PRESENTS
Cofounders Dr. Josephine Gross Chris Gross Publisher Bob Proctor Publisher Emeritus Frank J. Keefer Founding Editor John Milton Fogg Consulting Editor John David Mann Editor in Chief Dr. Josephine Gross Creative Director Yan Z. Hughes Contributing Writers Troy Dooly
Hippocrates the Founder of Modern Medicine said “all disease begins in the gut.” Amplify your body’s natural defense system
Chief Executive Officer Chris Gross Chief Technology Officer Brad Morrison Controller Yan Teng Board of Directors Michael Cunningham Chris Gross (Chairman) Dr. Josephine Gross Glenn Head Don Karn Bob Proctor Networking Times is published by Gabriel Media Group, Inc. Copyright © 2019 Gabriel Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
www.networkingtimes.com Toll Free: 866-343-4005 Int’l: 818-727-2000
editors@networkingtimes.com
Health and wellness begins in the gut. This core area known as the Microbiome is where trillions of microorganisms reside. An imbalance, or Dysbiosis in this area threatens long-term
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health and is a common denominator in almost every know human malady.† An effective
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way to combat this condition is the use of a natural extract called Nucleotides which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA. Coupled with the appropriate Probiotics, a rebalance occures resulting in optimal health.†
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• N
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• SO
• D † These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Global Prosperity through a Philanthropic Economy® Gabriel Media Group, Inc.
www
CONTENTS 5
PERSPECTIVES
LEADOFF The Great Reset
Dr. Josephine Gross We need companies that are vision- and value-led, adapt quickly, and are unafraid to play with the boundaries and reinvent the rules.
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Reforming the Healthcare System
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
Doctors Are Teachers Dr. Eric Nepute
Dr. Michael Epitropoulos
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Gut Health Is the Key Babette Teno, Functional Nutritionist
COVER STORY A Love Story Is Born
Robert & Laura Oblon are cofounders of a lifestyle company that’s on track to become a global leader in direct selling. Robert’s newest company, AmpLIFEi International™, combines the efficiency of online retail with the benefits of residual income. As Cofounder & President, Laura brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her first-time role as a top executive of a direct selling company. When Robert met Laura …
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DIRECT SALES Marketing in the Post-Truth Era
Troy Dooly Unlike many other business channels, network marketing, aka MLM, has been slow to change and adapt to the Post-Truth Era where consumers no longer know who to trust. In contrast, Robert Oblon developed a business model that focuses on solving the customer’s needs by providing products that deliver a unique experience with noticeable results.
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1
14 - MICHAEL & SHELLEY GARCIA
Plano, Texas
28 - TONEY & KELLY FREEMAN Atlanta Georgia
56 - ANDREA RANDALL MENDOZA
Victoria, Texas
74 - COLLEEN BRENNAN-DEAN Sarasota, Florida
PROFILES
18 - WEST & LORI BENSON
24 - COLT & CINDY SUMMERS
34 - ENRIQUE OLAZABAL &
54 - REX & SHERRY RUST
Laurel, Mississippi
NANCY OHANIAN Houston, Texas
Glendale, Arizona
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
58 - LINDSEY BUBOLTZ
60 - MICHELLE MEREDITH
76 - DOUG KELLEY & SUMMER
78 - TRESA BASEY & GREG
Eagle, Idaho
Greenwood, Indiana
Omaha, Nebraska
EDMUNSON
Centennial, Colorado
SNYDER
CONTENTS
PROFILES
62 EXECUTIVE TEAM
Larry Cantrell President & COO of HAPInss Brands™
Amber-Lynn Cantrell Director of Compliance HAPInss Brands™
Brad Morrison Chief Technology Officer – AmpLIFEi™ International
Ashly Henson Customer Support – AmpLIFEi™ International
66 RISING STARS Chrissy Anglin Valerie Boone Jennifer Bradshaw Keith & Bev Campbell
Sandy Day Tiffany Drake Carey Graf Marie Moore
Misty Reynolds Courtney Sibley Ryane Siegel Tiffany Six
Samantha Gatt Wallace Nancy Willette Theresa Wilson Bill & Khris Ziemke
PERSPECTIVES 80
THE CLOSE On the Fertile Edge of Chaos
Chris Gross Let’s be prepared for the changes that will naturally occur when systems reach capacity and need drastic revision to release pressure.
Income Disclaimer:
The success stories in this issue feature extraordinary leaders and do not portray the typical results of the average network marketing professional. Everyone’s results in network marketing will vary, but basically it takes consistent work to make a substantial income in this profession. Many people make little or no money at all. Earnings are dependent on—but not limited to—skills, effort, commitment, leadership capabilities, and market conditions. Common sense suggests that in most opportunities, one would find exceptional individuals performing well above average. Choosing a particular network marketing company does not guarantee any level of income or success.
