A Dream World- Direct Sales

We all know at least one person in our lives that always seem energetic and positive about their everything and just happens to be a friend who you haven't talked to. These people are also more likely to contact you out of the blue and appeared to have a new image. Sound familiar? Today we're going to talk about direct sales and its army of devoted and hard-working bees!

First of all, let's go through the basics here(seems like lots of words but look closely...),

DS- direct sales, direct selling-> purchase a number of products from a parent-company and sell directly to consumers as a salesperson, making money through commissions from each sale you make

(the salesperson may simply just be selling and not using the product)

MLM- multi-level marketing-> purchase a number of products from a parent-company and sell directly to consumers as a salesperson and find other people to join DS, making money through commissions from each sale you make

(the term "upline&downline" starts from MLM as in sponsor&consultant)

NM- new marketing-> purchase a number of products every month, introduce this to others so they do it every month as well. The more levels it gets, the more sales, the more commission.

(the boxes means products)

How is direct selling different from conventional retail selling? Yes, they both want profit, have target customers and the more sales the happier they are but that's just business. The difference is clear. Direct selling brings goods towards consumers whereas retail waits. The former sends salespeople out to reach, discover more potentials and is more aggressive; the latter puts out advertisements and have people come to them freely. (Christians vs. Buddhism?) In short, direct selling uses an unconventional strategy as well as human nature to increase their success rate in making sales. Most people are soft hearted. When facing a face-to-face approach by a friend or much sincerity, we either fall into believing or thinking that one purchase wouldn't hurt... However, all that we perceive from these "consultants" is well-planned and being taught in a playbook.

Looking at the pros and cons of this business model, we can find that intensive customer service is indeed the strength of DS. We like things customized into our own favor and with the skills of these consultants, they can not only do that but sell you what you didn't know you want.

No matter how the sales went, the next step is usually to invite the customer to become a partner and for one simple reason, stabilizing the sale. Making your customer "a partner" will not only help sell more products or selling regularly, but also allure the customer into spending more money while thinking their in control of the business. In the end, they are still the consumer, except then being somewhere in the pyramid of the system. Your customer will go straight back to what you were doing, providing intensive customer service and invite...

Some of the benefits that are mentioned in "the invitation" include having passive income, becoming one's own boss, and starting low-risk-high-effect entrepreneurial work. This is a negative approach wrapped with fancy wrappers because it manipulates people hope for a better future into being greedy. Please don't be mistaken. There's nothing wrong with making money. What's at stake here is that people were already/should be working towards their desired future but when encountering consultants who claim to have a simple, quick and perhaps easy life hack, people are prone to falling into the trap, thinking their step-by-step, down-to-earth hard work wasn't that worthy.

We all long for financial freedom and everyone has their own interpretation of it. It literally means having enough or having your desires matching your income. One could achieve it making 30K and feel happy but others could make 30M but still need more. We wish to say that there's nothing wrong with making more and more money but it is generally not a good phenomenon.

To be free from money, or to enter retirement if you will call it, what reminds people is usually having passive income which means making money with minimum or no work, i.e. receiving rent, pension, shares from company...etc. All of which leads to either being in a high-rank position in a company, owning a company or start one. That's where DS comes in. With only a few thousands of NTD, you could start climbing that ladder of success. Every product you purchase AND sell with earn some commission. With that in mind, all the everyday items you're already paying for, you might as well change them and use the ones from your DS company. Therefore, easy entrance of business and having almost no risk, unless the products themselves are not as good as they claimed.

You don't have to always work from 9-5 or whatever period others do; you choose your working hours because you're the boss! Or are you? Let's sit on that idea for a bit. Could you start meeting clients at 7 AM or 11 PM as you wish? Yeah... only if your clients choose so as well!

DS consultants are not necessarily positive, enthusiastic people; they have to be so. We have a sense of goodness and evil. Unfortunately, being good is too simple but difficult. It's always the same sayings, same philosophies and bright images whereas evil, though the same ideas and philosophies as well, has always been adapting according to society, technology and time. When people are still being naive, believing upwards is always better, they have no idea they're being manipulated. Those who are lucky and stayed away from evil usually can't explain why not but go with their gut feeling. Who doesn't like prestigious parties(product showcases) with speakers from the upper class and a room full of games, good food and bright faces? You need to wake up from these false dreams for your own sake.

Boring is not great but sometimes the right way. To turn boredom into content, that's another lesson.

#selfreflect