FYI from one of my coworkers:
Just found out about this today at the eye doc. Go to the website below to get Oakley eyewear, prescription and non-prescription, for 50% off original price.
usstandardissue.com (without www.)
You've found the web presence of Janine Wiggins, an elegant mom who loves the Lord, loves her family, and loves to help others grow spiritually and financially. Feel free to email her anytime! Scroll down for a fun blog... [/link]
Half-Off Oakley Eyewear for Military
Posted by J. Wiggins on Tuesday 26 August 2008 - 23:23:58
I'm on Google
Posted by J. Wiggins on Wednesday 20 August 2008 - 21:29:10
Check me out. Actually, this google video is really of Secretary of the Navy Dr. Donald Winter as he discussed "The Physics Trained Mind" at the 2008 Joint Annual Conference of the National Society of Black Physicists and the National Society of Hispanic Physicists.
This is the second year in a row that I spoke at (both years on alternative careers for Physicsts, and last year on the "Women in Physics" panel) but I don't have the video for either one. Below, you can see me introducing Dr. Winter.
If it doesn't come up, try clicking this link:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8359488759153449738
This is the second year in a row that I spoke at (both years on alternative careers for Physicsts, and last year on the "Women in Physics" panel) but I don't have the video for either one. Below, you can see me introducing Dr. Winter.
If it doesn't come up, try clicking this link:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8359488759153449738
A Cure for Autism?
Posted by J. Wiggins on Wednesday 20 August 2008 - 20:12:15
I was researching Soft Clothing , a new line for children with sensory sensitivity, when I came across an article on the Autism Self-Advocacy/Neurodiversity movement and saw that it mentions a dynamo of a college student named Ari Ne'eman. I know Ari personally (in fact, we testified on the same set of bills to the MD State House) and am very proud of him. You'd be amazed at how much he has done for the autisic community (he is still in college, folks!), but what really caught my attention was a response to the post. In the response, a parent highlights the struggle between finding a cure for those with Autism and accepting them the way that they are. I typically find that most parents want a cure- they want their child to be "normal." But listen to what this parent says- wow:
I have a son with high functioning ASD. My mother-in-law is a medical professional and looking for a cure. For her, it is a constant search for normal. I am a teacher and looking for ways to help my son find his purpose in the world. I build on his strengths and compensate for his weakness. The same way I do for my "normal" son. Would I like a cure, no. Not even on the bad days and they happen all too often. I love my son as he is and have learned to see the world from a new point of view. At the same time, I worry about the lack of understanding and acceptance outside my own home. The world is not as accomindating and I want to protect him from it (what parent wouldn't). I don't think people will ever stop looking for a cure. I cannot blame them. I know the frustration of just wanting to know what your child wants and to give it to them. I cannot imagine a child that cannot communicate with me. I am blessed with an education, a support system and resources. I believe if I did not have them, I too would be looking for a cure. I believe the cure is education. God makes the world diverse with all different points of view and ways to view it. If seeing black and white was normal (like our dogs)we would miss the rainbows that God had made for us to see. Maybe children with autism see rainbows. When we all are so social, we miss the world that we live in. My son sees the world and not always the people in it. But the world he sees has lots of rainbows and sometimes he shows them to me...
OBITUARY OF THE LATE MR. COMMON SENSE
Posted by J. Wiggins on Tuesday 19 August 2008 - 18:29:04
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
Why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn't always fair;
Maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple sound financial policies:
Don't spend more than you can earn.
And reliable strategies:
Adults, not children, are in charge.
His health began to deteriorate when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Tylenol, sun lotion or a band-aid to a student but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when it became punishable for you to defend yourself from a burglar in your own home but the burglar could sue you for assault. He began to lose ground rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his Daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To blame, and I'm A Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
Why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn't always fair;
Maybe it was my fault.
Common Sense lived by simple sound financial policies:
Don't spend more than you can earn.
And reliable strategies:
Adults, not children, are in charge.
