The latest events on Wall Street and Capitol Hill have been some of the most embarrasing, abhorent, rediculous in the world’s history. I have gone through the gamut of emotions regarding these events, as I’m sure you have too.  If you read my last post you will know how I feel about what is occuring, and how I feel about how our elected leaders of this country are responding to it - and it’s not a favorable opinion.

However, I have been searching my soul for the opportunity, the blessing, the lessons from all of this. And I’m happy to say that I’ve found some good in it all.  I’ve gotten myself back again centered in what I know to be truth - and that is that in every situation, there is a purpose. 

And I now can say that I see many key lessons and opportunities to share and educate and inform more people about the value and meaning of having one’s own business, and why now we finally have a way to shed the light on the real “scam” that American people are unknowingly participating in.  The events on Wall Street, which I have no control of, are actually helping people, either by choice or no choice, to finally understand how badly they HAVE BEEN scammed, and how EVEN AFTER THE BAILOUT, THEY ARE CONTINUING TO BE.. And that means only good for those of us in direct sales, network marketing, and home based business, because now we can compare our model of compensation, like the one in Platinum One Destinations,  to the reality of corporate america compensation plans and the distribution of income in this country - and FINALLY BECOME THE BETTER OPTION LOGICALLY TO THE AVERAGE PERSON!!

Now before I continue with a summary of key lessons we can take away from these events as it relates to direct sales, let’s just NAIL this into the ground with the latest news from AIG, the insurance company that received $82 BILLION of the $700 BILLION (almost 10% of the total package) less than a week ago..

Here’s what AIG did THIS WEEK in return for receiving $82 billion dollars of taxpayer’s money (based on investigations conducted by Henry Waxman, who is leading a House Committee investigation:

• AIG held a week-long retreat for its executives at the luxury St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach, Calif., with a total tab of $440,000 ($200,000 for rooms, $150,000 for meals and $23,000 for the spa. )
• Joseph Cassano, the executive in charge of the company’s financial products division, received more than $280 million over the last eight years. AND, even this week, he is STILL receiving a $1 million-a-month retainer.
• AIG lost over $5 billion in the last quarter of 2007 due its risky financial products division. In March 2008, the company gave CEO Martin Sullivan a cash bonus of over $5 million. And, the board also approved a new compensation contract for Sullivan that gave him a golden parachute of $15 million.

So folks??? Can you SEE IT?? Can you SEE THE ILLEGAL PYRAMID SCHEME that we are ALL UNKNOWINGLY participating in??? The more I see with my own eyes how blatant these events continue to unfold, the more I beginning to rejoice..  It is as if corporate america is BEGGING to say PLEASE SAVE US… But it is not the financial bail out that they need. It is a restructuring of our government, regulations, fair & equitable compensation to all stakeholders in a corporate environment, and leadership. 

Unfortunately the GREED apparently cannot, even with $700 billion dollars, HELP ITSELF, EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW THE ENTIRE WORLD IS WATCHING.  And this is good. Because people everywhere are finally waking up and seeing reality - and we can never go back from awareness.  These events can only cause a HUGE SHIFT in the consciousness of the entire planet as it relates to money and the distribution of it. And THIS IS ALL A GOOD THING..

In a dualistic world, where everything is defined by it’s opposite, or what it is not, there is a tendency to judge what we feel is the worse of the two. It is either “good or bad”, “black or white”, “love or hate”. In this situation, it is either “greed or integrity”.  And folks, when we have such a clear indicator and example of greed, it helps and compells each and every one of us to go to that idea and define for ourselves what we want - and what integrity should look like. And when we have the majority of the people on this planet participating in this activity, participating in this consciousness, we can know that in the end, even though it is going to be difficult, and messy, and painful, that integrity will become the dominant focus, and it will prevail - because what we focus on expands. It’s a natural law. And its FAILPROOF.

