When doing PrePaid Legal or any other MLM business, you have the reputation of the company to help validate your business. The product, price and marketing tools are already established and available to you. Training is available and successful mentors are all around you. It makes it so much easier and cheaper.

In an MLM, you are the agent of the company. It is like being an agent of Allstate Insurance or AAA auto club. Flyers, brochures, CD, DVD, T-shirts, pens, bags, etc are all marking material that the company wants you to use and provide to your customers. Also a company website is provided for you so you don’t have to design your own. This is a way to get the company name and logo out to the masses.

When you advertise the MLM company, you may also be leading your potential customers away from you especially if the customers do not know you.

Our website that PrePaid Legal provides is quite long and difficult to correctly remember www.PrePaidLegal.com/hub/LoisThrelkeld. If anyone does remember it they may just remember PrePaidLegal and that will direct them to the company itself and not you. That means no commission or credit to you. You will not even know about it as there is no way to track it.

The MLM companies usually do not tell you about this matter. We learned about this at the Cash Machine Workshop and Big Table. It is best for everyone to have their own domain name and website even when you belong to an MLM. The website should capture the customers name + email and phone number as well as provide free information so there is a reason for your customers to return back. Keep branding your name/website. You can redirect your domain name to the MLM company where you can have customers enroll with you. For example our domain name www.ItsToYourBenefit.com gets redirected to the PrePaid Legal site that is associated with us.

Why would you want to this extra work?
1. You can capture the customers contact information so you are able to follow up and help them.
2. You have control of the contacts so if you add, change MLM or business, the customers are still with you vs lost with the MLM company.

www.ItsToYourBenefit.com is broad enough and easy to remember so it can be applied to any business and not just PrePaid Legal Services. I have been working on branding and integrating www.ItsToYourBenefit.com to emails, business cards, car magnets, and flyers.

We also have domain names in our own names www.LoisThrelkeld.com and www.AmyYoshimitsu.com. People in general, do business with people they know and like vs someone they don’t know. It is like Trump branding his name on everything. Not sure if we should be branding our own names vs www.ItsToYourBenefit.com.

What do you think? Is it better to use your name.com or company/catchy title?

Amy Yoshimitsu
www.AmyYoshimitsu.com

Lois Threlkeld
www.LoisThrelkeld.com

Have you ever wanted more TIME? MONEY? FREEDOM?
then visit www.ItsToYourBenefit.com

“Turn Your Dreams Into Reality

“Nothing changes until the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of change”

When things are good and the status quo is providing comfort, there is little to no incentive to do anything different. The old saying ‘why fix what is not broken” rings true. It is easier to follow the masses than it is to deviate and delve into something new. Many of us are taught to get a good job, get benefits and retire after working hard most of our life. I was on that same path. There was no other plan or options that I was aware of at the time. The steady paycheck was great. I knew what my hours were and when my lunch was scheduled. I finished my work at the end of the day so by the weekend every minute of it could be spent with rest and fun. I was oblivious to those who had no job or no money. I knew they existed. That was not my situation. I did not have to worry about it. I had money to spend and money saved.

Lots of things changed and it affected the status quo.

I lost my father to illness. Two years later, I lost my brother due to a car accident. I was ultimately responsible for my mother, sister in law and niece and nephew since there was no father. This was a heavy family duty and I was not prepared. If anything was to happen to anyone there was no way I was going to be able to financially take care of everything.

I used my savings and leveraged my money with real estate investments. Did joint ventures, participated in the rehab and actively managed the properties. Thought the Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance was the way to go. Did some selling of some of those properties into larger multi units. Expanded to other states. Thought the cash flow from the rentals would replace my income from the full time job and provide long term wealth. I was able to cut my hours at my job to part time, working only 2 days per week. Life was good. I had more free time and money coming in. Thought my wealth and cash flow was on auto pilot and easy street. Thought I was secure.

The economy changed, banking and the lending industry declined, and the real estate climate got stormy. Properties were not selling and some of the tenants were damaging the units and not paying rent. There are more vacancies and it is harder to fill them. Taxes and insurance was escalating. Income was decreasing and the expenses were increasing. The credit card companies cancelled most of the cards, increased the interest rate and/or lowered the credit limit. I was vigorously treading water and was going to drown. Something had to be done.

