Network to Freedom

Networking Journal

bodybydesign — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:10:51 +0000

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Mind over Matter

bodybydesign — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:00:01 +0000

Building wealth is a state of mind.

Gary W. Eldred, PhD, knows what most entrepreneurs know and writes this in his book Trump University Real Estate 101:

“Although each of these entrepreneurs differs in style and personality, every single one has affirmed to me the critical importance of mind over matter–or perhaps I might say ‘mind matters most.’

Cosmetics did not make Mary Kay Ash wealthy. Mary Kay happened to earn her wealth through cosmetics (actually by creating a world-class sales organization). Textiles did not make Roger Milliken wealthy. Roger Milliken built his wealth through textiles. Property did not make Donald Trump wealthy. Donald Trump achieved his wealth through property development, renovation, and revitalization. Do you see what I’m saying? Entrepreneurs succeed because they guide their lives with the right principles and philosophy–not as a result of a particular product or industry per se.

Compete with yourself to be the best you can. Entrepreneurs know that to merely compete with others lowers their standards.”

Funny Money

bodybydesign — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:00:48 +0000

Bank Bailouts and the latest “Funny Money” scenarios

Some of you (particularly from the Oklahoma Oil Industry) may remember the book Funny Money written by Mark Singer in 1985. “The wondrous tale of Penn Square Bank, the high-rolling oil-and-gas loan broker in an Oklahoma City shopping center whose collapse staggered America’s banking community.”

Comments by a Banker about Robert A. Hefner III: “He always struck me as one of those guys just on the line between insane and brilliant. I didn’t lend him money because of his reputation. He’d never made any money. He was always drilling with other people’s money. He was talking about producing deep gas when gas was selling for fifteen cents. I didn’t care how many trillion feet of gas there were in the deep Anadarko, you weren’t going to make money at that price.”

People that run corps. and countries (owing millions or trillions) may sleep like babies because they are often in the seat of power. Who has the problem–the lender or debtor?

And so, we have the S&L crisis, dot. com bubble, 911, Afghanistan war, Iraq war, Enron, WorldCom, Sarbox legislation, bank deregulation, real estate bubble, TARP, global warming, and so on because:

History repeats itself
Power and money corrupts
Your definition of reasonable, conservative, triple A, reality, and sane or insane is never applicable because it’s only your perspective.

Why do people assume they or others have the answers or have a handle on reality?

If common knowledge is reality (factual) why are the majority of people just average?

“We will never have a perfect model of risk” by Alan Greenspan

“But these models do not fully capture … the innate human responses that result in swings between euphoria and fear that repeat themselves generation after generation with little evidence of a learning curve.”

Current Account Deficit

bodybydesign — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:00:32 +0000

What happens when we rely on faulty data to make decisions?

That’s the situation with the U.S. trade deficit. U.S. Department of Commerce statistics don’t reflect the real world anymore and the information system is dated.

As Marc Chandler vividly points out in his book Making Sense of the Dollar:

“There are various explanations for the persistence of the U.S. trade deficit. Some people argue that America buys more from the world than it sells because its companies are growing less competitive. Others blame the trade restrictions and labor policies of other countries that may make U.S. exports less competitive or give imported products advantages here. The problem is not that the glass is half full or half empty, but there is something wrong with the glass. The trade balance is no longer a valid scorecard for America’s global sales and competitiveness. Given a choice, U.S. firms prefer to sell goods and services abroad through their foreign affiliates instead of exporting them from the United States. In 2005, the most recent year for which data are available, U.S. foreign affiliate sales topped a staggering $4.2 trillion, whereas U.S. exports–the common but spurious yardstick of U.S. global sales–totaled just $1.3 trillion. Sales by these affiliates outstrip exports by a factor of four to one. How U.S. firms compete in world markets, in other words, goes well beyond trade.”

If we don’t read and get current we won’t know what we are talking about!

You cut I choose

bodybydesign — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:00:39 +0000

“You cut I choose” (separation of duties) is a method to check greed and corruption. Of course, it also works for dividing pies evenly.

