Success Principles

(This is a synopsis of Chapter 2 in my book Successful Network Marketing for the 21st Century)

What does it take to be successful in network marketing? Many people say persistence is the key to success. Others argue that network amrekting is a numbers game - if you throw enough people against the wall some will stick. Others say that the key to network marketing is finding those "big hitters" that will make you rich. All are true to a certain extent. Persistence is definitely very important. Yes, network marketing is a numbers game, but we become responsible for people when we sponsor them. Big hitter's are great and they do create lot's of volume, but the little hitter's usually stay with you longer and cause fewer problems.

In studying top network marketers over the last 15 years, I have found that each has certain identifiable characteristics. Here they are:

• Courage - it takes a lot of courage to go out and tell the world you are in network marketing. The world has not totally accepted network marketing as a legitimate business yet. Many still think of it as a scam or pyramid. You must be courageous and stay proud of this industry and your company.

• Receptive - network marketing is a business of duplication. You must be receptive to the ideas that come from your sponsor and upline leaders. Why re-invent the wheel, when people have already found systems that work.

• Honest - one of the primary reasons many people look so negatively at network marketing is the deception that has been there in the past (and is still there in many companies). Many of you may have been invited to dinner by a friend only to find that it is a network marketing presentation. Don't deceive or mislead people. Tell them the truth. Tell them it is network marketing and give the company name. Be proud!!! Tell them that network marketing is really a simple business, but that they will have to work hard to build it. Don't mislead them into thinking you will build their business for them or that this is some kind of get rich quick scheme. It's actually a get rich slow (but quicker than traditional business) scheme.

• Leader - since this is a business of duplication, you must become a leader. When you recruit someone, they are going to look to you for leadership. Lead by action, not words. People will do what you do, rather then what you say. Ask yourself this question, "how happy would I be if all my downline was just like me?"

• Love people - the top network marketers love people and use money. They don't think about the millions of dollars they are going to make, but rather about the millions of new friends they are going to help. Zig Ziglar said, "you can have everything you want in life, if you just help enough other people get what they want."

• Passionate - this is a business built on emotion, not logic. There is no logic to explain the way networks grow so quickly. If you are excited about this business, your enthusiasm will show and attract people. "If you are on fire with enthusiasm, people will come from miles around to watch you burn." People are attracted to enthusiastic people - get excited and become a people magnet.

• Persistence - network marketing is much like traditional business, it takes time and consistent energy. Building a network is like the task of getting a commercial jet airplane off the ground. The pilot does the ground check, starts the engines, taxi's on to the run way, gives it full throttle, takes off with full throttle, takes it to cruising altitude, pulls back on the throttle and cruises. What would happen if the pilot never gave it full throttle? What would happen if the pilot pulled back on the throttle in the middle of the take off? In your business, you need to give it full throttle until you have a large network (several hundred), then you may be able to pull back on the throttle and cruise a little. The key is don't expect immediate results, it takes time and consistent work to build a successful network.

• Self-disciplined - top performers go on their own. They don't sit around and wait for their upline to give them leads or build their business. They go and create leads, talk with everyone they meet, set up web pages and autoresponders, do their own card deck or direct mail program, participate in advertising cooperatives, advertise in a local newspaper or magazine, etc. Are you going forward or sitting around waiting?

You can obtain a copy of my book, Successful Network Marketing for the 21st Century at your local bookstore for $14.95. If you would like an autographed copy along with a sample of my monthly newsletter NETWORKER and my 8-page recruiting booklet Would You Like To Dig In My Goldmine (retail value of $25) send a check or money order for $20 to RMI, Box 912, Tacoma, WA 98401.