Welcome to the CATLINES MEWsletter! For cat-lovers and "biz-kittens"--home-business newbies/workers -------------------- Remember to celebrate Hug your cat day, Wednesday, May 15th!! Remember to celebrate Memorial Day later this month! REMEMBER to help provide for the kitties by visiting our sponsors! Thanks. ********************** Proud Members: This ezine is listed at Ezine Publishers Association Inc.  (EPAI) Join Free At: http://www.EzinePublisher.org ********************** THE CATLINES MEWSLETTER vol. 1 Issue 3, May 15, 2002 Published monthly by http://www.catliness.com hosted by Jeff at: http://www.hookedonthe.net Editor: Lauren Merryfield, Ph.d. =======>^..^<===== --------------------- If you are receiving this newsletter, either you subscribed recently or received a copy from a friend.  Thank you for joining! >^..^<     >^..^<     >^..^<    (3 kitty heads, representing Jaspur, Mikey and Gabrielle, suPURRvisors and helPURRs in these adventures into catliness.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Exciting offer! You won't believe it! FREE INTERNET SUPER STORES! Earn Big Income! How? By giving away SUPER STORES for FREE! Try it FREE! Good for fundraisers, too! http://www.freestoreclub.com/go/catly >^..^< >^..^< >^..^< And now! ... 3cats present... THE CATLINES MEWSLETTER ===================== Table of contents: 1: mewsings from the food bowl (editorial) 2: Kitten Kabootle's Kubbyhole (catly writings) 3: kibble nibble (funny definitions or word scrambles) 4: biz-kittens' busy box (newbie work-at-home or general biz articles) 5: look what the cat dragged in (jokes, quotes, very brief verse) 6: from the catbox (questions, comments from readers) --------------------- BE SURE TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE CATLINES MEWSLETTER! SEND THEM TO: http://www.catliness.com to sign up. --------------------- 1: mewsings from the food bowl (editorial) Happy spring!!!  catlovers and biz-kittens, Cats seem to know instinctively who or what is trustworthy or not, but we humans are not as intuitively aware as we could be much of the time. In this issue, we continue the discussion around scams, shams, spam, and other such flim-flam.  This process is not only helpful to you, as our readers, but also for me, relatively new in the world of working at home. I keep asking the cats if they could entertain the idea of working at home, Jaspur assuring me that, oh yeah!  they've entertained... Yes, it sure helps to have those ornery characters around while I am working.  When this computer has a hissy-fit, I can feel anger about it only so long. In the background, I hear a recent, former grocery sack being "killed" further than it already had been the previous day.  Mikey is at work--or is it play?  Such a racket from a small animal!! Then Gabbie says "prrt.  Prrt!" translated as "Pick me up."  I do, and in holding her, my frustration melts away. Jaspur's yowling from atop the curio cabinet joins the computer's drone. "Let me help, too," he says.  And so they do!!! Lauren Merryfield 2: Kitten Kabootle's Kubbyhole (catly writings) --WHAT CATS DO FOR US: You've probably read the poem that includes the lines, "How do I love thee?  Let me count the ways."  This not only applies to your human sweetheart, but to our feline sweethearts as well. We do certain things for our beloved kitties, like giving them food, shelter, health check-ups, toys, all that TLC stuff and of course, our love.  What is it about these marvelous creatures that we love so much?  Can we really put our finger on what it is that cats do for us?  Yes, in general, they provide us with hours of endless amusement and entertainment, devoted companionship, and unconditional love, plus there are a few specifics..... Cats:  Warm our laps.  Make a window sill more beautiful.  Teach us how to land on our feet.  Let us indulge our desires to really spoil someone.  Remind us that life is mysterious.  Give us someone to talk to.  Help reduce high blood pressure.  Give us cool cartoon characters.  Turn common household objects like bottle caps into toys.  Make us more aware of birds.  Donate their services as alarm clocks.  Display daring acrobatic feats right in front of our eyes.  Contribute to living a longer life.  Share with us the all-is-well experience of purring.  Instruct us in the luxurious art of stretching.  Make even an old worn couch look beautiful.  Inspire poets and playwrights.  Create a kindred feeling with other "cat people."  Make us smile.  Bring the winter air inside nestled in their coats.  Show us how to lick our wounds and go on.  Make our homes warmer.  Open our hearts. > > Ah, yes, there is nothing like a cat.  No wonder we love > them so! > > (List from Iams Pet Food) > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > EZINE ADVERTISING TO 711,000 + OPT-IN SUBSCRIBERS > Your Offer In 230 + E-Marketing Ezines - 711,000 + Targeted > Biz-Op Subscribers. 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Click Below - Get Your FREE Ads NOW! > http://www.ezineadventure.com/Default.asp?id=7701 > > =========================== > > FAT CAT Traffic - Get more visitors to the web-site of your choice, > Free!! > http://www.netsponder.com/cgi-bin/fc/display.cgi/LM15603/index.htm > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Newbie club affiliate program :Everything you ever wanted to know about > website-building, "techy stuff" and more! > http://newbieclub.com/home/catly > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Go Pet Care business > http://www.GoPetCare.com/go/catly/business.htm > Pet-care items, vet insurance, and more! > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > "PURR-SONALITY" QUIZ: > Rate your feline with the following questions. > --1.  