An entrepreneur does many wonderful things. In fact, many people are amazed with how the entrepreneur’s mind works. How does an entrepreneur become successful? And most importantly, do you want to be a successful entrepreneur too?

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Dear Zazzler,

Thank you for your interest in Zazzle.com, and thank you for publishing products on Zazzle.  Unfortunately, it appears that your product, “Kool Aid Drinker”, is in violation of Zazzle’s Copyright policies.  Specifically, your product has violated in the intellectual property rights of Kool-Aid.

We will be removing this product from the Zazzle galleries shortly.

A detailed description of Zazzle’s content policies is available at http://zazzle.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/zazzle.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=143

We are always trying to improve our process.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at content_review@zazzle.com

Best regards,
Content Management Team
Zazzle.com, Inc.

 

Apparently I was a naughty boy!  I guess the makers of Kool-Aid don’t want people walking around advertising that they use their product.  What was I thinking?!?

Asleep at the Wheel

This is a minor thing and I’m not at all upset that I’m losing my 10% commission on a 10 dollar button that I spent minimal effort designing.  The one thing that does bother me however is the fact that I created that button in May and it wasn’t until someone brought it in October that I find out it’s a no-no.  That seems like a really long time for something to sit on Zazzle’s site and no one noticing it.  I think that with all the technological sophistication we have today, there should be way to determine if something isn’t appropriate for the site a lot sooner.  Imagine how whoever brought those 60 buttons feels about not getting something that they ordered off of the site.

Back to the Drawing Board

So the grande latte I was going to splurge on will have to wait but the new items I’m designing for the gallery won’t.  I still stand by my opinion that Zazzle is a good home business to express your inner designer.  You’re likely not to get rich but you might have fun making your imprint on very small part of the universe (mainly the part you, your family, and your friends inhabit).  Just please don’t give companies the chance to advertise for free… learn from my horrible and morally bankrupted mistakes.

Branson: Entrepreneurs can seize opportunity from crisis

SmartBrief on Entrepreneurs | 10/30/2008

Creative thinking during an economic downturn will allow an entrepreneur to thrive while more-established companies founder, says British tycoon Richard Branson. Case in point: Virgin Atlantic, the airline he founded in 1984. It grew stronger as big airlines went bankrupt in the early 1990s. “There are enormous opportunities when there is a crisis,” he says. “In a situation like this, it’s absolutely essential to conserve cash.” But don’t let it sit unproductively, he says. Invest and expand. INSEAD Knowledge (10/01)

I would love to here what kind you are.

In these troubling financial times, there is good advice to be found on this blog.

Get Rich Slowly.  I like this blog because it fits in with my outlook on life: To solve a problem you have to attack both sides of the equation. If you increase your income but don’t cut your spending you won’t be wealthy–at least not for long.  If you want to lose weight, most experts suggest increase exercise activity while decrease calorie intake-Attack both sides of the equation.  This blog is a great resource on learning how to make a dollar stretch.

Check out my original post about Zazzle here, and you then hop over to my Zazzle gallery here.

What did you like most about working with Xocai? Least?

I liked the people I met, and the enthusiam that everyone in the team shared.  The best thing, though, was a product that I truly believe can help people.  I heard so many success stories that I really wanted to help people out.  What I liked the least… two things: first, I hate selling stuff - it’s really not my gig.  Second, the price.  It may stand alone in its class, but the average American cannot afford to spend that much on chocolate (even if it IS healthy).

What skills do you believe someone would need to be successful with this product?

 From my standpoint, the people I saw who were most successful had a personal story to share in how Xocai helped them.  I met people who had a wide range of success stories, from weight loss, to ridding themselves of dibilitating depression or pain management for fibromyalgia.  They also were very much extroverts who had no problem striking up a conversation with a complete stranger to share these stories.  Because of their experiences, they were passionate about the product, and I think that is very important.  Also, those who were successful typically did not work a full-time job.  That wasn’t always the case, but often so.  I don’t think some people realize how much time can go into a ‘part-time’ venture.

What was your initial investment ($) in getting started?

Initial investment was simply $35 to become a distributor, plus the purchase of two cases of product at $113.50/case (at that time… it’s since increased to $123.50/case).  The first case was for my use (can’t sell a product you don’t use yourself), and the second was to start your business by handing out samples.  That’s all you have to buy.  Now, shortly after that I purchased a number of additional items to see what I could do…  business cards, pamphlets to hand out, books on Network Marketing, additional product to create ‘Starter Kits’ and sample packs, etc… I didn’t have to, but I did.  I don’t really want to think about how much I spent on it all…

How much time did you spend daily working this business?

Hmmm… For a period of a few months I probably put in at least 15 hours per week on it.  It doesn’t sound like much now, but to add that to my full-time job, a house that we are remodeling, and a two year old, that’s a LOT of time.

How long did you work with Xocai?

I officially quit being a distributor about one year after signing up.  I quit putting that time into it well before then, though… probably after 4 - 5 months.

Would you recommend Xocai to someone you know?

