Hi Rick,

 

Here is an idea that can help you and your company as well as helping create a sustainable business development model and promote entrepreneurs around the world.

 

My partner Tom Matzen and I have started a not-for-profit organization called the Cras Tibi Foundation. (www.crastibifoundation.org) Our plan is to bring together globally conscious business people like yourself to raise $1,000,000 or more which will be used to kick-start entrepreneurs in developing countries.  We are calling the program Microloans For Sustainable Development.

 

In thinking about the long view, we believe that the only way to secure the future of freedom and democracy is to build a firm foundation of entrepreneurs and small business owners, especially in countries that do not currently embrace these traditions.

 

Are you with me so far?

 

Good. Because if we can help nurture the development of those entrepreneurs it will make a huge difference not only for them and their communities, but for us and our children in our countries. And, we can do it all while weaning people from dependence on foreign aid and repressive government manipulation.

 

How do we plan to do this?   Through a free e-book.

 

Let me explain.

 

Attached with this letter is a copy of an e-book we’ve only recently finished, called Earn Twice As Much With Half The Stress. This book shows entrepreneurs and business owners ways to set up their businesses based on systems and processes that are replicable, scalable, and don’t constantly require the input or presence of the entrepreneurs. That way, their businesses can grow—and earn twice as much income, without creating pain and frustration in the process. 

 

We are not going to make any money from the sale of the e-book. Our intention is to use it as a vehicle to raise awareness and funds to support what Accion International calls “micro-preneurs.”

 

Instead, we want to give the e-book away—to your clients, customers and subscribers, and ask them, if they think there is value for them in the book, to make a small donation – $1, $5, $20 – to our foundation. If they do decide to contribute they can do it easily via our organization’s website.  (www.crastibifoundation.org/donation)

 

Almost all the funds raised will be used for programs. There will be a minor initial expenses, which will not exceed $4,000, to legally and administratively establish the program.  Beyond that, 100% of the funds raised will be used to make grants to microlending organizations..

 

Next, we will take the funds that are raised and make a series of grants to organizations that help developing country entrepreneurs through a financial tool called entrepreneurial micro-lending.

 

Entrepreneurial micro-lending? 

 

Micro lending is a method of financing entrepreneurs using small loans, typically from $100 to $500 US, made to finance local entrepreneurs in developing countries and help them start or expand businesses. 

 

Estimates are that each micro loan ultimately generates jobs for up to five people. That means the $1,000,000 we raise can help start in the neighborhood of  3,000 businesses and employ as many as 15,000 people. 

 

And that’s just the first time the money is lent.

 

You see,  microloans are sustainable. Unlike traditional aid which requires more and more money, and moves a program closer to its breaking point as each person is recruited into the program—micro loans are paid back!

 

Since these are loans and not handouts, the money is repaid back to the lending organization which loans the money to another round of entrepreneurs. Repayment rates typically exceed 95% in the first year, and since the interest on the loans covers the lending organizations’ operating expenses, this process can continue indefinitely.

 

This Microloans For Sustainable Development program can work, but we do need your help giving away the million e-books, and we think there are three reasons you might want to participate.

 


Reason Number One.

 

Even if I say it myself, this is a great book.  But don’t take my word for it.

 

"There are many books written about success in business, stress reduction and fulfillment. But never have I seen a volume that combines all of these in one powerful, simple, practical and helpful manner so that the reader could 'paint-by-the-numbers' to success. Never, that is, until now. Paul Lemberg and Tom Matzen's 'Earn Twice As Much With Half The Stress' will show you how to transform mediocrity into excellence and how to turn ordinary into extraordinary." --John Harricharan

 

A copy is attached for you to read. It is a full-length book—8 chapters, hundreds of powerful ideas for entrepreneurs, and scheduled for print  publication in the winter of 2003/2004. (The selling price will be $27)

 

The book is a how-to guide for entrepreneurs, showing them how to create a business which is scalable and expandable, based on repeatable systems which do not have “you,” the entrepreneur,  at the center of them so that you can rapidly expand your business and substantially increase your income without running yourself ragged.

 

It covers the eight critical areas of running a business that will help you create both more profits and more life. Hundreds of powerful strategies tactics, and actionable ideas for leadership, lead generation, enrollment (lead conversion), client service, finance, systemization, hiring and training people, and how to have more life, are detailed in about 200 pages.

 

With all this material and all these ideas, Earn Twice as Much with Half the Stress is a high-valued gift your clients and list-members,  and they will benefit from right away and for years to come. On top of that they can’t get this e-book any other way until this give-away program is complete. (Afterwards we will be happy to sell the book to anyone unfortunate enough not to have received a gift from you.)

 

Reason Number Two

 

I am fortunate enough to live in the richest country in the world, with vast resources, and a seemingly infinite number of entrepreneurs and opportunities to sustain that wealth for a long time to come.

 

Only one problem.

 

There are big parts of the world where the same does not hold true, and frankly, I don’t think that is good either for them (obviously) or for us (not so obviously.)

 

You may believe—as I do—that helping entrepreneurs in developing countries is a great way to make the entire world a more prosperous and secure place in which to live.  If you do, you’ll surely support the idea of micro lending as a 21st century alternative to corruption-ridden foreign aid and hand-out programs.

