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October 30, 2003
Passport Memo From Bo Short
By QBlog in Bo Short
On October 20, 2003, I received a copy of the following memo from an anonymous source. The memo was sent out to Passport Associates by Passport Founder and resigned Quixtar Diamond, Bo Short. I'm including the memo in its entirety, without any edits or modifications. The memo primarily addresses Bo Short's interview with Dateline NBC for the upcoming story about Quixtar.
Date: 10/11/03
To: Passport Independent Associates
From: Bo Short
Re: Upcoming Dateline NBC Show
Hello Everyone,
For those of you that are unaware, I had qualified once and attained the level of diamond in 1995 in the Amway business. Having been made of aware of issues in 2000, and having unsuccessfully attempted to cause change, I chose to resign my income and business as an Amway/Quixtar distributor in 2001. I did so as I could not represent a business to be something that I no longer believed it was. Unfortunately, over the course of my Amway/Quixtar career many of us were taught and subsequently
passed on things that turned out not to be true. I have tapes that were made of a number of my speeches that reflect this.
As many of you know, Dateline NBC will be airing a show discussing the Amway/Quixtar business. I do not know the details of the show but I wanted to let you know about my role in it.
The shows producer, wanting to discuss my experiences, attempted to make contact with me on numerous occasions. After a great deal of deliberation I decided to return one of his telephone calls. Following in-depth discussions with my family and after consulting with law enforcement personnel to discuss the safety and well being of my family, I made the decision to discuss my experiences on air.
The reason I believed that meeting with law enforcement personnel was important stems back to an alleged comment that was made in the year 2000 by a senior, tenured diamond who inadvertently discovered that a small group of us were discussing leaving our upline and working directly with the corporation. He allegedly said about us, “I will put a bullet in the back of their heads.” It was this alleged statement that has heightened my awareness to the possible repercussions involved in challenging the hierarchy of their “business support materials” business. While many people may perceive this as dramatic I would suggest that the “wholesomeness” that is presented on stage is not always what it appears to be. Additionally, the potential loss of millions of dollars of income for a small group of people may cause some to react in ways that would be excessive.
I was asked what I thought the corporation or their senior distributors would say regarding my statements. Fortunately, I have copies of notes (not just mine) from meetings, contracts, and memos to support my statements. In my opinion, their reaction will most probably be to assail my character. This is a common political move designed to divert one’s attention from the truth. I would expect them to make inaccurate and misleading statements similar to the following that they posed in response to my resignation.
In September of 2001, I chose not to renew my Amway/Quixtar business and to no longer receive compensation. When contacted by
Quixtar I was told that was insufficient. I insisted that I was through. They countered with a demand that I produce a resignation letter. I find it quite interesting that the business compendium that I used and the one that was published later address this issue differently. To avoid further conflict I sent one that they claim was never received. I then sent another that they finally acknowledged in November 2001. I have never received compensation from them since the end of September 2001 when I told them I was through.
In mid-to-late October I launched Passport as a solution to address what I perceived were very complex problems in this industry. I later read in a letter written June 25, 2002 to an acquaintance of mine, attributed to Gary Vander Ven (Quixtar’s Manager of Global Business Conduct and Rules) in which he said, “Bo Short was not forced to resign. He voluntarily quit when faced with complaints from other IBOs that he violated Quixtar’s Rule 4.14.” I find this to be very offensive and typical Quixtar “spin”.
In my opinion, I believe that they purposely prolonged acknowledging my departure to set the stage for comments such as these. However, they know the truth as to why I resigned. In my opinion, Mr. Vander Ven’s letter is a convenient way to avoid the truth. I believe it is easier for some of them to avoid telling the truth than dealing with the ramifications of it.
The ultimate reason I decided to participate in the upcoming Dateline NBC program was no different than the reason I resigned my income and business in Amway/Quixtar; it was the only right thing to do. Having served as the Corporate Liaison of the group that was challenging the BSM hierarchy in the year 2000, I was privy to private meetings with corporate officials and IBOAI board members (this is the distributor board that supposedly represents the best interest of the distributor base) in
which I heard and learned things that shocked me. While I made some of this information public approximately 2 years ago, the depth of what I learned was never released.
As well, the BSM group (Team In Focus) I was associated with was started as a way to “fix” what we perceived as wrong with that business and create an ethical, equitable program. Unfortunately, financial improprieties amongst a couple members of the TIF leadership created an intolerable situation. I could not be associated with people that would betray the trust of the people they were supposedly leading as well as working with. Having lost faith in the leaders in the “field” as well as the
“corporation” I had no alternative but to resign.
