Adams V Arbus

The iconic photographs of Ansel Adams have become synonymous with the preservation of the American West. Adam's photography, along with his exceptional writing skills, made an invaluable contribution to the expansion of the National Park System. If Adam's photography served to elevate the collective consciousness, the work of Diane Arbus delivered a cold slap in the face. Arbus had no majestic landscapes. Arbus sought out the strange, the unconventional and the down right weird. In her own words, Arbus photographed freaks.

Although Adams was older than Arbus by twenty-one years; he survived her by thirteen years thus, making them contemporaries of a sort. They had a number of things in common including, being born into upper class families. Adams' grandfather founded a successful timber business. Arbus' grandfather founded a successful New York City fur store. In neither case did family money make it down to them. They were both totally devoted to their craft. They each produced their best work in black and white. They both became major forces, not just in photographic circles, but on the American art scene as a whole.

Adams was born in San Francisco in 1902. One of the more notable childhood events involved his being thrown into a wall by an aftershock of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, and receiving a broken nose in the process. His doctor recommended the nose be reset when Adams reached maturity, but this was never to happen, and he went through life with his nose distinctly bent. Adams was a highly intelligent, lively, inquisitive, but unruly child. His inability to concentrate resulted in his dismissal from a number of private schools. His father, recognizing his son's inherent gifts, removed young Ansel from school at the age of twelve and assumed personal responsibility for the boy's education. Charles Adams, his aunt Mary Adams, and private tutors provided the bulk of Ansel Adams education. A less perceptive father might have very well set him on a very different path in life.

Diane Arbus, born Diane Nemerov in 1923, grew up in a large apartment on Central Park West in New York City. Her father managed the fur store founded by her maternal grandfather, expanding it into a successful Fifth Avenue department store. David Nemerov was often away on business and Diane's mother, Gertrude, suffered recurring bouts of depression. These factors, combined with the family's wealth, added to her sense of being insulated from the larger world. Diane showed early promise as a painter yet, after being praised for her work, put down her brushes never to paint again. Diane Nemerov did not consider anything that was easy, to be worth doing. At the age of thirteen she met Allan Arbus, an employee in the advertising department of her father's store. From that moment the life of Diane Nemerov was focused on marrying Allen Arbus. Diane resisted her parent's pleas that she pursue higher education and, with their reluctant consent, married Allan Arbus when she turned eighteen.

At the age of twelve, Ansel Adams began to teach himself to read music and play the piano. He became so adept, his father saw to it that he receive the best tutoring available. His photographic memory and ferocious drive seemed to have set him on a musical course. However, a family vacation to Yosemite National Park in 1916 was to have a profound impact on the young Adams' choice of career. His father had given him a Kodak Brownie box camera for the trip and it proved to be a life changing event. Adams returned to Yosemite the following year with a better camera and a tripod. He joined the Sierra Club at the age of seventeen and would remain a member for the rest of his life, serving as a board member for thirty-seven years. Adams began learning the dark room skills that would make him world famous by working part time for a San Francisco photo finisher. Teaming with a retired geologist, named Frank Holman, Adams spent summers hiking in the high Sierras. These extended hikes with Homan helped Adams develop the strength and stamina that would prove so valuable in the great work to come.

With the outbreak of World War II, Allan Arbus entered the U.S. Army Signal Corp and trained as a photographer. The Arbuses utilized these skills to found a highly successful fashion photography business after the war Diane's father was as a major client. Throughout the early 1950's Allan and Diane Arbus did work for all the leading fashion publications of the day. This continued until 1956 when Diane decided she could no longer do fashion photography. She was supported in this decision by her husband. Their marriage would outlive their business relationship by just three years. By this time Diane was taking photography classes at The New School, and had begun her collaboration with Lisette Model. Model played an important role in helping Arbus overcome her insecurities and find her own artistic vision.

The foundation had thus been laid for two remarkable artists to pursue their respective visions. Adams was to divide his time between traveling the American west and New York City, where Alfred Stieglitz displayed Adams' photographs in his gallery. Stieglitz, the reigning master of American photography, gave Adams's work invaluable exposure. Additionally, through Stieglitz Adams made the acquaintance of many prominent figures in the American art community, including Stieglitz's wife, Georgia O'Keeffe. His exuberant personality, and ability as a pianist, won Adams many friends. Arbus, meanwhile, with the urging of Lisette Model, began seeking out her own subject matter. Arbus was drawn to society's oddest people. Arbus said, "Most people go through life dreading they'll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma, and they've already passed their test in life. They're aristocrats." Norman Mailer was quoted as saying, 'Giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like giving a hand grenade to a baby."

