The Serial Thoughts of a Network Marketer - Unraveling the Mysteries of Your Business

Easily enough, I wanted to title this “Mystery Down at Willow Creek” or something sounding like an old Nancy Drew novel! Mystery books are one of my hobbies; however, there have been days that my NM business felt more like a mystery to me than a career.

About ten years ago, I began a very successful career with an international NM company. It simply exploded. I’d come home at night scratching my head and think, “wow, I made great money and had fun too!” What’s the catch!?

Don’t get me wrong, in the beginning I was filled with fear and doubt as I signed my papers and forked over the credit card to start this “I don’t know if I want to do this” venture. I was working full-time, had three busy kids, a husband and a large home. What was I thinking?

I was pleasantly surprised when my NM income surpassed my day job paycheck and after six months I fired my boss! I was burned out from the dual positions and it was the right decision at the time.

Are you on your own or working your business part-time? It can be very difficult to take the plunge into a new venture. Just be smart and do the math.

As my confidence grew in the business and in my product, my sales soared. I no longer had the anxiety of not knowing my product and how to sell it, or the anxiety of bringing money into my bank account. I also had the skills and tools in place to follow up with my clients. It was working!!

As time passed and my skills were honed, I became a recruiting renegade. (At least in my own mind!) Stephanie Plum had nothing over on me! (You mystery buffs may be the only readers appreciating my puns!) I could sniff out a prospect and have them signed up before they knew what hit ‘em!

Everyone was a “target” – that’s what they were teaching me and this became my focus! Friends, family, co-workers, strangers and even my best customers all appeared before me as if they were wearing the big, round, red, bulls eye logo on their foreheads! I wouldn’t rest until I had met my recruiting challenge! I thought everyone wanted to be in such a fabulous business.

Unfortunately, I have a very small family, only a few friends caught the fever, or better yet, agreed to play along with me and eventually, my best customers dried up! So, what was the matter? I was doing exactly what was required and expected of me in my position, or so I thought!

If only I could bring in Harry Bosch to review the “crime scene” and give me his perspective! I was really in trouble and needed an answer or at least an alibi. I couldn’t have done anything wrong, now could I?! I thought that if the prospect had a heartbeat and shallow breath left in them, they should be a part of my team!

If your team needs a boost—recruit. If you need more income—recruit. Recruiting was supposed to be the answer to everything…wasn’t it? So why wasn’t it working any more? The plot just seemed to thicken!

Your business will have mysteries of its own, unique to you and your product. Your mystery may be lack of prospects to sell to and recruit—maybe your mystery is lack of product knowledge, or maybe your mystery is fear itself. Has time become a mystery to you—where has it gone and what did I do with it?

I’ve yet to read a Patterson novel where Alex Cross couldn’t prove his remarkable ability to unravel the crime and figure out the sequence of events. My business coach was my Alex Cross. My own mystery unraveled when I found her after I’d left NM. She made me see the evidence that was missing I so desperately needed for success. Quickly, I saw all the things that seemed so hard or difficult to understand, become very clear.

Stepping back from NM I realized I wasn’t prepared to run and build my “empire.” Tools were missing as well as the implementation of the tools. If you’re feeling this same way about your business, I recommend you assess your tools, time management and your focus. What you’re really missing in your business is probably right in front of you—Sherolck Holmes doesn’t need to hand you a magnifying glass to find it!