Promising personal development company, iLearning Global has announced that they are closing their network marketing operation in favor of moving to a retail model, effective pretty much immediately.
With one email thousands of independent associates had the rug pulled out from under their feet.
The reason why iLearning Global made this decision is glaringly obvious – it makes financial sense for them or else they wouldn’t have done it! All day long I’ve been listening to and reading comments from those who have been affected – in between frenzied sales pitches of course. Yes I was one of the thousands of people affected too. Funny how it does not take long before the vultures swoop.
Of course it’s a shock when you believe your company is stable and doing amazingly well to find out that this is not the case. However as with anything in life, how you deal with news of this nature is what really sets you apart from the pack. It has been very interesting to observe people’s reactions and responses today.
Ironically what comes to mind is a teaching by one of iLearning Global’s own faculty members, Marsha Petrie Sue. In her ” TLC of Choices” presentation, Marsha Petrie Sue states that no matter what happens to us, we always only ever have three choices – you can (T) take it as it is, (L) leave it and walk away or (C)change it. How refreshingly true and also how simple. If only we would just apply this to everything.
None of us can change the situation which means either you accept it the way it is, or you walk away, even if you don’t like it. The real damage to our energy occurs when we insist on complaining, moaning, blaming and wanting the outcome to be different. What a total waste of time.
Instead of wallowing in “Why me?”, a never ending self pity loop, rather ask, “What can I take from this experience to help me going forward and what do I have to do next that will be best for me and the people this decision affects?”
Is the end of this network marketing company a first? Of course not. Will it happen again with some other company? You can bet on it. Will it happen to you? Possibly. What can you do to prevent it? Absolutely nothing, BUT…. you can take care to look after what’s important – YOUR BUSINESS!
This is why building your business around any single company is about as short sighted as you can get. Do so and in effect you are dis-empowering yourself and your business. Why do you want to be at the mercy of any one single income stream when it can quite literally disappear overnight? Is there any difference between this and being employed when it comes to control?
No matter what company you choose to partner with, your business MUST be about YOU Inc. first and foremost! Your network marketing company should be an important, maybe even the most important income stream in your portfolio but NOT your exclusive income stream. Should the company disappear as they do, your business won’t disappear with them.
This is a big part of what attraction marketing is all about. Develop your business around YOU and your own brand, become the hunted rather then the hunter and most importantly earn income from various sources including a primary income opportunity. Surely this just makes sense? Why then do thousands of people insist on becoming industry casualties?
I’d love to hear your thoughts about this so please leave me a comment.
Remember my goal is helping you achieve yours!
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Well Marcus, It was over before it started for me. I just thought this company would be around. Wow!!
.-= Corey Ellis´s last blog ..A Review Of The Revolucion Worldwide Business Opportunity Plan =-.
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 19th, 2010 at 1:19 am
Yeah one never knows what’s around the corner which is why it’s good to always be prepared! You’ll figure it out Corey as long as you don’t give up and I know you won’t.
Marcus
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Marcus,
I’m sure as shocking as that was to you, it’s nice to know that your business is still growing. I can also tell that you’ve got the perfect mindset for life in general.
You Rock Marcus.
Jordan Schultz
~Social-Media Specialist~
.-= Jordan Schultz´s last blog ..How To Generate Massive Blog Traffic With A Simple Social Media Marketing Strategy =-.
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 19th, 2010 at 1:17 am
Thanks Jordan! I do think it’s all about how you handle the curved balls rather than resisting them. Works for me. See you at the top man!
Marcus
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Hello Marcus,
I love what you have written hear. It is so insightful and from the heart. Change makes us stronger and better. If things were easy, we’d have no room to grow.
Susanna
.-= Susanna Fera´s last blog ..What Do You want to be when you grow up? =-.
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 19th, 2010 at 7:21 am
Hello Susanna,
Thank you for your comment. I love your point about growing through adversity. Sometimes we forget that what we are being given is an opportunity to do just that, GROW.
Marcus
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Marcus, Sorry to hear you were in the middle of this, fortunately for you, your not a traditional Network Marketer. I was going to join ILG as a second opportunity soon, it looked like a great opportunity.
Ron Sherwood
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 19th, 2010 at 7:14 am
Hey Ron,
Thanks for your comment. Appreciate it. Another lesson in accepting that sometimes all is not what it seems I guess. I don’t think there is a single network marketer involved with ILG who saw this coming. They provided me and many others with massive value and we all believed it was a great opportunity too.I believe the reason our paths have been cleared is because another is about to be revealed and this may well be different for many.
Marcus
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I’ve learned in my life that nothing leaves my lives unless something better is coming. Everything always happens for the highest good. It is in challenging times as these true determination, leadership and positive attitude kicks in and expose who we truly are. Marcus , yo uare the leader that people should listen to.
I’m sure about your success and I don’t care what happens in the world, your mind is under your control. Thanks for a great post!
