One of the things that Amway leaders use to attract new IBOs is to talk about the dreams that these folks have. They may talk about how having a job will wear you out and dreams that you once had as a child or young adult gets suppressed and/or completely forgotten. They try to revive some of these dreams in the hopes that they can convince prospects that Amway is the only way, or the easiest or best way to accomplish these dreams. They also try to instill the notion that people can choose to succeed in Amway. Being that success in Amway has so many variables out of the direct control of an IBO, nobody can simply choose to make it big in Amway anymore than they can choose to win the lottery. And by the way, the chances of going diamond and maintaining it is about as remote as winning a lottery.
What is somewhat cruel is reviving dreams that for many, will never come to fruition, no matter how much work is done, and no matter how many tools are consumed. There are many instances where no matter how big the dream, it will never come to pass because of physical and financial limitations. For example, as a child, many of us had dreams of playing professional football, hockey or basketball, and living in the glory of winning. However, no matter how many hours you put in and no matter how hard you work, the vast majority of people will never be pro athletes. And even out of the ones who become pro athletes, very few are considered "elite".
Yet the Amway promoters will have people believe that just buying a few products and selling a few products and 2-5 years of "hard" work, people will join the financially elite in the world. As if home care and beauty and nutritional products moved from person to person is going to make you achieve your dreams. That you will quit your jobs and walk the beaches of the world while the cash rolls in by the barrel full. Sadly, many young people become attracted to a propostion that allows them a shortcut to retirement instead of working until age 62 or whatever the standard retirement age is. They are basically promoting false hopes and promises to the vast majority of people who get involved. I believe those who are deemed as "dream stealers" might be doing their family and friends a favor by stealing their dream, which will not come to pass anyway.
With about 1 out of 240 IBOs reaching platinum (the alleged break even point) and about 1 in 20,000 IBOs reaching diamond, the dream is a stretch indeed. Even for the select few who can overcome major challenges and hurdles, maintaining their status often becomes impossible and and not worthwhile (many diamonds have quit).
Also, if you do make it, you will leave behind a trail of people who could not or did not come close to that level of success. It means that in many cases, your success will come at the expense of those you sponsor. It is why many claim that Amway is a legal pyramid.
Having dreams and goals is a good thing. But do you want to accomplish your ultimate dream by hurting (financially) those who trusted you and agreed to be your downline? Is it your dream to go diamond and have 500 to 1000 or more downline IBOs losing money? Is it your dream to be wealthy by exploiting people who trust you and believe that they can achieve the same level of success, when the opposite is true?
What is your dream? Are you willing to hurt others to achieve it? Your answer to this will say a lot.
4 comments:
Excellent post Joecool. It still amazes me how easily Amway IBO's are able to distract prospects and their downline from common sense.
There's LOTS of diamonds who've quit, and unlike Bridgett says in a post on a different blog, the cash value of those businesses which no longer exist is very much debatable. Bridgett Baron, I would love to see a response to this, as well as how you are privy to the value of now dissolved diamondships.
I'm sure she'll take the self proclaimed high road, however it's my belief she will not engage in this discussion simply because it's one that will not look favorably upon her or her "business".
Bridgett Baron what do you say? (She has Google alerts on her name)
Bridgett has a hard time understanding logic and common sense. I believe it is because she may be "slow". But I welcome her comments nonetheless. I doubt she will post here because she has a hard time outside of the comfy surroundings of IBOFB's blog where everyone nods and agrees with the apologists.
I'm thinking of trying Amway again after 20 years away from it. I never did anything with it worth mentioning when I was in it before, but I was exposed to the hype, the "tools," etc.
My questions is: is it the plan itself that is flawed, or is it the character of the people who twisted it into a "get rich quick" scheme? Because that is exactly what they did. By de-emphasizing selling and over-emphasizing sponsorship, they turned the Sales & Marketing Plan into a millstone for grinding the human spirit.
Greed--or lust--is a perversion of desire. Some of the most attractive things about Amway to me are elusive--like the idea that you don't answer to a boss, that you are marketing a great product, etc. These things are not immediately financially rewarding; but they raise my quality of life.
I wonder if the most important, most critical and most destructive deviation introduced into the Sales & Marketing Plan was the over-emphasis on financial success to the exclusion or detriment of more important personal values. Money brings no joy to a man who has no center; i.e., what does it profit him to gain the whole world and lose his soul? This is the balance that the greedmeisters snatched away, with their seductive hype and promises of riches.
I think the riches may come; but, apart from supporting my family, I mostly just want to be happy in whatever I do. I enjoy making other people happy, and selling a good product can bring joy to those who buy it.
If Amway is ever going to be reclaimed, balance must be restored into the IBO community. A lot of people have been careening out of control for a very long time, with the result that the brand is tarnished. Yet the products remain quality products--expensive, it's true, but that's not an insurmountable hurdle.
A balanced approach won't be as lucrative as quickly, and maybe never; but I think those who practice it will be happier.
The plan is flawed, and greed has influenced how many leaders do business. They are more interested in selling downline tools by promising success and wealth that will never come to pass for most. It is sad. I believe many leaders are corrupted by lust for money. Sadly, the bad economy has many of these leaders in financial troubles now. Home foreclosure, bankruptcy, and apparently downsizing homes are common among these Amway leaders.
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