Thursday, December 5, 2019

Payment Platforms

There is an email in our system that talks about "having ways" to get paid.  In the first tier of our business model, we are in the direct-pay / instant-pay arena in terms of the vehicles we use to earn income.

It (should) go without saying that in an online environment where commerce is taking place, you will need platforms to enable transactions.  In other words, you will need to set up relationships with payment platforms and link these platforms to your existing financial resources - .typically this is your bank account and your debit or credit card.

Why?  You need to have ways for people to pay you.  The more payment platforms you are set up with, the more ease there will be in enabling people to "transact" with you.

The most fundamental and universal of these is PayPal.  If you do not have a PayPal account, you will want to get one.  As well, PayPal owns Venmo.  You will want a Venmo account as well.

CashApp, Facebook Pay, Google Pay are all free to set up (as are PayPal and Venmo).  Within a week or so, one of the first "once and done" tasks you will have is setting up all of these relationships with these processors/platforms.  These are simply the "starters".  There are many more including Credit Cards (payment processors) like Stripe.  Also, cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin and all of the different wallets available in that universe of money.

Then as you (we) migrate to the second tier of our model, you will have the ability to use many of these platforms for subscriptions that will automatically debit someone else's funds on a monthly basis and you will have a true and significant long-term residual income.

Not to put the cart before the horse here, I simply mention subscriptions as a future feature because it is important for you to understand that there is a long-term plan that includes a strategy of personal development, organizational growth and building a business that has "legs" for the long-term.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Money Aggregation (Ways to Pool Money) and What We Do

Aggregate, accumulate, save, invest, build a nest egg... call it what you will, the "ways" to establish a pool of money are diverse.  So, let's talk about what we do and how it fits into this context of building your bank account.

You are no doubt aware of the phrase that "it takes money to make money".  Here is the reality:  it does.  You need savings in a bank for it to gain interest.  You need a broker or brokerage account to put money into and hope stocks appreciate.  You need the funds to buy a fixer-upper to upgrade and then flip for a profit.  If you can think of a scenario where it does not take money to make money, I am curious to hear about it.

Like all of these, our business requires an initial outlay of money.  This is based primarily on two factors.  Means (does someone have the money) and risk tolerance (how do they view potentially losing this amount of money?). 

What we do is not traditional.  We aggregate people and their money into pools under the structure of an interdependent community.  The money vehicles we use are secondary.  They could be anything.  The important thing to understand is that we are building a community where people share common values, sense of commitment, shared competencies, work ethic based on an understanding of what work is involved and many other things that are "common" to anyone participating in our community.

The investment levels in our model begin with being extremely modest (small ticket prices) in the under $100 range, to mid-tier in the $5K range.  It is important to understand that our model promotes progressive earnings into higher levels, based on one's means and risk tolerance.

We are a Learning and Teaching Community.  We build people's knowledge and value as marketers and mentors.  In this process, we utilize money platforms and teach people how to use these platforms in the context of building a Community of Competence - where everyone understands our mission and "buys in" emotionally, intellectually and financially.

It is like building any business.  More people, more money.  You get more people by being a better and better leader and mentor.  Simply being a "recruiting machine" will not serve you long-term.

If you do not have it in your gut to care about people and their futures, this business (the way we do it) is not for you.  People you "recruit" are your responsibility to nurture and help become successful.

This is the pledge you need to make to yourself and to those you work with.  Otherwise, you are just playing a money game that will die a slow death and be filled with frustration and littered with bitter people who know you were more interested in their wallet and not their soul.

Yes, we aggregate money.  We do it honorably, with competence and need you to understand this standard and rise to this level of expectation.

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Decisions to Dollars

Everything starts with making decisions.  And, (for our purposes) ends with money in your bank account, e.g. decisions to dollars.

This assumes there is a sound decision-making structure to operate from.  You will find this information on a few other places on this blog:  Decisions are a function of information.  D=(f)i  Slow down and let that sink in if you have not pondered it before.

So, what information do you (or someone you are wanting to attract) need to gather, evaluate and act upon in order to progress to the point of "getting started"?

This breaks down into the two broad categories of affect and intellect.  In other words, how people feel and what they think.

The biggest affective component is trust.  Are you being dealt with in an honest and fair manner (and) is your best interest is at heart?  Trust is (typically) built and earned over time, however in our business, we need to move people through "trust development" in a relatively accelerated way - keeping in mind that most people are wary and skeptical of what we have to offer.

We have tools to aid in this acceleration that blast through the superficial public and social information and get to the core of what matters in peoples' lives.  We are not looking for sign-ups.  We are looking to build deep and lasting relationships.  In other words, we are not looking to recruit and engage with deadbeat sponsors, but want to make clear that what we do is to become a Professional home business owner in the digital space.  This candor, along with the tools we use, builds trust.  This onboarding that leads to a long-term perspective is fundamental to what we do.  It is a primary value proposition of our business model.

And what about intellect?  Does what we have to offer make sense from a common-sense perspective?  Does the whole proposition hang together as a viable and worthy thing to be a part of?

This aspect is highly dependent on resources.  What information can you provide to someone that does a credible job of explaining what we do?  You are a part of this equation, in terms of your ability to explain things, however the systems and information that are part and parcel of what you "promote" have to be credible, logical and engaging.  Please notice I did not say polished, with high production value... genuine, methodical and sincere will always rule the day.

As such, whether you are evaluating something currently, or you are looking to build a framework to attract others to what you do, making decisions about your level of trust and the credibility of the information you present are fundamental components of deeming something "worthy".

Anyone makes decisions about trust and credibility.  This is at the most fundamental level of a successful business.  If they are lacking trust, they will not engage with you, e.g. they will not decide to join you.

