The Multilevel Marketing Cults: Lies, Pyramid Schemes, and the Pursuit of Financial Freedom.

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Multi Level Marketing (MLM) companies have been around for a long while now. Yet their controversy seems endless, with accusations of being pyramid schemes, or operating in a cult like fashion…
It’s time we dive into the MLM industry and find out exactly what is going on…
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►WHY I QUIT THE MLM INDUSTRY AT THE TOP | ANTI-MLM HORROR STORY
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►The MLM "Girl Boss" Narrative is a Lie
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►Why Women Are Quitting Their Side Hustle: Leaving LuLaRoe
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►Multilevel Marketing: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
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Outro: My My Snake Eyes (Feat. Malena Stark) - The Darkness Of The Light
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These companies follow a Multi-Level Marketing model, that means they often do not sell their products/services via retailers, but through a workforce of people sometimes called their “distributors”. This strategy is also often labelled as Network Marketing.
Examples of these companies are: Herbalife, Amway, ACN, Younique, LuLaRoe, Arbonne, Beachbody, doTerra, Mary Kay, Nu Skin, etc.
Although it seems ordinary on the surface, many of these companies have received a great amount of backlash, with entire communities built to oppose these companies (often labelled as the anti-mlm community).
The question here is: why the backlash?
In this video we dive into the industry and the reasoning behind the backlash, as well as the shady practices some MLM companies use in order to keep their distributors inside the company.
Some of these practices include the selling of a “dream” and promises of high returns, wealth, residual income, or “financial freedom” if they join, whilst simultaneously promoting many self-help concepts.
We also take a look at what exactly a Pyramid Scheme is, how to spot one, and whether the accusations against network marketing companies are deserved.
The pursuit of wealth and financial freedom can often be consuming - the question is who out there is choosing to exploit these desires…
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🙏 Special thanks to everyone who agreed to be interviewed and helped me out for my research on this video.
Also big thank you to @rubensalsaa (on Instagram) for helping me sort through my research and the countless clips!
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All materials in these videos are used for educational purposes and fall within the guidelines of fair use. No copyright infringement is intended. If you are or represent the copyright owner of materials used in this video and have a problem with the use of said material, please contact me via my email in the "about" page on my channel.
SPONSORSHIP DISCLOSURE: This video was sponsored by Skillshare.
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: there may be a few links in this description that, at no cost to you, will earn me a commission if you choose to click them and make a purchase 🙂
Don’t worry - I only ever promote things that have genuinely helped me.
Copyright © James Jani 2020
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Prologue - 00:00
Part 1: The Pitch - 03:17
Part 2: The Opportunity - 6:20
Ad Break - 14:06
Part 3: The Industry - 15:49
Part 4: Pyramid Schemes & Cults - 18:36
Part 5: Unravelling the Truth - 22:37
End/Bloopers - 27:47

[@JamesJani]

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[@leebabyboylewin3418]

When I click on sign up. It takes me back to the same page. "not a member yet? Sign up".. I click and takes me back

[@masternobody1896]

you need to read the book about tony robins he is the best one

[@masternobody1896]

this video is epic

[@masternobody1896]

@@mariafelipe4054 yep

[@andeleon6838]

Is this a scam 🤔

[@manamanaman]

Biggest red flag : a "friend" that hasn't talked to you in 10 years but suddenly cares about your financial well-being

[@coldwhitespring5004]

And so disappointing when you figure out they just see you as a business opportunity.

[@mrcheese9021]

Thar happened to me but I was never convinced

[@DelbertStinkfester]

LOL...AMWAY pitch incoming

[@razony]

Short, simple, true and to the point. Well said!

[@ElektroY400]

Just happened to me a few days ago. It made me really sad I really thought he wanted to reconnect

[@beautygloss19]

How to know if something is a scam? 1) it starts with a seminar

[@evolution8662]

But all these Mlms have seminar.... Are they all unreal???

[@evolution8662]

@Lê Đức Thuận So.... I guess you didn't join any......

[@evolution8662]

@Lê Đức Thuận So why din you look for job instead???

[@evolution8662]

@Lê Đức Thuận Wow video games tester do they have it here??

[@evolution8662]

@Lê Đức Thuận Wow... You got fired and still earn 700K.......

[@charlescharliecharlotte]

I was stuck in a MLM cult for 5 years. I grew up in poverty and general instability. My parents never really taught me about jobs and basically stopped paying attention to my life after 15 when we were homeless for a while. I went on my first interview at this MLM firm and they hired me on the spot, of course. I gained so much self esteem and confidence from being involved with people that were infected by positivity and goals of upward momentum. It literally changed my life. However, the positivity came with intense shaming, berating, and psychological abuse all under the guise of “not reaching your goals”. They psychologically manipulated everyone to believe that if they did not reach their goals (sales goals), recruit enough people, retain complete positivity at all times, you were a failure. When you did good, they rewarded you with trips, money, and positive reinforcement. I was “seduced” by an older manager and he became my first real boyfriend (he was also 7 years older than me). He urged me that he needed to move the business to another state and that he needed me there to help start up the business. He paid my way and used me as this young woman who could lure people into the MLM. He brought me to a place where I knew no one but people of the MLM cult and psychologically abused me for years with the back and forth of negative and positive reinforcement of the cult. I literally didn’t understand that I was being manipulated when I was in it. I got to the point were I just couldn’t stand being so alone and bullied anymore. I knew some friends that had been in as long as I had that had recently left the cult and urged me to do the same. I secretly asked a friend to borrow some money to drive back to my home state when my BF was out of town, (yes I had to ask for money because through out this whole time, I didn’t make ANY money! I had maybe $100 to my name). I have come to realize years later that I was involved in a cult and what I went through really impacted me. It’s hard to share this with anyone that hasn’t gone through it. Anyways, thanks for listening. God bless ❤

[@YourHalfSister]

I pray you are in a better place now with people who genuinely care about you. Be blessed. 💕

[@wenterinfaer1656]

Incredible how these sects operate legally under our noses

[@paulykums-eo5mj]

Woooow.. what a reality. You pretty strong for all that you went through. It's never too late to find your inner strong self again right? All the very best though!!

[@mariagunther3964]

Thank you for sharing that. I'm so glad you got out of it, and I'm sending you lots of love ❤

[@StillYHWHs]

Good bless you took. You are all not alone. I have tried these groups decades ago. Never got paid for what I sold. Abusive toward us. Same as what you are telling here. I found this in many jobs. They also transferred my accounts into mgrs accounts as the pay came in. They stole from me. 1 job.... at least 100,000...My friend showed me. I was told I have to figure it out on same day or I can not have it. Thieves are all these people are. The abuse is too make you believe it's you who is a failure. Truth. You succeeded. They robbed you. Or if you're money. As they did me.

[@sebgrootus]

"Logic is bad for us" 21:37 Possibly the most insane and transparently manipulative thing ever spoken.

[@lesley9989]

Absolutely amazingly ridiculous

[@nurlagrande]

Nah the “most insane and transparently manipulative thing ever said” award goes to a isnotreali for sure

[@supertrucker99]

Good comment 👍

[@Sena-yk6mm]

When i was in college, my friend and i actually searched for that kind of events only for their free buffet meal.

[@bobbybrown9779]

perfect that is what we all should do!!! Because these companies are only worth to a free meal.....Please kindly let me know if you get to know any more free meals .....lol

[@concettaworkman5895]

I really love smart people like that, lol.

[@Susieq26754]

Lol! That's hilarious!

[@abd12459]

🤣🤣🤣 wise man

[@FIFTHSUN2012]

Well played.

[@ajrosales047]

The scariest line from one of the leaders in this MLM video: "You cannot let logic control you. Logic is bad for us!". Now that definitely is a preaching of a cult leader!

