How would you like to attract 100,000 interested followers to your business without using paid advertising?

What I like about Carrie’s article is her “Attract, Don’t Attack” business philosophy.

When you focus on people, and on serving them with encouragement, valuable information, authentic interest, and introducing them to others, YOU become magnetic, drawing others to you.

Carrie does an excellent job of reminding us that people will want to get closer to you when you communicate with a focus on them and not yourself.

Come to the table with “What can I do for YOU?” instead of “Guess what you can do for ME.”

I highly recommend this article by Carrie, click here to read the full article.

About Carrie Wilkerson

Carrie Wilkerson is the voice of experience. From corporate life to teaching high school to direct sales, to information marketing and coaching she has ‘been there and done that’ professionally and personally. An ‘overnight mom’ to 2 toddlers through adoption, her priorities instantly changed and so did her workplace. She’s now built several businesses and coached others to do the same while overcoming extreme debt, losing 110 lbs and having 2 more children, for a total of 4, aging from toddler to teen!

As “The Barefoot Executive,” and President of the Association of Work at Home Women, Carrie and her network of experts have quickly become the definitive resource for helping others achieve extra income and career goals while working from home.

Currently a mentor/coach/advisor to over 100,000 men and women as the Barefoot Executive through videos, podcasts, masterminding, mentoring and live speaking. Not only a business expert, but an expert IN Business, Carrie’s work-at-home methods have inspired thousands and has earned many awards, online and off.

A sought after speaker, Carrie’s humor, real-life examples and tough love translates to every audience, gender, genre and generation.

Her passion is in teaching others to ‘Fill their Stadium’ with fans so that marketing is easy and business is abundant!

To learn more about Carrie, please visit: http://carriewilkerson.com/

Most people know Tony Robbins to be a motivational speaker but in reality the last thing that Tony does is try and motivate you.

Over the past 20 years of his nearly 40 year career, Tony has had the opportunity of working with some of the top financial minds on the planet.

In this video (approx. 20 minutes) Tony talks to us about the economy and why we should be cautious and aware of the economic landscape.

What I like about this video, is even though it suggests caution, Tony remains optimistic and gives us some great nuggets to position ourselves to prosper.

This video is an important note of caution on today’s economy and Tony offers us 7 things to consider as you watch the stock ticker go up and down.

Here is a quick summary of what Tony suggests:

1. Get smart and know what is going on and then make a decision
2. Put yourself in a position to educate yourself
3. Get yourself some role models that have done well in this type of economy
4. Find away to add more value than anyone else has
5. Give away more than you expect to receive

I highly recommend this video by Tony, click here to watch it now!

Anthony Robbins
Entrepreneur, Author & Peak Performance Strategist

World Authority on Leadership Psychology

For the past three decades, Anthony Robbins has served as an advisor to leaders around the world. A recognized authority on the psychology of leadership, negotiations, organizational turnaround, and peak performance, he has been honored consistently for his strategic intellect and humanitarian endeavors. His nonprofit Anthony Robbins Foundation provides assistance to inner-city youth, senior citizens, and the homeless, and feeds more than three million people in 56 countries every year through its international holiday “Basket Brigade.” Robbins has directly impacted the lives of more than 50 million people from over 100 countries with his best-selling books, multimedia and health products, public speaking engagements, and live events.

What began as a young person’s desire to help individuals transform the quality of their lives has grown into Robbins’ lifelong crusade as he is called on by leaders from every walk of life-presidents, political leaders, advocates for humanity, CEOs of multinational corporations, psychologists, peak performance athletes, world-class entertainers, teachers, and parents. Since fathering the life coaching industry, Robbins has produced the #1-selling audio coaching system of all time. He also is a corporate Vice Chairman, and Chairman overseeing five private companies. Robbins has been honored by Accenture as one of the “Top 50 Business Intellectuals in the World”; by Harvard Business Press as one of the “Top 200 Business Gurus”; by American Express as one of the “Top Six Business Leaders in the World” to coach its entrepreneurial clients; by Forbes as a Top 100 Celebrity; by Justice Byron White as one of the world’s “Outstanding Humanitarians”; and by the International Chamber of Commerce as one of the top 10 “Outstanding Young People of World.”

Peace Negotiator & Humanitarian

Robbins was selected as Vice Chairman of Health, Education, and Science for the United Nations Research Center for the International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC) NGO. Working with the Organization of American States, the Carter Center, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Robbins participated as one of the members of the team that helped negotiate an electoral solution for peace to the strife and conflict that have devastated the Venezuelan people and their economy. Robbins has collaborated with political and business leaders in diverse world communities such as South Africa, England, Cuba, Panama, Venezuela, and the United States. Robbins has also been a national spokesperson for the Wellness Community, a nonprofit organization that provides support, education and hope to people with cancer and their loved ones. Through participation in professionally led support groups and educational workshops, people affected by cancer learn vital skills that enable them to regain control, reduce isolation and restore hope, regardless of the stage of disease. Through his strategies for “Leadership in Times of Crisis” and his systems for “Indirect Negotiations,” Robbins has participated in negotiations that have broken the patterns of violence and de-escalated the rhetoric that invites it. Robbins has worked on teams that not only help mitigate further devastation and facilitate peaceful decision-making among conflicting parties, but also inspire conflicting parties to create a mutually beneficial and compelling vision that is aligned with their respective values, raising the standard by which they live. He is also the recipient of the Timmie Award, given by the esteemed Touchdown Club of Washington, D.C for humanitarian efforts.

