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November 30, 2004
What Is Kochka Consulting?
By QBlog in
You ever heard of Kochka Consulting? Me neither. And Google hasn't heard of the business either. So why would I mention Kochka Consulting? Well, go visit the Kochka Consulting Web site at www.kochkaconsulting.com. Go ahead, click the link.
Pretty cool site huh? Look familiar? Yeah, I thought so too. Basically, the Kochka Consulting Web site does a hard redirect back to this blog. I have no idea why this happens or who set this up but it's very, very strange.
But wait, it gets even stranger. Check the Google Cache of the site. The cache shows a direct copy of this blog from May 2004, without the styles that format the page. What happened this past May that is significant in Quixtar history? Well, the Dateline NBC story aired. Is there a connection? No idea. But there's more...
On archive.org there's a copy of this site, from Kochka Consulting, that was recorded March 25, 2004. So this Kochka thing goes as far back as March 25.
What is Kochka Consulting? I'm still not sure. Network Solutions says Kochka Consulting is located at *information removed at request of Tom Kochka.* Know anybody who works there? Email me if you do.
The MLM Lie
By QBlog in
CEO Norm Brodsky is a "veteran entrepreneur" who writes a business column for Inc. Magazine. In 1998 he recounted the experiences of an MLM-bound friend and the advice he gave him. The column, Multilevel Mischief coauthored by Bo Burlingham, explains why very few people get rich in Network Marketing.
The successful ones are the exceptions, however. The overwhelming majority of people who come into the network fall by the wayside. What's more, the company knows in advance that they're going to fail. It's a matter of statistics. It's part of the plan.Brodsky goes on to explain that those making money, those getting rich in MLM, are doing so at the expense of those unqualified recruits chasing a goal they can never reach.Why? Because when you strip away the hype, MLM is nothing more than a technique for finding good salespeople by promoting a fundamental falsehood, namely, the idea that anyone can be a good salesperson. All you need are the right tools.
That's not true, and the MLM companies know it's not true. Most people will never be good enough at selling to earn a living from it, let alone take home a six-figure income. To be a good salesperson, you need qualities you simply can't get from a motivational tape or a seminar--a knack for connecting with people, an ability to handle rejection. Above all, you have to enjoy selling. Most people don't.
Honestly, Brodsky's column echoes what I've been saying for over two years (except that he said it first so I guess I'm echoing him). Quixtar, and MLM, isn't for everyone. In fact, I'd guess that most people who see "the plan" aren't really cut out to be MLM salesmen. Maybe that's why so many IBOs instruct their downline to change their shopping habits instead of emphasizing the need to retail products to non-MLM customers?
Brodsky mentions that good salespeople will do well in MLM but adds that "good salespeople don't need multilevel marketing to get rich." So who does need MLM to get rich? Ask Robert Kiyosaki.
November 29, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 22
By QBlog in Reader Mail
It's back to the old grind. The Thanksgiving Holiday is one of my favorites but it's good to get back into the routine again. And part of that routine is posting the ever-popular Monday Reader Mail. Here's today's selection:
name: Jamie R.Hmmmm. So let me see if I got this right. I'm not smart because I don't have the money to fund my own site. That would mean that I'm an idiot and probably a poor money manager. Yet the next sentence suggests that idiots like me should help others make money.
date: October 10, 2004message: If you are so smart you should have the money to fund your own site. Idiots like you should spend more time helping people make money.
Am I the only one confused by the logic presented here? In one sentence I'm too stupid to make my own money but in the next sentence I'm supposed to use that stupidity to help others make money. Classic Quixtar Logic. I call it QLogic pronounced Klo-jick.
November 28, 2004
What Could This Mean?
By QBlog in
According to court documents Scott Larsen was scheduled to meet with the leaders of Team of Destiny (aka TEAM) on November 22, 2004, as part of a court ordered mediation. The purpose of the mediation was to seek a resolution to the lawsuit filed by Team of Destiny in March.
So what was the result of that November 22 mediation? Well, I don't know and it's quite possible that Larsen is prohibited from discussing the results. However, a little Web sleuthing provides some revealing information... or more accurately a lack of information.
If you do a Google search for Team of Destiny the third result is Larsen's page titled "Team of Destiny Alternative view - Is it a pyramid?" The URL for that page is listed as www.amquix.info/tod.html. But what happens when you click the link? Instead of viewing a page with "Team of Destiny Alternative View" we see this message: "Please wait to be forwarded to the new page." The two-second redirect goes to a page titled "Quixtar - What is it about? Alternative and Opposing views" which is quite different from the original page about Team of Destiny. For now there is a Google Cache of the original Team of Destiny page which you can visit and use to compare to the "new" page. And for further comparisons, check out the archive.org page (from March 12, 2004) which is different from the Google Cache.
So, why did Larsen completely change his TOD pages without any explanation? Did he lose his lawsuit? Is he employing some new strategy? Or maybe it's just some simple housecleaning? I honestly don't know. I'm not a big fan of people removing or significantly altering their Web sites without explanation but dude can do what he wants I suppose. As I said before, I get the feeling that things didn't quite work out in Larsen's favor but again, I'm only speculating. That's about all I can do till Larsen decides to enlighten us.
November 27, 2004
Holiday Inn Express
By QBlog in
I am staying at a Holiday Inn Express right now so who knows how fabulous my day will be tomorrow. You've seen those commercials right? Where the dude who stayed at the Holiday Inn Express saves the day only because he stayed at the hotel. Anyway. Hope your Turkey Day was fun. Mine was. Lots of food, family and football. Saw "National Treasure" tonight and it was... ok. Not bad but not great. Decent popcorn flick (whatever that means).
