Cynicism is the new reality in America today. This post from a reader called Fifty First State, over at Marketwatch. How appropriate?

Hmmm, I hope I don’t sound to cynical about the Lehman situation but I suspect the plan by “Da Boyz” and their “mole” in the Bush administration, Henry Paulson, was to skim off all the profitable parts of Lehman, divide the spoils, and leave the c*** for the government (we the taxpayer) to pay off. Something like $85 billion of junk paper I understand. Still, what’s another $100 billion debt?

Then of course, Phase 2 of “Da Boyz” plan would kick in. That other “mole”, Bernanke, could crank up the printing press, throw more money out of his helicopter (he needs a new engine by now considering the time that helicopter has spent in the air) get the government to buy all that junk paper and thus flood the world with more US confetti pesos which would bring our once mighty dollar closer to the status of junk money.

This is one of the saddest periods in America’s history. We owe so much money (around 10 to 12 trillion $$$ I think is the current number) our children, grandchildren and probably our great grandchildren, will be paying for the mistakes that incredible clown in the White House has made, for decades to come.

We have to beg the Chinese and Japanese not to cash in our IOU’s. We print more and more confetti US pesos. Only the crappy little countries worry about our military might and now, from Pakistan’s latest threat to kill any US troops on Pakistan’s land, even THEY are not impressed while Russia and China shake their heads and hide their laughter.

Now, some of the most most respected financial firms (respected once but not now) are going down the tubes one by one and we are hated in most of the world. A friend in the UK told me recently, “Listen, if you decide to visit europe, tell anyone who ask you are Canadian.”

It’s very, very sad but we deserve it. While we watched football and shopped for that 50″ flat screen tv, “Da Boyz” were busy shoveling money into their off-shore accounts and thinking up new schemes to skim as much off the 401k’s as they could or begin a Ponzi Scheme (like the mortgage mess).

Take charge or perish : This is why in my last post, I had a clear reasoning why humans should perish in order for the planet and our environment to survive. The same goes for the business world. Many must perish in order for a few to make it. And those who perish have a mindset like the fellow who I had exchanged emails with recently.

There are a privileged few on this planet who will first question you as to what you can do for them far as work is concerned rather than showing you what they have done and the extent of work and sacrifices they have put forth in order to make their business happen.

No Mr Jones, no one is responsible for your success. When I, as a business owner approach someone to sell them the value of the system, I am not saying to them - “This business makes me $150k per year. It will do the same for you. Why don’t you join, while I work my ass off for you and it will make you the same amount of money?”

No! I don’t do that. These people as in so called entrepreneur wannabes do not realize that success, rewards and results are all based on the self. Yes, there are instances where the person inviting their client to their business should assist and help the new business owner grow, by way of referrals and sales. Yet, this is taken for granted and many people who join in any kind of business, especially an online business expect their team leader, sponsor to carry the load for them.

The gentleman, whose email I received below claims to have been involved with network marketing since 1980. Today he is unemployed and presumably broke. How can that be? 28 years hence! Did he fail for lack of work ethic and vision or was his circumstances faulted on his peers or worse because of the companies he was involved with? I don’t know.

What I know is, something went terribly wrong and the man who is crying foul should take 100% of the responsibility of his apparent or perhaps real failure by looking inward rather than point fingers elsewhere.

Some concerns are understandable and I can relate with it. What pissed me off was his last 2 apprehensions or rather belief system, which I couldn’t come to terms with. Although a mentor and sponsor’s help is essential, these folks do not strive to put the time, work and sweat required to attain the knowledge and expert status gained by others in their field.

They are forever looking upwards to someone else as their light source. No brother! The light source is within you. Go online. Read what other people do. Research. Not for a day or two, but everyday. Until you get it. Take risks. Go through your business with trials and errors. Be doggedly determined by taking actions and not just talking around the water coolers. Share your business. Inspire others. Keep selling. Never give up.

These are but a few of the things mentors do. Hey! You don’t need a mentor beyond a week. You can be the one. Take charge. Take action. Consistently. Every day! Did it sink in yet? If not, read over. Did those words mean anything at all?

Below is his grievances.

Let’s be real for a moment…. I know network marketing and others since 1980. I connect with companies that have products or services that I use and benefit me. I share them with others have made some money. nothing great… because I never had a sponsor that helped me in the way I needed help for my success.

I just invested in [Some Company]

[Some Link]

That will make me a 7 figure / year income within 3-5 years. People don’t realize the paradigm shift that is happening with [some industry] life events. I am learning to lead myself and my team. Which is tough. However I must do it. I am cause motivated… and immediate money motivated due to my financial situation.

So if you want me to be a part of your organization,

1st - basics of your product… value, cost, what it does for people etc
2nd - how much time are you willing to invest in me building an income for us….
3rd - I have been unemployed and I am looking for a job/income… do you have a way to make us both money before I spend money…

Those are the basics.

If you want to pursue this business relationship… let’s talk how do I get a hold of you?

Thanks,
[Some Name]

My Response

[Some Name], I make over $150k a year, every year with my business. Your 2nd and 3rd questions are absurd.

