Network Marketing Fundamentals Article - What is This New MLM Paradigm?

This Network Marketing Fundamentals article establishes that, at the heart of new MLM paradigm, the difference is a simple yet very profound principle.  It's not just about a collection of different techniques or different ways of doing things; it's about a shift inside in the way we think about ourselves and the people we interact with.

The ‘old school’ methods with their old paradigms related to network marketing, are very much about going out and getting what we want.  They draw many of their philosophies and principles from mass marketing and heavy selling.  The mass marketers treat people as numbers.  They talk about the issues, cohorts and so on.  They don't talk about individual consumers, they talk about groups of people and how they can reach a particular group.  Inevitably, this de-humanises the relationship.

Mass marketers are some of the cleverest people around.  After all, this is one of the most profitable businesses you can be in.  Nearly everything you consume, in some way or other, has passed through the hands of mass marketers.  Even if you discover a product by different means - for example, because your parents used to use it - the mass marketers will still have had their hands on it.

The new paradigm is about individual relationships and the respect that comes with it.  So when we’re looking for customers - what we're trying to do is to find people who match with who we are, what we do, what we offer and what these new friends will want - rather than just trying to get customers. 

When we look at recruiting, we're not just trying to recruit lots of people because most of them will drop out. We’re finding people we genuinely get on with, whom we can help and want to help, and who will benefit from it.  We build relationships with them which quite often will lead to friendships and partnerships.

It's the difference between force and power. (Please see my article.)

The old paradigm is about getting what you want.  So if I want to get more customers I know I need to do a certain amount of advertising and I’ll get the extra customers I want.

In the new paradigm we think about helping people, and we think about whom we might be a match with.  In some ways this can be a scary place because…

We have to trust.

We have to trust that who we are is ‘good enough.’

The new paradigm doesn't mean we’re slapdash, lazy or un-businesslike.  If you're looking to earn a large income from your Network Marketing business then you're going to have to invest.  You’re going to have to find better ways of communicating with more people.

Relationships are scary.  We can’t control them, they go where they go. But we do have influence over them.  The same is true of the new paradigm.  And just consider – the fact that relationships are scary doesn’t stop most of us from living life with other people.

One school of psychotherapy (Transactional Analysis) says there are no psychiatric problems outside of relationships with other people.  What this says to me is that if you want to avoid problems - avoid relationships.

The consequences of the new paradigm change in philosophy are massive.

So if you want a bigger business - you need to become a better YOU.  More activity or learning stronger ‘sales closes’ is probably not the answer.

I'm sure you've heard of studies where people with limited resources win the lottery.  Within a few years, most of them have returned to the same financial state.  As Jim Rohn says, “If somebody gave you $1 million and you wanted to keep it, then you'd better become a millionaire."

So - to summarise this Network Marketing article - the new MLM paradigm is about you being you and attracting people who like you because of that.  After all - you've had quite a few years practice in being you, so why not capitalise on that huge investment?