Breaking the Small Business Code

MLM Network Marketing for College - Part 2

      Boy, my last post on MLM and Network Marketing opened up the floodgates of Twitters and calls!  So here is what I have been sharing in response to everyone who wants to learn more about using MLM for generating revenue for college (as well as other dreams and goals).

Question 1 -  Do I really have to do the 5 steps you listed in your previous blog to be a business?  Idon't have the time or money to do it until I am successful with the MLM.  If you want to be able to deduct expenses in excess of earnings on your taxes, per the IRS, yeah, you gotta do all 5 steps.  I don't make the rules.   And these steps are NOT expensive or time consuming.  I would recommend if you aren't going to run it like a business, stop thinking about it as a way to make money. Just enjoy buying the products or services of the MLM at a member discount.

Question 2 -  Which MLM and Networking Company(s) do you recommend?  This is a complicated answer so I'm going to take about 4 paragraphs to answer.
       I have tried many MLMs over the years including Quixtar/Amway, VitaMark, Isagenix, Arbonne, JuicePlus, Cambridge, YTB Travel, Jafra, and several that disappeared like ForceOne.  Many were great, some sucked, some were out and out rip-offs.  Most were sold to me by well-meaning and excited friends.  The  friend who sold me the sucky one disappeared from our circle of friends out of embarrassment!  But in doing this blog I realized that the 3 I am with now were not sold to me by friends!  They were sold by people who ran their MLMs like a BUSINESS.
       After learning how to really measure what makes a GREAT MLM it came down to 4 things: (1) upline support & training, (2) compensation plan (read the contracts!), (3) longevity, and dead LAST (4) the product or service.   
       Most new MLMers get it out of order by fixating on the wonderfulness of the product and not the 3 more important items.  You will never sell anything without training.  You will not be successful unless you understand the compensation plan contract and how to optimize your results.  And you do NOT want to be on the "ground floor". You want a company that has been around a while as a successful organization because they have survived complaints and growing pains. They have the money to be there when you have built your downline.  FYI - Less than 3% of people in the US are in MLM so there is ALWAYS room for growth. You do not need ground floor.
      I am active in 3 MLMs.  One is for basically for wholesale personal use only(NuSkin) for 4 years, two for business support (Send Out Cards for 3 years and Prepaid Legal for 14 years), and two I actually sell as an MLM business (Send Out Cards and Prepaid Legal).   I am not affiliated at this moment with any vitamin or health MLMs although my sister in-laws are very successful with Isagenix.

Question 3 - Where do I find the Training I need? BEFORE YOU JOIN any MLM, meet the upline to whoever is recruiting you. Go to local training events at least 3 times and see if they are training or "rah rah" pep rallies that only teach you to sell, sell, sell.  See what kinds of tools they recommend. Are they sales tools or business training tools?  Can you access experts in that company even if they are not in your upline?  One of the things I like about Prepaid Legal Services was the amount of business training they offer AS WELL AS the fact I am encouraged to work with local and regional successful PPL "executives" that are not in my direct upline.  (There may be other MLMs that do that, I just know most I have been in do not).

Question 4 - Why should I read the compensation contract? That's a lot of stuff I don't understand. Per Michael Dlouhy of Vitamark (whom I respect), if you can't understand the contract in plain every day terms, don't join. There are probably so many wiggle words that they can take your downline away for almost anything!  I would take the time to read the contract before joining. If you read something you don't understand, have the upline or home office explain it in WRITING for your files.

Question 5 - Where do I learn how to run it as a business?  There are lots of good books and training tapes on MLM as a business.  I recommend going to Networking Times and subscribe to their Training University. Some of it is free, others are a nominal fee.  They are independent and support MLM as a concept.  I wrote an article for them on using MLM to pay for college that was well-received.

     I hope this helps get those of you who want to learn more about using an MLM to pay for college and anything else you want to create!

MLM Network Marketing for College Funds

    WHOEEE. Got a ton of eMails and Twitter "tweets" on using Multi-level Marketing AKA MLM AKA Network Marketing to pay for college and other cash flow needs.  What I shared was so popular, I was asked to publish it on my blog so here you all go!

NOTE:  Make sure you check with your personal tax advisor for how this information relates to your situation (sorry, this is my official CYA). 

 

      Joining an MLM means you are now a retail customer or an "independent" representative, (associate, partner, business owner, etc.) but usually BOTH.  The key to success is to understand that if you joined to sell and recruit for that MLM, you are now representing a product/service.  You now own your own wholesale and commissioned sales COMPANY. 

