How many people have you pre-judged today? Be honest with yourself. We are all guilty of this, probably every day in some form or another. We are constantly making judgments about the people we interact with – the waitress from lunch, the man beside you on the plane, perhaps a neighbor. In fact, most people form an instant impression about someone within the first 30 seconds of seeing or meeting them. These impressions aren’t based on fact, but instead on past experiences with other individuals we perceive to be similar to the people we are pre-judging. It seems harmless right? We are simply making some innocent assumptions about people we don’t know. Well the fact of the matter is, in our business pre-judging people can be detrimental to your business – and ultimately your success.
In fact, had the other Co-Founders and I been pre-judged almost 20 years ago, ACN might not be around today. See when we started ACN, we all had some previous personal successes – but even more personal failures. There was no good reason for our friends and family to think ACN was going to be successful; there was no good reason for people to want to help us build the company back in the beginning. There were no success stories for us to speak of, no track record, no history… nothing. Those handful of individuals who put their faith in us set aside their pre-judgments and followed us with the blind faith of a child.
We all learned early on not to judge a book by its cover; after all, you can’t possibly know whether it’s good or not until you’ve at least committed to reading a few pages of it. But of course we all still do it. In fact, I know people who pick out wine based on how “pretty” the label is. The label has absolutely no baring on how good or bad the wine is going to be; yet this is their sole system for determining what to purchase. Doesn’t seem like a very reliable system does it? The truth is, there is no system, no test that can predict what someone is capable of.
Think about SVP and COC Debbie Davis. She was a stay at home mom who never had a full time career or prior business success. She would probably be considered rather unlikely to succeed on paper, but today, and for ACN’s entire 20-year history, she has been at the top of ACN’s production charts, living a lifestyle beyond most people’s wildest dreams. Imagine if you had pre-judged Debbie. What about newly promoted RVP, 21-year-old Marc Isaac? Marc was a waiter who wasn’t even 20 years old when he learned about ACN. Think about how many people probably passed him over – not able to take someone seriously who was so young. Yet today he is a rising superstar in ACN. Imagine if you had pre-judged Marc. I bet that will make you think twice about not approaching your waiter with the ACN Opportunity!
There are countless stories like this in ACN. In fact, that is what makes ACN so great! It doesn’t matter where you came from or what your past is, anyone can be successful in ACN. It’s one of the few environments in the world where there is truly a level playing field – where your past doesn’t determine your present or more importantly, your future for that matter. Yet human nature creeps in and we fall victim to pre-judging.
The reality is that most people have never been given a chance to control their own future – so there is no way for us possibly to know how they would react in the event they were. See it doesn’t matter where you are coming from, it matters where you are going – and the sacrifices you are willing to make to get there. Many times you have to climb over your history to reach your destiny. In fact, I can guarantee you that nine times out of 10, that “hot shot” you met probably won’t live up to the hype. The most successful people often start out as the most unassuming.
So next time you pass over talking to your neighbor about ACN because they have a big, beautiful house and you blindly assumed they were financially set, remember that their house just might be facing foreclosure. You don’t know what people’s circumstances are until you have walked in their shoes – or at the very least, taken some time to get to know them. And if you are going to judge someone, let it be off your personal interactions with them alone…and absolutely nothing else.
My challenge for you is this: Challenge the assumptions you have of people, because as I once read, “Your assumptions are the windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile or the light won’t come in”. Don’t let the gunk on your windows stand in the way of light getting through to your business.
Until next time,
Greg
Words of wisdom! Thanks, Greg!
I thank God everyday that somebody did not PRE-JUDGED me when I was approached about ACN when I was pushing carts in Walgreens as a young guy just came from the Philippines but I was PRE-JUDGED that I will never make it lol . I haven’t seen my sponsor ever since I signed up the application…He thought that I will QUIT but little that he knows, I NEVER DID and I had a GIANT within me that was ready to be UNLEASHED
My other upline leader supposed to be went to another company and ever since he left ACN, He already jumped around over 10 MLM companies for the last 14 years but never had significant success. If he did just stuck with me with ACN & didn’t PRE-JUDGED me. He will be overriding THOUSANDS of CUSTOMERS & one of the fastest growing team in ACN with future SVP and multiple future RVPS. Folks, Big LESSON here…Hang on to your soldiers in your team. One DAY, they will SNAP and BECOME your SUPERSTARS!!! Best Regards 
A lesson we all know, but definitely need to hear over and over again!! Thank you Mr. Provenzano
Thank you for the encouragement of the day Mr. Provenzano. It has still been a struggle here for a while. A lot of negative people where I am, but, in a way, I like it, because the way i see it is, if I have to go through 1000 negative people to find that 1 superstar, then it is worth it.
