Decisions, Decisions...

There are many things to consider when you’re looking for a network marketing business.  There are so many options available today that choosing one can be daunting.

I believe that you can only be successful with a company if you are passionate about their product or service.  If you cannot sell the products due to lack of enthusiasm, all the rest of the considerations mean nothing.

Be sure you believe in the product and that there is a high demand at a reasonable price for whatever you will be selling?  Conduct a “Google” search on the product name to see what responses are generated.

Do your due diligence, lots of research on any company in which you may be interested.  When you do an Internet search of the company, look for red flags.  Are there negative posts about the company or many complaints posted by former distributors?  Most companies have a few complaints, but if there are a lot, run the other way!

Your research should include the management/ownership of the company.  Did they own another company that failed in the past?  Have you seen negative information about them?

Do you like the compensation plan the company offers?  Do you fully understand it?  Some people like working with companies that offer a variety of ways you can earn money; others like simple, straightforward comp plans.  Does the compensation plan fit into your long-term goals?

Once you have completed your “homework” about the company itself, you’ll want to choose wisely who you want for your sponsor.  Which team leader you select can make a difference as to whether or not you are successful in your business.

It is important to select a team that offers support and training in the basics of growing your business – both on and offline.  To select a prospective sponsor or team leader, you can do an Internet search on the business name to see which names come up the most and are ranked highest in the search.  Select two or three people, and search for blogs they have written, forums in which they participate and videos they have created.  You can learn a great deal about a person from their blogs, forum posts and videos.

You may want to connect with those few prospective sponsors on Facebook, Twitter, etc. to learn more about them.  If they permit it, attend a couple training calls with the team.  Learning about the person with whom you’ll be working can go a long way toward making the best choice.

If you take your time and are thorough when researching your next business, team and sponsor, the possibility of building a strong network marketing business increases greatly.

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Learn how to reduce your Health and Dental expenses AND reduce costs on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and even more at http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance).

To learn about Julie Klein and how you can be successful in network marketing, look at the Xpress Healthcare Business Opportunity at http://joinxpresshealthcare.com. 

Millions of People are Struggling with their Work-at-Home Business

Tens of millions of people in the United States currently own home businesses. Although millions of people have successful businesses at home, far more are struggling to make even a part-time income at home. Those who are currently searching for a business are wondering which businesses are real, are they legal, what really works?

The choices are practically endless, but exactly how do you choose? What are the criteria for selecting a business that will be a good fit for you?

Many people are attracted to “start-up,” “pre-launch” or “ground-floor” opportunities. Every business was a start-up at some point, but how many are still around, and how many people lost money with those opportunities? If you find an opportunity that sounds great to you, if you can afford TO LOSE your investment to join the company, it may be worth a try. That is not to say the company will fail, but consider it a possibility. At the same time, a company that has been around for 20 years could fail in year 21. There are no guarantees, so be sure you can afford to lose money before spending it. 

Research, research, research! Do not just read the company’s own websites. Look at third party sites to see what those outside the company are saying about it. Membership with the Better Business Bureau doesn’t necessarily mean that is the best company from which to choose. Many companies simply choose not to join the BBB. It is expensive to join, and perhaps the company is doing so well it doesn’t believe it needs BBB backing. Use the BBB as one tool, not the only tool to prove legitimacy.

Does the company offer a trial period or money-back guarantee to provide you with the opportunity to test if the business is a good fit for you? My company, Xpress Healthcare, for instance offers a two-week trial for less than $10, and at the end of the trial, affiliates have a 30-day money-back guarantee. New reps have six weeks to get to know the company and products without risking a lot of money.

What products or services does the company offer? No matter how fabulous the product may be, if it is not affordable, you’ll likely make few sales. You’re also better off selecting a business whose product is needed by a large part of the population. Are you required to purchase products every month? If you wouldn’t use the product and don’t love it, you will be unable to promote it. If you feel passionate about the product, promoting and marketing it will be not be challenging. 

Be certain that you understand a business’ compensation plan. I have seen many that are terribly complicated. You’ll want to consider… If it is a matrix-type company, will you be penalized if you help someone start their business grows their business quicker than you? Is it possible for you to be more successful, earn more than those who joined before you? Is the comp plan reasonable? Will you be paid a percentage or a flat rate on the products you sell? 

