You've probably heard that 95% of all network marketers fail. You can be in the five percent who succeed. There are five things you can do to avoid failing: 1) have laser beam focus; 2) stay the course with long-term commitment; 3) continually invest in your training and education; 4) have the tools and resources you need to stay organized; and 5) manage your cash flow. This article gives you insights and ideas on each of these five areas.

Starting a new venture takes a lot of dedication and consistent effort. It also requires a commitment to learning new skills. There may be a steep learning curve, or at the very least, transferring and adapting an existing skill set. In any case, you need to have a laser beam focus so you can move forward step by step.

Don't allow yourself to get overwhelmed. Also, beware of information overload and don't get bogged down in busy work because you're afraid to learn new things or push yourself beyond what you're comfortable with. Just take it one step at a time.

I always think of the salami technique. If you want to eat a salami, you have to cut it into little bites. Then getting through that salami becomes much more manageable. That is true with your business as well.

When you start anything new, your energy and excitement levels are typically high, but your direction is often low. Over time, this will shift. You might find that it's not as easy as you thought and your excitement might wane. But the problem is that your direction is still low. You really don't know what you're doing yet. This is the point at which many people bail.

The solution is two-fold. First, it is mindset. Recognize and accept the fact that everything will not go smoothly. Be determined to stay the course. Secondly, is it get into action (but make sure you are doing the right activities that will actually earn you money). Complete an assignment, and then another and then another. As you do, your energy will rise and so will your direction. And as you continue to complete assignments, you will move into the production phase, where you will start seeing results. You're gaining momentum now and things are getting exciting.

As you move forward, you will go up the learning curve. But don't stop learning. Ask lots of questions, and as much as possible, seek the answers on your own. If you have a coach or partner, don't wear them out by running to them with every question or roadblock. Use your coach for accountability, feedback, and support. But don't let yourself be spoon-fed. Learn by doing. And the greatest learning comes with teaching others. Seek opportunities to coach other people in what you are doing. That is where true growth occurs.

Staying organized is going to save you a lot of time and frustration. Create a schedule for yourself. Use technology to help you stay on top of things. One of the best investments you can make is OneNote. Office OneNote 2007 is a digital notebook that provides one place to gather your notes and information, as well as a powerful search to find what you're looking for quickly, and easy-to-use shared notebooks. You can get it for $99 or save when you buy it as part of 2007 Office suite. There is also a 60-day free trial.

Another great tool is X1 searching. It's a free download and it allows you to efficiently search for data residing in over 400 file types and applications. Another free service that helps you stay organized is Foldershare. This technology allows you to share folders across computers, share folders with friends and access your files from any computer.

Managing your cash flow is key to any business. Make sure you know how much money you're spending and anticipate how much money is coming in. You need to put aside some money for your business every single month, whether it be for investing in the tools you need (autoresponders, websites, phone, etc.) or your marketing initiatives. Spend your money wisely, monitor results and adjust accordingly.

Understand the concept of multiple streams of income and monetize where possible. Affiliate marketing offers many opportunities for monetization. Affiliate marketing is an Internet-based marketing practice in which a business rewards one or more affiliates for each visitor or customer brought about by the affiliate's marketing efforts. Learn what this means for your business and you will be able to create the income you need to sustain your business in its early stages and help you move forward.

Free Coaching with Cindy

Cindy Schulson coaches network marketers on how to attract qualified prospects. The focus is on working smart and making your business something you enjoy. Her commitment is to truly listen to you, and coach you on ways that will work best for you.