Build a Global Business- Forums as a Marketing Strategy.

The dilemna-- where to find and connect with networkers on the International scene. How do you get exposure for your self and your business, and connect with people all over the world?

First, let us examine the trend that brought you here to the reading of this article.

The Internet

People are rushing to the internet in record numbers. The internet allows people to travel the world at the click of a mouse, and is launching Network marketing on a growth path that is exponential.

People are realizing that they can literally grow a global business from their living room. Network Marketing just got easier.... or did it?

Well, it certainly sounds easier.

But like anything, a little knowledge, and a strategy goes a long way.

The easiest way to get exposure in a global arena is to hang out with like minded people. People who share a common interest. That is true for anything but it is especially true in Network Marketing, where the success of your business depends on "word of mouth" promotion.

While there are many ways to grow an online business, forums are the logical choice for most people, for a number of reasons.

Here is what forums provide:

- A "virtual water cooler" environment where people can gather and exchange information.
- A community of people interested in the topics being discussed. These people are all there for a reason, and while it is true that most of them are promoting their own business, they are also reading your posts, and many of them will join you if they like how you present yourself and your company.
- A place for new people to ask questions, and a place for experienced people to provide answers, and establish credibility.
- Fresh content (which the search engines LOVE). This means a number of things... it means your posts will be indexed by the search engines, you will get your websites linked and indexed, and you will have an increasing amount of traffic for you opportunity, all without having to do a ton of work.

Forum Etiquette.

Before you rush out "willy-nilly" and start posting your ad on MLM forums, understand that forum regulars are very protective of their "coffee room". Forum posting, and the credibility that can come from it requires a certain amount of strategy, and a bit of dedication.

Want to make forum posting a viable way to grow a business? Follow these steps.

1. Introduce yourself.. a bit about you and your company, your successes etc. No advertising, just straight forward information.
2. Read the posts, find some that lie within your area of expertise, and offer advice or a solution.
3. Use the "signature" in your profile and allow people to "come to you" Most forums provide you with the opportunity to place a link to your website in your profile, and include a link in your signature. If you provide helpful information people will recognize you as a leader and look at your business info.
4.Read the forum rules before you jump in. The best forums have posting guidelines, and it is important that you know what they are. The regulars will be much happier with you if you take the time to do so.

Follow these guidelines and you will meet MLMers that you will develop long term relationships that will ultimately take your business all around the world !


Shelley Penney is a full time networker, author, mentor, trainer and "pay it forward" practitioner. Shelley is also webmaster of the newly launched CanadianMLM.com forum.
www.CanadianMLM.com

A great new resource.

www.CanadianMLM.com

Personally, I love forums. They are "virtual water coolers" as a friend of mine so succinctly put it. Many people within this industry are lacking basic knowledge and information that will help bring them to the success they desire. They are hungry for mentorship, friendship and encouragement.

So, in the spirit of helping, this forum was born

It is the start of a full MLM resource, and I invite you to jump in and participate.

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

Stop Losing Sales- Build your own website !

I have been saying (and practicing) this for over a year now.... ok, well I am little slower than SOME ! ! You need to have your own personal website if you are in the direct sales arena. Read this very well written article taken from Direct Sales News.


If you are in Direct Sales, you may not realize how many sales you are missing by not having a website of your own. Rep websites aren't usually indexed in the search engines, and most can't be personalized completely.

Let me give you an example of why it's so important to have your own website. I searched for "Watkins Vanilla" on Yahoo, Google, and MSN.

- On Yahoo, Watkin's company page was #7 in the listings. Ranked before them were reps with their own website.

- On Google, the company page was #5. Again, reps with their own websites ranked above them.

- MSN was the only place the company website was #1. However, following the company site were several personal websites.

Here's another term I searched: "Tupperware catalog" (which according to Word Tracker is searched over 300 times a day). On Google and MSN, Tupperware's company site wasn't even on the first page of results! On Yahoo it was the first, but of course personal websites followed.

So what does this mean to you? It's simple - there are millions of people searching for YOUR business or items from your business ever day. By having a personal website, you aren't lost in a sea of other rep websites in the search engines. Even the simplest of terms can work their way to the top of search engine results, in many cases giving you more free traffic than you can handle!

Of course, once you get those visitors there it's up to you to turn them into customers. The best way to do this is getting them on your list. More about newsletters next week.

So if you don't have a website already, start making plans now to build your personal website today!

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About the Authors: Kara Kelso & Anita DeFrank are two busy wahms, and the owners of Direct Sales Helpers. For more Direct Sales Success Tips, visit: http://www.directsaleshelpers.com/newsletter.html
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The Lead-ing edge...

There has been much discussion recently on the MLM and Home-Based business forums about "leads". Of course it is a topic that comes up over and over.

"Leads" are the lifeblood of our business. A "lead" is a loose term to describe someone who may be interested in your product or service.

Of course you can generate your own leads both in the physical world via classified ads, radio ads, flyers, face to face networking, or you can generate leads in the virtual world via google ad-words, search engine optimization or internet marketing via splash pages or "lead capture" pages.

Many people simply do not have the resources or expertise to generate leads in this fashion,.. and that is where the "lead broker" comes in.

There are many "lead companies" out there, but only a very few that actually generate their own leads. They do so by simple forms that compel a potential buyer to provide information such as email address, phone number, physical address, and perhaps some more specific questions.

These "leads" are then distributed to the people who have purchased them. They are, in many cases, sold over and over and over. They are sold to other clients, sold to other lead companies who in turn sell them to other clients, and perhaps to other lead companies, and so on. It is not unusual for someone to be receiving contacts even 2 years after they originally filled out the online form.

As you can see, in many cases the "freshness" of the lead is important. Leads that are delivered in "real-time" are the freshest possible lead... their information is delivered to your email address literally the minute they submit their information. These are my second choice for the "best" lead.

My first choice is the telephone verified lead. The lead generation company has the leads filtered through a call center. The staff in the call center phone each person and verify that they did indeed fill out the information on the form, and that they are looking for a particular product and service. Only then do they send on the information to the client. This, as far as I am concerned, is the highest quality, most responsive individual you can get.

Expect to pay between $4.00 and $8.00 or more for this type of lead.

Once you have the lead information, it is up to you to make the most of the next steps.
What ever you do, DO NOT pick up the phone unless you are armed with some basic phone skills. Remember that once you have a voice on the other end of the phone, this "lead" stops being a lead and becomes a warm blooded human being with eeds, wants desires and dreams.

Your job is to relax, develop a connection, and provide information only if the two of you feel it is a good fit.

I use this very simple opener when calling leads:
"Hi Mary, this is Shelley Penney getting back to you. You recently filled out a form online requesting information about a ome business. I was calling to see what you had in mind when you filled out that form. Is this a good time?"

This is a great opener...... it shows respect for their time, and also opens up the conversation. It takes them away from any crisis that may be happening in their home right now, and brings them back to what they were interested in when they filled out the form in the first place.

Listen carefully, ask a few more questions to get to know them, and then say, "Mary, I don't know if what I am doing would be a good fit for you, but this is what I would like. I am going to give you a link to a website. You can check it out on your own and I will call you tomorrow and get your questions answered. How does that sound?"

