An MLM Book That Can Save You $1,000's in Time and Money!

I am truly amazed! Finally, a book revealing the nitty-gritty necessary steps and elements required in selecting, or confirming one's selection, of a top quality MLM company. Lou Abbott has stepped out of the box so heavily guarded by the MLM industry to right the ship with "MLM The Whole Truth." His goal is for everyone to create "reliable, long-term, leveraged, residual income," through the selection of the right business opportunity and company.

This is not simply a report but an 81/2 by 11 inch beautifully designed, quality, paperback book. It consist of 86 pages, broken into 11 well organized chapters. This "Special Report" contains hard hitting, thought provoking, and brutally revealing principles called, "The 12 Critical Success Factors(TM)," which expose the keys to successfully selecting the right MLM company from the start. The established criteria, if followed, lead both a new person who is curious and an experienced entrepreneur in the industry, to make the right decision regarding a company. How? Through the hard leaned experiences shared by Lou and based on his proven, solid, non-emotional business evaluation factors.

"MLM The Whole Truth" is required reading to prevent one from learning the hard, expensive lessons experienced by Lou Abbott which are openly shared in this book. Take advantage of this opportunity before making a business commitment or, to evaluate your current company to insure they meet the 12 criteria for you to meet your business goals.

I highly recommend this book as a "must read" for anyone with an interest in the MLM/Network Marketing industry.

MLM/NWM An Industry Where You Can Actually Enjoy Working

In doing a great deal of reflection on my life there is one thing that seems to stand out as if a brilliant torch. The MLM/NWM industry and more specifically the type of people involved.

Yes, I agree there are good and bad people in every industry, however, I've found many more positive, giving, sincere, and servant leaders in this arena than any other I've ever been involved. Only through my involvement would I have enjoyed the privilege of developing friends all over the country, some as long as 10+ years now, and never met in person.

I have good news! I checked the bottom of my foot last night and did not see any type of expiration date stamped on it. So I am going to spend my time concentrating on that which provides me the most enjoyment and personal satisfaction.

A key area is going to be within the MLM/NWM industry. I haven't decided the exact form of involvement, yet I feel prompted to share my experience and acquired knowledge freely with others who are seeking an answer to their rat race and corporate challenges. Helping them find the answer to that nagging gut feeling that there must be a better way to reach their dreams of personal and financial freedom outside of the 9 to 5 job. How I will do this remains to be determined. (Suggestions welcome)

There will be no claims of outlandish success, guru-ism, or even a hint of being an "expert" in this industry. Simply an average guy who has studied the industry for 15 years and share what I've leaned as a result. This is a goal with the hopes of saving someone unneeded aggravation, trial and error, reinventing the wheel, and getting unnecessarily beat up.

Know it or not, your time is short. Spend your time wisely, make good choices, and whenever the opportunity presents itself, step up and help the other person as you can to succeed.

Your thoughts, comments, suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking your time to read this post.

Self Discovery and Growth From the Strangest Places! Embrace it! Even Exploit it!

Hello my friends! As with everything in life the only constant is change and we have a choice to embrace it or reject it, but we must be willing to accept the consequences in either case. I choose to embrace it, if not exploit it. Below is a post I made recently on my favorite forum, MLM.com. In addition, I've included my short book review of a book I recently purchased. "Why am I here and posting this?" All because of one simple quote I read in Tom Pinnock's book.

• "Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities ---always see them, for they're always there." ~ Norman Vincent Peale
  

Interesting what one can learn from reading with an open mind. I hope you enjoy, become informed, and find value in this post. Thank you for coming and supporting me with your warm thoughts of concern, appreciation, and respect.
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"Network Marketing/MLM Industry Provide Health Through Hope"

Interesting topic don't you think? "Is he crazy, making claims such as that about this industry?" Crazy? Yes, definitely! About the claims? Not at all! Which brings us to the "why" of this post.

