I don’t watch the news much, but I know that most are saying we’re in a recession. If you’re smart, you won’t participate. And if you are savvy, I know you’ll be interested in what I’ve found on recession-proofing your income.

First of all, I believe the media is at the center of all this. This stuff sells papers and advertising on TV because people are drawn to it. When you get together with your circle of friends, what is the first thing you talk about after the weather?

“Say, did you hear how many foreclosures in Fort Myers?”

So you, too, become the bearer of bad stuff. And what is the recipient supposed to think? They hold back even more money and become part of the problem. Why are places closing? Is there really a lack? No – we’re just not buying out of fear. It’s a house of cards.

OK, so now for some good stuff. First, with all this stuff going on, how secure do you feel in your job? My wife had a cushy summer job at a local interior design firm. She was office manager. But one day – out of nowhere – the boss came in and asked her to sit down. And that was it. Sorry… we ran out of money.

Here’s what most will do. Panic. Or, wait and hope. Or maybe even get another job. But in times like these, you could sit down and take control. I mean the timing doesn’t get much better than this, people.

I am so into how businesses are stretching and molding themselves to the new economy. And I think it’s important that we do the same thing. In fact, during these so called “recessions” more people start little businesses than at any other time. Cool!

What if there was a way, with a little investment, you could own your own business. I mean something you could make some money at part time, in addition to your 9 to 5. I’ve found that network marketing offers this kind of ease and the cool thing is you are able to engage with like-minded entrepreneurs – like you. Really! Take a look at my Facebook page.  These guys are capturing a piece of today’s marketplace, with very cool cutting-edge products.

I didn’t realize the power of network marketing until my wife and I built one up to the second to the top level.  And even today we are paid residual checks from it and we don’t lift a finger.  It’s like I wrote a cool song, and people liked it, and still like it – and it gets played – and I still receive a residual on it.  I did the work – once.

This is a real cool way to have great income during this “recession.”  You get real resourceful in times like these and we come up with all sorts of money-saving skills.  Small niche businesses thrive!

So consider it – network marketing.  More than 61 million people are doing this and more joining each day with a myriad of goods and services.  It’s really as basic as it sounds.  You rely on a network of people in which you market your business.  Money that most companies spend on advertising is paid to you.

Look.  I’ve done this form of business for over 20 years.  And I’ve owned a few businesses – still do.  A lot of friends and family will rain on your parade, but they aren’t paying your bills.  Look at the people who are making a good income with this and ask yourself if you couldn’t do the same.  And remember my story… I love that check that comes in, every month without fail.

Do you think network marketing is a good business model?

We decided this year to go to the Naples 4th of July parade held on 5th Avenue to show our support for our country.  And it was fun and full of everything you’d expect from a small town on the Gulf of Mexico.  But what snagged my attention was the challenge our daughter was having getting any candy thrown from the floats.

It’s a tradition in many parades here in US that the people on the floats throw hard candy to the kids lined up along the parade route.

Rachel, our seven year old, wanted to get strategically positioned to get as much as she could as the parade passed by in all its glory.  She wriggled her way through a couple of families and got right out on the front line.  Perfect.

However, after a bit she returned and we both asked why?  The position seemed perfect, but Rachel said that there was big competition.  A couple of older girls and a younger girl were there at the same place.  It would be impossible to get anything.

We coached her a bit saying that there will be plenty and so she returned to her position.  But it didn’t last long.  After about 5 minutes, she returned saying she really didn’t want candy anyway and that candy wasn’t good for you and she just wanted to find somewhere to sit.

I thought of how much what she was going through was like many of the people I see in Network Marketing, or any marketing for that matter.

They go out and position themselves for maximum exposure, but then find out that’s where the big dogs hang out, too.  And then after a little coaching, they return but give up saying they just aren’t cut out for that, or that they really didn’t want that anyway.

But then, the dad and coach that I am, I showed Rachel that she needed to ask for the candy and people would go out of their way to give it to her.  So, reluctantly she returned to the front lines.

Then it happened.  When a big float full of people with bags of candy went by she looked up and held out her hand as if asking for the candy.  Two people threw a handful at her!  The other “dogs” or girls there waiting for candy were not doing this, so people were drawn to the open hand first.

Then something unexpected happened that really was fun to watch.

Rachel had turned the open hand into something else.  She would wave at the floats as they passed by – and that would catch their attention.  And once she had their attention, she then turned that wave into an open hand asking for candy.

Wow!  It worked SO well!  And I thought this is just what we need to do everyday.  Get their attention, and then not forget to ask for the sale.  Ask – it opens so many doors.

Rachel still has a big bag of candy at home and is proud to tell you the story of how she got it.