Profile
Interviewee: Yumeko
Interview timing: 2021.11
Relationship with MLM: Former highest ranker (Maximum annual income of 10 million yen or more and maximum of 2,000 members in her group)
Currently running a blog https://multi-mlm-blog1.com, to warn people
Life as a millionaire MLM ranker for over 10 years
I became a MLM member when I was in poverty because my ex-husband had just changed his job, had no money, and my children were too small for me to go out to work. When a friend contacted me that she had something to tell me, I thought it was a pyramid scheme but I decided to just listen. That was the beginning of my MLM life.
The extraordinary daily life in MLM
The scenery I saw at tea parties and seminars was so sparkling that it appealed to me as I was raising my children while saving money. The ordinary housewife had changed dramatically next time I met her. She was wearing trendy clothes, and her eyes lit up as she talked about her dreams, such as going overseas with her family or buying a high-brand bag. A woman who was carrying a high-brand bag, a woman who was wearing a tight suit, and a woman who was showing her photos at a party wearing a long dress. I was surrounded by people I would never meet if I were living a normal life, and I dreamed that someday I might become similar.
Especially, I was fascinated by one young woman who earned 1 million yen a month and got the highest rank. "Even if you spend 1 million yen this month, you will get another 1 million yen next month!" The bright and beautiful young woman was a good talker, drove a luxury car, and all her possessions were high-brand. She quickly brought housewives who were tired of life into her dream world. Hearing her stories made me want to get out of my current difficult life, so I started to focus on MLM business.
But the young woman quit her business three or four years later. I don't know why.
Enjoy everyday
MLM business activities were all new to me, and it was exciting and fun for me because I had been leading a normal life before. After attending “self-development seminars”, I felt like a person of character, and I had the illusion that I became a special person. I felt like a businessperson, walking briskly in my pumps while the people I recruited became my group member and thanked me for teaching them. I went to solicitations and seminars from morning to evening, went home in the evening to do housework, and attended MLM meetings at night. Even though the amount of money I received was not worth my time, I was satisfied because I felt that I was in “business”.
Words like "You're working so hard," "You're great," and "You can succeed" were used to enchant me. At that time, even though I was criticized by people around me, I had no doubts about anything and was enjoying my day.
It's only a matter of time before my family breaks down
However, the business I started to succeed turned my life at home into a mess. Since I went out from morning to night, I neglected my housework. Additionally, my finances got even worse after I had started MLM, since my finances had been originally very needy and it cost a lot for MLM work. My ex-husband wasn't against my work in MLM, but he was indifferent, saying, "You can do whatever you want." In order to get my family back on track, I was desperate to earn more money so I went up in rank and borrowed ¥500,000.
Even though my family was not doing well, in the world of MLM, people praised me as "great" and "excellent," so I started to turn my back on my family problems. After 3 years in MLM, I divorced my ex-husband. After that, I decided that I had to earn more money, so I immersed myself in MLM even more. I stopped thinking about what I didn’t want to think about and listened to only the most convenient information.
In the world of MLM, I was introduced as “an amazing single mother.”
After becoming a higher rank, the scenery was hell
I really felt that I had to tell the truth for my family and loved ones, and as a result of my earnest efforts to change my life, I was able to gain over 2000 members and earn over 10 million yen per year in compensation. When it became common for me to become the highest rank and get national awards, I gradually began to see the reality of MLM. Although the highest rankers were supposed to say nothing but positive words, they complain a lot within the highest rankers-only space. They inspire their members by saying many things, but behind the words they always complain and speak ill of someone. “All you have to do is praise the members. If you say something like “You're great”, “you're working so hard”, which make members will work hard.” I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard these conversations. Even among the top leaders, there was an atmosphere in which if we can survive in MLM depends on who we choose to follow.
In order to suit the title of the highest rank, we had to become someone whom should be admired by members, regardless of our income. To achieve this, there was pressure on us to go upscale in our belongings (car, clothes, shoes, bags, watches, etc.).
