My wife brought up a very good point today. I have written essays, articles, and poetry for years. I write what I enjoy writing and write about what I want to write about, and write it in my own unique and personal style.
Nothing wrong with that, but, when it comes to articles on business, marketing, internet businesses, etc., I have missed an entire audience. As my wife pointed out, I have always written at a certain level, and, at that level, I always assumed a certain knowledge or experience in the people I was writing for or to. I'm not talking about intelligence. I'm talking about knowledge and experience.
That's how I have missed my audience! If you are already knowledgeable about internet marketing or network marketing, let's say, you can read my article, agree with it, disagree with it, comment on it, and, maybe even get an insight or piece of information that you didn't already know.
However, what about the person with NO experience or real knowledge of internet or network marketing? My entire article, my carefully contrived web of words and masterful turn of phrase, my recital of personal experiences is meaningless to this person! They have no clue, or only a vague conception, of what I am talking about.
Additionally, the experienced individual probably already has some sort of internet business with which they are involved. If they take anything away after reading my article, they are going to apply it to THEIR BUSINESS! I may get a thank-you. I may get an award, but, I DON'T GET THEIR BUSINESS because they already have one.
On the other hand, if my article is structured and designed to provide useful information to the individual who has not yet learned about how to market things on the internet, and if I include basic, yet helpful information to that individual, I now have a reader who not only wishes to read more of what I have written, but who will follow my guidance in the selection of an internet or network marketing business...probably in my downline.
Now, not only do I have a new recruit in my business, but this is someone who is motivated to follow my lead, willingly accepting the guidance and training I offer.
There are many principles which have been around a long time in the recruiting of new people into network marketing, but I'll just mention three here.
First, you can get people's attention and draw their interest to your business opportunity by offering something of value for free.
Second, you need to be able to train the new recruit.
Third, they are more likely to be successful if you can provide a system which can be duplicated, even by the inexperienced! Well, suppose you (or I) have written a series of interesting, informative and instructional articles aimed at inexperienced people and we give these articles to them for free. These articles form the basis of the training of these people, and, once they are part of our downline, we can continue their training through additional articles. We can also begin to provide them access to those tools or programs we have found to be of value in this second phase of their training. Finally, we can give them the packet of training materials that we have provided to them so that they can begin recruiting THEIR downlines by offering this material for free in order to draw attention to their business.
Sounds like we are on the verge of creating a "perpetual motion machine" of sorts. Wouldn't that be great?
As Spock would say, "Fascinating."
Copyright 2006 Donovan Baldwin
As well as many more wise sayings for which he is so well renowned.
One of the best known is the one quoted above, "Give a man a fish; feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish; feed him for a lifetime", which has a wonderful analogy with the modern world of management today.
The metaphor of feeding someone and that sufficing to get them through one day, and one day alone shows that people can only be helped so far. If we help them and do things for them all the time, then they rely on us, which is not only unhealthy for their development of skills, but also potentially dangerous, if we are not there to help them one day, their very future is at risk.
The principle whereby we rely totally on the support, guidance and even nurturing of someone else, for too long a period, is typical of many modern management environments. The old-style 'command and control' management processes lead to employees only being required or even able to do what they were told, which puts great pressure on those doing the telling.
Not only that, but where employees are not provided with stimulating work and aren't asked to challenge themselves mentally, this often leads to demotivation and then higher absence rates, as well as employee turnover that such boredom precipitates.
Lack of stimulation=boredom=frustration=leave to find something else.
Let's look at the flip side, where we 'teach a man to fish'. Not only does the man become self-sufficient and be able to survive without being provided for, but he has a sense of achievement and fulfillment. How good does an angler feel as he pulls a fish from the water?
Much better than when one is placed generously in front of him, merely to eat. Sure it may be good, for a while, to be provided for, but human psyche is bigger than that in a healthy human being. People need to be valued for who they are.
So - we 'teach them to fish'. In the workplace, by teaching out people new skills, we validate them for who they are and the contribution they are able to make. They know they are useful and valued and with this confidence they do more. They learn that to stretch themselves is good. That they have within themselves untapped resources which show off the potential they have always had, now released.
Indeed 'teaching them to fish' realizes not just the material potential they have, but catalyses even bigger capabilities in them. Their development muscle has been stretched and exercised, so it becomes bigger and more capable.
The business upside for 'teaching our people to fish'? Well, managers are able to offload some of their tactical workload to others who relish the opportunity. This frees managers to do more with more of their people.
A workplace environment that becomes the breeding ground for capable, committed and excited employees, straining at the leash to do more. Managers enable their business to become a developmental mixing bowl of ideas and capability like nothing before.
In a business world where the embodiment of excellent management is an operation that works at least as well (and sometimes better!), when the manager is absent is to be acknowledged as the purest quality.
And with that level of capability developed, all because the manager taught his people 'how to fish', business thrives.
In the hurried excitement of the crazy business world of today, how Lao Tzu would be impressed at the relevance of his ancient words.
Both Donovan Baldwin & Martin Haworth are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Donovan Baldwin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Women, Health and Bodybuilding Supplements. Donovan Baldwin is a graduate of the University of West Florida (1973) and is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service. He is a successful internet marketer and frequently contributes articles on a wide range of subjects to various web sites.. Donovan Baldwin's top article generates over 1220000 views. to your Favourites.
Martin Haworth has sinced written about articles on various topics from Finances, Interview Questions and Team Building. (c) 2007 Martin Haworth is a Business and Management Coach, trainer and writer. He works worldwide, mainly by phone, with small business owners, managers and corporate leaders. He has hundreds of hints, tips and ideas at his website,. Martin Haworth's top article generates over 3350000 views. to your Favourites.