Where Do You Rank as a Network Marketing Leader?
Over the past years, I’ve had the opportunity to observe leadership, particularly as it pertains to the Network Marketing industry. And the more I observed these people, those who are a cut above the rest, those 3 Percenters that I so often talk about on this blog, several characteristics or “methods of doing business” have stood out.
What do guys like Mike Dillard, Jay Kubassek, Aaron Parkinson, and Mark Weiser all have in common? Besides being pretty damn wealthy, I mean! 
Today I would like to share some of the leadership traits that I find particularly important.
As you’re reading through this list, compare yourself and where you are in your life and your business.
How do you measure up?
I would venture to say that the more traits you share with the top leaders in the industry, the closer you are to becoming the LEADER that others will follow.
After all, it’s not about who is selling the best products or which company has the most lucarative compensation plan… it’s ALL ABOUT LEADERSHIP.
People join leaders in Network Marketing, not companies.
Without further adieu,
These are the Top 10 Leadership Traits Commonly Found in Those That Dominate Network Marketing:
- Leaders hold themselves ACCOUNTABLE. They set daily, weekly, and monthly goals and hold themselves accountable to these goals. They do not require others to keep them on task. Leaders are SELF-MOTIVATED
- Leaders are SELF-DISCIPLINED. Almost all leaders I have ever met have a “daily method of operation” and are disciplined about completing each task.
- Leaders are VISIONARY. Leaders have a clear vision of why their business enterprise is important to them. Possibly even more importantly, leaders see possibilities that others may not. They are extremely open to exploring new ideas.
- Leaders are RISK TAKERS. They are not afraid to risk a lot to potentially gain even more. They are courageous in their dreams.
- Leaders do NOT RECOGNIZE FAILURE. Rather, they see each “failure” as important information for their next attempt, which they’re sure will be successful.
- Leaders OVERCOME OBSTACLES. They do not let setbacks stop them, but move around them and find alternative ways to achieve their goals.
- Leaders are CONFIDENT and SELF-ASSURED. They do not seek nor do they need the approval of others. Leaders are confident of their skills and their ability to help others attain a high level of success.
- Leaders DO NOT WORK HARD, they WORK SMART. Leaders understand the 80/20 rule — that 80% of their results will come from 20% of their efforts (income producing activities), and they adjust their work emphasis accordingly. Leaders are not afraid to OUTSOURCE or DELEGATE less important activities.
- Leaders continually STRIVE TO LEARN new things. They are always striving to improve their lives in any way possible through knowledge. Leaders never stop learning.
- Leaders are HUMBLE. True leaders never forget what is was like when they were not initially successful. Leaders are GRACIOUS for their success and THANKFUL for the opportunity to truly help others.
How do you stack up? Give yourself 1 point for each other the above traits that you feel you display.
Most people probably rank about a 2-3 on this scale if they’re very honest with themselves. I think if you rank 5 or above, you are well on your way to becoming the leader others will follow.
Rank an 8-9?
Give me a call so we can work together.
To your success!
When One of Your Team Members Quit
As you start becoming more successful and start adding to your team, you take on a new responsibility — that being to make sure your new members get off on the right foot and are given the opportunity to thrive.
But where does it stop?
Welcome to Day 22 of my “30 Tips in 30 Days” Holiday Blog special, where I give you one free business or marketing tip every day in the month of December (except Christmas). If you’ve missed any of the previous posts in this series, click on the Business and Marketing Tips Category on the right sidebar.
What exactly IS my responsibility towards my team? This is one I really struggled with, particularly at the beginning.
I would bust my butt for my new members, making sure they had everything they needed, answering their questions as soon as I receive them, and basically holding their hand through the entire setup and orientation process.
NO MORE.
That’s not to say that I leave my new members high and dry. Far from it.
But I have automated my systems to the point where they receive all the information they need to get started. I orient them to the business, discuss their short term and long term goals, both in terms of income and in life.
I sit down with them for 30 minutes or so and REALLY discuss what they want and how they can get it with our opportunity.
