The Ups and Downs of Network Marketing

It really doesn't matter what you want to call it, whether it be Multi Level Marketing, Network Marketing, Social Networking or whatever else you can think of it all means the same thing. Whether we realise it or not we are "networking" every time we leave the house. When you are in the check out line of your local grocery store and you happen to say something to the person behind you or the teller its all a form of networking. Networking is nothing more than talking to other people, simple as that. It never fails though that as soon as you become involved in a business that involves networking you all of a sudden become scared to death of the phone and everybody in the mall or grocery store.

When I first started out in network marketing I was like a scared rabbit not knowing what direction to go. I had just moved from Ontario to Alberta, Canada and didn't know a single soul. I was introduced to this concept by a woman who I connected with very well and even though I had spent pretty much all my working life with the public I all of a sudden became petrified to speak to anybody. All I could think of was what in the world had I gotten myself into. I had a background in accounting and business management so I understood the concept of the mlm system very well. Back in the old days of mlm it was drawing circles on paper in a coffee shop or on a white board. Tuesday night meetings at the hotel every week where we heard the same thing week after week to the point where I had it memorised almost word for word. Hey I was in business, I was a network marketer, even though the entire first year I didn't sponsor a single soul. I couldn't even get my family to look at this that's how confident I was but I believed and I had faith in the system. I can remember driving to the mall with my youngest daughter who was only 3 months old at the time thinking I am going to network today. I had a purse full of cassette tapes and diapers and I was prepared to round them up. Well that didn't go over well cause as soon as I walked into the mall fear set in and everybody I looked at turned into the biggest monster I had every seen and I was afraid if I opened my mouth they would lock me up. So when I say I know where your coming from I really do know where your coming from.

Todays mlm world has come a long way since then and the first thing that I had to learn was that it wasn't about me its about you or the person you are talking to. Fear is nothing more than False Expectations Appearing Real. In reality we have the solution to their problem, we have something of value to offer people and when I finally started to see in through that light the whole mlm concept changed for me. Now when I get up in the morning its not how can I avoid the phone its how fast can I get at the phone. I want to talk to people when I am standing in line at the grocery store, I want to talk to the guy stocking the shelves, the butcher the teller everybody I see I want to talk to, and it all starts with a very simple word and that word is "hello" that is the best place to start. If your afraid to talk to people then you need to think about why your afraid, is it because your ashamed of what your doing if it is then get out of it. If your not ashamed then don't hide, you have something that people are looking for, you are holding the key to the solution, to the problem. So do yourself a favour don't hold back people are not going to turn into monsters and the phone cord is not going to wrap itself around you and squeeze you with all its might.

Here is a simple way to view things when your making cold calls: you don't know the person, if they don't join you then you probably never will know them, they don't know you so why are you afraid of someone you don't even know and may never talk to again? If the person you call is looking for an opportunity they they are going to be more than willing to talk to you. So don't be afraid to offer them a solution they could just be the person that joins your business and tears this thing up. We are all people no one is any better than the next learn from each other (networking) when you learn something from what you have done then its not a mistake it is when you don't learn anything that you will need to look back and ask yourself why. I think I have covered all the wrong ways to build a strong mlm business and I am glad I went through those stages because it gave me the opportunity to learn so that when you join my business I am in a better position to guide you so that you don't hit the landmines that I hit. It has been an interesting journey and I still have so much to learn. The difference now is that I am not afraid of it I embrace it and enjoy the challenge. So don't be afraid of what the stranger at the end of the phone is going to say if they don't join you then you never will meet them but if they do then it's the start of a wonderful friendship.

All of us that are in this industry have the opportunity to learn from each other which makes this opportunity in my opinion the best opportunity in the world. My mentor is making a 7 figure income, he has been through the trenches, do you think I can learn anything from him? You bet I can and he will teach me how to do it in less time with less pitfalls so why wouldn't I listen to what he has to say and do what he tells me to do? I would be a complete idiot if I didn't. I know that it's going to take work and I know I am going to make mistakes and I look forward to making those mistakes as it will make me a better leader to teach others how to reach their goals. So don't be afraid of what you don't know don't let F.E.A.R stand in your way. If you have dreams and goals that you want to fulfill then go for it as I know that if you have taken the time to read this you have what it takes to achieve anything you can possibly dream of.

Good Luck and Enjoy the Journey!!
Christine Pulla
christinepulla@yahoo.com