      The key to success is making sure you run your COMPANY as a real business!

The IRS clearly defines what is a business and what is a hobby.  If you run your MLM as a “hobby”, you can only deduct the amount you spend up to the amount you earn.  So if you earned $400 and then bought a laptop for $1,500, you would be limited to zeroing out your earnings but the other $1100 is not deductible as a business expense.

      Sadly, most people try to run the MLM as a kinda sorta thing and drift from one MLM to another looking for the right product or company.  They never learn it's not usually the product that's the proble.  It's REALLY more about how they were taught (or sadly, not taught in most MLMs) to run their new MLM as a business!

 

      GOOD NEWS is if you do run your MLM as a business, you can go “negative” and deduct more than you earned which may save you taxes.  NOTE - you want to MAKE money in the MLM or any business you start! You are not in business to lose money! You should not join an MLM to spend more than you make!  But in the early start-up days, the IRS allows you to deduct losses to help you grow into a profitable business.

 

      The key is to RUN YOUR BUSINESS LIKE A BUSINESS. You MUST, MUST, MUST behave as a home-based business with a "clear intent to make a profit" as defined by the IRS. That means you must have at LEAST the following in place for ANY business but especially and MLM network marketing companies:

1.  You must use a Schedule C on your federal taxes.  You can incorporate as an S Corporation or C Corporation and use a K-1 Form but that is probably not something you do unless you are already making a profit and probably more than $3,600 in MLM earnings.
2. You MUST have a separate checking account used SOLELY for the MLM business.  It can be a personal account but it must be separate from the account you use for your daily life.  I keep my personal account at a different bank (WAMU) than my “business” account (Wells Fargo) to keep it simple for tracking. 
3. You must deposit all income checks into the MLM account and use checks from the account ONLY for MLM activities & purchases. If you use a personal credit card, buy something for the MLM from the other checking account or spend cash, you MUST write yourself a check from the MLM account to reimburse yourself. You need to keep the money separate like a real business does.
4. You MUST keep books on your business.  Use a checking account program like Quicken or MS Money.  Track all expenses and income through these books.  Don’t worry if they go negative in the account.  This is NOT a checkbook balancing thing. So you would put in $400 and then put in the $1500 laptop and would show a $1100 negative. You also put in your monthly costs for the product only if you share it.  You cannot deduct it if you consume it personally.
5.  Keep track of activities like where you are when you make an MLM presentation in a diary or calendar.  Keep track of mileage, meals, sodas, Starbucks, etc., when you are talking about the MLM.

 

     When you do these 5 things, you are much more likely to be presumed by the IRS to be in a real business.  If you run the MLM like most people as a “sometime thing” or where you are only spending money on the product and NOT selling it retail and actively recruiting, you are presumed to be a hobby or using it for personal reasons. Then you have the "hobby" limits on deductions.

 

     A lot of people look at all those steps and think it’s too much work.  But it is VERY profitable if you do it right!!  You want to make money, not lose money. But in the early days of an MLM, losing money is okay if you can deduct it all! 

 

     Let’s assume you are in a 20% tax bracket between federal and state taxes.  That means you will be refunded 20% of your taxes for all negative expenses.  Lets assume you made $400 in 2008.  So you’d get back 20% of $400 profit minus the $1500 laptop costs => 20% times $1,100 = $220 in tax savings. 

      Would you do the 5 steps for $220 in tax refunds? 

      But let's assume you use the product for marketing and it costs you $180 per month. Your potential tax savings are now 12 x $180 in advertising = $2160 x 20% = $432 in tax savings. 

      So between the two – buying a laptop and using the products – you could save $652 per year in taxes if you are in the 20% net tax bracket.  Is doing the 5 steps now worth it? Would you do these things for $54 per month?

 

     Hope this helps . . .

 

Social Media Simplified Event 10-27-08

      My personal expertise in college planning is helping small business owners during these critical cash flow years.  I help the whole range of small businesses - entrepreneurs, self-employed, home-based, solo-preneurs, and companies with less than 25 employees, and even multilevel and network marketing associates.  One of the most critical things is connecting with your target prospects and staying connected with your clients and customers.

     In the 21st century, much of the marketing dialog is taking place in Web 2.0 using social media, social networking and social networks.  Your clients and prospects are living on Facebook, reading blogs (hopefully like mine!), using Twitter, and optimizing their results with tools like Google AdWords.  You need to know about Web 2.0!

