sumo, ergo bloggum (delta)

January 16, 2008

Been Away Awhile

Filed under: Business, Health, Marketing, Miscellaneous, Nutrition, Opinions, Work, YLEO — Rob @ 7:40 pm

Not sure where the last 10 months have gone but here I am again.

The latest thing I’ve been up to is Young Living Essential Oils (www.youngliving.us). It’s a network marketing company that sells unique and very effective health and wellness products, most of which include some combination of essential oils. The interesting thing is that people don’t seem to be so inclined to stop using the products. In fact, in opposition to what is usually the case, they seem to be inclined to use a lot of the products and to reorder every couple of months regardless of whether they are deriving any income from the opportunity.

Yes, there is a business opportunity associated with this company. And it seems to be one that is easily understood and implemented by most people. The way it works is: you join for $40 (basic starter kit) and get a couple of sample products, some informational CDs, printed business and product literature and forms, and access to your own Virtual Office (on the company’s website) which contains additional product-oriented, as well as, business-oriented information. In addition, you buy a few of their products to try (from a selection of 350+). That’s month #1 — just studying the printed material, trying out a few products and perhaps listening-in on a few conference calls. However, if you choose to Enroll anyone else as a distributor, you can receive a 25% Enroller Bonus (up to $200 per enrollee) on their first month’s product volume (assuming you’ve ordered $50 in product yourself).
In month #2, you sign-up for the Essential Rewards Autoship Program (minimum $50). This qualifies you to receive the second-month Enroller Bonus of 15% (up to $200 per enrollee) on the PV generated by the distributors you’ve enrolled who order product in their second month.

Unfortunately, there is no Enroller Bonus paid on products ordered by distributors in their third month or beyond. However, there is a “Matching” Enroller Bonus paid when a person you’ve enrolled also enrolls another distributor who buys products. The Matching Enroller Bonus is paid on second generation enrollees who are enrolled during the first three months that the person you enrolled is in business. 

If you like the company and products, make a list of people who you think might also like the idea of 1) using high-quality natural health products, and 2) building a small, part-time business that offers the ability to work from home and, in time, generate residual income. I’m guessing that 70 million of the 76 million Baby-Boomers out there can use one, the other or both.

There are distributors in this company earning more money in one month than most people earn in a year. The most money you will ever have to spend per month to qualify for the maximum commission on your downline’s overall group volume (OGV) is $100. Your earnings will depend solely on the size and distribution of your organization. This is a function of your effort as you apply it over time. Most of the distributors now earning over $100,000 per month have been working at their businesses for over 10 years.

But what if you spent only 8-10 hours a week for two years talking to people about the amazing products and business opportunity. What if your group has only 200 people. Well, based on statistics gathered from my upline’s present organization of ~1,000 people, ~30% of distributors will order each month with an average order value of ~$200. So, extrapolated for a group of 200,  ~$12,000 in monthly group volume would be produced by ~60 people. Depending on which distributors place orders, i.e., their level relative to yours, you would earn approximately $500-$800 in commission. Of course, you would have to have $100 in personal product volume (PV) to qualify for this payment.

This is what my upline distributor (sponsor & enroller) did in 1997-98. And then he stopped actively building his business for several years, and simply placed $100 product orders every month to continue to qualify for his ~$1,000 monthly commission checks. But a funny thing happened. His OGV kept increasing (as his downline continued to grow without his active involvement) and his monthly check kept increasing as well. When his check hit $3,600 (~1,000 people in his downline, 17 levels deep, with ~300 orders averaging ~$200) he called me and said ”you need to get back into this business” (I had dropped out in 1998). That was six months ago and now his check is closer to $5,000 (he started a second leg in his downline). So I re-activated my distributorship last month and now have five people in my downline (TEN as of 1/30/08). I’m building one leg straight down — each new person goes under the previous one. I’m going to continue this strategy until I’m earning $800-$1,000 per month, at which point I’ll start a second leg, ad infinitum.

To be candid, I’m not sure I can see myself making $10,000 per month. But how often does one see the peak of a mountain when beginning the climb? I can definitely envision making $2,000 within 2 years (as I’ve accomplished before in a similar endeavor). That’s about the amount that most people receive from Social Security after working for 40 years.

