Are You A Network Marketing Pit Bull, Lab Or Mix?

I love dogs.  All dogs.  All sizes.  All personalities.

Stereotypically the pit bull is a ferocious animal, ready to pounch and conquer anything that moves.  (I say stereotypically because one of our neighbors has a pet pit bull and I have never seen a more docile dog.) Labs are convinced that they were put on this earth to have a good time 24/7/365.

 Where do you see yourself as a network marketer? 

 Do you hear someone grumbling about their present job and immediately go into your pit bull mentality and pounch on the opportunity?  “So, you’re unhappy with your job, I’ve got a fantastic opportunity where you can make enough money to quit that stinking job of yours.”  Or do you sink into your lab personality and say something like “Oh, you’re unhappy with your job.  Bummer.  Let’s go grab a beer.”

 The successful network marketer is a mix: pit bull and lab.  Keenly aware of what the person has just said about his/her work situation yet instead of the networking pounch approaches it in a somewhat lab fashion: “Maybe you’re just having an off day.  Let’s grab a coffee and talk about it.”  Or “We all have those kind of days.  How about if I call you back tomorrow?”

 Using the “mix” approach, you are not adding to the pressure that the person is currently experiencing by having to listen to your spiel.  I actually used the “mix” approach to a woman who was a single mom of two and I could tell was frazzled when she answered the phone.  I went into my “How about if I call you tomorrow?” so I would not add to her pressure cooker day.    She insisted that I call her back in an hour after she put her children to bed.    I called her back and walked her through the business presentation.  The next day, she signed into my business.  Imagine if I came at her like a pit bull: “I know it’s tough being a single mom and working a full time job.  That’s exactly why you have to listen to me right now.  This business is your answer.”  (Her response probably would have been: click.)

 In the world of dogs, the happiest dog is not necessarily the one with the most bones but rather the one most admired  by - and caring toward - its fellow dogs.  In our world of network marketing, the most successful network marketer is not necessarily the one with the most recruits but rather the one most admired by - and caring toward -  his/her colleagues in their business.