Network Marketing – Fact vs. Fiction

I have given you the 12 steps to identifying a valid Network Marketing Company.

Now do you have the guts and business saavy to determine fact vs. fiction within Network Marketing?

C’mon, be honest with yourself. Anyone who has gotten involved with Network Marketing has been told or promised something that was a far cry from the truth. I am not saying ALL Network Marketing Companies are unethical. Many are but not all. More common is distributors being unethical and sugar coating whatever possible to get that “Sign Up.”

There are those scammers and manipulative geniuses that may make big money in the short-term using fiction as a selling tool; however, if you want LONG-TERM SUCCESS and to be known as ETHICAL, you need to identify fact vs. fiction. Here are a few examples and points to get your minds rolling:

1. You can make long-term residual income: Fact or Fiction. Well, that depends. Usually Fiction. 9 out of 10 Network Marketing companies are either built to sell off within 2-5 years, or they are missing vital components and fail off before most distributors make much money. In other words, most MLMs will sell off or fail off making long-term residuals fiction. Read ALL 12 POINTS to know which your company is.
2. Just sign up and we will build for you: Fiction. OK PEOPLE! GET REAL HERE! If you do not work you will not get paid. Most compensation plans are set up to reward those who meet enrollment requirements. GOOD! You should expect to work. You might get a few people put under you but the money will never TRULY come in without your efforts, organization, and marketing.
3. All you have to do is sign up 2, they sign up 2, etc…then you are set: Fiction. If this were true than millions of Network Marketers would be set. There is SO MUCH MORE. This is a business!
4. We have the best product: Fiction. This is easy. That means 5000 Network Marketing companies all have the best product. They ALL say so. WAKE UP! Your product may be good but there is always something better. If you don’t’ believe me than you do not understand business. You will fail and then come back and read my blogs. Product is only 1/12 of the equation. Many have great products but the truth is that the product is not what will make or break your success. I agree a great product is vital and must be in place but It is Marketing and Organization that ultimately make or break you. Be careful to not ignore product because it needs to be a great product to be ethical.
5. Our system will work for anyone. Just do it: Again, fiction. No system is proven to work for anyone. What is proven to work is sound marketing and being in the right organization.

These are just a few of the many fact vs. fiction aspects of Network Marketing. So what do you do moving forward?

Have your brain always process promises, statements, and situations in this manner. Fact vs. Fiction. This is a business. Analyze it as such. Be wise in your decision making and where you jump.

Also…just becuase 2 or 3 people experience results does not mean you should put all your eggs in a basket.

It is OK to research a little before jumping. It is also OK to jump off a sinking ship. There is no shame in moving on from a bad operation. I have done it. I have learned these hard lessons…DO NOT make the same mistakes.

Good luck in your business ventures and BE WISE.

Network Marketing – Blind Leading the Blind

Network Marketers want to find the proverbial Golden Ticket to their business. Whether its trying to find the best attraction marketing system, talking to friends and family, purchasing e-mail lists, or a dozen other things. I commend many network marketers for their dedication and hard work. I have met some of the most dedicated and persistent people EVER in Network Marketing. I wish I could knock some sense into these good people! There is such a HUGE disconnect in Network Marketing. This disconnect is business savvy…or business sense. Why the heck can’t Network Marketers snap out of the hypnotic trance of compensation plans and unrealistic promises and be REAL BUSINESS PEOPLE!? Whatever you want to call it. These good people work like crazy and dig their own graves. Why?  They are blind to the realities of business. The blind recruit and train more blind and the cycle continues. Here are a couple reasons.

One - Most parent companies in Network Marketing are short-term. They build to sell off. Right when distributors begin getting traction the parent company dies or sells off. I have seen it happen dozens of times! Chose a company that can sustain long-term. Read my 12 Points.

Two - Just as important as the parent company is your organization. Network Marketing IS ALL about relationships and holding organizations together. If you do not have a system and platform in place to GLUE your organization, YOU WILL FAIL. This is a business!

