| My Dad was always looking to make money | | | | financial security, based on their |
| from home. In the 1960's there weren't a | | | | company and business history. It's best |
| lot of options. He started all kinds of | | | | if the company has been around longer |
| businesses, from bars to installing | | | | than 5 years, and shown financial |
| sprinkler systems. | | | | stability and a track record of payouts. |
| But my Dad knew cars. He came across | | | | Is the company a member of the Better |
| this product which would keep your car | | | | Business Bureau (U.S.), the Direct |
| from losing traction and spinning out of | | | | Selling Association or other highly |
| control on slippery roads. It worked and | | | | regarded associations? |
| you could get rich. They cost about $500 | | | | 3. Marketing System: System to market |
| each which was A LOT of money in 1969. | | | | primary must be compatible with the |
| So he bought 10 and stored them in the | | | | internet marketing techniques and |
| basement under a sheet. That way my mom | | | | current consumer trends. Today's |
| wouldn't find out about his new | | | | consumer is different than 50 years ago. |
| adventure. | | | | Today's consumer has more choices than |
| One day the phone rang, and it was my | | | | ever before. Is the marketing system |
| mom calling from work. | | | | promoted by this company reflect today's |
| "Karen, hide the newspaper NOW! Don't | | | | consumer habits? The marketing system |
| let your Daddy see it!" (She found out | | | | must be simple and duplicatable. Network |
| anyway). | | | | marketing is a business system for |
| "Why?" | | | | non-business people. |
| "Because his business partner's been | | | | 4. Company Management: Must be led by |
| arrested. Your father's in one of those | | | | successful leaders in business with a |
| pyramid schemes!" (Like Dad wouldn't | | | | vision for the future growth, not |
| find that out at the next meeting?) | | | | management mode. Does the company have |
| And that was my introduction to network | | | | the talent at management level to |
| marketing. | | | | effectively keep a good product pipeline |
| Needless to say when I began my network | | | | and service its distributor base? Do |
| marketing career in 1988, I was afraid | | | | they have a plan to carry this out? Are |
| of getting ripped off. I literally | | | | they generating positive publicity in |
| blasted my first sponsor with over 70 | | | | the public media - creating a buzz - |
| questions. Poor woman. She didn't know | | | | that makes the distributor's job easier? |
| what she was getting into with me. | | | | 5. Global Reach: Must be ground floor in |
| Everyone else just believed what she | | | | their global expansion. Management must |
| told them. I wish I'd known about the 7 | | | | have prior experience in global |
| Critical Elements then! It would have | | | | expansion. Is the compensation plan the |
| made choosing a company so much easier. | | | | same around the world? What is the size |
| We are skeptical of what we don't know. | | | | of their product offering in new |
| If everyone else who is rich got that | | | | countries? Do they have the |
| way by working 80 hours a week, and | | | | infrastructure to support globalization? |
| climbing the corporate ladder, or | | | | 6. Compensation & Incentives: Maximize |
| discovering the wonder widget, how in | | | | your income based on your efforts. Must |
| the world can you make 6 or 7 figures in | | | | payout at least 50% of sales dollar, |
| a part-time business from home? | | | | must offer unlimited depth within |
| Multi-level marketing is a perilous | | | | compensation plan. Must offer Fast Start |
| business. On the surface, everybody says | | | | Bonuses, must offer other incentives and |
| the same thing. And everyone claims to | | | | recognition. You must be able to achieve |
| be legit. Even the scammers. And the | | | | $10,000/month true residual income with |
| "MLM truth" sites hate everything, so | | | | less than 500 people in the |
| they're not a big help. What's a mere | | | | organization. Does the company you are |
| mortal to do? | | | | evaluating document its payout with U.S. |
| Enter the 7 Critical Elements of a | | | | IRS? |
| Primary Business. There are elements | | | | 7. Pay-It Forward: Does the company |
| that every solid network marketing | | | | Pay-It Forward to the masses. They must |
| opportunity should have in order to give | | | | give back globally what they are taking |
| you the best potential for long term | | | | out. Are their products and policies |
| income. | | | | ethical? Socially responsible? Is the |
| Here they are in a nutshell: | | | | company's vision is to make an impact on |
| 1. Unique Products: Products must serve | | | | the world in a positive way. Do they |
| multiple market categories, be unique | | | | encourage significant charity |
| enough to get patents, and the products | | | | corporately and amongst their |
| have to serve the largest possible | | | | distributor base? |
| group. Are they consumable? Products | | | | These criteria may seem a little too |
| with one-time-sales makes residual | | | | rigid to you. Maybe you just like the |
| income difficult. Does the product line | | | | product you market. If you just want |
| make sense as whole? Or is the company | | | | short term cash, fine. But a business |
| just putting stuff in a catalog to sell? | | | | takes too much heart and energy to waste |
| In today's highly competitive market you | | | | on a so-so company. There are companies |
| don't want to have a bunch of me-too | | | | that meet all of these criteria and |
| products and compete solely on price or | | | | more, so it is possible! If your company |
| convenience. Would people buy these | | | | can meet all 7 of these critical |
| products or services if they weren't | | | | elements, you're on your way to |
| distributors? | | | | tremendous success. And you'll never end |
| 2. Company Stability: The ability to | | | | up in a pyramid scheme. |
| give you long-term business and | | | | |