Sebuah potret impian anak-anak masa depan yang sempurna, yang bisa menjadi
api semangat kita dalam menjalani sekolah kehidupan ini. Wujudkan semua
mimpi-mimpi Anak-Anak kita di masa mendatang, seperti apa yang dikisahkan
'Robert T Kyosaki' dalam Rich Kid Smart Kid, dibawah ini:
_________________________

Awal tahun 2000 saya diminta oleh perusahaan pemasaran jaringan
(Network-Marketing/MLM)terkemuka untuk mengajar sekelompok anak : “Generasi
Yang Akan Datang” mengenai investasi.  Mereka adalah anak-anak yang orang
tuanya berhasil dalam bisnis pemasaran jaringan (MLM).  Anak-anak ini perlu
belajar mengenai investasi karena akan mewarisi bisnis ratusan juta dan
milyaran rupiah, dan dalam beberapa kasus malah trilyunan rupiah.  Orang tua
mereka telah mengajari ketrampilan bisnis pemasaran jaringan (MLM) dengan
baik, dan sekarang mereka perlu belajar ketrampilan berinvestasi.

Saya mengajar di sebuah resor ski, sebuah tempat yang maha mewah untuk
ukuran “anak-anak” (umur mereka antara 15-35 tahun).  Berada diantara mereka
memang sangat menyenangkan karena tidak pernah ada pertanyaan “konyol” spt
ini :

“Dari mana saya mempunyai uang untuk berinvestasi?”
“Sulit memperoleh uang sebanyak itu!”
Pertanyaan mereka jauh dari hal-hal spt itu.

Namun spt yang kita ketahui, hanya ada dua jenis masalah mengenai uang,
yaitu :
1. Tidak cukup uang
2. Terlalu banyak uang.
Anak-anak tersebut mempunyai masalah yang kedua.

Hari kedua, saya baru menyadari betapa berbedanya anak-anak ini. Bahkan yang
berumur belasan tahun pun bisa mengikuti percakapan mengenai uang, bisnis,
dan investasi yang dilakukan orang dewasa.  Saya cukup tua utk menjadi ayah
mereka, tetapi saya seolah-olah berhadapan dengan kawan sebaya di meja ruang
rapat dewan direksi.  Kemudian saya menyadari bahwa anak-anak ini telah
tumbuh dalam bisnis, dan banyak dari mereka sudah mengelola kas dan
portofolio investasi yang jauh lebih besar dari konglomerat.

Sebagai catatan penting : "sekalipun orang-orang ini sangat kaya, masih
muda, tetapi mereka tidak arogan, congkak, atau mengambil jarak dengan orang
lain yang biasanya saya temukan dalam diri orang muda".

Saya menyadari bahwa mereka tumbuh “di rumah” dengan orang tua mereka dan
bisnis orang tua mereka, bukan di sekolah tradisional, bukan dengan
guru-guru sekolah mereka.  Dan akhirnya saya juga menyadari bahwa mereka
kuliah, belajar keras bukan untuk mencari pekerjaan.  Tetapi untuk mengelola
bisnis milyaran-trilyunan rupiah, warisan orang tua mereka yang telah
berhasil membangun jaringan pemasaran MLM.  Inilah sebuah bisnis luar biasa
yang berbasis di rumah.

Melihat kekuatan bisnis network-marketing (MLM), saya sangat menyarankan
Anda untuk menggeluti bisnis jaringan (MLM) ini dari sekarang. Silahkan
dilihat potensinya melalui webiste ini:

http://gosnd.wnetwork.biz/show.cgi/Freddy_HE/index.html


Pelajari dan temukan apakah Anda bisa melakukan hal yang sama. Inilah bisnis
yang akan mengubah keuangan dan sumber daya Anda! Demi masa depan anak-anak
Anda, Demi keluarga Anda!

Diolah dari Bukunya Robert T Kiyosaki : Rich Kid Smart Kid.
http://gosnd.wnetwork.biz/show.cgi/Freddy_HE/index.html

_________________________________________________________________
Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail

-rin@-

-----Original Message-----
From: enak mas [mailto:itilsapi@...]
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 10:37 AM
To: SSR-Klub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [SSR-Klub] Diam dan Tergilas !

iya nihh....dasar EKO !!!....si Emang Kurang Objekan...kirim cerita bok yang bermutu Pak......bosen jualan produk di pasar aja !!!

Epul <spl@...> wrote:

Mas Eko ini kok tiap kali ngirim pesan ujung-ujungnya jual produk sih...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eko Jalu Santoso" <ekojalus@...>
To: "SSR-Klub" <SSR-Klub@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 10:59 AM
Subject: [SSR-Klub] Diam dan Tergilas !


> Diam dan Tergilas !
>
> "Segala yang di bawah langit pasti berubah. Hanya satu hal yang tetap
> sepanjang masa, yaitu perubahan itu sendiri".
>
> Saya yakin semua orang sudah mahfum dengan perkataan diatas. Tetapi, tidak
> semua yang mahfum dengan perubahan mau melakukannya, ada juga yang
mengerti
> dan ingin berubah tetapi tidak tahu melakukannya. Dan banyak pula yang
tidak
> paham bahwa setiap perubahan selalu datang sambil bergandengan dengan
> segudang peluang atau pilihan.
>
> Seorang teman mengirimkan cerita tentang 2 ekor katak. Satu katak tinggal
di
> sawah, dan lainnya tinggal di jalan. Katak  yang  tinggal  di  sawah
> berkata kepada  katak  yang  tinggal dipinggir  jalan:  "tempatmu  terlalu
> berbahaya, tinggallah denganku".
> Katak  "pinggir  jalan"  menjawab:  "aku  sudah  terbiasa, malas untuk
> pindah".
>
> Beberapa hari kemudian katak "sawah" menjenguk katak "pinggir jalan"  dan
> menemukan  bahwa  si katak sudah mati dilindas mobil yang lewat.
>
> Saya merenung membaca cerita tersebut. Ternyata  sangat  mudah
menggenggam
> nasib  kita sendiri, cukup hanya mau berubah dan menghindari kemalasan
saja.
>
> Anda tentu pernah juga membaca sebuah kampanye biro iklan besar di
> Indonesia. "Berubah atau Punah" begitu yang terbaca pada spanduk yang
> terpasang. Judul ini menggelitik untuk disimak, karena sebenarnya tidak
> selamanya perubahan itu bisa menjadikan keadaan menuju ke arah lebih baik.
> Namun yang pasti harus diyakini bahwa dalam setiap perubahan, sekali pun
> yang datang adalah perubahan menjadi krisis misalnya, didalamnya sejumlah
> peluang dan pilihan tetap menyertainya.
>
> Cerita tersebut menarik bila disandingkan dengan semakin seringnya kita
> membaca berita di berbagai media masa tentang perusahaan-perusahaan yang
> sedang merasionalisasi atau melakukan restrukturisasi organisasinya
> menghadapainpersaingan bisnis di era pasar beabas sekarang ini. Maksud
saya,
> semua itu ujung-ujungnya berupa pemutusan hubungan kerja (PHK) sejumlah
> karyawan dengan segala konsekuensi ke penghidupan banyak keluarga. Tengok
> saja sudah ada berapa perusahaan besar yang dulunya tidak kita perkirakan
> bakal bangrut sekarang ini menyisakan problem dengan karyawannya yang
> di-PHK.
>
> Perubahan itu sudah PASTI, menjadi lebih baik adalah pilihan. Itu pasti
yang
> kita inginkan. Caranya?  Persiapkan diri kita dengan memiliki dan
mengambil
> peluang-peluang yang ada selagi kita masih memiliki pekerjaan saat ini.
Bisa
> memiliki bisnis pribadi dan penghasilan selain hanya dari penghasilan
> kantoran kita adalah sebuah pilihan.
>
> Jangan  gadaikan  hidup  anda  kepada satu sumber income tadi. Amankan
> keluarga dengan  memiliki  2  atau lebih sumber penghasilan. Memiliki
bisnis
> sendiri   sambil  kerja  bukan  berarti  tidak  loyal  kepada perusahaan.
> Toh,  perusahaan  juga  tidak  perduli  kepada kita kalau mereka
bangkrut.
> Kita  lah pemimpin kehidupan kita sendiri. Memiliki multi-stream  income
> justru membuat kita tenang di kantor. Seandainya tidak  dapat bekerja
lagi,
> kita yakin bahwa ada penghasilan yang dapat
> diandalkan.
>
> Perubahan itu PASTI. Sebab, seiring jarum jam berputar, perubahan terus
> terjadi pada diri dan lingkungan kita. Segera ciptakan pernyataan
> positioning diri. Intinya mengenali diri sendiri dan mengetahui pasti apa
> yang dapat diperbuat dan bagaimana
> strategi mencapainya.
>
> Saya  jadi  teringat  dengan kisah 2 katak tadi. Saya adalah "katak di
> sawah"  yang  saat ini memiliki sumber penghasilan lain selain gaji
> kantoran. Dan saat ini saya memanggil-manggil 'katak di pinggir jalan"
untuk
> mau berpindah agar tidak tergilas.
>
> Bagaimana dengan Anda sekarang ini ? Apakah termasuk "katak di sawah" atau
> "katak di pinggir jalan" ?.
>
> Eko Jalu Santoso
> http://sndfocus.biz/go.cgi/dewisri
>
>
>
>
>
> www.perencanakeuangan.com
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>




www.perencanakeuangan.com

---

Do you Yahoo!?
Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs

www.perencanakeuangan.com

Rekan2 SSR-KLUB,

Ada sebuah E-Book menarik yang akan memberikan bahan perenungan, mengajak,
menggali potensi positif yang pasti Anda miliki, menuntun dan mengarahkan Anda
untuk mengetahui 3 kunci yang telah dimiliki sebelumnya oleh Para Milyuner
seperti Ciputra, Sosrodjojo (Teh Sosro), Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos (Amazon.com),
Ray Koch (Mc Donald) serta menemukan kunci-kunci itu pada diri Anda.

Berikut ini sedikit dari apa yang akan Anda temukan pada E-Book 3 KUNCI
KESUKSESAN HAKIKI :

1. Ada satu hal yang sangat dahsyat pengaruhnya bagi kesuksesan seseorang jauh
melampaui modal harta benda, kedudukan, pangkat, atau ilmu sekalipun. Jika tidak
memilikinya, sekeras apapun Anda mencoba, usaha Anda akan sia-sia dan menemui
kegagalan. Apa itu dan bagaimana cara memperolehnya?

2. Tahukah Anda, kebanyakan orang (termasuk Anda?) menggunakan hanya separo
otaknya sehingga mempunyai prestasi tidak maksimal, bahkan cenderung gagal.
Bagaimana cara menggunakan seluruh otak kita agar mempunyai prestasi optimal?

3. Pikiran bawah sadar Anda akan mampu mengatasi kegagalan yang mungkin akan
anda alami. Bagaimana caranya?

4. Semua orang pasti pernah bermimpi. Bagaimana sebuah mimpi bisa mengubah
kehidupan seseorang menjadi Milyuner?

5. Kecerdasan merupakan kunci untuk membuka pintu rumah "penciptaan" seorang
Milyuner. Apakah anda memilikinya? E-Book ini akan membantu menemukan kunci itu
untuk Anda.

Jika Anda menginginkan sesuatu yang akan membuat Anda lebih pintar, menghasilkan
lebih banyak uang, lebih sukses (baik dari segi apapun), lebih bijaksana, dan
mudah-mudahan lebih peduli kepada orang lain, maka E-Book ini pastilah akan
sangat berguna untuk Anda.

Silahkan dapatkan E-Book 3 KUNCI KESUKSESAN HAKIKI ini di
http://www.milyuner.net
Jika Anda Memilikinya, Milyuner Selanjutnya Pastilah Anda!

Regards,
febry - www.milyuner.net

Selamat sore sahabat,

Sebaiknya kita akhiri saja polemik ini, alangkah
baiknya kita berpikir secara dingin dan lebih arif.
Bila tidak setuju dengan artikel-artikel yang dikirim
oleh rekan kita sebaiknya diabaikan saja (dihapus
langsung), ingat akan tujuan kita ikut milist ini
yakni bertukar pikiran dan wawasan tentang Keuangan.

Saya mohon sekali lagi, kita akhiri sampai disini
saja.

Salam hangat,
bgr


--- NETpreneur - <Netpreneur_biz@...> wrote:
  Benar mas, Pak Safir Senduk saja merekomendasikan
  orang untuk menambah
  penghasilan melalui MLM. Kalau anda nggak suka MLM
  ya jangan masuk ke milis
  perencanaan keuangan. Kalau anda baca tentang
  sambutannya dari moderator,
  bebas saja kok orang boleh mengirim berbagai
  artikel.





__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs
http://hotjobs.sweepstakes.yahoo.com/careermakeover

Insya Allah, Amiin.......!!
Parma.

parmaningsih.hadinegoro@...



                       Febry Arsianto
                       <febdin@....        To:      
ssr-klub@yahoogroups.com
                       id>                      cc:
                                                Subject:  [SSR-Klub] E-Book 3
KUNCI KESUKSESAN HAKIKI
                       05/06/2004 10:43
                       AM
                       Please respond to
                       SSR-Klub






Rekan2 SSR-KLUB,

Ada sebuah E-Book menarik yang akan memberikan bahan perenungan, mengajak,
menggali potensi positif yang pasti Anda miliki, menuntun dan mengarahkan
Anda untuk mengetahui 3 kunci yang telah dimiliki sebelumnya oleh Para
Milyuner seperti Ciputra, Sosrodjojo (Teh Sosro), Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos
(Amazon.com), Ray Koch (Mc Donald) serta menemukan kunci-kunci itu pada
diri Anda.

Berikut ini sedikit dari apa yang akan Anda temukan pada E-Book 3 KUNCI
KESUKSESAN HAKIKI :

1. Ada satu hal yang sangat dahsyat pengaruhnya bagi kesuksesan seseorang
jauh melampaui modal harta benda, kedudukan, pangkat, atau ilmu sekalipun.
Jika tidak memilikinya, sekeras apapun Anda mencoba, usaha Anda akan
sia-sia dan menemui kegagalan. Apa itu dan bagaimana cara memperolehnya?

2. Tahukah Anda, kebanyakan orang (termasuk Anda?) menggunakan hanya separo
otaknya sehingga mempunyai prestasi tidak maksimal, bahkan cenderung gagal.
Bagaimana cara menggunakan seluruh otak kita agar mempunyai prestasi
optimal?

3. Pikiran bawah sadar Anda akan mampu mengatasi kegagalan yang mungkin
akan anda alami. Bagaimana caranya?

4. Semua orang pasti pernah bermimpi. Bagaimana sebuah mimpi bisa mengubah
kehidupan seseorang menjadi Milyuner?

5. Kecerdasan merupakan kunci untuk membuka pintu rumah "penciptaan"
seorang Milyuner. Apakah anda memilikinya? E-Book ini akan membantu
menemukan kunci itu untuk Anda.

Jika Anda menginginkan sesuatu yang akan membuat Anda lebih pintar,
menghasilkan lebih banyak uang, lebih sukses (baik dari segi apapun), lebih
bijaksana, dan mudah-mudahan lebih peduli kepada orang lain, maka E-Book
ini pastilah akan sangat berguna untuk Anda.

Silahkan dapatkan E-Book 3 KUNCI KESUKSESAN HAKIKI ini di
http://www.milyuner.net
Jika Anda Memilikinya, Milyuner Selanjutnya Pastilah Anda!

Regards,
febry - www.milyuner.net






www.perencanakeuangan.com

Yahoo! Groups Links








______________________________________________________________________________

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_______________________________________________________________________________

-----Original Message-----
From: enak mas [mailto:itilsapi@...]
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 10:37 AM
To: SSR-Klub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [SSR-Klub] Diam dan Tergilas !

iya nihh....dasar EKO !!!....si Emang Kurang Objekan...kirim cerita bok yang bermutu Pak......bosen jualan produk di pasar aja !!!

Epul <spl@...> wrote:

Mas Eko ini kok tiap kali ngirim pesan ujung-ujungnya jual produk sih...
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eko Jalu Santoso" <ekojalus@...>
To: "SSR-Klub" <SSR-Klub@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 10:59 AM
Subject: [SSR-Klub] Diam dan Tergilas !


> Diam dan Tergilas !
>
> "Segala yang di bawah langit pasti berubah. Hanya satu hal yang tetap
> sepanjang masa, yaitu perubahan itu sendiri".
>
> Saya yakin semua orang sudah mahfum dengan perkataan diatas. Tetapi, tidak
> semua yang mahfum dengan perubahan mau melakukannya, ada juga yang
mengerti
> dan ingin berubah tetapi tidak tahu melakukannya. Dan banyak pula yang
tidak
> paham bahwa setiap perubahan selalu datang sambil bergandengan dengan
> segudang peluang atau pilihan.
>
> Seorang teman mengirimkan cerita tentang 2 ekor katak. Satu katak tinggal
di
> sawah, dan lainnya tinggal di jalan. Katak  yang  tinggal  di  sawah
> berkata kepada  katak  yang  tinggal dipinggir  jalan:  "tempatmu  terlalu
> berbahaya, tinggallah denganku".
> Katak  "pinggir  jalan"  menjawab:  "aku  sudah  terbiasa, malas untuk
> pindah".
>
> Beberapa hari kemudian katak "sawah" menjenguk katak "pinggir jalan"  dan
> menemukan  bahwa  si katak sudah mati dilindas mobil yang lewat.
>
> Saya merenung membaca cerita tersebut. Ternyata  sangat  mudah
menggenggam
> nasib  kita sendiri, cukup hanya mau berubah dan menghindari kemalasan
saja.
>
> Anda tentu pernah juga membaca sebuah kampanye biro iklan besar di
> Indonesia. "Berubah atau Punah" begitu yang terbaca pada spanduk yang
> terpasang. Judul ini menggelitik untuk disimak, karena sebenarnya tidak
> selamanya perubahan itu bisa menjadikan keadaan menuju ke arah lebih baik.
> Namun yang pasti harus diyakini bahwa dalam setiap perubahan, sekali pun
> yang datang adalah perubahan menjadi krisis misalnya, didalamnya sejumlah
> peluang dan pilihan tetap menyertainya.
>
> Cerita tersebut menarik bila disandingkan dengan semakin seringnya kita
> membaca berita di berbagai media masa tentang perusahaan-perusahaan yang
> sedang merasionalisasi atau melakukan restrukturisasi organisasinya
> menghadapainpersaingan bisnis di era pasar beabas sekarang ini. Maksud
saya,
> semua itu ujung-ujungnya berupa pemutusan hubungan kerja (PHK) sejumlah
> karyawan dengan segala konsekuensi ke penghidupan banyak keluarga. Tengok
> saja sudah ada berapa perusahaan besar yang dulunya tidak kita perkirakan
> bakal bangrut sekarang ini menyisakan problem dengan karyawannya yang
> di-PHK.
>
> Perubahan itu sudah PASTI, menjadi lebih baik adalah pilihan. Itu pasti
yang
> kita inginkan. Caranya?  Persiapkan diri kita dengan memiliki dan
mengambil
> peluang-peluang yang ada selagi kita masih memiliki pekerjaan saat ini.
Bisa
> memiliki bisnis pribadi dan penghasilan selain hanya dari penghasilan
> kantoran kita adalah sebuah pilihan.
>
> Jangan  gadaikan  hidup  anda  kepada satu sumber income tadi. Amankan
> keluarga dengan  memiliki  2  atau lebih sumber penghasilan. Memiliki
bisnis
> sendiri   sambil  kerja  bukan  berarti  tidak  loyal  kepada perusahaan.
> Toh,  perusahaan  juga  tidak  perduli  kepada kita kalau mereka
bangkrut.
> Kita  lah pemimpin kehidupan kita sendiri. Memiliki multi-stream  income
> justru membuat kita tenang di kantor. Seandainya tidak  dapat bekerja
lagi,
> kita yakin bahwa ada penghasilan yang dapat
> diandalkan.
>
> Perubahan itu PASTI. Sebab, seiring jarum jam berputar, perubahan terus
> terjadi pada diri dan lingkungan kita. Segera ciptakan pernyataan
> positioning diri. Intinya mengenali diri sendiri dan mengetahui pasti apa
> yang dapat diperbuat dan bagaimana
> strategi mencapainya.
>
> Saya  jadi  teringat  dengan kisah 2 katak tadi. Saya adalah "katak di
> sawah"  yang  saat ini memiliki sumber penghasilan lain selain gaji
> kantoran. Dan saat ini saya memanggil-manggil 'katak di pinggir jalan"
untuk
> mau berpindah agar tidak tergilas.
>
> Bagaimana dengan Anda sekarang ini ? Apakah termasuk "katak di sawah" atau
> "katak di pinggir jalan" ?.
>
> Eko Jalu Santoso
> http://sndfocus.biz/go.cgi/dewisri
>
>
>
>
>
> www.perencanakeuangan.com
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>




www.perencanakeuangan.com

---

Do you Yahoo!?
Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs

www.perencanakeuangan.com





www.perencanakeuangan.com

Pak Putra,

> apakah mungkin janji-janji yang diberikan di MLM bahwa
> apabila kita konsisten dan bekerja keras dalam jangka waktu
> yang cukup lama maka kita akan memperoleh pasive income yang
> besar? Atau mungkin ada yang salah dalam simulasi saya.

Jawabannya adalah benar sekali Pak. Anda PASTI akan mendapatkan Passive Income
(PI) jika sudah mencapai level tertentu di semua biz MLM. Tapi masalahnya adalah
apakah Perusahaan MLM itu akan bertahan lama bahkan sampai kiamat utk bisa
memastikan ahli waris kita tetap bisa mendapatkan PI dari Biz MLM yg kita
bangun?

Saran saya pilih yg sudah terbukti lebih dari 5 tahun di Indonesia bahkan utk
lebih aman yg sudah lebih dari 10 tahun di Indonesia. Krn banyak MLM yg 'mati
suri' beberapa tahun stlh mrk beroperasi. Kalo mau cek bisa liat dari ijin yg
didapat dari www.apli.or.id yaitu APLI (Asosiasi Penjual Langsung Indonesia) yg
mewadahi Perusahaan MLM di Indonesia. Disitu bisa terlihat tahun keluar ijin thd
perusahaan2 MLM yg ada. Kalo yg udah lebih dari 10 thn setahu saya baru CNI dan
Amway aja. CMIIW.

Ini penting krn jangan sampai Anda nanti masuk ke MLM yg belum jelas masa depan
perusahaannya di Indonesia krn mungkin si ownernya baru 'coba-coba' terjun ke
dlm biz MLM mengingat sekarang banyak sekali bermunculan MLM2 baru di negeri
kita ini. Kalo mo terjun ke MLM yg baru2 ini sih boleh aja, tapi hrs diingat ttg
PI yg mau dikejar nantinya. PI juga berarti MLMnya harus terus ada sampai akhir
keturunan.


