She Strengthens

A Crash Course in Deception

I still remember my first day at the new company, dressed to impress with my trusty binder and pen in hand. As I waited outside the meeting room with my fellow newbies, I sensed a strange energy. Our team leaders burst out of the room, high-fiving us like we were old friends. The excitement was palpable, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off.

The Sales Pitch

Our boss, Jessica, led us through a series of sales techniques and reviewed a business article. It was all so familiar, yet I couldn’t help but feel like I was being sold something. The 8-hour shift flew by, and I hit my sales quota with ease. But as I reflected on my day, I realized that the real sales pitch was yet to come.

A Lesson in Humility

The next day, Jessica launched into a lecture on beginner’s luck, warning us not to get too comfortable. I thought it was a generic motivational speech, but it soon became clear that she was targeting one of my coworkers who had shown up without a blazer. The subtle jab was a precursor to a larger issue – Jessica’s leadership style was rooted in passive-aggressive reprimands.

The Promotion That Wasn’t

Fast forward three and a half weeks, and I found myself promoted to a leadership role. I was thrilled, but my excitement was short-lived. Jessica explained that my new position came with no salary increase, citing that leaders invest upfront without expecting immediate returns. I was stunned. The promotion was nothing more than a cleverly disguised way to get me to work longer hours for the same pay.

The Paycheck That Changed Everything

When I finally received my first paycheck, I was appalled. After working 6 days a week, upwards of 60 hours, for nearly a month, I took home a meager $1,100. The commission-based pay structure meant that I had to sell enough product every day to cover my shift, leaving me with barely enough to cover my living expenses. It was then that I realized I was trapped in a multi-level marketing scheme.

The MLM Revelation

Jessica’s justification for the pay structure was that she, as the owner, made passive income from our efforts. She promised that we too could build our own teams and reap the benefits of passive income. But I saw through the façade – our success was contingent on recruiting others to join the scheme. The daily breakdowns we did were merely a tool for Jessica to keep us motivated and invested in the system.

Breaking Free

I spent the next few weeks attending unpaid leader meetings and trying to make sense of the psychologically funded business lessons. It wasn’t until I landed a new job, thanks to my degree and previous experience, that I was able to escape the MLM. As I looked back on my experience, I was grateful for the lesson but relieved that I didn’t have to include it on my resume.