Have you found that when you’re uptight about something, tired, hungry and stressed, that you tend, ever so slightly, to overreact sometimes? I received a nasty e mail the other day accusing me of spamming this person (who had subscribed / opted in to my ezine, by the way). Obviously, he was having a bad day and had lost perspective on spam. I sent him a note which I thought I’d share with you, just so we can maintain perspective in this busy day and age.

First of all, I receive over 360 spam e mails a day. That’s the price one pays for a strong Internet presence, I guess. I don’t use a spam filter as it has cost me money in the past by blocking important e mails. (Spam filters have no brains, you see; they’re simply robots.) Here’s the thing – it takes me a total of 12 minutes to delete the spam, but I save hours every day using the Internet and e mail. TWELVE MINUTES. Let’s see that in perspective. How long do you wait for your food in a restaurant? How much time do you spend commuting? I don’t spend hours attacking the spammers - I simply hit “Delete” and move on.

Also, there are different types of spam – helpful, uplifting information and valuable offers on the one hand, and sleazy porn and scammers on the other. Either way, it takes two seconds to delete. So, when one looks at the real time usage compared to the benefits, why do people react so violently to what they perceive as spam? Why the threats and why take so much MORE time to write to the “spammer”, instead of taking two seconds to delete the e mail? Is there perhaps something else going on here?

There’s the rub! The REAL reason, I suspect, why people get so angry at certain “spam” e mails, is that their buttons are being pushed. Something in that e mail reminds them about something about themselves that they’re not happy about. They look in the mirror, don’t like what they see, and smash the mirror. “You can break the scales, but you’ll still be fat.” They shoot the messenger when the message is a little too close to the truth. Instead of standing back and asking themselves, “Why am I reacting so violently? Is there a message here for me? What can I learn from this?” they attack. Anger often comes from fear. Perhaps we should start reading some of those really irritating e mails.

There’s a radio station here that spouts the worst kind of socialism, anti-establishment collectivism and everything that is directly opposed to my philosophy. And I LOVE listening to it. I learn so much. It gives me perspective, corrects some of my assumptions and strengthens others. There are some very smart people on that show – much smarter than me! Perhaps we should be less threatened and more open minded about spam and look at the upside of this amazing, time-saving thing called e mail.

Robin J. Elliott www.DollarMakers.com

As I get older, I get balder. I bought an electric hairclipper so that I can keep my hair short and neat; I don’t like the comb-overs, dyed hair, pony tails and beards that men tend to use to compensate for and disguise balding and ageing - I find it weak and pathetic. But I digress. This morning, I grabbed the trusty electric clipper and applied it to my pugugly head. I didn’t realize that the guide was of, so instead of a length setting of “4″, it was “0″! I shaved a neat slice of bald right up the side of my head! Now if you think I’m an ugly swine with short hair, you should see me with none! When I finished laughing, I applied the logical interim solution: I set the shaver to “3″ to reduce the contrast from “No Hair” to “Very Short Hair”. Compared to the rest of my head, this slice of skin doesn’t seem quite as bad.

And this is my point - we tend to compare ourselves DOWNWARD, which is very disempowering. Do you say, “I’m not as fat as my friends, so its OK”? Or, “At least we have less debt than Monica and Manny”? Do you justify your lack of success and performance, initiative and progress by comparing yourself with less successful people? This is a recipe for disaster. “Well, we’re better off than when we lived in the car and ate out of dumpsters - at least now we get hand-outs from the Food Bank!” No. That’s not going to make your dreams come true. Why not compare yourself with more successful people in order to motivate yourself? Sure, it’s less comfortable, but it works!

