Opposing Views Are Welcome

One thing that many IBOs and Amway supporters seem to shy away from is opposing views. Recently, a WWDB IBO who runs his own blog decided to disallow any comments on his blog. And that certainly is his right as a blog owner, but it seems to be common among Amway defenders. Amway's biggest defender and self proclaimed Amway spokesperson IBOFightback is like this also. While he might say he welcomes opposing views, his actions suggest otherwise. He banned Joecool (without warning) from posting on his website simply because I pointed out that Amway's disclosure of the average IBO income did not include IBOs that are considered to be inactive.

But on this blog, I allow any comments, even if they are contrary to my opinion. Amway supporters and critics alike are welcome to have healthy debates over what I see as issues with the Amway business. I believe that open debate can sometimes result in solutions, and can also allow some self discovery for IBOs and critics alike. For those who only allow comments in line with your own opinions, is well, like living in some sheltered community and those who do so often have trouble coping with the real world.

Another valuable benefit is for iformation seekers. Since Amway appears to have very limited information about being an IBO and IBO experiences, this blog can be valuable for many and over the years, I have received positive comments confirming that. Over the years, my former (and other groups) uplines told many lies and deceived downline about tools, tool profits and other things. This went unchallenged until the internet exposed many of these lies. Sadly, many IBOs simply deny or refuse to believe the obvious. That their upline leaders may have taken advantage of them. I also believe that many IBOs to thise day are taken advantage of by their upline, but refuse to deal with it.

It looks like however, that Amway is declining in the US and Canada. And I believe that free flowing information is a big part of that. Uplines have difficulty in covering up recruitment tactics that might be less than honest. Blogs and forums have also played a part in providing sunshine in important areas. It is why Joecool has not walked away from blogging yet. I believe Amway has made some progress in addressing some of these issues, especially with their newest Amway Answers blog, but until the lying uplines are confined, Joecool's blog and opposing views will continue to exist.

Another Fallacy Perpetutated By AMOs?

There has been much debate by both critics and Amway IBOs and supporters recently over an issue regarding a WWDB Dream Night function. The issue was an honest question over the cost of a Dream Night Ticket. Well, needless to say, the IBO in question ended up deciding that his blog will no longer accept comments. And while that is certainly his right, he made a statement that IBOs may be told, but makes no sense. Here is the statement:

"Here is a tip when doing research, if you have a question about a company why not give the actual company a call? Wow what a concept."

While on the surface, that me seem logical. If you have a question about how a company works, that might make perfect sense. But the Amway opportunity, along with the attached motivational tools companies, make that a touchy situation. What are you supposed to do? Call WWDB and ask if they are a good company? Call WWDB and ask if they scam downline? What if you call and ask WWDB if most IBOs on their system make money or lose money? If you look at the average income of the majority of IBOs amd factor in expenses such as voicemail, satnding orders and functions, I can only conclude that the vast majority of IBOs on the system have to be losing money. The longer you stay in the system, the more you lose. Furthermore, I believe there are more people winning the powerball lottery in the US than the number of new WWDB diamonds emerging in the US in the last dozen years ago or so.

Imagine if you had questions and simply asked the person? Hello? Mr. Al Capone, I heard you were a gangster in charge of organized crime. But I thought it would only be fair if I got the answer directly from you. What's that? You're not a gangster and you go to church? Okay, I see. Well that clears that up. Mr. Capone is not a gangster, I confirmed that by asking him. Do you see the ridiculous justification of just asking the person in question? Isn't a better way to ask a neutral thrid party?

Many IBOs will also suggest that you check the better business bureau. Well, Amway has a good mark from the better business bureau. But Amway isn't selling you voicemail and other support materials right? That would be WWDB or some other motivational group, or a particular double or triple diamond, whose business may not have been registered or known to the better business bureau.

I believe IBOs, information seekers, and prospects can find a ton of information on the internet using google. Upline leaders disourage this because too much frank and disparaging information exists about the Amway opportunity. But much of that information is real life true experiences. I was an up and coming "mover and shaker" in WWDB. This blog relects much of my real experiences and the realizations I came to after having left Amway and WWDB. Sadly, my experience was not a good one, but more and more I see evidence that what I was taught a dozen years ago is still taught today, and by some of the same leaders. I hope my experience can help others.

Amway Makes Progress?