Simple and effective...... Happy building !

Shelley Penney is a residual income specialist, trainer and consultant to the home based business trade.

Long Distance Sponsoring.

~Build Internationally Without Leaving Home.~
originally published at http://go-global.ws/blog.html

Many "old-time" networkers will still tell you that you must grow your business face to face. If you want to develop a large group you have to "be where the action is".

I really feel that the technological boom has given us all the tools we need to build a global business without ever leaving home. Don't misunderstand..... I am not saying that the old way is no longer relevant. In fact, exactly the opposite is true as far as networking skills are concerned. You need to develop acute communication skills to grow an international network marketing business from home. If you have the right tools, though, the face to face meeting is seldom necessary to develop trust.

More people every day are hitting the internet looking for the right home business opportunity. They are actively seeking an alternative to the 9-5 grind, and the "middle income poor" job that is not going to see them through their retirement years. These people are reaching out to you, and you need to be ready to help them feel comfortable enough to make a decision.

You need some tools before you start working.

You will need a phone with a good long distance rate. My phone plan has a flat rate for unlimited North American calling, and for over-seas calling I use www.goldline.net - they have the best long distance rates I have found. Of course many people are switching to V.O.I.P. technology, but personally I am waiting just a wee bit longer for the bugs to be ironed out.

You should also have a compelling website that presents your business and products in a professional way, and it is helpful to have a recorded business overview you can 3 way your contact into to hear a 3rd party presentation. Also, have a strong relationship with a reliable business partner who you respect, and that you can call on to do a 3-way "answer questions" session.

Steps to take ~ a simple formula....

• The First call~ Be prepared to take some time during the first call to develop rapport. It is important that you are relaxed and in a conversational mood. Make the call from your office, or some other quiet place, away from the baby crying and the dog barking. The first time I speak to someone I might only be on the phone a few minutes, but I am prepared to be there for half an hour if necessary. The goal of the first call is to find a common ground, get to know one another, and lead your contact to the next step in the evaluation process.
  
  First, I introduce myself, and make sure this person has a few minutes to speak with me. Then I tell him/her the purpose of the call, which is to share a bit about my company, and help them decide whether they want to look more closely.
  
  Then I simply ask a few questions. "So tell me about you..." "Do you work?" "Children?" "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" Get to know you questions that I actively participate in. In other words, I do not just start peppering them with questions. I am looking for a common ground. Something that I can relate to, and that they can relate to me. The true key to successful phone relationshipping is to simply pretend that you are face to face. It is nothing more than that, but it does take a particular skill.
  
  Practice projecting your personality over the phone line. Smile when you are talking and genuinely interact as if that person were sitting right in front of you. Nod, shake your head, gesture with your hands, and actively participate. Make sure you take notes so you remember what is important to this person you are speaking with. Never forget you are speaking with a real person with real wants, needs and dreams.
  
  Don't be in a hurry to talk business... lead your prospect to it. When you are both feeling comfortable with each other say, "you know, I really like you, and I think we might get along well together. I don't know if what I am doing would be right for you, but I would love it if I could let you listen to a 3 minute recorded call. Do you have 3 more minutes?" Then 3 way them to the call. When it is done, ask, "did you hear that alright?" Chances are she is going to say, "Yes, I did. tell me more about that." This is your opening to send them to your website. I simply say, "I could give you more information, but I have a website that says it far better than I could. When do you think you would have a chance to look at it?" "Great, how about if I call you back tomorrow and get any questions answered."
• Send a follow up email~ "Thank you so much for taking the time to meet me. I look forward to speaking with you tomorrow at 7P.M. and answering any questions you may have.
• The second call~ This is when you introduce your business partner. You should already have made an appointment with your business partner for a 3 way call. Call the potential business partner at the scheduled time. Refer to your notes, and ask something related to what was said, ie. "How is your son doing. Is he feeling better?". Then lead into the call... "I took the liberty of booking my business partner to answer some of your questions. I told him about you and he is really looking forward to speakimg with you." 3 way to your business partner, and make sure you do proper introductions. The proper and professional way to do this is to first introduce the prospect. Refer to your notes, and say what she does, what she is looking for, and why you like her. Then introduce your business partner, say what he did before, what kind of success he has found, and why you feel he is a great person to answer the questions. Then just sit back and listen, and take notes. At the end of that call, your business partner should ask... "Is there anything else you need to know to get started".

Now we all know that things rarely go as easily as that. My policy is to expect the common "long distant" objections and questions and be prepared for them. So what kinds of things can you expect? Here are the most common ones that I have faced, and my solutions.

• I need to try the product~ Excellent, If I can have your mailing address I will get some samples out to you right away. (I have 50 or so sample packs in envelopes ready to mail. I just address and send the next day.)
• How will I get trained~ I will mail you a binder of information, we have training calls once a week, an interactive website with training, and links to all kinds of audio, video and text material to teach you everything you need to know. I am also available by phone when you have any questions.
• How will I present to my friends~ If you gather them in a room and use your flip chart, you can get me on speaker phone, and I can do the presentation until you are comfortable doing it yourself.
• What do I do if I can't answer a question~ Call me. If you know ahead you will be speaking with someone, book me ahead of time, and I will make myself available. We also have a network of team members that you can call on if I am not available.
• I need to know everything before I can share it~ Not at all... all you have to do is use the tools available to you. Did you see how I shared the information with you? I used the recorded call, the website, and my business partner. I really didn't give you any of the information myself. You have the same tools available to you as well.
• I don't like using my credit card online~ That's not a problem. Our company accepts money orders.

My business has grown to 7 different countries in the past year, and I have strong teams in several states and provinces in North America, and I have never left home except to attend our international convention. Nothing thrills me more that to meet one of my team members for the first time at a convention, and continue, in person, the relationship we have developed long distance.

Put this simple formula to work for your team and build it around the world !

Shelley Penney is a residual income specialist, trainer and consultant to the home based business trade.

Goal setting.

What better discussion in January that that of goal setting.
The following artice is tremendous.
I couldn't have said it better myself !

You Gotta Have Goals....
by: Robert A Crutchfield
Kingdom Relationship Ministries

I’ve always found it interesting that a ship cannot be steered unless it is moving at a certain minimum speed. Those who navigate everything from small to massive ships call this “steerage.” Steerage is the exact point at which choosing a ship’s direction becomes possible. Of course a ships’ pilot also has charts, other publications, and a variety of tools to help him know in great detail where the ship should go. As people goals are what give momentum and motion to our movements, goals are how we know where to go, how far we have been, and how far we have yet to travel. Goals are the human equivalent of the navigators charts,and tools.

Where do we get our goals ? The best goals come from within ourselves. Goals that come from external sources are rarely truly motivating, or effective. Goals also require some thought. Developing good, life changing goals requires digging deep into what really means anything to you, and what you genuinely want to accomplish. I want to spend the rest of this article discussing some things you should look for in goals that will have true power in changing your life.

