Following on from my post on Life after 60, I realised that I did not include urgency or motivation.

Urgency because unlike how we felt in our 20’s or 30’s when we had our whole lives stretching infinitely in front of us, at 60 there is a gnawing certainty that we have used up between two thirds and three quarters of our lives.

Certainly for me, there is a growing realisation that each day is a precious gift to be used wisely and fully. I can not afford to take a 30 year view of my future, can not put off things I need to do.

So from the enhanced sense of urgency comes huge motivation to get moving, build my business, meet new people, learn new skills, visit more places.

For many Baby Boomers, there is the sudden realisation that looming retirement is going to drastically affect incomes and lifestyles. The current economic climate has removed many of the options for part time employment that previous generations enjoyed. One of the few solutions for many of us is to start a business from home.

With the advantages our generation has, Network and Internet Marketing can be the best solution for us to maintain our lifestyles, and build financial security.

Lastly, for me, there is also the motivation to take better care of my body, to make it last as long as possible and to function as well as it should.

I have found a product that helps maintain good health improve the effect of anti-oxidants, enhance the immune system and increase performance.

Whether you are an athlete or sports person looking for better performance, or just want to give your body all the help it needs, check out this website. Asea

I am a distributor for Asea so I do get a commission on product sales, contact me if you would like to find out how Asea can help you.

Wishing you success in all your endeavours.

Last week I hit the big 60 and I am still here, still firing on all cylinders, still expecting to carry on for many years yet.

Obviously reaching this milestone in life is cause for reflection, it’s a milestone that millions of people never reach. It’s an age that a couple of generations ago, even in western societies  was considered old, ancient, past- it , over-the-hill or other less polite terms. It’s an age that is nearly double the current life expectancy for men in my previous country Zimbabwe.

So, my first reflection is one of gratitude, I am truly grateful that I have reached 60 with my health, eyesight , hearing and mental faculties largely intact.

I am also grateful for the interesting life I have been fortunate to experience, all the ups-and-downs, dangerous and heart stopping moments, periods of exhilaration (mainly on the back of a horse). For the interesting and remote places I have visited and the amazing people I have had the privilege to encounter.

Grateful too for my family, my children and grandchildren and good friends who have been there in joy and sorrow, crisis and quiet times. All the horses, dogs, cats and other animals that have been an important part of my life.

Above all grateful for the experiences that 60 years of living in interesting times, in several countries on three continents, pursuing different careers and operating varied businesses have provided.

Which brings me to why I believe that there is life after 60 for Entrepreneurs, Network and Internet Marketers.

Just a few of the advantages we have over our children’s generation:

Most of us completed our schooling without the aid of computers, calculators, copiers, the Internet or cell phones. This forced us to become good at mental arithmetic and to think before committing anything to paper – no invisible erase / delete facility with pen and paper.

There were less opportunities for organised entertainment, we had to amuse ourselves which led to some amazing creativity. Conversation as an art form was still practiced, children were expected to be articulate. Reading – text books, novels, newspapers and magazines – was required.

Stricter parents, more discipline in schools, breaking the rules invoked consequences, sometimes painful.

Less political correctness, not having to worry about the appropriateness of everything. Rules were clear,  predictable and generally common sense.

Less tolerance for excuses, less counselling for perceived issues. Unless you had a serious problem which really did require treatment, you just got on with it.

Much less government, parents parented, teachers taught, doctors doctored. Kids had fun, sometimes misbehaved and got punished but life went on without having to answer to bureaucrats or constantly wonder if we were “allowed” to do this or that, say this or that.

Many of our generation had chores to do at home either around the house or for farm kids on the farm. Yes, I know that many children today also have chores or duties to do, but many others seem to get out of this self-discipline building exercise.

National Service / Conscription, many men and some women of our generation were subject to mandatory service in the military or other government organisation. As dangerous and unpleasant as it may have been, providing one survived the experience , it gave many people some valuable life lessons. Resilience, perseverance, awareness, leadership and endurance are a few that come to mind.

Respect was taught and expected, boys and men were expected to be polite and respectful towards all women. Respect for other people’s property was required.

Risk taking was considered part of growing up and part of life, we rode bicycles and horses without helmets, climbed trees, swam in ponds and got into many scrapes. Yes kids got hurt and tragically some died but with all the precautions and safety legislation  today, there are still tragic accidents. Life is a risk and accidents do happen.

Responsibility was expected, I was expected to catch, saddle up, groom and ride my horse unsupervised from age 8, taught to handle a gun responsibly and drive a tractor at 12, a truck at 13. Responsible gun handling, driving and care of animals have stayed with me all my life.

