Over at the JasonBetter blog today they talked about information overload and eleven ways to deal with it in a network marketing business.
One that really hit home with me was divorcing the “Jack of all Trades” mentality from my old habits.
We see a lot of network marketers finding themselves in this predicament.
They are given so much to do from prospecting and recruiting to training, that they soon find themselves carrying the entire load of their business despite being their expertise.
Contrary to belief, being a Jack of all Trades actually hurts your business.
Because while you’re learning how to be, say a marketing expert, you are unable to concentrate on your key area of expertise.
Think of any area in the business and we would quickly see there’s some room for improvement.
Here is how we approach this within Maverick Business Builders…
5 Top Reasons to Not be a Jack of all Trades in Network Marketing
#1 – Requires concentration in all areas.
Jack of all trades, master of none really requires you to concentrate and specialize in all areas of a business. The amount of time it takes to learn all of the different skill-sets takes you away from your primary areas you are really proficient in.
#2 – Knowing all facets of a network marketing business leads to unsatisfactory conditions.
By not knowing all that is required for one particular skill, it leaves the network marketer with an unfulfilled sense they haven’t given it their all.
#3 – Too much leads to confusion.
Having to know all that it is required to have a thriving home business, a network marketer soon finds themselves with having to determine which information they need to process and apply in their business.
#4 – Don’t want to be a know it all.
If running a home business isn’t enough to carry on their shoulders, the last thing a network marketer wants to be classified as is a cocky know it all. Having a broad knowledge is one thing, but having to be well versed in all areas is quite cumbersome and not necessary or productive use of time.
#5 – Less of all and more of one.
Like a CEO would be for their company, they would understand the different departments and functionalities at a high level but they would particularly focus their time in the specialized expert and that is being a CEO.
There you have it, five top reason why any network marketer should not specialize in being a jack of all trades, master of none.
Instead, they can put their emphasis into their specialized area of expertise, doing what they do best, moving their business forward.
This is the quickest way to having a successful home business. Hands Down!!!
Are you a Jack of all Trades?
How have you been able to divorce this bad habit in your business?
Jerome Ratliff
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Hey Jerome,
Great stuff!
When I started online marketing for the first time. I focused just on article marketing so I can master it before moving on to any other way of marketing. It is important to be strong in an area and then build a foundation around it.
Chat with you later…
Josh
Thanks much Josh.
Take and learn one area at a time.
Jerome Ratliff
I agree, too much leads to confusion.
The best way is to master one skill and be known well for that skill.
Thanks for your post Jerome.
Wayne Vassell, signing out…
Hey Wayne,
Master of one, not none.
What a cultural shock!
Jerome Ratliff
You mean…I can’t do this all by myself?
What kind of crazy nonsense is that?!?!? You mean to tell me I might need to OUTSOURCE some tasks that take away from my PRIMARY FOCUS and allow me to concentrate on what I do BEST and leave the rest to somebody else?
MADNESS!!
Great post, Jerome. Sometimes we need a little nudge to remind us to keep our “eyes on the prize” and remain focused. I’m just as guilty as anyone else of trying to do way too many things, all at the same time.
Good stuff. Keep it coming!
Mike Paul
How’s it going Mike?
Thanks for dropping by MBB…
What’s crazy is people do feel this way. I like your sense of humor.
And your right Mike…keeping our “eyes on the prize” is SOOOO important.
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Jerome,
Oh you are so right. And it’s very draining to try to do it all, know it all…
I wasted a lot of time when I first brought my business online, trying to figure out how to do everything. Whew, what a headache.
I have since outsourced a couple of technical things (not my forte), and freed myself from the time-sink and headache.
Great topic. So glad you covered it.
Susanna
.-= Susanna Hess´s last blog ..Email Open Rate – Subject Line Is NOT The Biggest Deal =-.
It sure is mentally exhausting Susanna.
Glad to hear you pushed your comfort zone, that’s really a hard thing to do.
