Some people have a comfort zone with technology and others are more comfortable interacting directly with people over the phone or in person.
True or False?
The first step to success in Network Marketing is getting out of your comfort zone.
(Jeopardy Music Playing)
Answer: ABSOLUTELY FALSE!
It’s one of the biggest myths in Network Marketing and we will dispel it with one simple question.
Are you more powerful working in an area of competence or incompetence?
Competence, of course, right?
Competence comes with being comfortable. Competence comes with relying on your strengths.
When launching your career in Network Marketing, embrace your strengths and begin to build your business within those strengths. As you begin to pile up little victories, (and defeats) branch out into other areas.
In the beginning, pay less attention to the results and more attention to getting the process right. Results do matter, but don’t expect to be great at something immediately. It takes practice.
Sir,
I agree with you on the idea of playing your strengths. But for me personally, I've had to move out of my comfort zone to make anything happen. I've had to be diligent, persistent and self motivating. These are not my usual traits. I'm having to change mentally to make my business get set in motion. I'm finding that the change is positively affecting my whole life.
There's a definite excitement about getting out of the comfort zone. I had to realize that there was a danger in linear thinking. "If I do A, B must occur." It's the idea that I could "make things happen." I can influence an outcome but I can never make things happen. I can't make someone buy product from me nor can I make them enroll. The hope and potential of having customers and sponsoring people is exciting but it usually has a limited warranty. That's when my persistence comes in. If I get my hopes too high, I set myself up for disappointment. If people can tell we're suffering outside the comfort zone, that might repel them. After all, they just want to be comfortable. It's human nature.
Sorry, Ty:
I must also disagree to a point. In order to experience new things or try something different, we must move out of our comfort zone, whether it be hang-gliding or just inviting the new neighbors over for a cook-out. It is when we are stretched that we grow. However, we should also have a good idea of where our giftings and abilities lie and where they don't. I do well with public speaking. Even though I know I am gifted in that area, I still had to step out of my comfort zone and deliver that first speech so I could grow in that area. I also know I would shrivel up and die if you handed me the accounting; I already know I have no gifts or abilities in that area (despite a degree in Physics) and handing me the books would be like turing the asylum over to one of the inmates.
"Ahhhhh…I see," said the blind man. You have my apologies.
Gang,
I am not saying ignore self improvement. I am saying that you are more powerful in your comfort zone than outiside of it. So isn't it logical to start building your Network Marketing business in that zone?
Too many people are so focused on a 2-5 year plan that they forget to embrace their own strengths and turn a profit this month.
There is not one person reading this blog that doesn't have the ability to turn a profit this month in Network Marketing.
If they want to make it a career, by all means they will have to stretch out of their comfort zone.
Ty,
I agree. Work on your strength's and build on that.
Gather a few wins, and that will give you the self esteem to go out, and try new things.
I think one of the problems when we get involved in mlm is our first month is filed with hearing no's and negative's…having to ,earn all this crap to be successful.
Give your people the room to win a few battles..build them up…and they will succeed
Thanks
Shane
In other words, don't be a sheep and try to fit in some hypothetical shape. Be yourself.
BUT how would an introvert do MLM then?
Imran,
One of my first questions to the introvert would be…
What are your strengths?
Everyone has strengths. If the strengths are applied to selling products and sponsoring people, a profit will be turned.
Contact with people takes place in every business in the world (Network Marketing and other). If an introvert wants to be in business, he or she will need to accept and eventually embrace that.
Shane,
I hear people say that they lose count of the number of people that told them no. Their goal is to go out and get 100 rejections and in the process, they will find some yeses.
That is almost as big a myth as the need to become a different person once you join MLM. In my 2 years with Passport, I can count the number of no's I've had on one hand and I have had over one hundred people ask me to sponsor them.
The reason?
I only present my products or business to people that:
1. Have a real need
2. Understand that they have a need
3. Are seeking a solution
…and then I only present Passport products or business if I feel that Passport is truly a viable solution or match for the person.
Forget about being a Network Marketer, be a solutions provider in every way you can think of and your Network Business will naturally grow out of that.
Hi all,
NO's will "kill" a person. It's like being shot, but shot in a much different way.
There are way's that are rejection free, in a sense.
Marc
This subject is exactley what I went through recently. I had a few things touch some nerves a few months ago while working with Passport and I scared myself right out of the biz and some close freindships. Basically I was out of my confort zone…not looking for my streangths and BAM….I was gone. After a few weeks off I fell back on a area I am comfortable with and started over. I repositioned myself to work on some streangths so I could gradually work back into the out of my comfort zone areas. Find you interests…move on it and then you will have more confidence for the stuff you're not to sure about.
Happy Celling!
JBNET
I think what Ty is trying to say is that instead of just throughing your self out of your comfort zone. You should build yourself up and work your way out of your comfort zone. Not just through yourself into a cage full of rabid dogs.
Ty,
I have to agree with you totally.
As you know I am with Send Out Cards, and I approach everyone with the product first. I have not heard a no…ever!!!!
In fact I showed Dave all about it, and just sent him a free yearly account…I know he will love it….
They all love the product, and in showing them the service if they show any interest in making money, or working from home I can show them.
I love Passport, and what you all are doing exactly for this reason.
This is the way a business is supposed to be built.
Keep up the great work!!
Shane
Ty, I think I understand what you are saying. And it is highly intelligent yet simple! Play your strengths. I believe that is how many very young genius' do it (i.e. Bill Gates, Guy who invented Firefox, Linus Torvalds-Linux invetor). And Shanon made a great point: "If people can tell we're suffering outside the comfort zone, that might repel them. After all, they just want to be comfortable. It's human nature."
However, think of anyone, ANYONE you consider a great success that pushed the limits and I will show you a 1000 rejections, 1000 no's, 1000 discouragements.
Think of the writers, the inventors, the artists, the business men, people seeking social change and even the spiritual teachers who shaped our culture and belief systems.
I'm 30 years old and I'm just now realizing that rejection/failure has been one of my worst fears. In my oppinion, success is built on overcoming rejection and you only truly fail if you quit. Its like Shane said its not so much overcoming rejection as it is Solving Problems or presenting to people who "have a need." When you introduce new ideas you can often be met with discouragement its just human nature for people to fear change, even if its good change.
Thomas Edison is quoted as saying, "Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward.."
As a writer (unpublished) I've suffered many rejections. Rejections slips used to be like a knife in my heart until I found out the following:
C.S. Lewis received over 800 rejections before he sold a single piece or writing.
Louis L’Amour was rejected over 200 times before he sold any of his writing.
Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind was rejected by 25 publishers.
By the time he was fourteen, Stephen King had collected so many rejection slips that he posted them with a spike on the wall above his desk.
And there are thousands of others.
Its a matter of focusing on the opportunity then rejection, discouragement and set backs are just a blur on the side of the road to your success.
Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open."
–Bell