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Brian: Hello, hello and welcome to CatalystMLM. I'm Brian Swichkow and today on the show we
have Billy Chalmers. Billy has been partnered with Syntek Global for over two years now.
Actually, almost three. And has a really awesome story that I think is relevant to a lot of
people in terms of how much work it can often take to build it's success. Thanks so much
for being on the show with us.
Billy: No problem, absolutely.
Brian: So yeah, I mean, I kind of alluded to it a second ago. But, you were not, I mean
you're starting to climb to the top of the company and break ranks. And you're doing
that because you found some really amazing partners. And, in a binary system, you know,
you have to have one leg that performs equally as the other. And it took you a very long
time to find the two rockstars on each leg. That just, you know, blew up the business.
Tell me a little bit about how long it took. And, the path that it took to get there.
Billy: Well, it's kind of interesting to say that because, one thing that you should, back
up a little bit. I was in five MLMs prior to Syntek Global. Which didn't go anywhere,
and just from, you know, studying, and finding some things that would work. I think one of
the biggest things that happened to me is watching a video from Todd Falcone and he
was talking about recruiting professionals. And I was like always on the idea of like,
okay, well I need to find my friends and family and talk to them. And I've always been in
that kind of training on, to do that. And when I got this video and saw it, I go, okay,
well, he's, first he talked about business cards. And getting business cards and talking
to people. Or, business owners . . .
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: who were successful in their business. And I had gotten a business card at a pizzeria.
From somebody who actually owned his own tinting business. He actually tinted cars. And my
whole thing was to do a test to do a testimonial to get more results. And I had met with him,
gave him eight four packs of the products so that he could get his own test done so
we could document it.
Brian: Right.
Billy: And he got some great results, from there he saw the advantage of the business.
And he's a person who's, was in the area for 20 years, had the same location, knew a lot
of people.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: So, when I talk to people, I say, yes, don't forget talking to friends and family.
But, you really wanna get somebody who, I, quote unquote, say is like an opinion leader.
Somebody who people value their opinion. Who the people go and talk to when they have a
question. Those people who, people's opinion is more taken to heart than others.
Brian: Yup, yeah.
Billy: So, that to me is . . .
Brian: And I know Syntek Global has really one product. And I love it for that reason
because it's really easy to draw metaphors.
Billy: Yeah.
Brian: And, I know that when you got started, you know, it's a product that's in the automotive
industry. And you started going after engineers and thinking, oh well engineers will love
this. There's tons of documentation. But, you know, where you truly hit your stride
and found your leaders was actually in really, I guess automotive services. Like, window
tinting and mechanic shops, rather than engineers. So, you know, what was your journey to making
that realization? And having that realization.
Billy: Well, I think it was after like not getting the results. I at first went after
engineers but also mechanics. And, mechanics, they're looking at how they can make more
money. And fixing cars while this is maintaining the engine life that's kind of like, goes
against that a little bit. So, I was looking for more people who were, who owned, the owners
of automotive businesses.
Brian: Right.
Billy: Rather than the people who would be working there.
Brian: Yep.
Billy: And I had talked to, after I had talked to this one person who did a tinting business
and he was on board. I had gotten a call and I talked to somebody about what's call BNI,
like is Business Networking International. And it's a place where a lot of business owners
and people who are business professionals would go.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: So it give you a great resource to actually talk to people and let them know
about the product. And the service and the company. Who are actually already professionals.
And I'd be driving around the whole state of Vermont just going to all the meetings
and all the different locations.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: And that was really very profitable because you're constantly going and talking
to professionals all the time.
Brian: Yeah. And that's, I mean, BNI is a great example of, you know, a networking organization.
And I'll put a link to BNI below.
Billy: Yeah.
Brian: But there's a lot. I mean, you know, there's Chamber of Commerce, there's a bunch
of different professional groups. So, when you go there, you know, a lot of people in
Multi-level Marketing, they think that you know, networking is an opportunity to pass
out business cards and tell people why they should buy their product. I know that you
had a different experience , in terms of, you built relationships. So . . .
Billy: Right.
Brian: how did you go about doing that and what were the benefits from that?
Billy: Well I constantly cut, what I would do is when I started with BNI I was like at
first looking, oh who would I, you know, get some business from. And then when I started
doing more, how do I help other people, how do I become, how I benefit somebody else.
See if there's somebody else in sales who maybe I can give some tips to. Because I was
in sales before. Or, how do I help these other individuals, either better themselves or better
their own success.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: Which were I really came, to get better for me. How do I give back? They have this
thing in BNI called a givers gain. You know, basically, you get when you give. So, I was
just looking. Later, how do I give back, what do I do. How can I support? Then just talking
to different people. And like you said, now working groups are very important. I've been
to mixers here and in Kentucky. I was part of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of
Commerce.