I'll be back soon... I hope.
November 24, 2004
Where Do I Sign Up?
By QBlog in
Look, I know quite a few IBOs and most of them are great people. They work hard, build their business and do so with integrity and honor. Sure, we may disagree on some issues but isn't that what makes life so exciting? Being able to debate issues and still be respectful?
So at around 2:17 p.m. today I received this message in my Form Mail (which can be sent using a bogus email):
subject: Quixtar BlogFascinating. Where do I sign up for this Quixtar thing? If Mr. "Bravo" is in any way representative of Quixtar IBOs then it's a wonder there aren't more around.
name: bravo
email: johny_bravo_667@hotmail.commessage: Long time no hear. The only way you can deal with me is to block posts. That's ok, cause you are being stopped. People will not see your little negative site for much longer. I see it is already affecting you! That little deal you posted about the help desk and all. You sound angry? How is your 400lb gay friend Scott that was in business for 1 month? You are a loser! I also knew it would get out that you are getting paid to run this site. You are losing control and we are getting stronger! Bye BYe
Bravo!
I won't even bother responding to this. Those who wish to give such fabricated vitriol a moment's consideration aren't worth my time. The tone of the email is clearly a threat meant to intimidate me. That's fine. I can take it. What I don't understand is why the rank and file IBOs aren't more outspoken about such animosity. Anyone have an idea?
QBlog's Farcical Help Desk - 3
By QBlog in Farcical Help Desk
Every Friday, the QBlog Farcical Help Desk™ answers the Quixtar questions that nobody dared to ask. Additionally, each Help Desk answer is guaranteed to end with some form of punctuation or we'll refund your money. No fooling!
However, since Thanksgiving is this Thursday and the QBlog will be taking a holiday break this Friday, the QBlog Farcical Help Desk™ will publish today... a Wednesday... not a Friday.
Question: Yeah, I'm an IBO and I want to help out in
this Quixtar Web Initiative thing. What I gotta do?
Answer: Well, first you need a blog. Do you have a blog?
Q: Nah. Don't care much for them blogs. But I gotta
get one of dem eh? Ok, then what?
A: Well, then you must give your blog a really long and redundant name like
"Quixtar IBO Blog About Independent Business Owners Product Review
Blog of Triple Commander Diamond Man: Real Quixtar IBO News Info Site Powered
by Quixtar Dreams."
Q: That long huh? Well, if the Big Guy says so, I guess
it's the right thing to do. Yeah. Alright, so now what?
A: Start posting about how your upline cured cancer, paid off the national debt
and rescued the little girl who was trapped in the well. Be sure to pour it
on thick and sweet, the thicker the better.
Q: Got it. Sounds easy enough. That it?
A: Well, be sure to work the word "Quixtar" into every single post.
Even if you're sharing a favorite recipe, figure out a way to mention Quixtar
with a link back to the Quixtar home page or some other IBO blog.
Q: I heard Quixtar's going to start selling Porn. Any
truth to that?
A: That's just plain crazy talk. Where'd you hear something like that?
Q: My best friend Larry, he works in the porn industry
and heard that Quixtar's been doing some very quiet market research and they
think they can quickly dominate the MLM porn industry.
A: Dude, there is no MLM porn industry.
Q: ...Yet. No MLM porn industry yet baby. Think about
it.
A: No. I don't want to think about it. That's just... just disgusting.
Quixtar porn. Ack.
Q: It would give a whole new meaning to the phrase "edify
your upline."
A: Stop. Leave now please. Get going. Sheesh.
Q: My upline wants me to sign this BSMAA. What do you
think?
A: It's up to you. Be sure you've read it and understand what it's all about.
Maybe have a lawyer look at it first.
Q: Right. That makes sense. Ok thanks.
A: Oh, and well, be sure you read the fine print.
Q: Yeah. Of course. That's a given.
A: No. I mean the FINE print.
Q: Huh? Um I was planning to read... can you explain.
I'm totally confused.
A: Look, some kids were playing around a couple of weeks ago and put the BSMAA
under a microscope. Nobody knows why they did this but they're kids, go figure.
Anyway, one of the kids discovered some microscopic print at the very bottom
of the BSMAA that is... well... a bit troubling.
Q:
Troubling? Like how?
A: Well, read it for yourself. The graphic to the right is a magnification of
the BSMAA
(pdf). The fine print is barely visible but if you look at an even
larger version, the troubling message is clear.
Q: Wow. That's scary
A: Yes. Yes it is.
November 23, 2004
+ A Thing Called Quixtar
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
+ A thing called Quixtar
"You get kickbacks from the people below you"
Advice From Shawn Derrick
By QBlog in
Disgruntled IBO Shawn Derrick sent a letter (pdf) to Dick DeVos and the IBOAI in January, 2001. Derrick complains that he was deceived by Fred Harteis about the Quixtar (and Amway) income opportunity and the truth about the tool business. The following excerpts provide a glimpse into Derrick's complaint:
...On numerous occasions, I remember Fred saying from the stages of major functions, something to the effect of, "We don't hold these events (functions) for us. We could be anywhere in the world tonight. We put these functions on for you (attending IBOs), so that you can see what you have in your hands (the potential of the business)...After reading such letters, I generally ask two questions: 1.) Is the author crazy? 2.) Is the author a lone voice?...I had no idea that the bulk of the income and lifestyle of many Diamonds comes not from building a profitable business powered by Amway/Quixtar, as most IBOs are led to believe, but through the profits generated by function attendance and the sale of BSMs...
