MLM or Network Marketing Schemes, Cringe, and More

[MJ DeMarco]

I know MJ is not a fan of MLM but that is not to say you cannot make money as one.

Sure you can. I've made money playing the lottery and pulling the one-arm bandit at the casino.

The goal of the Fastlane is to increase your probabilities -- your mathematics for creating wealth to which you are bound -- your mathematics in that venture is pathetically weak, just like in a lottery. Dare I say lottery winners are broke? Of course not; they defied mathematical improbabilities. To join Amway is to do that same.

That said, if your goal is to possibly earn extra $ every month (at probably a terrible hourly rate per time invested) then there is nothing wrong with it.

 

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[vinylawesome]

 

[MJ DeMarco]

I'd like to post this to facebook and tag the friends

About as risky as posting political crap!

 

[AllenCrawley]

Awesome take down of MLM -- 30+ minutes worth! Was pleasantly surprised in the content.

I started watching it but thought to myself, "No way I'm going to watch 30 minutes of this.". But I couldn't stop, lol. I'd like to post this to facebook and tag the friends that bombard me daily with their MLM based posts but it just won't matter.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Was at a restaurant yesterday and I heard some guy talking way too loud to the hostess, his tone was boisterous, confident, and that of a pushy salesman. He wasn't interested in eating at the place. Then loudly, he boldly proclaimed, "do you build businesses? We should connect, give me your phone number!!"

Then about 8 seconds later I heard the hostess say, "Uh, I'm only 17 years old."

Then the clown says, "Oh sorry... well lets talk next year!"

This guy was probably mid-thirties and it was epic cringe. He walked around like he owned the joint, then proceeded to leave and drive away in his old Dodge truck.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

The group I am in only allows people to speak who have made at least platinum ($7k a month profit) So I think I am in good hands.

You know I hate to sound like a pretentious dick, but when I was fully engaged in a Fastlane business, I was earning this in ONE DAY. When you're focus is climbing pyramids instead of building them, $7K/month ($84,000/yr) sounds great but in reality, it's not a millionaire-making sum. What makes $7,000 a day? Selling 70 "Top Gun MLM Secrets Revealed!" 100X a day to the millions of disgruntled MLM'ers who are making fifty bucks per month and are fighting a congested road.

 

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[^eagle^]

Amway?

Do you own the pyramid or are you building some other guys pyramid?

Not hating on it, just asking a question. Maybe they are more to it than I know? Please educate me on how the site falls under the "fastlane" definition.

true that Fastlane states you should own the pyramid. I qualified that in anothe rpost earleir that I do not consider this exactly fastlane.

However Amway has changed their structure over the past few years. I know this because I looked at them in the mid nineties. In a pyramid I could not make more money than my upline. Now that is not the case. Also their prices are much more competitive. The people in my group are getting away from the "Push the program", mentality and are more about "push the products and the IBOs will come"

I know MJ is not a fan of MLM but that is not to say you cannot make money as one. If I recall correctly MJ was at one time in 6 or 7 MLM programs. What I see is that he did not apply the one trick pony principle. Im just sticking with one. Still trading in forex too but As a daily method for now until I can free myself as I got into trouble working for "the man" on that as a fastlane plan. This new venture allows me to get out in the world and network and at the same time make a profit. Its very difficult to fastlane if you do not network. Real life network. I tried with Online Virtual networking and forex but I find people to be flaky and act differently. I can show you the daily method I trade with forex too. Been having some good success with it but its too early to tell if I have just been lucky or the method is solid. Got ten more weeks to go until I get a decent sized sample of trades.

I havne t read The millionaire fastlane yet but I have purchased it. If I am successful I could author a book on it which would be considered fastlane. As I have no experience with MLM I am in no position to start one given my current situation.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

can you honestly say you LEARNED nothing from the experience about interacting in the real world doing MLM?

Absolutely not ... I never said that. There is great learning experience in MLM as well as networking. Sales is a skill that all entrepreneurs need, and might even be as important. I believe, if you can succeed at MLM, you could succeed at anything.

I think the MLM is better than being a corporate slave.

I will argue that he who is the slaveowner is not relevant. You replaced one slaveowner for another.

But the enviroment is a t least one I can thrive in.