SCIENCE
GEducation rassroots
Reforming the Healthcare A wareness System through
Action
6
By Dr. Josephine Gross Networking Times
Dr. Michael Epitropoulos Chief Science Officer
D
r. Michael Epitropoulos is a chiropractor and Doctor in Applied Clinical Nutrition who has practiced natural medicine for over 30 years. He taught clinical nutrition at colleges in Michigan and Florida. He has been a contributor to two books and several healthcare publications and hosted popular radio shows. He currently operates a natural medicine practice in Ormond Beach, Florida. He is the founder of Doctors Natural Health Solutions, an educational resource center and specialty nutraceutical company with worldwide distribution.
How did you get connected with Robert the inside out… specializing in gut health! Robert Oblon’s wellness company? had been looking for a product that would work I was contacted by a longtime friend, Larry Cantrell, a visionary in network marketing, and the CEO and founder of two network marketing wellness companies. In 2005, Larry invited me to serve on the Scientific Advisory Board of a company he owned. We became friends, then lost touch for a while. In the meantime, I had been working on nucleotide technology, which originally came from Switzerland. This technology is revolutionary in its ability to heal the body in multiple situations. When Larry and I reconnected, I shared with him how I had become a specialist in this revolutionary technology. Larry introduced me to Robert who had established a lifestyle company focused on helping people amplify health and happiness from
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synergistically with the proprietary flagship product that the company already had. When Robert and I met, we discussed the company’s mission, vision, values, and products at length and agreed that it was “a marriage made in heaven.” We became partners and shortly thereafter, Robert invited me to serve as the Chief Science Officer for his company.
When you heard it was network marketing, how did you respond?
I was elated! Network marketing is an exceptional distribution model to magnify a marketing message exponentially from individual to individual. With all the different nutrition products out there and the different kinds of marketing, it’s not easy to get people’s attention. In my experience, network
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Doctors Are
Te a c h e r s Dr. Eric Nepute
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r. Eric Nepute has been in practice for almost 20 years. He runs some of the largest healthcare facilities in the US, and some of the largest wellness centers in the world. He also owns several surgical centers, a nutritional manufacturing plant, and laboratory space. He recently partnered with Robert Oblon to better educate people and provide them with products that help them heal at a cellular level. 10
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Babette Teno
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s a functional nutritionist, I’ve always been focused on helping people heal from the inside out. When I met Robert Oblon and his partner, Laura Harte, and I learned about their company’s mission and vision, I immediately felt aligned with their values and leadership. I resonated with their commUnity and committed myself to their success. When I heard the focus of the company was gut health, I became even more excited. Over 90% of the population has leaky gut to some degree, and healing the gut is the key to helping people attain op• To help the company’s brand become a housetimal health. As a functional nutritionist, hold name by creating strategic partnerships functional medicine and blood chemistry • To coordinate speaking engagements, media consultant, and invisible illness coach, I’ve interviews, and public relations opportunities specialized in helping people with autoim• To collaborate with entrepreneurs, global mune conditions, cancer, and eating disorthought leaders, and respected healthcare professionals to help more people more quickly. ders for over 20 years. Few people know that leaky gut affects the whole body: the brain (depression, anxiety, ADHD), adrenals (fatigue), joints (rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, headaches), thyroid (Hashimoto’s, hypothyroidism, Graves), colon (constipation, diarrhea, IBD, IBS), skin (acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis), sinus & mouth (frequent colds, food sensitivities) and it is correlated with a significant number of other issues and diseases. Over 30 years ago I promised my dad as he lay on his deathbed that I would continue my education and help as many people as possible. Through aligning with the company Robert Oblon and his partner, Laura Harte, are building, I’m keeping my promise to help millions of people, because that’s what can happen when people care and share. I serve on the Scientific Advisory Board with a team of world-renowned and respected doctors. We are currently creating an exclusive Healthcare Practitioners Program to increase awareness around “amplifying health and happiness from the inside out” with our evidence-based, powerful, and proprietary products. We serve the commUnity and the general public through weekly Zooms and “lives” to share important, timely topics about health and wellness and answer questions. n
Gut Health is theK e y My Triple Goals
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Michael & Shelley
A Family’s Dream Plano, Texas
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Garcia
ichael and Shelley Garcia have been network marketing professionals for over 10 years. Before network marketing, Shelley was a financial advisor and Michael was a line-haul driver. The Garcias’ initial attraction to direct selling and wellness companies was due to some health challenges they experienced and the fact that Michael’s family has a history of heart disease. The Garcias achieved great success on many levels in a company formerly owned by Robert Oblon, so when Robert introduced them to his new venture, Michael and Shelley were all ears. They knew they wanted to continue working with Robert on his vision and mission of amplifying happiness and healing in the world. They joined Robert’s startup in the summer of 2020 and built a growing team that couldn’t be more excited about the future. The Garcias are homeschooling parents of seven amazing children. Today they find their happiness in being able to teach their children while helping other people build thriving businesses from home or from anywhere. The Garcias look forward to traveling the world and expanding their team so they can make a lasting global impact.
