By Wil Becker with Turning Leaf Solutions

In 2016, I met a man who opened my eyes to the plight of homeless people. I have known and seen that we have homeless people in America. I have known most of my life. They are a staple in big cities and small towns. We can debate the situation and why we have a problem. While seeking a solution and a way to help people fall into that way of life; we need to do something on the other side to help people out of homelessness.

I have spent many hours and days thinking about this problem and looking at the different solutions that are currently in America. While some homeless shelters and programs assist with short-term solutions, and some address long-term issues, somehow people still struggle while on state programs.

I believe that a better solution can be created and built with the right partners and programs. One of the main reasons I am in business is to create partnerships and associations to make this a reality. Have you read “Up from Slavery” by Booker T. Washington? Booker started with a plot of land and built Tuskegee University with the students at the school.

This is significant because the students and teachers learned to make bricks, do plumbing, and loads of other skills necessary to complete the tasks. My idea is a spin-off of this concept. A place where those who are capable can live, learn new skills, learn personal finance, learn people skills, learn a trade or a job that they can take from this new place and move into the market.

This “project”, as I am currently calling it, would be to create a community that works together to create a culture change to help homeless men and women rise up from the despair of homelessness. Then once the model is proven, we can work to help this idea expand across the US, Canada, and maybe even the world!

The post January 2024 appeared first on Led Me to This.

By Wil Becker with Turning Leaf Solutions

When I was 13 years old, we lived on the Ft. Meade Army base. There was a local newspaper that delivered 2 papers a week: on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I was hired as a delivery boy for them. That also means that I was expected to help sell new subscriptions. This was totally new to me, and I wasn’t sure if I could make a sale for the newspaper.

I don’t remember my training at all. I do remember one specific evening when I was out selling with the newspaper rep and a crew of other kids that were also delivering newspapers on Ft. Meade. I remember going door to door with free copies of the latest edition of the paper and handing them out while pitching the paper and talking about all the local news and events that get published twice weekly. I keenly remember standing on the sidewalk about 10 feet from the home and the man of the house, standing in front of his door. I remember the feeling of excitement and triumph as he agreed to sign up and take delivery of the newspaper.

That night, I sold more subscriptions than the other kids and I sold the most, new subscriptions the paper had for several months. There must have been about five of us kids, and the reward for sales that night was packs of playing cards plus a sales commission. I brought home somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 or 10 packs of cards!! This put me in the ballpark of 35 new subscriptions! It was a real high to close another sale and then move on to the next house. I didn’t realize how well I did with sales of new subscriptions, until several months later, when I was cut a $400 commissions check! That was the total I had made over the few months that I had gone out and sold new subscriptions.

It is now, as I write this and frame that experience for this month’s “Led Me to This” blog, that I realize my experience was much more formative than I ever realized. It helped me to see there is always money to be made when I put in the work.

The post August 2023 appeared first on Led Me to This.

By Wil Becker with Turning Leaf Solutions

There are so many answers that can come from this question. Some that may be embarrassing and some that would be very funny. Personally, I tend to think of my formative experiences.

For example, the day I knew I loved air conditioning. My dad was stationed at Fort Meade, MD; I was probably 13 years old at the time. Maryland summers can be hot and humid… sometimes. We went to church in the morning and the house temp had been set to 70°F. We came home from church and my dad opened the door to the house, the storm door had closed behind him.

I opened the storm door and walked into that pocket of cold… aaahhh, instant relief. I knew right then and there that I loved AC and I would keep my own place chilled.

Eventually, we would move to another duty station, and I would sneakily change the AC temp in our home. My mom would always yell at me when she got too cold and after she discovered that I had changed the temperature again.

One year for my birthday, she made a cake and in the icing on top, she wrote “King of Cold” (it was blue frosting). I think it was a chocolate cake with cream cheese icing.

We moved to Texas after my dad got out of the Army. Eventually, I got my own apartment, during college, and kept the temp at 68°F. I had two roommates and we had three couches in the living room. We hosted a lot of hangouts because Steve was (and still is) the handsome one the young ladies liked, and Paul had a big-screen TV.

