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The Editor's Desk - From Beneath the Clutter
Feature Article - Top 10 Red Flags When Researching a Home Based Business
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Guest Article - Parents - It's okay to say "no" to friends
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Well, the kids are finally more or less over the big cold from last week. Wish I could say the same! And just to make life more interesting, I slammed my toe into a box, so it hurts to walk right now too. I spent most of Monday on the couch with my foot propped up.
On the plus side, I've had to take a lot of time to enjoy my kids. That counts for something, doesn't it?
It's amazing how fast they're growing. Preschool has been just wonderful for Ariel - she's doing things there that if I asked her to do them she would simply say "I can't!" I have no idea where she got that attitude, but I'm glad she's getting over it in school. Gage is already pulling up on things to stand. If I don't have him blocked off, he'll try to follow me, my husband or Ariel throughout the house. It's so cute, and it's wonderful seeing him be a normal baby after everything he's been through.
Coping with these challenges really can be a matter of attitude. When life is difficult, it really can help to count your blessings and realize that you are fortunate in many ways. It won't solve the problem but it might just make it easier to get through.
Don't forget, you can contribute your articles or tips anytime for consideration. Just use the contact form.
Receive 20% off from Starcatcher Music. Great Personalized children's music CD featuring your child's name.
Red Flags when Researching a Home Based Business
1. No Physical Address or Contact Numbers
The Internet has made it simple for new home based businesses to create a presence without having any real infrastructure or substance. While not all mlm businesses require a physical address, those that are offering goods or services to reps and consumers would be expected to have some traceable location. The lack of a phone number makes it all but impossible to pursue any customer service, commission, or other representative issue.
2. Executives with a trail of short lived, closed companies behind them.
Every story is a success story when you hear them from a rep selling on a new deal. But how successful can the executives of a new company be if this is their third or fourth new mlm company in as many years?
3. The Vague Executive Bio
No company names, or other traceable details about their supposedly stellar careers. Phrases like "Has had fifteen years of success in the Network Marketing Industry" are meaningless without specific facts to back it up. They may have been successful in collecting a salary check and filling the company coffers, but wouldn't you expect them to name the various network marketing companies they've "built from the ground up" if all they've left is a trail of happy, successful reps?
4. The Bigger, Better Biz Opp
Repackaging a network marketing business opportunity that has failed elsewhere does not a success story make. Sometimes a business opportunity that has failed elsewhere is rewrapped in a new website, a new name, a new comp plan and sold as a new, viable opportunity. Often, the failures are blamed on poor management, etc., when perhaps it is the "opportunity" at fault.
5. Answers to Due Diligence Questions that do everything but answer the Question
We continually run into this as we research mlm companies. Simple questions like "Where is your corporate office" that are answered with questions like "Why do you want to know?". Or answers about the business stability that garner responses like "Of course this is a great mlm opportunity, you can tell just by looking at our palatial offices."
6. Payment Accepted by Check or Money Order Only
Eliminating the ability for reps to pay for product with a credit card eliminates their ability to dispute charges if the company fails to deliver.
7. Offshore Address
Speaks for itself.
8. No Tangible Product
Without a tangible network marketing products, its difficult to show there is something being sold to an end-user other than the opportunity - which can be the defininition of Pyramid Scheme.
9. Minimal or Non-Existent Refund Policy
Any legitimate mlm company will stand behind its product or service. A lack of a refund policy, or one that expires in a very short period are often questionable situations. Others may incorporate a non-refundable setup charge, or non-refundable Rep Kit fee.
10. Stock Hype
"We're a publicly traded company, so we must be legitimate." New network marketing companies that "go public" before or shortly after their launch typically do so by doing a reverse merger - acquiring the public "shell" of a dead company. Or, a "parent" company "aquires" the new company to add value to a traded stock.
While none of these items might individually flag an opportunity as "Stay Away", several of them together might be cause to take a closer look at the opportunity and do further due diligence - if the answers are available.
C. Holliday manages Npros.com, one of the most comprehensive home based business directories and network marketing resources on the internet. To research companies, find leads, articles, executive histories and more, visit: Npros.com
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Today was a beautiful day, one of the last great days of summer I presume, considering it is officially Fall. Typically, our house would be filled with the sounds of neighborhood children playing either laughing, crying, arguing or being unbelievably quiet. The quiet times are when I need to worry most.
However, today my home is instead filled with sounds of only my own children because I made the decision to say "no" to friends today. Our home is the primary gathering point, which most days I completely welcome. I do prefer to know where my children are, what they are seeing, watching, and hearing. Occasionally though I have days like today that I enforce an official time out to the neighborhood gang, which I lovingly refer to as a "friend break."
I normally do not mind playing the host, mother, and mediator to my children's friends, but sometimes it is nice to just have a family day. Now my children at first resist this idea and whine, "what will I do, who will I play with", and the list goes on. Their friends also have a hard time initially taking this news and eventually ending stopping by or calling a few hours later to see if the verdict has changed. I've learned when this happens not to cave, to stay strong and stick to my decision. Otherwise if the children detect your weakness they will work unanimously to change your mind. By all means, don't let this happen as if you do you are setting up the tone for your next "failed" friend break.
It is important to be patient and amazingly you will see your children start playing with their own siblings, being nice to each other, and having fun. The best part is you can actually enjoy some quality time with your kids since they're no longer concerned with when and whom they can play with next.
Today, because I chose to say "no" to friends for my children, we have enjoyed a beautiful family day. We have played basketball, had intimate chats, buffed, trimmed and painted our nails and truly enjoyed each other's company. It is also refreshing to know that my cupboard is still full with snacks and drink boxes for school tomorrow and won't need to be quickly replenished.
The best part of saying "no" to friends today was that when I sat down to write this article my daughter asked me what an article was. I explained many articles are similar to a story. She also decided to write an article and so she did. It was called, "Why I love my Mom!" My younger daughter colored a picture of flowers for me and asked how to spell, "I love my Mom". Not bad for a parent who was in the dog house earlier today for calling a "friend break." I suggest you call one someday too!
Tina Frazer is the founder of Let's Be Friends.net, a friendship website exclusively for women. Let's Be friends.net promotes and encourages new friendships among women. Meet and make new friends online who share your lifestyle, interests, or values. Perfect for stay-at-home Moms, Working Mothers, empty nesters, young, young at heart and those new to town. Membership available to women 18 and older at http://www.letsbefriends.net
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