The 4-Hour Work Day - Shadowing Fortune 500 CEOs and Self-Made Millionaires

Have you wondered why America's richest business people, from Fortune 500 executives to successful entrepreneurs, are making millions yet they spend much less time working than their overworked cohorts? This article unveils the secrets that today's ultra-wealthy use to generate million-dollar incomes by spending less time working and more time enjoying life.

Wouldn't you love to work 4 hours a day and still manage to create an empire of wealth that far exceeds your wildest dreams? Heck, why not work toward a 4-hour per week schedule? If you don't believe that it's possible, then it definitely isn't! Just keep in mind that the self made millionaires have unrelenting belief in themselves and that they will achieve whatever goals they set for themselves.

While it might seem unfair, the reality is simple. Fortunes are being made by a very small percentage of people. These fortunes are collected by the industry leaders as they continue to spend less and less time in the office, on business calls, on business travel, and worrying about office politics. In fact, there is an elite class of today's wealthy that shares some common characteristics: they don't come from old money, they've achieved millionaire status on their own, and they are trading the traditional concept of retirement (work to age 65 then live off savings) for multiple mini-retirements all throughout their lives!

So why is it that most people are putting in 80, 90, and 100+ hours per week to pull in a $70,000 annual salary (give or take a few grand) while others, who are no more talented than you and I, are pulling off high 6-figure and 7-figure incomes and they hardly work a 20-hour week?

The answer is simple. But I have to add this caveat: to understand the answer is one thing. To put it to practice is another. Not that it's difficult to do; it is simply that most people don't believe that they can.

Unfortunately, most people dream of what they want and then they stop there. You've done it. I definitely was a victim of this phenomenon as well. You're probably doing it in some way, shape or form this very moment. You have a clear idea of that gorgeous house, luxury cars, private school for the kids, all the free time in the world to spend golfing, vacationing, hiking the Appalachians for 3 months - whatever your particular dream plays out like. And then Poof! It vanishes into thin air. Monday morning alarm clock rings and you're off the rat race, the daily grind, the worm hole.

So what can you do to change things around so you are taking advantage of 4-hour work days and living it up the rest of the week?

Action Plan & Leverage

The problem stems primarily from the fact that most people don't follow through with an action plan. A good action plan focuses on leveraging the resources that are within arm's reach in order to transform your dreams into reality. It is this action plan, simply stated, that you will need in order to design your lifestyle and have complete control over what you do, when you do it, how you do it, and with whom you do it. It is then the practical application of leverage that will ultimately give you the time and financial freedom that you seek.

Successful entrepreneurs have already figured this out and are in continuous and evolving implementation mode. They have the same dreams as you. The only difference is that they have an action plan to acquire and recruit the appropriate resources, and the wheels are put in motion.

Daily Affirmations

Do you regularly and systematically remind yourself what it is you are working toward? If not, you must consider that this is one of the most important and most overlooked requirements for success. Countless CEOs and entrepreneurs have for years repeatedly and publicly confirmed that if there was one thing that they could trace back to being the main reason for their success, it was the daily routine of affirmation.

My vision (my dream) is posted in clear view in my home office as a daily reminder of where I’m heading. At the beginning of every day, I have a brief yet focused moment of orientation. It is the friendly tap on my shoulder that defines what I am working towards. There is no mistaking where my ship is sailing, even if I do experience the occasional rough seas that tosses my ship slightly off course. This sets the positive, motivational tone for my day.

Achieving More with Less Time

When was the last time you took all day to finish a project that could've taken just an hour to complete? We've all been there. Thanks to deadlines, most of us who have a naturally tendency to procrastinate will perform with the highest degree of efficiency in the 11th hour. Let's be honest - we all have other things we'd rather be doing, right? We might have a month before a particular project is due, but the majority of the work is done in the final 3-5 days.

Have you considered how vastly different your daily routine might be if you planned better and focused all your energy on being as highly efficient as possible? It's not as difficult as you might think. And it's actually very motivating when you align your goals with your dreams.

