In today’s world you will need to set yourself apart from others whether you are just starting out or if you are starting over. A great way to do this if you are in real estate is through blogging.

A blog is a web log. It is also a web site. Several years ago, when blogs were first around, most people used them as online journals or diaries. Today there are more than 7 million blogs around the world, or blogosphere, as it is affectionately called. There are many people who run their businesses entirely from a blog and others that use a blog as an addition to an offline business. Real estate is the perfect business to set up with a blog in addition to a traditional website. A real estate blog can take any form that you decide will work for you.

You may want to let your clients know more about who you are and what you do away from the world of real estate. You could make posts about your family and the community events you are involved in. It is probably a good idea to stay away from political or religious topics so that you do not alienate any part of your readership. Have links between your blog and business website so that people can see both. Add the web address of your blog to your business card.

There are many platforms available to set up your blog. The one that I have had great success with is called Typepad. This site offers many advantages over the free blogging platforms but has a small fee depending on the level of service you choose.

Blogging as a realtor will set you apart from everyone else. More than likely you will be the only person in your office to set up and maintain a blog, unless you are in a very large office. Try to post something new on your blog at least three times each week. An added bonus is that you will be more easily found in the search engines if you continue to blog regularly. You will be able to position yourself as an expert with the writing you post on your blog. Decide if you will be providing information or opinions to your readers, or a combination of both. Give your blog a distinctive name and purchase that as a domain. Make it something that is easy to remember so that people will visit your blog regularly. You can easily set up a form on your blog so that your readers can subscribe to it. Every time you make a post they will receive an email alerting them to what you have written. This will keep your name fresh in their mind.

Because blogging is still relatively new to the internet you will need to educate your clients on how to get the most from it. Encourage them to make comments and teach them how to do it. Comments make for lively interaction between you and the other readers.

Blogging is a great way for realtors to get to know their clients in a new and different way. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your blog until it feels just right. Your readers will let you know what they want and which direction you should take.

Connie Ragen Green is a Real Estate Broker and State Certified Residential Appraiser in California and has bought and sold over 100 properties since 1983. Visit her at http://www.BuyRealEstateforProfit.com for more information about buying and selling real estate.

Angels at the Crossroads: Jerry Shepherd’s Story of Redemption and Love
by Ann H. Gabhart
iUniverse (2006)
ISBN 9780595387076

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (01/07)

When Jerry Shepherd stole a car he accidentally killed the owner. The police caught up with him after a high speed chase. Jerry hoped the officer was a good shot for he did not wish to continue his life. Just as he was about to exit the car he heard the quiet words, “Peace Be Still.” A great sense of calm came over him and from that moment on he belonged to the Lord.

Jerry Shepherd was raised in Kentucky not far from Louisville. His home life was rough. His mother was unforgiving and never seemed satisfied with anything he did. He ran away from home more than once. Once after returning home again, his father met him with open arms but his mother turned her back and walked away. It seemed that no matter where he ran God always placed an angel in his path. There was always someone to direct him back toward home. Jerry didn’t want to continue his life and sought death more than once. After pleading guilty of 2nd degree murder Jerry spent time in prison.

Jerry turned his life over to the Lord and was never the same. His life had new meaning. His book is an introspective look at his life before and after coming to know the Lord. Jerry went on to sing with the gospel quartet “The Patriots.”

“Angels at the Crossroads” by Ann H. Gabhart was an inspiration to me. Jerry’s life story is beautifully told. I could picture the young man constantly on the run and not always sure what he was running from. The plot flowed smoothly, telling of the turning point in Jerry’s life and then looking back at his past. The cover is beautifully done with a sun peaking through the clouds. It made me think of hope that we each need. It is with honor that I highly recommend this book to all. For everyone needs the hope that Jerry found when he looked in his rearview mirror at the law and then heard that small quiet voice that said, “Peace Be Still.”

http://www.readerviews.com/

Super copywriting has not much to do with suffocating, stuffy language.

It has a lot to do with simplicity, clarity and FROM THE HEART talk.

Though, looking around at your competitors, you’ll see there’s a lot of pompous strutting towards the first way.

Don’t go down their path!

If you’re struggling with commanding attention from your promotional material, especially the ‘headline’ you’d do well to stick to the proven… HOW TO!

In fact, almost any ad or promotional piece, can start with this dynamic duo.

