March 20,
2008 Clarity
Is Power
I read somewhere
that during World War II if an unidentified soldier stepped out of
the dark and could not state his mission, he was automatically shot
without question. A mission, or more to the point, a mission
statement is in essence a verbal or written reason for being –
simple or complex.
It is said to be
your key to finding a path in life; a sort of template to refine
one’s activities. Many seek career counselors and take expensive
tests, all to determine their strengths and weaknesses. This defines
their purpose and direction -- a mission.
The number one
most deadly fear of all people seems to be “having lived a
meaningless life”. Many gasped at the announcement that the
President of American Express had quit his $4,000,000 job. His
reason was to look “for a life”.
Once you develop
a mission statement broad enough to cover your interests and
activities both on and off the job, your life will begin to make
sense… “this is what I’m about”. Throughout life each of us must
constantly face two questions: where now, and what next?
With a mission
you will easily know the answer. Clarity is power.
http://tinyurl.com/2bsuvn
March 17,
2008 The
Cheese Story
Spencer Johnson, M.D.,
is the author of a story with a simple parable that reveals some
very profound truths. He uses four characters that live in a
mouse-maze and spend their days looking for cheese that will nourish
and make them happy.
Two of these characters
are mice named Sniff and Scurry. The other two are miniature humans
named Hem and Haw. “Cheese” is a metaphor for what we want in life –
love, money, health, spiritual peace.
The “maze” is where you
search for what you want in life. In our case, it is the Internet.
As you run through the maze and you find some cheese, you write what
you have learned on the walls of this Maze. Others in the same
situation will come upon your information and see -- “the
handwriting on the wall”.
If they trust your
writings, they will enjoy less stress and greater success in their
lifetime. But of course, some will hem and haw and hesitate to act
on your valuable knowledge. Others like Sniff and Scurry will
continue to run aimlessly around the maze; still unsatisfied, still
looking.
Here is my
writing-on-the-wall:
http://tinyurl.com/37wghx
March 9,
2008 Hello,
Goodbye
I am so-o-o yesterday.
The older I get, the more I believe this.
Cutbacks in the
newspaper industry are becoming more frequent due to Internet and
television keeping us abreast of current events. We no longer have
to wait for our evening paper to tell us what has happened during
the day.
It came as no surprise therefore when
I followed a news snippet -- yet another newspaper was engaged in a
serious cutback. What was surprising was the method they used.
Over the intercom, all
employees were notified that this cutback would cover several
hundred employees. They would be notified by phone if they were on
the short list. Everyone was cautioned to answer their phone until
10:00pm. If they were not called they were to report to work as
usual on Monday.
Some would say that it
is kinder to the employee who does not have to be called into the
boss’s glass-front office while everyone gawks from their Dilbert
cubes. Others claim it saves confrontations, often leaving blood on
the carpet. What ever happened to pink slips?
Getting fired over the
phone is about as impersonal as you can get. Employees with higher
salaries are naturally in the crosshairs in all money based
cutbacks. Your degrees, creative writing talents and stellar
attendance may only get you a better bridge to sleep under tonight.
If you are murmuring to
yourself, “…this could be me”, then do something right here, right
now. Investigate this opportunity that saved me and turn that call
into “Hello – Hello”.
http://tinyurl.com/2bsuvn
February 21, 2008
Everybody’s Doin’ It, Doin’ It, Doin’
It
Bees are doin’ it. So too schools of fish
and millions of wildebeests. Birds have been doin’ it for centuries,
gracefully flocking in a particular direction without knowing or
caring where they are headed. The leader knows and that’s enough.
Human beings are no exception to the
herding instinct. But this tendency to follow comes at a cost that
few have considered. Psychologically, it’s easier to follow the
decision of someone else because when you follow their decision and
something goes wrong, it’s not your fault. Yet you share the loss
whether you admit it or not.
In a herd there is only one winner, the
one at the front leading the herd. The leader always eats first,
drinks first and decides where the others are going.
In a study of the super-successful
people, most if not all were found to be “contrarians”. They broke
away from the herd. Edison, Rockefeller, Churchill, Walton, Ford,
King, Gandhi and others – all had reputations as contrarians. Their
thinking was contrary to the “mass-thinkers”.
What did they have that you do not have?
Not a blessed thing!
What do YOU have that they did not have?
The Internet gold rush!
http://tinyurl.com/22juxm
February
17, 2008 In
Matters of Money
Hallmark sold 85,000
“Happy 100th Birthday” cards last year. Ouch!
Are you living longer
than you thought you would? I know people that would answer that
question in the affirmative mostly because they could not set a
retirement plan in place. During their work-life things did not
always work out as planned and many found themselves living from
paycheck to paycheck.
During most careers
things that were covered by company benefits like dental, vision, or
medical tests are not fully covered by Medicare. Hearing aids alone
can run $6,000 and false teeth are off the chart. Because these come
at a later age some are never covered at all. Even with a pension
the immediate purchasing power of a retiree today is reduced by 30%.
If the above fits your
situation, you are clinging to your bottom-rung job just to avoid a
lesser lifestyle. Your path may be different from mine but I’m
guessing we have some things in common.
Both of us have given
power over our lives to other people time and again. We have
searched for a viable way out and we’ve certainly had our share of
train wrecks with Internet opportunities. I blog now as a
distillation of what I’ve learned as I succeeded on the Net; but I’m
still a work in progress.
All experience is good.
Your past is useful. Take a good look at it, but don’t stare. Now --
fast forward to fun and fulfillment while you follow me. You’ll
thrive, not simply survive.
http://tinyurl.com/2bsuvn
February
10, 2008 Are
You Who You Say You Are?
Fraudulent
Credit Card use has reached epic proportions. One of my programs had
to shut down in December and is still not back up because of a
3.5 million dollar mess. It interrupts business, gives banks a
migraine and leaves its members hot under the collar. It’s unfair to
all honest people!
The result?
They simply stop accepting credit cards. PayPal has frozen accounts
for various reasons and few businesses will risk that. They are
favoring Egold, SolidTrustPay and AlertPay, and who can blame
them. These merchant accounts are also wary of fraud and put any new
membership through the wringer.
Prove your email
address by replying to ours – prove your physical address by sending
a copy of any monthly statement with your name and address on it –
prove your bank account by verifying our two minimal deposits on the
proper form. Some require an enlarged photo copy of your driver’s
license… front and back. It’s almost like you’re guilty until proven
innocent.
If you are
searching the Net for home-income, your best bet is to get
“verified” by one or more of the above merchants. Allow two weeks to
prove to them that you are who you say you are. Once verified, you
can join almost any program with no delay.
For a true
breakthrough of the no-sponsoring system, try this with Egold or
AlertPay:
http://tinyurl.com/2bsuvn
February 6, 2008
Chasing
the Dollar
Unemployment in
my state is 6.7; there are states higher, and a few that are lower.
If you are chasing the dollar today then you probably are searching
for a new road to independence and what better place to search then
on the Internet. You don’t need tea-leaves to look for your answer.
On a whim
really, I joined a program simply because they had a “trial”
membership for 14 days. They claimed 100% of their members earn
money from day one and no recruiting was ever required. Yeah, right…
I told myself. Their product is advertising so while I tested them
with a “trial” membership I could advertise one of my other programs
for free. That’s where it all began.
