Someone approached me recently asking where I would like to be and what fulfills me most. Many would see this as a kind question, and perhaps it was, but underneath the question was an agenda to sell the process to attain my dreams. What he was selling was nothing new, but I am also not exactly sure what he was selling. Many keywords were used when he described what he did, but he never provided specifics.
What he was selling was MLM, or multi-level marketing. It is also called network marketing. This is not new and, in fact, is very popular. For my Grove City College readers, many may recall Prof. Smith’s “Arbonne” water bottle. Many may also know peers who work with Vector Marketing or Cutco. These are examples of MLM business models. I have had one phone call with this individual who reached out to me, and he never gave specifics, but his language was pointing to MLM. I know this because a family member of mine worked with Arbonne and Modere for several years.
What’s the problem with these models? Nothing major. As a seller, your margins are pretty low because many of these programs operate on a pyramid scheme. If a seller brings on another seller, the new seller is under them and generates more revenue for them. Oftentimes, this is seen as a bonus, but Arbonne specifically pays a commission on each sale made by sellers you brought on. The margins are thin for the time you put in.
With that said, this is a sales discussion. The individual who approached me began our call by getting to know me better, then asked more questions, identified my pain points, and learned about my aspirations. I let him control the conversation. To be honest, I did not realize the intent of the call was to sell me on an idea until about halfway through. It did not take long for me to recognize the language he was using. He began describing simple, well-known business models such as dropshipping and franchising. He said that the e-commerce platform he has is a blend of the two. Never did he give the name to “his” business or any other specifics. He used a personal connection to better understand me and offer a solution to my situation. He adopted a great tactic of listening and adapting.
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