Sarah Wood's GreenThumbMLM

urMLMGardenGuide, newsletter issue 103

Naturally, I’ll start with some inspiration…

The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a
green thing that stands in the way.  Some see Nature all ridicule and
deformity, and some scarce see Nature at all.  But to the eyes of the
man of imagination, Nature is Imagination itself.

-  William Blake, 1799, The Letters

How do you Visualize Your Life?

Do you know what the definition of insanity is?

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time. If you want an opposite result you must do something completely opposite than your actions in the past. As simple as this sounds, very few people can actually make this change because they cannot visualize their life any different than they way it is now.

Visualizing…. What does it have to do with your home based business? EVERYTHING! As long as I have been training women in network marketing, I know that if she does not have a strong vision she will struggle understanding even the basic business principles, much less performing. People are used to being in an environment where they have little choice. Go to work, report to a boss, be told what to do for 9 hours, come home and veg out in front of the TV. The typical corporate environment is not ideal for growing and expanding dreams and goals. Most people lose any hope of changing their lives because they feel stuck and controlled. As in nature, a palm tree will not grow in the arctic. Unfortunately, many lost souls imagine winning the lottery as their only chance for change! Guess what ladies? It ain’t gonna happen! Take control now!

The Network Marketing industry is the perfect environment to nurture dreams. You should congratulate yourself for choosing this industry. Now you can dream big because you are a part of an industry that you control. You cultivate your own garden! Network marketing is an environment where hopes and dreams can be nurtured into reality.

Visualization means 100 different things to 100 different people.
But the only meaning that should be clear to you, is YOURS. Almost all people who are attracted to network marketing have a similar trait: they have a BIG vision. Actually, let me rephrase… SUCCESSFUL network marketers have a big vision.If you have a weak vision, or have no vision what so ever, you will burn out with the everyday frustrations and challenges that MLM brings your way. Before you can move your business to the next level, you have to be able to do three things: create your future in your mind, tell others about your vision and act as if it is absolutely possible.

Close your eyes and imagine a large movie screen. What do you want to see play out? You are the director of your own movie. How can you imagine your life changing for the better? Who do you want to help, inspire or influence? These are deep questions that are extremely personal to the individual.

One way I encourage my down line to grow their personal vision is to study the following seven factors:

• The Family Factor
• The Friend Factor
• The Faith Factor
• The Financial Factor
• The Fun Factor
• The Fund Raising Factor
• The Future Factor

So much of network marketing has to do with the correct mind-set. Take some quiet time and write down where you see yourself in the present and where you see yourself in 1 year, then 3 years, then 5 years. Use your imagination! There are no limits to what you can visualize.

Now comes the hard part…you must share your vision with those you love. The more you communicate and focus on these words, the more intention you place behind your thoughts.  Not only will this give you a sense of accountability, you will have support from those who love you. And if anyone doesn’t support you, well… I put them in my “I’ll show you” pocket. Do not let those dream stealers take away your power!

Lastly, you must act as if your vision will absolutely come true – not one bit of doubt! A suggestion is to keep a dream board – something that you look at every morning when you wake up and the last thing you look at before you go to sleep. Your brain registers images as “real”, so on the days that you are struggling to keep your faith – talk to a supportive friend, look at your dream board and say some simple affirmations.
A vision in your head is your daydream.
A vision communicated to other people is your goal.
A vision acted upon is your destiny.

Clear cut goals, crystal clear vision and the knowledge to execute professional sales & sponsoring skills is the receipt for success.
…coming in the next urGardenGuide issue:
“Tilling the Soil – Preparing Your Business”

urMLMGardenGuide, newsletter issue 102

Naturally, I’ll start with some inspiration…

“When you look at a peony, you first see the whole flower, its color and shape. As you keep looking, you see the petals and veins and stamens and pistils.  When you look more closely still, you see the segments and shading in the petals, until you begin to feel the vastness of those details.  To see the vastness by looking at one thing in its details is to see its sacred connection to space and to all other things.”
-  Jeremy Haywood, A Guide to the Sacred World of Shamabhala Warriorship

Success is in the Details

A main reason MLM gets a bad rap is because of pushy people.

I can remember one night I received a phone call from a friend of mine who I had worked with more than 7 years prior. I was cleaning up the dinner dishes when the phone rang and I looked at the caller id.  I thought to myself, “Wow, I haven’t talked to Casey in a long time. What a surprise.” After I said a cheery hello and a “how nice to hear from you” I quickly realized that Casey wasn’t calling to catch up with my life, he wanted me to be a part of his – his new MLM business that is.

The phone call gets strange – no, bizarre – when I realize there is another person on the call with the two of us. It was a classic, MLM 3-way prospecting call. Oh Boy! I have to say I was taken back, a bit offended and instantly felt intruded upon. But being the nice, polite, people-pleaser that I am, I listened to Casey’s sponsor talk about how well I would do at this business and how much money could be made. Oh Double Boy!

Now, here is the kicker…when I asked the name of the company neither Casey or Sponsor Stranger would answer me. My politeness was vanishing by the second. I tried again. This time asking the nature of the business. Again both said they could not tell me.  At this point I’m simply irritated. I ask pointedly, “You call me at my home, ask me to join your business, tell me how successful I will be – even though you don’t know me – but refuse to tell me the name or nature of the business? Are you kidding? Why would I even consider it if I don’t know what I am considering?” Casey’s up-line urged me to attend an opportunity meeting the next night to learn the specifics.

I hung up.

When you begin your network marketing business, chance are you will start with your warm market and that is OK as long as you don’t piss off your friends and family. Some pissing-off factors are but not limited to, begging your aunt to host a party at every family gathering, showing up unannounced at your father’s office and handing order forms to all of his employees, slipping sample packs into your cousin’s wedding programs and the biggest of them all – Offending your family’s and friends’ referrals because you acted like a pushy Patsy.

1.  They are guinea pigs. You need to practice your presentations in front of someone, sooooooo who better than your mom and your sister? You KNOW they will give you some honest feedback even if you don’t ask for it.

2.  You want your friends and family to try your products so they can give you personal testimonials. Do not pressure them to buy from you. If you pressure them, they will assume you will pressure their referrals too. DO NOT depend on friends and family to float your business. If you know that little secret upfront there is less chance you will get discouraged when your grandmother insists on buying competitor’s products instead of yours.

3.  After your warm market has heard your presentation and they have tried AND LIKED your products then you ask them to give you 5 referrals to call. Tell them what you are going to say to their friends and explain what you are going to do. It is important that you personally make the phone calls; do not depend on  your Cousin Lulu to call her friends first. She will be making a pity-call and she will WARN them of your impending call. Cousin Lulu may have the best intentions but you need to take control of your message. Your referrals need to establish a professional relationship with you from the beginning with no bias from cousin Lulu.

Let’s go beyond that 100 name list…

Do not call your referrals with a surprise 3-way call with your up line.

Here is a better example:

You must be yourself.

You must be genuine.

You must have their best interest at heart.

Your call should be polite, professional and to the point.