I became SFI Class Champion! Hurray!

So many great things have happened in the past few weeks, the most important of which is that I became Class Champion! 

This is one of the first goals I set for myself from the moment I joined SFI, so I logged in with great trepidation on the morning of my one year anniversary –August 4th–, nervous about what I would find. I even half covered my eyes! The minute I saw that my silver E365 badge had turned to gold, I must confess I cried like a baby. I had wanted it so badly, and for so long, that I just lost it.

In the grand scheme of things, becoming Class Champion shouldn't be so important. After all, it's just another badge. But for me it is important, because it proves that I am capable of accomplishing something when I set my mind to it, no matter how much competition I face or how many barriers are in my way. I plan to put my Gold Plaque up on the wall in front of my computer as a daily reminder to myself that anything is possible if I want it badly enough!

The second bit of good news is that I became Silver Team Leader… quite by accident. I was concentrating so hard on collecting as many points as I could to become Class Champion, that I wasn't really paying much attention to anything else. I'll probably fall back down to Bronze Team Leader until I have a few more active affiliates on my team, but having tasted what it feels like to be a Silver Team Leader, guess what my new short-term goal is? ha ha!

The third piece of good news is that my brain is still functioning pretty well. I have been playing Knockout Trivia at TripleClicks and so far I've won 21 games and tons of TCredits!* This is nothing compared to the amount of games other geniuses at SFI have won, but it leads me to believe that I can beat the pants off of anyone who challenges me, if I set my mind to it… residual effects of becoming Class Champion :-)

The fourth piece of good news is that I am finally making headway with some of the affiliates on my team and I am also starting to earn more commissions and cash prizes which totally, absolutely and positively Rocks!!!! I'm not rich yet, but watch out! If I can become Class Champion, I can accomplish just about anything I want. I am woman, hear me roar!!!!

Have a great week!

TCredits are the currency at TripleClicks. You can buy any product you want with them. I'm trying to win enough to buy a Macbook Air… a medium-range goal :-)

One year at SFI: Looking back and moving forward

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I stumbled across the article about SFI (Strong Future International) that started this amazing new adventure. I don't quite remember what it was about the article that caught my eye and caused me to stop what I was doing (playing an online game), but whatever it was, it worked. I had to know more.

I searched the Internet for information about SFI to find out what others had to say about it and found plenty. The reviews were mixed, but all in all, they leaned more towards the positive than the negative, so that same day I decided to go back to the article and click on the link to the sign-up page.

I'm usually quite nervous about giving out my name and email address, but this time it felt right. After all, it was a reputable company that had been operating successfully for 15 years and had a good BBB rating. Moreover, I could join for free and gain full access to their training material for free too, so I thought to myself: "Go for it kiddo! Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

I'm glad I didn't let this opportunity pass me by, because it has been a fantastic year! From knowing absolutely nothing, in just one year I've learned how an affiliate program works, how to create a website and blog, how to post ads on advertising sites and wade through traffic exchanges, how to use social and business networks to promote my business, and most important of all, how to communicate with my team of affiliates and teach them what I have learned.

I've earned commissions, moved up the ranks to Silver Team Leader, been Top Author and Top Enroller, I've grown my team to over 800 affiliates and I am currently among the top 500 movers and shakers at SFI. And I've done all this with a great big grin on my face. This isn't work, it's fun! Oh, and speaking of fun, I've also won prizes, auctions and dozens of games and contests in my spare time.

I am definitely in this for the long haul. The company is growing in leaps and bounds, with a little over 1.5 million affiliates at SFI and over 2.7 million members at TripleClicks, SFI's online store. I like the fact that management is constantly looking for new ways to help us earn money by updating the training material and developing more effective marketing tools, as well as providing a wide variety of products for us to promote, thanks to its ECA (E-Commerce Associate) program.

And then there's the fun side of the business: aside from the regular contests and penny auctions, the company has created the Eager Zebra game division, which will contribute mightily to TripleClicks' popularity, as it continues to develop and launch new games. This division is a fantastic addition to an already great site, especially for those who enjoy playing online games, like Knockout Trivia, to which I must confess, I am becoming dangerously addicted!

My one year anniversary at SFI will be a very special day for me. August 4th 2014 will mark the first big milestone on a hopefully long and productive road to personal growth and financial freedom.

Thanks for reading this and have a great week!

Curious? Check out my website to learn more.

Trivia buffs Unite!

Have I got news for you! Starting this Monday, July 7th, at 10:00 am Playa del Carmen time, TripleClicks is officially launching a brand new game that will blow your socks off! The game is called Knockout Trivia, and the objective is to knock all of your opponents out of the game and be the last one standing, to win 80% of the Jackpot. The other 20% goes to the runner(s) up.

I was fortunate enough to get an invitation to test this game on four occasions before its official launch, and believe you me, I was sitting at my computer a full 30 minutes before each beta test began so as not to miss a single game (2 games per test).

I must confess that I didn't do very well in the first beta test because it took me a while to adjust to the tempo of the game and figure out how everything worked. The rounds seemed to pass by so fast and in less time than it takes to eat an Egg McMuffin, I was knocked out of both games.

When it was over I just sat there refreshing the page to see if maybe there wasn't another game scheduled. Yes I am a true Trivia buff! No, there wasn't another game scheduled.

I did much better in the second beta test –I won the first game! After I won that first game, I was psyched and couldn't wait for the next one to start. I almost fell into a trance watching those twenty minutes count down to the next game, but I didn't dare leave my seat in case I had to refresh the page.

Of course I got creamed again in the second game, although I did hold my own for quite a few rounds. The third and fourth beta tests were just as exciting although again, my brain failed me miserably. I didn't win any more games, but that's alright because come Monday morning, at 10:00 am, I will be at my computer, on the edge of my seat, waiting for the first game to start.

If you need me, I will be at my desk all day but I will not be taking any calls unless they coincide with the 20-minute waiting period between each game. Just kidding!

Have a great week!
PS if you think you can beat me at Knockout Trivia, visit my website to get some free credits to start you off on the right foot.

6 obstacles to e-commerce and possible solutions

1. Not everyone speaks English
Well, duh! We all know that! But did you know that aside from the official language(s) in each country, there are also many different regional dialects? How do we reach such a diversity of cultures and languages when the only language we speak is English?

The best advice I can offer is to try to express yourself as plainly and clearly as possible, and proofread what you are writing to make sure there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors.

Use Google Translator to translate the text into the desired language and send both the original and translated versions to your client. The translation won't be perfect, but it should help you bridge the language gap.

Finally, make sure you avoid using slang words or local jargon that will inevitably get lost in translation and leave your interlocutor more baffled than enlightened.

2. Not everyone conducts business the same way
Some people have a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to conducting business. I call it the "Wham Bam, Thank You Ma'am" business approach (in and out of a meeting so fast, it makes your head spin). It may be the most practical and time-saving way to do business, but that is not the way it is done in many parts of the world.

If you really want to go global, don't expect your customers to always adapt to your way of doing things. On the contrary, learn how they do business and adopt some of their practices. You will open many more doors this way, and your clients will be much more receptive to what you have to offer. I guarantee it!

