Everybody has 1,140 minutes in every day, no matter what their economic status, race, religion, national or political affiliation. What are you doing with yours? Are you enjoying most, if not all, of those moments?
Take a look at how you are dividing up your time. For me, some of its passing is unconscious. What percentage is used up by sleep, work, family, relationships, volunteering, fun, whatever? More importantly, if you are spending 16 hours a day at your business or work, is it by choice or default? What do you most like to do? Are you doing it? If it’s a lack of money or time that’s stopping you, what changes do you need to make to alter your current situation? Savor life because those 1,140 minutes each day, once they’ve slipped by, are gone forever.
Consider working smart instead of, or more likely in addition to, working hard for a time to reach your dreams. The only way they are defeated is if we give up. Never give up on yourself.
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Volunteering at EHS and Giving Back Time
Volunteering is, for me, a way of giving back to my community and my world in gratitude. It make my life richer along the way. I believe that giving money alone is great but not enough so I give of my money and my time. It keeps a balance and everything in perspective, whether my life is easy or hard in that moment. Today was NY CARES day when volunteers go into the schools and paint murals and clean up. I have also, from time to time, worked with Habitat for Humanity and even got my photo taken with Jimmy Carter at 135th Street once
EHS stands for the East Harlem School at Exodus House, an amazing middle school on 103rd Street with, in my unbiased opinion, extraordinary students. I have tutored there for 11 years and led book groups for the last 3 years, as well as acting as chaperone for trips and leading after-school programs periodically. EHS was started by my friend since high school, Ivan, and his brother. I went by to say, "Hi," and Ivan pulled me into their assembly where the students (ages 10-14) were learning about NGOs. I got a tour with two students and fell in love and the rest, as they say, is history.
To work with the students makes me think, how can I explain these ideas clearly? What is the key to helping this child learn? How can I make books come alive for them the way they do for me? What are they passionate about? And with math, which I am not excellent at, how do I teach the building blocks when it isn't easy for me either?! How can my experiences help them discover how to study, read and do their homework better? What makes their studies relevant to their lives and how can I communicate that? When I volunteer at EHS, my interaction with the students enriches all of us.
What is your passionate commitment in the world? I've never met anyone who could not think of some place or community where they really wanted to contribute when I asked them. For one IT guy, it was a computer lab. Volunteering takes time but it's also fun and rewarding. If you aren't already, try it for yourself and see.
EHS stands for the East Harlem School at Exodus House, an amazing middle school on 103rd Street with, in my unbiased opinion, extraordinary students. I have tutored there for 11 years and led book groups for the last 3 years, as well as acting as chaperone for trips and leading after-school programs periodically. EHS was started by my friend since high school, Ivan, and his brother. I went by to say, "Hi," and Ivan pulled me into their assembly where the students (ages 10-14) were learning about NGOs. I got a tour with two students and fell in love and the rest, as they say, is history.
To work with the students makes me think, how can I explain these ideas clearly? What is the key to helping this child learn? How can I make books come alive for them the way they do for me? What are they passionate about? And with math, which I am not excellent at, how do I teach the building blocks when it isn't easy for me either?! How can my experiences help them discover how to study, read and do their homework better? What makes their studies relevant to their lives and how can I communicate that? When I volunteer at EHS, my interaction with the students enriches all of us.
What is your passionate commitment in the world? I've never met anyone who could not think of some place or community where they really wanted to contribute when I asked them. For one IT guy, it was a computer lab. Volunteering takes time but it's also fun and rewarding. If you aren't already, try it for yourself and see.
Monday, September 21, 2009
How to Evaluate Your Network Marketing Company (Before You Join)
When you join a network marketing company, consider your purpose FIRST.
Will this network marketing opportunity be your part-time or your full-time business?
How much time and money are you willing to spend building your business and for how long?
What return on your investment (amount of money you expect to make) do you need for it to be worthwhile starting?
COMPANY
Does the company have a track record or is it a new launch?
If the company is an established company, it will have more credibility and provide a higher comfort level for your downline but, unless the company changes the comp plan or adds a new line of products to create new excitement about participating, growth will be much slower if you join later. Historically, early movers make the most. However, if a stable company innovates, its progress can be unstoppable because all the systems are already in place and functioning well and credibility is unquestionable.