As many of you are aware, I've been dealing with a "tad" of a few challenges in my life. I've reached a point and realize I can't "drive on through it, talk myself out of it, PMA my butt off and make a difference." It ain't going to happen guys! But, I found out a wonderful thing about this industry and the members. My association with you , no matter what the form, makes me happy, hopeful, optimistic, and most of all positive, while enjoying every moment.

As we all know from our own experience and readings of the great ones in this business and personal development, a life inclusive of the above feelings promotes directly to better health and personal wealth. I'm not talking about financial wealth either, as that is so secondary in life.

I've stopped in here recently after a long hiatus, experienced the humbling surprise of my life reading responses on my blog and it all made be feel "good!" What do they say, "if it feels good, do it?" Well, I don't know if my day's of "doing it" are over or not, but I do know my days of being associated with it are not!

I literally just finished Tom Pinnock's book, "You Can Be Rich By Thursday," and in one sitting. This in itself is a major positive accomplishment for me. The book contains no great revelations of life or the business, but I sure had fun and felt good reading it.

I come humbly to you, asking nothing, expecting nothing, yet by simple association and interaction, receiving so much into my life. How can anyone say this business model, industry, benefits of membership are a scheme or worse? I suggest they speak, "from behind" with their eyes wide shut, knowing not of what they speak. (Just my humble observation over the years.)

In closing, I say "THANK YOU!" Many times the value of the gifts we give are never really known, yet that does not diminish the value of the giving. For the receiver, who accepts the gift, must also accept the responsibility of the value received and is a better person for it.
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Let's change gears here and I have added my review of the book mentioned above. You may find it interesting, especially those of you not familiar with the industry.

My Review on My Facebook Visual Bookshelf

This book is an easy read, relaxing, enjoyable, informative, down to earth book about multi-level marketing. Tom shares his personal experience of rags to riches by his involvement in the revolutionary business of network marketing. You will appreciate the golden nuggets and pearls of wisdom shared whether you are just starting to look at the industry or a long time business member. He proves the business is simple and works if you follow the system and do not fall into the trap of reinventing the wheel.

This 136 page book consist of 27 well written chapters incorporating a variety of very appropriate quotes leading each chapter's subject. Don't be surprised if you read this book in one sitting as I did, and unexpectedly. The investment of time will be to your personal and possibly professional benefit.

I recommend this book on many different levels, all leading toward success and wealth. I'm not talking just financial or income as one would expect, but on a higher level.

This book is an easy read, relaxing, enjoyable, informative, down to earth book about multi-level marketing. Tom shares his personal experience of rags to riches by his involvement in the revolutionary business of network marketing. You will appreciate the golden nuggets and pearls of wisdom shared whether you are just starting to look at the industry or a long time business member. He proves the business is simple and works if you follow the system. This 136 page book consist of 27 well written chapters incorporating a variety of very appropriate quotes leading each chapter's subject. Don't be surprised if you read this book in one sitting as I did, and unexpectedly. The investment of time will be to your personal and possibly professional benefit. I recommend this book on many different levels, all leading toward success and wealth. I'm not talking just financial or income as one would expect, but a higher level. (show less)

• I rated it at: 4.5/5.0 Stars.

Written on Jan 10, 2010 at 01:15PM
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Now! Go out and make it a GREAT day to remember!

You Have Given Two of the Greatest Gifts in Life

Wendy d'Entremont has brought it to my attention to revisit and read my most recent blog post and resulting comments. I learned a long time a go to do what a woman tells you to do, so I did what Wendy told me to do.

I am having trouble writing this as the screen is so blurred with the tears in my eyes. I am so greatly humbled by the responses to my simple post, which has been overwhelming, to say the least. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I expect such a response from friends I know and the many friends I've never met.

Each message is unique in the story it tells and the depth of sincere feelings expressed. I can only say, from the deepest part of my heart, "Thank You!" You have given me two of the most valued, yet under recognized, personal gifts one person can share with another. I know, you are asking yourself right now, "what the heck is Craig talking about now?"

