However, not everything is easy or just falls into place when working your own home business. One of the aspects that I struggled with and still have to work on daily is maintaining a balanced budget.

I always thought if I could just work within the restraints of my available money I was good to go. I soon learned (pretty much the hard way) through trial and error and success and FAILURE that creating a working budget means much more than just keeping track of your money.

I found that there are actually 3 things you need to keep track of during your day to day work schedule. Money, Effort and Time are all very important commodities you have at your disposal each and every day. Each one plays an important role and neglecting any one or all of them is quite often the difference between having a successful business, just surviving (you know the feeling, hanging on by a thread) and that dreaded word – failure.

I wrote this article to try and help others avoid some of the mistakes I have made. To me one of the great parts of working in Network Marketing and really any home business is the amount of sharing and help available from the people who truly follow this business plan.

So read on and learn there is a lot more than just watching your money when budgeting for your network marketing business. To be successful in MLM, or really any home business, you need to not only budget your money but also your effort and your time. Tracking how you do things and the results you achieve can help you to improve your management of all three aspects (money, effort and time) until you find the formula that works for you and your business. Teach yourself to breed success and avoid the waste that so many who start a home business get caught up in.

Budget planning is not usually a topic that comes up when you are starting your network marketing business. Business planning altogether is not at the top of the list when you are being recruited or you ‘discover’ the network marketing company that will make you your millions. But once the dust settles and the initial ‘fire’ burns out, are you ready to do whatever it takes to become successful?

Budgeting your money, working to your maximum effort and effective time management are all skills that are needed to be a success but are not skills we are born with. Procrastination and the lack of a boss and a deadline are real killers when you are suddenly in charge.

Have you ever found yourself checking your email even though you just checked it 10 minutes before? Or maybe you are reading about the next great plan that will take your network marketing business to the next level. I mean who doesn’t want to double or triple their income just by writing a better title to their email. But honestly if you just started out and you don’t have a list to send that email to then how are you going to double your money?  I am sure these programs work fine, but take a look at where you are and what you have.

Where can you really spend your time effort and money more effectively in order to build your business?

I know you probably do these things because I have (and to be honest) and I still do unless I stay focused. To help myself I created a little acronym – M.E.T.  It stands for Money, Effort and Time. I ask myself, “Have your MET your needs and your budget TODAY?” before I stray down the path of easy dreams.

Let’s look at all three parts more closely. M or Money is the part that everyone thinks about when you say balancing a budget or budget basics. It really is important, but it can actually be the simplest of the three to manage. First, you need to decide how much you really have to spend on your business each month. Maybe its $100 or maybe $200; It’s different for everyone and its ok if it can only be $20. Once you determine this you must decide what is important to your business RIGHT NOW! If you just started maybe you need business cards or you need a few office supplies. If you have been working awhile maybe you want to invest in an email autorespond system or purchase some leads or buy some promotional material. It all depends on your goals and where your business is along the path. But once you set your budget for money stick to it. Decide what is really needed for where you are. You don’t have to purchase every great sounding product or have all the bells and whistles. Get yourself established and then use some of that new income to help you get more and more of your needs.

Next we have E for Effort. Really it is even better to call it Effective Effort. Many of us spend lots of time in front of the computer or staring at the phone and say we are at work. But how much effort is really being put in and is it at all effective. Maybe you have two hours to work today. One about 7 pm right after dinner and another around 10 pm after the kids are in bed. Well if we decide to spend 30 minutes reading a training manual and then 15 minutes responding to email and 15 minutes working on writing an article we have put in some great effort. These are all things that Network Marketers need to do. But if we did all this at 7 and then we saw we needed to call a new prospect or call one of our new team members and we are sitting down at 10 pm to do this we have wasted our time. It’s too late to make our phone calls. So even though we were very good at making our list and getting our work done we didn’t do it in an effective way so we wasted some of our time. And I haven’t even mentioned that most people (me being very guilty) get sidetracked by the cool YouTube Video or the interesting email or the great salespitch. Focus is critical to Effort and making your efforts effective.

This takes us to T for Time. I have saved this for last because that is where it fit the acronym, but even more importantly because it is what I consider to be your most important commodity. Money we can work around and even earn more. Effort can be relearned or refocused and therefore improved upon, but TIME is a here just once. The hour I wasted or didn’t take advantage of today can’t be replaced. It is GONE. Time is precious and critical to everything you do and want to do. So take a hard look at your time and how you want to spend it and how you actually spend it. You can’t earn it back. I started this home business as a way to spend more time with my family and doing the things I love so for me budgeting out this block of time came first. I also (like most Network Marketers) started my home business while still working my 9 to 5 job. So once I took out these blocks of time I could make a realistic budget of how much time I could spend on my Home Business. Again, this is different for everyone. So don’t go by what someone else did, do what’s right for you.