GOALS SHOULD BE ATTAINABLE
By attainable, I mean goals have to be realistic. After all goals are a tool to use in achieving success, they are not meant to be pipe-dreams ! Improving your sales 500% in the next year for example would be an example of an unrealistic goal. On the other hand a 20% sales increase may be very much within your grasp.

GOALS SHOULD BE SET HIGH
Look at our previous example. A one year sales increase of 20% could look pretty good if last year sales,were flat. The same 20% increase in sales would look pretty pathetic if last year,sales doubled. Only goals that are set high will drive you to success. Whatever you are trying to accomplish your goals should be set toward the top of what is possible not the bottom. At the same time don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t always make it all the way to your goal. In fact if you always easily make your goals, I guarantee you aren’t setting them high enough !

GOALS MUST BE MEASURABLE
“ I want to sell more widgets.” or “ I want more free time this year.” are powerless goals. “I want to spend 8 more hours a week with my family.” is an example of a goal with life changing power. It is specific, identifiable, and measurable. You in fact will be able to know the exact moment this goal is reached. What a rush ! Try this, show your goals to a mentor, coach, or colleague. If they can’t tell you exactly what you want to accomplish without further explanation, revise your goals.

GOALS MUST BE PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL
Making more money won’t drive you to success if what your really want is more time with your family. Goals that matter mean more to you than anybody else. They are tied directly to what you want, to what makes you happy. If you cannot get absolutely passionate about your goals, if they don’t have you jumping out of bed in the morning, they’re wrong. Other people may be able to define your goals if you let them, but they will never be able to define your true happiness. Without what makes you truly happy, you can never be truly successful.

GOALS SHOULD HAVE VARYING TIME HORIZONS
Powerful life changing goal making involves short, mid and long term goals. Different people have different ideas on the time frames involved, but here is how I look it. Short term goals can be accomplished this month. Mid term goals can be won within a year. Long term goals are things like earning a college degree, that can take more than a year to attain. Its also important that at least some of your short, and mid term goals build on each other to reach your long term goals.

GOALS NEED TO BE VISIBLE
Making goals will not do any good if they get shoved in a drawer, or buried on your hard drive somewhere. Make a list of your goals and put them somewhere you will see them at least daily. Better yet put each goal on a separate index card, and post them all over the place so you will constantly be reminded of one goal ,or another. All of us take in way to much of other people’s garbage everyday. Why not counter this “negative programing” with reminders of what it it that you want ? Want to do even better ? Get yourself an “accountability partner.” Somebody you trust , and share your goals with. The best accountability partner would be somebody with similar goals. If your really lucky you can find a mentor who has gotten what or where you want. In fact this does not even have to be a single individual. A support group, or personal “board of directors” would have an even more profound, powerful impact on your ability to reach your goals.

GOALS NEED TO BE REGULARLY REVIEWED
Circumstances change, goals get achieved, new opportunities crop up. Beyond all this we can’t loose sight of the fact that goals are intended to keep you focused, motivated, and moving forward on those things you use to define your personal success. Short term goals should be reviewed at least monthly. All others need a good going over every 60-90 days.

CONCLUSION
Its nearly impossible to get what you want, unless you know where you are, where you are going, and how to get there. That’s why everybody needs goals. Good, powerful goals are the roadmap to your success, no matter how you choose to define it. Believe me, nothing creates more powerful more life changing goals than beginning with what you want the most. Search your heart and figure out what that is. Find out what it takes to get there. Develop high, specific, meaningful, goals you can be passionate about daily. Then all you have to do is, go get it tiger !

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robert A. Crutchfield is President of Kingdom Relationship Ministries. He works as both a minister and a life/success coach. He is a Brainbench Certified Trainer, and holds the Competent Leader designation from Toastmasters International. His articles on a variety of subjects have been read in dozens of countries. For more information and a free personalized report to help with your goals, visit him at www.kingdomrelationships.org.

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 8 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home. There are openings. :-)

I don't want to "sell" to my family.

If you've been around the industry of Network Marketing, Multi-level, or direct sales for any length of time, you know the drill. Make a list of your friends and family, and start calling them.

Many people simply don't want to do that. I know what that feels like. I remember starting fresh in my new business, and being afraid to talk to my loved ones. They knew that yesterday, I didn't know anything at all about cosmetics, and now all of a sudden I wanted to "teach them".

Reason's why not to speak to friends/family

• They might feel "obligated" to buy.
• They might laugh or discourage me.
• They might feel like I am harrassing them.
• They might say no.
• They might say yes. :-)
• They might think........... (your objection here)

Well, I certainly thought all of those things, and as a new distributor I was on shaky ground in the confidence department. I didn't know much about the products, or the compensation, and I didn't know how to handle objections. I certainly didn't have the successes behind me to prove I could succeed.

Here is what I have come to believe.

I believe that if I have something that could help my Mom's diabetes, I am obligated to share that with her. There are many "wellness" products out there that have real-life testamonials of efficacy. If they have helped "someone" they could help a "loved one. Doesn't Mom have a right to the information?

If my sister is fed up with her job, and I believe that I have a way that she could make a change for the better, I am obligated to share that with her. Network marketing has allowed me to walk away from my job and provide for my family at the same time. Doesn't my sister have a right to that information?

These are adults. They have a right to evaluate the information and accept or reject it, just like you did. You don't have to attack them at every turn. But surely they deserve a chance.

Let me ask you this.... If you knew that your friend, the nurse, was unhappy with her job, and you heard that the doctor's office on your street was hiring, would you call and tell her? Of course you would. And if she said that wasn't what she was looking for, would you be devastated? ......... I didn't think so.

The problem lies with in ourselves. Network marketing success is tied to others. In order for us to succeed, we need people to say yes. So we emotionalize that need and make it about us. All of a sudden there is importance attached to the answer, because if they say yes good things could happen for us.

Stop..... think very carefully about what I am about to say.

The success of your business does not depend on any one person. If this one person says "no" then nothing changes for you, or them for that matter.

Take yourself out of the picture for a minute.

Try this approach..... "Mom, I care about you very much, and I am concerned about your diabetes. I know of a product that has helped a lot of people, and I would like to give you some information to read, so you can see if it is something for you" All of a sudden, it's not about you"selling" your family, it's about providing information so she can make an informed choice. If she reads the information and decides against it, then at least it was her choice.

Or how about this....."Sis, I can hear how frustrated you are with your job, and having to leave your children with a babysitter. I might have a way that you could spend a bit more time with your children, and still bring in the income you need. I think it wouldn't hurt to look at the information. Would you come and meet my business partner and just hear what he has to say? It might not be for you, bit I think it is worth a look." Now you aren't "earning commission from your sister", you are showing her that there might be a better way.

I didn't approach my friends and family because I wanted something from them, I approached them because I care about them, and I respect the fact that they are adults who have the right to evaluate what is or isn't right for them. Some of them joined me, some became customers, and some were very happy right where they were. all of them have remained my friends and family members.

Work your business in service of others, and just watch what happens to your business !

Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 8 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.

MLM Opportunity: The 7 Hidden Things to Look for...

and MUST HAVE in an MLM Opportunity.
~by doug firebaugh

If you are looking for a good or the best MLM Opportunity, and really do not know what to expect or pursue, then this article can help you know what to look for, and what to demand for your future.

