IBOs Must Believe?

 Happy New Year bloggers!    Based on some recent comments, I was inspired to write this post.  I’ve slowed down a bit due to the holidays but plan to pick it up a bit in 2021.   So you might wonder what my title is about?  Well, many prospects are younger or just entered the work force and face the idea of working 30-40 years while saving for retirement.  Seems daunting which is how the diamonds suck you in.  

They make it sound like working makes you a slave of the boss and that you must endure it for decades before you can retire and even that’s not secure.  They tell you that they as diamonds have it made and the only way to break the cycle is to join Amway and go diamond,  

Hey, 2-5 years of hard work and build it right and become financially free. That’s at better than working 30 to 40 years full time.  And the diamonds hold the secret to this financial nirvana.  All you need to do is sign up for their “system” and follow their advice and easy street awaits you.  Despite the fact that diamonds are not popping up like weeds, the IBOs hold onto the faith and belief that the diamonds will deliver them to the promised land. 

But you might ask why do IBOs believe so strongly despite the mountains of evidence that the system doesn’t work?  The IBOs believe because they must.  If they let go of their falsely elevated hopes and dreams, what do they fall back on?  They fall back on the reality of working 30 to 40 years until they can retire and then hope they have enough cash to retire on.  

But if IBOs would take a dose of reality that Amway will not deliver the lofty dreams that diamonds peddle to the down line, they would realize that there is no magic pixie dust to produce early retirement, short of winning the lottery.  Retirement takes planning and work.  Sometimes one might get lucky and have money dropped into their lap but in most cases, luck has little to do with early retirement.  

But IBOs believe the diamonds, because they have to.  Anything less would serve them a harsh dose of reality.  

Amway And The Holidays!

 I recall being an Amway IBO many years ago.  IBOs wind up being social paraiahs at times because they have ulterior motives at social events.  Or at least the ones that their Amway schedule allows them to attend.  I found it humorous that Amway diamonds would teach about vertical alignment which means God, Family and your job came first and Amway fell in line after that. But at the same time you were expected to never miss a meeting or function.  

It must be awkward at times to be at social gatherings knowing that some IBO might be eyeing you up as a potential Amway prospect.  IBOs are shameless at times when it comes to looking for potential recruits.  After all, you can’t go diamond without a group of IBOs down line.  I recall doing sone of these zany things myself as an IBO, but luckily I saw the light and snapped out of my Amway trance pretty quickly.  

So to that I say to Amway IBOs.  Have a merry Christmas and give up prospecting for two weeks.  Enjoy the holidays without having a motive.  Enjoy your friends and family and don’t worry about Amway for a few weeks.  The world won’t come to and end and more than likely. Your business won’t have been affected by stopping recruiting for a few weeks to enjoy the holidays. 

I don’t know what the new year will bring but you’ll survive and life will go on.  By now your upline diamonds are likely promoting a major function called Dream Night or something like it.  While it might be a virtual event, you will be sports cars and jet skis, and other luxurious goods.  All to get you “dreaming” so you’ll be motivated to keep building Amway. Of course to attend dream night you’ll have to fork out $75 or more but this year it likely won’t include a dinner.  In the end, you and thousands of other IBOs paying for these functions and other tools is how the diamonds pay for the stuff you might see at dream night.  

Don’t believe me?  Do the math.  

Selling?

 One thing I recall about my time in Amway was how difficult it could be to sell Amway stuff.   You rarely heard about anyone edified for selling a lot of stuff.   My own experience was primarily friends and family, likely sympathy purchases.   Help out the crazy friend who does Amway.  LOL. 

But seriously, has anyone gone on stage as a ruby because they sold 15,000 PV worth of Amway stuff?   The most extreme case I witnessed was a fellow IBO who bought 1000 PV worth of stuff in a month because the diamond had promoted a picnic that he would attend but only for those who were at 1000 PV or higher.  Of course that IBO later lost his home in foreclosure.  