> Salah satu faktor yang membuat saya enggan menjalankan MLM
> adalah karena saya merasa saya harus memberikan harapan bahwa
> downline- downline saya harus bekerja keras dan konsisten
> supaya dapat enak dikemudian hari karena memperoleh pasive
> income yang besar.

Ada masalah dgn memberi harapan Pak? Kita kalo tidak ada harapan sulit utk hidup
apalagi di jaman spt skrg ini. Jadi menurut saya harapan itu memang kita
butuhkan meskipun Anda tidak di biz MLM. Kenapa harapan perlu utk group Anda
skrg? Krn Anda harus sukses membantu orang lain dulu baru Anda juga sukses di
MLM. Tidak ada org MLM yg sukses sendirian. Ini mengapa kita hrs memberi
harapan. Kira2 kalo Anda sbg Presdir akan diberikan PI jika bawahan Anda di
kantor juga menjadi Presdir spt Anda, apakah Anda akan memberikan harapan2 yg
positif? Tentu iya kan? Masalahnya di kantor tidak akan terjadi hal yg demikian
krn Presdirnya cuma satu hehehe!


> Hal serupa juga harus dilakukan oleh
> downline-donwline saya yang mau aktif. Padahal pada akhirnya
> menurut simulasi di atas, banyak sekali orang-orang yang akan
> kecewa karena tidak mungkin ada banyak orang yang menerima
> pasive income yang terlalu besar dari MLM.

Memang TIDAK SEMUA orang yg terjun di suatu MLM akan mendapatkan PI karena
sebagian besar dari anggota MLM adalah pemakai saja, bukan orang yg aktif
membangun jaringan atau berjualan. Dari yg aktif-pun tidak semua juga sukses.
Mengapa? Krn banyak dr mereka tidak mengikuti apa yang harusnya mereka lakukan
untuk sukses. Tp yg menariknya adalah di MLM kue kesuksesannya tidak terbatas.
Jadi siapa saja bisa mempunyai kesempatan utk sukses.

Beda spt kalo di kantor. Apa semua karyawan punya kesempatan yg sama untuk bisa
jadi Presdir? Tidak kan? Hanya satu orang yg punya kesempatan spt itu. Ini yg
membedakan dgn MLM. Kuenya banyak sekali Pak di MLM. Tergantung kita mau ambil
seberapa besar bagian dari kue tersebut. Tapi nilai kesuksesan di MLM bisa
berbeda2 lho. Ada yg mendapatkan 1jt/bln merasa sdh sukses. Ada yg 6jt/bln baru
merasa sukes. Ini tergantung dari orangnya.

Regards,
-febry-

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Dapatkan E-Book ttg kiat menjadi milyuner di http://www.milyuner.net
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Melihat perkembangan menarik di milis kita ini tentang adanya Pro dan Kontra ttg
MLM, tentunya kita harus bisa melihat dari kedua sisi tersebut.

Yg pertama bg yg PRO MLM tentunya merasa sah2 saja kalo mereka promosi ttg
kegiatannya baik secara langsung maupun secara 'terselubung' di milis ini. Dan
tentunya buat yg NO MLM tentunya merasa sah2 juga kalo mereka merasa 'tidak
setuju' kalo di milis kita ini ada org2 MLM yg ikut berpromosi ttg kegiatannya.

Menurut saya kedua2nya sama2 benar karena di milis kita ini so far belum ada
peraturan dari Mas Safir atau moderator yg ditunjuk yg menyebutkan kita tidak
boleh berpromosi apapun. Tetapi tidak juga menyebutkan bahwa kita tidak boleh
memberi kritikan thd sesama anggota milis. Jadi menurut saya kedua pihak tidak
bisa disalahkan satu sama lainnya.

Kalo melihat yg PRO MLM berpromosi tentunya sudah biasa kan krn kerjanya memang
harus begitu dr sananya. Nah, coba kita melihat dari sisi org yg NO MLM
sekarang. Mereka ini saya rasa juga berhak untuk 'mengkritik' yg PRO MLM di alam
maya ini. Wong, di alam nyata saja sudah pasti yg PRO MLM ini banyak mendapatkan
penolakan2 dari yg NO MLM baik secara halus maupun sampai yang kasar.

Jadi tentunya buat yg PRO MLM harus juga bisa 'legowo' untuk dikritik dalam
bentuk apapun di alam maya ini krn yg NO MLM juga berhak melakukannya. Jangan
langsung defensif. Kalo yg PRO MLM bilang buat yg NO MLM kalo tidak setuju tidak
boleh kasih komentar menurut saya juga tidak tepat. Mengapa tidak dibalik saja
sekalian? Bgm kalo yg PRO MLM tidak boleh komentar juga thd komentar yg
diberikan oleh yg NO MLM? Nah, hasilnya sama aja kan?

Disini saya bukan mau membela yg NO MLM krn saya termasuk yg PRO MLM lho, tapi
lebih untuk menekankan bahwa yg PRO MLM juga harus bisa 'memposisikan' dirinya
pada sisi yg NO MLM juga. Sama persis halnya kalo yg PRO MLM menghadapi prospek
yg negatif di alam nyata. Apa langsung 'dihajar' dgn debat kusir? Ya pastinya
tidak akan selesai lah masalahnya bahkan tidak bisa membuat yg NO MLM bisa jadi
positif menjadi PRO MLM.

Di salah satu buku yg saya baca ttg Bagaimana Cara Mendapatkan "YA" di Biz
NM/MLM, ada 2 hukum penting yaitu:
1. Para Prospek Anda akan membantah semua yang Anda katakan
2. Semua yang dikatakan oleh Para Prospek Anda itu merupakan kebenaran

Disini kita bisa melihat bahwa para anggota milis kita yang belum bergabung dgn
salah satu MLM manapun tentunya bisa dikategorikan sbg prospek dan kalo melihat
2 alasan di atas tentunya yg PRO MLM harus bisa memahami kenapa mereka ini ada
yang memberi 'kritikan' thd yg PRO MLM.

Lalu buat yg NO MLM saya juga bisa memahami kenapa Anda melakukan 'kritikan':
1. Mungkin pernah mengalami hal yg buruk dlm menjalankan MLM
2. Mungkin Anda belum pernah ketemu/melihat langsung orang2 yg sukses di MLM
3. Dan 1001 alasan lainnya

Terakhir saran saya:
1. Buat yg PRO MLM: Tidak usah kasih komentar balasan jika ada kritikan thd MLM
2. Buat yg NO MLM: Cobalah untuk datang ke salah satu seminar motivasi MLM utk
melihat bgm biz MLM bisa membantu Anda juga sukses berkarir di kantor atau di
biz Anda sekarang. Bila Anda pernah gagal di MLM, tidak ada salahnya untuk mulai
mencoba lagi. Krn kegagalan bukanlah hal yg terburuk, hal yg terburuk adalah
jika Anda tidak pernah mencoba sama sekali.

Regards,
-febry-

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Dapatkan E-Book ttg kiat menjadi milyuner di http://www.milyuner.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Info yang panjang sekali tentang MLM, terus terang saya juga nggak suka dengan MLM.

What's Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing?

a.k.a. "Networking" Companies

Bad Image or Bad Reality?

"Let me tell you about an incredible ground-level business opportunity," and you are invited to a house or to lunch for "a discussion." Funny enough, you feel sick in your gut that there is some hidden agenda or deception. "Probably a multi-level marketing (MLM) organization," you think. Suppose it is? Should you trust your instincts? Is there anything wrong with MLM?

This article will analyze four problem areas with MLM. Specifically, it will focus on problems of I) Market Saturation, II) Pyramid Structure, III) Morality and Ethics, and IV) Relationship Issues associated with MLMs. Thus, you can properly assess your "instincts."

I. Market Saturation: An Inherent Problem

Back to the Basics

A tutorial on market saturation hardly seems necessary in most business discussions, but with MLM, unfortunately, it is. Common sense seems to get suspended when considering if MLMs are viable, even theoretically, as a profitable means of distribution for all parties involved. This suspension is created by a heightened expectation of "easy money," but more on that later.

New, Innovative?

MLM can no longer claim to be new and, thus, exempt from the normal rules of the market and the way goods and services are sold. They have been tried and, for the most part, have failed. Some have been miserable failures in spite of offering excellent products.

Marketing innovations are not rare in the modern world, as evidenced by the success of Wal-Mart, which found a more efficient and profitable way to distribute goods and services than the status quo, providing lasting value to stockholders, employees, distributors, and consumers. But this is not the case with any MLM to date, and after 25 years of failed attempts, it is time to point out the reasons why.

Don't Some People Make Money in MLM?

First, we will analyze the "driving mechanism" of MLMs. We will detail how they are intrinsically unstable, guaranteed by design to oversaturate the market with no one noticing. We will look at why MLMs can never equalize into profitability the way companies in the real world can, so that the result will be that the organization as a whole cannot, even in theory, be profitable. When this inevitable destiny occurs, the only money to be made is not from the product or service but from the losses of people lower down in the organization.

Thus the MLM organization becomes exploitative, and many high-level MLM promoters have been shut down, the "executives" incarcerated, for selling the fraud of impossible success to others. Other, larger MLMs have survived by hiring large batteries of attorneys to ward off federal prosecutors, even bragging about the funds they have in reserve for this purpose.

The unfortunate "distributor" at the bottom is the loser, and once this becomes apparent beyond all the slick videotapes and motivational pep-talks, good people start to get a bad taste in their mouths about the whole situation.

So, yes, money can be made with MLM. The question is whether the money being made is legitimate or "made" via a sophisticated con scheme. And if MLM is "doomed by design" to fail, then the answer is, unfortunately, the latter.

But how exactly does this happen, and must it always?

Doomed by Design?

The first question is this: Is any company choosing this marketing strategy destined to fail, to degenerate into an exploitative venture, regardless of how good the product is?

To see this clearly we must go through an, otherwise, obvious and elementary discussion of how any business must be careful not to overhire, overextend, or oversupply a market.

The Real World

Any business must carefully consider supply and demand. For example, if the ReVo Corporation thinks that it will have a full-fledged fad on their ovoid sunglasses next summer, perhaps they should plan to build and distribute, say, 10M units. This involves gearing up factories, setting up distribution and dealer networks, and carefully managing the inventories at each level so that ReVo will still have credibility with their distributors, retail outlets, and the public the following year.

If it turns out that there is a "run" on ReVo products, and they sell out in mid-June, then they have miscalculated demand and will miss out on profits they could have made. The more serious problem, however, is overestimating the saturation point for the product. If they make 10M units, and sell only 2M units, this may be the end of ReVo as a company.

The all-too-obvious point here is that management of supply and demand, and keen insight into realistic market penetration and saturation are crucial to any business, for any product or service. Mismanagement of this aspect of a business will eclipse good market access, excellent product design, human resource assets, production quality, and so on. Simply stated, a failure to "hit the target" of supply and demand can ruin a company if the market is oversaturated.

Market Dynamics and the End of the Cold War

Interestingly, the issue of supply and demand is what brought the USSR to its knees. By design, the Soviet government tried to macro-manage supply, where bureaucrats would decide how many potatoes were needed, how much toilet paper, etc. Assuming these bureaucrats did the best they could, unfortunately their efforts to deliberately manipulate the control "knob" of supply and demand was not good enough. Notwithstanding their good intentions, they were usually wrong, which created huge shortages and surpluses, and led to a massive economic collapse.

Seeing the disastrous end of market naiveté in Russia should help clarify the fundamental problem with the MLM approach. In the real world, the profit of a company is directly related to the skill and prescience of the "hand" on the "supply knob," so to speak. In the USSR, that "hand" could not react fast or accurately enough to market realities through the best efforts of the bureaucrats.

With MLMs, the situation is much worse. Nobody is home. Even the Soviets had someone thinking about how much was enough! If the bureaucrat in Russia was having a hard time trying to play Adam Smith's "invisible hand" in setting the supply level in the Soviet Union, then an MLM "executive" is in a truly unfortunate position. Not only is there no one assigned to make the decision of how much is enough, the MLM is set up by design to blindly go past the saturation point and keep on going. It will grow till it collapses under its own weight, without even a bureaucrat noticing.

MLM is like a train with no brakes and no engineer headed full-throttle towards a terminal.

"Everyone Will Want to Buy This Product!"

All products and services have partial market penetration. For example, only so many people wish to use a discount broker, as evidenced by the very successful but only partial market penetration of Charles Schwab. Not everyone wishes to join a particular discount club, or buy gold, or drink filtered water, or wear a particular style of shoe, or use any product or service. No one in the real world of business would seriously consider the thin arguments of the MLMers when they flippantly mention the infinite market need for their product or services.

The Demand Problem: Of Widgets and MLMs

Imagine a neat new product called a Widget that will sell for $100 (a fixed price, to keep it simple). Now, while everyone could use a Widget, not everyone will. Some will be afraid of anything new. Some will be loyal to existing brands. Some will want to buy an inferior product for less money. Some will want a more expensive product for prestige, regardless of quality. The reasons go on and on, and the fact is that only "X" Widgets will sell at $100.

The question for would-be marketeers is... what is "X," and how can it be predicted to maximize profits? The fact that "X" is hard to pin down does not mean that it does not exist, and every Widget built beyond "X" will end up producing a problem for the organization. The market only wants "X" Widgets at $100. What are you going to do with your extra inventory of Widgets beyond "X" that no one wants, and the sales people you hired to sell them?

No one can perfectly predict "X," and the situation is not nearly as simple as considered here, but the objective for marketeers is to forecast "X" as closely as possible in order to provide lasting value to all parties involved: to avoid missed opportunities as well as waste, loss, or failure.

The MLM Forecasting Approach: Ignoring the Target

Who has an eye on "X," the point of market saturation at a given price, in an MLM? Well, the funny thing, or perhaps the tragic thing, is that "X" will be reached and exceeded without anyone noticing or caring.

Let's just suppose that "X" has been reached today in a particular MLM; the number of possible units sold at this price has just been exceeded, and you happen to be a starry-eyed prospect sitting in an MLM meeting listening to the pitch. Now consider: Does anyone in this company know about "X"? Does anyone care? Is the issue being suppressed on purpose for some other motive? Since we are supposing that the market saturation number "X" has been reached, everyone joining the MLM from now on is buying into a false hope. But that is not what the speaker will be saying. He will be telling you, "Now is the time to join. Get in on the 'ground floor'." But it is all a lie, even though the speaker may not know it. The total available market "X" has been reached and nobody noticed. All the distributors will lose from here on out. Could this be you? How could you possibly know at what point you will become the liar in an MLM?

Pop or Drop

Perhaps a better paradigm than the runaway train analogy offered earlier of how MLMs perform over time is this: a helium balloon let loose in an empty room with a spiked ceiling, where product quality is analogous to the amount of helium. The better the product, the faster the balloon will rise, accelerating unhindered, towards disaster. The other option would be the case of a lousy product, in which case the balloon will sink of its own accord, never getting off the ground. To be sure, equilibrium is not in the cards, except perhaps as an accident, and then only temporarily. MLMs are intrinsically unstable. For any company that chooses an MLM approach, it's pop or drop.

MLMs vs. the Real World

The basic question that needs to be asked is this: If this product or service is so great, then why isn't it being sold through the customary marketing system that has served human society for thousands of years? Why does it need to resort to a "special marketing" scheme like an MLM? Why does everyone need to be so inexperienced at marketing this! Is the product just a thin cover for what is really a pyramid scheme of exploiting others? But more on that later.

From Contracted, Protected Distribution... to Mayhem

Imagine that Wendy's became suddenly possessed by the idea that "everyone needs to eat," and opened four Wendy's franchises on the four corners of an intersection in your neighborhood. Who would benefit from this folly? The consumer? Certainly not the franchises; they would all lose. Wendy's corporate? Perhaps temporarily, by speculative inventory sales while the unfortunate franchises were under the delusion that they could all make money. But in the end, the negative image of four outlets dying a slow death would likely offset the temporary inventory sales bubble. Even the most unreflective of the hapless franchisees would think twice about doing business in such a manner again. This is why real-world distributorships and franchises are contractually protected by territory and/or market.

Again, the simple fact is that even the most successful products will have partial market penetration. The same is true for services. Demand and "market share" are finite, and to overestimate either is catastrophic.

So why are MLM promoters obscuring this? Who is in control of the supply "knob," carefully and skillfully managing the size of the distribution channels, number of salespeople, inventory, etc., to insure the success of all involved in the business? The truth is chilling: nobody.

Imagine trying to write a computer model of how MLMs work, and you will see this point most vividly. An MLM could never work, even in theory. Think about it.

The People Machine

Chernobyl had a control system that failed. MLMs have no control mechanisms at all.

Where is the "switch" that can be flipped in an MLM when enough sales people are hired? In a normal company a manager says, "We have enough, let's stop hiring people at this point." But in an MLM, there is no way to do this. An MLM is a human "churning" machine with no "off button." Out of control by design, its gears will grind up the money, time, credibility, and entrepreneurial energy of well-meaning people who joined merely to supplement their income. Better to just steer clear of this monster to begin with.

There is simply no way to avoid the built-in failure mechanism of MLMs. If a company chooses to market this way, it will eventually "hire" (with no base pay and charging to join) far too many people.

Thus, the only "control system" will be the inevitable losses and subsequent bad image the MLM company will gain after it does what it was designed to do: fail. And sooner or later we have got to stop blaming this particular MLM company or that, and admit that the MLM technique itself is fundamentally flawed.

II. Pyramid Structure: An Organizational Problem

The Un-Pyramid

For most MLMs, the product is really a mere diversion from the real profit-making dynamic. To anyone familiar with MLMs, the previous discussion (which focused so much on the fact that MLMs are "doomed by design" to reach market saturation and thus put the people who are legitimately trying to sell the product into a difficult situation) may seem to miss the point. The product or service may well be good, and it might oversaturate at some point, but let's get serious. The product is not the incentive to join an MLM. Otherwise people might have shown an interest in selling this particular product or service before in the real world. The product is the excuse to attempt to legitimate the real money-making engine. It's "the cover."

Intuitively, we all know what is really going on with MLMs. Just don't use the word "pyramid"!

"You see, if you can convince ten people that everyone needs this product or service, even though they aren't buying similar products available in the market, and they can convince ten people, and so on, that's how you make the real money. And as long as you sell to a few people along the way, it is all legal." Maybe...

But the way to make money in all this is clearly not by only selling product, otherwise you might have shown an interest in it before, through conventional market opportunities. No, the "hook" is selling others on selling others on "the dream."

Math and Common Sense

MLMs work by geometric expansion, where you get ten to sponsor ten to sponsor ten, and so on. This is usually shown as an expanding matrix (just don't say "pyramid"!) with corresponding kick-backs at various levels.

The problem here is one of common sense. At a mere three levels deep this would be 1,000 people. There goes the neighborhood! At six levels deep, that would be 1,000,000 people believing they can make money selling. But to whom? There goes the city! And the MLM is just getting its steam going. Think of all the meetings! Think of all the "dreams" being sold! Think of the false hopes being generated. Think of the money being lost.

It Will Fail??? It Cannot Fail???

Nothing irritates a die-hard MLMer more than the preceding argument. If you point out the absurdity, for example, that if "the pitch" at an Amway meeting were even moderately accurate, in something like 18 months Amway would be larger than the GNP of the entire United States, then listen closely for a major gear-shift: "Well, that is absurd, of course. Not everyone will succeed, and so the market will never saturate."

Well, which is it? Are we recruiting "winners" to build a real business, or planning by design to profit off of "losers" who buy into our "confidence"?

During "the pitch," anyone can make it work. "It's the opportunity of a lifetime." "Just look at the math!" But mention the inevitable saturation and the losses this is going to cause for everyone, and then you'll hear, "Of course it would never really work like that." "Most will fail," you will be told, "but not you, Mr. Recruit. You are a winner. I can just see it in your eyes."

If you are a starry-eyed recruit, it will grow as presented. If you are a logical skeptic, then of course it would never really work like that.

But the dialog usually never even gets to this. The fact that MLM is in a mad dash to oversupply is largely chided as mere "stinkin' thinkin'." Expert MLMers know how to quickly deflect this issue with parable, joke, personal testimony, or some other sleight of mind.

New Solution: A Retarded MLM

Some modern incarnations of MLMs attempt to address this particular problem by limiting the number of people you can sponsor, say, to four. But the same geometric expansion problems exist; the failure mechanism has just been slowed down a bit. And now there is the added problem of even more unnecessary layers in the organization.

The claim that an MLM is merely a "common man" implementation of a normal real-world distribution channel becomes even more absurd in this case. Imagine buying a product or service in the real world and having to pay overrides and royalties to five or ten unneeded and uninvolved "distributor" layers. Would this be efficient? What value do these layers of "distributors" provide to the consumer? Is this rational? Would such a company exist long in a competitive environment?

Confidence Men and the Shadow Pyramid

The age-old technique of "con men" is to create "confidence" in some otherwise dumb idea by diversion of thought, bait, or force of personality. The victim gets confidence in a bogus plan, and, in exchange, the con man gets your money. MLMers are very high on confidence.

Since the brain inevitably intrudes itself into the delusion that an MLM could ever work, spirits drop and attitudes go sour. But this depressive state can itself be exploited. As doubts grow when the MLM does not do what recruits were first "con"fidenced to expect, then a further profit can be made keeping the confidence going against all common sense.

Thus, a parallel or "shadow" pyramid of motivational tapes, seminars, and videos emerges. These are a "must for success," and recruits are strong-armed into attending, buying, buying, and buying all the more. This motivational "shadow pyramid" further exploits the flagging recruits as they spiral inexorably into oversaturation and failure. The more they fail, the more "help" they need from those who are "successful" above them.

So, MLMs profit by conning recruits up-front with a "distributorship fee," and then make further illicit money by "confidencing" these hapless victims as they fail via the "sale" of collateral material.

Special MLM "Job" Offer: A Losing Proposition

Would a rational person, abreast of the facts, go to work selling any product or service if he or she knew that there was an open agenda to overhire sales reps for the same products in the prospective territory?

What do you think? Is this a good "opportunity" or a recipe for collective disaster?

So, as the saying goes, "Get in early!" This is a rationalization on the level of "getting in early" on the L.A. looting riots. If profit from the sale of products is fundamentally set up to fail, then the only money to be had is to "loot" others by conning them while you have the chance. Don't miss the "opportunity," indeed!

Where is the money coming from for those at the top? From the sucker at the bottom... as in every pyramid scheme. The product could be, and lately has been, anything.

The important thing is to exploit people while the exploiting is good, if you want to make quick money at MLM.

III. Morality and Ethics: A Problem of Greed

Moral Riddle: What is Ever Present but Universally Condemned?

