What's all the fuss about the "soft" economy?

Over the last few months, and especially throughout the US Presidential campaign, I kept hearing about the "soft economy". Some people even went so far as to use the dreaded "R" word; recession. The fact that I heard this time and time again is remarkable, considering that for the last few years I've been on a media fast. (TV News, CNN "Constant Negative News", Internet News, or the Newspaper.)

With all of this talk about the soft economy, I thought it might do well to illustrate a few examples to the contrary.

According to Media by Numbers, a box-office tracking company, the movie industry is actually thriving in this economy. 2008 box office gross receipts were about $9.63 billion. The first two months of 2009 (Jan 1st thru Mar 1st) were up over the same time period last year by 17.30% This equates to an annualized projection of over $10.75 billion this year.

Along those same lines, the Personal Development industry posted over $19 billion in sales. I was speaking with a few of my colleagues and mentors this morning, and in our company, our sales for the same time period last year (Jan 1st thru March 1st) are up over 60%.

So the ticket sales of people wanting to relax, and get away from the stress of life and be entertained by Hollywood has increased 17% in a nearly $10B industry. At the same time, the sales of products to people who want real and lasting change in their lives, and are studying how to get better results in less time has increased over 60% in an industry with gross sales more than twice that of the movie industry.

What this tells me is that more people are sick and tired of just being sick and tired. The masses just want to mask their fear and pain and laugh for a few minutes, while an even smaller group of people are willing to spend their hard earned cash to actually make a difference, and in turn, we've seen phenomenal record growth.

My point is this. in today's "soft economy", who are you choosing to be? Are you looking for a quick brain numb to forget about your problems, or are you finally ready to actually do something to change your situation. Most people are in fact going to choose the former. It takes much less effort, and the results are predictable. More doom and gloom.

As a good friend of mine recently remarked, "The choice is to get in front of the money, not to chase it." There is no less money being earned, spent, etc. The same money that was being earned and spent two years ago is being earned and spent today. The challenge is to shift where you are in relation to the money. Are you going to position yourself to be on the receiving end of the money and be at cause in your life, or are you going to stay where you are, and continue to be ruled by circumstance and public perception?

If you're an entrepreneur (man or woman), or if you have the dream of becoming an entrepreneur to take control of your own finances and future, you will want to contact me to learn more NOW.... no excuses, no drama, no hesitation.

Will you join the community of successful entrepreneurs that know how to navigate this economy, or are you going to insist on sitting on the sidelines to figure it out for yourself, and lose hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process?

It's the most simple business decision you'll make all year, and yet it will transform your understanding of what success will look like in 2009.

What if... In this Uncertain Economy, you could Change your Annual Income into your Monthly Income, Working Part time from Anywhere, with a Phone and an Internet Connection? Contact me to learn more NOW.

From NBC: "People turn to "network marketing" in soft economy"

As people look for other alternatives to earning an income, Network Marketers (both Direct Sellers and MLM folks) are welcoming extra media coverage helping to promote their industries.

NBC reporter Chris Pollone includes in his article, as quoted by Dr. Betsy Holloway of Samford University's Brock School of Business:

"I think in today's economy with the layoffs that we have and people desperate to find work, there's going to be increased demand in these sorts of opportunities."

Despite any negative connotations in regards to today's economy, Network Marketers couldn't ask for a better opportunity to expand their business to those truly in need.

The article basically states that in today's economy, many people are turning to Network Marketing and Direct Sales as a secondary or even primary source of income. The text of the story is below:

By Chris Pollone, Reporter
Published: February 17, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala—While her husband was searching for full time work, Jennifer Grissom of Birmingham decided to make a little money on the side on top of her full-time job.

“I had to find some way to get an extra line of income that worked in the hours I had available to me,” she said.

Since November, Jennifer’s been selling skin care products for Arbonne International.

The company relies on a network of sales consultants who recruit other people to sell the product as well.

The more people a sales consultant recruits, the bigger her potential earnings are.

It might sound like a pyramid scheme to some, but marketing experts say it’s not.

“These are legitimate businesses, though you want to make sure you’re working for a good business, always,” Dr. Betsy Holloway of Samford University’s Brock School of Business said.

It’s called “network marketing” or “multi-level marketing” (MLM) and it’s been around for decades.

Companies like Amway, The Pampered Chef, and Tupperware work under similar arrangements.

Doctor Holloway said direct retail like this has been growing for a decade, and there’s potential for it to get even bigger.

“I think in today’s economy with the layoffs that we have and people desperate to find work, there’s going to be increased demand in these sorts of opportunities.”

Jennifer Grissom said she had to overcome a preconceived stigma of network marketing and the fear of rejection we all have.

“It’s not easy, but it is simple,” Grissom said. “You just have to be able to understand it, and be enthusiastic, without being annoying.”

She’s exceeding her expectations just three months after starting.

Experts advise if someone wants you to join a network marketing opportunity, take time to research the company.

They say that can help ensure you’re joining a legitimate business, and not signing up for a risky scheme.

You know, I've been working with the same direct sales/network marketing company for almost six years, and I can echo EVERYTHING said above.

It's just a choice!

Action is a four letter word.....

So as far as blogging goes, I've been hiding out in the corner. Actually, I've been hiding out in a whole other part of the house. It seems that no matter how successful I've been, how much money I've made, how many exotic vacations I've taken with my family, I've been AFRAID of blogging. And I know F.E.A.R. is a four letter word. I know that F.E.A.R. is really False Evidence Appearing Real. Prosperity is a state of mind, and F.E.A.R. doesn't have a green card in my state anymore. I've revoked it's work VISA and started deportation proceedings.

You see it all comes down to a choice. I can choose to say that my wife Amy's three blogs are good enough for both of us. In fact, I've made very good money because she loves to blog. I'm talking more money than most American families make in a year just because my wife is an expert and blogs regularly about prosperity and success. And that story served me for the longest time. But it doesn't serve me, it dishonors who I am. It dishonors my leadership and my stand for transforming the way the people on this planet think. It dishonors the efforts of all of the people who have followed in my footsteps and all who will do so in the future.

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend a weekend masterminding with some great minds. These are men and women I respect, and honor their counsel. One of the key things that I was reminded of during this opportunity to mastermind was that the universe loves speed. When struck by divine inspiration, take action. Get off the sidelines, get in the game, and take all out massive action. So here I am, declaring myself to be in action around blogging. The era of F.E.A.R is over.

I am a leader, I am a stand for prosperity, abundance and possibility. I have a mastery of the skills and discipline that cause success. I have learned from my mentors and my teachers the time honored principles of success and prosperity. It's been alot of work, but not the kind of hard work you might think. I was one of the masses that takes no personal responsibility for my life. Three and a half years ago, I was blessed to be exposed to a business, and a product that changed all of that and started me on my path to possibility and prosperity. The work has ALL been done in the six inches of real estate between my two ears.

It's called Personal Development. Some people call it Self Development, but regardless it's an exploration of beliefs and limitation, and an opportunity to choose a new path, a new way of thinking, rather a new way of being. (I'll talk ALOT more about this later).

In any case, expect to hear alot more from me going forward. Those of you who know me will acknowledge that I've never held back verbally, and will be pleased to see how my participation in this new medium manifests itself. Those of you who have yet to learn from me, well I leave it for you to decide for yourselves. To quote one of my mentors, "Take what you want and leave the rest."

I'll be back in a few days to share more of my insight, and some of the counsel I received from some of the greatest minds of our time. I'll tell you all about them, and share some of what they said. I still have goosebumps.

Your life begins now. Choose wisely.