So you have a network marketing business, a product to sell and lots of headaches because things are just not going like they should. If you find yourself jumping from one opportunity to another, in hopes of finding real success, keep in mind that the solution may not be in choosing a new company. Your solution may be to become ‘more attractive’. Say what?
Attraction Marketing is all about psychology. It is a simple fact that most people are followers, seeking a leader. Ever been placed on a jury? A small group of complete strangers are thrown into a room together, and within 15 minutes, someone has emerged as a leader. Why are people fascinated with celebrities and physical beauty? With the powerful and connected? People are social creatures, seeking structure, seeking success or a feeling of power through association. People are naturally drawn (attracted) to those who display strength, knowledge, physical prowess, physical beauty and leadership. We are basically made this way.
Now, when we are talking about success (or lack of it) in our network marketing business, coming to terms with your ‘attractiveness’ or ‘unattractiveness’ is key. And mind you, this is not about outward beauty or physical stature. People are naturally attracted to those who display the characteristics and qualities of a leader. So there it is, if you have been looking for the ‘magic key’ to your business success. Are you a leader? Do other people see you as a leader? If not, it is imperative that
you change this perception, starting now.
If you have been in network marketing for any length of time, you have probably read books, listened to audio recordings and attended training events designed to change and improve your mindset. True, the self-development journey must begin without delay, and certainly mindset is foundational. However, asserting yourself, by choice, to become a leader?
This is an additional goal that you must consciously act upon.
By now you may be thinking, “I am just not cut out to be a leader.” Perhaps. But do you know for certain? Many of us have not dared to reach for leadership, simply out of fear or laziness. Maybe we just really lack basic belief in ourselves. Self-limiting beliefs are difficult to change, and require a great deal of effort to overcome. Do you have the desire to change? Desire is the first step.
Could you moderate a team conference call? Help train new distributors in internet network marketing methods? Develop a web site or blog, offering information and value to other networkers? Learn how to create and administer a team advertising co-op on the internet? These types of actions
and skills will begin to position you as an expert and a leader.
Your goal is to become an Expert. Notice I didn’t say ‘appear to be an expert’. You must be genuinely knowledgeable about your business and industry. You must exhibit confidence, a positive attitude and leadership, all the while serving the needs of others. Soon you will have people seeking you out, to join your team, to join your business–to join YOU.
Change your belief about yourself and you will change your results. This is the essence of Attraction Marketing.
About th Author
Cathy Yeatts is a network marketer, internet network marketing consultant and webmaster of http://www.networkmarketingreview.net. She is also the Official Guide to Network Marketing and MLM’s at Selfgrowth.com.
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Dear Cathy,
Good advice, but you came dangerously close to a common industry phrase that keeps dragging MLM through the mud.
Some folks don’t need to be in the business. They just came in to get a zealous sponsor off their backs or buy cheaper.
I used to do therapy for those that thought it sounded good for them.
Not so any more. I only want those for whom it is the right thing for them to be doing now.
I have been a professional sales person for over 4 decades and a network markerter for nearly as long.
I find that only one in 100 should get involved as business people. Let them be customers first and decide within themselves if the businesss is a good fit for themselves.
In my road worn opinion,
Tom Doiron
http://www.PlentyToLive.blogspot.com
Comment by Tom Doiron — April 10, 2008 @ 6:46 pm
Hi Tom,
I hear what you are saying…and actually, I completely AGREE that most people should never, ever be in this business. (And I don’t want to run an ‘adult day care’ anymore than the next sponsor.)
I don’t do the ‘chase ‘em down’ thing, nor do I look to bring in customers seeking product discounts. (though they are welcome, I don’t seek them out)
In fact, as a matter of principle, I no longer mix the business opportunity with the product sales presentation. Honestly, they go together like oil and water. It’s just plain confusing and it’s certainly not good marketing.
About six months ago, I took my business 100% to the internet, which allows me to attract — and do business with– that “one person out of a hundred” that you spoke of.
Many thanks to leaders like Mike Dillard, Jonathan Budd, and Ann Sieg for teaching networkers how to Attract, by becoming leaders, and how to Market, instead of selling.
Regards,
Cathy Yeatts (a Renegade Network Marketer convert)
http://www.networkmarketingreview.net
Comment by Cathy Yeatts — April 10, 2008 @ 8:36 pm
Great discussion here!
Tom is obviously a veteran leader who likely prefers to give the majority of his time to those on his team who are most deserving of it. And finding those “3 percenters” is something we all long to accomplish. The best way to classify a “3 percenter” would be…one who somewhere along the way decided to “turn professional” and dedicate significant daily focus and time talking to people either about a great product or a great business opportunity. If they do this, the law of averages will not allow them to fail.
However, the reality is that there is middle ground as well. I cannot think of another industry where someone can start a business part-time with such a modest investment, and then turn it into a multi-million dollar business IF THEY CHOOSE TO. Or, if they CHOOSE to only grow it to an income of a few hundred dollars a month and it is enough to change their life and their lifestyle, that is OK too. If that brings them a sense of accomplishment, and makes their life better, a great purpose has been served.
I have learned that I should let the 30 percenters be the best 30 percenters they can be, and to let the 60 percenters be the best 60 percenters they can be. And those of us who are lucky enough to find a 100 percenter, we should get out of his way!
The collection of all of these types of business partners is OK, as long as we allocate our time accordingly (and never lose sight that we must not compromise our own personal prospecting).
Passion about a product and company is the key. Because without passion, there will not be enough pursuit. And it’s up to each one of us to share that passion with as many people as we can.
While I do agree that we should never abandon our close circle of contacts who already “know, like and trust us”, (especially if we have something that we KNOW will improve their lives), Cathy’s posting about attaction marketing is intriguing because it has the potential to bring a significant number of additional people across her path. And these particular people will be seeking her, instead of the other way around! She can nurture these new relationships until they also “know, like and trust” her. Then, she can qualify them to see if a long term business relationship should even be considered.
So I say, go Tom! and go Cathy! Both of you are on the right track…
God Bless,
Curtis Jones
Comment by Curtis Jones — April 13, 2008 @ 9:36 pm