Marc Ashley receives 40 under 40 Award

Marc Ashley, chief operating officer of Market America was recognized last night as a recipient of the Triad Business Journal's 40 Leaders under Forty award. Anyone who lives in an area where the Business Journal is published knows that this is one of the biggest events of the year and one of the most coveted awards for local business leaders.

In a write up in today's Triad Business Journal Marc was recognized as being one of Market America's original management team members when the company was founded in 1992, and through his leadership "has built the company into an Internet retail giant. Through his philanthropic endeavors, he helps strengthen our community and encourages others to give."

I could not have said it better myself, Congratulations Marc!

New Research on Diet Soda!

How many diet soda drinkers do we have out there? Personally, I never felt bad about drinking diet soda because it has no calories or sugar. When I saw the results of this new study, my opinion changed.

The January 2009 issue of Diabetes Care published some alarming new research on diet soda consumption. According to this observational study, participants who drank diet soda at least daily had a 67% increased risk of type 2 diabetes compared with individuals who did not drink diet soda. They also reported that individuals who drank diet soda at least daily had a 35% increased risk of metabolic syndrome.

I've talked on here before about my multiple Diet Pepsi each day habit. I like the sweetness and I need the energy boost from the caffeine. Luckily, there is an alternative that I like even more. If you haven't tried AWAKE™, Market America's healthy, caffeine free energy drink, you need to get some. AWAKE is great because it only has 35 calories per serving, it's caffeine free and its full of energy-boosting B vitamins along with other essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It tastes great and it gives me the kick I need to get through my day full of energy.

Did you know that we just launched a new AWAKE website? You need to check out www.getawake.com to view awesome AWAKE recipes, learn more about what makes AWAKE unique and submit your AWAKE stories and testimonials! See you there!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Vitamin D and the sun

Personally, I am so excited that it is staying lighter outside longer. A couple of months ago, the sun had just come up by the time I got to work and it had already set when I left. I was getting virtually no time in the sun. Now, even if I leave work at 6pm, there is still some daylight! I'm looking forward to turning the clocks ahead and getting even more sunlight!

Since people will probably be getting more sunlight as we have more daylight hours, I wanted to clear up a few things about sun exposure and vitamin D. Most of us know that vitamin D synthesis in our bodies is activated by sunlight on our skin. However, getting adequate vitamin D from the sun depends on a lot of different factors including your geographical location, cloud cover, smog, skin color, sunscreen and even your body composition. Research has shown that sunscreen over SPF 8 can block vitamin D synthesis. While I don't tend to lather on my sunscreen in the winter, I do wear makeup and body lotion that has sunscreen in it! Not only that, but when I go outside in February, I'm usually wearing long pants and long sleeves so not much of my skin is exposed to the sunlight.

With so many factors that influence our body's ability to synthesize vitamin D via sunlight, I feel confident knowing that I'm taking my vitamin D supplement. I was really thrilled when we came out with Isotonix Vitamin D with K2 and started taking it immediately. I love the taste and I'm glad to know that I'm taking care of my bones and supporting my immune system and my cardiovascular health.

Have you tried it yet? We want to hear from you so let us know what you think!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Voitel Unlimited Text Messaging

Guess What? Voitel has an unlimited text messaging marketing tool exclusive to Market America distributors. 94% of all text messages are read. How about those statistics? You can promote your products and services to a captive audience. Please visit http://voiteltm.com/ for more details. Happy prospecting.

The Recession Is Over.

From the desk of James Ridinger, President & CEO:

Coming off a monumental week in the history of Market America, I am still riding a tidal wave of exhilaration as we take the business world by storm — from entrepreneurs to consumers everywhere. Our first ever ma World Conference was legendary thanks to all your enthusiasm and support. Make no mistake about it; we are positioned perfectly to take a quantum leap toward the paradigm of the future.

There couldn't be a better time than now to make it happen, because people are listening more than ever. Many are looking for answers and we have the ultimate solution — an immediate fix for people's economic woes, as well as a long-term solution for financial independence. Americans, and people worldwide for that matter, need to hear our message. More importantly, they need to see and understand what we do and how it can change their lives.

No matter what you learned or didn’t learn at World Conference, know this — you need to get your team and your prospects to the next big event, International Convention in August. Now is the time to get organized. Find out who doesn’t have tickets in your organization or figure how many new prospects you need to bring in in order to leverage your efforts and jump a Pin Level. Use videos of World Conference to inspire and motivate people on the power and importance of being there.

The only shortcut to success is to get people to these big events. They will leave empowered with the knowledge and confidence to go out and grow their business with or without you, which ultimately makes you a hopeless success by virtue of their success. International Convention will convince them that the recession is over — because Market America refuses to participate! Entrepreneurism is the key to a strong economy and we provide the solution this country desperately needs.

Currently, there is a strong riptide pulling business away from store retailing and flooding Internet marketing, because it is so much more efficient and cost effective. We are developing technologies and adding partners, which makes us superior to any other business model or online retailer period. We are simply the best, because no other company has what we have — a Web Portal, an opportunity, and the power of people!