Strategic Advisor to World Leaders

Robbins has met with, consulted, or advised international leaders including Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, Francois Mitterrand, Princess Diana, and Mother Teresa. He has consulted members of two royal families, members of the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Marines and three U.S. Presidents, including Bill Clinton. Robbins has had the unique opportunity to identify patterns and model the underlying strategies generating consistent results for some of the most successful individuals in the world.

Successful Entrepreneur & Honored Business Strategist

A successful entrepreneur, Robbins serves as Chairman of seven privately held — in industries as diverse as hospitality, education, media production, business services, and neutraceuticals, and he holds an interest in and strategically directs a series of others. While diverse in characterization, all seven companies—plus his five holding companies—are geared toward Robbins’ creed of improving the quality of life for people around the world: from Namale Resort & Spa, the award-winning, 325-acre tropical paradise in the Fiji Islands, to Twinlab Corporation, the highest-rated neutraceutical company honored in 2003 with the Consumer Satisfaction Award as Top Rated Retail Brand by Consumerlab.com, an independent testing group. Robbins’ pursuit of creating and contributing to a higher standard of living is reflected by one of his subsidiary companies, Rebus Publishing, a leading consumer health and science publisher that has been communicating healthy ideas for more than 25 years through such avenues as the “UC Berkeley Wellness Letter” and “Johns Hopkins Health After 50″ newsletter. Robbins was also the first individual in the personal improvement industry to surpass more than a billion dollars in gross sales.

Leaders and achievers already at the pinnacle of success in their respective fields call on Robbins to be their strategic advisor when they face critical decisions requiring creative options and a systematic evaluation of probabilities and consequences. American Express asked its entrepreneurial clients whom they would select if they could choose anyone in the world to personally coach them to take their businesses to the next level if price were no object. Robbins was chosen along with Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Warren Buffet, Lee Iacocca and Ross Perot.

Philanthropist

A founding strategist of the Presidential Summit for America’s Promise, Robbins partnered in helping to design systems that generated over two million mentors for young people throughout the United States. Four Presidents and Secretary of State Colin Powell partnered with Robbins in the process. What began nearly 30 years ago as Robbins’ individual effort to feed two homeless families has now grown into the Anthony Robbins Foundation’s international holiday “Basket Brigade,” which feeds more than three million people in 56 countries every year. His foundation has provided support or initiated programs in more than 2,000 schools, 700 prisons and 100,000 service organizations and shelters. Almost 20 years ago, Robbins personally sponsored a class of disadvantaged fifth graders in Houston, Texas, by becoming their personal mentor and sponsor of their college education. In 2003, these student “Champions” graduated from college—an experience that Robbins made possible. Each year, Robbins oversees his foundation’s Discovery Camp, which helps more than 100 students from 18 countries design and initiate leadership programs to take home to their local schools.

Award-Winning Speaker

In addition to his global efforts to facilitate leadership, peace and philanthropy, Robbins is an award-winning speaker who has addressed such distinguished audiences as the British Parliament, Harvard Business School, the Gorbachev Foundation’s Cold War Forum, the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future, the State of the World Forum, Vice President Al Gore’s Putting Customers First Conference, and the World Economic Forum. In 2006, he was invited to speak at the prestigious Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) Conference, attended by the world’s most influential thinkers and leaders, including the founders of Google and Vice President Al Gore. His speech is one of the top ten most viewed in the history of TED, with more than two million views. Toastmasters International recognized Robbins as one of the world’s greatest speakers, awarding him the Golden Gavel Award, its most prestigious honor. One of the most sought-after speakers in the world, more than four million people from over 100 countries have attended Anthony Robbins’ live seminars, speaking engagements or training programs.

Internationally Best-Selling Author

Robbins is an internationally best-selling author with five books published in 14 languages, and he is the creator of the #1 personal and professional development system of all time, Personal Power; more than 40 million audiotapes have been sold worldwide. Robbins has created a system of total immersion that produces the education, strategies, and momentum for measurable and lasting change. Robbins is also the founder of Mastery University, which brings together the world’s leading experts from their respective fields. In the past, Robbins’ co-facilitators have included General Norman Schwarzkopf and Secretary of State Colin Powell on leadership, Dr. Deepak Chopra on psychoneuroimmunology, Peter Lynch and Sir John Templeton on finance, and Vice President Al Gore on creating peace in troubled times.

