Mistake Number Four— Fear of Sales and Marketing

Here's Mistake Number Four from network marketing coach Terri Levine.

So many network marketers avoid terms like “sell”, “sales”, “marketing”.  They have negative feelings or stories or beliefs about the words and some even have negative attachment to the actual term “network marketing”. When you have unconscious thoughts like this (and those you are aware of) you will hold off on contacting people and serving people. You will talk yourself out of taking actions. You’ll think you are going to fail. You’ll believe people won’t have an interest. You’ll be convinced people won’t spend the money. You’ll be certain others don’t want to work the business as an opportunity.

If you are concerned about how others perceive network marketing and what you are doing, you will get in your own way with your negative self-talk. You’ll feel bad about “selling” to family and friends and will forget you are serving them with your products and service. You might even keep your network marketing a secret so people won’t laugh at you.

This lack of belief will cause you lack of success and income. Unless this inner story is shifted you can get all the training in the world and you will fail. When our inner beliefs aren’t in alignment, then our outer actions don’t manifest what we want. We actually push away what we want, often without awareness. In my experience coaching thousands of people, this inner framework is missing in all unsuccessful network marketers. Shift your beliefs and magic happens!

Tomorrow, mistake number five. Don't miss this from Terri on TransformingMLM.com/Resources.

Five Successful Secrets to Earning at Least
Six Figures As a Network Marketer
Five reasons network marketers never make a
real living from it, and how to change that.
Terri Levine
1286 words | 6 pages

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

We interrupt these Mistakes with...

... some clips from the NEW book:

People, especially authors, have been asking about the new direction of the re-incarnation of It's time... In Search & Praise of Network Marketing Excellence. Most all of what you read below will be in the new book. Hopefully, helpfully, this will give you a clear idea of where it's going— an authentic, intelligent, credible "expose" of what makes network marketing remarkable, from people who know. Enjoy

"I've come to realize that what network marketing-direct selling is really about, is changing people's lives and reeducating people into doing something they never believed they could do."
— Paul Zane Pilzer
author Unlimited Wealth

"I love the aspect of receiving the gratitude and appreciation when people get value from your products/services and others thank you for the income opportunities and new part-time or full-time career. What I really love best is knowing I am serving others. And knowing YOU are in control of your own income and earnings and aren’t limited by a paycheck is a liberating feeling!"
— Terri Levine
author Work Yourself Happy

"Is there a demand for someone to show an individual how to close the gap between the haves and the have-nots?
 
I think there’s a screaming demand for it, and it’s something that network marketing does perfectly. We show them how to close the gap. We show them how to spend their days doing the things that they really love doing, and at the same time, earn the amount of money they need, in order to live the way they choose."
— Bob Proctor
host of The Secret

"I know this business isn’t brain surgery and typically most people can do this. I do believe that network marketing is very much the “People’s Franchise.” It can be fun… it should be fun.  Yes, you can own your own life, and it isn’t magic and it’s not too good to be true."
— Jillian Middleton
founder SavvySponsoring.com 

"People who are successful in this business of network marketing are successful because they LOVE it. What a rewarding career for someone who loves people, loves the thrill of a challenge, loves the personal growth and the recognition, and why would anyone give up something that brings such joy? Networking gets in your blood, and like an adrenalin junkie who can’t wait for the next free fall off a tall building, once you find your way you will not be able to give it up."
— Shelley Penney
member of Team In Motion

"If I had it to do all over again, rather than build an old style type of business I would have started building a network marketing business."
— Robert Kiyosaki
author Rich Dad Poor Dad

Now, (remembering these are simple <snips> and each essay contains much more) may I ask:

Anything up there useful for you in changing negative perceptions family, friends, associates, prospects... the public, have about network marketing?

Anything up there inform, involve, inspire you?

Did you see anything "remarkable" about network marketing?

Please, let me know what you think.

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

Tomorrow, back to the rest of Terri's "mistakes". Her keys to success will follow...

The Five Deadly Mistakes (Three)

Here's Mistake Number Three from network marketing coach Terri Levine.

Failure to Connect With People Heart-to-Heart

Take the lack of credibility I described already and pair it with fear of selling and fear of pushing friends and family away and some old story that network marketing is a gimmick, or whatever negative talk you have spinning in your head (and trust me, YOU do if you're human!) and what you get is someone who is so focused on not offending people and so afraid, that they don't serve people.

You are in the business of serving people with your products or services. Instead of spending most of your time and energy worrying about what to say and how to say it and how to overcome objections and concerns and focusing on what actions to take next, like setting up a three-way call, etc… get focused on the right stuff! Network marketing is the business of relationships. You can lack knowing how to close and how to overcome objections and you can lack the “by the book” sales process and be a superstar in this business IF you focus on serving people and deeply listening and connecting with them.

To me there is nothing more important than coming from integrity and caring and serving other people. Be a superstar in making people feel good because you choose to, not because you are looking to “get” something in exchange. Have fun learning about people and be truly interested in who they are and what is important to them. When you tune in and connect from your heart, you will be a success in this business!

Tomorrow, mistake number four. And please don't miss this PDF from Terri on TransformingMLM.com/Resources.

Five Successful Secrets to Earning at Least
Six Figures As a Network Marketer
Five reasons network marketers never make a
real living from it, and how to change that.
Terri Levine
1286 words | 6 pages

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

The Five Deadly Mistakes (Two)

Here's Mistake Two from network marketing coach Terri Levine.

Don't really know their products/services

If you don't know all the facts and details about your products or services then you are not the credible expert. People see right through this. 

Potential customers are put off and so are your business partners who are looking up to you. 

If you can't fully explain all the features/benefits and answer customer and partner questions, then you won't succeed. 

People will not believe in you. If people always have to be three-wayed or have to speak with someone else in the company, you are not viewed as serious in your business and have lost your believability.

