Greg Billings

First, a definition of Plan B . . . and then, the “The Fourth Quarter”.

Plan B is the back-up or alternative plan you have in place in case what you’re doing now doesn’t pan out.

You know, the job you hate . . . or the “pink slip” discussion with your boss .  The unexpected medical situation . . . or even planning on your retirement years . . .

Before I left the professional world for my growing internet marketing business, I counseled many college students on their careers.

As the senior manager for two United States Senators and a U.S. Senate Committee, many college interns came through our doors.  They were studying medicine, politics, law.  They dreamed of their professional careers . . .

Maybe in a law office, working in Congress, like me, or working on public policy for their favorite cause.  They all came to ask, “How did you get to where you are?”

I offered them some wisdom of age, in addition to career counseling, . . .  Be thinking of what life will be like in 20 years, as you plan your life today.

Will they like their job? And what if they don’t?  Do they have a Plan B to implement? What is that alternative plan?

I urged them not to let things get in the way . . . thinking they had time to kick their Plan B into place . . . tomorrow . . .

Because, before they know it, things like marriage, kids, a mortgage, car payments.  You know,  the things of life that get in the way.

Fast forward to ME. Last year I turned 60 . . .  As my best friend, a year older, said, “we’re in the fourth quarter, buddy!”

I look back and I see some unfinished business.  You see, I violated my own rule . . .

Kids, marriage, the job got in the way of building out my own Plan B to the level that I would want today.

Well, no more . . . I’m singularly focused on my Plan B.   Which now has become my Plan A!

My wife and I have items on our bucket list that have been undone.   Travel . . . and we mean significant travel . . . not just “up the road” to a Holiday Inn Express . . .

And I’ve long dreamed of a villa in the Caribbean, our favorite vacation spot.  A work spot I can enjoy now (the beauty of an internet business . . . a good internet connection is all you need!) . . .   And an asset that can be part of our family long into the future.

So there you have it. Plan B and the Fourth Quarter.

I don’t know which quarter of the ball game you find yourself in . . .

But, take it from me, it’s never too late for that Plan B.

What to know what I’m doing?   You can reach me here.

“If you’re short on time, you need network marketing more than anybody else.  Having more time isn’t the solution to most people’s problems.  Time management is.”

These comments came from a short video by Ray Higdon, an industry leader and coach.

How true.

Here’s another comment in his article that jumped out:

“I remember one night my wife was doing a home meeting and after her presentation she asked a well dressed guy what he liked about the presentation. He replied “I work 70 hours a week” of which Jess replied, without hesitation, “Ewww, how long do you have do that?”

You see, some people use the fact that they are busy as an excuse from doing network marketing or from taking on another project that could potentially change their lives. IF you are super busy right now, do you have a plan that can possibly help you NOT have to be so busy? If not, that is a scary thought.“

Seventy hours a week?  Is this you?

Click here for Ray’s short training video on the topic . . . Time Management for Busy People!

What the Wealthy Buy!

Ever wondered what the wealthy buy on pay day?

Or maybe you already know? 🙂

If you’re in the market for a home business or a new income stream, you might be interested in a video that helped me when I was exploring the home business landscape.

==>CLICK HERE<==

For me, this was the one, in-depth video that saved me from a lot of mistakes – from choosing the wrong business, for instance – and it overcame the misconceptions about the industry.

It’s a NO HYPE look at the business with real-world practical tips and strategies even Fortune 200 executives are eager to learn.

You might recognize the presenter from his Larry King interview, or through some financial print media.

He’s the “real deal”, a home business multi-millionaire who’s done it and teaches others how to do what he did.

It’s definitely worth your time if you’re serious about new revenue streams.

Click over there now and watch it while it’s fresh in your mind.

Tax advantages are one of the biggest positives of having your own home-based business.

As an employee, you could well be overpaying your taxes.

You can keep more of what you earn as a home-based business owner simply by following some simple steps and guidelines.

I signed up for a free webinar sponsored by Networking Times to hear former IRS Trainer, CPA, tax attorney, and Best Selling Author Sandy Botkin explain how you can give yourself that raise by keeping more of what you earn!

You will learn:

• How to get your gas for free
• How to legally deduct your kids video games and ballet lessons
• How to write off more of your meals and entertainment
• How claiming a home office can turbocharge your retirement
• How technology has made it easy to become a tax savvy business owner

I have followed Sandy for years. Using the information he provides in his products, I structured a trip to the Caribbean, conducting business and deducting part of my expenses!

The tips were easy to follow.  A productive business trip . . . and sand under my feet, looking at the Caribbean water!

Learn how to pay the least amount of taxes possible next year by doing a few simple things today.

Sandy has been training small business owners on tax strategies for over 30 years.

It’s well worth your time to sit in on this webinar!

Click here to register to learn how you can keep more of what your earn with your own home-based business!

You might be in the business of . . . looking for a business.

Or you might be in a business . . . and it’s time to re-evaluate.

Either way, there are important questions you need to ask yourself.

