerous times over the last 20 years I have made  what I thought was a resolution (moresoe like a short term spurt of motivation) to get physically back into shape.   I went out and bought the new gym membership, got some new workout clothes, bought a book or went online and found a training regimen that I thought would bring me to the promise land…but alas, different time, same results.  I had never really stopped and thought about it too long and had just chalked it up to lack of focus and lack of motivation.  However if you really think about it the key is mental fitness not physical fitness.  It wasn’t that my body couldn’t buy the right foods, or didn’t know what proper meals to choose, and it wasn’t that I physically couldn’t cook them up (well, ok, maybe the cooking part was better off being left to Lisa) it was more the mental discipline to stick to it all!  When it came to the gym, it wasn’t that I couldn’t lift the weights, it wasn’t that I wasn’t able to do the right technique, it wasn’t that I couldn’t find the gym, it was the mental discipline to make the right decisions and resolve to finish what I started…and isn’t that the way with a lot of things in our society?  There seems to be a plague going around that is causing the majority of people to be good starters but poor finishers.

Wouldn’t it be nice to see all our good ideas or resolutions come to fruition?

Wouldn’t the accomplishment of our good ideas bring a lot of value into our lives?

Wouldn’t that be the right example for our kids to see from their role models?

Well, it all boils down to your mental discipline!  But how do you develop mental discipline?  Its more then just a resolution, its about having the right tools and the right process to get you from where you are now mentally to where you would like to be going forward.  So ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the most important product launch of our lifetime:  the Mental Fitness Challenge.

I challenge you to check it out!  What do you have to lose? Nothing! What do you have to gain?  Everything!

Follow the link be low, take the self assessment test (which was a lot of fun to do!), and then make the resolution that this will not be another idea that just gathers dust and make this the first decision that will lead you to “living the life you’ve always wanted”!

Go for it! You deserve it! Check it out: Mental Fitness Challenge

Finally I’d like to thank Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, Claude Hamilton, Tim Marks, Bill Lewis, George Guzzardo and Dan Hawkins for their dedication to not only personal development and to leadership development but to their resolution to invest their time and money into helping other people fully maximize on their potential.  You are all incredible men and leaders!

Do more, be better

Denis Leger

A weekend to remember!

What a simply AMAZING weekend!!!

What could possibly better then spending a great weekend with your wife in sunny Florida?

Well, how about spending it with 13 of your greatest friends? Or slipping and sliding at a water park like a bunch of 12 year olds? Or simply hanging out in a gorgeous house with a huge pool filled with warm water, laughs and lots of fun?  Or playing “The Wedding Game” as a group and figuring out there’s more about your spouse that you need to discover and it all being giftwrapped with humour and fun (special thanks to Troy and Bonnie!) ?  Or going to an NHL hockey game in shorts and watching Coolio (yup you heard right: Coolio) at the post-game party (ok, at least the game was fun!)?  And to top it all off, getting to tour an amazing 9 acre property in a gated community, going for a ride on a 76 foot yatch and getting to absorb every drop of knowledge from top leadership minds like Claude Hamilton and Orrin Woodward…does it get any better?  I really don’t think so!

I want to take a quick moment to congratulate the leaders who worked hard to qualify for this trip:

–  Charles & Manon McIntyre – Way to lead from the front my friend, not only to qualify but to help someone on your team qualify says lots about your leadership and your potential!  This is just the beginning for you guys!

–  Jeff Lawrence & Kim Gouthro – What a spectacular run to qualify!  Talk about setting a goal and running after it! Be proud of your accomplishment guys…many great things await you two!

–  Mike & Sonia Rocheleau – To have 8 couples from your organization hit this goal speaks volumes of your leadership! Way to run right down to the wire and help your teams acheive!

–  Pierre & Lise Richard – Seemed like a big hill to climb, but all it took was a little “check up from the neck up ” and you guys got it done! You have a great team and I’m looking forward to the official “Team Name” announcement…its coming fast!

–  Paul & Lisa Elliott – I know you guys would give the majority of the credit to Joce & Cynthia Dionne for helping you guys and I know they played a role but the bottom line is that you guys went out and did the work and got it done!  Congrats to you two, keep holding on to Joce & Cynthia and they will get you where you want to go!

