Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Weird Upline Practices?

Looking back at my IBO days, I can now laugh at some of the weird stuff we did and believe it or not, I have reason to believe that my old LOS, WWDB still teaches some of this and some other major groups also teach it. I believe some of these practices were the reason why some people refer to the Amway business as cult or having cult like qualities. If you recognize some of these practices, you might be in an unethical group and you should ask your upline the tough questions and possibly reconsider or reprioritize your involvement in the business.

Submission to upline was one of the things we were told. Our group was told that upline would never purposely lead us astray so we should trust them and never try anything without checking upline. Afterall, upline had experience and probably had all the answers. Some of this checking upline included asking permission to get married, buy a car or a home, or even something as small as purchasing a camera. The upline said maybe someone upline might have advice on how to get a good deal on a camera so no harm in checking upline before making a purchase. It is my guess that upline didn't want your disposable income being spent on anything other than standing orders and functions.

Late meetings. Our upline was into late meetings, many occuring after midnight. I suppose it was a show of loyalty and dedication to the upline and the system. In reality, it made most people angry at their jobs because they had to wake up early to go to work. For me it made me mad at our upline because the meetings taught us nothing of substance and it just made us tired. Our upline used to talk about time being important but it was never important enough to make him show up on time for his own late night meetings. Another cult like factor - sleep deprivation.

Secrets. Anytime we asked about how much income uplines may have been earning, we were either told it's none of our business or shown a photocopy of a 5 year old bonus check that someone upline may have received. Our proof that the business worked was upline showing off pictures of sports cars and mansions. Of course we now find that some WWDB diamonds had homes foreclosed, and one prominent triple diamond had some dealings in bankruptcy court. Looking back, I suspect that many diamonds have mortgages, which would be nor problem except that these leaders scoffed at the sutpidity of having a loan. That diamonds pay cash for everything, including homes. My former sponsor still lives in a run down rented home beause he won't purchase a home unless he's got the cash. My former sponsor is a physician so I find his position on buying a home preposterous. His oldest child, a son probably grew up deprived of his parents because of dedication to the system and the functions.

Losing money is success. Many times, our group was told that losing money was a sign of success. It was success because we were investing in our futures. That the business really is not about money but about friendships. I suppose upline taught this because everyone was losing money so it was nice to hear that success was around the corner, and that we were all nicer people and on our way to success if we just attended more functions and bought more standing orders. People who sold off some of their personal property were edified if they did so to attend a function. Obviously these folks were not advised to run their business within their means. Upline even said that going into debt was okay, but only if the debt was to invest in the business or to buy extra function tickets.

While some of these practices seem bizarre, I believe it is because the upline advice was self serving and meant to channel their downline's dollars into tool purchases. It is the only conclusion I can make. What's your conclusion?

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

My conclusion is that your a loser and a quitter. You could not make Amway work for you so now your life is dedicated to bashing it and spreading negatives to plant seeds of doubt in IBO's. Someone like you has nothing better to do and you want to mock people who want better things in life and are willing to work at it. People like you are like crabs in a bucket trying to constantly pull people down when they are simply trying to get out of the bucket. why don't you go jump off a cliff you loser!

Joecool said...

So if your upline told you to avoid negatives, why are you here reading my blog? There must be something compelling that makes you come here and read my articles. Certainly I don't force anyone to sit and read my blog posts.

rocket said...

Ahhh, the good ol' crabs in the bucket analogy. Nice to know the uplines are still using that old chestnut 20 years later.....

The more things change.....

Joecool said...

Yeah, despite Amway apologists claims that critics are outdated and our experience is not valid, yet we keep seeing the same old same old year after year after year...

Anonymous said...

And you will still see the same old because the truth has no expiry date. That means you will never change your ways of being a loser and of being someone who has a fervent desire and pleasure to bring others down with him/her. That's you Mr Joecool aka Steve Nakamura from Hawaii!

Joecool said...

Who is Steve Nakamura? You and some other Amway zealots have called me that but can you point out bonafide evidence to support your claim? I thought not.

*crickets chirping*

Mike said...

What does it matter who Joe really is? Is there something inherently wrong or untrue about what Joe has written? This is just another weak attempt by an Amway apologist at diverting the discussion away from the issues. I am also a former IBO and everything Joe has mentioned in this article, I also heard as an IBO. The anon seems so obsessed about Joe's identity but he hides behind a cowardly anonymous label spouting hatred just because Joe has a differing opinion.

Anonymous said...

Aloha kakahiaka aku Steve Nakamura! Pehea ʻoe? No hea mai ʻoe?

Joecool said...

Yep, an anonymous coward posting a statement here really is bonafide proof. Not!

Anonymous said...

Hey Anonymous! This blog like many others is meant to provide information based on other people's experience in Amway and the "motivational organizations" that profit selling their CDs and functions to IBOs in their organizations.
If you don't care to hear our opinion which is based on facts and experience then simply don't visit this site. Your upline don't want you to know the facts anyway as they would prefer that you stay in a dream state so that you stay in the cult and continue to pay for their useless Tools and functions.
Feel free to prove us wrong and tell us how successful you really are keeping in mind that sucess in business is defined by net profit (profit after all expenses).

***Former WWDB Lemming***

Anonymous said...

I am in the cult yet I am not paying for any tools and functions. I see personal growth, I love it! So where's the problem?!
Hōʻolu Steve Nakamura! Maopopo iaʻu ʻole! Pehea 'oe?

Anonymous said...

I am in the cult yet I am not paying for any tools and functions. I see personal growth, I love it! So where's the problem?

Joecool said...

There's no problem. You're just stupid for wasting your time.

Unless you have some evidence or proof of my identity, I won't allow anymore comments with names. Yuo could be naming someone who has nothing to do with this blog or Amway.

Joecool said...

I also noticed you mention personal growth but nothing about business growth.

Anna Banana said...

At least Anonymous admits he's in a cult and not once but twice he affirms this. Usually they don't admit they're in a cult until after they've gotten out.

Anonymous said...

anon = OWNED!

Anonymous said...

I love the Three Stooges: Anna Banana, Joecool & Anonymous. Very funny stooges!

Except that the real stooges had a meaningful message, not the ones here.

Well Joecool, I'll stop speaking to you in Hawaiian for it seems that your butt is getting very uncomfortable at the sound of it... I wonder why is that when you said that unless I have no proof of your identity, you won't allow anymore comments with names that is, your real name.

But you know what, I love to add insult to the injury. Especially for a beast like you who lives in the paradise of Hawaii. So yeah! :)

Honi ko'u 'elemu moloâ! A hui hou! Aloha nui loa! Muuuahhh! :) XOXOXO

Anna Banana said...

Anonymous from Canada - we know you love us because you spend so much time reading our blogs. How does your fiancee feel about all the love she's not getting because you're spending so much time with your other loves?

Joecool said...

Anonymous from Canada, you have no proof of my identity. My real name is not Steve. You think it is but you have no bonafide proof of that, or even any compelling evidence. Therefore for you to keep refering to me by an incorrect name is unfair to an individual who may actually have that name, which is common in Hawaii.

I notice you are completely unable to debate the actual merits of the Amway business so your only defense is to try and attack me and others on this blog. If you continue with your pedantic behavior, I'll just disallow your comments from here on out.

Anonymous said...

give it to 'em, joe. GIVE IT TO 'EM GOOD!

Anonymous said...

while I can understand your point of view Mr. Joecool, I have not had these experiences you describe. I guess I'm just lucky not to be in Hawaii. Best of luck in your future =D

Anonymous said...

you think it only happens to people in hawaii??? gee, where's your mind? smh