It’s not often that thousands of people sign up to get advice from a 25-year-old. But that’s exactly what Jonathan Budd has created: a community of new network marketers, looking to him for advice and help with their new businesses.

The real question here isn’t whether fresh-out-of-college kids can be trusted, but whether Budd’s system for training new network marketers is actually effective.

This is a closer look at his successes and techniques.

Can others find this type of success, or is Jonathan Budd just a young prodigy?

The Failure of Jonathan Budd

When Budd was 21 and graduating college, he discovered network marketing. It seemed like a good deal to him. More time, less work, and infinite amounts of money.

He was hugely disappointed. He invested money into businesses and compensation plans, and got nowhere. He admits that he couldn’t even get his own mother to join his network.

The first 9 months was a complete failure. He says on his personal blog that he, “experienced what it felt like to work, struggle, and endure constant challenges, obstacles, and set backs.” He kept looking for tips and solutions, and started to implement everything he learned. Instead of quitting when the going got tough, he just kept going.

After three years, he had a multi-million dollar business. And downlines with several thousands of people in them, through two MLM companies.

Three Years To Success

Now, the tables are turned and Jonathan Budd is teaching newbies just like himself how to master the game. He offers products and consulting services to those in need, and encourages everyone experiencing struggles to just push through on his blog.

It sounds like he’s an untouchable guru. Search the internet, and you’ll find him everywhere. He’s got at least an ad or two on most sites that lead you to MLM information. And honestly, there aren’t a lot of criticisms of him on the web.

Jonathan Budd’s Critics

But critics do exist. While most agree that Jonathan Budd is a success story worth telling, and worth learning from, there are some fundamental issues with his program.

First of all, you can’t really use his program without Budd getting some of the branding in the process. This is why, no matter how well you execute his programs, you can never reach his success level by using them. Every time you execute his “secrets,” Budd gets bigger and bigger. He actually makes more money from selling his secrets than from network marketing itself.

The branding of Budd is another issue. In order to reach success for yourself, on your own terms, it’s good to start branding YOU. It’s important to learn how to reach out to your own client base, your own community, and your own team. Reps need to learn how to brand themselves as credible, trustworthy people offering a great product or opportunity. You can only ride on others’ success for so long. True wealth comes from taking network marketing strategies, implementing them as they apply to your business, and creating something great that is centered around your own plans.

Why He Succeeded

Jonathan Budd is a success because he changed the game. He achieved great success, and then strived for even greater success by sharing how he did it. He’s managed to become one of the leading personalities in MLM.

But it wasn’t because he followed someone else’s formula. It’s because he was  game changer. He picked up bits and pieces of rules and strategies from experts at the time, and put them together to create his own strategy that didn’t follow tradition.

That’s where success really comes from: learning all you can, following the rules to success, and then figuring out how the game can actually be played better and more effectively.

The first key is to learn. Gather information, make yourself aware of the opportunities, and utilize the aspects that you think can make your business a great success.