One of the greatest aspects of our nutrition business is that Stacia and I get to work, learn and travel together. We get to work from wherever we’d like, and we have met some wonderful people who are now a huge part of our lives. Another aspect is that our income is residual, and we’re not trading hours for dollars like a traditional employee. This became top of mind this winter when snow left us unable to get out of the house for several days (and that was nothing compared to our friends in the northeast.)

This post is specifically for those who have a profession and the weather (or other circumstances) have kept them from earning a living. Many folks in America live paycheck to paycheck, and missing days or weeks of work could have a huge financial impact. Weather is one obstacle. Unexpected health issues can be another. Family emergencies. Car troubles. Home repairs. Any of these can not only cost money, but impact the ability to earn it, having a double effect.

To assist me with this post, I’ve asked my friend and business partner, Chris Poorten, founder and owner of Rock Your Life. Chris and I have been working together for a few years in our network marketing business. He’s a very positive guy, and he shares my love of music. He is passionate about helping people become rock stars in their own lives and helping people live their lives to the fullest.

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The frigid cold winter weather is upon us.  Long days of uncomfortably cold air, sometimes leading up to massive snowstorms. As a kid, we would all get excited about the prospect of a day off from school, and look forward to getting a call saying school has been cancelled. We would wear our pajamas inside out, and pester our parents every fifteen minutes asking if the announcement had come across the news broadcast.

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Unfortunately, as an adult, snow days may not be as exciting as they were when we were young.  With snow days and inclement weather, come the risk of losing money if we are unable to get to our day job. Thankfully, there are opportunities where we can earn money at home and have the same enthusiasm we had as a kid. Any employee or business owner who earns money based on hourly wages or face-to-face appointments stands to lose money if she can’t get to work. Retail clerks, food prep folks, painters, landscapers, and construction employees lose the ability to make money. So do chiropractors, massage therapists, dentists, interior designers, and realtors. Musicians and artists may miss studio time, rehearsals, or performances.

The key is to have a product that has two traits. It must be unique, and it must be consumable. A Lamborghini is a truly unique product, but it is hardly consumable. Most high-end car salesmen have a compensation package that is heavily based on sales, not salary. As Mark McDonald writes in Motor Trend magazine, “I only get paid if I sell a car. If I don’t sell a car, I don’t get paid. I make nothing.” [3] The customer who comes in for a new $397,000 Aventador isn’t going to come in again in 30 days. The car is unique, but hardly consumable. The commission check may be high, but it doesn’t solve the issue of only earning money for each individual effort.On the flip side, a consumable product that isn’t unique isn’t going to solve the issue. A client may benefit from consuming the product the first time, but if the product is simply available anywhere, then price and convenience become the primary decision drivers. Ideally, the goal is to prove that the product you offer provides a benefit, and that you are the ideal resource from whom to purchase it. (This should be part of the initial consultation with the client. Prove that you have value to offer that establishes your product as unique.)