Cultivate relationships!

I am a firm believer of building, not burning, bridges.
If you agree with this philosophy, you will love the following article by
Jeff Keller.
To receive a monthly motivation newsletter from Jeff,
go here. http://www.attitudeiseverything.com/


Networking That Gets Results

Much of the motivational literature and many seminars focus on individual effort as the key to success. Take responsibility, they say. Develop a positive attitude. Set goals. Move into action. All of this, of course, is great advice. But only to a point.

While your success certainly starts with you, it grows to higher levels as a result of your relationships with people. Simply put, you won't succeed on a grand scale all by yourself.

That's why networking is so important. For the purposes of this article, let's define this term as the development of relationships with people for the mutual enhancement of our personal and professional lives. Networking is a way to get leverage on your own efforts and accelerate the pace at which you attain results. After all, the more solid relationships you build, the greater your opportunities for success.

To build an effective network:

1. Project a winning attitude. This is a given. If you are positive and enthusiastic, people will want to be around you and to help you. If you are gloomy and negative, others will avoid you.

2. Participate actively in groups and organizations. Effective networking and relationship‑building takes more than paying dues, putting your name in a directory and showing up for meetings. You must demonstrate that you will take the time and make the effort to contribute to the group. Therefore, volunteer for committees or serve as an officer. This shows people your ability to work as a team player and helps to reveal and develop your skills.

3. SERVE OTHERS in your network. This is the absolute key to building and benefiting from your network! You should always be thinking, How can I serve? instead of What can I get? If you come across as desperate or as a "taker" rather than a "giver," you won't find people willing to help you. Going the extra mile for others is the best way to get the flow of good things coming back to you.

4. Be a good listener. In your conversations, focus on drawing other people out. Let them talk about their careers and interests. In return, you will be perceived as caring, concerned and intelligent.

5. Call people from time to time without a hidden agenda. Ever hear from an old friend who supposedly phones just to say hello, but then gets to the "real" reason for the call? How does that make you feel? To avoid being perceived in this way, take five minutes each day and call one person in your network simply to ask how he or she is doing and to offer your support and encouragement.

6. Take advantage of everyday opportunities to meet people. You can make excellent contacts just about anywhere ... at the gym or on line at the market. You never know from what seed your next valuable relationship will sprout.

7. Treat every person as important -- not just the "influential" ones. Don't be a snob. The people you meet (whether or not they're the boss) may have a friend or relative who can benefit from your product or service. So, when speaking to someone at a meeting or party, give that person your undivided attention. Don't gaze around for "more important people" to talk to.

8. At meetings and seminars, make it a point to meet different people. Don't sit with the same group at every gathering. While it's great to talk with friends for part of the meeting, you'll reap greater benefits if you make the extra effort to meet new faces.

9. Ask for what you want. By helping others, you've now earned the right to request assistance yourself. Don't be shy. As long as you've done your best to serve those in your network, they will be more than willing to return the favor.

10. When you receive a referral or helpful materials, ALWAYS send a thank you note or call to express your appreciation. Follow this suggestion only if you want to receive more referrals and more useful information. If you don't acknowledge that person sufficiently, he or she will be much less likely to assist you in the future.


Remember that networks are built over time and that significant results usually don't show up immediately. So be patient! Build a solid foundation of relationships and continue to expand and strengthen them. You'll have to "put in" a lot before you begin reaping the big rewards.

Now, go ahead! Select a few of these networking techniques and implement them right away. Get to work serving and improving your network. Then you will truly have an army of troops working to help you succeed!



-- Jeff Keller © Attitude is Everything, Inc.

The Ten Commandments of MLM Recruiting

- by Doug Firebaugh


1) Thou Shalt Recruit through Your prospects eyes.

So many times when we are trying to recruit, online or offline, we do not take the time to see what our prospect is seeing. Your prospect is looking through THEIR eyes, not yours, and has no clue to how you see things...the only thing that matters to them is how THEY see things...and the recruiters who take the time to learn what their prospect is looking for, what is important to them, and what isn't, will have huge success. Your prospect has a dream for their life, and you must look through that "dream lens" of theirs, and see what they are looking to happen with their life, and show them how you can help them get it.

2) Thou Shalt Focus on Relationships, not just Distributorships.

Power Recruiters in this business understand that the Gold in this business is a long term relationship, not a short term distributorship. That is why most people cannot recruit...they are focused on a paycheck, not people...(CLUE!!!!!)Power Recruiters also know that people are more ATTRACTED to someone who cares about THEM FIRST- then the business. You must be a friend first, before you will ever get to second base...and what makes more sense?

Recruiting for a Long term retirement producing business, or a short term paycheck? If you focus on your prospect and learn about THEM as a person, not just as part of the process, you will find your results will skyrocket. Relationships are magnetic...Magnetize your Distributorship with Relationship Recruitng!

3)Thou Shalt Garner Leads Everyday.

Leads are the lifeblood to any distributorship. And most folks play the " Baking game" in recruiting. Instead of going out and getting new leads daily, they go out and hold onto their existing leads, and wait for them , like a cake in an oven, to bake and turn into HOT leads and ones that will come into their business. Are you a chef? or a leader? You MUST have a methodical plan and system to create and find leads daily, and to quit the "baking game"..which in reality is the "faking game"..you are faking at doing this business by holding onto leads that you hope will turn into prospects, even after a negative response, but never do. The Magic is in the Multiples....and the Lotto is in the List. Continue daily to get at least ONE MLM lead a day to create enough numbers to talk to that will create enough of a paycheck to talk about.

4) Thou Shalt Draw Them In.

When you recruit, you must draw your people into your "world"..We have a saying at PassionFire..."Meet them in their world, and then lead them to yours..."..What that means in order to attract and draw your prospect into your presentation or conversation, you must start in theirs ...Find out what is important to them, and the what they want out of life...then wrap your presentation around that. Ask lots of questions, and paint a picture with your words with them obtaining their dream....look them in the eyes, smile, touch their arm, nod your head, talk their language...don't get too technical...and meet them first where they are in life...and then take them to where you can lead them....that's Power Network Marketing Recruiting.

5)Thou Shalt Educate, not Regurgitate.

You must understand that Recruiting is an education process , not just informing and regurgitating facts. People want to learn...that is their nature when they are looking at doing something...but many folks "Dump" all they know on them, and suffocate them with Information, not education. Recruiting through an Education Focus is a process, step by step, not a Firehose program. And educating the prospect also is giving them the information they want to learn about, not just what you want to talk about.(CLUE!!!)Education is a whole less intimidating way to recruit too...all you say is..."I don't know if this is for you or not ...worse thing that could happen is you could learn something.."

6) Thou Shalt Communicate Hope, Possibilities, and Belief.

When you recruit, you should have a presence about you that screams Hope! Possibilities! Belief! And that is what you create in your words...."How would it feel to have total freedom?"...Imagine you obtaining that house you want for your family.."..." Wouldn't it be incredible if...".."Can you feel the joy with..'... All people are looking for more Hope in their life, the hope that life will turn out better than it is. All people are looking for more possibilities to increase and improve their life. And all people are looking for more belief that they are on the right track, and belief they can have a more richer and fulfilled life. You must create an environment of Hope, Possibilities, and Belief when recruiting. That "oxygen" will prove to be Explosive..

7) Thou Shalt Know the Fortune is in the Follow Up.

