Sep/090
Entrepreneur Extraordinaire: Glenn Antoine
I first met Glenn Antoine at the Rainmakers Main Event this past June. He was introduced to me as the “Master Network Marketer.” As I got to know him, I learned how true that is.
Glenn served as a systems engineer for the United States Navy and spent many years in the traditional workforce. But when the company he was working for suddenly downsized and did not need him any more, he knew he needed to find a source of residual income.
What is your focus?
A friend of mine who knew I knew a lot about nutrition asked me about Univera. He said, “I want you to really check this out. Turn them inside out and tell me what you think.” I said, “Sure I’ll rip them apart.” Wow, was I impressed. In essence, I went out and bought the McDonald’s franchise of the health and wellness industry: Univera.
Why Univera?
I can do anything I want in life, but if my health fails me, who cares?
If I’m the wealthiest person in the world but my quality of life, in terms of my physical health, prevents me from getting out and enjoying life, passing on that wisdom and knowledge to others and trying to have a real profound impact on people’s lives, who cares?
What is the core product?
The core for anybody and everybody is the Cell Renewal Formula. (AgelessXtra®)
You and I will replace 300 billion cells in the next 24-hours. We don’t get to pick and choose; Mother Nature takes care of that for us. Fortunately, she still likes you–you’re young. But in all reality, even at your age, her goal is to get rid of you. How often have you heard that someone died of natural causes? That really means those 300 billion cells each day are weaker than those they’re replacing. Only minuscule amounts. But day by day we accumulate damage to our body. At some point, its ability to repair gets out of balance. When that happens, the damage continues, organs shut down and we die of “natural causes.”
It is proven under the strictest clinical studies that, when taking the renewal formula, the cells are replaced by stronger, healthier cells.
You’re going to build a new body. What kind do you want?
When is your body at the middle point of being able to repair cells? Thirty years old.
By the way, there are a number of ingredients which are patented that nobody else in the world has. And of course those are the ones that provide all the results.
What objections arise in other people’s minds when you discuss your products?
Just with our existing diet, you could be eating a quality diet, be real conscientious of what you eat, avoid all the bad stuff, but you still won’t get the nutrients your body needs. Our food supply doesn’t provide the quality of nutrients we need.
People don’t have to do anything. That’s one of the most challenging things I deal with, people consciously ignoring their health.
It’s not my place to make people think differently about their future. I try to walk a real fine line between giving people some information and trying to convince them it’s a good idea. If I simply convince them, I’ve done nothing and it doesn’t solve anything. I myself enjoy helping people. If the thought of dying at 77.6 years doesn’t bother someone, then they’re probably not going to be real passionate about their health and probably not going to be real passionate about helping other people with their health.
I have had people ask me, “Why would I want to live past that [age]?” With that, I switch the subject.
Every entrepreneur has a variety of projects. What are yours?
Glenn has always been an entrepreneur. His projects include EVS MinderTM (a registration system that processes small and large events), custom hosting, and web development.
Glenn is also an “affiliate” powerhouse, utilizing the internet to its fullest.
Glenn, you have some incredible wisdom from all of your experiences. What is one thing you would share with the rest of us?
It can’t be about money. When you have a why that’ll bring tears to your eyes, you’ve got something to work for. What’s your why?
Keep Up-to-Date with Glenn
http://www.persistencemarketing.net/
http://aginghealthier.com/
http://twitter.com/glenn_antoine
Aug/090
Gerardo Lemus – Jalisco Endeavors
Growing up in Jalisco, Mexico, at eight years old Gerardo was introduced to baking. He worked in his family bakery and made ten pesos per week (about $.80) which was good money for a child back then.
As Gerardo grew older, in the late 70s, he decided to open his own bakery in Jalisco. He wanted more than just working for somebody else; he wanted to be able to get ahead and grow his business. However, his two older sons didn’t like the baking business, so he had to close it.
He then went into the business of making tostadas (similar to crisp, fried corn tortillas), something his sons would enjoy. They ground their corn, mixed the dough, cooked the dough, formed the dough into tortillas, fried the tortillas to a golden brown, and put final product in a bag. He later gave this business to his sons and it continues to be profitable to this day.
Funding a new Bakery
As Gerardo traveled in and out of the United States on a visa, he wanted to open another bakery. He was later approached by a man he didn’t know but who knew Gerardo’s mother-in-law. He asked Gerardo how much he needed to start the business he had in mind. Gerardo told him $25,000. The stranger said, “Okay, here’s a check for $10,000. I’ll loan it to you.” Gerardo asked what the conditions would be. The man said there were no conditions, and that Gerardo could pay him back whenever he could afford it.
