I've spent the last few years championing the vision of a Learning
Organization. Experience has taught me some valuable lessons:
Institutional inertia is often to intense that any new "management" idea
is often squashed before it can take root; and, managers often feel
threatened by new tools and theories that challenge the way they have
traditionally done things.
Nonetheless I have been committed to spending my life exploring and
expanding the concepts behind the Learning Organization. I came to believe
that if I was to be successful I'd have to build an organization from the
ground up. I simply didn't (and still don't) have the leverage I needed to
realize my vision at work.
I've decided to combine the theories, tools, and methods of the Learning
Organization with Network Marketing. What I envision is an ever-expanding
organization where thousands of people can explore the ideas of the
Learning Organization, while building a strong, profitable, competitive,
and lasting distribution network that spans the globe. Perhaps the most
exciting thing was I could do all of this with very little capital.
While the idea was somewhat of an epiphany, it has taken me over two years
to actually get to the point where I could begin to achieve this vision.
First, there was the problem of finding an MLM that would let me do what I
wanted; Second, there was the problem of defining the vision, mission, and
values that would provide the framework for the organization to begin to
grow; Third, there was the challenge of managing rapid growth, as I expect
that in under one year I will have over 1,000 people in my distribution
network, and within five years I expect to have over 100,000 (that's quick
growth); Fourth, there was the problem of communication with that many
people, allowing new knowledge to flow through the organization; and
Fifth, there was the problem of figuring out how to present the idea.
An interesting note, many people have said Network Marketing isn't
intellectually challenging . . . when I begin to present these problems to
them, they quickly back off. . .
Now I'm to the point where I'm actually making the "rubber hit the road"
and I'm actively building my business. I've published a homepage that
explains what my wife and I are doing, and why. You can view that (at the
moment) at:
www.e-ad.com\BEN.HTM
The address will change once I get my domain name registered.
For those who have made it this far, what did you think of the idea? Do
you see how the ideas of a Learning Org could apply to Network Marketing?
What are the weaknesses of my plan?
Please be aware that this message is not a solicitation. If it were, it
would be a private E-Mail. I'm just curious what the practitioners and
professionals think of my idea.
Many thanks,
--Benjamin B. Compton ("Ben") | email: bcompton@novell.com Novell GroupWare Technical Engineer | fax: (801) 222-6991
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>