Mass Media Veteran

Robbins has developed and produced five award-winning television infomercials that have continuously aired on average every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day somewhere in North America since their initial introduction in April 1989. Recently, Robbins has created a series of six television shows that will air on primetime NBC in the summer of 2010. His work has been featured in major media including Time, Newsweek, Fortune, Forbes, Life, GQ, Vanity Fair, Business Week, Tycoon and Success magazines, the CBS Evening News, NBC News, ABC’s Prime Time Live, Fox News, CNN and A&E as well as newspapers, radio programs, and Internet media worldwide. Robbins has been mentioned or featured in 15 major motion pictures, including a cameo role in the hit movie “Shallow Hal.” In 2007, he was named to Forbes magazine’s “Celebrity 100″ list.

Authority on Peak Performance

Highly respected as the nation’s foremost authority on the psychology of peak performance and personal, professional, and organizational turnaround, Robbins has advised and counseled Fortune 500 CEOs, world-renowned medical doctors, legends in entertainment, and championship sports teams including America’s Cup winner, America 3; Stanley Cup finalist, Los Angeles Kings; NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs; and other teams from the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association. He has worked with elite coaches and athletes, including UFC Champion Chuck Liddell, tennis greats André Agassi and Serena Williams, and golf legend Greg Norman, along with champions from the National Football League, the PGA Tour, the U.S. Tennis Association and NASCAR. He has also coached various celebrities and musicians including Leonardo DiCaprio and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day.

Innovator in Psychology and Intervention

As a recognized catalyst for developing systems and strategies for accelerated and lasting transformations in individuals worldwide, Robbins has been sought after by psychologists and psychiatrists for training. Robbins, along with his partner Cloe Madanes, created almost ten years ago the Robbins-Madanes Center for Strategic Intervention, which produces training materials and programs for the therapeutic community. Together they have trained more than 100,000 therapists. For more than 20 years, Madanes has served as world-renowned teacher of therapists. Two of her books are considered classic texts—Strategic Family Therapy and The Violence of Men. Robbins appeared as a featured author in one of her books—Relationship Breakthrough: How to Create Outstanding Relationships in Every Area of Your Life. Robbins and Madanes are actively involved in the Council for Human Rights of Children at the University of San Francisco, a prestigious international think tank created to develop and codify methods to ensure the rights of children are maintained and championed. Robbins was among the speakers featured at the Council’s 2005 meeting at the University of Oxford, where he addressed “Alternatives to Institutionalization of Children and Youth in Crisis.” He also has been a featured speaker at The Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference, the world’s largest psychotherapy conference that brings together more than 10,000 industry leaders from around the world every five years.

Family Man

Robbins’ commitment to creating an enduring legacy that will impact the world is surpassed only by his passion for family as a dedicated father of four children and a loving husband to his wife, Sage “Bonnie Pearl” Robbins.

In this video Ann Sieg uses a very well known (George Foreman Grill Infomercial) to talk to us about effective copywriting (salesmanship in print, audio or video) and ensuring we are grabbing the eye balls of our audience.

Did you know that on TV you have about 10 seconds to reach your audience? If you are using Pay-Per-Click advertising you have about 2 seconds.

Ann reminds us to try and understand why people buy and make sure that our message is geared at the correct audience.

Did you know that 83% of household purchases are decided by females?

Well today’s video will inform you of that one, but also will demonstrate the purchasing influence of women, and will stand as a valuable lesson for how to frame your marketing messages in context of people and relationships.

This is what Ann means when she refers to a “value lever.” When you watch Ann’s, you will now know what it means to have “value levers” in your marketing.

I highly recommend this video by Ann, click here to watch her video.

About Ann Sieg

The author of some of the most widely read books in the world on how to get new customers and prospects to come to you, Ann Sieg is considered one of the pioneers of attraction marketing.

Like most people, she spent many frustrating years recruiting friends and family, attending meetings, and calling opportunity leads. After going into debt and watching her husband lose his income, she knew she had to try something different.

Using unconventional, yet powerful online methods, Ann discovered how to attract prospects to her and was able to become the #1 international producer in her company in just 6 short months. Her business grew to $90,000 a month and she went on to earn her first million within 2 years.

Since then, she has been able to impact the lives of 10’s of thousands of people, from CEOs to beginning entrepreneurs, through her groundbreaking coaching and training programs. Her reports have been read by over 350,000 people worldwide and she has helped many people achieve 6 and even 7 figure incomes – many of them through her free training alone, which can be downloaded here.

An internationally sought after speaker and author, Ann has been featured on numerous radio programs, media outlets, books and other publications. Her true passion is in educating and teaching others and she has developed a unique ability for helping beginners overcome the obstacles that are holding them back. Her training has created an un-paralleled number of internet success stories and has helped thousands of people generate their first customers online.

For more information about Ann, please visit: https://annsieg.com/

Playwright Victor Hugo said, “Short as life is, we make it still shorter by the careless waste of time.” I haven’t met a good leader yet who didn’t want to get quickly to the bottom line. Why? Because they want results. Their motto is, “Never mind about the delivery; just show me the baby.”

When you first begin working with a leader, you may need to spend some time giving insight into the process by which you came to a decision. Early on in the relationship, you have to earn your credibility. But as time goes by and the relationship builds, just get to the point. Just because you posses all the data needed to explain what you’re doing doesn’t mean you need to share it. If your leader wants more detail or wants to know about the process you used, she can ask you for it.

