Is Business School Worth the Cost?

May 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Business school definitely has it’s benefits –  like the opportunity to network & connect with serious players in business, learn about leadership & entrepreneurship, and increase your chances for mobility and a pay raise at work. But is it worth the cost!?

I live in Baltimore so I searched John Hopkins B-school tuition rates.

Here’s what I saw:

Cost of John Hopkins Carey Business School

is business school worth the it worth the cost

Over $100k in tuition!

In all honestly, I would love to go to business school. Personally, I’d go for the mental exercise, the challenge, the opportunity for new achievement & to make new connections. But..

…It’s too damn expensive!

I can’t wrap my brain around the costs. You can find plenty of ways to network, learn entrepreneurship and demonstrate value to your company for a pay raise – without paying $100k for another degree.

By the way – Sorry to all my comrades out there paying Sallie Mae for your undergrad. I feel your pain.

If my company would pay for it 100%, I’d consider it. But otherwise, I can’t see it happening.

What say you about the B-school? Speak on it!

Filed Under: Goals & Productivity, Stuff Tagged With: , , , ,

How To Find Peace In Pursuit

January 24, 2014 by 1 Comment

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There’s one huge mistake a see tons of ambitious people make everyday.

They deny themselves the opportunity to be happy & to enjoy life – until they “arrive” – until they reach a certain status, obtain a certain position or reach a particular level of income.

They don’t deny themselves intentionally, of course (I used to be one of those people by the way).

They just keep their nose to the grindstone and forget to ever come up for air to enjoy the simple things.

The ironic thing is – it’s the little things that create the most meaning in our lives:

Holidays filled with family & laughter, cuddling with our kids to read a bedtime story, dinner out with close friends, enjoying the peaceful serenity of the sunrise and sunset, being a positive force or friendly face in the lives of others…

These are things we can do today.

Yes – Having goals are a must. And being ambitious is engrained in our nature.

However…
Our happiness should not be dependent on whether we achieve a particular goal. Your joy should be internal, instead of reliant on outside factors.

Learn to create peace while in pursuit of your goals and you have already earned your prize.

That is Peace In Pursuit :)

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Afterall –  we never should really arrive. Once we accomplish one goal – we simply move on to the next.

 

Wishing you peace in pursuit,

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Filed Under: Goals & Productivity, Self Growth Tagged With: , , , ,

{Inspirational Video} Necole Bitchie Weblog Award Speech

November 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment

I love this girl. I’ve been following her journey for a while. In an online world filled with celebrity gossip and negativity, she managed to create an entertainment site that maintains it’s integrity, respect for people and a sense positivity and empowerment.

If you don’t know blogger Necole Bitchie’s story, she once stayed on her aunt’s couch – no job, no place, and no parents (who had passed a way a couple years prior). You may now see her interviewing celebrities and attending industry events. She is a testament in today’s world of limitless opportunity, of how you can take a laptop, a vision & a dream, and create a platform to not only build your dream lifestyle, but also position yourself to empower others.

Check out her speech at the Black Weblog Awards:

 

“Sometimes you gotta be patient. Everything happens when it’s supposed to…”

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blogging, Building An Online Business

3 Ways to Monetize a Blog {Make Extra Money With Your Passion}

November 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

There are various ways to monetize a blog. Here are 3 primary ways you can monetize a blog & make extra money blogging about your passion.

3 Ways to Monetize a Blog:
1.   Advertising
2.   Sell Your Own Product
3.   Affiliate Marketing

 

Here’s a breakdown of each.

 

1.  Make Money Through Advertising:

If you have enough traffic (visitors) to your blog, you can charge other people to advertise on your website.  Of course, It can take quite some time to build enough traffic so that others would be willing to pay to advertise on your site.

 

2)   Make Money By Selling Your Own Product

If you’re into cooking, you could create a cookbook. If you’re into travel, you could create a travel guide. Fitness? Create a weight loss plan. Quilting? Sell your blankets. The possibilities are endless. Let’s take a look at the cookbook example in more detail.

