At risk of sounding too simplistic, our business philosophy is to make a positive difference in peoples' lives. The reality is that money lubricates life. When income exceeds expenses, money literally eliminates the stress of daily living and liberates people from financial demons. This allows people to be their best-selves - happy and comparatively free - at least on a financial dimension.
As such, and in a much broader context, our culture (our ethos) positively impacts society. This is much larger than a "business opportunity". Inherent in this is collectively, as a community, we elevate the quality-of-life for large groups of people who we support through education and through teaching to take purposeful, well-defined action(s).
We make a positive difference by paying attention to relationships and to the best of our ability, doing all we can to ensure others' success. This is inherently a process that happens over time - and with time, we build stable and lasting businesses that are built around our culture and sense of community. When applied to large numbers of people, the societal benefit becomes somewhat self-evident.
If you look at the real potential to build something to pass along to your heirs, there is no other way to approach what we do.
Friday, December 30, 2016
Permission Marketing
First, let me preface:
Without giving away too much about what makes our marketing group unique, it is safe to say that we seek to establish stable, long-term relationships. This is done within the context of a community. We rely on and support each other in building businesses that create financial stability. The kind of stability that evolves into higher and higher levels of prosperity. Individual by individual, this defines what we do as we grow participation in our groups.
This being said, how we initially approach and market to the groups we target has everything to do with the initial contact(s) we make. We do this through asking for permission (if they are receptive to?) receiving further information about what we offer.
In this context, the chapters that Seth Godin shares a great primer to get your head around how we build large, stable organizations. We are not mass marketers in the traditional sense, but very specifically and intentionally are thoughtful, courteous and methodical in our approach. This level of sophistication (both in terms of etiquette and strategy) is one of the key variables that sets us apart. Depending on the group we are marketing to, this has to be done right.
Without giving away too much about what makes our marketing group unique, it is safe to say that we seek to establish stable, long-term relationships. This is done within the context of a community. We rely on and support each other in building businesses that create financial stability. The kind of stability that evolves into higher and higher levels of prosperity. Individual by individual, this defines what we do as we grow participation in our groups.
This being said, how we initially approach and market to the groups we target has everything to do with the initial contact(s) we make. We do this through asking for permission (if they are receptive to?) receiving further information about what we offer.
In this context, the chapters that Seth Godin shares a great primer to get your head around how we build large, stable organizations. We are not mass marketers in the traditional sense, but very specifically and intentionally are thoughtful, courteous and methodical in our approach. This level of sophistication (both in terms of etiquette and strategy) is one of the key variables that sets us apart. Depending on the group we are marketing to, this has to be done right.
A Right Way and A Wrong Way
Is there a right way and a wrong way to approach a home business? Around the Holidays, between Thanksgiving and New Years (every year) there are always multiple promotions from different "follow me and my system" marketers. Typically, they host webinars and then have a campaign to follow-up (forever) until you unsubscribe.
There are a lot of clues left by this process. The problem is that for the vast majority of people, the skills sets required to execute this kind of "marketing funnel" to a targeted national or worldwide audience are well beyond their time and talent. So, even though there are many examples of state-of-the-art processes, building one yourself is an extremely tall order.
Some advocate "the only way" is through paid advertising and they will show you how to make it happen. Others sell the process itself and include landing page builders integrated with free offers and auto-responder campaigns. Many or most of these have affiliate programs and "the model" is to sell their tools and their process as an additional income stream. There are different levels of sophistication and integration that make all of the pieces of marketing funnels fit and work together.
The issue is this: it is really a full-time second job to learn and implement all of this stuff, and the commitment required to make it happen is simply beyond the capabilities of most people. Therefore, even if they invest in a course, a process, or a suite of tools... getting it all to work and having the skills to make it "hum" is a huge problem.
Therefore, somewhere between knowing + doing nothing - and - these state-of-the-art systems are some common sense best-practices that the majority of people can engage in to build a home business. At the end of the day, our "job" is to get our message of "what we do" in front of people for them to evaluate and then provide on-going information that reinforces the viability of making money and encouraging them to join in the effort to enhance their own income.
The most simple, first thing anyone can do is to point people to a company capture page with no other supporting resources (that talk about who you are as a marketer or a leader). However, you can piggy-back off of other people until you gain and build your own resources (like this blog and individual posts within it).
The key is to get started doing something/anything - and then building on your time and talents. This will differ for everyone based on your personality type, the skills you initially bring to the table, whether you have other commitments, including children and any number of other factors.
Short of investing thousands of dollars in your education to implement state-of-the-art systems, you have to find your sweet spot of engaging with your business. Your business is finding people who will embrace the idea of partnering with you to make money. We are "selling" participation and group-think. We are marketing a community of shared values. The key here is "buying into" a philosophy, as opposed to buying a business opportunity. We are not selling a "deal" as the means to our end, we are selling a culture of interdependence that will sustain everyone.
There are a lot of clues left by this process. The problem is that for the vast majority of people, the skills sets required to execute this kind of "marketing funnel" to a targeted national or worldwide audience are well beyond their time and talent. So, even though there are many examples of state-of-the-art processes, building one yourself is an extremely tall order.
Some advocate "the only way" is through paid advertising and they will show you how to make it happen. Others sell the process itself and include landing page builders integrated with free offers and auto-responder campaigns. Many or most of these have affiliate programs and "the model" is to sell their tools and their process as an additional income stream. There are different levels of sophistication and integration that make all of the pieces of marketing funnels fit and work together.
The issue is this: it is really a full-time second job to learn and implement all of this stuff, and the commitment required to make it happen is simply beyond the capabilities of most people. Therefore, even if they invest in a course, a process, or a suite of tools... getting it all to work and having the skills to make it "hum" is a huge problem.
Therefore, somewhere between knowing + doing nothing - and - these state-of-the-art systems are some common sense best-practices that the majority of people can engage in to build a home business. At the end of the day, our "job" is to get our message of "what we do" in front of people for them to evaluate and then provide on-going information that reinforces the viability of making money and encouraging them to join in the effort to enhance their own income.
The most simple, first thing anyone can do is to point people to a company capture page with no other supporting resources (that talk about who you are as a marketer or a leader). However, you can piggy-back off of other people until you gain and build your own resources (like this blog and individual posts within it).
The key is to get started doing something/anything - and then building on your time and talents. This will differ for everyone based on your personality type, the skills you initially bring to the table, whether you have other commitments, including children and any number of other factors.
Short of investing thousands of dollars in your education to implement state-of-the-art systems, you have to find your sweet spot of engaging with your business. Your business is finding people who will embrace the idea of partnering with you to make money. We are "selling" participation and group-think. We are marketing a community of shared values. The key here is "buying into" a philosophy, as opposed to buying a business opportunity. We are not selling a "deal" as the means to our end, we are selling a culture of interdependence that will sustain everyone.
Friday, December 16, 2016
The Community is Your Asset
There is a point of confusion that most digital marketers to not adequately address.
This entire blog talks about culture and community, and here's why.
Businesses (can) come and go. Unless you literally "own" the company - you are promoting someone else's opportunity. You are not in control of your business. What you do control, however, are the relationships, the "group think" and the alliances and common purpose you build with people.
This is your asset - and it is all relationship-based. Some call it your "list". And... the industry adage is "the money is in your list". Actually, some marketers advocate collecting names and having a lot of names to make different offers to - over time. As such, they say that this large list is the asset. I agree with this to a point, but am also inclined to disagree.
There is also the industry mantra of "know, like and trust". The admonition is that people need to know, like and trust you to do business with you. I have no argument with this. The question for me is that from a large "list", you may or may not have people who are currently participating with what you do - and putting money in your bank account. Therefore, all of the good will, liking and trusting is of no tangible monetary value.
Therefore, the notion of inter-dependence is key to my definition of community. Or said differently, having a stake, or "some skin in the game" is a requirement. As such, names and email addresses are of little utility other than the "potential" of them participating with you financially at some future date.
Again, the asset is the sum total of the relationships you build - one at a time - with the trust of everyone holding everyone else's best-interest as a core value. And, with the understanding that this community moves forward as its own economy where everyone has a vested interest in ensuring that all who participate have success.
This entire blog talks about culture and community, and here's why.
Businesses (can) come and go. Unless you literally "own" the company - you are promoting someone else's opportunity. You are not in control of your business. What you do control, however, are the relationships, the "group think" and the alliances and common purpose you build with people.
This is your asset - and it is all relationship-based. Some call it your "list". And... the industry adage is "the money is in your list". Actually, some marketers advocate collecting names and having a lot of names to make different offers to - over time. As such, they say that this large list is the asset. I agree with this to a point, but am also inclined to disagree.
There is also the industry mantra of "know, like and trust". The admonition is that people need to know, like and trust you to do business with you. I have no argument with this. The question for me is that from a large "list", you may or may not have people who are currently participating with what you do - and putting money in your bank account. Therefore, all of the good will, liking and trusting is of no tangible monetary value.
Therefore, the notion of inter-dependence is key to my definition of community. Or said differently, having a stake, or "some skin in the game" is a requirement. As such, names and email addresses are of little utility other than the "potential" of them participating with you financially at some future date.
Again, the asset is the sum total of the relationships you build - one at a time - with the trust of everyone holding everyone else's best-interest as a core value. And, with the understanding that this community moves forward as its own economy where everyone has a vested interest in ensuring that all who participate have success.
Our Marketing Sites (so far)
You can click on any of following sites to get a sense of how we approach market segmentation and drill down on specific groups, or geographic areas. You will note they are all "neutral" in terms of contact information and does not disclose nor link to the business that drives our incomes.
Also, you will note that each site is built on a FREE Google Sites host. They are simple, one page sites that encourage people to get back to the person who led them to the information. As you advance in your skill sets, you can develop your own.
In any event, here's the list:
Also, you will note that each site is built on a FREE Google Sites host. They are simple, one page sites that encourage people to get back to the person who led them to the information. As you advance in your skill sets, you can develop your own.
In any event, here's the list:
- 401Konundrum - Targeted to people who are about to retire, but have done a less than adequate job at saving and planning for it.
- Business Owners - Targeted to individually owned, small retail shops, food establishments, child care centers, contractors, etc.
- Independent Grad - Targeted to college students, including fraternities and sororities as well as student organizations. These can and should have discrete sites.
- Money Club - This site is Money Club Warwick, which is my "home town". It is obviously intended for local marketing. The Banner can be changed and used in any town, anywhere.
- Our Money Bus - This was one of the very early sites that is now primarily used as a follow-up site - to send people to as a further explanation. You will note that the video is used at the end of a couple of the other sites. This can stay or go, if you get to the point of creating your own sites..
- Union175 - Targeted to Unions of any labor stripe.
- Motivated Volunteers - Targeted to Fundraising Groups. Youth Sports, Religious Affiliated, School Groups... any group seeking to make money.
It is important that you understand that these are additional resources that are specific to our Marketing Community. There is a whole host of additional resources that our business provides and the larger marketing community provide.
Our group is one of many that all lead to our core business. You will note on my "About Me" page on this blog, I am just one person out of thousands carving out "one way" to get from Point A to Point B, in terms of educating people about what we do, and then enrolling them in our business.
One aspect of our training is to teach you how to "employ" any of these sites. Again, you need to develop some of your own resources to make this work. This will begin your learning curve.
The first thing will be to make a landing page that you tell people about yourself and the business. This will be a Google Site. It is not complicated and there are tons of YouTube videos that teach how to make it happen, in addition to our training.
The point here is, there are things to do, and things to know as you ramp up your skills and knowledge.
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
The Launch to Profitaiblity
This is critical. People need to launch to profitability as quickly as possible. This does not happen on its own - and therefore hand holding, cajoling or any other means of motivation in the first weeks is essential.
Perhaps a bit over-stated, but the general idea is that if people are in profit, there is no reason to quit. Therefore, initial profitability is a first little insurance policy. It follows that to get into profit, something needed to have been "done". It is a bit more complicated than wash, rinse, and repeat because at that point the "recruit" having just had their initial success - now has two roles, instead of one. In addition to finding people to get involved, they need to apply the skills necessary to support their newly enrolled person.
This defines the life cycle of our business: enroll and support. Or said differently: marketing and teaching. It defines the success cycle. We really only do two things: 1) find and enroll people into our business, and; 2) support them i whatever they need to be doing to become competent and profitable.
Perhaps a bit over-stated, but the general idea is that if people are in profit, there is no reason to quit. Therefore, initial profitability is a first little insurance policy. It follows that to get into profit, something needed to have been "done". It is a bit more complicated than wash, rinse, and repeat because at that point the "recruit" having just had their initial success - now has two roles, instead of one. In addition to finding people to get involved, they need to apply the skills necessary to support their newly enrolled person.
This defines the life cycle of our business: enroll and support. Or said differently: marketing and teaching. It defines the success cycle. We really only do two things: 1) find and enroll people into our business, and; 2) support them i whatever they need to be doing to become competent and profitable.
Literally: Our Business is Others' Success
Your main responsibility as a business owner (in our business) is to do all you can to ensure people [those you rely on for their monthly participation in your on-going income] have success. This happens on a number of levels, the most fundamental one is ensuring you develop a relationship and you engender a culture that includes a sense-of-belonging.
