People Helping Other People to Succeed

2024-06-19T06:10:00.000-07:00

2023-10-11T19:05:00.008-07:00

Click on the picture and start your

BINARY FOREX OPTION OPPORTUNITY

EARN SELF CREDIBILITY

2018-08-02T16:17:00.003-07:00

EARN SELF CREDIBILITY

KNOW WHAT YOU WANT

2017-12-17T22:33:00.001-08:00

WE BECOME WHAT WE THINK ABOUT
THAT IS WHY WE NEED A CLEAR DEFINED GOALS
FOCUS ON AN EVERY DAY TARGET , SURELY WE WILL PROGRESSIVELY REACH IT :)

Good Food Ideas

2017-07-23T04:23:00.004-07:00

Good Food Ideas :)

What's on Your Plate ?

2017-07-15T14:47:00.001-07:00

You can help Heal YOU

Your LEGACY is every life you've touched

2017-07-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

" Your LEGACY is every life you've touched. "

Keep Growing

2017-04-14T16:21:00.001-07:00

Proposed 2 Storey Residential

2017-04-14T16:09:00.001-07:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017

2017-01-03T02:48:00.000-08:00

FAMILY :)

HEALTH

PROSPERITY

LOVE

ALL THE BEST FOR 2017

A good guide for you and Me.

2016-11-04T21:05:00.002-07:00

Someone to look up to,
Something to look forward to and
A hero to chase

To be Happy ?

2016-09-05T17:12:00.003-07:00

Why Exercise ?

2016-08-10T22:02:00.001-07:00

Why Exercise ? Click picture..

SEEING THE FUTURE IS A BIG ADVANTAGE

2016-06-05T07:14:00.002-07:00

People Helping Other People to Succeed: How Successful People Think

2016-05-19T15:04:00.001-07:00

People Helping Other People to Succeed: How Successful People Think: WHY YOU SHOULD CHANGE YOUR THINKING It’s hard to overstate the value of changing your thinking. Good thinkin...

KEEP TRYING

2016-05-01T06:36:00.002-07:00

Do You Control Your Finances or Do They Control You?

2015-09-06T02:01:00.002-07:00

By Mormon.org

You're in Charge

Most people these days have experienced what it feels like to be shackled with debt. When you’re living month to month, paycheck to paycheck, spending more than you make, and sinking ever deeper in debt, you know what financial prison feels like. Thankfully, there’s a way out, and an optimistic outlook is the first step to a bright financial future. Remember, you’re in charge.

Visualize It

Have you ever pictured yourself being financially free? If not, consider what financial freedom looks like. Financial freedom is largely a feeling of peace, and anyone can improve their financial situation through visualization. If you’re in trouble with debt and want to get out, it helps to start thinking differently and filling your mind with hopeful thoughts. Picture where you’d like to be in 1, 5, or 10 years, and make a plan to get there.

Spend some time each day or each night before you fall asleep picturing in your mind what it would feel like to be in control of your finances and to even have the means to bless the lives of others. Studieshave been performed that back up the efficacy of this practice, and there are many creative visualization websites online to help you hone this valuable skill. The famous writer William Arthur Ward was spot-on when he said, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”

Keep It Simple

When Mahatma Ghandi left this world, he had very few material possessions: a watch, glasses, sandals, an eating bowl, and perhaps an article or two of clothing. Yet Ghandi was rich because he understood that materialism is a form of bondage. He said, “You may have occasion to possess or use material things, but the secret of life lies in never missing them.”

Don’t be afraid to simplify. The more you own, the less freedom you have. It may seem extreme, but when you consider that the most basic human needs (supplied monetarily) are simply food, water, and shelter, you begin to realize that everything else is mostly fluff and, to a large degree, expendable. Are there things you can eliminate from your life that are sapping your resources and siphoning your energy?

Discipline Is Key

Discipline may feel confining, but long-term it has the opposite effect for the human soul—it is freeing. Brutus Hamilton, an American track and field athlete, coach, and writer, observed the following: “It is one of the strange ironies of this strange life that those who work the hardest, who subject themselves to the strictest discipline, who give up certain pleasurable things in order to achieve a goal, are the happiest men.” This observation holds especially true when it comes to mastering money.