You have bestowed upon me the true sincere gifts of Acknowledgment and Appreciation. Two highly important desires of all people, yet we do not share enough with each other. These gifts can and do make all the difference in the lives of those who give and receive them. You have shared with me the gift of Acknowledgment by taking the time to visit, read, and respond in your own ways to my post. The second gift of Appreciation expressed in your honest sharing of your thoughts and feelings of how I have impacted your lives. I am so humbly honored by all of your expressions, mear words can not describe.

I close by quoting from my very first bio/profile written on Ryze many years ago.

"This is not the life I had planned or expected at this point. But, you deal the best you can with the cards you're dealt. I do have a pretty warped and sick sense of humor so I don't mind using my situation to make others laugh. A laugh is a priceless gift and brightens everyone's day who hears it.

So, each day I have a goal to make everyone's encounter with me to be a positive experience and have them walk away thinking, "I'm sure glad I met him today!" That applies to people on the internet as well. It feels good to know I can give people a smile or a good laugh just by writing. By accomplishing all of the above I already feel like the wealthiest man in the world!"

Thank you all for such a wonder gift of friendship.

You Never Know What Tomorrow Will Bring You

WARNING! WARNING Will Robinson!

This may very well be my final post on this blog due to some serious and unexpected changes in my life within the last 30 days. As I said in the title, "you never know what tomorrow will bring you."

After my near fatal brain stem stroke a year ago this month, I thought things were moving along quite well in my adaptation and adjustment to the challenges of both my neurological disease progression and residual effects of the stroke. BUT! Life suddenly said, "AAAAAANNNNT! Wrong answer and thank you for playing !"

It started in September, just some slight noticeable changes in my symptoms like small involuntary movements of my limbs and neck. This coupled with progressive vision problems like severe double and blurred vision, was starting to add up to something sinister that only my outstanding Primary Care Physician (PCP) would put together. The symptoms got worse and started to involve my neck, shoulders, trunk, and legs. I'm sure I was pretty amusing to watch for other people. I know I would have been amused.

A serious talk with my ophthalmic surgeon regarding my impending cataract operation complicated by the involuntary head movements would make the operation very dangerous and near impossible. He suggested looking into meds for Parkinson's to settle me down enough for the operation. He faxed his concerns and findings to my PCP for further review.

During my appointment with my PCP regarding the frustration of these worsening spasms, muscular "explosions," and involuntary movements 24 hours a day, led him to perform some neurological tests. He excused himself from the exam room, returning 15 minutes later rather concerned. He had conferred with a neurologist and was told I should see a neurologist as soon as possible. My PCP said he was "very concerned," and even gave me his personal cell phone number to call him any time with concerns or questions. OMG!

I was scheduled in an unbelievable three days for a full consult and examination by the neurologist. My wife and I were there over 2 hours and 45 minutes. For the first hour the neuro simply talked to both of us and asked questions about my history, family, etc. Then he simply performed only four (4) simple tests on me. The final request, for me to stand and take two steps. I did, with great difficulty, and he said, "sit down, I've seen all I need to see." For those who don't know, a normal clinical neuro evaluation takes up to 45 minutes to perform from head to toe, pinkie to pinkie, and nothing is missed. So only four simple test? THAT was scary!

His conclusion was confident, up front, and no hint of sugar coating. I have a very severe and serious degenerative brain disease involving the Cerebellum and Brain Stem. There is no cure, treatment, and actually unlike Parkinson's, no meds to help with symptoms. The prognosis is the worst possible with continued and unpreventable progression.

All they can give me is a strong narcotic tranquilizer to knock me out and stop the movements so my body can rest. Three pills a day, so he says. I take one and am comatose for 14 to 16 hours with terrible side effects. Now I try to get by with a half or quarter pill but it doesn't help much. Just "coping" for me is equal to a normal person's "great day."

I know this is a real bummer to share with you but I felt you have been with me for years now and deserve some of the story of what's going on. I have decided to close my Internet business and possibly the blog too. The physical symptoms make working on a computer very difficult; blurred, double vision, uncontrollable arm and hand movements make my cursor crazy. The simplest task now takes forever and then with questionable results. The exhaustion from the slightest effort is overwhelming. My old "drive on and through it" mentality doesn't work this time.

