People always ask me what it’s like to work for Dani Johnson. They say things like, "Oh, that must be the best job in the world!" or "You’re so lucky to work in that environment every day!" (And I’ll admit…it is the best job in the world, and I am super blessed to work in such an amazing environment every day.)

But, while working with Dani is an incredible blessing and it’s awesome to have the endless hours of training available to me, as well as going to lots of First Steps and Dynasty events, it’s easy to get comfortable. It’s easy to stop growing in this environment. Have you ever heard the phrase, "familiarity breeds contempt"? It’s exactly like that…

See, I started out as a client of DaniJohnson.com. I came to my first First Steps to Success event back in October 2010 in Dallas, Texas, and honestly, I was pretty skeptical. I didn’t think I was going to get anything out of it, because quite frankly, this was a business seminar, and I was not in business. Yet, here we are just over 2 years later, and my entire life is completely different.

When I came, I was broke, drowning in debt at 21 years old, I was in a job that really had no room for growth, and I had no vision or direction for my career or my life. Since going to First Steps to Success, I have paid off $18,000 of debt. I landed my dream job, and I’m making more money than I’ve ever made in my life. I’ve been able to travel more, and meet people from all over the world. I’ve even been able to spend a couple weeks with some precious orphans in Belize, and I have a purpose that is far bigger than anything I could have ever asked for, hoped for, or even imagined.

I (along with almost 900 others) just came out of Creating a Dynasty in St. Louis, Missouri a couple days ago. After 10 events, it is safe to say this one was by far the most powerful, most outrageous, most intense event I’ve ever seen or experienced.

In the time leading up to Dynasty, I knew that I needed to make some major changes, both in my professional life and in my personal life. So the Wednesday before Dynasty, I made a decision that I was going to go ALL IN for this event. I was going to go through the event as a client, and not as an employee of DaniJohnson.com. I was going to stand in line at 5:30 am (which, by the way…WOW! I have a new respect for all y’all who get in line the night before!). I was going to make a point to sit with people I didn’t know. I was going to go ‘undercover’, if you will – meaning, I wasn’t going to just come out and tell people that I work for DJC, because I didn’t want that to prevent others or myself from fully participating in the exercises.

So I just have to tell you what I experienced this weekend…

As I went through the group exercises, I discovered sooooo many areas that I need to work on and skills that I need to master. I learned more about my own strengths and weaknesses, and I learned how to better relate to people whose strengths and weaknesses are completely opposite from mine.

I saw people get it. I saw this look of, "Oooooh! I understand now!" In fact, I just happened to be looking around the room at one point, and as Dani said something so incredibly profound, one woman had a total lightbulb moment, and I could literally see it ‘click’ in her mind.

As my group discussed one of the exercises we had just finished, it was amazing to hear the level of understanding they had, as well as their plans for implementing this particular skill. One woman even said to me, "Mary, this one thing is going to transform my entire team and family."

See, many people go into events like this with a goal of what they want to get out of it. And then there are others who don’t even know what to expect, much less a specific thing they want to learn from it. But even those who went in with a goal last weekend came out with something much bigger than they could have imagined.

On Saturday afternoon, something HUGE happened. I’m telling you, it was unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It amazed me to watch what a group of business people are capable of. It had me in tears (and I don’t really do the whole crying thing…). I was completely blown away, in absolute awe of what I watched happen in front of my own eyes. I watched a group of business people pull together and raise $113,586 by raffling & auctioning off pieces of Dani’s famous cheesecake to help finish building an orphanage in Belize.

As each $1 or $100 or $1000 came in that day, I didn’t just see money… I saw the home being built. I saw people coming together for something bigger than themselves. I saw hope and vision and passion and commitment. I am in tears again, as I think about these kids who are so precious to me, and what this money means to them – a roof over their heads.

I think about the clients I have the opportunity to connect with and to just do life with. What an incredibly powerful team! I can’t tell you how proud I am of those who made this a reality. Do you realize the impact you’ve made? The influence and authority you have? The vision and determination you have? Do you realize that you will be so ridiculously blessed because of the step of faith you took? I mean, just look what can happen with a couple of cheesecakes, a room full of business people, and a vision that is bigger than all of us!

But here’s what amazes me the most about that… It was a big compilation of lots of individual efforts. Each person who gave towards that cause became part of something that is so much bigger than one person or one event or a couple of cheesecakes.

Just like this group of 289 people who paid off a collective 12.8 million dollars of debt in an average of 9 months. Not only are they impacting their own financial lives, but look at the example they are setting for the next generation and for their communities, and perhaps for others who were at Dynasty, but have not implemented War on Debt strategies yet.

I have to tell you this quick story, because my jaw almost dropped when I heard it. You’ve got to meet my new friends Lara and Alex (pictured below).

Before coming to DaniJohnson.com, Lara lacked confidence in herself, felt like she was failing as a mom and a wife, and she and her husband, Alex, were struggling in their marriage. Alex was working 60 hours a week, his business was suffering, and they had a huge mortgage payment that was suffocating them every month. Since going to First Steps to Success, they have paid off almost $500,000 of debt in 8 months. They sold their house within 2 weeks and made $200,000 on it. Alex is working less and his business has increased by 25%. Alex and Lara are happier and more in love, and they get to spend more time with their kids, doing what really matters to them.

My friend, I could tell you stories for hours. I could sit and write all night about what I witnessed and what I experienced over the weekend. I could try to explain to you the changes I saw happen in other people throughout the event, and the changes I am experiencing even today.

But if there’s anything I can tell you tonight, it’s this: Success doesn’t happen by default. It comes from a conscious decision to go all in and to do what it takes to make it happen. It comes from setting goals, making plans, and taking action.

I know that my life was changed at Creating a Dynasty last weekend. I know, based on what I learned and the action list I have sitting in front of my right now, that my finances, my career, and my life will be so drastically different at this time next year. I know that I am choosing to live my life by design instead of by default. I know that, moving forward, I am going all in for my success.

What about you? Will you go all in for your success? Will you make the decision to do what it takes to make things happen in your own life and your family’s lives?

If so, then I’ll see you at First Steps to Success in Dallas, Texas on January 26th, 27th, and 28th if you’re in a home business. (I’ll be one of the ones waiting in line at 5:30 am! 😉 )

Until next time,
Mary Howard
DaniJohnson.com