The first thing in the morning your cat: >   A.  Waits patiently and quietly to be fed. >   B.  Jumps on the bed, bites your feet, bops you >       in the nose with her paw, and meows constantly. >   C.  Cuddles up with you under the covers for an >       extended snooze. > --2.  Your cat's idea of a fun time is: >   A.  Eating - and being stroked only just once in a >       while. >   B.  Playing a game of soccer on the bare kitchen >       floor with a metal ball at 3 AM. >   C.  Sticking very close to you as you're working or >       sitting around the house. > --3.  When you come home after being gone all day, >       your cat: >   A.  Completely ignores you. >   B.  Runs through the house, slides through the >       kitchen, and slams into the food bowls. >   C.  Weaves herself through your legs, meowing >       until you pick her up, and make a fuss over >       her. > --4.  When friends come over, your cat: >   A.  Runs and hides under the bed. >   B.  Hangs around, checks out the food, and sniffs >       at the lady's pocketbook and coat. >   C.  Greets each guest trying to become the "life of >       the party." > --5.  Your cat's idea of "bonding" with you is: >   A.  Just being under the same roof with you. >   B.  Chewing up you favorite pair of shoes. >   C.  Sharing everything with you - your lap, your >       dinner plate, your pillow. > --6.  When little kids come over and want to play >       with "kitty," you are compelled to say: >   A.  "Oh, I'm so sorry, but the kitty isn't friendly >       to children." >   B.  Well, OK, just for a few minutes, but she's got >       to stay in her "pet taxi." >   C.  Yes, that would be great!  She loves to play >       with kids!" > --7.  If another cat appears on your doorstep, your >       cat: >   A.  Hisses and runs away to hide under the bed. >   B.  Watches it ever so carefully from the window >       growling until it disappears. >   C.  Meows and purrs, and intently watches every >       move it makes. > --8.  When at the vet's office, your cat: >   A.  Is scared whiskerless. >   B.  Howls and paces in her carrier. >   C.  Is calm and receptive to all the vet's poking >       and prodding. > --9.  Going in a trip with you cat is: >   A.  Absolutely impossible; she's too scared of >       cars. >   B.  Possible, only if sedated. >   C.  Not a problem; she adapts easily, even if she >       doesn't like it. > --10. In general living with your cat is like living >       with: >   A.  Your great-great old aunt Fannie. >   B.  An energetic small child. >   C.  A close and dear friend. > ----HOW TO SCORE: > --Mostly A's: > Your cat is shy, fearful, unsociable.  She likes to have > little human interaction with anyone other than her "main" > human. She does really appreciate you, but needs her own > "space." > --Mostly B's: > Your cat is aggressive, active, excitable.  She exercises by > keeping you on your toes.  She can overdo it with her crazy > behavior, but with your help she will escape harm. > --Mostly C's: > Your cat is very social, easygoing, sure of herself.  She > enjoys humans, other cats and pets, and thrives on affection > and attention.  She is a loyal lovable companion who cherishes > your companionship. > --author unknown to this editor > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > Get more subscribers and advertisers for your ezine-FREE! > Free directory listing includes: free ad in newsletter, > free web page, affiliate program that earns you MORE free > ads, site membership w/22 free ebooks to jumpstart your > ebiz & more! Submit your ezine today! > http://newz2me.com > An EzineADventure AD. Click Below - Get Your FREE Ads NOW! > http://www.ezineadventure.com/Default.asp?id=7701 > > ======================== > > 3: kibble nibble (funny definitions or word scrambles) > > MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE PALINDROME: > Step on no pets! > (the same forwards and backwards) > > --------------------------------- > > EARN while you learn! For less than $20 mo. Empowerism, > Teaches you how to be successful with any networking > program. BEST buy on the net! Awesome FREE magazine! > Go to: > http://www.empowerism.com/e/27129 > > ======================== > > 4: biz-kittens' busy box (newbie work-at-home or general biz articles) > > The Network Marketing/Pyramid Scheme Phobia Epidemic: In Search Of A Cure > Part II > by Lauren Merryfield, Ph.D. > > How can I find a cure for the mistrust and fear, in epidemic proportions, > surrounding a phenomenon which can work well for some persons, is not > illegal in absolutely *every* instance,  which deserves a second or third > look? > > How can I create an acceptable, convincing means of helping reluctant > persons break the cycle of mistrust and fear, resulting in more > willingness to change their minds? > > What is a pyramid scheme anyway?  The term seems to be used loosely and > profusely denoting a shady business venture. > > I thought the term described the pay plan of many network-marketing > systems > in which the few at the top were paid nearly all of the money while those > at > the bottom of the "pyramid" got less and less, the further down in the > bowels of the pyramid they were placed, never to move again!  All the > hard > work was being done at the bottom while the "fat cats" (sorry, felines) > at > the top either sat there raking it in or slapped each other on the back > gleefully engaged in their CATillionth golf game.  I didn't think it was > fair and wanted no part of it!  