Category: Risk Intelligence

How to recognize strategic vulnerabilities and opportunities

sneaky promises, MLM promises, MLM company, MLM scam, MLM reps, MLM representatives, sneaky MLM, sneaky MLM promises

Examples of the Sneaky Promises MLMs Use to Attract New Reps

Published on by Grace LaConte3 Comments

Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) and direct marketing are very popular. The rate of growth of direct sales companies is staggering, especially in the healthcare industry.

Unfortunately, the MLM business model is predatory and takes advantage of people who are in vulnerable situations. Health and Wellness products sold by MLM companies are often unregulated, overpriced, and exaggerate the results.

In this post, you will see why MLM companies take advantage of our basic human needs, and actual statements they use to influence unsuspecting people into signing up.

Continue reading “Examples of the Sneaky Promises MLMs Use to Attract New Reps” →

job title, title to use, MLM title, direct sales title, MLM rep, Multi-Level Marketing, MLM sales, MLM sales rep, sales title, job title

Which Titles to Use if You’re an MLM or Direct Sales Rep

Published on by Grace LaConteLeave a comment

We use job titles to communicate our knowledge and expertise.

A job title conveys who we are, what we do, and how we do it… summed up in a few words.

I have noticed a trend in the MLM and Direct Sales community, where reps portray themselves using inaccurate or even deceptive titles. This can be especially destructive in the healthcare industry, because unsuspecting patients are tricked into believing the MLM rep is a qualified healthcare provider.

Sure, it can be fun to design an attention-grabbing title that sets you apart from the crowd (I use the title Strategic Risk Expert); but when it goes too far, your potential customers may be confused at best… and be harmed at worst.

When MLM reps use deceptive titles to diagnose, recommend, or provide medical care, it can result in broken trust, lawsuits, damage… and even death.

In this post, you’ll read a list of titles that are Accurate, Ambiguous, terms that Misrepresent, and some are just plain Ridiculous for MLM reps to use.

Continue reading “Which Titles to Use if You’re an MLM or Direct Sales Rep” →

dangerous titles, job titles, MLM titles, MLM job titles, Direct Sales titles, Direct Sales job titles, dangerous job titles, misinterpreted title, misused title

199 (Potentially Dangerous) Titles Used by MLM and Direct Sales Reps

Published on by Grace LaConteLeave a comment

Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) products are everywhere. They are particularly common in the healthcare industry.

While some products may provide some relief when used properly, I believe the biggest problem created by the MLM industry is their blatant misuse and disregard for job titles.

Continue reading “199 (Potentially Dangerous) Titles Used by MLM and Direct Sales Reps” →

MLM, Multi-Level Marketing, Cult, cult-like, MLM cult, MLM business, cult like, MLM company, direct marketing, direct sales, risk intelligence

11 Ways Multi-Level Marketing is Like a Cult

Published on by Grace LaConteLeave a comment

We have the power to exert tremendous influence on others.

Sometimes, people use this power to take advantage of those who are vulnerable by exerting tremendous control on their choices and behavior.

Today I want to share some insights about why Multi-Level Marketing companies operate exactly like a cult and how to build risk intelligence to keep yourself safe.

Continue reading “11 Ways Multi-Level Marketing is Like a Cult” →

MLM, multi-level marketing, multi-level, MLM scheme, MLM scam, network marketing, direct sales, MLM opportunity, risk management, strategic risk

7 Reasons MLMs are So Attractive to Established Business Owners [Video]

Published on by Grace LaConteLeave a comment

Why would a business owner who is already established want to join a Multi-Level Marketing opportunity?

In this video, I answer some questions about why this is such a compelling offer and why joining an MLM can be so dangerous.

Check it out, or read a transcript (with links and other juicy details) by scrolling down.

Continue reading “7 Reasons MLMs are So Attractive to Established Business Owners [Video]” →

estimate, quality, qualitative, qualitative loss, risk management, staff turnover, layoffs, resignation, strategic risk

How to Estimate the Qualitative Loss From Staff Turnover

Published on by Grace LaConte1 Comment

What is an employee worth to you?