It doesn't matter if it is a franchise, retail store, real estate agency, or MLM opportunity, you should embrace and become a part of only what you deem worthy, and demand that your future deserves the best and you will not settle for anything less. There is an MLM Opportunity waiting for you, and it is the one you really want.

But there are some hidden things that you need to look for, and demand from Your MLM opportunity. Not everyone looks at these things, and if they had, they would have had a different outcome in MLM.

Here are 7 hidden things to look for that you MUST HAVE in an MLM Opportunity:
1) MLM Opportunity - Timing.
Timing is everything in an MLM business. You need to make sure that timing is good for the company you are looking for, and timing is good for YOU. Is the company experiencing growth and momentum? Or is it going through a slow time that could slow you down? Is it succeeding in the marketplace, or struggling? There is a growth curve to MLM Opportunities. Where is it along the curve? That will determine a lot of the future potential of rapid growth.

Timing in the marketplace is everything for you. Look at the market trends (anti aging, technology, skin care advancements, legal product improvements, insurance product advancements, weight loss advancements, etc) and see if the mlm company has products that contain ingredients or technology that are being talked about in the media. This alone speaks volumes of where the company is in the timing curve.

And how old is the company? If it is too young, it could fold, and if it is too old, it could be stale, and living on past Successes, not current. But there are some older MLM Opportunities that stay current with their approach to the marketplace. My suggestion is start looking for an MLM Opportunity that is at least 3 years old.

2) MLM Opportunity - Seriousness of Owners.

This is a Million Dollar Question: How serious are the owners about a LONG TERM business? If you are going to build a business for your future, you need to make sure that the owners are as serious about your future as you are. There are some that are not unfortunately.

They may talk about it, but you need to SEE it. They need to make sure they make decisions based on long term growth, not short term profits. This is a key sign to look for. Talk to people and see if they have made any recent changes to the compensation plan, or the requirements to qualify for your check, or consistent changes in product pricing.

If they have, and it is not the first time, beware. They are thinking short term profits. Owners that are serious, have proven to do what they need to do internally, in house first, and only as a last resort take money from the field. And ask around, and even see if you can talk to one of the top earners, or one of the owners themselves.

3) MLM Opportunity - Product Uniqueness.

Does the mlm product you are looking at have a one of a kind reputation? Does it have a unique marketing proposition?

Is it a truly unique product, or honestly, just another "me too" product or product line? Me too products can fade from view in the marketplace quickly in MLM.

Your products MUST be unique, and no other quite like it. Yes, there can be many skin care, weight loss, make up, nutritional products out there, but the product you are considering must have a unique "sizzle" to it that sets it apart. There are many vitamin products, but what does the product have that makes it unique? This is a HUGE test for long term product viability, as well as what the next products will be like.

An MLM opportunity may have products that come across as sleek, sexy, and hot. But if they are not unique, they will have a limited life span in MLM.

4) MLM Opportunity - Idiot Proof Training System.
A good MLM opportunity will have a training system that can be used 24/7 and can train anyone anytime, anywhere. It does not replace the role of the sponsor, but a good training system will train the new distributors quicker, and with more impact.

This is a brutal truth fact: Most sponsors do not train their people. That is just the way it is, and I wish it wasn't like that, but it is. Ask anyone who has been in MLM for a while. They will say the same thing, if they are honest. That is why that a good training system, including training manuals, cds, online training, and live events and conference call training is a must. That gives the new distributors a "menu" to choose from and to start getting their training immediately.
And it must be step by step. If the MLM opportunity has these things, or working on them, that is a great sign that they are serious about their field's success.

5) MLM Opportunity - The Better Business Bureau Factor.
Simply, in a good MLM opportunity, there cannot be a lot of complaints with the BBB. It is that simple. Yes, you will always have disgruntled distributors, that is part of the business. But a lot of complaints from all over on shipping, getting their checks, refunds, products, legal challenges, all must be considered when looking at an MLM opportunity.

Every company I know of that has had massive MLM Success, has had some things against it with the BBB. But they all were minor, and not really of the "you should be concerned" type.
If the complaints are consistent, and current and fresh, then you need to really look into that, as where there is consistent smoke, somewhere there is a fire.
Make sure you do not get burned with that fire.

6) MLM Opportunity - Is the company "product and customer focused?"
Understand this: Without customers, there is no business. Without good products, there are no customers. Without either, there is no use to look any further.

A company MUST be customer and product focused, but business driven. It is the customers and their purchases that create the volume for the MLM company. But it is the distributors driving the message out to the masses that creates the business vehicle. But it ALWAYS needs to revolve around creating a massive customer base, with a great downline helping to build that army.

Check on the MLM opportunity you are looking at, and if they are more business focused, and the products are a mere mention, then you may want to seek an MLM Opportunity somewhere else. Lots of loyal customers create wealth, not one time up front hits of volume, as that eventually goes away.

7) MLM Opportunity - What kind of people does this company attract?

This is HUGE. I have seen so many good companies that have attracted people who want to become scientists, and not distributors. They want to become Ph.Ds, not build a wealth producing business. Some MLM opportunites attract people that are more focused on short term gain, then long term stability. Some companies attract mostly the older crowd. Some network marketing companies attract mostly people under 30.

You MUST have a mix. Not too heavy on either. Why? Overall market viability. Today's MLM opportunites that are going great guns, appear to have a great mix of ages, and the average age is not too young, but yet, not too old. This is a hidden factor that speaks volumes of the MLM opportunity.

Too much youth, or too much grey, will slow any company down over time.

These are 7 Hidden things you MUST HAVE in the best MLM Opportunity. Check them with who you are looking at, and see where they stand, and how they add up.
Yes, these things are what most people do not look for, and my suggestion is you do. They speak volumes about your future with an MLM opportunity.

You will be so glad you did in the long run, with your best MLM Opportunity.
Blessings...Doug (c) _2005/ all rights reserved
http://www.passionfire.com
http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_7.html
Doug Firebaugh is one of the top MLM Network Marketing Trainers in the world. Over a million people a month read his training ezine. He spent the last 7 years traveling the world speaking and training on Success. He lives in Birmingham Michigan, and you can receive a FREE subscription to his training ezine- The MLM Success HEAT- at: http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_4.html and http://www.passionfire.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Doug_Firebaugh

Eight Choices

...That Will Change Your Life Forever
by Chris Widener



The direction of our lives is determined by the choices we make every day. They accumulate and add up to our ultimate destiny. Here are eight choices you can make - choices that will create for you a life of abundance and prosperity in all areas of your life.


1. Choose to grow personally. This sounds simple but many people only wish to grow personally. They never choose to grow by taking action, such as actually exercising, saving more money etc. Make a decision today to be a person who is on the never ending journey of personal growth.

2. Choose to always treat others right. We come across all sorts of people, many of whom will treat us poorly. We can choose to treat them right, no matter how they treat us. When they lie, we will tell the truth. When they cheat, we will play by the rules. We may get the short end of the stick some times, but in the long run we will win. And most importantly, we will be able to sleep at night.

