“Is Network Marketing/ MLM for you? Do you want the Truth?”

Theresa

I offer the same free coaching and mentoring but I freely admit there are strings attached. Partner with me in my opportunity and you will achieve success (if you have the desire). Michael Dlouhy on the other hand hides the invitation to his business opportunity behind the "Mentoring For Free" system and then charges $20 each month for people to promote this "free" system. Tidy little cash flow situation there for Michael. And people like yourself land up repeating the same rhetoric over and over again without applying the same criteria to your own system/company.
Try the original approach, brand yourself and you may start to achieve some of the success you are writing about.
To your success,
Joyce Penner

Yes it is so funny that he would tell you at the Beginning

At the Beginning of the Book he says I am in a Company if that is a Threat Close the Book! We have a Company! But no matter what Company you are in we will teach you personality Colors, Teach you to Read your P and P's and on top of that we will teach you how to max out your comp plan. And to figure out how much you are getting Paid. WE Educate at Mentoring for Free!!! We do not need you to join our Business We have Plenty of Voleenters and those are the ones we want the rest can take advantage of all our free Training! if it bothers you we have a Company I will not apologize!

The Cost of Arrogance

There is a certain degree of arrogance here that really smells. It smells of dogma, doctrine and rhetoric - my truth is the only truth, my education is the only true education, my slant on network marketing is the only workable slant on network marketing and everyone who does not believe how we believe is a heretic.

Why is it that anyone who contradicts the MFF party line is summarily burned at the stake? We educate for free. Not really. Sacrificing one’s freedom to think for themselves is too costly a price to pay.

Anybody got a match?

RICK

Good morning Juanita

Nice to hear from you. The deceit lies in the methods of trashing every other company and after your new prospect is devastated then you introduce them to your "home" which of course as you know is the perfect company. Not one person in MFF can identify another 5 pillars company - there is only one. So your whole focus is to educate people to look at their company - see the pillars they are missing and then hold out your own as the only one to join. That's an agenda. Nobody joining MFF can be in any other company and take their prospects/new recruits to the training as they will be taught that the company they joined is not a 5 pillars company. Therefore MFF is only for MD's company which makes the MFF system a sales funnel.
Absolutely nothing wrong with a sales funnel for your company however the attrition rate is high for one simple reason. People get involved in a network marketing company to make money not to volunteer hours and hours of their time to mentoring/coaching/training people who will not fulfill the focus of their efforts - to make money.
I'm all for mentoring/coaching and training but after I sort and recruit, I will mentor/coach/train my own people to achieve their personal financial success. That's the commitment I make to anyone looking to join me. And I'm very up front about it. Nothing hidden. If you're looking for success I will work with you shoulder to shoulder and we will both win. If you want my help volunteering, sorry, right now my focus is on helping my team so together we can achieve our goals.
I understand congratulations are in order Juanita. Now the challenge will be to sustain that for more than one week. Good luck.
To your success,
Joyce Penner

The Truth shall set you free....

Well Therese it looks like you have upset at least two people and I'm not so sure that one of them is more upset with Juanita then you.

Great article, if people don't want to read the truth then that is their problem. I have a hard time believing that someone would really state that to think for yourself was giving up your freedom. Oh well, there is no accounting for what people think and write, or continue to recruit rather then sponsor. There is a difference, they just don't know it.

I couldn't help but notice that there have been over 600 views of your article and you have only had two negative comments. Well done.

Perhaps there is some sort of validation of your view, by that lack of negativity from all those other views.

For my money, your article is what is truly needed in Network Marketing plus other markets, the truth.