As my two weeks
progressed, my (1) “trial” position began to cycle over and over
earning me small amounts of money. I was impressed. Meanwhile, my
advertisement was bringing in new prospects; so far, so good. Each
“position” costs $10 so I decided to purchase 10 new ones. My trial
position plus all it had earned over 2 weeks was given to me as an
“active” member.
Here’s where it
gets really interesting: as my 11 positions cycled over and over
daily, funds began to build up. When they reached $45.00, I
re-purchased 4 more positions and now my 15 were cycling and earning
funds faster. The following week I re-purchased 9 more, and each
week as the funds multiplied, I re-purchased.
Of course you
can cash out some of your money if you need to. But my plan is to
continue to purchase new positions until I reach 500. Some have done
this already for an income of $500,000+ annually.
This is so
effortless I had to share it with you.
http://tinyurl.com/22juxm
January
28, 2008 Can
You Type?
The chance for
you to become financially free with a home office and reasonable
income is very real possibility, and much closer than you think. Can
you type? I don’t mean fast – just simply, can you type? Do you have
a computer with access to the Internet? If your answer is yes and
yes, what’s stopping you?
I have friends
who only put in a few hours and make a few hundred extra bucks each
month. They see it as entertainment and an easy way to add to their
retirement packages. I also have friends who make thousands a month.
And still others who make tens of thousands a month.
I guess the only
question to ask is, how much do you want and how badly do you want
it? You don’t really need me to get started, but perhaps I can save
you time and wasted money in trial and error. The Internet a-glitter
with millions of offers but finding the gems is the trick.
I like to run a
long-term program with payouts like $8k plus. But I need a few
short-term ones to keep gas in my car and food on the table. Some
short-term programs pay from day one with no recruiting. Others
require a filled matrix of 2x2 (6 members)… BUT they will fill that
for you since their very product is – advertising! Viola!
Okay, I’m not
going to leave you hanging. Here are two of those short-term
winners:
http://tinyurl.com/2bsuvn
http://tinyurl.com/2dftg2
January
24, 2008 I Am Not
One of the Big Dogs
It took me years to walk safely through the
minefield of Internet offers and find a handful of honest programs
that allowed me to work-at-home. Now a confirmed entrepreneur, I
continue my search for more gems but I know many of you are being
scammed
right now. It happens every day.
The best
Internet income is still “residual or leveraged” money and that can
usually be found in a matrix setup. But the way-back style of these
programs has changed. Today all selling, convincing, and explaining
has been
eliminated,
all cold calling, selling to your friends and family –
eliminated,
all monthly fees –
eliminated.
Today
there is a revolutionary accelerate cycle system that will turn $10
into 2 million.
No matrix to fill or sponsoring is required;
a simple and true working, no-sponsoring system that pays from day
one, month after month.
Out of curiosity, I joined $10 Wonder
by purchasing 10 positions at $10 each for a total of $100. Since
that time, I have used my earnings to slowly and consistently
re-purchase additional positions. My vision is to own the maximum
allowed of 500 positions. At 235 the earnings are $40 to $50 daily
and growing.
Good news is:
100% of participated members earn from
day one
and it never stops. With patience and this new system, you too can
do exactly what I have done using your own speed.
You can withdraw your earnings or re-purchase more
advertising positions, or both.
And, $10 Wonder
understands that many of us have been burnt in the past, so they
offer a free trial. Join and watch your free position earn daily. It
convinced me.
I do spread the word
about this opportunity to help build the membership because it
benefits everyone, including myself. More members = faster
cycles.
http://tinyurl.com/2bsuvn
January 5,
2008 Fear of
Failure Inhibits Creativity
Our culture appears to
be drifting into an unwholesome view of success and failure.
Everyone wants instant success; time is of the essence and life is
too short to struggle. Admittedly, we live in insecure times and no
one is surprised that we’ve lost the meaning of a “good job”.
Some look for a
business with a short-term windfall rather than a sustainable source
of income. Many seek fortunes through lotteries and lawsuits rather
than hard work. They have the illusion that government is there to
protect them from any harm and will even rescue them from
insurmountable debts.
From the sidelines, it
seems that rock bands or football players suddenly appear on the
scene earning millions of dollars. Actually it took years of hard
work and many, many failures to find success. The same is true for
entrepreneurs. Many will tell their story of being on the brink of
failure, but they persevered.
During the climb to success you will
find a way to buy food, put gas in the car or pay the rent. You will
find a way to keep the wolves from your doorstep long enough to make
it through the next month. When you finally have to admit something
is not working, you will move on to the next one that might
and take with you the lesson you learned.
Failure builds
character and it is the fear of failure that inhibits creativity and
keeps us from ultimate success.
December
26, 2007 A Pink
Christmas
From every phase
of education including the arts and media, entrepreneurs have
greatly impacted the world throughout history. Cutting the bonds
from dominating bosses with the possibility to make their own
decisions is one of the lures of starting an online business. Some
build from scratch while others risk it all chasing their dreams,
but each one dramatically changes their lives as well as ours.
Hardly a week
goes by that I don’t see another corporate closing its doors or a
small town factory passing out pick slips. Coal mines collapse never
to open again. Skill Tool and Die closes its auto parts plant on
Cleveland’s West Side. Even a Flight Factory Simulations facility
will close its doors by the New Year.
It’s hard enough
to face unemployment but to get a pick slip for the holidays must be
a joyless Christmas for those families. But this can also be a
wakeup call, a shot of reality that sends a clear signal. We
desperately want to have the freedom to do what we want, when we
want and with whom we want.
“I would have
done it long ago”, I hear you say, “but I can’t recruit people. Why
can’t I join a program and pay someone to do this for me?”
The good news is
– you can! Every member is placed in the advertising rotator to
receive their required number of members. When your matrix is
filled, you are paid… plus you receive a new entry, over and over
again.
Merry Christmas
http://tinyurl.com/2dftg2
December 17, 2007
- Winning the Rat Race
Lily Tomlin said
it best: “The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win
you’re still a rat.” So why do people run that race all of their
lives working for someone else’s wealth when they could be creating
their own?
Admittedly, work
provides three essential life components: Structure – getting
up at the same time each morning, where to go, how long to stay
there and when to return home. Community – a social fabric
for relating to other people. Purpose – a focus, a goal
within a given time frame.
Even an online
business takes structure in the form of discipline. As CEO of your
own business you will want to keep a steady eye on all facets of
your business. Nobody wants to neglect this and find a
Friday-surprise!
Getting out
every day for an hour or two is healthy, and volunteering yourself
to a needy cause keeps your social fabric in good shape. Your goals
should always be updated or refined as you succeed in your business.
My focus is on
creating perpetual income. I have no degrees, am not a guru by
anybody’s standard, and I hate selling! Even with a minimum of
common sense, you can step out of your rat race forever.
http://programjunkies.com/?twigs
December 10,
2007 - It’s Like
Magic – Perpetual Income
Magic was a good
word to attach to the 2x2magic opportunity because when some of us
joined last week we cycled and doubled our investment in 3 days. We
wish you had been with us for the excitement. To double our money
even before the program went “public” was a first for me and many
that joined with me.
Eventually there
will be FIVE matrix choices, but you only invest ONE single time.
When you cycle, you are automatically put back in at no extra
cost to you. Wouldn’t you like to generate $100, $200 or even, $3200
over and over again with only one initial out-of-pocket cost?
CMS, our
Constant Marketing System, will promote your website for you; it’s
part of your initial entry fee. This is a set-it and forget-it
program. The referrals you bring in, or your CMS brings in for you,
pays 20% to you when they cycle. Sweet.
