Today, I’d like to talk to you about making your first circle work in your MLM Business.
The only thing you can control in your network marketing business is YOU and WHAT YOU DO. That’s it. I wish we could “make” other people do the things they need to do to be successful in their own business, but we can’t.
This is a volunteer Army and each person is their own CEO. Each person is responsible for their own success. You cannot MAKE someone else successful OR drag them across the finish line. Trust me, I’ve tried to do that. It simply doesn’t work.
If you get nothing else out of this article, remember this:
Focus on what you can control and don’t worry about anything else.
Adopting that mindset will make your business fun and help reduce your stress.
To be successful in network marketing, you MUST make your first circle work. You must do the things you want your team to do. You must lead by example. Bottom line: you must continuously retail and recruit.
Making the First Circle Work in Your MLM Business
Here are my best tips on making your first circle work in your MLM Business.
# 1: Be Your Own Best Customer
First off, you need to be your own best customer. If you don’t believe in your network marketing company’s products enough to use them yourself, why should someone else?
Never, ever use a competitor’s product. NEVER. Use ALL of your company’s products.
Develop a strong product story. Your personal product story will be your best recruiting and retailing tool. Using the products will build your belief and give you product knowledge.
If you don’t believe in your own products enough to use them, you will never have the conviction in your voice when you are talking to other people. Your prospects will see right through you, just like a dog can smell fear.
That’s why I believe it’s vitally important to pick a company with products or services you are 100% passionate about.
Also, make sure you are on auto-ship every month!
Would you own a Ford dealership and drive a Chevy? I hope not. Smart business owners use the products and services their business offers.
# 2: Service 5-10 Customers Monthly
The second thing you must do to make your first circle work in your MLM Business is build up a small customer base.
You don’t need to be a retailing machine, but I personally believe that every network marketer should have minimum five to ten personal customers at all times.
I believe this legitimizes your business, makes you profitable and sets a good example for your team to follow. It should also provide enough retail profit to fund your business.
Here’s something to think about. How can you honestly offer someone else a money making idea if you aren’t making any money yourself? I don’t believe you ethically can.
Acquire five to ten customers before you try to sponsor distributors and you will be PROFITABLE. You will make money. And then you can share that simple story with your business prospects.
What would your team look like right now if every distributor had five to ten customers? I bet your volume would go through the roof.
Now, if you don’t know how to sell or don’t like selling, you need to get over it. Read some books on selling. Attend a few sales seminars. Watch some helpful YouTube videos on selling. It’s one skill that can pay you handsomely.
# 3: Attend Every Event
We are an event driven business. For your business to work, you need to attend events. No, you don’t need to do a bunch of home parties, but you need to attend your company’s events and your team’s events. This helps build up your belief in the company, yourself, the product line and the industry.
Budget for events ahead of time so you can afford to go. If money is tight, go sell some products!
Write down the upcoming events in your day planner ahead of time so you can attend them. And whatever you do, promote all events like your business success depends upon it.
# 4: Stay Plugged In & Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
The next step to make your first circle work in your MLM Business is to plug-in to the team’s system. Whatever system your sponsor or upline uses, use that system.
Be a student of the business. Attend all events, webinar and training calls. Use the business tools that they offer. Be open minded and learn everything you can. Be a sponge.
You must be coachable and humble yourself enough to follow someone in your upline who is already successful in the business. Find out how they build their business and follow their lead.
Your key to long-term success is duplication. Keep the business so simple even an 8-year old could do it.
Whatever you do, don’t go an reinvent the wheel! It will be tempting, but don’t do it.
Also, avoid cross-line conversations. Find ONE MENTOR, IN YOUR UPLINE, and follow their lead exclusively.
# 5: Prospect & Recruit Daily
At a bare bones minimum, even as a part-timer, you should be approaching at least FIVE people per day. As a full time network marketer you should approach minimum THIRTY people per day.
As a part-timer, you should show at least 10 presentations yourself every month or sponsor TWO business builders, whichever comes first. As a full-timer, you should show minimum 50 to 100 presentations per month or sponsor 10 people per month, whichever comes first.
This might sounds extreme to some of you, but remember this business is a numbers game. You have to sift and sort through a large pool of prospects to find your key people. Keep recruiting and never stop. New blood is the life-blood of your business. New recruits will solve all business problems.
Also, please remember that you should be using a third-party tool to do the business presentation, not doing it yourself. Leverage webinars and conference calls whenever possible.
Ultimately, our daily habits and daily routine will determine our success (or failure) in the business.
# 6: Run It Like a Business
The next step to make your first circle work is to run your business like a business.
This means you have a business checking account. It means you create a written business plan. It means you get business cards or drop cards.
It means you set up a designated office space for your network marketing business. It means you get a day planner and plan out your day each day. Most importantly, it means you set business hours and work your business every single week. You create a work schedule and stick to it.
It would also be a good idea to spend 20-minutes per week reflecting on the past week and looking for areas you can improve upon.
If you treat it like a business it will pay you like a business. If you treat it like a hobby it will cost you like a hobby.
# 7: Personal Development
The final step to making your first circle work in your MLM Business is to work on your personal development daily. Your business will only grow as much as you do. You need to set aside time every day to work on your attitude, mindset, beliefs and skills. At a minimum, I would:
- Read 10-pages daily
- Listen to one tape or CD per day on your way to or from work
- Watch one inspirational video per day
Most of us are negative because of the media we watch and the people we spend most of our time with. You really need to “protect” your attitude and energy levels.
For your business to grow, you must grow. As you learn and develop new skills, you will attract better quality prospects into your business. I truly believe the greatest thing about our industry is the personal development!
Remember, you get paid based upon the value you give to the marketplace. The only way to increase your wages is to increase your value.
Final Thoughts
There you have it folks. These are some of the basic things you can do to make your first circle work in your MLM Business.
The only thing you can control in this business is what you do. Make your first circle work and set a good example for your team to follow. Focus on what you can control and ignore everything else.
What tips can you offer? Did I forget anything? Leave a comment below and let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you. Have a great day. Learn more about my network marketing business.
Chuck Holmes
20+ Year Network Marketing Professional
Top Earner & Top Recruiter
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
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