And I am very open about it. I don’t sugar coat it.
I never use the word EASY, SIMPLE, or FREE.
Because none of it is simple, easy, or free. Not with my business, not with ANY business.
And because of these facts, people often quit.
A lot of PEOPLE QUIT.
In fact, if you believe the statistics, approximately 97% of people who start a home based business will ultimately quit before they reach their goals.
And every time one of my members quit, I use to lose sleep. I asked myself questions like,
“What did I do wrong? How could I have helped them more? Why would they quit?”
I asked these questions among feelings of guilt and worthlessness. I just assumed it was MY fault.
But it wasn’t, and it took a heart-to-heart with my good friend, and co-creator of Carbon Copy PRO, Aaron Parkinson to help me see it.
Aaron was helping us pick apart our business to figure out what was holding us back from taking it to the next level. And one thing we started talking about was how we handled our team members.
When I told him my feelings about my team members who quit, I really thought he was going to hit me.
After lambasting me for a while, he got serious and told me something that CHANGED MY BUSINESS MINDSET and allowed me to push through the barriers that were holding me back in my business.
He told me…
When people quit the business, it is NEVER the fault of the sponsor. You have given them the OPPORTUNITY, that’s all. Each person who joins is responsible for their own business. They had the same resources as you had, and you’ve made it big, so why not them? Because THEY CHOSE TO QUIT because it was too hard.
WOW!
That short speech changed my life. Aaron went on to make some analogies that made alot of sense:
- 95% of people who start medical school don’t graduate.
- A large percentage of people who start college don’t finish.
- A huge percentage of people who speculate in the stock market end up losing their capital.
Do you think that the medical schools, colleges, or stock brokers return people’s money because they failed? I’ve never heard of one. People invest in a venture, whether it be a risky investment, an education, or a home business knowing that they may not succeed.
And whether or not they succeed is TOTALLY up to them.
If they make it, it’s because of their effort.
If they fail, its because of their effort.
Think about those statements. Whether or not someone excels or fails in anything is a direct reflection of the effort they put in.
That one realization took a lot of pressure off me as a business coach. I can do everything I can to help people lay a proper foundation for their business, but THE REST IS UP TO THEM.
If they lose their money, it’s because they quit, NOT because I fail them.
So as you being sponsoring people in your business, it’s imperative that you understand these points.
If you don’t, it will keep you up at night and it will stop you from pushing your business to new heights.
To your prosperity!
Bob
December 22, 2008; Cresskill, NJAre You Getting Social Networking All Wrong?
Welcome to Day 12 of the ‘30 TIps in 30 Days’ Blog special — one Business or Marketing Tip for each day of the month of December. Today we turn our focus squarely on Marketing.
Sidenote: I am spending the day at a special workshop with Jay Kubassek, Aaron Parkinson, Dennis Karganilla, Jimmy Davis, and Howie Schwartz who will be doing one-on-one coaching with Rosemary and I. Yes, it WAS expensive, but we know that any money we spend taking advantage of this offer will be DWARFED by the financial returns we will see because of what we learn.
It’s all about INVESTING IN YOUR BUSINESS, guys.
Because we will be at this event all day (and then to the Carbon Copy Pro Holiday Party later tonight), I am going to make this short and sweet….
Are you getting Social Networking all WRONG?
Why do I ask this? Because I am amazed when I go to social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter how many people I see blasting broadcasts about their business. Just amazing.
You see, these people don’t get the point of Social Networking.
It’s NOT about selling your business products or opportunity.
It’s about BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS and developing TRUST.
So here is my Marketing Tip for the Day:
When using Social Networking sites, NEVER lead with your business. In fact, don’t even mention it. Start getting to know people on a personal basis. Develop a relationship OVER TIME, and the rest will follow. Don’t force things.
Everyone on these sites who are interested in “networking” have their own agenda with their own opportunity. Trying to force your opportunity down their throats will strictly result in regurgitation.
