Be more like the Mayans!
As many of you know, the 2015 Mannatech Incentive will be at the Riviera Maya located on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico. Complete with white, sandy beaches, crystal blue waters and opportunities for snorkeling, spa treatments and exotic, savory dining, this incentive is sure to be one you don’t want to miss. While this area is largely a tourism and resort district today, it was once part of the ancient Mayan Empire, home to statuesque temples of an ingenious people group.
The Maya were quite brilliant in their time, and today we admire their intellect through the remnants of their architecture, art, mathematics and astronomy. If you get to attend this trip, you’ll have the chance to visit some of the beautiful ruins left behind from centuries ago. As we enter a new year and a new chance for you to make this trip, take a look at a few ways you can strive to be like the Maya!
- They always found a way – When archeologists examine the remains of Maya intricate agricultural systems, architecture and astronomical predictions, they are astounded that all of this was possible amongst such a lack of seemingly necessary resources. Though we aren’t sure how, the early Maya always found a way to tackle the impossible.
- They valued creativity – Did you know that the Maya were one of the first civilizations whose artists attached their name to their works? Art was not merely a job; it was a way to express oneself.1
- They planned ahead – Many people think the Maya calendar ended on December 21, 2012. However, the truth is that this was only one calendar cycle and the next predicted end date is not until October 13, 4772. While the Maya were certainly not predicting an end-of-the-world, cataclysmic event, they did plan in advance for generations that would come centuries after them.2
- They fought incessantly – While the overall belief may be that the Mayans were quickly and easily overthrown by the Spanish conquistadors, the truth is that it took around 170 years for the Spanish to completely take control of their region. Even without advanced weaponry, this group refused to give up without a fight!
- Their leadership was spread out – Unlike the Aztec and Inca empires, the Maya did not have a single political center that, when overthrown, led to the demise of the rest of the empire. Instead, they valued replication and saw the need to constantly develop new leaders.
- They thought outside the box – Astronomy was a huge aspect of Maya culture, and all visible heavenly bodies were studied extensively. However, Venus was the most important astronomical object to the Maya, more so than the obvious symbols of the sun and the moon. While other cultures studied what was easy to observe, the Maya chose to be defined by something rare.
- They built their empire with a destination in mind – Mayan temples and observatories were directionally constructed around the chartered orbits of stars and planets, and the aim was to get as close to the heavens as possible. They built their kingdom with purpose and a goal in mind, and they had a destination — up.
When you build your Mannatech business or want to excel in anything you do, try implementing some of these principles and you will surely soar to the top!
If you’re interested in learning more about the Maya Empire, check out National Geographic’s list of suggested best books on the subject. Maybe you can even take them to read on your trip with us next January!
Learn more about Mannatech incentive trips and the Mayan Riviera Challenge.
1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_civilization
2http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/12/20/mayan-calendar-if-the-world-is-ending-tomorrow-would-you-still/
