Money talks, we listen with interest!

Money talks, we (learn to) listen with interest! (Part 2)

Private Label Credit Cards: Prevent your credit card from becoming a threat to your financial well-being.

The contents herein are the result of  my  own personal observations and bears no reference to any one person or organization. The information is a means of understanding the system and using it to help yourself. So please take time to read and understand it in its entirety.

It can be embarrassing to discuss personal finances with strangers that call you, but understand it is not to harass or embarrass you, it’s a bill collectors job to ask questions pertaining to assisting you with the best possible solutions to suit your circumstance. *Remember the account is yours to dispose off as best you choose so no one can make you do what you don’t want to do and that includes making payments!

Do Not avoid talking to creditors/debt collectors. Asking for assistance is an entitlement as a customer/ client, use it as often as needed. There are payment ‘options’ that are available.

In case of temporary set-backs like, lay-off, reduced work hours, disability etc., and you are aware that you will not have enough money to take care of your CC Bills, do not hesitate to ask for assistance from creditors. Most, if not all of CC issuers/Banks/service providers have ‘payment options’ put in place to help you get over these temporary set-backs. These options are usually a reduced monthly payment of about (between) 1% - 3% of the total balance, depending on the duration, the interest is also reduced to about half or less, on some programs it can even be 0%, than what you would normally pay.  (normally interest ranges between 23%-36%). On these payment programs the interest can be anything from 0% -  9% to 15% (approx) and there is No Late fee even though your minimum monthly payment is reduced and less than the amount due. (There will be variations depending on the service provider/s and duration) Duration can be from 12, 24 (upto 48) months or more depending on your situation.

*Eligibility Parameters generally set forth by service providers will be something like or similar to: Out of work, Disability, Loss in income, Natural Disaster, etc., Total balance on the CC must be $300+ the account must be
delinquent (2-3 payments past due), No purchases in the last 60 days. (These could vary with CC issuers). The only catch on these programs is that if you miss a payment or it is delayed you are dropped from the program.

Making clever use of these programs will help you get out of debt faster than you think, ie: Only the minimum amount payable each month is specified by  the service provider, but anything more than this, is welcome and will not influence the program negatively and will help reduce the balance that much faster. So if you can pay off the balance while on the program you have a winner!
No late fees , reduced interest rates, reduced minimum monthly payments, what else can a person ask for.

Check with the Creditor/Service Provider, if there is Insurance on the credit card. (A nominal charge is collected each month towards insurance). Use this, if available, before you consider Debt Consolidation. (In case of
insurance you will be required to make No payments at all)  

It is advisable to seek out these programs and use them before you think of Debt Consolidation. Debt Consolidation (Secured/Unsecured) usually requires a collateral, in other words you will be putting your house, vehicle etc., at risk in order to pay off credit card debts. It is rare that lenders will loan without a ‘security’.

Debt consolidation negotiations usually take between 45-60 days for the offer of intent to be sent to the creditor. 

Meanwhile the account continues to reflect as being delinquent and continue to accrue interest and late fees.

Debt consolidation negotiators will usually work with the previous months statement balance and will not include the current dues accrued while the negotiation are in progress, if you are not aware you will end up paying both ends ie. Creditor will continue to charge late fees and interest on the amount due that still reflects as delinquent on the account. A good way to avoid this is to keep the account current while negotiating Debt consolidation. This will require some deft financial handling.

As with all  financial products, and when negotiating Debt Consolidation make sure to check out the credibility of the service provider/financial institution.

Debt consolidation. This is a process of “debt displacement” – the moving of debt from many different accounts into one account to save on interest paid or to help with cash flow. Debt consolidation and/or debt management is all about reducing the amount of interest and monthly charges you are paying on your debts.

A debt consolidation loan can be secured (for example, a second mortgage) or unsecured (for example, a personal loan).

* Secured loan. A secured loan is one that is secured by an asset – be it your house or car – which can
be repossessed and sold if you are not able to repay the loan. For this reason, you pose less of a risk to the credit provider, and therefore more favourable interest rates apply than those offered on unsecured loans.

If this article has been helpful, Please share.

