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Brian: Hello, hello and welcome to CatalystMLM. I'm Brian Swichkow and today on the show we
have Zoe Morris. Zoe was a registered nurse with 25 years experience in operating rooms,
passed through several Multi-level Marketing companies with no success. And hadn't found
what really clicked with her. She found Nerium and within just over a year has reached one
star national marketing director which is high up in their company. And has had a lot
of success by helping other people have success. Right now she is waiting for her hotel to
be available and sitting out in the courtyard in beautiful and sunny. Actually, New Jersey,
right.
Zoe: Yes.
Brian: Thank you so much for being on.
Zoe: Absolutely, I'm glad to be here. It's exciting and I love what you're doing. I totally
love what you're doing. Bringing the truth to the industry is great.
Brian: We are looking forward to sharing your story. So, I mean, you, and we talked about
it before. I got a sneak peak. But so, tell me your experience when you first got into
Multi-level Marketing, your first company, how did you find that and what was your experience
when you found it.
Zoe: Okay, well I actually probably have back a lot of years ago. You know, I came from
an entrepreneurial family. You know, my mom and dad were both entrepreneurs. You know,
I decided that, basically, that I would go into nursing. You know, we kind of laugh about
it now because my dad said at the time. You know, you'll be a wonderful nurse because
you've got that loving care. And he said, but, someday you'll be in business because,
you know, he saw the way I grew up. You know, and I was always interested in whatever he
was doing. So, anyway, I did 25 years of nursing, but, when my husband and I got married, 30
years ago, we actually, the first thing that we did was husband, my father got us into
buying a piece of property. So, every year we would buy a piece of property. The goal
was that we would, you know, buy that piece of property and sell, fix it up and sell it.
But, my husband had a different idea. He couldn't sell anything, so we ended up every year with
another piece of property that we actually maintained and took care of.
Brian: Yeah
Zoe: So, our little goal together was, you know, at 55 we would retire and, you know,
we would take care of our properties and things like that. So, the unfortunate part of that
was my husband was downsized with, years, years before that, about 48. He was about
48, and we could move with the company, but our kids were both in high school. So we didn't
wanna do that. And so, you know, we chose to stay locally because we had the real estate
and that was kind of his passion. You know, remodeling and things like that. We bought
a franchise. So, you know that was probably one of the bigger mistakes we made in our
life. Although we learned a lot from it.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: But, part of that franchise well, it was about six years ago we bought a franchise
six to seven years ago. And it was a bad time, you know, when economy, you know, the state
has been although we should have done a little more research. But we just really thought
we could make it work. And somebody came into our office to share a product with us that
we could use to market in our business, just stayed in touch, say thank you, things likethat.
And you know, so, we were very, you know, we loved it. We loved the product, starting
using it. And people would ask me about it. You know, the normal, customer, your customer
loves a product becomes a distributor kind of thing. So, that's exactly what happened.
I loved it so I became a distributor and, you know. Absolutely, love the company, loved
everything about it. You know, from A to Z. And had no interest in, you know, anything
out there, other than, you know. My husband actually got sick about a year ago and through
that, you know, both of us were self employed at that point. Because I left nursing to actually
go in the business office management wise. And, doing my little side business with my
other MLM. And, you know, wasn't making a lot of money at it. The franchise was struggling.
And so, he got really sick, body run down, got a really bad staph infection so. You know,
during that period I said to myself, you know, I need something else. I've gotta do something
else. I love what this has happened with us. I love the idea of residual income. You know,
I see it. So, I actually thought about it, you know, he had about two months of IV antibiotics,
so both of us were not making any money. You know, no residual income coming in to say
the least. So, it was weird, because I am a nurse. You know, that was my background.
And I gave him all his IV antibiotics.
Brian: Right.
Zoe: And so, the last treatment, somebody sends me a link to another company.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: And, I thought, oh, no. You know, I'm not gonna do that. But I, actually through
the process, within 24 hours, I actually received information about the same company, from three
different people. So, it was like, kind of like a little sign there ya know.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: Here's your sign. But, then I realized what the company was about, the leadership,
and things like that. Then, I chose to the swap and change companies. And, you know,
from that point on it's been amazing, so.
Brian: So, and kind of going back. And, I love that you had that experience with franchises
because I've really wanted to ask this question. Is that, you know, with your experience and
then kind of just, I guess the general experience. Is if you take the mindset of a seasoned Multi-level
Marketer and the mindset of a seasoned franchiser. Where do you see the differences there? And,
what did you kind of learn in that transition?
