Do You Have The Patience It Takes To Be Successful in MLM?
| Posted in Network Marketing, Networking, Prospecting | Posted on 21-05-2010
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Patience is an essential business skill every network marketer needs to be successful.
Unfortunately, it is something I personally was not blessed with at birth. I do have to work very hard on it. The good news is, it can be learned.
Wouldn’t you agree with me that anglers would make great network marketers?
They definitely would have the patience for it. Just think about it. They sit there for hours on end with their fishing poles in the water and wait for a nibble. Sometimes they catch something. Sometimes they don’t. And sometimes they get lucky and catch “the big one”. But they never get upset if they don’t.
Network marketing – especially prospecting – is pretty much the same as fishing, isn’t it?
We sit there with our fishing poles in the water, that juicy bait attached to the hook and we wait for that nibble.
Some of us are not patient enough to wait for that nibble. So we keep checking the bait on the hook or even get so frustrated that we change the bait all together.
Sometimes we get a nibble and then JANK that fishing pole out of the water … and by doing so lose the fish on the hook.
(In other words … We had an interested prospect and then totally threw up on him or her. Or we bombarded them with phone calls and emails pushing our business opportunity on them.)
Sound familiar?
Fishing takes patience and so does prospecting.
Once our prospects take the bait we want to be really careful and gently reel them in.
That’s where ‘Follow Up’ comes in to play.
Make sure you have a good follow up system in place …(give value)….so you can keep in touch with your prospects. Because, very seldom will your prospects buy or join with you on the first bite.
“All things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those people they know, like and trust.” – Bob Burg
I would like to add one more … REMEMBER
People need to REMEMBER you.
And the only way they will is if you keep yourself on the top of their mind.
They say “the money is in the follow up”.
That is really true. Remember, I said earlier, very seldom will people buy or join with you on the first bite. (Or after the very first contact.) It can take weeks, months or sometimes even years before a prospect is ready to join you.
So, go ahead … put that fishing pole back into the water. And when you get that nibble, reel that fish in ever so carefully.
Happy fishing! …uhm prospecting!
P.S. Have any fish tales you would like to share with us in the comments below?
P.P.S. If you liked this post and would like your peers to reel in some big kahunas … tweet this post and/or share it on Twitter or Digg it. Thanks!
Carla J Gardiner
Ryan Biddulph
Stacy
Hi Ilka,
I can say with 110% certainty, yes I do!
You know one time it took me 10 calls going back in forth for a $40 order. Most would say I was crazy.
You know what happened 2 months later. She spent $1000.
So the fortune is in the follow up.
Have a great weekend,
Jerome Ratliff
Jerome Ratliff´s last blog ..Wash Your Mouth Out With Soap and Get More Distributors
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Hi Jerome,
Where did you come from so fast? I just published it. You must have taken great lessons from the “Comment Ninja.”
Wow! That’s an awesome example! Thanks for sharing it! It goes to show right there, that you never know what can happen … and that indeed …
“The Money IS In the Follow Up!!”
Have an awesome weekend, Jerome!
Ilka
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Hi Ilka,
It is important to have patience in all aspects of building a business.
My sponsor had patience with me. She wanted to work with me and I was determined NOT to do network marketing as a business. I liked the products, but told her over and over not to get her hopes up, I was NOT going to do network marketing.
She was very patient and just kept a very open and pressure free attitude about the whole thing. Look at me now! LOL
Have a great weekend!
Susanna
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 9:00 pm
Hi Susanna,
Wow! Yeah, look at you know!
I bet your sponsor is very happy she never pushed you. You know, pushing doesn’t accomplish anything anyway except resentment.
To your continued success!
Ilka
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Hi Ilka,
Awesome reminder. I, like you, was not blessed with patience ha ha.