It does no good to make a presentation and do all the initial recruiting steps...if you don't Follow Up. Get this: Follow Up is where you get paid! The earlier steps are just leading up to it. If you want to create a fortune, create a system to follow up, and stick to it, and make it duplicatable as well. If you discovered a Gold Mine, you would want to finish digging and finding the gold vein. It's the same in the follow up. There is no paycheck with out a call back! (CLUE!!!!) The fortune is in the Follow Up...No Follow Up, no Check going Up!

8) Thou Shalt Not Close...But Navigate.

We teach "Navigators" to get the decision for the application...why? The last word in close..is Lose....and if a person doesn't close someone, they see that as a losing situation....how about navigating them to a decision that is right for them, and without pressure, help them make a decision that is right for their life...Can you be persuasive? Absolutely! but be mindful that if this business is truly NOT for them, they may know someone who it is for......What are Navigators? They are simply phrases that help guide the prospect to the finish line. They are Powerful, and deadly....

9) Thou Shalt Shake the Dust Off Your Feet.

The Greatest Teacher that ever lived told His Disciples "If a town doesn't find your message in accord...shake the dust off your feet...as a testament against that town...". Incredible advice! Understand these 3 things: ...Not everybody is for this business. ...There is no one blinder who can see, but won't. ...They aren't rejecting you, but themselves from success. If you carry with you all the negatives that you can get in this business, they become "Anchors' on your business. Release them and shake it off, and move forward. Look for people who are looking for you...

10) Thou Shalt Know the R.I.A.F.O.L. Rule.

What is that? It stands for Recruiting Is A Form Of Leadership. Period. Why is that True? ...You are asking someone to follow your lead into a business. ..You are asking someone to follow your lead into a business. ...You are asking someone to follow your lead about a product... ...You are asking someone to follow you into an unknown future.

And when you recruit, people are looking to FOLLOW you, not just sign up with you..(CLUE!!!!). They will be looking for Strength and Solidity in you and your direction and Leaderhip. The most Powerful recruiters in the world have a Leadership Presence and focus about them If you are not strong enough to follow, you will not be magnetic enough to join in Network Marketing.

Leadership is the secret to magnetic recruiting..You are asking someone to follow your lead...but first, you have to be worthy of following.

These are the Ten Commandments MLM Recruiting...use them and let them Empower your Business... Doug Firebaugh PassionFire Intl http://www.passionfire.com

People don't care how much you know....

...until they know how much you care.

Ah.... those words set me free !

You see, I work a home based network marketing business. I have become used to people over the years questioning my motives.
"You only want me to join so you can make money"
"You're only saying THAT so you can....."
"You just want to SELL me something...."
Oh and my favorite....."What are you getting out of this......"

Ok, so here'e the thing, and this comes straight from that place inside of me that only I can see.

I CARE.

I care about my customers. I want them to like their products, and get the results they expect. I honor my company's return policy, and I feel bad when my customer feels they need to return something. I follow up after a sale, to see how they are enjoying what they purchased.

I care about my company. I support their policies without complaint. I work hard to offer suggestions in areas that may be lacking. I freely provide my expertise to everybody whether they are on my team or not. I work with the people who have influence to bring their awareness to things I think could work better. I do not complain publicly EVER about my company or anybody else's.

I care about my industry. I deeply care that there are some unethical practices by people who just want their share. I care about the reputation of MLM as a whole. I care that there are people in other businesses that are floundering without support or a clear path. I care very much when an MLM company goes "under" because I know it affects a lot of people and their families.

Most of all, I care about my team. I lead by example, treat everybody with respect, teach what I know, and don't burden them with my problems. I don't gossip, ridicule or disregard their concerns.

You see, in this life, what you send out truly does come back 100 fold. People want to be treated fairly, they want to follow a leader who has their best interests at heart, they want to trust. Success carries a price, and it is important to realize that in network marketing, the price is responsibility to those who have placed their trust in you.

Do I need to make money?? Oh, absolutely! I have children, a mortgage and expenses just like everybody else. But I refuse to make money on the backs of the people who trust me. As a result, I have found success that many only dream of.

I was lucky enough, early in my career, to find someone who cared as much as I do, who taught me the skills and knowledge it would take to succeed, with patience and consistency. Now I have the priviledge of passing that knowledge on to a new generation of networkers.

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.

We're All "Self Made",

We're All "Self Made",
But Only Millionaires Seem To Admit That!
By Joe Schroeder

1: Failure is a privilege exclusive to people with grit in their crawl and who spit thunder. In other words, failure is singular to people who exercise their potential and work successfully until everything comes crashing down.

2: In plain English, failure is only for those who "build it up" and then watch it crumble.

3: Naturally, we could do a series of newsletters on how "failure" is really success. Because as the good book teaches us, there is always an equal seed of equivalent good (potential and opportunity) in all that we on the worldly plane perceive as failure. And there are those (including myself) who would prefer to erase the word failure from their vocabulary. And replace it with the working philosophy of "falling forward fast".

4: Nonetheless, because we have been conditioned from childhood about the meaning of failure and all that it represents, I believe this failure is a noteworthy subject. Especially when "failure" has become synonymous with MLM for the most part.

5: Case in point: Most Networkers would say that they have "failed" at network marketing.

6: Including me. And I've said that I have and did (fail) on numerous occasions and have retold many of my "struggling" stories on at least a half a dozen (6) of my MLM audio training tapes!

Most Networkers Never Even Get Within a Mile of Failing at MLM.

The Truth Is, Most Networkers Never Even Really Get Started!

7: But like I said, failure is an honor. And usually a reaction to extreme effort and concentrated discipline. And yet, the majority who dabble in MLM ultimately walk away from MLM or they hop from program to program saying how "that deal didn't work" and "how that one didn't work either", when all along, they never got started in the first place!

8: Which erases any notion or even ability of failure. Completely. It's like, how could a bridge collapse if it was never built in the first place?

9: At the same time though, it's become convenient for loads of Networkers to point a finger at MLM, like it was some dirty little sneak or something, because MLM "failed" them or "hurt" them in some way. When in fact they never even actually got started!

10: And listen, you know as well as I know that buying $500 in MLM marketing "tools" isn't any closer to true MLM or networking as is co-op advertising. Which I do both of. But neither of those marketing exercises is networking.

11:and yet, "Johnny" will join an MLM, mail out 1,000 audio tapes (the poor sap!), not even get two enrollee's, quit - and then say "I failed at MLM". Or how MLM is a scam.

12: The truth is, hanging a shingle out saying you're a doctor doesn't make you a doctor. You have to "practice" (work) to be a real doctor. And until you have enrolled at least 10 and built a downline of 50 you have never truly "networked" or for that matter, even ever failed!

Nature Has An Amazingly Simple System.
Here's How It Works: Use It or Lose It!

13: The world and universe is perfect. And we can witness its perfection through its perfect balance. For without its perfect balance there would be chaos. The planets would collide with each other, the sun would fry you until "crispy brown", and we'd all be drowned by the tides of the ocean.

14: Nonetheless, we live in a perfectly systematic universe. And if you doubt that, just peek out the door and think about that tree outside, that's over 40 feet tall that has stood erect for over 50 years.

15: Have you ever thought about that? Thought about how perfect and balanced trees are! Notice how even if they look slightly out of kilter, they are still perfectly symmetrical. That's because the apron of branches are used like the horizontal pole the tight rope walker uses to shimmy across his tight rope. For balance.