Lacking this decision, you have no shot at converting their decision to dollars.

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Persevere and Break Through

This post is intentionally short and sweet.

The first $1000 you make is the hardest.  It is where most of the learning takes place.  However, understand the difference between learning and applying.  There is an important balance in terms of time invested.

Nothing will happen in your business if people are not actively evaluating what you have to offer, measuring its utility/viability and making a decision to either buy from or join with you.

Exposures of what you do, creating interest, educating, and forming lasting relationships are the fundamentals of a sustainable business.  The more people you form relationships with (customers and business partners) - the more money you make.

Your first $1000 starts with your first sale.  If you do not have a strategy in place to be telling people about what you do and you can convey its value, you are not in business and you will make no money.

Once that plan is in place and you are executing, then you just need to persevere and break through.

Monday, July 22, 2019

Deadbeat Sponsorship is a Culture Issue


Social Commerce has an inherent problem of the blind leading the blind.  It is a function of people joining people who have "joined" and neither have a real clue of what to do - beyond making a list of 100 names.  The question is:  is this an industry issue, or an individual company issue?

Well, you can't really control an entire industry.  Therefore, the answer has to lie in all of the individual companies whose model is basically to let people "wing it".  There is no structure, no planning, no accountability.  This is for daily activities, scheduled communication (check-ins), or any other form of "active" mentorship/sponsorship.

For most, sponsorship ends when the transaction is complete.  It's simply a, "OK, I got mine.  Good luck in going to get your's" approach.  The contention of this post is that this is when the "relationship" should begin.  The issue is that there is no formal process (in most scenarios) to make this happen.  It is not a sponsorship numbers game to see who sticks.  It should be/needs to be about the transfer of skills, attitudes and best practices tailored to the one sponsored.

As such, this is a cultural issue of individual companies, which in the aggregate, make up an entire industry.  This is a huge deficiency in the home business arena.

It should be no wonder why the failure rate is so high.  Best practices have to extend well beyond "sign up and try it".  When someone is enrolled, it infers a responsibility to that person to ensure they have a game plan to execute.  Otherwise, you are a deadbeat sponsor.

Again, without a formal process to make this happen, with tools and metrics, with standards and accountability and with an expectation that a business relationship involves being in a relationship, then "the industry" will continue to falter (as an industry) and will continue to fail people individually.

The WPNMLC offers this structure, these expectations, and the ethos to have a responsible approach to enrolling others.  This is our core message and our core value proposition.




Thursday, July 4, 2019

PaaP Businesses

Platform as a Product (PaaP) businesses have been around (in earnest) for at least a decade.  These businesses provide the system, processes, and administrative functionality to both market and track digital commerce.  Most require a one-time (or periodic) Administration Fee that is paid to the Platform owner.  As well, many now have peer-to-peer-based money-exchange models where funds (the commerce) is made on platforms such as Bitcoin, PayPal, Cash.app, Stripe, Googlepay, etc.

Typically, these platforms have training information or service-based offers.  However, no matter "what" the offer is, all have a front-end marketing system (capture pages, autoresponders, sizzle calls, chatbots, etc.) and a back-end where "the business" is tracked and administered.  This marketing and administrative platform is the product. 

It enables Social Commerce where people agree to participate in the exchange of money for mutual benefit by engaging with "the platform" -  used as a vehicle to transact commerce, e.g. the exchange of money for something of value.

Seems straightforward enough... adults choosing to participate in a technology-based, digitally-driven platform to create commerce for the mutual benefit of those who choose to be involved.  What could go wrong?

Well then, there are leverage components.  These components enable a single exchange of money to become financially magnified based on the compensation structure of the platform... i.e. the rules agreed to when joining the platform regarding how the money works.  These compensation systems can vary widely.  Simply stated, they all have some form of leverage component. (unilevel, one up, two up, reverse one up, matrix or grid, 50/50 hybrid... you get the idea).  There are many more.

The question is whether these models detract from the legitimacy of these PaaP businesses?  Or, to put a finer point on it, whether governmental laws overseeing these platforms prejudicially hinder their existence?  And, whether corporate policy (especially in the financial and technology sectors) do the same?

In an industry that exists to elevate people's lives, it seems a bit counterintuitive that there would be resistance of corporate and governmental entities to inhibit these platforms from proliferating and flourishing.  Nonetheless, this seems to be the case.

The question is why?  My response is fairly simple.  It is based on the prejudice borne of the historical inertia of "failure" in the industry.  It is based on the idea that "these programs don't work", when in fact, structurally, these programs do work.  The problem is, people do not work to make the programs work to their benefit.

Then there is the "issue" of supervisorial requirements.  In other words, joining is not enough.  This infers that a "sponsor" has a managerial responsibility to those sponsored.  If this is lacking, it creates a very big target for the dart throwers.  There are many more "issues" like this.  If you want to take a deep dive, see THIS SITE.  You can find your state right at the top.  "State Listings" is a link.  This is very worthy stuff to read and learn about as you become a Professional in this industry.

But then again, keeping it real, as this site references, there are the Neanderthals who market these businesses by making inflated earnings representations and get-rich-quick claims.  The "establishment" generally sees the industry as the more well-informed preying on the less well-informed.  Unfortunately, given the "open" model and marketing to the masses approach of the industry, one has to give berth this seedy and somewhat insidious aspect, and the scoundrels who perpetrate these rancid practices.  All this muck generates the "scam" tags.

The reality is that this "reputation" is replete in the industry and exists as a stigma - especially for any new company trying to establish a foothold that can grow into a long-term, stable, (wholesome, worthy) proposition for those involved.

