I’ve been involved in Network Marketing for a little over 5 years now and had my reservations from the ‘getgo.’ I’m sure most of you have those same reservations so I wanted to make sure to show the truth’s of the business so maybe you can have a better understanding of it.

Pro’s

Ability to create an additional income 

When I started in this business 5 or so years ago, I was blessed to have an amazing boss who is a Chiropractor and lives with a passion of helping people. I signed up with network marketing and she signed up underneath me. I then went to work full time and went to school full time until I finally graduated with my master’s degree. Therefore, I hardly had any time to focus on the whole network marketing stuff. My downline did though, however and it has changed my life. Fast forward five years later and I am making a little less than a thousand bucks a month from not having to work the business.

I’m not saying that everyone will end up having this type of income. You do have to work for it if you want it to grow. BUT, if you can find good business people who want an extra income, you too can slowly build an extra income within this business. The best way to build it though, is to actually work it. Don’t be like me and be too swamped to focus on such a good thing.

All you have to do is talk with people

All network marketing is, is networking with people. It’s direct sales and all you need to do is talk with people about the product and how it has changed your life. Of course, you want to make sure to do your necessary research on the company and the product. Make sure the products do what they say they do and make sure the company has been around for a while and has a good support system in place.

Freedom to work at home and work it part time

A lot of the people I talk with about the opportunity say things like “I don’t have the time,” or “I like the security of my own job, network marketing can’t give that to me.” Well, the good thing about the first statement is that you can totally do this part time. Even if you’re working full time and going to school full time, you can make time to do this. It only takes 5 minutes to post something on FB about a product you love or a story about how it helped you. I know I didn’t do this part time while I was in school and working and I am kicking myself.

The second statement is very valid. People like their health insurance, their 401k’s, their pensions… I get that. Make perfect sense. What if I told you though, that the company you are working in will never make you a millionaire, your 401k could be lost due to stock market changes at any time and your company has the right to fire you at any moment? Makes the whole security thing, fell mute. What will you do if you lose that wonderfully secure job? Why not have an ‘insurance plan’ so to speak where you have extra income coming in to really ensure that security?

The ability to chase your dreams and sleep in

Network marketing gives you the ability to not have an alarm clock. Isn’t that awesome? I love waking up when I want to wake up. I also love the idea that you don’t have to have a boss. You’re your own CEO which is very rewarding. You also get to literally chase your dreams because you can have the freedom to do so. Working a 9-5 limits you tremendously if you have other wants outside of doing that. Don’t get me wrong, lots of people love their jobs and if that’s you kudo’s to you. I am happy for you.

Con’s

Have to momentarily take a loss of social esteem while growing your business

Now this part is so true and it kind of sucks. Last weekend I was at a rather huge vendor event and saw someone that I have spoken to about network marketing. I gave a quick pitch to her a few weeks back and received no response. No follow up, nothing. That sucked. Then, when I saw her, the look in her eyes was like, this chick is crazy – I’m not a fan of this, time to move on. She was cordial but I know when she walked away, she spoke to her mom about how I attempted to get her involved in this “Pyramid Scheme” (more on that point next). That feeling of people thinking you’re crazy, sucks. Honestly though, build up some tough skin and get over it. Who cares what other people think if you’re chasing your dreams? Right?

People inherently think it’s a “Pyramid Scheme”

What’s most fascinating to me about this business is how people view it. They have heard about the scheme’s that have failed and so many people lost their money. Valid concern, who would want to lose their money? If you look up what a pyramid scheme is though, you’ll find that it’s where people would recruit people for money and the person above you would ALWAYS make money off of you. There was no product to be sold. It was simply the business of finding people, taking their money, selling them nothing and getting rich. I mean it sounds somewhat alluring but is super illegal.

Network Marketing is NOTHING like that. Yes, you recruit people, but you have product to sell. You always have product to sell. That’s where you make your income. It’s not off of ONLY recruiting people. Also, what’s really cool is that you can surpass the person above you in income and rank. Wait, did you just hear me right??? In what other business can that happen? In your secure job, will you be the CEO? Can you surpass the person above you and make more than them by working harder, most likely not. In network marketing you can and that is what is amazing about it. Remember the chiropractor I spoke about that is in my downline? She is of a higher rank than I am and she makes way more money than I do. Pretty cool right? Most people don’t know that.

I could keep on going but those are the main points to hit on. Any questions, reach out to me! You can read more in another blog post called “OMG Not Another MLM.”