One reason is that they understand the importance of being a leader. They are in business for themselves, not for their upline or the company that provides their products. Their ability to think on their own two feet, make rational decisions and wear about 20 different hats gives others the impression that they know their stuff. They also have firmly grasped the concept of being a leader and how the following 8 characteristics apply to their business.

1. Knowledge

Keep a journal to gather information. You do not need to know everything, but sometimes a few things that you do not know will hurt you. The best way to use knowledge as a business building tool is to attend every conference call you can fit into your schedule. Listen and record, then review. If you are not continually learning and applying your knowledge to your business, how can you expect your downline to do it? Show them how important it is to learn by being a student yourself.

2. Vision

Your ability to see the future is critical to the success of your business. When you have vision, you can put one foot in front of the other and go after your goals. Leaders become inspired by the possibilities of what can happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. When you are able to visualize your future, you can inspire others to see theirs. Not everyone has the ability to use optimism as a motivator. Sometimes they need others to paint the picture for them.

3. Faith

Seeing the future and what it has in store for you is one thing, but actually believing it can happen is quite another. When you believe things are possible, you begin to have faith in yourself. When you find faith in yourself, you can then find faith in others. If you live in a constant state of denial, thinking that only good things happen to intelligent or lucky people, you will always be stuck. When you believe in yourself, you get the job done. When you believe in others, they get their job done.

4. Confidence

People like to be around others who have confidence. It lifts their spirit and inspires them to work harder. Leaders know what they have and are confident to acquire more. They also have the ability to help others acquire what they want. When you shift your focus away from yourself and give others confidence, you actually acquire more through their success. Only leaders know this is an important part of building a business.

5. Inspiration

Leaders inspire others of who they can become. Inspiration always comes from someone else first, so always look for the good in a person and absorb it. Everyone has flaws, but it takes a good leader to see the value in a person. Even if it is only one little characteristic. Just imagine how much of an inspiration you would be if you took each little bit of good that you see in others and collectively applied them all to yourself. People would beg you to work with them.

6. Integrity

Protect your reputation by always choosing the high road. Leaders show others how to have integrity and respect for themselves and their businesses by example. Problems always surface when you are trying to grow a business, that is inevitable. The way you handle the problems can make or break your success. If something makes you stop and think whether it is right or wrong, chances are good that it is wrong. Always do the right thing, no matter what.

7. Compassion

When you put yourself in other people's shoes, you have a better understanding of where they are coming from. Never lose your cool just because someone does not follow your plan or listen to everything you have to say. Sometimes circumstances become overwhelming and a person runs out of options. People hit brick walls and have bad times. Leaders who know how to show compassion without pampering keep their businesses strong. No one can cross back over a bridge that you burned by poor judgement. Always keep the door open.

8. Humility

You would not be able to grow a home-based business in network marketing without the help of others. Leaders remember that they are a part of something but not the focus. They are the part that gets things going, but it is the activity of others that gets the job done. When you have a larger-than-life ego, it turns people away. Treat others the way you would want to be treated and keep your focus shifted away from yourself. Helping others will give you all the satisfaction you need.

The bottom line is that you can not grow a business until you position yourself as a leader, and you cannot be a leader until you have applied these eight characteristics to yourself. This is the mindset that it takes to bring in 20-30 people a week into your business. If you don't think that is possible, you need to work on your vision, faith and confidence. When you believe it can happen, you start to look for ways to make it happen. This is how I turned my business around and how I inspire others to do the same.

There is no need for a 95% drop-out rate in network marketing. When you stop looking to your upline as the leader of your business and start being the leader of your business, dropping out will become a thing of the past.