Hello everyone, I had the opportunity to spend some time in the Equinox organization a year ago, and have seen several MLM companies since then. I didn't work the latter ones like I did with Equinox. My friend Sean, who was also involved in Equinox, and I made some observations about MLM in general. I hope this helps.

The Large MLM's quickly figured out that suckering people into training can be more lucrative than having people buy products that companies could never sell in a competitive market. Training can be very useful for people who will be successful in MLM's. Most MLM's have you believe that with the right amount of training anybody can be successful, but they also know many of you will never be successful. Every single MLM out there knows a huge percent of people will never be successful in their company, but while you're still in your honeymoon phase and still have big dreams, why not pretend. Hey if you spend thousands of dollards on a training, you can own the houses and cars like me. What people like Bill Gouldd won't tell you is that because of the training, he has made many millions. A distributor is not allowed to have paid training and the free training can't be too long, because that's becoming more like a paid training. An MLM never wants to hurt that cash cow called training. Many of you won't be successful in MLM's because in reality most people don't like to sell no matter how much training you attend. The large MLM's know this and are laughing all the way to the bank.

Many MLM's have very good products, many good products are available in retail stores also. Be honest with yourself, why would someone want to pay overinflated MLM prices, when they can find the same thing at a Wal-Mart at a much cheaper price. Instead of a money pyramid, you're supporting a product pyramid instead. A small minority is actually successful selling these products, most people's products go from lot to rot. As soon as the product pulls up in the parking lot it starts to rot, because it will never be sold. This is also why many recruitment-based MLM's want you to pull as many people into the program as you can. They know many of you will not be able to sell the products in a competitive market, so sucker people into the company and get them to purchase products. Again, no different than a money pyramid, but products are used. Equinox is getting many people to order five thousand dollar product purchases. My advice to anyone who spends over a couple of hundred dollars, be prepared to kiss your money goodbye. The real funny part is when companies tell you they will refund any unused products. I've heard those horror stores also. Remember, Lot to Rot.

I think meetings are good if you have a product that actually sells and you can learn from people who have been successful. Say one thing to yourself, especially Equinox people. How many of those stupid dog and pony show meetings do you want to sit through. Say to yourself, while sitting at that next meeting, do I really want to be here in six months? Do I really want to support a former eight track car stereo salesman who has made millions screwing people? Do you really want to use deceitful means to sucker people into these meetings and having to act phony whenever a speaker goes you know what I mean, or cracks the same joke you've heard ten times. It's the price you pay to be successful. There's other ways to be successful, Is this the path you really hoped to make you successful?

Corporate America is loaded with politics and MLM's are a utopia from this vicious game. If that's the case why did all of the top money earners in Equinox resign last year? Here's the few select minority who are actually making any money in these programs and they quit. Grant it, they started their own company, but once you're at the top of one of these pyramids, most people would never quit. This Utopia where there's no politics in MLM is fraudulent, when people who have everything to lose resign in droves, I can only think of nasty politics as far as the reason for leaving.

I've met many people who have been successful and have failed in MLM. Many successful people fail two or three times and learn each time and then achieve success. I've known people who have left Equinox and have become successful in other MLM's. Grant it, Corporate America has its faults, but many successful people in corporate America have been involved in some MLM in their lifetime. Many of you just want a comfortable standard of living and can achieve this in Corporate America, politcs and all. Please don't fall for the excuse that if you're not successful in Amway or Equinox you never will be successful. This is just another excuse to get thousand of dollars out of your pocket and go to another meeting where you get sunshine pumped up your ass all day long. I have seen some MLM's where there's no lotions, potions, or pills, or stupid meetings that people work part-time after their regular job. Eventually some of them do make money without going broke and bankrupt. Beware of the recruitment-based product MLM's.

Best of Luck.