    That's why I am so excited about the upcoming "Social Media Simplified" Mastermind event happening on 10-27-08.  Because I am also a BIG supporter of nonprofits, it is being hosted at the Ventura Adult & Continuing Education (VACE)'s Technology Development Center with a share of the revnue going to the TDC!  Here is the press release about the event.  THINK about joining us but ABSOLUTELY order the DVD set with bonus CD.

On Monday, October 27 from 9AM to 5 PM, the Technology Development Center (www.TDCTraining.com) in Ventura is presenting a powerful Mastermind event for small business owners and nonprofits who want to understand and profit from the rapidly growing Web 2.0 Social Media phenomenon. The seminar will feature 5 of the nation’s leading experts who will share their insider information on how to use social media tools to prosper in a tough economy.

 The Mastermind event will feature the 4 most powerful social media tools and their expert:

· Mari Smith on Facebook for small businesses (www.MariSmith.com)

· Deborah Micek on using Twitter to build loyal customers (www.RPMSuccess.com )

· Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff AKA “The Blog Squad” on blogging for business profit (www.BlogSquad.biz)

· Simon Leung – Insider from Google AdWords!

The event is hosted by Linda P. Taylor, (www.LindaPTaylor.com ) an expert in college planning for small businesses including LinkedIn. She will present the “blueprint” to help small businesses take the information they will receive to build a successful social media program for their special needs.

“We are excited to host this first ever event at the TDC” said Teresa Johnson, TDC Director. “Not only does the community get to learn from these 5 fabulous social media experts, our students will get see first-hand how their training can qualify them for jobs in the Web 2.0 world.”

Program host Linda P. Taylor agreed. “I have spent over 30 years helping small business owners with college-bound children or grandchildren use marketing to increase their revenue to pay for higher education. Most wanted to try using social media but had no idea where to even start! So I invited these international experts to come share their insider knowledge.”

Director Johnson continued, “If you’re like me, you probably don’t know a Twitter from a Pownce much less how to use them. You wonder if you should blog, use Facebook, do podcasts or YouTube, and how to fit it into current operations.” She then encouraged EVERYONE who is interested in this rapidly growing set of marketing tools MUST be at this event!

For those that can’t attend, the entire event is being filmed and will be available on DVD with a bonus CD for pre-order for $149 – a 25% discount from the $197 price. 

Reservations and more information can be found at www.SocialMediaSimplified.com.

Financial Crunch, Panic And College Families

       This past weekend was not fun for me or for the college-bound families I help through my college planning practice -- College Funding Network.  The economic problems were the number one topic for the 3 I met with as they tried to figure out how to pay for college in this time of fear about the economy.

     What is REALLY sad is that these families are not really being impacted directly by the economic meltdown!  They still have their jobs. Their 401ks went down about 10% but the way they were acting you'd think they were wiped out. They still had home equity - although not as much as they had 6 months ago. And they were still planning to spend $1,000 per month in new money for college.  They were REACTING FROM FEAR and not FACTS.

     They showed me articles from US News and Time magazines that terrified them that there would be no student loans or money for financial aid.  I explained that news is general but if THEY ARE IN CONTROL of their cash flow, they will be fine.  They would qualify for loans with no problem. That all they need is a "blueprint" to help them build their college dreams. 

     These were all potential clients so they were trying to decide whether or not retaining my firm to provide the blueprints was worth their money.  What was puzzling was unlike previous years, their reasons for "thinking it over" had nothing to do with my company or my qualifications.  They were looking for FREE information! One family had been told by a financial planner (not college certified by NICCP) that he would do it for nothing if they bought an insurance product.  The other 2 couples  were trying to save money by learning all they could from me to do it themselves!

      They had been told that they can do it all for free by their high school counselor and the colleges they toured.  I agreed that they can do it themselves but not for "free".  I aksed them how much time they were willing to spend to learn how to do it correctly.  I compared with I did to tax preparation.  Sure you can do it for free but do you want to pay an EXPERT to help you or not?

     Sadly for these 3 families, FREE had become more important than EXPERT.  FREE had become more important than EXPERIENCE.  FREE had become so important that they are not thinking logically about VALUE.  My job was to show them value but I failed because of the drumbeat of economic worries.

     I can appreciate the need to review every dollar they are spending in these times. But the FALSE economy by trying to save a total of $2,400 in fees spread out over 4 years versus spending $100,000 to over $200,000 is mind-boggling.  Again, fear versus reality.  Sometimes spending money is an INVESTMENT not an expense.  Finding an expert to guide you through something as complicated as college financial planning is an investment that should save you 3 times the investment!

