CENTRAL INTENTIONS --
In this blog, plans are to bring you content your top recruiting producers may not necessarily share (unless you grease their palms with tens of thousands of dollars).
SCOPE OF BLOG --
This Secret MLM Vault is designed for network marketers. In all posts, I bring relevant content, resources, recommendations, and helpful marketing tips and tricks. I will from time-to-time, recommend tools I've used myself.
If I include economic articles here and there, it is because this information impacts you as a business owner.
Let's begin with mindset work because this knowledge determines your level of success as you directly apply yourself.
You Are The CEO And No One Else
Unless your upline pays all of your bills, I doubt that person is really in the position to dictate to you what you should or shouldn't do. Even million dollar players reach their success because they save the ultimate say regarding all decisions for themselves.
RULE 1: You are the CEO of your business. You make all key decisions impacting your bottom line.
With access to the right marketing information, tools and techniques, you are positioned to make an independent go in life if that's what you ultimately intend.
RULE 2: There are no shortcuts. Anyone who tells you that 'we will build your business for you' isn't being truthful.
Reality: People can work together to achieve a common goal, but you will have to sift and sort through many people to get to the top performers and you will have to conduct business until you can attract and build your organization or recruiting force.
Reality: It is true that you build your business with a group of people who also build their businesses. This part is critical to your success. You're looking for the right ones who will be dedicated to that success. You want at least 3 Top Guns.., if not 4.
5 Top Guns working in group fashion can be too many, but it can work in rare cases where everyone pulls their weight.
Reality: You don't have to go it alone.
Reality: If you hop online, you don't have to go into pay-per-click advertising right off the bat. You have affordable options and low-cost to even free starters.
Reality: If you hop online, there's a lot more you can do to advertise yourself at little to no cost to your wallet. It goes beyond social networking (at sites like Linked-In, Plaxo, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and more). In these networks, Top Guns go into paid advertising to get away from MLM'ers cross-recruiting other MLM'ers.
Reality: You'll work like a dog but you can have huge fun.
Reality: If you enjoy mentoring others, the online realm and senior marketing can be the cat's meow...and it won't be problem-free. You're working with other human beings who need time and assistance.
Reality: There are many proven systems that already work online.
Reality: There are solid ways to supplement your income while you are growing your network marketing business.
Reality: You must be willing to learn and apply what's offered...but in the best of realms, you should be FREE to ask any questions. Content forums should remain open for the benefit of all concerned.
Reality: Seasoned network marketers do not know what their online counterparts know. I'll call these counterparts the top 5%. This is said with great care. Online network markerters have learned to harness the power of technology.
Reality: Drop family and friends (warm market). It's very limiting or in the very least, you'll hit the wall once you've prospected everyone to death.
Once you're more successful and you're making solid $$ (which you can definitely do from home or on the go), then you can work your warm market. Until then -- leave them alone. They don't want to hear about "another opportunity".
Reality: Put the numbers in your favor. Belly-to-belly won't meet this need very well so consider radical solutions many others are now using.
Reality: If you're a Baby Boomer, you're being left in the dust by Generation X'ers and Generation Y'ers. Again..., this is said with great care.
Reality: Only 30% of Baby Boomers have formed profiles in all of the social networks online. Generation X and Y'ers top 50% and greater. We're groping with how to best use the social networks because they're opening up to paid adverisers if they're not already doing this. Twitter is one of them. They haven't earned a dime but they're setting up profitable platforms by "just getting profile information".
Why Boomers Need To Update Their Skills
Gen X = this group of people fall between 18 - 29
Gen Y = you'll find these people between 30 - 45
Boomers = you'll see laggards in larger number...70%... between 46 - 64 !!
Boomers
Ok. To hit the top level in your MLM (or even online), you have got to look at things as they are progressing.
Facts You Can't Ignore
* MLM'ers from 1 company to the other are sharing information they used 60 years ago
* People will consume products for about a year on average
* New recruits don't do much
* New recruits will last for 3 months max if they recruit their warm market
* Top leaders are naturally frustrated
* Top leaders are saying, "What we did years ago isn't working anymore". That's because major markets have shifted in big ways....,
* The Information Age is here ...,
* More people than ever are entering social networks...,
* A ton of them are cross-recruiting (to no avail) ....,
* Radical approaches are needed...,
* Telemarketers have worn out public welcome -- ask the politicians. Businesses online have to use what's called a double-opt-in method...getting twice the amount of permission offline people barely get but once.
* Huge numbers of people coming online want to operate a business but don't know how
to market themselves...,
* There's a huge gap in training...,
* We have some really great people helping others online...and some aren't so hot...,
* If you're looking for a group you can join, how to do you find ones you even like ?
* And a host of other unmet needs...,
Plans are to brings you up-to-date information at Top Gun levels. If not, you'll want to read someone else's blog.
Tough News -- Boomers are looking outdated by Gen X'ers and Y'ers and they're leaving 70% of us (not yet online) in the dust.
Here's Why As X'ers and Y'ers Are:
* Texting every day
* 35% of the Boomers text
* 9% of Boomers watch an online video in the past 24 hours...
