Watch Out for Internet Scams

Like many people, I get all kinds of solicitations, especially being a business. Occasionally I will get the invitation to attend an internet seminar of one kind or another.

I recently got an invitation from C. Rex Sanderson to attend a free internet marketing conference to “witness what others have done to re-claim their financial and personal lives.” It’s pretty easy to see through a thinly veiled sales pitch but I like to see what the competition is like so I called and picked one of the times available. They offer a free business organizer (ho-hum) and a free dinner. The free dinner and a look at the competition was enough to make me sign up. I like to see legitimate business offers – I may want to do one myself. Unfortunately, after a little investigation, this did not look good.

I lost hope of making this a worthwhile trip after googling Mr. Sanderson and finding all sorts of negative comments about his operation. For one thing, they don’t have a website. Big problem for someone touting an internet seminar. Also, Mr. Sanderson’s organization has a history of not delivering on their product, according to the articles and blogs I read. The product, by the way, is $5995.00. Also, it’s a hard sell presentation. I don’t mind someone waving a carrot to see a worthwhile presentation but this is a little too shady to invest 3 hours of my day for.

There are many businesses out there with legitimate and worthwhile methods for profiting from the internet. My business, Natural Rhythm, does this very well, if I can tout my own horn. Also, talk to Daren Coudriet at Sagebridge Solutions or Louise Rijk at Advanced Media Productions. A conversation with a knowledgable professional is well worth your time.

A good rule of thumb when approached by a business to a free seminar to find out how to make millions is to google that business or person. Chances are, someone has been through it and will report a good or bad experience. If you like, contact me and I’ll do the look-up for you.

Enjoy the last cold days of summer!

Just Because It’s Summer…

I just realized every post doesn’t have to be two screens long.

It will be if I continue to write one sentence per line.

The common talk amongst us business owners is “summer is slow.” You can breeze through the summer and pick up speed after Labor Day. Well at least for some. I know a couple of painters that are really cranking out the work.

But summer doesn’t have to be slow. There are many things a business owner can do during the summer to keep things going. Even so-called seasonal businesses. I spoke to an indoor sports facility that does well during the cold months but is relatively quiet during the summer. It’s a wonderful place and quite large. They’ve had events there, even non-sport events like parties and bar mitzvahs. They could concentrate on booking the facility earlier in the year for those types of events, even concerts, motivational speakers and the like. I intend to mention WhizSpark, of course.

What about non-seasonal businesses? Sometimes, things are slow just because a business’ clientele tend to stay away for the summer. Time to think outside the box, I say. Be creative. Look at your business from other perspectives. Maybe it’s time to set up an Internet shop to get you through the “slow” time.

I hope everyone has kept cool so far. My daughter is finishing her second week at the Drumlin Farm day camp in Lincoln and she’s having a terrific time. I’ve got a high school reunion coming up in Los Angeles, which should be a lot of fun. Also, a few days in Maine after that should finish out the summer for us.

I’ve learned the basic difference between people here and people in California, where I’m from. It’s taken a good three years to fully adapt to being an east coaster. This is what I think: People in California have no seasons. It’s always between 60 degrees in the winter and 80 degrees in the summer. For the most part. Because of that, California people can do anything at any time of the year. California people get complacent because of this. They know that they can do anything at any time. For this reason, a lot of people never do anything!

Here on the east coast, people plan for the summer in January. This is what took me three years to grasp onto. We (I now consider myself one) east coasters have this flowing, undulating cycle of heavy activity in the summer and low activity in the winter. The key is the winter. The winter is like a forced meditation. We have more time to think, to ponder, to re-prioritize. Like a hibernating bear, our thoughts turn to dreams of spring and summer activities. How do we see ourselves in the upcoming months? How do we re-invent ourselves yet again?

California people never have this down time so they never re-invent, never ponder, never stop to think. For that reason, in general, I find people on the east coast much more interesting, vibrant, and down-to-earth. My first spring here was a revelation to me. I never felt so alive! I’d been cooped up all winter, not realizing I was “meditating,” and when spring arrived, I couldn’t wait to get out, to get things done. I understand it now. This is the way life should be lived!

So that’s my take on the differences between the coasts. Your thoughts? Are you a transplanted west coaster? Let me know. Write to me. After all, just because it’s summer…