...I have a huge problem with the fact that my upline's wonderful system teaches IBOs to disregard Amway/Quixtar policies that are designed to keeep the business from operating like a pyramid (we are taught to ignore the 10 customer rule, the 70% rule, etc.)...
...I offer only one piece of advice: "Be sure your sins will find you out."
I ask those questions because it's the most convenient rebuttal that Quixtar apologists offer when confronted with such complaints. "He's just angry he lost money. Where are all the other letters or complaints? A big business like Quixtar is bound to get lots of complaints, all businesses do. Maybe the guy just wants attention." I could go on because I've heard them all dozens of times.
I don't know Shawn Derrick and so I can't speak about his motives for complaining about Fred Harteis and his tool business but I know that Derrick's voice isn't alone. There are other IBOs who feel the same way about Quixtar, the tool business and Fred Harteis. Are you one of them?
November 22, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 21
By QBlog in
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
- From Hamlet (William Shakespeare)
name: AndrewA "condemnation" indeed.
date: October 13, 2004message: I think it's funny you claim "This site is neither an endorsement nor a condemnation of Quixtar," yet you design shirts that say things like "Got Scammed?" and promote them on your website to sell. If that isn't a condemnation of Quixtar, I don't know what is.
November 21, 2004
Blogging 101 - Value Added
By Matt Wood in Blogging 101
Every blogger deals with the malaise that sets in after a few months of posting. We wonder where the fire went, and we struggle to find the motivation to update our sites. We read the past few posts and discover that we apologize for the lack of updates more often than we actually post something new. And when we do hold forth, we ask ourselves, just what is so different about my site that will make people want to read it?
Unfortunately, of the millions of sites published today, very few bloggers take the time to differentiate their site from the rest. In this installment of Blogging 101, I will show you some strategies for getting beyond that default Typepad template and adding some value to your blog.
Technical Tricks
The easiest way to make a blog stand out is to flex your geek muscles
(or convince a ringer to help you). Most popular blogging tools like Movable
Type, WordPress, or Blogger offer ways to tweak or extend their capabilities.
Thriving user communities have taken advantage of these tools’ extensibility
and open APIs to develop plug-ins and functionality not included in the standard
tool. For example, the Movable Type Plugin Directory (http://mt-plugins.org)
catalogs hundreds of code modules that trick out a vanilla MT install by incorporating
photo galleries, managing comments, performing special formatting, or even displaying
local weather. Most of these plugins come with detailed installation instructions,
so you don’t have to be an accomplished hacker to take advantage of them.
Unfortunately, technical options for bloggers who use hosted services like Typepad or Blogspot are limited to the functionality of the tool. These services work well to introduce you to the basic concept of blogging and website management. However, to make the most of your website, you should host it at your own internet service provider. Many providers cater specifically to bloggers, and some will even install and configure blogging software for you. A quick search of the web will turn up dozens of reliable hosting companies.
If you host your own site, you can take advantage of server-side scripting languages like PHP, Active Server Pages, or Perl to build a more dynamic site. With just a little programming knowledge, you can write your own code to manipulate blog content and templates. WordPress is especially amenable to this, as it is written entirely in PHP. Bloggers with hosted sites can also design their pages using Cascading Style Sheets to control content appearance and formatting. A combination of CSS and a scripting language can turn a basic blog into a polished, professional website.
Planning Your Content
If you don’t have the time or technical ability to overhaul your site’s
code, you can still make a significant impact by planning and organizing your
content. Bloggers, like all writers, should write with a purpose. This is especially
true of bloggers whose sites focus on a specific topic or business goal.
A great way to build consistent readership and motivate yourself to keep writing is to develop recurring themes or ongoing projects on your blog. This can be as simple as posting a top five list every Friday, or as involved as producing a running series of columns like Blogging 101. The point is to develop a rhythm, a regular schedule that will keep readers coming back and give you motivation to keep writing. Set deadlines for yourself. Treat these projects as priorities, just as important as your work or school assignments. Last year, Eric and I started a project called 31 Flavors of Blog where we highlighted a different type of blog every day for a month. Researching blogs, finding interesting or unique takes on the format, and writing the summaries was hard work, but it paid off. Word of the project spread quickly, and reader feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Interaction with readers is the most rewarding part of blogging. Every blogger loves to read comments and respond to emails, so why not make this interaction a key feature of your site? Write a public response to a salient email, or highlight the most interesting or thoughtful comments. Maintain a static list of the most active discussions on your site. You can find many plugins or extensions at the sites mentioned earlier to help you do this automatically. Participating in the discussions that evolve at your site and responding to reader inquiries will lend your site added credibility and help you develop a distinct voice as the creator of the site.
A strong authorial presence is a valuable way to improve your blog, but you can also feature other voices too. Invite other bloggers to post on your site. Ask subject matter experts or guest authors to contribute in-depth articles. These added perspectives will provide more valuable information to your readers. And don’t be afraid to feature dissenting views. Controversy is exciting, and the ensuing debate will be both informative and entertaining for your readers.
Added Touches
Pay attention to details and add finishing touches to round out your content.
Include relevant images whenever possible. Sites like Flickr (http://flickr.com/)
or TextAmerica (http://www.textamerica.com)
provide services to help you organize photos and post images to your blog wirelessly
from a camera phone. Post links to related subject matter to encourage your
readers to research the topic further. Take adavantage of marketing programs
to highlight media or other products you mention on your site. The Amazon Associates
program (http://www.amazon.com/associates/)
lets you post direct links to any of their merchandise and pays you royalties
for purchases made from your site. Google’s AdSense (https://www.google.com/adsense/)
helps you incorporate targeted advertising by rendering ads based on the content
on your site.