Greetings Terry

Another MFFer ? Hmmmmm Pleasure to meet you. Speaking for myself I just wanted to let you know humour is closer to the emotion behind the writing. I knew you were with MFF as soon as you starting writing about "to think for yourself". Can you tell me who is thinking for themselves? What I see and read is straight from Dlouhy's mouth no matter who writes it. Repetitive, lacking in logic and ineffective.
MFF has been around what? 4 years? 5 years? Now let's do some thinking for ourselves. If MFF people were that successful wouldn't you think there would be 100s and maybe even thousands of Diamond affiliates, consistently week and week? Now Terry let's think this through. How many are there? Well let's see, the consistent Diamonds would be on the cruise right? Now let's think for ourselves again. There's how many? Two? Ouch. Looking in that mirror for some is going to hurt. But it's simply logic if you are taught to hide your company behind a volunteer mentoring program. Hard to make money when the only way you do that is when you move product and you're taught not to do that. That's an ouch for those who understand business. Course those people wouldn't be involved in MFF.
I got a chuckle out of your assumptions. You know the old saying I'm sure.
To your success,
Joyce Penner

Just to be clear...

Terry, we actually agree - "I have a hard time believing that someone would really state that to think for yourself was giving up your freedom" We should all have a hard time with that statement. Thinking for yourself is the highest expression of creativity and freedom and no one should ever give that up.

But, that's not what was said. The point is that letting someone else do your thinking for you always costs one their freedom. It leaves no room for question, inquire or exploration.

This quote illustrates the point nicely,

"Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it." ~Andre Gide, a French author and winner of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1947.

From the heart,

RICK

Is MLM for you? Do you want the truth?

Thanks for the invitation to read this post, Joyce. Do you know why there are only 2 negative comments on your post Teresa? Because, there are more MFF affiliates on this site than there are from all of the other MLM's represented on betternetworker. I took the MFF coaching last year and I quit because I wasn't learning how to promote my own MLM. All I was learning was why I shouldn't be involved with it. As soon as I decided that I did not want to continue the MFF coaching and asked my coach if there were any companies that met the 5 Pillar challenge, he told me that there was only one and that 70% of the coaches with MFF were promoting that company. I researched the company and paid very close attention to the compensation plan and the requirements to earn an income. I can honestly say, that in the 20 years my husband and I have been researching MLM's, it IS one of the most expensive MLM's out there to join. No wonder there is a 97% failure rate in MLM. Your company is adding to that reputation. The only people making any money with VitaMark, are the company's CEO's. (There, I said the name of your company and it is published for the masses.) They don't care about their distributors, they only care about their own wallets. This is just my opinion based on my own personal experience. Good luck and have a nice evening.

What are you doing with your time?

http://paulwmurphy.bigmlmtruths.com
vs:
http://www.sourgrapes.com

Wow- I saw that this was a

Wow- I saw that this was a hot topic so decided to see why. I'm new here and still haven't figured all of it out. My assumption was that folks here already had a business and were looking for tips and insights. I figured that I'd not pitch what I do. To me it's the best. I hope you think that yours is the best.

I know one huge mistake I made when I started in social networking was pitching what I do. That pitching actually got me a couple of new recruits. But I realized that I would be able to have people seek me out if I could provide value. It's much more fun that way.

I read these posts thinking I might be able to provide value in the context you all were building- but I can not. Even after being in this industry for well over 20 years. Why? Because it feels like it started with a pitch and continued with a cat fight. There's not much I can take away to benefit me or those I know- and there's nothing I can add because of the negativity.

You guys need to smile a bit. There's room for every type of person and opportunity. The truth always finds its way to the top. Let time do its magic. Huge mountains are leveled by time. Great opportunities tend to live on.

I was looking for positives here. I could have just turned on the TV and watched the news.

MFF => Proceed With Caution

Hi Therese:

When people first discover MFF (Mentoring For Free) - it's like a 'breath of fresh air' to them - they get 'swept away' with its concept (initially).

I too, was with MFF for some time - I too, was enthralled with it in the beginning. I posted on Forums about it - created Websites about it.

Actually, Michael D. served on the Board Of Directors with me at the DRA (Distributor Rights Association - http://www.TheDRA.org ).

But for me personally, it was 'not' a good experience with MFF at all, for many, many reasons.

One Example - I had the audacity to strongly 'disagree' with M. D. on one of his open calls - from that moment on, I was 'shunned' (you 'never' disagree with MD).

