8 Ways To Avoid Being Brainwashed By Your MLM

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

I am writing this post to expose some of the problems with this industry. Maybe by shining light on them, those considering joining a network marketing company will go in with eyes wide open and have a more realistic view on how things work.

Does this industry bring a comfortable living? With hard work, yes. Does every company or every leader do this? No, not at all.

The point here is to encourage you to be a critical thinker, see through and smoke and mirrors and grow your team with ethics, integrity, passion and a heart for people. The money will follow…

Wikipedia defines ‘brainwashing’ as…

Mind control (also known as brainwashing, coercive persuasion, mind abuse, menticide, thought control, or thought reform) refers to a process in which a group or individual “systematically uses unethically manipulative methods to persuade others to conform to the wishes of the manipulator(s), often to the detriment of the person being manipulated”. The term has been applied to any tactic, psychological or otherwise, which can be seen as subverting an individual’s sense of control over their own thinking, behavior, emotions or decision making. (read more)

Here are a few ways to keep your brain and thoughts owned by you and not your network marketing company.

1. Beware The Corporate Spin

Companies spin things all the time. Trying to get us to believe something that may not be true. Some attempts are quite obvious, others very subtle.

Sometimes someone will be called a millionaire when in  reality they were a millionaire 6 years ago but now their income is 20% of what it was.

When it comes to products, company might say things like “according to studies, it’s safe to consume” when in reality it was a study of 34 people where less than half used an ingredient for less than 12 weeks…so there are no long term studies, yet they are convincing you that taking it for life is fine because the studies said it was safe.

Look for credible sources, third party certifications or reviews.

2. Avoid The Hype, What’s The Agenda

If something is great, everyone will know it. Not all hype is bad but if someone is spamming your inbox, FB wall or screaming at your that something will change your life just for joining, watch out.

Who is doing the hyping? And what’s in it for them? Most over-the-top-hype comes from people or organizations benefiting financially from the swayed belief of others.

This can sounds like “we are the #1 juice drinking, sheep herding group of vegans in the world” when in fact there is only one group of juice drinking, sheep herding vegans in the world.

3. Don’t Jump Off A Cliff With All Your Friend

Just because a whole group of other people are doing it…doesn’t mean you should. We all know what our moms told us as kids. “If Jimmy jumped off a cliff, would you?” “Groupthink” can take away your ability to be a critical thinker.

4. Don’t Chant Slogans

Every MLM leader trying to quiet the pesky doubting thoughts in a crowd knows that getting people to chant a repetitive phrase or slogan is one way to do it. They are called “thought-stopping techniques” because that’s exactly what they do. Some of these may even include physical actions.

Might sound like “Noise!” (with hand up in the air) in response to objections from people who question what you are doing in this industry or with a company or any sort of distraction. Staying focused is a good thing, but “automatic responses” to everything without a second of thought, is brainwashing.

5. Hearing The Announcement, Missing The Backstory

They (meaning anyone who draws a paycheck from manipulating your thoughts) knows that you’ll hear something and form your belief from that alone.

This happens all the time when people hit ranks. Can sound like “Sally just hit Galactic 22 Star Royal Double Diamond Ambassdor in only 3 1/2 days!”, when in reality Sally brought a huge team from her other company, was paid a quarter million to do so and was given half of it in spillover from her upline.

If you hear stories like this…know that there is always a backstory that is rarely, if ever, publicized. Don’t be awed at how amazing and “easy” it was for Sally. There’s more to the story, I guarantee it. There is no fast, easy way to the top.

6. What Are They Restricting You From

Are “they” telling you what to read? Who to listen to? How to market? How to act? How to speak? What to say? Who to be friends with and who NOT to be friends with? Are they controlling any part of your life? If they weren’t telling you these things, would you do it differently?

Nuf said.

7. What Are They Telling You – Straight Out

Some MLM leaders will go to great lengths to keep you around. Question everything they say. Where is it coming from? Does it feel right? Are they doing it to save their paycheck or for your well being and long term success? Does what they say confuse you? Is it contradictory? If so, call them out on it.

8. Painting Others Black

Some leaders constantly make others (meaning other companies or other leaders maybe who left) look wrong, ridiculous, egotistical, silly, with lack of leadership, not ethical and anyway they can to smudge another company or person.

Really what they are saying is “Why even consider something that’s ridiculous? That’s only something a ridiculous person would do! And you’re not ridiculous … are you?

It might sounds like this “She thinks she’ll do it bigger, better and sometimes ego’s get in the way.” when in reality none of that was the case at all.

But why does this work? Here’s a more scientific explanation…

Well, there are these primitive, lower parts of your brain called amygdalae that controls those base, emotional reactions. That’s where things like contempt and shame come from, and stimulating it can completely shut down the analytical part of your brain.

Example: The gang calls you a coward and the next thing you know, you’re wedging a roman candle between your buttcheeks. You’ll show them!

Hilarious!

You can join any company in this industry, there are a ton of them..great ones too, but just keep your thoughts controlled by you. Think for yourself!