I thought I’d provide my opinion as to why Network Marketing doesn’t work. Let me clarify…allow my to dish my opinion on why network marketing doesn’t work for such a large percentage of those that try it.
After all…you probably never hear from people saying, “Wow! You know…I hear network marketing is a really cool thing where tons of people make boat loads of money.”
More likely…in my 20 years of doing this, I’ve heard people say things like “No one makes money in network marketing,” or “a lot of people try and fail.”
And of course, THOSE comments ALL come from people who are NO LONGER IN network marketing.
Well…here are some interesting facts that probably no one has ever told you.
All network marketing companies are bad.
All network marketing comp plans are designed to rip you off.
All network marketing products are hard to sell.
No one makes money in network marketing.
Only those at the top make all the bucks.
In fact, every network marketing company is out to get you.
They design it so that almost everyone but a select group of “insiders” make it.
Didn’t you know that?
Of course, what I am saying above is ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT!
I am KIDDING YOU when I say that!
The TRUE REALITY is this.
Network Marketing works.
Network Marketing, while NOT for everyone, is an equal opportunity employer.
And darnit! During the past 20 years, I have consistently made money in network marketing. And…even more importantly, I have worked with HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of people, if not THOUSANDS of them who consistently produce results in their network marketing businesses But…during all of this, there are still thousands of people that come into this profession every year and then bail out as a complete failure!
So…why then is it that so many people DO fail?
The truth is…a great majority of people who come in and try network marketing DO fail.
The answer is in my opinion quite simple. There are actually a couple of simple answers.
Here is EXACTLY why a LARGE PERCENTAGE of people that try network marketing never make it:
1. Many people try it. In other words, no one can ever succeed at something unless they commit to it.
2. Many people quit. You can never succeed at something you give up at.
3. Many people never really prospect. Sure…they’ll get in and talk to a few people, but quickly give up when they realize it takes a little bit more than they thought.
4. Many people who don’t currently have the skills don’t commit to learning them. Network Marketing is a game of selling and promoting. A whole lot of average folks come into this game with poor communications skills, no confidence and lack sales experience. If you don’t know how to sell, you better learn!
That’s about it. It’s not the comp plan, your sponsor, or the company’s fault. When you succeed…or fail, it is your fault. Sure, crap happens. And when it does, you deal with it. Successful people pull out the shovel and start scooping while failures wallow in it. Sorry for the graphic…but so true.
Get serious about your commitment to this profession and your check will grow.
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Thats from Industry Expert and MLM Millionaire Todd Falcone. Gotta love the Plain Truth!
Are You Ready for the Challenge? To get serious about this profession? Then I want to talk to YOU
Call me today!
Twitter Updates
This blog really hit home. Still trying to get started. I read all your stuf, Ann Sieg, and Mike Klingler. Its all great except I don’t know what to do first or how to do it. Am waiting for Renagade Pro. Hopefully that will do it. Thank for doing what you do, keep up the good work.
Your friend & follower,
Walt
Hello Walter,
Your first step is to “Launch Your Blog”. As a member of the team you have full access to all of our webinar archives and checklists. I’ll shoot them over!
But hey, know that it is very easy to not know what to do first! The internet can be truly confusing- that’s exactly why a mentor is imperative. Just ask Walt, I got your back!
Melanie
I too have to say this blog was “on the spot”! I am a newbie as I am building my first Squidoo, listening and watching all that Anne and Mike have to say. Cannot wait til I can get the Renegade Pro!
You have to “think out of the box” to succeed in this wacky world these days and these tools that you supply are essential in making it happen.
Your site is awesome and good luck to you in the future!
Watch for me soon!
Caroline
Melanie,
Totally agree with your summary of the industry. Love the 4 point summary at the end. Bottom line is that it takes a decision and once that decision is made, the the rest of the ‘stuff’ doesn’t matter.
“Success is a habit. So is failure.
The price of success is paid up front and paid in full.
You can’t make money and excuses at the same time. Pick one!”
Thank you Peter, but I must give credit to my friend Todd Falcone ~ the wisdom is his!
Melanie
Hey AGain a Good one Mell..
U are stepping it up everyday
Thanks
Ankur
Each day we begin again. The option to succeed is there for those that reach for it.
Jo Anne Fogarty
Mel I dont know how you do it but you
just keep hitting them out of the park,
great post, talk soon
Alexis
Thanks for passing on the knowledge Melanie. I was out of the loop for a while, but now I am back in business. You are definitely a jewel!
To Your Success,
Stacie Walker
That’s why corporate America ( or any other country) is better. Hey, wait a minute….don’t the “guys at the top” make all the money there? The only reason that it appears that the guys at the top in Network Marketing make all the money is that you don’t see the other guys, who started at the same time, who didn’t develop the skill set and who didn’t put in the time. They have already fallen by the way side. When a Network Marketing company starts up- it doesn’t just start up with the 5 or 10 guys you hear about 5 years later- it starts up with hundreds.
Adrian
Agree, agree, agree, and agree.
But here’s something else to think about, Melanie.
It has long been my belief that, in addition to the truths you speak, there is another… many (most?) people come into NM with totally UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS.