- The 360 Degree Leader

About John Maxwell

John C. Maxwell is an internationally respected leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold more than 19 million books. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP, a non-profit organization that has trained more than 5 million leaders in 126 countries worldwide. Each year he speaks to the leaders of diverse organizations, such as Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, the National Football League, the United States Military Academy at West Point, and the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books that have sold more than a million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. His blog can be read at JohnMaxwellOnLeadership.com. He can be followed at Twitter.com/JohnCMaxwell.

This article follows “Does Any MLM Distributor Know Where Our Ethics Have Gone?”

Now that we know that we must start with ourselves, have you ever wondered how you would rate yourself when it comes to ethics?

It is my belief that all MLM distributors can be categorized using the following five statements:

• As a MLM distributor, I am always ethical.
• As a MLM distributor, I am mostly ethical.
• As a MLM distributor, I am somewhat ethical.
• As a MLM distributor, I am seldom ethical.
• As a MLM distributor, I am never ethical.

Now be honest with yourself. Which one best applies to you? Pick the one that you best fit into, not where you would like to fit into.

Remember, this is a growing experience.

Why Ethics Really Does Matter to a MLM distributor

Here are some observations I want to share with you related to how MLM distributors look at ethics:

• The majority of MLM distributors place themselves in the first or second category. Most of us try to be ethical most of the time.
• Most MLM distributors who put themselves in the second category do so because of personal convenience. Conflict is inconvenient. Practicing discipline is inconvenient. Losing is inconvenient. Some MLM distributors in category 2 are there because they don’t want to deal with those inconveniences.
• Most MLM distributors think that being “mostly ethical” is fine – unless they are on the losing end of someone else’s lapse in ethics.
• One rule can help MLM distributors move from “mostly ethical” to “always ethical” and close the gap between the first two categories.

What if you were given a code of conduct (besides the codes of conduct outlined by the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations or your local MLM/Network Marketing Association) to govern all your ethical decision-making, would you use it?

What if this criterion was available to the masses and transcended all cultures? Now would you use it?

Do you think a global measuring stick really exists? I suggest that one does: It exists nicely in what we have coined the “Golden Rule.”

Idioms: “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”

Behave toward others as you would like to have them behave toward you, as in Of course I’ll help him out; it’s a case of do unto others, and I may be in the same boat one day. This so-called golden rule is stated in just about every ancient writing about behavioral precepts (including the New Testament, Talmud, Koran, and the Analects of Confucius). Among the earliest appearances in English is Earl Rivers’ translation of a saying of Socrates (Dictes and Sayenges of the Philosophirs, 1477): “Do to other as thou wouldst they should do to thee, and do to none other but as thou wouldst be done to.” It is so well known that it is often shortened.

Asking the question “How would I like to be treated in this situation?” is an integrity compass for any situation.

Are you considering dismissing my assertion? If so, then you may be caught in the quagmire of modern thinking on ethics.

Let me explain why the “Golden Rule” can be used for your ethical navigation and why it will always point you in the right direction.

Individual Rules? How About One Guidance System for Everyone?

A version of the “Golden Rule” exists in just about every culture. Take a look at the results of some research that shows how many variations on the “Golden Rule” exist:

This list has been put into alphabetical order, so that this book’s message is not interpreted to be religion-based.

Bahai

“And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for they neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself.” Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, 30, quoted at www.fragrant.demon.co.uk/golden, July 1, 2007.

Buddhism

“Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.” Udana-Varga 5, 1, quoted in ibid.

Christianity

“Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them. “ Matthew 7:12

Confucianism

“What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” Analects 15:23, quoted in ibid.

Hinduism

“This is the sum of duty; do naught unto others what you would not have them do unto you.” Mahabharata 5, 1517, quoted in ibid.

Islam

“No one of you is a believer until he loves for his neighbor what he loves for himself.” The traditions of Mohammed, quoted at www.thegoldenrule.net, July 1, 2007

Jainism

“A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.” Sutrakritanga 1.11.33, quoted at ibid.

Judaism

“What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. This is the entire law; all the rest is commentary.” Talmud, Shabbat 31a, quoted in “The Universality of the Golden Rule in World Religions,” www.teaching-values.com, July 1, 2007

Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)

“One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.” Ibid

Zoroastrianism

“Whatever is disagreeable to yourself, do not do unto others.” Shast-na-shayast 13:29, quoted at www.thegoldenrule.net, July 1, 2007

It is clear to me that the Golden Rule exists in every culture and religion and is available to all MLM distributors from nearly every part of the world. It’s the closest thing to a universal guideline for ethics as a person can find.

“Practicing the Golden Rule is not a sacrifice; it is an investment.”
 
Good Reasons Why You and I as MLM Distributors Should Adopt this Guidance System

Most people that are MLM distributors accept this guidance system.

By now you have a good idea of how widely accepted the Golden Rule is. But if you are not fully convinced, a case can also be made for the Golden Rule based on common sense.

It is very difficult for MLM distributors to justify demanding better treatment from others than they can give.