To raise Financial impropriety issues (PLCC, Mortgage, Personal, Student
Loans etc.) you may contact/refer: 

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/   

You can inbox me : mercutio.peters@gmail.com

Money talks, we (must learn to) listen with interest! (Part-1)

Money talks, we (must learn to) listen with interest!  (Part-1)

Private Label Credit Cards: Prevent your
credit card from becoming a threat to your financial well-being

It has long been my desire to share with you a few tips and tricks that I have gained over the last 9+ years in the Commercial Financial Services sector, specifically Credit Card Collections, with the intention of assisting  those looking for newer and more workable means of paying off credit card bills. The contents herein are the result of my  own personal observations and
bears no reference to any one person or organization. The information contained is a means of understanding the system and using it to help yourself. So please take time to read and understand it in its entirety. 

Given the economic situation we all are in, I’ve put together some useful information that will help you save yourself close to $500 on credit card bills annually, if used wisely.

·   There is a minimum amount due to be paid each month on Credit Card Bills (if you don’t pay off your purchases within thirty days from the date of the purchase). This is calculated based on the total balance+interest+latefee+insurance, if any, and the terms and conditions of the credit card issuer. As far as possible, make your payment on or before the due date.

·   The payment due date is the date by which your payment must reach the creditor to avoid any extra charges. There is also a grace period of a week, (They don’t tell you this but it appears on your statement in the form of: Due date and Billing Date) before the late fee is applied. But the account will have the late fees posted the day immediately after the due date, by default, and you don’t get to see that until the next billing cycle. (The system is programmed to do that).! Collectors make it appear as though they are removing the late fee to assist you (and they do), but it shouldn’t have been there in the first place.!

·        

Assuming you have a minimum amount due of $40 each month. When  debt collectors call (the account is delinquent) to collect a payment, they usually will mention something like
this:  ‘I am calling to collect a total amount due of $90 which is behind by a payment.’ You are aware that your payment was due on the 19^th and you’d missed the payment for July, but $90?. They will not normally give you the breakup unless you ask. The total amount due will constitute, the past due ie. $40 and the current due $50. – *Taking care of the past due will bring the account current, It is not obligatory to pay the total amount due as mentioned by the debt collector. *The phrase “missed a payment” or “behind by a payment” while opening the call, is to unsettle you. 

·        Your regular due date being the 19^th of each month,the collection call comes in on the 23^rd. By this time the  account is delinquent and has already been debited with the late fees (which for the 1^st time is $25 and thereon $35), interest and the amount due for the next month, $50 (which really is’nt due until the 19^th of Aug) that comprises the total amount due $90.  - * *Private Label Credit Card issuers/banks usually do this – Big picture: if the bank has 100 accounts, and collects the $50 = $5000 x interest x 3weeks.(I leave it to your imagination to figure out the amount of money literally 'contributed' to these companies!)

·        

If  your payment due date is the 1^ST or 2^ND and your paycheck comes in on the same date it will be wise to post date a check for the 1^st or 2^nd and mail it out at least 10 days before the due date. Even if the check arrives early it cannot be cashed until the date it is made out for. Alternatively you can post date a pay-by-phone for the due date which will coincide with your pay check. *There is NO service charge for payments by phone.

·        

Oftentimes the CC Statement comes in with little or no time to make the payment, or not at all. It occurs more with new accounts where the 1^st statement usually comes in after the due date. *
You can, in this case request for a waiver/credit of the late-fees which should be complied with and will reflect in the next statement. Keep CC information ie; Billing Address, email ID, Telephone #’s, current to avoid unnecessary charges. If you have opted for electronic bills, check the ‘spam’ folder if you do not find a statement in your inbox.

·        

Check your statement regularly! If your minimum amount due is $40 and you send, in all good faith, $30, it is credited but with the late fees and your minimum amount due will now move up to more than $40, and you will not be aware if you do not check your statement. (On line if you opted for electronic bills). This happens when you have set up an on line payment ,automatic, through your bank.

·        

Another area that you need to pay attention to is that when you make a payment, let’s say a pay-by-phone, the account is to be credited and the account is deemed ‘current’.  But usually debt collectors would mention that the account will be current as soon as the funds clear the bank, which is incorrect. In other words all recurring charges must stop, but do they?

