Some potential clients have contacted me, lately wanting to talk to me about their plans to go into various network marketing "opportunities."
Since, I've had to turn away many of them because of previous commitments, I thought I'd just make a quick mention about where I stand on the topic. This is really just a warning, more than a full article...
Some of you have heard me say good things about Robert Kiyosaki, the author of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series... doesn't HE recommend network marketing? So doesn't that mean that we, at Rylan Coaching also recommend network marketing?
Well, Kiyosaki does say great things about network marketing... He makes a pretty good point that it can be a low-cost way to learn about sales and business... and for some people, it may be a good way to make money... but in my experience, I don't think it's a good fit for most people...
There are so many different products and services sold through a network marketing model, that I hate to paint all of them with so broad a brush...
A lot of my friends in the coaching industry are involved in and promote network marketing products and services, so I hesitate to give you this advice. But I have seen a lot of people-- too many-- get demoralized and turned off to business, sales, etc after getting involved in different network marketing "companies." It's not as easy a business as it may appear to be, and generally, the people who really make the money are the ones very high up in the company. The ones who start it make the absolute most.
I cannot tell you what their intentions are, because I don't know most of them (well, we can be sure that one of their intentions is to make money)... and like I said, I have known a few (a very few) people who have made a lot of money with it. Those people tend to have a very... unique... personality (let's just leave it at that) and they seem to be a perfect fit for this kind of enterprise.
But for the most part, for those of you who look to us for our recommendations, I just want to set the record straight that for most people in most situations, I would advise that most of you should stay away from this type of business.
So, if I don't recommend network marketing, what do I recommend? Am I saying you should just stay away from business altogether?
Not at all. If you want to get rich, business is one of the best ways to do it, and for a lot of you, it's the only way you are realistically going to make it happen.
Many of you budding entrepreneurs should not delay and just get to work on a businesses... one that harnesses your natural core talents and gifts. Ideally in a market that is growing.
I know,... it is easy to say, and hard to do. How do you find the right money-making situation for you, especially if you don't have adequate business education or experience.
How do you know what business to get involved in?
Good coaching can be a great help. I would love it if one day, I could coach you through the various options, so we can come up with a great answer that really fits you.
However, if that doesn't happen, and if you can't locate another good coach or mentor, don't give up trying! I'll leave you with two strategies to get started on your search.
(1) Ask five people who you have worked with, what they think you are good at. When I say "work with," I do not mean just people you have worked with at a job. Make sure you ask people who you have worked with on projects you did for fun or leisure. Especially things you were passionate about.
Ask them and you might be surprised at what they say. It might not even be what you want to hear, but try to see if there is a pattern. You are looking for strengths you have that are obvious to others. This is a good way to find some clues about what direction to take.
(2) If there is an industry you love, or think you would love, get a... (choke!) JOB in that industry. And maybe not just one job, but a series of one job after another in that industry.
But don't take the job(s) to make the most money or find the perfect job. Don't get seduced by the job... Don't build your life around the stability of that paycheck... not if you want to be an entrepreneur. Stick with jobs in your dream industry for a good amount of time... Six months to three years might be a rough estimate. it depends on your industry, your skillset, and what learning opportunities come your way. Get as much education as you can, before you start your own thing. Be patient, but pay attention to your instincts. If you are losing the drive to start your own project, then it may be that it's time to quit.
While you are working, look for the situations where you will learn the most and talk to the decision-makers in the industry. Find ways to put yourself in those situations. Notice what skills the decision-makers and their people have. One thing you are trying to do is to get an overview of what's involved to make the business run. A job can get you that.
The other thing you want is to find teachers and mentors in the industry. In most industries, there are wise, experienced people who like talking about what they do, and how to do it in the best way possible. LOOK FOR THEM! SEEK THEM OUT! They are the real instructors in your real-life business school. And it's FREE! What a deal!
(For some of you, you can learn from these folks without getting a job in the industry, and if that works for you, do it. But there are certain perspectives you are only going to get from working at a job in an industry).
One day, when you have your own empire, you may be thanking these mentors by hiring them for YOUR company!
Don't give up! There is one thing that is more important than education, coaching, or experience... that is DETERMINATION! If this is something you want in your life, then it is up to you to go forward and claim it! Does it take time? Yes! Does it take hard work? Yes! Does it take the faith to go forward, when you are not sure what is going to happen? Yes, yes, and yes!
Determination is not something that you go buy in a store. It's something that comes up from inside you. Something you can call up right now! So, be determined! Have faith when you need to. Have the wisdom to modify your course when you need to. But BE DETERMINED! You CAN do it! So, MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Until next time, best of luck in all your pursuits. Don't forget: you have your own special gift in this life, so use it, live it, grow it, and share it!