3. Choose to break a bad habit. Take the biggie first. Tackle it head on. If you don't know what it is, ask a friend. Then spend every effort you can to break that habit. Forget about the others, as you will get to them later. Stop smoking, get out of debt, loose your excess weight. Exercise the power to choose!

4. Choose to work smarter. Many people I work with feel like they are out of balance. One of the first things I do is try to find out how much time they are wasting at work, which makes them work longer, which throws the rest of their life into chaos. Getting your work done by diligently working in the time you have will free your life up extraordinarily.


5. Choose to see your work as a way to help others, and not a way to make money. If you put your heart into helping others, the money will most assuredly come. Spend time helping others grow and your finances will grow with it.


6. Choose to become balanced spiritually, emotionally and physically. Our lives are best when we have these three major areas in balance. Spend some time cultivating your spirituality, becoming emotionally healthy, and physically fit.


7. Choose to sow more than you reap. There are many takers in this world, but our lives will be better as we become givers. The world will become better as we become givers. Give away your time, give away your money, give away your love.


8. Choose to get home for dinner more often. The family is the most important group of people you will ever belong to. Make a decision today to grow in your relationship with your parents, siblings, spouse and children. This one choice you will never regret.




One of my favorite quotes: "The history of free men is never written by chance, but by choice - their choice." Dwight D. Eisenhower



*****************************************
"There is no better opportunity to receive more
than to be thankful for what you already have.
Thanksgiving opens the windows of opportunity for
ideas to flow your way." Jim Rohn

*****************************************


Subscribe to Jim Rohn's WEEKLY ezine here



This article was submitted by Jim Rohn, America's Foremost Business
Philosopher. To subscribe to the Free Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine go to
www.jimrohn.com or send a blank email to subscribe@jimrohn.com
Copyright (c) Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Power of One.

This is where it all starts.

One person with a dream that is bigger than she is,
and the determination to see it through.

One person who seeks out a mentor,
and devotes themselves to learning.

One person who finds a passion within.

One person with a "can do" attitude,
who gets to work.

One person, one team, one purpose.....

The results are astounding.

One of my mentors of a few years ago used to say,
"if it is to be, it is up to me".

I never really understood that.

I resisted it, because I felt that it wasn't up to me, entirely.
I was at the mercy of everybody on my team, wasn't I?

If they didn't do anything, I still couldn't get where I wanted to be.

This is what has changed for me.

Now I see very clearly that it truly IS up to me.
I stopped worrying about what other people would or would not do.

I started concentrating on my own personal activity.

And working with the people who needed me.

I became much more selective, seeking people who had a dream and a work ethic that matched my own.

Interviewing instead of begging.

Presenting instead of convincing.

I now truly understand, and the results are absolutely astounding.

If you want to break through the barrier that has kept you from success, understand this simple principle....

You can not control the actions of others.

You only have that power over yourself.

Understand that if you don't like the look of your team,
You must change what you are doing.

Only then will you truly break the barrier that is holding you back,
and stand apart in that top 3 %.

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.

Make a good choice....

...and recommit EVERY day.


Well this is the longest time I have gone without posting.

It's not that I have been in a creative vacuum, not at all !

I have been building a new website-- it will be a bit before I am ready to unveil it, but you will be the first to know.

This activity, the energy of creating something, has inspired me to dream again.

In researching my company for accurate information, I am sold all over again on Lexxus International and our Go Global vision. (That's just a little hint about the new site. ;o)

That thought brings me to the point of my writing. It has occurred to me why it is so important to read about your company, the management, the big stars, the products and the vision. In fact it is absolutely crucial to your success that you sell yourself on your business every day.

You see, this industry is full of pitfalls, and dream stealing traps. There's a tiger in the bushes, and a wolf on the street corner. Distractions, and fears, that can throw you off track when your enthusiasm wans.

There are many reasons why you started your business...right? Whether you have been with your company for a month or a decade, you should be able to count those reasons off one by one.

Part of keeping yourself focussed on your goal and your reason has to include a daily supplement of company related "energy". You need to immerse yourself in the "culture" of the industry until it becomes a part of who you are.

Here's what I do to stay on the bubble.

• Attend ALL meetings and training calls


• Phone my upline sponsor daily


• Listen to the stories of success


• Search for and read articles written by other networkers


• Read a chapter daily from a personal development book


• Participate daily in Networking conversations. (my area is woefully shy on network marketing success stories, so I meet up with some of my friends in an MLM forun


• Attend ALL company conventions and events.


• Seek out an upline mentor.


• Teach what I have learned to others

I know, without a doubt, that the company that I work with is by far the best choice for me, and for many other people, and I resell the vision to myself every day.

Now having said that, how do you know if your current lack of success is a company or support flaw, or if it is you. Let's face it, you don't always make the right choice the first time. The first thing you need to understand is that what you thought might have been true as a new distributor, may just turn out to be "smoke and mirrors". It is important to give yourself permission to change your mind if it turns out that you made a bad choice, but it is also important to know the difference.

Here are the things that should be in place to help ensure your success in the business you are in.

Training materials that are easily accessible and free.

Strong upline support. Somewhere in your upline there needs to be someone who is willing to dedicate a little time to your success.

Consumable products that are of the highest quality, in great demand, and affordably priced.

A system for introducing new people to your company and products that is easily duplicable by the greenest of new distributors.

A management team that is focussed on growth, and the distributors in the field.

A company vision that is in alignment with your own ethics and standards.

A solid compensation plan that is easy to understand and explain, and easy to work for newcomers and seasoned veterans alike.

If all these things are in place, and things are still not working out the way you had planned or hoped, then it is time to call (or find) your mentor and ask for some coaching. If any of these things are lacking, then it may be time to look around for a stronger company.

Whatever you decide, chase your dream, work diligently and with focus for what you want, and have fun along the way.

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.

Network Marketing 101 - Pick Your Partners

My friend Dave Stone of NetWork Marketing Today has a series of essays "in progress" called Network Marketing 101 Feel free to visit his blog when you are finished here! You will find practical, ethical advice from an industry peer!
NetWork Marketing Today

Here is Dave's latest installment.

I can remember being new to Network Marketing. I can remember being excited about my program and products. I believed that EVERYONE would want to sign up into my business. I recall the anxiety associated with the first phone call made to invite one of my friends to a presentation using the dreaded "curiosity approach". I recall my first dose of the harsh reality of network marketing after facing several "no's" or "is this a pyramid?" or "is this MLM?" or the worst one, "is this Amway?". I was thrown to the wolves and I was handed my hat.

Many new marketers that step into the arena may find themselves with these all too common experiences. At first, it is all about survival and endurance. Some don't live through their first rejection before they move on and quit. Some are a bit tougher and may face multiple rejections but eventually succumb.

I experienced many negatives and became frustrated that my business wasn't growing as quickly as I wanted. I sought out coaching from my uplines and any training I could that might make the journey a bit more enjoyable and rewarding.

I continued to plug along, had some meager success but found I was still far from my selected goals. Looking back on this time (hindsight) I now understand that I had fallen into the trap of letting my potential partners choose me. I believe this was evident in two ways.

