Yes, an Idiot I IS!

Yep, An Idiot I Is!

Yes, I am involved in the home-based business scene. There I said it! So, please take a moment and let those thoughts get through your head that say, “He is crazy!” “That doesn’t work!” “Boy, I hope he doesn’t come after me.” “My respect level just dropped for him.”

I know these thoughts run through most people’s heads when they hear of a friend who has involved themselves in a home-based business. But I have always found it curious that people have such negative thoughts and reactions. Perhaps it is because this is not how we were brought up to believe making a living is “supposed to be.” All of our lives, from childhood forward, we were told to go to school then get a job! In other words, spend your whole life working for someone else who tells you how much you can get paid, how many days you can have off, how many hours you must work, how long you can take for lunch, when to come in, when to go home, how much vacation time you have, etc. Maybe this explains why countless people hate their work and why 100s of thousands of people search the web every day looking for a better way, another job, or a work-from-home opportunity. But, as I tend to forget, slaving for the company is “normal” and the way it is “supposed to be.” Right? (And yes, some of us work for ourselves and typically must be workaholics to keep the business going – just sayin’)



It makes me wonder why God seemingly wasted His time in instilling in every human being who has ever breathed air an intense desire for freedom. I wonder why He built in us a desire for significance. If we are supposed to go to school, learn a trade or professional skill, then blast the world with our resume until somebody, ANYBODY, hires us; then sell ourselves to them and their hours, pay, and whatever else … then why did a loving God instill in each of us that precious desire? Is God an idiot too? Is He the Great idiot maker?

You know how it is. We sit in the company break room whining about having to be at that boring meeting at 4 (just before quitting time) that is a waste of our time. We wonder why the boss will not let us tele-commute and avoid traffic (morning and evening). We wonder why WE didn’t get that promotion after WE worked so hard and showed our undeniable loyalty to the firm. But hey, we shouldn’t wonder or complain. Why? Because this is HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE!!!! Right? This is the reasonable and normal way to earn a living. This is normal!

People who start their own work-from-home businesses are all idiots! They can’t make it selling juices (even though one company produced 50 millionaires last year from a juice product), potions, discount medical cards, communication systems, nutritional supplements (even though health and wellness is a multi-Billion dollar industry) … NO! NO! NO!, it just CAN’T work because that is not how it is supposed to be. After all, “what is wrong with Sarah? She is a great employee and in just 5 years she can be manager of this department” (yes, and increase her stress load ten-fold, take on more burdensome duties, work longer hours, etc.). “Why is she trying to build one of those stupid work-from-home businesses on the side? God I hope she doesn’t approach me!”

Isn’t it fascinating that we have been conditioned to believe that a system that perhaps most of us hate (go to school then get a job) is how it is “supposed” to be? Isn’t it even more interesting that when someone like Sarah actually tries to chart her own course, rather than encourage her, we choose to beat her down (behind her back of course). It is not fathomable for us to conclude that Sarah actually got involved with a great company that produces millions of dollars in annual revenue for only a few hundred dollars out of her pocket? If she were to go into debt for hundreds of thousands of dollars in a new business start-up, many of us would wonder, “Would she consider will hiring me?” But if she approaches you with a true opportunity, with a company that has a proven track record, excellent training, and an opportunity to find financial and life freedom in just a few short years, well, … “she is an idiot!”

Yes, but Tony you are leaving out one HUGE and significant point: Over 90% of people who enter these foolish businesses fail within a year. Yep, this is true. But let me inquire as to what they lost? A little time and a little money, nothing more. A very small price to pay for going for their dreams. YET, the FACT is that ANY business start-up, whether home-based or traditional, has a 90% probability of failing within the first few years. In fact:

• Most people who open a stock-trading account fail at trading stocks
• Most people who get their real estate license fail and never sell even one house or property
• Most people who want to sing at the opera fail
• Most people who want to play professional sports fail
• Most people who want to lose weight and get into shape fail

I suppose all these people with goals, hopes, dreams, and aspirations are all just a bunch of idiots.

So, when you look at it that way, a traditional business isn’t much different… or is it? Well, yes. There is one “small” difference. The traditional business costs multiplied thousands of dollars to start. So when it fails, something really tragic has occurred (and you have the incredible debt to prove it).

But if you lose thousands upon thousands in a “reputable” traditional business start-up, you are smart. But if you lose $50 to $500 in a home-based business, you are an idiot. Hey, makes sense to me!

But, when it comes to the so-called failure rate of home-based business people, the real question is, "Did they fail or did they quit?" There are countless garages around the world containing dusty golf clubs that probably cost $100s of dollars. There are also all the accessories that come with them. Countless would-be Tiger Woods' dropped some serious cha-ching on the sport thinking it would be easy. When they found out just how tough golf actually is, they quit! They didn't "fail" at golf. They quit. Most people who leave home-based businesses actually do not fail, they simply quit because it wasn't as easy as they thought it would be. By the way, this is also why countless people have gym memberships but rarely darken the gym's doors. They didn't fail at working out, they quit. So, it is NOT the gym's fault and it's NOT the golf store's fault! And get this, we NEVER say of the person who pays monthly fees for unused gym memberships or $100s for golf equipment that they are idiots!

