The Power To Choose And The 80/20 Rule

When joining an MLM you are coached on how to gather customers and people who may be interested in joining your team.Most people run out and start pitching their company to everyone they know. What a wonderful show of enthusiasm! You believe in your product and company and expect everyone in your warm market to feel the same. After all they know and trust you. The truth is this very rarely works. Don’t get me wrong you will be able to gather customers this way, and if what you have to offer has value more often than not you will get referral customers. Getting someone to join your team is another matter. Sure you can sign up some of your buddies and family members. You can even build a huge down line this way, but is it a quality down line? How many of you have sponsored someone only to have them end up in the “I signed up but never did anything grave yard”? Most of you will be nodding your head as you read this. I understand, I made the same mistake. I was in such a rush to grow my business I wanted to sponsor as many people as possible. The more people the more customers the more everyone makes. I was so wrong! I made the mistake as so many do, of recruiting and not sponsoring. I had to rethink my game plan. Your only as good as the team you build . I had the quantity but I needed the quality.

That’s where Pareto’s law (also know as the 80/20 rule) came into play. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this term, Vilfredo Pareto was an economist in the 1800″s. He established that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population. He found that a large portion of the wealth was concentrated in a small percentage of the population. So in other words 80% of consequences flow from 20% of causes. Apply this to an MLM as 80% of good stuff (sales) comes from 20% of sources (team members). 20% of your team will generate 80% of annual results! So wouldn’t it make sense to concentrate your efforts on that 20%? You have to separate the vital (your 20%) from the trivial (the wishing and not working).

Once I stopped recruiting and started sponsoring things changed. I started interviewing potential team members as opposed to just signing up who ever was willing. I wanted to know about their work ethics, their drive,ambition and motivation. I wanted to see if we had the same goal in mind. Duplication is one of the key factors with MLM’s and if we were not of the same mind set we wouldn’t work well together. Some meetings are done in person depending on location and some we correspond via e-mail. I’ve also spoken to prospective team member over the phone. After a few conversations I can usually tell if we would be a good fit and mutually beneficial to each other.

Try applying this rule to your MLM. Treat new prospects as you would anyone looking to do business with you. Interview them, get to know them and then make a decision. Be selective on who you choose to enter into business with. You choose who to let in to your team. Apply this principle and you will see results. Remember quality over quantity.

 

Residual Income VS. Pay Check

Earning a residual income has many advantages over a traditional paycheck. The number one advantage is not being restricted to a fixed salary. You see residual income grows, it does not stay stagnant. The same can’t be said for your weekly pay check. Sure you might do some over time but is it consistent? You might even get a paltry raise here and there but again after that raise your income is “fixed” for that year. With a residual income your earnings  will keep arriving every month, year in year out, from work you do only ONE TIME!

People look to residual incomes to have a better life style. What that life style is depends on the person. Do you want to pay off debt or college loans? Maybe you want to buy a home or car. How about a vacation? For me the draw of residual income was freedom, freedom of my time. I wanted to stop running my life on someone else’s clock. Spending more time doing things that make me happy with the people I care about. Earning a residual income enables me to work less but earn more. I still have my traditional job but it doesn’t consume my life.

An example of residual income is rent. I am a home owner and have a rental apartment. When I purchased my home I advertised the apartment (one time work) and when it was rented collected that rent each and every month. Yes here and there I may have to do something to that apartment but for the most part I just sit back and collect.

Residual income is most commonly found with companies that offer an auto-ship. Your customer is automatically shipped products every month ensuring your residual income (example: vitamins). Now during tough economic times people may scale back and cancel those auto-ships. Your residual may decline, so it is important to have multiple streams of residual income. Ever hear the expression “don’t put all your eggs in one basket”? By all means start with one company but as you start earning your residual income branch out into other companies.

I am involved with an opportunity that doesn’t require auto-ship and the customer retention rate has been 99%! I’m not a born salesman, so I wasn’t looking to “sell” anything. This opportunity is based on leverage (endeavors of others) and offer a residual income. By leveraging the customers of your down line your customer base grows increasing your residual income. A little work on your part can go along way toward achieving your financial goals.

 

Why Are Real Estate Professionals Looking At This Opportunity?

Why Are Real Estate Professionals Looking At This Opportunity?.

 

A Negative Into a Positive

A Negative Into a Positive.

 

A Negative Into a Positive

For every person a satisfied customer talks to, an unsatisfied customer talks to many. Unfortunately this is the cold hard truth. In the same way that marketing can be  viral so too can be opinions. This is why customer satisfaction plays a large part in the success of your business. If you wish to succeed you must put the concerns of your customers first and do what ever is necessary to address any issues they may have.

People are quick to blame any new product or service that they are using when something goes awry. For example: I am in the business of saving people money on their utility bills. I recently received a call from a client concerning their latest bill. This was their second bill since switching and they were complaining of an increase in their payment. As a consultant it is not for me to handle this issue, we do not have to provide customer service. All billing issues are to be dealt with through the company itself. Knowing that customer retention as well as satisfaction are important, I took it upon myself to see if I could help.