[@loweryourtaxes]

That was Bob Proctor and that was taken out of context

[@ajrosales047]

@@loweryourtaxes Thank you for pointing that out Steven

[@bobthebuilder1103]

@@loweryourtaxes Out of context or not, Bob Proctor was literally promoting an MLM called Vemma

[@galaxy1234]

I laughed so much listening that, like he is trying to say saying 'if you think logically about us you will realize we are fake'🤣 🤣

[@ajrosales047]

@@galaxy1234 darn that's always what they're afraid of. Hehe

[@wardelliaenoch8936]

I cringe to think I was a part of this. I was lonely and a recent widow. I feared not being able to meet the financial obligations without the help of my late husband's income. They gaslighted me, love bombed me. Took advantage of my vulnerability 😢

[@AlvinSeville1]

Don't feel bad, so was I. Although the cost was way too high and I did not lose monetarily, I lost valuable time...6 hours that I could've been with my family, but instead listening to four self-absorbed speakers.

[@808INFantry11X]

​@@AlvinSeville1I fell for it to Ran into some financial trouble coming from active duty to reserve so was looking for something to make money they used one of my Battle buddies from basic training and that's how I got looped into Premier Financial and already so much red flags everything in this videos and also what bothered so many of them under jack ma trying to talk about life insurance but they are not the issuing authority it was other companies they were doing it on behalf of and the classes were not about understanding life insurance it was about selling which was got tuned off. It was so cult like it scared the crop out of me.

[@BrianForTheWin]

No reason to feel any shame for getting in and staying in-even for a long time. But a lot of reason to feel a healthy sense of pride and self-esteem for getting out. SO proud of you.

[@bigbootyboy420]

You got out of it though queen! Less videos like this used to exist

[@lesley9989]

I'm so sorry you went through this. It's not your fault. These people are exceptionally manipulative and prey on vulnerable people. It's not your fault. Sorry for your loss xx

[@Facedless]

Literally got an ad for a pyramid scheme on this video

[@lesley9989]

😂😂

[@daveyjones7391]

😂 me too!

[@VictorHernandez-xn3qs]

🤣

[@frankjdm4636]

My dad taught me early on in life when I was a kid about these pyramid schemes he would take me to them whenever they invited him to one and wouldnt buy anything and told me how they just wanted your hard earned money, also took me to Alcoholic Anonymous meetings even though he wasnt an Alcoholic just so I can listen to peoples stories and how they went down the path of destruction. For that I thank my Father and I love him! I think alot of people should do this for their kids.

[@DanielleS1001]

Wise Dad!

[@al-kabeerkabeer2853]

Respect and Blessings; “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:7-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬ If you could get paid to use something that you are going to use and won’t live without, would you cash that check?

[@righteoussins5574]

That's deep🤔 Your dad is a great man

[@frankjdm4636]

@@righteoussins5574 thanks brother he is, always giving people knowledge and helping them do better for themselves.

[@frankjdm4636]

@@al-kabeerkabeer2853 %100

[@benjaminronns]

"It is easier to fool people than convince them they have been fooled" ~ Mark Twain

[@gpl3046]

@Solo Slime LMAO please don’t

[@LizRealGirlBeauty]

That's the damn truth.

[@jessicawestbrook3730]

Good point. It's true.

[@Whiskerman]

People get into MLM thinking starting a business. Little do they know they are the customers

[@GeddyRC]

First red flag should be a requirement to spend money on products before you even make a buck.

[@kamka8149]

Excellently put!

[@sheridanschaefer6877]

I don’t know why it took me 21 years to figure this out. 😢

[@sabayonz]

"i have business opportunity that will change your life" if you hear someone say this, RUN.

[@amikonvict]

Once, a family member extended an invitation to me for Amway. The concept was so persuasive that I eagerly desired to join right away. Unfortunately, I lacked the financial means to do so. Consequently, I approached that relative and requested their assistance in covering the expenses for my membership. I made a solemn promise to reimburse them twice the amount once I gained stability within the organization. However, to my disappointment, despite boasting about his prosperity, he refused to support me. Presently, he works as a security officer at a grocery store while I have successfully pursued a career as an engineer.

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

I think them not willing to help you with getting started is a huge sign of just how not-prosperous they were, but wanting to hide it. But I'm really, really happy you didn't join. Likelihood of being successful is minimal and those who are successful are only there because they stepped on others to be there. They have a huge downline, meaning lots of other people below them that they're getting money from. This is why MLM leaders become extremely aggressive when you or someone else leaves, because now you're messing with the money machine. I'm just really relieved that by circumstance, you dodged a bullet and best yet, landed in a career that has much better and guaranteed profitability 😊. I hope everything is going well for you.

[@masterchief8042]

thats awesome dude, so nice to hear 🥰

[@amikonvict]

@@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley Indeed, his refusal paved the way for a successful path for me which I’m eternally great full for!

[@amikonvict]

@@masterchief8042 😁🙏

[@BrianForTheWin]

This comment really gives the game away. He was trying to fake it till you make it, you inadvertently called his bluff, and then he wasted his life and never made it while you found a legit and established way to prosper yourself. Chapeau!

[@AMayer-se6gg]

The worst part isn’t the money waste, it’s the time, emotional energy, hope and self-esteem loss that makes it so very unethical.

[@hejmeddig9785]

basically you’re selling fake dreams to people who don’t have the entrepreneurial mindset

[@TheTeganOsmondChannel]

It's very similar to being a victim of narcissistic/sociopathic abuse

[@marivelramos4640]

We need to learn to simply say "NO".

[@user-gm8ds7lc1t]

The biggest loss would be the trust from your friends or even family members. They can't be recovered so soon.

[@Bananaramafontanaa]

Have you ever built any kind of a business? Building business isn’t for everyone it takes lot of work, time, and prioritization Most people want their 9-5 and then watch 3-4 hours of Netflix/ social media versus bettering themselves

[@ianjohn5404]

Alright this is a Netflix or HBO documentary level quality. Like honestly, I’m amazed at how well edited and narrated this is.

[@lorettamanes7011]

Seriously!!!

[@clivebaxter6354]

Over use of music, amateurish

[@andyng5321]

google Appco company, it's an MLM company as well.

[@StillYHWHs]

I agree. He did a great job on his videos. He sees through all the bs.

[@aliciagonzaleztome813]

Agree 🙏

[@lovelyt4800]

The fact I’ve had a couple friends try and do this to me and guilt me into buying some of their worthless product is scary. 😒

[@seyioyetade]

😂🤣🤣😂 sorry

[@ella_baller1na]

😂😂I could feel the anger and frustration in your voice

[@Business.Lounge]

This guy's editing skills are unparalleled on KZbin.

[@JamesJani]

Really kind of you to say my friend 🙏🙏

[@anonymousanon8482]

@@JamesJani where did you learn this awesome skills? 🙃

[@theresalwaysanotherway3996]

@@anonymousanon8482 well, let me tell you about today's sponsor!

[@anonymousanon8482]

@@theresalwaysanotherway3996 ohh right. Sorry. Didn't watch the video yet😅🤦‍♂️

[@VIJAYGACHANDES]

As a begineer where should I learn (best platform) ? Video editing software

[@michelleb662]

Me: watching MLM scheme videos on youtube KZbin ad: 'Want to know how you can make $25K a day'

[@joshharding9430]

Yep so true! Ads pre and post are exactly that.

[@xr6lad]

KZbin is just as corrupt as they accept some of the most dubious adverts. Adverts that in any real country would be banned.

[@in2deepcuzican866]

Use your vpn .

[@stephenc2481]

yep. they all are get rich quick schemers. All of them have nice cars, nice house, and nice .... babes!

[@elmoblatch9787]

So true and disappointing.

[@dave13dc]

The line “Encouraged to buy more product” is the key. A friend of whom I was Best Man at his wedding had his life destroyed by MLM. The core of the scam is getting you to buy more product and getting you to find someone else who will buy more product. It’s not about sales to customers. That’s irrelevant and is merely the technicality that keeps it legal. The big earners are living it up on money provided by distributors buying more product not from sales. My former friend was buying product on credit cards which basically means he was giving someone else (his upline) access to his credit. He racked up so much debt it bankrupted him and cost him his marriage. These MLM scams are every bit as destructive as drug & alcohol abuse and gambling addiction. The land mine in the road of life.

