I have been in the print industry for over 16 years. During that time I had to learn as I go and make mistake after mistake. From the beginning I started from a one-man team doing design on a state of the Art Power Mac 7100 that my wife purchased with her Karaoke machine stock investments to building a successful printing company 8 years later. But during that time I had to learn how to overcome many obstacles. I had to get beat by customers, purchase useless equipment, build relationships with guys who would steal my clients right from under me. Yeah, I stayed in the print industry for years after having over $200,000 in bad checks written to me, clients that disappeared, employees that stole paper and plates, surviving print wars with competitors (who would ever think your windows would be shot out over business card rates). Well this year was the final draw when our server was hacked and we lost almost everything (long story, don’t want to get into it). We will just say I have two million dollars worth of equipment, forty–thousand a month in overhead and I make less than the burger flipper at McDonalds, living in a one bedroom apartment with three kids. Like all of us I had to educate myself to ZERO LEVERAGE quickly.

Like many intelligent business minded people do I entered the MLM industry. Unlike many others, I happen to be lucky I found the right one. The dream of freedom and team management working from my terrace on my lap-top, sounded much more gratifying than seeing the happy faces of my employees every Friday when I give them their paychecks. Knowing that my cleaning guy made more money than I have in two weeks. There’s that term again, ZERO LEVERAGE a quote I borrowed from that genius MLM’er Dr. Guzman. Before I run off on a tangent again, let me tell you how I got into the MLM industry. This time I researched the industry I was going to do business in. I was lucky to be with what people in the industry call their sponsor. I was gifted with two fabulous friends and mentors both from the east coast (New Jersey and my home town Philadelphia, PA). How lucky could I be, I just entered this new business have great mentors and I thought it was the best. But once again there was something missing. About a month ago my mentor told me about this group the DRA (Distributor Rights Association) she was proud to belong too. I listened but didn’t really understand. The DRA I asked myself, I’m in one of the highest momentum companies in the industry that cares about their distributors, why is she telling me about this group? Well she’s gotten me this far in the game I dare not even question her judgment. She has never guided me wrong. She told me I had to attend the upcoming meeting find out. Let me tell you, it was the best two days of my life. I was happier than a tornado in a trailer park!

OK, now let’s get down to the nitty-gritty about the DRA (Distributor Rights Association). First of all The DRA is more than what you think, and attending their conference is better than having a free shopping spree at Macy’s. The DRA is organized group of Distributors who care about our rights as Distributors; a group of men and women who educate novice and advanced MLMer’s about what’s occurring in the industry both good and bad. They focus on bringing Distributors together and helping new MLM companies and distributors lead a successful business in unity. The DRA Conference was filled with so much valuable information you could only leave with reinforcement knowing you are in the best industry in the world. I’m going to try not to give you a play by play but it will be hard.

First group of speakers were Legal professionals that allowed us to ask the difficult questions. They told us how to stop lawsuits and about million dollar lawsuits distributors have won, how to keep our nose clean and protect the company we represent.  We were graced with Radio show host Tom Chenault, who told us about living life positively (sorting out good and bad funded proposals). Before him The Billionaires Marketing Director and man I will be keeping an eye on, Robert Blackman explained to us the poor man and multi-millionaire tricks for true MLM industry leaders. Michael Linden spoke to us about playing our cards and doubling our income. A person who is dear to me and a natural leader, the master of down line retention Sandi Cohen taught the art of retaining 96.8% of the people in your organization. Danie Levie, covered structure and successful world traveler Dakota Rae explained how we are missing out on the aggressiveness of the Y-Generation. Then came the serious comedy of Eugene Argent and that great awareness test, it’s easy to miss something your not looking for. I could talk about Eugene Argent all day! Dave Hatz told us about protecting our company and Brian McMullen spoke from the heart. Tim Drobnick explained the art of high Alexa Rating can get you much better leads and are a heck of a lot cheaper than Google ad words. Oh did I tell you lunch was paid for by Pinnaclife, Inc and the DRA gave us over $3000 worth of free MLM educational gifts? When I say the DRA saved my business I mean it. Because before I really even get started in this industry I now know I have leadership, support, reinforcement, million dollar tools, industry leaders in my network on the other line and more confidence than I have had before. I walked with thirty thousand dollars of knowledge and feel like Arnold Schwarzenegger of MLM. I will say it again “The DRA saved my business.”