Recognize hype when you see it. Many business opportunities say it is free to join, but they later charge you for training or websites. At some point, you will have to pay. If they tell you you’ll be earning a six-figure income in a short period of time, run the other way! If their ad says, “Let the computer do the work while you sleep,” it sounds too good to be true because it is! 

What type of training and support does the program offer? All companies say provide support, but once you join will you have personal access to someone or only have webinars or corporate training calls where you cannot ask questions?

Get a “feel” for the prospective sponsor. Do they appear honest and real? Do they respond to your phone calls or emails quickly? Do they offer one-on-one training or support? No matter how good a company may be, if you don’t like your sponsor, you will not succeed. There is nothing wrong with “sponsor shopping.” If you love a company, speak with two or three recruiters before you decide with whom to join.

If you find and join an honest, reputable company and sponsor with great products or services, the only way you’ll fail is if you quit or don’t work your business. 
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To learn about Julie Klein and the Xpress Healthcare Business Opportunity, please visit  joinxpresshealthcare.com . You can work from home and earn residual income.

For information about how you can Save Money on Your Health and Dental Costs AND Save on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and much more, please visit  ibourl.net/XpressSavings (NOT insurance) 

My Parents Were TV Stars

Well, not really stars, but they were on TV many times.  You see my parents owned a well-known, successful Kosher-style deli in the Los Angeles area for about 25 years.

One day they received a phone call from an advertising representative of Vlasic Pickles.  They were invited to be part of a TV commercial for their products.  The commercial would include three different deli owners shown tasting Vlasic Pickles.  It didn’t take them long to decide to accept the offer.

The first thing they had to do was join the Screen Actors Guild in order for them to be paid royalties. They were sent first-class airline tickets to Manhattan and put up in a very high-class, expensive hotel with limousine service to and from the studio where the taping took place.

My father had to take a bite of a pickle and comment on it.  There were several “takes” before they got it exactly right.  I remember my dad telling me that he had a bucket on the floor next to him.  After taking a bite each time, he was told to “deposit” the bite in the bucket at the end of each “take.”  Taking bite after bite of a dill pickle can get pretty terrible, no matter how good the pickle might be.

In the completed commercial, my mother looked uncomfortable.  My dad, however, was a natural.  The entire commercial was about 31 seconds long, with my parents’ portion only 10 seconds. 

For a long time after filming the commercial, it aired on TV frequently. In fact after a long run on TV, it wasn’t aired for a while, and then Vlasic brought it back for another few months.  Every time the commercial was shown, my parents were paid a small residual, receiving a check every few weeks.

It was such fun for the family to yell out, “Quick, Mom & Dad’s commercial is on!” We also had it on video.  A couple years ago, I discovered it was on youtube.com.  (You can see it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbWQhuROXpA.)

My parents had a really good time in New York and earned a little money, but mostly they had the fun memories for the rest of their lives.

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To learn about Julie Klein and the Xpress Healthcare Business Opportunity, please visit http://joinxpresshealthcare.com.  You can work from home and earn residual income.

For information about how you can Save Money on Your Health and Dental Costs AND Save on Hearing, Vision, Prescriptions, Roadside Assistance, Lifelock™ and much more, please visit http://ibourl.net/XpressSavings   (NOT insurance) 

Leaving California

I was born in Los Angeles, California.  I worked for many years in the administrative end of law enforcement, so I was acutely aware of the rising crime around me.  Add to that the traffic everywhere in Southern California, and smog.  And then, there were earthquakes.  One day, my husband and I began to discuss escaping.

We took a driving trip to Arizona, traveling throughout the state for two weeks.  We came across a small city in a rural area that we liked immediately.  It was really pretty, low crime, no smog, no traffic.  Everything that we disliked about California was absent in this city.

We put our California house on the market and moved to Arizona.  It’s a beautiful area, totally black skies at night.  Our Arizona house sits at the base of some beautiful mountains, often covered in snow in the winter.  Ideal temperature, with a light dusting of snow each winter.  Our house is fabulous, much bigger than the two I’d owned in California. 

