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

I've had mixed results with the SFI Chat. The benefits are that you can communicate instantly with your affiliates provided they know what the bubble is for. For a new affiliate this provides instant credibility. If you can provide an instant answer to your affiliates, this also allows them to take action while the question is fresh in their mind.

The drawbacks I've encountered are I miss a lot of the chats while I'm doing other things and when I finally notice them the affiliate on the other end is gone. One other thing I've encountered is when I have multiple chats going they seem to get tangled up, so I'm never certain whether my replies are coming from or going to the right affiliate.
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I've had mixed results with the SFI Chat. The benefits are that you can communicate instantly with your affiliates provided they know what the bubble is for. For a new affiliate this provides instant credibility. If you can provide an instant answer to your affiliates, this also allows them to take action while the question is fresh in their mind.

The drawbacks I've encountered are I miss a lot of the chats while I'm doing other things and when I finally notice them the affiliate on
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

Click on the little yellow bubble and establish a connection with them. Just offer an informal welcome, but don't let that be a substitute for your normal welcome message.

Most new affiliates will probably never realize you are trying to start a chat with them, so don't be discouraged if they don't answer back.

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

This is a difficult question to answer, because I've never been a big fan of rating people. I would never rate myself a 5 because that would mean I couldn't get any better. I believe EVERYONE can do better. I would never rate myself lower than a 3, because I do at least the minimum of what I think everyone should do:

Minimum Action Plan (MAP)
1. Become and REMAIN an Executive Affiliate (EA)
2. Find 5 to join you
3. Teach them the same

So, I would give myself a 4 because I do feel I do the best I can even though I'm NEVER satisfied that I've done enough (time goes too fast).

Would my PSAs agree? Probably not, some rate me a 5 and others rate me a 1 along with 2s 3s and 4s.

There are 2 schools of thought when rating your sponsor:

1. Give them a low score and they'll work harder to make it higher
2. Give them a high score and they'll work harder to live up to it

I'm a strong believer in school #2... give it a shot, this is afterall a TEAM business. It's always better to work with your sponsor than against them.
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This is a difficult question to answer, because I've never been a big fan of rating people. I would never rate myself a 5 because that would mean I couldn't get any better. I believe EVERYONE can do better. I would never rate myself lower than a 3, because I do at least the minimum of what I think everyone should do:

Minimum Action Plan (MAP)
1. Become and REMAIN an Executive Affiliate (EA)
2. Find 5 to join you
3. Teach them the same

So, I would give myself
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

Accountability and transparency.

I always tell my affiliates to do what I do, Do what you want YOUR affiliates to do, and most importantly lead by example.

Our badges are good indication of what we are doing. Check out the badges of the top affiliates and duplicate what they are doing.

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

New affiliate or old affiliate whatever you're building the process is fairly similar.

A. Lay the GROUND WORK... For SFI this consists of Launch Pad, To-Do List, on going training

B. Set the FOUNDATION... For SFI this is what I call the Minimum Action Plan (MAP)

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

Now keep in mind this is the MINIMUM you want to do, you can always do more. If you fail to do this minimum, there is a good chance your structure WILL crumble. This is why so many affiliates find themselves back at square 1.

C. Build your STRUCTURE... With SFI Once your ground work is laid and your foundation is set, your TEAM will build your structure with very little effort on your part.


Now let's apply this to a very SIMPLE 30 YEAR PLAN:

A. Ground Work... Launch Pad, To-Do List, on going training

B. Foundation...
1. Become and remain an EA
2. Sponsor ONE EA each YEAR for the next FIVE years
3. Teach these FIVE the SAME.

C. Structure... If your team continues to duplicate your actions, you will have a structure capable of producing $10,000.00 + a month after 30 years


Next, let's re-engineer our 30 YEAR PLAN and accelerate it to a more realistic 30 MONTH PLAN:

A. Ground Work... Launch Pad, To-Do List, on going training

B. Foundation...
1. Become and remain an EA
2. Sponsor ONE EA each MONTH for the next FIVE MONTHS
3. Teach these FIVE the SAME.