Don't Forget Faith

The Lord knows the fastest way for you to gain control of your finances. Invite Him to help you and teach you. With financial freedom on your mind and a prayer in your heart, the Lord can bless and inspire you with the guidance and discipline you’ll need to get where you’re going. Always remember, “The future is as bright as your faith” (Thomas S. Monson).

To learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, click here to chat.

Filled with Life and Energy

2015-08-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

“Early to bed and early to rise,

makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

- Benjamin Franklin

Click here for full article ( with audio )

Filled with Life and Energy

By Randal A. Wright

The author lives in Texas, USA.

00:14

11:48

What one practice, if followed consistently and with discipline, would help you have better health, energy, and inspiration?

Photograph by choness/iStock/Thinkstock

Imagine for a moment that a friend comes to you seeking advice on ways to receive personal revelation. If you could offer only one idea, what would it be?

As a new General Authority, Elder Marion G. Romney (1897–1988) felt inadequate in fulfilling his important calling, so he sought advice from his friend Elder Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The counsel offered that day both surprised and motivated Elder Romney. Elder Lee said: “If you are to be successful as a General Authority, you will need to be inspired. You will need to receive revelation. I will give you one piece of advice: Go to bed early and get up early.If you do, your body and mind will become rested and then in the quiet of those early morning hours, you will receive more flashes of inspiration and insight than at any other time of the day.”

Years later, reflecting back on that experience, then-President Romney said: “From that day on, I put that counsel into practice, and I know it works. Whenever I have a serious problem, or some assignment of a creative nature with which I hope to receive the influence of the Spirit, I always receive more assistance in the early morning hours than at any other time of the day.”¹

When I first read this account, I too was surprised by the advice Elder Lee gave. I would never have connected an early daily schedule with revelation. However, I now know that there is a direct correlation. I have also learned that actions traditionally associated with receiving revelation like prayer, scripture study, fasting, temple attendance, and service are greatly enhanced when I go to bed early and get up early.

Scriptural Examples

Inspired men and women of all ages have followed this divine counsel concerning sleep. “Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord” (Genesis 19:27; emphasis added). “Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone” (Exodus 34:4; emphasis added). “And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord” (Joshua 6:12; emphasis added).

How did the Lord begin His day during His mortal ministry? Mark records, “In the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” (Mark 1:35). Mary, a devoted disciple, followed His example and in doing so taught us a powerful lesson: “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark,unto the sepulchre” (John 20:1). In the early morning she became the first mortal to see the resurrected Lord.

Blessings of Arising Early

Great leaders in our day also use the early-morning hours to receive revelation. Some time ago I heard a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy mention in a stake conference talk that he was an early riser. After the meeting, I spoke to him briefly about his early-morning ritual, then asked how many of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve kept a similar schedule. He replied, “They all do!” It was a powerful moment, and the Spirit testified to me that going to bed early and getting up early can be indeed connected to receiving revelation.

Additional blessings are pledged to those who follow the Lord’s counsel on sleep. Consider these incredible promises: “Cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated” (D&C 88:124; emphasis added). Invigorate means “to fill with life and energy.”

The ancient philosopher Aristotle suggested other benefits to those who keep an early schedule: “It is well to be up before day-break, for such a habit contributes to health, wealth and wisdom.”² Early U.S. statesman Benjamin Franklin later put that thought into his well-known maxim: “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”³ Most people put health, wealth, and wisdom toward the top of things most desired in life.

Health

The average age of a chief executive officer in America is 55 years old.⁴ Would it surprise you to discover that the CEO of an international organization was a 97-year-old man? What if you also learned that he still traveled the world giving speeches, training leaders, meeting with government officials, and being interviewed by major media organizations at this advanced age? What if his two top VPs were very active 79- and 87-year-olds? And yet that was exactly the situation toward the end of the administration of President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) as President of the Church. It seems likely that an early schedule, while not the only contributor, is among the factors leading to the longevity of our Church leaders.

