My wife and I were introduced to network marketing by a co-worker in 1979. This fellow was on the verge of tossing in the towel if he didn't sponsor someone real soon. He had spent a considerable amount of money attending an out of state rally and was pumped to the max. The three foot rule was waved. Instead, he used the "grab'em by the collar" method. If it didn't move for 10 seconds, it saw the marketing plan.
The usual method was used, which consisted of considerable secrecy. I couldn't figure why because only my wife and I would attend and it was to be held at our home. In he came promptly at 7 pm (it was against all rules to show the plan or market products in direct sunlight) with what appeared to be a ton of equipment: brochures, cards, marking boards, sample products. You name it and he had it. After dispensing with the small talk and setting up a stage that would rival the Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge concert tour, he proceeded to show my wife and I what network marketing was all about. After about an hour, he began to repeat himself as though he was an endless human tape. As it approached midnight, we were presented the plan enough times that we could have given it ourselves if there was a fifth time. It dawned on me that I better sign whatever papers he had just to get rid of him before the sun came up. Obviously, he was not going to take no for an answer.
So, as fledgling distributors, our first and only instructions were to attend as many meetings as possible, purchase and listen to as many tapes as possible, and immerse ourselves in positive thinking books. The hype was incredible. However, after a few days of no reinforcement, it was back to the old routine of kicking the kit under the bed and hope that it did its thing.
I was really not prepared for network marketing because the lure of pushing bits within a computer was the ultimate rush. Besides, the company was going to provide all the security I needed, or so I was told. With two college degrees, part of an MBA, and a wealth of experience from coding to installation management in an "in demand" profession, I was insulated from reality. I was sitting on top of the world. The problem was I was streaking down the highway of professional success without a spare tire. I knew newspaper headlines were screaming the start of a financial crunch but they were directed at the other guy. I was untouchable. I called the shots. Yeah, and pigs fly.
I found out who really called the shots in May 1986. All the employees were herded into the cafeteria and informed the company would close its doors forever in two weeks. Why? Poor management from a group in Florida. Wow! Think that got my attention?
Drag out the kit, dust it off, honey, 'cause now we need it. After a couple of days, I was back in the comfort zone of data processing installation management and pushing bits around to my hearts content. A few days of exposure to sunlight and air and the kit went back to its rightful place under the bed. Why? We'd make it in my chosen profession. Besides, would a college graduate with degrees and experience coming out his ears stoop to network marketing?
This clawing up the financial and professional success ladder lasted three years until an office chat produced "Bob, your entire department is being eliminated in two weeks." Why? Competition. Intense competition. Once again someone had a way with words and the knack of quickly getting my attention. Once again the kit came out from hiding, complete with several inches of dust, and we vowed to do whatever it took to build our business the way it was intended.
This time Lady Luck didn't shine down on us because it was months before another position came along. What happened to our network marketing business? Nothing because it didn't work. Why? Its kind of hard to work when you are out of your comfort zone and your back is to the wall. It's difficult to talk to someone about how great the opportunity is and how simple it is to build a strong business when you aren't setting an example. We were talking the talk but not walking the walk. The products were and still are terrific. The management is strong. We watched the company grow from will under a billion to over four billion dollars in global revenue. We watched familiar faces turn an investment of less than $100 into a fortune. We simply sat back and watched. We sometimes held pity parties but no one came.
We could blame our upline for not providing the training. We could blame our customers for doing the most incredibly stupid things with the products and still demand a full refund. We could blame it on a genetic abnormality in having thin skin. It ultimately came down to us. We were what was wrong with network marketing. It was an almost fatal case of "stinkin' thinkin'." We were told network marketing was the greatest thing since sliced bread and indoor plumbing. We came to believe that the amount of tapes listened to and books read directly related to your sponsoring rate. If that were true, everyone in this solar system would be in our downline. Somehow we had the impression that the products grew legs, hopped of the shelves, sashayed down the street, and jumped into the waiting arms of thousands of customers while we sat back and dreamed.
Somewhere along the line we missed a few words and critical concepts, like: a) you are going to have to make an effort; and b) you are going to have to talk to people. The hype was gone and we were left alone as members in excellent standing of the "I SHOULD HAVE" club.
The embers glowed: The dream was still alive. We knew network marketing worked beyond a shadow of a doubt, else why were so many business associates driving expensive cars, constantly on trips, and living a rather good life? Maybe the timing for us just wasn't right. Maybe it was adverse name recognition. Maybe it was this "ego" thing. Maybe it was any number of dumb, lame excuses distributors manufacture.
The referee hadn't counted to ten yet. We were dazed, battered, and limped with a bruised ego; but, it's not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. We started over once again for the umpteenth time. This time it took a non- nonsense, caring, successful business woman in another network marketing company to set us straight.
There were so many things she pointed out that we were doing incorrectly. No strong product belief. That has completely changed because of what the current product line has done for us. No written goals. We knew what we wanted and could visualize them anytime, but they weren't in writing. We had no plan to reach those goals except to go in all directions simultaneously as quickly as possible. It was like we were on a Sunday drive and always returned to the same spot. We had to grow a thick, Rhino-like skin and realize the noes were not a personal affront. We began to hunger for noes because that meant we were that much closer to our goal and the noes actually lined our pockets with money. We became comfortable and began to have fun again, because why do it if it isn't fun. Instead of targeting one person a month to sponsor or become a customer and work ourselves to death toward that goal, we became staunch believers in the "some will, some won't, so what ... NEXT" philosophy. There are so many quality prospects and we had been trying to hatch doorknobs, a highly unlikely event. We tried to put the marketing plan before anyone who would standstill for a few minutes when we should have performed some qualifications before squandering valuable time. We came to realize that network marketing is not for everyone.
The years spent with that first company getting a Network Marketing Phd was not wasted because we are now putting that knowledge to excellent use. How are we doing? Well, visualize us sitting in a Porsche convertible with the top down, petal to the metal, six cylinders redlined, and hoping the rear spoiler does its job as we rocket down this incredibly lucrative financial highway. In a word: Breathless. Contact us in December 1995 to compare notes.
Can anyone identify with the past fifteen years?
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