We all get stuck in this trap of “Negative Comparison”, a term I have just concocted. If you make ten sales a month, instead of feeling jolly because last month you made 7 sales, why not ask yourself, “What will it take for me to do better than the best salesperson in the team?” Even if the best salesman is doing 20 sales per month. Compare UP. Challenge yourself. Push yourself. The amount of money we earn is usually within 10% of the earnings of the people we spend the most time with. Why not spend more time with winners? Find someone who is even more successful than you are and learn from them. That’s why I started the DollarMakers Joint Venture Forum - a place to meet with and work with real Eagles.

Attend a Joint Venture Broker Bootcamp : Vancouver November 19th, Ottawa November 25th, Toronto December 2nd.

I was recently asked why I was so passionate about Joint Ventures.

Here is why: Money is the lifeblood of a free, capitalist society. Joint Ventures offer people who have no savings, little education and no connections or business background, the opportunity to make money quickly and build multiple streams of passive income. Joint Ventures is a tool to create wealth and freedom, to help small businesses survive and flourish, to build strong relationships between good entrepreneurs and allow people to regain their dignity and self respect through the ability to be paid what they’re really worth.

Joint Ventures are a business opportunity in itself – it is the great liberator. Anyone can learn how to use JV’s to create financial independence. Students who finish college and still can’t find a job, seniors who can’t survive on their pensions, immigrants who face xenophobic attitudes in their new countries, good people who are downsized and people whose educational qualifications are no longer deemed sufficient by bureaucrats, can all grab Joint Ventures as a drowning man in a turbulent and dangerous ocean would grab a lifebelt.

Crime, drug dealers and terrorism needs poverty and desperation in order to flourish. By helping people to create their own financial independence through the understanding and application of Joint Ventures, we can save marriages and lives and our society. The only people who claim that money is not important are those who don’t have any. People can make good money with no risk, no overhead and no previous experience or education, and they can do so very fast. Our one day, Joint Venture Broker Bootcamps teach people in one day how to start making money the very next day, with no capital investment, regardless of age or gender. It’s almost miraculous how powerful this concept is. That’s why all the large businesses use them.

Joint Ventures also give us security – we can earn money even if we can’t work through illness or other reasons, because that is the nature of a good JV. This is the solution so many people seek, yet they don’t even know it exists. I want to tell people all over the world that they can create financial freedom through JV’s. With JV’s, we don’t put all our eggs in one basket and we don’t give someone else power over us. We can be independent and proud and free. I love Joint Ventures and I love teaching others about this amazing business tool. I strongly suggest you read the following – Click here

Robin J. Elliott www.DollarMakers.com

1. Listen to the following 57 minute Joint Venture Success interview download: Click here

2. Listen Now: How to GROW Your Business with NO MONEY and NO RISK: Click here (Wait for Download)

3. Listen to a Free Joint Venture TeleClass - Click Here

4. Grab our Free 6 Part Mini Course on Joint Ventures, PLUS our Free, weekly E Magazine, “Joint Adventures” - Click here

5. Attend a Free Seminar on Joint Ventures: Click Here

6. More Free Information: www.DollarMakers.com

Who is Robin J. Elliott? Click here

One of the questions I get asked on a regular basis is, “How much should I ask for when setting up a Joint Venture? What percentage is reasonable?” And that’s a very good question. Different businesses have different profit margins. Some have higher overhead and costs of sales and than other. If you sell computer hardware, for example, you make a very small profit – most of your profit is in the software, service, keyboards, etc.

If you’re selling a service, you make big profits, but you can also have varying costs. So we have to keep this in mind. Some people have certain restrictions on their ability to pay out commissions, like certain financial planners or dentists. Others are not used to paying commissions, like the realtor who offered me $75 for a buying referral!

So here is a way to approach this challenge. First, do your homework. I know I keep saying that, but information is power when it comes to negotiations. That’s good news, because most people talk a lot, but don’t listen much, so when you listen a lot, you learn a lot. Find out about the business and its profit margins. Make sure they’re telling the truth when they say they’re not allowed to pay commissions. Sometimes, they’re just plain lying, because they’re cheap! Talk to their competition, ask employees questions, and you will get a feel for the amount of profit they make, so you know what to ask for.

