Fearless Networker Spotlight: Marina Simone & Rachel Ortense

In this Fearless Networker Spotlight, we're featuring Marina Simone and Rachel Ortense, a dynamic business duo who appropriately call themselves The Dream Team.

The Fearless Networker:  Marina and Rachel, welcome!  You call yourself The Dream Team.  What inspired that title?  

Marina Simone & Rachel Ortense:  We named ourselves The Dream Team because we believe that people have forgotten to dream due to life's hardships.  We encourage people to follow their dreams.

The Fearless Networker:  How long have you two been involved in the network marketing profession?

Marina Simone & Rachel Ortense:  Almost five years and we're about to celebrate three years with our company.  

The Fearless Networker:  During the past three years, how many people have you personally enrolled into your company?

Marina Simone & Rachel Ortense:  Approaching 200.

The Fearless Networker:  What, if anything, was your biggest fear as you started your Network Marketing career?

Marina Simone:  My biggest fear was based on second-guessing my decision.  What IF this doesn't work?  What if my dreams are too big?  

Rachel Ortense:  I had a very similar fear and asked myself the same question.  What IF this doesn't work?

The Fearless Networker:  And now you have a thriving organization of over 17,000!  Obviously, you overcame your fear.  How has being involved in Network Marketing changed your life?

Marina Simone:  I feel like I'm in a perfect marriage with Network Marketing.  I call the shots in my life and business.  Five years ago I was a young woman with a mediocre perspective on life.  I worked in clubs, hung around the wrong crowd and let my dreams of empowering women diminish away.  To be honest, Network Marketing and my daughter saved me.  It opened my eyes and showed me that I am worthy of success; I just had to do the work to receive it.  I had to change my surroundings and commit to a better life…and mean it. 

Rachel Ortense:  Network Marketing has given me a sense of freedom that is indescribable!

The Fearless Networker:  What was the biggest roadblock on your way to achieving success in this profession?

Marina Simone:  In the beginning, I wasn’t treating my business like a business.  I would have bursts of activity (like prospecting and inviting), have results for a week and then stop.  I was expecting my team to do all the work for me. 

Rachel Ortense:  I had to learn how to NOT get upset when team members weren't as committed as me.  Over time and with experience I realized that you can't let stuff like that bother you; one literally needs to have zero emotional connection to people's actions and simply lead by example.

The Fearless Networker:  Are their any specific actions that you’ve implemented into growing your business that you’ve found to be exceptionally productive?  If so…can you share a bit about them?

Marina Simone:  As The Dream Team, we empower our group to share obstacles they've overcome and their goals and dreams on calls, webinars, Facebook groups, etc.  It gets them out of their comfort zone and speaking in front of others.  We also do Power Calls for those ready to RUN when they first enroll.  Industry pro Holton Buggs talks about the power of building fast.  We take that concept very seriously when we have committed runners in our group. 

Rachel Ortense:  Zoom calls are awesome!  We use Zoom and Facebook Live in our groups for training and this proves to be really productive.  We also pair-up cross line members and leaders with one another for accountability.  And, it provides a very powerful sense of togetherness.

The Fearless Networker:  As I previously mentioned, have an organization of 17,000 and it's growing.  Where have you found your biggest success in recruiting new people and can you provide any insight into this strategy?

Marina Simone:  Always be prospecting.  Wherever I am, I always look for ways to connect, ask questions, compliment and find someone’s pain point.  It comes naturally to me because my passion is truly to help people have a breakthrough.  I LISTEN when people talk and am present.  If I don’t know what is going on in their world, how can I introduce them to my world?  And if a prospect isn’t interested, I ALWAYS ask the following question, “Who do you know that might be interested?”

Rachel Ortense:  I take the sales pressure off the the prospect, listen to people's needs and help them dream again.  Most importantly, don't forget to follow-up!

The Fearless Networker:  When it comes to team building what have been some of the most effective actions you’ve taken to help your team grow?

