THE HARD SELL

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!