So my friends, this may be my last post. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. In light of the season, I sincerely wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! "You never know what tomorrow will bring you," so live in the moment and cherish each day as it comes. I've heard it said that each day is a gift from God and that's why it's called "the Present." Go now, and make it so.

Life's Like That You Know.....

I know I've been away for some time now and not posting. The reason is quite simple really. I became very involved, maybe too involved, in a particular project which was to involve the assistance of a group of people. We "were" seemingly like minded in our goals and the project. Here is what I learned after investing countless hours of learning, application, and trial and error. Please take note for your own benefit.

Just because a group of people are called a "committee" such a thing can quickly become a "committee" of ONE! That is what happened to me. Interesting how quickly people move from a posture of leadership to sheep. I learned many people have great ideas but, want someone else to take responsibility and do all of the work. Even then, once the project was finished, no implementation was done. I firmly believe had the "committee" paid $1,500 previously quoted for the job, rather than I doing all of the work on my own for no charge, the work would have been taken more seriously.

Well, I've learned my lesson of expecting people to "step up" and take responsibility and positive action. Rather I found the "Alpha Dog Syndrome" alive and well. Being one of not participating in the "Political Correctness" game, outlining the objective(s), making a plan, followed by decisive action and completing the objective, all the while attempting to keep the other members included in the process, just doesn't work! In addition, people do not like to be held accountable for their responsibilities. People would much rather sit back and have someone else do all of the work, not participate or support, yet want to be included in any resulting credit since they were, after all, a "committee member." I've learned, the hard way, I have no use for such people or their activities.

Thus the following results:

Craig's Life's Lessons:

• Rule 11-Choose those whom you have confidential conversations judiciously.

• Rule 12-When a confidence is broken, learn once and don't trust again.
  

• Rule 13-When someone ask you to reveal and identify a confidential source/conversation, DO NOT! and never trust them for anything.

• Rule 14-Even when people "say" they want to be involved, do not expect anything as a result, for "actions always speak louder than words." Judge a person by their actions, not their words.
  

There is much more to this story than I have room here or energy to share. The story is not important here, but the resulting lessons learned are important. Take this post for what it is worth.

I Lost a Lions Club Member and Friend

As many of you know, I joined the Tuckahoe Lions Club to continue my personal development journey, expand my horizons, meet new friends, and be of service to others and the community. A decision I am immensely proud of in my life.

I had the honor and privilege to meet Don Thiel, the Secretary of the Lions Club, retired FBI Agent. A quiet, professional, sensitive, friendly, and enjoyable man to be around. I was just beginning to develop a personal connection with Don when, on Monday, July 27th, I received a call from my Club President informing me Don had passed away suddenly on Saturday.

To say I was in shock is a gross understatement. I was immediately swept by all of those, "but only if," "I should have," "why didn't I.....?" thoughts. You know what I mean.

Below is something Don shared with the Lions Club members that I felt compelled to share with you. Reading it, you will get just a slight flavor of what kind of man Don was and his views on life.

I post this not to bring you down or be a bummer, but to share with you the message to live life as if it were your last day. As I have come to known to say in my personal quote, "Make it a great day to remember!" Read and enjoy my friends.

Ramblings of a Retired Mind

This was an email from Lion Don Thiel last January, for everyone, it's worth reading, absorbing…………and smiling.

I was thinking about how a status symbol of today is those cell phones that everyone has clipped onto their belt or purse. I can't afford one. So, I'm wearing my garage door opener. I also made a cover for my hearing aid and now I have what they call “blue teeth,”………I think.

You know, I wasted a fortune on deodorant before I realized that people didn't like me anyway.

I was thinking that women should put pictures of missing husbands on beer cans.

I was thinking about old age and decided that old age is when you still have something on the ball, but you're too tired to bounce it.

I thought about making a fitness movie for folks my age, and calling it "Pumping Rust.”

When people see a cat's litter box, they always say, "Oh, have you got a cat?”……Just once I want to say, "No, it's for company!”

Employment application blanks always ask who is to be notified in case of an emergency. I think you should write, "A good Doctor!”

