Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Amway And Psychology

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.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Steve, did you see this? All I can say is wow!

Joecool said...

Who is Steve? What the heck are you talking about?

Anonymous said...

Wow. This person has issues. I wonder if Joecool likes himself. I bet he can write books and series of books of all the negative things he sees in himself and all those that surround him especially those who are positive & love your way of living. Joecool just relax and enjoy life. If you don't like Amway then don't talk about it. The more you talk about it the more it seems you like talking about it. I don't think the problem is Amway I think the problem is you. Take Care & I pray you enjoy life instead of dwelling on things that get you mad and upset.

Joecool said...

Who said I am dwelling on things? Heck, I hardly spend any time at all maintaining this blog. Maybe just a few minutes a day and popping in occasionally to moderate comments. Who said I don't like Amway? I think it's a poor business opportunity for most and I think many of the diamond leaders use their rank to scam their downline into purchasing training. Are you actively building an Amway business? If so, what is your net loss?

Anonymous said...

Nice footwork. You don't call yourself Joe"cool" for nothin' ;-)

Joecool said...

How's the weather in Maryland?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this blog Joecool. Recently a friend of mine approached me regarding this "business opportunity" and how he was so psyched out about it. It didn't take me too long (due to my extensive research) to realize that selling Amway products would be taking an astronomical risk. I've been shunning all of the ambots' advances and pleas for me to try it (They are so persistent!). But now I'd like to try and get my friend out of it as well. He's totally fallen head over heels for it....so it looks like he's going to find out the hard way. :( Hopefully this blog and others' will make him think rationally again.

Anonymous said...

Low to mid 90's today. That's almost chilly compared to what we endured through most of July. Thanks for caring.

Joecool said...

Anon from Canada has returned!

Rogers Cable (99.245.78.35) Anon Canada Scarborough, Ontario, Canada

Anonymous said...

Here's hoping, but once they are "psyched out" and "fired up" they are deeply mired in the brainwashing and cult-think. I'm sure you've noticed a drastic change in your friend's personality, a sad symptom of the power of brainwashing. Just like relatives I lost to religious cults, the leaders firmly ingrain into their victim's minds that only the voices of their new cult friends and masters who "love" them have their best interests at heart, and all other voices of friends and family they have known for years "don't understand" or are "losers and failures" and voices of negativity that will drag them down. They put up a barrier between the follower and loved ones to keep out any voice of logic and reason. All a part of the psychological techniques used by cults to assimilate their followers into their closed-off enclave and make them dependent upon them for the "truth", no matter how distant from reality it lies.
~Dave

Anonymous said...

I do not understand why in Amway lying is called positive thinking/attitude! All IBOs who aere supposedly core, should first understand their up-line is making the decision regarding when you sleep, where you work, and sometimes whom you marry, when do you ever take a vacation (if any) etc. And these guys also talk about financial freedom where all diamonds keep sponsoring people and work like a 9% IBO forever... Please all core IBOs, internet is only for outsiders Amway requires internet only for ordering products, do not come to blogs... Your up line must tell you that, internet is a waste of time

Anonymous said...

HOW DO PEOPLE RETURN FROM THE DEAD SO FUCKING QUICKLY?!

**proud Amway hater**

Joecool said...

Some IBOs criticize jobs and a boss but their upline is usually the bossiest. LOL

Anonymous said...

amen to that!