Former Brigham Young University president Ernest L. Wilkinson suggested that keeping an early schedule is associated with health benefits. Referring to President David O. McKay (1873–1970), President of the Church at the time, he said: “One of the great reasons, I am sure, why President McKay has lived to such a good, ripe, and vigorous old age has been the fact that as a young man he developed habits of retiring to bed early, arising early, generally before sun up, when his mind was clear and his body vigorous, to do the day’s work.”⁵

Connections have also been made between keeping an early schedule and mental and emotional health. ElderRussell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, “To those who feel defeated and downtrodden, look to the early hours of the day for your rescue.”⁶

Photograph of clock face by choness/iStock/Thinkstock; photograph of clock back by perostudio/iStock/Thinkstock

Wisdom

The connection between sleep patterns and wisdom is not just a theory. A study conducted by researchers at Brigham Young University looked at the effect of several variables—such as exercise, nutrition, and sleep habits—on students’ grade point average (GPA). The researchers found that of all the variables, “weekday and weekend wake-up times had the largest relative effects on semester GPA. For each hour of delay in reported average weekday wake-up time, the predicted GPA decreased by 0.132 on a standard 0.00 to 4.00 grading scale. … Each hour of delay in average weekend wake-up time corresponded to a decrease in predicted GPA of 0.115.”⁷

Not long ago I surveyed 203 Latter-day Saint college students about their sleep patterns. On average these students awoke at 7:30 a.m. on school days and 9:15 a.m. on weekends. Their average bedtime was midnight on school nights and 1:00 a.m. on weekends. These students are going directly against the research connecting an early schedule with knowledge acquisition. Perhaps the finding that a higher GPA is the result of an early schedule is too simple to believe. Have we become like the children of Israel, who refused to follow the Lord’s antidote for snakebites “because of the simpleness of the way”? (1 Nephi 17:41; see alsoHelaman 8:14–15).

Consider the counsel President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gave related to gaining wisdom: “I counsel our children to do their critical studying in the early hours of the morning when they’re fresh and alert, rather than to fight physical weariness and mental exhaustion at night. I’ve learned the power of the dictum, ‘Early to bed, early to rise.’”⁸ Perhaps this is one reason full-time missionaries follow an early-to-bed and early-to-rise schedule.

Other Blessings

Writing with his wife, Barbara, Elder Joe J. Christensen, emeritus member of the Seventy, suggested even more blessings to those who follow the Lord’s counsel on sleep: “There must be an excellent reason for the injunction to retire and arise early [see D&C 88:124]. … The world is a more beautiful place early in the morning. Life is so much more calm. Much more can be accomplished in a shorter amount of time.”⁹During a fireside address at Brigham Young University, Elder Christensen further stated: “Some of you are not getting the rest that you need. Some are habituated to going to bed late and sleeping much longer than your system really needs, thus missing out on some of the personal inspiration you could be receiving.”¹⁰

President Hinckley added another promise to the obedient: “If you go to bed at 10:00 and get up by 6:00 a.m., things will work out for you.”¹¹

Following the Lord’s counsel on sleep may seem like a small thing, yet “by small means the Lord can bring about great things” (1 Nephi 16:29). I have a testimony that following an early schedule brings many blessings into our lives, including revelation. It’s amazing how much more I get accomplished in a day when I retire early and arise early. The benefits of this self-discipline far exceed the effort required. When we win the first battle of the day against the mattress, we are far more likely to win more battles during the day. We are also more likely to be filled with life and energy.

FUNNY I HEARD IT FROM A COMEDIAN

2015-07-28T17:37:00.003-07:00

YOUR POWER TO CREATE

2014-10-12T05:07:00.002-07:00

How Successful People Think

2014-09-18T18:23:00.002-07:00

WHY YOU SHOULD CHANGE YOUR THINKING

It’s hard to overstate the value of changing your thinking.

Good thinking can do many things for you:

generate revenue, solve problems, and create opportunities.

It can take you to a whole new level—personally

and professionally. It really can change your life.

Consider some things you need to know about

changing your thinking:

1. Changed Thinking Is Not Automatic

Sadly, a change in thinking doesn’t happen on its own.

Good ideas rarely go out and find someone. If you

want to find a good idea, you must search for it.

If you want to become a better thinker, you need to work at it

—and once you begin to become a better thinker, the good ideas keep coming.

In fact, the amount of good

thinking you can do at any time depends primarily on the amount of

good thinking you are already doing.

2. Changed Thinking Is Difficult

When you hear someone say, “Now this is just off the top of my head,

” expect dandruff. The only people who

believe thinking is easy are those who don’t habitually engage in it.

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Albert

Einstein, one of the best thinkers who ever lived, asserted,

“Thinking is hard work; that’s why so few do it.”

Because thinking is so difficult, you want to use anything you

can to help you improve the process.