Don't miss this PDF from Terri on TransformingMLM.com/Resources.

Five Successful Secrets to Earning at Least
Six Figures As a Network Marketer
Five reasons network marketers never make a
real living from it, and how to change that.
Terri Levine
1286 words | 6 pages

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

The Five Deadly Mistakes...

Terri Levine is a coach... a coach of coaches (she operates Comprehensive Coaching U and The Coaching Institute)... and a successful network marketer, as well. Once upon a time ago, I co-lead a coaching program with Terri (and Sharon Wilson) titled Explode Your Network Marketing Business. Great fun and results and learning.

Terri's essay for the first version of It's time... was (still is) titled: The Five Deadly Mistakes Network Marketers Make... Revealed! (And the keys to your success!)

So, how about we cover one mistake a day...?

We'll start with Terri's intro, then Mistake One.

I have made serious money from the business of network marketing and believe network marketing has the opportunity to be tremendously financially rewarding and is a great way to be of service to others through your work. It is an amazing feeling to share products or services you are really passionate about and that assist other people. It doesn’t hurt that you also get generously rewarded for sharing those services/products!  And of course, there is the other benefit of helping others also find this lucrative career and get paid well by serving others.

I love the aspect of receiving the gratitude and appreciation when people get value from your products/services and others thank you for the income opportunities and new part-time or full-time career. What I really love best is knowing I am serving others.

In addition, network marketers work flexible hours, working from home, and work far less hours than those stuck in a traditional job JOB. Knowing YOU are in control of your own income and earnings and aren’t limited by a paycheck is a liberating feeling! With all these plusses, it is clear why network marketing is a booming industry!

What upsets me greatly is that more network marketers aren't making a real “living” from it and even the ones making money still aren’t earning what they really want to earn and what they really can earn.

This has bugged me for years because I have made a substantial income from network marketing and it has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I have been a coaching and training expert in network marketing for years, all over the world, and have coached network marketers who weren’t doing well, or who were just starting out, or had the desire to amp up their income. I have helped thousands and thousands of people to make a lot of money and create a prosperous lifestyle being a network marketer. I am passionate about network marketing and deeply believe in it and get sick and tired of seeing so many network marketers struggling and not enjoying financial abundance.

I studied this industry for nearly 25 years and I know the deadly mistakes those who don’t make a six-figure plus income in network marketing are making! Finally!

I will reveal the five deadly mistakes to you and urge you to fully digest them. If you are serious about making great money as a network marketer, I will also give you THE success system no matter what product or service you provide. 

If you want to do it your own way, heck, keep doing it and get more of what you lack. If you want to get what you desire, then get ready to learn how to have financial security as a network marketer!

I know that at first some of what you hear might be different and you might try to defend against it.  I request you let it in and allow yourself to try something new and get some brand new results NOW!

Deadly Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make

Mistake One: Not being in “business”

Network marketers who aren’t making great money don’t think of themselves as business owners. A lot of them don’t have the business basics like: a dedicated phone line, fax machine, fictitious business name, domain names, letterhead, brochures, ways to invoice, merchant status to accept credit cards, contact management software, etc. How can you expect people to do business with you when you aren’t even really in business? You have no credibility and this looks like a nice part time thing you are doing and people perceive you as being gone in a flash. (And they are right!)

Tomorrow, Mistake Two.

A PS: Please don't miss this PDF from Terri on TransformingMLM.com/Resources

Five Successful Secrets to Earning at Least
Six Figures As a Network Marketer
Five reasons network marketers never make a
real living from it, and how to change that
Terri Levine
1286 words | 6 pages

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

A disturbing thing... that's got to stop

This is an exercise I did to see for myself. Something was happening I knew was true, but didn't want to believe. No, not naive (okay, a little), just hate to see there are people doing the business this way.

Go to http://ebay.com
Click on the Health & Beauty category (down on the left)
Scroll down to Dietary Supplements, Nutrition
Click on any category listed below...

• Herbs, Botanicals
• Nutrition Bars, Shakes
• Sports Supplements
• Vitamins, Minerals

And notice the cases of products for sale at bargain basement prices.

As long as there is a network marketing, there will always be some number of closet qualified, garage qualified and (sadly) warehouse qualified "distributors.' Comes with (some) of the territory. But I cannot believe the kind of network marketing that has people buying products to qualify themselves and their group and then dumping what they cannot sell on ebay for dimes on the dollar is any way to build a business that will last.

Authentic, intelligent and credible network marketing that is not. And, it's got to...

And the only way I know it will is if none of us contributes to that behavior in any way.

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

"Well, let me make one thing perfectly clear..."

I am amazed that I cannot locate the reference for what I thought  was a most famous quote of Richard Nixon's. Ah well... and probably quite dangerous to use here with the infamous name and nature of the speaker. Hey, fellow Capricorn. And some will say I'm equally out of touch. So...

Let me make a number of things as clear as I can (and the reason I haven't up til now, is that these "things" are evolving as you read and I write).

The book
It's time... In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
... has gone back to the drawing board shifting it's orientation from "What's wrong?" with network marketing to "What's right?" I made a mistake. The subject of the book now is "in search and praise of network marketing excellence."

NO! I am not talking about some over-the-top, airy-fairy, hype-ladened fooey-gooey good news rah-rah.

I am talking about an authentic, intelligent, credible collection of essays whose authors are extolling network marketing's genuine strengths, uniquenesses, powers, values... those qualities that make this business remarkable. That's what I'm talking about. What Tom Peters did with In Search of Excellence and In Praise of Excellence. An exploration of what is best about this business.

Why bother?

Because the balance is needed to the overwhelming amount of criticism and negative focus on our problems and what's wrong with this business. (The new domain for the book will be: RemarkableNetworkMarketing.com)

So am I simply going to ignore the truths of that?

