Hi again!

Are you doing anything special to ring in the new year?  I think we will have a quiet evening for the first time in a couple of years.  In the past, we’ve had a party for our kids and their friends.

Before 2007 ends, I wanted to remind you that you can invest in some great education to expand your online business in 2008.  If you invest today, you can save 30, 40 & even 50% on these great courses that overcome the “techie barrier” and show you how to set up a website, sell on ebay at huge profits, make your own CD product, and many other topics that are overwhelming to a busy parent like you!
FamilyEbiz End of Year Specials

Hurry and get your copy because the massive sale discounts end at 9pm TONIGHT (Monday, Dec 31, 2007).

Warmly,
Stephen

ps.  Watch your email this week for my first 2008 email about changes ‘acoming!

pps.  Only 7 more hours to invest in you and your kids’ family business education and save up to $200!
FamilyEbiz End of Year Specials

I am on a mission.

I am looking for a simple, proven method to raise my children. I don’t want to pay any money, I don’t want to lose my free time, and I don’t want to work hard doing it. Oh, and I want perfect results too.

My children must be godly, obedient, and polite, loving God with all their strength. Of course, this should happen naturally - I don’t want to spend a lot of time or money on it.

Where can I find a program like that? For that matter, where could I find children like that? Just imagine, godly children without any sacrifice of time, money, or effort. Now that would be perfect!

Of course, I’m joking. You can’t raise children without sacrifice. It just doesn’t work.

Why talk about raising children, when this article is about starting your own online business? In both cases, a person would be a complete fool to think that they could do so much without any sacrifice at all. Without your sacrifice, your children cannot thrive, and neither can your online business.

Children are a gift, and much more important than your business. If you find that business is getting in the way of time with your family, perhaps you need to reevaluate your priorities. One great way to build your business and still enjoy your family is to include your children in business decisions. Help them towards independence, while teaching them valuable entrepreneurial skills. There are many small businesses kids can start. Check out this website for more ideas.

All this talk of raising families and building businesses highlights some similarities. Let’s look at some lessons of raising children that can also help you to “raise” your online business.

You need money to raise a child, as you need money to grow your online business. Of course, the amount of money you spend is up to you; however, money is still needed. Every day, people write and phone. They are all looking for the perfect business, one that will help them:

- Quit their day job;

- Gain financial freedom;

- Get out of debt;

- Work from home;

- Teach their children entrepreneurship, business skills for an independent life.

And all this without spending a dime! Does that sound reasonable? Of course not.

Those people also fall prey to Internet “opportunities”, promising huge rewards and easy money.

Get the websites, the products, and even the customer list simply send money and Here we are, back to the money issue again. It’s a fact - you have to spend money to make money. You don’t have to spend a lot, just enough to get yourself started. You only need a few items to build your online business.

Your most important investment is a computer with an Internet connection. It is possible to build an online business and run it from Internet coffee shops; I don’t recommend it. You don’t need a superfast connection, though you may find dial-up to be too slow for your needs.

Once you have a computer, you will need a domain name, or URL. I pay from $8-$15 each year for my domain name. Your costs may vary, but try to avoid using “free” and domain services. They don’t work well in the long run. You can also expect to pay “hosting fees” to the company responsible for putting your webpage on the Internet. Reliable hosting is available from $50 per year.

From that point, the sky is the limit. Find and download free tools, like website creators, graphics programs, shopping carts, and more. By searching for free tools, you keep the costs down. Start your online business for about $65 a year, assuming you already have the Internet connection.

Of course, there are many small businesses kids can start online. With your love and support, they can pursue their entrepreneurial adventure. Give them a competitive advantage - help them build their business today!

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© Stephen Beck, 2007
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
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Stephen Beck teaches families & teens how to start home business . For a free CD discussing the steps for a successful internet business, visit Christian Home Based Business right now.

Hi {FIRSTNAME}!

Did you get my email a few days ago about our huge discounts!!!

It’s the end of the year and we don’t want to count much inventory, so please help us get rid of what remains.  We’ve slashed our prices by 30%, 40%, & 50%.

But the low investment you can make will only last until Monday, December 31, 2007 at 9pm EST.  Hey, it’s not midnight because we want to have fun on New Years Eve, too!

