Freedom Incentive

USANA Health Sciences Announces Plans to Expand Operations Into France and Belgium

2011-09-01T23:25:00.000-07:00

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 25, 2011 USANA Health Sciences, Inc. today announced its plans to expand into France and Belgium in the first quarter of 2012. With the addition of these two markets, USANA will have operations in 18 markets worldwide.

According to the World Federation of Direct Selling Association (WFDSA), France is the world's 10th–largest direct selling market, with estimated sales of more than $2.4 billion annually. USANA's Western European office headquarters will reside in France.

Dave Wentz, USANA's Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are very excited about our decision to enter France and Belgium. We currently have a number of leaders and customers, particularly in our North America region, with existing ties to these markets. We expect this new expansion to support positive growth on both sides of the Atlantic."

Polyphenols reduce absorption of toxic by-products of a fatty meal

2011-08-31T21:49:00.000-07:00

Polyphenols are antioxidants found in many plants and foods including grapes, green tea, chocolate, and red wine. They are known to play a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, but their specific actions are not entirely understood. New research illustrates the beneficial protective effects of dietary polyphenols taken with a meal.

Researchers recently investigated the impact of red wine polyphenols on the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a natural by-product of fat digestion known to increase the risk for heart disease and other chronic conditions.

In a randomized, crossover study, participants were fed three different meals consisting of dark meat turkey cutlets. The control meal consisted of turkey meat and water. The second meal consisted of turkey meat with polyphenols added after cooking (concentrated wine) followed with a glass of red wine (about 7 ounces). The third meal consisted of turkey meat with polyphenols added before cooking and then followed by a glass of wine.

At various stages of the study, researchers measured blood and urine levels of MDA and found that levels nearly quintupled after the control meal, while increases in MDA levels were completely prevented after subjects consumed the meals with polyphenols.

This study suggests that red wine polyphenols exert a beneficial effect by inhibiting absorption of MDA, a compound toxic to cells. In addition, these results demonstrate the potentially harmful effects of oxidized fats found in foods and the important benefit of dietary polyphenols in a meal.

FASEB J. 2008 Jan;22(1):41-6.

Lost Sleep Can't Be Made Up, Study Suggests

2011-07-25T22:17:00.000-07:00

LiveScience.com Rachael Rettner

If you think staying in bed on the weekends will make up for a weeks' worth of sleep deprivation, think again. A new study finds that going long periods without sleep can lead to a sort of "sleep debt" that cannot simply be undone with a little extra snoozing from time to time.

The study involved a small number of participants, however, so further research would be needed to verify the results.

Such chronic sleep loss may eventually interfere with a person's performance on tasks that require focus, becoming particularly noticeable at nighttime when the body's natural sleep-wake cycle isn't giving you an extra boost.

Anyone who's ever pulled an all-nighter knows how debilitating sleep loss can be in the short term. Indeed, studies show that after 24 hours without sleep, a person's performance can drop to the level of someone who is legally drunk.

But what about if those all-nighters turned into all-weekers? The authors of the current study turned their attention to long-term sleep loss, and examined whether the effects of such constant sleep deprivation could be erased with an extended resting period.

Studying sleep

The researchers put nine young adults on a sleep schedule that a doctor or medical resident might experience on an on-call shift - about 33 hours spent awake followed by 10 hours sleeping, a cycle that is equivalent to about 5.6 hours of sleep every 24 hours. The participants continued on this grueling schedule for three weeks, at which time they were considered chronically sleep deprived. The study also had a control group of eight young adults who were not sleep deprived.

The subjects needed to periodically complete a performance task designed to test their ability to pay attention and their reaction time.

The sleep-deprived subjects generally performed the same as those who had sufficient sleep if the test was given early on in the "day," just two hours after the subjects had awakened from their long rest. This finding held true across all three weeks of the study, suggesting that a long period of shut-eye could temporarily make up for the chronic sleep loss.

However, the subjects performed significantly worse on tests that were given later in the "day," after 30 hours spent awake, as the study progressed in weeks. For instance, the subjects faired poorly on the last test of the day they took during week three as compared with that same test during week 1. While they had a median reaction time of 667 milliseconds in testing during week 1, that increased to 2,013 milliseconds by week 3. The subjects appeared to have developed a sleep debt - all that lost sleep really was catching up with them.

Here's how the results might play out in the real world: An individual who is constantly sleep deprived during weekdays might try to catch up during weekends. While that individual might feel recovered after their sleeping spell, the study suggests the next time they try to go without shut-eye, their performance may start to deteriorate.

The findings also suggest that short-term and long-term sleep loss may actually act on the brain in two different ways.

The sun makes a difference

The sleep debt was also found to be most noticeable during the subject's nighttime. This could be due to the effects of our natural sleep-wake cycle, or circadian rhythm, the researchers suggest.

This cycle goes hand-in-hand with the periods of light/dark we experiences as the sun rises and sets. Our natural tendency to want to be awake during the day may mask signs of sleep debt when it's light out. But this protective effect may go away as darkness arrives, the researchers say.

The findings are particularly applicable to people who work odd-hour jobs that may have them going without sleep for extended periods, such as health workers, truckers and emergency responders. Chronic sleep loss could leave these individuals "vulnerable to accidents and errors," the researchers say. They advise public health campaigns to emphasize the "potentially covert consequences of chronic sleep loss."

The study was conducted by Daniel Cohen, of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Mass., and colleagues. The findings will be published in the Jan. 13 issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine.

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3 Tips To Improve Your Efficiency In Direct Selling

2011-07-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

Tired organizing your direct selling business? Here's what you should do
by Ronald Lester (OfficialWire) AUSTIN, TX

The direct selling industry is a massive engine of economic growth in the US. According to data available by the Direct Selling Association, over fifty percent of American adults report having obtained services or goods from a direct sales representative. Additionally, one in five American adults says they have been or presently are working as a direct seller.

Many of these individuals are concerned by the flexibility of work hours and the ability to extend personal business connections. Yet, relatively few direct sellers ever attain truly substantial rewards. Part of this is because of the time obligation that is required and the difficulty in selling effectively.

However, a number of new productivity tools extending from online communication administration systems, to sharing your desktop apps and free conference call assistance are most definitely making selling easier for direct sellers. This article handle on three key areas in which direct sellers can work more productively.

Tip 1: Use an e-mail management function

For many direct sellers, e-mail is a serious component of maintaining relationships and prospecting for new ones. We have moved well ahead of the era of mere Outlook mail merge! New offerings by companies such as Constant Contact, My Newsletter Builder, and Email Labs enable direct sellers to produce templates in which preconfigured content can be simply added.

This content could outline declaration about new product availability, incentives for higher routine, updates on shipping schedules, etc. The main point is that these tools enable direct sellers to produce professional looking content using a fraction of the time that previous methods would have required.

The more highly developed offerings provide tracking capabilities. These tracking capabilities can give a range of data from the open rates for e-mails to the click-throughs on links. These services also naturally manage the unsubscribe feature in order to ensure compliance with spam regulations.

Tip 2: Use a free conference calling system

In the last few years, there have been accurately dozens of companies launching free conference calling services. All of them work on the same central standard: they provide you a personal access number and a toll number to call. If all users dial the same number and enter the same PIN code, they are set into the call together. Active direct sellers can potentially save hundreds of dollars monthly by using such systems.

The newer services offer extra functionality applicable to direct sellers. Examples comprise audio recording, listen-only PIN codes for training and education situations, and archiving of content. One such service is Rondee.com, a discussion call system which provides web scheduling.

Tip 3: Use an application to allow desktop sharing

Desktop sharing can be tremendously helpful for direct selling professionals. Whether it's giving out a PowerPoint presentation showing the benefits and features of a new invention or a spreadsheet showing the performance of down-line members, desktop sharing can be quite helpful.

