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Secret To Success:
"Be as honest
and trustworthy as you possibly can."
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| Erich
Winnecke |
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Highest Education: BA, California State University, Fullerton
Year Started Business: Offline-1993. Online-1998
Type Of Business: Offline- Insurance, Food Service, and Distributerships.
Online- Network Marketing and Internet Home Business
Target Market: Home-based business opportunity seekers, 18
to 75 years old. Those tired of working for someone else, or wanting
to develop a second income.
Best Month (Gross Revenues): $82,928
Hours Worked Per Week During Startup Phase: 45-60
Hours Worked Per Week Now: 25-40
Favorite Business Magazines: Small Business Opportunities, Home
Business Connection, Entrepreneur, Forbes
Favorite Business Books Or Authors: The Power Of Positive Thinking,
by Norman Vincent Peale—"This book changed my life and the way
I look at things. I recommend it to anyone who has no direction in their
life."
Relaxes By: Reading, watching TV, and playing golf, spending time
with my kids.
Keeps In Shape By: Walking on a treadmill everyday for 33 minutes
at 3.9 MPH
Favorite Part Of The Job: Learning new things and making friends
Least Favorite Part Of The Job: Trying to work with people who
expect something to happen overnight with very little work on their part
Companies Admired: Microsoft, Shaklee, SFI
Favorite Quotes:
- This instant is the only time there is. —Unknown
- Forgiveness is the key to happiness. —Old Testament
- Never...Never...Never...Never Give up! —Winston Churchill
The Person Who Most Influenced His Life: "My father, who
taught me that nothing worthwhile is free! Hard work, consistancy, and
persistance is required for accomplishing your goals in this life. He
also stressed that education was important to get the type of career you
wanted. Both parents took me to church most every Sunday and taught me
to treat others the way I want to be treated. The herafter is more important
than the here!
Heroes:
- Bruce Smith, Infantry Sgt. and Squad Leader in Vietnam—"He
probably saved my life after I was wounded. He made sure I was safe
and secure after I was hit and got me on the med evac helicopter."
- Mr Reed—high school history teacher—"Only teacher in
high scholl who made class interesting and saw potential in me."
Special Business Achievements/Honors:
- Lifeforce—2003 "Top Rising Star of The Year"
- Lifeforce—2003 "New Volume Producer of the Year"
- SFI—Presidents Club, Peak Performer-Top Sponsor... Multiple times.
- Leaders Club- Top Leader...Multiple times.
Months Before Achieving A Profit: "I owned an insurance adjusting
company and an Italian restaurant before going to an online business and
made profits in my first month on both. It took about five months to make
a profit with my Internet business."
Contact Erich At: E-Mail—erich@business-opportunity.net
GETTING STARTED TIPS:
I'm starting a home business next month. I have a maximum of $3,000
in start-up capital. Where should I invest it?
Assumming you already have a PC with an Internet connection:
- Purchase a domain and hosting acct and learn to design a Website.
- Buy leads.
- Get an autoresponder.
- Buy advertising on high traffic Websites.
I've just started a home business. My spouse has given me six months
to make it work. Any advice?
Convince her you need her support and for her to believe in you as you
believe in yourself and that you may fail once, twice or more...but you
will not give up and will always work hard and consistently, tell her/him
you will give up until you have success. Tell her/him you and
your family deserve the very best this life has to offer. Nothing
less than that is acceptable to you!
They say it takes money to make money. Should I try to get a small
business loan for my startup capital or just try to get by with my own
limited finances?
Yes, it takes money. Get it anywhere you can find it...beg, borrow, ask
the relatives. If you work hard and consistantly everyday you will have
success. I have seen and helped many people make a nice income online....and
have had the enjoyment of receiving an email from several people telling
me I was instrumental in them being able to quit their job and make their
Internet business a full-time income.
TECHNOLOGY & TOOLS:
How quickly do you adopt new technology for your business?