And you’ll generally have nothing to show for your efforts.
Here is the BEST VIDEO I have ever seen that explains how to market on Social Networking sites.
Check it out:
Until tomorrow, be healthy and happy… the weekend is almost here!
Bob
Take a look at my newest blog!
30 Tips in 30 Days: Day 7 — Do This One Thing and Your Chances of Making Significant Money Triples
If you may remember, back on Day 3 of our 30 Tips on 30 Days Series, I talked about the importance of training and allocating a significant part of your initial marketing budget to laying your marketing foundation with education.
You see, you can buy leads, but once they’re gone, they’re gone. But once you learn HOW TO MARKET, you can easily generate an unlimited number of leads…. sometimes free or at very low cost.
But today, I want you to consider something that you may not have thought important:
ATTENDING YOUR COMPANY’S LIVE EVENT
Statistics have shown that people who attend their company’s live events, especially within the first 6 months of joining the opportunity, almost triple their chance at being successful.
Bob and Rosemary Clarke with our friend Jay Kubassek, CEO of Carbon Copy PRO
It may seem weird that the simple act of attending a conference or live event will have such an effect. It was not until we attended our first live event with our current company that we discovered why it’s so important.
Let’s take a closer look….
Here are some of the advantages of attending a LIVE EVENT:
- You get to meet the leaders of your company, the people who started the company and run it on a day-to-day basis. You get an idea of their vision.
- You come to really understand the value of the products you are marketing, by seeing how they have positively affected the lives of others. Most people who market products use them routinely and can have some terrific testimonials.
- You get to see people who are making REAL money in your business. This no longer is a hypothetical possibility of making money… now you see it first hand. You can talk to these people and find out what THEY did to get to where they are today.
- You can meet people who work in the offices of your company, like customer service reps. These are the people in the trenches every day, and it is strategically very advantageous to befriend one or more of these key people. When you have an issue with your back office, need a product returned, have problems with a customer’s order, now you have someone REAL to turn to.
- You can network with others who are just starting out, get their contact information, and provide support for each other as you struggle to make a name for yourself. Some of my best marketing ideas were borne out of conversations I had in just such circumstances.
- You can LEARN new marketing strategies. I am lucky enough to have joined a company that holds an actual Live Marketing Event twice a year where they teach the latest and hottest marketing techniques. If your company provides such training at their live events, take advantage of it.
So lets get in to the nitty gritty….
6 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Live Event:
- Dress professionally. Business casual is the norm, so there’s no need to dress in suits, but don’t look sloppy! You are beginning to project your image, so look the part!
- Be a sponge! Listen to everything and take a lot of notes.
- Don’t be a wallflower! Even if you are an introvert like me, FORCE YOURSELF to be bold. Introduce yourself as a new member of the company, and more than likely you will get a very warm reception. If you find yourself at a lunch or dinner table knowing nobody, take advantage of it and meet EVERYONE at your table.
- Get business cards prior to the event so you can give them out to people you meet at the Conference. The purpose? People will now have your contact information, and you can ask for theirs in return. Ask them if it’s okay if you call them with questions. Most will readily agree.
- Watch for special discounts. Many companies offer special deals or discounts on such things as trainings, stepping up to the next compensation level, and products. Be willing to consider any that interest you. Rosemary and I have used several of these discount deals at our Live Events to get specialized training that would otherwise be cost prohibitive.
- Bring your camera!
Why bring your camera?
Us with our mentor Dennis Karganilla, co-creator of MLM Goldmine and Web 2.0 guru
Well, you need to start building your credibility with your prospects, right? When you are first getting started or don’t yet have a lot of success, you might feel like you don’t have any credibility.
So you have to BORROW some!
When my wife Rosemary and I were just starting out, we went to our company’s live event and took pictures with every leader we could find. These were people who were making REAL MONEY. These were people who had made a name for themselves.
Why would we do this?
First take a look at the pictures throughout this blog post. What do you see?
