How to Profit from your MLM sales chops

in case you did not subscribe to his mlm 'rant', here's the first from perry...

Today I'm going to begin an introspective look into my years as an MLM-er. During the next few days and weeks I'm going to weave together a unified answer to these two questions:  1) What did I learn from being in MLM that prepared me to become who I am today?  2) Even if you have no experience with MLM (and never intend to) what skills and lessons can you "borrow" from the MLM industry to become a more successful marketer?  I'm going to talk about vital sales skills that MLM teaches better than almost anything else and why. By the time we're done you'll have a deeper understanding of salesmanship, marketing, and what makes dollars circulate in the world.  Concept #1: The WIDGET  The most remarkable thing about successful network marketing programs is the amazing quantity and quality of "emotional experience factors" they add to some ordinary consumable product that comes in a bottle and washes down the drain.  The mantra in Amway was always, literally: "Sell Hope Not Soap."  Hope is a "Widget." A complex offering with multiple dimensions. Hope comes in many, many packages.  When I was a young pup in Amway I was amazed at the endless variety of ideas, sales pitches and emotional appeals. Here's a short list:  1. Finally, a business that anyone can do 2. Your children will respect you for finally doing something with your life 3. You'll build a business you can pass on to your children and your grandchildren 4. You'll finally learn how to communicate and cooperate with your spouse 5. You'll walk across the stage as a brand new Diamond and people will rise to their feet in thunderous applause 6. You'll be proud of what you've accomplished 7. You'll always have a network of people who will come help you change a tire or be with you when the chips are down 8. Moms who take our vitamins have strong, healthy, above-average, smart babies 9. You'll get things other people don't get because you're willing to do things other aren't willing to do 10. Someday you'll look back on your life and be glad you didn't stay in a cesspool of mediocrity like everybody else 11. All the people who said "no" to you will live to regret their decision 12. Dream Weekend will change your life / is changing your life / did change my life 13. Your upline can guide you through any financial decision and you should check with them before making any major purchase. 14. You can and should go to your upline for counseling at least once a month. 15. You can buy any kind of shampoo you want, but only one kind of shampoo is going to pay for your kids' college education.  Didn't take me long to come up with these 15 things. In fact you might have heard all of the above in the first 15 minutes of some tape.  Notice: These things have NOTHING to do with soap.   Notice how many of them directly presume upon the future.  If you ever deal with poor people, or do social work, or spend time in the "inner city" one of the biggest things you'll discover is how poor people live in the perpetual present. Sort of like your house cat. For a cat, tomorrow doesn't seem to exist. Only today, only now.  That's how poor people think.  Successful people think about the future. Some days, they almost live in the future.  Those who sell the future find ways to tie the present to the future and are constantly looking forward.  Those who successfully sell, sell much more than just the "thing." They also sell the idea, the experience, the future outcome.  I can't think of any marketing program, organization or product that loads what they sell with more emotional hooks than Amway did.  You could study this sort of thing in a textbook but you'd never, EVER "get it." You have to *live* it in order to really understand. 

MLM Adventure

Perry Marshall is one of my mentors, in the ppc world. He tells it like it is...and surprisingly he actually has a MLM past...and many of the things he said resonate in me...

've written many emails & newsletters about my Multi-Level Marketing days. "My life as a naive enthusiastic Ambot" and all that. Mostly they've been rants and they've been kind of negative.  But there's a different side to that story and I've determined to reveal it in a new email series. My Director of Alchemy, Jack Born, has been prodding me to do this and I finally decided:  It's time.  My own Amway saga, though notoriously unsuccessful,  made a HUGE contribution to who I am today. What I do  and how I do it.  In this series I separate the dirt from the gold and reveal:  -Why MLM'ers Make the Best Marketers (there's a twist for ya) -Why Most MLM'ers Fail - And Why They Don't Have To -Why Being an MLM'er Prepared Me to Dominate Adwords -Secrets of marketing psychology that the network marketing industry teaches better than anyone else -Even if you have no experience with MLM (and never intend to), what skills and lessons can you "borrow" from the MLM industry to become a more effective marketer? -Were you in MLM years ago, and left the whole experience behind? I'll put my finger on skills you acquired that currently lay dormant - and activate them  I don't know how long this series will run. I know there's at least a couple weeks worth of HOT material here. For the most part you can expect to get a message every day. I may be adding new twists for months.   But in any case it will be some of the most important content I've put out in the last couple of years. Click here and you'll be added to the email sequence:  https://m171.infusionsoft.com/link/43830cb27a0/970fe0  Oh, and one more thing: I will never, at any time, promote any MLM program nor accept invitations to do so. This email series is a permanent "no MLM pitch" safe zone.   If you're in an MLM program now, you can safely refer your friends and business associates. If you're not in an MLM program and don't want to be in one, you have nothing to worry about. You'll get nothing but penetrating insights, I promise.

