# Join me in the Social Revolution with Solavei

Category: Jobs and Employment

## Post 1 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Thursday, 14-Feb-2013 18:34:49

Hello all,
On my my post on the Cell Phone Talk board, I presented an opportunity to get unlimited talk, text and data for $49 per month.
That is not entirely accurate: You only pay the $49 per month if you don't enroll in the opportunity side of this cell phone plan. That means you choose whether to enroll or not, you can optionally just sighn up for the service, never enroll as a Social Networker, and enjoy unlimited talk, text and data.
I said I was passionate about this because of people on fixed incomes, lower incomes, stuck in the Sandwich generation or what have you: limited when it comes to money. Your employer is going to keep paying you what they can afford, provided they stay in business, and yet your costs skyrocket as do theirs.
I know I've been critical, well very critical in fact, of a lot of so-called opportunities that have shown up on this site, just as I have been of Amway or Mary Kay selling expensive and often superfluous products. I even sold knives for Cutco when I was in college: really nice knives, but nobody but the rich will buy them, because they are expensive. Now they are expensive for a reason: again, really really nice knives.
So why Solavei, then?
Simply put, it's less money, not more, than what most of you are paying for your contract. I know, some are grandfathered into a group contract, like I am with T-Mobile, where what you pay right now is less than $49 for one of your lines. But in your contract, you'll find that your carrier can change the rates at any time. This is part of being in contract.
What I did was to sign up for Solavei, while keeping my contract, with the objective of making Solavei first pay for itself, then pay enough for me to break my T-Mobile contract, and then on and up from there.
I've been in business for myself before. I will tell you, there is a lot less discrimination, and a lot more respect, when you are an entrepreneur. To be honest I've never felt so alive as when I worked for myself, even a little bit on a side project.
One of the things being on the Zone has prompted me to think long and hard about: How can we provide an opportunity for blind and disabled people to simply apply themselves and get rewarded for it, instead of all these hoops you all write about? I know some of those hoops, from 20 years ago getting out of college, and more recently when I was part of the Blind Vendors' Program. That program was good in its day, but its time was really quite long past by the time I enlisted in 2005. This is no program like that: this is just you partnering with Solavei. And frankly, some of you young people probably know this, but the social networking spaces are some of the high income earning spaces right now. As your sponsor I'll help you, yes, but frankly I'm hoping you will help me. I'm good with business, have a head for the numbers, and the technical background to feel very confident about what Solavei is doing here. But with the social networking revolution going on, that simply isn't enough. I'm hoping to gain insight from younger partners who spend a lot of time on, and understand, these social networks. Sure, I've got a Twitter and a Facebook, and I follow a lot of people and organizations related to activities I'm doing. But this level of understanding is going to come from the social networking generation.
This wouldn't work if we didn't have a product: anyone old enough to really remember the startups during the dot com bubble / burst knows this. But more and more people are getting smartphones, and more and more people are restless to not use contracts.
You who are in college now pay a hundred dollars a month for your talk, text and limited data with some large carriers. When I went to college, to get a phone cost me $21 a moth plus long distance, that was it. Of course, there's no comparison between mobile data and an old landline. But you're just starting out, and to get locked into a two-year contract when at your age you don't know what you'll be doing in a year, seems pretty unreasonable to me. Certainly it was unavoidable until recently.
Others have brought up StraightTalk, and that sounds like another great option for those who don't want to supplement their income or would rather pay for the service than refer a few new members.
This is hardly your average ad, I'll admit. But this is hardly your average site, or community. I wanted to hopefully be transparent here with where I'm coming from to you guys, not just a tweet and a status on a Facebook or a Twitter, because we all have some similar money problems, and similar limitations on getting extra money. None of us can just mow a few yards on a Saturday to pick up a few bucks, or grab a paper route and run that before going off to work or school. But there is absolutely no reason why anyone can't do this. If you have a social network of followers, a list of email contacts, a set of mailing lists, they already know you. You won't have to be obnoxious and make them listen to a presentation on the merits. People ask all the time what plan you have and discuss the merits and drawbacks. There's no reason why Solavei and you can't be part of that conversation.
Facebook and Twitter have outranked Google for information gathering sources. The reason for this is people would rather ask someone they know. Solavei encourages the use of the social networks as a means to communicate their offer to people you know.
The final thing I'll say is, especially for people trying to get job experience, this is a business opportunity. People look at you differently when you have run a business, and the reason for that is simple: you have a lot more experience per working hour than someone who just does one thing all day for a company. More is required, yes, but the rewards are greater.
I'll be honest: I failed at the direct selling with Cutco products. Part of it was the demographic I was trying to take the products to, and part of it was the time commitment for the prospective buyers. This is not like that. All this will require is that you incorporate Solavei into the online social networks you already use and the discussions you probably already have about cell phones, data, contracts, and the like.
Again, if you decide to join for the opportunity, you can do what I did, and keep your old contract, pay around $60 for the first month of Solavei plus SIM card and taxes, and see if you can get the members signed up under you in the first month to cause it to pay for itself. Once that happens, you're not paying anymore to Solavei, and you can start on your next goal: saving up your Solavei earnings to buy out your contract. I know money's tight: I can often barely raise a dollar around here what with me being the main breadwinner right now, and having a daughter getting ready to fly the nest. I get the money issues. And if what you want is just to sign up and use the service, I would not make the above suggestion. But if you are interested in the opportunity, consider what I've done. Remember, no contract: so if it doesn't work for you, you tear up your pay card, throw away the SIM card, and let your Solavei run out and go back to things as they were. I personally really don't want to go back to things as they were, but I'm smart enough to always have a backout plan.
If you've made it to the end of this post, I appreciate you taking the time to read this. If you do sign up with me, you have my personal commitment to help you whether it's technical, business or anything else I can assist you with. And I'm hoping to get enough people who are experienced in the social networking spaces and elsewhere that I can also gain insight from you.
I know I've pitched this a lot at the college kids here, but that's not meant to be exclusive. I'm personally glad to see anyone join up.
Thanks,
Leo

