Okay…this post may upset you a little, but so be it. I’m going to take that risk because you need to hear this.
It’s about affirmations.
To be honest, I always thought the whole concept of affirmations was silly. When I got started with my first MLM a few years back, I didn’t use affirmations at first, not for several months.
But as time went on and the mindless dialing and follow-up was starting to take its mental toll on me, I found myself turning to daily affirmations for strength, just like everyone else.
And it did help to tell myself that I was “an abundantly blessed woman” and that “the lead and cash flow were strong” (even though they were not).
It did help build my confidence and belief…at least until the next prospect screamed in my ear and slammed down the phone.
Then the good feelings quickly evaporated and it was back to square one…(meaning more affirmations).
On bleak days like these (and they were many), the advice from my upline was to say my affirmations repeatedly out loud – a minimum of five times a day – to “strengthen my belief”.
So I did.
We all did it – everyone on the team.
Now, let me ask you a question: If you already have sufficient belief in what you are doing, do you need to turn to affirmations? Of course you don’t.
You don’t need to try and talk yourself into feeling a certain way if you ALREADY feel that way…!
To use an analogy that will hit home with a lot of the married folks out there –
If you’re completely infatuated with your spouse, you don’t need to go around reminding yourself of how much you love them. The feelings are just there, naturally.
It’s only if your marriage is on the rocks and you’re struggling with anger and bitterness toward your spouse – yet you are trying to work through it – that you have to make a conscious effort to reflect on what’s so great about your partner and why you married them in the first place…correct?
Second question: Where does belief come from…real belief?
Well, it’s the byproduct of real RESULTS…of experiencing that what you are doing is actually working.
But if you are not getting results, then you’ve got to try and conjure up enough belief before you get on the phone with people. Which is why you turn to affirmations.
I am convinced that the reason affirmations are given so much emphasis in MLM is because so many people are struggling.
When your downline is dissolving and after twelve months you aren’t any closer to financial freedom than the day you got started, when low-quality leads continue to suck your energy and all your credit cards are maxed out, when you are disillusioned and mildly depressed, then you really do need something to offset all the negativity!
You need a ‘lift’ of some kind, so that you’re actually physically able to drag yourself back to your desk and pick up that 100 lbs phone one more time to dial the next tire kicker.
And that’s also why you need the dream board and the positive sayings posted around your workplace.
The harder it is to build your business, the more of that stuff you need.
If you, on the other hand, are seeing real, tangible results from your efforts, if you are making a great income, if you know you are truly helping people, and if you feel proud of your business and good about yourself, you don’t need affirmations.
I’ll repeat what I said earlier: you don’t need to try and talk yourself into feeling a certain way if you ALREADY feel that way, naturally!
To say that affirmations are the solution for a struggling distributor is like telling a wounded person to use a band aid when surgery is needed.
If you’re having a hard time getting customers and distributors, I suspect it’s not because you aren’t faithfully saying your affirmations 5 times a day but rather because you haven’t been taught how to market properly.
It’s marketing that moves products into the hands of paying customers, nothing else.
When you know how to market, you will get results. And then the belief will just come… That’s right – just like that – completely EFFORTLESSLY.
PS: If you are ready to learn how to market your business like a professional and get real results, click the “Work with me” link below.
Successfully,
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 5th, 2011 at 9:44 pm and is filed under Mindset, Sponsoring & Recruiting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Brilliantly said Lena, why don’t The Team leaders just teach us how to market correctly instead of throwing us in the deep end. I am, not one for cold calling or any of the other stuff they tell u after you sign up, pay, and then they drop it on u.
Grrrrr! Want to learn it properly the 1st time.
Thanks.
That’s exactly right, Deb!
Lena,
I have a slightly different take on affirmations; you see, I know for a fact that they work!
You make some very valid points. You have highlighted a huge misunderstanding about affirmations; the idea that they are a cure-all. They are not, but they are very powerful and effective.
Affirmations first need to be understood.
They need to be just one of many tools in one’s toolbox.
I am giving away the most comprehensive book on understanding and using the power of affirmations ever written. “Affirmative Power – The Science of Affirmations” breaks down the how, when and why about affirmations. I teach how to use them most effectively to help achieve the results one is looking for. You can download it – free – at http://www.YourUnlimitedSelf.com.
Much success to you,
Jack Roberts
The Dean of Affirmations
Hey Jack. I appreciate your comment and your willingness to share this resource with my readers. All the best to you!
Another great article about persisting and how to do it.
Lena. Thank you on the email about affirmations. And a good marketing plan is the key. You do project that attractive leadership quality. For which is only a mirror image of myself realized. That in itself is a gift for those who realize it. About affirmations: We as self realized human beings are already, Now! in a state of abundance. An wishing for it only reinforces the lack thereof. Affirm our gratitude an all thing will be self realized. All we need to do is look into the night sky and be grateful for this grace. And think of this. Does the birds of the field whom sing their gratitude have the need to toil and store their treasures. The universe in the night sky is abundant and lacks for nothing other than gratitude. Shall we not be the same and see were it goes from here. Be guided by the inspiration of Now. Think not of the past and future they are all an illusion. And not guided by our fears which is not now in reality. Unless we choose to affirm that illusion and give up our free will. Were are attention is, there we are. What are attention is upon, we become. Your Truly Charles
Hi Lena,
I have been getting your emails for some time and always felt that I was just a little too busy, to click on them. Something about the title of Affirmations got my attention this morning.
So I decided to click today.
Very well written article! I have been thinking about the idea that affirmations are meaningless for many years, having worked in MLM and Network Marketing for more than 10 years. Watching multitudes buy thousands of $$$ of audio, video and training materials/seminars to get them to “think positively”, only to find that though they repeated verbally what they were told, their hearts did not BELIEVE the information, and therefore no change took place.
I am convinced that people must be self-motivated. To change the bent of your thinking, takes time. It is not something that happens overnight with rehearsing a few positive verbal messages. By this I am not saying that people should continue to rehearse negative thoughts. To change the way you think, is a process.
Thanks Lena for taking time tackle the big elephant in the rooom! I wish you continued success!
Very well said, Sean! Spoken like a true Leader. Wishing you, too, continued success!
Yes , This was hitting home ! I know I do not need to tell myself , that I can do it ! I know that cold calling is not me ! I want to learn how to market myself & I want to make lots of Money ! So , Yes I do not need to be told to keep telling myself that I can do this & it will work ! I need to learn how to market effectively !