It seems wherever you go, someone has been negatively affected by the current recession. The economy is hard right now. People are scared, so they’re holding on to whatever money they have left. This in turn means lower receipts for retailers. In our capitalist society, when money isn’t changing hands, the economy is not expanding.
Now, not all industries are negatively affected by a recession. I recall one particularly memorable class in graduate school where a marketing rep from Revlon came up to Schenectady from New York City to tell us about his industry. He noted that we were currently in an economic downturn—it would have been either 1977 or 1978 (yes, I’ve been around the block once or twice). He had a smile on his face, though, as he remarked that women still wanted to look good regardless of the economy. I imagine this is still true to this day, and the cosmetics industry is going full force in spite of the recession.
The truth of the matter is that most industries have experienced a downturn in activity … with one exception near and dear to my heart: network marketing. In fact, any home-based business is doing well in this economy, precisely because of the economy. At my BNI meeting this morning I asked if anyone knew anyone who had been negatively affected by the current economy. Just about every hand went up. We all know someone who has lost his or her job, or whose hours have been cut back. Everyone is running scared.
For years the model was to work for the same employer one’s whole working life, retiring comfortably with a pension and a pocket watch. My grandfather was one such man. He worked for General Electric his whole adult life. My father is another, having been a career Coast Guard officer. I, on the other hand, have had more employers than I can count on the fingers of one hand, and I am currently looking for work (contract or employment) in my primary field of DB2. I’ve had my own company since 1995, and my DB2 work has been slow since September 11th, 2001, nearly eight years ago.
Fortunately for me I discovered network marketing in 2002. I realized that pursuing multiple streams of income was the way to go, so I purchased Robert Allen’s CD series of the same name: “Multiple Streams of Income.” He spoke primarily about real estate investing strategies, and that was my initial reason for purchasing the CD set. I’m fond of telling people that I got into network marketing through real estate. 
I enjoy teaching other people about the merits of pursuing multiple streams of income, and I have become such a fan of network marketing as an income vehicle that I call myself a network marketing evangelist. What I love most about network marketing is that it levels the playing field: anyone can do it. In fact, as I’ve studied a variety of network marketing companies in research for my book, the top earners are often the most ordinary of folks. In my own company the top income earners were at one time (1) an underemployed single mother with two very ill children and skyrocketing hospital bills, and (2) a carpet installer who injured himself and could no longer work.
Actually, what they both had in common was a huge WHY. And that’s what it takes to succeed in network marketing. More and more people are looking into their alternatives, given the current recession, so now is actually a great time to grow your network marketing business. What could possibly be a bigger WHY than losing one’s primary source of income?
New Beginnings ’09 – Income Opportunity Expo
I am cosponsoring a local Income Opportunity Expo with twenty other network marketers. It takes place this coming Sunday right here in Portsmouth, and I hope The Frank Jones Center is packed from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. There are so many people hurting right now, I am honored to be a part of the solution instead of the problem. The best thing we can offer them is hope for a better future, a future in their own control. Check it out, and please help us spread the word:
http://newbeginnings-expo.com/
A recession is a terrible thing to waste. Let’s not waste this opportunity to help as many people as we can.
—◊♦◊—◊♦◊—◊♦◊—
P.S. Ann Sieg’s half-off deal on her excellent e-book The Renegade Network Marketer ends today. Do yourself a favor and get it right away:
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
i am hoping that the global economy would recover from this economic recession. life has been very hard with these massive job cuts.
the economic recession made a lot of workers jobless. my best friend and me lost our jobs because of job cuts. i hope that our economy would recover soon.
Can I achieve results straight away or will it take a bit to show up?
Thanks for writing, Lakesha. I think you know what my answer will be: It is all up to you how fast you’ll achieve results. I do know that, for most people, the commission checks they earn with network marketing tend to start out low—too low to live on at first. That’s why you’re better off if you have a source of steady income so you’re not fretting about how your bills are going to get paid. Over time, though, and with consistent action, your commission checks will grow, and they grow exponentially (with a good compensation plan). Once they exceed your regular income, then you have a wonderful decision to make: Keep your “day job” or go full-time in network marketing. I love helping people reach that stage. All the best to you in your business.