This time I’m building my organization deep first and wide second. This approach provides support and incentive to new people who aren’t really sure what to do next. Having 10-20 people ordering ~$200 per month in one’s downline can have an amazing effect on one’s focus. That would more than invite the active participation of any sensible person. It’s win-win.

Let me know if you’re interested.

Oh yeah, the only requirement to keep a distributorship active is to place just one $50 product order each year. However, you may choose to spend more as your group (and  OGV) grows — or when you realize how much you like the products. ;-)

Note: When monthly OGV is calculated, downlines are compressed to include only those distributors who have placed orders. Fifty dollars in personal monthly personal PV is required to receive a commission on the purchases of your first two levels after compression. $100 in personal PV and $500 in OGV qualifies you to receive a commission on your first three levels after compression. When you have $2,000 in OGV, you get paid on four levels, again, after compression. And when you have $5,000 in OGV, you’re paid on five levels. There’s more of course, much, much more. So leave a comment if you’re interested in learning more about it.

3/25/08 note:  As of today, there are 92 distributors in my group.

March 7, 2007

Injured Canada Goose

Filed under: Animals, Miscellaneous — Rob @ 3:29 pm

Please drive carefully out there.  I saw an SUV hit a Canada Goose on a country road this morning and it wasn’t pretty.  In fact, it was extremely upsetting.  I saw the possibility of the collison moments before it occurred and, by slowing down myself, was able to cause the SUV driver to also slow down – but not enough to avoid hitting the poor goose (which appeared to be trying to protect other geese).

As the goose tried to get airborne to avoid the collison, it was struck from behind at approximately 5-10 MPH.  It got flipped over and hit the windshield, and then roof of the SUV before ending-up on the road in front of my stopped vehicle.  As I inched forward to see if it was alive and/or could move, the goose flapped it’s wings to pull itself to the side of the road.  As it did this, I could see it dragging its apparently useless feet helplessly behind him.  Talk about a heart-wrenching moment.

I wanted to help the poor animal but had no idea what to do — or whom to call.  The other driver stopped long enough to see the goose pull itself off the road and then continued with her trip. 

When I arrived at work about half an hour later I did a quick Internet search and found a local wildlife rehabilitation group. Though they possibly were able to help the injured goose (if it’s feet/legs weren’t actually broken), they didn’t have the staff or resources to go look for it and pick it up.  So they gave me the emergency phone number for the Humane Society which, in my area, is staffed and equipped to pick up injured wildlife.

After calling them and reporting the nature, time and location of the incident, I immediately programmed their emergency number into my cell phone. At least now I’m prepared in case I ever again witness a similar incident.

In the future, I’ll pull my car off the street, call the Humane Society and stay with the injured animal until the Humane Society arrives (It occurred to me after leaving the scene that the injured animal was extremely vulnerable to predators.).

The point of this post is three-fold: encourage people to 1) drive more slowly on winding country roads, 2) program the emergency number of their local Humane Society into their cell phones and 3) do whatever they can to save injured wildlife.

An acronym for what you might do is: SCS (Stop - Call - Stay).  I know I wish I could have.

September 19, 2006

Prosser — 1st CD now available

Filed under: Culture, Miscellaneous, Music, Opinions — Rob @ 10:10 pm

If you like guitar and cello music, go to the Prosser link on my blogroll and check-out Eric’s and Dylan’s first official Prosser CD.  It will be released in stores about mid-October but you can buy it now through their website via Clickpop.

And if you live in the Seattle area, you can see them perform at some of the local venues there.

September 12, 2006

Benchmade vs. Emerson Folding Knives

Filed under: Miscellaneous, Tools — Rob @ 5:56 pm

I just got a Benchmade 551SBK Griptilian knife (Mel Pardue design) with a 3-3/8″ black BK1 coated 154CM stainless steel ComboEdge blade with thumb studs, 4-5/8″ black Zytel handle, super smooth and strong “Axis” lock, and black stainless steel reversible pocket clip (right or left hand, tip up carry).  It’s a very impressive piece of work — opens with just a flick of the wrist.

But I have to admit I was (still am, in fact) considering getting an Emerson Commander (or Mini-Commander) with the “Wave” feature.  Aside from design/style, I think the only differences may be blade thickness and length, locking mechanism, handle material and cost.  I really like the deep finger notch on the underside of the handle.

