Victim of layoffs? What you must know about network marketing and travel as another income source

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Victim of layoffs? What you must know about network marketing and travel as another income source
September 8, 6:11 PM

Puerto Rico Travel ExaminerFélix Meléndez

http://www.examiner.com/x-21025-Puerto-Rico-Travel-Examiner~y2009m9d8-Victim-of-layoffs-What-you-must-know-about-network-marketing-and-travel-as-another-income-source#

The Network Marketing is becoming a great opportunity to people around the world to make money. Also to help personal development as individuals. Some started operations since the 50's.

It's a marketing system of products and services person to person. It pays by efforts of many people in different compensation plans. Unfortunately, there's a lot of people so confused thinking the Network Marketing is linked to illegal pyramids sketch or scam. Many of their ideas and opinions are consequence of poor information. As a result, they refuse themselves a rewarding opportunity. They make decisions based on rumors not in proven facts. The existence of enterprising people with character strength and special traits. Besides the appearance of companies have been evolved to direct sales systems. It drives us to what we know today as direct sales, multilevel marketing and network marketing.

It gives and excellent opportunity to everyone to start a low risk business without operational expenses. Most network marketing companies requires a ridiculous money investment to join. If you're considering to join one to get an extra income and great benefits. Don't forget to perform a company background check. Simply get professional advisory. I am including what I consider very important facts to help you choose wisely.

1- The company should be doing business for at least 5 years.

2- Should have a tempting products accessible at good buying prices, great value and offers benefits to consumer.

3-Should have brochures,tools,business forms at good price to company representatives.

4- Have headquarters offices at all countries where the company is doing business. Also have a kind personnel and be opened.

5- Have a marketing plan that pays at least 7 levels, be aggressive and pay good commissions.

6- Should let the distributor to retire anytime to receive passive income.

7- Should provide a fast and simple ways to expand operations internationally.

8- The company should promote a new product each year.

9- The company CEO must have knowledge of Network Marketing Systems and enjoy their products.

And the last one,

10- Should be legally established.

How to start a home-based business that makes money

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How to start a home-based business that makes money
September 4, 8:03 PM

http://www.examiner.com/x-16264-Phoenix-Homebased-Business-Examiner~y2009m9d4-How-to-start-a-homebased-business-that-makes-money


Phoenix Home-based Business Examiner John Griggs

Have you started a home-based business, or are you considering starting one? Whether your goal is to earn a part time income or to make enough money to quit working regular jobs, you have to know what your customers want to buy. Looking into what successful businesses are currently doing will help you with your own.

Cutting out all the fluff, here are the two main reasons businesses get customers to purchase from them:

1. Customers will gain something from the business.

If you sell something physical, such as a T-Shirt, CD, or watches, your business falls into this category. You can also sign up with an affiliate program. This is the way an affiliate program works: You place advertisements on your website showing off another company's products. Whenever a customer makes a purchase through your site, the company will pay you a percentage of what they make!

If you have a blog, signing up with an affiliate program is one of the best ways to monetize your website. Here is a list of websites you can sign up with:

• Commission Junction
• ShareASale.com
• Amazon.com
  

If you don't have your own products yet, consider selling things from other websites until you do. When someone buys from a product listed on your site, the company selling it makes a definite gain that can be measured (profit) and passes some of the earnings on to you!

2. Customers THINK they will gain something from the business.

Two of the most successful businesses are companies that sell lottery tickets and casinos. Think about this: How many times have you purchased a lottery ticket? How many times have you actually won money? The majority of us do not make any tangible gains by purchasing lottery tickets. However, selling lottery tickets is very profitable for Powerball and other companies. If you gamble at a casino, your chances of winning are higher than winning the lottery. However, the odds are still heavily favor the casino. These businesses make billions of dollars without guaranteeing that you will get anything at all in return.

Colleges and universities make money in a similar fashion. People say they go to college for an education, but the real reason most people go is to increase their earnings potential. Many job opportunities require a college degree, or favor candidates that have one. Earning a degree will increase your chances to get a better job, but it is not a guarantee. Due to this economy, many recent college graduates are out of work, or are in low paying jobs that don't require a degree.

It is unfortunate that many business that do well financially give their customers returns with no value, little value, or questionable value. Fortunately, you can implement the strategies of these types of businesses to help you make money for your own. How do you do this?

You can earn money online from programs such as Google AdSense by placing their advertisements on your website. When a customer clicks on an ad they are interested in, you earn money. There is no guarantee the customer will actually make the purchase, but it does show they have an interest. Many website owners earn hundreds of dollars a month just from Google Adsense alone!

Educating Consumers

Consider starting a blog, and sharing your knowledge with others. Then monetize your website with pay per click ads, affiliate programs, or by selling an E-book.

E-Books are an excellent way to make money from your knowledge. Are you an expert in picking up women in clubs, physical fitness, or how to make money online? People are desperately looking for information in these subjects and more!. Customers will gladly pay you if they see you are offering something of value to them. Do this: have a blog that gives valuable information about your subject. Don't charge your customer for this. However, save your very best stuff for your E-Book. When you do this, you gain a customers trust before they buy from you.

When you develop your business further, consider offering training classes, seminars, and phone consultations. Many website owners make HUGE incomes by offering these services.

What information can you offer that will help others? Start a blog and earn money while offering knowledge that has genuine value. In this situation, both you and your readers win. So what are you waiting for?

Broadcast Legend Larry King Interviews Tim Sales About MLM and Network Marketing

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Broadcast Legend Larry King Interviews Tim Sales About MLM and Network Marketing

http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2009/9/prweb2820694.htm

MLM expert Tim Sales sits eye-to-eye on stage with legendary interviewer Larry King to have a candid and educational discussion about the network marketing industry.

(PRWEB) September 3, 2009 -- Tim Sales, highly respected MLM trainer and Founder of FirstClassMLMTools.com recently joined Larry King, world-renowned voice and broadcast legend for an on-stage interview to discuss the legitimacy of network marketing.

The appearance came as a surprise to more than 8,000 associates as Mr. King appeared on stage at the USANA International Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, August 29. Mr King's objective - to ask Tim Sales the tough questions about MLM.

"I'm here to learn. I want more knowledge of it," said King, who says he was among the victims of Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme.

In the unscripted interview, Mr. King and Mr. Sales discussed the difference between a pyramid scheme and a legitimate network marketing business, what to look for in a good MLM company, why Mr. Sales loves MLM, and the fallacy that people at the top make all of the money.

"I love MLM," replied Tim to one of Mr. King's questions. "There's not a more fair business structure on this planet."

The interview wrapped up with both men shaking hands and Mr. King concluding that all of his questions were answered to his satisfaction.

Excitement for having MLM legend Tim Sales and interview star Larry King on stage not only caused loud cheers and endless applause from a packed EnergySolutions Arena, the first-of-its kind interview also had online networking sites like Twitter and Facebook buzzing.

Comments like "We just witnessed the most incredible thing. My heart is in my throat. Can't eat! Too excited!" and "This is amazing. Tim Sales explaining the beauty of MLM to Larry King" flooded social media sites as soon as King and Sales were on stage.

Tim Sales is a proven authority when it comes to education about MLM. His ability to explain how the industry works gave birth to his widely-known prospecting presentation "Brilliant Compensation" -- which is an industry standard when it comes to explaining the MLM business and professionally handling prospect objections.

In addition, his personal triumph of building and leading a network marketing organization of 56,000 people in 29 countries is his foundation as a leading MLM training authority in the network marketing industry.

For more information about Tim Sales' MLM training resources and availability for speaking engagements, visit http://www.FirstClassMLMTools.com or call 888-307-7104.

About Tim Sales and FirstClassMLMTools.com:

One of the most sought after speakers in MLM, Tim Sales is a proven authority when it comes to building a successful network marketing organization and teaching others how to achieve sales success. Tim founded FirstClassMLMTools.com to distribute his training resources like "Brilliant Compensation," the MLM-explanation presentation that has been viewed by over 3 million people around the globe, and the training lecture set "Professional Inviter," which has helped hundreds of thousands of network marketers learn how to confidently handle common sales objections.

