Back to Basics... What is Network Marketing?

Network marketing is the business model where companies produce products or provide a service and then promote their products and services through the use of direct sales people, instead of through traditional distribution methods. 

In conventional product marketing:

• Manufacturers sell their product or service to distributors.
• The distributors then sell to wholesalers.
• In turn, the wholesalers sell to retailers.
• And finally, the retailers sell to consumers.

In contrast, in the multi-level marketing/network marketing business model:

• Manufacturers sell to distributors.
• And the distributors sell directly to the consumers.

 Since there is no retail location to maintain:

• Distributors deal directly with consumers.
• Distributors generally have no need to maintain an inventory of the products they promote.
• Distributors are paid in multiple levels.  When they sell their products, and when they build a team of distributors, they are paid based on their level of achievement.  MLM’s are performance-based direct marketing businesses. 

Network marketing has been around for many years. Today there are hundreds – more likely thousands – of legitimate home business opportunities.  Many home-based businesses are network marketing, also called Multi-Level Marketing or MLM. 

Network marketing, in most companies, is a low cost way of starting a business of your own by becoming a distributor for a company with established brands. 

With the right mindset, tools and proper training, most anything is possible in network marketing.  It is the solution for anyone who wants to become an entrepreneur, as long as they are willing to work hard and are prepared to grow their business over time. 

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

Choo-Choo... Training

I congratulate those of you who are taking your business seriously and taking advantage of whatever training opportunities your company offers.  It is unfortunate, but the majority of network marketers do not do so.  I’m sure that no one is surprised that those who do not attend training calls or webinars or watch their company’s training videos rarely succeed with their business.

Training is important for everyone.  We can never learn too much.  No matter how long you have been with your current business or been in network marketing, you do NOT know it all!   

I host open weekly team training calls.  My calls cover a wide array of topics pertaining to our company, our products and network marketing in general.  I have devoted entire calls to one product, going into great detail that may not be available on our training sites. I have hosted calls teaching how to write an ad, how to write a blog and marketing techniques.  Goal setting is a topic I cover a couple times a year, along with ways to stay motivated. 

After three years with my company, I have covered myriad subject matters, and each call is designed to help increase team members’ knowledge.  Some people believe that they “know it all” and don’t need training.  Sorry folks, but if your knowledge is not growing, neither is your business!   

We also learn from one another.  We share our ideas and tell others about how we benefited from using our company’s products or service or a new marketing method.  Everyone on the calls can help everyone else. Other team members’ feedback on what we say may lead us to learn even more. 

Team calls also help us get to know other team members better.  People who attend training calls often become friends with their team members.  It is great to have friends within your company to help you grow as a person as well as a company representative.

Those who try to “go it alone” often do so because they have worked with other companies and believe they can work every business in the same way.  Having worked with other network marketing companies myself, I know that is not true.  Methods one company uses are often not effective with another company.

Anyone striving to build a successful business must take advantage of any and all training opportunities available to them from their company and their team.

If anyone reading this post is between companies right now or is seeking an additional business opportunity, I invite you to dial in to my team calls.  Guests are always welcome, and there is no obligation to join.  I have team calls every Monday and Thursday nights at 8 PM CT.  If you would like to attend a call, please contact me.

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

I Confess! Follow-up...

For those who read my PR yesterday, you know I was planning to step out of my comfort zone and attend a business networking meeting with a new group. .  If you missed my PR from yesterday, I have a fear of face-to-face meetings and sales, so I was nervous about the meeting.  I had never seen or met any of the members.

I went to the meeting.  I was a few minutes early, so I waited for others to arrive in the lobby.  The meeting was at a restaurant.  I had no idea what any of the members looked like or exactly how many people would be attending.  Five people had accepted the invitation and said they would be there.

I waited as the scheduled time for the meeting passed.  About ten minutes after the appointed time, a man walked in the front door looking lost, so I asked him if he was there for the MeetUp group meeting.  He said he was and introduced himself a Keith, and he sat down with me.  He told me that he had received an email from the founder/creator of the group saying she would be unable to attend.  He and I sat and chatted a few more minutes, and when no one else appeared, we took a table.

Keith and I discussed our own businesses, which were totally unrelated.  He works only face-to-face, with no internet or relationship marketing.  I, on the other hand, work 90% on the internet.  We chatted about some of the methods we use to promote our products and recruit team members.

Keith seems to be a nice man and is having some success with his business.  We agreed that we would meet again in about a month, and hopefully more group members would attend.

I really don’t know how I would have felt if the other people had shown up, but meeting face-to-face with Keith was easy. My anxiety and fear I felt during the day anticipating the event was gone. 

This meeting was a good experience for me and will help me in the future.  I may still be nervous if a larger group is there, but I don’t think my anxiety level will be nearly as high.

Thank you all for your encouragement when I shared my fear, and thank you all for your great IBO Spirit!

