What You Do with Your Extra Php 5K

 What comes first to mind if you have an extra Php 5K?

First off, I'm not selling anything worth 5k. Okay? The e-book below doesn't cost 5k and I'm not going to pester you with it. So, don't worry😄. If you have an extra five thousand pesos, what would you do with it? Three things I often see Pinoys do with their extras--buy extravagant food, clothes or the latest gadget. It's gratifying but not productive. By the way, by "extravagant" eating, I mean unhealthy food. Pizzas, burgers, softdrinks, shakes, milktea, sugary beverages, donuts, etc. Carbs or sweets that lead to insulin resistance.

Photo by John Fornander on Unsplash.

With latest gadget models, they all become outmoded sooner than later and lose value. The battery weakens and everything gets busted altogether. All your Php 5,000 down the drain. Sayang. You know why? Because we often put our money on liabilities, and we don't even realize it. We're not particular about returns with our expense. "What do I get in return aside from indulgence?" We should always ask ourselves this whenever we spend money on nonessentials. 

Ways of Looking at P5K

In short, we enjoy trashing our hard-earned extra money. It's been a lifestyle, a consumer mentally ingrained for decades, because we were never taught at home or in school to put money on assets, on what would make us money. We were raised with the orientation to get a job and use the pay to consume products. Period.

Is 5K pesos big money or small? It depends. If we trash it (use it for buying liabilities or things that won't make us money) it's big money. But if it's for business, it's small. Imagine a franchise or sari-sari store complete with merchandise for 5K pesos. That's small. 

But if you bought 5K worth of virtual weapons for a PC game, or costly rubber shoes (because you got 3 pairs for whatever reason), it's a big waste, especially if your PC game doesn't make you real money. Or if you don't play basketball at all or you're not a professional player. I see lots of young people waste money like this. Not just once but several times over. A lot of 5K pesos wasted.

7 PROFITABLE AND LEGIT ONLINE BUSINESSES YOU CAN DO

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Online Marketing is Easy

If you go online, your 5K can go a long way with a business. Live selling is a fad today but it requires a lot of work. You sell and entertain online (often that means worldwide) for at least 2 to 3 hours a day and you need to show your face because you're going live. And yes, you heard me right--you need to be entertaining, which is a hustle for most of us, especially if you get bashers. And no work, no profit. 

I have a better idea. Go with an affiliate marketing business. You just create a blog for free, buy a domain name for it (about P500 a year), be an affiliate, and market online via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Linkedin. And spend money for ads to get lots of sales. 

An affiliate is an online marketer dealing with products a company produces and delivers for you. The company also takes care of inventory and customer service. All you need to do is sell, which your blog and social site ads do for you 24/7. Yup, even as you sleep or take vacations.

And you never have to show your face online or entertain customers just to make a sale. Your blog does all that for you (your blog is your "face" online and the blog design and quality posts do the "entertainment" for you). Joining an affiliate company is often free but there are others with minimal registration fees.

Just Blog

Are you fond of writing or taking photographs or videos? Then put them on a blog and share on social media. You can make money out of this by applying AdSense. It's free. Just make your blog quality and passing AdSense's requirements and they (at AdSense) put ads on your blog. As people visit your blog and visit the ads, you get paid. 

Where do you use your P5K? For spending on ads on social sites, like FB. Creating ads sends more traffic (people who visit your blog) to your blog or vlog and that increases the chances of your AdSense ads getting attention and you making more money from it. 

Or get a YouTube channel (for free) and post your quality videos there. Have your channel running with AdSense and you make money the same way. 

MLM

I know a lot of people stay far away from anything that has to do with MLM or network marketing. I don't blame them. A lot of these schemes are scams, so beware. But not all of them are. I know legit ones that have been in the business a long time and made lots of people turn millionaires, or at least making good money. 

Better if you join an online network marketing business because it's lots easier. And almost all MLM companies are online now. However, few MLM or networking businesses charge lower than P7K today. Some even costs P15 to 25K. Some make you pay a lot in exchange for garbage products. So you better watch out. And you better not cry when things go wrong. Remember, all businesses have risks and you have no one to blame but yourself if you don't make money.

