Black Diamond Self-Talk

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Outstanding Commentary on Money ... and Real Estate

A great perspective on money by Seth Godin.

Other useful perspectives on Real Estate and investing here.

with gratitude and in service,
Tony Koker

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

MLM Rescue for Part Time Employees!

MLM Rescue for Part Time Employees!

      I get updates from the MLM Watchdog. I have found that this is a great one of a few ways to stay up with news and information in this and related industries. I can learn about ponzi schemes, who's still getting away with it, and who isn't. What constitutes successful compensation plans, policies and ownership mindset. And, consider many other aspects of the pro's. and con's. of what can be a very emotional experience. It is refreshing that when the opportunities are presented for a focus on the positive aspects, over the negative, that I really like this source of information. The editor really likes the industry, is a champion for it, and, is an advocate for the model when it is done right.

      Here's a excerpt from a recent article that is a great call to arms for us:

"One of the MLM Watchdog’s loves of the MLM-NETWORK MARKETING INDUSTRY Is helping people and after the recession workers have taken a beating in, more bad news for hard working Americans. The Affordable Health Care Act demands starting in 2014 that anyone working over 30 hours a week be provided a qualified health plan or pay a 2000 fine. In testimony before Congress. The National Federation of Independent Business testified that this is a new low.
Every employer will be forced to define part-time employment under 30 hours a week, and most will use between 20-27.5 hours. This cut part timers income and leave a hole in employment. The University of Berkely Center for Labor research has estimated that 2.3 million workers or nearly 2% are at great risk of having hours cut below 30 hours a week. ...
What can you and your company do to help these people! ... "

Here is a link to the site and the entire article

      Long term, successful MLM companies usually conform to all of the Five Pillars, but some don't:

  • Pillar 1 — Company Management Experience with Integrity?
  • Pillar 2 — Timing in the Company and Timing in the Industry.
  • Pillar 3 — Remarkable Product.
  • Pillar 4 — Compensation Plans.
  • Pillar 5 — Proven duplicatable system.
Here's a link to some audios and PDF transcripts: Audios and PDFs. How does your company stack up? Be vocal with your upline and company management to make it so.

      While not mentioned here in the bullets, it is discussed in Pillar 4 - Compensation Plans. One of the key elements has to be the ability of a part-time partner to be able to work the business and get a return on their "time" investment. $1,000 or even $100 a month can really take the edge off initially, and, over time, this will only grow with care and nurturing, even if only part time. That is the promise and goal of network marketing for all of us, is it not?

     

with gratitude and in service,

Tony Koker

Image Credit: CanStockPhoto.com

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

How Do YOU Define Success?

How Do YOU Define Success?

      Do you find it noisy? Life seems to be an endless challenge by nature, the elements, our senses and our ability or lack thereof to keep going. I find I've developed a blinders-on mindset, when things get too noisy. Keeping focused on the most important one or two things, and letting everything else take care of itself. We are bombarded, but our ability to cope has to do with many different cycles. Did we get proper nutrition, yesterday? Did we have a good night's sleep? If not, do I need to make some changes today to fix that? We certainly have to deal with survival issues, first, right? Or, can we skimp here and borrow from another reserve? Maybe I can keep this streak going, just one more day, even though it is not optimum?

      I don't think that we can operate in any other way, than a blinders-on, heads-down way. Although our powerful brain is always processing hundreds, if not thousands or millions of stimuli and commanding responses, consciously we only get a glimpse of all of that. Bits and pieces we perceive as ideas or emotions - a combination of various senses constantly flow within our minds. However, the more focused, or single-minded we choose to become, all of that quiets down. It never goes silent. It just becomes the white-noise background.

      What do we choose to focus on? To be successful, I think we have to focus on those things that move us towards success. But do we recognize this, and, have we taken this control by developing the habit of commanding our mind to serve us? It all starts with what we desire to achieve out of life, I believe. Success has to be defined by us, individually. Too many of us identify with what we do for a living. Our job is our fixed routine where we focus all of our efforts. Everything else is done with what is left over. Were we born with the skills we use for this job? No way. We may have some talent, but in order to use that, we had to develop and hone our talents. We had to add skills, some which have nothing to do with the talents we have. To be successful, to me, means leaving a legacy which I've worked to establish by developing my talents and learning skills to accomplish the goals of my heart-felt desires. Once we ask ourselves to reflect and identify these desires, the rest is a one-day-at-a-time journey, where a slight edge is used to break free and own our life and legacy.

with gratitude and in service,

Tony Koker

P.S. If you are like me, and want to join with our group, where we work on our skills together, every week, then reach out to me and I'll plug you in.

Image Credit: CanStockPhoto.com

Teamwork and Mastermind Sessions

Teamwork and Mastermind Sessions

      What if you started building an M-L-M business, and then your company went belly-up? Don't laugh - it has happened to many, many people in this business. What would you do? Would you have to start over from scratch?

      Well - NOT if you have strong trusting relationships with your people! If you have taken the time and made the effort to build that steel-ribbed "know, like, & trust," then your people will stick with you. They will follow you to your next company. They will trust in your judgment.

      If you haven't built those relationships, your future is very much in doubt. Why take that chance? As you build your team, work hard at getting close to every person in your group. That strategy will pay off for you big-time, whether your current company is around forever or not.

      We can help you learn and apply this principle. If you would like to plug into our ongoing, live training sessions, let us know and we will hook you up.

with gratitude and in service,

Tony Koker

Image Credit: CanStockPhoto.com