Episode 13: Being a Micro-Entrepreneur in a Home Based Business: Recession-Proof Your Income: Network Marketing, MLMs and Why it’s not a Pyramid

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Always wondered what Network Marketing was about – and how to know what’s a good one and what might make Madoff proud? This episode discusses some of the aspects you should look for in a MultiLevel Marketing (MLM) or Network Marketing business.

Episodes 11 and 12 generally introduced you to the idea of having your own business, and in particular discussed the four ways to make money according to Robert Kiyosaki in Rich Dad, Poor Dad: Being an employee, self-employed, having investments that throw off income, or having a BUSINESS. This episode will explain what you should really look for if you are considering bringing in a second income in a home-based business.

Some of the books and websites recommended in this podcast include:

No Excuse!,  Jay Rifenbary

How To Select a Network Marketing Company, Daren Falter

Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki (also mentioned in Episode 11)

The Slight Edge, Jeff Olson

Why We Want You to Be Rich, Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki

The Next Millionaires, Paul Zane Pilzer

The Go-Giver, Bob Burg and John David Mann

Go For No!, Richard Fenton

The Referral of a Lifetime, Tim Templeton

Chicken Soup for the Network Marketers Soul, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

Navigating the World of Network Marketing, Diane Walker and Jack Bastide

Your First Year in Network Marketing, Mark Yarnell and Rene Reid Yarnell

The Millionaire Next Door, Thomas Stanley and William Danko

How To Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie

I will link these books hopefully by Sunday – wanted to get the podcast up though, and it’s late!

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“Give to Give” v. “Give To Get”

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WOW! I just had the MOST amazing thing happen to me. Seriously – I still can’t believe it.

I’ve gone to a new networking group once (this was my 2nd time) that “styled itself as” a BNI group (without being part of BNI) – but only for individuals with High Net Worth Clients. Fine, that fits me – and I was recommended by a woman I very much respect. Last time I was at the group, I met some really great people, and thought that I could be helpful to them – whether on the SendOutCards side (offering a marketing/relationship management tool) or on the law side (helping with intellectual properties issues, including trademark – or copyright infringement), or the like.

My car died – and so I had to go to some trouble to get to the group this month. My “James” dropped me off, then I was to walk home (replace nice Manolo’s with bright blue and white tennies, hoof it back).  Actually it was nice walking home – except, I was steamed and missed most of the nice, Spring day.

What happened? I got to the restaurant, and saw some of the folks I had spoken with before – definitely a nice group/good size. Then the guy who had formed the group with the gal who had invited me came in the room, and “beckoned” for me to “join him outside.”

This guy has a Financial Management company (gee, fancy static web page last updated in 2008…) Last time, he had come up to me when I was talking with 2 other women, and had asked something about basically how “everyone was doing with their portfolio” or some such (I didn’t know he was a financial guy), and I told him and the two women that my husband and I were truly blessed, as we have a person managing our money, and he saved us from losing anything during the stock market downturn. Then I made it very clear to the women (by this time he’d made it clear that’s what “he did”), that in my opinion it’s incredibly important for everyone to have “experts” on their side. I didn’t even mention my guy’s name – and made it clear that my opinion is that people shouldn’t manage their own money, they should leave it to professionals and (to him) hope your clients love you as well as we love our guy, we couldn’t do it without him.

SO. This guy took me “outside” (into the waiters’ prep area no less) and said that this was “his group,” and as this was a “network referral group” and as I “already had a financial manager,” that he wasn’t inclined to let me join (even though there was no one in my “profession” in the group – they only have one of each profession, like BNI). That the “idea of the group” was to “only refer within” and “as it was his group” I obviously wouldn’t be referring things to him (so, I guess, I had to go). I just shook my head and laughed. I said that I wouldn’t recommend ANYONE that I didn’t think was THE best, and that I wouldn’t recommend anyone in a group unless that person was indeed the best one I knew – whether or not I was in a “networking group” with them or not. However, if he had the same sort of track record that my guy did, I’m sure that there were certain of my friends and clients that might work better with him than, perhaps, with my guy. But he’d need to prove that to me for me to refer him. He reiterated that this was “his group” and so, basically,….what? Leave now? Don’t come back? He left that up in the air.

I REALLY like the gal he founded the group with – she seems like a straight shooter, and so I’m shocked to get the “step into the waiter’s area” stiff-arm from this guy. What-ev-er. I guess that I won’t go back…makes me sad, because there are a LOT of folks in that group that I believe I could help and refer people to. I didn’t leave though – I went back in and had lunch, and waited for the “networking rounds.”

