A Slice of Life

I find it rather interesting how, in different areas of our lives, we are associated with “slices” of various communities.

My husband and I walk a couple miles most days in our local mall.  There are varied groups of people represented in those we meet while walking.  There are a few people who walk that I actually know from outside the mall.  When we pass them, we often stop and chat for a couple minutes. 

Then, there are people like, “the guy who had a stroke.” We don’t know his name.  Like us, he has been a “mall walker” for quite some time.  The first few times we saw him he walked very slowly, with some difficulty, and he didn’t respond when we wished him a good morning.  From his gait and appearance, we guessed that he had a stroke.  After a while, he nodded his head in acknowledgement of our greeting.  More recently, he is walking more briskly and actually says, “Good morning” and smiles.  Walking has been really good for him.

Several months ago, we sometimes stopped and spoke a few minutes with a couple, Doug and Karen, around our age. After a few months, we noticed that Doug frequently stopped and rested on one of the couches. He complained about it being difficult to walk and that he had gone to the doctor for some tests. As the weeks went by, Doug’s wife was at the mall, but he was not.  She said he had become quite ill.  We learned last week that Doug had Lou Gehrig's disease and had passed away.

There are a few young women, one who pushes a stroller with her child.  The young people walk quickly, with great energy. We are in a military community, so we often see older gentlemen, who we believe are retired military because their stance and haircuts.   There are far more women walking the mall than men, some slim, trim and healthy looking, others not so much.

I belong to an organization that represents different areas of the community as well. About half are “mature” women, quite a few retired teachers, a few older gentlemen, and several younger women who work various jobs (mostly on our military base), some with young children.

Members of my Xpress Healthcare team also represent an array of different ages, experience and backgrounds.  Many work full-time jobs and work their Xpress business part-time.  We have several stay-at-home moms, a minister, retired police officers, senior citizens – both male and female, health insurance agents and sales people.

I think it is interesting that such a varied group of people - in the mall, in my club and on my Xpress team – have one or two things in particular in common, while nearly everything else in their lives is totally disconnected from one another.  Just sayin’…

To be part of my team, or for more info about Xpress Healthcare, please visit my website.

Life is the Sum of All Your Choices – Albert Camus

People throughout the world are searching for a business opportunity every day.  There are many things to consider when choosing a home business, but in my opinion, the two main things to consider when researching for an opportunity are: 

1) Is it a reputable, legitimate company? 

2)  Is it a good fit for you?  Will you be able to be passionate about the product or service the company offers?

All the rest of my suggestions here relate to those two questions.

It can be time-consuming and challenging to find a business that is right for you, but it is well worth the effort. Just because you've heard of a company or they have been around for 20 years does not necessarily mean they are reputable or that it is a good fit for you.

Do NOT rely entirely on the Better Business Bureau!  Some perfectly legitimate businesses simply choose not to pay for BBB membership. While many very good organizations are accredited and highly rated by the BBB, a while back there were some questions about the validity of the BBB grading.  Watch this video to learn more. 

If a company promises or guarantees a huge income, be wary.  Since some people will never apply themselves, and some don’t have the right skills for the business, there is no way EVERYONE will be successful, let alone earn a huge income, with any company.

If a company’s advertising makes it seem too good to be true, go with your “gut,” because it probably is.  If the company has no product or service to sell, how is the company staying in business?  If all their income is from bringing new representatives into the business, it is not a legal company.

When you perform an internet search on a company, if you find many complaints about the company, steer clear.  Keep in mind though that some excellent companies have complaints filed against them for various reasons, so a few complaints alone may not mean the company is disreputable.  Do your homework, not only on the company’s own website, but also on third party sites to see what those outside the company say about them.

Learn about the product or service being offered.  Would you buy it?  What is the cost of the product?  No matter how great the product, if it is too expensive, you may not be able to sell it. 

