WAHM Forums

I'm wondering which is the best way to join a company...joining under someone local or someone out of state.
I was thinking someone local would be best, but she's not working the business as I would think she would and I feel like I'm just going to be a number for her. Also, she's very hard to get ahold of and when I do talk to her about signing up, she has a "I don't care" attitude.
I don't have anyone yet out of state who's contacted me, but thinking maybe it might be best going that avenue.

What's everyones thoughts on this subject?

I just know I want to be under someone who works their business like a business and not a hobby. You know?

I've been working retail for over a year and really hoping ...really wanting that "at home business" to make money at...making more than minimum wage will be amazing!!!

I was thinking someone local would be best, but she's not working the business as I would think she would and I feel like I'm just going to be a number for her. Also, she's very hard to get ahold of and when I do talk to her about signing up, she has a "I don't care" attitude.


Hi momma36,
To me- this gives me your answer. If you haven't joined yet and she already has an "I don't care" attitude and is hard to get ahold of how much help is she really going to be in giving you the appropriate training and support to get your business off the ground and running strong? I agree it can be nice to have a local upline but I believe it is much more important to have a leader who is woking her business, is available and is invested in helping you in reaching for and attaining your business goals. With all of the online and tele-class training so many companies have available and then you add in that training with your upline is only a phone call or skype call away, I would go with the stronger business partner no matter their location.
If you already know the company you want to join with and your local contact is behaving poorly I would suggest contacting coporate. They usually distribute their leads to leaders who are actively working their business and have reached certain leadership levels. Of course there are some great leaders here on WAHM too. :) But "interview" your potential upline and pick the one that's going to help you reach your income goals best. Many blessings in your seach for a good sponsor!!

Amanda

Hi mamma36,
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your intentions to become a home business owner! Having your own home business opens so many doors.

Based on your post, it seems as though you have answered your own question. You don't sound comfortable with that person and you should always trust your instinct.

With technology at our fingertips, we are brought closer together and we can achieve so much more. My sponsor was out of state, yet I couldn't ask for better support. We kept in constant communication via email......it really was like she was right there.

A sponsor needs to be supportive. With that you can learn and grow and eventually, you will be confident enough to go it alone. So, in short, I suggest you search for someone you feel will be there for you and can help you grow.

Good luck with your search and keep us posted! Here is to a fantastic 2010~ :)

I agree. I have a team all over the US, and they are beginning to promote out. The best person to sign up with is...... drum roll.....

The person who you feel is going to be the best mentor, coach, cheerleader and resource for you.
In some cases, she may be local. But not always.

Some questions to ask:

What type of training do you provide?
How do you work with your consultants?
What are your office hours?
What are your goals with your company?
What type of training does your upline team provide? (in case she decides to leave the company, you know you have upper support).

Some examples of training for long distant consultants:
I do one on one training calls every Monday for my team
I do team calls on Thursdays
My upline does online chats every Monday
My upline provides other training
My downline is beginning to now offer their own training and inviting everyone.

Good luck with your search!

Debbie

Ditto with what was said above. :) I think it's more important to go with someone you trust, and who you feel is a good partner for you. Being close in proximity isn't necessary anymore.

Think of all the leaders in our industry who have teams all over the world. :)

Find someone you like, trust, and are comfortable with, and then knock it out of the ballpark!

~Jhanna

I agree with what has been said. Ideally, I think working with someone locally is probably the best (especially if you will be doing parties) but only if you are comfortable with that person and they are moving in the same direction you want to and really working the business. In your situation, I would not go with this person just because she's local. You can do really well either way. It's all up to you no matter where your sponsor is located.

I wish you all the best with your new venture.

Great advice, I totally agree with what's been said. Follow you instincts and
go with someone you feel comfortable with. You don't need someone local
to have good training and support for your business. Good luck to you :)

I have tried both ways, it is a pity that many people just sign up with whom they hear about it from first. There is this strange loyalty thing. They just don't know that there is any other way. KUDOS to you to explore your options!!!

Ultimately the decision is up to the new consultant.

I say go with the business builder that feels like she could become a great friend. Your gut will tell you. If she is a business builder, she will have support in place for your success. No matter where you live!

Besides, even if you were local to one another...if she doesn't have time for you now...why would she next month or next year for that matter?

