There are a number of key reasons why individuals and businesses consider going offshore for asset protection purposes.
The asset protection advantages the offshore world offers extend from protecting a business from excessive taxation to opening doors to enable wealth and asset enrichment via the utilisation of offshore investment opportunities.
Until relatively recently creating and running a business offshore was something done only by the super wealthy or by large corporations, but today establishing an offshore company couldn’t be easier and more and more people are beginning to see personal advantages in operating their business in this way.
Not only are there many cost effective offshore company solutions available nowadays but it is possible to purchase a fully functioning and legal off the shelf company in countries with low to no taxation and unrestrictive reporting requirements and begin your business trading the same day!
The result of making the offshore world far more accessible is that many more average people are finding that they can run their businesses legally from an offshore location and in so doing protect and benefit themselves and their assets.
Ideally the primary asset protection advantages of running a business from an international position result in increased profits and security and the advantages include: -
Tax Reduction
Tax eats away at assets and therefore tax reduction is the number one advantage people seek to gain by going offshore.
An offshore company or trust arrangement when properly structured may significantly reduce the levels of an individual’s or business’ tax liability and thus protect underlying assets from being eaten away through excessive and restrictive taxation.
Straight Asset Protection
Placing company or personal assets out of the reach of an opponent or prospective creditor is straight asset protection. By making assets unattractive or legally unobtainable by third parties you achieve straight asset protection.
Because of the nature of society today where litigation is par for the course, many more business professionals are at greater risk of legal action being taken against them, and many more individuals face losing out in acrimonious divorce battles - therefore protecting one’s assets offshore can be a very effective way to ensure long term asset security.
Offshore Investment Opportunities
There are far more potentially high returning investment opportunities available offshore than domestically. Also, as many of the world’s stocks are traded outside your country of residence there could be a significant advantage to trading offshore.
Greater Privacy
Developed countries are increasing the levels of surveillance we are all placed under; as a result many more people grow concerned about their growing lack of personal privacy. By moving business activities and assets offshore this can directly assist with increasing personal privacy and the confidentiality of business and financial transactions.
Of course, it goes without saying that the privacy available will not protect people who are engaged in serious criminal activity.
Estate or Inheritance Tax Planning
We are all at risk of loosing a considerable amount of our estate in income and excise taxes when we die. With carefully structured and well managed offshore solutions such as trusts it is possible for some people to reduce their estate’s liabilities and therefore pass the estate’s assets to their heirs with minimum tax and liability problems.
These are just the five main reasons people seek to exploit the world of offshore opportunities for asset protection purposes; there are many more potential advantages to going offshore but they all depend on an individual’s personal situation and requirements. It is essential to seek professional advice before considering going offshore and this article does not constitute advice in that sense.
Rhiannon Williamson is the publisher of ShelterOffshore.com - the online resource for offshore, expatriate and international investors.
For personalized investment and offshore advice, readers of Shelter Offshore benefit from the site’s strategic alliance with deVere and Partners, the world’s largest offshore financial advisory. Visit the deVere and Partners offshore advice service page to find out more.
Precor Elliptical trainers are given a great rating for consistent quality and durability. Based on numerous studies the following model numbers have been ranked highest between the Precor brand:
Precor EFX 556
Precor EFX 5.33
Precor EFX 5.21i
Precor EFX 546
Precor EFX5.21si
The next most common question is how do I know which one of these elliptical trainers are right for me?
There are a few things you have to take into consideration before making your decision. How frequently are you going to use it, will more than one person in your household use it and what your budget allows.
The elliptical trainers listed about are all in the $3,000 to $5,000 range. While this is somewhat expensive, the old term “you get what you pay for” still applies.
Customers who have reviewed the Precor Elliptical trainer line have consistently stated the following when asked what they liked about the Precor Elliptical Trainers:
1) Easy to use
2) Not painful on the joints of the leg(knee, ankle etc…)
3) Very quiet to operate
4) Sturdy and steady
Ease of use is a major factor for someone that is fairly new to using ellipticals. Nothing is worse than getting your new elliptical machine and having to spend hours learning how to work it properly.