Nope. That will be covered by me and mine, here in...

The TransformingMLM/Weblog
I'll be using (with their permission) authors essay's from the original book to explore those "problems" and present "solutions". I am just not willing and able to make a book out of this material PLUS it didn't and won't sell as a book— certainly not in the numbers needed to be a successful publishing effort.

Now a network marketing "Book of Virtues"...? That's best seller bait. That's a book to inspire newbies, rekindle the flame under people gone asleep, and inspire a fire in prospects. That's THE book that wants to be written, so... I'm making it happen.

And, let's go grab the "what's not yet quite rights" and out-right bad BS and mistakes and take 'em on right here. Run 'em out of Dodge on a rail...yes! Here. Not in a book. Won't sell. Didn't.

And the third leg of my triple crown is...

TheMasterMindSessions.com
That's my shot at providing the knowledge, resources and skills training network marketers need to succeed at a price everybody can afford. $14.95 a month (and you can get it cheaper) for a growing audio library of the best people in the business telling you how they did it, sharing their stories and secrets with occasional in-and-outside experts, authors, coaches, trainers adding the "know how" of their specialized fields.

That's it. That's what I'm up to here and there. Hope it's more clear. And, It's time... we create a network marketing world that works for everybody willing and able to work. We have to.

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

It's not your fault! (conclusion)

Here's the conclusion of the previous two excerpts from Roberto Torres. And we're clearly dealing with Kung Fu Roberto, today. Head gear and pads highly recommended. You may not like what the man is telling you and... (of course) It's time...

______________________________

"The business model of a network
marketing business truly does drive
the behavior in the field."

I've found that 92% of the population doesn't like to sell and doesn't want to be sold. Here is an example:

When most people go to a store and a salesman approaches them and says "Hi, how can I help you?"  Most people say "No thank you, I am just looking." Why? Because they do not want to be sold and therefore if they do not like to be sold to, they do not want to sell to other people.

So, how good of a sales person do you think you have to be to move a box of a 30-day supply of a multi-vitamin pack at $117 each?

Pretty good, don't you think?

And let me ask you this. Who do you think is buying this? You don't know anybody who'd buy it. I sure don't know anybody who'd spend $117 for it. But plenty of product is being moved at company #1 and #2. Who do you think is buying it?

It's the distributors. The distributors are buying it. Why?  Because they have to qualify to get their commission check. That's the only reason they're buying it. This pricing doesn't create a retailing behavior.

Here Is a Real Life Example Of How To Use An MLM Product

Do you know anybody who suffers from a blood-sugar disorder like hypoglycemia or diabetes?

OK. This person that you know, do you think they might know 5 or 10 other people who also suffer from diabetes?

Yes, they probably would.

OK. Well, do you think they might be interested in a product that could help them rebuild the pancreas and possibly take them off insulin or help them cut down their insulin? Do you think they'd be interested in a product like that?

I bet they would. Do you think they can afford to pay $19.95 for that product?

Sure they could. In fact, if you had that product, you could even afford to gift that to the right people, using it more or less as advertising, couldn't you?

OK. Now what would you rather have? Would you rather have people coming to your website, purchasing this product for $19.95, all these different people sharing with each other, or would you rather be in one of those first 2 companies, trying to market a $117 multi-vitamin pack? Which one makes sense to you?

Sure. The diabetic product. And look again, why can this company afford to do this?

Because they are streamlined. It creates a retailing behavior. Average part-time people can do business this way. Anybody can purchase products at this price, because it's affordable. Does that make sense?

Of course.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!
This is really interesting— guess which company of those three pays more to the distributor in the compensation plan and requires fewer people to get you to a $10,000 a month income?

Yes, it's Company #3. How is it they can do that?

Simple. Less overhead. And now you're starting to get the picture. You're understanding why it's so tough for you to make money in network marketing.

Next question. As time goes on and the HIGH OVERHEAD business model of Company #1 & #2 continues, what is going to happen?"

Let me tell you what MUST happen. They'll have to raise the price of the products and pay less in the compensation plan. It has to happen. There's no other source of money for them, so there's no other way to pay for increased expenses. They've created a monster that they can't control. The only thing they can do to keep it going is to keep feeding it.

And this is where you'll end up paying $5 for a bar of soap, $20 for a bottle of shampoo, $100 for some liquid nutritional. There are MLM companies out there right now where you can find those prices.

What Has Happened to The MLM Icons?

And it will get worse and worse over time. That's why companies flat-line. You know the famous names of the big-time, old-line companies... they are flat lined.

So what do they do? They open new countries, because they cannot compete in the US anymore. Their product prices are too high, their pay plan is too not enough. Their US business and distributor base just falls by the wayside.

I recently read about a well-known nutrition juice company. The article had a lot of stories of people making money. The company has an absolutely gorgeous building, all decorated in a tropical motif. The building temperature is maintained high to be the same temperature as it is in the island paradise the juice comes from! They have a beautiful waterfall, a fountain in the foyer with their nutrition juice pouring out of it!

And what is this company doing to make money? They're opening up other businesses (not MLM) where they'll serve their juice along with other consumable items. Now, where is that money coming from? It's coming out of the compensation plan, and distributors are paying for it.

They say they're doing it to generate leads which will go to certain leaders in the company … which means that if any distributors benefit, it will be the heavy hitters— the ones who've already built big. It's just a way of transferring money from the part-time rep to the company and the heavy hitters!

You can look for product prices to increase and rep compensation to decrease. That's the problem when you do not have streamlined overhead.

The business model of a network marketing business truly does drive the behavior in the field.

______________________________

So, what do you think...?

Anything in need of TransformingMLM here...?

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

It's not your fault! (part two)

Picking up where we left off yesterday, Roberto Torres has been asking "Where is the money coming from?" The answer is of course... the men and women in the field. If the "business model" of the company is extravagant, misdirected or just plain dumb... the money to pay those bills has to come from someplace. The only "someplace" there is is the comp plan and that's your money.

