As I sit here and ponder the strides that my young company, Market America, has made over the past year, one cannot help but be amazed. What started out of a garage with my beautiful wife, Loren Ridinger, has blossomed into something remarkable. Earlier this year, we launched the ma Cashback program, where we pay you up to 50% cashback on your purchases. If you refer others, we pay you 1/2% on their purchases too. Since the launch, we've added more stores, increased cashback amounts, and made a huge push into solidifying our place among the elite online retailers, but we're still hungry. Today marks a historical moment - a magic moment for us, the acquisition of a company that will help to bring together our people power with their technology and merchandising capabilities - I'm talking about the acquisition of Shop.com by Market America.

Being an entrepreneur at times can be a difficult task. You can feel like you're being pulled in a million directions one minute with many people wanting your time for various things. For example, to attend a charity function or to send a tweet to their friend. Other times, people want your approval on things or simply want to occupy your time with what they think is the greatest thing ever to hit the Internet!

As an entrepreneur, it really is something that becomes a fact of your life. That's why it is important to give back to those people that have helped you to get where you're at along the way. It is also a time to give back to those during times of need as well. Just last week, my wife (and marketing genius), Loren Ridinger, came to me with a great idea that our good friend, Eva Longoria-Parker was instrumental at pulling together.

The concept is simple -- tweeting for change via Twitchange.com. Celebrities donate a mention, retweet or follow that can be bid on via an online auction. The proceeds from the winning bids go to help Haiti. As an entrepreneur, this is an excellent way to not only get your name out there by supporting a great cause, but also a great way to give back in the process.

Not only you giving back to your fans, but you're also helping to support those that need your help -- kind of like when you first got started in business -- you needed someone's help to keep you going and motivating you to keep pressing forward when things got tough.

In addition to offering tweets for change, it's nice to see a number of our celebrity friends like Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys and Kim Kardashian also donating tweets. I also like the fact that others are not just donating tweets.

Loren for instance, is giving additional incentives to those that win her auctions - in return, she is giving the winning bidders the following:

Twitter package

Includes a follow (for up to 90 days), ReTweet and mention from Loren Ridinger. Winning bidder also receives two (2) tickets to the Vogue event in Miami, Florida.

Twitter @mention

Includes a mention in a tweet from Loren Ridinger. Winning bidder also receives a Motives Autumn/Winter kit.

Twitter ReTweet

Includes a ReTweet from Loren Ridinger. Winning bidder also receives a 30-minute mentoring session with Loren.

Twitter Follow

Includes a follow (for up to 90 days).  Winning bidder also receives a diamond Macrame bracelet from the Loren Jewels collection.

Make a difference in someones life and get rewarded in the process.  You're giving to help Haiti. In return, you're getting a tweet, follow or mention (and in Loren's case, more) from your favorite celebrity. A big congratulations to all of the celebrities participating in the first TwitChange and a huge thank you to those bidding to help Haiti out.

As entrepreneurs, we've also struggled to get where we're at. Take a moment and give back. As it typically works out, you'll be rewarded many times over in the end.

Keep growing. I believe in you.

JR Ridinger

I want to thank our good friend Kim Kardashian for attending our 2010 International Convention.  She really posted on her blog "Market America convention was insane, wow so many people showed up to learn how to be an entrepreneurs."  Kim showed up early Saturday morning to speak to a sold out crowd of 25,000 UFO, but not only did speak to about social media she showed everyone the greatness of our Paid to shop program, greeted her fans, spoke to fans and walked the concourse with us!  Kim you are a great friend and an wonderful entrepreneur we appreciate you for coming.

Check out her blog post she wrote about us on www.kimkardashian.com

Our 2010 International Convention was a great success we laughed, we cried and laughed again.  It was amazing to see so many eager entrepreneurs from all over the world excited and ready to take on new challenges. Thanks to our good friends Kim Kardashian, Scottie & Larsa Pippen, Raquel Perera, Katrina Campins, Kamal Hotchandi, Tommy & Michelle Pooch, Nicolas Vallejo, Angelo Pagan and everyone who took the time to support us and made this exciting convention happen.  One thing for sure our 2010 International Convention was bigger, better and Faster!!!  Some of my highlights were Scottie Pippen introducing his new product and launch partnership with Market America, Kim Kardashian on stage talking to a sold out crowd of 25,000 entrepreneurs about Paid To Shop and social media, Raquel Perera (girlfriend of Alejandro Sanz) talking about our revolutionary skincare product Metraskin, our doctor's panel with our national and award winning medical team, Duane Mclaughlin's performance and choir, Justina & Conquer's Entertainment performances, Andrew Payne showing everyone on stage about his new discovered combination Metraskin + Pentaxyl, Marc Ashley & Loren introducing the new redesigned Portal, Marty Weissman's Gala introduction and the success of our trade show.  This year's convention was not to be missed and we got enough press to prove it!

