Learn to communicate
Filed under: MLM, building your business, finding new prospects, learning network marketing, network marketing, overcoming fear, perfect business, positive attitude, prospecting, talking with friends
With any business, you have to learn how to communicate with others. If you make fabulous jewelry, you’ll have to wear it all, unless you can tell others all about it.
There are lots of options for getting the word out, and those options exist whether you’re an artisan, a dentist, a massage therapist, a CEO, or a network marketer.
So, if you want to move from the world of employees trading their time for some money, into the world of business owners, where your time and money expand while you sit on a beach, you have to learn to communicate.
Luckily, communication is a learned skill. I know, because I used to be lousy at it. I couldn’t think of what to say after “Hi, I’m Marilyn.” Most of my mind then switched to the theme of “How do I get out of this conversation without mortifying myself.” I was wooden; I was shifty-eyed, I was shallow, I was frozen.
Now, I can pretty much chat away with anyone I choose. It’s pretty cool. And a HUGE relief.
The key is to keep the focus of the conversation on the person to whom you’re speaking. If you can keep a person talking about himself, he will come away from the conversation thinking that you are fascinating. If you can keep a person talking about himself, you will come away knowing whether or not what you have to offer is a good fit for that person. Perfect.
Most of the time, the initial conversation isn’t about your business or product at all. It’s about establishing a connection. Some people only need a slight connection before they’re ready to talk business. Other people need a long long time before they can open their ears.
Follow their lead. If their need is strong, right there on the surface, they’ll bring it up long before you have to pry it out of them. If their need is minimal or doesn’t carry a relationship to what you have to offer, then you don’t need to talk business after all. It’s not the right time yet, or it’s just not for them. Either way, you know where to go, because you’re just following along after them, asking questions that let you know what’s up with THEM.
Practice where it’s easier. Tell the cashier that you like her earrings. See if the conversation has good energy around it. Then be on your way. Ask the couple in front of you in line if they’ve ever eaten here before, what’s their favorite on the menu. See if it goes anywhere. Follow their lead.
Practice every day, in small ways. Then when the right opportunity for a business conversation comes along, you’ll be a well-oiled machine. You’ll be open to the possibilities each person presents to you, and it will all be natural and fun.
If it’s fun, you’ll do it more often. The first dozen might be awkward, but soon you’ll get to the fun level, and then you’ll be on your way. You’ll have crossed another hurdle, and you won’t need to look back.
Hurray for you!
Communicate from your heart
Filed under: MLM, finding new prospects, handling objections, leadership, learning network marketing, network marketing, positive attitude, prospecting, solving problems
When you’re getting ready to talk with a new prospect about your business, take a moment to energetically prepare yourself. Let yourself grow quiet. Connect with your higher self. Reach out to the person with your thoughts, with your heart.
All you know about the prospect may be a phone number. Maybe you know the city where she lives. Maybe you have a fancy program that tells you things about that part of the world, like current weather, local news. Maybe you only know what time of day it is there.
Just let you mind rest on the connection you’re making with her.
If you don’t know how to do this, pretend that you know how. It works just as well that way, too. Pretty soon, you’ll know how to do it.
Ask yourself: Is what I have to offer a fit for what she needs?
Let your mind rest on that question for a moment.
Then call her, and ask her about herself. Take quick notes. Children? Corporate job? Laid off? What does she enjoy doing? What would be her perfect job? What qualities about her perfect job are her highlights, her favorite aspects? If she had all the time in the world, how would she spend it?
Sprinkle in information about yourself, too, so it doesn’t start to feel like 20 questions. Ick. But always end your SHORT story about yourself by bringing the conversation back to her.
Where did she go to school? Does she like to work with her hands? Does she write much? Does she like floating around the internet?
Then, ask yourself what aspect of your business would appeal to her the most? Does she like talking with people? Does she like meeting friends for lunch? Does she use the internet all day long? Is she overwhelmed with her kids and can’t imagine taking time to start a business?
Handle her objections. Connect with her truth, and link it up with your truth. Be honest, sincere, supportive, creative, empathetic, authentic, courageous, respectful, inspiring. Be a leader.
Then she’ll be able to see what fantastic business partners the two of you can be.