3. Limited payment options for international customers
In America, the ability to buy a product online is something we take for granted. We don't think twice about tossing the product we want into a virtual shopping cart, and paying for it from a variety of payment options. It's something we do every day without a second thought. Not so in other parts of the world.

Some countries have strict regulations and/or major restrictions when it comes to paying for products acquired from abroad. Many people have debit or credit cards that can only be used to pay for purchases within their own borders. Despite the growing popularity of e-commerce in these countries, their payment options for global purchases are still very limited.

If you want people from these countries to buy your products, it's up to you to find a solution. Once you know what their limitations are and how they can be resolved, let them know which specific payment options or methods will work for them. The easier you make their lives, the happier they will make you and your bottom line.

4. Distrust of the Internet
There is still an enormous amount of distrust when it comes to buying online. Many people are afraid their credit card information or their identities will get stolen or sold to third parties. They may also have doubts about whether the product they buy can really be delivered to them on time and in one piece.

Others are unwilling to buy online because they worry that the product won't live up to their expectations. Will it look the same as it does in the picture? Will it fit? Will it work? What if it is damaged during shipping?

The thought of having to pay for shipping costs to return a product that was unsatisfactory, and the real possibility that they may not get a full refund if the seller decides it is unwarranted, makes many people think twice about buying online.

How do you overcome these obstacles? Make sure you have a clear and fair return policy and always be available to answer any questions or doubts your customers may have. Bear in mind that things can go wrong, and many times it won't be your customer's fault.

By building a good rapport with your clients and providing top-notch customer service, they will be delighted to tell their friends and families how safe and easy it is to buy from you online. Word of mouth is still a very powerful marketing tool, so try to always get rave reviews.

5. Duties, taxes and banned products
It's important to know which of your products are banned in certain countries, which ones need a special import permit and whether any of them will have to pay a duty or tax. Many people aren't aware of their country's laws and restrictions and could end up blaming you if their product is detained in customs.

Be well-informed about all the restrictions, taxes and/or duties for all of the products your customers wish to buy, and let them know about the risks and additional costs they may have to face before they place their order. A well-advised customer is a happy customer.

6. Shipping costs
Most times, shipping costs can be equal to or more expensive than the product itself, depending of course on the product. if you plan to ship products overseas, be prepared to do some fancy footwork and legwork.

First, find which shipping method is the right one for each circumstance and destination: air freight, sea freight, international courier, etc. Your choice will depend on whether your customers are prepared to wait longer for their purchase if it means lower shipping costs, or whether they need it sooner, despite the extra cost.

Second, I suggest you try to negotiate the best deal you can with your shipper of choice. If he is unwilling to give you a lower tariff, shop around. There is so much competition nowadays, that you will surely find a company that is willing to give you a slightly better price, especially if you plan to use their service often enough.

Another solution could be to get one of your customers to buy in bulk and resell to others, so that he can prorate the shipping costs and perhaps even make a profit. This should work if it is a popular item and easy to sell in their particular country.

If all else fails, crunch your numbers and see if you can absorb some of the shipping costs while still maintaining a reasonable profit margin. If you can do this, you will earn your customer's undying gratitude and loyalty.

These six examples are just a few of the obstacles we face since the Internet became such a huge commodity. Although it has allowed us to 'virtually' cross borders and navigate freely to every corner of the earth, we still have much to learn about the customs, traditions, perceptions and misgivings of this diverse population when it comes to conducting business online.

I would love to hear what other obstacles you have encountered while doing business online with people from other nations.

Thanks for your feed-back and have a great week!

Good News vs Bad News

This week has been a real roller coaster ride. Not one minute of boredom. As the title says, I have good news and bad news, so let's get to the good stuff first.

Great news! I won my third auction yesterday and it was the best, most exhilarating win yet. I won a 300 TCredit Pack. TCredits are the currency we use at TripleClicks to buy products, list our second-hand stuff on our TConnect page, download music, bid in auctions or play Eager Zebra games.

I never thought I would ever win one of these auctions because everyone –and I mean everyone– wants to win TCredits. They are really valuable, so there is always a lot of competition. I'm thinking that my win was due more to dumb luck than brilliant strategy, but who cares… I won!!!

More good news: In the past seven days I've won five –yes FIVE– T-Time contests at TripleClicks. Winning this many in one week has never happened to me before. For those of you who aren't members of TripleClicks, the T-Time contest awards free TCredits every hour and since it doesn't cost anything, I usually try to enter as many times as I can each day.

Another piece of really good news: I won 10 CSAs (Co-Sponsored Affiliates) in last Monday's SFI Daily Grand drawing. That's 10 more members on my team. Yesssss! After so many years of rarely winning anything, not even coin tosses, these past few months at SFI have changed my luck completely. Life is good!

Now, to the not so good news: Facebook has restricted me from doing certain actions for a whole week for having the audacity to try and share the good news about my auction win. I say "try to share" because they never did let me, even when I protested that it was indeed a legitimate post. 

The notification says: "Some your activity is limited because it looks like your computer may be affected by Malware", which is total bollocks! I'm not too happy with them at the moment. I'm already a paying customer, so I'm thinking they really shouldn't bite the hand that feeds them… the same hand that would slap them silly, given half a chance. Just kidding! In real life I am a peace-loving pussy cat, but in my fertile imagination I am "Moira, the Warrior Princess". Hear me roar!

Anyway, after weighing the good against the bad, I am happy to report that good still comes out on top! I can survive a whole week without these 'restricted' Facebook actions –no idea exactly what they are yet. It will take about that long for the glow from my amazing auction win to fade, so Facebook… eat yer heart out!

Have a stupendous week!
PS If you think you know the answer to "What country will win the 2014 World Cup and how many total goals will be scored?", visit my website for a free Gift Card to enter 6 predictions in the Eager Zebra Time Machine game. The Jackpot is getting juicier by the minute. Offer valid only for non-members of TripleClicks and SFI.

3 Steps Towards Creating A Profitable Daily Work Routine

There are a number of benefits to be gained from creating a daily work routine. Most importantly, you will know how to use your time more efficiently as well as more profitably. A lot of people who run home-based businesses don't normally think about the value of their time in terms of dollars, because their profit usually comes from completing projects or making sales.

If you had an infinite amount of time, you could complete thousands of projects or make thousands of sales. Sadly, you don't. Time is the only constant that you cannot alter. Here is a closer look at how you can create a daily work ritual that provides you with the maximum amount of income per hour spent working.

1 Create a Baseline

The first step is to create a baseline. The easiest way to do this is by tracking how you spend your average work week and tracking every task that relates to your business. This includes actions which may not be directly profitable, such as checking your email, time spent on Facebook or other social and business networks, and returning phone calls.

Once you have a baseline, you will learn how you are actually spending your time. A lot of people who work from home will say that they are working 8 hours a day, when they are really only working four or five hours. This is because they end up losing time by glancing at the television or tending to in-house concerns not related to work, such as getting the kids ready for school, making lunch, etc. When tracking how you spend your time, it is important to be as detailed as possible.