Next, look back at all 3 areas and BE REALISTIC. Are you really going to work the business at 9 on Saturday night? Do you really have an extra $250 dollars EVERY month? Will you be able to focus and put in 100% effort at 5 o’clock when the kids are hungry and dinner needs made?

To get a true evaluation of what you have to spend with money and time and how much effort you can really put out, start tracking what you do. Look around at successful businesses. You can bet they track things. Do you think they spend a million dollars on a Superbowl commercial and then not track to see if they are making a profit? What is their Return on Investment (ROI)? You can do the same. Create a tracking sheet to keep track of when you work on your business or when you have down time you could. Keep track of where your money goes and if you have any extra to invest in your success. Keep track of what you get done in the time you do spend working.

Tracking not only will help you make a realistic balanced budget but will help you to focus and use the resources you have more effectively. Effective effort rears its head once again. See how it all keeps tying itself together in a big circle.

Time to get started. Don’t waste anymore of your money, effort or time. Work on setting your goals and then using your budget balancing basics to create a balanced budget. Stay focused and realize success does not come overnight but it does come in little packages if you just have fun and enjoy what you are doing. That’s the whole reason we want this home business in the first place – Remember?

Success in this business is not defined by speed. It is ok to take a little longer than the guy you read about online. In all honesty it takes 2 to 5 years for most Network Marketers to reach what they consider a successful level of business. Of course the more you have MET your budget and the bigger the budget is can speed things up. More Money, more Effective Effort and of course more Time can all get you to your goal quicker. But before you give up, look at where you are now. Are you happy with what you have or where you are headed? Are you willing to spend the extra Money, Effort and Time required to achieve the life you dream about, the life you deserve.

Have you MET your goals? Avoid waste and start breeding success. Budget planning for your Money, Effort and Time is the best way to create success. Stay focused and remember to keep all 3 aspects in mind during your daily routine.

Think about it!

Get your own tracking sheets and get started today!

A stack of bills, a notice of payment past due, a false hope of another credit card to cover this month’s bills...

Savings Accounts, Retirement plans, Job security... All wonderful words but words that seem very empty.

Does this sound like you – your life? Well, I know much of it rings true for lots of people now days. So what do we do? Save us magic Internet. Show us the way.

Everywhere I look there is free and easy money.

• Earn hundreds, Work Minutes!
• Sit back while I make you some money – it only costs $49.95 a month!

In many ways this article is no different. I am just another guy you don’t know telling you about another great plan... But by reading this article I want to tell you honestly what I think is a way out. A better way. Network Marketing is a very viable and amazing business plan. It’s a great way to create a Plan B, a second income, even a full time income.

But it’s not for everyone. It might not be for you. But then again it might be the best thing that ever happened to you.

You need to understand that Network Marketing allows you to start a home based business and start it part time while you are still doing your “regular” job. You can get your feet wet and learn the ropes without going bankrupt while you slowly start earning some money.

No job or career working for someone else is guaranteed anymore. The idea of a 30 year man and a guaranteed retirement fund are quickly disappearing. Before you lose your job or grow weary of the lack of advancement and pay, you should consider a home based business using Network Marketing.

Network Marketing allows you to become the boss, the leader of your own team. Your potential advancement and pay are only limited by you own desire and commitment and willingness to do whatever it takes.

Now I am not saying it will come quick or come easy but it will come.

Start now before you lose your job. That’s what I have done.

It takes most people 2-5 years to become truly financially successful at this business. This doesn’t mean you won’t make money before that but I don’t want you to think you will be making $500 a day starting next week.

To be honest with you, Network Marketing is the simplest, hardest, most frustrating, most rewarding, most fun, easiest job that you will love to get out of bed each morning ready to get back to work on. (Whew... How about that for a sentence – Take that 7^th grade English!)

Do you want to leave you financial future in the hands of the guys with the Golden Parachutes? Or do you want to create your own path – one where you are the CEO!

So don’t wait, create your own second income – your own financial freedom. Start a job with unlimited potential and no layoffs.

Network Marketing is a great way to create an at home business part time as a Plan B. You can work part time while you learn and become educated in the required knowledge and marketing skills until you start generating income and become your own boss. Whether you are looking for a second income, a retirement income supplement or even if you want to replace your current job, Network Marketing provides the ideal gateway.

Think About It!

Will I have enough money to retire? How much money do I need to retire?

The recent economic downturn has left many people wondering how safe they are in their job and wondering will they still be able to retire. What has happened to your retirement income? Will you be able to retire as planned and live the lifestyle you expected? Or will you retire into poverty, will you outlive your money or do you have to postpone your retirement altogether?

I know many people I am close to lost a lot of money out of their retirement savings plans when the stock market fell. For those in their 20’s and 30’s it’s not fun but they have time to recover. But for those people reaching their 50’s and 60’s and those already retired this was a huge shock. All the best laid plans – GONE!

