On the river of life some people know when to drift and when to paddle. Some only paddle desperately when the get in trouble, and some just give up and let the rapids engulf them.

People who find ways to make difference know what is important to them. They plot a course to reach their goal and form a team to help them accomplish what otherwise might be impossible.

Which are you? Do you drift through life. Are you satisfied with your fate? If not, what are you going to do about it?

Maybe it is time for you to pull up on the shore, lay in the sand, watch the clouds and dream. What do you want your life to be like in two, four and six years?

Start with your dreams, but how are you going to make them come true? Your Captain has the dream, but your navigator sets your course. Your engineer starts the engine, and your crew takes care of the details.

Write out your plan. Know what your vision is. Define your mission. Set your objectives and then strategize. What do you have to do to accomplish your objectives?

The last step is to write out the plans that will help you implement your stratedgies.

If you are struggling to pay your bills, you need more money. What are you going to do? Other than winning the lottery, you have two choices. You can get a second job or you start a new business.

A new job will give you immediate additional income, but your life will be totally devoted to work. You will have no time for family, fun or the freedom to do what you want. Is that the life you want? Lots of people have to do it, but I doubt they’re happy about it.

Your job is for survival. A business can set you free, or it can take your life. The trouble with the traditional business model is that most entrepreneurs work 60 to 80 hours a week and have little time for anything else. A smart business person will build a team but in the traditional business model your income is capped by how much you can charge and how much you can work.

There is another business model that can provide you the time and financial freedom to do what you want without asking anyone’s permission. That’s the kind of business I want. I get paid based on the sales volume of my team. The larger and more successful my sales team is the more money I make, and because my income is based on the sales of others, I’m motivated to help my team be successful.

What is this business model? It’s been around for years, but it has developed a bad reputation because there are so many scams in Multi-Level Marketing and because so few people succeed. That doesn’t mean you should reject the MLM business model. It just means you must affiliate with a company whose products you like and are proud to share with your friends. I don’t want to sell lotions, potions or pills. I’ve looked for tools anyone can use to promote their business or organization. That way all my income streams complement each other.

Those who succeed in Multi-Level Marketing never quit paddling. They take an interest in people; they get acquainted and only after they have a good relationship will they share their business with their new friend. I use the word share very specifically. Never try to sell your friends your business. Simply share what you’re doing and let them decide whether they want to join you.

There are those who will not be interested. There are those who want to join you immediately, and there are those for whom the time is not right. They have expressed an interest, so keep in touch and keep sharing information. MLM is a very simple business that anyone can do, but building your team takes patience, and consistent effort. if you share your business with a lot of friends, you will build it more quickly. If you share your business with one person a day it may take five years to see results. If you share your business with one person a month you may never succeed.

Most MLM companies are designed to provide you both immediate and recurring income. Most MLM companies will allow you to get started with a small investment. Just be careful to understand all the costs. Many MLM’s are structured with substantial up sells. You may be able to get started for $25, but you’ll have to spend thousands to really start making money. I’m leery of any business model with a big backend cost because too many people will lose money.

Before you invest in any business be sure you understand its income potential, all the costs involved and what you’ll have to do to succeed. If someone asks you to invest thousands of dollars in an MLM, hit them over the head with your paddle and go find another boat.

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The metaphor of a river is drawn from the book, “A River Worth Riding” by Lynn Marie Sager.

Bill Sager is a forester and conservationist living in Kaneohe, Hawaii. He is a writer, a videographer and he helps people build resilience into their lives. He believes everyone must be free to pursue their dreams, and they must be personally and financially resilient to survive the occasional rapids in the river of life.