Like the Girl Scout Motto, "Be Prepared"

Major millionaire and billionaire celebrities, such as Robert Kiyosaki, best-selling author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” and Donald Trump highly recommend Network Marketing.  And yet, there is a negative reputation that still hangs over the industry.  While over the years, more and more people are joining, and succeeding in network marketing, there is still a stigma attached to the term.

Let’s review why the “scam” reputation still lingers around the edges of the industry. Anyone considering starting their own Network Marketing business needs to perform a reality check.  If you enter the business believing you’ll earn income from day one, it very likely will NOT happen.  In addition, just like every “real” business, your income is likely to vary from week to week or month to month.  Particularly at the beginning, you may go weeks without earning any money at all!

Just like a store or restaurant owner or a computer repair company, when the business owner started out, they were not in profit mode until they built a clientele.  As a Network Marketing business owner, you must be prepared for this by having some type of income to tide you over until your business “takes off.” 

Network Marketing offers a long-term financial solution.  If you expect to be earning thousands of dollars within your first few months, you likely will be disappointed, and you’ll want to steer clear of anyone who is “guaranteeing” or “promising” that you will.  While it is possible to earn very good money in Network Marketing in a short period of time, it takes the vast majority of people much more time.   

I do not want to discourage you from entering the Network Marketing industry, because it truly is the most affordable and simplest way to achieve financial freedom.  It is very important, however, that you be educated and thoroughly understand that Network Marketing offers a LONG TERM financial solution.  So begin your business by making a long term commitment to achieve great results.  Your patience and perseverance will pay off.  In the years to come, the efforts you put forth and the sacrifices you make today will pay off.

Once you have accepted the long term commitment, remember that you most likely will be spending money with none coming in early in your business.  Like traditional business owners, when you first start your own business, expect it to cost you for the first couple of months. With traditional businesses, they are often “in the red” for years before they are earning a profit.   The good news for Network Marketers is that, if you actively working your new business, it should be only a matter of weeks or months to reach profit mode.

The great advantage of a Network Marketing business model over other businesses is that your costs are probably very low.  You have no rent or franchise fee, and you need not pay any employees that those in traditional businesses must.

It is important to keep “the big picture” in mind.  Over time, you could build your business to enable you to earn unlimited income!  Most people in the Network Marketing business quit, because they expect success to “happen,” while in reality, it is those who “make it happen” who are successful.  Those who quit either were not totally committed or they simply were not willing to persevere.  The difference between Network Marketing business owners who succeed and those who do not is based on commitment, dedication, patience and persistence toward reaching their goals.

When you start your Network Marketing business, make a commitment for at least your first year, and work your business, put in the required effort to become established.  When you recruit new team members, ask them to make that same commitment and put forth that same effort.  In that way, your entire organization will be rewarded.  When prospecting, you want to find people who are willing to commit and work their business, not just join your team.

As we work toward achieving that amazing income, remember that perseverance is not one long, continuous effort.  Rather, it is many small efforts performed one after another.  Set and write down your long term goals.  Also set smaller goals along the way to give you a sense of achievement, which in turn motivates you to strive for the next goal.  Over time, you will see your income begin and continue to grow, limited only by your own efforts and dreams. 

As long as you enter the Network Marketing industry knowing what to expect and you are willing to do whatever it takes to reach your goals, you will become one of the success stories we all read about.

http://julie.joinxpress.com/overview.html

The Big Picture

When speaking to one of my team members today, we were discussing how, in network marketing, people often are unable to see “the big picture.”

As most people know, in network marketing a large percentage of those who join quit before they’ve put any real effort into their business.  I believe that is because they don’t have the right perspective, their overall view of what can be achieved is beyond them.

Those who can see "the big picture" are able to look beyond the immediate future, seeing in their mind through a wider lens that displays the true possibilities that lie before them.

There are network marketing companies that promise almost immediate success.  Although on rare occasions, someone’s business does take immediately, but it is bar far the exception, rather than the rule.

Network marketing companies that pay residual income do not pay a large amount for every sale an associate makes.  Rather, they will earn a small amount, but they’ll be paid that amount month after month, year after year, rather than being paid only once.  With residual income, once an associate builds a good income, even if they stop working their business, as long as they remain with the company, their residual income continues to come in.

I’ll use my own company as an example.  Xpress Healthcare sells discount health and dental plans and benefit plans that reduce our members’ costs in many other areas of their lives.  For instance, if I sell our top plan, I will be paid $15, which by itself may seem a rather small amount, not much at all.  However, I will be paid $15 every single month for every active account I sell.  Let’s say I sell our plans to a business with 100 employees.  From that one sale, I’ll be earning $1500 month after month.

In the grand scheme of things, $15 is looking better.  PLUS, I’ll be paid a percentage of the sales people on my team down two levels are paid.  So, in addition to the $15 I’m paid for my personal sales, I’ll be paid $2.50 each month for all of the top plans my team members sell.  Again, using that company with 100  employees example, if my team member made the sale, I’d be earning $250 per month, and I did no work for it!

Of course, anyone who “sticks it out” continues to make additional sales that begin stacking up, growing a larger and larger residual income.  Is that “big picture” beginning to look better? 

I personally believe that those who are unable to see “the big picture” should not work with a company that pays residual commission.  They should select a company that pays larger, one-time commissions.  If they are wise, they’ll invest it well.  If they are not, they may end up with nothing in the end.

With my own company, as with many others, the possibility of earning the “magical” six-figure income is very real for anyone willing to work for it and not quit.  I personally never worked a j-o-b where I came anywhere close to earning that much money, and if I quit that job, I received no additional paychecks.  So, what if you had to work two years, or three, or five?  Seeing that “big picture” up the road should keep you staying the course until you reach it. 

http://julie.joinxpress.com/overview.html

New Week, Fresh Start

Here we are at another new week.  I know it is Tuesday, but since Monday (yesterday) was the Memorial Day holiday here in the USA, most of us did not work yesterday, or at least not much.

So, what shall I do this week, and what challenges will I face? 

In just a few minutes, my husband and I will leave to go for a walk.  We walk half an hour most days to get a little exercise.  Since I sit at my desk for many hours a day, it is important for me to get in my walk.

Then, I have some “issues” to work on.  I had computer problems over the weekend, and I’ll have to get them handled today.

Genealogy is my hobby, and when my genealogy software in my computer went crazy, I called tech support who advised me to do a “clean” uninstall and then reinstall it.  I did, but now the system says I cannot reinstall it without the software manager “resetting” my install.  Of course, that office was closed over the long weekend.  So, today I’ll contact them.

Recently new tool bars and tools have been installing themselves in my computer without my knowledge. I already had Windows Essentials on my computer, supposedly to protect it from viruses, etc. (according to my technician that was enough).  Last night, I purchased and installed Avast for an additional layer of protection, since “something” seems to be accessing my computer.  I am definitely not a “techie,” so I’ll have to contact the technician I use today to help me get rid of whatever things have self-installed in my computer.

At some point during the day, I will actually get some work done on my business as well.  I have a few prospects I must contact, and I will get some posts on IBO Toolbox, Facebook, etc.  I will also place a few ads.

Since it is now 5:18 a.m. where I am, I shall now go have breakfast, take a shower, dress and take my walk.  Then, I will be fresh and ready to approach the day’s work.

5/29/2012

http://julie.joinxpress.com/overview.html