(LIVING IN A "NETWORKED" WORLD : MLM Network marketing secrets - is another great article about mlm, multi level marketing and a little about multilevel marketing on LIVING IN A "NETWORKED" WORLD By Dr. Denis Waitley As I travel throughout the world, lecturing on "The Psychology of Winning" and how to become a 21 st Century leader, to multi-national corporations...)
LIVING IN A "NETWORKED" WORLD
By Dr. Denis Waitley
As I travel throughout the world, lecturing on "The Psychology of Winning" and how to become a 21st Century leader, to multi-national corporations and entrepreneurs, I'm often asked what I think of the future of network marketing.
My answer is simple and straightforward. The two greatest trends in society are buying and selling direct, eliminating the middle man, and instant information access from companies and sources with brand recognition based on quality and integrity. From now on we must act self-employed and join a winning team where income is directly tied to knowledge and effort.
I recently spoke at a dinner meeting in Hong Kong sponsored by Dell Computer Corporation for its "Fortune 500" customers. Michael Dell, the founder and chairman, is destined to be the Bill Gates of the next decade, having amassed more success and personal wealth at the age of 34 than Gates had at the same age. One of the most admired CEOs in the world, Michael Dell has a philosophy that is brilliant and simple.
He sells high performance products direct to the consumer and creates customer loyalty better than his competition. Dell has taken the global marketplace and Wall Street by storm with record earnings, stock performance and return on invested capital.
At the time I recorded this message, Dell was selling its computers at the rate of $20 million per day direct via the internet, with no retail or indirect distribution.
The electronic commerce revolution via the internet, has revealed that companies are preparing to do almost as much business through their own intranets, as they are on the internet. An intranet is a group of individuals, or consumers, with the same goals and interests. The key is networking. Unless you are networking, you may be "not working."
AT&T is networking. One of the leading stocks in terms of earnings' growth during the last five years is a networking firm, Prepaid Legal Services. Sara Lee has established a network marketing division. MCI uses network marketing to expand its phone services globally. IBM offers internet training through a third-party network marketing firm.
I recently gave a keynote speech to a billion dollar subsidiary of Citigroup, the largest financial services firm in the world. That billion dollar subsidiary, Primerica, sells insurance and mutual funds via network marketing. Even America Online is offering its services via a networking vehicle called AOL Direct.
All this is happening because the middle-man is being eliminated in the sales process and the very nature of competition is changing because, in a networked world, we can ignore geographic limits to our shopping. Instead of "location, location, location," the new slogan is "direct, direct, direct."
The global trend of restructuring organizations that can compete only by eliminating layers of employees will accelerate as we move into the first decade of the new century. Of the 6 million jobs eliminated during the past decade, many will never be replaced.
Individual entrepreneurs are seizing the advantage from bigger companies and also breaking the chains of command. People can communicate with others easily, rapidly and globally. We've moved from a fast-food, drive-through world into a relationship, down-load universe in which people are realizing that they are responsible for their own health and wealth.
When Stephen Covey, Tom Peters and I lectured throughout America recently, we asked the business executives in the audiences in 168 cities what their secret desires were. Incredibly, 70 percent of the nearly 200,000 individuals indicated that they would like to own their own businesses to provide additional financial security for their families.
This trend began a quarter of a century ago with franchises like A & W Root Beer, and Dairy Queen, and then exploded into McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell and Domino's, and branched into financial services and personal services. Those franchises that seemed so speculative a few years ago, now seem more secure than seniority in a blue chip company.
In investigating a home-based business that could give you additional financial security, you should look for a company strong in five major categories:
First and foremost, Leadership. To succeed globally, there must be a talented visionary at the top.
The most successful companies have visionaries at the top like Jack Welch at GE, Bill Gates at Microsoft, Donna Karan at Donna Karan International, Michael Dell at Dell Computer, and Dr. Andrew Grove at Intel.
Most network marketing companies are founded by marketing entrepreneurs. It will be important for you to do your homework when investigating new network marketing opportunities to ensure that you find one whose leader is the genius behind the products as is Bill Gates of Microsoft, Michael Dell of Dell Computer and Dr. Andrew Grove of Intel.
There are too many networking companies whose emphasis is on how much money can be generated from a so-called miracle concept or miracle ingredient, without the solid foundation of scientific research at the very top.
The Second key factor is Technology. In the new century, companies on the cutting edge of technology will rule the global economy.
Third, for you to be involved with any home-based business the Products must be the brand of choice. In my opinion, the most successful direct selling and networking companies, over the long run, will be those who offer a consumable product, rather than a service. Networking involves building a base of loyal consumers who become life-long users of the product, who aren't easily enticed by competition offering price-only advantages.
The products must be of the finest quality, with strict quality control standards, and we feel strongly that they should be developed and manufactured in-house; not licensed from another producer.
Fourth, when I consider a business opportunity, I look for Financial Strength and a minimum of three to five years of successful business operations. Look for a company with a record of dramatic, yet steady, growth, that has successfully navigated the early building phase where many new companies fail and is currently entering the momentum stage where fortunes are created.
Fifth, and finally, look for an Innovative Marketing program, with a responsive distribution system, a generous compensation package and solid marketing services, support and training. Look for a compensation plan that allows all distributors an opportunity to succeed and succeed early.
Resist the temptation of joining any networking companies that talks about the multi-millionaires at the top and focuses on hyping lifestyles of the rich and famous. In building a downline that stays with you, it is more important that everyone can experience success, not just a few. Also investigate whether the company's management staff, sales tools, website services and meetings are second to none.
Network marketing can be the best of both worlds. Its products can increase the quality of life; and, it can offer a significant business opportunity on a part-time or full-time basis.
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