I often have questions thrown at me that make me completely STOP in my business tracks & think for a moment before I answer. It has become a working hazzard and I take these questions very seriously. That was until I was confronted with this one…

This question came from my dear darling brother. But before I go into the “Conversation” I will tell you a little of his back ground. Aged 30+ with 5 children and a small 3 bedroom house with a job he had been in for 6+ years. He called me one late evening with a tone to his voice I had never heard before.

“Gail” he said….”I give in….Show me how to make as much money as you do at that MLM thingy you do”… A taken back I sat as comfortably as I could and asked him one single question.

Me..“You have seen me build this business for over 8 years, so why now?”

My Brother.. “Because I can’t take the pressure of the work any more, it simply asks to much of me, I rely on far to many people every day. From staff that don’t care to customers that simple aren’t buying, I constantly argue with the wife & the kids just stress me out”

Me..“OK I hear what your saying. Let’s talk”

So, within the next 4 weeks, my brother was a Full Time Network marketer – Direct Seller – MLM’er. Within a year he had achieved many things. Trips to Madrid, 5* Hotels and Spa treatments. Recognition for the Highest achieving new comer in 2010.

As a sister I was very proud. But now comes the BIG whammy…

Last week my brother called. He had a tone of voice I had heard just once before!

My Brother..“Gail, I am gonna QUIT !”

Me.. I braced myself and then asked “Why?”

My Brother..“Because I can’t take the pressure of the work any more, it simply asks to much of me, I rely on far to many people every day. From staff that don’t care to customers that simple aren’t buying, I constantly argue with the wife & the kids just stress me out”

Me..Dumb struck I swiftly answered..

” Nobody said Life was easy, and we all rely on someone somewhere for something, our jobs no matter what they are or what your title within that job will need some form of reliance. Dear Brother let me explain..

The supermarket chains rely upon the Manager to get in the staff – The staff rely on the delivery driver to make the deliveries – The deliveries are made and the staff rely on the manager to tell them where to put the stock on the shelves – The customers rely on the stock to be on the shelves for when they want to buy it – The super market relies on the customers to buy the stock to pay the manager – The manager relies on the staff to have stocked the shelves as he instructed so the customer would buy the stock – The manager also relies on the customer to buy the stock that he relied the staff to stack on the shelves so he can pay the staff !

Are you still following me?…

My moral of this story is. When we within the Network Marketing and Direct Selling industries rely upon others it is not for us to assume the task you set will get done, but it is for us to have the ability and strength to see it through. To build a strong network of reliance & reliability with patients-courage-conviction but most of all belief that you can do it. This is what this business is all about. Don’t worry about what someone didn’t do, congratulate the ones that DID do it. Work on your ability to adapt and move on. Rely upon yourself to make the right decisions and create a strong reliable team of Customers-Distributors & Leaders. Only through your actions as a leader will this happen.

I will end my tale now with one question…Did he stay, or did he quit?…

And how would you have handled this one?

Gail Reynolds

ta tar for now….Of for a Cup of Tea and a Scone You can Count On Me