interview_with_talbert.htm

My secret is this:

Do what you love, even if there was no money to be made. Plenty of people have way more money than me, but are they happy? In most cases no, they're not.

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

Highest Education: Some technical school

Year Started Business: 2002

Type Of Business: "Lead generation and Internet marketing. We specialize in marketing online by sending prospects through a 'customized funnel' specifically for our company. We use lead-capture pages, surveys, newsletters, offline business opportunity magazines, and 23 different Website traffic networks. We also generate targeted Website visitors as part of their LeadsandTraffic.com membership. We use our own autoresponder system and provide exclusive marketing help for our members as well. One of our mottos is: 'help others get what they want, and we'll get what we want.' We take on the servant mentality."

Target Market: "My ideal customer is someone who enjoys having a part-time or full-time income from home. These are people who like network marketing and many other home-based businesses, enjoy or want to enjoy the benefits of creating income from home, are self-motivated, and can truly appreciate the benefits of being an entrepreneur.

Number Of Employees: "Just two for now. It's so much easier to farm out tedious tasks that don't require a lot of details to accomplish. Believe me when I tell you, that 'many hands make work light.'"

Best Month (Gross Revenues): "$17,023. It was a wonderful feeling to go to my bank and say, 'I'm withdrawing $4,000 today; thank you very much!' I didn't expect the rapid growth we experienced. But we worked very hard to live our dreams. And when it pays off, it's such a blessing!"

Hours Worked Per Week During Startup: "60 to 67 hours, but I loved every minute of it. I would say sometimes, 'I'll just work five hours today,' but, before I knew it, five hours became nine hours, then nine hours became 14 hours. But when you love what you do, time isn't always a factor."

Hours Worked Per Week Now: "17 to 25 hours. Now, I have a better system for myself, and having helping hands is worth the $10/hour I pay to them."

Favorite Business Magazines: Money Makers Monthly and Opportunity World

Favorite Business Books Or Authors: "Jay Abraham, Zig Ziglar, and Tony Robbins. The things I like most about them is the fact that they give you 'use right now' information, not theories. Once, I was a 'information junkie.' I would buy every course and report in existence, but I couldn't focus on just one or two marketing tips. I tried to use them all, and the result was mass confusion. Having mentors—even if not the like of Tony Robbins, Jay Abraham, or Zig Ziglar—is essential.

Relaxes By: Reading the bible (Talbert is a minister), playing with his two beautiful children, and spending time with his wife—"It's hard for me sometimes to shut down mentally, but family is the most important to me."

Keeps In Shape By: Taking Hapkido—"I found that working from home can put a few extra pounds on ya. At first, I didn't notice the pounds creeping up on me, but before I knew it, I had gained 10 pounds in three months...Wow!"

Favorite Part Of The Job: Seeing people making a difference in their life by using his services—"In the end, it's about our customers."

Least Favorite Part Of The Job: Paperwork—"It's so boring; that's why I have two helpers."

Companies Admired: SFI, of course, Freelife, and Microsoft

Favorite quotes: You don't have to get it right; you just have to get it going. -anonymous

Tomorrow is today, so make the best of it. -Talbert Williams

The Person Who Most Influenced His Life: "My mother. She taught me to respect others, pull a woman's chair out, give up my seat if a woman is standing, and most importantly, to serve God...everything else will work out."

Heroes: "My heroes are people who give more than they receive. A hero to me is someone who does the good things that most people won't do, and that is make a selfless sacrifice for others."

Special Business Achievements/Honors: "I was able to earn $10,000+ in one month, and this put me in the local, exclusive Leaders Club. It was awesome, and the feeling of accomplishment gave me a real sense of self-worth."

Months Before Achieving A Profit: "It took me four months to get into profit. I used a lot of bartering and joint ventures to free up my cash flow. By bartering, I was able to literally get $7,439 in products and services. Even today, I still do bartering and plenty of joint ventures. Now I'm at a point where I must say 'Sorry, but at this time my plate is full.'"

Books/Tapes/Reports Authored: "Get my Free Report, The 9 WORST Internet Marketing Mistakes And How to Avoid Them Like the Plague!, by sending an e-mail to 11725@QuickPayPro.com. I will also have an audio book out soon."

Contact Talbert At: Phone—(360) 241-8321; Fax—(810) 592-5233; E-Mail—partnership@leadsandtraffic.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?
What has worked for me is to use free agents to do the tedious tasks, such as filing, data entry, order filling, and so on. However, I do use a lot of bartering and joint ventures to get my products and services. I'm a true believer in doing what makes you money and what saves you time. In the beginning, I would wear 50 hats trying to do everything myself. But I learned one important lesson and that is to major in the things that make you successful and minor in the things that consume your time (farm out the work). So, if someone doesn't know how to do this, I would say invest in only what is crucial with the $3,000, such as Quick Books, Goldmine 6.0, an accountant, etc. Test multiple ezines with a circulation of at least 5,000. Get a Website designer and a good copywriter. You'd be surprised how many people advertise Websites that look like a three-year-old child did it. And a copywriter is a must, if for nothing else to write solo ads, sponsor ads, and so much more. Even you have the prettiest site with all the bells and whistles, if your ad copy is weak, so are your sales! By all means, take time to post your projects at places like http://www.elance.com/, http://www.freelancer.com/, and http://www.guru.com/, and find other sources by going to your favorite search engine and searching for "copywriters." Then it's up to you to fine a good, low-cost deal.