Then, our children, who were just out of their teens when we left California, grew up.  They had children.  We were grandparents!  We loved it, except, by then all the kids and grandkids were living in California.  It didn’t happen suddenly, but over a period of a couple years, we began to really miss our family.  As we’ve gotten older, we cannot travel as easily or frequently to see them as we did when we first moved to Arizona.

So, now our house in Arizona is on the market.  The housing market is not good.  We began trying to sell our house last July, and here we are in April, with our house unsold.

My dream would be to pick up our house and move it to California near our family.  Whatever house we buy in California – whenever that may be – will be much smaller.  We’ll have to adjust.

It is funny how our priorities change throughout our lives.  I’m not looking forward to living in California, with the even worse traffic and crime, but my desire to spend more time with my family outweighs what I dislike about it.

I am so fortunate to have my home business.  I can work here in Arizona and just as easily in California.  There will be nothing different about that aspect of my life.  And since I work primarily online, I don’t have to move much more than my desk. 

So, I’ll happily continue working my business while I await the sale of my house and another new chapter of my life.


http://joinxpresshealthcare.net

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://joinxpresshealthcare.ORG

Building Your Online Business Foundation

Tenacity is vital to growing your business.  Stick firmly to what works well for you.  Discard anything that does not.  Make the decision to reach success in your endeavors, and YOU WILL. Nothing is impossible to you, if you believe.

Most of the time, the people who are successful are simply the ones who didn’t quit. Don’t quit. Don’t sell yourself short. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you will get there.

Work your business like you mean it.  If you treat it like a hobby, if you’re not making it a priority in your life, the results will be minimal. 

There are a variety of ways to market and promote your business, but doing so is your primary job.  There are myriad ways to do so, and I’m going to share with you what I have found to be the most successful methods. 

I have found – first and foremost, that using social media and online networking provides the most bang for your buck.  The buck being time, not money. 

So, start with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, IBOToolbox, for instance.  And feel free to find your own, possibly those in the industry in which you work when you had a job, or if you still work a job.

Once you get to the forum you wish to join. Create an account.  Be sure to use a photograph of yourself, not a logo or avatar, in your profile.  And when the profile includes space for a bio, use the same one wherever you register.

OK, your accounts are set up.  Now what?  PARTICIPATION!  The reason we all want to be participating in a variety of forums and social media networking is simple, to get our names and businesses “out there.” The more you participate, the more people get familiar with your name and your business.  As you participate in these various forums, you’ll find you’ll get to know people, see that you have things in common, and may actually become internet friends. Think of it like you’re attending a Chamber of Commerce meeting.  You’d be handing out your cards, chatting with Chamber members and getting to know a few of them.   Participation on forums can and should be fun. 

Blogging is another powerful method of getting your name and your business “out there.”  I’m pretty new to blogging, but I have found it to be very effective. I recommend you type your blog in a word document or on a site that allows spell check so your blog will look professional.

Creating your own videos can also be of tremendous help to your business.  Get past how you look on camera.  No one is critiquing your appearance, but they are hearing you talk about your business opportunity and products.  If you’re not telling them, someone else will, and they’ll be earning the money, not you.  If you have a web cam and a microphone, you can make videos. 

To help you grow a local business, join your local Chamber of Commerce and other business-related networks, and participate in their events.  Once they get to know who you are and what you do, you’ll find people will refer others to you.

Finally, word of mouth.  Some companies encourage their reps to approach their “warm” market.  I discourage my team members from trying to recruit or sell to family and friends.  You know what most of your family and friends do for a living.  Be sure they know what you do too.  In normal conversation, just mention your business.  If they know someone who can use your products or are looking for a business opportunity, they’ll send them your way.


http://julie.xpressabo.com/flash1.php?=blogger

I Got a "Code" in My Nose

For the first time in, I can’t remember how long, I’m ill.  It’s just a cold, nothing horrible, but you know colds can make you fell blah!  Anyway, it got me to thinking.

If I was working a j-o-b, I’d be staying home, using up my sick time or losing money.  It disturbs me when people go out spreading their viruses, so I try not to expose people unless I absolutely must.

