If you are building a blog as a way to generate leads and build your influence in the internet marketing world. I want to share with you what happened to me this week and why I think it is an important lesson to learn.
Too often when we start out and start generating leads for our business. We become very excited when people start enquiring about what we do and when people start seriously considering us as someone they want to partner with and want to join under us in a particular opportunity.
And let’s think about this….why would you not get excited about, this is what we wanted right?
…People finding us on the internet, liking the content and value we are providing and then wanting to join our team. It’s natural, we are humans and we like the feeling that someone likes what we are doing and think we are doing something right.
But here’s what happens…
…About the same time as you start generating a consistent number of leads, is about the same time as you become extremely BUSY. I mean we are already busy spinning plates, managing our lives, families, businesses, personal stuff, but now this marketing stuff just seems to be taking over. The webinars, the courses, the twitter, the Facebook ads, solo ads, training material, blog comments, emails…
…And on and on
And it is important throughout all of this that you remember your core principles of what kind of business you are trying to create? What are your values? Who do you want to associate yourself in? Who is your target audience?
But what tends to happen is people want to join you, because they see how good you are at spinning plates and making stuff happen and want to learn everything they can from you. Whilst this is flattering, it is also going to zap your time and energy. So you have to set some boundaries that you aren’t going to be at their beckon call.
Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
From my own personal experience, it is easy to want to teach newbies. And there is nothing wrong with that. But newbies are time and energy zapping, because they have so many questions and needs and if you are building a business you have to be very clear about how much time you are going to put into YOU and how much time you are going to put in to helping others.
Now don’t get me wrong 9 out 10 times I am happy for people to join me in my opportunities, but every now and again you get the feeling that this 1 person is going to be so time zapping that it is not going to be conducive to growing your own business.
As a ‘Leader’ it is important that YOU build your business with people that have the similar core values and principles as you.
This week I received an email from someone who was trying to see what I could DO for them. They asked me 8 questions and I want to share with you my answer to them. I am not going to reproduce the email in its entirety because I respect the person’s anonymity but I want you to get an idea of the questions they were asking, so you too might recognise the questions should you ever encounter such a request.
The questions ranged from their ability to call and text me, the hours I would be available to them including weekends. What other businesses I was involved in. How big my downlines were? How many calls, emails and texts did I receive daily from people inquiring about doing business with me? Did I have an assistant to help communicate with my teams? Did I have a Facebook group and do I do webinars devoted my team….
…And Exhale
This was my reply…
“Thank you for your email.
It is important that you always make the right decision when joining new opportunities in fact it is something I have taught many times especially in respect of finding the best sponsor for you. However it is important not to get caught up in the minutiae and be clear that it is not what I will do for you that will make you a success but it is what YOU will do for yourself.
It is on that basis that I will not be answering all of your questions. Not because I am being evasive, but because some of the questions are irrelevant to you becoming successful.
1.) You will not be able to just call me up or text me. I am happy for people to make an appointment to connect with me. However in most instances the answers you need will be easy to find, it may just be that you need pointing in the right direction
2.) I endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours.
3.) I don’t have set hours.
4, 5, 6, 7) All of these questions are irrelevant in determining YOUR success.
8.) I have my own FB group and I am extremely active on social media, I provide a lot of value in various forms, via my emails, webinars, blog posts BUT I do not do company specific webinars as it is important that I am not tied to one opportunity. The companies I am involved in provide ample webinars and training.”
Kind Regards,
Beth Hewitt.
…OK
So now I will stop ranting. For those who know me well enough, you know how accessible I am on via social media and I am all too happy to help. But you have to make boundaries and you cannot be taken granted.
People unfortunately get blinded by the fact that you make money when you sponsor someone and therefore forget that you always have a choice. You are a business owner and you have a right to build your business with people who have the same core principles and values as you.
Don’t become slaves to your opportunities and remember the reason why you are building your business in the first place, was so you didn’t have to be constrained by others.
RANT OVER!!!
What is your experience of setting boundaries and maybe sponsoring someone that isn’t in alignment with what you want for YOUR business? How do you handle these pressures? What would you do?
I’d love to get your thoughts on this,
To Your Simple Blogging Success,
November 10, 2013 at 12:33 am
OMG Beth!
Did you have a glass of wine after that conversation? I find that person’s inquiry about you totally inappropriate. Now I have worked with people for 30 years. In that time I did create boundaries very quickly.
We must value our time and find necessary ways to be ready for those who slip under the wire and come to you like that person did. I’m glad you wrote that person back and If I were you, I wouldn’t accept them at all. When people come in like that and start all this trouble there is only more trouble ahead.
