Got MLM Blues?

Got MLM Blues changed to....

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:10:00 +0000

The Enlightened Networker

I have recently changed this blog into a more positive one.

Visit us at The Enlightened Networker.

You can also read the "TEN" posts in the widget in the
sidebar to the right ==> ==> ==> ==>

Building your Home Business on a Budget?

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:48:00 +0000

Dealing with Telemarketers..The Seinfeld way

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:35:00 +0000

Never fake it

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:28:00 +0000

I was given the terrible advice "fake it until you make it" from one of my sponsors a few years back. This goes totally against everything I believe in. First, I'm a terrible actress, and you would know immediately that I am faking it. Second, I wouldn't feel good about myself lying about my success and faking something I'm clearly not. What is so wrong about telling the truth?

Nothing! Nothing at all!

Recently I added another income stream to my portfolio and the monthly checks from that business are still small. In a conversation I had with a prospect the other day that little tidbit came out. I don't remember exactly what I said, but I seem to have come across as someone who's building their business rather passive than agressive.

Anyone who knows me personally knows that I am very passionate about this particular business and while I may not be a very aggressive networker, there's certainly nothing passive about the way I build my business.

It bothered me though that this person asked to speak with "someone upline from me who's building their business more aggressive." Did I come across as weak? Gosh, I don't dare think that the answer would be yes. Personally I wouldn't label a person who's building his or her business slower but solid as "weak" or even passive.

What's wrong with building your business slow but steady?

Again, nothing at all. We are all on our own time table. Does moving slower make me a bad sponsor? I don't think so. Instead of sponsoring 2 or 3 a week like a more "aggressive" networker I sponsor 2 or 3 a month. I like it that way. That way I have time to support someone on an individual basis. I am there when they need me. I can give my undivided attention to the person who needs me most. Sponsoring a dozen people or more a month, while that sure would increase my paycheck, wouldn't allow me the time to support each person individually.

So no, I stick to my guns, I'll never "fake it". Faking it doesn't make it. (But please, don' label me "passive.")

Any New Year's Resolutions?

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:40:00 +0000

Come on, admit it, we all set them...and then just as easily as we set them, we break them. Last year for example I said I would go for a walk every day. Ehem...it's 368 days later and I haven't been once. I'm just too much of a workaholic. I can't even fit eating in my day without being reminded by my husband. Let alone walking. But again, it's on my list this year and I will let you know later how I'm doing on that.

One thing though, that was on my New Year's Resolution List, I intend to work really hard on. It's been nicer. Now those who know me personally already know me as a nice person, however reading the book "The Power of Nice" I noticed there is a lot of room for improvement.

Being "nice" as a person and being "nice" in business are two very separate things. There are a lot of things...so I noticed while reading this book...that I can do which would really help to grow my business. For example, I am a very competitive person and sharing my secrets with my competitors would have never occurred to me. What, you want me to share my secrets with those who compete with me? Or against me? Are you nuts? But...wouldn't working together increase our share of the pie, even though we are on separate teams? Hmmm, something to think about.

You can find "The Power of Nice" by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval in my bookstore here: www.ShopBookWise.com Just type it into the search function.

Happy New Year!

Ehem...and good luck with YOUR New Year's Resolutions ;o)

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 18:17:00 +0000

To all my friends who visit this blog...

Have a very merry Christmas, a wonderful Holiday Season and many blessings throughout the coming year!

May there be peace on earth!

Forum Fun is going Multi-Level

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:20:00 +0000

I've always loved forums as it is a great place to connect with people. Over the years I have met so many nice people from all over the world. Some even joined my businesses.

And now it seems as forums have gone multi-level. And the new forum Conquer Your Niche owned by my friend Russell Brunson, is "viral".

What does that mean? It simply means that once you become a member every time you POST or even just READ a post you earn advertising credits which you can use for your own ads.
So, if you participate in forums a lot, that could mean tons of credits for you and tons of exposure for you own ads.

You even earn DOUBLE advertising credits for each person you sponsor that posts in the forum. That can add up quite nicely.

Just take a look here and see how it all works. If it makes sense to you you can join as a free member and try things out. After all free traffic is a great thing, isn't it?

See you there ;o)

Quit often!

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:06:00 +0000

Now here's an interesting headline...Quit often? What do I mean by that? Haven't I told you in an earlier post never to give up and never, ever learn how to quit? And now I say "quit often." That doesn't make any sense...or does it?