16: And when we look at tree's what we don't see are the roots. Which are in length and size to the direct proportion of the tree itself. For balance. And what we are looking at when we look at nature is perfect engineering.

17: Thus, when we look at man, we are also looking at perfection. And we are also looking at a living organism (man) that is looking for complete and total expression.

18: Just as a creek seeks a stream and stream looks to connect with a river and the river searches for the ocean. Always seeking total expression. Then, in perfect balance, the waters of the ocean raise to the sky. Only for one reason: So it can rain and redistribute the water and start all over again. Right back to the creek! Like I said. Engineering perfection.

19: As it is with man.

20: Oops, but wait. Wouldn't a "perfect thing" also have a system to eliminate the weak parts and faulty "switches and plugs" so to purge itself of impurities and rebuild itself?

21: Of course it does! So to keep out chaos and resume it's perfect balance.

22: That's why when man doesn't use his arm, it shrinks to a skinny stick-like limb.

23: That's why when a creature seldom moves, it becomes fat and lethargic. Ever see how fat cows are?

24: That's why when man seldom exercises his "balance" (of performance) he gets depressed, sullen and out of whack. Much like a "pool" of water. Ever smell a pond? Did you ever notice how smelly they are? Well, that's because it's out of "flow". And not cycling, circulating or in sync without anything around it.

The balance of failure is perfectly engineered, because it gives each of us a measuring device from which to monitor our balance with perfection and to determine our own weaknesses. So much so, that in every failure (seen as a defeat by "winners" and never a failure) there is an opportunity for correction, as Thomas Edison and Abraham Lincoln found out. With that being said, we can only define failure as one thing. A blessing in disguise!

Nature's Uncanny Ability To Push The Defeated To The Top

25: If you have been paying attention, studying history and mapping out the life stories of successful inventors, leaders of industry and star athletes, you will have noticed how nature has an uncanny ability to put people of ability, vision and persistence at the top of all organizations. But that honor never ever comes without the **price of money.

26: Which is the painful agony of defeat and failure. Early on.

27: Just as nature looks for the "strong to survive" (so they can lead and procreate), notice how nature doesn't allow a tiger or lion to feed until they have had eight to ten failed attempts at catching their six o'clock dinner. Which can take days on end.

28: Now look at man. Now look at who leads every and all organizations.

29: How could we classify them?

30: It's easy. Winners are always losers, failures and rejects. At first. "Out of the gate".

If You're a Bona Fide Networker,
Chances Are You're a Total Loser!

31: Just name someone. How about Sylvester Stallone, John F. Kennedy, Bill Gates, Colonel Sanders, Ray Kroc or how about Helen Keller, Janet Reno or Oprah Winfrey!

32: All losers right?

33: Ah, but the distinction and "greatness" they now have been identified with can be related to how well they organized their failure. Most people never really try anything, or if they do try, it's usually never (A) hard enough or (B) long enough. And even if they are trying, they aren't really "doing the thing" and instead simply getting ready to "do the thing". Any adult can put a bicycle together. But not everyone is ready to hop on and go for a ride!

Programmed For Success Through Organized Defeat

34: Success is really organized defeat. What successful losers have in common is their ability to program themselves for success. Even with chaos, defeat and failure all around them and applauding their every move. Just another defeat. But alas, the ultimate winner is the loser who uses his own personal initiative, imagination and definiteness of purpose to overcome the road blocks and pave themselves a highway to high achievement. But usually never without the agony of earlier defeat.

35: Remember, the engineer of the universe asks that leaders come forward to lead. So in it's search for those people, they must be tested first through defeat and second by persistence. That's why we hear, "never give up". People in the "know" know about organized defeat!

Learn To Use Defeat As A Weapon:
Either For Self Destruction or Survival

36: Failure is for the elite. And defeat is for people of action and people with discipline. And if you doubt that, just watch a beggar on the street or notice "couch potatos". You have to do the thing in order to measure any defeat. In other words, how can you say you "failed" at MLM if you have never enrolled five to ten people, grew a group of twenty or fifty and then LOST it all. I'm saying you can't. You can quit or be a quitter, but failure is reserved for the worthy.

37: What's more, failure as we have learned here, is not only a good thing, but a blessing! Because the winners then take the statistics and faulty actions and reverse or rearrange them for their own self elevation. Stop, just think about your self. What did you used to totally screw up and fail at, that you eventually measured, rearranged and succeeded at?

38: Now, in relation to network marketing this is what I'd ask you to do:

Do not see or entertain the notion of defeat until you have exhausted all possible avenues of activity. Failure to do so as outlined will breed procrastination and disbelief within yourself. And then resulting in self-destruction through lowered self-esteem. Known as depression.
Do not allow others to "get away" with telling you they failed. Winners won't usually waste your time with their own "trail of tears", because they are too busy celebrating all of their own successes. Which were born out of their defeats!
But alas, the weak will use their illogical and nonsensical notion of failure and their own defeat as an excuse for them to remain stagnate. So all you do is remind them, "Hey, did you ever have a working downline of 25 to 50 in your group"? And if they say no (and most will) simply ask them "then how can you measure whether you succeeded or won if you never truly did anything"? (Make sure they read this outline you are now reading)
Remind people and remind yourself that "failure is not an option" when organized defeat is within your re-programmed mind. And that failure is simply an acronym for quitting. And no one likes to be a "quitter". Read and highlight this report numerous times. Until you get it.
Network Marketing is not about ad co-cops, mailing postcards or anything to do with mail order prospecting. Instead, MLM is about people, relationships, leadership training and the subsequent duplication of that process. Nonetheless, some people foolishly will equate their (lack of) success as communicators and as "Networkers" and as "leaders" based on whether or not the ad "pulled" or whether or not they "pulled" a 2 or 3% response rate to their mailing list. Which is not only absurd, but a reversal of values. It's so silly isn't it?
What I'm saying is that you can not call yourself a failure until you quit. And you can't possibly (dare) say that MLM has failed you until you have exercised every possible avenue and worked MLM until the day you die. You just can't. And anything short of that is quitting.
What's so exciting then, is that with this outline here, we then can give ourselves the liberty of time (perseverance) and the honor of measured defeat. Which always, albeit not at first, leads to success. And that's good news worthy of discussion and worthy of sharing with the world. Which is my passion and which I am honored to share with you!
**Man does not work for money. Instead, man works for the freedom he can exercise through the accumulation of income. Which money can certainly buy. If you track backwards what money can do, starting from the end, which is the joy, it would look like this:
(5) Joy of service to family, friends and society
(4) sense of freedom
(3) better choices (
2) more time for recreation and novelty
(1) the accumulation of money.

Growing an international business.

It is naive to think one can grow a successful business on the backs of their friends and family

That is a quote from a very wise friend of mine in the Network Marketing Industry, but don't you think it is valid right across the board? I really don't believe in "making a list of your friends and family" unless of course, you want to. The fact is, it really doesn't matter HOW you get your business leads, the only thing that matters is that you get them. Some ways of prospecting are suited for certain people, and in fact there are so many different ways to meet people who are looking for what you've got that there is rarely a need to step TOO FAR out of your comfort zone. However, if you are a very shy person, you may have to take a bigger step than most.