In today's "installment" Senor Torres connects the dots showing how the business model impacts the price of the products: A flashy home office and sexy cars for the corporate execs is impressive stuff in the brochures and on the website, but... if it increases the price of the products by 20, 30 percent or more... how does that impact the "behavior in the field?"

Fascinating stuff. This one may not Inspire you, but Informed you will become I promise. Then, perhaps, more Involved. Here's more: (Today's picture shows the softer side of Roberto "Kung Fu" Torres.)

_______________________________

So what's the solution?

The solution is to find a streamlined MLM business model … one that doesn't feel the need have unnecessary expenses which will prevent the company from putting more money into the compensation plan!  I'll talk more about that in just a moment.

First, let me give you an example of how this high-overhead business model causes a 95% failure rate in this industry. Now you'll clearly begin to see how the business model drives the behavior in the field.

I'm thinking of three different companies right now. They all market the same product, a multi-vitamin pack. It's an awesome product, flat-out works, and all three companies market the identical formula, identical raw ingredients. Except Company #3 has also added to the formula a chelated enzyme to allow you to digest and absorb nutrients better.

Now, would you agree with me, that to produce that product, same quantity, same quality, same formula, the cost of production for those companies is within pennies or at least dimes of each other?

Of course it is.

Well, Company #1 markets a 30-day supply of that vitamin pack for $117. Do you know anybody who would buy it from you at $117?  Would you pay $117 for it?  Neither would I. So, do you think that average part-time person is going to be able to retail that product to someone, even family and friends?

I would say you don't. It'll be tough, no doubt. So therefore, you're going to have a challenge to retail that product.

Company #2 sells the same formula for $106. Less and still pretty expensive. You're still going to have a challenge retailing that product.

Company #3, which has the same formula except with the added chelated enzyme, so you can digest and absorb it better, sells the product for $39.95. Now, I ask you, is that affordable? Do you think you know people who may purchase that product from you?

Of course.

You know that 92% of the population does not like to sell or be sold. Yet 98% of the MLM companies out there promote a selling behavior— at those prices they have to— and this is one major cause of the 95% failure rate in this business.

Now, take a wild guess at which one of the three companies requires less people on auto ship to make more money?  Right company #3! Why? Less overhead.

Remember: The Business Model Drives The Behavior...

So what kinds of behavior do these different business models create in the field? Here's what happens.

People who market the more expensive products must spend their time recruiting. This is where the money is made for them. There's no money in retailing for them, because nobody's going to pay that high price for that product.

So what do they have to do? They have to recruit, recruit, recruit....

And what happens after you join them? When they sponsor you into the business, they have no time to work with you! You're in, they got the commission, and they have to move on to recruit the next person and the next. They don't have time to work with you. Their business is built on recruiting, because they can't possibly retail products.

Now, do you have any idea why Company #3 can afford to sell the same formula, with the added chelated enzyme for better digestion and better absorption, at $39.95? Why do you think they can do that?

“They must not have the overhead.”

Exactly. They have way less overhead than the other two companies. Their warehouse is in the warehouse district. No multi-million dollar home office. They take 97% of their orders automated over the internet, so they need very few actual employees.

Company #3 Has Less The Overhead Than Company #1 or Company #2

And... it's a more distributor-friendly business model with more money going to the coompensation plan for you.
_____________________________

Tomorrow, Roberto will dig down deeper into the residual impact (and how it affects residual income) these higher than needs be prices have on "the behavior in the field."

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

It's not your fault

Okay, let's get back to the business of TransformingMLM.

What I'm going to do is use the original pieces authors submitted as talking points here (with their permission of course). First up, a piece from Roberto Torres, titled Business Models Drive The Behavior In The Field. I admit, this is something I never really thought about before and... Roberto's point dropped on me like a very large brick. Check it out and let's discuss it.

But first, check out the magazine cover, just in case you have a question about whether or not Mr. Torres is a serious force to be reckoned with (yes, that is Roberto)...

Business Models Drive The Behavior In The Field

Are you currently building a network marketing business?

What would you say are your two biggest business challenges?

Would you like to do something about them?

I am going to assume you would. And here’s the first thing you need to know:

Some of the challenges you are experiencing are not your fault! The Cards Were Stacked Against You! You just didn’t know it. Therefore it is not your fault. And here is how they were stacked against you.

See, when looking at a network marketing company one of the first areas we should review is how the money is being spent by the company. Because the only place that money comes from in a network marketing company is from the compensation plan. This is how the distributors get paid and how the company gets paid. So, it's very important to understand how money is spent.

This occurs in several ways, but the way most network marketing companies do it is to go out and build a big multi-million dollar building, which we see on the brochures, the web site and the fancy flash presentation. 

So, lets say the building cost $20 million dollars to build, where did the money come from?

Did you just whisper the compensation plan? You are correct; the money came from the comp plan! Many times the company also builds these buildings in some of the most expensive real estate areas in their state. Now, you never get to use that building, yet you paid for it. How? 

Well, you see you are the company. The company pays you for moving products and marketing. The company delivers the checks and the products. You the distributor built that company! 

In network marketing, the only place that money is made, whether by the distributors or the company, is from the compensation plan. Network marketing companies do not have another stream of income that generates money for them. It all comes from the compensation plan.

So, when you see spending, that is money that will not come back to you through the compensation plan.

That's ugly enough, but it gets uglier. That beautiful building now requires maintenance. They need a cleaning staff. It has to be painted, windows have to be maintained, bathrooms have to be maintained, and these buildings get cleaned every night. They have a water bill, an electric bill, heating, air conditioning, property tax bill, landscaping bill. Everything you can think to keep that beautiful showy for all the potential distributors and the current ones to admire.

