I'm on the West Coast!

Just wanted to share my first video newsletter from the west coast.



And you can catch my North American MLM Road Tour series. There a couple issues left so go to www.RonnieCruz.com to subscribe!

Products we thought were safe are actually full of TOXINS

Our skin is the largest organ of the body and we absorb everything we come in contact with. Unfortunately, the cosmetics industry is completely unregulated and that means you are exposing yourself to tons and tons of toxic chemicals.

In an article by the Environmental Working Group, recent studies "detected 16 chemicals from 4 chemical families - phthalates, triclosan, parabens, and musks - in blood and urine samples from 20 teen girls aged 14-19." Furthermore "studies link these chemicals to potential health effects including cancer and hormone disruption." (Click here for full article.)

**WE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL WITH WHAT WE PUT ON OUR SKIN**

The solution: A TOXIN-FREE and GREEN skin care line, Glimpse. With this groundbreaking new skin care line, XanGo commits to leading the movement for cleaner and greener products. And in an unregulated industry like skin care, this is very, very important.

So GO HERE to visit my new Glimpse Skin Care website to learn about this amazing new line and how you can not only start living healthier but also start living wealthier.

Why Branding is Essential to Your Business

A cup of coffee at face value will cost two dollars, two fifty tops. But put that same coffee in a Starbucks cup and it'll fetch four dollars or more in most markets.

Your dining establishment serves hamburgers which by common standards are high quality hamburgers yet you're only able to sell a minuscule fraction compared to the billions of substandard processed hamburgers sold by McDonalds.

Why is it that Apple dominates with 87 percent of the portable mp3 player market share? Or Google with 65 percent of the search engine market share? Or XanGo with 80 percent of the mangosteen market share?

It's a simple answer. The secret to these companies' success is BRANDING.

What they've essentially done is create a name that people have grown to know, like and trust. The hamburger you buy at one McDonalds is the same hamburger you'll get at every McDonalds. The latte from your local Starbucks is the same latte at the Starbucks across the country.

The lesson to learn from these tremendous success stories is that we as network marketers have to create in our selves a brand. We can't simply rely on the strength of our products or our companies to foster growth in our businesses. We must set ourselves apart, put ourselves in front of the public eye so that people will eventually get to know us, like us, and trust us.

That's branding. And if done correctly, it will catipult your business to levels you didn't even think possible.




To learn how to successfully create a brand, visit: www.BrandYourselfToWin.com. For more information, contact Ronnie Cruz at 919-599-7645 or email: ceo@ronniecruz.com

Luxury Skin Care Truly Recession Proof

The LA Times just released an article explaining why luxury skin care has defied the depressed economy. It tells how despite plummiting stocks, depreciated housing values and rising fuel costs, people are still willing to shell out big bucks for something seemingly as frivolous as skin care.

This to me is further proof that XanGo's new Glimpse Skin Care line is poised to break all the industry sales records. The timing could not be more perfect. With the number of people looking for alternative means of generating income, skin care and network marketing are the perfect avenues for them to do so.

So, if extra income is what you're looking for, my advice is this: find a skin care company and run with it.

Click on the image for the full article.



To learn more about the ground floor opportunity with Glimpse Skin Care, contact Ronnie Cruz at 919-599-7645 or ceo@ronniecruz.com

Robert Kiyosaki Gives Advise on How to Create Wealth

Financial luminary Robert Kiyosaki explains in very simple terms why participating in Network Marketing (Multi-Level Marketing) is an incredibly smart option for anyone looking to broaden their financial horizons.

To learn more about Network Marketing, contact me at ceo@ronniecruz.com or visit www.RonnieCruz.com to register for my FREE weekly video newsletter.

Neat Little Video Shows the Power of Social Networking

I came across this little video that shows the power of using social networking sites like MySpace or Facebook in your marketing efforts. If you doubted social networking's validity as a tool for building your business, this video will make you think again.

Retirement... What's That?

News excerpt:

Debt-squeezed Gen X Saves Little

By Lynn O'Shaughnessy, Special for USA TODAY

At age 30, Bryan Short has, by any standard, achieved professional success since graduating from Boston College and law school at the College of William and Mary. Yet despite his job as a Washington mergers-and-acquisitions lawyer, he's nowhere near as financially secure as he expected to be by now.

He and his wife own one car and rent a 500-square-foot studio apartment. More than one-third of his take-home pay is gobbled up by repayment of college and law-school debt. Children are unaffordable right now. And retirement savings? They've barely begun.

CLICK HERE for the complete article.
================================

Bryan's story isn't an uncommon one. This article, goes on to say that his story is symptomatic of a much larger problem. Not that we don't have enough to worry about with the Great Depression of '08, but when we dig ourselves out of this gaping void of a financial crisis, we will be facing yet another and perhaps even bigger problem.

With the cost of fuel and cost of living rising sharply, the already debt strapped Gen-X will have an even more difficult time than ever saving and preparing for things like their children's education and retirement.

So what are the options?

Well if we go by the antiquated ideology of good grades, good school, gets you good secure job (an ideology that in my opinion barely worked for the Baby-Boomers), there aren't really many options.

But if we start considering ways of generating income outside of employment, like say real estate investing or network marketing, then this opens up a whole new realm of possibilities. And especially if we're talking about a group with already very tight budgets, the relatively low cost of starting an MLM business and the relatively short amount of time it takes to generate an extra couple of hundred to an extra couple of thousand dollars monthly makes Network Marketing an incredibly smart option.

Maybe I'm partial because I'm currently (and happily) participating in the Network Marketing industry. But to me it's really simple: the more options we have, the broader our horizons. Network Marketing is simply that -- another option.

To learn more about Network Marketing, contact Ronnie Cruz at ceo@ronniecruz.com or visit www.RonnieCruz.com to subscribe to his weekly MLM video newsletter.

Great Tool for Marketers Using Online Video

Tube Mogul is a great service for any MLM'er using video marketing. This service allows you to upload a video to over 20 different video social networking sites simultaneously. If you've been using videos as part of your marketing efforts then you know how much time it takes to upload a ingle video to just one site let alone two or three sites. Tube Mogul is free and easy to use and is a MUST for anyone serious about getting your videos out there.

