The Direct Seller's Podcast
The Direct Seller's Podcast
Direct Sales Propaganda I’m No Longer Falling For
In this episode, Rachel gets real about the outdated (and straight-up toxic) beliefs still floating around the direct sales industry. From team building myths to hustle culture, she’s calling out the nonsense that’s keeping leaders stuck—and sharing what actually leads to growth in 2025. If you’ve ever felt guilty for wanting more or wondered if you’re allowed to build something outside your company, this one’s for you.
Key Points Covered:
- Why team building is not the only way to grow your income.
Rachel shares her experience of earning more from a $19 product than from her entire team and sales combined. - The myth that wanting more makes you greedy or ungrateful.
Growth ≠ betrayal. Wanting more is a sign of vision, not disloyalty. - How building something of your own doesn’t make you a traitor.
Loyalty to yourself ≠ disloyalty to your company. You can support your team and your future. - Why hustle culture is toxic—and what to focus on instead.
Burnout isn’t a badge of honor. Strategy, peace of mind, and aligned work matter more than overworking. - When 'stick with it' is actually harmful advice.
Sometimes it’s time to pivot—and that doesn’t mean you’re a quitter. - The truth about corporate loyalty (it’s not what you think).
At the end of the day, your company is loyal to its bottom line. Protect your own future. - Why team drama doesn’t equal leadership.
Real leadership starts with leading yourself first—not being the emotional support human for your entire downline.
Call to Action:
If you're ready to stop falling for the lies and start building something of your own, Rachel has 2 VIP Day spots open this summer to help you create and launch your digital product. DM her the word VIP on Instagram @rachelaperry or email her at rachel@rachelaperry.com to snag a spot.
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Send me the message PODCAST over on Instagram at @rachelaperry and I’ll send you my "Parties-Optional Profit Plan!"
For Additional Resources for Direct Sellers:
www.rachelaperry.com
Welcome to the Direct Sellers Podcast, the podcast for direct sellers who are ready to get uncomfortable, build their business and grow a team while changing the face of the direct sales industry. I'm your host, rachel Perry. Join me as we get real and talk about all the things you need to kick some serious direct sales booty, from overcoming limiting beliefs to sharing the exact strategies you need to attract the right people who become customers and beg to join your team. I've got you covered, girl. I'm going to be your new BFF when it comes to balancing life and kids while building your direct sales business with poise, peace of mind and, of course, a good set of fake eyelashes. Let's get started. Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of the Direct Sellers Podcast. I'm your host, rachel Perry. You already know that Today I'm trying something a little different, so I did a podcast, or no, not a podcast.
Speaker 1:I did an Instagram post the other day, kind of a trendy. It was a trendy post. I guess it was following a trend. It was about like propaganda that I'm not falling for, and I did it with like the direct sales industry in mind, like direct sales propaganda that I'm not falling for anymore, and so I thought that I would share it here because, I don't know, I think that's fun and you may not have seen it on Instagram, so let's talk about it and, honestly, we can talk about it here, whereas on Instagram it's like a hot second right, I can't really go into details. So we're just gonna a hot second right. I can't really go into details, so we're just going to riff about this.
Speaker 1:Okay, except, it's just me and I wish that you were here and we could talk about it, cause I feel like we would have such a great conversation. You know what I mean? I I really think it would be so fun and we could sit around and we could have a margarita, gin and tonic, glass of wine. You guys could like be out outside with me on my patio and we could just have a conversation. Unfortunately, that's not happening. It's just me here, without a margarita, without a gin and tonic, without a glass of wine, and I'm just talking in your ear. But hopefully this will be as enjoyable as it would be if we were together. Okay, who am I kidding? Like we would have so much fun in real life, irl, you know what I'm saying? Irl. One day, one day, maybe we'll do something where I host an event and you and I can hang out. Wouldn't that be fun? Okay, I'll stop talking about it.
