Attaining MLM success is not so different than achieving success in virtually any other type of business platform. There are certain characteristics that you need to apply to your efforts, and any time you hear fascinating MLM success stories, chances are these common characteristics are behind the scenes of that success. There is nothing magical about them, and unfortunately for most of us, there is no automatic, push button solution to deliver overnight MLM success.

A significant percentage of people who start out in a MLM or network marketing venture have perhaps too high expectations of how fast their business is going to grow, and how quickly they will grow a good size income with relatively little work involved. However that is seldom the case with MLM, or with any type of business for that matter. The reward we get is almost always directly related to the amount of effort, and the wisdom of the effort that we put into it. It takes focused, smart, consistent and persistent productivity. This common overly optimistic attitude towards the ease of MLM success, and the contrast with the reality that it seldom happens so easily, is the reason we see rather high failure and drop out rates within the industry.

I am not here to be the bearer of bad news, quite the opposite in fact. Although the road to MLM success is seldom an easy one, it is a very possible thing to achieve with the right plan in place, and the will to carry it out. If it was easy, everyone who ever signed up for any MLM business would be rich. But if it were impossible, or the system was inherently flawed, there would be no MLM success stories. But we all know, or know of people, who have reached fantastic heights of MLM success, so we know "the dream" is achievable.

In my experience, there really is no "secret" to MLM success. The road to get there involves some fundamental habits and attitudes that are prevalent with anyone who has attained a high level of MLM marketing success. So, far from raining on the opportunity parade, I am the bearer of good news here, just not as hyped up as you might be used to hearing. It means that the road to achieving your dreams is open to anyone who is willing to take the required steps to get there. Of course it will be challenging at times, but if you stay centered on the these core traits, sooner or later you will see MLM success.

What MLM Success Requires

First of all, you need a plan. You need to know where you are right now, have a clear picture of where you want to get there, and a road map to connect the two. This sounds obvious, but the fact is that most people that get involved with MLM really have no plan. They are typically very excited at the beginning, and start running around like chickens with their heads cut off. Excitement is great, it's actually vital, but there needs to be some direction to it as well. Find your own groove based on your strengths and what works for you. There are any number of methods for MLM success, but not everyone needs to do the same thing. Look at what works for other people, and then add your own personal twist to it.

Your plan needs to involve daily, weekly and monthly activity. It needs to be precise. Whatever your methods are for expanding your business, whether it be cold calling, internet marketing, hosting parties or whatever, you need to have a strict activity plan to carry out based on different time frames. Rather than focusing on the number of sign ups, focus on the things you can control, and that is the activity level that you carry out. As you go forward you can gradually improve your closing rates, but never waver off your activity schedule.

Along these same lines is consistency. If you don't force yourself to carry out your activities consistently you will soon realize that a month has gone by and you haven't done anything. Consistency will gradually become habitual and you will be active without even realizing it. But without consistent activity it is unlikely that you will ever achieve MLM success.

MLM success requires a large dose of determination. Like with any business, you are bound to face setbacks, frustration and some rejection. Without strong determination these things will very quickly cause you to lose your consistency, see your activity level plummet, and sooner or later you will likely quit altogether. You need to know not only that you want to succeed, but more importantly why you want to succeed. Keep these reasons in the forefront of your mind all the time and make sure they are are stronger motivation than the desire to procrastinate or quit.

You need to be willing to adapt once in a while. A certain method may be effective for a period of time, but always be looking to improve on your methods and approach. Things always change, new technology becomes available, new information is released, and methods sometimes become stale. "Don't fix something that ain't broke", but at the same time, be willing to change and adapt when you need to rather than being stubborn. Always be on the lookout for new MLM success tips from successful people and mentors. This will help you stay fresh and motivated.

MLM Success: Find A Mentor

This is the biggest favor you can do for yourself if you hope to attain any level of MLM success. In fact it is vital in any type of business. The traits mentioned above will all come quicker and easier if you have a mentor that you can lean on sometimes and seek out for advice. Find someone that has already achieved the success that you are striving for.

A mentor will be able to lend practical advice on how to conduct your business, they will keep you motivated and encouraged when you are struggling, and they will be a source of wisdom and support as you learn how to become successful yourself. Many mentors will provide MLM success training for not only you but also members of your down line or organization. Having a mentor is absolutely crucial.