A case in point: I used to work 14-hour days when I started my first company selling insurance (I have since moved on to a much more satisfying and flexible business model). At that time, my primary means of income was commission from the sale of health and life insurance policies. Every appointment I had was a face-to-face appointment and so it goes without saying that I never made a sale unless I drove to somebody's home or office. Now think about all the time I wasted on the road, driving to and from appointments. And to further compound the wasted time, I did not generate sales from every appointment (I've never met anyone who has 100% closing ratio). So aside from the drive time for appointments I did sell, I had 4-6 times more time wasted on appointments with no sales. This was a huge cause of my frustration with that business.

So I reinvented my business by cutting out 100% of my drive time!

The result: I generated the same income in 4 hours work per day that I did in 14 hours when I was driving to every appointment. In fact, I later went on apply this same technique to my network marketing business and it has dramatically improved my quality of life! Now I have the extra time to devote to anything I want: I can focus more on quality family time, getting involved in other investment projects, golfing, exercising, etc.

Final Thought

Articulate your dreams. Write them down. Read them over and over again every day until you have them imprinted so clearly in your mind that you can begin to imagine yourself already achieving your dreams. It is then, and only then that you can begin to seek out ways to dramatically improve your life and your business. You can work less and achieve more - but you have to want it.

See you at the top!

Top 10 Strategies to Work Less and Golf More!

Have you ever imagined designing your lifestyle in such a way that enables you to play golf any time you want while generating more income than you are currently? This article reveals the top 10 rock-solid strategies used by ultra-successful entrepreneurs to work less so you can hit the links as often as the pros do!

After you read this short article, you'll feel infused with fresh, ironclad, time-tested strategies that will help you quickly scale back the amount of time you spend on "work" and spend more time on the links. But please keep in mind that what you'll learn here is not some random list of ideas to help you work less and therefore earn less. No way! You're smart enough to realize that would be totally counterproductive to your cause - to support your lifestyle and hang out on the golf course 7 days a week!

What you're about to discover are proven strategies put to work by all of the ultra-successful self-made millionaires, at least all those who value and put to practice the concept of true leverage in every aspect of their business.

Important Note: If you're an employee (i.e., you work for someone else), I'll be frank with you. This is going to be a bigger challenge than if you're an entrepreneur. But even if you don't currently own your own business, don't worry - it's never too late to become a successful entrepreneur. And if you can't see yourself ever not working for someone else, that's okay too, but you'll have to be a bit more creative with how you can implement the following strategies to work to your advantage.

The Top 10 Strategies to Work Less and Golf More:

1. Leverage the 80/20 Principle

Boost your efficiency by removing the fat from your daily activities. Have you ever noticed that sometimes it takes you what seems like an eternity to complete a particular task? That same task, when you're faced with a strict deadline, then literally take you less than an hour to polish off! There are many reasons for this phenomenon. Simply take the time to identify activities that take 20% of your time and are directly related to generating 80% of your income. This will show you exactly where you should be focusing your time.

2. Automate Your Business

I have spoken with so many business owners over the years who have told me with a straight face, "These are great ideas, but my business is unique and can't be automated." My boilerplate response: "Think outside the box." Regardless of what business you're in, if you're putting in too many hours to cater to the other important things in your life, then something has to change. Pick your business apart, identify the cash cows and other profit centers, then pinpoint ways to put those income generating gems on autopilot.

3. Get Involved in Network Marketing

The network marketing industry has been around for approximately 50 years. Companies who have embraced this model for distribution of their products and services have experienced phenomenal growth and profitability. And so have network marketers, myself included. But the multi-level marketing (MLM) model has left a sour taste with the uninitiated, so many entrepreneurs tend to shy away from this industry for fear of "scams." Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki said that if they had to rebuild their entire fortunes from scratch, they would do in network marketing. Do your due diligence: find a great company, with top-tier products, and favorable compensation model, and watch your income explode in 6 months.