Some people will say, “Well Tony, those businesses just aren’t for me.” That means that the job you are in right now IS “for you.” That means that you should NEVER complain about it. You should lift a thankful prayer every day that God has provided something just “for you.” After all, if you believe that you are where God put you (most people who like their job will tell you that God provided it), isn’t it kind of showing God’s good grace significant disrespect when you gripe about your job? Remember, it is “for you.” So, never complain about where you are. It is “for you.”

Some may also say, ‘But I don’t want to nag my friends with it.” Isn’t it fascinating that there are NO OTHER PEOPLE in the world looking for an opportunity for a better life? The thinking is, if I join a business opportunity then I MUST nag my friends about signing up. Hmmmm? FACT: You can actually start a home-based business, be successful, and never let your close friends know you do it. (But when you make your first big pay check, I would bet everything I have that you will be more than willing to share with your friends. Yes, MONEY, the great motivator!)

People who start their own work-from-home businesses are all idiots because they are stupid enough to go for their dreams and strive to not settle for “normal.” They are all idiots for wanting to take control of their lives and destiny. They are idiots for trying to involve their friends and offer them a real chance at their dreams too. They are idiots for marketing products that are usually proven to produce positive physical or financial benefit for those that use them.

Yes, I guess most people are right. People who start their own work-from-home businesses are all idiots because they want to break away from how it is “supposed to be.” So, idiot I is. A proud idiot. I like these kinds of idiots. Idiots who have dreams that they actually go for. Idiots who are proactive rather than reactive. I am an idiot because I don’t want to be a slave to how it is “supposed to be.” What’s wrong with me?

Tony Guthrie, Ph.D.

Shaklee (Livingmydream.info)

Green Tea? Yes!

More and more evidence is backing up the belief that green tea is good for health. A study published in the Biological Psychiatry Journal found that grean tea displays a protective benefit in the brain. Previous research has shown the polyphenals in tea have neuroprotective antioxidant effects.

Source - The Art of Growing Young Magazine

The Value of Soy for Women

According to a Japanese study of soy-based foods, women who regularly eat tofu, miso soup, and other soy-based foods may experience long-term health benefits, especially those related to the heart and circulatory systems. The protection seems to be even greater after menopause and appears to be the result of increased levels of isoflavins (plant compounds with very weak estrogen-like activity) in the body.

Source - The Art of Growing Young Magazine
See the best Soy Protein Product on the Market (click here)

A great reason to love coffee

The British Journal of Nutrition recently published a study that showed that those who drink coffee on a regular basis may experience a lower mortality rate. The research revealed that over a 14.5 year period, increased coffee consumption actually lowered mortality rates for men and women born during or before 1920. The researchers speculate that the protection may have come from coffee's antioxidant content, as well as caffeine content.
Souce - The Art of Growing Young Magazine

The Power of PolyMetric Exercise

What are Polymetric Exercises?

Plyometric exercises make a muscle reach full force in the shortest time possible. This kind of exercise uses the force of gravity to store potential energy in the muscles, which is then quickly transformed into kinetic energy. One of the most common forms of this exercise is the box jump, also known as the in-depth jump, wherein an athlete steps off the box and lands with his/her legs coiled then quickly leaps to the next box. Here are the top benefits of plyometric exercises that will help you decide if this type of fitness program is something that you need:

1. Strengthens the muscle
2. Improves response time of muscles
3. Increases endurance
4. Improves posture and balance
5. Burns calories
6. Reduces risk of injuries

Safety Precautions:
• Ensure proper progression and correct techniques. Doing this activity the wrong way can result in injuries.
• If unsure about correct form and other things about this exercise, it would be best to consult a personal trainer.
• Be physically fit before engaging in this activity. Plyometrics require physical strength and flexibility.
• Do the necessary warm up exercises before doing this exercise.

Plyometric exercises have various benefits for athletes in the improvement of their performance. It is no wonder that many athletes include this exercise in their training. Athletes,especially those who engage in competitive and combative sports, can take advantage of the numerous sports-related benefits that this training can provide. But of course, it does not mean that you have to be an athlete to engage in this activity. Just be sure that you keep all the safety precautions in mind so you can partake in this exercise safely.

(Excerpt from The Art of Growing Young Magazine)

Water for a Migraine?

Water Down Those Headaches

Sipping H2O could help your head. In a pilot study in the European Journal of Neurology, people with migraines who drank 1 1/2 liters (about 6 cups) of water daily experienced significant declines in headache duration and intensity. Dehydration may trigger nerve dysfunctions in the brain that lead to migraines. Tap in!.