Star Builder

Background

When writing this article, it reminds me of a book I read of the same name about a sister and brother who went on to start Coffee Republic. This book talked about all the experiences and challenges they faced in doing so, and their tenacity to secure their dream. The thrust of the book is that anyone can do it for themselves if they put their mind to it.

When starting out in an MLM for the first time you are likely to have a lot of self-doubt, generally reinforced by all those helpful people around you who serve to heap more on your pile of insecurities. Having read this article, as they come out with things such as, it may work for him but not for you, or you don't have the ability to sell, remind yourself that anyone can do it - especially if they have the support of a top MLM, sponsor and team.

I couldn't Do That?

A common objection we hear a lot is the I couldn't do that objection, it is funny how people create self-limiting beliefs that hold them back. For example you someone who is polished at the from of a conference room who is successful and full of confidence presenting to audience of 30 or 40 people, something which fills you with fear. That for some people is enough of a reason not to join - even if they liked everything else they have heard and seen.

The key point to get across to a potential distributor is that there are many ways to operate a business like ours, it does not have to involve presenting. The key take away point for a sponsor is that choose the most appropriate forum for your prospect, if it is in a bar or at their home then so be it. If you have carefully decided who you want to work with this will not take an inordinate amount of time. Match the approach to the personality of the person.

Likewise if an audience cannot relate to you because you're driving a porsche or wearing a rolex and they turned up on the bus from Clapham, they will not believe they could achieve it. The rule as in sales is to dress to their level plus 10%.

I'm Not A Salesman

Another common objection we hear is, I'm not a salesman and I'd be no good selling. Our typical response is to reassure them that is great news, because sales people come with a lot of sales baggage (see the article on duplication). The reality is that to do well in an MLM you need to share your products such as through home demonstrations, not sell them to people. People often raise their barriers when they feel you are trying to sell them.

In fact the ability to train, coach and mentor people is far more important to your success in an MLM than the ability to sell.

Your sponsor should work closely to show you the way, and find out what works for you. The take home point for sponsors is that you need to stress to distributors and potential distributors that the name of the game.

I Don't Have The Time

You're a sponsor and are constantly busy, and you're always innovating and speaking to people, and always on the go. You get up early in the morning, and go to bed late at night, you are frequently not home as you're out pushing forward. The challenge is that a potential distributor will take a look at your work ethics and say there is no way I could work that hard, I don't have the time or I don't want to burn out.

The key here for potential distributors that you need to spend at least 5-7 hours per week on building your business, which equates to an hour a day, we can all make that sort of time by leaving the TV off, or getting up slightly earlier. The hours required includes time talking to people, and you may do so during the course of your normal day. Achieving this level of activity is not that hard, how much do you want to achieve that passive income?

Lets say after several months you earn £300 per week for an ongoing investment of 6 hours, that equates to £50 an hour. Not a bad rate for the majority of us, after a couple of years your hourly rate could increase to ten times as much!

The take home for sponsors is that you need to make clear how much effort is required to develop this business in your particular MLM, what you require from them, etc. Remember they are not you and will ultimately work at their own pace - though encouragement always goes a long way.

An interesting point is that those who spend 40 hours a week full time on this when they first start out actually develop their businesses slower than those that spend just 7 hours a week alongside another job. This may be because of the importance they place on getting tasks completed with a sense of urgency.