What You Need to Do To Become A Successful Network or Multi-Level Marketer: TIP #1 You Must Know Your Why(s)

 

In my last posting, I shared ideas about why you should have an at home business.   Even though what I wrote would apply to most home based businesses, my remarks were geared mostly to network marketing or multi-level marketing businesses.  My next several postings will explore what you need to do become a successful network or multi-level marketer.  Although my tips will be geared mostly to network marketing/multi-level marketing, they have application for any at home business.

TIP #1

You must know your why(s).

Why do you want a home based business?  Unless you have a compelling reason to start and build a home based business, you may not have the staying power necessary to get you past the hurdles you’re sure to encounter.   Create your own future by first creating your why(s).  Your why will become the mental vision and purpose for everything you do, both large and small. 

You must live day to day with a clear purpose in mind.  Your purpose is your why.  Don’t commit to having a home based business until you commit to yourself the why(s) that matter most to you.   Your why is the burning desire that will motivate and sustain you in the day-to-day mundane and sometimes painful tasks of working a home based business.  Your why could be anyone of a number of reasons:

• It could be you want the financial freedom that would allow you to spend more time with your family creating memories and strengthening lifelong bonds.
• It could be you want to become debt free.
• It could be you want to put money toward a family emergency preparedness plan, i.e., food storage, emergency essentials, cash, etc.
• It could be you want more money for your retirement.           
• It could be you want to buy a nicer home.           
• It could be you want to travel or want a new car, etc.

It does not matter what your why is as long as it is a burning desire.  “He who has a why to live for, can bear almost any how.” (Friedrich Nietzsche)  Once you have fixed your why, it’s like identifying your own personal North Star—you determine your course by it and use it as the means of getting back on track when you tend to stray.  In the Old Testament of the Bible it says, “When there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18)  If you are passionate about your why, you will create a home based business that has vision and commitment.  It has been said that commitment is another name for success.   The secret of success is staying constantly committed to your purpose in thought and action.  Once you identify your why(s) the rest becomes a matter putting one foot in front of the other until your reach your North Star. 

God Speed in your journey and until next time may you have another day in paradise.

         

Why Have an At Home Business?

There are as many reasons to have an at home business as there are people involved in them.  The bottom line is…, “the bottom line.”  The bottom line for everyone I’ve ever known is to make money.  Most people could use an extra couple hundred dollars, or a few thousand dollars, or tens of thousands of dollars, every month.   J Paul Getty, author of HOW TO GET RICH, and one of the richest people in the world, states that the first rule for success is that you must be in business for yourself because you will never get rich working for someone else.  One of the problems in being in business for yourself is the start up costs associated with getting a business going.  Those costs can often be thousands of dollars and the risks can frighten even the most stout of heart.  One way to overcome the risk-reward factor is to become involved with a Multi Level Marketing (MLM) or Network Marketing company.  Before you run screaming in terror consider the following statements:

* Robert T. Kiyosaki, the author of “Rich Dad – Poor Dad,” revealed that his first choice to retire young and retire rich for the average person – is NETWORK MARKETING.  He called Network Marketing the “PERFECT BUSINESS.

”* In the book by Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki, “Why We Want You To Be Rich,” they dedicated an entire chapter to NETWORK MARKETING.

* In the book “The Next Millionaires” by Paul Zane Pilzer, – he forecasts that 10 million new millionaires will be created in this industry in the next TEN YEARS. Mr. Pilzer is a noted economist, author, entrepreneur, and professor.

 You can join a network marketing company and make a FORTUNE with very little risk or start up costs if you are wise in choosing the right company.  (See my blog post “Questions to Consider When Choosing a Home Based Business,” 2-23-08). Many people have a closed mind or bias towards MLM and Network Marketing because of past negative experiences or because of the many kooks and con-artists found in the industry.  But when compared to many J^.O^.Bs, there are just as many kooky bosses and con-artists in the traditional work place.  Given the choice, I would rather have control over who I choose to work with and what company I work for.

