First of all, the book is about 60 pages. Okay, that's why. :) Second, I had my 5am session and spent at least 15 minutes reading. I consider myself a slow, out-of-practice reader. The more I make it a practice, the easier and faster it gets, just like most other things, I suppose. So I didn't get tremendously far in 15 minutes alone.
Last, I made a change in a practice I have during the day. I currently breastfeed my son 4x a day, and it has become my habit for most of that relationship to watch movies during those nursing dates. I love movies, one of my pastimes, so while I've recognized for awhile that I could be doing productive things while nursing, I haven't wanted to give movies up. Yesterday, I tried it. Wow, I feel accomplished finishing that little, awesome book.
Since I read SO much in one day (not just the 15 minutes, my goal), it's pretty tough to pull out ALL the details I read in one post. Most of it resonated with me for this point in my leadership and experience. I see many of these principles in my upline/organization. So this will be more of a recap of the book instead of a ton of introspection (which is partly my purposes of doing this), but introspection was/is happening, I promise.
***
Where duplication lives. You. It's the most important key to having a successful, growing, and sustainable network marketing business. You are the only person in your circle of control. You cause certain behavior to happen by modeling that behavior, good or bad. You grow your people, they grow the network...because they are growing their people. Invest in them.
Power of the mind. Negative beliefs create behaviors that reduce my success. "When you have a negative mindset, every minor challenge will turn into a distraction and distractions kill growth" (17). "The only way to keep your mindset right is through daily self-development time devoted to positive programming" (17). The bigger you make your dreams, the bigger they will grow you.
Doing the right thing/setting the standard of integrity. It all begins with you. "...a system where success comes from people helping others reach success, where the sponsorship line gets paid for reaching down and mentoring they're team, and there is unlimited space at the top levels of success" (22). Be vigilant with integrity, in my business and my life. Represent the company accurately and honestly.
Pump up the volume. Buy from your own store; no excuses for any products if your own company has them. Be generous with samples and gifts. Develop a customer base. "...The standard you set in the first circle will directly impact what happens in the rest of them" (25). The greater variety of products you use, the better you'll know them, get better results, and have a stronger, more passionate story and testimonial. The more products your team sees you using and having around your house, the more they'll do the same. When you're earning smaller paychecks in the beginning of your business, you shouldn't be living off them - you should be reinvesting them in your business. "The personal volume in your circle is what is going to be multiplied many times over, all the way down the team" (29).
Making it rain/Busy work vs. income-producing activities. FB and tweets and checking numbers and calling your teammates and organizing...all busy work. We only get paid on volume produced by products that get to our clients. Invitations, activity, scheduling activity, and client follow-up. Plan your productive/rainmaker hours each week will probably grow your business more than any other single strategy you can implement (33).
Watering the taproot. Working directly with your downline will eventually produce higher payout and creates security in your organization.
Growing your market with events. Not planning my own Discovers quite yet, but it's so, so important to attend any and all live events you can. In network marketing, it's not whether something works, it's whether it duplicates. Meetings duplicate, as well as do some things only meetings can.
Promoting, not announcing/building to major events. Certainly not going to be planning my own global training conference tomorrow. But attending live events is a non-negotiable for your own personal growth and your business. Everyone is Always in need of at least One of these things: gain knowledge, improve attitude, change behavior, develop skills, build belief (44).
Using counseling to develop leadership. "You don't manage people. You lead people and manage things" (50). Best way to do that is through coaching. Share lessons learned and experiences, direct to PD resources that will help them, mentoring the positive and correcting dysfunctional behavior that is holding them back. Be honest and forthcoming during the coaching you receive so that the advice you receive can actually help you. Counseling makes all of the above stuff work. Coaching with someone else ensures my first circle is working.
Leading the tribe/Be the example. You can't show anyone how to grow/how to promote until you do it yourself. It SOUNDS good and LOOKS good to think if you first help a bunch of other people become successful then you become successful (sure DOES sound good), but those would be rare occasion when that happens to happen. The reality is, you must be able to LEAD for your team to be successful and sustainable longterm. You must become successful first. "At each step you are modeling the behavior and showing your team how the next level of success is attained" (55). Freedom is never free; it is the byproduct of success. Dreams never come true with common sense but because they are bold, daring and imaginative and strong enough to pull you forward. Be the most ambitious person you know.
Four things Randy Gage wants for me:
1. Live a Life of Adventure. Stop watching actors in movies and TV shows - time to live your own adventure. "Life is not about fighting rush-hour traffic, working in a cubicle, or sending your kids to daycare. Life is for living. And that means you" (59).
2. Get your Freedom. See number one. Freedom is about having choices - which car to drive, home to live in, exotic locale to vacation at, which causes to support, the schools for your kids, the people you want in your life. The choice to live out loud, in color, with passion.
3. Right Injustice. Can't do that much when you're trapped and broke. "Do what you can now, but to really make a meaningful difference, you probably need time, money and freedom" (59).
4. Move from Success to Significance. Make a difference. Leave a legacy. Build something that outlives you. That's when life really begins. Love, meaning, and leading a life of significance. "I will do today what others will not do, so tomorrow I can do what others cannot do" (61). Doing what we do is not easy - it's not supposed to be - but it is simple and important, not just for your freedom and your dreams, but for the freedom and dreams of everyone for whom you will make a difference.
Live your dreams.
***
So those are the biggest overall things I pulled out of the book. Some of it was very eye-opening, though tough to read because it's different than how I've been doing things; don't we all naturally resist change? But I don't want my regular ole human nature to keep me going the way I've been going. I want my dreams! Most of it is super inspiring and sounds like an incredible guide for changes and best practices in my business. As it was recommended, I agree it's a great first read when you start a network marketing business.
So far, it's day 3 of getting up at 5 A.M. (or nearly, since I still haven't gone to bed at an appropriate time...whomp whomp), but I have done my reading and blogging each morning, even though it looks like I may not post every single day if I don't complete the post in that sitting (like this one). :)
Here's me in my robe at 6-something this morning. Fancy! lol No Shame!
