My friend was fired up.
He had a HUGE opportunity—a game-changing idea for his network marketing team.
At a private event, he shared his strategy with a small, trusted group of leaders.
A week later?
Someone stole his exact plan and presented it as their own.
Seriously.
And sure, they later apologized. But honestly? That apology meant nothing.
Because sometimes, “Sorry” isn’t enough.
And if you’ve been in network marketing long enough, you’ve probably experienced something similar.
- Maybe a teammate you poured hours into jumped ship to another company.
- Maybe someone on your team promised big results but never followed through.
- Maybe you had a leader ghost you when you needed them most.
It stings, right?
The truth is, in this industry—where trust is EVERYTHING—a simple “sorry” doesn’t fix the damage.
But here’s the real question…
What do you do when an apology isn’t enough?
Let’s talk about it.
The Problem With “Sorry” in Network Marketing
There’s a popular saying in business:
“It’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
And sure, I get it. Sometimes, you need to take massive action before overthinking things.
But let’s be real…
If you’re doing something you KNOW is wrong, an apology won’t erase the consequences.
- If you neglect your downline, they’ll find another leader.
- If you spam your prospects, they’ll ignore you.
- If you make promises you don’t keep, your credibility is shot.
Network marketing is built on relationships. And once trust is broken, it’s REALLY hard to rebuild.
Which brings us to the BIG question…
What Should You Do When You Mess Up?
Let’s say you dropped the ball.
Maybe you ghosted a prospect. Maybe you didn’t show up for your team. Maybe you made a bad call that cost someone money.
At this point, you have two choices:
Choice #1: Move On
You accept that the relationship is damaged beyond repair.
You apologize (if you haven’t already) and walk away.
And that’s fine. But know this—people talk.
In this industry, your reputation follows you.
How you handle mistakes determines how people see you long-term.
Which leads us to…
Choice #2: Overcompensate & Win Them Over
This is the move true leaders make.
They don’t just say “sorry.” They go above and beyond to make things right.
Let me give you a real example…
How to Turn a Mistake Into a Win
Years ago, a real estate agent in NYC made a MASSIVE mistake with my friend’s apartment application.
She could’ve said, “Sorry for the mix-up,” and moved on.
Instead?
She sent an email that said:
“I know I messed up. So if you still want this apartment, I’ll waive my entire commission.”
That’s thousands of dollars out of her pocket.
But guess what? She won him over for life.
Because of that one move, he went from frustrated customer to raving fan who told everyone about her.
That’s how top performers think.
And you can do the same thing in network marketing.
How to Fix a Mistake in Network Marketing (Without Losing Trust)
If you’ve made a mistake, don’t just say “sorry.” Do this instead:
🔹 OWN IT – Acknowledge what happened. No excuses. Just take responsibility.
🔹 FIX IT FAST – Find a way to make it right—before they even ask.
🔹 OVERDELIVER – Go above and beyond to show them you VALUE the relationship.
For example:
🚀 Missed a coaching call? Give them an extra 1-on-1 session.
🚀 Screwed up an order? Cover their next one for free.
🚀 Failed to follow up? Send a gift with a handwritten note.
It may cost you upfront, but in the long run? It cements your reputation as a TRUE leader.
Now I Pass It to You…
Has there ever been a time when “sorry” wasn’t enough for you?
How did someone win back your trust—or did they?
Drop a comment below and let’s talk. 👇👇👇
