Let me see how many of you I can offend today, with a book review. But first, some background.
In the late 60s, laboring away in the boring days at Prudential Insurance, I happened to meet a former college classmate in a bar one night. He urged me to come to a meeting, where I could be my own boss, volunteering that he had quit his job and was now making three times as much income.
As some of you have surmised, this was “multilevel marketing” (AKA, network marketing, pyramid marketing, Ponze Scheme), where a guy drove up in a Caddy with a diamond pinky ring and told us how selling detergent products could make us money, oh, and by the way, so could recruiting other salespeople. Apparently, I was to be such a recruit. The drawback was that the math didn’t work and this guy was clearly a fraud.
In Little Bosses Everywhere (Crown Publishing, 2025), Bridget Read takes us through the entire house of cards, from the 40s on. She cites fascinating truths, such as 99 percent of participants in these schemes lose money. When I wrote my book, Our Emperors Have No Clothes (Career Press, 1995) I estimated that someone in the sixth layer of this nonsense would need to use the entire population of Cincinnati in order to have enough prospects to try to break even on the investment. There are giants involved, as well: Amway is one such (the average “business owner” made $766 in annual income before expenses, http://amwayscheme.blogspot.com/2024/10/the-average-income.html) and, of course, Mary Kay.
The search for the quick buck has to stop when that pursuit is hurting others. There is no contribution to the environment or society with these schemes (just think about Bernie Madoff) and a great deal of hurt for those taken advantage of by people with rented cars and cubic zirconium. If you want to get lucky, work hard. The harder I work, the luckier I get.
Vignette: I was attending a National Speakers Association Convention's elaborate dinner in Dallas. When I walked on the elevator I found five women I knew from the association done-up like divas, teetering on stilettos, and smelling like what heaven must smell like. I was ignored, as would be a smudge on the glass. But then the elevator stopped again, and four women heading for a Mary Kay Convention dinner boarded, and there was deadly silence as the two groups stared at each other, no one blinking or breathing, while I wondered if elevators had emergency exits.
The second group spokeswoman finally said, “Are you ladies here with Mary Kay? I don’t recognize you.”
“No,” the NSA spokeswoman haughtily replied, “We’re with THE National Speakers Association.
“Ah,” said the first, “I was fooled because you’re almost dressed well enough to be one of us.”
A bell rang, the door opened, and I ran.

A scam is a scam. A fraud is a fraud. Different rules don't apply in the City than they do for you and me. —Emily Thornberry
Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud. —Sophocles
The first and worst of all frauds is to cheat one's self. All sin is easy after that. —Pearl Bailey
Whoever is detected in a shameful fraud is ever after not believed even if they speak the truth. —Phaedrus

AI: Alan Intelligence

My unique AI resource which will direct you to the relevant aspects of my entire body of work to answer your “real time” questions about proposals, value based fees, conceptual agreement, avoiding “ghosting,” and thousands of other issues with text, audio, and video resources, all of which you can download. Please go here to gain lifelong, constantly growing access to my work, including referral to specific pages in my books which you can access online: https://alanweiss.com/ai-alan-intelligence/ If you decide at any time to engage in one of my two elite, personal coaching relationships, I'll deduct the full fee you've paid for this resource.

Six Figures to Seven (6-2-7)

This is by far one of my most popular programs (along with the Million Dollar Consulting® College and Master Class). I’ve delivered it a total of six times on three continents, each time different, because the focus is on contemporary events and the near future.

Join me to learn and apply how, for example, to: 

• charge over $100,000 for nearly every project. 

• go beyond coaching to the more lucrative advisory work 

• build a brand that’s on every buyer’s mind 

• develop novel and new IP weekly and AD HOC 

• use language to control any conversation 

• stimulate evangelism as a sales strategy  

• create instant eBooks 

• dramatically improve your speaking and videos 

• overcome esteem issues dealing with buyers and fees

There will be role plays, so if they make you fearful, I’ll have a “safe haven” for you (out in the hall). There will be a practicum, so if working on client issues makes you nervous, bring medication (enough to share, of course). So man-up. Woman-up. Human-up. Whatever.I cannot guarantee that you will accept and apply what I share with you. But you will have already paid me, so what the hell? I will promise that if you apply even some of my techniques consistently and completely, you’ll make a minimum 50:1 return on this investment. Social proof? Just ask my clients: https://alanweiss.com/testimonials/Location: Chicago (Palmer House) Dates and Times: September 17-18, 9am to 4pm. Continental breakfast and lunch are included 30 days of follow-up Q&A based on program content including Free Zoom session for registrants, based on the program.Your investment: $5,000https://alanweiss.com/shop/gexp/six-figures-to-seven-2025/ 

Zoom Workshops 2025:

Join me on June 3 for our next installment. If you can’t attend “live” you’ll still receive the video and the AI Companion transcript. https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/zoom-workshops-2025/ 

June 3: Dramatic Conversational Pivot Points.

An Alan Live Experience: Beyond Success:

What happens when you’re meeting your aspirations, when your lifestyle is fabulous, and your prospects are excellent? How much is “enough”? Is there a “retirement”? How do you change (or sell) your business and IP? Are philanthropy, volunteering, and service right for you? Are you able to care for family and important others? What will keep you excited and positive—and “youthful”? We’ll explore this and more over two days of intense discussion and exercises in a small group. We’ll get together in Los Angeles for two 9-to-4 days, June 11 and 12, including a reception. As you know, you’ll learn a lot from your colleagues and peers in that room. $7,500. https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/beyond-success/

Million Dollar Consulting® for the World:

I’ve provided 14 modules with videos from me, from your colleagues globally, slides, and text. They include everything from launch to self-esteem, proposals to fees, closing business to creating a brand. No upsells! It’s only $115. What do you think about a 10,000:1 ROI? We have over 500 people from 47 countries. https://milliondollarconsultingcourse.com

Million Dollar Consulting® for the World ADVANCED:The new program contains over 60 videos and has 15 modules focusing on what to do in the buyer’s office, overcoming crises, financial planning, and much, much more. https://alanweiss.com/growth-experiences/advanced-global-learning-program/

Million Dollar Consulting® for the World GRADUATE:Another 12 modules with videos by me and your peers on contemporary issues such as Raising Fees Aggressively, How to Be Consistently Interviewed, Maximizing Happiness, and Managing Multiple projects. Join the people from 57 countries who are availing themselves of this inexpensive way to dramatically grow their businesses in any economic times. How does 100:1 ROI sound? https://milliondollarconsultingcourse.com/graduate-learning-program/