BUSINESS My FOOT!!
January 24th, 2006 by kamkueyAt this age and time, there are still people falling for the ‘business’ presented to them by many of these multi-level marketting schemes. I myself have been a victim, blindly following what they say.
To many of you out there who have not encountered some of these MLM people before.. let me shed some light of what they will do..
Firstly, these are the people whom you should be very cautious with when they calls you up out of the blue :
1) Long lost friends
2) People who said that you were recommended to by someone you know
3) Strange people offering business opportunities.
They will rub your backside nicely, telling you how they look up to you or how someone has told them that you are very good in business management.. etc etc. Then they will invite you to have a look at this business opportunity which has been presented to him/her and to give your point of view of the business. Or it can be as simple as inviting you out for a “long-overdued” drinking session.
How to avoid getting cornered?
Just tell them that you are busy and have absolutely no time for anything else.
If they ask you to just meet up for a drink ‘for old time’s sake’, insist on a location of your choice, somewhere near your home (like a 2 minute drive) so that you would not waste your time.
Want you have a look at the business plan to see if it OK for him/her to proceed with it? Ask them to email you the business plan. They will tell you something like, if presented in person, better or business plan is in hard copy. Tell them to go to your office to do the presentation or have a copy of the hard copy delivered to your office reception. They will NEVER go to office presentation or send you a hardcopy business plan as they is no business plan. the only plan is to get you to first sign up, then ask you to “stock up” with thousands of ringgit worth of stocks.
Whatever it is, just say NO.
Anyways, shedding more light into what will happen if you are cornered. You will go to the ‘business’ presentation with many many people, cramped into a tiny room. Then you will either see dancing, hopping and screaming ‘business’ presenters or a very business-like presentation. They will first show you what the products are trying to cure or prevent. Show you pictures of nasty stuffs like human shits or things like that. Then they will gloriously present to you the name of the product. By that time, it is too late to get up to leave. Even go toilet also kenot cos before entering the room, you fren has already asked you to do pee or shit. Then they show you the ‘business’ process and you get a little excited in the money part. Then they show you how easy it is and how the leaders will guide you, carry you if need be, all the way.
After the presentation, you are still on the fence. And when you finally decided to leave, your fren will call in the reinforcement… his leader, a very enthusiaistic well dressed and very business like. He will personally put his hand on your shoulder and without blinking, lie through his teeth that he will personally guide you through (obviously he says that to everyone he meets). He then invites you to join them for a quick supper before heading on home. The misdirection continues. He picks you up in his BMW and buys you supper. You are impressed. You signed up. You buy a RM800 product as membership requirement in the business plan.
Your first meeting, the bomb dropped. You are to fork out RM2.5K to buy products to ’sponsor’ your downline. You panic. But the business man again puts his arms around you and assure you that he will personally help you push the products out. He will also help you make the phone calls.
The first month ends and you still have not have any downlines. Your RM2.5K products are lying in the boot of your car. The businessman pulls you aside and encourages you.
“everyone also like that.. first month slow. but dun worry, things will pick you. But first, do not let your first month’s points go to waste. Buy another RM2.5K worth of products so that you can advance into the next level. Can earn more”
Being beefed up and encouraged, you blindly get into more debts and buying another RM2.5K worth of products.
Second month ends. Still the same. No one signed up. And businessman gave the same speech. But adds that he will PERSONALLY sit by you to make those phone calls and personally see to each and every one of your guests. You get pumped up and buys RM5K worth of products because the second month’s requirement for the next level is higher.
Third month ends, you are VERY excited because you got one signed up under you and you work hard to make him carry on. But you still need to buy RM7K products to make up the third month’s points. Its OK says the businessman, you will make it up later.. ten times over. Again, You blindly go on and on.
By the time the fifth months come along, you have only two downlines. Your credit card is busted and you have a RM20K debt. NOt to mention the suit you bought. Good thing you did not follow your leader’s advice to trade in your Proton Wira for a BMW 325i to portray that business-like look. Your leaders are looking away, telling you that it is your business and no one can help you run it.. and that you would have to do it yourself.
RM20K debt is OK. You work hard, save up and slowly pay up the RM20K you ower credit card companies and your brother and koliks and you are back on your feet, rebuilding your life. But time has been lost, your savings emptied. And now whenever you call your friends for yamcha, they will be very wary of the invitation. Good thing you have not lost your friends.
So the best thing is.. always say NO. If you like the product, by all means, go buy the products.. just do not sign your life savings away.
What is that I hear? Got people make money? Yes.. of cos got. Bill Gates also made tonnes of money from his software business mar, go make and sell software lar. Or go build supermarkets all over the nation and call it M-Mart lar. Not feasible? Why not? Bill started from nothing also wut. Businesses start somewhere.
