If you work for a boss, picture this:

It's 2 p.m. Your morning evaporated in a flurry of phone calls and interruptions. You worked through lunch on plastic coffee to get an urgent job finished. Now you breathe a sigh of relief, grab another coffee, and reflect on your life as it is at this moment.

On the whole, it's fine on the surface, but… a few things are nagging at you.

Four years into this job, and despite doing everything they asked, and more - something just doesn't feel right. For one thing, you're not as enthusiastic as you were when you started. You're in a rut, the bills are piling up, and you don't feel that you're being paid what you're worth.

"Hey," you think, "this isn't what I signed up for. How come Riley got that promotion - I should have MY name on that door. Just because he's been here longer! I get in early, I stay late, I'm loyal, I do good work, but nobody notices."

"What's wrong with these people?" you ask yourself. "Unless you serve your time, and toe the company line, there's no way forward. Creative solutions don't seem to count. Being a little bit entrepreneurial just seems to make the higher-ups feel threatened."

You think about your home life, and your career goals. About how much you've had to compromise over the last ten years. (Or twenty years. Or thirty.) What happened to the comfortable income, the snazzy sports car, the exotic vacations, the ideal relationship you used to imagine?

Your look at your boss, and his boss, and hers…

Is that who you want to be, after you've got to their age? (Or have you passed their age already? In which case, I hate to tell you… if it hasn't happened by now, it's almost certainly not going to.)

You frown, shake your head and head back to your desk.

You can't see tomorrow being any different…

Or picture this, if you own your own business:

It's 8 p.m. Your day's almost over. You rock back in your office chair, breathe a tired sigh, and reflect on your life as it is at this moment.

On the whole, things are looking pretty good.

It's been tough going, but four years in, you're starting to show a modest profit. Of course, you're still in hock for your setup investment and some of your running costs. And the staff… sufferin' cats! You sometimes feel that you're running a day-care center for adults.

The public can be a pain in the rear end, too - but that's life, and it's all been worth it to be your own boss.

What's more, you can see that in a few more years, you'll be able to cut back to just five or six days per week, and maybe spend some daylight hours with your family. Right now, you can't afford to take time off, and as for chasing that little ball around the fairways (or the court) - well, for now the memories will have to suffice.

You drop a Rolaids to quell your heartburn. Naturally, you're a bit stressed-out.

It's still a big job to manage the cash flow… pay the bills… keep the customers happy… put out the fires… plan ahead… deal with suppliers, the bank, and the regulators… bring in new business… keep your spouse onside… stay abreast of the latest developments… keep one jump ahead of the competition - phew, who wouldn't be stressed?

You notice the time, and turn back to the pile of bills on your desk…

Now picture this…

It's 11 a.m. You lean back on your poolside lounge, breathe a contented sigh, and reflect on your life as it is at this moment.

On the whole, things are looking very good indeed.

Whatever your past, you now own your own marketing business. An international network marketing business, distributing great products to happy users in numerous countries.

It's been a fair bit of work, and a big learning curve - but four years in, you're closing in on a six-figure income. Moreover, your costs are low, so it's 80 to 90 percent profit. You've finally fired your boss (or sold your other business).

Of course, your cash hasn't been idle. You've made some extra inroads into your mortgage, and paid down that burdensome credit card debt. But it hasn't all been catch-up - you've traded in that old clunker on an immaculate, late-model sedan. Plus you beautified the house, landscaped the garden, and put in a pool.

Not to mention those all-expenses-paid trips you and your spouse have enjoyed, along with other high achievers and executives in your company. Plenty of time to play and shop, great memories, and lots more to come!

You think back to when your traditional business (or job) consumed your every waking hour. And even robbed you of sleep, at times. "How did I do it?" you ask yourself silently. You shake your head; a smile creases the corners of your mouth.

Now you have neither a boss, nor employees… you only work with principals. Your sprinkling of customers mostly service themselves. You're not tied to a fixed location - instead, you work rent-free at home. (Or wherever you happen to be in your travels.) You don't have to worry about paperwork, stock, debtors or creditors; you just check your volume reports online to see how your sales organization is doing, and where you can inject some assistance.

Your business is not in hock to the bank - in fact, you're well and truly cash-flow positive. Every week or month, like clockwork, your bank account is credited with commissions and bonuses, or your check arrives in the mail.

And best of all… you have a brand new set of clubs that you actually get to USE regularly! (Or mountain bike, or boat, or fill in the blank.)

You notice the time, and call to your spouse, "Honey, did you reserve us a table for lunch? Don't forget, we'll be taking Fred and Jan to congratulate them on reaching ruby exec…"

Now I'm not saying any of these scenarios is best for you - but excuse me if I love the network marketing business! You see, it's not the MLM concept that's wrong: it's the pre-modern world of traditional business and jobs.

My only comment to you is this: if YOU feel that scenario three is more appealing than one or two - or whatever your own situation is right now - then you owe it to yourself to investigate ways where you could put yourself in that picture.