As quickly as I can learn it and see that it will help my profit margin.
How do you use e-mail in your business?
I spend about two hours daily answering and sending e-mail. I also have
use autoresponders.
How do you utilize the Internet?
My business is totally online. I promote and market work at home business
opportunitities.
How many of your own Website(s) do you have?
I own 5 domains/Websites:
http://www.work-at-home-dot.com
http://www.business-opportunity.net
http://www.home-based-business.com
http://www.work-at-home-directory.com
http://www.work-at-home-toppicks.com
I promote and market home-business opportunitities. Publish a newsletter
and moderate an online forum.
Do you use auto-responders?
Yes, I use several to follow-up with prospects.
Describe your computer system and how you use computers in your
business.
A computer with a 2.7GB Pentium 4 processor, a cable modem, and a 17-inch
flat screen monitor.
What software do you consider in the "must-have" category?
Submit Wolf Pro, Outlook Express, WS-FTP, Norton Anti-Virus, Adobe, Group
Mail Pro, MSN Messenger, IE Explorer 6, Google Toolbar, POP Up Ad Exterminator,
and Robo Form.
What other technology do you use in your business?
Scanner, printer, and cell phone.
Name up to five personal favorite business URL's our readers can
benefit from:
http://www.work-at-home-dot.com
http://www.business-opportunity.net
http://www.home-based-business.com
http://www.work-at-home-directory.com
http://www.work-at-home-toppicks.com
Of all the technology you use, rank the top three.
PC, Email, Laptop, Fax, Cell Phone.
MARKETING & ADVERTISING:
How do you market on the Internet?
I purchase Leads and advertse on high traffic Websites. I follow-up with
several autoresponder accounts.
Approximately what percentage of your sales originate from Internet
marketing?
100%.
How do you market in the print media?
I run a 1/3 page magazine ad occasionally in Small Business Opportunities
Magazine.
Approximately what percentage of your sales originate from marketing
in the print media?
Unknown.
What other kinds of marketing do you utilize?
Network marketing, phone cold calls, and e-mail.
Where do you market? (locally, nationally, internationally, all
three?)
Internationally, with a focus on U.S., Canada, and England.
THE HOME OFFICE:
How should someone set up his/her home office to maximize its effectiveness?
Have everything comfortable to suit your own personal taste, and don't
forget ergomomical considerations.
What, if any, ground rules have you established for yourself and
family in order to operate a successful home business?
I have six children, and they all know not to bother me when I'm working.
Sometimes, my wife forgets and brings things to me that can wait, but
all in all, they are very considerate.
What are some of the advantages to working at home?
The obvious are the cost and time savings of not having to commute. Also,
the freedom to set your own hourly work schedule. Go and come as you please.
Tax write offs are very nice.
MANAGEMENT STYLE:
What part(s) of your work do you farm out?
In the past...Minimal Website design.
What part(s) do you feel should never be farmed out?
Direct contacts with your networkers.
Do you encourage or discourage partnerships?
I've never had a partner but have not ruled it out.
Do you encourage or discourage hiring family members?
I give my family some contract work from time to time, and I believe
it is a good practice. It teaches them the business and keeps the money
in the family. I just recently brought my 27-year-old son into the business.
When legal issues arise, what's your usual response?
I try my best to comply with all local, state, and federal laws. I did
have a lawsuit filed against me several years ago, and I WON! We agreed
to a bench trial and the the judge ruled in my favor.
MONEY & INVESTMENTS:
What are the advantages of earning a lot of money? What are some
disadvantages?
Most of all, it creates freedom in your life. The freedom to choose which
schools your children attend. The freedom to travel all over the world.
The freedom to drive what type of car you want. The freedom to choose
where you want to live...etc., etc. Disadvantages: If you don't watch
your self, arrogance sneaks in and you sometimes forget where you came
from. Humility and being humble can slip away at times. Some people expect
and want more from you.
