At some point in your past you may have been approached by a family member or friend trying to convince you to watch a video they have about a great product you wouldn't have heard of before. Or you've had a phone call from a distant relative who proudly announces He's started his own Business as an Independent Distributer for a leading brand in health / weight-loss / energy products. One that you don't ever remember seeing an advert for. Worst of all is the mysterious knock on the door from a neighbour you've done little more than wave at occasionally in the entire time you have lived there. They greet you like a long lost best friend and want to spark up a conversation about what an extra £1,000 a week would make to our lives.
You might even have taken sympathy on them and agreed to take part in a three way call or have another complete stranger coming round with them to talk about the benefits of this amazing product plus they are really keen to talk to you about a fantastic Business opportunity that you can do with just a few hours of your spare time each week.
For some, who may have wanted to help out, bought the product or service. At the time it looked like a great deal and it seemed like a good idea. You are thrilled when you become a customer, confident that you got a great deal. A short while later, you get a call from the person you bought the product from and they've invited you to a 'Meeting'. You really must come and they will be round to drive you there on Wednesday at 7.30pm. They hang up before you have a chance to respond.
For those of us who were brave enough to attend the meeting, meet the guy who recites the story of how there was a time he didn't have enough petrol in his car to get home from his first 'prospect meeting' but now own three Bentleys (presumable with full tanks!) and parted with the slightly uncomfortable amount of cash for the 'starter pack', the world of 'Multi-Level Marketing' opens up to us. It isn't selling after all. It's just introducing friends to products and services (similar to ones) that they already use.
You agree to weekly sessions with your best 'upline' new pal and your path towards a new destiny begins. There's a 'drill' for everything and you are told frequently not to deviate from the 'system.' All you have to do is make a list of 100 people hat you know (gulp!), show them the video and you'll be buying your own Bentley (complete with full petrol tank) in no time at all.
You run through the numbers in your phone as soon as you get home and after you've crossed out the ones you don't want to call, you are left with 36 names. Well, that's a good enough start! The first few calls are a bit shaky. Your friends are immediately perturbed by the slightly overenthusiastic new you and a bit confused as to why they should be interested in being 10 pounds lighter/ look 10 years younger / be £100 better off. After your 12th call, no one wants to see your video and you give up for the night, slightly deflated.
The next night you overcome the cold feeling in the pit of your stomach and work through the rest of the list. Just before you get to number 34 on the list, someone agrees to taking a look at your video! Call the car dealer, we're on our way!
Most people who have been involved with an MLM business will recognise this experience and for the majority, after a few months it becomes harder and harder to find new 'friends' to show your business to and although many find some success the truth is that not many people manage to become 'Financially Independent' with MLM. Predominantly because its hard to sell to friends and family. Not many people feel comfortable with it after a while and the results are usually so meagre when starting in MLM, most people give up before they achieve any real success.
Prefer to run a Business than 'Sell To Your Friends'?'
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