Because we did a lot of movies and other activities at that apartment, we kept a pile of blankets in the front closet. When people came over, they would grab a blanket from the closet. The ladies would sit two or three under a blanket. Spring, summer, winter, or fall … I kept that apartment at 68°F.

I have some fond memories of those times; so much so, that I sometimes miss that 900-square-foot apartment.

The post July 2023 appeared first on Led Me to This.

By Wil Becker with Turning Leaf Solutions

It is October and we are finishing up our third facility. This one is in Georgia. It has been five years since we launched TFP and brought over 300 homeless men off the streets and back into society as productive citizens. Our company mission is to give homeless men a warm bed, good food, and purpose. This little venture of mine is a large part of my personal mission in life, and it is my honor to bring these core values to a large number of our country’s struggling men.

It all started near Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States when we partnered with House of Hope in Hagerstown and developed the first-ever working farm and rehabilitation center. We began with six men, ages 35 to 60, and brought them out to the property. Naturally, these folks all have different work and life experiences, as well as a variety of medical needs.

With the help of House of Hope, homeless men are screened to establish which of them is most likely to succeed in our program. We construct homes for them and for our staff, all of whom live together and work onsite 24/7. We model our facilities after the Booker T. Washington Tuskegee University campus.

Once on our premises, we offer an opportunity to rest, re-evaluate, and re-engage – a chance to get back on their feet. This process starts with running water facilities they may not have had consistent access to, accommodations for nights of safe and needed sleep, and the nutritional and medical requirements they may have been lacking. We expect this process to take anywhere from three months to over a year, depending on the individual’s needs.

Next, the men have the opportunity to get involved in the community. We help them determine their interests, and we bring in skilled tradesmen to facilitate training. Barbers, electricians, mechanics, and dozens of other partners are there to teach and assist with applying their newly developed and practical skills. It is our mission to help these individuals find employment after training with us in their field of interest.

When we obtained rights to it, the land was wild and hadn’t been farmed in a decade. We cleared the land, built homes and facilities, and worked hard to build the vision of these men helping themselves and others like them to get off the streets and become productive members of society.

I am so grateful for the community support and financial partners that have come on board to help our program lift our homeless citizens from the streets and give them a warm bed, good food, and a purpose.

The post April 2023 appeared first on Led Me to This.

By Wil Becker with Turning Leaf Solutions

I have several books listed on my Top 10 Book List… however, the first is Resolved: 13 Resolutions for Life by Orrin Woodward. The reason this book is on top of my list is because it cuts right to the quick. A person can only become as good as the principles they live by. Orrin outlines 13 Resolutions that we can use to make a better life for ourselves. He writes from years of experience leading organizations and mentoring others. He knows the results that come from years of personal development with persistent effort, one step at a time.

Orrin follows the long-standing examples set by Ben Franklin, Jonathan Edwards, and George Washington. Each of these men had written resolutions or guidelines that they strived to live by. Those resolutions shaped who they became and the influence that they had on the American colonies. Orrin frames this book to help each person that picks it up understand some keys to help them pursue their own goals and dreams!

It is his belief that when we grow and develop ourselves, we open the door to creating a life that is abundant and fulfilling. We empower ourselves to achieve our dreams and make a massive difference in our communities!! Orrin’s goal is to help 1 million people become financially free because he believes that when we reach that number, we can create a stronger culture of freedom and faith in a better world! Orrin believes that it’s our (yes, everyone’s) responsibility to work together and create a better and freer world.

It is his belief that has inspired me to work harder on myself and work to help others achieve their best self and their goals and dreams!

The post March 2023 appeared first on Led Me to This.

By Wil Becker with Turning Leaf Solutions

What Does Success Look Like for Me?

In 2008, I failed a job interview with a technology company. The interviewer asked, “What would you do if time and money were no longer a limitation?”

I thought about it for a moment and replied, “I would be a full-time Dad.”

The interviewer’s face fell, and I saw that I was done with the interview. At that point, we both knew that we were done. I left the interview and went on my way.

Several years later, we lost our home to foreclosure because we didn’t understand the financial markets and system. Because of that, I started reading, listening, and associating with leaders from different industries. In time, I met with people that connected me to two top leadership experts and their company. Their goal is to help 1,000,000 people become financially free.

