Are You Being Used?

Before I learned the truth about network marketing, I had joined and been used by several network marketing companies. On the surface they looked like great opportunities and because I loved the products I jumped in expecting to make a bundle of money. While I knew work would be involved, I did not how the hoops I would have to jump through to be compensated. I also did not know how to determine a scam from a legitimate business, how to evaluate policies and procedures nor how to do the math on compensation plans. Thus, I fell victim to the false promises like so many people. However, after I was shown how to thoroughly examine a company using the five pillars as a guide, I was able to find and settle down in a five-pillars company -- a company that will allow me to build my business once, build it large and leave a legacy to my son and grandchildren.

The learning process began with a free ebook written by a gentleman who has become my friend and mentor, Michael Dlouhy. Michael has been in the network marketing industry for over thirty years and is actively building a solid business today. He created the Mentoring for Free system which can be duplicated by any one in any company. The mentoring for free system has been proven to work by him, me and so many others.

The eye-opening information contained in the ebook, Success in 10 Steps, is the truth about network marketing based on Michael's experience in the industry. There are many ebooks around, many of them being sold by people who don't have a clue how to build a network marketing business so they are selling information they've gathered. Success in 10 Steps is generic network marketing training and does not mention products, services or companies. The best part about the Success in 10 Steps book is that it is FREE.

I mention free because I have also purchased informational ebooks I thought would be valuable but were a total waste of money. Much of the information, if I had taken the time, I could have gotten for free on the internet anyway.

So, in your quest to earn additional income from home, I caution you to 1) get educated about network marketing. Evaluate any company using the five pillars as your guide and 2) instead of purchasing an ebook on how to build a network marketing business from someone who doesn't have a clue how to do so, keep your money in your pocket and take the necessary time to find the information that will help you build a solid home business. If you don't know where to begin, the free Success in 10 Steps ebook is a good starting point. Taking the time now to read the ebook will can keep you from being used like a dishrag later by a network marketing company.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training, strategies, tips and resources to help you reach your business goals.

Free Network Marketing Training -- Accurate Thinking

Napoleon Hill says in his book, The Law of Success, "accurate thinking is one of the important foundation stones of all enduring success." He explains you must know how to separate "facts" from mere "information" as well as how to separate the important facts from the unimportant. He also says with the "facts" you can build definite working plans in the pursuit of any calling.

I remember when my thinking about network marketing was not accurate. I remember when I did not know how to separate facts from information or how to distinguish the "important" from the unimportant facts. Furthermore, I made plans in pursuit of building a network marketing business strictly on information, not facts. As a result, my efforts were in vain. Consequently, I know first hand "accurate thinking" is vital to success in network marketing (and any other endeavor).

One such "fact" I had no knowledge of was this: the business model drives the behavior in the field. Simply put, if you're in a network marketing business that pays you a heavy bonus on the front end when you sponsor a new distributor but very little residual on the back end, the behavior is to recruit, recruit, recruit. (This is only one example of how a company drives this behavior).

Why is this important to know? Well, here's an example. I had the following conversation with a gentleman I will call O.D. who had just started his network marketing business.


O. D. -- The compensation plan is so great you can earn $10,000 by sponsoring 45 people a month because you get paid $225.00 per sign up.

Me -- How long do you plan to do this business -- 2-5 years or forever?

O. D. -- No more than 5 years

Me -- Well, in order for that to happen you must also earn residual income. So, between customers and distributors, how many active people will you need to earn a $10,000 month residual income? Fast start bonuses are one time payouts.

O.D. -- Two distributors and three customers.

Well, I am not a math genius but I do know that is impossible.

Me -- How is that possible?

O.D. -- I don't know. That is the information I was given by my upline.

Me -- O. D. the fact is the bulk of your income is made on recruiting so do you see what happens when the recruiting stops? Your income stops. Do you see how a business model that drives the behavior of ongoing recruiting won't allow you to quit in 2-5 years? (or never for that matter) Also, realistically, is it at all possible for you to sponsor those 45 people each month? (a very important fact worth considering).

O.D. -- I see your point.

End of conversation

Do you also see my point? Do you see why it is important to be able to think accurately? Otherwise you can spin your wheels and waste a lot of time (and won't be successful in your efforts to build your business.)

As I mentioned, I was not always accurate in my thinking when it came to building a network marketing business. Like O.D. my decision to join a company was based on information, not facts. Although my sponsor may have been sincere in the information shared, they were sincerely wrong.

What about you? Did you get the facts before you devised definite working plans to build your network marketing business? What are the facts? As I stated, one fact is the business model drives the behavior in the field. The fact is if you desire to build the business once and quit building when you desire, there must be residual income, earning bonuses on sponsoring new reps doesn't qualify. The fact is by doing the math you can determine how many active distributors and/or customers you will need to earn the income desired.

These are some of the facts to consider when reviewing a network marketing company. The facts don't lie but information may not be true i.e. there is no way to earn $10,000 residual income per month with only 5 people (based on a $100 monthly requirement).

If you're in network marketing and have not separated "facts" from mere "information" click here for a free ebook entitled Success in 10 Steps. This training could be the start of the principle of "accurate thinking" helping you achieve your dreams and goals in network marketing.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor With a Servant's Heart

If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training, strategies, tips and resources to help you reach your business goals.

Free Network Marketing Training

Free Network Marketing Training - is it really free? And, if free network marketing training is free, is it of any value?

Well, that depends. Let's first determine if free network marketing training can really be free. I happen to know with Mentoring for Free it is completely free although I can't attest for any of the other so-called free network marketing training offered. With Mentoring for Free we offer an ebook entitled 'Success in 10 Steps'. This free ebook, written by my personal friend and mentor, Michael Dlouhy, gives the straight scoop about network marketing. Michael intentionally joined 100 nework marketing companies. His purpose was to find out why most people never earn any money in the industry. When you read his book and get understanding of what he shares, you won't have to keep joining program after program to find something that works because you'll know from the free training what will and what won't. Additionally, you won't stick with something you have absolutely no chance to make it. Either way, the information can literally save you years of failure and frustration in the network marketing industry.

While reading the Success in 10 Steps book you may have some light bulb moments. You may get understanding of why you haven't had the success you desired. If you get to that point, congratulations! Some people who read the book never get there. If and when you do, more free training is offered -- a series of audio tapes. These tapes cover various topics that every professional network marketer should know and understand. There goes that word again -- understand. Just as some people read the ebook and don't understand the information, the same can and often does happen when people listen to the tapes. How do I know there is no understanding? Because they will continue to do what they've always done except they expect different results.

In addition to the free audio tapes, we provide 10 free live interactive training calls each week. The training encompasses how, when, and where to advertise; how to brand yourself; how to market on and offline; how to create videos; how to blog; and much, much more. We also have mastermind and coaches corner calls after we read personal-development books. These calls are priceless.

Which brings me to this: Is there any value in something that is free? Well, you be the judge. I just shared some of the training offered by Mentoring for Free. I can tell you this, those who understand and see the value in the training and take advantage of the education provided, including myself, are eternally grateful.

So, if you've ever wondered if free network marketing training is really free and if so, what's the value in it I hope I've answered your questions. Not only that, if you've never done so I hope you decide to become a network marketing professional and download the free ebook, Success in 10 Steps. And, in all your getting, I hope you get understanding so you can achieve the results you are desiring in this wonderful network marketing industry.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training, strategies, tips and resources to help you reach your business goals.

