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From Six Figures to Starting Over to Finding
Success Again With Donnie Walker
Quitting is Not an Option – Donnie’s Mantra!
Donnie Walker, who brings over 23 years of experience in our profession to the show today, is an inspiration with his “never quit” attitude!
He is a self proclaimed graduate of the MLM school of hard knocks, since 1991, and has reached the top of at least 3 companies, only to start over again when his values did not aligned with those of the company. He is strong on honesty and integrity.
This is another exciting interview for you and you are going to really want to listen and take notes, especially if you have started, and then started over, and then started over; or struggled to find a company with values that aligned with yours.
That’s a big part of the story of my guest today, Donnie Walker, who brings over 23 years of experience in our profession to the show today!
Donnie lives near Chattanooga, TN and has been married 37 years, has 2 sons and 5 grandkids.
Donne served in the US Navy from 1974 -1976.
And, is a self proclaimed graduate of the MLM school of hard knocks 1991-2014
His quote – “I love this industry for what it can do for the person, that doesn’t think they can have more in life. Network Marketing can change lives forever.”
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Have you wondered if it’s possible to take your existing business to the Internet, market it successfully online, and have your prospects come to you? You CAN build a lucrative MLM, online, using your computer and telephone, without chasing people you know, or sacrificing your precious family time! And, you don’t have to waste your time on tire-kickers, looky-lou’s or anyone else that is not ready and serious about getting started in an MLM business.
Okay, now, let’s learn a little more about Donnie.
Donnie was in the machinery and tool business, with 20-30 employees for over 25 years. His dad advised him to never put all of his eggs in one basket so he looked at ways to diversify his income from an early age. Good advice…
In fact, at age 9, he sold newspapers, mowed yards, sold salves door to door and always had that entrepreneurial spirit.
He was intrigued by network marketing the first time he saw it. His wife’s uncle called early into their marriage and introduced her to Amway, and Donnie’s first reaction was –
“Soap? We can’t sell soap.”
Then, his cousins joined A. L. Williams, and Donnie thought – “I can’t sell insurance.” But, he was intrigued with Network Marketing, but neither of those businesses enticed him enough to get involved.
But, his wife went through some health challenges after the birth of their two children, and Donnie saw a newspaper story by a Local Coach who had challenges with his knees, and swore by the product he had started using. Donnie called the newspaper and tracked down the woman who was marketing the product.
She sold him some product and introduced the Network Marketing side of things. Donnie bought the product, had his wife try it and was amazed at the results she had. He joined and got busy!
He invested $5,000, which gave him 21 cases of the worst tasting stuff you’ve ever seen! (His words!)
Within his first 30 days, he sold it all and anyone within 10 feet was being sold some product from his trunk!
He had some challenges with that company, and chose to move on because he was not willing to sacrifice his core values, when he was not comfortable with the way he felt business should be conducted. He could no longer stand in front of a crowd and promote the opportunity when inside, he just couldn’t feel good about it.
He joined another company, built to the top and ran into similar challenges when the company broke integrity in his eyes, with international expansion and letting some distributors in early.
Why is it we don’t have an issue with people in corporate America changing companies to further their careers, but we often want to pass judgement on those in Network Marketing who choose to move on for the same reasons? After all, one often has to join a company to really KNOW if it’s going to be a fit.
Multiple times, Donnie has built groups of ten and twenty thousand, only to find himself starting over when things didn’t line up.
So, I asked him – how did you start over? Did you go back to your list; your old downline, or what?
He started back in the time with no cell phones, fax, internet and the per minute charge to Australia was $25 a MINUTE! He incurred thousand dollar phone bills.
While nothing beats the face to face encounter, Donnie was truly an early pioneer of the internet, back in the early 90s with Compuserve, and then AOL, and met lots of people in a chat room called MLM Live.
He can still name hundreds of people he is still friends with from that room.
Social Media – the word – didn’t exist, but he was “doing it!”
Instant Messenger was built by networkers and launched Social Media today, in Donnie’s opinion.
