Hi Arthur,

I must have spent at least half the time I spent on the beach today celebrating the fiesta of San Juan thinkin up something seriously astute with which to reply to your posts!  Then I decided to chuck the encyclopedia in the rubbish bin and write you a normal reply! lol

The concept of paying to sell a product or service is far too prevalent in the internet world.  It seems like a throw back to the Victorian times (and more recently) where people had to pay to be apprenticed.  In offline business - there are many strict laws to outlaw these practices - although they still continue in some MLMs - but on the internet they come in many different guises and are difficult  to avoid. 

To me - this goes back to the concept of a good product or service, combined with a good dose of due diligence.  If any business on or offline is going to work in the short, medium AND long term - it needs to have a developed product or service that is worth money to sell on, and continue to sell - whatever their comission structure.

As you rightly say , there are many health products which are sold that are still going strong!  But there again the products themselves have that old chestnut - "proven track record"

The ones to watch out for are those which have their sales structure gone crazy but who  without a product of value will investably collapse after a certain period of time leaving a lot of people high and dry.

And your other comment about "loving your product" - ok - maybe you dont have to love it - but it is certainly a good idea that you believe that selling it is a good thing and fills a need or gap in the market!

Take Care
Jenny

Mr Heavey, Sir!

Passionate about one's ideas?  Hmm - Well you are cetainly right that many artists died broke (Van Gogh to mention just one) but a lot of people made money out of HIM.

I t is quite right that passion for a product alone is insufficient - if you are looking to develope  a business - on or off the internet - you need to establish that there is a market for your product or service - where would the accountants be with the demand for their services created by the Taxman!  Most  accountants need the IRS like we need air to breathe! lol

However, that does not change the fact that if you are going to start working in an internet busines or opportunity - you need to make sure that you are happy with what you will have to sell -and get your referrals to sell  is it really marketable?  or  even -  Does it really exisist?    If the product is weak or non existant - there is no business to be planned for, or trained in. 

My observation to date is that this is the area in which the so called internet "opportunities" are weakest.  There are some very clever "compensation schemes" but there is nothing in many of these  businesses to sustain them  and make it anything other than juggling with numbers

You have given us r timely advice on planning and structuring and learning  HOW to develope a business beyond the first easy stages of setting it up.- which is of course the same old rule as it has always been - product development and marketing.  

because as you rightly say - however passionate one may be about one's product - it is a busines that we have to  look at to make money and not a dream

Angelically as ever
Jenny

Hi, Jenny,

Let's see if we can simplify matters and rid ourselves of any emotional attachment to what we are doing.

1) Identify a need (or create a desire).

2) Put yourself in a position to satisfy that need.

3) Ensure that those in need know that you have their answer.

4) Work.

5) Work a bit more.

6) Do some more work.

If at stages 5 & 6 you are not succeeding, examine your results and revise steps 1, 2 or 3.

Then it's back to those four letter words.

The Old Coot

Jenny ! Wonderful Forum ! And Arthur I love your post ! I have not been able to figure out why some people are on the internet, why they try a business to drop it in a month ??? without investing themselves with time and money in a business they joined. I am a consumer, and need a product I LOVE ! And I need a business I believe in and trust, that has an easy commission pay plan, no hoops to jump thru, and NO HYPE ! I know I am not going to make $10,000 in 30 days unless I have $100,000 or more to invest in something like real estate with a quick turn around. HYPE ! I hate it ! You have to invest a year or two in a business just to get started. You have to personally contact people to join and try the products. TEAM Work it Just Works! People are finally getting the idea that it takes TEAM work to Make the Dreams Work ! And it takes TIME, Promotion, Advertising....... Good luck in all you do ! Linda, TeamLeader/Guardian

Jenny thanks for the great write up! >>>>>>> To me - this goes back to the concept of a good product or service, combined with a good dose of due diligence. If any business on or offline is going to work in the short, medium AND long term - it needs to have a developed product or service that is worth money to sell on, and continue to sell - whatever their comission structure. As you rightly say , there are many health products which are sold that are still going strong! But there again the products themselves have that old chestnut - "proven track record" The ones to watch out for are those which have their sales structure gone crazy but who without a product of value will investably collapse after a certain period of time leaving a lot of people high and dry. And your other comment about "loving your product" - ok - maybe you dont have to love it - but it is certainly a good idea that you believe that selling it is a good thing and fills a need or gap in the market! Take Care Jenny