Pyramid / Multi-Level Marketing

[phil]

Do not promote MLM business on the main forum.

I would warn anyone participating in a Multi-Level Marketing business to investigate before you stake your reputation on a company that was unknown you you just a few months ago.

The author of Proverbs lays out financial truth when he writes,

He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Please be careful of being led along, giving hours upon hours of time to a company, without any guarantee of a payout. MLM companies recruit for free labor, than exploit personal relationships and trusts between family members to spread their deceptive business model.

I have seen many many brothers in Christ sink from a place of trusting God to where they burnt every single relationship in their life on trying to gain riches and establish themselves in a place of passive income without truly earning it.

The simple fact of business is, if you do not have a unique skill set, you cannot make millions through menial employment. Any company that would compensate that much for that little is not one that will last.

[EBro]

Do not promote MLM business on the main forum.

I would warn anyone participating in a Multi-Level Marketing business to investigate before you stake your reputation on a company that was unknown you you just a few months ago.

The author of Proverbs lays out financial truth when he writes,

He who works his land will have abundant food, but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

Please be careful of being led along, giving hours upon hours of time to a company, without any guarantee of a payout. MLM companies recruit for free labor, than exploit personal relationships and trusts between family members to spread their deceptive business model.

I have seen many many brothers in Christ sink from a place of trusting God to where they burnt every single relationship in their life on trying to gain riches and establish themselves in a place of passive income without truly earning it.

The simple fact of business is, if you do not have a unique skill set, you cannot make millions through menial employment. Any company that would compensate that much for that little is not one that will last.

Very well put

[JustinR]

I agree. I personally am part of a MLM that is legit and done with Christian brothers & sisters but I can see how it can be used for wrong and deception. My biggest thing is to tell the truth up front that not everyone will profit and that it is not a get rich quick scheme, but rather a 3-5 year or more plan of incremental residual income. It's not easy and takes a while, contrary to popular belief and takes time to build any sort of wealth. We choose to do this the right way, the way it was intended. I'm not defending it, nor would I try to recruit on here, but I just wanted to give you a good word for businesses like this that actually are legit. It's people that make these businesses bad and work it for their own dishonest gain. This is something I do on the side and would not quit my job until I reach a place of financial independence. We always tell people the same.

[Psalmist]

Phil, wasn't here for what happened, but will comment on quite a few things that you stated.

Do not promote MLM business on the main forum.

Forum rules are forum rules.

I would warn anyone participating in a Multi-Level Marketing business to investigate before you stake your reputation on a company that was unknown you you just a few months ago.

Absolutely agree that research needs to be done...but, need to consider, what if new converts to Christianity did this as well? Success in any business/religion/relationship requires fanaticism. Actually, for those who aren't fanatics of their new business, I would be very worried for as it is those who seldom succeed.

Please be careful of being led along, giving hours upon hours of time to a company, without any guarantee of a payout. MLM companies recruit for free labor, than exploit personal relationships and trusts between family members to spread their deceptive business model.

OK - so it seems you had a bad experience? The master network marketer was Jesus.

Think about it realistically, Jesus recruited 12 people, taught them how to mimic what it is that he did and then had them spread his message. We see later that he sent out 70, so we know that there was growth in his organization. If you take a look at his disciples, never once is there mention of payment for their service or following of him. And several times, we see the disciples' relatives mentioned in the scripture.

I'm sorry that the business model of network marketing is so unappealing to you, when it was so effectively used by our LORD.

Furthermore, your argument is flawed. Specifically regarding payment - any business that guarantees payment is not a business, but a job. Any business requires hours upon hours of time to establish, without a guarantee of payout.

Actually, I was here almost a decade ago when Trig was working tirelessly on this forum and his radio show without guarantee of payout. The same forum that bread fanaticism around HHH and had many spread the word without guarantee of payout either....

Word of mouth advertising is just over-pronounced in MLM and Network Marketing, but it is a part of any healthy business model.

Deceptive business model....I think not. The model isn't what is deceptive, many times it is the companies themselves. But I refuse to believe that a model that was used so effectively in establishing the Kingdom is deceptive. If you are OK with that calculation, more power to you.

