One of the biggest challenges I’ve had to overcome in this great industry is wanting success for others more than they wanted it for themselves. Can you relate?
I’m naturally a person who likes to help people. I like to see the best in others and focus on the possibilities they are capable of. Sometimes, I feel like my mission in life is to “save” or “rescue” other people.
Whenever I try to do this in my network marketing business it ALWAYS backfires one me. And I mean ALWAYS. I end up pouring tons of my time, money and resources to help someone on my team succeed. I talk to them on the phone everyday, send them training materials in the mail and even place people on their team for them.
Despite my commitment to these folks, in most cases, these people fizzle out in less than a few months. They quit the business and go looking for their next opportunity to find magic dust. Or worse, they stick around yet continue to do NOTHING to build their business. Some of them even talk a big game, but the one thing they all have in common is that they don’t do the work. Their lips move at 180 miles per hour, but their feet are frozen still.
Do you have anyone like that on your team?
You see, it took me over 10 years to realize that you can’t make other people successful in life. And you can’t make people successful in network marketing either. Success comes from within and people must have the DESIRE and WORK ETHIC to do something if they are ever going to make it happen.
You can’t drag someone across the finish line. Well, you can, but it isn’t any fun.
When I step back and look at my business objectively, my most successful people are the people I’ve invested the least amount of time in! The people who succeed are the ones who grab the bull by the horns and take ownership of their business.
Yes, I might mentor some of them some along the way, but in most cases, they take ownership of their network marketing business from day one and do the things they need to do to move their business forward. They are leaders and that’s why they become successful.
The truth is, 95% of your team will need intensive hand holding. Yet, it’s the 5% you do very little with that will be responsible for at least 95% of your team’s growth. Chew on that! If you get nothing else out of this post, remember that lesson.
From this day forward, I hope you will spend 95% of your time with the 5% of your people, rather than the other way around. By all means, help everyone. Be supportive. But never do more for someone than they are willing to do for themselves. Match people’s efforts, but don’t build their business for them. And don’t waste your time with people who won’t work!
Accept that most people do not have the desire, leadership qualities, or work ethic to succeed in a big way. It’s just human nature. Knowing that, keep your eyes and ears open for sharp people. Look for leaders and doers to sponsor in your business.
When you find a leader in depth, work with them personally. And remember, just two to five key leaders can help you build a dynasty.
Regardless of who you work with or how you spend your time, make sure that the relationship is give and take. Work with the willing. Give each person an assignment. If they do it, keep working with them. If they don’t, leave them alone and go look for someone who will do it!
Watch people’s actions, not what they tell you they are going to do.
And remember, it’s not your job to make someone successful in your MLM Business. Instead, it’s your job to identify people who want to be successful (by their actions) and work with them. I hope that helps.
What do you think? 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 can totally relate here. I can remember in earlier years investing so many hours, so much money, and so many resources into individuals who I thought had incredible potential and then being so devastated when they weren’t motivated to continue on their own. It is hard to understand sometimes especially when it is your nature to be a hard worker and self-starter. But once I grasped on to the idea that a person has to want success for themselves I freed myself from a lot of frustration by trying to make it happen for them.
You can only lead a horse to water. You can’t make them drink.
I am a firm believer in “what comes around, goes around” Chuck. I often find myself helping people who don’t want to help themselves, but I also find by doing so, I get blessed in other ways. I do agree that a line has to be drawn somewhere, but I also think that we need to keep following gut instincts. Maggie is a person who will help anyone anywhere, so I have to be the “bad guy” at times.
I recommend just following your gut; if you have a feeling that someone is going to be a winner, work with them! I believe you need to work with all, but give extra to the ones you believe will work harder.
I think it’s good to help people. I love helping people. But you need limitations so you don’t get taken advantage of.
You hit the nail on the head there Chuck. It seems that people that are helpers are the ones people take the biggest advantage of. What also irks me is when those people need help, the ones they have helped time and time again have the gall to say no.
It is hard, but there are times we have to “cut the cord.” People will try to use us if they see we will allow them too.
It is sad, but that is how many people are. You could lead them to a tree growing $100 bills and they would expect you to pick the bills off the tree for them.