The Enlightened Networker » Success

Are You Sabotaging Your Own Network Marketing Success?

Ilka Flood — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 16:25:24 +0000

Success in Network Marketing

Success in network marketing starts (and ends) with YOU. Have you ever heard that?

If that is news to you, listen up.

Can you relate to this scenario?

You are doing everything your upline sponsor tells you to do. You are using the tools he or she recommends. You attend all company meetings and listen to every single conference call. Yet, … for some reason you don’t see the network marketing success you would like to have.

What’s wrong?

One important ingredient is missing. Actually, the most important ingredient is missing.

Neither systems , tools and conference calls nor company meetings are building your success. They do help considerably and are very important, don’t get me wrong, but unless you add the most important ingredient you will never see the success in network marketing you could have.

This one missing ingredient is … YOU!

Plain and simple!

It’s YOU and what you are THINKING.

Do you have doubts about your products? The comp plan? The company? Doubts about your own ability to succeed? Fear of failure? Fear of success? Maybe you are afraid of your own courage?

If you have a case of “Stinkin’ Thinkin,” get rid of it. Stop sabotaging your own network marketing success!

I am just re-reading “Think And Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill and in the book he states …

“Both Poverty and Riches are the Offspring of Thought”

Think about this for a minute. That’s very a powerful statement!

If this is true, than that would mean that you can think yourself into poverty or you can think yourself into riches. Which would you choose?

Well, I know which way I would go.

In chapter 3, Napoleon Hill talks about “The Law of Autosuggestion.”

“The subconscious mind makes no distinction between constructive and destructive thought impulses. It works with the material we feed it, through our thought impulses. The subconscious mind will translate into reality a thought driven by fear just as readily as it will translate into reality a thought driven by courage or faith.

…If you fill your mind with fear, doubt and unbelief in your ability to connect with and use the forces of Infinite Intelligence, the law of autosuggestion will take this spirit of unbelief and use it as a pattern by which your subconscious mind will translate it into its physical equivalent.“

Wow! Pretty scary stuff, huh? So, be very careful what you think.

I would like to close with a poem that describes the law of autosuggestion very well…

“If you think you are beaten, you are,
If you think you dare not, you don’t
If you like to win, but you think you can’t,
It is almost certain you won’t.

“If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost
For out of the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow’s will—
It’s all in the state of mind.

“If you think you are outclassed, you are,
You’ve got to think high to rise,
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

“Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!”

Napoleon Hill, “Think & Grow Rich

Think POSITIVE!

Success in network marketing can be yours if you can adjust your thinking. When you get a case of “stinkin’ thinkin”, which we all do at times, get rid of it immediately and change your negative thoughts into positive ones. You do have a choice.

When I get down and negative thoughts creep into my mind, I get away from it all. I do something fun and uplifting. Sometimes I go for a walk. Doodle a while in PhotoShop or listen to upbeat music. Or I read a few pages in a book. (Hint: Think & Grow Rich is a great one.) Or I take a shower and wash those negative thoughts right out of my mind.

To your Network Marketing Success!

Ilka Flood
The Enlightened Networker

P.S. Share with us what you like to do to get rid of “stinkin’ thinkin’.” And if you found value in this post, please share it. Thank you!

The “Rinse and Repeat” Formula for A Successful Network Marketing Business

Ilka Flood — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:22:26 +0000

"Rinse and Repeat" Formula for a Successful Network Marketing Business

So, just what is this formula for a successful network marketing business?

It’s been said, that our habits predict our future. I believe that to be true. How about you?

Have you ever noticed that the more you do something the better you get at doing it? You can take anything in life and you will see that there is actually some truth to it.

Remember when you first learned to ride a bike?

You were wobbly. You knuckles turned white because you were holding on to those handle bars for dear life. You prayed that your dad (or mom, or whoever was holding on to the bike to keep you stable and give you support) wouldn’t let go.

You practiced every day and every day you got better. And then came the day when you were practicing again, and you turned around and there was nobody holding on to you anymore. You were riding that bike all by yourself.

At first that scared you and may have caused you into ‘wobbling mode’ for just a few seconds. But then you regained your confidence and you were enjoying the ride. A proud feeling of accomplishment came over you. You did it!

Now when you get on a bike you don’t even think about what you are doing. It’s just automatic.

It can be the same in your network marketing business.

You may be totally overwhelmed, pulled into different directions. Everybody and their brother telling you what to do and how to do it. (You’re in wobbling mode.)