Even worse were all the people that completely lost their jobs and any type of retirement plan their company had promised them. I know for my wife’s business she lost quite a few clients because of lost jobs and lost income. I had to go back to work because the economy wouldn’t support the two of us working her business. Overall, we have been lucky compared to many people, but the situation caused me to look hard at my ‘Plan B’. I had been dabbling in Network Marketing, but I took a long hard look at it to see if it really had the potential to be a viable business plan and a way for me to provide security for me, my family and for a solid retirement supplement.

By reading this article you will learn that retirement doesn’t have to be a poverty sentence that forces you to change you current lifestyle. You can still have the income required to enjoy life even if your current retirement plan and savings account don’t live up to what you bring home with your paycheck each month. Learn how a part time stay at home business can supplement your income, reduce your taxes and keep you involved with the world. If you are afraid you won’t ever be able to retire or if you do you will outlive your money, this article will help you understand there is another way... A better way!

Does retirement automatically mean a lifestyle change? Well if so, I hope that doesn’t mean I am forced to change because of the lack of money.

Take a look at what the government says about retirement income. In 2002 the average income for retired people was just under $20,000 a year. The average income for American households that year was somewhere in between $40,000 and $50,000. Does that mean our monthly income will be cut in half of more when we are ‘lucky’ enough to retire? For too many people the answer is a BIG, FAT YES.

In fact, a recent Gallup telephone survey of non-retirees age 18 and older also found that 52 percent doubt they will have enough money to live comfortably in retirement, while only 41 percent say they will. This is the first time this decade that the majority of Americans have doubted their ability to retire.

This is why we are told we need to set up those savings accounts and create the nest egg. But if you are like me and most Americans, you have more debt than you have savings.

So are you ready for the drop in income? Ready for poverty and the possibility you will outlive your money? How can you supplement your retirement income?

Take a look at your situation now and decide how much do you need to retire and do it without a big change in lifestyle. It’s a question and answer that is different for everyone. But for the average American you need to make at least an extra $1000 - $1500 a month to keep things close.

So what’s your plan to get that extra money?

One solution, a home based business that you can work part time without taking out a loan or dipping into your current savings account. What if I told you there was a way to start a business from home that requires a small financial investment, can create residual income, can be worked part time and has the possibility to produce a monthly income equal to that of the average retired persons yearly income.

Network Marketing is a business plan that has reached a new pinnacle. During much of its first 50 years of existence this plan has been thought of as one of failure. Poor training has sent many people tumbling down the slopes of anticipated riches to dismal failure. But it was not the plan that failed or even the people, it was the poor training or lack of any training at all. Network Marketing is a very powerful business plan when done the right way.

A home business not only can increase your income and bolster your savings; it can also save you money on your yearly income taxes. It can keep you involved with the world and current events and even give you the Monday morning water cooler chat opportunities many of us lose out on when we retire.

Increase income, decrease taxes, stay involved, remain social... just a few great reasons a home based business makes total sense.

So don’t let your retirement income or lack of it scare you. There is hope.

You can improve your situation and create your Plan B. It’s never too late to start.

The right motivation and attitude teamed up with the right plan and the right training can get you the retirement you always dreamed about.

 Don’t settle to live out your days in financial poverty. Step into the life you deserve. Create your Plan B, increase your retirement income and don’t let the question of ‘How much money do I need to retire’ scare you. Retirement does not have to mean lifestyle change.

Think About It!

Don't Outlive Your Retirement Money - The most amazing home videos are here

Are you stuck in the 45 year rut? Stuck in the cycle of go to school, get a job, be the loyal employee and retire with the gold watch at 65? Are you in this cycle? Are you happy with it? Most people aren’t happy or fulfilled as they grind their way through these 45 years. They don’t get rich or retire comfortably following this plan. It’s a crime, because these are the best, most productive years of your life.

But it’s turned into get up, get ready, go to work, come home, go to bed day after day. Having someone else tell you what time and days you get for yourself and which 2 weeks each year you get to take a break. And if this wasn’t bad enough, even job security has become a thing of the past.

Is that the plan you want to follow for the rest of your life?

But have you noticed, not everyone seems to have these stresses? They laugh, play, drive incredible cars, and live in amazing homes with all the comforts. What do these people do? Were they born rich? Inherit their money? Or is it their job? Maybe they own their own business? There must be a better way?

It might surprise you to know that many of the people you see living life to the fullest earn that privilege through a business they call their own. Something they started on the side and developed into a very lucrative source of income. An income that went on to replace what they used to earn in their full time job.

What if you could find a way to compress that 45 years into just 2 to 5 years? What if you could put in some consistent effort with the right company and the right group and turn your current annual income into your monthly income? Does it sound too good to be true?

People just like you are doing it right now, so why not you? How would your life be different? Sound intriguing? Like something you’d like to know more about?