The Video That Got Me Interested in MLM

if you have been exposed to MLM before the 2000, then you probably might have come across this animination video called the Brilliant Compensation, in fact I jus watched it around that time. And immediately after watching it, my response then was I gotta do this! Period. It was that convincing and fast forward till this day, the lessons learnt from the video still rings true no matter which industry you are involved with.

I managed to find the link to this video again, I think you should watch it...it's quite long but it's that good!

http://www.globalagelonline.com/agel-brilliance1.html

This link was sent to me by a friend of mine. He is an ex-MLMer looking to make a comeback. But that's for another post on this company he is checking out.

LIFE-SKILLS INSPIRATIONS OFFERED BY MAYA ANGELOU

Poet and Historian
Maya Angelou, Date of birth : April 4, 1928

http://www.cynaunltd.com/mayaangelou.htm

http://www.theinspirationplace.com/Inspirational-Stories/Stories/Maya-Angelou-Interview

Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. And, there on television, she said it was "exciting." Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day...like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first. The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words! Enjoy & take heart!

• "I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."
• "I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."
• "I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."
• "I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as "making a life."
• "I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."
• "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."
• "I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."
• "I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."
• "I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. ”
• “People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."
• "I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."
• "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Angelou

CAD INVESTIGATES SUNSHINE EMPIRE ( MLM PLAYER )

The Commercial Affairs Department has begun investigating

multi-level marketing firm Sunshine Empire, founded by James Phang (above).

Those who have placed money with Sunshine may also be asked to come forward

Tuesday, 13-November-2007, latest from Straits Times

CAD begins probe into MLM firm Sunshine Empire

THE Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) has begun investigation into the affairs of Sunshine Empire following reports of its controversial business practices. A police statement on Tuesday advised those who have placed money with the company to wait for further updates by the CAD. ‘More information will be released in due course and persons who have placed money with the company may be requested to come forward to assist the CAD in the investigation,’ said the statement. On Oct 24, The Straits Times reported that the multi-level marketing firm had come under scrutiny because it appeared to be operating like a pure investment scheme, something it did not have the licence to do. The MAS placed Sunshine on its September’s investor alert list, which means the company is not allowed to conduct regulated activities. MAS has warned people against making investments with unregulated firms and individuals. And a new consumer alert has been issued to inform consumers about get-rich schemes that sound too good to be true. Based at Toa Payoh HDB Hub, Sunshine Empire has attracted 20,000 people here since it was set up last July. The man behind Sunshine is Mr James Phang, 48, the founder, director and international president of Empire Group Alliance, a group spanning several Asian countries. Sunshine is part of the group, but Mr Phang does not own it. MLM firms, which are legal here, typically invite people to pay cash for the right to market goods to other people. They also get cash for recruiting other MLM marketers. Under Sunshine’s scheme, people usually put down $12,000 to become a ‘merchant’, as it calls users of its online shopping platform offering thousands of goods, including health supplements, lingerie and electronics goods. After signing up, they can buy Sunshine’s online goods. But they are also rewarded with potentially hefty cash rebates, though these are not guaranteed. Merchants can build their own sales force as well. The scheme is structured in such a way that participants are not required to use the rebates to buy Sunshine’s goods. The cash rebates are based on Sunshine’s global turnover. The option of converting the rebates into cash only makes Sunshine more attractive than other MLM firms where people must maintain sales quotas. Sunshine also operates in Indonesia , Thailand , Hong Kong , Korea and Taiwan , and has 50,000 merchants. It plans to expand to the United States by next year. According to its marketing brochure, Sunshine projects global monthly turnover of US$100 million (S$146 million) for December.

