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Don't be afraid to be authentically who you are.

Don't hide the goodness of fear it will be seen as a weakness.

If you live your life, and run your business with the same authenticity,

you will see remarkable results for the better.

Try it for a month and see if I am not right.

Abe Cherian

Brought to you in partnership with Rod Beckwith - http://mrjv.com

Education: Bachelor's degree and abusiness course

Year Started Business: "I started exploring the Internet in 1998, and for almost a year, I promoted several affiliate programs online. This gave me the experience and the discipline of Internet marketing in general. Since I was already in the offline, direct-marketing field and had a passion for marketing, I started applying the basics of offline marketing online. I couldn't wait to venture on my own. I started my own Website and registered for a business license in September 1999."

Type Of Business: 100% Internet-based business—Internet marketing tools, advertising services and e-commerce distribution.

Target Market: Small-business owners, home-based businesses, Webmasters, affiliate marketers, e-zine publishers, vendors selling digital products online, and people who wish to earn affiliate commissions

Number Of Employees: Two full-time staff, one silent partner and 'master' programmer, and freelance designers

Best Month (Gross Revenues): Just over $68,000; may break that record shortly

Hours Worked Per Week During Start-Up Phase: "From 1998 to the beginning of 2000, it seems that I was working all the time...I would say around 17 hours a day, seven days a week. Although it didn't feel like long hours for me then, that was 'a day's work' for me."

Hours Worked Per Week Now: "I don't work 'in' my business now; I work 'on' my business. I try to put in 40 hours per week, sometimes less, sometimes a little more."

Favorite Business Magazines: "I don't read many print magazines, at least not as a ritual. I do read a few electronic magazines and news publications online. Some of my favorites are at http://www.clickz.com/ and http://www.marketingsherpa.com/."

Favorite Business Books Or Authors: Ultimately, too many to mention. Two books worth mentioning helped Abe realize some hidden potential and forced him to change the way he looked at his business and personal life:

The Power Of Parthenon Strategy, by Jay Abraham—"This book outlines practical strategies for geometric business growth. These principles can be implemented by anyone, and to any type of business."

The Power-Pause, by John Harricharan—"The Power-Pause is an amazing book/course in success. Its simple principles reinforced my belief that
'there is enough for everyone in this universe,' and 'your sub-conscious mind does not have the ability to rationalize things; whatever you tell your sub-conscious mind, it will obey and manifest'...So, be very careful of what you put in your sub-conscious mind."

Relaxes By: Spending time with his children, Adam and Olivia; practicing meditation and yoga; or reading a book

Keeps In Shape Physically By: Practicing yoga—"I now realize that yoga has the power to energize me physically, mentally, and spiritually."

Favorite Part Of The Job: "I like the creative part of my business. You can be creative in anything you do, but I feel 'marketing is creativity in it's purest form.' I love it! The favorite part of my job would be of course, reaping the rewards, materialistic or otherwise."

Least Favorite Part Of The Job: Dealing with daily mundane marketing and accounting chores; Abe automates and delegates as much as he can—"I know how time-consuming it is for Internet marketers to keep up with the daily chores that has to be done. Marketing automation is the solution, and I am currently working on a service that will automate 95% of Internet marketing chores for them. This will be available soon at http://www.imediatools.com/. I also developed a product, which automates affiliate building and payment processing for people who sell digital products online: https://payaah.com/m/p2mktgplace.cgi/mrjv

Companies Admired: "I admire individuals who have the courage and determination to go against all odds and create businesses and lifestyles. There are many individuals like these, and I have learned a lot from them."

Favorite Quotes:

We must be the change we wish to see in the world. -Mahatma Gandhi:

Success is not to be pursued; it is to be attracted by the person we become. -Jim Rohn

Motivation alone is not enough. If you have an idiot and you motivate him, now you have a motivated idiot. -Jim Rohn

Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune. -Jim Rohn

If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree. -Jim Rohn

Success is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well. -Jim Rohn

The Person Who Most Influenced His Life: "I have never met my great-grandfather, but hearing stories of him from family and people who knew him, in his village in India, influences me to this day. He was the only physician in his village and a great humanitarian in his own right. He rendered his service to people without expecting any fees from them. He lived his life as a selfless person. He was also an expert in transcendental meditation. The amazing thing is that people, to this day, talk about him with admiration in his village. He died in 1917.

