An Embarrassing Network Marketing Story…
Picture this: It’s midnight, and you’re the only person walking about your neighbourhood, putting business opportunity flyers in mailboxes. You convince yourself that is all worth it, all of this sacrifice, this irrational activity is going to pay off someday, when you’re sipping margaritas on the bow of your Mangusta yacht on the Mediterranean.
Just as you’re about to slip another pamphlet into a letterbox opening, you catch a glimpse of a horrified young woman staring out of her window directly at you. Startled, you quickly pick up your pack, now almost empty thanks to all of your handy work that evening, and head straight for home.
She calls the police and reports you for suspicious activity. Only minutes after your brief encounter, a police car pulls up. The officer signals you to his passenger side door and asks you…
“What are you doing out this late at night?”
“Err… I just got off work” you mumble unconvincingly.”
“Working late huh? What do you do for work?”
“I’m an engineer”
“Gee, you’re working pretty late for an engineer! Is your work close by?”
“Yeah, but… err… I was visiting a friend on my way home…” you think to yourself “Damn! I just blew it”
The officer looks at you blankly for a second, and then says “Can I have a look at what’s in your bag?”
“Sure”
He shines his torch into the bag, only to find the few remaining pieces of paper you were going to dispose of. You are grateful that he didn’t ask to look at one of those home made flyers.
“How far is your place from here?” he asks
“About 100 metres down the road”
“Just go straight home, ok? No more walking about here at night.”
“Ok” you say accompanied with a sigh of relief.
If you can stand this level of embarrassment and not quit, you will succeed in this business of Network Marketing!
I remember this September 2008 night as if it happened yesterday…
I started my network marketing career in May of 2008, at the age of 24, with a giant of the MLM industry.
I saw the big promise of this business right away. It made total sense to me. I believed in the business model.
But I had very little success for 2 years, and it turned out to be one of the most frustrating experiences of my life. MLM has that effect on most people, and most people quit. But I didn’t…
My early problem was I didn’t want to share the business with my friends. There were good reasons for that. Fear of rejection was one reason, but my excuse was being new to Sydney, the people who I knew the most were my co-workers.
I didn’t want to be fired for trying to recruit my colleagues at work.
So I went forth and tried several crude, low budget marketing techniques that not only didn’t work, but you should never, ever use.
- I tried spamming people’s inboxes (…A BIG NO NO…)
- I tried posting on classified ads websites (and got banned from them for promoting MLM)
- I called random phone numbers from the whitepages
- I made cheesy flyers and dropped them in people’s letterboxes
You can’t build a million dollar business using small business tactics like these.
Even though my first 2 years were a complete failure, I was still fascinated by the profession of Network Marketing. I knew it was only a matter of learning how to do it right before the pieces came together.
After my embarrassing encounter with the police, I began to really educate myself on this profession. I read several great books by industry leaders including…
- Your First Year in Network Marketing (Mark & Rene Yarnell)
- The Greatest Networker in the World (John Milton Fogg)
- Wave 4 and The Wave 4 Way to Building Your Downline (Richard Poe)
- The Business School for People Who Like Helping People (Robert Kiyosaki)
- How to Build a Multi-Level Money Machine (Randy Gage)
To win in this game of Network Marketing, you must understand how it is played. I highly recommend these books as they will help shed some great light on the industry for you.
Studying the business opened my eyes to the vastness of the industry. I learned about the various compensation plans, I learned about “breakage”, and I learned about the importance of having systems to create duplication.
In late 2008, I realised that I wanted to build my business online, rather than offline. But I didn’t know how. I didn’t have a proven system to follow… until I downloaded a free book called “Success in 10 Steps” from my good friend and mentor Charlie Holles.
I didn’t think much of it at the time – just another freebie off the internet that could have been written by anybody being spammed around on Facebook.
But it wasn’t just another freebie…
This was my introduction to Mentoring For Free, a community of volunteers and mentors who help those who are seeking answers.
For the first 10 months, I didn’t do anything but “leech” off the free training provided by Mentoring For Free.
It taught me exactly what I needed to know about the network marketing industry and how to be successful in it. And it was the proven duplicable system I was looking for!
Mentoring For Free taught me…
- “The 5 Pillars”and how to evaluate companies for the best chance of long term success
- Why so many networkers are working very hard for very little due to unrewarding compensation plans and…
- How company business models are causing so much frustration among distributors in the field
But the most valuable lesson I learned was network marketing IS NOT a sales business. Rather, it’s a coaching and mentoring business.
It’s not a numbers game, it’s about building strong relationships.
I found the personal coaches and mentors within Mentoring For Free who taught me the right SKILLS on how to promote oneself to attract good prospects.
Finally Home…
In late November 2009, after learning what I needed to know about the MLM industry, after months of deliberation, I finally chose to start again and build my future with a 5 Pillar Company.
