In today’s post, I’m going to share some of the best David Roller quotes from his book How to Make Big Money in Multi-Level Marketing.
I was surfing Amazon the other day and I stumbled across this old, out of print title. Even though it’s about 25-years old, it had pretty good reviews and looked interesting, so I figured I would take a chance and order it. Best of all, I bought it for just one cent plus shipping. Talk about a deal!
When it arrived at my home, I read it in about three days. I loved the book. Overall, I give it an 8 of 10 and consider it a must read for any new or experienced network marketer. It has so many great tips in it that are still very relative in network marketing.
Top David Roller Quotes
What I want to do in the rest of today’s post is share some of my favorite David Roller quotes from the book. Each quote is in bold and italics. At the end of each quote I will also share my own two cents. Enjoy.
# 1: This multiplication effect is the magic of multi-level marketing.
Leverage is what makes this business model so powerful. Very few jobs and businesses give you true leverage without needing a bunch of money or employees. Yes, you can make a better income selling high ticket items, if you are a good salesperson, but 100 people collectively can always outsell one person.
# 2: You succeed in direct proportion to your ability to help others succeed.
You can’t make it to the top in your company, or even earn a large income, if you don’t help other people succeed. That is the beauty of our industry.
# 3: Keep going no matter what happens.
Never quit. You have to be mentally tough to make it long-term in this business. Everyone has bad days, weeks, and months. Hang in there. If you show up daily and put in the work, things will improve. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Good things take time.
# 4: The backbone of your MLM business is to talk to people every day.
The key to success in this business is the number of new exposures you make each day. If you talk to 2, 5, or 10 new prospects a day, every day, you can’t fail!
# 5: Most of us can only think in terms of earning money from our individual efforts.
From the time we were small children, most of us have been taught to make money by trading time for money. That’s why so few people are entrepreneurial. We’ve been taught to get a job.
# 6: Become aware that in many cases professional people are more open minded to MLM than the typical consumer.
People who need the business will seldom do it. Look for people who are already successful in life and in business. Look for people who have a large sphere of influence and are respected by their peers. These are your best prospects.
# 7: At a certain point in the business, it can continue to grow on its own.
Once your business hits the momentum phase there is little you can do to slow it down. It will take on a life of its own and grow without you. Your goal is to find and develop five to ten good leaders if you want walk away income.
# 8: New associates will do much better when they have someone working with them.
Most new distributors need a lot of hand holding. Most of your team members are not entrepreneurs by nature, so they don’t know what to do to succeed. The best thing you can do is create and follow a system. Teach the system. Promote the system to everyone. This is the only way you can replace yourself.
# 9: Commit the time necessary.
You won’t be successful just working your business a few hours each week. Set aside at least 10-20 hours a week to build your network marketing business. If you don’t do that you are only fooling yourself. Be part-time with a full-time attitude.
# 10: If you put in five good years working at it, it can take care of you for life.
All businesses take time to build. This is a MINIMUM two to five year plan, not a two to five month plan. That is still a much better deal than the 40-40 plan.
# 11: Multiple incomes are the wave of the future.
Build one solid income stream with your MLM Business and then diversify some of your money into other businesses and investments. Don’t spread yourself too thin and do too many things at once. Only promote ONE MLM Company.
# 12: Action cures fear.
The only way to cure your fears is to face them head on. The longer you sit back and think about it, the worse it will be.
# 13: It is important to begin your business with a sense of urgency.
Get off to a fast start in your business if possible. What you do in your first 90-days can have a big impact in the long term success of your business. Your goal is to develop a good success story, which in return will be a great recruiting tool.
# 14: Use the telephone. The purpose of the phone call is to simply set an appointment to show your business opportunity.
When you talk to someone on the phone, set an appointment and get off the phone as quickly as possible. The less you say the better. Say less to more people. Sell the appointment and let the appointment sell the opportunity and products.
# 15: It is easier to give birth than to resurrect the dead.
It’s difficult to motivate someone who isn’t motivated themselves. Rather than try to drag your unmotivated team along, find a new team. New reps are the lifeblood of your business.
# 16: Stick with one company.
This is common sense. Don’t keep switching companies. Pick ONE company and make a long-term commitment.
# 17: We maintain a good retail business.
Make it a point to acquire at least five to ten customers personally, before you start recruiting. Teach your team members to do the same thing. All businesses need customers.
# 18: We sponsor new associates from satisfied customers.
Happy customers often become your best business builders.
# 19: Don’t let negative people slow you down!
Associate with positive, like minded people, and avoid the haters at all cost.
# 20: Most people, if left to sink or swim, will sink.
Most new people do not have the drive, talent, or skills to succeed on their own in ANY type of business. Network marketing is no different.
# 21: You can, with surprising speed, build a great multi-level business with only five people!
Five people really is the magic number in network marketing. Five good people can change your life forever. You are looking for people who are coachable, hungry, and willing to work. Best of all, you don’t need to personally sponsor these people yourself.
