Relationships are what adds value and direction in our life. Some people will enter our lives and have a powerful influence even though our interaction may be brief… We learned important lessons from the playground and relating them to life and our Direct Selling opportunity. This, while being the last lesson that will be posted, is the genesis of the 10 Direct Selling Playground Lessons and 10 Direct Selling Strategies…
10 Lessons from the School Playground
- Direct Selling Playground Lesson #1 Acceptance
- Direct Selling Playground Lesson #2 Be Nice
- Direct Selling Playground Lesson #3 Play Nice
- Direct Selling Playground Lesson #4 Role Play
- Direct Selling Playground Lesson #5 Imagination
- Direct Selling Playground Lesson #6 Explore
- Direct Selling Playground Lesson #7 Bullies
- Direct Selling Playground Lesson #8 Friends
- Direct Selling Playground Lesson #9 Teachers
- Direct Selling Playground Lesson #10 Rainy Days
Finally… Lesson 10…
Looking through the streaks of rain rolling down the window… I gaze at an empty playground… I instinctively glance over to Danny, only to be met by his empty seat.
I can’t help but think how lonely the playground looks right now… no one laughing, no one playing, just God crying.
Memories flood back to all the fun we had, the laughs we shared, the adventures we made.
‘Danny, you did it,” I thought to myself, “…you proved all the experts wrong!… but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss you… and I will keep my promise to you… ”
*******
Direct Selling Playground Lesson #10: Rainy Days – Daring to Dream
Rain.
We all have rainy days in our life.
Days where the world doesn’t make sense… there is no fun in it… no play… just rain… the rain that confines us to staying inside.
But it can be these rainy days where things happen inside…
we clean up… giving some order to the chaos…
we sleep… giving rest and renewal to a weary spirit…
we stop and think… giving clarity and revealing purpose…
we all encounter rain…
*******
Danny’s rain started when he was diagnosed with Leukemia in 4th grade.
He was told he only had 6 months to live.
But what the doctors and ‘experts’ failed to realize, Danny had a dream bigger than his condition.
Danny was a fighter…
he made through 4th grade…
he survived 5th grade…
he lived through 6th grade…
Danny, his single mother, my mom and I traveled over 3 hours for Chemo Treatments… on a regular basis…
In the back of the station wagon, Danny and I talked about issues kids our age shouldn’t even have to think about.
During his battle with Leukemia, we promised each other, we would make a positive difference in the lives of those around us. We would live our lives to the fullest and inspire others by doing what others said couldn’t be done… Danny chose not to let his condition hold him back or have people feel sorry for him. Danny chose to show people what embracing life means… Danny taught me the power of a worthwhile dream…
Our Dreams spur us on… Our Dreams are personal… Our Dreams seem foolish to others…
You see… Danny’s dream was to be in Junior High…
I still remember Danny walking in that 1st day of Junior High with his head raised high and his “I’ll-prove-you-wrong” grin stretching ear-to-ear…
Danny proved the experts wrong… that night Danny’s rain stop… that night Danny died. Our promise didn’t.
*******
This series was inspired last time I went to my hometown… you see we are expecting our first child, so I took a literally walk down memory lane with my wife… We ended up on the playground next to a tree… a tree where Danny and I made our promise… a tree that reminded me of a promise to renew… my wife was likely unaware what had transpired in that moment. I knew my experiences wouldn’t relate to everyone… but everyone is not my audience. Rather I write to the person who is wanting more out of life… to the person who is in pursuit of something they can’t define yet keeps calling them… to the person who allowed their childhood dreams to be buried, lost in their childhood… Direct Selling is only ONE vehicle used to pursue a dream… I encourage you find what makes you come alive and pursue it with whatever vehicle works!
*******
All 10 Complete and Expanded Lessons and Strategies along with an additional 5 Lessons and Strategies will be available in an e-book version later this month.
Sign up for the Frontline Newsletter (see box to the right) to be notified of the release of the Direct Selling Lessons from the Playground- Expanded & Remixed.
I hope these lessons have helped you learn more about building stronger relationships whether you are in direct selling or not… the lessons from the playground are for everyone.
Shane says:
What a powerfully motivating factor in your life. It was very touching and inspiring for me. I want to leave a positive mark on this world too and this story helps to remind me of that.
Thanks!