Where’s the money coming from?
That’s right; it’s coming from the compensation plan. Distributors pay that monthly bill. That is money you will never see come back to the compensation plan. It’s gone.

Now… when do YOU plan on using that building?

Did I hear you say, “Never!”?

Exactly. You will never use that building, yet you are paying for it. And that’s not all. Along with that these network marketing companies brag about their call center, a 300 person, 400 person, 500 person call center, so people can place orders 16 hours a day, 18 hours a day, 24 hours a day. The challenge is the every one of those people at the call center are employees of the company. 

They require a weekly salary, health benefits, dental benefits, sick leave, maternity leave, paid vacations, sexual harassment coverage, workmen’s comp, office space, desk, phones computers, typewriters etc, etc.   Along with that they are going to expect a raise and bonuses if they are going to work for the company for the next 15 to 20 years and lets not forget that they will also need a pension plan.

That is a monthly bill.

Guess Who Is Paying This Bill?
Exactly. You are! Again this is more money that will never come back to you in the compensation plan.

Now… as this business model gets older will it cost less money or more money in the future?

Sure. It’ll be more. As the building gets older, it needs more maintenance. The longer the staff works there, the more salary they expect. As the company grows, they’ll outgrow the building… and, of course, build another new building!  Where is the money going to come from? You guessed it the compensation plan. This is where you will start to see many network marketing companies raise the price of the product(s) and cut or flat line the compensation plan.
____________________

More from Roberto tomorrow.

So, what do you think? Did you know you paid for all of that? As said, it wasn't soomething I'd considered before. Hmmmmm. Perhaps...

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

More clarity

... or as Cartman would say clarité...

Some people have objected to the shift of direction for It's time... on the grounds that there's enough "rah-rah" and  "all happy, everything will work out, just keep your vision" and we don't need more of that bull skhta. Agreed.

And... What I am after and up to is to extoll the virtues of network marketing not drill down deeper into the problems. There are plenty of people doing that now, well and rightly, too. Kim, Len, Ty, others, are exploring and exposing the problems with intelligence based on an appreciation and love for this business and it's people. They are good at what they do. Better than I am at that.

There are others, lessor ones of questionable intent, who slam and spread dirt on the profession and its people out of whatever needs for recognition or some perverse inner "healing" of sorts they have going on. God bless.

I am the guy who wrote of The Greatest Networker in the World and was the founder of Upline®. I believe I have proven myself through out my career and I continue to be a champion of what is best and brightest about network marketing and network marketers. I've been doing it for 20 years.

Admittedly, I have been "over-the-top" at times. I think you'll see my recent work is much less so AND, I am passionate about what is brilliant, special and remarkable about this extraordinary business of ours and I can and do prove it! (Exhibit A: The People's Franchise. A PDF and mp3 are here: TransformingMLM.com/Resources.)

What I am after now, is something I whole-heartedly believe I am the best person around to be doing: putting together an authentic, intelligent, credible book that is as stated: In Search & Praise of Network Marketing Excellence. If that's something you are also after. Good. Because...

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

What's Wrong With the [Network Marketing] World...?

Some background for my 'considering' (close to fait accompli, but...) shift of intent for It's time... In Search & Praise of Network Marketing Excellence. A piece I wrote explaining/expanding on the work of Kurt Wright. This is part of my 'why' for a change of direction.

What's Wrong With the [Network Marketing] World...?

What wrong is the question itself.

When people and their enterprises are constantly focused on "what's wrong?" the creative energy required to sustain life is draining, and with it the Freedom, Growth, Fulfillment and Joy all human beings aspire to experience and express through truly living their lives. We have created a "negative world." Where ever we turn and look today, we see examples of the dissatisfaction and deterioration of the quality of life and work.

In this negative world, The Second Law of Thermodynamics (the tendency for all matter and energy in the universe to evolve toward a state of inert uniformity) rules... the Life Force (energy) of everything and everyone is running down,, dissipating, diminishing. The Law of Attraction— Like Attracts Like (a la the cult hit 'The Secret')— brings more negativity... more of what's wrong and what is not working. It is a downward spiral....

What is required to change this "State of Being" (for the planet and each one of ourselves) is a 180 degree SHIFT of focus with our minds from "What's wrong...?" to "What's right...?": From draining energy to building our individual and collective creative energies....

These "Five Right Questions"— pioneered by the work of Kurt and Patricia Wright into what human beings are like when they are at their creative, productive, fulfilled BEST— is a tool we can all use to make that shift. When understood, internalized and integrated into our daily conversations through practice and repetition... these questions unite the vital partnership of our head-and-heart, resulting in a constantly increasing creative energy for accomplishment and the fulfillment of our on-going Life purpose....

More, explaining the Five Right Questions in detail, here on the TransformingMLM/Resources site or by clicking the title below.

What's Wrong With the World...?
Explaining and expanding on Kurt Wright's "The Five Right Questions",
taken from SpeakingandListening.com
John Milton Fogg
589 words | 2 pages

My shift of focus with the book It's time... (and much else in my life and work) from 'What's wrong?' to 'What's right?' is essential and fundamental. Desperate? Perhaps. Focusing on what doesn't work, what's missing, what's broken, bad, screwed up was killing me... and the book. Hence, a 180 of sorts. I say 'of sorts', because many/ most of the essays in to date end helpfully and hopefully. Problem/ Solution. Good things. And as said, with the author's permission, to be posted here.

I do not want my role to be the critic. As said, there are enough of them and they are all better at it than I am. I live in a glass house after all. No, I want to re-embrace being a champion of network marketing... all that it is and does that's genuinely remarkable. That's missing today. And what fills the void is inauthentic, unintelligent, not-at-all sensible hype, misinforms and lies: the "I was blind, but now I see" and "$10,000 a month for five to 10 hours a week effort" claims and wonder-worm "catch 'em every time" fishing for people lures.

