How to find good people is the #1 challenge in any networker’s business. How do you do that – in your lifetime?
One way is to do more of what you love. Consistently.
Jim, a retired gent looking to supplement his income, is looking for reps. He told me he stays home and emails and calls people, especially leads lists.
After almost a year, he’s had little success. Hmm.
I’m guessing that in this skeptical marketplace, fewer and fewer people listen to someone they don’t know, who’s just selling.
Jim told me he used to coach softball and basketball, adding, “But I’m retired now and must get more income.”
What if he were to volunteer his softball and basketball coaching services around town? If he were to coach 2-4 times per week, he’d be 1) doing something he loved and 2) meeting new people who are also into softball. Plus he’d have instant respect in their eyes. He’s the coach, right?
Wouldn’t this be one strategy to get “open ears”? – People who ask him what else he does would listen and might even refer someone. In their eyes, Jim’s a coach who also happens to have a business. He gets their ear because he’s not just selling.
Have you experienced this?
P.S. Just saw that Godin’s dad does more than sell, too.
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Yes, of course I have something to help you say the right words. For recruits click here. For customers (who don’t whine “It’s too expensive”) click here.
Jim is working his business the hard way atleast for Jim. I just listened to Kim’s CD 11-Point Manifesto. We as individuals will have success doing the business as we use our God given talents. As in the CD if you have tried something a lot with very little success try something else! I think using his talent as a coach to open up the ears of those on the team is a great idea. What does he have to loose? We all need to find things we are good at to open doors for our business. I don’t want to give the impression that we only coach a sofball team to sell our product. Like Kim said, he loves softball so why not do something he loves and try to open doors while doing it?
Nancy Carlson
http://www.perfectmombusiness.com
I have definitely experienced this. I happen to love moms and kids so I started a MOMS bible study at my church after my kids were grown and gone. As time has gone by, I continue to do something that I love and these moms know I really care about them. I have gotten several customers and some great referrals, too.
It’s about the relationship.
Marti from Michigan
Another awesome tip Kim! I have had a good response in this regard from the folks I play fiddle with and even more so from their spouses who sometimes wish their partners were doing anything other than playing the fiddle. 🙂
Ed MacDonald
http://www.breastcancerkit.networkmarketingcentral.com
In my other network marketing business I always felt like I was selling, convincing, always, convincing, always trying to close the sale. I couldn’t just sell retail with this company I had to get someone in and then they had to commit to an auto order every month to get a good value. I felt like a the typical used car salesman
Though I loved the products and still do, it really wasn’t my passion.
Then I followed Kim’s advice and sought a company that could complement my first passion, my artistic skills. Now as an artist I have found a company that has a product / service that allows me an outlet for all my talents, my artistic nature as well as my “people” nature. When you are in the creative mode you tend to isolate as you are so busy creating on the computer or drawing board.
Now, I get to use my artistic and marketing skills helping other network marketers and well as conventional business people, utilizing both sides of my personality, I couldn’t be happier.
Not every one sees the value in what I have to offer, but today that is okay. Not everything is for everyone. The most important part is that I see the value in it. I love it so much, as Kim puts it “I love it madly”.
The say you know your passion if you could do it 24/7 and not even make a dime…this is it. I love what I do.
So like the softball coach, find what you love and success will fnd you. Find your passion and have fun… as Oscar Wilde put it, “Life is too important to be taken seriously”
To your happiness and success
I agree with Nancy and Debi and I truly feel for Jim because I used to do that, only it was all email.
It has taken me SO long to FINALLY figure out what I really love doing and DO THAT! I know that I’m talker ~ which hasn’t worked real well in my Network Marketing businesses because I would always say TOO much 🙂 ~ but I seem to have a talent for helping people utilize their computer software more efficiently. So I’ve decided to focus on that. I’ve been working on ‘branding’ myself as a person who has information useful to the ‘newbie’ or someone who is not as ‘techie’ as I am.
Even though it’s still a work in progress, I’m beginning to promote MY website, instead of a company replicated site. My goal is to offer help for people who don’t yet know how to do something or where to go to get the information they are looking for.
Right now, I spend time talking to people about what they need and give it to them. I know I have to get my stuff into print/audio/on the web, but in the meantime, I’m using someone else’s stuff, and for now it’s working for me.
What I have come to learn that works best for me is to offer something of value to others without me having to say TOO much about my Network Marketing business and products, thus running people away. Now, when they check out what I offer, IF they are interested in anything else I’m doing, they’ll let me know.