I watch so many Network Marketers focus solely on product to try and grow. This is a formula for failure! I am dead right on this. For example: Taco Bell and McDonald’s. Do they have the best food in their industries? 1 out of 100 may think so. You are sick if you are the 1.  What makes them so immensely successful!? You want to say Marketing and that is true; however, marketing is only one piece of the equation!

It is organization and structure! They have amazing organizations, mentoring, structure, training, etc… You can walk into any McDonald’s or Taco Bell and the organizations are the same across thousands of locations! They hold together with the glue of a real ORGANIZATION. This is the key to you being successful in Network Marketing. I agree that product is important. On the same note, there are hundreds of Network Marketers that are successful with piece of crap products! They are organizational masters! They are unethical due to product integrity, but they understand organizations.

Caution! Watch out for MLM group jumpers! They may understand organizations but they are greedy and not loyal. They will take you on a ride of unethical company jumping and people always get hurt.

So don’t fall into the trap that 90% plus Network Marketers fall into. THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND. Seek out organizations that can create systems, processes, and marketing platforms that hold organizations together! If you are blind or your upline is blind, there is no shame in moving on and finding success.

Read the 12 Points if you really want a roadmap to choosing the right parent/vehicle company and organization.

Network Marketing – Success Point 12 – The Right Comp Plan/Opportunity

Point TWELVE of The 12 Points to a Successful Network Marketing Company.

The Right Comp Plan/Opportunity!

Let’s face it…NO ONE would do Network Marketing if the opportunity to make serious money did not exist. People get that adrenaline rush from seeing the potential in the compensation plan. The power of synergistic residual opportunity! 20 years ago a select handful of Network Marketing companies existed and drawing circles on an easel was what most experienced. Get someone to a meeting at all costs! Be vague and get them in front of you! Crooks began seeing opportunity. Hundreds of illegal ponzi pyramids tainted the industry and forced harsh regulation. The opportunity and compensation of MLM has evolved. Illegal stuff still exists and many companies, even though legal, are extremely unethical in their opportunity plans.

Now the game of compensation plans has become more confusing than ever. Binaries, trinaries, no breakage, retail profits, bonus profits, pool profits, matching bonus, level bonus, executive bonus, promotion bonus, etc…   You get the picture.  It can be confusing. So how does one know if their compensation plan is a good one? I will give a few tips and things to look for. The first thing to look for is how the compensation plan came about. What is it’s story? Who created it? Here is what to be cautious of:

Most compensation plans are created and set up to benefit those at the top!

Yes! Because the top guys get paid to create them! Either that, or they refuse to join if they do not get to stoke their greedy egos! If you want to ignore this often looked over fact, that is your choice. Everyone thinks their comp plan is the latest and greatest. In reality most are just the greatest piece of crap. There are some great comp plans out there on the same note. Not all are crap but many are. All plans have bonus pools for top people. That is OK. The problem lies within the fine workings and plumbing of most plans. They make it so very few can achieve any level of REALISTIC success and so that profits and unclaimed commissions roll straight to the top people and/or executives. So what do you look for? What plans are the best? Here are a few tips…remember, I am just one opinion!

