Chris Carley - The Power Within You: Learn to Create a Happy, Healthy, Profitable Life

Thanks to my little sister Becky and Mom for taking care of me when life got rough, instilling in me the Power of God and always cheering me on.

And thanks to the other men in my life who taught me so much: Jim Rohn, Donald Trump and my dear Grandfathers Floyd Carley SR. and Dean Holgate who gave me my values and strong work ethics. Thank you to my fifth and sixth grade teachers at Chinook Elementary in Auburn, WA; Mr. Kurt Aust and Mr. Rollins for loving all my short stories, encouraging me to keep writing and believing in me. A big thanks to Don Dedo for introducing me to my book team at OnFire Books.

Last but never, ever least, thank you Bob Anderson for motivating me to write my lead book and first package system that helped so many make 6 figure incomes in their first year of utilizing your and Joe Flahertys ideas, allowing me to make my first million so quickly and over 20 million to date. You are truly one in a million.

A lot of people look at the success Ive had in the network marketing industry and think it came from nowhere. For years I struggled unsuccessfully in business endeavors that didnt work, because I wasnt tapped into the Universal Intelligence that directs us all, if we let it. All my life, everyone I knew was on the brink of financial ruin, working hard, long hours for big corporations that would lay our breadwinners off, or cause hardship through months of striking without pay. Fear and uncertainty were with us at all times.

When I was younger, my parents moved us out on a farm that wasnt anything fancy, but it was a far cry from the city life I knew. It was also the first place I began to exercise my entrepreneurial creativity.

At least two hours, twice a week, plus anytime I was in trouble and sentenced to my room for doing something I wasnt supposed to, I dreamed of ways to make money so my father wouldnt have to work so hard and could be with us more often. One of those weeks I took all of my savings, from mowing the lawn to picking berries during the summer, to invest in one little expensive vial of pure cinnamon oil. I took the oil and soaked toothpicks it, making cinnamon toothpicks, which was all the craze. I ended up selling them at school for a penny a piece.

I did so well that 20 to 30 kids were sucking on them at recess. Thirty cents may not be a big deal now, but it was the world to me, and I could feel I was on to something. That same day some of the teachers took notice. They began to worry that someone might fall and choke on one. Im not sure who it was, but one my classmates ratted me out to my teacher, and I promptly found myself sitting in the principals office.

In my family, being sent to the principals office meant double punishment. My legs were shaking and my face was bright red as I stumbled into his office. I knew that the next thing that was going to happen was a call to my parents, and I hated the thought of disappointing them. That was the first day I learned about the challenges of being a creative self-starter. When you think differently, not everyone is going to support you. I was an entrepreneur at heart, but it didnt mean there werent going to be obstacles in the way.

The principal sat me down, paused, and looked at me for a moment. Then he spoke. Christine, I am proud of your business skills, but the teachers are worried the kids will get hurt with the toothpicks. Would you please stop selling them at school.

Relief spread across my chest. I nodded yes and quickly got out of there. I still needed to figure out how to make money though. Throughout my life I embarked on this quest to make things happen. It all stemmed from my early child hood experiences watching my parents manage their own life, family, and finances.

The next project was buying a calf for 4-H. Attending the meetings at my friends homes was embarrassing. They all had top-bred, prize-winning animals, and I had nothing. My parents told me I could join, but they werent buying me any kind of animal until I proved that I was committed to the 4-H cause.

So every month I would attend the 4-H meetings mortified. I would stand there, pretending I had a calf. As the others were shown how to clean the hooves and ears of their calves, I would listen intently and go through the motions on my pretend calf. While they were being taught the general care of their steers and heifers, I could see some of the kids making fun of me. A few even turned the garden hose on me to irritate me. Nevertheless, I was determined.

The chance to redeem myself came in the form of nuts, bags and bags of walnuts. 4-H was having a fund-raising drive to benefit the local fair. All of the members had to sell bags of walnuts, even the ones with calves. I was born competitive, and although I wasnt excited about selling walnuts, I pictured myself selling the most.

I wanted to win the contest, so I began by asking my mom if she needed any walnuts for her brownies or cookies. Half expecting her to say no, I told her what the walnuts price per pound was. I had never seen my mom so enthusiastic. On the spot she bought all of my bags of walnuts. Then she asked me if I could get more. I grinned. In that moment I felt like I had a chance at winning.

The next day she drove me back to the farm of our 4-H leader. The woman looked amazed that I had sold everything and already needed more. Handing her the cash, I asked for double the amount this time. Her words shook my confidence. Are you sure? Youre awful little to be handling so many walnuts.

My face burned bright red, and I just stood there staring at her, saying nothing.

How bout we give you just a couple pounds again and see how you do.

After standing there, looking at the ground, I just nodded, took what she gave me, and headed back to the car.

Mom saw the look on my face, the small bag of walnuts, and said, You go back in there and tell her you need more.

I did. She wouldnt give them to me. She said I was too little.

Come on. Mom, in her bathrobe and slippers, marched across the wet grass toward the barn. I ran behind. I was so happy to have my mom sticking up for me.

The 4-H leaders farm was nothing like ours. Everything shone new in the morning sun. Her fence was perfect and bright white, which matched the barns trim, and $10,000 prize bulls and award-winning Black Angus cattle munched on expensive hay. The bulls and cattle lazily turned their heads to look at us with curious eyes.

My mom approached the 4-H leader, who was now brushing down a nervous pure-blood race horse, and said, Excuse me. I just took the time to drive my daughter over here so she could get more walnuts to sell.

Shocked by my moms irritation, the 4-H leader stopped brushing the horse and turned to my mom. Before she could say anything, Mom said, You dont know my daughter, but I do, and she would like thirty more pounds of walnuts please.

Sure. The lady smiled. Theres no bringing them back, you know.

Finally, my anger at her snide remarked allowed me to stick up for myself. Have any of the other kids sold all their walnuts you gave us last night? I asked.

Well, no, but Im sure Seeing the determination in me, she handed over the 30 pounds of walnuts to me. I carried them all to the car, staggering under the weight.

She cant even lift them! The woman pointed out to my mom.

Ignoring the woman, Mom marched back to the car, head down, dodging manure land mines. You have to understand what you have here. Good walnuts are hard to come by, and every mother or wife is baking cookies, pies, browniesall kinds of thingsthis summer.

Eager, I opened the glove compartment, got some paper out, and found an old pen and started to add to Moms list of all the things walnuts could be used for: banana bread, fudge, salads, ice cream, cereal, carrot cake. Then I made a list of everyone I knew who might want to buy walnuts from me. Living out of town on a farm with only a few neighbors was not going to slow me down.