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Airports, Shopping Malls & Network Marketing
By Robert Blackman

AIRPORTS

Ever notice how when you're in an Airport it's impossible to
find a clock?

It's like clocks cost millions of dollars because I can rarely find
one--at least not in the place where I need them--which is in the darn
airport in the aisle of the gateways.

In all my travels, I've been in over 40 airports nationwide.

And, you'd think you were on an "Easter egg hunt" when it came
to finding out what time it is.

You'd think that those folks who run the airport would recognize
this "FLAW" as well.

Haven't they ever flown before?

In a recent jaunt from Oklahoma to California our connecting
flight was in Phoenix.

As you know, Phoenix has that funky "we don't do time changes"
deal with daylight savings time.

Having awoken at 5 am to make my flight and having slept 99% of
the way, I wasn't at my best when the flight attendant was reeling off
those gate connections like I was at an "Elvis Auction".

Of course, I packed my itinerary in my suitcase which was 8 feet below
me in the baggage compartment.

So, I ran to the Departure Screens and scrolled down until I reached
my destination.  (Those are alphabetical, so being from Oklahoma, it
made it much easier for me to find my destination--if they can alphabetize
that, why can't they post a clock every hundred feet.  Or, at least hire
some guy with a foghorn who belts out the time every 15 minutes...)

Much to my amazement my flight to San Diego was BOARDING!

Oh "S****" is screamed out loud and starting sprinting to Gate 7A, which
was on the opposite side of the airport.

I was running as fast as I could on the horizontal escalator, passing
people like "Wyle Coyote" in a Road Runner Cartoon.

Needless to say, I turned the corner and saw my gate.  "They were closing
the doors to my plane" I screamed to myself. 

In a manic rush I hit the ticket counter with my laptop falling and my Mocha Java from
Starbucks spilling all over me. I blurted out with what air was left in my right
lung: 

"Am I too late"?

The attendant just smiled at me and said:

"Your flight leaves in two hours Mr. Blackman"

She giggled to her fellow employee and said "Next Please".

As I picked up my laptop and empty coffee cup I turned around to see
about a half dozen people that I had "stepped on", "pushed by" and said
in a rude voice "EXCUSE ME" as I was frantically running to my flight.

Everyone of them was "glaring at me" like I was an alien from another planet.

One guy even made a bright observation:

"Get a watch, Dude!"

You see, I had a watch. 

What my problem was, is that I didn't know what time it was in Phoenix
and I didn't know exactly when my flight left.

I had "half-assed" my way out of the house at 5 am thinking I would take
care of all that unimportant stuff (like finding out when I would arrive and leave
the airport) later.

And, yes, my wife was with me and she didn't run like an "idiot".  She stopped
to actually asked people for help.  You see, she KNEW when the flight left and she
let me run like a fool, acting like a chicken with his head cut off.  (I'm still
secretly plotting
my revenge on her--I'll keep you posted on what I come up with).

But, at least my wife and a few dozen people were entertained that morning
at my expense.  So, my guess is, God is keeping me around just to humor those
that cross my path.

SHOPPING MALLS

I'm in Fort Smith, Arkansas at a major shopping mall.  (Yes, they have malls in
Arkansas).

As you can probably guess, I was with my wife--again, along with my Mother.

They were shopping and I was looking for something to eat.

Right in the middle of walking through Dillard's the signal went off.

The "I have to go to the bathroom signal", that is.

So, what do I do?

I start looking around for a bathroom sign.

And, I wouldn't dare ask any of those nicely dressed 20 year olds who are piling makeup
on 4 girls at once.

Nor, do I dare ask my wife, as I know she'll turn it around someway to make me
look silly.

So, off I go, quickly I might add, hunting the bathroom.

As I gazed at every wall and ceiling I had this kind of "de-javu".

"I've been here before", I kept thinking.

Why do they make it so hard to find a bathroom in the mall?

Are the toilet and clock people on some kind of "walk-out" or "strike" that
I've not been made aware of?