Determine what the TRUE cost of operating your business will be.  Most business opportunities have a fee involved at some point, whether it is an up-front cost or a monthly fee.  If a company claims that it is totally free to start and operate the business, determine exactly how the business is earning money.  There are some companies that tell you there is no start-up cost, but then charge hundreds of dollars for the training – or you must travel great distances for training. 

When you speak to a representative with the company, do you feel a “connection” and find them to be honest and open?  If they "hype" the business, overstating your possible income, perhaps there is someone else with the same company with whom you would rather work.  Your success may depend on the training and support of this rep, so be sure you feel comfortable with them.

Consider the company’s compensation plan. Some people like to have “multiple streams of income.”  Others like a simple payment plan.  Neither is right or wrong, but be sure that you understand the comp plan and that it is acceptable to you. If you do not understand their comp plan, that company is not right for you.

Determine whether the company pays a one-time commission or residual income.  With residual commission, you will earn money from each active customer/client who is paying a monthly fee.  Straight commission means you are paid once for each sale.

There is no business right for everyone.  However, if you take the time to research a company thoroughly, and take advantage of all training offered by the company, success is up to you.

If you would like to learn about my company, Xpress Healthcare, visit my website.

The Times They Are a-Changin'

Network Marketing businesses are constantly changing.  Changes with a new business are almost a constant.  When a new business is launched, the owners are feeling their way, trying to determine what works and what does not.  

Even great ideas, changes that will benefit everyone involved, can cause anxiety.  Because of the inevitability of change, those with flexibility and an open mind will survive changes more readily. 

Those who readily adapt to changes will benefit the most and the soonest from company improvements.  For the most part, the reps in a company will learn and appreciate the changes. Those with a positive attitude will sail through the transition.

Not all changes bring the expected results.  A company occasionally will make a change and later realize that it was not as beneficial as they had expected.  A company may even reverse the change, or make another change in its place that will be more effective.  I see this as a positive, because it demonstrates that the company is willing and able to keep their eyes and minds open to enable them to see the true results. 

The company with which I am affiliated, Xpress Healthcare, is only three years old.  We are not a “start-up.”  We are well established in the network marketing industry, but not yet a huge company.  The founders of the company are two energetic, innovative young men.  They are bright, always striving to do what is best for their Affiliate Business Owners.  After all, if the ABO’s are successful, the company will benefit.

So, hardly a month goes by that something new and different isn’t introduced to us.  I have been with the company long enough to have seen many changes and I have yet to see a change put into effect that did not help the ABO’s and improve the company.  

Xpress Healthcare is on the verge of announcing some remarkable changes.  Along with one of my team members, I was involved with our corporate office helping to determine exactly how the changes would be applied and put into effect. We are really excited about these changes and know they will help the company and all its affiliates earn more money quicker.  Unfortunately, we have not been allowed to tell our team members until final approval comes through. We want to shout it from the rooftops, but we cannot. 

If you too would like to benefit from the upcoming Xpress Healthcare changes, please visit my website to learn more.

Totally Unique Bonuses

Everyone loves bonuses.  When you work with a corporate-type business, you may earn bonuses for reaching certain sales levels, or perhaps Christmas bonuses.  (I haven’t worked FOR someone in so long… Do they still give Christmas bonuses?)

Many network marketing companies also offer bonuses when you accomplish a particular number of sales.  We all love cash.

I work with a very different company, unique in many ways from other network marketing companies.  One of the most significant differences between Xpress Healthcare and virtually every other company is their bonus program.

Xpress offers several different bonus levels from XP1 (Xpress Producer 1) to XP6, and then the levels are Junior VP, Executive VP and Founders Club.  To reward new Affiliate Business Owners (ABO) for their very first sale – either selling a product or recruiting a team member – Xpress provides them with a beautiful high-quality Agency Ownership Certificate.  This is the XP1 bonus.  Mine still hangs on my wall beside my desk.  Nineteen months later, I am still proud to display it.

