There some real legends in Network Marketing. But then again, not so many… Mr. Michael Strachowitz is undoubtedly one of those legends. He has been working as a coach, trainer, seminar leader and consultant for individuals, organisations and companies for nearly 40 years. His lectures and seminars led him across Europe and overseas. Hundreds of thousands of attendees and visitors in 26 countries have heard his lectures over the past three decades. Rankingmlm.com has asked Mr. Strachowitz various questions about the MLM business. As always, he responded with knowledge, wisdom and wit.
Michael Strachowitz. A coach, trainer, seminar leader and consultant for individuals, organisations and companies for 40 years
HELLO MR STRACHOWITZ. IT’S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE AT RANKINGMLM.COM
Thank you ver much for the invitation to share some ideas about our wonderful business with you and your readers!
MR STRACHOWITZ, THEY SAY THAT THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAIL. IN WHICH DETAILS EXACTLY IS THAT DEVIL WHO VERY OFTEN DOES NOT ALLOW A DECENT NETWORK MARKETER TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL NETWORK MARKETER?
I experienced, that there a several smaller and bigger issues, why some of the networkers are struggeling. Many people don’t understand, that Network Marketing is a marathon-race, not a sprint. They lack patience and endurance. Often we hear some people say: „We are the fastest growing company, I’m a lightning networker!” and so on. For me it’s more interesting, where they are in ten years.
Another problem is for some people their enthusiasm for the company and the products. Yes, you heard right, this can avoid success. Because of their excitement, these business-partners assault their prospects with a flood of information without asking themselves what the other person is interested in. By this, they kill their prospects! They should learn to ask and to listen first.
MR STRACHOWITZ, I THINK THAT YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME IF I SAY THAT SPORT IS BASED ON ONE THING: COMPETITION. FOLLOWING THAT LOGIC, WE CAN SAY THAT WORK IS BASED ON EFFECTIVENESS, FRIENDSHIP ON TRUST AND ADVERTISING ON HAPPINESS, FOR INSTANCE. HOW ABOUT NETWORK MARKETING? WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT NETWORK MARKETING IS BASED ON?
Network Marketing is people’s business. We are not dealing with products, our business is to build up relationships between human beings. We have to love, respect and accept people – even the complicated ones. Our job is, to help people, not to use them.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF NETWORK MARKETING? IN WHAT DIRECTION WILL IT EVOLVE? WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE IN TWENTY OR FIFTY YEARS? WILL TECHNOLOGY AFFECT THE INDUSTRY IN ANY WAY OR MAYBE THE ”HUMAN FACTOR”, HUMAN INTERACTIONS WILL ALWAYS BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING?
Yes, I agree totally – the human factor and the connections between people will remain the most important points. But technology will help us in that. We can communicate with people around the world with nearly no costs. In the meantime it is proofed by science, that you can build up a close relationship just by video-calls. On the other hand, human beings are social creatures. We want to come together, to talk, to touch, to hug each other. Therefore network marketing will be not only a business but an opportunity to enjoy the presence of other people.
Regarding the product ranges, we need products with a story. Simple products that do not require explanation will be ordered online at one of the big online-platforms and warehouses. For these products we don’t need someone to tell us, how to use it. But if we have sophisticated products, customers and downline-partners need our advice.
JOHN C. MAXWELL SAID: ‘LIFE IS A MATTER OF CHOICES AND EVERY CHOICE YOU MAKE MAKES YOU’. YOU HAVE DECIDED TO WORK IN NETWORK MARKETING AND THEN TO BECOME A CONSULTANT IN THIS MATTER. HOW DID THAT CHOICE „CREATE” YOU?
These decisions teached me a lot! I’ve learned, that an idea, our believes and enthusiasm can change the world. Not the whole world, but the many smaller worlds of couples, families and single persons. Network Marketing made me trust in the unlimited potential of humans. I have seen so many people with low self-esteem, full of fear and doubts, who changed their lives because of a sponsor or upline, who believed in them. Working in this industry made me being more open minded then before, being more permissive and accepting people as they are. I’ve learned that there is more than one way, more than one product, more than one compensation-plan and more than one type of people who are successful.
MR STRACHOWITZ, I KNOW A MAN, HIS NAME IS MR SMITH. HE IS JUST A REGULAR HARD WORKING MAN BUT HE BOUGHT A LOTTERY TICKET AND WON $10 MILLION TODAY. IN WHICH COMPANY – BY NAME OR BY DESCRIPTION – SHOULD HE INVESTED ALL OR SOME OF HIS MONEY NOW?
As you know, I’m consultant in direct-sales and doing life-coaching, but not a financial advisor. So, you should be careful with my answer… First I would ask Mr. Smith about his fincial goals. Does he want to get rich quick? Is he a more conservative person, looking for safety? How old is Mr. Smith? Has he time enough to wait for best results? After that, I would recommend either to invest in a new, but maybe risky market, for example in some fintec or block-chain company. Or I would propose to go for more traditional market like food or beverage – people will always eat and drink. But if Mr. Smith isn’t already a senior citizen, I would strongly recommend to invest in himself and to get the best education, go to best university, visiting the best seminars one can buy for money, travel around the world to meet and talk to the best mentors. The best company Mr. Smith can invest, is he himself. If he is a talented and successful network-marketer, he should take one or two of this 10 millions and found his own mlm company.
