Sitting at the table at the St. Regis Monarch Beach resort in Orange County, I was eager to finish breakfast because I was in route to see a fantastic property perched on the banks of the mountain near Newport Beach.  I love my terrace breakfasts there because my table overlooks the fountain which overlooks the gazebo which overlooks the infinity pool which overlooks the fountain which overlooks the golf  course which overlooks the Pacific and flows right into  Catalina Island.  It was rumored, EC 145 helicopters are allowed to use the airspace above the water like an interstate which made it all the better.   Immediately after entering the property, I noticed the breathtaking views of the baby blue Pacific.  I was so engulfed in luxury that I almost didn't hear the agent say, "Don't I know you?  You're the guy who makes a $100K a month right?"  Skirrrrrrrrr!  DJ, stop the music, turn the lights on and everybody stop dancing.  I'm who?  "Yes, you're the guy in the network marketing company that earns a hundred grand a month.  And that new convertible Bentley outside is yours isn't it?"  I suppose it would be cool to take credit for a $100k residual but I couldn't.  "Sorry, I'm not in network marketing", I replied. 

 

  

 

 

Frequently, I'm asked to look at matters of someone's wallet.  Shark Tank is a great savior that now allows others to answer their own questions before coming to me but they still come anyway.  Once again, I've been asked my opinion on a network marketing opportunity.  Allow me to restate my thoughts which are I don't knock anyone's hustle.  If you think you've found the way to the promise land then by all means knock yourself out and do what floats your boat.  However, I haven't had good vibes from the ones I've seen.  That's in large part due to the presenters from previous experiences.  It's hard for me to sit and listen in good faith when you're trying to force me to sit up front, only showing me pictures of exuberance, telling me that you retired six months ago while you're clearly wearing someone else's suit and shoes.  Did no one notice the dirt caked under the fingernails and the shoes flopping off the heels?  How am I going to be retired and on the beach in two years when you've been doing this for three years and haven't even seen the beach?   

 

Socrates (Athens 469 B.C.)

Well respected friend LeVon Parrish and myself take similar approaches to these seminars.  Some may know it as the Socratic Method that I learned about in An Embarrassment of Riches by Alexander Green.  Socrates, who never jotted down a word, was by far one of the most non-attractive guys (neither Lee nor I are considered non-attractive by the way) in Athens but regarded as one of the greatest thinkers of our time.  Why?  Because he was extraordinarily well read and he asked questions until people were blue in the face. He questioned everything including experts, authority and logic.  He became the master at exposing erroneous belief.  This is where too many network marketing machines fall apart for me.  Always question the beliefs and listen, not just look, for signs of success in all who are overly hyped.

 

I'm formally trained in financial planning at a high level, have studied investment banking, private equity and international business both CONUS/OCONUS and I've never seen two or three hundred dollars compounded monthly at 400% consistently for five years to the point where I can eliminate a $1,000,000+ mortgage.  Where dey do dat at?  I know Wall Street, I've been to Wall Street.  I understand that $10,000 invested in the S&P in 1965 would be worth $800k today or that $10,000 in Berkshire Hathaway would be $64,000,000 today, but how can a juice that hasn't been invented by a billion dollar industry with teams of patent owning scientist and market shares that take up a percentage of US GDP send me to millionaire status and Wall Street not know about it?  

I was approached by someone from Amway who wanted me to join.  My problem is why am I more knowledgeable about the owners of Amway than you?  Why do I know they didn't start the company?  Why have I had lunch with the president of the company and not you?  Why do I know the owner is a staunch Republican who attributes tons of the company's success to his political affiliation and you don't?

  

Wall Street & The Investment Forum

 

 

Removing Scarcity from Your Bank Account

I understand why people look at various investments.  The bottom line is we all want a little more of the green stuff in our wallets so that we can have options in our life.  I've had enough of the "It's not the money conversation".  It absolutely is the money and people want more of it.  Having money is not a bad thing as long as you understand that it's great at solving the problems that it can and horrible at solving the problems it can't.

I used to write a lot about individual stocks, mutual funds, required minimum distributions, above the line deductions, etc.  I was sounding too much like Kiplinger's, Money and other magazines that are already out there.  Today, my style is getting people to sit down and figure out what the heck it is they want out of life if they could have their wildest dreams.  When you begin to truly accept that concept and get busy trying to make those things happen, you begin to take that Parrish-Socratic Method which leads you to action.  That's where you'll find the most happiness I assure you.

Whatever the material things it is you perpetually chase will eventually run its course but if you seek great life experiences, whether it is breakfast in Monarch Beach or frisbee at Huntington, you'll find tons of contentment until the big money comes.   If it does you know where to spend it.  If it doesn't you may find yourself extraordinarily happy along the way.   That beats being stuck in the front of the room at a seminar where someone is saying don't leave until you talk to my upline who knows the awesome triple platinum upline who lives in the five million dollar house.  Whether you become a network marketer or not is up to you but take the Socratic Method and ask lots of questions and be sure to find that guy that makes $100k a month off whatever it is you're selling and I can assure you he's not me.  

  

Tops down on the PCH!