One could simply e-mail out the presentation or addition to all the participants. But a desktop sharing application enables the host to control the presentation and speed of the material. And more sophisticated applications as well as those offered by WebEx or Yugma allow the presenter to switch power over to other participants.

Some users choose a best-of-breed approach and use different systems for conferencing and desktop sharing. Progressively more, however, conference providers are moving to bundle desktop sharing functionality into their core product. Either way, direct sellers can be advantage.

US obesity rate high, but not rising

2011-07-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

By LINDSEY TANNER, AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner, Ap Medical Writer

CHICAGO – Raise a glass of diet soda: The nation's obesity rate appears to have stalled. But the latest numbers still show that more than two-thirds of adults and almost a third of kids are overweight, with no sign of improvement.

According to government data from the years 2007-08 published Wednesday, the obesity rate has held steady for about five years, reflecting earlier signs that it had stalled after steadily climbing.

Dr. William Dietz, an obesity expert with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cautiously called the results promising. "We're at the corner; we haven't turned the corner," he said.

Not only are the vast majority of adults overweight, 34 percent are obese; and 17 percent of children are obese. Even the youngest Americans are affected — 10 percent of babies and toddlers are precariously heavy.

The CDC data were contained in two reports published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"Even though this finding is certainly good news, the statistics are still staggering," said Dr. J. Michael Gaziano, a contributing editor at the journal.

The new data are based on health surveys involving height and weight measurements of 5,700 adults and 4,000 children, surveys the CDC does every two years.

The results in adults, showing 68 percent are too heavy, have been virtually the same in the last three surveys.

In most age groups, black adults had the highest rates of obesity, followed by Mexican-Americans and whites.

Among children ages 2 to 19, 32 percent were too heavy — a rate that was mostly unchanged. But disturbingly, most obese kids were extremely obese. And the percentage of extremely obese boys ages 6 to 19 has steadily increased, to 15 percent from about 9 percent in 1999-2000.

CDC researcher and study author Cynthia Ogden said it was disappointing to see no decline, and troubling that the heaviest boys seem to be getting even heavier. The study didn't examine the causes, but Ogden cited the usual reasons — soft drinks, video games and inactivity — as possible explanations.

"We shouldn't be complacent. We still have a problem," Ogden said.

Gaziano, a cardiologist at Boston's Veterans Affairs hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, said getting the nation to turn the corner and reduce obesity requires changing many unhealthy behaviors, and getting restaurants, schools, food manufacturers and communities to support the fight.

That's starting to happen, from efforts to pull soda from school vending machines to campaigns by groups like the NFL to encourage physical activity, he noted.

The epidemic is also a top White House priority. President Barack Obama has pushed to make obesity prevention part of health care reform. Overhaul measures pending in Congress include encouraging employer-based wellness programs and requiring large restaurant chains to list calories. And Michelle Obama has made childhood obesity and healthy eating habits a pet project.

People like Darrell Pender are paying attention.

Obesity "is constantly in the news," said Pender, a 42-year-old New York City computer technician who decided to get serious about fighting fat after being diagnosed with diabetes three years ago.

Pender was tempted by a TV ad for obesity surgery, but chose a less drastic option — a nutrition support group that he credits with helping him make healthier food choices. So far, he's lost 50 pounds over several months. At 350 pounds, he's still very obese, but his diabetes is under control and he feels healthier.

Karen Congro, Pender's nutritionist at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, said obese patients in recent years seem more willing to try lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes doomed to fail.

Fifteen years ago, "I would have said this seems almost hopeless. Patients would say, 'I had an overweight uncle who lived to 99,'" Congro said. "Now I almost never hear that."

Reset! can lose five pounds in five days, two pounds a week for twelve weeks

Direct Selling Flourishes in China

2011-07-20T20:29:00.000-07:00

By DAVID BARBOZA
Published: http://www.nytimes.com

HANGZHOU, China — Roughly 28,000 young women crowded into the Dragon Sports Arena here for a three-day gathering in September hosted by Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Top, Mary Kay sales directors at a seminar in Hangzhou. Above, a sales director, Jin Xianghua, at left, helps a customer.

The goal was to pump up the crowd, and the song-and-dance troupe, the video testimonials about transformed lives and the awarding of the signature pink Cadillac to a top earner had the desired effect.

“I love the corporate culture of Mary Kay,” said Zhang Xiaoying, a 19-year-old woman from Guizhou, one of the country’s poorest regions, as she and several colleagues dabbed on makeup during a break in the event. “This company teaches you to aspire to a higher level.”

Ms. Zhang earns very little in her new job. But the promise of future rewards is what has persuaded her and about 200,000 other women to become “beauty consultants,” or independent sales agents, for Mary Kay in China.

Avon and Amway, two other American companies that use independent representatives, have even larger sales forces here. Avon says it recruits up to 50,000 women a month and now has one million agents.

Indeed, as China’s economic boom unfolds here, door-to-door sales and what is known as direct selling is sweeping the country, breathing new life into old American brands and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, often for disadvantaged or poorly educated young women.

But that growth has not come without controversy. Many direct sellers in China have been accused of operating sophisticated pyramid schemes and other sales swindles. (In one widely publicized case a few years ago, people were conned into buying stakes in ant farms.)

Even American companies operating in China have been accused of manipulating and misleading sales recruits.

“Some of them recruit people in a deceptive way, like you can become super-rich in a month,” says Chen Defa, chairman of the Chinese Academy of Direct Selling Management.

Because of such concerns, China banned direct selling in 1998, saying that it was often used as a cover for “evil cults, secret societies and lawless and superstitious activities.”

Big direct-selling companies disputed those claims, saying regulators simply misunderstood their business model.

In 2006, after heavy lobbying from American companies, China lifted its ban. And since then, direct selling, with some modifications, has flourished in China, growing into an $8 billion industry that now markets products as diverse as health supplements, cosmetics, toothpaste and dishwashing liquid.

“Direct sellers see unlimited opportunities here,” says Kent Kedl, a Shanghai-based analyst at Technomics Asia, the market research firm. “They see the combination of entrepreneurial sellers and adventuresome consumers.”

Companies engaged in direct selling are succeeding in China by using many of the same techniques that worked elsewhere, analysts say. They often recruit young women and motivate them to sell aggressively, particularly to friends and family members. Companies also use multilevel marketing programs that reward workers for recruiting other agents.

Revenue in China for Mary Kay, which is based in Dallas, has doubled to $600 million in the last three years. “We’re going to grow another 20 percent this year,” despite the economic downturn, says Paul Mak, head of Mary Kay China, despite the global economic slowdown. “People haven’t stopped buying cosmetics.”

The company’s message of female empowerment and femininity seems to resonate in China, a country where young women have few opportunities to start their own businesses.

“The direct-selling industry has quite a low entrance threshold,” says Wang Yi, who teaches at the Beijing Business Management College.

Like other direct sellers, Mary Kay has expanded in China — one of the 35 countries where it operates, generating total revenue of $2.6 billion last year — by working hard to recruit new representatives.

The company operates with a kind of missionary zeal, analysts say, pushing sales agents to invite friends and family members to makeup classes and seminars that quickly evolve into small communities of women who follow the sales gospel of Mary Kay.

Many Mary Kay sales agents say that before joining the company they held low-paying jobs as secretaries, cashiers and rural schoolteachers. Many were also looking for a new focus of their lives. “Because my husband is a businessman, and he is busy, we talked less and less,” says Lu Laidi, a Mary Kay sales director. “I felt my life was boring. I stayed home and barely dressed up.”

While many Mary Kay sales representatives say they earn very little, those who follow the company’s sales and recruiting strategies can become wealthy.

One sales director, Jin Yan, said that after 12 years at Mary Kay, she earned nearly $400,000 last year.

She now drives a pink Cadillac, a reward from the company.

But not everyone succeeds. Shang Qun, a 28-year-old sales agent in eastern Jiangsu Province, said she was pressured to meet unrealistic sales goals and to deliver dozens of names of potential clients to the company during her first months of selling.

