Oh No! Is this One of THOSE Schemes?

Has a friend or someone you know tried to get you into one of those schemes? Those groups that are like a cult where they promise you you'll get rich, but you only pay money?  Some people also call these MLM's or Multi Level Marketing.

I actually think these are fantastic.  I have been a part of two, and my mom has become an associate in another.  And I'm really proud of her, she is pushing her limits, and starting to believe in her dreams.  She is reaching out to people she hasn't talked to in a long time, re-connecting with some people that she really would like in her life again, but because life gets hectic the distance just grew and grew.  She is more optimistic and more fun to be around because she is challenging herself, and getting results.  

The first one that I joined was Life Leadership.  The friend that invited me was someone that I wanted to be closer with and more like. So I went to a meeting, and of course I was skeptical, BUT I kept an open mind and read the intro material.  I was hooked!!!!  It was completely inline with what I believed and wanted for myself.  And I was looking for something different in my life.  I wanted to meet more ambitious people that were chasing their dreams, working on themselves, and supportive of everyone else doing the same.  I also really liked my mentors.  Besides the only way to truly know if it was for me was to give it a real shot, I could always quit; plus membership was what I would spend on a college class anyway, but this had the potential to make money, not to mention my life also improving.  A few weeks later my mom joined.  This was a really wonderful thing, because we have opposite personality types, and communicate very differently, resulting in a lot of misunderstanding. Because of this MLM we were reading all of the same books, which I really enjoyed reading.  Many great things came from this: My mom and I developed the same language, many of my habits changed for the better forever, I got my finances in better shape.  I was always pretty good with my money, but because of the books we were reading I improved, which I am grateful for, I am an avid reader now - always reading 2-3 books at a time, ALWAYS seeking knowledge.  Before Life (as the people in the community would call it) I would seek out entertainment.  Don't get me wrong there is noting wrong with entertainment.  But I was feeling extremely frustrated with where I was in my life, and even more frustrated that I had no clue how to get to where I wanted to be.  You have to put time and effort into getting the things you want.  It wasn't going to come to me through the TV while binge watching my favorite TV shows.  I knew this, and yet I'd still sit and watch TV... and feel frustrated.  At Life Leadership I was meeting lots of new people, I re-connected with a high school acquaintance, that became my friend, I went for a promotion that I would not have gone for otherwise (I got the promotion).  And overall I was just feeling more hope for my future.

Then I joined Bonvera, another really great vehicle to help get you to your dreams.  I'm still a part of Bonvera, while I don't participate very much, I really like that there is a community of good people that I can plug into at any time.  A group of people that are supportive, welcoming, and chasing their own dreams yet at the same time happy to help you chase yours.  Bonvera is actually really convenient too, I use it for my own personal use, and this saves me time.

My mom is now a part of Arbonne.  Their make-up is amazing, the lipstick is such good quality.  While they sell plenty of other things, I now buy my make-up from my mom.  I'm so proud of her for taking a chance, and now she has found a vehicle that is inline with what she believes; and brings in a little extra income :)

Zeal, is another great one, I had two friends that were involved in Zeal.

If you are interested in any of these groups, you can go on facebook and post about your curiosity.  Someone in your circle of friends and acquaintances is a part of one of these groups, and can get you more information.  The benefit and potential is amazing, all it takes is making a few changes and challenging yourself to get outside your comfort zone.  Which successful person has ever stayed inside their comfort zone???  What you get from being a part of one of these communities is completely up to you.  Do you want to be a millionaire?  Do you want to improve your salesmanship? Do you want convenience?  A different social circle? Meet some new people?  A new challenge?  Just to learn in general?  Some different options in life?  Or maybe just a better life in general?

Now why do these schemes not work?  For one of two reasons, maybe both.  Either you don't want to put in the work or the group of people you have joined are not honest.  There have been MLM's in the past where a lot of people did get screwed over.  And it was because somewhere down the line somebody was corrupt.  That is just like anything else.  If you are in a good group of people you will do well, if you are lead by someone that is corrupt then things will eventually fall apart, maybe even crash and burn.

Personally I wanted to meet new people, to learn, and have a better life in general.  I got those :) Plus a little extra money is nice too!  Whoever thinks you'll get rich quick is wrong.  None of the groups I have been a part of ever promised that, you have to put your work in, but yes the potential to become very very rich is there.

Its out there, waiting for you to chase it, go get it!