From NetworkMarketingTimes.com
Seven Things That Make a Difference (Part 2)
By Randy Gage

This is part two in our series of seven things that will make a difference for your network marketing success. These aren't really skills. Some are habits. Some are mindset. And some are techniques. But they all are things that you must use effectively to build a large business.

So let's look at thing number two: Image.

Now mention this topic and most people think they know what you mean, and most think their image is good. Most would be wrong.Very wrong.

Think about it.

Where do you first run into your prospects? It's not at your business briefings or company events. It's not when you're "prospecting." You will meet the vast majority of your prospects for the first time when you are going through your day-to-day life.

Ok, you get all dolled up in a suit when you meet them at your business briefing, opportunity meeting, or presentation luncheon. But by the time they get there, their impression of your image (and thus YOU) is already set. And it was set in most cases by the first time they met you.

At the video store. In the supermarket. At a party. When you attended a concert or cultural event. At the car wash. Having dinner with friends.

In other words, while you are going around living your day-to-day life, picking the kids up from soccer practice, going to the dry cleaner, and shopping at the mall, is when you are going to first encounter many of your prospects. Or more accurately, they will encounter you.

So how do you look?

Do you look like the rank you want to be when you leave the house each day? Or do you look like the rest of the herd - dressed sloppy with no regard for the image you project?

Now this does not mean you need a business suit or tie every time you leave the house. But it does mean you have to look SHARP. You can be wearing blue jeans and still look smart. But it means dressing on purpose.

Are your clothes pressed? Clean? Your breath is fresh? Your hair styled? Appropriate jewelry?

And what about your attitude? Are you positive, friendly, and the kind of person that people like to be around? Do you practice proper manners and treat others with courtesy?

I remember visiting a city and a colleague who wanted to do business with me, when I had another company. He picked me up at the airport and wined and dined me to show how important I was to him. But I decided I didn't really like him and determined that I didn't want to give my business to him. You know why?

Because although he treated me with respect, he didn't do that for anyone else. When we went through the tollbooth on the way from the airport, he didn't say 'hello' or even 'hi' to the toll taker. He just thrust a dollar bill at him, waited for the change and then drove off. I thought that was very rude.

Then the same thing happened at the restaurant. He treated me like a king, but he treated the waiter like garbage. I certainly doubted the sincerity of his respect towards me, and I was uncomfortable being around someone with so little concern for others.

So we've established that every time you leave the house, you create an image for yourself. Is the image you project one that would attract people to work in your business?

And then there's the second part.

The image you have among your group. Everyone has a "brand," a perception that their team has of them. This brand is a collection of a number of factors:

How you speak; The way you dress; Your overall style; How you treat others; The skill set you have developed; Your rank and income; and, How you 'market' yourself.

Now marketing yourself to your group may sound strange. But you do it all the time, whether you're conscious of it or not. One of the things we teach our leaders when they get to the higher ranks, is that they need to start developing their personal brand.

Once someone gets into some decent profit, I will often take him or her to some of my favorite clothing stores and help them dial up their image. At a higher level they'll need some elegant jewelry. By the time they are Diamond Director, I'll be counseling them on what kind of car they should have. We teach all of our leaders that it is important they have a rock star photo of themselves that can be used to promote for events.

At my leadership training events, I bring in image and etiquette experts to help train us on the finer points of life. We have a formal event once a year with black-tie attire.

If you're a man and you fail to pull out the chair for a lady dining next to you, or let a door slam in her face, you're a boor and you certainly don't need that image. And you're hardly going to impress prospects at a networking lunch if you are pushing food on your fork with your fingers, slurping your soup, or talking with food in your mouth.

We are always selling the dream in our business. We sell it to prospects, and we're also selling it by example (or lack of it) to our team. The image you project determines whether a prospect joins your team or not. In fact, your image often determines whether they will even review your information or attend your meeting. Even when you're brand new in the business, you can project an image of confidence, belief, and professionalism. And nothing will attract good prospects faster!

And the image you have with your team will dramatically affect how far you can go and how fast you get there. Is your image that of a leader or a follower? Do you project trust or create doubt? Do you look like a professional or an amateur?

Give some real thought to the image you project and grade yourself in this category. At the end of the series, let's see how many of these things you use well in your business, and where you can improve.

I'm on my way back from Moscow, where I finished a tour working with my Soviet bloc leaders. I'll stop home just about long enough to swap clothes with the dry cleaners and I'm off to my next event. Once that is over, we'll explore the third thing that can make a difference. Have a great week!

-RG

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