Throughout their respective careers, both Adams and Arbus did commercial work to make ends meet. Adams accepted commissions form The Sierra Club and the National Park Service among others and, in addition, wrote extensively for several photographic publications. Arbus produced many commercial portraits for Harpers Bazaar, Esquire and other magazines, and by the mid 1960's her work had begun taking on the distinctive look that would mark her as an artist. They both viewed commercial work as a distraction from their true artistic vision. Adams was known to complain that his contractual obligations left him little time for anything else.

That Ansel Adams created magnificent images is undeniable, but it was the incredible difficulty involved in getting them, that sets his work apart. A full day of hiking, with his heavy, large format camera, might yield no more than five photographs. Taking the pictures was only the beginning. Adams developed his own negatives and made his own prints, often printing images over and over to get the desired result. Not until late in his career did Adams delegate the printing of his images to an assistant and, even then, he personally signed off on each copy. Diane Arbus had her own set of difficulties. Arbus visited sleazy hotels, carnivals, asylums and nudist camps. In addition to the riveting images she created, Diane Arbus had an amazing ability to win the trust of her subjects, often maintaining contact with them for years. I cannot imagine either artist doing what the other accomplished. Can anyone imagine Ansel Adams in a nudist camp?

Diane Arbus died by her own hand in 1971 at the age of forty-eight. Ansel Adams died in 1984 at the age of eighty-two. As so often happens, their works have soared in value following their passing. They have each come in for the predictable criticism. Arbus was accused of 'voyeurism', and using shock simply for the sake of shock. Adams was accused of having a lack of imagination. Personally, I view this criticism of Adams as being in the same vein as art critics who criticize people who can actually draw. If the images of Diane Arbus were merely voyeuristic and shocking they would have, long since, faded into obscurity. However, nearly forty years after her passing, the images of Diane Arbus continue to captivate. If Adams created works of self evident truth, the central message I take away from the work of Diane Arbus is; 'This too is reality'.

Top 1% of THREE MLM Companies! The Daniel K. Song Interview

Advancing to the top 1% of any MLM opportunity is quite a challenge, choosing to start all over with a new company and doing it again is absolutely astounding.

After taking a break from Network Marketing for almost a year... What Daniel K. Song plans to do next may be his toughest challenge; not only does he plan to do it again with a new, rather large company, he is going to do while working a full-time job! Why? To prove to you that it CAN be done.

It is said that in order to have success in network marketing you need to truly master one skill. Whether it is presenting, closing, encouragement, or (for the internet world) copywriting, SEO or social networking, it's incredibly important to identify your talent and "run" with it.

Daniel K. Song has mastered the incredibly lucrative art of Team-Building: The branding of a culture and system of duplicating distributors that completely trust his leadership. He is an example of the power traditional network marketing methods have on those that can obtain this skill.

During this incredibly hectic time, I had a chance to meet up with him and I want to invite you to take a look at our conversation in hopes that you may gain some value from a true MLM guru.

* Disclaimer: Soomin-Kim.com does not encourage "opportunity jumping," however the story of Daniel K. Song is a testimony to the power of the network marketing opportunity and reiterates our belief that people choose leaders before choosing a company. In other words, we believe that in the beginning, people are buying YOU; not your products nor compensation plan.

sK: I'm just going to start with the basics...how long have you been involved in Network Marketing?

Daniel: I've been a part of the Network Marketing Industry now for almost 7 years. The majority of which has been full time...I started back in May of 2003 as I was preparing to graduate from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. I've been part of The Health and Wellness Industry for all of the 7 years I've marketed. It wasn't until this past year that I decided to take on two separate career paths; one as a designer & marketing manager, and the other as a network marketer (again).

sK: So what's your age at the moment... you still seem like a kid to me.

Daniel: I'm 29, look 20, and probably act more like I'm 12... I enjoy being a "kid," life was much more enjoyable when you were a kid. I envy the innocence, simplicity and pureness of a child's actions, choices, and thoughts... although getting carded for 'R' rated movies at almost 30 is a bit annoying.

sK: I hear you brotha, I'm 31 and I get carded everywhere too! I'm guessing it's an Asian thing. Prior to more serious matters...anyone that knows you, knows that you love cars... how many different cars have you owned?

Daniel: Umm... to date? I've owned (9) cars in the past (8) years... I started in network marketing with a Honda Civic that I bought in high school. The first car I bought "through" network marketing was a 1993 Acura NSX (which was my dream car growing up as a kid)... That NSX was then followed up with a: 2002 BMW 325i, 2004 Infiniti G35 coupe, 2005 Lotus Elise, 1997 Acura NSX-T, 2008 Honda Element SC, 2008 Lexus GS350, 2004 Honda s2000, and now a 2010 BMW 335i... I think that's it... I really enjoy cars.

sK:...uhh yea you think?

Daniel: I mean, considering that I don't have any other real vices (like drinking, smoking, or partying) this is my only real vice. I just hope my future wife-to-be can still love me for it.

