Early Exposure

When I was attending University of Minnesota (circa 1980) my dad suggested that I could make more money in less time (compared to working in the local pizza joint) by selling something like Amway products. He had tried to get my mom to sell Amway when I was a kid. My dad was a classic salesman and, like most people, he probably confused networking businesses with door-to-door or direct-sales companies like Fuller Brush. In fact, most successful networkers are not what we think of as sales people.

I didn't act on my dad's suggestion right away. Then I found an Amway magazine in some waiting room and I noticed that the cover story was about a couple in Minneapolis. So I got their number from directory assistance and called them up. "How can I get started selling Amway products?" I asked. They thought it was a prank call. When I convinced them I was serious they sent their driver/butler/henchman to meet me at a local diner to make sure I wasn't some lunatic.

He explained to me that Dick and Bunny Marks were the most successful Amway distributors in the world. I must have passed the interview, because he invited me to meet Dick Marks. Dick was an imposing figure--a former cop from Winnipeg, Canada. But he was also funny and kind hearted and he sort of took me under his wing.

I learned so much from watching Dick and the other leaders of "The Business" as it was called. I also achieved some success in building my own "group." Most of the success stories were couples building their business together part-time. So Dick was fond of trotting me out as an example of a successful "single" building the business. I really enjoyed the camaraderie of the leaders and the upbeat atmosphere evident whenever we gathered.

Eventually I dropped out. The timing was due my move to Florida to perform at EPCOT with Sak Theatre. I rationalized quitting based on two factors. The first issue stemmed from the inconsistency of my business income. My group grew steadily, but my income was up one month and virtually non-existent in the next.

My second issue pertained to the effort that went into recruiting and specifically the energy that was expended in attending weekly business meetings. Getting suited up once each week for the "opportunity briefing" and again for the training meeting seemed daunting for a college student who spent most of his days in jeans and t-shirts. Looking back, it seems I didn't have enough experience in the real world to appreciate the true appeal of the networking dream: a sense of control over one's time and destiny.

Welcome to the Real World

Over the years, the perfect networking "prospect" has appeared in my life dozens of times. He's the person who is fed up and ready for a change. She's willing to do what it takes to break out of the rat race. I've actually recommended to these people that they go and find a networking opportunity and make their fortune. Sometimes I think if I just stayed in Amway and did nothing but wait for those perfect candidates to "drop into my lap," I could be a quadruple-diamond poobah enjoying Mai-tais on Figi.

The amazing thing is that I didn't get approached about another networking opportunity for years and years. Some friends got involved with an illegal pyramid scheme that left them all broke and embarrassed. But that's quite a different thing (even though people often confuse one for the other).

Follow the Leader

A good friend eventually got involved with another network company with a high tech product and lots of excitement. I got involved for just long enough to meet some networkers who had been successful in building organizations with more than one company. They were the "networking professionals." One of most respected and admired leaders was Robert Hollis, a one-time auto mechanic from North Dakota. He had already made millions in the industry, but had recently testified against the owner of a company he had helped to build. I was impressed with his down-home simplicity, his integrity and his generosity. Though he had no financial interest in my success in this new venture (I wasn't in his group), Robert befriended me and assisted me in building my business.

Several months later, the company suddenly shut down operations in the US. Robert went on to build another organization of over 180,000 representatives for a networking company that got into the telecom industry at the time of deregulation. We remained good friends and I watched him succeed from the sidelines.

Robert retired from networking for several years. We worked on a couple non-networking projects together and brainstormed what the ideal networking company would look like if we could create it from scratch. Robert and I share many of the same values and perspectives on life. Our friendship grew deeper.

Recently Robert called me with a new opportunity. He said, "Here's a company that fulfills three of the greatest desires people share: enjoying time with family, travelling in style and owning a business. They are positioned to take advantage of the extraordinary growth of the seven billion dollar worldwide travel industry and with only 10,000 reps, they have already begun rewarding top producers with company stock. This company's on the leading edge of the networking industry."

It's no surprise that this company shares our values and philosophy, because its founder and president acknowledges Robert as his mentor.  I told Robert, "If you're in, I'm in."

Here's my request of you, my friend: who do you know who would be willing to become a student part time for the next six to twenty-four months under the guidance of a master of marketing (Robert) to double or replace their full time income for life? Who do you know that is ready for a real opportunity and willing to work as hard for himself or herself than he ever has worked for anyone else to take control of his or her own life?

Do me a huge favor and provide their contact information on the contact page on this website. I'll direct them to the information they need (online) to evaluate the opportunity and I'll make it worth your while as well.

Did I mention that Robert has personally mentored 27 people who have become millionaires and hundreds (perhaps thousands) who have learned to enhance their income and lifestyle through networking? With the Internet, networking has never been easier. Do yourself a favor and get the facts about this opportunity. Read more about Robert and his "giving it forward" philosophy.