The last hidden value of network marketing is the value of leadership. During Robert’s younger years, he witnessed from his two dads the importance of the abilities to speak, to lead and to inspire people. His rich dad said, that “many people speak, but only few are listened to.” He is convinced that one important skill of a leader is the ability to speak “from spirit to spirit,” the ability to touch people’s souls, which he considered very rare in our days.
During Robert’s research about the ins and outs of network marketing, he came to the conclusion that one of the most important skills developed in this industry is leadership. There are network marketing companies, which provide the necessary training, time, and opportunities to develop leadership skills. For Robert, the best network marketing companies had educational programs that trained people to become leaders not better salespeople, that is, to create “people of greater and greater value.” And for Robert experiencing such programs is priceless.
Unlike in other quadrants, to succeed in the B quadrant, leadership skills are required simply because in the B quadrant leaders will be handling people who are smarter and more intelligent than they are. Robert observed that people from the E and S who find it difficult to transfer to the B are people with great technical skills and management skills but little leadership ability. Leadership is the key to the success of network marketing business. For Robert, money does not flow to the business with the best products or services but to the business with the best leaders and the best management team.
Robert shared two stories to illustrate both the negative and the positive assessment about the importance of leadership found in network marketing.
The first story is about a friend who undermined leadership training in network marketing. This friend had a great business idea and approached Robert to invest in his business. Robert refused to invest for following reasons:
1. His friend had an experience, charm, and charisma but lacked the leadership skill to inspire confidence.
2. His friend had no mind for future expansion of his business.
3. Robert was not certain that his investment would be returned.
4. Robert’s friend was the smartest person in his team.
Robert’s friend refused his suggestion to consider undergoing leadership training in one network marketing company. For his friend, his previous education and experience were enough. His friend considered lifelong business education and continuing leadership development as optional.
Another story was about a young man who spent years attending meetings, reading books, attending rallies, and listening to audio tapes. This young man later became successful in his network marketing business. He attributed his success to those years of leadership training. He said, “I could not have done that without the training I got from that network marketing company. It was the best business and leadership development in the world.”
Christian Entrepreneur 