"I also admire author Wayne Dyer for his ability, through his words and deeds, to bring message of freedom, spirit, and hope to millions of people in a way that they actually understand and with a sense of humor."

Heroes: "Abraham Mammen, my Great-grandfather, for the reasons that I mentioned earlier; Mahatma Gandhi, who showed the world how nonviolence is much more powerful than any other form of protest."

Special Business Achievements/Honors: "I am proud of growing my business, which started in the corner of my one-bedroom apartment, and have made millions of dollars in sales so far; the advertising services my company offers to Website promoters and over 7,000 clients all over the world (http://www.multiplestreammktg.com/); the marketing automation solution Website that I am currently working on to automate every part of Internet marketing: http://www.imediatools.com/; and the digital distribution center, which helps Webmasters automate, accept payments, deliver, build affiliates, and process affiliate checks: https://payaah.com/m/p2mktgplace.cgi/mrjv."

Months Before Achieving A Profit: "I started my first Website in 1999 and saw a profit within the first month. Internet Marketing is an extremely competitive field of business to be in these days."

Any Books/Tapes/Reports Authored: "I recently started writing articles and publishing my own newsletter, http://www.weeklytips.com/

Contact Abe At: (845) 336-0196 or abecherian@multiplestreammktg.com

GETTING STARTED TIPS:

I'm starting a home business next month. I have a maximum of $3,000 in start-up capital. Where should I invest it?

If you are starting an Internet-based home business (assuming that you already have a computer and Internet connection), I would suggest spending time and money learning how to design, manage, and market a business online. Home-business owners, at the very least, should multitask:

They should know how to design or update their own site.

They should decide if they are going to develop their own product or sell for someone else.

They should find productive venues to advertise their Website.

They should build relationships with others who are successful in similar businesses.
I would say, invest $3,000 in developing your skills in these areas.

I've just started a home business. My spouse has given me six months to make it work. Any advice?

Six months is too much time for some people, but not for all. It really depends on the person's learning curve and the time they are willing to put into their business. The fastest way to make it work will be to work with a mentor who is already successful.

They say it takes money to make money. Should I try to get a small-business loan for my startup capital or just try to get by with my own limited finances?

First of all, it is not easy to get a small-business loan. The bank requires a solid business plan and past experience to lend you the money. Remember, they are loaning you money as an investment for them, and they are not looking to lose. Start with your own limited resources, and make sure that you reinvest at least 60% of your profits back into your business. This is extremely important if you want your business to grow even marginally.

TECHNOLOGY & TOOLS:

How quickly do you adopt new technology for your business?

If it is going to benefit my clients and save us time, I'll jump on it as fast as I can.

Do you use a fax machine with a dedicated line? How do you use it?

Yes, I use a dedicated fax line, mainly to send documents and contracts, which needs to be personally attested. When you start off a business, a dedicated line is not necessary. You need a fax machine, but no need for a dedicated line. However, you must have a dedicated phone line for your business.

Do you utilize fax-on-demand?

There is no need for fax-on-demand these days. Almost everyone owns a personal computer and a printer. In the early days of e-commerce, fax-on
-demand used to be popular when not everyone had a printer.

How do you use e-mail in your business?
E-mail is a major communication tool for my business. I use it to communicate with my clients, affiliates, suppliers, partners. I also use e-mail to get new prospects, follow-up with them, and turn them into paying customers. Responsible e-mail marketing is a powerful form of marketing and can bring in instant profits to your business. I also provide responsible e-mail advertising services here: http://www.rent-a-list.com/s/i/mrjv.

How do you utilize the Internet?

My business is entirely over the Internet. From presenting products to taking orders, prospecting to closing a sale, they are all done via the Internet.

How many of your own Website(s) do you have?

I own network of Websites to help advertisers promote their products and services. My main advertising portal Website lists all of the advertising services that my company offers at http://www.multiplestreammktg.com/. Another Website I own helps people to sell their digital products online. It's a digital distribution center, which takes orders for vendors, builds and maintains affiliates, and delivers their products and services online: https://payaah.com/m/p2mktgplace.cgi/mrjv. The project I am currently working on is exciting. It's a "marketing automation" Website that helps marketers save time and money. Even though there are several services similar, there is nothing quite so complete and affordable for small business marketers: http://www.imediatools.com/.

Do you use autoresponders?

Yes, without autoresponders I'd be sitting in front of my computer all day long trying to follow-up with my prospects. I offer this service as a part of the complete marketing automation service.