Have you ever heard of Mailbox Money? The concept of having checks show up in your mailbox or in today’s world being deposited directly into your bank account. It’s an exciting concept that is changing the lives of many. Many of these people have developed mailbox money through home based businesses and that have been developed through the profession of network marketing. Network Marketing, or multi-level marketing, is the business concept I am using to escape the corporate rat race and take back control over my life.

Currently over 67 million people worldwide are involved in the profession of network marketing. It might be worth your while to determine if this form of mailbox money might be a fit for you. Network Marketing has been around for decades and you may have already been involved in the profession or maybe you currently are. It has its share of skeptics and people who claim it doesn’t work. But take a look around and you will find people who succeed and fail in any business. It is quite often the effort and commitment of the individual and not the business plan that determines success. Most of us know of someone somewhere that has done quite well in network marketing.

The bottom line in network marketing is that it works, IF you will work it. Here are some things to consider as you evaluate your options.

Find a product and a company that offers something you would buy, use and recommend even if you were not being paid to do so. Find a product that has a big demand in the marketplace and is consumable; something that people will use and reorder. Find a product that is unique in some way. Find a program with a monthly cost that is affordable and appeals to the masses.

Thousands of people are looking for options right now. But they are not in the position to join a company that requires a monthly autoship of $200- $400 a month just for products and the privilege of becoming a distributor; especially when the product is chosen for them and not something they can actually use. I mean let’s be honest, wouldn’t you rather be able to choose the product you buy and wouldn’t it be even nicer if the products could benefit you and your family. Products you already use and need but now get paid to use and recommend. That’s a concept I can live with!

Find a team that’s committed, taking action and one that has a plan to assist you in achieving your goals. Be careful of anyone willing to promise you quick income overnight, anyone who says they will build if for you, or anyone who tells you that it is easy. And by easy I mean no work involved. Network Marketing is a simple system, but it takes committed action and a serious 2-5 year plan to get where you want to go.

Imagine pushing your car up a hill. It’s hard, very hard to get it moving and it takes a lot of work to push it up to the top. But once you get there it gets sooo much easier. The car starts to even coast a little and move on its own as you go down the other side. Network Marketing is exactly like this. Everyone’s hill is different, but EVERYONE, even the top income earners, had to push that car up that first hill.

Are you willing to commit 2 – 5 years to achieve the lifestyle of your dreams? It will require you to use and learn some skills as you develop your business. You will develop confidence, speaking skills, business planning and leadership skills.

Do you believe you are committed to changing your life? Can you commit to a 2 to 5 year plan for success? You need to understand that this is a business that requires some investment of time and money and you must be willing to be coached and mentored by a team of like-minded people who are committed and have achieved success with Network Marketing. If this sounds like you then I would like to interview you.

If you feel skeptical, that OK. Many of us did initially too. Just remember that business experts like Robert Kiyosaki, Donald Trump and Warren Buffet are endorsing the Network Marketing profession. I will answer your questions; share the details of our company and our product line with you as well as our action plan for success. Opportunity is starting you right in the face. It will go to someone, why not you?

Contact me to get your questions answered and get started today.

I was reminiscing the other day and came across a bunch of great videos that reminded me how lucky I am.  Here is a little video that shows your what I am talking about - My future and the reasons I made my change to better health and a better way of doing things.

Like me, you probably get bogged down in the day to day problems and stress and your 'problems' take over.  Somedays it seems like nothing goes right and you wonder if it is all worth it.  But again like me, if you look back and try to remember yesterday or last week or even last year, the little problems start to disappear and you SEE the great parts that make life all worth it.

If you are having a hard time visuallizing those great parts then I highly encourage you to change your path. 

If you are willing and committed to make a change it can happen.  It doesn't happen overnight but it does happen.

Take that first step -

THINK ABOUT IT!

(Want to create your own home based business? Not sure how?  I would love to help.  Just fill out your name and email in the form on the top right side of the page and I will send you some free videos showing you how to get started... Mike)

One of the best parts of Network Marketing is the chance to have that 20 ft walk of a commute each morning.  Stroll over to the desk and the phone and now even more important the computer.  But you know while its nice being able to work at home, its even better to be able to 'go mobile'

Just this morning I hauled the 6 kids off to swim practice.  After watching them go back and forth in the pool for a few minutes I could tell the excitement level had peaked. 

But wait, I had my iPhone with me so look out world I am connected.  For me its World 2.0.

I checked my email, tweeted at a few peeps on Twitter, looked on the internet for a template for the newsletter I was planning and listened to my music while all this was going on.  But somewhere I heard all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy so of course I played the Stones of Jurasica game I got from the App store.  It was one of the expensive games - $0.99. 

If you can't tell, I have been very impressed with my iPhone and all it can do for me and my network/internet marketing business.  And hey I almost forgot its a Phone.  It does so much, you almost forget that it is called iPhone.

I created a little video to try and show you some of what I am talking about.