Now being they are new customers I knew they were receiving at the least a 7% savings. Yet they were stating that their supply portion of their bill ( Ambit ) had increased and that their servicing company (Con Edison) was raising their balanced billing installment. I asked if they had been using their air conditioner (We’ve had some hot days here in N.Y.) and of course the response was yes. I then asked them to take out the previous months bill so we could compare their usage. Lo and behold they used more electricity ( summer months are notorious for high electric usage) , being the cost depends on the usage it was normal that their price increased. I then asked if they had checked the website to compare Con Edisons rate to Ambits? They had not, so while I was on the phone they logged on to their website ( Ambit provides a personal website to all customers so they can check their savings) and compared the rates. Ambits current rate was 3 cents less per kilowatt than Con Edisons. Right there I was able to prove that the increase had nothing to do with Ambit. As far as their balanced billing they would have to speak with Con Edison as Ambit has nothing to do with that.

The next day I received a call from the same client stating that Con Edison was adjusting their balanced billing installment because they used more electricity than the previous year and because of a rate increase on their part (Con Edison rates have increased 12% in the last month). They apologized for thinking it was Ambit and thanked me for taking the time to help them. Now I could have just directed them to call Ambit from the get go but I know the importance of customer satisfaction. I established a good relationship with this client and they appreciated my help in solving their issue.

What did this do for me? In the past month I received 5 referrals from this client. Not only did I gain 5 new clients but the client that did the referring is now closer to receiving a free energy supply (refer 15 people and get the average of their supply charge credited to you monthly). By making myself available to them I established a relationship. Because I chose to listen to their concerns and was able to show them that they were saving money they were more than willing to recommend my services. What started as a negative situation turned into a positive one.

It just happened to be a coincidence that their balanced billing being reset, Con Edisons rate hike and their increase in usage  coincided with their switch to Ambit Energy. In their eyes the only change was Ambit so we were given the blame. Had I not taken the time to speak with them they may have canceled their service ( there is no contract). I would have lost a client and any potential clients they could have sent my way.

This is just my experience and example. It could just as well have been a new cream someone is using and then they break out in hives or an energy drink that after using they have digestive issues. People will automatically blame what ever new variable for their problem even if it is unwarranted. Could it be that the person is allergic to the face cream? Sure, but it could also be that they started using it during allergy season and something else caused the hives. The digestive problems could have been caused by over indulging in food as well as by the energy drink. Try getting to the root cause of the issue. If they call customer service they will most likely be given a refund and you will have lost a customer and any future referrals. If in fact the product was the cause then there is no other option, but without any involvement on the consultants part you risk losing a customer and damaging the products reputation as well as your own in that customers circle of influence.

Remember good news travels fast but bad news travels at the speed of light. You may not be able to completely protect your products reputation ( Some people just can’t be appeased) but you can limit the damage. Go the extra step and show you care. If you do this that particular product may not get recommended but you will be. You may not see the benefit of this immediately. In the future, you may be offering something of interest to a past or present client that will remember your kindness , understanding and helpfulness. Because they have faith in you odds are they will give this product or service a try.

Every customer may not be a satisfied one, you can’t please everyone. You can however turn a negative experience into a positive one with a little care on your part. Your attitude is just as important as the products attributes. So take the initiative and go that extra step. It will reward you one day.

 

The Truth About MLM’S

The Truth About MLM’S.

 

The Truth About MLM’S

I’m not here to sugar coat anything. I want to give you the real deal on just what it takes to make money in MLM, direct sales or any home based business for that matter. You see, people have this misconception that it will be easy. In truth there is nothing easy about it.

First you have to find the opportunity that’s right for you. This in itself will be time-consuming. There are many companies and opportunities out there. You have to do your research as to their legitimacy and longevity. Any opportunity that promises you huge amounts of money with little effort is most likely a scam. Other wise the world would be full of millionaires and we know that is not the case.

Most opportunities also require some form of a start-up fee. This can be anywhere from a few bucks to thousands of dollars. Don’t base joining an opportunity on cost. Some have a one time fee for joining,others have a monthly fee and yet others may require that you buy inventory monthly. The one time fee may in the long run end up costing you less than the monthly fee. Some prefer the monthly fee as it is less up front money.

Now that you’ve chosen your opportunity and paid your fee you figure you can put away your credit card and get down to making money; wrong. What about hosting fees for your website? You need a web site to run your business. Some opportunities provide a ready-made site for you, you just have to pay a monthly maintenance fee. If they do not you will be responsible for creating your own as well as purchasing a domain name. Many marketers prefer this method because there is more control over appearance and content and will even choose to do this even if the company provides one.

Your web site is now up and running, so how are you going to get people to view it? First step would be to submit your site to all the major search engines. Blogging, article writing and participating in forums are also great ways of getting exposure for your site. You can also use social media ( Face Book, Twitter etc. ). Just make sure your web site is in your signature when posting and check the forum rules, some don’t allow this. There are also some great marketing sites out there like ibotoolbox and apsense. These sites allow marketers to interact with one another as well as advertise their opportunities. All of the above mentioned ways of getting exposure to your site are completely free.

You may opt for paid advertising at some point or a service such as aweber that has a small fee but is great for e-mail marketing. There are other tools that can be way more expensive but if they give you the return on your investment you shouldn’t be turned off by the price tag.

Customer retention is something else to consider. Now that your ready to make your sales ,what is going to keep those customers coming back? That’s why it’s best to take part in an opportunity that offers a product or service you personally use. Being a customer first ,you know what has kept you a loyal customer and prompted you to join the company. A loyal customer could eventually be a part of your down line. Ask for customer feed back and stay in contact with your customers. If a customer is not satisfied, rectify it immediately. It is far less expensive to gain repeat business than to acquire a new customer.