One of the things that Amway has been criticized for in the past was for what appeared to be a complete lack of action when violations of rules were reported. It also appeared that many things were shrouded in secrecy and covered up. Any lawsuits were settled with no information forthcoming. It seemed that even high up diamonds got away with things and it certainly had the appearance that the corporation did nothing. While some actions may have been taken by Amway, nothing was disclosed, thus the appearance of inaction.

While the battle between critics and supporters raged, Amway launched an accreditation program and a PR campaign. However, having been blogging and researching information on Amway, and having contact with real IBOs via social networking gave me the impression that while there was accreditation, the same old upline leaders had still found a way to get their (unethical) messages to downline. Despite accreditation, IBOs were apparently still taught to "buy from themselves". or to "submit to upline" or to "vote republican". Not all groups did this obviously, but I had contact with IBOs from various groups and many of them were taught these things. My old upline, WWDB apparently still teaches the buy home in cash mantra, I suppose to pretend that WWDB diamonds have money to burn. To sum it up, all of these efforts by Amway seemed to be cosmetic with no real change forthcoming. Even the PR campaign with commercials didn't seem to do anything to help Amway's image, at least in the US.

In 2008 -2009, the critics and Amway supporters were at it again because Amway sales were reported globally and US figures were not released. It is my guess that Amway sales in the US were not so great and I believe it's because the Quixtar project was not effective in reclaiming Amway's image. Thus the eventual change to Amway Global and back to Amway.

I was however, encouraged by a fairly recent action taken by Amway. And that was their openness to start this blog: http://blogs.amway.com/answers/
While the blog is not the answer to everything Amway, at least it candidly gives some real information to information seekers and IBOs. A good example was when the blog author said IBOs should not use "passive income" as a term when promoting the business. That is something that most or maybe even all major LOS's were guilty of. While there is a lot more that can be done, this was one of the biggest steps Amway has taken and I give them credit for it. Now if they could only get IBOFighback to stop his rants and insults all over the net and we'd really have something.

Once A Diamond, Always A Diamond?

I've seen some interesting discussion recently about how a diamond pin is like winning a gold medal. That you don't get it taken away from you later even if you don't qualify anymore. The discussion also flowed as to where they mentioned that former US President Jimmy Carter is still addressed as Mr. President. Or that someone with a superbowl ring can be addressed as a superbowl champion. While I agree with that to some degree, I think the issue of diamond or former diamond is significant and different from former President Carter or a former Superbowl Champion. Terry Bradshaw or Joe Montana don't parade around as if they just won the superbowl last year.

The diamond pin is a significant achievement for sure. Seems that recently, it's even harder to achieve in North America. I don't know of more than a few new diamonds emerging in the last ten years or so in the US. But if say a diamond qualified in 1988 and never qualified again, how would you as an IBO feel about paying to see this diamond speak function after function and how many would continue to buy standing orders from a guy who may have achieved diamond 20 years ago and never again? Would the audiences be "fired up" to see these speakers? I find this ironic also, because many Amway defenders like to criticize Amway critics for having an outdated experience. Well, conversely, a one time diamond would be basically the same thing. If not then Joecool should command the respect of a 4000 PV Eagle since that was my highest level.

I actually have no issue with Amway allowing the achiever to carry their highest pin as a recognized achievement, but I do believe that those who use their former pin status to exploit and profit from new IBOs and prospects should be stopped. I know I would not have been so excited attending a function where the keynote speaker went diamond for 6 months a decade ago and was no longer qualified. Else, by upline's definition, he will teach me to go diamond and fall apart? I believe there are fewer North American diamonds now than ten years ago. Some diamonds resigned and some outright quit. So much for residual/passive income. Obviously if these things existed, then nobody would quit or walk away from residual income.

BTW, a recent article on an Amway Corporate website says this about passive income:
"Passive income is a term we do not permit distributors to use and it’s not a term the Corporation uses. In our business, there is no such thing as doing no work, and expecting money to still come in.” Link:
http://blogs.amway.com/answers/2010/11/02/unwelcome-words/#comments

Still think there's a free ride at the end of the tunnel?

Being Positive Can Be "Weird"?

Recently, there's been debate between critics and Amway supporters over an issue regarding a WWDB function called 'Dream Night". A WWDB IBO reported that the function was sold out but did not disclose the amount of a Dream Night ticket. He later posted an article saying that he was sorry for being "negative". Now as a former IBO from WWDB, I was taught to be only positive, That we have too much negative in our lives and that we need the positive.