While issues of morality and ethics can be tricky to discuss, materialism and greed are universally condemned by every major religion, and even by most of the irreligious. This does not mean people are not materialistic or greedy; in fact, the common ethical call to not be so is strong evidence that we are.

For most people, this means if we are going to be materialistic or greedy, we would rather not be obvious about it. Thus, Madison Avenue has subtle, highly polished ways of appealing to these vices without being heavy handed. We don't mind so much... as long as it is "veiled." This hypocrisy, while sad, is the status quo. So, Madison Avenue is trying to be ever more subtle in appearing not to be manipulating our immoral "bent" towards greed and materialism.

A Blatant Appeal to Materialism and Greed

Not so with the MLM crowd. Pick up any brochure or videotape for an MLM and you are more than likely to see a cheesy, obvious, and blatant appeal to greed and materialism. This is offensive to everyone, even die-hard materialists. Typical is an appeal to "the American dream." Usually there will be a mood shot of a large new home, a luxury car, a boat, perhaps a beautiful couple boarding a Lear jet, and so on.

While this need not necessarily be part of the MLM approach, it usually is.

Such a transparent appeal should make people suspicious. "Why the bait?" "Are they trying to 'get my juices going' so that my brain turns off?" "Couldn't they show people doing more wholesome things with the money they make?" "If this is really a legitimate opportunity, why not focus on the market, product, or service instead of people reveling in lavish materialism?"

But we have reason enough to know, having read this far, why the distraction is needed. Unbridled greed suspends good judgment. When the eyes gloss over in a materialistic glaze, common sense is a stranger.

Besides being cheesy and offensive to our sensibilities, this is not a big deal for participants, right? But consider that all companies must have control over the way they are presented to the public. Thus, an MLM has the right and obligation to dictate what material is used. Otherwise any agent could say whatever he or she liked about the nature of the company, causing obvious problems. Again, it would take too much time to audit and approve each individual's idea for a presentation where the goal is mass marketing. Using "boilerplate" presentations affords the added benefit of consistency. This is basic "information quality control."

The net effect is that the MLM rep is "stuck" with the company-approved video, brochure, and presentation outline.

"Not Me, I Would Never Stoop That Low!"

In 1991, some distributors in the MLM FUND AMERICA began to produce their own, improved recruitment material. They were summarily fired, which did not please them since many of them were founding members who had "gotten in early."

Later the same year, by the way, the founder of FUND AMERICA was arrested for having generated some 90% of revenues selling "distributorships" versus product... making it clear that this particular MLM was little more than a pyramid scheme.

Job Opening: Salesperson of Sin!

Do you want to be involved in the blatant promotion of values contrary to your belief system?

In most MLMs you will have no choice. You are going to have to sit through meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting. You are going to be "motivated" to coerce your friends and family to hear "the pitch." This is the way the "dream" is planted and fertilized. Get used to it.

If you are a materialist, you only have to get over the cheekiness of the presentation. But if you do not wish to promote such ideas, if you consider them sinful, then this puts you at the focal point of a moral dilemma. Do you wish to be a salesperson for materialism?

Lack of Information Quality Control: An MLM Incentive?

On the flip-side of the issue of being stuck with the recruitment "pitch" is the fact that the MLM organization is otherwise loose, to say the least. This is part of the appeal to many, to "be your own boss."

But in practice this leads to loony product claims, many of which are deceptive and some of which can be positively dangerous.

Hyperbole is a given in an MLM. When inexperienced salespeople are turned loose to sell on full commission without supervision or accountability, what else could happen?

Since MLM organizations are notoriously flash-in-the-pan, one has to wonder why any new company would choose this flawed marketing technique. Perhaps one of the things to consider is that the MLM organization can effectively skirt the Federal Trade Commission by using word-of-mouth testimonials, supposed "studies" done by scientists, fabricated endorsements, rumors and other misrepresentations that would never be allowed to see the light of day in the real world of product promotion, shady as it is.

Thus, MLM has evolved into a "niche": it can be used to sell products that could not be sold any other way. An MLM is a way to get undue credibility by exploiting people's personal friendships and relationships via "networking." This is an intrinsic moral difficulty with MLMs that will be expanded in the last section.

MLM Sales Technique: Rumors, Slander, Defamation

Hyperbole is not limited merely to product claims, however. When MLMers turn to their competitors it can get ugly indeed. Some of the most outlandish rumors of modern history can be traced to MLMs. In recent years, for example, the international rumor that the president of a major real-world corporation was a Satanist, and that the logo of his company contained occult symbols, turned out to have a commercial motive and was traced to specific Amway distributors. These were successfully sued in 1991, but the rumor persists. And how much else of the MLM negative "sales pitch" is fabrication or outright lie? Not all the negative selling claims are as scandalous or widespread as the previous example, but the MLM culture produces so much of this stuff it would be hard to prosecute it all.

Again, what else could be expected from inexperienced salespeople thrown into an oversaturated sales market on full commission and no accountability?

Negative selling is not unique to MLMs, but MLMs have a legacy of fostering a culture of credulity, of bizarre "gossip-as-fact." After all, this is a friend telling me this!

Telling lies about people or groups is slander. Systemic and malicious slander is illegal in most civilized countries. Slander is a sin listed next to murder and adultery in Biblical texts. But how will you know when you become the slanderer by repeating what you heard in an MLM meeting?

Great Men?

Another morally questionable practice that is not intrinsic to MLMs, but seems axiomatic, is the pent-up idolatry of the leaders.

In FUND AMERICA, the "approved materials" showed what a great man the founder was, depicted the depth of his management experience, showed him in mood shots, etc. It is easy to swoon in admiration of such a powerful, visionary man, dedicated to bringing this wonderful opportunity to common Americans like us.

It turned out he was a criminal fugitive from Australia, where he had been run out of town for doing the same.

But you would never guess it from the company material. A great man.

There are more than a few MLM "executives" like this who will pop up tomorrow in the MLM du jour. MLM exploitation can be very profitable and the jail sentences light. Let the MLM "dream" buyer beware.

I have been taken to task for making this point too strongly--and do not wish to imply that all MLM leaders have criminal records--but it does pay to do some research here. Are the idols you are being asked to worship in MLM worthy of respect, or contempt? Have they been prosecuted or sued for exploiting people in the past? Have they done prison time?

Do not expect to hear the full truth in the MLM video.

Pride and the Secret Closet: Vanity and the Way MLMs Grow

"Mr. Prospect, now you aren't required to buy more than three product units, but why bother joining unless you plan to succeed? Besides, all of our products are 100% money back guaranteed."

"Hmmm... To ask for a refund, then, is to admit defeat. Others appear to be doing O.K. at this. I'm no failure! Perhaps I should go to another motivational seminar or strong-arm and alienate one more friend to join. I wasn't fooled! I'm no failure!"

So, the "inventory" and "recruitment kits," never viable, collect dust. They become a pile in the back closet or attic, a trophy to pride being unable to admit that greed seized the moment.

Back to the Pyramids: Innovative Marketing or Organized Crime?

It is generally agreed that to mislead people in order to get their money is morally reprehensible. It is labeled "theft" or "fraud," and those who do it should be punished. No one is naive enough to suggest that you can't make money at it. Crime can pay, at least temporarily.

Pyramid schemes are illegal. They are illegal because they are exploitative and dishonest. They exploit the most vulnerable of people: the desperate, the out-of-work, the ignorant. Those who start and practice such fraud, should, and increasingly are, being punished for their crimes.

But add a product for cover, and call it an MLM, and people are willing to swallow its legality. Is this true? Really? Who says so?

The Feds versus the MLM Gang: The Other Side of the Story

It is a fact that a few large MLMs have survived against the best efforts of law enforcement officials to shut them down, spending millions of dollars to protect, lobby, and insulate themselves. But the same could be said for any organized crime. It is difficult to stop once it becomes so large.

And MLMs look so legitimate to the public, so decent. So many nice people are involved. Surely, it can't be illegal! The people lower down may even defend the very organization that is robbing them, hoping that they might get their chance to make "the big money" later.

But if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. Unless it is an MLM, and then it is NOT a pyramid.

The Feds generally see it differently... when the ML (multi-level) aspect begins to eclipse the M (marketing) of products or services.

People can make money in an MLM, undeniably. The moral issue is: Where is the money coming from? Selling product? Then why not sell the same product in the "real world"?

But everyone knows that the real incentive is the pyramid aspect, and the product just the excuse to make it legal, or at least the MLM promoter would like you to believe it is legal.

The Mob and the MLM: A Stretched Analogy?

Talk to a mobster, and he will tell you that he is "merely misunderstood in his benevolent intentions." "We are just trying to 'build our business.'" "It's all a conspiracy to make us look bad." "The Feds are out to get us because they are jealous or afraid of our new way of life." "Why, look at all the good we do!" "We are looking more legitimate every day." "Here's a statement from a famous DA that the Mob is really a good organization and no harm ever comes from it." "We've even got a minister to endorse us now!"

Propaganda and MLM Expansion

The MLMers of the new millennium are starting to sound a lot like the gangsters of yesteryear. In an era where management science and the law generally condemn MLM, they've "got their own experts," from academia or law, who are "on the payroll." Confidence, remember, is key.

Regardless of all the vehement denials, MLMs are all to some extent pyramid schemes, and pyramid schemes are illegal. Sure, some are "getting away with it," but so did the Mafia for decades. It is hard to stop a juggernaut, especially one that has taken such pains to look legitimate and misunderstood, that is highly organized, and that has so much money from its victims to propagandize, lobby, and defend itself. And so the exploitation goes on.

If these guys show up in your neighborhood, you are either "in" or "out," family or target, friend or foe. Suspicion rules the day; everyone has an "angle"; greed supplants innocence. The "neighborhood" is turned into a marketplace, and may never recover from the blow.

The ethical questions remain: Are MLMs a morally acceptable way to make money? Are they--and will they continue to be--legitimate?

MLM Proselytizing: Beneath Begging?

If money is needed that badly, why not simply ask friends and family for help rather than taking money from them under false pretenses--and also selling them a bill of goods? By "sponsoring" them, you have not only conned them and profited at their expense, you have made them feel like losers, since they are not able to make a success of the hopeless MLM concept.

Once seen, only the morally blind, or consciously criminal, could continue in such a "business."

But wait, perhaps you could recruit... your mother!

Moral Inventory

By way of review, the prospective MLM initiate has to face and resolve these ethical issues:

1.      Do I want to be involved in encouraging people to be more materialistic?
2.      Do I want to sell a product that perhaps couldn't be sold any other way?
3.      Do I want to be a part of an enterprise famous for slander, libel, and rumor?
4.      Do I want to be a part of a company that may employ criminals as marketing experts?
5.      Do I want to make money off my ability to convince people that an unworkable marketing system is viable?
6.      Do I want to be known among my friends and family as a person who tried to con people with a thinly veiled pyramid scheme?

If you can answer these questions "yes," training is available... But remember that God is watching, even if you never get "successful" enough for the Feds to notice you.

IV. Relationship Issues: An Experiential Problem

Learning the Hard Way

MLMs grow by exploiting people's relationships. If you are going to be in an MLM, you swallow hard and accept this as part of "building your business." This is "networking." But to those not "in" the MLM, it seems as if friendship is merely a pretext for phoniness, friendliness is suspected as prospecting, and so on. There is no middle ground here, try as you might.

While this is the most difficult point to make, it is perhaps the most important. Anyone who has any experience with an MLM has strong feelings, either for or against, and this is the problem. Polarization runs deep.

High-pressure Selling -- Reserved for Pyramids Only

When it comes to selling product, MLM sales reps are probably no more aggressive or obnoxious than ordinary salespeople. Since most are not salespeople by nature, and it is characteristic that MLMs attract few people with any experience selling this particular product or service, they usually sell through pre-fab "parties" or home "demos." Thus, sales pressure is exerted by situation, if at all.

It should be noted that when selling product, the only distinction from a real-world business is the possibility for deception due to the "looseness" of the MLM and the incentive to exaggerate claims without any accountability. Other than this, selling product in an MLM is fairly similar to selling any product in the real world.

But when it comes to getting you "signed up" as a "distributor," the MLMers get pushy and deceptive beyond the boundaries of polite social norms.

Remember, an MLM is defined by its rewarding people to recruit others in multiple levels.

"Mother, Let Me Tell You About a Fantastic Opportunity..."

Even ex-accountants are willing to practice the crudest of high-pressure selling tactics, at least when it comes to "signing people up." The end justifies the means, when it comes to getting people to come to the "meetings," where the objective is to get a materialism frenzy going at high pitch through a slick speaker or video. The reasons for this "confidence building" should be obvious by now, but here we are considering the relationship cost associated with the "success" of the MLM.

The above title is meant to be absurd. Most people, no matter how jaded, would not foist such a con on their own mothers. Even if people don't know the specifics of what is wrong with MLMs, intuition often warns us: "Don't tamper with that relationship." The first marks for recruitment are the gullible, or the "expendable" friends. But successive moral compromise, experience, and desperation... may yet lead to "good old Mom."

Never Admit You Are Wrong

Many have left high-paying jobs to "pursue their dreams" in an MLM. Having been conned so dramatically, they do not easily admit defeat. It seems easier to cling to the bad dream in an increasing cycle of desperation to make the MLM work against all odds. "Losers" at the bottom congregate into support groups, perhaps spinning-off another MLM where they can be "boss."

There is an undeniable camaraderie among MLMers. But for everyone else, "there goes the neighborhood." It is saddening to see people being encouraged against all instinct and common sense to chase after an illusory "pot of gold," but what can be done?

Counting the Cost: The First Church of MLM

Many readers will share the experience of observing MLMs divide families, friends, churches, and civic groups. Lifelong friends are now "prospects." The neighborhood is now "a market." Motives change, suspicions rise, divisions form. The question is begged: "Is it worth it?"

Especially nasty is the church situation. Will the pastor join? If not, he will take a dim view of MLM proselytizing at church functions; animosity will rise, factions will form. You are either "in" or out. If the pastor joins, then those who are not "in" will feel a little uncomfortable in this church.

A church (or any community group) can be easily torpedoed by an MLM.

Trust Your Instincts?

For most people, thankfully, the MLM experience usually ends in very quick financial failure and is then sidelined. Two possible responses are: 1) being embarrassed about participation, or 2) becoming even more intractable when the MLM has failed. You will find the latter chasing after the latest "get rich quick" scheme with similar results. "If we could have just sponsored so and so--they have so many friends--we would have made it."

Thus, there is reason for the "bad taste" most people have for MLMs. By instinct if not experience or insight, we wince at the thought of what we know will follow in the wake of an MLM. Relationships strained, factions formed, deception, manipulation, greed, loss, a closet full of videotapes, brochures, and useless inventory that "everybody wants."

Disease Alert: Beware of MLM Blindness

Apparently, it is difficult for gung-ho MLMers to see how they look from the outside. They can watch lifelong friendships unravel, churches and civic groups poisoned, the avoidance of friends and family, etc., and never see that MLM was the cause.

If you try to point this pathology out, you are treated as if you have attacked the very gospel! Perhaps for some, the MLM approach is a new gospel?

They will claim to have made "new friends," most of which are MLMers or new acquaintances who could be considered "future prospects." The shallowness of these "new friends," the stilted conversations among the "old friends," and the embarrassment, in general, for what seems clear to everyone but the MLMer go unnoticed. Callousness sets in; standards are lowered.

Of course, it could be pointed out that this might have happened anyway. Perhaps the die-hard MLMers would have ruined their friendships anyway in some other non-MLM business failure. Is the MLM really the cause, or just the vehicle?

Business failure of any type is traumatic on the relationships involved, but in most small businesses there is at least the chance of success. And this is never the case in an MLM, unless "success" can be defined as profiting off of the failures of others.

Non-MLM real-world businesses that offer products of interest to friends, family, etc., such as insurance agents and small retail shop owners, seem to be more circumspect in dealing with personal relationships in all but a few rare (and grievous) cases. But the MLMer is recognizable by duplicity of friendship overtures, overbearing glad-handing, full-time prospecting, outrageous initial deception, and social callousness. This is no accident, but rather sheer desperation. How could it be otherwise? For the active MLMer is in a hopeless bear trap: with hubris as one steel jaw and oversaturation the other.

And so the MLM relationship "bull" tramples through the relationship "china closet," blindly ruining fragile and valuable things. Some never pull out of this, figuring the coldness they experience in their emotional lives is due to some other cause than their MLM participation.

The Aftermath

One can't help but wish that the "neighborhood" could be like it once was. But an MLM storm has blown through, ruining valuable relationships with no regret or conscience. And brace yourself, another one is coming. Perhaps it is in that smiling face approaching you, or in that nice letter you just received from a "friend"?

What goes unnoticed to the MLMer is that when the neighborhood is turned into a marketplace, something precious is lost... which is not easily regained.

This aspect of the MLM experience should not be underestimated, and the reflective reader would do well to think twice about the value of friends, family, community, and church fellowship before joining or continuing in an MLM.

Summary of What's Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing

1.      MLMs are "doomed by design" to recruit too many salespeople, who in turn will then attempt to recruit even more salespeople, ad infinitum.

2.      For many, the real attraction of involvement in multi-level marketing is the thinly veiled pyramid con-scheme made quasi-legal by the presence of a product or service.

3.      The ethical concessions necessary to be "successful" in many MLM companies are stark and difficult to deal with for most people.

4.      Friends and family should be treated as such, and not as "marks" for exploitation.

It is hoped that by clearly pointing out "What is Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing" that many might be spared the inherent and associative pitfalls by avoiding the practice.

As well, for those who insist on practicing MLM, it is hoped that this analysis will serve as a handy framework of problem areas to be avoided if and where this is possible.

Internet Links for Further Anti-MLM Research & Information

E-Mail examples, Frequently Asked Questions, Additional Points and Rebuttals section at http://www.vandruff.com/mlm_FAQ.html   E-Mail the author of this article, Dean Van Druff, at end of this section.

The Pyramid-Scheme-Alert (PSA) organization offers consumer information on MLMs, news of legal cases, analytical tools, insightful articles, and an opportunity to effect new laws and social change by membership and contribution. You can now do your own evaluation of any MLM program or suspected pyramid scheme by going through the steps suggested by Dr. Jon Taylor, a founder of the PSA, which was developed from six years of rigorous analysis and research to help identify which programs do the greatest harm and why. Check it out now at http://www.pyramidschemealert.org/resources/5step/5steps.htm

False Profits, a book exposing how MLM participation can commandeer and derail people's religious ideals, has a web site at http://www.falseprofits.com/ which includes a sample Chapter of the book and many other excellent articles concerning the legality of MLM.

A Christian businesswoman, Athena Dean, exposes the spiritual cost and compromise of MLM proselytizing within the church in her books "Consumed by Success" and "All that glitters is not God -- Breaking free from the sweet deceit of MLM," available at http://www.winepresspub.com/store/merchant.ihtml?pid=143&step=4

Ami Chen Mills "Shaking the Money Tree" is fascinating journalism that captures the "stink" of MLM pathology and culture most vividly. Hold your nose, and dive into major deja-vu at http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/10.03.96/cover/multilevel-9640.html

FTC warnings on MLM chicanery at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/lotionalrt.htm and http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/invest/mlm.htm, with an excellent legal and historical overview at http://www.ftc.gov/speeches/other/dvimf16.htm

US Government USPS on Employment Schemes, including Distributorship and Franchise Fraud, Phony Job Opportunities, and Multi-Level Marketing at http://www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect/emplmenu.htm, or direct to the MLM warning at http://www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect/pyramid.htm

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has Multi-Level Marketing Scam Alerts at http://www.bbb.com/alerts. This page has become cluttered, so you might want to click on SEARCH and then type in "pyramid" or "multi level marketing".

Forbes Magazine's article on Herbalife has graphs that show the "by design" MLM balloon burst, at http://www.forbes.com/forbes/1997/1020/6009043a.html

Inc. Magazine's Norm Brodsky gives us "Multilevel Mischief" which depicts how MLMs churn through human relationships at http://www.inc.com/magazine/19980601/941.html

Dr. Jon Taylor (see first link) of the Consumer Awareness Institute has posted an analysis of the similarities between MLM and illegal pyramid schemes, which can be downloaded at: http://www.whatisgood.com/nwm

The Quatloos fraud & scam site tackles MLM at http://www.quatloos.com/mlm/mlm.htm

Dr. Stephen Barrett explores the risks of medical products being marketed with MLM at http://www.quackwatch.com/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/mlm.html. Specific examples are given.

"MLM Survivor.com" has some interesting headlines on the latest MLM lawsuits and legal actions by State and Federal law enforcement at http://www.mlmsurvivor.com/.

Charles Midgett's "The Other Side of The Plan" page at http://www.getfacts.com/amway/index.html examines some of the bogus truisms and urban legends taken as fact in MLM culture, such as "9 out of 10 small businesses fail within the first year" as an excuse for the ravages of inevitable MLM failure.

Eli Mantel's "Cagey Consumer" has a great set of research links and concise position statements at http://www.geocities.com/WallStreet/5395/mlminfo.html

For articles on "MLM Harassment" at work, as well as postings on Amway and MLM in General, see The Skeptic's Dictionary at: http://skepdic.com/mlmhar.html

For a humorous lampoon of some of the goofy products often peddled via MLM, see "The Laundry Disk 2000" Website at http://www.worldwidescam.com/

For transcripts of discussion group interviews and dialogs concerning the veracity of MLM, see http://members.aol.com/multisense/home.htm

A book written for Pastors, "Is your Church a Market Place?" by Kim S. Mather, is posted at http://hunza1.tripod.com/amway/church00.html. Along this same line, see the Christian admonition at http://www.users.fast.net/~gospeltruth/Reproof.htm

Robert L. Fitzpatrick's "The 10 Big Lies of MLM" is posted at http://members.tripod.com/~nomorescams/fitzpatrick.htm

A MLM Lawyer gives an opinion on what constitutes a "legal" MLM scheme in the US at http://mlmatty.com/legality.html

Consider Procter & Gamble's perspective on the Amway "Satan Rumor".

For a sampling of lucid reformers within the MLM industry (a most welcome and cathartic trend) see: 1) "Where Have All the Products Gone" by Gerald Nehra at http://mlmstartup.com/articles/ramble.htm; 2) A lament of the soaring prices and flimflam nature of a few too many modern MLM products by Leonard Clements at http://www.marketwaveinc.com/articles/MLMProducts.asp.

As a closing parable - if you are not already familiar with it - please click here to read a synopsis of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Emperor's New Clothes".

To send E-Mail to author Dean Van Druff on this subject, PLEASE read the FAQ first.

Back to Beginning of "What's Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing" Article

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Info yang panjang sekali tentang MLM, terus terang saya juga nggak suka dengan MLM.

