By Dean D. Garrison
It was almost ten years ago, but I remember it pretty well. That one single event was almost 100 percent responsible for turning me into a winner.
I was a nineteen-year-old punk. I thought the world owed me something. Even then I was very intrigued with the idea of owning my own business, but as it turned out, I had a lot to learn. At the time, I was very interested in starting my own nationwide telemarketing firm. The uniqueness of the deal was that it was to be 100 percent computerized, complete with mechanical telemarketers--that's right--machines that would call the prospects and gather information. I was going to make millions.
Or was I?
I thought it was going to be easy. I had a sixty-page business plan that was complete with the latest market statistics and a list of several potential clients. I had a high-tech manufacturer who would be able to supply me with my mechanical, programmable telemarketers for about $6,000 each. I had a couple of college buddies who would be my partners. Fittingly, one was a communications major and the other had an advanced business degree. We had everything but the money. But hey--who would turn this venture down?
I went to several banks and they all told me the same thing--I needed to go to the Small Business Administration. I lost some of the little money I had by spending it on those rip-off "grant finders." Okay, so no big deal, it was just a few hundred bucks.
I tried nearly 100 venture capitalists and I did get a couple of leads, but...they mostly told me that the project was too small (I was only looking for about $200,000) to mess with. I just told myself that it was their loss and went on. I tried to do private fund raising through my attorney, but we found very little interest. So what did I do?
I set up a meeting with the SBA and one of its S.C.O.R.E. members. As I recall, the man's name was either Doyle or Mr. Doyle--who knows? What is really important was what he told me that day...
I started showing my charts and graphs, but was quickly interrupted. Doyle asked me something like, "What kind of collateral do you have?"
I answered accordingly with, "None."
The response I got made my jaw drop. "Go get a job and save your money for five years. Then come back and we'll talk." End of meeting.
I left that day, cussing and swearing that, "I'd show him," but the man was absolutely right. Out of the hundreds of people I had talked to almost all of them told me what I wanted to hear, but this man told me what I needed to hear. He had no reason to help me. I was asking for a handout. I was asking for someone else to put up 100 percent of the risk just so I could see if my crazy idea would work.
It did take a few months for all of this to sink into my thick head, but Doyle was absolutely right. Anything in life that is worth having is worth working for. There are no free rides in life. I would have to pay my dues.
Right now, there's probably someone saying, "If I only had Dean Garrison's money, I could really make it in this business." Phooey!!!!
The truth of the matter is that we are all dreamers, but only five percent of dreamers are also "doers."
The most important transition I made in my professional life was when I decided that no one was going to do it for me. If it was to be, it was up to me. And by the way, my mechanical telemarketers are still unemployed. Those 100-plus people who "didn't care about me" were all wise enough to make good business decisions it would seem, because my dream died years ago. I decided to chase a new dream. I decided to do MLM.
I started this business with less money than most of you make in three days at your job, but...
I was not afraid of the blood, sweat and tears that it has taken to get to where I am. I decided I would pay my dues. I have now learned to do it first and talk about it later. I do not ask for charity from my upline or the company or whatever. I do with what I've got and that was never that much until just recently. It's simply attitude.
The biggest thing is that I'm "pro-active." I do something to grow my business every day. If someone would have handed me $157 (or $200,000) and told me to start my own business, I would have failed. Three years ago, when I had to take my own $157 (which was every penny I had at the time) and take the risk for myself, I appreciated the risks and the possible rewards.
When you're in business for yourself, you're 100 percent responsible for your own success. Every single day, I get a letter that says, "MLM just doesn't work for me."
A person who would mutter those words is a loser with a capital "L." Nothing works in and of itself unless you make it work. This is the most wonderful business in the world. Everyone of us are given the chance to take very little money and build a gateway to our dreams. There is no other business where the average person can accomplish so much. But in the real world, the average person really doesn't want to earn their way to riches. What they really want is for someone like Dean Garrison or Mr. Doyle to feel sorry for them and make them rich.
This is the most valuable transition you will ever make in life. Stop dreaming and start doing!!
This article originally appeared in "Ultimate Solutions." Dean Garrison is the International Marketing Director for Genesis International and the publisher of "Ultimate Solutions." To receive a three-month trial subscription to "Ultimate Solutions," please send $5 to:
Dean Garrison Enterprises Dept. ULtisol 1179 business Highway 60 Monett, MO 65708
Or to receive a free trial membership into Genesis International, call (417) 235-8289 or write:
- Dean Garrison
- Attn: Free Offer
- P.O. Box 347
- Monett, MO 65708
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