3. Changed Thinking Is Worth the Investment

Author Napoleon Hill observed, “More gold has been mined from

the thoughts of man than has ever been

taken from the earth.” When you take the time to learn how to

change your thinking and become a better thinker,

you are investing in yourself. Gold mines tap out.

Stock markets crash. Real estate investments can go sour.

But a human mind with the ability to think well is like a

diamond mine that never runs out. It’s priceless.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE COPY

Your most important Vehicle

2014-09-11T17:00:00.002-07:00

Taking better care of yourself is not merely a matter of good health,

it is a measure of spiritual evolution. Some people take better care

of their car than they do of their body. Most people, in fact,

pay little attention to their body until something goes wrong.

Yet why create that kind of situation? Look at what you are eating.

How much and how often do you exercise? When was your last check-up?

Are you treating your physical vehicle as if it is Divine?

Good for you if you are. If you aren't...why not?

Do good to others what a wonderful feeling

2014-09-06T22:58:00.005-07:00

Lessons learned as a boy

16 Cancer-Causing Foods You Should Avoid! #15 Completely Shocked Me!

2014-09-01T21:15:00.000-07:00

16 Cancer-Causing Foods You Should Avoid! #15 Completely Shocked Me!

By Caroline

When your parents were young, no one was concerned about foods that cause cancer. The research was very young at the time, but there were also far less processed foods on the market. People ate healthier and more pure foods, because that was what was available to them.

Today, it seems like doctors link everything to causing cancer – it’s hard to determine what to really stay away from. While you think you may be doing the right thing for your health by drinking diet sodas or low-calorie popcorn, you’re actually eating some of the worst cancer-causing foods out there!

Below are 16 of the biggest carcinogen culprits that you probably eat every day. While you may be thinking “Everything causes cancer, so why bother changing my diet,” these 16 common food items have been scientifically shown to significantly increase the risk of cancers.

#1 - Microwave popcorn

Sure it's easy to pop a bag of popcorn in the microwave when you want a quick and tasty snack, but is it really worth risking yourself for liver, testicular and pancreatic cancer? The microwave popcorn bags you have in your cabinet are lined with carcinogenic chemicals AND so is a chemical in the popcorn itself, which creates the artificial butter flavor. If you can't give up your favorite movie-time snack, it's time to switch to the old-fashioned stove top or a kernel popping machine like you see at movie theaters.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#2 - Non-organic produce

You're not alone in thinking ALL fruits and vegetables are good for you, but there are actually many dangerous pesticides sprayed on non-organic fruits that are linked to cancer. One example is Altrazine, a weed-killer used at many U.S. farms, but banned in Europe for causing severe problems in humans, such as infertility. Another problem with non-organic farmed produce is the use of toxic fertilizers and hormones used to make fruits and veggies bigger. In case you were wondering, the worst offenders are apples, followed by oranges, strawberries and grapes. ALWAYS wash fruits and veggies to be safe, but know that this doesn't remove all pesticides.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#3 - Canned tomatoes

I know what you're thinking... You've likely heard how the nutrient Lycopene in tomatoes lowers cancer risks, but that benefit is completely cancelled out when the lining of canned tomatoes contain chemicals that disrupt hormonal activity in the body. Since tomatoes are so acidic, the chemical BPA actually leeches from the lining into the tomatoes. This toxic chemical has been linked to different cancers, heart disease and reproductive problems. Next time you feel like making a nice red sauce, go with a glass jar or stew the tomatoes yourself.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#4 - Processed meats

If you're a carnivore, it may be hard to give up tasty deli sandwiches or cured meats to go with your wine and cheese, but the benefits definitely outweigh the cancerous risk. Processed meats are created with excessive salt and chemicals that damage our health. A study over 13 years showed that 1 out of 17 people died who ate 160 grams of processed meats. That's 44 percent risk of cancer, as opposed to people who ate 20 grams or less. These meats are so packed with preservatives to look fresh, but they are well-known carcinogens, including the same things found in cigarette smoke.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#5 - Farm-raised salmon

Sure fish, especially salmon, is known as one of the healthiest foods out there, but unfortunately more than 60% of salmon in the U.S. is farm-raised... and could be deadly. Farm-raised fish are fed unnatural diets and contaminated with chemicals, antibiotics, pesticides and other known carcinogens found in materials like asbestos. Farmed salmon is also fattier than fresh salmon, which means it soaks up more toxins. Next time you want a healthy omega-3 packed, treat yourself to fresh Alaskan salmon instead.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#6 - Potato chips

