432. Does father know best?

Toilet Training Your First Puppy in Singapore

"No," I said. "You don't get involved in this Multiple-Level-Marketing (MLM) business."

"You are so condescending...my friend's father was very supportive...I could sell this product to the rich aunties...I did not expect the 20-year-old son's angry outburst to my abrupt answer to his dreams of being an entrepreneur. He is usually a mild cool sort of young man. Right ear studded ear a few months ago had already given his mum fits. Fortunately he did not get a nose or tongue stud.

He was asked by his friend to attend a presentation for a part-time job from Nov to Feb 2006. His friend was mysterious about the presentation. "Come first," his long-last friend said. After that, my son did not want to talk much about the meeting. He had been forewarned that his father (parent) would object to his being the first to join this new start up. Big office with products endorsed by celebrities. Superbrand. Well known in Hongkong. He would have first-mover advantage as he was the first in the recruitment team.

He was angry when I asked him to explain about this MLM business. "There will be buyers who ask repeat questions," I told him. "If you have no patience to reply to such stupid questions, how could you do sales?

"It is your money ($1,800 to buy some products first) and your time," I don't lose temper with this young idealistic man who had just completed 22 months of national service. He was given 2 months earlier discharge as he had performed well in his physical exercise test or something. Now he was ready to join the real world.

"But you will not make a good salesperson," I said. "I know your personality as a father."

"How do you know all about me?" he raised his voice as he was behind me in the car.

"You expect buyers to come to you because you sell $10 cheaper than the retail Pharmacy with lots of shops?" I asked. "Are you prepared to travel to the home to deliver goods to make $10.00?"

"$10.00 savings may not mean much to you," he replied. "I could take the subway train and bus."

He would have 3 helpers in his downline.

"Do you think the 3 helpers would work hard for you and for themselves if they are undergraduates or studying?" I asked. "Are they that hungry? They are from the middle-class and they have girlfriends and other distractions."

I explained to him about the MLM system. I had been involved in the system and had not been able to sell due to the fact that it needs time and a great network. I was just too busy with the practice and other things. So, I got stuck with the goods which I had to buy, to qualify for being a MLM distributor.

"But there are great successes in the MLM system. Only that you need to spend time to train your downline and sell yourself. Lots of time and energy. Do you have time? Even if you have, you will be going overseas in 3 months' time. So, you can't buildl up the business. Many success depends on the person...

"What you say is that I need a large network," the young man had cooled down. He decided that he would rather not put down his money no matter how good the product was. I am impressed that the sales presentation was very good. I should have encouraged him to get on. Let him fail. Let him spend his money and learn the hard way.

But should a father do that? Maybe, I ought not to advise him. To discourage an entrepreneur.