Hello
Bob, it's good to meet you; please tell me a little about
yourself?
Hi there,
well I'm 48 this year (2008), married with 2 small boys and
live in the UK. I have a full time senior role with a major
Software Comapny; where I'm currently European Procurement
Director leading a Procurement Transformation Project across
15 Countries in Europe.
But my
passion is MLM, which I've been involved with offline since
1991 and online since 1998. I could see the MLM on the Internet
was fast becoming another 'rat race' for many people, and
so in 2004 decided to look for a way to make MLM fairer, easier
and more profitable for people everywhere.
That 'way'
is the MLM Friends Platinum Club; a totally unique MLM Social
Network; unique because of our methodology in terms of strategic
collaborative MLM business building… a totally new way
for people to view and conduct MLM on the Internet.
My hope
is that this new collaborative methodology will invigorate
the online MLM market, reduce downline attrition, increase
incomes and more importantly open the flood gates to millions
more people becoming involved in our Industry.
Has
your Business experience helped you as a Network Marketer
and Founder of this Club?
Quite
frankly yes… my business life provides me with a contrast…
a comparison. It has also taught me the importance of measurement
and improvement in a business context.
Here in
the Corporate World, performance improvement and performance
measurement are key areas where you can get competitive advantage.
However, in the MLM world there is no market wide, distributor
led performance improvement or performance measurement.
After
all, it's not in the interest of Home Offices to declare their
attrition rate for example. However, for you and I as Independent
Distributors we don't have too many ways of understanding
where we should legitimately put our time and money effort.
That's
why the MLM Friends Platinum Club is first and foremost a
Club for Distributors. We only showcase Opportunities once
they have been assessed by the Distributor Peer Group.
So, definitely
yes, my Corporate Business experience has influenced my thinking
about MLM; and off course that is reciprocal too!
What
in your opinion is MLM all about?
Years
ago, MLM was developed to allow access of specialist products
and services to markets where there was no traditional supply
chain.
Today
though, that requirement is no longer needed; but Multilevel
Marketing, Network Marketing, call it what you will is a business
model that is needed because it allows home based entrepreneurs…
in fact anyone who needs to make more money, a way to augment
their income.
In practice
the business hasn't changed… people sign up to a Business
Opportunity, they consume or use beneficial product and services
over time and then sell/refer those to friends, family, and
complete strangers on the Internet who do the same; and for
this they get paid a percentage of the revenue generated.
In my
view MLM is a justifiable business model which every sane
person in the World who is able to transact online should
get involved with.
However,
MLM should be constantly re-invigorating itself to potential
Distributors in order to grow, rather than look towards individual
business opportunities to create that awareness.
I want
the MLM Friends Platinum Club to be a beacon for everyone
interested in making money from MLM to join and have a look…
to see what's working and what isn't… and to be a community
where people can join opportunities on the strength of great
benefit and performance throughout rather than on pure advertising
or wishes.
What
do you most hate about the Internet and Online Marketing?
The hype,
bullshit, downright lies and underhandedness that people employ
to make a quick buck!
I'm also
not a fan of those people who Sponsor others and then disappear
from sight the moment the cash has exchanged hands.
I think
that income should only be made on the back of sustainable
and beneficial business; whether that comes from MLM, Franchises
or traditional business!
Oh and
a also disdain all those high and mighty individuals who frown
on MLM and all the great people who love this Industry!
You
have a unique perspective on MLM, can you explain this?
Well,
I'm a typical guy who believes that MLM should deliver what
it says on the tin! What more can I say?
Why
do you think MLM is needed, isn't it dead now?
Well MLM
isn't dead… not while we live in a trading civilisation.
Actually
ineffective and inefficient MLM is dead… or should be
dead! I think the market needs to elevate itself in such a
way that we attract millions more people to this type of income
generating process rather than throw it away because it's
been poorly managed as an Industry.
As long
as ordinary people are living hand to mouth, just about surviving
on their meagre pay packets, and stuck in a cycle of debt
then MLM should be embraced, don't you think?
