Rachel Oliver, co-founder of Polaris Global, believes multi-level marketing success depends entirely on time invested. This perspective contrasts sharply with the idea that innate talent or specific skills drive achievement. Oliver's stance surfaced in a recent blog post, where she discussed a disgruntled participant's complaint about the company's business model.
Two main theories exist regarding a distributor's success in MLM. One suggests individuals either possess the necessary aptitude or they do not. While a lack of natural ability does not mean failure, it implies a need for extensive training and preparation to "get it." Even then, success is not guaranteed.
The opposing view holds that anyone can succeed with enough time. Proponents of this theory argue that successful methods are duplicatable for all. If someone fails, it is simply because they did not commit enough time to their opportunity. Success, by this logic, is a personal choice.
Oliver champions this second belief. She recounted a message from someone who felt scammed by Polaris Global. The person claimed to have lost significant money, stating the business did not work for them. They also accused Oliver of profiting unethically.
The message offered few specifics. Oliver, however, used it to reinforce her distinction between those who succeed and those who do not within MLM. "The one who gets the result worked within the business for a long enough period of time," she wrote. "The one who didn't get the result, did not. Simple as that."
This "simple" explanation shifts all responsibility for results away from the company and its members. Individuals are marketed and sold an opportunity before joining. The way this opportunity is presented shapes expectations and how a person operates their business. These factors contribute significantly to ultimate success or failure.
A belief that MLM success is merely a matter of keeping time also risks trapping participants. They may force themselves to stay in the game, even when cutting losses and moving on makes more sense.
From a company's standpoint, the idea that MLM success is just about time is appealing. Failed participants can be dismissed easily.