One of the most disastrous errors I’ve discovered women making in the past five years of my Network Marketing journey is the adult version of, “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”  I can tell you numerous stories about people I’ve met who say, “Hey, why don’t we set up a time, and I’ll tell you about my business, and you can show me yours.”  Only to be subjected to videos and offers to contact their sponsor and invitations to a meeting–and no time to listen to what I have to say.  It’s a set up–and one that is extremely offensive.

If you’re not truly interested in someone’s business, please don’t act like you are!  I’m open to hearing what someone is doing because I may know someone who can benefit from her business–even if I can’t.  But please don’t try to trick me (or anyone else!) into listening to your information by pretending that you’re interested in me or my business!

Another version of this is the consultant who thinks that once you’ve met her, you’re hers for life.  You can never buy anything from anyone else because “you’re my customer!” Or perhaps the gal who is calculating in her mind how much money she’s spent with you and how much you now owe her.  Another version is the friend whose feelings are hurt because you have another friend in the same field and you buy something from her. Yikes!

If I like a product or service, if it’s a good value, and if it’s in my budget, I will buy from a friend or fellow woman in business in a heartbeat.  However, I have LOTS of friends in similar businesses, and I love them all!  I support them over Wal-Mart all the time.  (A great reason to keep in touch!!!) However, if I feel like I HAVE to buy from someone out of obligation or they feel that I owe them something because they are my customer–I don’t want to do business with them.  And, to be honest, I don’t want them to do business with me, either.  If my product/service is something that you like and that will be valuable to you–buy it because you want to, not because I’m your friend or because I bought something from you–and especially not because you hope that I will buy something from you!

One of the things that I learned early on is that, in order to be successful, I have to believe in an abundant universe.  I have to believe that there is plenty of business to go around.  I’m not in competition with anyone else or with any other company.  There are plenty of people in the world to be my customer or to join my team.  Don’t try to convince people to leave their companies to join yours.  Be happy when your fellow women in business enroll a new team member or make a sale.  Ladies, do yourself a favor–release others from feeling obligated to you–and you might find that they are more attracted to you!  🙂

Karen

PS  Thinking about starting a home business?  Click HERE to get a free copy of my book, License to Play, and learn why a business from home is a great solution for moms!!