###


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Detroit's jobless economy: Startups take root

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Detroit's jobless economy: Startups take root
Hundreds turn out for tips on how to open their own business, and city shows off its support network for entrepreneurs.

By Steve Hargreaves, CNNMoney.com staff writer
Last Updated: August 27, 2009: 1:00 PM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- In Detroit, a city with rampant unemployment, big crowds in the middle of the day may mean someone is giving out freebies. But on a recent workday, over 450 people packed an auditorium downtown. They weren't looking for a hand out, sympathy or even a job application. They were looking to start their own business.

Helping them to do that was the thinking behind a recent day-long workshop, the last in a series of events this summer meant to foster innovation in the struggling city.

These would-be entrepreneurs flocked to an auditorium on Wayne State University's campus with ideas big and small.

The day featured a motivational speech by Chris Gardner, the formerly-homeless-father-turned-Wall-Street-wiz who was the basis for the Will Smith movie "The Pursuit of Happyness."
Attendees also took part in a variety of workshops including ones on how to raise money, how to save on shipping costs and how to run a service or lifestyle businesses. Each attendee got a chance to meet one-on-one with a business counselor and the opportunity to sign up for more free classes.

Some proposals focused on technical businesses --a former Ford manufacturing expert wants to start a consulting firm advising companies on how to make their manufacturing processes more efficient, while a former software engineer had started a company that makes Web-based system that hosts emergency contact and other medical information for children.

Others had more mainstream ideas. One woman was angling to expand her beauty salon to a full service spa; a man wanted to open a wine shop. "I taste bad wines so you don't have to" was his motto.

"It's an unbelievable experience," said Darlene Tate, an administrative assistant who just signed up to take a two-year course offered by the organizers of the event that she hopes will help her start her own staffing agency. "Being here lets you know that you're actually on your way to doing something you want to do."

Over 1,500 people in total attended the three workshops offered this summer, far more than expected.

"I think they had to turn people away," said Joy Torchia, a spokeswoman for the Kauffman Foundation, an organization promoting entrepreneurship nationwide and a partner at the Detroit event. "The scale they are doing this on is really quite unique."

Attendees could sign up for additional free classes that are part of Kauffman's FastTrac entrepreneur program, which are similar to a college course and generally run three hours a week for 10 weeks. Due to the huge amount of people out of work -- unemployment in Detroit is running close to 25% -- Kauffman is running an accelerated program in Detroit and a handful of other cities where students run through all the material in three weeks.

The primary organizer of the event was TechTown, one of a handful of organizations designed to help start-upbusinesses in a town struggling with decades of over-reliance on a now-shrinking auto sector.

TechTown is what's known as a "business incubator." Operating since 2000, the group provides reduced rent, conference room space, mailboxes, computer and printing access and a variety of other services for local startups.

TechTown is one place where the people attending this workshop may end up at if their businesses get off the ground.

There are currently 98 business housed in one five-story building -- which used to be the main design studio for General Motors and is the birthplace of the Corvette.

TechTown has plans to renovate two more nearby buildings, and ultimately wants to occupy 12 city blocks with not just new businesses but also schools, medical offices, apartments and other trappings of a thriving business district.

The plan is to attract enough talent to the area that a critical mass takes shape, and businesses can feed offeach other's energy and success.

"What's going on here is the biggest experiment in entrepreneurship in the nation," said TechTown director Randal Charlton. "Our job is to make sure they get the space and support and services they need to drive the Detroit economy."

So far businesses in the building seem happy with the arrangement.

Asterand, a company that procures human tissue for use in pharmaceutical research, has been in business since 2000 and is TechTown's biggest tenant.

Sales at the firm, which employees 65 people, have gone from $1 million to about $25 million in 2008, although the company now reports in pounds as a result of a 2006 merger and its stock is traded in London.

Why did the company move to Detroit?

"Resources like this building," said John Stchur, the company's chief financial officer. "It gives entrepreneurs easy access to good advice, and introduces them to good funding sources."
Stchur also listed the low cost of living and talented job pool as other reasons for moving to the area.

Detroit does have all these things, and is trying to leverage them as fast as it can to attract thousands of other Asterands as it struggles to free itself from its now-toxic reliance on its Motor City roots.

First Published: August 25, 2009: 12:23 PM ET



Find this article at: http://money.cnn.com/2009/08/25/smallbusiness/Detroit_techtown/index.htm

On to Plan B: Starting a Business

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August 23, 2009
On to Plan B: Starting a Business
By MICKEY MEECE

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/business/smallbusiness/23venture.html

CALL them accidental entrepreneurs, unintended entrepreneurs or forced entrepreneurs. A year and a half into the Great Recession, with the jobless rate hovering near double digits, corporate refugees like Lisa Marie Grillos of San Francisco are trying to fend for themselves.
Along with her brother Hernan Barangan, Mrs. Grillos started Hambone Designs, after her full-time contract position with Williams-Sonoma as a production manager wasn’t renewed in January. The new company makes bicycle bags that hold things like keys, wallets and cellphones.

“You have the time — why not focus your energy on something, rather than just trolling Craigslist and sitting and watching TV?” Mrs. Grillos says. “It’s really taking matters in my own hands.”

Mrs. Grillos, 34, built a Web site called hambonedesigns.com, opened a virtual shop on Etsy.com, an online marketplace, and hit San Francisco street fairs. So far, between the online marketing and the street fairs, she and her brother have sold 70 bags, which retail for $20 to $40. Each sale results in a profit.

“We have been talking about mass producing, but we’re not there yet,” Mrs. Grillos says. “It is a whole other thing, approaching stores and having the inventory.”

To help make ends meet, Mrs. Grillos also does textile design and photography projects, and it helps that her husband has a full-time job.

Others among the unemployed are taking the entrepreneurial route. The most recent Index of Entrepreneurial Activity by the Kauffman Foundation showed a slight uptick of new businesses in 2008 — a full recessionary year — over 2007. An average of 320 Americans out of 100,000 formed a business each month, Kauffman said. What’s more, it found, the patterns “provide some early evidence that ‘necessity’ entrepreneurship is increasing and ‘opportunity’ entrepreneurship is decreasing.”

Accidental or by design, entrepreneurship is on the rise again this year. LegalZoom, the online legal document service, says the number of new businesses it helped to form was up 10 percent in the first half of the year, compared with the period a year earlier.

“We were surprised,” says Brian Liu, co-founder and chairman of LegalZoom. “We expected there to be a drastic downtick.”

LegalZoom’s top five areas of incorporation, he says, are real estate, consulting, Internet (including electronic commerce), retail, and construction and contractors.
To be sure, a vast majority of corporate workers who have been laid off since December 2007 have sought another corporate job. After all, starting a business in the worst downturn in decades seems especially risky. Only two-thirds of new small businesses survive at least two years, according to the Small Business Administration. That survival rate falls to 44 percent at four years, and to 31 percent at seven.

The silver lining may be that the survival rate is about the same in expansions and recessions, says Dane Stangler, senior analyst at Kauffman.

WHILE the Internet has made the formation process quick and inexpensive — papers can be filed with LegalZoom, for example, for $149 in addition to state filing fees — the costs of owning a business add up quickly. There are state and local taxes and fees, insurance, salaries and contract pay, overhead, inventory and the like. And these days, lenders are none too generous when it comes to forking over money to new businesses.

These factors, combined with the lack of a steady paycheck, often-inadequate health insurance and the sheer emotional stress of being unemployed, may prevent many people from setting out on their own.

But research on what is known as post-traumatic growth has found that some people become more resilient when faced with adversity, says Shawn Achor, a Harvard researcher. Creativity surges, he says, as they adapt to a new situation.

“Their brain is actually learning at a faster pace than when they are not challenged,” Mr. Achor says. “As a result of this, some individuals, the accidental entrepreneurs, they are the ones who in the midst of crisis actually respond with growth.”

In a report this summer on innovation, Ernst & Young wrote, “Experience shows that entrepreneurs should not give up on start-ups in a down economy.”