Discover the
power, simplicity and huge potential. First join PJ, (it’s free)
http://ProgramJunkies.com/?twigs then join us in the
2x2magic program.
December 2, 2007
- The Yes!
Factor
In this dream you are running a marathon. Imagine
that feeling of crossing the finish line first – thighs screaming
and lungs bursting. The crowd is cheering and calling your name.
Or in this dream; you are at the Derby and your horse
is coming up on the outside; steadily gaining until he is leading by
a length and you know your bet is safe. Even the jockey raises his
right fist in the air and screams --Yes!
It’s his victory as well as yours.
Can you remember the last time this happy moment was
yours? A joyous time, that triumphant moment, a time you won’t ever
forget. You attempted the impossible and you won. You balled your
fists, held them high in the air and let go with a big Yes! for all
to hear.
It has become a victory expression we all understand.
We smile when we hear it from across the room even when we don’t
know what caused it.
Getting a Yes! now and then makes you feel better
about yourself, your job or career, your friends, family and your
life. We all like to win.
Win now with PJ and avoid those programs that are
stacked against you. It’s free to join and is leading us right now
to our next Yes! factor. Hurry, don’t waste a moment.
http://programjunkies.com/?twigs
November
23, 2007 – The Next
Big Money-Maker
Every morning in
Africa a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the
fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It
knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve
to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle,
when the sun comes up you better start running.
As humans, we
try to run as fast or faster than our competitors. Ideally we’d like
an advantage -- an “in” with the heavy hitters on the next big
money-maker. This would put us ahead of the curve and earnings would
reward us first and all others later.
People don’t
expect the road to riches to be in plain sight. Every Guru has a
secret to share and I’ve heard them all. The big secret is – there
is no secret! But I have found an “in” with the heavy hitters. Their
job is to help me earn money with the right programs and avoid
losing money with the wrong ones.
They not only
tell me what programs to join, they tell me what to expect and when
to drop out because the big money has already been earned. They have
proven to me how easy it is to build an increasing residual income,
so I don’t have to chase any more programs.
These powerful
liaisons with seasoned professionals can be to your benefit as well
as mine. So let’s make some money and have fun doing it.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher
http://programjunkies.com/?twigs
November
23, 2007 – Connecting
the Dots
In many circles
you might have the same reaction declaring yourself a leper when you
speak of being in network marketing.
It’s the old
Ponzi game that sticks in the mind like spaghetti to the wall. But
nobody takes issue with the tiered compensation structure because
almost every large sales organization in the world has that. Sales
people get commissions. Sales managers get overrides or bonuses, and
sales directors on top of that, and VPs on top of that.
There may be a
perception problem here that is out of line with the reality.
The idea of
making money right away without special skills or major investment
always appeals to the masses. And the promise of residual income
seems to be the cure for avoiding our current financial position
ever again. The real fear lies in the selection; finding a winner
among the scams.
The solution:
don’t look for the winners – you probably won’t recognize them
anyway. Get “in” with the Heavy Hitters. Or second best get next to
someone who is well-connected with them.
He has a team of
members that you join. His contacts of Heavy Hitters know that he
has a fast acting, intelligent and responsive team of members, so
it’s profitable to let him know first; even before they pre-launch.
He tells you in
advance what’s coming online and when. He has worked out
exclusivity for his members for a few hours or a day. He’ll tell
you when to get in, and when to get out. You are never, ever
presented with a “suckers bet”, only winners.
Now just connect
the dots.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher/entrepreneur
http://programjunkies.com/programs.php?twigs
November
18, 2007 – The
TriUnity Money Stream
With equal
satisfaction, two scientists in white jackets are studying a test
tube: “We’ll name the disease after you and the cure after me”, one
of them states.
It’s supposed to
be a joke but with today’s television advertising a pill for every
conceivable complaint – it’s begun to be a way of life and I often
wonder if this scenario is more truth than fiction.
Yet
pharmaceuticals are netting big profits for the companies and for
the salespeople who know the value of the word “re-order”. We only
have to look at Avon, Mary Kay, or Amway to realize that your new
customer is most likely your customer for life. If the product is of
value and lives up to its promises, word-of-mouth is your most
valuable advertisement.
There is a
concept in Network Marketing that states, “Build wide for profit,
build deep for security”. Avon still does this. Mary Kay customers
love their cosmetics and wouldn’t be without their beauty supplies.
For many years, Amway salespeople made thousands weekly with repeat
customers.
Is it any
different today? Certainly not… most particularly with health
issues. For the best long-term business opportunity in this industry
today, you should at least explore TriUnity – it was chosen as one
of the solid 5-core programs of PJ for good reason.
This single
money stream will net you handsomely. All commissions mailed to
your home.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher/entrepreneur
http://ProgramJunkies.com/programs.php?twigs
November
17, 2007 –
Today’s Rainmaker
Read enough
history and you learn that a century ago the American Indians
exalted the Rainmaker. He had magical powers to bring rain and
nourish their crops. A good harvest of maze meant his people would
eat during the long, cold winter.
Today’s
Rainmaker is a person who brings in the most sales for his company.
Sales are the lifeblood of any program; without Rainmakers the best
organizations die. Rainmakers = profits.
Everyone wants
to be a Rainmaker – big storm or steady drizzle. These talents are a
result of delivering on the promises and learning to say “you”
instead of “I”.
Your customer
doesn’t care that you need two sales this week. They don’t care
about your quotas or why your site went down for an hour. They care
less about what you like, where you schooled, what sports you play
or have played. They only care about themselves and their problems.
You have met them only because they believe you might be able to
better their situation.
Remember that
you are there by invitation – you must be on high acceptance at all
times. Don’t talk about yourself. Listen to what he/she says and
nod in agreement. Never hurry a sales meeting.
Now… place that
ad and pray for rain.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher/entrepreneur
http://ProgramJunkies.com/programs.php?twigs
November 14, 2007 –
Backstage with the Big Hitters
A place of envy;
sitting in on the next biggie that’s about to burst open on the
Internet. There’s a special sort of camaraderie where bragging
rights are deserved and new ideas are honed. I don’t have an in, but
I have the next best thing: ProgramJunkies.
The Owners of
ProgramJunkies have nearly 25 years of combined network marketing
experience and have truly been there, done that with every
conceivable type of program, system and over-hyped project. They
understand all the income and equity alternatives – what works, and
what doesn’t. I am one of their members, and you should be too.
The liaisons
they enjoy with seasoned professionals benefit their network of PJ
members in cash flow and residual income. They like to call these
hot, fast moving programs, First Alerts. The idea is to get in
first, actually before any pre-launch, and get out if, or when, we
are given the word.
It’s time to
stop making money just for the big hitters and help ourselves for a
change. It’s a great feeling to put my future on this new service
because they recognize programs that are truly “sucker bets” and we
never see them as PJ members. Naturally, joining these First Alerts
is optional and the next will be offered the week after
Thanksgiving.
Sure, this can
be short term income as programs run their course, but we’ll be
adding new sources of income while the others die out. Ride the wave
for quick money while PJ’s Core Programs earn you long term
residuals.
By avoiding the
obvious losers and concentrating on high probability winners, making
money is fun again.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher/entrepreneur
http://ProgramJunkies.com/?twigs
October 27,
2007 – Hollow Corporations
Loyalty to corporations is morphing into
a new independent model of the working person. This trend is more
respectful to the family as well as to the human spirit. Today, if
you have a laptop computer and a cell phone, you can run a
corporation with no personnel, no office, and no inventory. And you
can do this from your home.