Network Marketing Success

Network marketing success is achievable when you build good relationships. And, the quicker you can build those relationships, the quicker you can achieve success in network marketing.

Well, why do network marketers advertise online but don't leave any contact information? Is it they don't know network marketing is about relationships and people do business with those they know, like and trust. Or, do they still think it's about sales? Do they think people will just go to their website and order the product/service? That may be true if you're well-known in the industry but certainly not if you're virtually unknown. If I can't contact someone before I place an order, why would I think I'll be able to after the purchase? I know from first hand experience I won't. Besides, with so many of the same products/services offered online, it is too easy to order from someone you can contact.

As I mentioned, having network marketing success requires a know, like and trust which often comes from building relationships. One way to build relationships is via online social networking. But, even when you meet people on the social networking sites, oftentimes the only contact information provided is an email. But, when you send an email you never get a reply. Some people will provide a contact phone number but, of course, you get a their voicemail message and never a return call. Do you think that will bring network marketing success?

If professional network marketers like the legendary Tom 'Big Al' Schreiter make it easy to contact him, then why wouldn't anyone who desires success in the industry not do likewise?

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White

If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing success strategies, tips and resources to help you reach your business goals.

Learn to Use the Slight Edge for MLM Success!

"If you learn to apply The Slight Edge, your life will become filled with hundreds of thousands of small, seemingly insignificant actions - all of them easy to do, none of them mysterious, complex or difficult. And those actions will create your success." Jeff Olson, "The Slight Edge"

This Saturday night, Nov 8, at 8:55 pm Eastern time, Richard Dennis will interview Bob and Anna Bassett about how they apply the "Slight Edge" principles to their business and everyday life.

The details are surprisingly simple, and surprisingly effective!

It is FREE to listen to this LIVE conference call. However we only have a limited number of spots on the conference bridge.

Send me an email @ mentorirma@gmail.com with "Slight Edge" in the subject line to confirm your planned attendance. As soon as we get your request, we'll make sure to reserve you a spot on the call and get the access information to you.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training, strategies, tips and resources to help you reach your business goals.

What Secret Language is Your Client Speaking?

On October 24th in Jacksonville, Florida, Michael Dlouhy kicked off a 41 city tour for Mentoring for Free, the FREEDOM TOUR 2008. He will be traveling up the eastern United States, into Canada, and swinging down into the central US through Texas, and ending back in Florida. His Freedom Tour 2009 will include the west coast of the US and Canada.

Michael Dlouhy is co-founder of Mentoring for Free, contributing author in It's Time for Network Marketing by John Milton Fogg, and Chicken Soup for the Network Marketer by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, and is the author of Success in 10 Steps, and Powerful Networking Secrets.

Michael has been in Network Marketing for over thirty years, and has been Full-Time for the last 17 years. His expertise and experience have been leveraged by many Network Marketing companies as a consultant. He is an example of a true "Professional Network Marketer".

Another leader in the industry will join Michael at each event of the "COLORS TECHNOLOGY" training.

Jerry Clark, first applied the "COLORS" to the classic personality types. Tom "Big Al" Schreiter has a training CD, "Speaking the Secret Language of Your Prospects", in which he discusses these "Colors". But "Big Al" publicly confessed, that he never really understood the "Colors" until he heard Michael Dlouhy explain them.

This "Colors Technology" is not just for Network Marketers. It is for anyone, who desires to communicate better with people.

Imagine beginning a conversation with a stranger, and immediately having insights into the person's personality traits.

Imagine a stranger coming into your car lot to buy a car, or your real estate office, bank, shop, speaking with a coworker, your boss, your employees, your Prospects and knowing the Colors Technology, it's like having X-Ray glasses into their minds.

Michael will demonstrate the techniques and how you can apply them in the real world.

Below are the city stops on the Freedom Tour 2008. To Attend a Live Event in a city near you, send me an e-mail with “Freedom Tour – [your city] in the Subject Line.

There is a $10 Admission however, if you call or send me an email I will register you and guarantee you a spot and cover your Admission costs. (see email below)

Location details will be sent to you after you reply and are registered.

Moncton, NB, Canada - November 7, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Montreal, QC, Canada - November 8, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Toronto, ON, Canada - November 9, 2008
1 - 6 PM

Cleveland, OH - November 12, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Detroit, MI - November 13, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Chicago, IL - November 14, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Milwaukee, WI - November 15, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Indianapolis, IN - November 16, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Elizabethtown, KY - November 17, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Nashville, TN - November 18, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Memphis, TN - November 19, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Little Rock, AR - November 20, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Kansas City, MO - November 21, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Minneapolis, MN - November 22, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Fargo, ND - November 23, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Winnipeg, MB, Canada - November 24, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Sioux Falls, SD - November 25, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Omaha, NE - December 1, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Boulder, CO - December 2, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Denver, CO - December 3, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Tulsa, OK - December 4, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Dallas, TX - December 5, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Austin, TX - December 6, 2008
12 - 3 PM

San Antonio, TX - December 7, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Houston, TX - December 8, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Tallahassee, FL - December 10, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Tampa, FL - December 11, 2008
7 - 10 PM

St. Petersburg, FL - December 12, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Fort Myers, FL - December 13, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Fort Lauderdale, FL - December 14, 2008
7 - 10 PM

Western USA and Canadian Locations Coming in 2009

Hope to see you there,

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
504-570-9165
irma.white@gmail.com

"Be a Mentor With a Servant's Heart"

Michael's ebook, Success in 10 Steps, is available here.




If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training, strategies, tips and resources to help you reach your business goals.

How a Scrubbing Board is Changing a Life

Each week the Mentoring for Free Mastermind Group reads one chapter of the classic, Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and then we share our thoughts. Here is a lesson submitted by one of the members. His life is continually improving as a result of his participation.

Enjoy.

Chapter 14

The Sixth Sense
The Door to the Temple of Wisdom

Submitted by Larry Unruh

Well Michael, I have to say, I am amazed, or inspired is a much more fitting word.

I had only read a couple pages and I had to stop and take a good look at myself, what I have become, and how the choices I have made brought me to this point in my life.

Stunning how all of the answers to owning my life all lie within the same simple steps I once took in destroying the same precious life.

As I look back over my life and what I have been through, I can remember as a child never getting much attention from anyone unless it were anger, usually my parents own personal misery and anger that they chose to share with their child.

By the time I was old enough for school my mind was encrypted with my parents state of mind.

I stayed totally to myself all the way through the eighth grade. I was so judgmental that I don't think I ever totally agreed with anyone. I just did not fit in with anyone and was scared of everyone.

In 9th grade I finally met some people a few years older than me who paid attention to me. They must have liked me, they actually talked to me and wanted to be around me.

This was great! These new friends had a lot of older friends and most of them had their own cars, lived on their own or with roommates and some even got married.

I found myself dreaming of a life like the friends I had. Well, that dream came true. I would lie awake every night and think about being on my own, getting
married, having a really cool car and never having kids to put through the misery I went through.

By age 16 I was married. Six months later I bought a 1968 Camaro.

Today, at nearly 33 years old I still, have no kids of my own. I have step children, none of my own.

Today, through the Mental Cleanse and persistence and Desire, I am growing into a prosperity conscious person and becoming a critical thinker.

I have many friends here in this group. Several of these friends are people who inspire me. I want to be like these people and I want to attract the same like minded people into my life.

I truly look up to my friends here in MFF. I think every day about these people and things they have in their life and I have a Burning Desire to be like they are.