As you can see it is not as easy as some opportunities would lead you to believe. It takes work and a commitment to your own success. There is plenty of money to be made. I know many people making 5 figures a month or more in residual income from the business I am in. It just didn’t happen over night. I am relatively new to this business and the more I am learning the more I am making. You must continually educate yourself and you will see your skills improve. Find a good mentor and absorb everything they can teach you, go to seminars,watch webinars; just keep learning. It will pay off. I’m not making the five figures yet, but I will. Of that I have no doubt. As I said I’m new to this business and it’s not “get in and get rich”, but in time it will provide a real residual income.

Remember your level of commitment along with the skills you acquire is what will make your success imminent. For some it takes months, for other years. It all depends on what you do to achieve that success. It is a known fact that 97% of people taking part in building a business fail. They give up without ever really trying. They might think they tried but the reality is they were uneducated and misinformed. But the 3% that make it are living the life others dream of having; no boss, no punching a time clock and financial freedom. I plan on being part of that 3%. Majority doesn’t always rule.

I welcome your comments and am not opposed to constructive criticism.

If you would like to know more about what I do feel free to contact me via e-mail or view my web site by clicking on “opportunity” in the blog roll.

 

How To Avoid Alarm Clock Stress

Ambit energy was founded in 2006 by Jere Thompson. The vision of ambit energy is to become the premiere energy provider for customers around the globe.

This company can save people up to 10 percent on their energy bills and provides people with a lucrative business opportunity. Jere Thompson had a vision when he created this company. He wanted to help people make money and save money on what they naturally use anyway “Energy”

They are a member of the DSA (Direct Selling Association). In 2008 Ambit energy has profits of over 200 million in revenue and in 2009 their profits doubled.

This is a great sign this company has a lot of momentum for the future.Ambit is not like many other network marketing companies focusing on lotions and potions they are separating themselves with a unique service.

Is Ambit Energy A Scam?

There are people who are creating financial freedom for themselves because of this business opportunity. This in itself shows that Ambit energy is far from a scam. This is one of the most reputable companies in the network marketing industry.

Ambit pays their consultants in many ways:

1- Jump start bonuses

2-Team builder bonuses

3-Consultant leadership bonuses

4-Customer residual income

5-Customer residual bonuses

With so many ways to earn income with a great company there’s no wonder why Ambit energy is so successful

How Does Someone Succeed With Ambit Energy?

This is where most people in network marketing get it all wrong. Ambit is a wonderful opportunity but finding and joining the right opportunity is only 20% of the equation.

The other 80% is effort. By effort I don’t mean making a few phone calls and just talking to people you know. To truly maximize this amazing compensation plan you must be willing to educate yourself in the ways of marketing. Let’s face it, how many real businesses do you know of that became a huge success by only relying on their friends and family as customers? Not many. Friends and family are a great place to start and you will make money this way, but to fully reap the rewards of the compensation plan you will need to delve into other forms of marketing. The best way to leverage this is through the internet. Social media sites such as Face Book and twitter simplify the marketing process. Utilize the power of the internet along with the training the back office supplies to achieve the level of success you wish. If you combine your passion with the right marketing and training,you will literally be able to build a solid business.

Who is joining Ambit Energy?

People from all walks of life are part of Ambit Energy. There are doctors, lawyers, accountants,trades men, police officers, fire men, and city workers are just some of the people partaking in the Ambit opportunity. Also real estate professionals and landlords/building owners are finding that Ambit is a great addition to the services they offer.

Anyone can join Ambit and find success If they are willing to take the time and effort necessary to succeed.

Why are people Joining Ambit Energy?

Aside from the compensation plan, people realize this is the perfect product. Everyone uses it and everyone needs it and everyone likes to save money. People may for go paying other bills but they always pay their gas and electric bill. Ambit is the only Energy company that offers a savings guarantee and the possibility for customers as well as consultants to earn a free energy supply. As much as people try to cut back on their usage they still have to use electricity. They may unplug appliances and televisions when not in use but no one unplugs their refrigerators. So if they are cutting back they are obviously trying to save money on their energy costs and Ambit gives them those savings. Between the compensation plan, product, ability to earn free energy and ease of enrolling customers many see this as the perfect opportunity.

How do I learn more about Ambit Energy?

Feel free to e-mail me at swayz25@aol.com and I will answer any questions you may have.

You can also view a short opportunity video at http://patdeleonibus.energy526.com

 

Oh, You Hate Your Job?

Oh, You Hate Your Job?.

 

Oh, You Hate Your Job?