ALSO-your success is up to you! Write down your wildest dreams, then short-term goals, then a step-by-step plan to achieve them! Your sponsor/upline will be able to encourage and guide you through the process.

Blessings in 2010!!

I pretty much agree with everything that has already been posted. I only recommend joining under someone local "if" someone has absolutely no experience and "if" they feel they will need some hand-holding and a lot of hands-on training.

I have local gals on my team and non-local gals and I make myself available to them when they need me (in-person, IM, Emails, Phone, etc)

I've signed with local, and not local people. Like you have already figured out, and others have suggested, go with the one that is there for you.

Local doesn't mean support, local just means you might see them at the grocery store. If you are serious about your business, then you want to work with someone else that is serious about theirs, and can help you

Good luck!

I agree with a lot of the prior posts... I think you have your answer. I had someone that was interested in my business... but she was talking with someone else. She contacted me after we were on the same conference call & liked how I was on the call.

She didnt ever get that "connection" with her initial contact in the business & felt that I was a better support system that she was looking for. (we do a lot of things similar with our business).

She has made her choice on her own, but I feel that it is important to shop around for a sponsor. There are no rules to going with the first person that contacts you or vice versa. Its ultimately your business & you need to choose who will help guide you. The rest is up to you :)

Beings you are already having the feeling you are feeling, it may be a sign of her future behavior in the business. And giving her the benefit of the doubt... it is the holiday season & things can be hectic.

Everything happens for a reason :)
Good luck!

Also wanted to add...

My very first DS business my upline was across the US from me. I was always missing out on meetings, fun gatherings and such. I said after that, I wouldnt sign with anyone that was not local again.

Then I did about 5 years later.... and even though she was close to me, I didnt get the support I was needing. Not even close to what I got from my other leader across the US. So I dont think distance is always a good thing....

I like the fact that I am the only one in my area right now that offers what I do :)

Hello! I have to agree with above. I've done it both ways. One company I was with, my local sponsor quit without telling me. Just up and disappeared. I helped her promote, then she was gone. I've done long distance with sponsors several states away. Didn't work out because the online training support was non-existent. With my current company, my sponsor is several states away and my upline is across the country, yet I have awesome support.
Interview your potential sponsors. It is YOUR business. You need support in the beginning, plus you need a model of leadership to follow when you begin to recruit. I contacted 2 people from my current business when I was interested. One got back to me right away, the other delayed. I went with the one who was accessible, who asked awesome questions, and who let me talk about what I wanted to do. In this business, you really get to choose who you work with. You are in business, not looking for a boss.
Good luck and take care!!

Thanks so much ladies!
I do think I need to go with a "long distance" person to sign up under.

I will do some interviewing to make sure I'm under the right person! :)
Thanks for posting some questions that I need to ask.

Moya-so well put! ~You are in business, not looking for a boss.~

momma36~good luck! Ask us questions, any time! We all love to share our experiences.

;-)

I definitely think you need to go with your gut feeling and join under someone you know will be supportive. I am a demonstrator for Gold Canyon and I've signed up at least 14 people under me this year from around the country. I know people in the business that chose to go local and receive no support from their upline. I hear this all the time. I think that its important to find someone you click with and that you know will be there to answer your questions!

I use email and we also have monthly conference calls on my team. This ensures that everyone can participate and ask questions. Make sure you find a team thats committed to ensuring everyone (no matter how far) is included and feels as they are "part of the team".

Good luck and let me know if you have questions!

What's everyones thoughts on this subject?

I think it varies from company to company.

If the company has either a simple, proven, duplicable business-building system and all the training materials in place to get people started and/or someone inside the company who can offer help/support/explanations, then it's not so important who your sponsor is, really. If not, then it is.

I think you're definitely right to be concerned that someone who's hard to get hold of might not be an ideal sponsor!

I'm a good sponsor (but only in Europe - I'm not trying to recruit anyone here!), and I actually live in a different country from almost all the people I've sponsored. I wouldn't hesitate to enrol through an out-of-state sponsor if you can find someone recommended and active and pleasant.

But in my opinion, the single most important thing about "who your sponsor is" is that you should choose someone who works one business only and is committed to it and didn't start last week and didn't have a long previous history of involvements with many other companies. Partly so that your sponsor will still be there in a year's time, and partly so that there's very unlikely ever to be any risk at all that future people whom you sponsor with your work, effort, time, energy and money will be lured away to any other "opportunities" being promoted by your sponsor - and for a lot of other reasons as well. All my experience in network marketing has led me inexorably to believe that this point's actually far more important than anything else. :)

Wow some excellent advice from the others here!
I to have been there done that.