Marina Simone:  I feel that there are different levels of leadership for your team at different stages.  In the beginning we showed our commitment to the business by our own activity and displayed what it takes to have success.  We wanted our team to continually see us enrolling.  We have to do the things we teach our team members to do.  Lead by example; your team will do what you do, not what you say.   

When it comes to team building, recognition has been HUGE for us!  We personally send out certificates to our team with a little note every month for those that ranked or did something amazing.  Celebrating, even something as simple as hosting one's first three-way phone call, creates a culture in your group that will duplicate. 

We also believe very strongly that there comes a point when you have to let some people go.  If you are dragging someone to the finish line you are creating another job for yourself. 

Rachel and I do monthly training webinars using Zoom which also connects us to those willing to build a successful business.  Our YouTube channel is full of help for products and building a business.

Rachel Ortense:  We have created an inclusive environment and give our team lots of praise and support.  Believing in each other and treating team members as leaders is invaluable.  Each and every individual is as equally important.  Lastly, the importance of attending events is crucial.

“Lead by example; your team will do what you do, not what you say.”  Marina Simone

The Fearless Networker:  What’s one solid piece of advice that you’d give someone entering this profession for the very first time?

Marina Simone:  Information constipation will get you stuck.  Implement ONE new thing you learn everyday into your business.  You can’t expect to be an expert overnight.  As long as you keep growing personally and take action on what you learn, your business will grow and you will build leveraged income.

Rachel Ortense:  Read “Your First Year in Network Marketing” by Mark Yarnell and Rene Reid Yarnell, then call me.

The Fearless Networker:  Speaking of reading, learning, and growing, what is your favorite business book?

Marina Simone:  “Don’t Mess with the Princess!” by Lisa Jimenez.  That was the first book I read that made me feel fearless.  I made a commitment that by 2014 I would be a six-figure earner and, to the date, it happened!

Rachel Ortense:  Hands down, “Think and Grow Rich” by Napolean Hill.

The Fearless Networker:  What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received that’s served you well in business?

Marina Simone:  Stop making everything about you and your “boo-hoo” stories.  (Yes, I once took that advice from from a mentor.)  When I became the best version of myself, doors began to open. 

“Your network is your net worth.”  Rachel Ortense

The Fearless Networker:  Do you have any suggestions for people to ensure that they make Network Marketing a prosperous business to pursue for a lifetime?

Marina Simone:  You are only three feet from gold!  Every time you don’t prospect or you aren’t thinking about building your business someone else is getting closer to your prospects and your success.  This is not a race.  There is no end to success.  Don’t think that because you aren’t having success right now, it won't happen in the future.  Ignore the shiny pennies, become laser focused and ROCK this thing!  Be a superhero for your family and for yourself.

Rachel Ortense:  Look at this profession as a 10-year plan.  If you love what you do, it won't feel like work.  Think about growing your network instead of just building a business.  Your network is your net worth.

The Fearless Networker:  Great advice!  If you could share anything that would massively impact the people reading this interview, what would you say to them?

Marina Simone:  I was that mom that didn’t know what credit card would go through at the grocery store.  I was that mom that worked 65 hours a week to just get by.  I was that woman that didn’t believe in herself.  I was YOU just getting started on my business.  If I gave up, I was ultimately giving up on myself and my daughter.  That kept me up at night.  Find the something that keeps you up at night, that motivates you to achieve the success you deserve.

What do you have to lose by investing in Network Marketing wholeheartedly?  What do you have to lose by NOT doing it?  The answer may be the same for many reading this…that being “nothing”.  I challenge you this; form an emotional connection to your business today.  Change your answer of “nothing” to “EVERYTHING”.

Rachel Ortense:  Invest in YOU.  The only thing that could be holding YOU back is that thing between your ears.  Believe that you CAN be successful and you WILL be successful.

The Fearless Networker:  Marina and Rachel, thanks so much for your time.  It's always a pleasure chatting with you two; keep on dreaming!