4. Invest in Rental Properties and Other Companies

The concept of passive income that is promoted so feverishly by the likes of Robert Allen and Kiyosaki focuses on investing in rental properties and businesses. This is where you can develop multiple streams of income that continue providing cash inflow long after working on the initial transaction. In other words, if you invest in a duplex, you spend some time upfront on the acquisition, then you can sit back and enjoy the cash flow without having to invest any more time into it. Aim to find cash flow generating assets that you can take over ownership of.

5. Hire a Business Manager or Virtual Assistant

This is a technique that many business owners use for leveraged income. Simply stated, if you have certain tasks (or entire companies for that matter) that can be outsourced to a manager or virtual assistant, then you're freeing up your time to do what you want with. It might skim a bit off your profit margin, but the time freed up is more valuable since you can then use it to find other investment opportunities.

6. Host One-Time Events

The concept of active leveraged income comes into play when you actively spend time on a one-time project and the income generated from this one-time event can be exponential. For example, let's say you host a for-fee seminar. The time you spend on this seminar will be the same whether you fill the room with 20 people or 200 people. Oversell the event so you account for buyer's remorse cancellations and make the most of your time.

7. Repackage Your Products and Services

Most entrepreneurs don't realize how many additional income opportunities they can have by simply repackaging products they already have. For instance, if you're selling a hardcover book entitled, "21 Recipes Every Mom Needs" then you have an opportunity for, just off the top of my head, at least 27 other products: and ebook that you retail on your web site, an ecourse that provides you with one new recipe per week for 21 weeks, 21 other ebooks (one per recipe with a much lower price tag), a dvd product, an audio cd product, a seminar (hmm, one-time event for leveraged income), a free teleseminar (a much lower cost one-time event opportunity), and the list goes on...

8. License Your Ideas and Products

If you have your own ideas or inventions that you have patented or is patent pending, have you considered licensing them to resellers and distributors in exchange for royalty payments? You can very well do the same for any services you provide that you've successfully repackaged as an ebook, CD course, etc. This is yet another fast and effective way to build a residual income stream.

9. Resell Other People's Products

On the flip side, if you don't have any products of your own (and even if you do), you can go out and find products that your existing customers and prospective clients will benefit from. In essence, you become a reseller, buying at a wholesale price and selling for retail, thereby pocketing the difference. Think of products that would complement your existing offerings and not products that will cannibalize your business.

10. Coordinate Regular Golf Outings

This is the one I really enjoy. As you might have already figure out, I love to golf. I jump at any opportunity to play 18 holes with pleasant company. Why not coordinate regular golf outings that will attract local professionals to (a) have a great time away from the office doing something you love, (b) meet new and interesting people from all walks of life who may very well turn out to be excellent prospects, and (c) build your public image so that more people become aware of who you are and what value you offer.

Final Thought

The largest and most successful corporations in the world are constantly re-evaluating their business models, assessing the results of key activities, and then adjusting as they deem fit. So do you think this valuable and insightful exercise is worth your time to exponentially grow your income? Well, if it means that the result is increased efficiency, improved productivity, a boost in profits, and both personal and professional growth, then absolutely!

So go re-evaluate your business today, uncover ways to create multiple, passive income streams, and start working less and golfing more!

See you on the links!

Millionaire Income or Lifestyle? - Think Carefully Before You Answer!

Everyone dreams of being a millionaire. Your perception of what being a millionaire really means for you can be the key to your success in business and in life. This article looks at the millionaire concept and the difference between chasing money versus living the lifestyle that you want.

"Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?!" That's the simple question Regis Philbin would ask at the start of every episode of the game show (he's now moved on to his other millionaire ventures). The show quickly became a smash hit from its origin in the UK to the US and instantly around the world. Why?

"Generate Insane Profits on Auto-Pilot & Become an Instant Millionaire While You Sleep!" If you've conducted any online research looking for home business opportunities, you've likely found yourself on dozens of web sites screaming outrageous promises to you of overnight riches and millionaire status. How come?

