Are you following the leader? Are you stepping in the foot steps of the network marketing ‘gurus’, the top-income earners and top-producers, and the company leaders?
I was watching Peter Pan with my kids and the song ‘Following the Leader’ came on. The chorus goes like this: “We’re following the leader, the leader, the leader, we’re following the leader, wherever he may go!”
Wherever he may go… Really?
What about you? Are you following the leader wherever he may go?
The trouble with leadership in network marketing, is that most new business owners need to follow the leaders before they can establish their own leadership. While many don’t know the industry, it is wise to learn from the leaders, identify what works for others, and then replicate their success in their network marketing business.
Network marketing is a business industry that relies heavily on duplication. We tell people that if they copy the actions of their successful mentors, they will produce the same results. However, being a great network marketer and mentor to others also requires leadership, integrity and personal power. So when does one branch out?
The tricky thing about following other people, is that everyone’s journey is different. We all have different strengths, talents, hearts, inspiration, goals and dreams. No matter how wealthy or successful your mentor is, what they do may not work for you, or may not bring you the realisations of your own desires. What THEY do brings THEM results for THEIR dreams. There are no carbon-copies in replicating success in network marketing. It’s too personal.
So here is ‘The Big Question’ for my fellow network marketers:
Are you branching out as a leader, and taking the actions that will work for YOU, harness YOUR strengths, cultivate YOUR passion, answer to YOUR heart, respect YOUR integrity, and bring YOU results in realising YOUR dreams?
Please do share your comments!
Hey Justine,
I like what you said, copy the actions of successful mentors, and I think you have something here, There are no carbon-copies in replicating success in network marketing. It’s too personal. I agree.
Coach Freddie
Coach Freddie´s last [type] ..When Do You Need A Personal Coach
[Reply]
justinesimard Reply:
February 23rd, 2011 at 5:07 am
Hi Coach Freddie,
The main objective, is to acquire the skills (aptitudes and mindset) to originate our own actions and inspiration! Then, there are no limits to what we can accomplish, autonomously and authentically!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts here!
Justine
[Reply]
Hey Justine,
I’ve been thinking a lot about this actually. I’ve decided that yeah it’s good to have a good mentor and training and a system to use. But it all does not matter if you yourself are not going out there and making it work for you! Like you said everyone is different and if they hate to write then why should they force themselves to use article marketing as a strategy just because they’re upline told them to??
It’s okay to follow leaders at the beginning on your network marketing career because everyone has to start somewhere. But like you said eventually you need to branch out and do your own thing if you’re going to make a difference in your business.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this. You’ve been reading my mind.
~Erin Smith
Erin Smith´s last [type] ..3rd Party Take On Xyngular Review
[Reply]
justinesimard Reply:
February 23rd, 2011 at 5:04 am
Hi Erin,
I completely agree, we all need mentoring and guidance when starting something new – and in online business, the ‘something new’ is often so many things at once, from marketing to leadership and entrepreneurship! But as we learn a little, we need to apply a little of our own, and eventually the portion that is ‘our own’ will grow and become more important and productive than what we took from others!
Thank you so much for your comment!
Justine
[Reply]
Great post, Justine! I think that you are right that it is a mistake to be just like everyone else. I know that I’ve seen several blogs that are almost copy and paste jobs. I’ve also noticed when it comes to e-mail list serves that almost everyone has the same two or three e-mail marketing campaigns. (I learned this when I first started blogging, because I noticed how many people used the same two or three companies, and they don’t even bother to change the marketing line at all more often than not.) I’ve been working on changing my opt-in offer. Because I do more stuff with personal development on my blog, that is where I’m going to focus my opt-in so I can stand out.
[Reply]
justinesimard Reply:
February 23rd, 2011 at 4:56 am
Hi Steve,
I think people are indeed getting tired of replicated content and marketing strategies that all have the same tone. Often, it sounds or reads as though the person didn’t write it (which is often the case), and there is no personality or integrity in the content. Ultimately, people buy from people, so if they can’t see who you are, they are likely to go find someone else who will truly inspire them.
Best wishes for your new opt-in offer – this is another field that has been heavily copied from one network marketer to another, so it will be like a breath of fresh air to your visitors!
Thank you so much for your comment, I truly appreciate it!
Justine
[Reply]
Justine,
You bring out a lot of great points. Yes, we should all find our own passion and develop our own leadership abilities. To not discover who we really are is a tragedy.
Keep up the great work!
Karen
[Reply]
justinesimard Reply:
February 23rd, 2011 at 4:50 am
Hi Karen,
Thank you so much for your comment! Agree with the importance of discovering who we really are, and harnessing our passions!
Justine
[Reply]