Some of us might have heard of them but we pay little or no attention. We dismiss these principles as simple suggestions, cliche or even random ideas. Consequently, the importance of these concepts as bed-rock principles is lost. Like most "simple ideas", there is a wealth of insight buried within them. The three foundation principles of network marketing are:

1. Consistent Effort

2. Duplication

3. Give it enough time

We shall explore these principles one at a time. While they may look very simple and innocent, they are imperative for sustained focus and success in our network Marketing businesses.

Principle #1: Consistent Effort

Imagine you attempt to lose 20 pounds and wanting to get into great shape.You have 2 strategies in mind. In the first strategy, you eat moderately and exercise each day. The other strategy would allow you to eat as you pleased each day and not have to exercise. But every seventh day, you would have to abstain from food, run ten miles and lift weights for two hours. Which strategy would you recommend? The answer is obvious. The principle of consistent effort is not difficult to understand but its difficulty in implementing it. We have to be willing to give consistent chunks of time to our businesses if we are serious about their growth. Doing many little, boring, and seemingly irrelevant things one at a time are the way to success. This means that one more two minutes phone call, one more business presentation, one more email follow-up, attend one more training etc.As stand alone incidents, they are barely noteworthy. But collectively, they create focus, cultivate character, increase skill sets and grow a team of like-minded winners.

Principle #2: Duplication

This principle eluded me my first year in network marketing. I was not opposed to it but I only understood it as a "general concept". The vital hidden truth in this principle did not hit me until I began to be frustrated with my slow growth in my organization. I began to study the people who were growing large teams. There was one common denominator: duplication. They were all using a simple, systematic method to grow their teams. The genius of their success lay in its simplicity because simple is duplicable. To be simple and duplicable, you need to have a system in place. A system is a means of allowing people a simple, methodical way of growing a business. It is like a road map and provides directions so that they know what to do next and how to do it.

Principle #3: Give it Enough Time

It is the third principle that reminds us to be patient. Settle in, take the long view and stay on task. Remember to give it enough time. This principle, like the first one of consistent effort, is not difficult to understand. But I have never been in an industry where people have distorted expectations. At times, there is very little realism. Without realism, people get started with false expectations. When their businesses grow more slowly than they anticipated, they conclude that either this business does not work or is a scam. If our business is going to grow significantly over time, we need to be giving it enough time on a daily and a weekly basis. If we are not doing these, it is improbable that our business will grow. I strongly encourage you to stay in this business for at least half a year before you are thinking of quitting. It needs time to grow your business.