Servant leadership obviously involves serving. There is nothing more important than serving others and ensuring they are on track and have the skills and habits to apply on a daily basis. We are in the people development business. If "our" people are not evolving and gaining competencies (incrementally, day by day, week by week) then our business(es) will be made of sticks, and not of bricks. (Three Little Pigs analogy, intentional)
The tools of the trade in this regard are that of any other relationship. Phone calls, emails, texts, participation group training, getting on company calls. You need to get comfortable with asking the question, "What did you do to build your business today?" in the context of how can I help? Nothing happens in our business without "activity: and doing the things that will get what we do in front of other people for them to evaluate.
Your success is in direct proportion to the success of the people you support and work with. Your income is in direct proportion to the amount of money the people you are working with are earning. The size, stability and total dollar value that passes through your group is the asset you are working to build. However, please understand this point: economies are made of people. People drive business. If people go away, the money goes away... or said differently, everything is people-dependent.
You are building your own economy that is independent of your job, the State, or the National economy (other than owing taxes on what you earn). Our business is a people development business. If we engender competence, if you and I are competent and can pass along what we know - the money is a by-product of this value you bring to the equation.
Servant leadership obviously involves serving. There is nothing more important than serving others and ensuring they are on track and have the skills and habits to apply on a daily basis. We are in the people development business. If "our" people are not evolving and gaining competencies (incrementally, day by day, week by week) then our business(es) will be made of sticks, and not of bricks. (Three Little Pigs analogy, intentional)
The tools of the trade in this regard are that of any other relationship. Phone calls, emails, texts, participation group training, getting on company calls. You need to get comfortable with asking the question, "What did you do to build your business today?" in the context of how can I help? Nothing happens in our business without "activity: and doing the things that will get what we do in front of other people for them to evaluate.
Your success is in direct proportion to the success of the people you support and work with. Your income is in direct proportion to the amount of money the people you are working with are earning. The size, stability and total dollar value that passes through your group is the asset you are working to build. However, please understand this point: economies are made of people. People drive business. If people go away, the money goes away... or said differently, everything is people-dependent.
You are building your own economy that is independent of your job, the State, or the National economy (other than owing taxes on what you earn). Our business is a people development business. If we engender competence, if you and I are competent and can pass along what we know - the money is a by-product of this value you bring to the equation.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Ignorance is Expensive
This is a provocative title that is potentially off-putting. I understand.
It is really meant to be an attention grabber and nothing more. So allow me to apologize if it raised your eyebrow.
In writing about "ignorance being expensive", the reality is most people have not taken the time to understand the difference between active and passive income, not even mentioning how to make it happen.
Most people have a job and pay their bills and are content with the cards they have been dealt. They get up every Monday morning and do it again and trudge through to the following weekend. Of the active income they earn, perhaps some is saved. For most, little is invested. It is how most people describe (and end up in) the rat race.
All we are here to tell you is that there is an alternative. It is passive income. You do the work once, and the same money comes month after month after month - passively, and grows geometrically.
This is the model we operate under. Nothing more. It is not a magic pill, but merely describes what we do. Therefore, if you do not have stocks, or own real estate, have written a book and receive royalties or any other mechanism to realize residual income...
Simply, we invite those who may not know about "our world" to learn more.
It is really meant to be an attention grabber and nothing more. So allow me to apologize if it raised your eyebrow.
In writing about "ignorance being expensive", the reality is most people have not taken the time to understand the difference between active and passive income, not even mentioning how to make it happen.
Most people have a job and pay their bills and are content with the cards they have been dealt. They get up every Monday morning and do it again and trudge through to the following weekend. Of the active income they earn, perhaps some is saved. For most, little is invested. It is how most people describe (and end up in) the rat race.
All we are here to tell you is that there is an alternative. It is passive income. You do the work once, and the same money comes month after month after month - passively, and grows geometrically.
This is the model we operate under. Nothing more. It is not a magic pill, but merely describes what we do. Therefore, if you do not have stocks, or own real estate, have written a book and receive royalties or any other mechanism to realize residual income...
Simply, we invite those who may not know about "our world" to learn more.
Already have a successful business?
If you already have a successful business, what we do will complement (not compete with) what you currently do. As such, we are a diversification option.
There was an analogy that I heard recently that you cannot be the pastor of two churches under two denominations. The question posed was 'what do you really believe' and those who follow (attend your church) would have legitimate cause to wonder what your true convictions are? If you are marketing products within the same category, I would be inclined to agree... i.e. two weight loss products, two skin care lines, two anti-oxidant health drinks, two travel companies... name your deal...
We represent a tools, training and education"deal". Our business ramps quickly due to person-to-person commerce with no money going to the parent company, other than a monthly administrative fee to cover the back office and on-going product development.
Therefore, what we do, does not compete with product or service-based businesses. The closest thing we do compete with with"launches" and / or learning platforms - that provide tools, teach skills and have a monthly membership fee - associated to belong.
Therefore, we very casually expose our philosophy (first) to people who posture themselves as successful online. We share this blog and see if they choose to reach out to us. Many companies preach focus and fidelity and not chasing the next shiny object. Frankly, we are inclined to agree.
However, we are a great complement to any business, and; once people are established with their primary business, we would be shooting ourselves in the foot if not exposing current successful business builders to another viable source of complementary income.
There was an analogy that I heard recently that you cannot be the pastor of two churches under two denominations. The question posed was 'what do you really believe' and those who follow (attend your church) would have legitimate cause to wonder what your true convictions are? If you are marketing products within the same category, I would be inclined to agree... i.e. two weight loss products, two skin care lines, two anti-oxidant health drinks, two travel companies... name your deal...
We represent a tools, training and education"deal". Our business ramps quickly due to person-to-person commerce with no money going to the parent company, other than a monthly administrative fee to cover the back office and on-going product development.
Therefore, what we do, does not compete with product or service-based businesses. The closest thing we do compete with with"launches" and / or learning platforms - that provide tools, teach skills and have a monthly membership fee - associated to belong.
Therefore, we very casually expose our philosophy (first) to people who posture themselves as successful online. We share this blog and see if they choose to reach out to us. Many companies preach focus and fidelity and not chasing the next shiny object. Frankly, we are inclined to agree.
However, we are a great complement to any business, and; once people are established with their primary business, we would be shooting ourselves in the foot if not exposing current successful business builders to another viable source of complementary income.
Security
The definition of security differs for everyone. For some, having a "secure job" meets their definition. For others, being on a track for a secure retirement needs to fit into the equation. For many, the idea of not having to depend on someone else is key to their definition. In this sense, security has everything to do with control - and having the ability to control your life and your future.
Our market is not people who fit neatly into the first two categories and who are satisfied with their stable existence. Therefore, right off of the top, we can exclude 80% of the population who are employed and buying-in to the conventional American dream of a house, a car and meeting all of their bills.
Your potential success will be affected if you do not understand this reality. And, it begs the question of who we target as "higher" probability prospects. Are there groups/populations who inherently have an "itch to scratch" as it relates to security and improving their personal status quo? On the one end of the continuum are people who are unemployed or underemployed, which one would think makes them inherently "hungry". If you are to believe the current national statistics, this percentage of the population is now 4.6%. So, that will never get us there.
Then, if we apply the 80/20 rule, and assume that 80% of people think they are doing 'just fine', this leaves about 15% of people who have the attitude and aptitude to "innovate" and do something different in their lives. This is 15% of people who will take a risk, get out of their comfort zone - and who have the initiative and drive to do something more with their lives.
Therefore, your personal security is inherently dependent on finding and educating a minority of innovators and early adopters. It also points to the fact that you can waste a lot of time and money on chasing your tail in pursuing non-viable people. In other words, to work smart, you need to "get clear" on who our market is, and who it is not.
We will help you get there. To talk about these market segmentation strategies here, would really be tantamount to providing the keys to the cash box and are considered proprietary.
How, who, when, and why we target and approach potential business partners is both a fundamental skill and understanding that will contribute to your success and personal stability.
Our market is not people who fit neatly into the first two categories and who are satisfied with their stable existence. Therefore, right off of the top, we can exclude 80% of the population who are employed and buying-in to the conventional American dream of a house, a car and meeting all of their bills.
Your potential success will be affected if you do not understand this reality. And, it begs the question of who we target as "higher" probability prospects. Are there groups/populations who inherently have an "itch to scratch" as it relates to security and improving their personal status quo? On the one end of the continuum are people who are unemployed or underemployed, which one would think makes them inherently "hungry". If you are to believe the current national statistics, this percentage of the population is now 4.6%. So, that will never get us there.
Then, if we apply the 80/20 rule, and assume that 80% of people think they are doing 'just fine', this leaves about 15% of people who have the attitude and aptitude to "innovate" and do something different in their lives. This is 15% of people who will take a risk, get out of their comfort zone - and who have the initiative and drive to do something more with their lives.
Therefore, your personal security is inherently dependent on finding and educating a minority of innovators and early adopters. It also points to the fact that you can waste a lot of time and money on chasing your tail in pursuing non-viable people. In other words, to work smart, you need to "get clear" on who our market is, and who it is not.
We will help you get there. To talk about these market segmentation strategies here, would really be tantamount to providing the keys to the cash box and are considered proprietary.
How, who, when, and why we target and approach potential business partners is both a fundamental skill and understanding that will contribute to your success and personal stability.
Friday, December 9, 2016
Business is a Team Sport
There are a lot of ways to write about this. The obvious one is to make football or basketball analogies, and then have the discussion evolve to leadership with quarterbacks and point guards. Somehow, I think all this has already been done.
As such, I am not going to go in that direction, but more importantly want to contextualize "team" and what it means to "our" sport. So, let me start here: a team is a group of people who work together with the common goal of winning a game. Our game is money.
Teams practice and have coordinated strategies (plays) that define what everyone's role is for bursts of time. The question then becomes, what "plays" do we run and how do we coordinate among ourselves in our business? And, even before this, what drills do we run in practice to sharpen and refine fundamental skills and mechanics?
All of this is completely analogous to athletics. However, there are plenty of opportunities to learn about individual skills. The key to all of this, from my frame of reference, is how we coordinate our teams on a state-wide, national or worldwide basis? Some call it support, some call it being an effective sponsor... whatever the case, it should be obvious that we all do not end up in the showers together at the end of practice and give each other a lift home.
We talk about our business being a relationship business. We talk about the importance of understanding community as a core construct. Building a team (or) being a part of a team is simply another way to express the same thing.
If you want to have success, you need to embrace the fact that you can not "go-it-alone" and inherent in the process is a great deal of communication and coordination. Business is a team sport.
As such, I am not going to go in that direction, but more importantly want to contextualize "team" and what it means to "our" sport. So, let me start here: a team is a group of people who work together with the common goal of winning a game. Our game is money.
Teams practice and have coordinated strategies (plays) that define what everyone's role is for bursts of time. The question then becomes, what "plays" do we run and how do we coordinate among ourselves in our business? And, even before this, what drills do we run in practice to sharpen and refine fundamental skills and mechanics?
All of this is completely analogous to athletics. However, there are plenty of opportunities to learn about individual skills. The key to all of this, from my frame of reference, is how we coordinate our teams on a state-wide, national or worldwide basis? Some call it support, some call it being an effective sponsor... whatever the case, it should be obvious that we all do not end up in the showers together at the end of practice and give each other a lift home.
We talk about our business being a relationship business. We talk about the importance of understanding community as a core construct. Building a team (or) being a part of a team is simply another way to express the same thing.
If you want to have success, you need to embrace the fact that you can not "go-it-alone" and inherent in the process is a great deal of communication and coordination. Business is a team sport.
Saturday, November 26, 2016
Finding People to Support
This post is about mindset. The home-based business industry typically has used the words recruit, enroll, sponsor, get sign-ups... to define the activity of business building.
I want to tweak this just a bit. There is more to the proposition beyond the next silver ball being loaded - and then flung up to the top of the pin ball machine and left to bounce around - and then needing to be whacked to keep it in play.
When we "find people to support", the idea from the outset is that we need to understand how the person we are talking to. Our orientation has to be how we can help someone. In some cases, this will mean that we "turn down" people if we do not think they have a likelihood of success.
This comes down to our assessments of people as potential business partners. Have they taken the time to understand what we do? Do they have the ability to articulate our business philosophy of learning and teaching? Have they, in some manner, stated that they "get" that their life will inherently change and - by definition - be different? Are they willing to commit to this change?
These are the people we want to find to support. You will know you have a solid, long-term business when you are able to discriminate between who is worth investing your time in, who you are willing to take a chance on, and helping those you do not think there is a good match - understand why that is.
We do not want to "recruit people and see who sticks". You need to decide, as a business owner, that people are worthy of the investment of your time. The people we support need to demonstrate growth and learning. They need to communicate and be curious about "what's next"? If you are truly in business with someone, you will have a relationship with them and help them to incrementally become more competent. This takes regular contact and communication to build skills and habits.
So, BEFORE someone enrolls in this enterprise, you need to make some assessments. Do all you can to get to know people and ask some relevant questions regarding their need for change and what they are willing to commit to - to make it happen.
Set the expectation early that you will be an accountability partner and that they understand that no business builds itself. This is another way of saying that their effort is an expectation. Don't allow people to sell themselves short by being paralyzed by not knowing what to do. If they do not come up with things to do - tell them what to do, until they "get it". They will get it when they see returns from their effort.
This is a serious, life-changing proposition. Treat is as such. Procrastination is not an option.