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What's Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing?

a.k.a. "Networking" Companies

Bad Image or Bad Reality?

"Let me tell you about an incredible ground-level business opportunity," and you are invited to a house or to lunch for "a discussion." Funny enough, you feel sick in your gut that there is some hidden agenda or deception. "Probably a multi-level marketing (MLM) organization," you think. Suppose it is? Should you trust your instincts? Is there anything wrong with MLM?

This article will analyze four problem areas with MLM. Specifically, it will focus on problems of I) Market Saturation, II) Pyramid Structure, III) Morality and Ethics, and IV) Relationship Issues associated with MLMs. Thus, you can properly assess your "instincts."

I. Market Saturation: An Inherent Problem

Back to the Basics

A tutorial on market saturation hardly seems necessary in most business discussions, but with MLM, unfortunately, it is. Common sense seems to get suspended when considering if MLMs are viable, even theoretically, as a profitable means of distribution for all parties involved. This suspension is created by a heightened expectation of "easy money," but more on that later.

New, Innovative?

MLM can no longer claim to be new and, thus, exempt from the normal rules of the market and the way goods and services are sold. They have been tried and, for the most part, have failed. Some have been miserable failures in spite of offering excellent products.

Marketing innovations are not rare in the modern world, as evidenced by the success of Wal-Mart, which found a more efficient and profitable way to distribute goods and services than the status quo, providing lasting value to stockholders, employees, distributors, and consumers. But this is not the case with any MLM to date, and after 25 years of failed attempts, it is time to point out the reasons why.

Don't Some People Make Money in MLM?

First, we will analyze the "driving mechanism" of MLMs. We will detail how they are intrinsically unstable, guaranteed by design to oversaturate the market with no one noticing. We will look at why MLMs can never equalize into profitability the way companies in the real world can, so that the result will be that the organization as a whole cannot, even in theory, be profitable. When this inevitable destiny occurs, the only money to be made is not from the product or service but from the losses of people lower down in the organization.

Thus the MLM organization becomes exploitative, and many high-level MLM promoters have been shut down, the "executives" incarcerated, for selling the fraud of impossible success to others. Other, larger MLMs have survived by hiring large batteries of attorneys to ward off federal prosecutors, even bragging about the funds they have in reserve for this purpose.

The unfortunate "distributor" at the bottom is the loser, and once this becomes apparent beyond all the slick videotapes and motivational pep-talks, good people start to get a bad taste in their mouths about the whole situation.

So, yes, money can be made with MLM. The question is whether the money being made is legitimate or "made" via a sophisticated con scheme. And if MLM is "doomed by design" to fail, then the answer is, unfortunately, the latter.

But how exactly does this happen, and must it always?

Doomed by Design?

The first question is this: Is any company choosing this marketing strategy destined to fail, to degenerate into an exploitative venture, regardless of how good the product is?

To see this clearly we must go through an, otherwise, obvious and elementary discussion of how any business must be careful not to overhire, overextend, or oversupply a market.

The Real World

Any business must carefully consider supply and demand. For example, if the ReVo Corporation thinks that it will have a full-fledged fad on their ovoid sunglasses next summer, perhaps they should plan to build and distribute, say, 10M units. This involves gearing up factories, setting up distribution and dealer networks, and carefully managing the inventories at each level so that ReVo will still have credibility with their distributors, retail outlets, and the public the following year.

If it turns out that there is a "run" on ReVo products, and they sell out in mid-June, then they have miscalculated demand and will miss out on profits they could have made. The more serious problem, however, is overestimating the saturation point for the product. If they make 10M units, and sell only 2M units, this may be the end of ReVo as a company.

The all-too-obvious point here is that management of supply and demand, and keen insight into realistic market penetration and saturation are crucial to any business, for any product or service. Mismanagement of this aspect of a business will eclipse good market access, excellent product design, human resource assets, production quality, and so on. Simply stated, a failure to "hit the target" of supply and demand can ruin a company if the market is oversaturated.

Market Dynamics and the End of the Cold War

Interestingly, the issue of supply and demand is what brought the USSR to its knees. By design, the Soviet government tried to macro-manage supply, where bureaucrats would decide how many potatoes were needed, how much toilet paper, etc. Assuming these bureaucrats did the best they could, unfortunately their efforts to deliberately manipulate the control "knob" of supply and demand was not good enough. Notwithstanding their good intentions, they were usually wrong, which created huge shortages and surpluses, and led to a massive economic collapse.

Seeing the disastrous end of market naiveté in Russia should help clarify the fundamental problem with the MLM approach. In the real world, the profit of a company is directly related to the skill and prescience of the "hand" on the "supply knob," so to speak. In the USSR, that "hand" could not react fast or accurately enough to market realities through the best efforts of the bureaucrats.

With MLMs, the situation is much worse. Nobody is home. Even the Soviets had someone thinking about how much was enough! If the bureaucrat in Russia was having a hard time trying to play Adam Smith's "invisible hand" in setting the supply level in the Soviet Union, then an MLM "executive" is in a truly unfortunate position. Not only is there no one assigned to make the decision of how much is enough, the MLM is set up by design to blindly go past the saturation point and keep on going. It will grow till it collapses under its own weight, without even a bureaucrat noticing.

MLM is like a train with no brakes and no engineer headed full-throttle towards a terminal.

"Everyone Will Want to Buy This Product!"

All products and services have partial market penetration. For example, only so many people wish to use a discount broker, as evidenced by the very successful but only partial market penetration of Charles Schwab. Not everyone wishes to join a particular discount club, or buy gold, or drink filtered water, or wear a particular style of shoe, or use any product or service. No one in the real world of business would seriously consider the thin arguments of the MLMers when they flippantly mention the infinite market need for their product or services.

The Demand Problem: Of Widgets and MLMs

Imagine a neat new product called a Widget that will sell for $100 (a fixed price, to keep it simple). Now, while everyone could use a Widget, not everyone will. Some will be afraid of anything new. Some will be loyal to existing brands. Some will want to buy an inferior product for less money. Some will want a more expensive product for prestige, regardless of quality. The reasons go on and on, and the fact is that only "X" Widgets will sell at $100.

The question for would-be marketeers is... what is "X," and how can it be predicted to maximize profits? The fact that "X" is hard to pin down does not mean that it does not exist, and every Widget built beyond "X" will end up producing a problem for the organization. The market only wants "X" Widgets at $100. What are you going to do with your extra inventory of Widgets beyond "X" that no one wants, and the sales people you hired to sell them?

No one can perfectly predict "X," and the situation is not nearly as simple as considered here, but the objective for marketeers is to forecast "X" as closely as possible in order to provide lasting value to all parties involved: to avoid missed opportunities as well as waste, loss, or failure.

The MLM Forecasting Approach: Ignoring the Target

Who has an eye on "X," the point of market saturation at a given price, in an MLM? Well, the funny thing, or perhaps the tragic thing, is that "X" will be reached and exceeded without anyone noticing or caring.

Let's just suppose that "X" has been reached today in a particular MLM; the number of possible units sold at this price has just been exceeded, and you happen to be a starry-eyed prospect sitting in an MLM meeting listening to the pitch. Now consider: Does anyone in this company know about "X"? Does anyone care? Is the issue being suppressed on purpose for some other motive? Since we are supposing that the market saturation number "X" has been reached, everyone joining the MLM from now on is buying into a false hope. But that is not what the speaker will be saying. He will be telling you, "Now is the time to join. Get in on the 'ground floor'." But it is all a lie, even though the speaker may not know it. The total available market "X" has been reached and nobody noticed. All the distributors will lose from here on out. Could this be you? How could you possibly know at what point you will become the liar in an MLM?

Pop or Drop

Perhaps a better paradigm than the runaway train analogy offered earlier of how MLMs perform over time is this: a helium balloon let loose in an empty room with a spiked ceiling, where product quality is analogous to the amount of helium. The better the product, the faster the balloon will rise, accelerating unhindered, towards disaster. The other option would be the case of a lousy product, in which case the balloon will sink of its own accord, never getting off the ground. To be sure, equilibrium is not in the cards, except perhaps as an accident, and then only temporarily. MLMs are intrinsically unstable. For any company that chooses an MLM approach, it's pop or drop.

MLMs vs. the Real World

The basic question that needs to be asked is this: If this product or service is so great, then why isn't it being sold through the customary marketing system that has served human society for thousands of years? Why does it need to resort to a "special marketing" scheme like an MLM? Why does everyone need to be so inexperienced at marketing this! Is the product just a thin cover for what is really a pyramid scheme of exploiting others? But more on that later.

From Contracted, Protected Distribution... to Mayhem

Imagine that Wendy's became suddenly possessed by the idea that "everyone needs to eat," and opened four Wendy's franchises on the four corners of an intersection in your neighborhood. Who would benefit from this folly? The consumer? Certainly not the franchises; they would all lose. Wendy's corporate? Perhaps temporarily, by speculative inventory sales while the unfortunate franchises were under the delusion that they could all make money. But in the end, the negative image of four outlets dying a slow death would likely offset the temporary inventory sales bubble. Even the most unreflective of the hapless franchisees would think twice about doing business in such a manner again. This is why real-world distributorships and franchises are contractually protected by territory and/or market.

Again, the simple fact is that even the most successful products will have partial market penetration. The same is true for services. Demand and "market share" are finite, and to overestimate either is catastrophic.

So why are MLM promoters obscuring this? Who is in control of the supply "knob," carefully and skillfully managing the size of the distribution channels, number of salespeople, inventory, etc., to insure the success of all involved in the business? The truth is chilling: nobody.

Imagine trying to write a computer model of how MLMs work, and you will see this point most vividly. An MLM could never work, even in theory. Think about it.

The People Machine

Chernobyl had a control system that failed. MLMs have no control mechanisms at all.

Where is the "switch" that can be flipped in an MLM when enough sales people are hired? In a normal company a manager says, "We have enough, let's stop hiring people at this point." But in an MLM, there is no way to do this. An MLM is a human "churning" machine with no "off button." Out of control by design, its gears will grind up the money, time, credibility, and entrepreneurial energy of well-meaning people who joined merely to supplement their income. Better to just steer clear of this monster to begin with.

There is simply no way to avoid the built-in failure mechanism of MLMs. If a company chooses to market this way, it will eventually "hire" (with no base pay and charging to join) far too many people.

Thus, the only "control system" will be the inevitable losses and subsequent bad image the MLM company will gain after it does what it was designed to do: fail. And sooner or later we have got to stop blaming this particular MLM company or that, and admit that the MLM technique itself is fundamentally flawed.

II. Pyramid Structure: An Organizational Problem

The Un-Pyramid

For most MLMs, the product is really a mere diversion from the real profit-making dynamic. To anyone familiar with MLMs, the previous discussion (which focused so much on the fact that MLMs are "doomed by design" to reach market saturation and thus put the people who are legitimately trying to sell the product into a difficult situation) may seem to miss the point. The product or service may well be good, and it might oversaturate at some point, but let's get serious. The product is not the incentive to join an MLM. Otherwise people might have shown an interest in selling this particular product or service before in the real world. The product is the excuse to attempt to legitimate the real money-making engine. It's "the cover."

Intuitively, we all know what is really going on with MLMs. Just don't use the word "pyramid"!

"You see, if you can convince ten people that everyone needs this product or service, even though they aren't buying similar products available in the market, and they can convince ten people, and so on, that's how you make the real money. And as long as you sell to a few people along the way, it is all legal." Maybe...

But the way to make money in all this is clearly not by only selling product, otherwise you might have shown an interest in it before, through conventional market opportunities. No, the "hook" is selling others on selling others on "the dream."

Math and Common Sense

MLMs work by geometric expansion, where you get ten to sponsor ten to sponsor ten, and so on. This is usually shown as an expanding matrix (just don't say "pyramid"!) with corresponding kick-backs at various levels.

The problem here is one of common sense. At a mere three levels deep this would be 1,000 people. There goes the neighborhood! At six levels deep, that would be 1,000,000 people believing they can make money selling. But to whom? There goes the city! And the MLM is just getting its steam going. Think of all the meetings! Think of all the "dreams" being sold! Think of the false hopes being generated. Think of the money being lost.

It Will Fail??? It Cannot Fail???

Nothing irritates a die-hard MLMer more than the preceding argument. If you point out the absurdity, for example, that if "the pitch" at an Amway meeting were even moderately accurate, in something like 18 months Amway would be larger than the GNP of the entire United States, then listen closely for a major gear-shift: "Well, that is absurd, of course. Not everyone will succeed, and so the market will never saturate."

Well, which is it? Are we recruiting "winners" to build a real business, or planning by design to profit off of "losers" who buy into our "confidence"?

During "the pitch," anyone can make it work. "It's the opportunity of a lifetime." "Just look at the math!" But mention the inevitable saturation and the losses this is going to cause for everyone, and then you'll hear, "Of course it would never really work like that." "Most will fail," you will be told, "but not you, Mr. Recruit. You are a winner. I can just see it in your eyes."

If you are a starry-eyed recruit, it will grow as presented. If you are a logical skeptic, then of course it would never really work like that.

But the dialog usually never even gets to this. The fact that MLM is in a mad dash to oversupply is largely chided as mere "stinkin' thinkin'." Expert MLMers know how to quickly deflect this issue with parable, joke, personal testimony, or some other sleight of mind.

New Solution: A Retarded MLM

Some modern incarnations of MLMs attempt to address this particular problem by limiting the number of people you can sponsor, say, to four. But the same geometric expansion problems exist; the failure mechanism has just been slowed down a bit. And now there is the added problem of even more unnecessary layers in the organization.

The claim that an MLM is merely a "common man" implementation of a normal real-world distribution channel becomes even more absurd in this case. Imagine buying a product or service in the real world and having to pay overrides and royalties to five or ten unneeded and uninvolved "distributor" layers. Would this be efficient? What value do these layers of "distributors" provide to the consumer? Is this rational? Would such a company exist long in a competitive environment?

Confidence Men and the Shadow Pyramid

The age-old technique of "con men" is to create "confidence" in some otherwise dumb idea by diversion of thought, bait, or force of personality. The victim gets confidence in a bogus plan, and, in exchange, the con man gets your money. MLMers are very high on confidence.

Since the brain inevitably intrudes itself into the delusion that an MLM could ever work, spirits drop and attitudes go sour. But this depressive state can itself be exploited. As doubts grow when the MLM does not do what recruits were first "con"fidenced to expect, then a further profit can be made keeping the confidence going against all common sense.

Thus, a parallel or "shadow" pyramid of motivational tapes, seminars, and videos emerges. These are a "must for success," and recruits are strong-armed into attending, buying, buying, and buying all the more. This motivational "shadow pyramid" further exploits the flagging recruits as they spiral inexorably into oversaturation and failure. The more they fail, the more "help" they need from those who are "successful" above them.

So, MLMs profit by conning recruits up-front with a "distributorship fee," and then make further illicit money by "confidencing" these hapless victims as they fail via the "sale" of collateral material.

Special MLM "Job" Offer: A Losing Proposition

Would a rational person, abreast of the facts, go to work selling any product or service if he or she knew that there was an open agenda to overhire sales reps for the same products in the prospective territory?

What do you think? Is this a good "opportunity" or a recipe for collective disaster?

So, as the saying goes, "Get in early!" This is a rationalization on the level of "getting in early" on the L.A. looting riots. If profit from the sale of products is fundamentally set up to fail, then the only money to be had is to "loot" others by conning them while you have the chance. Don't miss the "opportunity," indeed!

Where is the money coming from for those at the top? From the sucker at the bottom... as in every pyramid scheme. The product could be, and lately has been, anything.

The important thing is to exploit people while the exploiting is good, if you want to make quick money at MLM.

III. Morality and Ethics: A Problem of Greed

Moral Riddle: What is Ever Present but Universally Condemned?

While issues of morality and ethics can be tricky to discuss, materialism and greed are universally condemned by every major religion, and even by most of the irreligious. This does not mean people are not materialistic or greedy; in fact, the common ethical call to not be so is strong evidence that we are.

For most people, this means if we are going to be materialistic or greedy, we would rather not be obvious about it. Thus, Madison Avenue has subtle, highly polished ways of appealing to these vices without being heavy handed. We don't mind so much... as long as it is "veiled." This hypocrisy, while sad, is the status quo. So, Madison Avenue is trying to be ever more subtle in appearing not to be manipulating our immoral "bent" towards greed and materialism.

A Blatant Appeal to Materialism and Greed

Not so with the MLM crowd. Pick up any brochure or videotape for an MLM and you are more than likely to see a cheesy, obvious, and blatant appeal to greed and materialism. This is offensive to everyone, even die-hard materialists. Typical is an appeal to "the American dream." Usually there will be a mood shot of a large new home, a luxury car, a boat, perhaps a beautiful couple boarding a Lear jet, and so on.

While this need not necessarily be part of the MLM approach, it usually is.

Such a transparent appeal should make people suspicious. "Why the bait?" "Are they trying to 'get my juices going' so that my brain turns off?" "Couldn't they show people doing more wholesome things with the money they make?" "If this is really a legitimate opportunity, why not focus on the market, product, or service instead of people reveling in lavish materialism?"

But we have reason enough to know, having read this far, why the distraction is needed. Unbridled greed suspends good judgment. When the eyes gloss over in a materialistic glaze, common sense is a stranger.

Besides being cheesy and offensive to our sensibilities, this is not a big deal for participants, right? But consider that all companies must have control over the way they are presented to the public. Thus, an MLM has the right and obligation to dictate what material is used. Otherwise any agent could say whatever he or she liked about the nature of the company, causing obvious problems. Again, it would take too much time to audit and approve each individual's idea for a presentation where the goal is mass marketing. Using "boilerplate" presentations affords the added benefit of consistency. This is basic "information quality control."

The net effect is that the MLM rep is "stuck" with the company-approved video, brochure, and presentation outline.

"Not Me, I Would Never Stoop That Low!"

In 1991, some distributors in the MLM FUND AMERICA began to produce their own, improved recruitment material. They were summarily fired, which did not please them since many of them were founding members who had "gotten in early."

Later the same year, by the way, the founder of FUND AMERICA was arrested for having generated some 90% of revenues selling "distributorships" versus product... making it clear that this particular MLM was little more than a pyramid scheme.

Job Opening: Salesperson of Sin!

Do you want to be involved in the blatant promotion of values contrary to your belief system?

In most MLMs you will have no choice. You are going to have to sit through meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting. You are going to be "motivated" to coerce your friends and family to hear "the pitch." This is the way the "dream" is planted and fertilized. Get used to it.

If you are a materialist, you only have to get over the cheekiness of the presentation. But if you do not wish to promote such ideas, if you consider them sinful, then this puts you at the focal point of a moral dilemma. Do you wish to be a salesperson for materialism?

Lack of Information Quality Control: An MLM Incentive?

On the flip-side of the issue of being stuck with the recruitment "pitch" is the fact that the MLM organization is otherwise loose, to say the least. This is part of the appeal to many, to "be your own boss."

But in practice this leads to loony product claims, many of which are deceptive and some of which can be positively dangerous.

Hyperbole is a given in an MLM. When inexperienced salespeople are turned loose to sell on full commission without supervision or accountability, what else could happen?

Since MLM organizations are notoriously flash-in-the-pan, one has to wonder why any new company would choose this flawed marketing technique. Perhaps one of the things to consider is that the MLM organization can effectively skirt the Federal Trade Commission by using word-of-mouth testimonials, supposed "studies" done by scientists, fabricated endorsements, rumors and other misrepresentations that would never be allowed to see the light of day in the real world of product promotion, shady as it is.

Thus, MLM has evolved into a "niche": it can be used to sell products that could not be sold any other way. An MLM is a way to get undue credibility by exploiting people's personal friendships and relationships via "networking." This is an intrinsic moral difficulty with MLMs that will be expanded in the last section.

MLM Sales Technique: Rumors, Slander, Defamation

Hyperbole is not limited merely to product claims, however. When MLMers turn to their competitors it can get ugly indeed. Some of the most outlandish rumors of modern history can be traced to MLMs. In recent years, for example, the international rumor that the president of a major real-world corporation was a Satanist, and that the logo of his company contained occult symbols, turned out to have a commercial motive and was traced to specific Amway distributors. These were successfully sued in 1991, but the rumor persists. And how much else of the MLM negative "sales pitch" is fabrication or outright lie? Not all the negative selling claims are as scandalous or widespread as the previous example, but the MLM culture produces so much of this stuff it would be hard to prosecute it all.

Again, what else could be expected from inexperienced salespeople thrown into an oversaturated sales market on full commission and no accountability?

Negative selling is not unique to MLMs, but MLMs have a legacy of fostering a culture of credulity, of bizarre "gossip-as-fact." After all, this is a friend telling me this!

Telling lies about people or groups is slander. Systemic and malicious slander is illegal in most civilized countries. Slander is a sin listed next to murder and adultery in Biblical texts. But how will you know when you become the slanderer by repeating what you heard in an MLM meeting?

Great Men?

Another morally questionable practice that is not intrinsic to MLMs, but seems axiomatic, is the pent-up idolatry of the leaders.

In FUND AMERICA, the "approved materials" showed what a great man the founder was, depicted the depth of his management experience, showed him in mood shots, etc. It is easy to swoon in admiration of such a powerful, visionary man, dedicated to bringing this wonderful opportunity to common Americans like us.

It turned out he was a criminal fugitive from Australia, where he had been run out of town for doing the same.

But you would never guess it from the company material. A great man.

There are more than a few MLM "executives" like this who will pop up tomorrow in the MLM du jour. MLM exploitation can be very profitable and the jail sentences light. Let the MLM "dream" buyer beware.

I have been taken to task for making this point too strongly--and do not wish to imply that all MLM leaders have criminal records--but it does pay to do some research here. Are the idols you are being asked to worship in MLM worthy of respect, or contempt? Have they been prosecuted or sued for exploiting people in the past? Have they done prison time?

Do not expect to hear the full truth in the MLM video.

Pride and the Secret Closet: Vanity and the Way MLMs Grow

"Mr. Prospect, now you aren't required to buy more than three product units, but why bother joining unless you plan to succeed? Besides, all of our products are 100% money back guaranteed."

"Hmmm... To ask for a refund, then, is to admit defeat. Others appear to be doing O.K. at this. I'm no failure! Perhaps I should go to another motivational seminar or strong-arm and alienate one more friend to join. I wasn't fooled! I'm no failure!"

So, the "inventory" and "recruitment kits," never viable, collect dust. They become a pile in the back closet or attic, a trophy to pride being unable to admit that greed seized the moment.

Back to the Pyramids: Innovative Marketing or Organized Crime?

It is generally agreed that to mislead people in order to get their money is morally reprehensible. It is labeled "theft" or "fraud," and those who do it should be punished. No one is naive enough to suggest that you can't make money at it. Crime can pay, at least temporarily.

