The Magic of Modeling for Your Business

A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of beginning a wonderful relationship with an extremely successful network marketer in my area.  Jimmy Yammer I’ll call him, was a mere 28 years old but he had a fire in his gut for his part time pursuit.  When I inquired as to why he was so excited about what he did, he immediately brightened up and explained that he loved being able to help others gain control of their lives with the financial freedom that his business helped to create.  Upon further inspection as to why he was looking for a business coach he clearly communicated that although he was extremely happy with his decision to enter the business, he wasn’t receiving the financial rewards that he’d anticipated.  He’d followed every strategy that his company suggested.  Over the course of the last few years it seemed that he’d listened to every training CD, bought all of the extra marketing material and attended every national training conference that he could.   He’d never shied away from discussing his business to any stranger.  In fact, much to my surprise, he would periodically share his business card and pitch with people as we were meeting in a local coffee shop.  Still, like quite a few network marketers Jimmie couldn’t figure out what was wrong.

After asking a few very pointed questions, I was able to determine that in spite of his useful enthusiasm and aggressive posturing, Jimmie was horrible at the one meaningful skill that he needed to be successful.  You see, no matter how hard Jimmie tried he couldn’t convince people that his business was a great opportunity for everyone. Very few people actually believed him enough to jump on board and support his leadership.  The problem was simple; Jimmie needed to learn how to become a better recruiter. To do that, Jimmie needed to simply model himself after an exceptionally successful recruiter.

Jimmie is a typical business man in that, whenever he gets a new idea or the mood seems to strike him, he takes off running.  There’s no stopping his momentum!  I mean he’s out of the gate with quickly when it comes to implementing his ideas.  A man of action personified is the best way to describe him.  Like most leaders Jimmie embraces movement over thinking.  This is precisely the thing that get’s in his way when it comes to actually motivating people to move forward.  He bops around from place to place like “Ricochet Rabbit.” I’m sure that you can see that this is where too much self esteem can get you into trouble.

It took quite a bit of doing but I was able to get Jimmie to slow down long enough to make some sense of his actions.  Using the VisionQuest90 model, we helped Jimmie see the value of whole brain thinking.  Within 90 days, I helped Jimmie turn himself into a recruitment monster.  When we finished, he new exactly what to say to whom and when.  He could spot potential prospects for his team effortlessly and he was able to apply his new found skills with the level of expertise that was reserved for individuals that had spent years learning.  You see with focus, Jimmie learned to apply a strategy of his own making to a market of his choosing effectively.  In no time he was on his way to becoming a masterful recruiter.  Jimmie was quickly able to embrace the concept of the modeling mentor and its two major benefits.

Becoming a modeling mentor does great things for you.

You see, proper modeling affects both the individual leader as well as the team.   It could be argued in fact that the greatest rewards in modeling go to the leader.  It seems as though adults learn and are at their best when they are required to be an example for others.  Let’s explore the details of this concept.

The myth that we are born great, that there is somehow some innate DNA regulated blueprint that defines if we will become the stars of industry or die poor and desolate is absolutely ludicrous.  This notion that we can’t accomplish the things that we can imagine has been challenged and studied with quite a bit of academic rigor for the last hundred years.  What we have found is that people are simply encouraged by others to reach high and move beyond even their own imaginings. Yes, you’ll have to have a work ethic and the support of others but choosing the right models helps each of us see the possibilities of our own potential.  It’s proof that what we want to do might not be as far reaching as we would belief.  In fact models not only show us what perfection is they simultaneously inspire us to reach beyond it.

Many believe as I do that mentoring, another form of modeling benefits the mentor more than it does the protégé.  You see the modeling mentor is on a consistent quest for perfection in whatever discipline he’s engaging in.  Jimmie almost instinctively knows that he is going to have to communicate better and provide clarity first for himself and then for those that would join his team.  This means that he’s going to have to go over the details of his plans routinely and hold regular meetings with his team as he marches forward with a thoughtful agenda.  He’s going to have to sharpen his vision and mission planning skills to help others see the possibilities with being involved with his team.  He’ll have to provide a consistent and simple strategy for success in order to get others to really trust him and commit with him to move forward.  Finally, he’s got to align his behaviors and thoughts in a way that makes so much sense as to almost be predictable for everyone involved.  This extreme level of accountability and willing transparency is the perfect way to demonstrate integrity and passion simultaneously.

Great modeling mentors can save the world.

In fact the characteristics of a great “modeling mentor” are exactly what we all need to feel and be successful in life.  Imagine the rare occasion when you get to sit down with a highly skilled and respected person as she delivers a brilliant presentation to you. In this presentation she consistently demonstrates with absolute clarity the logical and rational reasons why she believes that you would be a good fit for her team.  She demonstrates clearly how welcome you will feel in the team meetings and how beneficial it would be for a person just like you to work her as you experience success.  If you are anything like me, I wouldn’t even ask any questions.  I’d just sign up!

The point is, that we all need great modeling mentors.  They inspire and motivate us to act by witnessing the sheer power of their proven systems.  They help us hold on to our discipline long enough to experience success.  They encourage our faith and nurture our vision of possibility.  The environment that they create for us help us to stay focused on our goals and values.  Simply put, they believe in us and we feel great about it.  This is the same type of environment that great parents create for their children and that brilliant leaders create for their teams.

None of this, I suggest is easy for any small business leader but I’m sure that you would agree that long term success requires this kind of thinking at a minimum.  The most important thing that any business leader can do for him self and others is to model the right behavior.  In the face of any economic reality effective modeling helps to create lasting success and should never be taken lightly.

Until next time, welcome to the revolution!

-Coach Powell

“Your success is our focus”