One of the issues I have with the Amway plan is that the newest IBO, possibly the one who does the most "Work", receives the smallest compensation. Amway pays about 30% to 33% of their income back in the form of bonuses. An IBO who does 100 PV receives a 3% bonus and somewhere, uplines and sponsors receive the rest. Some of the upline may not have even met the IBO who actually did the work. Is that really fair and is that a level playing field? What do some of these uplines do to deserve the lion's share of the bonus you worked to get? Yes, the upline diamond may show the plan in an open meeting, which may help you, but then again, you pay for entrance into that meeting.
Many uplines will talk about dreams and fulfilling your dreams. But if an IBO would stop and think for a moment, you can easily see that you are building the dreams of your upline, and not your own. You receive a tiny portion of the bonus for the volume that you move, and then in addition, if you are on the system, then you are also paying upline in the form of tool purchases for the priviledge of giving them bonuses with your product purchases. For that reason, the vast majority of IBOs will shed blood sweat and tears only to show a net loss at the end of the year.
It is why your upline diamonds can parade around on stage with designer suits and show you their fancy cars and mansions and other toys. It is because they are cashing in on your efforts. You are making their dreams come true. Your dedication to moving volume and purchasing standing orders are fulfilling dreams. The upline dreams. Yes, someday you can hope to have your own group of downline to exploit for your own benefit, but unless you are adding members to your group regularly, you will never achieve the kinds of dreams that uplines talk about. In the meantime though, you are definitely helping someone upline achieve their dreams with every function you attend. Ironically, the upline leaders will tell you to never quit, even if they don't know your personal circumstances and/or how your business is progressing.
Here's a challenge for IBOs and/or prospects who are being recruited into the Amway business. 100 PV will cost around $300 a month and dedication to the tools system will cost you around $150 to $250 a month on average. Would you not be better off simply writing a check to your upline for $100 and not even joining? Would you not be better off staying home and watching television instead of joining? If you read all of the information available on this blog and still decide to join, good luck to you, but remember this: Whose dreams are being fulfilled by your participation?
Yours or your upline?
Would be better to write a cheque to your upline for 100. But after you go past the one year mark. Its not all about money. You said your sponsor is a Dr who wasted years in Amway. Often its about recognition and association. They have this dream about traveling around as a hot shot being respected. Also if they leave now they won't recover their loses. I had a friend with gambling problem who talk about can't quitting till he recovers the money he spent. Even though this gambler lost his wife,house, car,job and friends. He now hangs around other broke gamblers talking about making it big or hearing about someone hitting the big jackpot. Sounds a lot like the Amway business to me with this mentality
ReplyDeleteYou're right. My doctor friend was partly building the business because he likes the stage and he wanted to be a "rock star". He really ate it up when he was a new platinum and got to speak on stage. But I honestly think he lost a fortune because of Amway. Imagine closing a doctor's office an extra two to three weeks a year so you can attend functions and other events because of Amway. What's 2 week's pay for a doctor over 20 years. That would be almost a year of lost income not to mention the losses from tools and functions.
DeleteWhat's sad is my platinum was offered a chance to buy a nice home back in 2000 or so and he declined because he wanted to "pay in cash". Well, the real estate in Hawaii started booming and had he bought a home back then, the price would have more than doubled. Instead, he is basically living "ghetto" because his upline says to live below your means. Can you imagine a doctor living like that to chase an Amway dream?