Since, I've had to turn away many of them because of previous commitments, I thought I'd just make a quick mention about where I stand on the topic. This is really just a warning, more than a full article...
Some of you have heard me say good things about Robert Kiyosaki, the author of the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series... doesn't HE recommend network marketing? So doesn't that mean that we, at Rylan Coaching also recommend network marketing?
Well, Kiyosaki does say great things about network marketing... He makes a pretty good point that it can be a low-cost way to learn about sales and business... and for some people, it may be a good way to make money... but in my experience, I don't think it's a good fit for most people...
There are so many different products and services sold through a network marketing model, that I hate to paint all of them with so broad a brush...
A lot of my friends in the coaching industry are involved in and promote network marketing products and services, so I hesitate to give you this advice. But I have seen a lot of people-- too many-- get demoralized and turned off to business, sales, etc after getting involved in different network marketing "companies." It's not as easy a business as it may appear to be, and generally, the people who really make the money are the ones very high up in the company. The ones who start it make the absolute most.
I cannot tell you what their intentions are, because I don't know most of them (well, we can be sure that one of their intentions is to make money)... and like I said, I have known a few (a very few) people who have made a lot of money with it. Those people tend to have a very... unique... personality (let's just leave it at that) and they seem to be a perfect fit for this kind of enterprise.
But for the most part, for those of you who look to us for our recommendations, I just want to set the record straight that for most people in most situations, I would advise that most of you should stay away from this type of business.
So, if I don't recommend network marketing, what do I recommend? Am I saying you should just stay away from business altogether?
Not at all. If you want to get rich, business is one of the best ways to do it, and for a lot of you, it's the only way you are realistically going to make it happen.
Many of you budding entrepreneurs should not delay and just get to work on a businesses... one that harnesses your natural core talents and gifts. Ideally in a market that is growing.
I know,... it is easy to say, and hard to do. How do you find the right money-making situation for you, especially if you don't have adequate business education or experience.
How do you know what business to get involved in?
Good coaching can be a great help. I would love it if one day, I could coach you through the various options, so we can come up with a great answer that really fits you.
However, if that doesn't happen, and if you can't locate another good coach or mentor, don't give up trying! I'll leave you with two strategies to get started on your search.
(1) Ask five people who you have worked with, what they think you are good at. When I say "work with," I do not mean just people you have worked with at a job. Make sure you ask people who you have worked with on projects you did for fun or leisure. Especially things you were passionate about.
Ask them and you might be surprised at what they say. It might not even be what you want to hear, but try to see if there is a pattern. You are looking for strengths you have that are obvious to others. This is a good way to find some clues about what direction to take.
(2) If there is an industry you love, or think you would love, get a... (choke!) JOB in that industry. And maybe not just one job, but a series of one job after another in that industry.
But don't take the job(s) to make the most money or find the perfect job. Don't get seduced by the job... Don't build your life around the stability of that paycheck... not if you want to be an entrepreneur. Stick with jobs in your dream industry for a good amount of time... Six months to three years might be a rough estimate. it depends on your industry, your skillset, and what learning opportunities come your way. Get as much education as you can, before you start your own thing. Be patient, but pay attention to your instincts. If you are losing the drive to start your own project, then it may be that it's time to quit.
While you are working, look for the situations where you will learn the most and talk to the decision-makers in the industry. Find ways to put yourself in those situations. Notice what skills the decision-makers and their people have. One thing you are trying to do is to get an overview of what's involved to make the business run. A job can get you that.
The other thing you want is to find teachers and mentors in the industry. In most industries, there are wise, experienced people who like talking about what they do, and how to do it in the best way possible. LOOK FOR THEM! SEEK THEM OUT! They are the real instructors in your real-life business school. And it's FREE! What a deal!
(For some of you, you can learn from these folks without getting a job in the industry, and if that works for you, do it. But there are certain perspectives you are only going to get from working at a job in an industry).
One day, when you have your own empire, you may be thanking these mentors by hiring them for YOUR company!
Don't give up! There is one thing that is more important than education, coaching, or experience... that is DETERMINATION! If this is something you want in your life, then it is up to you to go forward and claim it! Does it take time? Yes! Does it take hard work? Yes! Does it take the faith to go forward, when you are not sure what is going to happen? Yes, yes, and yes!
Determination is not something that you go buy in a store. It's something that comes up from inside you. Something you can call up right now! So, be determined! Have faith when you need to. Have the wisdom to modify your course when you need to. But BE DETERMINED! You CAN do it! So, MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Until next time, best of luck in all your pursuits. Don't forget: you have your own special gift in this life, so use it, live it, grow it, and share it!
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