10(a) General Rule.
(Frank-Dodd Act)

1. Crediting date. Section 1026.10(a) does not
require the creditor to

post the payment to the consumer's account on a
particular date; the creditor is only required to credit the payment as of the date of receipt.

2. Date of receipt. The “date of receipt” is
the date that the payment instrument or other means of completing the payment reaches the creditor. For example:

i. Payment by check is received when the creditor gets it, not when the funds are collected. (Ref: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

“A system of periodic Quality Assurance reviews, the scope of which includes, but is not limited to, reviews of training materials and scripts, as well as real-time monitoring and recording of
telemarketing and customer service calls in their entirety, consistent with applicable laws; 
Review policies and procedures for products with features that may inhibit consumer understanding or otherwise pose heightened risks of unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices..” (Ref: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

·        

When making automatic payments on line or using your bank info. on the automatic telephone payment machine make sure you counter check after the entry is made to see if the system has updated the payment info. correctly. Alternatively check with the bank to ensure the
payment is scheduled to come out correctly. This way you can avoid the extra charges.

·        

When making on line payments always schedule the date for the payment to clear your bank. In the event you do not put a payment date, the system will take the next due date by default and you will end up paying the interest which is calculated on a daily basis.

·        

Few merchants issue PLCC cards by default (merchants/stores that do not accept payments) Amazon, Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy etc., While filling out applications, store attendants/cashiers request some form of identity. Most give the drivers license or another debit/credit card which is then used to swipe the address/information . Consumers sometimes misunderstand this for a payment being made and do not pay attention to the follow-up calls or statements from the merchant. Now according to the FDCPA/FTC the merchant (CC issuer/bank) is not authorized to call until a certain period of time or the bill is for a stipulated minimum, So if you make a purchase of $20 then you will probably be called 2 months later and your bill will then be: $20+$20LF+$35LF+Interest as applicable.  This leads to a gross inflation of the bill with all the extra charges added. Even if disputed, you will still end up paying a lot more than you normally would, because the maximum that a bill collector can do is to waive a late fee, and that’s not much when compared to the bill! (Waiver/s will always be the least amount on the bill)

·        

Make the minimum payment required each month as mentioned in your statement. (Even a dollar less will attract a late fee as it will reflect as a partial payment) with all extra charges applicable.

We will look at other Payment Options and Debt Consolidation in the next blog.

To raise Financial impropriety issues (PLCC, Mortgage, Personal, Student
Loans etc.) you may contact/refer: 

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/  
(Consumer Financial Protection Bureau)

Mercutio Peters just posted a new IBO AUTHENTIC Press Release titled What it means to be a success - Who determines this?.

Mercutio Peters just posted a new IBO AUTHENTIC Press Release titled What it means to be a success - Who determines this?.

The Carpenter's Tools

Brother Hammer served as the chairman. The other members of the tool belt informed him that he must leave, because he was too noisy. But brother Hammer said, "If I have to leave this carpenter's shop, then brother Gimlet must go too. He's insignificant and makes a very small impression." (A gimlet is a small tool with a screw point, grooved shank, and a cross handle for boring holes). 

Little brother Gimlet arose and said, "All right, but brother Screwdriver must go also. You have to turn him around and around to get anywhere with him." 

Brother Screwdriver turned to the other tools in the belt and said, "If you wish, I will go, but brother Plane must leave too. All of his work is on the surface; there's no depth to what he does." 

To this brother Plane leveled his terse reply, "Well, then, brother Saw will have to depart too. The changes he proposes always cut too deep." 

Brother Saw complained, saying, "Brother Ruler will have to withdraw if I leave, for he's always measuring other folks as though he were the only one who is right." 

Brother Ruler then surveyed the group and said, "Brother Sandpaper doesn't belong here either. He's rougher than he ought to be, and is always rubbing people the wrong way." 

In the midst of the discussion, the Carpenter of Nazareth walked in. He had come to perform his day's work. He put on His tool belt and went to the workbench to make a pulpit. He employed the ruler, the saw, the plane, the hammer, the gimlet, the screwdriver, the sandpaper, and all the other tools. When the day's work was over, the pulpit was finished, and the carpenter went home. All the accusations against each of these tools were absolutely true, yet the carpenter used every one of them. No matter which tool He use, no other tool could have done the work better.

All blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, and regardless of how much you blame him, it will not change you. 

A GLOBAL HOME BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY 
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There's Two Ways You're Funded.

One: People give money to your project (usually in exchange for a reward), such as being on your

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Two: Our "Compound Funding" process. When promoting your project through social media, your list,

press releases and so on, people will be directed to your (nextlevelx) replicating website. There,

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If they get their own platform, you make money for your project. Huge money!

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Take my Hand

One day Mulla Nasrudin saw a crowd gathered around a pond. A Moslem priest with a huge turban on his head had fallen in the water and was calling for help.



People were leaning over and saying, "Give me your hand Sir! Give me your hand!" But the priest didn't pay attention to their offer to rescue him; he kept wrestling with the water and shouting for help.



Finally Mulla Nasrudin stepped forward: "Let me handle this." He stretched out his hand toward the priest and shouted at him, "Take my hand!"



The priest grabbed Mulla's hand and was hoisted out of the pond. People, very surprised, asked Mulla for the secret of his strategy.



"It is very simple," he replied. "I know this miser wouldn't give anything to anyone. So instead of saying 'Give me your hand,' I said, 'take my hand,' and sure enough he took it." 

Dear Potential Business Owner:

If you are like me, you've searched the Internet over and wasted lots of time and money with "get rich quick" businesses that turned out to be schemes. I've always wanted to start my own business that was LEGITIMATE and HONEST (and not a "pie in the sky" fairy tale). Well, I did it! I've officially started my own home business as an affiliate with SFI (Strong Future International). Here are some of the reasons why I decided to go with SFI:

* Their parent company has been around since 1985. 

* It's free to get started. 

* They're in over 190 countries worldwide. 

* You can do everything from home on your computer. 

* 24-hour support. 

* Free training and free Website. 

* They're growing rapidly and there's lots of money to be made.

There's nothing to lose and everything to gain here, including more time with your family and more money in your wallet. It's well worth looking at SFI and investing in your future with us. For more information, see 

http://www.macks.bendtheprice.com

Loosing Everything

Mula came upon a frowning man walking along the road to town. "What's wrong?" he asked. 

The man held up a tattered bag and moaned, "All that I own in this wide world barely fills this miserable, wretched sack." 

"Too bad," said Mula, and with that, he snatched the bag from the man's hands and ran down the road with it. Having lost everything, the man burst into tears and, more miserable than before, continued walking. 

Meanwhile, Mula quickly ran around the bend and placed the man's sack in the middle of the road where he would have to come upon it. When the man saw his bag sitting in the road before him, he laughed with joy, and shouted, "My sack! I thought I'd lost you!" 

Watching through the bushes, Mula chuckled. "Well, that's one way to make someone happy!"

Dear Potential Business Owner:

If you are like me, you've searched the Internet over and wasted lots of time and money with "get rich quick" businesses that turned out to be schemes. I've always wanted to start my own business that was LEGITIMATE and HONEST (and not a "pie in the sky" fairy tale). Well, I did it! I've officially started my own home business as an affiliate with SFI (Strong Future International). Here are some of the reasons why I decided to go with SFI:

* Their parent company has been around since 1985. 

* It's free to get started. 

* They're in over 190 countries worldwide. 

* You can do everything from home on your computer. 

* 24-hour support. 

* Free training and free Website. 

* They're growing rapidly and there's lots of money to be made.

There's nothing to lose and everything to gain here, including more time with your family and more money in your wallet. It's well worth looking at SFI and investing in your future with us. For more information, see http://www.macks.bendtheprice.com

http://www.macks.bendtheprice.com

The Sultan and the Sheikh

Many years ago the sultan of the Ottoman Empire visited one of the great sheikhs of Istanbul. He was deeply impressed with the wisdom and sincerity of the sheikh and began coming regularly to the sheikh's gatherings.

After some time the sultan said, "I have come to love you and your teachings. If there is ever anything you want or need, please ask me and I will provide it for you if it is in my power." That was, in effect, a blank check from one of the wealthiest and most powerful men on earth.

