What is MLM brainwashing? And is everyone in the network marketing industry brainwashed? These are the two questions I want to address in today’s post.
What is MLM Brainwashing?
Let me start by defining brainwashing.
Brainwashing is defined as ‘to make (someone) adopt radically different beliefs by using systematic and often forcible pressure.’
According to the definition of brainwashing listed above, people are systematically FORCED or PRESSURED to think a certain way. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I have never been forced or pressured to think a certain way in this industry.
However, I have been “exposed” to different ways of thinking by different network marketing companies and different reps I have worked with. From there, I made the decision under my own free will to either accept that way of thinking or reject it.
In my own opinion, I have never been brainwashed. I have just learned different ways to think about how I earn money, why I need a leveraged income, and why network marketing is a better fit than a traditional career path (for me anyway).
Most companies in our industry strive to help people IMPROVE themselves, not to control them. They encourage personal development, teach people new skills, and help them discover what they are truly capable of. If that is brainwashing, sign me up for it!
Why Do People Outside Our Industry Think We Are Brainwashed?
This is the real question. In my opinion, the real reason people think most MLM Reps are brainwashed is because we think differently than they do.
We are open minded about how we earn money. We’re not looking for a “job” like most people. We understand the power of leverage. We value residual income. We see the importance of having a home-based business. We value personal growth. We value time freedom.
Speaking from personal experience, these are things that average person does not even think about! When we start talking about these things to people outside of our industry, people act like we are crazy!
In addition, some reps in our industry say and do some crazy things. Here are a few examples:
- Stating jobs are bad.
- Calling people losers if they say no to our business opportunity.
- Calling people dream stealers if they mock our opportunity.
- Avoiding or disowning people who don’t support you in the business.
- Calling people who quit the business a loser.
- Telling people that network marketing is the only way to create financial freedom.
I would like to clarify that MOST reps are NOT taught to say or do these things, even though some do it. Once again, each company in our industry has its own unique culture and value system. While some companies may teach these things, most do not!
Anyone saying or doing these things is either untrained or ignorant. What you will find is most people who are successful in this industry do the complete opposite. They are PROFESSIONALS. They give our reputation a good name!
Examples of Brainwashing Outside of MLM
Before you’re quick to bash the MLM Industry and say that everyone is brainwashed, consider this:
EVERYTHING you CURRENTLY think, know, and do has been taught to you by someone else! When we are born the only things we know how to do are cry, eat, sleep, and poop our pants. What we learn after that is taught to us by others.
We learn things from our parents, teachers, pastors, family members, neighbors, entertainers, etc. Here are a few examples:
Religion: The best example of brainwashing I can share with you is religion. There are hundreds of religions in the world. Members are taught a value system, how to think, what is right and what isn’t right, etc. They are taught not to question it. Even crazier our religious preference is normally based on our parents, local community, and what country we live in.
Politics: We normally gain our political views from our parents, or by where we live geographically.
Money: Our thoughts on HOW we earn money are taught to us by our parents and teachers (who happen to be employees).
Sports: We typically like sports teams based off where we live, who our parents liked, etc. Also, we accept the traditions and rituals of our favorite sports teams without ever questioning it.
As a disclaimer, I am not saying these things are bad. They’re not. Instead, I’m trying to show that most of the things we think are not our own ideas.
The Truth
The TruthWhere you are in life right now, and how and what you think, are a direct result of the books you’ve read and the people you’ve spent time with during the past five years.
If you want to change your future, you need to change your association. If you want to succeed in any endeavor, it makes sense to surround yourself with, and listen to, successful people in that endeavor.
If you want to succeed, you must change the way you think. That is my best advice.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, these are my thoughts on MLM Brainwashing. While I don’t believe most MLM Reps are brainwashed, I do realize that some reps say and do some crazy and shady things, mostly out of ignorance or poor training.
I believe our industry does more good than bad, especially because of the personal development. It’s the only industry I’ve been part of where personal development is taught and encouraged to all.
What are your thoughts about MLM Brainwashing? Do you agree or disagree with me? Leave a comment below to let me know what you think.
Chuck Holmes
20+ Year Network Marketing Professional
Top Earner & Top Recruiter
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com
P.S. Learn how to grow a successful network marketing business. Secret tips, training, and practical ideas. Free training delivered by email.
I will not support MLM businesses on principle. I believe the one getting rich are the ones pushing products regardless of results or effectiveness. If someone is selling you something (even an idea) always question objective. There is no magic berry containing secret ingredients. It is a perfectly respectable way to earn a living if you so choose, but know this: It’s NOT special, it may work but not necessarily because it is special, and there is a less expensive way to get healthy vitamins and nutrients without any of the processed garbage preservatives. Trade marked terms do not make your product certifiably anything but a made up word.
Sorry you feel that way. We are all entitled to our own opinion, and I respect that. Sadly, we have a lot of people in our industry who are amateurs and unprofessional and ruin it for everyone else in the industry. Sounds like you had a bad experience?
I love how you put all of this together with the many other things in life. Essentially, to me it takes a weak mind to be brainwashed in a bad way. With that said, I will say that there is a good brainwashing and a bad brainwashing. When we are trying to change bad habits, we actually have to brainwash ourselves to react differently. I do not agree with some of the “roller coaster” techniques that happen in some MLM events. It is true that these kind of things happen also at sport events and church events. If we keep ourselves at an even keel, we will, I believe, think more clearly.
Your testimony about how your attitude has been changed in the past decade or so since joining MLM is great. You are right: if something changes your outlook to a happy, positive, healthy one, then how can that be a bad thing. The term “brainwashing” has such a negative tone. “Improved” or “Empowered” might be a better explanation of what success in an MLM business can do for a person.
I think the brainwashed is taken out of context a lot. It’s a buzzword that gets thrown around a lot, yet few people know what it means.