Hi Lynda; ========== ...i am also at the end of my rope. I have maybe 3 weeks to figure out something before my house goes into foreclosure.. how's that for honesty. ========== I've sent you a private message... after I hear back, we'll talk publicly. : ) Linda

Hi Linda, just thought you might like to know that my offer stimulated just one reply. Sorry but my sympathy levels are not as high as yours. Just to make a point though. The worst thing that people can do is give up - and just in case people think I am talking without knowledge or experience, I will open up a little. I was born during WW2 in London. I never knew my father, but my mother brought up two boys who ended up honest -quite a feat in our neighbourhood. I left school at 15 and decided that I was fed up with life handing me the short and dirty end of the stick. I worked in factories and as a postman, and anything else I could do. In one country I had less than 3 pence in my pocket - and nowhere to turn to, then I got deported (as a suspected spy would you believe?) This led me to Australia, but that is another story. In Oz I went crazy when I landed high-paid jobs, and promptly sank deep into debt. Learning curve! Now I have learned just a few lessons in life and I will pass them on for what they are worth. 1) Think as a failure - and you will be considered and accepted as one. 2) No matter how hard it seems, NEVER give up. Work in MacDonalds, Wal-Mart, sweep the streets if you need to. Offer tangible services to people - cutting grass, house-cleaning, painting and whatever. (and yes I have done that too in my time). 3) Teach Children your skills - find a route to take. We all have skills and knowledge - particularly us oldies (I am 66). 4) Talk to Chambers of Commerce and see what you could offer to migrants etc. Have you though about the newly-developing idea of offering 'Admin by the hour' to small businesses? 5)Use e-Bay? - why not buy and sell-on products without picking up delivery charges? People do make a living out of this, I know one or two. Not fortunes, but a bit. 6)look at your website, are you trying to sell-on other people's ideas - not your own? In my considered experience the website should be YOUR storefront and YOUR brochure -not someone else's. 7) Others have mentioned e-books, and maybe that is a thing to try. There are many inexpensive downloadable programmes out there - I bought one for $1.99 the other day and it works fine (e-Bay again). 8) as Kenneth has indicated use Cybercafes if things get too expensive to run on your own. 9) Can you use Boot Fairs or Garage Sales to develop some income (buy and sell again is the key) 10)I think the key to success if desperately simple - but very hard to do. That is always to live within your means - and yes I recognise it is a bit late to be saying this to you, but maybe for others. GET RID OF DEBT. I have been there and done that - and never again. I never took out a mortgage, and left it to quite late in life to buy a property - which I paid cash for. Yes I know this is maybe not an option for some - but I had to do it by offering my services amd skills into developing and emerging economy countries. Places I would never have chosen to go to - but I am glad I did. I have always had cars that I could afford to buy outright - which meant second-hand bangers for the most part. 11) You may have to bite the bullet and look elsewhere to earn a living. There is no shame in working in ANY job, no matter what it is, or even where it is. 12) Finally to our friend out there - losing your house is traumatic - BUT - who knows - it might just also be the catalyst for you to open up your mind to other options and alternatives. So do NOT despair - as that will take you nowhere. Take things in small developing steps and don't aim too high too soon. The inevitable drops and setbacks are not that severe that way. Most of all take charge of your own life. It's the only one you have and don't expect anyone else to take better care of it than yourself. Incidentally none of the suggestions above need to be mutually exclusive - a bit from each could lead to - whatever? End of pontification. Norm