His health began to deteriorate when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer Tylenol, sun lotion or a band-aid to a student but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when it became punishable for you to defend yourself from a burglar in your own home but the burglar could sue you for assault. He began to lose ground rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his Daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else Is To blame, and I'm A Victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.
3 Oct Diversity Military Job Fair
Posted by J. Wiggins on Tuesday 19 August 2008 - 01:13:42
Diversity Military Job Fair - DC Metro Area, October 3rd
Looking for your next employment opportunity? Then attend the Diversity Military Job Fair at the Gaylord National Hotel on Friday, October 3 in National Harbor, MD. Job fair hours are 10 am to 3 pm. Especially for diverse transitioning and former military with varied backgrounds, but open to all! Don't miss this opportunity to meet face-to-face with a large number of diversity-friendly employers looking to hire talented and motivated individuals. Free to all job seekers. Pre-registration for both job seekers and employers is through www.DiversityMilitaryWorldExpo.org.
Looking for your next employment opportunity? Then attend the Diversity Military Job Fair at the Gaylord National Hotel on Friday, October 3 in National Harbor, MD. Job fair hours are 10 am to 3 pm. Especially for diverse transitioning and former military with varied backgrounds, but open to all! Don't miss this opportunity to meet face-to-face with a large number of diversity-friendly employers looking to hire talented and motivated individuals. Free to all job seekers. Pre-registration for both job seekers and employers is through www.DiversityMilitaryWorldExpo.org.
Family
Posted by J. Wiggins on Sunday 10 August 2008 - 18:20:48
By Dan Coulter
Who’s in your family?
It may be larger than you think.
My wife, Julie, and I recently went to her annual “Johnson family reunion.” We showed a video there that we’d produced about several generations of family history using interviews and old photographs. We included a story about great-grandfather Rommie trying to drive his new Model T Ford for the first time. When it abruptly started forward and he couldn’t remember how to stop it, he clung to the steering wheel yelling, “Whoa! Gee! Gee! Haw!” as if he was driving one of his mules. His oldest son jumped up on the car’s running board and got it stopped.
The older members of Julie’s family grew up together. As children, her father and his cousins spent their summers together working on family members’ farms. They love telling tales about the work, play and shenanigans they shared. It makes some of them wistful when younger members of the family, who didn’t grow up with their cousins and don’t feel the same sense of kinship, don’t put as high a priority on attending family reunions.
This is probably an inevitable result of a mobile population, in which extended families can live great distances away and rarely see each other. The older members of my wife’s family are close because they understand one another. They speak the same language. And they’re always ready to help and support each other.
If you’re lucky enough to be close to your extended kinfolk, that’s great. But you don’t have to be related to people to feel a sense of family. Parents with children who have special needs such as Asperger Syndrome or autism can feel very alone. Especially if their extended family lives far away and may not recognize what they’re dealing with on a daily basis.
This is when contact with others dealing with similar situations can be a lifesaver.
Like the mother I know of who rescued another mother taking her developmentally delayed autistic son to a “Thomas the Tank Engine” exhibit at a transportation museum. In the museum’s gift shop, 11 year old, 150 pound Aaron flopped down on the floor and threw a tantrum in the midst of the other, mostly two and three year-old, Thomas fans.
Desperately trying to deal with the situation and purchase the new “Thomas” DVD her son had picked out, Aaron’s mom, Lynn, felt someone grab her shoulder. She thought to herself, “If you say one word I’ll…!”
But she turned to find a woman who said, “Give me your stuff and give me your money and I’ll pay for it. I’ll meet you in the parking lot. I have a son with autism.”
Lynn managed, with a struggle, to get her son to her car. A short while later, the woman and her daughter appeared to deliver the DVD and Lynn’s change. The rescuer gave Lynn a hug and said, “Sometimes this is all we can do.”
Then the daughter said, “You should have seen my mom.”
“What did she do?”
“The security guard was having a problem and said ‘they shouldn’t let kids like that in places like this.’ And she looked him straight in the eye and said ‘If you’ve got a typical child, you go home tonight and pray to God you never have to go through anything like this.’”
Lynn said it touched her deeply that someone else knew what she was going through.