As I heard one put it "Not today; not > ever!" > > This was the opinion I retained as it was fueled by others more in the > know > than I in the direct marketing business. > > Was I ever shocked when it was brought to my attention just how many > "pyramid schemes" my family deals with on a regular basis--not us?? > > The owners of the phone company that our monthly bill goes to get paid > more > than those on down to the telemarketers and the janitorial staff, on so > on. > Same for our electricity--somebody is being paid big bucks somewhere and > it > isn't the meter readers! > > The owners of our grocery store or pharmacy make more money than I've > ever > seen in one place, yet those who wait on us make little in comparison. > Same > for the restaurants, theaters, beauty shops, pet stores, radio stations, > the > list is endless.  We are paying for goods and services every day of our > lives to what I would consider to be "pyramid schemes."  Heaven forbid, I > have worked for some of them, with no opportunities for advancement! > > Somewhere along the line, I decided I no longer wanted to be an > "Induhvidual," as Dilbert puts it; suffering from cubicle fever and > near-brain-deadness.  I wanted to have and to take the opportunity to > bring > in as little or as much of that green stuff as I desired. > > I discovered an interesting fact: Many of the direct marketing companies, > so > unlovingly labeled as "pyramid schemes" are not that at all by my > definition.  People above me could make less than I do; those below me > could > make more than I do; we could all be making the same;  the matter of > choice > is there, depending on how much we want to do and how much we believe in > our > chosen goals. > > Imagine my surprise then, when I read the dictionary definition of > "pyramid > scheme": > > Dictionary.com/pyramid scheme > 2 entries found for pyramid scheme. > pyramid scheme > n. > A fraudulent money-making scheme in which people are recruited to make > payments to others above them in a hierarchy while expecting to receive > payments from people recruited below them. Eventually the number of new > recruits fails to sustain the payment structure, and the scheme collapses > with > most people losing the money they paid in. > Source: > The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition > Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. > > from Investorwords: > pyramid scheme > An illegal investment > scheme in which investors are promised ridiculous returns on their > investments. Early investors are paid with money from later investors, > but > the system inevitably collapses and later investors get nothing. > ....... > > Some people mince no words, telling me "They're all scams."  They seem to > be > coming from the "one bad apple spoils the whole bunch," philosophy, > choosing > to decide that if Company A that they heard about on the news 20 years > ago > folded once they were caught, then Company B, C, D and on to Z must > therefore be "bad apples," too. > > Using this black-and-white, all-or-nothing approach being unquestioningly > true, with no eceptions, I cannot possibly have found any businesses > worth > my time, or theirs.  My judgment is notoriously flawed since I am bathing > myself in the alluring bubbles of idealism, bursting into nothingness at > any > instant.  The result--refusal to join me in my inevitable misadventure. > > Yes, I have been scammed, careful as I have been, but not to any great > loss. > Failures happen.  Sometimes one needs to fail in order to succeed. > > Most of us don't remember learning to walk.  Very few of us stepped right > from the crib to the running track.  By a combination of our own > initiative > encouraged by opportunities given by our "coaches" we eventually took > that > one step which led to many more.  Without opportunities, without the > courage > to take that first step, the ability to stand and walk may have eluded > us. > If someone we trusted said to repeatedly advised us that if we stood ro > took > that first step, we would fall and get hurt and if we got hurt, that > would > be a bad thing, so whatever you do, don't try, what might that have done > to > our sense of self-confidence and initiative to do it anyway?  This may > seem > to be an absurd example given that it is very unlikely except in cases of > extreme abuse or some other serious parenting problems. > > Well, maybe there's a similar inappropriateness in the level of fear in > starting your home-based business.  Walking is pretty ordinary. > Home-based > business is pretty ordinary, too, but the expectation that it is > legitimate > and that it can work are often missing in the minds of the very ones > whose > support could be helpful. > > Then there are other possible factors: If I acknowledge that this > business > might be okay, then I would have to think about it.  I might have to > bother > to be supportive of my friend or perhaps even try it myself.  I am afraid > of > change, period, so the excuse "They're all scams," is convenient. > > Another possibility: I am not very successful, therefore, I don't want to > see > you successful either.  I don't want to be accused of being jealous, or > envious of your success.  Besides, if you succeed, you are just trying to > show me up; to outshine me.  If I continue believing "They're all scams," > I > don't ever have to go there, to deal with my own thoughts and feelings. > Better yet, what a good way for me to allow procrastination to set in and > just, well, not get around to facing it. > > The fear and sluggishness tend to go together, making a nonproductive > mix, > difficult to fix. > > Some who have years of working in regular businesses behind them, > pyramids > that they are, tell me of the exhaustible supply of whatever it is we're > offering, reminding me of how, as a child, I wondered if I took too many > breaths of air, would that leave less for someone else near me?  