The only choice we could make to respond to our boss was to "YES" what he/she said, and if you give an opinion, you will be treated as a stranger, making it difficult for you to even participate in seminars. It would interfere with the MLM activities directly, so we had to obey our boss even if the boss’s direction was unreasonable. Neither our children's events nor our family events were given priority. It ends with the words, "What are you talking about although you're the highest ranked?." If they inadvertently believe in their friends, they lose their footing, so the leaders are watching each other's faces. If something goes wrong, no one can help them. Even Ups don't pay attention.
What makes these people "friends for life", which they were taught as in MLM? Ever since I had quit MLM, I never heard from “friends” who I thought supported and encouraged each other.
Even the highest ranker cannot earn money
The MLM I belonged to had relatively lax conditions for maintaining the high rank. Even so, most of the top leaders who had quit due to problems were in debt. Why was that happening, since it was said that the highest rank earns more than 1 million yen a month? Perhaps it was because they couldn't stop showing off and living extravagantly, but also because they were deluded into thinking that they were successful (rich) and had a paralyzed sense of money. If you think that everyone in the highest rank earns 1 million yen a month, you would be wrong. The published average monthly income is only if we can build an ideal organization/team, and you can't build your ideal organization actually. Most people use their own money to force themselves into high ranks, and after that, their income plummets (less than 200,000 yen a month).
The highest rank is just in name, and even though they currentl don't earn any money, they are saying that they can earn 1 million yen a month.
Why I quit MLM
There are many reasons why I decided to quit MLM, but in one word, it all comes down to "I was tired."
Always worried about quitting (wanted to quit)
Hold back my desire to quit and making a good face to members
Started to realize that the information on the pyramid scheme was false
There was no one in the MLM business I could trust
Despaired that I would continue to live in MLM forever
Never had the freedom of time
The situation was highly dependent on our boss
I was exhausted both mentally and physically by living in a way that was different from my true feelings. However, I couldn't quit because of various anxieties and conflicts running through my head;
Cannot let go of the achievements (income) I've accumulated so far
Cannot abandon the members who were trying hard
Feel bad for the people who helped me improve my rank
Cannot betray the members I've become friends with
All the words I've said so far with pride will be a lie
I might be accused of being irresponsible
What happens to me after I quit?
What will my group members say to me?
I've said to my group members tha this is such a great business
I don't know what I really want to do
I'm afraid of quitting
This kind of struggle lasted for a year. But I couldn't keep lying to myself, so I told the company I quit. Now that I can live honestly with my feelings, and have free time, money, and thoughts, I'm truly glad I quit that time.
Right after quitting MLM
I thought I would feel refreshed after quitting MLM, but regretting and feeling guilty kept me from going out. Because I was engaged in MLM so long, had a large number of group members, and had a large income, I felt depressed and almost overwhelmed with guilt. Every day I blamed myself on why I couldn't realize it sooner, why I believed it, and why I was stupid for being so ecstatic when people told me I was amazing. I was never free from the pain of thinking that I had been “the perpetrator” and that I had done terrible things.
I faced my own stupidity and then apologized my children for making them feel lonely and misinformed. "Thank you very much for your effort and making money for us. We are so glad you stopped." When my children told me that, I couldn't stop crying because I was sorry and grateful. My current husband also supported me without saying anything.
What did I want to be then?
Even if I didn't become a great person, I now realize that there is a happiness I really want to have.
Current situation
With time, the mindset as MLM faded away, and I was recovering myself, so I started writing blog about MLM. I wanted as many people as possible to know the dangers and backsides of MLM, and I wanted to eliminate people who suffer from MLM.
For people like me who want to quit, but can't quit because they cheat on themselves by saying that “the product is good” or “I enjoy spending time with my friends," I want them to have the courage to quit MLM in order to regain their lives.
But the main reason why I’m writing might be to redeem myself for what I've done. I found out that Ryo, who runs the "MLM Victims Association" is working to save people who is suffering from MLM. I was hesitant to join the organization, but I decided to join because I know so much about MLM.
Through the activities, I felt that it is not only MLM members themselves who have their lives ruined by MLM. The heartbreaking voices of those who watch their families become addicted to MLM resonated with me.
I sometimes feel a strong sense of remorse, but no matter how much I regret my past activities, I cannot change the past, so I want to cooperate to reduce the number of victims of MLM.
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