Did you know that at one time Franchising was considered to be a false business model. That will come as a surprise to many that work at McDonalds, Wendy's , KFC and many other franchised businesses today, Yet the concept is the same.
Getting a lot of people to promote your idea, book or product, while you take a small percentage of their profits because it is your idea or product etc.
MLM is big! Top Wall street Brass are saying that is will be the fastest growing business model in the next 10 years. Microsoft, ADM, and many of the corporate 500 has either entered the fray or are contemplating joining in it.
Japan, is number one in MLM and the US is coming up fast, being the number 2 country in the world in "multilevel marketing". Why? Because it works and you are only limited to what you are willing to do.
Did you know that the typical business model is of pyramid structure?
First the head, President, CEO etc. Then the vice-officers, various Boards and then the workers. Then a very large group of investors to keep the Company viable and productive. Go ahead, makes some blocks representing these individuals. You will have drawn a pyramid shape.
The answers to your questions (are below)
Now a true pyramid (illegally) assumes that everyone can own a McDonalds or Wendy's. If that was so , who would be customers? As it turns out, few want to own a McDonalds. Most just want to buy the product. This is also true with MLMs. Maybe 1 out of 20 or 100 will stick with it. Most will just be customers. Some will not want to be a MacDonald's (If you understand the analogy) They may rather be KFC.
So the Idea of market saturation making the model false is a false premise used by those that have not fully understood traditional business models. The saturation takes care of itself. Besides the market today is the whole world. That said, it is still a good idea to get in an mlm EARLY. I Join none over 10 years old without these considerations.
1. Is the product Unique or can it be gotten in a lot of places.
2. How much market is occupied already. How many have heard about the product and made a decision.
3. The mission of the Company
4. The leaders
5. Pay structure. and a few other things.
But these are things I would want to know if I wanted to pay the $400 thousand it takes to start a McDonalds in my town.
I can usually start for little money in an MLM. I have the same opportunity all others have. I am expected to grow as a human being and in the art of dealing with other people. I am the CEO. Great benefits if I can stick it out.
That's answers the first two questions.
3rd question, I interpret as, am I promoting a product that I really believe in or am I just out for money. Well, how many people do you know that are working just out of good will? Or how many more people can you help with money than without?
Was it not an Apostle that said, beloved I will that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers? I sell a nutrition product that I really believe is the premiere product on the market today.(1)
As Chairman of a Chronic Illness Foundation, I never saw the testimonials from any product that I have seen with this product. I could ask myself if it would be ungodly not to tell someone.
I asked myself also, if there are other ways of helping other people to prosper, Like offering people with downlines or an address book of people with whom the share ideas,jokes pr wise sayings an easy method to make extra money.(2)
Using the MLM model instead of paying huge amounts of money to start traditional businesses. Nothing here less ethical than the traditional Business model. Matter of fact the opposite could be be argued.
4th question. Does MLM make one prefer friends , relatives, people that you know over others?
I,ll let you in on a little secret. What method did Christ use to promote the doctrine of Christianity? It was people telling people that went on telling other people. It grew very slowly at first, then so fast the the VAST ROMAN EMPIRE could not put out that fire. Get this, it began with a circle of FRIENDS. He called them friends.
Since I have ended up here. I will continue in this vein with a summary.
Jesus Said two things that I have found to be right on when building any business. I will only paraphrase here. In these Statements are inherit all that I have said.
1. How that to go from the imperfect, the bad, the ugly to the perfect, the good to the beautiful, there has to be a birthing process. Conception, growth , birth pains (that can get really bad). Then Birth, when all the struggle is not even remembered for the joy that come after birth.
2. A sower may sow seed in many places, only when all the conditions are right will the seed sprout and grow properly. Even then every place or thing we do will not produce equally.
I tell you the truth, no development of idea, product or business violates these principles.
Therefore, allow no one or anything rob you and those you come in contact with from using these things to help others to prosper and be in health as their soul prospers.
The author, Bill Sullivan is former Chairman of the Living With Lupus and Chronic Illness Foundation. He believes that "nutrition is the life of our flesh." A published poet. http://www.lulu.com/panther
(1) http://thelimuman.originallimu.com
(2) http://Bill.limupro.com
