Senior Citizens in Network Marketing?

I am a senior citizen, a “baby boomer.”  It I unfortunate, but many seniors will not have enough income or investments that they need to live out their lives.  Many seniors assumed they could live on Social Security, while others simply did not plan financially for their retirement.  Now, as they reach retirement age, many realize that they cannot afford to retire. Besides the fact that a lot of older people will be able to afford to retire, many simply do not want to retire.  They enjoy staying business, helping others and working. So we see more and more elderly people working today.  Another factor is healthcare coverage.  The majority of seniors will receive Medicare; however there are some who did not work long enough to qualify for it.  In addition, even if we have Medicare, it does not cover everything at a time of our lives when we will likely have more health issues. Since many seniors will choose to continue to work as long they are able, Network Marketing can provide a very desirable option.   A Network Marketing business can easily be built from a home office on either a full-time or part-time basis.  Although it is unlikely they will quickly establish a good income, over time they can.  Those who are approaching retirement age can start their Network Marketing business before they leave their job.  That way, they can have it built and producing an income when they do retire. Many seniors enjoy networking together.  Most cities have a senior center and have various activities available to the senior community.  That brings many seniors together in one place.  The baby boomer generation lean more toward health and wellness, more so than previous generations.  Many Network Marketing businesses are health-related, which makes them a good fit.  There are a variety of business opportunities that offer products they can use and get passionate about. As with every age group seeking a home business, it is very important to carefully research any opportunity.  Besides the websites for each business, everyone should study third-party websites as well to determine what those outside the company say about them. With the job market still challenging, and especially so for seniors, Network Marketing offers them a chance to continue working and earning money as long as they wish. ======================== For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visithttp://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

How Do I Start My Family Tree?

Some of you may know that my husband and I are genealogists.  It is not a profession for us, but rather, a hobby. We are passionate about it, but it can be exciting, fun and frustrating.  We only research our own families.

I began my family research in 1974; my husband began his in the early 1990’s. I research the various branches of my mother and father’s families.   My family descends from European Jews.  My husband is adopted and his family is also Jewish Europeans.

My husband’s biographical is much more exciting.  We have met and become very close with his bio family, which has been wonderful.  In my hubby’s family, there have been kings and many well-known historical figures.  In fact, we have records going back to before Christ.

So, I’ve given you a very brief overview of the work my husband and I have done.  However, I know there are many people who would like to research their own family trees but have no idea how/where to start.  So I’ll give you a few tips on how to begin.

The most important thing is, right away, today if possible, talk to your oldest relatives - your grandparents or great Aunt Susie.  I started too late, after my grandparents were gone.  Many people like to talk about their childhood and family members who have passed.  Get as many first and last names of deceased relatives, and dates if you can.  Birth and death dates are important, but so are dates of immigration, marriage dates and dates of any important events your family can remember.

I highly recommend that you record the conversation for future reference and to keep in your records.  Allow your relative to tell stories if they like.  If they fought in a war, ask them about it.  Ask the name of your grandparent’s parents, and further back if they know them. Not only can the stories be fascinating, but they can also provide lots of helpful information that you may not realize was important until later.

The next thing I recommend is to visit a Family History Center near you.  Many cities have them.  They are operated by the Mormons (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), because family research is intertwined with their beliefs.  They have millions of records on microfiche and microfilm and more still in books.  There is always a volunteer that will help you get started.  If records you want to see are not at the location, they can order them from Salt Lake City at a nominal fee.

If you cannot get to a Family History Center, a huge amount of their records is on their website https://familysearch.org/. They have literally millions of records available to see on their site.

There are many great genealogy websites.  Some charge fees, and some are free. 

·        The largest and most well-known is http://ancestry.com.  This is a paid (and rather expensive) site, but you can research a few things on the site at no charge.  Many libraries have access to ancestry and you can use their service free.

·        http://findagrave.com has helped me on many occasions.  It is free.

·        http://ellisisland.org has phenomenal immigration records that often provide a great deal of information about the individual you are researching as well as their family.  Free.

·        http://cyndislist.org is like a directory of thousands of other genealogy sites.  Free.

·        http://myheritage.com provides links to others’ records.  This site is not free.

·        http://deathsearch.org is similar to findagrave, but they each have some records not found on the other.

·        If you have Jewish ancestry, there are two fabulous sites to research.  http://jewishgen.org and http://www.yadvashem.org/, which has many records from the Holocaust.  Both of these are free.

There are probably hundreds of other genealogy websites, but these will give you a good start.

To maintain your records, you can put everything on paper and/or use genealogy software.  I use Family Tree Maker, which is not among the less expensive.  There are free programs available online that may not have all the features offered by the expensive one, but they are a good place to start.  Check with the Family History Center to get the forms to complete about family members.  I believe you can download them from their site as well https://familysearch.org/.

