Pyramid Scheme or Pyramid Scam-Which Is It?
I can not hold my tongue any longer. People, for a shipload of reasons, want to call everything that uses a network marketing platform either a pyramid scheme or, a new one to me, a pyramid scam. I will tell you what one really is and list some of the reasons people falsely label a legitimate marketing practice.
Pyramid Schemes are Illegal
Does that come as a surprise to you? I do not know that whether or not pyramid scams are illegal is in question. I think most people know they are illegal. The problem is what the definition is and to which “companies” it is being properly or improperly applied.
A pyramid scheme is pretty much like a Ponzi scheme in that people are recruited by paying a fee with a promise of a larger return. People pay their share and then wait for their big payday, which for 99% of them, it never comes.
In a pyramid scam, (same as a pyramid scheme) no product or service is ever bought or sold within the group and certainly not to the general population. The only money that ever changes hands is in the recruitment of new people. The person or the people who start it are the only ones who ever get any money.
A Different Kind of Pyramid Scam
In describing one, something, if you are really thinking, begins to look an awful lot like a pyramid scam. What do millions of people around the world do every day? They go to work or their J.O.B. and if that situation does not fit the description of a pyramid scheme well, you tell me.
A guy or guys start a business that brings in a lot of money over a long period of time making the owner(s) rich beyond belief. Sure all the “little people” get some money but it is way out of proportion to what the big guy gets, right? Could it not be considered a sort of pyramid scam?
Why Do People Call An MLM A Pyramid Scheme?
I do not have enough room or time here to list all of the possible reasons but we can go over a few. One reason is ignorance. They just do not know the difference between a network marketing company and a pyramid scam.
In an mlm a product or service changes hands in addition to the recruiting of people. That product or service is also sold, retailed, to the general public.
Now, I will be the first to admit that some companies over the last 60 years or so have been outright scams and tried to disguise themselves as an mlm but their existence was short-lived.
There have been other companies who, whether intentionally or from a lack of leadership, blurred the lines between a good network marketing company and a pyramid scheme. The dishonest ones were run out of town and the good intentioned companies adjusted their practices to conform to the law.
There will be others that come along and try to pull a fast one. That is the nature of things.
“That Thing Is Nothing But a Pyramid Scam”
One of the things that the opponents of mlm companies always like to say is that it is a pyramid scheme because 97% of the people make no money and drop out.
I have a question and it goes; why is it that the numbers of people who succeed in mlm are very similar to the numbers of rich people, of any occupation or field, in the world?
The smaller percentage of people in question know what they want, are focused and pursue their goals with tenacity and persistence to get what they want and they never quit until they do.
The larger percentage does not really know what they want and would rather do just about anything but work towards making their dreams come true. They are unfocused, have no tenacity or persistence and they get discouraged and they quit. Obviously if you quit you are not going to get what you thought you wanted.
That is another reason that mlm is accused of being a pyramid scam. People get excited at the thought of being able to have more money and making their dreams come true but are soon discouraged because they did not get rich “overnight”. So they have to blame someone, besides themselves, so they accuse the mlm company of being a scam.
It Is A Pyramid Scheme Because Your “Why” Was not Big Enough
Fleeting dreams of most people are never enough to stick with a goal. It does not matter what their reasons for doing it were because whatever those reasons were, they were not big or important enough.
If you want to succeed at anything, whether mlm or anything else, you have to first, really want it. Second you have to have a great big “why” you are doing it. Third you have to plan your work and work that plan. You have to want it more than anything and be willing to do whatever it takes, within good morals, to get it.
In the case of network marketing you need to know before you even begin that it is not a pyramid scheme or a get rich quick scam. That means it is going to take work, hard work and persistence. If you are going to market your opportunity on the internet you need to have an effective attraction marketing system. Oh, and one more thing, you can not quit after a month or two and say it was a pyramid scheme.
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For A Green Team Choose Ethical Training
Choosing green ways of managing your business is increasingly becoming a requirement depending on the sector your firm operates in, and linking up with other companies that also adopt environmentally-friendly practices could reflect well on your organisation.
Rules and regulations are being introduced that aim to cut the UK’s carbon emissions by 2012. These schemes have a positive impact on the environment, but they can also have a similar effect on your outgoings and reputation. As the awareness of how climate change affects the planet grows, ethically-run firms tend to receive more credibility than those that do not incorporate green practices into offices and buildings.
Incentives
As mentioned previously, there are lots of incentives to going green and doing business with those companies that feature ecologically-aware policies. For example, by insulating buildings correctly and replacing appliances with energy efficient kinds, you could cut your outgoings. Also the Climate Change Agreement allows businesses to receive financial discounts when they cut their emissions to a specified level.
New laws introduced via the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme will require some firms to measure their emissions over the course of a year and buy allowances from the government, with penalties issued if they are exceeded. If you or your employers have already made a start by introducing green policies to your workplace, then you may want to extend these environmentally-friendly practices by looking at like-minded firms that also uphold similar values. Doing so may help to reinforce your organisation’s own environmentally-friendly commitments, while also showing your customers that the firm puts importance in ecological matters, potentially boosting your ethical appeal.
