Just whisper the words "network marketing" and you're bound to get an emotional response from your listeners.

Many people are still saddled with antiquated ideas of how the old multilevel companies were run in the 60's and 70's. Remember? Those days when cars had to give way to products stockpiled in your garage and family and friends were suddenly afraid to visit you.

But the industry has grown past that caterpillar stage.

Added to this misconception is a common fear of failure. There are many people who in their quest for a home-based business opportunity try network marketing and fail at it. Without questioning why, they have just avoided the industry ever since. Having 'survived' the industry for over 15 years I'll like to share with you my #1 secret for making it big ? really BIG in network marketing.

The secret is choosing a team with an experienced coach who will teach, guide and motivate you towards success.

Of course there are other factors such as the financial backing of the company, timing, the compensation plan and marketing a consumable product. But if you are not properly trained and motivated during those early months you are almost doomed to failure.

Just think about it, every professional business person or athlete has a coach. Why should it be different in network marketing? I wouldn't have survived as a network marketer if it wasn't for the gifted leaders that I was privileged to work under and to learn from.

There are many business owners who will invest over $50,000 in a franchise and still pay a business consultant a 5-figure retainer for advice so that their business succeeds. In network marketing, you can start your business for less than $500 and literally choose the coach or leader who will train you for FREE! Of course this will involve doing a little background check on the team leader you choose to work with but it's time well spent.

Here are a few pointers that will help you when seeking out the 'correct' coach:

1. Make sure that he or she has a proven track record.

Just as the cream always floats to the top of the milk so a gifted leader will also prove his or her worth in the results produced. Generally speaking, you will not rise higher than your leader, so know how high you want to reach and find a coach who can get you there.

2. Go with someone who has been in the industry for many years.

Gaze up into the night sky and you'll see an occasional shooting star. It burns bright and then disappears. This may be exciting to watch but only for a short moment. You want a leader who will be like the northern star-bright and steady. Those who are successful network marketers are people who stay for the long haul. Many people give up too quickly and never reap the harvest.

You want to choose a leader who have experienced some bumps in the road and can now be selective in choosing a company that is most likely to remain out of the MLM graveyard.

3. Find someone who knows how to market.

Network marketing is just that: marketing through networking. An essential part of the equation therefore is the effective marketing of your business. Marketing can eat up a small budget very quickly. Therefore, you must know what works from what doesn't work so that you can use your advertising dollars most effectively. The name of the game is maximum returns for your money. I mean, that is the whole idea behind network marketing-leverage. This translates into small effort and great gain.

Find someone who knows how to use the tools of the trade such as teleconferencing, voicemail, direct mail, the internet and broadcast media. This is a business so you have to treat it like one.

4. Find a leader who studies the industry.

Anyone who claims to be a professional will subscribe to magazines in his area of expertise, attend seminars to keep abreast of what's happening and keep his pulse on the industry. This is the only way that trends can be determined and what is working for the competition be uncovered. To simply concentrate on your own company and be blinded to what others are doing is narrow and myopic.

There are a lot of lessons to be learned from other network marketers that can be incorporated into one's own business.

5. Look for a leader who has people skills.

There is no escaping it. Even with all the new technology at our fingertips, network marketing is a people business. If a leader doesn't love people then it will show and recruits will know. Network marketing could qualify as part of the hospitality sector because so much of its success depends on empowering and affirming people.

So find a leader who will be respectful of your value as a person and not just as another number to add to his downline.

The right opportunity and company may be the vehicle to your success but an effective coach is like high-octane gas in the tank!

2005 Copyright (c) Greg Aldrich

Greg Aldrich is a successful network marketer. He attributes his success to his concern for the success of others. He is one of the first fifty distributors in a brand new opportunity poised to be the next industry giant. Visit http://www.top-network-marketing.com