This reputational liability of an entire industry is hard to overcome, especially in an environment where some of the major players are currently under scrutiny and hedge fund owners bicker back and forth - which in turn gets the attention of regulators.  It is unfortunate but nonetheless is the current reality.  Herbalife and NuSkin going public as a stock did no one in our industry any favors.

In any event, PaaP businesses are here to stay.  Many exist and are thriving.  Others, especially in a start-up environment need to wiggle and push out their pointy elbows to get established and gain traction.  In these instances, my best advice is an ecosystem approach where "the deal" is more than the platform, but is inclusive of community and culture, standards, norms and values, mentorship and leadership - all leading to an "entity" of such high value that is cannot be dismissed as "one of those pyramid things".

People banding together under the proposition of making money is (can be?) an inherently good and noble thing to do.  The moral foundation on which the proposition is based becomes the declaration of its legitimacy.  Competence.  Character.  Contribution. Candor.  All of these "C's" need to be part and parcel of Compensation.  Here is why:  if it is simply about the money, it won't last.  This is why an entire ecosystem is necessary to engender short-term success, which in turn will greatly enhance long-term viability.

Otherwise, if it is another "here today, gone tomorrow" venture, it will be one more business on the large trash heap of failed attempts in the Social Commerce space.  None of us wants to see this happen to or for anyone - owner or participant.

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Everyone Wants a Map

So... if everyone wants a map, is it the same map?  Does the same map get everyone to the same destination?  I don't think so.

If you are talking a literal, conventional map with roads and streets... sure, the concept applies.  However, here, we are talking about a map to the "promised land" of success, profitability, leadership, etc.  As such, everyone has a different starting point and this is why we say, "we will work with you based on what you bring to the table".  In other words, we may know where we are going, but the route to get there has to be tailored and specific to an individual's starting point.

This is based on current skills, amount of time, the amount of money, likes and dislikes, introversion versus extroversion... ultimately, what someone is "willing" to do.  But leave no doubt, "something" has to be done.  This is not an empty gesture.

The "map" has to have directions.  On the first leg of the journey, you go here (do this).  Then, on and on and on.

Everyone wants and deserves to have a map.  Our job is to create that map with them and provide the coaching and mentorship to ensure that on each leg of the journey the wheels are rolling.  In other contexts, I have referred to this as cheerful accountability.

Now, to hold someone accountable, you need to have a relationship such that it is comfortable to ask, "What did you do today to advance your business?"  Or, what are your goals for this coming week?  Or, how can I help in getting you to take action?  Or, to simply say, I care about your success, how can I help?

This is a major contributing factor in this industry's abysmal failure rate.  No support.  No accountability... no relationships in what is supposed to be a relationship business.

Your success depends on being different.  If you have recruited someone and they have paid money to be in business with you, and you will profit from their efforts... this is part and parcel of the package of what they have bought and should expect from you.

Provide a map (mentorship and leadership).  Use our tools to get to know those you sponsor.  Build relationships.  Be actively engaged in people's success.  Learn to be a velvet hammer and understand that you have the ability to significantly impact peoples' lives.  Evolve personally and use this evolution to grow an organization in your likeness. 

It all starts with tailoring a map (strategy) with each person you partner with and then working with and building them into a leader replete with skills, resources, habits, credibility... 

Sound like work?  Nothing happens in growing business unless you are actively engaged in helping people.

Saturday, April 13, 2019

The Mirror: CRM's and Sales Funnels

If you do a Google Images search on Sales Funnels, you will find many rainbow-colored funnels with intricate explanations of how they work.  The fundamental concept for any sales funnel is the same.

The way we build relationships moves people through this structured process of Awareness to Loyalty (if the process is working properly).  Here is just one example:

Now, here's the dashboard of how we choose to manage our "pipeline" in our Gmail  CRM add-on named Streak.


As you note, each is the same process.  We move people through an evaluation process from initial exposure to creating a lifelong partnership.  Each step is broken down into actionable "things-to-do".

In the beginning, we are creating Awareness by exposing people to our offer through varied means.  In the end, we are creating Loyalty through our on-boarding process and putting a plan in place that is tailored to an individual's time and talents.

We track.  We manage.  We follow-up and are metrics-based.  There is no guesswork.  Input equals output.  At the same time, we engender skills and ensure a solid foundation for people's success.

No wingin' it.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

What is "Fair"?

Fair is a powerful word, perceptually.  It speaks to both sides of anything being in equilibrium... i.e. fair and balanced.

Fair means you get yours, and I get mine - and we are both happy with the result.  So, what does this have to do with our business and our Community?

It is out or a posture of fairness that we want to operate.  We create financial independence through financial interdependence.  Inter means between.  We (you and me) are linked and this concept of "fair".  It extends to everything we do.

However, is it realistic to expect that everyone will invest the same effort?  If not, is this fair?  How do we deal with people who are initially a ball-of-fire, but then peter out and become non-productive?  Do we cajole and attempt to motivate?

Let's take a step back.  We try to attract people who understand standards and expectations.  Our Community is all about, "What it takes".  This is expressed in effort - consistently applied.  Non-productive means not applying effort.

People and their circumstances differ.  Someone working full-time and caring for an elderly parent... and doing our business is much different than a college student who has comparatively less to deal with.  There simply will not be the same amount of hours in a day when effort can be applied.

This comes full circle in accepting people "where they are" and what they bring to the table.  There is no common baseline.  Therefore, it makes no real sense in trying to calibrate what is "fair".

