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Linda, WOW. This Thread has 27 pages. I started reading through it and couldn't quit. It was so interesting.
Loved the Letter to Garcia.
It is amazing to hear so many diverse thoughts on NWM and MLM, etc.
During my 60 years, I have done many things and tried many ventures.
I have held jobs, been a Mommy, a Realtor, a Real Estate Investor/Developer, sold Tupperware, sold Memory Lane Bras, an Amway Direct, a Primerica RVP, and now running a Home Based Internet Business.
There has been a certain degree of success with all of these things. All have expenses and costs of doing business.
All have pluses and minuses about them. Of course a JOB gives you a rather steady paycheck and maybe some benefits. There is a secure feeling of having a known amount of money coming into the household. But of course you have very little control over your future earnings there. I hated the boxed in feeling. Someone else was controling my life.
Also with a JOB, I always acted as if I owned it and worked hard. This made the other employees uncomfortable and jealous. I was making them look bad if I didn't take my breaks. There were many games played in the various job places.
Real Estate is another story. Here I was my own boss. I could make a lot or a little. We did well with Real Estate, but it was always feast and famine. We made great money during the boom times, but when the recession hit it was rough.
One thing I could say to Realtors and anyone in business for themselves, don't get to overconfident. Play safe. Save money. Don't bet on the good times always being there. Prepare for the tough times.
As for MLM and NWM, I love it. Not everything about it, but the concept. In NWM you call the shots, at least if you are with a great company with truly great products.
In Amway, I loved the products and the Company years ago. Today of course it is Quixtar and things have really changed. The problem with Amway/Quixtar is the compensation program. It is truly hard to make serious money here, although not impossible. Maybe in the early days, but not today. With Amway, I had fun doing Magic Shows or Product Demonstrations. I also did Health Seminars and Makeup Training. I love to teach.
Tupperware, love the products. Years ago, I joined them and had some fun working with it for a short time. Long enough to pay for all the Tupperware I wanted. I still have many of the pieces, they last forever. I just knew I wouldn't want to do Tupperware Parties forever.
Primerica Financial Services is also Network Marketing. The company encourages you to recruit, recruit, recruit. Why, so they can make money. Again, I loved to help people with learning about money. We did Financial Gameplans for people and helped people understand how to save and invest and protect their families. The recruiting part was the tough part. People liked the idea of being an agent, but they didn't want to work. They were silent agents. Finding the right people was the tough part.
I made some money here and at first it was fun. But finally, it became very frustrating and no longer fun. It was a very expensive business to be in.
For several years now, I have been working to develop a business online. There was a huge learning curve with this. I have tried many things and have learned much, but haven't really generated any significant income. The affiliate programs seem to pay very little if anything. As Linda said, you have very little control over the affiliate programs. Your referral seems to get lost somewhere.
My latest venture is Cyberwize. An Internet Based business. It is Network Marketing. When I first heard about it, I told my friend no, no, no. Been there and done that. Not interested. I thought I knew what it was all about and I didn't want to do that again. Of course, she prevailed and I finally went to take a look.
I was pleasantly surprised. This was so different than any of the other programs I had been involved with.
1. It was a Non-flushing Binary Program. I had never even hear of Binary. This means there are only two legs to build. All the other programs I had been in, you personally had to recruit many, many people frontline to you to make it work. Then you had to help build each downline. Next to impossible for most people.
Here I only had to recruit two people. I could do that.
2. The huge product line had variety and quality. They put us in the top three industries that are in demand, plus other things. If you only have one type of product and the people you are talking to have no interest in that product, you are out of luck. With this program, I have something for everyone.
Still, I didn't realize how awesome the products really were until I did some research and started using them myself. These are products I can crusade with. I can help people with. Products I can be proud to promote.
Linda, these products can be bought without joining. We have customers, and distributors.
3. Then I had to know the company was solid and had good people in charge. I have done the research and met the owners. Talk about good people. The McCools are great business people, but kind, generous, and special. I have met them and visited with them. You can't find better.
4. The compensation Plan was a biggie. There were 6 different ways to earn.
What I liked best was the people I brought in could build to the top, but I will still benefit from helping them get there. I wouldn't lose them, even if they surpassed me.
In this business I make money when I help the downline earn money. This keeps everyone involved helping each other.
It is a true Team effort.
So...
1. Love MLM, as stated above. Also,
I want Residual Income. Doing something well and getting paid over and over. I want to set a business in motion that will earn even when I am on vacation or retired.
2. Why it has a bad name: Greed and
people joining with High Hopes, but no
work ethic or very thin skin. Many quit
with their 1st NO. Most still have the
employee mentality and do not know how to
be in business for themselves.
See the book: The E-Myth
The Bad name comes from some bad practices of a few. The curiosity approaches, stretching the truth, over selling, lieing, cheating, and stealing.
There is always a rotten apple in any barrel.
3. Difference between MLM/NWM and Pyramids.
Pyramids are illegal. Selling a dream with no substance.
NWM - A Real Business. Has a System, Proven Products, and Team Building.
4. What is the Secret to Success in NWM?
Don't Quit. It isn't get rich quick. It can be get rich slow. But you have to give it time.
Be a student, be coachable, learn the System. Talk to people. Don't be a Secret Agent.
It is a People Business. Must learn to develop relationships.
5. Have I earned any money from NWM. Yes.
I have earned from all of them, but my current venture is so far the best. Have I earned what I had hoped. No. But it is my own fault. I am at the stage of my life, where I want to play and enjoy life. So we are building a little slower than some, but we are growing.
It is still a matter of finding the right people. Not many, but a few that have a dream and are willing to work for it.
One article I read, said we are not in the convincing business, but the sorting business. Looking for Honest, trustworthy people with a Dream. Someone not afraid to work for it.
Sorry to be so long winded.
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