This entry was posted on 4/25/2008 8:58 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
When I first read
Benefacto Nominus Idiocritus, I was very conflicted. I didn't know whether to pretend I hadn't read it or to link to it and potentially cause an uproar. Then, I remembered
Tom's Question for the Experts and all the great answers that he received.
I do, in fact, have very strong opinions about these leads groups, but seldom share them except with a few very close trusted associates because frankly, my opinions are closer to the aforementioned blogger's than the typical lead group member. The reason that I'm choosing to comment is that many of the answers to Tom's questions suggested that the strong should help the weaker if the weaker really want help and are willing to do what it takes and the strong shouldn't worry about those that don't want or need help. I consider myself an above average salesperson and an above average networker, so here I go.
Organized leads groups do serve a purpose. Some businesspeople don't have a clue when they get into business. So, they learn how to develop business relationships. They also learn how the other group members solve problems, so honestly, it's more of a learning experience than a 'networking for profit' experience. Respectfully, new business owners need all the help that they can get.
However, at some point, the member has to do a cost benefit analysis, but I don't agree with the analysis that the blogger did. Here's mine. If you're objective is to sell $1,000,000 a year and work 2,000 hours in the year to do it, every hour that you work should result in $500 in sales. If you put 2 hours a week into your group, that's 100 hours a year. At $500 an hour, you should be able to look back at the past year and be able to count at least $50,000 in sales that are a direct result of the group. The inaccuracy in my numbers is that the sale isn't actually made at the meeting, so there's follow up time that needs to be accounted for.
Now, here's the rub. Most of the people that we're talking about don't sell $1,000,000/year. As a matter of fact, most would be happy to sell $100,000. If you use that number, their hourly rate become $50/hour and a mere $5,000 justifies the investment of time every year so they do it. Now, look at
this page. Top right corner says that "members have passed $15,537,881 in closed business in the past year. Middle of the page says "100 chapters with an average of 27 members each". Do the math. $15M divided by 2700 is $5,754.77 per member.
Maybe I was just lucky?
So, in closing, most of those people are happy selling at the level they're selling at. They'll never invest in making themselves better because they don't see themselves being better. 'Most' is the key word. Some will aspire to $1,000,000 or more. Those people will eventually realize that they need to invest in themselves. They need to put their time into more productive activities and they need to associate with bigger thinkers.
Until they do, they are what they are. They're probably as happy with their life as we are and we have no right to try to change them unless they ask.
