Sticking to It 365 Days, 25 Hours a Day
The Struggles of a Coordinator

In the July, August, and September issues of UNI-SIGHT, UNI-SQUARE introduces the winners of UNIVA AWARDS 2021. The winner featured in this August issue is Masaki Goto from Naturally Plus Japan (NPJP). In 2021, he was starting his third year as a coordinator, functioning as a business consultant for NPJP members and a conduit for communication between members and the company. Since NPJP was founded, only 40 highly successful members have reached CFC, the highest rank. Goto is responsible for the two in his business area, an achievement with ripple effects including higher sales as well as a boost to member morale. This success in an environment affected by the COVID pandemic has fueled the hopes and dreams of members around the world. Here we describe Goto’s struggles on the way to this success.

Two Achieve Top Rank During Pandemic Peak!

With Michiyo Shibayama, who always takes care of me like my mom and is truly pleased with the award.

In 2020, zero NPJP members achieved CFC. Hearing the magnificent speeches by non-Japanese CFC achievers while having no one to point to lit a fire under Goto.

“It was precisely because of the pandemic that we needed CFCs. That experience confirmed for me that only by nurturing CFC achievers could we give hope to our members.”

From NPJP’s founding until 2020, there had been only 40 CFC achievers. It hardly needs saying that winning this designation is extremely difficult to achieve. The criteria include both sales and the size of the down-line group recruited, and CFC holders are envied the world over.

Goto was hired by NPJP’s Fukuoka Salon in 2015. In 2018 he was invited by his boss to become a coordinator and provide business support to 218 members in Kyushu and Shikoku.

“I was especially concerned that Kyushu, the first area for which I was responsible, had never produced a CFC achiever, not even one! I was struck by the idea that there absolutely must be a CFC from Kyushu!”

Goto sounded out Mako Kitayama in Kyushu and Eiji Ogami in Chugoku about working together to become CFC. The two agreed to accept his proposal.

“There are three ways to become a CFC achiever. Ogami’s left and right groups would each accumulate 15 million points. Kitayama chose to produce 12 spirit members each from her group’s left and right lines. Both assembled their whole groups for meetings at which they formally announced their intention to become CFC achievers. I felt viscerally the morale of both groups rise, the tension and excitement of warriors when they hear the order “let the battle begin!”

It took several months to complete the roadmap. But with Goto’s meticulous support two new CFCs were born. Kitayama was not only Kyushu’s first CFC, she doubled her achievement by satisfying two criteria (together her left and right lines produced 25 spirit members while also scoring more than 15 million points per month). Ogami was Yamaguchi Prefecture’s second CFC. Their speeches at FESTA 2021 brought great hope and courage to members worldwide. Inspired by their examples, the number of members striving to become CFC increased.

That was not all. Sales in Kyushu and Chugoku rose 2.4% year-to-year; new registrations increased 16.6%, and members earning spirit bonuses creased fivefold over the previous year. Their achieving CFC had many synergistic effects.

ZOOM from Morning to Night! 25 Hour per Day Total Support

Before COVID Goto had spent half of each month on business trips to Kyushu or Chugoku, providing direct support to members. How could he succeed in producing CFCs when COVID made business travel to these areas impossible?

“Instead of physical movement, I spent morning to night in ZOOM meetings. It had occurred to me that by increasing the number of online meetings, I could preserve the quality of communication. In 2021 I participated in 384 ZOOM meetings, surprising even myself.”

As the coordinator responsible for 218 members, Goto’s first task was to understand each individual’s situation. That created the foundation on which to set targets and propose strategies and tactics tailored to each individual. For producing CFCs, meticulous accounting, strategies and tactics are essential. Goto’s No. 1 priority was, however, to stay close to each individual member.

“I had first to listen thoughtfully to each member’s worries and concerns. Talking only about numbers without concern for mental health only adds to the pain. Many times I spent all day listening to members.”

For almost all Naturally Plus members, their business is combined with other jobs or housework. Doing business outside of normal business hours is common.

“I tossed out the salaryman’s assumption of fixed hours and urged members to feel free to contact me at any time. I offered “25-hour total support” even at night or on holidays.”

By providing that generous support Goto contributed to increased member motivation. To members, Goto’s presence was comforting: “I wasn’t alone.” “There was always someone working beside me.”

Synchronization 200%! “GOTO T-Shirts” Evidence of Solidarity

One more thing. The push to produce CFCs included events. For an MLM business, events are indispensable for growing groups; but COVID made real events impossible. To address this situation, Goto organized 14 online events. His also organizing six real events at which thorough steps to prevent COVID infection were taken also contributed to boosting member morale.

“The greatest purpose of events is recognition for those who achieve their targets. This does more than build solidarity; it also makes a big difference by inspiring individuals to reach their targets.”

From planning to schedule, to slide preparation, to who will moderate each event, Goto works closely with his members. Once the members planned a surprise and appeared wearing original T-shirts with a photograph of Goto’s face printed on them.

“I was really surprised, and deeply moved that the members all had such faith in me.”

Goto says that a coordinator’s mission is, regardless of the size of a member’s sales, to share their joys and their worries, sometimes to give them pep talks, and share each taste of success with them. There can be no doubt that Goto spent 2021 doing all this and more.

“During 2021, there was one disappointment and difficulty after another; but when Kitayama and Ogami achieved CFC, I felt that I, too, had grown a lot. More than anything else, I enjoyed having demonstrated to members everywhere that becoming CFC was possible in any situation, even the COVID pandemic.”

Members’ own words are evidence that they all made progress by uniting and working wholeheartedly together.

Here are three typical examples.

“Regardless of the time of day, even in the middle of the night, the help was there. I am truly grateful for that support day after day.” (Ogami)

“Being there for every individual, to help with the accounting, etc., even late at night. That generous support made it possible for me to achieve CFC.” (Kitayama)

“When things had to be done right now, he told me where I had to focus. His words were gentle, but when it came to the target, I got the spanking I needed.” (Rie Ito).

Finally, we asked Goto how he felt becoming a winner at UNIVA AWARDS 2021.

“I was truly happy. Since joining the company I had always been an onlooker at the UNIVA AWARDS. To me it seemed like another world. When I received the award, I was deeply grateful to Kitayama and Ogami, the other members, Group President Nagoshi, President Tajima, Division Chief Ono, as well as the NAKAMA in other divisions and sections who supported my efforts. Thank you, I am truly grateful to you all. Let’s work together to strengthen ties with our members, providing the support needed by our next CFCs.”

Goto-san, congratulations on your award! We look forward to seeing your next achievements.