KristenDarkenwald.com

This was an important aspect to me finding success.  I thought I just needed to learn marketing.

While effective marketing is essential- and being ahead of the hot new trends is great.

But I made the quick realization that I needed to work on me.  I couldn’t stay the same, be the same person, and earn 3 or 4 times the amount I was.

That still stands today.  In order to get to the next level, I can’t remain the same.

I was talking to one of my students briefly tonight, and he was asking me all these questions marketing wise- and I could just sense this anxiety, this I want to make the money yesterday type of thing.

And the advice I gave him wasn’t anything to do with marketing.  It was all mind work.

I told him, while you’re in the process of setting up your marketing- unless you conquer that fear that is causing you to jump ahead of what you need to have done.  You won’t make it.

I am the perfect example.  11 months ago I was looking for marketing training.  What I learned was I had to become a student of marketing and most importantly- I had to become the person I am meant to be.

I am not that same person I was 11 months ago.  And in 1 year from now, if I want my income to be at 30,40,50k per month- I cannot be the person I am right now.

It’s just impossible.

While some may find this daunting.  I find it exhilirating.  I love the self exploration, the self growth, the challenge of changing my thinking in order to do all I want in life.

I am grateful for everything in my past, and I am grateful that I am someone who doesn’t conform to society.

Society’s pull to be normal.  To fit a role.  To get a 9-5 job and just be the same.  

I have been able to release that pull, despite many obstacles.

Because I AM MEANT FOR MORE.

I have always felt this and known it in my heart.

My life, my experiences, especially as a child, they all have made me the person I am and continue to become.

And I am meant to leave this world a better place then when I found it.

The best part- I know I have the power to acheive all my dreams- b/c the power lies within my mind.

I began this self reflection and development journey starting with The Secret.  Then I studied The Science of Getting Rich- which is actually part of what Joe Shroeder decodes at Starlink Nation.

But- I highly recommend going to Barnes and Noble and buying The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles and The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy.

My mom taught me this lesson.  And it applies to everything in life.

Especially my drive to have a successful business.  I said I wanted a successful business- but words only go so far.

My actions reflected my words.  That’s where my success came from.  My Actions.

When I entered the network marketing industry almost 4 years ago I entered it with the idea that I would be successful.  And I always took action.

Now, back when I first started, I was told that my “marketing” was going to family and friends, doing the 3 foot rule, and buying expensive leads and acting like a telemarketer.

I now know better.  When I left that business and spent a year searching the internet looking to learn effective marketing.  I bought endless programs, that all did not deliver on what they promised.

Then 11 months ago I was introduced to Social Media Marketing- the marketing approach that effectively leverages the web 2.0 platforms to generate leads that contact me.

I knew I had found what I had been searching for- and thus began my journey to actually having a successful business.

Once I started learning how to implement this type of marketing- I ACTED.

That is the key.  I said I wanted a successful business, but I followed thru with my actions.

There was no one holding my hand, no one telling me to do my work.  My drive was there and I acted on the knowledge I was given.

And that is how I got where I am today.  I take the knowledge Joe Shroeder, my mentor, and founder of Starlink Nation and act.  I apply the lessons I learn about the new Social Media trends I learn at My Private Classroom.

I ACT on the knowledge I acquire.

My ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. 

In life, most people detest change.  I know I do.  Why?  Well what I have concluded in my own life is that change is unfamiliar.  The lack of familiarity produces anxiety- because the result is unknown.

That’s why change isn’t easily accepted.

Most people will do almost anything to AVOID making a BIG Decision.

Once I understood this, and changed my marketing setup- it was like night and day.

Months ago I was selling only a High Ticket item, meaning a high price point.  I had sales, but lost lots and lots of prospects because of the BIG decision required when investing a few thousand dollars.

How did this change?  

Once I met Joe Shroeder and actively got involved with starlink nation- and there was a built in sales funnel where products ranged from $14.95 to $4,000.

But the key point to see, is that someone can purchase the $14.95 or even the $97 product- therefore avoiding having to make a big decision.

