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Fat burners garner weight management interest, but consumers remain skeptical

2010-10-21T13:17:00.001-04:00

One of the greatest areas of growth in the weight management category is fat burners, but consumers are also incredibly skeptical of the claims attached, says a leading industry analyst.

Tom Vierhile, Datamonitor told attendees at this year’s SupplySide West Expo in Las Vegas that the big growth area for supplements regarding claims is for calorie or fat burning. In 2007, calorie/fat burning was experiencing 1 percent growth, while in 2010 this had increased to 3 percent, he said.
However, such growth is not without its questioning. “According to Datamonitor research, this kind of claim has the highest degree of skepticism amongst consumers,” he said.

With about 65 percent of Americans classed as overweight or obese, the food industry is well aware of the potential for products for weight loss and management. The slimming ingredients market can be divided into five groups based on the mechanisms of action – boosting fat burning/ thermogenesis, inhibiting protein breakdown, suppressing appetite/boosting satiety (feeling of fullness), blocking fat absorption, and regulating mood (linked to food consumption).

Vierhile told a room full of attendees that Market Data puts the US market at $68.7 billion, a figure which includes services such as Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig. The US market is currently growing at an annual rate of 6 percent, he added.

Results from an IFIC survey showed that 57 percent of consumers considered themselves overweight, while a further 8 percent said they were extremely overweight or obese. On the other hand, 31 percent of consumers considered themselves to be of ideal weight.

In addition, about 75 percent of the consumers surveyed globally said that they considered maintaining an ideal weight as important. Such statistics are translated into the desires by the average American to lose weight. Indeed, 81 percent of consumers said that they are either trying to lose weight or maintain it, said Vierhile.

‘Diet’ bad, ‘Zero’ good

According to data presented by Vierhile, there has been a move away from using ‘diet’ or ‘dieting’ on product labels. In 2005, over 50 products were launched claiming to be ‘diet’, with about 35 diet products in 2007, and less than 10 for 2010, he said.

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On the flip side, calorie-related claims have trended up, with beverages leading the charge. “Beverages are three times more likely as foods to make calorie-related claims,” said Vierhile.

This is supported by data from Datamonitor that shows that calories are still the top consumer concern, with respect to food labels.

Satiety continues to receive a lot of attention from consumers, said Vierhile, however such interest does not necessarily translate into product sales, he said. Indeed, according to a recent survey of global consumers by Datamonitor, “consumers talk around satiety, and not about it”.

“Hunger control will potentially resonate more effectively with consumers than satiety,” advised Vierhile.

Product innovation

Food and beverage manufacturers continue to innovate with weight management products, with recent notable launches around the world including a chewing gum product in Japan formulated with konjac powder which swells 200 times in the stomach.

Another innovation is for satiety yogurts, with both Yoplait and Danone launching such products in Australia and Spain, respectively, said Vierhile.

In the US, notable launches include the Ice Cube Diet - Hoodia Satiety Cubes, and Nutra3 Complex Weight Loss Strip Melts, with each strip reported to deliver about 250 milligrams of bioactives, including resveratrol, glutathione and SOD.

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State of the art weight management science and the latest trends will take center stage at Weight Management 2010 – the one-day virtual LIVE event for weight management for the food, beverage, and dietary supplements industries.

By Stephen Daniells in Las Vegas, 21-Oct-2010

Green tea extract effective for weight loss at low doses

2010-10-15T10:50:00.001-04:00

Daily supplements of a purified extract of green tea may increase energy expenditure and help men beat the bulge, say results from a new human study.

A low dose of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from green tea was found to increase fat oxidation by 33 per cent, according to findings published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
“This pilot study provides for the first time evidence that a single green tea catechin, EGCG, can increase fat oxidation in obese men, at least within 2 h after meal intake. Within this postprandial phase, EGCG is equipotent with caffeine with regard to fat oxidation,” wrote the authors, led by Frank Thielecke from DSM Nutritional Products.

Growing waistlines, growing market

With the World Health Organization estimating that by 2015, there will be more than 1.5 billion overweight consumers, incurring health costs beyond $117 billion per year in the US alone, the opportunities for a scientifically-substantiated weight management food product are impressive.

Green tea has been studied extensively for its potential in the weight management category, with the compound epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) highlighted as a key component.

Three mechanisms have been proposed: EGCG could increase energy metabolism and fatty acid oxidation; inhibit fat cell development (apidogenesis); and/or reduce lipid absorption and increase fat excretion.

It has also been reported that caffeine must also be present as, for EGCG to aid weight loss, a stimulated nervous system is needed.

The new research, performed in collaboration with scientists from Universitary Medicine Berlin, supports the link between caffeine and EGCG, but also found that the compounds produce similar effects. A daily dose of 300 mg of EGCG was associated with a 33 per cent increase in fat oxidation, while a daily dose of 200 mg caffeine was linked to a 34.5 per cent increase. When male subjects were given a combination of EGCG (300 mg) and caffeine (200 mg), fat oxidation increased by almost 50 per cent, added the researchers.

The EGCG used in the study was DSM's Teavigo ingredient, with 94 per cent EGCG purity.

Study details

Thielecke and his co-workers recruited ten healthy overweight and obese men (average BMI of 31.3 kg/m2) to participate in the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial. The men were randomly assigned them to one of five groups: Placebo, low-dose EGCG (300 mg), high-dose EGCG (600 mg), caffeine (200 mg), or EGCG plus caffeine (300 mg/200 mg). The men took the supplements for three days, then seven days of washout, and cross-over to another group. At the end of the study, all the men had participated in each group.

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Results showed that during two hours after a meal, the low-dose EGCG supplementation was associated with a 33 per cent increase in fat oxidation. The high-dose EGCG supplementation produced a non-significant 20 per cent increase, compared to placebo. Caffeine alone was associated with a 34.5 per cent increase, compared with placebo, while the combined EGCG/ /caffeine supplement boosted fat oxidation by 49 per cent. “There is no synergism of low EGCG and 200 mg caffeine,” stated the researchers.