I MUST ASK THE BIG UP-TO-DATE QUESTION: HOW WILL CORONAVIRUS CHANGE THE MLM WORLD? OR WILL IT CHANGE IT AT ALL IN A LONG TERM?
I’m very optimistic in this matter! I think MLM is a very good answer to a crisis like this. As a lot of employers get in trouble, many people will loose their jobs, young people will have difficulties to get one. So, a lot of employees will rethink their options and will look for alternative job opportunities, will be open to create an additional income or to establish a business for their own. For all these people network marketing could be the answer. As I’m told by nearly all of my clients, their business is growing just now!
There will be a change in the way, network marketers are running their business. There is a big shift in direction of working online and mobile. Nearly everything in this business can be done via smartphone, laptop-computer and internet, as we already discussed some questions above. The mlm business and the online-marketing-business will more and more converge.
In my 43 years in this industry I experienced three serios economic crisis: 1982, 1993 and 2008. Each time it was a kind of stimulus package for the mlm sector.
SIR, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU ONE PRIVATE QUESTION IF YOU DON’T MIND ME DOING SO. FROM THE VERY BEGINNINGS OF YOUR BUSINESS ADVENTURE, WHO EXACTLY AND HOW IMPORTANT HAS BEEN YOUR WIFE TO YOU?
No problem, important question! As we all know: Where would we be without our wives? My wife and me got married in 1974, three years later, we started in MLM. Together we have been on a business-presentation in September 1977. I thought, maybe this is a nice business, but was not really convinced. But then my wife found out, that there is a free holiday every year at a wonderful beach or an island in the sun, payed by the company. After that, I was lost. She encouraged me, not to say pushed me to work. I had to do the job, no other choice. But we worked very well together. My wife is great at the phone, everybody loves her. She comforted the people. I loved to do the recruitment talks, business presentations and the trainings. I can say, we have been – and still are – a very good team.
The best company you can invest in is yourself. Interview with Michael Strachowitz
MR STRACHOWITZ, YOU ARE ALSO AN AUTHOR. ARE YOU PLANNING TO WRITE ANOTHER BOOK?
Yes, over the years I have collected so many stories and insights. I have tons of material form my weekly newsletters, Facebook-postings, YouTube-videos. My plan is, to put this together one bigger or several smaller books.
YOU ARE KNOWN FROM YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR. COULD YOU SHARE WITH OUR READERS ANY JOKE ABOUT MLM OR MAYBE A FUNNY ANECDOTE FROM THE OF LIFE OF A NETWORK MARKETER? OR MAYBE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO YOU RECENTLY.
Sure, her comes my favorite joke:
„Once a successful and deserving networker died. Let’s name him Joe. He knocked at heavens door, Holy Peter opened the door and accompanied him to the reception, to check out his behaviour on earth. Everything was OK, this guy always has been a correct and caring leader. So Peter gave him the choice: Joe, you can stay here in heaven or you can go down to hell. What do you prefere, he asked him? Joe answered, that he cannot make any decision before knowing more details. If it would be possible to make a sightseeing-tour to both places?
Peter agreed and showed him first heaven. It was wonderfull: Angels sitting on clouds, playing the harp, bright light everywhere. Joe was thinking: Nice, but a little bit boring. Then he took the elevator down to hell. The door of the elevator opened. He could hear loud music, a big bar with many good-looking ladies and gentlemen. The bar-tender served cool beer, champaign and fancy cocktails. It was a great party! As a network-marketer Joe loved it at once!
So he went up again to the reception, to tell Peter, that he would prefere to go down. Peter agreed and asked him to sign up the necessary papers. Afterwwards Joe took the elevator to go back downwards again. The door of the elevator opened – and he was shocked! No more music, the bar was closed – no beer, no wine. All the happy people – disappeared. In the background he heard soft moaning and sighing. Again and again, exhausted men carrying heavy loads passed by. What is that! Outraged, Joe went to the phone by the elevator and called Peter. He complained and told him about his disappointment. No more party, only hard work. But Peter replied calmly:
„Hey Joe, my friend, you are a professional network-marketer, you should know better. Welcome to the real world! What you have seen first, was the business presentation and the promotion-video.”
A MAN IN YOUR POSITION COULD GIVE UP COACHING. YOU HAVEN’T. YOU STILL TEACH PEOPLE, ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS AND SHOW THEM THE RIGHT PATH. WHY IS THAT?
I strongly believe, that the purpose of life is not to live for ourselves and just consume our time on earth. We all are gifted with talents and skills. Why is that? I’m convinced, that we should our potential to contribute to the world, to make a difference in other people’s lifes. And there is another egoistic motive: Nothing feels better than helping other people to live a better life.
MR STRACHOWITZ. DO YOU HAVE A LIFE MOTTO?
Yes, here it is: Don’t hurt, don’t judge, don’t taunt and ridicule. Listen, understand, appreciate, be grateful and trust in God.
THANK YOU MR STRACHOWITZ FOR THIS INTERVIEW. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to your precious work!
Editorial staff
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