With my own home business, I need not be concerned about missing work.  As long as I’m capable of sitting at my computer, I can work. In fact, a while back, after surgery, I was working from my bed for nearly a week.

That is one of the many benefits of having a home business.  Nearly anyone can do it.  I have two people on my team who are disabled, unable to work a regular job.  They can work on their computers though.  Mobility isn’t required. 

Someone unable to hear can work many home businesses.  With the right equipment, those who are blind can work from home on their computers.  With the technology we have today, there is almost no disability preventing someone from working at home on a computer.

We live in a very interesting time.  Our grandparents couldn’t have imagined all the machines, gadgets and equipment that we now find commonplace.  As I sit here sniffling and sneezing, I am so grateful for my Xpress Healthcare business.  I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.  (Please visit my website if you’d like to join my team… I won’t share my cold, I promise.) http://julie.xpressabo.com/xhc1?blogger

No Man (or Woman) is an Island

Teamwork is vital to the success of virtually any business – a restaurant, retail store, huge corporation or a network marketing business.  No one stands alone and expects to accomplish all that needs to be done.  In retail and corporations, each person serves a specific purpose, and if one person is not holding up their end, the remaining people must pick up the slack.  In most situations, the “slacker” would not last very long with their company.  They would be fired.

In network marketing, teamwork is a bit different.  Unless a team member violates company rules, they generally cannot be “fired.”  There are a few elements that are needed to keep a team running smoothly. 

·         A common purpose.  With network marketing, each individual in a team is an independent business owner, but each joined the network to achieve success.  Yes, I know that not all the team members will ever be successful, but I’m talking common purpose.

·         Interdependence.  Each member of a network marketing team depends on at least one other person to reach their goals.  They depend on their sponsor to train them and support them along their path.  Team leaders depend on each of their members to work their business, thus helping both the member and leader to grow their businesses.

·         Roles and contributions.  Each person can play more than one role in network marketing.  If they are recruiting a team, they are a team leader.  However, that leader also has their own sponsor, and they are a member of that person’s team, helping their own sponsor by making sales.  How much each individual contributes to the team can greatly effect the success of many.

·         Accountability, both individual and mutual.  Each individual within a team is responsible to themselves to grow their personal business.  At the same time, they are also accountable to the team as a whole.  It is true that, in network marketing, there are always going to be those who do not take this responsibility seriously, either to themselves or their team.  These people never succeed.

·         Empowerment.  Independent business owners have the power to create an empire, make a decent living or supplement their income.  They are empowered to make their choices and work their businesses accordingly.  There is both freedom and challenges that come with empowerment.

Those individuals in network marketing who do not consider themselves part of a team are rarely successful.  Working together to achieve that common purpose drives each individual to work harder to help themselves and the team. 

·         Team meetings, Webinars and conference calls can help members of a team to see how important they are to the team as a whole. 

·         Competition between different teams can inspire team members to work harder to earn the prize and to help the team at the same time. 

·         For those who have team members residing in the same area, having local team events can help to strengthen a team. 

No matter how we do it, those leading a team must encourage their teams to work for the benefit of the company as a whole, for the team and for themselves.  They are all intertwined, and when everyone on a team works for the same common purpose, they are helping to create and maintain both a strong team and a successful business.

http://julie.xpressabo.com/xhc1?=blogger 

Quitters Never Prosper

During the several years I have been in the network marketing industry, I have seen far more people quit than succeed.  They did not fail.  They quit without ever putting any real effort into their business. 

Far too many people are MLM hoppers.  They hop from one MLM to another, thinking they’ll do better at the next one.  Why they ever expect to be successful, I do not understand. 

>>  They put out a few flyers and were disappointed, because their phone didn’t ring off the hook.

>>  They placed a few online ads, but no one ever joined their team. 

>>  They didn’t attend training calls or Webinars, because they thought they knew how to work an MLM business.  After all, they had worked in the industry before. 

>>  They didn’t work with their sponsor who may have actually been able to teach them something. 

>>  They quit after a couple weeks, or maybe even stuck it out for a few months, and they blamed the company or the product or their sponsor for their lack of success.

