Would you buy a pizza shop without reading the contract?
Read More: Have you heard of the 5 Pillars?
Have you ever wondered what they were?
Why are they important to you?
Today we’ll discuss the 1st Pillar. I want to begin by saying that my mentor and friend Michael Dlouhy joined over 100 different mlm companies within 2 years, to figure out all he could about network marketing. He learned what worked and what didn’t. He learned why some companies make it and why some of them don’t. So after evaluating all these companies the 5 Pillars were created. I am grateful for this information because when joining a company you can use the 5 Pillars as a yard stick to see how a company measures up and see if they qualify. If you have a 5 Pillar company you are guaranteed success.
Pillar #1- Does the company management have personal experience building their own network organization? Have they done it with integrity?
Do you know who the company management is in your company? If you don’t know and can’t find out, this may be a red flag to consider.
Pillar #1 also has to do with the contract the company has created. This contact is your policies and procedures. Does your company have policies and procedures? Can you easily find them? If you can’t this may be something you may want to look more into.
How many pages does the policies and procedures have? Are they only 3 pages long or are they as long as 103 pages? This is important to know. The less experience the company and management has, the longer the contract is and the more strict the clauses become.
When analyzing these contracts, one of the main clauses to consider is the clause that states that the company has the right to involuntarily terminate you or they can opt not to renew your annual membership.
You may be thinking that a company could never do that. But the thing to consider is, if it’s in the contact they can use it. They have before and they will again.
As distributors its important to make sure the policies and procedures are a fit for you and not just for the company. You need to make sure you aren’t waiving any of your rights away when signing that consultant application.
Some think that the policies and procedures don’t matter much because in the beginning we don’t make much money. But imagine when you are making $10,000+ a month, that contract will matter.
These 5 Pillars are here to help us as we make these business decisions. It helps us learn HOW to think not WHAT to think. Learn why it's not your fault that you haven't yet received results from your business.
Your fellow networker,
Stefanie Sanspree
Views: 883
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Comments: 21 
About the Author: Stefanie Sanspree
Member Since: 08/02/2009
Company: I brand Myself
Industry: Education
Primary Web Site: http://stefaniesanspree.blogspot.com/
Good subject Stefanie
If you dont have the 1st Pillar in place, you don't need to go any further with that opportunity. Keep up the great work!
Struggled For 10 Years Until I Found The 5 Pillars~
The truth will always set us free! It's such a breathe of fresh air when we discover that lack of success is not our fault... The 5 Pillars explained exactly why I never had the success I deserved. Thank you Stephanie for writing this brilliant article and sharing the truth with others. There are so many praying for answers... You are a light!
The truth is freedom to our lives...............
Thanks for great article.....................what powerful truth. Your friend, Jan
The truth is freedom to our lives...............
Thanks for great article.....................what powerful truth. Your friend, Jan
No Pillars = Pain and Frustration
Good advice, Stefanie! We worked in a zero pillar company for almost two years - an expensive mistake.
Thanks for warning us and letting us know what to look for.
Makes Making Dough Easier!
Don't want to have it all come crashing Down on you! Glad to have people that care enought to report this info!
Thanks Stefanie
I appriciate you Thank you
YOur friend for life Juanita
CHECK OUT BASIC INFORMATION
Some of the basic information is overlooked. Thanks for the reminder.
FYI
Companies with longer Policies & Procedures will also have more Overhead. Higher Overhead means less put towards the Comp Plan. Love the 5 Pillars....Thanks Stef
An opportunity without Pillars...
...is like a day without sunshine? NO!! It's even worse than that because the effects last soooo much longer. What IS a day of your life worth? How to you want to "spend" the most valuable asset you have: Your Time? I struggled for many years until I learned this valuable information.
Hate to tell you this Stefanie
BUT a company can do it if it's in their P&Ps or not. Legally you won't have a leg to stand on as a distributor.
Pointing out that it is in, or is not in, any company's P&Ps is immaterial and giving people a false sense of security.
A little tiny lie is almost as bad as an out and out lie isn't it??
Beware of the ones with less than honest intentions.
In this day and age, with so many scams out there, it is critical that we check out the company and their managers before we jump in. It's hard to imagine that there are people out to take us to the cleaners, so we really must beware!
Your Choice!
Although a company can change it's P&P at anytime, it is still very important to check out the company, it's owners, and make your decision if you can live with the P&P as they are. For most the P&P really don't matter because they are not going to build big, but for those of you that are going to build big it does.
Alice McCarthy
Critical Thinking Goes a Long Way
Most people who sign up on Hype and Emotion never take the Time to Read through their P&P's Especially if they are longer than 15 pages. I know I did till I found out about the 5 Pillars!
You are absolutely right Stefanie, Some people never Imagine themselves earning $10k per month so to them the P&P's dont even matter!
Do you know what your P&P's are in YOUR company?
Ths is a great article Stephanie. I agree with Nick, people are so hyped that they don't read their P&P's. Alice makes a good argument too. Overall, it is a great article, and great insight. I hope new networkers would read their Policies and Procedures. They need to know if there company is a 5 pillar company. Thanks for Value. Great Great Article.
Read the P & P's.......
When we actually stop and read the policies and procedures, most of us realize the 1st pillar is missing in our company. I had to read through 26+ pages of contract and hated every minute of it. But, I'm so thankful I did because I quickly realized I could be sued by the company, canceled for any reason, could never really retire and I wouldn't be able to pass the business onto my children. So, I voted with my feet and found a 5 Pillar Company that would allow me to reach my goals and offer a solid foundation for my future.
Thanks for the great info, Stephanie~
Pillars!!
Pillars are what hold up your home!! They also hold up your BUSINESS!! And you need all 5 of them for your business to hold up under pressure. Thanks for the info.
Some Thinkg Stack Up
It may be that you can overlook your P&Ps assuming that one or another thing might make up for it - but if you take all things into considerations, all 5 pillars, then you get a better sense of what the company is willing to do to protect itself. The company will always come first but if you look for one that has unquestionable integrity your odds are just better overall.
Great post Stephanie, thanks!
Can't Get Enough Of Those 5 Pillars !
Stefanie The 5 Pillars are the only way to go now that I know about them, I would never represent a company that didn't have them. THERE IS NO OTHER CHOICE !!!!
Without due dilegence we are doomed
Thank you Stefanie,
So many of us, me included, have jumped in and Then found out that we were in a scam or the company founders lacked integrity and had only their best interest in mind. If we do not read our contract then we are subject to what may happen later.
Timothy C Burns
5 Pillars
Thanks for the reminder. I believe my current opportunity has good management and all have previous networking experience. Must confess though to never having read the policies and procedures. I know, not a smart move if I am a responsible business owner. Thanks again :)
Title Is The Smartest
Stephanie the title is the smartest because many people do not know that they are definitely buying a pizza shop without signing their contract!!