Can Multi Level Marketers Work Successfully Together?

What do you think? Can Multi-Level-Marketers from different MLM companies find common ground to work together successfully? 

It is no wonder that MLM in recent years is being called Relationship Marketing . It is if anything a business about people and building relationships.

I ask the question because today I attended an online business conference and got some news about the future of our company that could bring some useful benefits to my business. Yes it was great news and yes it was only useful if I could spread it fast enough, and get others to see the benefits it would accrued them, if they got on board with the idea.

Immediately I started making a list of all the people who I could think of that this upcoming offer would benefit most. One of the persons among the first five that I thought about, was an acquaintance who is involved with another MLM company. We met about a year ago when I had a look at her MLM business opportunity.

We have both looked at each other's businesses and acknowledged that, if we were not already with our chosen MLM company we may have happily joined the others' business.

I called her and we had a great conversation, about the upcoming offer my company was having. I enquired whether she would take a look at it once it was rolled out and ready to go. She said yes and told me to send it to her as soon as it was available. 

We connected again later via Facebook and she was very encouraging sharing with me some inspiring tips and ideas about staying motivated and positive about my MLM business. She even shared some of the things that she would do daily to keep herself motivated and positive. Presently she is totally fired up, inspired and motivated. This of course is transferring into the success she is enjoying in her business right now.

I told this story to emphasise the fact that we as Multi-Level-Marketers can work together even if we market for different companies. Truthfully I believe deeply that we should be supportive of each other whenever possible, as we know first-hand what it entails to build an MLM business. 

I have never subscribed to the idea that we all have to be in bitter competition with each other, because we are involved with different companies. Considering that many of us market different products, I think, we should feel free to offer our product to persons in other companies, if we believe that it could be useful to them. 

We should also be supportive and encouraging to each other, whether we are on the same team or with the same company. I doubt that we lose anything by offering a kind word of encouragement, or by taking a look at a product, or even buying a product form someone from another company. 

On the other hand, if someone is not interested in our product at the said time, we should not be offended or feel discouraged. They may honestly have no use for the product at the moment.

Though I believe that we should try to be more tolerant of each other, even if we market for different MLM companies, I do not agree with trying to entice someone away form their MLM company onto our team. 

There are people who market for more than one company, and that's okay if they are capable of doing so successfully.  But encouraging someone away from their company to join ours, to me is unethical.

MLM is a growing and diverse industry, with more and more companies and products coming on board, as fast as they are thought of.  

We may well find that we have to do business among ourselves, more often than in the past. It is therefore imperative that we find that common ground, and begin learning how to work with each other for the greater good of the industry. 

We need to embrace the idea of Relationship Marketing fully into the MLM industry.

What is your MLM Mindset?

Mindset could be considered one of the major cornerstones, of building a successful MLM business.

The Free Dictionary defines mindset as:

1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretation of situations.

2. An inclination or habit

Recently I decided to take on the challenge, of doing one video everyday, for one-hundred days. I have never before done public videos, therefore, have never uploaded videos to my YouTube channel, even though I have been a member there for many years.

As I progress into my fifth day of this challenge, I can feel a dramatic change taking place within me. I have so far made about 8 videos. Considering I have never made public videos before, I feel like this is quite an accomplishment. I took this challenge, for the express reason, of getting over my fear of being on camera.

Reading other blogs, I noticed some bloggers write about their own challenges. What they had to overcome to build their MLM business, to make the coveted breakthrough we all dream and aspire to.

One particular YouTube video I remembered, talked about "bloody knuckles" and it made me think yes, one can also get "bloody fingertips" in this business. Especially if you are determined to make a success of it.

The past few days I have come to realize and accept that to build an MLM business, it takes a particular mindset. Without that mindset it, is almost virtually impossible to achieve.

A focused attitude, is an elemental and necessary asset for achieving success in MLM.

I remember someone saying that, if you are able to stay in the same MLM business for four years, working your business consistently during that time, you are almost certain to achieve financial success.

What are some of  the challenges you experience building your MLM business? Please feel free to share in the comment section.

In this short video I talked a bit about focus, and why I think it is necessary to staying the course in your MLM business.