That’s why diamonds advised us to ask if prospects enjoyed selling.  Regardless of a yes or no response, our answer would be “great, then this business is perfect for you”.  It gave you an out either way.  But it’s just another example of diamonds teaching questionable recruiting tactics.  I guess an honest straight up approach regarding Amway doesn’t work so there are strategies that need to be employed.  

To support my claim I simply point to the fact that diamonds teaching the buy from yourself mantra.  No selling needed. Just self consume your own defacto quota of PV and get others to do the same.  Of course I know of no business where you can consume yourself to success.  But it’s what many IBOs believe and what many diamonds teach.   And for this reason and others, I’ve been blogging about it for nearly two decades so these silly teachings can be exposed for the fraud that I believe it is.  

“Broke”?

 I recall my Amway upline saying how our group was “broke”.  He says we’re not bad people but being broke was the result of our mentality.  That we somehow think working 40 hours a week for 40 years is the answer to our long term finances. That we needed to shift our thinking away from the broke mentality.  So apparently anyone with a job was broke because working was not the answer.   Even though you're told that Amway is "hard work", somehow that doesn't count as work in relation to having a job.  

The diamonds thought they had it all figured out because they allegedly play all day and night without a worry in the world. They have the right mindset because they have a business that is earning for them while they do other things.  They are the greatest business minds because they have it all.  Or so it seems.  

There never was any explanation given when a WWDB triple diamond filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy some years ago.  Some IBOs flat out denied it despite there being publicly available records of it.   But this diamond was fiercely defended by the faithful, clamoring that they were lucky to be given advice from someone with his business acumen.  That despite his wise decisions resulted in credit card debt that he could not pay off, and loans that he defaulted on by declaring bankruptcy.  So much for that financial acumen and integrity that IBOs often speak of.  

That leads me to another point.  Nobody knows how well off or not the diamonds are.  They put on a good show but has anyone seen their tax returns or bank statements?  How do you know that the diamonds aren’t as broke as everyone else?  A luxurious lifestyle is not cheap and diamonds don’t make millions of dollars as they would have you believe.  It’s very likely that many of them are in debt just like many other Americans who live beyond their means.  Having a higher than average income doesn’t shield you from living beyond your means.   Go and look at Amway's disclosures.  A Q12 diamond (Q12 is the exception, not the norm) makes around $600k gross income.  A regular non Q12 diamond (the norm) makes a lot less.  Even with supplemental income from tools and functions, you aren't buying mansions and $100k sports cars in cash.  

If IBOs are broke, then it’s very likely that many diamonds are as well.  The only difference is that the diamonds don’t man up and admit it.  Instead they put on a show to rip off their down lines with rah rah tools and functions.   The diamonds are more like actors who put on a show for their downline.

Perpetuating The Scam?

 The diamonds have been laughing all the way to the bank for decades now.  Sone diamonds use this to justify their actions as levy because surely a scam would have been uncovered and shut down.  To that I say organized crime is older than Amway and alive and well.  So is the Nigerian scam and other similar variations.  The LOS such as WWDB or Network 21 continue to roll on using Amway as their vehicle.

The scheme is quite subtle and clever.  They often target younger folks who see their careers just starting thus they have a long journey towards retirement. The diamonds say you will work hard but Amway is a great shortcut to early retirement and possibly untold wealth.  At meetings and functions, they show things to entice recruits into joining and for IBOs to drool over as a reason to press forward. 

The diamonds say they basically hold the secrets to unlocking this secret to succeeding in Amway.  But to unlock that secret you will need to dedicate yourself to the tools and functions with undying loyalty.  They say if you never quit you will eventually cross that finish line sort of like running a marathon.  Sounds like something that most people can do if they just set their minds to it. 

What goes unnoticed is that the ultimate goal is like finding the end of a rainbow.  It will always be seemingly out of reach.  But upline says do not despair, just continue to immerse yourself in the tools and functions and you will make it.  As if consumption of tools and functions alone will make you a success.  Amway for sone, becomes an addiction, like a drug user or someone hooked on smoking.  It’s hard to quit plus you start to think you invested too much to just quit. 

