Melissa Gulbranson
Vice President of Marketing

These days, it takes more than sparklers and kazoo-playing monkeys to attract customers to your business. Luckily, 21TEN has Melissa Gulbranson on their team. With 10-plus years in the network marketing industry, she's the brains behind the 21TEN's strategic marketing and branding campaigns for both corporate and Distributor initiatives.

Steve and Amy Machado Advance!

January 5, 2012

It’s time to go cruising Steve and Amy Machado, because you two just advanced to Master and reserved your seat on the Life Shotz Caribbean Cruise!

Their sponsor, Annette Machado, can’t say enough about how incredibly proud she is of Steve and Amy:

“Steve and Amy are the epitome of people who are ideal Distributors. They have serious plans. They do what it takes. They hold three meetings a week, host dinners, and they’re prospecting all the time. They care about every single person in their group, and help everyone they can, including those not even in their group! Steve and Amy are without a doubt, 100% invested.”

Janine Avila also has much to say about Steve and Amy advancing:

“Every once and awhile, you get to work with a dream couple. That is what it has been like working with Steve and Amy. They are enthusiastic, coachable, smart, funny, credible, appreciative and gutsy. I was told by both of them when they enrolled, they would see how it goes as long as I didn’t ask them to speak in front of a group. Today, they speak in front of the room often and with a powerful grace.”

With dedication like this, it’s no wonder Steve and Amy are achieving so much success. From day one, they have been serious about Life Shotz, and they make it fun and inspirational while achieving their goals.

“They are Masters, in the true sense of the word,” says Janine. “They have spent a year, working, reading, studying and growing. They have given and grown and prospered and it is a joy to watch them grow. I cannot wait to see what 2012 brings as Steve & Amy move through Master and beyond.”

So Steve and Amy, from your entire Life Shotz family; Congratulations! We couldn’t be more proud of the both of you. You are on the path to greatness, and it shows!

So, who’s next? Let’s pack that cruise ship with our Life Shotz family!

Cheers,
Melissa

7 Comments

advancement, life shotz, Master

Annette Machado Advances!

November 3, 2011

Break out your swimwear, Annette Machado, you’ve just earned yourself an advancement to Master and won your way onto the 21TEN Caribbean Cruise in May!

Are you wondering who sponsors the amazing and dedicated Annette? That would be the one and only Janine Avila, from Team Avilanche!

And there’s no sibling rivalry here. It’s no coincidence that these sisters- Janine and Annette- put their high energy together to create such amazing results.

So what does Janine have to say about her sister advancing?

“I am super happy to be sponsoring her and have her be a member of Team Avilanche. You know, it wasn’t until we started working together with 21TEN that I really began to know her! The funny thing is, one year ago on November 1st, I was recovering from surgery and I needed someone to take care of me. Annette went out of her way to fly up to Coeur D’Alene to help me recover. Did I mention her birthday was November 1st? What a way to celebrate … helping someone else!”

We don’t think it’s a coincidence that one year later Annette’s celebrating her birthday as a Master Director. She’s been on-fire since the day she joined us at 21TEN!

Janine tells us, “She’s a dynamo and has worked tirelessly to build a strong team of winners. Annette’s team is so powerful, they are changing the face of this business for anyone that comes within a three foot radius! They are Life Shotz evangelists! It’s my honor to say, congratulations Annette! You are now a Master Director Soul Sister!!!”

And from all of us here at 21TEN, we want to say a heartfelt congratulations to Annette. This is quite an achievement. We know this is just one of many more amazing accomplishments she’ll celebrate.

Who else is ready to advance? Let’s get pumped!

25 Comments

21TEN, Annette Machado, Janine Avila

Bruce Gordon vs. the Moloka’i Channel

October 21, 2011

26 miles of open ocean waters +
15 plus hours of swimming in the pitch black of night +
Swimming a channel only a few humans have ever crossed =
A LOT of Life Shotz.

