Anatomy of quitting: Why do people quit their MLM businesses ?
Our industry has amazing blessings, it already has helped and still will help so many people to own their lives – and yet is the inofficial failure rate with 97 % ashamingly high.
In my first opportunity, I had 6 people within a pretty short period of time, hardly of them was doing anything, and after four weeks some of them started complaining and whining.
And honestly, I couldn’t help them because there wasn’t a system in place, they were right with their complaints – but that didn’t get them anywhere.
I quit this company – well, 2 months before this company quit their marketers, but that’s another story – and joined another company.
Am I a quitter ?
I don’t think so.
The reason why I left my first company is that I found some lethal clauses in their policies and procedures. On top of that, they had a very poor compensation plan.
Clauses that would have allowed them to kick me out anytime they wanted and that required monthly minimum sales volumes in order for marketers to get a bonus check.
Passive income looks different.
These clauses and the compensation plan hurted my WHY. The financial part of my WHY consists of lifelong residual income in order for me to own my life and my time.
Why MLM Network Marketing if not for that reason ?
So I had the following choice – in the moment of decision, I couldn’t know that this company would terminate all their marketers two months later anyway.
1. I stick with my first company because I’m not a quitter – but I treach my WHY.
2. I quit my first company because I value my WHY more than my ego that doesn’t want to look like a quitter.
I took the decision before I knew which company I would join after that.
If I hadn’t found a company that is a fit to me and my WHY, I would have left the industry and invested immediately in real estate or other business where there is an exit strategy.
Thank God I found this company and an amazing system and mastermind group that helps my team and me build our business.
Am I quitter ?
I quit but I’m not a quitter.
I quit a business in order to save my dream.
Sometimes quitting is the best decision.
To read about the opposite, please refer to my post Anatomy Of Quitting – When Quitting Is Failing.
What is your opinion ?
I always love your feedback, so please leave me a comment down below with questions, thoughts, or feedback.
And (yes, here’s my call to action) please share this post with your Twitter and Facebook friends by clicking on the share buttons below.
I appreciate you telling others.
BTW, if you are like me, you might like my post “How To be a finisher in your MLM Network Marketing business”.
To a prosperous life,
Oliver Tausend
+49 1512 9125216 (Germany/outside US)
+1 201 984 5664 (US)
Skype ID: guernsey2016
wordpress@olivertausend.com
Download “Success in 10 steps”, my mentor’s free MLM ebook
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I have also been a quitter, I don’t se myself as a quitter but as you write, when your WHY/DESIRE don’t fit with the company, or you – like I did – found that when the company’s honesty, suddenly does not match one’s own honesty, there’s no reason to continue. I have in my first mlm business, spent more than $ 40,000 to build the business, today when I look back, I spent less than $ 1,000 to build my current business, but earn much more.
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 19:55
Hi Soren,
thanks for your comment. Knowing your why is abolutely essential in order to be able to take such decisions.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
[...] If you are like me, you might also like my series about the anatomy of quitting. [...]
Twitter: prfuller
says:
Hey Oliver
Making a rational decision to leave a company is not quitting.
Giving up on your dreams is quitting.
Thanks for sharing my friend.
Peter Fuller MBA recently posted..Support my entry to the Famousbloggers ComLuv contest
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 19:58
Hi Peter,
thanks for your brief and exact summary. It’s crucial to know about your dream that’s in you, I know you do, but how many people don’t ?
Cheers
Oliver
[Reply]
Twitter: dianeaksten
says:
Oliver: I don’t think you’re a quitter; I think you realized that you were part of a company that wasn’t going to allow you to realize your own personal goals…
Maybe that’s the difference between men and women
I don’t think ego comes into the equation for us women~~I think we’re more pragmatic in that if we realized that Company A was not going to allow us to realize our goals, financially or otherwise, we would find another opportunity that would; I could be wrong but that’s just my opinion…
However, you do highlight the importance of reading the Policies and Procedures and studying the Compensation Plan BEFORE you join a company~~you actually have the legal right to do so and if a company won’t provide you with those details before you sign on the dotted line, RUN, RUN, RUN!!!
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 20:58
Hi Diane,
thanks for your comment. I would also take the Colour technology into consideration. A yellow woman might have a hard time to give up her team and be afraid of losing trustworthiness (the latter was also my issue for me). A green woman with a portion of yellow might be the ideal fit for that what you are describing
So you’re certainly not wrong with your opinion.
The company I was referring to had their policies and procedures clearly on their website – I didn’t read them, I simply checked the famous box. So there’s no one to blame.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Hi Oliver,
You are defenently not a quitter. You are a surviver of the pitfalls of this industry and deserve a round of applause for believing in yourself and watching over your team. That is what a really leader does.
Tammy Parish
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 09:58
Hi Tammy,
thank you for your appreciative comment. You are right that I am surviver. A large portion of my former team quit the industry completey because they “were right” that MLM is no good. But that’s OK of course. I can’t and won’t take the decision for them.
Cheers
Oliver
[Reply]
Twitter: AnaTrafficCafe
says:
Here, here, Oliver.
I quit my first company.