Remember that an MLM venture is a business and should be run that way. Take it seriously and treat it like business rather than a hobby. Have a plan, stay motivated by your goals, remain consistent in your activity levels and seek the advice of a good mentor and your chances of seeing MLM success and achieving your dreams are very high.

Christmas.  A time for 4 year old princesses to play dress up and rock their baby dolls.  But for 4 year old Sophie, battling Stage 4 bone cancer, Christmas 2011 was a day in the cancer treatment ward with her family, learning terms no 4 year old should ever hear.  Chemotherapy.  Morphine drips for pain.  IV tubes, sticks and pokes.

Having proudly stood with my brave 2 year old niece "Super Kyla" in her victory against neuroblastoma, and having supported my business partner's 4 year old daughter Deanna as she valiantly and successfully battled cancer on her birthday in June, I am frankly fed up with cancer.  As my precious aunt who is fighting cancer herself posted on Facebook:  "I hope cancer gets cancer!"

Until the day that I can kill the disease, I will work diligently with others to help ease the pain of those who suffer from it.  A brilliant plan has been hatched to help precious Sophie and her brave family as they fight through this terrible time, and you can be a part of making their lives easier during this unimaginable fight for her life.  Together with Marketers for a Cause, I am donating money, time, product and support for a one day fund raising event to raise money for Sophie and her family.  100% of the proceeds of this internet marketing manifesto will go to benefit Sophie, and we as online business owners will benefit from the brilliance and training of dozens of internet marketing icons, including Mike Koenigs, Bill Macintosh, Eric Louviere, and dozens of others will be donating their time and products in support of this cause.

What an amazing opportunity to rocket launch your business into 2012, while providing a priceless blessing to beautiful Sophie and her brave family. CLICK HERE TO HELP SOPHIE!

So what can you do to help?  Here's the beautiful thing:  even if all you can do is click through to the link, that will generate support!  If you can sign up and promote, that will further help Sophie, and even qualify you to win fantastic internet marketing products.  And, on Wednesday, January 4th, you can join Marketers For a Cause as we learn together and leave a legacy of the good that can be accomplished when like-minded entrepreneurs with servant hearts unite.

I WOULD LOVE TO HELP SOPHIE!!

Say the word "pyramid scheme" to a network marketer and you will instantly see faces stiffen, lips purse and long-winded, exuberant explanations fly.  Many a prospect has leveraged the "pyramid" argument in resistance to a network marketing presentation.  (And many a professional MLM'er has relished the opportunity to correct those misconceptions.)

And yet, according to online business experts, a different kind of pyramid is going to be essential for you to achieve any level of success with your MLM on the internet in 2010:  The SEO pyramid.

SEO, you will remember is short for search engine optimization – creating each page of your website so that it can be found by search engines like Google.

What does this SEO MLM Pyramid Scheme mean for an overwhelmed MLM business owner?

As with any building project, your business building has to start with a strong foundation:  High Quality Content.

The glue (or putty, or mortar…choose your building analogy) that holds your content together is your keyword research.

Link Building further solidifies your business strength, and is an ever-changing algorithm that is quite invigorating to learn and incorporate (ask me for the latest, if you feel like you're lost deep in the Amazon rainforest on this one).

The finishing touch, the piece de resistance of your Pyramid?  Gotta have Social — couldn't have a network marketing business without networking now, could we?

The true brilliance of this SEO Pyramid is that it will help you design and launch your new, effective website — you are planning to launch or upgrade your website to help your business skyrocket in 2012, of course.

So, let's recap the steps of building your perfect business pyramid:

1. Begin with your Perfect Customer (you do know who that is, right?) and create a website design and content that appeals to her….

2. Incorporate intelligent keyword research from the beginning of creating your online foundation.  Keywords are your "crystal ball" to your hungry crowd, the ones that are already searching for what you've got to offer.  Google notices, and bumps you up the search results accordingly!

3. Taking it to the next level, you linked your page to other relevant pages on your own website, and also have collect links from other high quality sites. This activity demonstrates to Google that other sites trust your information, and also provides yet another chance to capture and hold your customer’s attention.

4. Strategically using social sites – your social media outposts like your Facebook business page, Google +, Linked In or Twitter site which allow you to interact with your customers where they congregate for education and entertainment.

Do you have your four-step pyramid plan in place for 2012?  Sure, it's a bit of work in the beginning (which little pig would you prefer to be, straw or brick?), but the dedicated effort pays off, big time.  And, never fear.  If you feel lost, feel free to leave a comment, contact me, or sign up for my free internet marketing course.