–  André & Dominique Degrâce:  Pierre and Lise never wavered in their belief that you guys were going to qualify and man were they ever right!  When you guys focus on something, you two are unstoppable.  I’m hoping that this weekend showed you what you are capable of…looking foward to many more trips with you!

–  Troy & Bonnie Gallant:  No trip would ever be the same without you Troy!…and Bonnie you are an absolute Saint! 🙂  When the chips were down you guys pulled through.  Troy, your talk in front of the guys on Sunday about what you had promised your son Sam was unbelievably powerful! You pulled on every heart string in that room with that talk!  I’m proud to call you guys my friends and enjoy every minute of being in business with you guys!

–  Matt & Melissa Drover:  Not only to qualify yourselves but to help people in each of your teams to qualify and see the big picture is an amazing accomplishment that you guys should be extremely proud!  Matt, I know you said you are a big man on the outside but still a small one on the inside…but let me tell you, the inside guy is definitly catching up!  You guys are on the right track and make a great team…the proof?  You crushed everybody in the ”Wedding Game”!! Congrats!!

–  Nick Mombourquette & Jessica Park:  The sweethearts of the ”Wedding Game”! Haha!  You guys got the most ”ooohhs” and ”aaaaws” and for good reason!  To be your age and getting the information and the leadership that you guys are getting is amazing.  Its great to see some young up and coming leaders be so focused and mature.  Looking forward to seeing the results of your work in the upcoming years!

–  Trent & Ann Crane:  Trent my friend, you have the energy of a 20 year old!  I don’t think anybody dominated that splash park like you did!!  It would not have been the same trip without you guys and I think my highlight of the weekend is hearing you say that the meeting with the guys and Orrin ”flipped your switch” and that you got what you came looking for!!  You guys are great people with huge hearts and I look forward to helping you guys on your leadership journey!

–  Jeff & Detry Carragher:  No doubt, future superstars in this business!  I love your competitive spirits!  It was great to see you guys pull it together as a TEAM to qualify!  PEI is going to get hit hard with a group of leaders that won’t accept the status-quo!  I can’t wait to see you guys on stage!

Finally, I want to thank 3 special couples that put this all together:

–  Joce & Cynthia Dionne:  You guys have done so many great thing for so many people that I can put them all in this article (but in a future post, I promise!).  You are the most selfless people I know and your success is only a small reflection of how well and how tirelessly you two serve your teams and have their interest at heart.  We are blessed to call you guys business partners, mentors and especially friends!

–  Claude & Lana Hamilton:  I truely believe that you guys are absolutely fearless!  Nobody can paint a vision like you guys!  There are many great teams in the LIFE business but we would never want to be on any other team but on Team Kaizen!  You stretch us, lead us, and do whatever it takes in order for us to have our victories and we appreciate everything you do for us and promise to stay the course and make you guys proud!

–  Orrin & Laurie Woodward:  No words can express our gratitude to you guys.  To do what you do to serve the entire team is incredible!  You are the true definition of leadership!  To see and witness all that you guys have accomplished but still be so down-to-earth that you are willing to invite us all to your house and take time out of your busy day and away from your family to serve us is unbelievable.  You not only accomplished to inspire, impress and excite us, but none of us left Florida the same! Thank you doesn’t even come close to what this weekend meant to us all, but it’ll have to do for now until our actions show our gratitude!

So now, back to reality, back to the cold…and still a bit of snow but ready to get back to work and help some other great people get a taste of what we got this past weekend.  Life is meant to be lived and I’ve never been more proud to do what we do…we owe it to our friends to give them the chance to taste what LIFE has to offer!

Enjoy some of the pics below!

All the best in all your endeavors!

Do more, be better!

“Freedom on sale in aisle 6…Hurry! It won’t last long!!”

Exercice #1:  take a deep breath in…

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

And, now exhale out…

Oooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuutttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

Repeat 5 times

Easy?  Of course…

Exercice #2:  find a straw….

Breath in…

Pppppppppppffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffftttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt

Breath out…

Pppppppppppssssssppppppppccccccccttttttcccchhhhhhheeeeeeeeewwwwww (with a little bit of spit mixed in)

Now repeat 5 times (if possible)

Easy? Not so much…

Imagine breathing like that for the rest of your life!

