Why Now is a GREAT Time to Start a Home Business

Considering Starting a

MLM Business?

Here are a few reasons why now

is a great time!

One of the things that really appealed to me 15 years ago when I was considering and then getting started with a home business were the tax benefits. Most people don't realize how much money can be saved from taxes alone during the first few years of building a business.

So, one reason to consider a business now would be the tax benefits.

Another was the simple cost savings of not having to drive to/from work each day; business clothing; business lunches and misc.; wear and tear on a vehicle; and not to mention day care costs if you have children.

So, another reason would be the savings you'll gain from NOT spending money on work requirements.

Finally, the ability to set your own hours, be your own boss and determine for yourself (through your efforts, of course) what your paycheck is going to be.

Need I say more on that one? Below, you'll find some quotes by some popular business experts and publications about the Network Marketing profession. What more do you need to know? Network Marketing has provided the answer for me, and many others.


"In the 2006-2016 decade, there will be 10 million new millionaires in the U.S. alone...many of those new millionaires will be from the emerging powerhouse industry of Direct Selling."
--Paul Zane Pilzer, Economic Advisor to 3 Presidents and Bestselling Author of The Next Millionaires


"An investor's dream...an industry with steady annual growth, healthy cash flows, and long-term prospects for global expansion."
-Fortune Magazine


"It's the best investment I've ever made."
-Warren Buffett, Billionaire Investor and Richest Man in the U.S; owner of a Direct Sales Company.


"...at-home workers have more free time and disposable money for recreation and vacation time than clock-punchers and Americans at large."
-Entrepreneur Magazine


Good luck in your search!

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Results or Excuses in Your MLM Business

The Two Things That Speak Loud and Clear

There are two things that speak loud and clear – results and excuses.

Which do you produce more of on a daily basis?

When your business isn't moving forward the way you want it to, who do you blame?

When chaos consumes your life, who do you blame?

At the end of the day, when you are in a funk, who do you blame?

In my early days in my business, I lived with a lot of excuses –

Things will be better when the company does THIS.

Things will be better when my downline does THAT.

More people will be interested when THIS happens.

What a train wreck that kind of thinking was!

I have watched people spend thousands of dollars and thousands of hours building systems and the "perfect" mousetrap, and yet no more mice were caught.

Success in this business is NOT about systems; NOT about the next new product; NOT about the perfect script; NOT about what others can and should do for you.

Yes, systems can help; and new products are nice; and new scripts may feel more comfortable. But they are not what determine your success.

Success in this business, day in and day out, lies with YOU. Every day, success is a choice. Every step you take and every step you delay determines your success.

What steps will you take and what steps will you delay today? The answers will determine your success and the speed of it.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

What does it MEAN to Build a Business Online?

These are questions I am asked a lot -

What does it mean to build a business online?

What is your strategy for building online?

How much time does it take?

How do I find a business that is a fit with the internet?


All great questions, and let's go through each quickly.


Question 1 - What does it mean to build a business online?

For me, it's not buying leads; it's not placing lots of classified ads; web surfing, etc. It's putting myself out there to be found, noticed, to make contact, etc. How many people do you suppose are online any given day looking for a business? Tons! I've detailed some of my steps and my journey -

http://www.squidoo.com/mlm-online-business


Feel free to leave your comments and questions at the bottom. Let me know you were there and I'll answer any questions.


Question 2 - What is your strategy for building online?


Business building is about relationships, so I like to network with people. I'm not about blasting onto the scene and nauseating everyone with my pitch on how great my business is. Who likes that? Yuck! Instead, it's about connecting with people. One method I use is social networking. Have you tried MySpace? I know, I know -I thought it was just for teenagers, too, but boy was I wrong.

http://www.myspace.com/jackieulmer


Check it out and you'll get an idea of how the site works. If you have a page, request me as a friend and mention this blog soI know how you found me.


Another strategy I use online is creating content around things other than business that I have a passion about...such as cooking! Here is a page I created for Healthy Dinners. This is a great way to meet people outside of the business arena who might just be looking. (If you have a recipe request, leave it in the comments!)


http://www.squidoo.com/healthy-dinner-tonight


I have met some great people at Squidoo, learned a lot AND sponsored some new team partners.


Question 3 - How much time does it take? This all depends on you and your available time, but I believe 10 FOCUSED hours a week can build a solid online presence and then a solid team. Get disciplined though. You've got to be taking action steps.


Question 4 - How do I find a business that is a fit with the internet? This is a question I hear quite frequently. I recently put up a new site to teach people how to evaluate a business and how to factor in the 4 important pieces of choosing a business. Do you know what to look for in a business, once you move beyond the hype? Most people don't -


http://www.exploremybusiness.com

Have a great weekend!

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer
The Street Smart Wealth Team

How Strong is Your WHY? How Motivated Are You?

Take a deep breath and take a deep look within. Ask yourself a simple question - What motivates you and pushes you to move forward? Then ask, is your motivation strong enough to see the job through?

