Posts Tagged "economy"

Are You a Concept Worker?

Posted by Larry Pollock on Aug 31, 2010 in Entrepreneur | 3 comments

Scott Skibell got my attention again this week with this video about the new economy. Are you part of the old or new. Are you looking backwards to find security in the industrial age or are you part of the new entrepreneurs forging a new path in a global economy?

If you have not done so all ready, go to Skillcasting.com and bookmark the site. I have and will be checking regularly…

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“You’ve been down that road Neo. You know exactly where it leads.”

Posted by Larry Pollock on Aug 17, 2010 in Entrepreneur | 1 comment

In my last post I referenced Seth Godin’s short but pointient post on the two types of people, those who seek security and those who relish in opportunity while knowing there is always a risk of failure.

The path away from the the industrial age JOB to being a full time entrepreneur is one that requires not knowing the future. In truth, no one knows the future, even those who think they have it secured. Case in point: the last two years of the world economy.

For some the path is a less ragged and pothole filled journey. They still have a job and are able to built other ventures in the cracks and crevices of everyday life. For others the job has dumped them along side of the road. What’s next is the only question they have or can ask. Another job or…

I think it was Goethe that said “Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward; they may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.”

If we keep looking back over our shoulders to see we can retreat into our old comfort zone we will never know if we have started or enjoy the benefits of a winning game. Neo is ask as he is exiting the door of a black lincoln in an ally on a dark rainy night in the movie The Matrix “You’ve been down that road Neo. You know exactly where it leads.” So too do we need to ask ourselves the question. Do we really want to go back to that old life. We know where it leads and all the things we dislike about it.

Being bold and looking to new things and ideas, even one small step, can change everything. Mostly for the good, but the future will hold it’s own challenges and reward.

I know Faith and I have chosen to take the path less traveled and we do all we can to make it wider so others can join us as we catch up to and join others who have paved the way for us.

Will you get back into the car like Neo did and move toward that unknown place that is tugging at your heard or get out and go back down that known road?

Popularity: 35% [?]

Creating Income in the New World. Where do we go from here? Part 3

Posted by Larry Pollock on Aug 6, 2010 in Entrepreneur | 4 comments

In parts 1 and 2 I spent a lot of time talking about the mind set and how we got to where we are. When people are living in survival mode it's hard to find time or even the energy to learn something new, start a new project or move forward toward our dreams. Years can go by and suddenly we are looking back over 10, 20 or more years and we are no closer to our dreams.

Remember that 5% more Bear Grylls was talking about? That extra effort that makes all the difference? I know what that is. Faith and and I had a dream and wanted to realize it. We found ourselves a Network Marketing Company that we believed in and went to work. Faith would make appointments for us and as soon as I got home from my job supervising for a pool company I would shower dress up a bit and head back out into traffic. We would drive to a presentation, get back after 10pm. This went on for 2 years. Finally we had created enough income to replace my construction income. I started to phase out over a period of 6 months. It's now been 7 years. I get to be home and work and have lunch with Faith everyday. We still have dreams and aspirations. The story continues.

Where do we go from here?

It's funny, there are so many options out there. It seems the more you open up and travel down the entrepreneurial path the more things are presented to you. It then becomes a matter of choosing and discernment.

What are some of these options?

Affiliate Programs - This is something everyone should take advantage of. Companies have a digital or physical products and if you bring them a customer you get a percentage of the revenue. This can range from 10% to 50%. Sometimes more. All you do is sign up, usually for free, get your affiliate link and post in on your website and share it with others. The products you choose to place on your site should suit the theme, subject and people who are visiting your site. You wouldn't post links to rock n roll music on a website about classical music. Article marketing is one avenue for this. Creating articles for article sites or blog post on your own site with a few affiliate links can work too. But don't over do it.

Network Marketing - This is one utilized by millions around the world. It's a growing industry. Especially since the down turn in the economy. To me this is one of the last ways the average person can do what we call in America; "pull yourself up by the boot straps" and become a self made person. Well, almost. Network Marketing requires team work to make the dream work. With some sweat equity and only a small amount of capital anyone can create an additional source of income. That could be a few hundred a week or thousands depending on the program, the efforts put in, and many other factors. Those who deride Network Marketing are often those who have never really been involved or had a bad experience and decided the whole industry is bad. That's about as smart as saying you had a bad real estate deal happen and all real estate agents and the industry is no good. Find yourself a good company with products you love, do your research and get involved. This one can change your life and finances forever.

Your Own Products and Marketing Funnel - Branding yourself has become the buzz word online in the entrepreneurial circles. Everyone has something they know, can teach and be a guru in. It could be as simple as how to use worms in organic gardening or getting started with watercolor painting. Creating an ebook, online video tutorials and webinars and personal coaching programs can all bring in money. With millions online at any given moment it's a matter of creating a following and having the people who are looking for what you have find you. Blogging and having a great free offer is part of this picture. Both should give value to the reader. You give away value first. Create Trust. You must be authentic and personal. No slick marketing tactics here. Good teachers excel at this one. Taking the time to design the marketing flow is important. You must have a vision of what it is your are providing and where it all leads folks to. In the end, good value will prevail.