Vitaliy Dubinin
Realizing Dreams Through effective Online Marketing and personal development
.-= Vitaliy´s last blog ..How To Write A Marketing Plan – 5 Steps To Guarantee Your Success In Business =-.
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 19th, 2010 at 7:05 am
Thank you Vitaliy my friend. We are all powerful beyond our wildest imagination which means we are more than capable of dealing with whatever presents itself to us. In fact it comes our way as it does so that we can demonstrate this very power. There is always light ahead, we just have to open our eyes an see it. Thank you for your comment.
Marcus
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Great post Marcus, Great mindset to have as well. People who moan and whine about the situation they find themselves are always the ones that think the world owes them a living.
If a situation in your life changes deal with it, yes you can complain but at the end of the day the situation changed and you will still have to deal with.
Can’t wait to read more of your insight.
Tristram Lodge
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 19th, 2010 at 6:59 am
Hi Tristram,
Great to have you visit and thank you for your comment. I like to see difficulties like this as opportunities to improve my self management in terms of emotional energy. We do ourselves so much harm by focusing on “what isn’t” rather than just accepting and trusting that what is unfolding is for our own highest good.
Marcus
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Great mindset Marcus. What doesnt kill you makes you stronger my friend!!
.-= Stuar L Dennison´s last blog ..Don’t Get Sent To “Social Media Detention” =-.
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 19th, 2010 at 6:51 am
Thanks Stuart. That’s very true. Everything is always working towards our greater fulfillment so it makes sense to trust the plan as it unfolds and embrace the changes.
Marcus
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[...] I teach people how to be successful online with any business you choose to market. My good friend Marcus Baker has put it perfectly when he wrote that your business MUST be about YOU Inc. When you become the [...]
Great leadership Marcus. Keep moving forward as you do.People will learn from this post valuable lessons.
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 21st, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Thanks Maria. That is the key… to keep on moving forward.
Marcus
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Thank you for this great post Marcus, I agree completely with you, and your mindset.
As my favorite quote is “what can I learn from that?” this is for all of iLG ex-members a great time for changes, for learning, and move our b…
It comes on the right time with spring, and for me, my spring-move to Hawaii .
I can share also with everyone that I still feel shocked, and also at the same time, I feel grateful that I am able to take it this way (easy, man), and this is an excellent self-esteem booster! (how can you be a leader with a low self-esteem? ).
I’m glad that we can continue to use the iLG products, self-development is one of my passions. And I’m glad that I’m put in front of the opportunity to be creative now.
I wish that all of us , I mean ex-iLG members, are seeing the profitable side of this shock, and keep growing their own business with what they already build with iLG.
I’m glad that I got to know you Marcus, up to iLG.
Aloha. Brigitte
.-= Brigitte Charlon´s last blog ..THE STORY OF MISS-MARKETING MISTAKES, in 12 steps, or how to burn yourself fast in marketing – part two - =-.
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 21st, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Yes Brigitte, it is a learning time for us all but that is the only way we can grow!
Marcus
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Marcus great post for many reasons.
#1 Your Mindset going forward.
#2 You not only talk the “YOU INC” model but you walk it my friend.
#3 Right now at this moment I’m sure many who were part of this company need a beacon of hope.
#4 This is attraction marketing validation at it’s best!
Awesome job!!!
.-= Roger Holmes´s last blog ..Mindset – There’s No Better Time Than Right Now! =-.
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 21st, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Thanks your your generous words my friend. Everything is going to a greater plan!
Marcus
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Marcus, you are so right it is about how we handle what we are dealt. Love the TLC concept too get suggestion!
I only hope that those who found themselves in this sudden situation read their contract next time (the Policies & Procedures) then they will know that this might be able to happen to them again if the same wording is in the next contract as it was with ILG. It is stated very clearly that is was an option for the company and one that was obviously discussed or it would not be in the P&P’s.
Always read the contract people! Eyes wide open!
“Dream, Believe, Become…”
Tracey Keefer
.-= Tracey Keefer´s last blog ..iLearningGlobal Teaches their Last Lesson to Late…Always Read the Contract? =-.
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 21st, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Yes Tracey, reading the small print is part of being prepared for any and every eventuality! Thank you for your comment.
Marcus
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I like this: you can take care to look after what’s important – YOUR BUSINESS!
Great post Marcus!
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 21st, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Hi Martin,
Thank you for highlighting the most important lesson of all.
Marcus
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Hey Marcus
Unfortunate things will happen in life and business. It not the situations or the problem that defines us. Its they way in which we handle the situation or problem.
You have done a great job or presenting the problem and how you have dealt which it shows a true strength of character.
Winners win and you sir are a winner!
Dwayne
.-= Dwayne Huggins´s last blog ..By: Dwayne Huggins =-.
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Marcus Baker Reply:
March 21st, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Thanks Dwayne! Appreciate your words. You are right, challenges will continue to arise so the sooner we learn to handle these in the best possible way, the better for us.
Marcus
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