MLM Talk

[Peter Arnold / Canada]

NWM => D-I-F-F-I-C-U-L-T ??

Hello Business Associates:

Those who know me well, know that I have loved the Network Marketing industry and what it stands for, for over 19 years. I love its credo -- that WE cannot become successful -- until we 'first' we help many OTHERS become successful.

However, I believe we cannot look at our industry through 'rose colored glasses' either -- there are realitiesthat we must accept.

I'd like to share some thoughts with you on this...

Open To ALL - Despite all it's faults (and there are lots) -- the Network Marketing industry offers an exceptional form of modern day "entrepreneurship" -- one that is open to all -- one that has no entry restrictions -- one that can be 'tied' to the enormous advantages of the Internet too.

Ease Of Entry - We don't need a lot of resources to get started. We don't need to call on hundreds of investors to raise millions of dollars in capital -- or go to the bank -- or mortgage our homes, as with purchasing most businesses. We can simply use our 'own money' (usually less than $500) to launch our own Dream -- and there's no limit on how big that dream can be. As with any business venture, there are some risks in NWM, but in comparison to most, they are fractional.

TAX Benefits - Another major benefit that I see, as a Financial / Business Advisor -- is that we can write off "far" more in TAX deductions (for a HOME business) than for most other businesses. Often that can amount to many thousands of dollars / year. Often that in itself, can not only finance the monthly costs of 'running the home business' -- but as well, fund the costs of an 'advertising budget' for promoting and marketing that business. The list goes on. But these few reasons alone - are enough to put this industry in a special class by itself.

NWM - HARD WORK? - But from time to time, we hear from outside NWM critics (and NWMrs too!) that Network Marketing is a lot of H-A-R-D WORK -- and that it takes too long to see cash flow.

Well, the "hard work" part IS accurate, for sure -- and we should never deceive people about that -- and that is 'why' the ultimate REWARDS can be so very high -- and they can be.

NWM - DIFFICULT? => Y-E-S -- and so is anything 'else' in life that's worthwhile.

BUT let's be honest -- HOW difficult is it? -- and, difficult in comparison to WHAT? -- and what other options are 'out there' for personal business ownership that are as EASY to get set up in?

OK, let's explore this criticism...

H-E-R-E' is what's "DIFFICULT" - -
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It is DIFFICULT - when we must produce a report on a Sunday afternoon...and cannot attend our son`s football game...

It is DIFFICULT - hearing the cellphone ring on Christmas morning, and we cannot see the excitement on our daughter`s face as she feverishly tears into another box...

It is DIFFICULT - knowing the rust bucket we call a car is eating us alive in maintenance, but we cannot afford a new one...

It is DIFFICULT - to go to our annual performance review (job), and even though we have worked "hard" for another year, we come away "empty handed"...

It is DIFFICULT - knowing that we shop by "sticker", rather than whether the garment "looks good" on us...

It is DIFFICULT - knowing that the home we are in is because "prices" just went up and our "budget" is to the bare bones...

It is DIFFICULT - knowing that we married a wonderful person (our spouse), and promised them the world, and yet for the next 20 years, we look at "balancing the budget" and figuring out what "sacrifices" must be made...

It is DIFFICULT - reciting --"If we get this - then we cannot have that"...

It is DIFFICULT - always lowering our "dreams" to meet our "means"...

It is DIFFICULT - knowing that we have spent 30-40 years of our life working for someone else -- only to realize that we will be retiring on 1/3 of what we cannot live on "today"...

It is DIFFICULT - when our children move out, and we cannot easily visit them because "travelling" costs too much...

It is DIFFICULT - knowing that the fish are biting this week -- and we cannot drop what we're doing and take our Dad fishing...

It is DIFFICULT - watching the spark in our partner`s eyes "fade" because both of us realize the home we have been "wanting" is just a dream -- because someone "else" is controlling our finances...

It is DIFFICULT - waking up one morning and realizing that our children -- the most precious legacies imaginable - now no longer need bottles, diapers, have tea parties, eat things found under the sofa, are shorter than the baseball bat they are trying to swing -- but instead, are now grown and starting their "own" families -- and that we "missed" all of that because we agreed to be 'locked in an office for twenty years' by a boss who was able to watch "his/her" children grow up...