Zoe: That, you know, owning your own business, in that scenario, is not the way that anybody
wants to go, honestly. You know, brick and mortar, you know, 80 hours a week, employees.
You know, overhead, to be, everybody got paid but you. And, you know, it was just, a stressful
stressful, you know, business. And just, it's something that, that looking back. And I can
honestly say this from experience. My husband and I have done a little bit of everything.
We're really entrepreneurial. You know, we've done, we've had a retail business, a wholesale,
we've owned a franchise, we done real estating. Real estate investing, so, we've done every
aspect of the business. I've never seen anything like, you know, Network Marketing. You know,
it is just a great way for anyone to be able to get into a business at a very affordable
cost. And if you're willing to put in the time, and all, a proven system.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: You know, with a great product, you know, this can work for you. And there's tons and
tons of companies out there that are amazing. It's just what resonates with you.
Brian: So, when you compare the, you know, if you're franchise versus the two. I mean
honestly the two Multi-level Marketing businesses that you've been with. In terms of training
and support, you know, what were the comparisons there?
Zoe: Well, actually, you know, there's, we had a lot of training and support with the
franchise. I have to say that, I'm, you know. And I think that's all different within the,
based on the company as well. You know, it wasn't the same feeling though, that you had
regular help, regular somebody . . .
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: walking you through the process. And truly being vested in your interest.
Brian: Right.
Zoe: So, it's a huge difference that way.
Brian: Yeah, and so, when you, cause you didn't, I mean you didn't make that distract switch.
The drastic switch you made was when your husband was sick and you switched companies
because you had been with a company prior. But it just didn't click. So . . .
Zoe: Right.
Brian: I guess what, I mean, you know, a lot of people have had that experience, of like,
it didn't really quite fit. Like they loved it they loved the products. But the business
just didn't quite click. And it took awhile to find out and they did, you know, research
and so on and so forth before switching. So what, was that decision making process?
Zoe: Well, first of all, I knew it was coming. Because I, you know, in my mind, I just. You
know, it had been five years. And I just wasn't. I mean, although, I was successful in that
company, as far as the type of money that I truly wanted to make. You know, I have always
been a dream, dream big, you know.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: I mean, go for it. You know, put the activity into it. You can't dream and not
do the activity, we all know that, so.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: You know, I did the activity. Day after day after day, I just couldn't get to that
point where. You know, and it's not about, to me it's not about how much money I can
make. It's theres so much I wanna do with . . .
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: the money that I'm making. So, that was the decision factor for me was, I couldn't
get to the point where I could make the kind of money I wanted to make. And help the, and
one step further and even more so was. I, even when I made okay money, none of my team
was making money. Then that hurt.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: That truly hurt. You know, so that was a decision factor honestly.
Brian: And . . .
Zoe: And that's what moved me forward.
Brian: So on the same note of your team. And I know that, you know, a lot of people. Some
people go, I wanna yacht, and some people go, I wanna help this many people, and then
some people go. If I help this many people then I can get my yacht. So, there's different
modes of thinking there. But it really shows kind of what people are, or, I guess, feelling
or, you know, their type of personality. So, you know, you talk about, it hurts when you're
not seeing your team make money. And you talk about people having a vested interest in your
success, when you got started. So, I mean, you know, it is and people talk about that
all the time. Is that, oh, you know, it's great because in corporate culture people
don't want you to succeed because you'll compete with them. And in Multi-level Marketing, everybody
has a vested interest in your success. Well, at a certain point when you have people on
your team and it could be one or two people. You have to have a vested interest in their
success. So . . .
Zoe: Absolutely.
Brian: how are you able, in your current company, which you grew very quickly. How were you
able to flip that and show people that support?
Zoe: Well, honestly, mine, you know, we all start with a why, why we do that, why you're
driven to do what you do. And initially it was literally getting my husband away from
a situation where it was unhealthy. You know, just it was literally killing him. And so
that drove me to the enth degree, you know I was, the activity was, on steroids at that
point. And it happened very quickly. So very quickly I was able to retrieve that why. But,
I would have never achieved that why without my team. You know, you don't get anywhere
without a team.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: So now, through that process every person that I've ever personally sponsored I, and
even their teams, I know their why. I know why their in this business and that's what's
driving me now. You know, it truly is, made me because I wouldn't be sitting here talking
to you, smiling, being comfortable, and being able to travel around to do what I wanna do
in life. If it wasn't for the team.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: It's as simple as that.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: So, that's what that's, you know, that's what it's all about. You know, and that is
true, and because I have that team and I'm building those relationships. And I'm growing
everyday.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: There's other things in, that will come financially that, you know, do that. But it
all starts with the team.