I was asked why I would expose my experiences and findings in the public forum now. The answer is three-fold. First and not to overdramatize the situation; I believe that public knowledge offers my family more safety than my knowing something that remains in the shadows. Secondly, I believe this information can protect people from falling victim to, what is in my opinion, abhorrent behavior at best. And thirdly, I have a beautiful daughter whom I love with all my heart. I believe that I have a responsibility to teach her that doing the right thing is not always easy…but it is always necessary.
I do not know how much of my interview will be used in the show. The taping encompassed several hours. I was very forthcoming and told only the truth as I know and experienced it. I was never asked to embellish any part of my story. I did tell the producer that it was my opinion that the overwhelming majority of the distributors were good, kind, pursuers of the American dream and unaware of the complexity of the situation. I did not even learn the depth of this myself until the year 2000.
I am available to answer your questions. I am so proud of what you are doing in your business, powered by Passport. I would encourage you, as always, to have fun, and tell the truth. I believe more than ever that we have an opportunity to do something great together. People are looking for the truth. They do not want to do something that delays gratification for a lifetime…they simply want something that will work the way it is presented. Our true test as a company will be to provide just that.
I am proud to know you.
Always Lead,
Bo
Comments
Some people THINK that they know everything and want to re-invent the wheel... they are constantly breaking the rules and making up new ones. If you think that you can do it better... we'll see who's still standing in 10 years.
The internet is like a bathroom wall... ANYONE can express their feelings on it and remain anonymous. And most of these comments are from the unsuccessful people trying to blame someone else for their failures. The only way to really fail is if you QUIT. What if Babe Ruth quit playing baseball after his first strike out?
As a Quixtsar IBO myself, if you are referring to a site like this for information then you don't qualify to be a part of my business team anyway. Honestly, do you want advice from people that you don't know? Can't see? How much money are they making in their jobs? They're probably broke... why would you want to take advice from someone who make less or the same amount of money as you do? Find out who you want to be like, who you want to live like and get around them AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! If you take advice from your neighbor, he will always be your neighbor. If he only makes 50K per year and doesn't even own his car... how can he give you advice on being financially free?
Bo,why have you not even registered with the BBB?
Seems to me that this is all just good publicity for you so that you can "advertise" YOUR new business... do you have a proven track record like Amway and Quixtar? Doubtful.
Ummm Jill,
Do you have any idea that you are responding to a post that contains a letter from someone that went DIAMOND and then resigned?
Kind of WHACKS your whole point right between the eyes doesn't it?
OK, I see the spin now.
"As a Quixtsar IBO myself, if you are referring to a site like this for information then you don't qualify to be a part of my business team anyway."
So people that actually do research about Quixtar, do not qualify for your team? Is it really that they don't qualify, of that they run the other direction when you approach them?
"Find out who you want to be like, who you want to live like and get around them AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!"
So they can milk you for as much tool money as you are willing to give up.
"Bo,why have you not even registered with the BBB?"
Coincidentally, I just noticed that Quixtar added a BBB sign to the frontpage of Quixtar.com, within the last few days. By the way, anyone can register with the BBB. I wonder if the BBB Spin came directly from the corporation or from a certain team.
Ah, poor Jill, can't think for herself, and if the thought isn't contained in an AmQuix tape or heard from a function stage, it must be wrong.
Hey Jill, take it from this broke (nowhere near in reality) loser (please tell my loving family and friends I'm a loser) that Quixtar does not work as the systems advertise. 90% of a diamond's money come from you and other Ambots like you buying tools and not from Quixtar, and the chance of you becomming diamond is something like 1 in 13,000! Don't believe me because I'm not on a tape or on stage? Do the research yourself. To steal from the X-Files, the truth is out there, and you can either take your upline's word at face value (I wouldn't recommomend this) my word at face value (I wouldn't recommomend this either) or do the research and math for yourself and verify (ding ding ding...we have a winner).
One last note. I should have listened to my neighbor's advice growing up. Still friends with the family. They had a nice five bedroom house with a big yard, pool and tennis court 20 years ago, but moved away about 10 years ago into a huge, 15 bedroom victorian mansion! So no, if you listen to your neighbor's advice, it does not mean they will always be your neighbor. What you really should do is listen to everyone's advice, try and verify who is telling you the truth and who is bs'ing and decide for yourself what the best course of action is for you.