But when you get really down to it, it’s quite simple. Just like riding a bike. Focus on the basics.

There are certain tasks that you must accomplish every day in order to reach your goal of running a successful network marketing business. Some of them may be new to you and may require a certain amount of practice. But by practicing them every day, you will get better.

“Repetition is the mother of learning, the father of action, which makes it the architect of accomplishment.” ~ Zig Ziglar

So what’s the formula for a successful network marketing business?

Identify the tasks you absolutely have to do every day in order to move your business forward.
Do them in order of priority. (Life happens, so do the most important tasks first, just in case.)
Practice those tasks that need perfecting.
Rinse and repeat

Stick to that formula no matter what. Put your blinders on if you have to in order to keep from getting distracted. I know there are many distractions out there. All I have to do is open my email inbox and there are tons of them…But…

Repeating important activities that move your business forward on a daily basis is the key to a successful network marketing business.

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit.

I don’t know how they came up with 21 days but it seems to work. So write down what you need to do every day. Do it for 21 days and see what happens. (Of course keep going after that.) There is power in positive habits.

Just keep your focus right on your target and you will get there.

Bye for now, I’ve got to go do some rinsing and repeating.

To your successful network marketing business,

Ilka Flood
The Enlightened Networker

P.S. If you found this article helpful please share it with your friends. Thank you!

Can There Be Success Without Gratitude?

Ilka Flood — Wed, 19 May 2010 22:02:18 +0000

Developing an Attitude of Gratitude!

Hmm, I wonder.

I’ve been reading quite a bit about “developing an attitude of gratitude” lately.

Taking things for granted is never a good thing.

Have you ever noticed that when you loose something you suddenly (and sometimes painfully) notice its value to you?

I try hard not to take anything for granted, but this morning when I sat down on my computer I noticed that I had taken for granted the very things that are KEY to my business success.

Here are just a few things I had totally taken for granted …

My computer
The very first thing I do every morning after getting out of bed is turn on my computer. Without even thinking about it, I expect it to turn on and to hear that familiar humming sound.

I never gave thought to the many people who were involved in creating the parts and putting it together. Nor have I ever thought of the genius who was able to figure out that a bunch of zeros and ones somehow could make a computer in the first place.
The Internet
Again, I totally expect it to appear as soon as I log in. Should it go out (usually right in the middle of me working on something – like would you believe it – right now as I am writing this) I kick and scream (sometimes) and get very upset.

The internet is the life line to my customers, my team members and prospects, my online friends … well to basically everything. It’s the heart beat of my business. Without it I am dead in the water.
Email
I took it for granted (until right now) that I can send an email to someone half-way around the world in seconds and that I can get a response back just as quickly.
Skype
I can call friends, family and prospects all over the world and don’t have to pay a penny to do so (if I call from computer to computer) or very little if I call from computer to a land line or cell phone.
The Telephone
The ultimate credit goes to Alexander Graham Bell for inventing it in the first place. But look how far we have come since then. I’m not tied to a wall phone but can call people from anywhere and can be reached anywhere with a cell phone or mobile phone.

Someone had to invent all these tools I’m using on a daily basis to build my network marketing business.

Someone had to make all this possible. But have I ever thought about those people or thought about giving thanks to them? If I’m really honest … no, not really. I’ve totally taken all that for granted.

So here today is my official expression of gratitude to everyone who has anything to do with me building my online business. Thank you for making this possible for me!

The only ‘thing’ I haven’t taken for granted are you, my readers. I truly appreciate you stopping by and reading my posts and leaving me your thoughts. Thank you so much!

So again my question … Can there be success without gratitude?

In my opinion, no, there can’t be success without gratitute. Because expressing gratitude for the things you have opens yourself up to receiving more. And the power of gratitude goes a very long way.

What are your thoughts?

To your success,

Ilka Flood

P.S. As always, if you got something out of this post please don’t forget to share it with your friends on Twitter or Facebook…or Digg it.

Which Way Is Success?

Ilka Flood — Mon, 03 May 2010 22:12:56 +0000

If you have been following my blog for a while you may have noticed that I like to tell stories to illustrate a point. Well, here’s another one …

Which Way Is Success?

A man meets a successful person on the road and asks him, “which way is success?”

The successful person speaks no words, he just points to a place off in the distance.

