The Importance of Self-Esteem for Networking Professionals

Studies show that at least 85 percent of the world's people suffer from some degree of lacking self-esteem. Although one might think that such challenges are characteristic of the poor, uneducated, or lower socio-economic members of society, the truth is that people from all walks of life can suffer situational or more widespread challenges with their levels of self-esteem.

Networkers are likely to suffer from similar statistics when it comes to being deficient in self-esteem in one or more areas of their lives.

Some struggle with their communication, may feel socially challenged, or have difficulty establishing close or intimate relationships. Others experience low self-esteem with regard to their physical appearance or their health.

Many may not be having any fun in their lives. All these qualities detract from the likelihood that they will achieve the level of success they desire in their businesses or personal lives.

I believe that low self-esteem is the number one reason why people fail to succeed in network marketing. As with any type of sales occupation, to get to the "yes's" one must be willing to plow through a far greater number of "no's."

Those lacking self-esteem have a tendency to take rejection personally. Instead of embracing the belief that network marketing is simply not for everyone, they instead misinterpret their prospects' objections to mean that there must be something wrong with them.

Many lacking sufficient self-esteem fear being invalidated so they don't prospect anywhere near the numbers required to achieve the success they desire. They opt for doing what is convenient rather than what will lead to the results they hope for. They choose looking good or being liked instead of risking rejection.

When they fail to encounter immediate success with minimal ineffective effort, they will likely use the evidence they have created to justify their decision to quit by saying "no one wants to do this!"

Not only do those lacking sufficient self-esteem tend to avoid the consistency (day-in and day-out prospecting) and persistency (rigorous follow up) required to be successful in this business, but they also tend to exude such qualities as doubt, timidity, low energy, lacking confidence, and diminished personal power.

Their self-doubt kills their charisma factor and attractiveness as a business partner and sponsor. They self-sabotage by putting forth an energy and action level that is typically consistent with failure.

They fail to master their new profession with the same educational commitment given to traditional professions. They then get to be right about expecting to fail and return to the resignation that characterized their lives before being introduced to their networking opportunity.

The answer to escaping the vicious cycle of lacking self-esteem, diminished confidence, and the never-ending, frustrating quest for fulfillment lies in the three-step process as laid out in detail in my Self-Esteem Book.

The process starts with healing one's past so that it no longer robs us of energy and consumes our attention. Once the pull of past ghosts is complete, we can then turn our attention to properly analyzing our present state of affairs.

We can identify what's working in our lives and what's missing to support living an upset-free life in choice, a life that honors our most important values and inspires us to live passionately.

Network marketing offers us the perfect environment to grow and reach our utmost potential. It offers us the ability to create a compelling vision for our lives, design an action plan to achieve the personal and financial freedom required to realize that vision and grow in our love for ourselves and others along the way.

It can provide us with a magic wand that allows us to be our best and have, do, and be everything we ever dreamed possible. We can take that magic wand that is our birth-right, wave it over our lives and design our future deliberately.

We can choose to do so in a way that excites us, as we cast off that gloomy state of low self-esteem, unhealthy resignation and self-pity that no longer supports us. As we build our network marketing dynasties, we can live with the intention to honor our God-given magnificence and lead happy, fulfilled lives that fully contribute to others as we share our gifts with the world.