Quite honestly, I know people that have been in the business over 20 years and have not reached the prestigious DIAMOND level. When you're broke, you'll believe anybody selling you a dream of making money. $2600 a month within the next 3 to 6 months, that's what I heard when I saw the plan. Nothing about $300 or more a month for products plus additional money for tools. Who's getting rich? I didn't, but my upline and those above him capitalized on my ignorance. Keep following Bill Britt and the host of Diamonds that you're making rich everytime you purchase products or tools.
I was a Quixtar IBO. I am a Passport Assiciate now. The tools are free. The meetings are done in conference calls. The products are resonably priced. My first check was over $50.00.
"A man conviced against his will is of the same opinion still" Les Brown
Time and events over the next few months may reshape some opinions. Sometimes the biggest critics can become the greatest champions! We shall see! :)
To bo short,
I've listen to your bo short tape . it help build my business . For that I thank you. I'm IBO and I glad to be it. As a IBO learn to be a leader. I hold One thing very true, if you find problem or problem find you, it your dutie to fix I'm not sure what has happen or what was said to you . If true. I'm sadned by this. I can hope only that there is way fix the problem that caused you to leave. Your leadship and knowage will be missed.
I have a question for Bo or anyone else out there that might know the answer.
Is this the biz that was created by Team In Focus when asked to "resign" from Quixtar? I am an IBO with Quixtar, but no longer belong to any organization because I WAS part of Team In Focus, but when asked stayed with Quixtar directly (no portal into Quixtar as TIF was for me). I'm just trying to put the pieces together of what happened to TIF; it all happenned so fast and on the hush hush. I knew there was more to the story. So, please, fill me in. I'm all ears..............
TY: The "spin you see" is from you smoking to much crack!
How come Bo Short never mentions that he qualified as a Diamond only 1 time (after which he failed to requalify - ever), or that he personally tried to raid a vast number of Quixtar affiliated organizations to try to convince their IBO's to switch over and join him.
How convenient for him to now claim the "high road". Everything I've seen about the Quixtar opportunity has made it clear that I'm involved with a market leader and a corporation which was built to last. I see nothing but good people operating with integrity, and the opportunity is fair.
I can't speak for every group, but ours operates with honor, and misrepresents nothing.
Passport (www.mypassportonline.com) is NOT what it seems.
Passport only pays associates for business volume accumulated in three levels deep. However, Bo Short collects money on every associate's volume that is in your business for level four and on. Is this fair to you? Does your upline have a genuine interest in helping your business that is beyond his level three?
Passport's website states: "Passport believes that our associates should not toil for years enriching others." This statement helps back up why an upline does not have an interest in helping your business grow beyond his level three.
If a business grows quickly and the person at level one is too new to effectively help his level three, then level three has to get help from a conference call. Face to face meetings with a knowledgable, wealthy upline are very few and far between. This is described as "convenient" for the upline. However, is is very inconvenient to the newest person who cannot get enough face to face, high touch support that is required to build a very profitable business AND keep it held together!
What is the fee for completing the paperwork for the bonus checks, etc. To be sure, there is paperwork being done by someone (CPA?) in order to fulfill the IRS requirements. What does that cost?
The line of products is not very diversified. It is difficult to consistently generate a significant amount of Out-of-Plan volume when the product line is so limited.
The vitamins are very reasonably priced. However, the American standard is: You Get What You Pay For. Please go to www.consumerlab.com to see how the quality is for "Summit Nutritionals".
The shipping cost on one bottle of vitamins is $7.50. What is the the total shipping time starting at the time of purchase? (It takes 1-2 days to process the order before it gets shipped out).
No business can be done in Canada.
Is the support from your upline really enough to help you hold your large business together?
Remember: there are several other network marketing organizations that do NOT charge for tools and support information.
I don't think I can look people in the eye and tell them to sign up and not actually let them know whats going on... using peoples emotions or dreams... why must i ask them a question i already know? ex. "would you commit an extra 10 - 15 hours a week if you had a chance to make an extra 60 Gs?" why can't i give them a question thats a yes or no answer? "my place or your place?" exactly the way i joined... very unexpectedly. a passive push sales technique... then for a while i got so into it and was on standing order, started talking like the tapes... it felt like my mind was being... manipulated! Scary shit... why the hell i'm i so ashamed of quixtar? cause it has a hella bad rep. I have not seen so much hate for one company! I don't see people hating Walmart or Sears like they hate Quixtar... i think its definately the support groups that take advantage of the MLM structure... those diamonds are making made dow with those $10 tapes that probably costed $0.25 to make.
