Let me start by saying I am a network marketer. I have been involved in the industry for over 25 years. I am also 61 years old. So I know a little bit of what I speak.
Retirement is fast approaching. That magic age when one is supposed to be able to kick back and enjoy the fruits of many years of labor. Travel, spend time with family, take up new hobbies or enjoy ones you didn't have time for before now. And just relax. But the reality is far different.
More than 50% of US households have little to no retirement savings. Sure, we get Social Security - for now. But even if it doesn't go broke as predicted, can you retire on what you'll make? The average Social Security payment is $15,000 - $16,000 annually. Poverty level in the US for one person is $12,140. Not much of a cushion.
Fortunately, I am not in that 50% with no retirement savings. My husband and I have been preparing for this day for many years. We are ready. We have a nice little nest egg set aside. And even when we "retire", we will still be earning income. Because we got involved in network marketing.
It's Not a Pyramid Scheme
Now I know what they say. It's illegal. It's a scam. It's a pyramid scheme. Yes, there are business "opportunities" out there that are all of these things. So just like any other business or investment, a little due diligence is in order. But the vast majority of network marketing companies are completely legitimate. And the business model is perfectly legal.
Chances are you have already been introduced to the industry. Someone you know - a friend or family member - approached you about an opportunity that was going to "change your life." You went to a meeting or watched a video that laid out "the plan." By only recruiting a few other people to join, you were going to be financially independent aka "wealthy." You may have even joined. And if you did, you probably didn't become wealthy. You may not have broke even. In fact, you might have lost money.
Am I still insisting this is a legitimate business? Yes! Especially for retirees.
Change Your Expectations
Most people are brought into network marketing with the promise of "freedom." You are sold the dream of quitting your job and living what is referred to as the "laptop lifestyle." And that has happened for a few. More than you realize actually. 85% of the women making $100,000 annually are doing it through direct sales or network marketing. But for many others, that dream never materializes and soon discouragement and disbelief set in and they quit.
But I'm proposing a different tactic. You are getting ready to retire. You ARE quitting your jobs or have already done so. You don't need replacement income. You need supplemental income. And that makes a huge difference in how you approach the business.
If you are focused on getting rich quickly, then all your energy is likely aimed at bringing in as many people as possible as quickly as possible. And so you share your business with EVERYONE! If they have pulse and are breathing, they are a prospect. It doesn't matter that most people aren't good candidates for this business. It doesn't matter that they probably won't stick. All you can think of is sign them up! And so you enroll everyone you can, alienating a good many of your friends and family along the way. And you earn a couple of decent checks. And then your team starts dropping out and your checks dwindle and you have already burned through your entire list of contacts and no one will listen to you know and OMG!!!! This doesn't work. And you quit too.
But what if you took a different approach? In my company, directly recruiting 4 people is enough to make a decent check. So what if I'm content with that? What if I focus on finding the best 4 people I can? Instead of nabbing every warm body in my reach because I'm focused on "getting rich", I'm looking for 4 people who will help me build a comfortable, SUSTAINABLE income. Lots less pressure. Lots less stress. MUCH greater chance of success.
With the pressure off having to recruit so many people, you have more time for other things. And these are the things that will help your business grow. Time to work with your recruits and help them build their teams. Time to learn how to market your business properly. Time to find some customers for your products. Time to do all the things that the professional network marketers are doing.
It's Not Just The Money
If you really want to be wealthy, this is the way to do it. Be selective in who you recruit. Train them and help them build good solid teams. Learn to harness the power of the internet and social media to market your business the RIGHT way. Promote your products as well as your business. If you do this consistently, you will have a nice check to put towards your retirement lifestyle.
But even if you only make enough to help stretch your savings, it's still a great business to be in. Because the network marketing lifestyle is about so much more than the money.
It's friendship. Most of my friends these days are also in the business. Not necessarily my company. But they are in some form of network marketing or direct sales.
It's about socializing. Imagine spending a weekend at a great resort with hundreds of people with the same goals and aspirations as you. During the day, you spend time with some of the leaders in the industry learning more about your business. Talk about keeping your mind sharp! And afterward, you talk, and laugh, and have dinner or drinks, with people from all over the country and maybe even the world. You go sightseeing in whatever city the meeting is being held in. You sit up late at night with a new friend discussing your families, your business, and most importantly, your hopes and dreams for the future. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Well it's called CONVENTION and almost every company has them!
