Treat 'em Right

Still reusing some old blog posts…I should have some new ones later this week or next week.

Posted by Rick Tompkins on January 20, 2013

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Today was the SendOutCards Treat ‘em Right Seminar, here at the Anaheim Marriott hotel. This is the 2nd TER that I’ve attended…the 1st was in San Diego in September.

Like San Diego, this TER was awesome. Again, CEO Kody Bateman was onstage most of the time and again the program included a lot of music. Kody writes and performs rap music and he not only has some videos that he plays, but he also has the whole audience learn the hook to one of his rap songs!

I don’t think there are very many CEO’s, outside of the music industry, that writes and performs rap music.

Here are a couple of the videos that he played.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQqtVobx1oI&feature=share&list=UUSE9Le8eWUbKqsK4-T_MS-g

This is a tribute to his mother. He says that his mom was able to make all of her friends think that they were her favorite, as well as her kids, but Kody says he was really her favorite. Just like my Grandma Loki, who passed away in October. She made all of her friends, kids and grandkids think that they were her favorite. I’ve had conversations with my sister and cousins…silly people, they think that they were her favorite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5kPwXihumM&feature=share&list=UUSE9Le8eWUbKqsK4-T_MS-g

This is one of the songs that Rushan and .Bizz performed live in San Diego in September.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5kPwXihumM&feature=share&list=UUSE9Le8eWUbKqsK4-T_MS-g

SendOutCards is going to be a billion dollar and beyond a year company, baby!

I’m getting up early in the morning to workout and then go hang out by the pool before I have to leave. Then I’m cruising up 101…it’s a longer drive but it’s more scenic and more relaxing than I-5.

My friend, Jessica, donated part of her liver to save her’mother’s life. Jessica is out of ICU and is now in critical care. Please pray for Jessica and her mom. I know I am!

An update to the blog post: I did lie out by the pool before I left and I did drive up Hwy 101. The Treat 'em Right seminars are being revamped and currently there are 2 Master Relationship Marketing seminars scheduled…the 1st one is this coming weekend in Salt Lake City and the next one is in Pittsburgh in 2 weeks. Since these are the first ones ever offered, the price is $49 for distributors and free for guests. These will be $1200 in the future. I would love to go to either of them, but the timing is just not right for me. A week or two later would be better.

For more on relationship marketing, check out this new blog by SendOutCards founder and CEO Kody Bateman.

Interesting days

Today - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/my-way-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/random-acts-of-kindness-day/ Maybe I'll buy the next person at Starbucks a coffee today. It was easier when I drove across the bridge everyday, just had to pay an extra $5 for the person behind me.

Tomorrow - A great way to begin and end the day: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/eat-ice-cream-for-breakfast-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/drink-wine-day/

Next Tuesday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/tortilla-chip-day/ I've already got mine! Just need some salsa to go with them

March 17 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/submarine-day/ It'd be a good day to tour the USS Pampanito I took a quick walk through it once. Danny actually spent a night aboard it when he was in the Boy Scouts

Stretch for the Irrational

From exactly 2 years ago! (And no, I didn't go looking for it…it's just the one that I selected)

Posted by Rick Tompkins on February 16, 2013

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A little law of attraction at work!

Yesterday I decided I was going to have a Pi Day party at my apartment and I received an email with a video called “Stretch for the Irrational”. Now, if you’re not a math geek you may not know that pi is an irrational number. That doesn’t mean that it acts irrationally (although that might be debatable), it means that it doesn’t reduce to a fraction (or ratio). A decimal number that can be expressed as a fraction (a rational number) must either terminate or repeat. That is .75 and .333 are rational because .75 terminates (it is equal to 3/4) and .333 repeats (and is equal to 1/3). Pi doesn’t terminate or repeat…it is equal to 3.14159 out to the 1st few decimal places, which makes it irrational. You can estimate pi with a fraction, such as 22/7, but you can never get an exact value of pi this way. (22/7 is equal to 3.14286…which differs from pi by .00127, which is pretty close for most normal people), but you can get fractions that are more and more accurate, like 355/113 and 103993/33102. You can go on forever, but you’ll never get an exact value.

And on a related (and still totally geeky) note:

American Pi

(http://www.livescience.com/22358-american-pi-us-population-hits-3-14-million.html)

“Math geeks everywhere observe Pi Day on March 14. But Aug. 14, 2012, is also a special day for the beloved and never-ending irrational number.

Just after 2:29 p.m. EDT today, the American population reached 314,159,265, or pi (3.14159265) times 100 million, according to the Census Bureau’s population clock.”