Sounds to me like this person was probably one of those who does this to everyone. Extreme Negative Energy….only looking to pick apart things.
No way would I ever work with someone like that. I had some experiences in the past with this kind of person and stopped them in the middle of the conversation, told them that I didn’t feel like I could work with them. If they asked why, no way would I answer because that’s what they are looking for in the first place. I only blame myself and say something like “It just doesn’t feel to me like we are a good fit, there are plenty of others out there and I suggest you inquire elsewhere!”
Exhale…….
-Donna
November 10, 2013 at 12:52 am
Hi Beth ! I’m in information marketing so to answer your question, the way I align people with my business is one training per list and it leads to related paid products that expands on what they wanted to learn when they came in. I’m still changing things up.
But it’s not an opportunity business. More on the lines of selling information so I think I can say there are less pressures when those people that want to learn something are all related to a main topic and have coaching to make it all come together for everybody. Say on a call or webinar like you do.
I don’t think information marketing is related to an opportunity but I know one guy that is providing opportunity business information like comp plans on the business and related stuff like that to get people into the business. I think he is doing well.
He has an expert presence by now. He should be having them all on one related coaching call…I think he does it that way but I’m not sure. But I think that would be a pretty easy way to make it all come together and generate more ways to generate income through selling information on that opportunity. And make it easier.
I say this because I would think you would be getting a lot of questions about everything from generating leads for a certain target market to something in the business back office. I would somehow try to have the webinar or call on something related so everybody can learn what they all want to learn and ask related questions. Just a thought.
Hope you’re having a great day !
Rick
November 10, 2013 at 1:52 am
Great Rant Beth!
This is a great lesson in keeping sanity while still being available to serve.
:I have come across people like this indirectly through my team and my advice is always ‘just let them be’. No arguments, no defensive conversation. Answer what you can and move on.
As Donna states, some people are just looking to poke holes in things and people and aren’t happy until they can gleefully yell aha! Told you so! to their ‘friends’.
I hope I’ve never been that demanding when quizzing you xxx
November 10, 2013 at 2:28 am
They definitely are time consuming. I have a lady who has messaged me, have been on my small group coaching calls and continues to ask the same questions. She has asked these same questions to other people with the same answer. I understand your rant. Hopefully, she/her got the point. Thanks for sharing. Anita
November 10, 2013 at 4:35 am
Great demonstration of how setting boundaries can lead to freedom. It’s an important point, and I’m glad you are reminding people of that. Thanks for sharing.
November 10, 2013 at 4:34 pm
There are to many things out there to distract you. What you have to learn is to focus on your main tasks. One of my mentors alway says: Than main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.
November 10, 2013 at 5:23 pm
I sent out a free training webinar the other day and got a question from someone who signed up to my list asking if he would be a slave to the computer. Sometimes I despair because these people can’t see the wood for the trees! I did politely reply but stressed that it was basically up to him how he handled things, but we essentially teach people to leverage the internet and ways to get leads and sign ups in that way. Didn’t think I could say much more!
November 10, 2013 at 5:54 pm
It is a hard lesson to learn, to identify those type of people and set your boundaries. I learnt the hard way with a client who had no understanding of people’s boundaries. I let her in too far and in the end it was a really negative business experience. It was hard lesson to learn but it was learnt.
November 10, 2013 at 11:23 pm
YES! YES! A thousand times YES. Who you associate yourself with – in any capacity – speaks volumes about you as a business owner. Being brave enough to turn people down will save you lots of headache and heartache in the long run.
November 12, 2013 at 2:52 pm
You’re my hero Beth!
Seriously, we’re all here to serve, and the more people I help the greater my success. It’s been a painful lesson I sometimes still have to remind myself of, that you can be TOO available! Love your responses – short, professional. Curious if they moved on to someone more ‘accessible’ or if they appreciated the leadership you displayed. 🙂
I have developed a short fuse for people who use me as their personal FAQ. I want to encourage them and see them succeed, but as you point out, my success has nothing to do with their success and they have to be willing to look for answers themselves.
November 21, 2013 at 1:01 pm
Wow I am your hero!
*Goes to find superhero outfit!* They never got back to me, but that was kinda what I hoped. I would have sign posted them to someone else who might have the time to work with them. It is good to develop this muscle of deciding who you want to work with.
Beth 🙂
November 21, 2013 at 1:03 pm
Hi Heather,
Thank you for your comment, yes it is a hard lesson to learn, but probably one of the most rewarding ones when you learn to be more selective with our clients.
Beth 🙂