One of the first rules in human relations is to seek common ground with others. That’s a good guideline whether you are exploring a new relationship, meeting with a customer, coaching a member of your down line, connecting with your children, or having a spirited discussion with your significant other. Comparing similar experiences and discovering shared beliefs can pave the way for successful relationships. The Golden Rule can be used to create common ground with any “reasonable” person.

The guidance system is easy to understand

As MLM distributors we often have difficulty understanding the subject of ethics because it seems complex and intangible. One of the wonderful things about the Golden Rule is that it makes the intangible tangible. It is not about understanding the law. It is not a philosophical exercise. You simply imagine yourself in the place of another person. Even a small child can get a handle on that. There are no complicated rules and no loopholes.

Now it is important to say at this point that not every ethical situation can be solved instantly by using the Golden Rule. Sometimes the hardest part of asking “How would I like to be treated in this situation?” is identifying who might be affected by the situation and the impact it might have on them. But even for the most complex issues, if you give the matter some thought, you can almost always figure it out.

The guidance system is a win-win philosophy

Have you met MLM distributors who believe that to be winners, other customers or MLM distributors must lose? They see everyone as an enemy who must be conquered.

If I treat you as well as I want to be treated, you win. If you treat me likewise, I win. Where is the loser in that?

The guidance system is a compass when you need direction

The Golden Rule does more than just give MLM distributors a win. It also has internal value for anyone who practices it. It gives solid, predictable direction every time it’s used. And best of all, the Golden Rule really does work. That’s the Fundamentals of Ethics.
 
Insights for “The Responsible MLM Distributor”

“How would I like to be treated in this situation?”

What a great question to be able to ask yourself when you come up against a situation where you are unsure of how to do the “right” thing.

Could you imagine if your down-line actually used this same question under similar circumstances?

Once you have answered this question, I recommend asking the next question:

“What could I do, so that I give back more than I would wish to receive in this situation?”

Always looking to give back more is another strong relationship builder.

The adoption of the “Golden Rule” for you and your business is a no-brainer!

To receive a FREE copy of “The Responsible Direct Sellers Guide to Ethics“, please fill out your name and email address below:

In this article Georgina Laidlaw outlines some less conventional approaches available to bloggers who employ Twitter to support their sites.

These ideas by Georgina are really creative and can be used for any niche. If you want to differentiate yourself on Twitter, I encourage you to check out the full article. Click here to read in full.

In this video, my friend David Woods talks about the subject of distractions and what to do when THEY DO SHOW UP!

In the 25 years that I have been part of the direct selling industry, I have been hit with more distractions then I care to remember and wish that I had a mentor that would have offered the advice that David received in a simple and concise manner.

If you spend enough time in this industry and/or you put yourself out there and build your business, distraction will find you. If you think you are immune, sadly you are mistaken.

David Wood is not new to this industry but in the past year he has done some amazing things in this MLM/Network Marketing industry. Take the next 9 minutes to arm yourself with some of the best advice you will ever receive in this industry and it is FREE!

I highly recommend this video by David, so click here to view the original video.

Another awesome video by Ann Sieg!

Can you believe that 91% of women believe that marketers do not understand their needs. That is amazing. What an opportunity for the people that do take the time to understand. I mean it only represents 7 trillion dollars in discretionary spending.

As marketers, Ann encourages us to understand the values that drive and motivate our audience and most specifically, women.

In this video, Ann uses a great paint analogy to explain the point of marketers using the wrong value levers to reach their audience.

For years I have followed Ann Sieg and her teachings and once again she is out in front and leading the pack. I highly encourage you to take 5 minutes out of your schedule to click here and view Ann’s video.

About Ann Sieg

The author of some of the most widely read books in the world on how to get new customers and prospects to come to you, Ann Sieg is considered one of the pioneers of attraction marketing.

Like most people, she spent many frustrating years recruiting friends and family, attending meetings, and calling opportunity leads. After going into debt and watching her husband lose his income, she knew she had to try something different.

Using unconventional, yet powerful online methods, Ann discovered how to attract prospects to her and was able to become the #1 international producer in her company in just 6 short months. Her business grew to $90,000 a month and she went on to earn her first million within 2 years.

Since then, she has been able to impact the lives of 10’s of thousands of people, from CEOs to beginning entrepreneurs, through her groundbreaking coaching and training programs. Her reports have been read by over 350,000 people worldwide and she has helped many people achieve 6 and even 7 figure incomes – many of them through her free training alone, which can be downloaded here.

An internationally sought after speaker and author, Ann has been featured on numerous radio programs, media outlets, books and other publications. Her true passion is in educating and teaching others and she has developed a unique ability for helping beginners overcome the obstacles that are holding them back. Her training has created an un-paralleled number of internet success stories and has helped thousands of people generate their first customers online.

For more information about Ann, please visit: https://annsieg.com/

If you have watched TV, read a newspaper, or surfed the Internet over the past 8 years, the topic of ethics in our lives has been a major area of concern.

It seems that in every industry, including the MLM/Network Marketing industry, companies are on the news because of some ethical blunder or another.

