Thought For The Day

"Try not to become a man of success, but rather to become a man of value." 

What You Need To Know Before Getting Into Network Marketing

What You Need To Know Before Getting Into Network Marketing

 

When you join a network marketing company, you will most likely be very excited to start seeing the profits. You sign up, wait, wait, and wait and, when there's still nothing happening, you get worried.

Then, when some more time passes, you start thinking that this whole MLM thing is good for nothing and you give up.
I want you to understand that, although it's your right to give up, it takes persistence and hard work to succeed at it. It might be difficult to have what it takes if you don't understand the basics, so I wanted to take a moment to run through some of the things you have to understand before even thinking about getting into MLM.
 

1. It is legitimate.

You might have heard me say before that MLM is not a pyramid scheme. It is a legitimate way to sell products and to acquire qualified and effective sales force. It is completely legal, and some of the best multilevel marketing companies are the fastest growing businesses in the world.

2. It takes work.

Just like any other business, you will need to put in the effort necessary to see the money coming in. 

It's not like you sign up, and become rich the next day. Multilevel marketing is not a get rich quick scam. If you put in the work, if you put in the effort, you will see the fruits of your labors, but you must understand that no one will do your work for you.

3. It takes time.

Did you know that a regular, brick-and-mortar company is not expected to make any profit for the first few years of its operation? Getting a start up company takes a lot of time. It might be a year in some cases or even a few years, depending on the market, your marketing skills and your connections. No one is worried if a local fruit and vegetable store doesn't bring the money in from day one. In fact, as I said, people expect to lose money at the beginning.

It is the same with almost any type of business out there, and MLM is no exception. While it is possible to become profitable quickly, in most cases it will require a lot of time, it will take a great deal of work and determination to make your company a success.

 Making a business a success is a process, and in order to see the fruits of your work, you have to stick with it.

Let me give you an example of what I mean.

You don't give up before the process is complete, just like you don't take the cake out of the oven before it's done and expect to have good cake to eat.

It doesn't work like that. So, now that you understand what it takes to be successful with an MLM company, go ahead and put what I told you into practice. When you do that, you will make a whole lot of money. I can promise you that!

The 5 Do's and Don'ts of Network Marketing

The 5 Do's and Don'ts of Network Marketing

Network marketing is, and has been for years, a very popular way of making money. The reason for that is, that it really isn't that complicated. All you do is talk to your friends and family.
There are a few things that you need to keep in mind in order to be successful at network marketing, however.
Some of those things you'd actually want to do and others you'd do well to avoid. I will go ahead and run through some of them with you. Feel free to keep this list handy for future use.

1. Do your research.
When you're invited to go to an MLM meeting, you will be told that whatever the company is selling is the absolute best thing since sliced bread, and that making a great deal of money with them is very easy.
Of course, there are some wildly successful MLM businesses around and they've made a lot of people very wealthy, but if it was easy, everyone would become rich in no time.
As you know this is not always the case. Some MLM companies fail, others succeed, so you must do your research.

2. Do meet new people.
The more people you meet every day, the more opportunities you're going to have to sell your product.
You should spend at least a few hours each working day looking for prospects, just like you would in a regular business.

3. Do be yourself.
When you meet someone new, and all you want is to tell them about the opportunity, they will sense it right away and shut off immediately.
You obviously do not want to pretend anything in order to get someone to sign up, so the most important thing is to be yourself.
If you are excited about the company, the product and the moneymaking opportunity, go ahead and tell your friends about it. Be sure to share it with them naturally, in order to help them
You really don't want to push it on them.

4. Don't be a sales person.
People hate to be sold, so there's no reason for you to be a sales person. Remember, that these are people that you want to help, so if you think that what you have is going to genuinely improve the quality of their lives, then have them join. If not, then straight up tell them it is not for them.

5. Don't sacrifice relationships.
One of the great things about network marketing is that you will be working with people who already know like and trust you. You need to appreciate and respect that relationship you have with them, and you should never put money before people.
Keep in mind that, no matter what, you'll need to interact with those people. It's not like you're going to be able to just replace them once they don't want to talk to you, so make sure that the relationships are always a priority.