Let’s test…

For an accountant: “John Nairn’s Small Business Accounting - if you’re looking for a cheap, affordable, friendly accountant, then give me a call on 021 23 123 1234 and let’s see what we can do”

Hmm… not too enticing, right?

Okay, let’s stick our tried and tested How To, and rearrange the furniture a little.

“How to Save a Ton of Tax, Breathe More Easily and Keep the Taxman from Sniffing at Your Door!” This special report is waiting for you courtesy of John Nairn’s Small Business Accountancy Practice who Specialises in Helping Small Business owners who have been in business from 1-5 years. Call freephone 0800 1234 123 today, as their are very limited copies available of this special report: Plus, if you are one of the first 35 to call, you’ll also receive a special bonus gift!

Okay, let’s play with another one.

How about…

Dentists!

Joey Jones Dentist Services for all the family. Why not book your family appointment and receive 20% off your first lot of treatments. We’ve been in the profession for 15 years and pride ourselves in our services. Call 020 7665 7773 now; you won’t be disappointed.

Sounds boring, right? Sounds pretty much like most ads in that category!

Though, I’m telling you, that’s what your competition is upto!

And… maybe… you too?

Okay, let’s turn this around.

“How to Make Sure Your Whole Family Can Get Their First Dental Treatment… FREE!” Joey Jones, The Family Dental Specialist, Invites You to A Tour of His Friendly Dental Surgery. Please Call Maria, our Family Dental Welcome Manager on 000 000 000 and she will arrange a time that is suitable to you. By the way, we love children under 10… they’ll be spoilt rotten here and they may not want to leave!

Study these ads for they hold a BIG KEY for you in crafting your own marketing materials.

Raja C. Hireker

Raja C. Hireker is a publisher and editor of the Marketing and Life Strategies Newsletter ‘Swinging for The Fences’ He has ghostwritten over 130 articles and is sought after advertising and email copywriter. You can go to his copywriting blog at:

http://copywritingforprofessionals.wordpress.com as well as his website

http://RajaHireker.com/copywriting.html

He lives in London, UK and can be contacted by FAX on 44 208 764 1085 and by email on

RCHireker@Simple-Marketing-Solutions.com

There are a few physical laws that everyone agrees are so fundamental, they are considered as close to science fact as anything can be. For instance, while The “law” of gravity applies to all animate and inanimate objects, regardless about how they feel about gravitational attraction, even in micro-gravity as is found in open space, it’s still working, though very subtlety. The Law of Attraction similarly applies whether you believe in it or not. If unfocused, its impact may seem weak, but when focused, the effects can’t be ignored.

What many people are surprised to learn is that the Law of Attraction works with your conscious and unconscious thoughts just as easily. So, even while sleeping, you’re having an impact on what will be drawn into your sphere of influence. You may say you can’t be responsible for your subconscious thoughts, but if not you, who? Learning to harness the power of the Law of Attraction is more than just wishing for good things to come true. Not only do you need to practice visualizing exactly what you want but also, your ability to eliminate negative thoughts and emotions that sabotage your commitment to your desired self-image.

But what is the Law of Attraction? Simply put, it is the tendency for the physical world to manifest in the way we expect it to. While this is certainly true for those who change the parameters by which they gauge success, it seems the success of those who Just the opposite of electromagnetism, “like attracts like,” when your thoughts interact with the material world. This is far more involved than keeping a goal in mind. Though goal setting is never a bad idea, the Law of Attraction doesn’t differentiate between your thoughts, observations or dreams. The Universe “hears” all regardless and behaves accordingly.

This applies not only to the thoughts you would feel comfortable expressing, but all the negative ones, too. Part of the challenge of utilizing the Law of Attraction is one’s ability to eliminate doubt and negative thinking, so that only the you that you want to be will remain in your thoughts. It’s a way of looking in the mirror and seeing what is good about you and deserves to be rewarded rather than nit-picking your faults, thinking about what you don’t want to have happen and feeling bad about your dismal prospects.

Making that transformation is hard work. It starts when you begin to take full responsibility for how you think and feel, and focus your thoughts toward the positive from here on out. Before you can go about managing your thoughts for optimal attraction of people, things and situations you can use, you’ll need to clear your mind of negativity. You don’t have to fear that things won’t work out - you know they’ll work out great.

The problem is, you can’t just banish negative thinking overnight. Like any habit, it took you a lifetime to get used to thinking this way, and it will be hard to change quickly. However, you already know something fundamental will need to be addressed before you can make real change. You’ll need to get to the root of it, finding the source of your inner voice and accepting your role as the filter you perceive the universe through. You can choose to focus on a positive future rather than a negative past by making a conscious effort to retrain your thought process.

