Forums

[scott moore Contribution Level: 1]

Hi every one when I first started networking i remember asking my up-line if there if there was any solutions to the problems that i was having helping my down-lines like helping them to be more productive prospector's finding customers & stopping them from being broke all the time and all he could say was just follow the system and you will do fine but i cant help but feel (what about them) because if your prospects are failing and the person that is suppose to know how to fix the problem dose not even have any answers it kind of makes you think RIGHT!!! dose any one here fill the same

since those days I'm glade that i don't listen to my up-line on a 50 year old system any more LOL

all i can say today is systems Rule

[Joyce Penner Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 8]

Lack of integrity is where I draw the line with my upline. But you are right. I read somewhere that the problem with network marketing is that there are people running around without any knowledge teaching others that same lack of knowledge.
Made sense !
To your success,
Joyce Penner

[Peter Arnold Contribution Level: 3]

Hi Scott :

Regarding our uplines - and anyone else - I'd like to share with you something I believe is critical to our success ...

First, I feel we tend to live in a ME society - where 'self interest' tends to rule.

Unfortunately, the attitude of - "looking out for number ONE" is prevalent - "survival of the fittest" is a common buzzword phrase.

There is too little emphasis on 'reaching out' to help others - to bring out the best in people - to develop that unity and "TEAM spirit".

Let me discuss what I believe is an all too often "Missing Ingredient" - in our jobs - our businesses - our professions - our personal lives.

E-D-I-F-I-C-A-T-I-O-N...

Like loyalty - honor and integrity - the term edification is very precious - it's priceless.

Edification means -- "building people up". It means being a 'cheerleader' of others - giving praise where praise is due. It creates the very best environment for growth and success and happiness, in our careers and in our lives.

IN OUR 'HOMES' - Personally, it is here that I believe it should 'start'. And amazing things can happen in our 'jobs / businesses / professions' - when we start complimenting our partner / spouse / children / parents 'at home' -- instead of criticizing, blaming and finding fault with them. When we, as members of the same family (and extended family), can start building on each other's strengths -- searching for the good in each other -- encouraging each other -- respecting each other -- lifting each other up -- and begin overlooking their (our) weaknesses -- we are well on our way to 'getting it together, together'.

There is "nothing" more powerful than a couple who trust each another - and togther - are laser focused on the same vision and dream for the future. Nothing.

Towards Our 'UPLINE' - For some of us, it may be difficult to edify our upline at times. It may require doing what is being taught, without even fully understanding why - but it only makes sense that our upline's motivation is to see US become successful. There's a financial incentive for doing so, a strong vested interest. Otherwise, upline is 'shooting themselves in the foot' - THEIR Networks won't grow unless OURS prospers. We don't always have to agree with our upline, and neither do we have to believe they are perfect (they're not) - but why discuss those disagreements and beliefs with anyone? Talking negatively creates doubt. Doubt creates confusion. Confusion stops growth. Lack of growth brings fear and causes people to quit. Why not replace negative with positive reinforcement and faith? Faith after all, IS the essence of edification.

Towards Our 'DOWNLINE' - This is extremely important. Our 'partners' are like family. They look to us for information, support, direction and leadership. We can often see potential in them that they cannot see in themselves. Edification means we need always, to verbalize sincere encouragement and belief in them. We need to edify them to others. We need to build them up to their own downline. We need to care about them as 'human beings' - and not based on their 'production results'. We need to show respect for them. We need to solicit ideas and suggestions from them. We need to set a professional example for them. We need to let them know that our primary purpose is to 'serve' THEM. Their success is 'our' success. These are fundamental principles, universal in scope. These principles will DUPLICATE. These principles will create some LEADERS in our business family.

HONESTY - But edification of others cannot be faked. It must be genuine, truthful. It does not mean 'praise without foundation', as there are times when we [as leaders] may need to make tough decisions that won't always be popular with everyone. Unlike the corporate world though, where some (not all) attain higher and better paid positions by stepping over, around and on, others to get to the top - our MLM enterprize is a PEOPLE community - where building trust and friendships and close partnerships with women and men of like interests and values is KEY to success. This is about inspiring others to reach their full potential -- to believe in the beauty of their dreams. There's a radical difference here.

CREDO - in essence => if we will help enough 'other' people to a better life (first) - then 'we' will succeed beyond our greatest expectations.

Let's resolve to better embrace that "missing ingredient" - by reaching out a little further, to touch and serve more people, in a positive way.