If you missed out on all the breakthroughs and innovations announced at ma World Conference, you have a lot of work and information to catch up on. Here are the highlights that should help get you started:

New Portal Features on marketamerica.com

• The biggest news is our partnership with Microsoft, which will ensure lightning accuracy in search capabilities and more. Dr. Bjorn Olstad, cofounder of Microsoft Fast, shares the same vision and commitment of Market America — “Let’s focus on the consumer experience first and everything else will be a consequence of that.”
• A customer’s order history now appears, making reorders simple — plus related products are now recommended for additional sales.
• ma LiveChat allows Customer Managers to have instant communication with new and existing customers.
• We are delving into the cutting-edge realm of telemedicine so patients who can’t afford doctor visits or are uninsured can get medical advice on minor health concerns via a secure and private face-to-face web conference. More details on this remarkable new technology coming soon.

Digital Tools and Viral Marketing

• For new subscriptions and annual renewals, we included unlimited access to over 200 audio downloads, plus a free preloaded MP3 device with 81 audios already on it. Listening to these audios daily to reprogram your brain for success is the most effective business-building tool we currently offer.
• The new Digital Powerline will arrive weeks before you receive a printed version. It can be customized and emailed endlessly as single ads/articles or entire editions. Rich content is interactive and clickable, directing consumers instantly to your Portal for easy product ordering.
• ma Newsstand is adding new titles continually. A digital version of the special edition of Haute Living is already available and plans are underway to incorporate over 30,000 online books by the second quarter of 2009.
• Coming soon, we’re linking third-party ads directly to the Partner Stores on your Portal, which translates into more sales, more IBV, and more commissions.

MyWorld Updates

• We rocked the rooftop with a talent concert Friday night to kick off the Emerging Artists platform. With Conquer Entertainment and the UnLabel™, unsigned artists will be able to distribute their music through ma MyWorld.
• ma Diner lets you market ad space for restaurant owners to post menus, listing and more on your Portal.
• The next channel launched on MyWorld will be Fashion — stay tuned!

Revised Flipchart

• We’ve taken the best opportunity presentation and made it better. Adding four new pages to the already incredible Flipchart will make showing the Plan easier and more engaging then ever.
• Two new spreads were added, depicting the pitfalls of horizontal marketing vs. the benefits of vertical marketing, plus an overall illustration of our One-to-One Engine that helps prospects understand the power of the system.

NMTSS and Market America University

• New regions and new regional directors were named as a result of the powerful merger of the NMTSS and Market America University concept. Kevin Buckman and Dennis Franks team up to emphasize business fundamentals, implement Fast Track teams in every region, and ultimately take training to the next level!
• We’re incorporating new majors into the whole University concept including Loren’s incredible training on Internet shopping, finding deals, and using the Portal to save and make money.

Personal Growth and Development — Mind, Body, Spirit
• To provide a site for the mind/body/spirit consumer to go for products, services, and information emphasizing a holistic, wellness lifestyle approach, green shopping options, and healthy living products.
• The site will be a blend of ma products plus third-party items such as NBA superstar Alonzo Mourning's book, entitled Resilience: Faith, Focus, Triumph.

UnFranchise Owner Apprentice (UFOA) Program

• Designed for Preferred Customers to begin building the business before they even get into the business!
• All BV/IBV is automatically assigned to the UFOA and flows up, while all net retail profits go to the UFOA’s account.
• If a UFOA doesn’t convert to a UFO within one year, all credit gets redeposited into the sponsoring UFO’s account.

And this is only the beginning! How can you not be excited about all the possibilities this opens up? Keep in mind, there is no better time than now to capitalize on all the momentum generated from such progressive tools and advanced releases, all designed with your success in mind. So get out there, learn about these new features, get your people to the trainings and events, and keep growing your business. See you at the top!

I believe in you. Keep growing!

JR

Hot Deals - Home Depot

The Deal: Save $5 off your purchase of $50 or more the Home Depot.

The Details: Visit Home Depot and make a purchase of $50 or more. Enter coupon code SAVINGS111 at checkout to save! Expires 3/1/09.

If you've been looking to start the home project, or need to pick-up a few energy-saver lightbulbs, shop at the Home Depot and save some cash on the things you buy on a regular basis!

JR Ridinger wins Business Leader of the Year

JR Ridinger was announced last night as Business Leader of the Year at an awards ceremony here in Greensboro. Congrats to JR and a big thank you to all who voted for JR for the award! Market America's continued growth despite the current economy, development of new products, a business plan that rewards aspiring entrepreneurs, job growth locally and worldwide, and JR's charitable contributions were all identified as factors leading to JR's nomination. Thanks again to all who took the time to vote and helped JR to earn this well deserved award.

Hot Deals - Sealy Bedding

The Deal: Get two free Sealy Posturepedic Medium Support Pillows with any comforter purchase at Sealy Bedding. Plus, save on shipping with your order of $100 or more!

The Details: Visit Sealy Bedding and make any comforter purchase. Free pillows are determined by the size of the comforter you order (see site for details). Enter coupon code 8FREESHIP and your order of $100 or more qualifies for free shipping! Expires 3/1/09.

Get a good nights sleep -- with Sealy Bedding!

Supplements and your pet

A supplement is designed to be added to the diet on a regular basis to make up for any deficiencies, improve the overall health and vitality of pets or to aid in targeting a specific health issue. Not all pets need a supplement – to determine if a supplement would be beneficial consider the following: Are eating a high quality pet food? Do they have a soft shiny coat? Do they have healthy skin? Do they adapt well to stress? Do they have normal energy levels? Pets that obtain adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals through a proper diet and supplementation, if needed, tend to have a healthier coat, normal energy levels, a stronger ability to adapt to stress and stressful situations and improved overall health and well-being.

