The story so far ....

It's been a very interesting week, and the coming week looks to be even more interesting  .....

First, my thanks to Trevor for an exciting Newsflash - I'm looking forward to reading the Newsletter later this week, and finding out what the guys back at base have in store for us.

Meanwhile my journey of discovery continues. For those who may have missed my last post, I've decided that since the business we are in is called Co-operative Marketing, maybe it would be a good idea to really learn all there is to know about Marketing, take it for test drive, share the ideas with a few people, and, assuming we get some positive results, roll the ideas out across Wikaniko (that's the Co-operative bit ). Several people on the forum asked to be "kept in the loop" - so here goes.

Trevor mentioned in the Newsflash that he and Karen had been in the business over 25 years, as has my wife Jan. Although I haven't been around that long, I've seen the industry change considerably since I first got involved in the mid nineties. But those who came on the training calls I hosted back in the Autumn might remember me saying :-

25 years ago our business was a people business - it still is.

25 years ago our business was a communication business - it still is.

So, I figured I needed to understand three things, people, communication - and how to effectively communicate with people. Last week I watched another presentation that totally changed how I look at things, and gave me the tools and techniques I need. I've been taking them for a test drive for a few days, and up to now I have to say that it has totally changed, not just the way I look at this business, but also the way I look at life itself.

Do you have days when you are totally in the flow ? When everything you need mysteriously unfolds in front of you ? When you effortlessly accomplish everything you set out to achieve, and more ?
Conversely do you have days when you can't seem to put a foot right, and everything you touch turns to rat droppings before your eyes ?

Have you ever watched a presentation where the speaker said all the right words, showed you all the right slides, used all the right body language, and yet you somehow felt uneasy ? Perhaps you've presented the Wikaniko business to someone, done all the right things, yet your prospect just didn't sign, or worse still went off and signed up under someone else ?

Or have you had a fantastic conversation with someone who was really enthusiastic, signed up on the spot, and then did nothing, or cancelled during the 14 days ?

Have you ever wondered why ? Now, I guess Jim Rohn would say - "that's just the way it is ... I wouldn't sign up for that class."

But if there were such a class ... showing how to effortlessly communicate with people, how, rather than spend time and money chasing prospects, have them approach you, and only bring on board those who really, really wanted to work the business .... and actually did ...... would you sign up for that class ?

Last week I learned two things which make up a technique I can put into practice straight away which promises to allow me to do all that, and more. Does it work ? It's looking good so far ..... and goes a long way to explaining why I got some fantastic results in my "conventional job" - even if I couldn't explain why. By the way I found the presentation on the Internet, it didn't cost me a penny, so I'll be taking it for a test drive during February, and assuming it continues to work, I'll be happy to share it with anyone who asks . And if it doesn't work - it has only cost me a little of my time.

Some things have changed of course since Trevor and Karen , and Jan built their huge MLM businesses. The advent of the Internet. I've been studying the concept of Internet Marketing now for a couple of years, and come to some interesting conclusions.

First we need to cut the Internet down to size. Before the Internet, we had the Royal Mail and the Telephone. Now we have E Mail and Social Networking. Before the Internet we had things called libraries and book shops. Now we have the Internet - a huge data storage and retrieval system. They are just tools, and we need to learn how to get the best out of them, just as twenty five years ago Networkers had to learn the best way to use the phone, the post, and the library.

Second we need to understand the change from the Eighties model , what I call "Attrition Marketing" to the 21st century "Attraction Marketing" model. But, a word of caution ...

It seems to me that sometime in the past couple of years, someone, somewhere, who was much more interested in helping themselves, rather than helping others, came up with an interesting idea. When you are building a network marketing team perhaps only one in five will actually get started, and you only earn any overrides on that one person, despite putting in some considerable effort showing all five "how to". What if you could also earn off the other four ? And so the idea of information / expert marketing was born, along with the concept of Attraction Marketing. Whilst there are some good organizations out there, some were / are , IMHO, nothing more than a glorified pyramid scheme. Showing people how to make money, by showing other people how to make money, showing other people how to .... without a "real product" ever moving. You get the picture.