I was tired of mickey-mouse paychecks. I was tired of the lack of training. I got to the point where I could not tell my prospects honestly that they would succeed with the company.
But I did not quit. There was a season for my first MLM company, which taught me a lot of what NOT TO DO.
Then came a season of wisdom:).
Thanks for your insights, Oliver.
Ana Hoffman
Ana | Traffic Generation Cafe recently posted..Social Media Tourist Trap- Now What
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 09:55
Hi Ana,
thanks for your comment. Yes, absolutely. We share similar experiences. If not for this first MLM company, I would probably never have joined the industry. My first company was the bridge into this awesome industry.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Twitter: MavisNong
says:
You are not a quitter, Oliver.
Not so long ago, I was in the same position. Everything that I was taught in my previous company was completely wrong – not a happy discovery!
So, I quit!
I had to find a company that would allow me to realise my dreams. And I did!
Thanks fo sharing this.
All the best,
Mavis Nong
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 09:52
Hi Mavis,
thanks for your comment. Sometimes we need to get to know the “wrong” in order to be able to appreciate the “right”. It’s like wine: When we had little money, we bought cheap wine. And we liked it. Today I wonder how I could drink that stuff. A soon as I could afford more expensive quality wine, I could appreciate the higher quality because I knew what poor quality was.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Thanks for sharing Oliver. It’s good for us to check the clauses in our businesses and make sure that doesn’t happen to us. I am not a quitter either. I love the fact that you were brave enough to take a stand for your dream. I have to stand up for mine. Thanks for the reminder.
Keysha Bass recently posted..You are way too comfortable…
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 09:47
Hi Keysha,
thanks for your appreciative comment. Yes, yes and yes – and I like that picture of standing up for our dreams. That’s also a great reminder.
Cheers
Oliver
[Reply]
Twitter: steveshoemaker
says:
Oliver I could hardly call you a quitter in the negative sense. An astute business man who recognized that a business deal was not in line with his goals and took appropriate action would be more accurate. But that’s in your case but to let go at the first sign of resistance would not be a good scenario on the other side of the coin.
Steve Shoemaker
Steve Shoemaker recently posted..Social Marketing Strategies And How
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 09:46
Hi Steve,
thanks for your comment. Absolutely, and in your last paragraph you’re referring to the decision everybody has to make with full responsibility, either way of course, because not taking a decision is also a decision.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Oliver,
You’re not really a quitter, because it’s YOU INC… you just replaced one income stream with another. Great story man!
Jordan Schultz
Social-Media Specialist
Jordan Schultz recently posted..Why Are You Trying To Make People See The opportunity In Network Marketing
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 09:44
Hi Jordan,
thanks for your comment and again for your recognition as weekle featured tribe member.
As I wrote sometimes quitting is the best decision, and I also agree with Steve that giving up at the first signs of resistance isn’t a good idea.
Stay tuned, I’ve got some ideas in store.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
I once was one of Europe’s top Mlm earners, but I knew the vast numbers of people in my downline were earning very little. I tried every strategy, but diddly squat.
I tried doing nothing, let them get on with it, and things improved.
Mlm is Darwinism, red of tooth and claw. The fittest survive.
Quitting? If the company or it’s products are rubbish, you have an ethical duty to do that.
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 09:42
Hi Nathan,
thanks for your comment. Yes, sometimes it’s a moral duty to quit. And you are right, MLM is often perceived as darwinism. But it doesn’t to be darwinism, as I know know and experience meanwhile.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
That’s a good point Oliver – there’s a stigma about quitting as if it’s a personality disorder! I’m not an MLMer – I was 20 years ago – and some people treat it almost like a religion – sometimes you need to come up for air and reassess. I did a video on this topic a while back where I noted that if you keep banging your head on a brick wall – eventually the wall wins!
Never starting over again – now that would be disappointing
Continued Success Oliver -Cheers Kiaran
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 00:08
Hi Kiaran,
thanks for your comment. I like that word picture and the sentence that eventually the wall wins, a great take. You hit the nail on its head.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Great post Oliver – to quote > “The reason why I left my first company is that I found some lethal clauses in their policies and procedures. On top of that, they had a very poor compensation plan.”
It is so sad that network marketers only discover the truth AFTER they have joined a company. Not through any fault of theirs necessarily, but because a lot of companies only make it available to the distributors after they have signed up.
Stay inspired!
Michael
Michael B Wilbraham recently posted..How To Create Online Advertising Headlines That Sizzle!
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 00:05
Hi Michael,
thanks for your comment. Yes, that’s really sad. We all have the chance to learn it. I learned it and made a correction.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
I really feel you on this one Oliver. Sometimes when the companies policies and procedures get in the way of you and your dream then it’s ok to look elsewhere. Thanks for sharing!!
Sherman
Sherman Smith recently posted..A SLEIGHT OF HAND MOVE TO MARKETING YOUR PRODUCTS
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 23:54
Hi Sherman,
thanks for your comment. In those moments, a proper WHY is pretty handy – because it gives you orientation.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
I was also part of a “traditional” MLM that I got dragged to meetings in hotels and the sort, won’t go into names because that is not important but all the same I quit that business. I could not be involved with soemthing I did not feel good about nor a business that everyone ran screaming from you, nor create a list of “friends and family”.