I Thank God for this Company named ACN and I thank you Greg and the rest of the co-founders of ACN.
God lead me to this company, my story is that I quit my banking job six years ago to take care of my MOM who had a stroke and needed skilled home care. I became a CNA just to learn how to take care of her, work in a hospital so I could experienced the same kind of patient who had dementia, just to understand my mother why is she not responding right. You know my Mom did not even know me and everyone else in the family, more so did not know that I quit my job which I like doing to take care of her. But just as John Maxwell said that we could not pay back any amount of money for the life she give to us while we live in our mother’s womb for nine months. Thank You John, for your great lessons that you share during my first convention at ACN held in Charlotte, North Carolina, Sept. 29 to 30, 2012.
What I was worried about was that we have not save a single penny for our two ( ages 7 and 9) children’s college. My prayers to God, to lead me to a company that would help me save for our children’s future. I Thank Amalia McConnell and Dr. Eric Mitchell for introducing me to ACN. TEAM VISION TO ACTION TEAM.
Once again, I say THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I THANK GOD FOR ACN.
GOD BLESS US ALL!
i have been with acn nearly five month i have 20 points and no ibos. the thing i do is listen i read and and do what i am told mostly personal growth training. i do understand why reading things like gregs message and the training lift me up when my little voice tells me i cant do this everyone is right thats why they smile when they ask how much money are you making i tell them i have learned more in 5 months than the rest of my life and they still smile. but to the people that have had good results in acn it must be a good feeling wiping those smiles off all those faces. see you at the top
Just started with ACN little more than a year ago. My sister is my sponsor. She has been in the business forever without any progress. Today I am still thankful to her for not quitting. Somehow I thought if she believes in ACN that much to be called a LOOSER by family, friends and even ACN collegues, then their must be something very special about this company. So 2 years ago I went.along to Germany and got the big picture. I joined to prove to her that it could be done. Today after two more conventions I am a firm believer in the concept,and vision. We do not have uplines around and our upline SVP WILL NOT HELP. Still we press on and someday we will show those who think us to be Loosers that they were wrong. I love the blogs because I get power when reading them. God bless and see you at the TOP!!
Incredible inspiring words to hang on to! NEVER GIVE UP no matter how long it
takes to achieve the goals you have and the DREAMS you have to fulfill! Thank you Mr. Provenzano for your encouragement to all of us!
Please translate in Italian language! Thank you very much!
1. Copy and paste text to Google Translate.
2. Choose your language you want to translate to. (Italian i your case)
3. click on the button:- translate- presto.
Just a helpful tip.
Thank you Mr. Provenzano.
I have been in the company for a year and I have only 16 points and my 2 legs., each with seven points I am working hard but., it is not only about working hard., it takes a lot of GROWING …………….in every way., but what i got in mind CONTINUE and get to the top. I am 47 and still learning……..Thank you Co-founders, all ACN family. Love you all.
I was a 19 year old, D average, college student, bagging groceries at your local supermarket when I saw ACN. Today I’m a Team Coordinator. I remind myself daily of who I was and it encourage me to talk to everyone.
The biggest paycut we can take in this business I believe is prejudging people. My motto is “Give everyone the opportunity to say NO!”
Thank You Mr. Provenzano for this power article!
Mr. Provenzano, I was JUST thinking about this… going through who all to invite and who just to ask for services from… Such perfect timing.
Chris, wow. Your story has helped me even more. I’m adopting and writing your motto on my wall, thank you for sharing Chris!
Next week is my 2nd week in the business, hoping the next BOM goes well for me, and I’ll just keep inviting until I have a small team to help.
Thank you for this post Mr. Pro!
Dear Mr. Provanzano great words from a wise man. You are right on target we all prejudge people we meet and yes! it will keep you from success in the ACN Business. My up line and RVP told me these exact words and I make an effort each day not to prejudge anyone as difficult as it is sometimes. I am close to 50 points and have had a very slow start when it comes to signing up IBO’s in the last 11 months but I am not going to let my start dictate my finish. Thank’s for your great leadership. Sincerely Zoltan N. Kraynik IBO NOR/CAL
Mr Provanzano have given us the determination to talk to everyone. But, we must look important. Your apprearance talks to others. Make certain it says, “Here is an important person: intelligent, prosperous, and dependable.” Quote is from the book, The Magic of Thinking Big by David J Schwartz. Read daily! Before joining ACN I never read positive, inspiring books.
WE have all done this and probably still do. WE need to keep growing personally all the time to change this thinking habit. This si done by the compound effect. It takes time but we can all do it. Like Darren says what is easy to do is easy not to do.
Thank you r. Provanzano.