Two are better than one

Okay, I have a question that I hope you in fact have asked yourself. What would you do if you walked into work tomorrow and were handed that slip of paper that looks so cheery on the outside yet everyone dreads it? I'm talking about the pink slip. It's all nice and pretty looking but no one wants to get one.

Consider that it can in fact happen to you. With U.S. company layoffs at over a quarter a million a month, workforce reduction is not something you are immune to. Look at wall street big shots now working pay check to pay check to make ends meet...everyone from execs to blue-collar workers are at risk. Even healthcare which was once considered safe is clipping areas of work.

In December 2007, our country went into a "recession"...but for many, it's been a great depression for them. I've seen close friends wonder how they are going to feed the kids each night. So here's the bottom line...if you work a job like most of the U.S. population where your family relies on a paycheck to meet expenses, then your income is at risk.

Let's take a close look at something.

Most people know of only ONE kind of income...the kind where you trade

time or service for money. You work for an hour and in exchange, a fair trade is made for that work. It's not a bad thing, because it is good, honest work and certainly you can and should be proud of it. The problem is it's reliability during a recession! Fewer people are employed and therefore less money is paid out or that time or service given by you.

So what does one do?

Look at the title of the blog entry: Two is better than one. There is another kind of income that not many people know about or understand. It's the kind authors, songwriters and movie stars are paid. It is called "residual income".

Residual income is getting paid over and over for something you have only done one time....AKA Rock Star money!! This is why there are copyright marks on media products. You pay, and they get the residual. (You've been a part of residual income practically your entire life...just on the giving end and not on the receiving end!)

But it isn't just for some people...anyone

can get it. If you own a biz with real estate rental properties. However, you need specialized knowledge in this area.

So what do you do if you don't have this kind of knowledge? Well, you need to learn to evaluate opportunity and have a different outlook. Think entrepreneurial.

As an entrepreneur, like a business owner, you don't have a boss or supervisor determining your income for you. Bosses determine your income (hopefully....) by your education, experience and connections. But now YOU can decide your income based on YOUR OWN ACTIVITY LEVEL (this is the key...you have to have ambition).

Here's the thing tho...not all businesses create residuals. If you own a restaurant, you only make money by selling a meal, one time. If you repair electronics for a living (like my dad did...he is my entrepreneurial influence) you only get paid for each job. Even a doctor only earns money once as they see patients. If you are a foot doctor and someone has a brain tumor, the patient doesn't require you and therefore you don't get paid.

Two names

There are 2 billionaires who know about business. One is Robert Kiyosaki, the other is Donald Trump. Both have a knowledge in real estate, but realize it isn't for everyone. Knowing this, and realizing that the average American needs residual income, they evaluated business to find how the average person could get ahead. They found that one business model stood out from the rest. It creates the residuals people need nowadays, but requires little start up (as opposed to owning a restaurant), low overhead, and could be operated part-time until it created enough cash flow for an entrepreneur to transition out of their full-time job.

They found this residual income can be acquired thru direct selling. Now, I've heard excuses from people, such as I can't sell" or "I hate selling". How are those excuses workin' for ya? Makin' ends meet with left-over income to spare for the kids 'college funds? House repairs done or even better, a new house? Or whats more... Are you financially independent yet, or still stuck in the same situation? NO EXCUSES.

Direct selling is also called "network marketing", of which Trump touts, "Network marketing has proven itself to be a viable and rewarding source of income" that "has stood the test of time". And obviously it is true, because you are not by yourself when you get into business for yourself in network marketing. This is because while you can sell a company's product independently as the business owner, you can build and help train a team of people to do the same.

Paul Zane Pilzer is an author and former economic advisor to two White House administrations, and here is what he has to say: "Your income is created by you and from the residual efforts of the people you've helped as they continue to consume the product or service you offer."

It's NOT what you may think

I said it earlier and I'll say it again...you don't have to be gifted in sales to be involved in direct selling. Just take me for example...I'm a musician, and while in high school I had terrible grades and was never seen as gifted. So, I educated myself and came to realize certain key principles I needed to do every day to become successful.

See, the opposite is true of what you may think or even were taught...you don't have to be gifted to get ahead. There is an awesome book sitting right next to me called The Slight Edge, which I have read several times. It's author, Jeff Olson, has become a multi-millionaire thru direct selling. He says that the "natural salesman" will succeed in direct selling by forgetting everything they know about selling. Read that last sentence again. How can this be? "Only 5% of people are natural born salesmen, anyway", and he adds that network marketing is about sharing information and products, and NOT HARD SELLING THEM.

Direct Sales in terms of it's reputation

Okay, so back in the '80s and '90s, direct selling/network marketing got a sour reputation because some people decided to ruin it for the rest of us. Unethical people promoted it as a "get rich quick scheme" rather than an actual business model...and while a great many in the industry have actually become stone-cold wealthy, many have done it to create a lifestyle of not having to worry about when the next meal is due to the residual income that direct sales created for them. This happened because of their own time and effort, whether part-time or gung-ho in sharing the products and business with others,and then teaching those people to do the same thing. This is steadfast and honest effort, not a scheme, and the good reputation of network marketing is coming back.

Since the economy is pretty bleak today, many people have joined network marketing...I have seen many friends join companies, whether it be what I am a part of or what their passions have drawn them to. I applaud them...the idea of slacking off is starting to decrease! Look at how many people who are honest and hard working are stepping up to the plate, upping their game on productivity and value to their employers, by coming in early and staying late. But on the other hand, some are accepting pay cuts or less hours just to KEEP their jobs.

Some people are becoming more frugal...not buying the "American Dream" wants of life and saving their money. And others are taking 2nd and even THIRD jobs, sacrificing family...for survival...even with jobs paying less than $8 an hour.

Now, these may be wise actions, but they will not make your income recession-proof.

My suggestions:

1) be among those who self-educate themselves

2) be sure to consider the opinions of the experts...like Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump. They have made fortunes in evaluating opportunities and pursuing that which offers residuals. They both agree that network marketing has proven itself a rewarding source of residual income.

3) be sure to keep the family in mind. You...not a boss or an exec...YOU must control your own income. Direct selling is key.

Looking for a business to get started in? Shoot me a message with your likes/dislikes and your goals and I'll point you in the right direction, to a business right for YOU. Passion about what you do is key. "You have to love what you do. Without passion, great success is hard to come by." - Donald Trump

- Dave

davidrydelnik@gmail.com