One thing that auditors look for, when they evaluate internal financial controls, is separation of duties and more than one person controlling the process. However, this doesn’t keep powerful people at the top from controlling the whole process. Therefore, auditors look for more than just testing internal controls. In fact, they actually have many methods of testing the fairness of the financial statements.

And so, what do you think causes a situation like Enron where the audit has completely failed?

Often, it’s just a major breakdown in “Independence.” They go along with the people at the top because of financial or other rewards. Of course, the rewards to the auditor may be totally indirect and subtle–he keeps a favorite client happy and the prestige of the account.It can be that minor.

Also, I’ve noticed more than one outside auditor receiving high level positions with businesses they’ve audited when they decide to go work in industry. In government, we see a revolving door from public to private and we see a cabal of insiders.

When agencies of the government are too powerful, and the decisions are left up to the agencies, the incoming politicians have no chance to gain control. Look at the power of the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover, and the fact that even Presidents were afraid to cross him.

This is the reason that public auditors should maintain independence. As we can all plainly see now we have no basis for trusting our government politicians or agencies of government. Why? Because there is a lack of independence from special interest groups, and no limited terms of office. Note: Learning how to work or game the system through “experience” is not what we are looking for in a politician. We should be looking for politicians that represent the people. In other words, they bring real life experiences with them to the political positions and not the other way around. A “ruling class” of people are without proper experience (no experience only theory) or a “Wall Street” lobbyist perspective. It’s impossible for them to “feel your pain.”

Our government has experienced a massive breakdown of independence and separation of duties. We can pass all the laws we want and if insiders aren’t required to obey the laws what difference does it make?

World View

bodybydesign — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:00:43 +0000

What’s your world view?

Are your strategies new or old?

Are you a possibility thinker?

Read

bodybydesign — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:00:40 +0000

If we want to be informed citizens we have to read–not just watch CNN, MSNBC, and FOX.

It concerns me that a lot of people no longer read non-fiction books and newspapers that force them to think (particularly when it’s about things that impact our everyday life).

Many don’t read and understand the history of the global banking system and how it works. Many don’t even understand how the U.S. Federal Banking System works.

Another example, many people don’t know the history of Afghanistan and land-locked oil and gas in the Caspian Sea Basin. Of course, many countries have oil and gas interest in this area besides Russia and China. Also, the nation of Afghanistan is mostly illiterate (28% literacy in their nation) and many are growing opium to make money (supported by their corrupt government). Do you think that organized criminals, banks, and various world government agencies are not involved in the distribution of that crop? Remember the Iran-Contra affair?

In the early 1980s, the CIA and the ISI (Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency) provided arms to Afghans resisting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the ISI assisted the process of gathering radical Muslims [Taliban forces in Afghanistan] from around the world to fight against the Soviets. “After Moscow’s withdrawal in 1989, the CIA started a buy-back program to recover the Stingers, offering as much as $100,000 each. There were relatively few takers.” Joseph Fitchett

Militarily, The Caspian Sea on the North–Georgia, Turkey, Iraq and Kuwait on the West–Afghanistan, Pakistan, etc. on the East–completely surrounds [boxes in] Iran.

When a politician says: “These particular countries are in our national interest.” Ask: “Why are these countries in our interest?”

“Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan. The pending collapse of the Soviet economic system may have had as much impact on tearing down the Berlin wall as President Regan. Think about it.

Also, just think about how many U.S. companies are foreign-owned because they are becoming easier to buy. I know, I’ve worked for several of these large U.S. companies. One was Amoco bought out by BP. I remember an Amoco employee telling our new British owners in a meeting: “We once fought a war to get out from under your control!” What a laugh. Another was owned by a major politician (billionaire) in a country many Americans would consider an enemy. The mayor of Houston (Bill White) also worked for this company. This is the outcome of what some term “The New World Order” and others, like myself, simply call it the logical outcome of “Globalization” (money and power grabs older than the ancient Roman Empire). This is the “Old World Order” of empire building.

