You may be at the beginning of your Network Marketing journey and are sick of the constant criticisms from family and friends alike. You may be thinking “It’s ok, once I start earning some money they’ll understand and start believing in Network Marketing the way I do… I’ll show them”.
Well, I’m afraid I may have some bad news for ya!
A Network Marketing business will most likely always bring criticism and judgement. Later on, when you have become successful, it may come from a different place, your spouse may now support you (you’re making more money than they are – how can they not?!), but the MLM industry is one that doesn’t have a great reputation, and of course people always associate it with ‘Pyramid Schemes’ which doesn’t help much.
Things are starting to change, however, with people like Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump endorsing MLM’s, and in the latter’s case starting his own company. This doesn’t mean however that we will no longer face criticism. As Randy Gage has recently talked about in his blog, just because you are a success doesn’t mean that you will no longer face negativity…
“I earn millions of dollars in the business, destroyed my alarm clock, and have a dream lifestyle. And still have people that look down on me when I approach them because they think MLM isn’t a “real” business. I even get some snarky comments or ridicule.” Randy Gage
My advice to you therefore, is to accept NOW that you will ALWAYS be judged as a Network Marketer, however successful you are, no matter how much money you make. You need to embrace this but DO NOT let it get you down. I know from personal experience that it can be tough, especially when you are just starting out, when your partner doesn’t support you and doesn’t have the same vision you do.
Luckily my Mum is in the same business so I have her to talk to, but if you don’t have someone, I’d recommend finding other people in the industry, in forums for example, to talk to so you can get the support you need. If you don’t have anyone supporting you , then all of the ridicule will bring you down and you are more likely to quit.
That’s what I love so much about building a business on the internet – there are always people around to support and encourage you and it’s easy to find others who are going through the same things you are.
As long as you interact with people on social media sites such as Twitter, then you will eventually have people supporting you and celebrating your accomplishments with you without you even asking them to, and that is a lovely thing.
What do you think…. Do you think Network Marketers will always face criticism? Is there anything we can do about it?
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
People not in the same field, especially in a field that is rapidly evolving, will have their doubts and criticisms. When I was programming my first commercial PC applications, there was plenty of people who didn’t or couldn’t see how “these toys” could ever be seriously considered as part of core business requirements. That was 1982, but with nearly 5000 hrs of programming experience, I could see the potentials that others could not see.
Don’t let the naysayers get to you. As a PC programmer, I faced ridicule from Mainframe gurus, but they were in the traditional field, not the emerging, evolving one. As you have done, I found mentors who saw the potentials.
Twitter: sallyfbath
April 26, 2010 at 8:38 am
Hi Louise,
this is really great advice for people starting out and I totally agree with you when you suggest forming relationships with other like minded people online. I’ve met so many wonderful people online and even though they don’t live near me, I always know they are there for support.
I think network marketers will always face criticism, I don’t see it changing in the foreseeable future at least. Too many people are afraid to leave the ‘herd’ so to speak. I’m interested to hear other people’s opinions too.
Sally
Sally Bath´s last blog ..Procrastination – How To Overcome It For Good
Twitter: jamesdalesandro
May 1, 2010 at 6:13 am
Hey Louise,
You all make great points!
I’ve been fortunate enough to be working from home full time for over 9 years now.
I know how alone people can feel when they’re building their business from home.
It can get VERY lonely & discouraging.
However you and Sally are absolutely correct! The internet is a great resource to reach out & connect with amazing people who will build you up as opposed to tearing you down!
You may feel alone but I assure you that you’re not!
If you have attempted to succeed in a home based business and haven’t broken through yet… I strongly suggest you forget about what you have done in the past.
Many people let success slip from their grasp because they have
failed in the past.
The past is History!
Whatever you do… DO NOT give up!
All you have is today. You can only control what you do today. The
action you take today will dramatically influence your future. I
promise you that if you have enough courage to take action, right
now, connect with like minded people… your life will be
dramatically different in a short amount of time!
Don’t let your past failures stop you from achieving great things.
I failed miserably and multiple times before I ever made money
on-line. But I never quit. Even with everyone telling me that I
was crazy, I never quit. I knew where I was headed and it didn’t
matter what anyone else thought or said!
Louise said it beautifully: “Close Your Eyes to the Doubters & Believe in YOU”
I’ll leave you with one of my all time favorite quotes from someone
who knows just a “little bit” about MASSIVE success:
“I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost
almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the
game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and
over again in my life. And that is precisely why I succeed.” – –
Michael Jordan
Just Do It!!!
Hi James!
Thanks so much for your comment. I agree with you, the past is history, and taking action is what’s important, and of course not giving up!
Connecting with like-minded people is definitely key to keeping going, especially when people are telling you that you are crazy, like you say! The online world is fantastic for finding support.
Thanks for the great quote from Michael Jordan, it’s a good one!
Louise
Hey Sally, thanks a lot for your comment.
I definitely agree with you when you say you don’t see it changing in the forseeable future that network marketers will face criticism. I think it will take a long time and a lot of hard work to change people’s perception of this industry. And like you point out – people are afraid to leave the ‘herd’, especially when they are probably aware that their family and friends won’t support them, which is a shame.
I love what you say about the people you know online being there for you, even though they don’t live near you. I truly am so grateful to all of my friends online, it’s a great support network to have.
Louise
Thanks for commenting John! It is great when people see the potential in something like you did and they don’t let the naysayers stop them from continuing with it. I think a big part of it is that people are afraid of change so they stick with what they know like you suggest with the Mainframe gurus.
As you point out, it is key to find mentors who share your vision so that you are not alone and trying to figure everything out for yourself!
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