…Most of the individuals in network marketing will not take it. I know when I started I didn’t. I followed just about anything that sounded good.

To put it bluntly, I was following training advice from people that seemed to know what they where doing.

It wasn’t until I really began to focus did I understand what was going on. A couple of years ago there where headlines that read:

The Death Of Network Marketing

At that time It surely appeared as nothing more than another lead generation system. Yet, over the past two years I have to believe it has migrated more towards the truth.

Prior to the meteoric rise of the internet and the marketing that came with it, life and building a business was much simpler.

With it being simpler it gave us more time to focus on what was important, not only in our personal lives but also in the way in which we built a business.

One of the chief complaints of any individual is never having enough time! Followed by, not having enough money to start or market a business.

Today so many people involved in network marketing really do have an identity crisis going on…

…They don’t know whether they are an affiliate marketer or network marketing. Mainly because, like I was in the beginning following the wrong training!

There is a path to success, the hard part is knowing which path to take. It begins with a close evaluation of the network marketing training that you are getting, is it balanced.

When it comes to building a successful network marketing business today, you’ll find polarized views on both sides.

The old school crowd and the new school crowd!

There is nothing wrong with old school methods (Avon Reps have been doing it for years) provided you know exactly what you’re doing.

Yet, most individuals make simple mistakes that quickly destroys their opportunities with their warm market.

And, then some chose an opportunity that for all outward appearances has scam written all over it.

On the opposite side of the fence is the new school network marketers…

…AKA internet network marketers that believe the only way to succeed is with massive action and automation.

Forget building and forging relationships, the true essence of network marketing. They believe in just letting the tools do it.

In this day and age, focusing on one method of network marketing training is really foolish.

And following the wrong advice could even destroy months to years of work! Last June 2009 I wrote a post about “Why Do People Steal Content!”

I recently had and individual email me after his site was shut down by his web host, and you can probably guess why…

Yep, he’d plagiarized content from not only my website but many others as well. He stated I guess the people teaching the course where wrong!

Is this really the new school network marketers marketing methods? Or, is it just a few individuals?

Has society degraded to the point that no one cares because everyone is doing it? Or, because today we want success so badly we’ll do anything to achieve it?

Everyone wants to generate leads on their own…

…Some will take the hard road and do it in an honest and ethical manner, attracting people who share the same values.

They will do this by tapping into network marketing training that is based on sound principles not the current marketing craze.

The question is whose marketing advice will you be following today?

Why would anyone give up on what they know is working for them in network marketing for what they don’t know? It beats the crap out of me…

Yet, one individual I recently talked to was doing just that. And, this individual was not taking the easy path.

By following the advice he had discovered on the internet, he had started a blog, was on twitter and facebook.

Posting about 5 times a week, in my opinion off to a great start on his blog…

Yet, it wasn’t producing anything. But, he’d already built a sizable downline simply by using his existing contacts…

…You know “That Dreaded Warm List” everyone tells you to avoid.

But, then they ask you to friend them on facebook so they have access to that warm list.

The key to successful marketing is keeping it balanced, and focusing on the areas that are the most productive.

If that happens to be working your warm market, why change. If you can get someone on twitter to stop blasting ads at you long enough to read your tweet, then use that as well.

If you want to blog, do it consistently and give it time to mature and grow. Eventually you’ll have a following or at least have people trying to figure out why you’re in the top 10 of the search results.

There really is no right or wrong method in network marketing as long as you’re connecting with real people.

Time sure flies don’t it. It has been almost a month since most of us have thought about, and many of us have written down our goals for our network marketing business.

If statistics hold true, over 70 percent of us have either dropped or completely forgotten the new goals we’ve set for this year.

Dropping our goals is one thing, but forgetting our goals is something we can get control of. Starting a journal is one of the best things you can do for both your business and personal life.

A journal can be either in written form, something that at times appears easier to do or it can be in an electronic format.

As a Mac user, I’ve use the software MacJournal by Mariner Software to keep my electronic version of a journal. Here is a video overview, kind of old:

They also produce a Windows version called WinJournal for windows users. Both versions allow an individual to keep a journal and use it for blogging.

So why keep a journal?

As a network marketer we have an overload of information bombarding us each day. Often we’ll run across something that sparks an idea. If we don’t take the time to write both the idea and our thoughts on it…

…Well, you know what happens to it. It becomes lost forever!

Everyone it seems today wants to blog their way to network marketing success! Getting used to writing in your journal each day helps get those creative juices flowing.

Thus it makes it much easier to create original and high quality blog content. There is a tired and worn out cliche, “Content Is King!” Yet, original content is truly king!

If you’re not keeping a journal and tracking your network marketing business result’s, start today!