All of the above take time and effort. No big investment needed. The tools area simple and most people can learn to use them. A website, like this WordPress Blog, is a main component. Facebook, twitter, linkedin, and many other social sites are another piece. Putting it all together and presenting a consistent and focused message can build you a list of followers. People who like what your are about, trust you and want to know what you are doing. All three of the above need this to work.

You can do these from home, online, over the phone and in the spaces between your busy life. How? By giving the 5% more on a consistent basis. Eventually you will find you are no longer in survival and now have choices in your life.

I could not even begin to scratch the surface or get into detail on each of these options in this one post. More will be written as this blog continues to grow and expand.

What ever you do, quit doing what you dislike or even hate and start creating your new life. You'll be glad you did. You'll meet the most amazing people on the journey, including yourself!

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Creating Income in the new world. Where do we go from here?

Posted by Larry Pollock on Aug 2, 2010 in Entrepreneur | 4 comments

Let me say right up front; I don’t have all the answers. So if you are looking for the end all and definitive solution, keep moving, it’s not here…

I do have some thoughts on the subject having been independent a great portion of my adult life.

Where do we go from here?

To start answering that question we have to look at the world in a new way. Not the myopic view of the country you live in and chasing the job market. We need to boldly look up and at the whole planet. That is the new playground and there are some large and rapidly growing markets. No, it’s not in the United States. More like “across the pond” to the west.

Yes, that’s it. China, good… India, yes. In fact, it’s all over the world in places I have never been. There’s a lot of talk about “Emerging Markets”. I say the afore mentioned list has emerged and is on a role!

Does that scare you? Do you feel like America is on the wane? Does the thought of change cause you to retreat or freeze up. The changing job market in the U.S. is placing a lot of folks in turmoil. Where to we you turn? What’s next?

I am reminded of a skit Dan Akroyd did some time back called “Worst Cast Scenario Inc”. The premise was a company that you could call and ask about the worst thing that could happen if you did X. After a lengthy list of scarey possibilities the client would ask: “What if I did the opposite of X?”. Of course another equally frightful list of worst cases was issued forth. I think this is how the mind works for many folks. They want to do X but feel that whatever they do they will fail, bad things will befall them or  some imagined great pain or loss. Now they freeze up and do nothing. That in itself is a choice too. One where the world happens to you rather than you acting on the world as you know it.

Some facts: No mater which of the 3 choices you make, do, retreat to the old way of living (if you can), or do nothing, there is uncertainty. No one knows the future. It is fluid and being created as I write and you read. There are no guarantees of success dreamed of. Hoping and wishing will get you just more of same. Making no choice is still a choice in itself.

So, where do we go from here?

Global Context

In my humble opinion we look up, gaze at the world as a whole and then each market individually. We get back our sense of adventure and innovation. We make a firm decision to keep moving forward and looking for opportunity. Forget the past, quit looking for the old job to come back. Take our collective eyes off the headlights coming at us, and move off the road before we get run over. We need to get people unstuck.

It was good to teach children to be good employees in the early part of the Industrial Age. It made sense. That no longer serves our children and the children to come. They need to be encouraged to be innovative, creative, become global problem solvers and providers of solutions.

We also need to quit listening to the nay sayers who make their living stirring the pot. Controversy , often blown up for the purpose of getting callers or readers needs to stop. We can stop it when we quit, as a whole culture, tuning in to that junk.

Currencies

The future is what we create it to be. America can provide the solutions to environmental issues, energy, housing, natural and organic food production and more. This could be a huge list. There is a lot be be done on the planet. If we don’t do it, someone else will provide for that and get paid well to do so. We will be buying those solutions from them as well.

We can also participate in the global economy online. Affiliate programs, network marketing, online education via millions of individuals who can teach what they know. These are just a few things that are available right now to help anyone who is fed up and tired of the way things are.

Stop listening to those who say “You Can’t” or “Or that’s a stupid idea”. Gary Vaynerchuk would say “Do what you love to do, live your passion”. Not everyone is going to agree with you. You have to agree with yourself. Stop doing the thing(s) that are making you miserable.

We get excited when we are involved with new things. OK, so there is a bit of trepidation and maybe some fear. That’s natural. Remember when you first met your partner or dated someone exciting? You didn’t seem to need much sleep and your energy was up. The same thing is true when you are doing what you love and are truly and deeply excited about.

I will continue this thought in another post. I may revisit it from time to time. It helps to remind me of where I need to focus and let go of what is not serving me anymore.

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