The man, thrilled by the prospect of quick and easy success, rushes off in the direction he was sent to. Suddenly, there comes a loud “SPLAT.” After a while, the man comes limping back, tattered and stunned, assuming he must have misunderstood the message. He repeats his question to the successful person, who again silently points in the same direction.

The man obediently walks off once more. This time the “SPLAT” is deafening, and when the man crawls back, he is bloodied, broken, tattered and very irate. “I asked you which way is success,” he screams at the successful man. “I followed the direction you indicated. And all I got was knocked down. No more pointing! Talk!”

Only then does the successful person speak: Success IS that way. Just a little PAST splat. (Original author unknown)

How often do we give up too soon? If we only had pushed a little harder; gave it a little more effort; dusted ourselves off and tried again after we were knocked down; where would we be today?

Success doesn’t come easy. If anyone ever told you it does, they haven’t been telling you the truth. There’s no such thing as “Easy Street.” The road to success is bumpy and littered with obstacles.

Ask any leader in the industry and they will tell you they have been bloodied, broken and tattered many times. But they always got up again and went past “SPLAT” one more time.

I too, found myself nose down in the dirt many times. Quitting was never an option looking at the alternative.

“Quitters never win and winners never quit!”

How about you? Found yourself with bloody knees once or twice? Or maybe even more often? Share your thoughts with us in the comment box.

To Your Success,

Ilka Flood

P.S. As always, if you liked this post, tweet it or share it with your friends on Facebook. Thank you!

7 Common But Deadly Mistakes of New Network Marketers

Ilka Flood — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 19:30:10 +0000

Or …What not to do when you first start out in network marketing.

Let’s be totally honest here. As new network marketers just starting out in the industry we all have made some mistakes. I know I certainly have made my share. That’s just part of the learning curve. As long as we learn from our mistakes and fail forward, we’ll be alright.

So, here are probably the 7 most common mistakes we make as brand new network marketers…

1) Don’t have a Part-time Attitude

It’s certainly okay to build your network marketing business part-time and alongside your regular job in the beginning. What’s not okay, is having a part-time attitude about it. Many new networkers fail because they treat their business like a hobby. This will reflect in your commission check. So, don’t dabble in your business… Commit to it! It is YOUR future that you are building.

2) Don’t Make Yourself the Issue

When you first start out in network marketing you know absolutely nothing. Nothing about the company and nothing about the products you are selling. You are brand spanking new. So how are you supposed to grow your business? You haven’t even earned a penny in commission yet. Many new networkers feel very uneasy because they don’t know what to say to their prospects.

Don’t worry. Just take yourself out of the equation. Find either your sponsor or somebody in the levels above you who is willing to help you. Use that person as an expert to do 3-way calls with your prospects.

Don’t interrupt them while they are talking, listen carefully and take good notes on what they say and how they say it. Learn from them so eventually you can do this yourself.

3) Don’t Take Rejection Personally

New network marketers are often afraid to talk to people about their new business opportunity because they are afraid of getting rejected. What they must realize is that, it is not them getting rejected, but the opportunity might not be right for the person they are talking to. Or the timing may just not be right.

When I started out in this industry, rejection was a biggie for me. I was afraid of picking up the phone and calling my leads, because I was afraid of them telling me “NO.”

Until someone put it to me this way… “Look, when you order a Bic Mac at McDonalds and the clerk asks you if you would like fries with that, he’s not going to break out in tears if you tell him, ‘NO’, or is he?”

Well, of course not. That would be silly. Fries are not for everyone …and neither is your business opportunity. You just have to find the right people. ..Hint: Those who like fries.

4) Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

Someone has always walked the path before you. So don’t make things harder for yourself by trying to reinvent the wheel. If your sponsor or team has a system that has worked for them, by all means use it. Keep it simple! Don’t make this business more difficult than it really is.

5) Don’t Forget the Power of Customers

Often new networkers are so focused on recruiting new team members that they totally forget about customers. Retail sales count for part of your income in network marketing. Customers are the back bone of your business. They join because they fell in love with your products, and they stay because of it.

6) Don’t Alienate Your Sponsor

Your sponsor is your most valuable resource. Your ‘go to person’ who is there to train and guide you, to support and encourage you. Don’t alienate him or her by constantly whining or being negative or hanging on their shirt tails.

Don’t expect him or her to hold your hand the whole way through. I have had sponsors who were there for me for my first week …and then cut me lose. From then on I was on my own, but I knew if I needed something they were just a phone call away. I was expected to call THEM …not the other way around.