The only thing I liked about a local sponsor was that they conducted local business meetings for us
and assisted when I couldn't conduct a home party, and had a advertising local coop plus we shared a booth at fairs and shows. Those are the best reasons I came up with for having someone local.

Wow some excellent advice from the others here!
I to have been there done that.

The only thing I liked about a local sponsor was that they conducted local business meetings for us
and assisted when I couldn't conduct a home party, and had a advertising local coop plus we shared a booth at fairs and shows. Those are the best reasons I came up with for having someone local.


Yes, that's definately a good point and something I had been thinking about.

I didn't need local support when I first joined direct sales, so I signed with a top leader across the country from me. It was the right choice. That is in line with your point:

"I just know I want to be under someone who works their business like a business and not a hobby".

Whenever posts like this come up, I try to remind folks that you generally only get to pick your sponsor ONCE! So you better be comfortable with them on all aspects, including that your sales are going to make THEM money! You don't want to have that cause resentment later if they are not living up to your expectations...

I think you're getting lots of good answers and advice and were already on the right track!

I think success is determined by what one does or does not do. Having a local sponsor will not determine one's success just as the title of a sponsor doesn't determine the quality of the leader.

My greatest challenge in direct sales was myself. I lacked focus and direction so no matter how great or not so great my sponsor was or how close or far away they were, they just simply didn't impact the success of my business.

Until I was really ready, focused and willing to give it my all, did I find true success. I see this same thing within my own team. We offer tons of trainings; exclusive team training site, local meetings, online webinars, calls, chats, group forum, etc, yet it is a small percentage that ever take advantage of it.

My wish is Consultants will discover just how successful they can be in direct sales, rather than considering it just a hobby or a short term solution.

So my thought is true success is determined by you, not your sponsor, their title or how close in proximity they are to you.

Best wishes for great success,

"I think success is determined by what one does or does not do."

Diane, I couldn't agree more. In FACT, I have a famous quote on my desk in my office:

"Do or do not, there is no try"

- Yoda, from "The Empire Strikes Back"

Kind of says it all, doesn't it?

I think with the technology that we have today it doesn't make a difference if you sign up with some one in your own home town or across the nation. In my home business I most of my recruits are in different states and I am able to keep in touch with them as if they were next door.

Linda selling Uppercase Living and Love it.

Lois...love the Yoda quote!

Thanks for sharing,

Lots of great advice! Lots of experience. I think the gist of it is, we can control our own destiny. Tap into all the resources that you can in your company. I heard this on a call recently, don't be an information gatherer but an information user. Use what you learn for your success. Good luck!! Happy New Year!!!

GREAT THREAD you guys!

I too have had local uplines and long-distance and honestly, I had one locally that was very supportative in my past company and then I bumped up to the rudest most money hungry woman who sent me a newsletter ONCE a year and that was all folks! Nice support!

I have to say that because of her terrible mentoring I think I really try to offer much more to my team members. Those that desire it can take advantage of my 24/7 team web site, personal coaching calls, a monthly newsletter, monthly meetings for my local team and the ability to help them find local meetings in their area if they wish. Not to mention speciality conference calls, monthly team incentives and so much more.

Honestly, I think if you really want to work the business, I try to make sure that I'm there and provide you the help you need to get rolling and keep rolling. If you want to be more of a hobbiest, I respect that and hang in the background.

It's all about what the person joining wants and trying to partner with them in achieving their goals. Great topic, gals!

Moya,

Great info about being an info gatherer versus user. I know there was a point in my DS life where I spent a lot time collecting info, organizing files and creating labels, etc. I thought I was working really hard, but in reality, I was just doing busy work. My then leader pointed out that in order to see our business grow, that we needed to be doing Income Producing Activities (IPA's). THere is a big difference! I try to be mindful of that as I work my business. It is a good reality check.

Lots of great advice! Lots of experience. I think the gist of it is, we can control our own destiny. Tap into all the resources that you can in your company. I heard this on a call recently, don't be an information gatherer but an information user. Use what you learn for your success. Good luck!! Happy New Year!!!