Commenting on the difference between high and low dose EGCG, the researchers noted that the lower dose may be optimal for affecting energy expenditure and higher doses do not provide any additional effects.

The results obtained for the combination of EGCG and caffeine may be related to the amount of time the compounds remain in the blood, with the so-called half-life of EGCG reprted to be about two hours while caffeine has a half-life of about four hours. “Therefore, EGCG affects obviously the early, whereas caffeine affects both early and late postprandial fat oxidation,” added Thielecke and his co-workers.

Support from other science

A recent review from researchers at Pennsylvania State University concluded that the science supporting the weight management potential of green tea and its extracts was (Journal of Nutrition, doi: 10.3945/jn.109.115972).

Dr Josh Lambert, assistant professor in the Department of Food Science at Penn State told NutraIngredients.com that laboratory studies and small-scale human intervention studies “indicate that consumption of tea might promote weight loss, help maintain body weight following weight loss, and prevent the development of some diseases associated with obesity such as diabetes and fatty liver disease”.

“The effective doses seem to be 3 to 10 cups of green tea per day,” he added.

Weight management potential

By Stephen Daniells, 09-Apr-2010
http://tiny.cc/fonq1
The market for food, beverage and supplement weight management products is already valued at $3.64bn (2009 figures) in the US, according to Euromonitor. In Western Europe, the market was worth $1.3bn in 2009.

Source: European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2010.47

“Epigallocatechin-3-gallate and postprandial fat oxidation in overweight/obese male volunteers: a pilot study”

Authors: F. Thielecke, G. Rahn, J. Böhnke, F. Adams, A.L. Birkenfeld, J. Jordan, M. Boschmann

Overuse of energy drinks worries health pros

2010-10-12T01:02:00.000-04:00

By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY

NEW YORK — Health experts are sounding the alarm over the possible effects on young athletes of popular energy drinks such as Red Bull, the leading brand in a growing market.

High school and college athletes are increasingly consuming large quantities of these caffeine-loaded drinks to boost athletic performance or lose weight, said a dozen health experts at the SUNY Youth Sports Institute's first national symposium on energy drinks here this week.

But athletes who consume too many energy drinks could suffer from dehydration, tremors, heat stroke and heart attacks, the experts warned. Instead, they say, teen and adolescent athletes should drink water while training and playing — especially during hot and humid summer months.

Some experts called for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — which treats energy drinks as dietary supplements — to require warning labels on the hundreds of energy drinks now on the market.

FDA spokeswoman Susan Cruzan said Wednesday the agency does not have the authority to do that.

"We have no guidance or regulations that govern the formulation of energy drinks," Cruzan said in an e-mail. "Under current law, the manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that its products are safe and such products do not require FDA premarket review or approval."

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University are currently seeking interviews with children and adolescents 8 to 21 years old who have become sick or experienced unpleasant aftereffects from energy drinks.

"There's a tremendous amount of caffeine in these drinks," Jeanna Marraffa, a clinical toxicologist at the Upstate New York Poison Center told USA TODAY during the conference on Tuesday. "I would say: know what's in these products, have a sense of how much you're consuming and realize they are not safe. Certainly you can have toxic effects from them."

Kathleen Miller, a research scientist at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions, said the bitter orange found in some energy drinks is "very closely related" to ephedra. Due to a number of deaths, the FDA banned the sale of ephedra-containing dietary supplements in 2004.

"In most energy drinks, they're relatively small quantities so they're probably not doing any harm. But we really don't know," Miller said. "And there's no requirement whatsoever for the manufactures to moderate the amount that they're putting in."

Eric Small of the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan told of treating a 17-year-old female runner suffering from chest pains and fatigue. She collapsed at the finish line of one race and was rushed to an emergency room. Turns out she liked to skip breakfast in favor of drinking two or three cans of Red Bull each morning, Small says. More youngsters are substituting protein bars and shakes for real food, he adds.

"They think being lighter and eating less and drinking less will improve their performance," Small says.

Kate Zanot, a track and field coach at Harrison High School in Westchester County, N.Y., who attended the conference, said many students don't know the difference between energy drinks such as Red Bull and sports drinks such as Gatorade, so they consume the drinks interchangeably.

"It's a huge concern," she says.

Patrice Radden, a spokeswoman for Red Bull, said via e-mail Wednesday the company is confident in the safety of its products and does not see the need for warning labels.

"Red Bull is a functional drink and not a thirst quencher or hydrator," she wrote. "Red Bull encourages people who are engaged in a sport or other physical activity and drinking Red Bull to drink lots of water before, during and after the activity."

Rebecca Chang, a Columbia University graduate student attending the symposium, says the federal government should do more to regulate energy drinks. But, she notes, thrill- or edge-seeking athletes in their teens and 20s might be more attracted to the drinks if they have the added danger of a warning label.

Contributing: A.J. Perez in McLean, Va.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2009-07-01-Drinks_N.htm

Top 5 Tips to Build Wealth and Success

2010-10-06T09:43:00.002-04:00

Warren Buffett is worth $45 billion. That wealth isn't only a factor of savvy investing and good business — the "Oracle of Omaha" is also known as a penny pincher. Buffett still lives in the same Omaha, Neb., home he bought in 1958 for $31,500.

Follow his frugal formula, and you too may wind up with a lot more money than you ever dreamed.
This week Financially Fit covers five tips to build wealth and success.

1. Live Below Your Means.

Being wealthy isn't just a product of your salary or investment prowess; it's learning how to save.

"We can make a lot of money, you can make a little bit of money, but the second you spend all the money is when people get into trouble. Saving is the key to preserving your wealth," says Ed Butowsky, managing partner of Chapwood Capital Investment Management, a firm that manages money for wealthy individuals.

As many Americans realized during the booming real estate market, just because you think you can afford something doesn't mean you should buy it. Keeping an eye on your bottom line will pay dividends over the long term.