The Point Is

The point here is, what do you do with your extra money? Putting it in a bank is one of the worse things you'd think of. Money in your bank depreciates with inflation rates. If the interest rate you get from a bank is 1.5% per annum and inflation rate in the country hits 6 percent, all your money gets wasted in the bank just depreciating. Sayang! 

If you're not that excited about blogging or online businesses or MLM but want your P5K to grow, invest it. It should be a good sum to invest in GCash's investment program (Ginvest), or Pagibig Fund investment for its members. Just remember, investment takes time to profit and give you returns. At least you make your money grow. Better than nothing.

How to Have Confidence When Sharing Your Networking Business to a Prospect

I've been there before. Sometimes, still am. It's intimidating, or sometimes humiliating, to share your networking business with others. Doing face-to-face presentation had always been a big hassle in networking (I remember those days), especially when the prospect has lots of doubts and suspicions--or if the person obviously doesn't buy the idea of networking but just allowed you to present out of friendship or pity.

Photo by Samantha Borges on Unsplash.

And you had to treat your guests to snacks or dinner, regardless of whether he joins or not. Oh yes, we did.

But thank God for online network marketing. Now, you won't have to face prospects in person. All you have to do is send short video presentations on Messenger and invite them to a Zoom meeting where a top earner explains everything for you. Smooth and easy. No more hassle or hard work. No more extra expense on treats and snacks. 😄

In the online networking business my wife and I are doing, we just have to share a short video on why on online business is so much easier and profitable to do, with less risks. Then we chat with the prospect after he sees the video and share a second video on how the business works--especially how much he can earn. After that we invited him or her to a Zoom meeting.

As simple as that.

But in-between videos, we still had to "chat" with the prospect. Sometimes, we may even have to call them up on Messenger.  Yup, that's necessary. It's why the business is called "networking." It's about relationship. It's about connecting. We should talk to our clients, and this is where confidence and handling conversations come in. Anyway, it's just for a short while and it's online. 

But because chats also involve talking with the prospect, some networkers still balk at the idea. They feel intimidated or scared, not knowing exactly what to say or what to do--or if it's right to talk to someone about networking. They find it hard even to just invite the prospect to a Zoom meeting. Well, here are mindsets to have to be a confident networker.

1. Being a networker is a respectable profession, especially if you seriously make it so. So act and behave accordingly. Aim to be an intelligent networker, not a noisily hyping one.
2. Sharing the business is not a sin. I mean, you're doing nothing wrong.
3. You're not stealing anything from the prospect. Many timid networkers feel guilty sharing their business as if they'd stolen something.
4. You're not begging for money or anything. You're there to share an opportunity that may help your prospect.
5. Give the impression that the prospect will not in any way be forced or coerced to join. Assure him that if he watches the video or joins the Zoom meeting, he will not be obligated to do anything.
6. Sound confident and sure about your business but do not hard-sell or sound too eager to recruit. Have the wisdom and decency to maintain a safe distance, like a doctor would to his patient, or a lawyer would to his client. A show of eagerness to make a sale or signup is disappointing. Convince intelligently.
7. Finally, always be kind and patient. Prepare to get rude or insulting comments. It's part of any business. Just think that any improper attitude like rudeness is a result of ignorance. This is why marketing, especially network marketing, is in the business of educating people.

If you're interested to see what business I'm in, I invite you to first know how money works. Watch this video.

Myth about No Selling

Almost all of them claim you don't have to sell anything and still make money with their business system. But the basics say there's got to be product movement if there's going to be any profit earned. You can't change that. A product has to be sold in any business. And you have to do a little bit of selling even if they say there's "no selling" involved. Even salaries rely on selling to be sustainable.

Photo above by Laura Chouette on Unsplash.

Even governments need to "sell" something to make money. I'm NOT talking about privatization, although they do that a lot to raise government funds. I'm talking about "selling" people better government services and infrastructures to make them happily file their income taxes annually. If they don't make good "sales," their "customers" (the public) may kick them out in the next elections. Something like that.