    I ended my meetings with a written guarantee that if I can't find them every dollar they invest in my services in savings on college, I would refund my fees -- no questions asked. 

    In these tough times, I agree you should be cautious about how you spend your dollars. Look for experts who are willing to GUARANTEE their services.  Look for experience and testimonials. But DON'T LET FEAR drive you to make financial decisions that FREE looks better than results.

Social Media Simplified

      If you are a small business owner wondering what Social Media, Social Networks, Social Networking, and Web 2.0 are all about, we have an event for you!  I am proud to be hosting a special event JUST for small business owners who want to use social media to generate revenue and drive traffic!

     On October 27, 2008 between 9 AM and 5 PM, you can join me at a unique, first ever event being hosted by the Ventura Technology Development Center:

"Social Media Simplified"  A Mastermind Event for Small Business Owners

     This Mastermind event will feature 4 of THE LEADING INTERNATIONAL experts on Social Media and Web 2.0.  200 Lucky attendees will hear from:

• Mari Smith - Mari is THE recognized Facebook expert
• The Blog Squad - Denise Wakeman and Patsi Krakoff on business blogs
• Deborah Micek - "Coach Deb" who is the expert on Twitter and how it links all other Social Media for business success
• Linda P. Taylor - I am your host and am an expert in small business marketing including social media and how it can help with College Planning for small business owners

    Attendees will hear presentations on how to use each of these popular Social Media tools for business profit and success. There will be formal presentations from each speaker, critiques of attendee blogs and Facebook pages and a wide open Q&A session with our experts.  These are speakers who can charge upwards of $2,000 per hour for consulting and have commanded upwards of $30,000 in speaking fees!  But we are making them available for $149 to $367 - less than 10% of what they normally charge!!

    If you can't attend, this special event is being filmed from start to finish!  A DVD set and bonus CD are available for pre-order along with special bonus materials.

    To learn more about this Mastermind Event click here:  SocialMediaSimplified.

Taxes and College Support

                  

                         I am seeing serious BIG time feedback on many blogs about taxation, patriotism and "critical" services!  With the  melt-down in the financial market combined with the higher taxes that will come with the "bailout" with the losses in home equity with [pick your own financial problem], we have ANGER coming from many taxpayers!  And it is growing. . .

     One of the items in today's Inside Higher Education is a little tidbit about the income tax ballot item in Massachussetts and how the state universities are reacting.  The article was predictable with university officials warning about cut-backs and higher tuition to make up the tax losses. But what I find the most interesting is the responses. Here's one from ProfessorMojo, SUNY-Plattsburgh (I've added bolding for emphasis):

     "As usual, the academics focus on their own livelihoods as opposed to examining the larger issue at hand. Certainly, some taxation is necessary, and few would argue against funding a state university system. However, the issue is the state government’s constant desire to suck more money from the taxpayer as opposed to being responsible stewards of the public treasury.

     We’re facing budget cuts here at SUNY, and it is noteworthy that my co-worker’s first reactions are to increase taxes and tuition as opposed to reforming the union-driven state spending practices that got us in this mess in the first place."

      I made no secret of my anger at the PORK inside the so-called bailout bill for the financial markets.  That pork will cost ALL of us more tax dollars and redirect them to places we as taxpayers have no say over!  I am ANGRY enough to support a ballot issue just like this for my home state of California AND for the nation over all!!!

      I think this brings up the reason for taxes.

     As I write this, there is a large brush fire in Northern L.A. County where the 118 and 210 freeways meet.  I listened to the City of LA officials point out that there are 1,000 firefighters on the line and that THIS IS WHAT TAXPAYER want from their government - protection of the people.

    I agree that colleges and universities are critical to the well-being of America as are many other essential services like roads and water. But where does the definition of "essential" that stop?

   This question comes from an article in Education Week that talks about the complaints about changes inside the Department of Education combining the Title I and Title III programs for English as a second language programs.  Obviously there are savings in combining the programs as well as oversight issues. But predictably, there are screams that "their" issues are so important that they "deserve" a separate agency.

    Just how many things can we afford to make "special"?  How many tax dollars can we afford to spend on what?

    I appreciate that everyone wants their special needs handled.  I understand it's easy to say mine's more important than yours.  But in TOUGH ECONOMIC times, you make priorities.  You cut back on things that are "nice" and things that might even be "important" and focus on what is essential.  But we need COMMON SENSE.   

   What do YOU think we should pay for?  Where should we say, yes, I know it's important but NOT as important as firefighters or colleges or ????