When a company produces none of their
products but outsources everything… that’s a successful business.
Think of it as a symbiotic relationship where the entrepreneur can
offer for sale on the Internet, any number of high end products and
have them drop-shipped from the manufacturer -- globally anywhere.
There are companies an entrepreneur can
contract with for this purpose. They provide the customers with all
of the back end functions including fulfillment of the product. They
handle all of the standard shopping cart functions, inventory
management, customer database reports, and all sales data necessary
as well as credit card processing. This lets you focus on your
entrepreneurial business: marketing the products.
While you may
want to Incorporate your home business, it would be considered a
“hollow corporation” because there is no brick and mortar storefront
or list of employees. You don’t need deliveries or postal pickups
and have no use for letterhead stationary. Some do use a website to
generate sales, and eBay has many such attractions.
But this is
still second best to Leveraged Income, because profits from
yesterday’s sales will not earn you a dime today. You must sell
again. Given the choice, I’ll take Leveraged Income any day.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/InternetSuccess.pdf (download
yours free today)
October 20,
2007 – Changes in Retirement
Some time ago General Motors
ran their ads on the phrase: This is not your father’s
Oldsmobile. Today, the Oldsmobile has been discontinued.
Similarly with downsizing, out-sourcing and home-based businesses:
this is not your father’s retirement
plan.
The first baby-boomer
collected a Social Security check in October of this year, and
another 78 million will follow her over the next few years. Will the
government hold up under this burden? Not without raising taxes or
cutting benefits – or both!
Sure, we want to enjoy
retirement but in this millennium it will have to be a case of
continuing to be productive… perhaps on a reduced scale. Because we
are all living longer we are better off just saying “no” to full
retirement.
If you have knowledge,
acquiring money is relatively easy if you’re willing to work at it.
At or near retirement, we should be able to find something that we
love to do and put in a short day fulfilling that passion.
Volunteering, travel, health projects, business opportunities,
writing or getting into the arts are all things to be considered.
The world is changing. The
challenges and complexities are of an entirely new order and
magnitude. Individual effectiveness is no longer an option –
survival in today’s world requires it.
Learning to generate
leveraged income is your answer, and it’s all explained in this
free eBook. Download your copy and stay ahead of the curve.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/InternetIncome.pdf
October 12, 2007 –
The Wage Slaves
We should never settle
for anything less than doing what we love -- write, travel, paint,
ski, surf, or any other passion that fills your heart. Of course
when we are young a true calling may not have made itself visible
yet; and we find ourselves floundering.
Years ago telemarketing
made its beginning with Corporate America. I took a job with a firm
known as head-hunters. We sold bodies -- we were paid a
portion of the salary a company offered for a good secretary, typist
or personnel director. At the time computer programmers were the
competitive rage but I had no Internet knowledge back then.
The office Manager gave
me a short training lesson. He put the phonebook in front of me and
opened it to the yellow pages. “Start with A”, he said with a
devilish grin, “and dial for dollars”.
The business of
cold-calling is a slow day’s work for a low day’s pay. Few companies
were willing to pay for a typist or secretary which was my
assignment. Days of doing something unfulfilling doesn’t give any
sense of reward. It makes “dreary” sound like a compliment.
My yellow-brick road
has been long and difficult, but the rewards have been reached. I
didn’t find Emerald City, but Diamonds, and the value of generating
leveraged income well into my future.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
October 9, 2007
– Going to Seed
Have you ever noticed that some people go
to seed early in their lives while others seem to stay vital to the
very end of their days? I have puzzled over this occasionally,
trying to come up with some reasons.
I read about Dr. Forrest Bird, who
invented the first ventilator saving millions of lives. His first
product was primitive, but he kept improving on it year after year
until he won the Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award in 1985, and
another one in 2005.
Perhaps for others, life presented
tougher problems than they could handle. Maybe a major wound to
their self-esteem sent them into a downward spiral. Or did they
simply run so hard for so long that they forgot what they were
running for?
Due to the encouragement of his father, a
WWl pilot, Bird became a pilot at an early age and performed his
first solo flight at age 14. By age 16, he was working to obtain
multiple major pilot certifications that included jet aircraft and
helicopters.
During his adult years, Bird subsequently
made a ventilator for infants, nicknamed the “Babybird”; responsible
for reducing the rate of breathing-related infant mortality from 70%
to 10%.
At 86 years, Dr. Bird is still an active,
highly qualified FAA certificated Flight Instructor Pilot and
Aeronautical Engineer. He remains an ardent Lecturer as well as
Educator, with deep Research and Development commitments in
Aeromedicine.
Here’s one bloom that refuses to go to
seed.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
October 3, 2007
– Non Secrets of the Rich
There are new studies out and I’m an avid
reader of any new approach to a common problem, and this one begins
with the premise that excellence is not the opposite of failure.
The practice of studying failure to
achieve excellence in the past was to study the difference between
unhappy clients vs happy ones, divorce vs happy marriages, sadness
vs joy, or sickness vs health.
This research
also includes a study in teams. The unproductive teams say, in the
workplace or in sports argued a lot. The successful teams argued
just as much, but the study found a big difference in what went on
in between the arguments.
Organizations
pay homage to team studies because they know people are their
greatest asset. Using a bit of psychology, teams began to label
“what’s right with us” to get their strengths together. Focusing on
those few things where they are ‘the best in the world’ like
Starbucks, Best Buy or Dell, they could move from good to great. By
doing this they made their weaknesses irrelevant.
Sounds like
common sense, which isn’t so common anymore.
The Centurion
Team
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
September
30, 2007 – The Road to
Happyville
If you’re like us, you are working
professionals managing to deal with the endless parade of bills,
mortgage payments, raising two teenage kids and maybe splurging on a
few goodies for the holidays. Vacations are low-cost family affairs,
not cruises to the Caribbean or yearly Disney World extravaganzas.
You don’t realize it, but for one out of
six – Home-Sweet-Home sales can set you free. I say one out of six
because like us, you would be near middle age and have held onto
your home for more than 15 years. Your home has built-in equity that
is a valuable asset today.
Think about making use of this, but only
after you have set up some “leveraged income” that will carry you
through retirement with monthly checks. You can be setting this in
place with the Home-Sweet-Home sale in mind when it is completed.
Let’s say during the final years of the
kids schooling, you write a book. Even if you gave this full time
attention it’s a laborious task and you must have the blessing of a
publisher before you complete Chapter Three. With this green light,
you now realize that royalties or leveraged income from this book is
going to serve you for many years. A comforting thought with the
instability of Social Security.
But today, you don’t have to have an
author’s talents. We have the Internet. A world-wide shot at making
leveraged income. The real opportunities are there but it takes time
to find and develop; like our book example above. The laborious task
is in discovering a true gem among all that sparkle offered on the
Net.
With all due diligence and many false
starts we found our green light. You can do it too. We can help.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher/entrepreneur
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
September
28, 2007 – Never Gone
or Back Again
When my husband graduated High School,
he was the first of four boys and the family had a great
celebration. The next morning his dad took him to the Navy
Recruiting Center in Tampa, Florida. This was the beginning of his
20-year career.
There is no time limit on good
parenthood. Back then the obligation was to feed, shelter, educate
and teach them right from wrong as a minor. Unless a college degree
was being completed or the young adult had a physical handicap,
further support was not an accepted idea.