Brian: Right.
Zoe: You know, it all starts with a team.
Brian: And a lot of times and I know Nerium is really great with this. Is that they have
a training system.
Zoe: Yeah.
Brian: And the training system in any company, you know, it makes it very process oriented
to grow a business. And so, you know, the company that I was with before they kind of,
they would teach the, you know, you peak, expose, and you know, and roll. Or, whatever
the, but it's three steps. And there was kind of like, a question to ask for step one. And
then a, you know, a question to ask for step two. And if at any point, they said no thank
you, you said, thanks for your time. But, it was really, one, two, three. And so the
processes is make it very simple for people to do. But, a lot of times people forget that
it's also about people. And they forget to kind of be real because they forgot. They
got so lost in the process. They got so lost in how simple it was. That they forgot to
actually connect with people and find out their why. So, you know, it, tell me a little
bit more about that and how both. I mean, I know that you connect with people and you
listen and you get that. But, how do you teach that? How do you share that thats the way
to truly grow the business?
Zoe: As far as our system, with the company that I'm with now. You know, it is a step
by step process. And that's what they teach is that everybody, needs to know their teams
whys. You know, because that is literally how you bond with people. We know what's driving
them to do what they do. Then, not only can you use that to help them. You know, so many
people, you know, your why also becomes your excuse. So you've got to, you know, you got
to figure out, you know, how bad, badly do you want this. If when you have that persons
why, it's easy to come back to them and say, hey, but you remember you told me this is
what you want. So, it's good in all directions.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: You know, just connecting.
Brian: And, so, kind of on a similar note. You work with your husband now.
Zoe: I do.
Brian: But, you didn't always. And, so he's, you told me before, he's an engineer. And,
engineers, statistically speaking, are very skeptical.
Zoe: Yeah.
Brian: And so, you know, you, he didn't just into the business with you right when you
got started, but, tell me a little bit about how he now is actively working with you. And
happy about it.
Zoe: Okay, well actually when I started. You know, he had no interest. Very quickly, because
I had success in this business, and it's like anything else. When you see somebody have
success you pay attention. But see, you know, he's always been very supportive, don't get
me wrong. Even in my last company, you know, he loved it, because I was happy. You know,
and he loved that I was happy doing what I was doing. So, it wasn't that he wasn't supportive,
but he just thought it was my hobby.
Brian: Right.
Zoe: So this time when he saw me actually, you know, decide to change companies. He said,
you know, I truly want to research this company. You know, and I said, fine, go ahead. Get
your research on. Well he researched to the enth degree and after about three or four
months of researching. He actually said, I think we should sell this franchise and I
think I should join you.
Brian: Yep.
Zoe: And that just about blew me away. So, after, actually we thought it would take a
couple years honestly, to sell that franchise. And we were blessed that we were able to sell
it within the first three or four months. But, he actually took a sick day, he gave
them six months to transition . .
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: to help them transition with our customers, our client base, that kind of thing. Just
to build the rapport. It's just like we do with, you know, everything else we do.
Brian: Right.
Zoe: And, so, he just literally was done July 1st. So, now he's full time, you know, in
this business. And, loving it. And he actually, he, I'm, you know, what I do, I've never been
a public speaker. I was actually in the operating room for all those years not really talking
to anybody. So, when I changed this profession, I've never loved being, you know, a public
speaker.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: I love the companies that I've been with. So it makes me wanna go out there and share
what I have to offer. But I can easily sit in the back room and be happy.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: But he's just the opposite. He love, you know, so we've got different strengths.
And he's the one that would, you know, sit up there and train and present all day long
and be as comfortable as he could be. And, you know, I'm real, but, I'm not a great speaker.
So, you know, it works.
Brian: Yeah. And I've seen, I think one of my favorite statistics, cause, everytime I
see an example of it I laugh. But it's, married couples are statistically more successful
in Network Marketing. And it's by a lot. And . . .
Zoe: Really?
Brian: I know, a lot of them. And every single time I hear this story and it's the same thing
with you and your husband. Is that it's always one is one and one is the other and they both
are almost the opposite and they complement. In terms of you know, one's the speaker and
actually, I know someone in another health wellness company. One is, actually, she's
a nurse, and, a former nurse. And very, you know, touching and wants to you know, touch
people and talk to people. And the other one is a, he's an engineer, he's actually a rocket
scientists. And, it's the same dynamic. And you know thats, actually I just realized that
comparison. But, it's the same thing with finding any business partner. Is that, you
know, a lot of times people talk about going out and finding those who have strengths that
complement your weaknesses. And they could be up line, down line, cross line, doesn't
matter, it still impacts your business. So, other than your husband do you have anyone
like that, where, you know, you found them and you work together in some way.
