No Translation Needed

By now, you’ve most likely received your April issue of Direct Selling News. It’s funny, but even though I see the finished magazine the day it comes off the press, I never feel like we’re done until I open my mailbox at home and my copy is waiting for me.

If I do say so myself, there’s some great content in this issue, starting with Katherine Ponder’s cover story on direct selling in Mexico, one of the top ten direct selling markets in the world.

For a little more Latin flavor, check out the article on the recent Success Rally held by 4Life Research in Puerto Rico and attended by a whopping 16,000 people! 4Life was kind enough to invite me to San Juan to cover the event (my job is so hard) and John Fleming recently requested that I share a little more about my experience.

The event was, of course, held in Spanish, which I do not speak. And although headsets provided the English translation, 16,000 people make quite a bit of noise and it wasn’t always easy to hear. Very quickly, though, I found the energy, enthusiasm, emotion and gratitude expressed by the speakers needed no translation. As I listened to the emcee recognize the 15 countries represented to the sound of deafening cheers from each nation’s delegation, I got a first-hand look at the global appeal of direct selling and the opportunity it provides millions.

I was seated right in the center of the front row and during the evening’s periodic pyrotechnic displays, I feared for my eyebrows! But my favorite moment was when 4Life founders David and Bianca Lisonbee entered the stadium. As they circled the entire arena to greet the crowd, the woman standing next to me grabbed me and planted a big kiss on my cheek. I might not have been able to understand her language, but the meaning of her gesture could not have been clearer: Joy.

My second favorite moment of the trip happened on the way to the rally. 4Life Director of Strategic Development Calvin Jolley was my host for much of the weekend and made sure I had everything I needed. The day of the event was, of course, crazy, and we found ourselves in a rush to get to the stadium, which was 45 minutes away. We had planned to have a late lunch but ran out of time and ended up at a Burger King drive-thru. We figured out how to say “no mayo” in Spanish, but never did manage “extra pickles” so I had my Whopper Jr. without.