Fair is progress.  Fair is moving forward.  Fair is small successes leading to larger successes.  Fair is being engaged in one's own process pursuant to their goals.  Fair is dictated by one's own standards that are put through the filter of our Community Standards.

Ultimately, what is "fair" is working with people that is "in kind" with their level of effort.  At the minimum, as a mentor, we owe this level of reciprocation.  We invest in people to the level that they invest in themselves.  The committed, the hungry, the active need to be met with the same.  If someone is on a slower, less aggressive trajectory, we need to be mindful and attentive to their progress, however, progress is the metric on which attention is paid.

It is only fair.  Business is about many things, but ultimately it is about transactions and making money.  If someone (anyone) is not engaged in behaviors that will result in earnings, eventually they will atrophy and die in terms of being deserving of your time and attention.

We do our best to prevent this from happening.  It is contrary to our culture and values.  However, we can only reciprocate and reflect back positive effort and move forward with those who have their game face on and "bring it" consistently.



Agreeing Slowly

Frankly, we don't want people "jumping at a hot opportunity".  This is not what we are about.

We offer a long-term proposition that requires patience to get there and understanding of a great deal of content (to get there).

Therefore, as you "recruit", allow for peoples' consideration in learning about what we do and their natural skepticism.  Our job is to provide a context for constructive information acquisition.  We enable adult decisions that have a real-world-bearing on peoples' futures.  Treat it as such.

If we provide an experience that is thoughtful and purposeful, we will greatly enhance the probability of those we work with being around long-term.

So don't rush it.  Don't pressure.  Make a friend.  Provide guidance.  Have conversations about real possibilities.

It will serve you, long-term.

Understanding the Four C Formula

Building a bridge between knowing what to do - and - doing it, is the starting point of "what it takes" to be successful in managing a home business.

This blog, our Training Site, and many other resources are instructive in laying out a game plan for what-to-do.  This is the pragmatic... the daily grind... the activities... the hours invested.

Then there is aspiration... what you want, the reason for your involvement, what is driving you - some call it your "why?".

You would think these two things are inextricably linked.  But somehow in the process of life happening, there is a disconnect.  This results of what-you-want are not supported by what-you-do.

Having a vision of where you are going is critical.  It requires a "grand plan"... a strategy to get there.  This is broken down into skills and knowledge that needs to be applied, both in the academic sense of learning, but also in the athletic sense of practicing and performing.  In football terms, it is the difference between watching film during the week in a classroom and playing the game on the weekend.

To be a winner, you need both.  What you learn needs to be applied pursuant to your goal(s).  Knowledge without application is derelict.  My father used to refer to this as being an "educated bum".  I have termed it as one being an "intellectual vagrant", or simply, knowledge not applied is useless.

Keep engaged.  Professional Development happens both when you are learning and teaching.  In doing so, you refine your thinking, hone your delivery and in so doing, you build your value.

The greater your value, the more money you make.  It is the Law of Compensation (or) The Rules of Reciprocity.  You get what you give.  You reap what you sow.  Or, think of it in terms of this "C formula":  Competence + Credibility + Contribution = Compensation.

Friday, April 5, 2019

The Underemployed

So you have a job.  Let me ask, are you satisfied with your life?  Do you want more?  So then let me also ask, are you capable of doing more?

Just about everyone thinks they should get paid more money.  This inherently defines underemployment (from your perspective).  A problem arises when you feel disillusioned and left-behind... forgotten about... taken for granted.  There is little we can do "in the system" to change this.

This leads to frustration and apathy and people "hating" what they do.  Essentially, it is a life wasted doing things with no intrinsic value other than being a part of the same system (for the masses) that enables you to pay the rent and put food on the table.  What's worse, for most, is that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.  Many people are simply resolved to this as their reality.

So let me ask again, are you capable of doing more?  And, if so, what would that be?  We offer one alternative, but this "something more" doesn't need to be "our" alternative.  Broaden your lens.  If you don't have enough money because you are underemployed, what are you willing to do about it?

We teach an alternative.  This is what a Learning Community exists for... to perpetuate a cycle of teaching and learning, teaching and learning... focused on core skills, values, and processes.

If you are underemployed and want more, look in the mirror. Find something (anything) that will enable you to earn extra.  For some (in the masses category), this means a second job with another hourly wage scenario in the "oppression" system.

For many others (those for whom this is written to inspire), there is a whole world of opportunity that is based on personal value and personal production.  This world functions off of the Law of Compensation where competence and compensation are inextricably linked.

To gain competence in a specialized field, you have to learn new things.  Our Learning Community teaches these things with the goal of income supplementation leading to income replacement.

At that point, you will be in a position to determine if having a job still fits with who you are and how you function in this world.

So let me ask one last time, are you capable of doing more?

Thursday, April 4, 2019

My Conversation with a Hedge Fund Owner

It has been interesting since my profile has elevated on Linkedin, I am getting contacts from various people seeking synergies - open to exploring how we may be of benefit to each other.

This morning I spoke with Matt who owns a hedge fund and says he is in the lineage of Warren Buffet... in terms of training and philosophy.  He tells me he learned from a guy who learned from WB...

In describing my business, I found myself saying that my goal is to give people the skills to improve their circumstances... the guy or gal who is one paycheck away from disaster... Joe or Jane Sixpack who doesn't know that a whole universe of opportunity exists that s/he had no idea about... and is thrilled to get in on "the game" once this portal to new opportunity presents itself.

On the other hand, his "pitch" was essentially about good months and bad months with about a 10% monthly return in the good months... annualized to about 30-40%.  Seems to me, that would be a whole lot of heartburn in suffering through the bad months and a wild roller coaster ride.  Phew!

