Should You Be Involved In Direct Selling (aka Network Marketing)?

                                           

Have you ever been invited to a gathering, typically on a Saturday, and be presented on a product that is suppose to make you financially free?  Or, have you been talked to by a friend to attend someone's home and be presented on a product to buy and be a member on?

If you have, welcome to the world of Direct Selling. 

Direct Selling, also known as Network Marketing, is a business system that ask an individual to join, sell, promote, and build a network around a particular product (i.e. multivitamins, cosmetics, electronics, grocery goods, etc.) for a profit. Direct Sellers are trained by the company and/or person that recruited them to recruit other like-minded individuals that may able to promote the company's product(s) as well.  The Goal is to have the newly minted direct seller may one day have recruited enough individuals to sell the product and enough consumers to buy the product.  Residual income, profit margins, Individual titles (i.e. Ruby, Platinum, Diamond, Elite), vacation trips, and bonuses are then promised as rewards and compensation for volume sales and recruited members. 

The Question Is "Should You Be Involved In Direct Selling?" 

Answer: ?????

There are a myriad of reasons why people feel they should join and not join the Direct Selling Business.  As a Real Estate and Insurance business owner, I've been approached by a few Direct Selling members over the years that sell products from vitamins to video phones.  I've attended hour long presentations on mornings, evenings, weekday, and weekends.  I've signed up as an Independent Business Owner or been called a distributor.  While being a part of the Direct Selling Model, I still have my "Traditional" Business on my regular work hours.      

So, what Did I found about the Direct Selling Business?

Here are 5 Key discoveries about Direct Selling.

1. "Members, Distibutors, or IBO's are people like you and me"

They are workers, Business owners, professionals, employers, employees, and family members who like to dream of one day becoming financially free.  They have work, they take their kids to school, they go to parties, they are your neighbor.

2. "Direct Sellers have a passion to help other people"

The Direct selling model have a system of beliefs that if you help another person get better at their business, the more money you make.  The more you make someone successful, the more successful you become.

3. "Rich People, leaders, and Authors Believe in Direct Selling."

Ask Billionaire Warren Buffett, Billionaire Donald Trump, Multi-Millionaire Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad Poor Dad), President Bill Clinton, Millionaire Author T. Harv Eker  (Secret Of The Millionaire Mind), Millionaire Author John Maxwell (21 Irrefutable laws of Leadership, And Millionaire Author Jeffrey Gitomer (Little Gold Book of YES!Attitude). 

4. "Direct Selling teaches Business Skills."

Starting a business doesn't come cheap.  Imagine learning, experiencing, and even teaching business skills at a fraction of the cost of starting a "Traditional" business.  From first hand experience, I've spend thousands and thousands of dollars starting and operating my Real Estate, Property Management, and Insurance business.  It cost me thousands of dollars building my previous 4 entrepreneurial businesses as well.  Imagine, for less than $500.00, you can experience having your own business.  Gaining Business Skills doesn't have to be expensive, and Direct Selling provides that opportunity.

5.  "Direct Selling Teaches Personal Growth"

Trust me, you will not find a more enthusiastic group than Direct Sellers.  The meetings provide enthusiasm, they talk about fulfillment of dreams, and the positive attitude is electrifying.  They talk as if you are already a success personally, spiritually, mentally, and financially. 

Can anyone and everyone be successful in Direct Selling? 

Answer: No but "should"

Just like in any business, profession, and job, not everyone becomes successful.  In general, success comes by the way how "You" decide to be a success. The passion to succeed in any particular field is not determined by the industry your in, but the passion you bring to the industry.  Low passion and low energy brings poor success while High Passion, High Energy, and High commitment to anything provides positive engaging results. 

Should "You" Be In The Direct Selling Industry?

Answer:

1. If "You" would like to learn, experience, and improve your business skills maybe you should.  

2. If "You" would like to meet and help othe people succeed in a business venture, maybe you should.

3. If "You" would like to attain residual income (earning money while you sleep) maybe you should.

4. If "You" would like to start your own business for less than $500.00 maybe you should.

5. If "You" would like to have a shot to be financially free in the future maybe you should.

6. If "You" would like to save money on going to a psychiatrist fixing low self-esteem maybe you should.

7. If "You" Dont mind hearing the word "NO" from people who don't care on what you sell, maybe you should.

8. Lastly, If "You" want to control your own destiny in the future maybe you should. 

Final Thought: "You may Succeed, You May Fail, but by experiencing, you will always Win!!"

6 Good Reasons why you need to get paid everyday like the Rich!!

Have you ever questioned yourself why you need to live within your means?  Have most financial planner and institution talked about how you should live with the word "budget" in mind?   Are you being paid hourly or a salary that you receive every 2 weeks or monthly?  Than you are definitely not alone.

Most people in the U.S. work as an employee or as self-employed individual.  Whether government entities, huge corporations, private businesses, or the service sectors, we almost have to wait days, weeks, and months in order for us to get paid.  The word "Budget" thus become an important part of our vocabulary as we go through our everyday life.  Now imagine your world where you are receiving a check, bank credit, or cash money at the end of the day, everyday, that is equivalent to what you would normally receive with a paycheck at the end of 2 weeks.  Also imagine if this income everyday that you receive grows, and grows as time passes on.  Now you may ask youself, is this really possible?