There are of course those who are genuine, and I believe I came across one of those a couple of weeks ago, and it is that material that I am studying.

So, how can you apply this to the Wikaniko business ? First you recognise that learning must come before earning - then brand yourself as an "expert" in your chosen field - some prefer the name "trusted advisor". Remember the other old adage that experts are always lifelong students first - they need to be, because the world around us is constantly changing, and being an expert means always keeping pace with that change, and, in fact, staying ahead of the game. For instance there was an interesting piece in the Daily Mail this week that said that the number of people concerned about global warming has fallen dramatically over the past year or so, and that a lot more people feel that being greener is not as a high a priority.

I've learned this week that to become that "trusted advisor" you need to establish credibility, and also a connection with your intended customer ... and I've also learned the steps needed to achieve this. But I've still much, much more to learn. Like I said, an interesting week lies ahead.

Mitakuye Oyasin

Mike P

Three Questions

TWTWTW

Those of you of a certain age will recognise these letters as standing for "That Was The Week That Was"

The past week has been like a whirlwind, after a period becalmed in the doldrums. I'm quite used to people recommending that I should read a book, listen to an audio, watch a video on the net, or attend a webinar. I have a real thirst for knowledge, but these days it's all too easy to suffer from "information overload".

So when somebody does make a recommendation it gets added to my ever growing list. However when two people within two days recommend I check out the same guy, I tend to think, "Mike, the universe is trying to tell you something here, best watch the video."

I am so glad I did, and I'm so grateful to Lynn and Graham, because it has, quite literally, blown my mind, and got me right back on track. There are many, many videos out there on Marketing, but this one started off totally different to any that I've seen before.

The young man began by sharing his story. At the age of 19 he had been involved in a serious car accident, and his life hung in the balance. At that time he came to understand that there are three questions that we will ask at the end of our lives :-

Did I live ? Did I love ? Did I even matter ?

I thought about these questions for a moment - and then I thought , these questions are so profound, but why wait until our last hours before asking them ?. Why not ask them today ? In fact, why not make them the last questions we ask ourselves every night before we go to sleep ?.

Did I live ? Did I really live today ? Or was I too busy with worrying about the future, or regretting the past ?

Did I love ? Did I really love today ? Totally. Unconditionally.

Did I matter ? Did I really make a difference today ? Did I really make a contribution in the world ? Was I really of service to someone ? Or was I too concerned with my own survival and self-interest ?

The young man had a message to get out there to the world, and to do that he had to learn how to market himself, and his message. He studied hard, and more importantly put into practice what he had learned. He not only got his message out there, but he has built a $10 million dollar business, sharing the system, tools, and techniques he learned to help others build and market their own business - and here's the important bit - doing what it is they love to do.

I'll be studying hard over the next 90 days. I've already started to put into practice what I've learned. Because I'm not ready to hang up my boots yet, nor am I ready to give up on Wikaniko yet either. For me our Wikaniko business isn't just about selling a few bin bags, bottles of washing up liquid, or any of the other products in the range. Wikaniko is about getting our message out there, being of service, educating people, and really making a difference. Wikaniko is about finding, and partnering with people with a "service mindset", who are also passionate about making a difference, and working with them to get our message out there.

For me the process is simple :-

Make an Impact
Build the Brand
Be an Influence
Earn an Income

Once I've learned the tools and techniques, developed the systems, and proven them with results I'll be happy to share them with anyone in Wikaniko. But, in the meantime, if there is anyone out there who'd like to join me on this journey of discovery, and work with me to create and test out the ideas, and processes , I'd love to hear from you.

Mitakuye Oyasin

Mike P

Why Become A Wikaniko Distributor - 1

O.K.

So you don't need an additional source of income, and in any case you haven't got time to start a part time business.

So, why become a Wikaniko distributor ?

What if we could show you way in which you could save both time and money, and be able to choose from a massive range of eco-friendly products delivered direct to your door ? It would be worth taking a couple of minutes to find out more wouldn't it ?