Second, educate them about the money in the Back End. You might make no profit at all on the first sale (break even on the first transaction) but you can make a lot on future transactions, referrals, additional products and services sold through other vendors on a JV basis and on and on. If people understand the Back End correctly, they will be eager to give away a generous portion of the front end. Show them the principle of Incremental Profits (profits made when overhead and salaries are already covered and the new sale is incremental, like putting an extra seat into a seminar or serving another plate of food when the food cost is only 32%)

Third, understand negotiating techniques. By all means start high and drop, but don’t start greedy. Be prepared to walk away from any deal at any time. Remove risk from both parties and work WITH the competition. Savvy entrepreneurs know their competition can be their greatest ally.

Most of all, approach any Joint Venture proposal from a position of strength – know more than the person you’re dealing with. Be well prepared.

For More Information on Joint Ventures, Visit www.DollarMakers.com

“Will you marry me?” That was the most important question I ever asked anyone in my life. I was very fortunate when Rika finally agreed! I have the best wife in the world, no question about that, but it would never have happened had I not asked. March 29th, we’ll have been married for 20 years. All because I asked. How many opportunities have we lost in life, simply because we didn’t ask? What’s the worst that can happen? They can say, “No.”

I know it’s hard for some of us to ask, especially self-sufficient, proud, responsible, disciplined and hard working entrepreneurs. We don’t want to take advantage, we’re afraid of being made a fool of, afraid of rejection, and so on. But the fact is, things only happen when we make them happen. And that usually involves asking people to do something. Together, we can do amazing things – but we need to invite others to participate in our Joint Venture programs in order to achieve the maximum results, and that involves asking. And it’s absolutely amazing what people will do, if you simply ask them to!

I talked with a beggar on the street once. I was interested to know if he felt bad when people didn’t give him money. He answered, “No, siree! I don’t feel bad if they ignore me or don’t give me money – THEY feel bad! I just keep on askin’, askin’, askin’, and the Law of Averages kicks in. I can predict pretty accurately how much money I will make on any given day, as long as I keep askin’. And the more I ask, the more I git!” Salespeople know this – it’s a Numbers Game – ratios are real. Statistics are real. It’s a game. Ask ten people and you might get something. Ask a thousand people and you most certainly will!

Set up your Joint Ventures in such a way that YOU ask many people and that you have a system to ask many more. And the more you ask for, the more you’re likely to get. Be confident, plan your strategy well and ASK. By all means ask. Ask many people. Ask for more. “You have not, because you ask not”, is true.

Become a Joint Venture Broker - Visit www.DollarMakers.com

Our DollarMakers Joint Venture Forum Members can earn significant commissions by bringing us business though recruiting new Members, enrolling people in Joint Venture Broker Bootcamps, marketing our products, etc. I recently had a very interesting conversation with a certain Member. His question was not, “How can I recruit a few new Members and make some money?” Instead, he sat down and worked out a plan whereby he could put a Joint Venture in place that would bring in a thousand new Members in three months. This would earn him significant income, as he could negotiate a sliding scale of commissions on such a large number.

His thinking was very significant. He wasn’t thinking about his own database or his local Chamber of Commerce as sources of new Members. He started out thinking about the number of entrepreneurs and business owners worldwide that would benefit from joining the Forum. Millions! Then he thought about all the people in the world who didn’t own businesses, but who would like to join in order to get in touch with people who wanted to do JV’s. Many more millions! So he was thinking big in terms of numbers and money. The key is to start with the big picture. The WHY is much more important than the HOW. Knowing that there is gold in the mountain and that it can make all your financial dreams come true is more important than how to mine the gold.

