You’re probably familiar with MLMs. Also known as Multi-Level Marketing companies, their products are sold by people referred to as “huns” due to the fact that they usually start their social media and instant message posts off with the word.
I’m no stranger to these predatory companies. Most people who join them claim to be small business owners or boss babes. I’ll fully admit to selling Partylite briefly around 20 years ago, and have purchased items from Pampered Chef, Cutco Knives, Tupperware, and more in the past. However, I’m now fully aware of the fact that these boss babes are deep in debt and fail to make much money (or anything at all) while at the bottom of the pyramid.
With that said, there are those who succeed to make it to the top, which brings us to…
Hey Hun by Emily Lynn Paulson
Paulson bought the idea hook, line, and sinker. She got involved with an unnamed MLM through a friend and quickly convinced several people to join her downline. Some of them did better than others, and as time went by, Paulson wound up with a pretty large, successful downline and at her height of “power” was making tens of thousands of dollars a month.
The book goes through the pitfalls of the recruitment process by way of examples, and Paulson describes the expensive gifts that she received from her upline as a way of thanking her for making them money, as well as keeping her happy and on the hook for more participation in the MLM.
In addition, Paulson attended several conferences, including those that were invitation only for the elite sellers, worked crazy hours in order to make her monthly quotas, and once even made purchases on Halloween while taking her kids trick or treating in order to qualify for that month.
Once she realized that the MLM was predatory and was spurring on her drinking problem, she quit and started the process of becoming sober. As expected, her upline, whom she thought were her friends, completely ghosted her and absorbed her downline as though she never existed.
My Thoughts
One of the best things about this book is the way that it’s written. Paulson tells her story chronologically and doesn’t skimp on the details, no matter how painful or negative. Her tone is very relatable, and serves as a cautionary tale for those considering joining an MLM. I read the book fairly quickly, because I found it tough to put down, even though I knew that it would end with her leaving the MLM.
If you’re curious about the world of boss babes, or see those “hun” posts on your social media accounts and want to know what the big deal is, well, here’s your cautionary tale. Don’t say that she didn’t warn you.
Mandy's Book Nook 