## Post 2 by ProudAFL-CIOLaborUnionGirl (Account disabled) on Thursday, 14-Feb-2013 19:08:35

My Teamster brother wants me to join this and I admit I am a little suspicious.

## Post 3 by Smiling Sunshine (I've now got the bronze prolific poster award! now going for the silver award!) on Thursday, 14-Feb-2013 19:15:16

Would you be willing to schedule a time to host an information sharing session on Team Talk, perhaps?
I'm interested in the business side of this but have a billion questions.

## Post 4 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Friday, 15-Feb-2013 13:46:51

I got myself logged out while trying to respond.
I will respond to each of you separately here.
DomesticGoddess, I think your suggestion is a great one. I don't know how to make a Teamtalk conference but the simplest way might be if someone on here has a Premium channel and we can schedule a time and get on there. Otherwise I will be happy to address people one by one on Skype or anywhere else. I guess I need to be firing up the Skype on my iPhone a bit more often now so that this can happen.
Anyway glad to answer any questions you have.

## Post 5 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Friday, 15-Feb-2013 13:53:05

UnionGirl: I can appreciate suspicious. However, if you look at many of these opportunities presented on here, people have asked real questions, expecting real answers. I urge you to do the same. A cynic is someone who is just suspicious. A skeptic, however, is someone who will ask the hard questions and deal with real data and real answers. You see that a lot on this site, actually: people willing to just ask the tough questions even when it makes people a bit uncomfortable. But you have my word I'll give you a direct answer, even if that answer is that I don't know yet, I'll get back to you, or the system doesn't have it yet.
I've been very honest, for instance, about the fact we don't have LTE support and don't yet have SIM support for the iPhone 5.
I'm also very open about having people check the T-Mobile coverage in their area, especially if using an iPhone, to make sure they can expect to get 3G. Androids already have 3G so if you've got a Google Nexus or a Samsung Galaxy that is not an issue. Also I believe I've been clear about the device needs to be unlocked from your carrier, if it was locked due to contracts. On my blog I go into how that is done.
I don't know how much reading you've done on this or how much research yet, but I encourage you to talk to me and your friend who is a Solavei networker about it. In fact, when it comes to signing up, it seems only fair you should sign up through them and not me, since they piqued your interest. But you should definitely ask both of us the tough questions - those that are putting you off or making you suspicious.