Networking Times
What made you join a direct selling startup?
SHELLEY: We had great trust in Robert Oblon’s integrity and ability to lead a company from the ground up. What makes Robert different is he is not just a company owner looking to make a profit. He is a visionary leader who truly cares about people, changing their lives, and helping them find happiness—whatever that means to them.
You’ve only been in for a couple of months and already have a thriving team. How did you do it?
MICHAEL: Building our business day to day requires consistency and a solid DMO (daily method of operation). In today’s world, it is more important than ever to leverage social media platforms to their fullest potential. We start each day with prayer, coffee, and posting on our social media accounts. We put time aside to talk to our teammates not just about business but about life. We make sure to provide everyone the support they need. We also use text messaging, talking on the phone, and face to face interactions when possible. We constantly make connections with people wherever we go. We accomplish this by listening to them and looking for their pain points to see if we have a solution to their problems.
What about the pandemic? Has it impacted your growth?
SHELLEY: Lockdowns have not been much of a problem for people in our business thanks to the internet. One of the reasons we fell in love with network marketing was that we could work from anywhere. The freedom and flexibility have allowed us to work from home, homeschool our kids, and travel to support team members in other parts of the United States. We have not been able to be face to face as much as we would like but we are grateful for technology and applications like Zoom that allow us to see each other’s faces and hold virtual meetings.
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Always keep learning! 15
West & Lori
BENSON Laurel, Mississippi
Giving from A
s a young girl, Lori Benson had the American dream in her heart like most girls. She wanted it all: to be a wife, a mother, and a successful businesswoman. Life did not happen exactly the way she planned. In 2012, she was a single mom, a restaurant owner, and a real estate broker with two teenage boys. Doing well financially, Lori had no time left for her children. When she discovered network marketing, she decided to give it a chance and never looked back. West Benson was a professional team roper in Texas and had been engaged in network mar-
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Networking Times
the Overflow keting for over two decades when he met Lori. Two business-minded individuals, they ended up working together for a few years. As time went on, they were drawn to each other and began dating. Fast forward to November 2019 and the Bensons were married in an island ceremony. Today Lori and West form a husband-and-wife team that loves pouring into others and helping them to achieve their version of success. The Bensons enjoy giving from the overflow by sharing their business opportunity with anyone who wants a lifetime of health and happiness.
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COLT
&
CINDY
SUMMERS Glendale, Arizona
S P R E A D Your Wings and
Fly!! Fly
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efore network marketing Colt had a six-year career in the Marine Corps and worked for security companies as a private investigator. Cindy was a janitor at the airport before working as a medical assistant for many years. The Summers’ biggest challenge was being upside down financially when they got started in direct selling. They had to work hard and fast. Thanks to their company’s products and system, and with consistent team support, they were able to create momentum, spread their wings, and fly. COLT: It’s pretty wild to be at the right place at the right time. We know firsthand how pivotal that is in launching a new business. It wasn’t until recently that we heard Robert Oblon was launching a new company and we couldn’t help but be intrigued. After much consideration and prayer, we were led to start a new journey with Robert. CINDY: It’s an honor for my family to build again with such a serving mentor, friend, and leader. Connecting with Robert is what started our journey three years ago. At the time, we recently had our cars repossessed and were struggling in many areas of our lives. In short, we were broke. We needed this home business to work fast so we could pay our bills. We took the bull by the horns and soon we were seeing our first success. COLT: As our business was growing, we were able to rent a car to attend an event in California. That’s where we met Robert Oblon in person for the first time. After hearing our story of how Cindy would take the city bus to pick up her son Adrian, and how we walked everywhere to build our business, Mr. Oblon and another couple did something that changed our lives forever. They blessed my family with an SUV paid in full. I share that story because I know God put these people in our lives. To go from not having a car to owning a vehicle overnight was life-changing in so many ways. It was the greatest
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With son Adrian and daughter Heavenly Sky
act of kindness we’ve ever experienced. It shows the type of people we have been blessed to attract into our lives. CINDY: Most people don’t know that we both held many undesirable jobs for a long time before finding this business. We started our journey into relationship marketing in 2018. Our biggest challenge was being brand new and not knowing where to start. We followed the advice people shared with us and as time went on, we continued to learn from others and get stronger in our techniques. For instance, we began sharing stories instead of selling products. Another challenge we faced at the beginning was not having a car for a family of three and making little money at our jobs. We needed to learn fast and work hard to be successful. We had our backs
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Toney & Kelly
FREEMAN
28
Atlanta, Georgia
A Winning Team B
ased in Atlanta, Toney and Kelly have been together for nearly 30 years. Toney was a former top-level professional bodybuilder with numerous accolades under his belt. Kelly has a real estate and bathroom design and renovation background. Together they have three boys (Trae, Neko, and Antonio). Both Kelly and Toney have been network marketing professionals for the past decade. While they went through many ups and downs in the business, they have found great success in recent years. Toney has been a top-ranked IFBB professional bodybuilder since 2002. With over 25 years of experience in the health and fitness industry, he has also been a well-respected and soughtafter personal trainer, coach, and competitor. He was first introduced to network marketing in 1996 and for two decades he experienced the typical challenges of building a business. After an injury in early 2016, Toney was faced with the decision of whether to continue with competitive bodybuilding or retire from the sport at the early age of 50. The timing was perfect for him to shift his focus and invest in a new direct selling business. Once he realized he had found the right company with the perfect product, he and Kelly started building a community of happy customers. Many have joined the Freeman’s marketing team in one of the fastest-growing direct selling companies.
