This past month, Kate and I were recognized for hitting one million dollars in commission with our network marketing company, Usana Health Sciences.
Today, I’d like to share my insights, experience and advice surrounding the network marketing industry. A formal definition of network marketing, also known as MLM (multilevel marketing) is essentially a direct selling method where independent distributors sell goods or services for a commission. Distributors are also encouraged to recruit and train others, with a goal to build and manage a team. To me, it is a business model that exists because it brings a higher quality of product as well as allowing for delivery of product to be much quicker. Network marketing eliminates the middleman and in turn, myself and our team become the marketing arm of the company Usana.
One of the more unique parts of this business model, is you have a choice in the company you promote and sell for. When you’re actually excited about and fully believe in the product or service you are selling, it’s a game changer. I’ve known people who dislike the company they work for, don’t enjoy the product they promote and simply see it as a job. This can make for a mediocre career and overall experience, which is why network marketing is different in it gives you a chance to choose a company that feels right for you.
[If you’d like to hear more about my experience, listen to Project Life’s Network Marketing Series, Episodes 030 – 033]
Often when people think of this type of business, an aggressive salesman, persistent promoting and pushing sales with complete disregard for customers can come to mind. This type of mentality is not how we have built our business, and not an approach we have ever taken. I’d like to share Kate and I’s personal view when it comes to our Usana business, and what we like to call Conscious Network Marketing. Meaning we present material to someone when they actually want to hear about it and when it’s relevant. If they are not interested, we stop talking about it and simply let it go. We listen to the customer – what they want, how they feel and if this feels right for them. We are professional when it comes to a potential customer and make a point to be transparent about what we do. When it comes to our team, we lead with a purpose to nurture, help them grow and hopefully produce a transformational change. There is no bait and switch situation, there is no taking advantage of people – the goal is to just make a positive impact.
When it comes to my personal success with the network marketing space, the benefits I’ve received and what this industry has allowed me to accomplish in my first 7 years of business is invaluable. It has acted as our starter business, our most consistent source of income and has put me on a much higher platform as a result. I say it’s a great business to start with because what I learnt and experienced in my first 3 – 5 years was phenomenal from a skill building standpoint. The confidence I now have within myself and the strengths I bring to the table not only have a powerful impact on my business, but on me as a human.
I have seen our team members start with Usana and then go off to do great things, others have stuck with Usana and now have a reliable business they enjoy. It’s all about being part of something greater than ourselves and I believe it is a perfect place to begin a transformation.
Interested in this topic? Check out TheFreedomFamily.net!
Mike Watts is an entrepreneur, speaker, husband, and father.
Before becoming an all around badass by radically reinventing his own life, he used to work for Phillip Morris. Today, he shows business owners how to expand their choices, do less and create the financial lives they want.