Shane
Hypnosis – Change Your Thoughts and Change Your Life -.
6th May 2010 at 2:07 am
Rob Northrup says:
this is a touching story about the power of a dream and an objective. thanks for sharing it.
I also liked the comment about a rainy day being a good day to organize. I think most of us would be well served to spend at least a day every three months clearing the accumulated debris of life from our surroundings. And an hour a week as well.
6th May 2010 at 5:58 am
Eileen O'Neill says:
Mark,
Thank you for sharing such a deeply personal story and for keeping yours and Danny’s promise alive.
Eileen
ESL: A Business?
7 Ways To Use Twitter For Marketing
6th May 2010 at 8:42 am
Sonya Lenzo says:
WE all have “rainy days’ and what we do with them impacts the sunny days for better or worse.
Here is to using the rainy days to improve the rest of the day.s
Sonya Lenzo
http://www.yourchanceforromance.com
6th May 2010 at 8:55 am
Tim Van Milligan says:
That is a powerful story of a friendship. I was fortunate that all my childhood friends are still around and we continue to see each other and joke around often. But I like how you relate it to selling.
Tim Van Milligan, helping you Make Money Online, God’s Way!
6th May 2010 at 9:37 am
Steve Chambers says:
Not only daring to dream, but trying to have fun as well as we go through the journey.
Steve Chambers
Body Language Expert
6th May 2010 at 9:55 am
Dale Bell says:
Thanks for the touching story. Rainy days are a good day to think about what is ahead and how am I going to acomplish my goals.
If you are looking for a good cause to support for kids with terminal illnesses Make a Wish is great.
6th May 2010 at 10:23 am
Trisha Chambers says:
Thanks for the cry! Powerful story!
6th May 2010 at 1:46 pm
Michael D Walker says:
Powerful & touching story that put me back in touch with someone I lost a long time ago.
Thanks for opening up so much about something so personal.
Michael
The Success Secrets
6th May 2010 at 3:30 pm
Scott Sylvan Bell says:
It is easy to get caught up with our own problems and forget that we all have dreams, your dream may be bigger or smaller than mine but it is still a dream none the less.
Scott Sylvan Bell
Now go implement!
6th May 2010 at 4:51 pm
Peggy Larson says:
An encouraging story! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m one whose dream took a backseat to the complications of life. Now I am pursuing it. Thanks for this great series of posts. I have enjoyed each and every lesson from the playground.
Peggy Larson
Quilting – Colors and Fun!
6th May 2010 at 8:15 pm
Jennifer Battaglino says:
Your story is powerful and inspiring. We should grab life by the horns…and live it to the fullest. You have made your friend proud.
Jen B
The Harwood Group – Tinnitus, Chronic Illness, Fears, and Anxiety
6th May 2010 at 10:17 pm
Lisa McLellan says:
Hooray for Danny – he proved them wrong!
That was a very inspiring story. I can’t imagine losing a friend that young.
“Lessons from the playground” was a great series!
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Services, Nanny Services, and Nanny agencies
6th May 2010 at 11:20 pm
Orange County Boomer Dating Expert says:
Hi Mark,
Mother’s Day makes me cry. They are all gone and I didn’t get to be. That was another level of the grief with my husband’s death. I am very glad to hear of Danny’s triumph. Having that powerful goal to pull him forward demonstrates and amazing power of the human mind. That which we can see, we can steer our lives in that direction and aim for it. Without seeing it, it makes it harder. We don’t know and are always bumping along the way.
I must say, I am glad that while he was alive, it sounds like Danny really LIVED.
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Cyberdating Expert and Online Dating Coach
6th May 2010 at 1:38 am
michael c says:
Wow – that must have been hard to go through.
It sounds like your brother was an inspiration to you to keep fighting when things are down for you.
It’s great to hve a hero – especially when you know them personally.
Michael
http://datingguruhq.com
6th May 2010 at 11:37 pm
Michelle Mason says:
I find it interesting how different pieces of your life converge at one time, like the universe is telling you something. In the last few days, I have been bombarded with messages of “rainy days” and becoming happier through choices (not just expecting happiness and fulfillment to happen to me).
Thank you for sharing Danny’s story. By doing so, you share his perseverance and determination with us, and challenge us to live up to Danny’s example.
Michelle
Fun and Free Activities
6th May 2010 at 12:40 pm