MLM Directory

Is there anyone out there who was in MLM/Network Marketing but wised up, got out, and now runs a real business

Just wondering how many people that get duped into MLM yet manage to get out and then go on to start a real business are out there. *** For those in MLM that will inevitably insist on answering me calling me names, this question is obviously not directed so save your time and move on. *** This is classic! All the people who answer pro MLM in here thus far also have a number of MLM spam answers!!! Unbelievable. Just check the profiles. Gimme a break, the question specifically said non MLM people...people who have gotten out. Is reading no longer a prerequisite among MLMers now as well? Good grief! Comparing MLM to a franchise has already been discussed and debunked long ago. If you don't want to take the time to research the difference and enjoy going coasting thru life on a wage of ignorance, that is your choice. As for those who feel the need to assume I failed in some MLM business, read my profile. Never have I claimed any involvement with MLM nor would I have any interest in your spam, so get over it. If you can't answer a simple question without carrying your heavy MLM bias thats fine, but you are not fooling anyone. So if you have spam in your history or you have answered only 1 question (new sign up? right) then get lost.

Public Comments

1. I own and operate a home for the disabled that helps integrate them into society by teaching them life skills as well as providing them with the necessities to get them started in independent living. I had no capital to follow this dream, so I had to find another way. I'm proud to say I achieved this through saving my earnings from network marketing. My time is now spent working with the disabled, but I am still earning income from the vehicle that got me here in the first place. Sorry to burst your bubble, but I believe people have to do what they can in order to get where they want to be. I'm sorry you didn't find success with the company you were with.
2. I was not in but I was presented MLM a couple times when I was younger by close friends. In my view, there are 5 types of people relative to MLM. 1 - these are people who will look at it, realize the idea of making money signing people up and/or selling some ridiculous product is not reasonable and will just say no and never look back. 2 - these people will look at it, consider it, maybe even try it for a month or 2, and realize that not only does the majority of people look down on them for pedaling a false dream, but that they will never make any long term money selling this. These people of course are labeled as people who didn't have what it takes by the MLM crowd, but the reality is these are people who trusted their friends who signed them up only to realize their friends didn't know anything about business or sales. 3 - these are people who will sign up, give it a shot, make some money because they have charisma and sales ability. These people are good people and are drawn in to the perception of success. Eventually however, be it a couple years or a few different MLM companies, they realize the Emperor actually has no clothes and instead of listening to company leaders who say near anything to keep the reps motivated, they listen to common sense and apply actual business logic and put the MLM fallacy behind them forever. These people are labeled as quitters by the MLM crowd and people who don't have the skills to do what it takes to succeed, EVEN IF these people go on and have very successful businesses after MLM! I believe these are the people your question is aimed at but I do not think most will bother to spend their time answering as once you wash your hands of MLM you no longer want anything to do with it. 4 - these people are easily swayed and highly emotionally driven. They only listen to positive things about their business without weighing both sides. They hold on to MLM like grim death as though its success is guaranteed and as though their life depends on it. They will have nothing to do with people who talk down about MLM even if the points they are making are true. Sometimes, these people shift down to the number 3 category and slowly work their way out of the industry, but more often than not you find the only thing to getting them out of MLM is successive bankruptcies, divorces, diminishing networks (because no one wants anything to do with them). 5 - On a few occasions, some people actually buy their way into ranks with the intent of deception. They realize MLM is a pipe dream, but also realize they can make some quick bucks by faking a lot of success and signing people up on that perception. These people often sell training material for additional income to droves of people coming into the company soaking up anything positive about MLM like sheep and are easy targets for these people. These are the worst people of all, because they are deceptive and profit off the honest people who just are not sophisticated enough to see what is going on. They look to their friends/upline for advice and the first thing they tell them is to buy training material. Most of the replies you always get in here are likely from category 3 or 4, and you can easily tell by how much emotion they provide in their answers and how quickly they are to make assumptions about the asker and call the asker names. You have some in here quite obviously. It is quite possible to get sucked in to MLM, get out, and make something of yourself later on. It is similar to process of beating a drug addiction, but once you have beaten it, you might even be stronger for the experience.
3. When I was younger and needed money for college, I fell for one that sold perfumes door-to-door. That was funny - I quit after a month. At other times, I would apply for a job, get hired quickly, and during orientation, realize it was another scam. Never made it passed lunch. Hard work paid off, went to college and one of my friends tried to get me involved in another one - I knew better and did not bite. I have since paid off all debts and doing well now. MLM companies disgust me because they prey on people in desperate situations.
4. *Wink* *Wink* I am an MLM'r who cannot read or write, but have plenty of time so don't worry about me wasting it.