The American Dream
I just launched my own business…
If you’re on social media and you’re a female, you’ve probably been hit up by a friend or two about the new business they’ve launched. It’s usually related to selling skincare (e.g., Rodan + Fields) or essential oils (e.g., Dotera) or clothing (e.g., Lularoe). They promise life-changing solutions for your [insert issue here]. They appeal to expert opinions and proven research. They offer money back for referrals. They even try to get you to sell the products yourself.
I was recently contacted by an old high school friend about one of these opportunities. Up to this point, we hadn’t spoken for ten years, so I was surprised that I would even come to mind as she worked her way through her recruitment list. Nonetheless, I patiently endured her elevator pitch and then politely declined. I thought that was that…but then she reached out again. This time I was a little less tactful (oops) but wanted to be as clear and honest as possible. Surely, after all of that, it was finished…but then she reached out, again.
While it annoyed me that she didn’t get the hint, this interaction caused me to wonder: how did this intelligent, discerning friend get into this? Why does she not get the hint? How much money is she actually making? How desperate is it, that she would reach out to me–someone that she hasn’t spoken to in ten years–to try to make the sale?
I mentioned this interaction to another friend and she recommended that I listen to The Dream. It’s a podcast that covers the history of multi-level marketing companies, its intersection with women in the workforce, and the lengths to which these companies go to avoid the label of a “pyramid scheme.” While I still don’t fully understand the psychological motivation for getting involved in an MLM, this podcast has definitely offered a peek behind the curtain and given me an idea of what’s a stake in the quest to be successful within this world. Listen below – I recommend starting with Ep. 2, but you can start at the beginning by visiting their page on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher.