Anyone ever do any of these marketing,team based, pyramid, networking hustles?
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CriTAUcal
Do Good; Good Follows
I'm Ok with that. To be a real (successful) entrepreneur takes ALOT of drive and dedication/sacrifice. Everybody is not born with that interest or ability. So I'll keep collecting payroll until I push out a product (my books) that I'm ready to market. And even then, I'll still be on somebody's clock until (or if) I'm ready to give that needed level of dedication.
GSU4LIFE
Active Member
I have yet to see someone in MLM make money(good money) off of just sales, memberships yes. Sales no. but that's just me.
jsupop33
Loyalty & Respect
I agree. I am saying, just because a person isn't into selling memberships, doesn't mean that they are not an entrepreneur. I am willing to bet most entrepreneurs started off selling products, services, or negotiating business deals.
GSU4LIFE
Active Member
We are on the same page with that.
jsupop33
Loyalty & Respect
That is the reason that I am not into MLM's. I don't knock anyone who does it but it is not my cup of tea. Them cats are the most persistant.
How did you get that out of what neveah said? Zuckerberg is the epitome of a MLM entrepreneur. He built a product and convinced people to buy into it when he saw how big it could get. Heck just look at how FB operates. It started out with an invitation to join, and the members began telling (inviting) their friends, to invited others, etc.
I don't sell Amway, etc, but I definitely rely on a level of MLM for my small business. My initial clients are basically selling for me via word of mouth and showing off my products to their colleagues, and they get discounts in return.
jsupop33
Loyalty & Respect
Come on bruh. He got investors early in facebook and promised a return cause he knew popularity would skyrocket and he could sell advertising and initially make a public offering on the stock market. None of the members have ever had to pay membership fees.
An investment by any other name is still an investment.
nevaehinvesting
Active Member
Mark Zuckerburg & FB = MLM at it's finest. Amway, Microsoft, Walmart, etc I'm not in any MLM myself (the small ones that pop up here and there) but that business model does work. Seen it firsthand.
Yep... same thing LOL
Killer Bees
Well-Known Member
I second this. The only people who make the real money in these things are the people who create the system.
The names don't mean squat. I been "approached" by many of these companies back in college. None of them exist today. They change names often and use the same formula selling crappy products that no one want to buy and push you to get more people to work under you. If you can't find them on the internet, it means they probably recently changed their name for either being too new or they trashed their reputation under another name.
They are some reputable MLMs in my opinion like Avon, Mary Kay, AmWay for example, but 95% of these companies are nothing but pyramid schemes.
nevaehinvesting
Active Member
I see what you mean, but what's the real definition of a "pyramid scheme?" Someone gave me their definition one time and it sounded like 90% of the regular corp America jobs to me. So what's the definition?
ATLJag
Active Member
I'm sure that there are a few people that have been successful through MLMs, but the vast majorty that I have seen weren't. What is sad it that I have seen people go from MLM to MLM with no success whatsoever. Here in Atlanta, most of us know at least one person that sold Noni juice one minute, Prepaid Legal the next minute, was a so-called travel agent after that, and is probably now trying to get you to help them sell natural gas or some crap like that.
Where I have seen a lot of people go wrong is that they approach MLMs as a "side hustle" while still working their 9-to-5. In reality, your side hustle should be derivative of a skill or talent that you have or a trade that you have learned. For example, an accountant that works in Corporate America and also does taxes at home on the side is bound to do much better than an accountant that is trying to sell some Noni juice or coffee to you.
Something that hurts us as a people is that some of us want the end result without the hard work that comes with it. People want to run around saying that they are business owners or entrepreneurs, but most of them don't want to put in the long hours, capital, and sweat equity that it takes to actually maintain a successful business. This applies to the MLM game because the same types that want to "get rich quick", "make a quick come up", or "fire (their) boss this year" end up falling for the MLM lines time after time.
If you like the MLM thing, do you. Just don't get mad when I consistently turn down your offers. What also helps is having a strong spirit of discernment. A wise man or woman can spot a slick-talking ninja a mile away and won't go for the rehashed brochure and video lines.