Who Are You Spending Time With?

MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) is an ever evolving industry constantly giving birth to new ideas. One such idea that has taken firm hold within the industry is that to build a successful business you need to be part of a strong, dynamic and supportive team. The most successful people in the business all seem to be part of such teams. We notice such teams appearing everywhere on social networks every day.

"You are the average of the five people your spend time with". I came across this quote by Jim Rohn recently and it has stuck with me. I find myself constantly replaying it in my mind over and over. There is a lot of food for thought in that statement and it has given me cause to reflect on my own situation in this regard.

If this statement is true we should all be taking a closing look at ourselves and asking; Who am I spending my time with? Is the time I spend with them adding value to my life? The answers to these questions may be a good measure of whether we are maximising our time in that respect.

I can only speak honestly about my own experience. What I have observed is that when I am with people who I share common interests with I feel much more inspired and motivated to stay focus on my dreams and aspirations. My belief is that those who share common interest keep each other accountable. Thus, it is easier to stay focus knowing that others are depending on us to do the responsible thing.

This is true whether it be our business or other interests. A quick example I can think of is when we work out in a gym or do yoga with a group we feel more motivated to stay the course. Left alone we are more likely to give up or become lackadaisical.

With My MLM business whenever I attend meetings it reinforces my focus and inspires me to continue moving forward. Working with a group minimises the chances of becoming disillusioned or losing interest. Connecting with leaders and mentors also help us to grow and expand our vision for our lives.
I believe that the way to grow and succeed in your MLM is to find a strong, motivated, dynamic and supportive group to work with. Such groups challenge us to push ourselves by making us accountable. It can also help us to move past some of our inhibiting fears such as making presentations to an audience and taking on leadership roles.

In a supportive team everyone feel responsible for each other's success and by extension the success of the team. When many people within the team begin to experience success the team becomes highly motivated. A highly motivated team is focused and cohesive. Once a team is experience success it stays highly motivated. A highly motivated team is also very attractive to others who are desirous joining.

Having read the above quote by Jim Rohn has allowed me to be more aware of who I am spending time with.

Our commitment to ourselves should be to spend more time with those who share similar dreams and aspirations. Listen to those who have achieved the things we desire to achieve. Spend time sharing with those who have invested and partner with us. Develop our own knowledge base about MLM so in the future we can be the mentors, motivators and teachers.

MLM Exposed: The Real 411...What You Should Know

I recently became affiliated with Internet Lifestyle Network.  I was looking around the Internet for a managed blogging platform to create a blog from which to promote my brand and business when I stumbled unto it.

What drew me to ILN (Internet Lifestyle Network) was a video on Google +. The video featured a guy named Raju who lives in India. He was discussing how the principles he was learning in ILN  has helped him to see progress with his online marketing.

I am presently going through the training videos in the "ILN University". I must confess that I am impressed with the wealth of information there and the simple direct way in which it is being presented.

This experience reminded me of something that I learnt a few years ago from a Network Marketing mentor and I thought I would share it here.

A few years ago I had been a member of another membership site for a number of months and there I gleaned a wealth of information about marketing online.

We were taught that if we were serious about building an online income whether it is in Network Marketing, MLM or Affiliate Marketing there were some things that we must do. These things were listed as:

1. Becoming open-minded and teachable
2. Committing time and effort to your business
3. There must be a willing to learn some new things
4. Expect and be willing to spend some money
5. Be willing to commit to what is required to achieve your goals

Going through the ILN training material reminded me of these truths and how vital they are to securing an income and achieving any success in an MLM business. 

• Becoming open minded and teachable:

Starting any business is in itself a challenge even for the over ambitious and seasoned entrepreneur. Starting and running an MLM business has proven to be even more challenging if prevailing statistics on rates of failure are to be believed.  

We were taught that people fail at Internet Marketing and MLM  because they lack the willingness to be open-minded and teachable.

The very nature of the MLM business model require that we throw out all that we think we know about business. It demands that we become the humble student willing to learn from those who have successfully trodden the path.