So, if any of you are still awake we’ll go on to talk about the video:

“You’ve got to stretch for the irrational.

You’ve got to stretch what you are doing and what you want, and make it completely irrational.

If you believe that something bigger is available to you, the universe cracks.”

-David Wood

See the video here: /blog/stretch-for-the-irrational/

I think the basic idea of the video is that if you stretch your mind to consider the irrational, the rational becomes easier to obtain.

An update to this blog post: This year I'm planning on spending Pi Day in LA at Casey Eberhart's Networking Riches event!

Interesting days

Today - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/almond-day/ Because sometimes you feel like a nut! 

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/do-a-grouch-a-favor-day/

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/random-acts-of-kindness-day/ Looks like we missed Random Acts of Kindness Week, but let's do something kind today! And on a bit of an opposite note, it's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/my-way-day/

Next Monday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/curling-is-cool-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/play-tennis-day/ I haven't played tennis in years and I've never curled. Which should I do? One involves being out in the freezing cold and one involves wearing shorts. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/banana-bread-day/ A Banana Day related Facebook post. And let's not forget our furry pals: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-dog-biscuit-appreciation-day/

March 16 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/lips-appreciation-day/!

Interesting days - Part 2

Today - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/singles-awareness-day/ Count me in! Yesterday we celebrated the largest mammal, today we celebrate the 3rd largest...https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/hippo-day/ The elephant doesn't get its day until September (https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/elephant-appreciation-day/) And lastly https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/gumdrop-day/ a very tasty day!

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/do-a-grouch-a-favor-day/ Please do me a favor and get me some almonds

Next Sunday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/be-humble-day/ I try, but it's hard to be humble. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cook-a-sweet-potato-day/ The recipe for fries and dip sounds pretty good. One of my favorites...https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/margarita-day/

March 15 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/true-confessions-day/ Truth or dare? Beware the Ides of March...https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/brutus-day/ Et tu Brute? And let's not forget https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/quilting-day/

Interesting days

Today - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-whale-day/ And https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pet-theft-awareness-day/ Also, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-book-giving-day/ Give a book to the library since it's Library Lover's Month. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/ferris-wheel-day/ I'm nowhere near an amusement park today, although I will pass by one on the way home tomorrow.  Last, and definitely not least, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cream-filled-chocolates-day/.

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/hippo-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/gumdrop-day/ Here's my good buddy, Barney the Dinosaur, singing about them. Let's not forget https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/singles-awareness-day/

Next Saturday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/sticky-bun-day/ No, I won't go there

March 14 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-ask-a-question-day/ What would your question be? https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/pi-day/ This will be the Pi Day of the century! Why? Because 3.141592653 or 3/14/15 9:26:53 (AM and PM!) I'm planning on being in LA on that day. And it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/potato-chip-day/

Random musings

Even two years ago I liked this title!

Posted by Rick Tompkins on April 07, 2013

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That means I have no idea what I’m going to write about!

I just got home from visiting with the soon to be ex-wife and ex-kids. Just kidding (somewhat) about the kids. But they’re older and starting to lead their own lives, even though they’re still living with Mom. I did get to talk to Danny today and we did have dinner last week at Buffalo Wild Wings. Nick was asleep. He’s trying to become a professional gamer. I don’t remember what game it is, but he has a full time work schedule that he devotes to it. And he’s studying it when he’s not playing, which is good in a way because he hates to read.

I was in Fresno yesterday and Friday. I saw my cuzuncle, Ron, and his girlfriend, Melanie, for dinner on Friday. Ron grilled some filets and we had some garlic mashed potatoes and salad. They also had asparagus, but I conveniently “forgot” to have some. If you don’t know what a cuzuncle is, then you’re probably not from WV or TN. I figured out that I’m my own step 2nd cousin! That reminds me of a joke my mom told me. A young Tennessee woman was crying to her mother when she found out that her marriage wasn’t working out “Momma”, she sobbed, “If Billy Bob and I get divorced, does that mean we won’t be brother and sister anymore?”

Ok…sorry about that. But on Saturday we had an excellent SendOutCards meeting in Fresno, which is the real reason I went to Fresno. The fact that Ron and Melanie were about 2 miles away was an added bonus.

We had some excellent training Saturday morning from David Frey, who is the 4th highest money earner in the company and he presented us with some really good ideas about generating business.

David was supposed to be with us in Fresno, but he missed his flight out of Houston. So he presented it as a webinar, which was also really good, thanks especially to the herculean efforts of our host, Mary Swarts, to get all of the A/V working.

