If you're like me, someone who grew up in the 70's and 80's, you remember a time when TVs only had about 3 channels. And, you had to get off the couch to change those channels. The TV show Star Trek was incredibly popular and every kid was fascinated with all the high-tech gadgets like Captain Kirk's hand-held "communicator". Very cool stuff indeed.



Now jump forward 30 years. Without question, times and technology have changed. Today's electronic devices have long surpassed even the most creative imaginations of Star Trek's brilliant writers. Yes it's true, and they will continue to do so at an exponential rate.

Today a "personal data assistant", like the Blackberry or iphone, is quickly rendering the once popular cell phone obsolete. One of these fancy gadgets can play video or audio files, snap photos, send and receive email, and even surf the web – all from the palm of your hand.

However, here's something you may not have realized:

Today's young people have advanced right alongside technology.

This is something I know all too well. I see it everyday firsthand in my 3 young daughters. Without effort they can find any information they want in a matter of seconds online. For them, music and videos by their favorite artists are always just a few clicks away. Simultaneously sending text message broadcasts to their friends is second nature. Even a vote for their American Idol favorite is right at their fingertips.

And here's the kicker. My oldest daughter is only 12 years old.

Young people today are smarter than ever. In fact, most of today's teenagers have never known a time without computers or the internet. For many of them, a computer is as commonplace as a TV or microwave. To not have one is strange.

So what does all of this high-tech talk have to do with MLM?

Well, here's an interesting fact for you. At my MLM company's last national convention, the top 2 income earners started in the 90's. BUT, the fastest movers which started much later (and will very soon be the new top income earners) are all doing business online. Think about that and let it soak in for a moment.

To help you understand how this happens, consider this. Network Marketers who started during the 80's and 90's were taught to drive all over town to do 1, 2, or 3 live one-on-one presentations per day, call 50-100 leads per day to do 5-10 phone presentations and attend 1 or 2 hotel meetings per week.

On the contrary, experienced online Network Marketers have proprietary "marketing systems" in place to do 25-50 or more presentations per day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – on autopilot. They have created a true home-based business model.

For them, gone are the days of wasting time, money, and energy (not to mention gas) chasing prospects and "overcoming objections". Because their systems do the work for them, they can truly experience time and money freedom that is so often promised in this industry yet seldom achieved. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it?

It appears the MLM industry is finally starting to embrace technology. Until now, company replicated websites and a few cheesy autoresponders were the extent of it. However, as more and more computer- literate distributors join the ranks, organizations will continue to grow faster and faster.

Perhaps you haven't realized it yet, but today's brilliant young people are the future of MLM and the home-based business industry. What's more, these sharp minds are either going to be fellow team members or the competition.

You will either have the pleasure of leading them or the agony of competing against them.

Now imagine for a moment it's 3-5 years in the future. You haven't done your homework and you're trying to tell an internet savvy prospect the way to build a business is by using the 3 Foot Rule, posting flyers on grocery store bulletin boards, running ads in the "Thrifty Nickel", dropping sizzle cards in parking lots and wearing silly buttons.

What are you going to say when they respond with, "Why would I do that when I can advertise to millions of people online?" I hope you have an answer.

Now take a look at the better alternative. Let's say that you took the time and made the effort to educate yourself and develop skills that are up-to-date. (You do want to be successful don't you?) Imagine what it would be like if you could tell a prospect:

* That you can show them how to generate endless free leads for both custormers and distributors. (No, I'm not talking about "free classifieds")

* That you can show them how to generate income online immediately so that their advertising never comes out of their own pocket. And...

* Because of the knowledge and skills they'll acquire by working with you, they will attract other sharp people and have prospects chasing them instead of the other way around.

NOW what kind of response do you think you'll get from an internet savvy prospect? See the difference?

So ask yourself this question, "What will you do to move your business into the future?" Will you learn the skills necessary to lead your team into the internet age or will you keep doing the same old tired antics passed down through the ages?

Yes the future is tomorrow, but tomorrow's success depends upon what you do today.

Technology and the internet can be the most powerful tools at a Network Marketers disposal. Take the time to learn how to put them to work for you. Trust me, your competition will.

And finally, keep in mind the future of MLM is brighter than ever. With big names in the financial arenas like Trump, Buffet, and Kiyosaki raving about the strength and legitimacy of Network Marketing, things are just going to get better and better. Educate yourself today to make sure you're in business, tomorrow.