This does not mean you should go and blame yourself for every little bump in the road or setback that has befallen you. There’s a big difference for taking responsibility for what you think from this moment on and feeling crummy for the past mistakes you might have made. One is reactive while the other is proactive. While there is no doubt you can find plenty of instances in your life where the negative thoughts you were harboring attracted all the wrong kinds of attention and opportunity, taking responsibility is all about recognizing those past mistakes as opportunities for learning how to do things correctly!

Taking the right approach to preparing your mind for creative and profitable visualization will enable you to have success, earlier rather than later. While even those who take a harder, punitive approach to disciplining their mind will eventually see some sort of result, the surest way to reach your goals faster is to start by changing the most fundamental way you interpret the world around you. This will also allow you to be more confident you’ve changed your subconscious thinking, too.

Once you have both major aspects of your mind working toward the same goal with every thought, whether you would choose to use The Law of Attraction to your advantage is the only question.

Greg Aldrich is the author of Secret Mastery, Understanding The Law of Attraction. To learn more about The Science of Getting Rich and how to use it to manifest better health, happiness and even more money into your life visit Secret Mastery today.

These little known quotes on forgiveness bring a perspective worth contemplating–including, David McArthur & Bruce McArthur, Sara Paddison, Henry Ward Beecher, Mignon McLaughlin, et al.

“Many people are afraid to forgive because they feel they must remember the wrong or they will not learn from it. The opposite is true. Through forgiveness, the wrong is released from its emotional stranglehold on us so that we can learn from it. Through the power and intelligence of the heart, the release of forgiveness brings expanded intelligence to work with the situation more effectively.” -David McArthur & Bruce McArthur

“Forgiveness means that you’ve decided not to let it keep festering inside even if it only comes up once in awhile.” -Doc Childre and Howard Martin

“Sincere forgiveness isn’t colored with expectations that the other person apologize or change. Don’t worry whether or not they finally understand you. Love them and release them. Life feeds back truth to people in its own way and time-just like it does for you and me.” -Sara Paddison

“I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note–torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one.” -Henry Ward Beecher

“Not the power to remember, but its very opposite, the power to forget, is a necessary condition for our existence.” -Sholem Asch

“Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.” -William A. Ward

“What we forgive too freely doesn’t stay forgiven.” -Mignon McLaughlin

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, “101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life.” Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life’s challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

This is the last in a series of articles devoted to communications in relation to Customer Service.

If you are in a busy Customer Service environment (phones ringing, people asking questions and as usual, shorthanded) I am sure that a tool that is easy to use and implement would be helpful.

I have been reading a lot about Behavioral or Personality Profiling and studying the different types.

This is the culmination of what has been a career journey and learning experience. We all have different ways of profiling people. (And if you have been in Customer Service any length of time, you have developed your own profiling system) I’ve included some of my own profiles below. (They are for illustration only. If you are crazy enough to use them, you get what you deserve.)

Your examples might include;

Mr. or Mrs. Nice Person: Generally pleasant, lots of time on their hands, easy to work with. They are great Customers, however, if you do not treat them right, they become easily offended and leave without saying anything. And you’ll never know why. (Unless you bump into them in the produce aisle, and then they’ll let you have it)

Mr. Hothead: Whenever he comes in you get a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach as you realize you get to work with him today. Quick to anger and argue over anything that does not seem right, he really has been a victim of bad service in the past and has made a vow not to be taken advantage by anyone, including you. If you make a mistake with him, he generally ends up in the Mangler’s office or the BIG CHEESE, THE OWNER’S OFFICE! (I said Mangler on purpose; you who are in Customer Service know who that is)

Ms. Yuppiepreppie: Whenever she comes in the Dept. stops functioning. This Customer has the uncanny ability to draw everyone in the Department to her. This Customer normally only takes half of the recommendations as she is usually purse challenged as the latest shoe sale made a big dent in available funds. Whenever this Customer becomes disappointed, you most likely will end up talking to Mr. Knowitall Boyfriend.

Mr. Knowitall Boyfriend: Shows up after being summoned by Ms. Yuppiepreppie. Most times in to make a point, although not sure what the point is. Can be easy to work with if you can cut through the exterior gruff and get him to see reason. He will become an excellent Customer if you can demonstrate the benefits of working together.