I hope this information is helpful for many of you considering genealogy.  I do not do anyone else’s research, but if you need help with how to research, feel free to contact me.  I hope you enjoy tracing your own family tree as much as I have with my own.

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

How Well Do You Know Your Business?

For my team call last night, I prepared a series of 30+ questions.   The questions asked about our products, prices, and commission we were paid.  I also asked several questions about network marketing in general.  Some of these would apply to other companies besides my own Xpress Healthcare business.

First, I must say that we had a very small group on the call.  Due to the horrible weather in places, power outages in a variety of places and the Olympics being televised, there were only three team members in attendance.

I began with a few questions that had no right or wrong answers. 

• ·        I asked team members to share something they did during this past week for which they were proud of themselves.  No one had an accomplishment to report.
• ·        I asked when they forced themselves to step out of their comfort zone to perform a task, how did they congratulate themselves for their success?  One team member shared a good story.
• ·        I asked if anyone had accomplished a goal they had set for themselves during the past month, and if so, what was it.  No responses.

We market discount plans, and each plan contains several benefits.  Some of the questions were about which benefits were included in a particular plan.  The responses were mixed.  The team members knew some, but no one knew them all.

My questions included how much we are paid in residual commission on specific plans.  Again mixed answers.  No one person knew them all.

When I asked about limitations to particular plans, they knew the answers to two of the five questions.

Here’s a question for all of you reading this… What is the average amount of time it takes a rep to learn everything there is to know about your company’s products, business opportunity and the business itself?  If you answered with any number, you are wrong!  It is impossible for anyone to learn everything there is to know about their business.  The most important thing is if you cannot answer a prospect’s question, do you know exactly where to find the correct answer?

For this reason, I recommend to my team members that they review their own marketing websites to see what their prospects see, and research their “back office” to learn how to navigate it and where they will find information they need when they need it.

I was surprised to learn that no one on the call knew where our company operates.  We are a US-only company, but we do not promote our products in five states due to laws in those states.  I believe this is a very important fact to know, and I suggested that those on the call learn them – memorize them!

I also asked for the advantages of network marketing over a traditional business.  They came up with several good answers.

I sent out the list of questions to team members.  I plan to repeat this call in the future to see whether team members studied and learned the information about which they were not knowledgeable. 

So, how about you and your team members?  Do they know all the basics?  Do you?  Do you and they know where to go for answers besides their sponsor?

I learned a lot from the call last night, and it told me the areas in which I must do more training.  So while it was a little disappointing, it was a great lesson for me to have learned.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

The Unknown Geniuses Behind ... the Most Useful Inventions Ever – Part 3

I ran across a fascinating website a couple days ago regarding ten people who invented everyday items, about whom most of us are unaware.  (http://www.businessinsider.com/ten-inventions-you-never-knew-had-inventors-2011-3?op=1#ixzz2sIWwSubl)  The article is too long for one PR, so I’ll share it in parts.  I have already posted Parts 1 and 2.

The Unknown Geniuses Behind 10 of the Most Useful Inventions Ever – Part 3

ALANA HOROWITZ  - MAR. 3, 2011, 10:56 AM

1912: Candy maker Sam Born invents a machine that inserts sticks into lollipops and receives a key to San Francisco 

Whose idea: Sam Born

The inspiration: A Russian immigrant, Born was already trained in the art of candy making by the time he came to the United States in 1910. A frugal man, Born wanted to make every part of the candy making process as efficient as possible. In 1912, he introduced the Born Sucker Machine, which quickly and mechanically inserts sticks into lollipops.

What came of it: The automatic lollipop maker helped make the candy, and Born's company, into a huge success. He was awarded the key to San Fransisco in 1916. Today, Just Born serves 35 countries and is known worldwide for being the makers of Peeps.

1858: Hymen Lipman creates the modern pencil by attaching an eraser at the end of it

Whose idea: Hymen Lipman

The inspiration: In 1858, there were lead pencils and there were erasers. But until Lipman, no one had ever combined the two. Lipman received his patent on May 30th, and even thought to make it so that the eraser, not just the lead, could be sharpened.

What came of it: Lipman sold his patent for $100,000, which was a fortune in the mid-19th century. Today, you'd be hard pressed to find a pencil in a classroom without an eraser on the end of it. 

1986: Twenty-something’s Scott Jones and Greg Carr bring voicemail to people everywhere

Whose idea: Scott Jones and Greg Carr

The inspiration: In 1986, Jones, an MIT researcher and Greg Carr, a Harvard grad student, decided to enter the telecommunications business together. They started their own company, Boston Technologies, and began working. Their first project was a system where you could dial a number and find out stock information, but Jones, the techie of the two, realized they had a much bigger idea in their hands.

