Having a hard time attracting and retaining good prospects

Q: "How do I attract and retain the right business partners? I have
people that have come in gung ho ready to join or who have joined
but now have gone MIA."

R.Lewis

A: First, there are two different sides of the question:

Side #1: Attracting the right partners
Side #2: Retention of the right partners


Let's start with attracting the right partners because the answer
for this takes care of the second side, retention, automatically.

You have got to qualify or sort effectively even in your "attraction"
of new partners. You're looking for people with the right level and
type of internal motivation that they use to convince themselves to
start and continue on the road to success and ultimately financial
freedom.

All too often we sign people up for the wrong reasons like:
a) They had the money to start
b) They said they were interested in the business
c) They seemed to love the products

None of these things alone are the makings of a winner. So where
should you start?

It starts with proper posture on your part when prospecting a
potential partner (say that fast 3 times!).

write down the qualities you are looking for in a potential partner
and why they are important to be a part of your team.
Then write down why those qualities are important.

I know you've probably heard and may even still believe in the
"don't prejudge anyone" philosophy, and you should. Just as long as
you also pre-qualify those rascals immediately!

When you are interviewing your prospect ask questions to reveal
whether or not they fit that criteria and for proof from there own
experience.

For example, I like to ask, "Tell me a time where you were faced
with making an unpopular decision. What did you do and why?"

What does the answer to this question revel?

It shows whether you have enough self confidence to believe in your
own decision making process or if it's just about "fitting" in for
you.

This speaks to their leadership abilities which are vital to
success in any business. The right prospect will give a great answer.

Another good one is: "The drop out rate in business is high because
most don't have a clear, "I'll do it until..." goal. What is your
"until"?

good answer: Until I reach my financial and personal goals.
good answer: Until my mom won't try my service and my friends say
I'm crazy!

Understand there is no right or wrong answer, only the truth as
that person sees it. It's up to you to decide whether those
answers qualify them for an invitation to your team or not.

And please don't think everyone deserves an
invitation. The attrition (drop out) rate is proof that not
everyone qualified for your invitation in the first place.

You are looking to identify long term vision and goals that THEY
tell you from there own words. Their internal, emotionally mature
motivation is what will get them started and keep 'em going.

If your sign ups and attrition rate is high you're not qualifying
"OUT" enough people. If your signup rates are low but your
retention rate is high, your doing good. When your sign up and
retention rate starts to approach 1:1 you will be a master!

For the four basic things you need to know before you can even a
call someone a prospect much less "the right partner:
http://www.getpaidtoprospectonline.com/talkingwithprospects.html

Want the questions I use when interview and qualifying potential
partners?:
http://www.getpaidtoprospectonline.com/qualifyingquestions.html

These are questions based on the criteria of what I am looking for
in a new business partner. This is not a complete list on because
new and different questions may come up in the live conversation.

Adjust your own questions according to the flow of each conversation.

Then retention is built in when your well qualified prospects start
their business for their own right reasons and not because they were
told, sold or convinced by you.

They own their reasons through their responses, take full responsibility
for their own actions and will hold themselves accountable for their
ultimate success.

The pressure will be off of you!

Your partner in success,

Malika