In times of war, a breakthrough occurs when one line of defense is broken and armies pour through the broken defenses. Sometimes knowing your weaknesses is the only way to realize and apply your strengths in life.



These are confessions of a network marketing junky that has to do with a life of little commitment, discipline or responsibility. When knowing the truth about yourself you will be set free to change.

Back some 55 years ago I learned a little bit of discipline with a stint in the US Air Force. So let me think back to see how some of the things that I did in life affect me today and thus know how I must correct some serious issues now. The only way to bring about positive change is to know the negatives first.

The personality that you will see here can only be described as selfish, non-giving and might I say spoiled at least according to my 92 year old aunt who recently commented that both my big brother and I were both spoiled. I think she was being diplomatic because I believe I was the only spoiled one.

What was your high school life like? Were you popular, in the "in-crowd", and generally happy? If not, ask yourself this question: "How did I rate my self back then?"

I was frequently picked-on by other kids especially in grade school and junior high, and that didn't help think better of my self. I recall the fear that I lived with when some bully would threaten to beat me up after school. They never did, but I still recall the fear and tried to avoid them. I think that movie, "The Christmas Story" had me in mind.

Later in high school I thought I was a "C". The popular kids I rated as "A" and they would be the cheerleaders and the football team. I went out for football and quit because I got a part-time job to support my hobbies. In the Spring I tried baseball too, and quit because it interfered with work. Besides who wanted to be a catcher? I wanted the outfield. Yet I still wanted to be accepted by the "A" people, but that wouldn't work because I began to realize that I was just a "C". So I resigned myself to a life of "C" average or below. After all it was acceptable and good enough for me to be sincere and good looking even if I was a "C", so I thought.

Don't get me wrong the jobs paid off and I had some of the nicest cars in high school, some wonderful hobbies, but only one or two friends. I guess hobbies became an escape from getting good marks and being accepted. If I didn't like a teacher or a subject, failing was justified in my mine. All my life, teachers would say, "Howard has the ability, but he just will not apply himself". So I didn't!

Then just before graduating (with great struggle) I thought it would be cool to fly F86 Super Saber jets. In 1954 the Korean War was winding down, but there was still a draft. I signed-up for 4 days of physical and mental testing to become an Air Force pilot. Much to my amazement I passed. I was a qualified Air Cadet.

This was a real boost to my lack of confidence. Before entering the Air Force I visited the high school one last time and happened to see my IQ scores. To this day the number I saw was 134, and knowing this did not seem to help.

I waited for training classes to begin, but had to enter the regular Air Force to avoid the draft because new classes were delayed. After some basic training where I learned some discipline, I QUIT before my air cadet training began. No commitment here because I wanted to get an early out for College and to marry my high school sweet heart. At least that was what I told myself. Maybe I just didn't like the Air Force, however, what with all the discipline and having to take orders.

I often wondered what my life would be like had I learned to fly F86's and didn't quit: Would I be dead now because I plowed into a Nevada mountain or would I have become a successful commercial airline pilot with a 6 figure income? I'll never know will I? But then again, regardless of what you do in life without commitment and discipline there is no success. The truth is I probably would have quit before either occurred.

Anyway everything wasn't all bad in life. My big brother seems to have done most of my rearing. Mom seemed to have such a struggle with me. A good thing was snow skiing. During my early teens and throughout high school he would take me with him skiing. In College I skied as much as I could afford. Later from 1970 until 1994 I taught skiing every Winter at only 2 mountains in NJ and NH (longest part-time jobs I ever held).

College and skiing became my first taste of commitment and later the discipline to practice and become a certified instructor. By the end of the 80's, I received my certification with the Professional Ski Instructor Association of America. All my children can ski quite well today and I loved teaching skiing.

I never married my high school sweet heart because I got a "dear-john" letter while in Air Force basic training. That was a big downer. But I did manage an enjoyable 4 years in college and got my Bachelors of Science in Business Administration.

My single life was then made up of two goals: Keep a fun job, and fine a woman. I was thirty-one when I married and had 5 jobs in 5 years by then. I either QUIT or was fired. I think the longest job I ever held was two years as a systems analyst. In 1970, I was fired for the last time and became self-employed. My wife who I loved very much, so I thought, found another guy and broke my heart with a divorce after ten years. This was not good and the sad part was I didn't have any answers for what was wrong with me or the marriage. I was devastated.

I didn't know then that I was un-committed, insecure, un-disciplined and unable to make a living. Call it denial, call it selfish, but whatever was wrong I couldn't fix it. And selling life insurance by pounding on peoples kitchen tables to buy now was a huge mistake. But even out of that I obtained my General Property and Casualty Insurance license and became the VP of my own Insurance Agency. Self-employment was the way to go.

So today, as a retired CEO, and a network marketing junky what does a guy have to do to find financial success in life. I spent or invested all the money that I received from the two businesses that I sold, and today it's all gone. You know you can have all the faith in the world, but if you do not do what you are supposed to do in life, you will fail. Today, I can honestly say that when it comes to finances, I'm a loser. It's like admitting that you are an alcoholic. Maybe I'll setup a loser's anonymous.

I'm not a loser when it comes to my three children, however. They are indeed hard working, disciplined, and committed members of society. They make me very proud. But financially, "Hi, my name is Howard Brooks, and I'm a loser."

As you can see, over the years money and how to treat it, earn it, and keep it has been my downfall due to a lack of commitment and discipline with selfish tendencies of a higher degree than most.

But, you know this network marketing business is the answer for me and others who have struggled through life in perhaps much the same ways. No other business opportunity can offer you the advantage to honestly and truly know who you are, and to create wonderful forces within you. These forces will make a difference for your love ones, for generations to come, and for others that you help.

Set your vision and lock that vision into a great cause like helping the world be a better place through network marketing. The commitment and discipline required is changing me and my breakthrough is about to happen. Are you ready to change and receive your breakthrough as well? As you "get over your self", who can you help today?

Do things you do, even though you don't want to do them, and "get r done". Stay committed, take heart, have courage, keep it simple, and you too will soon see your dreams a reality. Do you believe it?

My mother always told me I'd be a late bloomer...She was right.