Robert Arthur’s life embodies adventure and dedication to what he believes is his purpose and mission in helping others see and believe in their inner power and potential. He adds to that a passion to help others become aware of all of their God-given talents.

Robert grew up in the piney woods region of West Central Louisiana. Robert spent his summers hauling hay, growing and selling vegetables, spearing catfish in the area lakes as well as helping his dad with many on-going projects. He began running at 11 years of age. This started a journey that would carry him all the way to the Italian Alps a couple of decades later! Robert describes his running as, ‘feeling like he was creating a whole new path for his life, enabling him to feel liberated, like he was on a beautiful unfolding journey.” The passion of running would lead him to a State Championship in Cross-Country running.

Interesting enough, Robert’s brief foray into what is considered the traditional path for a young man would turn to be a bit rocky. Robert’s first traditional path would be College. Robert describes his two years in College as following a path laid out for him rather than a path of his own choosing. His unclear direction and purpose was obvious. He switched his Major three times in just two years. First his major was Aviation then Physical Education and lastly Forestry. Seeing the writing on the wall and the West beckoning, Robert said goodbye to the traditional path and headed out West to find his own way.

Over the next 4 years Robert worked in some of the most beautiful locations in the lower 48 states. Places like St Mary’s Lodge in Glacier Park, Montana, Sol Duc Hot Springs in Washington State, and Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky Montana. Robert wore a number of hats from Lifeguard to Breakfast Chef to Head Baker.

Robert then decided that he needed to add something to his resume that would allow some flexibility in time and also pay well. Robert researched many things but the calling of Massage Therapy would be right in line with his adventurous and contribution oriented spirit. So it was off to Salt Lake City where he began that part of his life at the Utah College of Massage Therapy. During school and for a number of years following he pursued Massage Therapy Part/Time while immersing himself in the wilderness and outdoor regions in that area. He was an Outdoor Mentor, a Nordic Ski Trail Groomer and Instructor based out of the Park City and Solitude Resort areas. He led individuals and groups in the activities of Cross-country Skiing, White-water Rafting, Rock Climbing, Backpacking, and anything else he could find to teach.

Meanwhile, he went on to pursue the healing arts with a love and dedication to his work for over 18 years. Robert had a true gift of healing and massage was his vehicle. Robert’s favorite style of massage toward the end of his 18-year journey became LaStone Therapy. La Stone Therapy is a very grounding and centering technique using ancient heated stones.

Through all of this time, running and competing had only escalated. He had gone through a period of focusing on Triathlons, yet just didn’t get fully fired up about that sport. What had captured his athletic heart was Nordic (or Cross-Country Skiing). This passion leads to an introduction to the grass roots yet International Sport of Ski-Archery. Over the next 5 years Ski Archery would lead Robert to a National Championship and Team sponsorship to travel and compete in Italy and France. What a wonderful experience to meet some wonderful people and compete at the base of the Italian and French Alps! He was living life and having a blast. Alas, the reality was that he was living paycheck to paycheck. He had to find something that would bring more financial income to him.

The Entrepreneur Bug had bit hard in Robert’s life. In fact right in the middle of Massage School he saw his Mother having success and fulfillment in impacting the lives of a multitude of women in Direct Sales. Robert was first introduced to the often mis-conceived industry of Network Marketing in 1992. He quickly fell in love with the simple and pure powerful concept of this business model. Network marketing done correctly is about creating abundance by uplifting and edifying others. In other words it is about being the Servant Leader and mentoring others to success and selfless team building.

The initial journey into free enterprise didn’t follow a smooth path! Robert experienced four network marketing companies, many hard knocks and priceless lessons. He had a couple of International successes with two of those companies and also had a couple of  lessons in what a network company should not be!

Here are four of the key lessons Robert learned that he loves to share with other entrepreneurs on this same journey:

First Company and the Lesson Learned – Robert knew in his heart any venture he was associated with had to be about genuine care, authenticity and educating potential customers and business partners.  As his newly acquired team was coming together, the top Sales Trainer for the company came and spent a few days with Robert and his team. The Sales Trainer was all about manipulation, sales techniques and getting the sale whether it was idea for the customer or not. Yikes! Robert knew in his heart this was not the route for him. Lesson number one learned, the companies core values and mission must be in line with your own.