“Some people live but they’re not really living.”– Bruce Gordon

It takes a man full of determination, strength and passion to fulfill his lifelong dreams. Bruce Gordon is that kind of guy. He’s been training to swim the Moloka’i Channel, one of the Oceans Seven. Our 21TEN family is proud to be sponsoring him every stroke of the way.

He’ll face quite a few obstacles, including unpredictable tides and harmful jellyfish, man o’ wars and all of the elements of open waters.

“The distance (26 miles) is less of a concern to me than the mental aspect,” he says. “I’m out there swimming for hours, in the dark, and I absolutely cannot let my fears get to me. Failure is not an option.”

So what inspired him to tackle such an amazing feat?

“When I was 12 years old my sister’s boyfriend completed this swim. I remember being in awe of it- and just wanting to somehow achieve the goal as well. It stuck with me all these years. Life gets in the way sometimes but you can always return to your dreams. I read Richard Brooke’s book, Mach II With Your Hair on Fire and it gave me the vision I needed to make this a reality.”

Bruce lands in Hawaii tonight and, weather permitting, he’ll start his journey Sunday night and walk out of the water Monday after the 26-mile swim.

Bruce has some serious rules:

He cannot touch the boat or anyone.

He may tread water, but receive no assistance from anyone on his team.

To eat every 20 minutes and make sure Life Shotz is in his system at all times.

Why Life Shotz? Bruce simply loves it. He tried it a couple years ago when he was on a bike ride with another athlete- a common friend of our CVO, Richard Brooke. Bruce forgot his water bottle and his friend encouraged him to try the water- mixed with Life Shotz. He loved it so much he wrote to Richard to see how he could order more.

The rest is history! “The reason I love it so much is that it does something that I call ‘Active Recovery,’” Bruce says. “I really believe it helps your body recover faster while you’re working out, at least I can feel a difference. I couldn’t do this without Life Shotz.”

He also has a serious support team in Hawaii to help him, and they will be decked out in Life Shotz gear. Bruce created his dream team of Chris Kincaid, Mark Rigg, Mike Field, Jim Beaton, JOSS, and Dale Hope. All of these men are specially chosen for their talents or their extensive knowledge of the area. “I grew up with these guys and greatly respect them. They’re all pretty much world-class athletes!” says Bruce.

Not only will Bruce achieve his childhood dream with this swim, but his efforts will benefit the Fisher House Foundation, a charity that helps military families to stay close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury. Bruce is taking donations here.

Our 21TEN family is proud to be supporting such an amazing and incredible person. Raise your glass of Life Shotz to Bruce while following him on our Facebook page. We’ll post updates on his progress and you can do your part by posting your support. Let’s hear it!

Cheers,
Melissa

4 Comments

26-mile Kaiwi Channel, Bruce Gordon, Molokai Channel

Just How Hard Is It To Swim 18.5 Miles?

August 30, 2011

You all know about Bruce Gordon, the everyday hero from Colorado who has decided to swim the Kaiwi Channel. That’s 26 miles of open ocean between the Hawaiian islands of Oahu and Molokai.

It’s filled with sharks. Jellyfish. Dangerous currents and huge waves.

In fact, it’s one of the Oceans Seven, which are seven of the most difficult swims in the world. No one has ever completed all of them, that’s how difficult they are.

So, yeah, Bruce’s decision to swim the Kaiwi Channel is a pretty amazing and ambitious goal, and we’re glad to say Life Shotz is part of Bruce’s everyday training.

But we do more than help Bruce build endurance and recover from intense workouts. Last weekend Bruce came to Coeur d’Alene to swim Lake Coeur d’Alene, and we were there to support him.

For every mile of his swim, 21TEN was beside him, tossing him liquefied food, water, and Life Shotz, and we were there to encourage him, to admire his toughness, and to show him that what he’s doing is so much more than one guy swimming a long ways.