I have seen many many brothers in Christ sink from a place of trusting God to where they burnt every single relationship in their life on trying to gain riches and establish themselves in a place of passive income without truly earning it.

I've also seen many slave away building the riches of their boss without ever earning financial security. I've also seen several burnt by the church to the point that they don't trust God.

Hate for my first post on this forum in years to be so negative, but I've seen many more waste away in a 9 to 5 environment, not being productive for God, burying their talents in the sand like the worthless servant due to being underutilized.

p.s. I'm glad that you are capable of knowing where a person's trust lies....but, that requires judging of the heart. Last I checked, we were only called to judge fruit, but I digress.

The simple fact of business is, if you do not have a unique skill set, you cannot make millions through menial employment. Any company that would compensate that much for that little is not one that will last.

Far from the truth Phil. I spent 10 years in the Network Marketing industry without making a dime. I went full time in year 11. I've made more money in the industry than most have, at my height making over $20k/month.

What I learned is that one MUST first understand what he is good at, and then sharpen his skill set in the areas that he lacks.

Also, employment isn't what creates wealth. Networks area.

The people that make the most in the industry aren't necessarily the most skilled at any one thing, they are the ones who are able to identify those with the skills that they lack.

I understand where you are coming from brother, but it is evident that it is from a misinformed standpoint.

[JustinR]

Phil, wasn't here for what happened, but will comment on quite a few things that you stated.



Forum rules are forum rules.



Absolutely agree that research needs to be done...but, need to consider, what if new converts to Christianity did this as well? Success in any business/religion/relationship requires fanaticism. Actually, for those who aren't fanatics of their new business, I would be very worried for as it is those who seldom succeed.



OK - so it seems you had a bad experience? The master network marketer was Jesus.

Think about it realistically, Jesus recruited 12 people, taught them how to mimic what it is that he did and then had them spread his message. We see later that he sent out 70, so we know that there was growth in his organization. If you take a look at his disciples, never once is there mention of payment for their service or following of him. And several times, we see the disciples' relatives mentioned in the scripture.

I'm sorry that the business model of network marketing is so unappealing to you, when it was so effectively used by our LORD.

Furthermore, your argument is flawed. Specifically regarding payment - any business that guarantees payment is not a business, but a job. Any business requires hours upon hours of time to establish, without a guarantee of payout.

Actually, I was here almost a decade ago when Trig was working tirelessly on this forum and his radio show without guarantee of payout. The same forum that bread fanaticism around HHH and had many spread the word without guarantee of payout either....

Word of mouth advertising is just over-pronounced in MLM and Network Marketing, but it is a part of any healthy business model.

Deceptive business model....I think not. The model isn't what is deceptive, many times it is the companies themselves. But I refuse to believe that a model that was used so effectively in establishing the Kingdom is deceptive. If you are OK with that calculation, more power to you.



I've also seen many slave away building the riches of their boss without ever earning financial security. I've also seen several burnt by the church to the point that they don't trust God.

Hate for my first post on this forum in years to be so negative, but I've seen many more waste away in a 9 to 5 environment, not being productive for God, burying their talents in the sand like the worthless servant due to being underutilized.

p.s. I'm glad that you are capable of knowing where a person's trust lies....but, that requires judging of the heart. Last I checked, we were only called to judge fruit, but I digress.



Far from the truth Phil. I spent 10 years in the Network Marketing industry without making a dime. I went full time in year 11. I've made more money in the industry than most have, at my height making over $20k/month.

What I learned is that one MUST first understand what he is good at, and then sharpen his skill set in the areas that he lacks.

Also, employment isn't what creates wealth. Networks area.

The people that make the most in the industry aren't necessarily the most skilled at any one thing, they are the ones who are able to identify those with the skills that they lack.

I understand where you are coming from brother, but it is evident that it is from a misinformed standpoint.

I think this is a fair assessment and well said. Good response imo

[d@v!d]

OK, I want in. I'll go recruit 2 more members to this thread...