* They missing out on key information X'ers and Y'ers access daily....,
* Only 30% of Boomers have a social networking profile
* Only 30% of Boomers mainly get their news from the Internet.
Points Favoring What Boomers Naturally Do
* Sure..., they want to rely on 'solid newscasting sources'..., if we can even say that this is true given recent events in media coverage (going back to September 2008)...,
* Continue doing what's known...and not face changes...,
* Consider pulling in online news like "Google receiving 10,000 inquiries from federal government sources to access user data". The government naturally needs to target criminal influences and 3rd-world folks undermining successful search engine results.
* If you're in the social networks as part of the 30% forging ahead, you are to be congratulated...,
* OK..., some say the Internet is "not the end-all-be-all"..., but unless you're really good at swinging your downline over to every other MLM you join (something I don't recommend)..., or unless you're really good at convincing newbies to open up their networks (something that's happening less and less with greater resistance), you must find powerful alternatives...,
* If you're not a powerhouse who can attract people by the droves in public to work those numbers supporting your success, then you must find proven alternatives...,
Now more of us jnetwork marketers (and Internet marketers) are online.
We did so because:
* We hit the conventional MLM wall..., or had very little success using old methods...,
* We figured out -- to hit massive numbers needed for true success, we had to find efficient ways of talking to folks very fast...,
* We figured out -- once we knew how to attract people by the droves, we had to "match our services and products to needs" to stay in the game for good...,
* We needed to have multiple ways of talking to people to hit the needed targets.
That's why mindset is key.
If you aren't sure what wearing a CEO hat means -- learn and apply top marketing techniques. The competition online can be stiff if you don't know what to do.
If not, many people who operate their own businesses are unique..., and your talents are needed elsewhere.
If not, many people who operate their own businesses are unique..., and your talents are needed elsewhere.
Business Owner's Mindset - Essential or Hocus Pocus?
Without beating my drum, I'd like to share something talented masters in any industry use. It's called the mastered mindset..., going way beyond what everyday folks usually think about. If you agree, you're standing 'out in the crowd' ! All people are special..., and you..., a potentially powerful network marketer must understand that you'll have to incorporate efficiencies "freeing up time you'd rather spend with family". I'm with you on that one.
Your success requires several levels of business just to stay afloat, productive and competitive.
Not telling you anything you don't already so you can see how important it is to acquire and maintain a successful mindset before you're talking to hoards of people.
MLM Mindset Defined
According to MLM "Traditional" Definition --
"Don't give in, keep going, have that business owner's mindset needed to be successful". This is true up to a point.
"Work your warm market".
Embracing 21st Century Marketing
The Boomers who are thinking like Generation X'ers and Y'ers are ahead of the game. They grew up with technology. If you were like me, I had to "white knuckle" things because I didn't want to be left in the dust.
Prevaling Thoughts Among Top Players Is
"Hop online because there's a window of opportunity not to be missed".
Internet business is growing each year despite economic struggles. More want to order what they need from the convenience of home. In my case, my spouse ordered parts online to build his 4-passenger RV 10 (yes...in our garage). I can barely fit my car in there.
What About Internet?
If you're asking..., why consider the Internet? If you look at the ethernet formed 20 years ago, the Internet is still fairly new and is still developing. But..., that's a good question. As a CEO, you always have options. If you're not thrilled about Google, you have Yahoo and MSN.
Did you know that there are free to low-cost ways of putting yourself online? Yup.
What's Not So True
If you do everything your MLM tells you to do and you find you're getting poor (or very limited) results, you have to step back and ask yourself a tough question.
"Why am I doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results!"
When you're in 'the trenches', it's easy to wear blinders. Many of us don't ask this Q until we hit a big brick wall.
Here's why.
I will tell you from 5 MLM's of my own, it's like getting into your car everyday. You're putting your foot on the brake but you're expecting the car to accelerate.
I know. You've been there and it IS frustrating.
Break Habits Not Serving You
Get rid of the unproductive habits holding you back. In my case, I had to have someone spell it out for me in big, bold letters several times.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again...". Okay -- so some of you have probably heard this before.
You have to take a radically NEW approach. It's like being in a marriage where 2 people aren't communicating. Ok. Pull in humor. Don't hit your spouse over the head when he/she is walking in the door after a long day at the office.
- Alter your viewpoint,
- Add new methods,
- Incorporate new tools...(not all of these things have to cost you a fortune),
- Update old skills,
- Find out what's valued,
- Fill in gaps with new learning,
- Get what's required and in demand,
- Scrap the old experiment and head back to the drawing board
Helpful Hints
I will tell you something you already know. Many businesses hit the "not having enough prospects wall". Here's what surprized me. When they're MLM's or retailers, it doesn't matter ! Times change.
What worked two decades ago may not entirely apply today. People change. Consumers' minds change. Values change so needs change. The best business owners know this big fact. When this happens, we have to change with the times ...and change is often a good thing.