Here’s an Example of How to Create Your eBook:

Let’s say someone loves to cook (call her Kris). Kris posts lots of fun recipes & cooking tips on her blog. By blogging regularly, even shooting some YouTube video tutorials & sharing her content throughout social media, Kris eventually gains a substantial number of visitors to her blog.

One day Kris decides to create a cookbook with her favorite recipes & simple meal ideas. She types up the recipes in a word doc. She adds some images from pics of her food that she’s taken. And then she can create an ebook cover for her cookbook.

Lastly, she converts the word doc to a PDF with a free service like this one. Now her eBook (or rather eCoobkook) is ready to go!

She charges $8 for her cookbook collecting payments through Paypal. Once someone pays, she emails the cookbook or provides an access link where the purchaser can download it from her blog. 

Alternatively, she can print & ships the cookbook. But for obviously reasons – a digital product is often preferred to a physical one (as it saves time & money).

This is an example of how you can take a passion you love to do & share anyway & monetize it online.

 

3)   Make Money Through Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is the most common & popular way to monetize a blog.  There are hundreds, if not thousands, of various affiliate marketing companies out there. Even Amazon & Wal-Mart offer affiliate marketing programs.

 

How Affiliate Marketing Works:

Affiliate marketing is simple. It’s when a company pays you for referring business to them. You’re an affiliate for that company. Most often, you are paid a portion of every sale made through you or your site.

Keys to Successful Affiliate Marketing:

  • Drive targeted traffic to your website, relevant to the topic of your blog
  • Blog regularly – consistently adding fresh/new content to build your subscriber base
  • Always provide honest opinions & reviews about products & services – never make a recommendation simply for a sale
  • To maximize earnings, the best programs should offer residual/passive income as well as have large upsell potential


Benefits of Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is appealing to a lot of people because you don’t have to worry about creating your own product and it can be lucrative, if you know what you’re doing.

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Ready to Make It Happen?

Are the wheels starting to turn? Are you getting some ideas of ways you can monetize your blog and make money online? There are really lots of ways to do it. The key is being consistent. Each method takes traffic to your blog as well as building a connection with your visitors.  This takes time.

But it’s as simple as a decision & commitment to making it happen.

If you found any value out of this post, please hit the share buttons on this page now  :)

Want to stay up to date on the best affiliate programs? Subscribe to my email list on the top right of this page. 

To Life Without Limits,

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Filed Under: Blogging, Building An Online Business, Making Money Online, Stuff Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

5 Key Tips From “The 4 Hour Work Week”: Get More Free Time without Quitting Your Job

August 19, 2013 by 2 Comments

 

The following are 5 great tips he provides in the book, some of which I have implemented and others I plan to test!

5 Key Tips From “The 4 Hour Work Week” : How to Get More Free Time Without Quitting Your Job

1) Create a to-do list at the end of each day

Create a to-do list before leaving work each day which maps out the most important tasks to complete the following day. Seems simple enough, right? But you’d be surprised at how many people don’t do it! Do you? I’ll admit, sometimes I am still hit or miss, but I have gotten a lot better! And creating the list definitely improves my productivity the next day.

2) Do NOT check email first thing in the morning

This may be the exact opposite of what most of us do. Here’s why it’s important not to check email first thing when you get to the office. It is SO easy to get lost in a sea of emails. Before you know it, you’ve spent your first hour or two of the day (often times people’s most productive hours) executing other’s agendas, instead of your own.

Similar to the concept of Brian Tracy’s “Eat That Frog,” Ferris suggest to accomplish your most important task of the day (the one you identify on your to-do list the evening prior) before you even check your email.

3) Check your email at specified intervals

Not only should you avoid checking email the first thing in the morning, Ferris suggests checking it at specified intervals,  maybe 2 or 3 times per day. This prevents the habit that most of us have of leaving Outlook open all day & constantly being distracted from what we’re working on. He even goes so far as to suggest setting up an auto-response informing people that you’ll be reviewing & responding to emails at 10am and 3pm, daily (for example). That way the expectation is set. And you can focus on your tasks!

