SOUNDS LIKE A PYRAMID SCHEME.

A few years back, my now nearly 7 year old son was a baby, and I was a brand new mom who didn’t know shit. (Can anyone relate?)

I was working as a fully-booked hairstylist, at a busy salon that I co-owned with two of the most wise and kind women I know. My husband had his “dream” corporate job. We didn’t see each other much, he was often gone early in the morning and home late at night. We were 60K in debt, had no vacation time, and living for those nights and weekends together. But we were happy, we could pay our bills, I got to roam Target aimlessly with a Starbz in my hand. Living what I always felt was the American Dream - right?

I wasn’t looking for a network marketing job. (In my head - all I could think was “You mean a pyramid scheme?”) But I found some products I fell in love with that changed my life, my health, my emotions - and got my sweet 3 month old baby to sleep twelve hours at night. (Wild, right? AND AWESOME.)

I had no intention to start a new business - I had one, remember? But, I couldn’t shut my mouth about these products. And my friends kept asking me about them. So, it was time for me to dig in to my beliefs about Network Marketing - the myths and the truth.

Myth 1: Sounds Like A Pyramid Scheme
Those are illegal. Are there some actual pyramid schemes in this world? Sure. But that doesn’t mean your network marketing company is one. Is the company selling an actual product you are purchasing and excited about? Then it’s not a pyramid scheme.

Myth 2: The Products Are More Expensive So They Can Pay The Distributors
Every business has a marketing budget. That can include print, media, social media, and shelf space in stores. In 2020, L’Oreal spent 10.4 billion dollars worldwide (2.3 billion in the US alone) on advertising. 
Network marketing companies choose to spend those dollars paying people to share about their products. Instead of paying millions to run commercials in between your fave tv shows, or in magazine, or put their products on the shelf at Target or the department stores - they choose to pay real life people who are passionate about the products. People who then take that income and pay real life bills - mortgages, groceries, school or dance class for their children. 

Myth 3:  You Have To Spend A Ton Of Money To Get Started
I can’t speak for every Network Marketing company, and there are scammy ones, and there are fabulous ones - just like with every other type of business and company in this world. But in my company, and many other companies I have friends in - to get started you need to purchase a business kit - typically less than $50 - and you’re good to go.

Let’s look starting a business in the United States - according to Forbes, in 2018, 59% of new business owners took out a loan for their startup costs. For a small business, costs range from the low end of $10,000 to $125,000.

The products I purchase from my company are for my family to use, and we do. I could never sell a product I didn’t use and love! The majority of sales in a legitimate company will come from customers who love the products and are ordering them for their own personal use. 

Myth 4: You Have to Hold Inventory
I’ve never had to have inventory, or ship a product to a customer. I don’t need to purchase product to sell, I don’t take the payments, I don’t mail the products out. The company handles that. All transactions are done through the company’s website - just like any e-commerce site. This is typical in most all legitimate network marketing companies I know.

Myth 5: Only The Person At The Very Top Makes Money
In network marketing, you can outrank the person who enrolled you. In network marketing, you aren’t successful unless those within your community are successful too, period.

Myth 6: I Have To Slide Into Stranger’s DMs With “Hey Hun!”
No. I have never sent a cold message asking someone to buy something from me in my life - to a stranger or a friend. In network marketing you have the opportunity to treat this business like a real business - because it is. Share what you love, know your products, know why you love them, teach about them, empower others, be a light in the world, and help other people. 

Myth 7: Network Marketing Is A Side Hustle And Not A Real Job.
For some it is a side hustle. Many people in the world work more than one job -  that isn’t abnormal.
A side hustle you can work from home? That is a beautiful thing. It’s extra money in pockets for groceries, gas, daycare, bills, much needed date nights. But for many in network marketing, it is a full-time job. They’ve quit their corporate jobs and now spend those days at home raising the babies, hanging with their families, traveling, donating their time, and living life in a way that brings them joy.

Not just living for nights and weekends. 

I learned a lot when I began the deep dive into my misconceptions about network marketing. I was wrong about a lot. Something sparked inside me. THIS is what I loved doing. Seeing these families find confidence in new tools to old issues. Feeling joy as they changed their stories, as they leaned into this business alongside me. Learning to seek answers for themselves - in ALL areas. Opening their eyes to what they were putting on and in their bodies and their kid’s bodies. And how that effected overall health.

Then, in 2020, the world shut down. My salon was forced to close. First, for a few months. And then, permanently.

I have never been so grateful for my network marketing job. I continued to work, to have income. I am able to work anywhere I want. I get to be with my husband and babies more than my previous job (and my husband’s previous job - he quit that corporate dream job 3 years ago) ever allowed. Our income had long surpassed what we were making previously.

So next time you have a choice to purchase a product from a friend working a network marketing business - try it! Support him or her - the same way you’d show up to that brick and mortar store they were opening. The same way you show up for that leisurely stroll around Target with a latte in your hand after your kids go to bed. 

It’s a real business, with real income, run by real people, who have real passion and purpose.