Are You Willing to Pay the Price?
I remember building the business back in the day, driving 40,000 or 50,000 miles a year, getting in people’s living rooms. Because that was the price you paid.
But the price was worth it. Because people knew that I cared for them, because I was working down in their group. So it didn’t matter when other deals came around, or they faced challenges. They knew I had their back and they stayed with me.
Now today I have a “plug and play” presentation and an online one that can be emailed to anyone, anywhere in the world. And yet instead of driving 50,000 miles a year, I’m flying 250,000 miles annually.
Now to be fair, I do get a lot of vacation time in there, and I love to travel to exotic places. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’m traveling the world, working down in depth for my team. (And most people don’t have to do this much. My company expanded very rapidly in a lot of markets, so my travel is more than most.)
But the point for you is this…
Even with websites, webcasts, conference calls, DVDs and other tools, nothing will ever take the place of real meetings with real people. Meetings make money. Meetings create volume. Meetings cause rank advancements. But most importantly, meetings show your team that you are their partner for success.
So please don’t get seduced by the dark side of the force with all the pay per click and attraction marketing bullshit out there. If you want to build a real business, develop leaders, and create true residual income, you have to be willing to pay the price. And that price is working down the group.
Which means getting out of the house. The best time to build the business is the evening. And the more evenings you get out, the faster your business will grow.
But of course that takes a price. So here’s the million-dollar question:
What are you willing to give up, to get what you really want?
Will you take some time away from your spouse now, so you can buy your freedom later? Will you work some evenings away from your kids now, so you can be there for them all the time later? Will you give up some golf, poker, softball, bridge, TV, or other diversions now, so you can create a dream lifestyle for your future?
My mantra was this: I will do today what other will not do, so tomorrow I can do what others cannot do.
Success never goes on sale. Are you willing to pay the market price?
-RG
Well said Randy. I bought your book how to build a multi level machine. I learnded a lot from the book and now i’m learning from your blog. One thing is true and that is in NM nothing takes place of the live kitchen table presentation.
I don’t care how good your online or dvd is if you are not in front of people you are dead in water.
Take care and best of all
Dil
Are you saying that even a weekly hotel meeting is a part of paying the price? I just see it as my wife wasting her time and taking time away from our kids. Especially since she hasn’t had a personal invite show up in years. With the way road conditions were tonight in Minnesota I bet there were no guests at all.
How do you determine wheather an activity is paying the price or just spinning your wheels?
I don’t know what company your wife is with – but I know with mine that the Hotel meeting is not usually the first look for someone. It is the social proof for your prospect that it works & other people are doing it.
Is your wife doing in home presentations &/or showing her prospects something before the meeting or just inviting them to come along to the hotel meeting straight up?
Maybe some assistance from her upline to improve her inviting skills/process would be helpful here.
Absolutely I do. And if she hasn’t had a prospect in years, that needs to be worked on.
-RG
There is nothing else to say. True is true.
It’s so true that nothing will ever replace meeting people in real life for bonding with them. I think that’s the best reason for getting on a plane to meet with your team at major events. Am so happy we have the technology to make it so much easier to build far afield today though. I agree with almost all of what you say Randy (well you are such a clever cookie!) but I do love working with the internet and doing 3 way calls on skype instead of driving everywhere AND I love the attraction marketing bullshit lol of prospects coming to me (but we still need to work our little socks off with our guys so listen to Randy!) Happy New Year xxx
My consistency has been my biggest hurdle. A move to a different state. The birth or my daughter. Setting up a new house. Laundry. My wife’s work schedule. There is always something.
I would love to get out in the evenings but I seem to make every excuse to do everyday tasks instead. The funny thing is when I get out and about, I enjoy it!
I am so interesting in this saying: “Meetings make money. Meetings create volume. Meetings cause rank advancements. But most importantly, meetings show your team that you are their partner for success.”
Thank you Randy.
Nothing to say, You’re always right.
see you in Rome
With my best…
Always? Will you tell that to my ex-wife? 🙂
-RG
In response to your question Randy…..Yes, I’m willing to pay the price for the long term goal.
Very well said!!!
Thanks for sharing your valued experience with us!!!
Randy,
We have a question for you. How do you respond to people when they ask, “So, what do you do?” or They ask, “So, what’s AdvoCare (your business)?”
We were curious how you respond to these questions?
