MLM is not for everyone. Many people failed because they are led
to believe that any Tom, Dick and Harry can succeed in this
business at the many MLM seminars out there. The reality is that
MLM is a business, and it does require business acumen, sales
skills, networking skills, pool of prospective customers, and a
great deal of time and money to invest in the business.
Business acumen, sales and people networking skills are things
you can learn either by your own experience or through coaching by
experienced people. But time and money are really scarce resources
that you must be able to afford. Many people got burned in MLM
because they are compelled to buy something every month (aka
maintenance) so to keep their distributorship status (which
guarantees a certain overriding commission), while not enough
income is made because they lack time, customers, etc.
MLM is not equal to quick money. Like any biz, it needs time to
grow. Don't be greedy by buying up ranks (eg: Regional Mgr,
Director, Count, etc) just because it gives you high overriding
commissions unless you already have a strong base of potential
customers. This is where most people lose their money. Don't be
greedy.
You may have heard of many rags-to-riches testimonials at MLM
seminars. People who were like you who now make 5-figure incomes,
have company sponsored cars, etc. etc. Take it with a pinch of
salt. MLM companies must make themselves believable in order to
attract the men on the street. There must be "success stories" to
wow the audience. While there may be indeed some true
rags-to-riches cases, however, many such successful individuals
have been specially "nurtured" by the company management in
order to produce the perfect stories. There are many "interesting"
things you will never know about how some MLM organisations
operate unless you are in the inner circle. I mean some,
not all.
Are their products really that great? Some are but most aren't.
In fact, most of these products can be bought at mainstream
pharmacies at very affordable prices with nearly similar
ingredients and concentration. I have heard stories that some MLM
companies have a team of "specialists" whose job is to write
stories about their products being certified by so and so
laboratory. Some claim that their products are endorsed by a
certain celebrity or well known figure who have benefitted by
consuming the products (if you believe so). In this money-making
world, people are known to lend their names for handsome
endorsement fees as long as the products sound safe. Some of them
may even have not touched the products even though they are given
free by the companies!
If you are still keen in MLM, do your due diligence. Research
the web, ask around, but make sure you do so with a crystal clear
mind. There are a few great MLM companies around. Many are good for
now until you see them on the newspaper for the wrong reasons
(usually due to the products). Join the right company and the right
team.
Be prepared to lose some friends when you are in the biz. That's
the reality. Many people will avoid you because you are in MLM. You
may lose some friends because they joined but made little or no
money (or worst lost money). It could be better to bring strangers
into your business.
I have seen highly successful uplines who finally left the MLM
industry disillusioned. Many of the uplines (especially the "001")
who are still in the business are simply circulating themselves
from one company to another new company, and along with them,
migrate their entire network over. That's how they make a lot of
money when they switch organisation. Been there, done that.
