21 Ways to Make Money Speaking

When I heard that my friend Felicia Slattery had a new book out, I knew I had to have it. Everything she offers is of such immense value, I was sure that this would be no different. And I was right. The book is everything I expected.

I have been speaking as a trainer and coach for several years and I must admit I even discovered some exciting new ideas in this book. If you are a new speaker, this book will be an invaluable tool in helping you learn to build an income as a speaker.

The book is amazingly easy to read in spite of being packed full of information. I read it through the first day. Now, I am going back through it and picking out the ideas that I want to incorporate into my own business. I suggest you take the time to read it thoroughly the first time. Have a highlighter with you so you can highlight the ideas you want to use. One of the fabulous things about this book is that it is filled with ideas you can use now. Today. So you will want to take note of them so you can put them into practice. 

Not only does she give you ideas for making money as a speaker, but most of the chapters provide a list of resources to help you get started. No searching for the information or tools necessary. Felicia leads you right to them.

21 ways to make money speaking. Each one described so you know exactly how to do it. With resources to help you get started. And guidance from one of the best professional speakers and coaches in the business - Felicia Slattery. If you have ever dreamed of making money as a speaker, this book will give you everything you need to succeed. Pick up your copy and get started speaking. Now! Today! 

7 Reasons to Start a Business

If you don't have a business yet, there has never been a better time to start one. Thanks to the internet it is now cheaper and easier to get up and running than ever before. And thanks to all of those who have gone before you, there is more help than ever before.

There are plenty of reasons to start your own business.  So if you are still unsure, see if you fit any of these scenarios.

1.  You are currently unemployed.  Let's face it.  Yes, the economy is improving.  But companies are still hesitant to hire new staff.  Add to that the fact that as boomers, many of us face age discrimination.  They don't call it that, since it's illegal, but that's what it is nonetheless.  Instead, we find we are "overqualified" for many jobs.  Or that we just don't fit the "company vibe."  (Seriously.  That was the term they used - company vibe).  Or they just don't call at all.  If you are currently unemployed, you certainly have the time to start a business.  We can help you find the idea.  All you need is a space to work and the motivation.  If this sounds like you, now might just be the time to start a business.

2.  Tax advantages.  There are plenty of tax advantages for entrepreneurs - even home based business owners and network marketers.  I deduct portions of my internet bill, my cell phone, travel, and much more.  I am not a tax expert so I won't tell you what is legal and what isn't.  But the tax breaks for a business may just make it worthwhile for you to start one of your own.  Contact a tax professional for advice.

3.  To boost your finances.  If you currently are employed and have no desire to leave, but could use a bit more money each month, then starting a business may be the answer.  Many businesses can be run part time from your home.  I should know.  That's how I started.  You may even be able to one day make enough to replace your job.  Which brings us to reason number 4...

4.  Freedom.  I missed many of my children's special moments growing up because I was at work.  Birthdays, holidays, vacations, concerts, sporting events, field trips.  I left them with strangers when they were sick because I had to go to work.  I've gone to work when I was sick myself, because I couldn't afford to take the time off.  The freedom of being my own boss is worth more than I can describe.  It's too late for my children, but I have all the time I want for my grandchildren.  If you long for the freedom to set your own schedule and call your own shots, then it may be time to start a business of your own.

5.  Financial independence.  I can't guarantee you will become wealthy by starting a business.  I'll be honest - many businesses fail.  But when you work for someone else you know you will always make a certain amount of money and nothing you do can change that unless you work more hours or manage to get a raise or promotion.  When you own your own business, there is no limit to what you can make if you learn how to build a successful enterprise and are willing to do the work necessary to get there.

6.  You can leave it to your children.  I admit it.  I look at the state of our country and the world today and I sometimes wonder what type of life my children and grandchildren will live when I am gone.  Will they have good jobs?  Will they be able to afford a decent home?  By teaching them how to run my businesses, I can leave them a legacy that may not guarantee their future success, but could provide them with everything they need in the future.

7.  Pad your resume.  In a recent survey, 28% of future employers said they preferred seeing starting a business as a way to fill in any gaps in employment.

Do any of these sound like you?  Then join the "boomerpreneur" revolution.  Let's do this! 

