Is Network Marketing mostly pretend?

What is really ”pretend” about NWM is that it is just "sharing", “inviting”, “attracting”, or anything but selling.

I have recruited and trained commissioned salespeople with various companies over the years.

Very few went on to be successful. Top salespeople have developed a mindset. Many do not persevere long enough for that learning to take hold.

In NWM we basically sell two entirely different products; our feature product and a distributorship. Old Schoolers like to lead with the business and revert to the product. Most often the product is the easier of the two to sell.

New Schoolers promotes getting customers and developing a stream of income from those sales while sifting for business partners. In my opinion, it is important to remember that just because a customer has a life altering experience with a product, does not mean they are ready or willing to promote that product to the world.

To me what is really "pretend" about our industry is to parade the superstar around as the role model that all should aspire to. Those superstars may have been a diamond in the rough when they entered NWM and worked hard to get to the top. But the point is they were already a diamond. People are put together differently. We seem to understand this concept better when it relates to physical attributes then we do when it is involved with intellectual abilities. The fastest human on Earth is well trained, but was born built for speed and developed the long suit.

Years ago I was taught that NWM was based upon a lot of people doing a little. We all have memorized J. Paul Getty’s quote. For most recruits, the best NWM will be for them is a part-time income source if they work and grow some thicker skin. At one point in my past, an expensive MLM Mentor I hired told me that she didn't believe NWM was designed to take the place of a full time job. Wow, I wanted a refund.

One last thing that is truly "pretend" to me is that these superstars got to the top by working less than 40 hours per week. It is more like 60 or better hours per week. I have been taught to make my business my first and last thought of each day(365).

Just "Sharing"
Tom

Anybody & Everybody

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.


A bright , young networker said, "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."

This 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.

Anti-Perfection Paralysis

Wasn't it Nicholas Cage that delivered that great line, "What doesn't kill you will make you stronger."

Those in our industry that have to perfect every thing before they do anything turn to dust in the same spot. Far better to be in motion and be constantly perfecting production.

I am better today than I was 6 months ago in our Networking Business because I know a few more things that don't work for us.

To make a mistake is human. To not learn from that mistake is a shame.

Over Promised, But Under Delivered

When we had a license to act emotionally immature because we were kids, how did we react when a promise was unfulfilled? Fussing, whining, angry, and disappointed are the first that come to my mind.



But just because we are now adults does not mean promises aren't still made to us. However we have developed our own unique BS filters to minimize the disappointment. Now and then we buy into a big promise that flew in under our filter. How does a grown-up react to a broken promise? Much the same way only it is more internalized or they sue.



MLM has a 95% failure rate. More positively stated, 5 recruits out of 100 enjoy some level of success. What is most intriguing about this well known statistic is that it stays with us.



I have made my living via sales and marketing most of my adult life. Always, always I see over zealous rookies making promises to close a sale that they couldn't deliver on in a million years. The results are one very angry grown-up that will never refer a soul to the sales person.



Talking about the 5 and 6 figure monthly income earners in our programs and parroting, "if they can do it, you can to" is indirect promising. The recruits expectations are nearly assured of be dashed and disappointed. They quit and keep the sad stats steady.



In my later years I have seen the wonderful opposite of this cycle. I purposely under promise benefits and results to my prospects because I want their expectations to be barely above ground level. To their surprise the results are better than expected, and they are pumped.

Downline raiding ?

If you were a prominent Network Marketing Trainer/Mentor, who had previously had great success in the field; that fact would be largely responsible for your following. Or at least it should be, don't you think? Contrast this to the many "experts" who have never really done a genuine, live, three-way call, but can tell you all the do's and dont's. Which would you respect and trust more? Oh, I forgot to mention that you were convinced the "expert" was authentic because of his self-edification on line and off.
Our country is plagued with Affluenza and disingenuitis. I tapped into Kim's stuff back in the day of aka, Ms. Stud. Back then and now, I knew of no NWM coach that was more upfront than Kim. It was refreshing to me to hear someone finally speak the truth about the industry.
OK. I am going to pretend I am K2 (A Foggism). Intelligent enough to know integrity is a cornerstone of my success; what should I do about my start up company? Publish it or hide it under a basket? I would do as she has done partly because it is her upfront style and partly to flame proof my butt. Why? If Kim is catching all this heat for being honest, what do you think it would look like if the news leaked out slowly and unofficially through the 'blogsphere' ?
Enough for now,
Tom DoironAtlanta

work once, get paid forever

Did you ever find it interesting that we American whine and complain while immigrants prosper. Many don't have the language mastered, let alone the culture. But they have a mission and they quietly go about it each day.

The American Dream has changed through the decades and now today the younger citizens want no part of their parents paycheck to paycheck struggles. They are a generation of entrepreneurs that don't want to trade in their time for a Friday paycheck. One of them told me that he wants to work once and get paid forever. In fact, that was his definition of leverage.

Smart marketing companies have seized on this phenomenon, like the big "A" that was a quick star. This is not your grandma's American way.

What about our forefathers and fore-mothers? Did they risk their very lives and everything they owned to come to the land of promise for coffee breaks and paid vacations?

So blogger buddies, what's the answer ? How do we get to plenty to live and plenty to give in America?