Zoe: Oh absolutely, absolutely, you know, in my, my team is very diverse. You know,
I actually have exactly what you say. A female version of, you know, she's very, you know,
strong personality, you know, very business minded, very business oriented. You know,
so we're total opposites that way. You know, people would talk to me about, you know, talk
to me about the comp plan. Talk to me about, you know, how you, you know, do placement
with your company.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: Or how you plan, and it's like, it really depends on, if you talk to me, or if you talk
to my husband, or, this other lady that I, that is on my team. Because it would be three
totally different opinions.
Brian: Yep.
Zoe: You know, everything I do is from my heart. And it's working for me. You know,
now, my husband, it would be totally from his head. So, you know, it's just, you know,
it's really just. Like you say, it's an opposite dynamic, but it's working for us.
Brian: Yeah, yeah.
Zoe: So, and it was, it's the same way with the, a dear friend I have on my team. You
know, just totally different ways to look at things. But, it's working for everybody.
So, you know, you just have to go with your heart. You have to do what in your heart is
what's best for the situation. And move forward.
Brian: Yeah. Absolutely. And so, I mean, again, rewinding back a little bit. You said that
when you left your first company and found Nerium, you made a change. And you made a
change that when, again, in just over a year, you're reaching the top of their, I don't
wanna say compensation plan, but the top of the rankings. And, what was that change? How
did you do that? You know, like, what was the thought process of taking the old education
and making it something completely new?
Zoe: I would never ever want to say anything about the other company. Because, honestly,
I am where I am because of that other company. Because I learned so much. I had great mentors
there. I had great people around me. You know, it was just a great all the way around. I
could say, I'm a six year success. It just so happens that, you know, this is my sixth
year in the . . .
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: Network Marketing. It's just it's a different company. But, everything I brought with me.
You know what I'm saying?
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: So, it's not that. Plus I, you know, I have say, there's a difference in the systems.
You know, theres a, you know, I had a clear path to where I needed to be here.
Brian: Yep.
Zoe: Where, maybe I didn't so much there.
Brian: And a lot of times I think people get lost. Is that, you know, maybe they, made
the wrong decisions in the, you know the company doesn't matter. But they made the wrong decisions
themselves. And, they started to re-learn,but, they were still kind of in the same environment
so to speak.
Zoe: Right.
Brian: And, they needed to move but it wasn't necessarily that the company wasn't bad. And
sometimes it's not even that the company didn't fit them. It was that it didn't connect with
them at the right time. So . . .
Zoe: Right.
Brian: kind of getting out of. You, when you put yourself in a different place, you re-learn
everything. And I'm by no means saying that everybody should switch companies . . .
Zoe: Right.
Brian: all the time. But . . .
Zoe: No, no, no, no, no.
Brian: you put. You said you put five into it. And then took a lot of consideration,
and then making that switch. So, your, yeah. I mean it's so, I guess when you got started,
what was your mindset? You know, were you excited, or afraid, or you know, kind of looking
for guidance those first few months?
Zoe: It was a. It honestly, I'm gonna be perfectly honest. Changing a company like that when
you had so many great relationships. It's tough, it's a tough thing to do. And you,
especially when you weren't leaving because you weren't happy there.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: You know, that's a hard part too. So, there, it was a hard dynamic. You know, I
was happy, I was sad, I was happy, I was sad. And, you know, as I move forward, you know
I could. I think what truly truly pushed me forward was being able to very quickly help
my team.
Brian: Yep.
Zoe: And for them to very quickly see, the results.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: And so, when I saw that, it very quickly. The company went to my head to my heart, for
sure. So, and you know, when that happened you're unstoppable. So, you know, I love what's
happening with, you know, my team. What they've been able to accomplish, and it's just. It's
always fun when everybody is doing well.
Brian: Yep. Absolutely. So, yeah, I mean, tell me a little bit about that, I guess that
feeling is, you know, you give value to other people. You help train other people. And you
know, the Nerium training system is one thing, but you know. Outside that, you know, mindset,
reminding people of their why. You know, how do you do that? How do you offer that value
to people?
Zoe: As far as staying in touch with people?