I've just started a home business. My spouse has given me six months to make it work. Any advice?
Yes...look for someone who is already successful in your field of interest. Buy their e-books, books, and tangible products too (tapes and CDs). Study them and ask them for help; it helps when you've already made a purchase from them. And believe me, it still takes real-life experiences. You can't learn everything from a book or tape. You need to apply what you've learned. Someday after you've bought 20 courses and e-books and tapes, you're going to have to put it into action. Yes, you will fall. Yes, you may fail. But keep going anyway, keep smiling anyhow. One day, my friend, success will be waiting for you right around the corner.

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?
It depends on what you try to get started in. Most of the time, you may have resources all around you that you can use. I say barter first. If they say no, propose a JV giving them 70% or more of your sales or products. I know from experience, that ALL IT TAKES IS ONE POWERFUL ENDORSEMENT, TO GET YOU INTO THE DOOR! Can you put a price tag on a real heartfelt testimonial or endorsement? No, you can't! Lastly, ask for a lower price before you pay the complete retail price.

TECHNOLOGY & TOOLS:

How quickly do you adopt new technology for your business?
I do an in-house test drive of it, then wait to see if my results are good. If they are, I add it immediately. I make sure that if I invest in it, I will use it daily. Whether it be a software program, PDA, laptop, Internet camera, or whatever...if it will help me be more efficient, I'm all for new technology.

Do you use a fax machine with a dedicated line? How do you use it?
No, I use a online fax service. This is by far the best for what I do...especially since I only use the fax seven to 12 times a month.

Do you use fax-on-demand?
Yes, I do use it to get free information out about my new services, price changes, and specials. Some people have a hard time turning on a computer, much less reading their e-mails, so a fax-on-demand service helps me reach those whom I would normally not be able to get in contact with.

How do you use e-mail in your business?
This is what I use to do 97% of my business. It's quick, simple, effective and reliable. Most of all, it's free!

How do you utilize the Internet?
My business is 99% Internet-based at this time. I like to make phone calls to introduce myself and just to say "thanks" to my partners and customers. E-mail is most definitely the fastest way to get the word out, but I also use fax machines, send some flyers by mail, and use autoresponders to drip information to people.

How many of your own Website(s) do you have?
I have three. I use them to inform, educate, build interest, make sales. I've learned that people like to be courted. They hate hype and the "opportunity of the week" nonsense.

Do you use autoresponders?
Yes, this is my 24-hour workhorse! I use it for free workshops, affiliate training, product and service marketing, and more. An autoresponder is a must in this "I-want-it-now" society we live in. Besides that, it also creates more interest and informs you which leads to more sales and referrals.

If you use voice mail, what is your primary use for it?
To answer questions and to prioritize my call-backs.

Describe your computer system and how you use computers in your business.
I use a Pentium 4 processor, with 40GB of hardrive space, 1GB RAM, and a printer.

What software do you consider in the "must-have" category?
You must have Goldmine 6.0, Smart Contact Manager, Quick Books, or another marketing how-to program that shows you how to manage your contact and customers. Oh, you definitely need to use a tax-filing program as well.

What other technology do you use in your business?
I use a cell phone, since I'm always on the go. A laptop and a hand held computer (PDA).

Name up to five personal favorite business URL's our readers can benefit from:
http://myquickpaypro.com/qpp.cgi?adminid=3139&id=73662, http://www.business.com/, http://www.jvalert.com/.

Of all the technology you use, rank the top three.
Computer, e-mail, cell phone. You can take these whereever you go. It keeps you in touch with your business, customers, and new developments.

MARKETING & ADVERTISING:

How do you market on the Internet?
I use e-mail marketing, my ezine, targeted Website traffic, ezine ad swaps and teleseminars.

Approximately what percentage of your sales originate from Internet marketing?
That's easy...100%. For me, this is the way to go. I will be doing some postcard marketing offline, but for now it's just me and the Internet.

How do you market in the print media?
I launched my first offline advertising campaign in July 2004. I'm advertising in magazines, USA Today, and card decks.

What other kinds of marketing do you utilize?
Free 30-day trials to other companies as a incentive for their customers to take action. I also use, targeted Website traffic, banners, rich media ads and more.

