Network Marketing: Amateurs vs Pros (How to spot, see and be the difference)
- Manny Joshua
- Apr 30
- 5 min read
Network Marketing: the toughest realization
One of the hardest realizations for people scaling within the network marketing model is this: while you’re not paying someone a salary to work with you, you’re still investing in them—through time, energy, mentorship, and opportunity.
Have you heard that time is money? Simply put, your time, resources, energy and mind have a monetary value. Why do you think so many experts charge for their time?
One of the blessings of the network marketing space, is that scaling can happen through contractors, aka people who pay themselves. This decreases overhead costs, payroll and other expenses. In essense, while other business owners have to struggle financially to scale, network marketers can scale with $0 in expenses - free (money-wise) scaling. The downside is that many people take this blessing to the extreme and drop standards of who they work with, thinking to themselves, "if I have lots of partners, everything will automatically work out!"
Unlike traditional business models where compensation controls behavior, network marketing is a partnership-based model. That means no money is made unless someone chooses to be productive. So, who you work with matters more than almost anything else.
The much needed shift
The truth is, most people who enter this space don’t come from a business background. That’s one of the biggest reasons network marketing works—it offers a low-barrier opportunity to step into entrepreneurship. But this same accessibility can lead to a major problem: amateur strategies that prioritize hype over substance.
The goal isn’t to “get people.” The goal is to build a powerful, long-term, productive organization—just like any major company or franchise. And that begins with how you interview and choose who you work with.
Productivity in any company begins with the right people with the right values.
Here are five key differences between amateurs and professionals in the network marketing space—especially when it comes to evaluating potential partners.
Difference #1: Business vs Hobby
Amateurs don’t treat their company in the network marketing space like a business—they treat it like a hobby. They’re passionate and excited, but lack structure. They hope things will work, without being intentional about strategy, personal development, or mastery. They’re often driven by short-term thinking, believing they can become wealthy with little effort or skin in the game. They don’t believe they need to grow—they assume they already think like millionaires.
They sound like this: “I’m going to show up, do my thing, and hit the lotto! The current version of me is good enough!”
Professionals treat it like a real business. They understand that businesses don’t succeed or fail—business owners do. Just like cars don’t cause accidents but drivers do, businesses are just vehicles. It’s up to the driver to become skilled enough to get to the destination. That’s why professionals commit to growth, strategy, and developing high-level skill sets.
They sound like this: “If this is going to succeed, I need to master the game. I need to become better, learn the best strategies, and stick it out until I become a master. There’s no luck in this game—it’s all a formula that I can learn.”
Difference #2: The Yes Bucket vs. The No Bucket
Amateurs think everyone should join them. They’re overly eager and often pitch emotionally, trying to “convince” rather than qualify.
They’ll say things like: “Hey man, you’d be really good at this! I’d love to talk to you about it!”
They mean well—but they’re thinking like recruiters, not entrepreneurs. Recruiters want people, entrepreneurs want productive people so they can build a profitable company where everyone makes money.
Professionals know that most people shouldn’t be in business with them. They’re selective, intentional, and focused on quality over quantity. They only want to work with people who are driven, coachable, and serious about learning the entrepreneurial game.
They say things like: “That’s good that you want to make extra income, but what do you think is driving that? Seems like everyone wants more money, but most aren't prioritizing it.”
Difference #3: The Value of Time
Amateurs chase everyone and everything. Subconsciously, they’re often looking for fast money, not long-term leverage. They don’t yet understand how valuable their time is, so they treat every lead as equal.
They say things like: “Yeah man, I don’t really have a preference with who I work with, as long as they’re interested!”
Amateurs don't think they sound desperate, but they come off as sloberry and sweaty in their palms....from the amatuer construction business owner, to the insurance salesman, to the tech startup guy and the network marketer. It's all the same with an amateur.
Professionals guard their time. They think long-term and evaluate whether someone is actually worth investing mentorship and energy into. Time is their most valuable resource, and they treat it that way.
They think like this: “Would I be willing to give this person $100,000 worth of my time this year? Do I think they will take the time and resources I (or a connection) sow and create a good return?”
Difference #4: How They Process Failure
Amateurs are emotionally reactive. They get overly excited by small wins, and devastated by minor setbacks. A customer joins and they’re ecstatic. A partner leaves and they feel like quitting. Their emotional state is constantly influenced by external validation.
They think like this: “I’m going to give this a few months, and if it’s going well, I’ll keep going.”
Professionals are driven by commitment and learning. They don’t get too high or too low. Wins are analyzed so they can be repeated. Losses are studied so they can be avoided. Their emotional foundation is solid because it’s built on purpose—not opinions.
They think like this: “I’m glad some of my friends think this is a waste of time—it pushes me harder. They don’t see I’m building predictable results and learning valuable patterns. Long-term, I'm going to outperform them!”
Difference #5: Fear of Loss
Amateurs are attached to every outcome. Read that again, and again and again.
When they sign a customer or bring on a partner, they need it to last. If someone quits or revenue dips, they become desperate. They’ll do anything to hold on—even if it means compromising standards or burning out.
They say things like: “Please don’t go! How will I live without you?”
Professionals have an abundance mindset. They understand that success is not about holding on—it’s about continuing to build. One person leaving doesn’t stop momentum. In fact, they’d rather walk away from the wrong person than be stuck with a liability.
They think like this: “What happened? Who left? Sorry, I was too busy growing to notice.”
They live by the principle Jeff Bezos once shared: “I’d rather interview 50 people and hire nobody than work with one wrong person.”
Conclusion: Aim for Professionalism, Not Just Participation
There will always be more amateurs than professionals in the network marketing world. That’s just the nature of any open-door industry. But the key is recognizing which side of that line you want to be on.
Being an amateur is nothing but the result of an unwillingness to embrace a growth process, and learn openly and directly from people that are professionals with real results. At Infinite Growth, we are looking to create as many professionals as possible, so that the true potential of the business model can be realized at mass.
If you’re outside the industry, understand this: just because you had a poor experience with an amateur doesn’t mean the whole industry lacks credibility. You probably haven’t met the professionals yet—because they’re aren’t looking for you, or chasing anyone.
If you’re inside the industry, commit to becoming a professional. Interview with intention. Value your time. Control your emotions. Operate from abundance. Build a productive network, not just a busy one.
Because network marketing isn’t about getting people. It’s about building something great—with the right people. Just like anything else.
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