iLearningGlobal & XELR8 Rant-Show Some Class!
When I first got the news about XELR8 cutting their network marketing arm in favor of direct sales, I was so tempted to write a blog post blasting them that I almost couldn’t see straight.  Then, when I just found out that iLearningGlobal is doing the exact same thing to their distributor force, I was tempted to go after them with both barrels blazing.  but, as I’ve looked over the MLM landscape in the wake of  these catastrophic events, an even larger target has reared its ugly head.
Have you ever heard the term “ambulance chaser?” Â It’s a derogatory term,usually used to describe a lawyer who spends most of his time at the scene of accidents and disasters, looking for clients. Â It would kinda be like following this cart around. Â Not only is this behavior in extremely poor taste, but it is actually a violation of the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct.
Stop and think for a second: Â if you were just in a catastrophic car accident, would you want to be represented by the lawyer who just “happened” to be at the scene? Â For that matter, would you even be in a position to process anything that person said to you at that time? Â Understand that what has just happened is not just a matter of dollars and cents. Â People’s lives have been tremendously impacted by these situations. Â Many have spent countless hours building large organizations, convincing people that ILG or XELR8 is the right opportunity for them, only to have the football pulled out from under them right before they get to kick it. Â All kinds of emotions are running through these people right now: Â shame, anger, guilt, humiliation, the list goes on and on.
How do I know this? Â I was a professional recruiter for more than 12 years, and I’ve had to lay people off on more than one occasion. Â I’ve also been laid off multiple times myself, and there were definitely times when I had no idea the axe was swinging my way. Â Suffice it to say that I’ve been there on this one. Â Maybe there is a better way to connect with them to help them see that than a full frontal assault?
At the same time, I do understand the lure of wanting to contact a fellow network marketer who is looking for a new company, and may or may not be bringing a group with them. Â You believe passionately that your business can be their saving grace, if you could just get them to take a look at it. Â So rather than use this as an opportunity to beat up on people, I’m going to use this as an opportunity to hopefully help you reach out to our friends in these other companies in a caring and compassionate manner, rather than the “bull in a china shop” approach I’ve been seeing and hearing the past few months.
Here is my list of Don’ts and Do’s:
- DON’T post a message like this to a Facebook Group or Fan Page: Â ”Man, so sorry that your company gave you the axe. Â But here’s a link to my company instead, come join us!” Â This will result in you receiving a message like this: Â ”You are a vulture-your company may be great, but you suck as a person.”
- DO reach out to people individually, and share your sympathy with them for the situation they’re in. Â let them know that if they would like to discuss a potential opportunity once they’ve had a chance to recover, you will leave them with your contact information.
- DON’T put a link to your opportunity anywhere near this message, that move would officially make you a spammer. Â If a girl that you liked got jilted at the altar, would you ask her to marry you before you left the church? Â Of course not, so use that same common sense in this situation also.
- DO start as high up an upline group as you possibly can. Â Out of respect, you want to afford that upline first opportunity to maintain continuity in their group should they decide to join you.
- DON’T bash the offending organization. Â As much as it sucks, this is business. Â All network marketers should understand that although we consider ourselves business owners, we are ALL independent contractors. Â That means the client can change the game on us at any time, with no approval needed by us. Â There are only 2 things you own-your network and your brand. Â Focus on branding you and the network will follow.
Network marketing gets a bad rap over a number of different issues, it would be a terrible thing to cause more infighting and bickering over something so preventable. Â It’s as simple as this: Â put yourself in someone else’s shoes for a second, and think before you act. Â Really consider the way you are presenting your opportunity, and whether that is the way you would want to be presented to.
I would REALLY love to hear what others have to say on this topic, so please stop by and leave your comments below.
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I agree with you here. It is something that I was listening in a Success magazine CD. I think it was Jim Rohn who mentioned this: that the when a prey is being hunted it runs away. If we hunt people, they will run away.
I don’t know how many people took what you wrote to heart, but I agree with you. I know us as humans we have the instinct to be predators, but we have to hold back and see what is the main goal, to help others or to make money off of others.
Melvis, thanks for the great comment! That does sound like something that Jim Rohn would say, and it’s so true.
This message will resonate with some, and bounce off others, I just hope a few people catch on to it, because this is not the way to do business-traditional, network marketing or otherwise.
Again, thanks!
Jamie
Jamie,
Thanks for this great post. I really hope people read it. It is tempting to contact people immediately and if you believe in your company like you should of course you think it will be a “safe spot to land” but use common sense. Create value and credibility in the industry and when these things happen (as they invaribly will in any industry) people will come looking for you!
Sympathy may or may not be appreciated but “ambulance chasing” is a complete turnoff. Just my two cents!
Christy
Christy-You’re welcome, I’m glad I could add some value with it! Your comments are dead on. It’s very tempting to do, and I hope no one takes from my post not to reach out to people in these companies. But c’mon, you wouldn’t ask a person to marry you before the first date even started, and that’s how some people are positioning themselves.