FaceBook empowers YOU!
Filed under: MLM, entrepereneurs, finding new prospects, how do you learn to do network marketing, learning network marketing, network marketing, prospecting
There are things that you can do to get a head start on your new network marketing business, even BEFORE you actually sign up and pay your entry fee and monthly overhead.
One thing that you can do is increase your internet visibility through facebook. Here’s my suggestion:
Start a new facebook account. All you need is an email address that’s different from the one you’re using for facebook now. Start out fresh, and find some facebook groups that share your interests. Maybe stay at home moms, work at home moms, knitters, gardeners, whatever kind of things that describe you.
Then start inviting the people who also belong to those groups to be your friend. You can only invite 30 or 40 people a day, without getting a warning from facebook, so it takes a while to have a BIG group of friends.
Some people will send you a message asking if they know you, and you can just answer back saying that you’re trying to connect with people that are interested in the same things you are. Something like that. Some will decline, but most will accept.
The reason you want this to be a separate facebook account from your friends and family account is that this one is going to get HUGE. You don’t want your friends’ posts to get lost in all of the other ones that you’ll start to receive from this new group.
If you start this now, it will cost you nothing, and you’ll be WAY ahead of the game once you take the plunge and sign up.
We’ll go over your NEXT step in a later post.
Ready? Set? GO!!!
They have to love you back
Filed under: MLM, entrepereneurs, finding new prospects, how do you learn to do network marketing, overcoming obstacles, prospecting
Back in my dating days, I was open to all kinds of ways to meet men. I liked being in a relationship, the companionship. I was actively looking for someone with whom I could share my life.
We all have to kiss a lot of frogs before we find a prince. I met guys for coffee. I went to dinner with them. I ran into them at bars. I kept telling myself that if this guy were in a comfortable relationship, he wouldn’t be this nervous; he wouldn’t be this fragile. I tried to see the real person behind the don’t-know-you-from-Adam facade. I tried to be as open and as accommodating as possible. I decided to give each guy at least two chances, 2 dates. Sometimes I went on as many as 10 dates with a guy before I’d finally accept the fact that this was not a good fit.
Then I met a guy who was crazy about me. That’s when I finally realized that no matter how accommodating, no matter how patient, no matter how attentive I was, if the guy didn’t love me back, it wasn’t going to work.
Prospects are like guys. They have to love you back, or it isn’t going to work.
What I mean is that you can’t accommodate someone into the business. If you do all the work, you’re always going to be doing all of the work. You’re always going to feel inadequate and frustrated.
We are actively looking for people with whom we can share our businesses, our products. By all means, handle the objections. Find out their why. Qualify them. But at some point they have to start moving toward you, or they’re just going to feel harried.
Connect with people. Find out what makes someone tick. Be sincere. Be real. But if they don’t respond, move on. There are so many people out there waiting to here about your opportunity, and if you spend all of your time and energy harrying the few that you really really really want to join you, even though they’re not interested, you’ll miss the chance to find the ones that will love you back.
So get out there and start talking to the frogs. You will find princes.
Conventions
Filed under: MLM, convention, entrepereneurs, learning network marketing, network marketing, positive attitude, prospecting
My team just returned from our annual company convention. This time of year always brings greater enthusiasm and commitment to everyone participating. Being surrounded by thousands of people who love network marketing, love the product, love meeting people, love helping people. . . an immersion of kindred souls learning and exploring together.
Exciting announcements; inspiring speakers; informative presentations. . . never, never, never miss your annual convention.
During convention, you change on a cellular level. You realize that other people are having a great time creating a business and a lifestyle that they’ve always dreamed about. You realize that you are on your way to that same dream.
Coming home, you’re thrown back into the day-to-day, and your commitment and confidence can slip away. Don’t let that happen! Remember the feeling that you had at convention; relive it just like you would relive a great date or a fabulous vacation. Dwell on the moments that spoke to you on a deep level. Make them your own.
And set some goals! Your new-found enthusiasm will carry you along for a good long while, but focus that momentum and it will take you even further. Write down your goals to empower them and empower yourself.
You can do this. You can create an amazing business that will be everything that you want it to be.
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