I have taken many steps to do and be like my friends whom I look up to. Each and every day that passes I see, and feel changes in my thoughts, my feelings and my relationships.

Once again I must say, I find it stunning how all ofthe answers to owning my life all lie within the same simple steps I once took in destroying the same precious
life.

I'm not sure if this gets the point through but, I do know that through persistence, practice, and commitment to the principles in this book, and the support of this
awesome Team I am well on my way to owning my life and never again placing thought in all the wrong people.

It's a matter of choice, it's a matter of thought, I WILL OWN MY LIFE!!!

Thank You Michael, Linda, and Friends

Your Friend
Larry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Hello Michael,

I just wanted to send a quick note to say THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I believe when someone inspires you to become more, to become a better person a part of them is instilled with in you.

Michael, I will carry that part of you in my heart for ever. I can not explain how much you mean to me. I am in tears just putting these words down for you to read.

For the first time in my life, I feel alive with emotion. Caring, Loving, never dieing emotion.

You mean more to me than those who brought me into this world and I truly mean that.

I will be doing everything I can to meet you in Tulsa.

Also Thank you so much for the Limu. No one has ever given me a gift of such value other than my wife.

I Love You! You are my lighthouse guiding me in from the storm I have weathered for 32 years.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!

YOUR FRIEND FOR LIFE!!!!

Larry


If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training, strategies, tips and resources to help you reach your business goals.

Napoleon HIll's Self-Confidence Formula

As you probably know & will agree, we prosper in our finances and in our health to the degree we prosper in our souls (minds, wills & emotions). Thus, reading empowering books & other information is vital to success.

One very empowering book to read is the classic by Napoleon Hill, Think & Grow Rich. In Chapter 2, Mr. Hill has a formula he calls the Self-Confidence Formula. When you say it daily as he suggested, over a period of time you will start to believe it and own it. So allow me to share it with you.




First, I know I have the ability to achieve the object of my Definite Purpose in life, therefore, I DEMAND of myself persistent, continuous action toward its attainment and I here and now promise to render such action.

Second, I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward physical action and gradually transform themselves into physical reality, therefore, I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture of that person.

Third, I know through the principle of auto-suggestion any desire I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object back of it, therefore, I will devote 10 minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of SELF-CONFIDENCE.

Fourth, I have clearly written down a description of my DEFINITE CHIEF AIM in life, and I will never stop until I shall have developed sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.

Fifth, I fully realize that no wealth or position will long endure unless built upon truth and justice, therefore, every activity and transaction I engage in will benefit all whom it affects. I am succeeding by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use and the cooperation of other people. I am inducing others to serve me because of my willingness to serve others. I am eliminating hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness and cynicism by developing love for all humanity because I know a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success. I am causing others to believe in me because I believe in them and in myself.

I am signing my name to this formula, committing it to memory, and repeating it aloud once a day with full FAITH it influences my THOUGHTS and ACTIONS so I become a self-reliant and successful person.

Signed _____________________________________

REMEMBER: The mouth of the righteous shall deliver them. Proverbs 12:6

Click here to see a video of Napoleon Hill as he talks about his meeting with Andrew Carnegie and how it changed his life.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor With a Servant's Heart

If this information was helpful, click here for more empowering information.

Just STOP It -- It's NOT Okay

I was reading the following statement by Jim Rohn and thought, no it is not okay if I am around and listening to negative people. Jim Rohn's statement was this: "You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay?" Jim Rohn

That paragraph reminded me of a lesson plan my good friend and mentor, Bob Bassett, wrote on one of our weekly mastermind calls. Each week we read and discuss one chapter from Napoleon Hill's book, Think & Grow Rich. This week's chapter was Decision -- The Mastery of Procrastination. With Bob's permission, I am sharing his lesson with you.


Beginning of Bob's lesson

We've been wondering a long time, and more so lately ...

"Why don't spouses support each other?"

This is Hill's phrase from Chapter 8 that struck me this time:

"Close friends and relatives, while not meaning to do so, often handicap one through 'opinions' and sometimes through ridicule, which is meant to be humorous. Thousands of men and women carry inferiority complexes with them all through life, because some well-meaning, but ignorant person destroyed their confidence through 'opinions' or ridicule."

I've been listening to Robert Anthony lately,and I can now with confidence disagree with Napoleon Hill on this one ...

People who ridicule you are NOT well meaning, even though they cloak their comments with sugary phrases that sound as though they have your best interests at heart.

They DO NOT.

People who ridicule you DO NOT intend to be humorous, even though they cloak their comments with a nervous laugh, hoping no one questions the source of their nervousness.

They are NOT trying to be funny or amuse you.

People who ridicule you ARE NOT ignorant.

They may plead ignorance of your feelings, but be assured that they know EXACTLY what they are doing, perhaps not on a conscious level, but they DO know what they are doing.

They are trying to bring you down.

They NEED to bring you down.

We've all heard the crabs in the bucket story where when one crab tries to climb out of the bucket, the other crabs reach up and pull the escapee back down.

Robert Anthony tells us that people must dismiss and trivialize our goals and dreams because if they listened to us, they would have to question their own lives and think about the dreams they have abandoned.

Too scary for most.

Better to mock than look within.

Bob Dylan says it best in It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)

"For them that must obey authority
That they do not respect in any degree
Who despise their jobs, their destinies
Speak jealously of them that are free
...
While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society's pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he's in."

So this is my advice:

Every time you hear an opinion about your new venture, or a phrase that contains the phrase "you should", or a joking remark that stings, or any reminder of what you used to be, or where you came from, and how you will never be any better even though you know you can be, or any comment at all that feels like dogs leaping from the ditch and snapping rabidly at the wheels of your new vehicle,




STOP.

Stop and ask yourself ...

Why does this person need to bark at me?

What is this person afraid of?

Does this person have my best interests at heart?

What will happen to this person if I change?

Why does this person want me to remain as I am and not grow as I want to grow?

What would I lose if I increased the distance between myself and this person?

And then stop again and ask yourself ...

"Why did I begin this adventure if I didn't intend to complete it?"

"Will I allow others to keep me from my dream?"

Tough choices and tough decisions.

Follow your heart and go back to the beginning of this chapter where Hill tells us to make decisions quickly and change them slowly.

It's YOUR life.

Make a decision NOW about how you are going to live it.

Change that decision slowly, if at all.

End of Bob Bassett's lesson

Wasn't that a great lesson? If you have taken the time to ask both Jim Rohn's and Bob Bassett's questions and realize you are challenged by other supposedly well-meaning people, and you desire to team up with those who desire to help you get out of the bucket, join us on those weekly mastermind calls. If your past thoughts have you going in the direction you don't want to go, send me an email @ irma.white@gmail.com for more information on how you can think & grow rich.

Finally, if your mind is constantly bombarded with limited beliefs, self-defeating and other negative thoughts, JUST STOP IT!

Be Empowered to Prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor With a Servant's Heart

If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training, strategies, tips and resources to help you reach your business goals.

What You Need to Know About Cash Gifting

I am often asked what do I know about cash gifting and is it legal?

Well, since I am repeately asked that question I was intending to post a blog. However, since my friends and mentors, Bob & Anna Bassett, have already thoroughly addressed this very issue, I thought I'd share their series of articles, Is Gifting a Scam?

Bob and Anna suggest you ask yourself a few questions when someone attempts to recruit you into a cash gifting program. Before I get to Bob & Anna's thoughts, here are the two questions an Attorney General would ask:

1 - Would a logical thinking person pay this much money for the product or service if there was not a business opportunity involved?