It is DIFFICULT - dropping our one year old at the nursery, because "we" have to be at work by 9am to stand by the Xerox machine, or handle irate phone calls -- and we realize someone "else" is going to watch our daughter take her "first step" -- or have our son say "dada" to the playground teacher...

It is DIFFICULT - knowing that our - brother / sister / son / daughter / dad or mom is fighting a bloody War in Iraq...

It is DIFFICULT - knowing that we have worked "diligently" for an employer over the years -- only to be given an "abrupt retirement"...

HERE'S WHAT IS "REALLY" DIFFICULT - It is "really" difficult realizing it is "too late" -- and that time which is frittered away, can never be retrieved -- and that it 'slips through our fingers', one second at a time, unti; it's GONE forever...

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SO - WHAT ARE WE GOING TO 'DO' ABOUT IT? - We have nasty habits about rationalizing, procrastinating and skirting important things - rather than 'facing' the issues. Too often we allow "others" --who do not pay our bills -- who do not share our dreams -- to direct "our" future!

IS NWM "REALLY" SO DIFFICULT AFTER ALL? - Is it so traumatic for us to tell people about our breakthrough products and services? Is it so difficult for us to understand that if we "tell enough people" - and "work" this business "hard" - for a few years - that they might NOT have to ever confront some of the nasty alternatives above -- and that instead, we could create positive choices for ourselves?

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=> WOULD WE BE WILLING TO "WORK REALLY HARD" - FOR 3-4 YEARS - so that we could be well on our way to putting our family in a more comfortable home? -- Would we be willing to "work really hard" for a year or two - so that we could send our children to college, chosen by "excellence" rather than one chosen by "price" (the same criteria we used for clothes shopping)?

=> WOULD WE BE WILLING TO "TURN OFF THAT IDIOT BOX" - FOR "1" YEAR - the soaps - the talk shows - the sporting events - the horrific news stories (CNN = Continuous Negative News) - so that we could take a "real" family vacation - perhaps even 2 or 3 - a year?

=> WOULD WE BE WILLING TO "WORK REALLY HARD" - FOR 2-3 YEARS - so that we would "have the freedom" of being able to roll over, yank the covers back over our head, and wake at the crack of noon -- because we "wanted" to?

=> WOULD WE BE WILLING TO "WORK REALLY HARD" - FOR 2-3 YEARS - and live below our means - so that we could eliminate all our personal debts - cut up our credit cards - and finally, get 'control' of our personal finances?

=> WOULD WE BE WILLING TO "WORK REALLY HARD" - FOR 2-3 YEARS - so that we could start to mould a lifestyle of "our" choosing - so that our "family" could soon live a lifestyle of "their" choosing -- rather than trying to live according to how someone "else" thinks we/they should live?

=> WOULD WE BE WILLING TO "WORK REALLY HARD" - FOR 2-3 YEARS - so that we could start to assemble a sound "investment fund" - which would later provide additional income streams - that would secure an earlier / comfortable retirement?

=> WOULD WE BE WILLING TO "WORK REALLY HARD" - FOR 2-3 YEARS - to join the great crusade of "telling the magnificant STORY" about our products/services - to serve and inspire both our customers and business partners to 'their' highest levels of success, and their greatest aspirations?

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NWM => HARD WORK? -- WHAT ABOUT THE 'OPTIONS'? - We need to continually ask ourselves - what are the 'choices' out there in the big tic-tock-world right now - in industry, in government, in business, in the institutions, in the professions? Layoffs are still being announced in the media daily (read about Ford and GM!) - pink slips are still being handed out - outsourcing is a reality - job security is a thing of the past. These are still serious and tumultuous times.

It is critical to have Financial SAFETY NETS in place at all times, in my opinion.

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NWM => HARD WORK? => DIFFICULT? => WORTH IT?

NWM ( The DREAM ) => too OLD? -- too YOUNG? -- too BUSY? -- too POOR? -- too SICK?