The sheikh replied, "Yes, there is one thing you can do for me. Please do not come back."

The astonished sultan asked, "Have I done anything to offend you? If so, please accept my apologies."

The sheik replied, "No, the problem is not you; it is my dervishes. Before you began visiting us, they would pray and chant to God, seeking only God's blessings. Now their minds are occupied with thoughts of pleasing you and receiving a reward from you. I have to ask you not to come back because we are not spiritually mature enough to handle your presence here." 

What has this to do with Home Business? Affiliate Marketing?.

Don’t get carried away by every opportunity thrown at you.

Keep your eyes fixed on the stars, but your feet fixed firmly on the ground.

Are you missing out on the ‘ obvious’ opportunities of building your business?

Remember it is your business, It must be something that you can ‘live’ by.

Make good use of the time and resources that are made available to you. Live in the ‘Now’

Spend time sharing with your associates a little of what you learnt from being and working your business.

Remember what’s not good for you is not good for your Client/Customer.

Most important of all is to drop the: ‘What’s in it for me’.

Here's the newest addition to our enviable repertoire. Enjoy

http://www.macks.bendtheprice.com

Like Dogs and Cats

I love dogs and cats. During my lifetime I have had many dogs and cats as pets. Yet there are two things I never understood about dogs and cats.



First, why do dogs greet people warmly with joyful jumping and tail wagging, while cats greet people like they are doing you a favor; coolly with regal restraint? Second, why are dogs and cats usually not good friends? Why do they fight like dogs and cats?



When I read an old Hebrew legend from the Alphabet of Ben Sira I found the answer. A long time ago, in the days of Adam and Eve, cats and dogs were good friends and they used to hunt together. Then there came a time of great famine. There were very few animals to hunt, and only enough food for one of them to eat. The dog and the cat were hungry all the time. The dog told the cat to go live with humans and eat the food in their houses. The dog would live outside and hunt. That way both the dog and the cat would have enough to eat.



The cat agreed and proposed that they each promise that from now on all cats would live in homes, and all dogs would live in the wild. The dog agreed. The cat went to live in a house with Adam and Eve. In the barn and in the house there were lots of mice and rats for the cat to eat, so both the cat and the people were happy.



The dog went to stay with his cousin the wolf and offered to be a watchdog. During the night the dog heard the sound of a bear walking about. He woke up the wolf, who told the dog to go chase away the bear. The dog tried, but he was much smaller than the bear and he had to flee for his life.



The dog then went to stay with other animals. But the small animals like hamsters, meerkats and moles lived in underground tunnels that the dog was to big to fit inside, and bigger animals like deer and elk didn't need a watchdog because they had big ears and could hear better than the dog could. Then the dog noticed that humans have small ears so he went to Adam and Eve and offered to be their watchdog. During the night when he heard something outside the dog would bark and Adam would take his spear and go chase the animal away. Adam liked having a watchdog. Every day Eve fed the dog table scraps. The dog was very happy.



However, the cat objected to the dog staying with people because the dog and cat had made a promise, and the dog was now breaking the deal. The dog admitted breaking his promise but argued that they both could live with humans, because humans had enough food for both dogs and cats. The cat didn't agree. The cat was hurt and angry; so the cat left Eve's house and went to live in Egypt, a land where there were no dogs.

Continued: Like Dogs and Cats -2.   Dont miss the next part.

We have enough and more in the world for everybody's need, not everybody's greed!!

Next-Levelx and Crowd

Funding may be the answer. Enroll now and take advantage of the widest
and largest Group Funding Project  on the internet for all
Business/Projects needs,  Great to share along with non profits and
churches.

Google - 'Crowd Funding'
so you can begin to understand just how awesome this program is with the merging of
this 3 x 6 matrix and Compound Funding Compensation Plan.