Skillful Success
With little space, one oven (which still works well today), and a stranger’s check, Gerardo, a legal United States citizen, opened up his bakery, Bakery Lemus, about six years ago on English Avenue. His business took off so quickly that he did not need the other $15,000. The bakery was debt-free within a year.
He began with a very basic product line of pan (bread). He advertised on local radio and offered customers three items per dollar. Customers loved his pan and the word of mouth spread rapidly. With his success, Gerardo grew his product line, increased revenue, and for the past three years has paid nothing for any advertising.
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Gerardo offers an excellent selection of what we would call pastries and a variety of breads. The techniques he and his employees use to make their product are fascinating and you can check them out here: video. Bakery Lemus, Part Three is a must see!
I asked Gerardo what his one piece of advice was for other entrepreneurs:
Gerardo’s smart business tactics have led his bakery to an incredible success. Again, be sure to check out how he and his employees make one of their breads in Bakery Lemus, Part Three.
I want to give a shout-out to my father for translating this interview for me!
Jul/090
Nick Carter
Name: Nick Carter
Age: 26
Company: AddressTwo, simple CRM system online
Website: www.addresstwo.com
Contact: phone – 317.594.9550 & email – contact@addresstwo.com
How did you get started with entrepreneurship?
I started as an entrepreneur when I was 16; I was in high school and needed to make extra money and I figured out that I could dream up new ways of bringing in revenue. I finally realized that that was going to be who I became, my career path, when I was about 22. I had been working corporate sales for three years and really didn’t like having a boss. It came down to a matter of independence, the ability to exercise my own creative ideas. It wasn’t that I thought the owners of the companies were bad, or that they didn’t know what they were doing, it was simply that I wanted the opportunity to exercise my own ideas and to see my own ideas either stand or fall, so I went for it.
What drives you?
I enjoy the creative aspect and like seeing my own ideas flushed out. If I succeed it’s something I can say I did, and if I fail then I have no one else to blame but myself. Also, the opportunity gives me the ability to be independent with my schedule, and opens up opportunities for the future to do other things I’m passionate about, such as service and ministry.
What prompted AddressTwo?
It actually fell into my lap. I wish I could say it was through a grand scheme where I sat down, strategized, and dreamed it all up.
When I started Carter and Company, a marketing firm, about three and a half years ago, I learned in about six months that it wasn’t the business model I wanted to be in. The amount of money I made was directly tied to how much time I put in. I wanted to think of a different revenue model and before AddressTwo, I had tried several different online businesses that would have recurring revenue, be a product that could be sold, be scalable, and not just depend on my own time put into it. However, none of them did well.
AddressTwo came about through a project that I did, for fee, for a client who asked us to create a database system for them. Once I had developed a base code and the database, it dawned on me that now I had a product that I could quickly spin out and sell. Within about a month I had productized it, given it a name, put it out on its own, and created a PayPal signup and lo and behold, people signed up for it. It’s the accidental business, but has worked really well.
With so much to do, how do you manage your time?
I learned a great expression from Tony Scelzo, which was: “Eat the frog.” First thing in the morning, do the things you want to get out of the way, that you might ordinarily wait till the end of the day to get done. This way, if it’s four o’clock, five o’clock and I’m really pushing to go home and spend some time with my wife and call it quits for the day, it’s not the most important tasks that get cut off. We can really convince ourselves that everything has to get done today. I have to win that mental battle of convincing myself that I can go home and that if it doesn’t get done, it’ll be there tomorrow and business isn’t going to crash. I have to be able to look at it that way and hold it in balance with other things that are important to me in my life.
Who has been and/or are the largest influences in your success?
My wife has been one of the biggest ones, not because of any business savvy of hers, but because she is encouraging.
I also have an accountability partner that I meet with weekly, we do bible study together, we pray together, and discuss business (he is an entrepreneur). Before starting Carter and Company, as my first business I incorporated the name because I was getting ready to buy the business he was selling. He’s really helped by giving me pointers and showing me what it looks like to be an entrepreneur, how that life looks, and how he balances his life with his wife and family.
And my own dad, he was a farmer, not an entrepreneur in the normal sense of the word, but I learned what hard work looked like.
What are your goals for the coming months?
I have two goals which tie together.
I’d like to host a large event this fall, circled around AddressTwo but also business networking. I want to put at least 100 people in a room with a key note speaker, offer some basic sales training and break outs/workshops, and also offer free product training on AddressTwo.
And with that, the launch of a new feature inside AddressTwo.
How can everyone stay up-to-date on your ventures?
There is a blog at www.addresstwo.com and I also post twitter updates on what I’m working on (http://twitter.com/addresstwo).