If you use voice mail, what is your primary use for it?

Yes, I use it in the evenings and holidays to let callers know of our office hours and to take messages.

Describe your computer system and how you use computers in your business.

In my office we have a network of computers, networked to a printer. Dell is my preference. I also use Toshiba Satellite notebook when I am not at the
office.

What software do you consider in the "must-have" category?

Web business owners must have these necessary tools to conduct their business effectively:

E-mail software - Outlook Express.

FTP (file transfer protocol) software - WS FTP.

Web page editor - Frontpage or Dreamweaver.

Graphic design - Xara or Adobe Photoshop.

Accounting and spreadsheet - Microsoft Excel.

What other technology do you use in your business?

I use a cellular phone.

Name up to five personal favorite business URL's our readers can benefit from:

http://www.abraham.com/ - Jay Abraham's business building tips are practical and have worked for all businesses. Jay's products are not cheap, but you can get some of his reports for free, and those can be extremely useful.

http://successdoctor.com/ - Michael Fortin's success doctor Website is where you'll learn good Web presentation.

https://payaah.com/m/p2mktgplace.cgi/mrjv - Digital distribution center where you can sell digital products online. All you need is a finished digital product; you can take orders, build affiliates, track affiliates, and deliver your products with this automated system.

http://imediatools.com/ - A complete marketing automation site where all your marketing chores can be automated. You name it—list management, lead management, ad-tracking, follow-up system, campaign scheduling, and more.

http://multiplestreammktg.com/ - Advertising and marketing online. You'll find advertising for all budgets here. You can also download a whole marketing library from here.

Of all the technology you use, rank the top three.

High-speed Internet connection.

Telephone and answering system.

Computer system.

MARKETING/ADVERTISING:

How do you market on the Internet?

I use several ways to market on the Internet:

Affiliate program - Sharing your revenue to with others is the most powerful way to leverage ones business on the Internet. Anyone can start their own affiliate program without any expensive software by using distribution channels like https://payaah.com/m/p2mktgplace.cgi/mrjv or http://clickbank.com/.

E-mail Advertising - E-mail advertising has been the most helpful in bringing in new prospects for my business. I have used my own resources to market my business successfully via e-mails. You'll find affordable e-mail advertising for your business here: http://multiplestreammktg.com/.

Communicating with existing clients - Your existing customers are your best clients. I communicate with my existing customers and keep them satisfied by helping them, even if there is no immediate profit for me. I call my clients on the phone and help them find better ways to market their products.

Newsletter Articles - I write articles and publish a newsletter whenever I find time to do it (http://www.weeklytips.com/), which is re-printed on several publications. This is free publicity and worth a million dollars.

Pay-per-clicks and search engines - Another way to get qualified visitors, but it can get very expensive if not maintained and monitored on a daily basis.

Joint-Ventures - A powerful form of advertising to find new prospects and customers.

Viral Marketing - I also offer free tools and articles to help others and at the same time bring prospects to my Websites.
Before I start any of the campaigns mentioned above, I track and manage the performance of each campaign personally.

Approximately what percentage of your sales originate from Internet marketing?

98% from Internet marketing, 2% from direct mailing.

How do you market through direct mail?

I offer special deals to my affiliates when I send them their commission checks via regular mail.

Approximately what percentage of your sales originate from direct mail marketing?

About 2%.

Do you recommend using a toll-free number in advertising?

Yes, only if you have a trained sales team/person to handle the calls and close sales.

Where do you market? (locally, nationally, internationally, all three?).

All three.

THE HOME OFFICE:

How should someone set up his/her home office to maximize its effectiveness?

I would recommend setting aside a separate room in the house as an office. A dedicated phone line, fax line, and computer are a just basic. I would recommend a professional setting, because it is easy to get distracted when you work at home. I would also recommend professional attire, because when you dress for success, you are more confident in yourself.

What, if any, ground rules have you established for yourself and family in order to operate a successful home business?

Kids are awesome, but not when you are working on a project or on the phone with a customer.

What are some of the advantages to working at home? What are some of the disadvantages?

I have had my office outside of the house and I have worked at home. No matter where you work, you must be able to focus on the job at hand. The main advantage of working at home is that there is no commute. Disadvantages would be distractions, and in my case, working all hours of the day and night when I have my computer near me.

MANAGEMENT STYLE:

What part(s) of your work do you farm out?

