Why Join Amway?

People join Amway for many reasons.  Some get in starry eyed, and want to be diamonds.  They want the adulation that they could no otherwise garner in this world, so that's their goal.  Sometimes it's not even the money necessarily.   For others, the little extra money is a real hope, and others want to be "rich" like the diamonds because they want to retire early and wake at noon while they do whatever they want.  For me, it was the hope of making a few hundred dollars to pay some bills, but my sponsor eventually talked me into looking at bigger things and committing to building a big business an trying to go "direct" and higher.

For people who have already joined Amway and are trying to make a buck, only to see net losses month after month, you have to wonder at times why you joined Amway. As an IBO, I initially joined as it was pitched to me that I could easily earn a couple of hundred dollars a month, which could make a big impact on my life at the time. Of course, it made sense that I needed to invest a little bit of money to get started and to learn about how to run a business.

When I got started, there was a lot of hype and excitement in my business. I sponsored new people, and my business was on its way. I was touted as a mover and shaker and even got to attend some home board plans with my upline diamond. Even though I did as I was advised, had the parameters (Eagle parameters) in the business that were recommended, I noticed that any cash I had earned still resulted in a loss, or if I made some money, the "next major function" ate it up and then some. As you should know, there are four major functions and a bunch of regional ones. But for many, the major functions take place out of your area, requiring travel, sometimes by air.  Being from Hawaii, we had three functions on the mainland which made it crazy expensive.

It was at the function called "family reunion" where I started to figure out what was happening. My upline platinum was having us "hang out" after the function at about 1:30 am. He started talking about how the business has nothing to do with money. That we made friends, became nicer people, better spouses or parents, and that money was the least important aspect of the business. While many nodded in agreement, I was thinking what the heck??? I wouldn't have joined and "invested" that much time and money into a business where I was "moving and shaking" but not making money.  I though what's the point of a business if not to make money.  But I suppose this was a way to soften up the business for people who were working hard but not making a profit.

Many IBOs are at a point where it may be hard to quit. You may have invested some time, money, and effort into your business and you may have been programmed to think that quitting is failure or that success is right around the corner and you don't want to quit too soon. But I urge you to look at facts. What is your bottom line net income? It is red numbers? Is it a recurring loss, primarily because of tool and function purchases? If that is true, ask yourself why you joined. Was it to be a nicer person or to earn some money?   If your answer was to make money, then what will change that will result in a net profit, because product movement wasn't nearly enough to pay for even the basic voicemail and local functions, let alone mainland weekend functions.

What are your prospects of making a net profit soon if you are breaking even or taking losses? Amway leaders themselves have often said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Where are you at?   Did you join Amway to attend functions or to make money?  It's clear that the functions do not sufficiently help IBOs profit.   So why did you join?