While I am an advocate of business in general, the benefits of capitalism, Network Marketing and Direct Selling, there are often misleading opportunities. True business of any kind takes time, effort and planning to achieve success. True wealth creation and financial independence does not happen overnight and if by some miracle it does, in most cases it is fleeting at best.
Weekly I am offered a chance to grab a position in an opportunity that I don’t want to miss, what I refer to as the “Next Best Thing”. Better yet, this opportunity will put me in a position to generate a fortune within the shortest amount of time ever. Grab a position in this business opportunity and all my financial worries are a thing of the past.
Please do not miss understand my above statements to mean that there will not be in new businesses launched that are very sound business opportunities offering incredible wealth creation potential. The opportunities that I am addressing above have no long term financial potential, do not offer any valid products or service and exist simply by pillaging people for their money.
Any legitimate business will provide a sound business structure with financial backing, solid products/services, long term financial benefits for its business builders, training, support materials, and the list could go on. Equally as important as a new business builder you should expect the support required to build a solid business with financial benefits that will be around for as long as you would reasonably expect. No you will not and should not expect to get rich overnight! But, with a reasonable amount of time, effort and persistence on your part you should expect to build wealth that will last for years to come.
The fast food, immediate gratification mentality of our current society has permeated its way into the Multi-Level Marketing industry and especially the Internet. DO NOT believe that you can open your browser, your wallet, layout some money, spend 10 minutes inviting some friends and sit back while waiting on the money to roll in.
I often have conversations with people that have a major aversion to Multi-Level Marketing (MLM). With some patience, a few thoughtful questions and what I discover is that some of these people simply have a complete misunderstanding of the MLM or Network Marketing industry. The sad truth is that many others have been raked over the coals by some “friends” that were suckered into believing one of the scams and in turn passed on that favor to friends that trusted them. For those of us who approach the Network Marketing or Direct Sales profession with integrity and true passion for mentoring others to achieve the financial independence are then confronted with trying to repair these misunderstandings. Still others experience total amazement as to why MLM gets such a bad rap.
Regardless of the industry, Network Marketing, Attorney’s, Law Enforcement, and Financial Planning, to name a few, there are those that act without discretion that give the overall industry a bad name. Please do not stereo type an entire industry based on a few bad apples. Take the time to do your homework by asking for wise council to confirm your own research and ask the tough questions to validate that you are making a sound decision.
Once you have made that decision plan to work hard, consistently, expect to get some NOs along the way, expect some minor failures, expect long term success and keep your prospecting “funnel full”. As part of your overall goals and planning, learn to visualize what your ultimate success will look like, how it will feel, the gratitude that you will feel and the things that you will have and do.
Make sure that as part of your overall marketing plan that you do not limit yourself because of some preconceived notions about how you will build your business. Local networking events, your warm market (friends, business associates, alumni, etc) are all great people to keep in mind, but compared to those lists of people the Internet provides you with an almost unlimited number of new prospects. While I have what I feel is one of the best and the most easily duplicated online prospecting systems, it is NOT a good fit for everyone. However, there are a large number of options. As with everything in business, do your homework and make sure that what you are selecting as a tool to build your business is right for you and will be around tomorrow. The end objective is to “keep your funnel FULL”.
As you will soon discover that the fortune is in the follow up and closely related to that is “the fortune is in your contact database (list)”. If you don’t have people to follow up with your business will soon die before it ever gets started. If you are rusty on your sales skills, if you are not much of a people person, not very disciplined at following up or time management, you are going to have to focus on some personal development. All of these are skills that will make your business or break it. The success and the financial independence that you so desperately seek are dependent upon your level of skill in these areas. Closely following, once your business begins to grow, your leadership skills will be tested, stretched and required to grow.
There are some natural laws that you cannot avoid, take shortcuts around or ignore if you expect to achieve financial independence. Find a legitimate business opportunity, follow well known guidelines to building a business and as a very integral part of that process build your list of prospects which will then keep your funnel full. Without a constant flow of qualified prospects you cannot hope to build a successful, financially viable business of any kind. Finally avoid the seemingly unlimited stream of scams that do nothing more than take your money, alienate your friends and in extreme cases land you in a court room when the business is shutdown.
Chase Your Passion: Personally, I enjoy working w/ Small Biz Owners & Independent Business Professionals to attract new clients. 
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with what you are saying, however, MOST ALL MLM’s do not provide the support upline and what happens in time is it diminishes from above. So therefore, people slowly are dissolved out of their business. There is a great surge at the very beginning and then it all slows, fairly quickly. We need to make sure people understand this difference and look for the opportunities that when someone says they will help you grow your business, that, that is indeed the case and not for the first month, but a year down the road. The problem is people get involved with so many others that people are left out. I can give some very good examples of just that. People look at MLM’s as a way to build a great business but forget the plan and the plan should include not having the upline support to build it. Sound plans are essential in the process and most don’t understand how to put one together. Let’s face it – most people who are involved with MLM’s are not sound business leaders but people who are looking for the help.A strong business plan equals a great chance for extreme wealth. MLM’s are the most brilliant business models if done correctly. Good luck to all…..
Al,
Your points go directly to the fact that in order to increase your chances of success you must do your homework. Just because someone is a good friend, does not mean that I want to go into business with them.
I may love them, but that does not mean that they will make a great business partner. Not only should you look closely at the company, but the person that is offering the opportunity. With any Network Marketing (MLM) opportunity you are not only joining the company, but the person presenting the opportunity. Ask the tough questions that need to be asked, complete your due diligence, put a plan together, and then keep your funnel full of new prospects.
To Your Success!!!
One has to be really persistent if one truly wishes to build a good business. The road is full of obstacles but only the one who negotiates them well reaches the final goal.