hi Norm: you do have a fresh outlook and I can appreciate your candid remarks and don't disagree with a thing you say. I am selling on ebay whenever and whatever I can. Garage sale is next. I live in a "lower ended" neighborhood (didn't used to be that way, but my goodness, it has been 18 years!) times change and people move on.i just felt comfortable here and my youngest finished high school from here.. i wanted her to have stability growing up, which she had...and she is a wonderful kid. I've never had a lot, and have managed to be happy with what I do have - mainly because I know there are others that don't have as much.. have always been thankful for it all. I still am even tho I may loose it. Not what I want to do, but there ya go. Don't have a lot of credit anymore - already lost it about 4 lay-offs and 12 years ago.. lol.. I have applied to many jobs, i'm just not real qualifed for some-others are straight commission which I can't handle right now. As far as McDonalds or WalMart - if I can sit most of the time, I could do it; same with cleaning houses and painting.. if not - I have arthritis in my hips and ankels so I can't stand on my feet for long periods of time.. oh.. i can.. but then I can't walk for about a week or so more than 10 feet without being in excrutiating pain.. I have offered to teach-can't substitute, which I wouldn't mind doing, but here most of the school districts want you to have a certificate, which I don't have. I do like your idea about admin - had NOT thought of that - and that is a refreshing idea and one I will look into - thanks - it is do-able... so- I do have some ebooks i can sell, and am trying; I also have an ebook written; in fact it is set up and saved here for another website, but I don't know how to set up an offer/purchase page and then what do you do with it to give people the download.. does it get saved on a server somewhere? I have no idea how to proceed so I'm stuck... so I am thinking about trying to sell it on ebay on a disc. do you think that is something that might work? any suggestions would be great. anyway, Norm... thank you for your input, it is GOOD input and I appreciate it! Would you accept an invite for me to add you to my friends list?.... thanks again.. cheers! Lynda

Hi Lynda, I'm sorry for what you're going through - life can be tough - but without trying to sound like an old cliche, when life gets tough, it's time to get tough. The plain, hard fact is, what you are doing is not working. That means you must change what you're doing. If you continue to do exactly the same thing, you will continue to get exactly the same results. I've been there, and I've done that. I've also been completely broke and just a tiny squeak away from being homeless. However, I've never given up, no matter how tempting the idea was. You have your own website; that's good! However, I have visited your website, and rather than comment on it here, would like you to visit http://tipsntools.com . I believe it can help you get started on the right path. Also, whatever Linda Caroll tells you, listen to her! Her advice is excellent, and it sounds like you need it. You have a rare opportunity to receive some information here that could truly set you on the path to better days. Do continue to read forums that focus on facts, business tips (not opportunities) that actually work, web skills, marketing skills, first impressions, quality traffic, search engines, etc. What that means is, stop looking for another opportunity to make money, but instead concentrate on how to actually make money online with anything that you decide to market. It matters not a whit how good the product or opportunity is, if you can't: a.) get real people to your site b.) keep those people on your site c.) convince those people that you are the one they want to do business with Furthermore, I would rather have one person who is interested in what I'm selling than ten thousand visitors making my hit counter spin and buying nothing. Contrary to what the so-called gurus say, online business is NOT about numbers; just like brick and mortar business, it's all about sales. If you're not making the sales, the numbers are meaningless, and you're going broke. I also visited Art's forum, and could not give him what he was asking for. It wasn't because I don't know how to make money online and off, or because I don't know about any good business opportunities (I do), but simply because I can't teach someone else all I know about marketing in a single, short post. I'd be kidding myself and them if I tried. However, for those who are willing to take it step-by-step, there are a few here on Adlandpro who are willing to share what we know over time with anyone who is willing to take the time to read and put into practice what we're willing to take the time to share and write about. I hope you DO succeed. It's really up to you. God bless, Dave

Hi Linda, hi everyone Lynda - I have sent you a private message, but wanted to make the following comment. "Worry is like rocking horse. It takes up your time and engergy and gets you nowhere" It is a saying I have repeated to myself many many times. It helps The other comment I wanted to make to you is that, looking at your profile, I see you are a crafter. That is another aspect of your life that you can use. Norman talks about taking it step-by-step and to that I add, every little helps. It is interesting to observe how many of us Adlanders suffer from physical disabilities. Internet is certainly wonderful for anyone with physical limitations. Physical selling is something I find exhausting, so I turned to the Internet over a year ago and got myself a Website so that we could reach the people I couldn't get to physically. That's how I found Adland - when I put in a free ad, and now I have found myself a whole heap of marketing teachers (Yes Linda - I hang on to your every word!) and some very good friends. Lynda -I see you joined in 2004, but have only just returned to Adland - welcome back. Saludos Jennifer