NM/MLM -- WHAT IS IT, REALLY?

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. said, "Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains it's original dimensions."

That quote explains what happens to people who are members of the world of NM. Once that 'magical' click occurs and a person understands the magnitude of the earning potential this business has, and the time freedom it offers, it's hard to turn back to the Forty Year Plan ... work 40 hours a week for 40 years to get 40% of what wasn't enough to begin with ... philosophy.

The answer to 'what is NM' has several responses and the answer can even become a question. What do you want it to be? Just buying some quality products wholesale? A little extra spending money? For most women in NM it is an opportunity to be a 'stay at home mom' and still generate an income (a friend of mine calls it a 'work in your pj's' job). Then, there are those really dynamic 'go getters' who will change a marketing opportunity from a limited, unexciting income to an explosive career with unlimited income potential by duplicating themselves through others. Those are the people who will exert the energy to do what it takes to make the 'gangster money'! If you are one of those people who are successful, then your income becomes a risidual income that will be inherited by the next two generations ... won't your children and grandchildren love you!

NM companies and traditional sales companies only differ in one way. They both have a CEO, President, Vice Presidents and Employees. The difference lies in how they distribute products. Traditional sales companies have a team of salespeople and spend millions of dollars in advertising. NM companies allow ordinary people to distribute their products through word-of-mouth advertising and merely distribute the monies they would have spent in advertising among the ordinary people distributing their products.

How many times have you recommended a product to a friend? How many times has a friend asked you, "hey, love your jewelry, where did you get it"? Now, imagine getting paid from the company whose products you recommend! That's NM!

The trick is to 'love your product' or service. It must be a product or service you would use even if you weren't 'getting paid' to market it. Then it's up to each individual to generate an income by attracting a few good people who want to use her/his product or service, and teaching them to do the same. The best part is that there is an upline there ready and waiting to share her/his secrets of sucess to help you be sucessful! How many of you in traditional business have a boss or person who is eager to share his 'secret of sucess' with you? In NM your upline sponsor HOPES that you will make more money than her/him ... because the more money you make ... the more money he/she makes!

As far as I'm concerned, NM companies are the ONLY REAL Equal Opportunity Employers. Everybody 'gets' the job ... Race, Color or Creed, Age or Sex REALLY make no difference, and only you can 'terminate' yourself! As long as you maintain the "Policies" of the respective NM company you are with, whether you're just using the products, selling a little bit of product or you're selling a lot of product, you will be considered an independent distributor for life.

You may be asking yourself ... if NM is so wonderful, then why don't more people do it, and why is there a 95% drop out rate?

Although there are probably one million+ sites out there regarding NM, I can only speak from experience because I am a 'statistic' of corporate America and should be a statistic of NM!

"My" short story version ... I worked for a multinational corporation for 20+ years in public relations, marketing and advertising. I worked 12-hour days and 6-(sometimes 7-) day weeks. In my mid 40's I received the pink slip ... cut backs were the excuse given. I was devastated. I even felt 'used.' I had given 'my life' to this company. I couldn't understand how things changed from one day to the next. One day I was expected to be there 10-12-hours a day ... then all of a sudden my job was 'surplus'? I was told, "don't take it personally, it's just business." Well ... go tell that to the mortgage company!

Shortly thereafter, I went to a NM Opportunity Presentation and saw my life being drawn on the blackboard! Work for X years ... How many employees are terminated in their 40's ... just before retirement ... yadda yadda yadda ... then little circles ... and how many millions you could make and how easy it was ... just use the products (no selling) ... how you just had to 'talk to people' ... you didn't have to 'do' anything, etc., etc., etc!

Going back to the beginning of this article, that night the 'magical click' happened for me! This was the best job on planet earth! Easy ... I didn't have to 'do' anything ... just talk to people ... everyone was going to want this product ... all I had to do was 'share' the dream ... tell them what a hugh opportunity this was! Well, it wasn't easy! The 'magical click' wasn't happening for others the way it had happened for me and I couldn't understand why! Then, my upline would say, "never talk about the products ... just draw circles and show people the opportunity"! My 'dream' was becoming a 'nightmare'!

I am an American-born woman living in Greece. I speak the language well enough to get by in conversation, but professionally, my language skills leave much to be desired! I seemed surrounded by what Kim Klaver calls 'the pukies' ... they would say things like, "you don't work so you have time ..." or "those things work in America, but they'll never work in Greece" or "It might work in Athens or Thessaloniki ... but it's not going to work in the small cities."

So, on my next trip to America, I was really excited because everybody thought "NM" works in America. I couldn't wait to start 'sharing' the opportunity with my friends. Much to my surprise, though, the same story was being told in a different way. Americans are "burned out" on NM ... might work in Greece because it's new ... it's not going to work in America! What I wanted to find was that 'magical' place where it 'would' work because everybody I talked to thought it would work somewhere else! Bottom line ... it works the same everywhere! Our job is just finding the people for whom it's the right thing for them to be doing, and that's the hard part!