I want to tweak this just a bit. There is more to the proposition beyond the next silver ball being loaded - and then flung up to the top of the pin ball machine and left to bounce around - and then needing to be whacked to keep it in play.
When we "find people to support", the idea from the outset is that we need to understand how the person we are talking to. Our orientation has to be how we can help someone. In some cases, this will mean that we "turn down" people if we do not think they have a likelihood of success.
This comes down to our assessments of people as potential business partners. Have they taken the time to understand what we do? Do they have the ability to articulate our business philosophy of learning and teaching? Have they, in some manner, stated that they "get" that their life will inherently change and - by definition - be different? Are they willing to commit to this change?
These are the people we want to find to support. You will know you have a solid, long-term business when you are able to discriminate between who is worth investing your time in, who you are willing to take a chance on, and helping those you do not think there is a good match - understand why that is.
We do not want to "recruit people and see who sticks". You need to decide, as a business owner, that people are worthy of the investment of your time. The people we support need to demonstrate growth and learning. They need to communicate and be curious about "what's next"? If you are truly in business with someone, you will have a relationship with them and help them to incrementally become more competent. This takes regular contact and communication to build skills and habits.
So, BEFORE someone enrolls in this enterprise, you need to make some assessments. Do all you can to get to know people and ask some relevant questions regarding their need for change and what they are willing to commit to - to make it happen.
Set the expectation early that you will be an accountability partner and that they understand that no business builds itself. This is another way of saying that their effort is an expectation. Don't allow people to sell themselves short by being paralyzed by not knowing what to do. If they do not come up with things to do - tell them what to do, until they "get it". They will get it when they see returns from their effort.
This is a serious, life-changing proposition. Treat is as such. Procrastination is not an option.
First Complement - Second Replace - Then Retire
In general, I hesitate in talking too extensively about money. Although any business success is ultimately "measured" by profitability, the money is the end and not the means... and without the means - talking about the end is simply a pipe dream. This having been said, there is a path to retirement with our business. The intent here is to share what this looks like.
The first goal is the first sale. It all begins here. We need to attract just one person who is interested and believes in what we do. This breaking-of-the-ice (and breaking even) is all important and will establish the first bit of conviction that what we do is viable and do-able - for you.
Being realistic, we then need to learn how to grow. As you grow, you can reach more things higher and higher on the learning tree and make connections between people and concepts. During this time, you complement your income. At first, it feels like tidbits and the return is not worth the investment. This is how it is for almost everyone. Things do not happen overnight for most people. You need to be prepared for this.
However, once you create momentum, compared to most businesses, replacing your income can happen relatively quickly. As an example, to replace a $60,000 income requires earning $5,000 a month. Given how our business leverages people and money, this requires a group of 28 people who are investing at $175 a month. This does not mean you need to find 28 people personally, but your group needs to be at 28 or 29 people. Typically, this would mean that you personally support 8-12 people.
"Relatively quickly" will vary for everyone. One a month will get you to 12 in a year. There are many examples of people getting to this level much more quickly. How quickly you grow really depends on your ability to help and develop your people. We encourage you to "go to school" on this. During the first year, look at $175 a month as a tuition payment as you learn to earn. By any objective standard, the "potential" of being able to consider retirement within a year is sobering. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to decide if this makes sense to you, and then, make it happen.
What will you need to retire? For most people at the most fundamental level, this means meeting all of your bills and covering your own health insurance and taxes, Very obviously, this is different for everyone, but again you now know the metrics of what it takes to get to $60K.
We leverage money through leveraging human development.. It is a wealth-building strategy that embraces peoples' competence as the key driver of success. We are community - culturally defined - as learners and teachers who are committed to ensuring each other's success.
If you can come to understand and trust that at our core, this is what drives us, you can and will represent us with the pride in knowing what we do is a socially redeemable enterprise.
The first goal is the first sale. It all begins here. We need to attract just one person who is interested and believes in what we do. This breaking-of-the-ice (and breaking even) is all important and will establish the first bit of conviction that what we do is viable and do-able - for you.
Being realistic, we then need to learn how to grow. As you grow, you can reach more things higher and higher on the learning tree and make connections between people and concepts. During this time, you complement your income. At first, it feels like tidbits and the return is not worth the investment. This is how it is for almost everyone. Things do not happen overnight for most people. You need to be prepared for this.
However, once you create momentum, compared to most businesses, replacing your income can happen relatively quickly. As an example, to replace a $60,000 income requires earning $5,000 a month. Given how our business leverages people and money, this requires a group of 28 people who are investing at $175 a month. This does not mean you need to find 28 people personally, but your group needs to be at 28 or 29 people. Typically, this would mean that you personally support 8-12 people.
"Relatively quickly" will vary for everyone. One a month will get you to 12 in a year. There are many examples of people getting to this level much more quickly. How quickly you grow really depends on your ability to help and develop your people. We encourage you to "go to school" on this. During the first year, look at $175 a month as a tuition payment as you learn to earn. By any objective standard, the "potential" of being able to consider retirement within a year is sobering. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to decide if this makes sense to you, and then, make it happen.
What will you need to retire? For most people at the most fundamental level, this means meeting all of your bills and covering your own health insurance and taxes, Very obviously, this is different for everyone, but again you now know the metrics of what it takes to get to $60K.
We leverage money through leveraging human development.. It is a wealth-building strategy that embraces peoples' competence as the key driver of success. We are community - culturally defined - as learners and teachers who are committed to ensuring each other's success.
If you can come to understand and trust that at our core, this is what drives us, you can and will represent us with the pride in knowing what we do is a socially redeemable enterprise.
Friday, November 25, 2016
Money is a By-Product of Service and Value
Having been in or around the online money-making industry since the beginning of the internet, I have seen things come and go. I am or have been on the email lists of many, many "gurus" who have marketed the latest and greatest systems, strategies and formulas.
I have been exposed to and evaluated "money-making opportunities" that are every color of the rainbow, at investment levels from 5 cents to $52,000. Systems that use phone broadcasting, to postcards, to auto-posting to social media, local guerilla marketing, email autoresponders and capture pages. And this is just the tip of the possibilities Frankly, all of these have their place (and) are a fit for some but not for others - based on your background and experience.
To put it like my father would have said it, there are more ways to make money than "you can shake a stick at". The corollary to this is that there is an equal number of people willing to impart advice on how to go about it. Frankly, I am just one of these people.
The common theme of all successful internet entrepreneurs / digital marketers is a point that I make in many other posts on this blog. Money is a By-Product of Service and Value. What this means is practical terms is that "success/money" is driven by supporting peoples' learning curves to competence. It follows that you need to have the knowledge and skills to impart.
The amount of money you will earn will grow incrementally with the level of service and value you provide. This is a direct correlation. This is an irrefutable "law" of online marketing. No skills and no value - beget no money. Therefore, your "job" is to increase your skills and value so you can be of higher and higher levels of service to those you directly support and the internet marketing community in general.
This is the reality, and how it should be. I hope you appreciate the candor.
To put it like my father would have said it, there are more ways to make money than "you can shake a stick at". The corollary to this is that there is an equal number of people willing to impart advice on how to go about it. Frankly, I am just one of these people.
The common theme of all successful internet entrepreneurs / digital marketers is a point that I make in many other posts on this blog. Money is a By-Product of Service and Value. What this means is practical terms is that "success/money" is driven by supporting peoples' learning curves to competence. It follows that you need to have the knowledge and skills to impart.
The amount of money you will earn will grow incrementally with the level of service and value you provide. This is a direct correlation. This is an irrefutable "law" of online marketing. No skills and no value - beget no money. Therefore, your "job" is to increase your skills and value so you can be of higher and higher levels of service to those you directly support and the internet marketing community in general.
This is the reality, and how it should be. I hope you appreciate the candor.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
The Seven Social Sins
At the end of the day, among all the ways we define ourselves, we are a social business. When I came across The Seven Social Sins, it was an "ah-ha" moment because these encapsulate so much of the Working Poor No More philosophy and what we strive to communicate to people in the process of evaluating whether to join us.
The Seven Social Sins are:
Commerce without morality is a key differentiator in our marketing community. You will find that truth and honesty drive every conversation to the point of discouraging people to join us if they can not commit to the change required in regard to fundamental lifestyle choices.
Hours need to be invested to build a business. People having the ability to negotiate the transition from old habits to new habits will succeed. Those who have the inability to focus and commit, less so. And, although not a sin, the 8th might be: "Success without change"... is simply an enduring principle that needs to be understood and embraced. You will not and can not be the same person if you create success with us. You need to understand this principle. Your life need and ought to be different in terms of the choices of how you utilize and invest minutes and hours of your day(s),
The Seven Social Sins are:
These represent our core values in regard to wealth, knowledge and commerce. Of course, the rest are all good ponder fodder. If you delve at any depth into this blog, you will find that wealth requires work, especially when like most of us, we start from nothing and incrementally build a business and better life.
- Wealth without work.
- Pleasure without conscience.
- Knowledge without character.
- Commerce without morality.
- Science without humanity.
- Worship without sacrifice.
- Politics without principle.
Commerce without morality is a key differentiator in our marketing community. You will find that truth and honesty drive every conversation to the point of discouraging people to join us if they can not commit to the change required in regard to fundamental lifestyle choices.
Hours need to be invested to build a business. People having the ability to negotiate the transition from old habits to new habits will succeed. Those who have the inability to focus and commit, less so. And, although not a sin, the 8th might be: "Success without change"... is simply an enduring principle that needs to be understood and embraced. You will not and can not be the same person if you create success with us. You need to understand this principle. Your life need and ought to be different in terms of the choices of how you utilize and invest minutes and hours of your day(s),
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Moral Authority
Isn't it interesting that a topic like Moral Authority is relevant in today's business environment, especially in the "home business" arena? I have thought about this topic for quite some time and reflected on my life experience to illustrate something that I hope will be beneficial.
I was trying to impress upon them that they need to stand for something. I wanted to convey that someone trusting you - implicitly - is the highest compliment and honor you can ever receive. There is a great deal more that I tried to do in helping (them) form their character, but you get the idea... So, this is a nice tidbit of family nostalgia... but what does it have to do with business and the subject of Moral Authority?
Moral Authority has everything to do with perceptions we create. We are in the business of managing perceptions and (to a degree) need to control what conclusions people draw about what we say and do. This is accomplished pretty easily if we simply choose to not over-inflate nor over-simplify. Moral authority is earned based upon consistent truthfulness and how we posture what we do.
This is why we lead with statements like, "Not everyone can do this... and, not everyone will be successful." We talk about needing to learn things and how difficult it is to integrate change into your life. We talk about competence and being worthy of being followed.
This is why we lead with statements like, "Not everyone can do this... and, not everyone will be successful." We talk about needing to learn things and how difficult it is to integrate change into your life. We talk about competence and being worthy of being followed.
As such, the people we attract to our business need to know that our motives are genuine and we have their best interest at heart. When we say "we help people" they need to feel it, not just hear the words. We need to demonstrate through the investment of time - teaching and helping people - that our actions align with our words.
In this context, our mission in attracting people to our community is pretty simple. And, moral authority must be at the foundation. If people do not trust us, they will not do business with us. Therefore, talking about the negatives is as equally as important as the positives.
This is just one more way we distinguish ourselves.
This is just one more way we distinguish ourselves.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
A Viable Means to Complement Treadmill Income
We try very hard to not over-inflate what we do and stay firmly grounded in the practical and reasonable. Our "appeal" is to anyone wanting or needing to stabilize their finances as a springboard to higher and higher levels of prosperity. However, if you spend any time learning about our philosophy of doing business, this pre-supposes a lot.
We strive to be perceived as calm and rational, and as the title states... to simply posture ourselves as a viable alternative in the total universe of money-making opportunities. Our goal is not to appeal to everyone, but to appeal to people who will invest the time necessary to understand, on a very pragmatic level, "why" we are a special organization to be a part of.
The title also mentions treadmill income. This infers that most people who will find what we do appealing - are looking to elevate themselves beyond their frustration with a life of squeaking by and barely "making it". People who go to a job every day, get a paycheck, meet their bills and then have little or nothing left to enjoy (or) have any quality of life.
What we offer does represent (one) viable means to complement treadmill income. As an initial step, we simply encourage people to learn about who we are, what we do, and how we do it.
That's it. Simple. Rationale. If it is for you: you decide. Our job is simply to convey the information.
We strive to be perceived as calm and rational, and as the title states... to simply posture ourselves as a viable alternative in the total universe of money-making opportunities. Our goal is not to appeal to everyone, but to appeal to people who will invest the time necessary to understand, on a very pragmatic level, "why" we are a special organization to be a part of.The title also mentions treadmill income. This infers that most people who will find what we do appealing - are looking to elevate themselves beyond their frustration with a life of squeaking by and barely "making it". People who go to a job every day, get a paycheck, meet their bills and then have little or nothing left to enjoy (or) have any quality of life.
What we offer does represent (one) viable means to complement treadmill income. As an initial step, we simply encourage people to learn about who we are, what we do, and how we do it.
That's it. Simple. Rationale. If it is for you: you decide. Our job is simply to convey the information.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Decent, Honorable People
As a business owner, I want to attract decent, honorable people. This is important on a number of levels, not the least of which are the implications of attracting the opposite.
In my "day job", I manage a group of 72 people. When I first introduce myself to any group I talk about having two extra eyes. I then go on to explain that I really mean they need to have to extra "i's". These two i's are initiative and integrity. Decent, honorable people, for the most part, have these two i's.