Speaker 1:So I have seven things that I'm over in the network marketing industry and we're just going to talk about it. So I have seven things that I'm over in the network marketing industry and we're just going to talk about it. So the first one is that recruiting, growing a team, is the only way to grow, it's the only way to make a lot of money, or it's the way that you can increase your income. I don't believe that. Nope, not in 2025, y'all. Obviously, you can sell daily without begging someone to join your team. You can sell daily without needing to build a team. You can be successful on your own, just focusing on sales. I'm serious. Okay, now it might be exhausting to just focus on sales in your direct sales business, but y'all know where I'm going with this. Right, you can sell a digital product on the side.
Speaker 1:When I, when I started the tag team with Amanda and we were selling our $19 product, our $19 digital product, I had a very small team in my direct sales business and I made more from selling this digital product than I did from my team. Actually, I made more from this digital product than I did from my team and my sales put together and sales in my direct sales business. So I'm just saying I don't believe that building a team is the only way to be successful, it's the only way to grow, because it's not. I think that's a lie and I think it's very easy for us to fall into that belief when we are in network marketing, because that's kind of what people are teaching they're like if you want to be successful, if you want to exponentially grow your income, you need to build a team. And the thing is is building a team is just not like it used to be. There are some people that are doing it very successfully, but ultimately it's not like it used to be, and I really think part of that is because, you know, the network marketing industry is just, honestly, it's behind the times. There are things that just don't work the way they used to and I don't know. I think it's that's just. That's y'all. That's just a personal opinion, but of course I'm going to share my opinion on here because it's my podcast.
Speaker 1:Okay, the second piece of propaganda, and obviously you guys, this isn't really propaganda. Do you know what I mean, when I said, when I did that real propaganda I'm not falling for I was like this actually isn't propaganda, but we're just going to go along with this. Okay, the other. The next one is wanting more means you're ungrateful or greedy. Wanting more means you're ungrateful or greedy or that you are sort of betraying, you know, your other, your team or your company. But here's the thing I think that you can be grateful and you can appreciate where you are and you can love your direct sales business and your team and still want to grow. In fact, I think we should all want to grow, right, we all need to be in that stage of desiring to grow. Well, I mean, I guess some people aren't, but I just think that's really important for personal growth. I think we should always be wanting more, and I don't mean that we can't be content, but I don't know. I think it's important to always be trying to better ourselves, trying to get better at something or grow in some area. I guess that's why I'm a coach, right. But wanting more is a sign of vision, it's a sign of awesomeness, you guys, it's not betrayal, it's not being grateful for where you are, it's just wanting more.
Speaker 1:And I remember there was a time in my life when I was well, okay, I'm just going to be real no-transcript. I was like, okay, if I want more, I've got to make some really hard decisions. And I did. I made some really hard decisions and that was hard. That was really really hard, but I knew that I wasn't going to be happy and I knew that I was being called to something else and it was probably the hardest, one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. But I knew that it it was time for me to move on. It was time for more, and I think when we take that step in faith, that we are blessed richly. I'm not going to say it's been an easy road, right, there's been a lot of growth to be had here, but we've got to listen and we've got to follow our hearts. But we've got to listen and we've got to follow our hearts. Okay.
Speaker 1:So the next piece of propaganda I'm not falling for is building something of your own means that you're not loyal. I think there's this belief that, as leaders in the direct sales industry, if you want to start something of your own or you want to affiliate for a different company or another I shouldn't say a different company, I should say an additional company that you're sort of not loyal to what you started with, right? And I just think that's BS, you guys, because loyalty to yourself does not equal disloyalty to your company. You don't need to put your company before you, right, you can support your team and grow and build your future all at the same time. Just because you're starting something else or you're creating a digital product or whatever it is, doesn't mean that you're being disloyal to your team. It really doesn't, and I don't believe that for one second.
Speaker 1:But I do know that some people uplines from my experience I'll share that story in another episode. But I think there's fear, you know, and people want to keep others in boxes. And because it, especially when it comes to your upline and I am not saying that your upline feels this way. But what I see a lot is that leaders who have really committed to making this their life, their, their forever right, their end game. It's scary for them when their team members start growing and start deviating from the plan because it affects them and that's scary for them, right. But I just don't.