While I can understand both sides of the argument very well, I can't understand how people can go to such extremes either way. For instance, Those on the "rah-rah Quixtar" side of things may be sometimes a little too naive. Those on the "quixtar is the devil" side of things are too hurt or pessimistic, or just angry in general.
Yes, I'm a Quixtar IBO, but I did my research, and I'm very happy with how things are. I don't mind that Diamonds make some money from tools. I find the tools very useful, and I don't mind paying for the teaching. I spent MUCH more money in college, and have gotten much less out of it! I don't know about all people in quixtar, and I'm sure there are some scummy people who rip-off and take advantage of others. I'm luckily on a great team, some of whom I am not very close to, and some of whom are great friends. I feel close to my upline, and I honestly feel that they truely care and are not trying to rip me off.
I'm already making more money than I thought I would. I originally got involved when a friend invited me, but didn't really plan on building this business - until I hung around for a year, understood it well, did my homework, and went "hey, if the average IBO doesn't make loads of money... well, I don't think I'm average." And since then I've worked this thing, and now I'm making money. I'm not angry that my some people in my upline make more money than I do. Some people in my upline make LESS money than I do!
Anyhow, I can't understand why there's so much freaking out on both sides. chill out. Figure out what you wanna do for yourself, and then just deal without trying to spread all this anger.
I have been a Quixtar IBO since November 2004. It seems to me that the people who are doing well in this business are truthful and honest. Have I seen people who seem to be "shammy"? Yes. However, I have seen more good folks than bad. I'm a law enforcement officer by trade. I have seen both good officers and bad. You have to decide for yourself what you want out of life. Bad officer's do not make the law enforcement community corrupt. What we have to do is expel the bad. I think that there are some great BSM's. Then again, I have to evaluate where and when I want to spend my hard earned money.
I was in Amway and later Quixtar and found most people to be ambious. I worked hard to build the business and spent alot of money. Even was told to go to the functions at the expence of my bills not being able to be paid and it hurt my family. I believe I was mis-lead into what I thought was a good bussiness, but it did not work out that way.
Tim
Exodus 1:12 - But the more they afflicted them, they more they multiplied and grew.
We survived 60 Minutes in the 80's (and grew) and we'll survive Dateline (and grow).
I was a qualified Platinum when Bo Short got in the business, and I'll be a qualified Platinum when his "Passport" goes down the tubes for changing the deal on his people, just like they all do.
I think the real solution is an IQ test on the Quixtar IBO application. With so many dumb asses "getting in", is it any surprise we have so many sob stories of failure? Hey IBOs: Try using a little discretion in SELECTING people who aren't so predictably destined for defeat. Quixtar does require a functioning brain and hard work. Only an idiot can assert that it's a "scam", violating the rule of logic that states, one cannot argue from the particular to the general. (Paco's last performance bonus defeats the whole argument.)
Bo Short was the first leader I saw speak at a seminar for Quixtar. He was so impressive and convincing, especially when he spoke of the tools and how important they were to the success of building his and our businesses BIG. He spoke of how he grew inside from listening and learning from those same tools that he now says were such a rip-off. Now all of that talk was just to flim-flam the poor misguided IBO's who can't think for themselves or act as responsible adults? I now have to question his credibility since I saw him in 1999 and now that he's been on Dateline. How can you believe someone who, for years, convinced others that he had the answer to their future - the tapes, seminars, books (I never liked reading before this business-Bo Short's comments on a tape), conventions and the team. I'm really surprised that someone who has so many strong ties to politics and was even told by a former HUGE political figure to build his business first and then look at the political arena for his future, would be taken for such a ride over the many years in the Amway/Quixtar business-behind his back no less. It reminds me of watching a kid go home crying because no one played fair once he didn't get his way any longer. How is it that Bo Short was duped for so long before the light bulb went off?
