Multilevel marketing: The self-proclaimed "franchise for the masses", it
attracts conspicuously religious gadflies and lotto-minded entrepreneur
wannabes with its conservative tribalism and trademark promise of unlimited
income for a part-time effort. Unstable and non-sustainable by nature, the
illusion of viability is perpetuated by a continuous infusion of credulous
newbies and business opportunity junkies, thereby giving rise to an endless
cycle of recruiting, reminding, reorienting, and remotivating. The low
entry fee belies a cost of involvement that is only partially represented by
the money squandered on overpriced commodities, miracle potions, and pep
rallies, as every participant faces significant intangible losses in the
form of compromised ethics, contaminated relationships, and the forced
neglect of authentic opportunities for personal growth and financial
security.
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