MLM's 1%

Who are those who seem to make it work in the world of Multi-Level Marketing?  The ones that your "boss" brings in to give you a pep talk, or the one who recruited you, or the one who is "the" Mary Kay or Avon or Amway representative in your area?

They're the 1%.  Some even aren't so bad.  Because that 1% is in two categories.

1.  The first category are the scammers you're thinking.  They built a thorough downline with bluff and no shame and yes, a lot of hustle.  With them, it's not primarily about selling products, though they may well be living it thoroughly enough that they buy it all in bulk, use it themselves, and have all their family and friends and associates coming to them for all of it.

But mostly, and past any product sales, they are constantly on the move up in the first few levels of the pyramid that you are being asked to join at level 12+, and living the dream that all hope will be them, but few have any where near the charisma, lack of conscience and inside track to achieve.

It takes charisma, and I'd not fault a person for having that.  The charisma is not just for the customers, not just for you in the downline.  It's for those above, to let them recognize one of their own, and welcome him/her up eventually after they put in their time. 

It takes that lack of conscience as they know how few can make it, and realistically already know that YOU won't.  You're just the latest in a long line of suckers to them, to be roped in, used up, and tossed to the side.  They know another will be born in a minute!

It also takes an inside track.  That inside track might be who they already knew high up in the company.  Or it might be their already high social position outside the company.  But whichever it is, it is something that YOU do not have, but that you'd need in order to get where they are.  It's what makes the football captain or head cheerleader who they are, when others on the team/squad are demonstrably better at it.

Just know - you are NOT going to get to where the guy with the diamond pinky ring and the Hawaiian vacations because you can "demonstrate" cutlery sets or towels well.

2.  The second category involves those who have the social status outside the company already.  And they are principally marketing that, plus their charisma, to get a lock on being "the" distributor among their set.  Thus in every sewing circle, every ladies club, every church, there's usually one who is gone to for Avon or such.

The parties are like social events, and to not be invited is to be on the outs.  So everyone dutifully buys, but most everyone knows that the stuff is hardly better than can be had at the store.  Loyalty, and not wanting to admit they're being took advantage of, will have them swear by the product, like it's the best of the best of the best.

You will note that like in category one, YOU will not be able to do that, as you aren't in that social category.  The plant foreman's wife might be up for this, the plant janitor's wife will not be.  Even if the janitor's wife is the honestly better "sales person". 

Because again, and always, with MLM, it's never really about the sales of the products.  Even when it's mostly about the products, even when the category two person hardly ever tries to recruit a downline, it's still not really about the product.

The category two doesn't recruit because it's pointless to her, she already has a lock, and doesn't need competition, though if any insist, she'll dutifully go through the motions, relieved in advance that the upstart will fail.  And the category two is really just using the products to have an extra level of status, as she can then claim "business woman" chops.  Distinguishing herself from those who are "just" home makers.

And it's not like some can't be a bit of both categories.  She can be Queen Bee of Avon in Podunkville and still dabble to various degrees in building a downline.  If she does well enough, then it's hello to category one, guess she had little enough conscience after all!

But category one or category two, or bits of both, they are the 1%, at least for their little pond, and you aren't going to get to where they are.  Certainly not by "hard work" or "salesmanship".