Having realized the huge potential income available to him, this Member then started thinking about strategies to reach people worldwide with our Joint Venture opportunities, Membership, training and products. By thinking big, he had his priorities and motivation in order. Would you cross a busy street to pick up a penny on the opposite sidewalk? Probably not – it’s a small goal. Would you cross the same street to pick up a bag with a million dollars in it? More likely, right? Big goals drive the process, carry us across the hurdles, keep us motivated and awake and attract a lot of assistance.

Inviting someone to participate in a Joint Venture with you should always be carefully structured as an “Offer that is too good to refuse”. This is easier than it might seem, and it is done by creating a large benefit or solving a significant problem for the other party, while at the same time removing the following barriers:

Remove the barrier of RISK to both parties. This includes the risk of alienating, upsetting, or losing his existing customers or losing customers to his competition.

Remove the barrier of TIME invested by the other party (and you should also invest the minimum amount of time.)

Remove the barrier of EFFORT. Entrepreneurs are busy and they will want you to do most of the work if possible. Remember, you’re approaching them, not vice versa.

Remove the barrier of COMPLICATION. Some proposals are very complicated. Complication, many irrelevant facts and the promise of huge, unusual rewards, is often the mark of a confidence trickster. Keep it very simple and straightforward and answer all questions in advance.

Remove the barrier of RELIGION and POLITICS. People are often negatively disposed to certain religions, religious groups or political affiliations. Play down your religious and political leanings until a relationship of trust has been developed, and, even then, business is not about religion or politics.

Remove the barrier of THREAT to the Other Person’s EGO. People don’t want to be made to look foolish or unsuccessful. Keep things simple.

Remove the barrier of LOSS – any loss, including embarrassment, time or reputation.
By carefully structuring your JV proposal to remove the above threats, you lower the barrier to business. Think through the deal from the other person’s perspective. This means doing your homework – credit checks, Google searches, police checks, understanding the other person’s business and Hot Button and obtaining a clear understanding or their needs, wants, goals, drives, problems and dreams – before structuring your proposal.

1. There should be no cost or risk to you and it should not involve a lot of time, and definitely no selling.

2. The deals should be able to create enough money per deal to be worth your time and effort.

3. You should only work with people you like and trust, who take action and are reliable. Don’t deal with whiners, losers or flakes.

4. Look at the turn-around time. If you’re bringing leads to realtors or financial planners (insurance salespeople), for example, their deals generally take a long time and often fall apart, whereas certain deals are time sensitive (like a seminar) and people have to make fast decision, so the deal happens or it doesn’t in a shorter period of time. We want high-return, no risk (to EITHER party), little time invested, no money invested, and a quick turn-around time.

5. Structure your multiple income sources to complement each other. Instead of a “feast or famine” scenario, have different businesses with different busy cycles in the hopper, so that you get an even flow of income. Also look for synergies between the different demographics and buyer needs so that the same customer can buy from more than one income source.

6. Put the deal in writing - who does what, how they do it, when they do it, how payment takes place, the exact amounts or percentages paid, when payment takes place, etc., the more detail the better so that there are no misunderstandings later on. Do you get paid on the first transaction or on ongoing transactions?

7. Attend the DollarMakers Joint Venture Forum Member meetings and conference calls and attend Bootcamps so that you stay connected and keep on learning. Remember, if there’s no risk to either party and a deal doesn’t work out, nobody gets hurt, so don’t be afraid to fail. Also, some people will not want to JV with you. Don’t take it personally; they simply don’t understand value yet.

8. Create an action plan and be prepared to do some research on people whom you intend to approach. For example, what are their profit margins, underutilized resources and needs? What kind of reputation do they have? Google them, check the Better Business Bureau, run a credit check, ask around.

9. Be upbeat and optimistic when approaching potential JV partners, but never be desperate. You don’t need them. Be prepared to walk away from any deal at any time.

10. Finally, business is a numbers game. The more you fail, the more people you talk with, the more you try, the bigger you think, the better. Joint Ventures is the fastest, best and most fun way to make an unlimited amount of money with no risk, little time and no money, that I have ever seen. Make it happen!