There you go. The five do's and don'ts of network marketing. Keep them in mind and you'll do great.

Last Minute Valentine Gift Ideas

No reservations? No problem.
What could be better than a romantic dinner on Valentine's Day? But getting last-minute reservations may be nearly impossible. Rather than settle for something less than perfect, make your own romance with a picnic featuring food from your favorite deli or gourmet shop. If the February weather is too wet or cold where you live, find an indoor alternative: a car parked at a favorite overlook; your high-rise office with a glittering view of the city lights; the cabin of a borrowed boat or RV; or a blanket at home in front of the fire.

Valentine Gifts Ideas

Let me count the ways...
Buy your beloved a book of love poems at the nearest bookstore. It doesn't really matter whether you choose Shakespearean sonnets, love poems by Rumi, the 13th century Persian poet, or a volume of modern verse. A book of love poems can transform your last-minute purchase into a gift of timeless beauty.

Exercise Steps To A Good Warm-Up

Five Steps to a Good Warm-Up

If you've been working out for any length of time, you know the importance of a good warm-up. However, some of us plunge into an exercise program without proper warm-ups and precautions. Maybe we think we don’t have time, or skip the warm-up because we think it is not crucial or we are not feeling energetic. However, skipping the warm-up is never a good idea.

Our blood does not always circulate properly through our muscles. If you jump into an intense workout without warming up, the muscles and joints will not be ready and you will over strain. Therefore, some stretching prior to working out is essential. A good warm-up will protect you from injury and increase the efficiency and enjoyability of your workout.

 How do you get a good warm-up?

           Limber up lightly

Begin your warm-up with gentle exercises. You should break a little sweat, but don’t go over ten minutes.

 Stretch statically

Static stretching extends muscles while the body is at rest. It consists of a variety of methods that gradually elongate the muscle by holding the stretched position for thirty seconds to two minutes. It lowers the sensitivity of tension receptors (sense organs in muscles and tendons that respond to elongation), which allows the muscle to relax and stretch, making you more flexible, as well as minimizing the risk of injury during your workout.

 Be sure to stretch all of the major muscle groups, and stop after five minutes.

 Warming up specifically for your workout session.

During this phase, you want to target the parts of your body that you will be exercising during the workout.

 

For instance, if you're planning to work on your abdominals, do a few abdominal exercises. If you want to focus on your biceps, do some repetitions that will prepare you for that.

 Stretch dynamically

Dynamic stretching is set of bounces or swings that prepares your body for the movements that you will do during the workout. For example, you might run in place or do squats or leg lifts. It’s a good way to end your warm-up.

The dynamic stretching phase of your warm-up can cause injury if you don't know what you're doing. A certain amount of discomfort during stretching is normal, but as soon as you feel any abnormal pain, stop exercising.

 Consult a professional

You should always consult a qualified professional, who will work with you to create a customized routine. This will decrease the chances of injury during your warm-up and workout.

 This easy-to-follow, five step method will help you get a good warm-up for any kind of workout. It will help your body prepare for the physical challenges of exercising and prevent you from getting hurt.

 Have fun!

Positive Thinking Techniques: Take Action on Your Anxieties, or Forget about Them

There are many bumps on the road to positive thinking. One of them is undue anxiety. Negative thinking can cause you to worry about situations that are beyond your control. Because negative thoughts can consume you, it's essential to use positive thinking techniques to get rid of both your rational and irrational worries.

• Be Aware of Your Anxiety

The first step in utilizing positive thinking techniques is to become aware that you're worrying. As with negative thinking, worrying about every little thing can become something you do subconsciously. Start by being conscious of the fact that you are worrying.

• Question Yourself

Question your worry. Can you take action on it, or is it something over which you have no control?

If it's inactionable and out of your control, you need to become aware of that. Since you can't do anything about it, find a diversion that will put it out of your mind. Don't waste time thinking about the consequences of your anxiety. It’s utterly pointless.

• Take Action

If the situation is actionable, take action and do something about it—immediately, if you can. Then forget about it for the rest of the day, and be calmed by the fact that you have done something to help resolve the problem.