However, it is a business that does take patience and we have to train ourselves to do so. Otherwise, we will be pushing potential customers and business parteners away.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Twila
Twila Jacobs´s last blog ..Why Consumable Products Rock In Network Marketing
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Hi Twila,
I know, I have found out through reading your blog that we are a lot alike, lol.
Although I am not a patient person, one thing I would never do is push a prospect into doing something they don’t want to do. Because it would surely backfire.
You have an awesome weekend too!
Ilka
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Ok Ilka,
You know we are all not perfect, right?
Well this is my downfall, my patience.
The good news is that it has improved and for my retail end of the business, my customer retention is way up to like 80%. *CLAP* lol.
Great way to describe with the fishing example. No wonder why I was never a fisherman. Maybe it’s time to try again.
Have a great weekend Ilka!
Tommy D.
Tommy DiPietro´s last blog ..Creating Better Videos To Kill The Network Marketing Star
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Hi Tommy,
Hey, congratulations on your retention rate of 80% for retail customers! That is way cool!!
Ha, after my husband ,Randy, read my post for today, he turned to me and asked … How many times have you been fishing? …. Uhm, once
… But I thought it was a good comparison, lol.
You have an awesome weekend too Tommy!
Ilka
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Hi Ilka,
I’m laughing right now thinking of a friend of mine that was a customer for 7 years, yes…7 years. She didn’t want the business at all; however, she bought into another business and spent 4 times the money it would have cost her to get started with us!
She’s not on my team, however she is my dear friend…that is another story:( But, the point is her sponsor did have patience and continued for all those years, touching bases with her, staying in touch, being a true friend.
When she commented that she had spent a lot of money to get into a nutritional business, my friend said, “What did you do that for, you had one right in your pocket the whole time”?
Embarrassed but desperate she exchanged her useless product with our company’s exchange program and got started. Today, she has a thriving business and guess what? Yep, she is doing massive follow-up because “your team duplicates it’s leader”!
Thanks for a superb reminder and article as usual.
Carla
Carla J Gardiner´s last blog ..Pregnancy Dos and Don’ts
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 9:17 pm
Hi Carla,
You just never know what will happen down the road. Never, ever, burn any bridges.
That’s an awesome story Thanks so much for sharing it with all of us.
Have an incredible weekend!
Hugs,
Ilka
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It’s always best to express yourself with a good story. Kudos.
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
May 21st, 2010 at 9:24 pm
Hi Bradley,
Thanks for stopping by my home! It’s very nice to meet you.
“Facts tell. Stories sell.”
I love stories. They create pictures in people’s minds and make it all a bit more memorable.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ilka
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I think a lot of how soon someone signs up for your opportunity depends on the price of getting in. I’ve had people that I never had to speak to and signed up right away when the program entry fee was cheap, I’ve also had people who took over 6 months to join when the price is high.
Cody nanney´s last blog ..Alertpay | How to set up a FREE AlertPay Account | Peoplestring Training | alert pay review
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
May 23rd, 2010 at 11:43 am
Hi Cody,
Thank you for stopping by and leaving your thoughts! It’s very nice to meet you.
I agree, a lower price tag for the opportunity makes it more affordable. But, if you really want something and are passionate about it, the price shouldn’t matter.
Have a wonderful week!
Ilka
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Hey Ilka!
I really enjoyed reading this. I’m like you, I have to work at this as I was not born with this ability.
That being said, your absolutely right! People want to work with people they like, know and trust. How is this possible if someone is trying to push their deal onto them? It’s not.
I think a lot of people, especially new network marketers can benefit from reading this article.
Have a blessed day!
Melisa
Melisa´s last blog ..Today’s Success Quote & Action – Gary Vaynerchuk On Where You’re Going
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
May 24th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Hi Melisa,
Thanks for stopping by!
You’re absolutely right, shoving your deal down your prospect’s throat is not a good idea.
Patiently building a relationship a finding out your prospects’ needs is a far better way to go. And if we’re constantly giving out value while building those relationships we may not only win a customer or team member, but also some referrals.