What to look for
Not all firms will be required to incorporate new policies introduced as part of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. Those that are will probably need to adopt greener ways of making energy – such as wind turbines – heating buildings and disposing of used items. If you’re not sure how green an organisation is, you’re free to ask about their environmentally-friendly policies.
Each day firms generate lots of waste, with paper being a major part of their rubbish. Governments and authorities make it simpler than ever to get paper recycled, but a sure sign that a company is moving towards greener practices is that they try to limit the amount of paper that they actually use. As well as checking for recycling policies, inquire as to whether firms use computer systems for activities that may have once required the use of paper.
For example, emails do not generally need to be printed in modern offices and automated, online systems scrap the need for spreadsheets, calendars and booking forms. If paper is generated, check to see if there is a comprehensive recycling system put in place and that both sides of pages are printed on to cut down on the amount used. Today recycling schemes are broad and may include different kinds of waste, such as metals, toners for printers, appliances and packaging.
Firms that generate their own forms of power may qualify for certain discounts from the government. When doing business with other firms, ask them if they have any plans in place to install these devices, if they haven’t already. Natural energy, such as the sun and wind, is gradually being harnessed by both homes and businesses, and you may find linking up with companies that install them inspiring and consequently use similar devices, to cut your organisation’s emissions and outgoings.
Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on training company, please visit http://www.microsofttraining.net
The Fine Art of Business Ethics
Business ethics in its most basic form is the evaluation of business decisions according to judgments and moral concepts. It can be rated in a narrow field, such as how honest a particular company should be with their customers. Do they tell customers that the $150.00 dollar toy only cost $1.00 to produce?
There is also a wider study about the ethics of a business, such as employee rights. Do they tell their employee to take their fifteen minute break every four hours no matter what, when in the past 20 years no one has ever taken a break and the employees do not know they are legally entitled to them? In addition, there is an even wider study regarding the ethics of a business and the environment. Do they buy the land they desire and build regardless if it will displace 3000 people, or ruin a natural animal habitat?
Most business conflicts between the company and its community, customers or employees are typically conflicts that have emerged from ethical issues. Tough issues in relation to ethical practices create an ultra-thin line for CEO, presidents and high ranking management to walk, as they balance the practical against the ideal. The business needs to make some sort of reasonable profit, the world wants to save the trees, the consumers do not want to be cheated and the employees want a safe job.
Adding to the complicated thin line are the global environmental issues as well as the government’s involvement regarding potential criminal behaviors. Quite possibly the hardest area to clear up business related ethical problems is for the multi-national companies, with corporate headquarters in multiple nations with very different operating, legal and moral standards. Does the company maintain a constant standard of ethical practices or conduct business under the “when in Rome” theory?
When it comes to learning business ethics, or teaching the leaders of tomorrow the fine art of ethics, some of it is still unchartered territory. With the thoughts of some that, conduct and morals are taught in the home to young children and cannot be undone; it creates a vast field of uneasiness when it turns into business. With the fact that most businesses are somewhat concerned about their public image and always concerned with losing profits, the basic areas of business ethics are commonly practiced in some form.
Typically, to run a business with some ethical practices they will eliminate any actions that reflects badly on the reputation of the company, avoid practicing business in ways that have the potential of civil law suits and verify all business-related functions stay on the legal side of criminal acts. In addition, while this may not cover every ethical issue in business it is a good starting point.
Alex writes on various other topics including student loans without cosigner support and easy student loans.
Ensuring Your Business Behaviour is Ethical
Whenever a news story is published about a company closing because of the actions of the management, everyone asks how anyone could violate ethical business behavior standards in such a blatant fashion. Other professionals research the details of the story and claim the same situation would never occur in their own business. No one would make such questionable decisions that would lead to corporate bankruptcy and legal charges for fraud. The truth is that every person has a different degree of tolerance for dishonesty, secrecy, and manipulation that creeps into daily business life.
Simple actions by people holding leadership positions will directly impact the ethical behavior practices within a business. Having the secretary screen calls when the manager is visibly available may not seem important, but even the simplest white lie communicates what is acceptable. Small decisions to bend the truth will develop into larger habits of justifying lies about finances, time and attendance, and hiring and firing decisions.
Any decision that must be kept secret for fear of the company’s reputation is bordering on unethical. While privacy protects patent, copyright, and market advantages, secrecy covers practices that bend the rules just enough to get by legal requirements. When the shortcomings of the organization are hidden and ignored because poor performance is tolerated, ethical business behavior is not being required of people in every position. Problems must be identified and addressed to reward the tough decisions that raise the ethical standard throughout the business.
When business becomes a game of winning and losing, manipulation has crept in to the life of the business and every person wonders what rules will be followed for the current week. By this point so many standards have been compromised, a full audit would be required to find all the places that ethical business behavior has been omitted. Managers who are manipulating report results and financial data have crossed over a line that is labeled, “the point of no return.” Truth has been swept aside and anything can happen after this point.
