My Biggest Mistake in Network Marketing

I was devastated.

I was curled up in the womb position on my bed for three days, drinking my tears and breathing my depressing thoughts.

I wondered, "What am I doing...?"

FLASHBACK TO THREE MONTHS EARLIER...

I had just started my network marketing business. I was excited. I saw the vision. I believed. I worked hard. I did what my upline told me to do. I called all my friends and family. I worked with the workers. I let the system help those who weren't ready to work. I was on my way to becoming an instant success.

At least that's what I thought.

After the first month, I had some success. But it wasn't earth shattering. I couldn't understand how all those people had made $10,000 in their first month. (I know now that they didn't!)

But I kept working. My second month was bigger than my first month. But for the amount of work I had put in I think I had earned about $1.10 per hour. Yikes!

But I listened to my upline and knew that the big money was years down the road. The work I was doing now would pay me for a lifetime. (it's true!)

Even though I can look back now and see that is true, I started having some doubts back then. How do I know they are not just saying that to make money off of me? 

My third month was bittersweet. I started having much more success, but my downline started quitting! How would I ever build an empire of freedom if everyone quits? My upline told me to go to my "chicken list." You know, the list of people you are too chicken to call.

"They are the people that don't quit," he said. Quitters in this business are also quitters in the rest of their life. Find people who don't quit in their life, and you will have a rock-solid business.

So I made my list. On it was:

• A CEO of a Fortune 100 company
• An Olympic silver medallist
• A mayor, and
• A bunch of other people who I thought would never in a million years do this business.

Then I told my downline to make their chicken list. I would call their list, too. I was going to succeed.

THE FATEFUL DAY

I lined up my list and thought who would I like most in my business. The Olympian! He was bright, athletic and intense. And he doesn’t quit! I called him up and got him to meet with me. I was so nervous that I could feel my heart beating against my rib cage. I explained the business to him. Maybe there was still some doubt in my voice that this "network marketing" would really work. Maybe I didn’t build enough rapport. Maybe... maybe... I don't know what went wrong... But after I finished, he looked at me straight in the eyes and said...

"Tom. I think what you are doing is evil. I'm very familiar with these schemes. They are all a bunch of lies and they are spawned by Satan himself." He continued, "If you contact me or anyone I know about this, I will make sure your reputation is ruined. I don't ever want to hear from you again."

Gulp!

What had I done? Am I really evil? Is this industry a scam? I respected this man so much... and now I'm no longer his friend. I was shaking as I got in the car and drove home. When I arrived home, I jumped into bed and cried. I stayed there for three days.

SADNESS TO ANGER TO OPTIMISM

I was depressed. I wondered if I had made a big mistake in my life by believing in this industry. But then I started looking at the situation more clearly.

Why am I listening to this guy? Because he is an Olympic Silver Medallist? That's second place. And it's in sports, not business. In fact, his business success was non-existent. He was as poor as I was. And what person in their right mind treats people like he treated me? Why would I want to be friends with someone who was so mean to people?

I was getting mad. My big mistake wasn’t in believing in this industry it was in caring what he thinks. 

"I'm not going to let some mean-spirited runner-up tell me who I am", I said out loud. "I'm in charge of my life. I'm responsible for my destiny."

How could I have made the mistake of caring what he thinks? He's not going to cry at my funeral. Why should I spend one more second worrying about his opinion of me?

The truth is, I KNOW that network marketing will work. The foundational principles of word-of-mouth, leverage, and duplication are the most fundamental business principles. EVERY industry uses these principles. Network marketing is the only one that let's the little guy take advantage of them!

I KNOW THAT!

Right then and there I DECIDED I was going all the way. I developed an attitude that I was going to the top of the mountain or you would find me dead on the side of the road. I didn't care if my downline quit. I'd find better ones. I didn't care if my upline quit. I'd find better ones. I didn't care if my company quit. I'd find a better one. I didn't care what anyone thought. 

I was going to make it to the top and I was going to treat people with respect. I would never steal anyone's dreams, like the runner- up tried to steal mine. If someone wanted to quit network marketing and start something else, I would believe in them. If someone wanted to join my team and make it to the top, I'd believe in them. I would do whatever I could to help people make it.

That's why I started this newsletter. It’s been free for six years. I give away more training than most companies sell because I know how important it is to have someone believe in you.

THE RESULTS

I kept at my chicken list. And I kept working with my downlines' chicken lists.

We brought in the most incredible people. People with vision. People with belief. People with emotional fortitude. They have created residual fortunes. Empires of freedom!

None of my top people are Olympians. They are ordinary people who have the Olympic spirit. Their medal is the freedom they provide for their family. Their fame is the day they walk across the stage with thousands of peers cheering them on for their business accomplishments. Their commitment is to help other people achieve their dreams. We are not dream stealers. We are dream builders!

We are the ultimate dream team.

YOU ARE NEXT

I'm going to be personal here. I shared with you a very tough time in my life. Not because I wanted to, but because I thought it might make a difference for you.

I don't know what you are going through in this industry. I don't know the challenges you face in your life. I am sure that they may seem insurmountable at times. But I want you to know something...

I want you to know that you can make it. I want you to know that it MIGHT be easy for you... but even if it's hard... even if you work harder at this success than anything you’ve ever worked for.

It is so worth it.

You are next. You are the one I want to see make it to the top. You are the one who I want to see walk across the stage. With a huge smile. And inspiring words. You are the one who will then help others get financial freedom.

Your pay day is coming. Are you ready for the challenge?!

Make it happen...With passion...