The situation was getting more painful. Help was needed and fast.
We had to take massive action, take more control of our business and manage it more effectively. We could not rely as much on others without better management. Successful mentors and guidance was needed. That was the reason we quickly attended the Cash Machine workshop and joined the Big Table. We had coaches for real estate and for the Big Table. We have mentors/coaches for our identity theft and legal service business.

They say what does not kill you will make you stronger. We had to do some short sales, move into another place, and actively manage the properties. While expenses were lowered, our focus had to be on generating income. It is said, you attract what you focus on. We are involved with Live Out Loud and the Cash Machine Workshops when it is in So. Calif. Being there always re-enforces learning and networking. The people there have become a part of our family.

Our PrePaid Legal business is taking on speed. We have a team of about 70. The support and training is incredible. We have formed great alliances and some of our team members will follow our path to success. It takes consistency + persistency. It requires making cold calls to company owners and sharing the information. It requires a commitment to help others. It requires a strong belief.

Success comes to those who do the things unsuccessful people do not do. Success comes to those who overcome insurmountable odds. Success comes in a Can not a can’t. These are all true

When will the pain of your present situation be great enough for you to do the work and make the needed changes?

Amy Yoshimitsu
Lois Threlkeld

Have you ever wanted more TIME? MONEY? FREEDOM?
then visit www.PrePaidLegal.com/go/LoisThrelkeld

“Turn Your Dreams Into Reality”

What did we ever do without the GPS Navigator. There were maps of various sizes and maps for every section of the city. Street by street directions had to be given by others to reach your final destination. Sometimes you got lost and took the wrong exit or turned on the wrong street. Sometimes you had to turn around and go in circles. Sometimes you got so lost, you had to stop and ask for directions several times.

The street names on the maps were too small and it was difficult to determine while driving, east from west, north from south. It always took longer to get to your destination. Then it was hard to fold those maps in the same way in was bought.

The GPS navigator made everything easier. Street by street instructions are now given. If a mistake is made, it will correct itself and provide you with the right direction. No matter how many wrong turns you make, you will always arrive at the right destination.

It would be great if life were that simple and easy. All you would need to do is set a goal and it would be achieved. Step by step instructions would be given so you would always be successful. How can this GPS navigator be applied to real life?

Having a coach, modeling after someone successful and following a system are all ways to help you navigate toward a successful end. This will minimize the mistakes and accelerate the learning curve. There is no way to totally eliminate errors. We all learn more from our mistakes than our success. It is best however to keep those mistakes small

We have all three. Our mentor is successful and coaching us on a weekly basis. Our success is related to our mentor’s success so this help is provided at no cost. There also is a proven system. All the tools are available so we don’t have to develop our own. Ongoing training is provided for personal development and in marketing and sales. Our income is directly related to our efforts and our ability to help and lead others. Many have achieved 6 figure incomes and are available for training.

Being an associate of PrePaid Legal is the most effective way to develop skills at a low cost. The company has been in business for over 35 years. Other companies were more expensive and have come and gone but PrePaid Legal is here to stay.

Our goal is to have a six- figure income that is leveraged and residual. The money will be automatically deposited into our accounts and it will be derived from our efforts and the efforts of those on our team. We will also be helping people on our team achieve their goal with the company. We will set our GPS navigator of life to success.

Never stop learning and growing. Persist till you succeed.

Amy Yoshimitsu
Lois Threlkeld

Have you ever wanted more TIME? MONEY? FREEDOM?
then visit www.PrePaidLegal.com/go/LoisThrelkeld

“Turn Your Dreams Into Reality”

What did we ever do without the GPS Navigator. There were maps of various sizes and maps for every section of the city. Street by street directions had to be given by others to reach your final destination. Sometimes you got lost and took the wrong exit or turned on the wrong street. Sometimes you had to turn around and go in circles. Sometimes you got so lost, you had to stop and ask for directions several times.

The street names on the maps were too small and it was difficult to determine while driving, east from west, north from south. It always took longer to get to your destination. Then it was hard to fold those maps in the same way in was bought.

The GPS navigator made everything easier. Street by street instructions are now given. If a mistake is made, it will correct itself and provide you with the right direction. No matter how many wrong turns you make, you will always arrive at the right destination.