Not just their ability to generate sales or produce a measurable outcome, but also in terms of the experience they provide, and the emotional impact they make?

How can we calculate the degree of value an employee brings to a company, and what we lose when they quit?

Previously, I discussed ways to increase Risk Intelligence after staff turnover, and how to calculate the financial impact.

In this third segment, I explain hidden values employees provide, the 9 things we lose when an employee leaves, and simple ways to calculate the cost of quality.

Continue reading “How to Estimate the Qualitative Loss From Staff Turnover” →

estimate, staff turnover, layoffs, resignation, turnover cost, staff turnover costs, risk management, strategic risk

How to Calculate What Staff Turnover is Costing You

Published on by Grace LaConte1 Comment

Did a long-time employee just hand in their 2-week notice?

Are you worried about how fast you’ll be able to find a reliable replacement?

Hiring the right people is extremely important for every business owner. That’s because staff are the most important resource in any company. Replacing an employee can cost significant money, time, and effort.

To avoid making an expensive and frustrating hiring mistake, you need a way to evaluate your company’s turnover data.

In this post, I explain some facts about turnover, why it relates to organizational risk, and how to calculate the total annual cost of adding new staff.

Continue reading “How to Calculate What Staff Turnover is Costing You” →

staff turnover, resignation, losing staff, staffing, risk intelligence, risk management, strategic risk, management

What You Can Do to Boost Risk Intelligence After Losing Staff

Published on by Grace LaConte2 Comments

If you own a business, you are responsible for every detail in your company: hiring, firing, and everything in between.

When a key employee hands you their resignation letter… what is your typical response?

Do you feel alarmed, frustrated, nervous, or angry?

Are you afraid of what could go wrong?

Without a clearly defined processes to deal with unexpected turnover in your company, you will be facing a lot of unknowns. Risk Intelligence is the ability to perceive what could happen before it happens.

If you feel blindsided by a sudden resignation, or shocked by events that forced you to fire key staff members, then it’s time to boost your level of risk intelligence.

Continue reading “What You Can Do to Boost Risk Intelligence After Losing Staff” →

implicit bias, bias, strategic bias, reputation, reputational risk, Starbucks, Starbucks Coffee, Starbucks Corporation, Chicago, Philadelphia

How to Recognize Implicit Bias After What Happened to Starbucks

Published on by Grace LaConte1 Comment

A recent event at a coffee shop in Philadelphia has stirred controversy about subconscious bias, corporate policies, and how to repair a company’s fractured reputation.

In this article, I explain:

  • the facts behind this event (including quotes from the young men, Starbucks leaders, Philadelphia police and Mayor, and other experts)
  • What are Policies and Procedures?
  • When the Enforcement of Policy Shows an Underlying Bias
  • Starbucks’ Official Statement
  • Taking Action: What You Can Do to Prevent a Starbucks-Like Incident
  • The 7 Symptoms of Implicit Bias, and
  • My Conclusion

Continue reading “How to Recognize Implicit Bias After What Happened to Starbucks” →

The Inferno of Dante, Dante's Inferno, Divine Comedy, Divina Commedia, Robert Pinsky, bilingual, translation, Italian, strategic, strategic perspective, strategy

Dante’s Inferno From a Strategic Perspective

Published on by Grace LaConte1 Comment

When you hear the words “Dante” and “Inferno,” your initial thought is probably something like this:

  • Some guy named Dante wrote it a long time ago
  • It’s a book about the levels of hell
  • The Catholic faith has something to do with it
  • There’s something about “comedy,” but not in the traditional sense
  • I might have read the book in high school

Up until recently, that’s pretty much all I knew about this classic work. But what gems of wisdom are hidden in those lyrical texts? I decided to find out.

Continue reading “Dante’s Inferno From a Strategic Perspective” →