He built a written list from his contacts he met online and stays in touch with many of them today. He has thousands of names and phone numbers written in notebooks. And, he has used that tool repeatedly to build his business and credits it with a lot of his success!
It’s still all about building the relationship. Don’t go to the internet from a place of fear, use it as a tool and know how to build rapport.
Donnie and I worked together in a company where we were at the top, (In fact, I had over 75% of the company in my downline) and then, when things got tough, they changed the comp plan, took both of our checks, along with most of the leadership there and we both started over.
Donnie never considered quitting, all along the way, no matter what the challenges. He feels corporate America has the same challenges and there are no guarantees.
There are trust issues, greed, egos, and so many of the same issues. So, event thought he has had some bad experiences, it hasn’t shattered his belief in the profession.
He has always made good money and loves the industry; loves what it does for people. As a country boy, with a high school education, he thinks it is the greatest industry in the world.
Donnie’s 3 skills to develop to be successful:
1. Work on how you deal with discouragement and your mindset.
2. Find a good mentor. Mark Yarnell was Donnie’s first mentor.
3. Find the right company where you feel all good and know it’s a fit.
When you set yourself on fire to win, people will come to see you burn!
Donnie was lucky to have a good mindset and belief in himself that his dad instilled in him. He taught him focus and drive.
A big recommendation he has is to grow your financial literacy, too. Know how to handle your finances better, so you don’t end up with being “Network Marketing broke!” Don’t have a lottery mentality with your money.
Donnie has never felt that a “no” is a rejection; he just always sees it as a “not now.” Even when someone has laughed at him and made fun of him, it rolls right off of him, because he believes in himself and what he is doing.
His advice for dealing with that down feeling of rejection is this –
“Everybody has a number. If you knew that the magic number for you is 13, would you hesitate to talk to 12 people? We all know that if you talk to enough people, you will get a yes and you will find your magic number.”
If he were starting over today, with his knowledge, he would make sure that he was educated, prepared and then he would take massive action.
Learn more about Donnie at Facebook and he loves friend requests!
Resources:
Richard Brooke’s amazing book on Vision – Mach II With Your Hair on Fire
Recommended Reading for Financial Literacy – Robert Kiyosaki Book – Building the Business of the 21st Century
Association of Network Marketing Professionals Convention – I hope to see you at this year’s ANMP Convention, March 27-30, in Dallas TX, over 30 speakers from all around the globe and fabulous meals are included in your low ticket price if $97. ANMPConvention.com
Also, if you enjoyed the show, please rate it on iTunes and write a brief review.
And, on Stitcher!
That would help immensely in getting the word out! Thanks.
<—— Did this podcast help you? If so, it would mean a lot to me if you would share it with others!!! And, share your comments below!
Let’s have some conversation!
EXPECT Success!
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Great story..known Donnie for a long time …he is the real deal .
Yes, he is Larry. He has always kept his word with me!
Thanks for sharing!
Really insightful and refreshing to hear the reality of the business . Thanks Jackie .
it tells me what i know that some people like me make moves to find the one that fits .Great perspective on that
Keep Up the Amazing things you do to transform lives .
Yep, Dan. There are reasons to change companies. Finding the right fit is critical, and it takes some “near misses” sometimes!
EXPECT Success!
Jackie Ulmer
“Have you wondered if it’s possible to take your existing business to the Internet, market it successfully online, and have your prospects come to you?… using your computer and telephone, without chasing people you know, or sacrificing your precious family time! And, you don’t have to waste your time on tire-kickers, looky-lou’s or anyone else that is not ready and serious about getting started in an MLM business”
This is exactly, exactly what I want. I joined PL because of Jackie because it looked like I was on the road to getting what I was looking for. Had difficulties getting my website up and running, then all the confusing FB stories and all this plus a stressful, exhausting job, I quit the other day then joined again. I want this to work.
Thanks Shannon! Yes, it can be confusing, but if you just follow the roadmap, you will get there! Let’s get you back on track!
EXPECT Success!
Jackie Ulmer
I want to get back on track, thanks and to begin immediately.
Point me in the right direction.
Shannon