Will Somebody Please Just Sell Me A Product!

With the recent mortgage meltdown and subsequent crash of the real estate market here in the US and abroad, one must ask themselves... how are fortunes going to be made in this down cycle? Some would have you believe that now would be an excellent time to start your own business, I happen to agree. However, starting your own in business can be a daunting task as many out there are already painfully aware, but the upside potential in enormous! There is NO DOUBT that owning your own business is the way to wealth regardless of race, gender, or geographic location. However, I would caution that you thoroughly research the ins and outs of the business in which you are ready to invest.

A good friend invited me to a launch party for his new company at his brand new office in Temecula. He said that it was an open house for all of his friends and family to see what he had started. I was thrilled that he was breaking away from corporate America to strike out on his own. I had heard that he had been studying form months to get his insurance license and was fascinated by the securities industry. I asked what he had started and he said that it was an investment company. I couldn't wait to congratulate him.

When I arrived at the office, it looked oddly like an executive suite building that I had been to once before. As I walked up to the door, my friend met me at the door. I watched several very well dressed individuals walk in and out of the door while we said out hellos. Once we walked in, he asked me to sign in, and specified not in the agents section. Wait a minute, agents?? Immediately the alarm sounded in my head, "MLM". I cordially signed in on the paper lying next to the Party City $5.00 name tags. This was all the confirmation I needed.

As I was shown around I met several individuals with titles like Senior VP, Assistant Vice President, and Executive. Everyone was dressed very professionally, and had a wonderful smile. It was show time. Suddenly in the midst of talking with my friend, he turned and said, "Adam, I think you would be perfect for this position. I think you would do really well." I had to hold back my smirk, I bet I would be perfect. I asked him as politely, and sarcastically, as I could, "what is it you sell again?" Suddenly he began to justify himself by spewing gobs of information about life insurance and how he loved his wife and that is why he is selling it to others. Spare me.

I politely excused myself from the festivities, pretty much asked him to get some more snacks and darted out the back door, and never looked back. I can't be mad at the guy, he wants to build wealth! He is just not going about it the right way. I think he just doesn't realize that 3% of people ever make money in an MLM. Or maybe he doesn't know that the structure and ideals of the "pyramid" are ethically skewed. I would caution anyone considering joining an MLM to check out this website to learn more about the flaws of an MLM.

Trust me when I say that you WILL lose friends by not joining or worse yet- attempting to educate them on the dangers of an MLM, but you WILL save money by avoiding this modern day scam. Don't you expect to be offered a product to buy before a position in the company? Let's use a little common sense and snuff this "business model" out. Friends don't let friends join a multi level marketing organization.