First, I had taken the rejection personally and this began to wear away at my self-confidence. This revealed itself through the lack of conviction in the words I used and the tone of my voice. I was seeking people that would be committed but yet my manner did not display the exact kind of commitment that I was trying to attract. I received exactly what I was broadcasting.

Second, stemming from my confidence issues, I would prospect and present my program in what I can best categorize as "white noise". I have heard it said that inside a dog's brain is a constant stream of low-level static. That was me. Nervous chatter and way too much "telling and selling". If you need to convince people to join your enterprise, they may enter but not of their own commitment. These same people will need a higher degree of assurance and continued convincing through every activity or adversity. This, in most cases, will generate high degrees of negativity for YOU. You will find yourself spending otherwise precious, productive hours coaxing and consoling and coercing and convincing and counseling because your team signed up on YOUR reasons.

You should assess the strength of your business by the strength of those that are joining you. They may not match your level of commitment or dedication. They may not match your intensity and drive. They may not match many other attributes but, I believe, the one element that you should seek most of all is desire.

You may yourself have limited skills but if you possess an UNLIMITED DESIRE, you can and will accomplish anything you set your sights on. This is what you should also be looking for in your prospective business partners.
-Dave Stone, NetWork Marketing Today blog

What to do when you just don't want to.

Network marketing is work just like any business. We are constantly battling apathy, hype, and a poor reputation. It is definitely character building, and many people give up out of frustration or discouragement. The true leaders in this industry knows how important it is to work, even when you don't feel like it.

The KEY is to work a plan and hold yourself accountable to it.

You need to plan your work, and follow through.

If you are working an MLM or network marketing business, planning your work
is critical to your success. You need to make a clear, quantifiable and executional plan for your day, your month and your year. As well, you need a long term projection, let's say 5 years.


PLAN YOUR WORK

1. Set your goals. Your goals need to be measurable. That means very specific, and when you reach them there is no doubt. i.e. "I want to make more money" is not a measurable goal. Substitute instead with "I want to earn $5000 a week"
2. Write them down. On paper, in pen. List your goals in order of priority.
3. Make a plan of execution. Figure out on paper exactly what you need to do. For example, how many distributors on your team, on autoship, how many new team members, will you need to accomplish your goal. Then ask how many people will I have to put through the system to accomplish that. How many calls will I have to make per day.
4. Now write your daily plan of action.
i.e. Monday contact 20 new people.
Tuesday contact 20 new people. Follow up with people from Monday that visited website or requested more information.................

Make a full schedule of work, recreation, family time. Mark it all on the calendar with different colors signifying different activities. i.e. Green ink= money making activities. Red ink = spouse or partner time ...

Then put down what the expected results are.

Make yourself accountable. Send your plan to your mentor, or share it with a loved one. It is easy to let yourself down, but not as easy to disappoint someone you respect.

WORK YOUR PLAN



Now, get to work.

There will be times when you don't FEEL like working.
But the fact that you have a schedule, and someone who believes in you will help to keep you on track. Once you have established a routine, the work is much easier. Before you know it, you will hardly need to look at your schedule to know what you have to do.

Working your plan sometimes means working when you don't feel like it.
Make working your plan a habit.

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.

Treat your business like a business!!

Treat Your Business Like A Business
By Shan Eisler

Business Builder Extraordinaire
Wife, Mother, CEO

One of the truly remarkable benefits of direct selling is that it can bind your family together. For that to happen, the first sale you must make is to your family members. They are part of your business, too, and can be a tremendous help if you let them. Key to making that sale is your commitment to making the business work for you. I found I had to be very creative to balance and fulfill all my commitments.

My kids were five and six when I started. I made a large Smiley Face sign and a Stop sign to post on my office door. When I could be interrupted, I put up the Smiley Face. When I was making calls, I put up the Stop sign. The kids understood and supported me, even though they were small.

My kids had two sets of toys. The premium, really fun stuff came out when I had the Stop sign on my door. These special toys were put away when the Smiley Face went up. A favorite was an easel and art tools. We were careful to prominently display their art in the kitchen so they got recognition for helping to build Mommy’s business.

I paid a neighborhood teenager to come in and play with my kids during times the Stop sign was up. This way, I was accessible to them but could focus on work until they needed me.

I enlisted the help of my husband early on. This wonderful man has taken on much of the work behind running our home. To help that happen, we agreed on specific tasks that he could do to allow me the time to grow my business.

Managing Your Time and Resources
Open your business every day. In direct selling, you get to decide whether you are employed or unemployed every day. You are only employed if you are open for business—doing the things required to conduct business.
I found out early on that I needed to have a fairly detailed schedule for integrating family activities with work. A clear idea of what needed to happen allowed us to make sure the family was fully cared for, even when deeply involved in business.
You need to figure out whether you are a morning person or a night person. The best hours for your business doors to be open are from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. These are the hours when you can work with people. If you are a morning person, do your paperwork in the morning, before 9 A.M., if a night person, do your paperwork after 9 P.M.
I also did the math and found that if I was earning $35 per hour it didn’t make sense for me to do my own cleaning if I could pay someone else $10 per hour to do it for me.
I plan menus by the month. On the evenings when I need to be out, or if I have a heavy afternoon’s worth of work, we enjoy crock-pot meals. This way, I have no wasted time wondering what to feed the family and meals are served on a regular schedule.
I never shop for office supplies. Most office supply stores deliver if you order online or by phone.
I have learned to think before making a commitment. My immediate response is “Let me get back to you.” I then weigh the time costs of accepting a commitment against the emotional costs of declining, and then make a final decision.
My children are now 18 and 19. Far from feeling neglected, they have both thanked me for working in my direct-selling business from home and teaching them a strong work ethic. By working from home, we have always been there for each other.

Today’s Actions for Family and Business
Are you treating your business like a business or a hobby? Gain your family’s support by:

Taking an action that expresses your appreciation for their support—special toys, outings, or other rewards.
Closely managing your calendar and keeping everyone in the family in the loop about expectations and plans.
Increasing your productive hours by taking advantage of free and inexpensive services such as delivery and babysitting.

Thanks to the author! This article is featured at MLM.COM
A great site for articles, discussion forum and resources!

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.

Pay attention to the details!

A couple from Minneapolis decided to go to Florida to thaw out during one particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the very same hotel where
they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier.

Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules. So, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife flying down the following day. The husband checked into the hotel.
There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an e-mail to his wife.

However, he accidentally left out one letter in her email address, and without realizing his error, he sent the email.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of many years who was called home to glory following a sudden heart attack. The widow decided to check her email expecting messages of condolence from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she fainted.

The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:

To: My Loving Wife
Subject: I've Arrived
Date: 16 January 2005

I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones. I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.

P.S. Sure is hot down here!

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

Where are you going?

This is Sunday. Tomorrow is the start of a new week, and in a few days we will be into September.

School will be open soon, vacations over, and people all over the world settling back into their daily routines. What does that mean for us in the Home Biz Market?

It means that we are entering into the biggest boom of the year!