2. Bounce Back From Defeat

With nearly 15 million workers unemployed right now in the U.S., it's easy to get discouraged. Don't! Most successful and wealthy people have overcome obstacles and failure along the way. Steve Jobs was ousted from Apple when he was 30. Today, he's a billionaire and a legend. Plus, after getting fired, he created another billion-dollar media company, Pixar.

"Bouncing back from defeat is something all great achievers have. They have this undying belief good things will happen and will continue to happen," says Butowsky.

Take Michael Jordan. "His airness" was cut from his high school basketball team. Motivated by the rejection, Jordan became a star the next season. The rest is history.

3. Self-Promote

Regardless of the profession, the rich and successful tend to have a strong sense of self-worth — key to skillfully navigating an upward career path. Mark Hurd, who was ousted as CEO of Hewlett-Packard in August, couldn't be kept down for long. Using his business skills and connections, in September, Hurd was named president of Oracle. (Hurd and Oracle founder Larry Ellison are known to be close friends.)

4. Have Street Smarts

Bernie Madoff lived the high life for decades, scamming unsuspecting clients, with a money-making formula that proved too good to be true. Only afterward did we learn that with a little due diligence, most clients could have easily uncovered the fraud.

But it's not only the swindlers and the con men you have to watch out for. Many times, friends and family take advantage of the rich. Whether it's a handout or an investment idea, Butowsky advises his high net worth clients that in most cases, it's wisest to just say "no." The best way to do that: have someone else do it for you.

"You need to really set up a wall between you and your family," he advises. "If you don't want to give them (family or friends) money ... saying no is probably a good idea."

5. Buy Cheap

The rich can afford to splurge, but that doesn't mean they do.

John Paulson, a billionaire hedge fund manager, bought his Hamptons "dream house at a bargain basement price," according to Greg Zuckerman, author of the Paulson-based book, "The Greatest Trade Ever." The story has it that Paulson eyed the home while it was in foreclosure. Finally, on a rain-soaked day, he purchased the home on the Southampton town hall steps. He was the only bidder.

On New York City's Upper East Side, Michael's— The Consignment Shop for Women— has been a bargain-hunting destination for more than 60 years. "We have a good percentage of women who can afford to shop on Madison Avenue but really like the idea of saving that money," says proprietor Tammy Gates.

From Chanel to Gucci and Louis Vuitton, the store specializes in high-end designer merchandise for a reasonable price. Speaking of her clientele, Gates says, "they're wealthy for a reason. They recognize that bargains keep people wealthy. Paying top dollar when you don't have to doesn't make sense."

Thanks to Yahoo Finance
http://tinyurl.com/2vr7ebl

“How to Develop a Definite Major Purpose” by Napoleon Hill

2010-10-02T12:34:00.001-04:00

This procedure in the development of a Definite Major Purpose is simple, but important, viz:

(a) Write out a complete, clear and definite statement of your Major Purpose in Life, sign it and commit it to memory. Then repeat it orally at least once every day, more often if practicable. Repeat it over and over, thus placing back of your purpose all of your faith in Infinite Intelligence.

(b) Write out a clear, definite plan by which you intend to begin the attainment of the object of your Definite Major Purpose. In this plan state the maximum time allowed for the attainment of your purpose, and describe precisely what you intend to give in return for the realization of your purpose, remembering that there is no such reality as something for nothing, and that everything has a price which must be paid in advance in one form or another.
(c) Make your plan flexible enough to permit changes at any time you are inspired to do so. Remember that Infinite Intelligence, which operates in every atom of matter and in every living or inanimate thing, may present you with a plan far superior to any you can create. Therefore be ready at all times to recognize and adopt any superior plan that may be presented to your mind.

(d) Keep you Major Purpose and your plans for attaining it strictly to yourself except insofar as you will receive additional instructions for carrying out your plan, in the description of the Master Mind Principle, which follows.

Do not make the mistake of assuming that because you may not understand these instructions the principles here described are not sound. Follow the instructions to the letter; follow them in good faith, and remember than by so doing you are duplicating the procedure of many of the greatest leaders this nation has ever produced.

The instructions call for no effort that you may not easily put forth.

They make no demands upon time or ability with which the average person may not comply.

And they are completely in harmony with the philosophy of all true religions.

Decide now what you desire from life and what you have to give in return. Decide where you are going and how you are to get there. Then make a start from where you now are to get there. Then make a start from where you now stand. Make the start with whatever means of attaining your goal that may be at hand. And you will discover that to the extent you make use of these, other and better means will reveal themselves to you.

That has been the experience of all men whom the world has recognized as successes. Most of them started with humble beginnings with little more to aid them than a passionate desire to attain a definite goal.

There is enduring magic in such a desire!

Source: The Master Key to Riches. Fawcett Crest Book. 1965. Pgs. 41 & 42.

Top Secret (Tap Rooting) in MLM/Network Marketing Opportunities.

2010-10-02T11:41:00.000-04:00

http://www.top-mlm-source.com/blog/Top-SecretTap-Rootingin-MLMNetwork-Marketing-Opportunities

More Americans taking vitamin D supplements, finds survey

2010-10-01T12:02:00.001-04:00

By Lorraine Heller, 01-Oct-2010

The number of Americans taking vitamin D supplements has shot up over the past year, according to a new survey, suggesting that awareness of the vitamin has increased.

Conducted by Ipsos for the supplement group Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the survey revealed that 66 percent of American adults classify themselves as supplement users, which is consistent with usage levels over the past few years.

Out of these consumers, 27 percent say they take vitamin D supplements, which marks an increase from 16 percent last year and 16 percent in 2008.

According to CRN, the increased usage figures reflect the growing evidence supporting the benefits of the sunshine vitamin.
“The ever-growing body of research on the benefits of vitamin D has been widely circulated in scientific journals, among healthcare practitioners and within popular press, so it’s no surprise that we are seeing more consumers adding it to their existing supplement routines,” said Judy Blatman, senior VP of communications at CRN.

“Given that optimal levels of vitamin D are difficult to get from diet and adequate sun exposure alone, a vitamin D supplement is the right option for many people.”

D data

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. The former is produced in the skin on exposure to UVB radiation (290 to 320 nm). The latter is derived from plants and only enters the body via the diet.

