Why Network Marketing is Better than a Job

There are many benefits that an MLM opportunity has over a job.

You might have heard conversations about how MLM (aka network marketing) is more profitable and that you can get rich in one, compared to sticking around in your job.

I am not here to tell you that one is better than the other.

What I'll share below are facts and my opinions so that you can make an educated decision.

First, a job may offer a steady paycheck, health insurance and a pension.

An MLM offers you the chance to build wealth and financial freedom.

An MLM can be a very lucrative venture for the right person and I don't want to knock anyone down if they'd rather work in a job for stable income.

However, a job may be a better choice. 

My hope is that you get a better idea of what is the right choice for you, as there is no one-size fits all solution for every single person on this planet.

There are many different types of people in this world.

There are people that prefer lower levels of risk, compared to those that prefer building a speculative multilevel marketing business.

Instead of giving you all the hype that a bunch of hardcore MLMers will sell you, I'll focus as much as I can in stating the facts, then follow-up with my person thoughts.

Network marketing: is it better than a job?

Instead of saying one is better than the other, let's go over some metrics:

1. Time freedom
2. Location freedom
3. Financial freedom
4. Personal development
5. Work/job benefits
6. Income
7. Education or skills

Do you have time freedom in your job?

Time freedom is the ability to work without being limited by the 8-to-5 schedule.

The concept of waking up every morning and rushing through another day of work might seem appealing to some, but not to me.

For me, time freedom is being able to wake up when my body want to, not to an alarm that set based on my job's start time.

We've all been there - a few too many cups of coffee and a hectic morning with coworkers is enough to set your alarm off and make you wish you could skip your daily grind and hit the sack as soon as possible.

For most people in a job, you don't have the freedom to skip the daily grind. You don't have the freedom to wake up when you want. You also don't have the freedom to work when you want, even if you get all of your work done.

Yeah, there are people that are lucky. A select group of people can telework and complete their daily tasks without their boss breathing down their neck.

For most, time freedom isn't available through a job.

Do you have location freedom in your job?

In this case, you decide where you want to work. You are free to move around and work from anywhere in the world.

Here's an example: let's say that you have a job in New York. Then you fly to Thailand for fun, and then decide to open your laptop and do some work while you're on the beach or even typing away from a café.

The location doesn't have to be on the other side of the world. In this case, you have the freedom to choose any geographic destination for your work area. 

With even more location freedom, you can do all of this without getting someone's permission. If you want want to work from the convenience of your home, then that would be perfectly normal if you had location freedom.

Do you have financial freedom in your job?

Before jumping into finances, I just want to say that this has nothing to do with investing in pyramid schemes.

The vast majority of established network marketing companies are legit according to the laws here in the United States. MLM companies like Amway, Herbalife, and Nuskin are some of the top companies in our nation.

These companies and many more, have many successful people that have grown their businesses using exponential income growth strategies that network marketing companies offer.

There is nothing wrong with working a job and getting paid for it.

You earn money, and you can put that money towards paying off debt, saving for the future, or enjoying yourself in the present.

You could call that financial freedom. It’s a term used by people who are able to control their financial situation, and by doing so they have enough to enjoy life, even though they are still working.

Most people think of financial freedom as a place where money flows in and there is nothing to worry about financially. The reality is that financial freedom is the ability to take a step back and decide what to do with the money that comes into your life, instead of being strapped for cash and living paycheck-to-paycheck.

So, can you really become financially free in a job? Of course, if you take the right steps and follow a responsible financial plan.

Let's say that you decide to save 50% of your income into a moderate to aggressive retirement plan. It's possible to become financially free and retire earlier than most people. Some people can even retire in their late 20s, 30s, and 40s by following something called the FIRE system. The whole idea is to become financially independent and retire early (that's why it's called F.I.R.E.).

For some, that might not be an option. Especially if a person can't save that much because of financial responsibilities (family, debt, habits, or other reasons).

Which is better for personal development?

Let's say that you define your personal development by developing skills that will help you improve your job life.

Then most jobs offer training courses, or on-the-job training to develop those skills.

What if your idea of personal development goes beyond your job?

Typically, you have to figure that outside of your job.

For me, I was an introvert growing up.

My high school and university education didn't teach me how to manage or grow my money.

Most of the staff development plans at my job were focused on job-specific goals, mostly long-term. This depends on the industry and my industry has continuously evolved.

Being in a network marketing company, I learned more about human nature, increased my wealth, and became a better person. I've heard of many others that have received the same benefits.

How does this occur? 

MLM is a relationship building business. A successful MLMer will learn how to communicate with others and provide value to many. By providing extreme value to others, I've improved my self-confidence and as a result, my income has greatly increased.