While we may or may not condemn various actions (even some evil actions, like the death of Christ, have good consequences) don’t you think we should at least try to understand the context of the actions taken? After all, we are paying for it with our devalued dollars (indirect tax) when we go to the grocery store, gas station, etc.

Keep informed by reading or listening to videos online too.

The Go-Giver

bodybydesign — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:00:56 +0000

The Go-Giver a Fantastic little book!

I recently bought this little book (quick read) called The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. Sometimes we hear people in the business (Network Marketing) make negative comments about people who write books but don’t have a track record in the business. That’s definitely not the case with these authors.

The story is only 127 pages but does a wonderful job of covering the essence of life and business. How we become valuable and worth something to others, what determines are level of compensation, how we become influential, how we remain true to self (authenticity), and the key to receiving what we are really worth. You are worth a lot. Don’t let others discount you and don’t discount yourself!

I feel there are basically two kinds of people in life or at least a spectrum within these two extremes: “Givers and Takers.” Takers sometimes think they are effective but givers really are effective because that’s how they live life. Life pays them back! This little book will make you want to be in the “giver” category.

Find someone to help out and quit keeping score. No, they don’t owe you one!

“The Go-Giver taps into the secret that the megasuccessful already know: Personal wealth is the by-product of making the world a better place.” Paul Zane Pilzer, bestselling author, The Wellness Revolution, and two-time presidential economic adviser

Penny Wise and Pound Foolish

bodybydesign — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:00:51 +0000

**Work the business geometric ([multiply X *] don’t just [add +1). If we never get past the first level we are a retailer--just adding "one" customer at a time!**

Your Team Duplication

Multiplication of Business Builders (3 legs at 3 levels) equals (39) Business Builders (3 star gold pin level):

Level	Times	Result
1. You find (3)	Addition	(3)
2. They find (3)	*(3)	(9)
3, Who finds (3)	*(3)	(27)

A lot of people taking a little bit of consumable product

Doubling a penny [people investment] each day [compound daily] over a [time] of one month:

Time	Investment	Time	Investment
Day 1	$0.01	Day 16	$327.68
Day 2	$0.02	Day 17	$655.36
Day 3	$0.04	Day 18	$1,310.72
Day 4	$0.08	Day 19	$2,621.44
Day 5	$0.16	Day 20	$5,242.88
Day 6	$0.32	Day 21	$10,485.76
Day 7	$0.64	Day 22	$20,971.52
Day 8	$1.28	Day 23	$41,943.04
Day 9	$2.56	Day 24	$83,886.08
Day 10	$5.12	Day 25	$167,772.16
Day 11	$10.24	Day 26	$335,544.32
Day 12	$20.48	Day 27	$671,088.64
Day 13	$40.96	Day 28	$1,342,177.28
Day 14	$81.92	Day 29	$2,684,354.56
Day 15	$163.84	Day 30	$5,368,709.12
		Day 31	$10,737,418.24

Is your “Time” investment finally worth it?

Not if you quit too soon.

Unchecked Egos

bodybydesign — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:00:21 +0000

Realizing that human beings are fallible (capable of making an error) is a very good thing and helps smooth over relationships.

This statement is particularly true if we have a high formal education or we feel like we are an “authority.” For example, statements like: “I’m a pro and I have the track record to prove it” can be translated: “In the past I’ve done some things.” Our “know it all” statement may have nothing to do with our future performance (only an indicator). We see this ego often in Network Marketing when distributors begin to tell about their “past performance” making them an expert.

Statements I really dislike: “Americans feel or think ….” or “With all due respect….” And questions like: “Don’t you love your country?” These are meaningless “put down” statements.

Obviously, they must disagree with something you just said. In my opinion, having an educated opinion is vastly different from “being highly educated.” We’ve all seen examples of highly educated people sounding really ignorant due to expressing uneducated opinions (particularly outside their area of expertise). Too, we’ve heard formally uneducated people with educated opinions make a lot of sense.