Here it is  !!

Not only is it about money and kids, it was written by a HomeSchooling MOM!! How perfect.

How To Teach Your Kids About Money

….And while I’m on the subject of money, you need to read Your Money or Your Life, by Dominguez/Robin. Talk about a paradigm shift that is eerily in keeping with our current state of affairs. Read it. I’m sure you’ll agree. We’ll compare notes in a few months as to how we’ve not only shifted in our thoughts, but also reduced our expenses. Yes, that is what this book is about…yet there are no BUDGETS!!!! Read and Rejoince

This blog began as a conversation about balance and has morphed somewhat into a lot of specific information regarding our home business industry. I feel a strong desire to get back to the balance issue. As the supposed “expert” I have let myself get way out of balance due to the time I devote to working. The funny thing is that I LOVE what I’m doing,  so it doesn’t feel out of balance until I step back realize what I’m not doing.

So here’s my list:

1. I’ve only read 2 non-business related books in a year

2. I think about exercise way more than I actually do it

3. My daughter is watching too much TV (mom is on the phone)

4. I forget about breakfast and lunch because I get involved in something and then eat an energy bar and a glass of water

5. I stay up until midnight with my eyes glazing over from too much computer time

6. I find it hard to sleep because so many new and exciting ideas are generating in my brain

7. Exercise…forget…wrote it again because it is so important.

So now that I’ve confessed to you I will let you know how I do in the coming weeks, getting  back in balance. A part of business is now coaching others and it would be hypocritical of me to be talking to my mentorees about balance, organization, etc… and not be taking my own advice. If you’d like to take a look at the Free Ebook I’m using to help people find success, click here–put in your info–and then download the 10 Steps to Success Book. The link is highlighted in green.

Beyond that—look at your own work/life/homeschool balance. Let me know how you’re doing!!

2×2=4; 4×2=8; 8×2=16; 16×2=32
Add 1
3×3=9; 9×3=27; 27×3=81; 81×3=243
Add 1
4×4=16; 16×4=64; 64×4=256; 256×4=1024
Add 1
5×5=25; 25×5=125; 125×5=625; 325×5=3152

The green number represent your first level, purple your second level, blue the 3rd and red your fourth level down.

This is an example of Metcalf’s Law of Exponentials. Anybody who can share the wonderful experience of network marketing with just two people, could easily find two or three more with which to do the same. Your job/your commitment in network marketing is to teach the five first serious people that you bring in to your organization, how to do the exact same thing that you just did. And then guess what? You also teach them how to teach their five people the EXACT same thing and watch what happens. Even if you ONLY went down three levels, if you add up the Green, Purple and Blue numbers in the last row (The FIVE row), you will see that you’ll have over 700 people in your organization. (And then look what happens at the fourth level!!)

If their is any question about who is actually buying your product, there is your answer. Anyone who is doing the business is also using the product. Commissions are paid on product. You have 775 PRODUCT CONSUMERS in your organization (and probably more), just by going deep and duplicating for 3-levels with a duplication system of FIVE.

I can hear some of you now….”I’ve tried it…no one wants to join…it’s too hard…people think it’s a pyramid scheme…people think its a mickey mouse business….” Well I have news for you. If it hasn’t worked for you in the past it is time to do something different. If you keep doing what you’ve done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve got. That is definition of insanity. So I want you to go out and read this book. It will take you less than an hour. The book is called The 45-Second Presentation That Will Change Your Life. It was written by Don Failla. When you finish this book you will know exactly how to approach your next prospect and how to quickly bring FIVE new serious people into your business.

What if you’ve never had a Network Marketing Business Before? Of what if you have, but were not successful. Take advantage of this offering for a Free Consultation by a professional skilled in the system described above. For no charge you can speak with a live Network Marketing Professional. You will experience a unique question and answer process related to the information on this blog post. Just fill out your information below. As a special offer, you will instantly receive the ebook: Notes From A Work At Home Mom. Go Ahead. Put in your info now.

Usually, once you reach that breaking point, you can wake up the next morning and start to get a handle on things. Sometimes it takes more than the emotional bottom to turn things around. Sometimes the tears or the anger are the signal that we need to make a change–that in fact it all is too much and something has to give. As women, our intelligent bodies give us information that will help us maintain balance but often we are too busy or bull-headed to listen. As women, it’s important in business to do it in a way that is synchronistic with our beings. That means that we may not do it as the men do.

Today I cried on the phone when talking with my very old school masculine mentor. I didnt’ mean to cry. I hadn’t planned on crying. But the old guy came out of the blue and complimented my commitment, dedication and leadership abilities on the same day that I was questioning whether I had what it takes to succeed in this business. Here he was telling me that I was unique in this business and that the level of success that I’ve achieved so far is just the beginning. An hour before, after a night of no sleep and 52 hot flashes and a snuggle from my daughter who was concerned that mommy woke up crying–I was wondering if it was all worth it.