 

       

NO Limits on College Political Speech - Part 3

       Per this morning's Inside Higher Education, the University of Illinois President  B. Joseph White sent an eMail affirming the right of employees to wear campaign buttons and attend political rallies on campus.  He said that university policy would not bar attending partisan rallies on campus, wearing political buttons, or having political bumper stickers on cars. 

     HOWEVER, he did say that these activities should not take place while employees are on duty [I bolded the phrase for emphasis].

     Gotta love those "wiggle phrases".  So President White, what constitutes "on duty" for a professor?  When are they "off duty" when at their campus worksplace? Can they wear their buttons when on "company" business off-campus? Is this how will you make sure your TAX-EXEMPT nonpolitical status is protected?

     Per my Blog on October 3, I had no objection to academic freedom of speech within the classroom. BUT I do think that University employees - and by this I mean mostly professors -- should be required to meet the same levels of neutrality WHEN IN THEIR WORKPLACE AND WORKING that I as a private citizen and employer also need to follow! The tax-exempt status of a state operated university should be held to the same standards!

     Having grown up on college campuses I can smell that this is a CYA eMail.  I know there will be little (if any!) attempt to enforce the off-duty requirement.  So professors will continue to do what they have always done  under the banner of  "academic freedom".  The university's nonprofit status is supposedly now protected by the insertion of the "off duty" phrase. 

    If I read about enforcement of the off duty requirement I will apologize.  But until then, I see this as another way professors will be allowed to break the rules that rest of us have to follow setting a bad example for our college students. 

Limits on Political Speech at Colleges - Part 2

 

    Yesterday, October 2,  students and faculty at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign held a rally to show support for the presidential campaign of Barack Obama. In addition to showing their support, the goal was to show that the faculty will not follow guidelines issued by the university that bar them from rallies or wearing political buttons on campus. (See the Chicago Tribune for great report on the event).

     Per the article, the university says it isn’t enforcing the guidelines, which it says are required by state law.

     I admit that bothers me more than the predictable reaction of the professors. Why tell your employees about a rule if you aren't planning to enforce it!  That is CYA hypocrisy at its best. If someone complains about the violations the state will point to the rules - "gee guys, not our problem if those independent thinkers at the college don't want to follow the rules".  The university will then say it is "working with the state to clarify their intention".  A perfect dance trying to have it both ways!

    As I predicted in my September 24, 2008 Blog, the professors say that the guidelines unreasonably limit their freedom of expression:

     "They're trying to control our bodies and our voices any time we're on campus. These policies are clearly a violation of our 1st Amendment rights," said Dan Colson, an English graduate student who, along with other students, professors and free-speech experts, has lashed out.  Colson and others argue the University of Illinois was unfairly expanding state law.

     Here is the phrase from Colson that summarizes this and other debates on what laws should we PRIVATE citizens and businesses follow that ACADEMICS should not.  Per Colson:

" . . . that academic freedom meant campus communities should not be held to the same standards as other state employees."

     I appreciate the need for "academic freedom" as the daugher of a retired college dean but no offense guys, I need freedom in my business too!  But I am NOT allowed to say and do things that you are allowed to say and do at your workplace.  I cannot voice or demonstrate my personal feelings on many social and political issues because it is often ILLEGAL. 

     Per the State of Illinois, you have been notified your "workplace" has rules on endorsing candidates that jepoardizes the workplace's tax-free basis.  Yet you have decided you know best and will not follow those policies.  I see your point and I agree and I disagree.

     You have the right of free speech BUT you give up some of that freedom in exchange for a job.  I agree that there needs to be a more flexible standard on campus to allow for frank exchanges in a classroom on topics of concern.  However, I do not see that as being extended to a PERSONAL demonstration of support as in a rally or wearing a button until you leave the workplace.

    This is an important issue that needs to be discussed.  Where is the line between academic speech and unlimited speech exist for a college campus and ITS EMPLOYEES?  Where is that line compared to my freedom of speech in my workplace?

     And even more importantly, should professors be allowed to flout the rules and policies of their employer (the taxpayer in this case since this is a STATE university)?  Should they be allowed to do things you and I cannot simply because of where they work and what they do?  Should "academic freedom" be so broad that they can break the law with impunity compared to you and I?

    Let's chat!  I want everyone's opinion - colleges and private citizens.

