Adjusting to the New IBOToolbox

If you are not already an IBOToolbox member, you’ll want to check it out!  It is a FREE unique marketing platform. No upgrades are even available. Join, participate, enjoy.  http://www.ibotoolbox.com/invited.aspx?jid=11454

I have been an active IBOToolbox member since September 2011.  I love the many tools offered to us free and how, by participating on IBO, my business, my name -my brand are distributed widely by other members and IBO.

Although the new version of IBOToolbox looks dramatically different, I haven’t found much different about how to use it or the tools available. There is nothing wrong with the new version, it simply doesn’t seem that “new” to me.  I might be missing something. 

I have noticed a couple different things that are not, in my opinion, necessarily improvements.  Now, when we prepare a press release, depending upon what software you use to type your original text, when you copy/paste it into IBO, the formatting changes. Unfortunately, it appears that many IBO members do not look at their final product once published.  I have noticed that there are many PR’s with no paragraph breaks, and the title has no spaces.  If we look at the completed PR once published and discover these formatting errors, we can go back to IBOToolbox and revise the formatting. 

To create paragraph breaks, AFTER pasting the PR into IBO, put an extra space between each paragraph, and an extra space between each word on the title.  It only takes a couple seconds, and it solves the problem.  (I do not believe this formatting problem occurs if you type your PR in WordPad.  I personally prefer using MS Word although I realize IBO recommends that we not do so.)

Another change I have noticed is that individual folders within our associate lists are no longer available.  I contacted IBO, and I was informed that people found it too confusing.  I used those folders to categorize my associates.  For instance, I had a folder for my team members so I could be sure to read their posts each day.  Now, I have to look for them through the list of nearly 1000 associates I have.  I have discovered, however, that we can sort the list by "last post" date, which does narrow down the search a great deal.

One-thousand associates may not seem a lot for someone active on IBO for so long.  However, what I have always done is periodically review my list of associates.  Some with whom I have associated never complete their profile or have only one star after months as an IBO member. To keep my associate list more manageable, I un-associate with those people.

I have had some people new to IBO ask me how much time they should spend on IBO each day.  The answer varies, depending upon whether the member is working their business full or part-time.  I work my business full time, and I have been active long enough to have many people that I follow and many who follow my posts. Considering that a big part of IBO is to drive people to our company websites or our IBOSocial profile pages, I set a daily goal for myself.  When my daily IBO stats show at least 200 profile visits, I know I have put in a good amount of time and effort for that day.  For those who work fewer hours, they could set a goal of 25, 50 or 100.  It is, for me, a good way to measure my activity each day.

If anyone else has tips that make using IBO easier, it would be great if you shared them as well.

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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.  

Do You Have What it Takes?

A large percentage of the population would like a home business, but not all are qualified to do so.   Network Marketing, in particular, requires certain qualities/characteristics.

One characteristic I find missing with many network marketers is Self-Motivation.  When they have no boss assigning tasks, they cannot seem to get started on their own.

Passion is needed to be successful with any business.  We must love our product or service and use it ourselves.  Passion for our business, the company, helps us to sell the business opportunity to others.

Those with an Entrepreneurial Spirit are the most likely to achieve success.  This simply means they have focus and perseverance, and that they can be innovative. 

A network marketer must like people and enjoy socializing, or the industry is not a good match for them.  Even more than their products, they must be able to sell themselves. 

Network marketers must be willing and able to Step Out of Their Comfort Zone.  For example, I dislike being in front of a camera, but I know that videos sell.  So I create marketing videos periodically and have recorded about a dozen.  Viewers of my videos can see that I am nervous, even looking down at my notes while speaking.  As uncomfortable as I am, I force myself to create videos, because they work!

Be Coachable.  Some people don’t know what it means to be coachable.  “'Coachability’ is the willingness to be corrected and to act on that correction. When we are coachable, we are prepared to be wrong... We are willing to let others evaluate… even plumb the depths of our performance because we understand that the journey of personal development cannot be traveled alone.”  Timothy R. Clark, from the article, “On Leadership: Are you coachable?”

Those not yet in the industry should ask themselves whether they actually have what it takes.  If they do not, they will save themselves and others a great deal of time by seeking another type of work.

There is no test to give prospective team members to see if they qualify.   All we can do is interview them to get “a feel” for their background, experience and skills.  The attrition rate in network marketing reflects the fact that we can never be certain who does or does not qualify to be a network marketer.

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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. 

Daily Planning and Execution = Success

Those of us in the network marketing industry generally have two main reasons for doing so.  The ability to earn money for ourselves, not an employer, with no limits on our income is a huge one.  Others like the idea of being able to stay home to work.  We have no commute; we can raise our own children (instead of a daycare doing so); and myriad other advantages of not having to leave our homes to work.

Those who are doing well with their home business realize that they are unlikely to grow a six-figure income in weeks or even months.  Our time frames may be different, but we all are striving to build successful businesses.

Successful home business owners also have a work schedule of some kind to help them complete all their required tasks each day. 

Our daily activities should include Revenue Generating Activities; Personal Branding; and Attraction Marketing Techniques.