2 - Does the income stop when the recruiting stops?

If the answer to the first question is "No" and/or the answer to the second question is "Yes", then it is a scam.

To find out what other questions to ask, Bob & Anna Bassett's articles can be read at their Together to the Top website. You can access the three-part series directly @ Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Feel free to contact me anytime if you have questions.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor With a Servant's Heart


If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training, strategies, tips and resources to help you reach your business goals.

Are You Acknowledging Your Positive Past?

I receive messages from Jack Canfield and I'd like to share one of his success principles which is "Acknowledge Your Positive Past."

Jack stated that research repeatedly shows if you acknowledge your past successes, the more confident you'll become in taking on new challenges and successfully accomplishing them because that is what successful people do. He further stated that successful people seek out and accept new opportunities for advancement because they have confidence of a lifetime of much smaller achievements.

End of Jack's message and beginning of my thoughts.

That is exactly what David the shepherd boy did. He acknowledged he had slain the lion and bear. That gave him confidence when the opportunity came to take on Goliath. He knew without a doubt he would be victorious because of his past victories. Acknowledging our positive past will also give us the confidence to take on our goliaths. When faced with new opportunities, we won't be overwhelmed by the challenge. We'll have our positive past as reminders that we are more than able.

So make a list of your past successes -- no matter how insignificant they seem. When you think about it, you'll find out you have more successes than you realize. Then you can say what Grandma Moses said "I look back on my life like a good day's work; it is done and I am satisfied with it."

And, remember this: whatever you focus on will determine the direction your life will go.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training, strategies, tips and resources to help you reach your business goals.

Blogging -- The Science of Getting What You Want

I'm evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they're letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog.

It covers:

• The best blogging techniques.
• How to get traffic to your blog.
• How to turn your blog into money.

I'll let you know what I think once I've had a chance to check it out. Meanwhile, go grab yours while it's still free.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

Labor Day Thoughts to Ponder

Labor Day is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It is a tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.

Having worked for years, I know how people who work for the man feel - IT'S JUST A DAY OFF FROM WORK. Entrepreneurs feel differently, however. We are excited about the unlimited profit potential!

I salute you, my fellow entrepreneurs. I pray that you cointinue to have ever increasing profits in your business endeavors.

Here are some thoughts to ponder:

Proverbs 14:23 In all labor there is profit, but idle talk leads to poverty. AMP

Psalm 128:2 For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you. Psalm 128:2 AMP

Ecclesiastes 3:13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. Ecclesiastes 3:13 NLT

Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:..

If you are a history buff, you can read The History of Labor Day @ http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A mentor with a servant's heart

Reverse Marketing -- How Effective Is It?

What is reverse marketing? Reverse marketing is a very effective way to promote online to a targeted market, provided you have something of value you can offer.

Here is how it works. When I first started marketing online, I placed a classified ad for this wonderful business opportunity. How excited I was when someone responded and asked for more information. However, I did wonder why they asked for more information since I provided a link to my website where they could find out whatever they needed to know. I did not know at the time this was a reverse marketing strategy.

After I sent the requested info, I was invited to join them in their social networking community. I checked out the site, but did not join. A second time someone responded to my ad and asked me for more information. Again, I was invited to join them in their community (the same one as the first). Well, by the time the third person requested more information, I knew what was happening. This time I decided to join the community since I had already checked it out.

This experience turned out to be a good one for me. Although I didn't sell my product or the business opportunity, this was my introduction to social networking. As a result, I have been exposed to information and resources that have helped me immensely in business.

That brings me to this point -- if you are attempting to reverse market a business opportunity -- you may be wasting your time. People who are advertising online believe in their product or service. They believe they are in the right business for them and usually are not looking for another opportunity. But, if you offer something of value, like a free book or your personal assistance, you can get the desired results. This type of marketing is effective because quite often, even though the person pitching you strongly believes in what they are marketing, they are challenged on how to market it effectively. Thus, they are often receptive to something that will help them promote their current business opportunity.

The reason the reverse marketing strategy used on me was effective was I saw the value of joining a social networking community. It gave me exposure to many other network marketers. Once I joined, however, I quickly realized I had to provide something of value and offer something other than my product or business opportunity. That is how and when I started learning the network marketing industry so I could be able to bring value to fellow networkers.

On a side note, while it is true I joined the social site for the exposure; I did not see it as a viable business opportunity because of the horrific pay plan -- too much effort for so little money.

So, if you have a great business opportunity (you know it is great because you have read the policies and procedures and crunched the numbers on the compensation plan), reverse marketing may just be the strategy for you. But remember, you must have something of value that can help anyone in any company.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

To receive the #1 business building tool in network marketing to help your reverse marketing strategy, click here.

You can receive more network marketing tips, tools and strategies, here.

What is Network Marketing?

Network Marketing is simply recommending, referring or promoting something. We begin network marketing as small children. Children recommend toys, movies, games, candy bars, soda pops, etc. all the time. As adults, we recommend books, foods, restaurants, plays, etc. We also refer people and services. But, even though we are constantly involved in network marketing, many people resist the concept of network marketing when it comes to starting a home business because they don't understand this concept.

Although network marketing is something we all participate in, there are two types of network marketers -- those who have decided they want to get paid for recommending, referring and promoting and those who have not. And, of those who have decided to get paid to do so, there are also two types -- those who have decided to get educated, learn the industry, develop skill-sets and therefore earn a substantial income as professional network marketers and those who have not gotten educated and therefore struggle and earn little to no money.

Many years ago, I was one who decided to get paid to network market. But, I fell into the second type of network marketers because I did not get educated. Consequently, I struggled and you know the rest.

But, after I decided to get educated, the very first thing I learned was network marketing is a relationship building business. It is not a sales business as I previously believed. Learning this truth was life-changing for me. I immediately understood why I and so many others struggled to build a successful home business. But, it made perfect sense. People do business with people they know, like and trust. With so many identical or comparable goods and services available, that is truly the competitive edge. Now, understand this, although your competitve edge is how well people know, like and trust you, you still need to have a great product or you will just be known, liked and trusted.

If you are a network marketer who has decided to earn an income but are struggling because of lack of knowledge about the network marketing industry, lack of skills training, or about how to build relationships, I invite you to register here to begin your education. This training is free. It is also generic training and mentions no company or product.

If you have never considered earning an income in network marketing, think about this. The wonderful thing about network marketing is you can build a solid business once and get paid for those efforts over and over again which is recurring or residual income. This type of income is different from the other type of income most people earn which is linear income -- income which is earned one time after trading time for it.

Remember, whether or not you have decided to become a network marketing professional, you are actively participating in network marketing every time you recommend, refer or promote.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training, strategies, tips and resources to help you reach your business goals.

Free Network Marketing Training -- Knowing Your Colors Can Reduce Your Stress

If you are like most people, you are engaged in many different networks.

Every day I network with various individuals -- from someone I just met, family, friends, church members, neighbors, and the list goes on and on. If you are like me, you probably do too. In fact, we are all involved in networking. Networking is simply a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest.

There are many types of networks - home and family network, friends network, the work network, the social network, the church network, the neighbor network, etc., etc. Each of these networks has one thing in common - PEOPLE. As a result, each of these networks can potentially cause stress in life. Part of the reason is we interact with people from our own frame of reference and from our own personality type. But, once we learn how to interact with the people in our networks, not based on our own personality, but theirs, a lot of stress can be reduced.