And then once the person got the $97 program they saw the value in the material and they UPGRADE themselves to the $2000 or $4000 program.

For every 10 $97 programs I sell, I have gotten 5-7 people to upgrade themselves.  That’s a 50 - 70 percent upgrade.

That’s unheard of!

But the beauty is people sell and upgrade themselves.

I have learned people want to BUY, but they don’t want to be SOLD.

This simple understanding and implementing a marketing funnel- has trippled my income.

As I sit here on my new Mac Book Pro listening to my new Ipod Touch- listening to music I just bought from itunes…

I know what I have learned from Joe Shroeder in respect to marketing- is evidenced in any successful business- big or small.  From Apple Inc. to Kristen Darkenwald.

You see there is a hidden formula of the rich and once I learned this, implemented it- my income trippled in 3 months.

Let me explain this formula-  It’s retail, retail, retail, residual, residual.

Huh?

Let me continue with my apple example.  I have been a user of apple Ipod’s for years.

I purchased the Ipod at $200. That was a retail purchase.  I started with the basic Ipod.  Then, I upgraded to the newer model- and just recently I upgraded again to a newer model.  

Count that- 3 retail purchases. Then…

I went and purchased the Mac Book Pro yesterday.  So I went from several smaller retail purchases around $150-$200.

UPGRADED myself to the $3,200 MacBook Pro.  Plus printer.  Got the FREE Ipod Touch as a special deal

And what did I just do- I purchased more from apple, 7 songs at .99 cents each.  And probably will continue to do so each month as new songs come out.

Let me break this down, 3 retail products at lower price points, upgrading to the larger price point (plus add ons- more retail purchases)

and then I just admited I will be a RESIDUAL customer with Itunes.

I just followed the exact formula I use in my marketing- and LEARNED from Joe Shroeder.

He knows marketing huh.

Okay, so before Joe, I was selling a high ticket item, having a few sales per month- but I was leaving money on the table from prospects who wouldn’t or couldn’t come in at the high level. 

Then I met joe and over at Starlink we have the system setup in the same formula Apple uses.

our products start at $14.95, $67, $97, $497, $2041. And then we have a residual program that is $50 per month.

Since marketing the material written by Joe- that teaches marketing, my income has TRIPPLED.  From $4-$5k per month to over $15k PROFIT per month.

Decoded this works because, having the low level products offers a safe way in.  No one gets hurt. And then people fall in love (just like I did with the ipod) and upgrade themselves into the higher ticket items.. and then they become loyal fans- and join my residual program.

So, from one person, I earn $60-$2000 BEFORE my residual program.

Just as apple did with me.

This works for any business- including network marketing companies.

Joe used this formula to build multi million dollar organizations in the 90’s- and I see why.  

It works

Lead with Retail, backend with residual = way to millions. 

I say that because it’s true.  4 years ago when I entered this industry, I entered it knowing that I would make it.  Even back then.

When my “marketing” training was going to family and friends, wearing a button and buying expensive leads.

Once I was introduced to Social Media Marketing- learning how to leverage these web 2.0 platforms to generate leads for my business, I knew I had found it.

But… 

It was NOT guaranteed.  My business did not explode overnight.  I didn’t have anyone sitting over my shoulder telling me to do my work.  

I knew I had finally found my way, the only thing that was getting in my way was myself.  My mind.

So throughout the past 11 months, I constantly did the work every day and then I worked on me.

I would not be earning the money I do if I hadn’t done the work on ME.  And as I continue to want to grow my business and income level- there is constant work going on with ME.

I am an continuing evolving and expanding person- as my business grows, so do I.  One cannot happen without the other.

So my answer to anyone when they ask how I got where I am- it was work.  It will still be work getting where I want to be.

I never gave up.  I had ups and downs, had highs and lows.  

But.. QUITTING WAS NEVER AN OPTION FOR ME.

I have my own business out of my home.  I did the work, I pushed myself.  I moved outside my comfort zone- I took action.  And I have reaped the rewards.

So as I move my business to $20k, $30k and $40k profit per month- it is going to take work every single day- both on my marketing and on ME.