Brian: Yep.
Billy: In Vermont, they were very very great on getting our first venue. We actually, we're
gonna do an event. Where top leaders of the company, which is Josh Zwagil. I couldn't
find a hotel that we could do, find to do this in. And the Chamber was very instrumental
in getting us in a hotel that we could use.
Billy: Because, you know, I didn't, October in Vermont, you know. It's all the leaf keeper
coming and you can't find any place to do it. But they were great in helping me find
the location and find a place that we could actually do it. So they can help in many different
ways.
Brian: Right. And, you, I mean, you found several of your top leaders that you have
now. You found them through BNI. And then you found, and, on one leg and then you, on
the other leg you found, you know, through a business card in a pizza shop.
Billy: Yep.
Brian: And, you know, you built relationships with those people and then you helped them.
You gave them value.
Billy: Right.
Brian: Before you ever, you know, tried to get them to do something for you. And I think
that's definitely a very powerful strategy. And honestly that's what we try and do. Is
that, you know, we wanna give value to people. And it's interesting that, you know, most
of the leaders across so many different companies see that opportunity to give value and get
massive benefit. Rather than just, you know, look whos gonna give you new business.
Billy: Right. Well, that's huge because one of the things I read from a ebook from Mike
Dillon is that you want to continue to give back. Give value, give to people without the
whole idea of getting back. And then you will get back and so much more if you just concentrate
how you get to put your value on the market place. How can you help other people. How
can you expand them. And, you know, and that all comes back to you if you concentrate on
that way of doing it.
Brian: Right. And you, you know, your were doing Syntek Global for quite a long time
before you hit that stride. And I don't know if the realization for giving value rather
than looking for who's gonna be interested came with that. But I know that your story
is one of great tenacity. And I've actually seen you, you know, go up and except an award.
And have an entire room of people stand up and clap. Because every single one of them
was there because you didn't give up. And, literally, every single one of them. And,
you know, it's powerful to be able to give value. But would you say that, you know, your
tenacity paid off when you learned that lesson? Or did that come first and something else
clicked?
Billy: Well, I mean, from the beginning. What happened from the beginning is that I was
in the energy efficiency field. I was working for a company that was, we'd help farmers
and do energy audits. And I liked the whole idea of doing that. But what happens is that
like a lot of companies, the hands change and there was a lot of people leaving. There
was benefits not given. There was . . .
Brian: Yep.
Billy: a lot of different things. And I actually, from all this got quite ill. And I had a blood
infection and I was in the hospital. And it was, you know, very traumatic type of experience.
And later on I just told my wife. I had to leave, this is just is just too toxic. This
environment.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: So, it went from, what can actually happen in a chain over or in ways of corporate
America. And having to change something for me. And from there I just talked to my wife
and I said I have to do Syntek, I have to get this off the ground. I have to full time
and find the people that's gonna be able to blow this thing up. And, leave the toxic environment
of some corporate America type of jobs that are out there. Where, you don't have a lot
of freedoms or able to promote or produce the way you want to, or can. Or show how you
can benefit others. So, from there out, my wife was actually. Thank God for my wife,
she was working like 70 hours a week some weeks. In order for us to really get this
thing off the ground. And, it took some time but we kept on going because we knew the value
of the product.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: We knew the value of what it means to cut down emissions by 33%. I was already
in the energy efficiency fields. So, I knew how big an impact this product could have.
Not only for people saving money and be able to make money, but for the environment in
itself. I mean that is a huge huge change, 33%. And saving on environmental emissions.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: So, I knew what the mission of what they're trying to do was solid. It just a
matter of just getting people on board. Who would also see the vision of it.
Brian: Yeah. And I know that, you know, that you're, you know, deeply rooted in that mission
of helping the, in helping the world. You know, be a greener place. And I know that
that really drives you. So, was that, I mean, the biggest driving factor behind, I mean,
financial freedom being half of it. But I guess the other half being that you just really
wanted to make the world a better place. And knew that what you had in your hand was able
to be capable of that.
Billy: Oh, yes, but in a big way. I mean the product does so much. I mean people can save
money with it, they can prolong their engine life, they can do a lot. But, the environmental
impact on this is huge. I mean the fuel industry in itself is a trillion dollar industry. But
the fuel, the pollution reduction, the green initiative or whatever you wanna call it,
is also a trillion dollar industry in itself.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: So, I mean, and it's for a good reason, I mean, we do have to take care of the planet.
