8-12 Hours Per Week To Prosperity?

 One of the myths that my Amway upline used to, and likely still perpetuate is the claim that you can build an Amway mega empire on 8-12 hours of effort per week. I'm venturing an educated guess that this number is used because while it still represents time, it is probably less hours than working a part time job. But let's take a closer look at this 8-12 hours per week.  (Some groups might teach 10-15 hours per week, etc.)

If you listen to one (1) cd/audio per day as recommended by upline and read one of their "success" books 15 minutes each day, you are already close to nine to ten hours of activity used per week and neither of these activities produces any income for your Amway business. In fact, both activities cost you money and produce no tangible result or income.  Upline says you are getting better and "educating" yourself, but how much education do you need to buy stuff, sell stuff and recruit downline?   If you spend another 15 minutes a day contacting people, you are close to 12 hours per week. Where will you find additional time to show the plan and to expand your name and contact list? What about servicing retail customers, at least for IBOs who actually may have some customers. 

What about attending meetings and functions? These are also non income producing activities. It's no wonder the vast majority of IBOs don't make money. Their upline has them running around participating in activities that produce no income for their businesses. Ironically, these non-income producing activities such as listening to a cd/audio, produces a lot of income for certain uplines who produce and sell them. To me, it is just an elaborate game of bait and switch played by upline. They tell you that their system is foolproof and that you will make it if you don't give up. Not true.  All these activities accomplish (listening to audios, reading books and attending meetings and functions) is to provide upline with a stable and sizable regular income.  Many people don't know this, but a diamond may have a small monthly income, possibly $5000 a month.  Of course, it depends on business structure, etc.  But the average run of the mill, non Q12 diamond (the vast majority) probably makes a small monthly income and the rest of that $100 to $150K they speak of comes in the form of annual bonuses.  

But diamonds sell the prospect the dream of financial freedom. You tell the IBOs that Amway is their best chance. You tell them that you can help them and that the tools of the business (standing order, voicemail, books, functions) are the key to their success. Those who are serious enough to commit to the system likely won't quit without making some effort and will allow uplines to earn some nice profits before these downline eventually realize they aren't profitable and quit. Because many IBOs are sponsored by family and friends, you don't see too many formal complaints about the business. Most people chalk it up as a life lesson and do not complain.  

But IBOs and information seekers, do not be fooled into thinking that you will create a financial empire by working 8-12 hours a week. That would be far-fetched, almost too good to be true.  If that's not a get rich quick scheme, what is?  The number of highly successful Amway IBOs versus the number who sign up are likely fewer than lottery winners.