My journey into the world of multi level marketing (MLM) was very surprising. Everything in me said that I was going to be an overnight sensation. That I was going to be the story that everyone would tell to his or her new prospects. I said that I was going to be the exception to the rule. Then reality hit and I realized that I was in business and that if I wanted to make the impact that I dreamed of I was going to have to work for it, just as I have in my previous business ventures. That being said here is the message of the day:

A lot of time beginners in this great industry get overwhelmed. They are constantly seeking instruction on how to get started. In my personal opinion instruction comes from seasoned leaders in the industry. However in most instances this is not the case. In talking with people who are new to this industry, I find that they are being coached by someone lacks leadership and who knows nothing about what it takes to make a great impact in their business.

These so called leaders only want to get you signed up just so they can leave you and move on to the next person. Their idea of training you is to share blown out of proportion stories that they have heard in passing. They have never bothered to validate these stories but they use them to get you motivated. Here me when I tell you that. “THIS IS NOT TRAINING!

This business has some great potential but one thing that needs to be understood is that this business is a process. It takes time and dedication just like any other business. True, there are some businesses that take off right away. These businesses are the exception to the rule. In reality most businesses take at least three years to get established and at least three years before they can calculate a true profit. This is a hard lesson for many because everyone wants to be the exception to the rule.

I recently had a discussion with someone who was very comfortable in their living arrangement. He was educated, had a great job earning six-figures and had plans to build a future based on his earned wages. According to him, he was on track to one day become rich. Based on statistics he would be correct but statistics can be misleading. To some this would seem like a very noble position to be in but to those of us who know the “real deal” this is nothing more than a complacency trap.

Here’s why, many people find security in good paying jobs and refuse to look any further because they believe that they have reach the pentacle of prosperity. This young man made that mistake. It only took some very basic math for him to realize that his six-figure income was severely reduced after he pays his taxes and adds inflation to the mix. Just as the title suggest, he was wrong to believe he was rich.

I explained to him that there was a better way and I did it through third party gratification and conversation. Why did I use third party? Because he knows me, he knows were I came from and he would be unable to see were I am going because in his eyes, we are one in the same. Even though he would have been way off base, I refuse to bust his bubble using my own story. I wanted him to know that there are everyday people walking about who are experiencing wealth beyond their wildest dreams. Needless to say, he was indeed curious as to how he could tap into this wealth-building phenomenon.

I introduced him to the world of direct sales and multi level marketing. He was floored once he learned that this industry alone was responsible for producing a large number of self-made millionaires. I continued to explain to him that the door was open to anyone with passion and desire. No high level of education is required, the startup cost is usually low but the rewards are unlimited.

He saw the light and his ah-ha moment had arrived. He couldn’t believe that there were everyday people earning seven figure incomes and living the life that he is waiting to achieve in 30 plus years on the job. Yes, he was wrong to think the way he did about wealth but not anymore. Today he is on the right track.

Funny thing happened to me while taking a survey. Looking at my final results, I was shocked to say the least. I knew that an error had occurred. My final score indicated that I scored extremely low in the  “Dress and Grooming” arena. Anyone who knows me will attest to the fact that dressing and grooming is not a problem that I have. However, this confusion made me remember one important rule, when it comes down to business, how I present myself is how others will perceives my value.  

First impressions can say a lot about a person. These impressions have a lasting effect, they can breed acceptance or create instant failure. What is even more shocking when it comes to first impressions is the fact that a person may never know they made a first impression. Whether you realize it or not somebody is always watching you. They want to see how you operate, function and communicate. These impressions will help them make a quick assessment as to whether or not you are worthy of their attention. You have to seize everyday because you never know when your big break will come. 

Just because you see someone on a daily basis does not mean that they see you. If you are not being the best that you can be, maintaining an enthusiastic spirit, no one will ever know you exist.  It’s not important whom you see; it’s important who sees you. People make judgment based on what they see. They notice what you wear; they consider where you live, the type of car you drive, even the type of watch wear. These things may seem trivial but they are character builders that people consider important.

There comes a time in life when reinvention is the only solution to moving beyond what could be considered as a stagnant lifestyle. People reinvent themselves for various reasons (Layoffs, divorce, or maybe a death of a loved one). No matter what the reason, understand that reinvention is part of the circle of life. Unfortunately, with reinvention comes jealousy. Yes, jealousy!

People whom the tenacity to move outside the box and search out new directions are considered to be rare birds. Very few are able to make the transition from one aspect of life to another. Those who are able to make transition will face persecution from those who refuse to move. These individuals should not be part of your circle of influence.

Those who refuse to look beyond the edge of their nose will always try to bring trendsetters down.

God has given us all the ability to have witty inventions and to be able to multi task our way through life. This should always be our first priority. Moving in new directions can open new doors and increase the ability to get more out of life. Never let anyone tell say that you can’t because you can. Let the naysayer talk let the negative vibes roll off your back. Success comes in the form of reinvention. Destiny awaits and it is your job to follow in the direction of your own dream.

In my personal opinion companies have lulled people into a false sense of prosperity by giving them a job with benefits. Don’t get me wrong a good job with benefits is a wonderful thing but with a good job comes complacency. Having a good job is like being imprisoned. If you are the type of person who is willing to stretch further and reach higher. Far too often people plan their future based on the time it will take them to retire. I hear it all the time. People tell me if they could only get to their 30-year anniversary date then they finally are able to leave the company.

