Is it the shape? Is it because it looks like a triangle (Gasp! Pyramid!) But you can't really take issue with a tiered compensation payout structure, every sales organization in the world has one of those. The salespeople get a commission, and the sales managers above get overrides or bonuses, and sales directors on top of that, and VPs on top of that.
Is it the fact that you have to pay to start? Can't be that one. That's a standard franchising model. And believe me, the franchise fee of most traditional franchises are way more than an MLM sign-up.
In reality, there are illegal pyramid schemes. This is one where money is made off of recruiting with little or no real product ever being delivered. But in spite of whatever perceptions people may have, the fact is that the giant companies that you know the name of, have sold millions upon millions of dollars of product to satisfied customers. So, there may be a perception problem, but if that is the case, the perception is out of line with the reality.
There is a giant pyramid scheme out there that I feel I just must make you aware of. You know that a pyramid scheme is where they take money from the little people at the bottom and give it to the people at the top. Well, the big scheme I want you to watch out for is called, THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. Watch out! Don't get caught up in this one.
So what's the solution?
There's a first time for everything. And network marketing is a great opportunity for people to have their first business. The point is this, recognize it for what it is: it's a business, and you are a business owner. If you've never owned a business before, if you've never done sales before, you need to learn about how to do so, not just from the network marketing/MLM experts, but from established experts in those type of fields.
Network marketers who are serious about building this business should spend time reading and learning about the business fundamentals, the latest sales and marketing techniques, strategies for networking and business development, etc., not just swapping tips at your team's weekly conference calls. If you act like a small business owner, people will treat you like one.
-RD