Unlike conventional businesses or franchises, Network Marketing and Multilevel Marketing companies are the only business models that take advantage of three critical principles to building personal wealth: Passive Residual Income – Leveraging – and Geometric Growth.  The combination of all three of these elements is what gives the Network Marketing and MLM business model its synergy and exceptional performance potential.

I’ve heard it said that, “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”  If you want to break out of your current financial status quo, it is going to take you trying to do something you have never done before (or never done successfully) which is to become involved in a home based business.  Success can be just around the corner if you proceed with optimistic caution and believe in your capacity to change your current condition. 

God Speed in your journey and until next time may you have another day in paradise.

   

The Anti-Geek Poster Child

 I’m one of those baby boomers who was thrust into the whole internet/computer age kicking and screaming.  I’ve since adjusted.  I’m hardly an expert but I have learned (and am learning) a thing or two.  I feel like the anti-geek poster child, “If I can do it, anybody can.”  Although I find working with technology extremely frustrating at times, it’s very rewarding.  Even though I get humbled on a regular basis, I also feel a great sense of accomplishment when I get something right. 

In learning to cope with the internet/computer- age, I’ve followed the advice of my dad who would say, “If all else fails, lower your expectations.”  When I’m having a particularly difficult time trying to understand some new aspect of technology, I sometimes have to lower my expectations, realizing that this is a process not a destination.  While learning to build web pages, blogs, and social networking sites, (even word processing) etc., I try to measure my success in terms of how far I’ve come instead of the distance I have yet to travel to get to where I want to be.   When I think about it, I’m quite proud of how far I’ve come.  Two months ago, I didn’t even know what a blog was.  Since then I’ve created this blog and I’ve built a website I’m very proud of (www.onlinemarketingniche.com).

If you can relate to anything I’ve said, hang in there.  If you have progressed beyond where I am, you have my upmost admiration.  Regardless, I hope you have another day in paradise.

         

BE THE ULTIMATE CALL CENTER OF ONE

How would you like the power of a call center in your own home?  There is now a solution available bringing the power of a call center into your home based business.  The solution is called Call on Command featuring CitaLink^tm.

It is a new category of auto dialer technology known as a “Live Caller.”  It uses sophisticated and patent algorithms that are a hybrid of previous predictive dialer applications.  Call on Command featuring CitaLink^tm is a huge time-saver/money-maker because you spend most of your time talking to live people instead of pounding telephone plastic.  Some of the benefits include:

• No costly requirements for computer telephony hardware.
• No special software or licenses to purchase.
• No monthly support fees.
•  It is mobile, only requiring a computer with an internet connection and a phone to use.
•  It has simple, easy-to-understand online tutorials.
• It has multiple reporting capabilities.
• It is an affordable all-in-one system for the at home business user. 

Call on Command featuring CitaLink^tm is a premium solution for the home based marketer. It is affordable, easy to use, and most importantly, will save the user 75% of his/her time that otherwise would be wasted on unproductive dialing tasks, and increase sales by as much as 300%.  You don’t have to wish you had the power of a call center in your home based business anymore.  You can now be the “Ultimate Call Center of One” by using the LIVE CALLER from Call on Command featuring CitaLink^tm. 

For more information about Call on Command, click on the link below.  Be sure to check out the other links as well.  Until next time, have another day in paradise.

                    

  

Taxes Don’t Have To Be A Kick In The Butt/Home Based Business Dedcutions

I’ve been nose-down and butt-up doing my taxes the past five days.  Taxes can be a pain in the butt, they don’t have to be a kick in the butt.  I’m going to get a refund on my taxes that I would not otherwise receive because of my at home business deductions.  Here are just a few of the things I’m deducting:

ü   Advertising costs

ü  Product  and sample giveaways

ü  Postage

ü  Dues or Subscriptions

ü  Office expenses, i.e. office supplies, computer equipment, furniture

ü  Parking and tolls

ü  Printing

ü  Travel costs related to my business, i.e. hotel, airfare, car rental, etc.