Thus > far, > with the exception of unusually harsh circumstances causing suffocation, > most beings I have known have inhaled and exhaled whatever amount of air > they've needed, without it negatively impacting others around them. > Should > we stop breathing now so we can save enough air for the generations in > the > next millennium? > > Sure, one could personally come short of contacts, but those who have > joined > us who have joined them etc, would dynamicly keep growing.  This has > actually worked for some people. > > I am by no means implying that there are no risks, nor failures.  In > fact, > it has been said that a whopping 95% of network marketers either fail or > do > not do well in such businesses. I believe it is simplistic to say that > the > one and only reason for this is that "they're all scams."   I believe > there > can be multifactoral influences rather than one cause, bringing about > that > 95% failure rate, as explained above. > > Meanwhile, the pile of bills is still there, the dust swished away by > Mikey's tail; the pile rearranged by Gabbie's paws, or perhaps strewn > into a > chaotic pattern on the floor by Jaspur's bullying through, on the chase. > But they're still here.  Even if we socked them away in the storage shed, > "lost" them during a move, "accidentally" used them as kindling on a cold > day--the bills are still here, unpaid! > > Yes, my questioning is good.  Reading and studying the successful is > good. > Encouraging others is good! > > So what is it, that others have suggested? > > Deb: Remember your own intelligence.  When you wake up one day with a > headache, it doesn't mean you have terminal brain cancer and you have two > hours to live.  As they say, don't make mountains out of molehills. > > Steve: If others do this to you, you probably don't want them in your > business. > > Krista: Remember what you told me; don't go into analysis paralysis. > > Nancy: Don't stop if your first effort fails.  You may want to give > several > businesses a try, maybe even make multiple streams of income. > > Mike: Give it time.  Don't hop from one business to another without > giving it > time--perhaps a year or two. > > Angie: Don't listen to the nay-sayers; this is your life and your > decision. > > Steve: Don't even invite them until you can show them your check. > > Irene: When Thomas Edison, Ben Franklin and Albert Einstein were kids, > not > much hope was held out for them to succeed.  They weren't born geniuses. > > >From the felines: > Gabrielle: Think like a cat, and you'll survive! > Mikey: Don't let anyone know how much you know.  You can learn a lot that > way; it's my catly way. > Jaspur, always the one with the last yowl: Think outside the catbox! > ........... > Lauren Merryfield has been published in several magazines, online and > offline.  She is a member of the Cat Writer's Association.  Find out more > at: > http://www.catliness.com > > ********************** > > TO FIND THE BEST DEALS YOU NEED THE BEST EZINES! > Click this link, and you will check out a range of some of > the biggest and the best ezines online today! > http://www.itsaworld-of-ezines.com/t25.htm > ......We will also throw something in FREE for yout time > An EzineADventure AD. Click Below - Get Your FREE Ads NOW! > http://www.ezineadventure.com/Default.asp?id=7701 > > ************************** > > COOLEST way to let everyone know just what you think, and what is truly > important to you!  A good way to advertise your business! > ID-IT plates will do it for you! > http://www.iditplates.net/new/6473/index.html > > *********************** > > free viral marketing traffic/advertising > http://www.FreeViral.com/?r=10302 > to advertise your website without using annoying popups, popunders, and > other such confusion. > > ************************* > > --------------------------------- > What Are The Differences: Our Company By Example > (from Raleigh Harmon, as given to him by his sponsor) > To join, either as a custome or business-builder, > mailto:catly@iglide.net?subject=sign-up > > CDM=Consumer Direct Marketing: Trade Marked by our company  16+ years ago > MLM=Multi Level Marketing: > > Consumer Direct Marketing VS Multi-Level-Marketing > (pyramid scheme) > CDM vs. MLM. > > 1. MLMs recruit distributors that spend most of their time moving > products. > In our company, we Enroll Customers. Marketing executives spend their time > enrolling customers or helping others enroll customers. > > 2. MLMs often encourage distributors to quit their jobs to do the MLM > business full time. > Our company encourages their marketing executives to > keep their jobs and do our business part time. > > 3. MLMs in many cases do not manufacture the products they sell. Some > only > sell one product or service. Some are just labeling companies and do not > have  unique products. > Ours is a manufacturing company and manufactures > every product they sell. Our policy is to never allow their > products > to sit on the shelf for long periods of time, ensuring freshness. > We  manufacture around 300 products. > > 4. Many MLM products require additional expenditures with little or no > benefit to the consumer. > We have a replacement shopping system with a revenue sharing plan. > We > don't ask people to buy anything they don't already buy or need - risk > FREE. > > 5. Some MLMs require a high investment to get started. Also it is hard to > get your investment back because of their misleading and difficult return > policies. > It costs $29 to enroll in our company.  