I just want people in this situation to know that someone feels their pain, and that it’s going to be alright. You said it perfectly-create value and they will come looking for you!
Thanks for your comment!
Well done. I completely agree. These events are traumatic to those involved and it really puts things in flux. I do have rervations about teams or sponsors who imediately join another company. It really makes you wonder how much due diligence was undertaken. It almost looks like desperation or at the veryu least some insincerity. I mean alot of leaders are now shouting at the roof tops about how great these new business’s are, but were they not great last week? These buisness’s have not changed in a week. Whats changed is the person perspective who was burned by the former company. I am telling my clients to tred lightly at this time.
Thanks JD! That is an excellent point that you bring up, because I think people will have a much greater tendency to make this next decision emotionally, rather than rationally. At the end of the day, this could happen to any of us in any business, but a greater amount of due diligence can mitigate some of this risk.
Isn’t it funny that businesses people slammed last week are the same businesses they’re joining this week?
Thanks JD You can still have some class. The issue I see is that these MLM companies are now starting to sound like are government. Can we just call it like it is, instead of acting like a bunch of lost lambs?? PLEASE?? This is what is wrong with MLM these days. Ever since XCER8 and ILearningGlobal has gone to direct sales, the buzzards are out in force to get into the next best deal.
Come on folkes, these big time leaders in MLM after what I heard today from a MLM leader are taking soft money from these companies to join their companies. After going from this best deal to the next best deal to this is a great deal, I have almost given up on MLM. Thats just my take. I know someone that has moved into 4 companies in a year. WHATS THAT CRAP?
I just call it like I see it. After listening to that MLM leader today about what these MLM leaders are doing, I think I might just sit on the side lines until I find something that has value. All it is anymore is all about the money and heck with the product.
Great comment Don! It sounds like you have two issues-with the companies themselves, and then also with some MLM leaders. Can you explain in more detail your first point about MLM companies sounding like the government? I think I know where you’re going with this, but I want to make sure I’m crystal clear on it.
As for the MLM leaders taking inducements from other companies, there’s two things I don’t like about it. First, it clouds my judgment as to whether my leader would be telling me to switch businesses because it is in the best interests of my team , or in the best interests of his pockets. Second, it takes advantage of a secret in network marketing we all know at some level or another-the average person doesn’t join a business because it’s great, they join it because they LIKE the person sponsoring. Whether it’s a personal friend or just someone with an attractive personality, most people make this decision emotionally, as JD alluded to. but admitting this would mean that a whole lot of “leaders” would have to admit that they did no more due diligence on selecting a biz opp than the people in their downline, and we know that won’t happen.
Don’t give up on the industry, Don. There’s things not to like in any industry, but being an optimist, I like to think that the good outshines the bad in ours:)
Jamie, thanks for the response back. I really don’t want to sound negitive, because I am not a negitive person, but in the last few months, I get many e-mails a day to join up with this company and to join up with that company. I look up to see where these MLM leaders have been before to find out that they left another company to join up with this other company. I know whats going on. Money is changing hands to join the new company. Not all of them, but in the last several months, you cen see it happening.
As far as the statement about the government, its like lets make a deal. I just recently heard a MLM leader have his company go in a different direction. He states that he looked at more than 100 companies and whet with this MLM company, to find out what the payoff was going to be. Again, I state, its not about the product, its all about the money.
Don, no problem! I saw this same problem in corporate America with 401K’s. Some of the larger 401K companies offer kickbacks and incentives to the corporate leaders in order to get them to pick their 401K plan, which may or may not be the best choice for the employees, but is certainly the best choice for that leader. I don’t have a problem with a MLM leader negotiating a deal like this for him or herself only, based on their proven ability to recruit. BUT, the problem I have is that these leaders are then bringing back to their groups that “they’ve found the Holy Grail” without ever disclosing that they’re being paid to say that this next company is the Holy Grail. It’s disingenuous at best, and flat out dishonest at worst. Many people would STILL join that leader in the new business, even knowing that they’re a paid endorser. I think most leaders know, though, that their top leaders would most likely leave them, in search of their own deal, and then they would actually have to recruit again.
I agree with your government point, but I think part of the problem is that many in MLM are too willing to follow, without doing their own due diligence. If their leader says “I researched 100 companies and Company X is the best,” they will follow that leader without any attempt at research of their own. I see this same problem in many churches-people have a tendency to follow the pastor, rather than the book he teaches from. Funny thing is, if you never go read the book for yourself, how can you ever be sure that what your pastor is teaching you is correct?
I do agree, though, it is a huge problem. I get those same e-mails, and though some of them sound appealing fro a pure dollars and cents standpoint, I’m completely sold on the fact that the company I’m with has a product I believe in, and an excellent comp plan. Other opportunities are great, I’m sure, but that doesn’t mean that they’re great for me. But I think it also takes some maturity for MLMers to finally reach that point.