This connection has been a great blessing to my life, and I have joined their mission and company. I see success as becoming financially free. I see that success provides the income to build local businesses that can bless and serve my community. I want to take that income and help others create the lifestyle that they want. I see the freedom to spend family time and create memories for my family and business partners. Success to me is being an influential member of my community, county, state, and international business community.

The post December 2022 appeared first on Led Me to This.

By Wil Becker with Turning Leaf Solutions

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When I heard about this topic, I immediately thought about the people that I have partnered with. While I have my own coaching business, I also have a partnership with two of INC Magazine top leaders, Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward. They have been business partners for about 30 years!

Brady and Woodward started out in the network marketing industry with a well-known company. However, they landed in an ethical dilemma and felt it would be better to leave the company to do their own thing. When word got out, 50,000 people left with them. The company decided to sue Brady and Woodward because when they left, one-third of the company’s income left with them. (Yes, their share of the profitability was creating about one-third of the income for that company.)

While this was heating up, Brady and Woodward had published a book titled, Launching a Leadership Revolution. This book shot up the New York Times Best Seller list and landed them in the world of international leadership. Their work has provided numerous speaking and teaching opportunities around the globe.

What Brady and Woodward learned through the trial and speaking engagements was how much they enjoyed actively leading people. In November 2011, they launched a new company called Life Leadership. This company teaches the three keys to building wealth: leadership, financial literacy, and systems. This has become their signature program known as Building Business Systems. Their goal is to create 1,000 leaders who then help 1,000,000 people get out of debt and live a financially abundant lifestyle.

I was first introduced to Brady and Woodward through their teaching audios. A friend on Facebook tagged me on a post, and I responded to the topic. Another person responded to my comment and that sparked a conversation. This discussion piqued the interest of Melissa and DJ Berezay, one of Brady and Woodward’s top 1,000 entrepreneurs, who sent me some of their learning packs. Because I had already been on a journey of learning and self-education, I was excited to join their training program.

The audio teachings of Brady and Woodward helped to strengthen the foundation I had been building. The knowledge and education that would come through the Life Leadership program helped to accelerate my personal growth and development! My self-taught leadership skills have continued to grow and flourish with the Berezay’s guidance. Their encouragement and support prepared me to join Cheryl Clark and Jamie Allen Bishop’s networking call and be a benefit to them. It also prepared me to be humble and willing to learn through their networking group and trainings.

I cannot begin to put in words my gratitude for what Brady and Woodward started with the Life Leadership program, for the Berezay’s and their leadership system, and for what Cheryl and Jamie have done to help me grow into the leader and coach I am today.

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Contact Wil Becker at events@turningleafs.com or 1-443-404-7142

The post November 2022 appeared first on Led Me to This.

By Wil Becker with Turning Leaf Solutions

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No!

(LOL, I couldn’t resist that response.)

I am not even in the same field that I studied to start my career.

I went to university for IT, computers, and technology; I wasn’t interested in working with people. I knew that I would have to interact with people that would be in my department. I picked my field because computers seemed so magical and capable of doing anything! I remember that my first introduction to computers I was totally enthralled and spent hours playing around in the operating system and with text-based adventure games.

It was mesmerizing.

Then I got into my career, and I got to where I thought I wanted to be and learned that I didn’t like it. Not one bit. Oh, I work with amazing and brilliant people! However, the work was no longer fulfilling.

I had a few things happen in the office that really stressed me out for a few years, and it reignited the desire to take greater control over my life and work. So, I started looking for options.

I started reading the best books, listening to podcasts, watching videos, and seeking knowledge and information that would help me to find a new career and place to work. Through that process, I learned how to communicate and how to work with people. I learned that I have a talent for listening and seeing people for who they are and where they are.

It amazed me that deep inside, there was this ability that I never knew existed.

Though the next few years, I connected with someone who was willing to mentor me and help to accelerate my personal growth. Working with a mentor made me realize I had a knack for working with people and helping them to grow into better versions of themselves. I learned that I could understand where they were coming from and help them see that truly great version of who they really are.

This world is a much better place since I began pursuing the best version of who I am, and it is my honor to help others do the same.

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Contact Wil Becker at events@turningleafs.com or 1-443-404-7142

The post October 2022 appeared first on Led Me to This.