The pair sensed that this was the opportunity to provide people everywhere with voicemail, but until 1988, all phone companies besides AT&T were legally banned from the service. When the ruling was finally reversed, the pair approached several telecom companies and got financial backing. Within 3 months, their ideas were realized.

What came of it: Voicemail, although dwindling in popularity with the advent of text messaging, is a staple of the telecommunications industry. As for Jones and Carr, they're both multi-millionaires. 

1985: Jack Clements designs a spill-free way to drink coffee on the go

Whose idea: Jack Clements

The inspiration: The Solo Cup Company tasked Clements to design a better way to drink coffee on the go. Clements drew up a domed lid, the first of its kind that would rest comfortably between the mouth and the nose during sips. The dome helped prevent spilling and, by chance, accommodated the foam on lattes and cappuccinos.

What came of it: The Solo Traveler Lid quickly became an industry standard and has helped the company rake in $2 billion of annual revenue. 

1858: Margaret Knight fought a sexist employee to claim her rightful title as the inventor of the flat-bottomed paper bag

Whose idea: Margaret Knight

The inspiration: Knight was working in paper bag factory when she noticed how difficult it was to pack things into the flimsy, shapeless sacks. So, she decided to invent a machine that folded and glued paper to make a flat-bottomed bag.

What came of it: Knight spent late nights drawing up plans before creating a wooden prototype. She couldn't, however, obtain a patent until she made one out of iron.

While it was being produced at machine shop, an employee named Charles Annan copied her idea and got a patent for it. Knight sued Annan for copyright infringement. Annan argued that, because she was a woman, she couldn't have been the true inventor.  Still, Knight's sketches and detailed plans won her the case. She ended up establishing her own paper bag company and received large sums of royalties for her invention.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle 

The Unknown Geniuses Behind ...the Most Useful Inventions Ever – Part 2

I ran across a fascinating website yesterday regarding ten people who invented everyday items, about whom most of us are unaware.  (http://www.businessinsider.com/ten-inventions-you-never-knew-had-inventors-2011-3?op=1#ixzz2sIWwSubl) 

The article is too long for one PR, so I’m breaking it up into parts.  Yesterday I posted Part 1.  Here is Part 2. 

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The Unknown Geniuses Behind 10 of the Most Useful Inventions Ever – Part 2

 ALANA HOROWITZ  - MAR. 3, 2011

1925: Charlie Brannock creates the first accurate way to measure shoe size using toys.

http://www.ibotube.com/contents/member/julieklein/photos/Brannock shoe device-dc31aa.jpg

Whose idea: Charlie Brannock

The inspiration: The son of a shoemaker, Brannock grew up thinking about feet. As a young man, he became obsessed with figuring out the best way to measure one. The only way to figure out your size at the time was with a wooden block, a method that didn't work very well.

While attending Syracuse University, he set out to solve the problem once and for all. Using a toy construction set, Brannock built a prototype of a device that accurately measured foot sizes.

What came of it: With sales in the millions, the Brannock device has become a staple for shoe stores all over the world. And even though the product is about 85 years old, it remains more or less true to the original model.

*****

1966: James Goodfellow creates ATM pin numbers so people can take money out of the bank after hours.

http://www.ibotube.com/contents/member/julieklein/photos/ATM-714943.jpg

Whose idea: James Goodfellow

The inspiration: The Scottish engineer was tasked with figuring out a way for people to take out money from their banks after hours and on weekends. Eventually, the idea for the ATM was born, and some credit Goodfellow as its inventor. But what Goodfellow undoubtedly created was the Personal Identification Number (PIN).

Goodfellow knew there needed to be a way to confirm the customer's identity at an ATM, but fingerprint scans or voice recognition devices seemed a little too complicated. Then he realized he could link a set of numbers, known only to the account owner, to an encoded card. If the two numbers matched, the person would receive their money.

What came of it: Goodfellow patented the pin number in 1966, and 40 years later received royal honors for his invention. Today, his system can be found in ATMs worldwide, not to mention anywhere debit cards are accepted.

*****

1967: Robert Kearns invents windshield wiper speeds and wins a $30 million lawsuit against auto companies that steal his idea

Whose idea: Robert Kearns

The inspiration: Kearns, an engineer, grew up right near a Ford plant and believed the auto industry was a beacon for innovation. Then, while driving his Ford Galaxie one rainy night, he came up with an idea of how he could contribute to it. In the 1960s, windshield wipers typically had two settings, high and low. So if rain wasn't steady, driving could be extremely difficult. Kearns, who had a bad eye, began to squint to try and see more clearly. Then he wondered, why couldn't windshield wipers blink too? (Note: there is an excellent documentary on Kearns called "Flash of Brilliance").

