Network Marketing has almost always been positioned as the business that “anyone” can do. No doubt that’s why almost no one makes a go of it. Must be more to it than they say, think?
Our survey of yesterday shows that a majority of you – 60% -(78-53) feel you are NOT better off today than you were 6 months ago, as it relates to your NM business.
If you were to list three kinds of business intelligence a new network marketer needs most, I mean, someone who has not done a business of their own before, what would you say they are?
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Network Marketing IS a business “anyone” can do, but by “anyone” I think we should clarify it more clearly by saying “anyone who is willing to come in and do whatever it takes to achieve their goals by learning and growing through the process.”
The only way “anyone” will be able to build a network marketing business is by staying “consistent” as well as “committed” to doing the daily activity that builds their business…The problem is…most people aren’t willing to stay committed, and want results yesterday without putting in the work, time or money…we all know that it doesn’t happen like that…
Why do you think the 90/10 rule holds true in todays society (The top 10% of the people in this country own 90% of the wealth)…It is simply because the top 10% of the people in this country are the ONLY ONES WILLING to do what the other 90% aren’t. The top 10% are the ones willing to fail their way to the top learning everything they can to make this business work. And by failing they learn what doesn’t work and adjust accordingly to find things that do work.
Have they failed?…Absolutely
Did they learn?…Absolutely…it is the only way they made it to where they are today no matter what industry they decided to build their wealth in…
While network marketing is a business for “anyone” it is NOT a business for everyone.
All of those people who want things handed to them on a silver platter without doing any work would not be a good candidate for this business.
Those who on the other hand see network marketing as a 2-5 year plan, come in open to learning the proper skills to build it, take action on a consistent basis, and then teach others how to do the same thing will in the end win in this business.
Will it be hard…YEAH…
Will there be times where you just want to quit…YEAH…but when the business is built and you have more people in your downline and customer base than you know what to do with…You will look back at all of the trials and tribulations you have gone through to achieve that and you will smile…
You will smile knowing that you will be living a life most people only dream of, and will be able to serve others with an open heart every single day of the week, no matter what the occasion.
As far as the 3 kinds of “business intelligences” that successful MLMers need to have I think they would be
1) A High Emotional Intelligence (Understanding things take time to achieve) (Google It)
2) A willingness to learn the PROPER marketing and follow up skills
3) A driving desire to make their “why” for doing this business a reality, no matter the price they have to pay
Have a fabulous day!
http//www.TestThisEnergyDrink.com
Hi Kim,
In my opinion, here are the top three business intelligences required to improve the odds of their success for the first time business owner entering a network marketing opportunity:
1. Self-displined, self-motivated, big why, self-starter or how ever you like to phrase it.
2. Excellent communicator which mandated great listening and writing skills.
3. Basic computer skills with an aptitude for acquiring more advanced I.T.know how.
No offence Scott, but your logic has been echoed by trainers and mentors for at least 30 years that I know of and the success rate hasn’t risen. When the pitcher climbs that mound, his will is to strike out every batter he faces. How often does that happen?
Experience tells me that some folks are just not suited for this business.
Just because someone can buy a lottery ticket, doesn’t mean they can win in this industry. It’s a tango between the over eager recruiter and the unknowing, but hungry prospect.
Tom Doiron
I have joined a company thinking that this will be the one. But after joing I find that I am alone. Meaning that I am on my own. Isn’t this supposed to be about duplication? How can I duplicate if I never hear from my wonderful sponser again.
Oh by the way I am going to make it!
Thanks, Scott.
“Anyone” can probably do “anything” given enough effort, determination and perseverance. Plus a little help from friends and lady luck.
To bring people in with that “anyone can do it” line, without telling what it takes, and to take their money (when they have no clue what’s involved) strikes me as bordering on robbery disguised as opportunity.
While some people DO make it, to make it sound easy, when 95% or more drop out, with financial losses and fewer friends, is a a very big sin of omission.
Especially when most of the folks are women.