You are not going to make it with that kind of a mindset. I will give you a sponsor. Work your ass off if you wanna make it through. Take charge or perish.

[Some Link]

Chris

What I said to him will be hard for him to digest. The business world is not for everyone. This is why the business ecosystem effectively and ruthlessly weeds out the failures and the losers, not because they did not try. But, because they did not try HARD ENOUGH! LONG ENOUGH!

Becoming successful is all about the SELF. The moment you point fingers elsewhere, you are (in my eyes) a big, huge, pathetic loser. You should have never been attempting to start or expect to succeed in any business anyways.

Brutal, but true. Take charge or perish!

I like honest people. Even if they come off as dumb. Who wants to deal with clever conniving phony bastards just so you could get along with them? - “Be Honest.”

If you run a business or service, make it a point to sustain your enterprise on a solid foundation of honesty. You may not always live up to other people’s expectations. Your commitments may take a beating once in a while. Your financial obligations may derail. But that should not reflect on your principles of being honest.

Yesterday, I got an invitation to be a friend from a Facebook member. I usually check their profiles and this profile stood out among all of them I’ve seen thus far. This is the kind of person, I ‘d like to deal with far as honesty goes. What he does is not entirely legal. So, to reiterate my statement - “Be honest while doing something legal.”

Below is this gentleman’s profile. I love it.

Contact InfoEmail : Windows Live : xxxxxx @ aol.com
Land Phone : xxxxxxx
Current Town : Northampton, United Kingdom
Website : http://xxxxxxx

Personal Info

Interests : Hi my interest are building and repairing computers,
downloading music movies and software.

I WORK CHEAPLY AND WILL NEVER GET RICH,
I ALSO BUY AND SELL PC COMPONENTS, AND COPIED SOFTWARE, SO CHEAP ITS UNREAL

Favorite Music:
POP ROCK AND SOUL

Favorite TV Shows:
ONLY FOOL AND HORSES, TWO PINTS OF LAGER

Favorite Movies:
GREEN MILE AND YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

Favorite Quotes:
THIS TIME NEXT YEAR WE’LL BE MILLIONAIRES

About Me:
I AM A 48 YEAR OLD DODGY FELLA, WILL COPY AND CRACK ANY SOFTWARE I CAN AND SELL IT

I don’t have all the answers to why a good majority of businesses fail. I really don’t. Some patterns are obvious. Just yesterday, an Internet company called Akimbo closed it’s doors and in the process lost 56 Million dollars. In this case, there cannot be a single predictor as to why Akimbo failed. There were just too many people involved in its demise.

But when it comes to small businesses and especially a sole proprietorship business, you can determine exactly why and how a business fails. It is the person behind the business who is 100% responsible.

In my experience, a business fails because the person behind the business fails. A business, just like an object, needs a push, navigation and consistently so to get from point A to point B. And this navigation is done by the business owner. It is never that the business which fails. It is always the people managing it, who fail.

Sure, there are some pretty bad business concepts out there. But bad business concepts are known to have worked as well.

A business, especially a new start up business is no different than a job in many ways. It requires work and lot of work. It requires more work than you will have ever worked in your entire life. A business is your baby. You will need to teach the business to take baby steps before it learns how to walk and run. You will need to nourish the business and help make it grow. you will need to be consistent. You will need to be committed.

Do you know why most businesses, especially new start up businesses fail?

It is because they do not apply what most people apply at their jobs.

A job is a designation where you work and get paid.
A business is a designation where you work and MAY get paid.

You apply to get a job.
You choose to get into your own business.

You are entrusted with responsibilities at your job place.
You take responsibilities upon yourself with your own business.

You put in your time and effort at your job and get paid.
You put in your time and effort at your business and MAY or MAY NOT get paid.

Your job more or less is guaranteed to pay you in proportion to work input.
Your business gives you no such guarantees.

Your job is not an investment. You get paid for your time.
Your business is an investment. You get paid for your time now and for your future.

A job requires hard work predetermined by your employer.
A business requires hard work determined by you.

Your job requires you to be punctual at work.
Your business requires you to be punctual at work.

If you are late too often at your job, chances are you will get fired.
If you are late attending to your business, chances are, you won’t fire yourself.

If you do really well at your job, you MAY get a promotion.
If you do really well at your business, you WILL get more profits.

Your job comes with built in rules you must obey.
Your business comes with built in rules you will need to figure out and then you must obey.

With your job, you work for your employer.
With your business, you work for YOU.

At your job, if you work less, you get paid less.
At your business, if you work less, you get paid less.

If you don’t show up at your job, you don’t get paid.
If you don’t show up for your business, you don’t get paid.

Your job monitors your accomplishments by analyzing daily work input.
You need to monitor your own daily work input.

Your job is not 100% secure.
Your business is only as secure as you make it to be.

Your job does not reward you for failure to accomplish goals.
Your business does not reward you for failure to accomplish goals.

No one can fill for you at your job so you can get paid.
No one will do YOUR WORK for your business so you can get paid.