Recently I had someone contact me to ask the question: “Can you really earn (fill-in your amount) per month in network marketing?”

Everyone finds a business that they believe suits them and meet’s their goal for generating income. They let it run for a few months or more, they decide to get on the internet…

…It is promised to be the salvation for your business! In no time you’ll be generating an endless supply of leads.

So when I received the question above which had a web address attached to it, I visited the blog and found basic SEO mistakes.

These mistakes are all to common among the millions of network marketing blogs out there today. With the major one being the writing is all over the place…

…A total lack of focus on what the blog or website is supposed to be about.

For example: If your blog or website is about network marketing you’ll find that there are many topics that are closely aligned with the term.

Topics like affiliate marketing, Leads, Coaching, even blogging etc… can all be related to network marketing…

…But in your blog post if you go from lead generation to telling me about a specific nutritional product in great detail, it is not really aligned with the blogs theme.

You’d be better off starting a new blog on “Joe’s Nutritional Tips.”

Yet, on the other hand most of us quickly run out of ideas to write about for our blogs, which could explain why so many jump from on topic to off topic posts.

Now there is really nothing wrong with that for a personal blog where you just want to write about the things you love…

…But, if your blog is business oriented you’d better stay on topic and focused.

The greatest challenge for network marketers is creating enough content, many have resorted to plagiarizing content for many different sites.

Search engines just like success in business require consistent action and original content. Ask any good copy-writer what he or she has to do for a project and they’ll tell you research.

Which is why I’ve been a fan and supporter of Leaders Club for so many years. It’s a virtual treasure trove of ideas, training and proven marketing methods…

…Information that gives you years worth of ideas on what write that if your goal is to create one of the top network marketing sites.

Yesterday I read one of the dumbest post on network marketing I’ve heard in quite awhile. It read three reasons people fail, while some of it was valid one part I have to disagree with.

Their argument was people fail because they are not using someone else’s marketing system. A marketing system that in reality actually promotes someone else…

…And they want network marketing leaders both large and small to bring them to their system. I’ve met a few of these so called leaders over the years whose only concern was, “how much money can I make off this?”

Ok, this is a business that is driven by profits, yet by taking this action who do you think your downline and prospects are going to be attracted to you or them?

Once they realize that you don’t have the answers, you’ve lost them. Granted no one can have all the answers, marketing is complex and there is truly a lot of garbage out there.

And sadly most of this training is designed to keep individuals dependent versus becoming independent. One of the reasons I stated the blog post I read was one of the dumbest comments I’ve heard.

Each person is responsible for their own success, and with success comes a confidence that cannot be taken away from you.

When you boil it all down you are an independent network marketer and so are your downline members!

Are you going to provide them and yourself with the resources to become truly independent marketers or a system that creates a dependency on someone else?

When you combine knowledge with action, it leads to independence. Which in turn leads to confidence and ultimately success. Isn’t that what you want for both your downline and yourself?

Ask yourself are you a network marketing leader who is empowering your downline or the leader who is setting them up for dependency and ultimate failure?

In the news yesterday was an article from the Associated Press. The article painted a bleak picture for the millions of Americans that are currently unemployed.

It states that a new finding a new job often means a pay cut, often accompanied with a relocation to a new area for a job.

They cited a few examples that indicated workers laid off during the 1981-82 recession earned 20 percent less, even 20 years after they where rehired.

Faced with the prospects that history will repeat itself…

…And, millions will be facing the cold hard reality that they will be earning 20 percent less over the coming decades you would think that this would make network marketing more attractive.

Quite possibly it could fill that 20 percent gap in income many are facing, or it could lead to a full time income completely replacing what they lost.

Still, what about those that have not lost their job, are they planning for the future? After all there is no guarantee of success in life!

What can we do to make network marketing attractive to millions of people that may already have a perception of it being a “Scam, Pyramid or Ponzi scheme?

We need to become professionals, not just act like it! Then and only then will the network marketing – MLM industry become attractive.

If your ready to become a true professional, here is the one company can help you reach that goal.

Each year we set new goals for ourselves. We tell ourselves that this year will be the year that our network marketing business grows exponentially.

88 percent of Americans set New Year’s resolutions each year. Yet, by January 2nd over half of those resolutions have already been abandoned.

Followed by another 10 percent by January 3rd.

By the time, we get to April over 90 percent have completely forgotten the resolutions they’ve set for the New Year!

Last month I had written about “Blogging your way to network marketing success.” This is another goal that many set for themselves each year.

And, each year like clockwork many abandon their blogging project. They find out very quickly that it will take far more time and effort to achieve.

If you’re going to blog try to be consistent, trust me it’s hard to do. Especially when you are trying to run more than one blog like I do.

I am convinced that even with everything going on in our society today that 2010 will be your most productive year ever if you take action today!