There are many threads here at BN about MFF - some pretty heated discussions in a few of them.

As others have said here - for some, MFF is just fine (especially if you're associated with MD's company, Vitamark - an excellent company).

And yes, there is some good training provided there, for sure.

BUT, there's also an absolute "hidden agenda" - as Joyce Penner points out - make no mistake (Vitamark) - and it's the "only" company being promoted as a 5-PILLAR company (which is NOT true, by the way :>)

After being around MFF for awhile, and digging deeper, many, many begin to see a 'different side' to the 'mentor with a servant's heart' slogan - become less enthusiastic - and most often, leave (including some 'big hitters' recently).

REVIEWS of MFF - Perhaps two of the best sources of information on this are from Dr. Mark Worther, Psychologist, as well as a successful MLM leader + Forest Marie, another MLM leader.

I think you may find their objective Reviews helpful (as well as some of the responses in Mark's).

My thanks to both of these professionals for these reviews.

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-- http://www.BetterNetworker.com/articles/view/mentoring-for-free-review

-- http://www.ForestMarie.com/a-review-of-mentoring-for-free/

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Therese, I'm sorry to pour more cold water on MFF - but I wanted to share this with you.

Sincerely / Peter A.
http://www.PeterArnoldOnline.com

Peter Arnold, CLU, CFC / Founder
Business Achievers Academy / Canada

More Info Please

"...the "only" company being promoted as a 5-PILLAR company (which is NOT true, by the way :>)"

I find this "discussion" very interesting. Mr. Arnold, would you please give me the names of other "5-Pillar" companies in a PRIVATE note?

THANKS!

I too would find that fascinating

Can you publish the other "5 pillars" companies? I never saw any other company that fit MD's criteria. It would be a shock to others I'm sure to know there are more than just one. (I find that hilarious that those pillars just happen to fit MD's company and only his company)
You are so right Peter. The more you dig, the deeper you get, the more you find out and it's not pleasant.
Thanks for your input. I found it very beneficial especially for those who are looking at using that system. The deprogramming can take a long time for some.
To your success,
Joyce Penner

5 PILLARS => a Closer Look

Hey Lyn and Joyce:

With your permission, a little background...

EVALUATION - One of the things I have done in my private practice, extensively, over the years is 'evaluate' deals for my clients (high net worth dentists, chiropractors, surgeons, etc). It's part of what I do in my profession as a Business Consultant and a Financial Advisor, because these clients get 'bombarded' with everything from soup-to-nuts (Tax Shelter deals - Franchises - Home Businesses - MLMs - Real Estate - Limited Partherships - Offshore Investments - Joint Ventures - you name it).

HOME BIZ INDUSTRY - And being in in the Home Business industry, for over 20-years (Network Marketing - Affiliate Marketing - Internet Marketing - Direct Sales, etc), I've been evaluating MLMs, etc. of every shape, size and description as well - something that most people have great difficulty with, for many reasons. The 5 PILLARS is MDs way of putting forth a 'blueprint' for examining (other) MLM businesses. Frankly, it should be labled "7" PILLARS, as he leaves our (2) very critical factors for evaluating ANY MLM biz.

DRA - Further, because of my being on the Board Of Directors of our DRA (Distributor Rights Association - http://www.TheDRA.org ), representing Canada for the past 4-years (MD was on it at one time too) - I've been exposed, first hand, to the many 'horror stories' that happen between Distributors and their companies - especially when Reps do not do their homework carefully 'before' selecting an MLM to associate with (it's not a pretty sight - checks being frozen - leadership with no integrity - unjust terminations - lawsuits - companies hitting the wall - on and on).

The DRA is the "only" organization representing DISTRIBUTORS only ((the DSA - Direct Selling Assn. - represents strictly the COMPANIES, 'not' their Reps!)). Our DRA is a global, non-profit organization that serves to educate, protect and preserve the 'rights' of DISTRIBUTORS, everywhere. Personally, I feel privileged to serve in it - where we all work on a purely voluntary basis (no remuneration whatsoever). Our DRA is also the only organization in the world that has published a 'Global Standards & Education Manual' for both Companies and Reps - one that can serve as the best reference in court case litigations.

