What do pigs have to do with network marketing? Let me relate a tale (tail!) to you. A young man was travelling around a corner on a narrow a country lane, when he suddenly had to swerve and brake sharply to avoid an oncoming car.

As the drivers windows drew alongside each other, the lady driver in the other car yelled out, "pig!" Not to be outdone, our guy yelled back, "sow!" and accelerated away. As he sped round the next sharp bend in the road, he smacked into the largest pig he had ever seen.

Here are a few network marketing "Pigs" that you should keep your eyes open for.

Pig number 1. Don't focus on selling the products. I know that in their marketing materials, most network marketing corporations play heavily on the amazing benefits of their products and services. That is understandable, as the company makes its money from sales of products or services.

This is a "pig" because, in network marketing, your primary task is to market and promote the opportunity - to build a network. Everybody has only 24 hours in a day. The more time you spend on retailing the less time you will have to build a network. You may initially earn some quick money by selling products, but as soon as you stop selling you will stop earning.

Pig number 2. In your efforts to build your network, you will come across prospects that will decline the opportunity, but will buy your product. If you sell products and earn a commission, do not use that money to pay your day-to-day bills. Use it to fund your team building activities. In a way, this is the same as investing in your retirement.

Pig number 3. Don't be seduced into working ever more hours. Many people do this and end up disenchanted, burned out and eventually quitting network marketing and their dreams. The whole idea is that network marketing is designed to be done in an hour and a half to two hours a day.

So many people find it difficult to understand that using that time to "build a team", adds leverage. For example, if you are committing 10 hours a week and you have a group of 30 (five who have five each) who are also committing 10 hours a week, there is over 300 hours a week being committed to your business.

Pig number 4. Have patience. Your ten hours a week will start to show results, but not this week, or next week. Network marketing is governed by the concept of delayed gratification. What you do today will manifest itself in about three months time. If you expect to get paid today for the work you've done today, you are setting yourself up to be disappointed. Why? Because just as it has done for you, it will take time for your new team members to get trained, become competent and to build