MLM Prospecting | How To Ignore Rejection
MLM Prospecting : Don’t let rejection stop you before you start!
Network marketing can be one of the most rewarding businesses. Be aware there are certain challenges we all deal with especially mlm prospecting. This blog post will identify some of these mlm prospecting challenges and offer guidance and encouragement for overcoming them so you can embrace and enjoy success!
MLM Prospecting|Warm Market Rejection:
Image courtesy of pakorn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
One of the first things you learn from your upline is to tap into your warm market for mlm prospecting.
This market includes your spouse, family and friends. These are the people you love and respect the most. Their rejection can be most painful and hard to deal with. Warm market rejection could be the number one reason people fail in their mlm.
Here’s the scene: You’ve just gone to a presentation for xyz company. You’re sold on the company and the compensation plan and you decide to join but first you go home to talk it over with your spouse. You are filled with excitement and try to explain what the opportunity is all about. You have no idea your spouse will respond any other way except to say go for it I’m behind you 100%!
Instead your Spouse says this “I can’t believe you want to join a Pyramid Scheme are you crazy,” or words to that effect.
How about this one : You call your long time friend to set up a presentation appointment, he tells you he’s not interested! He says he’s heard horror stories about mlm. Here’s another scenario, he agrees to come to the presentation and then doesn’t show up! Statistics are about 50% of your warm market will not show up for the appointment.
Wow, how disappointing! You feel about as low as you can get.
Perk up! Don’t listen to these people who don’t know what they are talking about! They will try to save you from this scam! It doesn’t matter what your new business proposal is these same people will try to save you even if it’s a brick and mortar business. They don’t know what they’re talking about! Don’t listen!
MLM Prospecting | Use Rejection as Motivation:
Rejection comes in many forms. It can be cruel words spoken or you can even get laughed at for believing you can break out of the mold to make unlimited income and have time freedom with your own home based business.
What do you do in the face of this kind of rejection? I suggest you use it as motivation. You can turn it around and use the rejection as motivation to reach your mlm prospecting success goals. You can show your critics that no matter what they say or think and no matter how much negativity they throw at you, you will attain your mlm prospecting success, you will find a way to do it. They may smirk at you and never show up for the presentations but you can use this as fuel for the motivation to climb up the mountain to mlm prospecting success.
MLM Prospecting | Prepare for Rejection
Rejection happens to all of us. You don’t have to be a statistic who quits before they even get started because they are initially surrounded by negativity coming from loved ones.
We as business owners and recruiters have a responsibility to teach and train our new business partners before they get shot down by rejection.
Here are some tips to remember and share with them:
- Don’t listen to people who don’t know what they are talking about.
Image courtesy of Simon Howden at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
- Do listen to those who have already attained mlm success and Do know what they are talking about!
Educate those you recruit to not go out with only enthusiasm as their foundation. They must receive some training and coaching before approaching their warm market. Step up and be a leader and mentor to your new recruit.
Your spouse needs to see the complete presentation. Never try to convince them without it.
MLM Prospecting |Don’t approach anyone with your opportunity until you’ve done these 3 steps:
- Sign the distributor application.
- Made a commitment to your new business. Usually after you’ve made the commitment you’re family and friends will be more supportive.
- Been trained professionally. Learn what you need to know in order to be effective.
Remember some of your best warm market prospects will never join you no matter how successful you become. Don’t worry about it! Move on.
Here’s is a great tip about mlm prospecting. If you get a no today it could be the wrong time for your prospect. Put them on a follow- up list and try again in 6 months. You never know what might change .
You can only change your attitude not anyone else’s. Work on your self-esteem and confidence level, only then will you be able to lead and become a role model to elevate others.
Stay positive and take daily action!
I’d love to hear some of your stories.
What are some of your most memorable rejections? How did you overcome them or deal with them?
To Your Unique Online Success,
Tonya Stephens
251 942 9335
Facebook and let’s talk about network marketing success!
Tagged with: appointments • MLM prospecting • rejection • shows • warm marke
Filed under: Network Marketing Tips
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Tonya,
rejection is the first fence to jump over. Especially the warm market. I have a few friends that still don’t talk to me.
The problem with the warm market is that they know you and they have their opinion of you. The warm market will join when you become successful first.
Keep them informed of what is going on and succeed. Then they will come on board.
Thanks, Tonya!
Hi Margarita,
Unfortunately is usually is the first big hurdle. That’s why 50% of new recruits quit before they get started.They run into rejection and it’s like a brick wall.