Why? People are back in "work" mode. They want extra money to cover what they spent over the summer. They have more time with the children in school. They want to earn a little money for Christmas. There are all kinds of reasons why, but the fact is, there are more people starting business right now than at any other time of the year.

So what are you going to do about it?

You can either work hard for the next three months, or you can continue to do what you have been doing. Either way, that won't change the industry statistics. People all over the world will be starting a business at the rate of some 8000+ a day.

I heard something on a conference call the other day that has fueled my fire.

The speaker said, "what you do over the next 90 days will determine your income for the next 2 years!"

So what are YOU waiting for??



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

The Time to Act: by Jim Rohn

Engaging in genuine discipline requires that you develop the ability to take action. You don't need to be hasty if it isn't required, but you don't want to lose much time either. Here's the time to act: when the idea is hot and the emotion is strong.

Let's say you would like to build your library. If that is a strong desire for you, what you've got to do is get the first book. Then get the second book. Take action as soon as possible, before the feeling passes and before the idea dims. If you don't, here's what happens...

- YOU FALL PREY TO THE LAW OF DIMINISHING INTENT -

We intend to take action when the idea strikes us. We intend to do something when the emotion is high. But if we don't translate that intention into action fairly soon, the urgency starts to diminish. A month from now the passion is cold. A year from now it can't be found.

So take action. Set up a discipline when the emotions are high and the idea is strong, clear, and powerful. If somebody talks about good health and you're motivated by it, you need to get a book on nutrition. Get the book before the idea passes, before the emotion gets cold. Begin the process. Fall on the floor and do some push-ups. You've got to take action; otherwise the wisdom is wasted. The emotion soon passes unless you apply it to a disciplined activity. Discipline enables you to capture the emotion and the wisdom and translate them into action. The key is to increase your motivation by quickly setting up the disciplines. By doing so, you've started a whole new life process.

Here is the greatest value of discipline: self-worth, also known as self-esteem. Many people who are teaching self-esteem these days don't connect it to discipline. But once we sense the least lack of discipline within ourselves, it starts to erode our psyche. One of the greatest temptations is to just ease up a little bit. Instead of doing your best, you allow yourself to do just a little less than your best. Sure enough, you've started in the slightest way to decrease your sense of self-worth.

There is a problem with even a little bit of neglect. Neglect starts as an infection. If you don't take care of it, it becomes a disease. And one neglect leads to another. Worst of all, when neglect starts, it diminishes our self-worth.

Once this has happened, how can you regain your self-respect? All you have to do is act now! Start with the smallest discipline that corresponds to your own philosophy. Make the commitment: "I will discipline myself to achieve my goals so that in the years ahead I can celebrate my successes."

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn


Reproduced with permission from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine.
www.jimrohn.com

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

The 4 phases of Network Marketing.

This article comes from Best MLM Resources blog Thank you to Michael Lemm.

....The Four Phases of a Network Marketing Career....

To achieve your goals in network marketing, you will need to develop a long-term viewpoint. Keep in mind that the results of the work you are doing this month will show up next month. What you do this quarter will pay off next quarter. Your efforts this year will determine your income over the next few years. You have to get the momentum going and keep it going week after week, month after month, and year after year.

Here's the bottom line: you need to cherish each day as if it's our last day. Cherish every month as if it's your last month in this business.

You cannot live on last month's production. It's up to you to take responsibility to build and maintain momentum. To make your business grow and flourish, you need to set an example and develop Leaders in your organization.

We're all in the right place at the right time, but that does not mean you will automatically get the prize. You still have to work for it and maintain a positive attitude about what you can accomplish. Tear up that list of all the reasons why you can't succeed in this business.

In this training session, I want to cover the four phases that a distributor typically goes through in this business.

This information is important for everyone, but it's especially crucial for those of you who have been in network marketing for a while. If it seems that you have hit a plateau in building your business, you can get "unstuck" as soon as you understand this process.

The first phase is the PRODUCTION PHASE, in which you retail and recruit.

Many distributors recruit a few people and then quickly move into phase 2, the MANAGING PHASE. In this phase they spend most of their time managing their new recruits rather than continuing to retail and recruit.

The problem with being a full-time manager is that the people you sponsor will do what you do, not what you tell them to do. So guess what happens when you become a manager. Very quickly your top producers also move into phase 2, just as you did. Now you find yourself moving into phase 3, which is the OVERSEER PHASE.

At this point, you may feel really important. You certainly cannot be expected to retail and recruit, as you need to oversee the managers who are managing their producers. Right?

Because distributors do what you do and not what you tell them to do, you very quickly move into phase 4, where you become the OVERSEER OF THE OVERSEERS. Now you are overseeing the overseers as they manage the managers of the producers. Here's where you are likely to begin hearing critical comments about the managers, the company, uplines, and so on.

As an overseer of overseers, you may have large numbers in your group, but your check is getting smaller instead of larger.

Let me share with you the secret of becoming truly wealthy in this business.

Before I tell you how to get un-stuck and move forward, I want you to know that I've been there. I was in the overseer phase for a while, but I was blessed to discover that I needed to get back to doing the basics over and over again and make it the central focus of my DMO (Daily Method of Operation). During the first year after making this discovery, I enjoyed the fastest growth of my entire career.

Here's the secret: you and I and all of the people we sponsor need to stay in Phase 1, the PRODUCTION PHASE where you retail and recruit all day long. This is the phase where you get up early and work late, and your people are doing the same thing because they do what you do and not what you tell them to do. We need to keep doing the basics over and over again and to duplicate our efforts by "Tell, Show, Try, Do." First, you tell your new recruit how to do it. Then you show your new recruit how to do it as you lead by example. Next, you have them try it on their own, and then you make sure they have the know-how before you encourage them to go out and do it.

It's up to you how long the training process takes, but I would recommend that you keep it simple and limit it to 90 days. I see people in this business who have been training the same individuals for years. I think that's too long. That's not how you establish momentum. To keep your motivation high, you need to get momentum going quickly. Being in this business for longer than a year without momentum will drive you nuts, and you won't have a success story to share with your new recruits. When you have momentum, everything becomes easier.

To build momentum and avoid wasting time and energy, I look for three ingredients in a person before I will start working closely with them:

1: They need to have a burning desire to change and succeed.
2: They need to develop good work habits and a positive attitude.
3: They need to be prepared to invest in their training, leads, and
marketing costs, and they need to be teachable.

In return for their investment of time and resources, I will supply them with my leadership, direction, and support. I'll assist them closely for 90 days. I will not do the building for them. I will not stack downline, as it makes people lazy and is not duplicatable. I'm available for three-way calls and personal consultations.

There's one key phrase that applies to the Production Phase, and that is All-Out Massive Action. You need to be willing to sacrifice the little things in life for what is truly important.

Treat network marketing as a business, and keep it simple, easy, magical, and duplicable.

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

Reach out- add a personal touch.

There are so many things that hold people back from success, and they are almost without exclusion, related to fear.

The people who acknowledge the fear, and do it anyway, are the people who end up with the most success.

This week, while working with some of my team members, I have encountered a very real fear that seems to be much more prevalent than I initially thought.

