Are there differences in the way men and women approach network marketing? Yes. Is one way better than the other? Probably not. However each could learn from the other. All you guys out there, listen up. We can learn something from the women about how to succeed in network marketing.

First, networking requires building rapport and trust quickly.
Women are generally much better at this. Some of you men are getting in touch with your feminine side and are becoming better at this. Women tend to be more emotional and can touch another person’s emotional side quicker. This builds a solid bond that is hard to break.

Men tend to be like a bull in a china closet, powering in for the close. The key here is to understand the primary reason why a prospect might be interested in network marketing and then cater your approach to that emotional need.

Second, women are better encouragers.
They make great network marketing leaders, because they understand what motivates their distributors and uses that to keep them excited. Also, they have a softer approach, which tends to appeal to people better than a man’s harder, less caring approach. Also, women are better at nurturing relationships. Men are more into competition and winning, while women are into creating win-win situations. In each situation, evaluate how you can create a win-win situation with your prospects.

Third, on the whole, women bring a higher level of integrity to network marketing. Without their influence, this industry might be an “anything goes” business. Men would focus on conquering and winning. That’s contrary to the networking principle.

Here we want to share, nurture, and encourage people to success.

Although the leadership in network marketing is still dominated by men, women are making their move. There is plenty of room up at the top for all of us, both men and women. Let’s learn from each other, become better people, and build the greatest industry in the history of the world!

This is an article that is dedicated to all mothers and in general women who are the leaders in this world. Ron Pruett a leader in the Network Marketing industry wanted to write this article because without women in our business of Network Marketing who knows where the industry would be.

“I am not the pushy sales type and that’s what I think you have to be like to be successful in MLM.” I have heard this statement (and variations of it) so many times from wannabe business builders and struggling distributors.
I emphatically state that one does NOT have to be pushy or overtly aggressive to make a lot of money in MLM.
First of all NOBODY likes to be pushed. Not even two-year-olds. We all know a two year old will sometimes resist with all their might and you have to drag them. We all resist being pushed in anything and it starts very young in all of us. Walk up to anybody and ask them, “How do you feel when I do this?” …then push them rather robustly on the shoulder. Watch their face. At minimum, their face reflects that they not only disliked it, but they were ready to push back. At most they will (in no uncertain terms) tell you they didn’t like it and warn you not to do it again or they will push back.

There is a reason that we all hate to be pushed. It is something we have had with us since the day we were born. It’s called FREE AGENCY. When that agency is taken from us by anybody we hate it. We resist it. We rebel against it. And often don’t like the person pushing or foisting their will on us. We want things OUR way – not the way someone else wants it. Or, worse yet, demands it. That, unfortunately, is why many bosses are (to put it nicely) not easy to get along with. And difficult bosses are one of the reasons network marketing will always be of interest to the people who have jobs.

Network Marketing offers a solution to the dragon/job/boss that controls you 40 to 60 hours of week. A job also controls your happiness and income. But the idea of having to be a pushy sales type to get out of that situation often keeps good people out of the business. And the TRUTH is that you don’t have to use “pushership” to make money in MLM.

Stating “I don’t like selling” is usually a direct result of two things:

1) Deep revulsion to the image of being a pushy person – someone who others resist and dislike because of their aggressiveness and overbearing or offensive personality.

2) Deep dislike of hearing the word NO. Hates rejection so much they won’t do what they have to do to make sales happen.

Although many people do it wrong and are very pushy and distastefully aggressive, selling is wrongly perceived as an occupation where you have to be pushy and can be rejected. Both of these things can result in you not being liked – and we ALL want to be liked, appreciated and wanted by everyone. Right? Selling, as many wrongly perceive it, seems to put that at risk.

So how do you sell well and still be liked? Even admired? Knowing the answer to this question can help you reap the benefits of a cash flowing network marketing business!

“WHAT IS IT?”

OKAY…Here it is:

Identify a prospect’s Core Desire(s). Almost always it is money and what it can provide to them i.e. freedom, our of debt, leave their job, retire properly etc.. Then show them how your company and products can help them get what they already want… their Core Desires.
Can it be that simple? Absolutely! Find out what someone wants, in any area of life, offer to help them get it. Show them how your business and products will give them what they already want, need and are searching for.

