ACN was founded on one basic principle – give people the power to turn their dreams into reality. The system created by the Founders for helping individuals accomplish their dreams was equally simple, providing everyone the power to build a successful future from day one. As uncomplicated as this "blueprint for success" is, it has been proven effective time and time again for representatives around the world. I cannot stress enough the importance of following the established system while building your ACN business. Let me share a story with you that shows why this blueprint for success is so vitally important to your future and the future of representatives everywhere. After a long successful career of building houses, a dedicated contractor decided it was time to retire. Certainly he would miss the satisfaction of the work, but the years of labor had taken their toll and he was ready to enjoy some much-deserved rest. The carpenter’s employer was obviously disheartened to see one of his most experienced workers go and asked him if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed – but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. Distracted by thoughts of retirement, he resorted to shoddy workmanship, used inferior materials, ignored the blueprints and took shortcuts to hurry the work’s completion. When his employer arrived to inspect the house, he did not critique the construction or point out flaws in the work. Instead he simply handed the carpenter the key to the front door and said, "This is your house now, a parting gift to one of my finest employees." The carpenter was shocked by the gesture, and ashamed by his poor work. If only he had known that the house he was building was his own, he would have done it all so differently. So it often is with ACN representatives – as businesses are built day after day, some representatives will put less than their best into the building. Then with a shock they will realize that they now must live in the house they have created. If only they could do it all over, they would use only the finest materials, pay attention to the smallest details, and most importantly, follow the blueprints. As the carpenter of your ACN business, it is your job to construct the lifestyle you want to live, but you do not build alone. ACN stands behind the work of every representative, providing you with the finest tools, best bricks and simplest blueprints for designing a future of unlimited potential. It is also your job to stay true to the ACN vision, to follow the steps laid out for you and not resort to shortcuts as you build your business. Shortcuts may bring the illusion of quick success, but as with the carpenter who must live in his poorly built house, they will lead to long-term disappointment. This is especially important today, as less scrupulous companies throw their hats into the arena of deregulation, provoking the FCC to monitor the practices of new enterprises even more closely. Now more than ever, it is critical for each representative to follow the one tried-and-true method that has brought success for countless generations of representatives. Simply skipping over a step while filling out an LOA or signing a customer’s name for them can lead to disastrous results. There is only one way to build your business – if you’re not doing it the right way, then it’s the wrong way. There is no middle ground – those who try to get around the system only put their own opportunity – as well as that for others – in jeopardy. One misplaced brick can bring down the entire building. But if you follow the simple ACN blueprint with the heart and mind and fortitude of a winner, the future of your wildest dreams is well within your grasp. Your attitude and the choices you make today will build the "house" you live in tomorrow. Now more than ever, you are the carpenter of your own destiny – build wisely