Venture capitalists risk a certain amount of money in order to make more money. Women risk the complications and exhaustion of pregnancy in order to have the benefit of a baby. Firefighters risk their own lives to save the lives of others. Students risk tuition money and years of studies for the potential benefit of a lucrative career. Entrepreneurs risk the hours, money and dedication needed to start a new business for the potential benefit of a successful business. Publishers risk the cost of printing and marketing a novel for the potential benefit of a best seller.

Marian married young. She took pride in managing her home and caring for her family as well as contributing to her household income with a part time job in a day care. When she was nearly forty, her marriage ended abruptly, leaving her with three children, a mortgage, and her pride. Her pride was an asset, forcing her to shake off her depression and rise to the occasion. She had a family to care for, and she didn’t intend to have to lean on family and friends to get through.

A top tier celebrity is in the news right now. It’s a pretty unsavory story, so I won’t go into the details, but in short, he made some really serious mistakes. That was bad enough, but then someone got hold of the details and began to blackmail him.

Imagine you live in an oppressed nation. Your oppressor overtaxes you, reaps the benefits of your hard work, and periodically brings you and your fellow citizens in line with outbreaks of violence. Must you fight for your freedom? Are you thinking, “I don’t really have a choice, do I?”

“I was told I could be bringing in upwards of $100,000 within two years of signing on,” Dave wrote. “I went to hundreds of meetings and when I wasn’t at a meeting I was on the phone. I was recruiting constantly – my extended family started avoiding me. Then all of a sudden, the company went out of business. Here I am with a garage full of expensive products, a couple of thousand dollars on my credit card from buying products to push up to the next level, and a couple of really strained relationships.”

Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, wrote: “Direct Selling . . . is a revolutionary way to achieve wealth.” Selling! If you just shuddered and envisioned yourself carting a carpetbag of brooms from door to door, it’s time to update your vision. Most direct selling comes in the form of multi-level marketing, and it offers you some incredible advantages in your quest for financial freedom.

Paul Elliott of The Motley Fool (www.fool.com) wrote in 2006: If you had invested $2,000 in Pepsi in 1980 – and not another dime after – and reinvested dividends, you’d now have 2,800 shares worth more than $150,000. If you’d invested $2,000 in Philip Morris in 1980, reinvesting dividends, you’d have more than 4,300 shares worth just under $300,000. If you’d invested $2,000 in Johnson & Johnson in 1980, reinvesting dividends, you’d now have over 2,000 shares worth close to $140,000.

“I thought I’d be my own boss,” wrote Mike. “They made a big deal about how I was going to control my own destiny. Then I found out the truth. I have to buy my supplies through their vendors, so I can’t shop around for the best price. I have to pay their commission on my gross earnings – so they get paid before Uncle Sam. It turned out that basically, I work for them as a manager. Except when I was a manager in a corporation, I wasn’t the one carrying all the financial risk.”

When Robin got laid off from her supervisor position in an electronics firm, she decided that her days of working for someone else were over. She considered starting a business of her own from scratch, but then decided she liked the support and tested path of a franchise. She’d cared for several relatives in their later years. Making sure elderly and disabled people have excellent care in their homes for as long as possible is one of her Core Desires, so purchasing a home health care franchise was a great fit for her.

Holly and Jacob Weinstein started a computer sales and service company in February 2007. Jacob cashed out his 401(k) from work (taking the penalty) and used the money to set up shop in a little store front on a busy boulevard. “It’s a perfect set up,” Jacob said. “Holly can watch the store while I’m out doing on-site service and sales, and then when the kids get home from school, I’ll take over the store.”