I wanted to share few images of some memorable moments from our  Market America 2010 International Convention and to view more photos you can go on the photo section of my blog or click here: http://www.beingjrridinger.com/photo-gallery.html

(here I am wearing Tom Ford during my Gala speech)

(Duane Mc Laughlin's performance with choir Saturday Morning)

Market America International Convention was a resounding success! I saw a crowd of hungry, open-minded, passionate and ready entrepreneurs eager to learn. The social networks engines were firing and the social media presence was felt like never before!

Over 1500 guests attended the social media breakouts, Twitter was over capacity, AT&T lines were jammed, Google broadband down, the world was buzzing with the #marketamerica hashtag.

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.

This is very exciting!  I love to see two very successful entrepreneurs and marketing geniuses work their magic not to mention they are both very talented. Recently our girl Kim Kardashian and my wife Loren Ridinger partnered to launch the uber glamour exclusive "Kim Kollection" line by Loren Jewels. This is what I call trouble! The dynamic beauties designed and selected from the best for you. Can't wait to see more.

Lorenjewels is a great example of entrepreneurialism. Just three months ago, my wife, Loren Ridinger, inspired by Hollywood glamour, created a jewelry collection for the everyday fashion-forward modern woman that can be worn during the daytime or at night.  The opportunity really happened by accident though -- we happened to be out with our good friend, Jennifer Lopez, and got on the topic of jewelry.  Just a little over 3 months later,  Loren Jewels was born and has since been featured throughout a number of major national publications. It has even been worn by a number of Hollywood celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Eva Longoria Parker, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez, Khloe Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Jaime Presley and Marc Anthony among others. In fact, Loren Jewels has also graced the following publications -- InStyle Magazine, US Weekly Magazine, Miami Magazine, Life & Style Magazine, most recent in People en Espanol magazine.

Check out this great video from the People en Espanol photo shoot -- where everyone on the cover is wearing Loren Jewels!

To celebrate such a momentous occasion, I'm running a very special giveaway!  Entrants will have the chance to win one (1) Loren Jewels Macrame bracelet (LJBR-485).

In order to enter this giveaway, please complete the following four (4) requirements and be sure you meet all of the contest rules:

1. Visit the Loren Jewels Facebook page and 'like/recommend' it to your friends.
2. Visit the Loren Jewels website and pick out your favorite piece.
3. Leave a comment on this post -- telling me which Loren Jewels piece is your favorite and why.
4. Send me an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and include your username that you used to post your comment.

Note: Even if you don't win, you're still a winner! Everyone that enter's the giveaway can use the exclusive coupon code BLING on LorenJewels.com when they checkout to save an additional 20% off their purchase!*

*Coupon only valid on LorenJewels.com. Discount code not valid on the following pieces: LJBR-1729, LJBR-1499, LJBR-940, LJBR-1744, LJBR-1744, LJBR-1904, LJBR-1213H, LJBR-1835, LJBR-1795, LJBR-216, LJBR-1721, LJBR-389, LJBR-1871, LJBR-195, LJBR-1237, LJBR-1731

Keep growing and good luck!

JR

My wife Loren, recently launched the Loren Jewels collection an avant-garde, elegant & luxury collection that has received the attention of A-lister celebrities and prominent buyers nationwide not too mention it's the buzz in the media right now. This is a very good example of a "successful" event for Loren and her team whom worked very hard the past few weeks preparing for their first preview of the Loren Jewels trunk show. Among the hundred + VIPS were: Alejandro Sanz, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian, Alicia Piazza, Mary Jo Floyd, Giselle Blondet, Travis McCoy, Paulina Rubio and Nicolas Vallejo.

Here is a a press clipping from www.miamisocialholic.com. What a great night! I also recommend you to check out her jewelry collection at www.lorenjewels.com

Last night my wife Loren with Miami Magazine hosted and introduced her new jewelry collection (Loren Jewels) to a fashionable crowd of celebrities, buyers, socialites and trendsetters. Some of the attendees included our good friends Alejandro Sanz with his girlfriend Raquel, Alicia Piazza, Mary Floyd, Katrina Campins and our favorite reality TV stars Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian who also to filmed a portion of their show during the event.