Our home study courses that are usually $447 & $397 are marked down to unbelievable prices.  AND…our other courses are reduced, TOO!
End of Year Specials

Go get yourself some help to explode your business in 2008!  You’ll thank me in the new year!

Warmly,
Stephen

ps.  If you want to overcome the “technical barrier” & set up your online business the RIGHT way, now is the time to grab your copy of Secrets to Building Sites that Sell.

When I mentioned inventory count at dinner last night, my 14yo son looked at us and said, “No way!”  It’s not one of our favorite family activities.  Regardless of what we think, we still have to count AND we need to lower the amount of those items BEFORE we take our “end-of-year” inventory. 

Would you please help us as we HELP YOU with lower prices???
  …and with education that will skyrocket your sales next year!

You can take advantage of 30% discounts and 50% discounts on several of our items.  Why wait, get them while they last!

Click on each title to read more & reserve your copy!

Secrets to Online Auction Success -  Save over 35%
     was $397, now only $247

Secrets to Building Sites that Sell - Save 45%
     was $447, now only $247

Turn Audio into Cash - Save 30%
     was $67, now only $46.90

How to Start Your Own Business…for Families & Teens
Save 30%
   was $97, now only $67.90

Getting Started Online-Resources - Save 50%
    was $37, now only $18.50

Secrets to eBay Family Business - Save 50%
     was $27, now only $13.50

Quick Study in Debt Bundle Package - Save 50%
     was $27, now only $13.50

REMEMBER:  These can be end of year TAX DEDUCTIONS for your business. (Ask your CPA to verify)

Limited Supply - When they’re gone, the sales price is over!

Today, I am making CDs in my home office. Over the past two days, I made over 100 CDs and cases for this Montana book show. And I’ve only just begun. There is a great demand for my CDs on low-budget Internet marketing for small business.

My CDs and video tutorials cover many topics - parenting, making Biblical decisions in modern times, the Biblical view of debt, and more. One of my most popular CDs, entitled Small Businesses That Kids Can Start, teaches kids practical entrepreneurial skills. Other CDs teach customers how to turn a recording into a product, and how to make a profit on eBay.

Additionally, home remodeling audios are in the works - as a contractor with 20 years experience, my specialized knowledge still comes in handy! How about you? Do you have specialized knowledge, information you could use to create your own business? Each and every month, I create new products, which are sold online. Recently, I was told, “You don’t really do this yourself. You make money by telling other people how to make money. That’s crazy!”

Actually, that’s not true. I create products for many different niches and market them on the Internet. I can help you do the same thing.

Take today’s job, for example. Do you know how much equipment I need to make 100 CDs in two days?

- A personal computer, just like the one you’re reading this with.

- A printer - you probably have one too!

- A CD burner (I make lots of copies, and don’t want to over-use the one in my computer. I bought one for a hundred bucks at Office Depot)

- 100 DVD cases, at $.37 each

- 100 blank CDs, $.17 each

- Finally, CD labels, at $.20 each.

Add it up - that’s not a huge capital outlay to create all of these CDs. Creating an e-book is even cheaper. Why don’t you give it a try? It doesn’t require a large capital outlay to record an interview, a “how to” audio or video, or an e-book. Simply find your area of expertise, seek your niche, and go for it!

There are many niches to be filled, and there is a demand for your expertise. Creating an audio, “How to Make Money on the Internet” is only a tiny sliver. As you can see, there’s an unlimited supply of topics available. Do your research and follow some easy steps, and you will be ready to learn how to make Money on the Internet.

You must believe in yourself. Others just like you have created e-books, audios, tutorials, home study courses, even seminars. Try selling other people’s products, or earn commissions by recommending other products. There are many small businesses that kids can start, and many low budget Internet marketing strategies for small businesses. Find the one that works for you, and you too can become an Internet success.

All it takes is some confidence and a willingness to learn new skills. You can do anything you want to do. The first step is always the hardest – try starting with a free blog, a great way to get acquainted with potential customers on the Internet. I have faith in you. You CAN do it!

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© Stephen Beck, 2007
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
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Stephen Beck teaches families & teens how to start home business . For a free CD discussing the steps for a successful internet business, visit Christian Home Based Business right now.