Oh, you hate your job? Why didn’t you say so? There’s a support group for that. It’s called EVERYBODY & they meet at the bar. — Drew Carey How many times do you hear people lament about hating their jobs? Or maybe you are one of them. They hate their boss,the commute,the salary and punching a time clock. It’s a vicious cycle that just keeps repeating itself!They feel trapped! If they are lucky they will be able to retire at 65 with some semblance of a pension,maybe a 401k and perhaps social security benefits (if they’re still around). They are leaving their future in the hands of a boss who on a whim could fire them. It’s a frightening reality for many,but you know what? I’m tired of hearing it! I don’t mean to be cruel but I just can’t take the whining. Day in and day out they complain and do nothing about it. Did you ever notice there are entire groups of people who congregate and all they do is bemoan their jobs? If you’ve ever been in a bar on a Friday night just after the work day ends I’m sure you’ve seen them. It drives me crazy! Don’t they realize there is a better way? Perhaps they lack knowledge of how to take control. They have plenty of incentive as they are clearly not happy doing whatever it is they do for a living. So allow me to enlighten; become your own boss! How you ask? Join a direct sales or MLM company and before you even ask no they are not pyramids schemes. Lets get all the objections out-of-the-way; no you do not need a lot of money to invest or experience in sales. You do not have to quit your current job or spend insane amounts of time on your business. You do need to commit to your success, have a goal and be willing to get training and educate yourself. Not so hard is it? Don’t get me wrong it’s not I’ll sign on the dotted line and make tons of cash. You have to work; just smarter not harder. So how do you find out about MLM/direct sales companies? Ibotoolbox is a great place to start. You can be introduced to many opportunities on this free marketing platform. Member will be more than happy to help with any question you may have about their opportunities. You can also look into MLM forums on-line. Do your research and pick an opportunity that’s right for you. So stop sitting around complaining and do something proactive! Change your future, you and you alone are its architect so why not build something great? If you would like information on my opportunity please feel free to contact me.

 

Why Are Real Estate Professionals Looking At This Opportunity?

Energy deregulation has opened up a world of opportunity for many people to make money. For some this is their primary business and for others it is an opportunity that goes hand in hand with their primary. Many real estate professional are choosing the opportunity Ambit Energy has to offer.

Why are real estate professional looking at this opportunity?

1- Everyone one of their clients uses gas and electricity

2- When clients are purchasing a home they almost always inquire about the cost of utilities.

3- They can offer clients a savings on their utility costs and build a residual income while still doing their primary job.

4- Residual income + commission from the sale= $$$$$

There are no contracts,no paper work (everything is streamlined via the web) and it takes no more than 10 min. Con Edison (N.Y.) and National Grid (N.Y.) still handle all billing,repairs,maintenance,service contracts and outages. We also do business in Texas, Illinois, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania. You are not selling anything! You are just offering the client a way to save money on their utility bills. The savings are backed by a written guarantee and there are even more possible ways to save for both the client and the consultant.

Real estate professionals are finding that they are in a prime position to succeed in this business. They have an already established relationship with their client and each client has to set up their utility accounts when buying a new home. Why wouldn’t they want to save money while still receiving the same service from the same company they have always dealt with?

To put aside any concerns you may have as to the legitimacy of this company please feel free to research us. You will find negative remarks as happens with any business but you will also find that we are a member of the direct sellers association and that we have an A rating with the BBB. We have been featured in success from home magazine as well as on the cover of INC.500 for 2010. We are also and most importantly licensed in the states in which we do business.

If you wish to pursue this opportunity or just want more information please feel free to contact me.

“There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses; only results.”

- Kenneth Blanchard

 

Can You Make Moolah With The Misses?

Can You Make Moolah With The Misses?.

 

Can You Make Moolah With The Misses?

In light of the economy, more couples are delving into becoming entrepreneurs,better known as ”Copreneurs”. They are sharing responsibilities on the business as well as the personal front. This is not an easy task and sometimes the lines can get blurred. It can be difficult to separate the two realities and the roles we play in them.

The first time I partnered with my wife wasn’t a business venture, it was for charity. I decided I wanted to do a toy drive around the holidays for Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital. I put out a call to all my friends and family and used social networking sites for donations. The gifts started flowing in and I needed to keep track of them. This is where my wife came in. She set up a spread sheet of all the donations we received, the age group it was appropriate for as well as the gender. This spread sheet was coded so each gift, once wrapped could be tagged with the proper number coinciding with the gender and age. The staff at the hospital would be given a copy of the spread sheet which went into more detail on the specific gift so they could ensure each child would not receive duplicate items from other patrons. Together we wrapped everything and prior to the holidays I contacted the hospital to set up a delivery date. I’m happy to say all went without a hitch and on the agreed upon date I along with a friend made the delivery. This was a very rewarding experience and I felt good helping others and sharing the experience with my spouse. We intend to make this a yearly tradition.

This was my first experience partnering with my spouse in anything other than a personal way and I rather enjoyed it. Was it hectic at times? you bet. We were both juggling full-time jobs, raising our two children and house hold responsibilities. For these reason when I decided to become an entrepreneur I wasn’t inclined to partner with my spouse. We would both continue working our full-time jobs, at least in the beginning and I feared the added pressure of growing a business would be too much along with other responsibilities that my spouse has. So I started my venture part-time,after work and my wife had her job and would see to the needs  of our family so I could concentrate on growing the business.

My wife works from home and when she would have a quiet moment she started doing research. She began educating her self on search engine optimization and marketing. She joined marketing forums and would ask questions and absorb whatever it is she could. When I would get home from my day job she would have training videos for me to watch to strengthen my sales skills. Now mind you she did all this while working, doing homework,preparing dinner and throwing in the laundry. She is the one who within weeks of my starting this business pointed me towards the free marketing sites that I am now a part of and rely on for insight as well as business exposure. She was always my partner in life and it seems she had become my unofficial business partner as well.