So here is a summary of the key lessons, points, and awareness that is GOOD for the planet with respect to the financial situation and how it relates to direct sales:

• The reality that America has been, and is now waking up to the reality that, it is entrenched in the biggest illegal pyramid scheme that can no longer be denied.  There are approximately 400 individuals in this country that maintain the most wealth. And, filtering down, there are select handful of individuals, such as CEO’s of large corporate entities, government officials, etc., that share in the majority of the rest of it.  The majority of people of this country are at the “bottom” of the income distribution pyramid, AND are being asked at this point to pay “UP” the pyramid to replace the income that has already been sucked from them, for it to hopefully “TRICKLE” BACK DOWN…  Doesn’t the idea itself of “TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS” clearly communicate a PYRAMID SCHEMATIC????
• This situation has, regardless of cause or blame or reason, shed the light on the reality of income distribution in this country, and the world. Thank-goodness for that!! IT HAD TO BE KNOWN AND UNDERSTOOD by the average American.  This now gives people the emotions, the conviction, and the NEED to turn to other sources of generating income and wealth than the way it has been done before - which was mainly by paying for an education to get a “spot” in the pyramid scheme.
• Home-based business, direct sales, and network marketing, will now become the preferred method to creating and generating personal wealth and financial freedom. Mainly because it is one of the FEW WAYS that people can get started at an affordable investment, regardless of their education, background or skills, and do this from home, using equipment they already own - such as computers, access to the internet, and phone service.
• Both Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki, world renown financial entrepreneurs and leaders/educators on generating wealth, recently wrote a book on the value of direct sales and its power to create, like no other means, an opportunity for the average person to become a millionaire. Paul Zane Pilzer, recognized economist and author of many books on wealth strategies and economic trends, predicts that the most millionaires in America over the next 10 years will come from direct sales opportunities.  This situation on Wall Street and Capitol Hill will now drive, more than ever in our history, people to seek alternative sources of generating income - and MOST PEOPLE - will choose home-based business, and direct sales.
• This situation, with the chaos and unfathomable depths of its corruption and its affects on the American and world population, is causing people to turn to their source of faith and spiritual awareness.  People are attempting now to make sense of it all, and/or to just seek peace and understanding.
• This situation will cause a renaissance in spiritual belief, and a call to action of spiritual leaders around the globe to mobilize the planet to incorporate their spiritual beliefs into their pursuit of restoration and rehabilitation.  Up until now, it has been accepted that there must be a separation between spiritual life and government/business life.  People everywhere will now have no other choice but to turn to their beliefs and faith in a higher power to restore themselves and the world to an integrated approach to life.

This situation is causing the people of this planet to WAKE UP and to SEE WITH THEIR OWN EYES what they had not seen, or understood before.  And this can only spawn a drive for change in the American governmental and economic structure. And it can only mean that direct sales and home-based business will become the logical and easiest choice for most people.  And for that, I am extremely grateful. 

For the past three years I have seen the incredible value of the residual income model of direct sales. For the GIFT of working part-time, and creating more time and financial freedom for me to spend more time with my family and children.  Before I started in direct sales, I had been duped just like everyone else into believing that home-based business was the “scam”, that it was “too good to be true”. 

But once I got into this industry, I learned to love it, respect it, and TRULY SEE A PATH TO FREEDOM for myself and others.  NOW IS OUR TIME TO SHINE. And those of us leaders in network marketing now have an opportunity, like NEVER BEFORE IN OUR HISTORY, to make a positive contribution to MANY PEOPLE’S LIVES - without any involvement or intrusion of government or corporate means. And that, to me, is so exciting, and gratifying - to be in a position of TRUE LEADERSHIP to lead people to a REAL PATH of freedom and financial independence…

WHO’S WITH ME!! LET’S GO!!

Your Partner in Prosperity,

Carol Ann Martin
Founder, Synergy Prosperity Alliance
Synergy Certified, Platinum Executive Leader & Instructor
Synergy Marketing Group & Platinum One Destinations
Learn more about Platinum One Destinations 

 Am I the only one who sees through this mess on Wall Street and on Capitol Hill? O.K. I have to admit… I don’t normally watch television, however, I have been following the CSPAN coverage of the debates over the $700 BILLION dollar bailout bill in the House and Senate this past week. And, once again, I remind myself of why it is so important NOT to plug in to things I cannot control.

BUT - and this is a HUMONGOUS BUT…. I cannot help but respond to this situation with concern. Not because of what is reality at the moment, and not because I fail to see the need for action, but how even now, our leadership in this country does not understand that even the average person can see through this mess and what is going on here, and even with this passed bill, they are participating in the biggest failure of TRUE leadership in the history of this country.

