We’re Not Dumb Anymore

Jeph Maystruck December 24, 2009

The Flynn effect states that since the 20th century, IQ test scores on average increase by 3 points every decade. A person taking an IQ test in 1930, scoring in the average, would be considered mentally handicap compared to today’s IQ standards. As civilization progresses, so does our average intelligence level. When the knowledge base increases across the board, strange things begin happening. We get smarter.

Something I’ve noticed as of late is that pyramid schemes as business models are still around. In the past month, two friends have been invited to “recruitment” seminars, which I am proud to say they both, within minutes discovered the pyramid business model and left in disgust.

Now the proper term is “multi-level marketing” (MLM) but it’s the same theme, you make commissions on your sales and on the sales of the people you’ve recruited as sales people. You can already begin to see the problem. If I’m selling, then I get you to sell, we are now competing for future sales. Doesn’t make sense does it. Not anymore, but it did for a very long time. What surprises me more is that their is actually a list of companies still around using this as a business model.

As communication worldwide increases over the internet, so do conversations. Within three minutes of researching MLM I came across a startling figure that 99.9% of all participants end up losing money by joining the organization. When in history have we been able to verify a businesses legitimacy within five minutes?

Maybe we’re smarter (our IQ’s would say so), maybe we’re just better at finding information which make us seem smarter. Either way this new generation isn’t dumb, business models such as these are now a joke around the water cooler. There will always be people who join for unknown reasons, I just hope that if you are ever proposed on a seemingly to good to be true scheme you’ll Google first before signing up.

About the Author

Hi, I'm Jeph. I love helping people make smarter business decisions. I help companies stand out. I consult, speak, facilitate and do project work on new marketing strategies (word-of-mouth, customer service, and social media). My consulting company is JephMaystruck.com Research & Consulting. The marketing industry is changing very rapidly and the only way to stay on top of it is by a philosophy of continuous learning. Do you have an information strategy? Are you learning faster than the world is changing? If not, we should talk. Learn more here: http://jephmaystruck.com/marketing-strategy/ Follow me @JephMaystruck

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