The 6 Sure-Fire Curses to
Avoid for MLM Success
I’ve coached and consulted teams for more than a decade from multiple companies across the world and the most unsuccessful reps usually fell into one or more of these 6 categories.
1. Event-Driven Reps
Description: These reps are highly motivated during or immediately after company events but quickly lose momentum afterward.
Why They Don’t Succeed:
Their motivation is short-lived, dependent on the energy and excitement of events rather than developing a sustainable work ethic.
Without consistent action outside of events, their business never gains long-term traction.
2. Uninformed Product Pushers
Description: Reps who never take the time to truly learn about the products or services they are selling.
Why They Don’t Succeed:
Without a deep understanding of the product, they struggle to communicate value to potential customers.
They come across as untrustworthy or disinterested, damaging their credibility and ability to close sales.
3. Freebie Enthusiasts
Description: Reps who focus too much on giving away free products or samples, viewing their MLM business more as a hobby than a professional venture.
Why They Don’t Succeed:
They operate at a loss, investing heavily in freebies rather than focusing on actual sales.
This behavior undermines the perceived value of the product, making it harder to convert leads into paying customers.
4. Social Butterflies
Description: Reps who get caught up in the social party or social group aspect of the company but fail to put in the actual work to grow their business.
Why They Don’t Succeed:
They treat the MLM more as a social club than a business, focusing on attending events and meetups without taking consistent action to sell or recruit.
Their social involvement doesn’t translate into sales or team-building, leading to stagnation in their business.
5. Emotionally Attached Reps
Description: Reps who stay emotionally committed to a company that doesn’t align with their personal goals, skills, or passions.
Why They Don’t Succeed:
They waste time and energy trying to force themselves to succeed in an environment that isn’t a good fit.
Their lack of alignment with the company prevents them from being genuinely passionate or skilled in promoting the product, leading to low sales and a lack of fulfillment.
6. Stuck in Warm Market
Description: Reps who recycle the same list of friends and family with every new opportunity and never make a concerted effort to grow their network by connecting with new individuals
Why They Don’t Succeed:
They dip in and out with a new opportunity every few months or years and it pushes friends and families away and gives them a poor reputation, dwindling their lead pool.
Their frustration of limited success in signing up their friends and family causes them to begin to grow disbelief in the company and in turn causes them to give up and jump to another company where they will repeat the cycle.
These types of reps often struggle because they don’t treat their MLM venture like a true business, failing to take the necessary steps for long-term success, such as consistency, knowledge-building, and strategic alignment with their goals.