The short answer is - there are a lot of myths, and very little magic.

The reality is that any home based business you choose is going to take some work on your part...and chances are you won't get rich overnight. Some of the opportunities advertised are simply pyramid schemes disguised as a business, with specific wording included to take advantage of legal loopholes that exist (for now).

To the newcomer, the world of Network Marketing can be a perplexing maze of new ideas, products, services, schemes, and let's face it, scams. The failure rate for network marketers and other home based businesses is staggering - reportedly about 95% - but as the industry grows and matures, that trend will change.

As a newcomer myself, I've learned a few lessons the hard way.

We have all heard of the tremendous power of visualization - the process of creating a mental picture of what you want as a means of acquiring or achieving something you desire. While it may seem like a lot of metaphysical mumbo-jumbo, I would challenge you to reflect on the goals in your life that you have realized and conclude that visualization was not an important part of the process.

Starting any new business will require the ability and desire to gain new skills, whether it is business management, technical skills, bookkeeping fundamentals, etc. Specifically, in the realm of Network Marketing, your writing skills will become one of the most important tools in promoting your business.

While this may sound beyond your reach, I can assure you that it is not.

"There is no success without hardship." Sophocles

For those of you that are starting (or thinking about) a home-based-business, there are some basic truths that you're not going to hear from the people that are trying to recruit you for THEIR program.

First, you will have to make some sacrifices. You will have to devote time, energy, and even money to get any business off the ground.

When an individual first starts to think about jumping on the home-based-business bandwagon, there are typically many questions that need answering. Unfortunately, the source of information that presents itself is usually someone that is trying to recruit for his or her specific opportunity...not a particularly objective point of view.

There are three main types of business models to consider.

The one place where many entrepreneurs stumble and fall is in the basic management of their business. Being successful in any business venture requires at least a minimal amount of management skill.

The most important thing is to keep track of your money! Knowing where your money is being spent, and how effective those expenditures are in generating revenue will often mean the difference between success and failure.

New businesses, whether online or offline, have to let people know they exist - which means advertising. In the world of Network Marketing, there are numerous ways to get free exposure, and start building the name recognition that will guarantee your long-term success!

Blogging - blog is short for web log, and is simply a venue for commentary and discussion on any subject you can think of.

As I continue my journey through the wonderful world of Network Marketing I am being exposed to new ideas all the time. Probably one of the most difficult notions to wrap my head around is that Network Marketing is NOT about selling.

What?!!! You're probably thinking to yourself that I've gone off the deep end. But, I have come to believe in this principle just as strongly as I believe that the earth is round.

Will Rogers said, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

This is true for all aspects of your life, but especially in your online business. The problem is that there are so many things to learn, so many things to do to get the ball rolling, that it is easy to become overwhelmed. People get so paralyzed by confusion about what they should and in what order that they end up doing nothing at all.