Am wondering if anyone can offer any insight about which knife might hold up better through so-called “hard use” and why the Emerson’s are a bit more expensive. 

August 23, 2006

Any Pool Sharks Out There?

Filed under: Miscellaneous — Rob @ 11:25 pm

I’m talkin’ about billiards.  Would like to get some opinions about cue sticks. 

Specifically, how does one determine the weight of the cue.  I know, you weigh it!   Ha-ha.  But seriously, do you just go by what feels good of is it more scientific than that? Will somebody please cue me in?

And what are some quality brands besides Viking.  Or does it even matter?

August 21, 2006

Some books I’ve read recently, some I’m reading, and some that are, well, just sort of stacked up around the house waiting to get into the queue….

Filed under: Books, Miscellaneous, Opinions, Personal Stuff — Rob @ 11:16 pm

Bangkok 8 (John Burdett) - Really, really good. A Bhuddist, Thai detective solves the mystery while refusing to screw the FBI.  I couldn’t put this down.  Start it on a Friday night or you’ll be sorry.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (J.K. Rowling) - The 6th book in the series and I think one of the better ones. Will leave you on tenterhooks waiting for the finale.

Cod (Mark Kurlansky) - A well-written, interesting though somewhat dry (!) history of the fish.  I’m looking forward to Salt.  This one is still a Read-in-Progress (RIP).

The Millionaire Mind (Thomas J. Stanley) - Another RIP. Wish I’d been exposed to this stuff 40 years ago — of course it wasn’t around then, but nevertheless… Very interesting and inspiring stuff.  Worth reading if you’d like to be rich.

I’ll add to this list periodically….  Am still thinking about other ways to organize it.

         8/30/06 -

Right as Rain (George P. Pelecanos) - D.C. noir mystery — just started it but pretty good so far.

         9/12/06 - Well, the story picked-up as it went on. Somewhat formulaic and  predictable but still a good read.  Good enough, anyway, that I’m going to read the next book in the series:

Hell to Pay (George P. Pelecanos) - This one is really good. Got about 4-5 chapters in then got side-tracked by life. I hope to get back to it soon. (RIP)

Yes, You Can Still Retire Comfortably! (Ben Stein & Phil DeMuth) - Whoa!  This is scary.  But these guys are smart and it looks like very useful info presented in a highly readable fashion.  After reading just the first chapter I’m already thinking about all the people I want to give this book to for Christmas.  Especially young people who are growing up in a world that is, and will be, very different from the one I grew up in and the one we now live in. The defined-benefit pension is all but extinct unless you work for the government. (RIP)

Name Game

Filed under: Blogging, Miscellaneous, Ramblings, Random Thoughts — Rob @ 11:02 pm

Yes, for those of you who are uber-observant, I’ve changed the title of my blog again.  You may recall that originally it was ”bloggo, ergo sum.”  Then I learned there were (and still are) several hundred other blogs with the same title and became a very despondent correspondent.  However, now that a few weeks have elapsed, my spirits have improved and I’ve sort of reinvented myself.  Yes, in translation my blog title is now:  “I wrestle Japanese-style, therefore I blog.”  I think it uniquely sums up my life purpose and blog content quite well.

July 26, 2006

So Naive - So Embarrassed

Filed under: Blogging, Miscellaneous, Random Thoughts — Rob @ 9:42 pm

Well, it’s been two weeks since I began this weblog and today I finally got around to doing a Yahoo! search on “bloggo ergo sum.”  No, I didn’t Google it.  I’ve been a loyal Yahooligan since September 1999 and their search engine has always been very, very good to me.  Still, I was just a bit disconcerted by the number of hits that turned up.  At first I thought it was a gazillion but after a bit of analysis realized the number, though probably greater than 100 was also probably less than 1,000.

So it appears there are many similar-looking grains of sand on this beach and though each is unique, each is know as “a grain of sand.”

I guess I thought that since I knew a little Latin and think I’m a little clever that I would be the only person on earth who would come up with this title for a weblog.  Duh!

So then I searched on my second choice, “Lather, Rinse, Repeat” to see how many hits it got.  Sadly, there were at least as many.  So I confess to suffering from a tinge of embarrassment for 1) not being terribly original and 2) not even thinking to run an Internet search before choosing a weblog title.

Hmmm, I wonder if “blotto, ergo sum” is taken?

Blog at WordPress.com.