We as leaders have a responsibility to our recruits to help them and train them…prepare them for this rejection from their warm market and also from their prospects.
We need to continually learn and grow and by doing that we elevate ourselves and in return we can help others elevate themselves.
Thanks for your great comments,
Tonya
Wow Tonya this is a tough one
I don’t know how I would feel if my family weren’t 100% behind my efforts – I need that from them and anything else would be hard to deal with.
But you are right other people have indeed put me down and said I would never make money online – but no-one I really care about has said anything negative so I can deal with the rest.
Rejection is always tough but you just have to go all out to prove these people and their negative mindsets wrong
Great post – although I’m not in MLM good tips for those who are
Sue
Hi Sue,
You and I are lucky, my family is also behind me 100%. Since I’ve been online I have met so many people who don’t have this kind of support.
I agree it’s very difficult to stay the course without it.
Living well is the best revenge!
Here’s to living well!
Thanks for your great comments,
Tonya
Hey Tonya,
What a touchy subject right!
Here’s the deal with network marketing. There are so many people doing it and being taught the wrong way. Because of that you end up listening to someone who is just doing what their upline told them and lying to you about their success.
It can be a very vicious cycle. I remember writing a post last year about going for the no’s. No one wants to hear them but you’re going to get them so you should get excited about them instead because that means you’re that much closer to those telling you yes.
For the newbie though it’s never any fun being rejected. You gave some good pointers of what they shouldn’t do. Now if they’ll only take your advice.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne,
I think you could say no one likes rejection!
Hey I wrote a blog post on the No’s as well….unfortunately people don’t want to hear NO but it’s part of the process.
I read a book titled Going for No! You have to get used to it and really make a game of it.
Thanks Adrienne, I think the best thing is not to listen to those people who know nothing about MLM.
Get trained, become a lifelong student , make a committment and be patient.
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
Rejection can be very destructive if you let it.
The important aspect to this is what you mention; use it to drive you on.
Rejection is a setback. But if you were to let every setback affect you, you wouldn’t get anywhere in life.
Use these setbacks as a positive. Learn from them and become better at what you do.
I once got knocked back from a position I was after at work many years ago. I asked my boss for the reasons and he told me. At first I was angry and completely disagreed with him, but once I’d calmed down and let his words sink in I could see where he was coming from.
I took on board what he said and changed. The next time the position came up I got it.
Just like you say, learn and use rejection as a motivating tool.
Regards,
Dean.
Hi Dean,
Thank you for your great comments.
If we have the confidence in ourselves we can use this adversity to our advantage.
Take it as fuel for motivation such as you did. It became a challenge to you to get that position and you made the changes needed to win.
You taking the time to understand where your boss was coming from shows a degree of maturity. I’m sure that did not go unnoticed either.
Thank you Dean for sharing this story with us, it’s definitely a point well taken and I hope it helps someone when they are in a similar situation.
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
Great post and I love these kind of posts. It just lifts my spirit. It is good to know you are not alone in the game.
Rejection is tough and no one likes to be rejected especially from friends and family. I have to tell you I don’t go to the same church I used to go to because of the rejection I got from my friends there and whenever they see me, they ask me questions such as “Are you still with that scam?” or “We searched your opportunity and we found it to be a pyramid scheme” and so on.
I have to admit though that when I talked to my warm market, I wasn’t trained at all. I just joined and my upline asked me to invite them to a home meeting and he will present. It is very bad doing it without being trained and educated at least about your opportunity and products before you go out and introduce it.
Thanks for sharing such a topic Tonya. I am sure so many newbies will find it helpful.
Be Blessed,
Neamat
Hi Neamat,
First of all thank you for being so open about what you have been through. You’ve had a really hard time and it’s your determination that is so admirable!
You must have a strong sense of who you are not to let this make you part of the 50% statistic.
You will make a great leader by using your experience to make sure your new recruit is trained in how to handle and overcome this all too predictable scenario.
Thanks for the great comments,
and the best to you in your future!
Tonya
HI Tonya
You are so correct here, first rejection usually comes from the family and friends itself, and as Margarita said they will join you once you are successful.
It all boils down to showing confidence of overpowering the rejection. I can understand it is really tough and for that a saying: when going gets tough, the tough gets going.
Thanks for sharing this great piece because it shows the true face of reality and how we can overpower that.
Sapna
Hi Sapna,
I know you’re not in an mlm but you did start your own business. Did you have these struggles building a clientele?