Exactly what is stress? Well, it is defined as 1) physical or mental pressure, tension, or strain and 2) a mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression. From this definition we see that if stress is not dealt with, major health problems can occur.

If we lived alone on a deserted island or became a recluse, most of the mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting conditions could be eliminated, especially the physical or mental pressure, tension, or strain that comes from interacting with people. But, we know that does not happen in the real world where we live.

So, what can be done about that? Or, can anything be done at all? Well, emphatically yes! By learning the characteristics of each personality, we can 'manage' potential stressful situations and keep our stress levels much lower. You might be thinking - I tried learning personality types before and can't remember what personality goes with which of those hard to spell and pronounce names.

Well, I have good news for you. Without taking any profile tests, there is a better way you can very easily understand who you are and all the people in your various networks, whether you have just met them or have known them forever. When we understand the people in our lives we are better able to manage many of the stresses created by the personalities of these people.

There is a simple system called "Color to Success" which explains the four personality types. We all have basic personality traits that dictate who we are and affect how we relate to each other. Although there are many factors that influence these interactions, such as family background and culture, there are still dominant traits inherent in us from birth which affects our adult behavior. Knowing this simple color system helps us in all our relationships in all of our networks.

So, what are these colors? They are four basic colors --- yellow, green, blue and red. For each of these color personality types you have to respond differently. The problem is, since we usually don't know someone's "color" (and usually don't even know our own), we respond to everyone in the same manner which, of course, is a BIG mistake. That is why there are so many "stressful" relationships. But, when you learn the habits, traits and characteristics of the four personalities you can become a chameleon and respond to them according to their personality, not yours. What a great stress management tool especially when you come to know your own personality and why you are the way you are. Knowing this can help you develop your strengths and to find ways to overcome your own weaknesses that have caused stressful situations for you in the past. Isn't that liberating?

Understand this. Everyone is a rainbow of these four colors and sometimes we emphasize a specific color when we are in a situation that requires that personality trait. Nevertheless, one color is always our dominant color; the basic traits inherent in us. This is the color that represents our true personality and the traits and mannerisms that define us.

If you are in business you can use the knowledge about personalities to build better professional relationships. This knowledge can also help you improve your relationships in your home and family network, your work network and all the other networks because you will now understand why each person is so different and why they do what they do. The "Color to Success" training teaches the strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes of each personality. The training is so simple and life-changing that you can learn within a few hours how to quickly identify each personality. The "Color to Success" training, which consists of a CD and the "Powerful Networking Secrets" Ebook, was a wonderful breakthrough for me in interacting with people in my different networks. It has certainly reduced a lot of stress in my life and can do the same for you.

Click here to obtain more information on this "Color to Success" training that will help eliminate some of the stress which comes from interacting with the people in your many networks..

You have nothing to lose - except of course some of the stress in your life.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma L. White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

To receive more free network marketing training, no matter what network marketing company you're in, click here to get started. Be sure to register for the free ebook, Success in 10 Steps.

The 10/90 Rule -- The YTB Story

In a previous article, I explained the 10/90 rule as "the first 10 percent of time that you invest in finding out the underlying laws, principles, rules, methods, and techniques of successful action in any field will save you 90 percent of the time and effort required to achieve your goals in that area."

Well, I just read a press release by the Attorney General of the State of California. It exposed a "gigantic pyramid scheme" by a very well known network marketing company -- YTB. This is what can happen when the 10/90 rule is violated. Michael Dlouhy of Mentoring for Free and Rod Cook of the MLM Watchdog and many others who have done their due diligence and invested the time learning the industry saw this coming and have been warning about this for years.

If you have not invested the time to find out the underlying laws, principles, rules, methods and techniques of successful action in network marketing, this may very well be the perfect time to do so. Get started here.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

The Laws of Success -- Are You Violating the 10/90 Rule?

What is the 10/90 rule? The rule is simply "the first 10 percent of time that you invest in finding out the underlying laws, principles, rules, methods, and techniques of successful action in any field will save you 90 percent of the time and effort required to achieve your goals in that area." Another way of putting it is this: You have to sharpen the ax before you chop down the tree.

I first learned of this rule from Brian Tracy in his book "The 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success." If you have been on a quest for personal development for any length of time, you are probably familiar with Brian Tracy. He is one of the leading authorities on the development of human potential and I have learned a lot from him.

As I mentioned, I learned about the 10/90 rule from him. When I first read about this rule, it made me think about my network marketing career. For many years I attempted to build a network marketing business. And, I hate to, but must admit, I failed miserably. But, after understanding the rule, I know the reason I failed was simply that I took no time (let alone 10%) to find out the underlying laws, principles, rules, methods and techniques of successful action in the network marketing field. Notice, I didn't find out the successful action. I primarily listened to the thoughts, hype and opinions of those who themselves had never taken the time to investigate how to be successful. Does that remind you of the blind leading the blind?

Well, that is how it was. But, that is not how it is now. I have invested the time needed to find out the underlying laws, principles, rules, methods, and techniques of successful action in the network marketing field. I have gotten educated about this wonderful industry. By doing so, I have saved myself the 90 percent of the time and effort required to achieve my goals. I am no longer blindly following behind the blind. Investing the time to get educated has saved me from falling into the traps I used to fall into. I am now successfully building a solid home business around practical, proven techniques that work.

If you find yourself feeling frustrated and overwhelmed in building your network marketing business, there can be many reasons for that. So, if you desire to stop wasting time, I offer you a proven system to help you implement the 10/90 rule. This system is working for me and so many others and, if you work it, it will work for you too.

Click here to begin investing the time to find out the rules of success in network marketing.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

If this information was helpful, click here for more network marketing strategies, tips and resources to help you reach your business goals.

Where are Your Habits Leading You?

Jeff Olson describes the slight edge as those simple things you do consistently over time. Those actions produce results. To me, that sounds like nothing more than habits because habits also produce results and they can work for or against you. Allow me to share the following article by Jack Canfield.
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You are an accumulation of your habits. From how you get out of bed, how you shower, how you dress, how you walk, sit, and talk, how you respond to the world, how you act in front of others, and how you think; you're living out your habits.

Habits are necessary. They free up your mind so you can concentrate on how to survive day to day. You don't have to think about how to drive your car so you can be on the lookout for danger while you are driving. You don't have to think about how to walk so you can concentrate on where you're going.



Unfortunately, habits can also keep you locked in self-destructive patterns, which will limit your success. To become successful, you will need to drop bad habits and develop new ones that are in line with the life you want to live.

People don't suddenly appear in the life they want to live... their habits determine their outcome!

What are the habits you have that are keeping you from achieving your goals?

Really be honest with yourself here... Are you always running late? Do you return phone calls within 24 hours? Do you get enough sleep? Do you follow through on your promises? Do you plan out your day?

Imagine what your life would be like if all your habits were their productive counterparts!

What would your life be like if you ate healthy meals, exercised and got enough sleep? What if you saved your money, stopped using credit cards and paid cash for everything? What if you stopped procrastinating, overcame your fears, and began networking with people in your field? Would your life be different? I bet it would!

So, my suggested action step for you is to write down some productive habits you could adopt and visualize in your life, step two is to 'act as if' you were living these new habits right now!

I'd like to help you get moving toward creating more successful habits, so I'd recommend you develop four of your new success habits each year, one for each quarter.

Once you pick the new habit you're ready to adopt, next you'll want to create a method that will support your new habit.