So, what are you talking about no selling?

You want an effective sales presentation? Click here.

Referring or Promoting

Okay, the smart Alecks will re-phrase that and call it "referrals" instead of selling. You just have to refer your friends. A more updated term is "promote" it to friends. "You don't have to sell them anything. Just promote the products to them." This tactic is not really a scam, but it's a myth. Because anyway you look at it, you won't make a cent unless your referral buys. Someone has to sell and someone has to buy.

Okay. I'd agree that it's no selling and merely referring IF (there's a big IF) you make money by just referring, even if your referral doesn't buy anything. Your referrals all just visit the store or listen to the webinar and then buys nothing. And then you make big commissions (and even residual income) in cash! Then, yeah, it's really no selling.

It's precisely why any business, online or offline, needs a product to sell. Products need to be bought to make money. And if you do that business, you're selling something, overtly or covertly. You may not be selling directly to the prospect. You may just be referring him or her to the site or store where the product can be bought. But it's still selling--the company sells and it uses you as an affiliate to sell.

So there's selling involved, and like it or not (or admit it or not) you're part of it.

Sounds Like a Trick

People often ask me shocked how they thought there was no selling involved. They took the bait. Initially, it felt like no selling was really involved. They just had to refer people to the business and didn't need to actually sell anything to them. But eventually, however, the whole thing started to feel like selling, they say. Because unless the folks they invited bought something, no money is made. 

Some of them felt like they were tricked--tricked into believing they won't really have to sell or do anything that is connected to selling. Then they attended leadership seminars on the business and found out that you had to hit some goals and quotas. Sounds pretty much like selling, then. 

Thus, when I join legit businesses masqueraded as "no selling," I never buy the myth one bit. I gear myself up for some kind of selling. And when I share the business with others, I always stress that, yeah, you won't need to sell anything directly, but you won't make money unless people you invite buy the products. In that sense, you need to make a "sale." You're into indirect selling.

Because I don't want to make empty promises or spread around a myth. I want to be honest with people. Yup, you probably won't make big money with that kind of honesty, but your soul will be filled to the brim (and even overflow) with peace of mind. Clean network marketing and honest selling beat everything else, even big profits.

No Products

No selling in real terms means no product being sold. Then it's a SCAM. All businesses need a product to sell to make money. Even investments. When you invest on something--like a company or business--that company or business needs to sell good. Otherwise, you lose. Stocks and even forex trading depend on sales. If industries do not make products because nothing is being sold, the economy collapses and foreign exchange with it.

This is why money investment is a scam. What we call "pera-pera lang." No product movement, just money being rolled around and later becoming unsustainable. Soon, the perpetrators run off with a big sum. Even your social security or SSS (Social Security System) invests on companies that sell well to have sustainability. The SSS does not just keep your money in its vault and dole it out to all its members.

So, when joining a selling or referring or networking business, the first thing you ask is the product. Because you'll be into some kind of selling, directly or otherwise. Second is the company--how legit and stable is it? Then third is the compensation plan. Some companies won't even talk about the comp plan unless you join them. That's silly, even a possible SCAM. You need to know how much you'd be making before you do any business. That's a basic. 

So, what are you talking about no selling?

It's Legit Networking If You Have Freedom to Choose Products

Avoiding scams is easy. Just keep to the basics. And one basic says buyers should enjoy the freedom to choose what products they buy--and get the product they paid for. There's this networking company which, instead of sending you products you bought, sends you other products that have no connection, whatsoever, with the products you purchased. To get what you paid for, you have to buy them again 😄, the company said. Can you imagine that? They forfeit your freedom to choose the products you get and it's a sure scam. And surprisingly, buyers submit to this policy like slaves. 

Photo above by Pickawood on Unsplash.

Obviously, the buyers didn't know their right as customers.

Click here for a free review of this e-book.