It's about self-improvement and empowerment. Learning about business and marketing. Trying your products. My company is in the wellness industry. Imagine what I have learned about health and nutrition since joining. Imagine the people I've met and the things I have done since incorporating health and fitness into my lifestyle.
It's about leaving a legacy. Many companies allow you to leave your business to your family. But more than that, it's what you are teaching them. My grandchildren are already discussing business ideas with me. Along with my network marketing business, I have learned e-commerce. And I have taught my grandchildren the skills necessary for them to set up their own online stores. They will never have to be dependent on a job if they choose otherwise. And simply by writing my book, I have inspired many others who dreamed of one day becoming authors to actually do it.
It's about being an inspiration to others. To those who thought they could never afford to retire. To those who could but didn't out of fear. To those who wanted something more in their golden years than soap operas and golf. To those who thought they were too old - too old to start a business, too old to learn a new set of skills, too old to write a book, too old to dream.
Let's Do This!
That has been my rallying cry for many years now. If you want more from your retirement than simply existing, now is the time to get started. Network marketing is the easiest way to start a business with minimal investment. You can work to make enough just to help supplement your other income. Or you can work a bit harder and make some real money. That choice is yours. But either way, you will reap all the other benefits.
The next step is yours. Find the right company and the right team. There are lots of them out there. Of course, I recommend my company and my team. But we may not be the right fit for you. Find the one that is.
Once you enroll, learn all you can. There are coaches and trainers and tools and systems aplenty available. Again, I think I am the right coach with access to the right tools and system. But again, maybe not for you. Find the ones that are.
Don't be a statistic. Don't be one of the 50% that squanders what is supposed to be the best years of our lives.
Are you ready? Let's do this.
Want to more about me, my team, and my company? Great! Connect with me on Facebook! Or fill out the form on my webpage and I'll give you a call!
One simple way you can practice radical giving in your business is to be generous with your content marketing. Instead of making all of your content focused on you and what you can do, focus on providing value to your readers or listeners. Here are a few easy ideas you can use to create content that serves…
Curate Content from Other Bloggers
Don’t be afraid to tell your community about the bloggers you admire or link to their amazing content. You can’t serve everyone and even if you could, that would quickly get exhausting. There’s more than enough attention and applause to go around, so take some time to focus on content curation.
Curating valuable content lets you share brilliant ideas and fresh insights with your community. Plus, it gives you a chance to introduce your audience to experts in your niche that they should follow.
Interview Industry Leaders
Another way to practice radical giving in your business is to interview industry leaders. You can do this through podcast episodes or by creating webinars where you feature an authority on their area of expertise.
When it comes to interviewing others, create a list of questions. Try to avoid questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no.
Instead, make sure your questions invite detailed responses from your interviewees. Generally, questions that start with “How…?” or “Why…?” get the most interesting answers and can create thought-provoking conversations.
I did this frequently when I first started in business. At that time, they were simply recorded audio interviews. I recently started this practice again using Zoom. Check out my interviews with Andy Shepherd, Terri Dennis and Gwen Weiler on my YouTube channel!
Add A Bonus to a Great Product
When you find a product you’d like to promote to your community, go the extra mile and give back. Offer a juicy bonus that only your buyers will get. This bonus could be a short report, an audio course, access to an upcoming webinar, or any other product you can think of.
The important thing to do with this is to make sure your bonus is relevant to the actual product being sold. For example, a great bonus for a product all about Facebook Advertising would be 50 Facebook-ready images.
Promote Others on Social Media
Don’t be afraid to use social media to promote others in your industry. If you’re reading a great article that is challenging the way you view your niche, tweet about it. If you stumble on a funny video that you think your community will relate to, share it on Facebook.
Make sure to tag the original creator on social media so they’ll see your promotion and be encouraged. You also want to do this so your audience will be able to clickthrough and follow the thought leader you’re linking to.
This is something I have been doing for a very long time. Search for the Success Stories posts for profiles of many online entrepreneurs.
And check out the guest blog posts by some of the same.
Therese Kienast of Radical Leadership recommends that online business owners create more content. She says, “Don't wait, create!” If you wait, you’re less likely to follow through and publish excellent content.
Instead, try to capture inspiration the moment it strikes. If you can’t right then, try to do it as soon as possible. This will keep your enthusiasm and energy revved up as you create and share your new content.
Radical givers are fun to do business with…join our Facebook group!