Key vitamins and minerals are essential to maintain optimal health in your pet. Some key factors that effect a dog or cat’s ability to absorb nutrients from food includes age, activity level, environment, genetics and breed. High quality pet foods are able to meet the majority of your pet’s nutritional needs, but because of the unique nutritional requirements of cats and dogs, even high quality pet foods cannot fulfill all of the unique nutritional requirements of every individual pet. Supplementing your pet’s food can help bridge the nutritional gap between what dogs and cats need at every stage in their life and what they actually obtain and absorb from their diet.

PetHealth™ Supplements are manufactured in FDA-inspected facilities using Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) – the same manufacturing standard used for human dietary supplements. This ensures that there is no contamination from heavy metals, pesticides or other toxins. Raw materials are quarantined, tested and inspected before use. Blending, tableting and bottling rooms are separated and use a filtered air environment to prevent cross-contamination of products. Equipment is meticulously cleaned after use to check microbial growth and prevent traces of ingredients from contaminating subsequent batches. All of the ingredients used in PetHealth Supplements are certified for purity and potency, assuring your pet receives the promised nutritional benefits of every serving.

To ensure the health and vitality of your pets, Market America offers:

PetHealth™ Multivitamin Formula for Dogs and PetHealth™ Multivitamin Formula for Cats:
• Promotes healthy skin & coat
• Promotes healthy growth and repair of body tissues
• Promotes strong bones & teeth
• Provides antioxidant support
• Provides protection from free radicals
• Supports the immune system
• Promotes digestive health
• Helps support vision and eye health
• Promotes normal energy levels
• Supports the nervous system
• Supports healthy muscle function

PetHealth™ Cardiovascular Formula for Dogs:
• Helps maintain heart muscle strength
• Helps to protect the heart from free radicals
• Promotes cardiovascular health
• Helps maintain normal blood flow and pressure
• Supports normal cellular energy production
• Promotes normal ATP production and supports muscle endurance

PetHealth™ OPC Formula with Glucosamine for Dogs & Cats:
• Combats free radicals
• Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels
• Helps maintain healthy circulation
• Helps maintain joint flexibility
• Helps promote cardiovascular health
• Helps support visual health and visual acuity
• Potent free radical scavenger
• Maintains healthy blood vessel dilation
• Maintains healthy nitric oxide levels
• Supports healthy blood glucose levels
• Supports healthy platelet activity
• Contains glucosamine for joint health and joint comfort

Take your pet’s health in your hands today with PetHealth™ - Advanced Pet Car Solutions for Optimal Health!

Vitamin D Linked to Muscle Power

A recent article published in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism reported vitamin D levels of 99 adolescent girls between the ages of 12 and 14 was positively associated with muscle power and force. The participants’ vitamin D levels were measured and muscle strength and force were assessed through a series of tests. The authors concluded girls without vitamin D deficiency performed significantly better in jumping tests, thus highlighting the importance of vitamin D on muscle function in adolescent girls. Click the following link for more information.

NutraIngredients Article

Hot Deals - Golfsmith

The Deal: Save $20 off your purchase of $100 or more at Golfsmith.

The Details: Visit Golfsmith and make a purchase of $100 or more. At checkout, enter coupon code EPS906PRS. $20 will be deducted from your sub-total. Expires 2/19/09.

The Magic of ma World Conference!

Wow! What an experience!

Having been my first major Market America event in Miami, I didn’t know what to expect, and at times it was overwhelming to think about. Even from the beginning I was blown away by the excitement and anticipation of everyone in attendance. There was so much to see and experience, at times you had to just sit back and take it all in. The speakers were awesome, the trainings were in-depth, and there were so many exciting new products, it was definetely an action-packed weekend.

We’ll see you soon at International Convention 2009!

Hot Deals - StarWarsShop

The Deal: "May the force be with you." Are you an avid Star Wars fan? If so, then you should check out this intergalactic sale from the StarWarsShop. Many toys are 50% off their retail price.

The Details: Visit the StarWarsShop and purchase qualifying toys and Star Wars accessories. In addition to toys, Hasbro and LEGO have made previous toys -- which haven't been available for years -- available for purchase. No Jedi mind tricks here, simply shop and save, no coupon code required!

Hot Deals - Paragon Sports

The Deal: Hit the slopes one more time before skiing season is over. Shop Paragon Sports to save 20% to 40% off on ski and snowboard equipment and apparel.

The Details: Visit Paragon Sports and purchase qualifying ski and snowboard equipment or apparel. No coupon code is required to save! Expires 3/31/09.

Another great event, more great products

I was very excited to share another great Market America event with you. ma World Conference 2009 was huge success! For those of you who couldn’t make it, we launched the new Autoworks™ High Performance Auto Care Tire Shine to work in conjunction with the Autoworks High Performance Auto Care line. We also added several new product cards to the ma PrintCenter including Digestive Health, Transitions® and Mind & Energy.

Autoworks High Performance Auto Care Tire Shine is our newest addition to the environmentally-friendly Autoworks car care line. Autoworks High Performance Auto Care Tire Shine is formulated with three powerful silicones (dimethicone, simethicone and amodimethicone) to repel water and form a watertight seal over your tires, and to resist oxygen, ozone and sunlight, which can damage the finish on your tires. In addition to tire protection, Autoworks High Performance Auto Care Tire Shine will give your tires a stunning semi-gloss, satiny finish - even on older tires.

