I have been thinking a lot lately about how grateful I am to have found network marketing. Even when people are tightening their belts to deal with the slow economy I have not seen that much decrease in my monthly volume of orders.

It took me 15 years to build my group with my first company and I did it with about 50% personally sponsored customers and 50% customers brought in through other customers. I never had any success with network marketing leads because I did not have the skills to use them correctly or a system to follow. I did not realize that working with network marketing leads was different from talking with people I already knew. I have no regrets in the way I worked my first company but it was pretty labor intensive and I am not sure I would have been as successful if I had not had my veterinary background to give credibility.

In my second company I am focusing on bringing in customers who will be business partners and actively look for other customers who will also be business partners for them. Most of my friends who were open to this have already joined me with my first company so I am using a network marketing leads system to find those people who are looking for a business they can do from home, part time, with a small initial investment. Buying leads for network marketing does require more money investment but it does bring more business oriented people.

My approach is never pushy or hype. I follow a 3 step plan that is used by my partners who are very successful.

Step 1 I ask people if they are open to any additional sources of income or in the case of leads, simple return their call.

Step 2 I invite people to look at some information, which might be a website, webinar, CD or brochure.

Step 3 I see if they want to go to the next step which is to talk with one of my partners who is more of an expert.

The purpose of these steps is to let the potential business partner get enough information to make an informed decision if they want to join my network. I am so enjoying this simple approach and feel very little rejection when people don’t join because I know they are not rejecting me but what I offer. I have come to this level of acceptance with my holistic medicine practice as well. I used to try and “sell” the holistic approach to people and I took it personally when people did not “get it”. Now I celebrate the people who do understand and I focus on sharing as much of my experience with them and encourage them to study on their own.

Holistic medicine is not for everyone and network marketing is not for everyone and my job is only to offer the concept and let the person decide what is a fit for them. Madalyn