When Excel Communications went bankrupt in November, 2004, the company reported to the court that as of October, 2004, Excel had 106,426 U.S. representatives eligible to earn commissions. 64,967 actually earned commissions. Of those, 98.1 percent earned $100 or less. Only 99 of them, or 0.2 percent, earned more than $1,000 for the month." More here.

So why do they stay?

"Oh," said one on a conference call last week, "I love my products."

Others chimed in:

"I like helping people and when someone uses it and tells me what a difference it made in their lives, it feels really good."

"I just love doing this business and I've been doing it for almost 20 years."

I find these responses very interesting. One reason is that a recent Yahoo survey reports that these reasons for sticking happen to be the same ones most people give today who are looking for a business of their own.

"Two thirds of Americans have entrepreneurial ambitions," and the #1 reason, reports Yahoo, is because they want to do (finally) something they love. Where they can make a difference. And yes, it should pay something. But that was the last reason for 97% of the respondents.

So is everyone looking to be a volunteer then?

Not likely. It may just be that the satisfaction this business offers people beyond the money does more for folks than the promise of money. Perhaps the sole focus on big money or nothing has run its course in today's post 9/11 environment. Who knows?

What matters is, how do these reasons for sticking compare with yours - if you're in that great majority not making much money yet?

And how do your reasons for sticking with it compare to the carrot you're dangling out there to recruit new people into the business?