Did you know that in the original bill passed by President Bush, it proposed to give a $700 Billion dollar blank check to his appointed Secretary of the Treasury? Did you also know that that gentleman was the former CEO of Goldman Sachs? One of the failing insitutions in this debacle that is now going to be the beneficiary of taxpayer bailout dollars?

And, has ANYONE stopped to think through what we are really doing? I mean, common… If all of these HUGE corporations are failing because of junk mortgages and paper, then why would we EVER propose that the American taxpayers buy them and expect a return? Even if we are buying them at pennies on the dollar? Hasn’t anyone heard that you get what you pay for?

And, has it occurred to anyone that the entire government, including EVERY SINGLE SENATOR AND HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE on Capitol Hill today, and all of the millionaire CEO’s on WallStreet who have sucked out millions of dollars in compensation over the last several years from the wheeling and dealing during the inflated housing market and frenzy of irresponsible lending, SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EASILY PREDICT THIS CRISIS?

I believe that the Wall Street executives, with the support of President’ Bush’s massive deregulation policies over the last eight years, and with his buddy Mr. Polson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs, knew EXACTLY what they were doing. That they knew EXACTLY what would happen. And they also knew EXACTLY how they were going to BAIL OUT by creating a crisis for the American people, put them in fear of losing their retirements, investments, and homes, to ENSURE that they could SUCK IT ALL BACK IN from the American people when all was said and done. 

And why would they do that?? So that the CEO’s of every single one of these huge conglomerates could have a feeding frenzy of MILLIONS of dollars in executive compensation - for as LONG AS IT WOULD LAST - AND UNTIL THE ENTIRE AMERICAN POPULATION WOULD STEP IN AND PAY FOR IT..

AND….

Do they REALLY BELIEVE that the American people are so ignorant and stupid and naive that we will just bend over and take it up the rear????  Well, that seems to be EXACTLY what the leadership of this country is proposing to do right now. And it is disgusting to see how our leadership, rather than taking time to look at ALL OPTIONS on how to solve the problem and act prudently, and HOLD ACCOUNTABLE - FINANCIALLY - AND LEGALLY - the CEO’s of each of the failing financial institutions, they expect the already struggling American people, to SUCK IT UP and do it for “America”….  THAT MY FRIENDS, IS THE POOREST EXAMPLE OF LEADERSHIP AND TEAM WORK I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

This may be a simple, naive question, but can anyone tell me WHY every single executive from these major financial institutions is not sitting in JAIL right now awaiting trial for the MASSIVE negligence and FRAUD that has taken place here with the amount of wierd and strange transactions like hedging and other unusual lending transactions, that seem to have been drafted so that NOBODY could understand them?  Didn’t ENRON set a precedence whereby we should have the RIGHT to put CEO’s of failing companies in jail, or at least MAKE THEM PAY for the mess they created?

I realize that this blog and the topics I choose to write about are usually about home-based business, leadership, and financial well being.  So, I will now tie this discussion in to how this relates to me, and anyone else who is self employed in direct sales.

People ask me all the time whether or not my company or others like it in direct sales are a “Pyramid”.  And usually those people who ask that question see network marketing opportunities as a situation where people at the top are making all the money, and the people at the start or bottom are making none.  Well folks, if this situation does not PROVE to you that there is no bigger pyramid than Corporate America and the existing distribution of income in this country, than I don’t know what is…

In direct sales, the people at the top HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY as EVERYONE ELSE to get there. It is not reserved just for people who come from wealthy families, already in positions of government contacts and people in “high places” like Mr. Polson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs. 

And, in my business with Platinum One Destinations, the only way people at the top can get to the “TOP” is if they demonstrate that they can make personal sales of their own, as well as assist other people they bring into their downline in getting to the top as well.

In direct sales, people SHARE in the wealth - ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP.

I just think about this whole situation from my own perspective. I am a smart person, I am a dedicated leader in my field, I work hard, I pay my bills and mortgages, and I support my people. But what would happen if I started wheeling and dealing and sucking money out of people for my own personal benefit? Should I expect the American taxpayers to bail ME OUT???? So why should I be expected to bail out these millionaire CEO’s from their own responsibilities????

