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How Running a Marathon is Like Network Marketing
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I ran my first marathon this weekend. And it taught me about network marketing.
Running my first marathon reminded me what it was like starting my first business, and specifically when I first got involved in network marketing. In addition, I re-learned some important lessons that might help you building your network marketing business.
Lesson 1: Everyone Has to Have a First Time
The guy who won the marathon ran 26.2 miles faster than I can run 1 mile. But this was not his first marathon. He’d been running for about 17 years. He didn’t run that fast on his first race.
I remembered that I had been doing network marketing for 17 years. My first year in the profession I was about as bad as you can be in the business. I made -$18,000> that year. Yes that’s a minus. I made $2000 and spent $20,000.
As every muscle, ligament and tendon in my legs broke down and became nearly immovable at mile 24 I was reminded of the similar pain of earning nothing my first year in network marketing.
Now, I earn in a week what most people earn in a year. But it didn’t start that way. Just like the winner of the marathon. You have to start running if you ever want to finish.
Lesson 2: Not Everyone Wants to Be #1
In network marketing my goals are to be #1 and earn as much money as I possibly can because, in my mind, the more money I earn the more people I help. To me the income is a simple tabulation of the difference I’ve made in people’s health and wealth. The competition for #1 makes me stronger.
I sometimes forget that being #1 is not everyone’s goal. The marathon reminded me of that.
As I reached the half-way point of the race, there were already 10 people who had finished. Their goal was to win. My goal was to finish. Being #1 was so far from my mind that it wasn’t even funny.
I never would have gone to a marathon training event on “How to Be #1″. It’s the same with most people in network marketing. They just want to know how to reach their goals in the business.
Lesson 3: Everyone’s Pain is Different
My finishing the marathon in 5 hours and 40 minutes was likely more painful that the guy who finished in 2 hours and 20 minutes.
It’s the same in network marketing. For me to earn four star affiliate in 4 months took a lot of effort, but it’s nothing compared to what it feels like for someone who does it in 2 years.
We applaud the winners, but it’s the finishers who are the real champions.
Lesson 4: Reasons are Everything — “Because they Laughed”
I heard a woman at the finish line say, “finishing this marathon was harder and more painful than giving birth because in the marathon you could quit at anytime.”
Some people did quit the marathon. Just like some people quit their business. And the reason they quit is their reasons.
I knew more than anyone that if you have a strong enough reason, you’ll succeed at just about anything.
In this marathon I had a REALLY BIG reason.
When I decided to get back into shape I announced to 2000 people at a GeneWize event that I was going to run a marathon to help me get back into shape. To my shock and amazement, they laughed.
I remembered when I started in network marketing. Many of my friends and even some family laughed at me. They laughed because they were uncomfortable. They laughed because they didn’t believe. They laughed… well… for whatever reason.
But their laugher drove me during the hardest times.
At mile 20 every muscle, tendon and ligament in my legs cramped up in so much pain that I had to stop. I spent two minutes stretching to see if I could reduce the pain a little.
I thought to myself, “Tom, you’ll finish because they laughed”.
It would have been pretty easy to camp out at the medical tent and get a massage while waiting for the bus to come pick me up. But the laughter of 2000 people drove me to finish that marathon, no matter what.
The same was true in network marketing for me. There was a time I was so frustrated (actually many times) that it wasn’t working for me that I truly considered quiting. It would have been very easy.
But my friends had laughed. If I quit I would have been proving them right. I also couldn’t bear the pain of going back to a corporate job.
The reasons to pursue were much more powerful than the reasons to quit.
Is that the same with you? What are your reasons? What will get you through it all?
Lesson 5: Recognition is Powerful
My reasons for running didn’t include getting a medal at the end of the race, but to be completely candid, it felt amazing to wear it around my neck.
That evening I saw people proudly wearing their medal at the restaurant where we had dinner.
In network marketing we do a lot of recognition. Rank achievement is congratulated and medals (pins) are given at every level.
It sometimes may seem like it’s a little over the top for some people. But the people who complain are usually not earning pins.
Remember to thank and appreciate everyone who achieves at every level.
Lesson 6: Anyone Can Do This
Running a marathon is difficult, but the truth is just about anyone can do it. I was passed on the course by people with cerebal paulsy, overweight non-athletes and ladies in their 60s. I met a man who was running the marathon at age 80 and a kid who was just 16.
It’s the same with network marketing.
It doesn’t matter what your situation is… all excuses are equal. That means that any excuse you have, no matter what it is, results in you not succeeding.
In this industry I’ve seen pizza delivery boys make more than most CEOs. And I’ve seen CEOs fail miserably (reasons are everything).
The profession pays the exact same no matter your race, creed or sex. It’s the ultimate equalizer. And it’s possible for just about anyone to do.
Even you.
Conclusion
My first marathon reminded me to celebrate everyone’s goals and dreams. It reminded me how difficult it is to succeed when you had never done it before. And it reminded me that everything’s possible when your reasons are strong enough.
Here’s to you running and finishing your network marketing marathon.
GeneWize Life Sciences