Who tells a new recruit what it takes BEFORE they take that money from her? Even just an overview of how many customers she needs to make that extra $300/mo is a good start.
Think?
Instead, everyone lures them in with the “anyone can do it” pitch, and blames the folks afterwards for not doing what it takes. As if they knew. As if anyone had said anything about that part before they took their money.
Sigh.
It’s like I learned early on, Network Marketing is perfect for everyone, But not everyone is perfect for Network Marketing. To many people try to pass this on as the get rich quick and it does a disservice to the industry.
Randy
Hi Kim –
Appreciate your ability to stir the conversation, as usual 😉
Here’s my .02 …
The “Anyone Can Do It” mantra is about as disrespectful of people as individuals as it comes.
Just think about it … what’s the obvious extension of that train of thought? … If you can’t “do it”, then you’re not anyone. Talk about some crummy self-talk to be perpetuating (intentionally or not).
And from a purely marketing training perspective, this ‘anyone and everyone’ way is about as effective as finding the proverbial needle. We already know that the three-foot-rule only annoys and alienates people.
And we also have gleaned from you (IF we’ve been paying attention) that there is power in recognizing and seeking to work with others ‘just like me’.
So what are three business skills that are important?
1. Personal clarity.
2. Niche clarity.
3. Understanding and acceptance that success is a journey, not a destination (oh yeah, that would be clarity too – grin)
Are those business skills? Well, not exactly, perhaps we could call them ‘entrepreneurial qualities’.
Without these things firmly in place before ‘signing up’ for an independent business, what does it matter what kind of skills anyone has?
So do we “get ’em in our deal” and take their money before we know whether they’re interested in ‘getting clear’?
I guess, in part, it depends on whether we want to build our own businesses on a house of cards or not.
Do we want to ‘let the cream rise’ and to heck with the people who lose along the way? Or do we want to ‘pay it forward’ and over-deliver first, building a loyal and committed group.
‘Course for those of us who have true retail customers or pre-training (filters) in place, this is less of an issue.
Attraction vs. Interruption — maybe that’s the real battle that’s playing out here …
Always interesting stuff going on here Kim 🙂
Andrea
If you wanna sell product
And if you don’t
Randy,
You said, “It’s like I learned early on, Network Marketing is perfect for everyone……”.
You must be a long time vet, because I have been hearing that over used, and untrue statement for years. In fact I am almost sure I can remember it’s originator.
I do not believe it for a minute. The only truth is that everyone can join a Network Marketing Company because the only requirements are 18 years of age and some money.
There have already been some great comments in this thread, that I won’t restate. But I sincerly wish networkers would wash that ‘anybody’ and ‘everybody’ thought right out of their heads.
Fact is that most pro’s I know already have. Why? When you burn up time , money, and resources trying to convert a goat into a lamb without success, then you learn to seek out just the lambs. The only vets I know of that still use this ‘anyboby everybody’ bait are the mud against the wall slingers.
Happy herding,
Tom Doiron
This is just my opinion, but I believe they MUST know that the KEY word is: MARKETING…!!!
And that MARKETING takes MONEY…!!!
They must have a MARKETING plan and a BUDGET to implment that plan CONSISTENTLY…!!!
Of course they need lots of other things like desire, discipline, persistence, work ethic, etc. etc…
But thinking a significant income can be built without investing MONEY is next to immposible…
Just MHO… 😉
Live Well,
Gene
http://exposure.the7greatliesofnetworkmarketing.com/
I’m going back to my “remembering room” about what would have helped me the most when I first started network marketing.
1. Know that you will not know how to do network marketing and will need to ask for information. This isn’t always going to be just what your sponsor tells you. There is not one PROPER marketing and follow up skill that will fit everyone. It’s ok to find and use what feels right for you and your values. If you are someone who always wants to be perfect at everything think twice about network marketing.
2. It’s an investment. It will take money to get started and monthly to effectively market your product and/or business. You have to use different venues and most of these will cost money.
