It’s a familiar story in the world of MLMs: someone joins with big hopes, invests time and money, struggles to recruit, then gives up — only to pop up months later in a new MLM.

This cycle of hopping from one MLM to another is not random. It’s driven by a complex mix of psychology and the inherent flaws in the MLM business model itself.

The Psychology Behind MLM Hopping

At its core, MLM hopping is fueled by several psychological factors:

  • Cognitive Dissonance: When people invest money and time into an MLM but fail to see results, their brain experiences discomfort. To resolve this, they convince themselves the failure was due to external reasons — “I joined too late,” or “I wasn’t taught the right way.” This rationalization allows them to preserve their belief in the MLM dream rather than admitting it was a flawed business model.
  • The Sunk Cost Fallacy: After investing money, time, or energy, people feel compelled to keep going or try something similar to “not waste” their previous investment. This traps them in a cycle of chasing the next opportunity, hoping to recoup losses.
  • Variable Reward Effect: MLMs exploit a psychological pattern similar to gambling — unpredictable rewards that keep participants hooked. Occasionally, someone may get a small win or see a recruitment success, sparking hope and motivation to keep trying. This intermittent reinforcement creates a powerful pull to stay engaged or move on to the next chance.
  • Social Proof and Community Pressure: MLMs build strong social environments where participants cheerlead each other, making it harder to walk away. When someone leaves, they often lose their social circle, so many stay connected by hopping to the next MLM with familiar faces.

These forces combine to keep individuals caught in an endless loop — never quite succeeding, but always hopeful that the next MLM will be the one that changes everything.

The “First to Join” Myth: How Some Find Temporary Success

After bouncing around, some people discover a harsher truth: real success in MLM often comes from being one of the very first to join. Early joiners build large networks and earn commissions from the recruitment efforts of everyone who follows.

Marty DeGarmo’s involvement in OnPassive is a prime example. He leveraged his early position and reputation to recruit others, hyping the opportunity as the “next ground floor” chance. While the first wave enjoys commissions and status, the vast majority who join later face losses. This “first mover advantage” isn’t skill — it’s timing, and it highlights a critical problem.

Why This Shows MLMs Are Unsustainable

If the only way to succeed is to be first in line, it’s not a viable business model. MLMs don’t reward sales or real product demand — they reward recruitment timing. This leads to saturation, market exhaustion, and inevitable collapse for most participants.

When success depends on timing over value, it’s clear MLMs are designed to funnel money upward to a few while the rest lose. The cycle of jumping from one MLM to the next is a symptom of chasing an unsustainable advantage in a fundamentally unsustainable system.

What This Means for You

If you or someone you know keeps switching MLMs hoping to “hit it big,” it’s time to step back and evaluate. Real businesses don’t require hopping from one opportunity to another. Sustainable success comes from genuine products, customers, and clear value — not from being the first to recruit others into a recruitment scheme.

By Beth Gibbons (Queen of Karma)

Beth Gibbons, known publicly as Queen of Karma, is a whistleblower and anti-MLM advocate who shares her personal experiences of being manipulated and financially harmed by multi-level marketing schemes. She writes and speaks candidly about the emotional and psychological toll these so-called “business opportunities” take on vulnerable individuals, especially women. Beth positions herself as a survivor-turned-activist, exposing MLMs as commercial cults and highlighting the cult-like tactics used to recruit, control, and silence members.

She has contributed blogs and participated in video interviews under the name Queen of Karma, often blending personal storytelling with direct confrontation of scammy business models. Her work aligns closely with scam awareness efforts, and she’s part of a growing community of voices pushing back against MLM exploitation, gaslighting, and financial abuse.