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Too Many Ladders? by Robin J Elliott

Written by: Robin Elliott

Article Overview: Most people start at ladder number one and they climb a few rungs but then things get difficult – there’s wet paint or a missing rung, for instance, so they get down and rush off to the next ladder. After a few rungs, they get scared because this ladder sways, so they climb back down and rush off to ladder number three. Time is passing, but they keep on trying a new ladder. Suddenly, they realize that they’re fifty years old and still going from ladder to ladder. Meanwhile, their friends stuck to their ladders and arrived at the top a long time ago.

Too Many Ladders? by Robin J Elliott

Imagine if you had ten ladders lined up against a wall. Each ladder is different; each has problems and challenges. For example, one has a few rungs missing. Another has wet paint on it. Yet another is rickety, one sways and one is very narrow. At the top of the wall is a treasure chest. Most people start at ladder number one and they climb a few rungs but then things get difficult – there’s wet paint or a missing rung, for instance, so they get down and rush off to the next ladder. After a few rungs, they get scared because this ladder sways, so they climb back down and rush off to ladder number three. Time is passing, but they keep on trying a new ladder. Suddenly, they realize that they’re fifty years old and still going from ladder to ladder. Meanwhile, their friends stuck to their ladders and arrived at the top a long time ago.

I meet a lot of “seminar junkies” who rush from course to course, seminar to seminar, scheme to scheme, opportunity to opportunity, paying good money every time and never hanging in there long enough to make it work. Up a few rungs and then, when the going gets tough, they go shopping for the next ladder. And of course, they always have multiple excuses why they didn’t hang in there long enough to climb to the top of the ladder. Like the man who chases two rabbits – he doesn’t catch one. Or the woman who tries to ride two bicycles at the same time. Doesn’t work. Jack-of-all-trades, master of none, or FUN, but not a master of success. Sooner or later, we have to decide on the ladder we want to climb to financial success, independence and freedom. Then stick to it. Before you know it, you’ll be counting the treasure.

Every ladder has its problems; not one is perfect. It won’t be easy, but one needs to choose a ladder that is going to work best. I like to choose a ladder that has the greatest potential, the least risk and cost, the most support and the one that is fastest to climb. I like a business that has universal appeal with no limitations or borders and one that I can be very creative with. I want the security of knowing that my risk and time required is minimal. That’s why I chose Joint Ventures. Because with JV’s, I can help and encourage those who are behind me on the ladder, while receiving assistance and advice from those who are ahead of me. The Joint Venture Forum was created with the knowledge that together, we can do amazing things, so we need the guidance and support of others, to keep us on track and teach us how to excel.