With a recent TV mini-series on the air centered on the Bernie Madoff disaster, the phrase “Ponzi Scheme” is tossed around.

Or “pyramid scheme” . . .

Ever wondered the questions you can ask to determine whether the business is legit . . . or a scam?

Networking Times Today identified “8 Differences that Anybody Can Understand” to help you evaluate whether the business opportunity you are considering is legit . . . or a scam

Start with the first: Legitimate companies deliver quality products or services. If the product or service doesn’t pass the smell test, that should be your first clue.

Or the second: Network marketers don’t earn commissions through recruitment. Legitimate companies pay based on product/service sales. Not recruiting.

If you are seriously evaluating a business, you will do well to check out these 8 questions you can filter any business opportunity through.

Click here for the Networking Times Today story: Network Marketing Legit or Scam? 8 Differences Anyone Can Understand

PS  Be sure to check the YouTube cartoon at the beginning!

An article in Fast Company.com on female entrepreneurs hit some very important points and suggestions from woman in business.

For a guy, it’s always good to get the perspective of others, in this case, women entrepreneurs!

Some excellent advice tips:

• “There is no one who owns a company who knows all the answers or has all the skills. The best advice I could ever give anyone is to never be afraid to ask other people for their help or advice.” (Michelle Garcia, Owner of Heirloom Catering; Denver, CO )
• “Forge genuine connections with people inside and outside your industry.” (Amanda Luu, Co-owner of Studio Mondine)
•  “It’s much easier to tackle new tasks once you’ve already got things going.”  (Bridie Picot, CEO of Thing Industries Brooklyn, NY)
• “Define your business and your brand and commit to it—everything you do should be consistent with your business’s identity.” (Carrie Spindler, Owner of Goodiebox Bake Shop; Cliffside Park, NJ)
• Christine Hebbring & Jennifer Murray, co-founders of Painted Fox Treasures Allenton, WI

“Keep a healthy balance. Starting a new business can consume you to a level that’s not healthy—keep a balance so that you’re still in touch with family and friends.” (Christine Hebbring)

“Don’t let what you don’t know scare you. There’s so much that we have taught ourselves. And there’s so much that you can learn if you have the passion to learn it.” (Jennifer Murray)

All of these are good tips . . . but particularly the last.

Don’t fall into “paralysis by analysis”.

With internet marketing/network marketing, just get the system . . . and do it!

Click here for FastCompany.com’s article: 6 Female Entrepreneurs Share Their Best Business Advice

If you have been involved with internet marketing for any amount of time . . . or are new . . . you have heard the advice “Build Your List”.

First, why?

A posting at Blogger Sidekick laid out the stats on email:

Of people that use the internet, 85% of them use email as a medium for communication. In contrast, all of the social media networks combined cover only 62% of internet users. So even if you mastered every single social network you wouldn’t have the market coverage that email gives you, and that audience would be spread across a number of platforms that you don’t own.

Did you get that last comment . . . “platforms that you don’t own.”

That is crucial to understand your business. You Inc.

Building your list, and sharing value to that list, is your asset.  For your business.

Using effective tools, like capture pages and autoresponders, you own that asset.

But how?

The steps are pretty straightforward, as this article points out:

• Setup a site for email capture
• Create an Offer of Value
• Attract People to that Offer

There is a ton of information in this post. If you are beginning, you do not need to worry about all of these “bells and whistles.”

One person commented on this article, saying this is a marketing strategy that often is overlooked as we “obsess about social [media]”.

Couldn’t agree more!

Click here for Blogger Sidekick’s  “List Building—Get More Subscribers Than You Can Handle”.

I welcome your thoughts!

Multiple streams of income in your home-based business?

Or not?

A question that is asked . . . and debated within the home-based business community.

Industry Leader Diane Hochman recently offered her thoughts on multiple streams of income.

She makes an interesting comparison between a home-based business . . . and a brick and mortar like Target, Walmart, etc.

She suggests 1) thinking about your market and 2) thinking about the products for that market.

Click here for Diane’s thoughts on multiple streams of income . . . and what comes after you analyze your target market.

I’m a big fan of Robert Kiyosaki.

You probably know he’s the best selling author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

I like his book Cash Flow Quadrant the best.

Click here to see a previous post on his cash flow concept.

Whether you are a Robert Kiyosaki follower . . .

Or you are checking him out for the first time, you will want to watch this interview that Oprah did with Kiyosaki.

It’s a good 15 minute watch.

Then get the book, Cash Flow Quadrant!

Click here for the Oprah Interview with Robert Kiyosaki.

A while back, I shared Robert Kyosaki’s thoughts on the Cash Flow Quadrant and passive income.

You can see those living with passive income are 5  percent of the population  . . .

Yet, this is 95 percent of the nation’s wealth.

Want to understand passive income a bit better.

I recently watched a video by Pat Flynn.   He runs the website Smart Passive Income.com.

In under seven minutes, he shows you a passive income model.

All of this is directly related to building your You, Inc..  It’s well worth the 7 minutes!