Often the negative people are family members or even close friends! Because success in MLM results more often from attitude than ability, it is important that we spend time associating with people who support us in our desire for success. Set clear rules for those who are constantly talking negatively about our business or criticizing our dreams.

Sit down with those negative people one at a time and have a serious, authentic discussion. Let them know that regardless of their opinion of this industry, you need and expect positive, uplifting comments or no comments at all. Tell them the truth. If they persist in involving you in counterproductive, negative discussions, you've got a decision to make. Either you deserve a life of financial security and time freedom with your family or you deserve to live a mediocre life amidst negative people. It's up to you. But, in most cases, if you ask people nicely to support you, they will do so if they truly love you. Dr. Robert Neff of Dallas, Texas had received a lot of negativity from those for whom he held tremendous respect in the first year of building his networking business. Their greatest argument was that the industry was fundamentally flawed: "taking advantage of others for your own personal gain." He knew that this wasn't his experience, but their words stayed in his head and held him back from building his business. Why? Because these words depressed him.

Although he had been raised as an atheist, Dr. Neff was growing in his understanding of spiritual values. As he was coming to grips with his place in the industry and his emerging religious faith, he had an astounding realization one morning: Network marketing was modeled after Christianity. He frantically wrote down the parallels that he saw, and as he did so, the doubts he was harboring about this industry left him. He knew at that moment that network marketing was an inherently good industry that revolved around helping others help themselves. It was the act of writing this down that was so beneficial to Dr. Neff. We love his analysis and couldn't have expressed these parallels more eloquently—even though we were both trained as professional theologians! Reading these similarities between network 47 marketing and Christianity, it's easy to understand how they helped to alleviate Dr. Neff's depression.

Here's what he wrote:

1. It is very unlikely you'll learn about it unless someone else invites you to see it.

2. You are shown something that initially sounds too good to be true.

3. You are given support for its validity, but mostly through personal stories, and hence your belief is based mostly on faith.

4. You are told that you must first believe before you can experience the incredible benefits.

5. You can measure your belief by the amount of good that goes on around you.

6. You are given a manual to guide you.

7. While you may not understand it at first, you are asked to be teachable and follow those who have already experienced what still lies ahead for you. 8. Along the way, you will encounter difficulties and you will need to ask for assistance.

9. When up, you're asked to help others beneath you; and when down, you're able to get help from above.

10. That assistance will be given in a form that will make you stronger and more selfsufficient.

11. You will not be perfect along the way, but as long as you believe, you will reach your destination.

12. You are asked to delay gratification by putting your own needs aside for the time being so you can help others first.

13. Providing this help will require dedication, persistence and hard work.

14. Do not fear people, but instead offer a hand to them even though many will say they do not need your help.

15. By surrounding yourself with other good people who also carry the same beliefs and commitments, you are protected from negatives that can hurt you.

16. You are invited to come together on a regular basis to renew your vision.

17. As a result, you will learn more about yourself. about others, and about life.

18. In the end, you will have directly or indirectly helped thousands of people to live better lives and move on to a better place.

Network marketing is the great equalizer because it is built on attitude. Charles Swindoll, a minister and bestselling author, wrote, "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.