Hey hun! Let me say this again and again, we are in a literal global pandemic right now so it's okay to feel not okay. What is not okay is that some opportunists out there prey on people's brokenness and desperation these days.
What better time than now, in these uncertain times, to see that familiar hey hun message out of the blue. There you are feeling good because finally, someone is checking on you and guess with what? With good news too! He or she might be a long lost friend from college you haven't heard from in a while. Then you feel like it's kinda weird to hear from this friend of yours all of a sudden. Or maybe you've noticed your feed is flooded with too faux posts with smile and heart emojis, xoxo, and all. Telling you what if there's a way to be the "SheEO" and make passive income. They won't tell you what it is straight away of course. So, there you are wondering, now what is this secret get-rich-quick thing your friend is up to?
Networking or Multi-level Marketing is defined as some kind of a pyramid scheme or program that works through recruitment. It is a business model where you make money by recruiting people who will pay to become members/distributors. This type of business has actually become illegal and unsustainable so the industry found discreet ways to survive, like incorporating products to be sold within the network. The products are usually cosmetics, essential oils, or health and wellness stuff. Some popular companies that follow the MLM business model are Avon and Herbalife.
Sure, some people might have earned a lot of money with this type of business or have become financially successful, no doubt about that. But they are usually the early adopters already positioned at the top of the pyramid. Their job is to put constant pressure on their downlines because when recruitment has stopped, everything will collapse. This is the main reason this business model is unsustainable in the long run. Soon they will run out of people to recruit. Because you know, humans tend to get a bit smarter after bad experiences. And guess where these MLM monsters go next?
These companies started infiltrating regions where MLM is still unheard of. Recruiters usually target the uneducated, poor, and desperate because these people would easily take out a huge loan just to buy the "member starter pack" thinking that it could finally afford them financial freedom. Most of the new recruits who gave in to MLM without careful rational thought only lose more money in the process. The business model is downright unethical if you come to think of it.
The funny thing is that women are usually targeted by MLM companies to be recruited. I am not saying that we are more naive, it is just because we have a bigger network and tend to be more social. Unfortunately, stay-at-home moms and low-income earners are likely to fall for the promise of "being your own boss" and earning unlimited money without breaking a sweat.
Something is not right behind this whole women empowerment facade. MLM capitalizes on the idea that women can finally become entrepreneurs and live life on their own terms. They even have their own #ladyboss hashtag as if being a lady boss is a very special thing. It is like celebrating women's empowerment while also acknowledging the weakness and perpetuating gender inequality subconsciously. I mean have you ever seen #boyboss promotions on social media? Well no right, because men rule the world and are usually the bosses so nothing so special about it.
When I was younger, I had been invited to these MLM gatherings. I never signed up but it was just quite interesting how suddenly I was being tolerated by these long-lost friends. There I was, getting free food and drinks, sitting there and watching an hour-long video of how the MLM members made a lot of money in just one week, showing their grand checks, flashy cars, posh vacations and all. It was funny because the part about material possessions and the preach about investment and handling finances were way longer than the actual product itself. What a joke. MLMs are too desperate to promote financial freedom. Besides, if the product is actually good, then it should be sitting on physical and virtual shelves for everyone to purchase. These things don't have to be exclusive to the members. Well, it turned out there is really nothing special about the product. It is way overpriced because the uplines get commissions from the purchases of their downlines and their downlines and so on. And even with a member discount, you are still better off buying a product in the actual market.
I completely get it, if you become a member, you become part of a community. You gain insta friends in the circle, outsiders are called haters. If you are broke and isolated, MLM would seem appealing. Your so-called friends would pressure you to recruit your own friends and family. The people you already know will buy the products from you or become a member too out of politeness. But soon they find out that it just doesn't work for them and hate you for getting them into a shady business. MLM puts a strain on your own relationships. Your friends might start blocking you on social media and won't believe you anymore. And when you stopped recruiting, you lose your MLM friends too. This is the evil downside of MLM.
Seriously hun, being a hashtag ladyboss or boyboss means creating your own products or offering your own services. And doing all the hard work. Because duh, I don't know any other way to make more money here. It won't magically appear on my account because somebody else is doing all the work. And business means creating and building something from the ground up. Yes it is hard and it is supposed to be. I know times are hard but we have to watch out for all those predatory tactics. So, it is not really the huns' fault, but the bigger HUNS out there.
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