Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Amway - Diamond Freedom?

When I was an IBO, I often saw my upline diamond driving around town dressed in a business suit. I used to think why does he keep working if he can walk away and collect residual income? My sponsor told me that the diamond only works because he cares about his downline and wants to help them. So there are two possible scenarios, the diamond is working to help his downline out of a genuine concern, or possoibly he is working because he has to! The only difference now is that the diamond works the nite and/or graveyard shift, because many IBOs are building the business after they complete their day jobs. **We should also note that my former upline diamond dropped down to the emerald level around 2005 and has since re-established his diamond level.

Now Amway has stated that the average diamond earns about $146,000 a year. That is a decent income, but after taxes and paying for basic expenses such as medical and dental insurance, the average diamond probably lives a very middle class lifestyle. Keep in mind that a large portion of a diamond's income comes in the form of an annual bonus, thus a diamond's monthly income may be quite small. Yes, diamonds may have other sources of income such as speaking engagements and income from standing orders and functions. But this income depends on the diamond's continued appearances and efforts.

So is it likely that a diamond is "free"? I would have to conclude that a diamond is not free, and may actually have to spend more time maintaining his group than if the diamond simply had a 9-5 job. For one thing, a diamond needs to maintain a personal group to keep qualifying for bonuses. With a poor retention rate in Amway, I am fairly sure that a diamond spends much time recruiting personally sponsored IBOs to maintain this group. Additionally, a diamond must help his six or more groups of downline platinums to maintain their businesses or face the possibility of falling out of qualification. My former diamond dropped down to the emerald level but has since re-qualified at diamond. A diamond must also dedicate time to reward up and coming movers and shakers, to keep them motivated. I got to spend time with my upline diamond when I was considered a promising up and coming pin.

In order to continue to receive tools income, a diamond must also travel to numerous functions and speaking engagements. Although the tools income allegedly doubles a diamond's income, it also adds a lot of expenses, especially if the diamond and his family travel first class to show off the diamond lifestyle.

After breaking down projected income and considering projected expenses, I can only conclude that a diamond probably lives a middle to upper middle class lifestyle, and probably works as much as a man with a 9-5 job, except that a diamond works nites and weekends. A good portrait of this is shown in Ruth Carter's book (Amway Motivational Organizations: Behind The Smoke and Mirrors). In the book, the diamond had a net income of over $300,000, but lived in debt, could barely pay his mortgage, and was always on the run from one function to the next.

I believe that diamonds may actually be busier at the diamond level than an average Joe who has a 9-5 J-O-B. The difference is that the diamond works the night shift. Is this the freedom you are seeking?

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your obviously missing the point.

Anonymous said...

I think you missed the point...its all about leadership....the diamond doesn't even have to monitor it on his own....thats why there are 6 legs who monitors their own team....its a team of successful people helping a team who is not yet that successful...the diamond becomes just like a consultant....what you are stating above is that you are managing a team of sales people...what you should have been doing is duplicating yourself as a leader...that way, you dont have to be there all the time to monitor your team because you have leaders doing it for you.....you should see what is happening with Franchises like McDonald's ..its almost the same type of system....you cannot see Jim Skinner checking out all the branches do you??
As for the income, well i think it depends on your lifestyle....even if your earning a million dollars and spending more than it, then you realy wouldn't be free.....so it all boils down to financial intelligence...and besides 146K is way very low to be an income for a diamond....i dont think that is accurate ......well from where I live, 146K can already set me free...no worries for the company to kick me out of my job...I can survive already without working and I have free travels as well...sound good to me

snackboy said...

Nice post. I just connected with someone online who has made Amway their full-time income and expects to be a diamond by March. I have to wonder if he is in for an awakening.

Anonymous said...

No the difference is Diamond has no boss to report ;) always put efforts in finding positivity. You will surely succeed. I think a person who has time for such backward though would be a successful man in life. And if people think getting a good job or position is success than 95% of the people around the world would be called successful. Obviously which is not a fact

Anonymous said...

anon, that was so funny i forgot to laugh!

Anonymous said...

I think instead of wasting time finding fault in Amway try and find positive things and build the business. only loosers write negative things. When in job also you slog yourself for others and only 5% reach the top who have the will and positive attitude towards life.

shee

Anonymous said...

Remember a 146K average means many are below and many are above

Anonymous said...

what's your point?

singh said...

Baldev Satwant Bhambra Panchkula (HR)INDIA I think intead of wasting time find fault in amway try & find positive pople and build the business no thinds negative thing and jion us build business go D>D and go diamond and then see your life and life styel and 7 day sunday on time boss

singh said...

Baldev Satwant Bhambra say I an no tell lie come join and see how i will give belive what is amway no reply the qustion come join and Successful

singh said...

Baldev Satwant Bhambra say if your are big dreamer then this is right road way amway full ful your dream no limt go diamond than we take u ask u now give answer if u ask diamond what is amway give no reply

Anonymous said...

anon say you full of crapola and need to get back on place called planet earth

**proud Amway hater**

singh said...

Crown baldev singh say if any body no dreamer he died men in amway dreamer and hard work hard work hard work and hard work then success any where need hard and hard work and you very successon top your time is zeroin amway U R diamond 24 hours is your

Anonymous said...

rofl

singh said...

Crown Baldev Satwant Bhambra we proud be Amway IBO

Anonymous said...

You hate the Amway system because you failed? :) People succeed and makey a lot of money, have a nice income and travel around the world. It's a successful business model. I'm guessing: the creator of this article is a boring person that's angry on things he can't achieve.