Ms. or Mr. Extremelybusy: These Customers can be exceptional Customers if you can demonstrate superior time management skills. Have things ready to go and completed on time, and you will make a loyal Customer. If you disappoint however, there will be major trouble. These folks head straight to the BIG CHEESE, bypassing the Mangler. Although challenging Customers, well worth the effort to make them loyal Customers.

Mrs. Wonderful: These are your favorite Customers, a ray of sunshine on an otherwise cloudy day. They are great Customers because you feel a connection with them. You probably know their children’s names and can talk intelligently on what Junior has been doing in school. If only every Customer was like Mrs. Wonderful.

Right.

And we have not even addressed co-workers and other people you come in contact with. Some might include;

Schleprock: This guy has an opinion on everything and they are all bad. Nothing ever goes right for this person and they’ll be happy to tell you all about it. 1st to complain, last to congratulate. Stay away if you can, or learn to limit your exposure.

Ms. Efficiency: Can tell everyone how to do their job better. And why. She waits at her workspace to trap anyone who comes within range and then proceeds to pass on all of her helpful hints. This is really an evolution from being a Ms. Busybody.

Ms. Busybody: The name says it all. If there is dirt, she is first with the dustvac, sucking in all the details to regale all of her co-workers later. No one person knows more about the history of the company and everyone in it than her.

Mr. Quietdesk: He prefers desk work and is quite good it it. Not the person you find at the water cooler or coffee pot, except by accident. In a large company, only those that need to work with him or sit near him know his name. Generally liked by all especially the Mangler because he never rocks the boat.

As you can see, we all have labels we attach to Customers and Co-workers based on our past experiences, their past performances and our interaction with them.

I have given you some extreme examples (I hope) so you can see that labeling someone does not lead to better communication. It really comes down to understanding them.

If we communicate better, understand better and have a little “live and let live” mindset we can become better at what we do. That’s a lot of “better” isn’t it!
So, there is one place we can start. That’s with our style of communication and who we are. If we have a better understanding of who we are, we can then understand why we don’t connect with a Customer or co-worker.

I like to keep things simple. I started looking around for an easy way to see myself and keep that in mind as I worked with others.

I found that system in Dr. Tony Alessandra’s Platinum Rule. I am fortunate enough to be able to work these concepts into seminars I am leading, as I have found not only extreme interest from the participants, the concepts apply to everyday situations with everyone you come in contact with.

Basically you are working with 4 personality behavoirs. And once you understand where you fit in, you can adjust your communications to fit the style of the person you are speaking to.

This is not a new concept. The study of behaviors and types has been around a very long time. I am sure many of you have had exposure or been tested with Meyers-Briggs or Keirsey type profile tests. Me too.
It wasn’t until I was exposed to Dr. Alessandra’s system however, that I began to see this as a tool to use everyday.

Basically, the 4 types break down into styles you can determine from verbal and non-verbal cues that people are giving off every time you come in contact with them. And once you understand what the cues mean, you can adjust your style to theirs and communicate on a level that they feel connected to you.

The cues are easy to learn and apply. In fact, most people can start right away with people they know, love and care about. Yep. Practice on your family first.

You might be surprised at how well you suddenly see someone once you know what to look for.

Leonard Buchholz is a Certified Trainer, Speaker and Author. If you are looking for a seminar leader that is “High Touch and Low Tech,” look no further. Leonard is known for energetic seminars that involve the participants. Seminar subjects include Customer Service, Difficult People and Difficult Situations, Management and Communications.
Reach him at leonard@bizprotraining.com or call 760-529-5635.

Late on Friday April 13, 2007, the Internal Revenue Service discovered a new tax scam on the Internet that “lures taxpayers into filing tax information on a site masquerading as a member of the Free File Alliance.”

There is only one place to access the Free File program, according to the IRS. That one place is IRS.gov.

To be eligible for Free File a taxpayer needs to have Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $52,000 or less.

If you use this program be sure to start at IRS.gov, then click “2007 Free File”, then click “Start Now” which will give you the further choices you want.

Payments Are Still Timely Through Free File

Throughout the tax season, the IRS issues newswires, mostly with valuable tips but also with warnings of scams taking place and exactly how they work.

If taxpayers owe money, they can use Free File to electronically file their return on time and schedule their payment on the last possible day, April 17.

As with any e-file product, Free File reassures taxpayers they have filed on time by issuing an acknowledgment from the IRS saying the return has been received.