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29 29
Live at Your Best
Enrique Olazabal & Nancy Ohanian
E
Houston, Texas
nrique and Nancy met through network marketing in 2017. They have a combined experience of 15 years in the profession. Partners in business and life, Enrique and Nancy are parenting two daughters and one son. Their wish for their family is to travel the world and create fun memories while helping others to grow in health and happiness.
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By Dr. Josephine Gross
Networking Times
Who introduced you to your company and what made you say “Yes”?
We had previously worked with Robert and saw that he had launched a new company. We were impressed with the product line and the vision of the company. We had full trust in the values of Robert’s leadership and what we know he is capable of.
How did you get started? What challenges did you have to overcome?
Starting fresh always comes with its challenges, especially when your family is dependent on your full-time network marketing income. Thankfully, stepping into a well-thought-out system, with a leading-edge product offering, there has been an overwhelmingly positive response to this opportunity. We are experiencing the biggest launch of our careers.
How do you build your business day to day? What are your daily actions?
Where were you before you got into this business?
We were both single parents when we joined our first companies, and we both quickly realized the potential it could give us to create an income while creating an impact.
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We share the product line and business opportunity with new people daily. The testimonies and doctor’s videos on the customer web page provide a high level of credibility for those inquiring. We stay in close contact with the leadership and the team, and provide ongoing support to our customers and teammates. We continue to promote actively on social media platforms and in person.
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COVE R STORY
Robert & Laura O B LO N
A Love Story Is Born 38
By Dr. Josephine Gross
Networking Times
R
obert & Laura Oblon are cofounders of a lifestyle company that’s on track to become a global leader in direct selling. A well-known figure in network marketing, Robert Oblon is a graphic artist who became a home-based entrepreneur, a meta-search pioneer and an online travel expert. He built several companies, always focused on customer acquisition and retention in a climate of transparency. Robert’s newest company, AmpLIFEi International™, combines the efficiency of online retail with the benefits of residual income. His strategy includes keeping the product business separate from the entrepreneurial opportunity, with an overarching mission to “amplify health and happiness across the world.” A Missouri native, Laura Oblon has been a music minister (winning singing competitions nationwide) and owned a bakery (featured on various news channels). A third-generation network marketer, Laura grew up in the profession and became a business coach and consultant, master distributor, and top income earner in the companies she joined. As the Cofounder & President of AmpLIFEi International™, Laura brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her first-time role as a top executive of a direct selling company. When Robert met Laura … well, just read the story and enjoy the magic!
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How did you guys meet?
LAURA: The first time we went out to eat was at the ANMP. We went to a restaurant for breakfast with Robert’s friends and field leaders, Toney and Kelly Freeman. I was not in Robert’s company and didn’t know much about his background. I talk to everybody so when the waitress came, I said, “Hi, what’s your name?” After she replied, I cheerfully thanked her. I am programmed to recruit. That’s how I’m thinking. Maybe someone needs whatever it is that I have. I didn’t have anything at that moment, but I knew they did!
