The 38-Million Dollar Man
Article by Kerry Pipes
Photography by Bill Speer
Success Magazine's "Working At Home"

Jeffrey Roberti was despondent. There had to be more to life than waiting tables, thought the 21-year-old. Then, one day in the mid-1980's, he left work early to attend a meeting about network marketing. He was about to find his answer and the key to his success.

He signed up that evening during a meeting for network-marketing giant, Herbalife. Two years later he joined National Safety Associates (NSA), a preventive health-care products distributor based in Memphis, Tenn. He's worked for NSA for the past 13 years.

Today, the lifelong Sarasota, Fla., native continues to manage his NSA work from his four-story home on the beach (complete with swimming pool on the roof), travels extensively, and oversees distributors in 20 countries around the globe. He also tends other business interests as Roberti Enterprises, composed of Robosta Real Estate, U.S. Funding Group (a residential mortgage company), and a fitness center on the island of Siesta Key.

It beats waiting tables for a living. "When I went to that first network marketing meeting, I sat in the back of the room somewhat skeptical with my arms folded," Roberti says. "But when I heard concepts like 'earn what you're worth' and 'average people can earn above-average income,' I loosened up and began to take note." He says he learned a lot in those first formative years of network marketing, principles like discipline, good work habits, and avoiding distractions---all essential characteristics that home-based entrepreneurs must possess.

Roberti credits a number of ingredients for his success. His family was far from wealthy while he was growing up. That left him with a desire and hunger for achievement that remains even today. "I tell people that network marketing can provide the rewards and opportunities you always wanted but never thought; you could achieve," he says.

Believing in what the company sells is essential to success. "I've tried the products, and I believe in them. That makes them easy for me to sell," says Roberti. "It's also important to have a sense of sharing with and caring about customers."

Roberti braves the inevitable rejection from potential buyers often and everywhere. "There's a saying, 'some will, some won't, so what,'" he says. "In network marketing you can't take anything personally." He follows up this ideology with a mantra of his own: "Say less to more people, and move on to the next person." A good exercise for a home-based marketer is to talk to at least three people every day, Roberti says. "Practice makes perfect."

When Roberti is not working, he en- joys most of the amenities that come with living near a beach-volleyball, boating, and fishing. He's also an avid diver and loves to fish and snow ski. He never intends to stop learning, reads all kinds of material, listens to tapes, and remains a devoted follower of success gurus like Tony Robbins and Jim Rohn. He's also a speaker and trainer for the Multilevel Marketing International Association and has addressed more than a million people in some 25 countries.

Ultimately, Roberti says he feels a sense of accomplishment by being able to touch so many lives. He believes in people, sometimes more than they believe in themselves, Roberti says. "I'm coaching and mentoring by phone every day;"

In the past decade and a half, he has helped hundreds of people earn seven-figure incomes and helped thousands of home-based marketers earn six-figure incomes.

When asked about his primary objectives for the coming year, Roberti takes a deep breath, "Growth. ..in all areas of my life, professionally, spiritually, emotionally. Also, to serve others and stand as a role model to others. And I think it's important to grow as a leader, as one who can inspire others, especially kids and friends."

So, you might ask, "What does the 38-million-dollar man do with all that money?"

He supports a number of community causes such as the United Cerebral Palsy and Make-a- Wish Foundation. He also helped put one of his two brothers through college to earn a Ph.D.

He says one of his proudest moments came a couple of Christmases ago. He did some detective work to find out what kind of new car his mother desired. He paid cash for the car, had it loaded with all the bells and whistles, tied a big red bow around it, and gave the keys to her on Christmas morning. She was brought to tears by the expression of love from her son, a one-time waiter who just wanted to serve a higher purpose.