I am going to go over a few ways that you can meet interested people. Be prepared to spend a little money... your advertising budget. It doesn't have to be a lot, but if you don't have any money at all, you will have to work much harder.

How to get exposure
YOUR LOCAL MARKET

• RENT A KIOSK- You know- like in the local mall. Have a brightly colored display - showcase your product or have bright posters, pass out flyers, offer a FREE gift (I like ballot boxes, because you can get a lot of names and numbers back)


• TAKE OUT A NEWSPAPER AD- If you don't have any experience writing ad copy, ask someone to help, or look for ad writing secrets online.


• PLACE A RADIO AD- (see above)
  
• POST BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FLYERS- on bulletin boards in malls, daycare centers, truck stops, gyms, salons/spa's, community centers, or anywhere you can think of that people gather. (if you don't have the time or the inclination to post advertisements all over town, give a couple of local teenagers $20 each to do it for you, and make sure you ask them to keep a list of all the places they posted) I personally like the flyers that have "pull off tabs" with your phone number.


• DOOR TO DOOR and/or COLD CALL TELEPHONE- Do a market survey that asks specific questions that would be useful for you to know for your business. (I know most people hate door-to-door but trust me, I have met people who love it).


• TRADE SHOWS- again have a "FREE" give away OR ballot box.


• PUT ON A WORKSHOP- Teach a topic that relates to what you are promoting. Offer to give a free workshop to specific groups that may need your services OR rent a hotel meeting room and advertise your workshop. Bring in a key speaker if you are not comfortable doing the presentation yourself.


• HOOK UP WITH THE LOCAL "Welcome Wagon"- Many communities have a Welcome Wagon service. Check them out in the Yellow Pages or online. The service they provide is very inexpensive, and I have found, very lucrative indeed.

Outside of your local market

• NEWSPAPER/RADIO- now if you are creative, this does not have to cost a lot of money. I jusy recently placed an ad in a city in Mexico (newspaper classifieds) for $40/ 8 weeks. I found it online and they took paypal.


• PURCHASED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY LEADS- I won't claim to be an expert on biz op industry leads, except to say that the more targetted and fresh they are, the better your chances.


• JOIN AN ONLINE NETWORKING COMMUNITY- such as LinkedIn or OpenBC-- Be careful to be professional in your contact though. These communities are BIG on relationship building, and networking in the true sense of the word.


• START A BLOG-- :-) and offer helpful advice.


• START A SAFELIST-- I won't go into what that is, for the people who don't know, but for those of you who do, you can start one HERE.
  You can even get them with a list started(200-700 members) It will cost you $10 a month.


• LEAD CAPTURE PAGE - Create one yourself or have someone do it for you. Chris Moos at http://gizmosystems.net can design a great one for you and send huge volumes of traffic at a VERY good price


• ONLINE RESUMES- lots of opportunity seekers out there.

Now use YOUR imagination. The thing about ideas is that one often leads to another. Make sure once you have your leads that you have a system to back it up, and you are ready and rolling!

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.

Google Sitemaps- Get your site indexed

If you have a website, and you haven't heard of the Google site maps program (Beta) yet, trust me, you will!

Google has told webmasters that they want to index all the pages of your site, and they want your help in doing so.

Enter, Google site maps.

Basically, Google is asking webmasters, who want all of their pages indexed in the google search engine, to create a. XML file that will tell the google robots exactly where to find all of the pages of your site. This is good news! Google is saying you don't have to wait anymore, for their bots to "find" your site as they traverse the internet. You can literally TELL them where to go, and not only that, but in your file, you can tell them how often to come back.

Now, submitting a site map to google will not affect your page rank, but it most certainly will help you get all your pages crawled.

Google has a tool that you can use to create and submit your site maps, but it is definitely not a tool for beginners. You need to have access to your server, to install software, and you have to have at least some programming experience, from what I can tell.

I have found a very easy web-based site maps generator that will crawl your site for you AND create a site maps XML file for you. All you have to do is give them the URL for your site. Their bot will crawl your site, create a map, then all you have to do is save it to notepad and FTP it to your root directory. Find them here.
www.tarrantit.com/GoogleSiteMap

There are many online site map generators out there, but this is the only one I have found so far that actually crawled (and found) all the pages of my site.

If you have a website, but have no idea what I have just said talk to the person who helped you set up your site, and tell them about Google site maps. It is going to be VERY important in the future!

Before you submit your map to Google, go to
UpTimeBot
and check link popularity and # of pages indexed in all the major search engines.
It is a good idea to keep track, at least on a weekly basis, of how your site is doing, especially if you have a lot of dynamic content.

Read more about Google Site Maps here directly from Google.
Google Sitemaps Login

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.

Competition-- Get resourceful !

A shopkeeper was dismayed when a brand new business much like his own opened up next door and erected a huge sign which read 'BEST DEALS.'

He was horrified when another competitor opened up on his right, and announced its arrival with an even larger sign, reading 'LOWEST PRICES.'

The shopkeeper panicked, until he got an idea. He put the biggest sign of all over his own shop. It read 'MAIN ENTRANCE'.

Sales in a jaded world.

There's no doubt about it, if you are going to ask for people's money you are in for a few bumps. People want "things", and "stuff", but they don't want to be sold.

I started out in sales with the thought that everybody would love my product simply because I loved it, and I just couldn't imagine that someone else would not

I was right...........partly.

Sure, enthusiasm, and the love and knowledge of your product will go a long way, but that is really only a small part of the equation. In order to effectively sell a product or service, you need to give people what they need or want, and in order to know what they need or want, you have to ask a few questions, and listen closely to the answers.

The first thing you need to do is get to know your product. The ingredients are not really important (as long as it is not toxic). What you really want to know is how your product will make this persons life better.

Once a person's basic needs are covered, they will spend their money on products that will improve their quality of life in some way. Most people today want new technology, convenience, health and/or youth. (not necessarily in that order) Your job as a representative of your company or product is to discover how your product will add value.

Be prepared to answer common questions, and know enough about your product or service to overcome simple objections. Keep in mind that people really do want to buy things. They just want to be sure it is worth it.

This is true whether you are promoting your business opportunity, or a tangible product that people consume, or an intangible such as travel certificates.
Have you ever heard the expression "This product is so good, it sells itself"
Oh, don't I detest that, when somebody is trying to sell me on their business. Don't think for a minute that if you just sit there filing your nails, your energy drink is going to go door to door in your neighborhood. A good product still needs a good presentation. It is up to you to find out why it is good, and match your market to your product. It is always a good idea to back up your claims with testamonial. What results have other people found. Use the product yourself, so you have personal knowledge, and pass out samples to friends or business partners, and ask for their written opinion, to use in your presentation.

If you take time to understand the needs of your customers, you will be well on your way to a long happy career in sales.

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.

You have to hit the ball before you can run!

It seems our email boxes are full of opportunity, doesn't it?
How in the world can you tell when a real chance comes
along?

Well first of all, the companies that have been around
for a long time, made the most money, produced the most
wealthy people, all require an investment of some sort.

All the FREE, FREE, FREE, can't do a thing for you.
No money coming in, no money to pay you.

Yet, it is true that network marketing is the single best
opportunity for the average person to become financially
independent.

But statistically, only 5% ever achieve the kind of success they dream of.

Well, in order to fail you have to try first. Most people never
get off first base. They don't want to work at it. They want it
handed to them like it's their inheritance. But that's the same
in any industry. Have you ever been in management? How
many people will work hard to get a promotion? Maybe 5%,
if you're lucky.