If you can't do anything immediately, you can still calm your mind by scheduling time to address the situation later in the day or week.

• Change Your Focus

Sometimes, simply recognizing that it’s useless to worry may be sufficient to prevent you from worrying. Other times, you will have to shift your focus. For instance, if you're surfing the net to find the things that are worrying you, you may need to log off in order to stop worrying. Go out and take a walk for a change of scenery.

Whether your worry is actionable now, later, or not at all, put it out of your mind.

By doing all of the above, you've done everything in your power to take control of your situation.

These positive thinking techniques seem simple but they can make a big difference between worrying for a few minutes and worrying all day. Taking action on the problems you can control and letting go of the ones you can’t is one of the most important steps towards forgetting about your worries.

Understanding the Health Benefits of Positive Thinking

 

The benefits of positive thinking apply not only to our minds, but to our physical wellbeing. Many studies have indicated this to be true. Here are some of the benefits of developing a positive attitude.

Conquer Anxiety, Depression and Illness

Seeing the glass as half full or half empty can have a great impact on the way you respond to obstacles in your life. Those people who tend toward optimism will often see the silver lining in circumstances that might otherwise make them anxious or depressed. Negative emotions and self criticism play a key role in depression and anxiety.

In addition, some research has shown a direct correlation between stress levels and the strength of our immune system, directly affecting our immunity to certain health conditions. One study indicated that increased brain activity while thinking negatively is related to our immune response to the flu.

An upbeat outlook helps people dealing with serious long term diseases such as cancer. Those who practice positive thinking -- by keeping check on the negative stream of thought that continually repeats itself -- were discovered to have fewer side effects and faster recovery from cancer treatment.

Advantages of Positive Thinking

Research on the health benefits of positive thinking is not yet conclusive. However, the well-renowned Mayo Clinic states that positive thinking has many advantages, including:

• Longer life span
• Greater resistance to the common cold
• Improved over all health
• Lowered susceptibility to depression
• Better life-coping ability
• Reduced risk of heart disease

There are many opinions about why those people who think optimistically experience these health benefits, but it usually comes down to the fact that they are less anxious and depressed in general. The reduced anxiety and depression is a result of what they think on a day-to-day basis.

Most of us don’t notice the barrage of negative thoughts that constantly pop into our minds. Some studies show that there may be thousands of them going through our minds every day. It's not hard to understand why having so many of these thoughts can lead to a downbeat outlook on life, making it harder to deal with difficult situations.

The detrimental effects of negative thinking affect our mood and our health. The benefits of positive thinking, which come about by working to improve our thoughts, influence our mood and health as well.

Positive Thinking Exercises

Positive Thinking Exercises: Stop Those Negative Thoughts

No matter how hard you attempt to think positively, it will be difficult unless you learn to spot and stop negative thoughts. There are many positive thinking exercises that will help. One of them, learning how to spot your negative thoughts, is explained here.

Why Is It Important to Combat Negative Thoughts?

It’s important to combat negative thoughts because they serve a destructive function in your life. For most of you, thinking negatively is a subconscious habit. Bad thoughts do their harm while you are totally unaware. In fact, as you are reading this, you may be thinking that you're not very negative, but you could be wrong.

Negative thoughts, even the small ones, can be one cause of the struggles you are having in your life. If you stop and think about it, you'll find that you're being more pessimistic than you realized.

How to Recognize Negative Thoughts

Here are examples of thoughts that show you may be looking at things negatively:

• I’m unlucky.
• It's definitely going to rain today now that I've made plans.
• I’m bound to make a mistake on this project.
• I’m not good enough.
• I’m not important.
• Nothing I try ever works out.
• I’m not pretty.
• I’m too tall/too short/too fat, etc…

These are but a few of the myriad negative thoughts that fall into the negative thinking spectrum. You can fix them once you have recognized them. Positive thinking exercises are intended to alleviate this kind of thinking and replace it with a more objective and constructive alternative.