But Multi-level marketing has been around for a long time (over 50 years) and more and more companies are starting to use this business plan every year. So why would anyone or any company want to use such a “horrible” method for selling a product or making money?

Why? Well simply put, because this method works and WORKS IN A BIG WAY!

Multi-Level Marketing allows anyone to start their own business and do it for very little money and little risk. You can become the CEO of your own home business.

But what is MLM really, and why should I make it my next job?

Like many of you, I once had a negative attitude towards MLM or Network Marketing. My initial introduction to the plan was my Mom. She had just joined up with a company and she was completely in love with it. She could talk of nothing else but how wonderful the company was and how it's products were the best thing since sliced bread. No matter the subject she could spin it so we ended up talking about her company, its products or the "amazing" opportunity the company provided .

It got to the point where you tried not to mention anything that might bring up her new found MLM business and if she mentioned the products you eventually gave in and used them just to avoid the talk.

Well I am here to tell you that I now understand why she was so excited so many years ago. I finally took the time to learn what MLM truly is and how it really works. I discovered that it was not the business plan that turned people away from MLM but the way it was being taught. People were being shown poor marketing techniques and this was giving MLM a bad name.

The introduction of the internet and the ability that modern technology gives us to reach out to millions has truly opened the doors to the true power of MLM and allows anyone to use good marketing to create an honest business from home that can provide value to you, the business builder, your team (called a downline) and to anyone who is looking for your product or opportunity.

And the best part, it does all this without you having to alienate your friends and family.

By reading this article you will understand what is needed for a business to be successful. You will learn what MLM is and how it compares to traditional business plans. See how the structure of MLM is not a pyramid scheme but a legitimate plan empowering everyone, no matter their position, the same amount of leverage and potential to advance. And while sales is the name of the game you don't have to be a traditional salesman. Instead, provide value and education and empower others to achieve. In turn, you will be empowering yourself. Multi-Level Marketing lets you leverage time and multiply your efforts without multiplying your workload.

Before deciding if Network Marketing is the right plan for you and your situation, you need to understand you different options. First, you have several different ways in which you can earn money.

•1. You can work for someone else and be an employee. This usually limits your income potential and you really lack any sort of stability or security

•2. You can step up from the employee stage and become a professional. At this level you have become an expert and you exchange expertise for dollars. While this increases your earning potential you still a basically an employee.

•3. Finally, you can own your own business. This plan gives you unlimited earning potential but it comes with its own risks. You are only one person and you will eventually run out of time or talent. By employing others, you can overcome these limitations by leveraging the efforts of others.

Of the 3 choices, owning a business is the best choice if you are looking to create real wealth and personal freedom.

Starting a business of your own requires a plan. When researching a business plan it is important to understand what is needed in order for a business to be successful.

•1. A huge expanding market. For example, music is always popular, but you can’t expect to sell a lot of transistor radios in this day of iPods. Make sure there is demand for what you have to offer.

•2. Unique consumable products – If you can find your product at every corner store or if it lasts for a lifetime, it will be hard to create any profit

•3. Timing (trends)

• Look for businesses that are expanding. The baby boomer generation is a huge bubble in our population and providing products that appeal to them gives you a huge market. Some of these expanding markets include

• Health and anti aging products.

• Retirement issues (every minute around 5 more people in the U.S. are turning 60.)

• Making life easier (technology) – Baby boomers have always been quick to embrace technological advances.

•4. Employ others so you get more done – No matter how skilled you are, there are only so many hours in a day. Multiplying yourself can multiply your productivity.

Both traditional and MLM businesses look at these 4 principals when getting started, but how they use them is different. With a traditional business you have a hierarchy, a chain of command. Starting at the top with the president or CEO and working its way down to the general staff or employees. With this structure the pay and power increase as you get closer to the top. The whole structure would fall apart if someone at a lower level made more money or had more power than those above them. Why would you ever take orders from someone who made less money than you. The only person in this structure that can really leverage any power is the person at the top.

The structure of Network Marketing looks similar but the way it works is much different. When you join an MLM company you aren’t just an employee but you can become the CEO or President of your own team. Anyone can earn more money than the person above them, next to them or below them. It all depends on the production of you and your team. You are not relying on those above you to determine your value, you are in charge of that. It is the fairest system around. You get paid according to the value you provide. Let me repeat that. You get the credit, power and earnings based on your efforts not on your position on the ladder.

You can be the leader and CEO of your own organization within the larger organization.

Now I know after looking at both plans, you might be asking yourself isn’t this just a pyramid scheme. After all that’s one of the myths that seems to follow MLM around and just look at the structure – proof that it’s a pyramid. The problem is not the shape. Look at the traditional business. It is also a pyramid shape. Look at our government, it follows the same shape. So it’s not the shape that is bad it is how it is used. The way to tell if something is a pyramid scheme or a legitimate MLM business is to look at how the money is made. If you make money through the sales of products by you or someone on your team then all is good. If there is no product but only a membership cost and an “opportunity” to sell it could be a scheme.