Both D3 and D2 precursors are hydroxylated in the liver and kidneys to form 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the non-active 'storage' form, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), the biologically active form that is tightly controlled by the body.

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While our bodies do manufacture vitamin D on exposure to sunshine, the levels in some northern countries are so weak during the winter months that our body makes no vitamin D at all, meaning that dietary supplements and fortified foods are seen by many as the best way to boost intakes of vitamin D.

CRN’s survey results support the findings of an earlier survey published last month, which noted an increased consumer awareness of the vitamin.

Conducted by Angus Reid Strategies for Lallemand, the survey found that the proportion of American consumers that believe that vitamin D plays a great role in maintaining or improving their health increased to 44 percent, up from 37 percent last year.

Supplement usage

CRN’s Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements, which is an annual online survey, was this year conducted between August and September, and involved just under 2,000 American adults.

Other findings include a “fairly consistent” consumer confidence in dietary supplements over the last few years. This year, 82 percent of respondents said they were confident in supplement safety, quality and effectiveness, compared to 84, 81 and 80 percent in 2009, 2008 and 2007 respectively.

The survey also showed that nearly three-quarters of supplement users (74 percent) classify themselves as “regular” users, as opposed to occasional users (21 percent) or seasonal users (5 percent).

In 2009, 73 percent of supplement users indicated they took supplements regularly; in 2008, 75 percent, and in 2007, 77 percent.

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2010-09-30T22:32:00.000-04:00

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Magic Coffee Gets Hit Again by FDA

2010-09-30T11:26:00.000-04:00

Magic Coffee removed the hydroxythiohomosildenafil from their product and then this letter came from the FDA which pretty much says that no matter what Magic Coffee does the FDA is not going to approve Magic Coffee. Read the FDA letter below then give me your comments.

http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/EnforcementActions/WarningLetters/ucm225432.htm

In Negotiation Breakthrough, FDA Agrees to Allow Selenium Qualified Health Claims with Succinct Disclaimers

2010-09-30T11:17:00.002-04:00

September 29, 2010 11:19 AM

WASHINGTON--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Emord & Associates is pleased to announce a partial settlement with FDA following the decision of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in ANH v. Sebelius. In that case, Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle ruled on May 27, 2010, that FDA censorship of four selenium-cancer site specific qualified health claims violated the First Amendment commercial speech standard. She also held FDA allowance of a fifth claim accompanied by a long, contradictory qualification also violated the First Amendment commercial speech standard. She remanded the claims to FDA, requiring the agency to re-evaluate them consistent with First Amendment requirements.
Following the remand, the parties entered into negotiations that have culminated in a breakthrough, permitting use of the following qualified health claims on selenium-containing dietary supplements. Each claim bears a succinct and accurate qualification, consistent with the Court’s requirements. The qualifications are the shortest FDA has ever permitted for use with qualified health claims.

“This settlement permits information about the potential of selenium to reduce site specific cancers to reach consumers. It will help guide consumer choice in health enhancing ways,” Jonathan Emord, counsel for the plaintiffs, said. “I hope this resolution becomes a model for FDA in subsequent qualified claims cases,” he said. “Compliance with the First Amendment requirement in Pearson v. Shalala that FDA favor disclosure of nutrient-disease information over its suppression is long overdue.”

The following claims may be used on labels and in labeling of selenium-containing dietary supplements effective immediately:

“Selenium may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Scientific evidence concerning this claim is inconclusive. Based on its review, FDA does not agree that selenium may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.”

Colon Cancer Claim

“Selenium may reduce the risk of colon cancer. Scientific evidence concerning this claim is inconclusive. Based on its review, FDA does not agree that selenium may reduce the risk of colon cancer.”

Certain Cancers Claim and Anticarcinogenic Effects Claim

“Selenium may reduce the risk of bladder, colon, prostate, and thyroid cancers. Scientific evidence concerning this claim is inconclusive. Based on its review, FDA does not agree that selenium may reduce the risk of these cancers.”

The parties continue to discuss means to resolve disagreements concerning selenium-lung and respiratory tract cancer and selenium-digestive tract cancer claims.

Contacts:

Emord & Associates

Stephen McCrory, 818-848-3213

jwemord@gmail.com

Permalink: http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20100929006259/en/FDA/lawsuits/dietary-suppliments

People turn to "network marketing" in soft economy

2010-09-19T17:28:00.001-04:00

BIRMINGHAM, Ala-- While her husband was searching for full time work, Jennifer Grissom ofBirmingham decided to make a little money on the side on top of her full-time job.

“I had to find some way to get an extra line of income that worked in the hours I had available to me,” she said.

Since November, Jennifer’s been selling skin care products for Arbonne International.

The company relies on a network of sales consultants who recruit other people to sell the product as well.

The more people a sales consultant recruits, the bigger her potential earnings are.

It might sound like a pyramid scheme to some, but marketing experts say it's not.

“These are legitimate businesses, though you want to make sure you're working for a good business, always,” Dr. Betsy Holloway of Samford University’s Brock School of Business said.

It's called “network marketing” or “multi-level marketing” (MLM) and it's been around for decades.

Companies like Amway, The Pampered Chef, and Tupperware work under similar arrangements.

Doctor Holloway said direct retail like this has been growing for a decade, and there's potential for it to get even bigger.

“I think in today's economy with the layoffs that we have and people desperate to find work, there's going to be increased demand in these sorts of opportunities.”

Jennifer Grissom said she had to overcome a preconceived stigma of network marketing and the fear of rejection we all have.

“It's not easy, but it is simple,” Grissom said. “You just have to be able to understand it, and be enthusiastic, without being annoying.”

She's exceeding her expectations just three months after starting.

Experts advise if someone wants you to join a network marketing opportunity, take time to research the company.

Check to see if it belongs to the Direct Selling Association, a group that holds companies to strict standards of operation.

They say that can help ensure you're joining a legitimate business, and not signing up for a risky scheme.

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How to “Really” Get Rich!