4) Get really good & really efficient at what you do

“The Four Hour Work Week” is not about being lazy (well it kinda is, but in a good way!) Ferris, doesn’t suggest you do nothing, or try to get over by producing as little as possible. In fact, he suggests you get really good at what you do. So good that you become indispensable to your company. Leading to tip #5 – negotiating a remote work environment.

5) Negotiate a remote work environment

 Work from anywhere! (Work while backpacking in Europe? Traveling through South America? Don’t mind if I do!) And thanks to Tim’s prior advice, you’ll be so efficient that a 40 hour work week will hardly be necessary to still meet & exceed the responsibilities of your job.

I understand working remotely is not plausible for everyone. But for many of us, it is an option if we just raise our hands & ask. And the key is, the more knowledgeable you are in your position, the more value you provide to your company, and the more productive you are – the more likely you’ll be able to negotiate the terms of your employment – including working remotely!

(Important Note: Being more productive does not equal putting in more hours. That’s the misconception that so many of us have – that in order to be more productive you have to spend more time on something. But that simply isn’t the case. That is what the rest of “The Four Hour Work Week” dives into. How you can be more productive in less time. In my personal case, a remote work environment IS an option. So many of the tips provided in the book were right up my ally.

I expect that soon I’ll be putting the 4 hour work week to the test! (Particularly step 5, hopefully, in the coming months). I’ll keep you posted on how it goes!

Have you read “The 4 Hour Work Week?” What was your favorite part of the book?

Are any of the strategies above, something you can implement in your current work environment? Speak on it!

If you found any value out of this post, please hit the share buttons on this page. Thanks for stopping by!

Thank-you

Filed Under: Creating a Better Work Environment, Goals & Productivity, Stuff Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

My Encounter with a Hippie Jedi Blogger Earning $40k/month

April 29, 2013 by 3 Comments

At a recent marketing event Justin Verrengia – the self proclaimed hippie Jedi blogger – gave me some words of advice when it comes business, blogging and internet marketing. Why would one heed the advice of a hippie?

The bigger question is how does a hippie Jedi blogger make $191,847 in 15 months with an online affiliate program??

Below is a photo of Justin with a check that shows his total earnings as of January 2013 with the Empower Network program. [His earnings are significantly more as of the writing of this post.]

 

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How Did He Do It?

Justin Verrengia will be the first to tell you it wasn’t always peaches & cream. He & his wife D now live like jet setters –  with a home in Medellin, Columbia, with frequent visits to locations around the world. But just 3 years ago Justin & D were struggling to pay their $450 rent in Costa Rica. Justin had been in the home based business/network marketing industry for a number of years. He was trying to ‘live the life’ but was really ‘enduring a nightmare.’

He was constantly either a) on the phone closing prospects or b) on the computer trying to figure out how to grow his business online. He admits he would literally work 18 hours per day just to maintain a modest income.

So what changed?

Justin says that a pivotal turning point for him was attending a live internet marketing event called “Don’t Be a Wussy” held by Empower Network early 2012. It was the company’s first event. At that time, he was still stuck in his old habits, but had a goal of using the Empower Network’s blogging & marketing platform to make an extra $5k/month.

 

While attending that event, here’s what shifted for him: BELIEF.

Click Play Below Now to see the Hippie Jedi’s belief in action.

 I want to Learn More

Justin says that before that original event, he was conditioned to believe that it required working 18 hours per day and staying on the phone constantly to earn a good living in this industry. But based on the results he was seeing from other people with this blogging system, his beliefs about what it takes to make money changed.

There was a second shift that happened that weekend. It wasn’t just Justin’s belief in a new way of creating success that changed everything.

It was also the belief in HIMSELF.

Justin frequently attributes his mental shift to conversations with his mentor (Empower Network co-founder) Dave Wood. Wood’s belief in Justin spurred belief in himself. As did the belief from his wife D.

And according to Justin BELIEF is the key to all success; No matter what the objective. No matter what your goal….Here’s why:

Belief creates action. Action creates results.
Results create more belief. And they cycle continues.

When Justin landed in this productive cycle – he went on to blow his goal of $5k/month out of the water.  As of the writing of this article, Justin is earning $40k+/mo with this system.