Here are some ideas... You could write it down on a card that you keep with you and read several times a day. You could make it a part of your daily visualization. You could also enlist the help of an accountability partner who has habits to change, or work with a personal coach who can keep you on track.

It's important to make a 100% commitment to your new habit, so be specific about the steps that you're willing to take in order to drop an old habit and adopt a new one. Don't be vague about how you will change your habits. Spell it out for yourself so you can recognize situations that motivate you to act out your new habit.

Just developing four new habits a year will dramatically shift your life to be more in line with your vision. And the more in line it becomes, the easier the other habits are to replace because your perspective is shifting and you can see more clearly how your old habits aren't serving you anymore.

Make the decision. Make the commitment. Then watch your new, positive life unfold!

I'll see you in another two weeks in the next edition of Success Strategies. In the meantime, take the time to implement just one of the strategies discussed in today's issue.
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Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is the founder and co-creator of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at FreeSuccessStrategies.com.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

If you need someone to help you formulate good habits in your network marketing business, click here for a free ebook that will put you on the right track.

ASD Cash Generator -- Why You Need to be Educated

Did you know ASD Cash Generator was shut down by the attorney general?

This is one of the reasons why we need to be educated about network marketing.

This notification was taken directly from ASD's website.

Friday, August 1st 2008 afternoon update:

Upon direction from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia, ASD will not be able to move funds into company accounts, or out of them. We will work to resolve this problem, and return to normal operation, as soon as we are permitted to do so.

ASD Management

Check it out here.

You can also read more about this and other ponzi schemes here.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

Staying Close to the Fire

Each week, my friends and business partners participate in the 30 day mental cleanse. We read a chapter out of the book Think & Grow Rich (T&GR), write out our thoughts on the chapter and discuss them on a mastermind call. Also, each week we have a leaders call where Michael Dlouhy leads a discussion on a subject that will enlighten you about our industry and how you relate.

On one of these calls, Michael shared a training he received from Jerry Clark. Jerry explained the four categories of people -- those who passionately work in their strengths; those who work in their strengths but are passion less about it; those who passionately work in their weakness; and those who work in their weakness and are passion less about doing so. (The income earned correlates to which quadrant you operate in but that is a topic for another discussion).

Well, here is a lesson submitted by one of the participants in the 30 day cleanse. It incorporates the lesson learned from Chapter 1 in T&GR, the lesson learned from Jerry Clark and a lesson learned from life coach, Patrick Wanis. It was submitted by Suzan Svatek.

Then Man Who "Thought" His Way Into Partnership With Thomas A. Edison

On Monday I was able to listen to 2 life-changing conference calls. The first one was with Michael about our Strengths,Weaknesses, Having Passion, or being Passionless.

I realized I had lapsed into the Passionless/Weakness quadrant of the chart. I have been working AT my business, not IN my business.

I could not understand WHY I had fallen so far into darkness. Yes, I am a Green, but in the beginning months of working in my business I was in the Passionate/Weakness quadrant (though I didn't know this at the time).

I really wanted to make my business work, but I was very focused on my weaknesses and trying to overcome them. Some of my weaknesses are:

Fear of Rejection
Fear of not knowing the right (perfect) thing
to say when I called my leads
Fear of GETTING leads
Fear of Success
Fear of building relationships
Fear of the responsibility of managing people

In a conversation with my sponsor 2 weeks ago, I realized that I was sabotaging myself.

He offered to help me one-on-one to create some success in the next 90 days. I felt myself withdraw and become fearful. I had to do some real soul-searching and find out what that was about.

Did I WANT what I thought I wanted, or was I just fooling myself and actually was a loser.

I DIDN'T want to face THAT thought. I truly don't think of myself as a loser in all aspects of my life, but I had to face the fact that I THOUGHT of myself as a loser in Network Marketing.

I had failed at it in the past, and I was doomed to fail at it again. I have isolated myself from other team members thinking myself not worthy of taking their time for advice and guidance.

I haven't even tapped into the resource of my successful sponsor. I thought somehow that I had to do this on my own. I needed to know how to do this business without help.

Then, on Monday evening I listened to another conference call and things started to come all together. The speaker was Patrick Wanis. He is a life coach and human behavior expert.

He spoke of the Law of Attraction, but went deeper. He said that the Law of Attraction was only the beginning. There were 2 OTHER laws that had to be invoked in order for the Law of Attraction to work.

They were the Law of Action and the Law of Deservedness...... He also spoke about our relationship with money and were we OPEN to receiving wealth?

Things began to fall into place for me. I have been working with the Law of Attraction waiting for success to show up, but then sabotaging any small success I was receiving.

I've worked at the business by writing articles for Ezines, getting on My Space, but not really working hard at making friends and building the relationships, doing videos, dabbling at AdLand Pro and Direct Matches.

What I been resistant to doing was writing down goals, establishing self-talk that I could relate to (have been doing self-talk, but didn't feel it was my own), doing visualizations, and taking ACTION.

I have been in a constant state of anxiety for months now. I have been dreading getting up each morning, glad when bedtime came that I wouldn't have to think about, and feeling guilty about not doing my business.

I have kept my WHY's in the forefront, which is WHY I have hung on as long as I have been.

When I heard about the Law of Action and Law of Deservedness, a light bulb flashed. I realized I had not been taking action that would get me the leads I needed.

But mostly, I realized I didn't feel I DESERVED success and was sabotaging myself by doing busy work, i.e., filing, sorting, listening to some conference calls, studying/reading self-help books.

I didn't feel success was for me. It was for every one else. When I reread Chapter 1 and fully under stood how the Laws of Attraction, Action and Deservedness must have been so deeply ingrained in Edwin C. Barnes for him to be as persistent as he was in achieving his goals, I really understood what attributes he possessed and how he invoked the Laws of Attraction, Action and Deservedness.

He didn't spend his time shuffling papers or reading self-help books (though I am totally convinced that there is also a Law of Self-Development) to forestall his taking ACTION.

He took action and persisted to finally see the day come when it all paid off for him. I also understood the persistence of that little girl in getting her fifty-cents and Darby's lack of obtaining counsel from an expert to go 3' further in finding his gold.

I think I am finally on the RIGHT road. I now see HOW I can move forward. I have to draw on the expertise of my team members to do what they are doing to get prospects. I have to take action. But most importantly, I have to feel I DESERVE success and just quit sabotaging myself.

I feel this is a real break through for me. I want to work from my strengths and feel
passionate about what I am doing.

End of Suzan's life lesson.

This sort of thing happens week after week, person after person in the mental cleanse. People dig deep into their souls to find out why they are not having the success they desire. Week after week, people are having breakthroughs in their lives and in their businesses just like Suzan. It happens because they stay close to the fire.

If there are things in your life keeping you from fulfilling your dreams and you believe your life is worth 30 days, I invite you to join us each week on the mental cleanse call. Register here Don't forget to send me your lessons learned @ irma.white@gmail.com.

Be Empowered to Prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

To help you discover your strengths and fuel your passion, click here for free network marketing training.

Free Network Marketing Training -- Can You Ever Retire from Your Network Marketing Business

I pray this day finds you prospering and in health even as your soul prospers.