1. Binary plans are the best! Yes I said it. Binary! Don’t jump down my throat…just read on. It is all about FOCUS and POWER! Creating power legs with depth (see #2 below).  DEPTH! The most successful Network Marketers go DEEP! They do not shotgun all over the place trying to develop 15 legs. Most binary plans pay on the weak leg forcing distributors to actually work. This is good! Binary plans that pay on both legs usually kill synergy and depth because they cap the depth. If your plan is not binary, make sure it has unlimited depth and focus on that depth. Do not worry about developing more than a couple deep legs. Too many people depend on you helping them get deep. Focusing on too many legs dilutes everyone’s efforts.
2. Unlimited depth! Comp plans must be infinite. That means you can go 200 deep and still get credit on volume on that guy 200 levels down. I dislike plans that cap on 4,5, or 7 levels down. Ridiculous!  Short-sited! Long-term companies have unlimited depth plans! Some people make short-term big money in level-cap plans but they lose synergy and die off after a couple years. What if the best guy is 8 levels down? Too bad for you!? Unlimited depth may mean that there will be caps on commissions. This is OK as long as the caps are generous. The point is that you want residual depth and incentive to BUILD EVERYONE not just 7 down!
3. No Breakage! This means that any commissions that are unclaimed or unqualified to receive, stay in the distributors pockets. They flow up to the next qualifying distributor instead of into executive pockets. Many executives selfishly kill themselves and distributors here.
4. Make sure your product is quickly consumable and competitive! The auto-ship you sign up for should be easily consumable by you and your family in 1 MONTH. The price should be competitive as well. If one or both of these do not apply, then you are setting yourself and group up for failure. Many companies have products that are consumable but take too long to use. Either that, or the price is much higher than the competition and you are out priced to do any realistic volume or retail sales. Did you know that the FTC requires that distributors eventually have 10 retail customers each to be legal in MLM?
5. Watch out for tiered buy-ins! Tiered buy-ins essentially mean that the more money you spend when you sign up depends on how you get paid within the comp plan. This is RIDICULOUS! If your comp plan doesn’t give EVERYONE an equal playing field despite their buy-in then welcome to being scammed. Just get out now. It’s ok if there are different packages to give you more product, but it SHOULD NOT be what determines how many levels you get paid.
6. Stay away from expensive buy-ins! So what is too much? That is debatable. If you are serious about owning a business than don’t expect to spend $30 and hit the ground running. On the same note don’t get in over your head. My general rule of thumb is a buy-in between $200 – $500. Much less than that means you are not getting ANYTHING VALUABLE. What to watch out for are the companies that push the $1000-$5000 buy-in. Why? Because they are short-sited. It is all about signing up 3 people in an expensive package just so you can get a quick check. I call this “SIGN AND RESIGN.”  Meaning, you get signed up and either resign to failure after a few months with too much product in your garage, or get little upline support because they are so concerned about signing up the next 5k sucker.
7. Nickle and diming stinks! Many parent companies want to nickle and dime the life out of distributors. Buy this replicated site, buy that CD, buy this book. Why not include the technology and replicated site in the price of the buy-in? Makes sense. Don’t get caught up in motivational materials to the point where you over-spend to be motivated. Instead of motivational spending focus on working to succeed. Read a book a month and get your butt to work!

Make sure you and your upline are in this for the right reasons! To succeed and help others succeed!

Companies with unethical compensation plans usually draw in unethical people and vice versa. Align yourself with ethical, hard-working, and service-oriented people. These types of people are more loyal and will help create long-term residual income. READ ALL 12 POINTS!

Do not get sucked into the wrong opportunities! Do your research and watch out for the red flags I have discussed. Most important, is to make it happen. No matter how great a company is, your success is ultimately up to what you put in it! Good luck in your careers! If you have any questions feel free to contact us:

We are developing a number of tools and lead generation techniques that will take Network Marketing into 2009 and beyond.

Team Nuclues – goteamnucleus@gmail.com

Network Marketing – Success Point 11 – The Right Technology

Point ELEVEN of The 12 Points to a Successful Network Marketing Company.

The Right Technology!

I will lay it out right here. A majority of Network Marketers get snagged and die off due to technology. Here is the main reason:

A replicated website from corporate is not enough!

I can’t count how many times I have been approached by MLMs and they talk about how you can grow like NEVER BEFORE just through the replicated website. O.K…so give me a bunch of qualified leads!  A replicated site can be effective but only as effective as the marketer/distributor. Here are a couple things regarding technology that should be on the table:

1. You should have other lead generation sites aside from the replicated site. BE CAREFUL! Many attraction sites will be gone in the short-term and are over saturated. Research and learn. Trusting the “extreme” testimonials on some of these sites is a mistake. Really look into it. Be careful putting your eggs in just one basket. MOST IMPORTANT: DO NOT get sucked into only selling affiliate programs. If affiliate programs do not lead prospects to your core product, then stay away or you will get sucked into the chasm of unethical ponzi schemes.