I would say to you "Yes" this is possible, but it generally would not involve a person being an employee, salary, or self-employed.  Now there are exceptions such as rich salaried positions such as a CEO of a multi-million dollar company, or highly paid athletes such as Lebron James. You get my drift right?  Most middle-class Americans will probably not fall into this highly paid positions.  Getting back, how do we attain getting paid everyday like the rich does? 

By starting your own business.  

You may ask, What if I fail?  Isn't starting a business risky and expensive?  I would say to this it depends.  A start-up lawn cutting business require more time than money and you may get paid everyday on it.  You may start-up your own franchise business which requires royalties, initial buy-in, and monthly dues that tend to be quite expensive.  So, It does vary depending on the startup business you have your eye on. You may also join a direct business models such as MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) and receive business skills and guidance from members. This form of business require buy-in memberships with product to sell thereafter. Again, whatever you decide on, decide on something atleast.

Why do we need to start our own business?  I'll give you a few 5 good reasons.

1. Time: After a few short years growing your own business, you can buy your own time to spend with whatever you decide to spend it on.
2. Control:  Boss, Managers, Supervisors will be a thing of the past. Sorry, IRS is still on your back even as business owners. However, many tax benefits are enjoyed by the rich not seen by middle class americans.
3. Money: Getting paid everyday beats getting paid once a week, every 2 weeks, monthly, or even yearly.
4. Inflation: As Inflation keeps going up, prices of goods follow. With today's economy, salary hourly wages, and comissions keeps going down, thust inflation affects our dollar spending capacity.
5. No more "budget":  What!! is this real!! No sorry, the rich still do have a budget in mind. however, I would assume it looks much different from yours and mine.  Their budget possibly does not necessarily deal with the everyday "house budget" rather they deal with business operational, asset, liability budget.  So in essence, yeah!.. no more focus on "house budget."
6. Experience: Once you taste earning income everyday, you will never go back to your old job and career no matter what the setback you will experience with owning your own business. 

Again, being in business is not for everyone.  However, for those who does try to swim in this vast and competitive world, the payout in the long run is worth the risk. I believe not owning or controlling your own destiny is alot riskier than any business you may have a chance to develop for yourself.  So, try one out, your future may depend on it.

6 salesman "SECRETS" on selling anything...

                                                           Isn't This A Great First Impression!

With so many literature and personal opinions on how to sell for success, if you ask 10 salespeople they  probably will tell you 10 different things what has worked for them.  However, there are 6 irrefutable "secrets" that salesman would probably hold dear to on how they sell for success. 

Top 6 Countdown....

Number 6:  First Impression goes a long way!

Proper attire, proper store look, proper posture, a nice car are some (not all) key elements on how to sell anything. Imagine the product releases by Apple such as the Iphone and Ipad; doesn't the marketing advertisement, the store, the salesman, the atmophere, the excitement of each product release provide a key first impression on whether you will purchase what they offer the next time around?  With long lines on each product releases by Apple, I definitely believe many have fallen on the company's first impression.

Number 5:  "Product Over Price; No... PRICE over Product"

Now this may be a little controversial to some, but may not be for others.  Many salesman would like to believe that the service they render should validate the price they offer or the price offered by the company they work for.  But in reality, especially in this economy, most consumers are looking for a deal they can agree on or a deal their spouse can agree with.  A salesman's job is to bridge the gap between what the consumer wants and what his company needs. 

Number 4:  Option 1 is good, Option 2 is better, Option 3 is the best....

Most Salesman will not give you just 1 option when trying to sell you a product or service even though that is what you came in for to look at.  In most cases, a salesman's "secret" is to provide atleast 3 options to show you but no more than 5.  More than 5 options creates confusion.  What you will notice is that the option that he would steer you on is the option that may probably land him the most money.  Time is money; the less time a salesman work on a deal, the more money he can make. Again, not every salesman may do this, but please understand that salesman are there to work and try to earn the most money to bring home for himself, his family, and for his livelihood. 

Number 3:  A salesman will make sure you "Need" the product, not just "Want" it. 

A good salesman usually profile you by asking questions about your work, family, and activities.  Armed with that knowledge, a salesman would try to provide examples on how the product works or relate to the customers everyday life. 

Number 2 :  If you call a salesman's office about a product, he or she will make sure to have your personal contact information before you hang up.

Have you ever given your cell phone number, email address, or even your work number to a store and the salesman on the other end said they will check it and will get back to you on it?  This is one of the oldest trick in the book.  In any case, the salesman probably know the product you were looking for have been sold or they do not know what the status is of the product.  By asking your contact info, they can put you on their client list for other products they can offer you at that time.  They can even show their boss the accumulated contact info's they have to prove they have been working very hard for the company. 

Number 1:  A successful salesman #1 motto is "Honesty is the Best Policy"

Believe it or not, most successful salespeople have good hearts and honest on what they sell.  Now the term "successful" is what I am referring to here.  By my definition, these are the people that have stayed with the business for a number of years and have developed a good clientele. By being honest, referrals become easy to come by and product description doesn't change from one customer to another (promotes trust).  Now, is being Honest an actual "secret" or is it a trait?  The truth of the matter is, it is both.  If used wisely, the saying "Honesty is the Best Policy" maybe the greatest secret on selling anything.

More to come on the Psychology of Selling....