| "There's no such thing as a free lunch!" That proverb | | | | virtual world, all the laws of commerce-particularly the |
| has been traced back to around 1950. It means that | | | | practice of value-for-value-no longer apply. And they'll |
| nothing in life is free; you can't get something for | | | | get sucked in the most ludicrous scams. Like "free |
| nothing. And if it appears to be free, somebody | | | | business opportunity", or "no money down turnkey |
| somewhere is paying for it. | | | | homebased business" or "you do no work, we do it all |
| That is extremely valuable information to keep in mind | | | | for you." On that last one, if that was true, if they |
| when you're surfing the Net looking for a home-based | | | | indeed do ALL the work, why would they not keep |
| business. Beware the "nothing (down) for something" | | | | ALL the profits? |
| SCAMS! They go against ALL the generally accepted | | | | Come on people, put your thinking cap back on. Let's |
| rules of business and commerce. | | | | be real; a business costs money-even in the 'virtual' |
| Business and commerce started eons ago. At first, it | | | | world. It costs money to start and to grow. And it |
| took the form of bartering-exchanging goods for | | | | takes some work too. Those people should stop |
| goods. I'll trade my fish for 3 pieces of your firewood. | | | | fooling themselves and waste their time responding to |
| Then 'money' was invented in the form of seashells, | | | | those idiotic ads that pollute the Internet. If they believe |
| beads, or pieces of metal. Aardvaak pays you 3 | | | | crap like "Turn $35 into $10,000 a month, for life!", the |
| seashells for your fish, and you go across the village | | | | next thing the scammers will sell them is some |
| and pay Oodwarg 2 seashells for some firewood, | | | | ocean-front property in Arizona. |
| which leaves you one seashell to buy bread from | | | | You know what song is playing in the scammers' head |
| Mharyang on the way home. | | | | while he's processing some sucker's credit card? The |
| It's still how we do business today-except we now | | | | words are from a very popular song of the |
| use coins & bills, credit cards, debit cards, money | | | | mid-eighties; "The lights are on, but you're not home, |
| orders, bank drafts, bank wires, checks, email | | | | your mind is not your own..." They'll probably sing that |
| transfers, or PayPal. But it's ALWAYS in exchange for | | | | too as they're walking and laughing all the way to the |
| something, be it goods or services. If not, the police is | | | | bank! |
| called in to investigate-or at least they should be. | | | | Enough negative stuff already. Let's close this article |
| I'm a business person. I have products for sale, and I | | | | with valuable words of wisdom from three very |
| have a business opportunity. To get either one, you'll | | | | successful philosophers-businesspeople; |
| have to pay money. It's a value-for-value proposition; | | | | "Creating legitimate value is the straightest line |
| your money for my product and / or opportunity. Fair | | | | between where you are now and where you want to |
| and square. And on top of that, if you want to | | | | be. It is a major component of getting what you want |
| succeed with my business opportunity, you'll have to | | | | in life. It doesn't matter how fast or how hard you |
| do some work. Again, value (your sweat & elbow | | | | work if your efforts don't create value for others. And |
| grease) for value (a substantial residual income). | | | | creating value stems from passion; passion stems |
| "The concept of value-for-value is the foundation for | | | | from belief in what you're doing; belief in what you're |
| all sound, harmonious human relationships. | | | | doing stems from working at something you not only |
| Value-for-value is another way of saying 'win-win'. The | | | | are good at, but enjoy. When you get all these factors |
| surest way to succeed in any endeavor is to make | | | | going in the right direction, you have no trouble being |
| certain that ALL parties to a transaction come out | | | | motivated to do whatever it takes to succeed. There |
| ahead." | | | | is nothing quite so exhilarating as working yourself to |
| Robert J. Ringer, philosopher and bestselling author | | | | the point of exhaustion for months, or even years, then |
| No free lunch. Everything has a price. As it should be. | | | | being handsomely rewarded for your efforts in the |
| Warren Buffet once said, ""Price is what you pay. | | | | marketplace. Every human being should treat himself |
| Value is what you get." Or as I like to say, "You | | | | to this drug-free high at least once in his lifetime." |
| always get what you pay for; you pay nothing, you'll | | | | Robert J. Ringer |
| get nothing." | | | | Zig Ziglar is famous for saying, "You gotta put |
| You're probably wondering why on Earth I'm spending | | | | something in FIRST if you want to get something out". |
| so much time expanding on something so obvious. | | | | He usually makes that statement while operating on |
| Because for some unexplainable reason, many | | | | stage an old-fashion water pump. |
| otherwise intelligent people (who would never consider | | | | "Money is a measure of the value that people place |
| walking out the door of the liquor store with a case of | | | | on goods and services. The amount of money you |
| wine they did not pay for-unless they're looking for a | | | | earn in a competitive market is the measure of value |
| way to spend a night in jail) act like idiots when they're | | | | that others place on your contribution. So, to increase |
| on the Net searching for a home-based business | | | | the amount of money you are getting out, you must |
| opportunity. | | | | increase the value of the work that you are putting in. |
| As if all of a sudden, because they're navigating the | | | | |