You do have to have a tough skin in this industry.
There are a lot of NOs but it’s the nature of the business.
Does this relate to your business?
Thanks so much for commenting.
Tonya
HI Tonya
I’m into software business and there is always a struggle building clietele.There are at time No’s because of price points. Clients these days want more for less and then this leads to struggle and conflicts.
Sapna
Hi Sapna,
You are so right about the public wanting more for less. It’s everywhere.
We have some rental property in a beach location and I tried my hand at handling some of the rental inquires….forget it. Everyone wants a ridiculously low rental price. I finally gave up trying to deal with these peopel. Looking for something for nothing. I turned it over to the property management and rental company.
It is stressful and I don’t have time for that.
The management company added “Perceived Value” to the client in the way of Free Breakfast, Free Gym and Free Beach Club. They also offer “Specials” such as spring 25% off the rental rate and such.
I think you have to add “Perceived Value” to get the sale!
Thank you Sapna for your great comments!
Tonya
Another great post!
It’s about being mentally bulletproof and not taking anything personal. This industry offers so much and all you have to do is be willing to go through enough numbers to find the people who are interest, and willing to move forward!
Hi Brian,
I like that…mentally bullet proof!
Yeah it’s the numbers….that’s why I’m in internet marketing.
Then you can get those nasty emails from people.
I’ve heard the top marketers say if you don’t get one a day you’re not working hard enough.
Thanks so much for your great comments.
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
When I was in Network Marketing only my mother and her sister were trying to support me with my business, no body else did, and it’s true that it hurts. Some could even only buy the product without getting involved in it any more than that and still they didn’t.
So, as for me I think that if we can do well without the help of family and relative, then by any means don’t even ask them, unless you know that they will be receptive.
But if you do talk to family, and they’re not supportive at all, then be prepared and don’t get hurt (if you can).
Hi Sylvianne,
Doesn’t sound like you had a very good experience in you MLM attempt.
We are not here to convince people! We can only show them the opportunity and if they aren’t interested so be it.
It never hurts to follow up 6 months later to see if anything in their life is different and would make them more receptive.
Thank you for taking the time to visit, always great to see you here.
Do you have a travel blog? I read that somewhere.
Tonya
Great tips! I try to ignore rejection. I usually let negative feedback guide me and motivate me. Sometimes it is hard. Especially when you think you’ve landed that perfect position or when majority of your audience agrees with you and that one bad seed doesn’t. It can be difficult. However, it is great to learn from your previous rejections. Why were you rejected? Just improve in that area and all shall be good. Maybe. =)
Hi Carrie,
Welcome to my blog. You are doing exactly the right thing. Don’t take it personally and move on! Learn from your experiences and use it to improve.
Thank you so much for your great comments!
Visit again soon,
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
I’m not involved in MLM but I think the principle you’re talking about here applies more widely. It’s very easy to let rejection ‘get to you’ and, if you do, it can have a devastating impact on your life.
Early on in my nursing career I failed miserably at an interview for a job I was expected to get – that rejection haunted me and held me back for years, because I allowed it to sap my confidence and self-esteem. It was ten years before I applied for another job!
As human beings, we all crave approval and rejection can be very hard to deal with – your advice to use rejection in a positive way, as a spur to motivation, is absolutely spot on.
Great advice!
Sue
Hi Sue,
So nice to see you here.
I didn’t know you were/are a nurse. Is that your present career? My background is medical as well.
Oh poor baby you let it get to you. Wow for years, it really did a number on your confidence, how awful..Thanks for sharing that it might help someone who is reading this.
Glad you finally got over the trauma of that rejection. The nursing world can be harsh from within.
I’m happy to be finished with my medical career.
Thanks for your great comments.
Tonya
Hi Tonya – I’m a mental health nurse but my present role is as a specialist on the legal side of things in relation to people who lack mental capacity to make their own decisions.
However, that’s only for 10 MORE WEEKS, when I retire
– and I’m telling you, I can’t wait. The patients I love – the politics and stress I hate!
So, like you, I will be VERY happy to be finished with that career – actually, I think words like ‘ecstatic’ and ‘over the moon’ spring to mind…
Sue
Hi Sue,
Whoo hoo! good for you!
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU’RE SAYING AND ECSTATIC IS A VERY GOOD WORD!
Tonya (-:
Hi Tonya
I am not involved in MLM either but like Sue I think the fear of rejection can be applied to a lot of things we do in our lives. In my personal experience it has just made me more determined to succeed.