>>  They carried their negative attitude with them to the next business.

Then there are the network marketing stars.  Those are the people who dive head first into their business. 

>>  They know from the beginning that they will be successful.  Their positive attitude is contagious.

>>  Some of them – maybe even the majority – don’t make many sales right away, but they are not discouraged, because they realize it will take time and effort.

>>  These people attend every training call or Webinar offered by their company.  If they have to miss one, they’ll listen to the recorded version.

>>  The network marketing stars know that staying in contact with their sponsor is vital to their success.

>>  The stars participate in as many online forums as possible, soaking up knowledge from their online connections.

>>  It may actually take them a while, perhaps as long as a year, before they are earning a full-time living with their business.  Two, three, or even five years before they earn the “six figure” income everyone talks about.

>>  The stars carry their positive attitude everywhere they go, and they eventually achieve their goals and set new ones.

The quitters never achieve success, no matter how many companies they join. 

The network marketing stars soar and set an example for everyone else.

http://julie.xpressabo.com/xhc1?=blogger 

Taking People and Things for Granted

A dear friend lost his father last week.  I did not know his father, but I know my friend, and I am sad knowing how much he must be hurting.  He never imagined a few months ago that his father would be gone so soon.

It is so easy to take people and things for granted.  I am very spoiled.  I know it.  I have a husband who I adore and who treats me like a queen.  I have two healthy children and four beautiful grandchildren.  I have a beautiful home, and although I’m not wealthy, I’m not struggling to pay my bills.

I have a wonderful brother and a sister.  I used to have two sisters. My “big” sister died a few years ago way too young, and I miss her every day.  I am so glad that while she was with us, I didn’t take her for granted.  We spoke every day, at least once, until the day she died.

I do take some things for granted though.  I know I will always have food to eat and a roof over my head.  I have never had to truly struggle to survive, and I seldom think about it. 

Most people don’t give much thought to what’s happening around the world, and Americans may be the worst.  I am saying this as an American myself.  I KNOW there are people starving, who are in pain, who are suffering and living in unimaginable conditions.  But most of the time, I just go on living my life, taking it for granted.

Sure, I give my time and money, but not enough of either.  When I take the time to really think about everything I have, I am very grateful for where I was born, for the family that raised me, and for the good health that enabled me to work hard to be able to afford what I have today.

So, today, I’m taking some time to be truly grateful for all the things I normally don’t give a moments thought.  I have to clean my house, but I have a house to clean!  I have to put expensive gas into my car, but I have a car and the money to fuel it.  I have to prepare dinner and clean the kitchen afterward, but I have the food to cook and a place to prepare it.

Perhaps you too would like to take just a little time today to be grateful for those people and things you normally take for granted.    

Praise, the Great Motivator

Giving praise to others is a great motivator.  When we perform a job well, we all appreciate being recognized for our efforts.  One of the top reasons employees leave jobs is lack of recognition.

Whether we’re praising our children, a team member or an employee, there is a right and wrong way to praise someone.

It is important to be specific.  “The XYZ project you completed was great.  You finished it on time, and it included everything I asked for.” Or  “I see that you grew your team by 10 this month!  That was an amazing accomplishment.  You recruited some quality team members, and more than anyone else in the company.”

Don’t save praise for the weekly staff meeting.  Deliver the praise immediately when you observe positive behavior.  Certainly you can repeat the praise during the staff meeting, which may indeed encourage others to strive for recognition as well.

Praise is powerful when it is used properly, but certainly not when it is not genuine or truly earned.  Instead of criticizing those who perform poorly, in many situations, encouragement may raise them up to work harder.  Look for small things they are doing right, and let them know you noticed it, no matter how small, and tell them how much you appreciate it. 

When someone is doing their job properly, even if it isn’t exceptional, acknowledging their performance and letting them know how glad you are to have them working with you can spur them on to put in even more effort.

Leaders should always be developing new leaders.  Don’t wait for something great to happen, look for positive behaviors throughout the day.  Don’t take work performed well for granted.  Seek out those who are stepping beyond their job description or those who are helping others without being asked to do so.  It can also help to praise people in the presence of others.  It can help the recipient of that praise to feel as though they truly matter, and it can encourage others to want to earn that praise as well.

