Thursday, January 14, 2010

Amway - The Psychology Behind The Presentation?

The Psychology Behind The Presentation

I’m not sure whether this plan was carefully crafted out or whether it just evolved, but the way some uplines show the plan is cleverly designed to suck people into their systems. If you aren’t aware or careful, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the presentation. The presentation is full of deception and I will try to point out these items in my analysis.

The speaker may talk about how he once thought he was “doing okay” in life. That he was making a living and able to meet his financial obligations. But he thought there might be more. One day he saw the plan and it changed his life. He did not realize he had gotten into a rut of going to work and going home every day and looking forward to his 2 weeks off each year. (This is relatable for many) That time and money are so important in life. Control of time and money is the key to success. Many people have lots of money but work all day and nite. Or people have time but are broke and can’t do much. The speaker might mention dreams or goals such as having an extra $500 a month or more. What would you do for an extra $500 a month. What about an extra $50,000 a year? Wouldn’t it be nice to have the wife stay home with the kids instead of leaving the family to go to work? Like the “Leave it to Beaver” days? (This gets the women excited)

The speaker will likely mention something about the economy and how prices always go up. The speaker may mention the 4 “I’s” that suck money out of your paycheck. The four I’s are Interest, Income Tax, Insurance and Inflation. The speaker may talk about how the government will take their cut and so on until you get your “net”. The speaker may mention how so many Americans are dead or broke by age 65, and that social security will collapse. (This instills fear in many people).

The speaker might also go on to mention how so many marriages are falling apart in the US because of financial stress. That couples work so hard that they have no family time and it hurts marriages. That people work so many hours these days that they are married to their desks. The “manager” of the office is the first one there and the last one to go home. That despite all of this work and effort, people are falling into debt. Credit cards maxed out, loans, trying to keep up with the Joneses. (Many people can relate to this)

But now, because he was looking for opportunity/open minded one day, he saw an opportunity. This opportunity changed his life and can do the same for you! The speaker now wakes up at the crack of noon. His wife stays home with him and the kids. They take nice vacations and they do what they want when they want. (Of course, who doesn’t? But is this true?) The opportunity takes advantage of the internet and allows you to leverage your time and money so that you can create a residual walk away income. (But nobody walks away do they?)

This is approximately the point in the presentation where they mention “Amway” At this point, the speaker will defend Amway, stating that if you can make money, does it matter.? If you can save money, does it matter? The speaker may go into the product line and mention partner stores and will likely show a 6-4-2 plan or a variation of it. In every case, they will show a best case scenario, not what is likely. Many prospects will leave thinking “all I need is six”. They don’t understand how unlikely it is to sponsor six platinums and there is no mention of the retention rates, the income most IBOs can expect, and firm questions will be deflected to the prospect’s inviter. The speaker may also discourage you from speaking to friends and family as they may have a bad experience but the diamond is successful and knows more about Amway than your family and friends.

Joe’s commentary: So the speaker becomes very relatable from the start. His situation in life will be like many in the audience. He will talk about doing okay,. But wanting more or looking for more. He talks about debts and many in the audience will also relate. They get people to think about dream cars or vacations. He talks about walk away income, but doesn’t mention that very very few ever make significant money and apparently, not many actually walk away either. They say you will make money and save money by doing the business. It’s hard to argue against that,.except most people will not make money or save money. In fact most people, if they participate fully or partially in the training system, they will lose money. For the dedicated IBOs, many of them LOSE LOTS OF MONEY. The plan is crafted out to sound sensible and relatable, but many IBOs will give it a try and shortly after, will realize that the system doesn’t work, that the reputation of Amway IBOs is soiled and sponsoring people or even getting people to see the plan is a barrier that most people simply cannot overcome. At least if you know what’s going on, you may be able to avoid the trap.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just go and hang yourself or shoot a bullet through your empty skull. You speak like someone who quit and is bitter in life. Your posts are misleading and you want to do nothing less than kill people's dreams and hopes for a better life. You're an irresponsible man in all of your life dealings and quick at throwing the dead cat from your garden to your neighboor's. Oh, it's not me, it's you, it's him, it's them whatever. Lack of discipline and not accepting responsibility. That's why you didn't make it in Amway and for that matter in any other past or future businesses.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Joecool said...

Wow anonymous from Canada. One of us is bitter and it's not me. I will ask you for about the 100th time. What have I written that is misleading?

So are you saying you lack discippline and you don't accept responsibility because you haven't "made it" in Amway?

As I said, prove to ne that the cash is rolling into your Amway business and I will make it a headline article on this blog with my apology.

Put up or shut up?

Anonymous said...

anon...if you don't like what joe's writing, why do you read it? just wondering.

Anonymous said...

It is because I have eyes to see and conciousness to discern. It is official; YOU QUIT and are about to become as BITTER as the owner of this blog.

Joecool said...

Quit? Well, many of us "quit" Amway, but it doesn't mean we quit on life or quit on financial goals. It is the cult-like teaching from AMOs that make you think quitting Amway means you have given up on life and happiness. Frankly I was happier and financially better off after I left Amway.

rocket said...

What's wrong with quitting something?

Sometimes it's an extremely wise business decision!

Can't the Ambots see that they are being manipulated to hang in there until the well (their money to buy tools and overpriced products) is completely dry?

If you aren't MAKING MONEY at what you are supposed to be making money at, and you are doing everything you're told, they why would you stay in?

It's either you are getting poor advice from your upline, the business is not viable, or both.

If you are making a profit after expenses, then there's no issue.

Sadly, this is not the case for the overwhelming majority of the people who get involved.

Joecool said...

Good point Rocket, plus quitting Amway doesn't mean you have quit on all your dreams and goals. Quitting Amway just means you will find another way to achieve them.

Gina said...

Hmmmmm, what happened to all that goodness and positivity IBO's claim to have? Seems telling someone whose opinion differs to shoot themselves in the skull, isn't exactly positive. And besides, if what JC has to say is so far off base then why the need to say such things? Why not let the facts speak?

Anonymous said...

:)

Anonymous said...

Hi, thanks for sharing your blog

Anonymous said...

Dear IBOs, please read this blog with cool mind. Don't take any side, just be neutral. This Joecool guy is trying to save you from bankruptcy.

thecandyman said...

Went to a meeting last night. First and last one. My friend brought me along without me knowing what it was for. It made me feel physically sick. I was never once swayed by any of the smooth talk or pretty pictures of holidays and happy families. Amway and how it's sold are best described as neo-liberalism-gone-even-more-wrong. If you want to keep your friends and family, DON'T JOIN AMWAY.

Raghukumar said...

This business is simple and good. If you create business volume you will get the profit. So use your leader ship skills to grow the business.

Anonymous said...

or take it somewhere else and grow a REAL business. =)