How to Spot a Narcissistic Mentor in Network Marketing (Before They Use You & Dump You)
By Jersey – Knoxville, TN
Let’s just get straight to it:
Not every mentor wants to see you win.
Some are in it for the ego boost, the attention, the power trip—and YOU are just another stepping stone on their path to self-glorification. I know, because I’ve been there. More than once.
If you’ve ever felt like you were being used in your network marketing business while your “mentor” soaked up the credit, this blog is for you.
Here’s how to spot a narcissistic mentor in this industry before they drain your energy, your team, and your self-worth.
🚩 1. They Don’t Teach You—They Control You
Real mentors empower you. Narcissists? They micromanage and gatekeep.
You’ll notice they give just enough information to keep you dependent, but never enough to let you fly solo.
"You’re not ready to run your own team yet. Just plug into what I’m doing."
Translation?
They don’t want you to shine—because your growth threatens their spotlight.
🚩 2. They Take Credit for YOUR Wins
You close a big sale or rank up, and suddenly they’re posting your success all over social media like they did the work.
“So proud of my team member Jersey! Look what we did!”
Hold up. We?
Nah, sweetheart—I stayed up till 2am grinding. I overcame self-doubt.
You just took the credit and used my win to boost your brand.
🚩 3. They Make You Feel Guilty for Needing Boundaries
Try to set boundaries with a narcissistic mentor and watch them flip the script.
- “Wow… after all I’ve done for you?”
- “I thought we were closer than this.”
- “You’re being negative. This is why you’re not growing.”
They’ll twist your need for rest or space into a character flaw—so you’ll feel guilty and stay loyal. But loyalty to someone toxic isn’t loyalty—it’s self-betrayal.
🚩 4. They Disappear When You’re Struggling
When you're thriving, they’re glued to you.
When you hit a dry season, they vanish.
Narcissistic mentors feed off your wins, not your wounds. If you’re not helping them look good, they don’t have time for you.
Real mentors guide you in the valleys—not just post you during the peaks.
🚩 5. They Use Fear to Keep You from Leaving
One of the biggest signs?
“If you leave this team, you’ll fail.”
“Nobody else will coach you like I do.”
“You’re not loyal—you’re selfish.”
They don’t build leaders. They build empires of emotional dependency. The truth? Any mentor who makes you afraid to grow without them isn’t a mentor at all.
💡 How to Protect Yourself (and Your Peace)
- Watch how they treat others when there’s no spotlight.
- Ask yourself: Am I growing—or just surviving?
- Talk to people who’ve left their team. What story do they tell?
- Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
- Build your OWN brand. Your value doesn’t come from their validation.
❤️ Final Words From a Woman Who’s Been There
I’ve had “mentors” steal my downline, gaslight me into silence, and celebrate my wins only to use them as marketing material. But I kept going. And when I finally stepped into my voice, my brand, and my truth—everything changed.
If you're in a situation that feels toxic, I want you to know:
You are not crazy.
You are not ungrateful.
And you are not alone.
Get around people who truly want to see you win—without needing to be the hero in your story.
You can succeed without the narcissists.
And when you do, it’ll be on your own terms.
With grit and heart,
– Jersey
Knoxville, TN 💪🖤