One last thought, most of us are, or soon will be, “empty-nesters” no children at home, some of us are retired or soon will be, so we have more of that most precious commodity of all – time. The biggest complaint I hear from new Internet marketers is ” There is just not enough time in the day”.

I am sure many of you can think of more advantages us older people have. Drop me a comment, I’d like to hear your thoughts. I would also like to hear from my younger readers on the advantages of youth. 

So all my fellow baby boomers, we do have many things from the “old days” that can be huge advantages for us in the new post-Internet age.

Check out my Peter Recommends and Work with our winning team pages for ideas on how you can use your time to make your 60 + years more enjoyable and rewarding.

Wishing you success in all your endeavours.

Are North Americans “normal” or are we “weird” and the rest of the world “normal”?

An article by Adam McDowell in the Saturday 21 August edition of National Post explores this question. A team of researchers from the University of British Columbia argues that people from Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic (WEIRD) societies think differently from the other 88% of the world’s population.

Their findings have been published in the journal Brain and Behavioural Sciences and are based in part on the results of people from different cultures playing the “Ultimatum Game”. In this game a person is asked how much of $100 he would offer another person if the rules stated that he would only get to keep his share if the other person accepted the offer. If the offer was rejected, neither person would benefit.

Some of the other findings in the study have implications for marketers operating internationally, the different cultural views on fairness for example, could mean that compensation packages or profit margins that appear reasonable to us may be unattractive to others.

To read the full article, go to National Post.

Wishing you success in all your endeavours.

Recently, the question of why the development of Internet and Network Marketing skills seems to proceed in fits and starts for many people has come up in discussions.

I have been asked why sometimes we make good progress and get results, then experience periods of difficulty when things slow down. Or put another way, reaching a plateau and then becoming frustrated because it takes time to move to the next level.

Perhaps this is the natural order of things. Like the ebb and flow of the tide, the different rythm of nature through the seasons, rapid growth in spring, maturity in summer, slowing down in autumn or fall and dormancy in winter.

There are parallels in sports, two examples from my life would be learning to windsurf and marathon running.

Being a poor swimmer and therefore more nervous than most windsurfing novices, it took all of my first day just to remain upright long enough to sail a couple of hundred feet in a light breeze. It then took several more hours to learn to tack. Shortly after that I could sail out from the lake shore and return in a moderate breeze, I thought I was making good progress until I tried sailing in a stronger wind, then it was back to the basics until I could manage that wind strength.

Feeling competent in a fairly good wind, I then tried sailing in the ocean. Stronger winds, bigger waves and currents were a whole new challenge to be mastered.

So while we may experience frustration at the irregular progress we make in our businesses at times, we need to remember that periods of consolidation are necessary for us to really learn new skills and master them under different conditions. Only then can we advance to the next level.

Some times we can move quickly from one plateau to the next, sometimes it takes longer.

That’s life.

Wishing you success in all your endeavours.

I subscribe to a Sandy Abell’s very good newsletter “Focusing on Your Success” and her daily “Inside Insights” questions that get you thinking in new ways about your business.
I strongly recommend you take a look at both of these (they are free) on her “Inside Jobs Coaching Company” website.

In the May issue, she asked the question “Is Common Courtesy Still Common?”

Sandy has noticed that things such as returning phone calls, replying to invitations with an RSVP and acknowlwdging gifts seem to be lacking.

Her question got me thinking, evidence of a lack of courtesy in every day life is noticeable. Just one example; recently I saw a man in his early 20’s open the door of a bank, walk through and then let the door swing shut right in the face of his female companion. (They got out of the same vehicle so they were together)

Perhaps they were having some sort of “domestic situation”, it doesn’t matter, bad manners are inexcusable.

Then I thought about why some marketing emails, sales letters and particularly, sales phone calls irritate me so much. Being in a marketing business myself, and being active on-line, I accept that I will receive hundreds of sales messages. Despite autoresponder opt-in requirements, I still get many unsolicited emails.

This is something of a generational thing, what I as a baby boomer find un-courteous, my son in his 30’s may not. But its worth considering if you are marketing to seniors and baby boomers.

What is one of the key factors for me, in deciding to read or delete an email? Why do I stop some tele-sales people immediately but let others go through their pitch before letting them down gently? Why do I refuse to listen to any recorded call if I have not first been asked by a “live” person if I am willing to listen to it?

One of the key factors is certainly courtesy, if I feel that the approach is not courteous and respecting me as a person, that is a complete turn off. That is probably why I have an intense dislike for recorded calls and do not use them in my marketing.

So what about you, do you get tuned off by un-courteous approaches?