A common complaint of cheaper elliptical machines are how unorthodox the motion feels which leads to leg and back pain with prolonged use. This has not been reported from various users of the Precor models.
Being quiet to operate is also a great benefit as most individuals purchasing one of these machines will do so for workouts at home. Having a noisy machine will annoy fellow family members causing them to dislike your exercise routine and making it harder for you to stick with your exercise plan.
For more FREE information about elliptical trainers click here -> Elliptical Trainer Reviews
http://www.onlyellipticalreviews.com
Less than three short months ago, a new 1Step System was born with a very real potential for generating a great deal of income in a short time. Co -founders Rod Stinson and Chris Koehl have brought this opportunity to people all over the world. Many are joining now because the company is still in its infancy, which from a marketing standpoint is surely the best time to get on board.
What makes this business opportunity so attractive is that it is so easy. It is appropriately called the 1 Step System. It stands to reason, the more an individual puts in to their business, the more he or she will get out of it, however, your early efforts in the beginning stages can easily provide at least some income while you lay back and observe.
Everyone knows, there is no such thing as a free lunch, however, I haven’t seen another business opportunity where start-up costs can so easily be recouped in such a short time and profit starts rolling in. From those who have no experience, to the most seasoned marketer, its a great opportunity to see a steady cash flow in a relatively short time. It’s also a great way to earn extra income at home. Those with years of Internet marketing experience are calling it a brilliant concept designed for building wealth for anyone who is savvy enough to see its earning potential.
Our experience has revealed that to many entrepreneurs out to earn extra money from home, have fallen victim to deceptive and greedy get rich quick scams that guarantee your success. This business sets itself far apart from those, and what is so refreshing about the 1 Step System is there is no selling, no phone calls, no explaining, no answering questions and no closing. Most of the work is done for you. It’s a fact, co-founders Rod Stinson and Chris Koehl have taken the ‘Net by storm. It’s nice knowing that with this business, anyone, regardless of their experience or background, has the same chance for financial independence.
For more information visit:
http://www.1stepsystem-premier.com
and, for your FREE EBOOK detailing the fastest and easiest way to the top of the search engines, visit:
http://www.ride-to-the-top.com
PJ Riley has given away many a FREE E-BOOK detailing the simplicity of making your way to the top of the search engines. See www.ride-to-the-top.com
He has been reporting on new business opportunities for many years. He’s not afraid to speak what’s on his mind. He will be the first to tell you if it’s a golden opportunity, but has had numerous occasion to report a scam in the making.
Bottled water is now one of the largest industries in the world. Studies indicated that over half of all Americans drink bottled water, spending a lot more on the bottled water than for the tap water due to the misconception that bottled water is safer or healthier than tap water.
Bottled water is now the most profitable business, the fastest growing multi billion dollar segment of the entire beverage industry. However, studies show that most of these bottled water also comes from municipal sources and is treated before it is bottled.
Bottled water may undergo several forms of treatment. The most popular of these treatments is the distillation, where the water is turned into a vapor so that minerals too heavy to vaporize are left behind before the vapors are condensed into water again. Reverse osmosis, where the water is forced through membranes to remove minerals and absolute 1 micron filtration, where the water is sent through filters to remove particles that are sized more than a micron are also popularly used treatments. The treatment that almost all the bottled companies use is ozonization, wherein the ozone gas is sent through the water for disinfestations.
Bottled water, even though as much as 240 to 10,000 times more expensive than the tap water, is still very popular because it is perceived to be comparatively safer and of higher quality than tap water. Expensive imported water sold in smaller bottles is even more expensive. However, scares about contaminated municipal water have even many low-income families opting for bottled water. Also, many people drink bottled water as a healthy alternative beverage to soft drinks and alcohol.