Where I have seen a lot of people go wrong is that they approach MLMs as a "side hustle" while still working their 9-to-5. In reality, your side hustle should be derivative of a skill or talent that you have or a trade that you have learned. For example, an accountant that works in Corporate America and also does taxes at home on the side is bound to do much better than an accountant that is trying to sell some Noni juice or coffee to you.
Something that hurts us as a people is that some of us want the end result without the hard work that comes with it. People want to run around saying that they are business owners or entrepreneurs, but most of them don't want to put in the long hours, capital, and sweat equity that it takes to actually maintain a successful business. This applies to the MLM game because the same types that want to "get rich quick", "make a quick come up", or "fire (their) boss this year" end up falling for the MLM lines time after time.
If you like the MLM thing, do you. Just don't get mad when I consistently turn down your offers. What also helps is having a strong spirit of discernment. A wise man or woman can spot a slick-talking ninja a mile away and won't go for the rehashed brochure and video lines.
ATLJag
Active Member
Some fool selling an MLM tried to come at me with that "your job is also an MLM" crap. I told him that is bs. Even if I never bring anyone else into my company or sell any of my company's products, I still get a check twice a month. I never had to set up a "power team" or get automatic shipments of anything at any job that I have held in my life. I may not be the CEO, but I also don't have to convince people to attend bs seminars either. That's where most of Corporate America differs from MLM.
SUJagFan
Well-Known Member
You know most people have no idea what a pyramid scheme is or how to recognize one. Look at the Nevin Shapiro fiasco and all of the big time names that got caught up in that and the amounts of money they put into it. That's a real pyramid scheme.
These folks are just calling MLM a "scheme" because they won't take responsibility for the fact that them and their friends can't do it.
It would be good for people to know the difference between a real scheme and a legitimate business model that they're incompatible with. Most will remain blissfully ignorant though. I guess that's normal.
SUJagFan
Well-Known Member
Bilbrew, hush.
Just hush.
You don't get a check twice a month for doing nothing. Either you produce something of worth to that company or you are out the door.
If you have never set up a "power team", then you better believe your manager has and is responsible for getting you all to deliver automatically whatever you do. Or they don't get a check either. A check that is bigger than yours. And so on ... up ... the ... multiple ... levels ... of the ... ladder. The ladder that is your company's organizational structure.
:|
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ATLJag
Active Member
Of course I don't a check for doing "nothing" and I can recognize my company's org chart. However, what you missed is that unlike an MLM, I don't have to bring anyone in (i.e. sell the MLM to other people in order to get paid) or try to push the company's products. Hell, I work for an insurance company that I don't even have insurance with.
I actually do have an uncle that has been very successful with Primerica and is on the regional level with them. However, he got in extremely early (about 15-20 years ago when I think they had another name) and actually rose up to be an actual employee rather than just a rep. The problem is that most folks that are trying to get in the game now will NEVER get that far since there are way too many levels on top of them. Just like some of us won't become CEOs or VPs of our companies, most folks that are getting into MLMs these days will never get what the folks who got in 10-20 years ago and stayed in are getting.
ATLJag
Active Member
Exactly.
SUJagFan
Well-Known Member
Whether you have insurance with your company or not, your job requires to do something that promotes or supports the selling of their product.
And, you're right, most people will never get rich from MLMs just like most people never get rich from having a job. It's almost impossible to get rich working a job. The people who make the most money at jobs are the people who stay there the longest AND who take on the most responsibility by moving up the ladder. Much like it works in a MLM.
Maybe the problem is the promise of riches rather than the structure of the MLM. People thinking MLMs are a path to riches without realizing the hard work, skill and dedication it will take to get there. That's what I don't like about MLMs. That many of them are misleading and some downright dishonest with people in letting them know what it takes to be successful.
Yet, the structure of a MLM is practically the same as any other business in a America.
Killer Bees
Well-Known Member
In my opinion, a pyramid scheme is when a company or MLM in this case, focus more on getting new members and earning income from new member fees rather than selling a product that has some value.