2. Make sure your corporate company has technological expansion as well. In other words: DO THEY USE TECHNOLOGY TO GENERATE LEADS FOR DISTRIBUTORS? Do they rely only on you to grow? Most parent companies give you a out-of-the-box replicated site and say, “GO!”  Why should you do ALL the marketing? If they do not know how to harness technology in some form and help generate leads, then be weary.

3. Become an expert. Create some of your own information and techniques. Either create your own site or partner with an already existing site/program. Doing things alone can become…well…lonely. Boring too I might add. Find a group of people in an organization that understand using technology. Use each others strengths to grow a massive downline.

THE COLLECTIVE MINDSHARE AND TALENTS OF THE RIGHT GROUP OF PEOPLE CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS EXPERT AND GENIUS.

Teams are vital! Technology will thrive and synergistically produce if the right team is brought together. If you are alone…begin contacting a group of people. Many will not be the right fit, but eventually you will find the right group for you. The debate on which online activities are the best is not the purpose of this blog. Simply expand beyond corporate and have a plan in place for generating your own leads. Here is one last secret that works amazingly well:

Most people say the 3 foot rule does not work. Why? Because it has already been done a million times. It’s like trying to sell a used apple with a bite out of it. People are SICK of getting hit up with the newest product and coolest MLM. On the same note The 3 Foot Rule can work if combined with the right plan and technology. How? Simple! Take a new apple and repackage it! CARMEL, NUTS, CHOCOLATE, NICE WRAPPING, etc…  Instead of introducing them to a used apple, introduce them to the new one. Tell them about business growth through technology and lead generation. It’s no longer the same old story under a new name but you have a system and technology that can take things nation wide. The same people who say no to the old apple just might salivate and bite into the new one. People are looking for solid and fresh business. Not the same old story.

TECHNOLOGY CAN REVITALIZE THE 3 FOOT RULE AND ACTUALLY MAKE IT EFFECTIVE.

Don’t fall into the trap of just using your 3 foot group of people. This is just one small piece of your business. Good luck in your efforts in using technology. It changes almost every day, so stay ahead of the curve. My next blog may cause some controversy. Remember that I am one opinion.

Success Point 12 in my Next Blog: “The Right Compensation Plan.”

Network Marketing – Success Point 10 – The Right Marketing Plan

Point TEN of The 12 Points to a Successful Network Marketing Company.

The Right Marketing Plan!

The fact is that the majority of Network Marketers DO NOT have a marketing plan. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry about this irony! NETWORK MARKETING! Can anybody say MARKETING!? It is half of the name! If you do not make this a priority to really learn how to market than please get out. How come most Network Marketers do not learn marketing? The blame can go a dozen ways. By the way…a couple magnetic/attraction sites is not a marketing plan…just a piece of it. Just using Corporate tools and your replicated site is not a plan either.  Most do one of the following 3 things:

1. They use the 3 foot rule, relying only on those within your area of influence.  A few still achieve great success this way, but it is the exception. DO NOT DISCOUNT this strategy though! Many online programs bash it becuase they do not know how to use it right.
2. They sign up for a couple attraction/magnetic sponsoring programs, do a little with it, and realize it is not as easy as the guy on the site said who made $60,000 in one month and got 3,000 leads. These sites can get over-saturated. Many are developed just to benefit the creators or guys up top. Many affiliate programs and self-funded proposals can be classified as ponzi schemes with no long-term value. Attrition can sky rocket with these strategies! Relationships are difficult to manage with this and so it becomes a numbers game instead of really building individuals and organizations. I’m not saying these programs are bad…I am just saying to do your research and be VERY CAREFUL where you spend your money and time. There are some good programs out there.
3. They buy lists or spam the heck out of whatever they can using the shotgun approach to find a few takers. Annoying MLM at its finest!