It is a common belief in MLM that those who can copycat best are the ones who succeed in their business. The very reason why some dub it "Copycat Marketing"

• Committing time and effort to your business

Any business MLM or otherwise require time and attention to develop and grow. The general consensus is that at least seven to ten hours weekly should be committed strictly to building your MLM business. 

Ultimately how much time we choose to sacrificed to our business is our individual decision. I was taught that we not only commit time to our business but we have to learn to use that time wisely. If the time spent on our business is not utilized wisely then our chances of success is just as diminished as when we do nothing.

• There must be a willingness to learn new things

We are aware that not everyone is computer and Internet "savvy". Therefore if we desire to build our business using the Internet, even as we build it offline, we must become open to learning some new things. 

Some of the things that could come under required learning are - prospecting, building a list of names, working that list of names whether through phone calls or email, conducting a three way call, supporting down-line associates, attending meetings whether on or offline, attending training seminars and webinars and committing time to reading and listening to self development information. 

If you are building your business online some basic skills in using the Internet may definitely be required.

• Expect and be willing to spend some money

We are all aware that there are many "opportunities" online that scream to us "join FREE and make X amount of money" I am sure I said this before and I am happy to say it again. There is no way you will make any money without investing some money. There are many "businesses" that make this promise online and I think they are one of the reasons for much of the frustration with MLM. The only thing you can get from nothing is nothing. 

Anyone who is serious about starting and building an MLM business then must be prepared to spend some money. If you are working with a small budget then look for a business that require a low investment. The bottom line is be prepared to spend some money.

• Be willing to commit to what is required to achieve your goals

Commitment is the hallmark of success in most things. If we desire to achieve our goals we must commit to what is required to do so. 

Starting and building an MLM business demands certain commitments. Commitment powered by determination, focus and consistency has always been deemed the true recipe for achieving one's goals.

Whether you are considering starting an MLM or conventional business these principles will apply one way or another. Above all our attitude is what will determine whether we succeed or fail to achieve our desired goal.

"See you on the beaches of the world" ...Worn out MLM hype?

Me looking out at a breathtaking view on the Island of Carriacou

Is it time to take a hard look at what has become cliché in  MLM (Multi-Level Marketing)?

Telling someone who live on a Caribbean or Tropical Island "See you on the beaches of the world" is like telling an bird; "see you in a tree"

I live in the Caribbean on a tropical Island, yes! sun, sand and sea is a common experience that we live daily on one level or another.

Actually it was looking out of my window this morning that made me realise how hollow such a statement might be to many people who are in MLM and live on Tropical Islands.

I do not doubt that it may hold some motivation for someone who live in a different part of the world but to someone who live on a tropical Island there is no wow factor in such a statement.

Having access to some of the most beautiful beaches and experiencing them first hand is a privileged we enjoy and I must say I am grateful for. An MLM pitch that says: "See you on the beaches of the world", therefore, sound worn out and overuse to me. Maybe the statement had its hay day when the world was a "smaller place" and we lived much more remote lives secluded from each other.

In the early days of MLM, before the advent of the internet someone might have gone dreamy eyed after hearing such a statement. Today we live in an ever shrinking "global village" where there are less and less degrees of separation between us.

Many people have access to MLM and are starting their own business thanks to the internet. These people live scattered across the globe Tropical Islands included. Therefore, many things that held any mystique in the past fail to do so any more.

Due to this shrinking of the globe people in the Caribbean and other people who live "on the beaches of the world" now participate en mass in the MLM industry.

Things have changed dramatically and it is time the language of the industry change too. If you live on a tropical Island; "See you on the beaches of the world" has a very hallow ring to it. Considering any number of beaches are just a short drive away.

I know I am not qualified to speak for everyone but I also am sure many people have thought of this and may agree.

This is not to say that there is no appreciation for an all expenses paid trip like the ones many MLM companies give out as bonuses for high achievement. It just seem that such statements have become cliché and in the present environment may have had their day. They therefore hold no real power to motivate and encourage as they did previously.

It is becoming apparent that we are in a time of new "MLM speak". Thankfully many leaders in the industry are aware of this and they are speaking to "the meat of the matter". They give value by discussing the truths of the industry and what it takes to build an MLM business. This I continue to believe is what people are interested in and want to hear.

People want to hear what it entails to achieve what is necessary to get to "the beaches of the world".
They are aware that it is not all just glitz and glamour one need to put in some "blood sweat and tears" to coin another cliché.

Changing the way we present MLM, seems to me to be the the way forward. Those who support the industry and are invested in it need to see the value in changing the language with the changing environment.

"See you on the beaches of the world" is only one of the hallow worn out statements that Network Marketers and MLMers continue to use. We are definitely on the cusp of change. A change that is rapid and driven by ever advancing technology

The very survival of the MLM industry may well hang on how we adapt to that change. Maybe it is time to review the language. Time to talk about what holds real value for the listener in this environment of hyper-change
 



Written By: Lylette Primell














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MLM Can Overwhelm You. The Importance of Staying Focus

I must admit that I am no MLM (Multi- Level Marketing) expert or guru. Nor am I aspiring to become thus. Whatever I blog about regarding this subject comes mainly from my day to day experience with building my own MLM business.

Yes! I do appreciate the MLM model of business very much. That I have confessed to often enough both on and offline. Therefore, when I bolg about different aspects of building an MLM business I strive to share my own honest and objective opinion based on what I have experienced.

If you have been around the industry long enough and have used the internet as a means of reaching prospect and customers, who are interested in what you promote, then you understand the importance of having an undivided focus.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the information coming at you via your inbox or social sites such as Facebook, Google+ and Twitter? Are you bombarded daily with invitations to join one MLM business after another?

We are without a doubt living in an age of  "hyper information" or some would say information overload. The question is how do we maintain a single-mindedness of focus in the face of this seemingly unavoidable intrusion?

In my early days of MLM online I found it difficult to stay focus and became prey to every new shiny business that captured my imagination. Before very long I was inundated with more information than I could logically process or filter. Fortunately for me I found a mentor who taught me that lack of focus is one of the main reasons why people never succeeded in marketing online.

He stressed the need to stay focus on the business you are invested in and promoting. In the face of all the shiny new daily start-ups online, this is obviously difficult for most of us. I know this because just in the last forty-eight hours I was contacted and invited to join about six new opportunities both by long time acquaintances and a few new ones. I therefore, ask the question; how do we reconcile this and remain focus on our present business?

My only suggestion would be this gem of wisdom shared by Bob Reina the CEO of Talk Fusion. His advise to associates is that we give our business at least one year of unobstructed focus and attention. He advise that we use the system provided by the company as a guide to building our business. He argues that if this is done, coupled with giving at least seven (7) to ten (10) hours weekly to building our Talk Fusion business, by the end of the first year we would not want to quit.

Listen to Bob Reina in his own words:

                                                      Talk Fusion CEO Bob Reina

The obvious reason being that with consistent effort and focus on your business you stand a greater chance of deriving the benefits you desire. You begin to see a greater likelihood of achieving your goals and dreams. This of course would motivate and encourage you to stay the course.

Bob Reina's advise therefore, seem to be a practical and sensible approach that anyone serious about building an MLM business can adopt. It is a principal that can be useful regardless of which company you are affiliated with.

Many people argue that we all need multiple streams of income and I agree to an extent. Even experts like Robert Kiyosaki weigh in on the importance and necessity of this. Ultimately I believe that choosing to have more than one means of earning an income is an individual choice.

What I think is necessary for succeeding in your MLM is to focus on building a solid foundation for one business before moving to others. That may be the easiest way to avoid becoming overwhelmed by having to cope with too many things at the same time.

When we feel inundated because we are pulled in too many directions simultaneously we lose focus and defeat sets in. When this occurs we are much more inclined to give up. This cause us to feel a sense of failure caused mainly by confusion.

To avoid this I suggest taking Bob Reina's advise and focus on one opportunity for at least one year. Allow it time to grow and develop. By doing this we give ourselves a better opportunity of experiencing progress and success. Which in turn would give us the drive and motivation we need to continue to build our business.

Most of all MLM like any other business need time and nurturing to develop and grow. If you believe all the hype about getting rich in one month then MLM is not for you. Any right thinking person will know that it is not possible to get rich overnight in any business MLM or otherwise.