It was my pleasure to meet Justin. I love being surrounded by people who push boundaries, challenge the status quo, and un-apologetically live their dreams. To learn more about the Empower Network blogging platform Justin & I both use to create extra income, to connect with people across the world, and create a positive impact, click here.

 

alice dymally and justin verregnia

 

Income Disclaimer: Just because Justin achieved these results doesn’t mean others will. Justin closely followed the instructions of his mentor Dave Wood, consistently followed the 8 Core Commitments of the Empower Network business training & as you can see has more belief in his pinkie, then unfortunately most others have in themselves.

The morale of the story from my encounter with a hippie Jedi blogger is to have faith in what you’re doing and belief in yourself. Your belief is more powerful than you can imagine.  Thanks for stopping by!

~ Live Life By Design ~

Alice Dymally

P.S. Justin is not the only one having success. Shalonda Gordon has one heck of a story. Check it out here. Enjoy! :)

 

Filed Under: Blogging, Empower Network, Making Money Online Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Real Reason People Keep Quitting Your Network Marketing Business & How To Make It Stop.

April 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Real Reason People Keep Quitting Your Network Marketing Business & How To Make It Stop

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Are you suffering attrition in your network marketing business? Learn the real reason people are leaving & how to make it stop.

So you have a home business. You’ve finally started to build  a team….after months (or perhaps year) of struggle…of persevering and pressing on…But your team would be much larger if only some people hadn’t quit!

Why do some people quit, while others have the wherewithal to press on?

What can you do to build a strong, reliable, committed team, with minimal attrition? Read on. You’re about to find out.

 

Why People Leave #1: Overwhelm

Often people who are introduced to a new business are overwhelmed with information. Comp plans, websites, starter packs, bonuses, autoship, yadda, yadda, yadda. While some are familiar with all thease moving parts, many people who get in to a home business, have actually never run a business before.

 

Here’s What To Do To Combat Overwhelm:

Set expectations at the very beginning. Explain there will be a learning curve just like with anything else worth having. Also have a strong, supportive team environment – whether in a private Facebook group or on a team website (consider ning.com where can you build a private team site). Establishing the sense of community can be the major difference maker for your team members.

 

Why People Leave #2: No Marketing System

Face it. People don’t like to sell. In fact, that’s probably the number one reason why people don’t even get into network marketing to begin with. For those who do, as newbie marketers, they tap into the warm market, such as friends & family. Then they quickly “wear out” their market & become lost or frustrated with a lack of leads & prospects.

Leverage a Marketing System For Your Team

As a leader it’s important to have a marketing system in place for your team. Particularly if you can establish on online marketing system for yourself & for your team, you will never run out of prospects or leads. As a result, product is much more duplicatable. When people are able to create results quickly, they are more likely to stick around. It is very important to have a sales & marketing system in place for your business.

 

Why People Leave #3: Lack of Vision & Work Ethic

Let’s be honest. Some people do not see the bigger picture OR do not have the work ethic to go get it.

Let them quit.

The fact of the matter is it takes a certain type of person to succeed in this business. Some people don’t have the vision & work ethic to persist. Others just have other plans in mind. That’s fine!

Better to lose these people sooner rather than later. Would is sting more if someone quit just after a few days or after months of you pouring your time & effort into them? Cut your losses early.

 

The Real Reason People Keep Quitting Your Network Marketing Business & How To Make It Stop

In summary, follow these simple steps and you will significantly reduce your attrition in your business.

Set expectations. Create a supportive team environment. Establish a duplicable sales & marketing system. Lastly, cut your losses for people who simply aren’t right for your business.

 

I hope you’ve found value in this article. If you believe others will as well, hit the share buttons on this page now.

 

 
Live Life By Design,

Alice Dymally

P.S. Here’s a great marketing platform & training system anyone can use to build their business & create success for their team. Enjoy!

