Jazz Up Your Facebook Profile

Before we start talking about Facebook Profiles, let’s go to that new bookstore around the corner.   Notice that in this bookstore, all the covers of the books face out towards you.  Now while I get a cappuccino, I want you to scan through the gazillion covers in here and decide which books you want to read.  You’ll only have a few split seconds to make your decisions. Ready, set, go!

 

Now that you have your books, and I have my cappuccino,  what made you grab certain ones off the shelf first?  The title?  The author’s smile? The information?

 

If you’re building a business using Facebook, you want people looking at your Book Cover, otherwise known as your Profile Page.  In a nano second people will make a decision about you. When we first join our companies, we usually add some business foo foo and some dazzling pictures.  Then we get busy, our information becomes outdated, and it’s a hot mess.

 

Today there are over 1.4 billion people on Facebook.  Despite its competition with other social media giants, Facebook is still the biggest player in the social media world. It’s still the best way for people to connect with one another.  By the way, Facebook was created to connect family and friends.  So it makes sense to create Profile Pages that will help people get to know us for the wonderful people that we are! Quickly!

 

So here are the questions we must continually ask:

• Is my Profile authentic?
• Is it current?
• Is it giving a good first impression?

 

Your Profile Page is after all, your brand, and if we are network marketers, then our brand is important. It’s really a big deal!  It makes all the difference between whether someone sends you a Friend Request or merrily scrolls right on by.

 

Profile Picture

• Headshot or head & shoulders. Nice smile.  Good lighting.  Contrasting background. Straight on shot tend to look like a prison mug shot.
• Use a current picture, not one from 20 yrs ago. If you go missing, would we be able to recognize you from your Profile picture?
• Speaking of photos, become a good photographer! There are tons of How-To’s on YouTube (ex. Peter Hurley’s “It’s All About the Squinch.”) Download a few photo editors like Aviary or PicTapGo and make your pictures “pop.” No excuses! I use my phone more for a photo editor and social media than anything else.

 

Timeline Picture

• This is the Main Part of the cover of your book. Show your passion!
• Not everything works well as a Timeline picture. Find one that works.
• Avoid using a stock company picture. Everybody has those!
• Add text with a photo editor.   Be creative.
• Check how it looks on the page. Is it centered?  Fuzzy?

 

 Bio/Intro

• How much info do you need to share? Sometimes, less is more. A little mystery is okay.
• Look at your companies top income earners.
• Note the lines where you can tell WHO you are… Edit it on your phone and add emojis! You can add your URL here even though it is not clickable.
• Mine currently says:

Jesus Girl – Happy Wife – Guacamole – Ambassador of Hope – INSTAGRAM@TheMargiStarr

• I’ve reviewed tons of Bios with way outdated information. Consider how everything looks from someone who doesn’t know you. First impressions are powerful!
• So let’s say your current job is not so glamorous.  How do you word it?  Is there perhaps a better way than to say “Cleaning out cat boxes at the Pet Store?”

 

Photos

• Gallery Photos: You have FIVE pictures to tell the world who you are! Choose pictures that show various aspects of your life, instead of your business only.
• Go to your PHOTO section and delete any photos you don’t want. When someone tags you on a picture, it shows up in your PHOTOS.

 

Now review your Profile carefully.  “Would YOU follow YOU?”  Would YOU pick up YOUR book at the bookstore if it looked like your Profile Page?

 

One final thought as I finish off this cappucino…

 

Facebook gives us the opportunity to accelerate our dreams.  Take a few minutes and make sure it reflects the good Friend that you are!

Margi “Shining” Starr
937-360-9203
MakeItAWrap.com

 

 

 

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i-Mag-i-nA-tion

As little girls we Imagine what it would like to be a Fairy Princess dressed in pink.

Then we grow up and Imagine what it will be like to fall in love and marry our Prince Charming. We hear the strains of the Wedding March and we dream of hearing the music play,

“Here Comes the Bride.”

Then life happens and we Imagine what it will be like to have all our credit cards paid off and kiss our 9-5 job good-bye!

In our search for freedom, we hear how some moms have found a way to make some extra income from home.  We see our first customer signing up, then our first distributor! Our mailbox overflows with checks!

Some days it is easy to Imagine.  Some days we get knocked down a bit and have to work at it.

On those days, take a box of Markers and a big sheet of paper and draw your WHY.  What would it be like to not be tired all the time?  What would it be like to have extra money at the end of the month?