Once again, to avoid tax scams, make sure it starts out with IRS.gov, if you’re dealing with the IRS.

IRS provides some wonderful help on its site. The following is particularly helpful in many areas.
It’s called TAX TRAILS. It has many topics for typical middle class homeowners and a click through system leading in many cases to a final answer or source where the final answer can be found.

VISIT IRS “TAX TRAILS” FIND A QUICK CLICK TO MANY CATEGORIES

The IRS home page is laid out in a very helpful manner. To go there click IRS

Mick McNesby is a former tax advisor, consultant and negotiator. He was a frequent guest on political talk shows in Atlantic City, N.J., discussing the benefits of the lower cost of government. He can be visited at http://conservative-politics-infofind.com

These little known quotes on forgiveness bring a perspective worth contemplating–including, Voltaire, Henry Ward Beecher, Josh Billings, Oscar Wilde, et al.

“Know all and you will pardon all.” -Thomas A’Kempis

“I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note - torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one.” -Henry Ward Beecher

“We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies.” -Voltaire

“There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.” - Josh Billings

“A mature Christian has capacity to absorb the offenses and weaknesses of others, not just demand they perform up to the code of ideals.” -Stephen Crosby

“To understand is to forgive, even oneself.” -Alexander Chase

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you.” -Unknown

“Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were.” -Cherie Carter-Scott

“The public is wonderfully tolerant. It forgives everything except genius.” -Oscar Wilde

“He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” -George Herbert

Resentment is like a glass of poison that a man drinks; then he sits down and waits for his enemy to die. -Unknown

“A Christian will find it cheaper to pardon than to resent. Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, and the waste of spirit.” -Hannah More

“Forgiveness is giving up the possibility of a better past.” -Unknown

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, “101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life.” Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life’s challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

When tragedy strikes a nation you cannot escape it. Living in the country you have to face it along with your fellow country men and women.You feel the sorrow and look for hope like many others but since you are a writer, you have words to express your grief and extend support. In times of tragedy that strength of words is what preserves the national grief for the future generation to read and reflect and it is also a way to share the common sentiment.

So how can you get out of the grief and write your way through a national tragedy? First step would be to reflect. Think about what happened, all the people who suffered and how the nation handled the pain and grief. You have to be able to feel for the people are understand their position before you even begin to write a word on the tragedy. Make that human, emotional connection.

After the reflection, you will be able to connect the common sentiment of loss and also be able to come to terms of what you are feeling about the tragedy. Begin writing about the tragedy keeping in mind that there are real people facing the tragedy and you have to be considerate and humble.Trying humor is a total NO NO.

In you writing express your feeling too so that people can know that you share their grief. Write objectively about facts and details but using emotions will make your writing even more appealing because at times of tragedy people look for emotional bond.

If the tragedy is not man made, like 9/11 you have to be balanced on issues like race, religion and social sentiments. You don’t want to write something that is racist or biased which will further the divide and add to the tragedy.

Finally, remember that you need time to deal with your own personal grief. So don’t hurry towards writing about the tragedy and always be clam and balanced, you don’t want to write something that hurts in time of already painful national tragedy.

This article also appears at Helium.com and AmericanChronicle.

Bhumika Ghimire is a freelance writer. She is a content producer for Associated Content and writes for OhMyNews.com. Her works have appeared in Journal and Courier, American Chronicle, ACM Ubiquity, Nepalnews.com and Gather.com.

A graduate of Schiller International University, Florida, Bhumika’s interests include blogging trends, freelance writing, Middle East and Islamic relations.

She has MBA on Information Technology Management and lives with her husband in West Lafayette, Indiana.

If you work for a boss, picture this:

It’s 2 p.m. Your morning evaporated in a flurry of phone calls and interruptions. You worked through lunch on plastic coffee to get an urgent job finished. Now you breathe a sigh of relief, grab another coffee, and reflect on your life as it is at this moment.

On the whole, it’s fine on the surface, but… a few things are nagging at you.

Four years into this job, and despite doing everything they asked, and more - something just doesn’t feel right. For one thing, you’re not as enthusiastic as you were when you started. You’re in a rut, the bills are piling up, and you don’t feel that you’re being paid what you’re worth.

“Hey,” you think, “this isn’t what I signed up for. How come Riley got that promotion - I should have MY name on that door. Just because he’s been here longer! I get in early, I stay late, I’m loyal, I do good work, but nobody notices.”

