Flickr image "Greed" by Muffet

I recently had lunch to catch up with ex-colleagues from my very first job. It was a pleasant lunch as we caught up with the developments with the organisation and how each of us were doing.

Towards the end of the lunch, one of the colleagues started to talk about a business opportunity. It turned out to be an multi-level marketing opportunity.

Immediately, the red flags and hazard lights in my mind flashed repeatedly!

*Warning* *Warning* *Bullshit filters ACTIVATED*.

The reality behind MLM is that most people do not make money from it. The ones that do are those at the top of the MLM chain who started the entire business so that their downlines are the ones working hard for them. There are many references about MLM and you should make up your own mind. But my personal experience has been horrible.

My spouse was once recruited by an MLM outfit and for the week that she was with them, she was a totally transformed person. She was even “brain-washed” to expect objections from family members to her involvement with such a business.

Thus, I view MLM opportunities with skepticism and cynicism. Most of the evidence I’ve seen points to it being exploitative and driven more by profits rather than genuine regard for customers.

After this experience, I now view my ex-colleague with a degree of suspicion in that does he want to meet up because of our relationship as ex-colleagues or does he see me as another potential recruit for his downline?

Have you ever been approached to join a MLM program?

What did you do and how did you feel?

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