Let me tell you how I define them. Integrity means that you are doing what you are supposed to be doing when no one is watching. Initiative means that you do things on your own, without having to be told.
In our business, you need to engage in productive daily activity. Your sense of integrity needs to drive doing what you are supposed to be doing. Discipline is absolutely essential. And this rolls right into initiative because the only one you are accountable to is yourself.
However, the best organizations encourage teamwork and having an accountability partner. An accountability partner can be one of your business partners, it can be your spouse, it can really be anyone who is tuned into your daily activity. You need to "do" things to build your business. Nothing happens on its own.
When you get started, all your time is spent marketing (getting your message or what you offer) in front of people for them to evaluate. A portion of your time initially also needs to be spent building resources and learning tools. Then, progressively more and more of your time will be spent supporting and teaching people in your business.
To bring this full circle, attracting decent, honorable people simply makes things easier and you will grow your business on a much more solid foundation when you attract people who understand their own character and can commit to doing what it takes to be successful.
In my "day job", I manage a group of 72 people. When I first introduce myself to any group I talk about having two extra eyes. I then go on to explain that I really mean they need to have to extra "i's". These two i's are initiative and integrity. Decent, honorable people, for the most part, have these two i's.
Let me tell you how I define them. Integrity means that you are doing what you are supposed to be doing when no one is watching. Initiative means that you do things on your own, without having to be told.
In our business, you need to engage in productive daily activity. Your sense of integrity needs to drive doing what you are supposed to be doing. Discipline is absolutely essential. And this rolls right into initiative because the only one you are accountable to is yourself.
However, the best organizations encourage teamwork and having an accountability partner. An accountability partner can be one of your business partners, it can be your spouse, it can really be anyone who is tuned into your daily activity. You need to "do" things to build your business. Nothing happens on its own.
When you get started, all your time is spent marketing (getting your message or what you offer) in front of people for them to evaluate. A portion of your time initially also needs to be spent building resources and learning tools. Then, progressively more and more of your time will be spent supporting and teaching people in your business.
To bring this full circle, attracting decent, honorable people simply makes things easier and you will grow your business on a much more solid foundation when you attract people who understand their own character and can commit to doing what it takes to be successful.
A Community Approach to Income
Let me be clear. Earning vehicles come and go and should not be the ultimate determining factor in your decision to get involved with something.
Here's the point: the value in what we do is relationship-based. It is not about this deal or that opportunity, it is about the community that supports the concept of income generation. This is the asset. The network of positive, lasting relationships you build is directly proportional to the success you will have.
As such, the business is secondary (essentially). If you land on a good one, and it has "market permanence"... is well respected... all the better. This is not to advocate that we should all be looking for the next shiny object, but it does not negate the fact that when people are tied into the pulse of "what is working now", mass migrations can and should take place to capitalize on the next-big-thing.
This does not discount your core program or programs. I strongly believe that a strong core program is ideal. However, again, the value in what you build is not the payments you receive on a monthly basis, but the people making the payments.
Said differently, if you want success, it has to be about your people. The money will take care of itself if you build strong, caring, supportive relationships. If you don't care for, teach and help people in their progression to competency, frankly... you may have some success initially, but the odds are you will not maintain that level of success. If they are not profitable, you have a short-term asset.
Therefore, the title of this post, "A Community Approach to Income" speaks to the idea of "it takes a village". Communities share norms and values and culture... and so much more. Let me close by repeating this core construct: The asset (the value) in what you build is the human beings you come to know, like and respect as business partners. In this sense, our "work" is socially redeeming in that we elevate people's lives and as a community, we prosper together.
Again, be people-driven. The "long money" is a by-product of successful and mutually beneficial relationships. The more of these you have (the more people you mentor) the more money it will represent.
Here's the point: the value in what we do is relationship-based. It is not about this deal or that opportunity, it is about the community that supports the concept of income generation. This is the asset. The network of positive, lasting relationships you build is directly proportional to the success you will have.
As such, the business is secondary (essentially). If you land on a good one, and it has "market permanence"... is well respected... all the better. This is not to advocate that we should all be looking for the next shiny object, but it does not negate the fact that when people are tied into the pulse of "what is working now", mass migrations can and should take place to capitalize on the next-big-thing.This does not discount your core program or programs. I strongly believe that a strong core program is ideal. However, again, the value in what you build is not the payments you receive on a monthly basis, but the people making the payments.
Said differently, if you want success, it has to be about your people. The money will take care of itself if you build strong, caring, supportive relationships. If you don't care for, teach and help people in their progression to competency, frankly... you may have some success initially, but the odds are you will not maintain that level of success. If they are not profitable, you have a short-term asset.
Therefore, the title of this post, "A Community Approach to Income" speaks to the idea of "it takes a village". Communities share norms and values and culture... and so much more. Let me close by repeating this core construct: The asset (the value) in what you build is the human beings you come to know, like and respect as business partners. In this sense, our "work" is socially redeeming in that we elevate people's lives and as a community, we prosper together.
Again, be people-driven. The "long money" is a by-product of successful and mutually beneficial relationships. The more of these you have (the more people you mentor) the more money it will represent.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Money Alliance
This is what we do. This is who we are. We are an alliance of people who pool our knowledge and resources to make money. It is really not complicated. We share a common goal and are "allied" in achieving it.
The rest is just details. We market a subscription and need about 20-30 people participating (in a group) to replace most middle-class incomes. We collectively build to this point progressively and work with people to ramp up to profitability. There are no secret formulas or inside strategies... but just common sense and practical steps to understand and implement.
We reject the notions of simple and easy. The fact is that if simple and easy defined what we do, everyone would be doing it and be successful. We all know that this is not the case.
Our job is to find people who will take the time to understand what we do. Informed people with whom we develop a level of trust, choose to join us. Again, it is really not complicated. The challenge is to simply "expose" as many people as we can to what we do and how we do it.
That's where little articles and blog posts like this come in. This is meant to educate. Nothing more. People make judgments about our authenticity. This is fair and as it should be. Not everyone "gets it" or buys-in. This is what makes the world go round. We do not want people to think they have landed in money nirvana and things will miraculously happen.
However, for those willing to lean in, with their eyes wide open - and are willing to apply focused effort to achieve a goal, our Money Alliance is one of the better places you can choose to invest your energy and resources.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
A Time and Place
Sounds like a movie title... actually it is the name of a song by Mike and the Mechanics. But a time and place in this context has everything to do with things you choose.
During the time you choose to "work", you will inherently be somewhere. But where? Do you (will you) have a place that is free of distraction? Are you willing to turn off the television and focus? Can you find a space in your home to go to and close the door? The obvious implication here is that you will enhance your chances of success if you do.
If you work a day job, the obvious thing is that you will need to focus on your business during the evening. If you work second shift, the reverse is true. Understanding "time" is more important to your success than just about any other factor. You will need to consciously choose to alter the way you have lived your life. This means choosing to invest hours of your day(s) in different ways.
This change and sacrifice will reward you with success. And, here's the truth: most people can't do it. The question is whether you can. I talk about this change as the core element that people need to embrace and understand. No change, no difference, no success. It is that fundamental.
Therefore, a time and place has everything to do with doing something different. Where you are in your house at 7 pm is an indicator that you are taking this seriously. Not on the sofa in front of the TV, but in your bedroom at a make-shift desk. Not hanging out with pals on Social Media, or playing computer games, but locked into meeting a daily goal that will build your business.
Consciously choose to create a different life. At first, there is NO reward. The reward is the change itself. You need to believe that the change will pay off. I am not going to tell you it will... you need to develop your own belief. The closest I will come is to say that your discipline and commitment will be the best measure of the level of success you will have.
The best place to start is understanding a time and place.
During the time you choose to "work", you will inherently be somewhere. But where? Do you (will you) have a place that is free of distraction? Are you willing to turn off the television and focus? Can you find a space in your home to go to and close the door? The obvious implication here is that you will enhance your chances of success if you do.
If you work a day job, the obvious thing is that you will need to focus on your business during the evening. If you work second shift, the reverse is true. Understanding "time" is more important to your success than just about any other factor. You will need to consciously choose to alter the way you have lived your life. This means choosing to invest hours of your day(s) in different ways.
This change and sacrifice will reward you with success. And, here's the truth: most people can't do it. The question is whether you can. I talk about this change as the core element that people need to embrace and understand. No change, no difference, no success. It is that fundamental.
Therefore, a time and place has everything to do with doing something different. Where you are in your house at 7 pm is an indicator that you are taking this seriously. Not on the sofa in front of the TV, but in your bedroom at a make-shift desk. Not hanging out with pals on Social Media, or playing computer games, but locked into meeting a daily goal that will build your business.
Consciously choose to create a different life. At first, there is NO reward. The reward is the change itself. You need to believe that the change will pay off. I am not going to tell you it will... you need to develop your own belief. The closest I will come is to say that your discipline and commitment will be the best measure of the level of success you will have.
The best place to start is understanding a time and place.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Tax Form 1099
A 1099 is a tax form that is required to report Independent Contractor earnings. This is something you register for with the company you are working with. An initial "litmus test" of whether a business is legitimate (or is flying the seat of their pants) is if they are requiring you to fill out and submit 1099 paperwork as a part of their enrollment process.
Statements like, "Your taxes are your responsibility and it is assumed you will do the right thing" are a red flag and simply indicates that the "deal" you are considering does not have the administrative sophistication to track and then report your earnings to you (and the government).
Therefore, if you are at the stage of trying to discriminate between "this one and that one" in terms of money-making opportunities, ask (or find out) if they provide you with a 1099. If they do not, it is reasonable cause for concern and you should be asking if you want to hitch your wagon to their "opportunity" if you are serious about building a stable, long-term business.
In this context, and by extension, depending on your tax bracket and in doing your calculations of "what it will take" to quit your job, take 25-30% off the top for taxes. Start saving all of your receipts, and begin considering that if you have not done it before, you may want to be filing a 1040 long form - like a real business.
Here's why: if your mindset is in the right place, you will be running a real business that will legitimately provide you with the earnings that will require leveraging tax advantages.
Statements like, "Your taxes are your responsibility and it is assumed you will do the right thing" are a red flag and simply indicates that the "deal" you are considering does not have the administrative sophistication to track and then report your earnings to you (and the government).
Therefore, if you are at the stage of trying to discriminate between "this one and that one" in terms of money-making opportunities, ask (or find out) if they provide you with a 1099. If they do not, it is reasonable cause for concern and you should be asking if you want to hitch your wagon to their "opportunity" if you are serious about building a stable, long-term business.
In this context, and by extension, depending on your tax bracket and in doing your calculations of "what it will take" to quit your job, take 25-30% off the top for taxes. Start saving all of your receipts, and begin considering that if you have not done it before, you may want to be filing a 1040 long form - like a real business.
Here's why: if your mindset is in the right place, you will be running a real business that will legitimately provide you with the earnings that will require leveraging tax advantages.
Sunday, November 13, 2016
What Is There to Lose?
This is standard rhetoric, right? It's twin is, "hey, give it a chance... what have you got to lose"? So, let's talk about it.
I recently wrote a post about risk aversion and people having the fear of losing their money. OK. So this is on the table. If things don't work out for you, you stand to lose some money. I get it. No judgment here. Many need to choose the safe route and consider it the mature and responsible thing to do, especially if living month to month and hand-to-mouth. If this is you, God bless you.
But for those willing to take the next step, what else is there to lose? Time invested? Personal credibility, especially if you are not successful? Failed aspirations and not achieving a goal? Suffice it to say that there are may things "riding" on success or failure. This is the reality. This is life. You can probably add items and create your own list of how you stand to lose.
When I studied abroad, about two weeks into my experience I was really questioning my decision to go to Columbia (he country). I didn't understand the language, I was a very tall guy in a very short culture, I could not express myself adequately... and then one of the faculty members said this to me, "It is better to regret having done something than to regret never having done it at all". That brief bit of sage advice changed my attitude toward that experience and is advice I have relied on in the balance of my life.
As such, let me frame, "what you have to lose" this way. You lose knowing if you could have made something work for yourself. You lose the possibility of a brighter future that more stable finances will enable. You miss out on finding out if a community actually exists that will help you learn and grow and prosper.
This is not a cheesy attempt to appeal to the devil and the angel on each of your shoulders whispering in your ear. It is simply meant to be something to consider in evaluating information - as you gather all the facts in deciding whether or not to join us.
We encourage your hard analysis and wish you the best in your decision-making process as we hope to welcome you into our learning community.
I recently wrote a post about risk aversion and people having the fear of losing their money. OK. So this is on the table. If things don't work out for you, you stand to lose some money. I get it. No judgment here. Many need to choose the safe route and consider it the mature and responsible thing to do, especially if living month to month and hand-to-mouth. If this is you, God bless you.
But for those willing to take the next step, what else is there to lose? Time invested? Personal credibility, especially if you are not successful? Failed aspirations and not achieving a goal? Suffice it to say that there are may things "riding" on success or failure. This is the reality. This is life. You can probably add items and create your own list of how you stand to lose.
When I studied abroad, about two weeks into my experience I was really questioning my decision to go to Columbia (he country). I didn't understand the language, I was a very tall guy in a very short culture, I could not express myself adequately... and then one of the faculty members said this to me, "It is better to regret having done something than to regret never having done it at all". That brief bit of sage advice changed my attitude toward that experience and is advice I have relied on in the balance of my life.
