“I know my neighbour tried something like this. I have never seen that person earn more than 100 Dollars in a month. If this is so perfect, why can’t everybody make those fortunes?”
This is a question that most direct sellers have faced many times. Question could come either from people who do not know much about this business or from those who are just prejudiced.
If we leave the prejudice aside, in fact this is a very valid question. It stems from a reality that we all know very well: Not all are making six-figure incomes. And as most are either part-timers or socialites, most will never make this in the future, too. This does not point out to any weaknesses in the model, it only indicates the inherent fairness and solidness.
Would it be better if a direct seller who works for four hours a week earns the same amount as the person who works for 44 hours? There are so many people in this industry who remember to sell or recruit only after his/her sponsor makes that reminding call. Should s/he be able to earn that six-figure income? Wouldn’t it be a model then, to be questioned in-depth?
To me, this is one of the most fascinating aspects of network marketing: In this business, every individual has the opportunity to earn as s/he deserves. And at the end, this is achievable, too. In the corporate world, if there are three VP’s running for that vacant Presidential seat, only one will make it. Likewise, when there are three candidates for the most lucrative area’s franchise, again only one will win. In network marketing though, all of these can win as long as they put the same efforts.
So yes, not all are earning six-figure income in this industry now and this will not happen in the future either. But the beauty here is that, to make this happen for him/her is each individual’s choice, not anybody else’s.
Coming back to the person talking about “the neighbour”, would you ever consider telling your kid not to take SAT or TOEFL just because your neighbour’s kid has failed?
I am with Avon and I, personally, do not make a 6 figure income but guess what! I know that I can! Shoot, one of my friends, that I know personally, gets leadership checks every 2 wks that are between $9,000 and $13,000! That isn’t even including sales! I have other friends who are making at least $100,000! And not all companies have all of those extra costs. It’s only $15 to open an Avon account and you don’t have to keep inventory! I am not trying to “sell” my company but I am simply trying to point out that I don’t agree that 1 in every 10,000 people can make 6 figures…I know many of them that do! I also wanted to point out that you don’t have to constantly put out money to start up and to keep your business going. When you are in direct sales…you CAN make a lot of money. You just have to actually put the effort into it! If my checks are not where I want them, I know that I didn’t put in the time or effort.
Hakki, I can agree with you regarding the impression some people get about the fantastic earnings and rewards Direct Sellers can earn. Go to any sales rally or other D.S. Event and you’ll see those up on stage ‘living the dream’. They are applauded and lauded to encourage others to follow in their footsteps, and therefore many in the audience believe they can do it too. Unfortunately those up on stage rarely talk about the hard work, sacrifice and challenges they have faced to get there. So while nobody may actually be promising unrealistic income for little effort, the stage is set so to speak. Most importantly, when recruiting and training new people, there are often wide gaps in people and sales skills with the new recruit and they are rarely addressed early enough in the critical start up period. Low skills, poor results, lack of confidence and loss of faith in the opportunity. This chain of events happens in all industries when we hire people with low commitment and/or low skill base for the job and we don’t address either problem early enough.
Personally I believe it’s a very good article. I understand and agree with the points made. I’ve earned a six figure income in Network Marketing and know the hard work and sacrifice this business takes. When treated like a real business it pays like a real business. If it’s treated as a hobby or part time endeavor that’s how it pays. That’s just reality. So many people get this idea in their head or someone puts it in their head that this profession is some get rich quick deal. It can also be taken with the blink of an eye too just like in the corporate world. That’s reality too. I’m posting this opinion from my own personal experience in the trenches.
I don’t think he missed the point at all. And? In an industry that allegedly thrives on people skills, your curt dismissal of his well thought out point was obnoxious. Jochen, please don’t take his thinking as indicative of everybody in the industry. Those of us that have been here for decades recognize the value of real transparency and engaging legitimate criticism.
Dear Hakki,
it is surprising to me that you compare passing the SAT- or TOEFL-test with having a six-figure income in a direct selling company. This comparison seems totally out of the place to me. More than 30 percent of the applicants are passing the SAT-test. I am sure that even more are passing the TOEFL-test. In a network marketing company it is the very rare exception (maybe one out of 10.000 or one out of 100.000) that a direct seller is having a six figure income.
All codes of ethics from direct selling associations worldwide forbid exaggerated income claims. For a good reason. It is not ethical to suggest that you have only to work 44 hours a week and then with a likelyhood of 30 percent or more you make the same fortune like the top earning direct sellers or as you put it “three VPs running for that vacant Presidential seat”. Especially if you combine mandatory payments for direct sellers (like starting, renewal or mandatory service fees), which you defended to be legitimate in the comments to your article “But You`re making so much money from us” from June 1st 2015 https://worldofdirectselling.com/but-you-make-money-from-us/, these exaggerated income claims are very problematic and damaging to the reputation of the direct selling industry.
Articles like yours are exactly the reason why our industry is currently critizised. I absolutely do not like the tone of it.
Jochen
Dear Jochen,
I think you have missed the whole point in this article. But anyways, I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Hakki Ozmorali