This is a hard question for me to answer.  As a product, I fully believe in it.  But as I said, I’m not really a saleperson (hence trying to work it online), so while I did step outside my comfort zone and present the product to family and friends, it’s not something I would do again.  Mostly because of the cost.  Partly because of my personality.  As a business, it completely depends on the individual as to whether I would recommend it or not.  Most people still in the business will tell you ‘anyone can do it!’, but I will tell you that’s not true, because I tried.  I really, truly tried with all my heart.  I created website, came up with promotions, passed out pamphlets, solicited friends and family, and even contacted and met with privately owned businesses in my town and even in other towns.  I sold a few products, and signed up only ONE person through all of that effort.  It was a learning experience, and I’ve learned never to do it again!  :) 

 The Company

Xocai is a product of a company name MXI corp.  They have a whole line of products based on the idea that chocolate can be good for you and taste great as well. Now, I haven’t tried Xocai so I can’t tell you how it tastes, but I do have a 2 year old home and when I see videos like this I tend to believe that it tastes half way decent:

Justin should probably practice his lines a little more but he does come off as convincing.  As to the health aspects of the product the company swears by it (no surprise) and the FDA (Federal Food and Drug Administration) has yet to review the claims made by MXI Corp. Since this blog is dedicated to the money making opportunuties of Xocai we’ll take Justin at his word. 

How Do You Make Money?

MXI Corp. is set up as a Multi Level Marketing (MLM) company.  For some peolpe that’s enough to send them out the door.  Many people still a negative opinion of MLM’s, mainly because no one wants to pester friends and family with sales presentations or face rejection by going up to complete stangers. I’ve worked a few MLM’s ovver the years and I know from first hand expereince that it can be tough to work a system if you’re not comfortable with the sales aspect.  MLM’s have come along way in becoming a mainstream opportunity to work for yourself and become wealthly.  Two of the biggest wealth gurus, Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki, both have prasied MLM’s as legitamate ways to build wealth. 

Xocai has a somewhat complex compensation plan.  I really tried to find a video to explain how it all works but no luck there, so here’s a link to their website that details the 7 ways to earn bonuses.  One thing that stuck out to me is that you’re required to buy a certain amount of product each month.  I know from my MLM days that this is fairly common practice amoung MLM’s I just never liked it.

  What’s the Word on the Street?

As with many MLM’s there are stong opinions for and against the company, the product, or the compensation plan.  Xocai is no different.  I did an exhaustive search on many scam/work at home/ entrepreneur forums and blogs.  Putting aside the many debates about whether chocalate could actually be good for you there were some concerns about the company itself.

“Just another overpriced MLM product.”

“The natural antioxidants found in tea and certain fruits can also be found in HERSHEY’S SPECIAL DARK dark chocolate. Enjoy in moderation as part of a healthy diet and active lifestyle. One 5 ounce bar contains 4 servings. This sells for about a buck. And Xocia sells for?”  

 

And there others like this.  There does seem to be enough postitive feedback out there to lead me to believe that Xocai is a true business opportunity and not a scam.  That said, like other opportunities there is risk involved and absolutely no guarantee of success. 

 Don’t Take My Word for It

 I always find it helpful to hear form someone who has “walked the walk”.  Look at what a former Xocai distributor says about things you need to know before joining Xocai:

In this episode of ‘chocolate chat’ I will be talking a bit about the Xocai business opportunity… but not in the standard sense of things. I am going to tell you all the things that I wish I had been told up front. You see, in my quest to educate people about chocolate I do hope to inspire someone to join my team, HOWEVER… I want them to know all the facts and be comfortable with their decision to do so before they join.

You can read the entire write up on CocoaLovingYogaMom’s squidoo lens: www.squidoo.com/chocolatechat. Make sure to read the top 10.

To get even more insight into what Stacey has to say about her life as a Xocai distributor be sure to read part 2 of this post for my interview with Stacey. 

Legal Matters

No report is final until we check with our friends at the BBB (Better Business Bureau).  MXI Corp. has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB due to unrsolved compliants.  In the last 36 months, there were 6 compliants filed against MXI Corp.  5 of the 6 were resolved.  The areas in which compliants were issued were: Billing or Collection, Sales Practices, and Refund or Exchanges.  You can read the full report here. 

It’s good to be back.  I haven’t posted in awhile because I’ve had some difficult personal issues that took a lot of my attention away.  But life must go on! And don’t think I haven’t been thinking about you, because I have.  Here’s an article from a site call American Chronicle that offers tips on starting a home business.  Good tips, pretty standard advice.  What caught my eye is the part about finding what you’re passion is.  It’s so true that if you don’t have passion for what you are doing you will never have success.  And here success is defined by happiness, not what’s in the bank or in the garage.   But finding your passion can be difficult for some.  It was for me. But once you do find it you will be amazed at how things start to happen for you. 

Here’s a couple of videos to help start to find figure what’s your passion. (Note: purpose=passion):

In the coming weeks and months I’m going to dedicate more time to finding your passion/purpose because it’s such am important part of any business venture. Hope it helps.