To make things easier, you should keep a manual log where you write down when you begin and end every task, regardless of what it is. Also track how long you spend running any particular application and how long you spend on every website you visit. You might be surprised at how much time you are spending on doing things that have nothing to do with improving your business.

2 Re-Prioritize and Create a Plan

Once you acquire a baseline understanding of how much time you waste when you lack a specific routine, you can start prioritizing your time better. The problem with a lot of people is that they have a hard time deciding what is profitable and what isn't. The best place to start is by cutting everything that isn't work-related.

When you are running a home based business, it can be difficult to separate your work from your personal life. However, this is the time to do it. Anything that is remotely personal, cut out of your daily schedule. In most cases, an efficient 5 hour work routine can be much more profitable than an unscheduled 8 hour work day.

Simply add an hour to the beginning or end of your “shift” to take care of all of the personal tasks for the day. Once all of the personal tasks are cut out, take a look at how long you are spending on your work-related tasks and try to get them done more efficiently.

3 Don't forget to Update

It is important to remember that this isn't something you can do once and then forget about it completely. You should review your ritual every month and try to find changes that will further enhance your profitability and productivity. This will not only boost your profits, but help you identify what really matters and what doesn't.

Have a great week!

20 reasons why I love SFI - The Movie

Today, instead of writing my usual blog, I decided to make a little movie. It's of course about my favorite subject, SFI, but I created some colorful graphics to go with the usual blah, blah, blah, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it.

The song you'll hear is "Blue Monday" as recorded by Renato López and Naftalina. The words and music are by Domino/Bartholomew.

Have a great week!
PS Don't forget to check out my website

For a better quality video, please click on this link: http://youtu.be/d4hlYWw1KXc 

Has the Internet overtaken our lives?

Over the years, technological advances have revolutionized our lives and none more so than the Internet. Nowadays, it's so easy to access the Internet, type whatever information we need into a search engine, and presto! We are connected to the world wide web, and in a matter of seconds we find what we are looking for. It's such a normal thing to do that we've even gone so far as to turn the name of a search engine into a verb: any time we want to find an answer to anything, we simply "google it".

This is what we've come to expect now that we are deeper into the 21st Century: instant global communication and instant gratification. There's no avoiding the fact that the Internet has certainly made my work easier and I'm sure everyone else's, which is why we depend on it so much and why, over time, we've come to take it for granted. It's only when we don't have it that we realize what a huge role it plays in our lives.

Well, today I am not taking the Internet for granted. In fact, I've been trying to log on all day but the service is intermittent at best. That means 30 seconds of Internet and a frustrating 20 minutes or more of waiting for it to come back. Why? Because it's raining, and when it rains here in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, it pours. And when it pours, flooding occurs and then certain things stop working altogether, like traffic lights and yes, you've guessed it, the Internet.

Luckily, the electricity didn't conk out on me. I still have my phone service, cable TV and my computer, so I'm by no means isolated from the world, although it seems that way without the Internet. It feels weird not to be able to go and check my social networks or log in to SFI and send my weekly newsletter to my team which, by the way, I was about to do before this happened. It's like a big chunk of my daily life has suddenly been reduced to a fraction of what I usually do.

I was also about to finish a translation I'm working on when it happened, so I am literally left 'at a loss for words'. Without the Internet I am unable to consult any online dictionaries, and can't find what I need in my trusty old printed dictionary because it is totally obsolete. Yes, I still have it, but it will have to go back to its place on the bookshelf, and I'll have to finish my translation later. It's not as if I can send it anyway. No email!

Not having much else to do, I started walking aimlessly around my apartment. At some point, my mind started to wander and then I began to wonder: When did my whole life start revolving around the Internet? When did surfing the Internet become more entertaining than curling up with a good book? How did I go from playing cards with friends to online solitaire? How did I become so dependent on the Internet? What would I do without it? Not a pretty thought, I assure you, since at the moment my livelihood depends on it.

Now, as I sit at my desk finishing this blog post and watching the tropical rain beat against my window, my question is this: have we become so dependent on the Internet that our lives come to a grinding halt whenever it is taken away from us? In my case, you bet! At least for today. What about you? Let me know how you cope when your internet service dies on you, and what you would do if there were no more Internet… perish the thought!

Have a great week!

PS If you are reading this, it means my internet came back… well, duh! I bet you've already figured that out, lol!

Work from home opportunities: how to choose the right one?

Browsing through my social network groups, I'm truly amazed to see how many people are seeking opportunities to work from home, both part-time and full-time. There are a lot more people looking for ways to earn extra money than I could ever have imagined. Therefore, it's not surprising that, given the law of supply and demand, there are also plenty of people out there who are offering a wide variety of opportunities to work from home.

So how does one go about choosing the right opportunity?

First, whether you're looking for an online job or aiming to start an online business, it has to be something you enjoy doing or you won't be motivated enough to stay the course. Even when you love what you're doing, you can easily get discouraged if the results you are hoping for take longer than expected to materialize.

Second, it has to be an activity you are already familiar with or at least something that is not too hard to learn, so that you can do it with a certain degree of ease. Information overload can send even the calmest of people into a tizzy. It's easy to get frustrated when you don't understand what you are doing.

Third, if you want to start a business, it shouldn't cost you an arm and a leg to get it off the ground. If you have to spend on upfront fees or upgrades before you even know what you're getting yourself into, or if you are required to invest in a series of products from the very start, you need to make sure that this is truly what you want.

Fourth, it has to be an activity that doesn't take up too much of your time. Part of the reason you want to work from home is, of course, to make extra money; but it's also a way to break free from the shackles of a 9 to 5 routine, so that you can spend more time with your family. Working from home should allow you to do things you've never had the time to do before.

Fifth, the company you choose to deal with must have a sterling reputation. Find out how long it has been in business and whether it has a decent BBB rating. Search for trustworthy reviews about the company to see if they give it a favorable rating. Doing your homework is a crucial part of your decision-making process. You don't want to fall into the wrong hands!

Sixth, unless you are already familiar with online business practices, you'll need in-depth training and support. If you put your faith in a specific company, the very least it can do is provide a free training program and 24/7 support. If it doesn't provide the necessary tools for you to learn your trade, how will you earn any money?

Seventh, and probably the most important point of all, the company you choose had better have a darned good compensation plan! You don't want to work like a dog and then realize you've invested more time and money than you should have, with only a few measly dollars to show for all your efforts.

This last point is really important because, like any other business, it does take a while to break even with an online business, and you'll definitely have to invest time, and eventually some money too, if you want to succeed. Just make sure that the time and effort you put into your business is both personally satisfying and financially rewarding.

In sum, when looking for ways to earn extra money from home, find something you enjoy doing or can learn to do fairly easily. Make sure that the company you choose is credible and doesn't require you to pay an upfront 'fee-to-see' what's inside. Make sure it offers free training and 24/7 support, provides a good compensation plan, and has a rock solid reputation. That way, you'll have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Have a great week!

PS If you're curious about what I'm doing these days, feel free to visit my website.

Cut down on the "What ifs?" in your life!

