Moment

One of the most critical aspects when choosing a company is time. You want to ask, “What is the timing within the market and within the company?”

All businesses, traditional and network marketing, go through a phenomenon known as the “S” curve.

The “S” curve has four stages: formulation, concentration, drive, and stability.

Formulation: The time it takes for a business to get off the ground. This is when the company’s products or services are introduced to the market. During this stage, there is slow and steady growth and the company is working out its problems. However, many businesses fail at this stage. This stage can last from 1 to 2 years.

Focus: During this stage, usually before reaching $100,000,000 in sales per year, the company will either solve problems to achieve momentum or fail. This is an ideal time to join a company, but keep an eye on how ownership/management handles this stage. This stage can last from 2 to 3 years.

Momentum/Growth – This is where the magic happens for the few companies that can pull it off. The company’s products are gaining acceptance, and overall sales grow from $50 million a year to more than $500 million. Typically, this is the phase where a business begins to move toward critical mass. Word is getting out about the product or company and people are starting to jump on the bandwagon.

Stability/Maturity: Once the product reaches saturation point, it will generally stabilize or decline.

Keep in mind that in the network marketing industry, only eight companies have reached a billion in sales a year. Therefore, the level at which the company reaches stability/maturity will vary depending on the demand for the product, the marketing plan, and the strength of the company’s leadership.

When do you foresee the ‘tipping point’? In his book The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, Malcolm Gladwell describes the “tipping point.” It is the name given to that moment of an epidemic in which a virus reaches a critical mass. It is the boiling point. It is the moment on the chart when the line starts to shoot up. Having an anticipation of the number of months before this happens allows you to strategize about it.

Does the company have Energy or ‘Magic’? When a company is in growth and momentum, there is a buzz of excitement and magic surrounding the opportunity that will boost your efforts. It does not guarantee your success, but your efforts will go further.

Millionaires have been made in this industry ONLY because of time. Nothing more. I will take the time on hard work every time.

So how can time be measured?

It’s not easy, but here are some tips:

1. Determine your level of risk. If you are risk averse, don’t waste a lot of time, money and energy by entering too early. A large percentage of these businesses fail in the first year or two.

2. Don’t be too late. You will waste a lot of time, money and energy by being too late. If the company is a household name, its spurt growth period occurred years ago. It has been done, but you will find the work as climbing uphill in companies like this.

3. You want to get in AFTER a company has shown that it has staying power, but BEFORE its period of momentum growth. If you can find a company like this, and that also has the other parts of the formula in place, row like hell to stay ahead of the wave.

Here are some additional questions you may want to consider:

1. Is there a global expansion plan? If so, what is it?

2. How easily will the product expand in a global market?

3. Since all countries have their own standards and regulations for product requirements, consider the ease with which the product can cross borders.

The bottom line is that you want to do as much research on a company’s timing as possible before you join. There are many other factors to consider, but good timing is a must.