Pork Barrel Bill and Transparency by Blog

     You may or may NOT have heard about some of the shennanigans burried in the new "Relief" aka BAILOUT bill passed last night by "our" Senate from the "mainstream" media.  But no one else said anything including NPR other than "this was an important bipartisan bill" or showed the self-congratulating senators pushing to get to the microphone.  I saw just ONE outside expert commentator on Fox plop down a telephone book-sized bill that had evolved from Paulson's 3 page outline but he gave no details!  And the eMail alert I got from US News today also only summarized the high points that related to the crisis. 

       I was clueless about the bill's REAL details and contents until I started reading my morning blogs like "Don't Mess with Taxes".

     Thank you blogosphere!  Thank you "Don't Mess With Taxes!" and the 20 or so other blogs I subscribe to each day.  Yes, I know there are kooks and way-out-there blogs but there seems to be no where else to learn what is REALLY going on in our congress.  Blogs by citizens like me who share what they have learned seems to be the best place to learn what is really going on out there!

     Here's what got me so angry:  Did you hear about the arrow tax break provision? This little add-in waives the tax on child's practice arrows and costs taxpayers about $200,000 a year (enough to send 8 kids to UCLA free every year).  Granted, this is a very teeny tiny part of the NEW ADDITIONAL $108 billion (!) in businesses and individual taxpayer "sweeteners" that were added to make the bill pass.  BUT IT SHOWS how our politicians can't help but pork out everything -- something even as critical as this bailout bill!

    Politico lists some of the various "sweeteners" and their costs. While an kid's arrow tax may soon become great fodder for Saturday Night Live or Jay Leno, it is the poster child for PORK BARREL POLITICS.  The Senate sounding so serious about how critical their efforts were was nauseating this morning on the AM news.  They were all patting themselves on the back for a bi-partisan effort.  Yeah, bi-partisan means they both were equally adding pork!

    My client families and the members of the College Leadership Foundation's College eCoaching Club have been flooding us with questions on how to afford college with their savings and home equity cut or gone.  They want to know what they can do to pay for college while waiting on the "financial rescue" AKA "bailout" bill. Most think it will someone help them personally.

     My recommendation to these families is to call the House of Representatives and tell them to scrub out every ounce of pork.  Focus only on what Congress SAID was important to stabilize the financial industry if that is STILL as important as they make it sound.

    In my opinion, if this was soooo critical, they wouldn't have taken the time to stuff it like a goose full of special favors and little unknown tax breaks! 

     SO what are your feeling on this mess?  Mine can't be printed because it would scorch the screen I am so angry.  Pass this blog along so Google will pick up all your comments and maybe we can get the idiots  we elected to come to their financial senses!  STOP THE PORK BARREL POLITICS disguised as crisis!

 

Class on Boston Red Socks - Is This What College is For?

    Just read an announcement that Bates College in Lewiston, Maine is offering a class on the Boston Red Socks.  A lucky group of 15 students at this $51,400 per year college got into the class.

     Because the class is an elective, IN THEORY, taking it does not cut into the required/standard curriculum needed to graduate from Bates.  But when your student's college education costs over $50,000 a year, is this a good use of their time in college?  Is this what you are paying for on a per unit basis?  Should electives outside the major be allowed?

     As the daughter of a retired college dean, I have talked to many professors who teach classes on pet interests. I have seen classes on speaking "Klingon" or analysis of the soap opera "Dark Shadows" or classes on current "topics" like Paris Hilton.  Why such off-the-wall topics? 

      The real question is what is the purpose of electives?  Colleges say that electives "help a student become more well-rounded" by "exposing them to topics that help them better implement their major".  And virtually everyone of the professors I talked to defended their unusual topics by saying they "wove current events and unpopular topics into the class disguised by the more 'sexy' class topic".  But talking to the students, the class was usually more fun than "well-rounding".

      So is this a good use of your student's time?  Is this what you pay a per-unit tuition fee for? Does taking a class on the Boston Red Socks or Star Trek or . . . help with your career choices? And most important, should such classes even be offered when students can't get into required classes because there aren't enough of them?

      As an engineering major, taking an off-the-wall elective on "Star Trek" (yes I did) was a mental vacation for me.  But I should have taken a class in marketing or public speaking.  My parents weren't paying for me to use my units for "fun".  And about that "weaving" unpopular topics into the class -- talk to most students and usually does NOT happen. (Sorry professors who do, many of your peers use these classes for their mental vacations!).

      So what do you think about these not traditional classes being part of your student's options?  Do you think it is appropriate to pay per unit for these classes?  Do you think professors should teach these topics if the school doesn't have enough prerequisite classes?