Thankfully, I have an enthusiastic and dedicated team to help me. They handle vustomer service (phone, e-mail, and live chat), order processing, accounting, daily marketing, and programming.

What part(s) do you feel should never be farmed out?

For a business builder or entrepreneur, almost every aspect can be outsourced or delegated except for certain creative areas, like product development, and your own unique management style. I believe that every business should have structure, policies, and procedures; this way, when your business grows, you'll be able to teach others what you are doing within no time and delegate easily. You might not find the need for this when you start, but if you are looking to run a successful business, you'll need structure and policies sooner than you think.

Do you encourage or discourage partnerships?

I encourage partnership if your partner can bring in equal value to the business. Example: I partner with my programmer for one of my products
because my business needs his expertise in programming and that saves me hundreds of thousands of dollars in programming costs. It benefits both parties this way. Also, I partner with my staff by offering them a percentage of the total sales. This in turn benefits all parties involved. Finally, I partner with my affiliates by offering them a portion of the sales that they refer. Sharing is good for business!

Do you encourage or discourage hiring family members?

I tend to discourage this, other than immediate family members like spouses and children. Help your family members in other ways.

When legal issues arise, what's your usual response?

Call a lawyer who has experience in my line of business.

MONEY & INVESTMENTS:

What are the advantages of earning a lot of money. What are some disadvantages?

Advantages: Sense of accomplishment (material accomplishments), helping friends and family members, and being able to buy the finer things in life.

Disadvantages: Realizing that money cannot solve all your problems. That said, though, I don't think that there are any real disadvantages in earning a lot of
money.

Best general tax advice?

Get a good accountant as soon as you start your business.

Best general investment advice?

Try to invest at least 40% back into your own business, developing new products, and improving on current products. Save 15% of your income.

You're in business already, and you've just received a windfall of $20,000. What would you do with it?

Save it, or reinvest it back into my business.

POWERFUL IDEAS:

What was the motivating factor that drove you to start your own business?

The realization that nobody but me alone is responsible for whatever happens to my life and knowing that I have the power to choose the way I want to live.

How role, if any, did your family play when you were getting your business off the ground?

My girlfriend, Martha, believed in me and helped pay the bills until my business took off the ground. Martha now handles the operation and processing responsibilities and a is great support system for me and my business.

What motivates you now to continue building your business?

I love what I do. I love the creativity involved in my business. I love to see my friends and partners succeed because of our establishment.

What's the best thing about being self-employed?

When you are self-employed, your leverage your learning curve. You must learn fast, and so you grow every aspect of your business and personal life quickly.

How often do you read books and/or listen to or watch tapes for improving your business skills or knowledge?

I read several books at a time. I listen to many self-improvement tapes. I read articles of subjects pertaining to my industry on a daily basis.

The most underrated activity in business is…

Sharing and really understanding that there is enough for everyone in this universe.

The most overrated activity in business is…

Planning too far ahead. I believe in taking baby steps; every action you take at any moment affects your life and your business.

What was the biggest obstacle you had to face when you were launching your own business? What's your biggest obstacle now?

The biggest obstacle I had to face when I started my business was not having enough finances to launch my ideas into products and not having enough technical skills to do it myself. But without those obstacles taunting me, I wouldn't have reached this far. Now, I welcome obstacles and challenges. I tell you this because when I was free of obstacles and challenges, those were the most unproductive months for me financially. It did not grow during those periods, and so my business slacked off.

What was your worst business decision?

Investing $20,000 to a venture capital company, only to find out that they changed their address to an undisclosed location.

What was your best business decision?

There are many decisions that I feel was good for my business. Recent ones are:

Launched https://payaah.com/m/p2mktgplace.cgi/mrjv at the right time.

Started intensive staff training programs.

Offering a profit sharing plan with my staff.

Focusing on better communication with my affiliates.
What do you consider to be the main keys of your success?

My desire to become a better person and my drive to launch better products.

What's your success philosophy?

I believe that to get paid, you must bring value and skills to the marketplace.

What about you have changed the most since finding success in business?

I am basically the same person as I was before, only that I am a lot more grateful person. It amazes me how simple it is to be successful if people had the right combination of drive and burning desire to be successful. I know for a fact that if I am doing it, anyone can.

What is the legacy you hope to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy for my children that amounts to more than financial security...something along the lines of the legacy that my great-grandfather left during his time.