 

Network Marketing Tip - Always Tell The Truth!

Network marketing has a bad reputation in some circles. It's been called a pyramid, illegal, a scam, a ripoff - and these are some of the nicer things said about it. And because if this reputation, it can be difficult to present your opportunity to others. You might be embarrassed or afraid because you think you know what your prospect is going to say. And indeed, they might reject you, laugh at you, and ask you questions you'd rather not deal with. How do you overcome this. I have only one suggestion - Always Tell The Truth!

There are pyramids and scams aplenty out there masquerading as legitimate business opportunities. And there are dishonest people who are so focused on making a fast dollar that they lie about the business they are in just to sponsor one more person. These are the things that have given network marketing it's bad name. The only way we will overcome it is if all true network marketers promote their businesses with integrity.

What can we do? First, always answer questions honestly. "How much are you making?" Don't lie and say you're making a fortune if you aren't. Tell the truth. If you aren't making any money yet and don't want to admit it, then turn the question back with a simple response that I was taught to use. "It doesn't matter what I'm making. What matters is how much you want to make."

"How much does it cost?" Again, tell the truth. I joined a company a few years ago when my sponsor told me it was completely free to join. What he neglected to tell me was that in order to get paid by the company I had to have a certain number of points which I would receive by ordering the product. The cost of the product was $145 and I was supposed to order every month. So in reality, it isn't free to join this business. It's $145 per month. Does that mean it's a bad company? Not at all. But I sure felt cheated for a while. I always tell my prospects that exactly what it costs to join and exactly what they have to do to make any money.

"How long have you been doing this?" Don't lie! If you've been doing it for years say so, even if you aren't making money. You can always explain that. When my husband and I first started network marketing, we signed up, paid our fee - and then did absolutely nothing for almost two months. Therefore we made absolutely no money. Then I quit my job to take care of my father and we decided we had better get serious about this. So I told my prospects, when they asked, the truth. I've been doing it for almost three months. If they didn't say anything, then I didn't say anything more. If they did ask what I was making, I used the response given in the example above. And if they knew I wasn't making much yet and wanted to know why I told them the truth. I hadn't been working my business. Sometimes they believed me and sometimes they didn't.

"Isn't everyone doing this already?" Be honest. When I signed up to sell Amway (yes I admit it!), it seemed like there was an Amway rep on every corner. It was sort of discouraging. Same with Melaleuca and Mary Kay. And it wouldn't have been a problem except that I had been assured by my sponsor that the area was still wide open. So if someone asks me this question, I tell them the company has been around for quite a while. The Arkansas team is huge. You don't have to market and recruit locally. I have teams in Dallas, Florida, Las Vegas, Canada, and Missouri and who knows where else. I have customers all over the country. So now my prospects know that they can do the same.

"How long will it take to make any money?" and "How much time will it take?" These two go hand in hand. If I hear one more person tell me I can be making thousands in a few months with no effort, I think I'll scream. Can you make thousands in a few months? Yes. Will most people do so? No. Will they do it without any effort? Absolutely not. It's a business. Not all businesses are created equal. However all businesses take effort. In my town there is a small bookstore and coffee shop run by a friend of mine. On the other side of town there is a Barnes and Noble with a Starbucks. Two "identical" businesses. Does my friend make as much money as B&N? Of course not! Does that mean all bookstores are scams? Do both stores have to work to make their money? Let's see - someone has to order the books, put them on the shelves, interact with the customers, advertise the business, do the bookkeeping, keep the store clean - and probably many more things I'm not even aware of. Sounds like work to me! The same is true with network marketing. I don't know how long it will take you to make any money. I'm not you. But I can promise you, you will have to work. Because if you don't I can make you one more promise - you won't make a dime no matter how long you wait.

These are just some of the questions that can easily lead to misrepresentations and lies. If you have to lie to bring a prospect onto your team, you probably don't want them anyway because they aren't going to help you grow. They don't get it now or you wouldn't have to lie and they certainly won't get it later on because they bought into something that didn't exist. What they will do is go out and tell everyone they come into contact with that your business is a pyramid, illegal, a scam, and a ripoff.