How Are You Educated? Part I
The other day I stopped and spoke to a friend of mine, Kim. I was on the move and there wasn’t much time for me to talk. I let her know this before we began our conversation since I only had a few moments to chat. However, I hadn’t spoken to her in a while so I at least wanted to engage in a brief conversation to exchange pleasantries and get a quick update on how she is.
Kim began to tell me how she was really feeling squeezed by the current economy. She joined a network marketing business a couple years ago and has been working hard in it since. Unfortunately though, despite her hard work and diligence in the business she has yet to earn the type of money she would like to. Her cash flow has been minimal, and she’s been left with too much month at the end of the money. This scenario is not too uncommon, wouldn’t you agree? I’m sure many of us could relate. I could hear the grief in her voice and see the disappointment in her face as she spoke.
I took a glance at my watch to check the time. I had about another minute’s worth of listening before I had to get in my car and leave to avoid being late for my appointment.
As she continued, she began to complain about her network marketing business and how it’s not working. “The economy is bad,” she said, “people are not buying! It’s so hard.” Frustrated, she said, “I’ve got two Masters degrees and a Doctorate; yet, there are people in the network marketing business, like Jane, with no college degrees at all making 100’s of thousands of dollars! I don’t get it! These people are uneducated making all of this money and here I am with two Masters and a Doctorate, making pennies!”
She began to calm down as I let her know I had to leave to avoid being late for my appointment. I told her that I could probably help her with her business. Not so much financially but more so from her mental approach, which may eventually help her financially. She agreed and we promised each other that we’d pick up with our conversation in the near future. We exchanged good byes as I hopped in my car and drove off to my next destination.
Later that day I reflected on our conversation. Here is Kim with not one, but two Masters Degrees and a Doctorate. She’s been working her network marketing business for two years and hasn’t been able to generate a consistent positive cash flow every month. Yet, other network marketers in her business, like Jane, with no college degree and only a high school diploma, are earning 100’s of thousands of dollars per year. Why is that?
Does that really make any sense?
To be continued…How Are You Educated? Part II
Unfortunately, our degrees don’t give us much practical experience in that type of industry…some people have a natural charisma for networking/marketing/selling, the rest of us have to work on developing that natural connection that is necessary for conveying assurance to the client that your work/product is able to meet/exceed expectations.
I loved college/grad school & i’d happily go back for a second masters but that’s for the love of learning, not necessarily for the love of earning…at least not in my field
What is this to be continued? finish my man!
Kim I’m sure is an intelligent woman, but holding a degree and possessing the correct knowledge for the field in which you conduct business are two different things.
And Why isn’t Kim willing to ask Jane for advice? Obviously she is successful, she should have the tricks of the trade down.
@ Yiga,
Great point. In regards to network/marketing/selling, how do we work on developing that connection? and why is it some people have worked on developing that and some haven’t?
And the love of learning alone will put you kilometers ahead of most. So keep that love going, whether it leads you back to grad school, a new job/career, etc.!
@ Hutch,
I agree. It’s possible Jane has provided advice to Kim. Kim may be implementing it, but could be unsuccessful right now. Often, (1) getting advice from someone and (2) faithfully following that advice are two different things. (2) is where the challenge is.
“The economy is bad…people are not buying!It’s so hard.”
This is very common term used in a bad economy, and for a lot of people it is very relevant. Yet when you read the paper, even in a “bad economy”, there are pockets of the country that are holding steady or even flourishing. Perhaps Jane has been fortunate to be selling in one of these “hot spots”, and her results are an anomaly. I would say, while degrees don’t make you a great salesman, don’t assume you’re doing anything wrong because one person is making an astronomical amount of money during hard times.
As long as your not going under and you feel the product you are selling would do well under normal circumstances, keep at it.
Where is part II ???!!!
Darren~~that would require a much more complicated look into each individual’s psyche and also into their backgrounds, for instance some families encourage and reward their children on certain types of behaviors, whereas others may place greater values/emphasis on ones that are vastly different. Often I find that the internal socialization on what your families have emphasized or encouraged lead you in a specific direction…granted some people absolutely rebel against that type of enculturation, but I think the majority of us undertake a large part of our families’ values.
@ Kyle,
Good point. Belief in your product/service that you are offering is a major key to success. Though I didn’t touch on this in the article, it could be possible Kim lacks the same level of enthusiasm for the product/service as Jane. (?) But enthusiasm for product/service will make a great post later on. Thanks!
@ Liescari,
As requested, Part II: http://intangiblewealth.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/how-are-you-educated-part-ii/
@ Yiga,
I agree 100%. Well put.