And, the next time someone asks:  "Is that one of them pyramid schemes?!", you can just smile, knowingly, with your SEO Pyramid Scheme firmly in play, building your MLM business 24/7.

MLM Social Media is without a doubt a critical strategy if you want to grow your MLM business in the internet marketing age. 

Think about it:  networking is such an integral part of this business, it's even built into our "other" name:  NETWORK Marketing (funny how we seem to lose sight of our identity sometimes…so busy running around forcing our opportunity down people's throats, that we forget to CONNECT.)

Social networking has always been a cornerstone element for success in network marketing.  Word of mouth marketing, relationship marketing, direct marketing~~core strategies that are always the most effective and powerful way of doing business, in this or any industry. 

Neighbor, family, friends, colleagues: these are the cords of your personal network.  Always has been, always will be.

Only today, with the power of the world wide web, your neighborhood is the entire globe, your friends can live on every continent, your colleagues may be faces you've only seen on a computer screen. 

The ability to collaborate and communicate at the touch of a button has truly revolutionized the way business is done~~when done right.

And, the quickest way to do things right, is to find someone who is already successful in what you want to accomplish, fall in behind them, and follow in their footsteps. 

Success leaves clues, and when you follow that bread crumb trail, you can't lose…provided you get into motion, and don't let Angry Birds or other quick action takers eat your profits.

How else could the former Clyde Bulldog from a postage stamp West Texas town be featured by Mike Koenigs, Traffic Geyser creator and the "Donald Trump" of social media??

Who could have predicted that little ol' me could build multiple global businesses in sweat pants and t-shirts, communicating daily with UK, Australian, Filipino, South African and Canadian entrepreneurs?

Answer:  it's easily predictable.  I did, and do, what every successful MLM leader does.  I picked my mentors wisely, and I followed the leader.

I safety-pinned my super-hero cape around my neck, and I jumped.

Isn't it time you became a MLM Social Media superhero?

Come on!  I'll be your sidekick. 

I love Thanksgiving.

I love giving thanks.

I start each day with gratitude, and those of you who have been around me any length of time know that I have written a virtual doctorate paper on the power of gratitude to improve your quality of life.

Ever thought that gratitude might be the key to your MLM success?  Any idea the multiplying effect that sincere, ongoing thankfulness can have on the prosperity of your business? 

Businesses that practice gratitude and giving, and put social entrepreneurship at the heart of their company, actually increase their financial bottom line by a whopping 1400%!!

How's that for a return on investment?

There's an entire science on the topic.  I've trained doctors for over two hours on the healing effects of this amazing emotion.  It fascinates me beyond measure.

And I have a dream of spreading this gratitude virus around the globe, and infecting the planet.  How amazing would it be to have a plague of gratefulness upon this industry, that spilled over and blessed the world?

It's going to happen in our lifetime, because we've got the leaders to make it so.

Take eight minutes of your life, and be blessed by this beautiful short film, created by the brilliance of Louie Schwartzberg, of http://MovingArt.tv.  Count your blessings, and you will almost instantaneously feel the success multiplier.

And then stay tuned, as MLM leaders begin to change the world.

I am so grateful for the ability to own my own business. 

I give thanks for a free country that allows us as entrepreneurs to pursue financial liberty without limits. 

I am exceedingly thankful for the wonder of the worldwide web and the power it gives each one of us to create a global business at the touch of a button ~~ and now that power is handheld and mobile.

I am honored and blessed that this is a people business, and that so many of the best people in my world, I have met through my MLM endeavors. 

I am grateful that you are here.  Thank you.

I am delighted beyond words that this industry allows me to enjoy my family to the fullest, and live a life beyond my wildest dreams.

And, most of all, I am forever humbled and filled with joy and thanksgiving at the God who created it all.

What if your website could be blacklisted from the entire country for offending the wrong person or criticizing someone in power?  What if, with only five days "courtesy" notice, your years of effort in creating an online following, developing valuable content, and creating a dream lifestyle business and income ~~ vanished?

Communist nation, you imagine?  Third world country without political protections? 

How about the United States of America.
 
This is serious stuff. Last week a bill was almost passed in the United States House of Representatives to effectively put an iron curtain over the internet that U.S. citizens are allowed to view.  The "Stop Online Piracy Act" (SOPA) and its Senate counterpart, the Protect IP Act, are both DEEPLY flawed, and have far-reaching consequences if passed. 
 