Many companies with billion-dollar market capitalizations were started during a recession, the report said, including Starbucks, Intuit and PetSmart.

Research from Kauffman in June found that more than half of the companies on the Fortune 500 list in 2009 and nearly half of the companies on the Inc. magazine 2008 list were founded during a recession or bear market.

Lynn Zuckerman Gray, 60, hopes to be one of the success stories of this recession. She lost her job at Lehman Brothers almost a year ago, when the firm collapsed. A former chief administrative officer of its global real estate group, she found herself competing with a rising number of job seekers for a dwindling pool of jobs.

Ms. Gray ended up participating in a New York City program, offered in conjunction with the Kauffman Foundation, called FastTrac NewVenture. The program, for employees displaced by the financial crisis, sent Ms. Gray in a direction she never thought she would go: starting an on-campus recruiting company called Campus Scout.

“I guess I had an entrepreneur simmering inside me because I’ve always been very creative,” she says.

The cost has been hundreds of dollars here and there, she says. Still, the reality of her financial situation is daunting. Her severance pay from Lehman ended this month, and she is now eating into her savings. So far, her new venture, Campus Scout, is in start-up mode and does not have any clients.

She says she is going to try to get part-time work, teach university classes and do some freelance writing to generate cash flow so she can keep her business going for at least two years.
IT’S not just ex-corporate workers who have started businesses out of necessity. In February, Jackie Burke, 68, a retired schoolteacher, and her daughter, Jackie McAlister, 38, a schoolteacher on maternity leave, formed the Cup and Saucer Cookie Company in Ocean City, N.J.

“I never in my lifetime thought of owning a business,” Ms. McAlister said, “the economy has forced us to be creative.” And fast-acting. Stocks nosedived in the fall, and so did her mother’s retirement account.

“Mom was crying, and she said, ‘Maybe I can go to Borders to see if they are hiring.’ I said, I’m not going to watch my retired 68-year-old mom, with two knee replacements, go work at Borders. This is not going to happen.”

Instead, Ms. McAlister and her mother brainstormed about starting an Internet business. A claim to fame they both had was making cookies, she said. She did research in January, filed incorporation papers on LegalZoom in February, started a Web site using GoDaddy.com, and by March sold their first cookies.

“It sounds like a crazy idea, but it was out of total necessity,” Ms. McAlister said. “We had to do something.”

Their Internet business is slow, helped mainly through her Facebook friends and local news coverage, she said. They sell about $200 worth on the Internet each month and about $100 at a local cafe each month. They are near to breaking even, Ms. McAlister said.

Even when she returns to school in the fall, she said, they will keep it going. “The experience has been totally worth it,” she said, and has had the added benefit of distracting them from things out of their control, like the stock market.

Entrepreneurs like the McAlisters, Ms. Gray and Mrs. Grillos have been helped by a growing number of companies that cater to the needs of new businesses.

Recently, Mrs. Grillos attended a networking event in San Francisco organized by Outright.com, which offers bookkeeping software, and Network Solutions, a company that helps small businesses start and market on the Web. The companies had specialists on hand to talk about accounting, tax, legal and other issues facing new business owners.

Kevin Reeth, chief executive of Outright, says, “We realized these people, who have had careers and worked for other people most of their professional life, are not at all prepared to go out and become a business owner.”

The companies jointly started a Web site, unintentionalentrepreneur.com, as a resource and embarked on a five-city tour in partnership with local chambers of commerce and Score, the national group of volunteer mentors. Last week, the tour ended in Manhattan, but the hope is that the networking will continue, Mr. Reeth says.

ANOTHER company that is tailoring its services to very small and new businesses is InfoStreet, a maker of Web-based small-business management software. Michael Hart, 53, of Nashville, says InfoStreet recently had the backbone of NewTerraLiving.com, his new online marketplace for eco-friendly goods, up and running very quickly, and at a very affordable cost.

Mr. Hart started his business after he left an electronic publishing company a year ago. He has been living off his savings and now has booked sales on his site. “The significantly lower costs associated with building the technology infrastructure as well as the phenomenon of social network marketing allowed me to jump in,” he says.

So, will all of these new ventures become viable entities, or are they simply résumé builders and time fillers for people temporarily out of work? For Mr. Hart, it is definitely not a path to a cubicle. “If successful, I don’t see myself returning to corporate America,” he says. “If I’m not successful, I would definitely start another company — if my wife doesn’t kill me.”
Mrs. Grillos acknowledges that she is still job-hunting. “It would be great if this became my full-time job and grew that big,” she says of Hambone Designs. “Even if I found one, I would still have this on the side.”

Martha E. Mangelsdorf, author of “Strategies for Successful Career Change,” says job seekers should be careful about spreading their energy too thinly. “Starting an ambitious business is such a consuming endeavor, I think it would be hard to do that and look for a job at the same time,” Ms. Mangelsdorf says.

“You should try to be clear if you’re starting a business that that’s really what you want to do, as opposed to you’re only doing it because you can’t find work elsewhere,” she says.

No matter what, those who become accidental entrepreneurs have a leg up on the competition, according to Mr. Reeth of Outright. “The process of going into business is going to make anybody who tried it better, smarter and more capable,” he says.

“Whether it ultimately ends a successful journey in terms of staying in business and this is what you do or you go back and get another job,” he adds, “the skills they will have to develop are going to serve them very well.”



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Network Marketing is Not A Dirty Word - Five Things You Need To Know

Network Marketing is Not A Dirty Word - Five Things You Need To Know

http://www.articlemaniac.com/article/230083/network-marketing-is-not-dirty-word-five-things-you-need-to-know.html

For years, certain reputations have just tended to stay with us whether they are based on merit or not. American made cars compared to those that are manufactured overseas. The use of email, which has become an integral part of our personal and business lives, is under attack and has gotten a bad reputation because of SPAM.

OK, the purpose of this article is to at least question the misconceptions surrounding network marketing as perceived by others. No one can agree that there was an issue with network marketing such as pyramid schemes etc. Sure, many of the network marketing companies took advantage of the hard working marketers and only a few made a lot while many made very little. It was not uncommon for 90% or more of the marketers in a company to make almost nothing while the few at the top raked in huge incomes.

But to condemn an entire industry because of a few (or even a bunch) of bad companies years ago is just not smart. Some of these companies made multi-millionaires out of a lot of their marketers. There are tons of stories of people in Mary Kay, Nu Skin and Amway who did exceptionally well with these companies and many still do despite the bad reputation they have received.

When you are looking to become a marketer in a network marketing company there are certain things you absolutely need to take a look at become you become a partner in that network marketing company.

1. Who Is Involved? You need to do some research and check out the credentials of the chief players in the company. Who are they? Where did they come from? How long have they been in network marketing?

2. What Is The Support? There is no way you should ever join an company, let alone a network marketing company, if there is no or minimal support provided. Your chances of success are determined to a significant degree by those that have gone before you. If you are working hard to be make money for people higher up on your ladder (the people that may been instrumental in brining you into the company)they owe you their undivided attention. One way to find out the support available is to ask. Sounds simple but if the powers that be can't show you samples of the kind of support you will receive, it probably doesn't exist. Additionally, question other people in the company about their experiences.

3. Product. This goes without saying. If you personally do not believe in the product being sold, then you have no business trying to sell it. This is not a medicine show on wheels. Potentials customers will smell you out, if not immediately, certainly with time.

4. Compensation Plan. How deep and wide is the plan? On how many levels will you be paid? For how long? When and in what manner?

5. Start-up and Operating Costs. Since this will, for all intensive purposes, be your own business, what are the start-up and operating costs? Just like in any new business you need to know what kind of capitalization you will need to get your new business going. Nothing is for free. Remember, this will be a business and you will have operating costs. To expect less would be foolish and will only lead to dissatisfaction.

As our economy changes, from good to bad and then bad back to good, there will always be a wide range of people that will benefit from network marketing as a business. Just imagine being able to set your own hours, be your own boss, never look at a pay envelope hoping that the pink slip is not there etc.

