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[Chris Tryon Contribution Level: 4]

In the arena of on-line marketing it is said that in order to be successful, you must "position yourself as a leader." Since most of us are involved with network marketing, wouldn't it make more sense to position yourself as "a friend?"

I have seen gurus and so-called gurus on popular social networking sites. They have huge lists of people following them, but they do not interact with their audience. Do their followers honestly believe that these gurus truly care about them?

Does having a huge list of followers mean that you have a successful business? I don't think so.

In most network marketing companies, the average person only needs to personally sponsor 3 people and teach those individuals how to do the same thing.

I would venture a guess that most of us have at least 3 close friends and if we approach them the right way, they will respond in kind. They will help us build our business. Those individuals know that we care about them and are willing to do everything in our power to help them succeed.

What do you have to say? Be honest. Did you join your current mlm because of a "leader" or a "friend?"

[Mario Sanders Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 6]

I do try to position myself as a friend. My friends know me and what I do professionally and on the side. When I invited them to join me on either job or opportunity, they declined. I am doing well professionally still and they still do not wish to join me on the job. They are retired and they want to stay that way. We are still friends.
I introduced them to this opportunity, and my friends declined again. I'm moving on to make new friends.
I moved across town to start again, in making new friends. Old friends still do not wish to follow.
Now I am experienced a little more in my field of opportunity. I learned to position myself as a leader in the field. I do not push my products and make anybody buy anything right away. i express the facts and let them decide. The responses are coming in slowly. People are coming back to me with questions and comments on how they are doing. So, the experience leader seems to work better for me. At least I am getting a response from my warm markets customers before getting responses from my friends.

[Don Egnor Contribution Level: 4]

I joined because of a friend, who was not a leader, but I became associated with people who were leaders. Every time we turn around today we are hearing "the money is in the list" which I suppose to some extent is true. I think though to build a very successful business the money is really not in the list...this is for short term so when the rage dies over a product then you are back at the beginning and having to start over. When we forge real relationships, show people we truly care, help them achieve their dreams and goals then they will make us successful...because they were taught the right way.

[Pete Zafra Company: AmeriSciences Contribution Level: 3]

This is an important subject matter in my opinion. Us, network marketers, should be perceived as a leader but easy to talk and open to as easy as a friend. We must show leadership to show people they can trust us and that we care for whatever service or product we put out onto the public. However, we must be friends and interact with the public and everyone we are involved with to show we're not in it just for the money. We can do this in a lot of simple ways and I think Magnetic Sponsoring is a good example and role model on how to put you and your online business out into the public. So in my opinion, it's important to be a little of both. For if only leadership is available people will feel we are a bit unfriendly and uncaring and if only friendship is available people will forget we are leaders. Some will lose faith in us, some will treat us like normal employees, and some will just see us like every other network marketer out there. So it is definitely important and beneficial if we are friends at the same time don't let them forget we are leaders who are here to make changes in people's lives and show them that anything is possible once you put one foot forward.

[Michael B Wilbraham Contribution Level: 4]

You've nailed it Chris!

I moved away from a previous company as the sponsor whom I had, & thought of as a friend, proved not to be!

I joined my current company because of a friend, and that friendship is actually growing as a result!

I really cannot add anything more to what's already been said.

[Ray Higdon Company: Numis Network Contribution Level: 4]

The guru word is bashed way too much, in my opinion. Noah St John does a good job in his book, The Secret Code of Success where he talks about most people's "why not to" is bigger than their why to. A why not to is displayed when someone bashes someone more successful, it indicates the subconscious does not want to be bashed so sabotages itself from ever getting too popular, succesful, wealthy, etc.

I think in all cases you need to be a leader. And I do mean leader, not someone who doesn't interact with their audience. With your friends you need to be a leader, they want to be led, and I dont mean managed. Be a leader in all aspects of your life to shine as an example for your team, friends and all around you to be.

[Chris Tryon Contribution Level: 4]

Welcome to BN, Pete. I like your style. You nailed a couple of things for me.

Part of being a leader is to care about the people that you introduce your business to. It also means setting goals and helping people to make decisions that will be beneficial for them. If we, as friends expect to be taken seriously, we need to present our business like a business. We are doing our friends a favor by sharing with them our knowledge, our opportunity and our products. They are not necessarily doing us a favor by joining our business. Especially if they are not going to take it seriously.

Great job, guys! Keep those comments coming!

[Mario Sanders Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 6]

I've just learned something here.
To position yourself as a leader, you have to be a friend.
To position yourself as a friend, you have to be a leader.
You have to be both a friend and a leader in this business.
And so, to have people to listen to you, you have to listen to people.
For people to have value in you, you have to put value in people.
And of course, nobody will trust anybody who don't know what they are talking about.
So, it's good to learn about your products, yourself confidence and the ability to persuade people to believe in you!

[Mario Dogelio Company: 5LINX Contribution Level: 1]

Thanks for allowing me to share, I think it is both important but in this business leadership is what we looking for and what we need to achieve. I can be your friend without you being my leader. being a leader and not being friendly is nothing. In reality: You Can't Be A Leader Without A Follower. thanks.

www.mariodogelio.com

[Johnny J Contribution Level: 1]

I think being both a leader and friend are important qualities in this arena. People need someone to follow who is authoritative to some degree. Otherwise, there is often no moving forward/no new ideas, etc.

At the same time, I agree that too often leaders do not rightly or effectively communicate with their team. To me, that is the most important aspect of any network marketing.