Can't believe this could be happening in the Land of the Free?  Think I'm hyping this up?  Find out more information about this here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57329001-281/how-sopa-would-affect-you-faq/?tag=epicStories
 
The upshot of the law is this: If a website you own is viewed as a "rogue" website, defined as having content  that the U.S. Attorney General determines to be infringing on any copyright, (or other, much broader readings) it gives the government the right to blacklist your site at the drop of a hat.
 
Having grown deliciously addicted to deep information access at my fingertips, I am definitely outraged at this attempt to control our access.  I am not alone in my concern.  Apparently over 95% of internet industries are vehemently opposed as well.  Even the European Union has chimed in with their grave concern.
 
Think this doesn't really affect you?  You're wrong.

Think there's nothing you can do about it?  Wrong again.
 
As a former judge and attorney, I believe in the ultimate power, the power of the people.  I have been privileged to be involved in situations where I was able to lead the "little guys" (often children) to defeat the big bad oppressors, usually in the form of well-intentioned but woefully drafted legislation.

How does David beat Goliath, you may ask?  Lots of little stones, tossed insistently and repeatedly, until the message is unquestionably delivered.

We are internet entrepreneurs.  We have worked hard to build our successful businesses.  We are the future of this country.  And we will not sit idly by while you take our internet property.

If you want to learn more about how this affects you, click this link: http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57329001-281/how-sopa-would-affect-you-faq/?tag=epicStories
 
If you want to talk to your member of congress, click here: http://stopcensorship.org/

"All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."  Oliver Wendell Holmes
 

"In life, you may have forgiving friends and relatives, but entrepreneurship is rarely forgiving. Eventually, everything shows up in the soup. If people don't like the soup, employees stop working for you, and customers stop doing business with you. And that is why businesses fail."

Being an entrepreneur is not always easy.  "Own your own business and be a millionaire overnight" is, quite simply, never going to happen.  It's a hyped-up sales pitch to get you in the door, take your money, and leave you hungry and with no change left to buy REAL sustenance.

On the other hand, building a business on purpose, to fulfill your life's passion and make the difference in the world that YOU decide is what YOU were meant to do…ah, there is nothing that tastes as sweet. 

Helping business owners every day to define their purpose and then create a plan to achieve it, one of the keys to success that I have discovered it to have your eyes wide open as to why the vast majority DON'T make it…and then chart your course in the opposite direction.

Here are some thoughts from another small business owner of five businesses, from the New York Times.

One of the least understood aspects of entrepreneurship is why small businesses fail, and there's a simple reason for the confusion: Most of the evidence comes from the entrepreneurs themselves.

I have had a close-up view of numerous business failures — including a few start-ups of my own. And from my observation, the reasons for failure cited by the owners are frequently off-point, which kind of makes sense when you think about it. If the owners really knew what they were doing wrong, they might have been able to fix the problem. Often, it's simply a matter of denial or of not knowing what you don't know.

In many cases, the customers — or, I should say, ex-customers — have a better understanding than the owners of what wasn't working. The usual suspects that the owners tend to blame are the bank, the government, or the idiot partner. Rarely does the owner's finger point at the owner. Of course, there are cases where something out of the owner's control has gone terribly wrong, but I have found those instances to be in the minority. What follows — based on my own experiences and observations — are my top 10 reasons small businesses fail. The list is not pretty, it is not simple, and it does not contain any of those usual suspects (although they might come in at Nos. 11, 12 and 13).

1. The math just doesn't work. There is not enough demand for the product or service at a price that will produce a profit for the company. This, for example, would include a start-up trying to compete against Best Buy and its economies of scale.

2. Owners who cannot get out of their own way. They may be stubborn, risk adverse, conflict adverse — meaning they need to be liked by everyone (even employees and vendors who can't do their jobs). They may be perfectionist, greedy, self-righteous, paranoid, indignant, or insecure. You get the idea. Sometimes, you can even tell these owners the problem, and they will recognize that you are right — but continue to make the same mistakes over and over.

3. Out-of-control growth. This one might be the saddest of all reasons for failure — a successful business that is ruined by over-expansion. This would include moving into markets that are not as profitable, experiencing growing pains that damage the business, or borrowing too much money in an attempt to keep growth at a particular rate. Sometimes less is more.