Autoworks High Performance Auto Care Tire Shine provides tire protection against pollution, ultraviolet light, road salts and harmful ozone. Autoworks High Performance Auto Care Tire Shine protects and conditions the rubber, protecting against tire cracking and discoloration, leaving a long-lasting shine that keeps your tires looking like new longer.

ma PrintCenter is Market America’s online printing services featuring customizable business cards, magnets, envelopes and product cards right from the portal. The ma PrintCenter offers Market America-branded product cards that allow you add your name or business name, phone number, email address and Web Portal address. Customizable product cards generate interest in Market America products with a brief overview of the product – leading them directly to your Web Portal. Product cards are a great way to give creditability to your business and boost your product sales.

With the ma PrintCenter, we offer special discounts on larger quantities to Customer Managers and their organization on product cards. Customer Managers can order multiple product cards in varying quantities, others in their organization can also order multiple product cards in varying quantities all on the same order – and everyone receives the discounted pricing, and everyone earns IBV off the purchase. For example, you can purchase 50 product cards each of the new Digestive Health, Transitions, Mind & Energy, VitaBrite and Web Centers Product Cards and your downlines can also order 50 product cards each of the offered product cards, all of you receive the discounted pricing for the large order and all of you earn up to 40% IBV.

Take advantage of the great new additions and discounts offered on product cards with the ma PrintCenter. And don’t forget to pimp your ride with the new Autoworks High Performance Auto Care Tire Shine – it’s all in the details!

MA World Conference: The Day After

MA World Conference 2009 was my first event with Market America and I thought it was fabulous! I was so excited for our new Health and Nutrition products to be announced! The new product breakout on Friday night was packed! For those of you who were there, here is a little refresher on our new Health and Nutrition products. For those of you who weren't there, get excited! We have some really awesome new products!



First, we have Isotonix® Vitamin D with K2 which delivers 5000 IUs of vitamin D3 and 45 mcg of vitamin K2. Please check out the product information to learn more about the product and why we've combined these two important vitamins! Some of the benefits of Isotonix Vitamin D with K2 include:

• Promotes normal bone mineral density


• Promotes healthy arteries


• Promotes the normal synthesis and functioning of important proteins essential for the proper utilization of calcium


• Helps maintain normal blood pressure


• Supports immune health

We've also added Isotonix L-Tryptophan to our mind and energy product line. L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid which helps maintain healthy levels of serotonin in the brain. Check out the product information to learn more or to buy some today! Some of the benefits of Isotonix L-Tryptophan include:

• Promotes mental clarity and understanding of everday situations
• Helps enhance and stabilize mood
• May help promote calmness and relaxation
• Helps maintain healthy levels of serotonin
• May help support a normal sleep cycle

The third product we've introduced is an addition to the Might-a-Mins Spectrum product line: Might-a-Mins Spectrum Isotonix Probiotics. Might-a-Mins Spectrum Isotonix Probiotics provides beneficial bacteria for the gastrointestinal tract and is specially formulated to help children who need digestive support. To learn more about Might-a-Mins Spectrum Probiotics and to order yours today, click here. Might-a-Mins Spectrum Isotonix Probiotics provides a host of benefits including:

• Provides beneficial bacteria to promote healthy digestion
• Supports a healthy gastrointestinal tract
• Promotes bowel regularity
• Supports a normal immune response

We are so excited about these incredible new products and we know you are too! Try them all and let us know what you think!

Last Chance to Vote for JR

So did you enjoy your time at Market America's World Conference? Are you excited about where this business is going? Did JR impress you with his entrepreneurial spirit and vision? If the answers are yes, make sure to vote for JR for Business Leader of the Year today!

Voting ends at midnight eastern tonight. In order for your vote to count, you have to make a selection in each category.

What to get your pet for Valentine's Day

It may seem trite to some, but many of us do in fact give our pet a Valentine’s Day gift. Our pets give us unconditional love throughout the year – and even though they are spoiled and probably get little presents when it’s not a holiday, many of us feel the need to spoil them further. Your pet may not necessarily understand what the gift is for, but it is sure to liven them up and you can feel good about spoiling them – it’s Valentine’s Day! The time of year when you get the people you love most a little token of your affection.

But what do you get furry little friend? You can’t give them a box of chocolate (it would probably kill them – not something you want on Valentine’s Day); flowers (unless they are edible) will probably not mean anything to them, and unless you’re in Miami or somewhere else where it is acceptable to dine with your dog, you can’t really take them out to dinner. So what to get them…

Our preferred partner store, Tails & Company has a wonderful array of Valentine’s Day-inspired gifts from red heart chairs to pink rhinestone-studded hair bows. Whatever you’re looking for (and whatever budget you may have), Tails & Company is sure to have something for the furry one in your life.

Here is a sampling of what Tails & Company has to offer your pet this Valentine’s Day.

