Is Network Marketing a Cult? The Washington Post seems to think so, but we decided to take a closer look and find the real truth.

It’s common to see the media label Network Marketing as a cult. One particular reference I read recently said: 

“The salespeople (in this company) are instructed to stay away from negative and close-minded people who try to convince you that there is no opportunity for you. This is more than a con. It’s a cult.” 

Exactly what is a cult?

The dictionary gives us three different definitions for cult.  

Definition number one is: “a system of religious worship or ritual.”  This does not apply to MLM. 

Definition number two is: “devoted attachment to or extravagant admiration for a person, principle or lifestyle.”  This definition could be related to MLM. For example, we believe in a principle of owning our own business, and so it’s a devoted attachment to owning our own business, or gaining a better lifestyle. 

Definition number three is: “a group of followers.” And that would be the people who are following, I guess, a cult leader in a situation. So I don’t really think that definition fits network marketing. 

 I also decided to look up the word “culture.” This is the definition I found: “the culture of a particular organization or group consists of the habits of the people in it and the way they generally behave.”  And when I read this definition I thought – wow, this so much better defines and represents network marketing – at least in the last 30 years that I’ve observed what we do in the network marketing business. 

I don’t view network marketing as a cult at all. I call it a culture. Here’s why. 

Network Marketing is a Culture 

Have you ever been to a ballgame and seen the fans? They are devoted to the team and they have strong admiration for the athletes. They show up wearing jerseys and team colors. They get there early to watch the athletes warm up. They line up to try and get a signature or catch a fly ball. They get excited, even crazy when the team scores or there’s an incredible play.  Others get emotional or even angry when the team loses. These people get fired up. Is that a cult … because they want their team to win? 

No, it’s the culture of winning. That’s what that is. It’s a culture of enthusiasm. Get some enthusiasm in your life and you’ll be really surprised what it does for you!

How good is it for kids? Look at their eyes. Look at the excitement in their life when they win; when they work hard and then accomplish something. It is like the coolest culture you could ever have. I’ve got my little guy, a seven-year-old, I’ve got a two-year-old also, but the seven-year-old is in Jujitsu and man, when he finally has somebody else tap out, he jumps up and looks at me with such a gleam in his eyes. 

That’s the essence right there. That is where the fun is. That’s the culture of winning. 

How about when someone in network marketing gets a sale. Some people may view that as just making money, but I assure you in my culture, that’s not it at all. I get an opportunity to help my customers have success with the product. I know I can help them. When I bring somebody in the business, I know I can help that person. That’s the culture of winning.

Fight the Acceptance of Average

There’s a culture of average that’s trying to permeate America. No winners, no losers, no right, no wrong, no rich, no poor and policies chosen based upon median consensus, while the ghost facilitator in that consensus voting, if you will, has hidden intentions. Consensus will choose what’s easiest. It’ll destroy America. I strongly urge you to fight the acceptance of average. It is not what we want. 

I love this phrase: “A black belt is a white belt that never quits.” 

Can you just imagine what would happen in the Military’s Special Operations the the group of people who wanted to be in Spec Ops were able to vote on what the training and standard should be in order to qualify for the Spec Ops team? Let’s say the group decided the standard to get into one of the most elite forces in the world was to just do 25 pushups and swim an Olympic size pool – and that was it. Well, if that was the standard, I can tell you right now, those people would never be able to be combat warriors. That’s the culture of average.

The way standards are set for the very elite forces is by looking around and saying, “What can the very most elite people currently do? Well, we have to meet that, and beat that.” 

That is the standard. That is a winner’s attitude. That is the culture of winning. 

And it’s the same thing in Jujitsu. If everybody goes to the same class, and everybody gets the exact same lesson, it’s going to come down to who went home and drilled more often. That’s the culture of winning. 

Network Marketing has a Culture of Winning

And that’s what I had to do in network marketing. I had to drill until I couldn’t do it wrong. I had to practice until I could speak easily without strain or without stuttering.  I spent hours rehearsing conversations with Buckshot, a stuffed animal. But was it worth it? You bet it was. 

And so network marketing is not a cult. Network Marketing just has a culture of winning. 

P.S. If you don’t have a team, haven’t recruited anyone (or less than 10 people), this is THE course you should get – Network Marketing Training Course