I Love You *and* The Celebrity Status!
Did you miss last week’s finale of ABC’s hit TV show “The Bachelorette?”
Me too.
Thankfully, neither of us had to watch the final rose ceremony to learn a huge lesson in network marketing.
See, as an alumnae of UC Berkeley with plenty of Women’s Studies classes on my transcript, let’s just say my personal values don’t allow me to support what this show stands for. With that said, I still allow myself the pleasure of poking fun at the contestants and blogging about them.
But, as a fan of pop culture, allow me to fill you in on the premise, as I have certainly been sucked into previous seasons from “The Bachelor” franchise. In the show, 25 abnormally attractive 20-somethings vie for the love (well, “love” is strong… let’s say “engagement ring”) from one eligible bachelor.
Each week, in a Survivor-type elimination, one young woman is sent home. Her departure from the show is pathetically captured as she is whisked away in a limousine, with mascara-stained tears streaming down her face, while she pleads with the cameraman, “I can’t believe this is happening… I thought he was the one!”
Ultimately two contestants remain, and they both wait pathetically as the star of the show selects his bride-to-be (well, “bride-to-be” until the endorsements and appearance fees dry up; then the couple usually breaks up).
Suffice to say, rarely does a “Bachelor” couple actually stay together.
Yet, season after season, America tunes in to the show in record numbers to watch true love unfold before our very eyes… and then falter and fizzle in the tabloids in the coming weeks.
So what keeps us coming back for more? Why is the show even still running if it has just one success story? Why do women line up in droves to just apply to be one of the 25 contestants, when history proves the likelihood of them actually finding true love is practically zilch?
And why does America insist on watching?
We hold onto the belief that love conquers all, and despite the numerous dramatic break-up stories that hail from “The Bachelor”, we continue to root for love.
And my belief is that it’s the same reason so many people stick with network marketing, even when times are tough and the money isn’t coming in: The dream.
It’s no secret that most people fail at network marketing.
Just as in marriage, most distributors will not “live happily ever after”. In fact, people that drop out of network marketing are often worse off than when they started!
And despite the statistics and the horror stories, people come back for more.
Distributors hop from company to company in hopes of finding the opportunity that will fulfill what they are searching for because they never give up on their dreams for the future, and the hope that network marketing will be the means of achieving it.
I commend them. My mentor always taught me, “It pays to stay!”
So thank you Ali Fedotowsky for being ABC’s latest victim–er, I mean volunteer!
Readers, what do you think about the masses in network marketing that make little money? What about the people that make no money and stick with it? What has your experience been?
Thanks for commenting below and Tweeting this to your network…
9. August 2010 at 9:47 am
Hey Melissa,
Personally, the only tv I watch is tennis, football or basketball during the playoffs. Boring I know so I don’t know anything about the show but I share your sentiment with network marketing.
With most NM start up costs so inexpensive that it often attracts people that don’t have the skills, entrepreneurial mindset to succeed, or people who just don’t have the money to start a business.
What people are buying is the hopes and dreams, without willing to invest their efforts to learn the right skills such as marketing and personal development to succeed. It’s as if they’re saying, I’ll invest $100 or whatever and let’s see if I can make it. That is why the attrition rate is so high!
Janette
Janette Stoll´s last [type] ..Direct sales success- ways to challenge yourself to a new experience
10. August 2010 at 5:30 pm
great point. my mentor talks about the relative success of a McDonald’s versus an MLM company’s prevalent failures. people invest MILLIONS to start a McD’s, so they work their butts off to make it successful. but in MLM there just isn’t enough skin in the game… and it’s so easy to walk away without losing that much $$$. thanks for sharing janette!
9. August 2010 at 2:18 pm
Hi Melissa,
I believe the drop-out rate is high because people don’t realize the work involved and that it takes time to build a business. So many times, we want instant success and that just doesn’t happen in MLM. I love your analogy to The Bachelor. I think more lasting couples have been formed from the Biggest Loser than from The Bachelor. I find that interesting!
Debbie Stevens´s last [type] ..Every Setback is Temporary
10. August 2010 at 5:33 pm
that is so funny what you put about the Biggest Loser! i believe it!
in MLM people just haven’t invested very much… so it’s so easy to walk away, or jump ship to another company thinking they’ll find what they are looking for somewhere else…
9. August 2010 at 9:48 pm
Melissa, What an interesting analogy, comparing those who stay and succeed in network marketing to those who succeed in love. Persistence is essential for success, but it is certainly not the only ingredient. I just read a great post (I shared it on FB) about 91 traits of successful people in small businesses. There are specific traits and mindsets and activities that successful people, in small businesses, in MLM, and in love, all do. One of these is to study and learn the appropriate skills and to keep striving for excellence, even during setbacks and difficulties.
As for the Bachelor, I did watch a few episodes a few seasons back, but I have no patience for it at this point. I’d rather listen to an uplifting webinar, connect with like minded people online or watch an old romantic movie.
Dr. Erica Goodstone´s last [type] ..Love Yourself Now
10. August 2010 at 5:34 pm
agreed, our time as entrepreneurs is much better spent elsewhere than reality TV! lol… thanks for writing about how we business owners need to study and learn the appropriate skills and to keep striving for excellence. i have not been introduced to that idea before, but i like it!!
10. August 2010 at 9:17 am
I was telling my husband yesterday that, I believe people are ” In Love With The Idea Of Network Marketing” but when it comes to actually doing the work they fizzle. What does it take to be an “Entrepreneur” what does the word mean?
A person who organizes and manages any enterprise, esp. a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk. (Dictionary.com)
“It’s only glamorous when you can “live off” your hard work.”
We want to believe in fairy tale love and we want to believe in sucking down margaritas on an island while making money, but the reality is, entrepreneurship is not for mambie panzies… the star dust comes latter. (-:
Debby Beachy
10. August 2010 at 5:34 pm
thanks for writing that debby! i agree: when it comes to success in MLM, people want to BE there, but they don’t want to do the work necessary to GET there!
13. August 2010 at 3:19 pm
Hi Melissa,
This is an inspired post. It has made me stop short and really, really think. All of the ideas in earlier comments are solid. I do think that some responsibility must be taken by the companies themselves and anyone who does recruiting. They play on people’s dreams, focusing only on that and never on the hard work.
We are sold the island and the tropical drinks, not the reality of the business. Once a person has that seed planted, it is diffucult to stop believing.
Overall, I am not sure what I think, but I can guarantee you that I AM thinking! : )
Mentor Mama
17. August 2010 at 7:52 pm
thanks mama! i always appreciate our connections. i held fast to the dream; i think the ones that quit have sadly let it go…
9. January 2011 at 5:41 am
Holy crap! I couldn’t have said that any better