Vice: Daniel's custom Acura NSX - His "dream" car prior to network marketing.
sK: As long as she's driving what she wants... you'll be ok. Where are you currently living now?

Daniel: I currently live in the Newport, California. I used to be in Rowland Heights and Diamond Bar most of my life, but moved out to Orange County about (2) years ago because my brother wanted to be closer to work... and since I work from home, location really didn't matter much to me. It's definitely a nice area.

sK: Before I forget, on a serious note, I appreciate you taking some time out of your schedule to chat, with that being said... let's just get down to it...WHERE THE HECK HAVE YOU BEEN!?

Daniel: Not a problem. Sorry it's taken this long to finally sit down to have this conversation! Where have I been?! Haha.... Let's just say I took about a year off to "reinvent myself" if you will.

sK: Reinvent? Like Madonna? What's there to reinvent?

Daniel: To understand what I did, would mean you'd have to look a little further into my background before network marketing. I've always wanted to be an artist or a designer, this was my primary passion. I mean, I even went to an Art School to pursue this passion... and YOU know that coming from an Asian-American background, most parents want you to be a doctor, lawyer, or anything "prestigious".

sK: Yea, I can understand that...at the very least an engineer right!?

Daniel: Right, so you can imagine the mental heart-attack my parents suffered when I announced that I "wanted to be an artist" and go to an art school! This would NOT make for good family dinner bragging conversations between aunts and uncles.

sK: It's all about bragging rights with them...

Daniel: Ok, fast forward 3-4 years, and I got started in network marketing RIGHT out of college... I found myself in massive (and I DO mean massive) student loan debts, and credit cards graduating.

sK: Approx. how much?

Daniel: I think my student loan balances were in the $145,000 range, not including credit cards. So I was presented with a CHANCE to make some money through network marketing as I prepared to graduate from college.

sK: That's a lot of debt...were you sponsored in MLM from someone that was already a leader?

Daniel: My sponsor was someone who has been very successful with his own network marketing career, and took me under his wings to mentor and teach me the "game"... and for 7 years, I did network marketing FULL-TIME; as the only means of an income source. It was GREAT, but it always weighed on my conscience that I seemed to have neglected my artist passions to pursue marketing.

24k +...not bad for a "BONUS" check! (Notice there is one behind it as well)
sK: Oh got it... you never really had a chance to reevaluate things...never "pulled over on the side of the freeway" if you will?

Daniel: Right...so after walking away from my last opportunity, I decided to take some time off to pursue a career that DIDN'T involve network marketing. This was a huge gamble to walk away from the ONLY thing I knew how to do, and the ONLY thing that paid my bills.

sK: So was it a mistake?

Daniel: Nope...the gamble paid off. I landed an awesome position as a design and creatives member of Leg Avenue Inc, one of the industries largest costume and lingerie manufactures in the US! I quickly took on a lot more responsibilities helping in all facets of the design and creative process there. It felt great to finally have a productive and positive outlet for my creative needs!

sK: They should've tapped into your marketing prowess...

Daniel: That's what they did... they couldn't ignore my past as a marketer. They quickly started to harness my experiences to help with branding projects, and marketing resources and tools. I just got promoted as a marketing manager there.

Daniel utilizing his design and art passion behind a desk for Leg Avenue Inc. Photo: Hank Lee
sK: So you completely forgot about MLM?

Daniel: Well no... with that being said, I also always had one eye back on the industry that helped make EVERYTHING possible for me. I mean this is the industry that truly opened up doors to many more opportunities for me.

sK: So where are we at now?

Daniel: Well, after taking a few months to search for a new home/opportunity to pursue, I decided it was time to jump BACK INTO network marketing. The only difference this time is that I still have a full-time career, but also juggling network marketing.

sK: What makes you think you can do it successfully on a part-time basis? When I say "successfully" I mean success as in "Daniel Song" -type success.

Daniel: There's a lot of skepticism that without going full-time in network marketing, you cannot become successful. I'm here to prove that myth wrong! I strongly believe it's about TIME MANAGEMENT, and the efficient USE of time (meaning: the quality of effort and planning) that leads to success and NOT the AMOUNT or QUANTITY of time.

sK:...keep going, this is valuable stuff...

Daniel:...some people can clock in 40-50 hours into their network marketing business and not make a dime, and there are some of us, who can just make 4-5 phone calls a week, and pull in an annual income of over 6 figures. What's the difference? EFFECTIVE USE OF YOUR TIME! I've always been a multi-tasker.

sK: I think that's important for many people to hear... I feel that so many networkers mistake movement for progress...when it's really a matter of intention and focused enery. So how long has it been, or... how long have you been inactive?

