The internet has opened up the world to the world and given us access to so many new opportunites, but unfortunately along with those wonderful new opportunities are some that are not so wonderful.  There are people the world over who are happy to exploit and take advantage of others and one of the biggest online scams is luring people into false promises of riches.

So how to differentiate between a genuine opportunity and a fraudulent one?

Basically you can be pretty sure that there is no easy, quick way to getting rich.  Unfortunately.  Here are some examples of get rich quick schemes that you can be fairly certain are not what they seem:-

• people who talk about how much money they have made and how they are just desperate to share that information with you so that you too can become rich...
• a group or association which has many powerful and famous members and who have hand picked you to join;
• an opportunity which involves no commuting, no boss, very little work and which will earn you over $100,000 a year;
• an opportunity which will enable you to earn thousands of dollars a week in very little time - oh and they will give you a cheque for $x if it doesn't work;
• an opportunity which has given the advertiser a mortgage free mansion, sports car, vacation home in the Bahamas all paid for with cash - and their goal in life is now to help you achieve the same thing.

Whilst all these may seem obvious, the truth is that over 3 million consumers are talked into bogus distributorships, work at home plans, franchises, pyramid schemes and business opportunities.

Here are some tips on how to spot and avoid being ripped off:-

• do not assume the ad is legitimate just because it is on a reputable website.  Most sites will not endorse and often not review ads appearing online.
• don't buy into 'act now for fast, easy money'.
• ignore ads that offer big wages - genuine opportunities to earn good money will not be plastered all over the internet.
• ignore ads that state 'no skills required'.
• Limited opportunity ads - be wary of ads that ask for your contact details in order to check whether they have an opening for you.
• Ads that cost a tiny investment to get started - by asking for only a few dollars you get sucked in by thinking what have you got to loose!  Reality is they are just after your credit card details and will quite often keep charging you on a weekly or monthly basis.  Check the fine print.
• Unauthorised use of logos is common these days so don't automatically trust an ad that has a google or CNN logo on it.

So just beware - if it looks to good to be true - it most probably is.

Feng Shui in the office

We’ve all heard about Feng Shui in the home, but what about the home office?  Feng shui could mean the secret to success for your business, if you do things right. Having a free flow of energy around the office could mean less stress, a more efficient way of working and reduced risk of failure. So what are the tips for creating a great energy flow?

Your office location

If you are a writer, artist or run a business that requires more focus or attention, it is important to have your office at the back of the house, where there is less noise and distraction. If you need your office to meet with clients on a regular basis, locate your office close to the entrance of your home and if possible, place your desk in front of a window so that you can watch clients approach your house. Be sure that your entryway is free of clutter to ensure maximum energy flow.

Use the right colours

Think carefully about what colours you use in your office, as they can effect the energy in the room quite dramatically. If your office is more of a family space, go for something like yellow, or beige. Beige is also a great neutral colour if you decide to have a bright, bold feature wall. Red promotes aggressiveness in business; purple promotes productivity; blue-green for reflection and orange for cooperation and collaboration. Metal elements are good to introduce to your office if you have a home-based business. These colours include bronze, copper, silver and golds. This doesn't mean you need to use them on your walls; get creative! Use them in artifacts such as jewellery, picture frames, metal sculptures or in fabrics.

Your desk

The best place for your desk is so that it is placed diagonally across the room, not in front of the door and not with your back to the window. If you can't move your desk to be away from the window, try putting an object such as a pot plant behind you to block your energy from flowing out. Tip: place a pot plant on the east side of your desk to encourage good health, or in the south east for wealth. Your desk should not be up against a bathroom plumbing wall, as this is considered back luck. Also, do not have your desk directly underneath an exposed beam, as this presses down on your luck and can negatively impact on your health.

Lighting

Allow for plenty of natural light to filter through your work area as this gives off good chi energy. Do not allow any corners of your office to be dark, or dimly lit, as this gives off negative energy. If your back is to the door, angle a lamp or other light onto your back to add protective energy. It would be a good idea to install dimmers into your overhead lights so that you control the lighting to work best for you.

Decor

If you aren't able to see when people are approaching your office, it's a good idea to place a mirror diagonal to the entrance to your office or above your computer monitor, so that it gives you protective energy. Be careful not to leave old flowers with old water in your office as this is believed to have a symbolic effect on wealth i.e. that it'll die too, if you don't change the flowers! Where possible, ensure a full vase of fresh flowers as this creates positive energy. Other water objects, such as fish tanks or fountains are also thought to create harmony, tranquility and relaxation for your office space. Water can also be added via things such as pictures or artwork of water scenes, lakes, oceans or ponds. Be careful not to put up a huge waterfall picture, such as Niagara Falls, as this can create the opposite effect as is thought to promote chi that is way too powerful. Other small accents such as symbols of good fortune - the dragon, unicorn and turtle - strategically placed around your desk are also a great idea.

Energy hot spots

Your desk and office has different energy hot spots. Maximise your energy flow by arranging objects in their feng shui positions. For example, you might want to face your office filing cabinet northeast to promote knowledge and self-cultivation.

Health and family - east

Wealth and prosperity - southeast

Fame and reputation - south

Love and relationships - southwest

Earth - centre

Career - north

Knowledge and self-cultivation: northeast

Helpful people and travel - northwest

Creativity and children - west.

So, what can be changed in your home office? Is your current layout a feng shui nightmare? If you've been having a streak of bad luck in business of late, consider making a few small changes to your office layout and see if anything changes for the better. And throw out that old vase of flowers, while you're at it!

Do you think that all successful businesses need money to start out? Think again. Below are some well known Aussie entrepreneurs who have created some of the most successful Australian businesses, from next to nada.

John Symond, Aussie Home Loans

 One of the best (and largest) Australian entrepreneurs, was declared bankrupt in 1990. Not being able to gain finance from the banks, he borrowed $10,000 from a family friend and went on to build the now very successful Aussie Home Loans. I wonder if that $10,000 was with interest?

Therese Rein, Ingeus Group of Companies

Diana Williams, Fernwood Fitness Clubs

Diana used to tone her biceps while working down at her local gym in Victoria when she saw a niche in the market for exclusive womens fitness clubs. Now she's flexing her muscles in over 80 exclusive womens fitness clubs around Australia.

Mark started working from a dingy, tiny strata office in Double Bay. After several years of market domination, he sold his business to a competitor for a tidy $400M. These days he's started a new business venture called The Yellow Brick Road and is also in charge of hiring and firing on the Australian premier of The Apprentice. 

Amanda started her now famous accessories brand with just 6 handbags and only $5,000. Now, she is one of Australia's leading handbag and accessories brands and recently sold 60% stake in her business for a cool $30 million. Not bag, eh?

Melanie Bourne and Belinda Fraser, Endota Spa

These two entrepreneurs started out with a business idea at a barbeque. With a main of two credit cards and a side of determination, they now have 15 franchises up and running, with an expected new 5 opening before the end of the year.

And the list goes on. Remember that the above entrepreneurs started out just like you, with little in the bank but with a hell of a lot of determination. If you have an idea, why don't you go for it? You never know where it might take you.