The bottled water industry boosts sales by frequent advertising the fact that bottled water is pure or entirely free of contaminants. Also, bottled water does not contain chlorine or other harmful chemicals. However, this is only in the case when the bottled water has been really taken from a well or a spring and not just advertised that it is.
More and more people are choosing bottled water as it is marketed and viewed as a light, clear, caffeine-free, salt-free, and sweetener-free healthy alternative to soft drinks. Others prefer it mostly out of concern about the quality of the tap water. Either way, the main reason for the explosion in bottled water sales is public perception, fueled by heavy industry advertising.
Bottled Water provides detailed information about bottled water, bottled water brands, and more. Bottled Water is affiliated with Traditional Mediterranean Diet.
Why? Because they have access to world class public relations
no matter how small they are.
That’s one way of saying, take care of your key target audiences,
Mr/Ms small business owner, and they’ll take care of you.
What’s that based on? Why the fundamental premise of public
relations, of course.
“We know that people act on their own perception of the
facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors
about which something can be done. So, when we create,
change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading
and moving-to-desired-action those people whose behaviors
affect the organization, the public relations mission is
accomplished.”
And here’s the first step towards putting that “magic” to
work for your small business. Look closely at those outside
audiences whose behaviors actually help or hinder your
particular business. Decide which is your KEY target
audience and concentrate on it for starters.
Next, mix in with members of that audience - we call it a
“public” - ask questions and clearly monitor the answers.
Anybody have a problem with your business? Notice any
inaccurate perceptions or mistaken beliefs about your
products or services? Are there misconceptions about your
business involving pricing or quality? Do you see any kind
of problems brewing down the line?
The answers to these questions should be grouped, then
prioritized so that you apply limited resources to the most
threatening problem areas.
The answers will lead to setting a clarifying public relations
goal. Such as restoring understanding and acceptance by
correcting that inaccurate perception; solving that frequently
mentioned pricing glitch; or clearing up that misconception
about service quality.
Now you need a strategy to help you reach that public relations
goal.
As luck would have it, in public relations we choose from just
three basic strategies: create perception (opinion) where none
may exist; change existing perception; or reinforce it.
So, you have gathered input from your key target audience,
and you’ve established a public relations goal and an enabling
strategy.
But there’s still work to do. You need a persuasive message to
move opinion in your direction, but not just any message.
This one must aim squarely at setting down the truth about the misconception, or inaccuracy, or even an unfortunate rumor.
The message must be crystal-clear, to the point, and believable.
After all, there’s a lot riding on it.
Of course, if you stopped right here, you’d never reach your
public relations goal because no one would have seen or heard
your message.
You need “beasts of burden,” otherwise known as communications
tactics, to carry that superb message of yours to the right eyeballs
and ears.
And what a choice of communications tactics you have! Face-
to-face meetings, emailings, feature article interviews, facility
tours, press releases, speeches, open houses, consumer briefings,
brochures, letters-to-the-editor and on and on.
But, at some point, you’ll be curious as to whether you’re
making progress towards your public relations goal.
And that means tracking print and broadcast media coverage,
but especially interacting once again with members of your
key target audience. Only this time, you’ll be looking for
“changes of heart” with regard to the particular misconception,
rumor or inaccuracy targeted by your public relations goal.
As you again speak with audience members, do you notice
movement in your direction? Are there signs that your message
and communications tactics have had a positive effect on people’s
understanding of the issue in question?
Yes? Your public relations effort looks like a success!
No? Back to the drawing board to ratchet up increased, and
possibly redirected communications tactics, AND a reappraisal
of the message itself. Could it be more pointed, more aggressive,
clearer? Try it out on colleagues and watch their reactions.
Sounds like a lot of work?
Sure. But when survival could become an issue, isn’t it worth it?
Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your
ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would
be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net.
Robert A. Kelly © 2005.
Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks to business, non-profit and
association managers about using the fundamental premise of public
relations to achieve their operating objectives. He has been DPR,
Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR,
Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. He holds a bachelor of science degree from Columbia University, major in public relations.
Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com; bobkelly@TNI.net
Many of those who are mechanics may wish to go into the Mobile Oil Change Business because the entry costs are low and because that is their area of expertise and a much needed service. But if they do this, will they make money? That is the question in the mind of every wouldbe entrepreneur now isn’t it? So, then is a mobile oil change business profitable?
As far as profit margins. I do not believe it is the best business model. Especially considering travel time, shortage of technicians [meaning higher salaries to insure no turnover], issues with specific brands of filters and oil [meaning you have to have two-three brands to keep fleet customers happy], and over regulation causing additional unforeseen costs.
So as far as your question I am somewhat under whelmed with the profit margins compared to other businesses I have owned. If you do all the work yourself the labor issue is taken out of the equation but there are still the other issues. It certainly could be profitable with a strong customer base of fleet accounts within close proximity, as fleet vehicles are always lined up in a row. But making money in the mobile oil change business is not so easy as it sounds. Consider all this in 2006.
“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Public Livelihood & Image
Individuals of the British Royal Family engage in various civic appointments every month, right away through England as properly recorded in the Court Circular, to credit, encourage & to find out about the successes or activities of people establishments & firms in a variety of sections of life. As representatives of the sovereign, they recurrently unite with the public in honouring recorded events, festivals, celebratory and dreadful occurrences, and often also supports or partakes in numerous generous, intellectual and public activities.
Their excursions overseas on behalf of the United Kingdom (called State Visits when the Queen publicly meets with other government bodies) brings public attention to kind links within and between the Commonwealth and other nations, to British freight and trade, and to Britain as a historical, vacation, & day-tripper destination. Their existing tasks and customary jobs forms the peak of a current “royal court,” and supply a uniquely British & historical sight to royal services (For example, Trooping the Colour) & outlook to public events (e.g. State Parties, Ascot).
Throughout their lives they draw a massive amount of media coverage in the way of pictorial, newspaper & TV commentary on their daily activities, family contact, rites of passage, qualities, fashion, actions, & public duties. Enjoy England has useful information about the English Royal family
Royal Payment
Funds that support the British Queen in the function of her roles as the ruler of state of the U.K. comes from the Civil List. This is a return of a minute piece of the income from the Crown Lands that are given up by the Queen to parliament at the creation of each reign; all Crown Land being supervised by The Crown Estates, an establishment that is answerable to parliament. In the two thousand and three-four monetary year, the total amount given was one hundred and seventy six million pounds, where the Head of State’s spending totalled thirty six million pounds. The Queen’s expenditure doesn’t however contain the charge of security.
We are constantly bombarbed by “cutting-edge” research that often causes dietary confusion. Several years ago, eggs were “bad”, but now they’re “good”; diet soda was a great way to lose weight, but now is correlated with obesity; chicken was considered a lean protein source, but now might be laced with unhealthy hormones. Often it’s enough to make your head spin. In this article, I’d like to dispel 7 nutritional myths that may help clear some confusion and put you one step closer to achieving perfection in your weight loss or fitness routine.
Myth #1: Fat-free yogurt is a great tool in a weight loss diet.
Much of the yogurt at the grocery store is basically a sugar smoothie. Key lime
pie, kiwi-raspberry, strawberry-banana - you name the flavor or the fruit, and
usually it means that heavy doses of sugar were added to generate that particular
flavor. Often, the actual “fruit-at-the-bottom” is a low-quality fruit that was too
damaged or over-ripe to sell for raw produce. Your body’s reaction is a hormonal
response that induces fat storage and an increased appetite! Instead, use plain, no-
sugar added, fat-free yogurt, and add your own fresh fruits, berries, or nuts. Never
feel pressured to finish the whole container - that’s what the lid is for! Often, a
small container of this healthy yogurt can extend to 2 or 3 separate snacks.
Myth #2: Cholesterol in eggs is bad for your body.