And in Syntek and XFT helps in a tremendous way in doing that.
Brian: Right. And that's, I mean it's powerful because a lot of people think that, you know,
finding a Multi-level Marketing business is. Well, you know, okay, that's, you know, you
can do that with anything. But you really, you have to be connected to that passion.
You have to be connected to it with your passion.
Billy: Right.
Brian: So that, you know, you can get through the tough times. And I know that you. How,
long did you go before you, you know, you sponsered your big, your first big person.
Billy: Well I sponsored the first big person. I sponsered was the first person. So, I mean,
it doesn't always work out that way. But . . .
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: it worked out that way for me. But you gotta realize . . .
Brian: how long did it take to get there.
Billy: Seven months. It wasn't, I started in August of 2010 and it was April 2011. But
I kept on going, kept on talking to people. I talked to several thousand people about
the product. About the company. About the it, and it just kept on having to keep on
going. Because I knew in my heart that, what this product, the company was all about. It's
a matter of just keep on going.
Brian: Well, and I know that, I know that you're, you know, have a similar passion for
Jim Rohn. And he, what was it, he said, well, kind of working it backwards. Is that, you
know, if you talk to a thousand people, I know you talked to more than that, but if
you talk to a thousand people. And the first person who said yes to you was, you know,
your rockstar that began that journey. You have a 1% success rate. Actually, I'm sorry,
you had a point zero one percent success rate. Where as in baseball, if you have, you know,
a 30% success rate, you get paid four million dollars a year. And . . .
Billy: Right.
Brian: And, so it's, you don't have to be perfect. You just have to keep going. And
I think that your story is definitely a testament to that. Because you know, your team now is
opening countries and setting up million dollar deal. And, you know, it's just powerful to
have that passion and tenacity to keep on going until it clicks.
Billy: Oh, absolutely. I feel very blessed to have the credible people that I have as
team members. I think the world of all of them. I think they're amazing. And anything
I can do to help them, I'm here you know, for them . . .
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: 24-7. I'm lucky enough right now, where I'm actually making the full time income with
Syntek. Which is tremendous because I. The percentage of people who actually are able
to do Network Marketing full time. You hear about people making, you know, millions of
dollars, or making tremendous amount of wealth. And that's a trem, a very small percentage.
But, I would say maybe 20% are actually, maybe, I'm not sure the percentage. But, who are
actually able to make a full time income.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: You know, because it takes work, it takes time to find those people who, you know,
have the passion like you do just to keep on going with it.
Brian: Yeah. And I know that, and I'll put a link to the video down below. But there's
a great video of Ted Talk on how to start a movement.
Billy: Right.
Brian: And it is a hilarious video, which everybody should watch if they haven't. But,
you know, the first step to that, for those of you who've seen it. The first step is you
attract your first follower and then, you know, you nurture them. Because if you don't
nurture your first follower. Of if you just, you know, parlaying that to MLM. If you sign
somebody up and then you don't help them grow the business then they're gonna go away. And
they're not ever gonna do anything and you have to nurture them.
Billy: Right.
Brian: And I know that you, do definitely did that. I mean I remember hearing of you
driving 11 hours to get to, you know, a weekly presentation. And, you know, flying different
places to at presentations and help people. And just always there for the people that
you sponsored and all of their downlines and their downlines, downlines. And, you know,
what, when you got started you started giving value to people. But, would you say that that
percentage of value has changed, increased. You know, as you've got more success in the
business.
Billy: Well, I'd say, what I do is I keep reading. Constantly reading self improvement
books, or books that actually can help me give that value back.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: So that if anybody has a question, how do you do this, what do you do this, how
does this go about. That I have the answer, or I can show them to something that can help
them. Because as I keep on growing. You know, my value. Then it can help more and more people.
And that's one of the things I was taught by, one of my mentors is Josh Zwagil. Is I
continue to read so they can continue to give off the value to other people. And that's
what I constantly have, you know, lots and lots of books and reading and different videos
and. There's a great video that I just recently saw from a well know person who does marketing
on facebook called Michelle [Pascoleto]. And it's called Information Overload. And that
is one of the, it's a great great video because she's so honest in that video. And she talks
about, you know, what to do about information overload. And I highly recommend people watch
that video. No matter if their in Network Marketing, Affiliate Marketing, because she
give a really good lesson on that.
Brian: Yeah, and it's humorous to hear you say that. Because I know, I mean, every, I'm
big on tools and I like finding things and information. For as long as I've known you,
every single time I talk to you I always find a new tool. Or a new book that I need to read.
or something else. And it's, you know, when I talk. You know, I talk about Jim Rohn and
Tony Robbins a lot. And . . .