In
your view, what do you think are the shortcomings of MLM?
Mmmm!
That's an interesting question! I suppose I'd say that MLM
is designed to provide people an income on the back of leverage
and duplication. If therefore, effective leverage and duplication
isn't available to the majority of ordinary people due to
the way the market has developed on the Internet, then that
is a major shortcoming; wouldn't you agree?
Clearly
in this case, we can either change the market to one where
the environment is conducive to developing more duplication
and leverage or remain as we are and continue to see a great
business model fail the very people it was designed to help.
Do
you think that MLM is still a valid option for people to make
money?
In this
day and age, MLM must be one of the most potent online home
business opportunities available; as long as there is suitable
logistics within the Country.
Of course,
one cannot discount using the speed, low cost and reach of
the Internet to drive awareness, collaboration and business…
which are now even more attainable with a Club such as ours.
Have
you ever had a Home Business before?
Yes, over
the years I've promoted a number of good opportunities and
made some great friends along the way.
These
include L'Arome (the first), Excel Telecoms, Life Plus, Life
Force and Vitamark. Additionally there were a number of other
online opportunities such as Debt to Freedom and Empowerism
as well as Online Membership sites such as Traffic Wave and
the like.
Why
did you develop the MLM Friends Platinum Club?
I've been
a Network Marketer since 1991; that's when I first came across
the concept of MLM, leverage and duplication. Prior to that
I was in the Military and wasn't interested in business.
However,
like many people I also needed more money and I was looking
for ways to make it. I really liked the idea of working once
to develop a business and then have residual income month
on month afterwards as a reward. Why wouldn't anyone like
that!
However,
what I found over time; and especially since 1998 when I first
logged on and started Networking online, was that the volatility
of the online market place created instability, with the resultant
effect being that long term leverage and duplication eluded
most people.
Now this
made me mad… not angry… but mad as hell; and so
in 2004 I gave up Networking to seek out new methods which
could make MLM fairer, easier and more profitable for anyone.
Would
you like to expand on this?
Quite
simply, I'm sick and tired of all the hype and nonsense permeating
across the Internet today.
I'm passionate
about MLM and hope that this resource will help people see
an alternative to the wasteful and costly online advertising
that does very little for people today.
Don't
forget, my background is Procurement and Sourcing not Marketing
or Sales; and therefore I focus on helping people select the
right beneficial and profitable opportunity; not from the
Home Office Balance Sheet point of view; but from the point
of view that shows the majority of Distributors are making
money rather than losing it.
OK it's
totally new, radical and quite possibly revolutionary…
but to me it makes good business sense!
Who
is the MLM Friends Club for?
The MLM
Friends Platinum Club is a Social Network which anyone interested
in making money from MLM, Network Marketing or Matrix type
business should join. Designed to bring the market together…
a place for millions of Entrepreneurs and Networkers to meet,
exchange experiences, benchmark performance and generally
do 'good' business together.
No experience
in online business is necessary; indeed one of our strengths
is our ability to help disparate numbers of people together
and mould them into a significant downlines within the most
beneficial organisations, as identified by our Members and
Peers.
Why
should people join your Club?
Quite
simply, if they're looking for a new way to build any MLM
or Matrix type business… a fairer, easier and more profitable
one to the online rat race experienced by many then why not
look at this.
You see,
on the Internet today is a ton of biz-ops, experts, how to
courses and a plethora of other resources from advertising
to web site design to video and audio.
But…
there are few actual resources available which explore the
capability of Distributors everywhere coming together to collaborate.
I think
that because most people are interested in their one to one
relationships between sponsor and prospect, the real value
of MLM is missed completely; and so the leverage capabilities
which could exist globally today are not even considered.
I believe
the MLM Friends Platinum Club is important for the future
development of MLM because it can help drive change and future
strategy, one that isn't just focused on advertising; one
where MLM is actually elevated into a serious business model
for millions more people.