I think it would be fair to say that most MLM distributors are disgusted with the state of ethics in our society. They are sick of dishonesty and unethical dealings. I know that I am.

With one quick search on Google for companies that have found themselves in trouble as a result of unethical decisions, you get a very long list. Here is a few, any ring a bell? And how many of these are still in business?

180Solutions, Adelphia Communications, Arthur Anderson, Clear Channel Communication, Enron, Exxon Mobil, Global Crossing, Halliburton, MCI WorldCom, Monsanto, Qwest Communications, Tyco, Wal-Mart, Xerox, Yahoo.

But what if I asked you to make a list of businesses in the MLM/Network Marketing industry that have been accused of questionable ethics? What names would be on your list? How about:

ACN, Inc., AmeriPlan USA, Amway, Avon Products, Inc., Discovery Toys, Inc., FreeLife International, The Fuller Brush Company, Global Domains International, Inc., Herbalife International of America, Inc., Life Force International, Mary Kay Inc., Melaleuca, Inc., Nikken, Inc., NSA, Nu Skin Enterprises, The Pampered Chef, PartyLite Gifts, Inc., Primerica Financial Services, Reliv International, Inc., Shaklee Corporation, Success University, Tahitian Noni International, USANA Health Sciences, Inc., XanGo LLC to name a few.

How many of these companies do you think have had their ethics questioned by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission? The large majority of complaints pertain to promoted earning potential and not individual dealings with the public regarding products or services.

It should not come as a shock to you to discover that the large majority of these companies have had their ethics questioned. But remember one very important thing, a company is just an entity made up of a bunch of MLM distributors. And therein lays the problem.

Do We Have an Ethical Dilemma Within the MLM/Network Marketing Industry?

Many discussions of ethics and ethical issues founder on disagreements about definitions. Ethics is unique among disciplines in that practitioners often cannot agree on a common definition of their topic…so let’s first define an ethical dilemma.

“This is an ethical problem in which the ethical choice involves ignoring a powerful non-ethical consideration. Do the right thing, but lose your job, a friend, a lover, or an opportunity for advancement. A non-ethical consideration can be powerful and important enough to justify choosing it over the strict ethical action.”

Source: http://www.ethicsscoreboard.com/rb_definitions.html

Why have ethics in the past in the MLM/Network Marketing industry been in such bad state?

When a MLM distributor makes unethical choices, they do so for one of three reasons:

1. Unfortunately the Typical MLM Distributor Does What’s Most Convenient

As MLM distributors and human beings, we seem to constantly fail personal ethics tests.
We will do things even though we know that they are wrong.

Perhaps it is because we think that we won’t get caught?

We use the excuse of being under pressure to cut corners and we rationalize that it’s just one more time? Is this the ethical way of dealing with pressure?

2. MLM Distributors Will Do What They Feel They Must to Seek a Victory

If you are like me, I hate to lose.

Most successful business MLM distributors that I know desire to win through achievement and success. The downside is that many think they have to choose between being ethical and winning.

Many MLM distributors believe that embracing ethics would limit their options, their opportunities, and their very ability to succeed in the world of MLM/Network Marketing. It’s the old suspicion that good guys finish last.

If a MLM distributor believes that they have only two choices – to win by doing whatever it takes, even if it’s unethical or to have ethics and lose – their faced with a real moral dilemma. Few MLM distributors set out with the desire to be dishonest, but nobody wants to lose.

3. A MLM Distributor Will Rationalize their Choices with Relativism

Many MLM distributors choose to deal with such no-win situations by deciding what’s right in the moment, according to their circumstances. Some MLM Distributors believe that concepts such as right and wrong, goodness and badness, or truth and falsehood are not absolute but change from culture to culture and situation to situation.

Dr. Joseph Fletcher – The Founder of the Situation Ethics Movement

“Joseph Fletcher, an Anglican theologian, developed situation ethics in the 1960s after critiquing legalism and antinomianism. Legalism is the belief that there are fixed moral laws that must always be obeyed. Antinomianism is the belief that there are no fixed moral principles and that ethics should be spontaneous.

Fletcher believed that neither legalism nor antinomianism provided a sound basis for ethics and advocated “situationism” as a compromise. His book, Situation Ethics, was the centerpiece of his critique and founded much of the modern situation ethics movement.

According to Fletcher, decision-making should be based on the circumstances of a particular situation, and not on fixed law. He believed that truth is relative and that love is the only absolute. Thus, he believed that as long as love is the intention, the end justifies the means.

Ironically, Fletcher claims he founded his model on a biblical statement found in 1 John 4:8: “God is love.” Yet he apparently didn’t realize that the same book says commandment keeping shows our love for God (1 John 5:3) and that God never approves of law breaking. Indeed, such conduct is sinful (1 John 3:4).

What eventually happened to Fletcher? His conclusion that God’s Word wasn’t enough to guide decision-making led him to become an avid supporter of euthanasia and abortion. He died in 1991 an atheist.”

