Chapter 11: I Tried a Side Hustle. It Was a Pyramid Scheme in Disguise
After my near-death gym experience, I told myself:
"Kelvin, find a simple way to make money. Something easy. Something clean."
So when a guy from church inboxed me saying:
> "Bro, I have a business opportunity that will change your life,"
I was ready.
He wore suits in all his profile pictures, so I trusted him.
Big mistake.
He invited me to a "small" business meeting at a hotel conference room.
When I arrived, there were 50 people, one projector, and an overly excited host shouting:
> "Who wants to be a MILLIONAIRE without lifting a finger?!"
Everyone clapped.
Me too. I was clapping like my rent depended on it (because it did).
The guy explained:
You join with just 499 Ghana Cedis.
You recruit two people.
Those two recruit four people.
Those four recruit sixteen people.
And just like that, money will rain like blessings from heaven.
I raised my hand and asked:
> "Sir, what exactly are we selling?"
He smiled brightly and said:
> "Hope."
That's when I realized.
IT WAS A PYRAMID SCHEME.
And guess who was already on the screen as "New Regional Manager in Training"?
Me.
Kelvin the Gullible.
Before I could escape, they gave me a starter kit:
A badge that said "Dream Chaser."
Two expired packs of multivitamins.
A DVD titled "Think Rich, Act Confused."
I still have the DVD somewhere.
Sometimes I watch it when I want to remind myself what rock bottom looks like.