Dear Reader,

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!

-Randy Gage

P.S. - A healthy physical presence fosters a healthy mental image
and a heightened success rate. My, “Great Health Through Nutrition”
course can guide you through the essential steps for a healthier
physical and mental image. Don’t wait another minute to become the
person that you want your prospects to see. Click below now!

http://www.NetworkMarketingTimes.com/resources/greathealth

Browse all of my building blocks for success at:
http://www.NetworkMarketingTimes.com/resources

1807 S Eisenhower St.
Wichita, KS 67209, USA