I have finally signed the agreement which would propel me back to the school campus.
With the recent debacle of the world economy, I consider myself lucky to be laid off from work as this will really give me the opportunity to pursue the career that I always wanted, the cost of which I never could have afford to pay myself while taking care for the needs of my family.
The province of BC does come through when you need it to. That at least is my opinion for now and I know a lot of people out there will dis-agree with me specifically those who are on the other end of this town called Politicsville.
Like what I have always said, do not think that being laid off from work is the end of the world.There will always be doors and windows that will open for you if you just gather youself together, clear your head, and do not let your emotions get the better of you. I understand, and I have felt it too. Getting axed always will get you doubt your abilities. Feelings like you are not good enough creeps up your brain, damaging your ego, paralising you to think that your situation may have just improved, better than those who are left at the shop you just left.
As long as you know what you want, finding your way to get it is just a matter of time and sometimes, we need to be in grave situations to be able to get our brains working on hyper-drive
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Duck Pond @ Hawthorne Park
A nook by the edge of the park is home to a few ducks frolicking over a pond which is one of my favourite places. Most times, this place is quite except when it is invaded by this gang, two of its members live just next to m
y bedroom.
y bedroom.It is almost summer but the water is still ice cold. Yet mommy Duck and her brood are happy swimming about as they seek the crumbs of bread thrown by this invading rascals.
"Hey you there in the red hoody, don't you have a homework due tomorrow?"
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Blessings
I have been blessed a lot this week.
Today as I was driving my kids to school, my wife called me ( I know it is dangerous taking a call while driving but......) telling me that a Shell station near her office is giving free gas. I immediately took off after dropping off my kids instead of lingering around talking to other parents at the school. The drive was a bit fast as traffic on Highway 1 was sparse, so I was able to catch the line at #399, the second to the last car eligible for a free tank of gas.
Yesterday, the Program Officer handling my application for school funding called to tell me she is approving my request. This was really a big help to me as I really can not afford not to work for a year much more, to pay the tuition fees. Its like being in ViSCA again...free tuition plus a living allowance with added bonuses - I'd be with my wife and kids.
Tuesday, I was at the Mary Jane Shannon Elementary School working as a Voting Clerk for Election BC. This was a great job experience aside from the fact that we do get paid more than double my regular rate. The NDP candidate, Bruce Ralston won by a big margin over the Liberal's Radhia Benalla. My candidate Bernadette Keenan of the Green Party was a dismal third. I guess politics is politics whether in a corrupt 3rd world country or in a politically mature and developed one. The bigger political machines always has the advantage.
Thanks to the Lord my Provider!!!!
Today as I was driving my kids to school, my wife called me ( I know it is dangerous taking a call while driving but......) telling me that a Shell station near her office is giving free gas. I immediately took off after dropping off my kids instead of lingering around talking to other parents at the school. The drive was a bit fast as traffic on Highway 1 was sparse, so I was able to catch the line at #399, the second to the last car eligible for a free tank of gas.
Yesterday, the Program Officer handling my application for school funding called to tell me she is approving my request. This was really a big help to me as I really can not afford not to work for a year much more, to pay the tuition fees. Its like being in ViSCA again...free tuition plus a living allowance with added bonuses - I'd be with my wife and kids.
Tuesday, I was at the Mary Jane Shannon Elementary School working as a Voting Clerk for Election BC. This was a great job experience aside from the fact that we do get paid more than double my regular rate. The NDP candidate, Bruce Ralston won by a big margin over the Liberal's Radhia Benalla. My candidate Bernadette Keenan of the Green Party was a dismal third. I guess politics is politics whether in a corrupt 3rd world country or in a politically mature and developed one. The bigger political machines always has the advantage.
Thanks to the Lord my Provider!!!!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Shabu-Shabu
When the weatherman says its gonna be cold and raining, the only option other than a wet barbecue is a "Hotpot". Thaw some fishballs, prawn/shrimp, crab meat, and thick white rice noodles. Slice some fresh tuna, tenderloins (pork and beef), a few tofu and mushrooms. Prepare
the veggies : spinach and watercrest leaves are best ( my choice).
Stew is from beef bones done with a pressure cooker for speed. Season the soup in a pot over a simmering stove (I bought mine from TNT @Central City for 17 dollars - a bargain ha). Start dropping in the meats (pork, beef, tuna), the mushrooms and tofu, let it boil once and add the veggies. Its best to drop in just enough ingredients for one serving each person and take out what ever ingredient is left in the pot to avoid overcooked food mixing with the next batch of serving.
