As you begin to build your MLM business,  you will not be able to avoid the task of recruiting new prospects.  Sometimes you may want to, but it won’t work…:)  So how can you best maximize your time to focus on those that have the potential to be great MLM leaders?  Over the last ten years, I have figured out there are a few key traits that you should be aware of as you go through your recruiting techniques.

Previous Success: The chances of you being able to convince a fairly successful prospect to leave their current MLM network to join yours is highly unlikely.  However,  people who have success in another field are exactly the kind of prospect you should pursue.  I was that prospect.  10 years ago I was brand new to network marketing but I brought with me my previous success in business and real estate.  Any prospect who has some success in a previous field could be classified as a greater fit for MLM than someone who has dropped out of school and hasn’t had great employment history.  We aren’t looking for the couch potatoes…Working hard and the desire to obtain goals are traits your  MLM prospects must have.

Ambition: Successful people tend to share this common trait. We are hungry, driven, and are just plain looking for more out of life.  The status quo just won’t do and we tend to be visionaries, looking for the next steps to making a better life and how to achieve it.  The prospects that possess this trait are a hot commodity so try to add as many people with ambition as you can.  I have always been driven to succeed whether it was UC Berkeley, IBM, cooking school or investing in real estate.  Look for people who have that drive.  It will be so much more fun for you to work with them.  And if you aren’t that ambitious person yet, then really think about what your vision for your life is and make a decision to go for it.

Willingness to Learn: Regardless of where the prospect may be starting from, there’s a decent chance that there will be things that they’ll need to learn and be coached through so they have the tools to be successful.  The prospect’s willingness to be coached and taught is a crucial element.  As you discuss the opportunity with your prospect, are they cutting you off during the conversation?  Do they seem to know everything there is to know about MLM? Keep in the back of your mind “Are they coachable?”.  If they aren’t willing to learn anything or take your advice, then chances are they may not be the great prospect you were looking for.  Keep that in mind for yourself too – none of us have all the answers and the more open we are to learning, the faster we and our businesses will grow.

Entrepreneurial Mindset: As you first begin to interact with a prospect is when you should start to assess them and figure out what their motivations are.  The important part is determining their mindset about finances and money.  Do they think that making money is about having a job and getting paid or is it reflected more in an investment and profits sort of way? Don’t get me wrong.  Wage earners play an important role in society but the hourly earning approach may not necessarily make them into the MLM leaders of tomorrow.  It might but it might not.  A person who has knowledge about owning a business or investments may be more likely to possess entrepreneurial qualities and have a better understanding of the startup costs that are required to begin and know that building a business doesn’t happen overnight.  It takes time and the entrepreneur knows that and is willing to put the time in.  If you have limited time for prospecting, then focus on small business owners.  It is the best use of your time!

Upbeat Attitude: You won’t like being around or be willing to coach prospects with a negative attitude.  It can be difficult to be around people that have a constant pessimistic outlook on life.  Our MLM business works so much better with people that are upbeat and positive.  Those negative people will need to have a huge change in their mindset in order to make it work.  Make sure to pursue the prospects that possess that positive outlook already because it’s those people that will potentially have an easier time prospecting themselves and won’t be discouraged at the first signs of difficulty.  And if you have a debbie downer attitude, get to work on seeing the cup is half full instead of half empty.  At least half full.

Self Starter: These are the type of people who will go out there and get things done.  Having people that are self-motivated as part of your team will prove to be a great asset as they are capable of identifying their own strengths and weaknesses.  Self-starters aren’t waiting to be told by anyone on what their next steps should be.  They recognize what paths are needed to be taken and take action.  These prospects will typically show the most enthusiasm.  I was a self-starter in this business 10 years ago.  I didn’t know what I was doing but I didn’t wait for someone else to tell me.  I figured it out.  If you have a great upline and training system to tap into, then by all means that is a great place to start but don’t tell yourself you won’t make it if you don’t.  It is amazing what we can achieve when we decide to.  I am so glad I decided!

Communication Skills: Prospects that have the ability to communicate clearly are a bonus to any downline.  Communication is more than being able to relay the messages they’re trying to convey but listening as well.  We want to listen twice as much as we talk.  Ask great questions.  Draw people out.  Show interest in what they are saying and being able to effectively express your own thoughts through verbal and non-verbal cues is a skill that can help grow any MLM business.  Look for people who are good at talking to people and care about communicating in a positive way.

These are what I consider the most important traits to look for during your prospecting time. Keeping them in mind as you speak with people will steer your efforts and time towards those who can help you get where you want to go faster and with more fun!