Mike Dillard Does It Again!

Amazing training shows you how to sponsor 10 new reps each month like clockwork.


Check it out.
The best thing about it is that you can get this course absolutely risk free! Try it today.

Economic Crisis Isn't Just Local

On my recent trip to Canada I came across a newspaper article that I thought was very significant. In brief, the article stated that "more than half of workers -- 55 percent -- say they always or usually live paycheck to paycheck just to make ends meet."

Now, if the numbers are that bad in Canada, I'm certain they're worse here in the US.

We have the answer to this recession but too quickly do people dismiss it as "one of those things" -- an endeavour not worthy of consideration. Meanwhile, those very same people are having to work more hours -- some even taking on a second or third job -- just to make ends meet.

If you don't want to be one of these people, here's my suggestion: Do your research on Network Marketing. Learn what thousands of people are already doing to recession proof their finances. Discover for yourself what truly is the best and simplest way to ensure a secure financial future for yourself and your loved ones.

===================

Ronnie Cruz is a full time Network Marketer and has helped thousands move forward on the path to financial freedom. For more information contact him at ceo@ronniecruz.com or visit www.RonnieCruz.com

2008 North American MLM Road Tour

I've just returned from my first annual North American MLM Road Tour and man what a amazing time! I've learned so much and thankfully I was able to video tape much of the journey. And now, I want to share everything I learned with you. I'll be releasing these videos on a weekly basis and you can register to receive them as soon as they're released.

Just go to www.RonnieCruz.com and fill out the short form and you'll receive an email as soon as each video is released.

Don't miss it!

Glimpse Skin Care Predicted to Break Records

We're counting down the days to the launch of this break through new skin care line called Glimpse.

It's predicted that XanGo will have a 5 Million Dollar Day - something that's never been seen before in the entire Network Marketing industry.

Where will you be on launch day?



November 5, 2008






CLICK HERE for more information on Glimpse Skin Care.

YTB Gets Smacked Again!

This one is a no brainer guys. More and more states are begining to put the smack down on travel MLM, YTB (Your Travel Business). In my humble opinion, it's only a matter of time before YTB is shut down. The only way they can continue opperating is if they fix their compensation plan, and if they do that, the distributor force isn't going to be very happy.

Quick tip: if a company pays you commissions on memberships or distributor kits, STAY AWAY.


For those of you affiliated with YTB reading this - I'm sorry. One way or the other, you're going to get burned. There are better companies out there. After the smoke clears, if you want to get back in the game, call me. I can help.

Twitter - New Web 2.0 Tool to add to your aresenal

I have to admit, I'm way late on this one. People have been Twittering for quite some time now and I've only recently joined the ranks as one of Twitters thousands of addicts. Yes - addict.

I don't mean to make light of people afflicted with any of a multitude of addicitons, but it's really the only way to describe it. I just registered my Twitter account yesterday and I've found myself wanting to update it with every new thing I'm doing.

Designed to keep your friends and family in touch with you by giving them updates on where you are and what you're doing, the Twitter network has grown to massive propotions in a very short period of time.<> Thbr /at's great for you and me as Networkers because its another way to meet and get to know the millions upons millions that call the internet home.

From a marketing stand point it's another line in the water. From a personal stand point, it's a way to flex your creative prowess in short burst of often funny, always entertaining updates.

So, get hooked up with a Twitter account and TWITTER ME!

Glimpse Skin Care - the Next Revolution

The entire MLM community is abuzz with what will surely be the biggest product launch in the history of the industry.

One of my first posts in this blog was about the launch of Glimpse and now it's almost here. And from everything I've been hearing about it, it's going to quite litterally change the face of Network Marketing.

November 5th is the big day. Experts are all saying that with this launch, XanGo will have the biggest sales day this industry has ever seen.

Stay tuned.

Important Article on the Future of Marketing Online

Here's an article I came across today on Mashable.com that makes some really great points on where the internet marketing and web 2.0 strategies is headed. In this article, titled What’s Next in Online Advertising?, Jackie Peters says this:

"...the Web is becoming more and more social. It’s been my experience that the brands, and people, who are most successful on the social Web are those who contribute. Communities on the social Web cannot be sold to, but that doesn’t mean they won’t embrace a brand. The social Web is about Community, Connections, Contributions and Conversations, not Convincing and Conversions..."

Click here for the original article

That to me is a very significant statement and really goes along with everything we've been saying about web 2.0 and using the internet to build your business.

It's all about building connections and branding yourself.

Check out the video and then GO HERE to get your copy of Brand Yourself to Win

3 Time Grammy Winner Joins MyJetstream and XanGo

I think these pictures pretty much speak for themselves. Chris "Ludacris" Bridges has partnered up with MyJetstream and XanGo. We're still working on the video but it's almost ready. Be one of the first to see it -- Go here to register.

One of the reasons Chris has become a XanGo distibutor is because of XanGo's commitment to children. This business is going to be a great way for Chris to raise money for the Ludacris Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping young people achieve their dreams.

You too can achieve your dreams with Ludacris.
Go here to find out how.

A New Look for RonnieCruz.com

Just wanted to let you know that I've given my website a bit of a face lift. So when you get a chance go ahead and check it out.

www.RonnieCruz.com

And if you haven't registered for my FREE Video Newsletter yet, you can do so on my site.

Thanks!

Palin's Eye Glasses?!

I just heard a story on one of the major "news" channels regarding Sarah Palin's eye glasses! Are you kidding me? Is that really news worthy? What has happened to journalism? Everything is in shambles and they're reporting on a candidates eye wear?!

I doubt that is of any importance to you. I know it isn't to me. What's important is how are we going to get through this FINANCIAL CRISIS of MONSTROUS PROPORTIONS?

Nobody seems to have any answers.

I do.

Let's stop giving these "news" outlets our much valued time and attention and let's start taking matter into our own hands. Let's take back control of our lives and start making a real difference.

With Network Marketing, we're helping thousands of people recession proof their personal economies. Let us help YOU.

