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[Ron08]

I was talking to an acquaintance today.  He and his wife have struggled
financially for many years since the military base he worked at closed down. 
Since I've known them (at least 10 years) they've tried a continuous series
of MLM companies.  Nothing has worked.  I know it's affected their self esteem.

It reminds me of my situation many years ago.  I tried many different MLM
companies.  Each one was the next best thing.  Each one was the one that
was going to make me rich.  All gave me a dream but didn't have success in
any of them.  I sucked at selling and recruiting.  I was starting  to feel pretty
bad about myself.

I finally decided that MLM wasn't for me.  That's when I started to see
success.  I've now been self employed for the 10+ years and have
several online and offline businesses.  I was able to work from my home during
the years my kids were growing up and haven't had a boss or job in over 10 years. 
I'm not rich by any means but have done well enough to raise a family and help 3
kids with college expenses, etc.  Now we can travel when every we want to
see our children and grandchildren.

My success started when I stopped my involvement in MLM.

Of the hundreds of people I know that are involved in them, I've only known a few
that have really made any really money with them. 

If you haven't had success in MLM then maybe it's time to move on.  You can still
be successful if you follow your passions.  The internet has created fantastic opportunities
and dozens of real ways to make money online and you never have to sell face to face or
recruit anyone.   :)

You can do it.

Ron

[Lisa Preston]

Excellent post.

I think everyone who's ever dreamed of working from home has tried one or many MLM marketing opportunities, and it sure isn't for everyone. Those who try can see the potential, but it's not an easy road.

One of the best things I got from my own stint many years ago was the education - the sales training, the motivational books and tapes... these things helped to cement the idea in my head that anything is achievable. If you can dream it, you can have it.

Everyone is different, has a different skill set and different talents. Find what optimized those things and you have a winner! All that talk about "finding your passion" - it's so true.

I live mine every day.

[Ron08]

You're right Lisa,

I do credit my stint in network marketing with giving me the belief that I really could
be in success in business and as you said the motivational books and tapes.

I also learned that selling and recruiting was not what I was good at. 

I was raised in a blue collar family and was taught you should go to school get a job
and be happy.  That only "special" people were in business.

Network marketing taught me that ordinary people could be successful. 

Of course that was back in the olden days before the internet.  Back then it was
much harder to start a business and know anyone who was successful who didn't have
to invest a lot of money into a physical business.

Today it's so easy to get started making money online and online success stories
are everywhere.

Ron

[Craig Mattice]

Hi Ron and Lisa,

I'm currently involved and focusing on one NWM/MLM company with a vengence.  I've not been successful in the past but the education is outstanding.  I'm pretty successful marketing offline with a constant flow of leads calling me because of the system I use.

I want to become much more proficient at marketing online and am always open to new information, advice, and suggestions on how to accomplish this task.  Just last week I created my own blog and have gotten very good reviews about the layout and content.  I hope to maximize on this even more.  I also have started article writing and using the Ad Submitter software to get my articles out more efficiently.

Yes, I do have my own pages on Facebook, Ryze, Squidoo, Xing, Linkin, Network Marketing Hangout.  I get most of my activity from the Facebook page.  I'm also re-evaluating my text in my profiles on the other pages to use more keywords.

I have the vision, self motivation, self dicipline, and belief in the big picture.  I just wonder sometimes if I'm missing something.  Know what I mean?

Enjoyed both of your posts and thank you for sharing your thoughts and time with us.

[Lisa Preston]

Hi Craig -
I applaud your dedication and persistence. More people need to adopt that kind of work ethic.
I'd say that the learning alone is worth the effort you are expending.
The only thing I might add is a second possible stream of income - sort of a safety net, just in case.
We all know that MLM is not the easiest route.
If you've streamlined as much as you can there, continue with what you're doing and add another unrelated business to your online business strategy. It doesn't need to be a huge undertaking; even a blog with affiliate products on a hobby or passion.. join a few groups and forums to focus in the niche.
As you know, there is a wealth of information on this forum to help you so don't be shy to spread your wings a little! Have some fun!

Cheers!
Lisa

[zeitgeist]

I think MLM generally requires good personal salespersonship skills, which is not the same thing as people skills or marketing skills.

It's a lot easier to set up a sales letter than to have to personally recruit people, at least for many of us.