I am committed to being a radical giver in my business and I want to build a community of like-minded entrepreneurs. That is one of the reasons I started my Facebook group.
I try to keep it filled with positive, encouraging posts. And posts from other members are helpful and supportive. If you are a radical giver, we would love to have you join us. Once you are accepted into the community, focus on doing a few key tasks to enhance your experience within the group…
Answer Questions from Members
When other members post a question I can answer, I respond. If radical givers have knowledge that can help someone else who is struggling, they share what they know.
When I wanted to know what landing page software was the best, I received lots of advice. One person even did some research and shared the information with me...even though she was using MLSP and not landing page software. Talk about a radical giver!
Share Your Journey with the Group
Don't just focus on helping other members. I openly share my journey...with the group, on my blog, with my list. I am not embarrassed to admit my struggles. It actually encourages my network marketing team to know them. Because if I can do it anyone can.
I am also not embarrassed to admit when I don't know something. I am not the most tech savvy person in the world. So when I need help with something, I often go post in groups that I belong to. Often I will find that someone else has the same question but was too embarrassed to admit it and ask.
Try a Test Run for Someone Else
I have had group members post to the Facebook community that the shopping cart software they had just installed didn’t appear to be working correctly or their ad didn't seem to be running properly, or their website wasn't loading as expected. I took a few minutes to test out the cart, review the ad, and check the website.
Welcome New Members
I regularly ask new members to introduce themselves and their business to the group. Make it a point to welcome them. Ask about their business and who they enjoy working with. This gives you a chance to get to know new members and means you know who to refer a client to when they need a specialized service or product. I connect people all the time. And it always comes back to me 10X!
Create A Thriving Community
I have built a strong network of entrepreneurs I can rely on. I love being able to support them and receive encouragement in return.
If you’re like me and you want to give back to others, consider joining our community, Ninja Marketers.. Then actively participate and engage with the other members, so you can build your own thriving community.
I've built a successful online business. But I have found myself wanting to stretch and grow. I've been hungry to do something new and when I came across the idea of becoming a radical giver in business, the idea resonated with me.
I shared it with my mastermind group and asked for suggestions on how I could find opportunities to give back to others. Another member, Linda, advised me to ask three key questions to determine how I could radically give…
What Do You Know?
Sometimes, giving back can be as easy as creating a list of things you already know how to do. For example, maybe you’ve set up membership websites for your clients. You could browse Facebook groups to find users asking questions about this and answer them.
Don’t think this is just about your technical skills though. You’ll also want to consider what other skills you have. If you’re great at copywriting, then you could review another entrepreneur’s sales page and give her feedback on how to improve it. If Facebook ads is your specialty, you could critique others ads and share how to make them more effective.
Who Can You Help?
You may already have an idea of the community you’d like to help. When Tricia got started online she was a single mom with a tiny budget. As she looked for a way to give back, she would take other broke single moms under her wing. She’d spend a year with her intern, teaching her how to put together an online business.
This is my core niche. I take those who would like to retire but find they can't afford to and teach them how to build an online business.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can only help a narrow demographic. You can give back to anyone you choose. But if you’re passionate about helping a certain community, lean into that instinct and trust it.
How Can You Assist?
Sometimes, helping others may be simple like converting a file to a PhotoShop format for a business friend that isn’t skilled at graphics the way you are. In other situations though, you may find yourself wanting to give more in-depth help like mentoring or coaching someone else.
But before you commit to helping others, consider your own life and what season you’re in. If you’re in the middle of a huge move and you’re about to welcome your second child, you probably don’t have time to extensively mentor someone else. That’s OK.
There are plenty of ways to give back that don’t require investing a lot of time. You can write a ‘thank you’ note to someone who helped you grow your business, promote a product offer for a struggling solopreneur, or join a giveaway event.
Becoming a radical giver is fun and energizing. It can give you ideas for new websites, inspiration for your current projects, and help you spot fresh solutions for your clients.
Become part of a community of radical givers – join our Facebook group!
I used to belong to a business group on Facebook where members read a business book each month. Every Monday, the group leader used Facebook Live to start an interactive discussion about the book.
One of the books we read was The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. If you haven't read it yet, you should.
I grew up poor. My family struggled just to make ends meet every month. And I didn't realize until I read this book how that poverty mindset was impacting my business many years later. I liked the idea of being a go giver but despite the fact that I was financially quite comfortable, I worried there was just not enough goodness in the world to go around. I was doing okay today, but it could all disappear tomorrow.