Jerome Ratliff
Jerome,
Great points! I don’t know html and css and quite frankly have no desire to. If need be, I’m sure I can find a teenage techie in my neighborhood ; )
While it is essential to have an array of skilss, mastering one before moving on to the next is imperative. Additionally, you don’t have to master ALL skills, master one and have a good working knowledge of other essential skills.
Have a great day!
Twila
.-= Twila Jacobs´s last blog ..How to Get Bookings and Recruit at Direct Sales Parties =-.
Hi Twila,
Yeah, get really good at one and stick with it. It’s the right place to start.
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Jerome,
Yeah, focus on those tasks that make you money and move the rest down the list or outsource.
Especially training can drain you. You shouldn’t have to spend more than a week with your new team member, then gently push him/her out of the nest to fly on their own. There’s a lot of great training readily available on the internet. Tons of it for free even. Imagine that!
Awesome topic!
Enjoy your day!
Ilka
.-= Ilka Flood´s last blog ..Why You Should Surround Yourself With Successful People =-.
Hi Ilka,
Agree, sometimes we need to let our teams rise to the occasion and that means removing ourselves at times.
Jerome Ratliff
I found with myself and others it’s easy to get overwhelmed and do NOTHING!
Mastery is rare and wonderful
.-= Monique Alvarez´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
Hi Monique,
No one likes to feel overwhelmed. It’s not a good feeling.
Jerome Ratliff
Focus on one topic, master it then teach it.
This is how all the top leaders / producers have made it in the industry.
Nice post Jerome.
.-= Dwayne Huggins´s last blog ..5 IF’s Which Make Life Worthwhile. A Jim Rohn And Dwayne Huggins Collaboration =-.
Hey Dwayne,
Right ON! Being a leader means becoming a master of one, then teach.
Jerome Ratliff
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ilka Flood, Susanna Hess. Susanna Hess said: RT @JeromeRatliff 5 Top Reasons to Not be a Jack of all Trades in Network Marketing http://bit.ly/cR5TCU [...]
thanks Susanna and Ilka for the Twitter Love!!!
Jerome Ratliff
Oh lord, twice in a row.
I am that guy. I work on all area’s of marketing at once. Reading 3 to 4 books at a time, and taking every course in site. I am truly a knowledge geek. Funny though, I set out to be an expert in SEO, and became known for copywriting.
Now I am so deep into everything, that I wouldn’t know where to start trying to narrow it down.
.-= Chris Owen´s last blog ..Fear Is The Spirit Of Failure – Mindset For Success Continued =-.
I know what you mean Chris.
I’m a big knowledge junkie.
Jerome Ratliff
You know, you can be a jack of all trades. The answer is outsourcing. I have gotten good at a couple of areas of marketing and then hired a couple of people and trained them how to do what I am doing.
Nothing is impossible
Eric McMillan
.-= Eric McMillan´s last blog ..The Checklist Every MLM Marketing Newbie Needs =-.
Hi Eric,
Outsourcing is our friend so we don’t have to carry all of the load.
Jerome Ratliff
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Hey Jerome,
Great points you make, its hard to split your attention between a lot of things and get great at them all.
Reminds me of something my old taekwondo instructor use to say, “A man who chases two rabbits catches none”
Matt.
.-= Matthew Pedler´s last blog ..Do You Feel Lucky… Well Do Ya Punk? =-.
Hey there Matt.
Thanks for dropping by…
Your taekwondo instructor was a wise one. I like that quote.
Jerome Ratliff
Great post Jerome,
This is something I definitely find myself struggling with at times, because I have such an inquisitive mind…
But you’re right, it’s really hard to excel when you try to do everything at once!
.-= Derek Alvarez´s last blog ..Exciting Opportunities with iPhone Apps! =-.
Thanks Derek.
It’s crazy b/c you think you’re helping yourself (and you are to an extent) but then it get so overwhelming with too much to do. As result the business suffers.
Outsource wherever possible.
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Jerome,
Great post, there is so much to learn out there and some people fty and take on too much. Start with one or two things and master them. Then they can move on.
Tristram Lodge
Hey Tristram,
Thanks for stopping by. Glad to have you here.
That’s right, so many take on way too much. It only hurts them.
Have a great day,
Jerome Ratliff