Credibility is at stake everywhere.  The financial crisis is hitting hard because there is a serious lack of confidence and trust in the system.  What is a capital guarantee for if the guarantor could be bankrupt?  Which corporation can we trust if even the big names like Lehman Brothers and Citibank can turn out to be so vulnerable?  What about the likes of Bernard Madoff who could turn out to be a bag of lies?  Or that letter of credit that cannot be honored? Or that milk powder which turned out to contain melamine?

When the pendulum is tilted too much to the one side, people will favor things that bring back the equilibrium.  When credibility is at stake, you will see more things to restore credibility, and that in itself is an opportunity.

The core value of Network Marketing (or MLM) is credibility. It is through word-of-mouth or referrals.  Why should I believe in what you say? ….because I know you, and I take you as one that I can trust. This connection is important.

Besides, network marketers are themselves “product of the product”.  In other words, they are users of the products they promote.  This adds credibility.

There is also an element of knowledge transfer in the process, or “intellectual distribution” as Paul Zane Pilzer put it.  For instance, if you are looking for a multivitamin, you would likely get more relevant and in-depth information from the network marketing (MLM) connection than the salesperson over the selling counter.  The value of enhanced knowledge means that the average consumers are better able to select the choice of product that fits their needs.

When a consumer is so happy about the product that he/she doesn’t mind spreading the words around, it could mean the start of a lucrative passive income business.  But, that is another story.

Live Life, Junius.
p.s. With Christmas and the New Year just round the corner, my best wishes go to everyone of you and your family for a joyous and safe festive season, and a solid progress in 2009.