Yahoo weighs in with a poll released Wednesday. (PDF here)
Three relevant tidbits:
1. Money is not the primary motivation for aspiring entrepreneurs — only 3 percent (half of the 6 percent in 2005) said getting rich was the main reason they wanted to start a business.
2. Doing work that they really love was the main reason for launching a business.
3. Second most popular reason: “To be my own boss.”
These findings raise two questions:
1. Why do nearly ALL pitches for doing network marketing lead with the money, when most people say that is NOT the main reason they want to start a business?
2. Why are upline people so bossy to their downline, enterpreneurs all, insisting that the only way to make money is “their” way, i.e., recruiting?
First, their fixation on recruiting is obviously not effective long term, given the 95% drop out rate. Second, people who want to have their own little business say the reason is “to be my own boss.” Indeed, many recruiters pitch “Fire your boss” as their recruiting mantra.
So shall we stop now with the bossy attitude towards others who want to be their own boss?
Isn’t the continued insistence on the “duplication” of upline methods and the questionable ‘systems’ of others the very stuff that has given us a 95% drop out rate?
Yes, I know recruiting gives the sponsors a fast buck. So perhaps it’s just a selfish motive. Or they don’t know that loyal customers can bring long term income, think AOL. Or perhaps their products aren’t good enough for anyone to buy, except for those who are making money selling them.
In any case, isn’t it carrying the flag for the same old same old, without thinking, that amplifies people’s perception of network marketers low rent types?
Kim Klaver | Klaver | marketing |
direct marketing|networkmarketing|sales training |motivation| self improvement
Just want to say, love the blog. I hope ‘ForWomen’ isn’t exclusive in any way. 🙂
“Why do nearly ALL pitches for doing network marketing lead with the money, when most people say that is NOT the main reason they want to start a business?”
Because financial freedom is often equated with other forms, such as civil, political, and biz freedom.
Being independent requires moolah.
“Why are upline people so bossy to their downline, enterpreneurs all, insisting that the only way to make money is “their” way, i.e., recruiting?”
Coercion is a common tactic used to influence others. The problem is, a lot of people don’t realize it’s not the only tactic. And coercion will always inpsire rebels and punks to go and do their own thing. So as a ‘social stability tool’ coercion has to be reserved for dire cicumstances, like oh… mass-life-threatening international emergencies. I think it’s why we have the U.N. – An Emergency Coercion Tool against rogue countries.
The funny thing is… rebels will be rebels, and the natural reaction to that type of coercion is inevitablty–you guessed it–more rebellion. Go figure.
Perhaps it gets used a lot because leaders often don’t feel people are team-playing enough? Is it a cooperation issue? Cooperation needs to be inspired, not coerced.
I apologize for mixing politics with business, but the two seem too heavily linked to avoid it.
Thank you for the interesting posts!
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Eric von Rothkirch
AbsurdMarketing.com
In any case, isn’t it carrying the flag for the same old same old, without thinking, that amplifies people’s perception of network marketers low rent types?
Anytime you carry the flag for ANY same old same old, without thinking, you’re on the wrong track. The operative phrase being “without thinking.”
Sometimes the same old same old serves us well, other times, not. It’s thinking that’s required to discern the difference.
Of course ‘carrying the flag’ elicits that response.
Upping-the-ante a little, in looking for clues at the scene of the crime let’s consider that Calcanis ‘low rent’ remark as ‘the exit wound of MLM suicide’ and address the underlying issue… the business forgot what it was called.
Huh?
Multi-level… what?
Network… what?
Uh… MARKETING.
And, as we all know, ‘selling is not marketing’.
Bluntly, if we approach anyone with a view to them buying, we are not marketing – we are, instead, selling. More than simple issue of semantics, this is a very big deal. The skill is to appropriately position ourself so that folk come to us. And that’s a process which begins with branding.
But this business doesn’t brand… it bullies and bluffs. So silly.
With some forethought translated into self-effacing elegance, things can/will be so much different. Unless-and-until, we’ll be rightly stuck with that ‘low rent perception’.
So, why aren’t the activities of NM companies more in keeping with ‘real’ businesses?
KK suggests ‘perhaps their products aren’t good enough for anyone to buy, except for those who are making money selling them’.
If ‘price and value’ are a part of ‘good’… then she’s absolutely right. Many and perhaps most products are overpriced – they don’t compare well with store-bought alternatives.
[There shouldn’t be any problem for companies to source/produce good quality products… and there usually isn’t – NM product quality is usually not in question.]
And neither should it be difficult to price them appropriately. So why then aren’t they?
Simple. Greed of the corporations.
Let’s not forget that many and likely most NM products are bought by distributors… ‘victim’ of minimum order autoship requirements. Is this really necessary – would we expect that of our local store or buyers’ club?
So then, corporate profits are artifically fueled through inflated pricing and autoship… supported by the greed of distributors – lured by potential wealth, many suspend rational judgment and buy price-inflated stuff they otherwise wouldn’t.
NM is often compared to franchising, but it’s a tenuous association, as in franchising the twin revenue sources (membership and product) are priced more realistically than NM.
There have been companies who’ve operated succsssfully with a ‘buyers club’ model – shipping product at cost, and making a fair profit on membership fees.
So yeah, another example of ‘carrying the flag for the same old same old, without thinking’.
The solution here is radically simple… we all wake up and wise up… see what’s really going on… don’t defend the indefensible… and work together for change.
A lot of NWM scripts need to be changed. After reading this I realized that I am still emphasizing money in my conversations with prospects. Maybe I haven’t been listening, ya think?
I want to say that i’m glad you posted this, very glad. My upline only speaks of buying leads,and do what our upline does, they made it doing it the way they do it and we’re suppose to follow. No questions asked. If you ask a different type of question, or one they don’t like, they won’t answer you. Their way or nothing. And I really like our product. I’ve been having to go else where for training as a nwm. Pretty sad. Has cost me plenty.