A series of articles: An image and the MLM industry. Part one.
What will people say?
Reputation, opinion, position, recognition, recommendation, respectability, and so on and so forth. All these words can be safely replaced by a single term of a very large capacity- the image. The image, what exactly is it? Basically, a set of qualities, attributes, characteristics, properties typical of a person, thing or organization and the industry can be called an image. The image consists of everything which is the most typical characteristic for a given subject. The image is unfortunately everything which is associated with this subject. Colloquially speaking – everything that clings. Whether we like it or not, we all have some image. Every activity, and even its lack thereof, raises comments, provokes the emergence and consolidation of the opinion. When we do not care about it, the comments and opinions grow, mature, and gradually spread to begin to affect us and our business. If you still do not care about it, opinions and comments turn into stereotypes, and as such they perpetuate public opinions. Stereotypes live their own lives, and it is very hard to fight them. In fact, this fight is usually doomed to failure. For example, the inhabitants of Western Europe have certain opinion of the Poles and Russians. You can meet the stereotype of a Pole, a thief or a Russian, a drunkard. The fight against these stereotypes is hopeless and probably meaningless. Especially since the Poles and Russians (of course some of them) have tried very hard for these stereotypes to become true. Let us remember that all opinions, even the most unjust ones, did not come out from nowhere. Somebody created them and passed along. Someone who noticed something, interpreted it as he liked and distributed a version which was best for him. We can say at this moment: and what do we care? After all, we know who we are and we should not worry about the opinions of others.
Perhaps, as the Poles (a nation) we can afford being accused of theft because the topic is not related to the particular Kowalski, but everyone, generally, that is, in principle, nobody. The question is whether we certainly can and should afford neglecting such opinions. Can we turn the deaf ear to the statements like: the Poles are thieves? Well, definitely, we should not! Every, especially a bad opinion must be condemned, if it, of course, is not true. Lack of strong reaction is a proof to outsiders that the proclaimed thesis is true. Because if nobody protests, as if to agree with the opinion formulated. In other words, it is worry about what people say and – when necessary – to straighten and stigmatize false statements. Before they become stereotypes.
The sheep from the goats. Repulsion of the attack.
Bothering about every sign of criticism or mindless, stupefying attempt to defame can quickly cause headaches and other adverse symptoms. Responding to every silly provocation will result in loss of valuable energy, needed for current operations. Therefore, you should only respond to these insults or bad reviews, which can actually harm the organization or industry position and which can significantly spoil its image. Then, how to separate the sheep from the goats? The answer is simple. Let us fight with our enemy's own weapons. More specifically, try to check the reputation he enjoys in his community or industry. If, after even a fairly cursory analysis we find that a funny ratter is trying to undermine us, which makes more noise than real damage, then simply pass up. Do not fight with him with a cannon which could blow up not only him, but also half the town where he lives in. Do not this for own own good, because if we smash a little "innocent" dog with a culverin then we might not be able to defend ourselves. Do not respond to taunts competitors who do not fight in our weight class. Let us be patient and understanding.They will finally get annoyed and everyone around us will laugh at it at the most.
Another thing is when a player who equals us with strength, experience, facilities and capabilities throws down the gauntlet. The confrontation with such an opponent can be tough for us, but very beneficial. If we prepare ourselves, show prudence, common sense and consistency, as well as wits and reflexes necessary in such situations, the victory will be guaranteed. A thorough, substantive preparation and excellent recognition of the enemy with particular emphasis on his weaknesses should be the basis of such a confrontation. The question arises: how to recognize the weaknesses of our opponent when he is pushing on us? Of course, that it is too late, so the preparations to repel any attack should begin much earlier.
Entering into new areas, expanding our field of activity, we should – it is obvious – assume that someone, who is already here, wants to wipe us from the face of the earth, or at least break our legs. If we make such an assumption, then there remains nothing else but to choose the potential attackers and to prepare for their ruthless attack in advance.Someone will ask, and what is the connection with the MLM industry and the image of the companies operating in it? Well, there is! The MLM is nothing but another formula for doing business. A business, in turn, is nothing like a continuous struggle and competition.
The entity that wants to stand out from other companies, will have to fight for a better position. A skillfully created image of a vibrant, bold and well-playeing company is the best weapon. Draw public attention to the company and it will certainly increase interest in the offer.
Awareness of self-image
In the daily rush for fleeing zloty we not reflect on how others see us. Of course, sometimes we think about it, but the thoughts do not accompany us every second. We firmly believe that it will be “somehow.” From time to time, we will read in the newspaper or on the portal that fine feather make fine birds and perhaps for a moment we will think deeper about the meaning of this hackneyed proverb. But the truth is that the self-image is often treated with neglect. Like we care what they say and what they write about us, but really, we do not care about it at all .We do not give a damn. A very narrow group of managers who are supported by the specialized agencies generously paid for by the companies employing these managers consciously and consistently create the image. But, even in such cases, we are dealing with either fiction or at least a half-fiction. Finally, there is a very narrow group of enthusiasts who genuinely and sincerely believe that the image and reputation they have developed, bring them great success.
The most surprising and amazing is that about the need or even necessity of taking care of the image know virtually all businessmen, while the overwhelming majority of them does not care about it at all or only pretends to do it. There is a huge gap between access to information about the image, theoretical knowledge related to the benefits that result from the deliberate creation of a favorable opinion of ourselves, our business, and the practical application of the principles of conscious creating an external image of individuals or companies. This applies to virtually all of the Polish business, including the network marketing industry. However, in case of the MLM, any deficiencies and shortcomings associated with the disdain of the problem quickly and clearly take revenge on those who disregard it. In business, let's call it “traditional,” a lot of imperfections and obvious “image” incompetence one can sweep under the carpet. In case of the network marketing it is much more difficult, if not impossible. I will write how to deal with this problem
and what it results from in the next part of the mini-cycle – An image and the MLM Aindustry.
Marek Łuszczki
