I have thought of quitting in SFI because I am spending a lot of time and money and not making the money back each month to cover my standing order and my advertising. I feel discouraged because I haven't won in the Daily Grand and many of my a2a friends win several times in a month. I don't have a sponsor or co-sponsor who even know I exist, so they are no help at all.
So why haven't I quit yet?
Several reasons:
1. I believe in the potential of the business to make money, and this is evidenced by the fact that there are many successful people in it.
2. I have looked at the people at the top and tried to figure out what they have done differently to what I'm doing. I see that they are not really trying to duplicate themselves at all, although that is what they SAY they are doing. I have observed that each of these people have developed their own strategies for marketing and sponsoring. Some have produced training videos, some have written training e-books, others hold group meeting, some have Facebook groups, some have really great blogs. They are not simply doing the daily and weekly actions, buying standing orders, and joining up affiliates in the hope of finding 5 who will do the same. I believe that really only helps the guy at the top. I have decided that the top earners have created their own products which they use as free offers to get people to join their teams, and also sell these on TripleClicks. So I will try and create my own product and go into competition with these guys at the top.
3. I believe that if I keep on trying and developing a plan that eventually I will be rewarded. I believe that you reap what you sow, so I will sow into this business with my time, effort and creative thinking.
4. I don't have money to keep spending on SO and advertising, so I am trying to figure out alternative ways to achieve my goal, such as focussing on TripleClicks sales and getting ECAs.
5. I don't like to admit that I failed or quit, so I will motivate myself to keep going and think big and think positively.
6. If I quit, I would feel that I had wasted all the time and money so far invested, and that if I had stuck it a little longer, I might have succeeded, but I would never know.
7. I remind myself that this is not a get-rich-quick scheme, and that nothing worthwhile was ever won without effort and commitment.
8. Lastly, I have made some lovely a2a friends, and enjoy communicating with them. I write things which encourage me and in the process, find myself encouraging others. Many of them have expressed that they find my posts encouraging, and I wouldn't like to let them down.
So how would I convince someone to stay with SFI?
I would draw on my own experiences and share the above thought processes I have gone through and how I plan to make a success. I would assure him that it is possible and that we can do it together. Of course it would depend on my relationship with that person. Some people never respond to any of my communications so I can't offer them any hope other than the team mail which goes to everyone and may or may not speak to their individual needs. More than likely these people don't even read the team mails anyway.
The people who respond are different. I build friendships with them and discuss all sorts of things with them besides SFI. With these people I am aware of personal problems in their lives that may hinder them. I honestly share with them my difficulties and what has kept, and is keeping me going in SFI. I am not in a financial position myself to help by giving them anything at this stage that costs me money, but I share what I have learned, and give them my time and my caring. I have given useful e-books which I have managed to find for free on the internet.
If there was time pressure that was not of a permanent nature, such as moving, or sickness, I would offer to log in for them for a short period and do their daily actions, so that they don't lose motivation by a period of forced inaction.
I would ask them what skills they think they have, and try to figure out a strategy with them of something they could do utilising their own particular skills. Are they good at writing? Perhaps try blogging, or training emails. Are they good at speaking, do they look good on camera, can they make PowerPoint presentations? Perhaps they could make a video or a PP training presentation on some aspect of SFI.
I would ask who do they know that they could possibly market to? I would try to stimulate their thinking as to crafty people who might want an outlet for their craft work, or small business owners or market stall holders etc. Do they have friends who 'waste' hours on frivolous Facebook chatter? Such people might become SFI Facebook marketers and have some purpose to their time spent there.
I have offered to help people in my team who may have good ideas, but lack confidence in their writing ability, with editing their written work, if they want to develop a written product. After all, if one of my team can produce a product and sell it on TripleClicks, that will obviously help me too.
Of course if the person feels that their difficulties are such that they feel they have to quit, I leave the door open and still try to keep in touch with friendly chatty emails. I don't try to push SFI in these at all - just try and maintain the friendship. I ask if they believe in prayer and whether they would like me to pray for them in their situation. Those who have said yes, I make sure I do pray for them and every now and then I send them an email letting them know they are still in my prayers, and ask how things are going for them. You never know, when things change for them, they may still want to come back.
If they don't want to keep a relationship going after they decide to quit, that is their decision, too, and although it can be a little disappointing when your friendly emails get ignored, you must accept their decision, and move on to build new relationships with new team members. Even in that instance, however, you can be wrong. I was continuing to send emails for a while to a particular person, asking how she and the children were doing etc, and got no replies. I stopped writing thinking she didn't want to keep contact, and then out of the blue she wrote saying she had cancelled the internet for a few months because they couldn't afford it. She had just had it reconnected, and really appreciated all my emails that she found waiting there. So you never know a person's circumstances. Don't shut the door on anyone.
I'm sorry I have made this so long, but I have written honestly from my heart and my own experiences. I hope it may be a help to you if you are thinking of quitting or have someone in your team who may be thinking of it. This is one time where stubbornness is a blessing! Don't give up until you have tried all kinds of other avenues. There are many ways to succeed in SFI - you just have to find the one that suits you, and then run with it.
To your success, and mine!
less