To avoid being overwhelmed and losing focus on your goals and dreams make a commitment now to develop a "tunnel vision" approach to building your MLM business

Why Does The MLM Love Affair Persist Against All The Odds?

Is MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) an industry who's time has finally come? I put this question out there because even as more and more resistance, in the form of every know accusation, continue to be levelled against the industry it has somehow persisted.

There seem to be no getting rid of the continuing throngs of people who join the industry daily. The idea that so many people are duped and lured into something that bring them no satisfaction becomes highly questionable. Might it be that many who venture into the business are driven simply by their own desire to achieve more out of life for themselves and those they care about.

My own intrigue and fascination with MLM has taken many turns. Over the years I have come to understand many things about the industry some of which I find appealing. I suspect that the same could be said for many others who have participated in the business in one way or another over any length of time.

The convenience of being able to work from home has to be the single most appealing thing about Multi-Level Marketing for many who invest. Yet, statistics show that a large percentage of people who come into the industry fail to earn any substantial income. Could this be because we over complicate what is required to build a solid MLM business?

Most MLM businesses come with a simple built in system of how it should be build. These systems very much resemble the franchise concept. All you are required to do is duplicate the system and teach those who you recruit to do the same. How is it then, that some people succeed at applying this system and earning incomes they would never have imagined and others with the same system simply fail and give up?

The answer for the high failure rate may well be found in the myth "anyone can build this business" that has been perpetuated over the years. It may be more appropriate to conclude what I heard at a seminar more recently "MLM is for everyone but not everyone is for MLM". If this is true then herein lies the answer to why there is so much room at the "top",

Yet! the love affair persists and I am sure will continue to persist in these uncertain changing economic times. With the desire to earn more just to maintain one's basic lifestyle the search for an alternative form of income will continue to drive more and more people towards MLM. With its easy entrance into the industry, low investment and promises of earning an extra income the lure is almost irresistible to those seeking opportunity and financial advancement.

Whether there is a blueprint for building an MLM business and who will or will not build a solid business is anyone's guess. Robert Kiyosaki in his wisdom breaks down who might be the most suitable persons for MLM or in his words Network Marketing in the following video.

It may be worth the while to consider this bit of wisdom when deciding who to partner up with in your MLM. I have long come to accept that there are those who will see the value in MLM and those who never will.

Therefore we can only conclude that one of the main reasons why the industry persists 50 years and counting is because of those who see the value it has to offer. I suppose there will always be those who will continue to drive the industry and support it through whatever changes lie ahead.

5 Things We Love To Hate About MLM

The over exposed or even those not so exposed to MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) would understand the love hate relationship that many of us have with the industry. Those of us who have been around the business for a while come to love many things about it, but this does not absolve us from loving to hate some aspects of the business as well. Many would say "speak for yourself" and I will. Therefore I will take this opportunity to highlight five things I dislike or find downright annoying about MLM. I am certain that there are many more that can be added to this meagre list.

1. Attending the dreaded weekly MLM business opportunity meeting.

I know many of us find this especially annoying. Every "Tuesday" night having to dress up and show up with guest at the business meeting. Many people found this difficult because it simply did not fit in with their schedule and immediate commitments.

Thank to the internet this is rapidly changing. We can now all sit at home and attend online webinars and conference call in our Pyjamas with our coffee in hand. Some companies have gone so far as to work out a full ongoing schedule of daily meetings.

One company have found it useful to created an ongoing daily schedule so that anyone who choose to can attend any of at least five (5) opportunity meetings in as many as twenty (20) different languages, all from the comfort of their own home. This does not take away from those who choose to attend a live offline meeting if there is one schedule in their area. You now have the convenience of choosing to attend a live on or off line meeting.

Here is an example a of the A daily Webinar Scheule. All you need to do is scroll to the date and language of your choice hover your mouse and when the schedule drop down menu appears click on your desired time. You then can sign in as a guest at that time and join the live MLM business opportunity presentation right from the comfort of your home.

2. Being required to spend money over and over on MLM training and motivational material

Here again thanks to the internet this is a thing of the past for most "savvy" MLM business owners. Much of what is needed to build an MLM business comes with the business opportunity Start-up-kit. Most people today have some idea how to find free motivational material online and  many companies now host free online training webinars for their Associates.