4. Poor accounting. You cannot be in control of a business if you don't know what is going on. With bad numbers, or no numbers, a company is flying blind, and it happens all of the time. Why? For one thing, it is a common — and disastrous — misconception that an outside accounting firm hired primarily to do the taxes will keep watch over the business. In reality, that is the job of the chief financial officer, one of the many hats an entrepreneur has to wear until a real one is hired.

5. Lack of a cash cushion. If we have learned anything from this recession (I know it's "over" but my customers don't seem to have gotten the memo), it's that business is cyclical and that bad things can and will happen over time — the loss of an important customer or critical employee, the arrival of a new competitor, the filing of a lawsuit. These things can all stress the finances of a company. If that company is already out of cash (and borrowing potential), it may not be able to recover.

6. Operational mediocrity. I have never met a business owner who described his or her operation as mediocre. But we can't all be above average. Repeat and referral business is critical for most businesses, as is some degree of marketing (depending on the business).

7. Operational inefficiencies. Paying too much for rent, labor, and materials. Now more than ever, the lean companies are at an advantage. Not having the tenacity or stomach to negotiate terms that are reflective of today's economy may leave a company uncompetitive.

8. Dysfunctional management. Lack of focus, vision, planning, standards and everything else that goes into good management. Throw fighting partners or unhappy relatives into the mix, and you have a disaster.

9. The lack of a succession plan. We're talking nepotism, power struggles, significant players being replaced by people who are in over their heads — all reasons many family businesses do not make it to the next generation.

10. A declining market. Book stores, music stores, printing businesses and many others are dealing with changes in technology, consumer demand, and competition from huge companies with more buying power and advertising dollars.

In life, you may have forgiving friends and relatives, but entrepreneurship is rarely forgiving. Eventually, everything shows up in the soup. If people don't like the soup, employees stop working for you, and customers stop doing business with you. And that is why businesses fail.

Jay Goltz owns five small businesses in Chicago.

Interested in finding more customers for your business?  Of course, that's your #1 focus, or should be, if you want to defy the odds of the 95% of businesses who fail in their first 2 years of operation.

If getting your business to profitability "on steroids" is part of your business model, you absolutely MUST examine the power of mobile marketing.  What are the 3 items no one can leave home without?  You got it:  their keys, their wallet, and their cellphone.  And with the vast majority of consumers now utilizing "smart" phones, they are no longer just carrying the ability to make phone calls in their pocket or purse, consumers now possess a mobile personal shopping mall.

Staying on top of where your customers are at is a critical strategy of an effective business model.  Read the latest from Information Week and discover why ignoring the mobile marketing phenomenon could be the worst mistake you could make in your online business.

Consumers will use mobile technology and communications tools to leverage their spending reach, finds retail survey.

Infographic by PPC Blog

Do you ever have those moments in building your online business that there are so many moving parts that it seems they could never all fit together?  That the odds of everything connecting and performing and cooperating at just the right moment are a million to one?

I love how this video illustrates the power of possibility, when you work with a team and use the collective brilliance and ingenuity created with that "third mind".  Also shows how much contribution our younger (and young at heart) geniuses have to bring to the table…

"Let it go, this too shall pass."  Listen to the chorus on this video. 

I SO don't buy into the current "Sky is Falling!" mentality.  To the contrary, I believe, because of the potential and promise of Entrepreneurs, that this will prove to be one of the greatest moments of opportunity in our world history.

In fact, a Kaufmann Foundation report confirms that ALL new jobs created in our current economy are coming from start up companies, small businesses who have the courage and fortitude to plow ahead despite the naysayers.  The dreamers and action-takers who know that their best times are just ahead, when they apply smart business principles and combine them with the fascinating technology of the world wide web.

"You know you can't keep lettin' it get you down
And you can't keep draggin' that dead weight around."

I'm reminded of the Peter Drucker wisdom:  "Since the purpose of business is to create a customer, the most important functions of a business are marketing and innovation.  EVERYTHING else is an expense."

When you are looking to market your business on the internet, align yourself with the innovators.  Look for the trusted guides, ones who have traveled the road to success and take great joy in lighting the path for you.  The ones who know how to line up the pieces "just so", so they fit perfectly, each falling gracefully into the next, resulting in the holy grail:  a satisfied, paying customer. 

It's a beautiful thing!!  And when that happens, you'll be one of the ones remembering THIS year (you know, the one where the majority chose to believe gloom & doom) as the year of opportunity and productivity, when you and your team jumped up and down with delight, all your hard effort in paying attention to the little business details paid off, and it all WORKED.

Let me know when it happens for you, and what I can do to help make it so!