2010-09-16T19:10:00.002-04:00

Almost everyone dreams or fantasizes about getting rich, but for most people, including those that write about the topic, that dream never becomes a reality. While it’s not exactly easy, it’s also not as hard as you think. If you want to become a millionaire, take it from me, it requires more balls than brains, but it helps to have both.

The great chasm that separates the wealthy from the proletariat isn’t the money, it’s the mindset. It’s how they think not only about money itself, but about the actions and ramifications necessary to achieve it.

For example, the proletariat generally operates from a fear based consciousness. They worry about the uncertainty of the future and therefore protect and save whatever money they have left over after their expenses. Those people could never, ever become wealthy. Rich people, on the other hand, operate from a consciousness of unlimited potential and abundance. They think big; they risk big, and they achieve big. How? They uncover or discover big problems and provide big solutions. The bigger the problem, the bigger the solution and the bigger the money. Position and posturing is crucial to a millionaire in the making. Just being self-employed or having a small business isn’t going to get you rich. Providing solutions to big problems, then creating a scalable business around that solution, is what will make you rich.

There is also a great chasm that exists between the rich and the poor about the beliefs and philosophies surrounding money.

Here are just a few:

Poor people focus on saving money. Rich people focus on earning money.

Poor people believe hard work creates wealth. Rich people believe leverage creates wealth.

Poor people believe money is earned through labor. Rich people believe money is earned through thought.

Poor people worry about running out of money. Rich people think about how to make more money.

Poor people believe getting rich is outside of their control. Rich people know that getting rich is completely within their control.

Poor people have a lottery mentality. Rich people have an action mentality.

Poor people wish to be rich. Rich people will to be rich.

Poor people associate money with mayhem. Rich people associate money with peace of mind.

What if you were rich and now you’re broke? I know, that sucks! But it’s not the end of your life, it’s just the end of a chapter and the start of a brand new one. The odds are good that you weren’t reaching the full potential of your God given talents and that the man upstairs is changing your course. “Oh but I have free will,” you claim. “I’m the captain of my own destiny,” “I control my own life.” Really? If that’s the case, than you’re saying that it was your will to go broke. I doubt that. There is a big difference between free will and free choice, but that’s a philosophical and theological discussion for another time.

Can you get rich again? Not only can you get rich again, if it’s your primary objective, you can get wealthier than you ever dreamed possible. “But how?” You ask. Let me share my personal perspective.

As a perpetual entrepreneur that takes extreme risks, I never allow my mind to consider the consequences of failure, much less dwell on it. If I did, fear would not only trump my faith, it would also rule my decisions and choke my ultimate destiny. I would rather deal with the consequences of prior decisions that landed me in the valley and use the exact characteristics, creativity, vision, knowledge and chutzpa that got me towards the top of the mountain before, to get me to the summit the next time around. Furthermore, If I were to surrender to my current financial condition, I would become a eunuch for the rest of my life.

Let me explain:

Once you make the psychological shift from a low or moderately risky person to a high-risk person like me, you have to accept the consequences—good and bad—that accompany the transition. Your successes are meteoric, your failures are catastrophic, and there is no such thing as middle ground. The pressure will either crush you to death or propel you to heights you can’t even fathom.
The moment you cave into your temporary roadblocks and downshift, you just committed psychological suicide—castration in effect—and cemented those roadblocks for life. Temporary circumstances only become permanent obstacles when you give them power and the source of that power is fear. If you’re facing colossal calamities, personal perils, or seemingly impossible hurdles and you’re already a high-risk person, now is not the time to cave into fear unless becoming a eunuch sounds pleasing. If you do, you will never again muster the intensity—the catalyst that fuels your passion, drive, desire, determination, persistence, perseverance, intestinal fortitude, creative genius, and renewed vision—to push you through. Contrary to conventional wisdom, if living on the edge got you to the top and subsequently brought you to the bottom, staying on the edge is precisely what will bring you back. Conversely, if you’re a low-risk entrepreneur struggling to make the paradigm shift to high-risk tolerance, you must have the discipline to part from the herd mentality and exercise the intangible attributes that make up an extreme entrepreneur. Only, just like a bodybuilder, the mental and intellectual exercises must be done with laser-like concentration and microscopic focus.

If you want to be rich, study how rich people think. Study how average people think too so you can avoid becoming a master of mediocrity. If you can’t surround yourself with rich people, associate with them through books, audios, videos, blogs, seminars, clubs, etc., etc. After all, we’re products of our environments and consciousness is contagious. The more you can hang out with, learn from, and read about other successful people, the more likely you are to adopt their way of thinking.

Times may be tough, but you need to be tougher. The current economic climate and political uncertainties will pass. And with that passing will emerge unprecedented financial opportunity for those entrepreneurs that weather the storm and not only educate themselves, but reinvent and position themselves to capitalize on the next cycle of economic growth. Are you ready? Really ready?

Until then . . .

Go Rogue & Get Rich!

Kevin A. Lehmann
CatchKevin.com

AMWAY Sues Bhip

2010-09-15T23:53:00.001-04:00

AMWAY said if the court does not issue the temporary restraining orders, Amway, the Plantiff will suffer irreparable injury and be harmed because their Idependent Business Owners leaving for Bhip have “trade Secrets” that will harm Amway.

http://tinyurl.com/3ytz3v9

Nate Calima's MLM Newsblog | NateCalima.info | MLM review, opinion, rumor, speculation...: MLM Industry News: ACN, Vemma, drinkACT, Nutrazon,...

2010-09-14T16:37:00.000-04:00

Nate Calima's MLM Newsblog NateCalima.info MLM review, opinion, rumor, speculation...: MLM Industry News: ACN, Vemma, drinkACT, Nutrazon,...: "ACN - announces MVNO at international convention. This means that they will be able to have branded phones and control billing just like Li..."