Funny how when you mess with something that comes to you naturally it makes you appreciate it all that much more.  It would be a shame to lose something so precious simply by taking it for granted!    Well folks, when it comes to freedom, our countries (for my American friends as well) are breathing through a straw.  Ignorance and apathy attitudes are taking over: “I don’t know and I don’t care” and I’m embarrassed to say that just a few short years ago I was part of this growing mass of people.  Since I never had to physically fight for my freedom I didn’t appreciate and I didn’t understand what freedom was all about and how important it was to protect it.  I heard on a cd once: “A lot of people were born on third base but believe that THEY hit a triple!” and I was definitly one of them.  Having heard a few World War II stories at school I just kind of figured that’s what they had to do at the time to save the country and that in today’s day and age, having someone wanting to go “invade” another country was old-school stuff and didn’t happen anymore.  I believed that the only way you lose your freedom is by losing a physical war.  Boy was I wrong.

Now I am far from being a history buff, nor do I deceive myself in knowing all that it takes to protect our freedom, but I can tell you that I have taken some steps in learning more about history and also taking a proactive approach to be part of the solution.  The LIFE training products and the TEAM training system that I’ve been digesting over the past 6 years have allowed me to educate myself in this obscure (for most) and seldom discussed (at least in this part of the world) topic.  I remember listening to Bob McEwen’s CD “Freedom isn’t Free” and it opening my eyes to political, financial and spiritual freedoms that I completely ignored.  I had little financial freedom which in turn made me contribute to my diminished political freedom because I never educated myself in which leaders to vote for or which party’s platforms to support hence being a major contributor of the “apathy” attitude that is sweeping the country.  We even had a political candidate get voted in during the last federal election and nobody knew who she was, she just put her name in for the party to be represented, didn’t do any campaigning, didn’t really stand for anything and was so far removed from the process that she was in Las Vegas when the results came in that she HAD WON!!  I can just imagine her acceptance speech (when she finally came back to the country) not being the most inspirational one.  This is where we are at people!

We need to stop our reliance on our governments to “take care of us”…take the reigns yourself!  You must lead your family and lead yourself to a better future.  Lets stop our reliance on government programs and get out there and contribute to our countries economic prosperities.  Educate yourself on our countries histories.  I just read the book “Flyboys” and I was appalled that I barely knew that that war had even happened.  I had heard of WWI, WWII and Pearl Harbour but that was about it.  Wasn’t aware that there had been retribution for Pearl Harbour through that horrific war with Japan; and I considered myself a pretty educated guy.  Scary!

I believe that being an entrepreneur is contributing and is part of the solution to getting our countries back on track.  I believe that the information that I am learning thru these LIFE products will enable me to fight the right fight with the right information.  I encourage you to start your history journey (if you haven’t already) and especially if you know or come across a war veteran, please don’t hesitate to thank them for their MAJOR contribution to the freedoms that we now enjoy today.  I’d encourage anybody to get their hands on the Freedom Pack available through the LIFE products and to check out Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady’s leadership blogs on a daily basis (as they are the best freedom fighters I know), that would be a great place to start!  Don’t wait until they pass you the “freedom straw” before you decide to act!  Loose your freedom and you loose everything.  Its time to step up!

Do more, be better!

Denis Leger

Time to change the old saying:

“Keep your friends close and your enemies best friends even closer”

Few things in life are more precious then a true friend.

By true friend I don’t mean your buddy that is just waiting for the first excuse to hit the local pub, or the beer league friend that you only speak to “during the season”, or the regular poker game guys just looking for a reason to get out of the house.  I mean the friend that you share your victories, your defeats, your loves, your fears, your beliefs and your dreams.  Someone that you can always count on when you need him or even when you don’t.  That friend that is always there to encourage you, give you a hand up and support you, but also there to challenge your thinking, force you to do what’s right versus what’s easy or convenient, stands up to you on occasion because he expects better of you…THAT kind of friend.  Those are the kinds of friendships that you don’t just “find”…you have to cultivate them!