Daniel: Approximately 8 months is the time it's taken to: reevaluate, refocus, and readjust. I can't say that I'm even currently "FULL-TIME" technically based on the definition of most working class...but I can TELL you with confidence that I am BACK in network marketing! I'm not an amateur playing with his hobbies, but a professional planning his business.

sK: Got it... sounds like you're serious...you know from what I know about you, you really are a big proponent (at least in my opinion) of not "loving" Network Marketing, but appreciating its ability to deliver time and freedom in order to pursue what you really do LOVE..... Would you say that is accurate?

Daniel: Uh yes and no... I mean I do LOVE network marketing, but I think what I "LOVE" about network marketing is really it's ability to open new doors and unlock new levels of potential which weren't available to you previously. I mean it's great that you can make money through network marketing, but if that's your end-all goal, then it's quite sad and limiting. Network marketing gave me not only the financial freedom, but the TIME freedom (which is MORE important - as time is NOT replenish-able like money is). The time-freedom gave me the chance to pursue my other passions of: photography, cars, art, and travel. Network marketing for ME, has been the "Vehicle" to me to pursue MY TRUE passions without the restrictions that most jobs would give you.

sK: Now there are people that could only dream of reaching the levels that you have reached in two different companies and spend a lifetime pursuing that... how were you able to do it with (2) different companies?

Daniel: Haha... you think? The problem and answer lies right in the question itself. Most people could only "DREAM" of reaching those levels. You can't just WISH for it, or DREAM of it. You need to MAKE it, and CREATE it. You must attach a clear action plan, and strategy to the goals you want to achieve, and go do it.

sK: You really think it's that simple?

Daniel: Well, I can honestly say that I was very blessed with an awesome team, great leadership group, found the right opportunities (but more so the timing IN those opportunities), and a strong desire to SUCCEED. As cliche as it sounds, "it all starts with STRONG motivators we like to call "YOUR WHY's"... make your "WHY'S" clear and the "HOW's" become very easy. I've been able to build a large downline group in (2) separate opportunities and hit leadership ranks that pay in excess of 6 figures a year, but what people don't see is ALL of the planning, time, energy, and hard work that goes into doing it.

Daniel with yet another solid team at a company function.
sK: How important is timing to success in MLM?

Daniel: It's very important that you find NOT only a GREAT opportunity, but more importantly look at the TIMING within that opportunity. There are so many great companies, which unfortunately the timing has come and gone. Any surfer will tell you, that in order to surf, you need to catch the wave from the front, and not once it's passed, that's how building a successful business is done. So many people are sentimentally attached to their opportunity (which isn't wrong - I still love my first company to death... it's like your first girlfriend, and you will always cherish those memories), but you have to still remember, we are "BUSINESS" people and "BUSINESS" decisions are sometimes best made when you can separate your emotional biases from them.

sK: Alright let's talk a little about actual skills... what would you say is the one or two key skills needed to be able to start over and build large and build a team quickly?

Daniel: Finding a "good" opportunity with "great" timing; rather than a "great" company with a "good" timing...I'm sure most of your readers will understand what I mean by that. Being able to "smell" where the next opportunity is can make you a fortune. Make the wrong choice or decisions once too many, and you lose your ability to influence or convince people of that. The second skillset that can help when starting over and building a new team is to create a solid foundation... a house built on soft sand will inevitably come crashing down, never neglect the foundations and basics. Create a solid, duplicatable, and simple system that NOT only your downlines will follow, but you will follow and just GO TO WORK!

sK: You know that solid network marketing companies do an excellent job promoting motivational paraphernalia like books, CD's, trainers/speakers etc... in your opinion, what is more important to success a solid skillset or a strong mindset?

Daniel: MINDSET!!!! If NASA can teach a monkey to go to space, we can teach you how to do network marketing. Teaching and learning skill sets is simply a choice and a process... nothing too magnificent or magical with that. Having the right mindset, or fertile soil upon which you can plant, is where the "MIRACLE" process begins.

Daniel stands behind personal development above personal skills.
sK: I highly value the importance of personal development, what are your thoughts?

Daniel: I am a BIG believer on personal development... It's changed my life! Having the right mindset will make for a great foundation to learn all your skillsets on. I've seen way too many talented network marketers (those who posses high amounts of skills and abilities) but lack the proper mindset go to the wayside... often times they fail, not because of their talents, but because of their mindsets.

sK: It's so true, even in my own downline... I've seen some of the most talented presenters and trainers... just fall apart with a weak mental frame. Daniel...you've primarily stayed in the Health and Wellness Industry....no water filters, legal services, telecommunications, or anything else.... Why?

Daniel: HAHAHAHAhaha.... the Health and Wellness revolution is here to stay! This isn't just simply a trend...The Wellness Industry is going to be forever perpetual.

sK: What do you mean by "perpetual"?

