Free Network Marketing Training -- Understanding Your Contract

When I became serious about building a network marketing business, I started searching online for help. In so doing, I found some great mentors including Bob & Anna Bassett. Bob & Anna had been in the industry for many years thus they had many ups & downs. Bob & Anna found out that one company they were in was actually a pyramid scheme and they didn't even know it. In another company with over 60 distributors in their organization, they only earned $115.00/mo. WOW! That is a lot of people for such little money. In fact, that is less than $2.00 per person. If they wanted to earn a $10,000/month income they would have needed over 5,000 people. Thus, they became educated about mlm and boy, am I glad they did. I have learned a lot from them. They are truly mentors with a servant's heart, truly go-givers.

Here's one thing I learned from them. Perhaps this info can help you, too.

One of the many things I learned is how to really inspect a network marketing company's contract before joining a company. The contract should protect both sides and it should be fair in its compensation to the distributor. There really can be a happy medium. In most cases, the company has all the rights, the distributor usually has none.



The contract consists of three parts: the terms & conditions, the policies & procedures and the compensation plan. All three should be clearly visible & available on the company's home page. Some companies put the terms & conditions only and you have to join before you can read the policies and procedures. This should not be the case because when you check the box, I agree to the terms and conditions, you are also agreeing to the entire contract. The part you don't see(but agree to), the policies and procedures, is where the gotcha clauses are hidden. written. This is like reading the fine print in a contract.

Here are some of the things to consider when reviewing the contract.

The first thing is the length of the contract. According to Rod Cook, the mlm watchdog, contracts should be less than 14 pages. But really, you can get everything in 6. If it is too long, there are too many places to hide the gotcha clauses. It is too easy for them to use legalese and separate the policies and spread them throughout the contract. There are actually contracts 50+ pages long.

Remember, the contracts were written by lawyers to protect the companies and every thing in them can be used against you in a court of law. So, if you don't understand something, don't sign. In fact, if they use too much legal jargon, let an attorney review it for you.

Another thing to do is research the company and its owners. Do a google search. Put the owner and/or company name followed by the word spam in quotations. This will help you find out if they have any lawsuits, legal problems or legitimate complaints against them.

These are a couple of things to do before you join a company. If you're already in one, check them out now before you invest any more time, energy and resources into building your business. It's better to find out now than later.

This should get you started. I'll share some of the gotcha clauses in my next post.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor With a Servant's Heart

If this information was helpful, click here for more free network marketing training.

Free Network Marketing Training

Can free network marketing training be what you need?

I just watched the movie "The Miracle Worker" about Helen Keller. As I was watching a few thoughts came to my mind.

1. Helen's parents were frustrated with Helen and recognized they needed help training her, thus they sought the help they needed.

2. After the help came they almost rejected it for a couple of reasons:

a. the training wasn't quite what they expected
b. when they did accept the training, the results were not quick enough so they wanted to quit too soon.

3. Anne Sullivan knew she could teach Helen how to communicate with the world and be successful in life. She believed she had the training she needed. She believed in her 100%. Her help afforded Helen Keller the opportunity to live a full, productive life.

I related these thoughts to network marketing (I guess I relate everything to network marketing). Well, here's what I thought: There are many people in network marketing who recognize they need help and seek it out. They find and download the free network marketing training ebook Success in 10 Steps. Many people realize the value in it but others almost reject the information because it isn't quite what they expected. Some of those who see its value tap into the mentoring for free training, but, because results don't come overnight, they are ready to quit. Just like the Kellers.

But, just as Anne Sullivan was certain she could help Helen, I know I can help by provided free network marketing training to frustrated network marketers. I believe I can point you in the right direction. I believe I can help you learn the skills to become successful in this wonderful network marketing industry. Yes, I believe in you 100%.

So, if you are a frustrated network marketer looking for free training, you have found it. I'll give you a complete, soup-to-nuts system to build your empire in ANY network marketing company! Got a great MLM company, but NO upline support? Or do you need the keys to help you find a great company? Whatever the need, free network marketing training is available here.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor With a Servant's Heart

Network Marketing Business Opportunity -- What's Your Plan?

Okay, you have an opportunity to build a network marketing business. So, the question is, do you have a business plan? Yes, even a network marketing business needs a plan. If you are not planning your business, you are planning to fail.