If the company is a launch, its success and longevity is untested. It may or may not be around in a year, depending on whether the timing is right for the product or service, whether the idea and comp plan are sexy enough to excite interest, whether the company has enough capital to survive growing pains, and whether big network marketing players choose to jump in. That said, EVERY company begins with an idea and being positioned at the top in a successful launch company can be worth millions.
TEAM
Are your upline sponsor and team exceptional leaders?
Your odds of building a successful team of your own improve if they are. In addition to company marketing support (replicated Web site, teleconference calls, Webinars), a great upline can add supplemental calls, Webinars and local meetings). Network marketing stars can also identify the great opportunities more easily than the average person because of their previous experiences. Follow their lead.
Do you like and trust them as your partners in your business?
Determine what values and qualities you need in your partnership for it to work. Code of honor, trust, integrity, teamwork are a good start.
Have they made significant money in network marketing in the past?
If you want to make an extra $1,000, $5,000 or $10,000 a month extra in your business, you need to hang out with upline leaders who have done over $10,000 a month already in a previous network marketing business and can show you how. If you want to make millions, learn from millionaires and do what they do.
PRODUCT
Do you love and use the product or service?
If you are excited about a product or service from your own experiences, that energy is infectious to other people. You will be able to tell others how it helped you and how it could benefit them too. If your offer fits what they are looking for, they will follow you. If, on the other hand, you have no interest in the product, such as someone who doesn't wear makeup becoming an Avon distributor, why would anyone else?
Are you becoming a representative to build a part-time or full-time business with this particular company?
Manage your expectations of money earned and time spent. Network marketing is a people empowerment business at its best. Track your results ongoingly to see how you are doing on your written goals. Be aware nothing happens in a minute except failing. EVERYTHING has a learning curve and, probably, some discomfort to get past what you already know. Start climbing and give yourself a time frame when you will reassess your progress.
Are you becoming a representative to get discounts and to refer friends to the product or service?
Do not expect to make a lot of money if your purpose is primarily to get products or services you love more economically. Remember your own intentions. As a representative, you can choose to apply the effort to build a business as well later, if you like.
COMPENSATION PLAN
How much do you want to make with your business?
Set your financial goals at the beginning and make periodic assessments of your actions taken and results. If you don't define where you are going, you will have a hard time getting there.
What is the compensation plan and does its structure align with your goals?
Understand the compensation plan. There are lots and lots of possibilities (binary, matrix, straight line, profit-sharing, etc.). How do you make money on the front-end and on the back-end? Do you need to make money immediately, later or both? What do you need to do to be paid? Be sure you understand what results you need to accomplish to get to the money. Have someone in your upline explain the pay plan for the opportunity clearly.
PRICE
Is the price right for the value of the offer?
Value is inherently very subjective. To enroll a greater number of people, often the price is lower but the level of engagement in working the business may be less serious. At a higher price, perceived value also goes up. It also varies according to where you are (country, city, suburbs, economic background, neighborhood, ethnic diversity). The only important question is, "Will you pay that price?"
TIMING
Is the timing for the offer NOW?
Look around curiously. What do you observe happening in your town, city, state, country or world? If unemployment is high, income generation opportunities (good, bad & indifferent) will thrive. What problems does the network marketing company that you are evaluating address? For example, a number of network marketing companies have vitamins and supplements intended to address the diminishing nutritional value of the food we grow. What trends do you see in action and what trends can you speculate are coming? Getting ahead of the curve very slightly but not so far ahead that nobody else can see what you do is how to make a LOT of money.
EVALUATE your opportunity and TAKE ACTION - in or out!
Will this network marketing opportunity be your part-time or your full-time business?
How much time and money are you willing to spend building your business and for how long?
What return on your investment (amount of money you expect to make) do you need for it to be worthwhile starting?
COMPANY
Does the company have a track record or is it a new launch?
If the company is an established company, it will have more credibility and provide a higher comfort level for your downline but, unless the company changes the comp plan or adds a new line of products to create new excitement about participating, growth will be much slower if you join later. Historically, early movers make the most. However, if a stable company innovates, its progress can be unstoppable because all the systems are already in place and functioning well and credibility is unquestionable.
If the company is a launch, its success and longevity is untested. It may or may not be around in a year, depending on whether the timing is right for the product or service, whether the idea and comp plan are sexy enough to excite interest, whether the company has enough capital to survive growing pains, and whether big network marketing players choose to jump in. That said, EVERY company begins with an idea and being positioned at the top in a successful launch company can be worth millions.