What about your marketing? Do all your messages pass the courtesy test?

Wishing you success in all your endeavours.

Two major events in the last few weeks, one with the potential to trigger a nuclear war. One a relatively minor skirmish between a country surrounded by hostile neighbours trying to protect itself and a group of activists seeking confrontation.

Which one got all the attention? Which one resulted in an emergency session of the UN Security Council? Which one got people out on the streets in many Western cities and Turkey. Which one brought down waves of condemnation?

Logic would suggest that responsible world leaders and self-professed peace loving activists should be demanding action against North Korea for the deliberate and provocative act of sinking a South Korean warship with the loss of 47 lives.

North Korea has the capability of killing millions of people in South Korea, Japan and neighbouring countries in a matter of minutes. Should a full scale war break out on the peninsula it could draw the USA, China and perhaps Russia into a conflict that could trigger the use of nuclear weapons.

Israel, although very well able to defend itself and take tactical action outside it’s borders when required is highly unlikely to trigger a conflict that will involve the major powers or cause the deaths of millions of people.

The loss of 9 lives on the ships trying to reach Gaza is regrettable but it was exactly what the activists wanted.

Now there is a demand for Israel to lift the blockade of Gaza, the blockade is called inhumane, unfair, and many more sympathy inducing adjectives.

So called human rights activists have short memories, many in these same groups, or their parents were the same people who were celebrating the blockade of Beira in Mozambique in the 1970’s to prevent Rhodesia getting oil and other essential supplies.

At the time of the blockade Rhodesia was fighting a war against communist terrorists who were determined to take over the country no matter how many of the population – black and white- were killed in the process.

Rhodesia lost more servicemen, per capita than almost any other country, fighting for the allies in World War 2. Despite this sacrifice, not only were promises of Independence under an existing constitution broken, we were abandoned by the West.

The situation in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) today with the economy ruined, tens of thousands of people murdered and the lowest life expectancy of any country on earth is proof of the destructive policies of Western nations trying to appease the protestors.

So it seems as if in the eyes of the “human rights” movements, any country with predominantly pro – Western policies can do no good, but any country in the anti-Western bloc can do no wrong, no matter how destructive or irresponsible it’s actions.

If that’s not rank hypocrisy, I don’t know what is.

So what has my political rant to got do with Network or Internet Marketing, not much.

Except as a reminder that the stable world order is changing, the old rules of good or bad are being manipulated. Political and economic uncertainties are increasing. Now more than ever, we all need a “Plan B”. The importance of having an independent source of income like our own home based business is vital. We cannot depend on Governments or large corporations to save us.

Visit my “Peter Recommends” pages for ideas on how to start or improve your own business.

Wishing you well in all your endeavours.

In a conversation the other day, the subject of why people quit Network Marketing or any other business, sport or personal journey came up.

Some people make a decision to quit and do just that. Many others just stop taking action, not conciously quitting but just stopping “doing”. So when I was asked if I had ever been tempted to quit, I realised that I had at many times in my life.

How did I resist the urge to give up?

The times when I had the strongest urge to quit were during the period when I got the running bug. I was not good at, or interested in, track or field sports at school. I was more interested in equine sports. In Rhodesia school sport was compulsory, cricket and rugby for boys, netball, tennis and hockey (field) for girls. Attendance at qualification trials for the annual athletics competition was mandatory. My poor performance generally resulted in my not being selected for any of these.

In my late 30’s I took up running at the urging of my 2 sons who were enthused by the new phenomenon of “fun runs” as a way to raise money for charities. I remember struggling through a 5 km run thinking that I would never make the finish line but too ashamed to let my boys down.

After a few of these short runs, I started enjoying myself and found that I could actually run all of the 5 ks. A friend was the president of a running club, he suggested that I join the club and train with them. I did and progressed through 10km, 15km and eventually a 21 km half marathon. I was getting fitter and my times were coming down. I also noticed that the longer the race, the higher up the finishing order I came.

In South Africa, where I was living, one of the biggest ultra marathons at the time, the 85km Comrades Marathon was run every year. It was the goal of every serious runner to complete at least 1 Comrades within the 11 hour cut off and achieve the coveted bronze medal.

So having go the bug, I had to go for a Comrades Bronze. To complete a race of this distance takes a year of preparation. Because of the length and difficulty of the Comrades course, every runner must qualify by completing a standard 42.2 km marathon in under 4 1/2 hours.

