All Blanket Statements Are Dangerous

The true answer is somewhere in the middle, for sure. These days there really isn’t much possibility for a neutral party – too many people have heard too many other people speak about something and will have an opinion slanted one way or the other without even realizing it.

Oh, and just to be snarky…the statement that all blanket statements are dangerous IS a blanket statement.

Thanks for your thoughtful post on the topic. I’m a big believer in the idea that you need to back up blanket statements with stats. Knowing this industry a great deal more intimately than the speaker in question, I do have some perspective on the number of people that benefit…in many ways, not just financially…as a result of direct sales. Ethics is important. And there are many companies in the industry that feel the same way…that’s why the DSA Code of Ethics exists.

It doesn’t appear that Scott intends to change his mind any time soon, and that’s his right. But I would appreciate it if he didn’t tar and feather an industry with blanket statements that are not based on fact. Someone listening to him who might otherwise be greatly benefited from the industry may miss out as a result.

As both an Internet Marketer and a Multi-level Marketer I’ve seen and heard all the hype and implied promises from both industries. In my opinion, one is just as bad as the other. <- Another blanket statement.

Yes, there are good, ethical people in both industries, many whom I've had the pleasure of dealing with. I love using the internet to market my business, I don’t sell pipe dreams or prey on people’s hopes and dreams. Nor do I make it a secret that hard work is involved.

It's sad and disappointing to see one industry expert calling down another industry, very bad form and unprofessional.

Thank you for your thoughtful blog post – there are certainly some interesting comments here too. And THANK YOU especially to Jennifer for so passionately defending our industry.

I too am incredibly passionate about Direct Sales – I AM a direct seller and I am proud of it. Sweeping comments like these do sadly tar all of us with the same poor image, which is a shame. I do work diligently to uphold the standards outlined by the DSA and train my team to do the very same too.

One of the many great things about Direct Sales is that EVERYONE starts at the same level. We all have the same starter kit, we all have the same opportunity – it’s what we do with it that counts.

For those that embark on Direct Sales thinking it’s a quick fix (regardless of what they may have been told) then I’m guessing they didn’t read the application form.

Rather than a sweeping statement about how bad ‘we all are’, it would have been so much more beneficial to highlight the good that is being done. Showcase some excellent examples within the industry and help educate those who are ‘less knowledgeable’ and given them a framework to work within and leadership examples to follow. Jennifer, I know you do this tirelessly and I always promote your work – thank you again.

Oh, and to be utterly clear… It is illegal for a promoter or a participant in a trading scheme to persuade anyone to make a payment by promising benefits from getting others to join a scheme. Do not be misled by claims that high earnings are easily achieved.

Holy Schmoly…I’m ducking so I don’t get hit by the shrapnel. I would be among the first to admit that a number of MLM/network marketers/direct sellers suffer from a lack of finesse and yes, even operate dishonestly. But you know, I know people who go to work in corporate America and their employers don’t exactly represent the job and requirements honestly. Is it right? No way! Is it right for a network marketer to make false claims about the “vast wealth” that can be earned as a rep for company XYZ? Of course not! Instead of blasting a whole industry why not call out the offenders with specific behaviors? And golly, if Scott wants to come rip his book out of my hands and the downline and sidelines I recommended it to, then isn’t he working against the notion that his methods are better and could contribute to a better, cleaner world of selling?

I am wondering if this is really just a case of semantics. In the ‘industry’ of direct sales there are really 3 versions – party plan, network marketing, and person-to-person (door to door) sales. MLM is not included. In party plan the emphasis is on physical product sales, with an opportunity to also make some money building a team IF you wish. In network marketing, the emphasis is on building the team who are also consumers of the product at a discount. In door to door sales, the emphasis is on commissioned based sales only. In all 3 of these cases there is a PRODUCT that people receive in exchange for their investment in one way or another.

MLM on the other hand – although sometimes attributed to the 3 styles of direct sales simply because they do have multiple levels – is different and usually is not based on a product line, there is no shipping of inventory, and there is no catalog. It is often an opportunity to offer an opportunity to offer an opportunity etc. and the pay structure is entirely dependent on recruiting and selling training materials.

I believe the industry Jen is defending is the direct sales industry, and it sounds like Scott recognizes that industry as having some success stories. I think it is important that we educate people about the differences in this industry and not lump MLM into direct sales. There are legitimate MLM businesses but they are very different than direct sales businesses and their marketing techniques are by nature full of promises of income since that is what they are promoting – opportunities. Any legitimate direct sales company does not (and cannot) make income claims.

This was an interesting exchange. I think the bottom line is that all professions have their good and bad representatives – there are good car salesman and not-so-good car salesman, good hair stylists and not-so-good hair stylists, good hotels and not-so-good hotels.. We don’t label the entire beauty community as bad news with scissors, the entire car sales community as crooks or every hotel as a flea bag. It is up to each individual person to make choices for themselves every day – period.. Purchasing a car from someone “because they seemed nice” would be ridiculous; as a smart and RESPONSIBLE consumer, we would have the car checked out first before we handed over our hard-earned money. We ask for referrals for hair stylists and we read reviews if we are planning a trip to places unknown for good hotel service versus a hotel that hosts “by the hour” room rates. The same holds true with everything we do in life, including a direct sales business. If we sign up for something without doing our research first, shame on us. It is really foolish to blame “those bad MLM people” who encouraged someone to spend money THEY DON’T HAVE and things don’t work out. I can promise someone the moon but we all know that is not going to happen.

Anyone who has their own business has to invest time and effort and sometimes a little money. By the way, there are many things that make an MLM type business a little “easier” such as the back room operations including marketing materials, training, corporate office staff, etc that an individual person would have to create themselves and pay dearly for, if they were going into a solo business completely on their own.. The “work” comes into play by taking the income-producing actions to make the business a business, not a hobby which is the downfall for many who sign up for a business; they never take their foot off the gas pedal and then complain when they aren’t earning an income. Duh.

When you are doing something you love, it makes the “work” more fulfulling and many would prefer to do that than be a cog who trades time for money in a way that is not fulfilling to them until a hopeful retirement that they may or may not be able to enjoy. Life is now for all of us, not 20 years from now and there are many beneficial options to help make life now, a little better for familes. Personally I would much rather help supplement our family income by investing 3 hours in a show a week that creates more earnings that investing 20+ hours at an $8/hr job in retail – this idea may work for others as well or they can choose to opt for the 20 hour/week retail and that is perfectly fine if that works for them but whining about it won’t cut it. Choices, people.

The bottom line is if ANYTHING seems too good to be true, it is your responsibility to determine if what is being presented to you is YOUR reality or not before you sign on the dotted line and/or make a financial investment.

Be responsible for yourself and the choices you make and stop blaming others if that choice wasn’t beneficial for you. It appears there are a few who are quite bitter about a choice they made and now want to get on their soapbox about an entire profession. Just keep in mind when you are pointing a finger at someone, there are 3 pointing back at you.