AMERIPLAN TO FORK OUT $5.5 MILLION TO DISTRIBUTOR

2010-09-08T20:20:00.000-04:00

A Dallas county jury has awarded a $5.5 million verdict in a contract dispute to Anthony Anderson, a Houston man who was a former independent sales agent for Ameriplan of Dallas greater area. Ameriplan terminated him in November 2005 after he had worked for them nine years. The plaintiff’s Houston attorney, Ross Sears of Sears Crawford, is also pursuing two similar cases and says AmeriPlan’s promotional materials pose a challenge for the Plano based MLM company.

MLM Watchdog
http://tinyurl.com/mc4fka

Fortune High Tech Marketing Class Action Law Suit

2010-09-07T09:14:00.002-04:00

Fortune High Tech Marketing (FHTM) is based in Lexington, Kentucky, and was founded in 2001 by Paul Orberson.

FHTM offers products, services and opportunity to people across the United States as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom and Puerto Rico.

FHTM is a pending member of the Direct Selling Asociation.

FHTM offers a wide range of products and services for Independent Representatives to market to their customers, from the True Essentials line of health products to Dish Network’s television service to The Wireless Shop’s selection of name brand providers.

Kevin Thompson the MLM Attorney:
1) Fortune is allegedly a pyramid because:
a) Sales Culture: The sales culture focuses predominantly on recruitment over selling. An accomplished sales rep in FHTM was quoted as saying: “We’re not looking to sell you something; we’re looking for team members.” The lawsuit is basically alleging that the field completely disregards selling and that the recruitment culture is standard behavior in the FHTM organization, which leads to serious misrepresentation.

b) Pay plan does not lead to true external sales: There are no real incentives in the pay plan for selling to nonparticipants. Allegedly, the reps are required to accrue 3 customer points before they climb the ranks; however, those points are accrued by the reps themselves….one point is gained by simply paying for access to the company’s website for back office support.

c) Commissions from Training fees!: I just wrote about this last week about why it’s a bad idea to pay commissions on sales aids. The lawsuit alleges that FHTM pays commissions when “certified trainers” train their downline managers (after the downline managers pay a $200 fee). Since the training fee has no relevance for nonparticipants, the plaintiffs are arguing that this is mainly a clever transfer of money from new investors to older ones, which is illegal.

I cannot predict if the allegations will prove true or not because I know very little about the FHTM model; however, it seems like the complaint focuses squarely on the FHTM policies and the pay plan, which means there’s not much wiggle room for FHTM. It will be hard for them to defend their practice of paying commissions on training fees, which I think is their largest problem.

FHTM reps habitually say “we have former state attorney generals on our legal team.” Allow me to address this point: simply because a company has hired “former AGs” as their attorneys, it does not mean that those AGs understand the industry. AGs have countless responsibilities and they might not understand the nuances in MLM law. I’m not saying FHTM’s lawyers are incompetent.

I am saying that if there’s any truth to these allegations, any attorney with knowledge of this field would have either gotten FHTM on the right track a long time ago or would have withdrawn his or her representation. If the former AGs were recently hired, it’s a different story (clearly they lacked the time to clean up the house). However, if they’ve been on board for several years….it’s not good.

Source: Kevin Thompson the MLM attorney

A Loss in the MonaVie Family

2010-09-01T22:07:00.001-04:00

September 1, 2010

Dear MonaVie Family,

It is with profound sadness that I communicate to you the passing of Darrell Utterbach, Royal Black Diamond distributor, MonaVie Distributor Advisory Board member, loving family man, and dear friend and colleague. Darrell passed away unexpectedly last night (MST) while conducting business in Seoul, Korea.

For more than two decades, Darrell has been a proponent of and respected voice for the entire Direct Selling Industry. Had it not been for Darrell visiting my home in 2004 and introducing me, Randy Larsen, and Henry Marsh to the acai berry, there likely wouldn’t be a MonaVie today. We owe him a great debt of gratitude.
On behalf of the entire MonaVie family, Karree and I offer our deepest condolences at this time of great loss to Tracy, Darrell’s beloved wife. His unexpected and sudden passing should be a reminder to each of us that life is precious, and that we should strive to live our lives with deeper meaning, each and every day. We are mindful of the Utterbachs’ distributor organization at this time as well, and pledge to them our continued support. On a housekeeping note, I would ask that we all please respect the privacy of the Utterbach family at this critical time.

I’d like to share with you a quote from Darrell’s own MonaVie Success Story, which I think speaks volumes about his mature perspective on life:

“MonaVie has changed my life and provided me with the freedom I’ve always wanted. The road to success with MonaVie has been incredible, and I celebrate the journey—not just the destination—because the journey is where the greatest personal development occurs.”

Is it any wonder this good man achieved such personal and professional success?

Darrell, it is my humble belief that you may be looking upon us at this very moment and that you may even be reading this letter. I say to you, my good friend, that you have indeed completed your journey upon this earth, and I trust you have arrived Home to your supernal destination. We are better people for having known you, and miss you dearly. May the Good Lord attend to you with open arms.

God Bless,

Dallin A. Larsen
Founder, Chairman, CEO, and Friend of Darrell and Tracy Utterbach

Stop Marketing And Start Sponsoring

2010-09-01T11:17:00.001-04:00

Somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 to 75% of the readers of my newsletter are currently involved in the Network Marketing industry and I would assume that the numbers are similar here on my blog. I would also assume that many of those readers are involved in Network Marketing to make money.

If you are among those currently involved in Network Marketing and looking to make money, this is a rant blog post for you.
Some of you need to stop thinking about marketing and start selling some products and sponsoring some people!

We are in a crazy time in the world of Network Marketing and Internet Marketing. There are so many courses, products and training programs on the subject that I think many people have lost focus of their objective in the first place.

Bottom Line: “You get bogged down with stuff that doesn’t put money in your pocket.”

What to do?

Well if your objective is to make money, you do that by selling products and sponsoring others, right?

So, how much of your time are you dedicating to making calls to people to see if they are open to looking at an opportunity?

How much of your time is spent following up with people who have watched your video (or however you present your business)?

Last Thursday, I did an Internet Marketing Intensive Training Webinar on Twitter for my newest team members and while we went into some of the basics of setting up Twitter for success, we also spent a lot of time “going guerrilla” and finding people to connect with and call right now! If you are interested in the training, I am going to open it up to people outside of my team in September so stay tuned.