My spouse wears many hats,wife,mother,accountant,chef,and teacher are but a few. She is also a dedicated friend and neighbors tend to call when they need a hand. She likes helping people and perhaps that is what made her so excited about this business. It’s obvious she is capable of juggling many tasks at once, what amazes me is that no one area suffers because of this. She has taken it upon herself to see this business succeed and will do whatever necessary to further my progress and development.

My wifes skill set lies in obtaining knowledge and finding the best strategy to carry out what she has learned. She has become skilled at advertising the business while I concentrate more on building our client base as well as sponsoring and training. By unintentionally combining our strongest skills we created a business partnership that is both personally and professionally satisfying.

Finding a work/life/business balance is important to partnering with your spouse. It seems we have managed it so far with no adverse effects. We do have to step back occasionally and redefine the lines between business and family obligations. We have to schedule “time off”  so that we can regroup as a family. For the most part we have been able to manage well. Business is growing and I’m confident in our ability to keep up this growth. Partnering with my spouse was beneficial not only in a monetary sense but a personal one as well. Sharing a common goal and a commitment to the success of this business has brought us even closer.

Working together is a pleasure and though we may argue over certain aspects of the business at times, we always come to a resolution. Our approach to certain things may differ so we both try to let the other work within their skill set without interference. This minimizes disagreements and allows us to concentrate on what matters; growing our business. I went from an entrepreneur to a “copreneur” without any intention of doing so, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You can make moolah with the misses!

 

Rapture 2011?

Rapture 2011?.

 

Rapture 2011?

Just for a moment Imagine having the influence of Harold Camping. He has been able to convince multitudes of people that the end of the world is May 21,2011. Biblically we know it states in Mark 13:32 ” But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.”(King James Bible). That is pretty clear to me that we are not to know when the rapture will occur. If we believe the Bible is the word of God how can we discount His word and believe a man?

Camping said he is the only one in the world with authority to proclaim this because “God laid his hands on me because I had an intense desire to study the Bible the last 50 years.” So basically we are to believe that God changed his mind and chose to give Camping the formula to predict when the end would be?

Many believe Camping, which is evident from his large following and project Caravan. Project caravan  is made up of members of the Family Radio Ministry network, all of who have given up jobs, families and all their possessions to join this final mission. They travel around in campers preaching the Apocalypse. Even individuals that are not part of Project Caravan have sold their worldly goods. I read of a retired MTA worker in N.Y. who has used his entire life savings to fund an ad campaign for the prophecy.

What are these people ,who gave up all of their money going to do if the rapture does not occur on May 21 2011? I say if only because it could happen. It could also happen as I sit here writing this and these words will never be viewed by any but myself. We don’t know Gods will! These poor people They will be in a state of poverty and despair. I pray that people will be kind to them . I don’t write this in judgement for there is only One who may judge and only One who knows their hearts. I write this in hopes to open eyes that have been closed too long.

As a Christian I do believe it is our responsibility to make others aware of salvation, just not in the way Camping and his followers have gone about it. My God is a loving Father ,who wants all of his children reunited with him. He gives us this opportunity through salvation. In the book of Romans verse 9 it says “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans verse 10 says “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” It is quite simple, confess that you are a sinner and repent of your sins,believe with all your heart that Jesus died on the cross for you and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour.

I’m not knocking what Campings followers believe. I believe we are in the end times. Many signs point towards this. I have no doubt the rapture will occur, what I doubt is his prediction as to when that will be. Could it be tomorrow? possibly or it could be the day after or in 50 yrs.

I will not live in fear for my heart knows it will one day heed His call, whenever that day may be. Do I want it to be now? Honestly; no. I want to see my children grow and be married. I wish to know the pleasure of holding a grandchild. I want to grow old with my spouse. Yet these are things that others will be feeling at different times. If the Lord was to come when all wanted Him to it would never happen. Someone some where will always want more time. But fear? I am not afraid, for I know I will be going home.

 

Trading Hours For Dollars

Which option will you choose?

OPTION 1:

When you sell hours for dollars you are selling one product (your time) for money. You have only 
one customer (your employer) and if you lose this customer you are out of business.If you become

injured or ill your business suffers (no income) and most importantly the hours you spend working

can’t be reproduced. These are hours of your life! They are not limitless, once used you can not

get them back.

OPTION 2:

A better approach would be to have your income revenue coming from multiple sources. If you had

multiple customers your income would not depend on if you lose that main customer. Providing

multiple products (not hours) will also increase your streams of income. Having your “eggs in a number 

of baskets” instead of just one (your employers) and creating residual income will allow your income

to continue even if you are ever injured or become ill.

Selling hours for dollars is fine for some especially if they are doing something they love and find rewarding.

It’s just not how I want to spend the rest of my life. The product my employer is getting (an hour of my life)

in exchange for monetary compensation; has far more worth than what is offered. Option one was a necessity.

Basically I didn’t know any better and I needed an income. Option two has become and educated choice. 

The choice to design my path, take command of my future and not sell my time by the hour.

The concept of time being valuable may seem foreign. Each and every one of us trades our time for

one thing or another . We trade our time for both good and bad things. Haven’t we all said

“that moment was priceless”? Meaning the time you spent enjoying that moment has no monetary value.

So why trade your time for the bad things such as fear,worry and insecurities. I watched my mother trade

much of her time to these things. I’m sure she thought she had plenty of time to spare, but she didn’t.

