Kathy and Ken

Since we have been involved in the world of “Direct Sales” we have been in contact with many “well intentioned mentors.” In fact,  I have never been associated with as many “well intentioned mentors” as I have since being in the “direct sales” marketing on the internet.

The problem  is that these mentors don’t really have a reference point as to what  knowledge level their new “partner” has.  Since many times the “Newbie” doesn’t know what he doesn’t know,  it becomes difficult for them to communicate these  knowledge gaps with their new mentor.

For example, if the “mentor” mentions words like autoresponder, capture pages or op-tin boxes  and the Newbie is not familiar with these terms, he must call a time out. The fact of the matter is that these terms are basic to the “Direct Sales” world. There are a ton of videos and training sites that explain these things and much more.  As a “Newbie” it is very benefitial to open up to your “mentor’ about your knowledge gaps and get advice on where to become more prepared about the basics.

To be successful in Direct Marketing or online marketing, part of the equation is to have the mindset of an entrepreneur.  You have to take responsibility for getting information from your mentors or others in the industry and then learn the basics.  After that you will benefit immeasurably from your mentor’s coaching because you will have armed yourself with more information.  You will then be able to follow steps and get up and running much quicker than if you rely on others to always bring you up to speed on the basics.  We all want to learn this business as quickly as we can to allow us to get up and running so we can realize our dreams.  A mentor will be much more valuable when he/she sees that you are working on the basics and he/she can fill in with the proven strategies and successful paths that have served them so well.

I have a passion for golf. In fact, I am privileged to coach a high school team. During the past two years I have learned a few things about “Newbies” and “mentors.” When we have a student who has limited playing experience, which really means no playing experience, the very last thing we do is put them on the course. The basics must be learned first. If you don’t learn to grip the club properly you will never be able to play golf to your potential.

The person who helps a “Newbie” with their grip is most likely not the same person who teaches a player to hit a ball from a bad lie over water. Different people for different stages of development. In a sense I am coming clean with my “mentors” and thanking them for their patience.

The skilled “mentor”  will help point the “Newbie” in the right direction to learn the basics.  Once they have begun with the basics the mentor will be able to be more effective with the building blocks needed to build their new partner’s business . In my own experience I found that my mentor was able to help with the basics, and then the big picture once I had studied and viewed videos about how things worked.  Sure it would have been a lot easier for me to have my mentor take me by the hand with all the “little tasks” needed in this business.  But at the end of the day it is really more important to have him available for the “big picture” strategies.

In sum, thank God we have “mentors” who are more than willing to offer counsel. The lesson to be learned is that we can spend our time learning some of the basics in advance and then work with our mentor when we are better prepared for the knowledge that they will teach allow us to “realize our dreams.”

If you are interested in learning the lower school and middle school basics send me and email and I will forward some great information on free training sites that will take you step by step and really help you form a great foundation in this world of Direct Selling and internet marketing.

Continued Success,

Ken

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