THE ACHIEVEMENT PROCESS IN MLM - A SUMMARY

THE PROCESS OF ACHIEVEMENT IN MLM

Ok! So, today let’s summarize the Basic Achievement Process in the field of Network Marketing that we have learnt so far.

The Five Stages

The process of our achievements in life normally moves through the following stages: (1) Desires and Dreams (2) Goals (3) Planning (4) Belief; and (5) Action.

Desires and Dreams:

One of life’s greatest mysteries is, “Why do some people succeed while others do not?” Achievers possess a number of qualities, but perhaps the most important is that they are dreamers. Their desires in life are constantly manifested in their dreams. Nothing is achieved that isn’t first conceived as an idea – a dream in someone’s mind. We all have some dreams that we feel passionate about. Dreams are visions of the future. Achievers have dreams of life as it can be… a hope for a better future… something to anticipate… and then they do whatever it takes to make those dreams a reality. Their dreams evolve and crystallize as their desire becomes stronger.

Desire is the motivation and the necessary launching pad to accomplish any dream. Your desires cause you to dream; as you dream you develop mental pictures of life as you would like it to be. People’s dreams are often referred to as their “WHY” or “Purpose”. The “HOW” of achievement doesn’t matter without a strong “WHY”. Trying to build the Network Marketing business without an intense burning desire, a clear specific dream or “WHY”, would be like trying to drive a car with the parking brake on.

GOALS:

Your goals develop from your mental pictures. Goals are desires and dreams with a date put on achieving them. Through the repetitive thought process of desire, hazy dreams can become specific goals. Achievers are goal-setters. They regularly set and reset short and long-term goals, establish specific timetables for their accomplishment, write their goals down, keep them in front of them all the time (pictures, dates on mirrors, refrigerators etc.), regularly envision the accomplishment of their goals in their mind’s eye, etc.

PLANNING:

The first two stages, dreams and goals, are necessary prerequisites to stage three – Planning. To merely dream and have no plan is just wishful thinking; as I have mentioned in my earlier posts, as well. A goal cannot be concrete without a plan of action. Determining a course of action and establishing a timetable for achievement are essential ingredients in planning. People don’t fail because they plan to fail; they fail because they fail to plan. Experts say that most of us spend more time planning a vacation than we do planning our future. Planning is a vital step in achievement – no trip was ever taken without knowing where you want to go – that’s why goals precede planning. We have heard spiritual leaders say that prayerful requests should be requests for the methods, ideas, energy and skills to help ourselves, not requests for quick and easy tailor-made solutions.

1. Short –range goals:

(a) Exactly what do you want to be, do or have?

(b) How much will it cost?

(c) How soon do you want it?

(d) Whatever your immediate goals are, make them

tangible by:

• Touching them, driving them, seeing them, shopping for them.

• Getting pictures and putting them where you can see them.

2. Medium and long-range goals:

(a) Think BIG – Financial flexibility, career options,

freedom, and self-determined income.

(b) Why do you want this medium or long-range goal?

(c) How will it feel when you get there?

(d) Are you serious? How serious?

3. Don’t let anybody steal your dream!

BELIEF:

It has been said that “the most difficult part of succeeding is believing you can succeed.” If you don’t believe you can do something, you won’t give a committed effort. Belief is a catalyst: belief in yourself and belief in others. Dr. David Schwartz says in The Magic of Thinking Big, “Every human being wants success… Some of the most practical success-building wisdom is found in that Biblical quotation stating that faith can move mountains… you can move a mountain with belief. You can will success by believing you can succeed. Strong belief triggers the mind to figure ways and means and how-to. Believing you can succeed makes others place confidence in you… Belief in success is one of the basic, indispensable ingredients in successful people.”

In the words of Rich DeVos, President of the Amway Corporation, in his book Believe, “Those people whose aim is generally low generally hit what they shoot at – nothing. Life need not be lived that way. I believe that one of the most powerful forces after the things he wants from life… I can! It is a powerful sentence… the gap between what a man thinks he can achieve, and what is actually possible for him is very, very small. But first he must believe that he can.” Action never occurs until you believe you can do it. Believe and succeed.