Those of us with children on the autism spectrum are sometimes in the best position to give each other the help and support we need. We know what it feels like. We speak each other’s language.
We’re family.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dan Coulter is the producer of the videos, “Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Asperger Syndrome” and “Understanding Brothers and Sisters on the Autism Spectrum.” You can read more articles on his website: www.coultervideo.com
Copyright 2008 Dan Coulter Used By Permission All Rights Reserved
Who’s in your family?
It may be larger than you think.
My wife, Julie, and I recently went to her annual “Johnson family reunion.” We showed a video there that we’d produced about several generations of family history using interviews and old photographs. We included a story about great-grandfather Rommie trying to drive his new Model T Ford for the first time. When it abruptly started forward and he couldn’t remember how to stop it, he clung to the steering wheel yelling, “Whoa! Gee! Gee! Haw!” as if he was driving one of his mules. His oldest son jumped up on the car’s running board and got it stopped.
The older members of Julie’s family grew up together. As children, her father and his cousins spent their summers together working on family members’ farms. They love telling tales about the work, play and shenanigans they shared. It makes some of them wistful when younger members of the family, who didn’t grow up with their cousins and don’t feel the same sense of kinship, don’t put as high a priority on attending family reunions.
This is probably an inevitable result of a mobile population, in which extended families can live great distances away and rarely see each other. The older members of my wife’s family are close because they understand one another. They speak the same language. And they’re always ready to help and support each other.
If you’re lucky enough to be close to your extended kinfolk, that’s great. But you don’t have to be related to people to feel a sense of family. Parents with children who have special needs such as Asperger Syndrome or autism can feel very alone. Especially if their extended family lives far away and may not recognize what they’re dealing with on a daily basis.
This is when contact with others dealing with similar situations can be a lifesaver.
Like the mother I know of who rescued another mother taking her developmentally delayed autistic son to a “Thomas the Tank Engine” exhibit at a transportation museum. In the museum’s gift shop, 11 year old, 150 pound Aaron flopped down on the floor and threw a tantrum in the midst of the other, mostly two and three year-old, Thomas fans.
Desperately trying to deal with the situation and purchase the new “Thomas” DVD her son had picked out, Aaron’s mom, Lynn, felt someone grab her shoulder. She thought to herself, “If you say one word I’ll…!”
But she turned to find a woman who said, “Give me your stuff and give me your money and I’ll pay for it. I’ll meet you in the parking lot. I have a son with autism.”
Lynn managed, with a struggle, to get her son to her car. A short while later, the woman and her daughter appeared to deliver the DVD and Lynn’s change. The rescuer gave Lynn a hug and said, “Sometimes this is all we can do.”
Then the daughter said, “You should have seen my mom.”
“What did she do?”
“The security guard was having a problem and said ‘they shouldn’t let kids like that in places like this.’ And she looked him straight in the eye and said ‘If you’ve got a typical child, you go home tonight and pray to God you never have to go through anything like this.’”
Lynn said it touched her deeply that someone else knew what she was going through.
Those of us with children on the autism spectrum are sometimes in the best position to give each other the help and support we need. We know what it feels like. We speak each other’s language.
We’re family.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dan Coulter is the producer of the videos, “Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Asperger Syndrome” and “Understanding Brothers and Sisters on the Autism Spectrum.” You can read more articles on his website: www.coultervideo.com
Copyright 2008 Dan Coulter Used By Permission All Rights Reserved
Cyber Attacks From China Show Computers Insecure, Pentagon Says
Posted by J. Wiggins on Thursday 07 August 2008 - 18:23:33
Bloomberg.com, August 6, 2008
By Tony Capaccio, Bloomberg News
Cyber attacks originating within China have exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. military computer systems that "increase the urgency" for improvements, according to a top Pentagon official.
Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England, in a 70-page request sent to Congress July 11, asked to shift $1.8 billion in approved spending to other programs, including computer security.
"Recent attacks from China on Department of Defense networks and systems increase the urgency to construct cyber systems" that can't be penetrated, England said.