In previous discussions, I pointed out how vitally important it is to read the contract before joining a network marketing company. This contract consists of the terms and conditions; the policies and procedures; and the compensation plan. I mentioned you should never join a company if the policies and procedures are not clearly visible on the company website. I also suggested you review you contract for clauses that can legally allow a company to terminate you. When you agree to the terms and conditions, you have no leg to stand on in a court of law when they decide to enforce the contract. If you are not making any money in the company (which most people never do), they probably won't. But, if you ever become a money earner, they can very well decide to terminate you, with or without cause. If you think they won't enforce them, think again.

In this article we will simply ask a question. Will you ever be able to retire from actively building your business?

Before we get to that, let me ask this? Do you intend to spend a few years building a solid business and then retire from it to enjoy the fruits of your labor? Or, do you intend to spend the remainder of your days constantly recruiting, recruiting, recruiting or selling, selling, selling? If you are a great recruiter or love selling and enjoy doing so, that may be your intent. But if you are like the majority of the population, who hates recruiting, who hates selling, I am sure that is not the case.



If the answer is yes to question one (do you ever plan on retiring from your business) do you know there is a clause in contracts that will prevent this from happening? Anytime you see ongoing sales, or ongoing recruiting, or mandatory autoship, or you must bring in new business each month or any similar clauses, the company is telling you you'll never be able to retire.

Okay, you don't see anything wrong with that. But, what if life gets in the way? What if, you or a family member has a medical challenge which prevents you from working your business. What if, like me, you are forced to relocate because the aftermath of a major hurricane destroys your entire city? Believe me, when I lost everything I owned in life because of Hurricane Katrina, ongoing sales and bringing in new business was the last thing on my mind. Companies do not care that life gets in the way. They will enforce those contracts. Again, if you are not earning any money, it is not a factor.

Here's another reason you may not be able to retire. If a company has wholesale and retail prices and you have retail customers who buy directly from you, you will never be able to quit or retire if you desire to continually earn that retail commission. I guess you think you can convert them to distributors but that would be out of the question since the difference in commission between wholesale and retail is so huge. In some cases, where you can earn $6.00 commission on retail, you earn less than $2.00 on wholesale. Of course, the company would love for you to do just that.

Anyway, if you're in it for the long haul, I hope this helps you in your quest to build your network marketing business.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heat

If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training.

Free Network Marketing Training -- Understanding Your Contract

When I became serious about building a network marketing business, I started searching online for help. In so doing, I found some great mentors including Bob & Anna Bassett. Bob & Anna had been in the industry for many years thus they had many ups & downs. Bob & Anna found out that one company they were in was actually a pyramid scheme and they didn't even know it. In another company with over 60 distributors in their organization, they only earned $115.00/mo. WOW! That is a lot of people for such little money. In fact, that is less than $2.00 per person. If they wanted to earn a $10,000/month income they would have needed over 5,000 people. Thus, they became educated about mlm and boy, am I glad they did. I have learned a lot from them. They are truly mentors with a servant's heart, truly go-givers.

Here's one thing I learned from them. Perhaps this info can help you, too.

One of the many things I learned is how to really inspect a network marketing company's contract before joining a company. The contract should protect both sides and it should be fair in its compensation to the distributor. There really can be a happy medium. In most cases, the company has all the rights, the distributor usually has none.



The contract consists of three parts: the terms & conditions, the policies & procedures and the compensation plan. All three should be clearly visible & available on the company's home page. Some companies put the terms & conditions only and you have to join before you can read the policies and procedures. This should not be the case because when you check the box, I agree to the terms and conditions, you are also agreeing to the entire contract. The part you don't see(but agree to), the policies and procedures, is where the gotcha clauses are hidden. written. This is like reading the fine print in a contract.

Here are some of the things to consider when reviewing the contract.

The first thing is the length of the contract. According to Rod Cook, the mlm watchdog, contracts should be less than 14 pages. But really, you can get everything in 6. If it is too long, there are too many places to hide the gotcha clauses. It is too easy for them to use legalese and separate the policies and spread them throughout the contract. There are actually contracts 50+ pages long.

Remember, the contracts were written by lawyers to protect the companies and every thing in them can be used against you in a court of law. So, if you don't understand something, don't sign. In fact, if they use too much legal jargon, let an attorney review it for you.

Another thing to do is research the company and its owners. Do a google search. Put the owner and/or company name followed by the word spam in quotations. This will help you find out if they have any lawsuits, legal problems or legitimate complaints against them.

These are a couple of things to do before you join a company. If you're already in one, check them out now before you invest any more time, energy and resources into building your business. It's better to find out now than later.

This should get you started. I'll share some of the gotcha clauses in my next post.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor With a Servant's Heart

If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training.

Free Network Marketing Training

Can free network marketing training be what you need?

I just watched the movie "The Miracle Worker" about Helen Keller. As I was watching a few thoughts came to my mind.

1. Helen's parents were frustrated with Helen and recognized they needed help training her, thus they sought the help they needed.

2. After the help came they almost rejected it for a couple of reasons:

a. the training wasn't quite what they expected
b. when they did accept the training, the results were not quick enough so they wanted to quit too soon.

3. Anne Sullivan knew she could teach Helen how to communicate with the world and be successful in life. She believed she had the training she needed. She believed in her 100%. Her help afforded Helen Keller the opportunity to live a full, productive life.

I related these thoughts to network marketing (I guess I relate everything to network marketing). Well, here's what I thought: There are many people in network marketing who recognize they need help and seek it out. They find and download the free network marketing training ebook Success in 10 Steps. Many people realize the value in it but others almost reject the information because it isn't quite what they expected. Some of those who see its value tap into the mentoring for free training, but, because results don't come overnight, they are ready to quit. Just like the Kellers.

But, just as Anne Sullivan was certain she could help Helen, I know I can help by provided free network marketing training to frustrated network marketers. I believe I can point you in the right direction. I believe I can help you learn the skills to become successful in this wonderful network marketing industry. Yes, I believe in you 100%.

So, if you are a frustrated network marketer looking for free training, you have found it. I'll give you a complete, soup-to-nuts system to build your empire in ANY network marketing company! Got a great MLM company, but NO upline support? Or do you need the keys to help you find a great company? Whatever the need, free network marketing training is available here.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor With a Servant's Heart

Network Marketing Business Opportunity -- What's Your Plan?

Okay, you have an opportunity to build a network marketing business. So, the question is, do you have a business plan? Yes, even a network marketing business needs a plan. If you are not planning your business, you are planning to fail.

Do you start out on a vacation or a business trip without a plan? Or do you just start driving without a destination in mind? Do you just catch the first plane taking off? Of course not, you know your destination and make plans with the destinaton in mind.

Well, it's no different with a network marketing business. You start with the end in mind. To do so you must know what it is you're trying to accomplish? This is starting with the end in mind. For instance, if the end is to increase your customer base, how many new customers are you attempting to pick up each month? Once you decide that, decide how many prospects you need to contact for this to happen. Once you know how many prospects you need to contact, then plan your daily activities accordingly.

After you decide on the destination or the end (or the number of new customers desired), make a plan. The business plan might include developing new advertising/marketing skills, it may include contacting x number of people each day. It may include sending out x number emails per week. It may include the number of blogs and/or videos you will post each week. If you only haphazardly do activities without the end in mind, you will get haphazard results. When planning, consider the time/money resources available to work the business. Once you consider the resources, make a schedule & stick with it. If you know your time is limited, be realistic about the results you expect. Another part of the plan is scheduling when you will review the plan.

Now that you have a business plan, start the plan. Don't allow the considerations, fears and roadblocks to keep you from working the plan.