As such, let me frame, "what you have to lose" this way. You lose knowing if you could have made something work for yourself. You lose the possibility of a brighter future that more stable finances will enable. You miss out on finding out if a community actually exists that will help you learn and grow and prosper.
This is not a cheesy attempt to appeal to the devil and the angel on each of your shoulders whispering in your ear. It is simply meant to be something to consider in evaluating information - as you gather all the facts in deciding whether or not to join us.
We encourage your hard analysis and wish you the best in your decision-making process as we hope to welcome you into our learning community.
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Fear of Pulling the Trigger
Most people understand that it takes money to make money... in most cases. The amount of money varies and the amount invested is typically correlated to the size of the return that can be expected.
Serious propositions, however, do not always require "serious" investments. Our business is typical of this. The upside potential compared to the initial investment required is significantly in favor of the upside potential.
But, here's the kicker: people are risk averse. Or, they have a fear of pulling the trigger and parting with the money to get started. This is why you need to learn all you can. Cross the t's and dot the i's. Ask questions and analyze. At the end of the day, you will be smarter and better off for doing so.
However, at the end of this process, you need to decide. The key in the ignition of our income vehicle is the initial investment. It is the trigger that releases the firing pin that strikes the shell, that explodes powder, that launches the bullet that spins out of the barrel to make a killing financially.
If you are risk averse, this won't happen. Do your homework and create some belief in yourself and in what we do. The rest is just learning and execution.
Serious propositions, however, do not always require "serious" investments. Our business is typical of this. The upside potential compared to the initial investment required is significantly in favor of the upside potential.
But, here's the kicker: people are risk averse. Or, they have a fear of pulling the trigger and parting with the money to get started. This is why you need to learn all you can. Cross the t's and dot the i's. Ask questions and analyze. At the end of the day, you will be smarter and better off for doing so.
However, at the end of this process, you need to decide. The key in the ignition of our income vehicle is the initial investment. It is the trigger that releases the firing pin that strikes the shell, that explodes powder, that launches the bullet that spins out of the barrel to make a killing financially.
If you are risk averse, this won't happen. Do your homework and create some belief in yourself and in what we do. The rest is just learning and execution.
Counter Culture
The term "counter-culture" is typically associated with hippies in the 60's. Hippies were a sub-group of the population. I don't need to describe them, other than that they were driven by different norms and values that made them distinct. If you saw a guy with a beard, hair to the middle of his back and wearing a peace patch on a vest, he was called a hippie.
Flower child, tree hugger, and crunchy granola are all derivatives, but each gives this same subset of our society a slightly different definition, again based on what they espouse, what they eat, their position on the environment...
I encourage you to think of our movement (our culture) in similar terms. We are different from the mainstream. We know and teach things that separate us from the norms of a job or career, a bi-weekly paycheck, getting up to be at work at 6 am (if you are like me), chronic exhaustion... and in general "living a life a quiet desperation".
How many times have you heard someone say, "there has to be a better way"? In our humble opinion, we are this "better way". Frankly, it is not about this business or that opportunity, these are fluid and can change. At the core of what we do is the culture and community of entrepreneurship that aligns you "with" and "in" a community of learners and earners. It is about being a part of a group of people that value skills and competence. It is about how we elevate people to a level of understanding that nothing is accomplished without effort.
This is the "counter" culture. We welcome people who are open to learning "what it takes", and then carve the time out of their lifestyles to make it happen. You need a plan - to succeed. We provide the frame, you build the rest of the structure. Not everyone can do it. If they could, we would not be a "subset" of society. What we do requires a unique kind of person who understands the big picture and is willing to grind it out to get there.
Most people do not have the perseverance or tenacity to make it happen. This is why the failure rate is so high. In every sense of the word: it is work. It requires changes to your lifestyle and how you spend hours of your day. We will love to help you, but when you step through the door, hopefully, this helps you do so with your eyes wide open.
Flower child, tree hugger, and crunchy granola are all derivatives, but each gives this same subset of our society a slightly different definition, again based on what they espouse, what they eat, their position on the environment...
I encourage you to think of our movement (our culture) in similar terms. We are different from the mainstream. We know and teach things that separate us from the norms of a job or career, a bi-weekly paycheck, getting up to be at work at 6 am (if you are like me), chronic exhaustion... and in general "living a life a quiet desperation".
How many times have you heard someone say, "there has to be a better way"? In our humble opinion, we are this "better way". Frankly, it is not about this business or that opportunity, these are fluid and can change. At the core of what we do is the culture and community of entrepreneurship that aligns you "with" and "in" a community of learners and earners. It is about being a part of a group of people that value skills and competence. It is about how we elevate people to a level of understanding that nothing is accomplished without effort.
This is the "counter" culture. We welcome people who are open to learning "what it takes", and then carve the time out of their lifestyles to make it happen. You need a plan - to succeed. We provide the frame, you build the rest of the structure. Not everyone can do it. If they could, we would not be a "subset" of society. What we do requires a unique kind of person who understands the big picture and is willing to grind it out to get there.
Most people do not have the perseverance or tenacity to make it happen. This is why the failure rate is so high. In every sense of the word: it is work. It requires changes to your lifestyle and how you spend hours of your day. We will love to help you, but when you step through the door, hopefully, this helps you do so with your eyes wide open.
Friday, November 11, 2016
Build Your Own Wall
With the election just passed, there is a level of uncertainty to what will evolve in our country. Of all the issues that are going to be turned on their heads - the economy, taxes, income inequality, the minimum wage... many of these may have a bearing on you and your family in the months and years to come.
Building Your Own Wall is a strategy to deal with this uncertainty. It is intended to inoculate you from the potential volatility that the new administration can instigate and use Donald Trump's concept of making America strong by taking care of Americans first. One of his proposals is to build a physical wall. We build a conceptual wall.
The wall we build is a financial one - that will enable you to create an economy for yourself that is independent of your job, the national economy and all of the traditional notions of how income is earned and money is made. We want you to think about building an income fortress that keeps the "greater economy" at bay, and provide you with the vehicle to create your own economy that is based upon your skills [and] over which you have complete control.
Essentially, this defines our community. We have created our own "space" and are a specialized and innovative subset within the larger economy. We are an interconnected and inter-dependent group of business builders that care for and take care of each other. We advocate and engender competence as our driving core value. We build a wall of security that keeps the demons of want and lack at the foot of the rampart and welcome anyone inside to learn more.
Building Your Own Wall is a strategy to deal with this uncertainty. It is intended to inoculate you from the potential volatility that the new administration can instigate and use Donald Trump's concept of making America strong by taking care of Americans first. One of his proposals is to build a physical wall. We build a conceptual wall.
The wall we build is a financial one - that will enable you to create an economy for yourself that is independent of your job, the national economy and all of the traditional notions of how income is earned and money is made. We want you to think about building an income fortress that keeps the "greater economy" at bay, and provide you with the vehicle to create your own economy that is based upon your skills [and] over which you have complete control.
Essentially, this defines our community. We have created our own "space" and are a specialized and innovative subset within the larger economy. We are an interconnected and inter-dependent group of business builders that care for and take care of each other. We advocate and engender competence as our driving core value. We build a wall of security that keeps the demons of want and lack at the foot of the rampart and welcome anyone inside to learn more.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Important to Understand and Put in Context
You may want to expand the video to full page, then come back to read the commentary. Hit play, then while playing, expand to 'Full Screen' in the lower right corner. To return here from the Full Screen, hit 'Esc' at the upper left of your keyboard.
There is so much to say about this. It is potentially a big black eye on our industry unless you understand how it differs from what we do and put this video in its proper context.
First, let me get something out of the way. I was a part of a class action lawsuit in 1992 against NuSkin. As the video states, I was "garage qualified". NuSkin's model had a monetary threshold to qualify for executive bonuses. It is kind of embarrassing to think back on, but let me simply say, "been there, done that", to the tune of $3K a month. Whether I was a naive dreamer, or I was duped doesn't really matter now, just suffice it to say that I intimately and painfully understand the "voice" John Oliver is representing.
Second, let me say that I enjoy his humor, generally. And, although he denigrates Network Marketing in this piece, I can't say that I absolutely disagree with everything he says - especially for tangible, product-based MLM's.
So, how do we differ? First, our products are digital information products that are delivered over the internet. We don't inventory anything that does not exist on your computer hard drive. The value we create is in building people who build a business in a community of competence. This is a good thing.
Second, our compensation model does drive width and depth, but it is not completely analogous due to fundamental structural differences. We collect 100% of payments and do not have an over-ride component for uplines... there are more factors... not the least of which is that of the money we earn, the CEO does not receive a penny - ever. However, the money is not the point here. The point is what we do is different than what is described in this video.
It does get a bit dicey when splitting hairs about the notion of being a "pyramid scheme'". John Oliver does a pretty effective job of lampooning the idea of a pyramid and attempts to distinguish the accepted corporate pyramid from an MLM pyramid. He attempts to make the point that if you are selling products to retail customers it is probably a legitimate business. However, if you are only "moving product" through your network, it is probably a pyramid. We are a hybrid due to the fact that we are a subscription, no different than a financial newsletter.
Another hallmark of pyramid schemes is a guarantee of returns. We are required to not make income claims and discourage using potential earnings as a "carrot". We stress that you earn in direct correlation to the value you provide. Check this one off.
And, smack dab in the middle of all this are the real estate and insurance industries, using a closely allied compensation system. How do they get a free pass? And what about franchises? Or, the in-home sales home improvement industry?
We do business with self-selected people who participate in our community that is interconnected and interdependent - and who choose to invest their personal resources. This benefits those who participate under the umbrella of an agreed-upon business model. Our market consists of people who want to attain financial security. Instead of homes or life insurance, people have the option to choose something allied to what we do. We sell a system, a platform to earn money between informed and consenting adults.
Someone needs to explain how this is unreasonable and deserving of derision? In fact, I advocate that this is socially redeeming and worthy "work" due to the fact that we change peoples' finances, we impact lives, raise self-esteem and are relevant to a whole host of other positive attributes.
Can anyone do it, and will everyone be successful? We know the answer to this one. But the problem is not the business model. The problem is people's ability to adapt to and integrate change into their lives (first), and; having the aptitude to learn and apply new things i.e. execute and implement (second), then; teaching what they have learned to others to perpetuate a culture of competence. No, not everyone can do it, otherwise, everyone would be. Many people can not adapt to the change required. If people try and fail, they need to look no further than the mirror. It has nothing to do with the business model, other than it inherently relies on the transfer of skills and knowledge.
John Oliver is not really being unfair in this piece - but you need to understand, he is not talking about what we do. Take pride and understand that our mission is to help people in what has been described by our CEO as a "culture of assistance". What we do is worthy,
I will repeat this simple truth: what we do is worthy. John Oliver is talking about "the old" segment of our industry and to a degree, this segment legitimately warrants its comeuppance.
Going to School in Our Community
What we do is not unlike going to school. The difference is that you will be paid to do so. Leave no doubt however that there are things to learn, skills to develop, tools to use. All of this requires effort and commitment.
I talk about managing and incorporating "change" in many places, so I do not want to make this the focus here. My goal is to convey what the nitty-gritty of what all this means (as a practical matter) if you "buy in" to consciously choosing to alter how you spend hours of your day consistently and with perseverance in joining our community.
So what do you need to know? What skills will you need to acquire?
Initially, most everything is / can be done on the Google platform. Using Gmail "for all it is worth" is an important first skill. This involves simple things like setting up multiple accounts and understanding how to use them for different purposes. When you get more advanced, you will want to invest in an autoresponder, but Gmail will get you where you need to go initially.
Then, there is understanding the back office of our business and what it can do for you. It has tools and strategies you can follow. There are training videos in the back office and on YouTube. There are Facebook groups. There are weekly training calls and webinars... Getting "tuned into" all of this stuff is important initially.
These two things should happen relatively quickly. When you get things rolling, and you have these fundamentals under your belt, you will want to understand who our market is and how to reach them. You will need to make decisions about "what you will do" to build your business. This varies for everyone, but Internet Marketing (or) Online Business inherently shares the common feature of computer use. There are strategies to use social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram...) Later,
If you have the "chops" to do so, you can create a blog to brand yourself. You don't necessarily need to create all of the content, but can aggregate and curate information and create an online presence to enhance your credibility.
All of this happens incrementally. Step by step, day by day, you "go to school" and learn new things. All of these things are geared toward getting what you are offering in front of people for them to evaluate. To make it really simple, this will / should occupy half of your time initially. You need to be constantly learning new things - creating resources and applying them to what we do. The other half of your time needs to be engaged in working with other people to help and support them in the same process. This involves seeking out the right people and resources to get questions answered that will enable you to implement / execute.
Beyond all of the learning and teaching, the bottom line is this: our job is to get what we have to offer in front of people for them to evaluate. At the end of the day, the more people we expose, the more money we will make. Not everyone will be interested. Our job is to work with the ones who are - and help them determine if what we do is a good fit for themselves and their families.
I talk about managing and incorporating "change" in many places, so I do not want to make this the focus here. My goal is to convey what the nitty-gritty of what all this means (as a practical matter) if you "buy in" to consciously choosing to alter how you spend hours of your day consistently and with perseverance in joining our community.
So what do you need to know? What skills will you need to acquire?