Pyramid schemes are illegal. They are illegal because they are exploitative and dishonest. They exploit the most vulnerable of people: the desperate, the out-of-work, the ignorant. Those who start and practice such fraud, should, and increasingly are, being punished for their crimes.

But add a product for cover, and call it an MLM, and people are willing to swallow its legality. Is this true? Really? Who says so?

The Feds versus the MLM Gang: The Other Side of the Story

It is a fact that a few large MLMs have survived against the best efforts of law enforcement officials to shut them down, spending millions of dollars to protect, lobby, and insulate themselves. But the same could be said for any organized crime. It is difficult to stop once it becomes so large.

And MLMs look so legitimate to the public, so decent. So many nice people are involved. Surely, it can't be illegal! The people lower down may even defend the very organization that is robbing them, hoping that they might get their chance to make "the big money" later.

But if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. Unless it is an MLM, and then it is NOT a pyramid.

The Feds generally see it differently... when the ML (multi-level) aspect begins to eclipse the M (marketing) of products or services.

People can make money in an MLM, undeniably. The moral issue is: Where is the money coming from? Selling product? Then why not sell the same product in the "real world"?

But everyone knows that the real incentive is the pyramid aspect, and the product just the excuse to make it legal, or at least the MLM promoter would like you to believe it is legal.

The Mob and the MLM: A Stretched Analogy?

Talk to a mobster, and he will tell you that he is "merely misunderstood in his benevolent intentions." "We are just trying to 'build our business.'" "It's all a conspiracy to make us look bad." "The Feds are out to get us because they are jealous or afraid of our new way of life." "Why, look at all the good we do!" "We are looking more legitimate every day." "Here's a statement from a famous DA that the Mob is really a good organization and no harm ever comes from it." "We've even got a minister to endorse us now!"

Propaganda and MLM Expansion

The MLMers of the new millennium are starting to sound a lot like the gangsters of yesteryear. In an era where management science and the law generally condemn MLM, they've "got their own experts," from academia or law, who are "on the payroll." Confidence, remember, is key.

Regardless of all the vehement denials, MLMs are all to some extent pyramid schemes, and pyramid schemes are illegal. Sure, some are "getting away with it," but so did the Mafia for decades. It is hard to stop a juggernaut, especially one that has taken such pains to look legitimate and misunderstood, that is highly organized, and that has so much money from its victims to propagandize, lobby, and defend itself. And so the exploitation goes on.

If these guys show up in your neighborhood, you are either "in" or "out," family or target, friend or foe. Suspicion rules the day; everyone has an "angle"; greed supplants innocence. The "neighborhood" is turned into a marketplace, and may never recover from the blow.

The ethical questions remain: Are MLMs a morally acceptable way to make money? Are they--and will they continue to be--legitimate?

MLM Proselytizing: Beneath Begging?

If money is needed that badly, why not simply ask friends and family for help rather than taking money from them under false pretenses--and also selling them a bill of goods? By "sponsoring" them, you have not only conned them and profited at their expense, you have made them feel like losers, since they are not able to make a success of the hopeless MLM concept.

Once seen, only the morally blind, or consciously criminal, could continue in such a "business."

But wait, perhaps you could recruit... your mother!

Moral Inventory

By way of review, the prospective MLM initiate has to face and resolve these ethical issues:

1.      Do I want to be involved in encouraging people to be more materialistic?

2.      Do I want to sell a product that perhaps couldn't be sold any other way?

3.      Do I want to be a part of an enterprise famous for slander, libel, and rumor?

4.      Do I want to be a part of a company that may employ criminals as marketing experts?

5.      Do I want to make money off my ability to convince people that an unworkable marketing system is viable?

6.      Do I want to be known among my friends and family as a person who tried to con people with a thinly veiled pyramid scheme?

If you can answer these questions "yes," training is available... But remember that God is watching, even if you never get "successful" enough for the Feds to notice you.

IV. Relationship Issues: An Experiential Problem

Learning the Hard Way

MLMs grow by exploiting people's relationships. If you are going to be in an MLM, you swallow hard and accept this as part of "building your business." This is "networking." But to those not "in" the MLM, it seems as if friendship is merely a pretext for phoniness, friendliness is suspected as prospecting, and so on. There is no middle ground here, try as you might.

While this is the most difficult point to make, it is perhaps the most important. Anyone who has any experience with an MLM has strong feelings, either for or against, and this is the problem. Polarization runs deep.

High-pressure Selling -- Reserved for Pyramids Only

When it comes to selling product, MLM sales reps are probably no more aggressive or obnoxious than ordinary salespeople. Since most are not salespeople by nature, and it is characteristic that MLMs attract few people with any experience selling this particular product or service, they usually sell through pre-fab "parties" or home "demos." Thus, sales pressure is exerted by situation, if at all.

It should be noted that when selling product, the only distinction from a real-world business is the possibility for deception due to the "looseness" of the MLM and the incentive to exaggerate claims without any accountability. Other than this, selling product in an MLM is fairly similar to selling any product in the real world.

But when it comes to getting you "signed up" as a "distributor," the MLMers get pushy and deceptive beyond the boundaries of polite social norms.

Remember, an MLM is defined by its rewarding people to recruit others in multiple levels.

"Mother, Let Me Tell You About a Fantastic Opportunity..."

Even ex-accountants are willing to practice the crudest of high-pressure selling tactics, at least when it comes to "signing people up." The end justifies the means, when it comes to getting people to come to the "meetings," where the objective is to get a materialism frenzy going at high pitch through a slick speaker or video. The reasons for this "confidence building" should be obvious by now, but here we are considering the relationship cost associated with the "success" of the MLM.

The above title is meant to be absurd. Most people, no matter how jaded, would not foist such a con on their own mothers. Even if people don't know the specifics of what is wrong with MLMs, intuition often warns us: "Don't tamper with that relationship." The first marks for recruitment are the gullible, or the "expendable" friends. But successive moral compromise, experience, and desperation... may yet lead to "good old Mom."

Never Admit You Are Wrong

Many have left high-paying jobs to "pursue their dreams" in an MLM. Having been conned so dramatically, they do not easily admit defeat. It seems easier to cling to the bad dream in an increasing cycle of desperation to make the MLM work against all odds. "Losers" at the bottom congregate into support groups, perhaps spinning-off another MLM where they can be "boss."

There is an undeniable camaraderie among MLMers. But for everyone else, "there goes the neighborhood." It is saddening to see people being encouraged against all instinct and common sense to chase after an illusory "pot of gold," but what can be done?

Counting the Cost: The First Church of MLM

Many readers will share the experience of observing MLMs divide families, friends, churches, and civic groups. Lifelong friends are now "prospects." The neighborhood is now "a market." Motives change, suspicions rise, divisions form. The question is begged: "Is it worth it?"

Especially nasty is the church situation. Will the pastor join? If not, he will take a dim view of MLM proselytizing at church functions; animosity will rise, factions will form. You are either "in" or out. If the pastor joins, then those who are not "in" will feel a little uncomfortable in this church.

A church (or any community group) can be easily torpedoed by an MLM.

Trust Your Instincts?

For most people, thankfully, the MLM experience usually ends in very quick financial failure and is then sidelined. Two possible responses are: 1) being embarrassed about participation, or 2) becoming even more intractable when the MLM has failed. You will find the latter chasing after the latest "get rich quick" scheme with similar results. "If we could have just sponsored so and so--they have so many friends--we would have made it."

Thus, there is reason for the "bad taste" most people have for MLMs. By instinct if not experience or insight, we wince at the thought of what we know will follow in the wake of an MLM. Relationships strained, factions formed, deception, manipulation, greed, loss, a closet full of videotapes, brochures, and useless inventory that "everybody wants."

Disease Alert: Beware of MLM Blindness

Apparently, it is difficult for gung-ho MLMers to see how they look from the outside. They can watch lifelong friendships unravel, churches and civic groups poisoned, the avoidance of friends and family, etc., and never see that MLM was the cause.

If you try to point this pathology out, you are treated as if you have attacked the very gospel! Perhaps for some, the MLM approach is a new gospel?

They will claim to have made "new friends," most of which are MLMers or new acquaintances who could be considered "future prospects." The shallowness of these "new friends," the stilted conversations among the "old friends," and the embarrassment, in general, for what seems clear to everyone but the MLMer go unnoticed. Callousness sets in; standards are lowered.

Of course, it could be pointed out that this might have happened anyway. Perhaps the die-hard MLMers would have ruined their friendships anyway in some other non-MLM business failure. Is the MLM really the cause, or just the vehicle?

Business failure of any type is traumatic on the relationships involved, but in most small businesses there is at least the chance of success. And this is never the case in an MLM, unless "success" can be defined as profiting off of the failures of others.

Non-MLM real-world businesses that offer products of interest to friends, family, etc., such as insurance agents and small retail shop owners, seem to be more circumspect in dealing with personal relationships in all but a few rare (and grievous) cases. But the MLMer is recognizable by duplicity of friendship overtures, overbearing glad-handing, full-time prospecting, outrageous initial deception, and social callousness. This is no accident, but rather sheer desperation. How could it be otherwise? For the active MLMer is in a hopeless bear trap: with hubris as one steel jaw and oversaturation the other.

And so the MLM relationship "bull" tramples through the relationship "china closet," blindly ruining fragile and valuable things. Some never pull out of this, figuring the coldness they experience in their emotional lives is due to some other cause than their MLM participation.

The Aftermath

One can't help but wish that the "neighborhood" could be like it once was. But an MLM storm has blown through, ruining valuable relationships with no regret or conscience. And brace yourself, another one is coming. Perhaps it is in that smiling face approaching you, or in that nice letter you just received from a "friend"?

What goes unnoticed to the MLMer is that when the neighborhood is turned into a marketplace, something precious is lost... which is not easily regained.

This aspect of the MLM experience should not be underestimated, and the reflective reader would do well to think twice about the value of friends, family, community, and church fellowship before joining or continuing in an MLM.

Summary of What's Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing

1.      MLMs are "doomed by design" to recruit too many salespeople, who in turn will then attempt to recruit even more salespeople, ad infinitum.

2.      For many, the real attraction of involvement in multi-level marketing is the thinly veiled pyramid con-scheme made quasi-legal by the presence of a product or service.

3.      The ethical concessions necessary to be "successful" in many MLM companies are stark and difficult to deal with for most people.

4.      Friends and family should be treated as such, and not as "marks" for exploitation.

It is hoped that by clearly pointing out "What is Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing" that many might be spared the inherent and associative pitfalls by avoiding the practice.

As well, for those who insist on practicing MLM, it is hoped that this analysis will serve as a handy framework of problem areas to be avoided if and where this is possible.

Internet Links for Further Anti-MLM Research & Information

Back to Beginning of "What's Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing" Article

This document is at http://www.vandruff.com/mlm.html

Koreksi Untuk FEBRY,

Ada beberapa Perusahaan MLM yang sudah  bergabung di APPLI sejak Pertama
kali APPLI didirikan tahun 1993 (sudah lebih dari 10 tahun) yakni:

1.  0003/06/93 PT. Citra Nusa Insan Cemerlang CNI
2.  0004/06/93 PT. Foreverindo Insanabadi Forever Young Indonesia
                            Website:  http://www.foreveryoung.co.id
3.  0005/06/93 PT. Amway Indonesia Amway
4.  0008/06/93 PT. Multicare Mitra Sejahtera Multicare
http://www.multicare.co.id
5.  0009/06/93 PT. Imawi Benjaya Tupperware  http://www.tupperware.co.id
6.  0011/06/93 PT. Orindo Alam Ayu Oriflame

Perusahaan ini sudah terbukti bertahan diatas 10 tahun di Indoensia dan
mampu melewati badai krisis moneter di Indonesia.

Salam,
http://sndfocus.biz/go.cgi/Freddy_HE


-----Original Message-----
From: Febry Arsianto [mailto:febdin@...]
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 5:26 PM
To: ssr-klub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [SSR-Klub] Simulasi pendapatan distributor MLM



Pak Putra,

>apakah mungkin janji-janji yang diberikan di MLM bahwa apabila kita
>konsisten dan bekerja keras dalam jangka waktu yang cukup lama maka kita
>akan memperoleh pasive income yang besar? Atau mungkin ada yang salah dalam
>simulasi saya.

Jawabannya adalah benar sekali Pak. Anda PASTI akan mendapatkan Passive
Income (PI) jika sudah mencapai level tertentu di semua biz MLM. Tapi
masalahnya adalah apakah Perusahaan MLM itu akan bertahan lama bahkan sampai
kiamat utk bisa memastikan ahli waris kita tetap bisa mendapatkan PI dari
Biz MLM yg kita bangun?

Saran saya pilih yg sudah terbukti lebih dari 5 tahun di Indonesia bahkan
utk lebih aman yg sudah lebih dari 10 tahun di Indonesia. Krn banyak MLM yg
'mati suri' beberapa tahun stlh mrk beroperasi. Kalo mau cek bisa liat dari
ijin yg didapat dari www.apli.or.id yaitu APLI (Asosiasi Penjual Langsung
Indonesia) yg mewadahi Perusahaan MLM di Indonesia. Disitu bisa terlihat
tahun keluar ijin thd perusahaan2 MLM yg ada. Kalo yg udah lebih dari 10 thn
setahu saya baru CNI dan Amway aja. CMIIW.

_________________________________________________________________
Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8.
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail

Makanya saya kasih link ke situs APLI krn saya juga yakin pasti lebih banyak
lagi selain CNI dan Amway yg lebih dari 10 thn. Thx atas koreksinya Pak
Freddy.

Regards,
Febry - www.milyuner.net


> -----Original Message-----
> From: NETpreneur - [mailto:Netpreneur_biz@...]
> Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 10:00 AM
> To: SSR-klub@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: FW: [SSR-Klub] Simulasi pendapatan distributor MLM
>
> Koreksi Untuk FEBRY,
>
> Ada beberapa Perusahaan MLM yang sudah  bergabung di APPLI
> sejak Pertama kali APPLI didirikan tahun 1993 (sudah lebih
> dari 10 tahun) yakni:
>
> 1.  0003/06/93 PT. Citra Nusa Insan Cemerlang CNI 2.
> 0004/06/93 PT. Foreverindo Insanabadi Forever Young Indonesia
>                            Website:
> http://www.foreveryoung.co.id 3.  0005/06/93 PT. Amway
> Indonesia Amway 4.  0008/06/93 PT. Multicare Mitra Sejahtera
> Multicare http://www.multicare.co.id 5.  0009/06/93 PT. Imawi
> Benjaya Tupperware  http://www.tupperware.co.id 6.
> 0011/06/93 PT. Orindo Alam Ayu Oriflame
>
> Perusahaan ini sudah terbukti bertahan diatas 10 tahun di
> Indoensia dan mampu melewati badai krisis moneter di Indonesia.
>
> Salam,
> http://sndfocus.biz/go.cgi/Freddy_HE
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Febry Arsianto [mailto:febdin@...]
> Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 5:26 PM
> To: ssr-klub@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [SSR-Klub] Simulasi pendapatan distributor MLM
>
>
>
> Pak Putra,
>
> >apakah mungkin janji-janji yang diberikan di MLM bahwa apabila kita
> >konsisten dan bekerja keras dalam jangka waktu yang cukup lama maka
> >kita akan memperoleh pasive income yang besar? Atau mungkin ada yang
> >salah dalam simulasi saya.
>
> Jawabannya adalah benar sekali Pak. Anda PASTI akan
> mendapatkan Passive Income (PI) jika sudah mencapai level
> tertentu di semua biz MLM. Tapi masalahnya adalah apakah
> Perusahaan MLM itu akan bertahan lama bahkan sampai kiamat
> utk bisa memastikan ahli waris kita tetap bisa mendapatkan PI
> dari Biz MLM yg kita bangun?
>
> Saran saya pilih yg sudah terbukti lebih dari 5 tahun di
> Indonesia bahkan utk lebih aman yg sudah lebih dari 10 tahun
> di Indonesia. Krn banyak MLM yg 'mati suri' beberapa tahun
> stlh mrk beroperasi. Kalo mau cek bisa liat dari ijin yg
> didapat dari www.apli.or.id yaitu APLI (Asosiasi Penjual Langsung
> Indonesia) yg mewadahi Perusahaan MLM di Indonesia. Disitu
> bisa terlihat tahun keluar ijin thd perusahaan2 MLM yg ada.
> Kalo yg udah lebih dari 10 thn setahu saya baru CNI dan Amway
> aja. CMIIW.
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8.
> http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> ---------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads.
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> Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
> http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGnolB/TM
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> -------~->
>
> www.perencanakeuangan.com
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Wah rasanya makin menarik perbincangan kita ... urun rembug ya ...

Rasanya di dunia ini ada prinsip yang memang sudah dari sononya begono ...
yaitu prinsip keseimbangan ... bahwa ada hitam ada putih, ada panas ada
dingin, ada salah ada benar, ada maju ada mundur .... masing-masing punya
dunianya sendiri dan memang tidak untuk dipersamakan ....

Untuk kasus MLM pun sama .... rasanya MASING-MASING PIHAK BERADA PADA DUNIA
YANG BUKAN SAJA BERBEDA TETAPI BERTOLAK BELAKANG. Rasanya perdebatan 24 jam
sehari-pun tidak akan bisa mempertemukan mereka karena disini tidak ada
benar-salah atau kalah-menang .....

Mari kita coba lihat contoh berikut ini (mohon dikoreksi kalau salah ..)

KARYAWAN
Berpikir bahwa bekerja pada perusahaan/orang lain adalah hal pandai dan
melakukan usaha/bisnis sendiri adalah berisiko.

Pandai karena adanya pendapatan bulanan/bonus/kenaikan tahunan/program
pensiun dll yang berkaitan dengan keamanan kerja.

Usaha/bisnis sendiri berisiko karena adanya faktor
permodalan/waktu/risiko/kegagalan/pengalaman/persaingan dll

PELAKU USAHA/BISNIS SENDIRI
Berpikir bahwa melakukan usaha/bisnis sendiri adalah hal pandai dan bekerja
pada orang lain adalah berisiko.

Pandai karena kesuksesan yang akan diraihnya akan melebihi penghasilan orang
yang bekerja pada orang lain. Kegagalan merupakan bagian dari kesuksesan dan
mereka mempunyai stok untuk gagal. Salah satu prinsip yang mereka pegang
adalah 'risiko-imbalan'. Jika imbalan lebih besar dari risiko, maka mereka
akan melakukan upaya yang maksimal sampai sukses. Jika rasio gagal dalam 10
kali usaha adalah 9 kali, maka mereka sudah siap untuk gagal sebanyak 9 kali
sebelum akhirnya sukses.

Bekerja pada orang lain berisiko karena hanya menerima pendapatan bulanan
yang tetap dengan kenaikan tahunan yang relatif yang bisa tidak sebanding
dengan kerja keras yang telah terus menerus kita lakukan untuk perusahaan
(belajar menguasai hal baru karena persaingan ketat, kerja lembur, entertain
relasi perusahaan sampai larut malam, waktu buat diri sendiri dan keluarga
terbatas dll).

Melihat dua contoh singkat di atas, siapa yang benar dan siapa yang salah
??? rasanya ini bukan soal benar atau salah .... karena dunia mereka berbeda
sehingga mereka berpikir dengan cara yang berbeda ...

Dimanapun anda berada .. PRO MLM dan NO MLM ... rasanya anda tahu WHY anda
masing-masing ... WHY ARE YOU IN THE BUSINESS/WORKING IN THAT
COMPANY/WORKING THAT INDUSTRY/ dll .... masing-masing orang memiliki WHY-nya
sendiri dan bisa jadi tidak sama .....

WHY ini yang rasanya akan menuntun masing-masing orang menemukan HOW mereka
masing-masing untuk menuju SUKSES ....

Bila anda masih bingung .. tanyalah pada rumput yang bergoyang he he ....



PS : MK, ini salah satu millis yang gue ikutin .. judulnya 'perencana
keuangan' yang dikoordinir oleh Bpk. Safir Senduk.


-----Original Message-----
From: Febry Arsianto [mailto:febdin@...]
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 5:26 PM
To: ssr-klub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SSR-Klub] Polemik PRO MLM vs NO MLM



Melihat perkembangan menarik di milis kita ini tentang adanya Pro dan Kontra
ttg MLM, tentunya kita harus bisa melihat dari kedua sisi tersebut.

Yg pertama bg yg PRO MLM tentunya merasa sah2 saja kalo mereka promosi ttg
kegiatannya baik secara langsung maupun secara 'terselubung' di milis ini.
Dan tentunya buat yg NO MLM tentunya merasa sah2 juga kalo mereka merasa
'tidak setuju' kalo di milis kita ini ada org2 MLM yg ikut berpromosi ttg
kegiatannya.

Menurut saya kedua2nya sama2 benar karena di milis kita ini so far belum ada
peraturan dari Mas Safir atau moderator yg ditunjuk yg menyebutkan kita
tidak boleh berpromosi apapun. Tetapi tidak juga menyebutkan bahwa kita
tidak boleh memberi kritikan thd sesama anggota milis. Jadi menurut saya
kedua pihak tidak bisa disalahkan satu sama lainnya.

Kalo melihat yg PRO MLM berpromosi tentunya sudah biasa kan krn kerjanya
memang harus begitu dr sananya. Nah, coba kita melihat dari sisi org yg NO
MLM sekarang. Mereka ini saya rasa juga berhak untuk 'mengkritik' yg PRO MLM
di alam maya ini. Wong, di alam nyata saja sudah pasti yg PRO MLM ini banyak
mendapatkan penolakan2 dari yg NO MLM baik secara halus maupun sampai yang
kasar.

Jadi tentunya buat yg PRO MLM harus juga bisa 'legowo' untuk dikritik dalam
bentuk apapun di alam maya ini krn yg NO MLM juga berhak melakukannya.
Jangan langsung defensif. Kalo yg PRO MLM bilang buat yg NO MLM kalo tidak
setuju tidak boleh kasih komentar menurut saya juga tidak tepat. Mengapa
tidak dibalik saja sekalian? Bgm kalo yg PRO MLM tidak boleh komentar juga
thd komentar yg diberikan oleh yg NO MLM? Nah, hasilnya sama aja kan?

Disini saya bukan mau membela yg NO MLM krn saya termasuk yg PRO MLM lho,
tapi lebih untuk menekankan bahwa yg PRO MLM juga harus bisa 'memposisikan'
dirinya pada sisi yg NO MLM juga. Sama persis halnya kalo yg PRO MLM
menghadapi prospek yg negatif di alam nyata. Apa langsung 'dihajar' dgn
debat kusir? Ya pastinya tidak akan selesai lah masalahnya bahkan tidak bisa
membuat yg NO MLM bisa jadi positif menjadi PRO MLM.