My point with all this is that if you have a choice between spending two hours studying WordPress widgets or two hours making phone calls to potential business partners, are you making the right decision?

For more on Ty Tribble: http://mlmblog.net/

Efusjon "Releases" Their Dealers

2010-08-31T22:16:00.004-04:00

8/31/2010 Last week Efusjon informed their leaders they were going to leave Network Marketing behind for other retail opportunities.

Today, the company sent out an official email letting their sales force know of their fate with the following announcement (below).
Here is the letter the dealers received...
Dear eFusjon Distributors:

It is with great sadness that we announce today that we must cease the direct sales multi-level marketing business of eFusjon, Inc. as of September 1, 2010.

The independent contractor distributor agreements will terminate as of this date. See Distributor Agreement, Section 7 (“The Agreement shall continue in effect between the parties hereto until either party terminates the Agreement…”). Qualified distributors will receive their last compensation check for the month of August, less offsets against any amounts that are owed to the Company, on September 10th. Any commissions due will be available in your “Hyperwallet” account until October 31, 2010, after which date you will need to contact the corporate office (to access your “Hyperwallet” account please go to www.efusjonpay.com, or contact customer service for assistance). The Company will send refunds of the $30 membership fee to those distributors who became members in August 2010.

This was a very difficult decision for the Company and not one we had hoped to make. When the owners started eFusjon in 2008, we envisioned a unique and successful MLM business with healthy and unparalleled beverage products. The goal was to market these products through independent distributors via the MLM direct sales business model. Distributor performance, however, has been steadily declining for over a year now, and as a result, so has the Company’s revenues. The Company can no longer maintain a marketing model that is not generating the funds needed to grow a viable business. In short, the Company’s MLM business model is no longer a sustainable marketing strategy.

With a certain level of optimism, we also announce today our decision to explore other opportunities for the eFusjon product many of you have come to love. For some period of time, you may continue to enjoy eFusjon products through purchases (without compensation) on the eFusjon website www.efusjon.com.

Lastly, we extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to all of you for your dedication to eFusjon over the years and for standing by our product and the Company during the height of our success as well as through more recent challenging times. We share your disappointment about the recent turn of events, but are cautiously optimistic about the future of eFusjon and eFusjon’s unparalleled, healthy beverages.

With gratitude,
The eFusjon Corporate Officers

To find a new energy drink MLM (that has grown 25% in the past qtr, we recommend http://www.drinkact.com/ )

Seven Ways to Improve Your Conference Call Presentations

2010-08-29T23:36:00.001-04:00

Many of us are great speakers and motivators in person because we can make eye contact with our audience and see the effect we are having in their reactions. It can be much more difficult to feel confident about presentations made by teleconference because you cannot sense the reactions of your audience as easily. Here are a few tips to help you put together a successful conference call.

1. Be Prepared

Have a clear idea of how you want your conference call to proceed and take time to complete a written agenda. There's no substitute for good preparation!
2. Start strong

Begin your conference call with an enthusiastic greeting. The impression you make in the first five seconds of a conference determines how receptive and attentive your audience will be.

3. Stay focused

Keep on track with your agenda. Try to format your discussion topics into clear, concise points which are easy to follow. It's a good idea to write the topics you want to highlight in large letters on a piece of paper and place it where you can see it during the entire call.

4. Watch the clock

Keep an eye on the length of your conference call and be considerate of others' time. If you scheduled the meeting for an hour, your presentation should run a maximum of 45 minutes leaving time for questions at the end of your conference.

5. Ask for input

Periodically ask participants for their opinion on the subject at hand. Choose someone by name instead of asking for "comments from the gallery". This helps you gauge how well your message is getting across, and other participants will pay more attention if they know they might be called on for input!

6. Wrap it up

Be clear when your presentation is ending. Recap the highlights of the meeting and clearly restate any goals or expectations you have for your audience. Make sure you formally end the meeting.

7. Ask for help

Remember that your conference call provider is your partner; your success is their success. Consider having an operator monitor your call for unwanted background noise and to ensure that a presentation can proceed without interruptions. You should also investigate the various features that will help you make the most of your meeting. For instance, you can have your meeting recorded, interpreted or transcribed so you can reach a wider audience.

Next time, we’ll talk about some tips for conference call participants. It will be great information to include in your meeting invitation so that your attendees know what to expect.

From: http://tinyurl.com/25mtup5

Making it BIG in MLM

2010-08-28T10:17:00.001-04:00

RULES for making it BIG in network marketing:

1. FOCUS

2. We are paid to recruit

3. Don't work other deals. it has never worked and will not ever work. Not one of the long lasting mega million dollar earners have worked other deals.

4. Work with your company leaders...go upline until you find one that really is making the money you are after.
5. Work hard...don't work smart. don't fool yourself into thinking a real, legitimate opportunity will make you easy money with no work required. The leaders work their business as many hours in they day as they can.

6. Commit to 2 years of work or don't work with me. i won't work with someone and sell them a box of product unless they are serious about a 2 year commitment.

7. Don't sacrafice family time by considering them your warm market. your warm market is not your friends and family ... it's people that want what you have. there are 38,000 list brokers (you can find them on google search)...find lists of business builders and go after them.

8. Internet systems don't work

9. Shut yourself in your office/room for 2 hours a day and work your business those 2 hours

10. You can get rich with a legitimate company, but you must work. some just won't work for those two hours a day. people what a free lunch. there is no reason for their laziness and they will not become a success in our business.

11. A leader doesn't talk about success, he demonstrates it daily. this is the only profession where someone will teach you how to fly a 747 airplane although they don't even know how to fly a kite yet. It's a joke that they can fail at 10 network markeing deals in a row, and then write a book on being successful in network marketing. Stay away from these people.

12. Don't waste your time going after successful networkers in another deal...they are not going to move if they are truely making money there.