[@LuisSoto-fw3if]

There is also the fact there is a mathematical insentive to buy in bulk, since you get bigger commissions % the higher ranking you are. Some dude recruited me once, I just spent money on the Herbalife kit, but a friend's father was also recruited. He spent a lot of money to get into one of the higher tiers. Nothing came of it, but the dude that recruited us made back. One of the reasons I decided to leave was because I was encouraged to sell my ps3 to buy product and go up ranks. I said fuck that, I want to play games, and left lmao

[@AstaKristjan]

The most important thing that should be on everyone mind currently should be to invest in different sources of income that doesn't depend on the government. Especially with the current economic crisis around the word. This is still a good time to invest in various stocks, Gold, silver and digital currencies.

[@IrenaDolinsek]

The key to big returns is not big moving stocks. It's managing risk in relationship to reward. Having the correct size on and turning your edge as many times as necessary to reach your goal. That holds true from long term investing to day trading.

[@LarsBergstrom-uh2eu]

@@IrenaDolinsek Even with the right technique and assets some investors would still make more than others, as an investor, you should’ve known that by now, nothing beats experience and that’s final, personally I had to reach out to a market analyst for guidance which is how I was able to grow my account close to a million, withdraw my profit right before the correction and now I’m buying again.

[@Erinmills98]

@@LarsBergstrom-uh2eu Who is your financial coach, do you mind hooking me up?

[@LarsBergstrom-uh2eu]

@@Erinmills98 My F/A is actually quite known, Kathleen Yanelli Carole, she has a wide presence on the web, so you can just check her.

[@Erinmills98]

@@LarsBergstrom-uh2eu She really seem to know her stuff. I found her online-page, read through her resume, educational background, qualifications and it was really impressive. She is a fiduciary who will act in my best interest. So, I booked a session with her.

[@susanhsu1430]

Any "opportunity" that requires me to treat every person I know as a potential recruit or customer? No, thank you. My friends are my friends and I like to keep it that way.

[@Pedrooko]

Yep. I treated them that way and lost many friends. Fortunately, I was able to make amends with them - and myself - after playing the fool.

[@solarguy1702]

That's exactly what I told my friend here in the Philippines. Keep it up and soon, you will have no friends. They will avoid you.

[@RyFol717]

Lmao thats like starting a Lawn Mowing business and saying: "its a scam because now I look at everyone with grass as a potential client" 🤣🤣🤣🤣 maybe you people who don't understand basic concepts of business shouldn't have started a home based business to begin with

[@keldonalexis]

True

[@Pace8260]

Exactly. The stupid, Amway "anyone can do it" bullcrap coming from my in laws WHILE THEY WERE NOT DOING IT was just ridiculous. It caused us to avoid them for years and years, and made me realize they were actually idiots. So... hey maybe that was the benefit... lol

[@maroindefinitlyhuman6857]

I almost fell for a pyramid scheme, what stopped me was having no money to even start😂

[@Xesxs]

I suggest you read the book that comes with the kit. It's called think and grow rich. It motivated me to be the person that I am, without joining them. I did buy the kit the author is David Swartz!

[@coreysine3952]

hahaha

[@EverythingAwesome777]

😂😂😂

[@viann2619]

I almost fell for it too but my then fiance (now my husband and dad of two) kept telling me that it was a scam…. If it is THAT easy to be rich, why are there still many people struggling to make ends meet nowadays? Thank God I came to my sense

[@hydroarx]

​@@viann2619indeed it is absolutely not easy, but that doesn't mean it's impossible 😉

[@RueBroadway]

Honestly, the only thing that probably kept me from Mary Kay and Avon was the selling aspect. I was young, but I was super shy...I knew I didn't have the right grindset to ever be successful. That was the ONE good thing that came from my insecurity lol.

[@masudsaleh5155]

Lol 😆

[@mattm7798]

Good point. IIRC Mary Kay and Avon weren't pyramid schemes since they did have actual product to sell. Do you know if they also had the recruiting part? That's where the pyramid scheme takes over.

[@ajordan1976]

I remember my sister getting into Amway back in the 80s. Her obstetrician recruited her! She left when she was on the delivery table and he was trying to recruit an attending nurse. It hit me when you said MLM's prey on stay home moms.He had a built in downline as an OB/gyn. Makes you wonder why a physician would need to generate money. Fun fact Shanan Watts was heavily into MLM's. Putting huge financial issues on the family finances. MLM's are definitely a cult!

[@siennachristy]

Someone from amway is trying to recruit me

[@jamimazada7428]

Yes shanan watts was in it. Still feel sad for her and girls 😢😢

[@jujublue4426]

MLMs prey on vulnerable people like cults do, I fell into it as a broke young adult who couldn't afford to leave her mom's house. At least I quickly felt something was wrong and left rapidly but I still feel stupid to fall for something so unrealistic, if it was that easy to make money no one would be poor anymore. Also the one-track mind, investment and praising/shaming process are crazy.

[@JessyPooh614]

Love that I’m getting ads for MLM’s in the middle of this video lol

[@thedude5702]

Same

[@dan_6915]

Probably because gugl has become one too

[@YellowCab524]

You caught that too lol 😂

[@216goldgoddess5]

Hahaaa I caught that too

[@stephanierichardson5623]

Same.

[@getbetterwithme6083]

“... the devil doesn't come dressed in a red cape and pointy horns. He comes as everything you've ever wished for ...” - Tucker Max

[@panagenesis2695]

"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:14

[@predatxr.6928]

This is genius

[@joscelynpease6656]

Whoa, that is profound!!

[@danielleg7471]

What annoyed me was the shadiness of the invite to the events. They would refuse to tell me exactly what the meeting would be about and when I turn up it’s World Ventures or Herbalife. So naturally I avoided those friends like the plague lol

[@zhivkaradeva4579]

Му friend was in Herbalife. Her coach after few years when the customers where low forsed her to take credit from the bank from 300 K dollars to support the work. As a warranty - her parents house and her in-lows house. The money disapered in the structure of the people... And the bank take the houses. So, after few years there she has nothing... And the elderly too.

[@IronDiva]

I used to work in a salon where the owner put more attention into Amway than his own business. The shop had to shut down. He annoyed his clients away. Imagine coming in for a haircut, and getting pitched?

[@cel168]

I remember when I was younger my mom telling me "you should never pay to get a job" and thinking well....duh and never understood why she said it so seriously until someone tried to get me to join a MLM.

[@MichaelOblitey]

It’s insane right and your mom is absolutely right. You should never have to pay before you can actually start working it’s awful!

[@vegetablepimps]

It's a big scam business in Hollywood too. They will have open casting calls at legitimate casting hubs. Yet you are offered 🤔 to be a part of the funding of the movie in exchange for a part of the profits. You get the part! All you have to do is meet at this fancy restraunt in Beverly Hills..sign papers and pay $300. That's it and you have the part, a copy of the movie, and a take of the profits. SCAM! They get thousands and poof disapear.

[@MichaelOblitey]

@@vegetablepimps holy crap that’s crazy!

[@prapanthebachelorette6803]

@@vegetablepimps I’ve seen something similar before too, was expensive

[@wajeehurrehman2722]

Yes you are right....there is an American company named FLP(forever living products) which is also a same pyramid scheme company targeting vulnerable people who are financially weak in my county Pakistan and also in our Asia region and showing them big seminars filling there mouth with lust of wealth and big achievement some fancy dreams. And believe me at once I was also thinking to join this but God save me I realise it's fu**ing bullshit and then I have to convince my friends and family to sink in this shit business

[@scottscage6409]

"If someone has to tell you its not a scam, chances are its a scam."

[@dpMosaic]

Someone once said that to me about Bitcoin... This is why the only opinion and the only lesson worth listening to is your own

[@user-lf4tf9pi9k]

@@dpMosaic. No offence but that sounds like a horrible idea 😂

[@marcushibdon2415]

You think this is a scam , publishers clearinghouse is a big scam as well its a p e ramid scam...

[@fredgalaxy7632]

@@dpMosaic well it's the information you possess that will influence the judgement and choices you decide to make upon facing such scenarios.

