by Doug Firebaugh As far as your Network Marketing business, Let
me ask you some questions: 1) What is going to be the driving
force in your business in the future? 2) What is going to be the
catalyst for taking your business to the next level and beyond?
3) What is going to ignite a success inferno in your business
and stoke it every week? 4) What is going to create a downline
wildfire of growth in your business? 5) What is going to direct,
navigate and guide you through the challenges that lie ahead
this year? These are tough questions and it may take a little
time to ponder them. To save time, perhaps I can offer some
assistance here -- the answer should be just one word, and one
word only for all five questions. That word is going to be the
defining factor in your ultimate success or lack of it. The
answer is the kerosene that fuels a fire storm of success in
your downline and your life if you let it. It is written on the
walls of the successful distributors' hearts, branded in their
minds, and reflected in their eyes. It is the catalyst for
higher performance in anything, and can create more success in
your business than you ever imagined. I know what I am talking
about because it drove my Networking business for over ten years
and those of all the successful people I know. It attracts
success and wealth like a magnet on steroids, and contains all
the secrets of creating wealth in this business. Anything that
has been written about this business points to this enormous
power in some way. It worked so well in the organization I was
honored to be a part of that, and I've devoted my professional
life, through PassionFire International, to taking the message
to the industry worldwide. What is this answer, this message,
I'm alluding to? Leadership -- true, pure, unbridled leadership
-- the most powerful force in Network Marketing success. We have
a saying at PassionFire: "Passion is the Secret Weapon to
Success, and Leadership is the Secret Weapon to Network
Marketing." When passion ignites, it can melt anything that gets
in its way passionate leadership is like an electric power
station with focused, contained power that can explode anything
it touches. That's the power that will create new millennium
millionaires in this industry. Truly, no amount of instruction,
training, or teaching will ever equal the explosive success
power of passionate leadership! I know a lot of well-educated,
well-intentioned folks who know the mechanics of this business
-- all the right words, phrases and answers that sound great --
but are barely getting by. They have incredible potential, but
lack the leadership focus and heart that their downline is
starving for in their success journey. Do you realize your
people are looking for MLM leadership? There is nothing sadder
in this industry than when an organization that explodes with
momentum eventually outgrows the distributor due to lack of
leadership, and falls apart, piece by piece, day by day. This
happens all the time! But it doesn't have to. In this new
millennium, we can change that. To that end, I've changed my
understanding of what MLM stands for -- for me, from now on it
stands for: Moving Leadership Momentum! For Moving your
business, create Momentum with Leadership! All leaders know how
important momentum is in this business -- especially for the new
distributor! With passionate leadership, you can create that
momentum in your group. The first step is understanding what
leadership means in Network Marketing. Defining Network
Marketing Leadership Leadership is a set of skills, strategies,
attitudes, and beliefs that we engage consistently, daily, and
fervently for everyone's benefit. To define it specifically for
our industry: Leadership in Network Marketing is boldly taking
on the responsibilities and commitments of creating an
empowering environment and a path to success that people
willingly follow. Go back and read that one more time and notice
how it makes you feel. Are you that kind of leader? Are you
doing that for others? Let's take a closer look at that
definition... . The first power word in the definition above is
bold. Leaders in this business are willing to step up to the
bat, see what has not been seen, think what has not been
thought, say what has not been said, and do what has not been
done. That is a vivid, technicolor "word picture" of Network
Marketing leaders. They are bold in their thinking, their
vision, their words, and their actions. At PassionFire we teach
that BOLD stands for Bringing On Leadership Destiny! Boldness
creates a destiny of success while timidity is like a cancer in
this business. Leaders get out on the edge and stay there,
empowering others to join them. Are there people who think you
can't succeed? Do what you have not done before, think like you
have never thought before, and accomplish what you `ve only
dreamed before -- it takes bold leadership to show them what's
possible in Network Marketing. Next, note the word
responsibility. Leaders understand the weight of responsibility,
and do not shirk from it. They know that someone has to take
action to make anything happen, and they accept that task
willingly. They know what they are responsible for as well as
what they are not. For example, leaders know that ultimately
they are not responsible for their distributors' success. They
are responsible for educating them to do this business,
preparing them for the challenges that might arise, and
supporting them along the way, but each distributor must engage
and embrace their own success. It's not unlike being a personal
fitness trainer. The trainer can teach her clients how to lift
weights, why to lift and when to lift, but they must do the
lifting and the grunting. If she lifts the weights for them,
she'll get the benefits, not them. They'll lose interest and
say, "Weight lifting doesn't work!" -- sound familiar? Leaders
strive to build permanent downlines always. They are willing to
dig the pond, fill it with water, stock it with fish and teach
you to fish, but the new distributor must cast the line. The
third power word in this definition of leadership is commitment.
Commitment is the cement in the foundation of any successful
organization. Committed leaders are magnetic, attracting people
to them effortlessly. Why? Because leaders know that commitment
is less something said or done than felt. It empowers anyone who
comes in contact with them because they can feel it. We all know
people in this industry who are sought after and respected, and
almost without fail it is because of their unshakable commitment
to success, to their people, and to Network Marketing. You will
be forced in this business to do things you don't feel like
doing at the time they need doing or with whom they are to be
done, but know that it's your commitment in those times that
will determine whether you are followed as a leader or
eventually ignored. Next, consider the word create. If I had to
choose only one word to define leadership, this would be it. Put
simply, leaders are creators -- they create something where
there was nothing before. They crystallize the future into a
tapestry woven with the threads of dreams, belief, and action.