So.., if you've done those things that aren't working for you, change what you're doing. Don't let others make up your mind for you if your past experience has yielded 'real answers'.., being..., traditional network marketing does work for the company...
... it wasn't set up to work for you.
Shed a few tears but rejoin the human race.
And..., get in touch with your anger to see where you're making the same mistakes...
but..., don't linger there.
Then..., get productive.
Listing Prior Mistakes
This part really helped me. I formed a list of common mistakes I made -- grabbing 3 who knew 3 so that my upline could get credit for the 2.5 people he closed. NICE. That's the national average before any one of us decides to quit....
or not..., so congrats on that choice !
What Traditional MLM's Aren't Seeing
Some of us in the late 90's (across many MLM's) said,
"We want our own websites to reflect our own personalities"
"No way", they said.
I said..., "Way"!
Corporate Management Problem #1:
Sticking your head in the sand.
Corporate Management Problem #2:
Boomers never accept "No" as a legitimate answer.
Gen X'ers and Y'ers don't care. Their friends and family are more important.
Corporate Management Problem #3:
We never stop and we know better.
Yup -- tons of them. Now we get into the powerful stuff that will blow the socks off your feet.
Be the Top Gun.
How do we do that if we're confused and feeling dazed?
Productivity and success in your MLM starts by finding new information, aligning yourself to people you enjoy doing business with..., then putting your head down to find workable solutions to the ails that prevent you from sleeping at night.
Look for groups who are making it happen.
They're springing up.
Find out what they're doing...and can create your success.
Look At A Regular Business Mindset
When I didn't know what 'radically new MLM decisions' meant or involved, I looked at everyday retailing and franchising. These businesses spell out every detail because they know what works. If you look back to early days in human communities, marketing has been around for a very long time and there's nothing new under the sun.
So... think about this -- if businesses out there are working and they're being run by individuals and groups you'd like to meet, you have to ask yourself what they're doing that's different from what you've been doing?
I'll give you a hint...,
Position Yourself As The Expert
It's a fact. People buy in the presence of true leadership and mastery. It's just how we behave as human beings. When we want buying questions answered, we don't run to trainees. Right? Right.
Positioning doesn't mean -- "Fake it until you make it". People can see through that ruse. I'm suggesting -- stop edifying (talking big) about someone else when they're running the show!
Advertise only yourself. It's done in regular business so it's also the same thing in network marketing.
Proof
You don't see the top onstage marketers running to someone else for validation. Sure..., they hire someone who's making even more than they make now.., but they do it quietly.
The most successful marketers consistently get updated information, education.
The most successful marketers find mentors they enjoy being around and truly like.
This is about mentoring someone nearly like yourself in work ethic, in ways they naturally respect other people. So..., that person has to align to you. Clarifying -- you want someone who won't operate differently in business than you would do yourself.
Example: You won't see a 1% performer aligning himself to a criminal.., unless that person (with criminal tendencies) seems honest or unless he's a criminal attorney. Ok. Then that works.
You won't see a top recruiter do something they don't agree with -- unless they've been handsomely paid to ignore their ethics. You will see this from time to time.
This Fact Shocked Me
Position someone other than yourself or you give business away to that person.
To Find Your True Masterful (Business) Self
You have to slay your ego. It really gets in your way by creating fear.
Let go of approval you want from the networkers you already know.
It's tough..., but use your common sense to guide you.
A solid marketer will never intentionally falsify any information you're requesting.
They'll guide you towards the solution.
They'll show you the ropes within reason.
Nothing is for free.
Develop Top 1% Skills Others Will Seek Out (And Pay For)
That's the radical new choice.
You're after strong leadership..., but you also have to be willing to offer it in return.
This is how you build a strong organization.
Developing Skills That Are Highly Valued
It takes time to develop solid skills you can get paid for.
We call this "monetizing your marketing know-how".
Examples: writing, learning how to legally obtain people's information, attracting people to you on the basis of matched mindset/needs, constructing your own call, qualifying people who will pay for what you have to offer (not just targeting people who have no interest in you at all)..., and more.
So..this is about getting paid over and over and over again..., not just seeking compensation that won't give you the "preferred lifestyle you demand" (like paying your bills on time...imagine that) !
Or..,
- Having enough for retirement
- Paying for your children's education
- Or buying your spouse a new car they can really use
- Covering day-to-day household expenses
- Getting health insurance
- and more.
So There You Have It -- The CEO Mindset
"Knowing that YOU can help ANYONE succeed in your company is hugely powerful. And..., that know-how won't be based on hype. It can be based on real marketing..., using math..., science and art. Best part -- you don't have to get a college degree to learn it or apply it.
Then.., "Take defined steps to bring your reality about".
My Promise
Bring you staples you'll need to create a business you can be proud of, enjoy and keep it going strong regardless of what the market does or doesn't do.
If you read my next post on Business Owner's Mindset, Part 2..., I show you how to apply that mindset to everyday business leading to success.
Supporting Your Success Using Proven MLM Means,
B. Brinkmeyer, MBA
"Fix-My-Broken Business Home Repair Consultant"
Internet Marketing Mentor/Teacher
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