Decision-making is an integral part of our lives. We do it all day, every day, although most of the time we aren't even aware that we are doing it. That is because many of these decisions are easy and don't necessarily involve any drastic changes: Should I buy this brand or that brand of butter? Should I check my emails before or after my shower? Which route should I take to work today? Should I have eggs or cereal for breakfast?

Some decisions, however, have life-altering consequences, and because of fear or lack of experience, sometimes we choose to procrastinate instead of making the right choice. Should I get high with my friends or say "NO" like my parents taught me? Should I face up to that bully or lay low and hope he finds a new target? Should I accept this new job even if it means moving far from home? Should I start my own business or be content with a regular paycheck?

Then, once the moment to make the right decision has passed, the "What ifs?" slowly start to creep into our subconscious and then into our conscious mind. What if this was my golden opportunity and I let it pass me by? What if I had listened to my parents? What if I had accepted that new business proposal? What if I had taken a chance? What if I had been braver or bolder? What if I had followed my dream instead of bending to conformity?

"What ifs?" plague our lives, but we usually manage to push these regrets to the back of our mind, especially when we know, deep inside, that we've made the wrong decision. The problem with trying to forget our mistakes, instead of owning up to them and learning from them, is that when we are faced with a new opportunity or challenge, we are doomed to repeat these same mistakes, again and again, unless we learn to conquer our fears and misgivings.

That's why I've taken to heart what a very wise man once told me: "At the end of your life, you'll regret many more of the things you DIDN'T do, and far less of the things you DID do, because the things you'll have done –good or bad– will have taught you important lessons and made you grow into someone I can be proud of, and that's what this life is all about".

It's true, life is a learning experience and the more we learn the wiser we become. Although it takes a lot of courage to take action and deal with the consequences of our actions, if we never take chances, how will we know what we've been missing? How will we know what our full potential could have been if we insist on making the wrong choices or no choice at all? It's like the lotto: it's a gamble, but we'll never win if we don't buy a ticket!

So let's try to cut down on the "What ifs?" and regrets in our lives. Let's be bold and make the right decisions; the choices we know in our hearts to be the right ones, even if they aren't the easiest.

Have a great week, and if you decide to visit my website, please do so with an open mind. That way, you'll have one less "What if?" in your life to deal with.

The perks of working from home!

Having an online business has it's perks: you can work from home and keep your own hours; you don't have to dress up since nobody is going to see you anyway, except maybe the mailman or the gardener; and you don't have to sit in traffic for hours on end to commute to and from the office. Instead, you can take all the time you need to plan your day's activities, while you calmly drink your morning coffee.

In addition to the comfort of working from home, the cost to set up and operate any online business is downright negligible: you just need a computer/tablet/smart phone and an internet connection. You don't need to rent office space, pay for permits and employees, and you save tons of money on gas, car maintenance and/or repairs. All the money you earn is for you… and the taxman of course.

The good news is that –at least here in Mexico–, when you work from home, you can deduct a portion of your home expenses, like utility bills and phone bills, some groceries (sugar, coffee, toilet paper, etc.), all of your office supplies and even part of your monthly rent. I don't know about you, but I definitely like this extra perk, given the drawbacks of not having a regular paycheck.

I've worked from home since 1993, first as an independent service provider for clients in the Mexican book publishing industry, and then as a freelance English-Spanish-English translator. It's been great, even though at times I've had to struggle to make ends meet. Nonetheless, I prefer the freedom of being able to work when and where I please, even if it means having to work really long hours sometimes to honor my commitments.

Given my long history of working online, I guess it was only natural for me to gravitate towards another kind of business that I could do from home to further supplement my income. The opportunity came along when I least expected it, but I'm glad I decided to try my hand at SFI (Strong Future International). It's been a really great experience so far.

It's amazing how many people I've met over the internet since I started this new business, and how friendly and generous they all are. It's like an exclusive club of people helping people, who understand exactly where you're coming from and what you are trying to accomplish. Thank goodness I have them, because my friends and family get this really blank look on their faces each time I talk about SFI!

Of course, not everyone is equipped to work independently, either because they need the security of a regular paycheck or because they need a boss to crack the whip once in a while in order to stay focused. But for those who are willing and able to set up an online business or have a few hours a week to spare from their regular J.O.B. (Just Over Broke), this is the best of both worlds!

Like my mom used to say: "Don't put all your eggs in one basket my child. Diversify!"

Have a great week and don't forget to visit my website for more information about SFI!

I'm a Top Author at SFI!

I just have to share this week's good news with you! One of my answers in the ASK SC section at SFI was just voted Number 1!  I am finally a Top Author!

You must be wondering what the heck I'm talking about. Well, the ASK SC section is where affiliates learn the most about SFI by rating the answers to a series of questions posed by fellow affiliates. They vote YES if they find the answers useful and NO if they don't. It's that simple.

These questions cover many aspects of the day to day business at SFI, such as which marketing methods produce the best results, how to advance in rank, how to be a good Team Leader, how to make the most of what SFI has to offer, etc. etc. There are no wrong answers, but obviously some answers are better than others. The fact that so many of my peers found my answer to be the most useful is absolutely awesome!

The more I read, the more I learn, and apparently sharing this new-found knowledge also helps me advance at SFI, because the best answers are awarded points, which help me maintain my Bronze Team Leader status. And to top it all off, these points also earn me more shares in the TripleClicks Executive Pool, where 40% of the total Commission Volume from ALL sales is distributed among every Affiliate who reaches Executive Affiliate rank or Team Leader status each month.

I've always known that knowledge is power, but this milestone proves it. It's done wonders for my self-esteem and motivates me to work even harder, in order to better understand what I'm doing and continue to pass on some of that knowledge to others. That's the beauty of SFI: The more you learn, the more you earn!

That's all for now! I'm off to watch my hubby play the Blues at the best beach bar in all of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. It's called Wah Wah Beach Bar & Restaurant. Stop by and visit the next time you're in this part of Mexico.

Have a grrrreat week!

College Students with Six-Figure Incomes?

At SFI, the best place to find the answer to most questions is in the ASK SC section. As I was rating my daily quota of answers the other day, I came across a very interesting question about whether students 18+ should start an online marketing business at such an early age.

The answers I read were pretty enlightening. Although a few people worry that starting an online business so young might distract some students from their studies, I found that most people are of the opinion that they should go for it; in fact the earlier, the better. I share that opinion because I believe that this generation is equipped to think ahead and has the tools to achieve whatever it sets out to do.

Nowadays, young students are facing and will continue to face plenty of economic hardships, both before and after graduation. Some parents will bear the brunt of that hardship, but in many cases it's the students themselves who will have to work harder than ever to finish their studies. They may even have to take out loans to pay for tuition or just to make ends meet. These students shouldn't have to deal with that added burden once they graduate.

Starting an online business at a time in their lives when they have such huge possibilities for success, to me, is a no-brainer. Where else can they find thousands of dynamic and like-minded individuals to help them duplicate their efforts, if not at a university or college campus?  