England said the Pentagon must develop its own technology. Building effective, secure systems for military command-and- control and sharing sensitive information between the military services and allies are requirements that "cannot be met with current commercial products," he said.
Analysts said England's statement is the Pentagon's clearest public admission that its computers have been penetrated by China.
"They have been very reluctant to attribute" the origin of hacker attacks, saying "`we can't be sure it's China.' But in this case, they were clear," said Larry Wortzel, chairman of the congressionally mandated U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
It's "an admission of subversion" and is significant because it means "an adversary is getting into the system to bring it down, manipulate, change or control it," Wortzel said.
Pentagon officials last year declined to confirm a Financial Times story based on unnamed sources that China was responsible for a June 2007 attack on the e-mail system of 1,500 workers who support the office of Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
The Pentagon's latest annual report on China's military stopped short of saying attacks on U.S. military systems originated in China, saying that in 2007 "numerous computer networks, including those owned by the U.S. government, were subject to intrusions that appear to have originated within" China.
England did not identify the source of the attacks, such as the Chinese military or civilian agencies, an analyst said. "The question is whether we can pinpoint the cyber-attacks as originating" from the government or the army, said Shirley Kan, who analyzes China's military for the non-partisan Congressional Research Service.
Tom Ehrhard, a specialist on China's military with the non- partisan Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington, said England's statement "is the clearest, most unambiguous public statement that suggests -- only hints at, really -- the magnitude and depth of the problem."
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, Wang Baodong, had no immediate comment. Pentagon spokesman Stewart Upton declined to comment directly on England's request but said "the department has been aware of and responded to malicious cyber activity over the past few years.
"We continue to remain concerned that this activity is growing more sophisticated, more targeted, and more prevalent," Upton said. "We have seen attempts by a variety of state and non-state sponsored organizations to gain unauthorized access to, or otherwise degrade U.S. information systems."
By Tony Capaccio, Bloomberg News
Cyber attacks originating within China have exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. military computer systems that "increase the urgency" for improvements, according to a top Pentagon official.
Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England, in a 70-page request sent to Congress July 11, asked to shift $1.8 billion in approved spending to other programs, including computer security.
"Recent attacks from China on Department of Defense networks and systems increase the urgency to construct cyber systems" that can't be penetrated, England said.
England said the Pentagon must develop its own technology. Building effective, secure systems for military command-and- control and sharing sensitive information between the military services and allies are requirements that "cannot be met with current commercial products," he said.
Analysts said England's statement is the Pentagon's clearest public admission that its computers have been penetrated by China.
"They have been very reluctant to attribute" the origin of hacker attacks, saying "`we can't be sure it's China.' But in this case, they were clear," said Larry Wortzel, chairman of the congressionally mandated U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
It's "an admission of subversion" and is significant because it means "an adversary is getting into the system to bring it down, manipulate, change or control it," Wortzel said.
Pentagon officials last year declined to confirm a Financial Times story based on unnamed sources that China was responsible for a June 2007 attack on the e-mail system of 1,500 workers who support the office of Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
The Pentagon's latest annual report on China's military stopped short of saying attacks on U.S. military systems originated in China, saying that in 2007 "numerous computer networks, including those owned by the U.S. government, were subject to intrusions that appear to have originated within" China.
England did not identify the source of the attacks, such as the Chinese military or civilian agencies, an analyst said. "The question is whether we can pinpoint the cyber-attacks as originating" from the government or the army, said Shirley Kan, who analyzes China's military for the non-partisan Congressional Research Service.
Tom Ehrhard, a specialist on China's military with the non- partisan Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments in Washington, said England's statement "is the clearest, most unambiguous public statement that suggests -- only hints at, really -- the magnitude and depth of the problem."
A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, Wang Baodong, had no immediate comment. Pentagon spokesman Stewart Upton declined to comment directly on England's request but said "the department has been aware of and responded to malicious cyber activity over the past few years.
"We continue to remain concerned that this activity is growing more sophisticated, more targeted, and more prevalent," Upton said. "We have seen attempts by a variety of state and non-state sponsored organizations to gain unauthorized access to, or otherwise degrade U.S. information systems."
