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).

Failure is not an easy subject to discuss. People conceive failure as something which is an unwanted topic to deal with. It is mostly associated with negativity. But, this is far from the truth.

Failure is merely the end result of your actions. It is during the process of taking certain actions that you must analyze the consequences, which might either result in success or failure. And if you fail in your objective, make it a point to learn from the experieince. There are no guarantees that you might not fail again, but what you can do is ensure that your level of failure isn’t as bad, deep and stinging as your last one.

Failure is very difficult to assess. Especially, when you are a one man, one woman operation in your business. You are then, the judge and the jury. Be fair to yourself. As long as you have given your business, your all. As long as you have left no stone unturned. As long as you have been 100% honest in your dealings towards your business, failure may just be a reflection on the balance sheet. Not on your character or your ethics.

Why do most people fail, especially in an online business? I posted a brief summation of the discussion thread within Digital Point which I found immensely useful and I hope, by reading it, you will take away the real reasons why most people fail in thier online business.

Click Here!

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 love entrepreneurs. No! Not the kind who goes about saying, “I am an entrepreneur.”

Not that kind. I love entrepreneurs, who do the talking with their actions day in and night out. I love entrepreneurs, who take all kinds of calculated and planned risks. I love entrepreneurs, who do not give excuses for their failures. I love entrepreneurs, who share their successes.

And even though I don’t know her, I love Ruth. I found her public profile, (No intrusion of privacy there - just to be clear on my intentions) which I am sharing with you here.

Would you not like to connect with Ruth and see what she has to offer? True entrepreneurs are positive minded people who are not just looking to make a quick sale. They are genuinely interested in building an organization where everyone has the same opportunity to thrive based on the amount of effort they put in.

Learn about Ruth below.

Name : Ruth

Hi, I’m Ruth Sias, live in Folsom, CA (right outside of Sacramento).

I am very happily divorced with 2 adult sons and 2 gorgeous grandchildren. I entered the world of free enterprise as a result of a “big slap in the face” when I was laid off of my 23 year career in the title insurance industry. In a short amount of time, I realized that being an employee and depending on corporate America was in fact, one of the biggest disappointments of my life. Because I’m too stubborn and determined, I knew in my heart that I would find a way to maintain the lifestyle I had created despite the loss of my 6 figure annual income job.

I experienced a paradigm shift when I ran across another marketer’s YouTube video who shared about the loss of her career and that she was a successful online marketer. I related so well to her story and connected with her. That instilled the confidence I needed to jump into this marvelous world of Entrepreneurship.

Losing a job can be one of the most stressful events to happen in one’s life, especially when I was so unprepared. It ranks right up there with death and divorce. However, I can say with complete conviction that I feel that my departure from the rat race turned out to be the beginning of an entirely new way of thinking and opened my eyes to the fact that I was not living my life to the fullest.

The most rewarding part is that I can take what I am learning and pass it on to others. I want to inspire and to bring out the best in others. I never would have been able to do that, had I still been in the rat race.

Best wishes to you Ruth!

May success knock on your doors with a bang.

I came across Kemmons Wilson’s 20 Steps to Success. I wonder how many of these are within my total control. To a good extent I do, except for a few. And they are many. This is valuable food for thought. Follow them.

20 Steps to Success : by Kemmons Wilson

1. Work only a half a day; it makes no difference which half-it can be either the first 12 hours or the last 12 hours.

2. Work is the master key that opens the door to all opportunities.

3. Mental attitude plays a far more important role in a person’s success or failure than mental capacity.

4. Remember that we all climb the ladder of success one step at a time.

5. There are two ways to get to the top of the oak tree. One way is to sit on a acorn and wait; the other is to climb it.

6. Do not be afraid of taking a chance. Remember that a broken watch is exactly right at least twice every 24 hours.

7. The secret of happiness is not doing what one likes, but in liking what one does.

8. Eliminate from your vocabulary the words, “I don’t think I can” and substitute “I know I can”.

9. In evaluating a career, put opportunity ahead of security.

10. Remember that success requires half luck and half brains.

11. A person has to take risks to achieve.

12. People who taker pains never to do more than they get paid for, never get paid for anything more than they do.

13. No job is too hard as long as you are smart enough to find someone else to do it for you.

14. Opportunity comes often. It knocks as often as you have an ear trained to hear it, an eye trained to see it, a hand trained to grasp it, and a head trained to use it.

15. You cannot procrastinate. In two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.

16. Sell your wristwatch and buy an alarm clock.

17. A successful person realizes his personal responsibility for self-motivation. He starts with himself because he possesses the key to his own ignition switch.

18. Do not worry. You can’t change the past, but you sure can ruin the present by worrying over the future. Remember that half the things we worry about never happens, and the other half are going to happen anyway. So, why worry?

19. It is not how much you have but how much you enjoy that makes happiness.

20. Believe in God and obey the Ten Commandments.