Tenacious and ambitious students have everything and everybody they need at their fingertips. I'm not saying that this will appeal to everyone, but among the thousands of students at their campus, they will surely find enough people with whom to start a business that will allow them, and their team, to generate residual income that will continue to grow long after they graduate.

Learning how to start an online business means adding another subject to their class load. I know that sounds difficult, but the good news is that this free training program does not include mid-term or final exams. Another distinct advantage is that they can "Earn while they Learn". I'll bet none of their other subjects have that kind of appeal!

They won't even have to spend a dime for the first couple of months if they do things right from the very beginning. Almost from the start of their training period, they can learn how to recruit people to become part of their team and how to promote and sell products online to earn commissions, which they can then use to kick-start their business and keep it growing without having to invest any of their own money.

It only takes 1 leader to organize his or her group. As soon as this group starts to get results, the students around them will want in. Once this phenomenon occurs, their business will take off like a snowball rolling down a mountainside: they will be unstoppable! Heck, considering that most students invest 4-5 years in a college education, I have no doubt that the most ambitious among them will already be earning six-figure incomes by the time they graduate.

This is not a pipe-dream. This is what today's new entrepreneur can accomplish with just a computer/tablet/smart phone, an Internet connection and a large number of young ambitious people who are willing to invest a little time and money in order to live the rest of their lives free of debt and economic uncertainty. 

Furthermore, this phenomenon could catch on at any number of universities and colleges, because young people from all over the world are enrolling at SFI every day to learn how they can get their share of this infinite source of wealth!

For more information CLICK HERE.

Have a great week!

PS I still have some Gift Cards left, so if you want one, just visit my website.

The danger of doing everyday business online

It's amazing how frustrating doing everyday business over the Internet can be sometimes. This week I was tricked into giving out free Gift Cards to complete strangers who are just in it for a fast buck, and on Friday one of my email accounts was hacked. At TripleClicks I was going nuts trying to figure out how to select an alternate billing address, but got no real solution from their IT department. And to top it all off, my Internet service feels like it's going through menopause: all ups and downs and zero stability.

I stopped the Gift Card issue in its tracks by putting a buffer in place where it will be harder for freeloaders to take advantage of something I want to share with honest, hard-working folks. I corrected the e-mail situation by changing my password, so that nipped the problem in the bud and my email is back to normal. I managed to fix the TripleClicks issue all by myself by poking around my account settings until I discovered what I needed to do.  As for the instability of my Internet service, there's really nothing I can do about that, so I'm taking a 'Chill Pill' and hoping it improves.

All around us there are predators who have nothing better to do than to make our lives miserable. You hear about this or that big company getting hacked. You hear horror stories about ordinary people whose emails have fallen into the hands of unscrupulous people. And then it happens to you, and you don't know why they would target you in particular. You're only a small fish in a very large pond full of more appetizing victims. Why pick on you?

Well, that's one of the danger in this modern era of global online communication. There's really no way to totally avoid this danger unless you decide to disconnect completely from the internet and go back to using land lines and sending letters by post –that may or may not arrive this century, depending on which part of the world you live in–, to keep tabs on what's happening in the lives of your friends and loved-ones. Or you could go back to conducting sales like they did in the past: travel all over the country to promote and sell your products door-to-door.

Well I am not about to be bullied into surrender. Things go bad but they eventually work out, so I will continue to conduct my business online; I will continue to follow the ups and downs in the lives of my nearest and dearest on Facebook; I will continue to send emails because it's the fastest and most efficient way to communicate with clients. To hell with all these idiots who plague the internet with their underhanded schemes and stupid pranks.

My advice: keep changing the passwords to every site you use once every six weeks or so. There's a reason why banks ask you to do this, at least that's what they do here in Mexico. It's because online security has become a major problem. I no longer have any doubt that, in the next few years, more and more people out there will try to screw with our accounts or wreak havoc at many of the online sites we use to conduct business or for entertainment.  

The good news is that companies big and small are aware of this danger and are continually creating more efficient countermeasures to thwart these security threats. But you also have a role to play: stay alert and avoid clicking on suspicious links you receive in your email; keep an eye out for shady deals that sound too good to be true; and please, please be careful how and to who you give out your personal information!

Well, I feel better now! Thanks for letting me vent! see you next week, unless someone hacks my Google account too… NOT!!!!!!

Have a great and productive week!

PS Speaking of giving out personal information, I assure you I can be trusted, so go to my website, fill in your name and email address, and get one of those free Gift Cards I am offering while they last. Don't worry, your information is safe with Weebly –my website host–, and with TripleClicks.

SFI is going places in 2014!

I am thrilled to be part of such an amazing company. SFI is truly unique! 

I won't bore you with my take on how important this company is becoming and how fast it is growing. I'd much rather you read about how well SFI and TripleClicks did in 2013 and their great plans for 2014 in the link you'll find at the end of this post. 

If the article in this link doesn't catch your eye and make you sit up a little straighter, I don't know what will. SFI has been a God-sent for me and apparently for 1.5 million people around the world. I never imagined that I could land in a place where everyone is watching everyone else's back, and where everyone is rooting for everyone else's success. Amazing!

At SFI all affiliates are equal, whether they come from the US, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria, France, UK, Russia. We have affiliates from 190 countries! There is no bickering, no in-fighting, no looking down on anyone. You spend what you want, you do what you can and no one will criticize you, yet tons of people will try to help you if you ask nicely.

If ever there was a place where people from all over the world can feel comfortable and welcome, it's SFI and TripleClicks. We are a world community with no boundaries, no barriers, no frontiers and no limits on how far we can go.

Enjoy the article and have a great week!

 http://news.sfimg.com/2014/04/10/what-a-year-and-what-a-year-2014-is-going-to-be-2/

PS Visit my website for more information and a free Gift Card you can use at TripleClicks

229 winners share a 35,164 TCredit Zackpot!

The inaugural Eager Zebra™ Time Machine contest at TripleClicks accumulated over 35 thousand TCredits* in its first "Zackpot"!!! 

Even though many TripleClicks and SFI members don't know much about US College Basketball or March Madness, 229 people from all over the world managed to correctly predict the answer to this question: "How many total points will be scored in the national semifinals of the Men's NCAA Basketball tournament on April 5th, 2014?". Amazing! The right answer, in case you hadn't heard, was 263 points.

I wasn't among those lucky 229 winners but I came close! That's why I'm already participating in the brand new Time Machine contest which is about movies this time. The question is: "For April 2014, what percentage of total ticket sales will the #1 movie account for?" This contest ends on April 25th so cross your fingers and wish me luck! And speaking of luck, I'd like to share some with you, so if you are a movie buff and would like to participate in this contest, please visit my website and grab a free Gift Card.** You'll get 6 opportunities to predict the right answer. Good luck!

The Eager Zebra game division is planning several new games for us in the coming months. In fact, they've already announced one that you can play and win multiple times a day. I don't know what kind of game it is yet, but the good news is that each game will last less than one hour, so it's probably the kind of game that depends less on luck and more on strategy or maybe general knowledge?? Whatever it is, I'm looking forward to giving it a try during my multiple coffee-breaks, ha ha! What can I say? I'm an online game junkie! And it's not like I have a boss looking over my shoulder!