Before we begin, go to your website. Go ahead, pull it up right now. Try to look at it with the eyes of the newcomer. Remember, they don’t care if you can build stunning websites online; they want to know the benefits of your product.

As you look at your site, imagine you are visiting it for the first time. If you are like most visitors, you have only one question - what’s in it for me? That’s what your visitors want to know. Let’s take my new home study course as an example. I could go on about the three CD-ROMs, the great manual for getting started quickly, all of the tutorials, including six hours of video and eight hours of audio training, and on and on through the whole list of features.

Chances are, that will all mean nothing to you. All you want to know is, “What will it do for me? How will it help me?”

You don’t need to know the features; you want to know the benefits. I could say that it will teach you how to:

- Discover the most profitable niches for your business;

- Create a moneymaking website;

- Upload information to your website, and get it on the Internet;

- Choose the right kind of website for your product;

- Select the domain name and web hosting package that works for you;

- Attract a steady stream of clients to your site;

- Create a shopping cart to make buying easier;

- Recommend other products, and make large commissions doing it;

- Develop a professional look and feel for your website.

That sounds more appealing, doesn’t it? Even then, though, I’m missing the main point of my sales letter. I’m offering good information to my clients, but I’m not telling them how this course will help them.

Take a moment to envision your customer. Ask yourself a few questions:

- What do your customers really want?

- How will these tutorials on websites help your customer to spend more time with his or her family?

- How will listening to these audiotapes, full of Internet marketing secrets, help them reduce their debt?

- How will following the transcripts help them to gain the financial freedom they desire? In studying your customers, you will learn their desires.Perhaps they seek freedom from debt, or from those dreaded nine to five jobs they hate. Maybe they want freedom to pursue their passions and live their dreams. And some may wish the freedom to educate their children in entrepreneurship, in the hopes that their children won’t have to suffer unpleasant jobs, dictatorial bosses, and low wages. They would jump at the chance to make $2000 dollars in an Internet business. And so would you.

What exactly is the point of studying your customers? How can the information help you to make $2000 dollars in an Internet business? Let me explain.

While you may list features on your webpage, it’s important to understand that your customers aren’t buying features. They buy benefits. If you’re selling a wedding e-book, you may list certain features on your website - you may mention that the book is 67 pages long, featuring interviews with pastors, florists, caterers, wedding coordinators, and more. You may even talk about the great money back guarantee you offer. But that won’t sell your e-book to customers. They want to know the benefits - a beautiful wedding that doesn’t cost a fortune, reflects their personality, and makes them the talk of the town. Do you see the difference?

The next time you’re watching TV, pay special attention to the advertising. Car commercials are a great example of this. Auto manufacturers rarely talk about the undercoating, gear ratio, paint job, or other features. Instead, they sell the benefits. The wind in your hair, the exhilaration of speed, the great feeling you get from driving their car.

Do you see the difference? They’re selling the feeling of driving the car, not the car itself. Those commercials tickle our fantasy, making us believe that we are richer and better looking when we drive that particular vehicle. Of course it’s a fantasy, but for many buyers, that’s the benefit. The image is often the thing.

I admit that’s an extreme example. But it does illustrate the point I’m trying to make. Your website needs to answer the question, “What do I get out of this? How will this benefit me personally, professionally, or otherwise?”

Anyone can be taught to create a website. It’s no big deal. The real trick is in showing your clients how your product or service will make their lives better. In order to sell my course, I have to show you the benefits - how you can make $2000 dollars in an Internet business to get out from under that mortgage; how to create a steady income that lets you leave your day job; how you can earn money and still spend time with your family; and how you can teach your children entrepreneurial skills for a lifetime. These benefits tell customers exactly what they can expect from my online training course.

That’s more like it!

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© Stephen Beck, 2007
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
—————————————-

Stephen Beck teaches families & teens how to start home business . For a free CD discussing the steps for a successful internet business, visit Christian Home Based Business right now.

Before I started my own online business, I was in the construction industry for 20 years. You may not realize how close I came to failure. After five years of struggling in construction, I came very close to closing my business.

