How I Wasted 10 Years Trying To Grow A Home-Based Business

How I Wasted 10 Years Trying To Grow A Home-based Business

Sometimes it's just as helpful to learn from other peoples' mistakes as it is to learn from their successes. I have 10 years of experience doing the wrong things to get my Network Marketing business going. Perhaps going through all of the trials and tribulations was necessary for me to finally arrive at the success level I am current achieving, but you should not have to do the same.

If you have just begun a home-based business, or are currently struggling with one, you will most likely encounter (or have encountered) the following techniques without any success. These techniques are taught by Network Marketing companies in their attempt to improve their overall business as a company. It is much easier for them to focus on this avenue of training rather than teaching each distributor how to be their own CEO. When the smoke clears, they wind up with the profits regardless of your achievements. Learn from my ! mistakes outlined in detail below and save yourself a lot of valuable time, money and energy while building your business.


1. Distributing Flyers and Brochures
Ten years ago I began my business plan by committing to putting 1,000 flyers on car windshields every single day. This tactic did nothing but drain my advertising budget and gas tank. Not to mention the fact that I had to face angry store managers on a daily basis who threatened to call the police if I didn't leave their property. I did achieve some results, but they were minimal at best. A few customers here and there is not worth the time and effort.

The reason this outdated technique didn't work then is the same reason it doesn't work now. You are trying to reach the masses instead of targeting the people who have a want, need or desire for what you are selling. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack, except every day is like a different haystack and there is no guarantee there are e! ven any needles in them. I say save your luck for the lottery!! At leas t that won't suck up your time and efforts, along with your money.

2. Talking To My Friends And Family
This tactic may get you a few customers and distributors, but it will not make you rich. Let me give you an example. Let's just say you're marketing an anti-aging skin care product line. I'm just pulling this one out of the air to use as an example. So, Ok... so you're marketing anti-aging products. Does it make sense to sponsor your Uncle Pete when Uncle Pete's skin care usually consists of a bar of soap and maybe an extra splash of Old Spice when he's feeling frisky? The answer to that question is... "No Way!" Uncle Pete will maybe do you a favor and join the business and buy some product... but there is no conviction behind the product and when Uncle Pete doesn't make that big money... guess what happens? He quits the business and he stops using them because his involvement never WAS about appreciation and use of your great products to begin with.

When ! I first started, my friends and family did exactly the same thing, but ten years later there are two or three who still use the products consistently and none of them are in the business.The reason companies teach you to reach out to your warm market is because it works out well for them in the long run. If you ever decide to quit, there will probably be one or two customers who will continue to order from them. So, they want you to play the numbers game for their benefit, not yours. You might make a few extra dollars from doing it, but it won't be worth the risk of being black-balled from the next holiday party.

3. Following An Online-Business System
I tried several Online Business Systems hoping the next one would be the magic system that would put me to the top of my pay plan. Luckily when I tried the last one, I was smart enough to keep gauges and forced myself to quit before I got into deep financial trouble. I finally realized the whole idea of these systems! comes from top distributors who want to supplement their alre! ady huge income with profits from selling you over-priced leads and collecting $40-$50 a month membership fees.

They too play the numbers game, telling you that there is magic in spending over $1,000 a month on their way of generating prospects. If you aren't seeing the results you want, they just tell you to buy more. I came to the realization that if I couldn't afford to spend $1,000 a month on a system, in all probability new distributors who I would sign up would not be able to either.

Although I didn't lose a lot of money, I know several other distributors who lost thousands of dollars, mortgaged their homes and in some cases even filed for bankruptcy. Not only would I never want that to happen to me, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I now know how to get the same kinds of leads for 10 to 25 cents instead of paying that $4 to $25 per lead that I was paying. The sad part is that there are still thousands of people out there who are falling for this life-shat! tering gimmick.

4. Attending Corporate Trainings
For 10 years I attended trainings once a month, driving 2 hours each way and sitting for 8 hours at the training. Although these events were great for building confidence and gathering with people with the same goals, they did very little to grow my business. These meetings were designed to introduce prospects to the business and get them some initial training, but getting people to attend was like pulling teeth, even after they had already paid for an admission ticket. Then, if a guest did arrive, they seldom had the drive to continue month after month. Very few people are willing to forfeit an entire free day each month to sit in a hotel conference room when they could be spending time with their families or resting. Especially when they realize how difficult it is to get their own guests to attend with them.

Along with that, the same information was discussed each month to the extent that you were lucky t! o come away learning one new bit of information that was worth! your ti me and energy. Taking into consideration the cost of the training, gas, tolls, meals and on occasion a hotel room, I spent in excess of $1,000 a year just on local trainings.

Then there are those regional and annual events that I was told was an absolute must if I was serious about growing my business. And, it was important that I promote, promote and promote to my downline to attend as well. These events were 3 to 5 days and in most cases required registration fees, air transportation, hotel rooms and meals, which ranged anywhere from $500 to $1,000 per event. This eventually drove many new distributors to quit because they felt they could not afford it and would not succeed if they did not attend these events.

5. Believing There Were "No Weeds" In My Garden
Because I was so dedicated to the company as a result of my product results, I believed everything I was told. I refused to believe that any problems could exist with a company that practically promised! me everything under the sun as long as I followed their plan.

Things didn't change for me until I stepped out of that powerful environment and began looking from the outside in. Once I sought proper education on becoming a marketer rather than just a distributor, I began to see the forest for the trees. It did not make me want to quit my company and try a new one, it simply allowed me to realize that in order to be successful I had to have an open mind about the way I was being taught to approach my business. No company is perfect, and if there is something you don't like you should should not feel that you are being unfaithful just because you don't agree with it. Businesses have flaws, even when you are told to keep your blinders on.

If you truly want to grow a work from home business through Network Marketing, you must be willing to think for yourself as a leader, and as a CEO of your business. Listen to what your company teaches and see if it is teaching! you to be a boss or an employee. You don't want to just be a ! distribu tor of their products, that won't get you very far. Focus instead on educating yourself on how to be a marketer, which means finding a demand for your product, and then filling that demand with supply. My failures have led me to a successful training program that actually pays me to learn how to be a leader. Ultimately, it's about understanding the power of mindset and positioning are the true reasons behind success in Network Marketing. This is how I turned my business around and I continue to help others to do the same.

It is possible to succeed in Network Marketing. You just need to start thinking outside of the box.

By: William Winch

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

William Winch is a Business Growth Specialist whose mission is helping people expand and explode their home-based b! usinesses without breaking the bank. A former High School and College Business Educator and Counselor, he mentors from his home office in Rochester, NY. If you are interested in learning how to explode and expand your home-based business, you can contact William by visiting his website at www.thefreemlmpowerreport.com or by calling him directly at (585) 234-5283.

By: William Winch

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

William Winch is a Business Growth Specialist whose mission is helping people expand and explode their home-based businesses without breaking the bank. A former High School and College Business Educator and Couns! elor, he mentors from his home office in Rochester, NY. If you! are int erested in learning how to explode and expand your home-based business, you can contact William by visiting his website at www.thefreemlmpowerreport.com or by calling him directly at (585) 234-5283.

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