See, until just recently I lived by, "never ever learn how to quit." And stubbornly I did some things day in day out, hoping that the outcome would change. Hmmm, isn't that the definition of "insanity" to do the same things over and over and hoping for different results?

It can really get confusing when people (life coaches, teachers, mentors, etc.) tell you to be consitent and persistant and never to quit, however when you do that and you don't see results you are labeled "insane".

The key is to know WHAT to quit and WHEN. Quitting the things that don't work is actually important. Don't keep doing what's not working and hoping if you just do it long enough it will eventually change. It won't.

I read a really great book last month. It's called "The Dip", by Seth Godin. In this little book you will find out exactly what to quit and when. I highly recommend you read it. It only has about 80 pages and is an easy read...but very powerful.

The old saying is wrong - Winners do quit and quitters do win _Seth Godin

I want to become more like Oprah, Anderson Cooper...and...

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 06:00:00 +0000

...act more like an ant.

I had a down day today until I came across this article that I would like to share with you.

9 Things You Simply Must Do
By Dr. John C. Maxwell

Oprah Winfrey and Anderson Cooper are two of the most popular media personalities in America. Yet, their backgrounds hardly could be more dissimilar. Oprah was born to unmarried teenage parents in rural Mississippi. Anderson’s mother was fashionable railroad heiress, Gloria Vanderbilt, and his father was a successful writer/editor in Manhattan. Oprah grew up in poverty, spending her childhood in the inner-city ghettoes of Milwaukee. Anderson was born into wealth. He appeared with his mom on The Tonight Show when he was three, and he modeled for Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Macy’s as a child.

Read more....

Mother Theresa - Anyway

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 20:53:00 +0000

When things get tough, which they undoubtedly will in this business, then just remember this poem from Mother Theresa which was found in the orphanage she founded in Calcutta. It's origin is unknown.

Anyway

People are often unreasonable,
illogical and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind,
people may accuse you
of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and
some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

People may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis.
it is between you and God;
It is never between you and them anyway.

Update: Stepping out of the Comfort Zone

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 17:28:00 +0000

That was a fantastic lesson I learned in Kim Klaver's class "Promote Yourself with Class."

I totally revamped my profile on iGaggle to find people just like me who are looking for a specific kind of product. Not Wal-Mart variety but Guggi shoppers. And even more specific, Guggi shoppers for "Size 8 shoes". (If you have been following Kim Klaver's blog you know what that means.)

With my old profile, I landed 3rd as far as the question "With whom would you sign up (or not)?" I was blasted for being to "wordy". I wonder how I would rank with my new profile.

Comments welcome below.

In any case, it was a very successful week for me. I learned how to improve my profile to ask for people just like me, who are "Guggi shoppers" looking for a specific, high quality product (or a company marketing that kind of product).

I received 43 visitors to WinningInTheMargins.com (passkey: booklover) with 4 requests for more information. Not a bad week!

Have a great day!

Don't give up...

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 03:42:00 +0000

This landed in my email inbox a week or so ago and I thought it would make a great post as I'm sure, a lot of us have felt like quitting at least once...

Don't give up.....

One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me..."Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern
and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied. "When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took
very good care of them.

I gave them light.

I gave them water.

The fern quickly grew from the earth.

Its brilliant green covered the floor.

Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again,
nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
He said. "In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.

But I would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo
seed. I would not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared
to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later
the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing
roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.

I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."
He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been
struggling, you have actually been growing roots".

"I would not quit on the bamboo.

I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others."

He said. "The bamboo had a different Purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful." "Your time will come",
God said to me.

"You will rise high" "How high should I rise?" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.

"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story.

I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.
Never, Never, Never Give up. For the Christian Prayer is not an option
but an opportunity. Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell the problem
how Great the Lord is!

Stepping out of the Comfort Zone

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:41:00 +0000

Stepping out of our "Comfort Zone" can be a HUGE obstacle for some of us. Me included. But sometimes we just have to "stretch" a little bit, and we are amazed of what will happen when we do. For one, it makes us feel great, like we accomplished something. And we may even find afterwards that it really wasn't so hard. Two, it can be very beneficial for our business. Three, we may inspire others to stretch a bit as well.

I did some "stretching" this week when I volunteered for a survey on Kim Klaver's blog titled With whom would you sign up (or not)?. It was the kind of
"jump-into-the-water-and-don't-think-about-it" kind of thing for me, but I am very glad I did. I am learning what I'm doing wrong on my profile and how I can improve it. Yes, it's scary to be out in the open like that. I feel very vulnerable, but at the same time very appreciative for any feedback positive or negative. It's a win/win situation and an invaluable experience for which I am very grateful.

