"I Don't Have The Time!"

There are a great many activities in life for which I dearly wish I could offer the excuse, "I don't have the time" and have it accepted as a legitimate reason for not carrying out said activities.

"Sorry, Mr. Tax Collector, I don't have the time to do my taxes this year."

"Hello, boss? I'm afraid I'm a little short on time today so I won't be coming in to work."

"Yes, doctor, I know it's been more than 10 years since I've had my teeth examined, but you see, I just haven't had the time."

Ah, what a Utopia it would be - at least for the tax payer, employee and patient. It wouldn't be too wonderful for the tax collector, employer and dentist, however.

The preceding illustrations are examples of activities for which we DON'T offer the excuse, "I don't have the time." Why? It's because we deem them worthy of positions of priority. We don't want to get into trouble with the government. We want to keep our jobs. We want to keep our teeth.

Why is it, then, that so many times when we approach people about our network marketing program we are met with the response, "I don't have the time to get involved in that"? I can think of a few reasons but the one to be considered here is this: Our prospects are not yet convinced that the program we're working can indeed change their lives for the better.

You see, the bottom line here is that we ALWAYS make time for the things that we deem valuable. "I don't have the time" most likely means, "You haven't shown me why this program is important to me." At that point, it would be time to back up and stress the benefits again. For example, show them how network marketing allows people to actually work their way into MORE free time as well as greater enjoyment of that time.

Is "I don't have the time" a polite way of telling you "no"? There's a certain way to find out. Ask, "If I could show you how easily this would fit into your busy schedule, would you let me?" If they again say no, then ask, "So you're saying that even if you had the time you wouldn't be interested?" That's when your final answer might come and that's when you realize it's time to move on.

Personally, I don't see "I don't have the time" as a rejection. I see it as a personal challenge to be more precise and much clearer in my presentation to my prospect.

Michael Gifford is a publisher who began his first venture in network marketing earlier this year. Phone: 334-270-8694