Daniel: When the baby boomers move on, we (Gen X and Y) will soon replace the adult categories, we may ignore the value of wellness products now, being fairly young, but it will soon become a priority for us as we age, whether we like it or not. Once we move on, our children will become to next adult group. There will be NO end to the demands and needs of wellness-based products. Plus how many other things do you know that you can sell, and make money from, but know that you've made someone's life truly better in the process? I don't get too turned on about saving a few cents on someone's long distance bill, but I DO get turned on about saving someone's life...but that's just me!

sK: We'll put. This is a tough one I think... but if we surveyed each and every one of your personally sponsored downline past and present, what would they say is your greatest strength and what would they say is your greatest weakness?

Daniel: Wow. That would be scary. Not sure exactly what THEY WOULD say...I really don't know. I mean if I had to take a guess, I'd assume they'd think my ability to multitask and organize is one of my major strengths. I've been told that I can get a lot done in such a short amount of time. People have often asked, if I've successfully cloned myself! I really think that time management goes hand in hand with the ability to multitask and organize. I was told by a mentor that I could increase my productivity and results just by simply being more organized.

sK:...and a weakness?

Daniel: As for a weakness, I am very picky and a perfectionist. It drives me nuts when things aren't done to a 110% and done perfectly. These high standards keep me and my teams performing at the best of our abilities but it also sets me up for countless hours of stress and anxiety.

sK: We talked about this privately and earlier you gave me a great analogy of comparing it to breaking up with a first love, could you share that with us....what it's like (for whatever reason) when you decide to leave your first MLM company, especially after so much success with it?

Daniel: Whew... for a second i thought you wanted me to comment on my breakup with my first girlfriend!

sK: No, that's another time...most likely another blog.

Daniel: Haha... well when we join our first MLM company, we tend to get very emotionally invested into the company. Everything is brand new and exciting for us. It's the first time writing new goals, the first time inviting, the first time building a team, etc. Because of all these "FIRST" time experiences, we develop a strong attachment to these memories. These attachments tend to be more based on emotions rather than logical or rational thoughts. When you're young and in your first relationship, it can be sometimes dangerous. You may choose to ignore signs of danger or issues because you want to believe you are truly in love. They say love makes you blind and I believe it's sometimes that emotional attachment that sometimes compromises our logical or rational judgment.

sK:...so you think it's wrong to be emotionally attached to your first company? Isn't that a part of commitment?

Daniel: No, there's NOTHING wrong with having a sentimental value for your company, but it does become an issue when it prevents you from making good business decisions. I'm sure it'd be a no-brainer, but most people wouldn't want to see a CEO of a major company make huge decisions for the company when they are emotionally compromised or have a biased interest in something. The first "breakup" is always going to be the hardest for MOST! I know it was for me. I thought my world was going to be doomed when I first broke up with my "girlfriend". Sooner or later, life will show you that there is more out there. In the same way, you should never blindly turn away an opportunity or overlook it simply because of an emotional or sentimental attachment to something they believe to be true love. Separate the emotional attachment, and look at it as simply a business proposal.

sK: Tell me more about how it was when leaving your first opportunity?

Daniel: When I left my first company, and a large downline organization (after building it for nearly 4 years), it was a very painful and scary process. It felt like stepping out into the dark or into the unknown. After taking a lot of time to research, and study my second company, it was a slow but confident transition into the new company. Sure enough, I don't regret my decision, and as a business move, it was a complete success. Like relationships, after each breakup, you become that much more wise and experienced. You learn what you liked about your significant other, and what you disliked. That information will SERVE YOU WELL when looking for a new girlfriend.

sK: I'm a proponent of analogies... continue!

Daniel:...you already come prepared for what to expect. The same applies for network marketing. I made a ton of mistakes in my first company but I took all the knowledge, experience, and wisdom gained from my first company, and applied it to the second venture. I made sure to steer clear of any of my former mistakes, and improve on the old, it's a refinement process.

Is Daniel ready to take center-stage again?
sK: I feel like that is such a big decision.... what do you personally look for when selecting a primary opportunity?

Daniel: There's really a lot that I consider when searching for an opportunity. There really isn't a formal science behind the process either.

sK: Ok, give me like a 5-6 aspects you consider in a new company.

Daniel: First off, you check for the simple but important basics: 1) is the company legitimate 2) do they have a strong mission statement or vision 3) do they have a marketable and credible product 4) the corporate team and background 5) how is the timing of this company 6) the compensation plan.

sK: Simple enough...

Daniel: These are just some of the check lists I go through when looking for a company. I do a lot of outside research on the companies I am prospecting. Generally speaking, I always choose from a product-based company versus a service based company, and more specifically always in the health and wellness industry.

sK: What about product line?

Daniel: I also now prefer a more condensed and focal product line. Coming from a company that once had 50+ products and a large catalog/price sheet, I realized it would nearly paralyze some of my downlines from ever learning the product line. A condensed or focal product line allows all the members to quickly learn the products but at the same time, get a much more concentrated efforts to market and expose a product. Some of the largest and fastest growing network marketing companies in recent times have been with companies who choose a condensed or focal product line.

sK: I actually disagree somewhat, I feel there are pros and cons of having a larger product line... but you make some valid points...what about the compensation plan?