The fact is that there should be balance! Orchestrating a combination of techniques to maximize the skills of each individual. The fact is that there are a handful of people out there who make HUGE MONEY using one of these strategies. Most struggle no matter the strategy because they do not have a marketing plan or an upline that knows marketing. I could write a 10 page article on marketing plans but that is not for now. I will share a couple thoughts in a second…but first…the secret to any form of marketing you use!

No matter the marketing vehicle you use, the key to making anything succeed long-term is building personal RELATIONSHIPS with any lead or contact!

It is all about being a personal mentor to those who you enroll. Some may prefer online communication only and that is fine. The point is to cater to the personal communication styles of each individual. JUST ASK THEM! What do you prefer? The way to really get on board with proper marketing strategies is by becomming part of a group where marketers exist. Learn from those around you. If marketers are not in your group, I can almost guarantee that you are fighting a losing battle no matter how great the company is.

Those who succeed have a plan and a team with marketing expertise. The collective goal is to help each individual, who is willing to learn and work, become successful.

So ask yourself, is my upline doing this? Do they have a REAL marketing plan that is balanced? Do they build personal relationships or just shotgun sign up and move on? Do I personally have a marketing plan? Should I find a different group?

DO NOT FORGET…if your parent company does not have a marketing plan to help distributors as well, then why are you doing all the work for them? They should be able to compliment you and not rely solely on you. They should have tools and resources that help you and your team. Run if they don’t. I promise to write more on this topic. We will have a series of blogs on marketing and relationships later.

Success Point 11 in my Next Blog: “The Right Technology.”

Network Marketing – Success Point 9 – The Right Time and Position

Point NINE of The 12 Points to a Successful Network Marketing Company.

The Right Timing and Positioning!

This doesn’t necessarily mean being at the very top in a brand new company, although that can help. Even if you are one of the first distributors in a new company, the likelihood of that company surviving is low. (See the other 11 points of this blog). The key to timing and positioning is being in the right company, at the right time, with a proven group that is proactively growing and supporting. SINCERELY ask yourself the following question about positioning:

Is my enrolling distributor and group going to help me and others succeed or are they going to enroll me and move on?

If your company pushes a big buy-in or tiered compensation based on buy-in, then watch out! This can foster the  shotgun “enroll only” mentality. If your compensation plan is based on short-term enroll and grow a few levels, this almost forces the “enroll and no support” tactics.

Here is another VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION!

What is the growth/enrolling strategy of your upline? Do they really understand how to help you maximize the compensation plan for long-term residual rewards? ASK!

For example: In a binary compensation plan…do they understand power leg and depth strategies or do they just regurgitate the “WE ARE EXCITED AND DOING THIS” mentality they got at the last rally?

Do they have proven processes to follow or do they just give you a compensation plan and say, “All you have to do is enroll this many, they enroll this many, and KABLAM…you are set!”

Any good business has strategies and processes that help you maximize your efforts. This is why positioning is so important! Do not fall into a company just becuase it has a great product or comp plan. YOU MUST HAVE THE RIGHT TEAM, TIMING, AND POSITION.

Network Marketing is difficult if not impossible to make huge money in BY YOURSELF. You need a collective effort and synergy. That is why they call it NETWORK marketing. Get it the right network. If you are in a dead network…move on…save yourself the time, money, and agony.

Success Point 10 in my Next Blog: “The Right Marketing Plan.”

Network Marketing – Success Point 8 – The Right Spokesperson

Point EIGHT of The 12 Points to a Successful Network Marketing Company.

The Right Spokesperson!