Go Here To Learn More.

Brand Yourself to Win

On very rare occassions, we are fortunate enough to be in the pressence of and learn first hand from true innovators, people who are destined for greatness. I can tell you here today that I am blessed to have had this opportunity.

For the past 10 months, I've been working closely with one such person. His name is Carlos Aponte Jr.

Everything that I know about Online Marketing and Web 2.0 I learned entirely from Carlos. I've studied and watched Carlos very closely and he's been kind enough to guide me and coach me every step of the way, often working with me one on one even though I'm not in his organization.

A true and rare blessing indeed.

I'm pleased to announce that everyone now has this same opportunity.

Brand Yourself To Win is a new training course that's packed with everything I've learned from Carlos plus much, much more. Carlos has poured his heart and soul into this course because he has an earnest and sincere desire to help you succeed.

I'm proof of this.

So if you're serious about your business and your dream of achieving everything our amazing profession has to offer, then get your copy of Brand Yourself To Win. It's your turn to win. It's your turn to succeed.

Let us help YOU today.

Get your own copy of Brand Yourself to Win and start building your personal brand.

Why Won't Anyone Talk To Me?

Maybe it's because you're coming across like a creep, intent only on pitching people on your deal. Or maybe it's because people already have a bad taste in their mouth from the last person that did.

Whatever the reason, prospecting is at best an up-hill battle if you're approaching it with the same misconceptions that have been handed down generation after MLM generation.

In my latest video newsletter, we go over not only why "The Three Foot Rule" is ineffective, but also what to do to start seeing real results with your prospecting efforts.

Check it out.

Completely Random... Or Is It?

Just wanted to post this first rough cut of some scenes in a short film I'm acting in. I wanted to post it here on my blog to share with you one of my passions, one of my "why"s. We all have our own different reasons for building our network marketing businesses. This is just an example of one of mine. ENJOY!

Shot and edited by: Dave Eckert
starring: Jason Caselli & Ronnie Cruz

WARNING:
**Contains violence and adult language. May not be appropriate for children**


VHSisDead trailerpark edit from D on Vimeo.

Prospecting: A Shy Guy's Worst Nightmare

I am an introvert. It’s just my nature. Heck, I can be downright shy if the circumstances are right. So, when I found myself faced with challenge of having to speak with strangers to build my business… I’m sure you can imagine my reaction.

This was eight years ago and unfortunately for me I was with a company and a team that didn’t really provide much by way of practical tools and strategies of meeting people, of prospecting – the lifeblood of any Network Marketing business. Left with no other options, I would leave my house every evening to “prospect”.

I failed… miserably.

Give to an already shy individual the task of having to control and steer a conversation with complete strangers towards a new business opportunity – you’re courting disaster.

And so it was for me. Thankfully, New School Network Marketing came around.

Here’s my advice:

First, what NOT to do: Don’t go for the jugular. Don’t go out with the intention of pitching as many people as you can on your opportunity. You’ll come off as false and possibly borderline creepy. And even if you manage to catch someone’s attention long enough to give your pitch, they’re more than likely to be turned off at the notion of having to accost complete strangers to promote the business. So you see, doing this adds to the stigma that plagues our wonderful industry and breaks what John David Mann calls the network marketer’s Hippocratic Oath: First do no harm. John Mann goes on to say that, “your first priority in any encounter should be: Make sure to leave this person with a better impression of network marketing itself than when the conversation began.”* Can’t hardly happen if your main objective is to get them into your marketing funnel.

So, what TO do: Just talk. Have conversations with people, real conversations. Be truly interested in what they have to say. Listen. Change your main objective to pitching the business to connecting with people. If an opportunity arises for you to bring up your business opportunity, great! Bring it up. If not, you will have at least done some good in the world by taking the time to connect with someone.

You see, there are people who have the natural ability to get anyone to open up to them. And it’s these people that do really well with the venerated Three Foot Rule. It works for them because it’s natural, it’s genuine. Then there are people like me who beat themselves up just to say hello let alone talk about a business opportunity. If you fit in this category, my advise is this: when you’re out talking with people, forget business and focus on connecting and having genuine conversations. Do this enough times and eventually you’ll realize that you’re not so shy after all.

*from the article "First, Do No Harm" in the book The Zen of MLM by John David Mann

The Go-Giver: A Little Book That's Changing Lives

Here's my take on an amazing little book (that I'm sure many if not all of you have heard of) called the Go-Giver by John David Mann and Bob Burg. This book has made a huge impact not only in my business but in every other aspect of my life. I highly reccomend it to anyone on the path of self improvement and personal development. THE GO-GIVER IS A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WANTING TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THEIR LIFE.

to subscribe to my video newsletter, visit: www.RonnieCruz.com

It's Time for an Attitude Adjustment

Not to say that any of you have bad attitudes ;) What I mean by that title is that when we come into this industry, into this business we bring with us pre-existing paradigms of business. We've been subjected to years of indoctrination to "old" ways of doing business that we often carry those old ways of doing things into our "new" businesses.

Unfortunately, those ways of thinking and doing business don't work here in Network Marketing. As John Milton Fogg states in his book The Greatest Networker in the World, "The paradigm of Network Marketing is so fundementally different and distinct from all other paradigms of business, that it requires a pretty complete shift from the way we normally view business to appreciate and understand it."

This quick video, explains one of the shifts we need to make in our way of thinking in order to assure a better future for all Networkers.

Too often, I find that we are at each other's necks, putting this person down and talking bad about this company, saying that this system doesn't work. What we have to realize is that the survival of our very industry rests on all of us coming to the realization that WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME STRUGGLE and therefore must take responsibility for one another's success no matter the company, the system, the training.

To take care of each other is to take care of the entire industry

Creating a Video Newsletter for you MLM

Here's a video I did for the social networking site called NewSchoolSpace (a site exclusively for XanGo distributors). It continues on an on-going discusion about Internet Marketing and Web 2.0 strategies. This particular strategy of doing Video Newsletters is very effective not just for Network Marketing but for many different businesses across the board.