Daniel: I look for a comp plan that is lucrative, but also fair. I tend to always believe that the BINARY plan is the easiest of the basic types of comp. plans to build. The basic logic is: if you can't build 2 legs, there's no way you can build 3 or 4. Then I really look into the timing and growth cycle of the company. Is this product or company saturated and over exposed? Is this company a startup? Most startups have a higher risk of failure, but a company that's too old may not have any opportunity left in it. That's why it's so important to find a company that has a good balance of stability and newness.

sK:...well since we're on the subject... word on the social networking 'street' is that you're officially "back" in the game. I heard that you just filled out an application for a new opportunity. Talk about a lucky sponsor (whew)! Without getting into the obvious question... what are you most excited about and what is one aspect of this business that you will never be completely comfortable with?

Daniel: Hahaha... I guess word gets out fast. Two weeks ago I began posting very vague Facebook status updates about me looking for opportunities in network marketing. Then a post about "myself" inviting me to a meeting, needless to say, that triggered a ton of post comments, inbox messages, emails, texts, and phone calls.

sK: What were they saying or asking?

Daniel:...people offering deals, incentives, or just pitching me on why I should take a look at their company. Anyways, so yes, after an intensive search process, I can proudly say that I've found a new home to build with. Ironically I also received the blessings of some of the TOP earners in my previous company who would only praise the company I chose...and yes, my sponsor is quite lucky. There's nothing they could say or do to "sell" me on a company. The only thing they can do is present to me the information that I requested. It is up to me to be "sold" or not.

sK: So then you signed?

Daniel: I signed up, and started the process of building a team one more time. The difference now being that I am doing this part time (which I answered earlier).It's also going to prove to so many that you can STILL build a financially rewarding business just from a part-time commitment, as long as you are serious!

sK: How excited are you?

Daniel: I'm just most excited about getting back in the trenches, and building something BIG again. It's exciting to see the excitement that's being generated by just me coming back. I truly have to admit I am the luckiest guy in the world. I have so many supportive, and loyal downlines, that I can't even express with words. Their encouragement and support is probably the biggest reason why I still come back for more. I'm excited to see what we can do with this new vehicle of choice, as I think it's truly the greatest opportunity the industry has seen to date. The growth of this company is second to none.

sK: What about the second part of my question, what part of MLM will you never completely be comfortable with?

Daniel: The one thing I'll never be completely comfortable with is knowing that not ALL my downlines will always be with me. I always miss my old team members and the ones who have no longer chosen to pursue network marketing. I miss the people from the old companies who chose to stay or were just on the sidelines.

sK: Do you ever consider going back to one of the companies that you had done before?

Daniel: Who knows it COULD happen, but honestly, I think it's doubtful. I didn't leave on a irrational or emotional decision. It was a long process in the making. Plus I left partially because I feel strongly that the "opportunity" that once was there was no longer there. It has NO reflection on the quality of the company or its products.

The Numbers: A Candid Look Into Daniel's Blueprint Of Immediate Advancement In His New Opportunity. When Is The Last Time You Were This Detailed In Achieving Your Goal?
sK: As of today, (during this interview)... it's been about a week since you officially started.... how confident are you in getting back to an elite status in this new venture?

Daniel: Umm... my current genealogy shows approximately 800+ downline currently in the system, most of which has been "power-legged" to give maximum support and incentives for my team members. I'm just beginning to build my other leg now and my iPhone has been dying on me mid-day everyday for the last week.

sK: Pshh...800 new downline in about a week? That's alright I guess... (insane sarcasm obviously).

Daniel: I think we're off to a great start! Where I'll ultimately end up in this company, I don't know. I can tell you that it'll be exciting either way!

If history and track record prove true, Daniel will be back on top in this newest of ventures.
sK: How about I check back with you later on this year? Daniel, I know it's been incredibly busy for you these past few days, and I'm certain you haven't gotten much sleep. I appreciate you sharing with me and my readers some incredible insight, value and knowledge.... Best of luck friend on this next chapter.

Daniel: Sure thing Soomin! Let's not be strangers!

Thanks for sharing,

Soomin Kim

Cheap Perfume For People With Expensive Tastes

There is a difference between perfume that is cheap in the sense that it is inexpensive, and perfume that smells 'cheap' in the sense of it being tacky, lacking originality or of poor quality. Cheap perfume can be found without compromising on quality, if the buyer is willing to take some time to wisely shop around.

It can be a case of 'buyer beware' when looking for cheap perfume. Never buy from a random stranger, a car boot, a street corner or from a pub. Unlicensed vendors might be selling an inferior or bootleg product that will only disappoint.