No, not your really cool upline person who has made a bazillion dollars. Not the doctor guy who was miraculously healed and has seen the light. Not some CEO who has motivational speaking criteria and talent. So who is the right spokesperson. I would answer that depends. What are the goals of the company? What are your goals? Do you want to look small and like any other network marketing company or do you want to be set apart. THE RIGHT SPOKESPERSON CAN BE THE “IT” FACTOR.

The right spokesperson is someone who is a well-known industry leader that commands knowledge of the product(s) and has maximum experience, credentials, credibility, and noteriety within their field way beyond the MLM world.

For example: If your company sold basketballs, Michael Jordan would be a perfect spokesperson. If your company sold household items or cooking stuff someone like Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray. You get the idea. Someone who is notable and well-known. Some dude who just got a medical degree and went on a safari to find the nectar fruit of the Gods, found it, and put it in a bottle is not the right spokesperson!

I know there are companies that have succeeded with mediocre or no great spokesperson but those companies are exceptions. Why do you think companies like Microsoft don’t just let any person do PR interviews? It is all about the image and using the right voice and face. They have entire divisions in the company just for PR. Why would a solid Network Marketing company expect anything less? Does your Network Marketing company have anything like this? A spokesperson?

I’m not saying to jump ship but be weary that if your executives do not understand this principle, especially in the MLM world, they are likely not in this for the long haul or they simply don’t get it. Distributors need someone who they can use as a credible and well-known source for the validity of the product(s). A great upline really helps but a spokesperson adds credibility and brands a company.

Success Point 9 in my Next Blog: “The Right Timing and Positioning.”

Network Marketing – Success Point 7 – The Right Funding

Point SEVEN of The 12 Points to a Successful Network Marketing Company.

The Right Funding!

Let’s be honest here. Most Network Marketing companies are not funded properly. I am not talking about the juggernaut companies that have been the 1 in 100 and beat the odds. Even some of those companies are cash poor and struggling though. I am talking about the majority of Network Marketing companies in a start-up phase or in their early years. Here is the problem:

Most Network Marketing companies only have funding to push them through the first few months or maybe a year. Do you want to be part of a company that is forced to sell off or close down due to funding problems? It happens more often than not.

You may be the best Network Marketer in the world but if Corporate is not funded properly, than plan to be sold off soon. Find out about it. Ask! Here is a question that most Network Marketing Executives cringe at hearing:

Are you internally funded or do you have funding shareholders that make decisions for the company?

Guess what? If the company is funded externally then your parent company may be sold off within the next 1-3 years. You have put emotion, energy, money, and promised a downline residual income and growth! You deserve to benefit long-term if you build! So why do so many parent companies sell off? It is simple. Network Marketing has become a fast grow fast sell business model for many executives. Many are oblivious or could care less how if affects distributors. They want to make a buck like the next guy and they do it their way. Run fast if the signs of lack of funding or buy and sell funding are there.

Another important aspect of funding is local marketing and international expansion.

Most Network Marketing companies do not have enough funding for lead generation marketing or international expansion.

Make sure that you are in a vehicle that can move and grow. We all know that international expansion is huge. Most will run out of money and sell off or fold well before international expansion can occur. All companies will talk the talk but look for the actions of those that walk the walk. You deserve success! Yo deserve a vehicle that is well-funded and that has a chance for a long life. Do not settle for less!

Success Point 8 in my Next Blog: “The Right Spokesperson.”

Network Marketing – Success Point 6 – The Right Executive Team

Point SIX of The 12 Points to a Successful Network Marketing Company.

The Right Executive Team!

It’s the catch 22 of every company today. With Corporate greed and selfish purposes, it is difficult to know who is being honest and who isn’t. I don’t have any official data to prove it but 80-90% of all Network Marketing companies start up with a 2-5 year exit strategy to sell off. It is the simple truth! Look into the history of various companies and you will see this obvious truth. Here is the problem!

Is Network Marketing the right industry for the sell off executive mentality? Is it fair to distributors? Motivate, excite, and promise long-term residual possibilities with the goal to sell off in 2-5 years?