5-PILLAR COMPANIES? - I'm not going to mention the specific companies that I feel 'measure up' to the [so-called] 5 Pillars that MD says Vitamark does, and which he has put forward as the 'ultimate' for other companies to measure up to -- but I can tell you I see at least two (2) other companies in this category, and possibly four ((with one that even reaches the "7" Piller category)). I can also tell you that - just because a company does not appear to have "all 5" characteristics - that does NOT mean it's a "bad" company to associate (as MFF tends to preach). The fact is (as Joyce says) - ANY set of criteria could be easily developed to "fit" a particular MLM - that's not rocket science.

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THE 5 PILLARS - When I was with MFF (2005 and 2006) - here, in essence, were the things that HE (MD) told us to look for, as the 5 PILLARS...

1)- COMPANY / Management Team? - Startup - Old - Young? // Financially Strong? // Solid Reputation? // Proven Track Record? // Strong Leadership? // any Greed - Ego? // MLM (in-the-trenches) Experience? // HIGH INTRGRITY? // Policies & Procedures - How Many pages (less is usually better) // Who do their P&Ps 'protect'? - Allow ‘walkaway’ income? - Loopholes to steal your commissions someday? // Is there a Corp. LONG TERM focus - or a “get rich quick” mentality? // Who owns the Database Software?

2)- T-I-M-I-N-G of INDUSTRY and COMPANY? - More name recognition = less opportunity. Like the skyscraper, the timing means NOW - not 10 years earlier - not 10 years later. Millionaires have been made in this industry JUST because of timing alone - nothing else // Find the right BALANCE // Is the Company a START-UP? (most fail in 1st year) - Young? (fresh - energetic - but any track record)? - Old? (if a household-name = momentum gone) // Company Phase? (Formulation - Momentum [$100-500 million/yr period - Plateau)?

3)- PRODUCTS? - Who’s the TARGET MARKET for your PRODUCTS ? // Huge demand? // Future? // Meet Long Term TRENDS (Wellness Revolution / Natural Health -vs- Drugs / Baby- Boomers / Soaring Health Care costs, etc)? Products must be REMARKABLE (or you will be Invisible) - Not over-priced - CONSUMABLE! // Must be exclusive - safe // effective // Good enough that NON-networkers will “take to the market” and keep re-ordering, regardless of Biz Opp // 'Purple Cow' Attention getter // a standout FLAGSHIP product - but must also have 'other' GOOD products (to back-end) // NEVER go with a ONE-product-only company (too vulnerable!)

4)- COMPENSATION PLAN? - Pays part-time 'average' persons fair percentage - as well as full-timers?? // Front End 'Buy-In' (Load)? // Does it Reward for 'Retailing' products? // Does it Require Personal Volume to get a Check? // Pays on VOLUME, not levels? - Drives the BEHAVIOR in the field // BREAKAGE? // REAL -vs- ACTUAL commissions? // Best ‘statistics’ - ‘TAC’ / Total Avg Commission? // ‘PTV’ Percentage of TOTAL volume? // Pay Plan favor the Corp or the Field?

5)- BIZ-BUILDING S-Y-S-T-E-M? - UPLINE + CORP SUPPORT -- TRAINING -- MENTORING? // TEAM Action Plan? // Can EVERYBODY do it (duplicatable)? // Are both Online + Offline Mktg Programs offered? // Are there cutting-edge TOOLS (Audios - Videos - CDs - Newspapers - Brochures - eBooks - Websites - Flash Capture-Pages, etc) available? // Conference Calls? // 24/7/365 Sizzle Calls? FACT => everyone you sponsor - and everyone they sponsor - needs a step-by -step ACTION GUIDE - a complete S-Y-S-T-E-M - to get them off to a fast start - and into a positive cash flow quickly. The SYSTEM needs to help them => online => offline => to do one-on-ones => cold market => warm market => retailing => sponsoring => mentoring. It needs to teach them the SKILLS for - Relationship-Building - Leadership - and Personal Development.