In Orrin Woodward’s new book “RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions for LIFE” he dedicates all of chapter 7 (RESOLVED: “I resolve to develop the art and science of friendship”) on the subject of friendship.  In that chapter he shares how true friendships are formed:

1.  Shared insights

2. Accepts one another

3.  Approve of one another

4.  Appreciate one another

I have a few friends in my life that fit the bill of a true friend and one of them is Mike Rocheleau.  I met Mike a little over 7 years ago in Ottawa, at the time he was dating Sonia (now his wife) which happened to be Lisa’s best friend.  I’d love to say that we hit it off right off the bat but we didn’t…we were lacking the first principle: shared insights.  While I was totally enamored with sports at the time, we’ll simply say that Mike just wasn’t; however that all changed when we found mutual ground and got in business together.  Now six years after our business partnership began I’m proud to call Mike one of my very best friends and I have to admit that my eyes leaked a little this past weekend in Columbus Ohio when Mike & Sonia crossed the Team/L.I.F.E. stage as brand new Round Tables!!! Considering there are only 6 other couples in Canada that have achieved this level, this is a HUGE deal!

Now let me introduce him to you.  Mike is one of those guys that you can always count on.  He’s got a huge heart and always wants to help and serve people.  I’ve seen Mike grow into an incredible leader over the past few years.  He basically dedicated himself in becoming the best husband, father, friend and business partner possible.  The journey hasn’t always been easy but I’ve seen him have that rare perseverance and focus that few people discipline themselves to apply in their daily lives.  One of Mike’s traits that I admire is his attention to detail and his resolve to do the job at the highest level he possibly can.  This was even more evident to me during the early part of December where he helped me make this Christmas one that my daughters will never forget by building an amazing playhouse for our basement.  Numerous times it would have been easy for Mike to cut some corners in order to save some time or some effort but he was unwilling to waiver from excellence.  I’ve included some pics of the different stages of construction in order to show the dedication to excellence that this guy has, keep in mind that this thing is 7 feet tall, 10 feet wide and 4 feet deep…Mike Rocheleau either goes big or goes home!

Mike, you are a great person and a great friend and I count myself as a blessed person to have met you and be able to run after our dreams together!

Here are the pics…just try to tell me this guy doesn’t care about doing things right…I dare you!

Do more, be better!

Denis Leger

I know, I know, it just looks like a box...give him time people!!

Taking shape: Doesn't look like much...yet!

Keep in mind, Mike (here pictured on the roof) is 5'11' and 200+ pounds!

Aaaaahhh....not your parents playhouse anymore is it??

The finished product! Tell me that's not AWESOME!!

Actually THIS is the finished product!! Thanks Uncle Mike!!

Ho! Ho! Hold on!! I spent HOW MUCH this Christmas!!??

Definition – Foreshadowing:  is the presentation in a work of literature of hints and clues that tip the reader off as to what is to come later (like in January your credit card statement!!).

Definition – Insanity:  is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result.

And so I am using this blog article to foreshadow your upcoming financial insanity in hopes of breaking the cycle!  Thoughtful aren’t I? *big smile*

All kidding aside, I know this might be a last minute attempt but I thought it would be a good idea to tackle this topic before its “really” too late!  Now even though you are fully entrenched into your Christmas Shopping mindset, here’s a shocking idea: you can return stuff BEFORE the 25th!   People get into the Christmas spirit and while they were setting up their Christmas lights; advertisers and retailers were setting up their Christmas traps.  Tis the season!

Now given the current economy and the state of the common individual’s finances one would think that having a “conservative Christmas” would be the norm.  I do believe that many people start their Christmas shopping with the objective of staying “thrifty” but emotions eventually get involved and we start saying stuff like: “Well it IS Christmas…” in order to justify that extra little purchase that just seems to open the floodgates to overspending.

Gifts from the heart don’t necessarily have to come from Future Shop or Walmart.  It can come from home made items or cards, it can come from charitable acts that teach the right principles to our kids or if you absolutely have to buy them something, it can also come from kijiji! Last year, Lisa and I did our entire Christmas shopping on a$200 budget.  We called it our “Kijiji Christmas”.  Did our kids realize the difference? No.  Did the gifts have less “meaning”? No.  Did it help reduce financial stress by not adding to the problem?  Absolutely!