I already know this isn’t the fastest way to get it done, BUT, it sure is more comfortable for me than it has been in the past and the way I’ve been doing it.
Now, if I can just learn to talk the way Kim has been teaching us, and say those words like I know my name . . . 🙂
A Johnson Enterprise
http://netmarketingfornewbies.com
I am sooo glad you wrote this blog!
I use to be in a company that didn’t understand the relationship building concept.
I told them I was meeting people at my kids softball, baseball games and practices. I might meet someone who was looking for the services I had to offer.
It is much more fun to relax and enjoy getting to know people than to sit around e-mailing or calling a blind leads list ! I bet Jim is much happier and can still build his business.
Brenda Bunney
http://MLMSuccessBunney.com
http://BrendaBunneyMLM.com
brendabunney@yahoo.com
Ummm… Seth Godin’s real point was that you can’t have an ulterior motive in doing these kinds of activities. They’re a happy benefit — if and when they happen.
Doing them as a means to an end is Old School thinking, surely?
Mary
In the last 3 years, since my move West, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what I REALLY want to do and I went right back to some old ideas – I always wanted to be a writer and photographer. So of course I became a psychologist….
I have published a few textbooks and from that as well as teaching – I know I write easily. What’s new for me is finally getting away from the mindset of writing for a publisher into the mindset of authoring what I want to write for an audience other than students.
In the course of all this mental work, I learned a lot about branding and marketing and guess what? It has all flowed together into helping my network marketing business.
Like Anita, I talk too much ☺ – but now I put lots more of those words into my computer since I write like I talk.
And instead of making phone calls to leads, which I hate, I socialize more with like minded others. I joined with some local artists to do shows and I am selling my photography. I joined a health club and chat away with others there. I am on the Board of my neighborhood association and active in politics.
I am now doing the things I love and in a way that works for me. It only took ‘til my late 60’s to figure all this out – but hey – I expect to keep going for a lot more decades ☺
You’re never too old to figure it all out…you just have to do what you love and the money will happen….
No matter how old Jim is – he should do what he loves – the rest will follow.
Lynn
grow older better
Thanks all…and Mary – Old school is about meeting people so you can grill them about their FORM, hoping to find a need or want, then jumping in with whatever you had to sell (business or product) as the solution.
True Seth’s father may have had no “ulterior motive.” But do you think when people asked him what he did in those situations, that he didn’t tell them and get a referral or two?
When Jim or anyone else goes out 2-3 times per week to volunteer his time, he’s earned the right to have people ask him what he does, and that is when he can tell. Not before.
It’s all about the commitment you are willing to give, first. That’s what makes people interested in you enough to ask what (else) you do.
So in that way, it’s New School.
Think?
Greetings Kim
You are so right about Jim volunteering in an area he already feels comfortable with and can offer his gift of contribution. I volunteer with my humane society a lot, not to be seen or look for prospects just because I want to help the Shelter and all these wonderful pets that have had their lives turned upside down. I found I have many other volunteers asking about what I do and becoming customers. If you volunteer just to prospect it will not work, people will see right through you. You have to put your heart out there and do it as a contribution.
I also LOVE working with my son’s Cub Scout troop.
What goes around comes around, like follows like.
Have a grand day and you animal lovers think about helping your local shelter.
Robin
You are so right about Jim no matter how old you are if you have a talent from years ago, bring it on, you will have a rappore with folks, and that is a little at a time.
I bought into the WT Powers 49.95 a month, I called 500 people, they all where duds,and I cancelled the subscribtion, now I need to find a good coach other than Kim ,she is the best, but I always want to stay at the top of my game, some times we slip, and have to regain consciousness, and get back in the groove. I love all of Kims CD’s I have 3 sets so far each month,that is my present to myself, is more knowledge, you just can’t get enough. The Company I represent teaches us techno babble, and it just does not work for me, now, all of a sudden things are starting to turn around for me.
I adore the calls,and blogs ,try to read them everyday. Keep up the great work Jim, I wish you the best.
My husband is a personal trainer and that gives him alot of crediblity. He is 58 and looks terrific. He cycled 100 miles the weekend before last to raise money for kids to go to college. He also teaches spin class. Everyone wants to know what he is on. Our business is progressing slowly but better that than nothing at all. I have a bit more trouble because I am nothing special so I have to find my niche. Credibility does mean something. You have to be someone that people respect and trust.