We receive a > business/product information kit, a monthly > magazine and excellent customer service. All enrollment investment is > refundable 100%. > > 6. Many MLM programs require front end loading, either high entry fee or > inventories. This is where many MLMs make their money. > Our customers buy just what they need and use in their own homes > every month. Low start > up fee. > > 7. In some MLMs one must retail products-Sell-deliver-collect money. > We don't sell retail; therefore we don't carry any > inventory, > deliver or collect. > > 8. Some MLMs sell non-consumable products (one time sale) or one single > product. Diet or nutritional products with questionable claims pushed. > Phone services, phone cards, etc., without any real products. We > manufacture unique and consumable products people need and use every day. > (The average household spends between $90 and $150 each month on these > types of products.) > > 9. Some MLMs mislead new enrollees on what they will need to spend or how > much they will really make. Make empty promises-hold out carrots. > Our company discloses what people make on the Annual Income Statistics and > we > are rated as the best income producing among our peers. See Marketing > Comparisons of compensation. > > 10. Some MLMs charge high prices for training meetings, tapes and tools. > At our company, we provide free training or at very low cost. Marketing > tools > at low cost also. > > 11. Age of MLM company is important. 1 in 5 companies in this industry > don't  make it past their 5th year in business. > We started in 1985 and continue to enjoy great credentials. > > 12. Some MLMs create illusions of success. Often do not supply things in > writing. Use Hype-Like, I make $500 a day-I earned $10,000 my first > month-No meetings or phone calls. Make claims that are ridiculous. > In our company, we are encouraged to be honest and help others reach their > goals. > In Inc. 500 for 5 years with an A profit rating. > U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blue Chip Award recipient. > CEO serves as director on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce board > and won the Business Man Award of the year in the state of Idaho in 1998. > > 13. How professional are many MLMs presentation materials? > Ours are first rate. Just look at them and compare. > > 14. In MLMs consider how many people really make money long term? Can > they > point to 1,000s making good money by name? > In our company, we have much more success than other companies in providing > fair compensation for ones efforts. > Look at how many have achieved Senior or Executive Directors in last 5 > years. > > 15. In MLMs, Where does the money come from for commissions? How does the > money come down? Marketing Plan problems. > Our compensation plan is fair and rewards the workers. > > 16. MLMs often put people at high risk. Almost everyone fails or loses > money.  Have high attrition. > Ours has NO RISK. All are customers. No high > entry fee. No front loading. No commissions for just enrolling. > > 17. Most MLMs have "breakaways." If someone you enroll earns more than > you, > they roll up to the person above you and you lose them. > In our company,  if you introduce someone to the company, they will ALWAYS > be > in your organization, even if they go on to be corporate directors. > > ----------- > > Reasons to join Excel rather than another telecommunications company: > > As far as Excel goes, if just getting the lowest deal (bottom line) is > what > you are totally after, there may be some others out there.  The important > considerations about Excel are that: > 1: You would receive one credit for signing up for phone service, and > another > for Internet, etc. > 2: You would not just be paying a big company with no one you know in it; > you would be paying yourself, me, and other humans in the program. > 3: You would be able to get all the help you need, from real humans and > receive updated info via email. > 4: You could personally help other people who are looking for something > similar. > 5: You would be positioned for a major work-from-home advantage within > the > year! > 6: This is a historical opportunity in the telecommunications arena that > may > never come around again in your lifetime! > > These are the special considerations one needs to make when considering > joining the Excel team. > http://www.globalsuccess2000.com/catly > > ================================= > > Hi Lauren, > > Your question was such a good one and touches on concerns that I am sure > a > lot of people have, I have written the reply in the form of an item which > I > am including in the newsletter. I haven't included your name. > > Anyway, below is a copy of what I have written, so please bear in mind > that > I have written it for publication and therefore, it may seem a bit > impersonal, but I hope it answers your questions fully and is of help. > > Regards, Pamela > > Reader's Question: > > How Do We Know? > > Hi, Do you check these ads out?  How do we know if they're legitimate or > if > they're spam or maybe even viruses?  