Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

I recently did a survey of my team, and the biggest challenge they face is money. So, from that I would say a gift certificate would be most effective.

More importantly though, than rewarding your affiliates is to dispel the misconception that you need to be an Executive Affiliate (EA) to have a profitable business. This misconception chases more affiliates away than anything else. A gift certificate will only delay the problem if you don't educate your affiliate on how to build a profitable SFI business.

Building a profitable SFI business isn't as difficult as it seems, it's actually rather easy if you break it down to the basics.

The Basics again which I call the Minimum Action Plan (MAP) are:

1. Become and remain an Executive Affiliate (EA)
2. Find 5 to join you
3. Teach them the same

The lack of money is what eventually does away with most affiliates because they don't realize they can still make money without being an EA. DON'T get me wrong, It's still VERY important to maintain your EA status. The point is if you can't, you need to work with what you have to get to where you want to be.

A simple rule of thumb is if you can find 5 people to do what you are doing (provided you are contributing to SFI's revenue)... you will be in profit.

If you only have $2.00 to put towards 1 TCredit each month and find 5 more to do the same... your business is in profit. From there you build until you ARE able to reach EA EVERY month.

If EVERYONE would get on a PROFIT PLAN and build to the Minimum Action Plan, we would ALL make lots more money.

Again, develop a profit plan by working with what you have... If it's $2.00, buy 1 TCredit... If it's $4.00, buy 2 TCredits... continue on your PROFIT PLAN until you reach $30.00 each month and are able to work the MAP.

Work with what you have to get to where you want to be!
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I recently did a survey of my team, and the biggest challenge they face is money. So, from that I would say a gift certificate would be most effective.

More importantly though, than rewarding your affiliates is to dispel the misconception that you need to be an Executive Affiliate (EA) to have a profitable business. This misconception chases more affiliates away than anything else. A gift certificate will only delay the problem if you don't educate your affiliate on how to build a profitable
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

Don't over complicate it, just give them the MAP:

Minimum Action Plan (MAP)

1. Become and remain an Executive Affiliate (EA)
2. Find 5 to join you
3. Teach them the same

Back in 2005, I called it my "Green Thumb Approach"... but still the same 3 steps.

Here's an excerpt from one of my 2005 training pages for those who try to make SFI into rocket science when it is really only 1st grade science:

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The green thumb approach... My way. The simplest way!

It reminds me of when I was in 1st grade. We were each given a styrofoam cup, a handful of dirt, a bean seed and some water. With no knowledge of photosynthesis, the reproductive properties of the bean, soil to seed ratio or any of the details why... 30 six-year olds managed to GROW a bean!

SFI isn't much different... you have all the tools, just put it together and LET IT HAPPEN!

What would the the results have been if my 1st grade class were given too many choices. Would a flower pot be better than a styrofoam cup? Plastic or clay? Green, white or red? What kind of soil? Sand, silt, clay or loam? Hybrid seed or heirloom? Green bean, wax bean, pinto bean or maybe a lima bean? Rain water... tap water... Evian?

Imagine how quickly they would have lost interest, if they were bombarded with all these decisions. The FUN would quickly have faded. How many would have remained focused? How many would have just grown bored, distracted or simply quit?

Whether you are 6 years old trying to grow a bean or 60 years old trying to grow your business, if you bog yourself down with the details... you will lose focus on the basics.

The green thumb approach is about the basics... be it bean or business... focus on the basics and it will GROW...
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Don't over complicate it, just give them the MAP:

Minimum Action Plan (MAP)

1. Become and remain an Executive Affiliate (EA)
2. Find 5 to join you
3. Teach them the same

Back in 2005, I called it my "Green Thumb Approach"... but still the same 3 steps.

Here's an excerpt from one of my 2005 training pages for those who try to make SFI into rocket science when it is really only 1st grade science:

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The green
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

I think the real question here is WHY do you want to be a BTL? Do you just want the title and recognition? If so, there are lots of different ways to shortcut your way to BTL. If however, you are looking to make some SERIOUS money as a BTL... the way to do it is BUILD A TEAM!

If you promote yourself to BTL by building a successful team, there will NEVER be the issue of how do I maintain it.

It's human nature to want to start at the top, but when we do this we never experience the proper steps to get there. Without setting this initial foundation, we will always be struggling just to maintain. Lay the proper foundation and you will find yourself excelling without effort.