As for other news, I made Bronze Team Leader again, Yay! I'm looking forward to getting some new Second Home Affiliates to strengthen my team. Second Home Affiliates are just as important as Personally Sponsored Affiliates because you can still qualify for commissions and Matching VersaPoints from their activities, which helps you advance in rank and earn more money. I like that and also the fact that they get assigned to you for free by SFI as a reward for having maintained Team Leader status.

This system can sometimes seem complicated to a newcomer, but the concept is easy enough to grasp. It's all about learning and applying what you learn, then forming your own team and passing that knowledge on to each team member so that they can do the same for their own teams. A strong and active team will help you duplicate your efforts and your earning power, and although it's not something that happens overnight, it's well worth the effort. 

I am learning new and exciting ways to do business online and I think I am holding my own in this new era of globalization. I have people young and old, from all over the world on my team. I'm especially amazed at how affiliates who are well over 50 take to this business. They may not be very computer savvy, but many of them become real marketing experts thanks to their experience in the workplace and/or business world.  Some of them are retirees who decided to put their knowledge and experience to good use here at SFI, instead of just settling for a meager pension and a dwindling savings account.

It's comforting to know that I have found a great way to earn extra money to put aside for my golden years. Planning ahead sure beats running out of options as I get older and job opportunities start to shrink at an increasingly alarming rate.

Have a great week!

*TCredits are TripleClicks currency. You can use them to buy products, list and sell stuff you no longer need, or participate in penny auctions and games. You can also use them to download music and vote for your favorite songs in the Song of the Month contest.

**Sorry… only available to non SFI/TripleClicks members

Do you feel lucky today?

I have such great news that I couldn't wait until Sunday to tell you all about it.

At the beginning of March, TripleClicks introduced the first official game from its new Eager Zebra Game Division. This new game is called "Time Machine", and instead of winning cash you win TCredits, which are just as good as cash because you can use them to buy any number of products from TripleClicks; download music or vote for your favorite song in the "Song of the Month Contest"; list second-hand items you've been dying to sell; or participate in penny auctions and win brand name products at far below retail.

There's no purchase necessary to win the Time Machine game, so the only thing you'll need to participate is 1 TCredit, which is why this is your lucky day! I am giving away a TripleClicks Gift Card to everyone who visits my website and fills in a basic form (name and email only)*. Each Gift card includes 6 free TCredits, so you'll have 6 opportunities to enter the Time Machine game, which consists in correctly predicting the outcome of a future event.

Since I'm feeling particularly generous at the moment, I am going to give 3 Gift Cards to the first person who registers at my website between now and tomorrow midnight (Cancun, Mexico time). This means that whoever is fastest will have 18 opportunities to predict the correct answer and win the "Zackpot", which already has over 26,000 TCredits and is growing by the minute! The end date for the first installment of this Time Machine game is April 5th, so you'd better hurry up! Go to my website right now and get your free Gift Card!

Have a great week and good luck!

*Sorry… this offer is only for non SFI / TripleClicks members.

Come join the revolution!

I just got back from a 5 day vacation and I am feeling renewed and refreshed. I had a really wonderful time but I am so very glad I have this great business to come home to. I missed logging in everyday to see what everyone has been up to, so now I am doing some major catching up to see which of my fellow affiliates and team members won a prize or reached a new milestone while I was away. 

I also missed the sense of community we have here at SFI.  Most of the people I've met in my up-line, the Forum or in the Affiliate to Affiliate (a2a) section, treat me like one of the family and that is truly important when you are starting out in a business where you lack experience and need guidance. It's comforting to know I belong to a community of people who get a kick out of helping others.

Today I will keep this short because I would like you to go and watch this overview of SFI called "Join the Revolution". It explains very clearly everything you need to know about SFI and what it can do for you. You never know! Today could be the beginning of a brand new life for you. If you decide to join, I will be waiting on the other side to greet you and help you get started.

Enjoy and don't forget to visit my website if you want more information. While you're there, remember to grab a free Gift Card* to redeem at TripleClicks, SFI's fast-growing online store (over 2 million members): moirasmoneymakingmoves.weebly.com

*Sorry... only for non-SFI members!

I'm on a roll at SFI and TripleClicks!

Wow! I've had quite an amazing ride over these past few weeks at SFI and TripleClicks! 

AT SFI: 

• I've won 3 Daily Grand Prizes (free raffles): 200 VersaPoints (VP) and then another 50 VP six days later (1 VP = 1 share in the Executive Pool = CASH); and just today, I won a lifetime prestige domain worth $129.00 dollars;
• I made it to the Top Ten Enrollers' List for the first time, and got me a brand new badge that's doing wonders for my reputation, because I've had quite a few new a2a (Affiliate to Affiliate) friend requests ever since; 
• I have tons of new Personally Sponsored Affiliates thanks to my new best friends at Annie's Buried Treasure, an ECA store at TripleClicks that specializes in sending Traffic to our SFI Gateways, among several other services they provide. Bless them… they Rock!
• SFI gave me free TCredits and 1 share of new CSAs (Co-Sponsored Affiliates) for maintaining my Bronze Team Leader rank; 
• I'm in the Top Ten Most Active Affiliates in both my adopted country (Mexico) and in my entire August 4 2013 Class, although the latter could change at any moment, if any one of my classmates turns out to be more ambitious than me.
• And last, but certainly not least, I earned my FIrst Commission from a purchase by one of the Affiliates on my team as well as Matching VP*! 

AT TRIPLECLICKS: 

• I won several TCredits from participating in the free T-Time contests; 
• I won 25 TCredits in a PTP (Pick the Price) contest (costs 1 TCredit to enter); 
• I won an auction with the TCredits I've been accumulating, and paid $0.57 cents for a product worth $89.00 dollars,.

And I have my eye on a new game called Time Machine, where we have to predict a specific future event. The pot is already at over 12 thousand TCredits and growing, so imagine how many TCredits there will be by the time the end date of the contest rolls around. It's well worth the 1 TCredit I use every day to try my luck. Imagine if I win even 10 percent of those TCredits… I would be unbeatable in any number of auctions. Oooh! I feel all tingly just thinking about it! 

This Time Machine game is the first of several new games they have in store for us in their new Eager Zebra Games Division. I adore playing games!

As you can see, I'm feeling really good about this new business of mine. You should try it! Visit my website to learn more and please take me up on my offer of a Free Gift Card to use at TripleClicks once you've checked out the website**. You won't regret it! moirasmoneymakingmoves.weebly.com

Have a splendiferous week!

*When an Affiliate on my team has maintained Executive Affiliate rank for more than one month, and as long as I maintain my Team Leader Rank, SFI awards me the same amount of VP this Affiliate accumulates to add to my own VP each month. It means I earn more money from the Executive Pool.
** Not available to SFI Affiliates... sorry!

Believe in yourself!

Sometimes my brain has a mind of it's own! I hadn't really intended to write a motivational discourse, but that's how this week's message to my team turned out. Since it's an upbeat message, I thought I would share part of it with you. Let me know what you think!