Look back at the plans again, it is worth repeating, the main difference between the two is that with a corporate structure the people at the top make most of the money and they make the decisions. They are the only ones with leverage. The MLM structure gives everyone the same leverage the CEO of a company has. That way no matter what level you are on you can earn money that is equal to the production you create.

Production and wealth are tied to selling product. Becoming a salesman is part of the job and for many of us that is a scary proposition. I know I am not a true salesman and probably never will be but with the power of the internet and attraction marketing you can “sell” without becoming a true salesman. But if you think about it, you spend your life selling things to others, your sell your friends and spouse on you, you sell your kids the rules and you are selling whenever you are trying to convince your opinion is the right one. But these kinds of selling never really seem like selling. They are more like educating those around you on what you want, what you like and what you know.

Education is the key to empowering others and through that empowerment you are rewarded. Each time you share what you know and help someone you are providing them a skill they didn’t have before. The Network Marketing structure rewards you every time you help someone else along. You help them become better at their business of selling themselves, their opportunity and their products. It boosts their power and their income and in turn in boosts yours too. When they pay that knowledge forward to their downline the process repeats and everyone benefits. Even if the person above you, your upline, isn’t productive you can still create a powerful organization and wealth equal to the production you create.

By giving value you are giving people power. In return you get the ability to leverage time. Imagine you could work every day for 24 hours without sleep for all 365 days of the year. That would give you 8760 hours of production hours. But let’s be honest, no one can work 24 hours a day every day. On a good day you might get in 12, but on average let’s just say you only get the typical 8 hour work day. You also would probably take at least one day off a week and a week or two off per year. When added up that only gives us 2400 hours per year. But what if you found 10 other people who wanted what you want and became part of your team. If each of them just worked one day per week they would total 4000 production hours. More than you could do working 6 days a week. This is the true power of a team and the MLM structure. Leveraging time allows you to create so much more than you could by yourself.

A Network Marketing team or downline also allows you to leverage everyone’s talents. Like I said before, sales are part of the job but maybe they aren’t your best skill but sales might be one of your team’s life calling. Maybe you are a better communicator or writer or you know how to use the power of the internet. Just like any sports team, it is the talents of all involved and the willingness to share and be part of a team that makes everyone successful.

Leveraging time and skill all through the simple process of education gives us all the power to be the CEO of our own company. We are not regulated to the position of employee where there is a lack of power and ability for advancement. No matter where you are in life or what your financial or social status you have the ability to learn and grow and then pass if forward.

Don’t be scared by what you thought you knew about MLM or what you might have experience in the past. I was once an MLM outsider who didn’t understand its true power. I saw what some of the old marketing strategies turned people into and how it set many people up for failure. I have joined the ranks of the new MLM plan. Now known more as Network Marketing, Social Marketing and Internet Attraction Marketing this new way of doing things lets you share and provide value to people who are truly interested in what you have to say. Gone are the days of cold calling and prospecting everyone who comes within arm’s length of you. Here’s to the days of people contacting you wanting the knowledge you have developed. It is no longer sales, it is education.

Take it from a long time educator; this is the future and the true power of Multi-Level Marketing.

Think about it!

You are not alone in your desire to leave your dreary day job and be your own boss.

The solution for many people is starting their own network marketing business. There are very few barriers to hurdle to start up a network marketing business. Low startup costs, very little if any inventory to buy, no franchise fee and no store front to maintain.

Most people are lured in by the dream of easy money and the promotion of a few people who have had extraordinary success solidifies their decision to jump in to a network marketing career.

The problem is once they join, most people are not told how they can make this job into a successful money making business. They are left behind as their upline moves on searching for the next signup. Hence, around 95% of all people who start a network marketing business fail. This has made network marketing one of the most maligned industries in the U.S.

Here are five tips that will help you make a meaningful career out of network marketing – without losing or abusing friends, family or neighbors.

•1. Don’t mislead your friends; warn them up front that you’re selling what you’re about to recommend.

For most new MLMers, the first thing they are taught is to just recommend the product and opportunity as if they were recommending a restaurant or a movie. This is good advice as long as the person you are talking to knows you are also selling what you are recommending. No one wants to be ambushed at the end of a recommendation with “By the way I sell this, how much would you like?”

If you let people know up front and do it with sincerity and without apology, most friends will listen to what you have to say. Waiting until the end of a recommendation to drop the sales bomb is a guaranteed trustbuster.

This leads into our second tip....

•2. Don’t ask your friends to buy or sell your product. Instead, ask for a referral.

It is very hard for a friend to say No, especially a good friend. They will either buy your product because they are a friend or give you a polite “Maybe...”. But the next time you call, they check the caller ID and let it go to voicemail. The next time you were supposed to go out they suddenly get ‘busy’.