But given that, the whole intention behind network marketing
has been lost. All it was ever intended to be was a network of
friends sharing news about great products. Word of mouth
advertising. And the companies gladly pay you for bringing
in business.

But that means you have to have used the product and love
it for this whole concept to work. Otherwise, you have
No credibility. How can you really endorse something
you've never even tried?

But there is another very important area where MLM fails.
And that is developing people.

If you were running a retail store, would you just hire a
bunch of people and let them go off and do whatever they
want? Of course not! That would be suicide.

So why do people think they can do that in this business
and still survive?

You have a responsibility to the people that you bring
into your business. While they technically are not your
employees, they are your proteges. You cannot set their
hours, but you can set expectations. You can be hard on
them. After all, they came to you to become successful,
didn't they?

Run it like you would any business. If you care about your business and the people you bring in, train people. Give them the resources they need. Give
them encouragement. Give them everything you can.
When they do perform, praise them, reward them, give them recognition.
All those things you would do if you were in a "normal" business.

I believe that anyone who is serious about this business
has a responsibility to help other do it right. Until we
see more of that happening, this business will continue
to be plagued with failure.

Shelley Penney is a residual income specialist an author, mentor and trainer to the home business industry.

What you need to know about people

by John C. Maxwell

Successful leadership is about 90% people knowledge and 10% product knowledge. Henry Ford once said, "You can take my factories, burn up my buildings, but give me my people and I'll build the business right back again."

You can have strong people skills and not be a good leader, but you cannot be a good leader without people skills. In my thirty plus years of leadership, I've discovered that many people in leadership positions fail to ever gain a proper understanding of the people they lead. As a result, neither they nor their people ever reach their potential.

But successful leaders are able to discern the needs of their people instinctively, and then take action to meet them. The following is a list of the most common needs of people and how to meet them effectively. Though every item may not be true of the people you lead, take the time to determine what items do describe them. Then commit to take the proper action to put you and your people on the road to success.


1. People Like to Feel Special … Compliment Them.

The highest compliment a person can receive is one given by his or her leader. Mark Twain said, "One compliment can keep me going for a whole month." Take the time to notice your people's work and don't hesitate to tell them when they've done a good job. Make a habit of being generous and sincere with your compliments.

2. People Look For a Better Tomorrow … Give Them Hope.

Jean Kerr said, "Hope is the feeling we have that the feeling we have isn't permanent." In other words, when your people are having trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, remind them of the purpose of their work and help them envision what their work will accomplish. With hope your people will work harder and longer to see a task through to completion.

3. People Need to Be Understood … Listen to Them.

Every leader would be wise to heed the Cherokee saying: "Listen to the whispers and you won't have to hear the screams." Don't judge what your people want to tell you before they've told you.
Take time to understand their point of view and listen to their suggestions. It's the best way to ensure that they've been listening to you and it opens the door to innovative ideas for improvement.

4. People Lack Direction … Navigate for Them.

Don Herald said, "Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it." Part of your job as a leader is to help your people figure out what they're most passionate about, and then help them pursue it. Sometimes that may involve a position change within your organization or even allowing a person to pursue another opportunity. But when you understand that effectiveness comes as a result of surrounding yourself with people who love what they do, it's not difficult to let a person go who doesn't enjoy their work. Spend your best time developing and giving direction to those who are passionate about the work your organization is accomplishing.

Tom Peters said, "Techniques don't produce quality products or pick up the garbage on time; people do, people who care, people who are treated as creatively contributing adults." Before you ask anything of your people, make sure you've taken the time to understand and meet their needs. In doing so, you will give yourself a decided edge in maintaining their continued support.

This article is used by permission from Dr. John C. Maxwell's free monthly e-newsletter Leadership Wired available at www.INJOY.com.

John Maxwell is founder of The INJOY Group ( www.injoy.com ) and a noted authority on leadership and personal growth. He has written more than 30 books, including such New York Times best sellers as Failing Forward and The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership .

Ethics

I spend much time browsing the internet, looking for good resources to help my team grow a business. In my travels I came across this gem

Scott Sedwick of www.hyperformancemedia.com talks about ethics. Those of you who know me KNOW that ethics are incredibly important to me!

Thanks, Scott, I couldn't have said it better myself!

Ethics - in a profession or trade - is that branch of philosophy which studies the principles of right and wrong in human conduct.
Is your business ethical? What I mean is "Does your business do the right thing when faced with that decision?" It's a simple question, which many businesses struggle with. I just don't understand the struggling part?

I have worked for companies that believed they were ethical, and really have no clue. Meaning the decisions they make everyday towards their customers and employees does not advocate ethical behavior.

So, what is it? When someone in business gives you their word and then reneges, that is unethical. Your word is your promise. Even if it is your business making the statement.

Doing good business and being a good employer is more than your product or policies, it is the guidelines in which you do your business. I am continually disappointed in how many unethical businesses exist today. I have worked for some of them, and they just don't get it... they 'talk tough' but when the decisions are finally made, I can't fathom what motivated them come to that decision? It was not necessarily 'doing the right thing'.

Yes, I know profits are pinnacle to most, but that IS NOT the bottom line! The bottom line is how your customer, partner, client or prospect walked away from their experience. What's so hard to get? It also helps you feel good about yourself and your business, which helps us sleep (live) better too!

Treat them the way you want to be treated... I mean it! Don't say something you have no intention of backing up with your actions. Keep your word in business, in compensation promises, in client promises, in every day business. This is pinnacle!

I don't want to ramble here, but some businesses need a wake-up-call (yesterday). What puzzles me is why? When you do good business, you get more good business. I'm not just talking about the Enron's™ or Arthur Anderson's™ of the World, I'm talking about every type of business out there, in almost every industry.

If each one of us refused to do business with these unethical companies - we would have a lot fewer of them. Be one of the ethical ones. Do good business, keep your word, don't venture into gray areas, and do the right thing! Sure, it will occasionally cost you something, but it will pay you back, and it won't cost you your dignity or pride or any true profits. Isn't your business worth it? Or how about your personal reputation? Do you care?



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Try this: The next few times you're faced with 'doing the right thing'?
Well, when you do it - do it with extreme pleasure!*


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*This will pay you and your business back ten-fold. Why? Because that person (customer, employee, client, etc.) is going to tell at least 3-20 other people (potential customers who also like to be treated well). Remember, you did it with extreme pleasure, they're not just going to say they received a refund, or a promotion, - they're going to be jumping up and down at how well their situation was handled! - Make someone else's day! - you'll be surprised at how well your day goes. This is one definition of viral marketing, and it works!

I look forward to running into more good, ethical businesses out there - hopefully yours.

Remember - Doing good business rewards your business with more of it... we're all here seeking to do business with reputable firms and real people, let's do just that.

The upside? If your business does good ethical business - Then you are already ahead of a good chunk of your competitors! There's opportunity here. Keep up the good work, partner with other 'like types' and only do your personal business with other more ethical companies, like yours. We could see a decrease in our unethical competition very soon.

Thank you for allowing me to voice my thoughts and encourage the type of business that helped this Country, it's people, and ethical businesses - Grow.

Written by and Copyright © Scott Sedwick
www.hyperformancemedia.com

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.

Notable quote !

