Have you ever been at the car dealership and had a car
salesman try to sell you a car you didn’t really want? It may have even
happened that he convinced you to buy that unwanted car. Perhaps he said it was
all you could afford or all your poor credit could qualify for. Perhaps he sold
you on some of the features that you had to admit were kind of cool. When you
got it home, however, you realized you didn’t really love it, but now you were
tied to that car for, likely, three or more years.
Have you ever gone to someone else’s favorite restaurant at
their insistence, only to realize that the food there, in your opinion, wasn’t
all that delicious? It was just average at best, not really to your taste or
liking. But you ate it anyway. It was, after all, sustenance. Plus, you didn’t
want to offend your friend.
Have you ever gone to a movie you didn’t really want to see
because your spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, good friends all wanted to see it?
Sure enough, the movie was basically a dud. Not really your cup of tea, but you
sat through it.
Before you say it (or think it) – I know that all of these
situations can happen in the reverse, as well. You end up loving the car, the
restaurant, the movie. I’m not talking about those instances right now, however.
Before I make my point, we need to look at some different
scenarios.
Have you ever accompanied a good friend or family member as
they shopped for a car? As you joined them for a test ride, you realized you
absolutely loved the Toyota they were considering. You loved the features. It
likely fit in your budget, too. Or, have you just ridden in someone’s car and
thought, “I like this. I think this will be my next car.”
Have you ever heard a friend repeatedly discuss their
favorite restaurant and the dish they absolutely love to order there? Finally,
you ask when the two of you can go there together. When you do, you fall in
love with the place and the food, as well.
Have you ever heard your sweet love or good friend talk
about the movie that changed their life? Curious, you decide one day to rent
it, and it has an almost identical effect on you.
Which scenarios have the greatest, longest lasting impact?
Usually, those when you’re free to choose – apart from the hard sell. Choice is
all powerful.
I know most of you reading this are probably thinking I’m
going to take this into a spiritual or religious place. And I could. It does
actually reflect my beliefs and behavior when it comes to “hard selling”
Christianity. I don’t do it. I show my beliefs through my walk and my words. For
me, that intrigues and attracts more people than I ever could by attempting to
hard sell them through fear of fire and brimstone, or promises of goodness and
riches. I let my life speak for itself. In my opinion, that was the example
Jesus gave us. He offered us His way, but He didn’t force it. God gives us a
choice – the choice to accept or reject Him – but he loves us either way.
However, spirituality is not even where I’m going with this.
J
Here’s the thing – it has repeatedly broken my heart that
wonderful, intelligent, thoughtful and loving people are being blinded by the
lure of network, multi-level, pyramid-style marketing. These “hard sell”
businesses that transform every friend, family member, co-worker and stranger
into a mark – and destroy relationships – are infiltrating our society at an
alarming rate.
What’s frightening is that they frequently target believers by
using a lot of Christian jargon, taglines and concepts. “The Lord wants you to
provide for your family.” They frequently target minorities because we’re
desperate for success and that elusive financial security.
However, from a Christian perspective, the fruit of this
work is destruction, and only one adversary has the objective “to kill, steal
and destroy.” From a minority business perspective, the statistics show that
millionaires (or even moderately successful participants) in these types of
businesses are no more abundant – even less, actually – than if you got an
education and moved up the corporate ladder.
Years and years ago, I lost a very, very dear and close
friend to one of these businesses. His participation also destroyed his family.
He had been one of the most amazing,
upstanding, role model, family men I’d ever known in my life. He changed my
life, and helped heal and guide me through the most painful heartbreak I’ve
ever experienced. He was truly an amazing man. I introduced him to every single
person I knew – and everyone – male and female – felt exactly the same way.
He had been a light, a mighty Kingdom warrior in the faith, an
incredibly successful businessman who was known, loved and respected by people all
over the country. However, when he got caught up in a multi-level marketing
business, he discarded every single relationship he ever had, including me.
Anyone who didn’t buy from him or become part of his “down-line” was no longer
worthy to socialize with him because, clearly, they didn’t support him.
Ironically, he became snagged and snared into the pyramid
business first by his faith and the “faith-full” jargon that was used. They
lured him in by telling him he’d be able to take care of his family so much
better with a business all his own (although, of course, it’s their business,
not his). They convinced him that he could work it hard, make a fortune, then
retire to spend time with his family and do good for the church. He bought in.
The desire to fulfill his Godly purpose was soon replaced by
the pursuit of the always unreachable, unattainable carrot. Faith words, when
not used as weapons toward others who wouldn’t participate, were discarded from
his life and behavior.
It baffles me, frankly. These are brilliant, sensitive
people who used to value relationships above all else. Now, all they value –
all they talk about – is the business. Everything and everyone is looked at
through the lens of more customers, clients, partners, or down-line associates.
The Hard Sell becomes king. “Share your business with as
many people as you can, because the more you share, the greater the chance of
getting someone to buy in.”
The leaders of the companies know, understand and use
Biblical truths to their advantages. “Faith comes by hearing…” so they stay in
their associates’ ears with multiple calls and conferences each week. They constantly
dangle the carrot, frequently espousing its value and deliciousness – making their
associates salivate with longing. Just two more associates under them and they’ll
be at the Diamond level. They can almost taste it!
“Sell! Sell! Sell!” the leaders exclaim! Except they don’t
really say “sell,” they say “hold presentations.” They also don’t like any of
the names used for the business model – pyramid, network marketing, multi-level
marketing – so it changes frequently.
Every company is the best – different from all the rest,
they’ll say. “How we do it is completely different from how those other
companies do it.”
(sigh)
The reality is that I am losing loved ones at a rapid rate. They
have been talked into believing that Hard Sell is the way. They have been
blinded and mind-controlled into thinking that relationships only matter when
evaluated under the lens of the company that controls them. No one matters if
they’re not participating. And even those who are their colleagues in the
business are adversaries. The in-fighting and competition among those who
should be in collaboration is reminiscent of Satan’s demons, all jockeying for
position.
Addiction, Lust and Multi-level Marketing (which combines
the first two) – demolisher of friendships and marriages.
Only Satan himself has destroyed more relationships.
It is not what it seems. It’s a lie. Beware! Wake up!
An intervention is clearly necessary, but I’m at a loss for
how to do it. God Himself will have to show us.
For those of you who haven’t been sucked in, please keep
your eyes open! Pray for truth in your life. Pray for those who have been lost
to these businesses – and the lives and relationships they’ve destroyed in the
process. Pray that their eyes open to truth and the damage that’s occurring.
Truth. I’m sure truth is the way. I believe there will be
freedom and healing in Truth!
