Opportunity Knocks. Will You Answer?
Presenting the Opportunity Knocks EZine

Produced by

Tim Johnson
and
No Time Lost Enterprises

Volume 1, Issue 16
October 14, 2001

Welcome to the OK-EZine! Presented here are ideas, concepts, strategies and tactics for those ready to embrace the New, the Daring and the Possibilities.

Feedback is always welcome. Please send all comments to timj@notimelost.com. Positive and Negative are welcome.

Who are three people who would like to read this EZine? Please pass this EZine along to them. If you have received it from a friend, formal subscribe and unsubscribe information is at the end of the message.

CONTENTS:

1.) Power Thought - What is your reason? Your Why?

2.) Recommended Resource - Upline Journal

3.) Main Article - The Law of Reciprocity

4.) Guest Article - $5 Cover Charge

5.) Subscribe/Unsubscribe Info

1.) Power Thought - What is your reason? Your Why?

Since you are reading the OK-EZine, presumably you desire to make some changes in your life. You are forward thinking and have given thought to where you desire to go.

Have you given thought to WHY wish to go there? What is the reason you desire change, more money, etc.?

Many will say to spend more time with their family. Others will say to get out of debt. Many will say it's to have some extra money or to save for their retirement or kid's education.

Yes, yes. Very nice. But why do you REALLY desire to make these changes?

Whaddaya mean? I JUST TOLD YOU!

No. not really. These are expressions of the things you are actually looking for.

WHY do you wish to spend time with your family (don't think too long on that one!)?

WHY do you desire to be debt-free?

WHY do you wish to save for retirement or the kids' education?

What to these things give you? What feelings and emotions are prevalent when you imagine having these things? Is it pleasure, satisfaction, accomplishment, contentment, freedom?

You have probably heard that successful people have a WHY that is bigger than themselves. True. but it doesn't mean that they are successful so they can give it all away, or be a total martyr. It means that the goals they work toward have 2 purposes.

1. To provide an emotional benefit to themselves. It's the kick they get out of it. Without it, no matter how noble and selfless, they won't pursue that ambition. Except for masochists, no one does something they hate, of their own free will with no benefit for them. NO ONE.

2. Their goals, the ways they choose to pursue that emotional benefit in #1, almost always do something for someone else as well. It's a win-win situation. I get to get rich while teaching others how to do the same. That gets me excited! I get jazzed thinking about helping others reach their potential. That is fun, exciting and highly satisfying for me.

What is the emotion you get/will get from achieving your goals and what does that do for others?

If the answer doesn't sound right, perhaps you don't get enough personal pleasure or don't do enough for others along the way.

Think about it...

2.) Recommended Resource - Upline Journal

For those of us involved in Network Marketing, there is doubtless no other journal that is as well know or as well read as Upline Journal. Started some 10 years or so ago by John Milton Fogg it has become one of the best resources of articles, how-to's, success stories, ideas and trainings around. I highly recommend this to anyone in, or thinking about getting into the business.

Go to http://www.upline.com and take a look around. They have one of the best online stores with MLM training material. They also offer free, daily trainings from their archive of articles.

You can have the journal mailed to you or you can subscribe for the web-only version. Just login and read online. Print only what you desire and have access to all the back issues as well. Print subscribers also get access to all the back issues too. Online is less expensive.

All subscribers get a pretty nice discount in the online store or through their print catalog.

Check it out!!!!

3.) Main Article - The Law of Reciprocity

This is a very important Law for those of us pursuing our dreams through a small or home-based business, especially those of us in Network Marketing.

Reciprocity is the old "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." idea. Putting it in nicer terms. If you do me a favor, I will do one for you too.

How often do you do that in your life? Probably all the time. How many of us have bought lunch one day while being promised the other would "pick it up next time"? I would guess all of us. It is simply doing a favor for another in  exchange for a favor from them. No manipulation. No extortion. No imposing upon someone.

Let's look at something that goes on all over America. How many people have been to a party where products are demonstrated and sold? If you haven't, I bet your spouse, sister, brother, mother or father have. These are things like Longaberger Baskets, Pampered Chef, Discovery Toys, Creative Memories, etc. etc. etc. There are certainly more than I can recall off the top of my head.

How much did you or that someone you know spend there? $20? $50? $100?

Now, how much did they spend with YOU on products from YOUR business? $20? $50? $100? Or was it a big, fat $0? Probably the latter.