Follow the money as indicated on the comp plan: http://www.sfimg.com/Reference/CompPlan

Don't get ahead of yourself... We ALL start at the rank of affiliate. Look at the income streams available to an "affiliate", primarily #1. Direct Commissions. Note that this commission stream is EQUAL whether you are an "affiliate, a BTL or even a PTL. Focus on Income stream #1 and you will find yourself seemlessly advancing to EA and beyond as you teach your new affiliates the same.
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I think the real question here is WHY do you want to be a BTL? Do you just want the title and recognition? If so, there are lots of different ways to shortcut your way to BTL. If however, you are looking to make some SERIOUS money as a BTL... the way to do it is BUILD A TEAM!

If you promote yourself to BTL by building a successful team, there will NEVER be the issue of how do I maintain it.

It's human nature to want to start at the top, but when we do this we never experience
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

Bid to win, but expect to lose. Always remember, there is only ONE winner and an unlimited number of losers.

My best tip is to participate in the auctions... whether it be as an active bidder or a silent observer. This is the ONLY way you will learn what you need to know to WIN consistently. This can consume a lot of your time, so weigh that into the cost of winning.

You're going to read a lot of EXCELLENT strategies... My tip here is DO NOT LOCK-IN to any particular strategy!!! If you do this, you become PREDICTABLE. Once you become predictable, you become BEATABLE.

A good strategy can work for you, but it can work equally as well against you.

The bottom line is, penny auctions are a game of chance and LUCK plays a large role.

Win or lose, have FUN!!!
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Bid to win, but expect to lose. Always remember, there is only ONE winner and an unlimited number of losers.

My best tip is to participate in the auctions... whether it be as an active bidder or a silent observer. This is the ONLY way you will learn what you need to know to WIN consistently. This can consume a lot of your time, so weigh that into the cost of winning.

You're going to read a lot of EXCELLENT strategies... My tip here is DO NOT LOCK-IN to any particular strategy!!!
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

I think it depends on the response you want.

I started my "EA 4 a year" quarterly contest about 3 years ago to try and encourage a longer term commitment from my team. Too many people quit too soon without giving their business time to develop.

The way the contest works is you earn 1 entry for each month of the quarter you are an EA (up to 3 per quarter). The prize is $30.00 (GC) a month for the next 12 months (if you fail to reach EA remaining months are forfeited).

The message I'm trying to send by having the drawing quarterly and the payout over a year is that it takes time and I'm going to be here with you whether you like it or not. ;-)

Another Contest I have is our yearly Progressive Jackpot... which builds up over the year, currently $236.17. Again, to encourage commitment one entry each month you are EA during the year.

Another contest that I had good results with was a $10.00 prize drawing for taking a survey. This provided me with some feedback from my team giving me a few ideas where they need some help in achieving their goals.

One of the questions on the survey was:

How long are you willing to commit to making your business work?

Over 93% chose an answer of more than a year (which indicates my first two contests might be working)

One more point is I like to offer the contests to all my generations below me, so they can piggyback on my contests by offering them to their PSAs as well.
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I think it depends on the response you want.

I started my "EA 4 a year" quarterly contest about 3 years ago to try and encourage a longer term commitment from my team. Too many people quit too soon without giving their business time to develop.

The way the contest works is you earn 1 entry for each month of the quarter you are an EA (up to 3 per quarter). The prize is $30.00 (GC) a month for the next 12 months (if you fail to reach EA remaining months are forfeited).
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

What makes SFI better than other Internet-based income opportunities?

It's PROVEN track record... I've been an SFI affiliate for 12 years next month, and the fact that SFI is still here is enough to prove to me it's the best.

I place little value on a business with a short-term vision. It takes time to build a business and if you can't trust it to be there in the future, even if it pays off initially, you will never make any serious money.

SFI affiliates are partners with SFI, unlike many other "opportunities" where you are treated as if you need them rather than they need you.

Most other income opportunities are very rigid and unwilling to change they also cater to their heavy hitters and ignore their bread and butter beginners. SFI on the other hand is extremely committed to helping their beginners succeed and always welcomes suggestions on improving the SFI program.

But for me...

the thing that makes SFI the BEST are the people... I've never met a better group of people than I have since joining SFI... strong work ethic, always willing to help each other and an incredible set of values.

So, that's what I think makes SFI the best.

Anybody have any ideas on how to make SFI better?
http://www.sfimg.com/Input/Suggestions
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What makes SFI better than other Internet-based income opportunities?

It's PROVEN track record... I've been an SFI affiliate for 12 years next month, and the fact that SFI is still here is enough to prove to me it's the best.

I place little value on a business with a short-term vision. It takes time to build a business and if you can't trust it to be there in the future, even if it pays off initially, you will never make any serious money.

