If you haven’t started following the work of Seth Godin yet, you need to.  The man is brilliant, and I don’t throw that term around regularly.  Besides 9 best selling books, including Purple Cow, The Dip, Permission Marketing and of course, Tribes, he is the creator of Squidoo.  Yeah, I know, it’s fairly popular.

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If you haven’t read Tribes yet, this article will still serve you in a big way.  If you have and haven’t put all of the incredible concepts to work for you yet, then absolutely read each word…you may need it more than most.

Tribes is about many things, but it’s mostly about a new form of leadership and what it takes to create a following.  Everyone in network marketing knows that your income is largely related to your ability to lead others and create a following of loyal customers and affiliates.  Tribes should be required reading.

As you read this, consider your current role as a leader within your team and your company and consider Godin’s 7 key elements of leadership with my notes on each to follow:

1. Leaders challenge the status quo.

Are you really bringing something new to the table?  There is a status quo inside of every organization.  Our country has one, our business economy has one, your company has one, your team has one…and I would be bold and say that you have an internal one.  These are the sets of beliefs you have about what you are capable of and why.

2. Leaders create a culture around their goal and involve others in this culture.

This is the beginning process of creating momentum.  Can you rally a team behind a common vision/purpose?  Can you engage others in meaningful ways that has them buy into the big picture while fulfilling their own needs?

3. Leaders have an extraordinary amount of curiosity about the world they are trying to change.

This could apply to your financial life and utilizing a more effective way to secure your future.  This could relate to the network marketing industry as a whole.  Mike Dillard a few years ago changed the game for many network marketers, essentially inventing what is now called Attraction Marketing.  How much of your time do you dedicate to continuing education about your craft?

4. Leaders use charisma (in a variety of forms) to attract and motivate followers.

Are you a good speaker?  Do you give good phone? J Seriously, how compelling are you on a prospect call?  Do you lead team trainings, conference calls or webinars?  Do people feel lifted and invigorated after speaking to you?  If not, it’s time to change that.

5. Leaders communicate their vision of the future.

We all know that repetition is the mother of learning.  We all know that repetition is the mother of learning.  We all know that repetition is the mother of learning.  Damn, I am funny.  Some people will buy into your vision the first time they hear it.  Others will take some time.  Your job is to passionately share it with everyone who is willing to listen.

6. Leaders commit to a vision and make decisions based on their commitment.

Once your compass is set…go flat out in that direction. Do you get sidetracked easily?  Is there always something else going on?  Do you let bad days and dream-stealing naysayers deflate your energy and enthusiasm?  Toughen up.  Know things will be ever changing and stay the course anyway.  After all, this is what you want, right?

7. Leaders connect their followers to one another.

This one is important and often overlooked in network marketing, especially as teams are just starting out.  There is huge value in community and honestly, it’s one of the main motivators for people joining and staying in a network marketing company.  Make sure you have systems set up so that your team can communicate to each other.  This will pay huge dividends over time.  You never know, they may even create a better plan and go out earn you.

This is just one small piece of the value out of Tribes…as the entire book is filled with moving, creative and engaging ideas about personal branding, positioning, stepping up as a leader, how to work through the criticism and a ton of phenomenal stories illustrating them all.

If you have read Tribes, I’d love to hear how you have specifically applied one of the ideas.  Also, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how the above 7 key elements apply to you.  Please post your comments and if you think this article will help others, please Digg it, Tweet it and share it with others.

If you haven’t read it, go pick up the book.  Read it.  Study the lessons.  Then pull your leadership team together and figure out how to add value to your existing tribe…or go create the one you know you can.

If you want to learn how to create your own tribe in network marketing using the online strategies of the top producers, subscribe below to get instant access to the what the leaders know but rarely share with other affiliates.

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If You Want To Learn The Biggest Secret To Network Marketing Success…You Need To Get A Speeding Ticket

There I was, heading south on US1 in Ft. Lauderdale right by the airport and I was zipping along noticeably faster than I normally do. I was on my way to a meeting and was running uncharacteristically late and was trying to make up some time.

I noticed I was doing a little over 70 mph but I wasn’t exactly sure what the speed limit was. I guessed 50 or 60, but I wouldn’t put money on it.

I thought, “hmmm…maybe I should slow down.” I decided not to.

The Sheriff’s car that pulled out in that very moment decided something different.