Thanks. > (Name supplied) > > Editor's Answer: > > I thought I'd include this question today, because it is an answer that > should be of benefit to everyone. > > The short answer is NO. Ezine publishers receive far too many ads to > possibly be able to check them all out and pass carefully considered > judgements. We simply would not have the time. I get > 200 + ads a week: many other publishers get significantly more. > At best, we will check those that appeal to us personally. > > Another reason is that we are mere humans too and could be just as easily > duped or fooled as the next person. It is safer to rely > on your own judgement than ours. Then, even if a product, service > or opportunity is legitimate, what suits me, may not suit you. > > You really have to check things out personally, apply due diligence and a > few ounces of common sense. > > You will find that most ezines carry a disclaimer. Mine can be found in > the > foot of every single message: > > DISCLAIMER: Advertisers are solely responsible for ad contents. > We encourage you to be responsible for investigating any > opportunities offered. We imply no endorsement of advertisements. > > Ads in ezines are certainly NOT SPAM. You subscribe to ezines, i.e. you > request to receive them, so that cannot be unsolicited mail, which is > what > qualifies as spam to most people. If you > reply to an ad, expect to be sent information -- you requested it. Again, > that cannot be termed as spam. > > To quote my fellow ezine publisher, John Botscharrow, editor of R Market > Daily from > http://www.3r-marketing.com > > "SPAM is commercial advertisements that you have NOT subscribed to or > requested. If you subscribe to an ezine, the commercial > advertisements within them are NOT SPAM to you - for you AGREE to > receive them with your subscription." > > To avoid getting viruses, take care to download programs from reputable > sites and have a good anti-virus program. Scan files before opening. > Never > accept goodies from strangers, as your mom > probably used to say. The best (and FREE) anti-virus program: > > InoculateIT - > http://antivirus.cai.com/ > InoculateIT Personal Edition is 100% FREE Full Featured Antivirus > software for Windows 95/98, Windows NT Workstation and Windows 2000 > Professional. FREE software updates, FREE virus signature > updates, and FREE online support. > > My favourite Online Virus checking facility: > http://housecall.antivirus.com/pc_housecall/ > > I have also put together a report, which lists the scam, sham and > fraud resources and sites where you can check things out. HOW TO > AVOID GETTING SCAMMED. Send a blank email for a free copy: > mailto:scams@tucats-design.com > > ........... > > About the Author: > > Pamela Heywood is a former accountant and journalist, with a > career spanning over 20 years and two countries. Publishing > successfully online since 1999, she was recently interviewed > by Top UK Broadcaster, Peter Twist, for "Internet Success > Interviews". > http://www.roibot.com/w.cgi?IM8301_int > For daily expert advice in making your small business a > SUCCESS, subscribe here: > mailto:tucats.resbox@aweber.com > > Copyright 2002 Pamela Heywood. All rights reserved. > > ----------- > > Join a BRAND NEW club for Moms wanting > to work @ home.  It is called The Mom's > Club.  By being part of the club you will > receive real work @ home jobs that have been > reviewed, one free money making ebook a month, > scam checks on ads, and work @ home advice. You > also can make money by referring other moms! > For more information: > mailto:momclub.lm77@aweber.com > put "Mom's Club Info." on the subject line. > > =========================== > > HUGE DISCOUNT ON MASTER RIGHTS > The Ultimate Package of Resell Reprint Rights > for BIG MONEY PRODUCTS - at a truly > Unbelievable Price! Selling Quick, so Go > NOW: > http://www.ezineadventure.com/ResaleRights.html > An EzineADventure AD. Click Below - Get Your FREE Ads NOW! > http://www.ezineadventure.com/Default.asp?id=7701 > > Is Your Internet Business a Business? > > As you begin the adventure of doing business on the Internet you'll find > there are tons of people out there who claim to have all the answers as > to > how to do it. > I am in no way passing judgment on these people, many of these people > have some very good advice. The problem newbies often have is NOT > treating > their fledgling business as a real business. One does not join an > affiliate > program or MLM and suddenly begin making lots of money while doing > nothing. > In this respect, running an online business is no different than running > one > offline. It will require an investment of both time and money. So, what > do > you do? First: Begin by setting some goals for yourself. Try to be > specific. > For example, I will sponsor or refer X number of people to this program > by > this (?) date. Be realistic. Don't think that you are going to build a > six-figure income overnight. It's going to take months, even years--- > before > you are likely to achieve that kind of success. > Next: Budget. You are going to need two budgets. You need one > for your time, and one for your money. It is really not necessary to > invest > a large amount of money to achieve success. But to expect to achieve > success > without investing any money is simply not realistic. It is a fact that > the > programs requiring some investment of your money will also return money > better, often, all else being equal, in proportion to what you invest. > The less > money you can or do invest, the more time you will need to invest to > achieve > your goals. Conversely, don't expect that just because you invested a > large sum > of money in your business, that no time will be required. Thirdly: > Schedule > time in your day to invest in your business on a daily basis, at least > three > and preferably five or six days a week. I still work full time offline > and > so I spend several hours every morning working on my online business. > Fourth: Be persistent. Don't give up! I'm convinced that most people who > fail online do so for