C. Structure... If your team continues to duplicate your actions, you will have a structure capable of producing $10,000.00 + a month after 30 months


Finally, Let's again re-engineer our 30 MONTH PLAN to a less viable 30 DAY PLAN:

A. Ground Work... Launch Pad, To-Do List, on going training

B. Foundation...
1. Become and remain an EA
2. Sponsor ONE EA each DAY for the next FIVE DAYS
3. Teach these FIVE the SAME.

C. Structure... If your team continues to duplicate your actions, you will have a structure capable of producing $10,000.00 + a month after 30 days


It goes without saying, NO BUSINESS offers a GUARANTEED return. ALL businesses carry a certain degree of risk.
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New affiliate or old affiliate whatever you're building the process is fairly similar.

A. Lay the GROUND WORK... For SFI this consists of Launch Pad, To-Do List, on going training

B. Set the FOUNDATION... For SFI this is what I call the Minimum Action Plan (MAP)

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

Now keep in mind this is the MINIMUM you want to do, you can always do more. If you fail
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

The skeleton key to success

There is only one "key" to success with SFI that anyone needs. I've NEVER seen anyone fail who has possessed this key.

So, what is this skeleton key to success with SFI?

DON'T QUIT!

It's as simple as that. Commitment is the key... I'm referring to a true commitment, not I'll try it for a month or a year or 5 years.

Placing a timeline on success almost always results in a deadline for failure.

Here's a little experiment for you when you run across someone with a closed ended commitment... Mark your calender one-half the length of their commitment and I'll bet you that will be pretty close to the day they quit. If they say 1 year, odds are they will quit in 6 months. If they say they'll try it for a month, watch how many times they login after 2 weeks.

There isn't a door that can't be opened if you DON'T QUIT!
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The skeleton key to success

There is only one "key" to success with SFI that anyone needs. I've NEVER seen anyone fail who has possessed this key.

So, what is this skeleton key to success with SFI?

DON'T QUIT!

It's as simple as that. Commitment is the key... I'm referring to a true commitment, not I'll try it for a month or a year or 5 years.

Placing a timeline on success almost always results in a deadline for failure.

Here's
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

In my opinion, SFI offers more than enough incentives for new affiliates... Fast-track, E365, Daily Grand, even the introduction and training is incentive based with all the VP awarded.

I think any additional incentives you would offer should be commitment driven. Getting people focused on the LONG-TERM is where the money is made. The bottom line is... It doesn't matter one bit how great you do today, if you are gone tomorrow.

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

Whether you have a high budget, low budget or no budget... I still recommend following my SFI MAP.

Minimum Action Plan (MAP)

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

A map can be a wonderful tool, however it can also be virtually worthless without two KEY POINTS:

Where are you NOW? (Starting point)
Where are you going? (Destination)

Your budget goes a long way in determining your starting point. If your budget allows you to set up a standing order worth 1500 vp, do so...
this will take care of mile marker number one leaving you your full attention for mile markers two and three. If your budget is ZERO, the first thing
I would do is set the map aside and go through my finances and find a way to free up at least TWO DOLLARS a month to invest in my business.

Now that we have a starting point... Pick up your map... Will $2.00 a month budget get you to mile marker #1?

No, probably not... maybe 1 time but it won't be enough to keep you an EA continuously.

Because your budget is so small, you will need to bypass mile marker #1. NO, THIS IS NOT A SHORTCUT... you will still need to pass through EACH mile marker to reach your final destination with SFI. The vehicle you will be using because of your limited budget is a single T-Credit. Set up a standing order for 1 T-Credit and as you continue moving forward and you start picking up your 5 (mile marker #2) your income will begin to grow... every time your income grows, add it to your budget. When your budget reaches $4.00 increase your standing order to 2 T-Credits... then 3... 4... until you reach a 15 T-Credit standing order. Guess what? Once You reached 15, you passed through mile marker #1.