What do you want your life to look like in a year?  Or in ten years?  Your drawing will trigger another idea, which will trigger another.  Use the colors that you see in your head.  Bright, vivid colors that connect brain-to-eye-to-hand.  Get over your OCD and don’t worry about how good your picture looks.  It’s not about being an artist.  

It’s about, you guessed it, i-Mag-i-nA-tion.

xoxox
Margi

PS  I help moms of all ages, who still believe in Fairy Princesses and Big Dreams, to make extra money from home. My company has helped me do just that!  Call/text me right now at 937-360-9203.  Your dreams are waiting!

Hey, It’s Noisy in Here

Ever thought about the noise in your life?

In today’s world we are surrounded with noise.  We awaken to the jolting sound of an alarm. We have our iPods, our iPhones, our iThis and our iThat. We even sleep with white noise in the background.

We’ve become addicted to noise. It’s unsettling to be in a quiet place wherein the loudest sound is your own breathing.

Constant noise can dull our senses.  It can prevent us from hearing the still small voice within us—that inner voice that is able to give direction and correction when we most need it.

In our noise polluted world, it’s easy to lose our focus.  Our true desires are drowned out by the noisy sounds all around us. We become tired and agitated if the noise is unceasing.

Yet, we do not live in a vacuum. Even if we go live in the woods like Thoreau, we are going to be surrounded by some noise.

We’ve all been in restaurants where the background music was too loud making it impossible to carry on a conversation.  Yet, if background music is a reasonable volume, by focusing on the other person, the background noise disappears.

If we want to build a business, it’s definitely going to require Focus. That means there must be awareness as to the level of noise in your life.  When you’re Laser Focused, you may be able to withstand some noise and still remain on course. Only you can decide how much noise is too much.

When you are seeking to hear the still small voice of God, here are some things that will help.

• Spend time daily in quiet. Maybe you’ll have to go sit in your car alone or lock yourself in the bathroom.  Spending time in nature, without technology, brings fresh perspective and renewed energy.

• Be prepared for System Shock. It’s not natural for us to experience total quiet. Start out with 5 minutes (it’ll seem like forever) and gradually increase it.

• Start out reading something that inspires you. For me that would be Scripture or maybe the words to a favorite hymn. Then allow your mind to go into neutral. Think of it as a little vacation from noise. Just be in the moment and don’t over-analyze. Just be in a receiving state.

• Stop talking. (You’re kidding, right?) Start listening. Listening without an agenda is a great skill to master. If you’re really serious about having less noise in your life, start listening more and talking less.

• Expect amazing ideas to come to you when you least expect it. These ideas may or may not come to you during your quiet time.

Creating a Noise Free space in your life daily plugs you into God’s indescribable power and love. You now have access to wisdom and resources beyond what you can see.

To your success,

Margi Starr

A mentor with a servant’s heart

937-360-9203

Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?

The Fox TV show “Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader” is an American quiz show featuring Jeff Foxworthy.  Each season a group of adult contestants are asked a series of questions. Each question is assigned a grade level ranging from 1^st grade to 5^th grade.

Are you smarter than a 5^th grader?  Here are some sample questions…

1) True or false: Polar bears eat penguins.

2) What was the gift that the French gave the United States to honor their Independence?

3) What is the largest South American country by area?

*****************

Now, here’s a series of questions about MLM/Network Marking. Answers are given in case you are NOT smarter than a 5^th grader.

1) True or False: Most MLM companies have excellent products.

• True.  Nearly all MLM companies have great products, but the real question is… Will the products sell without a business opportunity? If not, keep looking for another company.

2) The commission checks earned by building a networking organization are called:

1. Passive Income
2. Royalty Income
3. Beach Money
4. All of the above

• The answer is D. This is what makes MLM/network marketing so different from a standard 9-5 job. Getting paid even when you sleep is a strong incentive to build a lucrative network marketing business.

3) What percentage of people experience failure in network marketing?

1. 5%
2. 25%
3. 50%
4. 95%

• The answer is D. That’s why it’s important to learn the skills necessary for success.

4) Which Compensation Plan is the best?

1. Old-School Model: Company gets 60-70 cents of the dollar. Need 2,500 to 5,000 active members to earn $10,000 in monthly passive income.
2. New-School Model: Even split of profit between company & distributor. Need 2,000 to 3,000 active members to earn $10,000 in monthly passive income.
3. Next Generation Model: Distributors receive the lion’s share of the profits. Company gets 30-40%; Distributors get 60-70%. Takes around 500-1000 active members to earn $10,000 per month.