Conclusion. For sure, over the years there have been scoundrels that have taken advantage of untold amounts of people hoping to find their entrepreneurial dream But you can't condemn an entire industry just because of a few rotten apples. Just like any other industry, there are the good and the bad. You need to find the good.


------------------------------

Cary Ganz is the developer of Network Marketers Alliance. Additional information and resources including a free report are available at http://www.networkmarketersalliance.com .

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Smith Discusses Aspects Of Multilevel Marketing Law

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http://www.memphisdailynews.com/editorial/Article.aspx?id=43668

D. JACK SMITH
Firm: The Law Firm of D. Jack Smith
Basics: Smith recently celebrated the publication of his 100th nationally published legal article.

“I find (legal writing) comes to me fast and easily, and it is a real pleasure to help and teach those entrepreneurs who are actually founding and building businesses and pursuing the American Dream.”
– D. Jack Smith

Tap into millions of public records, notices and articles on The Daily News.

Titled “MLM Attorney Reminisces and Gives the ‘Bare Bones’ of MLM Legality,” it appeared in the Network Marketing Business Journal-The International Trade Publication for Network and Multi Level Marketing.

Smith is an international multilevel marketing and direct selling legal specialist who has been in marketing law for 25 years.

Smith received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and his juris doctorate from Harvard Law School.

He has experience in business law, although he represents only direct selling and multilevel marketing companies. His client list spans from locales ranging from Germany to Taiwan.

Smith is a former member of the National Congressional Advisory Committee, a former member of the Tennessee House of Representatives and the former chairman of the Tennessee House Committee on Business. He serves on the board for the Multi Level Marketing Association in Irvine, Calif., is a member of the Lawyer’s Council and Government Relations Committee of the Direct Selling Association in Washington, and is a monthly columnist for The Network Marketing Business Journal, a national sales industry magazine.

Q: How did you end up practicing in direct selling and multilevel marketing areas?

A: (It was) one of those miracles or breaks everyone prays for. My number came up one day in the Rolodex of the local Bar Lawyer Referral Service. They sent me a client, who had borrowed $5,000, who wanted to start something known as a multilevel marketing company. I had never even heard the term before, as it is not taught in any law school. It all grew out of that humble beginning.

Q: Can you define multilevel marketing, particularly in regards to law?

A: One can build a product sales or business organization by making a very modest investment – usually less than $200 – and recruit friends and neighbors and others into it who can, in turn, build their own product sales groups and so on. Amway and Mary Kay cosmetics are two well-known examples of this kind of marketing. There can be superficial resemblances to some unlawful entities such as pyramid schemes, chain letters and lotteries, and these companies can overlap into highly regulated areas of the law such as securities, consumer protection and franchises. It is the attorney’s job to make certain that there is no conflict with nine of these areas of the law in all 50 states (450 statutes with subsections) and the national government, or any conflicts with the governments and subdivisions of governments in each country in which the company wants to do business.

Q: You have been a very prolific writer. What do you like best about legal writing?

A: I find it comes to me fast and easily, and it is a real pleasure to help and teach those entrepreneurs who are actually founding and building businesses and pursuing the American Dream. It has also been a lawyer’s dream to have a chance through my writings and the legal precedents I have set through litigation to help shape the development of the law itself nationally in a relatively new and pioneering way of merchandising. Multilevel marketing really began only about 60 years ago, which led to the development of whole new bodies of laws in each state, nationally and internationally. It is still not taught in law schools anywhere and one must learn it through experience and individual effort.

Q: What do you think are the most difficult aspects of practicing in direct selling law?

A: It was extremely vague and confusing in the beginning because it was so new. Most authorities I dealt with really were unfamiliar with the developing principles, case law and statutes, and often made mistakes and sued legal and innocent companies. It is much more settled, defined and understood now and consequently much easier and (smoother to practice in this area).

Q: You were the former legislative attorney for the city of Memphis and Shelby County. In what capacity did you serve the local governments in that position?

A: The city or county attorney has an awesomely broad scope of responsibility. It covers everything. The legislative attorney only has to focus on and liaison with the state Legislature. It is his responsibility to monitor introduced and proposed legislation from all sources to alert the local governments of any bills that might have an adverse effect on their operations and to find sponsors for and guide to passage bills desired by the city and county governments to aid their operations.

Q: What are your interests outside law?

A: My primary interest and love outside of the practice is history – Southern, American and English history. I am active in local, state and national historical groups and societies here and in England. One of my very favorite avocations is giving talks to all kinds of groups here in West Tennessee that are kind enough to invite me – everything from historical societies to book clubs – on the Founding Fathers and generals and early American and Southern battles and constitutional and governmental development and history.

Network Marketing: What is it?

July 15, 2009 01:00 AM EDT

views: 767 | rating: 10/10 (1 vote)

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977737560

With the economy being what it is, many people are finding themselves looking at other ways to make money. Many are turning to network marketing either as a way to supplement their current income or replace it. Maybe they have been laid-off or their hours have been cut back due to the financial struggles of the company they work for. Maybe they have to work long hours or more than one job just to provide for their family. Network marketing can provide a solution to their financial struggles. It can offer freedom – financial freedom; freedom to leave the job where they are underpaid, underappreciated, and unsatisfied; freedom to spend time with their family or doing what they love most. But what exactly is network marketing?

Network marketing, more commonly referred to as Multi-level marketing (MLM), is a type of marketing structure. It is designed to create a marketing and sales force by compensating people who promote the company products not only for sales they personally generate, but also for the sales of other people that they introduce to the company. By introducing people to the company, they create a downline of distributors and a hierarchy of multiple levels of compensation, thus the name multi-level marketing. The products and company are marketed directly to consumers and potential business partners through relationship referrals and word of mouth marketing. All of us promote businesses through relationship referrals and word of mouth marketing every day. The only difference is that we don’t get paid for doing so. For example when a person goes to a restaurant and they have a good meal, they tell their friends about it; their friends then go to the restaurant. This is relationship referrals and word of mouth marketing. By promoting the business and products in this manner, the company does not have to pay for advertising such as TV, radio, or newspaper ads, which can be quite expensive. Instead, money that would otherwise have to go to pay for advertisement of the product can be given directly back to the people in the company.

The majority of multi-level marketing companies are made of independent, unsalaried salespeople, which are referred to as distributors or associates. They represent the company that produces the products or provides the services they sell. They are awarded a commission based upon the volume of product sold through their own sales efforts as well as that of those they recruit. Independent distributors develop their business by either building an active customer base, who buy direct from the company, or by recruiting other independent distributors who also build a customer base. Distributors also earn a profit by retailing products that they purchased from a company at wholesale price. Wholesale price is the price at which an individual or company buys a product from a manufacturer. Retail price is the price at which the individual or company then sells the product to customers. The difference between the wholesale price and retail price is equal to the amount of profit that is made.

Network marketing is all about leverage. A person can leverage their time and increase the number of hours of work effort on which they can be paid by sponsoring other people and earning a small income on their efforts. The basis behind the idea of leverage is that a person makes 1 percent on the efforts of 100 people rather than 100 percent of their own efforts. Most network marketers work a few dedicated hours each work. They sponsor other people and teach those people how to sell the company product and sponsor others. This process is duplicated by those they sponsor. A person leverages their time by helping others be successful and earn an income from their efforts. As this process continues, compounded growth is created and can lead to hundreds or even thousands of people coming into the business.

Network marketing is a legitimate business. It is based on providing people with real, legitimate products they need and want at a fair price, but it is not a get-rich-quick scheme. For many, network marketing can be the solution to financial struggles. It can allow a person to obtain their dreams and goals, which previously seemed unattainable; however, the financial benefit is dependent upon a person’s dedicated efforts to build their business.

http://www.charlesprimas.com/
http://www.detroitbusinesstoday.net

July 12, 2009

Extra income sources popular in lean times

By Ari Cohn
Tribune

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/141597

Hamilton High School teacher Mike Johnston earns extra income working from home where he poses with products he sells in Chandler. July 9, 2009. Tribune

With an impending wage freeze at Chandler schools and two young children at home, Hamilton High School teacher Michael Johnston, looking for extra income, turned to a name often associated with wheeling and dealing: Donald Trump.