ACTION:

All desires, dreams, goals, plans, prayers and belief may be lost without the fifth stage of the process of achievement – Action. Effort is progress. Every potential achiever has to answer the question - “Am I serious enough about my dreams and goals to take action?” consistent and persistent effort causes the results you desire. You have seen the plan of your MLM business opportunity that works, a plan that can enable you to accomplish your dreams and goals. You must decide… are you serious enough about your “Why” to take the necessary action? If you answer affirmatively, continue to read on. I’m going to supply you with information on the recommended action or the “How”.

Make some commitments

Nothing worthwhile in life is obtained without commitments!

A. Determine your time commitment and take action. Plans change, decisions don’t. Experience is the best teacher. Consistency is very important. Decide how many times a week you will Show the Plan and then follow through on that commitment consistently. Sporadic activity may undermine your success.

B. Use the education system available. Applied knowledge is power. The “System” consists of educational, motivational, and inspirational business support materials, services, meetings, and business conventions/seminars. Consult your upline for recommendations.

1. Learn from the experts on audio and video cassettes and CDs.

2. Read books to learn success principles and develop a Positive Mental Attitude.

3. Use the printed materials and supplies available, such as the Business Kit, marker board etc.

4. Attend seminars and business conventions on a regular basis. Associate and interact with and learn from successful people in the trade.

C. Use your own products and services. This does give you loads and loads of confidence on the products and services that you are selling and want your downlines or new prospects also to book, buy and sell. Commit to product loyalty, especially the core products.

D. Explore opportunities for merchandising.

To generate immediate income, strategize with your upline concerning products that can be easily sold to friends and family. (Here, I take it for granted that you would, obviously, be joining the Network Marketing business opportunity of a company that is reliable in terms of its Business Plan, product quality and management expertise and capabilities, as I have already illustrated in my earlier posts.)

"BILL GATES' SON-IN-LAW" - DIRECT MARKETING & ADVERTISEMENT POLICY

“Bill Gates’ Son-in-Law”

Father: “I want you to marry a girl of my choice.”

Son: “I will choose my own bride!”

Father: “But the girl is Bill Gates’ daughter.”

Son: “Well, in that case……… Ok.”

Next- Father approaches Bill Gates.

Father: “I have a husband for your daughter.”

Bill Gates: “But my daughter is too young to marry!”

Father: “But this young man is a Vice President of the World Bank.”

Bill Gates: “Ah, in that case……. Ok.”

Finally Father goes to see the President of the World Bank.

Father: “I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president.”

President: “But I already have more vice-presidents than I need!”

Father: “But this young man is Bill Gates’ son-in-law.”

President: “Ah, in that case…….. Ok.”

This is how business is done!

Well, this is one of the most amusing jokes that I often use as an effective example of smartness in business while speaking in my Seminars/business meetings. A businessman, especially a Multi Level Marketing (MLM) Networker/Distributor has a very basic lesson to learn from this joke.

It’s very important for a businessman to understand the demand for various products in the market. What people want? What are their requirements? What’s in and what’s out? What’s the latest talk of the town? One has to keep abreast of the changing tastes and the changing lifestyles of the people, as well.

The next point to ponder over is how you can relate your product to these demands/requirements. In a nutshell, it’s all about dynamic, shrewd, innovative and smart way of marketing and advertising your product in the market. You would be able to sell your product like hot cakes without qualms, once you have mastered the art of innovative and aggressive marketing.

This joke also reminds me of a rather unorthodox doctrine often practiced and preached by one of my highly respected seniors in Direct Marketing – Mr. Satyajit Mukherji, who was the Senior Divisional Sales Manager at Eureka Forbes Ltd at Kolkata (then, Calcutta) in the year 1990, where I was selling ‘Euro Air’ Air Purifiers, door-to-door. And that is – THE THREE ‘C’s IN MARKETING – “CONVINCE, CONFUSE AND CORRUPT”, that can be used to one’s advantage while marketing a product to a customer, though not necessarily in that order always. And believe me; it works, like it worked fantastically for the Father in the joke.