Lifestyle Generation

Posts Tagged ‘multi-level marketing’

I’m watching President Obama and his State of the Union Address – say what you you will, he’s a good speaker and has terrific speech writers.

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