The Boss is Looking over Your Shoulder

One of the not-so-fun things about being an employee is that there is often someone looking over your shoulder. Your employer may even give annual performance reviews. 

It has been about a decade since I last had a boss.  I’ve worked for myself, and I am actually tougher on myself than any employer I ever had. 

It can be challenging for those just starting out with their own business to complete all their daily tasks.   Many home business owners have difficulty with time management.  I often suggest that my team members write out a work schedule to help them accomplish everything each day, week or month. 

I recently read an article that basically said the same thing, but the terminology they used was better than mine.  In the article, the home business owner suggested that we follow a routine each day.  Just getting started each day (going “to work”) can be difficult for some.  If we have a regular routine, however, it is less challenging.

I never thought about it before I read the article, but I have a routine that I follow nearly every work day.  My morning routine is about the same as if I was working a “job.”  I am an early riser and get up and have breakfast with my husband while we catch up on the TV news.  I then shower and get dressed.  I don’t wear heels and a dress, but I dress neatly, fix my hair and wear makeup. 

My husband and I then go to our local mall to walk for 30 minutes.  This time together with no phones, no email or other interruptions is physically good for us; and it is our “alone time” when we discuss various topics and connect.  It is a good way to start the day.

We arrive home at about 8 AM, and it is time for me to “go to work.”  I go to my home office, and my work routine begins.  I read and respond to my email first.  I write a blog five days a week after processing my email.  When I have new team members who need training, I schedule training sessions for late morning if it works for them. 

I do not “advertise” my business very much, but I participate quite a bit on forums and network marketing websites.  I’ve been in my current business over two years and have accumulated a variety of networking sites that are good places to “brand myself.”  I also enjoy visiting and sharing information with other members on these sites.  The forum members learn from each other and help one another promote their businesses. 

I spend time daily on three sites.  I visit a few others less frequently, a couple times a week.  My business is network marketing, so I must be flexible.  I sometimes receive calls from prospects and team members. I handle the calls and return to my routine. I won’t go through my entire day, because I’m sure you get the idea.

Home business owners who are disorganized and cannot manage their time are unlikely to be successful.  Self-motivation is also required since there is no boss looking over their shoulder to be sure they are working.  Working a home business is not for everyone, but for those of us who are able to “be their own boss,” the rewards are many.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  

Are We Safe Anywhere?

With the disastrous tornado that hit Oklahoma this week, it got me thinking.  Why would people rebuild there, when similar incidents have occurred in the past. That’s a silly question really.  Where can we live in the United States that doesn’t experience natural disasters?  Curious, I decided to do a little research. According to the Institute for Business & Home Safety, every location in the country is exposed to one disaster or another.  However, there are places that are less susceptible than others to natural hazards. Sperling’s Best Places, a data collection company, compiled weather and disaster data for over 300 major US cities.  I was surprised to find that Honolulu, Hawaii was at the top of the list as the safest place to live (in regard to natural disasters).  I thought they experienced frequent hurricanes.

Hawaii can experience hurricanes, but major ones are rare and have caused mainly localized damage with little loss of life. They also have a few brush fires, but in recent years no major ones burning down homes or injuring anyone.   I found it interesting that volcanoes weren’t even mentioned, but it is likely that those who live in the path of eruptions expect them periodically and are prepared to evacuate.

The State of Hawaii is not prone to tornadoes, wind, hail or extreme weather. According to Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), between 1972 and 2000, Hawaii had only 12 major disasters declared. That's relatively low compared to states like Texas, where 51 major disasters were declared in the same period, or California, which had 45.

Boise, Idaho and Santa Fe, New Mexico are relatively safe places to live, as are a few cities in Oregon and Washington State.  Even though natural disasters are less frequent in the Pacific Northwest, those who live there know that their area is not truly secure.  Potential natural hazards in the Norwest include tsunamis, earthquakes and volcano activity.  None of these has happened in recent years, but the possibility is there. 