That's great -- if the venture makes you happy and you love the process, my opinion is not relevant. Everyone is different, with different goals and happiness quotients.

While listing the site as a "fastlane website" doesn't necessarily qualify, Ill let the link stand because it is important to you, and you have been a very valuable member of this forum. :smxF:

 

[GuestUser113]

Hello everyone.

My mentor mentioned to me that the company we are in is not a MLM and has no pyramid scheme but we get paid as a team bonus and so on. If I asked someone to look at the legit company that pays people to socialize, Could you tell me if it is actually a MLM or not? It is hard to tell because we don't sell anything except ask people to join as members and get the benefits of being a member - also get paid to be a member if you get others to join as members using your membership name.

I also joined a MLM that allows parents to teach children OR people who are not sure about MLM businesss but have no loss in money if they spent $1.75 to enroll (No hidden costs, etc) so they can learn the ways of the MLM business.

I want to improve how to represent the company without the MLM itself being mentioned. I am here to learn and improve.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Awesome take down of MLM -- 30+ minutes worth! Was pleasantly surprised in the content.

MLM is still alive and well.

Yea, as long as there is poverty, ignorance, and swindlers, it will continue to make people rich, and make people poor. For MLM drones, the video won't change a thing.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

This behavior is a result of watching too much Youtube entrepreneurial hype videos and getting yourself pumped.

It reminded me of a bro-marketer who was active around here in 2015 and had a pretty big cult following. Now I hear that dude is on the run in Mexico...

 

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[AJGlobal]

I have the education and the knowledge. What I lack is the Human resources of like minded people. I am surrounded by people who are stuck making $12 bucks an hour. This is my "changing my surroundings plan. I cant run away to Phoenix." So Im changing my surroundings by changing WHO is around me. Instead of a bunch of workign sclubs floundering their way through life I surround myslef with peopl who want to excell. Or am I missing something?

I really do want to succeed and am willing to take risks and sacrfiices but there are certain things I have to take care of. I am not chucking those despite the farting headwinds. It may take a little longer but its better in my case. Once you have kids you may understand a little more. I refuse to shirk that responsability. (the ability to respond) Just as your mother did for you.

I started my business working two jobs and supporting my significant other at the time and two kids, one of which was a new born, so I feel your need of having to take care of a family. I'm here to tell you that it has and can be done. I'm living proof. I was driving limo's as MJ was and building my business during the day then worked all hours of the night and repeated over and over again until I started making enough money to leave the limo industry forever........

Another issue I have with MLM's is that you still have people above you and below you that you can't control or count on to help make you more money the way you would. Depending on what they do and how hard they work directly effects your paycheck. To me this is a bad idea. You need to be the one in control of your paycheck, not rely on someone else. In a MLM your forced to rely on the others around you no matter if they are motivated or not. I don't know about you but If I'm working my a$$ off I better be the one to reap all the rewards, not the guy above me or below me.

I know this all may seem like your getting criticized for doing what your doing. I hope you don't take it that way as that is not my intention. I'm just trying to show you a mind set that MJ, myself and many other have that you can't see because your in the middle of it. Take a step back and look at the big picture, put a plan together so that you can start your own MLM or create your own fastlane. Then and only then will youl have benefited from being in the MLM your in now.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

I want to improve how to represent the company without the MLM itself being mentioned.

Hmm, you don't find that odd that you need to hide something? If you need to hide something in your business dealings, you should NOT be in that business.

I am here to learn and improve.

Sorry but you're at the wrong forum when it comes to MLM.

Our universal advice will be to create your own dream instead of hitching a ride on someone else's.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

MLM Debate

There is no debate. We lead, we don't follow.

 

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[Formless]

What great timing.

I literally just came back from an MLM seminar, from these F*cks. http://www.worldventures.com/

I only went because my mother was going as a 'social outing'. Just to make sure she doesn't start wanting to 'buy the dream'.

I was very polite, did not try to make waves or antagonize the guy. But when I started asking the guy basic question about the business model, and the 'multi level' aspect of the business. He started getting twitchy and saying random circular shit, anchors being

- Binary compensation model (I do not know what the F*ck that means, and he didn't either)
- We're not a pyramid, it's a team. Besides, everything is a pyramid
- If you do well, I get paid, so we look after each other etc.