Imagine ordering mozzarella garlic pizza from a pizza store but the store gives you instant pancit canton. Naturally, you complain. Then the crews says, "If you want pizza, you have to order for it again, sir." So you ask them, "Why not just give me what I paid for?" Then they answer, "Company policy, sir." To them, that is logical and correct. If you complain, they look at you like you're nuts. I don't care if they give me the best pepperoni pizza in the world because that wasn't what I paid for. I want mozzarella garlic!

Customer is Always Right

They're breaking the basic principle on customers being always right--particularly, getting what they paid for. And this is especially so with network marketing. You have to get what you pay for because it's what you'd be marketing in your business, not some other product. You cannot sell what you do not like to eat or use. This company gets away with it because the customers do not know their rights and agree with the stupid policy.

Around early 1990s I and my wife joined a food franchise business with network marketing on the side. Included in the fee we paid for were the raw waffle products and cooking gadgets we'd need in the business, plus the collapsible outlet cubicle and the uniform of the crew. That was a swell and neat deal. Very legit. Definitely fair. It's how franchises should be. 

Imagine getting a burger franchise and what you get is shampoo and surgical masks as "bonuses," and because they're bonuses you have no choice but to receive them (and the misled customers actually enjoy getting the "bonuses," saying they feel indebted to the company). If you want the burger product, you buy it because it does not come with the franchise fee you paid for. The franchise fee covers only the online system. It's a silly deal.

But remember, you want the burger franchise, not the system. If the system is crucial to how the burger is marketed, then the company shouldn't sell you just the system. Because you are interested to sell the product, not get the system. Product and marketing system should go together in a franchise. If you get a Jollibee or McDo franchise, you get both food product and system. 

The moment the seller deprives you of the right to get the products you paid for, it's a scam, no matter if the company has been doing it like that with "success" or if many people are making money from it. It's still a scam. So be careful about scheming companies that look for a way to sell you their unsellable products lying idle in their stocks. 

Product Packages

If it's a product package, it should be the package of your choice, not another package that's far from what you ordered. Product packages are pre-arranged sets of goods which may or may not all be what you wanted. There's a chance an item or two (or more) is not to your liking. But still, you get the right to choose the package you want. So what you do is get one that has more of what you really want or need. It's your right. The company cannot decide what package you get.

If it's Christmas time, for instance, and you go to SM grocery to buy a Christmas basket, you choose what you want and pay for it. And that's exactly what SM gives you. As simple as that. The basket may include a macaroni or mayonnaise brand you don't like, but you make sure that majority of its contents are agreeable to you. SM won't give you a different basket as a "bonus" and then tell you to buy again the basket you want if you want it. Doesn't make any sense. And it smells of pure scam.

Products that Don't Sell

Unscrupulous companies will force you to get their products that aren't selling. So they sell you these unmarketable or worthless products and even force them on you as a policy. But they make it sound like you're getting a good deal, like calling it a "bonus" the company gives to make customers feel grateful instead of scammed, and then make them feel obligated to make a purchase again because of the "bonus" the company gave. But there are serious problems with this scheme.

One is if you're allergic to the product being forced on you. No one has the right to force a product which can prove harmful to you. No company can assert the right to decide what products go to the customer (and which the customer pays for) if the customer refuses to, especially due to health reasons. You have every right not to accept a product package, for instance, you didn't order and pay for. No matter if the product package is full of good items. 

The Best Product Package

Smart networking companies selling product packages opt to sell neutral products. This means the products are generally good for most people and commonly used. If say, it's a personal care product then it has to be what most folks use. Bath soaps and shampoos are good. The cutting edge here would be an all-organic ingredient, for instance, or something safe but cheaper. 

Because it's an era of health consciousness we're in (especially in this pandemic), organic health supplements are in. Most people want them. So a product package of mostly health supplements will be a good idea. A package of organic weight loss pills, immune booster drinks and natural vitamins and minerals will definitely appeal to me. How about healthy and delicious coffee with health boosting ingredients? 

Selling Online Starts with Your Person

Marketing, in a sense, is first and foremost "selling yourself." I mean, you don't literally sell yourself per se for money but you are the first "commodity" you're offering to a customer or client, not your product. You have to have a good product and marketing strategy but all that goes to waste if you're not marketable. Are you? [Picture above from this site].