The least safe places to live tend to be in the South or Coastal areas.  At the very bottom of the list for dramatic weather events is Monroe, Louisiana, where they experience frequent damaging wind and hail.  Dallas, Texas, also has lots of wind and hail and is prone to tornadoes.  Also not a safe place to live is Florida, where they experienced four major hurricanes in the summer of 2004 alone. Jackson, Mississippi, is hit by twisters with some regularity and West Palm/Beach-Boca Raton, Florida, frequently is hit by hurricanes.

Although the topic is controversial, according to many scientists, increased “global warming” will lead to more hurricanes per year, resulting in greater loss of life and property. 

Here are a few safety rankings (based on a study of 331 cities) for other large metropolitan areas.  The lower the number, the safer it is.  Honolulu, Hawaii’s rank is 1.  Washington, D.C., 153; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 246; Monroe, Louisiana, 292; Los Angeles/Long Beach, California, 282; New York, New York, 207; and Chicago, Illinois, 237.

I did no research outside the United States, so I don’t know if there are much safer places to live in other countries.  I now understand better why people continue to rebuild in areas that regularly experience natural disasters.  If they go somewhere else, they will likely just trade one type of catastrophe for another.

The Day of the Discount Plan

I recently read two articles that were really interesting that demonstrate the continued, and in fact, increasing need for Discount Health Care plans.  One article was from the online magazine “LifeHealthPro,” a publication for insurance agents; and the other was from the online version of “The Wall Street Journal.”  These are both highly regarded publications.

Much of the information will come from those two articles.  You can read them in their entirety at http://www.lifehealthpro.com/2013/05/14/ammo-against-ppaca-medical-discount-cards   and http://blogs.wsj.com/cfo/2013/05/20/the-morning-ledger-employers-eye-bare-bones-health-plans/

With the upcoming health care reforms, more and more employers are turning to medical discount cards as a way to provide fair benefits to their employees without spending a fortune.  When the discount cards first were introduced decades ago, there was no regulation.  Eventually, the reputable companies selling discount benefit cards formed the Consumer Health Alliance to establish standards for the industry. 

According to http://ConsumerHealthAlliance.com:  “Millions of consumers across the United States access discount health services offered through associations, senior organizations, educational groups, businesses, nonprofits, financial institutions, and unions among others. Entities currently offering discount health programs include" the following and many more.

Aetna                                           City of El Paso                     American Federation of State, County, Municipal Employees                                  Wells Fargo                          University of Pittsburgh Medical Center MA Plan

Compass Bank                            Bank of America                  American Legion Auxiliary                                

Citigroup                                      Civil Air Patrol                      National Association of Independent Truckers 

E-Bay                                          Texas Farm Bureau             Guaranteed Trust Life Insurance

Gymboree                                   Yeshiva University               Health Insurance Plan of New York

Wachovia                                    Panera Bread                       Houston Independent School District               

Prudential                                  SunTrust                            Texas State Teachers Association                        

Transamerica                              Trustmark Insurance          United American

Tricare                                                                                      Marine Corps Association                  

Urban Outfitters                                                                        Sears Employee Federal Credit Union

The number of Health Insurance Agents selling Discount Health plans, in addition to traditional Health Insurance, is increasing dramatically.   As employers prepare for the full enactment of “Obamacare,” they are realizing that they can avoid penalties under the law by offering “bare-bones” insurance plans that may lack benefits such as hospital coverage, pre-natal care, surgery or X-rays. 

Because so many people will have these “better-than-nothing” insurance plans, the much more affordable Discount Health plans can fill the gap, offering great discounts on those benefits not provided by their health insurance.

I am in the right business at the right time.  As an Affiliate Business Owner with Xpress Healthcare, I am privileged to be able to help those who have no insurance or whose employers offer them only minimal benefits.  Since the four plans we offer cover a variety of different benefits and are priced between $19.95 per immediate family to $49.90 per immediate family, nearly everyone can afford them.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  

Recruiting is not Enough

Leader = somebody whom people follow; someone who guides or directs others.