At the ANMP convention, Dallas 2019
We were sitting there and the waitress had come over twice. Kelly and Toney hadn’t said a word to her. I’m thinking, “You’re missing out, what is going on?” Whenever I’m away from the kids, I’m working. I asked them, “Do you have any product with you?” Toney pulled out his coffee and creamer. “No, don’t sell me,” I said. “It’s for her.” He asked, “Who? What?” I said, “The waitress! She’s on her feet all
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PERSPECTIVES
Marketing Marketing in the Post-Truth E R A by Troy Dooly
O
ver the years, many people in network marketing have been throwing around catchy terms and phrases such as WOMM (Word of Mouth Marketing), Blue Ocean Strategy, Influence Marketing, and now the phrase, Gig Economy. Yet, these terms are hardly ever used within the context of their true meanings.
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By Dr. Josephine Gross
Networking Times
When Robert Oblon called me in early 2020 and shared why he would continue his initiative of redefining the old model of network marketing, I listened. I quickly realized he was not using trendy words and phrases or some pie-in-the-sky fantasy; he had a legitimate plan in mind and, with or without my blessing, he would implement it. He knew the quest I and some others had been on in recent years: to raise the bar in network marketing so that the critics, short-sellers, regulators, and media would recognize us as legitimate professionals who truly care about the consumers. Unlike many other business channels, network marketing, aka MLM, has been slow to change and adapt to the “Post-Truth Era” (where people no longer trust mainstream news or mass marketing messages) we entered after the Great Recession of 2008. We continue to use antiquated language and strategies that have brought about numerous regulatory actions, renewed scrutiny by consumer advocacy groups, mainstream media questioning the community’s ethics, and a larger-than-life breach in trust by the actual consumers we claim to serve. In contrast, Oblon developed a business model that focuses first and foremost on solving the customer’s needs by providing products that deliver a unique experience with noticeable results. There is no doubt that the customer is the focal point, not the compensation plan, or some individual personality, or even the products in and of themselves. As I listened, he defined the customer as “anyone who trusts AmpLIFEi™ and HAPInss Brands™ with changing their lives.” Oblon went on to explain how there is one missing component to the Gig Economy model – the residual income network marketing can provide once the hard work has been done. That’s why Oblon and his friend, and a mentor of mine, John Fleming, have called network marketing “the ultimate gig” of the Gig Economy. “What good is the income if it doesn’t last?” he said. “That’s what
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our problem has been for decades in the network marketing community.” As we continued to talk, he got a little emotional as he shared how when he met Laura Harte. She was facing a gut-related health challenge at the time. Nothing life-threatening, yet debilitating enough to affect her body and mind. It was Robert’s passion for helping Laura and her story of recovery that brought about the first product of HAPInss Brands™. “With Laura now living a more normal life, why not just relax and enjoy each other?” I asked. He was silent for about thirty seconds and then said, “I can’t! Troy, I truly believe we can team up with some brilliant men and women who are on the same mission as Laura and me to help folks understand that a healthy gut is the biggest key to many chronic conditions and mood challenges. Seeing how Laura is doing today, and knowing how gut health and happiness are related, I can’t just sit back.” Oblon went on to explain how the company’s product division is overseen by an advisory board of medical professionals on the same mission as he and Laura. The other division houses “the ultimate gig” opportunity for folks looking to earn extra income in the Gig Economy, where entrepreneurs and resellers typically don’t get paid for referring others. Unlike conventional network marketing, where the qualifications are contingent on building an extensive network and can be so complicated that most regulators and judges have a hard time understanding them, at AmpLIFEi™, all you have to do is sell products to customers and you can earn a stable residual income of $500 or more. I asked Robert which network marketing companies he saw as his main competitors. Without hesitating, he said, “None I can think of. I do see Uber, Airbnb, GrubHub, and Amazon as our competitors. Many first-time entrepreneurs, including part-time network marketers, are joining these com-
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B
efore getting involved in network marketing, Sherry was a portrait photographer focused on styled sessions for children, along with some composite work. She also photographed seniors, families, and did corporate headshots locally in St. Louis and Cape Girardeau where they split their time. Rex is co-president and owner of Rust Communications, a company that owns 45 newspapers, 17 radio stations, a digital agency, and a portfolio of commercial real estate across 8 Midwestern states.
RUST
Curious to hear how the Rusts got into network marketing? “Our Canadian friend, Mike, initially approached us via Facebook Messenger with a new coffee product back in 2017,” says Sherry. “We do love coffee and immediately said yes. We had no intention of selling the product, only consuming it, but I signed up as a distributor, just in case!”
Investing in People
After a month of absolutely loving the product, Rex and Sherry were already telling others about it so they decided to go all-in. This was a bold move, as network marketing didn’t have the best reputation in their milieu…
Rex & Sherry Cape Girardeau, Missouri
“Our greatest challenge was our mindset,” says Sherry. “We weren’t excited about being associated with network marketing. However, the CEO of this particular company, Robert Oblon, had a vision of ‘healing what was broken’ and changing the way things were done in the profession. We could definitely get behind being a part of such a positive change!”