Source: http://www.verticalthought.org/issues/vt20/founder-situation-ethics.htm

The industry of MLM/Network Marketing unfortunately has not been spared the spread of “situational ethics.”

The result is ethical chaos. Every MLM distributor has his or her standards, which change from situation to situation.

It is interesting to note that though our decisions at one time were based on ethics, now ethics are based on our decisions. If it’s good for me, then it’s good. Where is this trend likely to end?

Let’s take a look at what would happen if we applied this trend to MLM/Network Marketing:

What would happen if a MLM Distributor Always did what was most convenient?

What if we decided, as MLM distributors, to just handle every situation based on what was convenient to us? Not over a short period of time, but over a long period of time. What do you think would happen to our relationships with our down-line, as well as our up-line? Answer: Total disaster.

What would happen if a MLM Distributor felt that they must do whatever to Seek Victory?

As MLM distributors, our entire business relies on the relationships we have with the MLM distributors within our business. As business owners, if we try to “win” each and every transaction or interaction with the MLM distributors in our business, over time those relationships will die off. The only way to ensure that both your business and your relationships with the MLM distributors in your business grow is to seek a win-win scenario for each transaction and/or interaction.

What if a MLM Distributor chose to deal with a no-win situation by deciding what was right in the moment, or according to their circumstances?

As a MLM distributor, or even a human being for that matter, waiting until the last moment to decide how to handle a situation without a proper moral compass will end in disaster sooner rather than later.

There has to be a better way? There is.

What’s that? Is the Global Marketplace Altering its Behavior?

I know that at times it might not appear this way, but there seems to be an increasing desire for ethical dealing in business, and as far as I can see, this desire reaches the very summit of the MLM/Network Marketing industry.

When it comes to business, the world is shrinking – the global marketplace is becoming more accessible with each day and every transaction. Although business has brought people together, culture has kept us different.

When dealing in business with people of other cultures, it is important to keep differences, whatever they may be, in mind and at ease. It’s important to understand that the global marketplace is a diverse one, and that your potential clients may have different perspectives on ethics and proper behavior than those to which you are accustomed.

As MLM distributors, we are the CEOs of our own corporations, and even though these corporations are managed from our homes, they are multimillion-dollar opportunities and thus should reflect the highest ethical standards expected on the global stage.

It’s good to know that there is a desire for change regarding ethics in our culture. The bad news is that most MLM distributors don’t know how to make that transition.

Remember that the second you step into the global marketplace, you need to be in a global state of mind. Leave behind traditional American jargon and opt for general, direct and courteous ways of communicating thoughts, feelings and ideas.

Also, research the country and the culture of those with whom you will be working. It is important that you know the boundaries when it comes to asking personal questions. What you think is polite chitchat could actually be an offensive question to someone else.

Getting into the global marketplace is a challenging, but extremely rewarding, endeavor if you do it right. Just be sure that you’re informed and ready to take on the responsibilities involved, and you’ll find the global marketplace is a great place for your business to be.  

Why the MLM/Network Marketing Industry should not follow the Trend of the Global Marketplace

So why shouldn’t the MLM/Network Marketing industry follow the trend of the global marketplace where it pertains to ethics?

Take a look at how the global marketplace is currently trying to address the problem of ethics in business. They are:

 Asking Others to take on the Responsibility of Instructing Our Organizations about Ethics

Some companies have outsourced the task of training ethics to their company employees, so that in the event of wrongdoing, the company can attempt to evade punishment from governmental guidelines.

 Turning a Blind Eye to the Problem, or Insufficiently Reprimanding the Individual for Unacceptable Behavior

Instead of a company taking a proactive approach to teach their employees proper ethical standards, some global companies have decided deal with the ethical offenders when caught.

This seems a lot like closing the barn doors after the horses have escaped.

 Depending on the Laws of the Municipality, State, or Country to Address the Problem

Here is the saddest of them all. Some companies have actually given up entirely on trying deciding what’s ethical and instead are using what’s legal as their standard for decision-making. Any wonder why we have the problem we do in the global marketplace.

Let’s apply these “solutions” to the MLM/Network Marketing industry. How do you think these solutions would be received within our global community?

Would you really want to hand over to an “unknown” source how your business should be run and how your down-line should be treated? I hope your answer is no. If you’re unsure of this answer, you may want to think about a career change.

How about waiting until someone gets caught, even though you know that they’re doing something wrong. Is that the way you would want your business to be run, or to have your down-line run their business? Once again, I hope your answer is no.

Would you like to rely on the law to manage your business? Since most MLM/Network Marketing businesses represent global opportunities, relying on the law becomes next to impossible, if not reprehensible.

What do I mean by that? The last place a MLM distributor or the industry of MLM/Network Marketing, wants to leave their destiny is in the hands of any government.

The area of MLM/Network Marketing is the last bastion of free enterprise. It has broken down more walls and opened up more freedom opportunities to MLM distributors on this globe than any other single business related idea to hit this planet. I implore you to fully understand the area of free enterprise, and once you do, you’ll fully understand the power of MLM/Network Marketing.

