Three secrets, says Seth Godin: people who understand the value of:
- Patience
- Promises (don’t make them)
- Being Centered
The toughest part of Godin’s advice is this. See if you agree.
“If you’re very good at what you do, you won’t grow. Because lots of people are good at what you do. No one is going to be busy referring you and sending you business just because you’re very good. Sorry…
“The only way to consistently grow in B2B is to be better than very good. In fact, it’s to find something that organizations need and be the very best in the world at it. Hopefully, that thing is something that organizations in your sphere are eager to talk about among themselves…”
Do you love (some part of) your business and just want to talk about what it means to you – even if you aren’t making much money at it (yet)?
How important do you think it is to your success, for your business to be a reflection of who you already are? Versus something you do ‘for the money’? And do you think other people notice?
The one thing about network marketing is that one does have a lot of opportunities to grow. You grow in yourself, you grow in many areas. You cannot be stagnant. True growth is not hype, it is deep and it is positive.
You either grow or ‘die’. And the encouragement to grow is a very positive aspect about network marketing that does not get much publicity.
But are you your business? For some that is all they can do – talk about their business, live and breath their business, etc. For me that is an unhealthy balance. So while we grow we also become aware of who we are and focus on who we can become, business or no business.
Hope this makes sense?
>How important do you think it is to your success, for your business to be a reflection of who you already are? Versus something you do ‘for the money’?
As ‘success depends on factors like vision, execution, and perseverance’ it’ll clearly be a helluva lot easier to do stuff that comes naturally and drives us.
>And do you think other people notice?
Smart folk do. Which is why cool businesses have cool audiences.
I wonder if loving your product is enough. I absolutely love the products I market and when I talk to people I find that I am too pro my product. What is enough? It confuses me.
Ellyn said: “I absolutely love the products I market and when I talk to people I find that I am too pro my product.”
The method I use to keep balance is to talk wonderful things about the products I love, but to be dis-interested in the outcome.
I don’t care if they become customers or not.
When I do that, it really does feel like “recommending a movie.”
But it is hard to be dis-interested.
Sometime I cheat, especially at work.
My script changes to, “My wife markets a product for people who have dark bags under their eyes, like you do.”
Okay, not really. 🙂
— Walter (from Appleton, WI)
Walter@NMC
http://www.NuOpportunity.com
I believe people do notice that my business is a reflection of who I already/still am and I believe an important part of my success at building a customer based business for 18 years. Trust. Loyalty. Service. Persistence. Friendly. Honest. Interested. And, yes, to be better than good. My business is not B2B but it still works.
I believe it was Jim Rohn who said “Your success is determined by the person you become.”
Scott Simon
http://www.create-leverage.com
“…be the very best in the world at it”
Seth is right. To many people, especially those NOT in b2b, “the world” does not necessarily mean “planet Earth”. It could be just your circle of influence.
It also doesn’t mean to “be the very best” in selling that green pill. It is “be the best” in solving a specific problem that a very specific group of people has. So it’s about becoming the biggest fish in the smallest pond.
-Alex
Network Marketing Central
Walter is right with his outlook on the balance we need to achieve. I am pasionate about health so it surprises no one that I market a product that keeps me healthy. I want to help others. I offer them the chance through relationship marketing to not only buy the product but see my passion. The passion and love was there before the product so it is a normal outcome for me. If they are not so passionate or don’t care at all, I can only give them an honest nuge. They will either let me push them gently along or firmly stand their ground with heals dug in to let me know that they are not at all interested in that part of me. The balance is easy to achieve when you know the outcome is their choice alone.
Nancy
perfectmombusiness.com
I feel that your business has to be bigger than you. I came into business concerned about myself. As time went by and I saw the flaws in the industry it has evolved into how can I help you. I have 4 questions at the back of my mind to help keep my mind on the most important thing. THEM. What do you want? Why do you want it? When do you want it? How will having that make you feel?
I think some people start a business being self centered and then evolve to other centered.
People can sense where you are coming from and even being fanatical may not be as threatening to them.
Lead with your heart.
One other thought would be, if we are putting people off by our overt enthusiasm, are we talking to the right people?
Kim I applaud you for what you are doing for the industry, raising it to a higher level of integrity and success.
Thank you.
Kim asked: How important do you think it is to your success, for your business to be a reflection of who you already are? Versus something you do ‘for the money’? And do you think other people notice?
I think the only way to succeed in network marketing without churning and burning people is to brand yourself. Wasn’t it Seth who said that first, too?
For instance I’m all about food. I used to work in the culinary field, and now my focus is on organic foods and why they are better for kids, specifically and everyone in general. So I call myself The Organic Foods Mom. It’s from that perspective that I choose the products and services I market. Oh, and I use my real name wherever I go online.
Yes, I think other people notice. At least I know I do. I want to know that the people I consider buying from online are proud enough of what they do to put their name behind it. Nobody in the world is better at being me, than me:-)
Eat well, be well,
Tracy
~~~
The here.Organic Foods Mom
I was using my products for over 12 years before I started the business end. It has taking me two years to get use to people thinking I was selling them something. I came into Networking believing in my company so much, I enrolled 20 customers in two months & they are still my loyal customers. Basically, I felt if I could use these products for so long, and never make money off them, I thought everyone would want them. Once my warm market become my customers, I was off to the cold market. What a wake up call!!!!Suddenly, people think I am selling them something, when I believe I am referring them. I needed to somehow figure out how to get strangers to trust me. How do you do that? What I have found is that by being myself, my passion for helping people “shines through”. I have found some stangers that gave me a chance, and they all say “it was your passion that got me”
Now, I need to figure out how to allow my passion to “shine” at all times: PTA meetings, baseball games, etc.
Cindy