Are Network Marketers Nuts?
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Why Do Network Marketers Do So Many Stupid Things?
Most folks involved in the network marketing industry are very intelligent, thoughtful and hard working people. So why do they do so many crazy unprofessional things?
The trouble with the network marketing business model is... it's been marketed to people who have no business experience. Then to add insult to injury they're told they Don't NEED Any Experience!
So you see, it's not really their fault... It's just that they've been taught to do stupid, unprofessional things to build their business by their upline who probably didn't know any better themselves.
It really has been a case of the blind leading the blind.
Here's an excellent example of one of the many things network marketers were taught to do...
When I was a child, my father started selling Amway. To kick start his business, he was instructed by his sponsor to invite some friends over for a business presentation. Now, you're probably wondering what's so stupid about that?
The STUPID thing is... he was instructed NOT to TELL his friends it was a business presentation. My Dad was told to "Just invite them over for a dinner party". Don't mention the business or anything...his sponsor said he'd take care of that part of it. My folks were just to focus on getting their friends there and providing a good meal for them.
Now let me tell you, this dinner was NOT a success! My Mom's food was great. The house looked lovely, my brother and I were on our best behavior and everyone was having a good time, until...
The easel came out and the presentation began!
You could have heard a pin drop in that room!
Come on folks... no one likes to be fooled or lied to! Not only did no one sign up that night but I think my folks had some explaining to do to their friends! Needless to say, we never had such a "business dinner" again!
Seriously people...
Inviting people to a business presentation but not telling them it's a business presentation is a stupid thing to do!
Does this mean I think my Dad is a stupid person? Far from it. He's one of the most intelligent, dedicated and hard working people I know. He, like so many others, was mislead by people in the network marketing industry who, to be fair, probably didn't know any better themselves. Everyone was just following the "proven"system.
So to call ALL network marketers "stupid" is...
Well, it's just as stupid as saying "Everyone is your Prospect" or "MLM Isn't Really Sales... It's Sharing"!
I can hear you laughing right now (or is that crying?)... but I assure you almost every well meaning network marketer has been taught these two stupid ideas along with a whole slew of others just as bad.
Ok, so how do we stop the network marketing insanity?
As with all things, the first step to fixing a problem is to recognize there IS a problem.
Ann Sieg has made a good start at exposing the truth about the silliness and down right lies being taught to new network marketers (and old veterans as well) in her landmark book "The 7 Great Lies of Network Marketing".
Some of the lies Ann exposes are...
- Everyone IS Your Prospect!
- Network Marketing Isn't Really Sales... It's Sharing!
- You Don't Have To Be A Pro To Succeed!
- Anyone Can Do This!
- We Will Build Your Business For You! (that's my personal favorite... )
The list goes on and on, and it's because of these "stupid" lies that approximately 95% of folks who start a network marketing business fail.
It's time to stop the network marketing stupidity!
Do yourself and the rest of the network marketing industry a favor, download and read your free copy of Ann's book "The 7 Great Lies of Network Marketing". Because after you read it you'll never want to engage in any of these criminally stupid business practices again!
Shelly Begarowicz, The Rat Race Rebel, is an internet marketing consultant. She helps network marketers and other small business owners to use Web 2.0 Tools and Attraction Marketing techniques to build their online MLM business on a shoestring budget.
Are you a Rat Race Rebel? For advice and tips on starting and running an internet marketing business subscribe Shelly's Rat Race Rebel News Today!
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Comments
I love the title Shelly. You are a great writer and leader. I remember my upline telling me to just schedule an appointment and give as little information as possible. That just doesn't feel right for most people and its certainly not the best approach. Ann Sieg's book is doing a great job of turning on the lightbulb for so many people. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by!
"Stupid Is As Stupid Does!" I'd forgotten that line Jim, thanks for reminding me. Sounds like a good name for your next Hub?
It's a real shame that so many people have been laughted at or lost friends with the "invite'um and keep'um in the dark" business meeting way of doing MLM.
The frightening thing is that, as Cindy points out, it's still being done today!
Don't fall for it! There are better ways!
Great hub Shelly! It's amazing what otherwise intelligent people will do when they have their eyes on the bigger picture. I was never comfortable with any of the old school methods but did them because if that's what I had to do to get where I wanted then I was willing to do whatever it took. Thank goodness Ann Sieg has shown us a better way!