Chandler unemployment highest in 20 years [http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/140695]

Or, more specifically, a vitamin supplement company that Trump recently acquired and renamed the “Trump Network.”

Johnston, a 14-year teaching veteran who works with “at-risk” students who are falling behind in school, has spent the last six weeks learning how to market and sell Trump’s product and trying to recruit other salesmen.

“I’ve never really gone out on a limb like this,” he said. “I’m learning quite a bit, never having sold anything before.”

He began looking for business opportunities to supplement his teacher’s wages when the Chandler Unified School District voted in April to freeze salaries for the upcoming school year, 2009-10, because of the state budget crunch.

The state is cutting millions in aid to the district for the next school year to help compensate for a potential $3.3 billion state revenue shortfall. Though the governor signed the education budget last week, district officials are still sorting out the final figures. District spokesman Terry Locke has said it could be October before a better picture is known.

Johnston said he and his wife Cindy, a physical therapist, were hoping for a little more spending money so the family could do things like take a vacation once in a while.

“We were just tired of where we were, finally,” he said.

Johnston was recruited into the Trump Network by friend Michele Rogers. Rogers said that after she gave birth to her now 18-month-old child, she wasn’t inclined to return to her business management position with Banner Desert Medical Center.

She described the Trump Network as a “network marketing” company. People who participate are tasked with selling a customized vitamin supplement program, and conducting their own individual marketing.

Essentially, the company, formerly called Ideal Health, conducts a urinalysis on each customer to gauge that person’s metabolism and vitamin deficiencies, and then creates a personalized supplement, she said.

“It’s trying to get your body, basically, back into balance,” Rogers said.

Product sellers make money in two ways: in commission on sales, and for recruiting other people to sell, she said. Rogers said she’s recruited about 30 people personally, and now has a total of about 200 people on her ladder.

“With the Donald Trump name, people are more open to it,” she said.

The company ships the products directly to the customers, Rogers said.

“You don’t store any products. You don’t have to have inventory,” she said.

According to a flyer billed as “A note from Donald Trump,” containing the mogul’s photo and purported signature, Trump argues that his network marketing concept is headed for substantial growth, and is a good opportunity in tough economic times.

“We’re in the midst of an economic meltdown created by Wall Street greed, financial industry ineptitude, and a multi-billion dollar government bail out of the financial system that isn’t working,” the flyer states. “The American dream has been hijacked by complacency and incompetence.”

Johnston said many of his apprehensions about the venture were allayed because of its association with Trump. He said he’s hoping to receive his first small check from the company by the end of the month.

“I think everybody right now is looking for a little extra income,” he said.

http://www.charlesprimas.com/
http://www.detroitbusinesstoday.net

Network Marketing Scam - Just Play the Lottery

July 6, 2009 by Eldon Beard

http://networkmarketingnow.com/building-your-business/prospecting-sponsoring/network-marketing-scam-play-the-lottery/

A guy named Tom decided to get involved with a network marketing scam - at least that’s what he called it after all was said and done. Here’s what happened to Tom. Do you think he really got cheated?

One of Tom’s friends was involved with a network marketing opportunity that sold a premier line of nutritional supplements, including some that were targeted toward bodybuilders. This was intriguing to Tom, because he enjoyed working out and taking care of himself, and had lots of friends at his gym.

Tom’s friend presented the opportunity and shared some very persuasive figures illustrating the income potential. When Tom saw the dollar signs, he didn’t hesitate. He signed up on the spot.

Tom had twenty people in mind as prospects, most of whom were workout buddies. He enthusiastically presented the business to them, and three of the twenty signed up.

Three months later, all three of Tom’s recruits had dropped out, and the other seventeen had long since decided it wasn’t for them.

Tom didn’t make a dime, and in fact had invested $350 in products and literature. Obviously, this is one of those network marketing scams, I was stupid to sign up for this….Tom thought.

In his mind, this network marketing opportunity was a total scam because:

• he talked to twenty people and only three signed up

• of the seventeen who didn’t join, five warned him that he was getting sucked in to a “pyramid deal”

• the three people who did sign didn’t make any money either, and decided to call it quits

What happened here? The truth is, Tom never understood that network marketing was a serious business that would take time and effort. He had what we can call the “lottery mentality”. He signed up believing he could get several people he knew to join, and presented the business to the twenty best contacts he had. At that point, he waited to see what the three who joined would do, and hoped some of the other seventeen would eventually come around.

Tom felt with this small effort that he should make some decent money. When he didn’t, he called a perfectly legitimate business opportunity a “network marketing scam”, and to this day believes that he did nothing wrong. In his mind, he did his part and the opportunity failed him.

Never mind that Tom never worked with his new associates…didn’t make an effort to learn the success system his upline had in place…all he did was sign up a few people and wait to see what happened.

Have you seen a similar situation in your world? Things like this give network marketing and MLM a bad name. No wonder some people think it’s a joke.

We as network marketing professionals always need to be on guard to make sure our prospects and new recruits understand that they aren’t buying lottery tickets, but investing in a business that (with proper work ethic and application of basic success principles) can make them lots of money and provide a true long-term residual income.

Hi, my name is Eldon Beard. I have created "Network Marketing Now" to present a balanced and professional approach to success in our industry. I hope you will find information and tips here that are helpful to you



http://www.charlesprimas.com/
http://www.detroitbusinesstoday.net

Nation's jobless rate hits 26-year high

July 2, 2009
Nation's jobless rate hits 26-year high

By JEANNINE AVERSAASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated at 10:30 a.m.

http://www.freep.com/article/20090702/BUSINESS07/90702019/Nation+s+jobless+rate+hits+26-year+high

WASHINGTON — Employers cut a larger-than-expected 467,000 jobs in June, driving the
unemployment rate up to a 26-year high of 9.5%, suggesting that the economy’s road to recovery will be bumpy.

The Labor Department report, released today, showed that even as the recession flashes signs of easing, companies likely will want to keep a lid on costs and be wary of hiring until they feel certain the economy is on solid ground.

June’s payroll reductions were deeper than the 363,000 that economists expected and average weekly earnings dropped to the lowest level in nearly a year.

However, the rise in the unemployment rate from 9.4% in May wasn’t as sharp as the expected 9.6%. Still, many economists predict the jobless rate will hit 10% this year, and keep rising into next year, before falling back.

All told, 14.7 million people were unemployed in June.

If laid-off workers who have given up looking for new jobs or have settled for part-time work are included, the unemployment rate would have been 16.5% in June, the highest on records dating to 1994.

“We were on the road of things getting less bad in the jobs market, and that has been temporarily waylaid,” said economist Ken Mayland, president of ClearView Economics. “But this doesn’t change my view that the recession will end later this year. We’re probably two months away.”

On Wall Street, the employment news pulled stocks lower. The Dow Jones industrials lost about 170 points in morning trading, and broader indices also fell.

Since the recession began in December 2007, the economy has lost a net total of 6.5 million jobs.
As the downturn bites into sales and profits, companies have turned to layoffs and other cost-cutting measures to survive. Those include holding down workers’ hours and freezing or cutting pay.

The average workweek in June fell to 33 hours, the lowest on records dating to 1964.
Layoffs in May turned out to smaller, 322,000, versus the 345,000 first reported. But job cuts in April were a bit deeper — 519,000 versus 504,000, according to government data.

Even with higher pace of job cuts in June, the report indicates that the worst of the layoffs have passed. The deepest job cuts of the recession came in January, when 741,000 jobs vanished, the most in any month since 1949.

And there was some other encouraging job news today.

In a separate report, the department said the number of newly laid-off workers filing applications for unemployment benefits fell last week to 614,000, in line with economists’ predictions. The number of people continuing to draw benefits unexpectedly dropped to 6.7 million.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said orders placed with U.S. factories rose 1.2% in May, the most in 11 months. The increase also was better than economists expected.
Still, job losses last month were widespread.