Registration is free and
there are no monthly fees and we're paid daily in real time, & you
instantly have a free real time back office site. No State, Regional or Country
boundaries.  http://weurls.com/JIaze

Continued from: Like Dogs and Cats -1

Continued from: Like Dogs and Cats1

There was lots of grain in Egypt, and therefore lots of mice and rats who love to eat grain. The Egyptians were very happy to have cats live with them so the cats could get rid of the mice and rats. They liked the cats so much they began to worship cats. The Egyptians called the cat Goddess: Bastet. The Egyptians made a rule that anyone who killed a cat would be put to death. When a cat died it's body was turned into a mummy, and placed in special cat cemeteries throughout Egypt. There were statues of the cat Goddess Bastet all over Egypt. Ever since that time cats started to think of themselves as aristocats. Cats became stuck up, regal and cool towards humans, even those who feed and hug them.



Many years later Abraham and Sarah visited Egypt. They saw all the statues of the cat goddess Bastet. Abraham thought that worshipping a statue of a cat was ridiculous. But the Egyptians also worshipped several other animals; Horus the hawk God, Hathor the cow Goddess, Sobek the crocodile God, and the sun God Re in the form of a scarab beetle. Sarah thought that worshipping a beetle was the silliest thing she could imagine, until she learned that the Egyptians also worshipped their king Pharaoh, who they believed was the Divine son of the God Amun-Re. Sarah had met the king Pharaoh and she knew that he was not the Son of God. Sarah felt believing a human was God, or the Son of God, was even worse than worshipping a cat or a hawk. It was an insult to God, who had given humans the ability to think and pray.



Abraham and Sarah left Egypt and returned to the Land of Israel where they never allowed into their home, statues of any animal or person that other people worshipped. Abraham and Sarah's descendants learned never to pray before an animal or a human being, but to pray only to God alone. Cats stayed cool and regal while dogs remained warm and very friendly. Even with their very different personalities some dogs and cats learned to live together, without fighting like cats and dogs. 

By Rabbi Allen S Maller

Even after
all this time,

The sun never says to the earth,

“You owe me.”

Look what happens with

A love like that.

It lights up the whole sky. — Hafiz 

Next-Levelx and Crowd Funding may be the answer. Enroll now and take advantage of the widest and largest Group Funding Project  on the internet for all Business/Projects needs,  Great to share along with non profits and churches.

Google - 'Crowd Funding' so you can begin to understand just how awesome this program is with the merging of this 3 x 6 matrix and Compound Funding Compensation Plan.

Registration is free and there are no monthly fees and we're paid daily in real time, & you instantly have a free real time back office site. No State, Regional or Country boundaries.  http://weurls.com/JIaze

Next-Levelx and Crowd Funding May Be the Answer - Classified Ad

Next-Levelx and Crowd Funding May Be the Answer - Classified Ad

Looking for newer and more workable solutions? - II

A man was selling oranges in the middle of a road. He was illiterate, so he never read newspapers. He put some signs along the road and spent the whole day praising the flavor of his wares. Everyone bought from him and the man thrived. With the money he placed more signs on the road and began to sell more fruit. 

Business was growing fast when one day his son - who was educated and had studied in a big city asked him: "Father, don't you know that the world is going through very hard times? The economy of the country is in an awful state!" 

Worried by this, the man reduced the number of signs and began to sell fruit of inferior quality because it was cheaper. 

Sales slumped immediately. "My son is right," he thought. "Times are very hard." 

Looking for newer and more workable solutions? Here's what I found and did.

Dear Potential Business Owner:

If you are like me, you've searched the Internet over and wasted lots of time and money with "get rich quick" businesses that turned out to be schemes. I've always wanted to start my own business that was LEGITIMATE and HONEST (and not a "pie in the sky" fairy tale). Well, I did it! I've officially started my own home business as an affiliate with SFI (Strong Future International). Here are some of the reasons why I decided to go with SFI:

* Their parent company has been around since 1985. 

* It's free to get started. 

* They're in over 190 countries worldwide. 

* You can do everything from home on your computer. 

* 24-hour support. 

* Free training and free Website. 

* They're growing rapidly and there's lots of money to be made.

There's nothing to lose and everything to gain here, including more time with your family and more money in your wallet. It's well worth looking at SFI and investing in your future with us. For more information, see www.sfi4.com/12392488/

Looking for newer and more workable solutions ?

A powerful monarch called a holy father - everyone said he had healing powers - to help him with his back ache.

"God will help us," said the holy man. "But first let us understand the reason for these pains. I suggest Your Majesty confesses now, for confession makes men face up to their problems, and liberates much guilt."

