Many people in network marketing today still use the traditional way of promoting their network marketing home business that have been used since the very first day of the network marketing industry. These are like the dinosaurs of the olden days. 95% of network marketers still continue to use the pre-historic prospecting techniques and cold calling methods which tend to be not as effective in today’s world as image branding and positioning marketing especially when it comes to generating responsive and exclusive MLM network marketing lead.

Let us say that I wanted to get from one state to another. There would be various ways with which I could reach my destination. The easiest and no-cost method would be by foot. I could also choose to ride my 2-wheeled bicycle, drive a car or even go by air. They would all get me to my destination. However, the time it is going to take me is going to be vastly different as common sense dictates.

If you are looking at speed, the method you decide on is going to determine how fast you achieve your goal in network marketing today. So if you are looking to knock out 95% of your competition, here are 4 image branding and positioning marketing strategies that you can use to help generate your MLM network marketing lead.

1. Blogging – Setup a blog and regularly upload unique content with lots of value. Currently my blog is receiving more than 1000 unique visitors with almost 4000 visits. What I love about it is that only those interested in the content will visit the blog. Not only does the blog help in your branding, it also helps you to position yourself out there as a leader. Your marketing efforts are fully targeted and you do not waste time and money knocking on doors and facing rejection after rejection. This is a free strategy save for the cost of your blog domain name which is minimal at less than $10 per year.

2. Article Marketing – Now that you already have your articles on your blog, why not get some leverage and submit these articles to article directories to get yourself noticed? By submitting to article directories, you are also spreading your name in the marketing and allowing more readers to locate you. Article marketing is one of the best ways to draw your target market to your website and convince them that you are the best answer to their needs. Here again, you are positioning yourself in the market place and building your brand. Only those interested in your articles will read them and once more, you do not have to face any rejection. This is another free strategy!

3. Video Marketing – YouTube is the 4th largest website in the world. Why not jump onto the bandwagon and make use of videos to get your content out there to your target market? As in the above strategies, only those interested in your content will check out your videos. Again you are able to brand yourself and market yourself. The more people find you everywhere on the internet, the more they will follow you. Oh! Did I mention that this is another free strategy as well? Current statistics show that YouTube has reached 1.2 billion views per day worldwide. That means that almost everyone on the Internet is watching one YouTube video per day.

4. Webinars/Teleseminars – A good friend of mine, Aaron, has implemented this strategy. Not only is he able to brand himself when he does this, his conversion and retention rates have also improved. He loves this strategy because only those interested show up and they are looking to him as the expert and eagerly awaiting whatever nuggets of information that he has to share with them.

When you start building your image online and branding yourself, you will find that you are building a solid reputation in your industry. Coupled with positioning marketing where you get more presence on the internet, you also improve your perceived value in the network marketing home business arena, develop your circle of influence and establish yourself as an expert in your field of network marketing today.

Every barista (professional maker of coffee drinks) will have his or her own method of making a great cup of espresso. That said, here is mine…

It all starts with the right water. No not coffee grounds, it does not matter the quality, the quality of the coffee grind can not overcome an association with poor water. The poor taste of the water will overcome the coffee. Yes, even water can get stale, thanks to mildew, poor cleaning practices, and inadequate filtering. It must be fresh and very hot. The optimum temperature should be 203F (95C), nearly boiling.

Next comes the coffee. The best coffee that I would recommend is arabica – whether from Brazil, Bogota, or elsewhere. It is grown above 3000 feet (915m) and delivered fresh for roasting. Either self-roasted or bought within a few days after, the coffee should have that ‘fresh food’ smell.

A more common coffee is Robusta – though it is easier to grow and more disease resistant it has more caffeine and not as much flavor. Because of the increase caffeine this type of coffee should be reserved for those quick pick-me-up cups, not used for an espresso. Espresso is meant to be savored which is an exact opposite of what Robusta offers.

Next, it is time to finely ground in burr, not blade grinders. Blade ‘grinders’ actually chop, not grind. Burr grinders have pyramid shaped teeth on two plates that grind the beans between them. The grinders of the roast should be dark – French or Viennese. The name refers to the color, not the origin.

The next question is how long to grind the ground?

The distance between the plates determines this, which determines the fineness of the granules. Sand grain-sized is good and is what should be the goal. Grinding the ground to powder is too fine, and small-gravel grounds are too large. While grinding the grind should not be exposed to air any longer than necessary. Coffee, like any food, will oxidize and absorb odors from the air. Neither is conducive to a good cup of espresso.

And, last but not least the espresso machine. A good cup of espresso is not possible without a good espresso machine. Good espresso requires a clean machine of good quality. Not of excellent quality. ‘Good quality means: generates heat by boiler or thermoblock and is capable of producing pump pressure of 9 bar or better. Let me explain ‘thermoblock’. A ‘thermoblock’ heats water as it passes through the machine on the way to the pump. This feature is present in most middle tier machines on the market. Avoid the cheaper units that rely on steam to create pressure.

Above are just the basic elements of a good cup of espresso. Next comes the process.

Let get the espresso machine out to begin. Plug it up and Pre-warm the equipment by running that good water that I mentioned earlier through the clean machine. You can turn the machine on, let the water heat, and run a cup through with no coffee to warm the surfaces and flush the system. This step is very important as it takes away the impurities that can ruin an espresso shot.

Add the roast that was ground earlier and pack down slightly, as you would pipe tobacco. Just as with pipes, you should be feel some springiness, but the coffee shouldn’t scatter.

