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October 13, 2003
Rational Thinker
By QBlog in
60 Minutes aired a segment last night about cars, SUVs and fuel economy. The story was basically asking whether Detroit could make SUVs more eco-friendly by improving gas mileage. Basically, Detroit says no and the environmentalists say yes. Detroit's line is that consumers won't buy the modified SUVs and the environmentalists say they will. Who's right? Who knows.
Then they discussed some of the methods employed by the environmentalists to force Detroit to improve fuel efficiency. Lobby congress for tougher restrictions. Appeal to the consumer. Directly pressure Detroit to modify their vehicles.
That's when it hit me. Why don't the environmentalists just build their own damn fuel efficient car? If they know so much about what people want and what's best for the consumer then they should spend their money to make their own SUVs. Then, if the consumer really wants it, he'll buy it and will ultimately force Detroit to follow suit because Detroit wants to remain competitive. This method uses the marketplace to enact change instead of legislation or propaganda.
So, how does this relate to Quixtar? Well, it occurred to me that using the marketplace as a tool for change is exactly why Bo Short founded Passport.
While I don't know all of Bo's motives for starting up Passport, he has professed that enacting positive change within the MLM industry was one of the primary ideas behind Passport's creation. Love him or hate him, he is the most accomplished and visible critic of Quixtar/Amway and for that I believe he deserves some amount of respect.
No, I'm not advocating Passport. My opposition to the MLM way of doing business remains. However, I am a rational thinker who tries to understand things, even if I may not agree with them. For some reason a light bulb clicked on last night and I saw Passport in a new light. It's still an MLM, but maybe, just maybe, it's a better MLM that will force Ada to follow suit if it wants to remain competitive.
Now, where's the keys to my SUV? I need to go for a drive.
Comments
Hi. I would like to comment on your note about Bo Short and his Passport business. I was involved with Bo during his Amway/Quixtar days and am involved with his Passport business. Bo is a standup person who has alot of integrity and truly believes in what he is doing. Bo gave up a lot when he left Amway and created Passport. Passport to Bo Short is what a MLM should be! You only have to talk to him about this business and know he passion for people and success are deep in his soul. Bo and his family are great people and someone I am honored to know.
PS.. yes I still have the quixnet ISP even though I am not in Quixtar any more cause it still is the cheapest dialup ISP I have found!
Problem with your idea of making your own SUV: It costs lots of money, with no real outlet outside of the internet, with word of mouth and a skimpy advertising. Not only that, but I think that the average urban dweller who purchases an SUV doesn't think of gas mileage, (s)he thinks of running over pedistrians and bullying those unfortunate enough to drive Escorts and Metros.
Posted by: Don | October 13, 2003 11:03 PM