So I’m throwing you the LIFE jacket before you drown!! DON’T DO IT!! You CAN return the unnecessary gifts!! Set a budget (not one based on credit but based on available cash) and stick with it!  Put more thoughts rather than money behind them.  Having financial discipline and getting your family back on the right financial track will always trump short term emotional decisions.  Retailers will always come out with new reasons why to buy that extra gift:  your dog’s birthday, your kid’s first tooth, Oprah’s retirement, National Toothpick Day…who knows? They’re pretty clever!

Christmas is about giving, loving and being grateful.  It’s also about getting together with friends and family and enjoying each others company not each others presents.  Make this Christmas a great learning opportunity for your kids to see the true meaning of Christmas!  Do something for someone less fortunate, donate to a good cause, make them create something with thought behind it not dollars.  Yesterday is already gone and tomorrow is never promised, so act today! It’s not too late!

It IS in you to give…and serve!

Do more, be better!

 

Denis Leger

Ex-Longest word in Webster’s dictionary: Supercalifragisticexpialidocious; my four year old: “MOOOOOOOOoooooooooOOOOOOmmmMMMYYYyyyy”…call the Guinness people; we have a winner!

Kids.  Gotta love’em!  Screams of joy, tears, laughs, scrapes, bruises, fights, tantrums, hugs and kisses…then we have breakfast!  Becoming a parent has been one of the most wonderful things in my life and also one of the scariest.  Not scared because of the sleepless nights, daily bowel movements or stock options in Huggies, but rather because of the responsibility of guiding this life in the right direction.  Parenting is not something you necessarily apply for nor are you necessarily qualified for it when it happens.  It happens and then you have to manage.  However, success in parenting is no different then any other area of your life, simply follow the right principles and the right results will happen.  We are not perfect parents by any stretch but I can confidently say that we are educating ourselves on it on a daily basis thru our LIFE training products and thru mentorship with people like Claude & Lana Hamilton and Joce & Cynthia Dionne.  We have learnt to establish and live by certain rules and principles that we believe will allow our kids to grow up in the most loving and supportive household possible.  Some of them include:

1.  Constantly working on our relationship as a couple: Your kids care more about your relationship as a couple then their relationship with you as parents.  Nobody wants to come from a broken home and they will follow your example on how to love people and each other.

2. Never fight or raise your voice to each other in front of the kids.  Never show cracks in your relationships to your kids.   Control your emotional intelligence, agree to discuss issues at another time when the kids are not within earshot.

3.  Lead your family, back up each other’s decisions.  Do not go back on any of your spouse’s decisions.  Never de-edify them in front of your kids.  Even if the decision taken was not the one you wanted or would have chosen, back up your partner and discuss it another time.

4.  Establish rules and clearly communicate the reasonning and the repercussions if broken.  Someone needs to lead the household and your kids don’t qualify.  They don’t always need what they want and they don’t always want what they need, but that’s why you are the parent and must make those decisions and stick by them.

5.  Tell your kids how much you love them, appreciate them and are fortunate to have them in your life on a DAILY basis.  No child has ever suffered from too much love.  The old macho adage of “we don’t hug or kiss in this household” is garbage and needs to be put to the curb.  I was fortunate to grow up in a loving household however it wasn’t necessarily “cool” to say “I love you” and I promised Lisa and my kids that that habit will die with that generation.  My kids will never doubt our love because our words AND our actions will speak volumes.

Love conquers all.  No fight or misunderstanding is worth holding a grudge or acting resentfully towards one another.  Life is too short.  Learn to forgive.  Apologize first (reading The Five Languages of Apology is a great start).  Everytime I would get in a fight with Lisa and would talk to Joce he would always ask me: “Denis, do you want to be right or do you want to be rich?”  Not necessarily rich in money but rich in love, rich in relationships.  Being right is overrated, because even though you think you “won”, nobody wins an argument.  Someone must be the adult and take the first step and once you get your relationship with your spouse on the right track everything, even parenting, becomes all that much easier.

Your greatess legacy will be the kids you raise and what they stand for and represent.  Take the responsibility seriously and lead by example!

It is definitly worthy of your greatest efforts.

Do more, be better!

Denis Leger