The Agreement Seekers Blog

If you have ever been swirling in debt; and- If you currently have bills not met. If retirement planning seems like a cruel joke And in your golden years it appears you’ll still be broke. If your fate looks cloudy and most unclear, Then heed these words and face these fears. With values and purpose people come together, Interdependently, with great care and measure. Supporting the idea of economic gain And in the process shed financial strain. Some call it community, some form a tribe, Mastermind groups, there’s good reason why – Common purpose, support and “group” thinking Can buoy lives and keep them from sinking. What we offer, or what we sell, Matters much less than our ability to tell A straightforward story that is clear and true Develop trust and friendships for all they’re due. Ambiguity, risk and lack of skills Make those who stay poor head for the hills. But those who give patience and knowledge a chance. Can learn and gr...

There is a problem most of us share.  We struggle to get by, financially.  I am not certain you would want to wear the label, but I am certain I among the working poor. In my view, this is a relative term based upon how your income stacks up against your bills.  I define the working poor more in terms of the amount of stress that is induced by not having enough money to do the things you want. For most of us, there are reasons we have continued to live hand-to-mouth, have little to no investment income or simply have no money in savings.   We each have our cross to bear...  my wife characterizes our lifestyle as, "the very low end of comfortable". What this means as a practical matter is that we can meet all of our bills, go out to dinner once in a while... but we do not hold season tickets to the theater, we drive a 3 year old sub-compact car and we have not gone on a real vacation in a few years.  When we did, we decided to splurge and blow our tax ...

Of all the ways to make money, from the conventional to the less conventional, there has to be value in what is offered - significant enough to compel a purchase.  From a 6 year old selling lemonade in front of their house on a hot day, to a mansion on a bluff overlooking the ocean - both have to have perceived value.  A neighbor wants to quench their thirst and help a child, or a family with the means to afford it, wanting a stunning view of the harbor.  In either case, there is something driving the decision. Opportunity Marketing is a bit different, in the fact that the "value" is in the "opportunity" to make money.  Although with all companies that promote money-making-opportunities, there has to be a product for sale, the real ethos that drives participation is not the products, but the money that can be earned.  The question is, is this inherently a good or bad thing? So, let me ask a question:  Is earning money an end in itself?  Or, why do ...

I want to talk about the maligned reputation of Network Marketing.  There are companies that utilize this model and have the naming rights to a professional sports franchise stadium (Amway Center), sponsor a major league soccer team (HerbalLife), and credibly post on major job boards as "legitimate" careers (Avon, MaryKay Cosmetics). The problem, frankly, is not the business model itself, but the failure rate of the people trying to make it work.  These are two separate issues. Network Marketing, Multi-Level Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Word of Mouth Marketing... notice that they all end in the word marketing.  So what is marketing, anyway?  The simple explanation is that it is the practice of getting your message in front of someone to evaluate.  Marketing is engaging people in a conversation. But do we need to use the word "marketing" at all?  After all, marketing presupposes a lot.  It infers there are skills, tools, strategies, budgets, va...

Any organization is a collection (or network) of people who all subscribe to something in common.  It could be a religious organization, a youth baseball or soccer league, any medical malady organization, school bands who want to march in the Rose Bowl Parade... there are many, many more as you know. As a network of people all subscribing to a common "something" there is always the foundational need for money and funding to replace a roof on the church, build a new fence around the playing field, contribute to families in need,  caring for a sick loved one, or pay for plane fares to Pasadena for 90 kids. The question is whether bake sales and car washes... yard sales and holiday raffles... cookie and popcorn campaigns and the like are the smartest way to go about things?  Or might there be a better way through leveraging the synergies of the participants to benefit in the process? Obviously, this article presupposes that it does make sense to incentivize volunteer m...

I've had a lot of different jobs in my life.  At the end of the day, I guess each has helped people in some direct or indirect way... (except maybe for selling life insurance). There is something qualitatively different in what I do now.  I have a direct impact on the quality of people's lives that is immediate, palpable and rewarding.  This "outcome" is preceded by establishing trust and building relationships based upon common values - and competence.  This does not happen without consistent interaction in a team environment that keeps everything moving forward in a positive way with little successes along the way. So, what are the little successes?  If your skill set is "slim", perhaps it is learning how to set up a gmail account and use it as a free auto-responder.  Perhaps it is making a commitment to turn off the TV a few nights a week and focus on business building activities.  Perhaps is it finding out who the person is at any local non-pro...

I view making money as an end in itself.  The vehicle used is important, but frankly it could be anything, as long as there is value derived from whatever is being sold.  In the total equation, considering all variables, my primary concern is that there is more money in my bank account and I am able to do what is best for my family. "All the better" if something truly aligns with my values, however more important: is how the compensation is structured.  It needs to be in a way that is smart, fair and can accelerate rapidly. This gets and  keeps people's attention.  Rapid profitability minimizes risk and keeps people in the game. This is critical in building a team of business partners.  It creates excitement and an atmosphere of success.  The affect and culture this engenders is a key driver to the growth of any organization.