Billy: Right.
Brian: I recommend their stuff a lot.
Billy: Right.
Brian: But when there's people that I've talked to, you know, a good bit already. And they've
already heard those recommendations. There are other recommendations beyond that. But,
yeah. So how do you deal with the information overload? What, how do you have that balance
between, you know, bringing in new things that you can recommend versus actually like
spending time on your business.
Billy: What I do is I pick the something that's worked for me in the past. So, I'm a big fan
of Todd [Delconi] because, it's worked.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: What he talks about works. So, you can go and do this. Or that looks good, everything
looks interesting. But go back to what. Okay what did actually work for me. Where did I
actually get success? And continue to do that and continue to learn more. But what it is
that you've actually got success with. Whether somebody has success with blogging, or facebook,
or whatever it might be. Youtube videos. Look at what is successful. Because I think we're
all different so the way we all communicate, the product, the message, yourself.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: Is all individual so, you know, immerse yourself in what is, if it was successful
for you. And keep on doing more of that.
Brian: Yeah, absolutely. And kind of. I've heard that said before. And it's really safe
and simple advice. Is to learn from other people and listen to the leaders. But then
distill all of that into your own recipe.
Billy: Right.
Brian: You don't have to invent it and you don't have to copy someone else's. But, you
know, you should look at everybody else's and distill it into your own because that's,
you know, where the power hits.
Billy: Sure, absolutely.
Brian: So, when you attract your, you know, your first distributor and then you know,
your other distributors that just, it grew from there. And I think your over 1,000 distributors
in your organization right.
Billy: 1,700 almost also so now . .
Brian: Oh, wow. And so, I mean, you got your first distributor and you went from there
and you mentioned Josh Zwagil on your upline and your mentor. You know, how did you attracting
those allies that truly helped you in the business with upline, downline, crossline,
sideline, and corporate and so on and so forth. I know that you interact with a lot of those
people so how did you go about attracting them?
Billy: I think just a matter of reaching out for them. Not only Josh Zwagil's very important
to me but Chris Bailey was absolutely huge. Not only in, you know, being able to talk
to him, and finding out what was successful for him. But, he's taught me some tremendous
lessons. He said, on responsibility, he said one time. If you were the last person left
in this organization what would you do? Like, how would you build it again? How would you
keep the message going? How would you continue to make it expand? You know, say you don't
have any up lines, downlines, whatever and it's just you. And you gotta take responsibility
for making this thing happen. What would you do? And it was just a huge lesson because
you look at it and go, wow. You know, because, I never blame my upline or my sponsor. I'm
very thankful that they're actually sought me out.
Brian: Right.
Billy: I mean, she sent me a message from England about this product and company and
I trusted her. And got the results I did with my own vehicle. Which was absolutely huge.
Sometimes I don't tell people what my results were. Because I'm thinking, well, my results
were off the charts. So, would they believe me?
Brian: Yeah. Sometimes it sounds a little too good to be true.
Billy: Yeah.
Brian: Yeah. So that's, and I mean I know the other thing, speaking of finding your
mentors and getting that advice. I know that you're a big fan of convention, and I think
you've been to two, correct?
Billy: Yeah.
Brian: Yeah, so what would you, you know, regardless of company. What would you recommend
to distributors that are just getting started. Like, when did you go to your first convention.
How long had you been in the company and what did you get from it?
Billy: Well I was in since August 2010. Every single convention I've gone to has been an
absolutely huge life changer for me. And I, you build on the success of every convention
after that. I've never stayed the same rank from convention to convention. Always upping
the ranks, continued to improve. And the whole idea is to, for me the biggest thing is just
great training, meeting the founders. I love the founders we have in the company, their
wonderful people. But the networking is absolutely huge. What you learn from just sitting down
and talking with different leaders and other distributors. It's huge, it's just , you can't
put a price on that for me. Because it just, the distributors in this company are amazing
and I just love talking to them and getting ideas from them. And then, so, it's just huge.
Brian: And what about in other Network Marketing companies. Have you partnered with people
from other companies? And been able to pass that mutual value.
Billy: Yeah, so, what I do is, I'll reach out to network marketers, not so much that
I wanna get them in my company. In my deal. But just to, as a friend or a person that
is like talking about. Okay, how you doing and what do you, how you marketing. And then
teaching them some of the stuff that I've learned. And so that you can pass it on to
other people. Because you want other people to be successful. You want . . .