When I was building my very successful downline, I did what I just advised you to do. I lead people to where they tell me they want to go. I didn’t sell or push anyone. Many willingly followed me and my advice… and no one ever called me pushy… even those who said “no” to the products or business. The same will happen to you.

One woman I worked with wanted to stay home with her children. After learning that information I was able show her exactly what she had to do to make that a reality. Using her comp plan I was able to calculate how many people she needed in her downline on autoship to give her enough income so she could replace the income from her day job. I was also able to show her about how long that would take. She went for it and thanked me profusely for helping her achieve her heartfelt desires.
Be a leader – Lead people where they want to go. Don’t push people where you want them to go.

Help everyone get where they already want to go – to their Core Desires and you will never be or appear pushy, aggressive or offensive.

Leadership, not Pushership, is definitely a win-win interaction with others.

Ron Pruett is a leader in the network marketing industry. He has built his previous company to the very top of the compensation plan.

You have to be very careful of scolding. Scolding, as a last resort, may be necessary but you must be very careful.
Scolding someone is like giving them a cut, giving them a small cut with your words on the hand. Maybe it will serve its purpose, and the cut will heal and everything will be okay. You needed to get their attention. But you must not do it everyday, all the time.
Some children end up with psychological scars because they have been cut (scolded) everyday. Scold, scold everyday and they wind up psychologically disadvantaged because of that kind of treatment. Because somebody has the words, but words that are cruel; and they use them too often, all the time rather than saving them up as a tool of last resort. They just cut and scold all the time, and kids sometimes have a hard time working out of this because of that kind of environment. “Too severe, it’s too severe”, we say.

In some countries if you steal, they cut off your hand. In our country we’d say, “That’s a bit too severe isn’t it?” But guess what they say, “It is very effective.” Ask someone who has stolen, “Did you ever steal anything else?” And most assuredly they will answer, “Are you kidding with just one hand – No!” So it is effective, but we say too severe.

So parents, let me talk to you about cruel and unusual scolding. You must be gifted in thinking of ways to effectively communicate with your children. Now sometimes severity is needed as a last, last resort. John Kennedy’s father, “Old Joe”, said this to John, and you will see when I give it to you that it will serve you in so many ways. Now here is what “Old Joe” said: “If it is not necessary to change, it is necessary not to change.” I am sure you got that message now.

If it is not absolutely necessary to scold, then it is necessary not to scold. If it is not necessary to use sarcasm, then it is necessary in your communication not to use sarcasm. If it is not necessary to get angry, then it is necessary not to get angry; you get the idea.
If a parent screams all day at her children, the kids finally get used to it. They learn to say, “Momma, she just screams all day.” Kids come over to visit and the kids say, “Don’t mind Momma, she’s just a screamer, she just screams all day.” So the kids are just used to it. But now here is the big problem… when the 3-year old child heads for the street and a truck is coming and Momma screams; and nobody pays any attention.

See Momma should save up her screams, so the day it becomes a necessary tool of last resort, and she does scream, the world stops! See that’s the key. These are called, “Tools of Last Resort”, use them well!

Texas and Oklahoma are bitter college football rivals. There’s no middle ground.

One day a Texas football fan was driving through Oklahoma on his way to another state. (Texas football fans never drive to Oklahoma, they only drive through Oklahoma to get somewhere else.) The Texas football fan stops at an Oklahoma gas station to refuel.
A little girl walks by and suddenly is attacked by a vicious pit bull. The dog tears her dress and grabs her arm. The Texas football fan sees the screaming little girl and runs to her rescue. He grabs the pit bull and struggles valiantly. The dog tears into his flesh. Blood streams from his arm and leg. Finally, in a desperate move, the Texas football fan gets the upper hand and kills the pit bull.

A reporter for the Oklahoma Times Newspaper watches the drama unfold. After the pit bull is dead he approaches the Texas football fan and says:

“Wow! What a hero! This will make great headlines in tomorrow’s paper. Let me take your picture and ask a few questions.”

The Texas football fan wipes the blood off his arm and leg and has his picture taken.