So check it out and if you have any questions about getting a Video Newsletter going, give me a call or shoot me an email!

Using Social Networking Sites to Build Your Business

The name of the game folks is Social Networking

(I.) First, everything I learned about Social Networking and WEB 2.0 I learn from Carlos Aponte. It's not exageration when people say he's the master... because HE IS. You must tune in to Carlos' training.

(II.)Second, here are a few sites that I'm currently using.

1. MySpace.com I've been with this one the longest and therefore this is the one I'm most familiar with; you can get in touch with a lot of networkers here
2. Friendster.com I like Friendster; not as huge as MySpace but it's simple and it's easy and I've made some good connections here
3. Facebook.com I've had a Facebook profile less than a year I think, but I'm only now starting to really get into it; I like facebook because like Art Jonak said on the webinar, the contacts you make are generally more mature and professional
4. Wayn.com I just started this the other day; this site bills itself as a travel and lifestyle community; this looks to be a promising way to connect with people internationally

There are TONS more site you can go to. In fact, if you Google "social networking" it'll give you a page on Wikipedia listing the most notable site out there... and there's tons.

(III.)Lastly -- and this is perhaps the most important point about this entire week's topics -- the key word in Social Networking is... drum roll please.... NETWORKING.

Strip these sites to their barest essentials and what you're left with is MAKING CONNECTIONS. You can have the most boring and plain profile and if you're able to connect well with people, you've won the game. It becomes like prospecting in your hometown, except now your hometown is the entire World Wide Web.

You see, the internet with all it's fancy technological advances is simply this: the Next Evolution in Human Communication. If you're just indescriminately blasting your opportunity out to the entire world wide web, people will tune you out like they do tv adverts or sleazy salesmen. But if you take the time to develop relationships and to communicate, really communicate with people, then you've accomplished what every person, consciously or unconsciously desires -- A HUMAN CONNECTION.

So get online and start connecting!

www.Twitter.com/RonnieCruz

Weightloss the Mangosteen Way

If there's anyone out there who is looking for a new weight loss plan, I wanted to share the XanGo Weight Loss Challenge with you. People have seen some tremendous results with this program.

Dee Reid of Arizona writes, "I started it yesterday... My sister lost 8 lbs her first week and my mother lost 4 lbs."

Tiffany Ritchie who also just started says, "My mom lost 10 lbs in a week and a half and she was not very consistant."

And Diane Crane from Flushing, Michigan has been tracking her results for three and a half months now. She says, "I have now lost 47.5 lbs since Mar 4th."

So here it is. Give it a shot and let me know how it's going.

===========================

XANGO WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE
by Dr. Michael Vincent, N.D.

Mix the following to make your Xango Cocktail:
· 2 ounces of Xango Juice.
· 2 ounces of Kefir (flavor of choice)
· 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil
· 1 tablespoon of coconut oil (heat to liquidize)

If you are looking to lose 50 pounds or less, drink this 2x a day. If you are looking to lose more than 50 pounds, take an additional ounce of Xango juice and an additional ounce of Kefir, and take 3x a day.

For breakfast, eat watery fruits such as watermelon, cantaloupe, grapefruit, strawberries, etc.
Drink your Xango Cocktail right before eating a sensible lunch.
Drink your Xango Cocktail right before eating a sensible dinner.
You can actually eat nearly anything you choose and still lose weight when drinking the Xango Cocktail. However, the healthier you eat, and by doing exercise, you will see results faster.

IMPORTANT: You must drink half your weight in ounces of water each and every day. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, you would need at least 100 ounces or 12.5 cups of water each day.

IMPORTANT: Weigh yourself in the morning before trying this system. Weigh yourself once a week on the same day and around the same time.

Note: www.kefir.com - to find where you can buy Kefir

GNC - where you can buy the virgin coconut oil
www.herbsoflight.com for info about virgin coconut oil
================================




To order your own XanGo Juice, contact me at ceo@ronniecruz.com or visit www.Witness.theMangosteenRevolution.com

Wholefood Nutrition is the Best Way to Optimize Your Health

In with post, I wanted to focus in on our health because like the saying goes, without our health, we don't have anything. How can we enjoy the fruits of our labors and the successes of our businesses if we're ill or unhealthy.

So I wanted to share these videos with you.

The first video highlights Dr. Paveena Posang's talk on Wholefood Nutrition. Dr. Posang, renowned in the field of phytocuetical research, goes over the importance of using high quality supplements with a superfruit like the mangosteen to guarantee optimal health.

The second video is about XanGo's new line of premium supplements, 3Sixty5. This vitamin line uses groundbreaking technology to guarantee better absorption into our systems.

Since it's inception, XanGo Juice has been changing people's lives by helping them improve their health. Now, with 3Sixty5, a brand new premium supplement line, XanGo gives us Whole Daily Nitrition.




For more information on contact me at ceo@ronneicruz.com or visit www.MangosteenJetstream.com

Lots of Videos Lately...

For those of you who have been reading and keeping up with my blog, you may have noticed that I've put on a lot of videos lately. In finishing up my work tonight I myself noticed that I've slacked from writing because I've spent so much time lately shoting and editing videos.

To be perfectly honest, I love doing it. Video (and film) is a creative proccess that I absolutely am enamored with. Network Marketing has allowed me to utilize my skills as a film maker/videographer to build my business in a fun and engaging way. Not that the other things I do to build my business aren't fun but it's an added bonus to be able to something you love while building your future.

I'm really falling more in love with this business as time goes on.

Stay tuned. There's more videos to come...

:)

XanGo's Orlando Regional Convention

Here some footage from XanGo's Regional Convention in Orlando, Florida that I shot and threw together. IT WAS AN AMAZING TIME! and I hope I was able to convey that with this video.

The release of this vid is a little delayed because it took some time to put together, but I think the final product makes the little bit of extra time I spent worth it.

Why Your MLM is a SCAM

For too long, network marketers have let rumor, conjeceture and misconception tarnish the image of this amazing proffession. This is the first video in a series that I'm creating to explode the myths and misconceptions of Network Marketing.

