I keep mulling this question over and over and I keep coming up with a curious answer. Network Marketing is obviously an industry and distribution model, but it’s real emphasis lies somewhere completely different.
I may be stretching just a little far as to it being a philosophy, but there is certainly a case for it. Once you get past the product and compensation plan speil you realise that to succeed means facing your fears and plugging any gaps in your business and street smarts.
We can all get wrapped up in the details and leverage of a compensation plan on first exposure, it is generally the reason for the rabid excitement of the new guys… and rightly so. But the real truth is, we ALL become involved because we want a change. We want more control in our lives, anything from time to money. We are all searching for something more, some way of existing that we don’t currently have and what soon becomes apparent is that to attain what we want, we need to continously better ourselves and help others do the same.
Your network marketing company is quite simply a tool in which to get you there. They are the ‘functional resources’ to fix the problem and not as much the focus as many originally think. Now, I’m not saying that your company doesn’t matter, it is the hub of your operations (and I love mine and you should love yours too) but it is the problem that it fixes that is what it represents, not so much what it sells, when it comes to business builders.
To give you a better idea of what I mean I wrote a post about it, What Are You Selling and to Whom? If you read that, you will get a true realisation of the 3 types of people that you will be working with, and what their emotional ‘triggers’ really are, and how you and your company fit in the scheme of it all.
The focal point is, what do I want to achieve?.. Where do I want to go? What do I want to do? And how can I help other people achieve the same freedoms? (Incidentally, whoever came up with the You.Inc. idea really got it right!)
More-often-then-not to get all this done means becoming the ‘better version of you‘ (although I’m not suggesting that there is anything wrong with you as you are). Become the more time efficient, the more outward, the more knowledgeable on the things that will help others.
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. It is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational argument. The word “philosophy” comes from the Greek φιλοσοφία (philosophia), which literally means “love of wisdom”.
(Wikipedia)
To be of more service to your fellow networkers and communities, one needs to be of more ‘value’. To consistently strive to increase your value, is akin to and will often lead to ‘the love of wisdom‘.
I fear the more you become involved with Network Marketing the more you will understand that it is a search for your own betterment and understanding, personal growth and how you can help others achieve the same.
Vive la Resistance!
As ever... Leave your thoughts below :)
Obsessed with freedom in all forms. Principled, caring and in an epic battle to untether geographically.
'Not all who wander are lost'.
Email - Benny@The4thMarketeer.com
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Interesting post. I agree on most levels with what you said here, that the bigger picture of what network marketing is about is to increase the quality of our lives and help others do the same. That being said, I think MANY people get into network marketing because a product dramatically changed their life. I know products have changed my life, and many on my team start building a business because of that. The same could be said of a service. If a service dramatically impacted someone’s brick and mortar business, they might want to start sharing that service to help others. So yes, it IS about helping others, but the desire often stems from a powerful product or service.
But I like your message a lot, Benny. Oh, I have to add, I find it amusing that you think everyone leads with self development and achievement. I think LEADERS do, but I think the vast majority in the network marketing sea still lead with their company. We’ve got an amazing community here in the You, Inc. world.
Hello Benny,
Network marketing is about a philosophy of becoming all that we can become. We as human beings must always strive to become all that we can become. This is the way that God created. Everything strives to become all it can become! We are taught at an early age to go to school, get a good education and then go get a job; however, the network marketing industry is 180 degrees from that philosophy. Now we must have the mindset of an entrepreneur and most people getting into this industry do not have the training to be an entrepreneur.
Soon after they find out they lack those skills and are not making any money they quit. For those who begin to invest in the training, or I should say themselves, start applying the training and maintain the mindset of being successful. The journey to wealth and happiness becomes the accomplishment.
I built and continue to build a team by providing value and applying the following daily:
1) Always working on my personal development.
2) Always building my list of targeted prospects
3) Masterminding with other leaders in the industry
4) Maintaining a focus on my business and my vision
5) Always taking ACTION.
Success has a simple equation: KNOWLEDGE + ACTION + a POSITIVE ATTITUDE = SUCCESS.
Go out today and become all that you can become!
Lloyd Dobson
You are absolutely right Lloyd. I believe it is all about the mindset of becoming the best, or should I say, the most useful you can be to others. I know it may seem a little hippy, but when people turn to you because they believe that you can point them in the right direction on any given subject, it is a great feeling. You help yourself by helping others.
Network Marketing is a great manifestation of that attitude. I really don’t like that people give up because they are making no money, although I can understand why, but to me that is not what this is all about. If I make no money but continue to grow through the wealth of knowledge that everyone is sharing, then I am succeeding.
I saw a great quote on a friend’s FB the day before yesterday, normally when you see it only the first sentence or 2 are given, but the full thing reads like this:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
I believe that the quest that we are all on is far deeper than just money.
Great to connect with you Lloyd, got you on YouTube too!
Tc