During lunch today, I spoke with my 20 year old son about a frustrated network marketer I had a conversation with. “Julie” felt like her upline wasn’t listening to her. She shared that she had been in network marketing for years and after failing miserably had decided to give it one more try.
Well she partnered with a successful individual and shared with me that she was very disappointed that her first instructions were to make a list and let’s schedule a home party right away.
She was told to release her past and do it again. I guess “Julie” called me because she wanted to know what she should do.
My son is very intelligent and I love sharing with him and his answer for “Julie” was this. He said, “Mom I remember years ago when I loved basketball how excited I was to have a top rated AAU coach. His reputation was superb. Everyone raved about him. But my experience was the total opposite. He never sat down with me and asked me about my experience, my strengths, or anything. He simply said “You’re 6’3 you’ll play this position.” Mom he made me hate basketball because he had me playing in an area that wasn’t my strength.”
He said, “I would tell your friend to have a talk with her upline. Tell her what your strengths are. Tell her what your fears are and then tell her where you failed. Don’t let her lump you in a box with everyone else. Communication is everything and if she can’t communicate with her leader then she needs to find another.”
Whoa!!! What wisdom!!! My son dropped some serious nuggets and I couldn’t wait to write about it. While I do agree with what he said I am also of the persuasion that we are “independent” distributors. Having a leader is important but just because you signed the dotted line doesn’t mean you just lost your ability to think. Being coachable and trainable is great but ultimately you have to do what’s best for you and your family.
Personally I’m more of a show and tell kind of person. I am of the school of thought that you are most productive when you flow in your strength. It doesn’t mean that you don’t try new things. It just means you can achieve more when you work harder in the area that you are gifted.
Take Shaquille O’neal for an example. I don’t care how long he played in the NBA he was a terrible “Free throw” shooter. He wasn’t given endorsements and millions of dollars because of his “free throw” shot average. On the contrary, it was because he was a beast in his gifted area. He was an incredible Center and his coaches knew that!
My son was able to give that type of answer because his dad and I have taught him that to help a person you have to listen to a person. You have to know what motivates them. You have to know what their fears are and ask them if that is something they want to overcome and you have to give them a plan of action that fits with their personality type and their goals. To do that takes time, and care. Something a lot of people in our industry seem to neglect.
I know many don’t agree with me but because I care about people and I want people to know that they received value by associating with me even if they chose not to continue in network marketing that’s the way I do business.
I made a video explaining what I bring to the table as a leader. Watch it and tell me what you think. I want to see change in our industry and I believe that if each of us that are grateful for the industry that gives everyone the opportunity to achieve greatness would begin to think more about relationships, the success ratios would change for the better. We are all different. We all bring different gifts and talents to the table. Isn’t it time each personality type is given that chance?
Watch my video here:
