I think it is very unfortunate how quick people are to dismiss network marketing. They don’t seem to really understand it. Let’s break it down in two ways: the products and the business.
Products:
Scenario A: You are in need of a product to solve a problem you are having. This problem could be anything: trying to lose weight, skin care issues, trying to stay organized, etc. Maybe it’s not even an issue. Maybe it’s just something you want. A new purse, the perfect pair of jeans, quality makeup, etc. You go to your local Walmart and have no clue what to get. There are so many different options and they all look the same.
You don’t know which product would be the best fit for your needs. You also don’t know whether or not they work. You flag down a Walmart employee to ask them their opinion, but not only are they busy trying to do their job, but they don’t really know much about the products you are asking about. So you grab something at random and hope that it works.
Scenario B: You are in need of a product to solve a problem you are having. This problem could be anything: trying to lose weight, skin care issues, trying to stay organized, etc. Maybe it’s not even an issue. Maybe it’s just something you want. A new purse, the perfect pair of jeans, quality makeup, etc. You know that your friend is a consultant for a company that offers products that you actually have a need for. You contact that friend and explain your problem or need to her. She recommends you choose between a couple of products that, based on her extensive product training, she thinks would be beneficial for you.
She even sends you videos that explain how the product works as well as shows you a lot of testimonials from people who have had success with the product — even her own personal testimony (because of course, she actually uses the products herself). You purchase the product that she recommends and it helps to solve your problem. You become a loyal customer and are rewarded with special deals. You even are rewarded when you refer a friend to her.
Which one sounds better to you? I know which one I would pick! Not saying that products in stores don’t work. But guess what? There are some amazing products out there that aren’t sitting on a shelf in a store. Are you automatically writing them off just because of where they are sold?
Now, let’s move on to the business opportunity.
Scenario A: You are in need of extra income. After filling out dozens of applications, you finally land a job as a barista at the local Starbucks making minimum wage. You have a full schedule, working 40 hours a week. You are still struggling to pay the bills, but at least you are making ends meet. However, your schedule is so all over the place that you find yourself missing out on a lot of things you used to have time for.
After a few years, it starts to wear on you — especially since you still have not earned the promotion that you want, despite your great work ethic. However, you need the money and so many people don’t have a job at all, so you stay and continue to make the same amount of money as you always did. You help your friend to get a job at another Starbucks. Your friend is happy to have a job.
After several more years, you become the manager of your Starbucks location and are finally making enough to support your family without worry. However, now you have many more responsibilities, so your time is actually even more limited than it was when you were a barista. But at least your family is well provided for. Eventually you are able to retire and hopefully you have retirement money to live on.
Scenario B: you are in need of extra income. You invest in a starter kit with a network marketing company that offers products that you love. You are so excited about your products that you gain a lot of customers within your first few months. These customers love the products so much that they order every single month and tell all of their friends about your business. Some of them even join your team by starting their own business. You help them to build their business and also earn more money by being a great leader.
You started out making enough to cover a bill or two but quicker than you thought possible, you are now making enough to cover all of your bills. There is no cap to how much you can earn and what you earn increases based on your efforts. You also earn promotions based on hitting specific milestones in your business — no wondering when, how, or if you will move up the ladder. You do such a great job running your business that you and several people on your team are rewarded with bonuses, cars, family vacations, etc that are paid for by the company.
Oddly enough, as your business grows and you have a system in place, you find that you are working smarter, not harder. In fact, you are such a great team leader, that you can take extended vacations and still make the same (if not more) amount of money. There is no retirement age in network marketing, so you have built a financial empire that will benefit your children and your children’s children.
Again, which one sounds better to you? I’m not saying that having a regular job is a bad thing. Especially if you actually enjoy what you do. But I think that having a network marketing business is something that far too many people set to the side as not being worth it. I think that the people I know who are making 5-6 figures a MONTH would beg to differ.
All I am saying is this: keep an open mind. You may be writing off the product or opportunity that would change your life.