SFI affiliates are partners
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

TripleClick gift cards (http://www.tripleclicks.com/detail.php?item=173941) are perfect to combat this fear. There is ZERO RISK of overselling, because there is no selling... just hand them a card and tell them to check it out!

SFI e-cards are another passive approach which has no cost for those on a tight budget.
X-Cards are another affordable option.

All three of these options are relatively passive and shouldn't give the impression of overselling.

Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

I joined SFI in November 2000, because I was looking for a way to earn extra income so I could continue farming. Throughout that winter, I spent my time trying to sell stuff and trying to mimic the marketing gurus. By the spring of 2001, I realized I was no salesman and no marketing guru... but more importantly, I didn't want to be. I was a farmer and farmers don't sell stuff... they GROW stuff!

That was my turning point... It was at that point I realized that SFI wasn't really that much different than farming. I Knew I could take a handful of corn and turn it into a bushel and that bushel into 300 bushels and that 300 bushel into 90,000 bushel. SFI works on the same principle, find 5 and turn them into 25... take those 25 and generate 125... turn those 125 into 625... 3125... 15,625...

That spring I only planted 28 acres and over the years gradually cut down even further... 18... 12... 8... 6... this past year I only planted 3/4 of an acre.

So, over the past 12 years this is how I transitioned from my farm business and SFI hobby to my SFI business and my hobby farm.
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I joined SFI in November 2000, because I was looking for a way to earn extra income so I could continue farming. Throughout that winter, I spent my time trying to sell stuff and trying to mimic the marketing gurus. By the spring of 2001, I realized I was no salesman and no marketing guru... but more importantly, I didn't want to be. I was a farmer and farmers don't sell stuff... they GROW stuff!

That was my turning point... It was at that point I realized that SFI wasn't really that
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

This may sound obvious, but the next step is to build a team. There is little benefit to being a team leader without a team.

Start with the training found here:
http://www.sfimg.com/Training/SponsoringTraining

Next, utilize as many of the methods found here as you can:
http://www.sfimg.com/Resources/Marketing/StandardSponsoringMethods

Always remember... this is a TEAM business. There is no need to do EVERYTHING alone. Build your team and becoming a team leader is just part of
the natural progression.

All anyone needs to remember is the MAP:

Minimum Action Plan (MAP)

1. BECOME and REMAIN an Executive Affiliate (EA)
2. Find 5 to join you
3. Teach them the same

You can always do more, but this is the least you should do if you are looking for LONG-TERM success.
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This may sound obvious, but the next step is to build a team. There is little benefit to being a team leader without a team.

Start with the training found here:
http://www.sfimg.com/Training/SponsoringTraining

Next, utilize as many of the methods found here as you can:
http://www.sfimg.com/Resources/Marketing/StandardSponsoringMethods

Always remember... this is a TEAM business. There is no need to do EVERYTHING alone. Build your team and becoming a team
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

First consider your PERFECT customer...

You know their likes and dislikes
you know their wants and needs
you know what they're able to spend and what they're willing to spend
you know their favorite color, food, size, hobbies, family and other interests.

That perfect customer is yourself... If you can't sell to yourself, you will NEVER be able to sell consistently to ANYONE else.

BEFORE you worry about selling though, you first want to lay the foundation of your business.

Your foundation is like I've said many times...

Minimum Action Plan (MAP)

1. BECOME and REMAIN an Executive Affiliate (EA)
2. Find 5 to join you
3. Teach them the same

Step 1 is easy IF you can sell to your perfect customer

For step 2, again look to your PERFECT customer...

WHEN you're financially free, who do you want to spend your time with... send these people an SFI ecard. Start working together with these people so you reach your financial freedom day together.

Next, using the beginner methods found here: (http://www.sfimg.com/Resources/Marketing/StandardSponsoringMethods), target the areas where the following demographics hang out:

work at home moms & dads, baby boomers, college students, military men and women, farmers, unemployed

Step 3, again this one's easy... just give them the MAP.

Remember, SFI is NOT about making tons of sales or sponsoring tons of affiliates. SFI IS about TEAMWORK! A team is successful when EACH team member plays their position to the best of their ability.
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First consider your PERFECT customer...

You know their likes and dislikes
you know their wants and needs
you know what they're able to spend and what they're willing to spend
you know their favorite color, food, size, hobbies, family and other interests.

That perfect customer is yourself... If you can't sell to yourself, you will NEVER be able to sell consistently to ANYONE else.

BEFORE you worry about selling though, you first want to lay the foundation
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