What's your number?

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In 2013, I started my first home based business. I started it fort he tax benefits only. I really wasn't looking to
be a full on entrepreneur. Let's face it. I have a cushy job as a supervisor. That comes easy to me. I re-direct, delegate, and solve problems. I get paid for what I know, not what I do. I take that back. I get paid to accomplish goals and meet deadlines, not to cover a work area for an allotted time. Which was all fine and dandy to me until I started hanging around people who were making monthly what I make yearly. I say, in the most humble way possible, I do well for myself. So, to see that kind of money in someone's income statements really got me thinking about my real "worth".

Most home based businesses are considered "direct sales". What is direct sales? The principal behind it is, the individual markets a product or service for an established company. As an individual, you get paid a commission for the sales you make and then you build a team to do the same thing. The company compensates you for adding member to your team. You help the people on your team sell the product and/or services and receive a portion of the commissions from your team's efforts as well. The great thing about this model is that it encourages team work. As a team leader, I want to sell and make money and I want my team to sell.

Not only do you get to help a gang of people earn the kind of income they dream of, you also open your mind. Prior to opening my mind to direct sales, I thought I would be set with a salary anywhere between $80,000-$100,000 per year. I'd earn that going into an office, working about 40-50 hours per week. I'd have to be on call, since I'm in the healthcare field, which meant my phone may ring in the evenings after I already left the office for the day, on the weekend, in the middle of the night, or even while I'm on vacation. I was fine with that until I saw that there were other ways to earn money, help people, like I enjoy doing in healthcare, and feel like I'm being compensated properly for the time that I spend "working".

I LOVE the technical aspect of my healthcare profession. The patient testing. Process improvement. Buying new equipment. Validating a new test method that will save my staff time and frustration. It's awesome. I don't like the managerial aspect of it. Personal issues. Disciplining staff. Terminating staff who don't correct their mistakes. It can be really stressful at times. Late nights. Coming in early to catch up with night shift staff. Staying late to be prepared for an early morning meeting. The thought often passed through my mind..."I don't get paid enough for this." I know I am not the only one who has had these thoughts.

What is enough though? Like, if they suggested they'd double your salary, would you still feel like you didn't get paid enough? Maybe I would take double to deal with the same stress. Maybe. But eventually, the feeling would come back. "I don't get paid enough for this crap."

What's your number? How much money will it take for you to deal with the "crap" of your job on a daily basis where you would feel like you get paid enough to deal with it? Everyone has a number. I'm curious. Being around entrepreneurs in all fields, not just direct sales, I've become more comfortable in naming my number with confidence. I am fine with walking away from the table if the numbers and conditions aren't satisfactory to me. Why? Because I know my number. I know what I bring to the table and the value I add. Truth is, the people I end up negotiating with know it too.

Remember, know your worth. When negotiating a salary, a recording contract, or a distribution deal, you have to know your worth and stand behind it. Otherwise, the person whom you're negotiating with is going to try to  low ball you. Nothing personal, it's just in their best interest to get the most value for the least amount of money.

Although I wholeheartedly believe in the power of direct sales and the benefits of a home based business, but I love my career. Direct sales has given me the confidence to venture out in to some other things while I build my team. It also gave me the confidence to negotiate terms with my employer that give me the flexibility to grow my own businesses and also continue to grow in my career. Those negotiations took over 3 months but I knew my number and I knew what I had to offer so I could advocate for myself.

If you don't know your number, figure it out. If you don't love your situation at work or in life, fight for change. You add value. It's highly likely that the people you are working with know that and will give you everything you want. That's how you live the "Fancy Life".

Enzymes - How Digestive Enzymes Assist With Weight Loss

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An apple a day keeps the doctor away is a saying that is mostly true. Not so much about the apple. We need to eat more than apples to stay healthy but the concept is true. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables keeps our body healthy and functioning at peak performance levels. The problem with today's microwave and fast food society is that most aren't eating fresh foods. The average American's diet consists of 61% processed foods. Not only does that mean that their bodies are not getting the nutrients they need but also some of the other things that play a key role in bodily functions, like enzymes.

