Should You Become A Bum?

It's better than being had by a job!

Like me, Rob was a very successful corporate executive, earning well over a quarter-million dollars a year. He lived in a gorgeous home on several wooden acres in an exclusive waterfront community. He and his wife both drove luxury automobiles. Like me, Rob had paid a price for his financial success in long hard hours--at a cost far higher than he realized.

Unlike mine, Rob's marriage was on the rocks. His kids were in trouble with drugs; he was becoming an alcoholic. Unlike me, Rob was still locked into the corporate world. I had made the transition to network marketing.

I knew that Rob longed for a fairy tale life with his wife and kids. As part of that fairy tale, he wanted his family to enjoy the things that he had missed while growing up. He had been generationally indoctrinated into believing that the answer to everything--the path to achieving the fairy tale --was hard work in traditional business.

Rob focused on success like a laser beam and had successfully cut the chains of mediocrity. He didn't realize that he had paid an insidious price: his life.

I had a moral obligation to let him know that I had found a way out.

In his backyard one Sunday afternoon, I approached him with the opportunity that had given me my life back. He threw his hands in the air and with a genuinely pained expression on his face said, "Frank, Frank, Frank, I can't believe you've allowed yourself to get sucked into one of those pyramid schemes!"

He bowed his head for a moment and shook it sadly. Then, he looked me straight in the eye. "You're too smart for that. What happened to your mind? You're a well-respected corporate executive. You have everything! What about your lifestyle? I can't believe that you would give that up. Maybe you're just burned out and need a rest?"

His monologue continued with heartfelt concern: "I had a neighbor just like you: a corporate executive, doing well. Last year he made the same mistake you're making now. He chucked a dream career to get hooked into one of those pyramid things. He ended up turning into a bum--grew a beard and everything. He lost his mind!"

Rob's intense conviction now had me unnerved. Probably more sheepishly than I care to remember, I asked him "Did he make any money?"

"I guess so; he's still living in this neighborhood. But all he does is hang around his house, puttering in his garden and waxing his cars. He used to pay people to do those things. Now he does them himself and he doesn't appear the least bit humiliated."

"And his new circle of friends... what a collection! They all drive nice cars, but they look like bums half the time. They walk around like they haven't got a care in the world!"

"We never see him at the club anymore. I guess he's too embarrassed to show his face. Frank, if you don't get out fast, you'll probably become a bum, too!"

Rob took the Mount Blanc from his shirt pocket and scribbled something on the back of a business card. "Here," he said. "This is the name and number of the counselor I'm seeing. He should be able to help you get back on the right track."

I tuned Rob out. My mind was flashing on what had happened to me since I had left corporate America and committed to network marketing:

I had no bosses, no employees. I had no quotas, no schedules, no office to report to. I had no stress. I could go to bed when I wanted and get up when I wanted. I could spend all my time with my family. I could "putter in the garden," wax my cars, go where I wanted and do what I wanted, when I wanted. Nobody owned me.

I was earning an income that exceeded my corporate income. I had become totally debt-free. I could walk into any store and buy anything I wanted without looking at a price tag. The checks came in every week whether I worked or not. If I felt like working, I could work at home in my underwear.

I had a new circle of friends, too. They, like me, could come and go as they pleased. I had helped dozens of people break the chains of economic bondage.

Lifestyle? It was never better. I experience not only material fulfillment, but also emotional satisfaction and freedom from worry.

It dawned on me: Rob was right. I hadn't gotten out fast enough. I'd become a bum!

So Many Positives, To Many Negatives...

Thursday, February 8, 2007

For my 1st post; here is a article I wrote in 2003, that still holds true today...

Network Marketing has become the Greatest business opportunity for thousands and thousands of people and will continue to bring Great success to thousands more. It is changing the way people make a living by offering a lifestyle of dreams. Just a few of the reasons why this industry is so attractive: Ownership, Support, Training, Versatility, Part time or Full time, Low Overhead, Flexibility, Personal Growth, Unlimited Potential, Fulfillment, etc,etc. That is only a small list of reasons why I have become a part of this exciting, magical industry.

Why then do negatives exist in this opportunity?

What negatives do you ask?

The lack of heart. Let me explain what I mean. I believe that having heart (or passion) is the only reason why success is achieved in anything. Whether personal or in business, having heart is the key to achieving all of your desires. Having heart in the network marketing business means being dedicated towards people to help them achieve success . I have met, talked to, and read about so many people in this industry that continue to give the industry a black eye. Those who choose only to work with people who: sign up under the highest business building levels, have very deep pockets, have large lists of warm markets, people who are natural salespeople, etc..., it goes on and on.

This puts a serious negative stamp on this wonderful industry and continues the stereotype of pyramid scheme thinking. That hurts all of us. Let me give you an example. I was talking to one of my upline supports (which was a challenge just to get him on the phone). I was just starting out and I was trying to get some much needed support. I didn't want him to baby-sit me, just get me on the right track. He told me on the phone (as he was rushing me off) ..."I would rather talk to a business builder that had deep pockets in my downline then to you." If it wasn't for my heart to stick with it and never give up, my dream of owning a business would have been over. I actually give him credit because he pissed me off enough to never quit. That wasn't his intention by the way. I just wasn't his dream business owner.

I am a strong advocate that people who are new to the home based business industry have heart (passion) and it is their responsibility to learn, act and build their business. However, upline supports should remember their own heart (passion). Keep in mind, not only business structures and ideas can be duplicated; but so can upline support teams . To be the best support to their downline, no matter who they are and accept the responsibility they have to help them achieve success no matter what, right from the start!