I use the direct approach and tell people, “I’m in network marketing.”
-RG
Randy – thank you and well said! My husband and I have been in NWM for 31 years – the last 12 years full time. We have driven the miles, been the only ones on the road (including last night lol) and raised children through all of this – and the now they are grown – its awesome to see who they have become through what we did! One thing we realized is that it is all about relationship building. This may be a hi-tech world – but you have to keep the hi-touch – crucial. Thanks again 🙂
Interesting,
Although I agree for the most part having been involved in traditonal businesses, as well as online, person to person is what I believed in when I started my first business, but man, over the years, I wouldn’t go to a meeting if my life depended on it. lol
Sorry, but my meeting days are over, just as my traditional businesses are over, no more face to face for me, I prefer to sit on my couch making more than I even did in my traditional businesses, or the usual rah rah MLM meetings days. Yes, we all know that if you cannot duplicate, you will never replicate the incomes of the ones giving the meetings, but the truth is obvious when you look a little closer.
I use to be invited to every meeting there was, and the ones I use to enjoy most were the Amwanian meetings of long ago. I was always amazed at how many people would show up, and no matter where I was living, NY to FL, there was always a large group meeting in area back then. As a researcher, I use to see all these well dressed well spoken speakers and learned that almost all of them were nothing but pretenders.
I guess what comes to mind most in MLM is the old, fake it until you make it, and that is what I called these Amwaynians. lol I waited until very end and followed these speakers and leaders to parking lot, and just as I expected, the guru leader who was selling all the support tools drove the lincoln while all the speakers, or supporters, helpers, whatever their positions, they all drove junkers. Not to say this is an accurate method of judging how much a person earns, but it has always worked for me in getting an idea of a persons success in life, what they drive.
Bottom line, no meeting for me, and I use to give my fair share, but once I started on the internet back in 1988 as one of first moderators on AOL, I was hooked. When I think of the growth in online shopping, online conferencing and everthing else online, I cannot even imagine why anyone would go to meetings to be pumped by the pimps. lol
It all comes down to one thing in MLM, if you cannot offer real verifiable value, as in, saving everyone money on what they are already purchasing, forget it, most of those in MLM will fail to earn more than the burn trying, it is as simple as that. We have all heard you must duplicate to make it in MLM, yet how many do, even with all the meetings in the world, most will not be able to give these meetings or sustain any growth due to the 97% attrition rate in the industry.
Most people quit, and the reasons are obvious. When a person does not earn more than they burn trying in three months being mandates to autoships of $100. a month on products which are doubtful as working as promoted, especially with health and nutritional products, what does a person do, they quit. Most people in a recession will cut from their budgets what is not essential, and hence the old nutrition attrition term was coined. Do you think meetings will stop this attrition? It hasn’t in three decades I have been researching industry, so sorry gang, I don’t think meetings are the answer to MLM ills, it is value.
If you can save everyone at minimum double what they paid to start a home based MLM, and everyone else does the same, wow, imagine an MLM without attrition, what a dream come true. lol Tranfer buying is the answer, find something everyone is already purchasing for more money, and start saving them money immediately, and what do you have? Zero attrition, who would be crazy enough not want to continue saving money in this collapsing economy with over 10% unemployment with 10,473 foreclosures happening every day? People have to save money, and I can assure you, for those in the MLM industry, who are honest, you have seen the decline in your group volume, so get use to it, this recession is long from over no matter what the gov. leaders say.
Meetings use to work, use to keep people motivated, use to be a good means to train people, use to be good place to bring your newbie recruits, but use to be is not going to pay your bills or make you any money. Take the time to choose a recession proof business first and foremost, don’t believe the get rich quick hype, it just isn’t true. Ask yourself this one question before you jump in any deal, would I purchase this product or service without the income opportunity? Now how many can honestly say yes? Sorry, I like some MLM products, but in every single case, I can duplicate it for less elsewhere. You name it in MLMland and I can duplicate it for less, and this is why most people fail in MLM, and this is why you have to ask yourself this question first and foremost, would I buy this product without the promise of get rich quick?
Success to all,
Dear Mike,
I’m with you on this brother. If you’re not offering people the opportunity to simply “switch stores, with no new money” being spent, the attrition will kill your business over time.
If you can offer a better, safer or more economical alternative by simply helping others to “switch stores” you have the formula for a long term residual income victory for everyone involved.