“Mary Kay has many direct-selling refugees,” she says. “They claim Mary Kay can make you big money, but their pockets are empty.”

Crayton Webb, a Mary Kay spokesman, defended the company. “Mary Kay is extremely careful in communicating to members of the independent sales force that their success is up to them,” he wrote in an e-mail message. “There are no guarantees and that they should invest in their business carefully.”

Many other agents interviewed in recent months agreed, saying Mary Kay had helped them earn a good living, and also transformed their lives.

Zhang Xiaoying, the 19-year-old woman at the September seminar, said that a year ago she was a cashier in the coastal boomtown of Shenzhen when a friend introduced her to Mary Kay.

Today, she is paid just $200 a month, not much more than she got as a cashier. But, she says, it’s a start.

“I love this company because they give us professional training,” she said.

Bao Beibei contributed research from Shanghai.

College Conspiracy

2011-07-19T23:28:00.001-07:00

Robert Kiyosaki and Network Marketing

2011-07-19T23:23:00.001-07:00

TIME Magazine Interviews: Robert Kiyosaki

2011-07-19T23:18:00.001-07:00

What you should know about direct selling

2011-07-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

* Set income goals. Someone wishing to earn only spending money will have a different strategy to direct sales than someone planning to work more hours.

* Verify the product is legitimate and usable. Watch out for scam products.

* To start selling, direct sellers often must purchase as starter kit, usually around $100, which includes samples, catalogs, order forms and a training manual. Compare the cost of the kit to what you get in return.

* Understand the company's compensation plan. Typically, direct sellers earn 25 to 50 percent of a sale.

*Make sure the company has a buy–back policy on products you purchase to sell. They should pay at least 90 percent of the purchase price inventory bought in the last 12 months.

* Direct sales companies that are DSA members must comply with the group's code of ethics. To find a list of members, visit www.dsa.org.

Source: Direct Selling Association

Direct seller ranks swollen by older workers

2011-07-18T21:23:00.000-07:00

Direct Selling Association reports 29% rise in number of sellers aged 50 and above who 'enjoy the social side' of the work

by Rebecca Smithers,
consumer affairs correspondent (guardian.co.uk)

The UK's army of Avon ladies and other direct sellers has been swelled by record numbers of people aged 50 and above, latest figures reveal.

The Direct Selling Association (DSA), the trade body that represents the UK's major direct selling companies including Avon, Kleeneze and Betterware, reports a 29% increase in the number of sellers in the older age group, forced to find new opportunities to earn money as a result of the recession and worries about their pensions.

It says the trend represents a major new demographic within the industry, whose core direct sellers are predominantly working mothers looking to fit flexible earnings around family commitments.

The direct selling market is worth £2bn annually to the UK economy and is the largest provider of part-time earning opportunities, with more than 400,000 people involved in the industry.

The DSA said 120,000 of those were now people aged above 50, compared with 93,000 in 2009/10.

"Recent statistics have shown that unemployment is falling, but over-50s are struggling to get back into work, with 44% of unemployed over-50s having been out of work for over a year," said Paul Southworth, director general of the DSA.

"From what our member companies tell us, many in the plus-50 age bracket enjoy the social side of direct selling, which allows them to continue to work and network with a variety of people."

Southworth added that the over-50s were attracted by the opportunity to arrange work around travelling or caring for grandchildren, and said that in his experience older people were "less likely" than young people to want to depend on benefits during financially challenging times.

Chris Ball, chief executive of The Age and Employment Network said older workers had a lot to offer these companies.

"Employers comment on the good communication skills of older workers, which are clearly helpful in selling. The retail world has identified that people of a particular age can be particularly useful in speaking to others in the same age range, so this may be an additional factor."

But Ball said many people may not be getting involved in direct selling through choice.

"Older workers may be taking these sorts of jobs despite the fact they don't pay well or offer few prospects, simply because they are desperate to work," he said. "We have met many well-qualified people who didn't want to give up work but found themselves unemployed and willing to take anything rather than a life of idleness or financial struggle."

He added: "Well done to the direct selling organizations – but let's hope that they give older job seekers a chance at higher levels in their organizations too."

"Don't wish it were easier, wish you were better."
Jim Rohn

Exercise May Stave Off Mental Decline

2011-07-16T00:11:00.000-07:00

(HealthDay News) -- Exercise appears to help prevent and improve mild cognitive impairment, two new studies show.

Researchers found that people who did moderate physical activity in midlife or later had a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment and that six months of high-intensity aerobic exercise improved cognitive function in people with mild cognitive impairment.

Mild cognitive impairment is an in-between state between the normal changes in thinking, learning and memory changes that come with age and dementia, one of the studies explained. Up to 15 percent of people with mild cognitive impairment develop dementia each year, compared with 1 percent or 2 percent of the general population.

The first study included 1,324 dementia-free volunteers taking part in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging. The participants completed a physical exercise questionnaire and were assessed and classified as having normal cognition (1,126) or mild cognitive impairment (198).

Those who said they did moderate exercise -- such as swimming, brisk walking, yoga, aerobics or strength training -- during midlife were 39 percent less likely to have mild cognitive impairment, while those who did moderate exercise later in life were 32 percent less likely to have the condition.

The Mayo team said exercise may guard against mild cognitive impairment through production of nerve-protecting compounds, increased blood flow to the brain, improved development and survival of neurons, and decreased risk of heart and blood vessel diseases.

The second study included 33 adults, average age 70, with mild cognitive impairment. Some were randomly assigned to do high-intensity aerobics for 45 to 60 minutes a day, four days a week. Others were put in a control group that had the same workout schedule, but did stretching exercises and kept their heart rate low.

After six months, the patients who did high-intensity aerobic exercise had improved cognitive function compared to those in the control group. The beneficial effects were more pronounced in women than in men, possibly because the body's use of and production of insulin, glucose and the stress hormone cortisol differed in women and men.

"Aerobic exercise is a cost-effective practice that is associated with numerous physical benefits. The results of this study suggest that exercise also provides a cognitive benefit for some adults with mild cognitive impairment," wrote Laura D. Baker, of the University of Washington School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle, and colleagues.

The studies appear in the January issue of the Archives of Neurology.

THE USANA DIFFERENCE

2011-07-15T23:11:00.000-07:00

Athlete Guarantee Program

Trust is a major issue for athletes competing for a place in the Olympics and other high profile athletic competitions. Taking nutritional supplements to help maintain health shouldn't place an athlete at risk for testing positive for a banned substance. Broadly publicized allegations of contaminants in supplements lead many top athletes to wonder if taking supplements will jeopardize their future ability to qualify for competition. In fact, national Olympic committees have written to their athletes warning them of the potential danger of contaminants, encouraging them not to consume any nutritional supplements.

To date, no nutritional supplement company has stepped forward to assume their portion of the liability that a banned substance contamination would create. USANA offers an ironclad solution through its Athlete Guarantee Program. This confident stance in a high stakes venture strengthens our industry-leading position and affirms our commitment to providing Nutritionals You Can Trust.

USANA is currently reviewing applications for the Athlete Guarantee Program from select members of the Canadian Olympic team who qualify under the terms of the agreement. For consideration the athlete must provide the following:

    Proof of membership on Olympic team
    Proof that the athlete has never tested positive for a banned substance
    Results of most recent test
    Verification of earnings from sport within past 12 months

Upon review and acceptance of the application, USANA will guarantee that, during the term of the agreement, should the athlete test positive for a banned substance included in the WADA list of banned substances as a result of taking USANA® nutritional products, USANA will compensate the athlete with up to two times his or her current annual earnings up to $1 million CAN. USANA will enter into an agreement with the athlete at the Company's discretion. USANA will mail the contract to the athlete with additional product ordering information.