Di salah satu buku yg saya baca ttg Bagaimana Cara Mendapatkan "YA" di Biz
NM/MLM, ada 2 hukum penting yaitu:
1. Para Prospek Anda akan membantah semua yang Anda katakan
2. Semua yang dikatakan oleh Para Prospek Anda itu merupakan kebenaran

Disini kita bisa melihat bahwa para anggota milis kita yang belum bergabung
dgn salah satu MLM manapun tentunya bisa dikategorikan sbg prospek dan kalo
melihat 2 alasan di atas tentunya yg PRO MLM harus bisa memahami kenapa
mereka ini ada yang memberi 'kritikan' thd yg PRO MLM.

Lalu buat yg NO MLM saya juga bisa memahami kenapa Anda melakukan
'kritikan':
1. Mungkin pernah mengalami hal yg buruk dlm menjalankan MLM
2. Mungkin Anda belum pernah ketemu/melihat langsung orang2 yg sukses di MLM
3. Dan 1001 alasan lainnya

Terakhir saran saya:
1. Buat yg PRO MLM: Tidak usah kasih komentar balasan jika ada kritikan thd
MLM
2. Buat yg NO MLM: Cobalah untuk datang ke salah satu seminar motivasi MLM
utk melihat bgm biz MLM bisa membantu Anda juga sukses berkarir di kantor
atau di biz Anda sekarang. Bila Anda pernah gagal di MLM, tidak ada salahnya
untuk mulai mencoba lagi. Krn kegagalan bukanlah hal yg terburuk, hal yg
terburuk adalah jika Anda tidak pernah mencoba sama sekali.

Regards,
-febry-

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dapatkan E-Book ttg kiat menjadi milyuner di http://www.milyuner.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------





www.perencanakeuangan.com

Yahoo! Groups Links

-----Original Message-----
From: JN Kana [mailto:kana@...]
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 11:38 AM
To: SSR-Klub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [SSR-Klub] Polemik PRO MLM vs NO MLM


Wah rasanya makin menarik perbincangan kita ... urun rembug ya ...

Rasanya di dunia ini ada prinsip yang memang sudah dari sononya begono ...
yaitu prinsip keseimbangan ... bahwa ada hitam ada putih, ada panas ada
dingin, ada salah ada benar, ada maju ada mundur .... masing-masing punya
dunianya sendiri dan memang tidak untuk dipersamakan ....

Untuk kasus MLM pun sama .... rasanya MASING-MASING PIHAK BERADA PADA DUNIA
YANG BUKAN SAJA BERBEDA TETAPI BERTOLAK BELAKANG. Rasanya perdebatan 24 jam
sehari-pun tidak akan bisa mempertemukan mereka karena disini tidak ada
benar-salah atau kalah-menang .....

Mari kita coba lihat contoh berikut ini (mohon dikoreksi kalau salah ..)

KARYAWAN
Berpikir bahwa bekerja pada perusahaan/orang lain adalah hal pandai dan
melakukan usaha/bisnis sendiri adalah berisiko.

Pandai karena adanya pendapatan bulanan/bonus/kenaikan tahunan/program
pensiun dll yang berkaitan dengan keamanan kerja.

Usaha/bisnis sendiri berisiko karena adanya faktor
permodalan/waktu/risiko/kegagalan/pengalaman/persaingan dll

PELAKU USAHA/BISNIS SENDIRI
Berpikir bahwa melakukan usaha/bisnis sendiri adalah hal pandai dan bekerja
pada orang lain adalah berisiko.

Pandai karena kesuksesan yang akan diraihnya akan melebihi penghasilan orang
yang bekerja pada orang lain. Kegagalan merupakan bagian dari kesuksesan dan
mereka mempunyai stok untuk gagal. Salah satu prinsip yang mereka pegang
adalah 'risiko-imbalan'. Jika imbalan lebih besar dari risiko, maka mereka
akan melakukan upaya yang maksimal sampai sukses. Jika rasio gagal dalam 10
kali usaha adalah 9 kali, maka mereka sudah siap untuk gagal sebanyak 9 kali
sebelum akhirnya sukses.

Bekerja pada orang lain berisiko karena hanya menerima pendapatan bulanan
yang tetap dengan kenaikan tahunan yang relatif yang bisa tidak sebanding
dengan kerja keras yang telah terus menerus kita lakukan untuk perusahaan
(belajar menguasai hal baru karena persaingan ketat, kerja lembur, entertain
relasi perusahaan sampai larut malam, waktu buat diri sendiri dan keluarga
terbatas dll).

Melihat dua contoh singkat di atas, siapa yang benar dan siapa yang salah
??? rasanya ini bukan soal benar atau salah .... karena dunia mereka berbeda
sehingga mereka berpikir dengan cara yang berbeda ...

Dimanapun anda berada .. PRO MLM dan NO MLM ... rasanya anda tahu WHY anda
masing-masing ... WHY ARE YOU IN THE BUSINESS/WORKING IN THAT
COMPANY/WORKING THAT INDUSTRY/ dll .... masing-masing orang memiliki WHY-nya
sendiri dan bisa jadi tidak sama .....

WHY ini yang rasanya akan menuntun masing-masing orang menemukan HOW mereka
masing-masing untuk menuju SUKSES ....

Bila anda masih bingung .. tanyalah pada rumput yang bergoyang he he ....



PS : MK, ini salah satu millis yang gue ikutin .. judulnya 'perencana
keuangan' yang dikoordinir oleh Bpk. Safir Senduk.


-----Original Message-----
From: Febry Arsianto [mailto:febdin@...]
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 5:26 PM
To: ssr-klub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SSR-Klub] Polemik PRO MLM vs NO MLM



Melihat perkembangan menarik di milis kita ini tentang adanya Pro dan Kontra
ttg MLM, tentunya kita harus bisa melihat dari kedua sisi tersebut.

Yg pertama bg yg PRO MLM tentunya merasa sah2 saja kalo mereka promosi ttg
kegiatannya baik secara langsung maupun secara 'terselubung' di milis ini.
Dan tentunya buat yg NO MLM tentunya merasa sah2 juga kalo mereka merasa
'tidak setuju' kalo di milis kita ini ada org2 MLM yg ikut berpromosi ttg
kegiatannya.

Menurut saya kedua2nya sama2 benar karena di milis kita ini so far belum ada
peraturan dari Mas Safir atau moderator yg ditunjuk yg menyebutkan kita
tidak boleh berpromosi apapun. Tetapi tidak juga menyebutkan bahwa kita
tidak boleh memberi kritikan thd sesama anggota milis. Jadi menurut saya
kedua pihak tidak bisa disalahkan satu sama lainnya.

Kalo melihat yg PRO MLM berpromosi tentunya sudah biasa kan krn kerjanya
memang harus begitu dr sananya. Nah, coba kita melihat dari sisi org yg NO
MLM sekarang. Mereka ini saya rasa juga berhak untuk 'mengkritik' yg PRO MLM
di alam maya ini. Wong, di alam nyata saja sudah pasti yg PRO MLM ini banyak
mendapatkan penolakan2 dari yg NO MLM baik secara halus maupun sampai yang
kasar.

Jadi tentunya buat yg PRO MLM harus juga bisa 'legowo' untuk dikritik dalam
bentuk apapun di alam maya ini krn yg NO MLM juga berhak melakukannya.
Jangan langsung defensif. Kalo yg PRO MLM bilang buat yg NO MLM kalo tidak
setuju tidak boleh kasih komentar menurut saya juga tidak tepat. Mengapa
tidak dibalik saja sekalian? Bgm kalo yg PRO MLM tidak boleh komentar juga
thd komentar yg diberikan oleh yg NO MLM? Nah, hasilnya sama aja kan?

Disini saya bukan mau membela yg NO MLM krn saya termasuk yg PRO MLM lho,
tapi lebih untuk menekankan bahwa yg PRO MLM juga harus bisa 'memposisikan'
dirinya pada sisi yg NO MLM juga. Sama persis halnya kalo yg PRO MLM
menghadapi prospek yg negatif di alam nyata. Apa langsung 'dihajar' dgn
debat kusir? Ya pastinya tidak akan selesai lah masalahnya bahkan tidak bisa
membuat yg NO MLM bisa jadi positif menjadi PRO MLM.

Di salah satu buku yg saya baca ttg Bagaimana Cara Mendapatkan "YA" di Biz
NM/MLM, ada 2 hukum penting yaitu:
1. Para Prospek Anda akan membantah semua yang Anda katakan
2. Semua yang dikatakan oleh Para Prospek Anda itu merupakan kebenaran

Disini kita bisa melihat bahwa para anggota milis kita yang belum bergabung
dgn salah satu MLM manapun tentunya bisa dikategorikan sbg prospek dan kalo
melihat 2 alasan di atas tentunya yg PRO MLM harus bisa memahami kenapa
mereka ini ada yang memberi 'kritikan' thd yg PRO MLM.

Lalu buat yg NO MLM saya juga bisa memahami kenapa Anda melakukan
'kritikan':
1. Mungkin pernah mengalami hal yg buruk dlm menjalankan MLM
2. Mungkin Anda belum pernah ketemu/melihat langsung orang2 yg sukses di MLM
3. Dan 1001 alasan lainnya

Terakhir saran saya:
1. Buat yg PRO MLM: Tidak usah kasih komentar balasan jika ada kritikan thd
MLM
2. Buat yg NO MLM: Cobalah untuk datang ke salah satu seminar motivasi MLM
utk melihat bgm biz MLM bisa membantu Anda juga sukses berkarir di kantor
atau di biz Anda sekarang. Bila Anda pernah gagal di MLM, tidak ada salahnya
untuk mulai mencoba lagi. Krn kegagalan bukanlah hal yg terburuk, hal yg
terburuk adalah jika Anda tidak pernah mencoba sama sekali.

Regards,
-febry-

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dapatkan E-Book ttg kiat menjadi milyuner di http://www.milyuner.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------





www.perencanakeuangan.com

Yahoo! Groups Links









www.perencanakeuangan.com

Yahoo! Groups Links

ARTIKEL BAGUS  NIHH !!!!

love and serve

BUDAK MLM

III. Morality and Ethics: A Problem of Greed

Moral Riddle: What is Ever Present but Universally Condemned?

While issues of morality and ethics can be tricky to discuss, materialism and greed are universally condemned by every major religion, and even by most of the irreligious. This does not mean people are not materialistic or greedy; in fact, the common ethical call to not be so is strong evidence that we are.

For most people, this means if we are going to be materialistic or greedy, we would rather not be obvious about it. Thus, Madison Avenue has subtle, highly polished ways of appealing to these vices without being heavy handed. We don't mind so much... as long as it is "veiled." This hypocrisy, while sad, is the status quo. So, Madison Avenue is trying to be ever more subtle in appearing not to be manipulating our immoral "bent" towards greed and materialism.

A Blatant Appeal to Materialism and Greed

Not so with the MLM crowd. Pick up any brochure or videotape for an MLM and you are more than likely to see a cheesy, obvious, and blatant appeal to greed and materialism. This is offensive to everyone, even die-hard materialists. Typical is an appeal to "the American dream." Usually there will be a mood shot of a large new home, a luxury car, a boat, perhaps a beautiful couple boarding a Lear jet, and so on.

While this need not necessarily be part of the MLM approach, it usually is.

Such a transparent appeal should make people suspicious. "Why the bait?" "Are they trying to 'get my juices going' so that my brain turns off?" "Couldn't they show people doing more wholesome things with the money they make?" "If this is really a legitimate opportunity, why not focus on the market, product, or service instead of people reveling in lavish materialism?"

But we have reason enough to know, having read this far, why the distraction is needed. Unbridled greed suspends good judgment. When the eyes gloss over in a materialistic glaze, common sense is a stranger.

Besides being cheesy and offensive to our sensibilities, this is not a big deal for participants, right? But consider that all companies must have control over the way they are presented to the public. Thus, an MLM has the right and obligation to dictate what material is used. Otherwise any agent could say whatever he or she liked about the nature of the company, causing obvious problems. Again, it would take too much time to audit and approve each individual's idea for a presentation where the goal is mass marketing. Using "boilerplate" presentations affords the added benefit of consistency. This is basic "information quality control."

The net effect is that the MLM rep is "stuck" with the company-approved video, brochure, and presentation outline.

"Not Me, I Would Never Stoop That Low!"

In 1991, some distributors in the MLM FUND AMERICA began to produce their own, improved recruitment material. They were summarily fired, which did not please them since many of them were founding members who had "gotten in early."

Later the same year, by the way, the founder of FUND AMERICA was arrested for having generated some 90% of revenues selling "distributorships" versus product... making it clear that this particular MLM was little more than a pyramid scheme.

Job Opening: Salesperson of Sin!

Do you want to be involved in the blatant promotion of values contrary to your belief system?

In most MLMs you will have no choice. You are going to have to sit through meeting after meeting after meeting after meeting. You are going to be "motivated" to coerce your friends and family to hear "the pitch." This is the way the "dream" is planted and fertilized. Get used to it.

If you are a materialist, you only have to get over the cheekiness of the presentation. But if you do not wish to promote such ideas, if you consider them sinful, then this puts you at the focal point of a moral dilemma. Do you wish to be a salesperson for materialism?

Lack of Information Quality Control: An MLM Incentive?

On the flip-side of the issue of being stuck with the recruitment "pitch" is the fact that the MLM organization is otherwise loose, to say the least. This is part of the appeal to many, to "be your own boss."

But in practice this leads to loony product claims, many of which are deceptive and some of which can be positively dangerous.

Hyperbole is a given in an MLM. When inexperienced salespeople are turned loose to sell on full commission without supervision or accountability, what else could happen?

Since MLM organizations are notoriously flash-in-the-pan, one has to wonder why any new company would choose this flawed marketing technique. Perhaps one of the things to consider is that the MLM organization can effectively skirt the Federal Trade Commission by using word-of-mouth testimonials, supposed "studies" done by scientists, fabricated endorsements, rumors and other misrepresentations that would never be allowed to see the light of day in the real world of product promotion, shady as it is.

Thus, MLM has evolved into a "niche": it can be used to sell products that could not be sold any other way. An MLM is a way to get undue credibility by exploiting people's personal friendships and relationships via "networking." This is an intrinsic moral difficulty with MLMs that will be expanded in the last section.

MLM Sales Technique: Rumors, Slander, Defamation

Hyperbole is not limited merely to product claims, however. When MLMers turn to their competitors it can get ugly indeed. Some of the most outlandish rumors of modern history can be traced to MLMs. In recent years, for example, the international rumor that the president of a major real-world corporation was a Satanist, and that the logo of his company contained occult symbols, turned out to have a commercial motive and was traced to specific Amway distributors. These were successfully sued in 1991, but the rumor persists. And how much else of the MLM negative "sales pitch" is fabrication or outright lie? Not all the negative selling claims are as scandalous or widespread as the previous example, but the MLM culture produces so much of this stuff it would be hard to prosecute it all.

Again, what else could be expected from inexperienced salespeople thrown into an oversaturated sales market on full commission and no accountability?

Negative selling is not unique to MLMs, but MLMs have a legacy of fostering a culture of credulity, of bizarre "gossip-as-fact." After all, this is a friend telling me this!

Telling lies about people or groups is slander. Systemic and malicious slander is illegal in most civilized countries. Slander is a sin listed next to murder and adultery in Biblical texts. But how will you know when you become the slanderer by repeating what you heard in an MLM meeting?

Great Men?

Another morally questionable practice that is not intrinsic to MLMs, but seems axiomatic, is the pent-up idolatry of the leaders.

In FUND AMERICA, the "approved materials" showed what a great man the founder was, depicted the depth of his management experience, showed him in mood shots, etc. It is easy to swoon in admiration of such a powerful, visionary man, dedicated to bringing this wonderful opportunity to common Americans like us.

It turned out he was a criminal fugitive from Australia, where he had been run out of town for doing the same.

But you would never guess it from the company material. A great man.

There are more than a few MLM "executives" like this who will pop up tomorrow in the MLM du jour. MLM exploitation can be very profitable and the jail sentences light. Let the MLM "dream" buyer beware.

I have been taken to task for making this point too strongly--and do not wish to imply that all MLM leaders have criminal records--but it does pay to do some research here. Are the idols you are being asked to worship in MLM worthy of respect, or contempt? Have they been prosecuted or sued for exploiting people in the past? Have they done prison time?

Do not expect to hear the full truth in the MLM video.

Pride and the Secret Closet: Vanity and the Way MLMs Grow

"Mr. Prospect, now you aren't required to buy more than three product units, but why bother joining unless you plan to succeed? Besides, all of our products are 100% money back guaranteed."

"Hmmm... To ask for a refund, then, is to admit defeat. Others appear to be doing O.K. at this. I'm no failure! Perhaps I should go to another motivational seminar or strong-arm and alienate one more friend to join. I wasn't fooled! I'm no failure!"

So, the "inventory" and "recruitment kits," never viable, collect dust. They become a pile in the back closet or attic, a trophy to pride being unable to admit that greed seized the moment.

Back to the Pyramids: Innovative Marketing or Organized Crime?

It is generally agreed that to mislead people in order to get their money is morally reprehensible. It is labeled "theft" or "fraud," and those who do it should be punished. No one is naive enough to suggest that you can't make money at it. Crime can pay, at least temporarily.

Pyramid schemes are illegal. They are illegal because they are exploitative and dishonest. They exploit the most vulnerable of people: the desperate, the out-of-work, the ignorant. Those who start and practice such fraud, should, and increasingly are, being punished for their crimes.

But add a product for cover, and call it an MLM, and people are willing to swallow its legality. Is this true? Really? Who says so?

The Feds versus the MLM Gang: The Other Side of the Story

It is a fact that a few large MLMs have survived against the best efforts of law enforcement officials to shut them down, spending millions of dollars to protect, lobby, and insulate themselves. But the same could be said for any organized crime. It is difficult to stop once it becomes so large.

And MLMs look so legitimate to the public, so decent. So many nice people are involved. Surely, it can't be illegal! The people lower down may even defend the very organization that is robbing them, hoping that they might get their chance to make "the big money" later.

But if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck. Unless it is an MLM, and then it is NOT a pyramid.

The Feds generally see it differently... when the ML (multi-level) aspect begins to eclipse the M (marketing) of products or services.

People can make money in an MLM, undeniably. The moral issue is: Where is the money coming from? Selling product? Then why not sell the same product in the "real world"?

But everyone knows that the real incentive is the pyramid aspect, and the product just the excuse to make it legal, or at least the MLM promoter would like you to believe it is legal.

The Mob and the MLM: A Stretched Analogy?

Talk to a mobster, and he will tell you that he is "merely misunderstood in his benevolent intentions." "We are just trying to 'build our business.'" "It's all a conspiracy to make us look bad." "The Feds are out to get us because they are jealous or afraid of our new way of life." "Why, look at all the good we do!" "We are looking more legitimate every day." "Here's a statement from a famous DA that the Mob is really a good organization and no harm ever comes from it." "We've even got a minister to endorse us now!"

Propaganda and MLM Expansion

The MLMers of the new millennium are starting to sound a lot like the gangsters of yesteryear. In an era where management science and the law generally condemn MLM, they've "got their own experts," from academia or law, who are "on the payroll." Confidence, remember, is key.

Regardless of all the vehement denials, MLMs are all to some extent pyramid schemes, and pyramid schemes are illegal. Sure, some are "getting away with it," but so did the Mafia for decades. It is hard to stop a juggernaut, especially one that has taken such pains to look legitimate and misunderstood, that is highly organized, and that has so much money from its victims to propagandize, lobby, and defend itself. And so the exploitation goes on.

If these guys show up in your neighborhood, you are either "in" or "out," family or target, friend or foe. Suspicion rules the day; everyone has an "angle"; greed supplants innocence. The "neighborhood" is turned into a marketplace, and may never recover from the blow.

The ethical questions remain: Are MLMs a morally acceptable way to make money? Are they--and will they continue to be--legitimate?

MLM Proselytizing: Beneath Begging?

If money is needed that badly, why not simply ask friends and family for help rather than taking money from them under false pretenses--and also selling them a bill of goods? By "sponsoring" them, you have not only conned them and profited at their expense, you have made them feel like losers, since they are not able to make a success of the hopeless MLM concept.

Once seen, only the morally blind, or consciously criminal, could continue in such a "business."

But wait, perhaps you could recruit... your mother!

Moral Inventory

By way of review, the prospective MLM initiate has to face and resolve these ethical issues:

1. Do I want to be involved in encouraging people to be more materialistic?

2. Do I want to sell a product that perhaps couldn't be sold any other way?

3. Do I want to be a part of an enterprise famous for slander, libel, and rumor?

4. Do I want to be a part of a company that may employ criminals as marketing experts?

5. Do I want to make money off my ability to convince people that an unworkable marketing system is viable?

6. Do I want to be known among my friends and family as a person who tried to con people with a thinly veiled pyramid scheme?

If you can answer these questions "yes," training is available... But remember that God is watching, even if you never get "successful" enough for the Feds to notice you.

---

IV. Relationship Issues: An Experiential Problem

Learning the Hard Way

MLMs grow by exploiting people's relationships. If you are going to be in an MLM, you swallow hard and accept this as part of "building your business." This is "networking." But to those not "in" the MLM, it seems as if friendship is merely a pretext for phoniness, friendliness is suspected as prospecting, and so on. There is no middle ground here, try as you might.

While this is the most difficult point to make, it is perhaps the most important. Anyone who has any experience with an MLM has strong feelings, either for or against, and this is the problem. Polarization runs deep.

High-pressure Selling -- Reserved for Pyramids Only

When it comes to selling product, MLM sales reps are probably no more aggressive or obnoxious than ordinary salespeople. Since most are not salespeople by nature, and it is characteristic that MLMs attract few people with any experience selling this particular product or service, they usually sell through pre-fab "parties" or home "demos." Thus, sales pressure is exerted by situation, if at all.

It should be noted that when selling product, the only distinction from a real-world business is the possibility for deception due to the "looseness" of the MLM and the incentive to exaggerate claims without any accountability. Other than this, selling product in an MLM is fairly similar to selling any product in the real world.

But when it comes to getting you "signed up" as a "distributor," the MLMers get pushy and deceptive beyond the boundaries of polite social norms.

Remember, an MLM is defined by its rewarding people to recruit others in multiple levels.

"Mother, Let Me Tell You About a Fantastic Opportunity..."

Even ex-accountants are willing to practice the crudest of high-pressure selling tactics, at least when it comes to "signing people up." The end justifies the means, when it comes to getting people to come to the "meetings," where the objective is to get a materialism frenzy going at high pitch through a slick speaker or video. The reasons for this "confidence building" should be obvious by now, but here we are considering the relationship cost associated with the "success" of the MLM.

