An Interview with MLM Coach, John DeHart, by Michael Klimek of the MLMTruth Coalition

For the last 15 years John DeHart has become a respected coach and trainer of dozens of world class and Olympic athletes. He has also been involved with Network Marketing (MLM) for the same time period. Here is an interview with John held in January, 1998.

Michael: As a personal coach and trainer of many world class athletes and Olympians over the last 15 years, you obviously had to focus strongly on hot products in nutritional supplementation. This has had a strong influence on what companies you chose to work with in Network Marketing. Has this focus changed and what have you learned?

JOHN: My focus has changed, and with good reason! The overwhelming decision to join a company was based on their product line and the measurable and identifiable results they produced. The company I associated with had products that were awesome and produced incredible life changing results.

From an “income” point of view, it seemed obvious that with my background and credibility with many world Olympic and nationally ranked athletes to my credit, that I should do very well financially in this business and that the products would move very rapidly. So much for the theory! I have completely changed my focus and taken on a whole new attitude to what it really takes to make money in network marketing. It definitely isn’t because of the products! I found that out on more than one occasion.

Michael: What is the hottest product in Network Marketing?

JOHN: It was a shock when I woke up and realized what the Hottest Product of All Time in MLM really was! Instead of me telling you what it is, just do this: go and ask 100 people in Network Marketing why they are in MLM. Their answer: to make money!

Guess what?

Making money IS the Real Hottest Product of All time in MLM. And by making money, I mean good, perpetual, monthly, residual income.

All legitimate MLM companies have good products.And no products are that much better than the others. It’s amazing that 90%+ of the people who join your downline with a product focus and don’t make a positive cash flow within a few months are gone! I rest my case!

Michael: Interesting! Many well intentioned people in MLM want to help people by sharing “life changing” products with them. Are great products the basis of success in Network Marketing?

JOHN: Products are very important but not the basis for success. I know from my experience that when a person’s monthly check covers the cost of their product purchase and overhead ( phone, advertising etc.), they don’t quit! This is not just my opinion. UPLINE® magazine published a special report called “The $300 Solution”. Their bottom line was people who make $300 per month stick around and those who don’t, quit! That’s the real world and makes sense.

It’s obvious that when a person is making a solid residual income check, they’ll keep on taking the products and enjoy health benefits. That’s how to really help people! It goes without saying that you must have high quality products that are competitively priced. But the bottom line is that the part timer must make a positive cash flow in a reasonable time or they’re history!

I for one gave up a very profitable career to pursue a dream of coaching and to help people by teaching them how proper nutrition, supplementation and training could literally reverse and retard the aging process etc. But the problem has always been that the companies just don’t pay enough up front for the people to stay in business, and on the products. If you want my endorsement today, you better come up with a plan that pays up front to the vast majority: the part timer. It’s just that simple.

Michael: History shows that “hot” products come and go. Over the last few years we’ve seen the rage switch from weight loss to DHEA to Melatonin to Pycnogenol to Colloidal Minerals etc. John, what advice do you give people in regards to product fads and making true residual income in Network Marketing?

JOHN: Let me answer this way: optimal performance and function of the human body can only be achieved by regularly exposing the cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular-skeletal and nervous system to a delicate balance of a large variety of nutrients, water , exercise and rest. The opinion and strong beliefs on how to accomplish this are tremendous. We’ve all heard the saying that in nutrition it’s “90% opinion, 10% fact”! But facts and opinion seldom have anything in common. As a result, I see hundreds of people putting their opinions into practice… then spending months and years in an attempt to produce a result that could have been produced in a matter of weeks.

There will never be that one product that will turn this industry upside down; it’s just hype! History has proven this time and time again. In training an athlete, as a coach, I have to develop a plan and schedule for him or her to follow that will put them in the money NOW. Not later or not next year. My clients want results now or they’re gone.

In network marketing today, you must be involved with a comp plan that pays the majority of the money up front to the part-timers as well as the person that wants to pay the price and “go for the gold”. Back this up with effective ongoing training and a professional support team — there is no way one can fail!

Well, there IS one way someone can fail: if they don’t consistently work!

Work is not a four letter word!

This will produce the kind of residual income we have all dreamed of, but was always clouded over with a lot of hype about a lot of great products and the “awesome” pay plans that never materialize except for a select few. This is why I enjoy coaching. I feel that nobody with the drive, desire, ambition and determination should be denied this kind of opportunity.

Michael: Success in coaching world class athletes and success in Network Marketing must have many similarities. What are they and how can they help anyone to build true long term success in Network Marketing?

JOHN: The absolutely #1 ingredient that I needed for success as a coach and starting my business 15 years ago was this: I had to have a burning desire and a focused work ethic as well as a “burn your bridges” type of attitude toward fulfilling my dream — without question, never looking back. I just knew it would be impossible for me to fail. The only “if” was if I didn’t work consistently at what ever I had to do to earn the business because I knew what I was offering was what everybody needed. Case closed.

To succeed in network marketing, the same holds true. As I said earlier, having a hot product or great credibility will not make you a success in network marketing. You must first decide to become a coach and do what it takes to learn the business. You have to be a coach and coachable at the same time!

If you say no to being a coach, you can still be successful. You can then do what most athletes and networkers do: find a great coach and support team that are accessible to you and your group. Once you have acknowledged that it’s time to start developing your training schedule, go to work. We were all born to coach. After all, where would kids be without their two coaches (Mom and Dad) and support team (grandparents, brothers, sisters, uncles)?

See you at the finish line!!

John DeHart is a respected professional trainer, coaching world-class athletes and succeeding in Network Marketing today.