Just imagine
what would happen if MLM was embraced by 500 million people
globally instead of just 30 million?
Why
would anyone want to change the way they operate their MLM
business to the way you suggest?
Great
question, and thanks for asking it! I have spent years researching
how to make MLM fairer, easier and more profitable for everyone.
The numbers don't lie… MLM Distributors and potential
MLM Distributors are a finite resource; and to get the best
from our Industry we all need to collaborate together. Competing
in an over-subscribed supply market doesn't work; you can
already see high levels of failure and attrition and MLM is
not help in high regard throughout the World.
Yet again
we humans have taken a great opportunity and managed to screw
it up!
And that's
the choice we all have… we can continue as we are or
we can change in the way which I suggest. That's what makes
life so interesting don't you think?
The
MLM Friends Platinum Club is huge, how long did it take you
to complete?
I came
up with the idea of this Club back in June 2004, although
I didn't actively start to build the site until mid 2005.
That's
because I joined an Internet Marketing Mentoring Program with
Jay Abraham, Rich Schefren and Stephen Pierce… a great
experience!
It was
always going to be a long project, partly because I have a
full time job which needed a lot of attention; plus…
and more importantly I wasn't willing to skimp on the quality
side of things.
I had
to do all the Research, I developed my own unique tools and
I learned how to create my own Web sites too.
For months
and months and I worked long into the night, weekend after
weekend until finally I had it ready to launch in May 2008!
This was
my commitment to the millions of Distributors around the World
who rely on MLM to give them a better standard of living,
and so I made no compromises!
If
you had any critics, what would you say to them?
We live
in a very interesting World, with conflicting views and interests
and it's only natural that there'll be critics of our Club!
But hey;
in the great scheme of things, our Club is designed to (1)
help more Distributors make money and (2) to get more people
interested in our Industry. Now if that's such a bad thing,
then God help our World!
What's
next in your life now that the MLM Friends Platinum Club is
up and running?
My word,
it's taken me 4 years to get the MLM Friends Platinum Club
developed to where it is today.
With a
senior Corporate Position, a Wife and 2 small Children it's
been a major effort to get everything done!
That said,
now comes the hard bit… I've still got to get it marketed
and I'd like to build a Membership of at least 1 million people
who also want to achieve the things I've mentioned in this
Interview.
Which
MLM Business do you currently promote?
I've chosen
to promote Vitamark. Of course there are many great opportunities
available, but in my time of life, and based on everything
I know about the market this one was the right one for me.
Maybe it'll be good for you too?
What
do you say to Owners of MLM Business Opportunities?
I think
that Owners of MLM Business Opportunities have a duty of care
to Distributors to help them succeed as much as possible.
So not only should they provide great products and services,
great support and performance they should also help educate
and support their Distributors to the maximum.
Obviously
MLM Opportunities are set up to make their owners a lot of
money; and that's fine, after all I'm an entrepreneur…
but it should never be to the detriment of the people the
business serves.
Franchises
and traditional bricks and mortar business doesn't survive
on scams or hype, and neither should MLM!
Our Club
is a great tool for Network Marketers so as a Business Owner
why not recommend your network to use it? After all, we're
inherently about MLM Business growth, and we're very willing
to talk to you about how you as a Business owner can succeed
further too!
What
do you think we can all look forward to in MLM?
WOW! What
a great question! Actually I'm no mind reader, nor a betting
man; but if I was I think I'd say this… MLM will grow
from strength to strength and the high levels of attrition
and failure will gradually reduce.
On the
back of this MLM will grow in stature, and many people who
hitherto were not interested in MLM will join. This will be
down very much to the difficult World we live in today; and
partly because the performance of MLM will have increased
so significantly, that people no longer fear it.
I think
technology will improve further enabling more 'super networks'
to evolve and that improved compensation plans will become
fairer to everyone.
I think
too, that people will become much more strategically aware
of MLM and what it can provide them and their families. All
in all a positive prediction for everyone!
What
do you say to the people who have lost money in MLM?