Your MLM and You

The key component to any MLM isn't the product. It isn't the company or the compensation plan. It's YOU. Watch this short video and see why.

Booths - Training Ground for Future Success

Doing booths has been very dear to me. Above and beyond using them to drive traffic and get massive exposure in one's local area, I believe they serve an even higher purpose -- as a training ground for future success.

Let me explain.

Early in my XanGo career, I went out to LA for a month for work. Luckily for me, my upline Eugene Hong was located there and had been doing booths at various LA markets for some time. I had been in the business only a few months, new enough to still need training wheels but experienced enough to know I needed to start looking for other ways to get my business out there. My very little warm market had dwindled quickly and I needed other strategies.

Booths are ingenius, I thought, in that you're only talking to interested parties. People are approaching you, not the other way around. So, LA was the chance for me to prove my mettle, to show that I was a distributor who knew his stuff. I had already had at least ten home parties under my belt and I knew the comp plan in and out. I was going to rip this thing up and bring home stacks and stacks of leads, more leads than I would ever have time for.

Or so I thought.

My first day working the booth was filled with foibles and bumbled words. Out of all the people I spoke with I maybe only walked away with five names. FIVE! Talk about a wake up call.

I didn't let that discourage me though. I continued to work the booths when I could and even started doing my own booths when I got back to the east coast.

See, it was working these booths that I feel like I was able to hit my full stride as a distributor. It throws you into a situation of having to talk to any and every type of person, to field every type of question from product to business, to handle every type of objection. It taught me the nuances of controling conversations. And perhaps most importantly, it instilled in me an unwaivering confidence -- confidence in what I was doing, confidence in the company I was working with, and confidence in myself.

So, if you have an opportunity to participate in a booth, jump at it, because even if you get zero leads, the true pay off is you become a better you.

Use Blog Rush to drive traffic to your Blog

Here's a great new tool I've been using to send thousands of visitors to my site every month! The best thing about it is that it's absolutely free, no strings attached.

Just go to BlogRush.com to set up your free widget. It quick and easy and it's absolutely free!

What will you do with Your stimulus check?

Click play to hear a brief message from the author

As the checks roll out for George Bush's Economic Stimulus Package, millions across the nation will be faced with a decision: what will I do with my Stimulus Check?

You have a few options.

First, you can go out and treat yourself to something nice. This money was unplanned for so why not? After all you've been busting your hump hitting the grind 40, 50 or even 60 hours a week. You deserve it. Buy yourself a new toy, that flatscreen you've been eying at the store or take an extended weekend and get away for a while. Just dont forget to ask your boss.

Or you take the more frugal route and put the money towards your bills or into a savings account. Maybe put it to credit card balances that have been growing and growing because of you haven't been able to keep with the rising gas prices. Frugal seems the smarter choice, right?

Well, there's a third option that many people don't really know about, one that could benefit you more in the long term. Instead of spending the money or saving it or even paying off bills, why not use it to stimulate your own personal economy?

200K and Master Networker Glenn Sparks came up with this ingenius concept of using these stimulus checks to invest in a way that will keep paying you for years to come.

Here's how it works:

Say the average stimulus check is $1,000. First, find a Network Marketing company. And do your research (this is a topic that I'll be going over in another article). Finding the right company to work with is half the battle.

Once you've done that, go ahead and get started. For $500 dollars, you should be able to get started with a GOOD company and have enough tools to kickstart your business. With XanGo and MyJetstream (a company and system that I love) you can get what's called the Jet Setter Package for $400 which comes with product, tools and even 2 tickets to any XanGo event in the current calendar year.


Now, with the remaining money, purchase a set of high quality leads -- people that are looking for an opportunity like the one you just invested in. There are some great lead sources out there. Doing this will give your business it's initial momentum through the frist few weeks.

Next, go out and find your three most ambitious friends. people that will share your vision. Get them started with the same Jet Setter Package and leads source. Basically, have them do exactly what you did - invest their stimulus checks into a long term strategy that could bring returns for decades to come.

The point of this stimulus package is to stimulate our economy, to increase consumer confidence and get people spending more. In theory this may be the kick start our economy needs. But I'm affraid it's short sighted and will at best only be a temporary fix to a much larger issue. What people need more than extra spending cash is a realiable source of income because the reality of the situation is everything is getting more expensive, wages are staying the same and job security is at an all time low.

Network Marketing offers exactly that - a steady, fruitful and even rewarding source of income. So, when you get you stimulus check, you've got three options. Which one then will you choose?

To take the free tour of the MyJetstream System, CLICK HERE

Leverage: The Path to True Wealth

Have you been looking for a way to get ahead but no matter what you do you can't seem to gain enough ground to make any real difference? Well here's a great video that explains how Network Marketing helps you capitalize on the efforts of others and thereby leverage your time. It explains how through this leveraging you can begin to truly take full control over your financial future. Take a few minutes to watch this video. It could change your life forever.

How to Drive Traffic to Your Website

Here are a few strategies to drive more traffic to your website. Rememeber, the more strategies you employ, the higher your numbers will be. Watch this video and start driving more traffic to your site today.

Important Studies on Xanthones from the Mangosteen Fruit

Here are some great studies that have been done recently on the Xanthones found in the Mangosteen Fruit, the amazing little fruit pictured above.

Article 1 - This article entitled Inhibitory effect of xanthones isolated from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana L. on rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cell degranulation talks about exactly that: the "anti-cancer activity induced by xanthones such as alpha-, beta-, and gamma-mangostin which were major constituents of the pericarp of mangosteen fruits". I'd say this is a pretty important study.

Article 2 - entitled Anti-inflammatory activity of mangostins from Garcinia mangostana is a bit more scientifically worded. But basically it states that "alpha- and gamma-mangostins from G. mangostana are bioactive substances with anti-inflammatory effects."

Without a doubt, Xanthones are the most powerful phytonutrient ever to be discovered. With the Mangosteen containing more Xanthones than any other fruit on the planet, it makes sense to include this in your daily health regimen.