Have the owners of Airports and Malls made a pact to make our life
a living "hell" in our own state of "waiting to the last minute emergencies"?

Either way, I'm at a loss why these folks don't put themselves in our shoes
for a change.

Haven't they ever had to go to the bathroom quickly in a mall before?
Haven't they ever waited to long to go and needed a quick solution?
Haven't they ever had an employee pop a quick note in the suggestion box
that simply said "More Bath Room Signs Please?"

I guess not.

After asking two people in my most "non-emergency" tone of voice, I had
my first lead.  "Down the hall and to the right", came the advice from a 14
year old boy with half orange and half purple hair.

As you can imagine, I was duped "again".

There was NO bathroom "down the hall and to the right".

Instead, there was a hair and nail place.

I decided that a desperate situation needed desperate options--I decided to
go to the car and go back to hotel--yes I was that far gone.

As I jogged to the exit door I noticed out of the corner of my eye a young man
coming out of a door.

I stopped, walked back and noticed there was the bathroom.

As I canvassed the area for a sign, there was none.

It's like it was for "locals" only, or that you should of "KNOWN IT WAS THERE".

And, yes, the orange and purple haired "dude" came walking by about that time
and was laughing and whispering with his friend.

"Was I just put here on earth for other people's amusement?"

Or, was I missing something?

NETWORK MARKETING

Ever notice how when someone joins up that you never hear from them again?

It's like signing the application was their "first" and "last" action all tied into
one.

It's like they're wondering around in your business looking for the clock and the
bathroom signs.

They really need both, yet you're not supplying them with either--just to punish them.

Or, do you not recognize their needs and are you simply neglecting them?

Have you ever gotten on the phone and actually talked with those that have just
recently quit your opportunity?

I suggest you do it sometime.

It's a REVEALING process, to say the least.

Oh, sure you're going to get the "excuses" and the "complaints" over trivial
issues, but about half the time you'll hear the REAL reason(s) why they quit.

When you do, you'll find out that you didn't EXCEED THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

You know, it's a fine line of bending over backwards to help someone in this
business and giving them what I'll call "tough love" and telling them to get off their
rear and get busy.

Want a true fact?

70% to 80% in your downline will NEVER get a commission check.

Those are what I call "customers".

And, if the majority of your check comes from customers and not business
builders, why aren't you catering your customer service towards them?

If you exceed your customers expectations, they'll stay.

If they become "unsatisfied customers", they quit and leave.

And, your commission check goes dwindles as well.

I teach all the time about finding and building leaders--that's still a big part
of my day-to-day business.

But, I've begun to realize lately that sometimes I can be pretty lousy when
it comes to customer service.

I'm expecting everyone to be like me--tough and disciplined.

In fact, I expect everyone to find they clock and bathroom on their own.

Hey, nobody showed me where they were, right?

Just recently I've taken a different approach and tested a few things that
create more "signs" for my prospects and customers and downline members.

It's a road map, so to speak, to all clocks and bathrooms in this wacky business
we call Network Marketing.

And, yes, when someone loses their road map, I don't "scold them" and I don't
make them feel stupid.

I simply hand them another map, pat them on the back and ask them:

"What can I do for you?"

Just like at the Airports and Shopping Malls of the world, there are thousands
of people everyday walking around spending money and looking for a Network
Marketing program to join or a product or service to solve their particular problem(s).

But, are they joining your program?

Can they find your "signs" easily?
Are you "exceeding their expectations?"

Put yourself in your new prospects shoes for a change--or for the first time.

When you do, you'll find your business will grow faster than ever before.

"For over 23 years Robert Blackman has been involved as a full-time Distributor, Author and Consultant to the Network Marketing Industry.  Regardless of the pay plan, the product line or the method of marketing (Direct Mail, Internet or Local Meetings) Robert has made money and more importantly taught his group how to make money."  For more information about Robert and his MLM Training visit: www.MLMMasteryCourse.com