What came of it: Kearns patented his idea in 1967 and sent it around to the major American car companies, but none bit. However, they eventually all began using his intermittent wipers in their cars. Kearns spent most of the rest of his life battling Ford, Chrysler and other car companies. He eventually won over $30 million, but he lost his wife and his mind in the process. Kearns died in 2005 of complications to brain cancer caused by Alzheimer's disease, shortly after winning the legal battle. 

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

The Unknown Geniuses Behind ... the Most Useful Inventions Ever - Part 1

I ran across a fascinating website today egarding ten people who invented everyday items, about whom most of us are unaware.  The article is too long for one PR, so I’ll share it in parts 1, 2, and 3.(http://www.businessinsider.com/ten-inventions-you-never-knew-had-inventors-2011-3?op=1#ixzz2sIWwSubl) r

The Unknown Geniuses Behind 10 of the Most Useful Inventions Ever

ALANA HOROWITZ  - MAR. 3, 2011, 10:56 AM

When we hear the word "inventor," we think of people like Thomas Edison or the Wright Brothers.

Some of the coolest inventors, though, are people you probably don't know.  They didn't invent planes or light bulbs; these people created products used so often, you probably didn't even realize they were inventions.

For instance, have you ever wondered how a lollipop ended up on its stick? Or how the straw became bendable? These seemingly simple ideas took a lot of creativity and technological prowess.

1959: A picnic lunch inspired Ernie Fraze to invent the pop top found on soda cans.

Whose idea: Ernie Fraze

The inspiration: Fraze, the owner of a successful engineering company, was attending a picnic when he realized he'd forgotten to bring a can opener for the drinks. He ended up prying them open using a car bumper! A few months later, he was having trouble sleeping and thought of the can dilemma. While waiting to get tired, he decided to solve it.

What came of it: Fraze designed a new kind of can, often referred to as a pop top, that could be easily opened with a removable tab. Eventually, his company began manufacturing a system of mass producing these cans to be used by soft drink and brewing companies everywhere. By 1980, Fraze's company was pulling in over $500 million dollars of annual revenue from his brilliant invention. Anytime you open a can of beer or a soft drink, you can thank Ernie Fraze for how easy it is to do.

1937: Joseph Friedman invents the bendable straw so his daughter can more easily drink a milkshake

Whose idea: Joseph Friedman

The inspiration: Friedman was sitting at his brother's soda shop, watching his daughter drink a milkshake. The young girl was struggling to enjoy her beverage through a straight paper straw, whose end she could barely reach. Her father, an inventor, thought of a way to help her out.

What came of it: Friedman inserted a screw into the straw, and wrapped floss around it to create a ribbed texture. When he took the screw out, the straw naturally bent over the rim of the glass and his daughter was able to drink her milkshake with ease. He patented his idea in 1937 and started his own company to produce the straw. The rights to the flexible straw were eventually sold to the Maryland Cup Corporation, which now sells about 500 million of them every year.

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/XpressHealthcareTheWinnersCircle 

Weird February Holidays

Periodically I like to share some crazy, fun holidays that people recognize and/or celebrate.  Since today is the first of February, I thought I’d share some for this month.  I gathered these from various sites, and there are far more unique days than I can list here. 

·        February is Great American Pie Month and National Grapefruit Month.  Hmm.  Shall we stay healthy with grapefruit or pig out on pie?

·        February is also International Boost Self-Esteem month.  Remember to praise those around you.

Feb. 1                    Give Kids a Smile Day
Feb. 2                    Sled Dog Day
Feb. 3                    The Day the Music Died

Feb. 4                    Thank a Mailman Day
Feb. 5                    Wear Red Day
Feb. 6                    Lame Duck Day
Feb. 7                    Charles Dickens Day
Feb. 8                    Kite Flying Day
Feb. 9                    Read in the Bathtub Day
Feb. 10                  Umbrella Day
Feb. 11                  National Shut-in Visitation Day
Feb. 12                  National Plum Pudding Day
Feb. 13                  Get a Different Name Day
Feb. 14                  Ferris Wheel Day
Feb. 15                  National Gum Drop Day
Feb. 16                  Do a Grouch a Favor Day
Feb. 17                  Champion Crab Races Day
Feb. 18                  Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
Feb. 19                  National Chocolate Mint Day
Feb. 20                  Northern Hemisphere Hoodie Day
Feb. 21                  Card Reading Day
Feb. 22                  Be Humble Day
Feb. 23                  Curling is Cool Day
Feb. 24                  National Tortilla Chip Day
Feb. 25                  National Chili Day
Feb. 26                  Tell a Fairy Tale Day
Feb. 27                  International Polar Bear Day
Feb. 28                  National Tooth Fairy Day

I find these fun to read, but really, who thinks up these things?

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For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.