# 22: In the absence of leadership, a group of people, even highly talented ones, is simply a mob.
Everything rises and falls on leadership. Be the leader for your team. Be the type of sponsor you wish you would have had. Be the type of person you want to sponsor.
# 23: No one, including yourself, can make another person successful.
You can’t drag anyone across the finish line. At the end of the day, each person is responsible for their own success. Each person is their own CEO. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink.
# 24: Develop a mailing list of one or two key people in each of your lines of sponsorship.
Start developing relationships with key people in your team. Develop friendships with three to five leaders in each leg of your organization.
# 25: Realize that you are starting your own business and that its failure or success is entirely in your hands.
Ultimately, we are the captain of our own battleship and our success or failure is entirely in our hands.
# 26: I spend 80 percent of my time with 20 percent of my achievers.
Never underestimate the power of the 20/80 Rule. Spend 80% or more of your time with the producers and doers on your team. Spend your time where it is deserved.
# 27: When you find a person who will make the commitment in time and energy, then work for that person.
When you find a stud, focus your efforts on helping them succeed. I’d rather run with one than push or pull twenty.
# 28: Recruiting new associates is the lifeblood of your MLM business organization. New people bring new excitement – and new excitement brings new growth.
Never stop personally recruiting people, even once you make it to the top ranks in your company. Make it a goal to enroll 1-4 new people every month, forever.
# 29: Hold at least one meeting for each new person.
Help your new person get started by doing one or two “launch” events with them to help them get a few people sponsored.
# 30: The majority of your best customers will be those who come from referrals.
Treat people well and you will get a lot of referrals in your business.
# 31: Ask for the order!
Whenever you show a presentation or share a product, don’t forget to ask for the order. If you don’t ask you won’t get it!
# 32: It’s important to find a leader in your business that you can work with.
Ideally, you want to find a leader or two in your team as quickly as possible and then “run” with them in the business.
# 33: For a while I made the mistake of helping people who didn’t want to be helped.
You should only work with the willing. Watch people’s actions, not what they say. Match people’s efforts.
# 34: Maintain a balance between retailing and sponsoring.
Retail and recruit, not one or the other. Make it a point to enroll at least one new customer and one new distributor every month.
# 35: Focus on finding solutions instead of dwelling on problems.
We get paid to solve problems. That’s how entrepreneurship works. The more (and greater) the problems you can solve, the more money you will make.
# 36: When you are focused on and working toward a definite goal, a higher percentage of your downline organization will be more active in reaching the goals they set.
Share your goals with your team and encourage and inspire them to set their own business goals.
# 37: Most men do not become successful until after age 50.
Don’t get frustrated if it takes you some time figure things out. Success seldom comes as quickly as we desire.
# 38: Stay away from those who are looking for a handout, and go with those who will work out.
Work with the willing. This is not welfare or charity. Spend your time where it is deserved.
# 39: You must learn to move others emotionally.
We are emotional creatures. Appeal to people’s emotions and your business will grow. Emotion trumps logic every time.
# 40: Learn to develop the habit of smiling more often, the importance of making eye contact, and the importance of a firm handshake.
Develop confidence and posture so you can attract the right people into your business.
# 41: A common mistake made in multi-level marketing is to do too much for your downline.
Don’t do anything for a team member that they could do for themselves.
# 42: Find out what a person’s interests and talents are, and encourage them to be the best they can be by using whatever talent they possess.
Everyone has different talents and abilities. Show each person how to build a business using their own talents and abilities.
# 43: A big key to building others up is recognizing and complimenting them on their efforts and achievements.
People will move mountains for sincere recognition and praise. Recognize people, even for the smallest of things; especially for the smallest of things.
# 44: You cannot make anyone successful.
This is a repeating theme in the book, but it is so true. You are not a miracle worker. Every person on your team is responsible for their own success or failure.
# 45: How do you pick key people to work with? You don’t, they pick themselves. How? By their activity. Watch people by what they do, not what they say.
Work with the people who are putting in the work and getting the results.
# 46: It makes a lot of sense to help a few people to develop a deep commitment for your business versus a lot of people with just a surface interest.
At the end of the day you are looking for 3-5 key leaders who want to build a big business of their own. A few good people can change your life forever. When you find those people, treat them well and do everything you can to help them.
# 47: You are not in the business to make the individual you personally sponsor successful. You are in the business to assist him or her to become successful.
Like I said before, you can’t drag anyone across the finish line. You need to be accessible and help people, but it’s not your job to build the business for them.
# 48: One of the best forms of exercise you can get is lifting others up!
Learn how to inspire others with your words and actions. Encourage others. Speak belief into others. Treat others well.
# 49: Do the basics consistently.
Do the little things day in and day out. Be consistent and persistent and don’t over complicate the business.
# 50: When you are new make up in numbers what you lack in skills.
Until you develop the right skills this business is strictly a numbers game. As your skills improve so will your conversions.
# 51: It is a good idea for you to find yourself a mentor to study, but it’s a better idea to become a mentor for others to follow.