Puto (rice cakes, from New Town Bakery over near Surrey Central Station) is a good dessert.Hep hep hep hinay hinay lang sa soft drinks kid.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Are Multi Level Marketing a Con Game?
This Topic was started by Nick Noorani at the Immigrant Network and I find it so interesting and useful that I decided to share it here too.
The responses are from members of the Immigrant Network of which I am a member.
Alexander Potter wrote:
You've posed a perennial question. Like anything else with which we humans come in contact, the possibility for corruption does exist. This can occur both corporately and individually. Consequently, the first thing one needs to do is identify a corporate culture and product/service suite that resonates with one's own character/personality.
Like anything else, you get what you put into it. I know individuals who make a very healthy recurring monthly income after investing several years building an organization or 'downline'. However, it took persistent, sustained effort. I've been, and continue to be, involved in two organizations but it is not my primary focus... I just like the products/service.
A further area of caution is the 'fanatic'.. i.e. the non-professional who expects you to share their zeal for the product/service blindly. If you ever encounter this character, RUN don't WALK to the nearest exit!
In summary, multi-level marketing or 'Network Marketing' as it is termed by those involved, is a legitimate way of making a living and supporting one's family.
Hope this helps the discussion.
Keep living your best life!
Valerie Riesen:
What a good question! My Canadian partner has experience with Primerica. The thing about Primerica is that you need an outgoing personality, confidence and a good network to begin with in order to get a good start and make money. Far from being a con game, a Primerica rep must go through a licensing process which is highly regulated by the insurance authority by the province and the country. Although it is a multi level business what Primerica has to offer to the average Canadian family is a legitimate and valuable service. The bottom line is to help families get out of debt and become financially independent
Jun Paa:
Multilevel Marketing is a healthy business and is very legal as long as the income's focus in on the products being sold and not on the number of participants in your downline. The one thing that I see though in an MLM (specifically with Primerica where I was once an agent) is the fact that the business seems to thrive on the failure of a lot of people. In an MLM only a select few makes it to the top. For every triangle there has got to be only one 'apex'. That although everyone has the chance to get to the top(VP), an individual still has to step on a lot of shoulders to reach it. And for that person to be successful (financially) the downline has to produce (sell and recruit) which is sometimes frustrating because when you are at the bottom of the heap, you reap the least. And when finally the weaker persons fold, who benefits from their failed endeavor
Stanley Furtado:
I have not enlisted with these type of companies so do not have an answer to your question but as a fairly recent immigrant I see a lot of people who struggle to get that job in their field, being attracted towards these companies. People who are already with these companies seem to target new immigrants as well. It's a great dream being sold and I hope this is a reality for many in these companies.
I have been approached by several of these agents and have had to RUN not WALK away. I am in good shape but sometimes you can't run fast enough. I have sensed the desperation from some of these agents, most of them friends and acquaintances who I no longer wish to speak to - as they have ruined good friendships by losing objectivity in their zeal to recruit.
From this perspective I am very eager to read some of the answers to this question, to find out if it was it really worth it?(!)
Karen Wallis-Musselman:
This a is a very good question.
I have been approached several times by MLM representatives to join their companies. I have politely decline every single time. I don't see myself in a position where I have to be thinking about work 24/7, talking to every single person I meet promoting my job, and let alone try to get my family and close friends to be part of it.
I am sure there are candidates suited for MLM positions, but not everybody is ready to do it.
Judy Embden:
Oh Nick,
If you were attempting to draw me out of exile, ...you sure knew the right bait to use in order to do it.
I have to wholeheartedly agree with Alexander, and infact with everyone who has responded thus far to some degree or other. As a 19 year veteran of the MLM, or the Network Marketing industry, I've seen a lot of things.
The industry has evolved over the years, however you cannot judge an entire industry, based upon a single company, or the ethics of individuals who participate in it.
Is MLM a scam? Absolutely not!
Are there scam artists who participate in MLM? Of course there are!
Any endeavor that provides a huge money making potential will attract all sorts, both the good and the bad, the scrupulous and the unscrupulous. You will find the same in any industry, and in any business, from manufacturing to food production to flea market vendors to Wall Street investment brokers. Just look at the recent tainted milk scandal in China, or Bernie Madoff to see the point I'm making.
The beauty of MLM however, is it provides you with the support, and the wiggle room you need to succeed, or acquire the skills necessary for your success, if success is your objective. The only way to fail in MLM is to quit, which people are notorious for doing in any endeavor, whether it be higher education, a job, or career direction.
