When I saw the Amway plan, it made perfect sense at the time, because the diamond who made the presentation made everything seem sensible. Make money and/or save money. On the surface, you would have to be nuts to not want to make or save some money. But it is the reality that is the problem. The reality is for business building IBOs is financial damage or financial disaster from the ongoing costs of the system expenses. I saw crosslines go bankrupt and more than one couple lost their homes to foreclosure by "doing whatever it takes" to get to the next function.
Our group (WWDB) edified people who bought extraordinary amounts of extra tapes/cds, extra function tickets and made superhuman efforts to get to functions. Looking back, I remember an IBO who was edified for coming all the way to a family reunion function in Portland Oregon when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The speaker said he could have been miserable spending time at home but here he was making a difference in people's lives. WTF? I wrote a post earlier this month about how IBOs think they are saving the world and helping people when in reality, the masses of IBOs are only "helping" their diamonds to attain material wealth by purchasing function tickets, voicemail, standing orders and other materials.
I would agree that some training and information can be helpful for new IBOs but I do not see any value in a neverending supply of cds and and endless number of meetings and functions. The very thing (support materials) that uplines claim is your key to success is the very thing that nearly guarantees business building IBOs to financial struggles. Our upline wanted IBOs to be out of debt, which is good, but they would also say in the same breath that it was okay to go into hock if it was to attend functions or to purchase additional support materials. WTH? Sadly, many IBOs do not see through this self serving advice.
Most people, including myself are very wary when we deal with car salesmen. We are wary because we know that the salesman is out to make money off of us and will try to sell us every option in the book. Thus we negotiate and reject the car options that we don't really need to or. Guess what? Your uplines are like car salesmen except that they sell you different options such as premier club, standing order, book of the month, function tickets, voicemail, open meeting tickets. Just like a car buying customer, taking all the options maximizes the car salesman's commission and the car dealer's profit. Buying all the support materials increases your upline's profits. Imagine the car saleman telling you that the extended warranty was vital to owning the car. You'd think twice about it, yet uplines will tell you that functions are vital to your Amway business and many IBOs buy it hook line and sinker. I hope this analogy will encourage IBOs to think of support materials as options on the car. You don't need any options to make the car work. Just as you don't really need support materials to buy and sell Amway products, and to get some downline to do the same.
We are wary of car salesmen. In my opinion, downline and prospects should be just as wary of uplines who promote tools as "vital" to your success in Amway. Keep in mind that a sponsor is obligated to help train any downline, regardless of whether they are on the system or not.
6 comments:
Joe, when I was at the FED last October, I was put in a very weird and similar position. The oddest thing about the way I can relate is, money was not the direct issue at hand. When I went, the first two days were about the history of the Country and then the diamonds going on and on about their lifestyles. They would talk about god a bit, which was a slight deterrent because I don't want to mix business with religion, but I could get past it. The day things got really weird was Sunday.
I was feeling pretty jazzed because of the lights, music, happiness, and warmth of the people around me. However, my sponsor suggested that I come to a sermon on Sunday before the usual talks began. I was completely thrown off because he knew that I was not a religious person, and if I was it would have nothing to do with Christianity. I told him I would feel very awkward about attending, and I didn't see how it would benefit my business. I also told him, I had been running on low energy from not getting a usual day to sleep in and therefore I would utilize their sermon time to refresh myself for the more meaningful business talks (That's an awkward thing to say, because I know nothing was actually meaningful now). He looked at me with disdain, and said that it was extremely important to not miss anything including the sermon.
I had crossed a bizarre path because I was interested in joining at the time, but I was compromising my boundaries in order to do it. I reluctantly ended up attending the sermon, and I am actually glad that I did. I watched as some ludicrous pastor went on and on about nonsense with god and Amway (essentially his weird version of the prosperity gospel), and then was begged for money. I'm here to learn how to build a business...not to donate to a cause I don't support. This was a huge reality check, and when they went into the group prayer I stepped outside. I had had enough and ended up leaving early that day to reel myself in to reality after being extremely sleep deprived and witnessing sickening behavior.
I would like to say that I do not oppose any type of religion, generally speaking, and do not care if that is something others believe in. However, I appreciate the same level of respect and that people not go out of their way to try and change me. It wasn't until later that I realized I had already begun to be indoctrinated. I was not able to say no, and I was compromising my values to make a dollar. I resented myself for this behavior and vowed not to let it happen again. As a result I am an active participant in forums like these to share my experience and add to the collective narrative.
Hi Ben, for the reasons you descried, Amway is sometimes referred to as a cult. They have the audience worship the leaders (diamonds) and then sometimes the business aspect criss crosses with religion.
I too attended one of the non denominational services and thought it was odd. The diamonds are usually good speakers but they are not Pastors and adept at using scripture and explaining the proper context.
But you're right, it's easy to get sucked into the hype and to almost feel inspired at times, especially when you start to dream about Ferraris and mansions. I mean who wouldn't want those things if they suddenly became attainable?
But that's the scam. Realistically it's not attainable but it's used as the bait to get you to move those Amway products and to buy the tools and functions.
Looking back, I wonder how many diamonds really owned those sports cars versus how many rented them to show off at functions?
Dear Ben --
The so-called "prosperity Gospel" isn't part of Christianity at all. It's totally fraudulent. Not a single serious Christian theologian, whether Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox, accepts this fake, greed-based pseudo-religion.
Forcing persons to attend a religious service against their will or inclination is contemptible.
Let's see if any Amway scum will show up here to defend the practice. Come on, Ambots! Let's hear your defense of forcing people to attend sermons.
The Amway diamonds are what I call prosperity preachers. Do what I say and you will be blessed by God. I actually heard a speech where the speaker said Amway is a God pleasing business. As if God would enjoy seeing people ruined financially and the diamonds getting rich by lying and scamming their downline.
The Sunday service performed by the diamonds were lacking in actual scriptures and any real substance.
If Amway is a "God-pleasing business," then so is the Mafia's numbers racket.
Crown dexter yager gave a speech once where he basically implied that he was God. These folks really get full of themselves.
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