I told him my business does not require a large up-front capital investment, is much less risky as a result and can realize a 200% return over and over again within days or weeks... with an incremental, progressive investment scenario that is perpetually self-funding.

I described reinvestment and this resulting in sequential and strategic growth... all backed by a Learning Community where we teach skills, processes, and mindset.  I told him about our model of people helping people to visualize and actualize becoming a professional home business owner...

It was a great opportunity to contrast two ways of making money.  On the one hand, a Hedge Fund owner seeking big chunks of money to invest, and; me providing the juxtaposition of earning money through growth... both personally and financially - fueled by human beings, not algorithms and market speculation.

Obviously, I think ours is a better path to long term financial security.

The Role of Respectability

Anyone with a conscience needs to be proud of what they do.  This pride extends to all areas of our business.  Our mission, how we operate, how we treat people... are all internally consistent with each other.  Your role is to rise to this level of expectation.  That is, to rise to the level of a Professional home business owner who offers value to those you work with.

Being respected as a role model in terms of how you comport yourself, the "clues" you leave to others about success, and the overt expression of your leadership all combine to form the mantle you wear on a daily basis.  The adage is, "respect is earned".

Digging deeper, the more problematic aspect of respectability is in regard to our business model and fighting the stigma of person-to-person commerce.  There is no getting around the fact that we battle the, "oh... it's one of those things" perception of our industry.  In many cases, this reputation is warranted due to the failure rate... (and) of people spending money and not succeeding.  Unfortunately, there is a long sorry history of business flops and broken dreams - most under the old model of product-based direct selling.

Our model is new, clean and simple.  However, we can't simply jump to claiming respectability as a result.  Again, we need to dig deeper.  We need to have the ability to articulate, "why?"

We help people.  Or more precisely, we have the ability and the potential to help people.  Whether this happens is ultimately the responsibility of the one being helped.

Our Learning Community, our training resources, our onboarding process, and the support offered makes us unique in the peer-to-peer marketing industry.  We are different from anything else "out there".  This personalization experience, this guided process, this conscious intent to help ensure people's success is a difference that warrants respect.

Our candor, our "not for everyone" mantra, our constant admonitions about integrating change - all contribute to the fact that we are not attempting to "pull the wool over anyone's eyes" but are sincerely committed to helping people elevate their life circumstances.

We seek quality, not quantity.  We drive deep and lasting relationships.  And, we provide the tools and processes to enable the same.  This is our difference.  This is what is deserving of respect.


Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Your Schedule - Your Success - Your Life

Getting to the "change" necessary to manage a successful home business is difficult. I offer the assertion  (the reason) people do not succeed is due to their inability to incorporate change into their daily habits and routines.

A big part of knowing "how to go about it" is tied to taking intentional steps on a daily basis.  This inherently has to be a "plan" of how you are going to invest your time doing "what" it takes.  Most people do this on Sundays.  On Sunday, you know what your week looks like for the next 6 days.

If you work, you know when that is.  You know how much time it takes to get there.  If you exercise, you know when that is.  ...when you prepare food and then eat.  When you walk the dog.  All the rest of the time is "potentially" when you can work on building your business.

If you write it in a schedule, you are making a commitment to yourself.  It is a mental contract that says, "Tuesday at 6:30 after the kitchen is cleaned up, I am going to (what you are going to do).  This presupposes that you have defined the activities that constitute your "what"... i.e. your business building strategy.

This is how success is built.  It is thoughtful and intentional.  These thoughts and this intent happen on Sunday night for the coming week.  Otherwise, you are just "winging it".  Your Google or Outlook calendar need to become your best ally.  You can color code different activities... blue for work, green for food, red for exercise.... then you can copy this template week to week and then fill in WHEN you are going to "work" on your business... in say ORANGE.

Online:  posting to groups, placing classified ads, creating a blog, commenting in forums, doing paid advertising... if none of these... then...

Offline: belly-to-belly talking to people in Retail, tagging doors and cars with mini flyers, making signs and posting them around town, going to flea markets and talking to all the vendors, going to events and approaching people...

WHAT are you going to do?  Then... schedule when you are going to do it.

Do it as if your future and your life depend on it.  Why?  Because it does.

The simple, bold and brutally honest truth is:  most people are incapable of making this sacrifice and commitment and will not take one hour on a Sunday night (morning?) and plan their coming week.

No fault of the business model.  If you are on-boarded correctly, and you have a strategy of what-to-do that you have agreed upon... and you fail to invest the time in doing it...

The results you get will be obvious.  Don't let that happen to you.  Learn to use your calendar and allow it to become your best ally and friend.  Then teach others to do the same.

Be a mentor, be a role model.  Be an accountability partner. Be a success.


Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Selling or Sharing?

Let's face it.  Most people don't want to do what it takes to build a business.  This is the reason for the failure rate in the Relationship Marketing business.  It has nothing to do with the business model, compensation structures, upline support... There is an old adage, "Nothing happens until something is sold".  Or in reverse, until something is sold, nothing happens.

So, if we soften it a bit, and call it "sharing"... it nonetheless comes down to the idea that "a rose is a rose by any other name".  Call it anything you want.  Commerce needs to be transacted.  Money needs to change hands.  It all starts with getting "what you have" in front of people for them to evaluate.

The bottom line is this:  unless you figure out "how" and commit "to" the fact that you need to get what you have in front of people, nothing will happen.  "How to" and "what you are willing to do" will drive your success.  This can't be a maybe.  It has to be thoughtful, strategic and tied to daily discipline(s).  Otherwise, you are just "wingin' it".

So, let me ask again... what are you willing to do?  What can you commit to that blends with your time, the skills you bring, and the money you can invest?