Yet today we see 20 year olds still in
High School and 40 year olds returning home with their babies in
tow. How long are parents supposed to support their grown children?
I have a 21 year old nephew who has never worked, driven a car, or
mowed a lawn – he likes computer games. He plays them all night
long. He eats, sleeps and apparently is addicted to video games and
most likely at his age, other internet offerings.
The first suggestion people have made is
to cut off his Internet connection. Sure, that was my idea too. But
he has threatened to burn down the house and everyone knows he means
it. Rudeness and disrespect for parents is not rare today. I see the
beginnings of it in pre-school tantrums that when ignored, grow to
criminal results.
My husband and I grew up respecting our
parents and if college was not in the picture, our independence came
with High School graduation. We celebrated our free spirits and set
about finding our place as productive Americans.
What went wrong with this younger
generation is not a mystery to anyone who watches an hour of news
daily. How to fix it is the real mystery.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
September 26,
2007 – Entrepreneur: The New Force
America’s industrial era is fading fast
but old strengths usually become future weaknesses it seems. The new
force is the entrepreneur. A rapidly growing new business thanks to
the Internet and world-wide communication.
We see builders, artists, brewers,
authors, jewelers, sculptors and many Internet specialists all born
with an entrepreneurial spirit. Plan your journey today; focus your
efforts on independence – both time and money-wise.
With the looming retirement of 78 million
baby boomers, there appears to be no easy fix for Social Security.
This should be a red flag to everyone over thirty. Ignore this at
your peril because future survival depends on your actions today.
Nearly half of these 78 million will still
work after retirement because they fear they will grow bored with
idleness, while others are reluctant to give up the meaning and
direction that a work-week offers. The other half will find some
self-satisfying volunteer work because their need is in helping
others. Not any however, will participate in protest marches or
sit-ins; they make that statement loud and clear.
In the end, they all search for the big
answer: what is my life all about?
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
September 24,
2007 – The Opportunity Junkie
I’m a self-confessed opportunity junkie.
It was the big reason for my credit card debt and the deaf ears of
family and when I spoke of a new program. But even while I lost yet
again, I persevered; each time learning a new lesson. My education
on the Internet has not been cheap. Does this story sound familiar?
Today of course, I have the whole
enchilada and the awesome thing about Internet marketing is that
after finding the perfect company, with the perfect product and
compensation plan, I carried it one step further and made anyone’s
chances of success (including my own) just about 100% guaranteed…
and that’s not a word to be used lightly.
Let’s consider some facts: with most
opportunities there’s always strength in numbers. Look at the fast
food business – $1.3 million aside, would you like to own a
McDonald’s franchise? If you did your chances for success are just
about 100% guaranteed! Why? Because they have everything figured out
for you – all the trial and errors have been completed and you
benefit. Every risk factor has been removed except one unknown; your
ability.
If one finally finds the fool-proof system
and improves its very success by engineering new members on a
constant basis, why wouldn’t you give this information away;
particularly in a re-cycling program. The more that join, the more
long-term the company will be active, and the more times every
member cycles through.
The Internet and Direct Marketing is
probably the best kept money making secret in the world. And I’ve
just handed you that secret.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
September 21,
2007 – Internet Success
There have been
so many “Johnny-come-lately” authors making money on their “secrets”
that it’s hard to know beforehand if yet a new title might be worth
$67. Most of these self-proclaimed gurus have never actually had any
real business success, yet somehow feel qualified to educate others.
And of course
the only reason they are sharing this with us is because they’re
sick and tired of reading about “the 95% who have failed to make it
on the Net”. Well if that really was the reason they’d be giving it
away. Forgive my cynical posture here; one gets tired of hearing the
same ole crap.
Get real -- 95%
failure rate on the Net is an excellent target market if you’re
looking to make some serious money; whether it’s your first million
or you’re adding to your last million. Yet most of them will claim
their book is worth so much more, but if you buy it before midnight
tonight you can have it for $67. More crap. Bring up the website
tomorrow and you’ll see the date has magically changed.
Testimonials
from other Guru’s, real or embellished, are just more of the same.
By the time it’s published and available to you, it’s been
regurgitated in a dozen new eBooks. Technology and strategies on the
Internet change at the speed of light and what worked yesterday may
not be the best solution today.
Let’s not forget
those important “back-end sales”… the authors count on that and they
have your email address.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/InternetSuccess.pdf (and it’s
free!)
September 18,
2007 – Give’em What They Want
The Internet is perfect for anybody who
wants to start a business and doesn’t want to risk a lot of money.
Plus, you don’t need to have any special education or background to
get started making your fortune.
Based on the fact that people don’t buy
what they need, they buy what they want; we can suggest some reverse
engineering here. People buy what they desire, what they feel they
can’t live without, what everyone else already has and they don’t.
People buy what they crave!
It’s far too much work to create the
“want” for a product. Instead let’s find the “want” and create a
product for it. This virtually guarantees success as in: are you
selling what people already want?
In a recent poll, most wanted easy income,
financial success, less money worries, freedom from credit card
debt, and I could list another 50 ways but they all said more
money… that was the common denominator. They want an easier
lifestyle, an end to the struggle every month, a vacation now and
then. Is that so much to ask?
We didn’t think so. That’s why we promote
the Diamond Cash Club as a means to leveraged income. It’s not a
get-rich-quick plan, but if you can invest a small amount of money
for a few short months, you can re-cycle your membership over and
over with $8000 payouts each time. This takes patience, teamwork and
a positive mindset.
Look it over – you may be as impressed as
we were.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
September 17,
2007 – Salting Your Advertisements
There’s a good reason why local bars or
cafés keep peanuts and pretzels on the bar without charge: salt
makes you thirsty… they sell drinks.
If as writers of sales and marketing
advertisements, use this information it would be to our advantage.
Salting the last line of our ads will keep everyone thirsty to hear
what we have to say in our next piece?
Authors of novels do this at the end of
each chapter and refer to it as a ‘cliff hanger’. They don’t want
you to stop reading. What better compliment than, “I couldn’t put it
down”?
It’s much better to have great marketing
and a poor product, than the other way around. Great marketing and a
poor product will make you some money. Poor marketing and a great
product probably won’t. That’s not to say that you should sell poor
products, but serves as an example of using every advantage going.
Salt your advertisements with that little
extra info that will make them thirsty to read more. Never hype –
people have been overdosed with empty promises and their finger
hovers over that ‘delete’ key.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
September 14,
2007 – The Centurion Team
The best way to show the advantages of
joining DCC under our Team leadership is to first explain what we
are doing for each team member. This is optional, and certainly not
a Company requirement. Diamond Cash Club works on a 2-target matrix
system, the second target (Diamond), recycles each member over and
over with a payout of $8000; obviously the faster you get there, the
more times you recycle.
On a first-come-first-serve basis
we list all members on our website in the order they entered our
team, and in turn we work on their behalf. Our mission is two-fold…
get each member their “qualifying” two sales (a company
requirement), and move them ASAP into the Diamond target for the
first of many big payouts.
Other than talking about their success,
there is little for any member to do. There are however, two things
we must have in agreement. As you become more and more familiar with
the DCC program and the Centurions, you will see that these are the
necessary ingredients for a successful and rapid advancement of all
members into multiple money streams.