one or more of three reasons. > They (1) didn't invest enough time, (2) enough money, or (3) they gave > up too soon. Develop a passion for what > you are trying to accomplish and giving up won't be an option! Lastly: > Study! How can you expect to develop a whole new business that you know > nothing about? You can find hundreds of free e-books on the Internet. > Download some and read them. It won't be hard to separate the chaff > from the wheat. There are some really good ones available free. In fact, > e-mail > me at the below address and I'll give you five I really like for free. > What I have given you here is not all you are going to need to succeed, > but I'm convinced you won't succeed without the above. > Treat your business like a business! > > Copyright 2002, Internet Business Builder, All rights reserved. > ________________________________________________________________________ > Ken Denton is the > founder of Internet Business Builders. He has over twenty years of > marketing > and advertising experience, both off and on line. You can contact him at > webmaster@internetbusinessbuilder.net > or visit his website at > http://www.internetbusinessbuilder.net > > ----------- > Guest Article: By Elena Fawkner > > Personal Discipline and the Home-Based Business Owner > > Allow me to let you in on a little secret you're probably > already wise to anyway.  As often as not, the inspiration for > article topics comes from struggles with my own personal > demons.  Writing about them is my way of giving myself a > good talking to (a.k.a. kick in the rear end).  And so it > is with this one - the personal discipline demon. > > It wasn't always like this.  There was a time when I > could and would happily sit at my computer for hours at a > stretch.  Doing this, doing that.  Reading email, reading e- > books, doing research for articles, writing the next issue of > AHBBO.  It used to be fun, something to do in my off-time. > A break from the grind, if you will.  But now that it's my > official job two or three days a week it's not so much fun > as it is work. > > So, what's changed?  Quite simply, my online business > has gone from something I always *wanted* to do to > something I *have* to do.  And that, alas, is my demon. > As soon as I *have* to do something, I start playing the > same mind-games that I played back in school when I > wouldn't start an assignment until the absolute last > minute.  I told myself it was because I worked well on > deadlines.  What it really was, of course, was procrastination. > With a capital P. > > Does any of this sound familiar?  If not, perhaps you're just > one very focused, very self-disciplined individual.  Good for > you.  Now go away. > > Or maybe you just haven't been doing this for long enough > yet.  You can stay.  Think it won't happen to you?  Maybe > not.  But if you're reading this at work when you really > should be doing something else, like what they pay you for, > you may just want to entertain the teensiest possibility that > it might. > > So, for those of us mere mortals with actual lives and who > start businesses out of our homes for quality of life reasons, > you'd better get a handle on this demon and quick about > it too.  Because if you don't, it will slowly but surely bring > about the end of life as you know it and you'll be back to > the 9 to 5 grind at your J.O.B. before you can even *think* > about turning on The Young and the Restless.  (Just for > background noise, of course.) > > OK, so, enough about what can happen and why and on to > what you can do to make sure you get to keep the best of > all possible worlds.  Here are six tips for getting the job > done: > > 1.  SET A SCHEDULE > > If you approach your business with the attitude that you > can do whatever you want, whenever you want, guess what > happens?  You do whatever you want, whenever you want. > And the stuff that needs to be done but which you don't > particularly feel like doing doesn't get done.  Ever. > > Lesson #1 - there's no such thing as being able to do what > you want whenever you want all the time.  It's a fact > of life that sometimes we have to do that which we would > prefer not to do.  The best you can hope for with your own > business is to choose the time for doing. > > So, instead of seeing your days as a big, blank canvas, > ready for you to paint as and when you feel like it, decide > which hours of the day you are going to allocate to working > in your business.  And stick to it.  Of course, the huge > advantage you have in running your own business over > working at your J.O.B. is that you get to choose what those > hours shall be.  Want to start at 6 am and finish at 2 pm? > No problem.  Want to start at noon and finish at 8?  Go for > it.  But do it. > > And when it comes to scheduling, don't fall into the trap > of thinking that just because you live where you work you > have to work seven days a week.  Be sure to schedule some > entirely work-free days.  That's MY big lesson from the past > few months.  I was making the mistake of working at my > J.O.B. for three days and then working the four days I was > home in my business.  Got to the point where I was sick > to death of it.  All of it.  So I started taking weekends off. > Much, much better.  I'm actually starting to enjoy working > again. > > 2.  DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE, NOT WHAT YOU'D RATHER > BE DOING > > It's all very well to set a work schedule and stick to it, it's > quite another to spend that time doing what has to be done > rather than what you'd rather be doing.  Sure, we'd ALL > prefer to read and respond to email than write the next > chapter of our e-book.  