Anyone can fall into the slide that happens over time if not checked at the earliest point of hearing yourself tell the first white lie that is easier than admitting something might be wrong. Make a personal decision today to not take that first step away from the highest standards of ethical business behavior. Require excellence in your staff and spend time with people who will hold you accountable to the ethical business practices.
Alex writes on various other topics including student loans without cosigner support and easy student loans.
Ensuring Your Presentation Is Decent, Honest – And Legal
When you create a PowerPoint presentation, can you honestly say that you are sourcing and downloading images from a trusted source? Many of us have the luxury of being able to source logos, charts or images from a central library created for use within our own company, but sometimes it’s crucial to find a visual reference from the wider world and that’s when the internet is an unrivalled tool.
As search engines have become more sophisticated, there is now a wealth of knowledge available to take us out of the confines of the company slide library and our own digital album. Few of us give a second thought to using the internet for additional research. It’s easy to track down and locate even the most obscure information, facts and figures – all of which adds a bit more punch to a presentation. But it’s worth thinking about how to search and download images legally and without infringing the laws of copyright.
The ease of downloading from the internet has led people to believe that if something is on a website then it’s free for anyone to use. Not only is this misconception untrue, it’s also very dangerous.
If you do decide to widen your search and embark on trawling the net for images, there are two things you should take into account before you begin: one is permission and the other is cost. These two search parameters will then determine where you should fish for your bounty.
Reputable stock libraries exist in abundance and it’s easy to search online and negotiate the use of anything from images of Aberdeen to Zanzibar Island. Libraries will help you through the maze of sourcing, costing and buying the use of high quality images for your presentation. Although cost is usually a downside to purchasing from a picture library, there is the option of choosing royalty-free over rights’-managed images. Royalty-free images do not ensure exclusive rights to use, but now often change hands for less than 1 pound. As well as photo libraries, many micro-stock agencies have sprung up which can supply huge numbers of images at low a cost.
Some websites promoting the use of stock photography use sophisticated technology to trace the illegal download and use of their images. To be safe, it’s best to assume all images are protected by copyright unless you have written permission to use them.
If you do search and source from a ‘free’ source, you must ask yourself if the images you are using are of good enough quality? The priority for a cheap stock photographer these days could be said to be the production of quantity and not necessarily always quality.
Once you have sourced and been granted permission to use the image, you will also have to adhere to any usage agreement. Do you need to credit the image in a certain way? And think about the restrictions to use the image – you might not be able to edit or amend how the image looks. The clever use of a picture editing program could create a bandage over the arm of the Venus de Milo, for example, and help produce a fantastic advertising campaign for medical supplies – but is it legal to do so?
Images are covered by the copyright law of the country in which they were generated, but they will be automatically protected in most other countries. Downloading images from the internet can confuse the issue, because it is sometimes unclear where the request came from and where the material is stored. However the penalties for infringing the rights of material available in digital form are very clear. If you remove any technical protection measures associated with the digital content or remove any rights information, this will now constitute an infringement of copyright and may be subject to criminal proceedings.
Even logos are covered by copyright laws – so don’t reproduce anything unless you are certain you have permission to do so.
Social networking sites give access to a huge array of subject matter, and a new standard licensing system has emerged designed specifically for digital content on the internet, called Creative Commons. This enables people to license their photos in the way they want to. But just because an image is published on such a site does not mean that you can use it without obtaining permission. Even if you think that the Creative Commons licensing system is protecting you when you use a social networking site to source images, it might not. Be careful to evaluate the images you find. It is not uncommon for people to upload images that are not their own and make them available under Creative Commons licenses.
And remember the owner of the work may not hold the rights to reproduce. A fine art painting, for example, could be on display in your office but copyright to reproduce may still lie with the artist.
There’s also the problem of using an image you have downloaded from an unofficial site – the quality will not usually be very high and can give your presentation a look of being cobbled together with substandard images. And while copyright isn’t the only thing to worry about when putting a PowerPoint presentation online, it’s worth, for example, considering how it will be viewed when using different browsers.
There are exceptions to copyright rules. For example, images used in an educational presentation can be sourced from sites which deal specifically with use in schools or colleges and have copyright clearance.
Then there’s always clip art – and there are many free clip art websites online. However legal business use for free clip art images isn’t easy to pinpoint since the original source is obscure, so free clip art images aren’t recommended for professional use. Just as with photography, before using clip art, make sure the image matches the use you have planned. Read the license agreement and examine all legal limitations before you publish the image.
There are many other categories which are also protected by copyright. These include: literary, dramatic and artistic works, films, sound recordings, broadcasts, dramatic works and typographic works. Think about restrictions for animation and sound, too.
If you are adding music to your presentation, remember that this is also covered by the laws of copyright. And it’s a good idea to check if both the music and words need clearance as sometimes music has been matched to words written by a different composer at a completely different time.
Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on powerpoint presentations in london, please visit http://www.microsofttraining.net