David, Thank you. That certainly explains things much better. You are quite right, SendOutCards is not Amway. There is a whole different air about this business. People are not born salespeople? I beg to differ. We have been learning the process of salesmanship since the day we have been born. Its the application that's different. I know! That's stretching it a bit. But for those who do not consider themselves salespeople consider what I just said for a minute. You had to sell yourself to your employer to get your job. You sell yourself to them everyday to make them think that you are a valuable asset to their company. Just something to think about. Anyone can be a good sales person. You're already half way there. You just need to learn a new application of that skill which is within you already. ------------------------------------------- Gary, I couldn't agree with you more. Not only that, but that habit is being picked up or should I say duplicated by people entering the business today. And if that is the environment you are in then that is what you will do. Another good reason why it's important to do your due dilligance. -------------------------------------------- Linda, I whole heartedly agree about being able to purchase the products and not having to be involved in the business to do so. That is one of the main building blocks I have used in building our business. To date I have never personally approached anyone specifically about becoming distributors in our greeting card business first. I have focused my full attention to just acquiring customers (and until recently as you know, that activity has all been offline). Our downline has been a bi-product of that activity. To me you have to put your product/service first. Through that process, you "will" get HIGHLY qualified leads for building your MLM team. I'm just hoping this same principle applies online as well as it does off.

Winston, You do not have to convince me about the sales skills people exhibit everyday. You are preaching to the choir there. It is convincing others that they can is the issue. How many times have I approached a friend or acquaintence and they said I will have nothing to do with it if it involves selling. I can not sell. Then they commence to sell me real hard on how they are not sales people. Sheesh. That is the greatest sales job you have as a Network Marketer, to build up people to believe in themselves enough to face REJECTION.

David, Considering your experiences, I completely understand where you are coming from. Me, on the other hand, never one to be told what to do or how to do it, have not listened to any of the materials that came with my "start up" kit. I'm going the route of how I'd like to be treated. If I succeed, great, if I don't, it's an experience I would have missed out on that brought me here to Adland. I'm happy either way. I work for a high-line car dealership during the day, I deal with people who have more money than they know what to do with, and you know what they all have in common? Not one of them is happy. I started this business in the hopes of taking some of the financial pressure off of my husband, I have no desire to be wealthy. I have a very hard-working, loving husband, a 4 yr old daughter who is like no child you have ever encountered and I own in a decent house in a decent neighborhood. With the exception of some financial strain right now, I really can't ask for more.

David, You make some very pertinent points: ======================== "How many times have I approached a friend or acquaintence and they said I will have nothing to do with it if it involves selling. I can not sell. Then they commence to sell me real hard on how they are not sales people. Sheesh. ========================= How true! People "sell" themselves all day, every day. Most sell their time for money. Your example is very good but what about the greatest sale of all time - convincing somebody that they should love us and marry us - ie our spouse. THAT has to be number ONE! Then you say: ========================= "That is the greatest sales job you have as a Network Marketer, to build up people to believe in themselves enough to face REJECTION." ========================= Again, in my opinion, SPOT ON! That is why the "tools of the trade" are used - books, tapes and functions. The personal development is promoted to build confidence. Most people lack it and so "the business" has to address it. Let me now tie two of my comments (Grenades) together... ...the deleterious effect that these tools can have on a marriage partnership and the falseness that upline big pins try to hide... It is pretty well known now that over many years the big pins were accumulating vast fortunes through the secret commissions they were receiving on the tools. Often the value of these commissions were far greater than the base products of the business (the stuff you earn the PV and BV on). I think I mentioned it before - the business inside the business. Now, if these marvellous examples of business LEADERS were, in fact, listening to the tapes and reading all the positive books then why have so many NOT grown personally? Far too many cited the oft hackneyed expression "irreconcilable differences" to explain their marriage breakdowns. Maybe, sometimes it should have been called "irreconcilable dalliances." I recall distinctly a LEADERSHIP meeting where all the males were put in one room and all the females in another. We were lectured on one of the ten commandments of the Bible. No points for guessing which one it was. Now, here is the twist... The Executive Diamond giving the lecture was allegedly caught in bed with the sister of another Diamond, a woman many years his junior and NOT his wife. Oh dear! Needless to say it was all hushed over though spoken about incessantly behind closed doors and behind hands. That was one well publicised marriage split. Though I know the name I would never reveal it but the person involved featured prominently in "Profiles of Success." I even have the page signed (believe it or not!). Behind stage I was amazed at some of the comments that I would hear bandied around. You would swear that these great PROMOTERS of the system were not partaking of it themselves. Sure, on stage they sounded wonderful. They looked great and when you got close enough they even smelled great. BUT... a lot of it was just a thin veneer. False smiles abounded - like the famous advert where the lady is smiling her face off and muttering beneath her breath "this girdle is killing me." When the big pins were on display they said and did all the right things. When they thought nobody was noticing they were just as bad as anybody else. The falseness of it all is what fazed me. I myself was instructed to "fake it until you make it." That was a directive from "upline." In the end that is what was the straw that broke the camel's back. I don't like to con people. I became aware of a number of BMW's and other luxury vehicles that were purchased under HP and were put up as examples of what the business had provided. But it wasn't true. Much of the so-called success was faked. In fact, almost all of it. So was the personal growth. In the end I couldn't take the lies any longer. I did the only thing that my conscience would allow. I quit. That was my personal experience. That is what has driven my comments. BUT... if you are an MLM'er reading this then your MLM may be different. I hope it is. My advice, for what it is worth, is to be watchful. If something goes against your conscience don't do it. Trading your soul isn't worth whatever money is being promised to you. Gary Simpson

SPOT ON Gary! As you like to say. I had the same experience, felt the same way, made the same decision, quit. I have sadly had similar experience is several other MLMs. I have even had ones that started wonderfully then were changed "for the good of all" to make it worse for the distributors.