1 ) Buy the best you can afford in a category. Take paintings as an example. It’s always better to buy one good painting than 10 average ones. Every artist has good and bad days. In the long run, when you look at the investment potential, it’ll be the best work by an artist that commands the most money. This is also true in other categories of antiques.
2) Trust your eye. Sometimes you’ll find a piece for sale that comes with a “highbrow" story, a history about where it’s been, who it belonged to, and how old it is. You want to put the story aside for a moment and look at the piece in its own right. Does it speak to you? Does it seem to be a good quality piece? Is it worth the asking price? If not, move on. Art and antiques is a field where you have to develop a “good eye" if you want to become a discerning collector. In the end, you have to trust your own judgment and gut reaction to an object.
3) If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. But not always. The antique field is loaded with forgeries, reproductions and married pieces (ex: furniture pieces fitted together that don’t really belong.) A mine field. It’s your eye and your knowledge of the delicate distinctions that will keep you afloat. There are still “real" finds out there. The trade papers report stories about rare paintings uncovered behind inexpensive framed pictures, and valuable old advertising signs originally used as insulation in the walls of old houses. Be cautious, but also be open to the possibility of a find.
4) Ask questions. Lots of questions. It’s your money on the line. Be willing to look dumb. If you’re not satisfied with the answers, move on. If you’re really serious about the field, invest in a good reference library. If you don’t want to spend the money on a reference library then go to the library, or quietly pore over the collectible guides in your local bookstore.
5) Know who you’re dealing with, and deal with people you trust. This field has its share of fast-talkers looking to make a quick buck. Ask around. Bad news travels fast. If someone or someplace has a questionable reputation, stay away.
6) Bigger is not always better. A few years ago I bought a bronze sculpture by a well-known 20th century sculptor. How could I miss? The price was right. Lots of strong auction sale results for the artist. What I didn’t factor in was the size. How many homes can accommodate a 6foot 11inch naked woman? I eventually sold the bronze, after a great deal of aggravation, for a little more than I paid for it, and was happy. I also learned a lesson about factoring in the size of an object.
7) Original condition is everything. Whenever you can, buy things in their original condition. It makes a huge difference when you turn around to sell. Damaged, restored and refinished items usually command less interest and money.
8) Beware of reproductions. They’re everywhere, and they weren’t necessarily made to fool anybody. Cookie jars are an example. People want the ones they grew up with. You know the Aunt Jemima and the Big Red Apple. Old ones are often hard to find so reproductions appeared on the market. Many collectors don’t care if they’re reproductions. They just like seeing them lined up on a shelf in the breakfast room. Mechanical banks are another example. So you have to keep a watchful eye.
9) If you’re uncertain about a pricey antique, pass it by. Sometimes it’s hard to do, but you have to. If you just can’t resist, start researching, or find someone who knows about the object and ask him or her before you take the plunge.
10) Don’t beat yourself up when you make mistakes. Many of us paid for our education in this field through the mistakes we’ve made. It’s part of the game. Think of it as a learning curve, what you have to go through to develop an expertise. Finally, don’t forget to have a good time on your treasure hunt. Perfection isn’t the point, fun is.
What Is 10 Key
I'd like to discuss 10 key benefits why MLM programs are great businesses. Use these benefits to promote your MLM Program and to recruit anyone in your organization.
1. Small amount of risk:
There is a certain amount of inherited risk involved when you become an entrepreneur.
We are confronted with losing money, wasting time, not being in profit right away, etc. In a traditional brick and mortal business, the startup cost associated with opening that business is what holds many people back from becoming the creators of their own destiny.
People do not like risk and try to avoid it by all means. We'd like a "guaranteed bet" and stay within "our safe zone". In business, you don't eliminate risks you learn to minimize them.
The advantage of starting an MLM Program is that there is a small risk to get started. With a couple of hundred dollars, it is possible to get started with a company of your choice, marketing products that you consume already. The amount of financial commitment is insignificant compared to that of traditional business.
2. A huge demand for good quality products:
There are a myriad of network marketing companies that promote very good products. If I were considering a company to get involved with, I would always ask myself:
* Would I still consume these products/services if there were no opportunity to market them?
* Do these products bring any benefits to a consumer besides the opportunity to make money?
* Would I bring "value" to my customers if they consume these products?
Every business needs repeat customers. Distributors only get paid when they have consumers for their products and when these customers continue that consumption, then that creates the money flow.
3. Residual income:
I am sure that you pay your gas, your electricity, and your phone bill every single month. These are the types of services that for the most part provide an ongoing stream of residual income for these companies.
The greatest advantage of an MLM Program is that it gives you an opportunity to enjoy residual income just like those companies do.
When the initial effort of getting a new customer is completed, you can enjoy the residual part of that business relationship.
We are so used to trading our time for wedges that we often times don't see the potential residual income of an MLM Affiliate Program. By direct selling your products, you can also claim your share of the residual income pie.
4. The income potential:
There is no cap on how much money you can generate. In my corporate jobs, my big limitation was that regardless how hard I worked for these companies; my income was tied to a "market standard" for someone with my skills.
In an MLM Program, that's not the case. It is up to you to decide how much you want to earn. An MLM company doesn't hold you back in the same way the corporate environment does.
As long as you have the skills set of a trained network marketer, you make whatever income based on your stamina, dedication, and your willingness to help others.
The skills set is key. Once you trained yourself to become a marketer, you can market anything you choose and generate that income you seek.
5. No employees to hire:
By far, this is a clear advantage over traditional businesses. An mlm affiliate program is a business of people independently working together.
Without any employees, it's possible to build a business right from home. This industry gives you that added benefit, be in business without employees concerns, by having a network of independent business owners working together towards a common goal.
6. No inventory:
Traditionally Network Marketing companies would have distributors stack up on inventory. This concept alone has given the industry a bad wrap for years.
However, modern companies do capitalize on the technology and tools we have in place. We have:
· Internet Telephony
· The Internet
· Drop Shipping Ability
· Consumer Leads
· Conference Lines
· Web Conference
· High Speed Internet Access
Not having to inventory products will make your business more agile to any market condition.
7. Low operating Costs:
The network marketing model makes possible to run a business at low costs compared to any other business model.
This is where your upline's support should come in. A good upline mentor should allow you to piggyback on his expertise, on his knowledge, on his leads, and help you generate the funds to pay off your initial investment and get in profit early in the life of your business.
8. Leverage:
Your MLM Program is a:
· people business
· business of appointments
· business of helping consumers find what they have the need for
· business of helping others create businesses.
You reap the rewards by leveraging the efforts of those you help. This develops a collective mindset that promotes "win-win" relationships.
9. Portability:
With the advent of technology, we can do today what distributors 15 years ago could not do and that's to make our business portable.
We now have a phone technology that allows you to take your telephone and move it anywhere you like transparently to your customers.
As long as you have access to the Internet via DSL or Cable, you can take your computer, your phone, and continue doing business while you are on the road, on vacation, or visiting relatives whether that be in another city or another country!
10. The attainable freedom:
Imagine having a productive business in network marketing providing you with a lifestyle that only the rich and famous enjoy. When all the pieces are in place, the life of a marketer can be very fulfilling indeed.
That's the dream every new distributor chases and it is only attainable when there is a clear understanding of how to get there and when your marketing skills are sharp.
It is not just the money, but the fulfillment of a lifestyle that makes an MLM Affiliate Program the best business to get in and your skills is what make it happen, period!
Both Jay Hopkins & Wil Chirinos are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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