Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
I don't subscribe to a newspaper (not because of the inherent evils of the media as those crossing the stage for Quixtar would have you believe) but instead read the headlines online at MSN, CNN, and ESPN. I ran across something quite interesting at MSN Money this morning that I thought was worthy of sharing.
The article, "How to Make a Million Dollars" details nine different ways in which various people have made their fortunes. These are common folks like you and me. A couple of key points jump out in this article that are valuable pieces of information for anyone but especially important I think if you are one of the struggling masses in the IBO community who is beginning to see that something isn't quite right with your business opportunity.
First, the numbers that are provided in the beginning of the article as they pertain to growth in the millionaire population seem to contradict the statistics thrown out by the Quixtar 'brass'. According to the survey by TNS financial services the number of U.S. Millionaires is at an all-time high and a 33% increase over the previous year. Not exactly the horror stories I've heard in the BSMs.
Also interesting to note is that the last of the nine examples of producing a million dollars comes from an MLM (the lady who started Pampered Chef). I think that what separates this type of MLM from the Quixtar 'opportunity' is that it is a true product-based opportunity. They have found a true product and have stuck to it, their consultants adhere to a strict ethics policy, and most importantly, are true to themselves by staying forthcoming with their customer base as to who they are and what they are about.
As a musician, I was somewhat inspired by the story of the guy who wrote the song 'Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer." I can totally write a better song than that!
posted by jason @ 9:37 AM
6 Comments:
As for the Pampered Chef lady, what's most pertinent is that she's the one who STARTED it, not someone who JOINED one. Plenty of the people that START mlm's do very well indeed, but it's only the "tool kingpins" and a few chosen "heavy hitters" that do well from inside the pyramids.
Now, Pampered Chef may have a great product line, and the owner may be holding the organization to a high standard. That's fine. Is there really any way to build that high standard into the structure such that if she's no longer in charge for whatever reason it won't degenerate into the usual (inevitable) recruiting scam?
Various mlm's are touted by their proponents on the strength of their product lines. It's my contention that the mlm business model is so inherently defective that without such a benevolent dictator forcing it to behave contrary to its nature, it can destroy an otherwise viable product line (not the other way round). Ever hear of Quorum? The products don't really matter. It's not weak products that make one or another mlm fail, it's mlm that makes all mlm's fail.
What, they haven't all failed? Of course not, YET. Of all the long-lived ones, there is ONE example that somehow got big enough (before the flaws were so obvious) to be noticed outside the industry. Without widespread abuse and cult-like practices, all the others kind of scratch out an existence, flying under the radar, not generating many complaints, but not much business, either.
If it wasn't viable, would it still exist? Well, communism is still alive in certain parts of the world, and has its adherents despite vast and obvious evidence of its utter failure. It looked good on paper, and so did mlm. They're just like venereal diseases that people keep joyfully spreading.
Dude, you need a counter, try sitemeter.com
AFAIK, there are no tools or motivational products for Pampered Chef consultants. That is what makes it different than Quixtar. Yes, there is only so much money that can be made if you are not the founder and you did not get in on the "ground floor". PC will saturate at some point just like any other MLM, but the newest people to get in on the concept won't lose their shirts buying tapes and attending rallys.
Did you know that Pampered Chef is, as of a couple years ago, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway? Warren Buffett was impressed enough by the business model, the management, and the future cash flows that he bought it lock, stock, and barrel. That tells me that PC runs a good business.
Dude, where is da new post?
Set a frequency that suits you. Once a week or month. Then stick to it.
dude,
It's funny you mentioned Pampered Chef. I think Warren Buffet bought out Pampered Chef. What does that tell you for the MLM industry? Do you know something Warren Buffet doesn't know?
Also,
I love that song "grandma got run over by a reindeer"
Dude, annonymous you forgot the line about "quixtar not being up for sale" that goes with the "what do you know something that Warren Buffet doesnt know". LOL
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