## Post 6 by ProudAFL-CIOLaborUnionGirl (Account disabled) on Friday, 15-Feb-2013 14:00:38

I think I just don't understand it all yet. Not suspicious in a bad way, just not sure it would work for me.

## Post 7 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Friday, 15-Feb-2013 15:44:30

MysticJeff private messaged me on here, with a lower rate. This is for Canadian users, which reminded me. I did not ever state that this is for U.S. users only at this time. Solavei will be rolling out international full support but I don't have a time on it and so will not post conjecture.
International folks, especially from Canada, looking to go low-cost no-contract may want to talk to MysticJeff on here, though I don't know the background or qualifications of that user, I was just informed: you'll have to talk to him for specifics and how / where to sign up for that one from Canada.

## Post 8 by Gracesong (Zone BBS is my Life) on Friday, 15-Feb-2013 22:57:30

Hey, leo,
I'd be interested in learning more about this opportunity. Currently, I'm an at-home transcriptionist, but I'd definitely be willing to entertain the idea of another source of income.
Thanks,
Iris

## Post 9 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Saturday, 16-Feb-2013 4:37:21

Awesome. I will send you a PM on here with a bit of introductory info, first of course we want to see how well the carrier's coverage is in your area. You transcriptionist people are already entrepreneurs / small business people, so I know the idea of managing your own business is no big deal for you all. Wish I'd known some people like you all when I was younger. I learned my small business lessons all the hard way.

## Post 10 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 19-Feb-2013 12:33:14

For anyone interested, my Skype info is in my profile and I am PaLeo on Zello. My personal Skype I only use from my iPhone so I don't really get on when I'm at work.
If someone does have a premium channel with a password and is interested in this opportunity definitely let me know and one of us can schedule an event on here.
There is a webcast available at Socials.Solavei.com/ at 5:30 PM Pacific, 8:30 PM Eastern. I had thought it was only Mondays but they are going to try and do it more often than that. That's a great place to get some more basic information, it's just the founder talking about where the company has come from and his vision for the future.
I learned a couple things last night: namely that the debit card onto which you get paid, will have Solavei Partners, where if you shop there you will get a percentage back. Not a discount at the store: it's closer to a rebate situation. This is not yet finalized and so there are no real details up yet.
What I will say is that the sharing tools for Solavei on your member area work best from the phone, in my experience. They have a good contacts tracker and other tools for measuring actual results of your efforts, so you know how and where to position yourself.

## Post 11 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 19-Feb-2013 13:05:38

Here are a couple additional links from me:
Follow me on SoundCloud at:
Or listen to my boo here, which is shorter.
and My blog
A couple other questions I have been asked:
You can bring your iPhone to Solavei, as I have: just go to my link in the first post or Right here and click on Enroll, then click Check Coverage. Back out of the enrollement process until you're ready of course, but you can go through the entire steps of enrollment up to the finish line just to see how you qualify for coverage and your existing phone.
My blog, I have really tried to put educational material up there on the problem in general, something I have been watching for years now, long before joining Solavei.
When I enrolled, I was charged the $49 for the first month, $9 for a SIM card, and $2.63 in taxes.
If you're a college student, senior citizen, or a middle-age working person, it's pretty easy to set a goal to get your service for free by referring a few people. Now by that, I mean, your service will be free so long as they continue to use the service: this doesn't mean you have to refer a certain number a month to get free service. And yes, of course, you can sign up and never refer anybody, not enroll as a social member, just enjoy the $49 a month for unlimited voice, text and data.
The Solavei people are better presenters, but on my SoundCloud I have tried to

## Post 12 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Wednesday, 20-Feb-2013 11:01:35

The Solavei Socials webcast at Socials.Solavei.com/ is every day now at 5:30 PM Pacific time.
On Twitter use the hashtag #SolaveiSocials to follow or ask a question of the founder.

