True entrepreneurship vs. “the MLM pitch”

by Michael Cage on June 26, 2006

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Browsing the business book section at Borders last night, a guy came up and started a conversation about Robert Kiyosaki’s Cash Flow Quadrant. It turned out to be a lead-in to pitching me about an MLM company. He seemed geniunely distressed when I pointed out that the standard-issue MLM pitch (core message: work now and build residual income so you can do what you really want once the money rolls in) is the polar opposite of true entrepreneurship.

True entrepreneurs create and build because they are people who love to create and build. They feel it deep in their bones. It stirs their souls.

The MLM pitch is designed to appeal to the “9-to-5 workers” dream of what owner a business should or could be like. In other words, not about the business and the rewards inherent in being who you are as an entrepreneur … but the rewards that come afterwards.

It is not a pitch designed to appeal to what I consider “true” entrepreneurs. It is a pitch designed to appeal to dreamers.

Is it any wonder the % of implementers at MLM companies is so low?

He didn’t have a flip-book answer for that one.

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Tagged as: entrepreneurship, kiyosaki, mlm

  • Anonymous

    Thanks for the comment.  I just added my insight as well.  The “Truth” is the Truth, irregardless.

  • Anonymous

    Hi friend.. I am sorry cause me not agree with you more..whaat ever this is only my argument..

  • Anonymous

    Couldn’t agree with you more.  The old way of building an MLM business is out the door as far as I’m concerned and anyone still trying to drag people to meetings is basically going to be building a slow, non duplicatable monster of a mess.  Aren’t the dinosaurs dead?  P.S. I’m staying away from Border’s and Best Buy… and I’ll continue to shop online for my products or consumables and for prospects as well. lol.

  • Anonymous

    Couldn’t agree with you more.  The old way of building an MLM business is out the door as far as I’m concerned and anyone still trying to drag people to meetings is basically going to be building a slow, non duplicatable monster of a mess.  Aren’t the dinosaurs dead?  P.S. I’m staying away from Border’s and Best Buy… and I’ll continue to shop online for my products or consumables and for prospects as well. lol.

  • Anonymous

    Mike,


    Funny you mentioned this post by being solicited at Borders.  I was solicited at Best Buy and got talked into to attending a Quixtar event.  The encounter I had was very awkward and the event I went to was more of a cult-like gathering then a meeting of entrepreneurs.  Really sad how they go about their recruiting.  I DO respect their tenacity, but jeez, how can you live life like that?


    -EntrepreneurMLM

    entrepreneursjournal.wordpress.com

  • Anonymous

    Hi friends!

    BBGGTTHHOOK!


    xbiq

  • Anonymous

    So what we have here is the true and experiential difference between those who know and those who think they know.  MLM myth verses fact.  There are quite a few who have come to their senses and realized that the “numbers” game and the floating lies running rampant in this industry are coming to surface for what they trully are, “hype” to capture the get rich quick seekers and the true industry professionals are the ones who are standing up to say, “Go to work, Get off your lazy tails and stop trying to blame everything but yourself for your short-comings!”  Great article!!! Bravo!!!

  • Jack Born

    Then there’s the other obvious arguments -


    The exponential growth of the network that is the backbone of the MLM concept breaks down after a few generations. If the MLM concept worked, the entire planet would be recruited after a few generations… which obviously is BS.


    The profit margins are pretty slim (not near enough to succeed with direct response) and the products questionable at best.


    If the products were so great… why isn’t the Mother Ship selling direct to the consumer via QVC, direct mail, internet, etc? Or at the very least getting a small slice of a huge pie by going through WalMart, Sam’s Club, etc.?


    I love the recruitment strategy: “I’ve got this amazing opportunity… I don’t want to give you any details… but come hang out with me at this hotel (or living room) so I can tell you more about it.”


    It’s sad that in a land of so much opportunity that some folks fall for this junk.

  • Anonymous

    I couldn’t agree more!

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