The Pyramid Objection
Okay continuing with our series on handling objections, let’s deal with the pyramid one.
Now I must say it seems shocking that this was even mentioned. Because I believe this has stopped being an issue some time ago. Let me tell you why I say that…
As most of you know, I got back in the biz as a distributor again over three years ago. And the first order of business was designing a presentation. So I did as I’ve always done in the past, and put in a section on the difference between a legitimate network marketing program and an illegal pyramid scheme.
And noticed that prospects seemed bored or even perplexed at that stage of the presentation…
So we took that section out. And enrollments actually went up. What happened?
The pyramid issue wasn’t an issue any more. Talking about it distracted from the natural flow of the presentation and the benefits of the business. With others, simply raising the subject probably seemed defensive and raised some doubts in their mind.
The reality is, our profession has really come into its own over the last ten years. We’ve become mainstream and the favorable press and public perception has followed.
So if you are getting this objection, the question to ask is, what are you doing to cause this? If you’re bringing it up in your presentation, drop it. If it’s not in your presentation and you’re still getting this, it means your presentation seems weak and uncertain. If this is the case, you need to be using 3rd party resources, so the opportunity is the focus, not you.
More in the next post…
-RG
Let me restate the question then … people dont ask is this a pyramid because they know what a illegal pyramid is … but .. they just label anything that pays based on others efforts besides themselves as a pyramid … so they ask .. is this one of those pyramid thingies.
So my question is more about how to answer that yes this has a model where you get paid on others efforts which they have defined in their minds as a pyrmaid and how to change there perception of making money off others efforts.
By the way, I forgot to mention this:
When I was in a playful mood and people asked me if it was an illegal pyramid, I said, “Yes, and if you hurry, you can get in at the top!”
And they OFTEN said, “How much?”
So don’t worry too much about this. If you want to be professional, you can say that we do get paid residual income on the people we introduce and train, and the more people we help reach success, the more successful we become.”
-RG
By the way, I forgot to mention this:
When I was in a playful mood and people asked me if it was an illegal pyramid, I said, “Yes, and if you hurry, you can get in at the top!”
And they OFTEN said, “How much?”
So don’t worry too much about this. If you want to be professional, you can say that we do get paid residual income on the people we introduce and train, and the more people we help reach success, the more successful we become.”
-RG
Let me restate the question then … people dont ask is this a pyramid because they know what a illegal pyramid is … but .. they just label anything that pays based on others efforts besides themselves as a pyramid … so they ask .. is this one of those pyramid thingies.
So my question is more about how to answer that yes this has a model where you get paid on others efforts which they have defined in their minds as a pyrmaid and how to change there perception of making money off others efforts.
Ok! I’d like to express my feelings and thoughts which are in my mind now.
I started the business about 2 years ago. I did it to get financial freedom.
Yes I hadn’t had MLM experience before and did lots of faults while doing the business.
But I came to think that to get “success” is necessary to grind in MLM and I don’t want to grind. I’ll explain why.
Why are so many distributors asking you how to deal with so many objections? Because they don’t understand the phrase: “We are looking for people that are looking”. And they are distributors. What’s about prospects? And the whole society?
People see grinders everywhere in MLM and they believe their eyes and already have their own understanding about the business. My business partner always tell me: “We need to educate people and give them the real understanding about MLM”. But I think that this approach to the business is also means to be a grinder.
Only sorting and looking for people that are looking is the way not to be a grinder. But I have to meet plenty of people to get a very few real prospects and it takes lots of time. It’s because mentioned-above and other reasons.
I get also confused when grinders – diamonds are publicly recognized as “successful people” – It looks like hypocrisy. MLM presentations look like lie OR fairy tales for trustful people who want to believe.
At the same time I think that peace of mind, person’s completeness, happiness and feeling of fulfillment are the only goals in life. Maybe everyone wants it. And many people start MLM business to get financial freedom in an attempt to attain this fulfillment. But it’s is impossible – if you are happy a million of dollars will make you million times happier, if you are unhappy a million of dollars will make you million times unhappier.
