No, MLMers, not my opinion
Written by Peter Han, a Harvard grad… and the result of interviewing over 100 ‘Nobodies’ who became ‘Somebodies’ … is the resource, not an opinion.
And it is a great piece of work for anyone who wants to know – what does leadership mean?
Really.
What is very cool is folks who understand leadership attributes seem to be better leaders… I know that may sound like I am stating the obvious but the truth is too much of the time people rely on ‘ability’ or ‘copy’ other leaders, thinking it is a good thing. And, honestly… it may be but it’s unlikely to be a great thing.
That is the interesting question… what are you… what am I doing to learn to lead?
While there are good books out there, nothing, and I am sure you’d agree, is better than folks who went from rags to riches.
Peter Han’s book will give you more about the folks… but everything from entertainers to politicians… just fabulous mix of personalities… and this is what they have in common.
Take a little self-discovery quiz…
Give yourself 0… 5… or 10 for each one.
Zero means you simply need to develop this.
5 means you’ve begun to develop it but need improvement
10 means you are spot on it…
Give yourself 30 points for investing in reading about leadership and scoring yourself honestly.
So…Â that would make a perfect score 100…
Let us know how you did and get this to your leaders and newbies alike.
1. Strong Self Awareness
These leaders made decisions about their careers — with significant self-knowledge, stemming from instinct or introspection.
Their understanding of their own likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses were particularly insightful.  The classic, “Think and Grow Rich“, was actually formatted from a deeper, more mindful document, “The Master Key System“.  Haanel, the author builds an airtight case that the biggest problem people have in creating a life they really want is that they are unaware of their own true interests.
“Our difficulties are largely due to confused ideas and ignorance of our true interests.” Â
Most of us know what we DON’T want or what we’d like to see improve, but avoid the biggie…”Bills are paid, plenty of money coming in… what do you want your life to say?  To mean?”  Most MLMers are merely thinking about the “next pin level”… making Haanel’s point, Hill’s point and Han’s point.
What did the rags to riches folks do?
The 100 Somebodies broke free from their initial ideas about life and work, ideas likely instilled by parents or early childhood experiences.
Rather than relying automatically on advice and direction from others, they took that deep journey of self-discovery… like the remarkable Lydia Johnson did with the Master Key System … they seem to break free from the ‘normal’ idea of how life works.
0-5-10?
2. Play Towards Strengths and Away from Weaknesses
Han’s key discovery here is that winners are honest about what they are not good at…..they don’t blame, fib or cover up in anyway.  They increase strength and leverage it into a huge advantage.
My 20 years has taught me one thing about most networkers…..that is the one thing that kills them…..ego.
0-5-10?
Not sure about your own strenghts and weaknesses? Â Blind spots? Â This helped everyone on my teams, I insisted on it.
3. Authenticity and Integrity
Authenticity is a character thing… integrity is a ‘do what you said you were going to do‘ thing.
While shortcuts by bending these 2 things are tempting to some people… true leadership, nobody-to-somebody types…Â are never even tempted.
Despite what the ‘gurus’ tell you… networking is NOT a sprint.  It’s a marathon and you are the genuine article or you are not.
Do you do what you say you will do with your team?
Do you do what you say you will do with yourself? Â AH…Â that is the biggie.
0-5-10?
4. Pragmatic Decision-Making Processes
Rags-to-riches types are decisive and those decisions, mostly are not emotional ones.
Oh, they get emotionally involved AFTER…Â but are detached while making decisions.
How about you?
Do you get off the phone with reps who just want to gab and get something going or do you stay on the phone…Â gab for a while then… blame?
Do you ‘decide’ on a plan… or sort of let the day ‘flow’?
People that decide tend to make things happen…
0-5-10?
5. Do this First, Conquer the World Later
While visions of sugarplums dance in our heads… with all the Internet hype, companies telling you it is ‘safe to dream again’ and seeing others like you make money, it is easy to feel frustrated.  Follow this to the letter…
Keep scoring yourself
0-5-10?
6. Coping With Insecurities — and Using Them for Motivation
The 100 leaders did not sail through work and life without doubts… and man did that make me feel better.
Many shared. Executive Summaries reports, Â stories of early uncertainty; anxiety before big meetings.
Look, they knew what you know… the work is not hard, but it is hard getting it going, running a family and, really it’s lonely work.
It’s you and the phone.
What I’ve done is …. (and it seems these folks did it too in their own way) decide that what I was ‘feeling’ was the point that others quit.
The 100 seemed to find a way to ‘motivate’ themselves with these feelings, not to be overcome by them.
How do you know?
Simple.
If you are not making calls to prospects, 40 to 50 3-5x a week… you’ve quit and just not told yourself.
Sorry. Â It’s got to be said.
0-5-10?
The easiest way to get back on track? Â Help others make calls, help others do the thing you fear.
7. From Paying Rent to Conquering the World
Interestingly they did not, these 100, claim they were going to ‘blow the doors’ off whatever… they just mastered what they were doing – learning then replicating those skills and concepts into other success.
In reading some of these interviews it’s pretty easy to see they would have gone for a ‘1 pin level’ at a time… and not limited themselves once they got to a new pin level.
0-5-10?
So score up to 70 on the questions, and then 30 for reading this and the courage to assess yourself.
Let us know how you did in the comments box… and how you deal with these 7 things… which ones are you great at?
The difference between winners and losers is clear.
Successful reps simply do the things unsuccessful reps make a decision not to do… and the folks who move from ‘nobody to somebody’ look for ways to improve.
Bottom line?
What is more important, right now, than testing yourself with my little quiz and joining the conversation below?
Let us and others know where you need improvement and I believe you’ll get the help you need within 24 hours.
Here’s the tax stuff, it’s 6 weeks away.
believe
mark januszewski
