My good friend Frank Garon, publisher of a major online newsletter, calls people with this habit online "internet sheep". The symptoms are jumping from one opportunity to another looking for next Big Thing. Some describe it as an attitude that grass is always greener someplace else. And to be fair, this phenomenon is not sole domain of Network Marketing....or even Internet Opportunities. It's also common in "real" world of brick and mortar business.

This disease can actually take many forms. And not all are bad. Someone may be legitimatelly unhappy and looking for something better than where they are. Their move is well planned, logical, and with good reason. Hopefully these folks will learn from their experience and be able to evaluate their next opportunity better than they did their last.

The primary reasons I see as destructive are those which exhibit either a "love 'em & leave 'em" mentality....or a reactive response to emotional frenzy generated by a new "big thing".

Examples of later can be seen in recent months to "big things" like cookies, super water, streaming music, cure all patches, financial education, stock games, video email, greeting cards, VoIP phones, latest juice, and like (not naming names). And I'm not passing judgement on these opportunities per say...rather pointing out a lemming like stampede of many from seemingly good "homes" to "next big thing". For some folks it was done with thought and forsight. For many others it was purely an emotional "me too" reaction...and not first (or last) time they've done that.

Examples of first "destructive" reason are those who build and leave...often taking many others with them (these people are sometimes called mercenaries). Perhaps they were bored. Or perhaps they saw chance for another big score....another notch on their belt so to speak. Only they really know for sure...all assumptions aside. But effect on those left behind is one of being abandoned. Especially when those who left were counted on and touted as leaders. [ some leadership ] And it can be particularly devestating on those newbies who depended on those individuals for their "example".

NWM requires 3 main ingredients....time, effort, and yes - money. Time is just a matter of redirecting your habits. Not easy but doable. Time directly impacts your efficiency. Effort is entirely controllable by individual....and directly impacts your effectiveness. Money is self limiting and directly affects both efficiency and effectiveness. An individual must find best combination of three that works for them. Someone else can't tell you what that combination is....but can help you find it (for example a good sponsor).

The new mlmer faces a daunting task...and competition...when it comes to "advertising". Finding that "best combination" of time, effort, and money is a growth experience. Rarely will it just appear....education (self and provided) plus mentoring (if available) are important factors and hopefully a fact of life. However, "advertising" is not impossible.

In my mind advertising is just whatever method you choose to "reach" people. It might be traditional newspaper or ezine ad or simple greeting and sharing with a friend. How you "advertise" or "share" can take many forms.

There are free and inexpensive methods that do work. It's a matter of finding those that work for you.

For example:

1. Writing and submitting ezine articles is an excellent method. It requires time & effort...but no money. The benefits include increased link popularity for url used in your sig box (important for search engine ranking), branding, and reach (you can "reach" more with an article than an ezine ad). Plus it's viral. Often your article is archived by publishers and directories.....available well after it was originally offered. Plus publishers and web masters will often "pick up" your article...again well after you originally submitted it.

2. Business cards are always a good method...and more inexpensive than one realizes. You can even make your own. Just pass them out like candy....stores, church, ball games, local events, restaurants (leave 1 with your bill), businesses you frequent, networking meetings, local Chamber Of Commerce. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.