The funniest part is that when it came time for us to do our “one minute advertisement” on ourselves, I didn’t really talk about myself. I talked about the fact that ABC-TV had this new high def show coming out nationwide, what the show premise was,  and that if anyone was interested, I could perhaps introduce them to the producer, etc. etc. I didn’t really say what I did – because the point is, that I’d rather anyone who wants a “go” at the new show get me their info immediately, so I can evaluate it and get it to the producer, to help them, and to help the new show out. Would that be…perhaps…giving for the sake of giving…?

I guess I won’t go back. I will definitely write to the gal who invited me, and tell her why. I will also write the folks that I would like to continue networking with from the group why I won’t be back. I think it’s fair to let them know, versus them thinking that I’m just bailing. I’m sure that ~he~ wouldn’t tell anyone “what happened.”

What are your views on this? I’d be very curious to know. It only meets once a month – so I have time to hear any and all comments and thoughts.

 

Photo Shoot for the San Francisco Chronicle

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Now, about a week ago, when I was in New Orleans (N’Yaw’lins), I went by a tealeaf reading shop called The Bottom of the Cup. I would put links in here, but I’m too lazy tonight. Anywho – I have called a guy there now and again over the years – name of Otis – and wanted to meet him in person. He was great! Looked NOTHING like I thought he would, which was fun, too.

While there, I saw some voodoo dolls. They were “good” voodoo dolls – to be used to help remake your life. One that jumped out at me was “Flambeau” – a gentleman in a top hat with a wily smile – and his “missin” was to “Fire You Up.” I thought – I could use that! His tag was even “singed” around the edges.

NOW, since Flambeau has come into my life – as mentioned below – I have been called out of the blue by ABC-TV to be part of their new show HOME, launching nationwide on their new HD channel some time end of this month. That was Monday – taped it, had a blast. Yesterday, I got a call from the San Francisco Chronicle. They want to do a sidebar on me for their “crazy things folks do for exercise” column – someone turned me in, no doubt! – and so I met them today at the S Factor and we did a photo shoot of me pole dancing.

Mind you, I think once they tell me when it’s going to run, I’m going to have to have everyone I know go out and raid all the newspaper boxes – because they made we wear THE TINIEST little frilly shorty short shorts known to man, and of course my 6″ heels! Yeah yeah, and I’m currently about 25 pounds overweight. Serves me right not to lose it all…but I guess Flambeau couldn’t wait on that!

So that’s what’s been up with me – pretty wild, huh?

An appropriate quote for those of you focusing on your Financial Futures….

Posted on by Sandy

 

Here’s a quote from Tim Ferris . . . Author of ‘The 4 Hour Work Week’:
“It doesn’t matter how many people don’t ‘get it.’ What matters is how many people do. If you have a strong informed opinion, don’t keep it to yourself. Try and help people and make the world a better place. If you strive to do anything remotely interesting, just expect a small percentage of the population to always find a way to take it personally. There are no statues erected to critics.

“While many are wringing their hands, I recall the 1970s when we were suffering from an oil shock causing long lines at gas stations, rationing, and 55 MPH speed limits on Federal highways, a recession, very little venture capital ($50 million per year into VC firms), and, what President Jimmy Carter (wearing a sweater while addressing the Nation on TV because he had turned down the heat in the White House) called a “malaise”. It was during those times that two kids without any real college education, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, started companies that did pretty well. Opportunities abound in bad times as well as good times. In fact, the opportunities are often greater when the conventional wisdom is that everything is going into the toilet.”

 

Jake on Cesar Milan The Dog Whisperer

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A while back, my dog Jake was the “bait dog” for Shadow, our neighbor’s dog, on The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan. A friend of mine pointed out that part of the show is now on Cesar Milan’s website, and you can see it HERE.

The driveway that they are standing in front of is in fact ours…the gal in pink is my dog groomer. Look how good Jakie is!

 

SendOutCards – Treat’Em Right Conference write-up for Toronto

Posted on by Sandy

If any of you are interested in what a Treat’Em Right Conference with SendOutCards is like, one of the gals who has a retail account (zero entry point!) with me went to one – and this is what she had to say.

As you know, SendOutCards is a network marketing organization – and I discuss it in Podcast Episode 11. A Treat’Em Right is a conference about SendOutCards that you can go to that discusses the philosophy – and this writeup explains what to expect.

If you can get to a Treat’Em Right, I would love for you to go to check it out. There are a few left this year. Here is the schedule for 2009.