The Lord called her home at the relatively young age of 51, eight months after my daughter was born and

seven months before my sister was married. It was sudden and without warning. That day I not only lost

my mother; I came to realize the value of time and how fragile it is.

None of us knows how much time we have, so why not spend the time we have wisely?

Mark 13:32 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son but the Father”.

 

Can You Afford Retirement?

“Insane government spending, massive debts, out-of-control money printing, and almost unimaginable political cowardice are about to exact a heavy toll from each of us.”

14.3 Trillion Bucks With No Foreseeable Means Of Paying It Back!

The politicians solution: “Budget cuts!”

The government is insolvent and they are trying to find loop holes that will allow them to borrow more!

All at our expense! Nobody seems to truly realize the seriousness of these implications.

The government can’t meet obligations like pension funds, military paychecks, Social Security, health care programs, and tax refunds.

You’re looking at a whole generation of men and women growing up and retiring into poverty, unemployment, and minimum wage jobs if they’re lucky. Even the people who planned for retirement with 401k plans and investments can’t deny that they have lost a bundle of money and fear for their future. Hell,I’m one of them!

This is why so many people are becoming entrepreneurs. They are trying to find a way to make a sustainable income that will carry them into and through their retirement. Are you willing to gamble on social security and your pension to sustain you? Do you want to rely on them as your only source of income? Maybe you still have time to build up your savings again; but at what cost? In these economic times how much money can you spare to rebuild your nest egg? Probably not as much as you need to make up for what you have lost. You had the foresight to plan for your future the traditional way only to end up with a bleak financial picture. The time is now to change all that. Your financial future is your responsibility.Traditional methods are no longer working, it’s time to innovate!

I have taken the leap and joined with a MLM company that offers a service I use and believe in. I have many years before the official age of retirement but I’m creating a residual income that will enable me to retire well. If all goes as planned I will be retiring much sooner than most and be able to do so without worry.

So what are you waiting for? Find your niche in a company you believe in.The start up cost are relatively small compared to traditional businesses and opportunities abound. Invest in your future! 

 

Free Marketing?

This is for anyone who is interested in internet marketing. It is a great way to promote your business, connect with other marketers and even make money doing it.

First you must create a personal and business profile. After doing this browse around and find some groups you would like to join. The amount of groups are astounding and the interest are varied, so you will have plenty to choose from. Have a look at members profiles and invite those that you have a common interest with to connect with you. You can also create a rev page reviewing your business. If you create content pages; Apsense will pay you when people view these pages. They will also pay you when friends you invite into the network do the same thing . It’s a pretty good deal wouldn’t you say?

So please check out Apsense via this invitation link:

http://www.apsense.com/invite/pdnewyork

I use Apsense in combination with ibotoolbox. This is also a free marketing platform, where you blog and can advertise your business. The blogs are sent to all the major search engines and you will find a big increase in your site’s traffic. Members also help promote each other via twitter, digg, stumbleupon and delicious to name a few. You accrue credit each day you log in, post a blog or refer someone. These credits can be used to purchase business ads that can be run on the site. The members have a wealth of information to share and are happy to do it.

Here is an invitation link http://www.ibosocial.com/PDNewyork

These two sites have helped me grow my business network and can do the same for you.

 

The power Of Implementing The Personal Touch

Last night I received a call from someone named Randy. I was unable to take the call, so he left a message saying he wanted to speak to me about my business. I returned the call today and it wasn’t exactly my business he wanted to speak about (though we touched on it briefly), but an opportunity he thought I might be interested in. At first I was irritated by this call and wanted to know where he found my contact info. It seems he read my blogs, clicked on my business link and that is where he retrieved my info. He proceeded to discuss some of my blog entries with me and it turns out we both had similar reasons for getting into MLM. We both were working long hours at our 9-5 to support our families and needed a better way to secure our financial future. We went on to discuss methods of growing our down lines and what has and has not worked for each of us. At the end of our conversation he gave me some sites to look over and asked that I call him to let him know what I think. When I looked at the time I couldn’t believe that I was on the phone with him for an hour. The irritation I initially felt had given way to an enjoyable conversation. By getting to know a little about one another and discussing common interest; I went from feeling as if a sales pitch was coming to actually liking the guy. I am aware that his objective is to get me to join his opportunity. Yet by humanizing the conversation instead of just pitching his business he was able to make his information available to me without my cutting him short. He could have just sent an e-mail but odds are I would have hit delete before reading through the first sentence. He made the effort to make a more personal connection and attempt to build a relationship. In this age of texting, tweeting and instant messaging; having a good rapport with someone has become negligible. So many hide behind their computer screens. With the internet information is available to any and all who want it. Want to know more about a business , just do a google search,Then if you want more info you contact a real person. How many prospects are lost this way? It isn’t easy to build a relationship when there is no human contact and relationships are the key to success. People want that connection, you can’t build trust without it. We are selling ourselves first and our business/product second. As far as my call with Randy goes; he piqued my interest. I had a look at the sites and it was an opportunity that I was already familiar with. I’m not looking for anything new at the moment as time is scarce, but if or when I decide to take on a new venture I will give Randy a call. Not only did I like the opportunity; I liked the person who presented it to me.