 

Giving away our e-book, and asking for value-in-exchange-for-value contributions in return, is a no-cost, low-effort way for you to participate in raising a substantial amount of cash that will generate an amazing effect in the villages, towns and cities where loans are made. It is also a great way to let your subscribers participate as well, and have some of that positive energy rub off on them.

 

Of course, not everyone who reads the book will contribute. Some will, some won’t. We believe the numbers and the viral properties of a book like Earn Twice As Much With Half The Stress work in favor of the program.

 

Reason Number Three

 

While we are committed to raising the global standard of prosperity, none of us are, in the end, operating a core business that is a charity…

 

So, there is a way for you to earn revenue from this program. 

 

Earn Twice as Much With Half the Stress references an expanding suite of worksheets and exercises which readers will get from a registration download site.  Of course, this registration site—and its associated opt-in mailing list—is totally separate from the Cras Tibi Foundation and donation site. 

 

As a free distributor of the e-book, you will automatically become an Earn Twice As Much affiliate. Our first product is an 8-CD audio program expanding on the ideas in the book, which will sell for $197, and we can offer you 40% as a first level affiliate, along with 10% on any second level affiliates who join as a result of your gifting the e-book. 

 

Additionally we are planning an in-depth luxury retreat program that will be offered early next year.  We expect to develop additional spin off products as well.  We are pricing the retreat at $10,000 for two weeks including room and board. There will be a $1,000 affiliate commission for retreat attendees.

 

There are other opportunities for us to develop add-on products and we will take advantage of them.

 

These are three great reasons to participate in the program.

 

 

But why not just sell the e-book and give away the proceeds?

 

Because we think there’s a whole lot more leverage, awareness, and entrepreneurial energy in having 1,000,000 people reading the book and making a small donation.

 

Plus we think the benefits that accrue to all of us – reader loyalty, participating in the contribution, and—yes—even the back end—far outweigh the book sales revenue. 

 

We are using the ViralPDF software to let you brand the ebook as a gift directly from you – which will carry your personalized marketing message wherever the viral properties of the book carry it. 

 

We are also planning to include an acknowledgement section thanking publishers like you, who are gifting the book to their readers and clients. Your web links will be featured prominently in each and every book, along with your brief marketing statement.

 

Let’s be clear. This is a giveaway with no strings attached. We are gifting this e-book to you and you are gifting the e-book to your subscribers.

 

So why are we doing this?

 

First, because we are on a mission. The material in this book has been developed as part of our project to create the ultimate business coaching franchise –  Quantum Growth Coaching. You can see how an entrepreneurial book used to raise $1,000,000 to further worldwide entrepreneurship could be helpful.

 

Second, we believe the world cannot ultimately sustain free market-based democracies  without a global base of capitalism and entrepreneurship and we want to do something about that.

 

Other factors are also critical, but without entrepreneurs, a country will not have a dynamic rank and file with a sufficiently strong stake in how “things” are run.  Fascism, totalitarian, communism—none of these repressive government structures co-exist long-term with broad based entrepreneurship.

 

Third, because we believe in the dictum, “think globally and act locally.”  We think this program follows that spirit, and is a great way to put it into action.

 

Take a look at the e-book now, I  am sure you will get a lot from it even during a quick read.

 

If you think – as I’m sure you will – that your readers, customers and clients can benefit by having their own copy, you can help make this dream a reality by offering Earn Twice as Much With Half the Stress, free, to them.

 

We plan on releasing the e-book around September 1st.  Between the 1st and the 15th we will be sending out hundreds of media releases to online, print, and radio and television journalists telling them about what we – and you -- are doing, so it would be best if you plan to get this out to your subscribers at this time.

 

They will be hearing about it no matter what. We really want to make a dent in the world entrepreneurial situation, and we want you to be able to profit from this as well. So it would be great if you helped promote it then - the more people involved at once the more visibility it will get, and it would be a tremendous help if you were to act by that date.

 

Here’s how, step by step:

 

1) If you agree to participate, just say yes to the idea. We will customize a version of the e-book carrying your name, website address and affiliate tags, and create a separate download page for your subscribers, and anyone else who gets their hands on your branded version of the e-book.  

 

2) You’ll send an email to your customers and subscribers telling them about the book and the project around the September 1st launch date. (If you must wait because of your marketing schedule, you can, of course, send it later.)

 

3) Readers who wish to contribute to the program will go directly www.crastibifoundation.org/donations.html . If they want a receipt and updates on the project they can opt-in to the Cras Tibi mailing list.  Of course, there will be no commercial marketing of any kind to contributors.

 

4) Those who download the book and subsequently register to get the bonus forms, worksheets,  and checklists will find out about add-on Earn Twice As Much With Half The Stress products and services as we create them. They will be your affiliate-customers for life, and you will automatically receive any appropriate commissions on those sales.

 

And that’s it.  What’s the saying? “Doing well, by doing good?” We think this fits.

 

So please, if you are convinced that this is a good idea and you want to participate in it, plan to get it out to your list during the first two weeks in September.

 

I’ll be in touch to speak to you about this soon and finalize any details. 

 

Best Regards,

 

Paul Lemberg

                                                                                                               

PS We hope you will join us on our mission to raise $1,000,000 for developing country micro loans, and give away a great e-book in the process.

 

PPS I would value your review comments for publication with the e-book and to aid in our marketing. If you have the time, please drop me an email with your quotes. It truly is something special, I wish I hadn’t taken so long or spent so much money to learn these lessons. Thanks again.