All the buzzwords, emotional triggers etc were being used.

- Be an entrepreneur
- Travel with family and create memories
- Freedom
- Self sustaining
- 'I know some guys who work REALLY hard, and they're doing $170 000 per month' (OVER COFFEE, BEFORE THE OFFICIAL GATHERING, HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS $120 000 PER MONTH.)
- (I was the only 19 year old there, rest were 40-50y/o women) So I got the 'Make an extra buck at university and be an entrepreneur' schtick.
- There's no risk with us, there's risk with 'normal business'.

etc etc. Guy was a pretty good storyteller, but I felt disgusted. And I don't mean that in the 'obnoxious customer with unrealistic expectations' way. I meant literally wanted to leave every time he made a point. But I thought it would reflect poorly on my mother, since her acquaintances were all there. When you consume books written by real value creators, watch seminars be real value creators, speak to real value creators, and lastly actually try to create some value in the world, seeing leechy 'business' models like this first hand is very infuriating.

I guess there is SOME degree of 'product'. But it's bullshit. You pay a subscription fee in order to be able to use their super duper magical price checker search engine which gives you access to MARVELOUS prices... meaning that you pay for the holiday... AND for your subscription to be able to use this super duper magical price checker search engine.

Compensation model is pyramidal, he was just evading it hard.

 

[G-Man]

This is going on FB for my cousins that constantly bombard my feed with Rodan + Fields and that shake thing.

Thanksgiving is already gonna be a clusterF**** trump/clinton argument. Might as well add this to the mix!

 

[Luke12321]

^^^

Amway?

Do you own the pyramid or are you building some other guys pyramid?

Not hating on it, just asking a question. Maybe they are more to it than I know? Please educate me on how the site falls under the "fastlane" definition.

 

[DeletedUser394]

I joined a MLM not too long ago and I want to know if this is a good way to reach financial freedom.

Did you even read the replies in this thread?

______________________________________________________________________________________

..Further reading: https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/mindset-motivation/15779-you-driving-fastlane-riding.html

..If you're too lazy or not interested:

"So are you DRIVING a Fastlane? Or are you a PASSENGER in it?

Passengers join MLM companies. Drivers create them.
Passengers buy FRANCHISES. Drivers sell them.
Passengers join AFFILIATE programs. Drivers offer them."

 

[Jill]

It's hard to say, Kak. How many years would've been wasted trying to find the right business? What other kind of business could be started by a 22 yr old with no capital, no experience, and even less credibility? And don't say IM or eBay. LOL! This was 1986. I'm not saying that there were no other options. But at the time, it was a good opportunity for a young, entrepreneurial recent college graduate to get into business with a lot of other older, more experienced college graduates who served as coaches and mentors for years to come.

I was exposed, at that tender young age, to dozens of executives, millionaires, politicians, entertainers, motivational speakers, etc. I spoke onstage in front of crowds numbering in the thousands on a regular basis. I can't think of any other "job" or business that I could've done that would've given me that experience. I learned to interact comfortably with everyone from ditch diggers to CEOs, which I believe (as I stated in a previous post) gave me the soft skills that enabled me to take a $15/hr job (on a bet) and turn it into a $200k+ job within 18 mos. Because, believe me when I tell you, I'm nothing special. I'm not the most highly skilled consultant out there. But I learned back then that people do business with those they know, like and trust. That lesson has served me well.

Again, I'm not pimping MLM here. I've done it. It served a purpose at a particular time in my life. and I never plan to do it again. I just hate to see everyone pile on to a guy who is just TRYING to step up and do something to help his fiancé, or himself make a little extra cash as a means to and end. It CAN work for such a purpose.

 

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[kwerner]

This thread used to be terrible, but now I can't stop coming back for the next installment!

Yep, this is how this thread went:

[video=youtube;mvqdXVn421A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvqdXVn421A[/video]

 

[Ecom man]

That is the best video I've ever seen!

 

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[masaldana2]

Last month I dated a chick that is part of ACN and it was very annoying. She started adding my fb friends to spam them and all she talked about was about MLM... It ended quick

 

[Mr.Brandtastic]

I gave him a big fat 1 star Uber rating after that.

