You’ve spent years dreaming and planning to own and/or run a direct selling company.

The culmination of all your efforts, your business is now a reality. You’ve worked your way to the very top of the organization. President, CEO or another equally prestigious and hard-earned title.

All the knowledge you’ve gained has brought you to a place where you can be THE leader of the organization.

Congratulations!

Without a doubt, as you continue to grow your business, you are approached over and over by independent business owners (IBO) and they all say they want to join your organization and bring their knowledge and their way of growing a business into your world. They want to help you “explode” your business and reach entirely new and, up to now, unreachable levels of success.

All you have to do is let them bring their systems into your business and watch it grow.

Really??

In what is perhaps the closest comparison in the business world, franchises, do you think McDonalds, 7-Eleven, Chick-fil-a, or any one of the dozens of other franchise businesses allow their new business owners to do it “their way”?

Of course not!

I am very sure that during the selection/ interview process at Chicl-fil-a, if the prospective owner starts talking about how they have better ideas and a better way to run the business, they are turned down as an owner. It’s too important to Chick-fil-a — they simply don’t want a single owner to fail. It’s bad for everyone- the business owner, the company and the brand.

The secret to the success of the franchise model is that it relies completely on the ability of the business owner to follow THE predetermined system that will lead them to succeed in their own business. After that, the owner needs to be good at a few other critical things – hiring, firing, scheduling, basic accounting, etc.

Almost every day, I talk to a high level executive at a direct selling company that is leaving the process of succeeding in the hands of the IBO. To me, that sounds like playing Russian roulette with your business.

Like franchises, I am completely convinced that success in direct selling is systematic.
Without a system to teach your newest IBO, you are allowing your old IBOs to run the business. You are completely reliant on their system – their knowledge – their charisma.

Scary!

My advice to all new companies and any company that doesn’t have a system to teach — Get one! Now!
Especially, create a system that teaches consistent prospecting and recruiting.

If you have an existing organization, get the buy-in of your current IBOs so everyone agrees that the system is one that everyone will endorse. At first, it may feel threatening to the current field leaders. It won’t take long to realize it is good for everyone if the entire organization is focused on a unified system.

Then, in the new distributor kit, “hold their hand” and teach that new person what to do first.

You wouldn’t teach someone geometry if they don’t know how to add and subtract. So, start with the basics. Teach them what they need to know NOW – on day one!
If done properly, they will quickly become better and will want to know how to be more effective.
Then, explain step-by-step what to do on days 7-14-30.

Yes, this requires work. But, the investment in YOUR system will put the control of the company in your hands.
YOU can teach it. YOU can measure it. YOU can adjust it.

Above it all, remain a student of best practices.
If someone has good ideas that are worthy of consideration, incorporate them into your system. Evolution is critical in business and your direct selling company is no different.

Take the first step. Take Control of your business by designing and building the systems to achieve and maintain growth.

The investment will be well worth it!