The above title is meant to be absurd. Most people, no matter how jaded, would not foist such a con on their own mothers. Even if people don't know the specifics of what is wrong with MLMs, intuition often warns us: "Don't tamper with that relationship." The first marks for recruitment are the gullible, or the "expendable" friends. But successive moral compromise, experience, and desperation... may yet lead to "good old Mom."

Never Admit You Are Wrong

Many have left high-paying jobs to "pursue their dreams" in an MLM. Having been conned so dramatically, they do not easily admit defeat. It seems easier to cling to the bad dream in an increasing cycle of desperation to make the MLM work against all odds. "Losers" at the bottom congregate into support groups, perhaps spinning-off another MLM where they can be "boss."

There is an undeniable camaraderie among MLMers. But for everyone else, "there goes the neighborhood." It is saddening to see people being encouraged against all instinct and common sense to chase after an illusory "pot of gold," but what can be done?

Counting the Cost: The First Church of MLM

Many readers will share the experience of observing MLMs divide families, friends, churches, and civic groups. Lifelong friends are now "prospects." The neighborhood is now "a market." Motives change, suspicions rise, divisions form. The question is begged: "Is it worth it?"

Especially nasty is the church situation. Will the pastor join? If not, he will take a dim view of MLM proselytizing at church functions; animosity will rise, factions will form. You are either "in" or out. If the pastor joins, then those who are not "in" will feel a little uncomfortable in this church.

A church (or any community group) can be easily torpedoed by an MLM.

Trust Your Instincts?

For most people, thankfully, the MLM experience usually ends in very quick financial failure and is then sidelined. Two possible responses are: 1) being embarrassed about participation, or 2) becoming even more intractable when the MLM has failed. You will find the latter chasing after the latest "get rich quick" scheme with similar results. "If we could have just sponsored so and so--they have so many friends--we would have made it."

Thus, there is reason for the "bad taste" most people have for MLMs. By instinct if not experience or insight, we wince at the thought of what we know will follow in the wake of an MLM. Relationships strained, factions formed, deception, manipulation, greed, loss, a closet full of videotapes, brochures, and useless inventory that "everybody wants."

Disease Alert: Beware of MLM Blindness

Apparently, it is difficult for gung-ho MLMers to see how they look from the outside. They can watch lifelong friendships unravel, churches and civic groups poisoned, the avoidance of friends and family, etc., and never see that MLM was the cause.

If you try to point this pathology out, you are treated as if you have attacked the very gospel! Perhaps for some, the MLM approach is a new gospel?

They will claim to have made "new friends," most of which are MLMers or new acquaintances who could be considered "future prospects." The shallowness of these "new friends," the stilted conversations among the "old friends," and the embarrassment, in general, for what seems clear to everyone but the MLMer go unnoticed. Callousness sets in; standards are lowered.

Of course, it could be pointed out that this might have happened anyway. Perhaps the die-hard MLMers would have ruined their friendships anyway in some other non-MLM business failure. Is the MLM really the cause, or just the vehicle?

Business failure of any type is traumatic on the relationships involved, but in most small businesses there is at least the chance of success. And this is never the case in an MLM, unless "success" can be defined as profiting off of the failures of others.

Non-MLM real-world businesses that offer products of interest to friends, family, etc., such as insurance agents and small retail shop owners, seem to be more circumspect in dealing with personal relationships in all but a few rare (and grievous) cases. But the MLMer is recognizable by duplicity of friendship overtures, overbearing glad-handing, full-time prospecting, outrageous initial deception, and social callousness. This is no accident, but rather sheer desperation. How could it be otherwise? For the active MLMer is in a hopeless bear trap: with hubris as one steel jaw and oversaturation the other.

And so the MLM relationship "bull" tramples through the relationship "china closet," blindly ruining fragile and valuable things. Some never pull out of this, figuring the coldness they experience in their emotional lives is due to some other cause than their MLM participation.

The Aftermath

One can't help but wish that the "neighborhood" could be like it once was. But an MLM storm has blown through, ruining valuable relationships with no regret or conscience. And brace yourself, another one is coming. Perhaps it is in that smiling face approaching you, or in that nice letter you just received from a "friend"?

What goes unnoticed to the MLMer is that when the neighborhood is turned into a marketplace, something precious is lost... which is not easily regained.

This aspect of the MLM experience should not be underestimated, and the reflective reader would do well to think twice about the value of friends, family, community, and church fellowship before joining or continuing in an MLM.

---

Summary of What's Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing

1. MLMs are "doomed by design" to recruit too many salespeople, who in turn will then attempt to recruit even more salespeople, ad infinitum.

2. For many, the real attraction of involvement in multi-level marketing is the thinly veiled pyramid con-scheme made quasi-legal by the presence of a product or service.

3. The ethical concessions necessary to be "successful" in many MLM companies are stark and difficult to deal with for most people.

4. Friends and family should be treated as such, and not as "marks" for exploitation.

---

It is hoped that by clearly pointing out "What is Wrong With Multi-Level Marketing" that many might be spared the inherent and associative pitfalls by avoiding the practice.

As well, for those who insist on practicing MLM, it is hoped that this analysis will serve as a handy framework of problem areas to be avoided if and where this is possible.

---

Do you Yahoo!?
Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs

www.perencanakeuangan.com

Wah rasanya makin menarik perbincangan kita ... urun rembug ya ...

Rasanya di dunia ini ada prinsip yang memang sudah dari sononya begono ...
yaitu prinsip keseimbangan ... bahwa ada hitam ada putih, ada panas ada
dingin, ada salah ada benar, ada maju ada mundur .... masing-masing punya
dunianya sendiri dan memang tidak untuk dipersamakan ....

Untuk kasus MLM pun sama .... rasanya MASING-MASING PIHAK BERADA PADA DUNIA
YANG BUKAN SAJA BERBEDA TETAPI BERTOLAK BELAKANG. Rasanya perdebatan 24 jam
sehari-pun tidak akan bisa mempertemukan mereka karena disini tidak ada
benar-salah atau kalah-menang .....

Mari kita coba lihat contoh berikut ini (mohon dikoreksi kalau salah ..)

KARYAWAN
Berpikir bahwa bekerja pada perusahaan/orang lain adalah hal pandai dan
melakukan usaha/bisnis sendiri adalah berisiko.

Pandai karena adanya pendapatan bulanan/bonus/kenaikan tahunan/program
pensiun dll yang berkaitan dengan keamanan kerja.

Usaha/bisnis sendiri berisiko karena adanya faktor
permodalan/waktu/risiko/kegagalan/pengalaman/persaingan dll

PELAKU USAHA/BISNIS SENDIRI
Berpikir bahwa melakukan usaha/bisnis sendiri adalah hal pandai dan bekerja
pada orang lain adalah berisiko.

Pandai karena kesuksesan yang akan diraihnya akan melebihi penghasilan orang
yang bekerja pada orang lain. Kegagalan merupakan bagian dari kesuksesan dan
mereka mempunyai stok untuk gagal. Salah satu prinsip yang mereka pegang
adalah 'risiko-imbalan'. Jika imbalan lebih besar dari risiko, maka mereka
akan melakukan upaya yang maksimal sampai sukses. Jika rasio gagal dalam 10
kali usaha adalah 9 kali, maka mereka sudah siap untuk gagal sebanyak 9 kali
sebelum akhirnya sukses.

Bekerja pada orang lain berisiko karena hanya menerima pendapatan bulanan
yang tetap dengan kenaikan tahunan yang relatif yang bisa tidak sebanding
dengan kerja keras yang telah terus menerus kita lakukan untuk perusahaan
(belajar menguasai hal baru karena persaingan ketat, kerja lembur, entertain
relasi perusahaan sampai larut malam, waktu buat diri sendiri dan keluarga
terbatas dll).

Melihat dua contoh singkat di atas, siapa yang benar dan siapa yang salah
??? rasanya ini bukan soal benar atau salah .... karena dunia mereka berbeda
sehingga mereka berpikir dengan cara yang berbeda ...

Dimanapun anda berada .. PRO MLM dan NO MLM ... rasanya anda tahu WHY anda
masing-masing ... WHY ARE YOU IN THE BUSINESS/WORKING IN THAT
COMPANY/WORKING THAT INDUSTRY/ dll .... masing-masing orang memiliki WHY-nya
sendiri dan bisa jadi tidak sama .....

WHY ini yang rasanya akan menuntun masing-masing orang menemukan HOW mereka
masing-masing untuk menuju SUKSES ....

Bila anda masih bingung .. tanyalah pada rumput yang bergoyang he he ....



PS : MK, ini salah satu millis yang gue ikutin .. judulnya 'perencana
keuangan' yang dikoordinir oleh Bpk. Safir Senduk.


-----Original Message-----
From: Febry Arsianto [mailto:febdin@...]
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 5:26 PM
To: ssr-klub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SSR-Klub] Polemik PRO MLM vs NO MLM



Melihat perkembangan menarik di milis kita ini tentang adanya Pro dan Kontra
ttg MLM, tentunya kita harus bisa melihat dari kedua sisi tersebut.

Tanya donk ?, ada yang tau mengenai Sun Life Insurance nggak ?, RBC nya
berapa ya ? thanks ya , butuh informasi nih.

-----Original Message-----
From: Usaha Plus [mailto:eko_salvarisi@...]
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 2:24 PM
To: SSR-Klub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [SSR-Klub] Polemik PRO MLM vs NO MLM

Saya lebih senang jika ada yg menulis berdasarkan rasio dan logikanya sendiri, bukan copy-paste tulisan orang lain/web ... :)

 

Saya setuju dg pendapat Anda bahwa kita harus serahkan kepada orang lain mengenai pilihan 'pekerjaan'-nya krn sangat bergantung kepada jiwa dan karakteristik org tsb. Saya ingin berbagi bahwa kita semua sebenarnya adalah PEDAGANG dan sedang BERDAGANG/usaha. Yg usahawan/wirausaha jelas ke-PEDAGANG-annya. Yang karyawan juga sedang BERDAGANG yaitu MENJUAL JASA nya yg ditukar dg gaji. Contoh BERDAGANG skill IT dibagian EDP utk ditukar dg salary.

 

Jadi sangat benar sabda Rasul dalam agama saya bahwa 9 dari 10 pekerjaan manusia adalah DAGANG/USAHA. Saya termasuk orang yg takut resiko, itulah mengapa saya memilih menjadi karyawan bank .. :). Tapi ada sesuatu dalam jiwa saya utk lebih dapat memperluas ke-PEDAGANG-an saya dg mencari penghasilan tambahan. Minimal bisa bermanfaat utk orang lain. Contoh menyediakan barang yg dibutuhkan orang (buka toko baju anak yg super murah) atau menyediakan jasa khusus (pembersihan karpet atau mobil yg dilakukan di rumah konsumen).

Hehehe .. boleh kan ? Boleh utk punya job doble.

 

Kesimpulan : Kita semua adalah PEDAGANG dan marilah kita BERDAGANG sesuai kemampuan kita dan jangan usik DAGANGAN orang lain selama gak mengganggu.

 

PS : Saya sudah tanya kepada rumput yg bergoyang eh malah tambah bingung tuh .. hehe

 

Wassalam.

JN Kana <kana@...> wrote:

Wah rasanya makin menarik perbincangan kita ... urun rembug ya ...

Rasanya di dunia ini ada prinsip yang memang sudah dari sononya begono ...
yaitu prinsip keseimbangan ... bahwa ada hitam ada putih, ada panas ada
dingin, ada salah ada benar, ada maju ada mundur .... masing-masing punya
dunianya sendiri dan memang tidak untuk dipersamakan ....

Untuk kasus MLM pun sama .... rasanya MASING-MASING PIHAK BERADA PADA DUNIA
YANG BUKAN SAJA BERBEDA TETAPI BERTOLAK BELAKANG. Rasanya perdebatan 24 jam
sehari-pun tidak akan bisa mempertemukan mereka karena disini tidak ada
benar-salah atau kalah-menang .....

Mari kita coba lihat contoh berikut ini (mohon dikoreksi kalau salah ..)

KARYAWAN
Berpikir bahwa bekerja pada perusahaan/orang lain adalah hal pandai dan
melakukan usaha/bisnis sendiri adalah berisiko.

Pandai karena adanya pendapatan bulanan/bonus/kenaikan tahunan/program
pensiun dll yang berkaitan dengan keamanan kerja.

Usaha/bisnis sendiri berisiko karena adanya faktor
permodalan/waktu/risiko/kegagalan/pengalaman/persaingan dll

PELAKU USAHA/BISNIS SENDIRI
Berpikir bahwa melakukan usaha/bisnis sendiri adalah hal pandai dan bekerja
pada orang lain adalah berisiko.

Pandai karena kesuksesan yang akan diraihnya akan melebihi penghasilan orang
yang bekerja pada orang lain. Kegagalan merupakan bagian dari kesuksesan dan
mereka mempunyai stok untuk gagal. Salah satu prinsip yang mereka pegang
adalah 'risiko-imbalan'. Jika imbalan lebih besar dari risiko, maka mereka
akan melakukan upaya yang maksimal sampai sukses. Jika rasio gagal dalam 10
kali usaha adalah 9 kali, maka mereka sudah siap untuk gagal sebanyak 9 kali
sebelum akhirnya sukses.

Bekerja pada orang lain berisiko karena hanya menerima pendapatan bulanan
yang tetap dengan kenaikan tahunan yang relatif yang bisa tidak sebanding
dengan kerja keras yang telah terus menerus kita lakukan untuk perusahaan
(belajar menguasai hal baru karena persaingan ketat, kerja lembur, entertain
relasi perusahaan sampai larut malam, waktu buat diri sendiri dan keluarga
terbatas dll).

Melihat dua contoh singkat di atas, siapa yang benar dan siapa yang salah
??? rasanya ini bukan soal benar atau salah .... karena dunia mereka berbeda
sehingga mereka berpikir dengan cara yang berbeda ...

Dimanapun anda berada .. PRO MLM dan NO MLM ... rasanya anda tahu WHY anda
masing-masing ... WHY ARE YOU IN THE BUSINESS/WORKING IN THAT
COMPANY/WORKING THAT INDUSTRY/ dll .... masing-masing orang memiliki WHY-nya
sendiri dan bisa jadi tidak sama .....

WHY ini yang rasanya akan menuntun masing-masing orang menemukan HOW mereka
masing-masing untuk menuju SUKSES ....

Bila anda masih bingung .. tanyalah pada rumput yang bergoyang he he ....



PS : MK, ini salah satu millis yang gue ikutin .. judulnya 'perencana
keuangan' yang dikoordinir oleh Bpk. Safir Senduk.


-----Original Message-----
From: Febry Arsianto [mailto:febdin@...]
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 5:26 PM
To: ssr-klub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SSR-Klub] Polemik PRO MLM vs NO MLM



Melihat perkembangan menarik di milis kita ini tentang adanya Pro dan Kontra
ttg MLM, tentunya kita harus bisa melihat dari kedua sisi tersebut.

---

Do you Yahoo!?
Win a $20,000 Career Makeover at Yahoo! HotJobs

www.perencanakeuangan.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Nando [mailto:nando@...]
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 2:47 PM
To: SSR-Klub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SSR-Klub] Sun Life Insurance

Tanya donk ?, ada yang tau mengenai Sun Life Insurance nggak ?, RBC nya
berapa ya ? thanks ya , butuh informasi nih.



www.perencanakeuangan.com

INFORMASI PENTING DARI APLI :

MASYARAKAT HARUS BERHATI-HATI DENGAN SISTEM PIRAMIDA
Sistem Piramida perlu diwaspadai

Di Indonesia saat ini telah berkembang Penjualan Langsung melalui sistim
Piramida. Sistem piramida ini secara sepintas mirip Multi Level Marketing
dan cukup banyak orang telah melibatkan diri sebagai anggota, lebih tepat
disebut bahwa sistem ini berkedok Multi Level Marketing.

Sistem Piramida, yang menawarkan kesempatan untuk mendapatkan keuntungan
besar dengan sedikit usaha, sebenarnya telah pula dijalankan di Taiwan,
Amerika Serikat, Malaysia dan lain-lain negara, tetapi sehubungan dengan
banyaknya pengaduan dari para anggotanya, kini di negara-negara tersebut
sistem ini diawasi secara ketat oleh Pemerintah setempat karena dianggap
merugikan dan meresahkan masyarakat luas. Diantara perusahaan-perusahaan
tersebut banyak pula yang telah ditutup.

Aturan Sistem Piramida


Biaya Pendaftaran keanggotaan berikut paket produk, sangat mahal
Harga jual produk-produknya juga sangat tinggi, ada yang bisa mencapai lebih
dari 10 kali lipat harga produk sejenis dipasaran.
Sistem dilakukan menyerupai Multi Level Marketing, tetapi tidak sama.
Misalnya masing-masing anggota dibatasi hanya boleh merekrut maksimum 2
orang. Dua orang tersebut, rekrut dua orang lain lagi dan seterusnya hingga
terbentuk satu piramida juga cara-cara lain yang mirip cara ini, misalnya
merekrut max. 3,4,5 anggota.
Satu orang anggota boleh “membeli” lebih dari 1 keanggotaan (disebut
kavling).
Imbalan diberikan berdasarkan tersusunnya satu jaringan berbentuk piramida
dengan jumlah orang dalam format tertentu; imbalan bukan berdasarkan
presentasi atas volume penjualan dan tidak ada unsur harus memasarkan produk
sampai kepada konsumen.
Masa keanggotaan kadangkala berlangsung sangat singkat (hanya sampai dengan
terbentuknya suatu format tertentu). Berbeda dengan perusahaan penjualan
langsung, dimana anggota dapat aktif minimal 1 tahun atau bahkan seumur
hidup.
Program pemasaran (Marketing Plan) skema piramida sangat rumit dan susah
dipelajari. Titik berat pada rekruting, bukan pada penjualan.
Apa bedanya dengan bisnis penjualan langsung?

Dalam dunia penjualan langsung, baik di Indonesia maupun di tingkat
internasional, terdapat 3 sistem yang telah berjalan sangat lama, yaitu
sistem konvensional atau Single Level Marketing (termasuk party plan),
sistem Limited Level dan sistem Multi Level atau Multi Level Marketing.

Semuanya sama-sama membuka peluang berpenghasilan bagi siapa saja yang mau
berusaha berdasarkan kerjasama kemitraan.
Landasan bisnisnya sama-sama terdiri dari 3 hal, yaitu merekrut, mendidik,
dan memotivasi para mitra usaha yang lazim disebut Distributor atau Dealer.
Semuanya sama-sama mengenakan biaya pendaftaran keanggotaan kepada para
Distributor/Dealernya dengan nilai yang pantas sesuai dengan starter kit
yang diperoleh.
Semuanya sama-sama memiliki sejumlah produk (barang atau jasa) dengan harga
yang masuk akal untuk dijual melalui para Distributor/Dealer sampai ke
tangan konsumen. Berdasarkan volume penjualan yang dicapai, para
Distributor/Dealer memperoleh imbalan berupa komisi beserta insentif dan
berbagai hadiah yang menarik yang jumlah dan besarnya tidak terbatas.
Semuanya sama-sama memberlakukan sistem dimana seorang anggota hanya
mendapatkan satu keanggotaan dan tidak boleh lebih.
Bagi Distributor/Dealer yang aktif bekerja peluang berpenghasilan sudah
pasti ada.
Program pemasaran (Marketing Plan) sederhana dan transparan.
Dari perbedaan aturan main tersebut diatas, terlihat bahwa sistem Piramida :

Menjerat dan menyesatkan masyarakat dan anggotanya, karena :
Dapat dikategorikan sebagai judi sebab perolehan penghasilan berada diluar
kontrol anggota yang berada di level bawah, pendapatan utama diperoleh bukan
dari penjualan barang dan jasa, tetapi terutama dari rekruting orang lain
untuk mencapai format tertentu.
Tidak membuka peluang berpenghasilan yang merata dan adil sebagaimana
layaknya yang ditawarkan perusahaan yang menjalankan sistem Penjualan
Langsung termasuk MLM.
Merugikan anggota yang sudah membayar biaya pendaftaran berikut paket produk
yang sangat mahal, kemudian menghadapi kesulitan menjual produk-produk
tersebut kepada masyarakat karena tujuan perusahaan adalah menggunakan
produk sekedar sebagai kedok untuk menarik dana dari masyarakat dan tidak
diberi pelatihan cara penjualan.
Merugikan masyarakat yang membeli produk-produk dari sistem piramida, karena
harganya jauh melampaui harga produk sejenis di pasaran.



Bertentangan dengan dasar-dasar sistem penjualan langsung serta kode etik
yang berlaku.
Merupakan metamorfosa dari sistem Surat Berantai yang telah dilarang
dibanyak negara.
Aturan mainnya sangat mirip dengan Surat Berantai yaitu:
Menarik biaya pendaftaran cukup besar (Pendapatan perusahaan diperoleh
terutama dari biaya pendaftaran anggota bukan dari penjualan produk/jasa)
Produk yang disediakan perusahaan hanya untuk tujuan kamuflase, karena titik
berat bisnis lebih pada format jaringan dan anggota tidak selalu diwajibkan
untuk mengambil produk yang dibeli apalagi dilatih untuk menjual kembali.
Asosiasi Penjualan Langsung Indonesia (APLI) yang merupakan bagian dari
World Federatian of Direct Selling Association (WFDSA) menghimbau kepada
masyarakat luas agar tidak mudah percaya dengan tawaran menarik dari
perusahaan yang melakukan Sistem Piramida dan sejenisnya. Bagi anggota
masyarakat yang telah merasa dirugikan oleh sistem tersebut, agar segera
melaporkan kepada Pihak Yang Berwajib. Menjadi mitra usaha dan berbelanjalah
pada perusahaan yang telah terdaftar sebagai anggota APLI (Asosiasi
Penjualan Langsung Indonesia).



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Apakah skema piramida itu? Hal-hal yang perlu Anda ketahui tentang Skema
Piramida Penjualan Berjenjang – Peluang berpenghasilan yang legal Bagaimana
membedakan antara bisnis yang legal Dengan Skema Piramida tersamar Bagaimana
melindungi anda sendiri dari investasi yang menjerumuskan dan kemana Anda
dapat memperoleh bantuan
Jangan membuat kesalahan yang mahal

Ribuan orang di dunia telah kehilangan jutaan dolar karena bergabung dengan
sistem pemasaran ber Skema Piramida. Banyak dari korban sadar bahwa mereka
sedang berjudi (meskipun mereka tidak mengetahui bahwa mereka sedang
terperangkap). Namun demikian, banyak pula korban lain mengira bahwa mereka
membayar untuk modal awal membuka bisnis sendiri. Orang-orang ini telah
ditipu oleh Skema Piramida yang disamarkan agar nampak seperti bisnis yang
legal.