Because there is a common bond among the vast majority of people that is the "American Dream." This dream has one very simple and consistent component: the relentless pursuit of money. It is this pursuit of riches that makes you want to live in a nice house, with multiple luxury cars, and expensive toys.

This Is Unbelievable!

Quick Fact from My Quick and Dirty Google Search

First, before I share my findings with you, let me ask you this: If you have a choice (which you absolutely do) of being a millionaire or a billionaire, which would you choose to be?

So here's what I just did as I was writing this article. I ran two searches. One for the term "millionaire" and one for the term "billionaire." I found it mind boggling that there were roughly 6.76 million search results for "billionaire" compared to a whopping 16 million results for "millionaire!" But after taking a moment to think about why such a discrepancy exists, it all makes sense.

First, there are many more millionaires in the world than there are billionaires. According to Forbes Magazine, as of March 2007, there are 946 billionaires in the world with 178 of them being newcomers. (I did the math for you: the world now has 23% more billionaires than it did a year ago!) And this compares to the 9.5 million millionaires in the world (Merrill Lynch & Cap Gemini, The 2007 Wealth Report).

The second reason this discrepancy makes sense is that there were millionaires in the world way before billionaires existed. Back when having a $100,000 net worth was considered filthy rich, there were very few millionaires relative to today's numbers. For example, in 1900, there were fewer than 5,000 millionaires in the US. Not until inflation and world economic productivity grew to a certain level did we have our first billionaire (John D. Rockefeller became the world's first billionaire in 1916).

Third, it's getting easier and easier to become a millionaire these days. Inflation plays a key role in this. As prices go up, and household income levels go up, it follows that making a million dollars isn't as big of a milestone as it was a hundred years ago. But don't get me wrong, making my first million is probably the most exciting thing to happen in my life!

So let's get back to the question at hand: is it the millionaire income or is it the lifestyle that you're really after? Well, that's entirely based on where you are at this point in your life, where your mindset is, and what you still feel like you haven't yet accomplished. The answer likely surfaces when you ask yourself this question a few times and take the time to write down what it really is that being a millionaire means to you. How will being a millionaire benefit you, make you happy, and relieve all stress and worries?

Take this simple exercise and let's get to the root of it right now.

Take 60 seconds to jot down all the ways you would complete this sentence:

"Aah, if I had a million dollars I would..."

Time yourself. Go ahead, I'll still be here. 60 seconds might seem like not enough time, but just do it right now and I'll explain to you why in a minute. :)

Okay, if you have your list, then it's probably short and sweet and primarily comprised of the most important things that you want. And that's precisely why you only had 60 seconds - to make sure you didn't go off naming every make and model of every car you want in your driveway! Now you have a list of those things you consider to be of highest priority.

What you want to do next is, beside every item on your list, put a "$" symbol if that item represents something that requires money and a "*" next to the items that don't. For example, if you wrote "pay off debt," that gets a "$" since you need money to pay off your mortgage, credit card debt, etc. If you wrote something like "spend more time with kids," that gets a "*" because you don't need to write a check to do that.

If you wind up with more $ signs than * symbols, then what you're probably after at this point in time is the millionaire income. If you have more * on your list, then you're more likely in pursuit of the millionaire lifestyle. This is a quick, simple exercise to get you thinking about what you really want, income or lifestyle. You might find that you are balanced and you want a little bit of both. And your mindset will change over time as you get closer to achieving millionaire status, and perhaps decamillionaire status!

You might try this exercise in 12 months and realize that your answers have changed significantly. If they change, analyze the reasons why and make sure that you fell comfortable with those reasons. If they haven't change in a year, you should ask yourself why. There's a good chance you haven't taken any steps toward achieving the goals essential to becoming a millionaire.

Final Thought

If you've ever thought to yourself, "I will never be a millionaire," then it's true. The mind is a powerful thing, and your thoughts are what make or break your reality. If you share the American Dream, then take the time to understand what it is that you're really seeking and why. Then, and only then, will you be in full control of your destiny.

See you at the top!

