"They labeled him a dud."

"Analysts and the press labeled Capellas a dud when he took Compaq's CEO post in 1999... Many wondered if he had enough charisma to be the leading man for what was then the world's top seller of personal computers.

Capellas proved his critics wrong. He became the leading face in front of many of Compaq's top customers. He often played host at trade shows, product launches and other industry events...

And within two years he had spruced up Compaq enough for a sale to H-P." His focus on customers while at Compaq made that possible.

Here's from the New York Times, four days later, after he became the new chief executive of WorldCom:

"Mr. Capellas said yesterday that his first priorities as chief executive would be to "shore up WorldCom's customer base, to reach out to the company's 60,000 employees..." NYTimes 11.16.02

If Mr. Capella, new CEO of WorldCom, puts "shoring up the customer base" as his first priority, what about using that model for your business? If you want to bring in experienced business people? Here's the benefit of putting your focus on getting a sizable customer base for your business. Say you are looking to sign a hot entrepreneur who you think could really grow your business. What do you think would do you more good?

Scene A. You have a few floundering distributors in your business, and 2 customers. One of whom is you. What kind of 'business model' is that for a good person to get excited about?

Scene B. You have 97 customers, and no builders yet. The 97 customers are regular monthly customers, just like MCI phone customers (=part of WorldCom). Let's say they earn you $10/ea per month. So that you can honestly say: "I make $970 per month from 97 customers I have so far. Whether I do a whole lot of work now or not, since I have already gotten the customers. I stay in touch with them so they feel special. That's it. What do you do?" What might someone really good think to herself about now?

Here was my thought when someone told me that some years ago:

"Hmm. If you can get 97 customers, and make $970, I can probably get 970 of them and make $9700 per month. Or maybe 2000 customers and make $20,000 per month." And I said out loud: "Show me what you're selling and how it works."

This is a business 'model' that someone with a good brain can immediately recognize, and make into something they think THEY can do by doing what you did...building up a customer base. Only this one figures they can do it bigger. (Beats getting people who are looking for something for nothing, right?) That customer-base model is a known entity to experienced people of the world.

Think Viacom, think MCI and other companies with tens of thousands of customers who pay each month for their cable or phone service. Each gets the company a little bit of money each month.

Maybe that's why someone as smart, experienced and successful as Michael Capellas puts his primary emphasis on 'shoring up' and getting new customers. Because they all pay for the service EACH MONTH. Some of my readers have written in to say they can't earn a living with just customers, like 10 or so of them. That they NEED builders. But they're not getting any. One option is to focus on getting closer to 100 monthly customers first. THEN show THAT business model to someone with experience in the real business world.

What's the other option?

Keep trying to recruit people who, each time, ask you "How much do you make?" "How many people are in YOUR business?" Recuiting is nearly impossible if the person being recruited can't see how the money is made legitimately. It is much easier if they can see a small (100) customer base giving off regular monthly income, JUST LIKE cable TV does (Viacom) or MCI long distance. Then, what if you let THEM go: Geez, well, if you can get 100 customers, maybe I can get 1000. Of course, if you have a giant sphere of influence, and people just naturally gravitate towards you and do what you want, then perhaps it doesn't matter as much.

But if that's not you, maybe it's time to consider a focus on getting yourself a good customer base.How to do that FAST? Like, how about getting your 100 customers in your next 90 days? Here's how: Learn to ask for people who are predisposed to what you market. People who will love it for the same reasons you do.

1. I market the cheapest telecommunications service and they have a free deal for friends and family.

2. I market a phone service for people who want to be pampered by their phone company. What do you do?

3. I market a phone service for people who just want to talk to their friends and family whenever they want, for as long as they want, any time they want, and not have to pay for it. What do you do?

Which of these sounds more boring to you? Which two sound kind of interesting? Like they perhaps describe YOU? All three responses are from people repping the same company. See why some get customers and others get blank stares, along with "Oh that's nice. Say what's for lunch?" In three weeks, you can learn how to ask for people who are just ilke you. So they're more likely to say 'yes'.

Want to?

We'll show you how in the 3 Scripts Class.

Here's to a customer base that gives you a bonus check with or without an active downline. Until you find that right one!