Instead to putting your friends in such a tough spot, surprise them and ask for a referral instead. “I thought maybe you might know someone who would be interested in this”, would be a great way to let your friend off the hook. They won’t feel obligated to buy so the strain is now gone.

In fact since you haven’t abused the friendship or their trust, your friend will usually take some effort and think if they really know someone who could use this opportunity. Friends like to help each other out. Give them the chance to help by asking for the referral. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

•3. Instead of trying to sell everyone you know, why not find those who might already be looking for what you sell? No need to persuade anyone.

Rejection is hard to take. But if you ask people who are standing in line for chocolate if they would like some chocolate you will get a lot of acceptance and not much rejection. The same goes for whatever you are selling. If you find people who are looking for it, than selling it becomes so much easier.

Live what you do and show enthusiasm for your product and company. Put out there what you do and what you have to offer. People who want that same opportunity or who are looking for your product will find you. It’s like introducing yourself at a party to someone who has the same name. You instantly have something to talk about. You don’t have to force anything or fake it.

Not sure what you should be putting out there – think back to your why. Why do you keep doing this business? Why do you use these products? These are your HOT buttons. They are who you are. Let them show and wear them proudly.

•4. Learn to talk about your product the way you would if you were not selling it.

People can tell when they are being sold something and at the first hint of salesman speak they are gone. Even if they can’t walk away, they tune you out.

Don’t slip into your marketing sales jargon whenever someone mentions a topic that fits your opportunity. “Our product ABC is the most amazing patent pending product ever produced – it will make you look younger and live longer guaranteed. Blah, Blah, Blah...

Instead, tell your story and how the product has really helped you. “I was always so tired. I could never seem to get anything done or stay awake. But look at me NOW! I feel like I have renewed energy and life. I finally found something that works. I can really tell when I forget to take my ABC.”

Which story would you rather listen to?

People want to hear good stories not memorized medical facts.

•5. Recommend the smallest package, like a good advisor would.

Once you find someone interested in trying the product or maybe starting up their own business you should listen to what their goals are and direct them accordingly. Don’t try to squeeze every last drop out of them. Tell them the truth, whatever it might be. Surprise them; “You don’t have to start with the biggest plan or the largest bottle. Maybe the smaller package would work to get you started and once we see if that works then you can always buy more later.”

What do you think they expected you to recommend, the biggest or the smallest package? Your recommendation tells your friend that you are still a friend and you are looking out for them. You are a trusted advisor and not a salesman preying on them.

These views are not new, but they are not always followed. A good Network Marketer and a good Friend will want to tell their friends up front what they’re doing the same way a newly graduated lawyer might announce what she’s doing. They don’t ask for a sale: they ask their friends if they know anyone who might need what they have to offer.

Tell your story, make no promises, don’t hound anyone, and never tell lies or half-truths.

Announce who you are – what you do and let genuine word-of-mouth among friends do the net-WORK for you.

This is a great saying and a wonderful idea. This is the great ideal that democracy is built upon. We all have a voice and we can stand up and be heard. WE CAN BE WHATEVER WE WANT TO BE!

While this in theory is true in practice it takes a lot of different factors coming together at the right time for it to actually work.

Don’t get me wrong, with the right attitude, commitment, willingness to learn and determination (aka stubbornness) anyone CAN do this business.

The problem is not everyone has these qualities at the time you might be standing in front of them showing them your offer or when they receive your wonderful presentation online or through an email.

M/L/M is one of, if not the only business plan that allows the masses to jump in and start a business with little knowledge and little investment money. This is both a godsend and a curse.

By allowing people to start a job they are not committed to and not ready to put a lot of work and effort to achieve success we are setting them up for failure. And if you look at the stats, this is exactly what happens. 95% of all those that start in Network Marketing go nowhere and eventually quit.

They quit feeling lied to and swindled. They were never told the hard truth that this is a business and if you jump in without the proper skills and mindset then you probably will fail.

This is not to say that the necessary skills are not something that can be learned and applied. The key it to find a mentor, an upline, that is willing to teach you the RIGHT way.

Success in this business is not guaranteed anymore than in any other business. If you look at those that have been successful, they have learned and earned a skill set that allows them to achieve. Some people have developed these skills in their previous job or in school while there are others who learn from their experiences, some failures and some successes.

So to say everyone can do this is both true and false. Everyone that wants to do this and is willing to learn what they need, to apply their learned skills and to be committed to the action plan will succeed. It might take more than the 30 or 90 days that get promised by so many. If you are honest and upfront with prospects and they are HONEST WITH THEMSELVES then the answer to “Will I be successful?” can be seen early on in the process.

•2. Everyone is a prospect / All you have to do is sign up your friends and family

No matter how good your product or how good your business plan not everyone will want it.

I am reminded of an ad campaign I remember hearing where they guaranteed to save someone money and he was saying “No, I come from a long line of people who like to spend extra money. I don’t want your offer”.

