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[Warren Veach Company: State Continuing Education Contribution Level: 4]

I realize that may sound a bit odd to ask, but think about it for a moment of you will.

I've heard various people referred to as a "Guru", and I've even seen various individuals self-proclaim themselves as a "Guru".

I find it a rather vague term without a clear definition as to what, when or how, one becomes a "Guru".

If someone were to be introduced as "Doctor Know-it-all, PhD.", then I could easily identify with one who has spent years in a classroom, served an internship, and received a degree in his/her area of specialty.

However, I have never seen a "measuring stick" by which one could attain the status of "Guru".

Is it the number of years they have spent in marketing without going broke? Does it require having a certain number of prospects on their "list"?

Or, does it require someone else to state the the "Guru-in-question" seems to know what he is talking about, therefore he/she is a "Guru"?

Earlier today, I saw a discussion here on BN titled, "Would you correct a guru if you saw something wrong?" Now granted, they were referring to typos, not the actual content of his teachings, but wouldn't you want to be lead by a "Guru" that knew the importance of paying attention to the details?

I see where one BN member describes himself as a " MLM GURU". Another article talks about growing "into a full fledged guru yourself".

Another article says, "You don’t have to be a guru to write articles. You become a guru by writing articles."

Hmmm...I would have thought that doing the fact finding, research, testing and proving your theories in practice and then implementing a method by which you could share those ideas with others would entitle you to be a "Guru".

I don't know about you, but I'm relieved to know it takes more to be a Doctor than a "Guru".

How about you? How would you define "Guru"?

[Daegan Smith Contribution Level: 2]

Simple . . .

You're a Guru when someone calls you one.

To the top,

Daegan

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

Hmmm...I would have thought that doing the fact finding, research, testing and proving your theories in practice and then implementing a method by which you could share those ideas with others would entitle you to be a "Guru".

I agree with you. Way too many people apply the verbage guru to themselves or someone else without have the successful formula you identified here.
Great topic and article.
To your success,
Joyce Penner
www.joycepenner.com

[Jeff Mitchell Contribution Level: 4]

A guru by definition is a leader/mentor. So if you lead even a small group of people. Your a "Guru" to someone I think maybe the word guru gets people pumped up. Im a Guru, follow me... It works. Maybe it is the confidence in the word, the mental aspects of it all. People seek leadership, people seek their own GURU that they resonate with.

We are all Guru's to someone...

Good Topic.


Jeff Mitchell

[The "Think Big" Network Contribution Level: 1]

Jeff is exactly right.. The term Guru implies leadership and leadership is something people crave... especially with the information age and being completely inundated with business opportunities and advertisements.

But leadership is also something that people can see through if it is not genuine. When someone calls themselves a guru, it's usually because they are trying to play the part.. the whole Be/Do/Have principle. Often times though, people who are playing the part will pitter out or be unable to demonstrate true characteristics of success that seasoned veterans online will see right through. While some people may fall for the word "guru" as it adds credibility, others will be less likely to take action because of the warning flags.

There are no online credentials that people can fall upon when they're building a business online, so in your research of the person at hand, you will either see that they are a leader, or you won't. I personally think the term "guru" is overrated and borders on hypebole.. It's kind of like a guy showing a picture of his leased ferrari on his website.. it's disingenuous.

While the true "gurus" are out there.. they don't have to boast about it because they are successful without the hype. True leaders shine like diamonds in this industry

[Diane Hochman Contribution Level: 3]

You're a Guru when someone calls you one.


I'm with Daegan.

If you have a group of ZEALOTS who follow you and see you as their GURU then you are one(to those people)

Writing articles and doing videos or even being a "leader" does not mean you have a following.

In the end...there are only a few people out there who TRULY have gushing fans who throw money at ANYTHING they release.

[Daegan Smith Contribution Level: 2]

I'm with Diane:) I always agree with Daegan

[Diane Hochman Contribution Level: 3]

I adore Daegan Smith!!!!

You are TOO FUNNY!

And a GURU in my book every day of the week

[Verniel Cutar Company: Global Domains International, Inc Contribution Level: 3]

@ Daegan, Diane, Jeff, Mia. Great posts!

To answer the question, let me quote John Maxwell. This is pretty much a cliche' saying, but definitely applies:

"He that thinks he leads and has no one following him (her) is just taking a walk"

On the other hand, I think being a guru is different from being a leader. Being a guru has something to do with expertise, while being a leader has something to do with influence. You can have both traits. Although the industry uses both terms interchangeably, there's really a huge difference.

You can be a great teacher, an expert at SEO, and all that rocket science..and that's all good..but it doesn't guarantee that you'll get higher on the network marketing food chain. That's what a guru is.

On the other hand, high impact leaders don't usually have chips on their shoulders. (a leader I know here in Philippines. who barely finished third grade, doesn't have a clue about email and the internet, doesn't speak English, and formerly an EGG VENDOR, now makes a six figure dollar income yearly in MLM). Leaders know how to inspire, motivate, transfer desire and implant vision. That's what they do.

Ok so this is getting too long so finally I'm going to answer the question "what makes a guru, and how do you know when you find one?". ---> a guru is simply someone who is exceptionally good and an expert on what he's doing. If I'm looking for someone who's a guru on BUILDING WEBSITES, I'm not going to hire that man based on his MLM income, but on his ability to build excellent webpages. etc...and there's a guru pretty much on any marketing subcategory..copywriting, list building, sales, product creation, mindset, and every kind of voodooh.

but if you're looking for someone to mentor you about network marketing success, a guru is not enough. Personally, I'd look for a leader who has the size of an organization and the income that I dream about. I won't look at how popular he is or how savvy he is at internet marketing terms, I'm simply going to look at the size of his downline and his monthly production.

[Mark Fuller Contribution Level: 3]

I realize that may sound a bit odd to ask, but think about it for a moment of you will.

I've heard various people referred to as a "Guru", and I've even seen various individuals self-proclaim themselves as a "Guru".

I find it a rather vague term without a clear definition as to what, when or how, one becomes a "Guru".

If someone were to be introduced as "Doctor Know-it-all, PhD.", then I could easily identify with one who has spent years in a classroom, served an internship, and received a degree in his/her area of specialty.

However, I have never seen a "measuring stick" by which one could attain the status of "Guru".

Is it the number of years they have spent in marketing without going broke? Does it require having a certain number of prospects on their "list"?

Or, does it require someone else to state the the "Guru-in-question" seems to know what he is talking about, therefore he/she is a "Guru"?

Earlier today, I saw a discussion here on BN titled, "Would you correct a guru if you saw something wrong?" Now granted, they were referring to typos, not the actual content of his teachings, but wouldn't you want to be lead by a "Guru" that knew the importance of paying attention to the details?

I see where one BN member describes himself as a " MLM GURU". Another article talks about growing "into a full fledged guru yourself".

Another article says, "You don’t have to be a guru to write articles. You become a guru by writing articles."

Hmmm...I would have thought that doing the fact finding, research, testing and proving your theories in practice and then implementing a method by which you could share those ideas with others would entitle you to be a "Guru".

I don't know about you, but I'm relieved to know it takes more to be a Doctor than a "Guru".

How about you? How would you define "Guru"?

In the context of a business opportunity, a guru needs to have the courage to tell his prospect how he is performing. ON BN, I am disappointed that those who have wrote several threads of inspiration will not share with us their financial accomplishments. Right now, I am not making a livable wage in my busines, I would like to know who are the ones on this forum that do make 50K-100K. I guess they will keep hiding. That doesn't mean I will follow them like a zombie but it does help with crediblity.