the first steps

As the 17 year old heads out into the real world, searching for oppurtunities to ....how shall we say this.... get rich, he is approached by a close relative, selling him some hoo-ha 'bout multilevel marketing.

The 17 year old, though not totally believing what he hears, decides to go ahead with it anyway...to humour hi close relative.

Multilevel marketing, or better known as direct selling is the almost cult-like operations of businesses like Amway and such. Their followers number in many and they get plenty of new converts everyday.

Being cocky, self-confident and determined not to be influenced, our 17 year old decides to sit in on one of their 'business previews' as they call it. After sitting through what seemed to be hours of senseless 'how our business works' presentations (better known as 'The Plan') they brought out the heavy guns. Oh yea, they wouldn't go easy on these bunch of doods sitting in what was probably their first 'business preview'. They sent up the success stories. The 'people-next-door-who-have-made-it-in-the-business'. And thus the audience were regaled with their tales of pain and hardship they had to endure to reach the top, how much happier they are now that they are at the top and in general encouraging everyone in the room to join and reach the top. But what struck the 17 year old the most was not the obstacles they had to overcome nor was it the sheer tenacity of these people.. what struck him was how old they were, middle aged men and women, professionals who have decided to forego their day jobs, jobs which they had studied and get degrees for. These people gave all that up and joined multilevel marketing.

Well , to say gave up is a strong word... its more like they made a slow transition from being a professional to being a professional multilevel marketer.

So the 17 year old says to himself, 'why should i wait that long to achieve their level of success'.

I should start now, if i wanna be rich...

to be continued...