## Post 13 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Friday, 01-Mar-2013 11:17:44

Ok somehting I've been asked and forgot to put on the Zone:
What's the compensation?
it's based on what they call trios: three signups. You get 20 dollars a month for every 3 people you sign up, or that those people sign up. It's not a pyramid, so it doesn't just go out forever, it's only your direct sign-ups and the sign-ups of the people you signed up. Now say you sign up 3 in a month. You're going to get 20 dollars a month for as long as those people stay with Solavei, period.
That's how you build your network.
Let me know if you have any questions, and I'm still open to a Teamtalk or other confrence if you all want.

## Post 14 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 19-Mar-2013 18:08:44

The Solavei Socials have been moved a bit to make things more convenient.
They are Tuesday and Thursday Nights one at 4:30 PM Pacific 7:30 PM Eastern, and the second at 6:30 PM Pacific 9:30 PM Eastern. Again, for those with questions, or just wanting to check it out, or even to see if this is in fact legitimate, that's what they're there for.
So go on over to Socials.Solavei.com/ and check it out - on again tonight.
And, follow @guardianLeo on Twitter and hit me up with questions while you're at it, or just tweet them to hash tag #SolaveiSocials. They are answering questions posted to Twitter during the socials.
If you know how to do that, there is a Solavei Socials Google Hangout on Google+, I don't know how or haven't been able to make that work. Anyway, it's supposed to be interactive and I find it helps to follow the hash tag as a search in Twitter along with the presentation.
See you all there,
Leo

## Post 15 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 26-Mar-2013 1:58:26

I have left Solavei. Basically, if you want to get into the program, it's a great program for the experienced social networkers. I read the brand marketing literature, set and met all my milestones for product outreach and positioning, and came up with nothing. But the product, service and partnerships are sound. You've now got some stif competition out there.
I'll say this on this site, since I had a rather personal reason for bringing it to this community to begin with: If you have been on the fence about getting in, go find a sponsor online and get enrolled. I brought this here, because when I left the Blind Vendors' program in late 2006, I thought: "There just has to be a better way for people who are blind to pick up some income the way sighted people do by going to work ta the local grocery or drive a cab." I'd thought this was it: you get in for less than I paid for my food service uniform, and when I paid for that I had zero income and a child to support. You - at least many of you - are the social networking generation, and probably laugh at us guys who have to read books about how to position a product on those places. You would do this instinctively. And as I've said other places, people respect you for being an entrepreneur, and you face little employment discrimination. You're the service provider, not the corporate peon. Honestly, I made no money at Solavei because I lack the social networking experience. If I had sponsored any of you, I'd have helped you with the technical side (if you needed that), but more important with the business side, how to prepare for federal 1099 taxes, keep books, manage follow-ups, etc. But you can get that anywhere: I cast no illusions of being a primary source on that one. That is simply what I had to offer. So if you are on the fence on this one, you owe yourself the chance to get out there and give it a run, using everything you know about sharing on Facebook and Twitter and Google+ and do it in an authentic way like many of you no doubt would. And in doing so you have an item for the resume, you have the experience. I say this stuff on this board, because on this board are people where I was. Struggling, trying to make it, trying to keep your head above water. I only hope someone else is more successful in finding something that would meet this need better than the dying blind vendors programs out there, or whatever else the institutions have for immediate work for the blind. The thing that's so attractive about owning your own business, is it's all you. In this case, I simply couldn't dedicate the time and resources above my day job, Coast Guard and other things, to make this one happen, and pay two phone bills, if I wasn't earning at all. I believe it's safe to say it was my own inexperience in the social networking space that did it. Not so, for people with that kind of experience. And before someone suggests it, I'll have no hard feelings at all at anyone who skipped Leo and went and got another sponsor more to your liking. You'll still be running your own business and get to know what that's really lie, and get the experience that comes with it. Plus, if you're in business, you're employed. Meaning job interviews go better since it always looks better when you're working. It's your lookout.