This seems so strange, but it is true. No matter how great the offer there will always be somebody who likes something different. Does everyone love Coke, or do some people prefer Pepsi. If Coke was on sale for ½ the price there is still a large number of people that will buy the Pepsi.

No one wants to be told what they have to do or buy, even friends and family. But the stance of many MLMers is that if I just explain it one more time or if I just let them know it is ME selling it and I like it than they should and WILL buy it.

This will not only alienate you and make you a very lonely person but it will not earn you any long term money. People buy products because they want them. Not because they need them. Not because someone sold them on the product but because they came to the conclusion that they needed the product.

So why would you hunt people down like they are deer in the headlights and bombard them with the “this product is so good you can’t live without it” routine just to be rejected 99% of the time. Even if the product is something they need, most people turn up the defenses when they are being sold and don’t even hear what you have to say, no matter how important it is.

The better way to do this is to let people know what you have. Let them know you have this business and this product and ask them for a referral. IF they come back to you and ask about the product then they are coming to you and now you are the EXPERT and not the pushy salesman.

Wanting to sell the business and sponsor new distributors? It works the same way. Don’t force feed your opportunity to anyone who happens to get within 3 feet of you. Advertise yourself and put it out there that you are the expert. You don’t have to know everything, you just have to know a little more than the average person and you have become the expert.

The internet has lots of different possibilities for getting your message out to large numbers of people. From Facebook and Google ads to Blogs and Writing articles there is something for everyone and every skill level to use.

The best part is, now the prospect is coming to you. You don’t have to SELL anything. You just have to be that expert and be willing to help those that come to you. Be willing to train them and you are now building a strong team of motivated people.

What could be better?

•3. Your business builds itself / The money makes itself

If you have been in MLM for awhile or have been approached by people trying to sign you up you have probably heard something along these lines. “Our product is so good it sells itself” or “You don’t need any business skills, this business builds itself.”

If these statements were true, why do they need you?

Well, you probably guessed it, products and businesses don’t sell themselves. Try buying a truckload of your favorite MLM’s product and stack it in your driveway. Just see how fast it “sells itself”.

Business takes work. It takes marketing and to sell something you need to do sales and be a salesman. There are ways of doing this without being pushy and alienating your friends , family and everyone you meet. (see Misconceptions #1 & 2 above)

Finding the right method to build your business and make money is what you need to be doing, not sitting back and waiting for the money to find you.

Education and learning the skills that are necessary is part of your job. Duplication is great, but we are all different and what works for me may not work for you. I might love writing articles and so that method works for me. What will work for you depends on the skills you bring to the table or the skills you are willing to learn because they fit in with your interests.

Find a mentor and upline that is willing to help you develop your skills. One who will tell you upfront that this is net-WORK marketing and not net-SIT and HOPE marketing.

•4. It’s just a pyramid scheme

This is an easy one.

The true test to see if something is a pyramid scheme is to see how the money is really made. A pyramid will only be selling an opportunity. There is no product sold and the way you make money is to sell the opportunity. Pyramid schemes are illegal.

The big difference between MLM and a pyramid scheme is in the business' operations. The purpose of a pyramid scheme is to get your money. Your job is to recruit other people. The entire purpose of MLM is to sell product. With MLM the more product you sell the more money you will make and by recruiting others into your downline or team you will be able to sell more product.

Are you offered money for recruiting new people or do you make your money through product sold? What is the focus of the company and their sales products/brochures?

If the answers to these questions lead you to the conclusion that selling product is not a part of the plan then run away, this could be a pyramid.

If the answers show you that the product is the way to make money then you are dealing with MLM and an honest, proven business plan.

•5. You don’t need to sell, just share

Again this is one of those MLM half truths. When selling or salesmen are brought up, most people will have a negative reaction. So if I was going to try and get you to be a part of my marketing team why would I want to lead with something that is going to scare you away?

Sharing sounds so much easier and friendlier than selling, however; if you are in Network Marketing you have to make sales. To make money you have to sell product. It is just that simple. To make really good money you and a bunch of people who you have helped start a business have to sell lots of product.

Now the half truth part of share not sell is that you do share you product and its values to people. But you should be upfront with them that this is a product you sell and not just a recommendation you are sharing about a restaurant or movie. You get no monetary bonus for sharing your opinion about a movie even if your friend ends up going.

You do however have a vested interest in this person buying the great product you are recommending (sharing). It comes across differently and if the person you are talking with doesn’t know upfront that you sell this product they will feel ambushed when they find out you do. You will fall into the same boat with all those dreaded used car salesmen.

Be upfront with what you do. Ask for referrals. Don’t force the conversation to your product but let it flow naturally and if a topic develops where your expertise fits in – perfect, share away. Gain trust and recommend the smallest package. Sell but don’t be a salesman. Leave them wanting more and have them come asking you. That way you become the expert and not the salesman.