Annoyed at having to think about so many problems, the king said:

"I do not wish to speak of these matters; I need someone who heals without asking questions."

The priest went off and returned half an hour later with another man.

"I believe that words can relieve pain, and help me to discover the right path to a cure," he said. But you do not wish to talk, and I cannot help you. This is the man you need:

My friend here is a veterinarian, and does not generally speak to his patients."

Looking for newer and more workable solutions ? here's what I found and did.

Dear Potential Business Owner:

If you are like me, you've searched the Internet over and wasted lots of time and money with "get rich quick" businesses that turned out to be schemes. I've always wanted to start my own business that was LEGITIMATE and HONEST (and not a "pie in the sky" fairy tale). Well, I did it! I've officially started my own home business as an affiliate with SFI (Strong Future International). Here are some of the reasons why I decided to go with SFI:

* Their parent company has been around since 1985. 

* It's free to get started. 

* They're in over 190 countries worldwide. 

* You can do everything from home on your computer. 

* 24-hour support. 

* Free training and free Website. 

* They're growing rapidly and there's lots of money to be made.

There's nothing to lose and everything to gain here, including more time with your family and more money in your wallet. It's well worth looking at SFI and investing in your future with us. For more information, see www.sfi4.com/12392488/

You cannot compare the two.

A Samurai who was known for his nobility and honesty, went to visit a Zen monk to ask advice. However, the moment he entered the temple where the master was praying, he felt inferior and concluded that, in spite of having fought for justice and peace all his life, he hadn't even come near the state of grace achieved by the man before him.

"Why do I feel so inferior?" he asked, as soon as the monk finished his prayers. "I have faced death many times, have defended those who are weak, I know I have nothing to be ashamed of. Nevertheless, upon seeing you meditating, I felt that my life had absolutely no importance whatsoever."

"Wait. Once I have attended to all those who come to see me today, I shall answer you."

The samurai spent the whole day sitting in the temple gardens, watching the people go in and out in search of advice. He saw how the monk received them all with the same patience and the same illuminated smile on his face. But his enthusiasm soon began to wane, since he had been born to act, and not to wait.

At nightfall, when everyone had gone, he demanded: "Now can you teach me?"

The master invited him in and lead him to his room. The full moon shone in the sky, and the atmosphere was one of profound tranquility.

"Do you see the moon, how beautiful it is? It will cross the entire firmament, and tomorrow the sun will shine once again. But sunlight is much brighter, and can show the details of the landscape around us: trees, mountains, clouds. I have contemplated the two for years, and have never heard the moon say: why do I not shine like the sun? Is it because I am inferior?"

"Of course not - answered the samurai. - The moon and the sun are different things, each has its own beauty. You cannot compare the two."

"So you know the answer. We are two different people, each fighting in his own way for that which he believes, and making it possible to make the world a better place; the rest are mere appearances." 

A GLOBAL HOME BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY 

Thinking about starting a home business? Not sure where to begin? Start your home business on a rock-solid base! Consider teaming up with us. Since 1985, we've helped tens of thousands of men and women worldwide build successful home businesses. And we can help you, too. Find home business success stories and information on getting started at: www.sfi4.com/12392488/FREE

Never settle for mediocrity

A disciple went to Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav: "I shall not continue with my studies of sacred texts," he said. "I live in a small house with my brothers and parents, and never have the ideal conditions for concentrating on that which is important." 

Nachman pointed to the sun and asked his disciple to place his hand over his face, in order to hide it. The disciple obeyed. 

"Your hand is small, yet it can completely cover the power, light and majesty of the great sun. In the same way, the small problems manage to give you the excuse you need in order to hinder your progress along your spiritual journey. 

"Just as your hand has the power to hide the sun, mediocrity has the power to hide your inner light. Do not blame others for your own incompetence." 

Dear Potential Business Owner:

If you are like me, you've searched the Internet over and wasted lots of time and money with "get rich quick" businesses that turned out to be schemes. I've always wanted to start my own business that was LEGITIMATE and HONEST (and not a "pie in the sky" fairy tale). Well, I did it! I've officially started my own home business as an affiliate with SFI (Strong Future International). Here are some of the reasons why I decided to go with SFI:

* Their parent company has been around since 1985. 