XanGo is the first to bring the Mangosteen to market, giving it to us in it's most bio-available form by pureeing the entire fruit and making it into a delicious juice that everyone can enjoy. Just a few ounces a day allows us to receive the full benefits of the 40 plus Xanthones found in the Mangosteen Fruit.

Here's to your health!

To learn how you can become a XanGo Independent Distributor, CLICK HERE

Thailand Anyone?

I just wanted to share this video real quick of the Mangosteen Resort and Spa in Phuket, Thailand. This is where XanGo sends all their distributors when they reach the Premier level. I can't wait to go!

Help Feed Starving Children

I just wanted to let everyone know that I've created a new Squidoo Lens dedicated to helping starving children around the world

check it out at:

Feed50Kids


In short, XanGo, through XanGo Goodness, has created another amazing humanitarian program, one that can really make a difference.

So, please take a few minutes to look over the page.

Feed50Kids


And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

Thanks

Ronnie Cruz
919-599-7645
ceo@ronniecruz.com

Another Reason to Love XANGO

Perhaps my favorite thing about XanGo is their unwaivering dedication to humanitarian work. Before this company even launched, while everything was still on the drawing board, the founders decided not open it's doors for business unless there was a firm commitment to people in need around the world, especially children.

And they kept their word.

XanGo donates a full 7% of all after operating profits (net proceeds) to charity. In fact, they quickly became the largest contributor to Operation Kids, an umbrella organization that funds a wide variety of children's charities. Every time you or someone on your team drinks a bottle of juice, you're doing good in the world, in many different ways.

So, join XanGo today. Join us in reaching out to those less fortunate. Help us make the world a better place.

To learn more about XanGo's humanitarian work, visit: http://www.XangoGoodness.org/
Or contact me at: 919-599-7645

To become a XanGo Independent Distributor, visit: http://www.MangosteenJetstream.com/NSB

Citigroup Announces 9,000 Job Cuts!

news excerpt:

AP
Citigroup lops off $14 billion in investments during 1Q

Friday April 18, 12:14 pm ET
By Madlen Read, AP Business Writer
Citi records $14 billion in 1Q write-downs; Wall Street relieved it's not worse

NEW YORK (AP) -- Citigroup Inc. said Friday it will eliminate about 9,000 more jobs, after poor bets on defaulting loans and the tumultuous credit markets lopped $14 billion in value from its investments during the first quarter.

That write-down, plus more than $3 billion in costs related to consumers' credit problems, led Citigroup to a quarterly loss of $5.1 billion.

Citigroup has announced 13,200 job cuts since the credit crisis began slamming the banking industry last summer. The bank announced 4,200 cuts in January, and more work-force reductions are likely.

"We're very, very focused on efficiency," said chief executive Vikram Pandit during a conference call.


For the full article, CLICK HERE.

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Again with the negative news! Sorry. I know I'm starting to sound like chicken little, screaming at the top of my lungs that the sky is falling. But there was something else I wanted to point out today. In past posts I've talked about how having an income from a Network Marketing business can help protect you in times of economic slumps where corporate profits are low and the risk of job loss for the working class is high. That's one way of looking at things. Housing market a bust, job loss at a high, gas prices jumping sharply and showing no signs of stopping -- we're all going to need extra money to get us thru.

But this argument falls a little short because it still considers employment as the primary income source and the Network Marketing income as secondary. If this news article tells us anything at all, it's saying that this is a flawed strategy because of the nature of the worker/corporation relationship. Corporations in economic downturns will protect their bottom line before they protect their employees. Why then depend on such companies as your primary income source? Why if you can generate the same or greater income with a Network Marketing business even entertain a forty year career for a company whose singular loyalty rests in its own bottom line.

With Network Marketing you're in the driver's seat. YOU decide how much or how little you make. YOU decide when you work and when you don't. When you've built a solid Network Marketing income your financial fate no longer lies at the whim of some company or corporation. The days of counting on your company to take care of you through thick and thing are long gone. It's time to start taking care of yourself.

To begin generating income with your own Network Marketing business, CLICK HERE.

Phone-A-Phobia

I admit I'm not an incredibly outgoing person. Some might even go as far as to call me introverted. So, when the prospect of having to speak with people on the telephone came up, I felt a certain retraction in parts of my… well, I won’t go there.

Suffice it to say that I have since conquered my fear of the phone and in fact am left with quite an empty feeling if I go even one day without making a call. What did I do to get there? Simple – I forced myself to pick up the phone.

For those of you who may be wrestling with this right now, your fear of the phone is your ego trying to protect itself from getting bruised – bruised from fumbling the lines and not knowing what to say, from speaking to inconsiderate and even rude people, from failing to not get the “yes” the you had so hoped for. But realize that it is not these actions themselves that do the bruising but rather it’s your ego’s perception of them that creates the hurt and the anxiety. And your ego has gotten so good at this that it locks you up even before you’ve picked up the phone.

So what we must do is shed the ego and rework our perception of things, see things for what they really are. The fumbled lines – a simple lack of experience and mastery that can only be gained through practice and repetition. The rude person on the other end – a total stranger whose opinion of you is completely irrelevant; a person who is reacting not to you but to their ego’s perception of you. The failed attempt at getting the “yes” – the only true failure is in not trying.

There are two roads we can take here: the difficult one and the easy one. The difficult road obviously is picking up that phone and facing your fears. On this road you’ll encounter lots of obstacles, especially early on. You’ll trip and fall many times along the way but you must be resolute and stay the course for it will surely make you stronger. The easy road is giving in to your fears and not making the calls. There’s no challenge here and because of that you will experience no growth. You nurture your weakness on this road and you deny your strength. Do you see then that this road though much easier than the first is infinitely more dangerous?

I’ve been at that crossroads before so I understand what you’re going through. All you have to do is pick up the phone and start dialing (or auto-dialing) and trust in your decision to take the hard road because that is the road which leads to success.

Housing Update: The Worst is Still to Come

news excerpt:

AP
US Foreclosure Filings Jump in March
Tuesday April 15, 5:12 am ET
By J.W. Elphinstone, AP Business Writer
Foreclosure Filings Against US Homeowners Soar 57 Percent in March; Bank Repossessions Surge

The onslaught of homes facing foreclosures has yet to ebb, a research report showed Tuesday, with bank repossessions skyrocketing last month as more troubled homeowners mailed in their keys and walked away.

