I’ve been reading a number of articles and emails about people giving up. The dismal picture that is painted by stating only 3% will ever be successful in this industry can be misleading. In reality it would appear that a whole bunch of unqualified leads are signing up.
Inflationary Lead Generation Numbers
Just about every job market you walk into these days has a hiring formula that includes application, background check, at least two interviews and possible drug screening. I’ve had college students explain what they went through to get a 10 dollar an hour gig. My standards aren’t nearly as rigorous for individuals who want to join my team, but they are thorough.
Just because I do my job in qualifying my leads doesn’t guarantee they’ll be successful. In some cases it is almost impossible to see someone in action which is essential to verify they are what they claim to be. No matter how many times I rewrite the interview people are always apt to put themselves forward in the best possible light. I know if I walk into an interview I want my ‘A’ game.
We also have to deal with the people who’ve convinced themselves they can do anything. How hard will they continue to work at the process without tangible results before they convince themselves they never really wanted to do this in the first place? Where else have they positioned themselves in life to accept a 97% refusal rate? I’m still looking for the right question to determine how long someone perseveres before they no longer have faith in themselves. Not many life situations lend themselves to learning how competent we are on self reliance.
The Edison Test
I love to use the story of Thomas Edison in his determination to make the light bulb work. Knowing that the goal is attainable is enough for the people who do succeed in network marketing. They pay no attention to the pile of light bulbs in the dumpster that didn’t work. Focusing either on a mentor or business formula that does work seems to satisfy all of their time and effort regardless of the results.
The real network marketing lead has become somewhat more ambiguous where direct personal contact has been replaced by emails and phone calls. An isolated team member or smaller network extension is like the infantry division cut off from the regular army. They have a greater need for supplies and reinforcements. Following up with them needs to be more frequent. Connecting them with company meetings and seminars is important.
This is one of the reasons I think CISCO hits a covetous nerve with their commercials. Imagine a network meeting with several teams in different parts or the country or world, all seeing one another in high definition on 52″ screens. After all we are the human network.