Free Box of Cheerios
Posted by J. Wiggins on Sunday 27 July 2008 - 20:44:09
Thanks to cousin Corina for alerting me to the free box link:
http://www.cheerios.com/promotions/challenge/EntryForm.aspx
Enjoy!
http://www.cheerios.com/promotions/challenge/EntryForm.aspx
Enjoy!
If it sounds too good to be true...
Posted by J. Wiggins on Saturday 19 July 2008 - 22:59:20
If someone approaches you with a spiel like this, you would know to run, right?
This was posted on an anti-MLM forum I am a member of. On one hand, we laugh at such things, but it's amazing how few of us sit down and seriously count the costs of joining these "opportunities." I'm on an MLM kick this month, because after people found out I sold Avon and Mary Kay, TONS of folks have come out of the woodwork offering me their business opportunities. Unfortunately, I do my math. I calculated a positive impact on my budget for signing up with each of the companies I have signed up with (because I really like the products, and was paying full price for them through my reps). I wish more people would do that. I'll give an example in my next post, but for now, just stay away from anything that appears to make BIG MONEY with NO WORK. The two don't go together!
Hey everyone, I just wanted to say that I used to think all MLMs were
bad. That was yesterday. Then I got introduced to a new kind of
business opportunity by a complete stranger. And boy I'm glad I did.
This one's different. They really care about people. And they have
great products -- products that are literally 10,000 times better than
anything else out there. Unscientific tests prove it. AND you make
lots of money. Yesterday I was living in an apartment. Today, I own
a 5 million dollar home -- AND my own business of course. This is
what happens when you get involved with the RIGHT MLM. Your life
changes in one day. Think about this when you generalize and say all
MLMs are bad.
bad. That was yesterday. Then I got introduced to a new kind of
business opportunity by a complete stranger. And boy I'm glad I did.
This one's different. They really care about people. And they have
great products -- products that are literally 10,000 times better than
anything else out there. Unscientific tests prove it. AND you make
lots of money. Yesterday I was living in an apartment. Today, I own
a 5 million dollar home -- AND my own business of course. This is
what happens when you get involved with the RIGHT MLM. Your life
changes in one day. Think about this when you generalize and say all
MLMs are bad.
This was posted on an anti-MLM forum I am a member of. On one hand, we laugh at such things, but it's amazing how few of us sit down and seriously count the costs of joining these "opportunities." I'm on an MLM kick this month, because after people found out I sold Avon and Mary Kay, TONS of folks have come out of the woodwork offering me their business opportunities. Unfortunately, I do my math. I calculated a positive impact on my budget for signing up with each of the companies I have signed up with (because I really like the products, and was paying full price for them through my reps). I wish more people would do that. I'll give an example in my next post, but for now, just stay away from anything that appears to make BIG MONEY with NO WORK. The two don't go together!
MLM Madness
Posted by J. Wiggins on Saturday 12 July 2008 - 14:10:49
I've been getting a lot of emails and phone calls as to this so-called MLM Madness, so let me give you the straight scoop:
About two-three years ago, I discovered that Mary Kay's Classic Cleansing System, formula 1, really helped clear up my face. This is after years of websites, books, and even Mary Kay Ladies always insisting that if I had zits, then my skin must be oily and I'd better use those harsh, drying, formulas if I wanted to be cured. After trying MANY acne products out there, including Proactiv, I bought some Mary Kay from a friend, and chose the set my mom used to use (because I was going to give it to her). Well, something happened- I ran out of soap, I dont know.... and I had to use it. And it didn't irritate my skin. So I kept using it (I'm cheap and didn't want to buy soap if I didn't have to). And my skin got better. The only time I've used another face soap since was when I went on an extended "job trip" to a very dry location. I had to purchase a more hydrating formula by Paula's Choice. Both are fabulous. Of course, Paula raised her prices, so I've gone back to Mary Kay. And for the past 5 years, my 2 lipsticks have been 3 shades: one Mary Kay and two Avon. So when a friend started selling Avon, I jumped at the opportunity to answer the burning question: With all this lipstick I buy, can I save big bucks if I sell it myself? Like i said, I'm cheap. And it only costs $10 to start selling Avon.