Here's the rub.  In your present life, you cannot just decide not to go to work (if you have a job).  Or, if you own a brick and mortar business, you cannot decide not to open on many days... you either lose your job or go out of business.  Well, this is exactly where many home-business-owners end up.  They don't show up... and they don't get paid.  Why would anyone expect any different result?

So let me ask anyone who is not inclined to "sell"... let me frame it this way:  are you willing to do what is uncomfortable for a year to position yourself for a better future?  Are you willing to disrupt your life and integrate daily (or scheduled) disciplines pursuant to exposing your message to "x" number of people a day?

How about these numbers?  Set a goal of 1200 people in a year.  This is 100 a month - 25 a week - 3.57 a day.  So, can you do 15 on the weekend and the other 10 on Tuesday and Thursday?  This is scheduled, not daily... but it gets to the same result.  The reality is this: they are both intentional.

It can be online or offline... it can be face-to-face, it can be posting in Groups... it can be posting classified ads, it can be tagging cars or apartment complex doors with mini-flyers... set up at a flea market, or simply go to a flea market and talk to all of the vendors, contact organizations:  churches, PTO's, youth sports, medical malady causes...  If you have the skills, make videos and create funnels... or create a blog like I have done here.  Let me ask the question again:  what are you willing to do?  What are you willing to commit to that results in 25 conversations a week?  Or, 25 views of your video?

Without this clear intention and commitment, save your money, don't consider a home business.  Go to work, resolve yourself to your status quo life and understand that you were not willing to make the sacrifices and do-what-it-takes to elevate beyond your current circumstances.

Time to look in the mirror.

Monday, March 11, 2019

The American Dream

The American Dream is a lie.  It is a hoax perpetrated on the majority of people in this country.  Work hard.  Get ahead.  Equal Opportunity...  This is simply an aspirational "message".  It is an adage that suppresses prosperity and ignores the fact that "working" for an hourly wage (or even a generous salary) will not lead you to financial prosperity.  It is a myth.

If your income is "predictable" in the coming year, you are buying the lie.  Sure, you may position yourself for a raise or promotion.  This will elevate your circumstances marginally.  However, at the end of the year, you will still have a finite "number" to budget around, save from and invest with.

Schools totally fail our youth by not teaching the concept of leverage.  Leverage drives wealth and yet the concept is ignored (outside of how interest works) as a general principle of financial education and literacy.  The WPNM Community exists to share the fact that many great tools exist to create financial leverage that are both credible and viable means to leverage both time and money.

This is what we do.  This is what we teach in our Learning Community.  We expose people to ways to leverage their finite pool of money into an ever-expanding resource of financial growth.  No caps.  No constraints.  No ceilings.

It doesn't just "happen".  It is a process of learning and execution.  It requires a mindset of deliberate intention and utilizing tools and strategies that crush the potential of an hourly wage or salary.

It is all possible and you fall into one of two groups:  you "see it", or; you don't.

Monday, March 4, 2019

Ten Cents a Day Prospecting

One of these a day is 16 touches.  Per week: 112.  Per month:  458.  No need to get a re-direct URL initially.  Simply make a word document and print it.  Then take it to your favorite Copy Center and make as many copies as make sense.

Staple them together in Packs of 10 or so, and place on Bulletin Boards... anywhere there are bulletin boards.  Need help?  Reach out to your enroller.


Please know that the links in this flyer are "active" and belong to the author of this blog and this is a resource I actually use.  This post is for illustration purposes.  DO NOT join with me if you are working with someone else.  Use their links.  Do not fill out any forms on my resources if you were introduced by someone else.  Thanks.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Additional Revenue

I find it amazing.  People complain about "lack".  Not enough money.  Driving a lousy car that needs constant fixing. No vacations. Rarely going out to dinner... and forget about plays or concerts or anything that "busts" the budget...

Most people are indentured to their jobs.  Business owners sometimes have it worse and are owned by the hours necessary to keep their heads above water.  Exhaustion and frustration rule lives as people barely "make it".

The idea of additional revenue is a simple one.  Doing something (anything) to make more money seems straightforward enough.  Then, let me ask... why don't more people have more than one source of income?

My contention is that it is a matter of education.  It is a matter of understanding the rational case for the viability of something that is good and genuinely capable of having success with.

Then, "knowing" is of little use unless you are willing and capable of sharing (selling) what you have to offer to others.  It is a matter of knowing what to do, and then going and doing it.

Additional revenue is absolutely possible and it is a matter of degree or scale in terms of how much you generate.  Results are a function of effort.  The effort involves learning what to do and then executing on that knowledge.

There are many legitimate and viable ways to create additional revenue for yourself and your family.  It is a matter of evaluating, making a decision, then making a commitment.  Then, having a strategy in place to do what is necessary to make it happen.

Friday, February 15, 2019

Master Plan for Life Transformaiton


Simple on its surface.  I want to ask, "is it"?

I want to propose that "what we do" can transform lives that go well beyond the "Sign Up & Try It" model of business builder recruitment.  This needs to be postured within a framework that people know what they are signing up for (and) if they are sincerely committed to getting from where they are - to where they want to be.

The graphic above speaks to "what it takes".  In a sense, it is the bitter pill of reality.  It is a  framework that does not sugarcoat the fact that "life transformation" is possible, however, it requires taking necessary steps to gain a full understanding and appreciation "how to get there".  Said differently, it takes learning and effort that results in a change in life circumstances.

What we do is wonderful.  If you are new, you will come to know and embrace this. In its leadership philosophy - in its consumer benefit - in its overall worthiness. However, the use of the platform requires a major shift in thinking and behaving.  People's success in benefitting from the platform requires making a successful transition from "how they used to do things" to build a business "how they structure their time" in inviting others to use the platform.  Then, it goes one level deeper...