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ANDRE A
Randall-Mendoza
Victoria, Texas
With sons Nathen & Mason, and daughters Ashlynn & Zoe
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Lindsey Buboltz Omaha, Nebraska
Wat c h i n g P e o p l e W I N With husband Ryan, Jayden, Reid, and Jhetta
B
efore falling in love with network marketing, Lindsey was the Chief Deputy Assessor of Guthrie County, IA. She had spent her adult life working for Guthrie County, Iowa, and Douglas County, Nebraska as a property appraiser.
On Mother’s day 2017 Lindsey’s world was shattered when her oldest daughter was murdered. As the tragedy tore her life apart and she struggled to overcome anxiety, depression, and PTSD, she was also battling a corporate world of bosses who were denying her time off, forcing her to file for FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act), and putting her job at risk. “In October 2019 I was denied time off to attend the trial for the man who murdered my daughter,” says Lindsey. “That was the day I knew I would never again leave my life and financial security in the hands of anyone else.” Lindsey went all-in with network marketing, knowing there were other moms and dads just like her who needed the same time freedom. “I made it my mission and passion to help others achieve success in the business to prevent anyone else from ever feeling like I did that day a corporate boss told me no and I couldn’t be present for justice to be served.”
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Centennial, Colorado
My organization and I are flying through the ranks, and I am living my purpose!
“I spent countless hours reading personal development books and I continue to write daily in my Gratitude Journal. Yes, I am grateful, for, without the challenges I’ve had, I would not be who I am today. “In late September 2020, in the middle of a pandemic and a world of uncertainty, I went all-in with my current company. Before I even tried our life-changing products, I knew I had found my home. I am surrounded by the most loving, caring, and uplifting folks in direct selling. Robert Oblon and Laura Harte have been there for me and the amazing organization I have built. Today we have a growing team of like-minded folks who are reaching large numbers of people—and we have only just begun! “I’ll leave you with this: I may have been burnt in the business, but I never gave up. A mentor once told me something I’ll always remember. “Life is a series of numbers—your date of birth and the day you leave this earth. In between those numbers is a dash.
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Michelle’s Top Tips • Dream BIG, and let them laugh at you if they choose. • Align yourself with a company that enables you to live and share your passion and purpose. • The team you align yourself with is just as important, so choose your partners wisely. • Pray about your choices and listen to what God is telling you.
Live the dash!” Today I can say that I am living the dash and enjoying every minute of it. I am walking, talking proof that I’m worthy—and you are worthy. Love yourself enough to go after your dreams and don’t let anyone stop you. #LoveYourGuts is my tagline, and I mean it! n
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EXECUTIVE TEAM
Meet the Execs !
L
Larry Cantrell
President and COO of HAPInss Brands™
“I have a big belief in Robert and his abilities and vision. We have already put together exclusive licensing agreements and relationships that have put HAPInss Brands™ far ahead of other companies that have been in the business for years. His vision to expand the company with world-class products and services is something I look forward to helping our team 62 62
arry Cantrell has served as a corporate leader and consultant in network marketing for the past three decades. As President and COO of HAPInss Brands™, Larry brings his vast experience in product development, marketing, operations, and supply chain management to direct its global expansion efforts. HAPInss Brands™ is becoming one of the fastest-growing industry and consumer brands since its launch in June of 2020. Larry’s career in consumer-packaged goods marketing began upon graduation from college (Ole Miss, BBA) when he was recruited by Johnson & Johnson to join their consumer products division in New Jersey. Larry spent the next 10 years parlaying his J&J training through positions of increasing responsibilities in sales, marketing, management, and operations with several privately held companies. He then moved to Dallas and went into commercial real estate development with the Hunt family for about eight years. He was recruited into network marketing by a friend and became a student of the profession. He fell in love with the business model, but after four years of attending meetings and traveling the country as a distributor, he was recruited back on the corporate side because of his background in management and product development. In 1996, he started his own network marketing company which he ran for 14 years as President and CEO, until he sold it. In 2010, he launched a new company that was acquired after four years by another direct selling company. Robert and Larry have had a working relationship for over a decade. Having worn the hat of CEO for many years, it only seemed natural for Robert to reach out to Larry to help with supply chain management, product development, packaging, logistics, and distribution support. In January 2021, Robert asked Larry to come on board as President and COO of HAPInss Brands™, LLC, a nutritional science company providing people with the latest technological advances specific to amplifying the state of wellbeing, also known as happiness. n