I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older. Then it dawned on me.......they were cramming for their finals.

As for me, I'm just hoping that God grades on the curve.

Lion Don

In Loving Memory

Lion Donald A. Thiel

February 23, 1938
July 26, 2009

Annoucing "Belief Builder for Success" Website Debut

I wish to announce the debut of my newly developed internet marketing website, Belief Builder for Success. This is the online division of Mattice Diversified Group. Belief Builder for Success is an internet portal which provides premier personal development and self-improvement products and services.

You know how we all express desires to create a better life personally, financially, and lifestyle? Well, Belief Builder for Success’ purpose is to provide excellent guidance and access to professional, proven, resources to create a Vision, crystallize Goals, develop Affirmations, and explore the Law of Attraction accomplishing growth from within thus changing our resulting circumstances. Additionally, selective services are provided, for a one-on-one experience, of personal coaching, motivational support, and accountability calls. This service is exclusive assisting clients in starting out their days on a positive, productive note and in the proper mindset for success.

I have intentionally not included a sign up or limited membership access on the website requiring name and email address, at this time. This will be added later with the offer of an outstanding ebook.

You are personally invited to visit my new website, explore the pages at your leisure, and discover how the subjects are presented in a personal versus an in-your-face sales approach, creating a comfortable and enjoyable experience for the visitor and client.

I am also requesting comments, suggestions, and any thoughts or criticisms that may improve the website. This is designed not to be your typical affiliate marketing website.

Enjoy your visit and above all else, have fun!

My Experience in a PC Trojan Virus Hell!

PERSONAL NOTE: I hate to share bad news or experiences but this is a SERIOUS exception to my rule so pay attention!

You know how you "occasionally" will have those pesky computer hiccups and residual challenges that seem to disrupt different performances of your computer? You know the anxiety, fear, trepidation, and apprehension experienced when things "just don't seem to run right?" Well, sit back, grab a fresh cup of coffee and let me share with you my "30 Days of PC Trojan Virus Hell!"

It all started simply enough, yes, PC Tools Spyware Doctor was the first to recognize and quarantine a Trojan virus. Then very soon after, McAfee Security captured it again and quarantined the culprit. I was able to remove it from the computer with McAfee but I could not remove or delete it from the quarantine of Spyware Doctor. I even enlisted the online support of Spyware Doctor and completed an elaborate procedural process to try and remove it, which appeared to solve the problem. Ahhh! Relief! Another sick attack on my computer averted. Hmmmm! So I thought!

Quietly, little hiccups began to happen with easy enough repairs using Windows XP tools. However, every time I would solve one day's problems a whole new set would occur, seemingly unrelated. I continued on this "recognize>diagnose>verify>repair" mode for almost three weeks. Each experience becoming more and more complex to diagnose and evaluate, much less solve. I learned later these occurrences were becoming cumulative in nature causing more and more problems, compounding on the previous problems, solved or not. I said to myself, "Holy CRAP! What's this all about???"

I was already spending countless hours in this "survival" process making little, then no headway. I don't know, it just had to wait a bit as I was preparing to leave the country on a family reunion cruise. This was really praying on my mind as I now have so much invested in my computer with my home based business in personal development and just recently, the scanning, downloading and preservation of all of our familie's historical photographs from as far back as 1896. This situation was consuming all of my time. Since I have chronic insomnia, working just on the computer fixes was taking up to 18 hours a day, nonstop. I was spending so much time, weird times, on the computer my wife thought I was having an online affair. No such luck for this guy!

Upon my return from the cruise I had hit my optimistic limit of tolerance, broke down and called DELL On Call for help. They were awesome to say the least. Yes! I did not hesitate in purchasing a one year three incident technical service contract. I spent a solid three (3) hours online and on the phone with an outstanding and professional DELL Certified Technician who was able to take over my computer remotely, diagnose, evaluate, and clean out the Trojan virus. He revealed to me this was a rather insidious Trojan virus in that it initiates itself well embedded into the programming and continuously mutates spreading through out the hard drive and programs. He actually showed me the virus activity and that it was a countdown virus, meaning, had I waited until midnight of that night, it was 4:00 PM when I called him, my hard drive would have been totally destroyed. BUMMER!