The thing to remember is that not all MLM companies are created equally, or afford participants the same potential for success.
For those of you considering MLM as an option, there are a number of things one must be mindful of when choosing an MLM company. Some key areas you must examine are:
1. The Company: The management team must be sound, ethical, competent etc. This should go without saying, however, so many get caught up in the excitement, they forget to look at this crucial component. A company can have the best product since sliced bread, but if the management team is not competent, the company will fold, and that fabulous product will be acquired by another company, ...along with your customers.
2. The Product: The product must be consumeable, must provide VALUE, and must be attractive to the end consumer. It must have integrity, and must live up to it's claims. How new are the company's products and services to the marketplace? Are they unique, ...or do they fall into a category called 'me too' where there are many people and establishments offering similar products? It must also be a highly retailable product that would be desirable to the consumer even if there was no business opportunity associated with it. ie: Would people want to purchase the product, even if they didn't want to participate in a business? I have customers who are STILL purchasing products I introduced to them well over a decade ago. Even though I'm no longer actively promoting that product, or building that business, and haven't been for over 10 years, they are still purchasing it and using it every month. The only way for a residual income to last 10 years later is when the product provides real VALUE to the end consumer. Their bottom line is they want that product, and they don't care if I'm in the picture or not. There are mechanisms in place that allow them to acquire the product as often as they need to without even having to talk to me, or me having to schlep across town to deliver it to them. If the motivation for people to buy the product is to participate in the business plan, ...you are better off looking elsewhere.
3. The Compensation Structure: The compensation structure is very important, because this is not only the mechanism by which you are paid, it is also the mechanism that drives behaviour in the field. Is it a comp plan that encourages and fosters mutual support and team building, ...or is it one that pits people in competition to one another. There are some compensation plans that would seem by design to unfairly compensate distributors based on the failure rates of those below them as Jun Paa aluded to earlier. Some compensation structures that will discourage assistance from colleagues, because your success results in a diminished income for them. Does the compensation structure reward people at every level of participation, allowing them to set their own priorities and proceed at their own pace, ...or does it require one to jump through so many hoops, they lose all perspective and turn into walking talking 24/7 promoters who harass friends and family. Is it a comp plan that forces you to chase the money by harassing people as Karen & Stan spoke of before, ...or is it one that makes the money chase YOU, by rewarding you for helping people in your organization to succeed?
Just as there are both attractive and unattractive compensation structures to be found in MLM, the same could be said of a tradition workplace environment. There too, you will find employers who pay generously with good benefits in the workforce, ...as well as minimum wage jobs with no benefits, no overtime, and slave drivers for managers who often require employees to work off the clock, and who will thwart your progress because your success poses a threat to their position.
4. Timing: Timing is very important. Are the company's products timed correctly for the marketplace? Will there be a growing demand for the product in the years to come? Timing within the company is also important? Depending on your particular goals when it comes to building a MLM business, the timing, both in the marketplace, and within the company itself, should be very crucial components in your evaluation process. I often see many people looking to run out and create a dynasty with a product offering whose time has passed. If you're looking to sell vinyl records, the timing is not as advantageous as it was in the 1950's
5. A Proven Duplicatable System: This is extremely important, and it is often the biggest stumbling block to success for new comers to the industry. There must be a track to run on. You must have a simple duplicatable system that you and others you bring into the business, can plug into, in order to achieve success.
These are the 5 crucial components to any successful MLM venture. They are simply the starting points. All of these factors MUST be present before you can even hope to have a successful MLM venture, as they are the foundations upon which your venture rests. If one of those components is missing, there will be problems down the road.
To address Stan's comment about what he sees as the targetting of new immigrants. I don't know if it is so much the targetting of new immigrants, as opposed to seeking a wealth of character traits often found in the immigrant mentality, traits that are often lacking in the native born. There is an old saying in MLM. "There are 3 things you can't do; you can't push a rope; you can't put toothpaste back into the tube; and you can't teach ambition, desire, and work ethics." Immigrants bring something very special to the table. They are possibility thinkers, with a burning desire to succeed, the ability to dream big dreams, and they are often people for whom failure is NOT an option.
I sincerely hope my post is helpful to everyone. No one sat me down to teach me these things when I first ventured into MLM. I had to learn them along the way after a few bumps, bruises, and disappointments. I decided it was preferable to become a quick learner.