The success I’ve had building with Mentoring For Free, a proven duplicable system, in a relatively short period of time, is profound – a complete about turn on the frustration I had endured in the year and a half before.
I’m able to attract quality prospects who want to achieve success in this industry, and through the training provided my Mentoring For Free, build quality relationships with them.
Through education and building KNOW, LIKE and TRUST with my prospects, I am now sponsoring great people into my business.
That’s great FUN and what success in MLM is all about!
You can have the same results!
If you’re coachable, and follow the proven step-by-step Mentoring For Free system, we can and will guarantee your long term success in network marketing.
We’ll show you how to Build it once, Build it right and Build it BIG to pay you and your children a life time of residual income.
It starts by downloading the FREE ebook “Success In 10 Steps”
Click Here to Read More about Success In 10 Steps.
“It worked, simply worked”
Back to Network Marketing. I studied, analyzed and joined countless programs. I was told
- Buy leads.
- Make a list of friends and family.
- To be successful, I’d have to get 100 “no”s in order to get one “yes”.
- Make more calls.
After 14 failed attempts, spending thousands of dollars for guru “secrets”, I was pretty discouraged.
In late 2007, I ran into “Success in 10 Steps” by Michael Dlouhy. I looked at the table of contents and thought, “Huh? Where is step 1, step 2, and all the other steps?” The chapters had titles like “Your warm market has ice in their veins,” and “Give your prospects a puppy”.
Oh, right, Michael. This is REALLY going to help. NOT!
A few days later, the phone rang. Michael Dlouhy himself is calling me?? Must be someone using his name. Must be a sales call. Somehow he must know I have a few dollars left on my credit card.
We talked for a few minutes. He invited me to listen in on a free training call. Weird. He never tried to close me.
He called again, a few times. I was suspicious. But still no closing. At least it didn’t cost anything. And somehow he began to make sense.
He called again and tells me he knows I am quiet, need data and then more data, that I’m slow to decide, well organized, and do not like calling leads. What is this guy, a mind reader? He says, “Sarah, you’re perfect to do this business just the way you are.” Now he has me. But I refuse to let him know.
Next call, I break. I tell him about my 14 failed attempts, my lead buying, my collection of no’s, and how all 14 uplines told me I was not working hard enough.
Michael patiently explains how to evaluate an MLM company. Bam, wow I get it! My failure in MLM really was not my fault. So I ask, “How much to continue, Michael?” I mentally brace myself for his reply. “No payments. But you have to follow our training program.”
Sarah Thompson
Florida
“Our business turned around 180 degrees immediately”
Ontario – We started our network marketing career in 1999. Over the next seven years, we made just about every mistake possible!
We worked five long years in a “sponsor monster” money swap company with a pay plan so poor that we ended up with a remortgaged house, maxed out credit cards and a bad case of the “What’s Wrong With Me’s?”.
We spent thousands of dollars buying useless leads and even bought ourselves twice!
We travelled thousands of miles and even walked on fire! Our feet got warmer but our check stayed the same.
We stumbled into an illegal pyramid which cost us thousands more. We tried a Ponzi scheme before we knew what the word meant. Ten thousand more went to a mentoring program scam which taught us how to earn $21 split three ways!
The flags were all there, but they weren’t red enough.
In 2006, we read Success in Ten Steps and started to pay serious attention to the Mentoring For Free system.
Our business turned around 180 degrees immediately.
We’ve learned…
- How to spot personalities and build an instant relationship with them
- How to evaluate MLM compensation plans and contracts written by company lawyers
- Most of all – the 5 criteria you must evaluate to decide whether a company has good profit potential or not
It’s a sad fact that well over 95% of networkers are failing, but as Michael says, “It’s not your fault!”
If you’d like to find the support you need for the success you deserve, join us at Mentoring For Free.
Bob and Anna Bassett
Canada
“AAAAHHHH! STOP! We had enough!”
For 4 years we worked from home together. Life was great – together we would drop our son off at school, go to breakfast or workout, talk to people and just do what we needed/wanted to do on our terms. Best boss we ever had!
Then, our company went belly-up, leaving us high and dry. We lost it all…ALL! We were devastated.
Mentoring For Free was then presented to us and everything changed. Reading SUCCESS IN 10 STEPS changed our outlook, our thinking, and our lives! We had hope – we were given directions on how to do mlm right! We learned how to read our mlm contract and how to understand our policies and procedures.
Do you hear that? That is the sound of stomachs churning … churning at the mention of:
- Make your list of 100 people
- It takes 100 “No”s to get one Yes.
- Throw them up against the wall and see who sticks.
AAAAHHHH! STOP! We had enough!
