If Network Marketing is a Profession...
Then What Should You Apply Differently?
Learn 3 Key Distinctions Between Employment
and Self Employment and How to Benefit From Each
When someone like me comes along and writes an article titled "Network Marketing Is a Profession," it might stir up some up some feelings of hostility with you. Especially if you take your business seriously.
After all, one of the greatest things about network marketing is that it allows you to become a self-employed individual. by definition.
Now, self employment has it's pro's and con's, but certainly there's nothing like being able to set your own hours, earn what you're worth, and take advantage of numerous tax savings.
Ok you win. Perhaps network marketing isn't really a profession but rather a brilliant concept when applied professionally. Even Forbes magazine was quoted in a 2004 article as stating "(MLM is) The best kept secret of the business world."
All that said, what if network marketing were a profession and we were expected to act as professional employees? What would be different about the industry?
For starters, you wouldn't see as many people jumping from company to company is search of their lucky pot of gold.
How about prospecting friends and family? I doubt you'd be asking your mom or dad if they were interested in joining you at work if they'd never shown any interest.
Sometimes I feel like if the industry was treated more like a job (stay with me here...) we'd all have so much more success. We'd spend more time training, we'd be more focused on helping others, and act more like actual professionals.
Therefore, let's assume for the next few minutes that network marketing is a profession; a job if you will. What are some things that would be different about the industry?
I've come up with 3 key distinctions that could make a huge difference in our success rates if they were applied as if network marketing is a profession.
If network marketing is a profession, then training is indefinate
When I was studying to become a health and life insurance producer, I studied for weeks to pass my producers' test, just so the state would grant me a license.
I remember waking up at the crack of dawn and hitting the books right away. I did all that I could to make sure I retained as much information as possible including: writing information down, quizzing myself, and even creating story problem-like scenarios to make the information stick.
It took alot of work but it paid off. I passed my test (after two tries) and became an insurance agent. At that point I thought I was in the clear.
However, once I hit the phones, I realized how little I really knew. You see, a few weeks of studying and memorization couldn't have prepared me for the numerous scenarios and questions I'd be asked even my first few days on the job.
I recognized right off the bat, that a profession requires not only initial training, but ongoing consistent training in order to work.
So why would network marketing be any different? Many networkers get so excited and they jump into their business right off the bat without investing any time in their education; this usually ends up creating more harm than good.
Learn to approach network marketing like you would any other profession and watch your results begin to skyrocket.
If network marketing is a profession, then our goal is to help our company become profitable
Anyone who works for a company, whether they realize it or not, has the job of helping the company become more profitable. And, in a sense, everyone is paid on commission; a portion of the revenues generated by the entity.
The smart employees use this to their advantage and strive to find better ways to help the company grow.
What if we were to approach network marketing the same way? What if, instead of it being all about us, we were actually concerned about making our company money by making more sales, recruiting more distributors, and providing better customer service?
I'm sure you're concerned about achieving those things anyway but what I'm referring to is a mindset shift. Instead of "I need to make more sales;" what if it were "I need to make more sales for the company."
My theory is this would have a powerful impact on your attitude towards your business and help you develop the mindset of unselfishness.
Anyone who works for a company, whether they realize it or not, has the job of helping the company become more profitable. And, in a sense, everyone is paid on commission; a portion of the revenues generated by the entity.
The smart employees use this to their advantage and strive to find better ways to help the company grow.
What if we were to approach network marketing the same way?
What if, instead of it being all about us, we were actually concerned about making our company money by making more sales, recruiting more distributors, and providing better customer service? If network marketing is a profession, wouldn't it make sense to be more concerned about others?
I'm sure you're concerned about achieving those things anyway but what I'm referring to is a mindset shift. Instead of "I need to make more sales;" what if it were "I need to make more sales for the company."
My theory is this would have a powerful impact on your attitude towards your business and help you develop the mindset of unselfishness.
If network marketing is a profession, then know your resources
Professionals in all fields are very familiar with the tools and resources they have at their disposal. If someone asks them a question they either immediately know the answer or know where to find it.
Network marketing shouldn't be any different. Professionals should have access to coaches, mentors, forums, and other material that will answer even their prospects most pressing questions. The more you know about your industry the more your confidence is increased.
Viewing network marketing as a profession is a good exercise for expanding your mindset. What other scenarios can you think of? Fill in the blank with as many others as you can. "If network marketing is a profession..then______."
The reason I think this theory makes sense is because chances are you've spent a great deal of your life in the workplace. You're probably already used to training, acclimatizing yourself with your resources, and helping your company become profitable.
You've already developed that mindset and now it's just a matter of simply shifting it over to your mlm business. Doing so, will ensure you stay accountable to yourself and your company, and help you become more professional.
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