And the worst isn't over: the wave of adjustable-rate loans resetting to higher rates will crest in May and June. And that's expected to push more homeowners into default and foreclosure in the third and fourth quarters of this year, according to RealtyTrac Inc. of Irvine, Calif.

Click here for the full article
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More bad stats from March. And experts are still saying that the worst is yet to come. I know that I'm seeming more and more like the bearer of bad news, and believe me it's not on purpose. A lot of the news out there right now is pretty bad so it almost can't be helped. But I wanted to share this particular article because of it's relevance to Network Marketing.

You see, as the statistic goes, an extra couple hundred dollars a month can prevent a large portion of the foreclosures right now. So if more people knew about Network Marketing and how relatively simple it is to start earning an extra $200 to $500 dollars a month or more, how many people do you think we could help avoid forclosure?

I'd wager that the number would be pretty high.

For all the networkers out there reading this, we have in our hands the ability to help turn this recession around and save thousands of people across the country from financial disaster. For those who haven't yet looked into Network Marketing, there is no better financial insurance plan than a residual income that is secondary to what you make at your job. So take the time to educate yourself on Network Marketing and start building a more stable financial future for you and your loved ones.



Want to learn what I'm doing to generate extra income? Click here.

Carlos Aponte Jr and His 4 Year Success Story

Carlos Aponte, Jr. recently attained the level of Premier in XanGo. It's a success story not only for Carlos and for XanGo but for the Network Marketing Industry as a whole. Congratulations Carlos and thank you for being such an inspiration!

I'm on Squidoo!!!

I just wanted the world to know that I am now on Squidoo.

check it out at: MLM HQ

For those of you not familiar with this service, "Squidoo is the world's most popular site for building free, single pages about your passions." So basically it's a service where you can create a webpage about absolutely anything you want. You can make as many individual pages as you want so this is a great way to generate leads and drive traffic to your site. Squidoo is yet another great tool to have in your Web 2.0 tool box.

If you guys have any questions about how to get started with Squidoo, shoot me an email or give me a call. I'll be happy to walk you through it.

And don't forget to sign up for my free Video Newsletter. To receive all the latest MLM business building tips and training directly in your inbox, simply send an email to: Subscribe@ronniecruz.com

Warren Buffett Recently Named Wealthiest Person in the World

I came across an article recently naming Warren Buffett the wealthiest person on the planet. Why is this important? Well, Warren Buffett happens to be a great supporter of the Direct Selling/Network Marketing Industry. Some background: Warren Buffet is arguably the greatest investor EVER. When he moves his money, everyone on Wall Street stops and watches. So when he bought three Direct Selling companies, one of them being Pampered Chef, he more than turned heads. He’s even been quoted as saying, “they’ve been some of my best investments ever.” When it comes to business, it's good to have someone like Warren in your corner.

And he’s not the only one.

Robert Kiyosaki, financial guru and creator of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series of books, also loves Network Marketing stating that, “If I had to do it all over again, rather than build an old style type of business, I would have started building a Network Marketing business.”

Another billionaire on the list of Network Marketing fans is Donald Trump. In the book Why We Want You To Be Rich, which he co-wrote with Robert Kiyosaki, the Donald said, “Network marketing has proven itself to be a viable and rewarding source of income.”

Do these guys know something about making money? I would say so. It would behoove us then to listen very closely when they give financial advice. So, if someone approaches you with a Network Marketing opportunity, give it some serious consideration because you can be certain that that’s what the wealthiest man alive would do.

Click Here to visit my website and learn how you can start generating income with your own Network Marketing business.

Know a Scam When You See One

About a year ago, a young gentleman approached me about a new business he'd recently started and like a good networker I told him I'd take a look at it and also asked him if he'd take a look at my business. Well I got to his website and it turns he was promoting some sort of "cash gifting" program. Immediately, I felt like there was something terribly wrong with what I was looking at. However, my in my inexperience I didn't have the knowledge base nor the MLM vocabulary to really express why.

Instinct served me well that day because as it happens these cash gifting deals are highly illegal. Basically, it's like this - if there's no goods or services being exchanged, then there's no business. Cash gifting is among the worst type of pyramid scams out there. It hearkens back to the chain letter days, the "send me a dollar and then mail this letter to 5 people" days.

It's these types of pyramid scams that tarnish the good name of Network Marketing. So, if you're approached by someone that tells you about a new business venture he's gotten into and then he shows you a video of people opening FedEx packages stuffed with 20's, run like the wind and don't look back.

And, as much pleasure as it would give me to expose each one these programs for the scams they truly are, know that you are better served by doing your own due diligence. Do as much research as you can about any business before getting started and if you're gut tells you there's something wrong, then chances are there is.

If you're looking, there are plenty of great companies to work with out there. Just do your research and it'll only be a matter of time before you find the right one for you. And it just so happens that I'm working with a great company, so contact me if your interested... :)


*For some great tips on how to distinguish between a legitimate MLM and a scam, Click here.

What Would You Do if You Couldn't Go to Work

news excerpt:

Huge Job Losses Set Off Recession Alarms
Friday April 4, 4:42 pm ET
By Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer
Biggest Job Loss in 5 Years Sets Off Recession Alarms; Nearly Quarter-Million Gone in 3 Months

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's no longer a question of recession or not. Now it's how deep and how long.

Workers' pink slips stacked ever higher in March as jittery employers slashed 80,000 jobs, the most in five years, and the national unemployment rate climbed to 5.1 percent. Job losses are nearing the staggering level of a quarter-million this year in just three months.

For the third month in a row total U.S. employment rolls shrank -- often a telltale sign that the economy has jolted dangerously into reverse.

At the same time, the jobless rate rose three-tenths of a percentage point, a sharp increase usually associated with times of deep economic stress.