You see Rosemary and I with some very influential and successful people in our primary business and throughout the Network Marketing industry.
You get the picture. IT IS CREDIBILITY THROUGH ASSOCIATION.
People look at these pictures, and say….
“Hey, look who Bob and Rosemary know! They must be in the “inner circle” to have such friends.”
Whether you are just starting out or have been in the industry for years, pictures at live events give you INSTANT CREDIBILITY in the eyes of your prospects.
Bob and Rosemary with Mr. Andrew Cass, top earner and Exec VP of Wealth Masters International
Put them on your blog, your web page, or anywhere else to build your credibility over night.
Take home lesson for today?
GET TO A LIVE EVENT! Do whatever it takes, but if you’re serious at making it in network marketing, get there. I’ve never talked with anyone who later regretted it.
To your happiness,
Bob
August 7, 2008; Cresskill, NJAre You a Sheep Or a Wolf?
I just got off the phone with Aaron Parkinson, co-creator of Carbon Copy PRO Marketing.
Aaron was talking about the recession and the economic prospects for the next few years. He made an analogy that I feel is worth sharing.
The economy is tanking. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know the seriousness of that statement. But what are you going to do about it? Are you going to be actively looking for solutions, or are you going to let it be, let it ride, and be like sheep being led to a slaughter.
That’s right. Sheep.
The picture of sheep being led en masse to the slaughter is an appropriate representation of what will happen to us if we take a wait and see attitude.
Wait and see what will happen with my life savings.
Wait and see if I will keep my job.
Wait and see if I can keep paying the mortgage on my house.
In this case, taking a “wait and see” attitude is a disaster.
It’s a well known fact that, in every economic downturn in history, including the Great Depression, there was money to be made, and there were people who prospered financially.
These were the people who EDUCATED THEMSELVES financially, enabling them to protect their savings and make sound investments when no one else even considered them.
I am lucky enough to be part of a company, Wealth Masters International, that have products that you cannot afford to be without right now.
Let me repeat that —
THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT OPTIONAL.
I don’t like to plug my own businesses on this blog, but times have changed.
I have something that you NEED to have. So let’s put our cards on the table.
Will I benefit financially? Absolutely!
But not as much as you.
Why?
Because you will be gaining the MOST IMPORTANT thing that people who prosper in a recession all have: FINANCIAL EDUCATION.
- You can learn how to keep more of your money.
- You can learn how to protect it and minimize your taxes.
- You can learn the steps to take to secure your financial future.
If that was all, I would go tell you to buy a financial education book and be done with it.
But there’s more…. much more.
With the Wealth Masters Product Line, you get access to several “alliances”, companies hand picked by Wealth Masters to help you PERSONALLY in your specific situations.
Companies that deal in wealth acceleration, asset protection, tax minimization, credit restoration, and much more.
Imagine, a team of financial professionals right at your fingertips, without having to go out and research the internet to find them. Invaluable. And these are the BEST OF THE BEST!
NOTE: Wealth Masters has no financial arrangements with these companies; they are totally independent. Thus there is no risk of any conflict of interest.
Want STILL MORE?
OK. This will blow you away.
Wealth Masters also provides you access to private investments that the public never sees.
Investments that hold true in this type of economy, when others fail. You get to rub elbows with the investment gurus in various sectors and find out the very latest investments that can grow your money.
ANOTHER NOTE: Wealth Masters does NOT give investment advice, nor do they offer investments as part of their services. Rather, they allow you access to the people that do offer these types of exclusive investments.
So there you have it.
- Financial education
- Teams of Professionals at your fingertips
- Exposure to Exclusive Investment Opportunities.
Instead of a sheep waiting for the slaughter, you have now become a WOLF, ready to take action given your new found knowledge.
Guys, you need to check this out.
I am sharing this with you because I truly feel that, without this type of education, we are all one step away from financial ruin. I’m not kidding.
Take action now… be a wolf.
To your financial education!
Dr. Bob Clarke
October 27, 2008: Cresskill, NJ
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