Take Baby Steps

Start your journey toward positive thinking with baby steps. At first, simply be aware of your negative thoughts without trying to change or stop them. As the saying goes, knowing there’s a problem is half the battle. It’s the first step in deviating from the negative thought pattern that you have been stuck in. Jot down the bad thoughts you notice – both big and little. This will help you recognize the most common ones and will give you more material to focus on as you move forward through your positive thinking exercises.

Positive thinking exercises, such as recognizing and stopping your negative thoughts may not seem important initially, but they are very useful. When you understand your negative thought patterns, you can shift them towards something more positive.

Eight Ways to Cultivate a Positive Mental Attitude

 

Cultivating a positive mental attitude can’t be accomplished overnight. It starts by gradually introducing good habits into your daily routine. This can be a struggle at first, but eventually it will take less effort to look on the brighter side of life.

 

Eight Things You Can Start Doing Today to Become More Optimistic.

·         Take Action

Many of us worry about the future, always imagining the worst case scenario. Your future circumstances depend largely on your current actions, so you can exercise some control over your future by taking constructive action in the present. If the situation is beyond your control, take your mind off it by focusing on other areas of your life over which you do have control. You can improve those areas.

·         Practice Appreciation

If you think there isn’t much good in your life--always seeing the glass as half empty--take five minutes a day to list the things you're grateful for. After a while, you’ll start noticing the good things more than the bad, which will help develop that positive mental attitude.

·         Think Well of Others

We sometimes judge others harshly and expect the worst in people. This only perpetuates our tendency for negative thinking. Instead, try to go for an entire day thinking only positive thoughts about other people. Do this as often as you can and notice the results.

·         Have a Sense of Humor

As the saying goes, “Laughter is the best medicine.” Keeping your sense of humor and making sure to laugh each day is an easy and effective way to help you become a more positive thinker.

·         Snap Out of It

Make up a prompt that will stop your negative thoughts dead in their tracks. Use it when you find yourself thinking negative thoughts. It could be anything from snapping your fingers, to shouting “stop,” to imagining a red stop sign. Anything is useful as long as it puts an end to that thought.

·         Consciously Feed Yourself Positive Thoughts

 Most of us put our thoughts on autopilot, without consciously deciding what to think. Start getting into the habit of forcing yourself to think positive thoughts, or affirmations. At first it may seem silly, but it will soon get you into the custom of thinking more optimistically.

·         Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself

Negative thinkers tend to focus on their flaws without acknowledging their good points. To stop this harmful habit and boost your positive mental attitude, keep a journal and write down everything about yourself of which you are proud. You'll soon recognize that you do more things well than you thought.

·         Turn off the Television and Social Media

We receive a constant barrage of upsetting information, anxiety ridden situations, and mood destroying comments and thoughts from television and social media. It’s easier to think more positively without this constant influx of negativity. Take time out each day to go low tech. Meditate or take a walk outside instead.

 

Pick one thing on this list and practice it, if you find that doing it all at once is too much. Start today.

Five Positive Thinking Tips to Help You Relax

Many positive thinking tips revolve around re-training your mind to work differently. Although this is important, you also need to care for your body and spirit. This means making to unwind and re-energize. Here are four suggestions to help you be more optimistic.

·         Exercise

This could be the most valuable of all the positive thinking tips. If you don't get enough exercise you aren't taking care of your body and, perhaps surprisingly, you’re not taking care of your mind either. Exercise has been proven to be an effective antidote for mild to moderate depression. It releases endorphins, brain chemicals that act as a natural mood boosters. It has been proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, enhance self esteem and improve sleep. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine and you'll see things more accurately and logically.

·         Hypnotherapy

Although the validity of hypnotherapy is highly debated, it has resulted in deep relaxation for many, who describe it as akin to getting the best night's sleep they have ever had. It is a method of reducing stress by focusing your attention and turning it inwards. If you can't afford a hypnotherapist, there are many MP3s and other internet downloads to choose from. Get comfortable and start listening. They can help you to forget the stress of the day.

·         Play with Your Pet

Spending time with animals has been known to relieve stress in many people. If you have a dog or cat, sit down and spend time stroking or playing with them. Research has shown that pet ownership can: reduce stress, lower blood pressure and enhance your mood.