Best general tax advice?
Develop a professional and comfortable home office and invest in SEP
Retirement Plan. Hire your children if possible.
Best general investment advice?
Get a qualified professional to manage your funds.
You're in business already, and you've just received a windfall
of $20,000. What would you do with it?
Invest it back in the business through advertising and take a vacation.
NETWORK MARKETING:
What do you lead with, your company's products or the business
opportunity?
The business opportunity because the more good people you have working
under you, the better your business grows. The product sales will take
care of itself with good people in your organization.
Rank the following traits in order of their importance in building
a successful network marketing business: enthusiasm, persistence, knowledge,
and communication skills.
1. Persistance—you must keep working and following up on an ongoing
basis. That is the major reason people fail—they aren't persistant
enough. 2. Consistancy You must develop a good solid routine and follow
it. 3. Knowledge—that speaks for itself. 4. Communication Skills—are
very important to get your meaasge across to a wide range of different
types of people. 5. Enthusiasm—this, of course, shows how honest
and serious you are about the opportunity and rubs off on others.
How long were you in business for yourself before you saw your
first four-figure commission check?
In my Internet business, about six to eight months First five-figure
check, about 18 mos.
What's more important, the initial contact with a prospect or the
follow-up?
It's a close call, but I'd say the initial contact because of the first-impression
factor.
You've just recruited a promising new distributor. How do you help
him/her get off to a good start?
I provide them with a complete detailed outline of the techniques that
have worked for me and then make myself avavilable for questions and follow-up.
How do you get your best leads?
From my Website, which is advertised everywhere I can afford.
I need to generate a hundred leads within 60 days; what's my best
strategy to achieve this?
Purchase them from a reputable lead company....or advertise on a high
traffic website. Best to do both and get your hundred leads in a day ot
two.
How many distributors must a person recruit each month to succeed
in network marketing?
One good one per month is enough.
Best tips for surviving rejection?
Take nothing personal it is your message they aren't buying.
Do you recommend that new distributors prospect close friends and
family?
No, that will come naturally as they see your success.
THE ROAD AHEAD:
In five years I'll be...
Semi-retired and enjoying my family more.
In 10 years I'll be...
Retired and traveling the world.POWERFUL IDEAS:
What was the motivating factor that drove you to start your own
business?
I don't like taking orders from others. I wanted more freedom in my life.
What role, if any, did your family play when you were getting your
business off the ground?
Very little, other than my wife believing in me and trusting that I had
the ability to make whatever I tried work and succeed. I might add she
was very patient since I had [what most would consider] many failures
before I tasted success. As long as you are learning, you are never failing...even
if you are spending and losing money. You only fail when you quit and
give up.
What motivates you now to continue building your business?
Again, the freedom that a large income brings to your life.
What's the best thing about being self-employed?
The ability to do most anything you want to do when you want to do it.
The most underrated activity in business is…
Making new contacts.
The most overrated activity in business is…
Making new contacts.
What was the biggest obstacle you had to face when you were launching
your own business? What's your biggest obstacle now?
Finding the money it takes to get the business off the ground and keep
it going. Biggest obstacle now is keeping motivated to do the repetitive
tasks required to keep the business growing.
What was your worst business decision?
Buying a designer perfume distributorship I saw advertised in a magazine.
I lost over $10,000.
What was your best business decision?
Buying some good domains (www.business-opportunity.net, www.home-based-business.com,
and www.work-at-home-directory.com) back in 1998 and learning how to develop
a Website.
What do you consider to be the main keys of your success?
Persistance and consistancy and keeping my word. When I tell someone
I am going to do something, I do it!
What's your success philosophy?
Treat others the way you want to be treated and stay in the present.
What about you has changed the most since finding success in business?
I've lost a lot of my hair...but I drive a new Corvette every 2 yrs,
so that makes up for it.
What is the legacy you hope to leave?
That I was a good father and a good Christian.
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