• Valentine Bed (191_002972) $145.00
• Petticoat Bed – Pink (191_002887) $120.00
• Gourdo (191_002937) $10.00
• Sterling Silver Photo Heart Charm (191_002361) $49.95
• J. Chew Smelly Wellie Boot Toy (191_002747) $10.00
• “Love me Love my Cat” Pillow (191_002422) $33.50
• Saddle Stitched Leather Collar (191_001507) $35.00
• Birth Bone (191_000028) $39.95
• Gingham Sheer Double Elastic Bows with Rhinestones (191_000013) $9.50

Just a little reminder, February is National Pet Dental Health Month. Don’t forget to take your pet to the vet to check their teeth. For overall dental maintenance, check out petfooddirect.com, from your portal for pet toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental treats. Keep your pets teeth and bones healthy with PetHealth™ Multivitamin for Dogs and PetHealth™ Multivitamin for Cats. For your dogs, you may want to give them PetHealth™ Cardiovascular Formula for Dogs, coenzyme Q10 has been found to be very effective at promoting healthy gums and supporting overall dental health. PetHealth™: only the best for your best friend!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Hot Deals - Gap

Hip Slung maternity pant available at Gap Maternity, available for $68

The Deal: Get the hip slung pant, Gap's latest maternity pant from Gap Maternity.

The Details: Visit Gap Maternity and purchase the new hip slung pant for the latest in comfortable maternity. Expires 2/12/09.

Hot Deals - Old Navy

The Deal: Save 40% off on maternity clothes at Old Navy.

The Details: Visit Old Navy and make a qualifying maternity purchase. No coupon is required to receive 40% off. Expires 2/19/09.

Magic Moment.

To close World Conference 2009, JR assembled the larger management team, advisory council & longtime colleagues. While they may possess a shared dedication to hard work and an entrepreneurial spirit, it's the abiding sense of teamwork and camaraderie that keep them together. That's my take, at least.

Folks, we've had a wild, packed weekend - general sessions all day, focused breakouts all night. And there's still a bit more to come before attendees head to Nikki Beach - the spanish coring at the Hilton & a WebCenter breakout - but otherwise, it's time to have fun. But don't read too much into that - if you think Miami & World Conference is vacation time, get ready for a rude awakening. This has been a once-a-year chance for folks to come down for a little winter sun, and learn their major(s) in great detail from the field leaders and corporate folks who know them best.

Be safe in your travels ~ we're signing off for now.

Make the dash count.

Every good Market American knows what this means.

If you don't, consider this your homework assignment for the weekend.

JR's Thought Experiment

Nobody likes to think about extinction. Or death. Or companies failing.

Scary, right?

But here's the part that doesn't get touched on enough: Horse & buggies got replaced by cars. What if horse & buggy manufacturers had gotten bailed out? Oil lamps gave way to electricity. What if lamp makers had been well-heeled & able to squash this new wired technology? (burn, baby, burn?) (soot, baby, soot?)

The fact is, when something (unfortunately) goes away, it often (happily) gets replaced by something better. So don't be afraid. It's definitely unstable and may seem frightening, but it actually is the natural order of things. Nobody ever said life wouldn't be turbulent.

The greatest part of JR is that even though he has an astute political and economic mind, he actually transcends politics. In one moment, you think: "Aha! He's a republican - he hates paying taxes!" But then he spends 20 minutes talking about caring for our neighbors - succeeding by helping others to succeed - that would make even the most bleeding-heart liberal jump up and applaud. With JR, it's not about red states and blue states. It's about the United States. (sound familiar?) And Taiwan. And Hong Kong. And Australia. And the entire world. It's about lifting yourself up out of the hole, and then making sure to take a few people with you.

I'm tempted not to write anymore, because I really can't do the man justice. But his message, in a nutshell, is that nobody can save us but ourselves. Government can't do it, and greed can't do it. We, a collective of individual entrepreneurs, can succeed where institutions have failed.

And change happens; you can't stop it, so you may as well figure out how to capitalize on it. The key is an entrepreneurial mindset. The path is to personal economic freedom.

Let's get to it.

JR's presentation.

I promise to write more shortly. But he's talking. And I'm listening.

Wish you were here!

A Great Honor, In Loving Memory

Jerry Siciliano was one of Market America's "Magnificent Seven" (as Marty just humorously called them: JR, Loren, Jerry, Marc, Marty, Dennis and Joe), the original and founding members of JR's Executive Team.

Since his passing 13 years ago, Market America created The Jerry Siciliano Award, recognizing outstanding Field leaders - our "lifetime achievement award," if you will.

This year, we had the privilege of bestowing the honor on two of our most successful & endearing UFOs: James and Marian Kuo. Congratulations to you both - keep up the outstanding and inspirational work! And Jerry, we miss you every day!

The First Lady of Market America

It's after lunch, and Loren has taken the stage. She's here to discuss our newest maUniversity major, Portal Marketing and Internet Shopping. Plenty of you are already concentrating on maximizing the value of your Portal, but there are still many more folks - the "less-tech-savvy" as an earlier commenter put it - who don't yet instinctively "get it."

Luckily, our resident shopping guru and fashionista is here to help. So if you still don't understand the best way to buy household sundries online, or which Partner Stores are best suited for it; maximizing your maRewards points; how to get paid to shop or how to drive even more traffic to your Portal, this is the audio download for you! (I say audio download because of course the folks in attendance have earned the right to hear it live)

HUGE Tech News

Some pretty big news to announce today:

You already know that technology moves fast. Today's hero is tomorrow's goat. Sometimes companies promise more than they can deliver. Sometimes companies *think* they understand your business & can provide a solution, but upon deeper scrutiny, find out they're not as well prepared, robust, or as enterprise-wide as initially advertised.