Quixtar has different levels of successful business partners, just like any other business venture out there. My company has an EVP, COO, a few Sr. VPs, a handful of RVPs, the grunt workers and then the support staff. I can tell you that I am not getting paid nearly what the higher ups are getting paid and doing the majority of the grunt work so that they can look good to their higher ups. Will I ever get to the EVP level - I seriously doubt it because you have to be willing to play the politics and be a yes person, which isn't me. The reason so many people are looking for a business of their own is so they can dictate their own end result. I also want to diversify my income, which is a major reason so many others get into this business? It seems Bo Short diversified and took advantage of his relationship with the Quixtar business. Did he donate his time and travel expenses to speak at seminars and conventions when he was in the business? Did he donate his royalties from his Leadership book, which was publicized through the Quixtar business groups? Or maybe he asked his brother to donate his royalties from his book that he wrote about The Quixtar Revolution. Did any of his downline get a price break because they were, afterall, poor misguided soles? It doesn't seem like Bo Short is biting the hand that fed him, it's more like creating his own agenda for getting in the limelight by acting like the poor duped Diamond.
There will always be unsavvry characters in every business, like this Fredricks person from New Jersey, but I think the whole story needs to be told to be fair. I have lost tons of respect for the Dateline show for their unbalanced protrayal of a business who is backed with integrity and years of successful outcomes for hundreds of thousands of individuals who, many, would never be anything more than what they started out to be in their before-Quixtar days. How could so many be put into such a HUGE negative pot, but still have the corporation be $3.5+Billion strong in product sales in 4 years and payout over $1Billion to IBO's from product sales? What other legal business can claim that type of success?
Well, I know for a fact that I'm a slight enemy posting things on here. However I think my opinion is good as active Quixtar reps. I've seen the business Opportunity for quixtar a while back. When my own father, a lawyer, tol dme that it was amway with the internet, I simply said well if most of the stuff is selling a product form the internet or door to door, doesn't that defeat the purpose of time freedom? My understanding about Quixtar and Amway is like this... You have to keep goign out and getting your customers every month. That's a lot of work for most open minded Independent Representatives in the organization and in my company Excel Communications Powered by Vartec Telecom.
When I saw Dateline I was shocked to find that the things my parents went through as an Amway Rep were true. I didn't believe them at first. But now that I know that it has happened to more people besides my parents it gives me a whole new persepective on Amway/Quixtar. If anyone else feels the same that I do by all means don't hesitate to e-mail me or givemy phone number a call. Good luck to you all I know you can achieve your dreams . "You keep on doing what you've been doing, you'll keep getting what you've been getting."
Take Care my Fellow Entrepreneurs
Lust for money. That is exactly what Dateline showed us behind the scenes. Money, money, money, money, money...all 5 reasons B. Britt got into the business. Is it worth all the money to lose your integrity?
Quixtar has good products. But the way they go about trying to sell them is a farce. I was a Quixtar IBO. I couldn't sell the products on the internet, through the newspaper or advertisements. I could only sell them through friends, neighbors, and anyone I could grab in a store. The short list of people was soon depleted and the sales stopped. Nothing like putting a choke collar on the way we sell the products!
My upline told me, upfront and honestly (HA!), that within 6 months I would have 500 people in my downline. Why? Because all of my upline would place people below me. I was told we had a Fast Track and that every IBO had to put 100 people in their original leg before they could start a 4th leg. Guess how many people I had in my downline after 6 months? 7. And I got 4 of those myself.
When I questioned my upline about this, I was then told that I "just didn't get" the business and that I was lazy and a loser. (College educated, successful business owner, BTW.)
The "draw" to get people in this business was to invite the new prospects to the "mansion" of one of the top upline. Fancy cars and all the "stuff" was supposed to impress everyone. I would have been more impressed if they would have told me about the starving and destitute people they were helping with the money instead of buying more "idols". Never heard about charity for others....just charity at home.
Now, on the matter of tapes, books, and meetings. Oh brother. Ridiculous. Yes, it is good to read and study, but the cost to IBO's was more than I was making. The meetings were expensive. The speakers at the conventions and meetings were getting PAID big money, while we had to scrounge up money to go. Seems to me that the big dogs should have forfeited their speaking salary so that the little people could actually afford to be a part of this business.
I was told to put my family second...that the "business" was more important and that if I wanted to get anywhere, I would have to give up all of my evenings to go out and "show the plan". The upline talked about "freedom", but they were actually in bondage to this system. They were tired and strung out and neglected their kids. And for what? One out of twenty (if lucky) would sign on? The other 19 thought we were idiots for doing what we were doing. Needless to say, several friendships shipwrecked.