Multi-level marketing firm placed on MAS alert list

Wednesday, 24-October-2007

Multi-level marketing firm placed on MAS alert list

The concern is that its business model works like a pure financial investment scheme

By Lorna Tan, Finance Correspondent UNDER SCRUTINY: Sunshine adviser and spokesman James Phang, seen here in a picture taken in his office, said the company did not deal with illegal business and that it would mediate to get its name off the alert list. -- ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA

THE authorities in Singapore and Malaysia have put out an alert on a firm operating in several Asian countries including Singapore . The Straits Times understands that the Commercial Affairs Department is investigating the firm's practices. Based at Toa Payoh HDB Hub, home-grown Sunshine Empire, a multi-level marketing (MLM) firm, has attracted 20,000 people here since it was set up last July. MLM firms, which are legal here, typically invite people to pay cash for the right to market goods to other people. They also get cash for recruiting other MLM marketers. Under Sunshine's scheme, people usually put down $12,000 to become a 'merchant', as it calls users of its online shopping platform offering thousands of goods, including health supplements, lingerie and electronics goods. After signing up, they can buy Sunshine's online goods. How Sunshine's scheme works ONE of Sunshine's most popular plans is 'gold prime', which now costs $12,000. Participants who buy into the plan get various points that can be used to shop on Sunshine's website, which offers products such as health supplements and electronics goods. ... more But they are also rewarded with potentially hefty cash rebates, though these are not guaranteed. Merchants can build their own sales force as well. The scheme is structured in such a way that participants are not required to use the rebates to buy Sunshine's goods. The cash rebates are based on Sunshine's global turnover. The option of converting the rebates into cash only makes Sunshine more attractive than other MLM firms where people must maintain sales quotas. But this is understood to be the nub of the concerns held by the authorities over Sunshine's business practices. The fact that its 'merchants' can notch up what seem like profits without ever buying or selling products means its business model looks like a pure financial investment scheme. Sunshine was placed on the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) investor alert list last month and that of Malaysia 's Securities Commission a few months ago. The regularly updated MAS list warns people of companies which may be offering products regulated by MAS without authority. Sunshine denies it is doing anything wrong, but the Ministry of Trade and Industry has warned people to take care in dealing with any MLM firm. 'MLM schemes often disguise themselves as sellers of items, software and training programmes, for example, when their main interest is to make quick returns through recruitment,' a spokesman said. 'Members of the public should be vigilant of such schemes and be suspicious of get-rich-quick promises.' Sunshine also operates in Indonesia , Thailand , Hong Kong , Korea and Taiwan , and has 50,000 merchants. It plans to expand to the United States by next year. According to its marketing brochure, Sunshine projects global monthly turnover of US$100 million ($146 million) for December. Sunshine's adviser and spokesman, Mr James Phang, 48, told The Straits Times recently that its operations are above board. 'I won't deal with illegal business. It is a groundless allegation in Malaysia that we're an investment firm. We are mediating to get our name off the list. 'When that happens, we will start talking to the authorities here,' he said. Sunshine is an associate of conglomerate Empire Group Alliance of which Mr Phang is a founder and international president. He does not own Sunshine which is headed by Mr Jackie Hoo, whom Mr Phang had mentored. It holds regular recruitment sessions in English and Mandarin. One recent session, attended by The Straits Times, had nearly 100 people. lorna@sph.com.sg

The Last Lecture...

The need to get up, rise up again and again despite setback is so critical, and there is no way one can learn this in school. Continuing with the thread of just rising up, I came across another inspirational person who talked about how he is still overcoming his setbacks...this is directly taken from Online Wallstreet Journal...A MUST READ...and you wonder why bad things happen to good people all the time...

Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer-science professor, was about to give a lecture Tuesday afternoon, but before he said a word, he received a standing ovation from 400 students and colleagues.

He motioned to them to sit down. "Make me earn it," he said.

What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? For Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch, the question isn't rhetorical -- he's dying of cancer. Jeff Zaslow narrates a video on Prof. Pausch's final lecture.

They had come to see him give what was billed as his "last lecture." This is a common title for talks on college campuses today. Schools such as Stanford and the University of Alabama have mounted "Last Lecture Series," in which top professors are asked to think deeply about what matters to them and to give hypothetical final talks. For the audience, the question to be mulled is this: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance?

It can be an intriguing hour, watching healthy professors consider their demise and ruminate over subjects dear to them. At the University of Northern Iowa, instructor Penny O'Connor recently titled her lecture "Get Over Yourself." At Cornell, Ellis Hanson, who teaches a course titled "Desire," spoke about sex and technology.

At Carnegie Mellon, however, Dr. Pausch's speech was more than just an academic exercise. The 46-year-old father of three has pancreatic cancer and expects to live for just a few months. His lecture, using images on a giant screen, turned out to be a rollicking and riveting journey through the lessons of his life.

He began by showing his CT scans, revealing 10 tumors on his liver. But after that, he talked about living. If anyone expected him to be morose, he said, "I'm sorry to disappoint you." He then dropped to the floor and did one-handed pushups.

Randy Pausch and his three children, ages 5, 2 and 1.