Thank goodness for Mentoring For Free. What a revolutionary approach … let’s EDUCATE and HELP instead of bullying folks!
We spent too many years in “old school” network marketing, only to have it all crumble. Now we understand why, and we know what really works. Everyone claims to have a “proven” system. Frankly, it’s exciting to have a true workable system. The difference? We’ve seen Mentoring For Free work. This system makes sense, and it builds for the long term … not just the here-today-gone-with-the-next-big-promise tomorrow. This IS solid business building.
Tony and Melissa Casteel
Texas
“In Less Than 4 Months After Starting With Mentoring For Free, We Made Diamond In Our Company”
Having good mentorship is definitely the key ingredient for MLM success. Michael Dlouhy poured much knowledge, wisdom, skills and love into us.
By walking the path and footsteps of a proven leader with a track record of success and utilizing the power of Mentoring For Free, our team has been duplicating success since day one. Today, we are walking the path of success and mentoring others to walk the same path and truly love helping our team members achieve the success they deserve.
In less than 4 short months after starting with Mentoring For Free, we made Diamond in our company. This was monumental for us and we had never achieved this level of success prior. With all the skills we have learned from our mentors, we saw results right away and now we are building one of the fastest growing teams within the company.
It was not merely our own efforts that helped us arrive here — the power of the entire team and all our dedicated business builders helped us get here. We learned that when we focus our energy on our team; helping others become successful & profitable, our efforts naturally become easier.
One of the things that inspires us most is when we see our team members become successful. What makes this so special is that we know that we are in the business of dream building. The desire of the overall team is so strong that it drives us to truly be “mentors with a servant’s heart”. Every day that passes, we see these desires and dreams become tangible realities.
Marcello Lisi
Canada
Click Here to download Success In 10 Steps.
To your MLM Success,
Wayne Wu
Founder, The Profitable Networker
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Wayne,
Love the story. I have never been in traditional mlm before, so I was laughing all the way through your first year examples.
I do honestly believe you have what it takes to be at the top in this industry. If nothing else was known, the sheer determination is enough to know what kind of person you are.
Hey Chris,
Thanks for the kind words. It’s great to get to know another engineer. Dedication and determination is something we all need to realize our dreams.
Thanks for commenting,
Wayne
Hi Wayne,
I love your story! Sounds very much like mine, except that I never spent the money on all those things because we are a one-income family with three children still at home, so I couldn’t afford to spend. And in the end my “mentors” abandoned me.
That’s when I found the same mentor you did…Michael Dlouhy. Now HE knows what true mentoring is all about, and what MLM is all about! With him as your coach, I know you will do well…just as I will. I’m glad to be part of the same wonderful team!
Willena
Hi Willena,
Thanks for visiting my home on the web. It’s tough to build this business as a one income family with kids, so I admire your fortitude.
I can say enough about the group of volunteer we work with, lead by Michael. They really are a shining beacon in our wonderful industry.
Take care,
Wayne
Wayne, After reading your story I feel the luckiest. It is an honor to be mentored by you. Thank you!
Great story man. Really shocking & interesting.
Hey, was the “giant of the industry. You know the name of the company” was it (drumroll) ……… ? ? ? ? ? ? (dont worry I SPELLED that company so no lawsuit, right? lol).
Hey Gerry,
It might just well have been…
Wayne,
Good on you for your honesty and openness… always a great indicator of someone worth doing business with.
My introduction to network marketing in the early 1980s was different from most, but I still had some of those disturbing moments and incidents that helped to shape my future in the business.
Michael’s book and program are excellent and a great way to get started right.
John
Hi Wayne,
I feel your pain and have been there and done all that, ha, ha.
I still believe in myself and the NWM/MLM industry though. Sometimes we just need a little guidance, the right kind of guidance.
My embarrassing moment:
A few years back I was marketing a discount dental/health venture, using DVD’s flyers, etc…One day I had to take my car in for some work. While waiting I got to talking with a young man that worked there and gave him a DVD, told him to go home and watch it and I’d call him in a few days.
I followed up with him a few days later and actually got him to come out to a presentation meeting of the biz.
Long story short, he liked what he saw and was about ready to sign up. I had a starter kit all ready for him and was going to send him on his way and have him review the info, before talking about making out any list or contacting anyone.
Unfortunately, i made the mistake of taking him around the meeting to meet the team and my upline.
Now this guy had not actually signed up yet, but was raring to go.
All of a sudden, out of the blue my upline leader gets in the kids face and yells, “YOU NEED TO MAKE A LIST OF EVERBODY YOU KNOW”.
I could see from the look on his face, I HAD JUST LOST MY RECRUIT.
He never joined and I never was able to get him to talk to me again. I eventually got out of that venture too.
Good ole upline.
Glad you finally are having success.
God Bless,
Willie
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