The obvious answer is NO IT IS NOT! Network Marketing has become a platform for executives to quickly grow and sell despite how this may hurt distributors. They treat distributors like employees rather than independent business owners. To be bought and sold. Executives can be so worried about their sell strategy that they deceive and care less about distributors other than short term necessities. Simply ask executives what their exit strategy is. Do they plan to sell? Are they in it for the long haul? Recognize when they skirt around these questions and run fast if they do. WHY WOULD YOU START AN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS IF THE PARENT COMPANY IS SHORT-TERM AND WILL SELL OFF UNDERNEATH YOU ONCE YOU HAVE GROWN? If you thrive from jumping from company to company and live off of the world of short-term business life cycles, I certainly hope you do not preach the principle of residual income to your downline. This would be the greatest unethical ploy and lie you could make to others. Residual income is all about long-term sustainability of your organization and the parent company. So does this mean 80-90% of Network Marketing companies are unethically teaching residual income? You decide.

The next piece of the puzzle is EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE.

Do the executives have vast experience and proven track records of growth?…or…Is this a first attempt at Network Marketing for them. Ready! Set! Go!

I personally know a handful of people that have started Network Marketing companies with little to no experience in the industry. Simply put…they have all failed, are failing, or sold off out of desperation. Scrutinize the executives and their experience. If they are new to the industry, do not fall prey to their own learning experiences and failures. Make sure your company is rich with experience and proven track records.

You are investing time, money, reputation, and emotional energy in Network Marketing. Is the Executive ship you are in stable and built soundly or is it a structure that will sink as soon as some heavy waves hit? Be wise, choose the right company with a sound executive team, and your odds for long-term success will be greatly increased.

Success Point 7 in my Next Blog: “The Right Funding.”

Network Marketing – Success Point 5 – The Right Story

Point Five of The 12 Points to a Successful Network Marketing Company.

The Right Story!

Leadership is about trust, example, and experience. Individuals want something and someone they can believe in. Something that brings loyalty and excitement. Something that proves credibility. Something that can be long-term. A story isn’t just about one experience or one product, although that is part of it. The right story is a combination of you, your product, and your company.

Too many Network Marketers have no story or rely only on one compelling story, often times not theirs, to try and prove they are the best leader and opportunity to follow.

What is your story? What is your companies story? What is your product’s story? What is the story of your upline organization that sets them apart? Here is an example of a story…mine. “After being a top sales rep for a top 5 technology company and seldom getting rewarded for my efforts, I went into business for myself. I invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in franchising and franchise development just to learn that even in franchise ownership unethical corporate behaviors can destroy many. I entered the network marketing world and grew an organization but despite Headquarters best intentions, they lacked finances and experience and folded, forced to sell off. My downline and I were left hanging. It was then I committed to research and understand what makes  successful Network Marketing companies and to never bite again until the criteria I researched were met. After searching for over 2 years, I have found that company.”

Leadership and an organization are made up from a series of stories. Does your product have an amazing story that will motivate?

If your product does not have a unique and exciting story, it is likely that competition and/or something better will ultimately win.

What about you parent company? Are they just a bunch of cool executives wrapping up a product that is already in the marketplace, selling it under the MLM umbrella, and expecting to make millions? This is commonplace actually! Executives should have a unique story and unique product(s) that people will rally behind. Do your executives have Network Marketing experience? Have they grown other multi-million dollar companies or are they new? THIS INDUSTRY WILL EAT UP EXECUTIVES WITHOUT EXPERIENCE! Do they understand lead generation and the trenches or are they just suits with money?

If you want long-term stability and a company that will be around for a while…the right stories must be in place!

BE HONEST! Work with your upline to put your own personally compelling story together. Run fast if the red flags of corporate inexperience show themselves or if your product(s) all of a sudden seem “boring.”

Success Point 6 in my Next Blog: “The Right Executive Team.”