To my knowledge there has never been a legitimate employer that has forced an employee stay. However, companies can make your stay very enticing by sweetening the pot every once and a while. They offer raises additional weeks of vacation. In my personal opinion, this is nothing more than prison with benefits. Why would I make such a profound statement? Maybe it is because I know that there is so much more out there. I know that living out one’s life sitting behind a cubicle or showing up everyday doing the same job is a slow road to nowhere.

But why would I call a job a prison with benefits? Look at it this way. People in prison earn a small wage they receive good time credits and if they are model prisoners they get to spend time in a halfway house. Which is still prison but with liberties. The whole time all the prisoner wants to do is bide his or her time so they can finally leave prison. The sole purpose of being imprisoned is to take away your freedom. Being lock into a 30-year job has the same effect.

Once again I am not saying that having a good job is a bad thing. I am just saying that true freedom is being able to make your own decisions. It is being able to earn a wage based on what you are worth, not based on what your company thinks you are worth. Live life, be free and learn to explore try to explore new possibilities or you can wait until your 30 years are over so you can finally be free. The choice is yours.

I love the sound of music but what does a true music lover do, once the music stops? They hit replay and let the music play again, and again and again. This compulsive behavior may be annoying to some but for the true music lover it satisfies the need. The true music lover never wants the music to stop.

What does playing music over and over have to do with anything? Nothing really but the analogy has something to do with everything. It has to do with continuation, it has to do with momentum, and it has to do with duplication.

I have seen this all too often, people have the slight bit of success and in less than 90 days they stop. They indicate that trying to repeat what they have done in the past is too difficult. They find every excuse in the book to quit. Even worst then those who want to quit are those who gloat in their past successes. I had a good friend who could run like a jackrabbit in high school. He won all types of events and received tons of recognitions. Decades later he is still basking in his past success. If he had gone on to become a great Olympic runner or maybe even pursued advancement in this area his basking would have merit. But he didn’t he let the music die.

Learn to hit the replay button again and again and again. This is the only way to build on your past successes. Consistency is the key. Never let the music stop because when you do, know that there will be nothing left but silence.

I have heard it said time and time again that if a person refuses to stand for something then they will fall for just about anything. In recent days I have watch the reality of this statement come to life for many people. I have watched as their dreams were literally carried away because they refuse to ignore the warning signs called reality.

Under normal circumstances common sense would tell you that if it doesn’t make sense to you than it surely wouldn’t make sense to others. However in my short time here on earth I have discovered that all sense is not common.

In the attempt to get rich quick, move up in rank or to be recognized in some other venue people will allow pride and selfishness to stand in the way of the truth. Scripture indicates that the truth will make you free, I am paraphrasing but the statement holds true. Conducting business with integrity will indeed go a long way but when a person uses false methods to gain others trust; it will only be a short time before all of their bridges are burned.

Learning to look at things from a common sense perspective will always help you stay on top. The next time someone approaches you with a get rich quick scheme or promises you the world, know that everything takes time. Know that whatever they are offering should make sense. Know that if it is worth anything than it is worth waiting for, it is worth taking the time to research it out and to make sure that it will stand.

Every morning I get a dose of entrepreneurial adrenaline watching Eric Worre’s Network Marketing Pro show. Today was no exception. On today’s show the topic of discussion introduced a lack of direct contact and a lack of that “personal touch.” The overall idea of the discussion really boiled down to traditional marketing methods and new age technology.

There was a concern that technology would eventually dumb down the way people do business. As we continue to depend on technology, we become more and more familiar with the idea. However I know that there are those who will continue to fight the advancement of this idea and will continue to do business there own way. I appreciate their tenacity towards their own ideas. However there will come a time when they will eventually have to meet in the middle.

On today’s show Mr. Worre’s guest who was from the old school indicated that he did not own a cell phone but yet he owned an electronic drum set. I came to realize that he appreciated technology and embraced it for his enjoyment but he refused to change the way he did business. Why? It may have something to do with the idea that if something is working for you why change it.

Sooner or later we will all meet in the middle. The old will embrace the new and the new will exceed expectations. Change is always good and can lead to new ideas and new opportunities.   

I told Mr. Worre not to worry about technology because eventually the old school ways of the traditionalist and the fresh ideas of the new age crowd will meet in the middle.

Many people have come to the end of their rope. They have lost all hope in building a future for themselves and for their family. Stocks are down, the request for employees is down, housing is down and spirits are low.

The fact of the matter is that many have know come to the reality of the reality. After spending many years in the work force build a prominent future. Many have been forced into the streets and left wondering how they are going to make it. In the meantime there are those who seem to have missed this skid in the economy completely.

During one of the worst economic down turns in my lifetime, I noticed something that made me think. I wanted to figure out how when so many were losing their homes, facing unemployment and layoffs, others were building new homes and taking exotic vacations. Was it because these people had premier jobs? Maybe they were so smart and intelligent that a company could not afford to let them go? I can assure you that it was none of these.

Many of these individuals have not had to depend on a company or corporation for many years. In real they are called successful entrepreneurs but in their world they are called independent wealth builders. Yes, these individuals are the people next door who you always talked about who never went to work. They are the ones who set on the patio in the mid afternoon talking on the phone. These are the individuals that you said were going to never amount to anything, the ones who you assumed would be evicted from their homes. In reality, these individuals said the same thing about you. They knew that there was a better way, a way to secure a legitimate future, without having to depend on the economy. Who are these people? They are your friendly network marketers, the multi level marketers, they are the ones that introduced people to their business years ago and were told that they were a pyramid scam.

Today these individuals sit in high places and seem to be enjoying life. However, this does not have to be “the other guys story.” This can be your story. Opportunities are waiting and it’s never too late. A backup plan beats not having a plan at all. The decision is yours to make, now is the time to become independent wealth builders.