Is it worth to do the revolution trying to change the society spending (wasting) your only life instead of getting peace of mind first?
One more question.
We are talking about the world financial crisis and that MLM is the crisis remedy.
On the one hand people lose their jobs, get less income and buy only necessities to survive.
On the other hand network marketing depends on consumption. But in many cases people (distributors) can’t afford to pay for products even for themselves during the crisis.
How can MLM be the crisis remedy if people (distributors) can’t afford buying products for themselves on a daily basis? And we can see more and more people in such situation.
I hear what you’re saying, but truly many of the people I have approached have had that attitude, and I know I don’t present it in any way. In Dallas last month, I remember hearing that we should be positive and say, “yes it IS an MLM.” No problem there, but what would you suggest in terms of some brief, yet direct answer to that question?
There are still many people I’ve encountered who are stuck on the “scheme” idea, and I was really surprised that that idea was still in so much of the public consciousness.
I can answer this one because I have been in a business-based financial crisis since 1984 and that
got me into MLM in 1994.
I immediately recognized this to be my industry.
What I did with the opportunity, however, did not give
me the financial freedom I was after. Not even an income. But I tried it for 14 years, with the SAME
company. So I wouldn’t call myself a quitter.
A little over a year ago, I was introduced to a new
opportunity. I was reluctant to view it, because I had
a new action plan with the old one. But I was told to
check a video and an audio recording. They did the trick and I changed. I did not have the money, but I
flew overseas on two occasions last year to know more.
Did it help me to change the opportunity? Yes! I will
say so even though I have not made an income yet.
Because I eventually realized that no matter how big
the opportunity, it would take me decades to succeed
the way I had been trying.
I saw the light when I heard Randy Gage talk about
trying to rescue people in “Duplication University”.
I had been trying to rescue people that desperately
needed an opportunity! All the way from 1994. Just
a few weeks ago, I gave up this approach that I had
thought was so right. And I have found that, with
MLM, we cannot rescue people that NEED to be successful, but we can succeed together with people
that DESERVE to be successful. And suddenly I have
several middle class and above top professionals in
the ladder of escalation.
As an answer to whether MLM can be a cure to a crisis, yes, it can be for anyone that can see the
vast middle class capable of purchasing products and
starter kits. What about countries like Nigeria,
where some companies have great growth? Those people
have less money than we have in a crisis, yet they
get wealthy with this opportunity. They sure inspire
me! Best Regards, IS
Let’s take a closer look at what a REAL pyramid scheme is…Isn’t it Corporate America itself? At the very top you have the President, CEO, & VP’s of this/that/the other department. Then the pyramid trickles down to managers, supervisors, and finally-yes, FINALLY the remainder of the workforce-the accountants, secretaries, receptionists, and clerks at the bottom of the “totem pole”! What about the cafeteria staff and cleaning crew? They’ve been forgotten to say the least. Tell me folks, is that or is that not a REAL pyramid scheme or what? What a hard pill to swallow!
Randy, great post. Now there are many people who will get objections of every kind due to many factors, one being what you said about weak presentation etc. That’s just life!
So maybe you could elaborate on the 3rd party resources scenario to help those people understand how that works, and also explain how the 3rd party process actually helps to properly qualify the prospect.
All these are the most common objections. I am facing one that is really getting on my nerves and that is that after each presentation ppl tell me they will look at the website before giving an answer. But after they do, they tell me they are not interested. So I tried to curb it by geting them to view the site before we meet..But now they tell me that after viewing the site, they don’t fancy the products and I lose appointments..are they using the ‘take a look at the webbie’ as an excuse to politie remove themselves from the situation?
Hello Randy, great evening!
Yes, question about the 3rd party resources.
Today for the first time I introduced my opportunity by first showing “Check out the Biz”, watching it together with my new friend who is interested in having his own business. But I am wondering how can I successfully use “Check Out the Biz” which is an excellent introduction to MLM, without sending my people to you, Randy, to your company 🙂
Does this make sense?