After the morning training from 9:00 until noon, we had a box lunch from Chick-Fil-A, which was the first time I’ve had it. I’ve seen them a few million times in the mall, but never partook of their wares. It was actually pretty good. After lunch there was an Opportunuty Meeting put on by Gary Washburn and Marie Ferreira. Gary hosted Super Dave and Lori Smith in Folsom last month as part of Super Dave and Lori’s SendOutCard Road Tour. After that was some Basic Training by Mary Swarts, but my passenger, Bobbette Grasty and I had already attended so we left right after the Opportunity Meeting.

The drive home was nice. Bobbette is really nice and she has an infectious energy about her. I was even getting excited by all of the great thing she wants to do to put the Bay Area SOC Family on the map. I can’t wait Bobbette!

I met lots of really great people there besides those that I mentioned. One more that I want to point out is Michelle Ineson. Michelle lives in San Ramon, which is only about 10 miles from here. I think Michelle, Bobbette and I might all carpool to Gary’s next SOC Gathering in Rancho Cordova coming up on the 18th!

OK. I guess that’s enough rambling for tonight.

An update to this post: I guess Nick has given up on becoming a professional gamer. He's now working along with Danny delivering pizza for Round Table in Fairfield. He's also studying criminology in college.

Interesting days

Today - Happy Friday the 13th! It's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/get-a-different-name-day/. And https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/radio-day/ Don't forget to listen today. Also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/blame-someone-else-day/ It doesn't matter what the problem is as long as you can blame somebody for it. 

Tomorrow - I hear that there's some big holiday on this day. Something about cards, flowers and candy. But more importantly it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/ferris-wheel-day/ I wonder if any of the local amusement parks are open. And even more importantly it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cream-filled-chocolates-day/. And https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-book-giving-day/ Share a book today!

Next Friday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/love-your-pet-day/ Awwwww. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/handcuff-day/ Hmmmmm. And https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/cherry-pie-day/ Although I'm not much of a pie guy…but I am a pi guy

March 13 - Another Friday the 13th! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/open-an-umbrella-indoors-day/ Talk about inviting bad luck! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/digital-learning-day/ I remember having to go to the library and actually going through books and magazines looking for stuff.  And https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/ken-day/ Yes, that Ken. He's 2 years younger than Barbie who celebrated her 56th birthday 4 days ago. Finally it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/coconut-torte-day/ Whatever that is…but it has coconut!

The other 70%

Posted by Rick Tompkins on February 18, 2013

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Approximately 70% of the network marketing industry is made up of women according to today’s interestingly entitled blog from Empower Network “Scheming in Urinals While Dissecting the Secrets that Motivate Women”.

What’s interesting is that everybody in my SendOutCards upline is male…my sponsor, his sponsor, etc. up 5 levels above me. So, where is the other 70%? How do I meet them? How do I interest women in how to take charge of their lives? How do I show them that network marketing is the answer to the question “How can I make money to help support, or in the cases of many woman totally support, my family while still having time to spend with my kids and/or spouse? Where can I go to be taken seriously?” The answer, in my opinion, is network marketing. Someplace where 70% of the work force is facing the same challenges and where many of them have succeeded beyond their wildest imaginations.

According to the EN video men want to know about how to make money in the business, and yes that’s part of what I want from SendOutCards, but what I like about SOC is that the primary purpose is helping people keep in contact with one another. Two years ago it was a 3 week ordeal to send a birthday card to a friend, but in the past 11 months I’ve sent out 323 greeting cards to friends and family…that’s an average of about 1 card a day. I’ve sent birthday cards, and anniversary cards, and thank you cards and nice to meet you cards. That’s what SOC is about…letting people know that you’re thinking about them and that they’re an important part of your life. And it’s something that I’m glad I’m doing whether I make money at it or not!

So, if you’re a part of the other 70% and you want to get started in a business that will support what’s important to you then please contact me and we can discuss how SendOutCards may help meet your needs. If you’re part of the 30% that want to know how to make some money you can also contact me. But either way, you’re invited to try it out, totally for free and with no strings attached by going to www.sendoutcards.com/144087.

Updates to this blog post: I posted this originally right before I signed up my 1st distributor Linda Arrowwood!

In 35 months I've sent 841 cards, or 24 per month…not quite one a day, but about 6 per week.

Interesting days

Today - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/darwin-day/. And https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/lost-penny-day/ They've changed the picture to a penny! Plus it's https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/plum-pudding-day/

Tomorrow - Besides being Friday the 13th, it's also https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/blame-someone-else-day/ It's never my fault! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/get-a-different-name-day/ What will you pick? And https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/radio-day/ Who killed the radio star?