Digestive enzymes are very important. Our body has billions of cells that need "energy" in the form of nutrients. Well, an apple is food and we look at it as energy but our body needs what is in that apple. One apple has sodium, potassium, carbohydrates (also known as sugar), fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, vitamin B6 and magnesium. We enjoy the taste, texture, and satisfaction we get from eating an apple. But digestive enzymes play a significant role in breaking the apple down so that our cells can absorb these nutrients.

Enzymes are molecules that start a chemical reaction breaking food down into smaller pieces. These pieces are what the body uses fuel day-to-day activities. Without enzymes, food will sit in the stomach and, eventually, pass through the bowels undigested. Digestive enzymes targets types of bonds that processed foods may not exist in processed foods. Looking at some of the ingredients in processed foods may make you wonder if it's food at all. Most of the ingredients have no nutritional value at all, mostly sugar and salt.

Digestive enzymes are naturally occurring in fermented foods like kimchi. The bacteria that causes fermentation also releases enzymes that help with digestion. Enzymes are also found in apricot, avocado, banana, papaya and pineapple. When you're on the go and aren't able to merge these foods into your diet, high quality supplements are a good alternative.

Enzymes are good for your digestive system but they are only as good as the food you eat. If your diet has a large part of processed food, enzymes are not able to properly break them down so that your cells can get the nutrients they need. This can lead to obesity and chronic illnesses. Eat to live. Make sure you are getting enough fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet, including those that naturally contain enzyme. If you can't do that, get your daily dose by taking a high quality nutritional supplement that have enzymes.

At Fancy Free, LLC, we are healthcare professionals. Health and wellness are very important to us. We take great pride in helping people live healthy lifestyles, physically and financially. Call me at (410)929-0302 for your complimentary health and wellness consultation.

Antioxidants - The Key To Anti-Aging

The fountain of youth is a mythical legend. Or is it? The fountain of youth was believed to contribute to ancient people living for a substantially longer period of time than most because they consumed and bathed in the "water of life". The reality is, it wasn't the water, it was what was in the water that allowed the people to live longer than most.

What causes aging and, ultimately, death? Well, all of our body parts are made up of cells that have a pre-determined life span. Along the course of time, some cells die due to age and release products of the dead cells into the body, called oxidants. It's a natural process, which is why anti-oxidants are found in foods that we eat. Cells also die from other causes, such as exposure to elements in the environment as well as disease. Lack of nutrition can also cause cells to die. You ever notice that people who are not getting all of the nutrients they need look older or sick? It's because their body is not getting the proper nutrients needed to balance out the effects of cells dying and releasing those toxins.

So what was in that "Water of Life"? Most likely antioxidants. Antioxidants counter the effect of oxidants released from dead cells. Growing old is a beautiful thing but no one wants to get age prematurely. Without antioxidants, perfectly healthy cells surrounding dying cells are effected by the oxidants released causing them to die also. Eliminating oxidants before they damage healthy cells prevent cell damage and prolongs youth.

As far as we know, we don't have access to a "fountain of youth" but we can have the same effect if we make sure antioxidants are a part of our diet. Most berries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, are rich in antioxidants. Prunes, cloves, walnuts, and pinto beans are rich in antioxidants as well. Green tea has antioxidant properties too. Another way to get the appropriate amount of antioxidants to keep your body young and healthy is in nutritional supplements. Taking supplements that contain antioxidants daily insure that you are getting everything you need, even when you don't have access to the food.

The fountain of youth may be a legend but we can still have long life by preventing cell death. Our body is made up of cells that do eventually die and release oxidants that effect surrounding cells. Antioxidants counteract the effects of oxidants and are found in foods or nutritional supplements.

Fancy Free LLC. is a home based consulting company that assists people in reaching their personal and financial goals every day. Contact us at (410) 929-0302 to schedule your complimentary consultation. 

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Keeping a Healthy Body With The Right Food

Your body has all the mechanisms in place to take care of itself but it needs the proper fuel to do that. It's just like any other equation. Junk in, junk out. Quality in, get quality results. If you are health conscious and want to stay healthy, making sure the food that you eat is quality. Food is fuel. Food and nutrients are ultimately nature's medication. Eating clean is all the rage now and it's not a fad.