Pharmaceutical Grade-Supplements

Direct Selling – A Way To Overcome A Sluggish Economy

2011-07-15T00:13:00.000-07:00

Direct Selling Has Been a Benefit For People In The Recession
by Judy Standifer (secaucusnewjersey.org)

Direct selling has become a way that some people have survived financially in a faltering economy. For some people, direct selling has allowed them to keep their homes and continue earning income. As the nation’s unemployment has risen to 9.1 percent, some unemployed people and some seniors who have lost retirement income have turned to direct sales as a way to provide for themselves and their families. Mary & Sterling Ottesen from Utah shared, "With the world economy as it is today, having a home-based business is absolutely essential. Where health issues are a concern and job security is scare, being able to build a business and provide stability is a rare gift. With USANA, it is possible to become the CEO of your own lives."

Direct Selling Is Recession-Proof

Neil Offen, president of the Direct Selling Association says of the direct sales industry, “We’re recession-resistant in the sense that more people come to us during economic hard times for supplemental income or replacement of a lost job.” The prolonged recession has acted as a tool that direct sellers have used for recruitment purposes. Large direct sales companies like the makeup and clothing giant, Avon, and Silpada Designs, a jewelry manufacturer, are encouraging their sales consultants to inform people that direct selling is a tool they can use to keep producing income even when the economy is performing poorly.

Companies Offer Direct Selling As An Opportunity

According to Geralyn Breig, Senior Vice President of Avon, “…our direct selling opportunity is really the No. 1 product that we have to sell.” Elizabeth Leyba agrees. In 2008, she had her hours cut at her job and wanted to find a way to provide additional income to make up for the lost wages. Now 41 years old and living in Munster, Indiana, she told USA Today that she has a desire to work her Avon business full-time at some point in the future, stating that, “Even though there’s a recession, even though the economy is bad, my business has continued to grow.” Direct selling has worked well for her.

Direct Selling Continues To Grow In Popularity

In today’s article, you learned that direct selling is a way that people can overcome the sluggish economy. People do not have to rely on a traditional job any longer. They can choose to work for themselves in direct selling and create additional income. Self employment through direct selling is legitimate work that people can do to earn part-time or full-time income. According to the Direct Sellers Association, there were approximately 15 million direct sellers in 2007, and there are approximately 16.1 million in 2011. The industry is continuing to grow, even in difficult economic times. Some people respond to economic trouble by being proactive and becoming direct sellers.

GET STARTED!

The five Ps for business success

2011-07-14T00:04:00.000-07:00

by Tricia Phillips, Daily Mirror

Looking to start your own business? Direct selling could be a way to achieve this goal with flexible hours and low initial investment. Paul South worth, Director General of the Direct Selling Association, says: “Many retail companies refer to the three Ps of their success – Product, Price and Promotion. “Although recognizing the importance of having quality products, correctly priced to offer value for money and then promoted professionally, I believe the real success of
direct selling lies in five different Ps and these would be my key success tips for anyone wishing to start their own business.”

PICK: Ensure you pick and choose to join a company that is ethical and sells products you
relate to. Look for a company that is a member of the DSA as they have to follow a strict code of
conduct which is approved by the Office of Fair Trading. Member companies offer a vast array of products that include cosmetics, jewellery, books, home ware, and vacuum cleaners.

PRIDE: Have pride in the company you belong to, the products you sell and the work you do. Be proud of who you are and your ability to succeed. This kind of pride will instill confidence and be transparent to everyone you come into contact with.

PEOPLE: Direct selling is first and foremost a people business and the more you have empathy with the people you become involved with the more successful you will be. People are your greatest asset, so always show respect and be ready to offer help.

PERSISTENCE: Expect that not everyone will say ‘yes’ – you will often hear the word ‘no’.
This does not mean failure. Think of it as another reason to move onto the next ‘yes’.

PASSION: Always be passionate about the product or business opportunity you are offering.
Passion is infectious and people love to be around someone who displays commitment and
belief.

WHAT IS SUCCESS TO YOU?

Today's Top Eight Health Concerns

2011-07-13T01:09:00.000-07:00

The World Health Organization warns that cancer, heart disease, and other chronic conditions, which already kill more than 24 million people a year, will impose increasing burdens of suffering and disability on hundreds of million of others.

Health Enemy #8: Obesity

Obesity has reached global epidemic proportions, with more than 1 billion adults overweight and at least 300 million of them clinically obese.

(World Health Organization)

Health Enemy #7: Arthritis

46.4 million adults, or just over 1 in 5, in the United States have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.

(2003-2005 National Health Interview Survey)

Health Enemy #6: Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis affects an estimated 75 million people in Europe, the United States, and Japan.

(http://www.iofbonehealth.org)

Health Enemy #5: Diabetes

The 2007 estimate of worldwide adult diabetes sufferers was 236 million.

(International Diabetes Federation)

Health Enemy #4: Alzheimer’s

There are currently an estimated 37 million people worldwide with dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease causing the majority of the cases.

(http://www.who.int)

Health Enemy #3: Stroke

Every year, 16 million people experience a stroke, including 5.7 million stroke-related deaths.

(Strong K, Mathers C, Bonita R. Preventing stroke: saving lives around the world. Lancet Neurology 2007; 6: 182-187)

Health Enemy #2: Cancer

In 2005, cancer was responsible for 7.6 million deaths.

(World Health Organization)

Health Enemy #1: Heart Disease

The 2003 WHO World Health Report listed total world deaths from all heart diseases at 16.7 million.

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USANA Health Sciences Is Now an FDA-Registered Facility

2011-07-13T00:35:00.001-07:00

USANA Meets Compliance To New Drug Standards

July 11, 2011 USANA Health Sciences, Inc. today announced it has obtained the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's "Drug Establishment Registration," allowing the company to manufacture over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and holding it to a standard well above what is required of a dietary supplement manufacturer. While nutritional companies in the United States are not expected to follow pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), USANA believed it was an important, logical step to acquire government registration proving their long-standing commitment to producing the highest quality products.

USANA manufactures over 90% of its products in-house, including all of its tableted nutritional supplements. As an FDA-registered facility, USANA now has the ability to manufacture OTC drugs as well. All products manufactured under this license will be subject to very rigorous FDA drug manufacturing GMP guidelines going well beyond those required to manufacture nutritional supplements.

"Few companies voluntarily submit themselves to increased scrutiny, but since we operate in 15 countries including Australia, where dietary supplements are highly regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), our base manufacturing standards are extremely high," says USANA Chief Executive Officer, Dave Wentz. "So while obtaining FDA registration won't affect our day-to-day operations, it will help further assure our users of the quality of our products."

For many years USANA has voluntarily modeled our production on pharmaceutical GMPs and consistently obtained third-party certification as a way to ensure the safety and efficacy of its nutritional products. "We encourage consumers to check their supplement company's FDA registration status online and to make sure their supplements are NSF-certified and meet United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards and specifications," says USANA Vice President of International Operations, Jim Brown.

Independent testing is an important way for companies to demonstrate the legitimacy of their claims. A recent ConsumerLab.com study showed that 1 in 3 vitamins are improperly labeled -- typically because the product did not contain the amount of nutrients claimed in the label.

"We regularly submit our products for independent testing and diligently maintain our third-party certifications," says USANA Executive Director of Research and Development, Dr. John Cuomo. "It's why we have so many loyal users, including several hundred Olympic and professional athletes. Nearly 20 years in business and we've never had to issue a recall."

USANA Health Sciences Wins 15 Awards in Two Months

2011-07-10T17:43:00.000-07:00

- Company is honored for its outstanding products, executive leadership and sales and marketing tools -

USANA a nutritional supplement company, announced today that it has received 15 awards in the past two months from four different award recognition companies. Stevie, Communicator, Telly, and Best of State have honored USANA with Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for outstanding work created in 2010. This is USANA's seventh win from the Best of State awards for its dietary supplements, among other repeat wins.

