by Lon Lindsey

Have you ever had a belly to belly talk with someone and felt like you were being lectured to and really didn't appreciate what was said to you, but later . . .maybe after it was too late, you wish you would have listened and acted appropriately? You can consider this one of those belly to belly talks and you can even consider it a lecture, but what I am about to tell you could save your MLM/Networking life!

I've written about this before in Master Networker Series # 22 and Master Networker Series # 33. You can click on each article number to read past issues. Those articles mentioned what I am talking about in this article, but at that time I did not have any good data with regards to the effect of this problem.

THE SOURCE OF THE VIRUS

The problem is, what I called, "The trampoline effect" . . jumping from one program/company to another, but now I consider it a deadly virus. In fact, I'm giving that virus a name . . .. "The Oneup" Virus. Basically the oneup virus is when you get into a program you really like and you might even consider it the most state-of-the art program available, but along comes another program or opportunity represented by someone who will "one up" you with what appears to be an even better program with a more advanced state-of-the art approach.

Many MLMers are jumping from program/company to program/company and it is the new and average MLMers who are going to suffer a MLM death from this virus IF they choose to do this. In fact, it is already happening. I have come across more people who have already given up on the MLM industry either because they contracted the virus or people in their downline contracted the virus.

Here is what happens! A person spends money joining a business, setting it up, beginning to market it and along comes another opportunity that appeals to that person and he joins that business, sets it up, and markets it. What happens is business-building and opportunity-joining money continues to be expended, but little comes in because there is not enough long-term focus to create an income-generating business. You see, building a business is a process over a period of time. It's not join, get it going ,and then moving on to something else. That is a lottery mentality.

You will find people, who are successful, jumping from program/company to program/company, but they are people who already have a following or who have numerous contacts in order to get their newly joined program in profit at the beginning. So, what you have is a MLM "junkie" mentality with a lead "junkie" leading the little junkies. Surely the purpose is not to become a "lead junkie."

NETWORK MARKETING . . THE WAY IT WAS MEANT TO BE

Network marketing/MLM was set up as a way to build a legitimate product-driven business over a period of time through what is known as referral marketing. Companies started MLM marketing approach so that they didn't have to advertise their products to the masses, thus putting advertising money into commissions for those company representatives or distributors who built up a business organization of customers and other distributors through a process of referral marketing.

What has happened is technology has come up with attractive ways to contact people . . thus the Internet and all the business-building tools the Internet provides and massive fax outs and plenty of mailed out business solicitations. Although this technology is good, it has also made it easier to tempt people with what would appear to be the next best program/company out there . . thus the oneup virus.

Another thing I have noticed is people seem to be more in need of money and they need it NOW. It seems we are looking for something that will give us lots of money without working very hard for it, but even those who are willing to work hard for it are needing it so quickly, therefore programs that promise large quick returns attract these people who either have the oneup virus or who are very suceptible to it.

IMMUNIZATION AGAINST THE ONEUP VIRUS

There is a way to protect yourself from the oneup virus. It's having a plan and sticking with it over a period of time. Consider these 10 injective guidelines as a way to immunize yourself against the oneup virus:

1. Extensively research business opportunities
2. Choose the business and products that are right for you
3. Choose a sponsor or group/team that can support your efforts
4. Develop a belief system so you believe in the company, the products, the business and your sponsor or upline team.
5. Put on blinders when other opportunities come your way. When you join another program, are you really saying you don't believe in the one you originally chose?
6. Develop short-term and long-term goals
7. Continue to educate yourself regarding MLM and networking by reading books, listening to tapes and learning about the industry through articles such as this one.
8. Understand that building a business is a process and earned money is a result of the process, not the beginning of the process.
9. Focus Focus Focus!
10. Understand that MLM will work with only 10% of your people working, but you have to be able to lead! (See Master Networker Series # 57 . . ."The Tenpercenters."

I HAVEN'T BEEN IMMUNE EITHER

I don't want to come across as so pius as if I have been totally immune from this virus. In fact, it would be easy for me to say "do as I say, not as I do." Due to my own slightly "addicitive" personality, I have fallen from time to time, but the only reason I have survived is because I had enough contacts to put me at "break even" at the beginning. That kept the income and expenses rather balanced, but the new and average MLMer are usually without those contacts thus it become a losing proposition for them. The only thing that has really saved me is, I did many of the ten injective guidelines with what I consider my Feel-Good company and the process of building that business is paying nice dividends now.

It is my hope that I can help others by sharing my experiences so they can do it the right way the first time. A possible test is when you ask yourself if you became a distributor or representative for a "program" or for a "company." If it's for a program, then most likely it is not yet a solid business opportunity. A company provides legitimate and affordable products and a business opportunity. A program is only a system. Research and find a legitmate, honest and proven company that has products and a business opportunity you can believe in and then begin the process of building a business . . not only for your present, but for more than a lifetime . . .your own legacy.