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"How much money can I make, and how long will it take?" That's THE question many of us get asked far too often by those thinking of buying our products or joining our programs. Many of us squirm and struggle with the answer. I answer that I honestly don't know.

The prospect probes a little harder by insisting that you give an "estimate" of how much he can earn. "If I can invest a couple hundred dollars a month in this 'deal', how much can I expect to be making in six months," he asks. "Can I be making $5000 per month in six month," he suggests to help direct your answer.

We struggle answering that question.

What's wrong with that question, and how do YOU answer it?

What's wrong with that question is that it's an open invitation for the less scrupulous to make up an answer and assure you that your will earn "X" dollars. Yes, it's easy enough to tell you what others are doing, but how well you do really does depend upon you.

Years ago network marketing, and Internet marketing, got bad reputations because of all the extravagant claims. Even where extravagant claims weren't made, you were given examples of people who were earning ten times the norm. There's nothing wrong with pointing out to a prospect how well some people are doing. There's something VERY WRONG with implying that your prospect (whom you don't even know) can probably do the same.

The fact that extravagant claims (or even extravagant insinuations) are wrong is emphasized by the fact that the FTC has come down hard on people and companies which engaged in this practice. Visit any website on a business opportunity and you will see an income disclaimer. That disclaimer will generally state that the earnings examples offered on the site are not typical, and no guarantee that you will earn a specific income is being made.

Webmasters without these income disclaimer, and certain other legal statement, on their sites leave themselves more open to fines from regulatory agencies.

There are so many variables involved that it's just plain WRONG to tell a prospect how much you think he'll be able to make. I run my own Internet marketing coaching and consulting business, and I often see two apparently identical people, doing about the same thing, achieve dramatically different results. How could this be? This often happens because unrecognized factors come into play... usually traits and habits that one person possesses that the other doesn't.

Less than a year ago, I joined a network marketing company that offered a product that I knew would really help a lot of people. There were many people with the company who had never earned a dime! By my fifth month with the company I was the number one recruiter and was doing so well that the company president called ME. Other people with the same training, same product, same up-line, and same support hadn't achieved a fraction of what I had.

What was the difference above? It was an intangible... It was the fact that I really cared about the success of the people that I dealt with and they could tell. My voice, my choice of words, and even the fact that I told many that the business was not right for them, was something prospects picked up on and it caused them to trust me.

What makes it hard to predict what someone will earn is what we'll call the "X Factor" for lack of a better term. "X' represents an unknown... although if you look hard enough you can often detect that unknown. For example, I pointed out the fact that I really care... and have real empathy for my prospects was one of my "X Factors." That factor is communicated non-verbally, even over the internet, and is a very powerful force.

Getting back to the question of how much you can earn though. That is actually a question only the prospect can answer. It depends upon how much he is willing to actually DO, how bad he wants to succeed, and even his reason for wanting to build a successful business. All of these factors determine how a person approaches building the business. All of these factors determine how a person invokes those X factors and often determine whether they will fail or succeed.

The correct answer to "how much" is, "How much do you want to make, how bad do you really want it, and WHY do you want it?" Given the right answers to those questions, an experienced coach or trainer can predict how much a person should be able to earn. If the person being asked "how much" doesn't determine the answer to those core questions, he's only making up answers. He's probably only telling you what he thinks you want to hear. That brings us back to what's inherently wrong with the basic question in the first place...

Most people that you ask that question to will answer based upon what they think that you want to hear. It's human nature. So don't ask a question that invites an answer that doesn't really help you. Instead ask questions that provide you with meaningful information.

The answer to how much you can earn within a given business, and how fast, depends upon how much of a burning desire you have to succeed. It depends upon how much you are willing to do those things that will be necessary to rise above the pack. Running with the pack is not the way to break out of the pack. If you are going to only do as little as practical, then you're probably not going to earn very much. Now THERE'S an answer you rarely get.

Closely examine any business you are considering getting into. Look at what the top producers in that or similar business are earning and how they are doing it. Then ask yourself if you can and will do the same things. The answer to that question will also answer your other question.

Willie Crawford is a corporate president, published author, seminar speaker and host, tele-seminar speaker and host, retired military officer, karate black belt, master network marketing trainer, and lifetime student of marketing. He shows people how to actually generate substantial income on-line using very simple, easily modeled systems. An example of such a system that you can study and duplicate is at: http://www.vemmabuilder.com/1681647