Legitimate Home Businesses - How to Find the Best Opportunity For You

With the loads of bogus so-called "home-based business" claims of overnight riches, many serious opportunity seekers find it difficult to sift through the get-rich-quick schemes, money games, and flat out scams. This article shows you the most important things serious entrepreneurs should look for when searching for a legitimate home business.

What is it that differentiates a legitimate home business opportunity from the rest of the garbage out there and how can you find the one that is clearly the best one for you?

Well, the answer is simple, but not blatantly obvious. The main reason that most people have a difficult time finding a top-tier home business opportunity is because most of what they stumble into nowadays doesn't possess the most important critical success factors that are absolutely necessary to insure the highest probability of success for the incoming entrepreneur.

I've spent the past six years trying out different home businesses. Some had good potential, most didn't. I can honestly say that the ones that did have potential but didn't work for me was because those particular businesses weren't a good fit for me personally.

So how can you spot a great (not good, but GREAT) home business opportunity for you?

Here are the critical success factors that I've found to be of prime importance to insure the highest probability of success in a home business for you:

Define Your Dream

This might sound silly, but it's absolutely the first step you should take before researching potential home business candidates. Why? Well, not articulating what it is you are going to be working for is, in my opinion, a waste of time. It can be as simple as:

"I want to work for 6 months and then vacation for one month" or

"I want to earn $40,000 per month for the next 5 years and then sail around the world for 10 months" or

"I want to create multiple streams of income, most of which are on auto-pilot, so that I can do whatever I want, whenever I want."

Whatever it is, it's not silly - it's your dream! But without having a clear picture of what that dream is, most people tend not to be very successful in their businesses because the major motivating factor isn't there.

"Home Business" or "Work From Home"

Most people don't realize that there is a humungous difference between the two. A legitimate home business opportunity will provide you with a program or system that enables you to build a business that does not require you to be anywhere outside of your home office to be successful. Work-from-home opportunities simply provide different "jobs" that enable you to earn income from home, typically paying on a batch-job basis (i.e., earn $20 for every 1,000 envelopes you stuff). Big difference here, so make sure your work-from-home program isn't cloaked as a home business opportunity.

Find a Mentor

This is one of the most important steps you'll ever take after getting a good grasp on what it is you're working toward. You should find someone who (a) you can trust, (b) has the expertise to guide you, coach you, and mentor you, (c) has already achieved the results you are seeking, (d) has a proven system that you can leverage to build a profitable business as quickly and efficiently as possible, (e) has a vested interest in your success (i.e., they get paid every time you do), and (f) has good duplication on his or her team - if others are also having success with this mentor, then ask for an introduction to a few of them.

Choose Top-Tier Products

This is where most home business opportunities fall short. There are many companies that promote larger-than-life income opportunities for a business that distributes products that are nothing more than a cover-up for a money game. In short, don't just look for products; look for products that you feel have value that is much greater than their price tags. Ask what percentage of products sold are retail versus to other business owners who joined the program. That's good proof you're dealing with great products.

Leverage A Turnkey System

Successful home business owners all have one thing in common: they leverage a system that has a proven, results-oriented track record. Look for a company that will be able to provide you with a system that you can easily and quickly plug into and not have to be out on your own with regard to lead generation. If you're directed to rely on approaching your friends and family, purchased leads or handing out flyers - just run as quickly as you can in the other direction! You need to have access to a turnkey system that will bring qualified leads to you. This is a very common weak link. What you're essentially after here is a system that eliminates 90-95% of the variables that cause most businesses to fail.

Find A Company With A Solid Foundation

If you're going to make a long term commitment to a successful home-based business, it's absolutely critical that the company you're relying on for your business has a solid foundation with respect to long term vision and overall business plans. One thing to look out for is if the company is based outside of the country, hiding from the scrutiny of the government. Search the Better Business Bureau for unsettled complaints. Compare the number of complaints to the company's competitors to give yourself a benchmark of the quality of this company. Obviously, every company has at least some complaints (we consumers don't speak much about the good, but we love to scream about the bad!). Simply do your due diligence and be careful!

