It’s interesting as I was surfing this weekend of the things that I noticed and one of the things that I saw was people in the chat rooms swapping their links to be a referral for each other and that got me to thinking are you just a number.
When you join a site do you know the person you joined under, do they contact you, do they try to help you if you have questions or are you just a number. Personally, I want some attention from my upline (person I joined under) not that I want to bug them but want to know that they are there if I have questions.
There are so many times that I have joined different programs and it’s not long I feel I get lost in the numbers and I can understand that as a person’s list get bigger – BUT there are many ways to keep the doors of communication open and one way is doing what I’m doing here – blogging – give your upline a place to go where they can hear from you, teach them something, answer some questions so it helps everyone in your downline 
The other thing would be your emails – do you send out emails that just keep wanting people to buy or do you try and help the people that are on the other end. This is one of the ways that I think people don’t do enough and then they wonder why they are not earning money or getting more referrals. Stop chasing the quick easy money – reset your mind and the money will come.
If you have let your downline become just another number – then maybe you should take a look at your downline again – ask yourself why are they there – did they join because of what you were offering and then afterwards just become another number on your list.
Did they join under you because they wanted someone to teach them, they wanted to be your referral because you presented yourself as a teacher or mentor – well do you?
Or did you join with the intention of just being just a number – you joined just to get a referral to another program or to win a contest and have no intention in giving the program you joined a chance to show you it works. This happens so often – you join then your upline drops the ball because you were just a number to them – you were not taught how to use the program, you had questions that you couldn’t find the answers, etc. – and what happens after that – you get disgusted and quit – so I’m just saying think about it the next time that you join a new program or someone is bugging you to be a referral for them – are you just a number OR will it benefit you the way it needs to,
That is why it’s important that you back up and remember your “why” and if you don’t know your “why” then stop everything that you are doing until you have your “why” This will help you understand if you fall into the rut of “are you just a number” OR if you are going to treat this like a business so that you can learn and teach – because if you can do that then the earn follows – just that simple.
Nancy this so well said and written, I love this blog! Your so right on the money you join under someone and then you find yourself alone & another number to them. Just one more refer this upline got and forgotten the whole point of building a downline. Your building a team, a community of people that trusted you enough to join under you. A way to build relationship to build a list to be able to build a foundation to go back to when you have something of value to share.
Thanks Steve and you are right and thanks for the comment
I understand why you want attention from your upline, why you want them to answer your question. But consider this: your downline is growing and everybody wants your attention, wants YOU to answer their questions (and basically waste your time), your freedom business turned into a slavery model. Wouldn’t it make more sense to have a system in place where you can send your team and where they can find the answers to their questions?
I bet some of them will become close friends but not all of them. Fact of life.
You made some rally good points, Nancy. Nobody really wants to be a number. Not you as a downline nor as an upline or sponsor.
Yes I agree that as you get a bigger downline that it’s hard to keep all that personal touch but I really do feel it can be done thru blogs and emails and if you have taught your downline the right way – they will be here to read and learn – is all I’m saying and then if they have questions they know where you get in touch with you.
There are times that I have tried to contact my upline and can’t find them on any of the social sites to connect with them, then hide behind some crazy picture and it’s like they don’t want to be contacted – I’m on their list now and that is all they care about.
Good post Nancy,
I agree many times we are just a number. I wish that more of my sign ups would come to me. I think however, that many times they are like you said afraid they are going to bother me. I don’t ever want anyone to feel that way even if they are NOT in my down line. I will help anyone in any program if I possibly can because that’s just what we do.
I must admit I’ve been very lucky in my up lines along the way and somehow other than a tiny percent of them that has been more than willing to help me.
The one thing I made sure I did when they did help me was to give them their props for doing so because not all sponsors are like that and I always let mine know they were appreciated very much.
Good one,
Susan
Thanks Susan and that is how I feel – I wind up helping people not in my downline also but that is just me – I enjoying helping other and it’s part of my “why” I have always been like that – give more than I receive – but that is just me. Is it or does it make me rich – maybe not money wise but it sure makes me rich in other ways
I agree having a way to contact members of your dowline is a great way to keep communication open. Like you mention, having a blog is a fantastic way to offer training at their convenience.
Another great tool is skype- offer to connect on skype for instant communication.
Oh I agree – I would be lost without Skype and the more place that you give people to contact you the better – thanks for the comment