Speaker 1:I don't subscribe to that belief that you can only do one thing in order for you to be a great leader. You know, I'm just saying Okay, number four if you're not hustling, you don't want it bad enough. Can I tell you how much I hate the hustle? I hate, I hate this belief that the only reason or the only way to be successful in your business, in your direct sales business, is to hustle your butt off. You should be working 20, 30, 40 hours a week. Um, no, sister chances are. If you're working that much, you are not getting paid what you are worth. Okay, hustle does not equal results. You know what matters more? Strategy, alignment and I'm going to say mindset and peace of mind. That is so much more important.
Speaker 1:I see people who are literally working all the time and they are not happy. They're not happy, they're not happy because it's hard, it sucks. No one likes the hustle, right? I mean, I guess some people do like to hustle, but that hustling comes at a cost and I just think it's so much more important and I see this all the time that when you step back and you slow down, oftentimes you end up making more and working less. When you stop, almost glorifying burnout, because that's what hustle leads to Hustle leads to burnout.
Speaker 1:Have you ever felt burnt out? I'm sure we all have. I certainly have and there comes a time when you have to sit back and go. Wait a second. What am I doing? What am I doing? And I think I'm going to create a reel today on something like this. But if you are working tons of hours and your paycheck is not hefty, I really I'm going to challenge you to figure out how much you're getting paid hourly, because you are worth. Your time is worth so much. And if you're only getting paid 15, 20, $25 an hour from your direct sales business and you're working these insane hours, you're hustling like a mother then I really am going to encourage you to just step back and reflect on this. Like, what do you want and are you happy with this hustle?
Speaker 1:I was talking to someone the other day and she was telling me how she goes out of, like she has to go out of town sometimes for her vendor events or whatever, and she said she was getting to the point where she's like wait a second, how much time am I spending here going to these events and how much money am I actually making from it? Right, we can be, we can get. You know, look at our profit or whatever, and go oh my gosh, like I made $500 today. I made $500, right, or I made $200 or whatever it is. But then we have to go. How much did I pay to be here? How much time did it take me, including travel?
Speaker 1:And then you start thinking is it worth it? I'm away from my family, is this worth it? And I remember being like that when I was doing home parties and I would drive all over, and I live in the Northern Virginia area, so that's very easy to do, meaning that it's, it's not absurd to think, oh, I'm going to drive into DC to do a party. That's 30 minutes away, but with traffic right. Or 20 minutes away, or 20 miles away, but with traffic, it ends up being 45 minutes or whatever. So then you take that into consideration, you take the amount of time that you get there early to set up.
Speaker 1:And then I started thinking wait a second, am I really making what I'm worth? Yeah, so I'm just saying I don't think hustle, hustle doesn't equal great results. All right, number five, stick with it. Stick with it and it will all eventually pay off. Just stick with it, just keep going. Yeah, so off, just stick with it, just keep going, yeah.
Speaker 1:So I don't agree with that. I don't agree with that. What is that saying? Like the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and getting the same results, or something like that. I totally botched that, I think. But you know what I'm trying to say. Like, if something isn't working, if you are not growing, if you are not getting better results, I mean maybe we look at it and go is this the right thing for me? Again, you're gonna have ups and downs, because that's what this industry is. Sales is like that okay, but if you're not happy and you're not loving it and you've lost your passion, you're not making a lot. I don't know if sticking with it is the right thing to do. I'm just saying I can't tell you that it's not the right thing, but I just don't believe that if you just stick with it, I mean there are times when it's time to move on and I share this all the time.
Speaker 1:I think that this industry, I think your network marketing business, is a jumping off point for a lot of you. It's not the end point, it's the beginning. Just putting that out there, okay, because here's what I want to ask you Like, what if the thing that you're waiting for is never coming unless you create it? I think so many people like, and outside of the network marketing industry, I this is kind of across the board we expect opportunity to come to us, right? We expect Ooh, I think I just spoke to myself. We expect opportunity to come to us, right? We expect oh, I think I just spoke to myself. We expect opportunity to come to us. But most of the time we have to make the opportunity for ourselves. We can't just sit on our butts and wait for things to happen to us. Let's make it happen, right?
