Re: Multi-Level Marketing? Good and Bad

Congratulations on your success. And a very reasoned statement. However there are those her will still not believe it. As I said in another post, it's not for me but there's lots of things not for me.

> MLM or network marketing is a viable, proven and legal business model that
> has proven itself for more than 50 years. Warren Buffett owns an mlm
> company, Pampered Chef, and such well-known companies as Tupperware, Avon,
> Mary Kay, Crayola, Fuller Brush and Watkins use the mlm model. Even major
> manufacturers such as Coca Cola and others distribute products through
> Quixtar (Amway.)

> When considering mlm as a business,one should be aware that the industry,
> as any other, has positives and negatives. For the record, I am in mlm and
> make money from it, but I will not mention or otherwise promote my company
> here.

> MLM is hard work. It is frustrating and takes a ton of self-discipline.
> You have to approach hundreds, even thousands of people to find a few who
> are interested in your product or service or business opportunity. Of
> those who join, most will drop out or never even get started. You will
> face a lot of rejection, most cordial but some angry. You will want to
> give up. Sometimes it will seem like you are wasting your time.

> You will have to put in time and effort. This is a simple business, but
> not easy and your rewards will come from your efforts. It may take you a
> few months to get into profit (I did it in two weeks, but that's not
> typical) and it may take a few years to really make a substantial income.

> It isn't free. You will have ongoing business expenses. And you will have
> to give up time you spend doing what you want in the beginning, especially
> since most are employed when they start.

> Consistent effort is what creates success. Basically, what I teach is to
> contact prospects and give them some information. If they are interested,
> give them more info and let them decide. I don't teach badgering, selling,
> convincing or deception.

> Some companies and uplines do teach such tactics. Avoid them. How do you
> know? Think about how you were approached.
> Some uplines try to load you with tools, tapes, seminars, books, etc. They
> tell you you have to buy these things "if you are serious."
> Buy them only if you want them. They are not vital. Many of us have built
> mlm businesses without them. Better still, avoid any company or upline
> that promotes a lot of tools, etc.

> Most people fail at mlm. fact of life. Why? False expectations of time and
> effort required, fear of phone, fear of failure, fear of contacting, bad
> training, no training, laziness, no discipline or commitment, they joined
> a bad compnay with bad management, they joined some get-rich-quick scam
> ... it goes on and on.

> But then, most people fail at home business of any kind. Still, I'd be
> willing to bet that more people, numerically and percentage wise, have
> made money in mlm that from courses by Internet marketing gurus or real
> estate gurus or trading gurus or any other gurus out there. And that
> includes anything touted by anyone on this board.

> Most people buy into a dream and fail at reality. Always have, always
> will.

> Thousands of people have made incomes from $500 to a few grand a month at
> mlm. Fewer make mid to high five figures. Fewer still make six figures or
> more. These people have earned those incomes - they worked to get there.
> They are the exceptions in mlm - they are the exceptions in ANY home
> business.

> Before you get involved in mlm, ask yourself if you will do what it takes?
> Not what you can or what you want, but what it takes.

> Also check out the company. There are fine mlm companies out there, but
> there are also scams and schemes and hype.

> Remember, anyone who says mlm is easy is lying. Anyone who says they have
> an Internet system that does it all for you is lying. Anyone who says you
> won't have to work is lying. Anyone who says you can sit at home, watch TV
> and make six figures is lying.

> Of course, anyone who says that about ANY business offered on this board
> or anywhere else is lying, too.

> Some good points at random: No employees; no fixed location; set your own
> schedule; start for relatively little money; in most cases company handles
> inventory, shipping, returns, etc; not a lot of paperwork; same tax
> advantages as other home businesses; training and systems already
> developed and in place in most cases.

> To sum it all up, MLM is rewarding as heck if you work your butt off.