 

Surviving the New Economy (via TheFreedomGroup)

     With the Fed printing money as fast as the presses will run, country after country unpegging from the dollar, a government willing to spend us all into oblivion and with a  media seemingly oblivious to all of it the average citizen needs a plan B.      While the "news" is claiming the economy is turning around,  unemployments around 9 percent and "oh, did you see the royal wedding?",  it doesn't take much investigation to realize our economy … Read More

via TheFreedomGroup

 

The Perfect Product

In this difficult economic climate, it’s not easy to promote a product or service. Consumers are feeling the squeeze of rising prices, thus reigning in their spending. Necessities are taking precedence over wants and this in turn has an adverse affect on businesses. With less disposable income very few consumers are making unwarranted purchases. For the would be entrepreneur this poses the question as to what business would thrive during an economic down turn?

For a business to thrive during a recession it must offer something of great value to the consumer. It has to either be of a high relevance to the consumer or a necessity. An example of a product/service with relevance would be health products or health care. As the population continues to senescence; maintaining health becomes a concern. Necessities are obviously shelter, food and utilities.

The business I’m involved in is a consumer necessity. I am part of one of the fastest growing privately held companies in America. There are no deliveries, no inventory and no customer service issue to deal with. The company handles everything. We offer the perfect product : everyone needs it, everyone understands it, everyone uses it every month, and everyone likes to save money. Best of all this service is offered at no cost to the consumer, only savings! The consumer has nothing to lose by working with me. In fact they gain a savings (which we guarantee) and a 2 night three-day hotel stay just for trying our company. Our overall prices are competitive and our customer retention rate is high (I haven’t lost one yet). We want to keep our customers happy; so along with great rates we offer a referral program and travel rewards program. Who doesn’t want to earn free travel just for paying their bills every month? The same bills they would be paying any way; except now they are saving money and earning points towards free travel.

All around this business is a win-win opportunity. I win by not having to sell anything (just offer to save them money) and the consumer wins by easily saving money and getting some perks along with the savings. This is why my business is thriving while so many others are hurting. The consumer has nothing to lose!

If you would like to learn more about what I do please feel free to contact me.

 

Psychology Of The Consumer

Consumer psychology refers to the study of how people relate to the goods

and services they use in their daily lives. To market effectively you must

first understand when, why, how, and where people do or do not buy a product.

In my opinion the main reasons consumers buy products are the products

attributes, the consumers core values and in some instances a learned response
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If you were to ask why someone purchased a particular product they would

usually respond with a product attribute. For example; if you asked a consumer

why they purchased a certain brand of juice, they might respond because it

is all natural. Attributes are the reasons consumers are drawn to certain products.

Core values are the underlying reasons consumers purchase one product over another.

In the previous example the consumer purchased the juice because it was all natural.

If you were to ask why that mattered the response might be that it has no added

sugar so it is healthier. If you probed further you might come to realize that being healthy

is important to this consumer because she/he equates healthy with being better able to care

for their family. That is the underlying reason this product was purchased.

Learned responses are ingrained in a consumer. It is the influence of the people who have

been prevalent in our lives(family,friends). If mom purchased a certain product and you were

raised using that product; chances are you will continue purchasing it. That’s not to say at

some point a consumer won’t develop their own preference, many eventually do. Yet there is

still the sentiment “if it was good enough for grandma it’s good enough for me”.

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Market research in the form of questioneers,polls and asking for feed back would be

helpful in determining the needs of the consumer. If we can better understand the key reasons

that drive consumers to purchase particular products; we can form a more effective and direct

marketing strategy; which in turn will be conducive to increased sales.

 

Recession Proof Industry

THE OPPORTUNITY How many people are jumping on the band-wagon to purchase lotions, potions, vitamins via auto-ship every month? Not that many. Don’t get me wrong, there are some very exciting and wonderful companies out there with really great products, but we have to be honest with ourselves, it is not the easiest sell to convince someone they need a bottle of vitamins shipped to their door on automatic,especially in this economy. If it’s not a necessity it’s a luxury. Some will buy from you for a time, but truly how many will stick with you when they are hurting financially? Ambit Energy sells to the public a commodity that enjoys 100% marketplace acceptance. Almost all Americans pay for electricity and or natural gas. The wonderful part of our great country is the freedom to choose who we purchase that energy from, thanks to deregulation. And once it is deregulated, and it only happens once, the opportunity is now! Everyone knows there is a huge shift going on in the energy industry and Ambit Energy is right in the thick of it. Ambit Energy is a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of that deregulation. Compensation Package MLM Network Marketing companies all have comp plans and the types and variety of them is endless. Ambit Energy has taken a very simplified approach to the business. Just the nature of the business is you grow your business by finding retail customers, who happens to be everyone. The price structure of the energy is as competitive as anyone’s out there. You do not grow the way they do by offering expensive energy. As customers sign up, you get paid bonuses for building your customer base and you get paid every month as your customers pay their bills. Where we do business As of right now Ambit is a licensed retail electricity provider in the state of Texas, a licensed energy service company (ESCO) in the state of NY and NJ, a alternate gas provider (AGS) in the state of Illinois and a licensed energy supplier in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Why Ambit? Our phenomenal achievement and success record speaks for itself having been ranked by INC 500 AS THE FASTEST-GROWING PRIVATE COMPANY IN AMERICA and THE NO. 1 ENERGY COMPANY IN AMERICA! We are a member of the DSA and have an A rating with the BBB. Deregulation of energy is now sweeping across the country – a federally mandated phenomenon that would allow the transfer of wealth from current energy monopolies to thousands of individuals and companies. Ambit Energy provides the opportunity to tap into this $500+ Billion deregulated market by aggressively expanding into other electricity and natural gas markets throughout the United States. If you would like more info on this amazing company or would just like to save some money on your gas and electric bills , please view the links on my profile. Fell free to contact me with any questions you may have. Pat

 

The Age Of The Entrepreneur

During times of economic turmoil more entrepreneurs are born than at any other time in history.