In my mind there is one key to growing a business - consistency.  Whether you work two, four or seven days a week, you must consistently pursue the three activities above on those work days.

I tell my team members that they must start working immediately!  Lots of network marketers spend days – even weeks or months – setting up websites, creating lists of what then intend to do and setting up blogs.  The problem is they often never get around to any revenue generating activities.  We must perform specific tasks to earn money.  Having a plan is fine, but without executing it, it serves no purpose.

Marketing your product or service is considered a revenue generating activity.  Marketing can be either online or offline, depending upon your product or service and your location.  Participating on various forums and networking sites and posting videos and blogs will help to build your brand.  As you build your brand, prospects will be attracted to you.  When you generate your own leads, rather than using lead lists, you know your prospects are really interested in learning more.

Know what you plan to do as you begin each work day.  Focus is very important.  Your work schedule can be flexible to allow for family activities, but stay as close to your schedule as possible.  In the afternoons for instance, you can focus on personal branding, like writing a blog, creating videos, getting into forums and communicating with people in your niche.  Your schedule should also include training.   Set aside time to attend training calls or webinars that your company offers.  Ongoing training ensures that you will continue improving your business skills.

The consistent marketer wins. If you’re not consistent, you will not get the results you are seeking.

The sooner you implement a clear and consistent schedule, and execute the tasks on your schedule, the faster your business will grow. 

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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.  

The Pros and Cons of Living in Southern California

I just returned from a trip to California.  I was born there and lived in Southern California most of my life.  I moved to Arizona about 18 years ago.  I now have my house for sale and hope to return to California in the not-too-distant future.

There are many wonderful things about living SoCal; and there are some powerful reasons to avoid doing so.

The California weather is a big plus, but the smog can be terrible. 

It is not far to go to the mountains, a forest, the ocean or the desert when you live in SoCal.  However, the traffic is nearly always terrible, so getting to those nice places can be challenging.

I can meet people of every race, nearly every nationality and religion since all are well represented in the area.  Unfortunately, all those people can create crowds, which can take some of the enjoyment out of places I visit.

Sadly, the huge population has led to a high crime rate in many cities throughout the region.  The jails are so full (as with most big cities) the courts cannot order jail time for some people who might otherwise be in custody.

Where I live now, there are only a limited number of ethnic restaurants, which I enjoy very much.  There are no “warehouse” stores or specialty stores.  I am not a “shopper,” but there are certain things I would like to buy that I now have to drive 90 miles to find.  In California, there are myriad ethnic restaurants, warehouse stores and shops that carry virtually anything I might ever want to purchase.

The most important reason I want to live in SoCal is family!  When we moved to Arizona, (obviously) we were much younger, working jobs and wanted to escape the chaos of the Los Angeles area. 

Now, I work at home and hardly see anyone besides my husband.  (Thank heavens for sites like IBO where I can communicate with others throughout the day.)  My husband is retired.  We had no grandchildren when we moved here, and one of my children moved to Arizona with us.  He married and has twin daughters who were born in Arizona.  He and his children have returned to his home state.  I miss them terribly.  My other son also is a daddy now too, and I barely know his daughter.

I also have a brother in SoCal with whom I am very close but see only once every few months.  I adore his wife who he married since I moved away.  My husband also has children, grandchildren and a sister in Southern California.  We are lonesome for them all!

So, in spite of the fact that we do not like traffic, smog or the high crime rate, as soon as we possibly can, we will return to California for the most important reason – our family is there!

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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

New Target for Identity Thieves

Most parents have never given it a thought.  They may be concerned that their child might become ill, be bullied or not do well in school.  Parents of young children should add to that list.

A report released in December 2012 by Identity Theft Assistance Center, a non-profit organization, stated that among children under 18 years of age, one in every 40 households have been effected by child identity fraud.

Among adult who have their identity stolen, it is difficult to track down the thief and repair the damage.  With children, however, it is even more difficult.

Cyberthieves use children’s Social Security numbers more than any other piece of information.  Most parents apply for Social Security cards for their children when they are born.  Then they file or lock away the card, never giving it another thought.

Unfortunately, thieves now often attach these freshly-issued Social Security numbers to a variety of names and birthdates and set up new identities.  They then use the fraudulent identifications to obtain credit, apply for driver’s licenses, apply for government benefits and even access medical care.

Because the parents haven’t looked at their children’s Social Security or credit rating, the illegal activity may not be discovered for years.  A study conducted in 2011 found that the Social Security numbers of 10.2% of children in the United States were used by someone, a far higher rate than those of adults at 0.2%.

The possibility of how the child’s future will be impacted is dreadful to think about.  The child’s application for student loans may be denied; they may not be able to get a job, a mobile phone or even a place to live.

Children should not have a credit record.  If they do, it is a “red flag” that someone has fraudulently used their identity.

There are a few steps parents can take to prevent their child’s ID from being used.  Shred any and all papers containing account or Social Security numbers for everyone in the family. Do not carry your child’s or your own Social Security number (SSN) with you.  If your child’s school asks for their SSN, ask it is optional. If not, find out from the school’s district office how the information is safeguarded.  Teach your children that it is dangerous to give out personal information over the phone or internet.  This also applies to adults.  Check with your child’s physician’s office to see what precautions they use to protect their records.

