My Conglomeration

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Hang Up Before It’s Too Late

I have had an online business for almost two years now.  I have hopes for it, but I have had some rude awakenings.  First of all I want to share with those who wish to work on the net the news that it is hard work and time consuming.  It can also be very costly, especially if you are as foolish as I have been.

As soon as you start the process of building a business, you are inundated with a plethora of would-be helpers.  People who say they want you to succeed.  People who say ‘we do all the work for you.’  All you need to do is to cash the checks.  Well I wasn’t quite that stupid.  But I was close to it.  This is not an easy article to write.  No one likes to share their stupidity with the world, but for me not to would be a disservice to those who want to earn money from home.

Working on the internet can be very lucrative.  Just be smart and make sure you get the money, not all the leaches.  I call them leaches because, as a minister, it is the kindest thing I can think of. These people prey on our ignorance of the internet to take advantage of us.  I wasn’t born yesterday, and I’m not particularly naive, but I must admit I was too trusting.  So I must say, “Trust no one who calls you out of the blue to help build your business.”  Do your homework and avoid the pitfalls.

I’ve been ripped off a couple of times.  Once by a company called Future Ranking to the tune of $3500.  But the company I wish to expose you readers to is called Ameritax Financial Services.  They called and talked me into allowing them to put together a corporation for me in Wyoming.  They charged $1950 to get started.  I have no idea why it was so much.  They said there was a $1350 one time charge from the state that they had no control over.  This was over and above the $1950.  After talking to the state recently, I was told it only costs $100 to set up a corporation.  They also said they were sorry that such a thing had happened to me.  There was a $300 payment up front to prepare quarterly tax returns.  After the first year it was $29.95 a month. They never did a quarterly tax return. I was also charged $49.95 a month for a registered agent.  I have since engaged a registered agent for $50 a year.  When I asked them how could they justify charging me $49.95 a month for something that cost $50 a year, they said ‘that’s just what we charge.’  Then they offered to allow me to get my own agent for $50 a year.  And they would still attend to my business.

A few months after signing with them, they offered me a chance to get a $50,000 corporate line of credit.   I talked to a man named Phillip.  He told me if I put up $3000, they would guarantee me the credit within six months, probably as few as four months.  I was told if they couldn’t get it within six months, they would give me my money back.  After six months, I talked to a man named Ameer who asked me to give him a little more time.  I called periodically and was promised phone calls that never came.  Finally after nine months, I talked to Ameer again, and he informed me that there was no money back guarantee.  After several emails, I was told that I had signed a contract that stated there was no money back after three days of signing the contract.  I asked them in an email in December to send me a copy of the contract.  I didn’t get it.  This may interest you – I just checked my email to find out the date I sent that email.  I only have four emails in my keeping folder all of which make Ameritax look great.  All other emails to and from them are missing.  These people are snakes.  When I asked Jennifer Goff to send me a copy on January 13th, she said she immediately sent it, but it took about fourteen hours to get to my box. (Of course that email is still in my folder.)  When I got it that was the first time I ever saw it.

When talking to Jennifer, she guaranteed me that they would get me my funds.  I asked her if I could take her at her word.  She stated that’s what the contract said.  When I pointed out this portion of the contract (50K funding is not responsible for longer delivery times and or no delivery times due to a significant change in process and no refund will be given), she said again, ‘we will get you the money.’  I have this on tape.  She was informed.  When I asked her if I stopped using them to represent my corporation what would happen to this 50K funding, she told me it would cancel as well.   I couldn’t justify giving them another penny.

Beware of this company and all others like it.  Don’t do business with any company you didn’t contact first.

I hope this helps someone.

Jerry Robinson

He Loves Me

Well it’s that time again.  We all plan to do better each year.  We convince ourselves that this is the year we will succeed.  I believe most people fully intend to do what they resolve.  But like so many of us, the result is less than anticipated.  So what is it that causes us to fail?

Maybe we set our expectations too high.  When it comes to putting that expensive piece of exercise equipment to use, we didn’t take into account the pain involved.  After a while it makes a better clothes rack than a partner in health.  Food becomes so much more appetizing when you commit to cutting back.  Our loved ones accept us the way we are, and this is not always helpful.  Even if we ask them to help, we get angry when they try.

We have to realize that this is a personal thing.  We are the ones who are dissatisfied with ourselves.  It is totally up to us.  It’s nice when others want to help, and we can allow it.  But ultimately the journey is ours to take.  What are some better ways of approaching this dilemma?

Rather than vowing to exercise one hour a day, three days a week, we might could commit to ten minutes a day and work our way up.  Ten minutes doesn’t seem like much, but it’s probably more than we’ve been doing.  Progress is progress no matter how small the start.  If you start strong and finish last, you still lose the race.  Some form of exercise is a must as we all know.  How about finding something fun, easy, and beneficial?

When it comes to eating, we have to do it.  There is so much information and so many diets out there that one hardly knows where to start.  For the most part, diets are a bad thing.  They only teach us how to fail.  Although there is one diet that I would recommend for anyone who is as grossly obese as I was.  It is called the H.C.G. diet.  It’s not for everyone, but it helped me.

Whatever your goals are for this year, you need to maintain a positive focus on them.  Say a general prayer for those of us on our own journeys.  When you pray for others, good things come to you.

Jerry

Are you like many of us who have gone from one MLM company to another and have never made enough to recoup even a minuscule amount of our expenses?   Did your family and friends turn out the lights when you rang the doorbell?  Did caller ID become your enemy?  In other words, did you become the proverbial pest where ever you went?  Now that you have sworn off the MLM merry-go-round, I’m going to say something that you may find hard to believe.  Your idea of joining an MLM company was sound.

I’m not trying to get you to join any company or trying to sell you anything.  I just want to let you know that I know how you feel.  But living without a dream, life can sometimes be a real drag.  I’d like to share a poem I wrote some years ago.

May 17, 1995    By Jerry Robinson

To Dream

To set pen to verse, the rhyme, the rhythm, the meter,
diameter, the stanza, the scheme, should the rhymer dare to dream
transcending mediocrity?
The greatness looms; the height chills the marrow.
The telling has been told; it drips from their pages like honey.
Their shadows fill the earth.
A ray, an ember, has but little chance to kindle
perhaps the smallest flame to warm the bones,
enough for hope to reach the page.

What determines greatness?  Talent?  Knowledge?
Experience?
Or is it in the trying?
Are the heroes to be found facing the insurmountable odds
of ever becoming known outside their circle of dreams?
To those who are arrogant, conceited, and have the audacity to think
their words important, adieu.
To those in love with language, with the thought , the idea, the wonder,
the beauty, the hope – speak, dream the dreams, they do come true.

Even though this poem is about writing, it can fit any dream.  Don’t let your failures, or other people’s opinions, put an end to your dreams.  You only found what didn’t work for you.  I would like to share a link with you that gave me great insight into the  MLM  world.  http://lrobin3.therenegadenetworkmarketer.com There is a book and a system should you choose to purchase for a nominal fee.  I hope they help you as much as they helped me.

G-d bless, and keep on dreaming.

Jerry