The Economy, 2012 Election, Occupied Wall Street, The Mayan Calendar, the Future of College Graduates, and Sorting Cards
What's your 2012 looking like? With the election year looming, occupied Wall Streeters protesting, and Mayan calendar prognosticators prognosticating, it's easy to look ahead at the upcoming year with a sense of doom and gloom. However, my 2012 is poised to be the best one yet! Our team is growing and adding tremendous leadership, and it's been exciting to see the large influx of 18-25 year olds. One of my team leaders has been taking the college campuses by storm attracting large numbers of high quality leaders.
Why the growth of the 18-25 crowd? Take a look at the latest numbers. Two out of five college graduates are having to work two jobs to pay for their school loans. Four out of five college graduates are having difficulty finding work in their field. Dreams of graduating college and going to work for someone who will pay a six figure income are out the window in today's economy. No longer does a college degree guarantee success. Our team is attracting individuals who understand that in order to achieve financial success in the 21st century, the best path is through a legitimate network marketing company.
Network marketing is endorsed by some of the most successful men in the world including Brian Tracy, Warren Buffet, Donald Trump, and Robert Kiyosaki. These men who have achieved the kind of success that so few ever achieve understand the power of residual income. Residual income is the secret to living a life free from indentured servitude, which is what a 40 year career trading hours for dollars is. Network marketing provides a vehicle that can liberate people from the 40/40/40 plan--work 40 hours a week for 40 years and retire on 40 percent of your last year's salary. Doesn't that sound attractive?
Success in any venture does not come easily. Network marketing is no different. There's a lot of hype and noise in the network marketing profession especially within the realm of Internet marketing which promotes the path of least resistance. If you spend enough time on the Internet, it won't take long for the Internet marketers to sniff you out and start sending you their hype. Have you ever heard any of these statements?
1) " Grab your spot!"
2) "Get in early!"
3) "We have the best compensation plan in the industry."
4) "We're in pre-launch."
5) "This is the next big thing."
Occasionally, you might even hear from the, "Let me offer something to you for free" or the "Can I show you something that won't interfere with what you are already doing" crowd. Or how about the "Stop chasing friends and family" marketers who are working overtime to convince unsuspecting newbies in the industry that they can attract hundreds of leads per day without having to leave the comfort of home. People are joining companies with a false sense of what it is going to take to achieve success.
I will have to admit that I once believed that I could sit behind my computer and market my business anonymously. For over a year, I avoided making phone calls, I didn't attend meetings, I spent over $1000 for pay per click ads, I sent messages via LinkedIn and emails to friends and strangers hoping that my business would magically explode. It didn't! I don't mean to insult anyone's integrity, but I drank the Kool-Aid of the Internet marketers and for over a year, my business sat stagnant. Eventually, I got myself to some training, and I finally accepted the reality that success wasn't going to come unless I put myself in front of other people and started sharing my business.
With the help of some remarkable mentors and trainers, I learned that sharing my business with a prospect is a lot like sorting cards. In any deck of cards, you will run across a lot of 2's, 3's, 4's and so on. In the same deck, if you sort long enough, you will eventually get your hands on a Jack, Queen, King, or an Ace. In network marketing, you have to sort through a lot of people in order to find that Ace. They aren't easy to find because today's instant gratification society has raised a generation of people who want something for nothing. With over 50 percent of the U.S. population receiving some kind of government check, it isn't surprising to come across scores of people who don't see the value of investing a little bit of money to get started in a legitimate network marketing company. These are the 2' and 3's. Don't waste your time trying to convince them to join because anyone who doesn't understand the concept that building a legitimate and profitable business requires an investment of dollars isn't a business builder anyway.
If you continue to sort, you will come across some 4's, 5's, and 6's. These prospects are probably willing to invest a small amount of money, but when they find out that reaching profitability takes time, energy, patience, perseverance, and a thick skin, they usually bail. Again, these are not the people you can build a business with. The same instant gratification generation is also raising up a generation of quitters. People just quit! As the New Year approaches, many people are making their New Year's resolutions.Unfortunately almost 80 percent of those who make resolutions will fail to reach their goals. Why? Because in our society, quitting has become the norm so people aren't bothered by it any longer. It's expected. When building a business, you need to understand that people are going to quit. These are not your rock stars so don't let the quitters pull you away or discourage. Just don't become on yourself!
Keep sorting cards (people) and you will get to the 7's, 8's, 9's, and 10's. These prospects have potential. They aren't the people you can build quickly with, but over time, if they are coachable, you may see a face card blossom. How much time should you invest in these people? First of all, keep a mental log of their activities. Are they showing up to meetings and events? Are they attending webinars and conference calls? Do they make an effort to stay connected to the upline leadership? If you see these people showing up regularly, then you have a potential Jack, Queen, King, or Ace. Keep working with them because perseverance and commitment are qualities that you are looking for in team members.
Finding an Ace! How does it happen? First of all, it isn't easy, but they are out there. If you are reading this article, chances are you have a potential Ace living inside you. Success in network marketing boils down to two keys. First of all, if you want to get your hands on an Ace in your business, you must first become one. To quote Matt Morris author of The Unemployed Millionaire , "You must become your own inspiration." This is a lesson I have had to learn. I spent a year seeking out a Moses who would lead my team to the promise land. Eventually, I had to come to the realization that the only way my team was going to explode was to become that person we all want on our teams--the leader, the motivator, the coach, the inspiration.
Ultimately, if you and I spend time developing ourselves as leaders, we will then be able to recognize other leaders. The law of like attracting like dictates that if we can become leaders ourselves, we will begin attracting other leaders. In an essence, the most effective strategy for finding an Ace for your team is to become one yourself. This begs the question, "How do I become an Ace?" First of all, invest each day in your own learning. Read personal development books. Listen to motivational speakers and trainers. Driving in the car is a great time to develop yourself. Get your hands on CDs and audiobooks that will inspire, challenge, and grow you as a person. Attend all local, regional, and national training events held by your company. From my own experience, big events are where belief is built. Belief resonates from Aces. It oozes out of their pores and every part of their being. Attending events demonstrates commitment as well. The more face time you have at events will ultimately lead to more face time with the big leaders. As the big leaders see your face regularly, it will demonstrate to them that you have staying power.
What's your mindset for 2012? Are your worried about the end of the world? Are you discouraged by the news you see and hear? Or are you excited and optimistic about what the future might hold? Are you ready to face the challenges that will come with building your business? Are you prepared to get out there and start sorting cards to find those Aces? Finally, are you committed to doing what it takes to become an Ace?
Happy New Year!