When you first start a construction company, you need clients. I found plenty of work, mostly small jobs lasting only two to three days. These smaller jobs paid the bills, but I was running myself ragged. Larger jobs were more profitable, allowing me to stay in one place for longer (which beat setting up my equipment in a new place every day).

As my business grew, I began to get larger jobs. Between myself and my helper, we were busy. Eventually it dawned on me - I had reached my limit. Physically, my helper and I were doing all that we could.

I had another revelation

I had also reached my limit, money wise. My earnings had plateaued. Since we could not physically produce more, we could not earn more. I was frustrated. I enjoyed owning my own business, but I also knew I could work less and earn more by working as a building superintendent in Houston. Imagine - free medical insurance, free dental insurance, a retirement plan, and more.

Being self-employed, I had none of these benefits. It was time to make a decision - keep working 70 hours a week, with no benefits, or make a change. I decided it was time to change.

The Home Builders Association in San Antonio was offering courses for remodeling contractors. I booked a hotel room for three nights, and made the three-hour drive to San Antonio. The courses were wonderful, informative and entertaining. Even so, I learned more from the other participants. One of the participants, Don Boozer, gave me some valuable advice. He told me I needed to learn to delegate, to stop doing everything and get into general contracting.

“But Don,” I asked, “if I don’t do the work, who will? I’ll just be phoning other people to do my work. Nobody’s going to pay me to make phone calls.”

Don’s reply was confident as he said, “Yes, they will pay you. They’ll pay you very well!” And you know what? They did!

Well, I followed Don’s advice. My income doubled in the next year, and the superintendent job in Houston looked less and less attractive. The next year, my income doubled again. Since then, my income has been at least six figures a year, every year.

I’m not telling you this to brag. I’m telling you this to help you.

I increased my income quickly because I increased my business awareness. You can too. The fastest way to increase your income is to start an EZ web business or to attend a conference based on your industry. Want to make money online? Then you need a conference specific to online businesses, one that can help you create a business plan for your online business!

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© Stephen Beck, 2007
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
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Stephen Beck teaches families & teens how to start home business . For a free CD discussing the steps for a successful internet business, visit Christian Home Based Business right now.

Today I want to share with you the lesson I learned at Disneyland. Yes, you read that right…Disneyland!

After our conference in Ontario, California, we decided to take the kids to Disneyland. Now, I have heard horror stories about the long lines for the major rides, and that a family could spend hours and hours waiting in line instead of enjoying their time at the park.

So, we cruised the Internet to see if we could find a solution to this problem. My wife found a really cool software program that helped us avoid most of the lines. In fact, most of our wait times were about 10 to 15 minutes and there were only three times when we had to wait about 30 minutes. And we rode all of the major rides; some more than once.

Now, before I tell you the name of this incredible software program, let me tell you some of the lessons I learned from this experience that you can apply to your own online business!

First, let me tell you how the software program works. You tell the program which rides you want to ride, and it searches all of the estimated traffic patterns for the people in the park that day and gives you a print out detailing what order you should ride those rides. Now, this also works in conjunction with a really cool system that Disneyland has in place. It is called “Fast Pass” and it works like this:

If you want to ride a very popular ride, then you go to to that ride and find the special machines that offer a “Fast Pass” ticket. These tickets tell you a time later in the day when you can come back and enter the “Fast Pass” line.

So when you come to a popular ride in Disneyland, there is always the regular line and there is the “Fast Pass” line. Just by showing your Fast Pass” ticket (that you received an hour earlier), you can avoid the regular line and use the “Fast Pass” line to go right up to the head of the line for the ride, passing hundreds of people along the way.

So what is Disneyland teaching us? If you are willing to delay gratification AND you have a plan, you can avoid competition and be successful in your online business (or any business for that matter).

Now, success in this case is riding a ride. And of course, your competition is the line of people waiting to ride the ride (who are standing between you and success). But if you are willing to delay gratification for a little while, not chasing the quick buck, then you will build an online business that has structure and permanence.

Meaning, by using the proper online tools you can research your niche, find what they want, do a little keyword research and rank high in the search engines for keyword terms that are not as competitive. But realize there are differences of internet search tools.

