In this article we extract some enduring wisdom and quotes from Jim Rohn’s classic book: “Building Your Network Marketing Business”. In his book, he explains the challenges of his own career and his ultimate success, as well as some of the magic behind the industry.
When he started in network marketing, Jim’s only skill was that he knew how to milk cows. He was lucky enough to find a good network marketing company and soon learned that “profits are better than salaries.” There is nothing in the schools that teaches this lesson in our educational system.
Over the course of his career he learned how to sell, how to recruit, how to communicate well, and how to train others in his business. How did he do that? Every step of the way in learning a new skill he would try, fail, and then do it again. Ultimately, through hard work, persistence, and 35-40 years of experience, he achieved a position many aspire to.
Jim Rohn changed his life by learning some basic philosophies. A crucial expression: “If you do something often enough, a ratio will appear.” When you talk to 10 and get 1 to join your business, getting 20 involved is likely to yield 2. With this mindset, you won’t care about a specific person joining you, but you will still care that they hear your message. There is nothing worse after several years in his career, than having a friend or relative ask you after realizing his success why he didn’t tell you about his opportunity sooner.
Another great philosophy he learned was from the story of the sower in the Bible. Some seeds fall along the road where the birds pick them up. A part falls on stony ground where it sprouts but then withers and dies. One part falls on thorny ground and begins to grow, but the thorns choke it and it dies. Finally, some seed reaches fertile ground (and you’ve finally recruited someone who is successful in your business). What is important is the underlying philosophy that you have absolutely no control in these situations. Don’t go bird hunting or try to remove all the rocks and thorns. You can’t do it and you’ll get frustrated trying to take it on. Keep planting until some fall on fertile ground.
According to Jim, “All magic is a challenge.” How magical? According to the Bible: “If two or three agree on a common purpose, nothing is impossible.” How would that change your network marketing business, affiliate, franchise, or family life?
How challenging? According to Jim, getting people to work together is like “walking cats.” However, with a little ingenuity, anyone can make this “magic” work. He just finds a way to do it and your business will suddenly be worth a fortune.
He also learned the ability to teach… how life works. In the 21st century, what is needed most is not just business skills, but life skills. Life skills are leadership skills and learning to set goals. The greatest life skill is the talent to inspire, which is needed to help people believe in themselves enough to achieve their dreams.
Honesty is important. When mistakes are made, be honest with people, but help them correct or repair the mess they have created. Then help them believe in themselves to reach their potential. Although Jim didn’t believe it, his mentor told him that one day he would walk into a room and people would say “That’s him. That’s the famous man.”
Jim learned to work with people who are “worth it” vs. those who “need it”. Being like “life itself”, being at the service of the deserving and not of the needy. Instead of “need and it will reap,” Scripture says “sow and it will reap.” He also learned the lesson of being a sponsor and working with groups. “You can help 1,000, but you can’t carry 3 on your back.”