The Agreement Seekers Blog

There is an old adage of the empty vessel.  From afar, it looks fine.  It floats.  It is doing all the things that vessels do... but as you get closer and finally board, you find nothing there. You don't want to be that boat.  Live compassionately, with empathy and generosity of spirit.  There are plenty of hucksters and charlatans in this world.  We need to be at our best and firmly perceived at the opposite end of the continuum from the cons and quick flippers.  This is only possible if you are compassionate in your approach to others - in valuing their needs, understanding their circumstances and helping them understand your goal is to help them. We talk a lot about moral posture.  This includes caring about what we do as a mission, not just a "biz opp".  If you are not invested emotionally, you will be smoked out as one who is disingenuous.  Being honest in all you do builds credibility.  It speaks to your integrity. ...

Helplessly Hoping.  Not much as a life strategy, would you agree?  I was in a store the other day and heard a guy with all due earnest optimism say that his time to hit the lottery had to be near.  Again... hanging one's sense of optimism on the lottery... go figure. As many of my generation know, Helplessly Hoping is a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young song.  If you will allow me to borrow randomly from the song, one line of the lyrics is, "confusion has its cost".  Frankly, I am not certain whether it is confusion, lack of knowledge, lack of trust... but I am certain that there is a lack of something inherent in people not taking charge of their financial destiny. Confusion presupposes that are different aspects to be confused over, right?  As I think about it, it may be more apt to say "ignorance has its cost".  This is not meant in a negative way.  This is simply to say lack of knowledge about any subject can be costly. As marketers, our...

This applies to people starting a home business who do not have a group of people with whom they are currently working.  If this describes you, please read on. Everyone needs an anchor - a home base - a primary program. This has to be what you build your brand on - what you are known for - and what you unflinchingly support as your foundation.  It is what you "lead" with to new prospects who are considering joining you.  We recommend strongly that it is not "this or that"... but it is ONE THING that defines who you are, what you do, why you promote it - and is the expectation for anyone who joins you that this program is what your business and community are built upon - at its core. This is not to say that in time you can not add things to your earning portfolio.  It is simply to say that "out of the gate" you are consistent with your primary offer when engaging new people. Obviously, you do not need to follow this advice, however, if you are looki...

So, what does iteration mean?  One definition could be doing something over and over until you get it right.  Another could be successive approximations.  Another could be the process of continual improvement or refinement. A part of what we teach is to have an "About Me" website.  This is a brief bio that enables people to get to know your story.  It is the beginning of building your brand as someone worthy of trust and being followed.  For some, this is a difficult task.  Understood. Here's the thing.  It does not need to be perfect.  As you refine it over time... it inherently evolves.  This is a work-in-progress.  Remember, you are "paid" in direct proportion to the value you offer.  If you have a weak bio, your earnings are a reflection.  This is the same as not having the skills to teach... but if you never set up the tools to use, you will never be able to teach someone else how to use them. The point is this:...

I once worked with a guy in a retail environment.  He was about 40, had 6 kids... was articulate, knew his job and was good at what he did.  At the same time, he was literally drowning in frustration and hated what he did. Although he uses computers all day every day at work, he defined himself as a computer illiterate outside of the confines of the tools we used.  I always found this irony interesting. I have a pretty strict guideline of not mixing my home business with those whom I associate with on a daily basis.  Nonetheless, when I have written different pieces for this series, I have naturally mentioned some of them to him.  His lack of interest has always puzzled me. This brings me to the question of this title.  "What would you do to save yourself?"  I mention my co-worker simply because I think he represents many people who hate their lives and what they are obligated to do (go to a job they hate) in order to meet their bills.  It i...

Do this exercise.  Put yourself on your death bed.  Let's assume you have lived a long life.  Will it be important to you to have made a difference?  How will that be defined?  Will you have had a positive impact on the world, or did you simply and complacently exist; conforming to what was "normal" and expected? We are a Community of difference makers.  At the most fundamental level, our goal is to make a difference in peoples' lives.  We are driven by this purpose and are united by common values of competence and credibility, honesty and integrity, candor and accountability, and this is just some of what is at our core. Do you care about being exceptional, or about distinguishing yourself in some way? There is no higher calling and no greater honor than to lift people up and enable their new beginning.  We offer one viable and realistic path... not the only path, but a solid one to consider if one is seeking change. People in our Communi...

This post can quickly devolve into what many would describe as class warfare.  OK, so be it.  Let's call out oppression for the sake of profitability - and - the lack of conscience corporations and the economic elite demonstrate.  Not much joy in talking about this, but here we go... Let me ask a fundamental question this way:    Do you think your employer is looking out for your best interest, or their own?  Some would say yes, my employer understands positive culture and rewarding performance.  These are the lucky ones.  Most laugh at the question as preposterous.  Why is that? In the Fortune 500 culture, shareholder value takes precedence over everything.  At the end of the day, if a company is not growing and increasing profitability, Management is forced to squeeze what they can control to maintain their "numbers".  The first, most obvious and easiest thing is to cut labor... or to repress labor by short staffing, increasin...

We are all free to make choices.   However, many times, jobs are not chosen but are more a function of circumstance.  As a result, many stay stuck in their lives, relegated to a job they have by default and then rely on the relative safety of the status quo in the 40 hours a week for 40 years grind. This is the expectation set by societal norms - and the value system that is most prevalent in public schools.  It is the worker bee mentality of doing your job, doing it well, earning a wage or salary and making a commitment to this as an expression of "responsibility". There is no arguing this, except in the context of alternatives and the right to choose.  We do not recommend or encourage "dumping your day job".  We strongly encourage doing our "side thing" as a means to earn extra income and offer a strategy to first equal and then exceed your current full-time income. What we do is measured, calculated and predictable.  The financial...

The reality is this.  Most people are a dried, brittle canvas.  In terms of life experience and expectation, the oils have hardened, the acrylic is set, or... the water is dry.  Their futures seem certain as long as they continue to conform to what is expected and stay in their safe-zone of a job and benefits. Most people feel "set" financially in meeting their bills and saving for Christmas and vacations.  No value judgment here, I am simply describing reality.  Most are "comfortable" with their lot in life and not seeking to rattle their status quo.  We wish them the best. In keeping your colors wet, it enables moving around the mix on your canvas.  It maintains the possibility of the next brush stroke.  We are a community who are malleable to opportunity, wherever it may arise.  As such, we do/will not appeal to brittle canvases of the world. We seek to attract artists wanting and willing keep adding depth and color to their can...