Ok, I'll be the first to concede Market America has a challenging and complex technological environment. Who's kidding who, right? We've got millions of SKUs, thousands of products, thousands of partners and millions of shoppers and hundreds of features. It ain't easy to support and deliver that.

But in working out the kinks on our shopping Portal, we found that not all of our solutions providers could keep up with us. (or you!) Regrettably, we found that it was time to renew our search for a partner who could deliver on their promises.

Well, we found one.

And perhaps you might have heard of them?

Just a little ol' startup tech firm out of Washington state called "Microsoft."

And because we unfortunately have had to learn the hard way, this time there will be no guesswork - we've been working with Microsoft FAST (their search subsidiary) for months to ensure that they can accommodate the millions of our products. We did this very quietly, because if our needs couldn't be met, we didn't want to make a big splash.

But the good news is, it works. We're ready. Please welcome our newest Portal search technology provider, Microsoft FAST!

Marc welcomes Bjørn Olstad, Ph.D. from Microsoft.





Dr. Olstad's bio in the background:

A sticky Portal is a good Portal

So Marc's on stage, sharing news & updates for the marketamerica.com Portal. He asks that we type in "internet shopping websites" on Google and see what happens. So I did. Here's what happened:





Feels good to be #1, huh?

The Right Place at the Right Time.

A few excerpts from International Field President Elizabeth Weber's presentation:

• When she first got into the business, the economy was in a recession then, too.
• And guess what? She grew like crazy. She worked with folks who also grew like crazy.
• Why?
• Because people are looking. During an economic downturn, folks are seeking ways to supplement their income & find additional sources of revenue.
  

So here's the good news:

• Even though the economy is bleak, you're at the right place at the right time.
• Opportunities to grow your business are increasing because... people are looking.
• Unlike traditional retailers, Internet shopping is NOT in a recession.
  

My favorite line? (addressing the field) "I've heard more 'no's than any of you guys, and I'm still here, alive and well..."

There's a reason why after all these years, Elizabeth Weber is Still The One...

Saving the best for last

Once you've been to a handful of our signature training events like World Conference, you come to realize that they possess a certain rhythm. Past, present & future. Looking back, looking around, looking ahead. As the show commences, we usually spend the first few moments to reflect on the hard work of so many people who've brought the Market America dream to fruition - not just JR, Loren, Marc, Marty, Dennis, Joe and Kevin, but long-standing field leaders like Elizabeth Weber, Ben Ginder & more - and appreciate their belief, conviction & actions.

By the second and third days, we're looking around at what's happening right now - new products set to launch, current opportunities and technologies on which to capitalize, recognizing new and emerging field leaders, etc. - as our Executive Team gives a "state of the union" type of address on the health of the company (growing every single day, something for which I become increasingly grateful as the economy stays in the doldrums).

But the last day is always my favorite; it's the most forward-looking. During JR's closing address, you can quite literally feel the shivers shoot through an electrified audience. If you've ever worked for a visionary CEO, you probably know what I'm talking about - a person who has the ability to utterly shatter the sarcasm, pessimism, cynicism & negativity that pervades our society. It's simply impossible to be in a foul mood around the guy. When one person has vision & energy enough for an arena that's packed 25,000-deep, it's a pretty cool thing.

Stay tuned - the show's about to begin. Keep your head up; it's time to look ahead.

A New Year, A New You - NEW PRODUCTS!

The other store managers and I just wrapped up our NEW PRODUCTS breakout. We are all so tired, but were so excited to introduce these new, amazing products that are going to build your business!! For those Motives® Fans, be sure to check out www.MotivesCosmetics.com to see the gorgeous new shades and extensive editions to the line. The Motives Renaissance is well under way. For those of you that have not tried Motives, jump in now, the business will be booming. Lines of people wrapped around the arena, some people waiting in line for hours to demo the new products. But it was well worth the wait. Everyone seems to be mesmerized and rejuvenated by the new line, bringing a fresh face to Motives.

Also, our Cellular Laboratories family has grown... the new products are now available online to order! Cellular Laboratories is an all encompassing anti-aging skin care line. From cleansers, to body balm to treatments Cellular Laboratories meets all of your anti-aging needs. Turn back the clock and savor your youthful radiance with these new products!

Breakouts...packed out.

After a thriller day down at American Airlines Arena, I'm back at the host hotel stationed at sound control for the premier breakout of the weekend...Getting to Know Our Newest Products. Hosted by our awesome product development, mall management and scientific affairs teams, this thing is three hours of vital information on everything from the latest Isotonix products to our newest Cellular Laboratories anti-aging formulas.

Out of the 1,500 total seats up in here, only 1 is empty...and it's the chair of the current speaker (our lovely Motives, personal care and anti-aging expert, Allyson Smith). This room is loaded!

We've already heard from Eddie Riddle on the incredible Autoworks car care line, Crystal Shelton did a wonderful presentation on the Might-A-Mins Spectrum updates, Amanda Jones stole the show with her engaging introduction to Isotonix L-Tryptophan, and Elizabeth Rogers went through an entire list of the newest, most advanced nutraceuticals available through nutraMetrix.

But alas, we're not even halfway through here and the show must go on. Can't wait to see what's next!

Hot Deals - Restaurant.com Exclusive Offer

Spread the love with Restaurant.com and MarketAmerica.com

The Deal: Save 60% off from Restaurant.com with this EXCLUSIVE offer. In addition to saving 60% off, receive a $15 reward from FTD with every order!