You could become a Wikaniko distributor for an initial investment of just £48 in the first year, and £12 a year thereafter. This would give you an immediate saving of up to 25% on the retail prices of everything in the Wikaniko catalogue.

A family spending £10 a week on toiletries and cleaning products at the local supermarket who transfer that shopping to their own Wikaniko store could save £130 a year, and have the convenience of one order a month delivered direct to their door. How much do you spend each month ?

And of course it needn't stop there.

A group of friends, or work colleagues could come together to form a local Wikaniko eco co-operative, and make even greater savings.

Wikaniko is based on a simple, but powerful idea. If everyone in the U.K. were to go just a little bit greener, it would add up to a massive, positive change for the planet. With your help we can make this idea a reality.

For more information visit our team site at http://www.wikanikowarriors.co.uk/ or drop me an E Mail.

Mitakuye Oyasin

Mike P

Wikaniko - Scam or genuine opportunity ?

I was intrigued this week when, putting "Wikaniko" into the Google search engine it offered me the option "Wikaniko scam". As a retired Finance Director whose responsibilities included doing "due diligence" on potential multi-million pound acquisitions I thought I should attempt to set the record straight.

When I first looked at Wikaniko back at the end of 2008 it became obvious that I would be required to invest three things in order to build a business.

1. My money

2. My time

3. My reputation

The investment for joining Wikaniko is just £48, and is covered by a statutory 14 day money back guarantee. I therefore decided to invest the £48 and begin my due diligence.

The initial £48 fee gives the new distributor their own website including an online shop, and “back office” which in itself I considered excellent value for money. The starter pack which arrived a couple of days later contained a selection of catalogues, as well as a very useful CD containing stationery, tools, and draft advertisements.. Full training is provided free in the back office.

Distributors can purchase, for their own use and for resale to customers, a large range of green, organic products at wholesale prices, effectively saving 25% on the already reasonable retail prices. Additional discounts can be earned for larger orders. No stock need be kept, as orders are all fulfilled promptly. Wikaniko does not operate any compulsory “autoship”.

A distributor placing a regular monthly order of around £20 wholesale would more than cover their initial investment, even if they chose not to build up a customer base.

With my background in recruiting, training, and managing project teams, the ability to build a team, by introducing, training and supporting new distributors, was very attractive.. A small commission payment is made in return for this, the only qualification for receiving this commission is that a distributor place a 36 point order (around £40 wholesale) in the month. We have found no difficulty in achieving this every month for the past two years.

Beyond this, each distributor is able to set their own budget – there is no pressure to spend more.

As regards time, again this is down to the individual distributor to decide. Jan and I originally planned to work the business full time, but in the event personal health challenges have meant we have had to content ourselves with a part time involvement over the past two years. There are no imposed targets, and there Is no pressure. We are happy to work with any new distributor to create a plan for their business.

And so to my final investment – my reputation.

Both Jan and I guard our reputations jealously, and will not become involved in any dishonest or fraudulent undertakings. In carrying out my due diligence I considered three things, The Company, The Products, and The Compensation Plan.

The Company is U.K. based and debt free, and was founded and is managed by a couple who have an enviable reputation in the work from home industry.

We have used and evaluated a selection of the products, and are more than happy with both the quality and value for money. Orders are received on time, and in the unlikely event of a problem, it is rectified promptly. The staff at the office are a real pleasure to deal with.

The Compensation plan offers a fair reward to all involved. This is not a “get rich quick” scheme offering something for nothing. But it does give people the opportunity to build a solid, sustainable business whilst making a real, positive contribution to the future of this planet.

So, my conclusion. The Wikaniko opportunity is neither dishonest, or fraudulent. It represents a real genuine opportunity for people to start up their own business with only a small initial investment, and without jeopardising their existing income.

For a further, independent review click here.

If you’d like to discuss the opportunity further, drop me a mail, or give me a call.

Mitakuye Oyasin

Mike P