High street retailers and secure online retailers should be your only port of call when searching for new perfume. There are plenty of bargains to be found online, and web retailers often sell designer perfumes at a large discount, by offering unopened demonstration bottles.

The choice of perfumes on the market can be quite bewildering. All kinds of celebrities including models, rappers, singers, actors, reality TV stars, sportspeople -,and even footballers' wives,- have scents available to buy.

It has become one of the business decisions that many celebrities take, when expanding their empire beyond the original talent that made them famous. As with the designer fashion names that grace the shelves, the marketing people use a celeb's name to imply a perfume with glamour, taste and style.

The same fragrance might smell differently, and vary in duration, from one person to the next. This is due to the fact that people all have slightly different skin from each other, due to their unique body chemistry. Skin might be naturally dry or oily, and hormones, medications, diet, stress levels and even the environment can all have an effect. Those with sensitive skin should consider wearing the fragrance on their clothes instead.

Perfumes also change on a person during the time they wear it. This happens because a fragrance evolves across three separate stages, which reveal themselves over a period of time.

To begin with, we have the top note, which reveals the early lighter side to the aroma, and which lasts for around eight to fifteen minutes. Next is the middle note, which emits constantly throughout the fragrance's time on a person, and fully emerges after the top note's duration. Finally, the base note develops and reveals the woody notes, which become more noticeable when the scent has rested on the skin for some time.

There are two methods through which a perfume can be applied: spray or splash. Sprays are considered to be the optimum way of applying a scent, as they can be applied anywhere easily, including directly onto clothes. However, they do have a minimal amount of wastage, as some of the scent is naturally lost into the environment around the sprayer. Eau de toilette and eau de parfum only ever come supplied as a spray.

Splash bottles are a more versatile and economical method, as the perfume can be added to steam-iron water and then impregnated into clothes - and as much or as little as desired can be directly applied to the skin. Splash bottles might not be the best option for the clumsy, or those with curious children.

Many a splash bottle has been disposed of onto a carpet, a bed or down a bathroom sink!

How to Build a Career in Photography

Making a career in photography is very hard since this field is a very competitive one where you need qualities like creativity, imagination and you also have to learn the technical aspects of photography. You have learned about how to manipulate the subjects, the lights, and the environment, to have the desired effect.

There are various professional courses varying from beginners to advanced courses for duration of 6 weeks to 2 months. It is mainly conducted by professionals who are photographers themselves who can teach you the practical aspects of photography and theory too.

After you finish this course, you can then specialize as a wedding photographer, a studio photographer, a magazine photographer or a fine art photographer. These courses help you to use the camera setting once you complete the course. You can safely take the camera "off auto" and control the camera manually.
If you wan tot build up a career in photography, you can start with image photography or image library. The first thing to do when it comes to a career in photography is to start taking pictures. Think of a theme which should be realistic like may be wildlife, or the portrait of a face or green color or so on.

Then you have to think of the location which should be a place which is familiar to you, so that it is easy for you to work. First you can start taking pictures of different trees from different angles and different reflections. Then you can also use mirrors to make use of the reflection and make different images.

Start experimenting with your digital camera and take as many photos as you can from different angles. Look for interesting scenes, try to make the pictures attractive, use different lighting and so on. Advancement in the field of electronics help the photographer to easily edit the images taken.

Computer software is not used when the photographer wants to manipulate any image that he or she has taken. Several colleges and training institutes have course on photography which teaches you creativity and the technical aspect. These courses cover everything which is related to photography like equipment, techniques, and designs and so on.

You should have a good eye sight, coordination, imagination and accuracy and also you must have a lot of patience if you want a career in photography. Side by side you must have the skills to deal with clients, publishing agents and advertisers and so on.

Click Your Way to Success As You Attend Photography Classes

If you have a great eye for striking scenery, you should definitely not waste your talent. Some consider it a natural, innate talent that needs further development. Once you enhance this talent, you won't regret going through the efforts of doing so. You may be able to use it to catch wonderful moments and create glorious memories. Only attending photography classes will help you develop that talent of clicking on memories and making them last. These classes come in many different types that will suit your needs while making sure that you develop your skills as a photographer in the making.

One type of photography class is the online photography course. This class is not the most recommended method of learning all the skills to become a professional photographer, but it is definitely a great way to start. It is not the most complete method of learning but is is not inadequate as well. To make it short, it is only recommended for learning the basics and not learning photography all the way. Once you go online, you can learn about specific things regarding photography such as its history and fundamentals.

The other type is the personal photography classes. This, being the better type among the two, will offer you a greater and better learning experience. This is because not only do you get to learn everything personally, but you also get to learn them alongside other individuals who share similar interests as you have. It will also help you develop your personal self as you get to socialize with them.

Anyone could enroll in any of these classes. You could also choose to take the regular analogue camera type of class or you could also choose the digital camera type of class. Either of these classes tend to offer the same stuff and it only depends on your preference.