The Details: To save 60% off in this exclusive deal, visit the Hot Deals area on MarketAmerica.com and look for the above deal from Restaurant.com. Once on Restaurant.com, enter coupon code VDAY at checkout to save 60% off your Restaurant.com certificate! In order to get your $15 reward from FTD, you must click the FTD logo on the confirmation page or in the confirmation email that you receive.

Remember, this exclusive offer is good from February 6, 2009 through February 15, 2009.

A surreal social media moment.

That would be "blogging about Steve as he discusses blogging."


Seriously, though, our resident Internet Marketing guru is taking folks through today's hottest social media - YouTube, hulu, chatterbox, twitter, etc. He also provided a pretty thorough accounting of the 2008 Presidential campaign as it relates to social media - including the realization that both candidates received $47 million worth of free publicity and advertising through the use of channels like YouTube and facebook.

14.5 million hours of free video - for your products and your services. If you're not using online tools like twitter, facebook & YouTube, you're giving up a ton of free publicity...

Word of the Day

"telemedicine"

If you're not familiar, consider this is your chance to read up and get smart. (thanks, wiki!) It's a burgeoning new scientific field that harnesses technology & collaboration between health professionals to provide efficient and effective healthcare.

If you're new to the company, you might have heard Market America's promise that we provide cutting edge products and services. Well, here is another example of walking the talk. We get out in front and LEAD the parade. We break ground and we innovate.

So if you've ever said, "man, I wish I had gotten in on WebCenters a few years ago" or "man, I had no idea nutraMetrix was going to be so huge..." now is your chance to get in on the ground floor with an UNBELIEVABLE new technology.

Stay tuned...

Wish you were here...

Okay faithful ma Blog readers...I have finally worked out some technical kinks so I'm live and in action...literally! This place is going crazy. There have been so many new announcements and unveilings made over just the past day and a half that I honestly don't know where to begin. Just as JR promised, this has been a historic event so far. Here's a brief rundown of what's been going on:

• There have been several upgrades to the UFO Apprentice program which will essentially facilitate PCs in building the business before they even get into the business!
  
• We have new ma University majors including Internet Shopping and Portal Marketing.
• We've taken all the excuses out of approaching potential WebCenter customers by offering a foolproof demo CD to simply hand out and wait for the retail revenue to roll in.
• nutraMetrix had some exciting announcements including the implementation of a remarkable new service known as telemedicine, where patients can conference privately with their health professionals via webcam to discuss simple health concerns.
• Marc Ashley unveiled the next phase to ma newsstand, where UFOs can download thousands of books, all while accumulating BV.
• JR talked about all the free tools that come with the new subscription rate. Free audio downloads, a preloaded MP3 device, digital Powerline...it is unbelievable how much UFOs are getting with this new upgrade.
  

With such a magnitude of news and information, unfortunately for those at home, there will be plenty to catch up on after the show. Until then, stay tuned for the latest updates...exclusively on ma Blog!

JR takes the stage.

Sorry, just a taste. There's really no substitute for being here...

iMirus and Market America: creating digital leadership

Chris Riggs, CEO of iMirus, joined Marc on stage to discuss what's next for the maNewsstand. As many of you already know, digital publishing is pretty much eating the traditional publisher's lunch - the "dead tree edition" is rapidly becoming a relic. (I'm guessing there are already a few Kindle junkies out there reading right now?)

Well, our partnership with iMirius means that we're knocking on Amazon's door when it comes to digital subscriptions. Your favorite magazines (including Powerline, natch) are coming online, courtesy of your Portal. But we need your help. We've gotta achieve a critical mass in order to take down Amazon & become the NUMBER ONE PROVIDER OF DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS worldwide. So go visit the maNewsstand, check out which of your favorite publications are now online & pick up a few subscriptions for you and your friends. Not only will you be on the absolute bleeding edge of technology today, you'll also be helping to create history - putting Market America at the forefront of digital publishing.

on deck for 2009: the ma mp3 player

This is amazing. And Marc almost just started a riot by breaking out a couple of preloaded samples & tossing them out to the audience. The lucky few who caught the freebies now possess the equivalent of about a 200 IQ's worth of maKnowledge. Those folks are having a good day.



The best part is, very soon - in about 60 days or so - EVERYBODY will have access to these hot mp3 players. Pre-loaded, full of the best audio downloads that Market America has to offer. They're actually going to become part of the standard kit of every new & renewed UnFranchise subscription - automatically.





81 audio downloads. Handpicked by JR, Marc, Dennis & Buckman - simply the best of the best. All for you.

(And to steal a line from Marc, "No 'ID10T' form required...")

Enjoy!

Day Two

Well, we had a jam packed Day One - I touched on a bunch of segments below (Transitions, ma University, maRewards, etc.), but if you haven't been over to Loren's blog yet, you really should check it out. What she has done with Motives over the past 3 months is nothing short of amazing. As a guy, a lot of the cosmetic stuff goes over my head - I usually recognize no more than the 8 colors featured in a Crayola box - but the oohing and ahhing yesterday over what Loren was unveiling is nothing short of remarkable.

Howard (the "voice" of World Conference) has just announced "doors open" and the arena is beginning to fill, so I'm going to sign off for a bit while the bowl fills with 25,000-30,000 exuberant Market Americans. The main reason that most folks are excited? JR takes the stage in about 90 minutes.