[@nunoteibaodasilva7420]

@@dpMosaic p

[@boisebadboy93]

I was a cashier at a Kroger store several years ago and a young couple came through my line and were very friendly and pleasant. There was nobody in line behind them so we talked a bit. Then the guy was like "well have you ever thought about having more free time and making more money?" That's when it clicked for me and I told him I already had a good gig and told them to have a great day 😂

[@JelloImpact]

I was with amway for 7 years. I started when I was in college. As a logical person, i was intrigued because every objection I had, they had an answer to. And it seemed to check out. This is one of the better videos I’ve seen that describe the subtle ways the cult-like practices weave their way in. It’s too deep for a KZbin comment . One day I’ll make a video on my experience. Although I grew and learned a lot, it was at the end of the day, a cult and a pyramid. No matter the amazing answers they spun. Unfortunate but true.

[@jordankahn9298]

I was in Amway, under the training system World Wide Dream Builders for 2.5 years. Hardcore in business. I feel the same. I'd love to hear about your experience. Still to this day, 4 years after I left, I still have to undo the mental programming, because as you said... "It seemed to check out."

[@cristm998]

Hey whats up im in switzerland a d startet amway and i wamt to know more about your experience

[@raphaellavictoria01]

"I want to share a million-dollar opportunity with you", that's an enormous, clear red flag right away, no question about it, this very statement means, get away from me.

[@Ragingpigeon22]

I've been with amway for awhile now but i have never experience any cult wise and bad experience like its being described here maybe its an U.S.A ego thing . I haven't heard anything alike in Canada

[@hqy2295]

​@@Ragingpigeon22 Do the math, run through their business model and figure out where their revenue is generated. When you figure out that you wont be making much money unless u recruit downline who have to spend to buy into the cult, then something is fundamentally wrong. Do you go to work paying your employers so that you can work? 😂

[@vladrod9624]

My saying is "if the job goes looking for u, then that job sucks. U need to look for it"

[@Watch-0w1]

Yeah and that goes by for any job not just MLM. Like ENGLAND C.R.

[@Justin-xd7zj]

Unless your a bank robber in a movie

[@allenclayton6265]

I am in financial services and am actively recruited weekly. The financial industry in general does not hire and train. They recruit and poach.

[@jaydena713]

It’s called recruiting same a MLM

[@freener]

Good saying but could probably go without the last part

[@nadiadelphi6850]

I literally lost a “friend” that I’ve known since elementary school (I’m 30 btw), because I refused to buy a $300 makeup kit from her. She literally brought up the fact that I drove a nice car and lived in a nice house, and used those reasons to shame me into feeling like a horrible person for not buying something that I not only didn’t want, but also didn’t need. I’m very fortunate because I have a great job, but that doesn’t mean I want to throw my money away on makeup that I honestly do not like. She let try some of her younique makeup, and I hated it. I have used the same brand for a decade and it’s just the brand that I like…but she just couldn’t understand that. She legit told me I was a horrible and selfish person for not buying her $300 makeup box. I told her that she was being very pushy and that I thought our friendship meant more to her than that. I was wrong. She deleted me from her life and blocked me all because I refused to be sucked into the younique nightmare. Took me some time to realize that a true friend will never guilt trip you into their pyramid scheme, and I’m actually better off without her constantly asking me why “Our friendship wasn’t worth $300 dollars”. Anyone who makes you feel like shit for not buying into their MLM is not worth having around.

[@prentices2737]

My B.S. radar has been on since I was a kid. No one can sell me easily.

[@dhutch71]

Nadia - Great comment! My wife (Barb) was a Shaklee Distributor for 10 years. She got into this "business" because of her loyalty to her parents, who got into the business a couple of years prior. She never made a profit during the ten years. But, she always used the "business loss" to write-off on our taxes. I finally convinced her that a business that never makes a profit in ten years isn't much of a business - and she finally quit Shaklee. We didn't have much of a social network of friends, relatives and neighbors to "sell the business to" (you don't make much money selling the products - you make money when you sell others on joining the business - the Multi-Level part). I was always concerned that she was "compromising" our friends and close relatives - much as you described in your situation with your "friend". She quit the business more than 30 years ago.... but, to this day, she still consumes many of the "food supplements" and uses cosmetics and cleaning agents made by Shaklee. She is still convinced that they are the best. Me.... I just look the other way.

[@helloyall4355]

Was never a friend bc of the way she treated you. Her loss and your gain, unfortunately.

[@azthundercloud]

I lost a friend who was hustling life insurance when i was in the military. I was on flying status and saw him everyday. held my head high and pressed on.

[@mudmudmudmudmud7605]

@Nadia Delphi I wonder what she would think if you sent her a link to this vid 🤔

[@shotsfiredandmissed9068]

I will forever hate the person who actually enticed me into MLM, I hate those people

[@ViktorNederloe]

I was working at walmart and was approached by someone who wanted to sell me a kit. Dude was really friendly. I met up with him afterwards (i was 16 and didnt know any better) but, i didnt fall for it. Im glad i dodged that bullet.

[@skylarsartnphotography3450]

Glad you did too! With that being said though, I do have to admit I do find something very cultish about Walmart. I used to work for that company, but never again! I remember every single morning, they would drag all the associates in to do that stupid Walmart cheer. Even when they were remodeling the back and break rooms, they wanted outside to do it in front of the customers. Very embarrassing lol and they didn't want people to work for any competing companies! I loathe that company and haven't even shopped there since I quit....and then here comes those mlm companies! Its a harsh world 😢

[@freshescapes7929]

When someone told you to attend a seminar for business opportunity, accept the invitation , eat food as much as you can ,take home if possible ,but never sign up for anything ,tell them you'll think about it, and repeat the cycle for next invitation

[@1x0x]

hell no cause then they think you are interested and will blow your ass up 10x what they already were. cut it off at the source free food is not worth it lol

[@freshescapes7929]

@@1x0x you're a grown man , you should learn how to say NO

[@sairohit8201]

i actually did that lol

[@TBlock1347]

@@freshescapes7929 if you really said no you wouldn't be going in the first place won't you?

[@stephenc2481]

They are getting better at coercing you, like the timeshare people. They will make you feel guilty as hell.

[@willmelvin3397]

Moral of the story: Start your own business by selling YOUR products and services.

[@RuslanSokolovskyi]

yeah, and make your own pyramid with slaves -- directors, CEO, managers, staff, salespeople, accounts, marketers e t c...

[@RuslanSokolovskyi]

@trueman mann in this video James gives us the referral link... that is one level MLM))

[@iamcom4ta]

@@RuslanSokolovskyi Right!😂😂😂😂😂

[@LesG985]

This is true. The irony is, to be successful at MLM, you need the EXACT same skills to be a salesperson and entrepreneur.

[@DaTruDreamers]

And then start recruiting your..... Hey! Wait a second this sounds like a pyramid scheme!

[@rogeredwards3563]

An ex-business associate (and a very distant one at that) talked me into going to a meeting for an mlm about 25 years ago. Before I even went, I felt that it was going to be exactly what it was...but I went anyway because the guy was genuinely a nice guy, and I figured an hour or so out of me evening wasn't a big deal. The chanting of what we'd call "positivity memes" today, was creepy (but yet mildly entertaining). Everyone wanted to be my best friend. It was so cringy. It became a big deal when he started reaching out to me on a VERY regular basis asking if I had decided to join...like almost daily. The moment I told him "no, I'm not joining" I never heard from him again. And he was a hard sell...I had to tell him "no" multiple times. It was only when I started getting irate that he gave up. BTW, he was one of the vulnerable...recently divorced, a couple of kids, low position in the company we worked at, etc. No idea what ever became of him...but I'm pretty sure he didn't magically turn into a millionaire.

[@uk4490]

There should be international law against these kind of pyramid scams.

[@yolandaponkers1581]

Honestly, “You’re family, and no one messes with the family” is the most manipulative thing I’ve ever heard from an MLM scammer. It’s predatory rhetoric.

[@akachiokafor8739]

Or, "Do you really want to give your family the life they deserve" and "your uplines are taking time from their kids to help you". Screw those manipulative assholes.

[@ZetaCancri]

that's very mafia logic

[@real-one-81]

Sadly, I lost 300 billion dollars to a pyramid scheme. Now I’m bankrupt. 😢

[@crimsonstrykr]

Dom

[@shanishine38]

Wasn't The Family a satanic cult with Son of Sam Sam connections.