Professional and business services slashed 118,000 jobs, more than double the 48,000 cut in May. Manufacturers cut 136,000, down from 156,000. Construction companies got rid of 79,000 jobs, up from 48,000 the previous month. Retailers eliminated 21,000, up from 17,600. Financial activities cut 27,000, following 30,000 in May. The government cut 52,000 jobs, up from 10,000 the previous month. Leisure and hospitality cut 18,000 jobs, erasing a gain of the same size in May.

One of the few industries adding jobs: education and health services, which added 34,000 positions last month and 47,000 in May.

Mayland and other economists said a good chunk of June’s job losses likely were affected by shutdowns at General Motors Corp. and fallout from the troubled auto industry, which should let up later this summer. The government said employment at factories making autos and parts fell by 27,000 last month.

Payroll losses and the unemployment rate are derived from two separate statistical surveys. The jobless rate probably would have moved higher if not for people dropping out of the labor force.

With the weakness in the job market, workers didn’t see any wage gains in June. Average hourly earnings were flat at $18.53. Average weekly earnings fell from $613.34 in May, to $611.49 in June, the lowest level in nearly a year and the first drop since March. That raises fresh questions about consumers’ willingness to spend in the months ahead.

The worst crises in the housing, credit and financial markets since the 1930s have plunged the country into the longest recession since World War II.

Many think the jobless rate could rise as high as 10.7% by the second quarter of next year before it starts to make a slow descent. Some think the rate will top out at 11%. The post-World War II high was 10.8% at the end of 1982, when the country had suffered through a severe recession.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke predicts the recession will end this year, with many economists forecasting that the economy will start to grow again as soon as the current July-September quarter.

But recoveries after financial crises tend to be slow, which is why economists predict it will take years for the job market to return to normal. Some predict the nation’s unemployment rate won’t drop to 5% until 2013.

An elevated unemployment rate could become a political liability for President Barack Obama when congressional elections are held next year. The last time the unemployment rate topped 10%, the party of the president — then Ronald Reagan’s GOP — lost 26 House seats in midterm elections in 1982.

So far, many people are saving — rather than spending — the extra money in their paychecks from Obama’s tax cut, blunting its help in bracing the economy.

Much of the economic benefit of Obama’s increased government spending on big public works projects won’t kick in until 2010, analysts say.

The White House last week said federal money was being shoveled out of Washington quickly, but states aren’t steering the cash to counties that need jobs the most.

Large job cuts have continued this week. Newspaper publisher Gannett Co. said it plans to cut 1,400 jobs in the next few weeks, about 3% of the workforce, as it faces a prolonged slump in advertising revenue. Farm machinery company Deere & Co. said 800 salaried employees, or 3% of its salaried workforce, took a voluntary buyout offer.

http://www.charlesprimas.com/
http://www.detroitbusinesstoday.net

http://www.charlesprimas.com/
http://www.detroitbusinesstoday.net

Selecting A Work From Home Job

June 30, 9:19 PM · Carol Callahan - Sacramento Frugal Family Examiner

http://www.examiner.com/x-14361-Sacramento-Frugal-Family-Examiner~y2009m6d30-Selecting-A-Work-From-Home-Job

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/images/2009-01/work-at-home-550x359.jpg

Have you ever wanted to just drop the everyday, nine to five and pursue a career working from your home?

Many people don't even consider it; however, it is a very, valid option if the proper research is done. Recently, because of the freedom and benefits associated with it, people are choosing to work from home everyday. Even more are new mothers and fathers looking for a better way to balance their work life with their home life.

There are many ways to work from home. It can be as simple as creating an automated website that completes all sales and delivery of informational products like an e-book or an e-commerce website that generates retail sales of products. Generally speaking, most of the income generated from the Internet can be automated. This allows you to invest an initial time commitment to get the business started and then you can reap the benefits for the duration you own it. Basically, set it up once and forget about it, while collecting money generated everyday.

Working from home is also a great way to avoid the high cost associated with daycare services. The good news is that the Internet has allowed many people, both men and women, to find legitimate work from home opportunities. They are becoming successful everyday without the daily grind of a nine to five.

Now that you have decided to start your own work from home business, where do you start?

Begin by initializing a search through Google or any other search engine. You would see that the opportunities are nearly endless. Which options are legitimate and which ones are scams? It really is hard to tell. Many companies require some sort of financial commitment. These companies are valid options; however, there are many more opportunities that are available with no financial expense. These options do require a time commitment. A good way to think about it is, if you have the time then they have the dime.

Another approach is to pursue "multiple streams of income", often called "residual income". There are many companies that offer this type of opportunity. Most are affiliate programs that enlist your help to bring new clients to their service through a referral process. Granted, this is not a huge amount of money, but if you actively participate, it is possible to have a nice second income. If you do a few of these every month, a full time income is a possibility. When looking for a valid work from home opportunity look for companies that are recognized by the Better Business Bureau. This step will eliminate most of the scams.

In conclusion, working from home is an endeavor that should be embarked upon in a very cautious manner. Remember, generally speaking, a legitimate work from home opportunity should cost very little to start, if anything. You should not have to buy products for yourself or your family unless you want to. You should not have to force friends and family to attend long, time-consuming presentations like the companies of the past. You should treat it as a job and tend to it everyday. You should act as if you were at a nine to five job, although it could be the middle of the night. Doing these steps will allow you to be successful in your mission to find the ultimate work from home opportunity. Lastly, enjoy the freedoms and benefits of working from home while generating a handsome income.

Author

Carol Callahan is an Examiner from Sacramento. You can see Carol's articles at: "http://www.Examiner.com/x-14361-Sacramento-Frugal-Family-Examiner"

Is network marketing a good business opportunity?

Is network marketing a good business opportunity?

YOUR MONEY

With Cherryl Hanson-Simpson

Thursday, June 25, 2009

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Business/html/20090625T030000-0500_154160_OBS_IS_NETWORK_MARKETING_A_GOOD_BUSINESS_OPPORTUNITY_.asp

Earning additional money has become a necessity for most people in these tough financial times. Gone are the days when persons could feel comfortable with a single source of income - for some people, a nine-to-five job has almost become an endangered species.

As people look for ways to supplement or replace their salaries, one business opportunity has risen to the forefront as a viable option. Network marketing, also called multi-level marketing (MLM), is now being seriously considered by many people as a route to starting their own business.

According to Wikipedia.com, network marketing is a selling strategy that compensates promoters of direct selling companies for product sales they personally generate, and for the sales of others they introduced to the company. By using referrals and word-of-mouth promotion, independent business owners receive compensation for the volume of sales they and their down-line team can generate.

Marketing concept or money scam?
This alternative method of marketing products has been underutilised by many people due to their ignorance of how it operates. Direct selling simply allows consumers to benefit from buying or selling products straight from the manufacturers or large distributors. The money that would normally be paid to wholesalers, retail outlets and advertisers can now be passed on as commissions to the end users.

Over the years, the network marketing model has received a bad reputation due to the actions of pyramid scheme operators claiming to offer legitimate MLM opportunities. Pyramid schemes entice people to join them by offering a monetary reward for enrolling others into the programme, without any product or service being consumed.

To distinguish a viable network business opportunity from a pyramid scam, you have to ensure that the main source of the commissions is coming from the sales of the company's offerings. If the plan offers impossibly high compensation payouts that are tied to pricey entry fees from new recruits, it may be a sign that the business is likely to be a non-sustainable operation.

The reality is that the multi-level rewards concept already exists in many organisations. Sales people earn commissions on their individual efforts, while their sales managers and their bosses also earn bonuses from the combined efforts of their teams.

For people who like helping people
Network marketing operations are, however, fundamentally unlike other businesses. Regular business owners may be accustomed to competing with others to ensure that they come out on top. On the contrary, being successful in network marketing requires that you work with others in your team to help them to build their own businesses.

Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad's Business School for People Who Like Helping People, confirms that "If you are a person who truly wants to help as many people as possible achieve their financial goals and dreams, then the network marketing business is worthy of your time". Kiyosaki reveals that network marketing offers several positive values that can make it fulfilling for the right people.