My first attempt at a standard marathon was on a fairly flat course at sea level in mid summer with temperatures around 30 C. I went out too fast, had a terrible race and finished 5 minutes outside the qualifying time. I subsequently qualified, completed 4 Comrades and many other ultra’s, standard marathons and shorter races. Over a 6 year period, I never again failed to finish within the time limit, and I never quit during a race.

In any long distance race, physical reserves become depleted at around 32 – 35 km, muscles become painful, dehydration can become serious and the urge to quit becomes stronger with each step. Especially in hot weather, the mind games start, it is so easy to justify quitting. The further into the race you get, the more you see other runners giving up and getting into the rescue vehicles.

So how did I resist the urge?

If I was really struggling, had stomach cramps, or on a down hill stretch, leg muscles that felt as if they were on fire, I would slow down, walk for a while if necessary. But on no account stop. While focusing on the goal of finishing the race, picturing running under the finish line banner, I would also break the race down into intermediate goals, run to the next telephone pole, the next tree, or if things were really tough, just run 5 more paces then another 5.

Invariably, no matter how bad I felt, just achieving one of those small goals was enough to keep me going to the next small goal and the next.

For a person of average height, an 85 km race is 85 000 paces. Feeling tired at the half way mark and focusing on another 42 500 paces is a formidable challenge but focusing on the next 5 or 10 is manageable.

So that’s my safeguard against quitting, just take the next step, then the next. Keep doing that and it’s amazing what you can accomplish.

Wishing you success in all your endeavours.

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it” – Goethe.

I was reminded of this quote earlier this week when I heard the news that the Russian Navy had successfully freed a Russian oil tanker that had been captured by Somali pirates.

Although I have long been critical of the Russians for many of their past involvements in other countries, I can only praise their swift and resolute action in rescuing the crew and freeing the captured vessel. In the process one of the pirates was killed and the remainder of the gang captured, presumably to be tried and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. I would hope not to be released so that they can start again.

No agonising over what other countries may think, no protracted discussions over whether they had the “right” to save the crew and free the ship, no talking about what they were going to do. In a clear case of illegal action by the pirates, they just went ahead and got the job done.

If I recall correctly, there has only been one other similar case, when a French warship rescued a yacht. There have also been a few instances of ships crews’ fighting off the pirates, but regrettably, very few.

The pirates will continue their activities unless the probability of swift and decisive action from all the warships patrolling the Indian Ocean becomes high enough to make their chances of success so remote that it is not worth the risk.

So what is the connection with Internet or Network Marketing – or any entrepreneurial activity?

Action.

Don’t spend endless hours planning and considering possible outcomes. If you have a strategy get on with it, just do it.

The longer the deliberation process, the less chance of success. The more delay, the higher the possibility that the target has moved, or the competition has moved ahead of you.

Focus all your energies on achieving the specific goal, commit yourself totally to the task and get on with it.

Wishing you success in all your endeavours.

Yesterday the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, made the mistake of passing some unflattering comments about a voter with whom he had been speaking moments before.

He was not aware that his microphone was still live as he got in his official vehicle to go to his next appointment.

The comments were picked up and broadcast, the subject of the comments was interviewed and was visibly upset at being called a “bigoted woman” and the encounter described as “a disaster”.

After a 45 minute visit to the womans house, the Prime Minister faced the press and tried to assure the world at large that his apology had been accepted. The BBC used the term “damage control in overdrive”

All this in the last two weeks of the election campaign and the day before the final televised debate between the leaders of the three main parties contesting the election.

What a public relations nightmare, early polls indicated that this episode elevated the Consevative party leader to a stronger position and reduced Gordon Browns standing to third behind the Liberal Democrats.

So what are the lessons here for marketers?

Pay attention to details – a good campaign can be ruined by a few seconds of
carelessness.

Be aware of the dangers of taking technology for granted.

Be sincere even when assuming you are speaking in confidence and in private.

Treat others as you would like to be treated and spoken about, yourself.

Make sure that all your communication is consistent.

How much damage has the Prime Minister inflicted on his campaign? The full extent will be known when the election results are in.

Wishing you success in all your endeavours.

The recent annual survey by the Employee Benefits Research Institute found that only 16% of American workers were confident that they would have enough money for a comfortable retirement.

It also found that 54% of the workforce had less than $25 000 in savings and 27% less than $1000. (Both excluding a primary residence)

Those numbers are frightening, particularly in the current economic climate when jobs are hard to find for most people and extremely difficult for seniors.

So now is a wonderful opportunity to promote your Network Marketing or Internet Marketing business to seniors and the baby boomer generation.

Don’t know how to get started building an on-line business?

Check out our proven system today, get access to free weekly webinars by industry experts, vist our Focused Prosperity site.

Wishing you success in all your endeavours.