A few days ago, a team member in my downline called me to tell me she had canceled.  I’ll call her Jane.  Jane then said she planned to re-join, but directly to me.  Normally if a returning team member does not want to sign under their previous sponsor, I encourage them to re-sign with them anyway.  I tell them that I will still work with them, and I’ll still get paid the same.

In this situation, I did not encourage Jane to re-join with her previous who I’ll call Susan.  Susan is a couple levels below me.  I did not recruit or train her.  She explained to me that she had not heard from Susan even once since she joined our company. She had also tried contacted Susan herself, but was never able to reach her.

Although it has improved, network marketing still fights the long-held poor reputation to a degree.  When Susan recruited and then abandoned Jane, she contributed to that poor reputation.  I too joined a company several years ago and never had help from anyone to teach me the business.  It is frustrating to say the least.

Jane did what she felt was best for her.  She really wants to grow her business, building a team and selling our products.  Without someone training her, however, she knew she could not do that.   

I really do not understand why network marketers bother recruiting anyone if they don’t really want an actual team.  They can earn money just selling their product or service without recruiting if they don’t like training or helping team members.

Susan has been in network marketing for a long time.  She knows the industry and what is required, and yet she recruited only a few people who quit soon after.  Until now I didn’t realize why her team members quit so quickly.

In network marketing, team leaders must realize that they have to l-e-a-d!  So, again I say, a leader is somebody whom people follow; someone who guides or directs others.  Recruiting team members is not enough.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  

Decisions, Decisions...

There are many things to consider when you’re looking for a network marketing business.  There are so many options available today that choosing one can be daunting.

I believe that you can only be successful with a company if you are passionate about their product or service.  If you cannot sell the products due to lack of enthusiasm, all the rest of the considerations mean nothing.

Be sure you believe in the product and that there is a high demand at a reasonable price for whatever you will be selling?  Conduct a “Google” search on the product name to see what responses are generated.

Do your due diligence, lots of research on any company in which you may be interested.  When you do an Internet search of the company, look for red flags.  Are there negative posts about the company or many complaints posted by former distributors?  Most companies have a few complaints, but if there are a lot, run the other way!

Your research should include the management/ownership of the company.  Did they own another company that failed in the past?  Have you seen negative information about them?

Do you like the compensation plan the company offers?  Do you fully understand it?  Some people like working with companies that offer a variety of ways you can earn money; others like simple, straightforward comp plans.  Does the compensation plan fit into your long-term goals?

Once you have completed your “homework” about the company itself, you’ll want to choose wisely who you want for your sponsor.  Which team leader you select can make a difference as to whether or not you are successful in your business.

It is important to select a team that offers support and training in the basics of growing your business – both on and offline.  To select a prospective sponsor or team leader, you can do an Internet search on the business name to see which names come up the most and are ranked highest in the search.  Select two or three people, and search for blogs they have written, forums in which they participate and videos they have created.  You can learn a great deal about a person from their blogs, forum posts and videos.

You may want to connect with those few prospective sponsors on Facebook, Twitter, etc. to learn more about them.  If they permit it, attend a couple training calls with the team.  Learning about the person with whom you’ll be working can go a long way toward making the best choice.