Tulisan ini bertujuan membantu Anda menghindar dari jerat Skema Piramida,
baik yang sederhana atau yang tersamar. Sistem Piramida yang sederhana mirip
sekali dengan surat berantai, sedangkan Sistem Piramida yang tersamar
seperti serigala berbulu domba, menyembunyikan sifat asli mereka dengan
tujuan menipu calon investor dan mengelabui Aparat Hukum.

Apakah Skema Piramida itu?

Skema Piramida adalah sistem (ilegal) dimana banyak orang yang berada pada
lapisan terbawah dari piramida membayar sejumlah uang kepada sejumlah orang
yang berada di lapisan piramida teratas. Setiap anggota baru membeli peluang
untuk naik ke lapisan teratas dan mendapat keuntungan dari orang lain yang
bergabung kemudian. Sebagai contoh, untuk menjadi anggota Anda mungkin harus
membayar mulai dari jumlah yang kecil hingga jutaan rupiah. Dalam contoh
ini, Anda harus membayar Rp. 10 juta, untuk membeli sebuah tempat pada
piramida di lapisan paling bawah. Uang Anda senilai Rp. 5.000.000 akan
pindah ke orang lain yang posisinya tepat di atas Anda dan Rp 5.000.000
lainnya beralih ke puncak piramida, atau ke promotor. Bilamana semua posisi
yang tersedia dalam skema tersebut telah dipenuhi peserta, promotor akan
memperoleh Rp 160 juta, sedangkan Anda dan teman-teman lain yang sama-sama
berada di lapisan paling bawah akan kehilangan Rp 10 juta per orang. Apabila
promotor telah terbayar, maka posisinya dihilangkan dan yang berada di
lapisan kedua akan naik ke puncak. Setelah itu, barulah kedua orang yang
tadinya berada pada lapisan kedua akan menikmati keuntungan. Untuk membayar
kedua orang ini, lapisan terbawah ditambah 32 posisi baru, dan pencarian
peserta baru terus berlanjut.
Setiap kali sebuah lapisan naik ke puncak, sebuah lapisan baru harus
ditambahkan pada alas piramida, masing-masing 2 kali lebih banyak dari
sebelumnya. Apabila jumlah peserta baru mencukupi, maka Anda dan 15 peserta
lain yang berada pada lapisan yang sama mungkin dapat mencapai puncak. Namun
demikian, untuk mengumpulkan keuntungan bagi Anda, dibutuhkan 512 orang
peserta baru dimana setengah dari mereka akan kehilangan Rp. 10 Juta. Tentu
saja, piramida ini bisa saja ambruk jauh sebelum Anda mencapai puncak karena
jumlah rekruting tidak tercapai. Agar supaya setiap peserta dapat memperoleh
keuntungan, selalu dibutuhkan peserta-peserta baru.
Namun pada kenyataannya, jumlah peserta baru terbatas dan setiap lapisan
baru memiliki peluang merekrut orang lain, lebih kecil dan peluang
kehilangan uang justru lebih besar.

Hal-hal yang perlu Anda ketahui tentang Skema Piramida :

Mereka adalah pecundang. Skema Piramida didasarkan pada konsep matematika
sederhana : banyak pecundang membayar kepada sedikit pemenang.
Skema ini menipu. Peserta skema piramida, secara sadar atau tidak, menipu
orang yang mereka rekrut. Tidak banyak orang yang bersedia menjadi peserta
dan membayar bilamana seluruh konsep permainan dijelaskan pada mereka.
Skema ini ilegal. Di banyak negara skema ini dilarang, ada resiko yang
serius bahwa usaha piramida ditutup oleh pemerintah dan para pesertanya
dikenakan denda serta hukuman penjara.
Mengapa orang mau membayar untuk menjadi peserta piramida?

Promotor skema piramida adalah ahli psikologi kelompok. Pada acara
perekrutan peserta baru, mereka menciptakan suasana hingar-bingar dan
antusias dimana terjadi tekanan kelompok serta janji-janji kemudahan
memperoleh uang, menimbulkan kekhawatiran orang akan hilangnya suatu peluang
baik. Pertimbangan-pertimbangan serta pertanyaan calon peserta diabaikan.
Sulit sekali bertahan untuk tidak tergoda kecuali Anda benar-benar yakin
bahwa konsep ini menjebak Anda.

Skema Piramida yang tersamar – seperti serigala berbulu domba

Beberapa promotor Skema Piramida berusaha membuat skema yang kelihatan mirip
dengan metode penjualan berjenjang. Penjualan berjenjang adalah suatu sistem
bisnis yang legal dan menggunakan jaringan mitra usaha mandiri untuk menjual
produk-produk langsung kepada konsumen.
Agar kelihatan seperti perusahaan penjualan berjenjang, Skema Piramida
menyediakan serangkaian produk yang dinyatakan sebagai produk jualan untuk
dipasarkan langsung kepada konsumen. Namun demikian, pada kenyataannya
hampir tidak ada usaha sama sekali untuk memasarkan produk-produk tersebut
pada konsumen. Sebaliknya, penghasilan diciptakan berdasarkan perekrutan
anggota-anggota baru. Juga para mitra usaha baru dipaksa untuk membeli
sebanyak mungkin produk yang bernilai besar pada saat mengisi formulir
peserta.

Misalnya, Anda mungkin harus membeli produk yang sebenarnya tidak bermanfaat
senilai Rp 10 juta agar dapat menjadi “mitra usaha”. Orang yang merekrut
Anda mendapat komisi Rp 5.000.000 (50%) dan Rp 5.000.000 sisanya terbang ke
puncak (dalam hal ini perusahaan). Perhatikanlah persamaannya dengan skema
piramida dalam uraian sebelumnya.
Namun demikian, piramida yang paling tersamar tidak terlalu mudah dibongkar
kedoknya. Skema Piramida sering memilih produk-produk yang biaya produksinya
murah namun tidak memiliki nilai di pasaran, seperti produk-produk ajaib
hasil penemuan baru, pengobatan eksotik dan sebagainya. Dengan demikian
sulit dijelaskan apakah produk-produk seperti itu benar-benar memiliki
pangsa pasar. Cara terbaik untuk menghindari jebakan dari piramida yang
tersamar adalah dengan mengetahui secara pasti apa yang ingin diperoleh dari
peluang berpenghasilan secara legal.

Penjualan berjenjang dan penjualan satu tingkat – peluang berpenghasilan
yang legal

Penjualan berjenjang dan penjualan satu tingkat merupakan suatu cara populer
untuk menjual produk secara eceran, tidak melalui toko yang menggunakan
pramuniaga, tetapi melalui wirausahawan yang mandiri (mitra usaha) langsung
ke tangan konsumen. Sebagai mitra usaha, Anda dapat menentukan jam kerja
sendiri dan mendapatkan penghasilan dengan menjual produk-produk hasil
produksi perusahaan yang cukup ternama.
Dalam struktur penjualan berjenjang dan penjualan satu tingkat Anda juga
dapat membangun dan membina kelompok penjualan sendiri dengan cara merekrut,
memotivasi, menyediakan produk dan pelatihan kepada mereka. Penghasilan Anda
akan mencakup presentasi penjualan kelompok Anda dan penjualan Anda sendiri
kepada konsumen. Peluang ini telah membuat penjualan berjenjang dan
penjualan satu tingkat menjadi cara yang menarik untuk memulai bisnis dengan
modal awal yang kecil.

Perbedaan antar bisnis yang legal dengan Skema Piramida tersamar

Skema Piramida mencari peluang untuk mendapatkan uang dari Anda. Perusahaan
penjualan berjenjang dan penjualan satu tingkat mencari peluang untuk
mendapatkan uang bersama Anda pada saat Anda membangun bisnis dan menjual
produk langsung kepada konsumen.
Sebelum Anda resmi bergabung menjadi anggota (mitra usaha) suatu perusahaan,
selidikilah secara hati-hati. Cara yang baik untuk memulai adalah dengan
menanyakan 3 hal tesebut di bawah ini kepada diri sendiri :

Berapa biaya yang harus saya bayar untuk menjadi mitra usaha?
Apakah perusahaan mau membeli kembali produk yang tidak terjual, bila saya
mengundurkan diri?
Apakah produk-produk perusahaan dijual sampai ke tangan konsumen?

Berapa biaya menjadi mitra usaha? Bilamana nilainya besar, berhati-hatilah

Biaya awal dalam perusahaan penjualan berjenjang biasanya relatif kecil.
Perusahaan biasanya membuat cara yang mudah dan ekonomis bagi Anda untuk
mulai menjual. Sebaliknya, skema piramida, menciptakan hampir seluruh
keuntungan dari biaya merekrut peserta baru. Itulah sebabnya, biaya untuk
menjadi mitra usaha biasanya besar sekali.
HATI-HATI PIRAMIDA SERING MENYAMARKAN BIAYA MENJADI PESERTA DENGAN
MEMASUKKAN BIAYA PEMBELIAN PAKET PELATIHAN, JASA PELAYANAN KOMPUTER DAN
PRODUK.
Pembelian ini mungkin tidak mahal atau bahkan tidak perlu, tetapi akan ada
tekanan untuk “memanfaatkan peluang secara maksimal”


Bagaimana dengan pengembalian produk?JIKA ANDA BISA TERSUDUT DENGAN
MENANGGUNG PRODUK YANG TIDAK TERJUAL, BERHATI-HATILAH!

Perusahaan yang legal dan mensyaratkan pembelian produk biasanya bersedia
“membeli kembali” produk-produk yang tidak terjual bila Anda memutuskan
untuk mengundurkan diri dari bisnis tersebut. Beberapa undang-undang daerah
mensyaratkan nilai pembelian kembali sekitar 90 % dari nilai sebenarnya
selama produk berada dalam kondisi layak jual.


Apakah produk dijual kepada konsumen?JIKA JAWABANNYA TIDAK (ATAU TIDAK
BANYAK), MENGHINDARLAH!

Ini adalah kuncinya. Sistem penjualan berjenjang dan penjualan langsung
(seperti halnya sistem penjualan eceran yang lain) menggantungkan diri pada
penjualan kepada konsumen dan pengembangan pasar. Ini membutuhkan produk
berkualitas dan harga yang bersaing. Sebaliknya, skema piramida tidak
menaruh perhatian pada penjualan poduk kepada konsumen. Keuntungan
diciptakan dari jumlah anggota baru yang membeli produk, bukan karena unsur
kegunaannya atau harganya yang menarik, tetapi karena ada unsur paksaan
untuk membeli. Pembelian produk seharusnya tidak melampaui kemampuan menjual
yang realistis. Cara lain yang digunakan Sistem Piramida tanpa memaksa ada
membeli produk tetapi mendorong anda untuk rekrut orang sebanyak mungkin
yang masing-masing tentu menyetor sejumlah uang dengan iming-iming akan
memperoleh uang lebih banyak lagi.
Bagaimana melindungi diri Anda dari investasi yang menjerumuskan?

Luangkan waktu. Jangan biarkan seorangpun mendesak Anda. Peluang yang baik
untuk membangun bisnis dalam struktur penjualan berjenjang maupun pemasaran
satu tingkat tidak akan lenyap dalam semalam. Orang yang mengatakan
“masuklah saat ini juga” memberi kesan seakan-akan mereka yang bergabung
belakangan tidak akan mendapatkan apa-apa. HATI-HATI !
Tanyakan hal-hal berikut:
Tentang perusahaan dan manajemennya
Tentang nilai produk di pasaran, dan potensi pasar di daerah Anda untuk
dapat menjual sampai ke tangan konsumen pemakai produk.
Tentang biaya menjadi anggota (termasuk pembelian wajib)
Tentang garansi pembelian kembali produk yang tidak terjual bila anda
mengundurkan diri.
Tentang rata-rata penghasilan mitra usaha yang aktif
Mintalah semua literatur perusahaan yang tersedia
Konsultasikan dengan orang lain yang pernah mempunyai pengalaman dengan
perusahaan tersebut beserta produk-produknya. Telitilah lebih lanjut apakah
produk-produk tersebut benar-benar dijual ke konsumen.
Selidikilah dan cocokkanlah kebenaran semua informasi yang Anda terima.
Jangan menganggap bahwa dokumen yang kelihatannya resmi berarti benar-benar
akurat atau lengkap.
Kemana harus mencari bantuan?

Untuk bantuan mengecek sebuah perusahaan, hubungi Asosiasi Penjualan
Langsung Indonesia, atau Pejabat setempat. Bilamana Anda mencurigai sebuah
perusahaan dijalankan dengan skema piramida yang tidak sesuai hukum.
Janganlah ikut terlibat, laporlah pada instansi terkait.

_________________________________________________________________
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LIHAT ALAMAT EMAILNYA SAJA "ITIL SAPI" ITU SUDAH MENCERIMINKAN
ORANGNYA....??????

DASAR ORANG NGGAK BERTANGGUNG JAWAB DAN NGGAK NGERTI SOPAN SANTUN...

-----Original Message-----
From: enak mas [mailto:itilsapi@...]
Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 9:05 AM
To: SSR-Klub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SSR-Klub] MLM HAHAHAHAHA MLM ?


ARTIKEL BAGUS  NIHH !!!!

love and serve
BUDAK MLM

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Bisa tolong di stop aja polemik ini? Sdh mulai mengganggu..
Parma.

parmaningsih.hadinegoro@...



                       Usaha Plus
                       <eko_salvarisi@ya        To:      
SSR-Klub@yahoogroups.com
                       hoo.com>                 cc:
                                                Subject:  RE: [SSR-Klub] Polemik
PRO MLM vs NO MLM
                       05/07/2004 02:23
                       PM
                       Please respond to
                       SSR-Klub






Saya lebih senang jika ada yg menulis berdasarkan rasio dan logikanya
sendiri, bukan copy-paste tulisan orang lain/web ... :)

Saya setuju dg pendapat Anda bahwa kita harus serahkan kepada orang lain
mengenai pilihan 'pekerjaan'-nya krn sangat bergantung kepada jiwa dan
karakteristik org tsb. Saya ingin berbagi bahwa kita semua sebenarnya
adalah PEDAGANG dan sedang BERDAGANG/usaha. Yg usahawan/wirausaha jelas
ke-PEDAGANG-annya. Yang karyawan juga sedang BERDAGANG yaitu MENJUAL JASA
nya yg ditukar dg gaji. Contoh BERDAGANG skill IT dibagian EDP utk ditukar
dg salary.

Jadi sangat benar sabda Rasul dalam agama saya bahwa 9 dari 10 pekerjaan
manusia adalah DAGANG/USAHA. Saya termasuk orang yg takut resiko, itulah
mengapa saya memilih menjadi karyawan bank .. :). Tapi ada sesuatu dalam
jiwa saya utk lebih dapat memperluas ke-PEDAGANG-an saya dg mencari
penghasilan tambahan. Minimal bisa bermanfaat utk orang lain. Contoh
menyediakan barang yg dibutuhkan orang (buka toko baju anak yg super murah)
atau menyediakan jasa khusus (pembersihan karpet atau mobil yg dilakukan di
rumah konsumen).
Hehehe .. boleh kan ? Boleh utk punya job doble.

Kesimpulan : Kita semua adalah PEDAGANG dan marilah kita BERDAGANG sesuai
kemampuan kita dan jangan usik DAGANGAN orang lain selama gak mengganggu.

PS : Saya sudah tanya kepada rumput yg bergoyang eh malah tambah bingung
tuh .. hehe

Wassalam.

JN Kana <kana@...> wrote:
  Wah rasanya makin menarik perbincangan kita ... urun rembug ya ...

  Rasanya di dunia ini ada prinsip yang memang sudah dari sononya begono ...
  yaitu prinsip keseimbangan ... bahwa ada hitam ada putih, ada panas ada
  dingin, ada salah ada benar, ada maju ada mundur .... masing-masing punya
  dunianya sendiri dan memang tidak untuk dipersamakan ....

  Untuk kasus MLM pun sama .... rasanya MASING-MASING PIHAK BERADA PADA
  DUNIA
  YANG BUKAN SAJA BERBEDA TETAPI BERTOLAK BELAKANG. Rasanya perdebatan 24
  jam
  sehari-pun tidak akan bisa mempertemukan mereka karena disini tidak ada
  benar-salah atau kalah-menang .....

  Mari kita coba lihat contoh berikut ini (mohon dikoreksi kalau salah ..)

  KARYAWAN
  Berpikir bahwa bekerja pada perusahaan/orang lain adalah hal pandai dan
  melakukan usaha/bisnis sendiri adalah berisiko.

  Pandai karena ada! nya pendapatan bulanan/bonus/kenaikan tahunan/program
  pensiun dll yang berkaitan dengan keamanan kerja.

  Usaha/bisnis sendiri berisiko karena adanya faktor
  permodalan/waktu/risiko/kegagalan/pengalaman/persaingan dll

  PELAKU USAHA/BISNIS SENDIRI
  Berpikir bahwa melakukan usaha/bisnis sendiri adalah hal pandai dan
  bekerja
  pada orang lain adalah berisiko.

  Pandai karena kesuksesan yang akan diraihnya akan melebihi penghasilan
  orang
  yang bekerja pada orang lain. Kegagalan merupakan bagian dari kesuksesan
  dan
  mereka mempunyai stok untuk gagal. Salah satu prinsip yang mereka pegang
  adalah 'risiko-imbalan'. Jika imbalan lebih besar dari risiko, maka mereka
  akan melakukan upaya yang maksimal sampai sukses. Jika rasio gagal dalam
  10
  kali usaha adalah 9 kali, maka mereka sudah siap untuk gagal sebanyak 9
  kali
  sebelum akhirnya sukses.

  Bekerja pada orang lain berisiko karena hanya menerima pendapatan bulanan
  yang tetap dengan kenaika! n tahunan yang relatif yang bisa tidak
  sebanding
  dengan kerja keras yang telah terus menerus kita lakukan untuk perusahaan
  (belajar menguasai hal baru karena persaingan ketat, kerja lembur,
  entertain
  relasi perusahaan sampai larut malam, waktu buat diri sendiri dan keluarga
  terbatas dll).

  Melihat dua contoh singkat di atas, siapa yang benar dan siapa yang salah
  ??? rasanya ini bukan soal benar atau salah .... karena dunia mereka
  berbeda
  sehingga mereka berpikir dengan cara yang berbeda ...

  Dimanapun anda berada .. PRO MLM dan NO MLM ... rasanya anda tahu WHY anda
  masing-masing ... WHY ARE YOU IN THE BUSINESS/WORKING IN THAT
  COMPANY/WORKING THAT INDUSTRY/ dll .... masing-masing orang memiliki
  WHY-nya
  sendiri dan bisa jadi tidak sama .....

  WHY ini yang rasanya akan menuntun masing-masing orang menemukan HOW
  mereka
  masing-masing untuk menuju SUKSES ....

  Bila anda masih bingung .. tanyalah pada rumput yang bergoyang he he ....



  PS : MK, ini salah satu millis yang gue ikutin .. judulnya 'perencana
  keuangan' yang dikoordinir oleh Bpk. Safir Senduk.


  -----Original Message-----
  From: Febry Arsianto [mailto:febdin@...]
  Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 5:26 PM
  To: ssr-klub@yahoogroups.com
  Subject: [SSR-Klub] Polemik PRO MLM vs NO MLM



  Melihat perkembangan menarik di milis kita ini tentang adanya Pro dan
  Kontra
  ttg MLM, tentunya kita harus bisa melihat dari kedua sisi tersebut.



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Yth. rekan rekan di milis,

terutama arya hendrata, gatot soepriyanto dan erli yang telah memberikan informasi.

mudah mudahan saya jadi lebih paham.

thank you very much,

Best Regards,

agung isnindito

Anggap saja klub ini seperti arisan, dimana tidak bisa dihindari para
anggota arisan kadang-kadang juga saling berjualan satu sama lain. Asalkan
tentu saja, iklan-iklan yang ingin Anda posting tersebut memang berhubungan
dengan perencanaan keuangan

-----Original Message-----
From: Safir Senduk & Rekan [mailto:ssrekan@...]
To: SSR-Klub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SSR-Klub] Selamat Datang di SSR-Klub

Rekan-rekan yth,

Selamat Datang di Klub Perencanaan Keuangan Safir Senduk & Rekan...

Peraturan Milis

O ya, menanggapi pertanyaan dari sejumlah member yang masuk kepada kami,
maka untuk menjaga agar milis ini bisa tetap enak untuk dinikmati sebagai
wadah bertanya, berdiskusi dan bertukar pikiran tentang perencanaan keuangan
antar para anggotanya, kami dari Safir Senduk & Rekan tidak melayani
konsultasi keuangan via milis ini. Bagi Anda yang ingin berkonsultasi atau
bertanya pada Perencana Keuangan kami, silakan mengirimkan email langsung
kepada kami melalui jalur pribadi. Sedangkan pertanyaan konsultasi keuangan
yang diajukan via milis, silakan ditanggapi sendiri oleh para anggota milis
yang lain. Mudah- mudahan ini dapat dimaklumi.

Perbincangan dalam milis ini juga dibatasi hanya pada topik-topik
perencanaan keuangan (seperti investasi, belanja, asuransi, perbankan, kartu
kredit, penghasilan tambahan, bisnis dan hal-hal semacam itu). Boleh juga
bila ada artikel dari luar yang ingin diposting kesini asalkan masih
berkaitan. Juga cerita mengenai buku-buku perencanaan keuangan yang sudah
pernah Anda beli, entah dari pengarang lokal maupun pengarang asing. Ingin
bicara hal-hal yang sedikit menyimpang? Boleh saja, asalkan tidak jauh-jauh
amat. Termasuk juga bila beberapa dari Anda ingin berkenalan, silakan
melakukannya di dalam milis. Attachment diperkenankan, asalkan tidak
melebihi 250 kb.

Beberapa dari Anda yang ingin memposting iklan-iklan 'cepat kaya', peluang
usaha, dan lain sebagainya, silakan saja. Bebas. Anggap saja klub ini
seperti arisan, dimana tidak bisa dihindari para anggota arisan
kadang-kadang juga saling berjualan satu sama lain. Asalkan tentu saja,
iklan-iklan yang ingin Anda posting tersebut memang berhubungan dengan
perencanaan keuangan. Sekali lagi, attachment diperkenankan sepanjang tidak
melebihi 250 kb. Satu lagi, Pengelola Milis tentu saja tidak bertanggung
jawab terhadap hasil dari pemasangan iklan tersebut. Ikut sertanya Anda
dalam iklan yang dipasang di milis tentu saja menjadi tanggung jawab Anda
masing-masing.


Sekali lagi, Selamat Datang di Klub Perencanaan Keuangan Safir Senduk &
Rekan. Sukses untuk Anda.

Salam,
Erry Kurniawati
Manajer Bisnis
Safir Senduk & Rekan
email: erry@...

_________________________________________________________________
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