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?

I was blown away by the scientific research in quantum physics that related a story of how praying for less crime in Washington DC on one given night, actually worked.  And recently best selling author Marci Shimoff interviewed 100 unconditionally happy people.  These people were being happy for no reason – it wasn’t their birthday or anything.  They were just happy.

What she found is really cool.  Marci recognized that they all focused on the solution rather than the problem.  Wow – write that one down.  Another cool point she found was that happy people let love lead in their lives.

They have the same junk thrown at them in life that we do, yet they choose to keep their hearts open in their daily lives.  And this can be seen in their gratitude.  They focus on it.  Not that they have more to be grateful for.

And here’s an important one.  They connect to something larger than themselves.  Marci found that people who are happy don’t always have to figure out everything to be in control.  The live in the flow of life, trusting underlying benevolence and wisdom from that larger wholeness.

These same people seek a nourishing support system.  Remember what I talk about – the power hour?  These people do this and discover their passion and incorporate it into everything they do.

Now – quick things you can do today that lead to happiness.

In a minute, you could – be grateful – write a thank you card.  Relax – close your eyes and breathe deeply and slowly, three times.  Connect – call, text or email someone you haven’t in a while.  Gain perspective – look out the window toward the horizon.  And think about you – list three things you like the most.

Did you know that 72% of Americans dream of starting their own business.  Man, that’s almost all of us.  I know I’ve had that entrepreneureal spirit since a buddy gave me a copy of Think and Grow Rich.

And what is your passion?  Like model airplanes?  Creating websites?  Taking pictures?  57% of us are passionate enough about something to turn it into a money maker.

I don’t know about you, but if you’re like me, there are reasons – whys – you want to start something you can call your own.  Intuit by Decipher released interesting figures.  They say they found 40% would start a business because they are tired of working at something they hate.  (That number sounds awful low compared to people I talk to.)

Finally, let me give you a clue I got from Dr. Oz, America’s Doctor, who I heard in a recent seminar on his HealthCorps organization.  Essential to health and happiness are exercising and sleep.  We don’t get enough deep sleep for our bodies to repair themselves.  Should you be up at 1 AM reading this?  If you have a normal day – 9 to 5, the answer is no.  So my challenge to you today is to do what you can to have a more positive outlook on life, and to get 8 hours sleep tonight.

Every school day I bike with my eight year old down the street to her school.  It bugs me that the parent that drops off their kid at the front of the school will then barrel down the side street at 35 to 40 MPH in a School Zone.  I guess I have a few quirks, but people doing dangerous things (not to them; to the kids) is not high on my list.

OK, so you’re thinking how can I profit from something like that?

Here’s what you do.  I’ve been talking to you about home based businesses for a good while.  What you want to do is take that irritating behavior and ask yourself what would the possible equivalent be in your own business?

Then, find the way to correct them.

For me, it was people that simply rush right through the sign-up process to the street.  They don’t feel they need much training, and they’re dangerous as business builders.  Like there’s a 10 step program and they read about three steps and stop.  Were they not interested, or was it that the training wasn’t cutting edge.

Well, whatever it is, I knew I needed to find a way that people would go from step one all the way through step 10 without bailing.  And the best way to do this is to offer some sort of incentive.  It’s not difficult to create a training website where you have do things in modules.  www.Drupal.com comes to mind.  You can probably get someone for under $100 to do this at www.elance.com.

So see what is irritating in your world and apply it to your business.

Continued success.