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It was all over the news today, the unemployment rate climbed to 5.1% last month - the biggest job loss in 5 years. As if it were some sort of a surprise, economists are now screaming recession from the roof tops.

Duh.

The article above says that the recession is no longer the question but rather how bad will it be and how long will it last. However, an even more important question is this: What would happen if you lost your job? Do you have enough saved up to keep your head above water for a few months? Do you have some sort of back up plan in case you had to be out of work for a period of time?

Doubtless, thousands across the nation are beginning to think about these and many other related questions. It is for this very reason that people NEED to know that Network Marketing is a viable way of generating a secondary income - income that will continue to come in even if you stop working. It is, I believe the best option for everyday people like you and me, the best plan B in times of economic uncertainty.

The residual income you can create with a network marketing business will insure that you have money coming in in case you're laid off, or in case your company goes bankrupt, or you get injured, or are hospitalized and can't go to your job. Too many people have put ALL their eggs in one basket and it is those very people that suffer the most during these financially difficult times.

So be smart. Don't be caught with all your eggs in one basket.

MLM and the Starving Artist

A wise man once said to me, "I'm in this business because I didn't want to be a starving artist." That same gentleman while being the wealthiest individual I know personally is also one of the most talented DJ's that I've had the pleasure of hearing play.

With that simple statement, he was able to put into words what I hitherto could not articulate - Why I am a Network Marketer.

I've been a starving artist. That I suffered for my art may at face value seem worthy and noble. But trust that here was nothing noble about it. It was a miserable and wholly depressing existence. What's worse, living that lifestyle actually drew my focus away from my passions and put them on my financial woes. So, instead of pursuing the arts, I spent most of my time chasing the dollar bill. And boy did I chase.

I've delivered pizzas, waited tables, worked in customer service, in retail, in movie theaters, moved furniture, and even had a job riding the local buses and counting the number of people as they entered and exited the vehicle. Depressing.

Enter Network Marketing

What this amazing industry does is it allows you in your spare time to create a residual income income that will help you bridge the gap between gigs so that you won't have to eat ramen noodles (unless you like it) and give blood for money (unless you want to). It will also allow you to fund the various artistic endeavors you may want to pursue. Personally speaking,I will use my network marketing income to launch my film and music projects.

Finally, Network Marketing let's you live life on you own terms. The income you can build in network marketing strips away all excuses, all distraction, so you can fully devote yourself to your life's passions. That is noble. That is worthy.

Start a Network Marketing business today and stop being a starving artist.

Reading is Fundemental to Building Your MLM

I cannot stress enough the importance of reading not only to your business but to the up keep and maintenance of your hardware. You see, unlike watching TV which is mostly passive, reading actively engages your mind, it keeps you sharp.

In regards to your MLM, reading good books and devoting time to your personal development helps arm you against the trials and tribulations you are certain to encounter as you build your business.

The way I see it, our personal growth never ceases... rather, should never cease. By reading we can make certain that every single day stays fresh and that we see life in a new light every time we lift our heads off our pillows.

Here's a little video I put together that encapsulates what I'm trying to say.

The video above comes from my Video Newsletter. To subscribe to this newsletter, send an email to: subscribe@ronniecruz.com

XanGo to Release Glimpse Intuitive Skin Care

XanGo has already won a special place in my heart. Without needing to do anything else, it is a company that in my eyes is second to none, so when they announced the release of a new line of products, I thought, you guys already have my undying devotion. What more can you do?

Boy did I speak too soon.

Later this year, XanGo, one of the fastest growing companies in Network Marketing History, will introduce a new product line featuring the natural power of xanthones as never experienced before in this arena.

Up until now, XanGo has led and dominated the premium mangosteen market with a category-creating supplement — XanGo® Juice — that fuses sensational flavor and proven nutritional benefits. With a global network nearing 1 million distributors, there's always another level to reach, another goal to achieve, another conquest on the horizon.

Introducing...

glimpse

XanGo’s new skin care system gives you a GLiMPSE of nature’s breathtaking prowess, channeled to address your specific needs.

Visit xangolaunch2008.com often for more information on GLiMPSE and the incredible business opportunity offered by XanGo.

The Counter Cyclical Nature of Network Marketing

That we're experiencing an economic slow down here in the US shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Economists and the like have been prophesying a reccession for quite some time now and the inevitability of their predictions seem almost a given.

According to a USA Today/ Gallup Poll, "More than three in four Americans [already]think the country is in a recession." 79% moreover said that they were worried the country could slip into a depression lasting several years.

There is hope.

Amidst falling stock prices, a failing real estate market, and large corporations reporting record losses, there is an industry that is enjoying steady growth. That industry is NETWORK MARKETING.

The Network Marketing/Direct Selling industry has historically done better in time of economic slow down. This is because as the ecomony slows, people begin searching for ways of generating extra income.

Jim Cramer from CNBC's Mad Money explains it beautifully in the show's 3rd Anniversary episode. Watch it here.

This is why I love this industry. Not only we do have an opportunity to create substantial incomes for ourselves but, we also more importantly have in our hands the ability to help thousands of others do the same thereby helping them through times of ecomonic downturns.

Now is the perfect time to be involved in Network Marketing.

Mangosteen Makes the News Once Again

Mangosteen, the primary ingredient in XANGO, has made the news once again and this time it with world famous super model Kate Moss. Here's the article from LOOK Magazine UK that features mangosteen juice as part of Kate Moss's new "get healthy" regimen. XanGo Juice is the single best source of mangosteen fruit and this new article gives us just one reason among a whole host of reasons why you should be drinking it.

It's not news that Kate Moss has had difficulties in the past with drugs and other excesses but she's turned a new leaf and has begun taking the steps towards healthier living. Click here to read what Kate is doing to look and feel 10 years younger.

Welcome to my BLOG!

Hello out there. Welcome to my blog - a blog dedicated primarily to sharing with the world my experiences in Network Marketing and specifically with an amazing company called XANGO. There are many misconceptions about this industry that I hope to dispel with this blog. Many people don't really know about or understand Networking Marketing (also known as Multi-Level Marketing or MLM) so here's a video that will hopefully shed some light on the matter.