Do you recommend using a toll-free number in advertising?
I believe it's good if you can handle the volume of calls. You can use it as a sales tool, for instance..."press 1 to hear about…, press 2 to hear…" We use it for "dripping" information to offline and online prospects.

Where do you market?
I market worldwide via the internet.

THE HOME OFFICE:

How should someone set up his/her home office to maximize its effectiveness?
For me you must set aside certain hours to respond to e-mails, work on your ezine, make follow-up calls, and read about your industry. But most importantly, you must set aside family time and personal time. Your work can all be done in four to six hours a day. I must admit that since I love what I do, four to six hours a day isn't enough, but I'm working on it.

What, if any, ground rules have you established for yourself and family in order to operate a successful home business?
I will not do any work after 7 p.m. PST. This way, my wife and children know that they are just as important. In the beginning, my wife would say "Honey, when will you spend time with us?" So, I knew I had to set specific times in the day for work, personal time, bible study, and last but not least, family time.

What are some of the advantages to working at home? What are some of the disadvantages?
The advantages for me are getting up when I want to and going into my office a sit back with a cup of orange juice to file orders and make replies throughout the day. A disadvantage is family interruptions during important meetings...but I now use a "genius at work" sign for my door.

MANAGEMENT STYLE:
What part(s) of your work do you farm out?
Data entry and bookkeeping. This is so time consuming; plus I never did like it. That's why I gladly pay someone else to do it.

What part(s) do you feel should never be farmed out?
Personal one-on-one relationships with your customers, when possible. They need to know that they're not just another dollar sign to you.

Do you encourage or discourage partnerships?
I encourage them only if I know we can be a good fit together. You must k

now the intention of your potential partners.

Do you encourage or discourage hiring family members?
I say yes, hire them for things like order filling, sending out "thank you" cards, and running to the post office.

When legal issues arise, what's your usual response?
I send them to my lawyer and wait for his response; then I take it from there.

What are the advantages of earning a lot of money. What are some disadvantages?
No. 1 one is that you don't get stressed out about bills. It's like Christmas everyday, too. A disadvantage is that, sometimes, people feel like you owe them just because you are related to them.

Best general tax advice?
Unless you're an accountant or tax attorney, don't try to do it all on your own!

Best general investment advice?
If you like the product or service and you actually use it, invest in it. Depending on your age and marital status, I suggest you invest at least 20% of your income a month. That way, you can sit back and enjoy your retirement!

You're in business already, and you've just received a windfall of $20,000. What would you do with it?
I'd do about three back flips! Then, I would reinvest 20% to 40% back into my business. With the rest, I would do some new investing and take my wife out shopping. She always loves that part.

In five years...
I'll literally be debt free.

In 10 years...
I'll be considering a brief retirement from business and traveling the world with my wife.

What was the motivating factor that drove you to start your own business?
I hated punching clocks and being told where to be all the time. It's so refreshing to create my own schedule.

How role, if any, did your family play when you were getting your business off the ground?
I wanted to do better for my family, to spend more time with them, and to be able to relax from the financial stresses of life.

What motivates you now to continue building your business?
I love helping people achieve their goals; I like the fact that my customers trust and rely on me.

What's the best thing about being self-employed?
You create the lifestyle you want!

How often do you read books and/or listen to or watch tapes for improving your business skills or knowledge?
At least four times a week. This is crucial to my success, and it always gives me new ideas.

The most underrated activity in business is…
Just saying, "Hey, thanks!" Not just because they are customers or partners, but because they rely on me and me on them.

The most overrated activity in business is…
Trying to make it rich in 90 days or less. People will spend hours upon hours on the Internet, looking for the easiest way to make money with no effort on their part. I should know, because I used to do it.

If you had to start your business all over again, what would you do differently?
I would have taken the time to find myself a true mentor.

What was your worst business decision?
My worst decision was taking on a client that was too big for me to handle by myself from home. This caused me to work 15 hours a day just to break even.

What was your best business decision?
My best decision was actually taking the time to research my industry, have my finances in place, and give myself mini-projects that helped me stay on track. Doing this, I was able to make over $47,000 in one month! I still worked 12 to 14 hours a day, but it was fun.

What do you consider to be the main keys of your success?
1. Focus. I must asked myself, "Is what I'm doing today worth the time spent?"
2. Persistence. I ask myself "If I had only 30 days to make $$$ amount of money, what would be worth my while?"
3. Dedication. I ask myself again, "What I am doing all this for? Am I'm thinking of myself, or is this something I felt comfortable presenting to my friends and family?"

What's your success philosophy?
This is simple: Believe in what you do; be passionate about it, and if you're not 100% sold on it, don't get involved.

What about you has changed the most since finding success in business?
I stopped focusing on just the money and looked at the person behind the money.

What is the legacy you hope to leave?
I hope when people talk about me when I'm gone, they will say "You know, Talbert had a true dedication to helping others, even if there was no money to be earned. He love serving God, and he was a wonderful father."