Bob Canner
1-800-293-3117 (2 minute infoline)
before posting it says:
Remember kids, this is a GENERIC medium. We know you’re proud of your company, but please keep your URL or other links promoting your opportunity out of your posts. Please use your personal name or initials and not your business name, as the latter just looks like you’re spamming us. Have fun, be cool, and let’s add to the conversation and elevate the profession!
An info line is promotion.. and spam. Please respect this space.
10-4
Exactly,
It is all about saving money, if you cannot save people money, real verifiable money, then you will see success, if you are only offering transfer buying, I agree, it won’t stop attrition. The best advice is to target the number one consumable, offer the lowest prices on the same name brand products, then you will see success, and it takes little more than this for success, for learning how to sell is eliminated, learning how to present is eliminated, technical product training is eliminated, and when you remove obstacles like training and meetings, success is yours for this is as easy as it gets to duplicate. Everyone has to eat, everyone wants to save money and more and more are looking to make an extra income, never mind saving time and hassle in their lives. Sound familiar, and best of all, it doesn’t cost several hundred to get into business, technically, nothing, now that is how you succeed in a home business.
Success to all,
Hey Mike
I hear you… AND I lovingly disagree.
WHile MLM is all about making money… the reason I do it above all else is because of it’s personal development.
For me – it’s like a leaderhsip factory – working intimately with people to transform every area of their life so they are thriving in their potential.
If someone JUST sits at home and never meets others there are skills and qualities they aren’t developing to fully achieve themselves.
THe biggest is presenting or speaking – it beautifully brings up people’s fears, and helps them overcome things within themselves that many never thought possible. The dignity in Network Marketing is treasuring people and offering them a real opportunity to create strengths in areas that can be awoken.
If they learn to speak in public, they often also are bolder in their own lives making a stand for what is important.
THey grow deeper through and in that miracle space of “We” (as Ken Wilber calls it). We can never get in such a juicy connection and discovery of inner power sitting behind a screen. It’s just too much in the comfort zone!
(And this is to say I HATE MEETINGS! And I know I shall learn how to love them, and also how to make them a space that leads folks to their greatness).
Hi Natalie,
If you feel you need to learn how to be a presenter to succeed, or learn people skills, that is fine, but I have owned companies whereby I have been in front of thousands, so this is why I no longer need any personal development skills and why I found meetings useless in this day an age of online conferencing where training can be cost effective, at everyone’s convenience and not a waste of time. It is so much easier when you choose a company which everyone will use freely without twisting arms or the usual rah rah hype used at most meetings I have been to, and I have been to hundreds over the years.
Success to all,
Hi
Well – for me EVERYONE can develop…
And having as many different areas to develop in is essential to full rounded integral development… so we can become the best we can in our potential in all areas…
Love
Natalie
A very long rant to say a simple no.
And you have done a very short reply to show the truth.
-RG
Great points and well said, Randy. You are so right! You have to be there for your team! Have a great day! cya, Carol
Agree 100%. Meetings make money. Nothing replaces face to face interaction
I am willing to pay the price and I am also willing to do whatever it takes to make me and the team I will enroll successful.
I think that the Internet is a wonderful complement to this business.
It is fantastic that you wherever you are can reach out to people all over the world.
This blog for eg. is one way of communicate with each other. Super!!
Since I love to talk to people and always have, that is something that I will never stop doing. Although I use my computor, I talk to people every day about different things.
It is important to feel life while you living it.
Good luck everyone out there. 🙂
Thanks again Randy.
I am willing to do what ever it takes to succeed in this great industry of Network Marketing. I am so pumped up about it and the potential it has to change the lives of millions of people. The online tools are great way to get introduced to people around the world that you would not have been able to reach easily in the past. Once the connection is established, the relationship builds offline in the “traditional” way. Thanks again for all the great wisdom you share with us.
God Bless,
-ed
“the willing to pay the price for success.”
there isa wize saying ‘ of the great and famous mlm , and phikosoppher,about the way of getting the succes:
“Succes is nether megical or mysterious.
Succes is the natural consequence of
consistently applying basic fundamentals.” -Jim Rohn
Ouer mentor and teacher of mlm, used to say us a saying in my language:
“Succes is not only a target, it is a way of life.”
Randy, You are the Man!