You know, making a ton of money, quitting their job that they hate, financial freedom, easy as pie, the whole ball of wax.
And who is to blame for that? Well you may say that everyone is responsible for their own decisions (and you would be right), but I think all of us as Network Marketers need to look in the mirror to see what we are saying or doing that may contribute to this fallacy.
Just type in the keyword “network marketing” on Google and look at the paid search results. Most of the sites look like they came out of a Las Vegas casino… so many bells and whistles, flashing lights, etc.
Next go to YouTube and do the same, and listen to what many “Successful Network Marketers” are saying, or at least implying.
I just think that we as a community can do so much better to “set the correct level of expectations” for someone entering the industry for the first time.
I absolutely do this with all my new prospects, and while I am not going to break my company’s sales records any time soon, I am doing quite well… and what’s more, I feel like I’m respected because of the approach I take.
Thanks for the post, Melanie. Great stuff!
I couldn’t agree more Dr Bob!
I think that those ads encourage people who are truly not cut out to be entrepreneurs to whip out their credit cards and buy a dream.
This is not a dream… it requires real work. Those ads certainly dont describe the real work involved!
Todd as usually right on Melanie, as are you. Thanks for sharing this wisdom. I too go out of my way to make sure that I never enroll anyone into my organization who has “pie in the sky” expectations without a realistic understanding of the industry and work involved.
I am so passionate about network marketing as the equal opportunity that you speak about above. At the same time, the “hype” involved often deludes people into thinking they just have to sign on the dotted line, pay for/set up the “system” and money is going to fall into their laps in big bags. Sorry people. As in any legitimate business, there are skill, techniques and commitments that are needed.
I really like this post Melanie. It cuts to the heart of the matter!
Peace and Abundance,
Deborah Tutnauer
Host of ITS ALL SUCCESS TV!
I think that the way opportunities are sold makes it really easy for people to get involved without even considering that they just became an entrepreneur! They bought a solution, a way out… but they need to know that they really just stepped out in major faith, and now need to take action to get the results they want. Getting proper training and taking action … if you can do that, you can be successful in Network Marketing.
I call most people that jump into network marketing, “The hopefuls”now understand I said most, the majority of people get in Net work Marketing and rather than work their business like a job, till it starts paying them like a business, they get in and HOPE it works for them with out giving any real effort.
4 or 5 no’s or one of their broke family members tells them they are nuts for doing one of those deals, You know, the best friend that tells you, that he knew a guy once a few years ago that had a friend and his friends mothers best friends ants boyfriend, tried one of those MLM things once and it didn’t work. So why do think it can work for you. At that point they are history.
They will most likely move to another program and hopefully that program is easier. Then the process repeats its self.
The reason you hear about all the people at the top making all the money, is because you only hear the glory, You never get to hear their story.
You don’t hear of all the pain, the frustrations, the sacrifices all the trainings they went through to get to the top, the learning curve they went through,the rejection they put up with, from friends and family. But after all of those things they rose to the top of their game and now live the life most people only dream about and most can’t even comprehend.
They just paid the price for their MBA{Massive Bank Account} in Net Work Marketing the hopefuls and most people are not willing to pay.
Dan Six
The main danger is the desperation that sets in when things don’t go according to expectations. That desperation communicates itself to prospects subliminally, through our body language, mannerisms, speech, eye movement, etc… and it screams “THIS PERSON CAN’T BE TRUSTED!” to them.
So you begin exaggerating the benefits, making lavish claims until, finally, you cross the line into outright lying.
I have a 100% success rate in sponsoring. I believe ANYONE can do it, too. It’s not hard. But you have to be absolutely ruthless with yourself… your self-discipline has to be utterly uncompromising for it to work.
In a nutshell, it means refusing to even discuss your income opportunity with anyone who’s not willing to demonstrate that they’re serious about their own future. Curious isn’t good enough.
They have to actually complete THREE set tasks to persuade me to even show them my opportunity.
Believe it or not, I actually DECLINE to sponsor between 60%-70% of the people who approach me, wanting to join me.
Think YOU could achieve a 100% success rate with that kind of approach? (First, get rid of the notion that MLM is any kind of “numbers game”. That’s loser-think. Guaranteed.)
I outline my approach here: http://realnetworkmarketing.com/?p=88
(Great post, Melanie. As always.)
John
Good info Melanie. Very true. When my wife and I first started our business I was interested in the concept of not having a salary cap, but after attending some powerful events I became committed. We both had times of doubt, but fortunately they were not simultaneous so we picked one another up. After I realized that its more about relationships than sales, we started seeing more success.
Thanks for the golden nuggets that you provide.
Brad
Hello from Japan,
Mel is right in what she wrote. Those kinds of comments are all over the net. People who have done hundreds of programs but never made money. I have noticed they are the same people who chase everything new, have no interest in personal development, and consistently working at something…Most come online to make quick over-nite cash and when it does not happen they are ready to criticize others who are making money. When you try to help, they know everything there is to know but not willing to learn anything new…How Terribly Sad! I am almost finish building my blog because of the instructions Mel provided on how to do it and GUESS WHAT? IT WORKS.