Of pully and PEARLS

I had a chance to meet with one of my great mentors lately, although not a one-on-one kind of thing, I still feel like he was talking directly to me ;) Anyway, he was talking about network marketers and although we meant good to our prospects, they seemed to be running away from us. And because of this, sometimes it makes us feel doubtful - are they running away because it is us or because they don't like the business?

And according to my mentor, this is because network marketers are 'generally' pushy. This is just a generalization you see.. But that's the perception that most people have about us. And instead of pushy, we should be pully. And how, you asked? Ok, here goes.

When we meet people, after introducing our name, take great interest in them. Ask them sincerely, not with that I-am-going-to-get-their-name-cards-no-matter-what intention at the back of our head. Then ask them, what are they currently working on. And they will tell you. Oh yes, people love it when we ask what they are up to, with the exceptions of some sickos, that is. When they tell you, listen. And when they are finished, ask them how we can be of assistance to what they are doing or ask if we find somebody that could help them, how could we contact them. That is one.

Then they will ask us, what are we doing. Although we want jump up and to tell them what we do and could actually spend the next 4 hours talking to them about our great marketing plan, don't! I repeat, don't. Then ask them, what else are you working on? And repeat the same process above. Then ask the third question - what else are you working on? And repeat the process again. Why we asked 3 times? This is to show that we are really interested to listen to them and the best part is that, they are going to make an effort to listen to us. You get the idea?

Next, when they ask us, what are we doing, don't jump and explain the products and the marketing plan there and then. Just tell them that we are currently working with a network marketing company called Usana and we are looking for people that meet our criterias to be our next business partner - people who are positive, entreprenual, action oriented, relationship oriented, leader and successful but not contented (PEARLS). And we ask them this "would you happen to know somebody that meets this criteria"? And take it from there.

And according to my mentor, that is how we get to be pully. This might not suit some of us, but I like this approach. They may not become my next business partner, but somehow with this approach I think I will have many, many friends in a long run. Don't you think so?