You are a Champion!
TAKE THE FOCUS OFF YOURSELF AND PUT IT ON OTHERS!
I like to consider different ideas even if I disagree and that’s why Network Marketing (like most things) is a learning curve. The world is made up of very different people and very different approaches. I often read articles that I disagree with. However, that doesn’t make me right because if this works for them that’s great. Here’s an article that sounds great but my experience is much different (see my response to these points below the article):
“Number 1 – promote your product, not your opportunity. This is not what you are taught when you attend your weekly ‘Opportunity’ meetings. Your company is based on a good product or service, or you wouldn’t be involved with it. Be passionate about your product or service, and build your marketing campaign around the value and benefits of consuming that product or service. You need your prospects to become customers first; customers who will become passionate about your product or service, and who will then continue to be consumers.
If prospects join your business based on the opportunity alone, what is going to happen if they don’t start making money right away? They give up and you will have to go and find someone else to replace them; and so the cycle continues.
Number 2 – Master a tool that allows you to connect with the most amount of people, in the shortest amount of time, for the least amount of money. That tool is the telephone. How many people can you take to a weekly opportunity meeting? How many people can you talk to on the telephone in 2 hours, using a script that takes just a few minutes to complete, with a list of people who already want what you have to offer? And I’m not talking about your friends and family. If they wanted what you have to offer they would have jumped right in the first time you offered it. So, why are you wasting your time trying to convince them?
Number 3 – Position yourself as the expert. Forget 3 way calls with your upline and taking prospects to listen to someone else at an opportunity meeting. Become the leader in your business and have people listen to you. Learn all the skills you need to grow your own business from prospecting through to closing and be the CEO of your business. Grow your business for your benefit, not your company’s benefit.
Most network marketing companies teach you methods that work for them, not you. Think about it this way. If your upline has 100 distributors who each bring 1 prospect a week to an opportunity meeting, and 50% of those prospects join the business, then your upline has grown their business by 50 people a week. On the other hand, half of those 100 distributors have grown their businesses by just 1 person a week. Which side of that fence would you rather be on?
If the techniques taught by most companies really work, then why do more than 90% of network marketers fail to achieve a significant income. In fact, most people who walk the trail of tears do so with the heavy burden of an overloaded credit card. A debt that will take years to clear due to the huge number of DVD’s, brochures, catalogues, etc. purchased to grow the business for someone else, certainly not the individual.
If you are serious about growing your business, then forget about your list of friends and family, 3 way-calling, and opportunity meetings. Don’t waste your time talking to everyone you meet about your opportunity; most of them simply are not interested and won’t stay in your business long if they do join.
Master the 3 techniques above, and grow your business for your own benefit, not the benefit of your company.”–Bill Shaw
Number 1 – I think it’s great to promote products and move people from product users to Business Builders. However, the fact is that one of the so-called products is the Business Opportunity and there are people looking for business opportunities. In my opinion, we can promote the products and/or the Business Opportunity. What are they interested in? I have personally known top Distributors that didn’t use the products and were successful in the business. While that may not be the norm, there are certainly people that are more interested in the Business Opportunity and have a stronger need for the business than the products. That doesn’t change the fact that most of the Distributors will just be product users and their volume (a lot of people taking a little bit of product) drives the business. Many Business Builders focus on the Business Opportunity and fall back on the products.
Number 2 – The phone is great and can save time and money. However, the phone is just “one tool” of the trade and for “some people” wouldn’t be very effective. I’ve covered other tools on my blog and some people use them all or have their preference. Email is powerful for some while it may not be effective for others.
Number 3 – There are some negatives to every approach. Obviously, some people are very concerned about losing control of the situation (painting their upline or company as the leaders and building their check instead of their own check). Perhaps they should worry about their downline blocking leadership pay (I know, doesn’t make sense but a lot of people worry about that because they don’t work the business). Frankly, number 3 as stated in the article is the least of my worries. In my opinion, not only do individuals miss the point on Number 3 we will find companies that miss the same point.
The Network Marketing Business model is a win/win business model and it is built around exponential growth and the desire for residual income. In fact, that’s what draws me to this business model. If it is just about retailing products (working alone) there may be a better retail model for “how” you work the business (see eBay). I want help in promoting the business and we even use crossline help–it has been powerful help. I want to use the “power” of exponential growth and that means I intend to look for just (3) Business Builders and build deep! I bring the credibility and they bring their influence! Note: if you distrust your upline sponsors and the company you have a basic problem that needs to be solved.
Many sponsors and companies are doing everything in their power (and spending real money to do it) to give you the tools to make you successful or give you the help you need so take advantage of their help.
One of the reasons you may go into debt trying to do the business is because you are trying to build the business alone. My wife and I have driven miles and miles to make other people successful so that we could find success (by the way, I’m an accountant so I know something about the numbers).
You’re not using your upline sponsors, not using the art of promotion (small and large group meetings), and most of all you are not using “third party credibility.” I know Diamond Distributors that will tell you they didn’t take their business to the next level until they started using a “third party!” Please don’t try to work the business alone because you may fail and you are working the business the hard way. I’ve known of successful Network Marketers that didn’t have enough influence on their own to sell a box of products to their own mother let alone a Business Opportunity!
“Over” 90% of the people fail because they don’t work the business and when they do they don’t work it smart. Take the focus off yourself and get help!
“Of course, all this is just my opinion…more power to you!”