Do you start out on a vacation or a business trip without a plan? Or do you just start driving without a destination in mind? Do you just catch the first plane taking off? Of course not, you know your destination and make plans with the destinaton in mind.

Well, it's no different with a network marketing business. You start with the end in mind. To do so you must know what it is you're trying to accomplish? This is starting with the end in mind. For instance, if the end is to increase your customer base, how many new customers are you attempting to pick up each month? Once you decide that, decide how many prospects you need to contact for this to happen. Once you know how many prospects you need to contact, then plan your daily activities accordingly.

After you decide on the destination or the end (or the number of new customers desired), make a plan. The business plan might include developing new advertising/marketing skills, it may include contacting x number of people each day. It may include sending out x number emails per week. It may include the number of blogs and/or videos you will post each week. If you only haphazardly do activities without the end in mind, you will get haphazard results. When planning, consider the time/money resources available to work the business. Once you consider the resources, make a schedule & stick with it. If you know your time is limited, be realistic about the results you expect. Another part of the plan is scheduling when you will review the plan.

Now that you have a business plan, start the plan. Don't allow the considerations, fears and roadblocks to keep you from working the plan.

Also, when making the plan, create a checklist of your activities. This will help you when you review your plan. If you aren't getting the desired results, the checklist will enable you to see if you really are sticking with the plan. It will also enable you to make any adjustments if you are implementing the plan but it just isn't working.

Even if it takes a week to plan, this time won't be wasted. It will actually save you time. You will be more productive when you do start implementing the plan. It is likened to you sharpening your axe. When you sharpen an axe you work smarter, not harder. Thus, you get quicker results with a sharp axe.

So, the question is do you have a plan for your network marketing business? If not, you really are planning to fail.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor With a Servant's Heart

For help with your network marketing business visit Mentoring For Free.

Is it True Leaders are Readers?

I have often heard that readers are leaders. But is that true? Let's think about that.

I know someone who is constantly reading. In fact, she starts her day by reading the newspaper (after listening to the news). OUCH! She reads romance novels, mystery novels and magazines. And this person can not lead a horse to water let alone make him drink it. I'm not trying to be critical I am merely stating a fact. In addition, she always sees the glass as being half empty.

So, you can see the statement is not completely true. But, if you qualified the statement by saying 'readers who read empowering, motivating, inspiring and educational books and magazines are leaders', then you will have a true statement. Fortunately for me, I know many people who fit in this category. Those are the people I associate with because I believe 'he that walks with wise men shall be wise.' They read books written by Napoleon Hill, Jack Canfield, Brian Tracy, Jeff Olson, Mark Victor Hanson, Wayne Cordero, Myles Munroe, T. D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Mac Hammond, Tom 'Big Al' Schreiter, Michael Dlouhy and so on and so forth.

What you read (and listen to and associate with) determines what you think; what you think determines your actions; your actions determine you results and results don't lie. So, if you don't like your present results, in your personal life or business life, by simply changing what you read you can ultimately change your thoughts which will change your actions. Then you can start getting the desired results. Oh, and turning off the t.v. and staying away from negative people wouldn't be a bad thing either.

To start changing the results (or to get more of the results you're getting if you're happy with them) join me each week with other leaders as we read Think & Grow Rich. Click here to register for the 30-day cleanse. There is no cost or obligation. Isn't your life worth 30 days?

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart

Working for Uncle Sam -- Two Choices -- Part 2

On yesterday I told you about the outcome from my choice to work for Uncle Sam. I also told you there were two factors which helped with that decision. The first was the possibility of retiring at a young age as I explained and the second factor was the rate of compensation.

When I started my job search, I checked into the state government and the federal government. The pay scale for the federal surpassed the state by a huge margin. So I decided to take the federal test and the rest is history. I never considered private industry because my research showed me that the rate of pay in the local area was lower than with the federal government.

I did not have a specific government agency in mind to work for. I did not know what job I would end up specializing in. But I did know I was gonna work for the federal government because they had the highest rate of pay. I made my very logical decision based on that and the good retirement system. Those are the two factors.

As you can see I did my homework and thus was able to make an informed decision. It was strictly an economic decision and it worked out well for me.

When I first learned about network marketing I embraced the idea. The concept of earning residual income appealed to me. But, the logic I used to decide who I would work for, was thrown out the window. I did not do my research. I did not study to see if I would ever be able to retire. And I never knew how much I would get paid for my efforts. My decision was usually based on a company's products. Consequently, I have made futilte attempts to create an income in network marketing because the rate of compensation with horrendous.