13. Don't go after hoppers from deal to deal...go after those that deserve to work with you in your company.

FROM MARK YARNELL

Seven Qualities of Master Achievers

2010-08-27T22:51:00.001-04:00

1)They are Ambitious

They see themselves capable of being the best. They see themselves with the capacity of being really good at what they do. This was a really big thought for me. It held me back for many years. When I saw people who were doing better than I was, I naturally assumed they were better than I was.

And if they were better than I was, then I must be worse than them, so that would mean they were superior and I was inferior. That is a big problem in our society. We have feelings of inferiority, and these feelings of inferiority are often translated into feelings of undeservedness. We don’t feel we deserve to be a big success. The word “deserve” comes from two Latin words meaning “from service.” You deserve 100% of everything you make and enjoy as long as you get it from serving other people. Your rewards are in direct proportion to you service. If you serve better, serve more, serve at a higher level, serve more enthusiastically, and serve a higher quality, then you’ll have a wonderful income you’ll deserve every penny of. You must see yourself capable of being the best.

2)They are Courageous

They work to confront the fears that hold most people back. The two biggest enemies to your and my success is fear and doubt. Eliminating fear and doubt is the key. The key to eliminating fear: If you want to develop courage, then simply act courageously when it’s called for. When you do something repeatedly, you develop a havit. Make a habit throughout your life of doing the things you fear. If you do the thing you fear, the death of fear is certain. To overcome fear of rejection in prospecting, you must realize that rejection in selling is not personal. Top salespeople do not fear prospecting. Face your fear. Do the things you fear. The ability to confront your fear is the mark of the superior person. If you have high ambition and you decide to be in the top 10%, and you can confront your fears and do the things that are holding you back, those two things alone will make you a great success.

3)They are Committed.

The top people in every field, especially the top salespeople, are completely committed. They believe in themselves; they believe in their companies; they believe in their products and services; they believe in their customers; they have an intense belief. We know that there is a one-to-one relationship between the depth of your belief and what happens in your reality. And, if you absolutely believe in the rightness and the goodness of what your’re doing, you become like a catalyst. You create what is called a transfer, like an electrical transfer of enthusiasm. People like to buy from people who truly believe in what they are doing. People who are not committed to what they do lead very empty lives. The second part is that caring is the critical element in modern selling. Caring is a critical element in life, as well. All men and women who enjoy great lives care about what they do! The have passion about what they do. They love what they do.

4)They are Professional.

Top salespeople see themselves as consultants rather than as salespeople. When you think of the word “consultant,” what words come to mind? When do you call a consultant? A consultant is a proble-solver. What word does not appear when you think of a consultant–the work “salesperson.” We don’t think of consultants as salespeople.

The most successful consultants in America are the very best salespeople of their services. When a person is positioned as a consultant in the mind and heart of the customer, he is not seen as a salesperson. Do people like to be sold? Do people like to be helped to improve their lives and work? So they look upon a salesperson as someone who sells them. Selling is something you do “to” someone, and people don’t like to be done “to”. So when you think of being a consultant, here is the key. How do you position yourself as a consultant with you customers? Of course, you act like a consultant, but even before you get the chance to act like a consultant, you build a rapport. And the most simple answer of all, and this is the most profound principle: People accept you at your own evaluation of yourself. Consultants come in and have a cup of coffee. Salespeople wait in the waiting room and have a glass of water. If you say you’re a consultant, your customer will accept you as a consultant.

From now on, position yourself as a consultant. Think of yourself as a consultant. Remember, 80% of what you accomplish on the outside is determinded by who you are on the inside. How you see yourself determines how much they buy and how much they recommend you to other customers.

5) They are Prepared.

They review every detail in advance. To be in the top 10% requires additional efforts. It requires doing things that the average person is not willing to do. It requires making sacrifices the average person is not willing to make. It requires revieweing everty detail of every call or situation before every business meeting. But, the difference it makes is extraordinary. Before you go into a meeting, do your homework. Successful people are more concerned about pleasing results than they are about pleasing methods. When you sit down with a client,k there is nothing more complimentary to a client than the feeling that you have prepared for the meeting.

6)They are Continuous Learners.

They recognize that if they’re not continually getting better, they’re getting worse. They read, they listen to CDs and they take additional training. The professional never stops learning. So read, listen to CDs, take continuous training.

7)They are Responsible.

They see themselves as president of their own personal services corporation. The top people in our society have an attitude of being self-employed. 100% of us are self-employed. We are presidents of our own personal services corporation. You work for yourself. The biggest mistake we can ever make is to think we work for anyone else. We work for ourselves. The person who signs our paycheck may change; our jobs may change, but we are always the same. We are the one constant–we are always self-employed. The fact of the matter is –this is not optional, it is mandatory–you are the president of your own company, you’re the president of your own career, your own life, your own finances, your own body, your own family, your own health. You are totally responsible. We are responsible. No one will ever do it for us. It’s most liberating and exhilarating thought of all, to think that you’re the president of your own life.

More on Edward Mayer
http://tinyurl.com/2789pwj

ENERGY DRINK WARNING

2010-08-27T19:27:00.002-04:00

Nate Calima's MLM Newsblog NateCalima.info MLM review, opinion, rumor, speculation...: ENERGY DRINK WARNING: "Salt Lake City ABC 4 News SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) Most parents wouldn’t want their children or teens drinking several cups of coffee a..."

XANGO superjuice BANNED in Germany?

2010-08-27T19:25:00.001-04:00

Nate Calima's MLM Newsblog NateCalima.info MLM review, opinion, rumor, speculation...: XANGO superjuice BANNED in Germany?: "BusinessForHome.org Lack of the required novel food authorisation.(This is how Tahitian Noni is bringing the news to their users;)http:/..."

United Marketers: United drinkACT Tabletop Overview 2.0

2010-08-27T19:23:00.002-04:00

Nate Calima's DrinkACT Blog for United Marketers: United drinkACT Tabletop Overview 2.0: "DOWNLOAD HERE This is the tabletop version of the drinkACT 2.0 overview on ilovedrinkact.com. This is for use in one-on-one overviews. Feel..."