Many high-end photography classes are offered at schools found all over the world. In places like New York, Paris or London, these classes are their specialty and they all have the finest instructors to teach you the craft of photography. These high-end photography classes tend to offer a more complex course. They might be including subjects like the history of photography or basic lighting or anything that may seem unnecessary but you should consider this as a great factor since you get to learn more over the others who were unfortunate not to learn these.

So if you have a passion for picturesque sights, this is definitely a great start in the process of going professional.

The History of Photography: A Snapshot

Photography has been around for centuries and it is now one of Britain's best loved pastimes, enabling people to capture a special moment in a single snapshot. How has photography progressed through the years? Let's take a look at some of the key moments in photographic history...

The Defining Moments in Photography
The term 'photography' was first coined by Sir John Herschel who used the term way back in 1830 when the photographic process became public. However, images were being captured much earlier than this.

The first type of photography was seen in ancient times where camera obscuras were used to form images on walls in darkened rooms. A camera obscura is the first image-capturing invention which led to photography as we know it today.

Throughout the 16th and 17th Centuries, the brightness and clarity of camera obscuras improved greatly by enlarging of the hole and through the insertion of a telescope lens. These became frequently used by artists and were made more portable in the form of sedan chairs.

One of the major breakthroughs in the progression of photography was made by Professor J. Schulze who learnt that by combining chalk with nitric acid and silver in a flask, he could see a darkening effect on the side of the flask that was exposed to sunlight. This was essentially an accident, but Schulze effectively created the first photosensitive compound.

Perhaps the most defining moment in photography occurred in 1816 when Nicephore joined the camera obscura with photosensitive paper. From this, he was able to form a permanent image - the first time this had ever been possible in history. Through the years since Nicephore, photography has advanced to incredible levels of detail.

The Important of Art Insurance
Great photography can be a brilliant form of art and a quality photograph can have a defined effect on us and our thoughts and feelings. Some photographic works can be worth a huge amount of money, especially those by famous and renowned photographers. This is why it is important, if you purchase an expensive piece of photography, to invest in art insurance. It is likely that you already have home contents insurance but many companies' policies do not include art. If your art becomes damaged its value will drop considerably, and if it is stolen you may well lose a lot of money indeed. Be wise and cover yourself against losing a lot of money.

Modern Theatre and Stage Supplies

When we talk about theatre supplies or stage equipment, we usually think about curtains, drapes, light systems, acoustics and all the other 'visible' parts and accessories. The fact is there is a lot more to stage supplies that just the ones that we see. There are curtain tracks, riggings, leg brackets, and accessories like ropes, fringes, tassels, thread, grommet, webbing, chains and so on and so forth. Also of importance are the curtain storage systems like curtain bags and canvas hampers, which can help protect the theatrical/stage curtains when not in use. Today, many theatre suppliers and dealers can provide you with theatrical supplies including curtains, fabrics, curtain tracks, drape supports, shot bags, scene boards, webbings, cords and curtain bags. Many institutions like schools auditoriums, community centres, photograph studios, concert halls, nightclubs, exhibition industry, museums and TV studios constantly need such supplies for their Stages.

The fact is most of these systems and equipments have undergone tremendous change in their designs. Technology has made the designs user-friendly and has also facilitated their ease of use. As an example let us consider the changes that modern leg brackets (used for leg curtains) have undergone. We shall also consider the advantages that such leg brackets have over their traditional counterparts.

Today, the most commonly used leg brackets are the swivelling ones. They have several advantages over the conventional bracket mechanisms. They are extremely sturdy and durable. Moreover they are versatile and adjustable as well. The swivelling mechanism allows the leg bracket to have a 360 degree range of motion. The conventional leg systems were fixed and did not allow such versatility.

Safety is another feature offered by the swivelling leg brackets. Since they have adjustable mechanisms at ground level, there is no need for ladders and scaffolds. One can adjust the angle of the leg curtain and grasp the sides of the curtain. A little pressure is then enough to rotate the curtain to desired position.

Many swivelling leg brackets also come spring loaded. This help to hold the curtain firmly by exerting the desired amount of pressure at the top plate. The simple spring mechanism does not call for additional tools and it is easy to make minor adjustments.

Let us summarize the features of modern leg brackets:
• They are designed for heavy duty applications
• They have black anodized finish for durability
• They are suitable for curtain dimensions up to 2.5m
• They are made with Solid steel plate design for maximum strength

Today, curtains are also stored in special bags to avoid wrinkles, especially when not in use. Plastic bags used in the past, often gave rise to condensation and moisture problems which damaged the delicate curtains. Today, theatrical canvas curtain bags and drawstring canvas storage hampers are being used for storing theatrical curtains when not in use. These keep the curtains safe from moisture, dust, rodents, bugs etc, thereby extending their life.