Prospecting and recruiting is a numbers game! PERIOD! You are looking for the right person at the right time in their life. Trying to build relationships to recruit members on your team is a recipe for disaster.

Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. Team building is all about building relationships, but prospecting and recruiting absolutely is NOT!

Some of the worst advice ever given in network marketing is from those teaching how to build a relationship with a person before you share your business with them. This is wrong on multiple levels, let me explain. Prospecting and recruiting is a numbers game! PERIOD! You are looking for the right person at the right time in their life. If someone joins your team because they like you, or you have a relationship with them then the odds of them doing anything after they join are slim and none.

Yes, many top network marketing recruiters are masters at making people feel good, telling them what they want to hear, and in general blowing smoke. Their objective is to become so friendly and likeable that people can’t say no. I call this the How to Win Friends and Influence people method of prospecting. Hey this is not politics, we are building a business. The goal is to put the best team on the court as you possibly can. You have to find people that want to play the game. I want to throw up every time I hear someone try to teach network marketers how to “FORM” prospects. You know: Family, Occupation, Recreation, Message. Over the years I have been in the business section of bookstores, coffee shops, etc. and have had numerous rookie distributors nervously try to FORM me. I normally will try to encourage them and  direct them to some online training to help them get better with prospecting.

Building relationships for your own self gain is never a good idea. The major problem with teaching this method to your team is it opens people up for major REJECTION.

If I am sitting down at the tire store waiting on new tires, the last thing I want to deal with is some network marketing distributor trying to “chat me up” blowing smoke. The name of the game is to sort through people as quickly as possible. I call it the hit and run method. You build relationship with team members, NOT prospects. One final word or warning, when someone joins your team you must maintain a student-teacher relationship until they are trained to a point where you can delegate to them.

You aren’t their buddy. Leadership cannot become part of the group. Leadership must lead the group.

The most powerful relationships you develop in your life will be with people you meet in this industry. However you cannot get caught up in the success or failure of other people. The only person’s success you can control is your own.