I haven’t had a speeding ticket in over a decade. It’s not that I don’t speed, because I often do, I just don’t get tickets. I don’t attract them for some reason…and I like it that way.

I did my best to talk my way out of it, but the best I could do was get the actual speed reduced, which was pretty good.

I found out what the speed limit was. It was 50. I was going 71. He ticketed me for 64.

I thanked the fine officer and wished him the best…and meant it.

You may be saying, what the heck does this have to do with network marketing? It wasn’t what happened then, it was what happened next.

Within about a week it started.

They started showing up at my door.

They were all very persuasive and value driven with solutions to my current challenges.

Ticket Clinic Solicitations!

Dozens of them.

This situation exemplifies why so many people struggle in network marketing and the mindset you absolutely must have to succeed.

You absolutely must focus all of your marketing efforts so that you are speaking to people who are home business buyers. These are people who have already demonstrated interest and commitment.

Just like me. I was committed. To the tune of $248.

Most people who start in MLM will be taught to make a list of the top few hundred people they know.

That’s fine.

How successful do you think the ticket clinics would be if they did a general mailing to a given neighborhood?

They would go broke.

Just like most network marketers.

I don’t care if you are marketing to warm market or cold market…marketing is a sorting business. You are sorting interest and commitment.

Your pipeline should always be full with people who are your target market, but just haven’t made a decision yet. This doesn’t mean just people you know. Are they an entrepreneur, have they been in MLM before, are they looking & committed, are they a business owner…they must give you something. Just because you know them doesn’t make them a good prospect.

Following sound attraction marketing principles will put you in the center of the universe of people who will sort themselves. Creating online marketing funnels is one way that automates this process for you. Over time, as you continue to build a relationship, people will gravitate to do business with you.

If your marketing efforts haven’t pulled you the results you have wanted…go out tonight and drive really fast…then watch how the pros that understand how to target a market do it.

See, lawyers are good for something after all.

I often write about my son, Brennan, because honestly, just paying attention gives me such great copy. He changes so quickly that he is continuously providing me fresh, new content! Being with young children…really being with them…is an amazing experience in what it means to live authentically.

There are too many times to count that Brennan’s natural way of being reminds me of some grand lessons of life and the brilliance of being 100% in the moment of who you are. For your enjoyment, I’ve picked my top 9.7.

9.7 – Get excited about life.
Dive into experiences with energy and enthusiasm, as it is often this intention that creates our level of enjoyment and our results.

9 – Explore & Learn.
Take time to stare intensely at how a door opens and closes and what makes it work. Become intimately fascinated with new ideas, concepts, experiences and completely immerse yourself in the learning.

8 – Image isn’t everything.
Who cares if you have oatmeal or ketchup or sweet potato all over your face? Did it taste good? Absolutely!

7 – Make sure you get enough rest.
Sometimes there is nothing better than a power nap. Making time to recharge your batteries can pay huge dividends.

6 – Show your appreciation for the things you love.
Clap, smile, high five, laugh, be in JOY, giggle, squawk, scream…express yourself fully in appreciation for the people and experiences that support your growth and happiness.

5 – Get over it.
Hurt your foot? Who cares! It seemingly stops hurting if someone hands you your favorite toy. Be in your experiences, connect with them, learn from them and move on. Getting stuck in the drama of things in the past robs our ability
to connect with the present moment.

4 – Never take the relationship with your parents for granted.
My son is intimately connected to where I am, what I am doing and what mood I am in. I encourage you to look at how a toddler views his relationship with his parents, how important he feels they are to him and how much he values them…then answer those same three questions for yourself. Any difference?

3 – Believe in your ability to do things you have never done.
Take chances, risk, be bold, be courageous and strive forward with energy and optimism without giving a rat’s ass about what anyone else may think.

2 – If you aren’t getting what you want, stand up for yourself.
When a 4 year old isn’t happy, he’ll let you know. Now I am certainly not condoning how they go about conveying their message every time, but I applaud their commitment to their goals.

1 – Be FearLESS.
Walk around the edge of pools when you don’t know how to swim, play with light sockets, go down stairs at full speed, eat bugs, drink cold smoothies quickly and don’t worry about the brain freeze, walk up to stray dogs and jump off beds that are higher than you are tall. Seriously though, how many times do we let the fear of something stop us in our tracks, petrified by the outcome we make up in our own mind? Acknowledge your fears and go for it anyway!

Thank you, Brennan, may I repay you with the gift of teaching you as many things as you have taught me over your lifetime.