It would be great if life were that simple and easy. All you would need to do is set a goal and it would be achieved. Step by step instructions would be given so you would always be successful. How can this GPS navigator be applied to real life?

Having a coach, modeling after someone successful and following a system are all ways to help you navigate toward a successful end. This will minimize the mistakes and accelerate the learning curve. There is no way to totally eliminate errors. We all learn more from our mistakes than our success. It is best however to keep those mistakes small

We have all three. Our mentor is successful and coaching us on a weekly basis. Our success is related to our mentor’s success so this help is provided at no cost. There also is a proven system. All the tools are available so we don’t have to develop our own. Ongoing training is provided for personal development and in marketing and sales. Our income is directly related to our efforts and our ability to help and lead others. Many have achieved 6 figure incomes and are available for training.

Being an associate of PrePaid Legal is the most effective way to develop skills at a low cost. The company has been in business for over 35 years. Other companies were more expensive and have come and gone but PrePaid Legal is here to stay.

Our goal is to have a six- figure income that is leveraged and residual. The money will be automatically deposited into our accounts and it will be derived from our efforts and the efforts of those on our team. We will also be helping people on our team achieve their goal with the company. We will set our GPS navigator of life to success.

Never stop learning and growing. Persist till you succeed.

Amy Yoshimitsu
Lois Threlkeld

Have you ever wanted more TIME? MONEY? FREEDOM?
then visit www.PrePaidLegal.com/go/LoisThrelkeld

“Turn Your Dreams Into Reality”

Every channel and all hours of the night, there are reality shows of every kind. There are shows for singers, dancers, models, cooks, business people, bad celebrities, drama queens, crazies from jersey, etc. There are shows that help you lose weight, clean up your life and home, build relationship, find your dream mate and so many others.

Just when you think there can’t be another reality show, another one is added.
The most recent reality show is with Tony Robbins. He is a known giant both in size and of motivation and self improvement. I just saw an episode with a couple who
appeared to have the typical nuclear family life which is a nice home, 3 kids, supportive family. Maybe there was a white picket fence and a dog too.

Economic changes and bad decisions changed it all. He got laid off from his job after 23 years, invested all their savings + retirement money in a losing franchise and she was a full time mother and housewife. They had poor credit, was in huge debt, in possible foreclosure and they had no income and no plans. All they had was blame and anger.

Their problem was common and bigger than just a financial one. Their relationship and marriage was on the line. They had to do something. Lessons was provided by Tony Robbins.

Lesson 1 : Change Your Environment
Lesson 2: Confront your real issues
Lesson 3: Expand your limits
Lesson 4: Change your Perspective
Lesson 5: Own the lesson
Lesson 6: Design a compelling future
Lesson 7: Own your break through
They did 3G’s in a jet. Facing more intense stress makes you stronger. They had to survive on skid row for several days. It made them rely on each other more and work together which improved their relationship. They both got a job, one with huge future potential thanks to Tony Robbins.

Like most reality shows, there is usually a happy solution within a relatively short period of time. Lessons are learned and changes are made. A job is great for getting back on your feet and for producing some income. It is also important to work on your fortune by having your own cash machine. Learn from your mistakes and start again smarter.
Even if the solution seems simple, it is important to learn the lessons and apply it to yourself. When faced with what may seem like insurmountable odds, change and do something different. Don’t let fear get in the way. It is said that FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real.

There are solutions to almost every problem. Get out of the comfort zone, face your fears and do it anyway. Losing your job, facing foreclosure, getting your credit cards cancelled, and having a poor credit report are relatively insignificant when you appreciate and emphasize all the great things.

I see people who are dealing with cancer, strokes, paralysis and other disabling conditions that whatever problem I have is really not bad. I know I am strong and healthy, and smart enough to know to ask others for help.

Take the necessary steps to get closer toward your goals. Even after being knocked down several times, get up and keep moving forward. Every step you take and everything you do moves you closer to where you are going. Persist until you succeed.

Make sure to celebrate your successes even the small ones. You will become a stronger person with every step.