“We’ll put a great headline and story under your picture in tomorrow’s paper,” says the reporter. “Maybe, the headline could read, Hero Saves Little Girl. By the way, where are you from?”

“From Texas,” says the hero.

The reporter thought for a moment and replied, “Well, since you’re from Texas I guess we could change the headline to read: Man Rescues Child. I can kind of overlook that you’re from Texas, but tell me, you at least root for the Oklahoma football team, don’t you?”

The Texan replied, “No. To tell you the truth, I am a avid Texas football fan.”

The reporter left to write up the story. The Texan decided to stay around for a day so he could read his headline and story in the next morning’s paper.

The next morning, the Texas football fan picks up the Oklahoma Times Newspaper and on the front page was the headline:

Man Kills Family Pet!

It’s a matter of perspective. Not everyone looks at opportunities and events the same way. While you may think you are offering a tremendous opportunity to a prospect, the prospect may see the presentation as a thinly veiled attempt to take his money.
Empathy: Identification with and understanding of another’s feelings, situation, and motives.

Would you like to increase your closing percentage? Use empathy.
Would you like to increase your group’s motivation? Use empathy.
Would you like to understand why people respond the way they do? Use empathy.
Great MLM leaders don’t sell, they understand.
When giving a presentation, they try to present the opportunity from the prospect’s point of view. If the prospect has experienced a bad situation with high-pressure salesmen, the leader gives advice and options. If the prospect is worried about his daily living expenses, the leader emphasizes the possibility of immediate part-time income. If the prospect is afraid of what his friends will say, the leader shows how the prospect can market to strangers.

To understand how effective empathy can be, imagine if a salesman used empathy to understand your point of view.

Let’s say you were a prospect for a MLM opportunity. You sincerely want a part-time income, but also want quality time with your family. Compare the following two presentations:

Presentation #1
“You’ll just love this MLM opportunity. You get to go to rallies, trainings, opportunity meetings, conventions, and presentations in prospects’ homes and our weekly idea session. I’ve been in this opportunity for over a year now and I can’t think of anything else. I’m doing this business 24 hours a day. You’ll love it too. It will become a obsession.”

Presentation #2
“You’ll just love this MLM opportunity. It only takes a few hours of quality time per week. We have many successful leaders who set aside six hours a week for presentations and group building. This leaves them plenty of time to enjoy their family, friends and other activities. MLM is great because you can set your own hours.”

Since your goal was part-time income and quality time, which presentation would appeal to you? It’s easy to see that Presentation #2 had empathy while Presentation #1 only showed self-interest.

Empathy works for recruiting presentations, but it works even better when trying to develop MLM leaders. Let’s say you want to develop Mary into your next superstar leader.

Why not find out a little about Mary’s background? Is she conservative or liberal? Does she want to earn big money fast, or is she willing to build long-term? Does she want an aggressive upline sponsor and an aggressive promotional campaign? What’s happening with her personal life? Is her job fulfilling or boring?
In other words, find out what Mary really wants and help her achieve it. When the upline leader and the potential leader operate on the same frequency with the same goals and strategy, magic happens.
That’s why some MLM leaders can develop leaders and inspire loyalty while other MLM leaders never seem to get anyone beyond a dependent distributor level.

It’s just like the Oklahoma Times Newspaper reporter. He saw things completely different. Succeed in MLM by seeing things through other people’s eyes.

Perhaps it is merely semantics, but an underlying problem I find that people have as it relates to the success in their life lies in a proper understanding of what exactly it is that we manage. Think about it. We have time management , and financial management, and relational management, weight management, career management, and many, many more.
The fact is though, that we don’t manage any of those things. What we do manage is ourselves, as they relate to those things.
We don’t manage time. Time clicks by, second by second, whether we do anything or not. What we do is manage ourselves, and our activities, as the time passes. We make choices as to what we will do and be involved in. The problem as well as the solution lies not with time, but with us.

We don’t manage money. A pile of money will sit there forever if left alone. It won’t grow or shrink. What we manage is ourselves and the decisions we make in regard to how we will spend the money. Getting the idea?

So as we live our lives and pursue success, one of the keys to grab on to is the idea that the most important thing we can manage isn’t a thing at all – it is our self!