By delaying gratification (not trying to replace your day job income in two months!) AND having a well thought-out plan (preferably with some help from someone who knows a little about online marketing), in the long run, you will make more money in less time!

So plan ahead, get some knowledge under your belt, and then walk past the thousands of websites in your niche to the head of the line-then enjoy the sweet ride of success! Fasten your seatbelts and keep your hands in the vehicle at all times! Then, perhaps you can make $2000 a day in an internet business..

Oh, I almost forgot. That software program is found at http://www.ridemax.com/

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© Stephen Beck, 2007
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
—————————————-

Stephen Beck teaches families & teens how to start home business . For a free CD discussing the steps for a successful internet business, visit Christian Home Based Business right now.

I have a HUGE confession to make. I am 44 years old and I have hated Christmas for most of my life. Yes, you heard that right. For pretty much all of my life, I have not enjoyed the Christmas season and wanted it to pass as quickly as possible.

Why?

Perhaps it started in my childhood. My parents divorced when I was a baby and my mom went on to get married (and divorced) three more times.

Needless to say, that put a lot of strain on the household around the holidays.

Then I was kicked out of the house when I was fifteen.

I became a Christian when I was seventeen, but even then, I never felt comfortable around my family and Christmas seemed to bring up all of the problems we did a pretty good job ignoring throughout the year.

Take a lot of selfish people and force them to be nice to one another once a year and you will usually end up with fireworks!

As I grew older and started a family of my own, Christmas should have been a glorious time, but it wasn’t. I was a remodeling contractor and everyone wanted their project finished BEFORE Christmas (no matter how unrealistic it was).

All of their frustrations were leveled at me for not completing their project before Christmas and why kick the dog, when you a have a handy remodeler nearby?

I began to view Christmas as a serious pain. A pain to be with family, a pain to deal with customers and a realization that I was not seeing Christmas with the right eyes, but had no idea how to change.

Then God began to show me what the problem was…

The problem is that I had not prepared myself for Christmas day. In almost everything else, I took the time to get ready for an activity:

- I had 3 months to get ready for my marriage

- I had 9 months to prepare for my first child

- I usually had several weeks to prepare for a Sunday School lesson

…but I never prepared for Christmas Day! I just ran up on the day and then was surprised when there was a huge emotional let-down after the presents were opened.

That’s when I began to understand why the early church leaders put Advent on the church calendar. To help their congregations get ready for the day…emotionally and spiritually.

I began to see that, just like any important activity, if you arrive unprepared - you are in for a rude awakening.

So now I prepare for Christmas. And I LOVE Christmas. I no longer see it as a huge pain and I am lot more fun to be around during the holidays (so I am told!).

I share all this to tell you about a really cool way to prepare for Christmas called Artful Advent. It is written by one of my students and I could not be more proud!

Michelle Geffken has wonderfully blended preparing for Christmas with developing an appreciation for art. The ebook is one of the most beautiful ebooks I have ever seen and it takes you and your family step by step from the beginning of December up to the day of Christmas…using art as a means to engage the whole family.

A few practical things about the ebook:

- Michelle has provided activities according to ages of your children which are very helpful.

- Michelle also is very adept at getting you to understand what is going on in the artist’s mind and the world-view he is coming from. It
reminds me of Francis Schaeffer’s “How Then Should We Live”.

- She also shows you where to find wonderful resources - things that are overlooked by most people.

This ebook is more of a resource than a “how to”. It will lead you to many more great art books and resources in addition to the lessons and checklists she already has.

One other practical benefit is the ebook itself. I have been teaching my students how to create profitable ebooks for some time. So, if you want to see what a GREAT ebook looks like, you need to check this one out.

And it’s not even about making money!

So, visit the link below and prepare yourself and your family for a glorious and meaningful Christmas. Don’t wait almost 40 years like I did!

http://familyebiz.com/artfuladvent

Blessings,

Stephen Beck

PS…If you purchase the ebook through the link above and send me your receipt, I will send you a link to download the recording of the sermon I am preaching on Dec 16 about “How To Prepare For Christmas”.

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© Stephen Beck, 2007
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
—————————————-

Stephen Beck teaches families & teens how to start home business . For a free CD discussing the steps for a successful internet business, visit Christian Home Based Business right now.