I truly believe, that face to face is the best for building my business. All I need now is just to develop skills to do that 🙂
yes,that’s true Laurynas ,that’s all i need to to develop my business.developing skill is a very important things.
success to all
nurpin
Great post Randy,
I agree with a lot of what you posted but I have a different view point of the other areas.
We work on the internet with web-casts, lead generation, training and presentations. This has helped us reach a lot of people that we would not have been able to reach and support without the internet.
The internet is just another tool to help run and support our team as well as help with the training. It is just another way to market a business. If you use it as such and don’t fall for all the crap that is promoted on the internet to help grow organizations fast, it is an effective tool.
Where most fail with this tool is they spend time searching the internet for the latest and greatest or spend hours searching for the next miracle that will make them rich.
80-90% of a persons time needs to be getting their presentation in front of people. This is where the money is made, either in personal presentations or presentations for people on your team. The internet can be an effective tool to make presentation.
Meeting are and always will be a great tool to grow a business. The personal interaction helps people stay motivated. If you are excited and growing you should attend local meetings so others can feed off your energy. If you have had a bad week and not to excited you should attend to re energize yourself.
Nothing better than a jam packed house meeting. Always great energy!
Large corporate events can change your life. You should always go to these events.
So hope this make sense. We work in all areas because we can. We have the knowledge and experience to do so. Can all of what we do be duplicated by new people? No!!
It takes time and training to do all of what we do on the internet to do it correctly.
The new people on our team will work in the areas that our duplicate-able by others. This is where true duplication comes from and the fastest growth for the new person.
To your success
Craig
Randy, I have what I really want. That said, my wife has huge plans and I am always up for having even more of what I already have. This year will be full of breakdowns and the associated breakthroughs and by year’s end I won’t even know me. Og Mandino wrote, ‘the only difference between those who have failed and those who have succeeded lies in the difference of their habits.’ Taking an inventory and looking at what I am committed to accomplishing shines a bright light on numerous acceptable habits for mediocrity but reaching the top of the mountain I have to shed some beliefs that prevent anyone from making it to the top. A willingness to do whatever it takes scares a mind surrounded with ideas frozen in getting by. There are numerous opportunities that ask you to not do a cost benefit analysis until after you begin. That method always leads to failure and or disasters. Doing the cost benefit analysis beforehand combined with a commitment to accountability and integrity insures the breakdowns occur quickly and produce enormous breakthroughs. The opportunities to make a difference are already appearing at an increasing rate. It ‘s going to be a fantastic year.
Thanks Randy, for sharing your wisdom. We are learning a lot from you that if you want something bad enough you are willing to give up everything right now so you can have everything later.
Alfie
I will do whatever it takes to get the freedom the successful people in this business have!
Yes, I am willing to pay the price. Three to five years of consistent hard work instead of 40 years? Sounds like a great deal to me!
Face to face meetings are important, but the tools that are around help when you are prospecting with people from another state. Even with the tools, you would have your expert on the line to help you close.
To Mike.
The reason that most fail in MLM is plain and simple, they do not view it as a business. True MLM it is a very unique business but a business none the less and unless those who get in are willing to put in the effort to make their business successful then failure is usually the end result. There is a reason we have workers and we have leaders. Their are those who are misled into thinking that NM will make them wealthy overnight and there are those few who have become successful very quick but the fact remains that 3-5 years of serious effort are required and I make that time frame very clear to those I prospect, if they are willing to give that and follow a simple plan then they will make it because I will as a leader be there to help. As for your claim to be able to price beat any MLM company I know of one that uses the MLM business model for greeting cards and you can send a custom 2 panel greeting card which they will print stuff in an envelope place a real stamp on it and mail it for you and you do it all from your computer for a $1.00. Hard to beat that but I’m always open to a better value but have yet to find one so if you know of one please post it so we can all save some money. I wish you all the success in your business but if MLM is not for you please don’t rain on the dreams of those of use who view MLM as the best way to achieve our goals in life.
Hi again.
I’ve been reading your blog, Randy, a lot lately and I see the word “duplication” in different contexts.
I know that you have written about this subject before.
It seems like we all have different opinions about what the word means.
I just want to know if I am thinking wrong when I translate this word.
For me duplication is very easy. Right me if I am wrong.
I use products that I believe is fantastic. I believe in it and it shows on my look and on the positive belief that I have. I recommend it to people and tell them that they can make money just by recommending many people to use the same fantastic products as I do.