One:
DCC gives each member a replicated website, with a URL for
advertising - it will look like this:
http://diamondcashclub.com/xxxx using your “business” name. We
ask that you do not use this to make your sales. The
Centurions will do this for you… this is absolute and no exceptions
will be granted. As we work on each member’s advancement, our task
must be fair and uninterrupted. If you know of someone interested in
joining, send them to our webpage listed below.
Two:
Your first payout (only) in Diamond will be $14,000, all other
recycles in Diamond will be $8000. You must agree to re-invest $2000
back into the company. Let me explain the benefit to you… and to the
team. Buying 10 new memberships allows our Team Moderator to pull
yet another team member into Diamond – the same way we pulled you
there. These 10 memberships however, are YOURS. You buy them, we
place them, you earn the payouts from them. This is a win-win!
We will treat your 10 new memberships
exactly like we did your first one – placing 2 “qualifying” sales
under each, moving them in turn to Diamond so each of those new
memberships will earn you another payout like your first. You now
have 10 memberships moving towards Diamond and 1 re-cycling.
Ultimately you will plus this by 10 new ones when each completes the
matrix.
With the Centurions on your side, wealth
is inevitable.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
September 13,
2007 – Seeking New Ants
I hear what you’re thinking: why Ants?
Well give me a better example of teamwork and I’ll change my title.
They certainly are most aware of the other ants on the team, their
needs and concerns. They are supportive of other team worker’s
efforts and avoid conflicts while promoting harmony. Certain tasks
are performed without complaint including the abundance of food
brought back for the benefit of all.
Many companies are trying to incorporate
this ant-strategy with workers all sharing ideas and cooperating
with each other within the workweek. Some have surprising results,
others have little or none.
Speaking from personal experience, I can
testify to the advantages of one such success. In the business of
gems, the Diamond Cash Club is a new concept of MLM; removing the
flaws while keeping the huge income benefits. Within that company
are several Teams… some working proficiently, others not moving
forward as quickly as they could with perhaps, new leadership.
For a team to work at all, it is essential
that all members use effective communication channels between one
another, e.g. using email or viral announcements on the Team’s
website.
This enables all team members to “be in
the know” and fully understand the current task at hand, as well as
what will be our next goal. Sharing is important within a team to
create an environment of teamwork. Respecting the ideas of others
and making necessary changes is also paramount.
Like our Ants above, the Centurions work
as one to bring each team member as quickly as possible to a banquet
of re-cycling wealth; $8000 over and over. Tomorrow we will explain
how this feast is prepared and how you can receive your invitation.
No one leaves this table hungry.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
Centurion Team Member
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
September 12,
2007 – Online Social Networking
The Petersons
are a family of four… husband, wife and twin girls just months away
from college. Sam realizes that the expense of college tuitions will
probably be followed soon afterwards by two weddings and that’s apt
to give anyone a migraine. He spends every spare minute on the
Internet looking for extra money.
He begins with
some entrepreneurial forums, mostly reading what people with similar
situations are saying. He posts a few questions and is amazed at the
responses in return. Not everyone has kids ready for college, but
some have serious hospital bills or an unfair divorce settlement,
and one unemployed family desperately needs work.
Online
Networking brings solutions to a problem just for the asking. Not
all answers are do-able, but they are all sincere, considerate and
offered with helpful suggestions. Among other choices Sam was
introduced to the Diamond Cash Club and he looked this over with
great interest. Not one to jump into anything, he did his due
diligence and then discussed his findings over dinner that night.
His wife, Amanda
suggested a family project. Her office chipped in every week for a
Lottery ticket with renewed anticipation. On a smaller scale, the
four Petersons could chip in for the initial investment of $220.
With an eventual payout of $14,000 – it would certainly be an
exciting venture and… best of all, Lottery-odds are next to nil, DCC
has been paying out since its inception.
Yesterday the
Peterson Family Fund for tuitions and future weddings was born.
Esther Smith,
entrepreneur/publisher
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
September 11,
2007 -- Gotta Love Those Spiders
Keywords are an important part of your
writings even if it’s only a headline or a one-line description.
Further, Articles or Blogs must be tightly focused on a specific
niche, and all writings must have relevance. If you pepper your
posts with your niche keywords, your content will naturally rise in
the Search Engines without much effort on your part. Good
spider-food.
Search Engines are designed to deliver
relevant content to the surfer, but also deliver the latest and
freshest information available. Business Blogs have both relevance
and active postings. You can deliberately train the spiders to visit
more often by consistent postings with relevant material. When
spiders visit often, Search Engine rankings go up. Welcome home
spiders!
People like to be connected. They like
parties, lots of friends, and neighbors who care. So do Search
Engine spiders except spiders do it with links. The more relevant
links you have in your Blog, the happier your users are because
Blogs are built to connect people and links to each other. Inbound
links are generated because they’re often from sites that have a
natural relevance to your information. Busy spiders!
While frequent postings help your
marketing efforts, there is no doubt that the quality of content
trumps frequency every time. Keep this formula in mind and your many
subscribers will devour your information. Hungry spiders!
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://dcc.thepermanentventure.com
September 7,
2007 – Females Who Launch
In this twenty-first century women are not
only working but taking the lead. The modern workforce has been
changing at lightening speed and more than ever for the female
entrepreneur. It might surprise you to learn that there are nearly 7
million female entrepreneurs in the U.S. alone.
For many of us, the option of working from
home was all the push we needed to leave the nine-to-five grind,
traffic jams, office politics, and the expense of new clothes.
Admittedly for some the road to success has been bumpy and hard, but
for others the entrepreneurial life is financially and emotionally
rewarding.
Just because you’re working at home
doesn’t mean that your clients have to know it. You can act and
sound as if you are in a plush office with a secretary outside your
glass door. Keep your background noise to a minimum and never, ever
let the kids answer your business line. As for working in your PJ’s,
I would nix that because when you dress even in casual attire as if
you’re headed for an office, you’d be amazed at how psychologically
this makes you feel professionally ready for any problem.
For us certifiably females, a great idea
could inspire us, or the excitement of taking that risk – or not
taking it. Whatever your motivation, look to those who have beaten
the path before you. We all ended up at the top where we can call
the shots and live our lives creating our dreams.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/dcc.htm
September 6,
2007 – Out With the Old
For many years now no one has restructured
MLM programs even though the technique itself is fundamentally
flawed. The successful few like Mary Kay and Amway have made small
fortunes for many affiliates; the single reason people still look to
multi-level incomes as their answer to financial independence.
Admittedly, this task would not be easy.
First, we have to eliminate all those mood
shots of large mansions and luxury cars, at the top of home pages;
it’s like selling the fraud of impossible success to others
and I would nix that. Then, they’d have to make the membership and
splash pages free with no monthly fees ever. Next, design the
one-time entry fee affordable for everyone.
Work it so everyone’s original investments
come back to them in a reasonable time frame, and let them work
towards the big payout that every MLM promises but few actually
deliver. It would also be great if someone who joined and did
nothing could be left behind or skipped over, so the rest of us
would not be penalized for their lack of effort. Yeah, that part
really needs fixing.
I need to add one last request please:
give someone in the program the intelligence to realize that our
biggest asset as members is each other! Suggest that if they
all work as a team, each helping the other to reach the big payout,
we would get there faster and all members would realize financial
independence. It doesn’t sound all that hard to do.
Breaking News:
Our Company has accomplished the first part by designing a cyclic
target referral system. This has broken all the conservative
boundaries of any other system and matrix. We, as members
accomplished the second part by forming a team within that program
to reach the target bulls-eye of financial independence in record
time.