"It's a privilege and an honor for USANA to be recognized by such an array of credible companies," said Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, Dan Macuga. "We've worked hard over the past 19 years to make USANA the best company it can be and these awards are evidence of our hard work and enthusiasm."

USANA's second quarter accolades include:

17th Communicator Awards: The Communicator Awards is the leading international creative awards program honoring creative excellence for communication professionals.

Winner
Marketing Effectiveness, International Convention (Gold)
Interactive Multi-Media, Health and Freedom Solution (Silver)
Business Website, What's Up USANA? (Silver)
Corporate Magazine (Silver)
Special Edition Magazine (Silver)
Print Advertising, Magazine Ad (Silver)
Print Advertising, Design (Silver)
Online Viral Video (Silver)

32nd Telly Awards: The Telly Awards honors excellence in local, regional, cable TV commercials, non-broadcast video and TV programs.

Non-Broadcast Production History Bio (Silver)
Internet/Online Video (Silver)
Internet/Online Video-Green/Eco Friendly (Bronze)

Best of State: The Best of State Awards recognizes outstanding individuals, organizations and businesses in Utah.

Best Dietary Supplements (7th win since 2003)
Best Personal Care Products/Cosmetics - Sense™ (4th win since 2007)
Best Health/Nutrition Beverage – Rev3 Energy™ (3rd win since 2009)

9th Stevie American Business Awards: The Stevie Awards recognizes outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide, honoring companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them.

Winner
People's Choice Favorite New Media/Entertainment Product (Health and Freedom Solution)
Finalist
Executive of the Year (Dave Wentz)
Management Team of the Year
Best Overall Company
Social Media Focus (International Convention)
Communications Professional of the Year (Ashley Collins)
Communications Professional of the Year (Tim Haran)
Customer Service Department of the Year
Best Support Department of the Year (Manufacturing)
Best Tradeshow or Convention

Why Are You Always Broke?

2011-07-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

You have a well-paying job, but month after month you find that you just don't have enough money to make the car payments, fill up the gas tank or pay the rent. Makes you wonder where all your money disappeared to, doesn't it?

disappearing act

Keeping track of your expenses is a good way to know where your money goes. Let's look at an average day's expenses for a young professional bachelor:

Expense No.1:
You shower (with hot water), brush your teeth, wash your face, apply deodorant, and spray a dash of cologne: total cost = $2.45.

Expense No. 2:
Take a taxi to work (traffic jam for ten miles):
total cost = $12.50, or
Drive to work ($.60 per mile for ten miles):
total cost = $6.00 (doesn't include parking), or
Use public transportation:
total cost = $3.00

Expense No. 3:
Buy the morning newspaper, coffee (or orange juice) and a bagel (muffin or toast): total cost = $6.75

Expense No. 4:
Step outside to smoke your daily pack of cigarettes: total cost = $2.50.

Expense No. 5:
Buy lunch at the local cafeteria or McDonald's: total cost = $8.00

Expense No. 6:
Answer your cellular phone and speak for five minutes (add an extra ten if it's your girlfriend): total cost = $3.75

Expense No. 7:
Send that "Happy Birthday" card you forgot to send grandma back in Italy (express delivery): total cost = $6.50

Expense No. 8:
Buy your favorite afternoon snack: total cost = $3.75

Expense No. 9:
Have a drink with your buddies after work: total cost = $30 (you bought a round).

We all know the expenses don't end there. Read on for more expenses and what you can do to never be broke again.

Expense No. 10:
Take taxi home (ten miles):
total cost = $12.50, or
Drive back home ($0.60 per mile for ten miles):
total cost = $6.00, or
Use public transportation:
total cost = $3.00

Expense No. 11:
Cook a nice dinner for you and your woman: total cost = $12.00 (does not include the bottle of wine). Add an extra $40 if you go out to a restaurant.

Expense No. 12:
Surprise her with flowers and a little gift: total cost = $10.00.

Expense No. 13:
You use three condoms: total cost = $4.50

Expense No. 14:
Return DVD to the local Blockbuster (three days late): late fees = $6.00.

Expense No. 15:
Watch TV for two hours (you have cable): daily cost = $2.00.

Expense No. 16:
Surf the net for two hours daily cost = $1.33 (you use AOL).

Expense No. 17:
Play your favorite music album, brush your teeth and laugh yourself to sleep (includes daily rent): total cost $27.00.

Surprised? Your total daily cost is $134. That's $670 a week. Are you still wondering where all your money went? And I still didn't go over the car payments or the weekend entertainment expenses.

Besides these recurring expenses, there will be others that must be paid on a semi-annual or seasonal basis such as taxes, insurance premiums, car registrations, as well as gifts and holiday expenses.

The last thing you need is an unexpected tax and insurance bill on the same month as your girlfriend's birthday while your bank account has a balance of $25. To avoid such a headache, you need to track your spending and plan for unexpected debts.
track your expenses
The only way to keep spending under control is to track your expenses. This will put you in a better position to evaluate your spending habits so that you can make the proper changes and plan ahead to improve your monetary position.

Tracking expenses usually requires time and commitment. Fixed expenses are the easiest to track because they remain constant each month. However, flexible expenses are a little more difficult to monitor.

One way to keep track is to use an account book, a Palm Pilot, or computer program to record where you spend your money. You can start out by saving receipts, check stubs and credit card receipts to document expenditures, sorting them by expense categories, entering them into your system, and finally tallying them up.
make adjustments
Once you have an idea of just how much you're spending on a monthly basis, you can compare it with your income and make any required changes to your spending habits in order to balance your budget.

From time to time, you may need to make adjustments in your spending plan. The important point is to make sure that you stay within your income.

plan for retirement
You should be including savings as a regular expense. I recommend that you save 12% of each paycheck. In fact, try to keep savings a priority and don't relegate it to what might be left over.

By keeping a careful eye on where your money goes and how much you are spending, you are more likely to have a positive cash flow and even some leftover for retirement.

What's Your Potential?

Somehow, the Unemployed Became Invisible

2011-07-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

By CATHERINE RAMPELL
Published: July 9, 2011

GRIM number of the week: 14,087,000.

Fourteen million, in round numbers — that is how many Americans are now officially out of work.

Word came Friday from the Labor Department that, despite all the optimistic talk of an economic recovery, unemployment is going up, not down. The jobless rate rose to 9.2 percent in June.

What gives? And where, if anywhere, is the outrage?

The United States is in the grips of its gravest jobs crisis since Franklin D. Roosevelt was in the White House. Lose your job, and it will take roughly nine months to find a new one. That is off the charts. Many Americans have simply given up.

But unless you’re one of those unhappy 14 million, you might not even notice the problem. The budget deficit, not jobs, has been dominating the conversation in Washington. Unlike the hard-pressed in, say, Greece or Spain, the jobless in America seem, well, subdued. The old fire has gone out.

In some ways, this boils down to math, both economic and political. Yes, 9.2 percent of the American work force is unemployed — but 90.8 percent of it is working. To elected officials, the unemployed are a relatively small constituency. And with apologies to Karl Marx, the workers of the world, particularly the unemployed, are also no longer uniting.

Nor are they voting — or at least not as much as people with jobs. In 2010, some 46 percent of working Americans who were eligible to vote did so, compared with 35 percent of the unemployed, according to Michael McDonald, a political scientist at George Mason University. There was a similar turnout gap in the 2008 election.

No wonder policy makers don’t fear unemployed Americans. The jobless are, politically speaking, more or less invisible.

It wasn’t always so. During the Great Depression, riots erupted on the bread lines. Even in the 1980s and 1990s, angry workers descended on Washington by the busload.

“There used to be a sense that unemployment was rich soil for radicalization and revolt,” says Nelson Lichtenstein, a professor of labor history at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “That was a motif in American history for a long time, but we don’t seem to have that anymore.”

But why? It’s partly because of the greater dispersion of the unemployed, and partly because of the weakening of the institutions that previously mobilized them.