You may
have heard this before - 'buyer beware' - in my profession
it's very important. Unfortunately, when it comes to online
business opportunities and making money online buyers are
often not aware of what they get in to.
Yes, MLM
is a business model that can work… and does work for
a minority of people.
However,
it's very clear that an over supply of biz-ops, poor market
awareness, poor training and inadequate Sponsor/Prospect communication
all contribute to high levels of attrition and business failure.
I could
have given up on MLM years ago; but I persevered because in
principal it is a good business model.
After
all, where else can an ordinary person spend a small amount
of money each month and stand to make thousands back in residual
income month on month! It's fantastic.
So to
those that have lost money through MLM, ask yourself why?
We can't
change the past; but we can learn from it. And if you still
need the income have a look at MLM with fresh eyes and work
with us to change your own fortunes.
It's in
all of our power to make this change and to improve, that's
what our Club is all about, and I hope everyone will join
us with renewed hope and vigor!
With
so much competition in MLM how can the market possibly consolidate?
Now that's
an interesting question, isn't it! Actually, this decision
rests entirely with Distributors and Network Marketers globally.
Obviously,
if everyone thinks MLM today is as good as it gets; and they
continuously look for faster and cheaper ways to advertise
then this is what will stay.
But I
have more confidence in people… most don't want another
MLM rat race to compete with their day job… but what
else is there today?
That's
why the MLM Friends Platinum Club is radical! A radical change
needs a radical solution… and that can only come from
knowledge.
As you
know we're 100% in favour of MLM… not inefficient, ineffective,
time consuming, unprofitable MLM… but fast, sustainable
growth and income that can only come from 2 areas.
The first
is an awareness of where to put ones effort and the second
is a desire to cooperate together; safe in the knowledge that
what's created today will still be around in 10 or 20 years!
Although
the Internet provides fast cheap communication to the masses,
it doesn't create the environment for online MLM success…
that only comes from relationships between people… and
of course for that to be effective, there needs to be transparency
of MLM business performance.
I get
very annoyed with people who talk about what's wrong with
the Industry, but who never provide answers to the difficult
questions that many people have.
If this
Club can in any small way help overcome the massive issues
that are driving high levels of downline attrition and home
business failure then I'm up for that!
Where
do you think the Internet will go from here?
The Internet
is a fantastic innovation which we humans should be justly
proud of!
Of course,
the technology which underpins the Internet and the way information
is disseminated will change; it will be able to store more,
be faster as well as share this in exciting new ways through
virtual Worlds and 3D.
Computers
will become even more an integrated part of our Society, opening
up a truly transparent and information and communication rich
age.
I hope
the Internet will help educate people everywhere to show the
futility of War and that a new age of peace is created, and
where economic stability throughout the World is encouraged
and finally achieved.
Part of
this new age, will surely be the way we all 'work'. After
all, our forefathers have made the World what it is today;
and we and the Internet can make it a truly inspiring place
for our Children and Grand-Children, and our Grand-Children's
Grand-Children to live tomorrow.
What
do you do in your spare time?
My Children
are still young, so lot's of my time is spent playing with
them.
I'm also
going back to developing my own downline for my chosen MLM
Business Opportunity, so I'd like to spend time with my future
downline and prospects to help them achieve what they want
from MLM.
Plus,
I'd like to travel more too and still want to go to many places
around the World.
How
would you like to be remembered by people?
Mmmm?
I think it would be nice to remembered by people in a way
that said 'yes he really cared and did something about the
issues everyone has…' You can't ask for more than that,
can you?
Do
you have any last thoughts for your visitors?
Well,
if you've liked what I say, please come and have a look at
the MLM Friends Platinum Club. Imagine, if every person struggling
to make MLM a success was to join us and work with like minded
people in the manner that we suggest; i.e. collaboratively
in the most profitable and beneficial opportunities for the
long term; you'll find millions more attracted to the Industry
and many people would earn a lot more too!
Now wouldn't
that be great!
Join
us today!