No matter how careful we are, we cannot possibly guarantee that our children or our own identity will not be stolen, but taking these steps can greatly reduce the possibility.

Finally EVERYONE should have Identity Theft Protection, no matter their age.  There are several companies that provide ID Theft Protection.  Among the best is Lifelock® ID Theft Protection. 

Xpress Healthcare offers Lifelock® for only $19.95 per month for your immediate family that lives with you.  With Xpress Healthcare, Lifelock® is included in a package of discount benefits that includes Pet Care, Roadside Assistance, Legal Services and a Cash Back Rewards mall. 

All five discount services in our Lifestyle Select plan will cost you and your immediate family less than $20 per month!  You can even take a 14-day trial to check out the benefits for only $4.95 (shipping & handling fee).  You can learn more about this discount plan at http://ibourl.net/EverydaySavings.

Where Are the Golden Years

I’m on the older end of the baby boomer generation. I am officially considered a senior citizen. I don’t think like I’m old. People tell me I don’t look that old. Unfortunately, my body won’t let me forget it.

I’d always heard that the Golden Years would be wonderful! Seniors are free to do whatever they want to do whenever they want to do it. They no longer have children to worry about, and money is no longer a problem.
Now that I’m in what was supposed to be “The Golden Years,” I realized that they lied to me. As my body creaks. cracks, and groans when I rise from the couch, it is definitely not cheering. As osteoarthritis takes over my fingers, I am beginning to wonder if I’ll be able to play the piano. Actually, I never have before, so it would be pretty miraculous if I could now. 

My husband and I still walk two miles every morning.  I couldn’t walk any distance at all without my hiking stick. I refuse to use a cane. That would make me officially old!  When I’m walking with my hiking stick, people laugh and ask if I use it to beat up my husband. See, that makes it funny, not pathetic.

It’s odd, I never had freckles as a child or young adults, but I do now. I much prefer calling all those “age spots” freckles, wouldn’t you?

The lives of my children and grandchildren is like watching a TV drama. My sons are responsible young men, but “stuff” keeps “happening” to them. Not worry about them? It’ll never happen.

Starting when I was very young, I was very responsible with money. I began investing and saving at an early age. I expected that, by this time, I’d have tons of money, so I could relax and enjoy life. It should have been that way.
Unfortunately, throughout the year of 2008, my investments went down about $5000 per month. During 2010, my investments began to increase again, but we’re still not back to where we were before the meltdown. So, vacations are on the back burner. We are fortunate that we have a few different means of income aside from our investments. So we have no problem paying our bills, but the luxury items will have to wait a while.

One thing that I do love about my age now is that I can still work my home business, sitting on my nice ergonomically correct office chair. As long as my mind stays sharp (which I sometimes wonder about even now… What was I looking for?), I can sit at my computer and work.

One more advantage of being a senior citizen is the discounts various stores, theaters and restaurants offer. You betcha!  I’ll admit I’m a senior to get a ½ of meal or free coffee. More and more businesses are offering discounts to seniors, so I’ll take advantage of them all!

The senior years don’t look Golden to me. Growing old is not for sissies or wimps. However, I’m facing them with head held high. I may have many more years remaining, so watch out! I’ll take advantage of every one of them to the best of my now limited somewhat abilities.

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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

The Little Plant that Could

Most of us have heard or read the story, “The Little Engine that Could.”  I want to share a story about “I think-I-can” plants.

My husband and I walk five days a week for exercise in our local mall.  It is a small mall, single story, ½ mile around the entire inside.  It is nice looking, with many large potted plants, mostly some type of palm.  A few months ago, we noticed they had added a few plants, more palms.  The new ones, however, had no leaves.  They were simply trunks with thick, tough, rather unattractive bark.  We thought it was rather odd.

As weeks went by, we began to notice little bumps in the bark.  As time went on, we saw tiny little leaves that had pushed themselves through the bark.  We were fascinated, because they were very delicate leaves and the bark was really thick.

More weeks passed, and a couple of the palms had actually grown into plants with many leaves.  We grew to like these plants, but we noticed that the two nearest the door were not growing well.  In fact, the tiny leaves that were there one day were gone the next.  This particular door is in an alcove and is the least used door.  We began to suspect that someone was breaking off these tiny leaves.

We have now reached the point where we are cheering for the two plants with no leaves.  Then, lo and behold, earlier this week there were bumps in the bark and today, a tiny bit of green is showing on each of the bumps.  Those plants refuse to give up.  No matter how many times someone tries to stop those leaves from growing out, those plants keep on sprouting replacements.

I’ll bet you know where I’m going with this, don’t you?  And, I’ll bet you are right!

Those tough, never-say-die palm plants are not quitters.  No matter what nature or man throws at them, they keep coming back!  That bark is so thick, and it seems that someone does not want them to succeed in growing their leaves.  However, those palms appear to be determined to grow no matter how long it takes.

I won’t continue with this story since you all know the moral by now.  I will suggest to everyone starting out with their home business, to simply follow the example of these tough little plants. 

  

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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.