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

I Confess

Those of you who have known me for a while may be surprised to learn that I am nervous about speaking to prospects face-to-face.  My business promotes discount health plans.  Where I live the population is nearly all either in the military or works for a large corporation defense contractor.  Therefore, they all have benefits enabling me not to have to work locally.  I am fine on the phone, just not speaking directly to prospects.  So, for years, my business has been about 95% online.

As a team leader, my hesitance to speak to the public is a poor example for others.  I teach my team members to step out of their comfort zone.  I have done so in many ways, but not yet face-to-face marketing.  I have used the excuse about this being a military town, but in reality, we now offer discount plans for non-medical services as well (LifeLock™, legal services, roadside assistance, etc.), so my excuse is no longer totally valid.

It is strange that I am hesitant to speak to prospects, one-on-one or in groups, because I am not shy.  I have belonged to various groups (not business related) and even been the speaker for a group.  I believe my fear applies only to business.

I love my company, and I love our products.  I know them all inside out and teach them to my team.  Silly me, I have this fear in my head that when I go talk to a stranger about it, my mind will go blank.  That has never happened to me, so I don’t know where this anxiety comes from.

Well, I am proud to say that I am meeting with several network marketers (not with my company) to discuss how we can promote our businesses locally and support one another.  For those who are familiar with "Meet Up" groups, this is a brand new one.  We will each briefly share about our own business and have a discussion about local marketing. 

So, tonight I am stepping out of my comfort zone and will face my fear.  By telling you about this, I am committing myself to attend the meeting.  I shall not back out.  Tonight, Julie goes local!

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

I Need Help

Asking for and accepting help.  For most of us, it is not a difficult thing to do.  For some, however, it can be very challenging.  Some people have a mindset that by asking for help they will undermine their sense of independence or ability to cope.  They see it as a sign of weakness.

For some asking for help in our personal lives is more difficult than asking for help in our professional lives.  For others, it is exactly the opposite.  Various individual characteristics can “get in the way,” preventing people from asking for help.  Perhaps they doubt their ability to remain independent; they may be frightened of rejection; or they may be perfectionists, and by asking for help they believe they will be seen as less than perfect.  

Some believe that anyone who cannot handle all their own affairs is incompetent, so they will not reach out.  In the world of business, a person may believe that needing assistance represents lack of professionalism.  Due to upbringing or bad experiences in their lives, someone may have distrust issues.  They do not believe they can trust anyone to help them.

How we ask for help can make a huge difference as to whether we will receive the help we request.  Sometimes people “demand” help, rather than asking for it, perhaps believing they “deserve” assistance.  When presented in that manner, of course, they are less likely to receive the assistance they desire.

There are sometimes societal ideals that imply that seeking help is a sign of weakness.  For instance, in movies, books, etc. – even historical events - the hero is often portrayed as someone who faces crises after crises, but with no one’s help, they are able to overcome all problems.  What often is not shown in those movies and books is that the “star,” the leader, had help along the way, perhaps advice and support that was largely never acknowledged or mentioned.  Even Isaac Newton wrote, "If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants."

There is a tendency for many to believe that each of us “should” be able to cope with all obstacles in our way, manage completely on our own.  This is unrealistic, even unhealthy thinking.  No one knows everything, has every skill or talent, although I have met a few people who believe they do.  In fact, it is rather arrogant for a person to help others, but never ask for help in return.  These people will never learn about reciprocal give and take.  Everything we need to know is not on the internet, in books or in our heads.  

To enable us to seek help, we must be wise enough to know we have weaknesses, everyone does.  We must trust that there are people willing, even eager, to provide assistance.   Of course, we must be willing to provide help as well as accept it, but that is for another post.

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

Food Court Wars is Coming to Town!

I have mentioned on a few occasions that I live in a small city, pretty much in the “middle of nowhere.”  It is a pretty area nature-wise.  But there is rarely any excitement or fun things to do here.  For that, we have to drive 90 miles to the nearest “real” city.

I learned that something that many think is exciting is going to happen this week in our sleep city!  We have a small mall here, with about twenty stores and a very small food court (five restaurants). Have you heard of the TV show “Food Court Wars?” I guess you’d call it a “reality” show, but my husband and I enjoy cooking shows, so we have seen it a couple times. “Food Court Wars” is a competition between two teams of would-be food entrepreneurs.  Whoever wins, receives a food court restaurant rent free for a year!

Well, this week, “Food Court Wars” is being held in our local mall.  It is a weekly show and takes place in a different city each week.  The “hosting” mall wants to open a brand new "local" eatery in their food court offering region-specific menu.  In this city, I am curious what they would call “region-specific.”  We are very close to Mexico (7 miles as the crow flies), so maybe Mexican food?  Since we have a huge military base (the only reason the city even exists), so those who live here come from all over the country and even many foreign countries.

The three-day competition tests not only the culinary skills, but how well the aspiring restaurateurs can run a business, ordering food and other items, preparing a marketing plan and determining whether their concept works in the area. 

The way the TV shows works is that on the first day, there is a food sampling challenge.  Day two is a marketing challenge and on the third day, the competitors serve food from their space at the mall.  Apparently the customers are provided with tickets to spend like money.  The team whose restaurant earns the highest profit wins their space for free for a year.

