As easy as it will be to find out what direct marketing business I worked for, I will still leave it nameless. I just wanted to tell people what I learned from the business (both positive and negative) and how it lead me to this point. I tell you now... This entry will be a long one.
Just as many of you whos eye's shined with the thought of owning your own business in less than a year, being financial stable, and retiring by the age of 30, I took the job. I worked there about close to 3 months (I quit just recently). I never did get passed the entry level stage, but I believe that was a blessing in disguse. For you die-hard believers out there, it wasn't that I didn't try. My phone would be shut off a good portion of the time to "keep my backdoors closed" and "not neg out" (This is was only way that I communicated with the "outside" world. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem keeping my phone off while at work. But, work was about 3/4 of my day.in a small way, it really kept me from communicating with my friends and family because my phone would be off before I got to work and a few more hours after work... Because of any additional "building" time that was needed), took the 15 min lunch of a 12 hour day, and followed the words of my manager and followed through with most of business belief systems. I wanted to be "dedicated" and "put the hours in now so we don't have to do it later - like the rest of the world". I was great with the 8's (8 sucessful work habits) and the 5's (5 steps of a conversation). It was those damn 4's I couldn't do (the four factors of impulse: Indifference, Jones Effect, Sense of Urgency, and Fear of Loss). I could do the indifference and the sence of urgency. But the Jonesing and Fear of Loss, I could not do at all. If I didn't sell anything to a "neighbor", I wouldn't make up that "your neighbor, next door, didn't have time either but still found the time to pick a few things out". I would only use the Jones Effect if it was true... Although, I was suggested by a few people (not necessarily still employed there) to just "make it up". I could not do the Fear of Loss either, if I had to lie. I couldn't tell a customer "well, I'll call and see if this machine is still in stock. But, last time I called, there was only." I would not be able to lie to these people, who are doing business with me out of good faith, and be comfortable with myself. Still, I pushed myself and tried to find another way to figure out the system.
Now, let's talk about debt. I would like to say that my parents helped me out of the huge debt hole I placed myself in with the belief that I would be able to pay them back, plus get that house they wanted in the phillipines built. Sadly, I owe money to so many more... It makes me sick. The people that I was keeping myself away from, the pople that truely care about me, I was so quick to almost sacrifice for... For the good of the business. Where is my financial status now? Well, I have no money to pay my rent, about the find out how much $ I can get for my car, and move into an apartment with only 1 bed room (my bedroom with be the living room). How I allowed myself to be so clouded, I don't know. How I didn't listen to all the warnings, that I don't know either.
Something that also angered me was the way that people that worked their full time jobs were portrayed. How they were someone's employees, how they were apart of the "40,40, 40 club" (people who work 40 hours a week for a mear $40K for 40 years of their lives), and dreaded waking up, dragging themself to a job that they hate, and living a life that they settled for. The last time I checked, in this system, I WAS someone's employee. There was someone there that hired and fired. When I wasn't making me goals, I was well on my way to being in the "40,40, 40 club" and that would be a bad thing. That those "club members" didn't have the mind concept to be entrepreneurs. These people were drones that listened to what they higher-up told them to do. I also started to dread waking up, dragged myself out of bed to earn my $1.67/hr, and hoping for a dream that was unrealistic. I also have to apologize to a friend of mine. When you left at the end of your "Day of O", I really should have got your back when I heard that the particular leader dug into a bit harshly and implied you didn't have what it takes. For that, I am sorry.
I'm not sore at my ex co-workers or manager. As people, they're pretty cool. They seem pretty sucessful there and I wish them the best of luck. But, I wonder if they stay with the company with the hopes that they too will run a business of their own and be able to run their own company from home, sitting near their pool, and working from their phone/laptop. I just hope that their sacrifices aren't done for nothing. Just as any other "cult-like" system, there are a few that go in for the long haul. Those few pull themselves away from their families and friends believeing in a world that is possibly unreal. I was one of the luck ones to get out. Yeah, I'm in a shit load of debt... But, I have clarity. I know that when I do have my own business that is run with strong integrity, I won't belittle the few that ended up quitting (I don't know if anything was said about me. But I don't doubt it). I won't imply that those people will one day "pump my gas", they that weren't strong enough and wouldn't truely sacrafice. That these people gave up and decided to work from someone else earning their pathetic $10 dollars an hour. Everyone has their own concept of what they want for themselves and their own idea of success. Plus, why talk shit about people who quit because they have to take care of their responsibilities? Some of these people are married, have kids, etc. Who would belittle someone is taking care of responsibilities?
I have learned a few good things here. I've leared to talk to people I would have never talked to before, that there are people who really have your backs when you need them, and a business that I would like to have for myself wouldn't make me cry as much as it did (for those who may know me personally... I hardly cry). I know I have it within me to run a business. I would just like to run one that I would be proud of. For those of you interviewing or working there. Form your own opinions. Don't every leave yourself to wonder. But, if you do allow yourself to step into that world, don't allow yourself to get into the debt that many of us have fallen into. Don't hurt the relationships you have with your family and friends. Don't don't force yourself to become something or someone you're not.
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