It’s to help other people.
It’s to add value.
To be exact, it’s to add disproportionately high value to other people’s lives so that they can’t help but pay you in return.
Are you doing this in network marketing? The answer is, of course, “Hell no.”
You can’t…
Now, before your dream-stealer defenses kick in, lemme clarify:
It’s not about you; it’s about them.
The following is for your own good. Trust me. I wish I read an article like this one eight years ago when my life went down the drain, with no direction but down… where I still had decent money in the bank. This is no satire; this is a real story. A painful story. I confess; I couldn’t write thsi ina sobre sttae… It doesn’t matter. Coz I edited the rest with no drugs involved.
Let’s get started.
I was involved in network marketing, or MLM respectively, in 2014 and 2015. While it helped me overcome my social anxiety and forced me to make friends (because I had no connections in a foreign country called Australia, and thus no other choice if I wanted success, whatever that meant)…
…I’d notice that something was off.
It was the infamous Value Equation.
I was selling myself and my biz opp. I wanted it bad enough. I was telling people the same BS they had heard from other network marketers before. Fake claims. Fake testimonials. “Fake it till you make it” was common practice back then, still today.
(HINT: It never works. Sooner than later, people find out you’re a fraud. Is this what you want? Seriously?)
In short, I wasn’t helping. I wasn’t solving their problems.
I was adding to their problems.
And I wasn’t proud. And I wasn’t “my own boss.” I had the illusion of being my own boss. (Back in the days, I was promoting a health supplement; not AMWAY!)
Change in product development? No control. Change in marketing? No control. Discontinuation of a product or service? No control. Change of the compensation plan? You guessed it: No control! I can go on and on and on and on and on…
…You get the point, hopefully.
You can be a pyramid builder or a pyramid climber. You can be the sheep or the sheep header. […] When the lambs are lining up single-file for slaughter, you want to own the slaughterhouse.”
–MJ DEMARCO
Being a network marketer is nothing but a sales job disguised as “being your own boss” and “running your own business.”
As MJ Demarco, bestselling author of The Millionaire Fastlane (the most impactful book in my life so far) and failed network marketer before turning millionaire creating Limos.com and selling it twice, puts it, “[T]he real essence of MLM […] is sales, distribution, and training—not entrepreneurship.” He also states that “you own a job managing and creating a sales organization.”
No one cares about your selfish desires, but everyone loves you to help them achieve theirs.
I’d like the idea of people loving me unconditionally, but that’s too idealistic. It nearly made me kill myself. Go figure…..
I don’t make the rules, life does.
You may obey and reap the rewards, or you don’t.
Up to you.
What people care about:
- Speed
- Entertainment
- Education
- Give hope/inspiration/aspiration (think, Nike or Apple… you’re not paying for mere clothes or the latest electronic goods here, you almost always buy from them to maintain or raise your social status—no judgment, I do it too)
- Security (including housing)
- Health, nutrition, style, beauty
- Make them feel better about themselves (feel loved, connected, confident, et cetera)
- Ease and comfort (for instance, a faster and easier way to solve someone’s problem like home delivery)
And some more…
The point is:
“Doing what you love” and “being your own boss” and “generating passive income” is only satisfying as long as your “business” is solving someone else’s need and/or want—with a high enough profit margin for you and long-term biz dev in mind.
Selfish desires may motivate you to get started, which is great! But it won’t keep you going when the going gets tough. Why? Because you need to have something bigger than monetary rewards in (or, better yet, on) sight.
Otherwise, none of us will reach big goals.
Ever.
OK, nuff said.
Let’s move on.
QUICK REMINDER: You won’t be successful for long if you’re just in business, believing (or being motivated by):
- Being your own boss
- Working on your own time
- Make money by doing (or sharing, aka MLM) what you love
- Earning multiple streams of (passive) income
- Being the ultimate creative thinker
- Living life to the fullest (aka, repeating success affirmations in front of a mirror like, “I am a money magnet” “Abundance is my birthright” or even worse: “Through the power of my subconscious mind, I effortlessly attract all the wealth I need and desire” …YUCK! Painful memories from the past…)
Let’s cut it here.
The list would go on forever.
Been there, gave it my best shot (as previously mentioned).
(ON A SIDE-NOTE: Nowadays, I give it my best shot using my free time to deliver as much value as I can to my preferred audience—that is, idealistic men in their 20s feeling lost in life—through my daily articles and upcoming weekly podcast episodes …while keeping my full-time sales job during the day. This way, I keep learning a lot about human nature and human interaction, for which I’m truly grateful. Besides, these are fascinating topics. Monetization is the last thing on my mind right now; as it should be. Down the road, we’ll see.)
The truth again:
No one cares.
No one cares about your wanting to drive your dream car. No one cares about your wanting to travel the world (unless they are into traveling and, even then, they will fantasize about being “you” 99.9% of the time). No one cares what you share unless it positively impacts their lives. And no one cares what you had for breakfast, nor dinner. (Unless, again, they are your loving parents. Hi mom!)
It works like this.
People around the world—you and I included—only care about themselves, their family, their friends, and (in some cases) their environment. First and foremost.
Once you solve their pain points, fulfill their desires, guide them along with their struggles…
…Then they may be open to joining your “revolution” or “movement.” And, even then, you got to show them WIIFM (“What’s in it for me?”).
Before that, no chance.
At all.
It’s human nature.
Whether you accept this fact or not… it won’t change in a million years.
People are interested in themselves and what’s important to them (people in their lives, their hobbies, passions, ideas, dreams, hopes, ambitions, causes, etc.). Even volunteering. We do it because it makes us feel good. Deal with it ;-)
Recommended read: Every single book by Robert Greene (not affiliated). My favorite is 48 Laws Of Power (the original version published in 1998).
Long story short (TL;DR):
If you think about starting your own business—be it as a writer, consultant, life/biz coach, musician, freelancer, copywriter, accountant, attorney, or the next big startup—keep your focus on other people.
Focus on other people; add disproportionately high value to their lives.
The same applies if you’re already self-employed.
(If you’re in MLM without success: Quit today and cut your losses short. The odds are disproportionately bad. Do the math, man. I lost thousands of dollars in a single year. Hadn’t it helped me turn my social life around and become the man I’m proud to be today, I would’ve probably committed suicide. Most don’t know how close I was to the edge. Not even my closest friends. Don’t let that happen to you. If you feel the urge, seek professional help ASAP! Unfortunately, I cannot help you.)
No one cares about you and your selfish desires.
Everyone, however, cares about their own selfish desires being met.
Just do that.
Last but not least, make it about something BIG.
A mission or cause worth fighting for.
For me, that’s helping idealistic men who feel lost in their 20s. I’ve been there, have been through many ups and downs. Still here with 27 years on my back. Soon 28 years.
Find yours.