I've assembled a video playlist with 14 quick clips that will hopefully clarify much about this often very misunderstood industry. Each clip should play automatically one after the other.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAkno4zRjic&feature=PlayList&p=960CAAECDF66849C&index=0&playnext=1
So grab some popcorn, ...and enjoy
Hope That Helps
The responses are from members of the Immigrant Network of which I am a member.
Alexander Potter wrote:
You've posed a perennial question. Like anything else with which we humans come in contact, the possibility for corruption does exist. This can occur both corporately and individually. Consequently, the first thing one needs to do is identify a corporate culture and product/service suite that resonates with one's own character/personality.
Like anything else, you get what you put into it. I know individuals who make a very healthy recurring monthly income after investing several years building an organization or 'downline'. However, it took persistent, sustained effort. I've been, and continue to be, involved in two organizations but it is not my primary focus... I just like the products/service.
A further area of caution is the 'fanatic'.. i.e. the non-professional who expects you to share their zeal for the product/service blindly. If you ever encounter this character, RUN don't WALK to the nearest exit!
In summary, multi-level marketing or 'Network Marketing' as it is termed by those involved, is a legitimate way of making a living and supporting one's family.
Hope this helps the discussion.
Keep living your best life!
Valerie Riesen:
What a good question! My Canadian partner has experience with Primerica. The thing about Primerica is that you need an outgoing personality, confidence and a good network to begin with in order to get a good start and make money. Far from being a con game, a Primerica rep must go through a licensing process which is highly regulated by the insurance authority by the province and the country. Although it is a multi level business what Primerica has to offer to the average Canadian family is a legitimate and valuable service. The bottom line is to help families get out of debt and become financially independent
Jun Paa:
Multilevel Marketing is a healthy business and is very legal as long as the income's focus in on the products being sold and not on the number of participants in your downline. The one thing that I see though in an MLM (specifically with Primerica where I was once an agent) is the fact that the business seems to thrive on the failure of a lot of people. In an MLM only a select few makes it to the top. For every triangle there has got to be only one 'apex'. That although everyone has the chance to get to the top(VP), an individual still has to step on a lot of shoulders to reach it. And for that person to be successful (financially) the downline has to produce (sell and recruit) which is sometimes frustrating because when you are at the bottom of the heap, you reap the least. And when finally the weaker persons fold, who benefits from their failed endeavor
Stanley Furtado:
I have not enlisted with these type of companies so do not have an answer to your question but as a fairly recent immigrant I see a lot of people who struggle to get that job in their field, being attracted towards these companies. People who are already with these companies seem to target new immigrants as well. It's a great dream being sold and I hope this is a reality for many in these companies.
I have been approached by several of these agents and have had to RUN not WALK away. I am in good shape but sometimes you can't run fast enough. I have sensed the desperation from some of these agents, most of them friends and acquaintances who I no longer wish to speak to - as they have ruined good friendships by losing objectivity in their zeal to recruit.
From this perspective I am very eager to read some of the answers to this question, to find out if it was it really worth it?(!)
Karen Wallis-Musselman:
This a is a very good question.
I have been approached several times by MLM representatives to join their companies. I have politely decline every single time. I don't see myself in a position where I have to be thinking about work 24/7, talking to every single person I meet promoting my job, and let alone try to get my family and close friends to be part of it.
I am sure there are candidates suited for MLM positions, but not everybody is ready to do it.
Judy Embden:
Oh Nick,
If you were attempting to draw me out of exile, ...you sure knew the right bait to use in order to do it.
I have to wholeheartedly agree with Alexander, and infact with everyone who has responded thus far to some degree or other. As a 19 year veteran of the MLM, or the Network Marketing industry, I've seen a lot of things.
The industry has evolved over the years, however you cannot judge an entire industry, based upon a single company, or the ethics of individuals who participate in it.
Is MLM a scam? Absolutely not!
Are there scam artists who participate in MLM? Of course there are!
Any endeavor that provides a huge money making potential will attract all sorts, both the good and the bad, the scrupulous and the unscrupulous. You will find the same in any industry, and in any business, from manufacturing to food production to flea market vendors to Wall Street investment brokers. Just look at the recent tainted milk scandal in China, or Bernie Madoff to see the point I'm making.
The beauty of MLM however, is it provides you with the support, and the wiggle room you need to succeed, or acquire the skills necessary for your success, if success is your objective. The only way to fail in MLM is to quit, which people are notorious for doing in any endeavor, whether it be higher education, a job, or career direction.
The thing to remember is that not all MLM companies are created equally, or afford participants the same potential for success.