D.  All Compensation Plans are equal.

• The answer is dependent on how much you want to work. If you want to earn significant income as quickly as possible, then you’ll want to go with C—Next Generation Model.
• Knowing your 10K number is one is crucial if you are serious about building a business. This will definitely make you smarter than a 5^th grader.

5) True or False: Ground Floor opportunities are best.

• False. 99% of Ground Floor companies don’t last 2 years. Look for a company that has been around for at least 2 several years, so that a lot of the start-up issues have been resolved. Avoid companies that have passed beyond their momentum phase and have become household names.

6) True or False: It’s crucial to know your company’s Policies & Procedures.

• True. If the P & P’s are extremely lengthy and sound like they have been written by a legal team, then beware. Know exactly what your responsibilities are as a distributor.
• “Does this contract protect me or the company?” “Is it clear which way it leans?” Do 5 have the right to a jury trial if something terribly unforeseen occurs? Can the company terminate me without cause? If someone in my downline misrepresents the company, am I held responsible?

Those of us in network marketing have incredible advantages in today’s world. However, not taking the time to do your own investigation can have devastating results. Do your homework and BE smarter than a 5^th Grader.

To your success!

Margi

937-360-9203 anytime

Think & Grow Rich: Chap. 9–Recipe for Persistence

As a young girl I remember my mother’s training on Persistence. She made it clear that I was never to be a “Quitter.” It simply was not an option to stop going to my dance classes or music lessons mid-year. Perseverance was a character trait that was drilled into me.

Napoleon Hill gives the Recipe for increasing Persistence in our lives in Chapter 9 of Think and Grow Rich.

1. A definite Purpose backed by desire.
2. A definite Plan of Action expressed in Continuous Action.
3. A Positive Mindset that is not swayed by negativity, criticism, or discouraging influences.
4. A positive alliance with one or more Persons who will encourage me in my purpose and plan.

A Definite Purpose…

• Your Purpose can be a sweeping statement, such as “My purpose is to have financial freedom,” OR it can be something more concrete such as “My purpose is to create the income to pay for college for my kids.”
• Choose the type of Purpose that will keep you laser focused.
• My own Purpose is posted near my computer. I have a Life Purpose (which is broad in its scope) as well as a Purpose for My Business (which is more definitive). They really are one and the same, but by listing them separately, it helps me “see” them more clearly.
• My Life Purpose: To help others Discover their Purpose, Infuse them with Hope and Empower them to Change their World.
• My Purpose for my Business: To be able to purchase plane tickets whenever I want to visit my children & grandchildren all over this country.

A Definite Plan…

• Are you building your business by talking individually to each person OR primarily through social media?
• What training do you need?
• How many articles do you want to write each week?
• How many calls do you want to make each week?
• How many ads do you want to post and how frequently?

A Positive Mindset…

• We are bombarded with negative influences. What can you do to minimize the influence of negative, critical, or discouraging influences?

A Positive Alliance…

• Are you currently in a Master Mind group? If not, join one!
• Are you receiving continual support from abundant thinking people?

To Your Success,

Margi Starr

http://margistarr@WordPress.com

937-360-9203 anytime

Fly the Friendly Skies in Network Marketing

I’m sitting at the gate at Port Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. Hundreds of passengers with large bags and small children are moving swiftly through the airport terminal.

An airport is a fabulous illustration of the power of networking, but also the importance of first impressions.

Within my first thirty minutes at the airport I had…

…a friendly conversation with the lady at the check in counter,

…a warm smile from the baggage inspector,

…a “Thank you” and a nod from the TSA personnel,

…a pleasant dialogue with the attendant at the gate.

…and even a “Have a nice flight” greeting from the guy who sold me a bottle of water.

Each employee at Port Columbus, as well as every airport terminal on the planet, has a valuable role in ensuring that the airport accomplishes its mission. Some are focused on the basic operating structures, the airline contracts, the auxiliary services, as well as the flight schedules.

But I would suggest that the public’s overall experience is based on those smiles, nods, and brief conversations by the employees.

Network Marketing companies are much like an Airport Terminal. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of people working to make our companies successful.  There are men and women in corporate offices and there are techies who build the websites. But the real power of network marketing is in the Distributors.

Airports and Network Marketing.  We both want to create positive first impressions that create lasting business.

Each day people pass hurriedly through our Network Marketing businesses. Some have large bags or small children. Whether in person or online, it’s in those first few seconds that they form an opinion about who we are and what we are all about. The Attraction Factor kicks in…or not. They lean forward to learn more; or they pick up their bags and keeping moving down the terminal.