They may be cheap, easy and delicious, but these crispy, addicting snacks can also be deadly. These fatty foods don't only cause weight gain because of their high trans-fat content, they also have excessive sodium levels, which cause high blood pressure and artificial flavors, preservatives and colors. Another risk is the presence of acrymalide, a known carcinogen found in cigarettes. Try not to feed these quick snacks to yourself or your kids and choose pretzels, air-popped popcorn or baked apple chips instead.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#7 - Hydrogenated oils

Hydrogenated oils are vegetable oils, which cannot be naturally extracted like olive oil, soy or canola oil, they must be chemically removed. They are commonly used in many foods in your pantry to preserve and keep their shelf life, yet they are also linked to cancer, birth defects, heart disease and many other fatalities. NEVER cook with hydrogenated oils and check your labels for healthy oils like olive, soy and canola instead.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#8 - Salty, pickled and smoked foods

They may be delicious, but many salty, pickled and smoked foods are processed with the preservative nitrate, which changes in our bodies to N-nitroso composites, which are associate with high cancer-developing risks. Smoked foods like meat or nuts absorb the smoke, which contains the same tar found in cigarettes. Colorectal and stomach cancer are linked to salty, pickled and smoked foods. Do you have a taste for these cravable foods now?!

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#9 - Processed white flour

Oprah famously lost a lot of weight by cutting out anything white, especially the big culprit - white flour. You may have heard it's bad for you, but you probably don't realize that chemically-bleaching flour with chlorine gas kills all of it's healthy nutrients. Chlorine gas can be deadly when inhaled, so why would we want it in our dinner? White flour also contains a high glycemic rate, which raises blood sugar and insulin levels and can directly cause diabetes. Cancerous tumors feed on sugar in the bloodstream, so by avoiding refined grains like processed white flour, you can avoid or starve deadly tumors.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#10 - GMO's

You may have heard the term GMO, but you're not alone in not fully understanding the dangers of genetically modified organisms. Why would anyone want to eat something that sounds like that, right?! WRONG! After GMO's were introduced in 1996, Americans with 3 or more chronic illnesses jumped from 7 to 13% in just 9 years. Allergies skyrocketed and so did Autism in children, reproductive and digestion problems. GM vegetables fed to rats caused development of horrifying tumors. One of the biggest culprits was GM bovine growth hormone found in milk. Stay away from these silent killers and choose certified organic, non-GMO verified and locally-grown foods that are produced without biotechnology. You'll be thankful you did later on in life.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#11 - Refined sugars

Cancer cells LOVE refined sugars, which spike insulin levels and and promote cancer growth. High-fructose corn syrup is considered the worst offender and it's found in any sweet you can think of. It's been known for a long time that cancer cells feed off of sugar, so with so many people addicted to sugary treats, it's no wonder why cancer rates have skyrocketed.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#12 - Artificial sweeteners

While many people choose artificial sweeteners to lose weight, they are actually doing way worse damage to the body. People who consume artificial sweeteners in soda, coffee or diet-candy actually end up gaining weight and it does nothing to help those with diabetes. Aspartame found in artificial sweeteners has been known to cause convulsions, cataracts and gastro paresis. Also, artificial sweeteners do nothing to inhibit the body’s ability to monitor its daily calorie consumption, making us crave sweets even more. Another deadly toxin called DKP forms in the body from these fake sweets that produces cancer-causing chemicals, especially brain tumors. To sum it up, there is pretty much NEVER a good reason to ingest artificial sweeteners.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#13 - ANYTHING "diet"

You may be thinking you're doing the right thing when choosing a food with a "diet" or "low-fat" label, but you're actually doing way more harm than good. Chemical artificial sweetener aspartame, again, is the big culprit, causing cancer, birth defects and heart problems. Think about it - anything "diet" is chemically processed and not REAL food. These foods also contain additives like ones found in cocaine to make you feel good, but also be addicting. Be smart and eat nature's delicious, natural foods - organic only, of course!

