The Amway Motivational Scam?

Based on my experience in Amway, my blogging experience, and observation of other people who give financial advice such as real estate gurus who teach you to buy property with no money down, or others such as Robert Kiyosaki for that matter, all show testimonials of sucessful people. Obviously they do not show you the vast majority of people who try their systems and fail. It is just like the Amway leaders who edify some downline who "drove the miles" or made sacrifices and achieved some level such as platinum. Sadly, for each minor success in Amway, there are probably hundreds or people who tried and failed, despite earnest efforts.

It is my informed opinion that whether it is Amway, WWDB, BWW, N21, real estate or the cashflow business, the vast majority of people who try these systems do not make any kind of significant income. Sure, some do (although extremely rare), and those are shown as the possibilities. But if you watch infomercials, you will see in small print on the bottom of the screen, "unique experience", you results may vary. I believe that a similar message used to be at the end of Amway motivational recordings as well. A real business owner would want to know what is the likely result, not just the "best case scenario". Unlike some Amway leaders say, the facts do matter and should not be ignored.

These systems in general do not work for various reasons. Many people simply do not have the acumen to work the system. Or the system has too many variables for the system to work, or the system calls for things beyond your control. For example, success in Amway generally requires you to sponsor others, or to sell a lot of product. Many of these vital factors are beyond the direct control of most people. Add in the lazy and people who are hoping for a quick score and it is understandable that most will fail in Amway. I don't understand why apologist either deny or try to minimize this fact.

But these systems are often set up where the majority simply cannot all succeed. Nowhere is that more true than the Amway business where the pyramidal compensation plan nearly guarantees failure for the vast majority of lower level IBOs. You can only have one platinum for approximately 100 downline IBOs. Unless IBOs are somehow moving large amounts of volume, you need more IBOs to reach these levels. A diamond is six of these groups, all of which are churning through prospects and IBOs each month. Replacing people who quit is a massive undertaking. The common 6-4-2 plan consists of 79 IBOs all moving enough volume to earn a bonus. That scenario is highly unlikely to downright impossible.

So what can someone do? Well, it may no be as sexy or attractive but a part time job and investing and saving might be something to think about. Even a part time business where you focus on selling products for a profit might work. It just seems prudent to avoid these "systems" as the primary beneficiary of these "systems" are the ones who directly profit from them. Kiyosaki and the diamonds likely earn most of their money selling tools and training and not by doing what they proclaim.