The All-American "Get Rich Quick" Scam!
America: The Land of Opportunity?
Here's the run-down on trying to make extra money through a "work-at-home" program. Any program that you might find will probably fit into one of three categories.
SCAMS
You've all seen or heard of these. They're the ones that are always "too good to be true." And as everyone knows, but not everyone heeds, "if it's too good to be true," it's utter bullshit!
SEMI-SCAMS
Like me, some of you have fallen for these programs. And you've taken an ass-pounding, just like me, that leaves you soar for days, weeks, months... These are the programs that seem legitimate, and some of them may be, to an extent. However, you soon discover that it's not all it's cut out to be, and definitely not worth the effort. I call these "semi-scams" because, like the programs that are bona fide "scams," they are still "too good to be true."
FINE-LINERS
These are the programs that can be considered real opportunities. Virtually none of them are "get-rich-quick" schemes (which are themselves "scams"), or even simply "easy money." These take hard work, and vigorous dedication. I call these programs "fine-liners" because that's exactly what's included in the program package. Virtually all of them include most, if not all of these traits:
- Start-up capital. For instance, a substantial capital investment, or perhaps an initial fee to receive some sort of "start-up kit" with the business details and materials. Many people find that once the receive this "start-up kit," the business is nothing like what was presented to them. Those who decide they do not want to continue the business are seldom reimbursed their initial investment, even from those businesses that give a "money-back guarantee" (which includes fine-lines of its own).
- Time consumption. As I said before, these "fine-liner" programs require vigorous dedication and are not a "get rich quick" scheme. At minimum, these require the same man-hours as a full-time job in order to be successful. If you're still working at a regular full-time job, you essentially have to be willing to work full time for both. That is, until you're making enough through the program and are confident enough to be able to say goodbye to your regular job. Until then, you're easily indisposed for 80 to 100 hours or more every week. And if you're tied up in any other obligations (i.e. wife, children, school, etc.), you can scrap the whole idea. Success, in this case, is virtually unattainable.
- Down-time consumption. This trait ties directly in to the last trait, because it's the time between starting the program, and the point at which the cash flow from it moves from the "red" or "break-even" zone, to well into the "green" zone. This is the point at which income from the program is noticeable. Depending on the type of program, this process will take an indefinite amount of time. Anywhere from a few days or weeks, to several years or more.
"Fine-liners" are great opportunities, most of the time. For those few who are able to endure the long stride and the barriers between start and success, success can eventually be reached. People who reach that success have paid their dues, and it is well-deserved.
Many people, however, are in situations where they are unable to endure those barriers. Not because they are incapable, but because hurdling those barriers is made impossible by their situation. For instance, they are barely able to make ends meet already, and start-up capital is unavailable; they have families to care for, and dedicating 80 or more hours a week is impossible (unless they want to take a leave of absence from the ones they love); and inevitably, they cannot dedicate an indefinite amount of time from their lives to reach success.
This makes me wonder, is the United States of America really the "land of opportunity"? Or is it the "land of opportunity" for the select few who either have and abundance of cash flow already, those who have favorable influence with other people with an abundance of cash flow, or those who never take any wrong steps?
posted by Smith @ 11/10/2005 10:05:00 AM
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