Quixtar, change the way you sell the products and run your company and MAYBE you can redeem yourself. In time...
I have accomplished a lot of nothing during my 16 years in theA/Q business.I have been getting 2 tapes a week for 16 years,book of the month for 16 years,gone to many major ,regional and local functions.I have been divorced,had the IRS after me and this day I have less than $300 dollars in volume,mostly mine,5 in my group and 1 customer.I take full credit for my stupidity but I also take credit for quitting because I see the light!
I know Bo. I got into Amway, (for a second time) based heavily on the "evangelical" charisma exuded by Bo. A friend from my high school days recruited me in the early '90's. He knew if he could get me in front of Bo it would be hard to resist his appeal. He was right.
My problem, my disappointment, my discouragement in the whole system stems from my close relationship with Bo. I have been to his house. He has been to mine. We traveled together. This is no third party testimony. I felt Bo was one of the most sincere, ethical, morally decent, idealistic men I had ever met. My only conclusion can be, either he is that (or believes he is) or, he is one of the slickest con men in history. I can only hope he is self-delusional and not really a "snake oil salesman".
I was part of Team In Focus when I was called to a meeting one evening to hear some "exciting" news from Bo. That's when (on a speaker phone to a room full of shocked Quixtar IBO's) Bo dropped the bomb that he had resigned, not only from Quixtar, but TIF, and was starting his own deal. That's when he totally destroyed all credibilty he ever had. I was hearing him contradict virtually every tenent of MLM success I had ever heard him promote. After volumes of notes I had taken at conventions, training sessions, rallies, etc. over the past seven years, I knew them by heart. I could cite a page full, but one that burned into my brain forever, should suffice as a prime example.
One of his favorite retorts, taught to IBO's as a response to someone approaching them with a "new program just like Quixtar (or Amway, previously) only better", was to "Ask them to show you their 'Profiles of Success'." That's the very impressive (and expensive) yearbook type publication showing all the big time Diamonds. Then he would say, "If they can't, walk away." His point was "...we have the proof that it works. Why jump to something with no track record?"
When I reminded him of this and asked how he could justify telling all his "faithful" to now jump ship and join him in Passport, which was a cold start-up, with absolutely no track record, he was obviously flustered and angry. With all the people in the room listening, he brazenly asked, "Tell me something, pal, how much money has that Profiles made you?" Needless to say, it was like a gut shot to someone who had put this guy on a pedestal.
After pointing out several other obvious, direct contradictions, I asked him point blank, "Bo, were you lying to us then or are you lying to us now." Needless to say, he was not amused.
The biggest problem with all this is not that he decided to make a significant change in his life and career, thus affecting thousands of others, but how he did it. Not once did he admit he made any mistakes. It was always, "You just don't understand", or "I never misled you." Maybe in his mind he didn't. If he had just once said, "Look folks, I got involved in this and got caught up in the hype. I believed it and promoted it. I found out it was wrong and I was wrong, and I'm sorry." But he would not and will not admit he ever made a mistake!
It is a shame when a few people do bad things and paint an ugly picture. I don't pretend to think that everyone will make it in the business. I believe that certain characteristics in a person must blossom, in order to succeed. Only the ones who choose to rise above average and go beyond thier own limits will move foward. To do so, you must follow a pattern of success. a universal pattern!
It all begins with believing that you can accomplish any thing you put your mind to do. I thank GOD for the association that I have within my team! I am a better man because of it. I believe I am not average. GOD did not make me to be average. He made me to be great!
Don't believe in what people say. Believe in what your heart tells you. My best friend, lives within my heart, he has never and will never lead me wrong. I have faith in my best friend, and he tells me, I am doing right!
What's with this national psychosis of glorified victimhood? Why are losers and quitters so proud to trumpet their failure, as if it's some kind of badge of honor to have been "taken advantage of". If I was unable to succeed at something, the last thing I'd want to do is advertise my weakness, going on national TV and in my most effeminate voice, proclaim "It's a thcam!"
"Paco" (see blog post May 10) had it right, but his IBO test should also include a "Sucker Propensity Evaluation". The sucker-types who "get in", end up just looking for more suckers, and build their business with anything but integrity. Just as in ANY business, people who accomplish something have a backbone (and if they're males, another part of their anatomy is intact and functioning) and understand the concept of personal strength and character.