Initially, most everything is / can be done on the Google platform. Using Gmail "for all it is worth" is an important first skill. This involves simple things like setting up multiple accounts and understanding how to use them for different purposes. When you get more advanced, you will want to invest in an autoresponder, but Gmail will get you where you need to go initially.
Then, there is understanding the back office of our business and what it can do for you. It has tools and strategies you can follow. There are training videos in the back office and on YouTube. There are Facebook groups. There are weekly training calls and webinars... Getting "tuned into" all of this stuff is important initially.
These two things should happen relatively quickly. When you get things rolling, and you have these fundamentals under your belt, you will want to understand who our market is and how to reach them. You will need to make decisions about "what you will do" to build your business. This varies for everyone, but Internet Marketing (or) Online Business inherently shares the common feature of computer use. There are strategies to use social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram...) Later,
If you have the "chops" to do so, you can create a blog to brand yourself. You don't necessarily need to create all of the content, but can aggregate and curate information and create an online presence to enhance your credibility.
All of this happens incrementally. Step by step, day by day, you "go to school" and learn new things. All of these things are geared toward getting what you are offering in front of people for them to evaluate. To make it really simple, this will / should occupy half of your time initially. You need to be constantly learning new things - creating resources and applying them to what we do. The other half of your time needs to be engaged in working with other people to help and support them in the same process. This involves seeking out the right people and resources to get questions answered that will enable you to implement / execute.
Beyond all of the learning and teaching, the bottom line is this: our job is to get what we have to offer in front of people for them to evaluate. At the end of the day, the more people we expose, the more money we will make. Not everyone will be interested. Our job is to work with the ones who are - and help them determine if what we do is a good fit for themselves and their families.
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Got 'Em? Great - If Not, Get 'Em
If you bring skills to the table that will contribute to your success, great. This article will tell you what these skills are. If you don't, you need to be willing to commit to learning them.
So, what are the skills and tools you need? At the most fundamental level there is something we call getting "Google-ized". This includes:
So, what are the skills and tools you need? At the most fundamental level there is something we call getting "Google-ized". This includes:
- Gmail - having Gmail accounts and understanding all they have to offer is fundamental. As examples, knowing how to create an account that is specifically set to reply automatically. How to create a hyperlink that directs people to another place on the internet. Understanding that you can have multiple Gmail account for different purposes.
- Google Voice - you can have a free phone to used for business purposes and to use as a texting platform
- As you evolve, you will want to understand Blogger and Sites and have the ability to "create" content and share it. These resources will position you as an authority in whatever you choose to talk about.
Then, there is the back office of our business and understanding the marketing tools including the capture page system and the other free (and) pay-to-play tools. There is email capability here too.
Again, as you evolve, you will want to understand Social Media and how this "figures" into your mix. There are things called "business pages" that are separate from your personal page. There are groups you will want to be aware of and become a part of. In addition to Facebook and Twitter, there is Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest... and the rest of the Social Media rabbit hole.
Having a private autoresponder (Aweber, GetResponse, MailChimp, any of the many others) will be in your future, again, as you surpass the fundamentals of getting started.
This gives you an idea of the "stuff" that makes the toolkit of an online marketer. If you have "no interest" in learning any of this, then what we offer will not be a good fit for you.
If you can invest a bit of time everyday learning and applying these skills, then there is every reason to expect that you will have success. Nothing happens without learning and growth.. and then having the ability to pass along and help others learn and integrate what you know.
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Building Trust
Relationships develop over time. With time, and with the ups and downs that all relationships take, you develop trust. After all, how do you judge that someone or something is being reliably truthful? How do you know that you are not being "fed" bunk and people are not simply trying to put their hand on your wallet?
There is a communication dynamic called "instant intimacy". In communication terms, it is not really the same thing as love at first sight. The process of information exchange typically (in normal social interactions) go through layers of information from public, then social, then personal and finally (over time) intimate information. Instant intimacy is really instant trust to allow people into your world and to engage in intimate topics.
The reason what we do is at times, tough - is that "money" is a very personal/intimate topic for most people, especially if you don't have enough of it. As marketers, we violate and blast right through the outer two layers of information exchange. So, how do we compensate for this?
As you will find out as you become more familiar with our business philosophy, first and foremost, we are a relationship-centered, community-based and culturally grounded model. We encourage "look before you jump" and "learn all you can" kinds of reasonableness. But at the same time, before we lose people, there has to be an element of instant intimacy to capture people's attention and a handful of their belief.
As such, everything we do, everything we say has to be viewed as "refreshingly honest". It has to be different and unique in the marketplace of money opportunities. It has to be both reasonable and well-reasoned. There is no room for anything other than genuine and earnest information with the inherent goal of developing trust.
It is somewhat sad in industry and marketing terms - that the central thesis here is to simply be honest. What does this say about marketing in general? In any event, this is how we roll. We want to move people through an information acquisition process and be as transparent and candid as we can.
In doing so, we hopefully build and earn trust.
There is a communication dynamic called "instant intimacy". In communication terms, it is not really the same thing as love at first sight. The process of information exchange typically (in normal social interactions) go through layers of information from public, then social, then personal and finally (over time) intimate information. Instant intimacy is really instant trust to allow people into your world and to engage in intimate topics.
The reason what we do is at times, tough - is that "money" is a very personal/intimate topic for most people, especially if you don't have enough of it. As marketers, we violate and blast right through the outer two layers of information exchange. So, how do we compensate for this?
As you will find out as you become more familiar with our business philosophy, first and foremost, we are a relationship-centered, community-based and culturally grounded model. We encourage "look before you jump" and "learn all you can" kinds of reasonableness. But at the same time, before we lose people, there has to be an element of instant intimacy to capture people's attention and a handful of their belief.
As such, everything we do, everything we say has to be viewed as "refreshingly honest". It has to be different and unique in the marketplace of money opportunities. It has to be both reasonable and well-reasoned. There is no room for anything other than genuine and earnest information with the inherent goal of developing trust.
It is somewhat sad in industry and marketing terms - that the central thesis here is to simply be honest. What does this say about marketing in general? In any event, this is how we roll. We want to move people through an information acquisition process and be as transparent and candid as we can.
In doing so, we hopefully build and earn trust.
What Do You Want?
...and what are you going to do to get it?
Let's put a little sharper point on the pencil here. We are talking about money. Money lubricates life. If you are not meeting your bills rights now... if you want something you can't afford right now... if you have college loans to pay... if you are not set up well for retirement and have no realistic Plan B... name your need:_____________________.
No matter the reason for you needing more money, addressing these needs is (and will remain) a dream or a wish unless you have a strategy to close the gap between where you are, and where you want to be.
What we do is offer ONE option. ONE alternative. ONE thing for you to consider. The reality is that there are a million ways to make money. You only need ONE. What we do may or may not be that ONE thing. Our point is that if you brush off what we do and don't have a serious look, you are significantly short-changing yourself (your life, your future).
Money is fuel. It powers the things you want in life. You won't know if our fuel is dry garss and twigs, or if it is liquid nitrogen under pressure - until and unless you give what we do a fair "read", an honest evaluation and compare it to every other thing you have ever heard of and considered as a way to make money.
You owe this to yourself and to your family - if you have one.
Let's put a little sharper point on the pencil here. We are talking about money. Money lubricates life. If you are not meeting your bills rights now... if you want something you can't afford right now... if you have college loans to pay... if you are not set up well for retirement and have no realistic Plan B... name your need:_____________________.
No matter the reason for you needing more money, addressing these needs is (and will remain) a dream or a wish unless you have a strategy to close the gap between where you are, and where you want to be.
What we do is offer ONE option. ONE alternative. ONE thing for you to consider. The reality is that there are a million ways to make money. You only need ONE. What we do may or may not be that ONE thing. Our point is that if you brush off what we do and don't have a serious look, you are significantly short-changing yourself (your life, your future).
Money is fuel. It powers the things you want in life. You won't know if our fuel is dry garss and twigs, or if it is liquid nitrogen under pressure - until and unless you give what we do a fair "read", an honest evaluation and compare it to every other thing you have ever heard of and considered as a way to make money.
You owe this to yourself and to your family - if you have one.
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Broke and Broken
This post is going to be a bit tough, but it is the unvarnished reality. You won't find many people who are trying to recruit warm bodies, do the numbers and see who sticks... talking about this.
From our perspective, we want to be selective and help people we introduce to what we do and self-select. In this context, here's the deal: you will not build a business working with broke and broken people. Yes, this may sound harsh, but unfortunately, it is absolutely true.
First, let's address broke. Being in business inherently involves the creation of commerce (the exchange of money for something of value). Many people are simply not wired for this. The "why" behind this is not easily answered. However, the broad stroke on this topic is that people who have been surviving month to month and living hand-to-mouth simply do not have the risk tolerance to do anything outside of their current experience and comfort zone. Therefore, they remain "stuck". They don't have (and won't risk) the money it takes to get out of their box. There is no judgment here. It is a safe way to survive. However, it erases a huge segment of what otherwise could be a much larger potential market. If, for about the price of a dinner out for two (a month) - to get started in a business that can absolutely be life-altering is too much... this in all probability this qualifies someone as broke.
Second, many people are broken (or) their notions about what we do are broken. I am not going to go down this rabbit hole too far. There are so many reasons why this is the case... and as many scenarios as there are people. I will say however thr number of past failures in home-based-business "type deals" is a big one. The readily available social pronouncement of direct sales opportunities with an organization-building component as "scams" is another. People "buy" these arguments as valid without a complete examination. This is "the way it is" for some people. Again, no judgment. Everyone has and is entitled to their opinion.
Our goal and our role is to find people who are not broke or broken. There are plenty of bright and eager people who are receptive to creating an additional source of income. Our job is to find them and guide them through an information-gathering process. And, they must have the risk tolerance to reach into their pocket for the first time and part with a sum of money that they will recover completely with their first sale.
This is the truth. It is intended to: 1) be a barometer for you to use (for yourself) if you are considering joining us, and; 2) if you are already in a business - to understand that you absolutely only want to work with people who have the ability to rise above their mindset of being broke, or elevate themselves beyond being broken.
The reality is this: many, many people are stuck. We can't spend our time helping people get out of their ditch who are sitting in their car, gunning the gas, and spinning their wheels. We need to find those who already have the boards under the tires and their shoulder to the bumper and are simply thankful for someone to come along and give them a hand to get back on the road and continue on their journey.
They are out there. Our role is to find and educate them about what we do.
From our perspective, we want to be selective and help people we introduce to what we do and self-select. In this context, here's the deal: you will not build a business working with broke and broken people. Yes, this may sound harsh, but unfortunately, it is absolutely true.
First, let's address broke. Being in business inherently involves the creation of commerce (the exchange of money for something of value). Many people are simply not wired for this. The "why" behind this is not easily answered. However, the broad stroke on this topic is that people who have been surviving month to month and living hand-to-mouth simply do not have the risk tolerance to do anything outside of their current experience and comfort zone. Therefore, they remain "stuck". They don't have (and won't risk) the money it takes to get out of their box. There is no judgment here. It is a safe way to survive. However, it erases a huge segment of what otherwise could be a much larger potential market. If, for about the price of a dinner out for two (a month) - to get started in a business that can absolutely be life-altering is too much... this in all probability this qualifies someone as broke.
Second, many people are broken (or) their notions about what we do are broken. I am not going to go down this rabbit hole too far. There are so many reasons why this is the case... and as many scenarios as there are people. I will say however thr number of past failures in home-based-business "type deals" is a big one. The readily available social pronouncement of direct sales opportunities with an organization-building component as "scams" is another. People "buy" these arguments as valid without a complete examination. This is "the way it is" for some people. Again, no judgment. Everyone has and is entitled to their opinion.
Our goal and our role is to find people who are not broke or broken. There are plenty of bright and eager people who are receptive to creating an additional source of income. Our job is to find them and guide them through an information-gathering process. And, they must have the risk tolerance to reach into their pocket for the first time and part with a sum of money that they will recover completely with their first sale.
This is the truth. It is intended to: 1) be a barometer for you to use (for yourself) if you are considering joining us, and; 2) if you are already in a business - to understand that you absolutely only want to work with people who have the ability to rise above their mindset of being broke, or elevate themselves beyond being broken.
The reality is this: many, many people are stuck. We can't spend our time helping people get out of their ditch who are sitting in their car, gunning the gas, and spinning their wheels. We need to find those who already have the boards under the tires and their shoulder to the bumper and are simply thankful for someone to come along and give them a hand to get back on the road and continue on their journey.
They are out there. Our role is to find and educate them about what we do.
Consulting / Coaching / Advising
At the end of the day, if you wanted a description of what we do, the goal is to be a consultant and coach. We advise and counsel and help people determine if they think we can help them through working collaboratively toward financial prosperity.
First, we consult with people and provide information. We, as business owners, evolve through information acquisition to the point of becoming experts at what we do. Our "job" is to match people who have the mindset, drive, and resources (with) our business model and our business philosophy. In this sense, we do not "sell". We simply guide people through an information and decision-making process. For the prospect, this is a real bargain, because we offer this service for free.
Second, our role is to coach. In many places on this blog, I use the word "teach". I compare the process to going to school. You need to learn, then take what you have learned and teach it to others. This continuity of information being passed along engenders competence at all levels of your organization. It is the at the core of everyone's success.
This "concept" of competence takes precedence over anything else. The business, the business model, the business philosophy... all do not matter unless they are all being competently "driven". Literally, we teach / coach people how do drive our income vehicle.