 

Episode 12: Money, Honey – A Chat About Finances

Posted on by Sandy

After reading the April issue of Vanity Fair magazine about Bernie Madoff, Iceland going bankrupt, and the like, this Episode continues on from where Episode 11 left off – Finances, Debt, Wealth, and the like. I know that it sounds a bit like I’m in a wind tunnel – something is “up” with my microphone, and Levelator, etc. didn’t fix it. I admit it’s been a while and I have a new computer…so perhaps I pushed a wrong button here or there. Please let me know what you think of this Episode – I do these for your comments! I’m getting the next one ready, but if you are curious about anything in particular, ask…and ye shall receive (as best as this Bond Grrl can answer)

Click below to listen…

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Taping New Show for ABC-TV Today!

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I’m soooo excited!  Lisa Quinn (from View From The Bay – the show that’s on the hour before Oprah in these parts) has her own new show called HOME, and the producer called me to be on it! They called Friday, and (ahem) of course, no, I did not prepare this weekend. (We were having friends over for dinner which went GREAT – 5 courses without a hitch! – so that was in the forefront.) Anyway – so yeah fine what am I doing now? Telling YOU about it instead of getting ready (smile).

When I get home, I’m going to start recording a series for my Web Radio Show (not “podcast” – learned that at the seminars I recently went to) on Finances, and in particular a bit more about home-based businesses. I have friends who are losing jobs, I’m watching stores that have been around since I was a kid close, etc. Now’s the time to get the word out about some things that everyone can do for themselves and their families.

The TV show that we’re taping will be on the first chapter of my book (cleaning/clearing) – that’s always the start!

OH and by the way – didn’t gain an OUNCE on the cruise. How great is THAT! I’m down around 164 – still working my way down to my goal, which is another 20 lbs!

Network Marketing/MLM/Multilevel Marketing

Posted on by Sandy

Hey all!

I have just returned from New Orleans and a cruise to Cozumel, that I received from my MLM business, SendOutCards. I am going to be doing my next podcasts on finances – since it’s on everyone’s mind now. I will start with what I wrote about in fEmpowerment…then move on to what I learned at the lectures on the cruise.

I have to tell you – NOW is the time to get that part time/full time money through a business that is YOURS. One of the hallmarks (usually) of a Bond Girl is that she is her own boss. Hey – James Bond “works for the man” – he’s a government employee. Bond Girls usually have their own businesses!

A lot of folks have questions about network marketing…which is what I am using to currently supplement (and soon replace) the income from my law firm. I will never replace my coaching and speaking income…because I love doing it! But networking marketing is sure a wonderful way to come home to an unexpected check! My check this month is 5x the one from last month. I’ve been doing my MLM for a year, not even full time. But it’s just starting to pick up. I’m getting excited!

Anyway – CLICK HERE to take a look at this – it answers a couple of the questions I am asked a lot about multilevel marketing. Hope you enjoy!

The Difference by Jean Chatzky

Posted on by Sandy

This book is available as a PDF download RIGHT NOW from Oprah.com – become a member (for free) if you are not already, and GO GET IT! In these financially tough times, being offered free help is awesome!  Here is a clip from the foreword of the book:

“A study of more than five thousand individuals, conducted by Harris Interactive in cooperation with Merrill Lynch, has torn the covers off the four groups of people who make up the new economic strata in America today. They are:

The wealthy (W)

The financially comfortable (FC)

The paycheck-to-paychecks (PTPs)

The further-in-debtors (FIDs)

We now know that the people who have achieved both financial comfort and wealth are distinctly different from those who are struggling paycheck to paycheck or sinking further into debt each month.

They are different in their attitudes, behaviors (financial and nonfinancial), personalities, and goals.

The financially comfortable and the wealthy tend to be more passionate about what they do in life, they are more optimistic, and they are more resilient—able to overcome whatever obstacles life throws their way. They are more visionary—able to see things in a slightly different and improved way, if not a new way altogether. They are more connected to others in their professional and personal lives, and they have greater confidence in those relationships, as well as in their lives overall. And they are grateful—incredibly grateful—for the good fortune life has thrown their way.

They are also more likely to come at life with a different mind-set and a different set of skills. They tend to be goal setters who figure out what they want in life and then make a plan to go after it. They are dogged workers (and often need less sleep). The comfortable and wealthy take more risks than the average person, but they listen to their own voices and those of people they trust in order to be as certain as possible that those risks are appropriate for their stage in life or work. And they are always on a quest to learn something new.

The good news: These are all things

you can learn. Although some people are born with, say, more optimism, it—like every other attribute or skill on this list—can be taught.

And that is what The Difference is all about. [The] book is devoted to teaching you how to uncover your nascent talents and develop those abilities. You will discover the latest psychological and academic findings, complete exercises that are easy to incorporate into your everyday life, and read stories of people who’ve done precisely what you want to do. They’ve harnessed the power within and used it to reach the same goals you have: financial comfort and long-lasting wealth.

Go download the book right now!