How then can we manage ourselves? Here are some thoughts.

Make sure that the above is firmly ingrained in your thinking:

I only manage myself. I can choose how I will act and react in every situation.
Dwight D Eisenhower said that “The history of free men is not written by chance, but by choice, their choice.”

Know your priorities. Do you know from top to bottom what your priorities are? Have you decided what the top ten things you want to spend your time on are? How about the same with your money? Only after you know these things can you properly manage yourself into choosing to live your priorities.

Learn to say “no” with a smile on your face. Here is where most of us fail. We do not choose to say “no” to those things that are not a matter of priority (the reason “why” is another newsletter article and probably a few counseling sessions at that!). Someone calls us up and asks us to do something for them (usually because they haven’t managed themselves and would like our help picking up the pieces) and we say “Uh, I guess so.” Then what? We usually kick ourselves for the rest of the day. “Why did I ever say yes?” Instead, practice this, “Gee, I am really sorry but I am not going to be able to be involved this time. I am sure you will be able to find somebody though.” Go ahead and try it right now. Weird, isn’t it? That is because we don’t say it very often.

Schedule your priorities into you schedule or budget or whatever structure governs that area of your life. For example, do you have a financial budget that you yourself set? Then do you first and foremost spend your money in that way, say at the beginning of the month? If you do, you will eliminate even the opportunity to blow your money on impulse decisions and expenses because your money has already been committed into your priorities.
Remember, one of the greatest gifts God gave us is the ability to choose. And we can choose to manage ourselves appropriately and according to our priorities.

As we do, we will find ourselves feeling less and less of the personal pain and frustration that we feel when we are out of control.

Get goin’!

The author of this article is a professional internet marketer and trainer. To learn more about this author click here. Also to see what we are doing now to help others take a look.

As 1099s and W-2s are posted in the mail for the previous year’s earnings, I often ask myself how can I earn more this year than I did last? There are many factors that affect that question. Productivity cost of doing business, sales pipeline and the economy to name a few.
One of the key ingredients to having a more profitable year is marketing.
Now whether you are the business owner or an employee everyone engages in some type of marketing. Recently one of my trusted advisors and I were speaking of this very topic of marketing oneself. There are so many factors involved. In fact I believe that often we don’t realize the impact of the little things we do that affects how others respond to us. Let’s take a look at some of those areas.

Appearance: This is an important aspect of how people perceive us. Sometimes it doesn’t seem fair that how we dress or look weighs so heavily. The reality is that those who we do business with react to us based on how we dress, our grooming and our body language.

Actions: It is true that actions speak louder than words. If what we say contradicts how we act then our integrity is questioned and trust is impaired.

Attitude: Now you may be wondering what in the world does our attitude have to do with how we market ourselves. The secret here is being positive. Humans are drawn to light and positivity. If you exude a positive outlook and demeanor in how your carry yourself and your promotional materials others will want to associate with you. We all like winners or the perception of being associated with winners.

Associates: Who you associate yourself with will determine your income level. As was mentioned in the attitude section, if you associate with winners you will win. Recently I read that if you want to lose weight or improve your health you need to spend time with people that are striving and actually reaching their health and fitness goals. We all need positive reinforcement. The same holds true for increasing your income associating with those individuals who have proven positive work habits. This will subconsciously help you improve your daily habits.

Accountability: Being accountable for your actions or lack of actions will put you on the fast track to economic growth. So many people in the world fall into the habit of blaming others for their circumstances while not looking at themselves in the mirror. Then ask themselves what could I have done differently and what was my part in the outcomes.

There is so much to explore with each of these five topics in marketing yourself.

One of the biggest questions you need to ask yourself is, “would I buy from me?” If not, why and what do you need to change within yourself so that the answer is yes.
It is not enough just to believe you can be successful but to really know it. You need to know this fact with every fiber of your being. If you know something you can’t help but exude this positive energy and others will want to associate with you. With this application your business and income will flourish and next year’s tax forms will be the proof in the pudding!

About The Author:

I have been fortunate enough to be around some of the brightest minds in this industry . I hope that you liked the post. To learn More about me, Ron Pruett just go here.