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POLICIES & PROCEDURES - This (legal) document alone - along with the "integrity" of the owners // management - ought to be THE most crucial factors in determining whether to associate with an MLM. I will say that VITAMARK has superb P&Ps and unquestioned integrity at the top in my opinion. If I remember, their P&Ps are only about 3-5 pages long ((-vs- others. at 20-50-100 pages = big RED flag!)). Nevertheless, I know of at least two (2) other P&Ps that are likewise, extremely "Rep friendly" - and two others that measure up right behind these.

DE-PROGRAMMING - Yes, for many who exit MFF - this does become a huge challenge (it was, even for me). I've seen it personally with many of my close friends too, who've since left MFF. Good people can become very vulnerable - they'e desperately seeking a new 'home' - a better community - a place where they feel safe - where they believe they've found a totally 'different way' to build a business. On the surface, MFF looks like the answer to their prayers. The thing is - after being on all the daily Conference Calls, Cold Calls, 30-Day Cleanse Calls, Mastermind Calls - for weeks and weeks - months and months - and after being told of the evils of "spillover" - of all the "bad, bad" companies out there (other than Vitamark) - they soon get 'programmed' to believe all that they hear. They get SO 'ingrained' into what I call 'mind-bending' that they find it very difficult to truly 'think for themselves' again.

Anyway - enough said. These are strictly my 'own' comments on this - my .02-cents worth (Canadian :>)

Sincerely / Peter A.
http://www.PeterArnoldOnline.com

Peter Arnold, CLU, CFC / Founder
Business Achievers Academy / Canada

MFF

Peter, you have been in MFF 2 years, and liked it (at least during a certain time). During all that time you read that "MFF ... where you learn how to think, not what to think". You did learn nothing? Deprogramming? Yes, I'm in the group, and I still think with my head! I'm not "bending". Who said there are no other "5 pillars" companies? What you learn is to look for those companies if you want to have success, and you agree with it. There are not so many as you say. 2 or 4 perhaps! You can be successful with others, of course, but it cost you more work that's all.
I don't represent here MFF. It happens I'm part of it and looked into this discussion.
Fernando Oliveira

Peter/Fernando

Peter - you are amazing. Clear, logical, precise. What a pleasure to read.
Fernando - I'm glad you're thinking for yourself. I'm really looking forward to following your MLM career as I think things will be very different for you in a couple of years if you continue on a path of questioning what you are told. i.e. Where did you learn it was "more work" in other companies if you want to be successful? Or were you just told that?
To your success,
Joyce Penner
www.joycepenner.com

Great open discussions

I love the fact that people can be honest and talk here. I laugh because I too picked up that the original post was for MFF. I have not taken any of the trainings but I did read the book. My MFF mentor stays in touch but I am all about thinking for myself. I too am all about mentoring and coaching my own team to success.
I am sure MFF helps a lot of people but right now I am so on my own training path and so far it is so successful.

Amazing!

How so many people fight over The Truth!

Well, The proverbial glass is BOTH half empty AND half full at the same time. When one says it is one or the other, it is because that is WHERE THE ATTENTION IS GOING AND IT BECOMES TRUE FOR THE VIEWER.

Guess it has a little something to do with belief and a whole lot to do with one's BLISS!

One MLM or recruiting system does not fit all sizes.
Happy Marketing!

OH!

PS: This is a GREAT post Therese. Thanks for stirring the pot!

Bashing of other companies and NM SYSTEMS

'Bashing' another person, an object or a company is a person's way of hiding their inadequacy or inability or FAILURE in their new ventures).

Topics which attract bashing tend to be personally sensitive topics for the bashers because of their (in this case) lack of SUCCESS after leaving their other company.

Google does wonders when you want to do research on someone or something.

Theresa, wonderful post! You've stirred the Pot and got the Fire Roaring...