Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - Direct Selling/Impact on rest of your personal life

superseiyan · 11-12-2008, 10:56 PM

Moderator: I double posted this as I don't know where it belongs best. You may merge or delete one of the threads as appropriate, I shall take no offense.

There's a dilemna.

I do network marketing/direct selling. I have been "in it" for four years. Now, I'm a little conflicted. I'm in Amway or Quixtar to be more specific, I figured this is a place where constructive feedback can be given without either delusion (fired up!) or unnecessary malice and negativity. Pretty much I'm interested in calm,

The pros and cons as I see it:

CON:

- I find "contacting" (IMO it's recruiting) very manipulative and deceptive. Saying hi to somebody, and then telling them they 'look sharp and ambitious' just to get a "name" is to me so unbeleivably fake.
-There is a lot of focus on "bringing guests".
- Cultivate siege mentality. "Us vs the World". A tendency to look down on others just because they don't 'get' the business i.e. they don't have a dream, etc.
- Time required for "contacting" and some $$$ diverse resources from potential other self-development activities like socializing, learning a foreign language, learning cool skills like dancing, etc. Pretty much your whole life comes to a standstill.
- You become a robot. Yes you're positive. Yes your'e fired up. Yes you'll be financially free. But something's a little off, and you find it hard to just relate to people and have a normal conversation with them. Everyone you see has a $ tattoo on their forehead.

PRO:

- Some phenomenal talks and self-development resources on leadership.
- I am very close with my immediate mentor/up-up-line
- Association with people from different professions, some at very senior levels, and of different ages, that I probably wouldn't
be hanging out with if I was not in the business.
- Alternate view on reality.
- Generall optimistic view of world.
- You OWN something.
- I have no more need for TV.
- Some of the products are top class. The supplementation/vitamins are great.

My dilemna is that I know you have to do somethings that are uncomfortable for success. I know 9-5 for 40 years in a cubicle is not ideal. I know about the 20-80 rule. I know that comfort zone is an enemy.

Therefore, how can one join direct selling/direct marketing and "quit" in good consciense? We've been told that if you quit, you'd likely not have the discipline or will to succeed in anything else. It'd seem like a bad precedent. On the other hand, how can you succeed in direct selling without the hunter recruiting mentality?

I don't mind working right now, in fact I'm considering graduate school then continue working in the area of diplomacy/international affairs. However, ultimately after about 10-15 years (I'll be 45 at most) I'd like to transition into something part-time, or consulting so I can travel and pursue other interests and experience life to its fullest.

Is Direct Selling the only way out of 9-5 until 65 and into living concsiously?

11-12-2008, 10:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
superseiyan Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 18	Direct Selling/Impact on rest of your personal life Moderator: I double posted this as I don't know where it belongs best. You may merge or delete one of the threads as appropriate, I shall take no offense. There's a dilemna. I do network marketing/direct selling. I have been "in it" for four years. Now, I'm a little conflicted. I'm in Amway or Quixtar to be more specific, I figured this is a place where constructive feedback can be given without either delusion (fired up!) or unnecessary malice and negativity. Pretty much I'm interested in calm, The pros and cons as I see it: CON: - I find "contacting" (IMO it's recruiting) very manipulative and deceptive. Saying hi to somebody, and then telling them they 'look sharp and ambitious' just to get a "name" is to me so unbeleivably fake. -There is a lot of focus on "bringing guests". - Cultivate siege mentality. "Us vs the World". A tendency to look down on others just because they don't 'get' the business i.e. they don't have a dream, etc. - Time required for "contacting" and some $$$ diverse resources from potential other self-development activities like socializing, learning a foreign language, learning cool skills like dancing, etc. Pretty much your whole life comes to a standstill. - You become a robot. Yes you're positive. Yes your'e fired up. Yes you'll be financially free. But something's a little off, and you find it hard to just relate to people and have a normal conversation with them. Everyone you see has a $ tattoo on their forehead. PRO: - Some phenomenal talks and self-development resources on leadership. - I am very close with my immediate mentor/up-up-line - Association with people from different professions, some at very senior levels, and of different ages, that I probably wouldn't be hanging out with if I was not in the business. - Alternate view on reality. - Generall optimistic view of world. - You OWN something. - I have no more need for TV. - Some of the products are top class. The supplementation/vitamins are great. My dilemna is that I know you have to do somethings that are uncomfortable for success. I know 9-5 for 40 years in a cubicle is not ideal. I know about the 20-80 rule. I know that comfort zone is an enemy. Therefore, how can one join direct selling/direct marketing and "quit" in good consciense? We've been told that if you quit, you'd likely not have the discipline or will to succeed in anything else. It'd seem like a bad precedent. On the other hand, how can you succeed in direct selling without the hunter recruiting mentality? I don't mind working right now, in fact I'm considering graduate school then continue working in the area of diplomacy/international affairs. However, ultimately after about 10-15 years (I'll be 45 at most) I'd like to transition into something part-time, or consulting so I can travel and pursue other interests and experience life to its fullest. Is Direct Selling the only way out of 9-5 until 65 and into living concsiously?