I realize that this is a very complicated mess. And I realize that it requires action. However, it also requires new leadership. It requires a BASIC RESPECT for the intelligence and integrity of the American people. It requires an APOLOGY from EVERY SINGLE LAW MAKER on Capitol Hill, for FAILING TO SERVE AND PROTECT the American people, while laws were continually proposed by President Bush, and SUPPORTED by the House and Senate, to deregulate the financial and mortgage industries.  And, when we are going to go out and spend $700 BILLION dollars, it requires TIME to consider all the options, and DO IT RIGHT - NOT IN HASTE.

The Declaration of Independence declares that when the government no longer serves the people, that the people have the right to abolish such governement and reinstitute a new one. Folks, based on what I’ve seen take place over the last couple weeks, I believe it is TIME…

Your Partner in Prosperity,

Carol Ann Martin
Founder, Synergy Prosperity Alliance
Synergy Certified, Platinum Executive Leader & Instructor
Platinum One Destinations, Synergy Marketing Group
Learn more about Platinum One Destinations

 

 

 That is a loaded question. And I’m not here to ask you what you’ve done for ME specifically. But have you stopped and looked at how much you give freely - of your time, talent, treasures - versus how much you expect to get from others? And, does giving alot feel like a burden to you? Does it matter to you whether people thank you or appreciate what you do for them?

See, there are two kinds of people in this world. People who are value driven, and people who are entitlement driven. People who are value driven say to themselves, if I want to have more, then I must first give more (like, I will work hard, then I’ll expect you to pay me more). People who feel entitled say - when I get more from others, I’ll give more (like, if you pay me more, I’ll work harder).  This philosophy also can play out in relationships - if this person is loving, then I’ll be loving.  If this person does “XYZ”, then I will give more to the relationship.

People who are value driven - it is not a burden, a risk, or an obligation to give. Because they understand the principle of how the energy of “things”, including money, works. There is always a value exchange. Sometimes immediate, and sometimes we don’t see the return for many months or even years.  And, sometimes the value we receive back may not even be from the same person we gave to.

So people who are giving by nature, who come from a place of service, who are the opposite of a “tightwad”, seem to be happier, are more prosperous, and just have more.  People who feel entitled are waiting for the world to give them what they expect to have first before giving. And they wait around their whole lives - because it JUST doesn’t work that way.

The question - What Have You Done For Me Lately? Has two sides - our responsibility, and then what other people are doing for us. On the one hand, we must ask ourselves if we have a belief in the power of giving and if we are providing value to others. On the other, we may be inclined to look at people in our lives and judge them for not being giving or from coming from a place of entitlement.

I suggest that you stop looking at what others are giving you or judging them about what they have or haven’t done for you.  What they are doing to offer value is their business, and their “karma”.  Focus on what value you offer, and do it just because.  The energetic pay-off of giving is immense and powerful. And, just be grateful for what you receive through others and what they give to you. When you put giving into action, coupled with gratitude for what you have and receive - you will begin the process of experiencing prosperity.

I’m not saying that you should stay in relationships or situations that are harmful to you, or that you should accept behavior from others that is disrespectful.  But, when you begin giving yourself, it is amazing how that can set the tone for transforming situations and people. When you practice and model giving, even tightwads suddenly see a stark contrast to themselves by your actions. And those people tend to either loosen up, become more giving, or they will drift away as that reflection back to themselves doesn’t feel good.

So, if you want more in your life - GIVE more. You’ll see. It’s magical, and it works.

Your Partner in Prosperity,

Carol Ann Martin
Founder, Synergy Prosperity Alliance
Synergy Certified, Platinum Executive Leader/Instructor
Platinum One Destinations & Synergy Marketing Group
Learn more about Platinum One Destinations

 

We have all heard the famous one liner  “SHOW ME THE MONEY” from the movie Jerry Maguire..  In fact, last night I fell asleep on the couch after a day of earnest, fun and “easy” work in Platinum One Destinations, only to wake up at 1am with the movie Jerry Maguire underway…

Jerry Maguire is one my favorite movies.. Not just because it is a great love story, but because it so rich in the lessons of relationships, how money is made, and how we must align ourselves with our true intentions if we ever want to achieve the “Kwan” as Rod Tidwell, the football player, visualizes and wants his agent Jerry to help him achieve.