I felt like I was on a see-saw ... lead with the business vs lead with the products. Then there was, buy the books ... buy the tapes ... go to the seminars ... horns blowing ... bells ringing ... people cheering ... millionaires ... mansions ... fancy cars ... it was just too much razzmatazz for me!

Frustrated ... somewhat with the system ... somewhat with the ethics of my upline ... somewhat with the whole kit and kaboodle ... I became a statistic and dropped out!

A few years later I was introduced to Forever Living Products and started using their products (details in My Story). I realized it was a NM company and once again began 'doing the business.' This company was a good fit for me because I believe in Alternative Medicine, in vitamins and supplements (although we eat good, I'm not sure that what we're eating is good). I loved their products, I loved their business philosophy, and I loved their compensation plan!

My sponsor, though, had only sold products and was clueless with regard to NM. We went out in search of the upline. Our first level upline manager was a 'heavy hitter.' We were not a good 'fit' so after two years playing his game, I was ready to throw in the towel one more time.

Instead, though, I went up to the next upline manager who actually conducted the opportunity meetings. He is a wonderful person who was a good fit for me. He is ethical and is one of the most knowledgeable, down-to-earth people I know! (How many of you in traditional business can trade in your old boss for a new one?) Still wasn't working for me! Greece is still 'leading with the business' and somehow that just did not work for me.

I began questioning myself. I loved the philosophy of NM ... I wanted to be successful ... why were others successful and I was not. I was frustrated, again! Before throwing in the towel, though, I decided to do a google search and just typed in "MLM." I could not believe my eyes! I spent the next three months reading everything I could find on NM, ordered some DVDs, CD, and books.

After sorting through all the "hype" sites, I settled in to what I consider the most informative, down-to-earth site out there! Kim Klaver's blogspot. Kim's New School of Network Marketing, her fresh new outlook on what NM REALLY is and the Network Marketing Central Community of Network Marketers from all different companies is now my 'Bible' of NM. Her article, "NM is a Woman" gave me new insight on how I can 'duplicate' the system with my own personal flare!

From Kim's daily blogs and the NMC community's comments, I am learning daily, and am now starting to make a little money (finally)!

Following are some of the things that have helped me (thank you, Kim):

I have found that NM is a business! You are in business FOR yourself but not BY yourself! NM is simple ... not to be confused with EASY! Unless you're really 'special' it takes 2-5 years of hard work to really start making the 'big bucks.'

You have to have training before you can "Just do It"! Sometimes we can get caught up in too much training and we're spending more time figuring out 'how' to do the business than actually doing it.

I have found that people in general have been conditioned to think "job security" is working for a company, and few are willing to "look outside the box."

I have found that there are more people who enjoy complaining about their current situation than there are people actually willing to do something about it.

I have found that people should be told the truth. Yes, the system works ... and it takes hard work, due diligence and, yes there are costs associated with owning your own NM business. These costs are minimal, though, in comparison to the enormous capital investments needed for starting up your own traditional business and the rewards, should you be successful, far greater.

I have found that although anyone can (= able) do this business, only a few will.

I have found that people would rather do business with people they know, like and trust rather than companies.

I have found that by just 'telling my story' and positioning myself as a leader by example, more people are willing to follow than when I promise the 'dream' and try to drag them over the finish line.

I have found that more people are receptive to making an extra $300 to $500 a month than becoming financially independent.

I have found that every day, I find something new and exciting from NM.


Taken from "Your First Year in Network Marketing" by Mark and Renee Yarnell:
Traditional Business = the "Rat Race" = Pursuing rotten grain in a hopeful pursuit to eat enough to see one more day.
--When traditional corporations explode, people assume the posture of rats and take to the streets.
--When NM corporations experience explosive growth, thousands of people go home and soar like eagles.
Your Choice = A frenzied dash among rodents or a joyous flight among eagles.

In NM time freedom is directly commensurate with wealth and prosperity. There is no need for stress -- NM distributors are caring, sharing, giving and excited people who are seeking success, peace and freedom.

They choose the Four Year Plan:
--Work diligently for one NM company for four years, build an income based on the honest movement of products, and you're set for life, and so are your heirs! Every person's NM business is fully inheritable.
Over the Forty-Year Plan:
-- Work 40 hours a week ... 40 years ... to receive 40% of what wasn't enough to begin with.
--Out of a typical 100 people, 5 are still working, 36 are dead, 54 are dead-broke (or at least earning far less than when they were employed), 4 are well off and 1 person is wealthy.

Which do you choose, the Four-Year Plan ... or ... the Forty-Year Plan?

I choose the Four-Year Plan and now I love my boss because she's me!

I market Aloe Vera juice, vitamins, supplements, bee products, and personal care products and cosmetics with Aloe Vera. If you would like to try these products, or if you would like to make a little extra spending money or if you think you have what it takes to be successful in this business and would like more information, contact me and I will be happy to "Help You Get There"!