Eating clean and organic is here to stay. No matter your activity level, what you put in your body decides how you feel and even how you look. Packaged foods were developed to help prevent food shortage and became very useful in times of war. However, the odds of a modern country having a famine or food shortage are very low. The fact is, packaged and processed foods are not good to eat for extended periods of time. Studies show that chronic disease like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, are preventable by decreasing the amount of packaged and processed foods in the diet. Have you ever looked on the back of a package of food to read the ingredients? If you haven't, you should try it. Most of the ingredients are very difficult to pronounce because they are chemicals, not food. How about packaged goods that can sit on the shelf for months and not go bad. If bacteria, fungus and bugs, which help the process of "rotting" food, don't want to eat it, why should you? 

Using manufactured medicines have become standard practice, but every illness had a natural remedy. All foods have properties that meet your body's needs. Leafy greens, bright colorful vegetables, fruits, red meat, poultry, fish, herbs, and spices all contain nutrients that our body needs to support and repair. When you are not feeling your best, look at what you've eaten. Have you been eating a lot of processed foods? Foods that come in packages? Fast food? Too much protein? Lots of starch? Are you eating enough to fuel your body? All of these things contribute to how your body functions and feels.

The best way to make sure you look and feel your best is to make sure you are eating quality foods and getting all the nutrients your body needs to work properly. Make sure you plan your meals if you have a hectic lifestyles. Proper planning prevents you from eating bad food, which always seems more convenient and cost-effective. The right nutritional supplements help bridge any nutritional gaps left open from not eating enough or not having a balanced diet. Sometimes, even a balanced diet does not insure that you are getting enough of everything you need. 

Eat clean. Make sure your meals are fresh foods. Minimize consuming preservatives and ingredients that you cannot pronounce. If you don't plan anything, plan your meals. Take a nutritional supplement to make sure you are getting all of the proper nutrients your body needs.

Fancy Free LLC. helps new people to reach their personal and financial goals every day. Contact us at (410) 929-0302 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

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Being Honest - What You Stand To Lose When You Tell The Truth

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Honesty is the best policy. Being honest says more about you than most anything you do. However,
everyone isn't ready for the truth and what the truth means to them. There are consequences to being completely honest. Sometimes telling the truth will result in loses. Be prepared but always be honest.

Things You May Lose When You Tell The Truth 

1. Guilt 
Whether it be revealing your true feelings or telling a business owner about a huge mistake you made with payroll. Telling someone who you love them can relieve lots of guilt if they pass. We know they knew how we felt. There is no guilty feeling of "I never told them that I loved them." Suppose we make an error while processing payroll but do not let anyone know. The havoc associated with bounced pay checks and bank fees might be profound. Imagine how guilty you would feel watching the business owner see the consequences of your error. Knowing that being honest about your mistake could have, at the very least, mentally prepared the owner for what was to come or, even better, take measures to fix the error.

2. Lack of respect 
No matter how harsh it may come out, the truth is always respected. We gain respect when we have the courage to speak on the things that are hard to say. If someone did not respect you, they will after you have been honest about something that most people will not. A reputation for being honest is much more respected than a reputation for being "nice".

3. Weak associations 
 Whether it be family or friends, only weak people do not want to hear the truth about themselves or a situation. Personal growth comes when you work toward becoming a better person, which begins with owning your truth. Everyone is not in that space at the same time. Everyone is not strong enough to face those hard truths about themselves. While it is perfectly fine to accept people for who they are and where they are in life, people who are not ready to face their own issues usually shy away from someone who is completely honest. If you are in a space of growth, associations with people who are not growing can stunt your growth. Be honest anyway and let those weak associations go.

 Honesty is the best policy. Being honest will keep you from feeling guilty about not sharing necessary information. You will also gain respect from many and keep up gain an honest reputation. People who are not strong enough to face their own truth will avoid someone who is. Be honest anyway. It is perfectly fine to no longer associate with people who do not encourage your growth.

Fancy Free, LLC. believes in the concept of building relationships that turn into business relationships. We can help you do the same. Contact us at (410) 929-0302 for your complimentary consultation. We would love to help you do the same. Complete the form below to join our emailing list.

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Are you misunderstood?