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: no matter what they do. Plus the other thing is that I never put down the Network
Marketing company. Because if they, the thing is, they had, there's a lot of great products
out there. There's a lot of great companies. And I use alot products from several different
Network Marketing companies. I recently was in Orlando and I actually got the chance of
meeting Jake Kevorkian, who's one of the co-founders of another Network Marketing company. Hes
a great person. Really really genuine. And just being able to meet other distributors
from other companies. I think it's a lesson to learn. Because you can learn a lot from
what they're doing. Give you ideas, and you could also help them. So, I think it's a key
thing to, I mean, we get enough people like who are skeptical about what we do. So to
be skeptical of each other, I don't think it's a good road to go down.
Brian: Yeah, absolutely. And that's, I mean, it's powerful, but, you know. A lot of people,
they don't understand the value of giving and sharing value to other people. So what,
you know, what are some examples of things that have happened that are positive of when
you've done that. When you've reached out to people and offered help just because you're
in the same industry.
Billy: Well, I'll give my ideas of different trainer that have I've actually learned from.
And if they have this thing and they're having trouble doing this or that. I'll show them
to something that maybe Todd would say or, some other trainer. Or, you know, just to
let them know. Just to have another person who says, that understands them.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: And kind of give them some kind of resource. Or something to help them. I think
it's huge.
Brian: Yeah, absolutely. So, what would you, you know, kind of giving a call to action
to people. What would you recommend for someone who's, you know, maybe been started for a
few months and hasn't seen the success that they want. And they're kind of starting to
think if this is the right decision for them. What would you recommend that they do.
Billy: Persistence, persistence, persistence. Keep on moving, keep on working. Kind of find
those key leaders. And really I think also really knowing your product and the company
is very very big. And understanding how the leaders got to where they did. Because it's
all about duplication. And how can you more easier duplicate what you're doing. Look at
what your actions are doing and how can you more simplify it so people could understand
it better.
Brian: Yeah, absolutely. And how, would you recommend, I guess attaching to the leaders
outside of convention. Like the leaders within the company. And finding those mentors and
those partners.
Billy: Oh, that's huge, because those are the ones who are gonna teach you what you're
doing wrong and what you're doing right. And continue more of what you're doing right.
And I think the other thing that's very very key is role playing. A lot of role playing.
That, I don't see enough of that. I hear people sometimes talk about it, but that is absolutely
huge. Because if you look at every single industry. Whether it be an actor, or an athlete
or something like that.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: They always practice, practice, practice, their craft. And I see a lot of speakers and
people talking. But, to get back to doing the role playing and then just going over
they key scripts the key sales tactics. The key things that need to be gone over so people
really get it. I think is sometimes a little bit of a missing element.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: And that to me, is huge because. All the big professionals and athletes, musicians
, practice all the time. So, we have certain things in Network Marketing where we need
to practice. And it's how the people who are at the top got to be at the top.
Brian: Yeah. And that's, you know, a great segway, into, you know, how. I mean, how does
it feel having, you know, gone through that struggle and you know. Some people, you know,
they have a slow and steady success and some people hit it big right away. And then some
people like yourself you know, struggle and struggle and struggle, and then finally hit
what they've been going after for so long. And then it just explodes from there. I mean
your business has been growing dramatically for well over a year now.
Billy: Right.
Brian: But you had to struggle for almost a year to get to that starting line. And then
fight even harder once you did. So how does it feel now to be in the position that your
earning full time income and you're just kind of watching your business grow without you.
Or, and with you.
Billy: Well, the thing, I think it's great. But, it's also like you wanna keep on giving
back and see how you can improve. And how you can keep on helping others. I mean, I
dont think theres a stop. It's like, okay now I can go and, you know, take a vacation
for two months. Now, because if you went, if you did that then the tension would be
mostly on the people and how they doing. How can I help them. So . . .
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: I understand about going off and you know, trying to take a long vacation. But,
that usually is detrimental to your success in the long run. Because you keep on wanting
to help these people. Because, you have the responsibility to do it. And you want to do
it. So, I think it's huge to be able to help another human being to be able to free themselves.
I mean I had the situation where I literally sick and had to you know. Do antibiotics next
to my bedside for two months. Because of a situation and upset and stuff from corporate
America. So, if I can help somebody who's going through some of the similar struggles
or same problems.
Brian: Yeah.
Billy: I love it. You know, that just helps me. And I love that so much.
Brian: That's awesome. Well thank you so much for for coming on and sharing that. And I'll
definately. And I'll connect with you to make it an even bigger list of all of you know,
the favorite resources that you use and put them in the links below. As well as with your
contact information and hope people will subscribe to the podcast rigt below the video. And see
more videos from people like you. And amazing stories about how powerful it is to give.
So thank you.
Billy: Absolutely, thank you.