[takeanumber3333]

Hello everyone, how is everything going? I am not here to recruit you, just to get that off the bat. In fact, to prove this to you, I won't even tell you what MLM I am in, but
I want to discuss the bias here against MLM.

Ok, so as you now know, I represent an MLM. And as you know, this board is very aggressive to anyone who believes in them. I haven’t been around long enough to correctly judge this, so I won't give out any names.

In the start of MLM, there were pyramid schemes. Most of you still hold on to that memory, and that's what it is, a memory. There are now legit companies, in which real people are making money, people like you and me. There are entire boards of people, some newbie’s some seasoned vets that are setting up streams of residual income for their respective MLM's.

Now, I am not going to say there are NO pyramid schemes, but if you do your due diligence, you can avoid them.

Actually, there are some professors that preach MLM, and have a video called, "Brilliant Compensation," but I can't find that video, so if someone has it, it would be great if you could post it. These are not fly by professors, but they represent Harvard and The University of Chicago, where they actually teach MLM as a class.

So, what are your biases, I may be able to clear some of them up. I will not attempt to recruit you unless you personally ask to receive info, which is completely up to you.

[deleon]

I don't have a bias against MLM, but it simply conflicts with the whole point of business - owning and running it. You can't change the product focus or the price. Finally, all your hard work goes towards promoting someone else's product.

MLMers often say something akin to "MLM isn't for everyone". Well I agree. It isn't for me.

[takeanumber3333]

You can't change the product focus or the price. Finally, all your hard work goes towards promoting someone else's product.

Your right, but you don't have to worry about lawsuits, employment or organization either. You can liken it to owning a business and having someone else running it, while you worry about marketing only.

[deleon]

The fact remains that I'm building up someone else's business, rather than my own. At the end of the day, 10 years later, it'll be somebody else's business that becomes worth a few million, and I'll be left with the scraps.

[mediad]

There certainly are legit MLM's. My girlfriends mom does "Stampin' Up". I know she augments her income nicely with it and the products are good.

The difference between something like Stampin' Up and the photo thing thats being discussed in one of the other threads is:

Stampin' Up is about selling stamping products (stamps, paper, ink, etc). You get a bunch of women together, make cards, and they all buy a couple hundred dollards worth of stuff. The focus is on a product.

This photo thing (for example) is not about selling a product or a service. It's about selling somebody else a "business opportunity". They could care less if somebody signs up and uses the service, they want people to buy into the business.

I don't have a problem with MLM's if the goal of the MLM is to sell products or a service. I have a problem when the goal is to sell other people on selling to other people to sell to other people and on down to 5 LEVELS OF SELLING WHERE YOU'LL MAKE FOUR HUNDRED BAZILLION DOLLARS A MONTH!!!!1111oneoneoneomgwtfbbq

Anyways, thats what I think of MLM's

D.

[takeanumber3333]

The fact remains that I'm building up someone else's business, rather than my own. At the end of the day, 10 years later, it'll be somebody else's business that becomes worth a few million, and I'll be left with the scraps.

Well, if a huge stream of residual income is scraps to you, then I guess your right. Sure, you are building someone else’s business, but they are building yours as well.

For example, when you place a new sign up in a downline's team, you are helping them and your upline with their business. You are building their business, as well as your companies. But, when your downline or upline signs someone up under you, they are building your business. It's all about the team.

I have a problem when the goal is to sell other people on selling to other people to sell to other people and on down to 5 LEVELS OF SELLING WHERE YOU'LL MAKE FOUR HUNDRED BAZILLION DOLLARS A MONTH!!!!1111oneoneoneomgwtfbbq

So basically, you hate the people who promise no selling, and a million a month right off the bat. Well, I do to. But again, that is judging the entire business from a few extravagant individuals and companies.

[mxer210]

en·tre·pre·neur ( P ) Pronunciation Key (ntr-Page Ranking-nûr, -nr)
n.
A person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture.

[takeanumber3333]

We do. If it fails, we lose our investment. We organize and operate our teams. We are entrepreneur's.

[jimmiejo]

Originally posted by takeanumber3333
We organize and operate our teams. We are entrepreneur's.

You said it right there. "We organize and operate our teams." That's not being an entrepreneur, those are words from a managers mouth.

Bottom line, you're not an entrepreneur if you work for someone and complete the same predetermined tasks each day.

[kellymccausey]

I wish that we could easily draw a line between a Direct Sales opportunity like Stampin' Up - where product sales is the main focus and source of income and MLM programs where recruitment and residual income from ongoing recruitment is the main source of income.

There is a difference even if some would argue with me

I must prefer the Direct Sales model personally

[takeanumber3333]

You said it right there. "We organize and operate our teams." That's not being an entrepreneur, those are words from a managers mouth.

So entrepreneur's can't manage their own business? I know people who not only own business' but also manage them. In fact, I have worked for some.

I wish that we could easily draw a line between a Direct Sales opportunity like Stampin' Up - where product sales is the main focus and source of income and MLM programs where recruitment and residual income from ongoing recruitment is the main source of income.

Yes, there is a difference. But there are products being sold in every legit MLM.