Greg Billings

To be a Master Prospector in network marketing, listening skills are critical.  Making a good impression and establishing rapport are key.

I’m reading the book, “17 Secrets of the Master Prospector”, written by John Kalench.

He says that one quality all Master Prospectors share is an insatiable curiosity about the people they meet.

How do you develop that curiosity if you don’t have it naturally?  It’s a trait you need to develop.

He told the story about a “listening, not talking” study conducted by a psychologist who wanted to prove his “pet theory” on listening.

The psychologist purchased a first class ticket from New York to Los Angeles.

The experiment:  Once on board, he would begin a conversation with the person seated next to him.

The rule for the five hour flight?  He would not say a single thing about himself.  He only would ask questions of his seatmate.

It went like this: the psychologist took his seat, and without introducing himself, he began asking questions.  Question after question, without ever saying anything about himself.

When the plane landed, a team of researchers took the psychologist’s flying companion for an interview.

Two remarkable facts summarized by the researchers?

• The flying companion said the man sitting next to him was absolutely the most interesting person he had ever met in his entire life.
• He didn’t know his name.

Isn’t this a fascinating picture of human nature?  And how people interact with one another?

In network marketing, the list of questions you can ask a potential business partner is endless:

• Where do you live? How long have you lived there? Do you like it? Have you always lived there?
• Where do you work? How long have you been there? Do you like it? What would you do if you weren’t working there?
• Do you have a family? How old are your kids? What do they do? What does your spouse do?
• What do you do for fun? Do you travel? Do you travel enough?

But asking the questions is only part of the process.  Actually listening to the answer is critical.

How would you rank your listening skills?  Does something like this come natural to you?  Or does it make you nervous?

Inc.com passed on some solid advice they received from people who want to become millionaires at a young age. They pulled together 11 tips of advice from people who became millionaires at a young age, as well as people who studied hundreds of self-made millionaires.

They may not have had internet-based businesses in mind, but these tips apply across the board.

I’ve got a ways to go to hit my millionaire status, but a number of these were already on my list.

• Increase your income in increments.   Earning passive income was on the list . . . and is my business model.  How about yours?
• Develop multiple streams of income.  Straight out of Robert Kiyosaki’s book—The Cash Flow Quadrant. “… the more income streams you can create in life, the more secure will your financial house be.”
• “…Every one of them (folks with million dollar fortunes) had the habit of reaching decisions promptly”
• Don’t show off.  Show up.  Save more and spend less.
• Invest in your future.  Every day, I spend time reading and taking in mentor information through videos, books, and blogs.
• Rich people are typically self-employed and determine the size of their own paycheck.  “While the world-class continue starting businesses and building fortunes, average people settle for steady paychecks and miss out on the opportunity to accumulate great wealth.”
• “If you want to make more money, you have to have a clear goal and then a specific plan for how to achieve that goal.”
• Hang out with people you admire. “We become like the people we associate with.”

Whether you are young . . . and have the millionaire goal . . . these are solid habits to follow for success.

Or if you have a few years on you, like me, but you are “still in the game”, this article is an excellent read.

How do you match up with this list? Which habits are you implementing?  Which are you starting?

Click here == >> 11 Habits of Successful Business People Who Became Millionaires by 30

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.

I just finished Timothy Ferriss’s book, The Four Hour Work Week. “Escape 9-5. Live Anywhere And Join the New Rich.”

Ok, that’s a bit far out for me. Everybody’s personal circumstance is different, so what he was able to do with his life . . . running business while traveling the world for months on end . . . would not have fit for me. And maybe not for you.

Something to do with a wife, three kids and a dog . . .

But the book is packed with helpful suggestions, tips, and thoughts.

One has to do with time management and productivity.

“Are you being productive or just active,” he asked.

Are you inventing things to avoid the important?

If you are an entrepreneur, you probably have run into this wall.

He suggests 1) defining a short to-do list and 2) defining a “not-to-do” list.