If you use praise often and properly, it can help to grow your child into a responsible adult, help you build a strong, quality team or improve employee retention and performance at your company.

Are You Leadership Material?

When growing a team of powerful leaders, it helps to know what you believe qualifies someone to be a leader.  The following is what I look for in a leader.

·         The main characteristic of a leader – and of a good team member – is that they are coachable.  If you ask 10 people if they’re coachable, they will all answer yes.  In reality, many are not.  Those who are coachable are open to new ideas, to what works for others.  They are willing and able to step out of their comfort zone to grow their business.

·         My team members who have imagination, creativity, self-determination and self-motivation are making sales and growing their business.

·         I don’t believe we can motivate someone to work who is not self-motivated.  We can, however, inspire our team members by doing what we have taught them to do.

·         We can lead by example, so our team members can see that what we teach them to do actually works.  The top team members don’t need someone to hold their hand every step of the way.  They watch, listen and learn from the leaders, and then they get to work!

·         We all run across prospective team members who tell us how great they are.  That doesn’t work for me.  As the old adage says, ‘action speaks much louder than words.”  Show me!  We need team members we can count on to do their part, without having to remind them or urge them on.

·         Leaders are responsible for coaching, teaching, serving people, setting a good example and being available to those they lead.

·         By setting a good example for our team members, we encourage them to grow.

·         A good leader won’t pretend they’re experts in every aspect of their business, nor will they ignore the suggestions and ideas of their team members.  Good leaders encourage their team members to make suggestions and to ask for assistance and problem solving help.

·         Team members are always a priority to a good leader.  If you work your business part time, be sure your team members know your work schedule.  And, be sure they have contact information for who else they can call for help if you are unavailable.

I believe nearly everyone can – if they wish – become a good leader.  However, they must listen to those who have been successful with the company.  Creating your own unique path may seem like a good idea, but in reality, its best not to reinvent the wheel.

http://julie.xpressabo.com/xhc1?=blogger

How to Handle Objections in Network Marketing

As network marketers, we will have questions, objections and concerns from prospects.  It comes with the industry.  So, rather than trying to avoid them, it is important to learn how to address them. 

In my experience these are the questions/objections we hear most often and how I suggest you respond to them.

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·        I can’t afford the (start-up, monthly) fee.

Different network marketers have their own way of dealing with this objection.  Some say, anyone can afford it if they really want it.  If that is your perspective, you would approach the prospect with “How do you plan to change your life so you will be able to afford it?” or “If you can’t afford to get started with us now, you need this more than anyone!” or “By taking advantage of the opportunity I’m offering you, I can help you change your financial situation and ease the burden.”

Others, if they really believe the person is "broke," they also believe they’ll never succeed with the business and quit due to the inability to pay the required fees. 

I have actually had prospects who said they could not afford to join my team, but they loved the business and wanted to join anyway.  Of those, some have been successful; others quit as soon as their first payment came due. 

I’ve had a few who said they didn’t have the money, and I could tell, this would be someone who would waste my time and quit within weeks.  With those, I simply accepted that they truly could not afford it, and I wished them luck.

None of us can always make the right judgment call.  We’ll make mistakes occasionally.  But in general, the longer you’re in the business, the fewer times you’ll read people wrong.

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·        I’m not a sales person. 

In some network marketing companies, they tell prospects, “no selling is required.”  I personally disagree.  If you are with a reputable network marketing company, you have a product or service you must sell, and sales experience can be beneficial.  In addition, we all must sell OURSELVES to sell our product or recruit new team members.  If the prospect doesn’t like you, you’ve lost the sale. 

However, there is selling, and there is SELLING!  If you have to convince the prospect that your product is good, you are selling too hard.  More than likely, you will not sign that prospect.  Instead, I believe in presenting my product, answering the prospects’ questions, and then allowing them to decide what is best for them.  When it comes to recruiting, in particular, I do not want to work with anyone who does not want to work with me.  So, why try to convince them otherwise?  

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·        I don’t know very many people – OR, I don’t like to ask my family and friends to buy my product or join my company.