It's my belief that people that reach success (based on their personal definition), they do so by helping a massive amount of people in this business. It's a very high tough business, even with the internet. The amount of people you help is more apparent in this business, and it's very gratifying.

Do I get any work benefits?

Getting work benefits is great.

Having group medical benefits is great too. You have less out-of-pocket expenses, and you would possibly get insurance even with health issues.

Retirement (401k, 403, 457, or pension), medical, life insurance, and other employee perks are the benefits you get from a job.

If you're just starting out in a business, most likely, you will not get these benefits.

However, as a business owner, you can create your own group benefits for your business if you choose to later down the road, and of course, when your income allows it.

What's a better option for my income?

A question I get a lot is what is better for earning a stable income.

My answer: a job

That's why people get jobs. It feels less risky, and they can expect a certain amount of income each month.

How about a hybrid?

Let's say that you need more income for whatever reason.

For me, I wanted to save more money for my kids and travel more.

To do that, I could either get a 2nd job, or build a side hustle.

With a hybrid model, you're earning money through a traditional job, then earning more through your own network marketing business.

If you're looking for making money online, then I recommend building your own business. There are ways to build a network marketing business, even while your target audience is asleep.

With a 2nd job, you'll be able to make more income, but you'll have to work in it during your assigned working hours and the income won't be so scalable.

With network marketing, you have geometric growth since you can earn income across multiple tiers.

With a job, you can only make money through your own efforts. That's a huge limitation, especially if you're looking to make more income than your job.

I'm not talking about tax benefits or social security income here BTW. It's best to speak to a financial professional if you need financial advice.

Is network marketing more stable than a government job?

I have a bunch of buddies in the government sector and this question has popped up over the years.

As mentioned previously, a job is typically more stable. 

However, your job will most likely be more rigid in the government. There are always exceptions, and that's why I mentioned "most likely."

In a rigid job, you won't have location freedom, time freedom, and your financial freedom will most likely be a long-term effort through your pension. Yes, you can retire, and you will feel a bit more safe.

There's nothing wrong with that. Feeling safe financially is a huge benefit, especially with a boat load of other benefits. Some government employees get medical benefits for life, even for their spouse.

Geometric income growth

This is one of the largest benefits of being in a network marketing business compared to a job, or traditional direct selling company.

With MLM, you'll be able to earn commissions from your own sales, as well as team sales.

When it comes to this, a very popular J. Paul Getty quote comes to mind:

"I'd rather have 1% of the effort of 100 men than 100% of my own effort."

When you're working in a job, whether you're in a team or not, you're focused on your own effort when it comes to income. Yeah, you might complete a project with a team, and it's not 100% of your income in that case. However, your income, in most cases, is from your own efforts. That can be based on an hourly rate or based on your salary.

What if you wanted to scale your income?

In most jobs, that's not possible. You would have to wait for a pay increase, a step increase, cost of living adjustment (COLA), or some would get a contractual/union-based pay increase.

With network marketing, scalability is a core element of just about all the network marketing companies that I've encountered.

You can earn a percentage off the efforts of your team. That's extremely powerful and that is geometric, exponential growth.

So instead of just earning 100% of your typical job income, it's possible to 10X or even 20X+ your income if you have a huge network marketing team under you.

I'm not saying that network marketing is the best option for you, but you'll have a greater chance of reaching success through the help of others across many tiers, instead of you being the only one responsible for income stream generation.

Do you have the skills or education to succeed?

When you go through elementary, middle, and high school, many of the courses that you have learned is for the purpose of pushing you through college, and then going through the process of waking up to an alarm clock every single work day.

For people that are going the job route, you'll need to earn skills and education.

Vocational or degree programs can be expensive.

With an MLM, you can typically get started at a low cost. There can be many risks that you can perceive just getting started, but not really if you consider this as a business and personal growth journey - an investment in you.

Conclusion

So which one is better for you?

Everyone is difference and has a different tolerance for risk. There are many personalities across leadership members. So instead of recruiting people based on sales and marketing skills, or connections, realize that many successful network marketers have generated fortunes without a background in MLM.

The main requirement is your will to reach success, and taking consistent action.

If you're really concerned if your job income is more stable, then maybe you should just stick with a job. While many MLMers make from of a J.O.B. (just over broke), realize that you have various network marketing company options with high quality products.

You'll be able to build a home based business, and work towards time, location and financial freedom.

These are huge benefits, and they are huge reasons why people become involve in the MLM industry.

If you are open to a good MLM company, you can pick one and start implementing their marketing system.

No experience is needed. You just need an open mind, and the ability to follow a system and take action with all the knowledge that you'll gain.