"Although at the moment they may be equal in their lack of
a real answer, the man who replies "I'll find out," is much
more valuable to his employer, his neighbor, and to himself
than the man who replies "l don't know." -- Anonymous

Hobbies don't pay !

How serious are you about your online or offline business? I meet people ALL the time who say they are serious, but when it comes time to actually get things done, they have something else to do.

Here is a simple truth. You will NOT make money simply by sitting back and hoping something happens. It's very simple.... if you want to run a business, you have to treat it like a business!

That doesn't mean you have to eat, sleep and breathe your business. I mean, the beauty of working from home, and the biggest "pull" for most people is flexibility and the ability to spend more time with friends and family. Many people who run home based businesses are juggling work, family and a multitude of other commitments. So how do they manage all of it, and still find success?
Very simply, time management!

Let's examine how the successful people in the industry get that way.

#1.First, write down on paper exactly what you want to accomplish over the short term, medium term and long term. This is a very important first step, because it helps you psycologically to commit to your business over the long term. You can call this "goal setting" if you want, but I just look at it as "a plan".

#2.Once you know what you want from your business, take a few moments to think about exactly what you have to do to accomplish this. this means, truly reflecting on what tasks you have to perform on a DAILY basis. If you are new to your particular business, and you are not exactly sure what you need to do, pick someone who has already done it, and ask them.

#3. Educate yourself, about your company, products, mission statement, success stories and take advantage of all the training your company offers. All successful companies have tools that will help you succeed. Doesn't it just make sense to take advantage of them?

#4. Learn while you earn. This is a hard one for some people. There are many people out there who think they have to know everything before they can actually get to work. Let me help you put this into perspective for a moment. Think back to the last time you started a new job. I will guess that there was an orientation, or training period. When you finished that orientation, did you know absolutely everything there was to know about your job? Of course not! It is impossible to learn about every possible scenario in a chosen career. You can't get experience by reading about it. Experience only comes by "doing it".

#5. Make a schedule, and stick to it no matter what! This is important. So many people allow themselves to become distracted by daily life crises. It takes a little discipline, and sometimes you need to educate your friends and family, in order to work successfully from home. If you are able to commit 2 hours a day to your business, then write it in your schedule, and plan to work those 2 hours, no matter what comes up!

#6. Do something for your business EVERY DAY! It is not what you do once that will bring you success, it is what you do daily. You need to do "money making tasks" every day in order to see success over time. Once it becomes routine, you will crave the activity. Motivation follows action not the other way around. Have you ever started an exercise program? If you have, you probably were like most people who started because they had a particular weight loss, or health related goal. It probably wasn't easy at the start. You had to force yourself to do it every day, but once you started to see results, you were motivated to continue.

#7. Take time every day for reflection. Evaluate your tasks, and ask yourself if what you did today brought you closer to your goal. Daily reflection is how you learn what works and what doesn't. If you never take the time to evaluate, you may find yourself doing unproductive tasks over and over, and getting nowhere.

#8. Celebrate your small successes. Realize that before you can make a million dollars, you have to make a hundred, and then a thousand. The smaller successes will help to keep you focussed, because your progress will be measurable. Understand that you need to commit to your business, and your daily tasks over a long period of time.

If you follow these steps, and be a student of your successes and failures, you will continue to grow, learn and earn.

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.

Living Richly

Every day is filled with opportunities for richness. To see those opportunities, all you need to do is look around with an open heart and an open mind.
There are places you pass quickly by every day without even noticing. Take the time to stop and explore some of them, and you'll find them filled with wondrous treasures.

There are people in your life whom you see all the time but you've barely even met. Take the time to get to know them, and you'll find yourself with some fascinating friends.

There are things that interest you that you've never fully explored. Take the time, make the effort to discover and fulfill your passions, and life will take on a new level of meaning.

Living richly has very little to do with how much money you have. Living richly has everything to do with how deeply and sincerely you appreciate the precious blessing that is your life.

Rather than letting the little things get you down, allow the real and meaningful things to lift you up. Make the choice, in each moment, in every situation, to live with richness, because you can.

-- Ralph Marston

Don't you just love Ralph Marston? I have included a link, at the top of this blog, to the "Daily Motivator". Go ahead and click on it. I start every day there!

Feed your mind daily with positive thoughts, and watch your business soar.

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.

The Millionaire Mindset.

What does it really take to be successful at a home based business? If you just had the answer to that question, there would be nothing left to do but the paperwork, right?

Well, get out your pens, because I am going to tell you the "secret"!

The secret is......there is no secret!

Success is simply an attitude. Nothing more, nothing less. When you have the right attitude, you do the work required, because you already know what the result will be. When you have the winners attitude nothing can discourage you, because you know that you will hit road blocks along the way, and you can over-come them and learn. When you have a Millionaire mindset, you don't allow others to "steal your dream"!

What does "having the right attitude" mean, exactly?

Having the right attitude means believing! It means trusting that your company and your colleagues have your best interests at heart. It means embracing your opportunity as THE BEST opportunity for you to succeed.
It is commitment to yourself!

The right attitude means KNOWING with absolute certainty that you are on the right path.!

Follow these very simple words of advice to get yourself on the road to your dreams.

• Learn about your company.


• Learn about your products


• Surround yourself with successful, "big-thinking" people.


• Remove the "negativity" from your life.


• Feed your mind


• Celebrate your successes


• Focus on activity, not results


• Believe

Let's examine each of these points.

Learning about your company, and learning your products accomplishes a couple of things. You need to identify with your company and their products, in order to clearly get a vision of your future with them. Now, I could sell you just about anything, at least for a little while, but if I don't personally think the product is "worth it", my long term success is going to be pretty dismal. In fact, if I do not align myself with the company and the products, it will eventually seriously affect my attitude.

Surround yourself with successful, "big-thinking" people. If you don't know any, than go shopping for some new friends. Here is a fact for you....you will become most like the 5 people you spend the most time with ! (Thankfully, my husband is a really great guy! ;-)

Look at your circle of influence with a critical eye.... Do they think positively? Add value? Disregard gossip? Praise, not criticize? Now, an even MORE thought provoking question.... Are you someone you would want to spend a lot of time with?? I have spent a lifetime cultivating friendships. I have an internal thermometer that measures the "hot" factor. After many years of conversing with everybody who has crossed my path, I naturally gravitate to the confident, out-going, friendly, "life-of-the-party" person. That 'some-one' who inspires me, challenges me to think, question, justify.....That special person who attracts a crowd of followers, who somehow leaves me feeling empowered. I surround myself with people who want what I want, who are working with others, who have more knowledge, more experience. These are the people I want to be more like. I also attract those bright, new, "up and comings" who smile a lot and work hard, think laterally instead of linearly, and just simply make me feel good.

This brings me to the next point.... remove the negativity from your life.
I once did an exercise, suggested by a colleague. For 24 hours, I wrote down every negative thought that crossed my mind. Everything from, "I'm tired" to "these pants make me look fat" to "eeewwww, I hate brussel sprouts" ! Well, when I factored out the hours I spent sleeping, I averaged a new negative thought once every 20 seconds ! This might surprise you until you actually start keeping track. Don't you know that you are what you THINK you are Now, every time I think something negative, I automatically cancel it with a positive thought. I DO NOT allow my friends, colleagues, or family members to gossip or say bad things that will affect my day. I learned a long time ago that I am a very sensitive person, in tune with the feelings of others. It truly is a character trait that has brought me far in business, but also has the potential to be overwhelming. So, as a matter of course, I have very strict rules about what I allow "in".