Thank-you

Filed Under: Leadership, Network Marketing Tagged With: , , , , ,

Are You a Multi-Tasker? Find Out How It Could Be Hurting Hurting Your Business and Your Life

April 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Often times, the word “multi-tasker” is used with a positive connotation – a characteristic intended to describe someone who can handle many things at once.  Many people proudly profess that they are  a “multi-tasker.”

But the truth is multi-tasking is hurting your business and your life.

As any busy entrepreneur, working parent or even student would know, it is indeed important to be able to juggle multiple projects simultaneously over the course of a period time.

But literally working on two or three things at the same moment is cause for mental chaos.

 

Answer These Questions:

How often do you have multiple web browsers open at the same time?

Do you check your  email on your phone while having a “conversation” with someone?

Are you working on other things while also dabbling on Facebook?

Do you read with the TV on?

 

I know these things happen frequently because I am guilty of some of them. You feel so strapped for time that you feel an obligation or pressure to work on multiple things, literally in the same setting.

focus and multi tasking

 The Need For Focus

The problem with this is you are never truly able to FOCUS. FOCUS & CLARITY are the supreme essentials from getting from point A to B – no matter where it is you’re trying to go.

To be most effective with one’s time, one should have a specific objective or outcome for each work related activity that he or she initiates.  That way – not only is the job getting done, but it’s getting done with the best quality, with the less likelihood for error, or need for later correction.

Furthermore, when we work on ONE THING AT A TIME, we are actually MORE efficient with our time. When there are constant distractions & disruptions, we tend to take longer to complete a task that otherwise would have been simple to knock out.

 

multi-tasking and focus

 

Multi-Tasking and Relationships

Attention  is the most valuable gift you can give someone. It tells them “ You are worthy,” “You deserve my time” and “I want to hear what you have to say.”

When it comes to building and maintaining quality relationships, multi-tasking may be the last thing you want to do.

It is in simple moments & experiences exchanged, in the constant knowing you have someone to listen & hear  you, that strong inter-personal relationships are built.

This applies to business partners.

This applies to a spouse.

This applies to OUR CHILDREN.

Make time. Stop multi-tasking. Here’s how.

 

How to Stop Multi-Tasking and Become Most Efficient Today

     1. Whenever you sit at your computer have a specific objective to do so.

Are you writing a blog post? Hosting a webinar? Doing online training? Whatever it is, have an action plan or to-do list written out. Once you’re done, you’re done.

     2. Have set times for checking thing like Facebook or email.

     3. When someone is speaking to you, look them in the eye. Put down the phone, laptop or doo-dad. Listen.

 

What you will find is more time in your day. Less stress with your workload. And improved relationships.

 

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Do you have difficulty with letting go of doing lots of things at once? Comment below and also connect with me on Facebook.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Thank-you

Live Life By Design,

Alice Dymally

P.S. I hope you enjoyed this article regarding multi-tasking, productivity & time management.  If you got ANY value out of this post please hit the share buttons on this page.

Filed Under: Goals & Productivity Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

3 Smart Time Management Tools to Increase Focus & Productivity

April 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Are you super busy juggling home and business & looking for effective time management tools? This article will provide you 3 very useful time management tools to increase your productivity and help you stay on target with your goals.

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Here are 3 Smart Time Management Tools to Increase Focus & Productivity

1. Google Calendar

2. Stay Focused

3. The Habit Factor

 

Time Management Tools: Google Calendar

The first one is the free Google calendar. You just simply log into your Gmail account. Then in the bar at the top left look for “Calendar.”

Time Management Tools

 

time management tools google calendar

 

Time Management Tools: Stay Focused

This one is a doozy :) Stay Focused is only available as an extension to Google Chrome, so it won’t track your time using desktop apps—but it will track your time on the web! Just imagine that. When you see it in black & white that you blew an hour on Facebook – it might just help you re-prioritize your day!

Time Management Tools: The Habit Factor

The Habit Factor is an app. You can download it on your smartphone, I believe for $6.99. This is more than just a daily time management tool. The Habit Factor helps you map out your goals – short term and long term. Then it ensures your daily activities are in line with those goals. The purpose is to help you stay consistent until you’ve developed productive habits.