Just when you think it’s all too hard… the simplest comment from the most unexpected source, can set you back on your track.

Free Network Marketing Success Newsletter

PS. Do your self a favor. Take the time to learn how to do business from a position of strength, even if you’re dealing with aggressive people. Watch this free video and you’ll begin to understand the power that comes from inside of all of us. How you communicate it, relates directly to your own sense of self in relation to doing business.

I’ve spoken to many of the men in my company. They tell me to create “massive action”. They talk about how they get in their car and visit prospects all over the state and country, sometimes driving thousands of miles in one week. They talk about doing 15 meetings per week. Yes, they take time off to be with their families. In fact, this industry allows them the opportunity to travel and vacation and still maintain their momentum and income. It’s a beautiful thing. But still…when they go to work they say, “Honey, I’m off to Arizona for 3 days and then on to California. I’ll be back in a week. We’ll talk tonight” and then they’re gone.

This past weekend I attended a national training event and was gone for 4 days. Prior to leaving I needed to arrange for childcare during the weekdays, make lists regarding lunches, sunscreen, phone numbers, etc…I had to pay some bills, arrange for the milk delivery, sort out the laundry and I have a really, really helpful and involved husband. My point it that as working women with families, we do not have the flexibility to just pick up and go. If my husband’s job required him to be elsewhere on those days, I would have needed to stay home. This is not a complaint. It is a fact which I believe is true in most families.

That is why I was so impressed by what occurred at the training I attended. My company included a training session presented by women and focusing on the differences, the struggles and the benefits of how women approach this business. In addition they will now be having a “By Women, For Women” weekly training call. I’m thrilled. Beyond the soundness of the business and product, I knew from an emotional and spiritual perspective that this way the right company for my. That knowledge has now been even more solidified.

The path to being a women on top, may be different. But it is equally valid and ultimately more satisfying to do it in our own unique manner rather than doing it like the men. Work at home moms are very powerful women. Click here to read a blog post specifically about this topic.

Regardless of what you do, most businesses need to be marketed. Someone, somewhere needs to know what you have to offer and then desire you product or services. The most common method of marketing is to sell people on your offering. But people hate to be sold and not many like to sell either. What if there was another way to connect and network? What if you could bring people into your sphere and get to know them and their needs first? Doesn’t this sound like more fun?

When I’m not wearing my clinical social worker hat, or my mom hat I work in network marketing. I don’t sell. I don’t accost every friend and family member with my product or opportunity. Instead I spend my time building relationships online and offline. Sometimes I can help people. Sometimes they help me. Occasionally someone wants to know about my company and I tell them. It’s easy and fun and puts me in touch with interesting people from all over the world. (I make money too, but it just happens naturally). I call it attraction marketing. The way that I network with people can be learned by watching a series of free videos. Click here if you’d like to watch them. I believe what you’ll learn can be valuable in any business that requires marketing and people skills.

What type of Business are YOU in? Please answer by sending a comment. Also include how you juggle your business and your homeschooling, if that pertains to you.

7 Free Videos

In all my years working at home, I have never seen something like this. I think you will agree. No matter what type of home business you have I believe you can benefit from what just landed in my lap. For myself, I do a lot of my shopping online because I live in a very rural area. We often purchase bulk “green” toilet paper and large quantities of breakfast cereal at a discount through online stores. This company that I’m about to tell you about gives you a rebate for all your online purchases. They have over 1000 stores, many of which you probably shop at regularly. A portion of their profits goes to helping a child in need.

This appears to be a truly Win-Win scenario. There is no charge to join. You purchase only things that you normally would purchase, only you do it through your Powermall web page. You receive money back and you help a needy child. After spending over an hour scrutinizing their website, I can honestly say that I could not find a single reason not to join.

No Thank You, We Don’t Believe in Socialization!
by Lisa Russell

I can’t believe I am writing an article about socialization, the word makes my skin crawl. As homeschoolers, we are often accosted by people who assume that since we’re homeschooling, our kids won’t be “socialized.” The word has become such a catch phrase that it has entirely lost any meaning.

The first time I heard the word, I was attending a Catholic day school as a first grader.

Having been a “reader” for almost 2 years, I found the phonics and reading lessons to be incredibly boring. Luckily the girl behind me felt the same way, and when we were done with our silly little worksheets, we would chat back and forth. I’ve never known two 6 yr. olds who could maintain a quiet conversation, so naturally a ruler-carrying nun interrupted us with a few strong raps on our desk. We were both asked to stay in at recess, and sit quietly in our desks for the entire 25 minutes, because “We are not here to socialize, young ladies.”

