I continue to observe and attempt to understand the lure of MLMs. Many individuals who have lost their jobs due to this economic downswing/disaster are hungry for a means of scrambling back up to the top. Therein lies the predatory stance of network marketing. If you are downtrodden, have lost your job, are seeking a means of securing an income AND happen to have low frustration tolerance, an inability to delay gratification and the desire to latch on to a dynamic and persuasive business model, you are prime prey – for the MLM Predator.
Many individuals continue to commit themselves and their finances to “get rich quick” business models [schemes]. Remember, the typical character that is enticing you is generally very charismatic, dynamic, articulate, and well studied. They know who to prey upon and who to leave alone. They seek the insecure, unsure, and wandering souls who want to “get ahead,” but have no actual goals or plans for their future. The MLM model seems so comforting because the recruiter embodies every personality characteristic that the “prey” (you) wish so much you had!
Do not be deceived by business models that offer complex compensation plans, prizes, gifts, and promises to deliver you to a higher level with a mere endorsement, contract sign-on, and monetary commitment.
One of the first things that I notice in several of these MLM companies is their complex compensation plans! My gosh – you actually need a degree in finance and extended studies in statistics to figure out what your gross income COULD be. With terms like “binary” - “unilevel” – some kind of “matrix” plan, you could spend the next two weeks trying to figure out what you actually have to do to get paid! In the meantime you will wear your mailman (FedEx, etc) out!!! Because you will have more product delivered to your home than you can ever possibly use, distribute, or even store! In the meantime I have heard – from all too many “victims” that they are cashing monthly bonus checks for $45.00! But all the while the network marketing company continues to grow larger and profit more - all this while you and similar others are led down the Yellow Brick Road being told to: work harder, be patient, understand, and wait – but while waiting you will always be reminded to make sure you pay those monthly DUES!!!
Well your bank account has probably already been entered for automatic withdrawal thereby enabling the MLM to extract those monies – monthy. With that, if you dare question the Wizard you will aways be reminded by the recruiter (monkey- as in “Monkey See Monkey Do” – or, the theory of Replication) that you are not paying dues, because you are receiving PRODUCT! SERVICE! MEMBERSHIP!
And by the way, if it’s product you are receiving – you must now begin your search for storage (FYI: the economic downswing has opened this business up, therefore many storage companies are offering the first 3 months free with a signed contract for 12 months of storage).
Sounds absurd? Ridiculous? Let me know, because I believe there is a venerable business model available for re-selling the abundance of product (baskets, candles, make-up, energy drinks…etc) that can at least line your pockets with actual income while servicing all the prey who are saddled with product!
I am sure that this entry sounds cynical and a tad sarcastic – but at the end of the day I can assure you that fewer than 2% of the MLMers ever really turn an income – an income that is large enough to truly alter your life in a positive way. Do the math, monitor yourself, examine your motivations and take a long hard look at your recruiter – isn’t there a better and more secure way of earning a living?
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