Well… I don’t have a speech writer or a copy editor but I have some things to say – no.. not about the politics of the US – about home based businesses in 2010…

This is a very interesting time for those of us who are network marketers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs. One in Ten people in the US (alone) are out of work and are desperate for a way to make income for their families… this presents a certain set of issues for us as professionals in our industry.

In addition, unlike any other time, our industry is open in a global market faster and more connected than ever before.

First you might think – yah! Loads of prospects flooding the market everyday – nice problem to have! But let’s really consider what kinds of prospects these people are.

Never before has our industry had more opportunity to change lives but with that comes a tremendous responsibility. The new prospects coming to us are from all walks of life and now, more than ever, they are displaced laborers as well as white collar and executive level employees. There are more and more men in a traditionally women dominated industry.There are more and more young adults, not just stay at home Moms. There are more and more retirees. There is a diversity of educational levels, basic skill sets, ethnicity, and economic means.

The speed of our business has changed dramatically even in the last year. Internet Marketing was still more or less a “buzz” at the beginning of 2008 and now it is part of our everyday language. Business and Product Launches are practically a business in themselves. An explosion of “mentors”, “coaches”, “leaders”, “gurus” at every turn, in every niche it is truly the industry of opportunity and opportunists… it is this later group that we, as professionals, MUST be aware of and help to guide the new flood of prospects away from.

We, as professionals, MUST protect our beloved industry from those that WILL “set up shop” and woo the desperate into thinly veiled money laundering schemes and scams – these kinds of things have always been around the edges of the home business industry but the “BOOM” here will have the same effect the real estate boom did – anyone that could fog a mirror could get a real estate license but they were not professionals and would not survive the bust… the same is true for us. Anyone creative enough to put up a flash site can draw in paying customers, take their money and be gone before anyone knows what happened.

But let’s also consider our own responsibility to the people we speak to each day. There are going to be many people that probably really NEED income and there are no jobs for them… but that may not mean that they are really suited to being in business for themselves. Yes, we are supposed to focus on duplication, and yes, there are always people that get started and do nothing, but I think it is our responsibility to say “NO” to prospects that really have no business putting up money for an opportunity they are never likely to succeed with – and you can tell who these folks are – these are folks that really need a job – not a business.

So… treat your business like a business – you wouldn’t let just anyone represent your business, your story, your name – there are a lot of people in need of what we have but, as one of my early mentors was fond of saying: “Life rewards for deserve, not need – if you do the do, good will come to you”.

Go Forth and Build and Remember… Enrich Yourself And The World Around You,

Peace,
Leanne

And so it is with Success. Especially in online business or network marketing business.  The precepts are simple – build a list, build a relationship with the list so that the people on the list come to Know, Like, and Trust you, bring them something they want and ask them to buy – bingo! Success.  Simple, repeatable, lucrative.  Yes.  Easy??? NO.  If it were EASY then EVERYONE would be doing it!  If it were EASY there would not be so many products, programs and gurus “out there” trying to make is even EASIER for you.  The truth is, it IS Simple… BUT… it AIN’T EASY! It’s WORK, it’s time invested, it’s money invested, it’s consistency, it’s persistence, it’s adaption, it’s making mis-steps and starting all over again, is testing, it’s constant learning and implementation. And JUST when you think you have done all you can do, you need to do more!

I wrote a blog not that long ago about Opportunity. In that blog I discussed the meaning of the word as not JUST the “good chance of advancement or progress” but also as the “favorable juncture of circumstances” (www.Merriam-Webster.com).  The point of my Blog at that time was that we are bombarded daily with “Once In a Lifetime Opportunities” to get in on the latest and greatest money making event be it a real estate deal, a huge launch of an affiliate product, or a network marketing business.  But what most of us (myself included) often fail to do is examine this thing offered to us to see if there actually IS a Favorable Juncture Of Circumstance.  In other words, just because this thing is available, are we really in a position where we can take FULL advantage of it to actually REALIZE the opportunity as it is presented?  I suggest that we do not and that we FAIL to do this more often than we would even care to admit.

Here’s why I say this.  Most of us are drawn in by sales copy because it addresses our pain – we identify with it and we want to make the pain go away. And wouldn’t you know it – this guy has the answer – but only if I act RIGHT NOW because I will only see this page ONCE and then it will be gone FOREVER!!! EEKS!!! I can’t let that happen!! I KNOW I have at least $77 on one of these cards!  I mean, how pathetic would it be if I didn’t have a measly $77???  Okay… I’m gonna do it… what’s the worst that can happen? I have  blown more than $77 on dumber stuff and THIS is tax deductible, even, because it’s for my “business’ RIGHT!!!???? WHEW!!! MAN! I sure am glad I got that… could have been a missed opportunity!!!

And then it happens.  You gear up to read, watch or listen to what was just sold to you.  And you realize that – you have to build a list, you have to develop a relationship with that list so that they know, like and trust you, and then you bring them what they WANT and ask them to buy… just that SIMPLE!!! AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

Guess what?  It’s never NOT going to be that simple.  But guess what else? It’s never gonna be any Easier either! The challenges we all face is that we buy in desperation, UN-prepared to do what is necessary to make the “thing” work in the first place.  Why? Because we have not even identified a favorable juncture of circumstance – instead we have been surfing the net, looking for an answer to our pain and then leaping as soon as we scrounge up a credit card with some money left on it and yet we have not done the WORK to capitalize fully on the so-called  opportunity, when it showed up on our door step.
In real estate we are trained to find BUYERS first.  Why? Because it is MUCH easier to find a house for a BUYER than to find a BUYER for a house.  Same thing in any other business.  Don’t create or buy a product to sell until you know who you are going to sell it to! – Go BUILD YOUR LIST FIRST.  Create a relationship with them, get them to know, like and trust you, then bring Them what THEY want and ask them to buy.. bet they will! Bet they’ll buy more than once!  Bet you can build a list for any number of products or market segments but it won’t be easy… you’ll need to actually TALK to these people, you’ll need to offer value, you’ll need to give stuff away first… you’ll need to create in them a favorable juncture of circumstance so they’ll jump on the opportunity when you bring it to them!
So… what are you waiting for!!!??? It’s SIMPLE!!!

Leanne