The initial thrill of blogging wears off a month or two after you start. Varying your content with technical tricks, regular features, user interaction, and targeted visual media will help you maintain the passion and creativity that sets good sites apart.
Learning More
The internet is littered with sites where you can learn more about the technical
tricks and content strategies mentioned in this article. Here are some of the
most useful:
- A List Apart, for general tips on web design and usability – http://www.alistapart.com/
- Amazon Associates program – http://www.amazon.com/associates/
- The Blogger developer community – http://www.blogger.com/developers/
- eDevCafe, for web development and administration – http://www.edevcafe.com/
- Flickr, a photo-sharing/social network that includes tools for publishing images to your site – http://flickr.com/
- Google AdSense, the search engine’s targeted ad service - https://www.google.com/adsense/
- Movable Type Plugin Directory – http://mt-plugins.org/
- Movable Type Support Forums – http://www.movabletype.org/support/
- O’Reilly, official site of the popular technical publisher - http://www.oreilly.com/
- The official PHP site - http://www.php.net/
- TextAmerica, a moblogging community – http://www.textamerica.com/
- WordPress Support Forums - http://wordpress.org/support/
- WordPress Wiki - http://wiki.wordpress.org/
- By Matt Wood
Blogging 101 publishes every Sunday and provides blogging tips, advice and tutorials for blog newbies and veterans alike.
November 20, 2004
New Blogger Introduction
By QBlog in
Introducing the new, exciting guest blogger — Matt Wood. I realize that's a lame introduction. You were probably expecting something witty and clever but this is what you get instead. I tried to come up with a fun way to introduce my friend, fellow blogger and co-conspirator on various blog projects but I'm afraid my need for sleep has destroyed my ability to generate humor.
I'll just say that Matt Wood is a great guy who runs the always entertaining Wood-Tang (it's a blog, not a breakfast beverage). We've worked together on independent blog projects in the past and I think it's safe to say that he's caught the "blog fever" and hasn't been able to get rid of it, even though he's tried. So, Matt offered to help out with content here and I jumped at the chance. He's a solid writer (and blogger) who knows his stuff and I think that you'll appreciate his input, I know I will.
You'll know Matt's content by the signature at the end of his posts. It will read "Matt Wood" instead of QBlog. Anything he writes is still covered by the Creative Commons license that covers this site but you must credit Matt, not me.
Anyway, that's the Matt Wood introduction.
IBO Porn
By QBlog in
Michael Broderick is an IBO with a blog. David Robison recommended the blog to me and it's a great read, definitely NOT the typical PR pabulum you find on most Quixtar-run blogs. No, this blog is different and genuine. A guy with something to say and he's found a way to say it (blogging). While the blog is new, it looks promising so I recommend keeping an eye on Broderick's blog.
So, about the porn. His "Addiction to porn?" post begins
I am a huge fan of porn, but its NOT heroin. Porn I can turn off and be satisfied for a few days, heroin your hooked on for life.He's got a point. What's refreshing is that Broderick doesn't fit snugly into your typical IBO stereotypes. He loves XS Energy Drinks in his Margaritas (not the virgin kind mind you). Hunts deer and spends a lot of time on the Web. He calls himself the "Cliff Clavin of the Internet" and I imagine I'd like to sit next to him at the Cheers bar, sipping a brew and learning useless trivia. So, check out the blog and see that IBOs can act like real people on the Web. I wouldn't have believed it either if I didn't see it with my own eyes.
November 19, 2004
QBlog's Farcical Help Desk - 2
By QBlog in Farcical Help Desk
Every Friday, the QBlog Farcical Help Desk™ answers the Quixtar questions that nobody dared to ask. Additionally, each Help Desk answer is guaranteed to end with some form of punctuation or we'll refund your money. No fooling!
Question: Is it true that most Quixtar IBOs are functionally
illiterate?
Answer: What? Who told you that?
Q: I mean they're always listening to tapes and CDs,
you never actually see them reading anything do you?
A: They listen to tapes because it instructs and motivates them while they're
doing other stuff, like driving their cars or mowing the lawn. That doesn't
make them functionally illiterate.
Q: But why can't they spell simple words like "loser"
and "quitter" or know when to capitalize words and use proper punctuation?
Is habitually butchering the English language a prerequisite for joining Quixtar?
A: No but it sure helps.
Q: So is there any truth to the rumor that Quixtar was
starting up a task force to provide IBOs with basic grammar skills. Any truth
to that?
A: Yes, they're calling it Operation Spell Check.
Q: I'm a Web usability consultant and I was just visiting
the Quixtar Web site and... well, what happened?
A: Been wondering the same damn thing.
Q: But their home page has just become this giant link
dump, it's crazy.
A: Tell me about it, I know. But I have this theory that they're testing a new
bonus system.
Q: Related to the linkfest?
A: Yeah. See, each link gets an IBO like 10 pv and each click gives
him 20 bv. So the more links, the more the IBOs get paid and everyone is happy.
Q: Hmmmm. But won't that...?
A: Yes. Eventually Quixtar could become an unnavigable link-infected horror.
We'll see what happens.
Q: Dude. I got a problem. Every time an IBO comes near
me at the mall or Wal-Mart, I start freaking out and going berserk.
A: So what's the problem?
Q: Uh. The part where I freak out and go berserk. Like
how can I stop that?
A: Stop going to the mall and Wal-Mart.
Q: That's not a solution. That's stupid.
A: You asked. It's not like you can prevent IBOs from stalking strangers
in malls and hassling them to come to their "mysterious meeting."
