Isn’t it funny how our whole mindset can change at the drop of a dime, or, in this case, the pressing of a “Be a Coach” button?
On my weekly training call last Sunday, during our Q & A segment, a good friend and fellow Team Beachbody® Coach spoke up to say that he had been struggling for some time now with the idea of whether or not he could become an “MLM Guy” [multilevel marketing].
Ah, yes, an MLM Guy! That person we all fear we’ve become once we hit the final button to sign up as a Coach—the reason some don’t pull the trigger at all. But, I think there’s some confusion as to what an “MLM Guy” or “Gal” really is.
I think after the initial excitement of signing up, we all get that feeling. You know the one! “What did I just do? What have I signed on for? What are people going to think of me?”—the feeling that you just became “Sleazy Steve” at Shady Sales Used Cars.
But what did you really just do? What happened when you hit that final button to become a Coach? Well, you opened your own business and partnered with one of the most reputable and fastest-growing fitness companies in America today. You committed to sharing Beachbody’s great product line with others and supporting those people to reach their personal health and fitness goals—the very same products you already know and love. And, yes, you have given yourself an opportunity to earn some money! And, for many, that’s where the problem lies. You’re going to earn money . . . therefore, you must have just become the sleazy salesman, right?
Wrong! Get that out of your head right now! Go back and read all the information regarding becoming a Coach. Sit in on a Business Briefing or Webinar, and go through a Get Started Right Training. You’re not a salesman. You’re a relationship builder—a seeker and a sorter. Let me explain:
Relationship Builder
This is a relationship business, if you haven’t already noticed. You can’t be Sleazy Steve, or you’re done. Sleazy Steve makes a quick sale. He’s your best buddy while you’re browsing the lot. And what’s the first thing he wants to know about you? It’s not what you want and need; it’s what you can afford! “Let’s see how much we can qualify you for before we get started,” says Steve. Then, instead of focusing on what you want, he puts you in every car on the lot that is at the top of your price range. Drive away in your “As Is” dream machine, and Steve can’t even remember your name as he’s counting your hard-earned cash.
As a Beachbody® Coach, it’s just the opposite. Our businesses are based on sincere, long-lasting relationships that go on, well past a product purchase. We don’t guide people to what they can afford; we find solutions that fit their goals and their lifestyle. Yes, we may be creating an income through interactions with these friends of ours, but we’re providing them with something they want and something that we know is a genuine, tried-and-true product. We want to see and hear from our new friends and customers again and again and again! Hopefully they will realize their goals, and we’ll know that we got to play an important role in making it happen.
Seeker
Sleazy Steve . . . yes, he is a seeker. He preys on ignorance, hoping that people can’t see through his fake smile and insincere small talk. He’s seeking anyone who has the money to make the deal, and he doesn’t notice the cigarette burns on the seats!
We, the Beachbody Coaches, are active seekers of people who want what we have—be it the fitness, our nutritionals, our opportunity, or all of the above! What, you don’t think they’re out there? Au contraire! Beachbody’s infomercials create 30,000 new customers every week. And almost everyone is looking for a way to create additional income without having to leave their home and families. There are people out there looking for what we’ve got! Now the question is: do you want to go seek out those people, or do you want to let your commissions and business partners go somewhere else? Well, I can only speak for myself, but I’m happy to go meet new people and make new friends and get paid for showing them how to get what I’ve got!
And there’s nothing wrong with that. Everyone has to earn an income to live, and in order to find people to do business with, you have to seek those people out. Every new business owner knows this and deals with it accordingly. Imagine if you opened a new brick-and-mortar store or restaurant. Would you simply open the doors one day and hope that people found you? Probably not! I’d imagine you’d seek out as many people as you could and tell them about your new business, wouldn’t you? Then, if they like your product, and like you, they’ll spread the word. And then a great thing happens: you go from being the seeker to being sought out! The same can happen to your Beachbody business!
Sorter
Sleazy Steve . . . he sorts. He sorts those who can afford the $30,000 car, the $20,000 car, the $5,000 car, and kicks those with bad credit and no cash off the lot! It’s all about the sale, and he sorts you out by how big the letters “S-U-C-K-E-R” are written on your forehead.
We sort, too—a bit differently than Steve though. We don’t want to lose friends in this business. Heck, our business is about making and keeping friends! So, we simply sort to find what it is we can do for people. Are you interested in our products? Our opportunity? Maybe none of it. That’s okay, too! We just sort those people into our “not interested” pile and move on. They’re still our friends, and they’ll stay our friends because we aren’t going to shove this down anyone’s throat. Again, that’s not what we do, and there’s no need to do it. We’ll just keep looking for those people who are interested. Once we sort our new friends into the appropriate groups, we can work with those who wish to work with us, and we guide them to their goals.
So, back to being MLM Guy. Well, we know now that Sleazy Steve wouldn’t survive in network marketing. Sure, maybe he’ll score a sale here and there, but there’s no way he can last in a relationship business. It’s not in his nature.
Being a Beachbody Coach, or an MLM Guy, is all about the lasting, sincere relationship. It’s about sharing your “WHY,” your passion, and your knowledge with others. It’s about making people feel good—about you and about themselves. You’re helping people get what they want, and that comes back to reward you. It’s a win-win for all.
So, in conclusion, “MLM Guy” or “Gal” is not Sleazy Steve the junk peddler. MLM Guy is someone who values and respects people and is rewarded for providing those people with the products or opportunity that they want and need. MLM Guy is one of the “good guys.” I’m an MLM guy, and I’m proud of it!
—Aaron Mathis, 5 Star Diamond Coach
"Network marketing has proven itself to be a viable and rewarding source of income, and the challenges could be just right for you. There have been some remarkable examples of success, and those successes have been earned through diligence, enthusiasm and the right product combined with timing." 