Choose The Right Business Model

Let's face it, there are many ways to build a business, and if you choose one that will give you the highest probability of success, it will save you a lot of heartache and pain. My personal preference is to find a reputable direct sales company. I am not a fan of multi-level marketing (MLM) models primarily because they require you to recruit thousands of people before you can start collecting decent commission checks. The attrition is huge and the commissions are typically very small, which is why building a very large team is required. With a direct sales model, when you combine a high quality product that pays a substantial commission with a proven turnkey system, you're giving yourself optimal ingredients for success.

Training, Support and Professional Development

Point blank, you're going to need all three. There is going to be a learning curve with the products, the system, your marketing, and growing your business. You need real people who will provide you with good training to get you up and running quickly, support in all stages of the sales cycle, and development (both personal and professional). The benefits to your business with the right dose of these three components will catapult your business to where you need it to be.

Part Time or Full Time

During your planning stage, you'll need to assess whether you're going to build your business on a part-time basis while still working at your current "job" or business or if you're going to jump into it full time. This is needs to be entirely up to you based on your current financial situation and based on your goals and objectives. Do not, under any circumstances, get coaxed into going full time right out of the gates if it's going to put you in any financial distress. If the business opportunity you're looking into is urging you to go full time, just walk away. It's your business and you can do whatever you want to with it. Most of the time, starting off part time is the best option since it allows you to maintain the income stream you're currently used to and use that to finance your business in the beginning months until you develop an income stream from your home business that allows you to step away from your job and realize your dreams.

At the end of the day, trust your intuition. Your gut feeling can be one of your most trustworthy sources of information when it comes to choosing the right home business for you. I'm sure you know the adage, "If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't."

So define your dream, find the best home business opportunity out there, and I'll see you at the top!

Network Marketing and Direct Sales - A Powerful Combo for Serious Entrepreneurs

For the serious, business-minded entrepreneur looking for a lucrative, legitimate home business opportunity, this article defines "network marketing," "direct sales," and sheds light on how leveraging both provides the ideal ingredients for creating true financial freedom within 2-5 years.

If you've done your research, you've probably found that many so-called "home based business opportunities" are in the network marketing industry and essentially involve some form of direct selling. There are, however, many businesses that revolve around multi-level marketing models, and those are quite different primarily due to the compensation structure (how you get paid). By finding a business that enables you to leverage the benefits of both network marketing AND direct sales, you will find that your ability to build substantial income streams from your home office in a relatively short period of time is much better.

So how is it that someone can leave the traditional business world, have the luxury of working from home, and earn a six or seven figure income, and not have to worry about the hustle and bustle of traffic, office politics and managing employees?

A Brief History on Network Marketing

For thousands of years, successful business people goods and services at the lowest price possible and sold them at the highest price for maximum profit. In the old days, haggling over price was expected in the negotiation process and the transaction culminated in a handshake deal which left both parties, give or take, mutually satisfied. This simple process of transferring goods and services was most lucrative for the small minority of entrepreneurs who knew the secret to success: network marketing!

Although the concept has been around from the very beginning of trade, the network marketing industry as a recognized industry has only been around for a few decades, and the explosive growth this industry has been experiencing has been phenomenal for both the companies and the entrepreneurs (distributors). So what is network marketing?

Network Marketing Defined

Very simply, network marketing leverages the concept of developing a network of like-minded individuals who, together, market various goods and services to others. The power of a network is actually scientifically proven to have a compounding effect on various factors of success. This is primarily due to the two primary components of any network: the node and the link.

For example, in a telecommunications network, the basic "network" is comprised of nodes and links that work together to transfer communication around the globe. The larger nodes tend to have more traffic, which is primarily due to the fact that they have more links connecting them to other nodes.

