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When I see participants in a game show, like Deal or No Deal, I am always impressed at their zeal, focus, commitment, enthusiasm, and energy. Well, they stand to win millions of dollars or at least a car, I guess. And the game show has a beginning and an end, and they get to go home afterwards, with or without the prizes.

I have watched Survivor and the Amazing Race – same thing. Bottom line they can only control a certain amount of what goes on, and the game doesn’t last very long. I’m sure a lot of them muse afterwards, “If only I had more time…”

Life is like a game show in some ways. First, it has a definite beginning and a definite end. Second, you get a lot more chances and to mess up and come back than you do in a Game Show. And a lot more time. But the real difference is that you really do get to control the outcome. It’s not Random Chance that will allow you to win, but your Rational Choices. And you’re playing against yourself! That means you have no competitors!

Life is a lot easier than a Game Show and you stand to win a LOT more. You don’t just win a shiny car – you can win thousands of cars, millions of dollars, lasting happiness and wonderful relationships. You can help millions of other people.

The Game is NOT Over Yet!

How long have you been playing the Game of Life? 20 years? 40 years? 50 years? 60 years? Here’s the great news: THE GAME ISN’T OVER YET! You can still win! The game only ends when you die. (And perhaps it even continues after that…) But let’s realize that many people quit halfway through the best Game Show in the World. Imagine someone walking out in the middle of Survivor or the Amazing Race, if they didn’t have to!

Too many of us allow disappointment, cynicism, and fear to rob us of a wonderful life, so we stagger away from the game and sulk in a corner while the rest of the participants courageously press forward. Well, you can pick yourself up, dust yourself off, have a Starbucks, and leap back into the fray if you want to. It’s not too late. Unless you’re dead, that is…

See, you are the game show host and the participant. You just have to know the rules and play by them. The rules are simple, really, there are only a few:

The 5 Rules to your Game Show Life

1. You will reap what you sow. You have created what you have and you can change what you have.
2. You are in control of your response to the world and your circumstances, and you can create anything you want.
3. You only lose when you quit and you can be forgiven and recover when you mess up.
4. The only limitations you have are self-imposed.
5. There are good people out there to help you, if you choose the right ones.

You’re not too old, too hurt or too weak to get back in the game. You can do it. You can soar like an Eagle, even if you feel like a lame duck. You were made to win, and it’s not too late to succeed magnificently .

It is said that duplication and leverage are the two most powerful forces in the world. Think of a virus or compound interest, and you will understand how a mail carrier can earn a million dollars a year through Network Marketing and how a simple Joint Venture that took an hour to set up can turn into tens of thousands of dollars in pure profit. There is a hard way and an easy way to make money, and I think it’s better to go the easy way.

I am thoroughly enjoying Ray Kroc’s book, “Grinding it Out” – written in 1977 about how he built McDonald’s. It’s an inspiring read of courage, vision, risk, sacrifice, and success, as well as a revelation of how dishonest some people are and how Mr. Kroc survived them. It’s very gratifying to me that I can show people a better way to wealth, a path that is not inundated with risk, sacrifice, fear, and chance. This route is the means I have chosen to build wealth – it requires no selling, risk, sacrifice, or sleepless nights.

Mr. Kroc succeeded against all odds, but he chose a business model that is extremely difficult. Joint Venture Brokering allows me the freedom of time and money, and I can operate in many areas, in many industries, and at many levels simultaneously. While franchising is definitely leverage, I choose to leverage multiple resources in many different ways, all at the same time, with no risk, overhead, leases, royalties, inventory, capital investment, or employees, and little time. I can be a creative and as adventurous as I like, without investing a blue cent.

Am I as wealthy as Mr. Kroc was? Of course not, but it is definitely as possible to attain the same level of wealth, faster, with none of the risk or costs involved, using Joint Ventures. Most entrepreneurs work too hard and earn too little. The average business, in my estimation, can easily double and quadruple their profits with no cost or risk using Joint Ventures. One JV that I got into took a profit center in my business from $4,000 per month to $20,000 per month in four days. Leverage: it’s an amazing force that is available to all of us, whether we have a business or not, and regardless of our circumstances or background. Life can be a grind, but I prefer the beach. You don’t have to sacrifice, sweat, and grovel anymore, once you discover the magic of Joint Ventures. Replace fear with fun, sweat with skiing, and risk with reward.

Successful people are very careful how they spend their time, and even more careful about WHOM they spend their time with.

The most successful salespeople I have ever met were all very cautious to PRE-QUALIFY people before they wasted any time with them, by asking them very specific questions. If you decide to only spend your time with great, qualified prospects, you will make better presentations, work less, and make a lot more money. Qualify them on their interest level and qualify them on the money (can they afford it?) before you spend any more time with them.

It’s senseless to fish in a lake without fish. It’s stupid to fish in a lake where the fish are not hungry. It’s crazy to use the wrong bait. And you can’t force the fish onto the hook.

Remember, you already have the information and the business. You’re in control. You don’t need everyone in the world - you only want only a few good ones out of the millions out there. Spend your time very selectively.

Some will, some won’t, so what? NEXT!

YAHOO! You Always Have Other Options.

How do you qualify someone? BEFORE doing the presentation or arranging the meeting, ask, “If I could show you a way to reach the goals/solve the problems you have told me about, and you were comfortable that the system would work for you, would you take immediate action?”

If they say, “NO”, respond:

“I’m curious - may I ask why?” Determine their level of hunger before you try to sell them food. “The investment required for you to participate in this system is $1,000. If you feel this is the right solution / vehicle for you, is that something you can afford?” If they tell you they definitely can’t afford the program, even if they agree that it’s the best thing since sliced bread, MOVE ON. Someone’s Waiting! NEXT!

Seek Out The Producers And the Winners (That’s Only 3% of the Population!)

Would you rather spend ten hours with ten losers who never do anything, don’t show up at meetings, forget (or refuse) to return calls, and are always late, or with one real go-getter who is reliable, responsive, proactive, hard-working, eager, and positive? You may LIKE someone, but that’s never a reason to do business with them. Remember that. Seek out the producers and the winners. That’s 3% of the population: 9.9 million people in North America (out of 330 million.)

Walk away from losers and to winners. When the eagle mask slips and you see a loser underneath, hit the road, Jack. Talk is cheap - look for action. Forgive them twice, then kick them to the curb where they belong and go looking for a champion. Working with winners is very rewarding and satisfying. It’s stimulating to work with creative, positive people who take the initiative and motive you. You look forward to their calls and enjoy your time with them, and you all make lots of money in the process.

Robin J. Elliott