3. Waiting to receive your MLM check at a given pay period.

Back in the old days of MLM many of us can remember waiting for the end of the month to collect our bonus and commission cheque. Which in many ways is not different from having a regular job and waiting for month end to be paid. If you are like me and live in the Caribbean this process could take up to three months. I can remember having to wait an extra 45 days after receiving my cheque and taking it to the bank. The bank nicely informed me that it is indeed a 45 day process to vet and clear such cheques.

Thankfully MLM companies have now found ways to pay their associates via debit cards and the process is much more efficient and people can have their earnings available to them in a much more reasonable time regardless of where they are in the world.

Even more phenomenal some MLM companies have led the way and created Compensation Plans that allow associates to get paid immediately on making a sale or achieving a bonus.

Here is a short video of one such Compensation Plan:

4. Listening to MLM associates boast about their commission and bonus cheques.

Have you ever seen those post on Facebook and other social sites with a photograph of a hand full of money claiming its their commission of X amount made in the last "two" days from their MLM business. Maybe you saw the ones that post huge snapshots of their commission page from their back office or payment processor detailing all the payments they have had over a given period.

They look something like this:

It all verges on annoyance and though I am not the one to speak of whether it is the correct or incorrect thing to do I am sure that many people find it distasteful. Many may even get turned off from MLM after being exposed to this seemingly common act perpetuated by those who persist in doing so across the internet.

5. My MLM is better than yours.

This is a very special one and thus must be made mention of. Many in the industry might have been guilty of this at one time or another.  Though on giving it some thought the stark pointlessness of such an argument becomes painfully obviously.

There can never be a useful argument about whether one MLM is better than the other since many people join the MLM of their choice for a variety of reasons. People look for what appeals to them about a given company; - the company's compensation plan, the product/s they market, availability and accessibility to that product, their connection to the people they are about to do business with among many other considerations.

In my case having been in the industry for some time, I choose to stay away from any MLM that market a physical product. This is simply due to my experience with the hassle of shipping products into the Caribbean. Marketing a product that the customer have immediate access to via the internet compliments my lifestyle and circumstances much more convenient than having to deal with shipping and handling along with other bureaucratic hurdles like customs and excise.

Does that make my company better than a company that market nutritional or luxury products, I doubt it. The individuals who chooses those companies would have done so because of reasons that suit their lifestyle and circumstances.

Those are the five immediate dislikes I can think about that I know many have harboured about MLM over the years. There are many more that can, have and will be mentioned as time passes since the MLM industry seem to do a relatively good job of generating continuous debate.

Get Motivated and build your MLM business

Here are a few words of motivation by well known financial adviser Robert Kiyokasi about owning your own business. Click on the link or on the image then click on the video to view.

                                                            Own Your Own Business

If you dream of owning your own business or have already invested in an MLM business but lack the motivation to follow through. Here are a few  words of wisdom and encouragement from Robert Kiyosaki that you may find useful.

Sometimes all we need are a few words of motivation to keep us moving forward. The road of ambition may well be littered with many casualties but my belief is that a few consistent small steps taken daily can get us to our desired goal.

I heard a very profound line in a movie recently that struck me in a profound way. It basically said that a few small pieces added together over time can create something very big. Knowing that should be encouragement enough to keep us doing the things necessary to bring us closer to our dreams and goals.

Hmmm! Why the passionate sometimes frenzied hatred toward MLM"?

Yes! Why the passionate sometimes frenzied hatred towards the MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) industry? It may be difficult to believe but this is a very genuine question that came to me after reading quite a number of contributions by different commentators both for and against the MLM industry.

When one think of business models it is obvious that there are a variety of them know to us. Some we like some we dislike. Some we support some we avoid at all cost.

Those of us with a burning desires to be independent of a "job" at some point in our lives dream of owning our own business. Of course the resources to own our own business is most times outside the reach of ninety percent of us who desire to do so.

Owning your own business requires some necessary resources such as start up capital, knowledge of the specific industry of choice, some basic management skills and time to give full attention to the business and its ongoing requirements. Putting all this together is daunting even to the hardened dreamer with the driving desire to be independent of a job and become his/her own boss.