ü  Meals and entertainment

ü  Business related expenses not listed above

ü  Distribute

ü  0r Recruiting Costs, i.e. leads, web site development, web fees, etc.

ü  Mileage related to your business

ü  Interests on credit card if the card is designated for business purposes

ü  Utility cost (gas, electricity, etc.) according to your office size compared to total square footage of your living space

ü  Rent cost according to your office size compared to the total square footage of your living space

ü  Cell phone and land line phone cost related to business use

ü  Internet connection related to business use

All the home base business deductions yout take must be well documented but the tax savings can substantial.  Check with your tax accountant for specific questions on what is deductable and what is not.  Taxes will probably always be a pain in the butt, but don’t let them kick you in the butt.  Discover the tax saving benefits of having your own at home business.

If you are looking for home based business possibilities contact me at gotleads@comcast.net.  I have several possibilities to look at.  Even if you have only limited financial and/or time resources, there are excellent home based businesses that could be a match for you.  Save money and make money by taking advantage of the benefits of having your own home based business.

Read more about starting your own home based business by going to my web site, http://http://www.onlinemarketingniche.com.  Be sure to also check out these blogs that will be a great help in your home based business:  www.calloncommand.wordpress.com and www.homebasedreporter.com.

Until next time, have another day in paradise.

 

Is Your Warm Market In a Deep Freeze?

Is your warm market in a deep freeze?  I never felt comfortable going to my warm market (friends and family) to promote any company I was working with.  I felt that if they bought this or that or joined the program of the month, they were doing so because they felt obligated due to our association.   I decided early on the most comfortable way for me to market was through a cold market (people who don’t know me).   Although there are a gazillion ways to prospect cold leads, my preferred method is through purchased lead lists.  These lists are usually biz-opp leads (business opportunity leads).  They are generated from individuals who fill out a survey on starting a home based business.  These lists can cost anywhere from $15 apiece to $.01.  The difference in the cost depends mostly on how many times the leads have been resold.  When purchasing leads, you want to make sure they have been “scrubbed.”  Scrubbed means the numbers have been cross checked to make sure they are not on the “do not call list.” I have usually purchased leads that range from $.50 to $.10 a lead.  Until recently calling these numbers was a royal pain in the derriere.    I had to call a lot of people to get to a live person who was interested in knowing more about my product or business opportunity.   I have discovered a tool that eliminates 95% of the frustration from calling lead lists.  It is called “Call On Command” (COC).  Call On Command is a live caller that randomly selects a person to be called from a data file (lead lists), dials the number, and passes the call to you as soon as a live person picks up the call.  The dialer has programmed intelligence to prevent non-productive calls from reaching you.  Since you don’t have to deal with busy signals, answering machines, and no answers, you are freed up to take one call after another, thus saving you time and increasing your potential sales.  COC increases productivity by 75%, and increase sales by 300%.  You can read more about this great tool at www.calloncommand.info.Don’t forget to check out my web site, www.onlinemarketingniche.com.  Be sure to also check out these blogs that will be a great help in your home based business:  www.calloncommand.wordpress.com and www.homebasedreporter.com.

Until next time, have another day in paradise.

If All Else Fails, Lower Your Expectations!

Happy Friday!  I live in Salt Lake City.  This year we had a lot of snow on the valley floors as well as in the mountains but the last few days, and today especially, have been beautiful.  The temperatures were in the mid-fifties which is a heat wave compared to what it has been.  Our last major snow storm was three weeks ago.  I shoveled over 18 inches of snow off my driveway.  I remember thinking as I was shoveling snow into a huge pile next to my driveway, “This mound of snow will never go away.”  As I got in my car today, I noticed the six foot snow pile next to may drive-way was completely gone.