Neither do I!  Most companies recommend that you talk to your “warm market” first.  Nearly my entire business is done on the internet.  However, although I have never asked my family or friends to purchase my product or tried to recruit them, they are aware of what I do.  Whatever “job” we have had, our families usually know what we do for a living.  It simply comes up in conversation.  By making people you know aware of what you do, they may well send referrals your way, or they may say, “Really?  I can use that!” or “What’s involved in working your business at home?” 

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·        I need to discuss this first with my spouse.

I never discourage anyone from talking to their spouse about the product or opportunity.  I do the same.  However, I always ask if we can schedule an appointment when I can speak to the prospect along with their spouse so that I can explain my service or the opportunity.  There are two reasons for this.  

1)  There are “dream stealers,” those people who automatically look at network marketing as illegal or a “scam,” and I’d like the chance to explain what my company is before they discourage their spouse; and

2)  The prospect doesn’t really know my product or company.  If the prospect tells their spouse about it, important details may be left out, or they simply may not present it well.  If I speak to the spouse, I will be sure they get all the information, and that they will get it correctly.

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Of course, there will be other objections, but I have found these to be the most common.  Once you are comfortable with responding to your prospects’ objections, you’ll begin growing your business more quickly.  

How to Select the “Right” Career at Home

Throughout the USA, people are seeking work at home.  There are some "jobs" available where the employee can work at home (telecommute).  It can be extremely difficult to find legitimate jobs, however, and there are limited positions available. So, a large percentage of the people who want to work from home are choosing to start their own home businesses.  There are a variety of reasons for the increase in home businesses.

• Many want to supplement their income.  They work an outside j-o-b, but they're simply not earning enough to pay their bills in today's economy.
• Stay-at-home moms and dads often want to contribute to the family income while they actually "parent" their children.  More and more parent in the generation currently raising young children place a higher priority than their parents did on staying at home with their children, rather than having caregivers raise them.  But they must sacrifice some of the "extras," because a single-income family often does not earn enough money – particularly in the present economy.  A good compromise for these parents is a home business.
• Many retirees either want to stay busy after a lifetime of working; and many others cannot get by on Social Security and whatever savings or pension they may have.  Rather than getting a job where, once again, they must punch a time clock and fight traffic, for retirees, a home business is a great option.
• Those with disabilities may not be able to afford to live on disability income (SSDI) alone; and many do not qualify for it, although they are unable to hold a job.
• Many people simply want the fabulous tax advantages of a work-at-home career.

Finding reputable companies with whom to work can be time consuming and challenging.  There are hundreds, if not thousands of ads on the internet that are scams, compared to the relatively few that are respectable companies with real products.  Just spending an hour or two on the Internet seeking home businesses will result in discovering many that have no products and/or services.  They are in existence ONLY to recruit others into their "business."  They often promise huge incomes, while in reality, only a very few will truly earn any income at all.  And, of course, there are the companies that tell you that your computer will do all the work while you sleep!  Unfortunately, there are people who will believe this and invest money into these businesses, only to learn they were "ripped off."

Most home businesses are network or multi-level marketing.  Many well-known financial "gurus" now recommend network marketing.  Unlike the "pyramids" of the past, with network marketing and a good product or service, nearly anyone who works hard can be successful.  With multi-level marketing companies, at some point, if not at the very beginning, home business owners can earn additional income based on the sales of those who they bring into the business, their "downline."  With some network marketing companies, you will earn from only those who you personally enrolled, while others pay for two, three or unlimited levels in your downline.

So, how do you determine which home businesses are reputable and which one is a good fit for you?  There are many excellent companies, but no one business is right for everyone looking for work at home.

Research is extremely important when starting your own home business. If you have heard of the company and used their product or service, it will simplify your decision.  However, just because you've heard their name, it does not mean they are a reputable company!  Through the internet, it is not difficult to thoroughly check out a company before investing any money.

