| Wednesday, October 7, 2009 |
| Give Me a Fuckin' Break |
 I’ve lost my father – not to drugs, not to alcohol, not to a religious cult - but to an MLM. My father is consumed by multi-level marketing. You know what I’m talking about. Everyone knows someone who is selling Amway, YTB, Herbalife, Shaklee, Pre-Paid Legal, or something like that. They always want to show you the business opportunity and tell you how you can be your own boss. The products are always the best. And of course, there is never, ever, ever any selling involved, it’s just ‘showing people the opportunity.’ Of course, most of the people who swear by MLM’s are always talking about how easy it is to make money, yet they're never the ones making the money, they're always pointing to someone else’s success stories.
My father started his MLM fascination back around 1980 with Amway. I was in the 6th grade. I wasn’t interested then. I’m not interested now. It doesn’t matter how clear I say it. I can say it in English, in Spanish, in Pig Latin and with some help I can even sign it, but he does not get the fact that I am not interested in working an MLM. It’s gotten much worse since he’s retired. Much worse. It’s all he knows, all he talks about and all he cares about.
He is convinced that I’m the next associate, director, or partner in his latest MLM. You know that guy who accosts waiters, receptionists and random homeless people with his business card and a promise to just take 30 minutes to “introduce you to an opportunity that will change your life?” My dad is that man. Seriously he is.
He doesn’t have a daughter anymore. He has a prospect. I don’t have a life. Well, not one that matters anyway, unless I’m part of the business. I’m his unemployed daughter living on my own in a city with no family and few friends. You would think he’d be a little worried or concerned. I’m living off hand-outs for goodness sake!
He called today. He asked how I was doing … because he knows that is what he’s supposed to do, but of course, there was another reason for the call. The real reason for the call, he wants me to attend a sales training/presentation meeting tomorrow. Just so I can tell him how they do things down here.
Dad?
Really?
This is why you are calling me?
For real?
It’s so bad that if I ever got married, he wouldn’t see my ‘happy day,’ he’d see a room full of prospects. His brother just celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary over the weekend. Because of money problems, I couldn’t be there, but I did call and send my congratulations. My father? He couldn’t find the time to call his brother on this major occasion. But, if my uncle had expressed his interest in ‘the business’ my dad would have called, called again and maybe even made the 14 hour drive down to personally see him.
I'm sorry but that’s bullshit.
What he doesn’t get is that multi-level marketing is a relationship business and he’s ruined not just his relationship with me but with every other family member and friend that he used to have. It’s no wonder he’s always talking about someone else’s success. Labels: Family, Rant |
posted by SDC @ 7:57 PM  |
|
|
|
|
|
| About Me |
|
Name: SDC
Home: United States
About Me: I'm a youthful 44-year old, who is infectiously funny, dangerously smart, wildly creative, hopelessly math-phobic, tactfully honest, occasionally politically incorrect, and cute to boot!
See my complete profile
|
| Previous Post |
|
| Archives |
|
| Shoutbox |
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Duis ligula lorem, consequat eget, tristique nec, auctor quis, purus. Vivamus ut sem. Fusce aliquam nunc vitae purus. |
| Links |
- link 1
- link 2
- link 3
- link 4
|
| Powered by |
 |
|
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.