Brian: As far as helping them through, hardship or their personal barriers. Or, you know,
overcoming obstacles.
Zoe: Well, you know, we, and every situation is different. You know, I think that a lot
of people come into the, to Network Marketing thinking that's it's gonna happen for them
overnight. Some people look at me and say, I want it to happen like it happened for you.
I pinch myself everyday. You know, I'm surprised that is, you know. That I've had that rapid,
you know, increase in my team. And what's happened here. So, you know, that part of
the whole idea is you don't, I don't even use time frames on what things have happened
for me. Because I don't want to, you know, give unrealistic expectations for people.
Because, honestly, I'm shocked. To tell you the truth. So, you know, and then that's what
I try to really make people understand. Is, you know, where I am in this company, I never
made it to in my last company in five years.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: So, it's a different, totally different transition for me. You know, what their doing
as far as their success levels go, might have taken me three years in my last company. So,
everything is accelerated here. But you can't, you can never look at anybody else's success
and compare yourself.
Brian: Yep.
Zoe: And that's pretty much what I. You know that's the biggest things that I've seen with
people. Is, everybody is moving pretty quickly in this company. And, everybody wants it a
little quicker. And it's like are you kidding me? You know . . .
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: I just don't really. Because a lot, honestly, a lot of my team, have never done anything
in this industry. So, they're looking at me thinking that I'm the norm.
Brian: Right, right.
Zoe: But I'm not the norm. You know, so, you know, this is what. It's been a little difficult
that way to make people understand that. You know, always in the, this industry . . .
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: you're putting so much more of your time in in the beginning. You know, for a little
bit of income. You know, it's a five year plan, you know.
Brian: Right.
Zoe: And those people, don't, you know don't understand that because their seeing a lot
of fast success in this company.
Brian: And a lot of people, I guess forget. That, you know, it really is, and that eternal
thing first. Because you have to learn that it's not gonna come quick. And you have to
learn all those different things. And you can learn that in a training system. You can
learn that with a book, you can learn that by have. You know, overcoming extreme hardship
in your personal life. But you can also learn that by connecting with a Network Marketing
company that either isn't right. Or, it's not right for you. Or you didn't find it at
the right time. Or whatever it may be. But, you know, the old phraseology of like cutting
your teeth, you don't have to, you know, I cut my teeth ten years ago when I joined a
very bad company. But you could also cut your teeth when you join a really good company
at the wrong time in your life.
Zoe: Right. Exactly, you're absolutely right.
Brian: So . . .
Zoe: That's really great.
Brian: So, what would be something that for someone who's relatively new to a company.
And, you know, regardless of experience level and what company their in. What would be something
that they could do to, I guess, self evaluate. And find out where they are and find out what
they need to. Where they need to focus. Do they need to focus in or outward, or you know,
what's that first step?
Zoe: Well, I think what's hardest for most people, is, you know, we all come from all
different walks of life. We all have our own personal, you know, things that you can do
better than others. You know you got your own talents. A lot of people want to bring
everything with them. And, don't wanna follow a system. Don't want to understand that there
are systems in this company.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: What we do isn't about selling. You know, it truly isn't. You know, there are people
that come in and want to sell, sell, sell. And it really isn't about that. This industry's
not about selling, you know that, it's about sharing. And that's the hardest part for most
people.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: Is just trying to make them understand, you know, I love you to death, but leave your
ego at the door. And, you know, follow up your system. And I, if I can say that one
thing that probably over the last six years I've probably learned. Is just that. You know,
this isn't about me. You know, it's about following a proven system that works. And,
if you can do that, and teach that, then you will do good things. And you will be successful.
Brian: Yeah, absolutely. That's awesome. Thank you so much for coming on and sharing that.
And I'll have links below to the podcast as well as you know, your website and facebook.
And it's truly awesome to connect with you. And you're right, because it's, now you got
me thinking of, I want to find some statistic of how many people who were formerly in sales,
and now successful in Multi-level Marketing. I would guess that it's not many.
Zoe: You know what I've. And I've seen a statistic and I've forgotten what it was but the most
successful people in Network Marketing, are nurses and teachers.
Brian: I believe it.
Zoe: Because they share.
Brian: Yeah.
Zoe: They don't sell. So, you know, it's a natural trait for them. So, I'm looking for
nurses and teachers.
Brian: Maybe I should do that too.
Zoe: Yeah.
Brian: Thank you so much again.
Zoe: Alright, it was very nice to talk to you and thank you for letting me share my
story, I appreciate it.