·         Enjoy the Outdoors

Enjoying nature and breathing fresh air can significantly improve your mood.

·         Practice Yoga

The practice of yoga mediation utilizes positive thinking as an essential tool to bring about both physical and mental wellbeing. Yoga meditation involves sitting silently and motionless for periods of time. In Western society, most of us are used to being stimulated all day every day. It is hard to free our minds from racing thoughts, and many find it impossible to meditate at first. However, one of the best positive.

Stopping Negative Thoughts

How to Stop Negative Thoughts

Break the Habit

Stopping negative thoughts takes patience and training. Since pessimistic thinking is a habit, step one is to catch yourself when these thoughts begin to occur. Once you start to notice them, you can try to verify them to convince yourself that they're not true. Test Your Negative Thoughts.

 

Your destructive thoughts aren't based on reason, but no matter how much you tell yourself that, it's seems impossible to stop them. This is why you need to go a little further and start gathering proof that will convince you that these thoughts are false.
 

Step by Step Instructions to Test Your Negative Thoughts

 

Step 1 - Take a wide category of negative thinking and break it down. Don't begin working on all of your negative thoughts at once. It takes time to learn how to stop them, so start slowly. For example, you may choose to work on your poor body image or the thought pattern, "I am unlucky."

 

Step 2 – Using your wide category, think about all the thoughts that come under each subcategory. Take the poor body image example. Your thought pattern might be something like "I can't wear tight blouses because they accentuate my small breasts" or "everyone pays attention to my cute best friend and not me," or “I’m not pretty." Make a list of these thoughts on a piece of paper.

 

Step 3 - On another piece of paper, write down facts that will negate that thought. For example, for the thought "I’m not pretty,“ you might write that nobody has ever said you weren’t pretty. You can also write something like "I don't judge people solely on looks, so why would they judge me that way?"

See how this is working? Writing down the evidence forces you to view your life objectively and learn how to stop negative thoughts by seeing whether your thoughts are based on fact. A feeling that people think you're not pretty isn’t sufficient. This is the time for cold, hard facts. We've all heard the occasional hurtful remark, but when you put the facts on paper, you'll discover that your thoughts are more illogical than you first realized!

What Now?
It takes time for your irrational feelings to catch up with your rational brain, so you will need to regularly repeat this process to learn how to stop negative thoughts. Eventually, you'll find that it is possible to stop such thoughts, and that your negative thinking habit becomes much more realistic.

Author: A native of the Midwest farm country in Iowa, Marcia Ripperger has lived in a number of locations. She has resided in Chicago, Illinois; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Minneapolis, Minnesota., Living in rural and metropolitan areas taught Marcia to always look for the best opportunities each community could offer. She now lives in a rural area of Minnesota that has a small city flare and closeness to the land. . Marcia has work in the corporate world outside of her home and has various home based businesses over the years. She holds a degree in business management and is CMOM certified. Marcia is the owner of a Work At Home Choices LLC along with being the founder founder and publisher of " Christian Work From Moms and Grandparents" She is a well known published and featured author through out the internet.

 

Gifts for Him Ideas on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Gifts for Him

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, you are sure to be scouring your mind, trying to find the perfect gift for your man. Don't worry, you aren't the only one struggling. In fact, most women have an issue picking the perfect Valentine's Day gift for their boyfriend or husband.
The most important thing to think about is your guy's personality. Think about what they enjoy and get them something fun or useful that goes along with their interests. Show them you understand what they like. Let's take a look at a few different types of men and a few great gift ideas for each.
If your man is the well dressed type, you may jump to the default gift idea of a new tie. While that could be very nice if you pick one that has meaning, try some of these other great ideas he will be sure to love. Many men own a lot of ties but only one or two sets of cufflinks. Cufflinks can make for a very classy gift and you can take your time picking out some that will have special meaning to him. Find some that will leave him thinking of you every time he sees them. Another option is a new dress watch. Watches are considered the most important accessory for many men, meaning you can make a huge impact by picking a great watch. Be sure to take a look at what he already has to get an idea of his style. For bonus points get a special message engraved on the watch to remind him how much you care every time he puts it on.