One of the two vacant spaces where the competition will take place was run by a friend of ours.  Since they were on a month-to-month contract, not a lease, they were told to vacate the premises a couple weeks ago.  

My husband and I spoke with the mall manager today about the show.  She told us that today the show staff is going around the town taking pictures.  The public is invited to come on the third day to try the competitors’ food.  She said they’ll begin “selling” the food (no cost to the customers in reality) at 5 PM, but they expect a line of people to begin around noon!

So, our town is jumping with excitement!  If you are wondering, no I do not plan to attend the food tasting.  The idea of a TV show filming here is fun.  Having lived in Los Angeles most of my life, I have seen shows being filmed many times.  However, I find it interesting that a city with a population of about 40,000 (mostly on the military base) was chosen for The Food Court Wars.

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

Stay Motivated and Avoid Burnout!

At some point, we all struggle with staying motivated with our home business. We start out really excited and ready to grow a great business.  When a few weeks or months pass, the novelty begins to wear off.  If we haven’t earned much – or even no money, our motivation wanes.

If you plan ahead for those moments of waning motivation, you can keep moving forward even when times are tough.  Post a sign on your wall, “Quitting is NOT an option!”  We just keep on keepin’ on. 

There are various ways to get your excitement back.

·        Remember your “Why” – We talk about this a lot, but we really must understand “why” we got into our business. What did you hope to achieve? If you are trying to generate more income for your family, be specific about how much.  If you don’t have a crystal clear goal of where you want to be, that could be the causing your lack of motivation and prevent you from working your business in a manner that will get your enthusiasm back and get your business going!

Write down your “why” in great big letters and read it every day before starting to work on your business. That way, you are telling your subconscious that you will succeed….No matter what!

·        Acknowledge that it is the same for everyone – When you’re struggling to get your business up and running; when you are working hard to grow an income, try to remember that it is the same for everyone starting out in the industry.   Use this knowledge as motivation.  While many people are “giving up,” you are carrying on no matter how hard you must work.  The longer you keep moving forward, taking action every day, the more likely you are to reach your goals.  

Having the right “mindset” is huge in network marketing.  Do you see the “big picture,” what your future will be in five years?  Are you confident, certain that you will succeed no matter what it takes?  If you have a strong foundation, as positive mindset, you will succeed!

“Burning out” within Network Marketing is a risk you’re taking if your mindset is not in the right place.  Building a successful business is a long-term project, and if you recognize and acknowledge that, you will work your business and continue to look forward to the future. 

You will have days where things don’t go as planned, and you will struggle to remain motivated, but those who succeed are the people who tell themselves, “Quitting is NOT an option!”   

To avoid burnout, be patient and remain calm.  If you were starting a shop or restaurant, you wouldn’t expect it to be successful in the first 3 months.  It simply does not happen in the small business world.  It takes time to get traction and build your internet presence.  If you don’t expect huge growth in the first few months – or even a year - you will not be disappointed.  You are building a business and a personal brand.  With the right mindset, you will succeed!

“There is no information on who said 'All Good Things Come to Those Who Wait' first, but it was used by Abraham Lincoln …in April of 1865. Generally, if you rush things, they become sloppy and turn out badly. However, if you're patient, the results are usually better.”  http://www.ask.com/question/who-said-all-good-things-come-to-those-who-wait

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook 

The Roll with the Hole

Nearly everyone, particularly in the United States, is familiar with the bagel.  However, few people know the history of the bagel or how different today’s bagel is from those I grew up eating.  My parents owned a Jewish delicatessen, and their bagels were wonderful!

The traditional bagel is made from high-gluten flour, yeast, salt, water and malt.  Once the bagel dough is shaped into a circle, they are boiled in a kettle for 3 to 5 minutes on each side.  After that, they are drained and baked for about 10 minutes.   Bagels are the only bread that is boiled before it is baked.  Before bagels, like so many other foods became supersized, bagels weighed five ounces or less, and they made a crackling sound when you bit into them.

Bagels were baked and eaten by Eastern European Jews for centuries.  When European Jews came to America, they brought bagel bakers with them. Bagel making was a highly skilled craft.  Since the Lower East Side of New York City had the largest number of Jewish people, bagel baking thrived there, and by 1900, there were 70 bagel bakeries on the Lower East Side.

That little hole in the center of the bagel isn't just for looks; it is also efficient. The bagel hole came in handy to thread multiple bagels onto a dowel, making transport easily, especially for the street vendors selling the doughy delights.

The huge puffed-up American bagels, with cinnamon, raisins, onions and more, bear little resemblance to the small dense and chewy rings of East Europe and New York City in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.  The vast majority of bagels in the United States today are first steamed in an oven instead of boiled, and they are then baked.

I still eat and enjoy bagels, but to me, only the name remains the same as the bagels I remember from years ago.

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For Xpress Healthcare® business opportunity info, visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

For affordable discount plans to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more, visit: http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance). 

I invite you to visit my Facebook Page at http://ibourl.net/XpressFacebook