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mb e r- Ly n n cal to a direct selling Cantrell has company’s success, over 20 years especially in today’s of regulatory experience complex and challengand currently serves as ing regulatory enviDirector of Compliance ronment. Regulatory & Regulatory Affairs Affairs touches each for both AmpLIFEi™ one of our products, and HAPInss Brands™, ensuring complioverseeing how foods, ance with local, state, dietary supplements, and federal regulanutritional products tors worldwide. We are developed, tested, are committed to domanufactured, maring things right,” says keted, and distributed Amber-Lynn. to consumers to certify that they meet regulatoBefore working ry requirements at each with direct selling stage of production. companies as a con sultant, Amber-Lynn Part of those rebegan her career worksponsibilities also ining for the Alcohol and Director of Compliance cludes advising those Gaming Commission & Regulatory Affairs companies on compliin Canada and later AmpLIFEi™ International and ance with applicable found herself as foundHAPInss Brands™ global legislative and er of one of Canada’s regulatory laws, preleading and most market and marketsought after investigaentry requirements, tive firms specializing import/export legisin fraud and backlation, label and ingredient reviews, and oversight ground intelligence, serving various Fortune 500 of the product license application (PLA) processes companies, and top governmental agencies such to the proper regulatory authorities for approval in as the Competition Bureau and Health Canada. various countries. Amber-Lynn has sat as a director on many boards in Canada with her biggest accomplishment as “Robert and I have worked together in the past an advisory committee member for the Private and I’m excited to have the opportunity to join in Security Investigative Services Branch (PSISB), his new venture. We share a common goal of ad- Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional vancing public health by providing best-in-class Services (MCSCS), and OMS Training Institute products, with the best clinical data, to grow our where she helped write the new curriculum for the customer base. Having regulatory oversight is criti- Investigative and Security Industry abroad. n
Amber -Lynn Cantrell
Spring 2021
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rad has been serving the network marketing profession for the last 21 years with innovative and technical solutions that have helped distributors worldwide build and grow their businesses. With a servant’s heart and unwavering commitment, he has earned the respect and trust of companies, top leaders, and distributors alike who want to position and equip themselves with the latest and proven technologies designed to differentiate themselves from the competition.
BRAD MORRISON Chief Technology Officer AmpLIFEi™ International
One of the first to develop a web-based CRM for network marketers in the early 2000s, Brad and his business partner led a team that delivered over 70 million leads to network marketers, designed auto-responder campaigns and follow-up programs, and created email list management services. In 2007, the company was sold to a venture capital firm. Brad continues to support and promote the profession to this day. With a keen understanding of the relationships between corporate and the field, and the field to prospects and customers, Brad is consistently promoting responsible social media practices and strategies that foster an environment whereby all participants are engaged and led to have a great user experience. His love for this profession is evident whenever you speak with him, and with an opportunity to be a part of the AmpLIFEi™ leadership team, Brad is excited to bring together his collective experience to design and develop unique marketing strategies and solutions that have never before been made available in the network marketing profession... until NOW! n
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“
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started working young. My grandmother owned a small shop in a little town and yes I was that kid running around in the back, dusting shelves, or unpacking deliveries (so I could pop the bubble wrap). Little did I know I was learning what would become a solid foundation in service and how important a role it can play in impacting any experience. You see, my grandmother was the owner of the local shop where all the brides to be would come to register for their big day. I asked her once, “Nenaw, how is it that every day, with every bride, you treat her like she is the only bride in the world?” She looked at me with her beautiful smile and said without missing a beat, “Because to her, she is. It may just be an invitation to you and me or a set of matching plates and cups but to her, it is the beginning of the rest of her life and at that moment she should be treated as such.” That lesson I still carry to this day. I have spent over 25 years in either a service or support role and had recently been looking for an opportunity to grow beyond my 12 years on Manager of Customer Support a University campus. About that time I met AmpLIFEi™ International Robert Oblon, a man known by many for his servant heart like no other, a servant heart much like my own. When he laid out his vision, my heart filled. I knew I needed to be a part and this was the next step I was looking for. The vision for this company and the positive impact it will have on the world greatly aligned with the foundation I was taught. The mission of undoing the world of the UN-happy epidemic we are experiencing took me back to that lesson first learned. As the Manager of Customer Support with AmpLIFEi™ International, I look forward to making that positive impact every day for our customers and VIPs.” n
Ashly Henson
Spring 2021
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R I S I N G S TA R
Colleen Brenn Sarasota, Florida
Paying
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born entrepreneur, Colleen has always been self-employed. For most of her adult life, she owned a trendy furniture store in New York. She also did commercial design for restaurants and apartment building lobbies. One day a client shared a product with her that changed her life. She, in turn, shared it with others and inadvertently launched her new business. “I had a very good customer who was a NY Giant and when he retired, his wife joined a network marketing company,” says Colleen. “A newbie in the profession, he was constantly bugging me about joining the business. I thought if I just paid him the money he would go away and stop bothering me. Well, the products actually worked and I had great results. People started asking me what I was doing to look so awesome and I would simply answer, ‘I think it’s this cream.’ By honestly answering their question, I was inadvertently selling.