Lead by example at all times. Be the leader for your team and set the pace for your group.
# 52: By staying in contact with inactive associates, when the timing is better for them, they are more likely to become active in your business.
Don’t neglect the people who dropped out or quit. Many of them will come back if you stay in touch and treat them well.
# 53: One of the most important keys is not to spend a lot of time reviving people.
It’s easier to give birth to a new distributor than revive the dead.
# 54: Look for key people to sponsor. Don’t spend too much time with a person who isn’t growing.
Look for prospects who are successful, have money, have a good attitude, a large sphere of influence and are respected by their peers. These are your best prospects.
# 55: No matter how good an example you set, not everyone is a worker.
Set the bar high, so even if people do 10% of what you do, you will be happy.
# 56: Your most profitable MLM leaders readily admit that, in most cases, they did not personally sponsor most of their leaders.
Your best leaders will come in depth.
# 57: When the economy slows down, MLM activity actually picks up.
When the job market sucks, more and more people are exploring their options and are looking for ways to earn additional income from home.
# 58: Encourage yourself to try, or you will never know what you could have accomplished.
Nothing ventured nothing gained. The only ways to fail are to do nothing or quit.
# 59: Your biggest enemy is yourself.
You need to believe in yourself and your abilities. You need to have confidence in yourself, your products, your company and the industry.
# 60: Pick one solid MLM company and stay with it.
This is simple but profound advice. It’s hard to achieve success if you constantly switch companies. Make a minimum five year commitment to one company.
# 61: Companies do not make you successful.
Ultimately, you are the success factor. You can succeed or fail in any company.
# 62: If you’ve been satisfied with your present company then strengthen your commitment to that company.
Pick a good company and stick with it for the long haul.
# 63: Sincere friendships are like the cement that holds bricks together.
It’s hard for people to quit on a friend. Become close friends with your associates.
# 64: Your downline associates normally will be more productive when they associate with other motivated people in a good support system.
Get your people together for events. Create a team culture for your team. The “group” is more important than any “individual.”
# 65: As you grow with your company, build friendships with key people.
Build strategic friendships with other successful people in your company and with other successful distributors in the industry. In addition, build friendships with the key people on your team.
# 66: You are more likely to fulfill your dreams with consistent efforts FOCUSED in one direction versus scattering yourself in several directions.
Focus on one thing until successful. When you try and do too many things at once you won’t accomplish anywhere near as much as you could if you just focused on one thing.
# 67: Don’t be afraid to dream, but don’t let other people’s dreams become your own.
Step out of your comfort zone and determine what you really want to achieve in life. Follow your own heart and passions, not what someone else thinks you should do with your life.
About the Book
How to Make Big Money in Multi-Level Marketing book was published in 1989 by Prentice Hall. The ISBN is 0-13-417858-0. It comes in soft-cover format and has 183 pages. It is an out of print book. You can pick up a used copy on Amazon like I did.
Final Thoughts
In summary, I really enjoyed these David Roller quotes from How to Make Big Money in Multi-Level Marketing. Overall, I give it an 8 of 10 and think you should add a copy of it to your leader’s library. You will be glad that you did.
How about you? Which one of these David Roller quotes is your favorite and why? Have you read How to Make Big Money in Multi-Level Marketing? If so, did you like it? Leave a comment below to let us know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you.
Chuck Holmes
20+ Year Network Marketing Professional
Top Earner & Top Recruiter
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
P.S. Learn how to grow a successful network marketing business. Secret tips, training, and practical ideas. Free training delivered by email.
what amazes me with this book is the time lasting truths in it. As old as it is, I figured I would see stuff that technology had taken care of, but it just goes to show that many of the same truths about network marketing still ring true.
Where I thought the 80/20 rule was somewhat new, David mentions it in this book from 1989. I really like #37–does that mean I am now going to be successful since I am over 50? LOL.
Thank you for sharing this Chuck. It sounds like a must read book!
I’m glad you like the book. Most men, in all industries, aren’t successful before they 50s. I wouldn’t worry about your age. You’re just starting to hit your prime.
I think it is so amazing that you mention that we as people cannot make other people successful. It is so hard to see the potential in someone and then they not take the steps necessary to manifest their potential into something bigger and better. In the past I have found myself breaking my neck to try to force someone to work harder or invest more time and it just cannot be done. People have to want success for themselves and no one other than them can make them do what needs to be done to get there.
I am going to share this around because I never saw a list on business hit so many powerful points. I always said that a business is only as strong as their outreach. In other words, the more they are willing to help others, the further they will go and the larger they will grow.
The more people you help in any business the more money you make.
After reading the whole article, first thing I want to do is going to purchase this book. You explained most of things from the book in brief and in a understandable way.
You should check out the book. It’s really good.
It sounds like a great book! I will definitely be checking out my local library to see if they have it. If they don’t, I might even buy it! Thanks for sharing.
You might not be able to find it at your library, but there are some old copies on Amazon that you can get.