The fear of connecting with people.

My training with team members includes how to develop a connection with the people you want to work with. It involves picking up the phone and speaking to that individual. A relationship of trust is developed in person, and that is a very valuable thing.

The internet has automated much of our business, and given people the opportunity to expand a business in the global arena, and that is great, but the people you attract on the internet are attracted to a capture page, or really great ad copy. There is absolutely no reason for them not to move on to the next best thing. The key to your success, and theirs, will be the personal touch.

Let me give you an example. One of my team members has a very good personal website. His site talks about his success in the industry and how he can help you find the same success. It is a very compelling site. Yesterday, he received an email from a gentleman who had happened across this website. In the email, the gentleman shared a little about his life and work, lack of time freedom, etc, and asked for help to get out of that grind. My team member asked how he should proceed, and of course, my answer was, "Pick up the phone, and call him right away."

That reply was met by silence. Then he asked, "Why couldn't I just send him a link."

EEK!! This man took the time to share some very personal things about his life, and desires. He took a step and reached out and asked for help. Now he needs to hear a voice. You can not develop a relationship exclusively over the internet. People receive hundreds, and in some cases, thousands, of emails in a week. There is nothing to distinguish your email from the others. The Internet is a really great place to make an initial contact, but my business partners need that personal connection in order to align themselves with me and my mission. They need to have a reason to continue in the face of challenges. They need to be able to ask a question, get an answer, and then ask another question. They need to be able to hear the sincerity in their voice, and find a connection. None of these things can be done effectively without picking up the phone.

Fear of picking up the phone is much more prevalent than I initially thought, and is of course, directly tied to the fear of rejection. How do you help someone overcome that fear?

First, you need to understand that MOST people are more than happy to hear from you. I personally make, on average, 20 cold calls a day, and very very rarely have someone hang up or get upset. I am not emotionally attached to the reaction I receive. Let me ask you this... Would you hang up or get upset, if someone called your home? Well of course, some of you answered yes to that, but I am willing to bet most people said, "No, of course not." Human beings are a very social species, and we have been taught manners, (well most of us, anyway :-) ), and most of us enjoy hearing a pleasant friendly voice.

If you are someone who has a hard time picking up the phone, how do you overcome that?

Here are a few strategies to help you get started.

First of all, Know what you want to say, and start the call by giving your full name. I even go as far as telling people where I live.
"Hi Mary, this is Shelley Penney calling from New Brunswick, Canada."
Ask permission, "Do you have a moment?" If they say no, "I am not going to keep you long, is there a better time that I can call?"

"Mary, you recently filled out a survey on-line about working a business from home. I was wondering what you had in mind the day you filled that out."

Now there are several points about that sentence that are important enough to mention. I do not make the mistake of asking, "Are you still interested." I do not want people to have the opportunity to say NO. The fact is, they may not be interested right this minute, but later today, they may be interested again.

I also want to take them back to the moment thay filled out the form, and remember what it was that appealed to them. This will give you valuable insight into what they are actually looking for, and what will motivate them to look at, and/or work with, your company.

After that introduction, I just relax, and be myself. I allow the conversation to take place in a friendly, non-pretentious way. Whether the person on the line is interested in what I have is of absolutely no concern to me. I am not attached to the answer, what-so-ever. I am just having a conversation. This helps me determine if this person is someone I actually want to work with, as well. The fact is, I don't want "just anybody" in my business, and neither should you. I only want people that I like, because ultimately, I am going to be working very closely with this individual to help them grow a business. I want to work with people that I can respect, and will respect me.

Do not allow yourself to become emotionally attached to the answer. If someone hangs up, or says "no" to what you are offering, that has absolutely no bearing on your business. It is not the result of one phone call that will determine your success. It is the daily activity of exposing your business to many people that will ultimately bring results, and the fact is, you are never going to see that person again, if they do not become a part of your business. Whatever they say on the phone in a few minutes, has absolutely nothing to do with you.

Have more phone numbers than you can reasonably call in a session. There is a specific psycological strategy behind this. If you only have 2 people to call, then of course, the answer they give you is going to be much more important than if you have a list of a hundred people to call. You will be less emotionally attached to the reaction, if you are not hanging all your hopes in one place.

Don't feel like you have to have all of the answers before you pick up the phone. It is really OK to say, "That is a good question. I will find out the answer to that and get back to you." In fact, people will respect that so much more than if you bluster your way through, and give an answer, that later turns out to be incorrect.

If you have made a successful call, and you feel good about it, make one more call. Your feeling of success will carry through to the second call, and you will get amazing results.

The bottom line is, while the internet is a great way to meet people, your friends will follow you to the ends of the earth, and your internet business partners will be on to the next big thing. I choose to work with friends.

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

Put the "network" back in Network Marketing.

Every successful business must have customers.

By it's very definition, Network Marketing is about moving a product through your network. The product in this case is two-fold. There is the physical product that your company distributes for you to sell, and there is the business itself.

Whether you want to be a retailer of product, or a recruiter for your business, you need to have an ever expanding network of people to present either your retail product, or the business to.

When I am working with, and training, people to be successful in this business, the one question I ask is this, "How many new people have you spoken with today?

The answer to this simple question will tell me just about everything I need to know about how I can help this person move forward.

Picture the following scenarios:

Mary, "I am having a hard time selling product"
How many new people did you talk to today?

Peter, "My team isn't growing the way I would like it to."
How many new people did you talk to today?

John, "I would like to be earning $2000 a week."
How many new people did you talk to today?

Ellen, "I don't know what to say to people on the phone."
How many new people did you talk to today?

George, "I want to grow an international business."
How many new people did you talk to today?

Maria, "I have 3 new business partners this week!"
How many new people did you talk to today?

Allison, "I sold $800 in product this week!"
How many new people did you talk to today?


Well, you get the picture.

Based on the answer to this question, I know which areas I need to focus on for training. If my team member is talking to many people a day, and not getting the results I would expect, then this person may need training in the area of presentation. If she is talking to only a few people a day, and getting a sale or a new business partner with every call, then I can learn from her techniques, and perhaps have her do training with the rest of the team.

I work my business full-time. I have a personal goal to speak to 20 new people every single day, 5 days a week. This is completely aside from follow up calls, and team member coaching. New people are people I have not spoken to before about the business or product.

For my business partners who want a part time business, I recommend they speak to no less than 5 new people every single day.

There are an unlimited number of ways that one can find new people to speak to. The bottom line is, whether you are buying leads generated by a reputable lead firm, or generating your own leads through personal or internet contact, you need to make sure you have a steady stream of new people to speak to.

Talking to new people every day helps you grow in so many ways. You have an opportunity to develop interpersonal skills. You can refine your phone technique, develop relationships, gain confidence, try out new scripts. All of things require practise, and through new people you gain valuable experience and insight into your own character, and others.

You learn what works for you and what doesn't, and you also learn much about others, and how different people accept or reject what you are saying. The only way you can gain this valuable experience is by talking with new people.

Success in Network Marketing requires that you have a steady stream of new people to speak to. Put the "NETWORK" back into network marketing, and watch your business grow!

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.