I think there is a lesson here.  With today’s rising gas prices, the threat of recession around the corner, and just the normal day-to-day stuff that happens, my “struggles pile” is getting higher and higher.   It seems so high at times that it might not ever melt away.  Just like the pile of snow in my driveway, this too will one day disappear.  So, when I despair about my at home business (or life in general), and worry that nothing will ever work out, I have to remember the snow pile next to my driveway and realize that, “This too will pass.”  Until then, I will remember the advice of my dad who said, “If all else fails, lower your expectations.”  I know things will eventually work out, they always do.

Until next time, may your “struggles pile” be small and may you have another day in paradise.

/Sheldon/

Don’t forget to check out my web site, www.onlinemarketingniche.com.  Be sure to also check out these blogs that will be a great help in your home based business: www.calloncommand.wordpress.com and www.homebasedreporter.com.

                                                                                                                     

Questions to Consider When Choosing a Home Based Business

I just got through writing the following article for my blog that I think will be helpful for someone looking for a home based business.  It is based on years of experience, some of it good and some of it– not so good.  I intend to submit it to an article submitter.  Tell me what you think.

Questions to Consider When Choosing a Home Based Business

Millions of people around the world are looking for ways to supplement their income with an at home business.   Some are looking to supplement their income; others are yearning to leave the workplace rat-race in order to have complete autonomy of their lives.  Whatever the reason, there are critical questions a person needs to consider when choosing a home based business.  One, an individual must consider his/her readiness to start a home based business.  Secondly, he/she should carefully scrutinize the parent company when choosing a home based business. This article will pose several questions an individual should ask of himself/herself and  about the specific home based business he/she is considering.  Although the questions posed will work with any home based business, they are more specific for individuals involved in direct or MLM marketing.

Are You Ready For A Home Based Business?

A home based business may not be for everyone.  Consider the following questions as you determine your readiness to start a home based business.

v  Why do you want to start an at home business?

Ø Unless you have a compelling reason to start a home based business, you may not have the staying power necessary to get you past the rocks you’re sure to encounter as you plow new ground, i.e.,

o   Your need to supplement your income.

o   Whether or not you are interested in a retirement business.

o   Your need to be able to work from home.

o   Your desire to be your own boss.

v  How much time are you willing to spend each week on your at home business?

Ø Beware of anyone who promises that you don’t have to do anything.  They are probably involved in some type of ponzi scheme or some other type of illegal activity.  The only substitute for hard work is smart work and they both require time.  You should be committed to minimum of five or more hours per week to build your at home business.

v  How much money are you willing to spend to start and maintain your at home business?

Ø  There is no such thing as a free ride.  Every business has some type of start-up cost and on-going operation costs.  The same is true with an at home business.  The advantage of having your own at home business is that you don’t have to pay huge overhead costs that most business owners, have but there will always be some costs involved, i.e.

o   Entry cost to join a business

o   Monthly product cost (auto-ship)

o   Recruiting cost (lead generation)

o   Office expenses (phone, computer, internet, printing supplies, etc.) and many others

What Should You Look For When Choosing An At Home Business?

Most home based business opportunities promote themselves as being the best thing to come along since quilted toilet paper, but in the majority of instances, it’s nothing more than over-hyped sales pitches.  Asking the right investigative questions will help save you grief and time before you spend your hard earned cash to become involved with a home based business. 

v  How strong is the management team?

Ø  The leaders of any company must have energy, enthusiasm, and the capacity to translate vision into reality.

o   They must have integrity

o   They must be dynamic

o   They must have experience and knowledge

o   They must have the ability to surround themselves with visionary leaders and doers

o   They must be innovative

v  Does the company have a strong infrastructure?