Another example: The human mind is an interrelationship of knowledge structures, which is essentially a network of nodes and links. When you think about money, perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is an image of a $100 bill and maybe the second thought is what that $100 can buy you, let's say a dinner for two. "Money" is one node, the image of that $100 bill is another node, the dinner for two is yet another node, and they are all interconnected by links (associations). If you know more about money than you do about dinners, then your "money" node is probably larger than your "dinner" node and therefore you're most likely going to have more associations with money than with dinner!

To bring this concept back to network marketing, if you create links with other like-minded people (ideally, other serious entrepreneurs who want to build successful million-dollar enterprises), then your income will grow in proportion to the number of links you have. Furthermore, your income will also be significantly impacted by the number and size of nodes that you're linked to (that is, the caliber of entrepreneurs you're working with). It is this very fundamental worldly and scientific concept that this industry is build on.

So how does direct sales fit into the picture?

Direct Sales Defined

The direct sales industry is a bit more direct (no pun intended). Quite simply, direct sales is the process of selling goods and services directly to the end consumer. Your favorite brand of soda is probably not distributed via direct sales because it is first sold by the manufacturer to the wholesaler, from the wholesaler to the retailer, and then from the retailer to the consumer. But if you were to come up with your own brand of soda and then use distributors to sell your product directly to consumers, then you'd be leveraging direct sales. You'll notice that many companies use this model all over the world.

"One-Two Punch!" A Powerful Combo

If you are a boxer, and your left hand is network marketing and your right hand is direct sales, which hand do you think your trainer would instruct you to use more often in the boxing ring? Whichever is your stronger hand? No, both! Why? Because it's the most efficient and productive combination for success.

You see, there are a few companies in North America that have built their organizations from the ground up on top-tier products and have embraced a distribution model that takes the best of network marketing and direct sales and blended the benefits of both into a win-win business opportunity for professional business owners.

Top-Tier Business Opportunities Blend

(1) Excellent products that have strong demand in their respective marketplaces

(2) A powerful compensation plan that rewards entrepreneurs very well for their efforts

(3) A duplicable system that helps the entrepreneur eliminate 90-95% of the variables that cause most startup businesses to fail

(4) Training and support via a community of other successful entrepreneurs who are willing to share their secrets to success in the business. I've underlined that last part for a very good reason: this is the critical variable that is hardest to find. But if you do find it, hold on because you are going to enjoy the ride!

To wrap up, network marketing is the basis for explosive growth in your business. Direct sales is the mechanism by which you will earn the most income, primarily due to the fact that there is no middle tier in the distribution chain to suck out a large chunk of the profit margins. Find a company that can provide you with the benefits of both models and you will find the most efficient vehicle for building up to a millionaire status within 2-5 years.

Final Thought

Do your due diligence before selecting a home business. You want to find a reputable company that has top-tier products that are standalone (can be placed for sale on a brick-and-mortar store shelf), has an excellent compensation plan, offers a supportive community to help you build your business, and has industry leaders building their businesses with this organization (this shows you that the best of the best are there, which means you probably are selecting a very good organization to work with). Most importantly, maintain a clear millionaire mindset and you will succeed.

See you at the top!

Home Based Business - The Most Valuable Piece of Advice You'll Ever Get

With so many unfounded claims of striking it rich with a home business, this article filters out the noise and boils down to the critical components of ensuring you choose a business that's right for you, and that you don't fall victim to the 97% of failed businesses every year.


You want to generate a massive income from the comfort of your home, spend more time with your family, retire early and rich, Right?

I definitely do. I believe that everyone has the right to realize the American dream...

Maybe start your day with a delicious, relaxing breakfast instead of an "eat-on-the-go" meal while you're battling traffic on your morning drive to the office?

Come and go as you please without having a boss on your tail about how long you were gone for lunch or why you can't take vacation that week because that's the week he is taking vacation?

Live a life of luxury and build something that is a real legacy to leave behind?

If you've answered an emphatic "Yes!" to each of these questions so far, then chances are good that you already possess the entrepreneurial traits and millionaire mindset required to be successful in a home business venture. But if you've ever had your own business or if you've at least researched business opportunities on the Internet, then chances are also good that you've realized that having characteristics of an entrepreneur are not going to guarantee your success.