Does your guy live an active lifestyle? Does he enjoy camping, hiking, and the outdoors? There are several great items that the camping enthusiast will love. As his girl, you've probably noticed something he needs even if you haven't realized it. Have you found yourself upset by his old, muddy hiking boots that don't seem to be doing the job anymore? Has his tent sprung a leak, leaving your head soaking wet halfway through the night? These types of gifts could be perfect for him. For extra points, plan a special getaway for the two of you using his new gift. Perhaps a special camping trip to test out his new tent or a picnic at the end of a nice hike.

Does your boyfriend or husband love technology? This one can be tough since many of the newer electronics are fairly expensive, but there are still quite a few great options. With the tablet craze coming on strong, that is a great choice for a guy that loves gadgets. The iPad is considered top of the line when it comes to tablets with a big screen, lots of special features, and tons of apps available. If the iPad is a bit out of your price range, there are other options though. Amazon has released their own tablet, the Kindle Fire, which is under half the price of the iPad and is a very strong tablet. If video games are more his thing there are a few great options including Nintendo's 3D handhold system, the 3DS. He can play all of his favorite Nintendo games in 3D and you don't even need 3D glasses. The Xbox Kinect is also very popular and offers a great chance for the two of you to get up and play together, no controller needed!

Just remember, think about what he likes. Find something he will find fun or useful and try and add your own personal flavor to it. Show him you understand him and give him a gift that will remind him of you every time you use it!

New Year’s Resolutions You Will Want to Keep

Diet New Year’s Resolutions You Will Want to Keep

Each year people around the world resolve to take better care of their health. They often make blanket statements like “this year I resolve to eat better.” Unfortunately, such broad resolutions are difficult to keep. They’re not specific enough to follow through on. If you’re looking for a diet New Year’s resolution you will want to keep, consider these seven resolutions.

#1 I resolve to stop drinking soda and sugary drinks
So many people around the world drink their calories. This sugar is hard on your health. It adds unnecessary weight and it affects blood sugar levels. Resolve to eliminate soda and sugary drinks from your diet. You may eliminate several hundred calories a day from this simple adjustment.

#2 I resolve to eat fruits and vegetables with every meal and snack

If you add a fruit or a vegetable to every meal and snack, you’re much closer to meeting your daily requirement. It’s not as difficult as you might think. You can have fruits or veggies for your snacks. Add an apple or berries to your breakfast. A smoothie can have as many as three servings of fruit or vegetables.
Add greens to lunch and dinner and you’re well on your way to getting the nutrients your body needs each day.

#3 Resolve to try a new fruit or vegetable each month

Scientists have found that people who eat a variety of fruits and vegetables are healthier. Many people become stuck in a rut with their fruits and vegetables. When you add a new one to your diet each month, you’re broadening your nutritional horizons.

#4 Resolve to switch to whole grain bread

Swap your white bread for whole grain bread. This is an easy change to make and it’ll add more healthy whole grains to your diet. You can amplify this whole grain change and switch to steel cut oats and brown rice instead of instant oatmeal and white rice. Small changes make a big difference.

#5 Resolve to eat fewer sweets

If you’re like many people you probably have several sugary snacks each day. Resolve to cut back. That may begin by tracking how many snacks you normally eat each day. Cut back to one snack each day or one sugary snack each week.

#6 Resolve to drink a glass of green tea each day

Green tea has been shown to provide fantastic health benefits. Add a glass of green tea to your day. Drink it in the morning or have a glass in the afternoon. If you’re sensitive to caffeine then don’t drink it in the evening. Green tea does have a small amount of caffeine.

#7 Resolve to stop eating in the evenings

People often make poor eating decisions in the evening. Drink a glass of water. Find something interesting to do to distract yourself. If you must eat due to hunger, then eat something high in fiber like a banana or whole grain cereal.
As you’re looking forward to your New Year and contemplating resolutions, be specific. Help yourself achieve success by setting specific goals designed to help you lose weight and get healthier.