7) Don’t Let Anyone Steal Your Dream

There is a reason why you started your network marketing business. It may be to stay home with your kids. Or to bring your husband home. It may be to buy a bigger house. A new car. It may be that you are getting close to retirement and want to make sure you can live comfortably after you no longer work. Or you might want to go on that long overdue family vacation. Whatever your “WHY” don’t let anyone come along and steal it. Hang on to it!

And number 8…

If you like this article don’t let it go to waste by not sharing it with your friends on Twitter and Facebook. Thank you!

To Your Success,

Ilka Flood

Face It… You’ll Never Do It Perfect…Unless You Are Woody Woodpecker

Ilka Flood — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:51:01 +0000

Woody has been living in our backyard for a couple of years now. Every spring he would show up and peck on our trees and on occasion also on our house. Which especially made my husband mad. Not just because of the horrible noise, (woodpeckers sound like little sledgehammers), but also because of the damage. Our neighbors actually had to redo the top of their chimney because of Woody’s pecking.

Actually, I found him pretty annoying too, until, earlier this year when I stumbled upon his “perfect work of art” in our backyard. Looks like Woody has decided to move in permanently with us and built his home in one of our old tree stumps.

I stood in total amazement when I saw the perfect circle. I even went as far as to measure it. It is exactly 1 inch and 5/8 across horizontally and vertically. How can that be? How can such an annoying little guy create such a perfect circle?

We’ll probably never know unless we ask him. And I for one am no Dr. Doolittle.

As network marketers we often want things to be perfect. We want to build the perfect business website or sales letter targeting the perfect audience. Write the perfect email or autoresponder series to connect and stay in touch with our prospects or customers. Create the perfect blog post on our network marketing blog accompanied by the perfect picture with the perfect keywords so we will be found in search engines. Even down to our profiles on social media sites such as Twitter or Facebook, everything has to be perfect.

Let’s face it…It will never be perfect.

Even practice doesn’t make perfect. But it does make better.

Much more important than perfection is completion.

If we constantly fine tune or redo whatever we are creating and never finish it, nobody will see it.

Remember the NIKE commercial … Just Do It!!

Your success in network marketing does not depend on perfection, but on completing the tasks along the way to reach your ultimate goal.

Finish your sales letter, your website, your social media profile, your email series, your blog post or whatever it is and send it out there so people can see it. It may not be perfect, but it is completed and it’s out there doing what it is supposed to do …grow your business.

To Your Success,

Ilka Flood

P.S. This post is not perfect. But if you liked it, please share it anyway. Thank you!

No related posts.

Could This Be The „Missing Piece“ To Your Success in Network Marketing?

Ilka Flood — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:07:40 +0000

While browsing around the BetterNetworker.com site over the weekend I found a blog post I had posted there about a year ago. I thought it would be a good one to share with all of you today to start the week off on the right foot.

Lessons From A Blender

As I strolled into the kitchen that morning for my second cup of coffee, I saw my husband put huge chunks of ice into the blender for his chocolate shake. I looked at him and the first words out of my mouth were, …“you’re going to break the blender.” (Always the positive thinker.)

As he hit the button nothing happened. A grin went over my face. I knew it! There was no way it could crack these huge chunks of ice. He should have broken them into smaller pieces first. Ha, I told you so =)

Then my eyes wandered over to the outlet. The blender wasn’t even plugged in.

My husband, who had followed my eyes, picked up the cord, and, with a huge smile on his face, plugged it into the outlet. Then he hit the “Ice Breaker” button on the blender. Noisy but without any difficulty the blender started to break the ice.

Still grinning from ear to ear, my husband turned to me and triumphantly asked,… “Now, what did you learn from this lesson?”

“That to be successful, you’ve got to be plugged in”, I answered.

You can’t light up if you’re not plugged in.

And you can’t become a leader that way either. It just doesn’t work that way.

Leaders are plugged in. They attend training calls and events.

They continue to learn and grow. They are involved.

And, they do what others don’t, they always push themselves!

To Your Success,

Ilka Flood

P.S. If you liked this post, please share it with your friends on Twitter and Facebook.

The Entrepreneur’s Prayer

Ilka Flood — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:10:24 +0000

The Entrepreneur’s Prayer

As I awaken with the gift of yet another day and prepare for the tasks at hand, I offer up this most ardent prayer.

I pray for continued clarity of purpose so that I may hold my vision steady and keep my focus on the needs and success of others, which in turn shall bring me success.

