In the following audio Jim Rohn explains how the Law of Sowing and Reaping is so very clearly played out in growing a Network Marketing Business. It is the thorough understanding of how it works that enables us to discipline our disappointment and keep sowing, and ultimately succeed in Network Marketing.
In Mark 4:3-8, Jesus says:
There went out a sower to sow:
And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
You, as a Network Marketer are the ambitious sower with excellent seed. You have drive, determination and are ready to spread the word. Your seed is good. You have an excellent company, with an excellent product and you have been given just the right words to say.
But the facts are the facts, and we are told clearly how this world works in the parable above. There are some things that are indeed, inevitable.
#1 The birds are going to get some of the seed.
You can give the invitations, and even get confirmation that some guests will attend… but then they will not show.
Oh well! Some will, some wont, so what!
Don’t chase those birds,for if you do, you will leave the field. You aren’t sowing if you are chasing. Chasing will distract from your future, not add.
Its better to just accept it as it is… for you were told: The birds will get some of your seed.
Now, if you keep on sowing, you will eventually plant enough that the birds cannot eat it all, and you will get sign ups into your business. Unfortunately…
#2 The seed falls on rocky ground where the soil was shallow. On the first hot day it withers and dies.
Those wonderful signups who seem so gung-ho? Some are going to drop just as soon as the excitement wears off. The hot weather is gonna get some – this is not of your making.
Some don’t stay. Attrition is real. Sure, there are things you can do to make sure your people have everything they need to stick if they are going to… but some wont no matter what you do!
You cant solve this. You can only cooperate with things the way they are…
And keep on sowing! You need to discipline your own disappointment and keep on prospecting and showing the plan.
You will sign up more people, and make more money, as long as you continue to sow. You will enroll more people and you will find that…
#3The seed falls on thorny ground. The plant starts to grow again, but the thorns choke it and it dies.
Some of your new people will let cares and distractions choke their business. The unfortunate fact is that people will let little things cheat them out of big opportunities.
They wont listen to the conference calls, won’t make it to the local training events. They’ll let ‘real life’ as they see it get in the way of their dreams. They wont make the dream money either… and then they will choke, and fall away.
Its just the way it is…
The good news?
The sower keeps on sowing, and 
#4 some of the seed will fall on fertile ground and will spring up and grow.
As long as you keep on sharing the story, keep on giving the invitation – finally the seed falls on good ground.
The fact is, it always will, if you keep sowing.
This is the way the world was made.
Dont try to figure out WHY, just work with it!
Now the last piece of this is that the people you enroll will work their business with differing intensities. You cannot change them, and should not push them.
The parable says that some will work at 30%, some at 60% and some at 100%. You can never expect a 30%er to do the work of a 100%er. Instead, you must acknowledge and water the sprouts of the 30%ers… and keep on sowing!
A beautiful effect of your continuing to sow? Your skill level will inevitably increase. You have be be bad before you are good and good before you are great. So initially, you may find that you aren’t very good at inviting… but you totally make up in numbers what you lack in skill! And the act of running the numbers will result in your getting better at prospecting and closing.
In short – get to work sowing, and don’t quit! Just understand the way the world works, and roll with it!
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This a great stuff Melanie! I’ve been listening for Jim Rohn for years but hadn’t heard this audio. It’s probably the best philosophical lesson network marketers can apply to any business.
Jim’s descriptions of the natural order of things are very accurate. Jim Rohn states to keep sowing and not worry about the outcome because following the process is the key. I listened to this video before and it always motivates me. Jim Rohn was truly one of the best and I have learned so much from him.
I met Jim back in 1983. He came into our town to speak at our convention. I was fortunate to be one of six that went out to lunch with him. I had been in MLM less than a year and little did I know how much he would impact my way of thinking. He will be missed.
Great post, Melanie. I completely agree. Now is the time to keep moving forward and not take the time off and to continue planting those seeds.
One of the biggest and hardest lessons I learned in this business is that people will join when they are ready, not when I want them to be ready.
So, keep planting those seeds and those who sprout will!
What an incredible opportunity Adrian.
I love how Shirland described it as well – Jim’s explanation of the natural order of things – that’s exactly right.
Patty,
I have also found that as long as I continue to sow, there will be sprouts – and they may not be where I expected them! Suddenly my phone will ring, and keep ringing with new prospects… not the ones I was so diligently ‘watering’!
Great Post! Jim Rohn was and still is the best in the business of personal growth! He will be missed.
He truly changed the world. If each of our lives were lead with that agenda, we’d have a pretty sweet planet!
The best example for network marketers.Jim is amazing.We lost a great motivator.
Thanks Melanie for sharing Jim’s ideas about networking. It may be a different way of looking at it, but we surely share the same principles when it comes to creating downlines.
I personally make sure that my downlines would reap benefits from the business same as I do. Whatever tips I learn, I share it. I often believe that knowledge when shared always multiplies.
My two favorite things to talk about, marketing and scriptures. I liked how you made the connection between someone building their business with the one sowing seed.
It’s the same in the health insurance business. You scatter your seed here and there because you never know where the seed will take root.
Sometimes it will really surprise you!
I enjoyed the post and will be bookmarking it!
Wow! I love this! Great idea I must say. I believe that God guides our every step, but we must be willing to take them no matter what.
All of my life I have been told that I would reap what I sow. I didn’t see this until a few years ago but luckily I did see it! And Melanie you are right, don’t go after the ones that leave your field because you need to stay right where you are sowing your seeds for others!
If you sow continuously you will reap,
Sherry
Wow Melanie,
Vivid descriptions on the four places your seed may land. Good, practical advice on making use of the way the world works instead of dwelling on what you think should work but doesn’t.
If you continually find new fertile ground to sow fresh seed (articles, blog posts) your business will flourish as you tend to your new sprouts (members).
As the new sprouts mature they spread out seeds of their own to fill in the fields.
When you think about it, It’s a great analogy for MLM
Michael
Indeed it is Michael.
Also, its important to note that as you work diligently, you may find that when you are sowing for success, the results may defy nature. You may find that your sprouts come up not at all where you plant them!
In other words, as you are working to followup with your prospects and thinking ‘oh I have those 3′ sales from John, Mary and Pete… you may find that NONE of those sales come through, but 4 others do!
But… if you had not been working at all- you can be certain NOTHING would come to pass that looks remotely like success.
Melanie