The MLM business model has become an attractive prospect to many throngs of people around the world. It has done so by finding ways to minimize some of the challenges of starting a business. Thus, making the idea of owning one's own business seem more plausible and doable to the ambitious dreamers of our day.

Getting started in the MLM industry requires a low start-up investment, your business comes fully loaded with all the training and getting started material you will require. You literally have a business in a box complete with team support and mentors. This may vary in quality and standard based on the MLM company of your choice. As is commonly said in the industry "you are in business for yourself but not by yourself" You can build your MLM business and still continue to do whatever you were doing to support your life financially. Hence you control the time you spend and dedicate to building your business.

The major arguments put forward by those who are "up in arms" against the MLM industry is that compared to conventional small business the success rate of those in MLM is woefully low. Many have sighted things such as market saturation, having to attend regular meetings and exploitation of relationship with family and friends. Others have even liken participants in the MLM industry to mobsters and gangsters. These I sighted here are just a few of the many accusations levelled against the industry in a kind of roaring "battle cry" of "down with MLM"  In my opinion all of this seem mostly done with the deliberate intention of spreading fear of the industry among would be prospects and even some of us already invested in an MLM business.

All business models have their high and lows and the MLM industry is not immune to this. There would obviously be those within the industry who would use some measures that are totally unethical unflattering and even detrimental to the overall image of the industry. There will obviously be differences of opinion among those both within the industry and persons outside the industry. Some have been know to deteriorate into long drawn out lawsuits that have in many ways tarnished the image of the MLM industry and continue to do so. This though is not exclusive to the Multi-Level Marketing industry, it would be safe to conclude that wherever people gather in large number with a common interest "head butting" is expected and is a given.

I must acknowledge that I do agree with some of the shortcomings sighted about the MLM industry by some contributors. However what I have observed is that some seem to go to great lengths to prove and overemphasise these shortcomings. They then set themselves up as the voice of reason, the saviour of the unsuspecting dreamer who would be taken in by all the promises and allure of the MLM industry. It begs the question; why are they so eager to protect me form "wasting" my money,? Is their concern about my welfare as genuine as they claim or is their a more sinister and hidden agenda in this frenzied attack on the MLM industry?

Having read many articles, blogs and the like for and against the MLM industry some of which I found enlightening and educating. Among the many arguments against the industry there was a very noticeable common thread. They all at some point seem to deteriorate into a frenzy of fear-mongering, even injecting quotes from the "Good Book" to show those who participate in the industry why what they do is not right in the sight of God. It was at that point that I truly realizes that many who criticize the MLM industry have more than an "axe to grind". I am yet to read one article or critique that was totally objective without being abusive, accusatory or making personal attacks on the industry and its participants.

Whether these commentators are disgruntled X MLM participants or just people with their own personal agendas determined to discredit the industry, is anyone's guess. After reading some of these commentaries you come away feeling emotionally spent wondering what experience could have brought the writer to such a state of anger, disdain and aggression towards the MLM industry and those who participate. Participants whom they scornfully dub "MLMers".

Well if you are an MLMer and believe you can achieve your dreams and goals using the industry as a vehicle then good for you. If  you are a disgruntled X MLMer or you just downright hate the industry and have to spew your frustration at least do it so you do not come across as the "grim reaper" of the industry. Ask yourself honestly if it is right to frighten another person out of having an experience that you have no knowledge beforehand whether it will turn out good or bad for them. Your having a bad experience for whatever reason in your MLM does not cast the idea in stone that it will be the same for everyone else.

This blog was not written with the intent to attack anyone, that is why I refrained from putting any links or naming anyone in particular. All I am doing is trying to get some objectivity. There is no objectivity in writing an article with a title like "Arguments for and against the MLM industry" then you proceed to write an article that is ninety percent against the industry. Where sixty percent of that is spent spreading fear. It would be more honest to just write an article purely against the industry.

It feels much better getting some of that off of my chest and having a good rant about it. Now I will rest my case on this issue. If anyone reading this want to do their own research or have a look at some of the articles and blogs I am referring to just Google MLM or Multi-Level Marketing and take your pick.

