Your First Year in Network Marketing – Is It Worth It?

One of the most inspiring books I have ever read on the subject of network marketing is “Your First Year in Network Marketing” by Mark and Rene Reid Yarnell.  It’s a classic.  Although I’ve read it several times, I thought it would be helpful to go through the book once again and share the experiences I have had during my first year in network marketing.  Actually, when doing a home-based business part-time, the issues dealt with in “your first year” can actually be several years long (and of course, the learning part will never be fully over.)

One of the things that I love about this book is on the very first page of the introduction I saw the quote: “95 percent of those who survive ten years in network marketing become wealthy beyond their wildest expectations.”  Wow!  That seemed like it was going to be enough for me.  Imagine, devoting only ten years of my life to an industry that I was growing to absolutely love seemed like it was going to be a piece of cake.  I could visualize what my life was going to look like, as I traveled to all the “beaches of the world” and shared my experiences – inspiring millions of people that they too, could create the lives of their wildest dreams, as I had created mine.

Now, I’ve been in straight commission sales as an independent contractor in the welding industry, so I thought that I knew all about rejection.  Imagine, some redhead showing up to do a presentation to a burly maintenance man about the greatest welding maintenance welding rod on the planet.  The laughter generally subsided after the guys saw that I could actually weld, but there were many plants that would not even let me in the door because I wasn’t part of the “old boys network.” Today, that rejection pales in comparison to what I’ve experienced in MLM.

I’ve been selling since the age of about 4 – read-a-thons, walk-a-thons, girl scout cookies, magazines, retail clothing.  I was an executive recruiter and then went into sales of electrical cord and cable, welding rod, and then medical supplies.  Is my sales background a benefit in network marketing?  NO! NO! NO!  It’s actually been a hindrance.

The problem with being a salesperson is that people automatically believe they have to have the ability to sell.  If I was a landscaper, or hairdresser, or other traditional employee, I would be much more believable.  When you’re in sales, people always believe you’re trying to sell them.  I’m not.  I truly believe in this industry and in my products.  I believe that my friends, family and others that I meet both in person and on-line can dramatically alter the course of their lives by working hard (really hard), for 3-5 years in building a business that can and will support them for the rest of their lives.

This book spends quite a bit of time on rejection – rejection by friends, spouse, family members, etc.  I didn’t really think it would be that bad – after all – my friends should be able to see this wonderful opportunity that I had been exposed to.  We should all go into business together, have a great time building an extraordinary business and enjoy the fruits of our collective labor together.  Did that happen?  Uh, no.  Did it hurt?  Uh, YES!  It’s painful to KNOW that there’s a better way of doing things – of investing time and effort in the short term for a huge payoff in the long term. Even if money and wealth beyond your wildest expectations is not the be-all, end-all, what about just the opportunity to get your time back?  To be able to spend quality time with family and friends.  To not have to wake up to the blaring alarm clock.  To own your own life.  THAT’s what I see for my husband and I in this wonderful business.

Some of the other points in the introduction – “every great MLMer was a lousy MLMer first.”  That quote keeps me in check.  Ok, so I’m not the person that started making $1.5 million after the first 9 months in business.  I’ve done a lot of stupid things and I’ve turned and burned lots of potentially great distributors.  Have I wanted to quit just about every day?  Well, no, not every day – but certainly often enough.  I have to realize that there is a huge learning curve.  I did not get great at selling welding rod in my first year with that company either.  My persistence and tenacity is what has helped me in every one of my positions, and it is helping me in MLM.  My “why” is strong and I have no doubt that I am well on my way to helping my family and countless others to achieve their dreams and goals as well.

Mr. and Mrs. Yarnell also cover the fact that we all need to start getting along with each other. “Industry-wide success depends on elevating MLM companies and products rather than destroying the reputations, hopes and dreams of our MLM competitors – only then will network marketing become the most lucrative profession in all of free enterprise.”  So, please respect the fact that I LOVE my product and my opportunity and my compensation plan and my leadership.  I’m glad you found a company that has inspired you, but I don’t want to hear why yours is better and why mine is bad.  Unless I am involved in an illegal ponzi scheme (which I’m not), please keep your opinions to yourself.  Let’s all take pride with the decisions we’ve made in joining the companies that we chose to join.  Let’s respect others in our industry and let the world know that we have a legitimate profession with amazing products and we’re having a lot of fun doing this.  So like the immortal words of Rodney King, “Why can’t we all just get along?”

The only way that you can fail in MLM is to quit.  No matter how bad you feel.  No matter how hard it gets – DON’T QUIT!  “Because surviving is synomymous with thriving in our industry.”  Now – go make your mistakes, get over your big bad self, and learn from those mistakes and move on.  In the end you will be able to have fun, make money AND make a difference!