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Related Forum Posts
Re: October 17 Triple Crown Leaders - Yep - and Robin referred him and is getting all the credit in the Referred Articles category!
Re: Q4 Triple Crown Winners! - Hi Everyone, Thank you for your kind words, I have enjoyed being involved and well done to Jim and Robin for winning their categories. Thank you to Evan and GT for all your help and support to the membership here throughout the last year and best wishes to everyone for a successful 2012, regards, Mal.
Re: Q3 Triple Crown Winners! - Well done to Milly, Robin and David for a fantastic result, you are all deserved winners and have put in a lot of hard work. I am all in favour of seeing Evan and GT in the results as we know how much you both contribute and support us all so you should be recognised for that. regards, Mal.
Profile: Essie Weingarten, creator of Essie Cosmetics - Pop culture has its share of dynamic duos: Batman & Robin, Dolce & Gabbana, Brad & Angelina, and, as devotees of Essie Cosmetics' nail polish know, "Baby's Breath" & "Ballet Slippers." And what's Essie Weingarten, creator of Essie Cosmetics, wearing right now? Why it's "Mademoiselle" paired with one coat of "Pink Glove Service,"of course! It's this playful take on fashionable colors and color combos, coupled with Essie's chip-resistant formula, that has converted beauty professionals and customers into adoring fans and secured Essie Cosmetics' position in the $1 billion nail industry. As a little girl in Queens, NY, Essie was undoubtedly the youngest customer at local nail salons. A manicure was a reward her parents indulged her with on special occasions, and she relished the experience. She did, however, eventually grow bored with the limited selection of nail polish colors, and imagined that other women felt the same way. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology, she worked for Geraldine Stutz, the visionary behind Henri Bendel; Essie admired Geraldine's business acumen and was determined to learn from her mentor. Following a few more years in the fashion industry, Essie decided to address the nail polish niche that still remained untapped. In 1981, Essie launched her business in Queens by introducing 12 new polish shades that have since become classics in the nail industry. Twenty-six years later, she is still on top of her game and has transformed Essie Cosmetics into a $150 million empire. what we learned from essie: You have to find what works for you. You cannot overextend yourself. It's very important that you know exactly what you can handle before you get into it. making moves "I wanted more. My stint in the fashion world was done. It was time for me to move on and do something on my own. I knew I loved nail polish and I knew that there were no groundbreaking nail products out there that promised long-lasting polish, so I decided to run with it. I had identified a niche product and market and was excited to make the move." vegas, baby! "I said, 'Where am I going to get the best bang for my buck?' Las Vegas was the quintessential test market. There were cocktail waitresses, dealers, dancers, cashiers. Twenty-six years ago, there were not that many women working together in one geographically concentrated area. But Las Vegas was the exception. I went to all the hotels and casinos that had beauty salons and I left samples. By the time I got home, which was less than a week later, I already had orders. The calls kept coming in. I got calls from women in Florida, New York, California, and Illinois who were in Las Vegas on holiday and tried my product there. They raved that it was still on their nails a week later. I thought, 'My god ... I have a business!'" man's world "Back when I started, there weren't as many women in the workplace. Customers and clients would call up and ask to speak with Mr. Weingarten. I had to deal with chemists, box manufactures, brush manufactures, bottle manufactures. It really was a man's world. I quickly learned how to convert challenges into opportunities. I often compared myself to a bumper car: I hit a wall, turned around, and kept going. I met each roadblock with the following question: "How can I do it better, different, and put a spin on it?" That mindset helped me through it all. If you start to get negative or down on yourself, then you're done faster than you started. You have to keep yourself very positive and very focused." skin deep "Before you can expect anyone to believe in you, you must believe in yourself. It's that simple and that important. If you feel good and secure, you shine. You don't have to be the most beautiful woman in the world to look and feel great. If you put yourself together and make a statement, people respect you. And there is no better or cheaper way to change or spice up your look than with nail polish. I always say we are the cheapest addiction around!" the sweetest thing "Do you have any idea how many doors were slammed in my face? I lost count. Never, ever get frustrated. Perhaps they're not interested in your product or service now, but they will be. They just don't know it yet. When they come back, and they do, you are in the driver's seat. You set your terms. They want and need something only you can give them." networking "Networking to me is the most important business practice. I never burn a bridge. I still network with people I worked with in my first job at Bendel's. Women are an unbelievable resource for networking. They enjoy helping one another. You must have good follow-through, contacts, and networking skills to survive in business." fresh and fun "Every 90 days we come up with six new colors. Every color is very fashion-driven, because we rely on the current trends in fashion and design to inform us of what people will want to wear. If you change your nail polish, you feel like you're always wearing something new. We keep our customers guessing and wanting more. We don't allow them to get bored. Of course there are the classics that everyone goes back to, but change is good. It makes the product hip and makes our customers feel like trendsetters." essie moments "A lot of customers relate our colors to milestones in their lives. I can't tell you how often I've heard "Cotton Candy" and "prom" in the same sentence. I recently overheard girlfriends saying that "Bordeaux" is great for a first date. When I meet people and hear what certain colors stand for in their lives, it makes me feel so good. I love that I can make women feel great and I absolutely love hearing about how the nail colors speak to such personal moments in their lives." essie's tips for longer-lasting nails 1. Don't use your nails as tools. 2. A smoothing hand cream is a must. Essie has several kinds that match specific moods. If you're on vacation, try coconut pineapple. If you're feeling Zen, try the fragrance-free aloe. 3. You must use a base coat. Then follow it with two coats of color. After three days, apply "Good to Go!," a fast-drying topcoat. It keeps the polish looking wet and new and it's also protective for the nails. parting thoughts -"My greatest strength in business is ... I never give up." -"I am happiest when ... the ultimate spa or salon that I've always dreamed of having as a customer calls and becomes a new customer." -"Success to me means ... when you get all the wonderful press and endorsements without paying for it. And when I make people feel fabulous." -"I will retire when ... it's no longer fun. But it's still so much fun, so I don't see when I'll retire." -"I will always think of myself as ... fun-loving." -"I care most about ... making people feel good." -"I care least about ... money." -"The key to being a great boss is ... I don't ask anyone to do anything that I wouldn't do myself." -"Every entrepreneur should ... be passionate." This Featured Lady was profiled by Alexandra Salas, a Buenos Aires-based writer.


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