Cholesterol is an essential component of our cells, as well as a crucial element
of the anti-inflammatory response, which we know is high in the presence of stress,
alcohol, injury, and even exercise. Natural sources of cholesterol actually
*contribute* to your body’s overall health! A good egg contains enough of a
compound called lecithin to help breakdown most of the cholesterol present in the
egg itself. Unfortunately, an egg is often accompanied by a huge slice of frying
butter, a couple strips of bacon or sausage, or even an evil breakfast pastry. Instead,
try this for breakfast - fry an egg in just a few drops of olive oil, and eat over a bowl
of oatmeal - you’ll elevate levels of good cholesterol, increase fiber intake, and start
the day with a great surge of protein. And if you’re on a lower fat percentage diet,
ditch the yolk, and eat the egg white only.
Myth #3: Saturated fat is the primary contributor to heart disease.
Actually, saturated fat in the form of animal meat was around long before the
surge of heart disease in modern man. During the time that heart disease has
become prevalent in America, consumption of saturated fat from animal sources
actually decreased, while consumption of trans-fatty acids and hydrogenated fats in
the form of margarine, shortening, and refined oils increased! This pattern,
accompanied by a sharp rise in sugar intake and a gradual decrease in exercise
levels, is the real culprit for the modern day heart disease epidemic.
Myth #4: Drinking diet soda and using artificial sweeteners helps to control weight.
Artificial sweeteners still stimulate your digestive system receptors, causing the
brain to go into “eating mode”. However, with no food present, the body is not
satisfied and the appetite powerfully craves real calories. Not only do artificial
sweeteners actually *increase* your appetite in this manner after consumption, but
they often are accompanied by many of the acids and chemicals in soda that can
cause intestinal distress, and even brain and nervous system damage. Instead of
using artificial sweeteners or consuming diet compounds, try using honey
(preferably natural), herb sweeteners, fruit, or natural, raw sugar to sweeten your
food. But regardless of what you choose for sweetener, remember that the hormonal
response to any sweet compound switches your body into fat storage, appetite-
increasing mode, so everything in moderation!
Myth #5: You should never eat before bed.
Some individuals rapidly burn carbohydrates, and if they are following the
“don’t-eat-2-hours-before-bed” rule, they often become hypoglycemic during the
night, which can disrupt sleep patterns, growth hormones, and the immune system,
causing them to wake up grumpy, hungry, starved, and in maximum fat-storage
mode! Test yourself - if you don’t eat 2 hours before bed, do you lie awake hungry
at night, or tossing and turning as your appetite plows full speed ahead? Are you
ravenous upon waking? If so, try a light meal before bed that mixes protein and fat.
This will slow carbohydrate metabolism and leave you satisfied for a longer period
of time. I recommend a small handful of almonds, walnuts, or sunflower seeds, or if
you’re allergic to nuts, try a few avocado slices, olives, or lean turkey breast or
chicken.
Remember, everyone has a different body, and there are very few “rules” that are
directly applicable to the entire population. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your
diet to find out what is best for your particular system. If you find that you need
more direction, a personal trainer can perform a complete dietary analysis, and
provide you with tips and tricks that are more specific to your body type and eating
habits. All you have to do is keep track of exactly what you eat, when you eat, and
how much you eat for 5-7 days. Pacific Elite Fitness, an online personal training
system, provides clients with useful dietary logs to make this an easy process. You
can e-mail me for more information at elite@pacificfit.net.
Personal trainer and fitness coach Ben Greenfield runs the online training website
Pacific Elite Fitness, and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sport Science and
Exercise Physiology, as well as certifications from the National Strength and
Conditioning Association as a Personal Trainer and Strength and Conditioning
Coach (NSCA-CPT & CSCS). For over 6 years, Ben has coached and trained
professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes, and helped hundreds of
individuals achieve their personal fitness goals. For more information on online
personal training and fitness, contact Ben at elite@pacificfit.net or visit
http://www.pacificfit.net
Net bingo has become ever more accepted in the English speaking countries. Since smoking having been banned freshly in public places, lots of conventional bingo halls were forced out of business: this as expected produced lots of establishments selling cyberspace bingo as an alternative.