[@anishkumaranjan]

Everybody is taking about his editing skills, but don't underestimate his research and capability of giving whole information about MLM. You're a gem James bro❤️

[@grayweaseltink]

so true

[@zels2816]

Yes, every bit of information was spot on.

[@user-jc6tj2xt1p]

Cites Wikipedia.

[@hafidmanzoor]

He was right about choosing the right company, most mlm's are legally or illegally pyramid schemes. But some aren't, choose wisely because the whole industry isn't a cult. I belong to the best Mlm company, that has really changed my personality, my income and my whole life. I am very thankful to it.

[@jinxonline4647]

Maybe he was a part of MLM before .. as I was ..

[@boisebadboy93]

My younger brother and I were in the local park with our RC boats in the pond and a young couple approached us and seemed excited about the boats so they kept asking us questions about them. From the start I was skeptical because they were WAY too friendly. Then they mentioned how we could get better rc boats with how much more money we could make 😂 I turned around and kept playing with my boat while my younger brother kept talking to them. Shortly thereafter he started to feel creeped out by these two fools and when they wanted his phone number, he said he didn't have a phone 😂 When they walked off, I told him what the whole convo was about and he laughed his ass off. This was just a few days after we both watched a hilarious documentary on YT about Vemma, so we spent the next hour laughing our asses off making fun of these fools. They wasted 30 minutes of our time when we were just having fun in the park. These people are predators!

[@ernarc23]

I love both the quality of your videos as well as the fact that you draw an important analogy between how both cults and exploitative pyramid schemes operate. It's brilliant. You are providing a valuable service to the public, James. xo

[@paddygalloway8780]

Here before 1 million views. The one man netflix show strikes again.

[@JamesJani]

You absolute legend Paddy, big love to you my guy 🙏🙏

[@Skreept]

@@JamesJani what course on video editing did you take? And on what platform?

[@chintubaba8362]

@@Skreept watch the video before asking. It's all there in the video.

[@Skreept]

@@chintubaba8362 I'll have to re-watch and be a tentative on the ad section. Edit: he does not say or show the video editing class he took.

[@missrelaxed3872]

Me too, here b4 1 million views

[@estelalandaverde3784]

There should be a Spanish version of this video. Hispanic immigrants are heavily targeted by these companies all the time.

[@chappiescollectables]

Because they are so marginalized ready for the pickings. I blame late stage capitalism.

[@ravijayaweera8896]

Absolutely B....shit😄 The guy doesn’t know anything about network marketing and describe all of them as Pyramid schemas. Sorry mate you have zero knowledge about the industry 😅

[@osvaldoaguilar5473]

As a Mexican I can agreee

[@ImehSmith]

EVERY immigrant group...and young naive person who doesn't yet know any better is targeted

[@HenriTan]

HerbAlife

[@newavatar2947]

I hate those "Where do you see yourself in 1/3/5 years" question

[@TheRealCatoSicarius]

I used to work for a MLM, glad to finally hear the emotional hurt I felt then explained out loud. SUBSCRIBED!

[@darksouls_guy1656]

"No, no, this isn't one of those shady pyramid schemes you've been hearing about. Our model is the trapezoid."

[@righteoussins5574]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@howmuchbeforechamp]

Feeling the need to tell me its not a pyramid shceme does nit make me feek good

[@darksouls_guy1656]

@@howmuchbeforechamp it's a joke

[@TropTrevTv]

Lmfaoo

[@batpoolzilla3200]

They told me that today, nice viper pic. I was aware of MLM before this video but they lured me with a part time job promise. I can give more details if you want.

[@2driftlong]

Pyramid Schemer: Broke is only a mindset Me looking into my empty wallet: I'm not poor, I'm not poor

[@elbowstancenow1519]

Haha

[@thealien_ali3382]

Did money magically appear in Ur wallet 🤣

[@FORTHE_TV_TWO]

hahahahahahha

[@kelviannaepperson3677]

You have to pay money that you don't have that is a scam

[@lohxinkai3427]

Hahaha. These people are liars

[@GeneralNooters]

I’m so saddened by this. My mom has been a Mary Kay consultant for YEARS now. Every year she has become more and more desperately invested in a business in which she is barely breaking even. She’s lost so many friends and it’s all she talks about anymore. I can’t try to talk her out of it without her immediately retaliating and making me feel horrendous for even having the audacity to question what makes her happy… she’s too far deep in the cult mindset. I don’t know how to help her. My dad is so tired… I can’t talk to her anymore without her trying to bring me back into it. It’s exhausting. I love her so much and she truly is kind. She’s not abusive but has serious narcissistic tendencies. I miss my mom. I lost her when she first became a consultant years ago… I want my mom back

[@AlvinSeville1]

I feel very sad for you. Hoping your mother will realize their true intentions.

[@bennewt]

I’m in the same exact situation. I will never forgive these companies for preying on people like this it’s awful

[@Kittiesinclair5]

Well, I can appreciate your description of your mum but I suggest that narcissists, by definition, are abusive. Its ok to acknowledge that, even about those we may love. Perhaps seeing someones abusive habits can help us to help them..

[@nouhrme7928]

I'm in the same situation. We don't live in the same country as our parents due to studies but when we came to visit my mum was out on her 'business' the whole time and we didn't get to spend time together. Family has been separated and she has invested so much money, feelings, sacrificed friendships for this and I thhink it gets to a point where they can't afford to leave because of the '' what will people say?''. It's really sad

[@pattyjean7122]

I'm so sorry to hear this. I was involved in Mary Kay for about 2 years, and during their meetings they would teach us to not take, No, for an answer and to keep pursuing our family and friends ... sadly I lost family and friends connection because of this.

[@LostmeBee]

I almost fell for a pyramid scheme this summer.. the lady started a conversation with me at Walmart on the chip isle she met with me and wanted me to read a self help book like you put ! And by the second meeting she wanted me to meet with the big boss and I just felt creeped out and never answered her again …

[@DontTapeBananas]

The two best days of your life: The day you start in an MLM. And the day you finally leave it.

[@trevordavis9390]

It’s wild, every single ad on this video is trying to tell me how to get rich quick

[@oolillemyoo4099]

Hahahaha, glad to see it’s not only me - sooo ironic. Pretty shady adds you’re running, KZbin.

[@oolillemyoo4099]

Freiheitstechnologie® yeah, maybe not officially MLMs, but super shady “Get rich quick schemes” - so still not good :|

[@gustavoalmeida8344]

It’s a test ...

[@monikatripathi4589]

True lol🤣

[@VictoV7]

You just gotta stay positive!

[@mattoryu]

"You cannot let logic control you, logic is bad" what the heck? That's flat out saying "be stupid." How do people fall for this??

[@paulrayray7596]

They're desperate, desperate people will do some stupid things.

[@ashina9271]

@@real-one-81 Mate go away

[@abcgctteam9859]

This quote is taken out of context, if you watch Bob Proctor's sessions, you will know that he is talking about intuition vs logic.

[@tommasoastaldi2513]

The biggest irony about these MLM or money cults is that, while you watch this video that loathes them, KZbin gives you ads that promote these MLMs.

[@Luumus]

"you can't let logic control you, logic is... is bad for us" How can you hear that and not think how incredibly suspicious that is.

[@fumanpoo4725]

I went a MLM seminar. I was clueless and felt uncomfortable...like it was a cult recruitment seminar. I inadvertently ripped a savage fart and was asked to leave.

[@TheSmartLawyer]

You should have stood up, done a testimonial and received adulation and applause

[@adambane1719]

* to

[@johnbyerlein6682]

I hope that emptied the room

[@karmendimas5274]

they kicked you out because they knew you had 'STINKIN THINKIN' losers can leave!

[@ThatArabGirl10]

@@karmendimas5274 Wow, someone is drinking the Kool-Aid, huh? I see you're all in with the MLM b.s.

[@thecitizenoftheinternet1077]

Keywords: - Be your own boss - Entrepreneur - Passive income - I used to be like you... (insert a heartbreaking sob story) - Business opportunity - No college or university degree needed - Make money online - Only available for a limited time - Mindset - Make 100K a month while sitting on a couch - Quit your job - Financial Freedom - Motivation - Investing - Positivity - This is DEFINELY NOT a pyramid scheme!

