How much passion do your employees put into the business? How much passion do your field marketers put into the business? If there is an imbalance between the field and your home base, you need to correct it quickly.

I can make money with any product with the right compensation plan. I am sure if you have been in direct sales, MLM or network marketing long enough you have heard that line. It is pure silliness. When I was first involved in network marketing that was the attitude. It was wrong then, it is wrong now. Except for a small percentage of disingenuous-silver-tongued-sales gurus, this has never worked in traditional retail nor for the masses in direct sales.

When do we stop following our dreams? When do we stop believing that we can accomplish big things? When do we become too jaded to believe in miracles?

Some of the best business advice can come from the most absurd places. I must admit that watching the real news is depressing. Oil spills, nuclear disasters and Moammar Gadhafi do not make for an uplifting evening. The more serious life gets, the more I need the ridiculously sage words from sources such as Sigmund Marvin from What About Bob, “From all the horror in this world, what difference does it make?”

I just returned from the HealthNation prelaunch event in Scottsdale, Arizona. HealthNation is a brand new direct sales company that features an innovative new product, telemedicine. HealthNation offers 24 hour availability to doctors and naturopath medicine via telephone, email and internet throughout the United States. With President Obama recently telling American citizens that in the future a doctor will be able to speak to a patient via high speed internet, HealthNation appears to be ahead of the curve and on track to address some of the difficulties many Americans feel from increased worries in the health care system.

It’s the time of year for mistletoe, eggnog, caroling, friends, relatives, honey ham and excuses. My kids plan for it for five months, my wife scrutinizes the coupons for good deals and even wakes up at 4:00 am to get the best deals.  I love this time of year for so many reasons, but it can be hard for entrepreneurs. Tis the season of excuses.