Pros
An emotional commentary.: In no particular order ... - A bad day in this business is better than any good day I had as an 'employee' in other organizations. - Ability to truly make your own schedule. It is a work-hard-play-hard kind of place. I might work 80 hours 1 week but do not than feel guilty when I take the next week off to travel, or days off during the week to help my family members with medical appointments, or adding extra days to make long weekends. - Connect with your personal and business community on level that you've never known before. In just this past year I have met with over 800 business owners within the City I serve and, even if they are not Sponsors of my magazines, my name is now known around the City. I am able to join people toghether so they can make meaningful connections with each other and drive their businesses forward. - Possiblly more important than the ROI of our Sponsoring Businesses, the Residents featured on our front covers are elevated to celebrity status in their neighbourhoods. Old friends are being reunited, health survival stories are sharing hope, and budding entrepreneurs are getting much needed exposure in their backyard. I could go on and on and on ..... Commentary about the business opportunity: -Yes, it is true, you do not get paid until your magazine is in print. That could take 7 days or 7 months depending on the time and energy you devote to the process (how many phone calls are you making?, how many appointments are you hosting?, how many contracts are you signing?). But your start up fee to open a magazine is time and energy; not $s. With any other new business (franchise, private enterprise, or otherwise) there would always be a monetary start up fee (licensing, rent, inventory, etc, etc) that would put you in the hole before you even make profit. With this opportunity, if you try and don't succeed then all you've lost is time (and maybe the travel money that got you to training). If you can fight through the initial pause in your income stream, the benefits on the other end are worth the wait. I put this commentary in the Pro column because, though it is harder than any other career opportunity I have had, the pride and accomplishment that is felt when you hold your completed magazine in your hand is 100% worth the effort.
Cons
This opportunity is not for the weak. You will hear a lot of Nos. Some less polite than others. People will think you are crazy for 'working for free' to launch a magazine. This opportunity is not for you unless you are willing to stick with and trust the process that has benefited the many Publishers that have succeeded. Believe me (and the many other positive reviews that can be read on this site), this opportunity is real ... but it will not just be handed to you. You must have discipline and a courageous drive to find success.