What we create, through a smile, nod, or pleasant exchange of words, determines whether we continue to fly the friendly skies or are grounded.

To Your Successful Flying!

Margi Starr

937-360-9203 anytime

Networking and Leadership: HONOR

When a great leader falls because of a lack of integrity, it is very painful for all involved. Tearing another person down to build yourself up, only leads to a false impression of yourself.

When someone is tearing others down in front of You this is a guarantee they will do the same to You behind Your back.
Ultimately you will crash and burn from your lack of character.

The question is:

Would You Want This Person As Your Sponsor ?

Life can give us challenges in many areas of our life. How we handle those challenges ourselves and who helps us, can determine our success or failure. Loyalty to do the right thing enters into all decisions. Friendships built on loyalty and trust are like support beams for a foundation.

A foundation is the beginning. This applies to your marriage, your friendships, your home and your business. If you build them correctly, they will sustain you your lifetime. If you build carelessly everything will crumble around you.

Leaders are built. Day by day, Lesson by lesson. When a leader chooses to fall, they sacrifice their integrity, their honor and their character.

If after knowing the facts and fully utilizing their “critical thinking skills” when someone decides to leave Your Team please wish them all the best.

Excerpt from “Launching a Leadership Revolution”
Foundational Leadership Quality: Honorable

Integrity can be considered as the condition of “not doing what’s wrong.” Character can be defined as doing the right things, for the mere reason that it is the right thing, even if that thing is difficult and unpopular.

The two sewn together make honor. Author Jeff O’Leary, in The Centurion Principles, writes, ” ‘Honor’ encompasses the virtues of integrity and honesty, self-denial, loyalty, and a servant’s humility to those in authority above as well as a just and merciful heart to those below.”

Honor is such a rarely used word in our times that it seems a little old-fashioned. But living a life of integrity and character is timeless and, for a leader, absolutely necessary. It’s about choices, and a person’s choices in life follow him to the grave.

Is this to say that a person needs to be perfect to become a leader? Of course not. Perfection in this life is not possible, and we, the authors, are certainly not exceptions. However, a leader must strive continually toward perfection even though she knows she can never exactly attain it.

It is a question of the heart. The most effective leaders through out history have led with their hearts, in trust, and with honor.
If a leader cuts corners, misuses people, or misrepresents, the truth, a time bomb begins ticking. Someday, somewhere, the bomb will go off. It is obvious in our times only too often: public figures at the pinnacles of power and fame crash and burn in the cloud of self-inflicted shame. From political scandals to high-profile corporate frauds, these calamities are brought on by a lack of honor in the leadership.

“Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.”

The difference between leaders we revile and those we praise is their individual level of honor. In fact, honor is the force that holds a leader’s hunger in check.

Without honor, hunger runs rampant and ultimately serves only selfish interests. Honor is the component that makes hunger productive for the leader’s fellow man. In fact, what we are basically describing here is another “old-fashioned”
word: duty.

George Washington said of duty, “Human happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected.” So leadership is spawned by hunger and held in check by honor.

Under that combination, leaders will find happiness in the fulfillment of their duty to others. It has been said that the character of a man is the only thing that will walk back from the grave into the hearts of the people who knew him.

That is the legacy of a leader. The words a leader say and the walk a leader walks must match. As the saying goes, “Your word is your worth and your worth is your word.”

Andy Stanley, author of The Next Generation Leader, says, “To become a leader worth following you must give time and attention to the inner man.

To leave a legacy that goes beyond accomplishment alone, a leader must devote himself to matters of the heart.”
Character is developed in the valleys and the peaks of life, enabling a person to overcome obstacles and deal with success.

Abraham Lincoln observed, “Nearly all men can handle adversity, but if you really want to test a man’s character – give him power.” Character connects a person to what is right and true.

If reputation is what others think of you, then character is what God knows about you. This concept of honor is so important to a leader because people will follow a leader only as far as they feel they can trust him.

People will not follow a leader they can’t trust. According to R. Ruth Barton, “We set young leaders up for a fall if we encourage them to envision what they can do before they consider the kind of person they should be.

” Warren Bennis tells us, “In the leadership arena, character counts. I am not saying this casually, of studies, observations, and interviews with leaders and with the people near them…. I’ve never seen a person derailed from [leadership] positions for lack of technical competence.

But I’ve seen lots of people derailed for lack of judgment and character.” And, as Heraclitus said, “Man’s character is his fate.” Finally, it should be remembered that a major component of honor is personal courage.