Insert the hopper in the machine firmly to make sure it does not fall out and place a warmed not cold espresso cup at the outlet. Running it under hot water can warm up the cup. Now, hit the start button to start the machine and in about five seconds you should have a thin, steady stream of espresso. (About 20 seconds for a double shot.)

If cappuccino is your preference, continue the same process as if making a cup of espresso but add these few steps. Warm a half a cup of organic milk in the microwave about 90 seconds, froths, and add to the espresso. Garnish the top froth with a taste of freshly ground cinnamon, nutmeg or chocolate. For those who like it sweet a little organic sugar goes a long way.

That is it, a simple but straightforward way to make a great cup of espresso. Simple wasn’t it. The key to this recipe is to start with good ingredients, keep your equipment clean, and don’t burn the roast. The result? A great cup!

In the 1990s, martial arts champion Billy Blanks released a series of videotapes that combined martial arts (Tae-Kwon-Do) with boxing for a unique activity that promised to deliver exceptional health and fitness benefits. Calling his method Tae Bo (pronounced ‘tie-bo’), Blanks punched, kicked, and sparred his way into the living rooms-and the fitness routines-of millions of Americans. Suddenly, boxing was not just a bloody contact sport, it was a fitness activity that brought massive health benefits to its participants.

Although boxing for fitness was hardly a new concept, Tae Bo glamorized it and made it more accessible to the everyday exerciser seeking to introduce a fun and entertaining aspect into their exercise routines. Consequently, many fitness centers today offer boxing classes to their members who seek to achieve peak physical conditioning in a short amount of time. But fitness-boxing routines do more than simply firm the body. Boxing has proven to be an effective way to relieve the tension that results from the stresses of modern society.

Exercise and Stress-Relief

Many studies have shown that physical exercise is an effective stress-reliever. One such study was conducted at the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1999. This 4-part study was designed with the goal of, according to Assistant Professor Monika Fleshner, understanding “how regular, moderate, physical activity alters the stress response by examining the entire system, from the brain to the individual cells.”

To that end, the researchers conducted four separate but related experiments on mice. Each of these experiments yielded convincing proof of the stress-reducing effects of exercise and, by extension, of boxing classes.

For this study, a group of physically active rats (those who maintained a regular routine of wheel-running for 4 weeks) were compared to a group of sedentary rats after being exposed to 90-minutes of stress. In three of these experiments (the fourth one did not concern stress reactions), the physically active rats showed a marked difference in their reactions to stress as compared with the sedentary rats.

- Experiment 1. The physically active rats produced a lower amount of a stress-induced protein.

- Experiment 2. The physically active rats released less norepinephrine (a hormone that is similar to adrenaline).

- Experiment 3. The physically active rats were less likely to suffer the known negative physiological results of stress that include an increase of stress proteins, a suppression of cell division, and a decrease in cytokines (which causes a lowered immune response.)

The results of this and many other studies show that exercise is an effective stress-reliever that causes many physiological changes. Indeed, all it may take to knock out your tension, say experts, is to participate in boxing classes.

The Ideal Exercise
The ideal exercise routine combines aerobic and anaerobic activities, can be performed without undue risk of injury, increases calorie burn, and provides enough variety to avoid boredom. By this standard, boxing classes provide an excellent total workout for the body-and for the mind (via reduced tension and stress).

Boxing has been shown to increase the efficiency of the cardio respiratory and vascular systems, hone the performance of the central nervous system, and strengthen the musculoskeletal system.

Boxing Classes
Most boxing classes last for 60 minutes and, although the mix of exercises differs for each program (and for each fitness facility), one can expect the class to contain the following components:

Warm Up. This segment at the beginning of the class lasts for 5-10 minutes and is designed to warm the muscles and tendons, preparing them for the more strenuous portion.

Conditioning. The warm up typically transitions into several boxing moves that are designed to condition the body. These exercises provide anaerobic (strength) conditioning together with an aerobic component to increase the heartbeat. The conditioning segment of boxing classes typically lasts for 10 minutes.

Technique. A few new boxing techniques are introduced at each session. In the beginning, these techniques will be simple movements such as punches and jabs. After these are mastered, more complicated (and challenging) combinations of boxing movements will be added to the program. The training in each specific boxing technique lasts for approximately 5 minutes.

Hitting Drills. The prime focus of most boxing classes are the “hitting drills” which revolve around a timed series of punching and kickboxing of stationary objects such as heavy bags. The objects to be hit will be positioned as part of a circuit that the “boxer” will hit or kick (employing proper boxing technique) for approximately two to three minutes. Between each station, the boxer will rest for 1 minute before going to the next station for a continued two to three minutes of punching and kicking. (There may also be standard exercise machines within the circuit to provide a more complete workout.) This routine continues until the boxer has worked all stations in the circuit. This part of the boxing class, which lasts for approximately 35 minutes generally leaves the participants feeling energized and refreshed.

Cool Down. This last part of the class focuses upon gradually slowing the heart rate while practicing gentle stretching exercises that will help to prevent or reduce later onset of muscle soreness and joint stiffness.

Boxing for Everyone
Although boxing can be a very intense form of exercise, it can also be modified to fit anyone’s fitness level. To prevent injury, Felix Pagan, the manager of the LA Boxing Gym in Rockville, Maryland advises the individual to work on perfecting proper boxing form as well as building muscle and increasing cardiovascular strength. “When your form is the way it should be,” Pagan says, “it helps you execute [your moves] and your exercises are more effective.” This minimizes the risk of injury and allows one to truly benefit from-and enjoy-the boxing classes.

An activity that tones the body, refreshes the spirit and de-stresses the mind in 60 minutes…with minimal risk of injury to the body? Sign me up!