The Three Pillars of MLM

Fist off, what the heck is a “pillar” and how am I using it? Well, a pillar can simply be a slender, free standing support column or pole. A pillar can also be a person or thing that is of central importance or responsibility. In multilevel marketing, or MLM (also called network marketing), like any other business, the success or failure of an individual is of central importance and depends on what I call the Three Pillars of MLM.

What are the three pillars of MLM? Well, since our success or failure depends on us as individuals, there are things of central importance that will in many ways determine our success. These three things are Mental, Physical, and Spiritual. Of course, I’ll explain.

All of us understand the Mental pillar needed for MLM success. This pillar includes things like keeping focused on our goals. Keeping a positive mental attitude, avoiding negative thoughts, is also important. It means keeping those mental demons of failure (Jerry Clark calls them Murphy’s Committee) at bay and not letting them dictate what we think or feel. It means being aware of what we’re thinking and taking active steps to steer our thinking to the same course of success we’ve chosen.

But of equal importance to the three pillars of MLM are the other two: Physical and Spiritual. Why is each considered one of the three pillars of MLM? The easy answer is balance.

Physical balance is not merely exercise, though exercise is certainly important. Of equal importance are things like posture. Do you stand and sit erect, or do you slouch over? If you slouch, be aware that this constricts your breathing and cuts off oxygen to your blood and brain. The very act of slouching also sends “signals” to the mind that places it in a less than optimal condition. You can’t think positive thoughts if your body is sending negative signals to the mind.

Even with a positive mental attitude, exercise, good posture, and deep breathing, we can still be missing the third of the three pillars of MLM: Spiritual. I’m not just talking about belief in a Supreme Being or Higher Order or stuff like that, though belief in something greater than you is important. Do you believe in yourself? Do you have faith in your abilities, do you believe in your goals and aspirations to the point where nothing will or can stop you? And can you maintain that faith, that belief, in the face of setbacks or sniping from family and friends? Without faith in yourself and your ultimate success, the Mental and Physical pillars are not enough to overcome the lack of the third pillar of Spirituality.

The three pillars of MLM act as a strong foundation for your ultimate success. Mental, physical and spiritual balance are critical in any endeavor. Be sure to adequately develop all three in equal measure. Don’t ignore one for the other two hoping that overachieving in two pillars can overcome lack of effort in the one. A tripod is a very stable platform but only as long as all three legs are of equal strength.