Here’s the exercise he takes the reader through to zero in on time management:

First, he asks the reader to think about their to do list through a number of permeations of:

“If you had a heart attack and had to work two hours a day, what would you do?”

Then he asks two questions that should resonate with anybody trying to assess their productivity:

• What are the top-three activities that you use to fill time to feel as though you have been productive?
• Ask yourself, “If this is the only thing I accomplish today, will I be satisfied with my day.”

Hope you can apply these to your daily work schedule. . . and increase your productivity!

“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!

If you don’t follow Seth Godin, author, writer, and speaker, you might want to.

His blog posts most often are short and to the point,

The title of his last one caught my attention . . .

The Toddler Strategy

It’s hardly productive to ruin your day and your work trying to teach these folks [your critics who bring you down] a lesson.

Better, I think, to treat them like a toddler. Buy them a lollipop, smile and walk away.

The motto I follow as I build my business is similar to what he wrote.

I only work with people who I enjoy being with and who share a common goal.

Otherwise, here’s a lollipop!

Click through to read what he wrote (short read).

Who’s that?

Avoid pessimistic people.

That was the conclusion of a researcher who studied the habits of wealthy people over a five year period.

“Self-made millionaires are very particular about who they associate with,” Thomas C. Corley writes in his book, “Change Your Habits, Change Your Life.”

“You are only as successful as those you frequently associate with. The rich are always on the lookout for individuals who are goal-oriented, optimistic, enthusiastic, and who have an overall positive mental outlook.”

This is a lesson I’ve tried to take to my kids . . . as they decide who they are going to pal around with.

And a lesson I’ve learned myself the hard way over the years.

Downer people have a way of bring you down.

And, as you put together an aggressive strategy to move your business forward . . . to achieve your goals . . . the last thing you need is an anchor holding you back.

“Long-term success is only possible when you have a positive mental outlook,” Corley states.

So, as you develop your strategy for your life . . . and your business, you might want to take this in.

Click here for the Business Insider article on the habits of wealthy people.

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 a website . . . and are trying to build your own identity . . . You, Inc. . . .

You will come up on writing roadblocks.

You want to provide quality to your subscribers . . . . but the well seems dry.

You stare at the screen.

I recently came across an article written by Angie Dixon.  Her byline says she “helps creative people be more of who they are.”

She covers some “big picture” concepts like “Keeping Your Brain Full” and “Create More Down Time”.

But she gets in the weeds with nuts and bolts writing suggestions.

It’s a short read.

Take a few minutes . . . and see what you can take from this for your own writing projects.

Click here.

Quick post of information today!  Many things to get to on my To Do list!  And that’s what I’m writing about.

I have been looking for a solution to the scraps of paper on my desk and my scattered “To Do List’.

Sound familiar?

I used TaskWise for some time, but the company disintegrated before my eyes.  The site is still up (and they may still be charging).  But it doesn’t work and the company doesn’t respond for requests for assistance.  Buyer Beware!

Next, I turned to downloading the Day Timer app on iTunes.  The idea was to sync up my Outlook Tasks with my iPhone.  It looked like it might work.   And the first level, customer support was pretty good and responsive through email.

However, Day Timers’ second level support drops off pretty significantly.  Never did hear back from Level Two, after 2-3 emails.  Again, buyer beware.

Then I tried some “work arounds”.  But ultimately, I didn’t think that Outlook Tasks had the flexibility I wanted.

Then I stumbled on Wunderlist.  I strongly encourage you to check it out.

Desktop based, with apps for most smart phones.

It allows seamless syncing back and forth between your smart phone and your desk top.

Wunderlist provides some pretty helpful sorting features, so you can pull out your priority “To Dos”.

And it allows you to set up multiple lists.  I have one for Personal, and others for the various businesses/projects I’m running.

There are some features that would be nice.  Like, the window is too big on the computer screen–it would be nice to be able to resize it much smaller than the program allows.

It does most everything I need it to do.  And the price is right–free!

Pick it up . . . and get yourself organized!