I mean, this is America dude. You can't stop free enterprise.
Q: Well, I wasn't trying to stop them. I was trying
to find out how to quit freaking out. I know about freedom and all that. So
can you help?
A: Sure, ok. Well, just do what I do and get really, really drunk before you
go to the mall. Then when the IBO approaches you won't really care what the
hell he's saying nor will you really understand it. And you may get lucky and
score a ride home.
Q: Now that's some good advice. I'll start drinking
right away. Thanks.
A: Any time my friend. Any time.
Land Violates Rule 6.5?
By QBlog in
The Background
What is Rule 6.5? Well, the Non-Competition and Anti-Raiding rule means that while you're a Quixtar IBO, you're pretty much prohibited from working with competing MLMs. When this rule was adopted by Quixtar last spring, some IBOs complained and said that it was unfairly restricting how they do business. But Quixtar did not budge and proceeded to demonstrate its commitment to Rule 6.5 by enforcing it when IBOs were discovered to be in violation.
I expect that Quixtar will continue its vigilant enforcement of Rule 6.5, no matter who is found to be in violation.
Joe and Lynn Land
Have you ever heard of Oasis Life Sciences? Me neither. Apparently it's some sort of MLM that sells anti-aging pills, dietary supplements, weight loss powders, pet supplements (no fooling) and more. Pretty typical MLM fare and besides the product similarities, Oasis has a couple of other things in common with Quixtar. For instance, Oasis has "Silver," "Diamond" and "Platinum" levels, a "lucrative" pay plan and an Associate name Lynn Land. Yeah, THAT Lynn Land. The same Lynn Land that's married to Joe Land and helps her husband run Alliance Net Solutions (ANS). The same Lynn Land that's listed on Quixtar's own Lines of Affiliation page. That's her.
What Makes You Say This?
So how do I know that Quixtar Diamond Lynn Land is hooked up with a competing MLM? Well, I'll show you. Check out this site: http://www.oasislifesciences.net/landl. Notice the last five letters after the ".net" spell LandL. As in Land Lynn. As in Lynn Land. Still not convinced? I don't blame you. But I promise, it gets better.
If you click the link you'll notice that the URL changes to insert the "landl" letters as a subdomain, which is standard practice for sites that issue "personalized" pages (http://landl.oasislifesciences.net/). Now, if you go to the "contact us" page you will see that Associate's contact info (makes sense). That info is:
Phone: 843/343-1001The area code for that number traces to the Eastern side of South Carolina and includes cities such as Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Mt. Pleasant. Coincidentally, Joe and Lynn Land live in South Carolina.
Email: lynn@comelainvestments.com
Associate # 1109023
Also, the comelainvestments.com domain seems to be inactive but it’s registered to The Midosm Group, LLC, 3201 Queensgate Way, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464 (phone 843-216-1126). Interesting. And if we turn to Archive.org we find that an old version of the now inactive Web site has a page title reading "Welcome Joe and Lynn Land's Web Site." Very interesting indeed but what's this Midosm Group?
Well, back in February I posted about the joeandlynnland.com domain. Guess who owns that domain? You guessed it, the Midosm Group. And while the joeandlynnland.com site also appears to be down, another archived page reveals that it looked almost identical to the comelainvestments.com site right down to the page title.
So, if you look at the connections it is pretty obvious that THE Lynn Land is involved with Oasis Life Sciences. And since Mrs. Land seems to be in violation of Rule 6.5 I'm sure she'll soon be receiving a letter from Quixtar similar to the one Jacqueline Curcio got not too long ago. I have no doubt that Quixtar will act swiftly to enforce it's Non-Competition and Anti-Raiding Rule. To do anything else would be... well... suspicious.
November 18, 2004
The Numbers Do (not) Matter
By QBlog in
Quixtar IBOs (and many other MLM recruiters) often say that 95% of all small businesses fail within the first five years of operation. There's some evidence (pdf) that seems to contradict that statistic while other evidence seems to support it. However, whether that statistic is true or not isn't the point of this post.
No, the point of this post is numbers. Quixtar recruiters often mention the "95% small business failure" rate to make their own business of Multi-Level Marketing more attractive. The message behind the stat is, "why waste your time trying to build a traditional small business when 95% of them fail in just five years? Those are horrible numbers and I've got a better opportunity for you right here." And the pitch continues.
The observant already know where this post is going. They can see the setup coming a mile away and they're either grinning or frowning because they realize the truth of what's coming next.
By Quixtar's own admission, less than 1% of its IBOs ever become Diamonds and approximately 90% of Quixtar IBOs quit the business after just four years. The typical IBO response to such claims is, "well if the dream is big enough, the numbers don't matter. Those IBOs who quit just aren't working the business. Those who are plugged into the right system and work it, they'll beat those odds."
Fine. Great. Super. But aren't we dealing with a classic case of "having your cake and eating it too?" It's the tale of the two statistics, both presenting gloomy outlooks for their related topics. However, one set of statistics is embraced with open arms by Quixtar IBOs (and their MLM brethren) while the other set of statistics is tossed away as "crazy negative talk." I wonder why that is? Do you have any guesses?
Blogs In Perspective
By QBlog in
I'm reading Biz Stone's book cleverly titled "Who Let the Blogs Out? : A Hyperconnected Peek at the World of Weblogs." It's a really good book so far, mainly because it says exactly the same stuff I've been saying for nearly two years. One particular quote at the beginning of the book explains blogs wonderfully:
"...just as the Macintosh (computer) made personal computing available to everyone, so blogging opens web publishing to the masses."I know some folks don't believe blogs are revolutionary or powerful but some folks also believed that personal computers were a dumb idea.
