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July 27, 2003
Cousin Vinnie
By QBlog in
Vinnie lives on my block. He sends me around to all the businesses in our neighborhood once a week to collect "donations." Nobody minds donating to Vinnie because he protects them and always gives nice Christmas presents. Occasionally, some store owner complains about the donations but after having a long talk with Vinnie and his friends, the complaints end and smiles return.
One day I asked Vinnie how he got to be so rich and have so many generous friends.
"My boy," he said. "It's all about loyalty. Nobody minds donating the money because they are loyal to me. They are extremely loyal and they know that if they give, I will give back to them in return. I take care of my friends and they know this."
Then I asked him what happens to his friends that don't want to donate.
"So many questions," chuckled Vinnie. "Boy, everyone donates. It's just how it's done. If, someone decides they don't want to be part of the family, then we help them find another neighborhood to live in. Unfortunately it happens sometimes, but not very often. We're a family and we take care of our own."
Later some reporters came around and started asking everyone lots of questions. Vinnie sat us all down and said not to talk to anyone. He also said that whatever those reporters and former neighbors said were all lies. Lies spouted by jealous and bitter fiends.
We all did as Vinnie instructed. That was the thing about the neighborhood. We were loyal to Vinnie. Fiercely loyal. And loyalty was the key to Vinnie's success. One of his favorite sayings was, "Loyalty is what holds this neighborhood together. Without loyalty we die."
And as I sit here tonight, I can't help but think that the same thing applies to Quixtar and every other MLM. Without loyalty they die. Their business success is not dependent upon products or services but pure, unadulterated loyalty. The most precious commodity in the world.