Bad news travels faster than good news

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 23:47:00 +0000

While picking my book selection for this month I came across a great book "Made to Stick - Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die." Since the title sounded very interesting but I never had heard of it before I clicked through to the details and found the first paragraph started out quoting an observation of Mark Twain: "A lie can get halfway around the world before the truth can even get it's boots on."

I found that to be very interesting and very true at the same time. Another saying would be, "Bad news travels faster than good news." Somehow, this all reminded me of the business we are in. Network Marketing or MLM. How often have people raised their eyebrows when you told them you were with a Network Marketing company? MLM has become a bad 3-letter word. Why?

Because bad news travels faster than good news. Bad companies are grabbing the spotlight much faster than good companies. We hear first of what's bad before we hear what's good. The negative grabs the lime light. The negative draws attention. The bad or negative is what people remember. Why is that and how can we turn this around?

There is a lot of good in Network Marketing. High profile business people such as Donald Trump, Robert Kiyosaki and Warren Buffet are standing behind this industry. They see the value and the benefits of this industry. Large companies are using the distribution model of Network Marketing to move part of their products because they see the power of "referal marketing." It is a rapidly growing industry worldwide and looking forward to a very bright future.

We as distributors, reps or whatever we call ourselves must do our part as well to clean up the image of Network Marketing and MLM a bit and convert to the new way of doing business. Out with the "Old School" of recruiting, recruiting, recruiting and in with the "New School" leading with our exceptional products and building a strong customer base. A base of satisfied customers is the back bone of a successful business. Happy customers spread the "good news." Isn't that what we want?

A winning entry. Wow!

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 05:24:00 +0000

Can't remember the last time I "won" anything and I definitely never won a prize for a blog entry. So this is kind of a "first". Needless to say I was tickled pink and very honored when I found out that I was among the winners of Kim Klaver's Contest: New School Manifesto #1 of 11: "We are members of...a community, not hunters.

You can read all about it here. And then when click on the the underlined link: ...a community, not hunters" it will link to here where you can see the entries. It is very true we are indeed a community, not hunters.

Kim Klaver is brilliant in her quest to change the image of network marketing from "Old School" to "New School". Her innovative ideas will change an entire industry. I feel blessed to be her student.

What's in YOU?

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:15:00 +0000

It's amazing what a bit of confidence can do.

Watch the video below...you'll be speechless.

After watching the video above, please go here for
the rest of the story...

SEMI FINAL

FINAL

I'm sorry to have to advise you....

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:27:00 +0000

I was trying to send out a newsletter to my team which I had worked on all afternoon last Wednesday. It contained some very important updates and time sensitive information about what was going on within our company and I wanted to make sure it was going out on the 15th. To my horror I woke up Thursday morning and found this in the inbox of my email account:

I am sorry to have to advise you that your account does
not meet the guidelines outlined in our Prohibited Content
policy. Unfortunately, because of unsolicited commercial
email and the high number of abuse complaints stemming
from your industry, we are no longer able to take on any
new work from home, multi-level marketing or get rich
quick related customers. Please know that this decision
is not a personal decision and is not reflective of your
individual business or your list collection practices, but
rather is in response to industry outcry. I apologize for
any confusion.

As a result, we will no longer be able to provide services
to you.

The marketplace associated with sending email has
changed dramatically, and as a result, we have had to
adapt our tolerances to meet the current business
environment. While we appreciate your consideration,
we cannot afford the possible risk and exposure
associated with your account. High abuse complaints
result in getting our servers blocked by ISPs. We cannot
limit the blocks to just your account, so it impacts all of
our customers. Thank you for your attention.

Best Regards,

Imagine my surprise! At first I was very angry and frustrated. However, after sleeping over it, I could see the company's point. Our industry has changed and while there are many ethical networkers who would never even think of abusing the system, there are the few who continue to give our industry a bad name.

So what are we to do? Quit? No, for me, that's definately not an option. I've never been a quitter and I certainly won't start now. "Quitters never win and winners never quit!" They say, "what doesn't kill us will make us stronger." True, probably. But how many people in our industry are quitting because they are just not strong enough? I think the last figure I heard was around 95%. That's a lot of quitters. Maybe they would last longer if they knew what they are getting themselves into. If those who sponsored them would quit lying to them and saying "oh it's easy, just talk to your friends and neighbors." It's certainly not easy and our friends and neighbors have heard it all before. We need to make sure we tell our new team members, it's a simple business, but certainly not easy. There will be a lot of road blocks on the way, but the rewards are wonderful.