November 17, 2004
The Passport Blog Myth
By QBlog in
I've made it clear that Quixtar is waging a full-scale Web Initiative specifically designed to manipulate search engine results (which may violate Google's terms of service), hoping that such endeavors will somehow improve its reputation and the reputations of individual Quixtar leaders.
One small, but not insignificant, part of Quixtar's Web campaign seems to be an effort to shift the focus of online conversations (in forums, blogs and newsgroups) from discussing Quixtar to criticizing Passport, an MLM started by a former Quixtar Diamond who is outspoken about Quixtar's problems. Using a classic "logical fallacy" (Changing the Subject) these anonymous Quixtar apologists work to erode public confidence in Passport and its leader, Bo Short.
The Passport Apologists
There are also Passport apologists. Many of them are former Quixtar IBOs and a few have been outspoken (like Passport CEO Bo Short) about the troubles they observed and experienced while involved with Quixtar. Some Quixtar apologists argue, quite convincingly, that such criticism is identical to the criticisms directed at Passport. They theorize that Passport is waging a Web initiative of its own and that Quixtar is right to respond in kind. While I've received confirmation of a Quixtar Web Initiative I have yet to uncover evidence of a Passport Web initiative but I'm not ready to completely rule out the possibility.
The theory of a Passport Web initiative (similar to Quixtar's) is primarily buttressed by the claim that Passport apologists are publishing numerous blogs criticizing Quixtar while praising Passport. The problem with that theory is that the "numerous blogs" are Missing In Action. They simply don't exist. Like the Critical Web Site Myth, there is a similar "Passport Blog Myth" endorsed by various Quixtar apologists and one guy in particular.
The List
To tally the number of active blogs run by Passport apologists I've set up some very simple criteria. A blog will be included in the list if it:
- Has at least two months of posts
- Has been updated within the past 30 days
- Includes some sort of link to a Passport business site
- Specifically criticizes Quixtar or its related businesses and leaders
- Must be clearly run by a Passport Associate
Next I went out searching for blogs that fit the criteria. What I discovered wasn't a sophisticated Google Bombing campaign but just a handful of blogs run by a couple of Passport apologists. Here's the list:
- http://formerdiamond.typepad.com/formerdiamond/ - While this blog hasn't been updated in 30 days, it is authored by the Passport CEO so I felt it deserved inclusion. It also doesn't inlcude a link to any Passport business sites (nor does it make mention of Passport at all) but still, he's the CEO so it's on the list.
- http://mlmdojo.tblog.com/ - This blog is updated sporadically and coincidentally doesn't spend much time criticizing Quixtar, perhaps because the author was never an IBO. The only times Quixtar is mentioned is as a response to discussions on other blogs.
- http://www.mlmtoday.blogspot.com/ - This is a frequently updated blog that routinely criticizes Quixtar. It easily makes the list.
- http://mlmblog.typepad.com/blog/ - After I started this blog and NSAIBO started MLM Whatever Blog, Ty Tribble started MLM Blog. For a while, our three blogs were the only blogs that primarily covered Quixtar-related topics. MLM Blog is definitely the first Passport apologist blog.
And that's it my friends. That's the BIG PASSPORT WEB INITIATIVE. Did I miss any? Toss in a couple of roaming message board posts and you've got the makings of a real Internet Marketing Onslaught I tell ya.
Criticizing Competition
I'm not a big fan of slamming the competition and therefore, I'm not a big fan of the way a couple of Passport-related blogs slam Quixtar. Whether they admit it or not, they have something to gain from Quixtar criticisms. I'd much rather see a business grow simply on its own merits, without criticizing other businesses. I feel that way about Passport, Quixtar, Procter & Gamble and any other business. There's certainly room for pointing out differences, like Apple pointing out how the Mac OS is superior to Windows, but if Apple issued a "see, I told you so" press release every time a new Windows flaw was discovered I'd be somewhat disappointed in everyone's favorite Cupertino company.
However, should the Passport bloggers remain silent about any experiences or opinions regarding their Quixtar competition? That's a tricky question to answer and I'll leave that for them to decide. On the one hand I wouldn't want to see anyone remain silent about something he feels passionate about but on the other hand, there's a very real conflict of interest present. Unlike the Passport bloggers I have the luxury of not having to worry about such dilemmas since I have nothing to gain if you join Quixtar, Passport or any other MLM (nor do I have anything to lose if you don't).
There is one unique characteristic shared by the Passport bloggers and it's that they aren't anonymous and that they make their Passport affiliation very clear. This is not always true of the Quixtar apologists, except in the case of IBOs who refuse to endorse any tool systems (like David Robison). So maybe the Passport bloggers regain some credibility by fully disclosing their motives and putting their names into the public spotlight? I don't know but I do wonder why most Quixtar IBOs choose to remain anonymous on the Web. There's nothing wrong with that but it's kind of weird that most of the so-called Quixtar criticism sites aren't run anonymously while most of the Quixtar apologists sites are run anonymously. Wonder why that is?
November 16, 2004
- Quixtar Crack?
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- Quixtar Crack?
"in class the other day two ladies from Quixtar give us a presentation. it was brutal"
Tip: Don't Prospect This Guy
By QBlog in
WARNING: The linked blog frequently uses the F-word and the author seems a bit angsty towards Indians (the subcontinent) so if you're extra sensitive, consider yourself warned.
I can't stop laughing... oh, wait. I just stopped. But even though the laughter's stopped, Jigar is still one funny dude. He devoted an entire (lengthy) blog post to his frustrating encounters with aggressive Quixtar IBOs.