“What’s wrong with these people?” you ask yourself. “Unless you serve your time, and toe the company line, there’s no way forward. Creative solutions don’t seem to count. Being a little bit entrepreneurial just seems to make the higher-ups feel threatened.”

You think about your home life, and your career goals. About how much you’ve had to compromise over the last ten years. (Or twenty years. Or thirty.) What happened to the comfortable income, the snazzy sports car, the exotic vacations, the ideal relationship you used to imagine?

Your look at your boss, and his boss, and hers…

Is that who you want to be, after you’ve got to their age? (Or have you passed their age already? In which case, I hate to tell you… if it hasn’t happened by now, it’s almost certainly not going to.)

You frown, shake your head and head back to your desk.

You can’t see tomorrow being any different…

Or picture this, if you own your own business:

It’s 8 p.m. Your day’s almost over. You rock back in your office chair, breathe a tired sigh, and reflect on your life as it is at this moment.

On the whole, things are looking pretty good.

It’s been tough going, but four years in, you’re starting to show a modest profit. Of course, you’re still in hock for your setup investment and some of your running costs. And the staff… sufferin’ cats! You sometimes feel that you’re running a day-care center for adults.

The public can be a pain in the rear end, too - but that’s life, and it’s all been worth it to be your own boss.

What’s more, you can see that in a few more years, you’ll be able to cut back to just five or six days per week, and maybe spend some daylight hours with your family. Right now, you can’t afford to take time off, and as for chasing that little ball around the fairways (or the court) - well, for now the memories will have to suffice.

You drop a Rolaids to quell your heartburn. Naturally, you’re a bit stressed-out.

It’s still a big job to manage the cash flow… pay the bills… keep the customers happy… put out the fires… plan ahead… deal with suppliers, the bank, and the regulators… bring in new business… keep your spouse onside… stay abreast of the latest developments… keep one jump ahead of the competition - phew, who wouldn’t be stressed?

You notice the time, and turn back to the pile of bills on your desk…

Now picture this…

It’s 11 a.m. You lean back on your poolside lounge, breathe a contented sigh, and reflect on your life as it is at this moment.

On the whole, things are looking very good indeed.

Whatever your past, you now own your own marketing business. An international network marketing business, distributing great products to happy users in numerous countries.

It’s been a fair bit of work, and a big learning curve - but four years in, you’re closing in on a six-figure income. Moreover, your costs are low, so it’s 80 to 90 percent profit. You’ve finally fired your boss (or sold your other business).

Of course, your cash hasn’t been idle. You’ve made some extra inroads into your mortgage, and paid down that burdensome credit card debt. But it hasn’t all been catch-up - you’ve traded in that old clunker on an immaculate, late-model sedan. Plus you beautified the house, landscaped the garden, and put in a pool.

Not to mention those all-expenses-paid trips you and your spouse have enjoyed, along with other high achievers and executives in your company. Plenty of time to play and shop, great memories, and lots more to come!

You think back to when your traditional business (or job) consumed your every waking hour. And even robbed you of sleep, at times. “How did I do it?” you ask yourself silently. You shake your head; a smile creases the corners of your mouth.

Now you have neither a boss, nor employees… you only work with principals. Your sprinkling of customers mostly service themselves. You’re not tied to a fixed location - instead, you work rent-free at home. (Or wherever you happen to be in your travels.) You don’t have to worry about paperwork, stock, debtors or creditors; you just check your volume reports online to see how your sales organization is doing, and where you can inject some assistance.

Your business is not in hock to the bank - in fact, you’re well and truly cash-flow positive. Every week or month, like clockwork, your bank account is credited with commissions and bonuses, or your check arrives in the mail.

And best of all… you have a brand new set of clubs that you actually get to USE regularly! (Or mountain bike, or boat, or fill in the blank.)

You notice the time, and call to your spouse, “Honey, did you reserve us a table for lunch? Don’t forget, we’ll be taking Fred and Jan to congratulate them on reaching ruby exec…”

Now I’m not saying any of these scenarios is best for you - but excuse me if I love the network marketing business! You see, it’s not the MLM concept that’s wrong: it’s the pre-modern world of traditional business and jobs.

My only comment to you is this: if YOU feel that scenario three is more appealing than one or two - or whatever your own situation is right now - then you owe it to yourself to investigate ways where you could put yourself in that picture.

Author Greg Aldrich is a successful network marketer. He attributes his success to his committment to the success of others.

Visit Top Network Marketing for tips on building your network marketing business.