i n d i a n

m a n a g e m e n t

SEPTEMBER 2018 VO L U M E 5 7 I S S U E 9 PAG E S 9 2 r60

TUNE UP TO
THE PITCH
Richard E Boyatzis
WHAT’S YOUR
RESONANCE
QUOTIENT?
Adam Mendler
RESONANT LEADERSHIP

RESONANT
VOLUME 57 ISSUE 9 SEPTEMBER 2018

LEADERSHIP
STRIKING A CHORD, BUILDING
CONNECTED TEAMS
46 INDIAN MANAGEMENT SEPTEMBER 2018
Network marketing offers ample opportunities for those who aspire to be
entrepreneurs, but its full potential is yet to be unleashed in India.
DEEPAK BAJAJ, AUTHOR, BE A NETWORK MARKETING MARKETING
MILLIONAIRE

Force multiplier

L
iving in this world of network entrepreneurship mindset, and lack of right
marketing for more than mentorship. The good news is that anyone can
a decade now, I strongly build a successful network marketing enterprise
believe it is one of the most without having any of the above. It is an easy,
democratic, socially uplifting, doable, and proven route to entrepreneurship
and economically sustainable for each and every person due to the following
ways to be an entrepreneur unique features:
and fulfil one’s dreams. The most incredible  low investment and no risk

virtue of network marketing is its foundational  no need for any office, stocks, working capital,

principle that you cannot grow big without and staff.

helping your partners grow [Link] only job in  no need to leave existing profession, job,

this business is to help other people fulfil their or business

dreams. Also called direct selling or personal  training and mentorship available at every step

franchising, it has been in existence across  equal opportunity for all—people of any age,

the globe for more than eight decades now. gender, financial background, education level,
Incidentally, some people outside the industry place of residence (village, town or city) can
have different opinions about it, but those are far do it.
from the truth.  flexibility to work from home and to choose

own working hours

Catalyst for entrepreneurship explosion  improvement in selling ability and

Entrepreneurship is in the air right now and interpersonal communication

a lot of people want to be entrepreneurs. The  development of leadership and

government is also promoting it aggressively teamwork abilities

through various schemes and projects. Despite  all taxation benefits of a business

such initiatives, many still hesitate to take  zero entry and exit cost

the plunge. Reasons include risk involved,  low gestation period allowing you to earn

lack of capital, lack of right training, lack of while you learn

INDIAN MANAGEMENT SEPTEMBER 2018 47

Retail sales in direct History and global scenario A golden period for the network marketing
selling in India could It started somewhere in the industry in India is starting now and the industry
1930s in the US, and gradually is ready with huge opportunities for everyone.
reach `64,500 crore by
spread across the globe because
2025 and provide self- of its values and benefits. As The challenges
employment opportunities per the FICCI Report (Dec 05, Despite this industry offering such incredible
to 1.8 crore Indians. 2017) Ease of Doing Business in benefits, why do many people shy away from this?
India, “the global direct selling  The bad image this industry has got due to

industry generated retail sales wrong selling by a few, and to some illegitimate
of $18,356 crore in 2016 and provided part- companies duping people of their money
time employment to 10.7 crore direct sellers  Since investment is very low, many people

worldwide.” The top ten direct selling markets do not take it up seriously and do not stay
are the US, China, Japan, Korea, Brazil, Germany, committed to it
Mexico, France, Malaysia, and the UK.  Lack of right mentorship

 Lack of adequate training. People in different

Indian scenario network marketing companies are doing it in

Direct selling has been practised in India for their own ways through trial and errors. Till
hundreds of years but the modern format of recently, there were not many books or courses
direct selling/network marketing started in that taught principles and strategies to build
India around the mid-1980s. The industry kept this business in the right way.
growing at a steady pace, but several illegal
pyramid schemes also mushroomed to get the
benefit of a growing industry, which brought it a
bad name.
In the last few years, several industry bodies
and government agencies have worked to create
a positive environment and a robust regulatory
framework for massive growth of this industry
in India. The government issued guidelines for
direct selling in India in 2016 and the industry
has got a big boost since then. A recent report by
FICCI-KPMG projected that retail sales in direct
selling in India could reach R64,500 crore by
2025 and provide self-employment opportunities
to 1.8 crore Indians, 60 per cent of which
are women.

Contribution to government projects

As per a KPMG & FICCI report, Direct 2016-
The contribution of direct selling to building India,
this industry has already started contributing
significantly towards major government projects
like Make in India, Startup India, Skill India,
Digital India, and women empowerment.

48 INDIAN MANAGEMENT SEPTEMBER 2018

 MARKETING

© [Link]
The leadership ability, Network marketing is  Be patient. It is a business and it will take time
communication skills, a wonderful opportunity  It is a daily business. Be committed to work for
for anyone who wants to it everyday
public-speaking be an entrepreneur. It is a  Be a student and learn the right techniques and
skills, personality low investment and zero strategies of the business
transformation, and team risk opportunity with great  Work with the right mentors. It is most

dynamics this business mentorship and a training important to work with people who have
and development system proved what they claim
can teach anyone is
that empowers people with Both of us recommend a part time network
unmatchable. the right knowledge, skills, marketing business as another means of getting
and mindset. leadership training. – Donald Trump and Robert
If you intend to start a T Kiyosaki
network marketing business, then take care of Yes, this business can give you big income, time
the following: freedom, passive income, security for generations
 Choose the right company with these four to come, and freedom to be your own boss. But
key components: I highly recommend that everyone should do this
 Excellent track record and experienced business for 2 to 5 years along with whatever
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
management they are doing because of the life-changing
Deepak Bajaj is
founder, Multipliers,
 Value for money products education it provides. The leadership ability,
and author, Be a  Simple and sustainable income model that communication skills, public-speaking skills,
Network Marketing rewards performance personality transformation, and team dynamics
Millionaire.
 Professional training and development system this business can teach anyone is unmatchable.

INDIAN MANAGEMENT SEPTEMBER 2018 49