Second Company and the Lesson Learned- This was my longest and most successful previous journey into the MLM world. It took me two long years to find my first leader. Robert finally wised up and found a couple of solid mentors and began to methodically find quality people. He then supported and trained them and built relationships. Robert went on to build an International Team and attained the coveted rank of National Marketing Director. Success does interesting things to people. Robert had a Mentor in the company that he really respected and cared for. His mentor had begun to tell Robert things about the company that were anything but positive, and that he would later learn were mostly falsehoods. There was an steady flow of calls assuring Robert if he were to depart from the company; the company waiting just around the corner would be so much better. With persuasion and coaching, Robert left his company and went with his mentor to the NEW Company. Lesson number two learned, do not listen to negativity or allow yourself to be submerged into someone else’s destructive, personal agenda.

Third Company and the Lesson Learned: As Robert went into the New Company he quickly determined he and this company were not meant for each other. Robert thought all companies were created equal. He quickly saw this was not the case. The mentor who had encouraged him to leave and come with him was misguided as well. The leader of the company had been very successful as a “distributor” in a previous venture. Robert found there was a ‘Huge’ difference between being successful as a distributor and successfully “running” a company. It did not take long to clearly see that this company and leadership were built on a very shallow and artificial foundation. Once he knew this, he quickly walked away. Their doors were closed down just a few months later! Lesson three learned, do your homework! Don’t allow someone else to lead you down a path you have not researched and looked at from all angles. Also did I mention, never make a move like this without a nice savings under your belt.

Fourth Company and Lesson Learned: Robert worked diligently and consistently for the next two and a half years. He learned a lot about Internet-based marketing and Team building. Robert built-up an International Organization, yet at the same time really had a challenge with duplication happening in his team. The product line was quality, yet it lacked what he called the “Sizzle”! Toward the end of that run, Robert phased down his Networking career to focus on his Massage Career. Robert did receive a check from this company for a number of years afterward. The lesson learned here especially during that time period when the Internet was not as explosive, was to build a local team alongside the global recruiting on the Internet.

In the middle of the above journeys he met and fell madly in love and married the love of his life, Joy! Joy had a slightly different outlook on this whole Network Marketing. She was very successful in corporate American and did not quite get this thing called Network Marketing. With some of the experiences and the ups and downs Robert had gone through, she was not thrilled at all with it. After the fourth venture Robert had been through, he decided to step fully into the J.O.B. experience.  Robert and Joy even went to the extreme of having a “Bonfire” of all of their Network Marketing materials. Yes, Robert lost some valuable contacts and great tools in that fire! Talk about a Cleansing!

Finally Home:  To bring this story to a close, several years after the bonfire occurred Joy found a product that helped her lose her unwanted weight and regain energy in a short period of time. Working so many long hours had taken its toll on her. As she signed up with the company, Isagenix, she made it clear to everyone! Do not call Robert! Do not call Joy! She only wanted to take the product. Well something magical happened. Everyone around began to notice how she felt and looked, so she did what any good wife would do, she asks for help! Robert also had a powerful shift from a chronic illness to health, as well as adding several pounds of lean muscle to his frame. He did his due diligence and  quickly saw the power of what was in their hands. He knew this was the company they could both align their hearts and mission with. He went into this company with a burning passion to be successful. He wanted to help as many people as possible transform their health and build residual income.

Robert and his wife whom he calls sweetie are now happily and whole-heartedly aligned with an organization and company that embodies integrity and authentic leadership. Joy had her “Freedom Day” August 2007 and is now fully on board with the same dream as Robert. It only took him 12 years to recruit his life and now business partner into this heart-based industry.  Their business has taken them from Australia, to the rolling hills of Tennessee, the Arctic Regions of Northwest Canada and soon into the exotic lands of Asia. They have a wonderful Success Team of over 14,000+ Associates strong and growing around the globe! They both feel that everything they have done in life and business has prepared them for the global journey they are now own.

Helping and mentoring others to mesh their mission and purpose with this amazing financial vehicle we call Network Marketing is such a gift and a blessing to be able to share! And if asked whether the crazy adventures through the years were worth it? They will happily tell you a resounding “YES”! Last lesson learned, is that the years of Learning, Building and Commitment does pay dividends. It is worth the wait.