IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE
I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE
AND TO SEE JUST WHO, IN THIS SMALL HOME DID LIVE

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE -
NO TINSEL NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.
NO STOCKING BY THE MANTLE JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF A FAR DISTANT LAND
WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS.
THEN A SOBER THOUGHT CAME INTO MY MIND

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
T'WAS THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY
THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN DISORDER
NOT HOW I PICTURED A LONE SOLDIER..
WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ,
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED

I REALISED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS, WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT
AND SOON ROUND THE WORLD THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY

THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.
I COULDN'T HELP BUT WONDER, HOW MANY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME?

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY
THE SOLDIER AWAKENED, I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE.
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS"

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP.
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHTS CHILL.
I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE, ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR, SO WILLING TO FIGHT...

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE
WHISPERED "CARRY ON SANTA, CHRISTMAS DAY IS SECURE"
ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND - AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!"

THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN BY A BRITISH PEACE KEEPING SOLDIER STATIONED OVERSEAS.

THE FOLLOWING IS HIS REQUEST - I THINK IT IS REASONABLE.

PLEASE WOULD YOU DO ME THE KIND FAVOUR OF SENDING THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN

CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND MUCH CREDIT IS DUE TO OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN FOR OUR BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES.

LET'S TRY IN THIS SMALL WAY TO PAY BACK A TINY BIT OF WHAT WE OWE!

YOU Are The Product!

When promoting a network marketing or mlm opportunity indirectly,
as described in previous posts, it's important to 'tell' not 'sell'
to your audience - you have attracted their attention, so there's
no need to try and push your opportunity on them. Instead, tell
them about the advantages of using your product, tell them what
you are doing to grow your business, and how you're using the
system or product you are promoting. Give them information of
value, make them see that it's not all about you but show them
that you are willing to help them get what they want. Because
ultimately that's what it's all about - you. People will seldom
buy into an opportunity just because it's so wonderful they can't
live without it - they will buy into working with you and being
part of your team.

In other words, YOU are the product you must promote.

Indirect Marketing Using A System

Using splash or capture pages in your traffic exchange marketing
campaigns makes sense from so many angles.

Firstly, people are more likely to sign up for something you offer
that is of value to them, rather than using an affiliate page for
yet another program that is just another money spinner for you -
the online audience is far more canny now than they were a few
years ago, they can see when something is of benefit to you but
of little benefit to them.

So if you're offering something of value, at no cost to them,
they are more likely to enter their details on your capture page.
Once they've signed up to receive details of your HIT system,
they will revisit the site time and time again, increasing your
chances of them signing up for at least some of the programs in
your downline builder, including traffic exchanges. Getting a
downline in the traffic exchanges should be high on your list of
priorities, as you will get free credits from your downlines'
surfing, gradually reducing the need for you to spend any time
surfing. Saving time is the same as saving money, remember! I
have also made money from my downline upgrading or buying
adverting in the traffic exchanges.

Once people see the numerous benefits of the HIT system, and start
promoting it too, you will reap the rewards, because their downline
will be your downline too! And the more programs they sign up for,
the more you benefit from it. They may not sign up for all the
programs in your downline builder, but that doesn't matter - in
time your web of influence will grow and so will your business.