-----------------------------------
= "Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others, cannot keep it from themselves" (James Barrie)

= "It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can help another without helping helping himself" (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

= "There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assist another human being - to help someone succeed." (Alan Loy McGinnis)
-----------------------------------

Didn't mean to "sermonize" on this - it's just that I saw your Heading, and it triggered my thought on seeing the principle of EDIFICATION as being such a force for good :>)

Sincerely / Peter A.
http://www.PeterArnoldOnline.com

Peter Arnold, CLU, CFC / Founder
Business Achievers Academy / Canada

[Scott Cofer Company: GBG Contribution Level: 2]

I solved the problem this way:

Since I wasn't getting any contact or encouragement, even as my group was growing rapidly, I divorced myself from my upline - just pretended they didn't exist.

This helped me immensely, because ...

1) I either had to sink or swim on my own
2) I was taught what NOT to do with my group

Wasn't a fairy tale story, obviously, but the end result is fine with me - and my happy group.

Best,
Scott

[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 9]

.

I have a few times.
These were occasions where they did some really stupid shite, like not show for a meeting where they were supposed to help present or never picked up their part of the tab for expenses for a meeting. Or when they did something that could easily be viewed as unethical ... like jack a bonus from us by placing someone in the organization a certain way that they got the money and we got the person. That kind of stuff.

But never once has it been anything other than that. And part of the reason why is because my wife and I have never jumped into an mlm business where we expected anything from our upline. Seriously, I'm not just trying to "say the right thing" here. Never once have I done anything in mlm where I expected upline, crossline, downline or any other line to do a single thing for MY business. For some reason I've always viewed this enterprise as something that is going to be accomplished by me, if I want to succeed.

And of course the J.P. Getty adage absolutely rings true ... How To Be Rich is one of my all time favorite reads, but at no point have I placed the fate of my own success in the hands of another man.

Doing things with that attitude basically eliminates any reason to be ticked off at your upline.
At that point, if you view your business and your success as your responsibility, then what could they do to tick you off?
.
.
.

[Joyce Penner Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 8]

Peter/Richard: I have made every mistake possible in my position as a downline and an upline in my MLM journey.

As a downline I absorbed and did everything my upline told me to do, blinded me to the fact he was a master manipulator, a spin doctor who could put just enough truth into what he was teaching to make it believable. I almost worshiped him and was shattered when I finally saw what he really was all about.

As an upline, based on that upline's teaching, I poured my heart and soul into holding people's hands, listening, crying with them (what he called encouraging and supporting them) and wasted precious hours out of every day "being" there for these people who weren't going to go anywhere anyways.

And then one line from Jim Rohn caught my attention. (I was already feeling uneasy in the pit of my gut that what I was doing wasn't growing my "business") Mr. Rohn said: "Become a student not a follower."

I was a follower. I was denying my basic instincts of a business owner to do, be and say what I was told to say/be and do. I was a follower of someone who used manipulation to keep people in his business versus genuinely caring if I grew into a profitable business owner.

That lead me to where Richard is - although he stated it much more eloquently but it was time to use the wisdom and intelligence God gave me and quit relying on others.

Changes the dynamics of the team - for the better I may add.
Joyce Penner

[Peter Arnold Contribution Level: 3]

Hey Joyce:

Even though I prefer to keep a positive attitude on things, where I can - I totally realize that no - business - company - product - comp plan - or UPLINE - is "perfect"

NO -- it does not exist -- it cannot be found -- nada.

And that's because => they're all created by - run by - 'HUMANOIDS'! :>)

Yes - the "realities" of working with an upline - who lacks integrity - can be pretty traumatic.

Sadly, it can shatter our belief - in our (so-called) support - in our business - in ourselves.

It can hurt our self-esteem, big time.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

But you "nailed" the solution => it's about taking LEADERSHIP.

In my own opinion...

-- as we embrace the process of SELF GROWTH - of CHANGE (within)

-- as we gain the right Success MINDSET

-- as we acquire the right SKILLS

-- as we accept RESPONSIBILITY for our "own" businesses (through Self Branding, etc) - and our "own" futures

=> WE will emerge as the kind of LEADERS that will "attract others" to us - and

=> WE can duplicate that environment throughout the whole Team (teachers, teaching teachers to teach)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I see what you're describing as YOU having "taken hold" -- YOU having accepted the LEADERSHIP role - the one that totally 'escaped' your Upline.

Nice!

Excellent topic.

Sincerely / Peter A.
http://www.PeterArnoldOnline.com

Peter Arnold, CLU, CFC / Founder
Business Achievers Academy / Canada