Online Business is The New MLM!

I want to start by saying I fully understand the MLM/Network Marketing model and, believe it or not, I support it.

The issue has never, for the most part, been with the business model itself—it’s the way it’s been marketed. For years, MLMs have been sold as a “get rich quick” scheme. Maybe they didn’t say it outright, but you could tell by the way it was marketed. Promises of financial freedom, passive income, and “all you need to do is sign up a few people!”

I’ve had my own experiences with MLMs. I loved the products, but I couldn’t stand the way they expected you to market. When I first got involved, it was made to sound so easy. The truth? It wasn’t. The real problem, though, was me. I couldn’t find marketing methods that felt authentic to me, so I didn’t have the motivation to even try. Most of the time, I just didn’t bother.

The reality for most? There was little focus on actually working on your business. And no one wanted to do the hard work, anyway. The long hours. The grind. Why? Because they weren’t told it was going to be like that! No one told them that they had to learn how to run a business from the ground up. It’s no wonder most weren’t cut out for it. (And that’s okay—entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone!)

But here’s the thing—doesn’t that sound a little familiar to what’s happening now?

Fast forward to today.

People are going from employee one week to hanging a shingle as a 'Life Coach' the next. In most cases because they've seen marketing out there talking about how easy it would be. And they didn't have the experience to recognize that this may not be true.

People take one online course and suddenly think they’re running a business. Why? Because the marketing made it seem like it was so easy.

Until it’s not.

And reality hits you like a ton of bricks.

THIS STUFF IS HARD!

And as you're moving forward, you don’t realize it at first, but then your childhood fears and traumas start creeping in.

• Feelings of not being worthy? Check.
• Imposter syndrome? Check.
• Fear of rejection? Check.
• Self-doubt? Check.

Suddenly, you’re deep in the grind, and it’s not what you signed up for. You start wondering, "Is this really for me?"

The truth is, online business takes work—real work. You have to learn, fail, adjust, fail, adjust some more, fail... and grow. The marketing doesn’t tell you that.

But here’s the good news: If you’re willing to put in the effort and treat your business like a business, you can get there.

Not overnight. Not without challenges. But with focus, resilience, and learning to embrace the grind, you can create something sustainable and fulfilling.

And if anything I've said sounds familiar or resonates, please realize that while it may not be your fault, the direction you go from here on forward is directly within your control..

Derek