Public icons’ promotion as reported from J. and S. Osbourne and plenty of others have been of help in advancing the public profile of internet bingo: comprising practically three and a half million people at present having a recurrent game on their computers.
In our times, we’ll find very many cyberspace bingo web pages, all of which recommending their punters cash bonanzas and other limited rewards such as the latest cars, theatre tickets and luxury holidays.
What’s marvelous about cyberspace bingo is that anyone can try it round the clock if there’s an access to some internet connection. Games kicking off continuously you can make arrangements to fit bingo with your regular everyday life.
You would have assume that the group side of bingo fun would suffer owing to the decline of the conventional bingo halls - though British and other bingo afficionados are proving all skeptical voices wrong. A progressively expanding number are registering for the chat rooms made available by pecks of cyberspace bingo establishments.
Here, everyone can make new friends, gain access to highly attractive competitions and close ranks with other bingo groups.
More to the point, a good many studies have substantiated claims that one is dramatically more likely to gather megabucks when playing bingo than with alternative forms of risking a bet such as National Lotteries and sports betting.
Should you become somewhat bored with bingo, an incredibly large number of cyberspace bingo web pages furnish a huge number of other diversions. These can be anything from numbers and slots games right through to caption tourneys and examinations.
Confronted with so many alternatives it may be somewhat hard to arrive at a decision which bingo establishment you’ll be the most comfortable with. Furthermore, it pays out to have a bash at some research and learn who is proposing to the greatest promos. Numerous cyberspace bingo web pages will authorize first time players to try a certain number of free online bingo games or match players’ cash deposits 1:1.
If your supporters have registered with a given cyberspace bingo webpage, you may want to consider joining them because the chatting and networking side may considerably add to the recreation!
So, I decided to go to Yet Another Ground Floor Once-in-a-Lifetime Make Money Fast Pyramid Scheme.
As I walked into the auditorium, I took note of several things.
First, the greeters outnumbered the guests two to one, and they appeared to be swarming, hovering and buzzing around the hapless visitors.
Second, a befuddled young man was fiddling with the audio-visual equipment. These were not good signs. Some old paintings sat on easels placed around the perimeter of the room.
I tried to sit near the back, the better to make my escape, if need be. From experience, I knew that the initiated had been warned sternly to not look to the rear when they heard the door opening, since that caused a lemming-like head swiveling reaction amongst the otherwise captivated guests, leaving the presenter to talk to napes, ducktails and bald spots.
A greasy looking greeter swooped down on my deaf side.
“Mumble, mumble. Blabber, blah de blah?”
Startled, I turned toward him and agreed that that would be best.
This apparently delighted him, for he took my arm and propelled me toward the front, where another grinning greeter majestically gestured toward an empty chair.
The mumbler, still to my left, made a few more happy noises, to which I nodded with polite enthusiasm. After patting me on my shoulder (as if to say, “you poor lamb!”), he finally left to herd another guest to a strategic spot near the front.
Suddenly, a piercing feedback whistle cut through the chatter. The AV guy quickly turned a knob, pulled a plug and smacked the offending microphone while simultaneously managing to raise his arms in supplication to the few of us who glowered at him. (That hurt, dammit!)
An extremely tall, pretty and well-dressed lady stood up and began clapping.
On cue, fifty-two greeters began clapping appreciatively, as if they had just witnessed the police hauling away a particularly boisterous diner.
I noticed that one greeter nudged a guest (”clap, fool!”) and that made me clap, too. Herding instinct, I guessed.
Boy, if only I had known.
“Good EEEEVENING!” She paced toward the right of the auditorium.
The congregation - for that’s what we were, really - responded, “Good Evening!”
“Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Did you run out of CHECK before you ran out of WEEK?”
“Yes!” (Whoa, I thought. If they all said yes …)
“Have you tried the REST, still looking for the BEST?”
