Ethics in Network Marketing and the Bottom Line

I want to be ethical, and I believe that you do too. Furthermore, I know it is really possible to do what’s right and succeed in business.

Food for Thought: Companies that are dedicated to doing the right thing have a written commitment to social responsibility, and who act on it consistently, are more profitable than those who don’t.

If you embrace ethical behavior, will it automatically make you rich and successful? Of course not. Can it pave the way for you to become successful? Absolutely.

Ethics + Competence = a winning equation

A contrast to this, are people who continually attempt to test the edge of ethics inevitably go over the edge. Shortcuts never payoff in the long run when it comes to ethics. It may be possible to fool people for a while, but over a long period of time, our actions will catch up with us because the truth always comes out.

Short term look: Behaving ethically may look like a loss, just as one can temporarily appear to win by being unethical.

Long-term look: People always lose when they live without ethics. Have you ever met anyone who lived their life of shortcuts, deception, and cheating who finished well?

King Solomon of ancient Israel, reputed to be the wisest man who ever lived, said it this way:

“The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine. But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker – travelers can’t see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.”

A more recent comment on ethics is:

A state to prosper must be built on foundations of moral character, and this character is the principal element of its strength, and the only guaranty of its permanence and prosperity.

Let’s go back to basics. How do you know what’s right? How do you navigate even the most difficult of pressure filled situations? Where can you find a standard that will work in every situation – a guide that will help you to sleep well at night, prosper in business, improve your marriage, and have confidence that you’re doing all you can every time?

Insights for The Responsible Network Marketer

We as individuals have such a moral responsibility to do the right thing at all times, but one factor is standing in our way: we are human!

Unfortunately, for as long as there are people involved in business, we are going to continue to have questionable ethics in business. That is, unless “we” decide to change.

Most people want to change their business, community, or family situation without changing themselves. It does not work that way.

We need to stop spending time trying to change others and focus all of our time on changing ourselves. If enough people did that, the impact would be exponential.

Are there questionable network marketing companies? Oh, probably. However, the real answer is that some network marketing companies have some questionable people involved in their company as distributors.

How can we change as individuals and ensure that “we” are not part of the problem, but part of the solution?

To start, never do anything because it is convenient, where it pertains to building your business. Always do what is “right,” even if it affects you financially. Do not think short-term; always have a big picture attitude.

Look for real win-win scenarios in all your interactions. Make sure that with this strategy, the other person wins first. This will go a long way to building stronger relationships.

Make decisions ahead of time on how you will handle situations within your business. This way, you will not be forced to continually make decisions on the fly that will lead to unethical behavior.

Do not worry what other people are doing in the marketplace. Only worry about what you are doing. Clean up your own backyard, before even thinking about pointing to someone else’s.

Be responsible for your business. Do not rely on others to determine what is right and wrong. If you see something wrong in your business (this includes your downline), make the correction and move on. Waiting until it corrects itself is a recipe for disaster.

There is a solution to every problem. You just have to take a moment and look for it. Be part of the solution, not the problem.

My next article entitled “Why this Guidance System is a Win-Win for Everyone (Part 1 of 2)” will examine an ethical system that when implemented is a winning scenario for everyone.

See you on the Beaches of the World,

Kevin McNabb

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