Could your upline / company be killing your business?

This sounds pretty unbelievable doesn't it. In many ways this very thing could be happening to you right now.

When our upline and or company makes or forces us to become totally dependent upon them for our marketing we no longer have control.

On the other side there maybe very good reasons why a company will take such action.

This is especially if the company markets nutritional products and the distributors make wildly exaggerated claims.

Recently a company we are very familiar with made changes that could possibly effect the growth and stability of the company. While they truly believed it was the best thing for his company, unintentionally this company has as we see it, set itself up for possible ultimate failure.

As a former network marketing company the decision to change this company to an affiliate program a single level affiliate program. There really is no such thing as a single level affiliate program, reality is that it is a direct selling program. Now don't get us wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with direct selling programs. These organizations can be found everywhere, and you can be very successful with them, but it is all up to you.

One of the major differences between a network marketing program or direct selling program is when you stop working for what ever reason in a direct program more likely then not your income will also start a slow spiral of death. A direct selling program is linear income you get paid for your results. While a network marketing / MLM program can produce true residual income that continues to grow, but this will only happen if you build a well educated and pro-active sales force!

The second major mistake that this company made was when it partnered with an automated push button marketing system. In itself some of these are  not bad, but experience has proven time and time again they just plain do not work. Sure you may signup a few people, but mainly they only make the owners of the systems wealthy. It is for this reason that they will disappear after a few years then come back with a slick new marketing package.

It does not stop there, today there are many courses and packages sold through out this industry that are remakes of products that where around a few years ago. Once again these disappear and reappear under what appears to be new owner. So how can you tell when this occurs? Well if you stay around long enough you will see the writing styles have not changed much, just the names promoting it.

I'm sure if you really think about it you'll come up with many more ways that companies have pulled bone-head maneuvers that have not only damaged their businesses but hurt many people working with those businesses.

If you are involved with a network marketing / MLM company and they restrict the way you market your business it's quite possible that maybe they have something to hide and really want to keep a very low profile. Maybe it's time to look for a new company.

So how can our upline sabotage our business.

Where do we begin on this one, that's a good question one that is both complex and simple at the same time. Ok lets get one thing straight I'm very high on education. No not the run of the mill hype you will find on the internet.

If you spend anytime on this web site, what you will I hope be able to see is that my belief is if you work this like a business and really treat it like a business you will succeed. Building your business is a marathon, its not a race and it surely is not the lottery as some have portrayed.

There are many great motivators in the network marketing / MLM industry. These men and women do a great job at getting you all fired up. Yet once the excitement wears off what's next? I've spoken with so many so called heavy hitters in the industry, generally most are trying to recruit me into their business.

I'm sure this has also happened with you if you've been doing this any length of time. I always get a laugh out of the call because they all start with the same procedure, drop a few names that I'm supposed to know. Sure having a strong upline can have a benefit but it always comes back to you. If you do not have the skills you are not going to succeed. Some people sit in the back of the company annual meetings and really believe that people getting the awards are really lucky, yet luck had no part in it. It still is and always will be proper skill development.

When your upline or company gives you the advice to go out and find people already in this industry, especially with some kind of marketing presence. My advice is find a new upline or a new company. If your using the phase we have the best pay plan and products in the industry to recruit these people, trust me they could careless. Besides if they will jump from their company to your company, what happens when the grass looks greener again on the other side of the fence.

Some companies do a good job of training on their products. Some hire outside motivational speakers to pump you up. So why do so many feel dissatisfied with the training? It is really quite simple "People Learn at their own rate." I've spent many hours coaching and instructing people in all aspects of building their network marketing business. Yet even I know I'm not giving them the structured environment that is required for the level of training that they need, all I can do is fill in the areas that I'm proficient in.

By plugging into a training program that is tailored to your wants and needs you gain the necessary skills to become successful in the sales process. Wait a minute you say, "MY COMPANY SAID I'M SHARING NOT SELLING." Ok are you in a business or what? Lets go down to one of the big automakers and ask them will you share your new car with me. Businesses grow and thrive because of sales, not sharing so put that myth and business killer out of your head. If you don't want to gather customers and make sales, then get out of this business today.

How many times have you heard from your upline you doing great, just do more of it but you don't know what to do to begin with? Well maybe they don't know either, I guess you'd call this the blind leading the blind. I've talked with people that where advised by their upline to quit their job because they really needed to work this full time. Unfortunately they did just that. So now you've got no job, no skills and no marketing budget "what they didn't tell you that you would need a budget?"

I've spoken to many individuals that wanted to get further educated in sales processes only to be sabotaged by their upline. This has gone so far as to have the upline flat out indicate that if you do it, your on your own. Now why would they take this approach, mainly it has to do with a fear of loss of control. What if my downline suddenly knows more then I do and really starts to succeed in building a business, gather new customers etc..

Isn't this what we want in network marketing.

Do they give the advice, just share this with your friends and family? Do any of them still answer your phone calls, have they stopped inviting you over for barbecues etc... Do people walk on the other side of the street when they see you coming? Very few friends and family members are our target market for our products and services and especially for our business opportunities.

Network Marketing / MLM, direct sales is really a business where you have total control of your own success or failure. You can realistically make more then those who brought you to the company, but you must take control of your life, get out there and make it happen. Hard work, reduction and persistence will pay you huge dividends in the long term for your efforts but you have to take control.

As a parting word, "If you want to earn a 6 figure professional income, then by all means become a professional." Learn everything you can about marketing and apply what you learn!

Sincerely

Glenn D. Burks
Certified Marketing Consultant

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