Now came the big job of cleaning up the residual mess caused to the applications and even the registry. No computer technical service can guarantee or attempt to repair all of this due to the sheer number of programs and applications involved, it was up to me. There was some serious removal and reinstallation of programs and applications. This difficult process was seriously compounded by the bugs and problems with the new Firefox upgrade to 3.5 and its refusal to "play well with others in the sandbox." I finally uninstalled Firefox 3.5 and performed a clean reinstall of Firefox 3.01.11, the previously well functioning version. In addition, my HP printer software was completely corrupted.

Dealing with these issues one at a time, pulling from full image backups, restores, uninstalling and reinstalling with all of the glitches imaginable with both Firefox and HP were unbelievable. Finally, as a direct result of all of my personal research on the net; technical forums, product forums, knowledge bases, and serious trial and error learning, I FINALLY got my PC back to a clean, glitch free, awesomely functional, basis on Thursday, July 16th at 1:30 PM.

The life's lesson here guys? Take every attack of a virus or Trojan very seriously. To prevent grief in your life, always always perform backups to an external hard drive or separate partition on your hard drive. Utilize all of the services provide by McAfee Security Suite or Norton, perform twice daily full Restore Points to always have something clean and solid to fall back to in this event. At one point I was actually in fatal fear of having to uninstall and reinstall a clean Windows XP Professional Operating System. This would actually remove all existing information, archives, programs, and applications. Not an option in my mind! Learn from my experience, PLEASE! Now I can't wait to get back to my real life, what little there is of it, but it is mine.

Thank you for reading this expose' and personal experience. I hope you enjoyed and benefited from your time invested. I greatly appreciate it.

A Couple of GREAT Books I've Just Read!

"The Answer" by John Assaraf & Murray Smith is such a refreshing surprise reading for a "business" book. I was caught totally off guard as the descriptions of the book don't do it justice at all.

I was attracted to this book, (no pun intended), by the reputation of the authors, my personal development journey and reading about the Law of Attraction, other Laws of the Universe, and their applications to my life and business. Totally well worth the investment of time, energy, and cost.

This very attractively presented book consist of 303 well written pages, broken into 15 very digestible chapters, including four excellent Appendix's which will impress and surprise you.

The content of this book deals directly with the application of the different Laws of the Universe, most importantly in your life and expanding to their relationship in your business. The principles shared with the reader are applicable to anyone on a personal development journey involving business or not. For someone even remotely interested in their own business or career, this book is REQUIRED reading. I can not emphasis this enough.

I will enjoy reading this book over again as I'm positive I did not absorb the many golden nuggets shared by the authors. Make time for this book in your life and experience the revelations provided through proven application in life and not theory. You will be a better person as a result.
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"The Love Dare" by Stephen Kendrick presented through the release of the movie "Fireproof." Don't laugh! This may be a life changing book for you to invest your time and energy.

I was first exposed to this book through watching the movie "Fireproof" starring Kirk Cameron as a special function with my Sunday School class. To say I was moved, touched, excited, and enthusiastic about obtaining this book is an understatement.

If you are at all familiar with the movie, even if you are not.....yet, you will realize this book is geared toward saving and creating a very positive marriage relationship. Troubled marriages especially, but everything revealed in this book applies to ALL marriages. It is for this reason I personally bought the book. My marriage is very healthy and successful lasting 37 years now.

The foundation of learning, growing, and developing a healthy marriage relationship in this book is based on a solidly Christian foundation and Bible teachings. I appreciated the references throughout this 40 day experience to specific and very applicable Bible verses. All of which, reinforce the message, path of development, and the recreation or maintaining of a very healthy marriage relationship with your partner.

If this is even a question in your life or you just wish to continue further on your personal development journey, this book is invaluable. You will learn from and enjoy this book as it is so well presented in 40 individual day teachings for immediate application. A complete 40 day course in marriage contained in only 212 pages. Pretty impressive!