The home-based business and direct selling industries are growing fast. There is so much opportunity for so many people to acquire new skills, time freedom, and even financial. The problem is that we network marketers are our own worst enemies - we tend to bad mouth other companies and their representatives.
When working toward a common goal, everyone else circles their wagons and fires outward, but as the legendary network marketing trainer, Mark Yarnell, says, "Network marketers circle wagons and fire inward."
This in no way raises our image among the general public. If anything, it makes us all look like starving hyenas.
We also need to stop trying to recruit everyone that crosses our path. The driving force of any business is customers. Why are people so focused on the recruiting aspect? You can have a huge sales organization/downline, but the truth of the matter is this: If no customers are being acquired, no money is made.
Like superstar network marketing trainer, Kim Klaver, asks, "When you go into a car dealership, they try to sell you a car. NOT try convincing you to open your own dealership, right?"
I am working very closesly with a group of network marketers in NYC who are diligently working to create a virtual chamber of commerce for network marketers where they can meet other network marketers selling everything from A to Z. Over time - after getting to know, like, and trust one another, members will be able to refer customers to each other, without the fear of the people they send being pitched to be recruited.
No other business does that - tries to sell you their business opportunity first over their product/service. Why are we network marketers so goofy? According to the Direct Selling Association, 1 out of 10 (10%) will buy your product(s)/service(s), but only 1 out of 1,000 (less than 1%) wants to start a business.
Doesn't it make since to pursue customers? You can have a full staff of sales reps, but if no one is coming through the door to buy your product(s)/service(s), you don't have a business - you have a social club. In mainstream businesses, this is when people get laid off.
I myself currently buy products and services from numerous network marketing companies. Here are some of the companies: Pre-Paid Legal Services; Vitamark; SendOutCards; United Credit Education; Scent-Sations/Mia Bella Candles; and AmeriPlan among them. These are products that I would buy anyway, so why not buy them from a network marketing company (via an independent contractor like myself)? Network marketing companies tend to have better, safer products anyway.
Another thing is that there is too much "rah-rah" hype going on in network marketing meetings today. There is a place for goal setting, positive thinking, and motivation, but there is a big void when it comes to skills training. Skills training goes far beyond learning scripts on how to pitch your business to someone. Also, a person who is only taught goal setting, and positive thinking may be extremely motivated and high-energy. But if there is no business skill training, that individual is very likely to have a negative cash flow and quickly becomes a pariah to most people - because she/he will always be in recruiting mode.
We should all commit to learning business and communication skills (including active listening) in order to be successful.
Learning how to network is also very, very important. Networking includes seeing opportunities for others and yourself, relationship building, and follow-up skills. These skills can be taught, and indeed must be taught to network marketers if we are to be taken seriously.
A rising tide lifts all ships, right? Together, everyone achieves more, right? Zig Ziglar says, "Help others get what they want, and you get what you want," correct?
If we direct sellers and network marketers want to be taken seriously, this is something we need to work on. So, in support of this effort to improve skills development among network marketers, and to foster cross-selling so that we can keep the money in the network marketing family, the organizers of this meetup group are working to make this a true chamber of commerce for network marketers, and to foster professionalism by educating retaining the services of qualified instructors who can teach all of us various generic skills and need-to-know information like getting organized, how to evaluate a business, tax planning, relationship management, etc.
Effective immediately, I'm am in the process of forming networking 'power teams' comprised of network marketers from different companies. We're looking to form different groups of 15 members (Fab 15), and have no more than one representative per company or industry on teach team. We intend to meet once per month, and again, these meetings will be limited to 15 people.
Some of our gatherings will be live, face-to-face events, but the majority will be phone-based speed networking events using the awesome platform provided by BlitzTime.
Here is how a Fab 15 group will look (one rep per company or industry) - please do not feel slighted if your company is not named. This is just an example:
Pre-Paid Legal; Mia Bella Candles; United Credit Education; NetWorth USA; Send Out Cards; May Kay; Pampered Chef; Isagenix; Discovery Toys; Primerica Financial Services; Ambit Energy; Money Mastery for Life; Vitamark; Ribbon (Quixtar); and Passion Parties.
None of the above companies are competing products or services, and should be able to get along well with each other. We will use the model of well-estathe Breakfast Network to facilitate our meetings for the best results and benefits to all involved.
Also, we will be airing a monthly Internet radio show at www.HomeBizRadioShow.com. All of the calls will be recorded and archived for playback, downloading, and burning to CD.
Let me know if you're interested in being on a future broadcast - we're always looking for guests for our show.
Please come in the spirit of cross-selling and commerce - NOT recruiting. Those who are looking to become "downline pirates' are not welcome here.
We hope to see you at one of our future events!
Tyrone Turner
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