3 Smart Time Management Tools to Increase Focus & Productivity

I hope you find plenty of use out of these 3 smart time management tools. What are some of your favorite “time management tools?” Comment below. Also for one of the BEST trainings on effective goal setting & productivity listen to this audio by Earl Nightingale called The Strangest Secret

 

bonus 2 time management tools

 

BONUS MONEY MAKING TOOL

I’ve increased my productivity, learned valuable skill sets relating to Internet marketing and have created a second income stream by blogging with the Empower Network. Find out how you can too.

register now

 

 

 
Live Life By Design,

Alice Dymally

Filed Under: Goals & Productivity, Stuff Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Mark Whitten Real Estate Review – Wholesaling Seminar

April 10, 2013 by 3 Comments

Mark Whitten Real Estate Review:
Wholesaling Seminar

If you’re reading this article, you probably a) Have some interest in making money with real estate and b) Want to know whether Mark Whitten’s Real Estate Wholesaling seminar is worthwhile.

I attended Mark Whitten’s wholesaling course in February, 2013. I will let you know my honest opinion.

About Mark Whitten

Mark Whitten is a real estate investor in the Baltimore, MD area. Mark’s been wholesaling properties for about 5 years as of the writing of this article. He has a large presence on online, particularly on YouTube.mark whitten real estate wholesaling seminar

Recently, Mark Whitten started offering a wholesaling seminar – a 3 day course where he teaches individuals how to wholesale properties. The price tag is $997.

Here’s what you get for $997:

Included in the course is 2.5 days of “in-class” training, a bus tour where you walk through rehab properties & learn how to do rehab price estimates, and his book/audio course “Flip Houses Like Your Hair’s On Fire.”

 

Is Mark Whitten’s Real Estate Wholesaling Seminar worth the price tag?

In my opinion – if you’re interested in learning how to wholesale properties – YES. The course was well worth the price.

I actually attended previous real estate investing courses that cost significantly more & were not as valuable as the 3 days with Mark.

Mark breaks everything down from start to finish. His sole purpose is to make sure that everyone in the course can literally walk out of the door when it’s finished, & complete a wholesale transaction.

 

What’s Included in Flip Houses Like Your Hair’s on Fire

flip houses like your hairs on fireAlso, within the physical course “Flip Houses Like Your Hair’s on Fire” you receive a ton of materials which could easily cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars to put together.

Mark shares his contracts, his marketing materials & even his buyer’s list for the MD, DC area!

In Summary

In summary, Mark Whitten is the real deal. His major message is that we reclaim struggling areas & “Buy Back America.” There are signs of improvement in the housing market, but there is still (& always) a massive opportunity in real estate.

However, note this: Wholesaling, like anything else, still requires work and massive action.

A lot of success with wholesaling comes down to marketing – learning how to find motivated sellers, and networking – building relationships with other investors/landlords/end buyers.

 

Here are 3 tips if you are considering attending Mark Whitten’s Real Estate Wholesaling Seminar.

Tip 1: If you’re new to real estate, do some studying beforehand. Mark covers a lot of material in the 3 days. You don’t want to get lost. Because I have some prior background with real estate & mortgage lending, I was already familiar with many of the concepts he discussed. The best way to do this is to simply search for  Mark Whitten’s Youtube channel & watch his videos. He explains a lot in his videos and the are a perfect precursor to the course.

Tip 2: Have a marketing budget. Even if it’s small. While real estate wholesaling is the cheapest way to get into real estate investing, you do still want to have a budget available for your business. Marketing is extremely important to find motivated sellers. (Various marketing strategies, include bandit signs, drop cards or even marketing online).

Tip 3: Take action right away. As of the writing of this post, Mark also offers 30 days worth of coaching after the seminar. You must take action quickly to take advantage of this.

Hopefully you’ve found this Mark Whitten Real Estate Review – Wholesaling Seminar review helpful. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them below.

Live Life By Design,

Alice Dymally

 

P. S. If you found ANY value out of this post, please hit the share buttons on this page now.

P.P.S. For more on how to learn internet marketing for any business, click here.

Connect with me on Facebook.

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