But then I read the book Success in 10 Steps. This book opened my eyes to network marketing. I found out why my lack of success was not my fault. After reading that book I understood the odds were stacked against me. I realized that just like there was a disparity in pay between the federal and state governments, that is also the case from company to company in network marketing. Boy was I glad to find that out. It has made all the difference in building a business.

What about you? Have you ever taken a job without first knowing the compensation? Or, did you start the job and then find out the rate of pay? Probably not. If you're like most people, you knew before you started exactly how much you would get paid. Well, shouldn't you also know that before you start with a network marketing company?

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor With A Servant's Heart

Working for Uncle Sam -- Two Choices -- Part 1

Back in the early 70's I started my government career. My decision to work for Uncle Sam was based on two key factors. One was the retirement plan. You see, I knew retiring at the earliest age I would still be young enough to move on and do something else. Thus, I reached that age, retired and have moved on.

Okay, I have a friend I will call Mary. Mary is a couple of years older than me. She started working for Uncle Sam two years before I did. But, after working for the government for approximately three years she decided to quit and go private industry.

Well, last week I saw Mary and she told me if she had stuck with Uncle Sam she would have already been retired for four years. Instead she has three more years to work before she can. By the time she is eligible I will have been retired for four plus years. Her choice to go with her company added seven years to her work life.

Okay, what is my point? Mary and I both decided on career paths. We both did well in our chosen companies. But, because Mary didn't look long-term as far as early retirement eligibility, she is still working a 9 to 5. I am not.

That is also what happens in choosing network marketing companies. Some people don't look at their policies & procedures to know when (and if) they can ever retire. They don't look at the clauses like 'you must have ongoing sales', or 'you must have at least one recruit each month', or 'you must stay on monthly autoship' to be eligible for commission. All of these clauses can legally prevent you from ever retiring from a company. At least with my friend, Mary, she will be eligible at some point.

So, if you are building your network marketing business with the intent to retire when you desire, be sure to read your policies and procedures to make sure you can.

I will share the other factor I considered when choosing my career in my next article.

By the way, reaching a certain age should not be a determining factor in retiring. With enough monthly income, you can retire at any age. If you want to work your way out of a job and retire early, or just want more network marketing insights, click here for a free ebook.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a servant's heart

Multiple Streams of Residual Income -- What Does that Mean?

As an online marketer I come across people all the time who are in network marketing because of its ability to produce residual income. Some people are very focused on one business and doing well, some are focused but can't seem to get it going and need help. But then there are those who are so unfocused they are in two and three businesses at the same time because they believe in the "multiple streams of income" philosophy. Well, I'm a 'blue' personality type and I even have trouble buying into that philosophy. A blue is generally unfocused, scattered and usually doing two and three things at a time. But, think about this. The bible even says 'a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.' Thus, this philosophy simply doesn't work. So, if you're attempting to build more than one network marketing business (or any two businesses) thinking you are producing multiple streams of residual income, think again. What's really happening is multiple streams of outgo. Each business has a monthly requirement so, if you are meeting that requirement, money is going out. Even if you somehow manage to generate income in one business, the income earned is financing the other one thus, there is really no increased income. Not to mention, you can not get focused.

Here's what my mentor, Michael Dlouhy, says about focus:

The narrower you focus, the better chance prospects & customers will see you as high quality. And NO SERIOUS BUILDER commits to a network unless they consider it high quality. When you promote a smorgasbord of opportunities, you undermine your network. When you try to appeal to everybody with your multiple streams of products & services, smart people will not take you seriously. And why should they? You have no identity in their mind.

Result?

No trust. No loyalty. No network. Your people are easy targets for some narrowly focused networker. You waste time & money searching for more opportunities to create your multiple streams. But loss of focus = loss of power. End of Michael's statement.

Do you see why it is better to find a business that will produce your desired income and put all your time, energy and resources into building that one business. Then, when you get it on autopilot, buy property, buy stocks, bonds, cd's, invest in the forex, etc. That is how you can produce those multiple streams of residual income.

What do you think about that?

If you bought into the "multiple streams of residual income" philosophy or if you are focused but can't figure out what to do next to get your business going, click here for more network marketing insights. It may be just the thing to get and keep you focused and on track.

Be empowered to prosper!

Irma White
A Mentor with a Servant's Heart