Unemployment doesn’t necessarily beget apathy, Mr. McDonald says. Rather, demographic groups that are more likely to be unemployed also happen to be the same groups that are less likely to vote to begin with, such as the poor and the low-skilled.

Even so, numerous studies have shown that unemployment leads to feelings of shame and a loss of self-worth. And that is not particularly conducive to political organizing. As Heather Boushey, an economist at the liberal Center for American Progress, puts it, rather bluntly: “Nobody wants to join the Lame Club.”

That’s not to say that disillusionment about the economy will just fade away. But unless something changes, the unemployed seem unlikely to gain real political potency soon.

“There’s an illusion that grass-roots activity just begins spontaneously, that people get mad and suddenly say, ‘I’m not going to take it anymore!’ ” says Michael Kazin, a historian at Georgetown University. “But that’s not how it happens.”

Intellectuals used to play a big role in organizing labor. In the 1930s, Communists and socialists were a major force. Later, labor unions stepped in.

But today’s unions are not set up to serve the unemployed; they generally organize around workplaces, after all.

Just ask Rick McHugh, who worked in Michigan as an employment lawyer for the United Automobile Workers from the 1980s through the 1990s. He represented workers who were appealing denials of unemployment insurance benefits. The union footed the bill for people he represented who were not, and had never been, U.A.W. members.

Today, however, many unions are fighting for their own survival. They no longer provide such support for nonmembers. “They just don’t have the staff and the resources to support these programs and the recipients like they used to,” says Mr. McHugh, now a staff attorney at the National Employment Law Project.

Workers have also become suburbanized. Back in the 1960s or even the 1980s, the unemployed organized around welfare or unemployment offices. It was a fertile environment: people were anxious and tired and waiting for hours in line.

“We stood outside of these offices, with their huge lines, and passed out leaflets that said things like: ‘If you’re upset about what’s happening to you, come to this meeting at this church basement in two weeks. We’ll get together and do something about this,’ ” recalls Barney Oursler, a longtime community organizer and co-founder of the Mon Valley Unemployed Committee in the early 1980s. “The response just made your heart get big. ‘Oh, my God,’ they’d say, ‘I thought I was alone.’ ”

The Mon Valley Unemployed Committee, which is based in Pittsburgh, helped organize workers in 26 cities across five states, simply by hanging around outside t unemployment offices and harnessing the frustration.

Today, though, many unemployment offices have closed. Jobless benefits are often handled by phone or online rather than in person. An unemployment call center near Mr. Oursler, for instance, now sits behind two sets of locked doors and frosted windows.

In other countries, workers have mobilized online. Unions here, too, have reached out on the Web. They include groups like Working America (the community affiliate of the A.F.L.-C.I.O.) and UCubed (created by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers).

But many Web sites geared toward the unemployed aren’t about mobilizing workers. Many instead provide guidance about things like posting résumés online, or simply offer the comfort of an online community.

It’s not clear why this is the case, when social networks have been so essential to organizing economic protests in places like Britain and Greece, not to mention political movements in the Middle East.

“You have to remember that technology is not independent of social structures, motivations and politics,” Mr. Kazin says. “People can feel like they have their own community online, which is useful emotionally, but they also have to have the desire and demand to do something about their situation first before they start using that online presence to organize anything in person.”

To the extent that frustrations are being channeled at all, they are being channeled largely through the Tea Party. But the Tea Party is mostly against devoting government resources to helping the unemployed.

Tea Party activists, for example, are more likely to believe that providing benefits to poor people encourages them to stay poor, and to believe that economic stimulus has made the economy worse.

Why populist anger over the poor economy is leaning right, rather than left, this time around is a bit of a mystery. Perhaps it is because Democrats, traditional friends of labor, control the White House and the Senate.

Mr. Lichtenstein, the historian, notes that it took awhile for the poor to mobilize in the Great Depression. Many initially saw President Roosevelt as an ally and only later became disillusioned. As Langston Hughes wrote in a 1934 poem, “The Ballad of Roosevelt”:

The pot was empty,

The cupboard was bare.

I said, Papa,

What’s the matter here?

I’m waitin’ on Roosevelt, son,

Roosevelt, Roosevelt,

Waitin’ on Roosevelt, son.

For the moment, jobless Americans are waiting on President Obama. If unemployment stays as high as many expect, and millions exhaust their benefits, they may just find their voice in 2012.

Take Control Of Your Future

USANA Earns ConsumerLab.com Certification for The Essentials

2011-06-26T00:07:00.000-07:00

USANA Health Sciences Consistently Demonstrates the Quality of its Products through Third-Party Testing

SALT LAKE CITY, June 21, 2011 USANA Health Sciences, Inc. announced today that its popular multivitamin, The Essentials®, has been independently tested and approved by ConsumerLab.com, LLC, a company that tests health products for strength, purity and disintegration to determine whether the product is what it claims to be. ConsumerLab.com is among several independent testing companies that have given USANA the stamp of approval on its rigorously tested products.

"We are proud to say that this and several other USANA products have consistently passed ConsumerLab.com's tests with flying colors," says Dan Macuga, USANA VP of Marketing and Public Relations. "When you work as hard as we do to source the purest possible ingredients and maintain strict quality control and production standards, it's important to obtain third-party certification to help demonstrate your commitment to making effective, reliable products."

ConsumerLab.com verified that both supplements in The Essentials®, a dual-bottle regimen composed of Chelated Mineral® and Mega Antioxidant®, met its testing criteria for ingredient quality and quantity, met US Pharmacopeia standards for disintegration, adhered to FDA labeling requirements and did not exceed California Prop 65 levels for lead contamination, a hot-button issue within the supplements industry.

"We've found that by separating the minerals from the vitamins, we can actually increase the amount of nutrients that are absorbed by our bodies," says Dr. John Cuomo, USANA Executive Director of Product Development. "Separation of the vitamins and minerals allows for greater stability of the tablets, allowing USANA to deliver more potent combinations that will maintain label claim longer than many other products."

Known for keeping health and nutritional companies honest about their product claims, ConsumerLab.com has tested over 3,000 products since 1999. Many products that ConsumerLab.com selects for testing fail. In fact, a recent study showed 1 in 3 vitamins tested by ConsumerLab.com was improperly labeled – typically because the product did not contain the amount of nutrients claimed in the label.

USANA is NSF-certified as following FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), as well as certified by government agencies around the world. USANA's NSF "Certified for Sport" products are used by both professional and Olympic athletes, and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) recently conducted their own testing of USANA products, which are now the only health supplements approved for WTA player use.

"Since we manufacture over 90% of our products in-house, we take third-party verification very seriously, as it's a direct reflection of our extensive research and manufacturing processes," says Jim Brown, USANA VP of International Operations, "USANA was recently the #1 Rated Overall Merchant Based on Customer Satisfaction in ConsumerLab.com's 2011 survey of its readers. That we are getting praise from both independent testing companies and our customers really means a lot to us."

Diabetes prevalence worldwide has more than doubled since 1980, study finds

2011-06-25T23:45:00.001-07:00

By Thomas H. Maugh II, Los Angeles Times

The occurrence of Type 2 diabetes worldwide has more than increase two-fold since 1980, ascending from an approximated 153 million three decades before to about 347 million in 2008, investigators described Saturday. About 3 million killings every year are exactly ascribed to the infection, which is initiated by the body's incompetence to competently use insulin secreted by the pancreas. About one in every 10 men round the world and one in every 11 women bears from the disorder, the investigators composed in the periodical Lancet. The investigators resolved that about 70% of the boost was due to aging of the community and the residual 30% was due to the increasing incidence of fatness, which is a foremost risk component for diabetes.

