What is Not Being Understood?

This is kind of a rant, so bear with me, because I'm sure I'm not the only one who is thinking this.

I haven't been on Facebook or Twitter for even a year. For the most part, I have had some of the most amazing connections occur, some of the most incredible conversations, and some great business acheived.

By now, we've all read the post of do's and don't's on social media. The biggest one is to imagine social media like a big party. Most of the time, as far as I know, we don't bust into a party and start going up to people barfing our business opportunities.  You'd be thrown out of the party for sure.

Like other life situations, there is certain etiquette expected. When we enter a party, we introduce ourselves, get to know these new friends, ask about them, find out what they do, and see how we can help them. We listen. We become friends.

And this has been working quite nicely. Up until recently.

In the past month or so, people have seemed to forgotten these tips. I dunno, perhaps the turn of the calendar really threw people off. It seems we are back to people striking up conversations with the total agenda of puking their opportunity onto us. And it's rather disgusting, if I do say so myself.

One person asked me what else I do, aside from my mlm opportunity. I told him I am a private coach for people who request coaching in mlm. His response was, and this was after he had heaved his presentation all over my computer screen, 'well, you'd LOVE our company, our sponsors and coaches are the best! Check it out! Here's my link! What do you think? Interested?'

Oy. I politely thanked him and unplugged for a bit.

Today, I wished someone on FB a happy birthday. I love birthdays, so I really love wishing people happy birthday.

I kid you not, not half an hour later I received a response on my FB wall. It said,'thanks for the birthday wishes. Here's my new website, with lots of things for you and your friends to buy from ME. Please share with ALL of your friends. Buy from me.'

Oy. I deleted the message. That was probably one of the tackiest business barfs I've encountered.

Folks, don't piss people off. Behave. Mind yer manners. Otherwise, you'll end up the subject of blogs like mine and others.

We've been nice with gentle reminders that are accompanied by smilie face icons. Now, we're just annoyed. Don't be one of  'those' people. We're all begging you, please stop it.

~Namaste'

Jhanna

I Have to WHAT? *gulp*

I've had my fingers on the MLM pulse for many years. Some of these years I was involved directly and others, I just watched, read, listened, and learned.

One thing that has changed dramatically is how we talk the talk. Back in the mid 80's when I signed with Amway as my first MLM adventure, I was required by my sponsor to find the people to talk with and my sponsor would do the talking.

When we met with the prospect, I was just to sit and listen, and to learn.

Interestingly enough, although I had signed as a distributor, I didn't like what was being said to the prospect. There was no relationship being built, we didn't ask about our prospect, his family, or life. Strictly business.

Now, when I signed up, I had signed up with my brother, who's sponsor was my parent's next door neighbors. See the value? We signed with people we already had a relationship with. We were comfortable and trusted that person or people already.

If someone had approached me and immediately started in on, 'do you like this product? ME TOO! WELL! Have I got an opportunity for YOU, my friend!'

Guess what? It happens ALL the time. With the internet, all of us in the dirct sales, network marketing, and MLM world now have billions of prospects at our fingertips or twittertips, or facebooktips, or whatever other social media platform is about to come along.

So, if developing a relationship is what this business is really about, why is there a difference online?

I think most of you know what I'm talking about. The blatant ads, links, and spam that is sent out not just regularly but flooded out on these social media sites. Go to these sites and they scream out to you, 'SIGN NOW!! BE A BAJILLIONAIRE BY 5PM!!'

In my mind, the people who send these out are the people who would never make it in the old style of MLM, or don't have any local prospects or teams. Why? Because the thought of actually approaching someone and developing a relationship of any sort with them might very well be the last thing they want to do.

I'm going even further with this. Developing a relationship involves risk. Risk of rejection, mostly, and that terrifies many people. The thought of having to actually approach someone, in person, and take that risk of someone saying, 'No' paralyzes people and their businesses.

Many people consider it a personal attack on who they are at the core, and in my humble opinion, these are the very same people who post on FB and Twitter.

Our business is not for the weak hearted. those wanting and willing to grow, risk, develop, and become an active participant in their own lives are drawn to it.

In return, they get to expand their lives, minds, social circles, and yes, bank accounts.

Developing relationships whether it's offline or online requires time and energy, and can involve a risk, but the benefits outweigh them.

Next time you're on one of the social media sites, try to stop talking about you and your business. Send private messages, do posts that are fun, and ask about the other person.

Otherwise, it will be me that develops that relationship with them. ;)