Now I agree that having only "negatives" in our lives would be detrimental. That eventually, we would be worn down by only negative. But conversely, the teaching of having only positive in your life can be equally damaging. I recall an old Twilight Zone episode where a guy allegedly dies and he thinks he went to heaven as a man in white came to him and offered to grant him what he wanted. He asked for girls and to be a winner in gambling. Well, the man could never lose a single bet. He won every single time and he had girls all over him. He found it to be no challenge and found life so mundane and predictable that he asked the man in white if he could lose once in a while or be challenged. The man in white basically said "no" and the man (I believe his name was Rocky) Rocky, said how come heaven was so lame (not verbatim). The man in white proceeded to tell him "what makes you think you're in heaven" and laughed incessantly while the Twilight Zone music ended the show.

Now being positive and having a good attitude is a good idea and probably good for your business, but having only positive and shutting out all negatives is a ridiculous thing and it seems as if WWDB leaders are still teaching it. What happens if your business gets audited? You tell the IRS man you can't speak to him if it's not "positive news"? What if you go to the doctor? You tell him don't let you know what's going on unless it's positive news? If there's a natural disaster in your town, you turn off the news because it's not "positive"? What if your body could not feel pain? Would that be positive for you? It might but the reality is that not feeling pain or having zero stress is likely to be detrimental to your health.

In my informed and experienced opinion, I believe that some Amway and WWDB leaders teach you to shut out negative in your life is because lots and lots and lots of people have negative experiences and things to say about Amway and WWDB. If you doubt me, ask about Greg Duncan, Dave Shores, Brad Wolgamott, Dean Kosage and some others. Ask your sponsor or your upline what happened to these folks. If they tell you nothing or that it's negative, I challenge you to google search and find out for yourself. If your upline still denies or says you should shut out negative, maybe you should find out what they are hiding by shutting out all negative in their lives.

Having only positive in your life is probably "weird". Is that what you want to be?

Why Can't IBOs Just GIve A Straight Answer?

There's been a big debate between Amway critics and an Amway and a WWDB blogger. The debate began when someone asked how much a ticket to the WWDB Dream Night Function costed. Rather than a simple answer of $75 a ticket, or whatever the cost was, the person asking the question was referred to the WWDB website where you apparently needed a password to login and purchase tickets, etc. But a valid question is why do so many IBOs have to give vague answers rather than answering the question. Many IBOs are deceptive about what they do in the first place which often prompts the question: Is this Amway?

Of course the IBO could have simply stated that he did not wish to disclose the information but instead gives a roundabout non answer. I mean if the Dream Night was so great, inspiring and helpful, why would it be limited only to IBOs? What would be wrong with someone finding out about it and attending? Does the upline have something to hide? Is there some sacred trade secret given out at Dream Night? If there was some magic secret given out, it certainly doesn't help many IBOs. In the US and Canada, I don't know of more than a pitiful few new diamonds that have emerged in the last ten years, despite the millions of IBOs who signed up to try.

Why do IBOs have to talk about having an ecommerce business or some business projects? Why this insistence on a curiosity approach? Many people, when it comes to money related matters, prefer a direct and honest approach. If you avoid mentioning Amway until the presentation is given, most people will be ticked off, not interested. Are IBOs ashamed of being associated with Amway? That appears to be the case. If Amway were as great as advertised, people would line up to sign up but instead, many people must be tricked into attending meetings or recruitment pitches. It makes IBOs look pathetic and it is probably why Amway has built a shoddy reputation over the years in North America. It is also most likely why Amway sees growth outside of North America, because the reputation hasn't been damaged yet.

Next time there's a discussion on Amway or WWDB, are you giving your prospect a straight answer or a sneaky one? Do upline leaders teach deception or straight up honesty? In my tenure with WWDB, we were taught to be deceptive. I have reason to believe that nothing has changed and I posted it a few days ago. So IBOs and recruits, are you upfront or sneaky? Now you know why it's so hard to get new people involved.

Become Free In 8-12 Hours Per Week?

One of the myths that upline used to, and likely still perpetuate is the claim that you can build an Amway mega empire on 8-12 hours 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.

If you listen to one (1) cd per day as recommended by upline and read one of their "success" books 15 minutes each day, you already close to nine hours of time used and neither of these activities produces any income for your Amway business. In fact, both activities cost you money and produce no tangible result. 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 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, there non income producing activities such as listening to a cd, produces a lot of income for certain iplines who produce and sell them. To me, it is just an elaborate game of bait and switch played by upline.

You sell the prospect the dream of financial freedom. You tell that 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 ket 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.