Also known as a “free market”, which is an economic system in which people are allowed to choose their own jobs, start private businesses, and make a profit in any legal way that is controlled very little by the government.

We Should Take This Personally as MLM Distributors

In today’s society we have come to believe that ethics is either a business issue or a political issue. In reality it is always a personal issue.

As MLM distributors we say we want integrity. But at the same time, ironically, a large amount of MLM distributors don’t always act with the kind of integrity they request from others.

For example, the same MLM distributor who cheats on his taxes or steals office supplies wants honesty and integrity from the corporation whose stock he buys, the politician he votes for, and the client he deals with in his own business.

It’s easy to discuss ethics and even easier to be disgusted with MLM distributors who fail the ethics test – especially when we have been violated by the wrongdoing of others. It’s harder to make ethical choices in our own lives. When we are faced with unpleasant choices, what are we going to do?

Ethics and the Final Word

I know that I constantly strive to be ethical, and it is my belief that you do as well. I am also a firm believer that it is possible to do what’s right 100% of the time and still succeed in business.

Paradigm: MLM distributors that are dedicated to doing the right thing and have a personal commitment to social responsibility, and who consistently act on it, will be more profitable in the long-run than those who don’t.

Now I am not saying that if you embrace ethical behavior you will automatically be rich and successful. That would be foolish. However, it will pave the way for you to become successful.

Let’s talk about going back to fundamentals. How do you know what’s right? How do you find the way through even the most difficult of pressure filled situations? Where can you find a standard that will work in every situation – a guide that will help you to sleep well at night, prosper as a MLM distributor, improve your relationships, and have confidence that you’re doing all you can every time?

Answer: Read on. 

Insights for “The Responsible MLM Distributor”

We as individuals have such a moral responsibility to do the right thing at all times, but one factor is standing in our way: we are human!

Unfortunately, for as long as there are humans involved in business, we are going to continue to have questionable ethics in the MLM/Network Marketing industry. That is, unless “we” decide to change.

Most MLM distributors want to change their business, community, or family situation without changing themselves. It does not work that way.

We need to stop spending time trying to change others and focus all of our time on changing ourselves. If enough MLM distributors did that, the impact would be exponential.

Are there questionable direct selling companies? Oh, probably. However, the real answer is that some MLM/Network Marketing companies have some questionable MLM distributors involved in their company as distributors.

How can we change as individuals and ensure that “we” are not part of the problem, but part of the solution?

To start, never do anything because it is convenient, where it pertains to building your business. Always do what is “right,” even if it affects you financially. Do not think short-term; always have a big picture attitude.

Look for real win-win scenarios in all your interactions. Make sure that with this strategy, the other person wins first. This will go a long way to building stronger relationships.

Make decisions ahead of time on how you will handle situations within your business. This way, you will not be forced to continually make decisions on the fly that will lead to unethical behavior.

Do not worry what other MLM distributors are doing in the marketplace. Only worry about what you are doing. Clean up your own backyard, before even thinking about pointing to someone else’s.

Be responsible for your business. Do not rely on others to determine what is right and wrong. If you see something wrong in your business (this includes your down-line), make the correction and move on. Waiting until it corrects itself is a recipe for disaster.

There is a solution to every problem. You just have to take a moment and look for it. Be part of the solution, not the problem.

I would love to hear from you on this topic, please leave a comment below and let us start a dialogue on this subject.

Also, if you found value in this post, I would appreciate if you passed it on to your friends. Thanks 

To receive a FREE copy of “The Responsible Direct Sellers Guide to Ethics”, please fill out your name and email address below:

This video by Todd Falcone is awesome and something I have personally made a mistake with over and over. His simple explanation of who you should work with in your organization is priceless.

Todd Falcone is one of the legends of our industry and in a simple straightforward 3:32 if you implement what he recommends will save you thousands of wasted hours building your business. I highly recommend this video by Todd, so click here to watch the entire video. PAY ATTENTION!

About Todd Falcone

Todd brings well over a decade of in-the-field Direct Sales and Network Marketing experience to the table and candidly shares his insights, thoughts and strategies for those looking for peak performance in their Network Marketing and Direct Sales careers.

He is a multi-million dollar earner and has made his way to the top in four leading Network Marketing companies. Mr. Falcone is a highly-recognized trainer, personal coach and mentor to thousands of top-performing home business owners. His stories, teachings and articles have been featured in several magazines including Six-Figure Income, HBC (Home Business Connection), Zig Ziglar’s book Network Marketing for Dummies, Conversations on Success, Networking Times, and dozens of other online publications.

He has shared the stage with Mark Victor Hansen, Jim Rohn, Les Brown and other top motivational speakers and trainers sharing his strategies for success.

Todd hosts a nationally recognized prospecting clinic and is the author of The Fearless Networker, a newsletter providing expert advice on success in Network Marketing.

His candid, in-your-face approach to teaching success principles has captured the attention of literally thousands and thousands of distributors worldwide who swear by his trainings and his “no frills” approach to teaching success. Todd is considered one of the hottest rising superstars in the training and developmental arena of network marketing.

For more information on Todd please visit: http://toddfalcone.com/