**Editor’s Note- The following article does not represent Aridni’s views on Multi Level Marketing. Any company, product, or service mentioned in the following article is not endorsed by Aridni in any way, shape or form. It is important to note that all writers are defined independently based on their own work. This particular piece represents only the particular writer and not the entity of Aridni**

We all want to find meaningful ways to achieve financial freedom outside the traditional 9-5 timetable. Network marketing is a perfect way to realize this goal because it enables you to be a self employed business owner while retaining many of the perks of working for a company.

For starters, your product and all the advertising/marketing has already been designed for you. Whether you are selling Mary Kay, Avon, Tupperware, Amway, or Xango you don’t have to put any time or effort into manufacturing a marketable product. All you need to do is sell the product and get others to sign up to sell it under you. Then, you earn commission or residual income from the sales of people in your down line. No, I am not talking about a pyramid scheme where one has to put up thousands of dollars upfront to get into a company and where lots of people have lost a lot of money in the process. Network marketing is NOT a scam. In as little as a few years, people go on to make millions. The best part is that those who succeed can “retire” in a few years and are taken care of for life. Better than the 30 year plan, isn’t it?

Second, some network marketing companies even offer health benefits if you reach a certain level of distributorship. Mary Kay offers health benefits to “Sales Directors.” Other companies like Xango have teamed up with specifc insurance companies to offer discounts for their distributors at any level.

Third, there is no one telling you when you need to show up to work or what you should do. You set your hours. You report to yourself and no one else. This requires a great deal of discipline, time management, and self respect. After all, you are your own boss.

Fourth, there is no overhead and if you use your home as your office space, you can write off part or all of your mortgage/rent when you do your taxes! Forget about paying rent for an office or dealing with employee relations and human resources. Yes, you need to retain the people in your down line to be successful and it’s important to carefully select those you do business with, but you don’t need to worry about benefits or payrolls. The company takes care of that!

Fifth, you can work as many or as few hours as you want and your prosperity is directly proportional to how much time and effort you put into your business. If you have a full time job and are looking for an extra $1,000 a month, you can do network marketing as a part time job; however, if you want to earn $25,000 a month, you will need to devote more energy.

Sixth, ANYONE can get involved with network marketing. You don’t need previous job experience or an impressive resume. Your age and background don’t matter. No interviews are required. The only things you need are motivation, a positive attitude, and an ability to effectively relate with people. In a society where the rich keep getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, network marketing helps bridge that gap and enables people without an education to rise to the top of American society.

Last, but not least, let’s not forget about the importance of your up line. One of the best things about network marketing is that you get “on the job training” from your sponsor and others above that person in your chain of distributorship. In order for your up line to succeed, YOU need to succeed; therefore, it is in their financial interest to see you prosper. Imagine being in an entry level sales position and spending 10 hours a week with the CEO of your company and having that person as your mentor. What traditional company gives you that opportunity?

Here are some things to think about if you are trying to decide whether network marketing is for you:

1.) Choose a product you are passionate about. If you are selling Mary Kay, but would rather help people improve their health instead of their looks, try Xango. (By the way, Mary Kay cosmetics contain lots of cancer causing ingredients).
2.) Make sure you can reliably attest to the benefits of your product. Why should someone buy it and more importantly sell it? How has the product made a difference in your life? With something like makeup, you can usually demonstrate results quickly, but with Xango, it can take up to 90 days to experience the product’s full potential. People need to be aware of that upfront.

3.) Make sure you have a strong up line. Don’t sign up under someone who is successful, but for whom you have no respect. That person is your mentor, trainer, and key to your success. You are also their key to success! When one person wins, everyone wins.

4.) Can you work in a team? Because success is interdependent in network marketing, you need to be able to learn the techniques of the industry from your up line and teach them to your down line (the people you sponsor). Your down line is also your sponsor’s down line, so it is in your sponsor’s interest to see your down line succeed. Yet, to really be successful, you need to have leadership skills and eventually be able to manage your down line/your organization independently, using your up line for support when needed.

Do you have what it takes to succeed in network marketing? If you do, find a sponsor and start earning that million!

**Editor’s Note- The previous article does not represent Aridni’s views on Multi Level Marketing. Any company, product, or service mentioned in the above article is not endorsed by Aridni in any way, shape or form. It is important to note that all writers are defined independently based on their own work. This particular piece represents only the particular writer and not the entity of Aridni**

Please share any thoughts or experiences with this fairly controversial system