My thesaurus lists the following synonyms for the term "sponsor": patron, supporter, promoter, backer, benefactor, well-wisher, champion and booster.
The act of sponsoring is synonymous with: back, finance, support, promote, invest in, and guarantee.
It might seem odd to network marketers that nowhere is "sponsoring" equated with "recruiting," "signing them up," "putting them in the business," or "getting them in your downline."
Recently a friend told me about his "sponsor" who called him incessantly until he "signed up" in the business. Then the sponsor called a few times, even came by to borrow some inventory to be repaid at a later date. That was the last my friend saw or heard from his "patron, supporter, benefactor." He soon resigned from the network marketing program he had been "sponsored" in.
Too many people still think network marketing is lineal sales, a numbers game, where if you just "sign up" enough people you are bound to be successful. Wrong. That approach only works for making one-time sales or getting another name on your downline report. It does not guarantee success.
The best and most successful networkers are more like coaches than sales people. They talk more about "team building" than raw numbers. They build relationships before data bases. Before sponsoring a new distributor into your network marketing program, ask yourself a few questions:
1. Do I want to work with this person?
2. Can I make myself available for phone calls and occasional meetings?
3. Can I answer all their questions, or if not, am I willing to help them find the answers?
4. Do I really want them to succeed?
If you can find just a few individuals who you can work with, build a team with, share success with and stay with for the one or more years it will take to reap some real financial rewards, then you are definitely a cut above the average network marketer and you can make a good living in this industry.
Before sponsoring, be sure to acknowledge the unspoken promise you are making to your new team members. Back their efforts, finance their dreams, support their meetings, promote their abilities, invest in their future, and guarantee your own success!