Both XP1 and XP2 are for direct sales by the ABO’s themselves.  From that point on, levels are achieved for their entire Agency, sales made by the ABO and their entire team (downline).

I was the first person in Xpress Healthcare to achieve XP3 level last year.  I received the beautiful plaque you see here.  

At XP5, the bonuses begin getting exciting.  Those reaching that level receive a brand new computer and printer, including all the accessories.  At XP6, the bonuses become unique from other companies.  XP6 ABO’s receive a 60” flat screen TV AND $200 will be donated in their name to the charity of their choice.

JVP level ABO’s will be awarded a JVP ring, and a needy family will be provided with $1000 per year clothing allowance!  Xpress Healthcare appreciates that at this level, ABO’s can purchase many of their own luxury items, so they make donations to families in need in the ABO’s behalf.

EVP level, Xpress will provide $4000 per year to a needy family in the ABO’s name.   At the top level, Founders Club, Xpress Healthcare will sponsor a deserving individual to go to college or purchase a car for a family in need. 

Those of us working with Xpress know that we are working to grow a business and earn money, but we also know that when we do build a very successful business, we are also helping others less fortunate than ourselves. 

The Bonus Program Xpress Healthcare offers is just one of many ways that the company stands out from the crowd.  If you are a charitable person seeking a business opportunity, I suggest you take a look at Xpress.  We may be exactly the company for which you have been searching.

To learn more about Xpress Healthcare and Julie Klein, please visit http://julie.joinxpress.com/business.html

The Failing United States Education System

For many years, public education in the United States has been in decline. American students’ education does not compare to that in other developed areas of the world. Research has shown that schools in Asia, for instance, are among the highest performing in the world.  Why?  They invest in their teachers.

In most areas in Asia, teachers are held in high regard, respected in their society.  Their teachers are well paid and well trained.  School systems in the U.S. are failing in science, math and reading literacy.

In order to compete in the increasingly technological and innovative society in which we live, we must begin producing well-educated students. 

In the United States, most public school teachers are poorly compensated, and they are not generally well-respected.  Teachers are preparing the next generation, and yet, we pay them poorly and often treat them as though they are there to serve us.  We should be serving them, helping the teachers by providing them with the best equipment and educational materials available.

Unlike when I was in school, teachers do not simply teach today.  In many schools, they are more disciplinarians that instructors.  Students come to school with myriad issues, complicating the education of our children.  Teachers face violence in their classrooms, deal with homeless children and kids with emotional problems.  In years past, these issues were extremely rare, but not so today.  Is it any wonder that there are fewer and fewer really good teachers in our schools today? 

That brings up another issue.  The way most school systems operate, they often cannot terminate bad teachers.  Once they have tenure, they often have a job for life, and many of our children are spending their days with teachers who likely are there simply for a paycheck.

I realize that there are many excellent teachers, and some public schools are better than others.  But as a whole, our education system needs huge improvement, and it needs to begin now!  As adults, we are responsible for demanding it, making our legislators fix our failing education system.  This is not a political party issue, because we are all at fault.

If we do not stand up for our children’s education, who will?

To learn more about Julie Klein and her business, visit http://julie.joinxpress.com/business.html

I do xxx really well...

Everyone has some skill, special quality or talent, whether it be personal or business related, musical or artistic, or myriad other things.

So, I was thinking a few days ago about my own skills, qualities or talents.  I’ll be revealing a bit about myself here, both good and bad.  I do not sew, knit or crochet.  I am a decent, although not great cook. 

I have two hobbies: 

Genealogy – I have been researching my family and my husbands’ family for 30+ years.  I have made many wonderful discoveries.  It is an exciting and frustrating hobby.  So, yes, I have accomplished a great deal with genealogy, but I am also a bit lazy about it. During the last 10 years or so, all my research is done on the Internet, so I am discovering what other people found before me.

Beading – I just took it up this year, and I make necklaces for myself, not to sell.  I have not mastered putting the clasp on properly, but I do get compliments on them.