Yes, our industry has a tarnished image, but it is still a great industry and it instills core values in people. It is also the only industry (I know of) where ordinary people can find financial freedom if they apply themselves. It is not possible for the 'little guy', without proper education to climb the corporate ladder all the way to the top. However it is possible in network marketing for an individual no matter when he joins a company to bypass his sponsor and accomplish greater success. ...and yes, climb all the way to the top. It's been done and repeated over and over and over.

But anyway, I'm getting off topic. ...Yes, we have a bad name, but those who are ethical and love this industry will eventually turn it around and then the world will see it for what it is already at it's core and what some of the more open minded politicians see it as....

Your industry promotes core values all around the globe and gives people a chance to make the most of their lives." _ Bill Clinton

British Prime Minister Tony Blair declaired that, "it makes a
tremendous contribution to the overall prosperity of the economy."

Visualize....

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 23:41:00 +0000

Focus on where you want to be, not where you are.

I heard something a few years back that keeps ringing in my ears: "Don't judge your future destination on your current location." How true! (While this might fit more in to the "Goal Setting" category, for me personally, visualizing what I wanted to get out of all this helped keep me going when times get tough.)

To help me with 'visualisation' I build a "Dream Board" or "Vision Board" that I have hanging in my home office. I look at it every day, obviously, as I am working rom home ;o) I pasted everything on there that I wanted in the future. Some of the things I have already 'earned' and some are still there for me to grab in the future. (And some will be added or taken off as time goes by and I change my mind ;o) )

Now, right smack in the middle of my board is a little 'Bavarian Farm House' that symbolizes my dream (Goal) to be able to go back home to Germany and live there part of the year. That is my 'WHY', my ultimate goal that I am working towards. Obviously, to live in Europe part of the year would cost a lot of money. It's a huge goal 'ginormous' as 'Elf' would say ;o) an to accomplish this I would have to realise my dream of financial independence.

To cut this huge goal into smaller pieces the goal I am working towards for 2007 is "just" to be able to take my family to the "Oktoberfest" in Munich in September. I think that is achievable.

Like they say..."Every journey starts with a single step"...and then you build on that.

Nobody said it was going to be easy...

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 18:45:00 +0000

If they did, they were not telling you the truth. It takes hard work, consistency and persistence. You need to work at it every single day and you need to keep your focus on where you want to go. Trust me, if you don't know where you are going, you won't like where you end up.

Think about 'WHY?' you are doing this. Do you want to stay home with your kids? Do you want to bring your husband home? Do you want to have money for retirement? Do you want to travel more? Whatever, but it needs to be a very strong reason. If you do not have a strong 'WHY' you will get frustrated and you will eventually quit. Your 'WHy' may change over time, but as long as it is still strong it will help you keep going.

There are a lot of road blocks in this industry, but the rewards to overcoming those are well worth it. Focus on what you want and don't quit until you get it.

Get me right....I absolutely LOVE this industry

noreply@blogger.com (Ilka Flood) — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 06:48:00 +0000

10 years ago my husband lost his job from one day to the next without any warning. We were
devestated because we had drained our savings account waiting for a job after my husband had left the Army.

That was the time I re-evaluated MLM or Network Marketing which I had looked upon very negatively before. After really 'digging in' and doing a lot of research I found that this was the ONLY industry where ordinary people are given a chance to earn extraordinary incomes...well even can become millionaires if they work at it.

Yes, it takes WORK. Notice the word 'work' in Network Marketing. I've never been afraid of a little bit of work when I get compensated well for it. Now, looking back at the past 10 years, there's nothing I would rather do. I absolutely love the freedom this industry brings. I love waking up when I'm done sleeping and not to the annoying sound of an alarm clock.

Is it easy? Of course not! Nothing worth while doing is ever easy and there sure was some learning involved. As a matter of fact, I'm still learning something new each and every day.

And yes, there are those "days" when I have doubts or get frustrated and think...well maybe I SHOULD get a "real" job. But as soon as I drive by the local Walmart those thoughts quickly pass and I remember how lucky indeed I am ;o) There is NOTHING in the world I would rather do!

Things are changing in the Network Marketing industry. What worked a couple of years ago isn't working as well...or not at all...anymore. Even what worked with one company may not work with another. So there's something new to learn all the time. Which is good...that way we don't get bored ;o) I started this blog to log what works for me and what doesn't. What frustrates me and what works for me. Maybe it can be of help to someone else.