Apparently I wasn't alone. Many online business owners struggle to become radical givers despite really wanting to. The problem is often linked to a poverty mindset. Here are three beliefs that keep you stuck in poverty and how to overcome them:
Poverty Mindset #1: There’s Not Enough to Go Around
When you believe that there is a limit to the money or goodness available in the world, you can approach every situation with a belief that you must hoard things. You have to hold tightly to your money, your time, and your gifts.
But what if you flipped the script? Instead of telling yourself there’s not enough to go around, embrace the belief that there’s more than enough to share.
What you focus on will always expand. That means if you focus on one belief, it will become self-fulfilling. The more you tell yourself there’s enough to go around, the more your life and business will begin to reflect this belief.
Poverty Mindset #2: Helping Others Shine Means I Can’t Shine
It’s easy to think that if other people are awesome, you can’t be awesome, too. That’s because most people imagine the world as a small stage where only a few, truly gifted entrepreneurs can show off their talents.
But in reality, the stage is big enough to support everyone. In fact, your brand or product could be exactly what someone else needs. Instead of viewing other entrepreneurs or brands as your competition, see them as your friends. Going solo is lonely but a journey with friends? That’s so much fun!
Poverty Mindset #3: I Need to Take on Every Client or Project
Sometimes, a poverty mindset can show up as taking on every client or project that comes your way. It often stems from the fear that if you don’t, you might lose out on money or experience.
But the problem with this belief is that it keeps you from doing your best work. If a project comes along that’s not a terrific fit for you, say no. When you do this, you open up room in your business for projects that truly light you up.
Moving past a poverty mindset and becoming a radical giver isn’t something you can do overnight. It often takes a few months of practice and the support from a loving community of like-minded business owners. But rest assured that if you stay focused, you can embrace a new mindset.
The secret to becoming a radical giver lies in asking three simple questions. Discover what they are when you download your free workbook! Join our Facebook group and download your copy!
Jennie wanted to quit her job so she could spend more of time with her twin boys. So, she began to look into work-at-home opportunities. She heard about the virtual assistant industry and knew it’d be a great fit for her.
She started a website, began blogging and became active on social media. But after almost six months, all she had were a handful of low-paying clients that didn’t seem to respect her. She was frustrated and wondering whether she should give up when she met Anita, a coach for virtual assistants.
Anita was offering a free discovery session to prospective clients, so Jennie took her up on the offer. During the call, Jennie shared her frustrations about becoming a virtual assistant. While they were talking, Anita reviewed Jennie’s website and social media accounts. She explained that Jennie wasn’t serving anyone but herself.
Radical Givers Serve
“Your business does exist to make money, absolutely,” Anita shared, “But it should also be about serving your community. You need to discover how you can help your clients rather than chasing dollars aimlessly.”
Radical givers in business are entrepreneurs that want to do more than simply make a profit—they want to make a difference, too. Whether you’re serving your clients as a virtual assistant or selling digital products and memberships, you can practice radical giving.
Radical Givers Focus
Jennie signed up for coaching with Anita later that week. Even though it was a big investment, she knew Anita’s guidance could help her grow her business. The first thing Anita did was work with Jennie so she could discover the types of clients she wanted to work with.
One thing that sets radical givers apart is their focus. That’s because radical givers know who they want to serve. They have a target audience in mind that they’re excited about giving back to and are passionate about serving them.
Radical Givers Invest
Once Jennie knew who her ideal clients were, she made a list of places where these ideal clients spent time online including Facebook groups and LinkedIn groups. Then she joined these groups and began investing time in the groups.
She answered business questions, joined in the discussions, and made sure to welcome new members to the community. As Jennie put her roots deep into the groups, she began attracting her ideal clients and earning a much higher hourly rate.
She asked her coach why she was attracting so much positive attention and Anita said, “People are naturally attracted to givers. When you’re generous with others, they want to be generous in return. Kindness always comes back to you.”
Being a radical giver in business doesn’t mean that you never make a cent or that you have to work for below average rates. You can earn a lot of money and still be a radical giver. It just means that you’re dedicated to your clients and customers. You’re willing to go the extra mile and you truly care about the community you’re serving.
Learn how to become a radical giver in your business when you download your free workbook! Join our Facebook group and get your copy!