Great Hub Shelly! I know I have done some pertty stupid things myself trying to get ahead in this industry.
It's sad to see so many uplines still trying to teach this approach and some of them get upset when you try and show them anything different.
I'm sure glad we got people like Ann willing to go out on a limb to show us a better way.
I enjoyed your article, although I am not in network marketing anymore I feel this can help a lot of people. I love the list of lies. So True. The line that always floored me was "the 10 foot rule." Talk to everyone that is within 10 feet of you about your business. Sure, anyone can do that right? Anyway, good article. Best wishes,
T
Hola Shelly,
As I was reading your article I started to remember and laughing about a few stupid thinks that I used to say and do back in the days of 3 foot rule. But you are right it wasn't my fault I didn't know any better. I was just following what my upline told me to do. But today network marketing + web 2.0 attraction marketing = more reps more sales big downline.
Best Regards,
Franklin
Isn't it amazing how almost everyone in network marketing today has a story to tell of some silly thing they were taught was good marketing?
Yes indeed, thank goodness Ann Sieg stepped outside the box and helped us all to come to our senses!
Thanks for that reminder Shelly
Still when friends visit and I mention anything at all about my network marketing business, they seem to inhale deeply and hold their breath and wait for the other shoe to drop. I Must have treated them badly, how stupid that was.
thanks again
Grant
Wonderful hub, Shelly! What's so embarrassing to me is that I myself fell for the "don't tell them anything, just schedule the call and I'll do the talking" line, by my upline. I thought it would take the "sales pressure" off me, but I didn't think of my poor friends! Oh well, live and learn. Attraction Marketing principles just allow me to do what I ENJOY doing, and help others do the same! And I'm not stealing anyone from their company or having to be deceitful to "get them" to sign up! Joy in what you do is just naturally attractive!!
hi shelly,
well written article. those are some pretty dumb things to do. but i have to admitt, i fail for them too. some of my friends are still doing it that way. but i just leave the ignorants do what they want to do.
meessai
Great topic Shelly.
I met a prospect once that told me about a Amway story like this, except the guy who was hosting the meeting in that case held people at gun point to hear the "whole story".
I never held a meeting without telling people what they were coming to learn about in all my 27 years in this industry, but I was taught in my first year to set 1:1 appointments by phone without telling the prospect anything about the business. We were told to just say that this is something I need to show you, and since I can't do this over the phone, when can we meet?
Needless to say, this was very hard to do for a new business builder starting out. Not only was it a very slow way to build, it was spending so much time with the wrong people.
When I look back today, I think we had to be nuts, crazy, unprofessional, and stupid. But my question is, why 27 years later are there so many people still out there teaching this method?
I guess that they just didn't read your article yet!
Good job,
Bob Andolina
Hello shelly, You had presented good information its very useful and informative hub. Recently i added an hub on mortgage calculator feel free to visit this hub.
Hi Shelly,
Great Hub. I had "flashbacks" of those days while reading your hub. I know that I would and did everything I was told. Thank goodness I know better now.
Angela James
Shelly,
I think that most of us wanted success so bad that we would have done anything we were told to do if we believed that's how our upline made all that money that they supposedly made. We are wiser now and are moving on to a more honest and comfortable approach; Internet Marketing. Glad to be here with you!
Becky Joubert
Hi Shelly, I like your tell-it-like-it-is style. Attraction Marketing works - I saw this Hub on Digg, then I also saw your "lead capture page video" page popping up while I was out on the web somewhere else! Good writing and good energy magnetizes...thanks for sharing. ~ Kathy
Shelly,
This article is great! You absolutely correct. I'm loving how you are telling it just like it is.... Also, I'm going to feature it on http://www.wellsblueprint.com.
Donna Wells
Shelly, you have some points people need to honestly stop and consider before making decisions that can threaten family and friend relationships, all for the sake of a dollar. Proffessionals don't conduct business that way. I wish more people were upfront and honest with new recruits and offered proffessional training resources.
Well done
Cammy Stubbs
Jim Hickey says:
13 months ago
Hi Shelly,
What was the line from Forrest Gump, "Stupid is as stupid does"? It is so true in the case of the old-school network marketing model but as you point out, not due to most of our faults since that is the nature of the model. And the Amway thing, I remember it well, my upline used the same method with me back in the 70's.
Fortunately the new model has come to be and anyone willing to put in the time and effort should benefit.
Nice Hub Shelly!
Jim