[PamM]

 Though I am still working at a hospital as a respiratory therapist I am on the side building a MLM wellness business and a nutrition counseling business (I will have my Masters in Holistic Nutrition within the next month). One can make a comfortable income in my mlm even just retailing the product though yes I am always on the lookout to recruit others into the business. Talking about passion..... I have found mine. Both my passion and my mission. Illness brought me to a product which introduced me to network marketing. Kinda cool when I realized I could help others like I was helped.

Talking about adding another income stream.... I recently became an affiliate for a product from Willie Crawford and have actually sold a few! I'm new at affiliate marketing though.... and have much to learn.

I'm so glad (as I've said in other posts) that I found this board. Always looking for info and ways to be more proficient at marketing and there's such a wealth of info and talent on this board.

[Davet]

Hi Folks

I haven't given up on MLM yet. MLM has been around a long time and it is not
going away. Even tho many people fail, MLM is thriving. I just think the Industry
needs a whole lot of improvement.

Thousands and thousands of distributors are failing but yet millions and milions
of dollars is being made.  And it just going to grow more and more from the books
that I have been reading on the subject.

MLM has such a great appeal to the masses. It's the easyest way for the average
person with out alot of capital to get into business.

Regard the Best

DaveT

[Craig Mattice]

Hi Folks

I haven't given up on MLM (yet???). MLM has been around a long time and it is not
going away. Even tho many people fail, MLM is thriving. I just think the Industry
needs a whole lot of improvement.

Thousands and thousands of distributors are failing but yet millions and milions
of dollars is being made.  And it just going to grow more and more from the books
that I have been reading on the subject.

"MLM has such a great appeal to the masses. It's the easyest way for the average
person with out alot of capital to get into business."

Regard the Best

DaveT

Dave, I've been reading your posts for some time now and with interest but as I've enhanced the above parts of you quotes, I don't understand where you're coming from or why?  Would you mind clarifying this with me so I may better understand what you really mean?

Craig

[Davet]

Sorry Craig
I need a lot of improvement explaining myself I'm sure. When I wrote (I haven't given
up on MLM yet) I guess that implies I will give up on it for sure .

When I say (given up) I mean stop pursuing MLM as a business opportunity altogether.
But I don't see that happening any time soon.

On the contrary, I like the simple business model of making money with MLM.
Of course we know it's not that simple, a lot of tings have to be taken into
consideration .

When I wrote:
"MLM has such a great appeal to the masses. It's the easyest way for the average
person with out alot of capital to get into business."

If you do a google search (MLM opportunities)
that will get you 412,000 results. That's 412,000 different MLM companies, multiply that
times the total distributors in those MLM Companies, that's a lot of people.
That's what I mean by the  Masses. The masses of people. Millions I'm sure.

Now I have a question for you.
When you wrote:
(I've been reading your posts for some time now and with interest)

I'm confused, why would anybody want to read my post for any length of time and
with interest!

I'm sure you must think I'm a nut job by now. Sometimes I feel like one of those
silver balls in an arcade machine.

Regard the Best
Davet

[Craig Mattice]

Hi Dave,

You made me laugh with you last post.  I like reading your posts and do so with interest as I believe you have much to offer people with your questions, insights, and opinions.  Your not boring in the least.

I find your questions to be very inquisitive regarding the industry and the business, with a unique perspective on things that I don't see elsewhere on other forums.  This is NOT a bad thing at all.

Keep up the good work and again, I enjoy conversing with you.

[Chris Lockwood]

> If you do a google search (MLM opportunities)
that will get you 412,000 results. That's 412,000 different MLM companies

You're assuming each result is a unique MLM company, but some of the results will be articles about MLM, news stories, distributors, and some companies will have multiple pages returned for that search, and some may not appear at all.

I have no idea how many MLM companies are, but I know that's not the way to find out.

[Ron Killian]

I've tried a couple MLM's myself with out much luck. I know the last one I worked pretty good. Remember being on all the teleconference calls, even hosting many times. Didn't even make enough to pay my entry costs. Of course they went out of business not long after.

MLM looks great on paper, but there are so many flaws. The biggest problem is just finding people that will actually do the work. We all know people say they want money but few will take action to get it, hence there seems to be a smaller pool to gather from. Plus how many can recruit well enough?

Yes, MLM should be about the products first, but that's not usually where the bigger money is. The exception to that would be as Pam was saying, if your into the products with a passion.

There is also competition. My wife tried Arbonne(SP), while they have great products, there are too many people hooked on Avon, it's a much tougher sell.

You'd have a better chance of creating a good product and creating a affiliate program. Least that's my thoughts. I'd rather gather affiliates that you already have a pretty good idea they are going to push it.

Just my negative two cents