I contend that the most critical aspect of making any business work is a well-reasoned on-boarding and engagement "experience" for new members.  In other words, people need to be "started right".  They need the information and tools to be comfortable in making their first purchase... and at the same time they need to understand how their participation fits into the larger context of "life transformation".  The following four parts make up this whole.

Financial Literacy
This is on two levels.  First, people need to understand how the financial aspects of any platform work.

Second, people need to understand the "big picture" of the earning potential.  This has implications in developing a strategy that will first result in parallel income, leading to replacement income.  When someone achieves the milestone of equaling their income, at this point, they will be in the position to be making major life decisions in terms of their job or career.

In order to facilitate the exchange of information necessary, we have developed this Onboarding Tool.  This tool also addresses other factors as they relate to the framework of transformation.  The following four constructs are foundational to the Onboarding Process, however, for purposes here, they are just touched upon.

Values Assimilation
It goes without saying that the values normally thought of: work ethic, transparency, honesty, integrity, collaboration, decency, respect... are set as standards and met by expectation.  This is true of any community that understands the importance of creating a culture in which everyone is valued for what they bring to the table and helping everyone achieve the level of success they aspire to.

Knowledge and Skills Acquisition
In order to be an earner, you need to be a learner.  The more you know, the more people you teach, the more money you will make.  The Law of Compensation tells us that you will be paid in direct proportion to the value you offer.

This can apply to many areas, but the bottom line is that it means time invested in acquiring skills and knowledge on the front end, and teaching these same things to others on the back end.  Again, the more people you teach, the more money you make.  In this sense, you are paid to be an educator, you are paid to be an accountability partner, you are paid to be a homework assigner, coach, mentor, support system.  All of these are skill sets.  At the end of the process, you are paid to be a Professional vested with the responsibility to nurture others to Professionalism.

Lifestyle Adaptation
I say this in many places in many ways.  The single biggest obstacle that prevents people from succeeding in a home business is their inability to integrate change into their lives.  As stated previously in this article, this is on two levels.  First, in modifying behavior and sharing the platform at every opportunity.  Second, committing the time to learn and teach... in other words... hours invested.  In the Getting To Know Each Other resource, many of these lifestyle "issues" are attempted to be uncovered and addressed - to the extent that they can be impediments to success.

Life Transformation is possible..  There are costs associated with your time and the sacrifices you will inherently need to make.  The question for anyone is whether you are willing to make the sacrifices necessary.  Are you willing to "do what it takes"?



Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Understanding

I have a theory and a corollary to it.  People won't use and embrace what they don't understand.  The corollary:  more people will embrace and use what they do understand.

The goal of education is understanding.  Take a math problem.  Once you learn the steps that need to be taken to understand how to solve an algebra equation, you can then go on to solve an algebra equation with similar variables.

We can frame this in terms of the learning curve.  Is it a steep learning curve, with many facets and relatively complex variables?  Or does something tend more to the side of being a "no brainer" and easy-to-comprehend?

The variable that will fuel the success of any business is "how simply" it can be explained.  Success rests squarely on the pillars of understanding and adoption.  Understanding and adoption is predicated by behavior modification.  So, the real question is, "How do we get people to modify their behaviors?"  Then, how do we make these behaviors"stick" as a conscious choice of on-going, long-term engagement?

Yes, there is money.  However, the money is an end-state, not a first step.  It is a motivating factor, but unless you "buy into" the system (figuratively), the money doesn't matter, because you won't make any.  There has to be conscious intent to the extent that behaviors (daily activities) become the norm of how someone's life functions.  This requires effort.  It requires strategy.  It requires an overall understanding of how all the pieces fit together and function as a whole.

If not done right.  Efficiently.  Effectively.  I will not go so far as to say the enterprise is doomed, however, I will say that it will stymie growth and inhibit the overall potential of the enterprise.

Marketing and Recruitment are fundamental.  These are the fuel to the potential pool of people transacting commerce (and) for those choosing to build a business.  Once someone says "yes" is when the real "test" begins.

I could hack my way through it by trial-and-error, make mistakes, get frustrated and end up saying, "why didn't they just explain that in the first place"?  For someone committed to making something work... they will stick around long enough to get the answer.  For many, they will simply say, "Too much, too complicated, not user-friendly... c-ya".

Simply, my appeal here is that we need to be educators with the tools to explain the benefits of any platform.  The first level of this is understanding how to transact business on the platform and this is preceded by how to set up and connect all of the tools... and how they are related.

Next, there needs to be a repository of "case study" or "examples" of how people are achieving success.  This could include bios of the people sharing... pursuant to the goal of community and culture creation.   We need to see the many colors of the rainbow... and how creative people are in utilizing the platform.

So much for stream-of-consciousness writing.  This is long enough.  Hopefully, the abrupt ending will not detract from the points attempting to be made here.


Friday, January 18, 2019

Constructive Change: ADAPT

I had a Professor in Grad School named Max Raines.  The ADAPT model is his.  It was explained to us in the context of High School Seniors making the transition to a successful college experience.  As you will see, the model here is used in making the transition from "where you are" to "where you want to be" as an entrepreneur/home business owner.

To make this happen will require thought and introspection.  It will require work and humility as well as honesty and vulnerability.

ADAPT is an acronym with each letter representing the following:  1) Activate Commitment, 2) Develop Supports, 3) Adjust Expectations, 4) Prioritize Goals, and 5) Transpose Identity.