Leaders create magnetic direction, powerful influence, hope,
possibility, and environments for growth. Leaders have the
extraordinary ability to see the invisible -- the art of vision.
They take a thought, and by sharing it with others and asking
their help, bring it into existence. They create compelling
visions that people can believe in -- in Network Marketing, it's
often that most important of beliefs which can change our lives
for the better. The MLM Word CHANGE. I see change as a sister
word of create. Leaders are change agents -- they create
positive change in people's lives. They know that change must
occur to increase or expand anything. Change creates new
directions and perspectives which are what Network Marketing is
all about. Are you starting to see that Network Marketing and
leadership are blended so tightly, it's tough to tell them apart
sometimes? Leaders don't just accept change, they embrace it for
themselves and make it part of their message. The power of their
approach is in the choice to embrace rather than accept. The
next vital part of this definition is the concept of an
empowering environment. In the same way that our environment on
earth determines what grows, what thrives, what lives, and what
does none of these, so does the environment you create within
your organization affect its growth, stagnation, mediocrity, or
decline. It must encourage and foster hope and possibilities,
not hype and impossibilities. It must empower people to maximize
their strengths. What creates your leadership environment? Your
words, your moods, your actions, your consistency, your
expectations, your caring, your beliefs, and your attitudes. Is
your environment full of sunshine or dark clouds? Is it full of
belief or doubt? Maximum empowerment brings maximum growth. Near
the end of the definition is the term path to success. Leaders
provide their people with a clear, engaging, step-by-step path
to achievement of their goals. In fact, it's better to think of
it not just as a path to success, but also as a part of success.
By helping people develop a success awareness -- a mindset of
focus and power and possibility from the start -- you give them
a chance to succeed at every stage in the process. You do this
by sharing tools and trainings with them and saturating the
environment of your organization with expectancy and
anticipation! Be out in front -- say "Come on! You can do it,
and I'll show you the way. Few people take the time to celebrate
small successes, the unintimidating actions or the seemingly
insignificant tasks, but this is one of the most important
things you can do for the growth of your organization. It is
amazing how recognition and celebration of small victories
produce opportunities for celebrating incredible victories. The
final noteworthy phrase above is willingly follow. Do your
distributors trust your judgement implicitly? Is it worthy of
their trust? Do they follow your lead and promote it to their
organizations? New millennium leadership demands and will not
settle for anything less than trust between upline and downline.
One of the greatest secrets of leadership is that people will be
drawn to someone who cares and has the strength to empower that
emotion. People are compelled to follow strength, and I am not
just talking about power, but presence with power -- and there
is a difference. Lots of managers have power, and use it, but
don't have presence. A strong presence is felt, not spoken, and
people pick up on it immediately and follow. It works like a
magnet in this business. A leader in this business is someone
who is going places and taking excited people with her. You see,
people have one question they'll never ask but are always
seeking the answer for: Is this person strong enough to help me
achieve what I want in life? This is what I call the "unspoken
determinant," and if they assess that the answer is yes, get out
your flute, because the Pied Piper has arrived on the scene!
Strength in leadership comes from not being sold on the
business, but sold out to it! You no longer are in the business,
the business is in you! This creates a magnetic presence and
personal credibility that people feel compelled to follow.
Together, these elements will create a leadership that can drive
any business to the heights of success. It all starts with one
word -- decision. Decision is your catalyst for the leadership
you've just learned about, the fuse that ignites and creates
that power within I call SuccessFire. Decision is the flame that
ignites all success in leadership. Another PassionFire proverb
is "Choice determines Direction Decision determines Destiny."
There is only limited power in the word choice, because it is a
selection that can be changed. Decision is a mindset, a "heart
set" that is steadfast. Let me ask you a new millennium
million-dollar question: Have you made a choice to try this
business, or a decision to become successful in it? I urge you
to lead yourself and your group into the new millennium ignited
by the flame of decision -- decide to let the kerosene of
leadership explode your business into an inferno! MLM Leadership
Quest. This brings us to a vital aspect of your personal
leadership quest. You must learn to lead you first, before you
can lead others. The path to leadership success is built first
with bricks of personal leadership, then with group leadership.
How can people follow anyone who doesn't display and practice
leadership in his own life? You can empower others to boldness,
commitment, discipline, and presence only if you display these
attributes in your own being. This is why I mentioned earlier
how organizations can outgrow distributors -- it happens!
Personal leadership comes from personal growth. If you have made
a decision to become the best, and are doing the things
necessary to engage success beyond your comfort level, you are
displaying and building personal leadership. You don't have to
be perfect to be a leader, because ongoing transformation is
part of leadership. Work this business through the eyes of a
leader, not just a distributor. There is huge difference! You'll
find that the path to success becomes much more easily traveled
through the eyes of leadership. I encourage you to engage in
ongoing mlm leadership development for six months -- face to
face with a mentor, on a conference call, or in dedicated
personal study of the wealth of resources available for the
asking. I testify to the impact of this from experience --
you'll cut your attrition in half and your whole organization
will feel the dramatic shift in your MLM and Network Marketing.
Blessings...doug PassionFire intl (c) 2005/ all rights reserved
http://www.passionfire.com
http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_8.html
About the author:
Doug Firebaugh is one of the top MLM Network Marketing Trainers
in the world. Over a million people a month read his training
ezine. He spent the last 7 years traveling the world speaking
and training on Success. He lives in Birmingham Michigan, and
you can receive a FREE subscription to his training ezine- The
MLM Success HEAT- at: http://www.passionfire.com/pf_heat_4.html
http://www.passionfire.com
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