Your job may not require you to sell.
Your business requires you to sell.

Your job may not require you to advertise, promote and conduct marketing.
Your business requires of you to do advertising, promotion and marketing.

If your employer fails to make a profit, it is not your fault.
If your business fails to make money, it is YOUR fault.

You can blame your employer if you do not get paid for time put in at your job.
You cannot blame your BUSINESS for not making a profit. The blame is on you.

Your job requires you to sacrifice time.
Your business requires you to sacrifice time, money, and some personal desires.

Your job does not require you to take financial or maybe personal risks.
Your business requires you to take financial, personal and unseen risks.

Your job does not pay you to day dream.
Your business will not pay you to day dream either.

Your job pays you for specific actions you perform at your workplace.
Likewise, Your business will only pay you for specific ACTIONS you take.

You have to be consistent at your job.
You have to be consistent with your business.

With your job, there is always a risk of getting laid off.
With your business, YOU choose to get laid off.

With a job, you can blame the job for how far high you can go.
With your business, you cannot and must not blame the business for your failure.

With your job, your employer is in control.
With your business, YOU are in control.

With your job, the employer is 99.99% responsible for everything.
With your business, YOU are 100% responsible for everything.

You may find reasons to point fingers at your job.
You CANNOT & MUST NOT point fingers at your business. The fingers are pointed at you.

At your job, if you don’t live up to expectations, you will fail.
With your business, if you don’t live up to expectations, you will fail.

Your job is a SYSTEM.
You business is a SYSTEM.

If you don’t follow the job system, there will be bad results.
If you don’t follow your business system, there will be bad results.

The point is, you must treat your business as a job and do much of what you do at your workplace where responsibilities are concerned.

If your business does not wake you up at 6 am in the morning like your job does to you everyday, then you might as well not be in business.

The business never fails. You do!

Never blame the business. Do what it takes to make it work.

Stop giving excuses. Work hard and stop being lazy.

Take action. The only thing going on in your head must be planning. And that should not take more time than ACTION. Actions alone produce results. If you don’t act to get in the shower before you go to work, you won’t get there.

If you don’t act to catch that ride to work, you won’t get there. This is something you do like a robot. Don’t you? So, if you need to do something for your business, you must have the same push. You must have that same uncontrollable push you get what your job schedule calls you to do. You must have that same voice in your head calling you to get off your bed and leave your home for your office.

Considering you are 100% involved with a business.

Think 10% of your time.

Plan 10% of the time.

Advertise, promote and sell 80% of the time.

And the 80% requires that you ACT, INTERACT with other people in some form or the other.

Sitting in your apartment bedroom and dreaming scenarios won’t cut it.

Finally, have a strong and unbreakable commitment to your business. Do not give EXCUSES. Especially do not give excuses by pointing fingers at your business. Until you do this, you just may be better off having a JOB.

For some unknown reasons, at your JOB, you will do the same things required of your business.

Weird Huh!

I resisted MySpace for years. ( I even have my MySpace contact box blanked out. ) And so did I, resist using FaceBook and many other social networks. Simply because, the original premise of social networking for connecting between a set group of known contacts becomes a mass hysteria of commercial offerings.

I joined FaceBook a couple of months ago but never went there to actively associate with my contacts. When I did start connecting with members in earnest, I got sucked into the marketing mentality so pervasive within FaceBook and many other networks.

Although there is nothing wrong with taking advantage of the FaceBook platform to connect, what I found disturbing was the herd mentality created by some marketers by teaching others, how to build a list? How to explode your friends by 1000 in 30 days? And how to profit from Facebook?

All this is fine if there is a valid data set showing those who run amok using these methods, that the tactics proposed works! Sure it may, for some. But, when every fisherman sells fish to every other fisherman, the market kinda gets pretty redundant and ineffective.

I am a marketer at heart. I do promote when I get an opportunity. I do this only when I am invited to be a friend by someone. The bar of being a friend of someone is set pretty low by the likes of MySpace & FaceBook.

I make enough money without the use of MySpace and FaceBook to be listening to amateurs on how to make loads of money using stealth tactics and relationship marketing. Most users are so blinded and well hypnotized by these marketers, that they realize little that 6 months from now, they’d be doing little else than trying to sell to folks who don’t know any better with little return on investment of money and most importantly - time.

If my straight shooting is not well taken, then I would welcome refute of my statements with a conclusive results based data set, which proves that the herd mentality which is ongoing in these social networks, do actually work. If at all! It may, for a select few. When a few attempt anything worthwhile, it has a greater probability that it may work. It is akin to robbing a bank. When 2 people rob a bank, chances are that they may or may not be successful. When a million people try the heist, the bank will still get busted. But like in the previous attempt, only a select few will run with the loot.

I swear, there are better ways to make money on the Internet and loads of it. It is much easier than soliciting for a $10 affiliate sale on FaceBook. But why listen to a no name guy who just makes $100k per year? The marketing gurus do a better job selling their wares.

Welcome to web 2.0 - The social network madness!