People first have to "buy you" before they buy the product. This means they have to see you as trustworthy and reliable, especially when marketing online makes everything virtual. They don't get to meet you in person (except if you arrange for a meet up) and don't know who you really are--even if you've been FB friends for years. I have a lot of FB friends I laugh and chat with but who nonetheless are still total strangers to me.

Online, we have to sell ourselves to prospects before they buy our products. Often, they may not buy immediately. But if you're able to sell yourself well to them, there's a good chance they may buy the next time around. They "buy" you when they have proven your worth, especially your good character and friendship. But good character starts somewhere. How do you project good character online?

Because Facebook is about faces and pictures, you start with your profile picture. It's not about posting your best, most handsome or prettiest or sexiest picture on your profile but posting a decent picture that really and honestly projects the real you. It doesn't mean wearing long sleeves or suit or barong and appearing so formal like someone from a funeral parlor. Just a decent you.

If you're naturally very formal and business-like then do appear so. But if not, don't pretend. But neither should you look messy, clumsy, awkward, graceless or nondescript (unremarkable) just to be down-to-earth and claim that's you're natural self. Natural self is good but we're destined to change and improve ourselves (part of personality development and maturity), no matter who we are or what our profession is. It's okay to stay as we are if we're not doing an online business. But if we are, staying unchanged won't work unless we're a celebrity or a superstar who people accept even in their worst appearance. 

So use a good profile picture where you look naturally friendly, formal enough, backdropped against an inspiring background and with your natural smile. Don't "hide" yourself always using a background that makes you look rich or big-time, or anything like that, like a posh car, mansion, or luxurious places, especially if it does not yet define your lifestyle. You're like fake news. You're a big lie trying to impress people the wrong way to make them think highly of you.

Just be yourself. If people buy you just the way you are, then it's good marketing. You didn't fool anyone. If they don't buy you, much better. Don't run after people. Marketing is not running after people anymore but giving them reasons to like you. I hate the idea of making money by prostituting yourself to people, begging them to like you. 

Anyway, if you have a clean and pure heart, God will take you to the right customers who'd "buy" you because you're you, and patronize your product because they see you as honest and trustworthy. There's nothing false in you. They first buy you, bear that in mind. Then they might also buy your products. If they don't, at least they bought you as a person and friend, and a lot of promising things may happen after that in time.

So fix your profile picture first, not to give false impressions but to project a justified look. Your real, decent and improved you. Since people do not really meet you in person when online, it's your face and pictures they more strongly relate to, not your actual person. Then they build your "person" in their minds by what they see on your wall. So build your profile picture and profile page. Selling online all starts with your face.

Next topic: How to project yourself on your FB wall.

Talking to a New Prospect [Part 1]

The best way to be talking to new prospects is to--well, simply talk to them. Don't think of them as "prospects" you need to recruit or sell to. Treat them simply as folks you'd casually talk to, a friend or new acquaintance, not a "sales target." So your goal is really friendship, second to selling. Actually, it may or may not end up with selling. And it's okay. I prefer this approach. Talk informally and simply relax. Enjoy the conversational adventure. This is the first most important step. Then the rest will follow.

When you meet a new prospect [let's call him John], your first aim is to make him comfortable talking with you. Often, it's best that John doesn't know you're into network marketing so you can start a casual conversation. This makes him put down his guard. You see, the moment people discover you're a networker or you're into sales, they'll put up their guards and be defensive about it all. They'd block anything that sounds like selling. Rather, present yourself as a health buff. So be one.

For more in-depth insights about talking to prospects and turning them into new recruits casually, see this link.

But don't tell a lie. If you schedule an appointment solely as a seller, tell the guy you're into selling. Introduce yourself as a direct seller, even if you're a networker, because that's what networkers should be. Some people want to go directly to selling and meet prospects strictly as sellers or networkers, not friends. And that's okay. The only thing I hate about this is when prospects don't buy or join and networkers get pissed off, and obviously at that. I have met several networkers who changed their friendly approach once they saw I wouldn't buy. 