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Doug Kelley Summer Edmunson Eagle, Idaho
Summer’s Story
I have been a dental hygienist for 28 years. I truly enjoy caring for my patients, and building lasting relationships. I’m also a bit of a medical geek. I love studying anything medical—biology, microbiology, pharmacology, body systems, etc. I dabbled in a few home businesses, mostly to pay for my own products and to share with friends and family members who struggled with health issues. I also love the tax benefits, but it wasn’t easy for me to convert to this type of business. The easy part was learning the science behind the products and as long as I believed in them, I was able to share them
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with others. We’ve made many lifelong friends doing network marketing, it’s also how Doug and I met. When I found out Robert Oblon was starting a new company, I immediately messaged him without even knowing what the product was. I’ve always believed in his vision for direct selling. I joined Robert in his previous company for the same reason. Robert and Laura have created a new concept in network marketing where we are all one CommUnity and one team. Our daily focus is to reach out to like-minded friends via social media and live interactions while continuing to help and support others around us. The pandemic created some limitations, as we were used to having “mixers” and gatherings. However,
Networking Times
TRESA Basey GREG Snyder
Greenwood, Indiana
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Being There for PEOPLE
reg’s most recent background includes being a sales executive for an auto parts manufacturer. Tresa and Greg together own two successful dollhouse miniature businesses. Tresa has been involved in a few home business companies in the past. Greg had sworn off home business ventures for over 25 years after last working with a company that was shut down. Tresa had been friends with Laura Harte for a while, so Robert Oblon and Greg met through their wives. “Watching Robert’s vision grow from sketches on easel pad paper to reality was much like watching a painter create a beautiful work of art,” says Greg. “Seeing Robert’s vision of the new work-from-home business model, how could we NOT say yes?” Tresa adds, “When Robert told us he was going to ‘flip MLM’ and showed us what it was all about, we were in before he even finished. We knew with Robert’s vision and Laura’s history that his new company was going to be our new (and last) home.” 78
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THE CLOSE
On the Fertile Edge of Chaos The Chimes, They Are a ‘Changin’ By Chris Gross
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veryone knows we are in the midst of some chaotic times. Complex adaptive systems, such as our social order, businesses, and their interplay in the economy, are perfectly connected to weave together and create that fertile place that invites change to blossom and life to prosper. System specialists dedicate their lives to better understand the interconnectivity, complexity, and chaotic elements that facilitate change. How come we might wonder? Well, it’s because these components combine and usher in solutions in what seems like magical ways! Currently, governments all over the world hope to restore some semblance of order to a society struggling to resolve a medical system seemingly in crisis. Politics as usual has devolved into opposing camps where common ground and compromise appear elusively, if at all! Social networks and the press contain stories where some companies lost more than half of their income in the past 12 months alone! Yet, in all this turmoil, some entrepreneurs in the same marketplaces, experiencing the same hardships, have pivoted. Reengineering their approaches, they doubled their incomes and thrived! The natural order of complex adaptive systems tends toward equilibrium. The emerging chaos is nature’s clarion call that change must occur. Either we go with the flow, adapt, and evolve—or we dig in our heels to hold on to the status quo. Bear in mind, the chime of the clarion call will grow louder and more persistent as the pressure for evolutionary change builds. Segments of society may ignore or miss those early warning chimes because the tones were not “loud” enough. Should that happen, we might not be prepared for the changes that will naturally come when systems reach capacity and need some drastic revision to release the pressure that’s threatening to blow the existing structure apart. It doesn’t hurt to be proactive when massive change is in the air. Self-reliance and taking steps in our best interests can be rewarding strategies, even if a massive chaotic change is somehow delayed or even averted. The stories in this magazine reveal a variety of ways in which entrepreneurs took action to amplify the quality of their lives, their health, and their income. Carl Jung wrote, “In our most private and subjective lives we are not only the passive witnesses of our age, its sufferers, but also its makers. We make our own epoch.” If enough of us change ourselves, we can change the world. Let’s create yet another example of Margaret Mead’s marvelous observation: “Never doubt the ability of a small group of thoughtful, committed people to change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” When everything eventually settles into a new calm, who knows, we might even experience a futuristic and peaceful utopia more quickly and with less strife. That’s a vision worth holding! CHRIS GROSS is the founder and CEO of Gabriel Media Group, publishers of Networking Times. 80
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