The Greatest Networker in the World celebrated what's right with network marketing. Upline® as well, in every issue by profiling successful network marketers sharing their keys to creating that success. It's time... to focus on what works here and what it is that makes it work Then, after that and only then, will we have the creative energy to entertain the ideal... what's not yet quite right... and what will it take to make it so...?

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

Feedback on the feedback about...

... the thread What would a book be like...

Fascinating stuff, both sides. Thanks.

And from private email: "...your change of direction is a gross sell-out...  self-reverential/rah-rah junk... you're doing really dumb stuff" and "I wouldn't do it" to "feels right... hot damn!..." and "do both books. I'll buy 'em" along with other assorted high fives.

Let me respond to Ty Tribble's comments and give you some further background for your and my thinking, feeling and acting on the matter.

Ty >>In order to fix the problems associated with Network Marketing, we must acknowledge them...

JMF>> 'We' are. You Ty, in your Multilever weblog and Kim Klaver and Len Clements and the MLM Vampire Hunters and forums here and there... are doing that job and you are doing it authentically, intelligently and sensibly. Other 'experts' and forum pontificators, not so. Point being, 'What's wrong?' is fully represented, expressed and explored.

Ty>>The MLM Hype artists do an excellent job of talking about all the good parts of our industry, but never have so many sharp minds addressed the problems. That got me excited.

JMF>> What I propose is not 'hype' nor the men and women I will enroll in the project 'artists' of same. And yes (Kim, dear) there will be some chest thumping and drum beating and my insist is if that be so, then it must be 'authentic, intelligent, sensible'. I'll fall short on that and let some 'over-the-top' stuff through (by someone's somewhere standards) I'm sure. All in all I am/the book will be In Search & Praise of Network Marketing Excellence. And yes, because It's time...

Ty>> Now it sounds like we want to go back and appease the MLM Happy People by writing about "what's so special" about Network Marketing.

JMF>> 'Appease', oh, please... No Ty, more Inform, Involve, Inspire. (And I'll add an explain and some additional resources in another post or three for anyone interested in the 'What's right? What's working? What's special... brilliant... remarkable? approach to 'problem solving'.)

Ty>> Would I read and enjoy a book like that? Of course I would. Would it (the book) change the perception of the Network Marketing industry? I doubt it.

Back in 1992, I was part of an effort that resulted in this:

The highest-ever selling issue of Success magazine. It was both creator of and created by a giant leap forward and (I say) upward for Network Marketing public awareness and professional acceptance. It's time... to do it again withe. In Search & Praise of Network Marketing Excellence.

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

What would a book be like...

... that had 40+ of the best and brightest hearts and minds in this business writing about what's so great about this business of ours— what's so special, so smart,  brilliant, fascinating, leading-edge, revolutionary... what is it that makes Network Marketing so remarkable?

Would you read and enjoy and learn great things from a book like that?
Would you want the people in your organization reading that book?
Would you lend or give that book to your prospects?
Would that book have an impact on the profession of Network Marketing... maybe on the world?

My answers to those questions I've been asking myself over and over again for a week have been 'yes'— every time.

Hence, I am 'considering'. I believe my multi-level mind is already made up, but I say 'considering' because it's a pretty big an' bold shift— lots of unreasonable requests made to all the contributors (like write a whole new piece)... delaying the pub date... some number of disgruntled purchasers... and even more work for me...).

This would dramatically change the direction of the book It's time... In Search & Praise of Network Marketing Excellence. What I'm thinking of doing literally-literally (which means 'word-for-word') looks like starting over.

True to what I asked them for, the authors submitted essays that followed this 'formula' I gave them:

1. Pick a 'problem', describe what makes it wrong, then...
2. Provide the solution with the answer to "What will it take to make it right...?"

Simple. Straight. And that's what they did. But...

Then I had a revelation. The 'subtitle' says it; "In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence." Clearly, two points loom largest. In Search and Praise and Network Marketing Excellence.

But that's NOT where the book was going. It was focusing on what's wrong. True, then we set it right, which is a good thing, but was it a 'celebration' (in search and praise) of what's best and brightest (excellence) in Network Marketing...?

No. (And there's more to say about the consequences of that later.)

So, what if that's exactly what the book It's time... did?

Please, look at the questions up above I began with a second time.

Please, tell me what you think and feel.

You can comment on the weblog here.

Or send me an email.

Listen... Learn... and build a better business.

   _______________________________________________

                          The Master Mind Sessions
   _______________________________________________

   This is John Fogg.

   I'm posting to 'notify' you (like a proper Network Marketer)
   about a new project I'm doing...
   
   It's part of my efforts Transforming the business formerly
   known as MLM.

   And boldly asking for what I want...

   I want you to clearly see value and importance here...

   I want you to be impressed enough with how good this
   all is that you subscribe right away...

   And I want you to be so enthusiastic you tell every Network
   Marketer you know to do the same.

   Here's what I've created:

   http://TheMasterMindSessions.com

   In Think & Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill wrote, 'No individual
   may have great power without availing himself of the
   'Master Mind.'

   The Master Mind Sessions offers recorded conversations
   with experienced and knowledgeable people in-around-
   and-outside Network Marketing/Direct Sales: authors,
   speakers, coaches, trainers and been-there, still-doing-
   that business building leaders. Literally, the very best
   experts I know (and the new ones I discover).

   The purpose of every Session is to help you build
   a more successful Network Marketing enterprise.

   I priced the subscription so everybody can afford it. The
   best 'deal' works out to $1.70 per Session. As one
   subscriber wrote, 'Neiman Marcus goods at Wal-Mart
   prices.' It's true.

   I'm asking you to check out the website. Read the 'Intro',
   page, which tells you clearly what's on offer and answers
   three important questions... then be SURE to review the
   Sessions page, which lists all the current and coming
   programs and added support material. It's very cool.