After all, Bruce’s Kaiwi Channel swim will benefit the Fisher House Foundation, a charity that helps military families to stay close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.

His Coeur d’Alene swim was also proof that you can accomplish anything when you want it bad enough. When it becomes part of the vision of who you are and will become, you can make it happen—whatever it is.

That’s why the 18.5 mile swim in Lake Coeur d’Alene was so powerful. It was the furthest Bruce had ever gone, and he didn’t know how it was going to work. Would his body take it? Would he have the endurance to keep swimming? Was he mentally tough enough?

It was all a complete unknown—like most things in life.

Working in shifts with several small boats, the 21TEN support crew was there from the moment he stepped into the water. As the temperature rose and the lake became crowded with boats, the 21TEN crew helped guide and protect him.

Each time he rested, he told them what he was thinking, about how his vision was keeping him focused and how his body was just doing what it was supposed to do.

But even “resting” wasn’t really resting. Instead he just treaded water. He never touched the boat. All together, he “rested” nearly 40 times—and that added nearly an hour to his total time.

That’s a lot of treading water.

But through all the pauses, 21TEN was there. Chief Visionary Officer Richard Brooke was even there for most of the swim.

And when Bruce felt the sand of the Coeur d’Alene Beach 12 hours later, in the pitch black of an Idaho night, it was an amazing experience to watch him climb out of the water, almost like Superman.

A handful of supporters and surprised beach goers were there to greet him. One girl even asked for his autograph.

And we’re glad she did, because Bruce is the type of hero we all need to admire. Best of all? Bruce says he feels great and can’t wait to keep training, and he swears that he couldn’t have done it without Life Shotz.

Cheers,
Melissa

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Bruce Gordon, life shotz, Swim

Summer Summit … Had Me A Blast!

August 22, 2011

The Summer Summit brought the Carmel Escape alumni to sunny Coeur d’Alene for a weekend of luxury, fun, and training … and it was spectacular, if we do say so ourselves. These growing leaders are an amazing group of people who have set the world on fire, and this was a chance to thank them for all that they do. It was an honor to have them here, and we’ve never laughed so hard or been so inspired.

Thursday

The Summer Summit winners flew in from across the country, and the first order of business was a tour of the 21TEN office. They met the team, had the 21TEN paparazzi chase them through the building, and then headed off for cocktails by the lake.

Beverly’s, one of the top-rated restaurants in America, is home to the Pacific Northwest’s largest wine selection and has been a paradigm of Northwest cuisine since its creation. Plus it has a spectacular view of the gorgeous blue waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene—all of which makes you really want to get out on the water.

Which we did! The winners boarded Richard Brooke’s amazing boat Bliss before heading to a laughter-filled dinner on the lake. After a game of “Name that DJ” (the winners had all chosen their favorite inspirational songs, and we’d made an epic CD called the Summer Summit Mix), it was time to call it a night.

Friday

The day began with a boat tour of the lake and quickly turned into a day of serious relaxation and fun.

One group joined Richard at the Golf Club at Black Rock (one of the top 12 golf communities in the country), and the second group hit the luxury of the spa.

On the course, everything was laughter, fun, and more fun. John Riddle came agonizingly close to a hole-in-one, Jenny Robertson played her first round ever, and after losing only 48 balls (ha!) as a group, Mike Herlihy beat Richard on a course filled with waterfalls, spectacular views, and absolutely amazing landscaping.

Spa goers were busy getting relaxing stone massages at one of the region’s premier spas. Rumor has it some of the spa showers cost more than $100K each! Then it was time for the infinity pool overlooking the lake, a private beach, a private cabana, and a piña colada or two … or three.

After a long day of fun and relaxation, it was time for dinner at Black Rock—and as amazing as the food was, the company was even better, and it was great to hear the stories about what everyone had done.

Saturday

Saturday started with a high-level strategy session with Richard, and if you’ve ever had the chance to sit down with him and really pick his brain about building a massive network, you know how powerful a strategy session can be.