Please, please, please, don't take these Avon and Mary Kay announcements to mean I recommend them for you to make money. I'm only letting you know because it's really hard to find a rep who isn't always pressuring you to sign up. And I'll never do that. And PLEASE don’t jump into any “business opportunities” without talking to me, because most of the time you are not making money- you're spending it! Just because *I* sell it, doesn’t mean *YOU* should. I "sell" several products because I wear/use them, including Jeunique and Discovery Toys. But these are not moneymakers for me. I keep "selling" them because I really love the products, and I almost hate to admit it, but I am really my own customer!
If you're thinking about signing up for something, call me. You know I'll give you straight, unbiased advice about any business opportunity you want. I made FAR mor emoeney in real estate than I ever did from the boutique or any of the "network marketing" companies. And I make a LOT more money with MUCH easier work on my day job. Thing is, many network companies are not upfront about how much things really cost or how much of a profit you really make after you've paid for shipping, buz cards, running around town, giving catalogs/hosting partiesand all that. Then you find out that you really don’t get much discount if you don’t make a lot of sales or have a lot of people in your "downline."
So what should you do if you buy a lot of products from such a company? My advice to people is typically either be a hostess (they get great freebies) to go onto one of those MLM wholesale sites where reps who have quit the business sell their products for the same discount as you would have had if you signed up. Email me for my favorite such site.
I feel so much better now, for having gotten that off my chest!
About two-three years ago, I discovered that Mary Kay's Classic Cleansing System, formula 1, really helped clear up my face. This is after years of websites, books, and even Mary Kay Ladies always insisting that if I had zits, then my skin must be oily and I'd better use those harsh, drying, formulas if I wanted to be cured. After trying MANY acne products out there, including Proactiv, I bought some Mary Kay from a friend, and chose the set my mom used to use (because I was going to give it to her). Well, something happened- I ran out of soap, I dont know.... and I had to use it. And it didn't irritate my skin. So I kept using it (I'm cheap and didn't want to buy soap if I didn't have to). And my skin got better. The only time I've used another face soap since was when I went on an extended "job trip" to a very dry location. I had to purchase a more hydrating formula by Paula's Choice. Both are fabulous. Of course, Paula raised her prices, so I've gone back to Mary Kay. And for the past 5 years, my 2 lipsticks have been 3 shades: one Mary Kay and two Avon. So when a friend started selling Avon, I jumped at the opportunity to answer the burning question: With all this lipstick I buy, can I save big bucks if I sell it myself? Like i said, I'm cheap. And it only costs $10 to start selling Avon.
Please, please, please, don't take these Avon and Mary Kay announcements to mean I recommend them for you to make money. I'm only letting you know because it's really hard to find a rep who isn't always pressuring you to sign up. And I'll never do that. And PLEASE don’t jump into any “business opportunities” without talking to me, because most of the time you are not making money- you're spending it! Just because *I* sell it, doesn’t mean *YOU* should. I "sell" several products because I wear/use them, including Jeunique and Discovery Toys. But these are not moneymakers for me. I keep "selling" them because I really love the products, and I almost hate to admit it, but I am really my own customer!
If you're thinking about signing up for something, call me. You know I'll give you straight, unbiased advice about any business opportunity you want. I made FAR mor emoeney in real estate than I ever did from the boutique or any of the "network marketing" companies. And I make a LOT more money with MUCH easier work on my day job. Thing is, many network companies are not upfront about how much things really cost or how much of a profit you really make after you've paid for shipping, buz cards, running around town, giving catalogs/hosting partiesand all that. Then you find out that you really don’t get much discount if you don’t make a lot of sales or have a lot of people in your "downline."
So what should you do if you buy a lot of products from such a company? My advice to people is typically either be a hostess (they get great freebies) to go onto one of those MLM wholesale sites where reps who have quit the business sell their products for the same discount as you would have had if you signed up. Email me for my favorite such site.
I feel so much better now, for having gotten that off my chest!
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