This is what I do. To me this is the reason why it’s called duplication. To make many people do the same thing as I do. Just a few things.
I think that Network Marketing is about belief, and if I believe, I convince people to believe aswell.
Dear Randy,
today is dead my daddy.
Give me a few days and after I answear you.
See you soon. Daniel.
Hello Randy, I am firmly in the darkside and web video conferencing is my talk to people method of choice. I am thinking of starting a social meet up group advertised online, where people can come to me. And as soon as they register online or walk into the door of the cafe or where ever the the meeting is…. They are qualified leads.
All that attraction marketing bullshit is perfect for me!
The internet may have changed how we reach people, however, it will never replace a real handshake, a real hug or real eye to eye contact.
Hi Patty
Please can I comment on your post:
I absolutely agree with what you say. If you are prepared to shake someones hand, you have a prospect. You will never be short of people to show your opportunity to!
Mike
Thanks for replying, Mike!
Dear Randy,
Yes, I certainly agree with your point. I think I am do not have problems to “give up” personal lesure time and work hard, but I am will not give up time with my kids, they are small now and even if I know I could work harder (not only MLM), I will not sacrified my kids’ childhood. That is too high price which I am not willing to pay. Otherwise no problem.
I have seen your performance in Prague (you are a kind person) and was surprise that you did not mentioned there anything about hard working. I was waiting for that a bit more.
Veronika
Hi everyone!
To me paying the price means are you prepared to change enough to make it happen! There is no doubt that this business works if you do the right things.
Unfortunately some people continue to go to meeting and trainings but never learn anything! After a couple of years they fade away wondering why it didn’t work for them.
Its a tough one, but if you are not getting results, you need to change what you do! The great thing is you can learn by “installments” but I have no doubt you have to learn how to be successful.
Mike.
Great post! nothing replaces a meeting, because we are in a relationship building business.
Yes, I realize we all have to pay the price if we want success. I can miss my hobbies for a few years, reading less for joy, and miss a lot of other stuff for a while to get the results I want.
But I am not willing to pay every price though. My family and especially my grandson have priority number one for me! He will be going to school, going out more and raise up so quickly. Don’t want to miss it when he’s growing up. He’s 2 now and I think it’s important to have a very nice and good relationship with him now, and with my daughter and son-in-law too.
If I have to choose between success and lots of money at one side and my dear family at the other, I really choose for my family!
But hopefully I do not have to choose! I’m trying to do both. Babysit for my grandson, help out my mum (who’s 81), help out my “foster”daughter (from Ethiopia, I kind of adopted her) AND do as much work for my business as I can.
Thanks Randy, for pointing me at this.
Kind regards
Stella
Randy,
I thoroughly enjoy all of your content I have ever read. You really offer the goods. It is very true about meetings. Webinars and conference calls definitely help, but there is nothing like connecting with someone face to face and really creating a relationship. People often forget that the MLM industry is all about people. Thanks for all you do.
Hey Randy,
Love it! I’m also a fan of attraction marketing-but that won’t duplicate. Hi-Tech, High-Touch. Most attraction marketers are recruiters & my almost 20 years in this profession, 1 thing I’ve learned is, lots of people can recruit-very few can sponsor.
As a result recruiters are always recruiting, they have to replace the people they churned & burned.
This is a people profession & simple put, “people don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
Our team has people coming through our “sales funnel”: Squeeze pages, blogs & articles online; postcards, referrals & ads offline. I love sitting at home in my robe all day and being online & using my unlimited phone plan to do 3-way calls for my team to assist them in getting their/my potential partners out to a good old fashioned hotel meeting.
Tripled our income from last year & the loyalty from our people and to our people is immeasurable. Thanks Randy, as usaul you say the things that need to be said.
Peace & Prosperity,
Derrick
Dear Randy Gage,
I not see the price for the pay.
I love traveling and I want to learn so many language.
It was my dream for kid.
It’is true the tools and other nothing will ever take the place
of real meeting with real people.
The evening is the best time for me, because into the Pubs and other
side I can to know many people.
I work now, so I can buy my freedom later.
I haven’t the kids now.
I not practise the sports now.
End your mantra will be my mantra.
It’s very beautiful.
Excuse me for my english.
Thank you for all.
Usually I don’t read post on blogs, however I wish to say
that this write-up very pressured me to check out and do it!
Your writing style has been surprised me. Thank you,
quite nice article.