Ø  I define infrastructure as the fuel that makes the wheels go round.  It includes such things as:

o   Reputable legal council

o   Financial resources or backing

o   Ability to handle growth (Nothing can destroy a company faster than uncontrolled success.)

o   Capable technical support staff

o   Responsive customer support

v  Does the product or service have sizzle or a compelling story?

Ø  You need to have a product or service that customers are looking for (market niche).  Preferably, it would be a product or service that is not being addressed by mainstream marketers.

Ø  It should be a product or service that has pizzazz, glitz, or bling.

Ø  Who are the competitors of this service or product?  Try to avoid “me too” products (i.e., juice drinks) unless they are unique enough not to be compared to similar products.

Ø  The product or service should be both highly consumable and affordable.

v  What is the break-even point and how do you make money?

Ø  Often times when choosing a home based business, individuals become blinded by the allure of making a gazillion dollars when the real questions should be, “How many sales does it take to break even?” or “How many personally sponsored business associates do you have to have to break even?”  Once you know the answer to these questions, you can determine if the effort will be worth the reward.  It is also helpful as you determine realistic business goals.

Ø  For individuals looking at an MLM business there are many types and variations of compensation plans, the most common are binaries, unilevels, and matrixes. Don’t get caught up in which type is best.  Whether you are involved in an MLM opportunity, a straight commission company, or retail sales business, what is most important to consider is how you will be paid and if the company pays earned commissions in a timely manner.

Ø  Don’t forget to consider what your monthly fees, product quotas, or auto-ship requirements will be.  Related to this, you need to know if you will have inventory requirements.  Companies that require you to purchase large quantities of inventory involve a lot of risk should you decide not to work with that company anymore.

v  What is the attrition rate of the company?

Ø  If more people are falling out the back door than are coming in the front door then, “Houston, we’ve got a problem.”  A company that has a low attrition rate (30% or less) is an indication that people are happy with the company and are sticking around for awhile.

v  How old is the company and what is your position in that company?

Ø  It has been said that timing is everything.  Timing is very important, but equally important for most MLM businesses is positioning within that company.  If you can be placed in or near the top of a MLM company, your chances of making significant money are greatly enhanced.

Ø  There are trade-offs with becoming a part of a long established company.  You have to decide what is best for you, taking all the other questions into consideration.

o   Advantages:

§  Name recognition

§  Stability

§  Marketing resources

o   Disadvantages

§  Loss of timing and positioning.  People who are first in a company tend to make more money than those who join down the road.

§  Loss of uniqueness of product or service.  When a company creates great success, a lot of “me too” companies pop up diluting the potential market.  Nutritional beverage companies are a prime example of this.

§  Name recognition can be as big a negative as it is a positive.  Amway ^TM changed their name for this very reason.

v Does the parent company have a strong marketing model in place.

o   Success in any home based business hinges on your ability to create duplication of sales either by yourself, by personally recruited associates, or by hired employees.  A strong marketing model (a process for creating duplication) should have three main components; prospecting, follow up, and training. 

o   Many companies would have you focus on your warm market, those people you already know.  Although warm market prospecting can be powerful, many people will associate you with the NFL Club ( No Friends Left Club).  At some point you will need to prospect your cold market (people you don’t know.)  Regardless of whether it is your warm market or cold market, a dynamic marketing model that addresses each of these three areas will greatly enhance your success.

v  “Who’s you’re Daddy (or Mama) sponsor?” or “How supportive will your up-line, sponsor, or supplier be?”

o   Your sponsor/mentor should have the ability to teach and work with you in the process of creating duplication. It is important to align yourself with someone who:

§  Is a person of integrity.

§  Has experienced success and knows the ins and outs.

§  Is accessible.

§  Is concerned with your success as much as his/her own.

§  Has a system or business model that works for you.

Conclusion

There are many compelling reasons to become involved in your own at home business.  Before you do, you should first determine if you are ready to take on the commitment that comes with having your own at home business, and then you should do plenty of “due diligence” before choosing the business or opportunity you’re interested in becoming with.  By asking the right questions before you take the leap into the home based business market, you can save yourself a lot of time and money.