If you're a weenie, whimp or whiner, don't wait 16 years to quit. Accept defeat immediately and move to Europe (where you can comiserate with whole societies of losers). Get out of the way of the type of people who made America the greatest nation in history, whether in this or any other endeavor.
... Oh, I almost forgot: Don't sponsor anyone whose eyes are too close together. They're cute when they're little, but they'll turn on ya.
Hmmmm...
I think Kelly must have been sponsored by Ray. It's all so predictable.
Bo.
I'm an active IBO,and have found your tapes very helpful, along with many others.
I have never once been forced to buy these materails,or attained anything. I have only found great information and wonderful life long friends.I plan to stay an IBO, because i do have great metors who do truely care about my dreams and goals. Sorry things happened so badly for you, but its not right to take everyone else down with you.
Bo, I remember listening to your tapes and still have all that were from tape of the week. I am proud of what you have done by exposing the BSM situation. My wife and were Amway distributors for 11 years and only reached the 1000 pin level. We "invested" around $30k over that period of time on various tools, functions, meetings, teaching sessions for 1000 and up, opens etc. etc. We were in the Yager-Wilson-Haugen-Law down-line (I am not the Kevin and Penny Ward Emerald leg) my upline emeralds were Ross and Robin Crago personally sponsored by platinums or directs Steve and Carol Pratt. We really had no credibility in the business world that would lead us to attain a large pin level nor did we show the plan 15 times every month but we did try and contact people everyday to set up the famous STP and usually we were not successful in getting that many people to go much futhure than a finger-nail scetch. We really were plugged in to the system and flew all over the country for functions and attended allmost every seminar and rally and open that our upline promoted, almost always by ourself, as we had around 11 distributors of people I talked in to the business or joined to get me off their back LOL. I never realized until about the tenth year that most of the $$ the large diamonds and up were making was off the S & R circut and tools. We were never told the diamonds and other "leaders" got their tapes for around .50 cents and were sold at higher prices all the way down the line to around $7.00 a pop. Over 11 years of tape of the week and book of the month and all the other tools it really added up. I should have known better. It took a lot of courage for you to get out of the business. You have integrity and that is rare these days. I hope you are happy with your decision, as I am happy we did not renew our distributorship. We eventually filed bankruptcy as we accumulated a large amount of debt and were never going to be able to pay that off by ourselves. I will say that my experience in "the business" was not all negative. The motivational part did forever change me and did give me confidence in myself to be able to do much more in my life than if I had never been in "the business". It was both a good and bad experience, I do, however think some serious changes need to be made on the tools part of the business as that part is unethical at best. I cannot understand why the Amway Corp. does not develope its own training and tool business directly to focus more on the training of sponsorship and sales strategies. Hell, they can have Dexter and other leaders speak on the Amway produced tapes and tools and say the same things they say now. They can pay the leaders for their time or ask they volunteer their time. I guess $$ is really the issue here, and not people, as the leaders would have one to believe. I am sure this would not work, as the leaders would lose a significant amount of $$ if this were implemented. As the saying goes it is all about the money. It is a shame that these leaders have really ruined oportunities for a lot of people to make Amway work for them, hardly anyone would even give us the time of day once they found out we were Amway Distibutors because of the lack of integrity of the so called leaders almost everyone has a negative perception of Amway. It is too bad that we were trained to use the curiosity approach instead of just saying it is Amway up front. I guess the leaders know they ruined the integrity of the business long ago and it has become so large and ingrained in the business that it probably cannot be changed anytime soon. Thanks again Bo.
Just a follow up to my previous comments. Since no longer being involved in Amway/Quixtar, I have built a new house, my wife does not have to work, and we have so much more $$ than we ever had building "the business". We have a 5 year old daughter and a 3 year old son. We get to spend all kinds of time with them and my wife is home all day with them (bless her heart) my wife has made a ton of friends as we live in an HOA planned community almost none of the wives work (well they do the hardest work of all, homemaker) life is great. You don't have to be in "the business" to have lifestyle. I am certainly not trying to say Amway/Quixtar is not a good business opportunity, it is. Do not think if one is not building the business or one quits the business they are a loser, that is a mean spirited way of saying you are not worthwhile as a person anymore if you are not an Amway distributor anymore. For my family it was just too time consuming and expensive in more ways than just money. I liked everyone in my upline, and admire them for building the business no one ripped me off or did anything remotely bad to us. I just have more freedom in my life now. I would not discourage anyone from being a distributor Amway is a great company, they really need to pull the reins in on the BSM side that is really all I am saying.
