Dream Stealers

In replying to my reply last week in Adland Digest, someone asked me a question.

"Are you a dream stealer or not?"

You see, I had criticized a program she was in and she didn't like what I had to say about it. She was mad because I didn't see what she did. Even though I am sure she was more then a little upset with me, I was not upset with her.

My reply to her got me thinking about, what is a dream stealer. And I wanted to expand on that, What is a Dream Stealer?

We all have dreams.

Some of them are big dreams and some are small dreams, but we all dream of doing something or having something or making something.

If we're parents, we dream of a better life for our kids or we dream of the great things we hope for them.

Many of us dream of a better life for ourselves. Money to pay off bills, buy a new house or car, send our kids to a good school. Some of us may just dream of being able to put good food on the table.

And then there is the dream of quitting a J-O-B, and being your own boss. Working when we want and talking time off when we need to. We dream of time to spend with family and friends. We dream of saying good-bye to the time clock.

And here we are, making use of the Internet, and trying to make those dreams come true.

We search and search for the opportunity that will fulfill those dreams.

And when we think we've found something that we're sure will do for us what all the other won't, we pin those hopes and dreams on that opportunity.

But when someone looks at what we're pining our hopes on and criticizes it, we get defensive and may even call them dream stealers.

How dare they, can't they see how much this means to us?

How can they not see what we see in this opportunity?

How can they be so uncaring and unfeeling?

It could be that they just don't have the same kinds of dreams we do, or it could be that they see something we have missed. Missed, because of the dreams we want to come true so badly we couldn't see what we were doing.

I think it's perfectly normal for someone to want to be their own boss. To be in control of their own lives and future. Not everyone has this desire, but for those who do, there is nothing wrong with it.

The problem comes in when what we are using to make that dream come true, is built on shaky ground or shifting sand.

Most of us can't create our own product and sell it too. Many of us have a hard enough time selling someone else's product. But we still have those dreams. So, we search for someone willing to partner with us, and Network Marketing or MLM is often what we find. We're sure it will fit the bill. Will do the trick.

But there are problems with MLM that most of us refuse to see, even when they are pointed out to us.

Products can be expensive when compared with similar ones marketed locally.
We are forced to recruit others into the business.
We don't know how big the market is for the products we sell or how saturated it's become.
Even a simple MLM marketing plan, if carried out according to plan, will run through every person on the Planet.
Many times we are forced to sell the opportunity before or in addition to the product.
Many people perceive MLM as an illegal pyramid scheme and won't have anything to do with one.

So, when someone comes along and points out one or more of these kinds of problems, we get all defensive, calling them dream stealers and worse.

But what are they really doing?

They are pointing out the pit falls of the business we are pining our hopes and dreams on.

Is that a bad thing?

If what we have is a real opportunity, we should be able to answer those questions point by point, not just refuse to hear them.

Here's a sobering thought. Let's take a simple MLM matrix where everyone brings in just two people. If you multiply 2x2x2x2 down 29 levels, you will find the number of people on that level to be well over 1 Billion. And after a couple more levels with each person just bringing in 2 people, the number will go way over the total population of the planet.

Of course the answer to this kind of concern will be something like, "Oh well, some people will fail, and nothing ever builds that evenly anyway."

Is that a good enough answer?

Am I a dream stealer for pointing this out?

And I haven't even talked about saturating the market for whatever the product is. Because that will happen, no matter what the product is or how good it is. That's why many of the lasting MLM's constantly add new products to their line. They know they have saturated the market for the old ones.

Am I a dream stealer for pointing this out?

These are just two of the problems with many MLM's I can see, and I haven't even really started to think about them. If your opportunity has only a matrix and one product you have to buy in order to be able to market, and if that product is a one time purchase; based on what I have written above, how long do you think it's going to be around?

Am I a dream stealer for making you think about things like this?

What if the opportunity you're in has saturated the market for their product, and it's like pulling teeth to either find anyone to buy it or to want to market it, can you still, in good conscience, bring new dreamers into the opportunity? Knowing the market has dried up.

Am I a dream stealer for suggesting this possibility?

I could go on and on, and if you were to bring me any MLM, I could get deeper and deeper into it's problems.

I put it to you that I am not a Dream Stealer, I am just being realistic.

That's one of the reasons I have been telling you and telling you that whatever opportunity you are involved with, you had better be able to retail the product. Because not everyone is going to be interested in a home business. And even better, the product or service had better be something that is used up and requires some kind of monthly fee, or subscription.

I am not a dream stealer. I am a realist.

The True Dream Stealers are... Those who know full well the pit falls of any MLM, know the opportunity they have started is going to run out of steam within a few months, but market it like it's the next best thing to sliced bread.

The True Dream Stealers are those who pray upon Your Dreams to make Their Dreams come true. They know most of you will fail, but they are going to make money whether you succeed or not.

Every person who starts an opportunity and markets it with the "Money Hook," is Stealing The Dreams of those who fall for their line of bull.

The True Dream Stealers, The Hype Monsters, are those who Steal not only your dreams, but your time and your money, while you try and make your dreams come true.

I will go on record right now in saying that the True Dream Stealers are the Gurus who make money off the dreamers every time they get behind a new opportunity. Every time they put their name on something they haven't thought through or they know will not last, they Steal Dreams.

Only you have the power to stop the True Dream Stealers, by saying NO to them and their Hyped up Lies and empty Promises of Quick or Easy Riches.

Find a Product or Service you know you can sell, without having to talk someone into the opportunity side of the business. And learn how to sell it.

You still have Dreams I know. Keep Dreaming, but don't build those dreams on shifting sand. Build your dreams on a solid foundation and they will last.

And one more thing, don't become a Dream Stealer yourself....

If you are promoting something using the "Money Hook," you are a dream stealer. Any opportunity that uses the "Money Hook" as it's main reason for getting involved, is Stealing Dreams from everyone who takes the bait.

Remember: 1 Timothy Chapter 6, verse 10, "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

The True Dream Stealers have sold their Souls for the Love of Money, they care not for you or yours, they only care about the Money they can make.

And remember, Matthew chapter 7, verse 12, "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

The True Dream Stealers have forgotten this commandment of our Lord.