Get ready, boys and girls - there's never a dull moment when James Ridinger gets up to spread the message & share his vision. Keep it here for the latest - as things unfold, I'll be relaying the news just as quickly as these fingers can type them.

Transition to a new you...

Ok, I hope we've got this video teed up & ready to put online after World Conference - because there was not a dry eye in the house! Lydia is taking us through several success stories, and yes it's great to see so many awesome before & after pics documenting folks' impressive weight loss. But what really struck me was the size of the SMILES in the after pictures. That's the part that always gets me.

No pics in this post - I don't want to spoil the video. But it's pretty heartwarming. Instead, I'll ask a question - what's your favorite Transitions entree? My top three goes something like this (in no particular order):

Lentils & Beef
Ginger Shiitake Sauce with Rice
Barbecue Chicken with Beans & Rice

Advertising on marketamerica.com

Kevin Buckman & Andrew Weissman take our attendees through myriad tech updates:

• Enhancements to the maRewards Program

• Fundamentals of the UFO Apprentice Program

(and my personal favorite...)

• Advertising on marketamerica.com

Corporate America has already begun to take notice of the power & promise of exposure on marketamerica.com. We've reached advertising agreements with blue chip brands such as Staples, and have plenty more in the pipeline for 2009. In addition to visibility & advertising, we're working with our corporate partners to establish EXCLUSIVE deals available ONLY to Market America UFOs and Preferred Customers - driving more traffic & more business to YOUR Portal!

48 new colors

Plus two new celebrity color match experts: Maria Checa and Claudia Betancur. And did we mention a hot new logo?

Motives is already one of our most successful brands. A foundation of our business if there ever was one. But 2009 might wind up being the best year yet...

Voitel News

In addition to introducing Market America's newest whiz kid, Jamie Kennington (Jamie, meet the world. The world, meet Jamie!), Thursday morning's segment also alluded to several new developments on the horizon:

Voitel for Crackberries (they're only a LITTLE addictive, right?)

JR's audio downloads - direct to your wireless device!

Text Alerts

Hong Kong & Taiwan origination for international UFOs and Customer Managers


...and plenty more to come!

The Roadmap

I'm such a dork. I love these things.

Contained within every welcome pack here at World Conference is an Event Program. (this year's cover is below) Its contents shed some insight about Market America's direction for the next 6-, 12- and even 18 months. Flip through it, and you will see a sneak peek of our new products; events & partnerships on the horizon; new challenge winners & what's ahead - everything you need to know to build a successful business.

Anyway, if you're unlucky enough to reading this online (rather than seeing it live), this program is one Powerline that you're probably *not* going to be able to add to your collection. It's already a collector's edition! (And no, you can't have mine.)

But for those of you who can't join us, I just wanted to give a glimpse of what you're missing. And remember, it's never too early to start planning for World Conference 2010. There's nothing like being here!


(And selfishly, I'd like to use this space to give a special shout out to all the hard workers in Creative Services who put in some *seriously* long hours to make our beautiful and comprehensive Powerline pub: William, Chris, Brandon, Leslie, Billy... all the prodigies within Editorial... and so many others ~ keep up the great work!)

The Five Star General

If Dennis Franks can't get you fired up... check for a pulse.

Cool pic.

I'm not really much of a photog. BK & Silvers are the better men for that job. But in a pinch, check this out:

The waiting is the hardest part...

Market America's most ardent UnFranchise Owners & Customer Managers began queuing up at dawn. Even though it's chilly & early, smiles & good cheer are in abundance.

Moments away...

Greetings from a soon-to-be-packed American Airlines Arena in sunny (but chilly!) Miami Florida!

This is just a sneak preview, but know that folks have been working tirelessly for months to put on this show - you won't believe what's in store over the next several days. Stay tuned to all of our blogs for updates throughout the event!




Final prep.



The calm before the storm.



Writers' Row.

Hot Deals - Entertainment Book

The Deal: Save 35% off the 2009 Entertainment Book and earn free shipping in the process. Did you make a New Year's resolution to save more and spend less? Let the 2009 Entertainment Book help you save on groceries, restaurants and even on dry cleaning!

The Details: Purchase the 2009 Entertainment Book. No coupon is required to receive 35% off and free shipping! Expires 2/28/09.

Hot Deals - Fresh Pair

The Deal: Save 10% off your order of $75 or more just in time for Valentine's Day at FreshPair.com!

The Details: Visit FreshPair.com and purchase $75 or more. Enter coupon code FPVDAY10 at checkout and save 10% off your order. Expires 2/28/09.

Hot Deals - United Vacations

The Deal: Celebrate Valentine's Day with your sweetheart by booking a vacation and save $150!

The Details: Visit United Vacations and book a vacation to your favorite destination. Enter coupon code VDAY150 at checkout and save $150 off your reservation. Expires 2/15/09.

Whether you prefer Walt Disney World, Mexico, Skiing or even the Caribbean, save on your trip by booking through United Vacations!

Hot Deals - QuickBooks

The Deal: Get free shipping on your order at QuickBooks. For Mac users, save 20% off Quickbooks Mac 2009.

The Details: Visit QuickBooks and purchase Intuit's Quickbooks Mac 2009. Save 20% of fat checkout. Expires 2/28/09.

With tax season approaching, save on software to help you keep track of your finances.