When asked about the three most important qualities for someone to make it in network marketing, immensely successful networker and founding Success University member Ned Rae immediately replied ?Attitude, Attitude and Attitude?. It's a well-known fact in the employment world that if someone with a great attitude comes to an interview lacking a required skill or two for the job, teaching them that skill is a simple matter. If, on the other hand, they have all the right skills but the wrong attitude, you just thank them for their time, and move on to the next candidate. All the skills in the world won't make someone who suffers from ?Stinkin? Thinkin?? a productive employee.



So it's not really surprising that in the world of network marketing (where we're working for ourselves), attitude is the strongest determinant of our success. Yes, business structure, compensation plan, product and training systems are all important. But without the right attitude, they're just tools lying unused in a tool box ? they don't end up building anything. It makes sense, then, for those of us who are new to network marketing to focus on this all-important aspect of ourselves ? at least if we want to be successful. The only question is exactly what about our attitudes we should focus on. In answer, Ned had the following suggestions:

BE COACHABLE

There's no quicker way to fail in the world of MLM than to walk into a business assuming you already know what's going to work and what won't. While it's true that different people have different strengths, and different methods work better for some than for others, it's important to remember that if it's been done before (and it will have been ? by plenty of people in your upline) it can be done again. Get alongside as many of your successful upline as you can ? ask them how you can make your business work, listen to what they say, and then follow through on their suggestions. If something doesn't seem to be working, get alongside them again, and ask them what you could be doing differently, rather than assuming the concept itself is flawed.

UNDERSTAND YOUR WHY

While there may well be people who get into network marketing because they genuinely enjoy the challenges of the sales process, most of us signed up with our chosen business because it had potential to help us achieve something big in our lives. Whether we saw the potential to provide for our families, to create a financially secure future for ourselves, or just to finally get ourselves debt-free, there was *something* in the original opportunity that inspired us to get involved ? our reason ?why?. A big part of motivating ourselves to do the work that needs to be done in network marketing is keeping this ?why? at the forefront of our minds, and constantly reminding ourselves that, if we want to get there, we've got to do what it takes.

STAY POSITIVE

Tied closely to understanding your ?why? is developing the ability to stay positive. Like anything else, there will be ups and downs to your business. Staying positive through the downs won't just make you more successful in the long run ? it will make life far more enjoyable while you're getting there.

So there you have it ? the three keys to developing an attitude that will lead you to success. And of course, the great thing about attitude determining your success? It's the one thing you have complete control over. You may not be able to do anything to change your company's business structure, compensation plan, product or training systems, but you can always change your attitude. So make a commitment to yourself. Learn what you need to learn to change what you need to change. Your success is worth it.