“Yess!” (Okay, that was rhetorical, right?)
“It is my HONOR and PRIVILEGE to introduce tonight’s speaker, a man who has WALKED the WALK, has a HEART of GOLD and KNOWS how to MAKE MONEY!”
Enthusiastic clapping, designed to raise the anxiety level of the visitors, reverberated through the auditorium.
“Without further ado, a man who needs no introduction, ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Jim-Bob Throckswattle!”
Thunderous applause ensued, as a nondescript man with silver hair strode toward the lady and embraced her.
When the congregation settled down, Mr. Throckswattle thanked the emcee, told us to call him Jim-Bob, for obvious reasons, and nodded toward the AV guy.
At this point, the lights came down, the PowerPoint presentation came up and Jim-Bob began to explain how we could all quit our jobs in six months.
Without warning, the projector showed the Windows XP Desktop, where we were treated to a dozen icons, some of them recognizable. AOL. Microsoft Works. An eMachine Fixlet message flashing in the system tray?
Jim-Bob put on his game face, took out his index cards and wiped his brow. Then he reached into his pocket, whipped out his handkerchief and pretended to read from it. The greeters guffawed. The visitors rolled their eyes. I tried to catch the tall lady’s eye. To gauge her reaction to these developments. Wisely, she kept her face averted.
It was time for an impromptu history lesson:
“How many of you remember ‘Paint-by-numbers’? Well, the owner of our company was lying in bed one night, asking himself, ‘What if the famous paintings by the masters could be translated into ‘Paint-by-numbers’? What if people who couldn’t afford to own a real painting could create their own masterpieces, instead?’”
“Who would have thought that there was this huge, untapped market for impressionist paintings?”
“Using every penny from his savings, the owner created Daubers“.
Catcalls and whistles erupted briefly. Visitors sat a little straighter in their chairs. Somehow, they sensed that the best part was coming.
“Now, you need to understand how you get paid. Fast or slow, which way do you prefer?”
“FAST!”
“Well, I’m going to explain the slow way first. You start in the business as a Paint Brush. You buy three unfinished paintings, complete them and sell them to restaurants, bowling alleys and high schools. Once you’ve completed three paintings, you advance to the Paint Roller level. Your task now is to find three people just like you, who are sick and tired of being sick and tired. People who are looking for an opportunity to buy a dream house a dream boat and take a dream vacation. How many of you know three people like that?”
Hands shot up. Of course we did! We would not want you to think we were unworthy of this opportunity by admitting otherwise.
“Great! Now once they buy three unfinished paintings and complete them, they become Paint Rollers and you advance to Blank Canvas. Now, you have to sign up restaurants, bowling alleys and high schools to buy paintings from your Paint Rollers and Paint Brushes. How many of you went to high school?”
All hands shot up; he didn’t say anything about graduating.
“Here is your chance to give something back. Get the high school to buy your paintings! Now, how many of you like to bowl?”
A dozen hands waved tentatively.
“Fantastic! You tell the manager that you have been renting shoes from him for years. The least he could do is buy a painting form you. Now, how many of you have eaten in a restaurant?”
Again, hands went up; Jim-Bob was a master at involving the audience! He droned on for a minute about how restaurants were the greatest target for Daubers, being as there were so many of them.
We were assured that if we simply plugged into the system, refrained from reinventing the wheel and refrained from asking penetrating questions, we would make so much money, that …
I turned to my right, preferring to try catching the tall lady’s eye.
So I missed the whole part about earnings results not being typical, the SEC investigation that we should ignore, because the company was an open book, etc.
Finally! I caught her eye and gave her my best I’m-willing-to-trust-you-if-you-tell-me-it-works gaze. She smiled vapidly.
I signed up that evening.
Mitchell Allen is an advocate for cross-networking: synergistically linking multiple social networks in order to increase membership exposure.
He writes for fun and profit at WritingUp.com
He maintains The Vertical Blog Tunnel Network at the social network, Ryze.com.