Now it hardly resembles an MLM program at
all, and what’s wrong with that I ask?
Esther Smith, author/publisher
The Centurion Team of Diamond Cash Club
http://thepermanentventure.com/dcc.htm
September 5,
2007 – Judge Judy Slams Her Gavel
At once everyone does a knee jerk! Then
she barks, “Pay up!” and calls for her next case. There are now six
or seven television judges entertaining afternoon viewers. Most of
the cases are laughable, but whether you are claiming back rent from
a tenant or child support from an ex, advertisers know its
competition for the soaps.
Christina Smiley did some research and
learned all those judgments on television as well as many Small
Claims Court decisions are never enforced. Eighty percent of the
defendants ignore their orders to “Pay up!” and plaintiffs
ultimately give up the chase.
Marcus Melnick’s wife was in the hospital
having their second child. He temporarily had the care of his 2
year-old for several days. His only beef was the less-than-masculine
diaper bag that held all the vitals for any trip. He put on his old
“tactical vest” one morning and stuffed the 16 pockets with diapers,
wipes, bottles and other necessities. Ah, now that was more in his
comfort zone.
Today Christina is selling her services
for collecting judgments and all parties are agreeable to sharing
50% with her. Marcus is marketing his “Tactical Daddy” vests in
numerous department stores, and in case you were wondering – it’s a
hit!
I’ll say it again: successful
entrepreneurs are creative problem solvers.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/dcc.htm
September 4,
2007 – Entrepreneurial Failures
Do you find this interesting? Research
says that 49% of all adults are unhappy with their work. In another
study it says that 55% of all small businesses fail. I found this
curious because the studies were not about the same group of adults,
yet the percentages were similar.
It also begs the question that if this is
so, in what areas would we excel? Well the simple answer is we excel
in tasks that we enjoy and for which we have an aptitude.
The only reason that such a large percent
of adults continue in jobs they hate is the paychecks at the end of
the week, free weekends and other perks. While this lifestyle may be
a struggle, it is endured because it is survivorship. Everyone
around them shares the same dream that someday things will be
better, so they don’t feel alone or the exception to the rule.
However, if we take this same struggle for
the self-employed, it becomes a whole new picture. Often they do not
have a weekly paycheck and weekends and holidays are not free time.
The two failures of an entrepreneurial venture is lack of knowledge
about the business, or insufficient funds. So let’s add a third
failure: poor fit.
When the
pressures of ownership are piled onto a poor business fit there is
little incentive to continue. Working an unpleasant job is one
thing, owning it is another. If there is no passion for the
business, success is doomed. We all possess the same independence to
leave the make-believe safety of employment.
Give yourself
permission to consider what your passion is, and go for it.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/dcc.htm
September 1,
2007 – A Sensible Retirement Plan
What if your
nest egg really was a nest egg? Whether your dream for a 2nd
home is a cabin in the mountains, a cottage by the shore or a 3rd
floor condo in your favorite resort – consider buying it now while
in the prime of your earning years. Many of the retiring
Baby-Boomers did just that, and their weekend getaway has become
their retirement home.
If you can’t
swing another mortgage payment, try renting it eleven months of the
year if it’s on Hilton Head Island, or make a deal with deer hunters
during hunting season to rent your cabin in the mountains. A condo
at resorts can be handled by a well-qualified rental agent while
blocking out your preferred weeks.
Sounds out of
the question? Not really if you know how to bring this about. This
country is in a mortgage slump right now, but it won’t always be so.
If you have good credit and you have learned to generate ‘leveraged’
income, you are one of the few who can take advantage of property
that banks would love to make a deal on.
This is just
another way to get your money-making-money for you. By the time you
really retire to your cabin, cottage or condo, it will be free of
debt and worth many times more than what you paid. Sell the home you
raised the kids in and you have the nest egg you designed years ago.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/InternetSuccess.pdf
August 29, 2007
– I’ve Heard That Song Before
Wouldn’t some
good news be great for a change? Wouldn’t it be amazing to learn
there is a simple and sure way to leveraged income and it won’t cost
you a penny? And wouldn’t it be over the top if this meant that
before the end of this year you can quit the time-for-money trap?
Payday will
usually provide shelter and food for your family. This is not the
American-dream; it’s the American-nightmare – stretching a fixed
income while food, fuel, insurance, and health costs increase. It’s
dividing families and causing serious depressions.
Gurus are coming
out of the woodwork because of this. They are selling their
regurgitated words in Ebooks for a not-so-small price. They
show monthly statements with their million-dollar earnings,
quote a dozen testimonials (real or embellished) and
guarantee that if you think like a millionaire, you will
be a millionaire. Each one of them has the secret. Oh lucky day!
Some sing a
better song than others, but I’ve heard them all before. The good
news is – I’ve done it and put it all in an Ebook that doesn’t cost
you anything to read. I don’t quote any testimonials, and it’s
written with no hype or BS. If you have a spare hour you can
generate leveraged income the same way because I’ve dropped plenty
of bread crumbs so you won’t get lost.
Leveraged income
is like remote control and you will clearly see how easy it is to
make money work for you. This knowledge is no different than
learning to ride a bike or use a keyboard – once learned it is
yours. You own the knowledge. No one can take it from you. Period.
Download your
copy of “Invitation to Internet Success – Wear Your Party Pants!”
today. Written in pdf format; downloadable with Adobe Reader (also
free).
Esther Smith,
author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/InternetSuccess.pdf
August 27, 2007
– The Halo and Horn Effect
Here’s
an entertaining yarn where you might find more truth than fiction.
Because of human nature -- particularly in the workplace, we often
embrace what pleases the conscious mind while ignoring all else.
Peterson was passed over for a promotion
because he’s frequently late for work – it’s usually only minutes,
but late nevertheless. Still, he’s a congenial fellow who produces
more than the average sales. He doesn’t take those annoying coffee
breaks and is groomed to the nines. It’s perplexing that Peterson
can be so commendable in many areas, yet fall short of ideal.
The Director picked up the next
performance evaluation; one P.T. O’Brian. Ah, yes – O’Brian! That
good looking guy whose blue eyes every female wants to drown in, the
guy who won the company’s best suggestion last year: a simple
why didn’t I think of that improvement. It will save the
company millions in the long run. He’s lucky to have a man like
O’Brian in his department – in spite of petty gossip.
If you assumed O’Brian moved to a front
office with a secretary stacked like Erin Brockovich, you’d be
right. He inherited the Halo Effect, as did his secretary some
months ago. Peterson on the other hand, unknowingly still wears his
horn.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/dcc.htm
August 25, 2007
– The Time-For-Money Trap
Absorb yourself in the time-for-money trap
by pretending it’s the fix-all and you have cleverly created a
constant distraction that prevents you from seeing how pointless it
is. Realistically, you know it’s not the answer to wealth, but with
everyone around you participating in this make-believe, it’s easy to
ignore.
Jane Doe earns $100k per year so it would
appear that she is twice as rich as John Doe who earns $50k per
year. Relative Income uses two variables, the dollar and the
hours. If Jane makes $100/year ($2000/wk for 50 wks, and works
80/hrs per week) she actually makes $25/hr.
John makes $50k per year ($1000 wk for 50
wks, and works 10 hrs per week) he actually makes $100/hr. In
Relative Income, John is four times richer than Jane. Should he be
happy?