Those words were repeated over and over throughout my education, by just about every teacher I’ve ever had. If we’re not there to socialize, then why were we there? I learned to read at home. If I finished my work early (which I always did,) could I have gone home? If I were already familiar with the subject matter, would I have been excused from class that day? If schools weren’t made for socializing, then why on earth would anyone assume that homeschoolers were missing out?

As a society full of people whose childhood’s were spent waiting anxiously for recess time, and trying desperately to “socialize” with the kids in class; It is often difficult for people to have an image of a child whose social life is NOT based on school buddies. Do you ever remember sitting in class, and wanting desperately to speak to your friend? It’s kind of hard to concentrate on the lessons when you’re bouncing around trying not to talk. Have you ever had a teacher who rearranged the seats every now and then, to prevent talking, splitting up friends and “talking corners.” Were you ever caught passing notes in class?

Now- flash forward to “real life.” Imagine the following scenes:

Your Employer is auditing the Inter-Office Email system and comes across a personal note between you and a coworker. You are required to stand at the podium in the next sales meeting to read it aloud to your coworkers. The Police knock on your door, and announce that because you and your neighbor have gotten so close, they’re separating you. You must move your home and your belongings to the other side of town, and you may only meet at public places on weekends.

You’re sitting at a booth waiting for a coworker to arrive for a scheduled lunch date. Suddenly a member of upper management sits down across from you and demands your credit cards. When your friend arrives, you just order water and claim you’re not hungry, since he stole your lunch money.

You’re applying for a job and in an unconventional hiring practice, you are made to line up with other applicants, and wait patiently while representatives from two competing companies take their pick from the lineup.

You’re taking your parents out for an anniversary dinner. After you find a table, a waiter tells you that seniors have a separate dining room, lest they “corrupt” the younger members of society.

You go to the grocery store only to find that since you are 32 years old you must shop at the store for 32 year olds. It’s 8 miles away and they don’t sell meat because the manager is a vegetarian, but your birthday is coming up and soon you’ll be able to shop at the store for 33 yr. olds.

You’d like to learn about Aviation History. You go to the library and check out a book on the subject only to be given a list of “other subjects” that you must read about before you are permitted to check out the aviation book.

You’re having a hard time finding what you need in the local department store. The saleslady explains that each item is arranged alphabetically in the store, so instead of having a section for shoes, you will find the men’s shoes in between the maternity clothes and the mirrors.

Your Cable Company announces that anyone wishing to watch the Superbowl this year must log on a certain number of hours watching the Discovery Channel before they can be permitted to watch the game.

You apply for a job only to be told that this job is for 29 year olds. Since you’re 32, you’ll have to stay with your level.

In a group project, your boss decides to pair you up with the person you don’t “click” with. His hope is that you’ll get learn to get along with each other, regardless of how the project turns out.

These absurd examples were created to point out how absolutely ridiculous the idea of “socializing” in schools is. Many people had a friend who they stayed friends with all through grammar school- WHY? Because their names were alphabetically similar, and they always ended up in line with each other. As an adult, have you ever made friends with someone simply because your names were similar? How long would such a friendship last and how meaningful would it be, providing you had nothing else in common?

People often use the bully as an example of why it’s so important to let kids “socialize” at school. If that’s so important, then the bully needs to go to JAIL after a few months, because self-respecting society simply doesn’t put up with that, nor should my 6 yr. old. Sure, there are ##### people in the world, but the world does a much better job of taking care of these things. A bullying brat in the first grade will still be a bullying brat in the 6th grade. He will still be picking on the same kids year after year after year, unless he moves to a new town. How long would the average adult put up with a bully? Personally, as an adult, I have only come across one grown up bully. I choose not to be around this miserable woman. So do many other people. THAT is real life. If she were a coworker, I would find a different job. If she worked at a business I patronized- not only would I refrain from doing business with that company, I would write a letter to the bully, her manager, the owner and the main office. A kid in a classroom has no way to emotionally protect themselves against such a person. I would never expect my kids to put up with bad treatment from a bully in the name of “toughening them up.” For what? So they can be submissive wimps when they grow up too? So they can “ignore” their miserable bosses and abusive spouses? In real life, if an employer discovered that an employee was harassing the other staff members, that employee could be fired (pending the 90 day evaluation) or relocated. In real life, if you are so dreadfully harassed by a coworker you can seek legal recourse independently. In a classroom, the teacher and other children are often powerless.

The idea of learning acceptable social skills in a school is as absurd to me as learning nutrition from a grocery store.