Also, when making the plan, create a checklist of your activities. This will help you when you review your plan. If you aren't getting the desired results, the checklist will enable you to see if you really are sticking with the plan. It will also enable you to make any adjustments if you are implementing the plan but it just isn't working.

Even if it takes a week to plan, this time won't be wasted. It will actually save you time. You will be more productive when you do start implementing the plan. It is likened to you sharpening your axe. When you sharpen an axe you work smarter, not harder. Thus, you get quicker results with a sharp axe.

So, the question is do you have a plan for your network marketing business? If not, you really are planning to fail.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor With a Servant's Heart

For help with your network marketing business visit Mentoring For Free.

Is it True Leaders are Readers?

I have often heard that readers are leaders. But is that true? Let's think about that.

I know someone who is constantly reading. In fact, she starts her day by reading the newspaper (after listening to the news). OUCH! She reads romance novels, mystery novels and magazines. And this person can not lead a horse to water let alone make him drink it. I'm not trying to be critical I am merely stating a fact. In addition, she always sees the glass as being half empty.

So, you can see the statement is not completely true. But, if you qualified the statement by saying 'readers who read empowering, motivating, inspiring and educational books and magazines are leaders', then you will have a true statement. Fortunately for me, I know many people who fit in this category. Those are the people I associate with because I believe 'he that walks with wise men shall be wise.' They read books written by Napoleon Hill, Jack Canfield, Brian Tracy, Jeff Olson, Mark Victor Hanson, Wayne Cordero, Myles Munroe, T. D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Mac Hammond, Tom 'Big Al' Schreiter, Michael Dlouhy and so on and so forth.

What you read (and listen to and associate with) determines what you think; what you think determines your actions; your actions determine you results and results don't lie. So, if you don't like your present results, in your personal life or business life, by simply changing what you read you can ultimately change your thoughts which will change your actions. Then you can start getting the desired results. Oh, and turning off the t.v. and staying away from negative people wouldn't be a bad thing either.

To start changing the results (or to get more of the results you're getting if you're happy with them) join me each week with other leaders as we read Think & Grow Rich. Click here to register for the 30-day cleanse. There is no cost or obligation. Isn't your life worth 30 days?

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

Working for Uncle Sam -- Two Choices -- Part 2

On yesterday I told you about the outcome from my choice to work for Uncle Sam. I also told you there were two factors which helped with that decision. The first was the possibility of retiring at a young age as I explained and the second factor was the rate of compensation.

When I started my job search, I checked into the state government and the federal government. The pay scale for the federal surpassed the state by a huge margin. So I decided to take the federal test and the rest is history. I never considered private industry because my research showed me that the rate of pay in the local area was lower than with the federal government.

I did not have a specific government agency in mind to work for. I did not know what job I would end up specializing in. But I did know I was gonna work for the federal government because they had the highest rate of pay. I made my very logical decision based on that and the good retirement system. Those are the two factors.

As you can see I did my homework and thus was able to make an informed decision. It was strictly an economic decision and it worked out well for me.

When I first learned about network marketing I embraced the idea. The concept of earning residual income appealed to me. But, the logic I used to decide who I would work for, was thrown out the window. I did not do my research. I did not study to see if I would ever be able to retire. And I never knew how much I would get paid for my efforts. My decision was usually based on a company's products. Consequently, I have made futilte attempts to create an income in network marketing because the rate of compensation with horrendous.

But then I read the book Success in 10 Steps. This book opened my eyes to network marketing. I found out why my lack of success was not my fault. After reading that book I understood the odds were stacked against me. I realized that just like there was a disparity in pay between the federal and state governments, that is also the case from company to company in network marketing. Boy was I glad to find that out. It has made all the difference in building a business.

What about you? Have you ever taken a job without first knowing the compensation? Or, did you start the job and then find out the rate of pay? Probably not. If you're like most people, you knew before you started exactly how much you would get paid. Well, shouldn't you also know that before you start with a network marketing company?

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor With A Servant's Heart

Working for Uncle Sam -- Two Choices -- Part 1

Back in the early 70's I started my government career. My decision to work for Uncle Sam was based on two key factors. One was the retirement plan. You see, I knew retiring at the earliest age I would still be young enough to move on and do something else. Thus, I reached that age, retired and have moved on.

Okay, I have a friend I will call Mary. Mary is a couple of years older than me. She started working for Uncle Sam two years before I did. But, after working for the government for approximately three years she decided to quit and go private industry.

Well, last week I saw Mary and she told me if she had stuck with Uncle Sam she would have already been retired for four years. Instead she has three more years to work before she can. By the time she is eligible I will have been retired for four plus years. Her choice to go with her company added seven years to her work life.

Okay, what is my point? Mary and I both decided on career paths. We both did well in our chosen companies. But, because Mary didn't look long-term as far as early retirement eligibility, she is still working a 9 to 5. I am not.

That is also what happens in choosing network marketing companies. Some people don't look at their policies & procedures to know when (and if) they can ever retire. They don't look at the clauses like 'you must have ongoing sales', or 'you must have at least one recruit each month', or 'you must stay on monthly autoship' to be eligible for commission. All of these clauses can legally prevent you from ever retiring from a company. At least with my friend, Mary, she will be eligible at some point.

So, if you are building your network marketing business with the intent to retire when you desire, be sure to read your policies and procedures to make sure you can.

I will share the other factor I considered when choosing my career in my next article.

By the way, reaching a certain age should not be a determining factor in retiring. With enough monthly income, you can retire at any age. If you want to work your way out of a job and retire early, or just want more network marketing insights, click here for a free ebook.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a servant's heart

Multiple Streams of Residual Income -- What Does that Mean?

As an online marketer I come across people all the time who are in network marketing because of its ability to produce residual income. Some people are very focused on one business and doing well, some are focused but can't seem to get it going and need help. But then there are those who are so unfocused they are in two and three businesses at the same time because they believe in the "multiple streams of income" philosophy. Well, I'm a 'blue' personality type and I even have trouble buying into that philosophy. A blue is generally unfocused, scattered and usually doing two and three things at a time. But, think about this. The bible even says 'a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.' Thus, this philosophy simply doesn't work. So, if you're attempting to build more than one network marketing business (or any two businesses) thinking you are producing multiple streams of residual income, think again. What's really happening is multiple streams of outgo. Each business has a monthly requirement so, if you are meeting that requirement, money is going out. Even if you somehow manage to generate income in one business, the income earned is financing the other one thus, there is really no increased income. Not to mention, you can not get focused.

Here's what my mentor, Michael Dlouhy, says about focus:

The narrower you focus, the better chance prospects & customers will see you as high quality. And NO SERIOUS BUILDER commits to a network unless they consider it high quality. When you promote a smorgasbord of opportunities, you undermine your network. When you try to appeal to everybody with your multiple streams of products & services, smart people will not take you seriously. And why should they? You have no identity in their mind.

Result?

No trust. No loyalty. No network. Your people are easy targets for some narrowly focused networker. You waste time & money searching for more opportunities to create your multiple streams. But loss of focus = loss of power. End of Michael's statement.

Do you see why it is better to find a business that will produce your desired income and put all your time, energy and resources into building that one business. Then, when you get it on autopilot, buy property, buy stocks, bonds, cd's, invest in the forex, etc. That is how you can produce those multiple streams of residual income.

What do you think about that?

If you bought into the "multiple streams of residual income" philosophy or if you are focused but can't figure out what to do next to get your business going, click here for more network marketing insights. It may be just the thing to get and keep you focused and on track.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart