Your First Year in Network Marketing

1. Overcome rejection and maintain enthusiasm to succeed in network marketing

"Rejection is not to be taken personally, but merely as an indication that the timing isn't right in people's lives."

Reframe rejection. In network marketing, rejection is inevitable but should not be viewed as personal failure. Instead, see it as a natural part of the process of finding the right people at the right time. Develop a thick skin and understand that for every "no," you're one step closer to a "yes."

Maintain enthusiasm. Your attitude is crucial to success in this business. Cultivate a positive mindset by:

• Reading uplifting books and listening to motivational audio
• Practicing daily affirmations
• Surrounding yourself with positive people
• Focusing on your goals and visualizing success

Remember, your enthusiasm is contagious and will be your most powerful tool in attracting others to your business.

2. Avoid micromanaging your downline and foster self-sufficiency

"Network marketing is based on a team-building philosophy rather than a supervisory one."

Empower, don't manage. The key to building a successful network marketing organization is to create leaders, not followers. Avoid the temptation to micromanage your downline. Instead:

• Teach a simple, duplicable system
• Encourage self-sufficiency
• Provide support when asked, but don't do the work for others
• Focus on recruiting and building your own frontline

Duplicate success. The most successful network marketers spend their time recruiting new frontline distributors and teaching them to do the same. This creates a self-perpetuating cycle of growth and leadership development.

3. Stay focused on your goals despite inevitable setbacks and distractions

"The Scatter Bomb is a mental explosion that diffuses the focus of distributors, causing them to stop using the system they have been taught and to frantically follow any and every new network marketing system or leader that comes along."

Maintain focus. In your first year of network marketing, you'll encounter numerous distractions and temptations to change your approach. Resist these by:

• Committing to a proven system for at least one year
• Avoiding exposure to conflicting strategies or "shiny object" opportunities
• Staying true to your goals and vision

Overcome setbacks. Inevitably, you'll face challenges and disappointments. Develop resilience by:

• Viewing setbacks as learning opportunities
• Surrounding yourself with supportive upline mentors
• Celebrating small victories along the way
• Remembering your "why" – the reason you started this business

4. Set realistic expectations and win through integrity, not exaggeration

"False expectations can literally ruin would-be great distributors and destroy the credibility of the entire network marketing industry."

Be honest and realistic. Avoid the temptation to oversell the opportunity or create unrealistic expectations. Instead:

• Present the business opportunity truthfully, including the hard work required
• Share realistic income potential and timelines for success
• Focus on the long-term benefits of residual income and lifestyle freedom

Build credibility. Your integrity is your most valuable asset in this business. Win through:

• Consistently delivering on your promises
• Using and believing in your products
• Being transparent about both the challenges and rewards of the business
• Leading by example in your work ethic and business practices

5. Leverage your warm market connections effectively

"The larger your warm list, the more solidly you will establish your business."

Build a comprehensive warm list. Create a list of at least 2,000 people you know, using memory joggers and various resources. This list is your most powerful asset for starting your business.

Approach with care. When reaching out to your warm market:

• Focus on those you'd most enjoy working with
• Share your enthusiasm and the potential for financial freedom
• Avoid high-pressure tactics or deception
• Be prepared for both positive and negative reactions

Overcome reluctance. Many new distributors hesitate to approach their warm market due to fear of rejection or loss of credibility. Remember:

• Your success can positively impact those close to you
• True friends will support your new venture
• You're offering a valuable opportunity, not imposing on them

6. Conduct productive meetings and avoid counterproductive gatherings

"Unless you are talking to people about our business, you are not really working the business."

Focus on productive activities. Avoid time-wasting meetings that don't directly contribute to growing your business. Instead:

• Conduct small, in-home presentations (4-8 people)
• Use a simple, duplicable system for presentations
• Keep meetings short and focused (60-90 minutes max)
• Emphasize personal interaction and relationship-building

Avoid common pitfalls:

• Large hotel meetings (impersonal and not duplicable)
• Office meetings (create unnecessary overhead and formality)
• Deception meetings (damage trust and credibility)
• Overly technical or complex presentations

Remember, the goal is to create a system that anyone in your downline can easily replicate.

7. Train and support your own recruits instead of relying on others

"If you unload the Plug-in Pistol and take back control of training your own recruits, you will elude countless problems that are of growing concern in our industry."

Take responsibility for training. Resist the temptation to "plug in" your recruits to other leaders' training systems, especially in different locations. Instead:

• Develop a simple, one-page training outline
• Conduct personal training sessions (in person or via phone/video)
• Provide consistent follow-up and support
• Teach your recruits to duplicate this process with their own teams

Build loyalty and consistency. By training your own recruits, you:

• Ensure consistent messaging and methods
• Build stronger relationships with your team
• Maintain control over your organization's growth
• Reduce the risk of losing recruits to other leaders or systems

8. Recognize the advantages and challenges of corporate executives joining MLM

"Corporate executives can become among the greatest distributors in your organization or they can blow everything and ruin your entire downline."

Leverage executive strengths:

• Professionalism and credibility
• Existing networks and connections
• Business acumen and experience

Address potential challenges:

• Overreliance on corporate strategies that don't work in MLM
• Tendency to overcomplicate simple systems
• Difficulty adapting to a non-hierarchical structure

Guide effectively:

• Emphasize the differences between traditional business and network marketing
• Teach the importance of personal stories and relationship-building
• Encourage a willingness to learn and adapt to MLM methods
• Harness their skills while keeping them focused on proven MLM strategies

Last updated: September 20, 2024