The Agreement Seekers Blog

I want to talk about the maligned reputation of Network Marketing.  There are companies that utilize this model and have the naming rights to a professional sports franchise stadium (Amway Center), sponsor a major league soccer team (HerbalLife), and credibly post on major job boards as "legitimate" careers (Avon, MaryKay Cosmetics). The problem, frankly, is not the business model itself, but the failure rate of the people trying to make it work.  These are two separate issues. Network Marketing, Multi-Level Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, Word of Mouth Marketing... notice that they all end in the word marketing.  So what is marketing, anyway?  The simple explanation is that it is the practice of getting your message in front of someone to evaluate.  Marketing is engaging people in a conversation. But do we need to use the word "marketing" at all?  After all, marketing presupposes a lot.  It infers there are skills, tools, strategies, budgets, value propositio

Any organization is a collection (or network) of people who all subscribe to something in common.  It could be a religious organization, a youth baseball or soccer league, any medical malady organization, school bands who want to march in the Rose Bowl Parade... there are many, many more as you know. As a network of people all subscribing to a common "something" there is always the foundational need for money and funding to replace a roof on the church, build a new fence around the playing field, contribute to families in need,  caring for a sick loved one, or pay for plane fares to Pasadena for 90 kids. The question is whether bake sales and car washes... yard sales and holiday raffles... cookie and popcorn campaigns and the like are the smartest way to go about things?  Or might there be a better way through leveraging the synergies of the participants to benefit in the process? Obviously, this article presupposes that it does make sense to incentivize volunteer money

I've had a lot of different jobs in my life.  At the end of the day, I guess each has helped people in some direct or indirect way... (except maybe for selling life insurance). There is something qualitatively different in what I do now.  I have a direct impact on the quality of people's lives that is immediate, palpable and rewarding.  This "outcome" is preceded by establishing trust and building relationships based upon common values - and competence.  This does not happen without consistent interaction in a team environment that keeps everything moving forward in a positive way with little successes along the way. So, what are the little successes?  If your skill set is "slim", perhaps it is learning how to set up a gmail account and use it as a free auto-responder.  Perhaps it is making a commitment to turn off the TV a few nights a week and focus on business building activities.  Perhaps is it finding out who the person is at any local non-profit wh

I view making money as an end in itself.  The vehicle used is important, but frankly it could be anything, as long as there is value derived from whatever is being sold.  In the total equation, considering all variables, my primary concern is that there is more money in my bank account and I am able to do what is best for my family. "All the better" if something truly aligns with my values, however more important: is how the compensation is structured.  It needs to be in a way that is smart, fair and can accelerate rapidly. This gets and  keeps people's attention.  Rapid profitability minimizes risk and keeps people in the game. This is critical in building a team of business partners.  It creates excitement and an atmosphere of success.  The affect and culture this engenders is a key driver to the growth of any organization.

Perfection is the enemy of good.  Let me explain.   If you wait for something to be perfect, you will miss out on much that is good.  If you are the kind of person who needs everything to be “just so”, this may be one of the things that holds you back.  Our business model revolves around a “good” idea that we build consensus around and make money in the process.  We make no claims about being the best, latest or greatest.  We simply strive to evoke a feeling of confidence that what we do is practical and real.   Anything/everything has some “thing” that someone (can and will) find fault with.  We don’t claim to have our hands on something here that is perfect but do feel it is inherently worthwhile and good.

I understand that the word mercenary is a derogatory term.  It connotes someone who will do anything for money, at the expense of ethics.  This said, if I could soften it a bit by doing anything for money and maintain ethics (while helping others) - this is my jumping off point. I want to use the term mercenary because it speaks to peoples' sense of desperation.  My brother used to say, "I'd carry my left arm around in a bag"... for something he really wanted.  It is this kind of angst and stress that I am speaking to.  He lacked something he wanted; and used this expression to state the extremes he would go to - to have it.  It is not too difficult to find people who have this level of stress about money.  So, with your indulgence, I use the term:  Money Mercenary. So, my question really, is what people are willing to do to make a buck?  Hopefully, it is cloaked in honesty and ethics, but is there a model or rule that says you have to sell a product or service. A

Here is a test.  See how many of these "Dirty Dozen" you find yourself answering "yes" to: 1.  You do not go on "real" vacations... defined as planned trips, with hotel stays that you need to fly or drive to, typically with something to do that defines the trip. 2.  You buy generic and bargain brands at the grocery store and agonize over what meat to buy because everything is so expensive.  Ultimately, you eat a lot of pasta and chicken thighs and you have gotten really good at being creative with both. 3.  You bought your car because it was what you can afford, but is not really what you would prefer to drive. 4.  If you are a woman, getting a manicure, pedicure or massage is an extravagance, and this pampering induces guilt because the money could /should have been spent on other things. 5.  When you go to a restaurant, your eyes are first drawn to the prices of things, not the menu items themselves.  You order last and typically choose what is