Please take a moment to read this post from a Gen Y UnFranchise business owner, Emily Richter. Emily understands just how important it is to leverage social networks to help fill the bean jar. Gen Yers like Emily have grown up with the internet and social networks as a part of their daily lives, and are naturally inclined to excel at one to one marketing.

Social media is the perfect platform to recruiting because you can find people with just a few clicks – instead of wasting time and gas running going from place to place. Networks like Facebook and Twitter make it easy to fill the bean jar faster. Using these tools is a daily step on the stairway to success!

Did you know, lead generation sites for Unfranchise owners with Market America are taking the country by storm!  Google alone has over 5 million searches a month for people looking to find anything related to a home based business, and Market America has the best solution for entrepreneurs looking to get started by leveraging a proven plan for success in building an Internet marketing business for themselves.  Now we have an incredible new tool at www.explorema.com to help all those people searching on Google to help find Unfranchise owners anywhere in North America, that can help them achieve their goal of owning their own successful business, and working to achieve financial freedom for themselves.  This is powerful folks!  Leverage the power of the Internet to explode your business, go to www.explorema.com today and get started with this amazing new tool to help you find entrepreneurs that are looking for the incredible business you hold in your hands with Market America!

Keep growing. I believe in you.

JR

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On Saturday Ju ly 17th I attended the Babes Burnin' Rubber event in Milville, New Jersey alongside my daughters Amber and Amanda to help support the fight against cancer. Market America's own Dennis Franks (former Philadelphia Eagles player ) was in attendance along with Vince Papale (former Philadelpdia Eagle and the inspiration for the movie Invincible) were with me as we helped a wonderful team of breast cancer survivors raise money for this important cause. Additionally Conquer Entertainment's own Justina performed on NBC 10, Shiragirl performed her hit song "Stomp It Out" which was a tribute to all breast cancer survivors.

About Breast Cancer in the US:

• About 207, 090 new cases of invasive breast cancer are found in women
• About 54,010 new cases of caranoma
• About 39, 840 deaths every year from breast cancer in the US 

Dear entrepreneurs and aspiring moguls, I wanted to share a link with you to a recent article about me on Career Confessions. Please take your time to read it and hope you can use this as a tool for your business. ~Keep Growing JR

Describe yourself in 3 words: Avant-garde, Visionary, Entrepreneur

What is your life motto?Keep Growing! Don’t forget where you came from or you might not be able to find your way back.

Last week, I took some time to sit down with Kim Kardashian to discuss what her life was like -- constantly on the go.  She also shared some advice as an entrepreneur for those looking to become one themselves. Take a moment and read 10 Questions with Kim Kardashian.

#1

You have 3.7 million followers on twitter, how has social media changed the way you do business and how has it affected your personal life brand?

I am almost at 4 million! Hoping to get there this week! I really believe I have a brand for my fans and tools like twitter have allowed me to connect and communicate directly with my fans! I get to hear what my fans are asking for an I make sure I can provide them with a product or information.

#2

Over the past few years reality TV has taken over television, practically anyone can become a celebrity without having or needed the experience. Did you ever expect for your show "Keeping up With the Kardashians" to become this successful and what have you learned from it?

We had a fun idea to share our lives on TV and in no way did we ever think it would elevate to this level. We definitely share our craziness and family feuds but there is so much love and heart in our family, I just think people can relate. We have grown closer as a family from this experience and bottom line we love what we do.

Dear entrepreneurs and aspiring business moguls  I need your feedback! I created this blog for all you daredevils, pioneers, explorers and UFO's. I want to be able to teach you more and guide you to lasting successful path. Please take the time to fill in the survey I would really appreciate it.

~Keep Growing

JR

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/beingJRfeedback

Last week, I talked about the importance of being prepared when it comes time for prospecting and recruiting. I listed out five (5) essential tools that I considered important, but conveniently left off one that those that know me might be surprised I had failed to mention.  That item is an mp3 file. For those that aren’t techie, an mp3 is basically an audio file which you can play on your mp3 player (commonly referred to as an mp3 player, an iPod, Zune, iPad, iPhone, etc…).

While there are a number of different tools that can help us once we get that initial appointment booked, I consider the audio file an important tool for getting us to that point.  We can’t run before we learn to walk, can we? The same process hold’s true when prospecting and recruiting. We can’t prospect if we aren’t programmed for success, can we?

As an entrepreneur, I use my mp3 player a lot during the day. The more you train yourself and listen over and over to the content that you’re wanting to learn, eventually – it will stick. Think about your favorite song you’ve heard on the radio. Somehow you know the lyrics, but never looked them up. That is because your brain is being programmed each time you hear that song to the point that you can recite it verbatim (and the song may not even be playing).

Sure, many of you will say “I don’t have time to listen to an audio file.” You listen to the radio or your favorite song, right?  The good thing about mp3’s is that they are portable. It is also important to remember that you are programming yourself for success, so it may mean getting out of your routine that you’re stuck in so that you can propel yourself even further.  One other great thing is that with an mp3 player, you can essentially put a lot of your favorite tracks onto your device and take it with you...anywhere. So instead of listening to your favorite song over and over, switch it up with an audio file.

Here are a few places that came to mind as I was putting this together.

• Plug it into your usb equipped vehicle and listen to it on your commute.
• Listen while you’re on the subway
• Listen to your mp3 player while you’re at the gym or out for a run
• Before you go to sleep
• When you’re on a plane
• While you’re cooking
• Etc…

Obviously, the possibilities are endless – all you need is an mp3 player, your favorite audio files and a pair of headphones. Nothing more!

