Hi Gary, I agree with you... "When Linda and Peter are criticised for pointing out the foibles of such a structure then those handing out the criticism are either: - mathematically incompetent, - emotionally duped or - blindly following a sure loser of an idea. " ..and add the possibility they are operators and/or participant of a scam and/or ponzi. Who knows? In answering the subject question, it is my opinion that most people are not able to tell if they are destine to fail or even know what failure is for that matter. I'm reminded of the saying, people don't plan to fail, they fail to plan. So, don't create a project plan and you will have the most flexibility to adjust along the way and never fail to get where you ended up. I call it the "Backup Ahead Syndrome". Jack

I think not only does a lack of planning play a roll in failure, but so does our fear of success. Most people, if you listen to them, can convince themselves that they won't succeed, that they can't succeed.

Hi Heather.. ========================================== I think not only does a lack of planning play a roll in failure, but so does our fear of success. Most people, if you listen to them, can convince themselves that they won't succeed, that they can't succeed. ========================================== Know what I think? I think most people are really, really lousy at identifying what they are feeling. For example, how many of us "think" we're mad, when we are really hurt... or afraid... or feeling cornered... or feeling insulted, etc., etc. I think that what people call "fear of failure" is really "lack of know how." Anything you "know how" to do and are comfortable doing doesn't frighten us, right? If the boss asks you to do the payroll, and you know how - it's no big deal. You do it. If you don't know how - it's a big deal. Anxiety all over the place. Fear of messing up. Fear of failure. If I said to anyone here that they would get paid $50 for every post - no one would fear failure, would they? Nope. Because they know how to post. They'd be posting like maniacs. (This is just an analogy - please don't send me a bill. I'm not paying anyone to post, honest! lol) But if I said to people that they can make money by selling online... they talk about fear of failure. They are not afraid to fail. They are afraid because they don't know HOW to do what will get the net result they want. Teach them the skills they need - and the fear melts like butter on a hot sunny day. So - we can file "fear of failure" in the same folder as the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Things grown ups shouldn't believe in anymore. lol Okay... getting off the soapbox. : ) Linda

Hey Jack; =========================================== I'm reminded of the saying, people don't plan to fail, they fail to plan. So, don't create a project plan and you will have the most flexibility to adjust along the way and never fail to get where you ended up. I call it the "Backup Ahead Syndrome". =========================================== A little like the line from Alice in Wonderland.... if you don't know where you're going, it doesn't really matter which way you go. : ) Linda

Hi Linda, I REALLY enjoy your forums! :-) It's like a breath of fresh air in an otherwise smoggy, stagnant world. Ooooooohh... I hope I don't get hurt for that! :-D Perhaps one of the reason so many people are in trouble right now with the financial wizardry of payment processors, hyips and pts, is because so many people hate math! As I posted on several other threads, the people who own those systems are either on drugs or selling drugs, as the math does not work. End of story on those things. You've brought up an interesting and important point on teams and business (AKA MLM, and the like). IF people would do the math, they COULD succeed in a good MLM, but most get in via the emotions instead of the calculator. Let's look at MLM like a regular business. In MLM, the first thing to look at is the PRODUCT. It needs to be an excellent, desirable, useable product that will be bought month after month, year after year, by the same customers (got milk?) Otherwise, you have to keep reselling to new people all the time (bad math - time=money) Secondly, the product has to be offer excellent value at retail (oops - we just lost 90% at least of MLMs!) This means that a real salesperson should be able to build a good business based on retail sales. Thirdly, it should not be necessary to recruit everyone to build a successful downline. Once again, lets look at the math. Just as you wouldn't want hundreds or thousands of partners in a brick and mortar business, you don't want hundreds or thousands of partners in your direct MLM downline. All your time would be spent recruiting losers who would quit after a month or so, anyway. (time=money). This is one of the GREATEST flaws in the way people approach MLM. Everyone goes hunting for recruits when they should be looking for a few highly qualified individuals as partners, just like they would do if they were looking for partners in a brick and mortar business. These partners have to QUALIFY, by meeting YOUR standards for the type of individuals you want to work with. This simplifies everything (good math - time=money) and makes what you're doing duplicatable. So the correct forumal for choosing an MLM business should be: Excellent consumeables + good retail value + qualified partners + duplicatable business plan = potential success. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find an MLM company that honestly has products with good retail value (ie - competitive pricing), so the whole thing collapses right there. Most people could easily prevent themselves from failing in MLM if they would unemotionally examine the products and pricing before they swallow the hype. (Do the math!) Now I'll go get my bullet proof vest on.... God bless, Dave