We have two Americas… one privileged; the
other burdened… one America that does the work, another that reaps
the reward. One America that pays the taxes, another America that
gets the tax breaks; hard to argue that.
Most entrepreneurs come from the
nine-to-five culture for good reasons, and they would not be happy
with John’s $50k per year even with his 10 hour week. The newly rich
today make $5k per hour and if you ask them what they
do to earn it, they might reply, “as little as possible.”
Studies tell us that today 46% of all
employees hate their jobs and feel they’re treated with disrespect.
They don’t trust management and feel they are underpaid while
shouldering more and more of their retirement and health benefits.
Behaviors of individuals are, to a large extent, dictated by the
roles they are asked to assume.
Small wonder employees stop caring, stop
producing and start looking for other opportunities.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/dcc.htm
August 24, 2007
– Preview Your Life
Start by looking
at friends, family or fellow employees who are fifteen to twenty
years ahead of you but on the same track.
Are they content
with “merit raises” each year? Or have some been promoted to
Director of Sales, or Assistant to the Marketing Director? If so,
take a few minutes to study their faces, watch their body language,
or listen to their conversations.
Do you see
stress? Do you hear them speak of being out of money before they are
out of month? Do you sense that their family life is happy or
strained? I did exactly this preview of my own life some years back
and it scared the hell out of me. I thought of hamsters that spend
their lives running in place and knew I had to make some changes.
Uncertainty and
the prospect of failure can be those scary noises in the shadows.
Like most people I chose unhappiness over uncertainty. I had
firepower up the wazoo but no trigger finger and my boss knew it.
So I began to
read every entrepreneur who had written a book, and attended
all-you-can-eat information buffets given by dozens of gurus. I was
told I would surely stumble, that failure will stalk me like a
predator, and that the problems would be all mine to solve.
I took copious
notes and ate every word like a starved prisoner. They taught me
Relative Income vs Absolute Income. And answered the question
is a dollar – a dollar? The rich don’t think so. And most
importantly, they taught me not to save it all for the end.
There is every
reason not to.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/dcc.htm
August 18, 2007
– The Serial Entrepreneur
Ever feel like you were born at the wrong
time?
Today there are a growing number of
thirty-something, and they have put new meaning to the phrase: if
you can generate a large sum of money once, you can do it again.
Further, they know what they want and it’s not 15-30 years of
soul-crushing work accepted as the default path to retirement.
Most do favor Universities to learn the
basics of entrepreneurial strategies, profit and loss, and the
benefits of foreign exchange currency. Some drop out before
graduation and while they may not have a bank account to draw on,
they have a credit card. They are willing to risk it all – which to
them, is nothing.
Five thousand dollars will set up a
website; a perfect start for anybody who wants to start a business.
Safe to say people buy what they want, not what they need. Our
serial entrepreneur, Sam, knows it is way too much work to create
the “want” for a product. Instead, he finds the “want” and creates a
product for it. With proper marketing this virtually guarantees
success.
There are two huge “wants” that he saw:
weight loss and nutritional supplements. He could outsource a
product from China, rename it, and viola – as soon as the ads
hit the Internet momentum his site grew steadily to forty-grand a
month.
Simple - yes. Can you do it? Sure. But
Sam’s recipe for a luxury lifestyle was - time, income, and
mobility. So far he only had the income. A year later he was
offered a buyout and he accepted with a smile. He took a long
respite and began again.
When is the right time to “risk it all” --
quit the job or quit the studies? The stars are not going to align
themselves in a perfect answer any more than all the traffic lights
will be green tonight on your way home from your cubicle.
Sometimes the bottleneck in our life is
ourselves.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/dcc.htm
August 17, 2007
– Be Careful What You Wish For
Here’s a good
lesson that I offer from my own history… I always wanted to open a
Restaurant – not just any ole kind, but one that had excellent food,
the best live entertainment with repeat customers who turned into
close friends.
Well I did it. I
worked 17 hours a day, interviewed the dance bands, hired and fired
all employees, booked banquets and wrote my own publicity ads.
Meanwhile, my
bartender was exchanging scotch for sirloins with the chef and the
cashier’s family ate free. Competition in town called in a bomb
scare in the middle of lunch hour that resulted in a false alarm but
another big dollar loss. When I sat down with my night manager to
inform him that so-and-so was stealing, he shrugged and replied:
yeah, but it’s always within reason.
This was my
reality check. It’s when I realized I was really quite ordinary.
So before you
start worrying about what product or service you are going to sell,
you should sit down and decide exactly the kind of life you want to
live. Do you want to work from home and spend more time with the
family? Do you want extended vacations without worrying that someone
else is running your business? Are you into golf, tennis or skin
diving?
Decide what you
want to do, and don’t want to do. Then -- design your
business so it fits your lifestyle.
Many times I
speak with people who have their own businesses, but they’re trapped
by them, like I was. They don’t run the business – the business runs
them.
Begin with the
biggest focus on your life. Mistakes are costly – believe me, I know
Esther Smith,
author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/dcc.htm
August 16, 2007
– Living Debt Free
Something has sucked up the American
dream and spit it back out, and it’s not a pretty picture. We are
all suffering the big hangover from two years of spending more
than we earned. The size of this borrowing binge has not
happened since the Great Depression.
Credit Card interest is topping off
because most holders have neared the limit on their cards, and banks
have been waiting to use all the small print we never bothered to
read. The average household owes $9,900 on credit cards at 15%
interest… or worse.
We bought homes, filled the garage with
new cars that play DVDs and have seats that warm our butts in
winter. Our recent Island trip hasn’t been paid for and the twins
are in college on student loans. What went wrong?
What most families in America needs today
is a Tooth Fairy; a windfall that can smack down a jumbo payment on
that Visa card or car loan.
Our family was just visited by what I
fondly call the Tooth Fairy – a program that we joined two months
ago and has delivered its first reward of $8000. Yup, we wiped out
100% of our Visa payment.
Will it return again with another $8000;
short answer is - yes. Will it go on forever? Realistically -
nothing is forever, but many members have been visited more
than once. Membership’s on fire so there’s no reason to be anything
but optimistic. The more households that need a quick fix, the more
windfalls we will enjoy.
Esther Smith, author/publisher
http://thepermanentventure.com/dcc.htm
August 15, 2007
– Management Position Available
Before entering
my neighborhood video store, I passed two workers outside the door
smoking cigarettes. It’s getting more and more usual these days.
I was fifth in
line with my selection and it seemed the only other help was still
outside the door. The manager was trying to make his customer
understand their “refund” policy, while the rest of us patiently
waited.
I always
considered the position of “manager” to be an abusive one. Most of
my experience with this level of employment has been in restaurants,
but I would consider video store management on that level also.
Managing people
is harder than ever today. You have to do more with a lot less.
Employees disagree openly and will not work hard for vague promises
of long-term rewards. You must measure performance constantly,
correct failure quickly and compliment success even more quickly.
Extra shifts are not uncommon; absenteeism is yours to fill.
Managing is a
sacred responsibility. It is your job alone to make sure the work is
done well, done fast, and done everyday. If a problem arises it’s
all yours to solve.
Squeezed between
the employees under you and a Supervisor over you, forget any fair
play in either direction. If you run a perfect ship and make your
Super proud, you won’t be rewarded with a bonus or an early
promotion. If you are brassy enough to ask why, you’ll get their
tidy reply: if we did that for you, we’d have to do it for
everyone.
Esther Smith,
author/publisher and escapee