Walk quickly and look away begins by breaking a vow of silence on the subject of Quixtar.
Ok, so I vowed not to write about Quixtar and multi-level marketing any more, but you know what? (expletives follow)Jigar then explains why he's so frustrated at Indian Quixtar IBOs in his area.
Since I last wrote about this subject, I've had near-accostings (yes, I can make up words, thank you). I'll be looking at something simple like light bulbs and some random Indian dude will ask me which bulb is good. Huh? Which bulb is good?!? The one that should (edit) go off in your head every time you ask (dumb) questions trying to get a conversation going! Or I'll be looking at shampoo and another Indian dumbass will ask me what type of shampoo I'm looking for. The one I can squeeze in your eyes to make you cry while I yell at you fool! Or I'll just be standing around and somebody walks by, slows down, and says Hi from 20 feet away.I empathize with Jigar's anger. I've experienced similar emotions when dealing with panhandlers. What's hilarious (in a sort of tragic way) is the way the IBOs are almost stalking people around his town and Jigar's recommendations for dealing with such encounters. One of my favorites is "Don't try to break the ice by mentioning how nice my wife's 'Hair Lights' look or how I have a British accent. Understand this: They're Highlights and I'm not British. Just keep walking." Keep walking indeed.
Just a note to any Quixtar IBO (no matter what your ethnicity): When trying to build a business it's best to avoid creeping people out. Stalking folks in Wal-Mart would be considered "creeping people out" in most towns.
You Won't Understand
By QBlog in
"You'll be able to spend more time with your family."
I heard that phrase uttered over and over while my wife was involved with Quixtar. It was a key component of the Quixtar recruitment pitch. The IBO would say that working the Quixtar business for a few years would enable you to spend more time with the family. How wonderful.
I know what you're thinking — "What a horrible man, doesn't want to spend time with his family." Nonsense. Of course I want to spend time with my family but I still have a problem with that phrase (and the thinking behind it) and I'll try to explain why.
The Problem
Social Security in America needs to be fixed. That's a simple fact. However, the issue of Social Security has become so politicized that it's almost impossible for anyone to offer solutions without being misunderstood, misrepresented and publicly vilified. It's not called the "third rail" of politics for nothing.
I mention Social Security to illustrate how some topics, some issues, can become so distorted that speaking honestly about them is nearly impossible without being misunderstood.
Imagine a missionary asking for donations to fund the African orphanage.
"Would you like to give something to the African orphans?""No, thank you."
"So you don't want to help the orphans? Don't you care for them?"
"I didn't say that. I just said that I don't want to give. I care plenty."
You can see how declining a donation to the orphans could be twisted around to look like the heartless act of a Dickens-era Scrooge.
Another popular technique is to question someone's activities or purchases. "Why spend time playing golf when you could be teaching impoverished children how to read? Why waste your money on a fine dinner when you could feed a hungry family for a week?"
Am I starting to make sense, even a little?
Guilt
The purpose of such tactics, at least in part, are to tap into our guilt. The hope is that we'll feel guilty and modify our behavior to alleviate that guilt. The "time with family" pitch attempts to utilize that guilt (intentionally or not) for the benefit of the recruiting IBO. It's a classic sales technique especially popular with charity organizations. While there's nothing particularly wrong such tactics, consumers should understand them for what they are, sales tactics.
And I guess the reason that phrase always annoyed me is because I don't feel guilty about my roles as a husband and father. I'm confident in what I'm doing and don't need some MLM peddler to question how I spend my time. The time I devote to my family is quality time and is filled with love instead of expectations.
Just Say No
I decided long ago that the next time some IBO asked me if I'd like to spend more time with my family I'd answer with an loud NO! That opportunity hasn't yet presented itself but I'm a patient man.
And there's another reason I don't like the whole "time with family" pitch and it's the money issue. The vehicle that's going to enable the "time with family" is supposedly Quixtar money. I'm uncomfortable with that "solution" because more time (and money) doesn't solve anything, it just changes it a bit.
Look at our nation's schools. Is tossing more money into them going to solve their problems? No. Is tossing money (by working Quixtar) into the laps of a time-strapped family going to solve their problems? Again, no. The problems must be dealt with and I'm afraid that too many people see Quxitar as a solution to their problems. It's not. It doesn't solve a damn thing. It's just a business and those who understand that it's a business, instead of some MLM salvation tool, will be the true successes.
See, You Didn't Understand
I can already predict what some of you are saying.
- "He doesn't love his family."
- "So if I want to spend more time with my family, then I'm just succumbing to marketing?"
- "I spend more time with my family and I'm a better father and husband (or wife and mother) because of it."
- "IBOs just want to help people, leave them alone."
I'm not saying that spending time with family is bad (though it can present its own problems). Quite the opposite. All I'm doing is pointing out that discussions about that family time are part of a sales technique. Of course there may be genuine concern bundled with that pitch, the old missionary lady really does care for the African orphans, but it's a sales tactic disguised as a ticket to familial bliss.
November 15, 2004
Monday Reader Mail: 20
By QBlog in Reader Mail
Monday Reader Mail is back! Last week the popular Monday Reader Mail feature took a break while we celebrated the second QBlog Anniversary. Well, now that the celebration is over we can get back to business.
This week's selection is fairly recent and as always, my comments are in bold
name: William CWell, that's about all I have to say. One thing I've always found ironic is the people sending me email claiming that I'm too negative and critical are themselves being negative and critical. I mean, William says to find the good in all things and all people but he didn't stop to find the abundant good in this blog and in me. I mean, c'mon. Don't you see the irony here? Oh well. Glad to have Reader Mail back. See you next Monday.
date: October 17, 2004message: Your the husband to a former IBO? So what do you really do with all your time? Does your wife work now while you stay home puting all this together?