Clicking through photos of himself as a boy, he talked about his childhood dreams: to win giant stuffed animals at carnivals, to walk in zero gravity, to design Disney rides, to write a World Book entry. By adulthood, he had achieved each goal. As proof, he had students carry out all the huge stuffed animals he'd won in his life, which he gave to audience members. After all, he doesn't need them anymore.

He paid tribute to his techie background. "I've experienced a deathbed conversion," he said, smiling. "I just bought a Macintosh." Flashing his rejection letters on the screen, he talked about setbacks in his career, repeating: "Brick walls are there for a reason. They let us prove how badly we want things." He encouraged us to be patient with others. "Wait long enough, and people will surprise and impress you." After showing photos of his childhood bedroom, decorated with mathematical notations he'd drawn on the walls, he said: "If your kids want to paint their bedrooms, as a favor to me, let 'em do it."

While displaying photos of his bosses and students over the years, he said that helping others fulfill their dreams is even more fun than achieving your own. He talked of requiring his students to create videogames without sex and violence. "You'd be surprised how many 19-year-old boys run out of ideas when you take those possibilities away," he said, but they all rose to the challenge.

He also saluted his parents, who let him make his childhood bedroom his domain, even if his wall etchings hurt the home's resale value. He knew his mom was proud of him when he got his Ph.D, he said, despite how she'd introduce him: "This is my son. He's a doctor, but not the kind who helps people."

He then spoke about his legacy. Considered one of the nation's foremost teachers of videogame and virtual-reality technology, he helped develop "Alice," a Carnegie Mellon software project that allows people to easily create 3-D animations. It had one million downloads in the past year, and usage is expected to soar.

"Like Moses, I get to see the Promised Land, but I don't get to step foot in it," Dr. Pausch said. "That's OK. I will live on in Alice."

Many people have given last speeches without realizing it. The day before he was killed, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke prophetically: "Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place." He talked of how he had seen the Promised Land, even though "I may not get there with you."

Dr. Pausch's lecture, in the same way, became a call to his colleagues and students to go on without him and do great things. But he was also addressing those closer to his heart.

Near the end of his talk, he had a cake brought out for his wife, whose birthday was the day before. As she cried and they embraced on stage, the audience sang "Happy Birthday," many wiping away their own tears.

Dr. Pausch's speech was taped so his children, ages 5, 2 and 1, can watch it when they're older. His last words in his last lecture were simple: "This was for my kids." Then those of us in the audience rose for one last standing ovation.

What should you DO when you are feeling down and out?

Following my last post on the Youtube video on Steve Job's Speech at Stanford; this is my own personal strategy in tackling down time in your life.

The people who are always down are only found in the cemetery and you only find folks with no problems somewhere 6 feet down-under. If you have lived life long enough, you would have gone through some periods of disappointment and discouragement. It can strike almost anyone, and nobody is immune to it.

So the following is what i recommend when you are feeling down and out...

1. Allow yourself up to maximum of 3 days to wallow in self-pity...after the 3 days, you will literally get sick of self-pitying yourself. Go through the routine of asking Why You or in my case Why Me? Why is this happening? Once 3 days is up , it's time to move on. You see, throughout the history of mankind, no one not even a single soul has ever achieved anything great during their down times...agree? In fact, most great people go through hell before they begin to experience 'heaven'.

2. Once the 3 days are up, then do a comparison. As a parent with 2 kids, I have always been told never ever to compare your kids with others. While this is true in parenting, it is farthest from the truth when it comes to perking yourself up. Compare yourself against people who are lesser off than you. If you think a failed business is tough, trying living without limbs for the rest of your life. If you think being broke is tough, trying going through bankrupcy without the support of your loved ones. In fact the most pitiful person on the planet earth today is not one who is broke, ugly, retrenched, blind etc but one who does not know how to love himself/herself.

So go ahead find someone who is worse off than you and literally tell yourself, it aint so bad afterall.

3. Consistent reading of Motivational Books and listening to Motivational MP3s or CDs. If you are not a believer in these things, then why aren't your life any better today? What have you got to lose if you just read or better yet listen to these supposedly 'hyped' up messages. I hate the hype and the rah-rah but I can't deny there are some very Energetic speeches and books one can find on the boookstore in a local library...so the keyword is Personal Development. As a christian, my source of motivation also comes from reading the Bible. Listening to some great speeches or some like to call 'pitches' has never failed me time and tiem again. All it takes is just one phrase, or one word; it can literally ignite something in you to GET up and Run again.
In fact the more you liste and read, like interest compounds, you ability to withstand upsets and disappointment increases as well.