By Wil Becker with Turning Leaf Solutions

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I love music and if I listen to it often, it fills my mind all the time. It pushes out all other thoughts and ideas. Because of that, I tend to stick to classical music …because there are no words, and I can think and allow my mind to wander and work on problems.

In truth, I have two playlists that I listen to when needed. The first is my life playlist, songs that hit the high and low points and remind me that life is a journey (or a dance). It’s something that we can chose to enjoy or not.

The songs in my life playlist are:

• One by US,
• Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright,
• Smile by Natalie Cole,
• Try by Colbie Caillat,
• A Common Disaster by Cowboy Junkies,
• Stone Child by Catie Waters,
• Life’s a Dance by John Michael Montgomery,
• Faithfully by Journey,
• One Woman Army by Kate Earl, and
• I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers.

These songs are to remind me that I have to take the highs and lows with patience and “in stride”. I have to keep my head about me.

In my past, my emotions controlled me, and I let them run amok … it caused me and too many others pain that could have been avoided with a little pause and thinking. I’m really embarrassed by those past mistakes. However, I have used the best books, audios, mentors, and quotes to re-write my negative character traits. No, I am not perfect … I am better than when I started!!

There are also days where I am not “feeling it”; where I don’t feel like putting in the work. That’s when I get out my second playlist, my solutions playlist, and listen to it.

The songs in my solutions playlist are:

• I will go to War by Tessa Thompson,
• I’m Gonna Make it by Catie Waters,
• All We Have is Now by Lundyn Rae,
• The Battel Belongs by Phil Wickham, and
• Dream Life, Life by Colbie Caillat.

These songs help me remember my goals and dreams. These songs help me to push through the harder times. I know that I will achieve those goals … even if it takes me longer than I would like. These songs remind me that I never quit.

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Contact Wil Becker at events@turningleafs.com or 1-443-404-7142

The post August 2022 appeared first on Led Me to This.

by Wil Becker, Turning Leaf Solutions

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When I first got started in business, I was afraid to talk to people about what I was doing. The real problem was that I didn’t know how to talk to people. I barley said, “Hi,” to people at my office job.

I started reading some of the traditionally recommended sales books: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie; How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling by Frank Bettger; and, How to Have Confidence and Power in Dealing with People by Les Giblin. As I read these books – once, twice, and then a third time; I realized that I could develop these skills.

No, not the sales skills. Those come after the people skills develop. Rather, I learned that by looking at people and saying, “Hello,” I could put a smile on their faces. I could share a little sunshine! I could share some positivity. I also learned to stop and listen to their responses.

Not everyone stops to listen.

I started connecting and learning about my coworkers. We started to have conversations, and I was given information about their lives, provided with a deeper understanding of who they are. I was able to connect on a personal level.

It brought joy to my life and lifted their spirits. I could, by a small act, share this little light of mine. Sometimes, I would catch myself diving right into business, and then back step into asking about them and their weekend or family. Then, I’d turn back to business. I still watch myself because I am task oriented and tend to dive right into the task ahead.

Once I started to develop communication skills because of the lessons learned from the books, I was seen by others as being more human, and it was easier to us to find common ground. I learned to smile more, and I did practice in the mirror!

Today, nearly four years later, I can easily talk to people. I can walk into a store and connect with someone for my business. I can have a conversation with a stranger and leave with a friend.

For example, this weekend on a youth retreat, I met two other youth groups and learned that one of them was from Louisville, Kentucky. One of my brothers lives in Louisville, which was a great connection to discuss further. When I learned that one of the leaders was my brother’s pastor, I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with him. I had only one desire – to genuinely learn about the pastor. His connection to my own family made the weekend that much more fulfilling. Is business in our future? Whether it is or not, I am fulfilled knowing I have a new connection… a new relationship to foster.

Now I go out into the world not to contact but to connect – to have an intentional conversation and to bring some sunshine into another person’s life. Maybe, if they express a need, I will invite them to check out what I am doing. My goal is to help others as much as possible; including to help them have fun, make money, and make a difference!

And, you know what!? My business has flourished since I’ve adopted this new perspective on talking to people.

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Contact Wil Becker at events@turningleafs.com or 1-443-404-7142

The post July 2022 appeared first on Led Me to This.