MLM – Network Marketing Training – Personal Empowerment – Social Media Marketing – Authentic-Networker.com|Keith O'Brien

Fake It Till You Make It Revisited

Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by Keith O'Brien in Leadership, Network Marketing, Network Marketing/MLM Articles

I came into the industry back in the early 90′s and everything was incredibly externally focused.  We did business in person…always.

We were taught to look the part, dress as well as we could afford (or go in debt for), never have change in our pockets (change is for poor people) and if we didn’t have a nice car we were told to park around the corner and walk to the meeting.

It was plastic.  It was fake.  It was inauthentic.

And I hated every minute of that part of the business.

When I finally got my feet under me in the industry and started making money, I vowed right then to not ever act that way again and never to teach anyone to build a business that way.

Once I grew up and started becoming clear about the kind of man I wanted to be in the world, I desired a business culture that reflected those values.

I want to help people, our industry and the world evolve, so I don’t use marketing tactics or business tactics that keep people small…even if they are effective.I am an idealist, therefore I believe wholeheartedly in many “best possible outcomes.”

For example, I want real relationships with my leaders, not this removed “untouchable” appearance.  I understand the psychology behind that strategy…but it’s not what I want.

It’s just my choice.  Turning 40 this year, I am clear that I am committed to REAL & AUTHENTIC…in everything I am a part of.

Besides, “fake it till you make it” was never intended to be about faking other people…it was always about reprogramming your subconscious.  Faking your own mind out into believing your were already successful so you can manifest what you want.

Now, as we move into 2012 and look back over the last few years, we have witnessed a whole new fake it till you make it that has emerged.

The last few years as personal branding, attraction marketing and the internet have found their way into the mainstream of network marketing…this concept has taken “fake it till you make it” to an entirely new level.

And I don’t like it.

Not one bit.

Apparently, as soon as you sign a distributor application and read a few courses, you are An Expert or a Coach…whether you have ever made a decent check or not.

Parking your car around the corner has been replaced by weaving an elaborate, inflated story about yourself online about how you struggled and struggled to make money in MLM until you found this magical system that now allows you to generated endless leads.

Reality Check

If you aren’t making a solid part time income from your network marketing company, you are NOT an Expert.

If you aren’t generating consistent traffic, leads and sales online, you are NOT an Expert.

What are you then?

• You are inauthentic.
• You are someone who has lost their way.
• You are someone who has failed to realize one of the most powerful relationships in network marketing.

The relationship of Prospect – New Guy – Upline Expert.

I have always taught people to hang on to that “New Guy/Girl” title as long as possible.

We think we need to know everything…we DON’T.

We think we need to be everything…we DON’T.

Branding yourself as something you are not is killing your business.

STOP IT!

Most people chasing these internet courses and systems have made this business so complicated.  They have educated themselves right out of a check.  They have created so much sophistication in their approach to marketing that no one can duplicate it.

Be real.  Master the BASICS.  Be the “new guy” for as long as you can milk it.

USE YOUR EXPERTS until you are one.

That is what this industry is built on.

You are hurting yourself.  You are hurting the industry.  Most importantly, you are hurting the new people getting started in your business.

Learn how to block and tackle before you start running flee flickers and double reverses.

And trust me…you’ll never need to call yourself an expert.  If you build it right, your team will do it for you.

P.S. Heads up next week for a new course I just completed called “Get Real & Get Paid.”  We will dig into this subject in much greater depth and teach all the core basics of building a successful and authentic business in this industry.

Tags: mlm attraction marketing, mlm coaches, mlm experts, mlm fake it till you make it, network marketing coaches, network marketing experts, network marketing leaders