Why? Because becoming an entrepreneur for many is  forced, they choose it out of necessity.

They have been laid off or their hours have been reduced and they need another source of income.

Entrepreneurship can be that other source of income. MLM’s/direct sales in particular are an affordable

and viable option for would be entrepreneurs. It just has to be realized that being an entrepreneur

is not a quick fix. You don’t choose a business and immediately start making tons of money and all of

your financial woes are solved. The misconception that entrepreneurship is a cure-all is the reason so many

fail and in turn the industry takes the blame for this failure. In reality the failure is the individual who blindly

ventured into an area they knew little or nothing about. They were looking for an easy solution and did not

recognize the work involved in becoming a success. The opportunity itself doesn’t guarantee success.

It is only one part of the equation, opportunity+knowledge+effort=success.

A recession is a time when everyone re-evaluates their financial situations. Even if they are gainfully employed

they wonder for how long? A time of decline brings with it an air of fear and uncertainty and that can lead to innovation.People who have a solid foundation want to maintain it and seek ways to ensure its stability. For many becoming an entrepreneur can do just that. MLM/direct sales allows you to continue working in your current profession while building your business. You don’t have to sacrifice earning a salary. MLM/direct sales allows you to work your business on a part-time basis until you choose to make it full-time.

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Since 2005 the economy has taken a nose dive and with that there has been a resurgence of entrepreneurial spirit.More and more people are realizing they can’t rely on the longevity of holding a job. The future is uncertain and they are choosing to take matters into their own hands. The dream of retiring with social security and a good pension are fading, bringing forth a new dream of financial independence from the system. It is a time to become self-reliant. A time to focus energies not on gaining wealth for others but for themselves. Whether.the choice was forced,necessitated or optional, many are making the decision to be their own boss. It’s a choice between dictating your own future or having someone else dictating it for you. What will you choose?

 

If At First You Don’t Succeed…..

The majority of people who are anti MLM/direct sales have at one time or other been involved in this industry and failed. They use failure as an excuse for their lack of success, when in truth failure is a key ingredient in success.Those who don’t achieve success most likely quit after their failure.

If you were to follow in the footsteps of a successful person, you would likely pass the remnants of multiple failures. If you followed in the footsteps of a failure, you would find their lifeless future at the feet of their first opponent. If you learn from your failures and persevere you will attain success. Believe you will succeed and you shall.

If you want to succeed where other people fail, you have to step right over failure and keep walking. The people who don’t make it let failure defeat them. Failure becomes their end result because they refuse to walk any further.

So the question is, how hard and for how long are you willing to fight? There are no shortcuts. The vast majority of millionaires are self-made and far too many lottery winners are broke and worse off than they were before they won the lottery. Why? Because wealth is about behavior. How you achieve that wealth and what you do once you have it will determine if you keep it. Money doesn’t protect you from failure. Failure is a part of life and what you do with that failure determines the rest of your life.

Every failure you over come is leading you one step closer to your goals. Through these experiences you gain valuable insights that when applied to new situations will help you attain your dreams. The acceptance of failure as an end is the proclaiming of defeat. The realization that failure is just a detour will lead you in new directions. Turning failures into successes separates the resilient from the complacent. Which will you choose to be?

“Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checked by failure…than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.” 

        - Theodore Roosevelt 

 

Today Justice Has Been Served

I’m sure most of you remember where you were on 9/11. I was in Manhattan at work and had a first hand view of the mayhem and devastation of that day. I witnessed people jumping from their office building in an act of desperation. There intention was not suicide as so many believed, it was intense smoke and heat that pushed people into this horrific choice. I remember the fear on the faces that I passed,the confusion and hysteria. My own fear too mounting as I could not call home to make sure my family was safe. I remember hours later finally speaking to my wife and being assured that she and my girls were okay and the relief I felt was palpable. It was 36 hours before I was able to get home and holding them in my arms I cried.

I’m not ashamed of the tears I shed and in the coming days I shed many more. I attended more memorials following that day than would be normal in a life time. So many lives were prematurely lost and others irrevocably changed. As a nation we were changed.

My perception of life changed that day. Nothing was certain any more, tomorrow is promised to no one. From that day forward I vowed to appreciate all that God has blessed me with in life. It is so easy to take for granted all that truly matters. We lose site of how fragile life is and forget to cherish what is most important…living. Live your life fully with love and happiness. Spend less time working and more time with your family. Appreciate the life you have for it is a gift easily lost. Make the most of each and every day and let the people who matter know how much you love them.

Today justice has been served. I would like to thank all the men and women who have sacrificed,suffered,worked hard and given their lives in defense of our country. Their sacrifice has not been in vain. We are the home of the free because of the brave.

We will take this victory and in our hearts know that there are more victories to be claimed.While this is closure and a moment of vindication, remember that one man’s villain is another man’s hero.The world was changed and no matter how many are brought to justice, the way we live can never return to the way it was.