   That's it. That's all. The url is:

   http://TheMasterMindSessions.com

   And if you don't subscribe, please make the time to

   tell me why in an email. I think this is a very good thing.
   Honest, maybe the best I've done. So, please, let me
   know what you think...

   Thanks.
   I appreciate you!

   ps. I truly believe we can make a Network Marketing
   world that WILL work for everyone who sincerely works.
   Having quality knowledge, skills and resources like what
   I've assembled... available at a price every one can afford,
   is the best (only, really) way I know to achieve that....

URGENT: Only five two days left for you to submit comments on the FTC's proposed Business Opportunity Rule...

Mea culpa for the rush due to my lateness, but I just got this up and working yesterday. (Bit of a miracle that; a whole website up and running in less than 36 hours! Another story, another time.) Here's the deal:

There are many MLMers running around like Chicken Little saying 'The sky is falling' on Network Marketing. Others (far fewer) saying this (rule) is a good thing. The FTC has proposed a new BusOp Rule that mandates a seven-day waiting period ('cooling off') before signing up new reps (from first contact), a laundry list of required full-disclosure 'reporting' (archived for three years), regs for earnings claims... and what's being proposed does go on and on and...

Two things (I think) are most important:

   1. YOU are aware of this 'Rule' and clearly understand it and it's implications.
   2. YOU get to 'Comment'. (Your voice/vote is heard and hopefully counted.)

Washington D.C. operates on the principle espoused by the late senator Everett Dirksen, 'When I feel the heat, I see the light.' So, what's hot and not on the FTC's proposal is up to YOU.

The Direct Selling Association, MLMIA, DRA, and other 'industry' trade associations are lobbying (some passionately). You get to Comment, but (here's my mea culprit) you've only got five days— deadline for your input is Monday, July 17, 2006. (Which means, I believe, in-the-mail by Saturday morning.

As I said up top, I just completed TheMasterMindSessions.com website. The first 'Session' and additional support material is free (all we request is an email address) and it's all about this FTC BusOp Rule business. Here's what we have on the site for you. (First bit is a one-hour-ish mp3, the other two are pdf, all direct downloads.) The Session itself with Len and Spencer interviewed by me also has an <intro> and <preview> you can listen to first.

MLM FTC RIP...?
Len Clements and Spencer M. Reese 
An advocate and a 'devil's advocate' discuss the proposed New Business Opportunity Rules from the FTC- Federal Trade Commission. There's more agreement here than debate. Informative, intelligent and sensible stuff and not— as they both say— something distracting you should have your people avoid learning about. Timely, too. The comments period ends this July 17th.

Here's the additional support material:

The FTC's Proposed
Business Opportunity Rule
The proposed rule represents a serious challenge for direct sellers, because it contains onerous obligations that will restrict their flexibility in recruiting new distributors and dramatically compromise the confidentiality of distributors.
Spencer M. Reese
868 words | 5 pages downloadable PDF

FTC Proposes New Business Opportunity Rule
FTC to wipe out MLM industry in July
From the TransformingMLM.com/Weblog posting April 30, 2006, and MarketWave ALERT #60 April 29, 2006.
Len Clements
2356 words | 10 pages downloadable PDF

Now, I am well aware that this post and my offer has 'advert' written all over it. And, I'll take that risk. This is important for you to know and understand. It just happened this way that the FTC Session is my 'give-away sample'. But, I don't know how else to get this out, fast and fair. I'm hoping since I'm giving it away, that will earn any forgiving I may need from you.

AND, TheMasterMindSessions project is part of the TransformingMLM movement, NOT part of the website. Making the kind of business-building information available at a lower than fair price is a straight shot at helping shift that '95 percent struggle, fail, quit...' (lack of) business.

The url for all the above is: http://TheMasterMindSessions.com. To get the material, all I'm asking is a legit email address for an opt-out alert of new Sessions.

Please, let me know what you think of TheMasterMindSessions project and please, COMMENT. It's important. Democracy and all that...

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

Plan B...

If AWOL is Absent With Out Leave, is AWL Absent With Leave? Hope so. I'm back.

If some one hasn't said 'The greatest achievements most often come from Plan B', they should have. (And yes, I just did.) So, here's a part of the first part of Plan B for TransformingMLM.com.

The short back-story is that people don't know what the book's about. It's an Amazon.com time and place and the Internet has made today's commercial world one where we all get to 'try it before you buy it.'

With my project TheMasterMindSessions (not ready yet, but please Lord soon...), I'm offering a pretty complete 'taste' of each mp3 Session: Title, description paragraph, guest expert(s) name, plus both a (casual) recorded intro and a preview, as well as a write up of any added material like an ebook, additional mp3 or PDF. That outta' do it to have people know enough to select that Session or not... also to know if they want a subscript to the whole deal or not.

So, do the same with the book It's time... In Search & Praise of Network Marketing Excellence.

Three or more times each week, I'll post the title, description paragraph, author's name and picture, plus the first x-number of words of the essay. (Not sure how much is appropriate. Of course my tendency will be to do offer too much. I will rein myself in. I will.) At the end of each excerpt will be a more>> link, and of course, 'more' will be buy the book, because that's where more is.

When we transform the TransformingMLM.com website (which cannot be until August), we'll do a conventional site, which will include this weblog and we'll continue adding Resources, 'cause that'll give purchasers alike knowledge I think they need about who and how the authors are, plus add some value to the experience of the website. And, we add a full blown Table of Contents section where all the essay posts made here are there.

So, that's the plan... Plan B. And if Plan B needs a Plan B? 'Create and adjust. Create and adjust' Robert Fritz used to instruct. Now, what will it take to have him write an essay?

Let me know what you think, please.