Feed your mind daily. This is one of my favorite points. You see, all of your life, events, and experiences have shaped how you see things, and it is human nature to limit yourself by the boundaries that parents, teachers and well-meaning friends have set for you. If you want to do something remarkable, you first have to understand that other people have accomplished what you are setting out to do. Haul yourself off to the library and grab a book from the "self help" section, or the business section, and find something inspiring. If your company has books or literature they recommend, that is a good place to start. Or, ask one of your successful friends what they would recommend. If you are really stumped, start with ANYTHING by John C. Maxwell. He is by far my favorite author/ speaker of all time. You see, once you rid yourself of the negativity, there is a vacuum left to be filled. If you don't put something back there quickly, you are right back where you started. Feeding your mind should be a daily habit, by the way. MAKE time, when you get up, at lunch, before bed..... Personal growth and change requires that you constantly work towards it. It is acknowledging that there is always room for improvement. It's important, as a student of personal growth, to open your eyes and mind to the vast knowledge and support that successful people are willing to impart.

Celebrate your successes. It is easy to get caught up in the destination. Understand that all along the way, there will be roadblocks to your success. You need to accept that, and congratulate yourself on overcoming the hurdles life will throw in your path. Celebrate your small failures too. I like to say, "thank you, God, for this opportunity to learn!"

Focus on activity, not results ! Now this does not mean keep doing the wrong thing. Of course, you need to evaluate your actions to see if you are having desired results, or at least making progress. The main point I mean to get across is this.... Your day to day activity will ultimately determine your future. It is important to do something for your business every day. Focus on the activities that will bring you closer to your goal.

Believe... believe in your self, believe in your goal, believe in your ability.... you ARE what you think..... You CAN do what you dream of doing... OTHER people have done it, and SO can you! I certainly believe you can do it! I should know.... :-)

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.

Dealing with NO.

Network marketing is not for the faint of heart, that much is true! The successful people in this industry hear the most "no's", and some "no's" are harder to take than others.

When I started my first business, I was starry eyed with the excitement of a new venture. I just knew that EVERYBODY was going to buy my products, pass on their referrals, book parties and join my business ! Why wouldn't they ? I just found the BEST business EVER !

I did everything I learned. I made a list of my close friends and family, memorized the script, and started calling. Oh, I laugh about it now. At the end of the evening, after making a WHOLE bunch of calls, I had exactly 2 people coming to my Grand Business Opening. My sister-in-law and my best friend.

What happened? I was a little bit bewildered, and, I have to admit, VERY disappointed. After all, I had just started a business!! I did everything I was supposed to.... why couldn't everybody see what a great opportunity this was??

Thank goodness for my recruiter on that day, and thank goodness I had enough faith in her, to call her. The words she spoke to me that day had the power to make my career, or send me back to the hospital in defeat. She did not take that responsibility lightly. This is what she said to me.

"Shelley, it is always hard, when your family doesn't support what you yourself are excited about, and I understand how you feel right now, but look at it from their point of view. You have been a nurse for 16 years. The Shelley Penney they know goes to the hospital and saves lives. They don't know me, and they haven't tried our product. All they know is that you are doing something you have never done before, and they want to protect you. They don't know that you are serious about this. You need to prove yourself to them before they will be able to see this as a good thing for you. Change takes time. Let me ask you this. Why would you let the opinions of others determine your success or failure?"

Sandra, this thank you is for you! I learned something on that night that would propel me to the top of my field. Not everybody will share your vision. Do you really want them to? If everybody saw what you see, there would BE no opportunity.

Here is what I believe, and I believe it with every fibre of my being. Most people do not say "no" because they want to hurt you. They say "no" because they don't have enough information, they are not interested in your product, they have a prior engagement, they are busy or the timing is just not right. They say "no" to your business opportunity because of many reasons, but usually it is simply because they are afraid, or they don't want to be "sold". It very seldom has anything to do with you.

There are ways to approach the "no's" and turn some of them into "YES", BUT with new people, I recommend NOT spending a lot of time on them. Especially if they are your friends or family members. There are thousands of people in your world who will be interested in what you offer, and it is naive to think that you can grow a large business on the backs of your friends and family. Besides, your family knows that you didn't know anything about "widgets" (or whatever :-) yesterday. They are not going to see you as an expert! Strangers, however, will follow your lead, so if you approach your business with confidence, they will see you as a professional.

Give me a stranger any day. Some one I have never met, that I don't know anything about is perfect. Then I can concentrate on the person in front of me, and not their history. If they say "no" to me, then there are so many other strangers to meet. Chances are, if they do say "no", I will never see them again anyway. A fresh slate to write a story on is empowering, and you can write that story any way you want.

Let me leave you with this final thought, taught to me by yet another very wise person.
"NO" is not a negative...it is a neutral. It is just like you never asked at all! Think about it.... if you ask your neighbor to try your product, or look at your business, and she says "NO", nothing changes. You haven't sold any product, you haven't got a new business partner and she is still your neighbor. HOWEVER, if she says yes, then you many positive things can happen. You could sell something, she could refer a friend, she could be interested in yuor business.

In this business, there are no negatives, only positives and neutrals. If you never ask, nothing positive will ever come out of it!

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.

Your Sunday smile.

Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah's Ark...
One: Don't miss the boat.
Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat.
Three: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
Four: Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
Five: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
Six: Build your future on high ground.
Seven: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
Eight: Speed isn't always an advantage. Snails were on board with cheetahs.
Nine: When you're stressed, float a while.
Ten: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting
author unknown

Thanks so much to Rick C. Your support and friendship is appreciated. From the other side of the world, you bring a smile to my world daily!

Shelley Penney is a residual income specialist an author, mentor and trainer to the home business industry.

We are in Public Relations

Set an example YOU would be proud to follow

Why do network marketers and internet marketers, and, well, many sales people in general, receive SUCH a negative reaction from some people? I have been puzzling over this all day.

Is it possible that I, and my industry, have been "painted with the same brush"?

Isn't it true, that in every walk of life, there are people you would associate with and people you wouldn't. Isn't it true that in every business, there are people who "give the organization a bad name"?
Of course it is!

I do not believe that the sales industry has more than it's share of "bad apples". In fact, I have met some of the kindest, most giving people through networking. True service oriented individuals who care very much about their clients, their team members, their company, are becoming the standard!

So, what do you when confronted with stereotyping? HMMM Good question!

I believe, first and foremost, my role is to educate. I believe people mistrust that which they do not understand, therefore, if I can provide information in a non-threatening manner, I may be able to change the misconception, one person at a time.

Let's face it. The world has changed since network marketing became prevalent in the 60's. The sales industry has changed along with it. You see less of the "pomp and circus act" sales presentation, and more solutions oriented meetings. Customers demand knowledge and professionalism, and the best in the field can provide that.