That's pretty funny. Yea let me tell you about "muh mansions" while I drive your Uber. I'd just laugh and probably think, "Guy if your program worked, you wouldn't be driving an Uber."

 

[rxcknrxll]

Yes I think we all agree it is not fastlane. Myself included. But a launch pad. I also think Suze Orman is at least a step in the right direction although once you are out of the ditch and at least a pedestrian you can begin the Journey.

As this is more for my fiance than it is for me I am being supportive in her decision. At least she wants to take control over her finances. And As I have only had a decent paying Job I cant give her fastlane advice. I see it as a stepping stone to Fastlane ideas later. Also I see my own shortcomings in not getting out in the trenches and networking it will be a stepping stone for me too.

The REAL pyramid scheme is working in a corporate world hourly or salary. You will never make more than your boss and are always subject to his or her whims.

Gotta crawl before you walk before you run before you drive before you fly.

"Launch pad" is a great way to put it. I'm a huge fan of launch pads; everyone needs one. There are a lot of ways to learn the basics of running a business. MLM is great for that in my perception, because it's very low risk comparatively. If you want to run your own company and literally have no capital or experience, getting into MLM could be a great training ground for you. Still though, not all MLM companies are created equal. The need for due diligence and tact is still very much a reality.

 

[^eagle^]

Not pretentious at all. But if im going to sell something like that I want it to be a profitable venture for both.

I would want to sell something that actually works. And if all I do is package up some theory and resell it Im no better than Suze Orman. How about a book entitled" how to bundle a bunch of crap that sounds really cool but none of which I have actually done or I really failed at it but decided to sell it to make a shitload of cash"and make shitloads of money selling it to everyone.

For some reason I still have some moral compass telling me I couldnt sell something unless I was successful at it myself.

Not pointed at you MJ as you are successful and have the right to sell your knowledge for it has a track record.

I could always go back to my "save the kittens" Book but I am afraid of what I would have to tell my daughter. LOL (still have that website)

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Selling 70 "Top Gun MLM Secrets Revealed!" 100X a day to the millions of disgruntled MLM'ers who are making fifty bucks per month and are fighting a congested road.

For some reason I still have some moral compass telling me I couldnt sell something unless I was successful at it myself.

I wasn't suggesting that YOU do this ... but the so-called heavy hitters find out that selling the seminars/training/ebooks has more profit potential than the constant chug-fill-and-replenish of MLM.

This is because normally it is a scam or the product suck

True for some, but not all. I could say that the MLM's I was in, I truly believed in the product.

 

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[AJGlobal]

I've seen many MLM's come and go over the years. I even tried a few myself after my business was already up and running and making money. The bottom line is, unless your at the top your just making someone else more money than you are. I look at it as a glorified high paying job that masks itself into making you think your self employed. That is if you actually make money doing it. No offense to the ones who have done it or are doing and making money at it but if MLM is your thing then create the MLM don't become part of one.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

But as I stated before, This is a means of networking and not an end. If Im profitable along the way then all the better. And as I stated on another post if you have no dependants then yeah, Live in your car, Move out of town and change your surroudings, eat rammen noodles and build your internet business using Mcdonalds wi fi. That plan will not work for me and my family. My truck isnt that big.

Sorry, but that's just another excuse that you can beat down; a straw-man argument that you can easily knock over convincing yourself that your options are limited, when they are not.

Where you choose to invest your time is a choice you make -- apparently, you feel the best investment of that time is Amway. Good luck, I hope you find it inspiring and educating.

 

[JEdwards]

You can think about it, but don't do it.... Just don't... Unless you own it.

Never been in an mlm, but a guy handed me a card last week with his pic on it.. Funny stuff...

 

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[Vagabond 007]

I know someone personally that is making $108,000 per MONTH in an MLM. He is #3 in the company. His father in law is #1, makes over $3 million a year. Daughter makes high 6 figures a year. Sister in law makes about a million a year.

With that being said, I don't really recommend joining one for the reasons already stated.

Can you make big money with MLM. Sure.

But it is going to take a lot of hard work. Work that, in my opinion, would be better served building your own company that you have 100% control of.