Amy Yoshimitsu
Lois Threlkeld

Have you ever wanted more TIME? MONEY? FREEDOM?
then visit www.PrePaidLegal.com/go/LoisThrelkeld

“Turn Your Dreams Into Reality

Having rental properties provides monthly cashflow or passive income. The rent from tenants covers the expenses and what is left over is your passive income. The problem is there is nothing passive about having rental properties. You always have to deal with vacancies, unexpected expenses, and tenant issues. Even though there is a management company taking care of the properties, you still need to keep a close eye and be actively over seeing everything. If you leave it up to someone else your expenses may be much greater than the income and that will hurt your business.

Passive income through rental properties is great for long term wealth if you can weather the day to day issues and the economic changes. There are a lot of seminars related to how to acquire properties but not much out there regarding managing it. Even after 9 years of owning properties, we still have a lot to learn. Some of the resources we use are Apartment Owner’s Association and PrePaid Legal to check on the legal forms and landlord tenant issues.

While having passive income can be good, having residual income is even better. Getting paid daily on what others do is great. This is leveraged time. Sell a membership once and make a commission for the life of the membership makes so much sense as a business. There is less risk and basically very low start up costs. Where else can you start a business for $72? Imagine the income potential where others are helping each other make money. Ongoing business system and personal development training is provided on a regular basis by people who are successful and active in the business.

I can only wonder what our PrePaid Legal business would be like had we started it 10 years ago. I guess things happen for a reason so our involvement in real estate investing led us to PrePaid Legal. Maybe being a part of the Live Out Loud program and the Big Table led us to this path. I know we are not the same as when we first started the program. We have learned a lot and developed lasting relationship with the people associated with Live Out Loud and the Big Table. We will continue to volunteer at the Cash Machine Workshop in LA/Orange County to help others and to reinforce our learning. Look for us at the next event.

Amy Yoshimitsu
Lois Threlkeld

Have you ever wanted more TIME? MONEY? FREEDOM?
then visit www.PrePaidLegal.com/go/LoisThrelkeld

“Turn Your Dreams Into Reality”

Why are some people successful and others are not.
There are several reasons why some are not successful.
1. Not knowing
2. Not doing enough
3. Its you

Knowledge is Power. Having the right training and knowledge will point you in the direction of success. Mentoring with someone more successful than you is the fastest way. We started our real estate investing business by partnering with a realtor/investor who helped us find the deals and provide resources for the rehab and management. We also are being mentored with our PrePaid Legal business for recruiting and for doing groups. We are constantly learning about the available systems and tools. Mentors are valuable no matter what level you are as you can always learn and be better.

Knowledge and training however is not enough. Taking action is the next important step. Even if you don’t know everything, do something so you don’t fall prey to analysis of paralysis. I have found that analyzing something too long leads to procrastination and avoidance. No one can know everything so it is best to learn and do, learn and do. There is a difference between being busy and being productive. Sometimes it may seem like I am getting things done since it can be crossed off the list however it may not aid in building our business. I always have to ask what is the best use of my time and the most revenue generating.

Having the knowledge and taking action however does not equal success. The most important part of being successful is you. I have met people who are smart and very busy but do not have the right attitude or personality to be a successful entrepreneur. Some have a negative attitude, complain a lot, and just seem to pull everyone around them down. They seem more concerned about themselves than they are in helping others. Sometimes it is not what you say but how you say it that is more important.

So how do you change that attitude? The answer is personal development. Read at least 10 pages daily of a good book. “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnigie is great resource. Allow only positive people and information to come into your life. Listen to positive affirmations. I had to stop watching sad, scary shows including the news as it is usually bad. I now watch shows that are inspirational, funny or informative. This has to be an ongoing habit for a change to take place. Little by little you will become a better person and this will help you in your business and personal life.

Amy Yoshimitsu
Lois Threlkeld

Have you ever wanted more TIME? MONEY? FREEDOM?
then visit www.PrePaidLegal.com/go/LoisThrelkeld

“Turn Your Dreams Into Reality”

Do you know at least 5 people? These people could be family, friends, co-workers, business associates, acquaintances, etc. If those 5 people knew 5 people your network would grow to 25 people and if those 25 people knew 5 people, then the numbers increase to 125. Keep it going and you can have several thousand in your network.

The larger your network the more successful you will be in your business. Those with the largest data base will be the wealthiest. Every business need people to help grow their business and to buy their service/product. It is a numbers game. Not everyone you know will buy from you. In fact, sometimes the people that know you the longest, don’t always buy from you because they know you as the person in the past. For every 100 people there maybe 10 sales or 1 sale depending on your ability to close the sale.  It is said what you lack in skill, you must make up in numbers. That may mean that 200 people need to be approached before it results in a sale.