Have you ever invested in a small business or purchased some of the many (MANY) "how-to" products out there only to wind up in a position where you've just invested your hard-earned dollars in something that did not generate the return you were banking on?

Well, there's some GOOD NEWS and there's some BAD NEWS.

The Bad: There's a nagging statistic in America that irritatingly points out that 97% of businesses will fail within their first 2 years. And we're talking about 2 years of grueling 80+ hour work weeks, including weekends, barely scraping by to make ends meet, fighting for a shining glimmer of hope not to fall victim to this very statistic.

Out of the 3% that survive their first 2 years, approximately 90% of those businesses will fail to become profitable and will wind up closing their doors, going bankrupt, and then leaving the business owner with a nightmarish load of debt to carry for eternity.

So what's the good news in all this?

The Good: As best articulated in his phenomenal, inspirational, and very widely read book, "Think and Grow Rich," Napolean Hill points out right up front that successful people all throughout history have shown, through empirical research (Hill spent most of his adult life on research for this book), that there are four things that together creates a monstrous force within a human being to compel him or her to succeed at whatever it is he or she is pursuing in life:

1. Thought - "this" idea that just hits you like a ton of bricks

2. Desire - that burning sensation that no matter what, "this" is it

3. Faith - utmost confidence in yourself that "this" is right

4. Auto Suggestion - continually telling yourself that "this" is going to happen

Altogether (along with a few other very useful concepts), having these four variables working favorably for yourself with a focus on your mission and goals, you are essentially guaranteed to succeed.

So what does this mean for you? Well, if you're still searching for "the right opportunity," then chances are that you haven't yet found a GREAT, legitimate business that offers you a simple and proven path to generating a healthy income from home. In fact, most offers you see on the Web deliver empty promises and over-inflated hype like "Make an easy 6-figure income from home without lifting a finger, sitting around in your underwear while boat loads of money are automatically deposited into your bank account..."

Any savvy business-minded professional should run, and run fast from these types of claims.

So let's consider your options:

1. Create your own product - lots of research, design and legalities to maneuver, investment of your entire savings is required 99.999% of the time or else forget about getting private investors to fund your business idea, hopefully you've assessed the market well enough that people actually buy your product AND that you're business consequently becomes profitable

2. Buy a franchise - HUGE initial capital investment, long hours by you personally managing the operation and employees, if done just as the franchisor (essentially, your boss) told you, profits may start trickling in approximately 2-3 years

3. Start an eBay store or your own ecommerce web site - invest in inventory, find products with a high enough margin to be profitable, stock inventory yourself or drop-ship (drop shipping model eats into most of your margin), and then maybe survive all the stiff competition to be a $50-100K per year business (yeah, there are people making tons of money, but they are savvy and have been doing it right and continually perfecting it for years)

4. Get involved in network marketing or direct sales (but not multi-level marketing) - limited initial capital investment, products are already packaged, tested and there is a proven market demand, exceptional leverage of your time and money, multiple streams of income so you're not relying on only one source for your family's bread and butter, very few organizations offer true ongoing support to help you build profitable business

I'm a big proponent of the network marketing and direct sales model (but not MLM), for new entrepreneurs who have never had a business of their own, for career changers who want something bigger out of life, to semi-retired folks who have built and sold several businesses over their lifetime. This is arguably the best option of all. Did you know that 95% of all home businesses are usually found in the network marketing or direct sales industry? When you're looking at the direct sales industry, the compensation model is best suited to replace your current full-time or six-figure income when compared to anything else out there. Just food for thought.

Final thought:

Do your due diligence before selecting a home business. You want to find a reputable company that has top-tier products that are standalone (can be placed for sale on a brick-and-mortar store shelf), has an excellent compensation plan, offers a supportive community to help you build your business, and has industry leaders building their businesses with this organization (this shows you that the best of the best are there, which means you probably are selecting a very good organization to work with).

See you at the top!