Good MLM opportunities will help you to develop your sales abilities, which Kiyosaki insists is the number one skill that all business people must have. He notes that most people aren't afraid of selling, they are afraid of rejection; and points out that the leaders in the business should help to guide you in facing and overcoming your fears about being rejected.

A creditable networking business should also offer education in areas such as leadership skills, communication skills, people skills, time management, money management and investing skills, goal setting and accountability.

Is this the business for you?
When evaluating a network marketing opportunity, here are a few questions to consider:

- What is the product or service being offered? You need to decide if the company's offering is something that you will personally use and feel comfortable recommending to others.

- Who are the principals in the organisation? Investigate who is in charge and their track record of success in business, just as if you are checking out any other business option.

- Are you comfortable being trained by the person who introduced you to the opportunity? If your potential sponsor is new to the business, can you get access to others in the line of sponsorship who can guide you?

- How is the money made? Make sure you have a clear understanding of how the compensation plan is designed. Is it possible to make a living doing this business full-time, or will it only bring in part-time income?

- Are you willing to do what it takes to become successful? Many people fail at network marketing, not because the business model or product line was not viable, but because they did realise that it required education and proper work ethics to succeed.

As you look for ways to increase your income, remember that network marketing is not a get-rich-quick scheme that will effortlessly make you money overnight. However, if you're willing to be trained, and to then teach others to become successful in business, it just might be the opportunity you've been waiting for!

Cherryl is a financial consultant and money coach, and founder of Financially S.M.A.R.T. Services. Get free financial tools and more practical advice at www.financiallysmartonline.com. Email comments to advice@financiallysmartonline.com. Please add this address to your email address book in order to ensure you receive a response.

http://www.charlesprimas.com/
http://www.detroitbusinesstoday.net

Friday, June 19, 2009

Michigan personal income losses among highest in U.S.

Brian J. O'Connor / Detroit News Finance Editor

Another day, another batch of reports bearing bad economic news for Michigan.

Coming on the heels of Wednesday's staggering 1.2-point jump in the state unemployment rate, the Bureau of Economic Analysis announced Thursday that Michigan was among states posting the biggest first-quarter losses in the nation for personal income. Meanwhile, a Comerica Bank economic report predicted that Michigan would record a 5 percent plunge in economic activity this year, on top of the 1.5 percent drop that came in 2008.

Said University of Michigan economist David Grimes, "Michigan just is continuing to decline."

Personal income among Michiganians dropped 0.8 percent in the January through March period, compared with the last three months of 2008. Overall personal income in the United States fell 0.5 percent. Income fell by more than 1 percent in five other states, and Alaska recorded the worst drop, a 3.2 percent hit reflecting lower oil prices.

Other states seeing big drops included Idaho, Wyoming, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Florida and Connecticut.

The difference between the other states and Michigan is that only Michigan is being hit with a double-whammy: a huge, permanent structural change to the manufacturing base of the economy, coupled with an even bigger cyclical fall in auto sales caused by the recession.

All the other states saw their personal income levels drop because of the burst bubbles of credit, housing and commodities that popped after the global economic meltdown. The plains and farming states' income drop was due to sharp declines in the prices for commodities, including oil and farm crops. In Florida and Connecticut, the bureau attributed much of the drop to finance, real estate and construction, which all took hits in the collapse of credit and real estate markets.

For those states, "There's a limit to how much more construction will go down, and oil prices already have started to come up," Grimes said. "Michigan still is suffering this permanent loss of a lot of jobs in the auto industry, and permanently lower income."

Personal income in Michigan has lagged the U.S. level for several years, and has been much more volatile because the manufacturing sector is so sensitive to changes in consumer spending.

In Comerica's "Michigan Economic Brief," the bank's chief economist predicted a 5 percent drop in the state's gross domestic product for 2009, continuing the state's trend of underperforming U.S. GDP by two points.

The key to turning the Michigan economy around is the end of the national recession, so that consumers start buying cars again, economist Dana Johnson said, but because of the downsizing of the auto industry, even that will bring only a muted improvement to the state economy.

"The car sector is such a smaller part of the state economy now that even if it bounces back, it's not going to have as much of an impact on the overall growth rate in the state that it used to have," Johnson said.

That muted rebound after an economic downturn may already have happened between the recession that ended in November 2001 and this one, noted David Lenze, an economist with the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

"Manufacturing states tend to have large amplitude throughout the business cycle," Lenze said. "Typically what happens is they have severe recessions, but also very vigorous recoveries. That may not have been the case between the last recession and this recession in Michigan."

boconnor@detnews.com (313) 222-2145

Find this article at: http://www.detnews.com/article/20090619/BIZ01/906190342/Michigan-personal-income-losses-among-highest-in-U.S.

http://www.charlesprimas.com/
http://www.detroitbusinesstoday.net

How to Look For "Top Online Business Opportunities"

How to Look For "Top Online Business Opportunities" By Robert Lavin http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Look-For-Top-Online-Business-Opportunities&id=2460050

Looking for top online business opportunities can be a demanding task. If you are seriously looking for monetary making methods through an online business opportunity, you will soon find thousands of offers promising you overnight millions. Fret not, I'm providing you a few components that will assist you in sifting through the numerous online business scams.

• Thoroughly research the company; Google the company and read the reviews on its history and how long they have been in business.

• Without the business opportunity, can the product "stand on its own", in other words is the product worthy enough to still be valuable to the consumer. A top online business opportunity must be ventured with a good "top-tier" product. You want to sell a high end product that will yield big commissions as opposed to pushing a huge volume of $30 dollar vitamins and lotions that will give you small commissions and earning a much less desirable income.

• Be cautious of advertisements that state "make quick and easy money", "start making thousands of dollars in hours" or "no investment needed"; run from these offers. Any legitimate business opportunity will require investment capital and time commitment.

What's important is that you establish your criteria that you are looking for in an online business, and then start weeding out the business offers that don't meet those criteria. If the opportunity does not fit your needs or interest, continue on your search; there are literally millions more on the internet. Here are a couple of additional components that I have used in my research.

• Do you believe in the product? If you're someone who loves lotions then look into a cosmetic based company or maybe you're a health fanatic who believes in taking vitamins then you may want to pursue a company with a reputable health product line. In other words whatever the product happens to be, you must be able to whole heartedly stand behind it.

• Does the company provide a strong training program to assist you in launching this new online business? An ongoing training package is crucial in helping you through the learning curve.

Most importantly, the business opportunity must align with your personal goals and mission in life. Remember, this is going to be an online business opportunity that you will be marketing to millions of people out there, so make sure that it provides you with the right tools in order to be successful in it.

I trust that these tips will help you in your search for the top online business opportunity in achieving your financial dreams. Feel free to visit my website to see the opportunity that I found success with.

My name is Robert Lavin and I'm a top certified online business opportunities coach. I am dedicated to mentoring and coaching people who are serious about generating a full time income from home using a top online company and a proven turn-key marketing system. To learn how you can apply to work with me, visit my website and take action in achieving financial freedom. http://www.rjlwealthbuilder.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Lavin

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Why a Bad Economy Could Be Good for You

Why a Bad Economy Could Be Good for You
Dan Miller
48Days.com

http://www.crosswalk.com/careers/11604332/

A few weekends ago, we had one of our famous Round Table events here at The Sanctuary. The registrations maxed out quickly – with the limit of 45 attendees. So, we had 45 excited Free Agent Academy (next one is June 5-6!) business owners, eager to share ideas and bursting with enthusiasm about the opportunities for 2009.

But wait, haven’t these business owners heard we are in the middle of a recession. Don’t they know that no one is buying anything but bare necessities? Are these people crazy? Shouldn’t we tell them how bad things really are -- why no one with a realistic outlook would even be thinking about starting a new business now?

Fortunately, our God-inspired human nature will not allow that to happen. Downturns and recessions always stimulate new ideas and new companies.

HP, FedEx, and Microsoft were all started in economic downturns. And I am confident that right now, in a garage somewhere in NoWhere, USA there is a young Bill Gates or Fred Smith or Thomas Edison who is tinkering with his/her plan for more great inventions and companies that we’ll see in the coming months.