Leaders shared their successes, asked questions about how to best build their empires, and came away completely fired up and ready to grow their teams. They even jumped on the 21TEN national call to share everything they’d experienced.

They also discovered one of the “hazards” of living and working on one of the best lakes in the country: awesome hydroplane races. They were literally right outside the windows. Other common lake “hazards”: fishing, kayaking, hot air balloons, and parasailing.

After the session it was time for sushi at Bonsai Bistro, and then the Summit Summer winners set off to explore the city that Barbara Walters called “a little slice of heaven.” Soon it was time for dinner and drinks at Seasons of Coeur d’Alene. The atmosphere was great, people laughed, and it was a perfect evening to celebrate all that the winners have already accomplished and everything they’ll accomplish in the future.

Sunday

After a dockside brunch and a debriefing with Richard and Chris Brooke, leaders shared their goals, their Vegas strategy, and some of the amazing things that their teams are accomplishing. This group never fails to impress us, and this was no exception.

Then it was time to go home, to keep building, and to keep being amazing people. We can’t wait to meet with all of the amazing leaders and Distributors again!

 

WHAT THEY SAID

“I couldn’t be more blown away by the Summer Summit. I’ve always believed that the most important thing I can do for myself is be surrounded by the most unbelievable people in an environment that is in alignment with the lifestyle I want to live. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of the Summer Summit. It’s just another reminder for me that 21TEN is not just a company I’ve chosen to partner with. It’s my home, and more importantly, my family. I couldn’t be more excited to empower my friends to be a part of these unbelievable trips that 21TEN keeps providing us. Thanks to the whole 21TEN gang for everything you’ve done, and I’m looking forward to a mind-blowing future with this company.”

- Mike Herlihy

“The boat ride was spectacular. It was the best part of the trip because of the team factor. We’ve grown so close to these people! There was an energy that was there—the boat was running on synergy, not fuel. It was just so much fun on the golf course, too. The whole experience—seeing this lifestyle and this luxury, and to see that this is possible for us—really, it has put the opportunity into perspective.”

- Colleen and John Riddle

“My husband and I had more fun on this vacation than we’ve ever had. We were relaxed, and I was able to give my husband something amazing. He’s spent his whole life working hard to build our home and business, and with this company we get to go on fabulous vacations and not worry about the price tag. And I get to share it with my son and family, which seems unbelievable. It’s a phenomenal experience, and I’m looking forward to the next event!”

- Annette Machado

“We’re united in what we think, and one of the highlights was meeting the team at corporate who are behind the scenes in everything we do. It was just an absolutely fantastic experience. It was a perfect blend of leadership, strategy, and relationship building, and playing full out. We left inspired.”

- Tim and Tricia Sevison

“It’s gorgeous! We have so much fun hanging out with all the leaders. Fun is at the heart of this company.”

- Jenny and Duncan Robertson

“It’s been fun since the first month we enrolled. It’s fun seeing the business grow. It’s fun seeing the responses we get from people trying the product. It’s fun being at the corporate events. It’s fun winning a trip to Coeur d’Alene and getting to cruise around the lake on Richard’s boat. The whole ride has been fun.”

- Steve and Amoreena Machado

“There’s lots of laughter and so much fun, connection and camaraderie! That’s the culture of 21TEN. We truly are a family. We’ve got each other’s backs, and we love to laugh and have a great time. That’s the best part!”

- Lisa Jimenez

“I’ve had so much fun on this trip to Coeur d’Alene. The laughter has been one of the best things!  I just love being around people who are going in the same direction. They’re positive, like-minded and want to travel and do things. You have a higher level of conversation. You’re talking about dreams. You’re riding the boat and looking at the lake, you’re enjoying the good things in life … and at the same time you’re brainstorming and helping to pull each other along. ”

- Janine Avila

Cheers,
Melissa

2 Comments

Contest, Leadership, Summer Summit

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