One of life's greatest challenges can be being misunderstood. Look at how Kanye West acts out. He is not crazy, he acts out because he is frustrated. He is frustrated because he is misunderstood. Kanye just wants to create without limitations and bless the world with his genius. Having people question his intentions and ultimately stifle his blessing us is frustrating to him, so he acts out and is labeled as crazy or a misfit, when he is simply misunderstood.

Most geniuses are considered crazy, just because they think differently than the masses. Just because someone doesn't understand what you're doing doesn't mean that what you're doing is not valuable. They just don't understand it....yet. Sometimes they will never understand and that's OK too. What I love about Kanye is that he knows that people think he's crazy and does not care. He knows that he is going to be misunderstood before he opens his mouth and he says what he wants to say anyway....and MEANS IT!!!

The same goes for me. In conversation, I process things pretty quickly, and start thinking faster than my mouth can communicate. So, my responses can sound...well....crazy. It can be frustrating when someone doesn't read your mind and think and process the way you do. LOL! I feel misunderstood.

I have learned that my perspective and my point of view are just that, mine. There are sooooo many interesting point of views out there. I have realized that everyone doesn't want what I want or see what I see and it's AWESOME! I have learned to ask more questions and do less talking, so that I'm not misunderstood as often.....like Kanye. My mind still processes quickly but by listening more, I have time to come up with coherent sentences that don't make me sound like a total nut job.

Everyone does not have to understand you. Genius ideas are considered borderline crazy at first. Don't be afraid to be different and to think like an individual. If you don't care about being misunderstood, get your "Yeezy" on, speak your mind as soon as the thoughts hit you, no matter how esoteric they may sound. I have learned that I come off as less of a crazy person when I listen more than I talk. The people who "get" me know my heart is genuine and anything I say comes from a good place even if it comes out sounding ridiculous.

Life would be boring if we were all the same. Even as a genius, life is better when you're able to communicate with people who think differently than you. Thinking like a artistic genus is only fun when people are interested in the art you share. I love Kanye for not caring but I don't want to offend people when I talk. So I ask questions and listen. My point of view isn't the end.

If you find that you are misunderstood more often than not and you want to fix it. I would LOVE to help you work toward that. Give us a call (410)929-0302 or fill out the form to join our email list for weekly pointers on succeeding.

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Secret To Success Is No Secret

There is no secret to success. Huge successes do not happen over night. A lot of sweat equity and sacrifice goes into these seemingly overnight success stories. The interviews, documentaries, biopic, and biographies that chronicle the accomplishments have common themes no matter the industry. One of which is consistency. Being persistent over a long period of working toward goals is one of the things that led to success.

Consistency is a key to success. Being talented is nice but consistently improving, consistently learning more, and consistently marketing your skills is what is going to separate you from the rest of the talented bunch. There are many talented people in sports, entertainment, writing, and business. However, the ones who are consistent in their efforts see the success they want.

If we apply this concept to everyday life, you will notice a differences every area of life. Financial planning, budgeting and saving are a good one because most people struggle with it no matter what their income is. Recognizing the need for a budget and actually creating one are only the first steps financial responsibility. The budget doesn't work if you do not stick to it. There are many great savings plans floating around the internet. No matter how good the plan is, if you do not consistently execute the plan, your savings account will not grow. Getting fit is another area that requires consistency to see results. Committing to changing your diet and regular exercise is awesome. However, you only see the results after an extended time of consistently eating healthy and exercising.

Working toward your goals every day helps improve your skills and shows others that you are dependable. Pushing through obstacles and continuing to work even when you don't feel like it shows dedication and passion. Being persistent even when you aren't getting the results you anticipated shows commitment.

Often times close family and friends will not take you seriously in the beginning of your journey. They are watching you even more carefully than the rest. They may not support you in the beginning when you need it most. Persist anyway. Your consistency shows them that you are serious. Eventually, they will support you. If not, others will.

Being consistent is a common theme in all success stories. Talent is god given but consistency takes discipline and will set the talented apart from the successful. Applying consistency to financial planning and fitness is the only way to see real results, the same with business. Being consistent demonstrates that you are dependable, committed and demands that you be taken seriously.

Fancy Free LLC. is a home based consulting company that helps new people reach their financial and personal goals. Contact us at (410) 929-0302 to schedule your complimentary consultation.

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