TEAM
Are your upline sponsor and team exceptional leaders?
Your odds of building a successful team of your own improve if they are. In addition to company marketing support (replicated Web site, teleconference calls, Webinars), a great upline can add supplemental calls, Webinars and local meetings). Network marketing stars can also identify the great opportunities more easily than the average person because of their previous experiences. Follow their lead.
Do you like and trust them as your partners in your business?
Determine what values and qualities you need in your partnership for it to work. Code of honor, trust, integrity, teamwork are a good start.
Have they made significant money in network marketing in the past?
If you want to make an extra $1,000, $5,000 or $10,000 a month extra in your business, you need to hang out with upline leaders who have done over $10,000 a month already in a previous network marketing business and can show you how. If you want to make millions, learn from millionaires and do what they do.
PRODUCT
Do you love and use the product or service?
If you are excited about a product or service from your own experiences, that energy is infectious to other people. You will be able to tell others how it helped you and how it could benefit them too. If your offer fits what they are looking for, they will follow you. If, on the other hand, you have no interest in the product, such as someone who doesn't wear makeup becoming an Avon distributor, why would anyone else?
Are you becoming a representative to build a part-time or full-time business with this particular company?
Manage your expectations of money earned and time spent. Network marketing is a people empowerment business at its best. Track your results ongoingly to see how you are doing on your written goals. Be aware nothing happens in a minute except failing. EVERYTHING has a learning curve and, probably, some discomfort to get past what you already know. Start climbing and give yourself a time frame when you will reassess your progress.
Are you becoming a representative to get discounts and to refer friends to the product or service?
Do not expect to make a lot of money if your purpose is primarily to get products or services you love more economically. Remember your own intentions. As a representative, you can choose to apply the effort to build a business as well later, if you like.
COMPENSATION PLAN
How much do you want to make with your business?
Set your financial goals at the beginning and make periodic assessments of your actions taken and results. If you don't define where you are going, you will have a hard time getting there.
What is the compensation plan and does its structure align with your goals?
Understand the compensation plan. There are lots and lots of possibilities (binary, matrix, straight line, profit-sharing, etc.). How do you make money on the front-end and on the back-end? Do you need to make money immediately, later or both? What do you need to do to be paid? Be sure you understand what results you need to accomplish to get to the money. Have someone in your upline explain the pay plan for the opportunity clearly.
PRICE
Is the price right for the value of the offer?
Value is inherently very subjective. To enroll a greater number of people, often the price is lower but the level of engagement in working the business may be less serious. At a higher price, perceived value also goes up. It also varies according to where you are (country, city, suburbs, economic background, neighborhood, ethnic diversity). The only important question is, "Will you pay that price?"
TIMING
Is the timing for the offer NOW?
Look around curiously. What do you observe happening in your town, city, state, country or world? If unemployment is high, income generation opportunities (good, bad & indifferent) will thrive. What problems does the network marketing company that you are evaluating address? For example, a number of network marketing companies have vitamins and supplements intended to address the diminishing nutritional value of the food we grow. What trends do you see in action and what trends can you speculate are coming? Getting ahead of the curve very slightly but not so far ahead that nobody else can see what you do is how to make a LOT of money.
EVALUATE your opportunity and TAKE ACTION - in or out!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
What to Broadcast in Viral Videos
I have been thinking about this viral videos idea. The advantage and drawback for me is no pitching the businesses I am involved with. On the other hand, that opens up a world of possibilities so it frees me too.
There are topics I am passionate about and would like to speak about globally:
financial literacy
money and money attitudes
surviving unemployment whole
balance between work and family
finding serenity in any circumstance
social networking joys and frustrations
volunteerism - tutoring, painting, building
travel nationally and internationally
books - reading and writing
joyous self-expression
building business skills
job vs entrepreneur
Of course, I have no clue what I am doing but that never stopped me before. Ha!
There are topics I am passionate about and would like to speak about globally:
financial literacy
money and money attitudes
surviving unemployment whole
balance between work and family
finding serenity in any circumstance
social networking joys and frustrations
volunteerism - tutoring, painting, building
travel nationally and internationally
books - reading and writing
joyous self-expression
building business skills
job vs entrepreneur
Of course, I have no clue what I am doing but that never stopped me before. Ha!
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