If you are willing to learn, then teach what you have learned... if you are willing to support and hold others accountable for their effort (or lack of effort)... if you can see yourself being grounded in a foundation of helping others elevate themselves from financial stress and all of the life issues that accompany "lack"... then you can do this.
It is good, redeemable, socially valuable "work". We genuinely help people become stronger, better, smarter and through all of this: financially stable. When you get to the point of believing that this is what you do, there is not stopping anyone from embracing success.
First, we consult with people and provide information. We, as business owners, evolve through information acquisition to the point of becoming experts at what we do. Our "job" is to match people who have the mindset, drive, and resources (with) our business model and our business philosophy. In this sense, we do not "sell". We simply guide people through an information and decision-making process. For the prospect, this is a real bargain, because we offer this service for free.
Second, our role is to coach. In many places on this blog, I use the word "teach". I compare the process to going to school. You need to learn, then take what you have learned and teach it to others. This continuity of information being passed along engenders competence at all levels of your organization. It is the at the core of everyone's success.
This "concept" of competence takes precedence over anything else. The business, the business model, the business philosophy... all do not matter unless they are all being competently "driven". Literally, we teach / coach people how do drive our income vehicle.
If you are willing to learn, then teach what you have learned... if you are willing to support and hold others accountable for their effort (or lack of effort)... if you can see yourself being grounded in a foundation of helping others elevate themselves from financial stress and all of the life issues that accompany "lack"... then you can do this.
It is good, redeemable, socially valuable "work". We genuinely help people become stronger, better, smarter and through all of this: financially stable. When you get to the point of believing that this is what you do, there is not stopping anyone from embracing success.
Alan Shawn Feinstein
I live in Rhode Island. To most people in this state, the "named" in this post is well known. He gives significant amounts of money to education and then requires schools be named after him. He still advertises on TV promoting his foundation and philanthropic efforts. His career has not been without controversy, but overall he is perceived as a good man with a lot of money who attempts to do good in the world. You can look up his Wiki.
The interesting thing here is how this "self-made" man garnered his wealth? Among being a stamp trader and buying and selling (the physical) Babe Ruth's contract - a significant percentage of his money came from selling a subscription to newsletters. One was called "The Wealth Maker", and another called "International Insider's Report". He also wrote booklets called, "How To Make Money" and "How to Make Money Fast".
So what does this have to do with what we do? It is reported that Feinstein, at his peak, had a circulation / subscription of about 400,000 (a month). To get to this number, he bought lists from brokers and did direct mail marketing, he also advertised in magazines... (Neither of these we do or advocate).
Although I have not been able to find the number, for illustration purposes, let's say his subscription was $10 a month. For the time it lasted, that is $4 million a month. These are lofty numbers and explain why he can give money away in million dollar chunks. Thirty-six million a year spells success by anyone's standard.
What we do is completely parallel. We provide the structure (the platform) that enables you to market a subscription. However, instead of having a 400K subscriber base, you need the participation of about 30 people. Or, to tweak this just a bit, most people need 30 people to replace their income.
The question very simply becomes, "Do you think there are 30 people in this world (who you, along with those in your group can find) that are seeking to change their financial circumstances?" We explain the money and how it works in the next step of your research. However, suffice it to say, the monthly commitment is a "sweet spot" of affordability and the out-of-pocket risk is minimal if you get busy and treat your business as a business.
Get back to the person who led you here. Find out more. Find out all you can. Decisions are a function of information. The information is free. Your life, your future, your happiness could be in the balance. All we ask at this juncture is that you do your homework, then decide if it might be a potential "fit".
The interesting thing here is how this "self-made" man garnered his wealth? Among being a stamp trader and buying and selling (the physical) Babe Ruth's contract - a significant percentage of his money came from selling a subscription to newsletters. One was called "The Wealth Maker", and another called "International Insider's Report". He also wrote booklets called, "How To Make Money" and "How to Make Money Fast".
So what does this have to do with what we do? It is reported that Feinstein, at his peak, had a circulation / subscription of about 400,000 (a month). To get to this number, he bought lists from brokers and did direct mail marketing, he also advertised in magazines... (Neither of these we do or advocate).
Although I have not been able to find the number, for illustration purposes, let's say his subscription was $10 a month. For the time it lasted, that is $4 million a month. These are lofty numbers and explain why he can give money away in million dollar chunks. Thirty-six million a year spells success by anyone's standard.
What we do is completely parallel. We provide the structure (the platform) that enables you to market a subscription. However, instead of having a 400K subscriber base, you need the participation of about 30 people. Or, to tweak this just a bit, most people need 30 people to replace their income.
The question very simply becomes, "Do you think there are 30 people in this world (who you, along with those in your group can find) that are seeking to change their financial circumstances?" We explain the money and how it works in the next step of your research. However, suffice it to say, the monthly commitment is a "sweet spot" of affordability and the out-of-pocket risk is minimal if you get busy and treat your business as a business.
Get back to the person who led you here. Find out more. Find out all you can. Decisions are a function of information. The information is free. Your life, your future, your happiness could be in the balance. All we ask at this juncture is that you do your homework, then decide if it might be a potential "fit".
Friday, September 30, 2016
Money Instructions
Instructions provide detailed information about how something should be done. As such, instructions are free of bias. They do not favor anything. Instructions just tell you what to do. When you bake a cake out of a box: 1) preheat the oven... When you assemble a grill: 1) remove contents from packaging and inspect... We have all followed instructions since we could read.
What if there were a recipe or assembly instructions to make money? First, do this. Second, do this. Third... Then at the end, you will have assembled money. Can it be that easy?
At great risk of oversimplification, the answer is actually "yes". It all starts with Step 1, which is learning all you can about our Marketing Group and philosophy of doing business. Step 2 is learning about the vehicle we use to make money. Step 3 is to get your questions answered. Step 4 is deciding to join us.
Once you decide to get involved, there is a whole new set of instructions. These instructions are tailored to you, based upon your circumstances, the amount of time you can invest, your past experience with sales and marketing... and then putting together a set of instructions that you will follow to enable your success. These instructions differ for everyone. Some might call it a game plan... or a strategy... But the adage applies here: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
When considering all of this, you should keep in mind that there are many people very generously profiting from what we do. However, more importantly, you need to know it "doesn't just happen". It ALL requires thought and effort.
So, let me bring this back to Step 1. Find out all you can about us. Read this blog. Be in touch with the person who led you here and ask about the vehicle we use to make money. Ask tough questions and be a skeptic. It's all good.
Prove to yourself that earning money is as easy as following a set of instructions.
We did. Again, Step 1 is to learn all you can. Study "us" like your entire future depends on it.
What if there were a recipe or assembly instructions to make money? First, do this. Second, do this. Third... Then at the end, you will have assembled money. Can it be that easy?
At great risk of oversimplification, the answer is actually "yes". It all starts with Step 1, which is learning all you can about our Marketing Group and philosophy of doing business. Step 2 is learning about the vehicle we use to make money. Step 3 is to get your questions answered. Step 4 is deciding to join us.
Once you decide to get involved, there is a whole new set of instructions. These instructions are tailored to you, based upon your circumstances, the amount of time you can invest, your past experience with sales and marketing... and then putting together a set of instructions that you will follow to enable your success. These instructions differ for everyone. Some might call it a game plan... or a strategy... But the adage applies here: if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
When considering all of this, you should keep in mind that there are many people very generously profiting from what we do. However, more importantly, you need to know it "doesn't just happen". It ALL requires thought and effort.
So, let me bring this back to Step 1. Find out all you can about us. Read this blog. Be in touch with the person who led you here and ask about the vehicle we use to make money. Ask tough questions and be a skeptic. It's all good.
Prove to yourself that earning money is as easy as following a set of instructions.
We did. Again, Step 1 is to learn all you can. Study "us" like your entire future depends on it.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Participatory Economics
If the title seems a bit dense, bear with me as I explain.
The central notion of Participatory Economics is that we can produce the conditions that enable you to achieve financial stability. In time, the goal is to achieve prosperity and ultimately, wealth. Participatory Economics is a process. It is a philosophy. It is a strategy. You control the level of participation through the investment of your time, effort and resources.
On the most basic level, we share and participate in an "idea". This idea - literally - is that we create our own economy - individually (and) collectively. We are a community of people with the shared purpose of putting money woes in the rear view mirror. For far too many people, money is an adversary. It doesn't need to be this way.
So, how do we do it?
We describe what we do as achieving financial independence through financial inter-dependence. As adults (of intelligence and having the powers of judgment and discernment) - we subscribe to a common idea, pool common resources and create a common experience. In this case, the common experience is financial stability through cooperation and helping ourselves through helping others. At the end of the day, our model compares favorably to a "club" with each member owning individual responsibility for the greater, common good of the group, and also benefiting personally from their involvement.
Our "idea" is based on individuals who take the time to understand and (then) consent to being involved with a community of people who utilize the mechanics of leveraging money to the benefit of everyone who participates. In this sense, we create our own economy. Fundamentally, we are our own economy.
We share a common culture and core set of beliefs and values. We share information, knowledge and collective wisdom in a community of support and culture of assistance. In the process of all of this, we help people change their relationship to money and to how they earn a living.
All you need to do is to figure out if any of this makes sense to you. Right now, this is all happening - without you. This is not a "take away", but simply to say that there is an active and vital community you can choose to join that will support you in your quest to change your financial circumstances. Right now, you can choose to reach out to the person who pointed you here and engage in your first conversation on the phone or via email. You have everything to gain by simply learning about what we do and deciding if it "fits" with whatever criteria you measure it against.
The ultimate decision is yours as to whether you can make it work. We are here to provide information and to assist you in making a decision whether joining us makes sense for you at this time in your life. We will be happy to hear from you.
The central notion of Participatory Economics is that we can produce the conditions that enable you to achieve financial stability. In time, the goal is to achieve prosperity and ultimately, wealth. Participatory Economics is a process. It is a philosophy. It is a strategy. You control the level of participation through the investment of your time, effort and resources.
On the most basic level, we share and participate in an "idea". This idea - literally - is that we create our own economy - individually (and) collectively. We are a community of people with the shared purpose of putting money woes in the rear view mirror. For far too many people, money is an adversary. It doesn't need to be this way.
So, how do we do it?
We describe what we do as achieving financial independence through financial inter-dependence. As adults (of intelligence and having the powers of judgment and discernment) - we subscribe to a common idea, pool common resources and create a common experience. In this case, the common experience is financial stability through cooperation and helping ourselves through helping others. At the end of the day, our model compares favorably to a "club" with each member owning individual responsibility for the greater, common good of the group, and also benefiting personally from their involvement.
Our "idea" is based on individuals who take the time to understand and (then) consent to being involved with a community of people who utilize the mechanics of leveraging money to the benefit of everyone who participates. In this sense, we create our own economy. Fundamentally, we are our own economy.
We share a common culture and core set of beliefs and values. We share information, knowledge and collective wisdom in a community of support and culture of assistance. In the process of all of this, we help people change their relationship to money and to how they earn a living.
All you need to do is to figure out if any of this makes sense to you. Right now, this is all happening - without you. This is not a "take away", but simply to say that there is an active and vital community you can choose to join that will support you in your quest to change your financial circumstances. Right now, you can choose to reach out to the person who pointed you here and engage in your first conversation on the phone or via email. You have everything to gain by simply learning about what we do and deciding if it "fits" with whatever criteria you measure it against.
The ultimate decision is yours as to whether you can make it work. We are here to provide information and to assist you in making a decision whether joining us makes sense for you at this time in your life. We will be happy to hear from you.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Subscribe to a New Life
What if you could just "enroll" to change your finances? What if a monthly subscription, with the ability to enroll other subscribers enabled you to do just that?
This is what we do. In the most straightforward and refreshingly honest way we can muster, we provide a voice that aspires to elevate your belief that "changing your life" is possible. We then go a step further and also provide a platform for you to consider to make it happen.
The title of this post, "Subscribe to a New Life" simplifies our business from the most basic concept of a recurring monthly commitment - that can and will - result in a liberated life that you can live on your own terms.
There is so much more to it - that you can find in the other posts on this blog. The point here is this: you can choose to subscribe. You can choose to work toward a liberated life.
Our goal (our job) is to simply expose you to one way to get there.
This is what we do. In the most straightforward and refreshingly honest way we can muster, we provide a voice that aspires to elevate your belief that "changing your life" is possible. We then go a step further and also provide a platform for you to consider to make it happen.
The title of this post, "Subscribe to a New Life" simplifies our business from the most basic concept of a recurring monthly commitment - that can and will - result in a liberated life that you can live on your own terms.
There is so much more to it - that you can find in the other posts on this blog. The point here is this: you can choose to subscribe. You can choose to work toward a liberated life.
Our goal (our job) is to simply expose you to one way to get there.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
An Appeal to Sensibilities
We market a subscription to make money. If this is taking a moment to sink in, let's rearrange the words. To make money, we market a subscription.
Essentially, this is our business model. It is a model that enables the development and growth of monthly income. For the same / predictable / fixed amount that you invest each month, you have the opportunity to receive an unlimited number of subscriptions equal to the same amount - directly deposited into your bank account.
Stable, consistent, predictable money. This is not a license to wave a wand and "poof" - it just happens. But at the end of the day, when you have the knowledge, skills, and habits to generate these deposits, it is really a matter of doing the same thing over and over again.
Like many things, the concept is simple. However, making it happen is not easy. If it were, everyone would be doing it.
I talk about the obstacles in many other posts on this blog. The biggest one is most peoples' inability to adapt to change and incorporate new things into their lives / lifestyles.
For this post, I want to keep the "conversation" at a high level and aspirational. Without the hype, I simply and realistically want to point to the possibility of something that is potentially life altering. To get there, you need to learn all you can, analyze and judge, then jump on board if you think what we do is viable and makes sense.
Our goal as a community is to help. We teach what we do. We teach how to find, educate and enroll subscribers. Sensibly. Practically. Realistically. While at the same time, strenuously advocating for and engendering the ethos of community, shared experience and financial inter-dependence.
Essentially, this is our business model. It is a model that enables the development and growth of monthly income. For the same / predictable / fixed amount that you invest each month, you have the opportunity to receive an unlimited number of subscriptions equal to the same amount - directly deposited into your bank account.
Stable, consistent, predictable money. This is not a license to wave a wand and "poof" - it just happens. But at the end of the day, when you have the knowledge, skills, and habits to generate these deposits, it is really a matter of doing the same thing over and over again.
Like many things, the concept is simple. However, making it happen is not easy. If it were, everyone would be doing it.
I talk about the obstacles in many other posts on this blog. The biggest one is most peoples' inability to adapt to change and incorporate new things into their lives / lifestyles.
For this post, I want to keep the "conversation" at a high level and aspirational. Without the hype, I simply and realistically want to point to the possibility of something that is potentially life altering. To get there, you need to learn all you can, analyze and judge, then jump on board if you think what we do is viable and makes sense.
Our goal as a community is to help. We teach what we do. We teach how to find, educate and enroll subscribers. Sensibly. Practically. Realistically. While at the same time, strenuously advocating for and engendering the ethos of community, shared experience and financial inter-dependence.
Friday, September 23, 2016
Subscription Income: Become the Magazine Publisher or the Cable Company
We build a subscriber base - on a couple of levels.
First, we ask people to subscribe to our ideas. We seek people who are willing to adopt our philosophy and values. Our goal is to build a community that is driven by competence. Competence infers knowledge and skills, learning and teaching and being a professional at what we do.
Second, we ask people to subscribe to a monthly commitment of money. This is just like any other subscription, whether it be a magazine, a cable bill or a health club membership.
The difference is this: you become the magazine publisher or the cable company. You are the one collecting monthly subscription payments. In return for your single monthly investment that you make to someone else, you put yourself in the position to receive many multiple subscription payments to you.
Ultimately we put you in the position to create your own economy. We develop a community of people who share a common understanding and vision, which can (relatively quickly) develop into a full-time income.
It works - and is easy to understand. Month after month after month - you build a subscriber base that grows and grows and grows. All you have to do is share the idea like we are doing here.
It is new. It is technology enabled. It is simple. It is clean. It makes sense. We are eager to fill in the details for you.
First, we ask people to subscribe to our ideas. We seek people who are willing to adopt our philosophy and values. Our goal is to build a community that is driven by competence. Competence infers knowledge and skills, learning and teaching and being a professional at what we do.
Second, we ask people to subscribe to a monthly commitment of money. This is just like any other subscription, whether it be a magazine, a cable bill or a health club membership.
The difference is this: you become the magazine publisher or the cable company. You are the one collecting monthly subscription payments. In return for your single monthly investment that you make to someone else, you put yourself in the position to receive many multiple subscription payments to you.
Ultimately we put you in the position to create your own economy. We develop a community of people who share a common understanding and vision, which can (relatively quickly) develop into a full-time income.
- Our business model compounds money through the application of well understood and time-tested financial mechanics. Our business avails these to you.
- We create leveraged residual income employing a simple, automatic monthly subscription. Our business provides the structure to make this happen.
It works - and is easy to understand. Month after month after month - you build a subscriber base that grows and grows and grows. All you have to do is share the idea like we are doing here.
It is new. It is technology enabled. It is simple. It is clean. It makes sense. We are eager to fill in the details for you.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
What Have you Done, Today?
It doesn't matter what it is. Listen, some people have time. Some people have money. Some people have skills. Many don't have skills.
If you have money, you can invest in tools to automate some of the functions of your business. If you don't, you have to take a slower path that will inherently require more grunt work. No matter your starting point, you NEED to be doing something to get "whatever you have to offer" in front of people to evaluate - TODAY.
In our business,this involves getting people to online information where they can look at videos, be directed to blog posts, have the opportunity to read third party reviews and begin the evaluation process of whether what we do will be a good fit for them.
The biggest mistake most "new" people make is spending all of their time initially learning things and not "taking action" to get their message in front of people. It doesn't matter what this might be: social media, distributing flyers in your neighborhood, walking into businesses and talking to business owners... (this is talked about elsewhere on this blog). The key is: from day one, do something / anything that smells like marketing (getting your message in front of people for them to evaluate).
Get it? Got it? Good.
If you have money, you can invest in tools to automate some of the functions of your business. If you don't, you have to take a slower path that will inherently require more grunt work. No matter your starting point, you NEED to be doing something to get "whatever you have to offer" in front of people to evaluate - TODAY.
In our business,this involves getting people to online information where they can look at videos, be directed to blog posts, have the opportunity to read third party reviews and begin the evaluation process of whether what we do will be a good fit for them.
The biggest mistake most "new" people make is spending all of their time initially learning things and not "taking action" to get their message in front of people. It doesn't matter what this might be: social media, distributing flyers in your neighborhood, walking into businesses and talking to business owners... (this is talked about elsewhere on this blog). The key is: from day one, do something / anything that smells like marketing (getting your message in front of people for them to evaluate).
Get it? Got it? Good.
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Group Think
Let's not over-complicate this. What we do at the most foundational level is build a community (a group of people) who think alike in regard to:
- a strategy to make money
- shared values
- financial inter-dependence
- mutual support
- learning and teaching as the keys to success
- commitment to the long-term
These are at the core. The vehicle we use to make money could be anything. The community we build and belong to is the most important aspect of your business. It is about relationships and belonging. It is about honesty and building on small successes that build into larger and larger successes.
It looks and smells like integrity due to the very real sentiment of people caring for each other and leaving financial struggle in the rear view mirror.
It is about the sacrifice of your time to help others understand the tools and techniques that we use and are necessary to use. This is the work we do. We help people understand and grow into competence.
Unless we are developing competencies in our "group", the money won't matter, because it will never happen. Part of this skill set is watching out for and caring for the people who are looking to you for guidance.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Earning Platforms
The goal for any business is to make money. Broadly, any business is an earning platform. It doesn't matter what the business is. At the end of the day, money is exchanged for something of real or perceived value.
Our business is an earning platform. It provides the structure to take a relatively small amount of money and leverage it into larger and larger amounts of money. It is straightforward and systematic geometric growth.
The key to (y)our growth is understanding that competence has to be at the center of this earnings universe. There is no winging it. What we do requires competent knowledge, that leads to skills and taking these knowledge and skills and competently applying effort to tell other people what we do -and how they can get involved.
It is our platform - no different than a political party platform - that has pillars that the whole proposition stands on. Knowledge, competence and effort applied in intelligent and productive ways. There is no need for bluster and to make income claims. What anyone else "makes" has no bearing on your income. What someone else "makes" is simply a reflection of how much value they can provide to you based upon their expertise and work ethic.
Productive people intelligently applying effort is what drives our earning platform. If you are not finding ways every day to tell others about what you do (this defines marketing), you do not have a business and you will not make money.
We teach marketing and tailor it to your time and talents. You bring your experience to the table (platform) and we help you find ways to flourish. Leave no doubt. Knowledge and applied effort translate to competence as a marketer. Unless you can, and are willing to share what you do with others (tell other people about our earning platform), you will not make a penny.
Our business is an earning platform. It provides the structure to take a relatively small amount of money and leverage it into larger and larger amounts of money. It is straightforward and systematic geometric growth.
The key to (y)our growth is understanding that competence has to be at the center of this earnings universe. There is no winging it. What we do requires competent knowledge, that leads to skills and taking these knowledge and skills and competently applying effort to tell other people what we do -and how they can get involved.
It is our platform - no different than a political party platform - that has pillars that the whole proposition stands on. Knowledge, competence and effort applied in intelligent and productive ways. There is no need for bluster and to make income claims. What anyone else "makes" has no bearing on your income. What someone else "makes" is simply a reflection of how much value they can provide to you based upon their expertise and work ethic.
Productive people intelligently applying effort is what drives our earning platform. If you are not finding ways every day to tell others about what you do (this defines marketing), you do not have a business and you will not make money.
We teach marketing and tailor it to your time and talents. You bring your experience to the table (platform) and we help you find ways to flourish. Leave no doubt. Knowledge and applied effort translate to competence as a marketer. Unless you can, and are willing to share what you do with others (tell other people about our earning platform), you will not make a penny.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
"Scam" and "Pyramid Scheme" Marketing
If you Google just about any Home Business opportunity, among the top results, you will find multiple articles eluding to "Scam (or) Not?". This may typically be accompanied by a claim that identifies what you are researching as a pyramid or Ponzi scheme. Here's what you need to know.
These terms rank, especially for those who know how to use (manipulate) them to achieve rankings. Because the algorithms at Google look for consumer protection terms, in just about any instance if these keywords are used, they will automatically rank in the search results. But, here's the deal.
This is a form of reverse marketing. Scam and pyramid scheme marketing is a strategy. "Scam Marketers" use "the opportunity" you are researching to gain your attention, say some negative things about it, and then switch and pitch you on something that they are marketing. Oftentimes, this is accompanied by denigrating the founder or anything else they can find from their own Google search to fill a "cesspool article" regarding how awful what you are evaluating is - and to steer clear.
I did not understand this for a long time. In reality, nothing is perfect and you can find something wrong with anything. All one has to do is make their laundry list of these things, write about them and then say, "If you want to know what I find superior, take a look at this...". Frankly, it is sleazy.
These terms rank, especially for those who know how to use (manipulate) them to achieve rankings. Because the algorithms at Google look for consumer protection terms, in just about any instance if these keywords are used, they will automatically rank in the search results. But, here's the deal.
This is a form of reverse marketing. Scam and pyramid scheme marketing is a strategy. "Scam Marketers" use "the opportunity" you are researching to gain your attention, say some negative things about it, and then switch and pitch you on something that they are marketing. Oftentimes, this is accompanied by denigrating the founder or anything else they can find from their own Google search to fill a "cesspool article" regarding how awful what you are evaluating is - and to steer clear.
I did not understand this for a long time. In reality, nothing is perfect and you can find something wrong with anything. All one has to do is make their laundry list of these things, write about them and then say, "If you want to know what I find superior, take a look at this...". Frankly, it is sleazy.
And then, in many of these posts, the author has people in his downline comment on the article agreeing with everything said - to make it appear that there is a ton of social proof. These posts are infuriating if you know what is actually going on.
You need to use your own powers of discrimination and evaluate our business on its own merits. You can and will find articles on just about any Affiliate business that claim it is a scam. This is a dirty little secret.
You need to use your own powers of discrimination and evaluate our business on its own merits. You can and will find articles on just about any Affiliate business that claim it is a scam. This is a dirty little secret.
The businesses we are involved with do have leverage components. We do recruit and build organizations, like any business. Any successful business has a customer base that is conditioned to buy and be loyal. They buy from you on an ongoing basis - you are their go-to source for whatever you sell. This fidelity and loyalty to you, whether you are a bank, or a tire brand is how successful businesses are built and thrive. We are no different.
And one final thing, the structure of our business is not even close to resembling a pyramid. It is more akin to a silo with width and depth, but not successive layers of increased percentages paid to the company or "people at the top". Any claims otherwise and attributing the term "pyramid" is simply ignorance or malfeasance to serve one's own ends.
Just a head's up. This is all stuff you need to know.
We Help People (help themselves)
Our goal and mission is to transfer skills and knowledge. With the application of these in very specific and targeted ways - we create a path to financial stability. Then prosperity. Then total financial independence.
If you think this can be done overnight and without the necessary investment of time to learn and apply, you are (unfortunately) sorely mistaken. What we do is completely analogous to going to school, getting your degree in teaching - and then being a teacher. If you can not help others (or this does not appeal to you) then our business will not be a good fit for you.
We do not really "mass market" and look for warm bodies to sign-up. We much prefer slow, solid growth with people committed to competence (personally) and the competence of a group of people who become professional marketers - whom you have helped and mentored.
Frankly, most people totally miss this in the home business industry - and it the reason for the high failure rate. I talk about "change" in many other posts on this blog. Learning and change (or, learning to change) is at the very core of what it takes to be successful.
If you think this can be done overnight and without the necessary investment of time to learn and apply, you are (unfortunately) sorely mistaken. What we do is completely analogous to going to school, getting your degree in teaching - and then being a teacher. If you can not help others (or this does not appeal to you) then our business will not be a good fit for you.
We do not really "mass market" and look for warm bodies to sign-up. We much prefer slow, solid growth with people committed to competence (personally) and the competence of a group of people who become professional marketers - whom you have helped and mentored.
Frankly, most people totally miss this in the home business industry - and it the reason for the high failure rate. I talk about "change" in many other posts on this blog. Learning and change (or, learning to change) is at the very core of what it takes to be successful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)