Speaker 1:Okay, number six this one I don't like to share this, but I'm going to say it Corporate puts you first. They're always going to tell you that they put you first. The field is the most important thing in our business. I mean, yes, because the field is who's making them money. But, guys, the bottom line for corporate is themselves. So if their company is building debt up, if their company, if the company is facing financial problems, guess what? The field is going to be affected. If they have a choice between cutting your commission 5% and staying open, they're going to choose cutting the commission. Let's not pretend that their job is to protect your bottom line. It's not, it's to protect their bottom line. Do they want to do that, like, do they want to have to do these things to you? Of course not right, but it still happens. This economy is crazy. These companies are being affected, even the ones that say that they are not affected, even the ones that say that they are not. They are being affected. The industry has changed, right. That's why I built something that nobody can take away from me. It's mine. That's why I created that digital product. That's why I continue to create digital products, because it's mine, right? And that's why I encourage so many of you to do the same, because you need to protect yourself.
Speaker 1:And the final piece of propaganda is that team drama equals leadership. I see this all the time. So much drama amongst teams and you, as the leader, often become like the emotional support coach and you're there for everyone and you're trying to keep the peace and y'all. That is a recipe for burnout. Being a leader doesn't mean that you have to carry everyone's burden. Being a leader doesn't mean that you have to be there for everyone all the time, right. If there's drama within your downline, you can step back. You don't have to be in the middle of it.
Speaker 1:Real leadership means leading yourself first. You know how they're. They say, like, when you're on a plane and if you have a kid and you need to do the oxygen masks or whatever, put yours on first, then put theirs on. It's the same as elite for leaders. You need to take care of yourself, you need to nurture yourself, you need to invest in yourself before you can invest in your team. Right, we owe it to ourselves to build up what we need to build up within ourselves before we can really help other people. Because when we are completely the word bankrupt came to mind like emotionally bankrupt, you are no good to anyone. You've got to put yourself first. So here's what I want to just let's just wrap this puppy up. If you are feeling any of these, if any of these resonated with you and you're thinking, you know, rach, I mean, you're onto something, sister. You're onto something.
Speaker 1:I am starting to think about building a digital product, or creating a digital product, and I'm going to tell you right now it doesn't have to be hard, it doesn't have to be simple. It can be. Simple is what I meant to say. It can get tricky with marketing and all of that, but that's why I'm here and that's what I help you do, and I currently have two openings available this summer for a VIP day. So if you are curious and want to know more, reach out to me. Right, you can email me, rachel at rachelaperrycom.
Speaker 1:But a VIP day is basically me and you hanging out for about five hours and we're going to create your digital product. We are going to get it all set up. We're going to create your digital product. We are going to get it all set up. We're going to do all the tech, so you don't have to worry about any of it. I will do it. Some of it, you will do some of it. I will walk you through all of it. We do everything so that the end of your day, you have your product created, you have your tech all set up and the marketing is on point and you know exactly what to do, so that you just leave and you are ready to make money. It's intense, but it's worth it and it's awesome. So if you're curious about doing a VIP day, you can either DM me the word VIP at Rachel A Perry or just email me. Okay, and we'll set one up. It's worth it, girl, it's so worth it.
Speaker 1:All right, listen, I love your face. I hope you enjoyed this episode. I will see you next week for another episode of the Direct Sellers Podcast. Until then, my friends take care. That's it for this episode of the Direct Sellers Podcast, but our fun doesn't have to end now. You'll catch me hanging out over on Instagram between episodes and I'd love for you to join me, so hop into my DMs. I promise you're not getting any hate girl messages and I promise I'm not gonna be asking you to weirdly buy anything. Send me the message podcast so I can send you my free 90 day action planner, because who doesn't love a good template?