Are Network Marketers Their Own Worst Enemies?

The home-based business and direct selling industries are growing fast. There is so much opportunity for so many people to acquire new skills, time, and even financial freedom. The problem is that we network marketers are our own worst enemies - we tend to bad mouth other companies and their representatives.

When working toward a common goal, everyone else circles their wagons and fire outward, but most network marketers circle their wagons and fire inward.

This in no way raises our image among the general public. If anything, it makes us all look like starving vultures.

We also need to stop trying to recruit everyone that crosses our path. It's okay to tell everyone what you do and if they want to know more, tell them. If they don't want to know more, build a relationship with them anyway.

When you go into a car dealership, they try to sell you a car, NOT try convincing you to open your own dealership, right?

I also would like to see a virtual chamber of commerce for network marketers where they can meet other network marketers selling everything from A to Z. Over time - after getting to know, like, and trust one another, members will be able to refer customers to each other, without the fear of the people they send being pitched to be recruited.

Another thing is that there are too many company “TEAM leaders” putting too much emphasis on books, CD's, and seminars (also known as tools). There is a place for training, positive thinking, association, and motivation. However, if a “TEAM leader” makes a large percentage of their income from the sale of tools be careful, they're in a different business than you are.

If your business is so good, why do you have to charge me $5.00 for a CD of the week program? You could have it downloadable from the website you're already charging me $20.00 a month for.

We should all commit to learning business and communication skills (including active listening) in order to be successful, but we shouldn't have to spend (I know they'll tell you it's investing) every dime we make and then some for years and still not make money. If it is investing, is it too much to ask for a return on that investment? Very rarely does someone actually lose money in “network marketing.” The vast majority of the horror stories I've heard have been directly related to an upline putting tool profits ahead of helping the very people they're supposed to help make money.

Learning how to network is very, very important. Networking includes seeing opportunities for others and yourself, relationship building, and follow-up skills. These skills can be taught (without ripping people off), and indeed must be taught to network marketers if our profession is to be taken seriously.

Have a great and healthy day!

Keith Brown

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