If you don't have your 5 yet, this is where you should focus next.

Give your 5 the MAP and it takes care of mile marker #3.

Once you pass through 1, 2 and 3, You should see your destination straight ahead.

CONGRATULATIONS you have arrived!

One pothole you should watch out for:

When you join SFI you become an entrepreneur, by definition an entrepreneur creates wealth... unfortunately, our mindset doesn't change with the click of a mouse. That lowly $2.00 budget we committed to in our example will help create wealth for SFI, your upline, your sponsor, yourself and your downline. The
temptation will be that when your income reaches $2.00 you will want to use that money to cover your budget or you will begin to obsess with points and decide you don't need those 102 points so you decide not to invest your $2.00 this month. If you do this, you will become the antagonist of the entrepreneur... a wealth taker instead of a wealth maker. When you Kill the momentum you created, you also slow your progress immensely.

Another point to remember is we are all starting from different points and heading in different directions, so the time it takes to get to our final destination will vary greatly. Follow the MAP and it will lead you to a profitable business... continue on this road and it will take you to your final destination.

Summation:

Determine your starting point by choosing a budget you are willing and able to INVEST in YOUR business EACH month. Follow through with this investment EACH and EVERY month just as you would with your phone bill, electric bill or cable bill.

Follow the MAP...

1. Become and REMAIN an Executive Affiliate (EA) as soon as you are able, if your budget don't permit this... get yourself on the T-Credit Plan.
2. Find 5 to join you
3. Teach them the same (Give them the MAP)

Finally, choose your destination... whether it be an income of $100.00, $1,000.00 or $10,000.00+ a month the MAP will take you there.

So, Whether you have a high budget, low budget or no budget... PICK UP YOUR MAP and START YOUR SFI JOURNEY!
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Whether you have a high budget, low budget or no budget... I still recommend following my SFI MAP.

Minimum Action Plan (MAP)

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

A map can be a wonderful tool, however it can also be virtually worthless without two KEY POINTS:

Where are you NOW? (Starting point)
Where are you going? (Destination)

Your budget goes a long way in determining
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Affiliate since: 11/27/2000, Power Rank: 6

How do you maintain EA status on a shoe string budget?

My view on this is as follows...

Until you have a $20.00 - $30.00 MONTHLY budget, Don't obsess with maintaining EA status. Instead your focus should be on bringing your business into profit.

Let's look at an example using a $2.00 monthly budget:

MAP Lite

1. IMMEDIATELY set up a standing order for 1 single T-Credit to get best pricing.
2. Find 5 to join you
3. Teach them the same

Now look what this VERY simple basic strategy brings you in regards to income:

Cost = $1.89 for 1 TCredit
Income = $3.05 ($.61 direct commission x 5 PSAs (each buying 1 Tcredit per the example you set))
PROFIT = $1.16 or over 60% ROI

Of course you will not want to settle for this small monthly profit, but you need to earn your first dollar BEFORE you get your first million.

Once your income allows you to increase your standing order to 2 TCredits, DO IT... continue until you have reached a 15 TCredit standing order. Now you are in position to "follow 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

This is how you build your SFI business for less than the cost of a pair of shoe strings. It is also a progressive strategy which if more people would follow would build the executive pool substantially verses the regressive strategy of searching for ways to get EA for free which only dilutes the executive pool.




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How do you maintain EA status on a shoe string budget?

My view on this is as follows...

Until you have a $20.00 - $30.00 MONTHLY budget, Don't obsess with maintaining EA status. Instead your focus should be on bringing your business into profit.

Let's look at an example using a $2.00 monthly budget:

MAP Lite

1. IMMEDIATELY set up a standing order for 1 single T-Credit to get best pricing.
2. Find 5 to join you
3. Teach them the
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