• Keep in mind that some excellent companies have complaints filed against them for various reasons.  A former home business owner who was not successful may blame the company for their failure, when they simply did not work their business or didn't take advantage of the training available through their company.
• Work-at-home forums often reveal information about various home businesses.  You have to be careful here though, because again, a disgruntled former business owner may not tell the entire truth.
• Ask many questions.  Determine the true cost of working the home business you are researching.  Is there a start-up cost?  Is there a monthly fee?  If there is a monthly fee, do you receive benefits in exchange?  Is there adequate training and support?  What is the cost of the training, and by what means is it provided (in person, phone conferences, email, website)?  There are companies that tell you there is no start-up cost, but then they charge hundreds of dollars for the training – and you may have to travel great distances for training.  The better companies will offer unlimited training by phone, internet and email.
• Learn about the product or service being offered.  Would you buy it?  What is the cost of the product?  No matter how great the product, if it is too expensive, you may not be able to sell it, particularly in today's economy.  If there are similar products available at stores at a lower price – even if it is not as good a product – it likely will be difficult to market.
• Ask about advertising policies.  Can you use the company's name & logo in your advertising?  If not, why not?  Can you advertise on the internet, in newspapers, in the phone book, radio or TV?  Will the recruiter teach you how and where to advertise?
• Determine whether the company pays a one-time commission or residual income.  With residual commission, you will earn money from each customer/client as long as they keep paying a monthly fee.  This generally applies to businesses that sell memberships or services, not products.  For instance, the client pays a monthly membership fee, and you earn a percentage of that fee each month.

Once you have researched the company itself, it is a good idea to get to know the person who is recruiting you.  In most situations, that is the person who will be training you.  Are you comfortable speaking with the recruiter?  Is he/she easy to understand (accent, slurred words, talks too fast)?  Do you feel as though he/she is pressuring you to sign up?  Do they sound desperate or as though they are rushing you to make a decision?  Are they flattering you too much, sounding as though it's what they tell every prospect?  Have they trained others, or will you be their first?  Do you feel as though they are providing honest answers to your questions, or do they hesitate too long before answering?  Do they sound as though they enjoy doing their work?  Ask them about their availability for support and training.

Once you feel comfortable with the recruiter, the product and the company, it's time to take a good look at yourself.  Will you, and can you apply yourself to your home business?  Are you able to work the required minimum hours necessary to succeed?  About ten hours a week is usually the minimum number of hours you need to actually work.   

Are you disciplined enough to work with no one looking over your shoulder?  Are you comfortable talking – either in person or by phone – to strangers?  Although you may begin your business talking with your own network of friends, family or neighbors, eventually you'll have to approach strangers.  Will you take it personally if a prospect says "no?"  It takes many "no's" to get just one "yes," so you must be prepared to be told "no" many times without taking it personally or having your feelings hurt.

Are you going to just give the business "a try?"  If so, you will likely fail.  If, after you've completed your research, you do not truly believe you can be successful, you probably will not.  If you do not really believe in the product or service you will be marketing, you will have a difficult time doing so.  Don't leave the "back door" open for an easy escape, because if you do, at the first bump in the road, you’ll quit.  You will have wasted your own time and that of your trainer.  Enter your business knowing that you will succeed and you will do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Do you expect to be earning a living with your business in six months?  It is highly unlikely.  All real businesses – at home or brick-and-mortar, take time to build.  If you are unwilling to commit to at least one year working and building your business, you are wasting your time and money starting a home business. 

If you consider other businesses outside the home, rarely are they successful immediately. Think of any independent restaurant (not a chain with a built-in reputation), a hair salon or a privately-owned retail store.  They all take time to build their clientele or customer base, and business advisers often tell new business owners to expect to make no profit for the first year!  Most home businesses can be earning a profit sooner, but don't expect it to happen within your first few weeks.  Although it happens occasionally, for most it does not.

Finally, are you "coachable?"  Can you and will you follow the instructions of your sponsor, or are you a person who likes to find a "new way" to do everything, trying to "reinvent the wheel?"  In most established home businesses, there is a "system" in place that has proven to be successful.  If you cannot duplicate that system into your own business, you may have a difficult time growing your own business.

Being a successful business owner takes patience, with your research of the prospective company and your business once you start it, and by constantly learning from people within your own company and the many motivational speakers and authors who teach how to succeed.  If, after thoroughly researching your business, you commit yourself to it, you will succeed.