“Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them.”
- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act III, Scene i (58-90)
Hamlet may not have been talking about network marketing, but his words do apply. Almost every network marketer has experienced the “slings and arrows” of the naysayers, those often well-meaning friends and relatives that stand in the way of our making an “outrageous fortune!” Experienced network marketers, clothed in the armor of past success, are less vulnerable to outside influences. The new distributor, however, is vulnerable, and that “sea of troubles” can act as a barrier to reaching their true potential.
What did the knights of old do to prevent an injury? That’s right - they armed themselves. Their armor was heavy and cumbersome, and they needed a squire to help them prepare for battle. Well, the same is true for your new distributors. While the armor they must use is less cumbersome than that of the knights, you must help them arm themselves for success. In other words, you must be their squire.
What do I mean by “arming for success?”
When a new distributor joins your network marketing organization, they are moving into an environment that demands strong armor. There are a lot of “slings and arrows” that can hurt their chances for success and create a sea of troubles — of doubt, disbelief, even failure.
As Rich Dad, Poor Dad author Robert T. Kiyosaki points out, most people in this world are afraid to experience success. They are held back by negative thinking, and consequently suffer the pain of mediocrity. Because they have not been armed for success, and are more focused on security and survival, they subject themselves to a life of servitude and poverty and being someone else’s employee.
Arm your new distributors from negative thinking and potential disaster. How? By understanding why so many people are negative about network marketing and the prospects of the success it can bring.
Let’s face it. There are a lot of people out there that do not want you to become successful. When you are successful, you point out the lack of success in their lives. When you take away any excuses they’ve been hanging onto and you force them to look at their lives as they really are, it makes them very uncomfortable. You’ve heard of the expression “Misery loves company.” Well, it’s true.
Doug Firebaugh, network marketing guru, calls it the “Unspoken Understanding,” which is simply the silent agreement that most people have with each other, namely “don’t mention my mediocre life, and I won’t mention yours.” Your success and the success of your new distributors, just points out the naysayers’ mediocrity.
Leaders help others. If you are going to be successful in network marketing, you must arm your new distributors against people who will try to convince them their business won’t work. Show your downline you want them to be successful. Encourage them. Show them how the most successful network marketers have achieved their success, and teach them to model those attitudes, habits, and actions. Remind your distributors that they are the CEO of their lives. Arm them with the power of positive thinking so they don’t let others live their lives for them with their negative attitudes.
To paraphrase Hamlet, by opposing negative thoughts, we end them.
Bruce Bailey, Ph.D.
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Dr. Bailey lived with the pain of arthritis for over 30 years. Now he is living pain free! Visit http://www.clobberarthritis.com to listen to a FREE audio report about the fruit juice blend that changed his life.
Dr. Bailey lived with the pain of arthritis for over 30 years. Now he is living pain free! Visit www.clobberarthritis.com to listen to a FREE audio report about the fruit juice blend that changed his life.
You can find numerous references in the business literature about the importance of a company’s mission. These sources emphasize that the mission is not to make a profit; that a profit is the outcome of and reward for fulfilling the mission. In the same sense, the mission of networking is not to gain business and close sales. The mission of your networking activities is to make connections, develop relationships, and help others. The outcome of these activities will ultimately be increased business. It’s the reward, not the purpose.
Matt Soltis, in his book Strategic Networking, says, “Although an early supporter of business networking, I became quickly disillusioned with it as a mainstay of my marketing plan. I found that something was missing from those long sessions of glad-handing and exchanging business cards. I had collected a pocketful of business cards but little else.
“While I was analyzing my needs and talents it was pointed out by my personal coach that I had a behavioral style that lent itself to chatting, while listening took a back seat. How could I learn if I would not listen?
“At the next opportunity to network, I intentionally listened, never interrupted, and found myself very interested in the other person’s business. When I spoke, I asked questions, just a few, but selective so that they elicited answers about the other person’s needs. I had stumbled on to the answer I was looking for. I wasn’t there to find clients. I was recruiting others to look for my clients and pledging to reciprocate as I learned more about their business. I was participating in something I later described as strategic referral networking.”
So how can you approach networking from a prospective that ultimately leads to increased business? First, it is important to understand that developing a network is a process, and it is about building relationships. A key objective of effective networking is to find out about others - their concerns, problems, needs, and wants.
Become a problem-solver and a resource. Listen for problems you can help others solve, either directly or by referring them to someone else in your network.
Practice the fine art of questioning (and listening). Asking open-ended questions, and really listening to the other person’s responses, is one of the most important networking skills. Some key questions or statements you can use to elicit additional information include:
What would be an example of that?
Please expand on that.
Tell me more.
How do you do that?
Be curious. Develop a true interest in others, what they do, and what they need.
Follow up and stay in touch. Developing a network is not about attending a bunch of meetings, having a meal, and going home. After all, the word “work” is part of “network.” Remember, developing a network is a process. Ivan Misner, founder of BNI, describes networking as a process of developing visibility and credibility. Only then will your activities lead to profitability. It may take as many as five to 15 contacts with an individual over a period of weeks, months, or even years to develop the kind of visibility and credibility that leads to profitability.
Look for ways you can support your network members. It’s not always about doing business with or even referring business to them. Some ways for you to support your network members include:
Posting their information on your website or in your newsletter.
Inviting them to speak at an organization in which you are involved.
Doing joint promotional projects with them.
Distributing their information.
Nominating them for recognition and awards.
Inviting them to attend events with you.
Arrive early, stay late, and get involved. Take a leadership role in the organizations you are involved in. It’s a great way of becoming more visible and developing greater credibility with a larger number of people in a shorter amount of time.
Focus on giving, not getting. If you look for ways to assist others, you will be rewarded for your efforts both directly and indirectly in unexpected ways.
Don’t keep score. “Successful networking is never about simply getting what you want. It’s about getting what you want and making sure that people who are important to you get what they want, too,” said Keith Ferrazzi during a January 2003 interview for Inc. magazine. Or as Sandra Yancey, founder and CEO of eWomenNetwork quotes her mother as saying, “Give without remembering and take with out forgetting.”
In addition to the ultimate reward of increased business, effectively developing your network will bring you:
Different prospectives
Information
A support team
Connections
Strategic alliances
Access to resources
Advice and Ideas
More potential solutions
In his book, Soltis points out another value of networking: the ability to bring your clients value-added relationships through referring them to the right individuals to help them solve all of their personal and business dilemmas - whether it is a tax question, temporary housing, or a place to board an exotic pet.
As you determine the role that networking plays in your business-building strategies, ask yourself these questions:
How can I assist the members of my network?
What are their needs?
What resources can I bring to them?
What connections can I help them make?
What can you expect if you put in the time and effort required to develop an effective network? To paraphrase Yancey, from her CD, Increase Your Net Worth by Developing Your Network: A strong network brings the power to make things happen and provides a safety net when things aren’t going so well.
© 2004 Strategies-by-DESIGN. May be reprinted with credits and contact information.
Julie Chance is president of Strategies-by-Design, a Dallas-based marketing consulting firm specializing in marketing programs including marketing coaching for professional service providers. If you are interested in additional information about how to develop more leads, turn those leads into loyal customers, and obtain a greater return from your marketing investment, Julie invites you to sign-up for their free marketing tips newsletter at http://www.strategies-by-design.com.