QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
By Mark McKeller

Q. So many opportunities promise thousands of dollars in just weeks or months, even working part time. Are these ads for real, and how do I know which ones really work?

A. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary of ads or opportunities that promise big returns in very short periods of time. Though someone, somewhere, may have once achieved such results, most of the time business success takes time and persistence. Opportunities can have a learning curve of days, weeks or months, before any customers are acquired. A steady and reliable customer base or income stream usually takes even more time to develop. With most opportunities, the product or service has been offered before, and competition may hinder your progress. If your opportunity is truly ground floor, then unfamiliarity in the marketplace can cause skepticism, which also may slow you down. Either way, immediate success is in no way guaranteed, or even likely.

How do you know what "real" expectations should be? Even though your situation may be somewhat different from others in the business, information from and about them are your most reliable source of information. Ask questions; evaluate the market based on objective data obtained from the parent company and your own research, and verify your findings by talking to those in the business already. If information from the parent company, your independent research and what you hear from referrals are consistent and to your liking, the business could be right for you. The most important factors concern you more than the business. Are you willing to commit to what seems required to achieve the results you want? Don't count on "getting lucky." Chances are, success will take longer than you think. Are you committed to the long haul? Do you see yourself doing the business? Does it sound like fun to you? Can you count on the support you need to get through the learning curve? Can you afford that curve? If the business is part time, do you have the time necessary to make it work? The answers to these questions are the real test of your potential success.