[@don.mauricio]

Let me guess... You are broke!

[@fefe917]

The trigger word for me is "opportunity" I hear that and run like I'm on fire 😅😅

[@xo_itsmeaditi_xo3188]

Also, "abundance" 😭

[@jomy6170]

Plus, ‘earn money while you’re sleeping’

[@don.mauricio]

@@jomy6170 If you have a KZbin partnership, you earn money while are you sleeping, kiddo

[@theoneandonly09]

This is a masterful textbook explanation regarding MLM. It displayed every characteristic I’ve come to know about MLM. I recalled the various “out of the blue” convos from ppl I haven’t heard from in years asking how I was doing and couldn’t help but share a “great opportunity.” Many times I declined but I had my share of “presentations” filled with cringy positivity and lots of bragging 🤣

[@columbiajones1534]

I recently dated someone who was involved with an MLM. I couldn't believe how perfect we seemed to be for every other. Then she introduced me to her MLM and ended it when I wouldn't sign on. I was shocked. What stuck out to me is I have always been a numbers guy. I graduated college with a degree in accounting. I looked at the numbers and didn't like them. But when I went to meetings, the detractors were always painted as people without a job, irresponsible, living in their mother's basement. Yet here I was, a college educated numbers guy with a good job, asking questions.

[@josephb456]

"You can not let logic control you" is, perhaps, the most telling statement of this documentary. The fact that you can be immediately and punishably guilty of "wrong think" from the outset of your "employment" is the bloodiest red flag ever flown.

[@yelloandy]

I like what he says after, “logic is bad for us” 🤣

[@jpt610]

Yea, I was like huh? Logic is bad? How didn't people walk out when he said that.

[@bn8579]

That’s religion too. No logic allowed

[@Scarethelocals]

@@bn8579 exactly.if there's a question they don't have some BS answer for it's always "faith". Why will your God not just show himself if he wants more believers so they can be saved? Faith. He is testing our faith , to see if we will waver or stop believing. Oh...so that he can send you to a place of despair where you will experience torture and death for eternity? Faith.

[@TripSe7en_77]

As I heard one person put it, “toxic positivity wrapped in gaslighting”

[@CarlsCozyCorner]

Tied together with the ribbon of cult mind games and lies

[@grizzlybear4]

PERFECT DESCRIPTION!!!

[@prapanthebachelorette6803]

Well said

[@farfetched9296]

NARCISSISM AS A FORM OF BUSINESS

[@alfonsgrizzly5558]

He forgot to tell that all this meeting with MLM stars costs... so it could cost 50-100-200 dollars to attend such meeting/convention. And you must also buy motivational materials, Books..., CD, etc. That was they way a today celebrity Kiyosaki... was made , his book "Poor dad- Rich Dad" sold millions... how? He was signed by AMWAY... and that book was on their list to buy for every new member. This economic guru... is fake... he never bught a real estate before he made millions selling this book about investing in real estate and PASSIVE INCOME....

[@Josiemallow7]

I love watching/listening to your videos, not only is the content interesting, but your delivery of that content and your soothing voice just draw me in

[@Relaxinghypnoasmr]

I love how you scored this. Some will say it's just adding music, but if really set the emotional tone and made it hard to stop watching

[@spailpin710]

"you cant let logic control you. Logic is bad for us" LMAO how can anyone unironically say that? Surreal.

[@thememaster7]

Yes, logic is bad for you, therefore, you shouldn't do it lol. 🤪

[@ami_ayat]

LMAO thats one of the most idiotic thingS i have heard in a while

[@nikolanikolov7102]

@@sayuj2052 he is saying the logic is bad for us when we set a goal, because rational mind will start arising old beliefs and thoughts why we cant do it. In this video the perception is distorted about that statement. and he is 100% right

[@dontcare9462]

@@nikolanikolov7102 You wouldn't happen to be working for one of these companies would you? LMAO

[@mitchdoyle1997]

Spailpin My thoughts exactly... So I guess they're suppose to let insanity control them.

[@Mel-gg3xg]

They say "Be your own Boss" but then you have a "mentor" bossing you around?🤔

[@juliebatalia7946]

You are smart my Friend

[@daysoflakshithararefootage2685]

@@juliebatalia7946 hey man are u struggling with money making

[@juliebatalia7946]

@@daysoflakshithararefootage2685 I am not a man Julie it's a girl's name and no I am not because I went to college and I am an accountant I know how to manage my money well . If you are one of f those MLM cults individual ,Don't bother me!

[@daysoflakshithararefootage2685]

Anyway , I'm struggling that's why I typed to you I'm not a MLM member and MLM members do not watch these type of videos

[@552MB]

Everyone has a boss, except maybe Bill Gates or Bezos. If you have your own company, your clients are your boss, or your bank manager.

[@ezmny1387]

they dont care about your financial future, they care about theirs.

[@bretttoombs2465]

They see you as someone to use for their benefit...and then tell you they care so much about you. Evil.

[@MariusMBejan]

I fell for it. Wish I saw this video 7 years ago! Thank you for your service efforts putting this out!

[@okolopierre7504]

This is so sad. These MLMs literally destroy lives, families, and people. The new scam is online wealth gurus. Its heartbreaking

[@Dream-Me]

I never heard of this one. I need to look it up

[@salemsparrow761]

I get ads for those scams on KZbin constantly.

[@vitordanieleal]

@@Dream-Me I got one offer recently it saddens me how people I used to go to school with fallen for this but at the same time I felt disgusted because they thought I would fall for it

[@Dream-Me]

@@vitordanieleal Oh man . They are uneducated and brainwash into thinking there's nothing wrong with it. You should send them this video lol

[@Dr.freedom]

Yt should do something

[@MisplacedTexan]

It amazes me how these people think they have their own business.... Do you set the prices? Do you set the policies? No? It’s not YOUR BUSINESS.

[@josealtamirano8030]

Franchisees are in about the same place as they do not set their prices nor most of their policies, would they too not be business owners?

[@MisplacedTexan]

@@josealtamirano8030 - Franchisees can set store policies, offer promotions, and adjust prices dependent on their agreement with the franchisor. It varies from business to business. But the main obvious - very, very obvious - difference that I failed to mention in my post two months ago, is that I’ve never heard of a franchisee making more money signing people up to open new McDonald’s restaurants than they do than by selling a burger. People who own actual businesses want to sell products, not recruit competitors.

[@josealtamirano8030]

@@MisplacedTexan i see your point selling product is what business should do, what if that recruitment assists with the selling of product, as in the case of the owner of the franchise company, using the same example you give, McDonald’s, the McDonald’s corporation ( or what ever their official name may be) recruited franchisees to assist their sales of their product “their delicious burgers 😉. Seen from that point are they not making more money from recruiting than from selling burgers themselves (the McDonald’s corporation) and isn’t this same privilege that the mlm participants are granted?

[@MisplacedTexan]

@@josealtamirano8030 - Not even close to the same thing. Because no franchisee in the history of McDonald’s or Little Caesar’s or Subway or anywhere else is more focused on recruiting than selling, and they don’t try to get the nail salon next door to their business to stop doing nails and start selling burgers. It’s apples and oranges in many ways. People who say they’re making a ton of money in MLM and want me to “join their team” (and my God, have I ever been asked… DOZENS of times) shut up pretty quickly when you say, “You’re making a ton of money? Cool. Can you show me a copy of your 1099? Block out your SS# and such, of course, but I’d like to see your 1099 with your name on it. That’ll reassure me that this is really a profitable business.” They might show you their upline’s upline’s upline’s 1099, but they won’t show you theirs. Why? Because either they didn’t make enough to get one, or they made so little that they’d be embarrassed to show you. Out of all the MLM-ers who have tried to recruit me, not one has ever shown me their 1099. Not one.