As Homeschoolers, the world is our classroom. We interact with people of all ages, sexes and backgrounds. We talk to and learn from everyone who strikes our interest. We use good manners in our home and I’m always pleased when others comment on the manners my children have picked up. I believe good manners to be an important social skill.

Respecting common areas is also of value to us. We often carry a grocery bag with us on walks, in case we find trash that needs to be discarded. When we’re waiting at a bus stop, if there is trash on the ground, we make a point to carry it onto the bus and discard of it properly. Once, while waiting at a bus stop- we saw a grown man drop his popsicle wrapper on the ground. He was 2 feet from a trash can- My daughter looked up at me with eyes as big as saucers. I told her (out loud) “It must have blown out of his hand from that little wind, because no-one would throw trash on the ground on purpose. I’m sure when he’s done with his popsicle, he will pick it up and throw it away correctly- otherwise, we can take care of it so we don’t have an ugly world.” He did pick it up, rather sheepishly. I can’t imagine expecting my children to have a respect for the cleanliness of common areas in an environment where bathroom walls are covered in graffiti and trees are scratched with symbols of “love” of all things.

Another social skill we strive to teach our children is that all people are created equal. I can’t imagine doing that in an environment where physically disadvantaged children are segregated into a “special” classroom. Or even children who speak a different language at home. They are segregated and forced to learn English, while never acknowledging the unique culture they were raised in, and not enabling the other students to learn FROM them. Learning, in school, comes from the books and teachers. We will learn Spanish from a BOOK, not from a Spanish-speaking student; and not until 7th grade.

I have never felt it would be beneficial to stick my 6-yr. old in a room full of other 6-yr. olds. I believe God created a world full of people of all ages and sexes to insure that the younger ones and older ones learn from each other. A few years ago, we were living thousands of miles from any older family members, so I brought my kids (then 5 and 2) to an assisted living facility, so they could interact with the elderly. Staff members told us that many of the older people would wake up every day and ask if we would be visiting soon. We always went on Wednesdays. My daughters learned some old show tunes while one of the men played piano, and the others would sing along. If I didn’t have to chase my 2-yr. old around, I would have had plenty of women ready to share the art of crocheting with me (something I’ve always wanted to learn.) If a friend was too sick to come out of their room during our visit, we would often spend a few minutes in their room. I always let them give the kids whatever cookies they had baked for them, and I ended up cleaning a few of the apartments while we visited, simply because I would have done the same for my own Grandmother. Every room had pictures from my kids posted on their refrigerators. We called this “Visiting the Grandmas and Grandpas” and my daughters both (almost 2 years later) have fond memories of our visits. I’m sure that if we were still visiting there, my unborn child would have a thousand handmade blankets and booties to keep him warm all winter.

I don’t remember any such experiences in my entire School life, although I do remember being a bit afraid of old people if they were too wrinkly or weak looking. I never really knew anyone over 60. I never sped down the hall on someone’s wheelchair lap, squealing as we popped wheelies and screeched around corners. I never got to hear stories about what life was like before indoor plumbing and electricity, from the point of view of a woman with Alzheimer’s, who might believe she was still 5 years old, talking with my daughter as if she were a friend. I never got to help a 90 yr. old woman keep her arm steady while she painted a picture. And I never watched a room full of “grandma’s” waiting for me by the window, because we were 15 minutes late.

On a recent visit to an Art Gallery, we noticed a man walking back and forth, carrying framed artwork from his old pickup truck. I asked my 6 yr. old if she thought he might be the artist. We both agreed that was a possibility, and after a little pep-talk to overcome her stage fright, she approached him and asked. He was the artist, and he was bringing in his work to be evaluated by the curator. We all sat down and he explained some of his techniques and listened to her opinions about which piece she liked best. He told about how he enjoyed art when he was 6 and would “sell” pictures to family and friends. He recounted how he felt while creating a few of the pieces, and how each one has special meaning to him. He even let her know how nervous he was to show them to the curator and how he hoped she found them as interesting as we did. As he was called into the office, a group of thirty-four 3rd graders filed past, ever so quietly, while their teacher explained each piece on the walls. The children were so quiet and well behaved. They didn’t seem to mind moving on from one picture to the next (The problem with homeschoolers is they tend to linger on things they enjoy). They didn’t seem to have any questions or comments (Maybe they’ll discuss that later in class). And they never got a chance to meet the gentleman in the pickup truck.

I hope my kids aren’t missing out on any “socialization.”

Lisa Russell is a Gen X homeschooling mom, writer, wife, daydreamer, U.S. traveller, hiker, poet, artist, web designer, and whatever else suits the moment. Visit her website: http://www.lisarussell.net or you can email her at lisa@lisarussell.net

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