I pray for the wisdom to epect abundance in my life, that it surrounds me and is available for the taking and to be shameless and unapologetic upon its receipt, for I deserve abundance.

I pray for a cheerful countenance, be it clear or cloudy skies and that I may radiate and infect others with my positive attitude.

I pray for the trust of others that they may recognize my sincerity and true intentions so that we may move forward together.

I pray for the strength to fend off adversity and use my desire and determination as both weapon and shield.

I pray for the courage to carry forth my convictions during the battle of business and to resist temptation to a quicker monetary result when such temptation compromises things for which I stand.

I pray that I may be used as lightning rod to collect the amazing ideas already present in the universe and when blessed with such inspiration, that I may be able to apply my talents and abilities to turn the power of thought into measurable advancement of my goals.

I pray to retain my childhood wonder so that I can recognize and revel in the small miracles of each day that others may miss.

I pray for an infinite supply of self-confidence for it alone fortifies faith, strengthens my resolve and conquers the largest enemy I will ever face…fear.

I pray for a compassionate spirit and the patience to offer those who seek my advice and my help, my full and undivided attention.

I pray for good health and a feeling of well being, and the continued desire to improve those areas of my physical life I may be neglecting in the name of my spiritual and entrepreneurial advancement.

I pray that today is a day of excellence and at its conclusion I can acknowledge and be grateful for the forward motion I have made and the growth I have experienced.

I pray most of all for the understanding and support of those closest to my heart, my family, that they will equate what may seem like endless hours of apparent pre-occupation with affairs of business to what is at the very core of my being, that which drives me, for once I achieve what I have set out in its fullest, I will become that more complete being I strive to be.

It is for these things I pray, for I am an entrepreneur.

212°…The Extra Degree

Ilka Flood — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:22:46 +0000

A couple of months ago I posted this on my old “The Enlightened Networker” blog. This morning I needed a little reminder of the difference between good and great. So I watched this movie again to encourage myself to give it that extra little push that makes all the difference in the world. I thought I’d share it again with you all. Maybe you need a little reminder too.

Did you know that…

At 211 degrees, water is hot.
At 212 degrees, it boils.
And with boiling water comes steam.
And steam can power a locomotive.
The one extra degree makes all the difference.

Are you reaching your goals, your dreams, whatever you set out to accomplish in life? Maybe you need to push just a little harder. Remember in last year’s Summer Olympics, Michael Phelps won another Gold Medal by one hundredth of a second.

So many times in business as well as in life (or sports) it is that one extra degree that makes all the difference in the world.

“To get what we’ve never had we must do what we’ve never done.”

See you at the top!

Change is Good…You Go First!

Ilka Flood — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:55:15 +0000

21 Ways to inspire Change
By Mac Anderson and Tom Feltenstein

Read on, or just watch the 3 minute movie:

Change What Needs Changing, Not What’s Easy

SUCCESS

“Before we build a better mousetrap, we need to find out if there are any mice out there.” _Yogi Berra

RE-RECRUIT YOUR BEST PEOPLE

“You get the best efforts from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within.” _Bob Nelson

FORGET FOR SUCCESS

“It’s easier for companies to come up with new ideas than to let go of old ones.” _Peter Drucker

FOCUS ON STRENGHTS -

“Focus on the critical few…not the insignificant many.”

REMOVE BARRIERS

“When you’re up to your rear end in alligators, it’s hard to remember that your purpose is draining the swamp.” _George Napper

It All Starts with BELIEF

“A good leader inspires people to have confidence in their leader. A great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves.” _Anonymous

SIMPLIFY YOUR MESSAGE

“Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple – that’s creativity.” _Charles Mingus

LET YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK

“You can’t teach culture. You have to live it. You have to experience it. You have to share it. And, most importantly…you have to show it.” _Brent Harris

CELEBRATE SUCCESS

“The greatest management principle in the world is ‘the things that get rewarded and appreciated get done.’” _Michael LeBouef

MEASURE RESULTS

“What gets measured gets improved.” _Peter Drucker

SET THE STAGE FOR INNOVATION

“The best way to get a good idea is to get lots of ideas.” _Linus Pauling

STAND WITH THEM NOT ABOVE THEM

“The measure of a truly great man is the courtesy with which he treats lesser men.” _Anonymous

REINFORCE, REINFORCE, REINFORCE

Because…”When patterns are broken new worlds emerge.”