"What I want to say today is that no matter what kind of activity we choose to undertake, we need to do it with enthusiasm and be willing to invest 100% of our time and effort into making it a success. This concept shouldn't just apply to our SFI business or to our regular job; it should also apply to everything that touches our lives: our relationship with family members; our friendships; our love life; and even the way we practice our favorite sport or hobby.  

"If we do something at less than 100%, we are setting ourselves up to fail. Any activity we do without passion or enthusiasm will become boring. It will become a chore, something that has to be done, instead of something that should be enjoyed. In the end, we may lose interest altogether and allow something worthwhile to slip through our fingers, and that is not acceptable! 

"There is nothing we can't achieve if we put our minds to it. Look at how many people around the world, in our country, in our town or neighborhood have overcome hardship; how many famous athletes and personalities who started out as complete unknowns are now rich and famous. It's because they had a dream and the desire to succeed. They never contemplated defeat, even though I am sure there were times when they had doubts or felt insecure. The point is, they pushed past those negative feelings and kept on going. 

"We are no different from them. We have hearts and souls, hopes and dreams just like they do. What we need to do is act like them and believe in ourselves. Once we find something that we can feel passionate about, we should concentrate 100% on finding ways to make it a success. It can be done if we forge ahead with conviction and determination, and never look back until we reach that finishing line. 

"Decide TODAY to give 100% of yourself to whatever activity you choose to set in motion, especially if that activity is your SFI business. Keep at it every day until it turns into something that excites you. When you feel you are making progress and things are getting easier to do, push yourself a little harder. That is the attitude of a winner and I assure you, you are a winner! 

"Have a great week and BELIEVE in yourself!" 

If just one word or one sentence in this message resonates with you and provokes a positive reaction, then I will be happy. Have a fantastic week and don't forget to visit my website for more information about SFI and TripleClicks: moirasmoneymakingmoves.weebly.com

Change is good!

It's funny how life can change from one moment to the next.To think that 7 months ago I hardly had anything to do! I did sporadic translating jobs and kept myself busy taking care of my house and my plants. The rest of my day went to playing games on the computer, reading or watching TV.

Nowadays, I've become a regular busy bee. Aside from logging in and doing my thing at SFI and TripleClicks every day, I have translations coming in pretty regularly and I also started distributing a product that people can't do without if they live in a place with abundant humidity. Sorry, I only distribute locally so don't get your hopes up!

The point I'm trying to make is that you never know when your life can change for the better. It can be gradual if you are consciously working towards a short or medium term goal but it can also truly change from one day to the next, like it did for me. I'm talking about good change, not bad. Unfortunately, bad stuff also happens when you least expect it, but that's not what I want to focus on. I want to focus on positive change.

So what is it that made me welcome a change of pace? I think mostly I was getting really bored. I needed to do something that I could feel passionate about, something that made me feel productive and would earn me money at the same time. It kind of fell into my lap, but boy am I happy I came across that article that led me to enroll at SFI. It's the best decision I ever made! 

If you feel the same way I did 7 months ago and would like a change of pace, you should visit my website and see if you'd like to do what I am doing. I am always looking for hard-working and dedicated people to join my team. I am a hands-on Team Leader and also a good teacher. Who knows, this may just be the turning point you were looking for to feel more productive and alive.

Have a great week!

Accentuate the positive and eliminate self-doubt!

Seeing the joy on the faces of all those athletes who won one or more medals at the Sochi Winter Olympics made me remember something I've known all my adult life but sometimes tend to forget: if you combine belief in yourself with hard work and perseverance you can accomplish anything you set out to do. Nothing can hold you back if you really want something passionately enough.

But what exactly did it take for these athletes to become champions? Years of hard work and dedication. Days of rigorous training to be the best of the best in order to to earn a place on their teams and represent their countries in these prestigious games. And once they got their chance of a lifetime, they most certainly didn't waste it on self-doubt. They set their minds on winning, they concentrated on doing what they had trained so long and hard for, and put their hearts and souls into reaching for the gold.

Granted, not all of those magnificent athletes came away with medals, but I'll bet every single one of them went to Sochi convinced that they could rise above the rest of their peers and achieve something that millions of people around the world can only dream about. Those who didn't win a medal can go back home with their heads held high, knowing that they did their very best, and that there's always a next time. And that, in my book, is the mentality of a winner!

Now let's continue with that thought and apply it to our everyday lives. Most people who get up in the morning thinking it's going to be a great day, more often than not are rewarded for being such optimists by having things go their way. On the other hand, those who have to drag themselves out of bed and 'hope' the day will go well may be disappointed by the time the sun goes down, and will perpetuate that feeling of hopelessness and despair until just getting out of bed each morning becomes a painful chore.

The difference between winning and being a distant runner up lies in how we face the challenges in our lives, whether they be everyday decisions or long-term goals. If we believe we can succeed, and have the courage to stay the course, we eventually will succeed. Why is it that as we grow older, fear and lack of confidence start to erode our childhood confidence? Why do we allow feelings of self-doubt to invade our spirit? Don't you think it's better to think and behave like a winner rather than acting like a down-trodden wiener?

If you're going to be an employee, be the best employee you can be. If your goal is to become a movie or rock star, an entrepreneur or the president of your country, don't ever let self-doubt get in the way. Persevere and you will eventually reap the rewards. Whether it takes you a decade or a lifetime, when you get to that precise moment in your life when that elusive brass ring is finally within your grasp, the joy on your face will mirror the one we saw on the faces of this year's Winter Olympic champions. Why? Because you too will be a champion!

Think positive and have a great week!

Wow!!! SFI really works!

I can't believe it's been six months since I started this new venture at SFI. I guess time flies when you're having fun. I mean it! I am having so much fun that I find it really hard to keep away from my computer for more than a few hours most days. 

Every morning I log into my SFI 'office' to take care of business and see how my team is doing. Aside from doing my daily, weekly or monthly actions, I rate at least 30 questions in the ASK SC section and read the latest news and Forum posts, because those are the places where I get information 'straight from the horse's mouth', from SFI veterans who are successful and generous enough to share their knowledge with us newcomers.

I must confess that at the beginning I thought it would take forever to get an active Affiliate on my team. I thought that the odds of finding like-minded people who were ready to put 100% of their efforts into building a team and a business were pretty slim due to my lack of experience. But I kept at it, month after month, investing a little money here and there to acquire new affiliates for my team, and once I understood the importance of reaching Team Leader status, I went for it in order to get more affiliates assigned to me, in the hopes of finding that elusive diamond in the rough.

The good news is: I found one! For the first time in six months, I have earned a commission from purchases made by a member of my team and, most valuable of all, matching VersaPoints to add to my own VersaPoints. These points translate into real money that SFI pays out each month. We're talking about a whopping 40% of the Commission Volume from every sale at its online store TripleClicks, money that is distributed among all affiliates who have reached Executive Affiliate rank or higher. 

