From “Boss Babe” to Burnout: The Truth Behind MLMs
MLMs, Hustle Culture, and the Pyramid Scheme Disguised as Empowerment
Let’s cut to the chase: I hate almost everything about MLMs - Multi-Level Marketing companies. They are the wolves of capitalism dressed in empowerment clothing, and they prey primarily on women. Especially mothers, caregivers, and folks who are already stretched thin by expectations placed on them by society.
These companies show up in your inbox, at your baby shower, or through a friend you haven’t heard from in five years with a pitch that sounds like: “Hey boss babe, I have an amazing opportunity for you to make money from home!”
Cue the internal eye roll.
I’ve seen firsthand how these “opportunities” drain people’s time, money, and self-worth…while fattening the pockets of a handful of people at the very top. It’s the capitalist dream and the working woman’s nightmare.
So let’s break it down.
What Is a Pyramid Scheme?
A pyramid scheme is a business model that recruits an ever-growing network of people to buy into a product or service, not because the product itself is good or in demand, but because the real money is made by convincing others to join in.
It works like this: You pay to become a distributor, then you’re encouraged to recruit more people to become distributors under you. Those recruits pay to join, and you get a cut of what they paid, as well as commissions on any direct sales they make. And if THEY recruit more people, you get a slice of that, too.
Eventually, the scheme requires more and more people to sign up to sustain itself. But because there’s a finite number of people in any community, it inevitably collapses. Only those who got in early (read: the top of the pyramid) walk away with real money. Everyone else? They end up with garages full of unsold products and maxed-out credit cards.
Now, technically, pyramid schemes are illegal. So MLMs slap a product on the model - a vitamin, a face cream, an essential oil - and voilà, they’re now considered a “legitimate business.”
However, the core structure has remained the same: the majority of money is made through recruitment, not product sales.
MLMs and Their Predatory Nature
MLMs prey on emotion. They offer hope wrapped in pastel branding and community buzzwords. They sell the dream of financial freedom, flexible schedules, and being your own boss.
They say things like:
“If you’re not succeeding, it’s because you’re not working hard enough.”
“You just have to believe in yourself more.”
“This business changed my life - you just have to push through.”
And so, if you’re not making money, you don’t blame the system - you blame yourself.
This emotional manipulation is ruthless when you consider who these messages are targeting: women who want to be home with their kids, women trying to contribute financially, neurodivergent folks looking for flexible work, people with chronic illnesses, or limited job opportunities.
MLMs promise independence but deliver exploitation.
They use the language of feminism, self-care, and entrepreneurship, while replicating the exact systems of exploitation that feminism and ethical business practices should be dismantling.
This isn’t empowerment. It’s marketing spin.
Let’s Be Clear: MLM Reps Are Not Business Owners
This part might sting a bit, but it needs to be said with love and clarity:
You are not running your own business if you’re working for an MLM.
You don’t own the product. You don’t control the brand. You can’t set your own prices or change the packaging. You can’t even sell the product on your own terms without risking being “deactivated” or banned by the parent company.
That’s not ownership. That’s sales rep work.
And unlike a small business owner, you’re often required to buy your own inventory, pay monthly “admin” or “website” fees, and constantly promote products you had no hand in creating.
In a real business, the entrepreneur sets the vision. In an MLM, the corporation does.
Yet MLMs constantly promote the “boss babe” narrative, propping up a handful of high earners to serve as examples for the rest. It’s a page right out of the hustle culture playbook.
Hustle Culture: Who Actually Benefits?
Let’s talk about hustle culture for a second.
Hustle culture tells us that success is just one more all-nighter away. If you’re not making six figures yet, it’s because you don’t want it bad enough. That rest is for the weak, and breaks are for the lazy.
It glamorizes burnout, weaponizes ambition, and thrives in MLM environments where the pressure to succeed is relentless and the responsibility for failure is always placed back on the individual.
But who really benefits from hustle culture?
Not the person staying up until 2am trying to hit her sales quota. Not the person skipping rent to pay for next month’s inventory.
The ones who benefit are the people sitting at the top of the pyramid, cashing commission cheques off the backs of desperate folks trying to make ends meet.
MLMs have essentially franchised hustle culture. They’ve built a business model that requires constant selling, constant recruiting, and constant self-blame.
And when it inevitably fails, the rep is told, “You just didn’t hustle hard enough.”
The Fall of the MLM: Cracks in the System
Thankfully, more and more people are waking up to the problems with MLMs. The glossy Instagram posts don’t hit the same when you’ve seen behind the curtain.
Social media has played a massive role in this awakening. Former MLM participants have started speaking out - on TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit - sharing how they were pressured to go into debt, how they lost friendships, and how they were gaslit by their upline every time they questioned the model.
Even big companies are starting to shift. Some MLMs are ditching the “multi-level” part of their model to avoid legal scrutiny and public backlash. They’re focusing more on influencer marketing, affiliate models, or single-tier commissions.
That’s a sign. It means the old way is crumbling.
But it also means MLMs are just rebranding, not disappearing. They’re adapting to avoid criticism while keeping the same core strategy: make money by selling a dream.
As consumers and entrepreneurs, we need to remain critical and cautious. Just because a company appears more ethical or has a shiny new compensation structure, doesn’t mean it has abandoned the exploitative playbook.
If You’re Looking for Flexible, Ethical Work - There Are Other Options
One of the saddest things about MLMs is that they tap into real needs: flexible work, community, purpose. These are valid desires.
The problem is that MLMs exploit those needs instead of meeting them in a sustainable way.
I get it if you’ve been drawn to an MLM because you wanted to work on your own terms. You’re not wrong for wanting freedom, money, or a sense of purpose. Those are good things to strive for.
But you deserve more than false promises and empty platitudes. You deserve meaningful, sustainable work that doesn’t come with manipulation and financial risk.
You deserve:
A business you own and control
A work environment that respects your time and energy
Support that doesn’t come with strings attached
Community that isn’t conditional on sales targets
And that’s possible.
The Bottom Line: MLMs Are Not the Answer
MLMs are the capitalist version of gaslighting. They tell you that if you work harder, post more, sell better, recruit more friends, you’ll succeed. And when that doesn’t happen, you’re the problem, not the system.
But the truth is, the system is the problem. And more people are starting to say it out loud.
So if you’ve ever felt like an MLM made you feel less than, manipulated your desire for independence, or drained your bank account - please know: it’s not your fault.
If you’re considering joining an MLM, I urge you to pause, ask hard questions, and consider what “empowerment” really means.
Being a business owner isn’t about parroting a company’s talking points or pushing overpriced products. It’s about ownership. Autonomy. Creating something real.
And you’re capable of that - without falling for a pyramid in disguise.
Got questions or need a little support? Click HERE to reach out!
Running a business can feel overwhelming, but handling your finances doesn’t have to be. Check out my Entrepreneur Essentials, whichare packed with practical tools to help you stay on top of your numbers and feel more in control!