If you take your time and are thorough when researching your next business, team and sponsor, the possibility of building a strong network marketing business increases greatly.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

I grew up in a mostly “all-white” community.  In my high school, although there may have been, I don’t remember any non-whites.  I believe that more than half the students were Jewish.  Since my first office job was in downtown Los Angeles, working for the County of Los Angeles, there was a wide array of races, religions and nationalities.
 My first adult best friend was Japanese, born in one of the “Internment Camps” during WWII.   Her parents had owned a nice home and a grocery store.  They were given one week to sell both before placed in the camp.  Of course, they lost both their home and store. In Europe millions of Jews and other non-Jewish victims, including Catholics, homosexuals, gypsies and more, died at the hand of Hitler and his followers.  They didn’t fit into Hitler’s “Master Race.” When I was a child, I remember my aunt, referring to her Black maid, saying, “I’m not prejudice, I even let Vera eat dinner with us.”  I didn’t understand that then, and I don’t understand it now. My father served in the army during WWII.  When a soldier in the same barracks as my dad learned that my father was Jewish said to him, “You can’t be Jewish.”  When my father asked why not, the soldier replied, “Because you don’t have a tail.”  He was raised to believe that all Jews had tails, and he truly believed it. I could go on and on about times throughout history where particular groups of people were tortured, killed, singled out or treated as property or second-class citizens. There are different words used to describe it - prejudice, bigotry, bias, racist, discrimination, stereotyping, and more – but all are basically the same behavior, an attitude or actual negative actions toward a particular group of people based solely on the fact that they belong to that group. Prejudice arises out of ignorance, although environment and upbringing certainly may contribute to it.  It is ugly.  It is irrational.  I believe it is a behavior born of fear and cowardice.  Bigotry drives people to take evil, pointless actions against other groups or individuals. I do not know now, and I never did, how any human being can think they are better than any other human being or that any one particular group of people can be considered “less than” any other group.
 I am less educated than many people, smarter than others.  I am plainer than some people, more attractive than others.  I am kinder than thousands of people, far less charitable and giving than millions of others.  I am simply me, no better or worse than any single group of individuals.
 Whoever you are, wherever you were born, no matter your sexual orientation, whatever your beliefs and to whichever race you belong, I believe that I am no better or worse as a person than you. Although I doubt it will ever happen, I pray that one day prejudice will fade into non-existence.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  

Relationships

Interesting word, relationships.  It can mean so many different things.  As children, we had a relationship with our parents. Loving them, adoring them, admiring them and wanting to be like them when we grew up. (No, I’m not that naïve. I know that not everyone has a wonderful childhood, but I’m generalizing here.) When we reached school age, we began making friends at school. Friendly relationships through which we learned social skills and how to care for people outside our own family. As teenagers, we then began dating. Another entirely different kind of relationship. Maybe we even began to feel a new kind of love for someone, at least we believed we did at the time. We may even have had our hearts broken in a “boy-girl” relationship. Once we got into the “working world,” we began learning how to act in entirely new types of relationships. The boss-employee relationship. The co-worker relationship. The subordinate relationship. A whole new set of social skills, along with learning our actual job. Some of us had to cope with competition with a co-worker for a position, or we dealt with slackers in the office where we got stuck with their work. The climb to the top created some very challenging relationships for some of us. At some point between the dating and where we are today, many of us fell seriously in love, perhaps married and had children. We (hopefully) learned what compromising meant. We learned much more about how to give in a relationship. And our roles were reversed from when we were children. Our children then believed we could do no wrong and nothing could happen to them as long as we were there. (OK, I’ll admit, this period ends pretty abruptly when our kids reached their teens.) Those of us who now have our own business, network marketers, have at least attempted to learn about this whole new world of relationships. We are building relationships with people we have never met and likely never will. This networking relationship is completely new and different from any we’ve ever experienced. This is a “blended” relationship, sometimes strictly business. Other times, the relationships build into actual friendships. We care about one another, this distant person in another city, another state, even another country. Another type of relationship I’ve developed over the past few years is with others in network marketing. I have people on my network marketing team for whom I care deeply. I’ve also developed relationship with people I have met on various forums, many of whom I consider friends.  In fact, I find a great deal in common with my team members and others with home businesses, because I’m in a place in my life where my network marketing career is very important to me.  I believe my online friends understand this. Relationships. An interesting word.  ************************ Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.