One of my mentors recently summed up the network marketing profession this way: “We get paid to talk to people.”

Ultimately, it all boils down to that. So I developed a simple, two-step recruiting system.

1. Find people to talk to.

2. Talk to them.

Keep in mind, of course, that simple does not necessarily mean easy. Talking to people is easier for some people than others. But the great thing is anybody can do it, and everybody can learn to do it better.

So where do you find people to talk to? You have two choices: people you know and people you don’t know.

Many new network marketing professionals eagerly talk to everyone they know. Most quickly discover, however, that a good number of their friends and family don’t want to hear about their “business opportunity.”

Many find that people they know even actively discourage involvement. They have either had a bad experience or just have a negative view of anything new.

This has led me to generally advise people who are new to MLM to avoid talking to people they know. I have adjusted that belief for a couple of reasons.

First, network marketers should be proud of what they do. They are building businesses that can change their lives.

The MLM business model is the best opportunity for nearly everyone in the working world to get ahead in life. We should proudly offer it to anyone who wants to move forward.

Second, people generally join people they know, like and trust. It’s easier to convince someone who already knows, likes and trusts you to look at your business than it is to get someone who will look at your business to know, like and trust you.

Third, you want to be in business with people you like. You already like your friends (or at least you should), so why not ask them to become your business partners.

Of course, you also should talk to other people. Any conversation about your business will, at the very least, help you become better at talking to people about your opportunity.

So, what do you say to people once you find them? Simple, tell them a story. Don’t vomit statistics and facts about your product or service on them. Just tell them about a great experience that you or someone you know has had.

Here’s a example of what I say to people.

“My brother weighed more than 335 pounds. He was miserably overweight to the point that he couldn’t even play with his four-year-old son. He found a system that helped him lose more than 20 pounds in less than a month and he’s still losing. He told me he feels better than he’s felt in years.

“Now he wants to help other people have that same feeling. Do you know anyone who wants to lose some fat or have more energy?”

Then, I listen to their response and go from there. Nearly everyone knows someone in that situation. Many say, “Me.”

Every conversation doesn’t go perfectly, but that’s OK. Every time I talk to someone, I’ve done my job.

So that’s my simple, two-step recruiting system. Find people. Talk to them.