So I hate the strictly business approach. I meet prospects and offer them new friendship, talk, introduce the product or business, but give leeway to prospects' freedom to choose--even choose whether they drop the topic or stay with it. I never want to be a pain in the neck just to make a sale. NEVER. If I don't make a sale, fine. But I make sure I make a new friend who I can always go back to another day for another try at selling.

And this way, I get rid of the nervousness about 80 percent. Relax and do not aim at anything. I know how being in sales makes you think nothing but your sales target and the commissions resulting from that plus your performance rating. But don't be like that. It's going to eat you like gangrene and dictate your character soon enough. You begin to treat people nothing more as prospects.

I'd Rather Have It Like This

It's better to just meet a person for a casual talk, and it can be indirectly about a concern connected to your product. If you're into health products, for instance, how about arranging a meeting for a health survey you're undertaking to see what people are doing to stay healthy? And that's honestly connected to your job. Or, say, because you're a health agent, you're part of an info campaign to share to people about an update or breakthrough.

What some big pharma companies are doing is conduct a free consultation campaign where a medical specialist talks to people and then recommends the company's product. You can adopt the idea in a smaller scale, like conducting a free blood pressure or blood sugar test and then share a short talk about your product health benefits. Something like that. I did that when I was marketing manager of a company and it turned out well. And that takes out about one half of the nervousness in product presentation because people willingly go to you and it's some kind of a public service. 

Nervousness sets in the moment you aim to turn a guy, like John, into a recruit or sell him something outright. You feel the stress, and the stress will often make you look awkward and do or say stupid things. So don't aim to turn John into a downline or instant buyer. Just treat him as a person with respect. But do find a way to talk about health. And do aim to make him a friend, sincerely. The best sales strategy is relational that is sincere.

You can apply the mentioned strategy above with any product or service. If you're into insurance, real estate, car sales, pharmaceuticals, wifi connections, etc. You can do sales naturally, as if you're not doing sales. 

Health is a universal topic. Everyone is interested about it and it's among the most natural topics to talk about. Besides, almost everyone is sick with something. So try to lead the conversation naturally to health matters. For instance, when talking to a new prospect, try to ask him or her about sports or hobbies or food.

Selling Example

Let's say, you are suddenly introduced to John and at once you thought of presenting him your product or business. If you do it directly, you'd make a negative impression on John, even an ugly impression. Or an offensive or too aggressive impression suggesting greediness. That's bad self intro. Nobody wants sales people selling them something, especially strangers. 

So what you do is perhaps talk about the recent Olympics (if there was one) or the recent NBA games or maybe about a popular public figure who recently made news about his health regiment or perhaps his death due to an illness. And then you can casually inject, "Getting healthy is getting to be more important in our times, right? This is why I jog everyday. What do you do John, for health?"

That's a well sales camouflaged intro. What exercise or hobby is John into? If not, why not? If yes, why pick that particular sport or activity? Most people love talking about themselves especially with an interested audience. So make sure you're a good listener. Then share about your health and fitness activity and your commitment to good health. Now, listen--all networkers selling health and wellness products should be deep into health. You should be exercising regularly. That's part of your career. Be as fit as you can.

No use telling a prospect you're a health buff or taking health products when you're overweight and your tummy bulges incredibly. All you are to your prospect is a joke, if that's the case. Imagine selling weight loss supplements and you're the same size as Santa Claus.

But it's different if you're at least slim or at least your tummy doesn't bulge--or doesn't look too bulging. Then, you can easily and naturally talk about what supplements benefits you most. Just talk about the health benefits you get from your product. Don't talk about selling it until later.