I raised two fine young men alone since my first husband died when they were young.  I did the best I could with the knowledge I had at the time, but I would do many things differently if I could go back and change them.  My kids went through lots of crises in their lives, for which I am only slightly responsible.  Mostly, knowing the difference between right and wrong, they made many poor choices in their teen years. However, I apparently was a decent mother since my sons have become good men.

Looking back over the years, one thing stands out that I have done and continue to do is something I didn’t even realize I did until recently.   I have always been a leader of sorts.  I created and ran organizations.  I was a supervisor on most of my jobs, training and assisting others.  I currently am the leader of a rather large team of network marketers.  After giving it some thought, I see that one of my greatest skills is that when I am training and supervising people, I am able to remember what it was like to know nothing about the task I am teaching.  I train and supervise well, because I am patient with those I train. 

I have been “taught” jobs and tasks by people throughout the years who knew the job so well that they seemed to believe that I did as well.  They taught me as though I already knew whatever it was they were teaching me.  That is one of my strongest skills and abilities.  I am a pretty good mentor and team leader.

It took me the better part of a lifetime to realize that I have this ability.  Now that I am aware of this talent, I must admit that I am proud of myself.

What is a normal childhood?  What is a normal family?  What is a dysfunctional family?

I have heard friends tell me about the abuse they suffered as children.  A couple of them were beaten, others were sexually abused by some family member, and still others were verbally abused.

I have always said that I had a fairly “normal” childhood.  Back then, spanking was acceptable, and I was spanked a few times, not beaten, spanked.  My dad threatened to beat me with a belt, but he never did.  Is that verbal abuse?

I would say that when I was a young child, we were at the low end of middle class.  As I grew up, by the time I was in my teens, we had moved more solidly into middle class.  My dad worked a few different jobs throughout my childhood before eventually opening a wonderful, very successful restaurant which he owned for 25 years before retiring. 

We were able to take trips, and my dad made them so much fun.  Wherever we went, he knew the history and stories to tell relating to our surroundings.

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My sisters both got involved with drugs for several years, so there were some screaming matches between them and my parents.  There were years – particularly when I and my sisters were in our teens - when there was a lot of drama in the family, lots of yelling. 

My dad worshipped my mother, so if any of us kids did anything to hurt her, he exploded!  My dad had quite a temper when he was a young man, mellowing as he grew older.  He never beat us, but he threw things and yelled a lot.  Heaven forbid if we woke him up on his day off! 

My brother came along when I was 11 years old, 7 ½ years younger than my younger sister.  The family dynamics changed.  We all adored our baby brother.  Because we were all older than him, it was almost as though he was raised as an only child by much more mature parents.  And, he was the only boy. 

My older sister was married and out of the house when my brother was only five, a few years later, I was married and gone, then my younger sister married and was gone.  I never lived with my brother when he was a teenager, but I am certain it wasn’t nearly as chaotic as when my sisters and I were teens.

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Many families I know are avid church goers, so that is a large part of their childhood, and it certainly has to have an effect on their family’s behavior.  Because I grew up in the 60’s, the “love generation,” I knew people who OD’d and died. I had friends who did drugs, but I was never tempted for some reason. I grew up in the same home as my sisters, but they were really “messed up” with drugs for some years. 

Today, the composition of a family is also very different from years ago.  Divorce is much more common, so there are step parents and step children.  There are parents of the same gender raising children together, some getting married. (Nope, I will not touch the religious or political aspects of this.)  Since my first husband died when my children were very young, I raised my own sons as a single mom. 

All these different family combinations are very different than in generations past.  Right or wrong?  Good or bad?  Everyone has their own opinion on that.  My opinion will remain my own.

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However, to return to my original questions, how can we measure “normal?”  Can normal mean something completely different to you than it does to me?

Although there was some craziness in my family, I still believe that I had a normal childhood.  How about you?

To learn more about Julie Klein and her business, Xpress Healthcare, visit:  http://julie.joinxpress.com