Friday, August 20, 2010

Proactive Networking - Accountability Causes Action

You know that you want your business/career to be elevated to the next level. You know that in order to achieve success, you cannot continue to do the same things if they

are reaping poor results. You may also know that you get your best results when you work on a team or with a partner.

Furthermore, you have experimented with business networking and have realized that it is a valuable form of connections, lead generation, and broadening your options. You

may have come to the realization that if you were only to make new connections and build stronger relationships with your existing connections more consistently, you

would get to the next level you seek.

Is the problem is lack of motivation? Is the problem that you don't have enough time in the day? Is it a general unwillingness to do what you know is necessary to defeat

failure?

If some of the above descriptions apply to you, especially the part about working with partners or a team, I have a few suggestions to fire things up.

Have you considered partnering with someone to improve your networking activities? What I mean is, if you know the activities that are necessary in order to build your

contact base and improve on your business relationships, why aren't they happening?

Because most of us are competitive, partnering with someone on an accountable basis can motivate us to do more every day. If we have another individual or a team of

people who are keeping us accountable to the very activities we should be doing to succeed, we can impress ourselves several times over.

It is easy to make a game or a contest of this. For example; you can have a contest between you and your partner to see who goes to the most business networking events

or creates the most new business contacts in one month.

You can compete against each other to find out who will win at rekindling current business relationships productively. Whatever the challenge would be, you can offer each

other a valuable prize.

This is an excellent way to re-steam your motivation and force yourselves to move to higher levels. The key is to get you out of a certain routine and into successful habits.

If you both compete seriously, no one really loses.

If you try the above and use accountability as a motivational tool, you will then be able to make leaps and bounds in your business networking. You will see a noticeable

difference in your contact base and will realize some of your goals.

Buddhism and Network Marketing

To generate Boddhicitta (the mind of enlightenment) is like climbing up a flight of stairs. We must begin slowly at the foot of the stairs. Much like your position when you

enter network marketing.

It does not matter whether you have been incredibly successful or an utter failure in the past. As a networker you start at the bottom of the stairs and everyone has true

equal opportunity.

Can we make it to the top? We have to think.

With the progressive stages of practice we still need to consider whether the basis and root of practice accord with the Dharma. Likewise as a networker, unless our

practices accord with the universal principles of success, making it to the top is questionable.

So what are these universal principles of success? The Sakhya school's Oral Pith Instructions of renunciation say, "Those who still have attachment to this life cannot be

qualified as practitioners." From this we can see that being free from attachment to this life is the correct attitude in Dharma practice.

As to the criterion for having abandoned this life we have to generate genuine aversion to the eight worldly concerns. And they are: Gain, Loss, Fame, Disgrace, Praise,

Blame, Pleasure and Pain.

"What on earth!" you say. What am I in network marketing for if not gain, fame, praise and pleasure? Isn't this what I bear all the pain and disgrace for? For they are

temporary while gain, fame, praise and pleasure are permanent for a successful networker. How can I forsake these four foundations and where does that take me?

Well, here's the good news. Network marketing is not about generating Boddhicitta. It is thus really an easier option to living a full life.

The success principles here are about (1) Giving - give without an expectation of return. (2) Clearing - clear up the things you don't want to make room for the things you do

want. (3) Creative visualization - create a clear mental picture of what you do want and speak it into existence by writing it down and repeating twice daily. (4) Enthusiasm -

be one with the God within. Enthusiasm comes from the Latin root en-theos (God inside).

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If you're looking for the key to massive growth within your team, then take a look at coaching or mentoring. This idea alone has caused networkers to reach new heights in

their professional careers. This strategy is probably the most over ignored idea when it comes to new people trying to build a business.

In order to get the most out of being mentored, you must find the most highly qualified person available who can show you how to take your business to the next level. If you

look at some of the top athletes of our time like Tiger Woods, he still travels with a coach on his team to help him correct any problems that he might face on the golf

course.

Also look at guys like Michael Jordan, probably the world's greatest basketball player ever and he was still a team player and lead by a coach when on the court. He knew

the value of having a good leader.

So why is that anyway? Some people think that a good mentor should earn more than they do or they aren't qualified to lead. That's not always the case, don't some

athletes make more than their actual coaches?

A good leader's job is to be there and to keep you on track. Leaders are there to help identify and to help strengthen the skill sets that they identify in their team members.

The real benefit of having a good leader is now you are accountable to someone for all your actions.

Have you ever talked to someone who has years of networking experience? They might suggest implementing a leadership program for everyone on the team who is willing

to follow instructions. Who wouldn't appreciate leadership like this? One way to get the coaching started in your group is to have one leader offer to coach his leader and

then have them pass this idea down to the last person standing.

The good thing about mentoring your team members is it stops confusion about what they should be doing next. 80% of what you do on a daily basis should all be focused

on making money, not shuffling paperwork on your desk or hanging out in a chat room. If you are one of the lucky ones in network marketing, your instincts seem to tell you

what to do next, but most people need that extra help.

Even if you have everything in place for your downline, it can sometimes be overwhelming and they have no clue even were to start. By offering some mentoring and heading

them in the right direction they tend to be more productive. Also you'll find your sponsoring and recruiting will tend to be somewhat higher.

It's an outstanding way to look at it. So how do you attract a good coach into your life? It just takes some time, look around and maybe ask for a referral. Also if you want to

attract a good mentor be willing to take some action and get ready to start to learn.

One mistake that many new people make after hiring a mentor is to interrupt them with adding thoughts of their own. When dealing with a new coach be willing to listen and

learn. Sometimes people see us way different than how we actually see ourselves and they can help us improve on our good qualities.

If a coach chooses to be direct and not mince words, don't take offense but listen as to why the comment was made and how you can correct the problem. Some

suggestions that coaches make to you could actually add more money to your pocket.

Once you make the decision to hire a coach, you need to shelve your ego and be humble and coachable other wise, you wind up in a battle of wits and totally wasting your

time and money.

Most people are searching and looking for the right road to take and a good coach can put you on that road. Just like flying a remote airplane, you constantly adjust and

make corrections until the plane safely lands and that's how a coach works with you on a daily or weekly basis's. Here are some suggestions that will help you. Make sure

you track everything that you do, keep good records on expenditures, leads generated, what advertising is working and what is not. Always be in the know so you can adjust

and change courses if you need to. Also keep track of how many presentations you're doing and how many 3 way calls you're involved with. The main reason for tracking is

to improve on what's working and also you know what to dump that isn't working. Having a good, clear goal in mind and also written down is a big help in steering your

business along. If you have clear and precise goals laid out, then it's much easier for a coach to help you achieve them. Remember your coach is not a crying towel, so save

the whining and open both ears and start learning while at the same time take notes. Be sure to follow the exact advice that your coach gives you.

A good coach can just be a phone call away, so decide how much you can afford to spend on a monthly basis. When you do hire a coach and they are willing to invest their

time and energy helping you grow your business, be appreciative and thank God for sending them to you. Once you have mastered the idea of being coached, pass the

information on and start helping the people in your down line as well.