"Don't do that thang." "That thang don't work." "You'll lose yer shirt in that thang."
Now git on down to Walmart and do yer part to make 5 of America's top ten billionaires (the Walton family) wealthier. God will smite ye if yer spending generates a profit for yerself, don'tcha know?
"Exodus 1:12 - But the more they afflicted them, they more they multiplied and grew.
We survived 60 Minutes in the 80's (and grew) and we'll survive Dateline (and grow).
I was a qualified Platinum when Bo Short got in the business, and I'll be a qualified Platinum when his "Passport" goes down the tubes for changing the deal on his people, just like they all do. "
So let me see if I understand this... you were a qualified Platinum when Bo Short got in the business (which was 1991). And will be a qualifed Platinum when Passport goes down? Well... From that I can presume that you are still a qualifed Platinum. Soo.... 13 years later... your still at the same pin? Uh... where is the growth in that?
Caleb [sic]:
Clearly, you don't understand (unless you're employing Michael Moore logic). Did you know you can be a qualified platinum with multiple DIAMONDS in your downline?
"Whaaaaah? I thought this was one of them pyramid deals where the guy at the top makes all the money, off all the little peons underneath him!"
Don't know about you C, but an extra 2000-3000 bucks a month rollin' in isn't too bad a place to be stuck, as it were.
My two sons are very much into this Quixtar. I find it very much a waste of their time. Late meetings, until 2-5 in the mornings, then calling in work the next day. They are working hard so they don't have to work hard? ...Everything is delaid gratification? there seems to be always areason why they are making money yet....it is very sad they are beleiveing this lie.. give me a break.. This will be a huge emotional let down when "time will tell" tells.
So Jane, you've raised a couple of losers for sons? Why, given the myriad examples of success and profitability over the last 45 years with this system of business, you choose to beleive your sons will be among the failures?
Therein is the real tragedy (along with your language skills).
I am a Quixtar/Britt World Wide IBO. I am personally mentored by a Diamond in the business that lives in my town. I can honestly tell you that they do more to help you in the beginning and all the way through the process to make you successful.
Granted that some of you don't have the luxury that I do. But trust me, if a diamond will spend days/weeks/months helping you build a business that someone else will do that's only at 4000PV or below, you know that it's more than the money.
The man is already rich. He doesn't NEED me. He has gone the miles, and shown many plans for me and has helped me start from 0PV to a very comfortable level. They know how to bulid the business. People give all of them a bad rap, mostly about the Education portion.
Do you know that there is a return policy for all BSM's? It's by Quixtar BSM law to have it 180 days. If you aren't "completely satisfied" you have the right to return them. In the organization that i'm affiliated, it's just not the people at the "diamond" level that make the money on BSMs, it's everyone that is a platinum or above.
It is not hard to become platinum. Show some plans, go through a lot of no's, find 2-4 legs that say yes and are willing, and you're a strong platinum to emerald bringing Diamond Qualification when you do the same thing.
Quixtar has been the best way for a 19 year old kid to be mentored business wise from a succesful person that's actually in business. I laid out the gauntlet for my professors when i told them about it, and i said to them prove to me that this doesn't work with factual information and i'll listen. they couldn't.
Being mentored by someone that has been a diamond for 20+ years is proof that it's not a business for scamming. They care about helping you. I've met the elite in Quixtar/BWW and trust me, these people truly care about you. Stop talking nonsense about some guy that knows a guy that knows a cousin in little italy that new a guy that did this thing and try it out for 6 serious months, if you don't like it.. that 180 day return policy will be able to return everything back.
Alex,
Show me a Diamond and I'll show you a man.
I have no doubt as to the success, Bo Short will have with Passport. As an IBO associated with Quixtar, I have read many blogs and it amazes me the length and breath of opinions good and bad against both companies.
Bo has solid experience in network marketing and a well balanced group to council from about operating a business in this industry. There is not one Diamond that has not been approached about getting a product into the Quixtar lineup or asked to jump ship to head a company just starting.
As a new, slightly active Quixtar IBO - who registered primarily to evaluate 'the business' - I feel that the opportunity to watch these events unfold from the inside was WELL worth the price of admission. Had I not registered (or been "given the opportunity") when I did, I would have missed this whole soap opera. Thanks, Qblog!!
Chris
Posted by: Chris | October 30, 2003 3:35 PM