Over the years, I have written on the art of persistence a
number of times. I have encouraged my readers to put on the
tunnel-vision glasses and, as Nike said, “Just do it!” I
have often quoted my husband, Taylor Hegan’s now infamous,
“We build the people, the people build the business” to
encourage keepin’ on keepin’ on by focusing on supporting
others trying to fulfill their dreams. When we do that, in
the process, our own dreams often come to fruition. Still,
one nagging fact glares at me from the industry statistics:
a lot of you out there aren’t making any money.
As I ponder on why such a charismatic industry with
infinite amounts of non-discriminating potential has such a
dismal success rate with the “average” distributor, a
number of possible problem areas occur to me. Correcting
these aspects of MLM could be a major factor on your
success, so let’s look at them from the perspective of
their impact on your money-making ability.
First, many unsuccessful people are handing out advice and
training systems that they have not implemented personally.
Even among those who have implemented the “system”¨ there
are too many who have not produced a profit, so how can
know if the way you were taught the system will work for
you?
A classic example of this is the “tape-mailing program.”
Some of those famous tapes arrived in households across
America by the dozens. I even received multiple copies in
one day! Several people who have called me about MLM have
spent $10,000 – $20,000, plus countless hours, putting such
a mail campaign together — with almost no results. Now .
. . it is true that some of the first distributors to do
that were successful. However, the problem with those
types of systems is that the labor-intensive aspect and the
cost vs. the conversion aspect are not cost effective.
Unless you are very well financed and patient, that is not
the system for you! In fact, you must keep your hand on
the pulse-beat of the industry for programs like that.
Even some of the biggest hitters have been burned by not
realizing that the wave of effectiveness had crested and
the market was now saturated.
Remember the definition of insanity: “Continuing to do what
hasn’t worked and expecting different results.” One of the
next obvious problems with persistence that I see has to do
with what people are persistent about. Some callers tell
me they have persistently “worked” MLM to no avail for five
or more years, but then I discover they have been with more
than half a dozen companies during that time.
When I define MLM persistence, I am assuming that you know
I mean persistence with a single select company. Now —
since a good many of you seem to love start-ups, I must
advise you to get over that “fatal attraction” to the new
deal. Very few start-ups will be successful ultimately. Of
those that are, none bear much resemblance in three years
to the way they looked on their launch day. The products,
the materials, the training, the compensation plan and the
management have usually changed within that period of time.
It’s truly a case of “survival of the fittest.”
I personally have made over 8 million dollars with my MLM
company, which was about a year old when Taylor and I
joined it. Since there are reportedly only 18 companies
that have been in MLM for 10 years for more, I am happy to
report that my company is now over 20 years old.
You may ask me, “How has it changed?”
My response will be, “How hasn’t it?” Even the one product
they had when they launched (which is and always was a
fabulous product) has a different formula, a better taste,
a new name and new packaging.
Over the years, the company has evolved in many ways,
sometimes big ways. Fortunately, we had the vision,
desire, and patience to persist no matter what changed.
However, thousands of others fell by the wayside during
this prolonged metamorphosis.
Here is your priceless thought for the day:Â If you can
find a “home” with a mentor or a sponsor who is making at
least a four-figure monthly income and then keep “working”
with that same company for at least 10 years, you will
statistically become a big money earner. Those who stay
with a program for ten years or more are almost all company
leaders by then and financially successful.
For further clarity, let me define “working” by sharing
these 10 mandatory steps, which define whether you truly
are engaged. Ask yourself:
Am I consistently retailing product every week (I do every
day)?
Am I pitching a least 3 people a day, (re: my business
opportunity)?
Am I following up daily with customers and potential reps
to whom I have given material?
Am I attending all company conventions and events?
Am I distributing at least three brochures, flyers, special
reports, etc. on a daily basis?
Am I spending a minimum average of 2 hours a day on my
business?
Am I doing at least 20 minutes of personal development work
a day?
Am I a real product of the product?
Am I clearly developing my goals and then my personal
visioning?
Am I being sure I employ simple disciplines each day, not
“errors in judgment,” as trainer, Jerry Clark, says?
The more I stay in this business the more it looks like
work. However, the big difference is that it’s work that I
do on my terms, and I love it.
With today’s compensation plans and fast-changing
technology, the days of hitting it big long-term by simple
accident in our business have become almost non-existent
— especially with legitimate programs. We, in MLM, have
done a big disservice to the public by spreading those
tales of instant wealth.
I have a great way to make more money predictably:Â I think
— as trainer, Bob Harrison, says, “increase.” I just step
up my production level with more of the activities that are
working when I want more money. To put it simply, you must
learn to never, never quit. In order to never, never quit,
you need a good mentoring sponsor. If you don’t have a
“good” one, look around in your company, and align yourself
with a good field leader, upline, downline or sideline,
regardless of whether you’re making money together.
If that’s not possible, and your company has no one for you
to learn from, then perhaps you should consider making one
last company move so that you can have an optimal chance to
succeed. Remember! Choose a lasting company, become a
lasting leader, and you will enjoy a lasting residual
income.
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Eileen Silva, Ph.D., N.D. is a metabolic health balancing
expert, talk show guest, and lecturer. Dr. Silva is also
an individual, group, and corporate weight management
consultant. Contact Dr. Silva at http://www.dreileensilva .
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