Standing on stage recently in Malaga, Spain, looking out at over 8,000 Distributors at the European Rally who were partying, laughing, smiling and in some cases screaming, the thought crossed my mind that in a comparatively small way Forever is putting a smile back on the faces of millions of people around the world! Speaking of millions, it was a thrill to be able to award over €6 million ($8 million) to qualifying Profit Sharing Distributors.

What a privilege it is to be involved in our company at this time -- a time when many of the so-called experts who are responsible for the economic welfare of our nations are scratching their heads and wondering what went wrong? It is not my position to offer a political opinion, but I do know that there are basic fundamentals to the success of an individual, a business or even a country. These fundamentals are: 1. An honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. 2. Do not buy what you cannot afford. 3. Commerce must be based upon the movement of goods or services for a price that is fair and equitable to both parties. There are no shortcuts; you cannot get an honest day’s pay without an honest day’s work. Sure, all things are possible temporarily, but over time they are not sustainable.

These same basic fundamentals can be applied to our Forever businesses. You cannot expect to sustain growth in Forever if you move away from the basic principles that helped you to achieve success in the first place. I occasionally come across leaders in Forever whose businesses have reached a “plateau.” The first thing to look at is the sponsoring activity in their group; without exception if less people are being invited to join Forever, then sales go down. I know, I can hear you say, “Rex, that is obvious!” I agree, but it does not hurt to be reminded of the basics every now and then. It is easy for us to get caught up in ‘managing’ our businesses and overlook the need to talk to people on a daily basis.

I heard many years ago that “at the end of the month $50 left equals happiness, $50 less equals misery!” So be patient as you see your income grow and, hence, your ability to spend with your success in Forever. All things will come in time, and it is better for you and for your business if you teach people to build in a manner that is sustainable and long term.

Over 30 years ago we started this great company and, if I am totally honest, I didn’t imagine that we would one day be announcing sales at $2.5 billion! That is more than a $400 million increase in sales!! I am thrilled to see that so many of you are enjoying the fruits of our Pure and Simple business. Thanks to people just like you, we are stronger than we have ever been.

Here in the USA we saw that strength at our annual North American Rally in Los Angeles, California. It was a fantastic event and I enjoyed every minute of it. This was only our second rally, but I was excited to see that I was joined by over 1,400 of our most enthusiastic Distributors from around North America. We had some great trainings, but the highlight of the weekend was the Saturday Rally. There were many recognitions, but there are few that I enjoy more than recognizing our Profit Sharing Qualifiers.

I had the privilege to watch 39 Distributors reveal the amount of their respective Profit Sharing checks. The look on their faces is truly priceless as they see the rewards of their efforts. I want to say thank you to all of those involved. I can’t wait for next year’s event in Orlando, Florida!

We’ve all heard the expression, “you’re only as good as your last game,” and our achievements in 2008 were incredible. That has raised the bar for all of us in 2009 to maintain our growth. I read the same newspapers and watch the same television programs as you, and I hear how bad things are. But to me, this just increases my awareness of the responsibility we have to those who are suffering financial hardship at this time. We have an opportunity that can literally put the smile back on the face of the world.

You have the power to offer real hope and a tangible proven solution. It is not a handout or a stimulus package. It is an honest, traditional business opportunity, and if a person is willing to work hard, be consistent, and spend some time out of their comfort zone, they will be able to create their own economy. If we all do this on a regular basis, I have no doubt that our sales will surpass $2.5 billion in 2009. More importantly, millions more will be joining the freedoms that Forever can bring!