=> See the short MOVIE right below.

NWM => It's a matter of individual CHOICE.

Y-O-U DECIDE => Something to Think About!

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Thanks for the privilege of learning and sharing on this great Forum

Respectfully, Peter A.
http://www.PeterArnoldOnline.com

Peter Arnold, CLU, CFC // Founder
Business Achievers Academy//Canada

Catch the DREAM (Vol on) => http://www.TheDreamMovie.com

[Guest]

This is the BEST MOTIVATIONAL read I have ever read! Thank you.

[pattiprice]

Hi Peter -

I'm new to the boards and thought this would be a good way to get my feet wet...by giving my feedback!

What an amazing post/article you have here! You are so right in many of your points and that is why I LOVE the concept of NWM.

Helping people, sharing outstanding products, getting what you want out of life! That's what it's all about!

It took me a while to actually "get it" with NWM - but once a person "gets it", they can't let go. This business is becoming a passion for me and I'm becoming one who is creating that "sense of urgency" in my business, so that in 5 years, my husband can retire, we can build our new home, and live life that way we're supposed to live it.....like EVERYONE'S supposed to live - - debt-free, stress-free, average life-free. A happy abundant life with those you love and have brought into this world!

NWM is the only thing I've found that allows people from every walk of life an equal starting point too. This industry is good for the mechanic, waitress, stay-at-home parent, doctor....you name it!

But it takes work. You said it, so have I - - anything that's worth anything at all must come from hard work. Unfortunately, business, sales, recruits, etc. don't just come knocking on your door or website and say "I'm in!"

Thank you for this post Peter. I look forward to reading more from you!
_________________
Patti Price
Diamond Distributor & Team Leader

www.candleloversbiz.com

I LOVE my business and want to share it!
I'm looking for new distributors in YOUR area!
Visit my website and contact me for more information.

[Peter Arnold / Canada]

Hi Patti:

First, WELCOOME to this Forum.

I (we) look forward to having you share with us!

Although I post on a number of Forums, I like this place (and the family of contributors that Linda has garthered so far). I started posting here almost from its beginning.

Many thanks to you (and our Guest) for your warm words above. Like you, my wife and I love this industry (we've been involved in Network Marketing (NWM) for over 19 years) -- and as a Business / Financial Advisor, I truly believe there is NO finer business model anywhere on the planet. None.

Yes, it's hard work to build a solid, long term successful NWM business -- BUT, compared to what? THAT is what we really need to ask ourselves.

NWM is not 'perfect' -- but neither is any other career / business / profession.

In NWM, IF we have a passion for its purpose -- IF we believe in our dreams -- IF we act on our vision -- IF we follow through with discipline and persistence => we WILL build great successes in future. I truly believe this.

WHY do I believe this? Because of what we DO in our NWM world -- because of the CAUSE we represent -- because of the HUMANITY we serve.

We in this industry -- reach out to more people -- we touch more lives -- we bring more good -- we spread more WELLNESS (personal / financial / business / legal / spiritual / + +) -- than just about any other calling on this earth. I believe that we should RECOGNIZE this -- that we should be PROUD of this -- and that we should do whatever is absolutely necessary to PRESERVE this heritage, as it is an awesome responsibility we hold in our hands.

I wish you much success and happiness in future Patti.

Kindest regards / Peter A.
http://www.PeterArnoldOnline.com

Peter Arnold, CLU, CFC / Founder
Business Achievers Academy / Canada

Thoughts On SUCCESS: http://www.YourFutureSuccess.biz

[Gita Riupassa]

Peter,
As i'm still new in NWM, your post is really helpful for me. I was in the site of HATER MLM last two years, until my best friend (who prospected me for more than a year) melted me by showing her attention when i had to undergo tumor surgery.

I found that MLM is about sharing (not selling), caring and helping people! Now, am on the stage of making my downlines have their own income by developing organization. It's quite HARD to transfering the MINDS-SETTING of MLM to un-MLMers (i think my upline had same problem when she approached me )

Having read your post here, again it helps so much!

Thanks, Peter!