Let me share with you a funny anecdote. I attended a retirement dinner for one of the nurses that I worked with back when I was "still" a nurse. I spent the most enjoyable evening catching up with friends, laughing, sharing stories and "remember when's". When it was time to go, I realized that there were a couple of women at one end of the table that I hadn't had a chance to speak to. As I headed to that end of the table, one of the nurses, that had been a friend and co-worker said, "Oh, HERE she comes ! Don't sit down here and try to sell us something! "
That's like telling a mother not to lick her kleenex and wipe chocolate sauce off my chin! I have just spent 2 hours in a social situation, with people I knew very well at one time, and liked very much. Some of them asked me what I was doing now and I told them, and then I asked them the same question. We had conversation. NOWHERE in that conversation did I try to "sell" something. Oh, OK, I am ranting a bit, but I really do not understand people that think it is OK to be rude because of my occupation.

I work hard at my career. I am focussed on people, sometimes to a fault. When I am with a customer or a team member, I put all of my needs aside and concentrate on the person in front of me. I teach my contacts to do the same. I am constantly helping the people on my team understand that it is not right to "prejudge" the people that they meet. I truly believe that we ALL deserve the same courtesy.

I suffer the insults because I realize that many people have been slighted or run over by an overzealous network marketer in the past. It is hard to change a deep set belief, but we do need to try.

We are all public relations officers for the companies we represent, and the Direct Sales industry as a whole. How we conduct ourselves, and handle situations, for right or wrong, reflects on everybody across the board. It's an unfortunate fact of the career choice we have made. So, when you are conducting business, wear a suit, smile, be professional, and do not engage in the lack of knowledge of others. Show them that things are different now.

Be proud of what you do ! Let's face it, if nobody sold anything then nobody would have anything! Selling, whether direct or indirect, is an honorable, and vital industry. Let's work on keeping it ethical as well!

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.

Hello.........Is anybody there ??

Communication-- Skills for life.

Are you a communicator? Do you have the ability to really understand what someone is saying to you?

One of the things that is absolutely key, in every area of life, is the skill of communication. Effective communicating is essential in friendships, partnerships and family relationships. Doesn't it make sense to spend some time learning what communication is all about?

Many people make the mistake of believing that talking equals communicating. NOT SO ! Oh talking is certainly a part of communication, but it is a very small part. Stop and think, for a moment, of all the ways we communicate. Body language such as crossed arms or a frown, or leaning towards or away from somebody are very telling to a student of communication. We use our hands to emphasize a point. We swallow, or look away, frown or smile, nod or shake our head. A well placed pause or silence can also speak volumes. There are so many ways to emphasize or de-emphasize a point.

In order to be an effective communicator, there are several factors that share equal importance. I would like to take some time to review those factors.

First and foremost, take the focus off of yourself. This is key, because if you are nervous, worried, or in any other way self-focussed, then you will find it difficult to focus on your audience. Understand that people are people, and the most intimidating person is usually that way to hide their own nervousness. People interpret nervous signals in a negative way, and will sometimes think you have something to hide.
Be warm and friendly, and try out a relaxed smile.
Be aware of your posture. Keep your shoulders and head up, fold your hands in front of you, and tilt your head, or lean forward slightly towards the person with whom you are speaking.
Learn how to ask questions.... This point is really my favorite, and I feel one of the most important. It is so easy to misunderstand what someone is saying, when you don't have enough information. Let me give you an example....Today I was speaking with a potential business partner. He said to me, "I really am unconvinced about network marketing." My first instinct is to give an explanation of why network marketing is a good model. In fact, this is exactly what most people do. When you speak,, without understanding the feeling behind the statement, you end up speaking AT, rather than speaking WITH.

Instead, I empathize with the speaker, and then ask a question to help me clarify this persons concerns. "I understand that you may feel that way. That is exactly what I thought as well. Tell me, David, what is it about network marketing that makes you uneasy?" Other very good clarifying questions are, "Why do you say that?", or, "Have you had experience with Network Marketing in the past?"

These types of questions are a very important part of understanding what the speaker is trying to say. Understand that our brains process information much faster than we can speak. What that means is that, a simple statement such as the one above has much more information attached to it than was spoken. Someones reasons for being wary may be different than another. Clarify before you speak.

Another very important, and often overlooked method of communicating is how something is said. An effective communicator expresses their relationship to the speaker by mimicking some of their intonations and postures. We will relate to those people who we can identify with. When the person is speaking softly, so should you. If the person is using business language, so should you. This does not mean you have to go to acting school, or change who you are. In fact, the most effective communicators adapt to the environment seamlessly, and most of the time, do not even realize they are doing it. The important thing to remember is that you should be constantly aware of what effect your communication is having on the individual or group. Be aware of the things that aren't said, pick up on non verbal clues, listen deeply to what is actually said, and evaluate your response before you speak.

Once the interaction is over, go back over the communication in your mind. Did it achieve the desired results? How might you improve? What things did you say or do that were particularly effective?

Networking is not about convincing, tricking or persuading... It is about respectful interaction...sharing of ideas....Communication.

With practice, anybody can learn the skill of effective communication. As you get better, you will find much success, in both your personal and business life.

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.

The words we use.

Picture this scenario. I am out at a speaking engagement, and up comes an eager new business associate, with a guest in tow. He is bubbling with fresh excitement, he pushes his guest forward and says, "Shelley, I would like you to meet my newest prospect!" Oops!! This siuation needs saving FAST!

I can just see some of you now, scratching your head and asking "what's wrong with that?"

This is a mistake made so commonly in network marketing, that it has become standard. The dehumanizing of the people we meet, by using language that is not common in everyday conversation.

People within the industry tend to pick up the "lingo" and use it freely. It sets us apart, it makes us feel important, everybody else does it, therefore it must be right, right?..............WRONG!

Well, think about it. How would you like to be referred to as a prospect, or a lead, or a heavy hitter, or a business builder. The words we use leave an impression on everybody who hears them, and it is very important to understand that people should be valued for who they are, and not what they can bring to your business. Using terms such as the ones above, reduce the individual to an object, and is an incredible turn off.

When you are speaking with, or introducing, potential business partners, it is exceedingly important to recognize this person as an individual. Your main goal is to develop rapport, and communicating effectively requires that the indvidual understands what you are saying, and feels valued.

The business people that you wish to attract to your opportunity are distrustful of that which they do not understand. Many of them are wary of "MLM schemes" to begin with. This distrust is perpetuated by the high pressure tactics, loud music, and hype that has been a part of network marketing for a very long time. Just about everybody knows somebody who has lost money in network marketing.

So, my advice to you is this....Use language that people will understand.
Business people outside of network marketing don't understand "referring",but they do understand "franchising". They don't understand "comp plans", so substitute "ways to earn money". Instead of "prospect" use friend, business associate, or perhaps simply a name !! In fact, I personally think that you should remove the word "prospect" from your vocabulary and NEVER use it again.

Your use of words can alienate or attract. A true professional structures their business presentation to the person receiving the information. People will rarely ask what you mean by that, because they don't want to appear uneducated, so you need to be alert to the reactions of others to determine if what you are saying has the desired effect.

Network marketing is changing, as more people migrate from the corporate world, to a home based business. More and more, we are attracting business savvy and intelligent people who are used to being respected in their field of expertise. You can acknowledge that respect by speaking "to" them and not "at" them, using language they relate to. Get rid of the loud music, unbelievable "earning potential" stories, and slick, manipulative pressure tactics. Be real and be honest. Acknowledge their concerns, and provide solutions based on the experiences of others, and you will find that your organizaton expands with the type of people who stick with you for the long term, with patience and perserverance. People attracted with hype will soon be oppressed by a cloud of disappointment, and will leave with another story of failure to tell.

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.