3. You will be self employed so you must want this more than any Job you’ve ever had. With no boss to answer to it’s easy to not stay active with networking. Tom’s #1 says it for me, self-displined, self-motivated and self-starter. Must be able to accept rejection and keep going, do it over and over and over.
This was way more than I meant to say.
Robin
“No offence Scott, but your logic has been echoed by trainers and mentors for at least 30 years that I know of and the success rate hasn’t risen. When the pitcher climbs that mound, his will is to strike out every batter he faces. How often does that happen?”
Tom, maybe I wasn’t clear in my initial comment.
I did state that this business CAN BE for anyone, but its NOT for everyone…
If someone is willing to come in, put the time in, learn the skills and ETHICAL MARKETING techniques THAT WORK and CONVERT, in this day and age (very subjective depending on who you are talking to…old school versus new school), and this person stays consistent with the activity…those that stick to it will be able to do it.
If you don’t think so, I would like to understand your point of view and how you see it.
The goal is being able to train “willing people” to become better marketers. And by doing so, showing them how to generate their own leads, how to share information, and how to collect a decision…while still keeping it duplicatable…
The next goal after teaching your people to become marketers is to then teach them to be leaders. After learning the skills and techniques that work…teaching them to teach others is the next step.
When you have those things going…you will have a well oiled machine.
This business, as we all know, is a simple business but by no means is it EASY…because to be successful every MLMer has to stay consistent with the activity over and over again…and be able to duplicate what they are doing themselves.
I have learned many of these concepts things from my current sponsor who has taught me more than I would ever want to know about this industry and building this business.
Thoughts?
Network Marketing is no doubt the most democratic business opportunity on the planet. It allows an individual with vision, drive and ambition to have their own business with very little start up cost and almost no inventory, compared to the majority of franchises, and other retail endeavors and of course the biggest opportunity for failure the restaurant business. However, the majority of people looking into a network marketing opportunity do not have the mindset for the business. It is at best a 2-5 year plan for financial freedom (sorry about that cliche) and during that period it requires work, marketing expertese, up to the minute skills of niche markets, the ability to identify your ideal client or business builder and the understanding that marketing endeavours involve overhead. The majority of buisinesses do not profit immediately. Prosoects of an opportunity need to be informed of the lifetime value of the opportunity they are pursuing and then understand what it takes to be fortunate enough to reap the benefits. Other wise they should not even consider this business, and we as sponsors should not take their money unless we are just retailing product to them. Also people who are not on a productive and mentoring team need to form one. It is not fair to the prospect to have the swim or sink attitude just because you have joined the business. Juliette Gray http://www.itvsuccessline.com
To all:
Given we can at least in hindsight state what some of the requirements are to make a go of the business, how would you change the recruiting slogans change to reflect it?
Remember more honest slogans will likely result in fewer people who sign up – that means fewer fast start bonuses and initial recruiter orders…
But if you dared, what would a new slogan be, based on what we’ve learned it takes to make a go of our business?
OLD slogan:
“Easy! Anyone can do it!”
NEW slogan:
Anyone can do it, WHO:
1…
2…
3…
If you want to say “someone who’s teachable’ you must specify what they have to learn, do, and spend on the ‘proven system’ or whatever you’re referring to.
This would change the recruiting dynamic drastically, think?
NEW SLOGAN:
If you are a motivated entrepreneur with money for marketing and good computer skills, this could work for you.
Not very catchy, but truthful.
Not your slogan Genie,
Tom Doiron
This business is not for everyone!
Anyone can do it who has:
1) The ability to SPEND money before they start making money (i.e., for product and marketing expenses).
2) The ability to learn how to (a) find leads, and (b) turn leads into customers or distributors. [This is where a LOT of people fail. Their upline doesn’t teach them the skills.]
3) And the drive to work consistently over a long period of time.
If you can do these three things, there is no reason why you can’t be successful.
Walter Reade (from Wisconsin)