Anonymous said...

you're guessing: WRONG! but i'm guessing: you're the typical lame-sauce scambot who would rather pimp off anyone who has money just to line the pockets of your lame-sauce SUCKline so you can achieve a spot on the beloved PYRAMID. yep, i said it: PYRAMID. and yes, he is angry on only one thing he can't achieve: kicking your pompous, spoiled, kool-aid drinking, cult-following, proud scambot ASS. but maybe he left that to folks like myself. that's okay; i'd be more than happy to oblige--for FREE. i am generous like that, you know. XD

**proud Amway hater**

Anonymous said...

dukhi atma ko agar swarg mein bhi bhej diya jaiye to woh swarg ki shanti mein bhi defect nikal hi degi

Aneesh Kumar.A said...

I dont understand why he hates Amway... If he dont want to be successful just ignore it.... Why he is wasting time to hate this wonderful thing..... after a couple of years he also will have to have some amway product .. because this products are going to be spread like anything ......

Brit Diamond Rajina Aneesh Kumar.

Anonymous said...

this is the life changing business so must change yr life

Anonymous said...

That was so funny! you were an ibo? Well of course you didnt do good in the business to see any outcomes its like getting a membership at the gym and keeping that card in your pocket and waiting to see results rather then actually doing an physical movement! I just got back from a weekend seminar which was amazing and im happy to say i have shaked hands with these extremly rich and hard working people diamonds and above! That was an extremly stupid blog you just made a fool of yourself. I wonder when you will retire and with how much money atleast that diomond you were talking down about will be retired soon with an ongoing income.

Anonymous said...

My sister - in law is with them, and they suck! She is poor as a mouse and claims to be close to D level! She cannot even afford her rent, or much food. This is a scheme that is crap, and after I saw the results in her friends income from this as well as hers I would not want any part of it. It sure is Smoke and mirrors. Great post.

Anonymous said...

bullshit :)

Anonymous said...

fuck off...

**proud Amway hater**

Anonymous said...

shut up dickweed...

**proud Amway hater**

Anonymous said...

+1

Unknown said...

KEEP WORKING FOR YOURE DIAMOND AND KEEP INVESTING WERE DIVIDENS DONT PAY MUCH

MarieAlmanz said...

I COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH YOUR RESPONSE! It is truly about attitude and great leaders have a positive attitude. I rather be working nights and weekends because I like it than working for a retail business the same schedule and earning crap!

I also agree that it depends on how you spend your money! Not everybody learns financial education. So in that matter I want to work some nights and weekends, travel anywhere any time and get paid for doing it.

Anonymous said...

You ask me what is amway,I will show you- Crown
MaLaR

mkozgur said...

I think you are missing the point as well.

My upline diamond and I have been very close friends and he is a hard worker, but not because he has to, but rather because he just loves to.

He was the first diamond to come out of my country (non-US, obviously) and he has been so for the past 15 years, although he stopped pursuing the business for some 7-8 years in between to raise two kids, and he was still a diamond all through that period.

Once he raised the kids, he was back to business to set a new goal for himself to go double diamond this time.

I am working on replicating his success so he teaches me all the intricate details and strategies, and goes through my yearly plan step by step.. In fact he gave me a full excel file which laid out how he became a diamond in three years at the beginning of his Amway career, broken down to monthly, even daily activities and met targets along the way. What a know-how.

He says, "do this, and you have replicated my success." He believes I have a potential to do even better, which is so encouraging. There are almost a hundred people with tons of badges and turnovers between me and him in my upline, yet he still cares and spends so much time with me despite the 300 miles between our locations. He spent a few days in my house last week and we hung out and signed up 12 casual people as we chatted and observed people as well.

Never mind the business, this is transforming me completely into a different person in terms of human interactions and communication. Awesome personal development. And I am not a shy person. I've been a professional musician and gigged before stadium crowds many times and interacted with many different people for years. But this experience is a completely different thing.

He is just an amazing fellow, a man with a plan, and certainly enjoys working. At his level, it is so obvious that he doesn't have to work anymore to keep his income coming in -I have calculated that he must have made over 10 million dollars over the course of 18 years that he's been in the business, which is not bad eh?. He once said had he not taken that interim retirement from the business, he could have been a crown by now, but he had no regrets whatsoever. He is still minted enough for any reasonable person.

He works purely because he is just racing with himself. He always has a new hill to take over, although he could easily retire himself again, as he once did in his late 30s from this business.

It is a very respectable success.

Anonymous said...

not buying that for a second!

amway üye olmak istiyorum said...

if you want to get succes you should work very hard

envey said...

I am working so hard in order to get success

Anonymous said...

you may have better results having Cess suc you

Anonymous said...

The Amway "supposed diamond" on my street claims to be a millionaire. In reality? Debt up to his eyeballs, which his "downline" apparently can't figure out how to access on the county government website. He's broke. Worse than broke, warrants out because he's so in debt. Some "diamond".

Joecool said...

I don't doubt that many diamonds are in debt. The diamond lifestyle cannot be sustained on 100K or even 200K. The business also has expenses that must be accounted for. I suspect many diamonds are in debt or close to broke.

Unknown said...

Average diamond income is 500K the numbers you guys have are from the 80s. Even though I'm sure you guys don't make 100-200 K

Joecool said...

Michael, you didn't read the fine print. 500K is for Q12 diamonds. Q12 is the rare exception, not the normal.