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#14 - Alcohol

Alcohol use is the second leading cause of cancer, right behind tobacco use. While a moderate or low consumption of alcohol can be healthy and lead to a reduced risk of heart disease, excessive drinking is known to cause heart failure, stroke, and sudden death. Excessive alcohol use is the biggest cause of mouth, esophagus, liver, colon, mouth, rectum and breast cancers. Don't worry! You don't need to give up your glass of wine with dinner, but, for your health’s sake, stick to one.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#15 - Red meat

If you love a delicious steak now and then, don't worry! Red meat is actually a good thing in your diet in small doses, but only if it's grass-fed beef, which can actually help fight certain cancers. However, people who eat meat like hamburgers every day have a greater risk in developing deadly cancers, upping their risk to 22% in men and 20% in women. Red meat is particularly good at causing colon cancer. So, enjoy your steak dinner now and then, but don't do it every night of the week and when you do crave red meat, stick to grass-fed, organic beef.

http://www.bigstockphoto.com

#16 - Soft drinks

Soft drinks, soda, pop... no matter what you call it, it's still detrimental to your health! Soda is packed full of calories, sugar and artificial ingredients, and has ZERO nutritional benefit. One can of soda contains about ten packets of sugar and most popular diet and sugared sodas are nearly as corrosive to dental enamel as battery acid. Think the occasional soda won't hurt? Studies have shown that only drinking two sodas per week nearly doubles the risk of pancreatic cancer. There are plenty of alternatives out there, so next time you're craving something sweet, think about what you're putting into your body. Your health is an investment, never forget that!

Would You Join A Multi-Level Marketing Company For Retirement Income?

2014-09-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

Would You Join A Multi-Level Marketing Company For Retirement Income?

At some point in your life you’ve been pitched a multi-level marketing (MLM), direct selling, or network marketing business opportunity. While the pitch varies from company to company, it basically promises a chance to ditch your 9-5 work schedule, be your own boss, and make lots of money while making new friends in the process.

It all sounds good on paper, yet there is a seemingly endless debate over whether these companies and programs are legitimate business opportunities or not, so I dug in and got the real scoop. As a result, I believe that the entire industry is poised for explosive growth and can be one of the most significant solutions to America’s currentretirement savings crisis.

Initially, that may sound like a bold statement, but it’s not if you understand retirement the way I do. The reality is, making a successful transition into retirement has more to do with psychology than with money… and the same may hold true for multi-level and network marketing.

Don’t get me wrong, money has a role in retirement, but it’s not the primary one every one gives it. Combine that concept with eye-opening statistics like AARP’s estimate that half of all baby boomers (76 million) are interested in starting a business and the makings of a massive trend are in place.

As far as the retirement saving crisis is concerned, more and more people are coming to terms with the fact that they probably aren’t going to be able to save enough money to just sit around and slowly deplete their nest egg from age 62 to 100. With the average 50 year-old estimated to have less than $50,000 in retirement savings, there is an obvious need to find alternative ways to either save more or generate supplemental income starting now, and continuing throughout retirement. Moving beyond just the dollars and cents, boomers are growing tired of feeling guilty or bad about their past savings habits and are interested in moving towards possible solutions.

Another growing reality that could benefit MLM and related businesses is the increasing number of baby boomers who are disenchanted with their current careers. They’re worn-out from years of the corporate grind and don’t feel the connection between their job and the people it impacts outside their office walls or company grounds. They’re shifting their focus from accumulating a giant nest egg to a desire to be part of something bigger and better… to have a positive effect on others… and working in retirement. Facets of life that can be fulfilled with specific types of products and service available through some MLM or Direct selling opportunities.

MLM and direct selling programs also offer very low barriers into entrepreneurship, often providing training, support, and ample encouragement along the way. As retirees begin to realize they need activities that keep them busy, relevant, in good health, and connected to others, the time, energy and cost to participate in these kinds of companies make them very appealing to large segments of the population caught up in these dynamics.

This is not a ringing endorsement for the entire industry. Like any investment of time, money, and energy, people need to be aware of what they are getting into and do their homework. That’s the primary reasons I began researching the topic by reaching out to regular everyday people involved in these types of businesses and who were willing to skip the hype and offer a transparent view of the programs and give their opinions as to whether this can be a realistic source of retirement income.

I initially spoke to a retired friend who said she joined a health and beauty direct selling company as a means of meeting new people. She had recently remarried and moved to a new location, so she combined the practice of meeting new people with making extra money. After almost a decade in the business, she’s built a small niche business with family and friends despite switching to from one company to another competitor after three years.

