When you begin to build an MLM business, you have chosen to agree to some company's contract. Some people don't realize that, but it is true 100% of the time. You may not have signed on the dotted line, but you checked a box saying you read and agree to the Policies & Procedures. That step must be done in order to begin marketing any MLM product. So the question is ... did you actually read the Policies and Procedures? (Most people don't.) That is the legally enforceable agreement between you and the network marketing company.

Do you have a clue what you have agreed to? You might be surprised. Heck, you might be absolutely shocked. It's fairly standard for a company to insert one or more clauses making it clear that you - the rep - may be terminated at any time for any reason with 30 days' notice. You'll find companies use this wording on a regular basis. They let it pass until you have good money coming in, and then they terminate you. Guess where the income you built then goes?

Remember, the contract was written by company lawyers. Most likely, your company probably will not terminate you to steal your check unless they get themselves in financial trouble. But it happens. If your plan is to build a future for yourself and your family and your team, then you definitely want a contract that can't kick the legs out from under you.

If you're serious enough to read the P&P's (hint: the shorter they are, the better), then you're serious enough to make a plan. To make your fortune in network marketing, you have to plan long-term. A lot of people start out thinking, "I'll try this for awhile." Chances of that working for them aren't very good. A real key concept to focus on is the idea of building relationships. Remember, you're looking to connect and build relationships with people that are also interested in a "forever" commitment. Nobody says they'll try marriage for 3 months and see if it works.

There is no doubt that network marketing works, when you use a system that works, and when you have chosen a good company. So let's assume you've got that part.

Next, you have to really strengthen your own commitment. Identify each specific task you'll be doing. Plan a regular schedule each day to do these tasks. Where will you be? Who can you go to when you have questions? You need to be able to talk to someone who is actually using the system and getting good results with it right now.

It's important that you quickly see for yourself by your own experience that your system works, or you'll find excuses not to do any work. And remember, most of these business tasks, you realistically cannot do while you are babysitting. That really doesn't give you an actual opportunity for success. If you're making phone calls, you have to be sure to set aside time that you can give prospects your undivided attention.

Long-time network marketer Michael Dlouhy wrote about these ideas and more in his ebook, "Success In 10 Steps." There is some real eye-opening stuff in this book. Chances are, you realize the "go down in flames" rate is pretty high in most businesses. And with most MLM companies, the cards are really stacked against you.

Back in the early 1990s, Dlouhy signed up in more than 100 MLMs and did a comparison of them in a lot of different ways. He discovered some common factors that really cause most new reps to really have no chance to ever be successful in the business. And he realized that if you do the right actions and avoid the wrong ones, you have a real chance to make a long-term living from network marketing, maybe even achieve the "retirement" dream. It's definitely a book worth reading.