How do you grow your network and data base? First get out of the house, make phone calls, join and/or participate in groups. Talking to people is a must. Darn…    Sometimes it would be easier to text and email that way you don’t have to face people.  People however buy from people they know and like and sometimes they will even pay more because you have a relationship with them. Even referrals are helpful.

It takes time and effort to develop relationships. Each step you take brings you closer to making a sale and growing your network. This gets easier with time. Remember learning how to ride a bike? Just trying to sit on the bike was a challenge. Maybe you had training wheels to help you balance. Then you had to coordinate pedaling with steering all the while trying not to fall. Of course most everyone had fallen or at least scraped their knees. No matter how many times you fell, you were still determined to get up and ride that bicycle. Soon it became easy to ride it and now you were able to ride it on different surfaces, up/down curbs and maybe even do tricks. We could even ride it with another person sitting on the handle bars or backseat with you.

I am involved with the Chamber of Commerce, Toastmasters, Women’s Business Network, Women’s Mastermind, Asian Pacific Islander. Any group where there are people is a good group. This is taking me to a different level and getting me out of my comfort zone. It is fun and scary at the same time. It is so much easier to stay at home. Unfortunately, no one is knocking on my door. To be successful, I must go out and meet people. I must ride my bike without training wheels and learn to balance.

Amy Yoshimitsu
Lois Threlkeld

Have you ever wanted more TIME? MONEY? FREEDOM?
then visit www.PrePaidLegal.com/go/LoisThrelkeld

“Turn Your Dreams Into Reality”

Whether you are in a marriage or partnership, dealing with money is a challenge. Everyone was taught differently about money and finances. Some were taught to save and spend below your means. Some had others to take care of it so they never had to budget. Some spent everything they made and lived paycheck to paycheck.

Whatever you were taught as a child about money follows you to adulthood. Unless both parties work together on a common solution to debt, your relationship is doomed.
Financial problems is one of the major reasons for divorce and break ups.

Communicating about the problem is a first step. Unless you know your income and expenses the reality of the mounting debt gets pushed under the rug and forgotten.
It is one thing to talk about it and another thing to see it on paper in black and white.

Tracking all your expenses including check and credit purchases along with cash purchases is important and quite an ordeal. Using Quicken for personal income and expense tracking or Quickbooks for business is helpful.

The old attitude of buy it now and pay it later has to go. Using credit cards has its advantages and disadvantages. Credit cards are convenient, safer and easier to carry than a wad of cash. If you pay your credit card bill in full every month then having a credit card is great. However, having a balance on the cards adds to your bill and with higher interest rates, it can get overwhelming. It does not make sense to pay twice as much for an item by using credit cards with a balance. If need be cut some of the credit cards or put them away. Even with those points and cash back for every purchase, it does not help given the higher interest rate.

Every expense needs to be carefully analyzed. When expenses exceed income the simple answer is increase the income and decrease the expenses. A lot of changes need to be made. In this case, credit cards should not be used. If it is used it should be used for basic necessities such as food and gas and only where cash is not accepted.

Cutting expenses is critical if income does not support it. Once you have a list of all your expenses it is easier to determine what can be cut or decreased. Look at getting a discount when you bundle some services. Family share plans and internet/cable/phone bundles are cheaper than individual plans. Buying items in bulk also is cost saving.
Do some fun things that cost less. DVD movies for a dollar at the grocery stores are great or exchange your saved movies with others. Provide a service that you can do for someone and provide that as a gift vs buying a material object.

Working on your finances requires commitment. Take out the emotion and look at it as a business. Some purchases are emotional and comfort based more than need based.

Do whatever it takes to get back on solid ground. Work on decreasing expenses and more importantly increasing income. This is a great life lesson in financial management. Thing will eventually turn around. As always take action and keep persisting on the path to success. You deserve it and your relationship depends on it.

Amy Yoshimitsu
Lois Threlkeld

Have you ever wanted more TIME? MONEY? FREEDOM?
then visit www.PrePaidLegal.com/go/LoisThrelkeld

“Turn Your Dreams Into Reality”