So, let's take each of these and apply it to help us get from "here to there".  Each of these areas is meant to be a brief introduction.  When learning this content, it was a full semester for me.

1) Activate Commitment:  This is putting a stake in the ground.  It is planting a flag and saying, "Let's do this".  Of course, this is preceded by doing your "homework" and making a decision based on facts and solid rationale.  Focus on the word "activate".  It infers s making something happen.  To that end, the first step in making a successful transition is to "commit".  For some, this is a leap of faith.  For others, it is based on the credibility of the person introducing something.  Our hope, with our business, is that a commitment is made based on thoughtful analysis and a pragmatic review of all of the variables that can potentially impact your success or failure.  Then, and only then, should you make an informed decision that making a commitment that will be in your best interest.

2)  Develop Supports:  Social Commerce is social.  It is sharing.  It is educating.  It is taking an interest in another human being and helping them become competent and professional.  This is perhaps the most important of the steps because if not done fully or properly, people get disenchanted, frustrated and then "drop".

Through this process of developing supports, reality sets in.  We get to know people by using this tool.  Getting to know someone in a forced, accelerated fashion... and getting to know their core drivers, values and competencies is the best way to baseline where someone is, and their ability to articulate where they want to go.  Along with this, is what they are willing to commit to in getting there.

3)  Adjust Expectations:  Step 2 provides a baseline of  "where you are".  It is a brutally honest look at your life, complete with strengths and weaknesses.  Based on this, you will have a better sense of what is realistic.  Will you need to learn new things?  Will you need to work at changing behaviors and how you invest the finite hours of your day?

This is a reckoning and reconciliation of the inventory of what you bring to the table as a person of value who is worthy of being followed.  There can be no value judgments here.  This simply has to be an honest assessment of who you are and what you need to work on.

This is perhaps the biggest failure of the "networking" industry.  The monkey-see-monkey-do model and pointing people in the direction of resources falls well short of a tailored strategy that will genuinely help individual progress toward success.  People at this stage come to realize that there is work involved - and as a consequence, either rise to the challenge or cower and fade.

4)  Prioritize Goals:  This step infers you have goals that now need prioritizing.  Wanting to make money is a hope or a wish without an executable plan to make it happen.  Therefore, prioritizing goals is really about articulating what it is you need to be doing, and then managing your time to make them happen.

As you might infer, this comes down to the nitty-gritty of schedules, to do lists, daily activities... all in the pursuit of executing a plan.  Another way of saying it:  Your Business Plan.

5)  Transpose Identity:  Your identity is who you are.  This process, if worked through comprehensively, will provide or reveal all of the variables that if identified, confronted and worked on - will enable you to emerge as someone "new".  You will be more competent and confident as a home business owner.  You will know things of value that you can teach others.  You will embody positive behaviors for others to emulate and model.

At the end of the day, you will be a Professional worthy of the compensation you aspire to.  This model and this process simply provide a structure to "force" success.  There are other models and processes that are of equal value, viability, and validity.  ADAPT is simply one way of operationalizing assessment and putting a plan in place to get from where you are to where you want to be - with the help of a mentor to keep you on track and hold you accountable.


Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Belly-to-Belly and Shoe Leather Prospecting

Prospecting (to prospect) is a verb.  It is an action.  It is what we do to expose people to our message to gain their attention and interest.

There are many forms of prospecting that are either free or paid.  Our business model starts with no cost or low-cost methods that are in the "Local, Guerilla and Belly-to-Belly" categories.  We do not encourage warm market (friends and family) until you have an established record of success.  So where and how do we suggest you get started?  

To make things most efficient, think concentration.  Where are there high densities of people who may be open to what we have to offer?  We have generic Community sites that are intended to appeal to Retail and Office workers.  Can you see yourself walking into businesses and introducing yourself, engaging in a conversation starter like, "Can I ask you a question, do you like working here?"  Then following with, "Do you have any other sources of income"?  Then, "I am always looking for people to join me in a business I work part-time, do you mind if I share it with you?"   Then, hand them a mini-flyer with one of our sites and your email printed on it.  Or, to make it seem less "scripted/canned/planned" take out or ask them for a piece of paper and write it down for them.  Any site will work depending on where you are:  BigBoxBackup.biz, SpreadThis.info, TellPeople.info, IndependentGrad.com, WorkingPoorNoMore.com.

Your ability to engage with people is a skill.  Your ability to gain someone's attention and interest is a skill.  You are paid in direct proportion to your skills.  Can you make a compelling and enticing invitation?  Can you carry a conversation?  Do you have a strategy, or are you nimble when thinking-on-your-feet in moving a conversation toward inviting someone to evaluate what we do?

Here's the thing:  not everyone will engage.  Not everyone will express interest.  In terms of Time Management, it is best to make this assessment sooner, than later and move on to someone else who potentially may be interested.

The cost of this method of prospecting is the cost of the pen in your pocket.  If you can't or don't want to print mini-flyers, all you have to do is go out and meet people and write down two pieces of information:  a website and your Gmail account.  

How many times a day can you do this?  This is the most basic, direct and fundamental method:  face-to-face invitations.  Simple:  Do you have a piece of paper?  I will write down a website and my contact information,  If you want to learn more, you can get in touch with me.

Now... understand... this method is not going to yield the highest returns.  This is akin to fishing in the ocean as opposed to throwing a line in a lake stocked with (name your favorite fish).  Ultimately, you will want to migrate your efforts to methods that more "attraction-based".  However, to get started, nothing will get the marbles out of your mouth faster and you will learn how to think on your feet quicker if you simply get off of the sofa and go out and talk to people about how money impacts their life... no matter your path to engaging them on the subject.