Without the courage to do what’s right because it’s right, regardless of ramifications to self, one is not truly worthy to be called a leader.

When people don’t “Believe” they deserve Success they will self destruct every time…. This is the reason we tell everyone we meet to “Participate” in the 30 Day Mental Cleanse if You want to own Your life.

http://www.30DayCleanse.com

Written by my good friends, Michael and Linda Dlouhy

7 Ways to Become Financially Wealthy

When I was growing up, it was all about going to college and getting a good job. I chose to have a career in education because I liked kids. It was all about the kids and it seemed rather noble to not make much money.

But then mid-life arrived, and it became more about having the financial resources to really improve my life and the lives of others.  I was weary of just making ends meet. In my quest for improved finances, I discovered seven ways to become financially wealthy:

1. Inherit it
2. Marry it
3. Become a Professional Athlete or Hollywood Actor/Actress
4. Become CEO of a major company
5. Win the lottery
6. Own your own company
7. Leverage your money

At this stage of my life, I can rule out #1, #2 and #3. I’m definitely not going to inherit a huge trust fund, marry a millionaire, or sign on as a professional basketball player. (Only 1 in 160,000 people are ever paid money for sports.)

#4 and #5 probably aren’t in my future. GE and Time-Warner already have their future CEO’s in training. Plus, I’ve been in administration and it certainly comes with its share of headaches. I don’t buy lottery tickets, so I won’t be winning the lottery.

But there’s still #6 and #7.  Now we’re talking. Building a network marketing business combines the benefits of both.  The tax benefits alone for having a home business are real. Add the benefits of having a multi-level compensation plan, and you are positioned for success.

7 Ways to Become Financially Wealthy through Network Marketing

1. Find a mentor who has experience and success in network marketing.
2. Do your homework: Find a 5 pillar company. Know your Compensation Plan. Know your Policies & Procedures.
3. Be self-disciplined. Little actions each day eventually result in big returns.
4. Be patient. There’s a learning curve. Learning the tools of success takes times.
5. Stay focused. Distractions can derail and discourage. Get back on track ASAP.
6. Find a system that will help you find business partners.
7. Continue to grow as a person through education, personal development. Readers are leaders.

To your success,

Margi Starr

How Step Aerobics is Like Network Marketing

I remember the day when I ventured into a step aerobics class with my two left feet.

People of every age and shape filled the room. Some were in baggy T-shirts and some were in new Nike gym wear.

The music began and I heard the instructor’s words, “Work at your own pace.”

We started by doing some warm up exercises. It was fun imitating all the other people in the room by doing the simple movements designed to get our arms and legs moving in rhythm.

“RIGHT BASIC!” called the instructor. The warm up was over and the pace of the class was accelerating.

“8 – 7 – 6 – 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1!  Now LEFT BASIC!”

As the class went on I watched the people in the class who had obviously done this many times before. Suddenly my #1 goal was to not to fall flat on my face.

When my body began to fatigue, my brain felt like it was smeared with peanut butter. It was difficult to remember RIGHT and LEFT, let alone do the Samba or Charleston moves.  I had to glue my eyes on the instructor to do the more intricate step movements.

RIGHT-V.  TRAVEL LEFT.  NOW 6 HALF HOPS OVER THE TOP. There were times when I just started laughing because I knew I looked hilarious.

By the end of class I was exhausted, yet I’d managed to make it through to the end without falling flat on my face. Over the next several days I felt muscles that I hadn’t felt in a long time, a reminder of my 60 minutes in the gym.

Several days later when I returned to the gym, I felt like I belonged. A new circle of friends was developing in my life, with similar purpose and passion.

There are similarities between a step class and network marketing.

• Find a trained, experienced instructor. She’ll know the basic instructions you’ll need to get you started on a path to success.

• Imitate the leaders. Find out what they do and do the same. You will bring your own personality into it, but stay close to those who are experienced and successful.

• Laugh! A good sense of humor helps to keep things in perspective. Don’t be afraid to laugh at your own mistakes. Those mistakes will help you move forward.

• Expect sore muscles. Networking will definitely stretch you mentally and emotionally. As with anything new, learning curves can be a little unsettling at times.

• The daily routines will eventually feel more natural with repetition. Soon you won’t feel like you have two left feet.

• Treasure the relationships you build along the way.  Allow yourself the joy of knowing and accepting each one, no matter what their age or their shape…or if they have two left feet.

Your friend for life,

Margi Starr

937-360-9203