I’ve put a trailer clip from Youtube of the movie with some of the key moments in this incredibly inspiring movie right here… Then right after in this post, I pull out some the key one-liners that all of us in direct sales can either relate to or should consider in achieving our own “Kwan” (rather than the coin) and those of others - which is what we are all really deep down wanting to achieve in the end…

Great One-Liners & The Key Lessons From Jerry Maguire - For Direct Sales Professionals…

From Jerry:

• There’s genius everywhere, but until they turn pro, it’s like popcorn in the pan. Some pop… some don’t. [the 20/80 rule in sales teams]
• I will not rest until I have you holding a Coke, wearing your own shoe, playing a Sega game featuring you, while singing your own song in a new commercial, starring you, broadcast during the Superbowl, in a game that you are winning, and I will not sleep until that happens. I’ll give you fifteen minutes to call me back. [offering value as a sponsor/director for your team members]
• I’m still sort of moved by your “My word is stronger than oak” thing. [people who say they are ready to get started and never do or join with someone else]
• [to Rod] I am out here for you. You don’t know what it’s like to be ME out here for YOU. It is an up-at-dawn, pride-swallowing siege that I will never fully tell you about, ok? [what it sometimes feels like to build a team]
• Jump right into my nightmare, the water is warm [facing adversity]
• 24 hours ago I was hot. Now I’m a cautionary tale. See this jacket I’m wearing? You like it? Cause I don’t really need it. Cause I’m cloaked in failure. I lost the #1 pick the night before the draft. [facing adversity]
• Rod, I’m not a rascist. I’m telling you to be the best version of you, to get back to the guy who first started playing this game. Way back when you were a kid. It wasn’t just about the money, was it?…Was it? [How it's never about the money]
• Alright. Here’s why you don’t have your ten million dollars yet. You are a paycheck player. You play with your head. Not your heart. In your personal life? Heart. But when you get on the field — you’re a businessman. It’s wide-angle lenses and who f@!!d you over and who owes you for it. That’s not what inspires people. I’m sorry, but that’s the truth, can you handle it? Just a “question,” Rod. Between friends. [How it's never about the money]

From Rod:

• Anyone else would have left you by now, but I’m sticking with you. And if I have to ride your ass like Zorro, you’re gonna show me the money. We are together on this! We are going to be one! [how we should be interdependent as we build teams]
• You are hanging on by a very thin thread and I dig that about you! [never giving up]
• Jerry Maguire. My agent. You are my ambassador of kwan! [the role of a sponsor]
• You should be dreaming about me baby! I should be on your mind constantly and that’s how we will truly materialize the kwan! [the power of focused intention]

From Marcee:

• You know what you’re gonna do, Rodney. You’re gonna reject this s!!$$ty contract. You’re gonna play out your existing s!!$$ty contract and go be a free agent next year and the hell with Arizona. This is us, and we determine our worth. You’re a fine, proud, surviving, splendid black man. [knowing and believing and acting in faith about who you are and what you are worth

From Dorothy:

• "Shut up. Just shut up... You had me at hello. You had me at hello." [this is for people like me - who talk themselves out of sales sometimes!! LOL]

From Dicky Fox: 

• The key to this business is personal relationships.
• If this [points to heart] is empty, this [hits own head] doesn’t matter.
• I love getting up in the morning. I clap my hands and say, ‘This is gonna be a great day!
  [all great lessons on mind-set]

From Ray:

• D’you know that bees and dogs can smell fear? (and Jerry’s response - Did you know that the career record for hits is 4,256 by Pete Rose who is NOT in the Hall of Fame?
• D’you know that my next door neighbor has three rabbits?
  [just cute quotes that remind us how our children can be our greatest teachers]

Boy, I could fill up pages and pages of golden nuggets from this movie.. My best advice? Watch the movie. It will inspire you to be the “best” you can be in your own Direct Sales career, and others you want to help achieve the “Kwan” in Platinum One Destinations

Your Partner in Prosperity,

Carol Ann Martin
Founder, Synergy Prosperity Alliance
Visit the new Platinum One Destinations information site