Happy New Year's Eve

Happy New Year's Eve!

So I'm sitting here reflecting on the past year and how I came to be where I am now.

Last year on New Year's Eve, I felt that I had no focus and no real goals. I was alone and was feeling pretty lost in my life given that I had just lost my job and had no idea how I was going to pay the bills. 

I was involved in network marketing, but after I left one network marketing company and joined two more, I realized that network marketing just isn't for me.  Networking is and marketing is, but being with a network marketing company just really does not suit me. I worked as a contractor and a part time retail employee for a little while and figured out that I really do not like working for other people. I learned about affiliate marketing which opened my eyes to all the possibilities it has to offer. I read book after book and got inspired to write my own book. Towards the end of 2014, I decided that I really should work for myself and so I started my own company.

I also discovered vegetarianism and I learned how to eat healthier and cleaner.  I lost a little bit of weight and because of that, I have made friends and set a goal to do a 60 day juice cleanse in 2015.  I'm starting that tomorrow and I'm super excited. I wrote a book about juicing and I'm already writing a follow up complete with recipes and advice on how to live and eat clean in the real world.

My fiance came to visit me and I am so blessed to have someone so amazing who loves me no matter what I look like or what I am doing. I love him so much and I am blessed to know him and have him in my life. 

So that's where I am today.  Life is good.

I have so many goals and plans for 2015 that even I am in awe of some of them.  I want to write more books and help as many people as I can lead healthy happy lives.  I also want to help as many people as I can escape the 9 to 5 and make money using the internet.  I want my friends and family to be happy and healthy and have lives they are proud of.  And I'm going to do all of those things.....All of them.

So that is what I am thinking about today.  My wonderful, blessed happy little crazy life and how it's amazing today and will be even more amazing in the new year.

Happy New Year!

I'm Well on My Way...

Woo hoo hoo!  I'm well on my way!

To where, you ask?  To financial freedom!!!  Woo hoo!!

See, today I got my FIRST paycheck from Clickbank.  I know, you're probably asking yourself "What is Clickbank and why does it matter?".

Well it matters because just about a month ago I discovered Affiliate Marketing because I was working on a contract that I was not happy with.  When I'm not happy with situations or jobs or most anything, I tend to start seeking my escape.

So back to the story.  During my little crisis, I stumbled on the concept of promoting other people's products for commission and I got so turned on by it that I literally did just that. I signed up for Clickbank and a few other affiliate marketing sites (these are ALL free to join, mind you!  If they want you to pay to join, it's probably a network marketing company trying to disguise itself as an affiliate marketing program) and I started promoting other people's products.  In fact, I actually sold some products through my efforts which I thought was (and still is) very cool!  Oh and did I mention that I got PAID?  Yes, I got paid and I am super happy! It's such a wonderful thing.

See, I wasn't happy with my network marketing business.  I had not really been happy or excited about network marketing in a long time (yes, I was in denial) and I was looking for a way to make money from home that didn't involve having to talk to a lot of people everyday, make friends with them and then hope and pray that they would join my 'opportunity', stay active, and build their own business. 

For those of you that don't know this about network marketing, the truth is that bringing people onto your team is the main way to make money. It doesn't matter what the compensation plan is or the buy in. It doesn't matter what product you are selling. If you cannot recruit heaps and heaps of people successfully and consistently and keep them in your organization, you are sunk. It's that plain and simple. 

Another hard truth (one of the ones that no network marketer likes to admit) and the main reason why most network marketers are always begging and pleading with everyone to check out their opportunity and join because they aren't making any money. 99% of the network marketers you meet are not making money. Most of them will tell you stories about this so-and-so guru mastermind in their upline that is making 20k a month, but if you ask them about their income, they go dead quiet. Truth is they are not making money.

Now most of them are really awesome people and I can't fault them for being this way because they really are trying their best and just want to make some money because they've probably spent (and still spend) so much money per month to stay active and commission qualified.  Don't believe me, ask one. For now, I'll just leave it at that. One day I'll tell you my network marketing story.  (It's a really long one!)

Anyway...I stumbled on Affiliate Marketing and I was sold!  No more autoship.  No more monthly minimums.  No fees. No more terms and conditions.  No more commission schedule. No more upline or downline!  No more recruiting! Yay!!! It's like I've died and gone to heaven!

And the best part is I get to represent and promote products that I like, use and want to buy!  Oh, and I've made money. Yes. I've made money and I will make heaps more! That's the beauty of affiliate marketing.  The sky is the limit and I am no longer bound by one company or product!

I am well on my way!

Yessss.....It's Friday!!!

So it's Friday.....Friday, Friday, Friday!   Woo hoo, right?  Do you feel like this today?

I do too!  Well, sort of.  I really want to blow off doing any sort of real work and do nothing, but knit and watch movies.  I can't do that though cause I have work to do.  I just launched a new ad campaign with a new agency and I need to keep an eye on it to see how it performs.

I also need to find some information on editing HTML (yes, I am still shaking my fist about HTML).  My fiance says it's not that difficult, but then again, he is the computer whisperer and went to school for that sort of thing.  Me, not so much. I'm a retired microbiologist, remember? One day I will have to tell you the story of how I retired from the lab at 40!

My fiance, the Computer Whisperer

Anyway...so I'm here at my computer writing a blog instead because I really don't want to look up HTML stuff cause it confuses me, and checking my metrics for the day.   I know it sounds crazy, but since I started this adventure in affiliate marketing, I'm really enjoying myself.

Unlike Network Marketing, Affiliate Marketing is such a breeze!  I don't have to talk to a million people and try to convince them to purchase from me or join my opportunity.  I don't have to spend a minimum per month to stay commission eligible.  It's great!  OH and I've made money!!!  Yep, in just a few weeks, I have made money by promoting other people's products.  Not heaps of money yet, but I have made money.  It is awesome!

Now I still believe in Network Marketing, but to do Network Marketing right without burning a lot of people by making huge income promises and having to chase your friends and family, you have to talk to a lot of people, make friends with them and then maybe they will join you and your opportunity. I stress the 'maybe' part, because most of the people I made friends with were already in another company and were happy.  To be honest, I never had much success with it even when I was working it full time.  My business never even paid for my products per month which was a bit disappointing.

That's how I ended up doing affiliate marketing. I was tired of spending all of my time looking for people and promoting a free product to find said people. Now I market and represent real products and companies such as BestBuy and PetSmart to name a few and I'm having fun!  Oh and I'm making money too....

If you're interested in learning more about Affiliate Marketing, check out ClickBank! It's free to join and there are heaps of products you can represent.  That's where I got started and where I made my first money online.

So Happy Friday everyone!

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