Let's take this conversation for example:

YOU: Are you into basketball or something? I like basketball. Did you see the NBA game last night?
JOHN: Oh yeah! What a game!
YOU: They say players today jump higher, stand taller, and are physically stronger than players 10 or 20 years ago. They're all health buffs today! What do you do to keep healthy, John?
JOHN: Basically, I play sports now and then.
YOU: Yeah? How about food? Are you particular about food?
JOHN: Well, I just eat anything.
[Laughter]
YOU: You know, being a health buff, I'm particular about food. The problem is, you seldom get safe and healthy food today, especially if you cannot do home cooking. Did you know that people practically eat poison everyday?
JOHN: Hmm?
YOU: Yes, we get it from daily food we eat bombarded with chemicals and artificial flavorings. That's why I take this supplement. Ever heard of ****? I get lots of antioxidants from it to fight free radicals. I really started feeling stronger since I started taking it And it helps me lots with my sport...

Then you start out introducing the product. It even helps to ask John what ailments or health problems he has and link that to your product. But remember, never hard sell. Always sound casual. Don't be too eager or too obvious. It turns off most people. Even me. And looking desperate is not good an image for a networker to have.

To get more in-depth tips on clean networking and how to present your business to people in a more effective way, checkout the link below.

For more in-depth insights about talking to prospects and turning them into new recruits casually, see this link.

Stop Empire Building

I will be featuring more on what the big difference is between a network and an empire. You see, once your network marketing degrades into an empire, all sorts of greed happen. A network builds up people, an empire builds up one ambition--the emperor's. Stop empire building.

Always look for a networking business where 01s and uplines work manually on the grassroots level with their remotest of downlines. Get out of those with emperors staying up there on their pedestals and doing nothing but showing off their splendor to their downlines, boasting of their "blessings" and excursions abroad, all in the name of "financial freedom." That's freedom at others' expense. Boasting like that does nothing for downlines except develop envy and greed in them. Nope, those things never "inspire" people to work more--they tempt you to covet more. Stop empire building by getting out of them.

Network

I've been in the networking business long enough [since 1996] to have seen enough. We thought that emperors were the natural result of a "growing" network. But after examining everything carefully, and studying the true nature of a network, I saw how networkers mistake empires for networks. We fail to see what a true network really is.

A network is a system where groups of people [uplines and downlines] benefit from each other because they both have to offer something beneficial. They don't use each other--on the contrary, they gain from each other, spurring both sides to gainful ends. Yes, it is people oriented, but if I say that, crooks would start thinking it's about recruiting people to be under them. And to them, that means people "working for" them. In a real network, no one is "under" anyone, except in structure. And no one should work for anybody but himself.

Networks are "people-oriented" only because it's about people helping people. For instance, if government should need a rescue and relief effort to save flood victims, it "networks" with NGOs, not to have them work under them but to work with them to achieve an end. And the end is to help other people. Of course, in structure or organization, the government stands to be at the top coordinating with and overseeing the private agencies. But that does not mean it becomes an emperor using agencies under it to achieve its selfish ambition, enriching itself--though in a corrupt sense, that happens in the real world.

Empire

An empire is entirely different--and obnoxious. Everyone down below works to enrich the "emperor" or folks on top. The top guys or emperors or lords do nothing except wallow in their riches and brag about that to their downlines to keep them desiring what they have--like carrot dangling on a stick. They show off their bank accounts, posh cars, mansions, and extravagant trips in the guise of "encouraging" their downlines to work more to have the same. But that's far from "inspiring" them to reach top leadership. Actually, it's making them work more for the uplines' selfish enrichment. Pretty much like how the pyramids of Egypt were constructed, sacrificing the masses to do all the work. And then Pharaoh gets all the applause, glamor, and wealth.

What Network Uplines Should Be

To make a network a real network, the emperor should be taken out of the system. How do we do this? Of course, there will always be 01s on top as well as uplines who would be benefited the most by our corporate efforts. But the thing is to have them go down again as downlines of their downlines and workout their new slots. All uplines should keep getting new slots now and then down the line and make those slots work. This means they re-enter the system as new members and do the business again, selling products and getting new recruits, aside from helping their downlines.

Once downlines become uplines and earn big, they also get new slots and become downlines of their downlines. This cycle must go on and on. There should be sub-systems like this developed in the system to somehow even up the labor and distribute wealth more equally. Or, it should be the uplines' initiative to do so. After all, a network should be like that--ensuring that all gets fair share of everything all the time.