I'm sure you would like to know how much I earned, but that's for me to know and for you to find out. What I can tell you for sure is that I won't be buying my dream home any time soon, but this new milestone has given me the proof I needed to continue at SFI and work even harder, because I can honestly say that this method does work. It takes time, but if you keep at it you will reap what you sow.

I leave you with one sober piece of advice: If you want to earn a second income or wish you could quit your job and start your own full-time business, SFI is the best place to learn how. The training material is free and you can use it to start up any kind of business, online or off, either at SFI or elsewhere. There aren't many places that offer all that for free, with no strings attached, and no upgrades or other underhanded ways to get you to spend your money.

Visit my website moirasmoneymakingmoves.weebly.com and learn more about SFI and TripleClicks. You won't regret it and I promise you won't leave empty-handed: there's a free Gift Card* (12 dollar value) waiting for you. Take the time to fill out the contact form and become a member of one of the fastest growing online stores on the web: TripleClicks.

Have a great week!

*Only for non-members of TripleClicks or SFI. Sorry!

There's nothing like being your own boss!

I started working when I was 15, first as a baby-sitter, then as a kindergarden teacher. In my early twenties I worked as a secretary, an executive assistant, a translator and a typesetter. That typesetting gig got me a job at an important publishing firm in Mexico City where I went from assistant to the director to head of the copyright division. Throughout my years as a regular employee I worked for several brilliant men and women in cultural and academic settings, a business tycoon, a well-know orchestra director, a very chic art gallery owner and even a Mexican ex-president.

As you can see, I have been exposed to many different work environments and every person I have ever worked with has taught me something new: from learning how to change a diaper at fifteen (Yuck!) to understanding how to run a business (more or less) by the age of thirty. 

After so many years of working for others, I decided I had the wherewithal to branch out on my own. It is not for the faint-hearted, but I am more of a leader (bossy) than a follower and I knew I had the discipline to make it work for me. It was time to make use of all that knowledge I had accumulated over the years. 

At first I worked very long hours to establish my business. Without the safety-net of a steady pay-check, the stress of trying to meet all of my old and new financial obligations played havoc with my stomach, but as time passed I came into my own and I managed to earn enough to cover all my business and personal expenses. Of course I made a lot mistakes along the way, but I learned from them and worked hard to make my business work for me. And it did work for me, for many years, until I moved away from the hustle and bustle of Mexico City. 

Nowadays I work as a free-lance translator. It's sporadic work and doesn't keep me very busy. For a while I tried to keep my brain active by playing games on the computer –all day, every day (very addictive)–, but there came a point when I became really bored with this and felt the need to do something more productive. Luckily, a few months ago I discovered a new source of entertainment that also gives me the opportunity to earn money and go back to teaching. I love teaching my new and ever-growing team how to build a business and earn a second income. 

I've never regretted branching out on my own. Being independent and keeping my own hours has given me a sense of freedom that no 9 to 5 J.O.B (Just Over Broke) can ever provide. Since I am more of a night owl, I love the fact that I can get up whenever I want and not have to listen to the incessant beeping of my alarm clock; I can sit around and wait for my brain to catch up while I drink my first cup or two of coffee; I can stand outside on my balcony and appreciate the scenery, the smell of freshly cut grass and admire the cheeky birds that come visit for a few seconds before flying off into the wild blue yonder.

Sure, once in a while I still miss that regular paycheck, but not enough to go back to the morning and evening rush-hour traffic, or the office gossip and in-fighting that plague most organizations or businesses. The fact is, I love being my own boss! 

See you next week!

PS If you are curious about what I am up to nowadays, please visit my website: moirasmoneymakingmoves.weebly.com

Be smart: Start an online business but don't quit your day job... yet!

In this rapidly evolving world of new technological changes and globalization, many of us are in danger of getting left behind. I used to work in book publishing. My services included typesetting, formatting, editing, proof-reading, etc. I needed one or several people for each stage of production, until new technologies came along and revolutionized the publishing industry. My company shrank from 10 employees to 1 employee: Me! Anything extra I could outsource according to my customer's needs. 

Now even I have become obsolete. Nowadays many writers don't even require editing services, a publishing house to distribute their books or money to print hard copies. An acquaintance of mine just wrote a book and is selling it directly on Amazon. She eliminated virtually all of the steps in the publishing process and decreased her costs dramatically. But what about all those talented people who used to work in the printing and book publishing industries? What are they doing now?

In the music industry, new technologies and apps, as well as the unbridled piracy of record albums, are eating into record company profits and will eventually make them obsolete. Many talented and unknown artists, who have little hope of getting their music produced by a large record company, now produce their own songs and videos and upload them directly to YouTube, iTunes or elsewhere, with little to no cost. In this day and age, most people prefer to download their favorite song instead of paying for the whole album, so I'm thinking the employee pool in this industry is probably shrinking as we speak.

Over the last 25 years, globalization has benefitted large corporations but not their workers. Corporations are free to pick and choose where their products should be manufactured, and usually outsource their labor needs to countries where the hourly wage is much lower. It's good for the economy of the manufacturing country; it's great for the corporation and the end consumer, because the products cost less to make and are cheaper to buy. But what about the workers who are left out? What recourse do they have when they see the jobs that gave them economic stability suddenly fly off to far away places like India, China and Mexico? And what about workers in those countries who don't have the opportunity to get a stable job in those manufacturing plants? What do their economic prospects look like?

What I am saying is that this phenomenon is occurring in many industries. How secure is your job? How secure will it be 10 years from now? Where do you want to be 10 years from now? Still struggling to make ends meet in a changing world that may or may not eventually substitute your activity with a cost-saving machine, program or labor force, here or overseas? Don't you think the time is ripe to take control of your future?

Having your own business, whether it be online or not, is a way to take control of your future and your earning potential. I admit, going out on your own is not easy and can indeed be quite stressful, but if you have the opportunity to start your own part-time business while you still have your 'day job', you can invest a little time and money into it until the scales eventually tip in your favor. It's a gradual process, but once you start to earn more money from your part-time business, you will automatically want to dedicate more time to it and discontinue your 'secure' day job.

I am no economic guru and I still have a lot to learn about the online marketing business, but I am smart enough to realize that it is the wave of the future and the easiest and cheapest way to start a profitable business. In a world where good job opportunities are harder and harder to find and your paychecks are getting smaller and smaller, where your quality of life is decreasing in leaps and bounds, there is really no alternative but to find a niche that will eventually give you greater economic and personal freedom. 

There are millions of potential entrepreneurs all around the world who are already looking for ways to improve their economic situation and create a better life for themselves, and thousands of these go-getters are enrolling in SFI* every day. The training method is so comprehensive that it can teach virtually anyone who has a computer and an internet connection to start their own online marketing business.

This is the new economic opportunity of our lifetime. The stage is set. It's up to you to decide whether you want to maintain the status quo or go for the prize behind 'Door Number 2'. Just don't wait too long because, as Bob Dylan says, "The Times They Are a-Changin". For more information on how you can participate in this new economic revolution, visit my webpage: moirasmoneymakingmoves.weebly.com

See you next week!

* SFI stands for "Strong Future International Marketing Group", and is one of the fastest growing companies of its kind in the world.