Return on Importance: The New ROI That Transforms Success

By Bob Snyder

In the world of network marketing, ROI usually means one thing: Return on Investment. It’s the number everyone watches: how much did I spend versus how much I made? But there’s another kind of ROI that matters just as much, if not more: Return on Importance. It’s the emotional metric that determines whether your efforts will be sustainable, fulfilling, and contagious to your team.

Return on Investment vs. Return on Importance

Traditional ROI is transactional. It’s about inputs and outputs. You put in time, energy, and resources, and you expect a measurable result. That works in the short term. But in MLM, where success is built on duplication, relationships, and long-term consistency, transactional thinking alone falls short.

Return on Importance, by contrast, is transformational. It asks,

“What truly matters to you? What gives you energy? What pulls you forward even when it’s hard?”

It’s about aligning your efforts with what drives you emotionally. When your daily actions reflect what’s deeply important to you, your motivation soars, your message becomes magnetic, and your consistency becomes natural.

Why Both Matter in MLM

Let’s be clear: you need both types of ROI. Financial results are the scoreboard. But emotional importance is the fuel. Without Return on Importance, your Return on Investment suffers, because you won’t have the staying power to weather setbacks or the inspiration to lead others.

In MLM, this distinction is everything. People don’t join your business because you show them a spreadsheet. They join because they feel something, a connection, a sense of belonging, a vision, a belief that their life could change. And they stay for the same reasons.

What DRIVEs ROI?

This is where the DRIVE System changes the game. DRIVE is a behavioral model that helps you understand what motivates people at their core. Everyone has a Primary and Secondary DRIVE, their emotional why and strategic how.

Here’s a quick snapshot:

• Director: Seeks freedom, creativity, and overcoming challenges
• Relator: Craves connection, service, and meaningful relationships
• Intellectual: Wants clarity, learning, and growth
• Validator: Desires recognition, confidence, and respect
• Executive: Aims for structure, achievement, and control

When you know your DRIVE combo, you can tailor your actions and communication around what truly fuels you. That’s when Return on Importance kicks in.

DRIVE Unlocks Motivation That Lasts

Let’s say you’re a Director/Validator. You’re not just here to make money. You want freedom, to build your life your way, and you want to be recognized for doing it well. So, if your business plan only focuses on the numbers, you’re going to feel drained. But when you build in creativity, autonomy, and celebration of wins, your motivation skyrockets.

Or maybe you’re a Relator/Executive. You thrive when you’re helping others and following a clear system. So, your best ROI will come when you lead with empathy, build strong community, and follow a daily method of operation.

When you understand your DRIVE, you stop chasing someone else’s version of success. You create your own. And that authenticity is what draws others in. Your team sees the spark in you, and they want it too.

Using DRIVE to Motivate Your Team

Once you learn your DRIVE, help your team discover theirs. Ask questions like:

• What matters most to you?
• When do you feel most energized?
• What stresses you out in this business, and what excites you?

These questions lead to DRIVE insights, and they are revealing, but the best way to learn your DRIVE, or for your team members to learn theirs, is by taking the Free online assessment at: www.discoveryourdrive.com. Take the assessment and see for yourself. Then have your team members take it and share their results. Once you become DRIVE enlightened, you will never treat people the same way again.

And when you lead people in their DRIVE language, you unlock their Return on Importance too. A Validator needs encouragement and visibility. An Intellectual wants training that challenges them. A Director needs goals that stretch them. A Relator wants to feel supported. An Executive needs a step-by-step plan for victory.

ROI That Actually Multiplies

When people experience Return on Importance, they become naturally consistent. They show up without being pushed. They become leaders because they feel alive in what they’re doing. And that’s when Return on Investment explodes.

So yes, track the dollars. Watch the growth. But never lose sight of what actually drives it all. If you want duplication, depth, and lasting success in your network marketing business, focus on Return on Importance.

When you align with what matters most, you don’t just get results, you get a movement.

Bob Snyder

Bob Snyder is a globally respected business leader and sales strategist with 38 years of success in the Direct Selling industry. Bob has founded multiple high-performing Direct Sales companies, trained over 100,000 sales people, is an acclaimed speaker, and trusted consultant. He’s delivered transformative insights on sales, influence, and leadership across five continents, equipping teams and entrepreneurs with the tools to drive sustainable growth. A #1 best-selling author, Bob’s latest book, Drive Sales System, co-authored with Woody Woodward, is reshaping how professionals sell and lead. It’s available on Amazon and in over 40,000 bookstores worldwide. To learn more about Bob and DRIVE go to www.Drivebysuladio.com