Your MLM is not a charity

To anyone reading my blog for the first time MLM wherever used is short for Multi-level Marketing. If you need more information on what Multi-level Marketing is Google is a great place to start. On that note I will get to what's on my mind for today.

There are experiences in the MLM business that cause you to understand in a profound way why some "Leaders" in the industry promote certain activities while others continually impress upon us to avoid them at all cost.

Many people who have been around the business for a long time are totally against selling the MLM concept to family and friends. While others think this is the best and easiest way to grow your business, by targeting the people closest to you. Hence the genesis of the term "Relationship Marketing"  In my opinion the jury is still out on which of these is the best model to follow. Therefore, I am not promoting any of the above models of marketing your MLM business as a better choice than the other, since both models have been proven to worked effectively.

In many ways a person's personality and ability will dictate whether marketing their MLM business to friends and family or otherwise will work best for them. Time, trial and error and experience will give you a good indication as to which of the two works best for you and yields the best results.

Over the years the "blueprint" for building an MLM business has gone through all manner of metamorphosis. The advent of the Internet bringing the most dramatic and dynamic changes the industry has ever seen and been faced with. Social media ranking high among the forces of change. Many of these changes happening in very short spans of time. Presently to survive the MLM industry you have to either catch up, keep up or stay ahead of the curve.

In an earlier post I mentioned that I started this blog to create an avenue to have an open conversation about the things everyone avoids talking about in the MLM industry. Yet these seem to be the very things that are on everyone's' mind and thus can be liken to the proverbial ten ton elephant in the room. What I have notice is that any time a discussion about Multi-level Marketing ensues there are always clear "battle lines" drawn, nerves gets rattled and tempers flare.

Speaking for myself I must say that I have had my share of getting upset and offended. This most often happened when I heard people, who I knew have zero knowledge of the industry and have never been in the MLM business, mouth off inaccuracies about the industry with an air of assumed authority. I have since learned to listen to what others have to say and if possible try to contribute something positive to the conversation that could prove helpful all around.

You will quickly learn that you get the most flack, rejection and least support from family and friends when you join an MLM company. I have been fortunate, in recent years, to get support from some members of my family.  This might be mainly because of my unwavering commitment to this business model over the years. Some people in your family will join you simply to "support" what you are doing, others will join you just so you stop "pestering" them. There are others who will join your business with their own ulterior motives.

It has been my experience that within the groups mentioned above most or none of them will ever commit to truly building an MLM business. A very select few within your friends and family will sign up seeing the potential to own their own business and advance themselves financially. These people therefore, are more likely to make a genuine effort to grow their business and realize the financial rewards it could offer them.

Building an MLM business requires some amount of toughness. It takes a certain amount of grit to stand up to what can and is many times meted out to people in this industry. What seems worst is when it comes form our love ones and friends. This alone I am sure, even without statistics to show, is one of the main reasons why many people quit or never make a genuine effort towards following up on their investment and building their business. It is one of the main reason also why some "talking heads" in the industry advocate never talking to friends and family about your MLM business.

Some of your loved ones will join you in good faith thinking that by doing so they are "supporting" or "helping" you. They may even say this to you by letting you know that they have no interest in the business. You may take this on in good faith but later learn that their true sentiment about what you are doing and about the MLM industry is not very flattering. This could prove painful for you and cause you to feel hurt and treated like a charity. Do realized that this is a grave disservice to your business and to you.

The MLM business model is a business like any other business. If someone cannot appreciate that then they are free to refrain from participating. Grudgingly investing because they think they are "helping" you because "they care about you" in my opinion is insulting and demeaning both to the industry and to you. At all cost avoid allowing your MLM business to be treated like a charity.

A professional approach to building your MLM business is always the best way forward. Therefore partner only with people who are genuinely interested in being involved in the MLM business model or in buying your product. Avoid anyone who is just joining your business to "support"  or "help" you. Refrain from coercing  people to join your business by making promises you cannot keep. Your business may grow at a slower rate but it will definitely have a higher rate of retention thus benefit you much more in the long run. Remember your MLM business is not a charity it is your business so be professional and the results you desire will in time be realized.