Today, I want to write a post about using your own natural talents and abilities to build your MLM Business. I’m sure this post will ruffle a few feathers, but I believe people need to hear the information.
Contrary to what many people are taught, there are many different ways to build a successful MLM Business. Study 100 top earners and you will find 100 different ways to build the business. No two successful people do it exactly alike.
The one size fits all approach is absolutely FOOLISH, especially in today’s internet age. After all, why would you want EVERYONE on your team building their network marketing business the exact same way? How does that make any sense?
This business is NOT a franchise. We are all independent contractors.
Every business needs a unique selling proposition, which is a way to differentiate themselves from their competitors in the marketplace. If you can’t find a way to be different, no one will do business with you!
In addition, you have to remember that everyone on your team is different. Everyone has different values, core beliefs, personalities, experiences, work ethic, goals, skills, talents and strengths. Forcing everyone to build the business the exact same way is a costly decision. As I see it, this is one of the primary reasons for the high attrition in our industry.
Your job as a sponsor is to help each person on your team come up with a business building strategy that works for them, not to force your business building strategy on them.
The my way or the highway approach is outdated and ineffective. No one joined network marketing to have another boss, either.
What you want to do is duplicate a RESULT, not duplicate exactly how they get that result. Who cares what steps your new team member follows if they achieve success!
I’ve met some people in some companies who say they won’t work with a team member if they don’t follow the company system or do it their way. I think these leaders are ignorant and uninformed! They are nothing more than tyrants.
MLM is not franchising. MLM is not a dictatorship. Nor is it a job. We are all independent contractors and we can build our own business any way we see fit, as long as it doesn’t violate the company’s terms and policies. As long as it is legal, ethical and moral, who cares?
The role of a sponsor is to HELP their team members develop a plan of action that works for them, not to force their new people to do it their way. If you get nothing else out of this article, please remember that.
Starting today, I hope you will make the decision to leverage your own talents and abilities to build your network marketing business. Take an inventory of your talents and abilities, and pick a business building strategy that makes sense to you. God made each one of us unique. Use your uniqueness to be great!
Take out a piece of paper and brainstorm 20 or 30 things you could do to build your business. Pick the one or two strategies that resonate with you the most and focus on those strategies exclusively. Become a student of those strategies and learn everything you can about them until you have mastered them.
Different Ways to Build Your MLM Business
Some of the most common ways to build a MLM Business include:
- Home Parties
- Live Events
- Cold Calling
- One-on-One Meetings
- Hotel Meetings
- Social Media
- Postcards
- Classified Ads
- YouTube
- Blogging
- Attraction Marketing
Once again, these are just the first things that came to mind. You are only limited to your own imagination.
Why I Use Blogging
I build my business by blogging and I am very good at it. I love to write. Writing is one of my natural talents so I leverage my talents and abilities to grow my business.
I write several new articles each week on my blog and on other blogs. These articles get picked up by the search engines, send me lots of traffic, and generate new leads and signups on autopilot.
And, it works great for me. I sponsor a lot of people because of this blog. This method might not work for most people, but it works for me, and that is what matters most.
Of course, I have other lead generation strategies too, but blogging is my PRIMARY focus.
What My Team Members Do
My successful team members all build their own businesses differently than I do.
- One person loves face to face meetings, so that is what he does. He has home parties, meets people in coffee shops, etc.
- Another person mails postcards. They are obsessed with direct mail, so that’s what they do.
- I have another team member who builds exclusively through Facebook. And another team members uses SMS leads.
- Another team member buys leads and calls those leads.
- I even have a team member who cold calls people in the phone book.
These are just the first few people that come to mind. My other leaders also do different things than what I listed above. It just goes to show it’s different strokes for different folks.
My Advice to You
What works for one person might not work for someone else. That’s okay. Figure out what works for you and focus on that.
If I joined a company and my sponsor told me I had to build my business their way or they wouldn’t help me, I would karate chop them in throat, kick them in the balls, and tell them to pound sand.
I didn’t join MLM to have a boss or have someone bully me. You didn’t either.
From this day forward, leverage your own talents and abilities so you can have fun, work smart and get better results in your business. If what you are currently doing is working, keep doing it. If what you are currently doing isn’t working, make a list of things you feel comfortable doing and start using those methods to build your network marketing business.
When you sponsor someone into the business, sit down with them and find out what they are naturally good at. Teach them five to ten different ways to build their business and let them choose which method they want to use.
The LAST thing you want is 5,000 people on your team all building the business the same way. You want innovation, not duplication. Yes, you want people to duplicate the end result, but they can use innovation to make that happen. I hope that makes sense.
Final Thoughts
What are your thoughts about using your own natural talents and abilities to grow your network marketing business? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts. 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.
I was rereading this post and I must say, I pictured you karate chopping a sponsor in the neck. Forgive me, but I had to laugh. I don’t think you would have to tell them you quit after that.
It is stupid for anyone to assume someone has to do it their way. Many jobs and tasks can be done in a variety of ways with a similar outcome. What works for 1 person may not work for someone else.
I believe it is a great thing when we allow people to use their talents and abilities. I have learned from rookies; even though they didn’t realize they were teaching. Allowing a person the freedom of choice is part of being a great leader.
Enough said Chuck (Kung Fu) Holmes-LOL.
I am a kung fu legend. LOL.
Like you, I love to write and I excel at writing, so blogging was really a natural progression for me. To me, blogging is more of a fun exercise than it is a chore so it makes sense to use it in order to grow the business. Some people are far more comfortable with verbal communication and public speaking which makes cold calling, videos, and podcasts a more viable option. But once you figure out what your strengths are you can easily find a way to use them to help you. After all, you should always be working smarter and not harder.
I couldn’t agree more, Diamond.
It is for this same exact reason that I often wonder about why so many MLMs force their members to have replica websites. To me, that system is idiotic. First, none of those websites will be indexed because Google will consider them duplicate. If a network marketing group will not allow me to be myself and use my talents, I really want no part of them. Now of course, there are rules to follow, but if they allow people to be themselves, I believe they would get more business.