She admits she doesn’t attend all of the company’s local meetings and goal-setting sessions because she’s not interested in becoming a top producer. She just likes to use the business activity to keep busy (particularly in the winter) and use the extra money she earns to travel and spoil the grand kids.

Having studied the psychology and behavior of boomers, this example represents a major shift in my thinking about the industry. I no longer perceive these types of opportunities as money-making pyramid schemes. Instead, I now see it as a way to enhance many of the personal aspects of retirement that are rarely discussed let alone planned for, with the added benefit of supplementing other popular retirement income sources such as pension and social security.

Daria M. Brezinski Ph.D, a practicing psychologist and former marketing director for a multi-level marketing magazine, echoes these sentiments. “Many people don’t realize that multi-level marketing companies are successful because they help people satisfy a number of important human needs, including feeling significant, having connections, learning something new, and making a difference. I have heard people in network marketing say again and again, ‘I’m doing this because I’m meeting amazing people … making so many connections … and I feel so good about myself.’”

Dr. Brezinski’s point is well taken and easy to see practiced by popular network marketing companies. Many MLM and NM companies tout a three-to-five year plan to attain freedom and wealth, yet many of the people running company meetings have been in the business for five or ten years and still haven’t left their full-time job or landed on easy street. “As it turns out,” Dr. Brezinski notes, “when other human needs are being met, the members and consultants don’t focus solely on the financial aspects.”

Continuing my interviews, I challenged three others who are in the business to be straightforward, and prove to me that the process really works. What I found was good, consistent business advice applicable to any new business.

Lorene Hochstetler, from Ohio, recommends keeping your current job while slowly making the transition into MLM. She’s been able to replace her full-time income but explains, “It didn’t happen overnight, and I still work every day. I am very disciplined with my business and wake up every day knowing what I have to do in order to succeed at this. You have to treat it like a business and be willing to follow advice from others who have made it.”

Tracy Willard of California began her MLM career out of necessity. “Prior to getting involved in my business, I told my friends to never let me join one of those things… but when our family was hit by the mortgage crisis I had to do something different.” She started her business with the intention some retirees may also find themselves. “I started with the idea that I just needed to make my month easier. My company helped me figure out what I needed to do in order to make an extra $500 per month.”

She reiterated a common theme I heard throughout the interviews. “If you treat it like a hobby it won’t pay you like a business.” She also acknowledged that, in spite of her success, she doesn’t sit around eating bonbons every day waiting for residual checks to hit the mailbox. “That’s a common misconception,” she said. “I work hard at my business every day, although it doesn’t always feel like work. Similar to other entrepreneurs who profit from their passion, she says “It’s rewarding because I found a product that has made in difference in how I look and feel… and I love selling it and helping other people start a business.”

Staci Cahill runs her Washington MLM company in a way many people can appreciate. She keeps her personal life separate from her business life by avoiding home parties, offering instead workshops that educate prospects on the products she offers. “I didn’t want to be that person others hid from because they thought I was going to ask them to host a party. I like to keep my business life and personal life separate.”

When I asked her if she was successful at her craft, she pointed out an MLM approach different from what many might expect. “Yes, I am very successful given what I wanted to get out of it. I’m a single mother who used to work 50 hours per week outside the home. Now I’ve cut it to 20 hours, which is a major upgrade for me and my family.”

As a five-year veteran of MLM, she attributes her success to the fact that, “I switched companies a few years ago once I realized that pots and pans don’t change people lives. The products I now offer has changed my life and that of others… and I find a lot of value in waking up and going to bed knowing that.”

The interviews and psychological connections lead me to conclude that MLM and NM companies, along with other small businesses opportunities, are important considerations for anyone entering retirement. In fact, I believe the concept of starting a business for retirement income will become one of the most significant trends impacting retirement in the 21st century. But it has to start with redefining entrepreneurship and framing it into a retirement lifestyle. That means helping people find ways to turn a passion, hobby, or personal desire into extra money in their pocket… not to mention helping people see the importance of planning for the non-financial aspects of retirement such as replacing a work identity, staying relevant and connected, as well as keeping mentally and physically fit.

Something multi-level marketing as well as network marketing companies are poised to capitalize on. As a result, the industry could soon experience larger than life growth, spurred by baby boomers looking to adjust their retirement feelings and plans.