By Sheldon Worthington (www.onlinemarketingniche.com)

Thank you for reading my article.  If you have any feedback, please click on the word ‘comments’ below.  I’m affiliated with business that is able to answer positively to all the questions I asked in my article.  They have a great blog called the Home Based Reporter at http://www.homebasedreporter.com.

Until next time, I hope you have another day in Paradise!/Sheldon/

The Today Show Features “The Yankles”

In my last posting, I mentioned I was a part-time actor.  Last summer, I was cast in a movie called, “The Yankles.” This coming Monday, February 25, 2008, “The Today Show” is going to do a segment on that movie, “The Yankles.”  They will be interviewing one of the actors, Don Most, and showing a clip from the movie.

“The Yankles” is a wonderful feel-good movie about an all-Jewish baseball team from New York.  The team’s players are all young men who are studying to become rabbis.  The movie is about how these very peculiar young men are able to beat all odds to make it to the league championship game.  They are coached by a washed-up, ex-professional baseball player, Charlie Jones.  The plot is about sticking to your convictions while overcoming prejudice and self-doubt.

I play the role of Mr. Withers who is the timid assistant to the league president, Mr. Parsons.  Mr. Parsons is a vindictive control freak that does everything in his power to make sure the Yankles lose.  In the end, I get to tell Mr. Parsons what a jerk he is.  This is a great movie that will lift your spirits.

I love acting.  It is a great hobby and doing this movie was a lot of fun, however, anyone who thinks they can make a living acting is delusional.  There are only a few actors that actually make it big time. On the other hand, there are literally thousands of individuals who earn six-figure incomes in their at home business. That is why having an at home business is such a great idea, you can do the things you enjoy while earning a significant residual income.  In my next posting, I will talk about things to look for in choosing an at home business.

Until next time, I hope you have another day in Paradise!

/Sheldon/

Just Another Day in Paradise!

 Welcome to the life and times of Sheldon Worthington.  I’m a retired high school principal and public educator of 29 years and I still haven’t figured out what I want to be when I grow up.  That’s why I enjoy my at home business so much.  I’m able to work at my personal interests and make money at the same time.   What a concept!  

People often ask me how I’m doing and I answer by saying, “I’m just having another day in paradise.”  To be able to work at home and network with so many wonderful people really is a type of paradise to me.I’ve been working with direct marketing for over 10 years.  I’ve focused my energies on lead generation and tools for creating self duplication. 

Besides being an educator and direct marketer, I’m also an actor, having been in numerous local commercials, training films, and a couple of major motion pictures (Dumb and Dumber, ConAir, and The Yankles).  I recently remarried so you could say I’m “newly-wed and nearly dead.”  My wife’s name is Lynda.  Between us we have 10 kids and 19 grandchildren.  (It appears we are both contraceptive challenged.)

I hope you enjoy this Online Marketing Bulletin/Blog.  My intent is to share personal experiences and information that will enhance your at home business knowledge as you perfect your marketing niche. What is a niche and why do you need one?  A niche is a distinct segment of a particular market and you need to identify a market niche to capture potential customers who are looking for your product or service.  The key to mastering your niche in the online jobs market is to match the right online business with the right marketing system tools.  With the right business and marketing tools, you can rapidly optimize your income, effort, and time regardless of your experience level.   You can read more about finding your market niche by visiting my website www.onlinemarketingniche.com. 

I look forward to sharing ideas with you as well as learning from your wealth of experience and knowledge.  This is my first experience at writing a blog so I appreciate your patience.  My rancher/farmer dad used to say, “You can’t plow new ground without hitting a few rocks.”  I know I will hit a few rocks along the way but I’m excited about the possibilities. Thank you for reading my first posting and —  I hope you have just another day in paradise.     

 /Sheldon/