A group directed by epidemiologists Majid Ezzati of the School of Public Health at Imperial College London and Dr. Goodarz Danaei of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston assembled fasting body-fluid sugars from 2.7 million persons worldwide for their analysis. Fasting body-fluid sugars are assessed after a individual has not consumed for 12 to 14 hours and are a good assess of that person's proficiency to metabolize sugars. A grade underneath 5.6 millimoles per liter is advised usual, a grade overhead 7 millimoles is diagnostic of diabetes, and a grade between 5.6 and 7 millimoles is advised pre-diabetic. Over the 30 years of the study, the mean grade for men increased from 5.3 millimoles per liter 5.5, while the lever for women increased from 5.2 millimoles per liter to 5.4.

Extrapolating from their community, the investigators resolved that between 314 million and 382 million persons had diabetes in 2008, with the most probable number being 347 million. A preceding study utilising less unquestionable procedures had approximated that the world had 285 million diabetics in 2010.

"Diabetes is one of the large-scale determinants of morbidity and death worldwide," Ezzati said in a statement. "Our study has shown that diabetes is evolving more widespread nearly universal in the world. This is in compare to body-fluid force and cholesterol, which have both dropped in numerous regions. Diabetes is much harder to avert and heal than these other conditions."

The group discovered broad variations round the world. The utmost development was in the Pacific Island nations. In the Marshall Islands, for demonstration, one in three women and one in four men have diabetes. Glucose grades and diabetes were furthermore especially high in south Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Central Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. Among high-income nations, the increase in diabetes was somewhat little in Western Europe and largest in North America. Diabetes rates were largest in the United States, Greenland, Malta, New Zealand and Spain, and smallest in the Netherlands, Austria and France.

Of the 347 million persons with diabetes, 138 million reside in China and India and another 36 million in the U.S. and Russia. The district with the smallest glucose grades was sub-Saharan Africa.

The study was financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Health Organization.

7 Ways to Make Extra Money in 2011

2011-01-11T19:01:00.000-08:00

by Kimberly Palmer(usnews.com) Monday, January 10, 2011

Job security might be out, but freelance, contract, and temporary work is in, which makes it easier than ever to moonlight as a graphic designer while you spend your days as a public relations rep. Slimmer staffs mean companies often need the extra help, and new websites offer free tools that match potential employers with workers. And earning extra money beyond your steady paycheck, if you're lucky enough to have one, can provide a big boost to your financial security.

Here are seven ways to make extra money off the new economy in 2011:

Launch a Brand
When Kimberly Seals-Allers, former senior editor at Essence magazine, was expecting her first child, she discovered that black women face higher risks during childbirth and pregnancy. "I realized we were a special group, and I wanted to write a book about everything in black women's lives. Not just pregnancy, but money, men, and myths in our community. [I wanted] to create a new way forward."

Her first book, "The Mocha Manual to a Fabulous Pregnancy," turned into a series as well as an online magazine, maternity line, and consultancy. Seals-Allers also licensed use of the Mocha Manual name to create an instructional DVD sold at Walmart and supermarkets.

Start a Blog
The anonymous blogger behind Lazy Man and Money defies his site's name. He works about 14 hours a day on weekdays and then puts in nine hours on Saturday and Sunday. But his hard work is paying off -- his blog earns him enough to support his lifestyle; back in 2008, he estimated his annual earnings at around $30,000. But it's tough for part-time bloggers with full-time jobs to keep up with all the demands of a lucrative blog. "There's simply a lot more [to do] than what the average reader sees," he says.

Even if the blog itself doesn't generate a six-figure salary, it can lead to other money-making opportunities, such as consulting or speaking gigs. Silicon Valley Blogger at The Digerati Life has carved out a successful niche as the expert on personal finance and technology in Silicon Valley. While she says she didn't earn much during the first six months of her blog's life, she received her first $100 check from Google AdSense shortly after that point, when she was getting around 600 unique visitors a day. She now earns money from her blog-related consulting, as well.

Sell Your Skills
Whether your expertise lies in social networking, editing, or web development, several new websites can help you find potential clients willing to pay you for your work. Elance.com, Odesk.com, and Guru.com make it easy to advertise your skills and find work, which you can do from the comfort of your home at all hours of the night. To get started, explore the websites to see what might be a good fit. You can also stick with a more traditional approach and use Craigslist.org, which allows users to post advertising for their services, ranging from household labor to music lessons.

Sell a Wacky Service
For those interested in a more unusual approach, the innovative website fiverr.com allows users to sell (and buy) services for $5. Current offerings include sketching a stylized portrait, writing a name on a grain of rice, and digitally restoring a photograph. It's one of the trendiest ways to make a quick buck for the internet-savvy; dozens of videos, websites, and blogs offer advice on how best to earn money off the site. The best advice? Since you're only going to make $5 a pop, sell a service that you can do easily and quickly.

Talk and Teach
Colleges, organizations, and companies are constantly on the lookout for new experts that can inspire an audience. If you've built up an expertise on a subject, perhaps through your blog, then consider branching out with some speaking gigs. Offer to talk for free at first to build up your reputation, and then a speakers' bureau can help connect you to paying gigs (for a cut of your fee).

Design T-Shirts
Companies such as CafePress.com allow people to design and sell their T-shirts for a cut of the profits. According to the company's website, some users earn over $100,000 a year. But it's not always easy: Jen Goode, who earns enough through CafePress to pay her mortgage each month, found success after a year and a half of long, sometimes 16-hour days. Her time is spent creating designs and then uploading them. She has uploaded about 2,500 designs, many of which are cartoon oriented, including the popular penguin series. For her, she says, the secret has been to make many different images that are steady sellers, as opposed to creating one or two megahits. Now, she says she doesn't need to put as much time into her shop because she has such a large inventory of designs.

Sell Other People's Products
Make-up companies such as Avon and Mary Kay are always looking for new sales representatives, as are other companies such as kitchen products seller Pampered Chef. "If you don't have to make a big investment to get into it, it's probably not a bad idea," says Marcia Brixey, author of "The Money Therapist." But she warns people to stay away from businesses that require sellers to make significant up-front purchases that they might not be able to unload.

The bottom line: The new economy offers plenty of creative ways to earn extra money; to find the best fit for you, consider your skills, lifestyle, and ambitions.

Top 10 Reasons Small Businesses Fail

2011-01-06T19:14:00.001-08:00

by JAY GOLTZ, On Wednesday January 5, 2011 NY Times

One of the least understood aspects of entrepreneurship is why small businesses fail, and there's a simple reason for the confusion: Most of the evidence comes from the entrepreneurs themselves.

I have had a close-up view of numerous business failures -- including a few start-ups of my own. And from my observation, the reasons for failure cited by the owners are frequently off-point, which kind of makes sense when you think about it. If the owners really knew what they were doing wrong, they might have been able to fix the problem. Often, it's simply a matter of denial or of not knowing what you don't know.

In many cases, the customers -- or, I should say, ex-customers -- have a better understanding than the owners of what wasn't working. The usual suspects that the owners tend to blame are the bank, the government, or the idiot partner. Rarely does the owner's finger point at the owner. Of course, there are cases where something out of the owner's control has gone terribly wrong, but I have found those instances to be in the minority. What follows -- based on my own experiences and observations -- are my top 10 reasons small businesses fail. The list is not pretty, it is not simple, and it does not contain any of those usual suspects (although they might come in at Nos. 11, 12 and 13).

1. The math just doesn't work. There is not enough demand for the product or service at a price that will produce a profit for the company. This, for example, would include a start-up trying to compete against Best Buy and its economies of scale.

2. Owners who cannot get out of their own way. They may be stubborn, risk adverse, conflict adverse -- meaning they need to be liked by everyone (even employees and vendors who can't do their jobs). They may be perfectionist, greedy, self-righteous, paranoid, indignant, or insecure. You get the idea. Sometimes, you can even tell these owners the problem, and they will recognize that you are right -- but continue to make the same mistakes over and over.