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

It's time... for some changes

Distracted away from It's time... and TransformingMLM for a bit (apologies), focused on another project long in the making (year and a-half or more) and one of the most important things I've done in a while: The Master Mind Sessions. (More below if you're interested)

It's time... In Search & Praise of Network Marketing Excellence, the book, is coming along nicely... considering that getting these flying here, convention there, globe-trotting, business-building authors, experts and distributor leaders is exactly what herding cats must be like.

Denis Waitley emails: 'I am enroute to Capetown, South Africa and thence to Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Can't seem to stay away from that region.' 'Talk with you next week, for sure' from Jerry Clark three-plus weeks ago. And Schreiter... is Houston that bad that he's never home— ever? Lord bless.

Plus, adding new authors (no matter what, it's never enough) and hence chasing even longer deadlines; Wendy Weiss (just has too many really practical, put to work now things to say about how to connect with more prospects better), like that.

I'm more committed to the excellence of the result than the 'by when'. I'll probably make a PlanB on the website re-do and 'leak' the content to purchasers in digital fashion before the book/report is printed. (An idea suggested by a number of authors and buyers.)

And, gott'a re-do the entire website presentation. Survey says, 'People don't have an clear idea of what's in the book and why they should buy it'.

(Now connecting the dots with the afore mentioned project: The Master Mind Sessions. Here's rough copy for the website's first page. The lesson learned and improvement for It's time... follows:)

Listen... Learn... and build a more successful business.

Hi, this is John Fogg.

The Master Mind Sessions offers recorded conversations with experienced and knowledgeable figures in-around-and-outside Network Marketing/ Direct Sales: authors, experts, coaches, trainers and been-there, still-doing-that business building leaders.

The purpose of every Session is to help you build
a more successful Network Marketing enterprise.

At least three new 50 minute (or more) Sessions will be posted each month as mp3 files you can download directly to your computer or ipod® and listen to when it works best for you. Most Sessions will be supported with added-value material, such as PDFs, ebooks and additional mp3 audio files to provide further clarity and expand your knowledge of the subject matter.

Clicking the Sessions link (here or above) will take you to a page where all the Sessions are listed by title with the release date, description and featured guest expert(s). There will also be <intro> and <preview> audio clips, so you can sample each Session. Once you make your selection, you'll move to a individual page to either login to your subscription or make your payment and get access to the mp3 and support material.

The lesson is in that bit about <intro> and <preview>.

My sense (and initial responses of reviewers/ designers) is that title, guest expert's name(s), full description and  'the taste' of the introduction and preview (anywhere from 3 minutes or so to almost 10 minute clips) allows people to know what they're getting.

I've avoided tastes in the past, because they struck me more as 'tease' and I don't like that kind of marketing. But... supermarkets and gourmet food delis have been doing that with people-pleasing sales successfully for years with their 'free sample' routine. (Just visit WholeFoods Market on any Saturday. Some people go there just for the rare real free lunch.)

So, hence... on the new website for TransformingMLM  and offering the book It's time... Table of Contents (as essay's are edited and editor makes complete). Title, description, author and some number of words/ paragraphs from the piece. Enough to taste, chew, swallow and even digest.

Then, at least, folks would know the value of what's on offer.

The only bit I don't like about it is the more>> (where more>> means 'If you want the rest, buy the book'.) I just remember feeling resentful about that kind of thing at times, like buying into a rare TV watching only get 'To Be Continued' at the end of the incomplete program. Arrrggghhhh.

It's all about learning. Besides...

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>

And, re: The Master Mind Sessions. I'm going to take the (some people will give me 'quit trying to sell me something else' flack) risk of letting you know when the website's up, because of the timely and free nature of what's right below: Our first 'Free Sample' is a doozey— with a deadline. Here's what it's about:

MLM FTC RIP...?
Len Clements and Spencer Reese
An advocate and a 'devil's advocate' discuss the proposed New Business Opportunity Rules from the FTC— Federal Trade Commission. There's more agreement here than debate. Informative, intelligent and sensible stuff- and not, as both men say- something distracting you should have your people avoid learning about. Timely, too. The public comments period ends this July 17th.

<intro>   <preview>

When you select the title you will be taken to a separate page where the mp3 and the extra PDFs below can be downloaded.

The FTC's Proposed
Business Opportunity Rule
The proposed rule represents a serious challenge for direct sellers, because it contains onerous obligations that will restrict their flexibility in recruiting new distributors and dramatically compromise the confidentiality distributors.
Spencer M. Reese
868 words | 5 pages downloadable PDF

______________________________

FTC Proposes New Business Opportunity Rule
FTC to wipe out MLM industry in July
From the TransformingMLM.com/Weblog posting April 30, 2006, and MarketWave ALERT #60 April 29, 2006.
Len Clements
2356 words | 10 pages downloadable PDF

I think it's very cool. But then, I would... I love this kind of stuff. (Hope you and yours do, too). The rest of the line up is (almost?) as sexy... and the price is absurd— as in low, really low. Best deal is limited time $1.70 per Session.

Let me know, please, what you think of any and all the above.

People only do what's important to them...

As a student of It's time... author Kurt Wright (from the book Breaking the Rules, which you can and should learn about by clicking the title link), I learned about the 'What will it take...?" question.

With anything not yet quite right or an ideal you envison, the leading (or driving, your preference; leading seems more of the stuff of vision to me) question 'What will it take...?' more often than not generates an 'inspired action' in answer.

So, my question for TransformingMLM and the book It's time... is:

What will it take to have as many of the right people as is possible buy this book... use this website to acquire more and better skills and learn about new ideas and resources to help them build their businesses successfully... and be willing and able to tell others about both?

If you have any 'inspired action' answers, email me, please.

This book is truly important.
This 'movement' (revolution or evolution) is very important (perhaps even essential), too.
Because...

It's time...
In Search and Praise of Network Marketing Excellence
You really should buy a copy here >>