Why? Perhaps some old common sayings can remind us of timeless truths.

We have heard that:

"Good is the enemy of the best." When things are okay, it’s tough to take the initiative to change. When the good has disappeared, people find their best skills and talents and start moving.“In a tornado, even a turkey can fly.” When things are easy, everyone can look like they know what they’re doing. Anyone can be a realtor, mortgage broker or home builder. When times get tough, those with true skill stand out and survive.

"Necessity is the mother of invention." When you have no good options, you can get pretty creative. When our gas supply is threatened, we see an explosion of solar and wind options for energy. When our jobs disappear, people realize “security” is a myth and many decide to start their own company.

"Waste not, want not." Companies started in the tough times tend to have fewer competitors and are forced to be more efficient in their management of resources. Don’t quit your day job without a plan. But be careful of criticizing that neighbor kid down the block who is launching the next Domino’s Pizza. Without a plan of your own, you may find him to be your next boss.

Published June 3, 2009.


http://www.charlesprimas.com/
http://www.detroitbusinesstoday.net

Wayne State Holding Major Event To Jump Start Entrepreneurism

Posted: Monday, 08 June 2009 5:31PM

Wayne State Holding Major Event To Jump Start Entrepreneurism

http://www.wwj.com/Wayne-State-Holding-Major-Event-To-Jump-Start-Entr/4557608

Anyone in Southeast Michigan who’s thinking about their next career move is invited to attend FastTrac to the Future: The First Day of Your Entrepreneurial Adventure, a free all-day conference that will provide a jump-start on the road to entrepreneurship.

FastTrac to the Future is Wednesday, June 24 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Community Arts Auditorium, Cass at Kirby on Wayne State University campus.

The program features breakout sessions that will give guidance and free resources to people who think entrepreneurship might be right for them. This could include displaced workers, the unemployed and people looking for alternative employment options. This is not a job fair, however.

Local and national experts will discuss the challenges of starting a new business. This conference also will be highly interactive. For example, in a session called Curbside Consulting, every attendee will have the chance to pitch their idea to an expert in a relaxed, informal setting. Curbside Consulting will be available all day.

In addition, there are 11 different session topics on entrepreneurship. These include:

* Intellectual Property Do’s and Don’ts
* Organization Expo -- Providing introductions to existing entrepreneurial programs in the community, including the SBTDC, TechTown, Ann Arbor SPARK, Automation Alley and more
* What’s Your Role in a Startup?
* Pitch & Comment -- A facilitated session where people with ideas pitch to the group and get constructive feedback
* Money Tables -- Providing information on bootstrapping, raising money, and grants, plus a roundtable discussion on funding your idea
* Entrepreneurial opportunities in clean tech, logistics and medical technology

Attendees will have the opportunity to sign up that day for FastTrac, award-winning programs for entrepreneurs designed by the Kauffman Foundation. Three FastTrac programs, which will be delivered over several days or weeks, will be available locally immediately following the event:

* First Step FastTrac -- The desired outcome of this program is a written feasibility plan that helps you determine if your idea can be turned into a profitable business, and whether the life of an entrepreneur is right for you.
* FastTrac NewVenture -- Designed specifically for entrepreneurs in the early stages of business development, this program helps you uncover answers and determine which questions to ask.
* FastTrac TechVenture -- Take an analytical look at your business and discover what you need to consider in starting, operating, funding or growing a technology- or life sciences-based company.

The event is free, but registration is required. Only 500 spots are available, so early registration is strongly encouraged. Lunch will be provided.

An agenda, a complete list of breakout session topics and a link to the registration page can be found at http://events.wayne.edu/techtown/view/16818/date/57619/.

A link to the event can be found at http://techtownwsu.org/. A FastTrac to the Future Web page will be available soon on the TechTown Web site with updates on the conference, including confirmed speakers.

The community is pulling together to help refocus the talents of the unemployed and underemployed. Support for this event is provided by TechTown, Great Lakes Angels, Ann Arbor Spark, Ann Arbor Boot Camp, Cantillon, Entrepreneurial Initiative of Southeast Michigan, MIT Forum, the New Enterprise Forum, NextEnergy, Automation Alley, ConnecTech, the Small Business and Technology Development Center, SCORE, Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest, Wayne State University, Biotechnology Business Consultants, Detroit Micro-Enterprise Fund, Shorebank Enterprise Detroit, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, TiE-Detroit, Mid States Capital, Microsoft, Bizdom U and MichBio. New partners are being added every day.

The Kauffman Foundation is a key partner in FastTrac to the Future, providing resources and speakers for the event.

FastTrac to the Future is the first stage of the $9.25 million program funded by the New Economy Initiative, announced May 18. In partnership with the Kauffman Foundation, the program will assist automotive suppliers and advance entrepreneurship in Detroit.

“We are setting out to help establish 400 new companies in the next three years,” TechTown Executive Director Randal Charlton said. “That is a very ambitious goal, but if we are successful on this scale, we will have a major impact on the economy of Detroit and Southeast Michigan. This grand experiment can help lead Detroit and Michigan out of recession and provide an example to the rest of America of the way to rebuild our economy.”

TechTown is an urban community of entrepreneurs, investors, mentors and corporate partners creating an internationally influential village in Detroit. TechTown brings the resources of Wayne State University to high-technology startup companies so as to diversify and strengthen Michigan’s economy in high-growth emerging industries. For more information, visit www.techtownwsu.org

The Ewing Marion Kaffman Foundation is a private nonpartisan foundation that works to harness the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to grow economies and improve human welfare. Through its research and other initiatives, the Kauffman Foundation aims to open young people's eyes to the possibility of entrepreneurship, promote entrepreneurship education, raise awareness of entrepreneurship-friendly policies, and find alternative pathways for the commercialization of new knowledge and technologies. Founded by late entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing Marion Kauffman, the Foundation is based in Kansas City, Mo. and has approximately $2 billion in assets.

http://www.charlesprimas.com/
http://www.detroitbusinesstoday.net

Entrepreneur Empowerment Workshop in Detroit Presents Business Principles and Internet Marketing

Entrepreneur Empowerment Workshop in Detroit Presents Business Principles and Internet Marketing

Reposition yourself to prosper in the new economy with classes in Business Planning and Internet Marketing

http://www.emailwire.com/release/23299-Entrepreneur-Empowerment-Workshop-in-Detroit-Presents-Business-Principles-and-Internet-Marketing-.html

(EMAILWIRE.COM, June 03, 2009 ) Detroit, MI – Are you looking for a job or in financial distress because of loss of employment? The Perfecting Church Finance Department is offering a workshop designed to help participants learn how to reposition themselves to succeed in today’s economy.

The Perfecting Church has assembled a team of business development experts to provide empowering advice to entrepreneurs and business owners of all levels. Collectively, these experts have helped thousands of entrepreneurs take their businesses to higher levels.

At this seminar, learn how to successfully market, grow and protect your business in any economic climate. This class will provide an intensive and informative day with relevant and practical steps that can be implemented for an immediate benefit.

This is not a “get-rich-quick” seminar, but rather one that will help business owners move in a positive direction, in spite of a down economy. Rather than allowing negative media to distract you from your destiny, come and learn how to be in line with the global vision to create and stimulate economic development for the purpose of advancing the Kingdom!

Topics of discussion include entrepreneurial services, internet marketing, basic business planning, business & taxes, establishing and protecting corporate credit and Kingdom principles in business. The workshop takes place at the Perfecting Church at 7616 E. Nevada St; Detroit, MI 48234. Call 313-365-3787 for more information.

Contact:

Mark Maupin
9800 Ann Arbor Rd, W
Plymouth, MI 48170
249-939-6232
Maupin.mark@gmail.com


This press release was submitted by Right Now Marketing Group, LLC

Contact Information:
Right Now Marketing Group, LLC
Mark Maupin
Tel: 248-939-6232

http://www.charlesprimas.com/
http://www.detroitbusinesstoday.net