* It's free to get started. 

* They're in over 190 countries worldwide. 

* You can do everything from home on your computer. 

* 24-hour support. 

* Free training and free Website. 

* They're growing rapidly and there's lots of money to be made.

There's nothing to lose and everything to gain here, including more time with your family and more money in your wallet. It's well worth looking at SFI and investing in your future with us. For more information, see www.sfi4.com/12392488/

Try and be a good You

Rabbi Zuya wanted to discover the mysteries of life. He therefore resolved to imitate the life of Moses.

For years, he tried to behave like the prophet - without ever achieving the results he hoped for. One night, tired of so much study, he fell into a deep sleep.

God appeared in his dream:

"Why are you so upset, my son?" He asked.

"My days on Earth will end, and I am still so far from being like Moses," answered Zuya.

"If I needed another Moses, I'd have already created him," said God. "When you come before me for judgment, I will not ask whether you were a good Moses, but who you were. Try and be a good Zuya."  

I overheard this in the corridors of the affiliate/Internet Marketing fraternity: "Fake it until you make It". and frankly I simply cannot do that.

I love the work Ive chosen to do, I enjoy the people I work with, both on and off line. I have a very (overly) supportive family. I know that being upfront can be hurtful, but I observed its only for a time and when reality comes home I understand how helpful that 'little hurt' was. It actually turned out to be a help and not a hinderance!

Dear Potential Business Owner:

If you are like me, you've searched the Internet over and wasted lots of time and money with "get rich quick" businesses that turned out to be schemes. I've always wanted to start my own business that was LEGITIMATE and HONEST (and not a "pie in the sky" fairy tale). Well, I did it! I've officially started my own home business as an affiliate with SFI (Strong Future International). Here are some of the reasons why I decided to go with SFI:

* Their parent company has been around since 1985. 

* It's free to get started. 

* They're in over 190 countries worldwide. 

* You can do everything from home on your computer. 

* 24-hour support. 

* Free training and free Website. 

* They're growing rapidly and there's lots of money to be made.

There's nothing to lose and everything to gain here, including more time with your family and more money in your wallet. It's well worth looking at SFI and investing in your future with us. For more information, see www.sfi4.com/12392488/

A life which ends with death, is a life not well spent.

Dedicated to my friend and inspiration Angela Valadez for her humility and generosity. Congrats on being nominated FMOTD! God bless.

As a boy, Abin-Alsar overheard a conversation between his father and a dervish. "Careful with your work", said the dervish. "Think of what future generations will say about you." 

"So what?", replied his father, "When I die, everything shall end, and it will not matter what they say."

Abin-Alsar never forgot that conversation. His whole life, he made an effort to do good, to help people and go about his work with enthusiasm. He became well-known for his concern for others; when he died, he left behind a great number of things which improved the quality of life in his town. 

On his tombstone, he had the following epitaph engraved: "A life which ends with death, is a life not well spent."

My bet is that God isn’t going to ask us, “Have you been saved?” but “Have you been spent? And if so, on what?” — Margaret Si 

Dear Potential Business Owner:

If you are like me, you've searched the Internet over and wasted lots of time and money with "get rich quick" businesses that turned out to be schemes. I've always wanted to start my own business that was LEGITIMATE and HONEST (and not a "pie in the sky" fairy tale). Well, I did it! I've officially started my own home business as an affiliate with SFI (Strong Future International). Here are some of the reasons why I decided to go with SFI:

* Their parent company has been around since 1985. 

* It's free to get started. 

* They're in over 190 countries worldwide. 

* You can do everything from home on your computer. 

* 24-hour support. 

* Free training and free Website. 

* They're growing rapidly and there's lots of money to be made.

There's nothing to lose and everything to gain here, including more time with your family and more money in your wallet. It's well worth looking at SFI and investing in your future with us. For more information, see www.sfi4.com/12392488/

I am truly thankful and grateful for being part of such an amazing community of people all over the world. Through SFI, I am well on my way to earning an income that will allow me to retire soon. Thank you Gery and the entire SFI team for helping so many people across the world to become financially. 
A. Issack