To help you get started programming yourself for success; I’m running a giveaway and want to know the following:

Tell me:

1. How listening to audios on your favorite MP3 player – like the Market America MP3 player has impacted your quality of life and your business.
2. Tell me your favorite audio tracks that you listen to and why they are your favorite.
3. Also tell me an example of how you used an audio to educate or enlighten someone about a business idea. If you are a Market America UnFranchise® owner, how did an audio file help you prospect and recruit someone?
4. Tweet or update your status on Facebook to say “As an #entrepreneur, learn how to grow your business with the #mp3 from @jrridinger http://bit.ly/mp3_giveaway“
5. Send me an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and include “mp3 Giveaway” in the subject line along with your name.

In exchange for your answers, I will be giving away five (5) Market America mp3 players to five (5) individuals who give the best answers.

Keep growing and good luck!

JR

Being an entrepreneur requires a lot of hard work.  While others are out enjoying vacations and spending their free-time doing other activities, let’s face it, we’re working. Of course, what they don’t know is that while they’re out spending their money, you’re building a path towards your financial freedom (along with a back-up plan).  Granted, there are a number of trade-offs when we make the decision to become an entrepreneur and to work for ourselves (but we wouldn’t have it any other way, would we?).

As entrepreneurs, it is all about taking risks, being unconventional, and doing our own thing. With this in mind, I wanted to take a minute to share with you some of my favorite (and essential tools) for those that have made the choice to become an entrepreneur.  While we can rely on our own wisdom, there are some essential tools that every business owner needs to have in their arsenal if they are to succeed at prospecting others.

Five business tools every entrepreneur needs to be successful:

A computer:We live in a digital age, where pen and paper just won’t entirely cut it. We’re on the go so much that we need a way to take our office with us.  Not only is a computer helpful for showing presentations, videos or taking notes, with an Internet connection, it becomes a line of communication, as we can email others, give a website demonstration, check our calendars, book appointments, even introduce ourselves on a social network – all before we’ve left our meeting.

Portfolio folder, notepad and writing utensils:The second item I feel is essential for any entrepreneur is a portfolio folder, notepad and writing utensils.  I threw the pen and paper in there just in case our laptop, iPad or smartphone wouldn’t power.  These tools are essential for when we’re meeting with someone and we want to give them a quick overview about what it is that we do.  I also carry a portfolio folder with me so that I can review and make notes on important projects or so that I can jot down ideas for when I am going over a presentation or preparing for a speech. Another thing that the portfolio folder helps with is if you have handouts (which you should). This way you’re prepared with a digital PDF file (which you can send them on your computer) or a physical handout for your prospect.

Business cards:The third item on my list is a no-brainer. Not having business cards means you’re definitely not prepared.  Sure, we can write down our phone number, but it looks a whole lot more professional when we are meeting with a prospect to be able to hand them a polished card, that is legible and conveys that we mean business!

Be sure you include the following information on your business cards so that people know how they can reach you.

• Name
• Website
• Email address
• Phone number
• Social media contact information

A smartphone:The fourth item is essential for a number of reasons. Not only do most smartphones include maps (so you don’t get lost on your way to your appointment), but you can also send text messages, stay on-top of emails with customers and prospects, check the Internet, even take pictures, record videos and the obvious…make phone calls. Consider this your lifeline when you’re in a pinch. There are a number of phones on the market; the Apple iPhone, Rim Blackberry, Motorola Droid to name a few that can help you get the job done. Consider it a convergence device – your office in your pocket.

Incentives:The last item that I wanted to mention is the use of incentives. I’m not saying go out and purchase large quantities; rather, use them when you’re really close with a prospect and need that extra push.  This could be as simple as rearranging your schedule to fit with their’s, a free product, or even a gift card so that they can experience your website firsthand.  In doing so, you’ll ultimately build a bond with your new prospect, which can help seal the deal.

While these are the tools that I recommend having on-hand, I’m sure there are others that you may find helpful.  Remember, when prospecting or recruiting, it is important to be prepared at all times and to make your potential client feels as comfortable as possible.  By being prepared, it helps to convey the sense that you are very credible and can be the difference that helps them make the right decision.

To help you with your own personal incentive program, I would like to offer two (2) people the opportunity to win an ma® Giftcard with a giveaway!

To enter my giveaway for a chance to win an ma Giftcard, simply follow these rules:

1. Like the JR Ridinger page on Facebook.
2. Post the following status update on Facebook or Twitter: Follow @jrridinger for great tips for #entrepreneurs in growing their #business http://bit.ly/magiftcard_giveaway_jr.
3. Leave a comment on this post, telling me one additional item you would add to my existing list.
4. Send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and include your name/username and email address.

Keep growing and good luck!

JR

By and large, our success is a reflection of our attitudes, beliefs and thinking. We are prisoners of our own thinking and our limitations are set by conditioning our beliefs as what we accept to be true for us. Our outer world or what we are and have is basically determined by what we accept to be true. Nature has coded our DNA with what we need to succeed, but we determine what happens by our conditioning and thinking. Here are a couple of powerful, true analogies.

I find the parallels between the practice of yoga and entrepreneurism to be fascinating. I do not claim to be as accomplished a yogi as I am an entrepreneur, but I do practice both regularly and enjoy the benefits of each these disciplines. Success is a journey, not a destination. This is true both in yoga and in entrepreneurism.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and that is true of many experiences. Yoga is definitely a process; there is no end to how far we can go or how much we can achieve. A true entrepreneur knows that achieving success is also a continuous process. Every time you succeed or reach a peak, there is another challenge or mountain to climb. The best part of life, entrepreneurism and success is the joy of the journey.  In life and entrepreneurism, we are working to take control of our lives and minds.