I was at an event recently where a woman approached me about her Network Marketing company, a very well know and established nutritional and weight loss company. She was absolutely passionate about her company and went to great lengths to convince me how much I needed her products…..for health benefits, not for weight loss…just so we get that clear 
I explained to her that I had actually been a natural health practitioner with my own clinic for 16 years, been involved with Nutritional companies in Network Marketing where we had marketed millions of dollars worth of product, that I had been taking supplements for more than 30 years, and was very knowledgeable on the subject. I told her I had a worked out a very good regime for myself and my family in terms of health products and thanked her for her offer.
However she still persisted to tell me that the products offered by her company were the BEST, the MOST natural, the MOST researched, and that I should definitely use them in preference to what I currently used…and that everyone in my company should also be using the products and why not promote her products as well to all our members.
Again I explained that I was a health professional for 16 years and that was very well versed in the subject and was VERY happy with what I was using.
She handed me her business card and said, “Just in case you change your mind make sure you join with me!”
I have to give her credit for her persistence however it is this often misguided approach that will have most people running in the opposite direction the next time they see you after this type of approach.
How does anyone really know THEIR company is the BEST?
What criteria do they use to measure which is best? Can they prove it? Does it matter?
Even if your company is better than mine that does not mean I will change or join your company. People stay with companies for lots of reasons…..they had a great personal experience with the product, they like their sponsor, they reached a recognition level and do not want to lose that sense of achievement, or they simply do not want to change and have to start again.
I have seen lots of people succeed in companies that were obviously not the best and seen many more people fail in companies that were certainly amongst the best.
There is no doubt that you need to pick a company that has great products, compensation plan, people, potential and philosophy but even with all this it is YOU that needs to become the BEST if you are to succeed.
When I started Lekker International with our team I made it clear I was 100% committed to creating a company that was focused on creating an environment where every participant could be the best they could be. I quickly realized that this was a process and NOT a destination. I knew that we would have to develop a culture that started from within that permeated everything we do in order to attract like minded people who shared that vision.
Products and marketing plans can be changed every day and there is lots of evidence of companies in the market place where their only competitive advantage is we pay 5% more out in commissions than the others, or our product gives you 10% more anti-oxidant benefit. They are only attractive until someone pays out 6% more than the others or their product gives 15% more anti-oxidant benef
Rather than tell people, “Your company is best”, tell them WHY you chose your company?
What made you believe that company is going to provide YOU with what you are looking for? What is about that company that convinced you that it was worth you spending your hard earned money to join them, buy their products, and risk your reputation to tell others you’re involved with that company….and proud of it!
People are more impressed by authentic comments, by your story, than facts that can easily be disputed or questioned.
The truth is statements such as “My company is the best” or “My company is better than yours!” are empty, impossible to prove and very subjective. And often you will just come up against someone who actually does know better than you and prove you wrong.
The best approach is…
1. I love my industry because…….tell YOUR story!
“It is the only industry where I can take a few hundred dollars or Euros and turn it in a life changing income in less than a year converting some of your spare time into more productive time.”
2. I love my company because…..tell YOUR story!
“I chose XXXX because I always wanted to work from home and travel and I saw they had a way I could achieve both with that company.”
The next time you make a statement that “Your company is the best”, ask yourself, “Do I really know that for a fact with 100% conviction” and is that really going to matter anyway to the person I am sharing my opportunity with.
People really want to know.
- can I make money with your company? (have others made money?)
- can they show me a way I can also be successful?
- will they help me?
- is it going to be fun to do?
If you answer this and tell your story you will go a long way to being a successful Network Marketer.
In my next blog I will share a great story of how I was prospected recently by someone that had invaluable lessons on how to AVOID wasting your time and being embarrassed!
