This one is going to feel a bit offensive to a few of you. But I couldn’t care less. We’ve all seen the spike in MLM marketing, social selling, network marketing - look whatever you want to call it - its the pyramid scheme of our generation.
And it’s gotten out of hand.
I can’t hardly go a day without getting invited to join a team.
Thankfully, its become a bit more acceptable to cold shoulder the situation. Because what I’ve never understood is why its my job to be mindful of your feelings when you don’t understand the word no.
I get it. You’re just trying to make a living. Aren’t we all? I’d like to address some of the frustrations head on because for some reason, folks just don’t get it. I can say no, ignore messages, and still - I’m being sent the same damn messaging over and over. And over. And I’m the jerk when I say stop.
Entrepreneur
On no planet is MLM something that makes you an entrepreneur. Straight up, you paid to sell someone else’s idea. They are the entrepreneur. You are the salesperson. There is nothing original or enterprising about what you do. You are literally given a step by step guide for how to sell. Its evident in the cookie cutter messaging in my inbox.
Additionally, I have a hard time even thinking of you as a legitimate salesperson. I will caveat this by saying there are a select few of you who I’ve seen succeed and generally I have no complaints about. However - if you’re calling yourself a salesperson or network marketer, and you’ve created an environment that annoys others, that badgers them on social media, you’re not good at what you do. If I did that at my job, I wouldn’t last long. To create a good brand, you need to be mindful of how you as a person represent that brand.
Small Business
Sure fine call yourself a small business because you’re technically a business of one. But quite frankly, that’s misleading as well and you’re not fooling anyone. You are actually representing a large business. You ladder up to a company that is the brand and is generally a large company.
Can’t Work a Traditional Job
I’m understanding of everyone’s lifestyle. We all go through things. We all would prefer to work on our own time and terms. But I promise you, the rest of us go to regular jobs quite often and we make it work somehow. Women and men often work more than one “traditional” job just to barely get by. I don’t know many people who aren’t operating a “side hustle.” If you’ve chosen network marketing as your main gig, that’s great, that’s your choice. However, don’t try to tell the rest of us its somehow the only option and we are supposed to be empathetic to that. I go to my 9-5, run a blog, a consulting business, and still find ways to workout, be a good friend, partner when I want to be, and have a life. You can too.
Support your Friends
I see this often. Shop small. You buy product from celebrities, why not your friends? I do shop local. I shop at the small stores in town who sell custom pieces. I buy from friends and family who are artists and bakers and farmers and designers. I get food at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday. You, selling for a company worth millions of dollars, you’re not local. Ultimately, I’m more willing to buy a Kylie Jenner lip kit than I am the skin cream that’s sold worldwide. At least the woman created and markets her own products.
I decided to finally do a post on this because I’m tired of the way these people push the messages and pester people and we are expected to continue to be polite. I’d challenge you to understand that if we are in fact your friends and family, show us a little more respect. If we say we aren’t interested, let it go. Keep pushing your product and doing what you need to do on the socials because I can unfollow that. If you continue to message me and don't get the very clear message I’m sending you, that makes you not a very effective “small business owner.” And I’m going to go with the block button. I’d rather see everyone’s puppy posts and legitimate endeavors.
UGH - so harsh Ashley. Look, it is, and its necessary. There’s a reason we all complain about it, post memes about it, and end friendships over it. I’m not bringing you my work everyday, asking you to join my company over and over - it’s simply not professional. It’s not good business nor is it good social practice.
If it was so successful for so many people, ya’ll wouldn’t constantly be switching between products and giving up all together in 6 months. For the most part, for most people, it doesn’t work. Its even a bit insulting to your friends and family when you represent it as your great success. If it’s so successful, why are you years later still working your main job when you’ve sent those notes to me about it being the pipeline to this endless income?
Sure, it works for someone or these companies wouldn’t exist. But the stats are there and it works for so little people, otherwise we’d all be doing it. Thank you Susan in Iowa for pointing out that you make millions off this, congratulations, you’re the one person. Pardon me if I’d still like to pass.
If I offended you, you’re probably in MLM and maybe you’ll stop hounding me. Kidding, sort of. Honestly, my aim is never to offend, but it happens, and I’m willing to be that guy on this one.