Why is that? Did you ask them to look over your catalog or stop by your shop? If you didn't, WHY NOT? You just spend money with them, right? You just helped them to build their business, right? (Especially if you hosted the party!)

What is wrong with asking them to look over your catalog, website or shelves? You can not grow your business on accidental exposures. And that is the ONLY kind of business you get when you don't invite people to at least look at your wares.

Are you ashamed of what you sell? If so, I submit that you should either quit what you are doing RIGHT NOW, or you should ask yourself, "Why won't I promote my business?" Is it embarrassment that you aren't going to meekly accept the 40/40 plan? You know. 40 years of work followed by retirement at 40% of your income. Are you afraid people will say "No"? Are you afraid they will ridicule you?

Before I cover the response to that, let's look at the other side of the coin. Did you ask and they said no, they weren't interested? Or did they refuse to even look at anything at all?

Let's look at this logically. You have just spent your hard earned dollars on building someone else's business. This counts for the local dry-cleaners, the local thrift shop, etc. You chose to try them out.

You are a professional yourself, working to build a lasting income that will give you choices in your life. Maybe it's a restaurant, a consignment shop, book store or network marketing business. You are every bit as committed to the quality and value of your products (you ARE, aren't you?) as they are.

Given these circumstances, you have no reason NOT to invite them to buy something from you. If you don't, you don't really believe in what you are doing. Or you don't really care whether or not you are successful. Which is it? Better find out fast, because your business is NOT going to be successful until you do.

If you DID invite them and they said no, what is your proper response?

First one who said "Refuse to do business with them in the future!" gets a gold star for today. There is no product or service out there that is not available from more than one source. If you bought a basket from someone who wouldn't buy something back from you, the next time you desire a basket, find a NEW REP to purchase it from that is willing to look at and buy your products!

It's as simple as that.

Stop helping to build other people's businesses when they won't help to build yours! Someone WILL have what you desire AND be just as interested in your products and services.

Find Them!

Strength and Honor.

Tim Johnson
Louisville, KY

4.) Guest Article - $5 Cover Charge

On your success destination there will always be a cover charge at the door. You will find out there are no refunds or family discounts. No shoes no shirt no service the sign reads through the window. The professional networker pays the cover at the door (national conventions, hotel briefings and trainings, regional meetings, conference calls, personal development books and tapes, and anything else he or she can learn from). The primary reason is the business is in them.

Unlike, the typical mlmer which is just in the business. The key to this business is becoming the right person. The only way to accomplish this is to read books, listen to tapes, be mentored, and always work this business consistently, and compress your time. Compressing your time basically means to talk to people that are looking for you. Quit spending time with people that do not want change, or the timing just isn't right. Compression of time also means, if what you are working on, isn't directly responsible for recruiting or selling of products or services, your time could be spent more wisely. Because we get paid on the value we put in time. We do not get paid for busy work or being a professional friend maker while on the phone.

Collecting a million dollars worth of no's is what we have to do. There isn't anyone in this business that doesn't get a no. The people with the biggest paychecks also have the most no's. This business will always be a numbers game. To succeed we have to get out of our comfort zone. Which is also referred to as our failure zone. If you find yourself being scared, feeling lonely, uncomfortable and have fear of rejection that means you are working outside your comfort zone. I've been there and done that, and to some extent I still feel that way at times. I just tell myself, all they can say is no. However, if I do not say anything, I might be passing up a Doug Firebaugh. The $5 cover charge directly deals with getting through the no's. You can't take it seriously, and always remember they are rejecting themselves not you.

How many times have we heard by becoming a better person we will attract better quality prospects. Work on yourself more than anything else, and your results will improve drastically. Through self-empowerment you can live the life you deserve. There is no limit in network marketing. We are an equal opportunity employer. If you have the desire to change your lot in life, you have 90% of what it will take to succeed. After all network marketing is a contact sport.

Your desire to live the life you want will propel you past all the contacts (no's and negative people) and lead you to financial freedom. Look for other people with desire, and have a million dollars worth of desire yourself. If you do that, you will become unstoppable.

Feeling good about you and your opportunity will be magnetic for others. People will be attracted to your enthusiasm and perceive you as a leader. You will find out in life if you have a negative self-image you will attract negative people.

Conversely, if you have a positive self-image you will attract positive people. There are people surrounding you everyday that would be terrific at this business. So get out of your failure zone, pay the cover charge, and live the life you and your family deserve.

To your success,

Tom Veit
Louisville, KY
Tvuno1@bellsouth.net