Perfect Home Business: Affiliate Marketing?

Wealth Creation Opportunities – Sorting the Wheat from the Chaff

The wealth creation market is a minefield for unwary budding entrepreneurs looking for a way out of the rat race. In today’s high pressure world where employers are demanding more and more from workers, it’s clear that one’s life can become extremely unbalanced, with far more hours devoted to work than to family, health and a quality lifestyle. This has opened up an unprecedented range of “opportunities” to escape the work trap, each one promising the potential to take control of your own destiny and eventually become financially free.

These opportunities include, among other things, real estate investments, stock market investment strategies, home based businesses, network marketing plans and of course the booming internet marketing arena.

The big question is – which one is right for you?

Another very important question is – which of these opportunities are real – or more importantly, realistic, and which are exaggerated hype, or even scams?

I have earned myself a reputation for being am “opportunity tester” that saves others from the pain and suffering of being sucked into the wrong programs, schemes and time wasters that end in frustration and unbelievable financial loss. In fact, I have often been consulted to tell what stocks or option plans I am investing in so that others can avoid them. That’s how “good” my reputation has been.

However, almost two years ago an “opportunity” arrived that would solve this dilemma once and for all. It was simply a resource list of trustworthy business and investment sources that were well established, proven and respected, that I could evaluate further at my leisure. I was determined get rid of my reputation of being a bad example and to finally turn my financial life around.

This leads to the most important …….
Rule No. 1: Only take advice from people who “walk their talk” and have clear results from doing exactly what they are advising you to do.

Rule No. 2: Choose a business and/or investment strategy that suits your personality and financial profile. You need to clearly understand your own financial personality. If you cry every time the price of gas rises, stock market investing may not be for you. On the other hand, rising gas prices are very appealing to an investor in commodity futures.

Rule No. 3: Take your time! Be patient. I have not yet found a get-rich-quick scheme that actually works. Unrealistic expectations produce nothing but disappointment, frustration and anxiety. Conversely, having a patient and realistic attitude takes away the pressure and gives you the freedom to plan and monitor your progress. Yes, it takes guts, but more importantly it takes goals.

Rule No. 4: Have an exit strategy. Never go into a business or an investment without an escape plan – what to do if the “proverbial” hits the fan. Painting yourself into a corner by putting all your hopes on one strategy is extremely dangerous and can lead to a feeling of hopelessness if it doesn’t go the way you planned. Oddly enough, most of us have done this already with our jobs. For the vast majority of people, their job is their only significant source of income, so if they lose it, they are totally lost until they find another job, if they can find one with sufficient remuneration to maintain their lifestyle. Everyone needs to plan for MSI’s (Multiple Sources of Income).

Rule No. 5: The importance of having mentors cannot be overstated, regardless of your business or investment decision. Unless you already know everything there is to know about what you are doing, you absolutely must have a mentor to learn from. It doesn’t matter how much it costs, if anything, it’s still worth every penny.

Rule No. 6: Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it. This rule is self explanatory. Invest in yourself first.

Rule No. 7: To take a quote from Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich”, nothing can replace the power of persistence. “Persistence is to the quality of man like carbon is to steel.” Every great achiever has exhibited this vital quality. A good time-worn cliché is “a winner never quits and a quitter never wins”. Winners stick to their goals no matter what setbacks they encounter. The only adjustment is to their deadline.

My quest continues. I’ve thinned out my favorites from the masses in both the business and investment marketplaces, I’ve tried a few, failed a few times, but only because I did not follow the advice I was given to the letter (serves me right) and I am now positioned to head in the right direction towards achieving my goals, much wiser and better educated.

In closing, it’s not easy – but nothing really worthwhile is ever easy. But it should be fun, challenging and stretch you out of your comfort zone. The best way to learn to swim is to get into the water. I have no regrets whatsoever, despite my stuff-ups. The journey has been enjoyable and above all, I have met some incredible people along the way.