[@josealtamirano8030]

@@MisplacedTexan Yes, no franchisee has done that but i believe it is more because they are not granted that opportunity by the corporation, would you not want to get at least 1% for life of what McDonald’s earns every time it opens a new location if you helped it find that person that will run a successful franchise location, if your income grew every time that cycle repeated, I guess we would have to asked a franchise owner since we are not one or if one reads this thread they will let us know. And yes opening a location next door would be pretty dumb, but i think Starbucks and subway and mcdonnals know a little bit about how close together you can open new locations, specially Starbucks, it seems like they are opening one in every corner, and yet market Saturation does not seem to be a problem for them just yet. Finally, yes people lie, in network marketing or life in general and in an industry where anyone, and i mean ANYONE can join there will be problems with people that lie cheat and steal, that is just part of human nature, can you imagine what huge mess it would be if stock brokerage for example was just as easy to join as a network marketing, stocks would also cure cancer (😅 you know what i mean) well Im glad you didn’t join the network marketing industry with the people that thought it was necessary to lie for you to join their project. you saved yourself from loosing money and perhaps prevented yourself from probably lying to others as well because they would have led you to do likewise. I hope that those would be the last occasion you would be approached about it and lied to, but i think we both know thats probably not true the industry has much to learn, grow, learn and correct. You take care brother,, much love!

[@5ive69]

The commercial for this video, was a modern day pyramid scheme 😂

[@jugsmasterson3313]

This video was so well done that I actually let the ad play all the way through

[@harrietharlow9929]

My wife and I got involved in the Herbalife scam and I ended up over $15,000 poorer. Finally it dawned on me the only one making serious money was our upline. The couple had a beautiful home in a gated community as well as a cabin in Idaho. I finally realized that all we were doing was to fuel their lifestyle. So I pulled out and my wife left a couple of months later. The really reprehensible thing, though, is how they are scamming poor Latinos. I attended a couple of seminars and saw the hope in those people's faces. Most of them end up poorer than when they started MLMs are despicable.

[@Kiefy6886]

MLM's should become illegal

[@cruisingscenesandtakingbea4197]

They aren't targeting poor Latinos, they're targeting anyone already at a disadvantage.

[@KEPHALLE]

Oh my, it's totally true about the Latinos. I've been to Amway big conventions here in Italy and the Latin community was so huge compared to the rest, and mind you Italy does not have this huge Latin population. I never was able to figure out why.

[@zachingram7522]

My wife and I got involved in herbalife as well. Luckily we got out without losing much money.

[@harrietharlow9929]

@@zachingram7522 So gad you did! I hope peope wise up and eave it asap.

[@davidnguyen6541]

A young couple approached me and my girlfriend, we had friendly casual conversation and the topic of being financially independent came up. I told them my story and how I’m striving for my own business and she tells me about her ‘mentors’ and how they became FI when they were 21-23. She immediately wanted to swap numbers and sync up with her and her partner over coffee to discuss more about us meeting with her mentors. I knew at that point they were in an MLM, so I played along. After 6 weeks of coffee meet ups and these ‘fun’ seminars, I finally convinced them to leave and pursue their own dreams. It’s only one couple but I’m glad I was able to save them because they were in a vulnerable state.

[@ninjagaming5060]

well done👍👍

[@a.c.slater573]

How did you do it? I have a friend who is brainwashed by it despite me speaking out many many times

[@keltecdan]

I just had a couple approach me at IKEA out of the blue the dude starts complimenting my shoes and starts to be overly extrovert like he wants to really get to know me and become friends like he’s really interested in who I am. Right then I knew he’s wanting something from me. He was trying to pitch something but I couldn’t figure it out and he never said what he was selling. He wasted so much time when he could of just pitched his “business opportunity” in the first 10min of talking to me rather than trying to be slick in making me think he was really wanting to be friends or get to know me as a person. They wanted to meet for coffee and I agreed just because I was curious what exactly he was trying to sell not that I would buy into it because I was already pissed on the way he approached me. What amazes me is that they have the same access to the internet to research mlm and Amway to find out that you can’t really make the big money they claim you can make.

[@frauvit]

You saved many more from MLM when you convinced the couple. Thank you.

[@Vamshk]

Enjoy free coffee and snacks and leave 😄

[@JesusIsKingJohn316]

James, you did a great job putting this video together. Thank God I was never sucked into an MLM although I was asked to be a model once and taken to a Mary Kay seminar (groan) and was pushed on to Landmark Education, DoTerra, and Avon, etc. I bought some products to help the friends selling but I would always end up throwing them away - terrible products. I hope that more people wake up and save their money.

[@prndownload]

Hahahah landmark. I had a friend that fell for that along with many other random mlm's including all of the worst of what crypto had to offer. He ended up losing everything. Out of nowhere he'd tell me a sob story about breaking up with his girlfriend he'd basically been living with for 18 months. I would online chat to him daily and it'd be the first time I'd even heard about him having a girlfriend. He'd also lie about his involvement with landmark and other things. He worked for them for at least a year. Was always trying to re-invent himself. He'd just disappear from being online for months or even a year plus then just show back up again. Eventually it got to the stage where I'd leave a chat comment then 2 weeks or a month later he'd respond completely ignoring what I had said or asked and just say something completely unrelated and boring. I'd respond quickly and he'd disappear for another month despite being online constantly. I decided to see what would happen if I didn't put anything in the chat again and I haven't heard from him since. When I didn't even get a birthday message 9 months later I decided it's better if I just have no friends at all. I've accepted I obviously have problems and am a dislikeable person but I'd rather be friendless than have a loser flake friend that gets cut when I tell him crypto cloud mining based out of Estonia is a scam after he sent me an affiliate link. I think it's been almost 3 years now since I last heard from him and I definitely won't be reaching out ever again.

[@BBAN81]

I love your content! You are so factual, articulate and your voice is so soothing 🥰 subscribed!

[@stemcareers8844]

This is one of the situations where Im glad that I have social anxiety. I couldn't be roped into an mlm since the idea of recruiting scares the shit outta me.

[@deidrataylor1360]

Same here.

[@sasa6583]

Same😂

[@Dove.Love.]

Omg same!!

[@jessikapiche6097]

i raise my hand too... ;)

[@brovid-19]

really? I just used my common sense and healthy skepticism. that seems to do the trick.

[@carlosjlanderos]

This one time I dropped off my ex girlfriend to what she said was a “job interview”. I picked her up afterwards and I asked her how it went. She told me that she paid an initiation fee and she was going to recruit more people to the organization, she said they suggested that she start with her family and friends. I parked the car got off and went straight to the person and asked for her money back or else I would tele everyone in that office with “job interviews” that this was a pyramid scheme.

[@adricocos]

Did you get her money back?

[@jeffbinder8432]

What was the "job"? Was it door to door knives? That one is common for doing the "job interview" setup. And yeah, did they refund the money? What made your girlfriend fall for if?

[@cathykrueger4899]

Amway. I once knew a medical student who dropped out if school to sell Amway. At that time Amway had people invite friends over for dinner and then spring it on them. They NEVER announced that it was an Amway pitch. Just the deception and trickery was disgusting.

[@PetreaGalina]

@@cathykrueger4899 INVITE TO DINNER PITCHING WITH DEMONSTRATION AND COOKING casseroles pans, sets, and cooking utensils, and one had to bring a friend

[@shannonmoynihan8957]

Did you get her money back?

[@TheIHVPNetwork]

WOW! ...when you couple this information with what happened during the pandemic it explains why people are so angry these days. WOW!

[@clarissacallidus]

Truly amazing documentary! Really simplifies the processes and outcomes of a pyramid scheme, showing the different ways people are sucked into MLMs.

[@MrOccyc]

These MLMs prey on the financially naive. I don’t mean that folks are dumb or stupid, they just haven’t had a lot of money experience.

[@divyabhardwaj1990]

Yeah. I lost a big chunk of my money

[@hostisvetustchesmu7941]

I didn't have money experience too, and I saw through the bullshit the first sec they spoke! I think you are being very kind to preys, but they are actually stupid.

[@chikipsg]

True .. I was very young and in college

[@BirekothAlephMotivation]

Yup, that's exactly it. They want it all fast.

[@lohxinkai3427]

I agree. Shameless company and these people are all liars

[@aliwilkinson2485]

James, are people just born with the perfect documentary voice? The tone is spot on 😂 whole experience

[@kungfulender8733]

Right.?