For those of you considering MLM as an option, there are a number of things one must be mindful of when choosing an MLM company. Some key areas you must examine are:
1. The Company: The management team must be sound, ethical, competent etc. This should go without saying, however, so many get caught up in the excitement, they forget to look at this crucial component. A company can have the best product since sliced bread, but if the management team is not competent, the company will fold, and that fabulous product will be acquired by another company, ...along with your customers.
2. The Product: The product must be consumeable, must provide VALUE, and must be attractive to the end consumer. It must have integrity, and must live up to it's claims. How new are the company's products and services to the marketplace? Are they unique, ...or do they fall into a category called 'me too' where there are many people and establishments offering similar products? It must also be a highly retailable product that would be desirable to the consumer even if there was no business opportunity associated with it. ie: Would people want to purchase the product, even if they didn't want to participate in a business? I have customers who are STILL purchasing products I introduced to them well over a decade ago. Even though I'm no longer actively promoting that product, or building that business, and haven't been for over 10 years, they are still purchasing it and using it every month. The only way for a residual income to last 10 years later is when the product provides real VALUE to the end consumer. Their bottom line is they want that product, and they don't care if I'm in the picture or not. There are mechanisms in place that allow them to acquire the product as often as they need to without even having to talk to me, or me having to schlep across town to deliver it to them. If the motivation for people to buy the product is to participate in the business plan, ...you are better off looking elsewhere.
3. The Compensation Structure: The compensation structure is very important, because this is not only the mechanism by which you are paid, it is also the mechanism that drives behaviour in the field. Is it a comp plan that encourages and fosters mutual support and team building, ...or is it one that pits people in competition to one another. There are some compensation plans that would seem by design to unfairly compensate distributors based on the failure rates of those below them as Jun Paa aluded to earlier. Some compensation structures that will discourage assistance from colleagues, because your success results in a diminished income for them. Does the compensation structure reward people at every level of participation, allowing them to set their own priorities and proceed at their own pace, ...or does it require one to jump through so many hoops, they lose all perspective and turn into walking talking 24/7 promoters who harass friends and family. Is it a comp plan that forces you to chase the money by harassing people as Karen & Stan spoke of before, ...or is it one that makes the money chase YOU, by rewarding you for helping people in your organization to succeed?
Just as there are both attractive and unattractive compensation structures to be found in MLM, the same could be said of a tradition workplace environment. There too, you will find employers who pay generously with good benefits in the workforce, ...as well as minimum wage jobs with no benefits, no overtime, and slave drivers for managers who often require employees to work off the clock, and who will thwart your progress because your success poses a threat to their position.
4. Timing: Timing is very important. Are the company's products timed correctly for the marketplace? Will there be a growing demand for the product in the years to come? Timing within the company is also important? Depending on your particular goals when it comes to building a MLM business, the timing, both in the marketplace, and within the company itself, should be very crucial components in your evaluation process. I often see many people looking to run out and create a dynasty with a product offering whose time has passed. If you're looking to sell vinyl records, the timing is not as advantageous as it was in the 1950's
5. A Proven Duplicatable System: This is extremely important, and it is often the biggest stumbling block to success for new comers to the industry. There must be a track to run on. You must have a simple duplicatable system that you and others you bring into the business, can plug into, in order to achieve success.
These are the 5 crucial components to any successful MLM venture. They are simply the starting points. All of these factors MUST be present before you can even hope to have a successful MLM venture, as they are the foundations upon which your venture rests. If one of those components is missing, there will be problems down the road.
To address Stan's comment about what he sees as the targetting of new immigrants. I don't know if it is so much the targetting of new immigrants, as opposed to seeking a wealth of character traits often found in the immigrant mentality, traits that are often lacking in the native born. There is an old saying in MLM. "There are 3 things you can't do; you can't push a rope; you can't put toothpaste back into the tube; and you can't teach ambition, desire, and work ethics." Immigrants bring something very special to the table. They are possibility thinkers, with a burning desire to succeed, the ability to dream big dreams, and they are often people for whom failure is NOT an option.
I sincerely hope my post is helpful to everyone. No one sat me down to teach me these things when I first ventured into MLM. I had to learn them along the way after a few bumps, bruises, and disappointments. I decided it was preferable to become a quick learner.
I've assembled a video playlist with 14 quick clips that will hopefully clarify much about this often very misunderstood industry. Each clip should play automatically one after the other.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAkno4zRjic&feature=PlayList&p=960CAAECDF66849C&index=0&playnext=1
So grab some popcorn, ...and enjoy
Hope That Helps
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