Next Friday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/chocolate-mint-day/ One of my two favorite ice creams!

March 12 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/girl-scout-day/ What's your favorite kind of cookie?

Why network marketing?

Posted by Unknown on February 24, 2013

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I know network marketing is a bad word to some of you (ok, it’s two words…but it’s my blog! If you don’t like it, you can get your own blog by clicking on the photo above or to the right), but it’s a very viable and potentially lucrative business model. used by such companies as Avon, Amway (of course), Pampered Chef, Scentsy, Beachbody, ViSalus, Nu Skin,  Vector Marketing, Xango, Legal Shield, etc. I’m sure you’ve heard of some of these businesses and maybe even bought their products. The people in these business aren’t evil…my Mom sold Avon, I was in Beachbody for a while, my son Danny was in Vector Marketing for a while (Cutco Knives!), I have friends in ViSalus, Nu Skin, Legal Shield and Xango. These are all good, honest people looking at an alternative means of being in business for themselves.

But isn’t network marketing or multi-level marketing (MLM) as it used to be called, an illegal pyramid scheme? No, it’s not illegal, it’s regulated as is any other industry. But what about being a pyramid? Don’t the people at the top of the pyramid make all of the money? Yes, this is true. But isn’t the corporate structure a pyramid? The CEO is at the top…he makes millions or tens of millions of dollars a year, while most of us are at the bottom making a little bit of money. In a corporation there is only one CEO, but in a network marketing company you are at the top of your own pyramid.

In network marketing, you’re not taking advantage of the people below you, but you help them grow because how much money you make is directly proportional to how much money those below you make.

Types of income:

There are several types of income: linear, passive and residual are chief among them.

We’re all familiar with linear income, that’s what most of us make. You work and you get paid, don’t work…don’t get paid. Passive and residual are a little different so I’ve copied some definitions from http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.com/archives/022305.htm

———————————————————–

- Residual Income

Recurring payments that you receive long after the initial sale is made, usually in specific amounts and at regular intervals.

- Passive Income

“Income derived from business investments in which the individual is not actively involved”

Passive basically means “inactive” or “submissive”, so Passive Income could be viewed as money that you make that doesn’t require an effort from you.

———————————————————–

From those definitions, it’s obvious that Residual Income is also considered Passive Income. Once you make the initial sale, your residual income can be considered passive. In most cases, you do not have to “work”, or make additional sales, in order to continue to reap the profits.

But network marketing provides leveraged residual income, you make money from your own efforts, which creates residual income, but you also receive passive, residual income from those below you.

“I would rather have one percent

of 100 people’s efforts than 100

percent of my own.”

— Andrew Carnegie

But isn’t network marketing a get rich scheme? Not if it’s presented properly. There is something in network marketing called the 1-3-5-7 year plan:

When setting expectations use the 1-3-5-7 formula when talking to the newest member.

• It will take you one year to be functional and profitable. Rich in a year? NO! Functional and profitable YES! There’s an occasional exception to the rule.
• It is going to take you three years part-time, 10 to 15 hours a week, committed, working hard to make a full-time income. Three years on average!
• About five years to become a high-end income earner.
• It will take you about seven years to become financially free creating a high 6 figure to 7 figure residual income.

from http://www.tylerandmimiford.com/setting-expectations-upfront-is-network-marketing-formula/

There is also a book on network marketing called “The Four Year Career” which parallels the above timeline. The book, in a special SendOutCards edition, is available fromhttp://www.eagleonepublishing.com/ or www.sendoutcards.com/gifts.

So, I’m in network markeing for the long haul. If you want to join me in my journey you can post a comment to my blog or go to www.sendoutcards.com/144087 or /almostasecret.php?id=ricktompkins.

Warning! I may resurrect my series on particle physics!

Interesting days

Today - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/get-out-your-guitar-day/ While my guitars gently weep (since I'm not there to play them). https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/peppermint-patty-day/ Yum! Also, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/satisfied-staying-single-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/make-a-friend-day/

Tomorrow - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/darwin-day/, https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/plum-pudding-day/ and https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/lost-penny-day/

Next Wednesday - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/drink-wine-day/ I know a few people who would like to celebrate this everyday! And I'm sure a few of you will get a charge out of https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/battery-day/

March 11 - https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/no-smoking-day/ I started smoking when I was 3 years old. I quit about 1 1/2 seconds later! https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/world-plumbing-day/ Give an extra flush in recognition. https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/oatmeal-nut-waffles-day/ Sounds tasty. And https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/registered-dietitian-day/ I don't know if I have any reading my blog!