Reading and responding to email is > easy.  Writing is hard!  But reading and responding to email > won't grow your business.  Creating new product lines will. > > 3.  ALLOCATE ACTIVITIES ACCORDING TO CONCENTRATION > LEVEL REQUIRED > > Following on from the previous point, if you're spending the > first three hours of your peak concentration time reading and > responding to email rather than writing the next chapter of > your book, you're doing the right things at the wrong time. > Yes, you do need to read and respond to your email but it's > not an intellectually demanding task.  Do it when your brain > is winding down, not when it's at its sharpest.  Do the hard > work when your brain is at its best. > > 4.  KEEP DISTRACTIONS TO A MINIMUM > > Doing the right things at the right time is all for nought if > you're going to be interrupted every ten minutes.  Turn OFF > the email program that chimes every time you get new mail. > Most likely it's NOT a new order and, even if it is, it will still > be there at the time of your next allocated email check. > > Similarly, let the answering machine answer your private > phone.  Get a second line installed to be used exclusively > for your business.  And let the machine get THAT when you're > not working.  Maintaining separate worlds as much as possible > is the best way to avoid burnout. > > 5.  BE FLEXIBLE BUT ACCOUNTABLE > > The best-laid plans of mice and men and all that mean that > you need to be flexible in response to an unanticipated > change in your schedule.  If something comes up that needs > your attention when you had intended to be working, by all > means attend to it.  Just make up the time later on.  It's > swings and roundabouts.  It all comes out in the wash. > > 6.  CARROTS WORK BETTER THAN STICKS > > Finally, my favorite tactic.  Reward yourself for getting the > job done.  Nothing motivates me more to finish a set project > that the knowledge that when I do, I have full permission to > curl up on the couch with a good book for a couple of hours. > > Give yourself an incentive to get whatever it is done.  Then > you can truly enjoy the best of both worlds.  You can relax > and enjoy whatever your reward is, free of the guilt that > comes with knowing very well you should be doing something > else, and with the certain knowledge that you've taken care > of business first. > > © 2002 Elena Fawkner > ........... > > Elena Fawkner is editor of A Home-Based Business Online ... > practical business ideas, opportunities and solutions for the > work-from-home entrepreneur. > http://www.ahbbo.com > Also, visit Elena's newest site, Web Work From Home > http://www.web-work-from-home.com > > ----------- > >  5: look what the cat dragged in (jokes, quotes, very brief verse) > > --FROM THE "CAT SCRAPS" FILE: > > --A "LITTER"-AL JOKE: > > After a lady's car had leaked motor oil on her driveway, > she bought a large back of cat litter to soak it up.  It > worked so well, that she went back to the convenience > store to get another bag. > > The clerk remembered her and said, "Lady, if that were > my cat, I'd put him outside!" > > ********** > ~Iva~ > ************* > COME VISIT OUR GROUP COMMUNITY PAGE AT: > > http://community.webshots.com/user/thecatloversclub > > ~~~~~~~ > >           If you pick up a starving dog and make him >           prosperous, he will not bite you.  That is the >           principal difference between a dog and a man. >                                                      -- Mark Twain > > ~~~~~~~ > >          Women and cats will do as they please, >          and men and dogs should relax and get >          used to the idea.   -- Robert A. Heinlein > > ~~~~~~~ > >     "After scolding one's cat one looks into its face >  and is seized by the ugly suspicion that it understood >  every word. And has filed it for reference." - >  Charlotte Gray > > --------------------- > > (put ad here) > > 6: from the catbox (questions, comments from readers) > > ---------------------- > a catly site! > The CATLINES MEWsletter is a member of the Ezineville Club @ > Village of Tidbits. To become a free member visit > Ezineville Club @ > http://www.villageoftidbits.com > --------------------- >  >^..^< >^..^< >^..^< > --------------------------- > the CATLINES MEWsletter is published by Lauren Merryfield, Ph.D., > co-owner > of catliness.com. We are proud members of the > International Council of Online Professionals (I-cop) > http://i-cop.org/cgi-bin/mem/jl.pl?1060 > ======================== > Sub and unsub info: > You may subscribe or unsubscribe to the CATLINES MEWsletter by going to > our > website: > http://www.catliness.com > and filling out the form. > You may sign up for your newsletter via email, at: > imailsrv@catliness.com > and in the body of the message, put: > subscribe newsletter <your name> > Replace <your name> with your real name of course. and unsubscribe <your > name>. > ---------------------------- > To submit catly writings for possible publication, > mail to:infoRus@catliness.com?subject=catlines-submit > > For feedback, questions or suggestions: > mailto:infoRus@catliness.com?subject=catlines-feedback > > To submit ads (currently free until you are notified otherwise) > mailto:infoRus@catliness.com?subject=catlines-adsubmit > --------------------------- > Copyright © May 15, 2002 by Lauren Merryfield, Ph.D. > http://www.catliness.com > >^..^< >^..^< >^..^< > > ATTENTION:new email address: > mailto:catly.meow@verizon.net > Join The CATLINES MEWSletter and find biz opps at: > http://www.catliness.com > Go Mariners!!!! 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