I've thought long and hard about this, and spent a great deal of time researching. This was a tough thing to admit and to confront, but here it is. (I will add comment that these are just my personal opinions and should be taken as such. Other people will have formed their own opinions.)

ALL multi-level marketing is a scam. Every single one of them is a pyramid scheme based upon people at top feeding on people at bottom. If you are lucky enough to be one of few at top of pyramid, you might make a few dollars before (a) police bust you or (b) whole thing collapses.

Oh, I know these groups will all protest that they are somehow different. They have answers. They know how to make money and they just want to share it all with you, for a small fee, of course.

The truth is that these groups require immense amounts of work on your part to even break even. You have to put your heart and soul into them, and even then you are taking a chance.

I knew someone (named Jeff) a few years ago who was involved in Herbalife. It was very strange watching Jeff try and sell program to others (including myself). He believed! It was practically a second religion for him, and he preached about how great it was all of time. He tried to sell me some vitamins by proclaiming how much better than normal they were ... they were special vitamins, with a secret mix of herbs to make them more potent and absorb better into body. He had to justify a huge price markup ... and he preached so well that he even convinced me to buy one bottle. Silly me, they were just vitamins.

But wait, one thing you have to understand about multi-level marketing is you are NOT REALLY SELLING A PRODUCT. That's key to all of these systems. YOU ARE SELLING THE PROGRAM. Your job is to sign up people under you who will sell for you and sign up more people under them.

That is key thing to remember. You do make money from selling products, like any other salesman, but real cash is from getting other people to make money for you. The more you get more you make ... in theory.

It's hard to keep your senses when you've met Super Sponsor. She's so enthusiastic, and ready to "tear this business up," with you by her side!

Finally! You think. Someone who can show me ropes in network marketing and who really wants to help me! So you pull out your credit card and join her.

When your card clears, things begin to change.

Super Sponsor is off with her dynamic personality, making big bucks - for HER! (Or him).

Saying something over her shoulder like, "I'll place you hear under Bob, and as soon as you show me you're serious, and sponsor three, I'll be there for you, too! If you have questions, call Bob."

You feel betrayed. You joined with Super Sponsor because you needed to learn HOW to sponsor three! And now your right back where you started. Trying to figure out on your own how you can become more like Super Sponsor, because that's KEY to success in MLM.

Or is it??

These next few lines could be most important you ever read about MLM, IF you take them to heart.

The key to success in MLM, has nothing to do with becoming more like Super Sponsor! The key is to be yourself.

The Super Sponsor approach only works if you have that dynamic personality to begin with. Most people DON'T have a Super Sponsor personality, and they never will!

Does that mean if your not a dynamic, dazzling Super Sponsor type, you will never achieve your dreams of financial independence? Yes!

IF you become mesmerized by Super Sponsor, and think you must try to become like her to succeed.

There are other options.

As far as finding right opportunity goes, it's not easy to find one that caters to you, and other "Smart Sponsor" types, because they are usually not so outlandish.

No big promises are made because EVERY opportunity, bar none depends on what YOU do with it. For anyone to tell you that you will make X amount in a certain length of time, is untrue. You'll make as much money as you EARN - no more, no less!