Tonight, after finishing a high energy conference call, my son invited me to dinner at our favorite restaurant. (He knew I would pay!) It was just the two of us and I jumped on the chance to have some one on one time with the 15 year old!

One of his cross country team mates was our server. It was a very quiet evening, so we spent some time chatting with this kid. I started thinking about the work schedule associated with waiting tables in the evening and I know that high school classes start at 7:20am, and it was after 8pm when we were there so I wondered how he gets enough sleep.

I asked him what time he gets off work and he ran through his schedule with me.

He gets up at 6:30 and starts class at 7:20. Because he is a Senior, he gets out at 1:20 and goes for a run with the track team, for two HOURS! He goes home, showers and goes into the restaurant, arriving by 4pm. He gets home by 10pm, DOES HIS HOMEWORK, goes to bed and does it again the next day.

He does this schedule 5 days a week and works one extra day on the weekend. And, don't forget about those track meets - he is a long distance runner. Seems that endurance skill is paying off for him in other areas of his life.

"Wow" I said "You are very inspiring, why so much work?"

Did I mention that he is a straight A student with a full load of honors classes, carrying about a 4.3 GPA? He beamed when he told me he was just accepted into Notre Dame AND Perdue, and he will be paying his own way through college. He shared with me that Notre Dame is $50,000 a year, and his heart is set on being there this fall.

He knows the value in stamping "Notre Dame Graduate" on his resume after college and he is highly motivated (his words) to work hard, earn money and be there as a 2008 fall freshman. (Yes, sharing network marketing with him crossed my mind, and I know where to find him!)

I don't know his whole story; don't know his parents; whether they are in the picture or what. Seems these days, sadly, there are a lot of kids raising themselves. 18 years old and he already understands that motivation comes from within. He has his eye on a prize, he knows what he wants and he is willing to work hard to make it happen. His parents certainly did one thing right! He could surely get into a fine school here in California, pay MUCH less and still get a good education. But, he knows what he wants and he is pursuing it with passion.

All of this while delivering top notch service to the 3 other tables he was serving. He shared his story in the most upbeat, matter of fact way you can imagine. I left him a nice tip and note that it was a contribution to his college fund and I sure wanted to read about him in our local paper.

What an amazing kid, and an amazing story. I am inspired and have not stopped thinking about him and his quest for success. I believe he will get there. I'm motivated to help him.

So, again, I ask the question - What motivates you and pushes you to move forward? What is your reason for getting up and taking action in your business? What prize do you have your eye on? What will it mean to you when you achieve it? What will it mean if you don't?

I hope you are as inspired by G's story as I am. The wisdom of an 18 year old. I'm sure glad my son was there to hear it.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer

Evaluating a Network Marketing Business

With Network Marketing, you can create –

· An amazing income
· An income that is higher monthly than most people earn in a year!
· Friendships with people you never would have met except for this business.
· Business skills that are priceless
· Communication skills that will benefit you in your personal life as well as your business.


Questions often come up about what makes up a good network marketing company and the things you want to be sure are in place.

Be sure you are educated on how to talk to your prospects about the opportunity and how to address more seasoned network marketers who may be looking at your business.
One huge advantage to network marketing is that if you work it correctly, it provides huge job security. And, if you work it right, you can build a team of thousands, all who have the same job security.


Here are some things that should be considered before one joins a network marketing business.

· What are the true start up costs going to be?
· How are you paid?
· What type of training is provided?
· Can you work your business part time?
· What type of monthly quotas or commitments are required?
· How does the compensation plan work and what is required of me to access all pay levels?
· Are the policies and procedures available to read?
· Will you be able to make a difference in the lives of those you sponsor as well as your own?
· How do the products compare to comparable products in the marketplace?

As you are evaluating the product line, there are some very important questions that need to be asked –

· Would I buy these products if I was not also investing in the business opportunity?
· Are the products priced fairly and is there room for me to make an solid profit by retailing the products? Or, is it strictly a wholesale buying club?
· Who is my customer market?
· Is the product consumable?
· Will the product benefits be obvious to the buyer?
· How much training will I need to be able to sell these products?
· How well does the company do getting products delivered in a timely way?

And, what about those questions about the financial opportunity available to you – can you make money?

· What type of pay plan is it? And how does that pay?
· Do you understand what will be required from you to access all aspects of the pay plan?
· Is it realistic for you to believe you can move to the top?
· Is there compression in the pay plan?
· Can you be paid on your downline from day one?
· Is it a bonus or residual driven pay plan?
· Am I paid on all volume from my team?


Questions to ask yourself –

· Do I see this as a business I feel I can succeed with?
· Am I clear on what will be expected of me to be successful?
· How do I feel about the products?
· How do I feel about the support and training that is available?
· Am I willing to accept personal responsibility for my actions and my success or failure?

Get involved with the intent to succeed! Make success a habit daily. That means take action daily and that DOES create success. Don’t take any part of the business personally. Have fun and make a ton of money.

EXPECT Success!

Jackie Ulmer