| Make a skill checklist first and then compare it with | | | | them so you better like being there. If you're just in it |
| ours. | | | | for the money and attempt to bulldoze everything in |
| You know you're an MLM potential if you : | | | | your path to get to the bank, then don't even think of |
| - Are opportunistic. No, it's not a dirty word associated | | | | starting an MLM network. You'll be exposed and you'll |
| with crows and cougars. If you look it up, an | | | | hate yourself for it. |
| 'opportunist' is actually an entrepreneur, a pioneer and | | | | - Have leadership. Which means going in first and |
| an investor and yes, that means you. | | | | taking the bullet before anyone else. It doesn't seem |
| You should be able to recognize an opportunity before | | | | pretty, but it has its rewards. Being a leader means |
| it hits you. If you've decided to embark on an MLM | | | | you know what to do in a given situation and how |
| venture, then you must have the talent to know | | | | best to do it. If right now you have the beginnings of |
| opportunity. But as you go along, opportunities will | | | | fear in the pit of your stomach, then you might want to |
| come and go, some of them unrecognized and | | | | think twice about MLM. |
| untapped and they could be in the form of a potential | | | | You can learn how to handle fear and turn it into an |
| customer. | | | | advantage. Focus your fear on failure and you'll hate |
| When you're just gunning for the big closure, then it's | | | | to fail. You and your team will work harder than |
| easy to hard-sell. But in the heat of the moment, you | | | | anyone else because you're scared of not making it. |
| fail to notice if you're actually getting the point across | | | | Being a leader means that you know your |
| or just wasting your breath. Some people are born | | | | weaknesses but you acknowledge that they can be |
| nice and you might be talking to some of them right | | | | overcome. |
| now. They could be nodding and saying 'yes, that's | | | | - Self-imposed brakes. Know when to talk and for |
| great' but maybe they're just too polite to say no and | | | | how long. MLM is about convincing people about your |
| walk away. | | | | product and you will be talking or writing about your |
| Learn to 'read' an opportunity. MLM is about building a | | | | product for hours at a time. If you've had some |
| sustainable business peopled by individuals who | | | | previous sales experience, notice how you learn to |
| recognized an opportunity and know how to sell it. You | | | | filter your sales talk as you go along? |
| don't want to work with robots or zombies now, would | | | | This also happens when you're trying to build a |
| you? | | | | network or actually selling the product to potential |
| - Network. Have more than one relationship. In MLM, | | | | customers. It's tempting to talk on, especially when |
| this is a must. You can't just attempt to build a network | | | | you're enthusiastic, but learn to listen to your customer. |
| with just one person even if that person had ten | | | | Ask them questions and listen to what they have to |
| thousand friends in five countries. Remember that old | | | | say. You are better able to target their needs better if |
| adage about putting your eggs in one basket? That | | | | you listen more than tell. |
| applies to MLM as well. | | | | - Honesty. MLM has had its share of flak because of |
| - Have excellent communication skills. | | | | some unscrupulous business practice from individuals |
| Study your gestures, modulate your voice, write and | | | | who were just looking to scam someone out of their |
| rewrite your articles and press releases. Practice | | | | hard-earned money. If your purpose is genuine and |
| everything and don't just leave things to chance. | | | | we're hoping it is, you should be able to know what |
| Talking and writing are skills that everyone has, but not | | | | your product is and acknowledge what it is not. |
| all of us can get our message across effectively. | | | | Sometimes when a potential client shows some |
| - Have supervising skills. Know your left as well as | | | | interest, you feel the need to talk on and on to impress |
| your right. One of your skills must be knowing how to | | | | him more, but too much talk can ruin the soup, so to |
| oversee and manage a group and not just the people | | | | speak. You might lose sight of your purpose and that |
| who have direct contact with you, but the people who | | | | is to tell your client the benefits of your product and |
| are in direct contact with them. | | | | why they should be interested in the first place. |
| Ask to talk to your people's contact and know who | | | | Developing a skill for a successful MLM business is not |
| they are, what they do, how they view the product | | | | like studying quantum mechanics. You're not trying to |
| and how they plan to sell. Knowing the kind and | | | | build a rocket or the next Great Wall, you're just trying |
| number of people you have under you will help you | | | | to put up a business and if you're in it for the long haul, |
| plan better and gauge your success meter more | | | | then you should know your skills. |
| accurately. | | | | The only skill anybody was ever born with was |
| - Have genuine interest. Nobody succeeded in an MLM | | | | probably knowing how to complain and even that is |
| venture without enthusiasm, or in anything else, for that | | | | doubtful, since it's usually in the form of crying and |
| matter. MLM is about selling a product and how can | | | | subsequently labeled as a reflex. All skills are learned. If |
| you effectively convince someone of its benefits if | | | | you truly want to succeed in an MLM venture, then |
| you yourself are pessimistic about its potentials? | | | | learn the necessary skills. If you already have them, |
| If you want to build strong MLM alliances, then you | | | | don't rest on your laurels and learn more. If you expect |
| should truly like working with people. You will be | | | | the best from your team, so would they. So you better |
| spending hours in discussions and sales briefing with | | | | be able to deliver. |