My first MLM was called a pyramid company. It was called Holiday Magic. I was only 19-years-old, and it was a new concept, (or an new twist to the Ponzi scheme.) I actually was hired as a receptionist for the company in New York City. The "Reps" ran in and out all day as they dragged in their unsuspecting recruits.
One day I got a call from someone who said that he was from the Attorney General's office. He asked questions which I could not answer-then he said "we have ways of making you talk" I promptly hung up the phone.
Still in the dark, I moved on and briefly got involved in Amway, then it was Avon, Mary Kay and a few others that I have lodged in the deep recess of my brain. They all have feel good stories, they all have millionaires stumping for the company. I briefly remember one in "nutraceuticals" rah rah great meetings, hosted in ballrooms across major hotel chains around the country. Let's see Pre-Legal, (1995) Primerica 1997, on and on. They pop into my memory as I write this blog.
The most outstanding was Excel Communications. Oh, it was a great group of brothers and sisters. Mighty educated, cool, intelligent, good looking too! professionals all. In that group when I lived in Las Vegas in the 1990's was Maryum Ali-known as Mai Mai--she wanted to recruit me.
So did another Ph.D friend of mine. I told them, look, this only works if for instance-you sign up the City of Las Vegas as your down line, ok? that would represent a tremendous payout on the upline everytime a long distance call was made.
Well she got really mad at me..our last convo consisted of her telling me "Marta Fernandez' I am not going to let you (lose, stamp out--can't remember the exact word) my dreams! .. I just kept quiet, firstly Mai Mai is Muhammad Ali's daughter--so why, yes why would she need to join an MLM? secondly, she was still young, in college, and I already knew the end of that script. And it ended as follows; she walked away from it eventually as did my Ph.D friend, finished school in Elementary Education and I am sure, she is happy earning a nice salary in her chosen profession.
Please don't get me wrong--Mary Kay is a tremendous de facto teaching company-in 1.organization 2. prioritization 3. empowerment 4. teaching good habits all around and for meeting like women who want more out of life. I know Sales Directors from, Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Mexico! who seem very satisfied and TALK about their monetary success! Well there must be some cash-because there are a lot of Pink Mary Kay cars around--similar to ARBONNE and their Mercedes Benz concept.
Neverthe less I am so not interested. Ron Cartier lead singer of the R & B Group,The Persuaders who sings one fo my favorite songs, "It's a Thin Line B etween Love and Hate" tried to get me into the magic cure all tonics. Whether it's Acai, or Noni juice etc, I am not buying the spiel!! do you know why? All of these "miracle" drinks with their family type testimonials are processed foods. They have a high sugar content..that should send out an alert--the packaging is probably the most expensive ingredient. I purposely did not name the "new tonic on the block " because as they say to each his own"! After the rah-rah pep talk the mind gets bent into a belief system
that does not allow you to question the product or service i.e. bad credit no problem..clean up your credit, etc--Global travel..(out of $480.00 on that one)..real estate--etc.
No, I don't have to question the company--my statement is as follows: if anyone who is from the African Diaspora (because all of the founders of all multi-levels are always white) is planning to create, from inception to marketing plan a multi-level...please call me? I will sell my five children and invest!! A quick million to be made on the ground floor--then I want my children back!
Posted By: Marta Fernandez
Tuesday, March 10th 2009 at 1:27PM
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