To succeed, add value to others

Yesterday, I had two unique experiences and thought I'd share them with you today. Most (maybe all) people are in the sales business. Whether you're actually selling products for a commission, selling your services as a professional or just selling yourself as a person worthy of friendship or trust in the workplace, we do a lot of selling in everyday life.

I attended a business networking lunch yesterday afternoon and encountered 9 other business owners and listened to them interact in this informal gathering. Now it was my first networking event with this group, but somehow I went first. I didn't really say too much about my business because being the first person, I wasn't sure what was appropriate. The people that followed took a few minutes each and sold us all on what they do. Two of the ladies were in network marketing and metaphorically threw-up their business venture all over us. They went on and on about how great the company is, how many awards its won, home much money you can make, etc., etc. And I was turned off.

My second experience was at last night's goal-setting seminar, where I talked to a new attendee. It was frigid outside and she was the only person that attended the meeting, besides the Center staff who listened in too. She and I just talked about her life and her goals for 2010. We talked about ways to improve ourselves and I made an effort to really convey how important it is to me that others succeed in their goals both financially and in their hearts. Doing this, she was much more receptive to hearing about what I could offer her, but I still didn't really want to start selling her on any product. Now, I did (after a little prodding from her) share with her the information on starting a Zrii home business, but only after she knew that my goal was about helping her mature as a person and not just as a sale.

As a matter of fact, I didn't even ask her for a sale. I actually gave her my product for free - an additional gesture of value. Then I completed my presentation by explaining the value of working in a healthy, functional team like mine. I honestly think that meeting will result in her starting a home business with Zrii Amalaki and I think she has the potential to do very well.

In network marketing, where people have the potential to earn tens of thousands of dollars monthly and quickly to boot, it's easy to think about the money. But as business owners, when we focus on the money and the products and the company we do like my lunch experience and throw up all over our customers. Focusing on building relationships and trust is much easier than hawking any kind of product - no matter how revolutionary it is. I believe that a sincere, honest person can make a living selling just about anything so long as he or she sets out with the belief that they aim to add value to the lives of others as opposed to line their pockets with cash. Until next time ...

Prosper well,

Rob