[@itz_azhar3512]

Yeah, super voice pitch

[@samihewinson]

Agree his voice is perfect for it

[@wombatnumbat989]

He could definitely get voice over work!

[@vickischwaegel6122]

Agree!

[@justdeuced7441]

Literally got approached by someone in the grocery store. Acted super nice, opened up the random convo by asking about my hat. Then began easing in to what we do for work. Told him I own a business. He then asked if we have ever been interested in making some side money. I told him I have two side gigs, process server and website building / management. He then led into how he moved into the area recently and we exchanged numbers but I knew he was leading in to something. I look him up and he's talking about how Amway was an amazing business model and has all this self help crap online lmao They're getting brazen now approaching randos in public.

[@thehustlerscornernyc6403]

This has GOT to be one of the BEST videos 📹 I've ever seen! It brings back a FLOOD of memories from the 70s, 80s, and 90s!!

[@kennyp9796]

“I can make you a millionaire but you need to buy my $2,000 course first.”

[@mohammadnaveed7658]

You nailed it man

[@jondavis2032]

I laugh all the time when I see these people on youtube: HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE $5000 DOLLARS IN ONE DAY, I HAVE A FULL PROOF SYSTEM !! ....There's more bullshit to that script...lol !!!

[@kdogthehandyman]

and college aint??? lets pay 60k to maybe get a job and then have to work 40 years to maybe retire but sold the American dream. I agree the $2000 course is a lot for dropshipping, crypto, or whatever the "guru" is selling when the info is free online. But paying $2,000 for a 2 gen ed courses and that info is free online too bc they are for some reason a requirement isn't?? in that situation I think a $2,000 course for drop shipping is worth it but if its marketed as a get rich quick scheme then it is fucked up. but so is college and the American dream with homes, college, wedding, and everything else that traps people in debt.

[@freshtake6984]

In state tuition at public universities is affordable and opens a ton of doors to high paid careers. It also doesn’t require they you overcome extremely unlikely odds.

[@phucknaw2104]

@@freshtake6984 online courses do too.

[@dlbutters7164]

"You can't let *LOGIC* control you.... *LOGIC* is bad for us!" Well, if that statement isn't a gigantic red flag, i don't know what is.

[@shendrika7]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@erickjuma7643]

Hahahaha I said the same thing to myself too. How do thousands of people sit and nod in agreement to that kind of statement?

[@srr8890]

😂Usually women fall for these. Its understandable. They love to FEEL the Grandeous lol.

[@rasheemthebestfirstone3274]

😂😂

[@okolopierre7504]

Word up bro. I thought that was sketch too

[@somarivanzyl8750]

My husband was part of an MLM for a few years, to my biggest dismay. They spread toxic positivity and eventually he started feeling depressed and inadequate. I sent him an anti-mlm video and it finally clicked. Also behind the scenes they were teaching him how to hide things from me, like how much product he was buying and giving away to prospects who never panned out. He had to go through his own kind of deprogramming, to get rid of all the toxic positivity, love bombing, gaslighting and to live a normal life again.

[@LIGHTandPEACE]

Wow! Just like a soldier integrating to society. It's good that your man is free now

[@lindsayb7811]

I had a friend years ago who got involved in a finance MLM. She tried to get me to attend a seminar. I tried to get her to see the light it was a scam. She never spoke to me again.

[@ChengTeoh]

Jani : "Is my assessment of these companies too harsh?" Victims of MLMs : It's not harsh enough, they separated me from my family and led me down the dark path of doubting my self worth.

[@rory_f1768]

Truth, I fell for one and I should have known better and after a month out I went "man, for the first time since I joined that stupid thing I feel like myself again."

[@Player-vt7ro]

Hi

[@rory_f1768]

@@Player-vt7ro you acting sus

[@evanhunt1863]

@@rory_f1768 Pretty sure I saw Player next to a vent.

[@rory_f1768]

@@evanhunt1863 good enough for me *player has been ejected*

[@hamzadahir474]

They need to start teaching this to kids about to graduate high school because they are highly targeted by MLMs and they are gullible enough to fall for it

[@classysis6264]

Exactly. Also, the entrepreneur cultures need to be canceled. They are the ones encouraging young people not to pursue college & univ and start businesses that will generate 10k per month to them 🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@josealtamirano8030]

@@classysis6264 i do feel that entrepreneurial culture is being romanticized, “everyone can build an online business or be the next Musk”when we all know some make it & some don’t, but perhaps canceling it would not be the best direction to head towards, with out entrepreneurs where would you and me work? Who would start the companies that will hire the employees? Some one has to drive the economical bus that so many of us ride. Now, the idea that everyone can and should be an entrepreneur is a bad one to push, some are born with more inclination to follow orders than to give them, but that is something that everyone is entitled to find out on their own, otherwise if we started imposing and ruling who is born to lead and who is supposed to follow, or “cancel” the opportunity to choose to be or dream to entrepreneur well than we would be going backwards rather than forward. And soon end up in a place that we were not too long ago.

[@josealtamirano8030]

I think there are worse things threatening out youth than avon bro

[@marlonoswald551]

yup. My girlfriend just yesterday was about to fall for it. Thank god I knew what an mlm is, I could stop her before the damage was too great.

[@nightswell]

So true, I was one of them.

[@1998londoner]

I just discovered you and really like your content. A level-headed creator among so much nonsense. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@pauldec10]

Very well produced! Keep up the good work James!

[@1Yooter]

"Reach out to at least 10 people a day" Implying I know more than 10 people.

[@marion.saturn]

I cried when she said that :'( but I guess I'm glad I don't. It prevents me from falling for this scheme xD

[@AD-lc8pw]

LOL whenever they said that in our herbal life meeting I always thought, '' wow, I hate hanging around people and I couldn't think of one person then I would end up thinking, ''ok I'm screwed!'' Lol Thank God I'm lazy I quit herbalife having made only 5 sales and 2 people under me all of which I managed in 1 month of joining, mid second month I couldn't take the up and down plus the demanding meetings and dictatorship and pressure of the changes I now had to make so I quit. One thing about me, I can sell. I know that there's magic in my mouth and I just want to learn to put it into good use I can enjoy.

[@UnsettlingDwarf]

I don’t even have 10 family members. Like. Who the hell am I supposed to talk to? The drive thru lady?

[@remetremet]

@@UnsettlingDwarf Good point. Let's try it :-D

[@lamadesurvivor5216]

Naw fr. I don’t even talk to that many people. Then they just want you to reach out to old aquatints, that you ain’t seen since elementary school. That instantly made me feel weird

[@SamuraiZZ]

MLMs before you join: You can do this part time! Choose your own hours! It's easy! MLMs after you join: You won't make any money unless you work 24/7. It's hard work!

[@freshzombie3779]

That's exactly what they do!

[@priyankpatel975]

U r lack of mindset that why u feel mlm hard.

[@ninogamboa5354]

@@priyankpatel975 as a go getting can you give me some insight of this, how did it change your life. Just wondering

[@pradipchavan7465]

@@priyankpatel975 chutiya

[@nafismridha997]

Exactly.

[@adancstnd8736]

I was opened to the idea when presented to me, I was in a vulnerable state when a guy approached me. After some extensive research I don’t have it within me to manipulate people and make money of the sales they make in (Amway). I’ve opted out. I have a good heart and if it takes manipulation to make money off of people who are also vulnerable then I’d rather be poor.

[@LaguTimothy]

The fact that you upload few videos at a time shows how pure your content is unlike most of the other KZbinrs

[@JonRobTom]

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." The best quote to close an MLM documentary.

[@martinjaramillo2429]

I've heard it said "if it sounds too good to be true it's probably illegal" in a lot of these cases "unethical"

[@kevinkeller6569]

I'd go one step further. If it looks and sounds too good to be true, it ALWAYS is!!

[@DavidRivera-ld8sh]

Same reason you got lured into your day job and now you probably hate it. The only reason keeping you from not believeing that's a pyramid scheme as well. Is only due to the fact that 90% of the average population do it everyday as well. Keep your thoughts to yourself.

[@shishirshohan1690]

“Logic is bad for us”. Something feels very wrong.

[@ayushdogra7850]

The quality of this documentary is absolutely stellar. You have earned a subscriber good sir ! ❤