If you think back to one of the biggest obstacles to starting your business, I’m sure you’ll agree it was believing that you don’t have enough time.

No doubt, your prospects feel exactly the same way as you did. Now imagine telling your prospects or new downline members that in order to succeed they will need to spend…

Several hours each day on social sites.
Countless hours learning how to create a website or blog.
Several hours each week Blogging.
Countless hours learning how to create and publish Youtube Videos.

Knowing full well that 90 percent of them will quit by April after they see no results from all this time and effort.

You’ve set them up to compete with ten’s of thousands all in the same market. Imagine driving down the road and all you could see are thousands of the same franchises along the road, where is the attraction in that?

But, you don’t really care you got your one time commission?

Maybe it’s time to become a contrarian network marketer and stop following the herd. After all if your goal is to generate a full time income, you’ll need to differentiate yourself from all the lemmings out there.

If there is one thing that the most successful network marketers do it is, they don’t always follow the herd. And they do not abandon proven methods that work in any economic situation.

After all I’m hoping that you did not start this only to end up going broke in network marketing.

Often we go through life with the blinders on, we have that secure feeling that if I just do everything right it cannot possibly happen to me.

Well guess again, it can and does happen.

I discovered this in a tweet today by Chris Brogan, and boy did it strike a cord. Just recently I stopped by where I was employed years ago to visit with some of the people I used to work with.

Just like in the video above HR had walked in and bam they where all gone. And I do mean the entire shop was let go without warning.

I’m sure if you’re reading this it may have happened to you or someone you know. And, none of us can ever be fully prepared for it.

Still I found it inspiring that they have moved on and life goes on. When you stop and think about it, years ago an employer could do this and get away with it because it was not common knowledge.

Today, with the internet people know.

What can you do to lesson the impact should the axe fall on you?

On the 11th of November 2009 I was at my brothers funeral. He was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident just a few days earlier.

My brother was never in network marketing yet, it appears from the poem that was written below he was a master marketer.

Someone who truly listened to what people wanted and then delivered beyond their expectations. This was written by a Lady to be read at his funeral and it really sunk in:

For John The Stone Angel

A knock at my door, and who enters in
But, a tan, tattooed man with a big, bright grin.
He and his comrades, all ready to go.
Began, with their creative gifts, to put on quite a show.

Dirt, rock and rubble, slowly, but surely, gave way
To the beauty of landscapes like none seen in their day.
Cement pathways did sprout and stone walkways did grow.
Beautiful steps, out of nothing, by day’s end, did show.

Each task the next conquest, each challenge the next glory,
Signatures of creative stone and mason mastery tell quite a story.
Who could imagine the beauty hidden below?
All the dust and clay-gray water, only John would know.

He’d chuckle with confidence and listen with his heart
As I’d try to describe what I thought was just a start–
Then, as if right before my eyes, the art work emerged
And my squeals of delight just made his efforts surge.

The matching of patterns, the merging of grains,
His eye was so discerning, seeing all with no strains.
His smile constant and bright, his optimism so glowing–
John’s vision of the future creation just couldn’t help showing.

Then, when he was ready and he knew he was sure
He’d prepare the surprise, with his confidence pure.
Trusting his artists heart , soul and eye,
What a delight– as I’d squeal to the sky!

John’s hands, skilled and sure, would have shaped the art
And the mortar he set, would lend bone to its heart.
Then majestic, but, pliable stone, that he mastered with care
Bent and turned to his will, leaving a bit of him there.

I’ll cherish that art–and even more than this–
I’ll marvel each day at his work and the bliss
That it signified of his hope each and every new day,
And be grateful I knew him as he passed by this way.

John has marked his life with strength and nature’s beauty–
Acknowledging God’s tools to be used with faith and a duty
To revere these works that can give comfort and bring peace
As we remember his love of this gift, his skill and his ease.

The stone that John crafted will from his heart always speak
Of the highest regard for life, friends, family, and still seek
To shout forth his lofe of his life, lived his way.
Thank you John, always, for your life’s passion on display.

Grateful for his gifts and his giving spirit–
Marsha K. Hardeman

In Dedication to Mr. John Burks, Master Mason
November 11, 2009

In April of this year I wrote about “The High Cost Of Procrastination.” The post was based on a commercial written for the State of Michigan in the ad it was stated:

All We Get Is About twenty-five Thousand Mornings!

The sad part is that we often have less than that, so the question again is how do you want to be remembered in life?

Will you be thought of as someone who manipulated your way through life or as someone who was thoughtful and caring?

Just something to think about as we head into this holiday season. Reach out and touch those you love, those you care about, for that matter even complete strangers.

For you never know when those twenty-five thousand mornings will be cut short!