You and Mr. Ken have an awesome week!
Ilka
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As I started reading your article, Ilka, my first thought was “well, she is right; network marketers ARE like anglers. So can you train yourself to be a good one, or is it either you have it or you don’t?”
But then came the AHA! difference – you CAN do something proactive when “fishing” for prospects; not pushy, but assertive; and that is follow up.
Great comparison, Ilka and very good article indeed.
Ana Online Marketing System´s last blog ..Search Engine Ranking for Tweets: How to Get Ranked
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
May 24th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Hi Ana,
Thanks for stopping by!
I believe that you can train yourself to be more patient. It’s definitely a skill that can be learned.
And you are totally right … being pushy versus being assertive are two very different things. As they say, follow up, follow up, follow up.
Have a wonderful evening!
Ilka
[Reply]
Hey Ilka,
WOW…..Firstly, the coincidence is amazing. I just wrote a blog post on trout fishing and generating network marketing leads.
I am definitely getting my fishing gear in check.
I love fishing. It definitely teaches patience, and a whole lot more. Take market research for instance. There is no way you will catch fish in large quantities unless you know what they eat, what attracts them, what scares them, etc.
Fishing definitely has lots to teach network marketers.
Great post, and thanks for sharing.
Michael
Michael T. Makahamadze´s last blog ..My Trout Fishing Experience – A Lesson On How To Generate Network Marketing Leads For Your Business
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
May 24th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Hi Michael,
Thanks for stopping by! It’s great to meet you.
So, as a true fisherman you can appreciate my point, lol. And yes, you need to know what to use for bait.
I don’t fish, but I bet it’s different for trout vs bass. So it would be different for various target markets as well.
Very valuable comment. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Have an awesome evening!
Ilka
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Oooh I love this analogy! This is awesome and oh so true! It takes patience, persistence, posture and an understanding/mindset of the fact that it WILL work if you do it correctly (just like fishing) but not if you try to rush it regardless of how bad you want it or how scared you are that you may starve that night. The race is with ourselves, how quickly can we get our heads right, not with others. Great analogy!
Kimberly Castleberry´s last blog ..2 Free Tools To Rank & Grade Your Blog or Website
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
May 25th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Hi Kimberly,
Thank you for your thoughts … and thanks for stopping by!
Let’s face it, has anything ever worked out when we were rushing it? Not in my life, LOL.
It’s always better to take our ‘sweet’ time and do it correctly. But oh, it’s so hard to be patient at times.
You brought up some other, very valuable points. Persistence, posture, and understanding/mindset.
Again, thanks for sharing your thoughts, Kimberly!
Have an awesome week!
Ilka
[Reply]
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Hi Ilka, great comparison with the anglers. Your are right, if we want to make it in this MLM industry, we need to get the habit of patience.
Believe me, we really need it.
As always, Blessings.
Jose Lasa
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
June 2nd, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Hi Jose,
Yes, I know. Patience is key.. In many things. Not just fishing and network marketing.
Thanks for stopping by again!
Have a wonderful week!
Ilka
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I love this fishing analogy Ilka! Growing up, I didn’t like to go fishing because sometimes I caught fish and sometimes I didn’t. I wanted to catch fish every time. I found out later in life that, I could have caught more fish if I didn’t change my location so much.
These days, in our marketing efforts, we make so many changes so often, it’s no wonder the prospects are slow to ‘take the bait’ so to speak. We need patience in all segments our of business.
Thanks for sharing this great information.
-James
James Hampton´s last blog ..Thinking About Getting Into Network Marketing? – Part Two
[Reply]
Ilka Flood Reply:
June 4th, 2010 at 10:33 am
Hi James,
WOW! You really brought up a GREAT point.
Although there’s a saying … “If you don’t catch anything, move your boat,” we oftentimes don’t stay there long enough to give the fish a chance to take the bait.
Great thought! Thanks for sharing it with us!
Ilka
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