And that’s how the diamonds continue to perpetuate a scam.  They instill a fear in you that quitting makes you a broke loser and that quitting means you have no hope for a good financial future.  That quitting can’t be an option.  But in business, sometimes quitting is the best decision.  Cut your losses.  It doesn’t mean you’ve quit trying to better yourself and your family.  But it might mean you just need a better way to achieve your goals and dreams. There are many better options besides Amway.  You just need to go get it.  

Living In Luxury?

 If you believe your upline diamonds, people join Amway and  in a few years, retire at an early age, live in luxury and live happily ever after.  But oddly, you never actually meet these folks and if they are simply an urban legend.  Sort of like big foot or UFOs.  Everyone’s heard about big foot and UFOs but there has never been bonafide evidence of their existence, much like diamonds who built their business and “walked away” from Amway to enjoy residual income for life. 

The diamonds typically speak about the luxurious lifestyle that they enjoy without any financial worries.  Just to make an analogy, a regular average diamond probably makes around (according to Amway) $150k annually.  With tools income to augment that they might make $200 to $250k annually.   A Q12 diamond (rare) earns around $600k.  A nice income?  For sure.  

To add scale, $600k is around the minimum wage of an NFL player. I actually think they make around $500k.  But the point is that about 2/3 of NFL players go broke shortly after they stop playing.  And that 2/3 includes those who make much more than the NFL minimum.  Excess living and luxury often contributes to the demise of many NFL players.  So what’s the point?  

The point is that the Amway business is a fragile one where a group can quit and drop you out of qualification in a heartbeat.  In other words a diamond can fall out of qualification just as an NFL player can get injured or cut from the team.  In other words their income can shrink or stop at any time.   But we are to believe they live in excess luxury at all times?  

I believe it’s all a show and diamonds likely have to live on a budget and save for retirement like anyone else.  Maybe tenured diamonds might be secure but certainly not new ones whose groups can fall apart. Diamonds might give the impression that they live in luxury but I suspect that reality would paint a very different picture.  Do the math on a life of luxury and I can assure you that the cost exceeds the Amway reported diamond incomes.  

Build It Right, Build It Once?

 One of the things upline taught was how you could build your business right and build it once.  You would the. Have the option to “walk away” to enjoy residual income for life while the income keeps flowing forever and you can live happily ever after.   Sounds like a great deal right?

It would be a great deal if it were true but more likely it’s complete BS.  Build it right and build it once?  So whh kg at happens to the 50% or more who quit within the first year and the near 100% who don’t last five years in Amway?  How can income be sustained when so many IBOs never do a thing and about half quit without renewing their business?  

How does a business generate income when the IBOs cone and go as if there is a revolving door for entering and exiting the business?   If the diamond is gone, who will keep the business held together and who will assist the leaders who are left behind?   It’s like building a sand castle on the beach. The castle may stand for a while but once the tide comes up, the waves will quickly make the sand castle disappear.  Just as attrition will eat away at an Amway business when someone walks away.  

Even if this sill claim were true, why hasn’t anyone chosen this option?  Surely walking away to a quiet retirement in privacy and untold wealth, surely there would be a few good examples of this happening.  Instead we see the same old tired diamonds schlepping tools and functions to the down line ad nauseum.  IMO, it’s gotten to the point where these diamonds should be embarrassed pushing tools and functions on down line 

The diamonds never walk away because once they stop, the income stops.  Sure there might be sone income still coming in for a while but if a platinum or two down line fall out of qualification, the diamond will also fall out.  And that’s because the Amway business with high attrition is just not self sustainable.   You don’t have to believe me but instead, go find a few IBOs who built it once and built it right and who walked away to enjoy life long residual income. 

Feel free to return here and report your findings.   🤡