3. Out-of-control growth. This one might be the saddest of all reasons for failure -- a successful business that is ruined by over-expansion. This would include moving into markets that are not as profitable, experiencing growing pains that damage the business, or borrowing too much money in an attempt to keep growth at a particular rate. Sometimes less is more.

4. Poor accounting. You cannot be in control of a business if you don't know what is going on. With bad numbers, or no numbers, a company is flying blind, and it happens all of the time. Why? For one thing, it is a common -- and disastrous -- misconception that an outside accounting firm hired primarily to do the taxes will keep watch over the business. In reality, that is the job of the chief financial officer, one of the many hats an entrepreneur has to wear until a real one is hired.

5. Lack of a cash cushion. If we have learned anything from this recession (I know it's "over" but my customers don't seem to have gotten the memo), it's that business is cyclical and that bad things can and will happen over time -- the loss of an important customer or critical employee, the arrival of a new competitor, the filing of a lawsuit. These things can all stress the finances of a company. If that company is already out of cash (and borrowing potential), it may not be able to recover.

6. Operational mediocrity. I have never met a business owner who described his or her operation as mediocre. But we can't all be above average. Repeat and referral business is critical for most businesses, as is some degree of marketing (depending on the business).

7. Operational inefficiencies. Paying too much for rent, labor, and materials. Now more than ever, the lean companies are at an advantage. Not having the tenacity or stomach to negotiate terms that are reflective of today's economy may leave a company uncompetitive.

8. Dysfunctional management. Lack of focus, vision, planning, standards and everything else that goes into good management. Throw fighting partners or unhappy relatives into the mix, and you have a disaster.

9. The lack of a succession plan. We're talking nepotism, power struggles, significant players being replaced by people who are in over their heads -- all reasons many family businesses do not make it to the next generation.

10. A declining market. Book stores, music stores, printing businesses and many others are dealing with changes in technology, consumer demand, and competition from huge companies with more buying power and advertising dollars.

In life, you may have forgiving friends and relatives, but entrepreneurship is rarely forgiving. Eventually, everything shows up in the soup. If people don't like the soup, employees stop working for you, and customers stop doing business with you. And that is why businesses fail.

Baby boomers near 65 with retirements in jeopardy

2010-12-27T19:30:00.001-08:00

The first baby boomers get set to turn 65 with their retirement security in jeopardy

by Dave Carpenter, AP Personal Finance Writer

CHICAGO (AP) -- Through a combination of procrastination and bad timing, many baby boomers are facing a personal finance disaster just as they're hoping to retire. Starting in January, more than 10,000 baby boomers a day will turn 65, a pattern that will continue for the next 19 years.

The boomers, who in their youth revolutionized everything from music to race relations, are set to redefine retirement. But a generation that made its mark in the tumultuous 1960s now faces a crisis as it hits its own mid-60s.

"The situation is extremely serious because baby boomers have not saved very effectively for retirement and are still retiring too early," says Olivia Mitchell, director of the Boettner Center for Pensions and Retirement Research at the University of Pennsylvania.

There are several reasons to be concerned:

-- The traditional pension plan is disappearing. In 1980, some 39 percent of private-sector workers had a pension that guaranteed a steady payout during retirement. Today that number stands closer to 15 percent, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute in Washington, D.C.

-- Reliance on stocks in retirement plans is greater than ever; 42 percent of those workers now have 401(k)s. But the past decade has been a lost one for stocks, with the Standard & Poor's 500 index posting total returns of just 4 percent since the beginning of 2000.

-- Many retirees banked on their homes as their retirement fund. But the crash in housing prices has slashed almost a third of a typical home's value. Now 22 percent of homeowners, or nearly 11 million people, owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth. Many are boomers.

Michael Vanatta, 61, of Vero Beach, Fla., is paying the price for being a boomer who enjoyed life without saving for the future. He put a daughter through college, but he also spent plenty of money on indulgences like dining out and the latest electronic gadgets.

Vanatta was laid off last January from his $100,000-a-year job as a sales executive for a turf company. And with savings of just $5,000, he's on a budget for the first time. In April, he will start taking Social Security at age 62.

"If I'd been smarter and planned and had the bucks, I'd wait until 70," says Vanatta, who is divorced and rents an apartment. "It's my fault. For years I was making plenty of money and spending plenty of money."

Vanatta is in the majority. Some 51 percent of early boomer households, headed by those ages 55 to 64, face a retirement with lower living standards, according to a 2009 study by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

Too many boomers have ignored or underestimated the worsening outlook for their finances, says Jean Setzfand, director of financial security for AARP, the group that represents Americans over age 50. By far the greatest shortcoming has been a failure to save. The personal savings rate -- the amount of disposable income unspent -- averaged close to 10 percent in the 1970s and `80s. By late 2007, the rate had sunk to negative 1 percent.

The recession has helped improve the savings rate -- it's now back above 5 percent. Yet typical boomers are still woefully short on retirement savings. Even those in their 50s and 60s with a 401(k) for at least six years had an average balance of less than $150,000 at the end of 2009, according to the EBRI.

Signs of coming trouble are visible on several other fronts, too:

-- Mortgage Debt. Nearly two in three people age 55 to 64 had a mortgage in 2007, with a median debt of $85,000.

-- Social Security. Nearly 3 out of 4 people file to claim Social Security benefits as soon as they're eligible at age 62. That locks them in at a much lower amount than they would get if they waited.

The monthly checks are about 25 percent less if you retire at 62 instead of full retirement age, which is 66 for those born from 1943 to 1954. If you wait until 70, your check can be 75 to 80 percent more than at 62. So, a boomer who claimed a $1,200 monthly benefit in 2008 at age 62 could have received about $2,000 by holding off until 70.

-- Medical Costs. Health care expenses are soaring, and the availability of retiree benefits is declining.

"People cannot fathom how much money will be needed to simply cover out-of-pocket medical care costs," says Mitchell of the University of Pennsylvania.

A 55-year-old man with typical drug expenses needs to have about $187,000 just to cover future medical costs. That's if he wants to be 90 percent certain to have enough money to supplement Medicare coverage in retirement, the EBRI said. Because of greater longevity, a 65-year-old woman would need even more to cover her health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket health expenses: an estimated $213,000.

-- Employment. Boomers both need and want to work longer than previous generations. But unemployment is near 10 percent, and many have lost their jobs.

The average unemployment period for those 55 and older was 45 weeks in November. That's 12 weeks longer than for younger job-seekers. It's also more than double the 20-week period this group faced at the beginning of the recession in December 2007.

If financial neglect turns out to be many boomers' undoing, challenging circumstances are stymieing others.

Linda Reaves of Silver Spring, Md., never had much opportunity to save as a single mother raising two sons and a daughter. After holding a variety of positions over the years -- hotel office manager, research analyst for a mortgage company, hospital mental health counselor -- she was still living paycheck to paycheck. Then she was laid off in 2007 at the age of 57.

She entered a training program to learn new skills, but all she has found since is a string of temporary jobs. In her daily quest for clerical or administrative work, she competes against much younger applicants.

Reaves, who turns 60 this month, plans to work until she's at least 70 and then wants to travel, even if she doesn't know where the money will come from.

"I just keep going. I don't really worry about it," she says.

Add this all up, and there's a "slow-burning" retirement crisis for boomers, says Anthony Webb, a research economist at the Center for Retirement Research.

"If you have a crisis where the adverse consequences are immediately clear, then people understand that they have to do something," Webb says. "When the consequences will be felt 20 or 30 years in the future, the temptation is that we kick the can down the road."

As a result, he believes many won't change their behavior.

For less affluent boomers, it won't take that long to feel the pain of poor planning. Concerns about financial trouble will hang over many of those 65th birthday celebrations in 2011.

Many seem to view their plight through rose-colored granny glasses. An AARP survey last month of boomers turning 65 next year found that they worry no more about money than they did at age 60 -- before the recession or the collapse of home prices. But in an acknowledgement of reality, 40 percent said they plan to work "until I drop."