I started this article with a note from Bonnie Hersey because I want to make the point that it isn't magic that makes a network marketing business work. What makes a business work (network marketing or any business) are good foundational business tools. Bonnie calls them "Savvy Sponsoring simple but direct concepts" and she's absolutely correct.

So many times people come to me hoping for the "magic words" to get everyone to say "Yes." But the big truth is there are no magic words. There are excellent simple tools that make every working day productive.

But if that's true, why do so many people seem to struggle in Network Marketing? Why does network marketing have the less than stellar reputation it has? I think the reason for that is we are often our own worst enemy. Here's why.

In everything I do my underlying goal is to get you to move into strong entrepreneurial thinking. But I run into a fair amount of resistance because of the notion that we don't want to be like Corporate America. Somehow the idea that running your home business like a real business translated into "being Corporate America."

Beware of this. Be really careful if you're a Corporate America ex-patriot or if you just repeated the phrase "not like Corporate America" that you don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Here's what I mean.

I made my mind up when I was 23 (a lot of years ago) I didn't ever want to be a part of Corporate America again. I didn't want someone else to determine my future or tell me when to work or when not to work. So I started out on my entrepreneurial path. But that didn't mean that I jettisoned good solid business foundations. I just jettisoned the jerks and the nonsense rules.

Do you see the difference? All businesses need good foundational business tools. And I mean all businesses. That includes knowing when you're going to show up for work and when the workday ends.

So many times people come to me hoping for the "magic words" to get everyone to say "Yes." But the big truth is there are no magic words. There are excellent simple tools that make every working day productive.

But if that's true, why do so many people seem to struggle in Network Marketing? Why does network marketing have the less than stellar reputation it has? I think the reason for that is we are often our own worst enemy. Here's why.

In everything I do my underlying goal is to get you to move into strong entrepreneurial thinking. But I run into a fair amount of resistance because of the notion that we don't want to be like Corporate America. Somehow the idea that running your home business like a real business translated into "being Corporate America."

Beware of this. Be really careful if you're a Corporate America ex-patriot or if you just repeated the phrase "not like Corporate America" that you don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Here's what I mean.

I made my mind up when I was 23 (a lot of years ago) I didn't ever want to be a part of Corporate America again. I didn't want someone else to determine my future or tell me when to work or when not to work. So I started out on my entrepreneurial path. But that didn't mean that I jettisoned good solid business foundations. I just jettisoned the jerks and the nonsense rules.

Do you see the difference? All businesses need good foundational business tools. And I mean all businesses. That includes knowing when you're going to show up for work and when the workday ends.

In everything I do my underlying goal is to get you to move into strong entrepreneurial thinking. But I run into a fair amount of resistance because of the notion that we don't want to be like Corporate America. Somehow the idea that running your home business like a real business translated into "being Corporate America."

Beware of this. Be really careful if you're a Corporate America ex-patriot or if you just repeated the phrase "not like Corporate America" that you don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Here's what I mean.

I made my mind up when I was 23 (a lot of years ago) I didn't ever want to be a part of Corporate America again. I didn't want someone else to determine my future or tell me when to work or when not to work. So I started out on my entrepreneurial path. But that didn't mean that I jettisoned good solid business foundations. I just jettisoned the jerks and the nonsense rules.

Do you see the difference? All businesses need good foundational business tools. And I mean all businesses. That includes knowing when you're going to show up for work and when the workday ends.

Beware of this. Be really careful if you're a Corporate America ex-patriot or if you just repeated the phrase "not like Corporate America" that you don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Here's what I mean.

I made my mind up when I was 23 (a lot of years ago) I didn't ever want to be a part of Corporate America again. I didn't want someone else to determine my future or tell me when to work or when not to work. So I started out on my entrepreneurial path. But that didn't mean that I jettisoned good solid business foundations. I just jettisoned the jerks and the nonsense rules.

Do you see the difference? All businesses need good foundational business tools. And I mean all businesses. That includes knowing when you're going to show up for work and when the workday ends.

Do you see the difference? All businesses need good foundational business tools. And I mean all businesses. That includes knowing when you're going to show up for work and when the workday ends. You need to have real brick and mortar business hours. The difference now; it is your business, you determine those hours.

You also determine the hours you spend with your family - away from the business. None of this constant double tasking with the phone stuck to your ear. Or being like Pavlov's dog and answering the phone every time it rings. (Think about that for a minute. Is the business you're in so life-threatening you need to respond immediately every time the phone rings? And yes there are ways to create these boundaries without your team falling apart. In fact it will make it stronger.)

Now that you determine your future it means having a clear idea of exactly what it is you're going to do in the time that makes you money. Those activities (I call them money making activities) typically come out of a financial projection each month. Yes, I know Corporate America has a plan, map, goals but that's not a good enough reason to jettison them - not if you want your business to grow.

First you determine what kind of volume you need to generate in order to make the money you want to make. And then you determine the exact activity you need to do in order to make the money. This may sound difficult but that's only because you don't know the simple steps that Bonnie now has under her belt. Anyone can learn to do this.

What we don't have to do that Corporate America typically does, is turn your working environment into a dog eat dog competitive arena with our focus on results results results. Do you see the difference? Keep reading for a more clear idea.

There are ways to have good strong challenging financial goals and enjoy the process of eac