I think one of the problems that can occur when trying to involve friends and family is that they do not understand what we are doing, therefore they just reject anything to do with our business.
Thanks for sharing, hope you have a great weekend
Pauline
Hi Pauline,
Welcome to my blog. Good for you to take the rejection and use that energy for something positive.
Yes friends and family members have no clue what we are doing and it’s too complex to explain to them so they will understand.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend as well.
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
I loved this post! We have all dealt with our share of rejection in MLM, that is for sure if you’ve been working your business even a short period of time.
As you said, I think the warm market rejection hurts the most. My family responded by simply ignoring me all together. I sent a request for 5 of my cousins and aunts to join me in a gratitude challenge for my primary business that would cost them NOTHING! They must have known I was up to one of my “pyramid scheme” shenanigans so not a single one responded even with a simple “thanks, but no thanks.” Nice eh? haha.
Either way, I don’t let it get to me anymore. If I get a “no” I’m just one step closer to a “yes”.
And you are so right, rejection is very motivating.
Thanks for this awesome post, Tonya!
Have a nice weekend!
Jess
Hi Jess,
Thank you for sharing this personal story with me.
I think I hit a nerve with this subject. Your story sounds like a painful example of how bad it can hurt when your warm market totally rejects your business!
The antidote for this is to live well and let them see (from the sidelines) how successful and happy you have designed your life to be.
It reminds me of the saying “You can’t say the wrong thing to the right person and you can’t say the right thing to the wrong person!
Could be a good lesson to get this hurtful rejection out of the way early!
Keep on Keeping on!
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
Excellent blog and the timing of this blog was spot on this week for me. I recently had a rejection and a hurtful comment about my choice to market to admin professionals when I asked for a referral. I detached with love and learned not to take her negative comment and rejection personally. She was projecting her fear and it had nothing to do with me or my business. This was a gift for me to stand in my power and to stay positive and believe in myself and my business.
Thank you for sharing, Debra
Hi Debra,
Welcome and thank you for your great comments.
I am sorry you had this experience but it sounds like you are well equipped to handle it!
I love what you say about this being a gift for you to stand in you power and to stay positive. Believe in your self and your business! Great words of encouragement, words to live by.
Also I agree with you that the hurtful words were merely fear of the unknown and a reflex reaction!
Thank you so much for visiting my blog.
I look forward to hearing more about how you handle the struggles we all encounter in our journey as entrepreneurs.
Tonya
Yup Tonya so much stuff needs to be done to address the old chestnut of the feelings brought up by ‘rejection’.
One tip I learnt was how to think about the prospect who starts spouting off ignorantly about everything your opportunity is not.
I call them ‘Alligators’!
Because an Alligator has a very big bite and a brain the size of a lima bean! LOL
~Robin~
That’s great, Robin. Love it.
Exactly…..(-:
Hi Robin,
LOL! I know exactly who you are talking about when you describe the alligator! I’ve had a few of those myself…good description.
Thank you for your great comments…looking forward to visiting your blog and returning the favor!
Tonya
Rejection can be very painful.I think it has a lot to do with our attitude. As we “offer” it to people, they can reject the Offer – not us. If you were to offer me dog food, I would say no – I don’t have a dog. I didn’t need or want what you offered. It is the same with our mlm opportunities. I really enjoy attracting people to me rather than me chasing them. Self-esteem and confidence are very important too. Great job, Tonya. Glad to meet you.
Hi Amy,
Welcome to my blog.
This is a tough subject for most people because of the pain and rightfully so.
Yes we have to remember it’s the offer they are rejecting and not us. It makes me think about the times I was not very cordially to people who approached me with something to sell in person or over the telephone…That’s got to be the worst job in the world… telemarketing to a cold market.
That’s why we love attraction marketing!
Great connecting with you here Amy, thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog post.
Looking forward to returning the favor.
Tonya
Hey,
Great post! I like your point about using rejection about motivation. It doesn’t matter if you have the best and most advanced product or service, people are still going to say no.
The more people you speak to, the more insignificant those no’s become
Thanks for sharing this!
Cheers,
Hi Tristion,
Welcome,
You are so right NO is a fact of life in our industry. The sooner you get used to it the better. Turn all that rejection into energy and power to continue. Life is 10% what you make it and 90% how you take it…just forget about the NOs!
Remember the more no’s you’re getting the better it just means you’re closer to the YES!
Thanks for your comments,
Tonya