I may have quit that business but I never lost the dream of owning my own business, being an entrepreneur and being successful in more ways then one.
In my opinion people quit because they lose hope, and focus, it is a shame, if people only knew how close they probably are to their business exploding it may make them think twice about quitting.
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 23:53
Hi Robert,
thanks for your personal and authentich comment. I really wouldn’t want to know how many people quit something just before being successful, certainly a shocking number. But we never know…
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Hi oliver,
No, I don’t think quitting is failing Oliver, because I quit myself for a different reason but I came back. Great post. Keep them coming.
Samuel
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 23:52
Hi Samuel,
thanks for your comment. Very much appreciated. And yes, please come back soon and often.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Twitter: ilkaflood
says:
Hi Oliver,
You definitely made the right decision. Sometimes we do have to “quit” to move on. There’s a great little book out by Seth Godin titled “The Dip” – A Little Book That Teaches You When To Quit And When To Stick).
We do need to quit things (marketing strategies for example) that don’t move our business forward. Things that we find unethical and not in tune with our beliefs. And, like you, things that aren’t in sinc with our WHY.
Great article!
Ilka
Ilka Flood recently posted..Are You Sabotaging Your Own Network Marketing Success
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 23:51
Hi Ilka,
thanks for your thoughtful comment. Comments like yours are the lifeblood of blogging and show me that I’m on track. Come back soon.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
The different companies, affiliate programs, etc are simply a means to an end. As long as you stay true to who you are, and stay focused on your end goal, the tools (or companies) you use to get there are merely stepping stones in your journey. Best of luck and enjoy the adventure!
Karen recently posted..New Career Mindset
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 08:45
Hi Karen,
thanks for your comment. You are right: They are a means to an end. As I replied to Michael Cole, in the moment of decision the old dogma of never quitting fired back on me. And I knew I had to talk to my team, openly and frankly. None of them had read the policies and procedures either, btw.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Oliver,
Good points, but sometimes you have to make a tough business decision and move on.
The key is not to quit and lose your dreams. Persistence is very important for your success.
Edward Pena
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 08:42
Hi Edward,
thanks for your comment, you are right, but such decisions require orientation, otherwise chances are quitting a business is equivalent to quitting one’s dreams. My WHY is my guideline, a lot of people don’t take the time to figure out their way, that’s WHY they’re struggling.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Hey Oliver,
You, a quitter? With all of the work it takes to run a blog? On top of your Opportunity?
Tell me another one.
Something in the back of your mind saw the writing on the wall, the company was about to do you dirty. So you left.
That wasn’t quitting, it was removing your back from the knive’s path.
Great Post,
Mike
ps I’m gonna be a quitter, gonna quit the rat race.
Michael Cole recently posted..Be Aware- Hookers Are Scamming You On Facebook
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 08:40
Hi Michael,
thanks for your encouraging. I don’t see myself as a quitter, but in the moment of taking the decision I felt like a quitter – because I used to hammer the dogma of never quitting into my brain – and it fired back, like every dogma does sooner or later.
BTW, quitting the Rat Race is an amazing form of quitting !
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Hi Oliver,
Interesting topic. Keeping you dreams alive is not being a quitter. As you stated you saw the big picture and took action to realise your WHY.
Kelvin
Kelvin Edmund recently posted..Getting Started With Autoresponder
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 22nd, 2010 at 00:04
Hi Kelvin,
thanks for your comment. Yes, I believe it’s crucial to see the big picture and act upon it.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Hi Oliver, another good subject to discuss about..
Well, if there are a lot of people in one company that had big success, than its surely worth to stay there and give our best of time and energy.. But we are not ‘married’ to any company, so we should always be opened for other companies, as we are for new strategies and techniques popping out every day.. What suits us the best and what fulfills our expectations, thats what we should follow..
great post my friend!
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 22nd, 2010 at 17:09
Hi Milena,
thanks for your comment. Before joining my first company, I didn’t any due diligence so I overlooked important pieces of information. Before joining my second company, I did my due diligence and made sure, that I really want to say “yes” to this company. I’m certainly open in a professional manner when looking at other companies and I look at a lot of them with X-ray
, but I’m not open to join another one – as I’m not open to marry another woman, even if she were prettier, younger, richer…
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Hey Oliver,
This is a great example and I had the same situation. I didn’t think of it as quitting, I saw it a stepping stone to getting me to the final destination.
It’s great that you got there too.
Jerome Ratliff
P.S. Congrats on being picked as the weekly tribe member.
Jerome Ratliff recently posted..Reinventing Your Network Marketing Business is Simple as 1-2-3
[Reply]
Oliver Reply:
July 23rd, 2010 at 23:14
Hi Jerome,
I’m glad you see it like that. Without this experience, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
Thanks for your comment and take care
Oliver
[Reply]
Hi Karen,
love that airplane example, very powerful.
Thanks for your comment.
Take care
Oliver
[Reply]