Yeah, she works in the coal mine 14 hours every day to support the family while I sit in my bathrobe eating bon-bons, blogging about Quixtar and watching "The Young and the Restless" reruns on the Soap Network. You got a problem with that?
Are you trying to get back at someone in Quixtar by holding debates on this site. The only types of people I know that use there time to do stuff like this are quiters and criticizers of everything that goes on around them, alway's looking for something to debate about.
You don't know many people then. Let's look at a brief list of Web sites that publicly discuss important, yet often controversial, issues (aka debate):
» Public citizen
» EFF
» Focus on the Family
» Microsoft Watch
» Operation ClambakeThat's an impressive list of "quitters and criticizers" and I'm glad to be included in their company.
Man I feel sorry for your wife unless she supports you in doing all of this because she quit the business too. you should spend more of your time finding the good in all things and in all people. Good luck in yuor depression.....
My wife supports what I do even if she doesn't agree with everything I do, that's part of what marriage is all about in our minds. Thanks for the well-wishes. My depression is going along just fine. When I'm not stuffing my face with bon-bons I'm chain-smoking filterless cigarettes and listening to old Morrisey records by candlelight.
November 14, 2004
Read This Blog
By QBlog in
If you're not reading the Not All Who Wander Are Lost blog then you're missing out. I can't remember how I first "met" Joshua Farber (aka BoyHowdy) but his blog quickly became a favorite of mine.
Farber is the "long-haired poet, prep school coordinator of Information Literacy/ Academic Technology" at Northfield Mount Hermon School and he knows his stuff. His blog is never predictable and always informative. I've watched it grow and mature for a while an it's a real vibrant media resource.
The greatest thing about Farber is that he "gets it" and understands what blogging is all about. He's also fairly prolific after two years of blogging and that's not so common these days. Keep on blogging buddy. Love what you're doing.
So go check out Not All Who Wander Are Lost and tell him QBlog sent ya ;o)
Blogging 101 - Read Blogs
By QBlog in Blogging 101
Bloggers should read other blogs. As obvious as that statement may seem, it's still important for bloggers to regularly peruse a variety of blogs. Such habitual blog consumption helps a blogger stay "plugged in" to the blog community, get ideas for posts, learn new blogging techniques, discover the latest blog technology and so much more.
Why Read Blogs?
The main reason that blogs work the way they do is because of connectivity. Similar to peer-to-peer networks or the open source community, blogs can work together as unique but connected units to discuss, criticize or popularize various issues or topics. Blogs that aren't connected to this community (meaning the blogger isn't aware of what some other blogs are covering) can miss out on this incredibly democratic power. That is not to say that reading other blogs is necessary to publish a quality blog, but it sure helps.
How To Read Blogs
I spoke to a New Media class at the local college last week and one of the students asked me how to find good blogs. It is an excellent question and it took me a moment to recall how I found the great blogs that I regularly read. Here are some of my "secrets" for finding a variety of blogs:
- Follow the links in your blog commments. When people comment on your blog, they often leave a link to their blog. Follow that link and see what types of things they are saying. I found several of my favorite blogs by following comment links.
- Use blog services such as Technorati, Daypop, Feedster or The Weblog Review.
- Follow the "Blogrolls" of other blogs. Find a blog you really like and then check out all the links on that blog's blogroll.
- Go to Google News and search for "blog." You'll find at least a few articles about blogs and those will generally have links to blogs worth writing articles about.
- Visit Blog Award sites like The Bloggies. There you'll see a bunch of blogs you never heard of but that others think are worth hearing about.
- Use a News Reader. News Readers are applications that gather RSS feeds (primarily but not exclusively from blogs) and display them in an easy-to-organize space — sort of like email. I use NetNewsWire (for the Mac) but there are many different tools out there, find one you like.
What Kind of Blogs to Read
This blog is obviously about Quixtar and MLM but that doesn't mean I only read other blogs about Quixtar and MLM. Neither should you. If your blog is a niche-blog (about one specific topic) be sure and read other blogs on that niche BUT you should also read blogs that have nothing to do with your blog topic.
For instance, if you blog about dancing monkeys, then don't exclusively read other blogs about dancing monkeys. Diversify. Read blogs about politics, computers, movies, romance, etc. Of course, be sure that you're reading blogs you like, don't just read a blog about politics because everyone else is doing it. If you don't like a blog, don't read it. Simple as that. My point is that you should diversify.
Also, don't get stuck in a rut. If you end up getting comfortable with reading the same 20-30 blogs a day, branch out and try to find a couple of new blogs each week. Many bloggers burn out because they think they're saying the same thing as all their "favorite bloggers." Don't fall into this trap. Keep cycling fresh blogs into your regular routine.
Paybacks
And finally, link to blogs. If you find a blog you really like, add it to your blogroll. Don't hide it from the world, let others know that you enjoy the content at your favorite blog. It's a nice way of saying, "Thanks for freely giving me something that I like to read." You obviously can't add every blog to your blogroll but it's just a nice gesture. And don't feel that you need to ask permission to link either. I've gotten many requests over the years from people asking me if they can link to my blogs. The spirit of the Web is that we don't need permission to link things up, we just do it. While I appreciate the sentiments behind such requests, they're entirely unnecessary. Don't ask, just link.
Blogging 101 publishes every Sunday and shares my experience and knowledge of blogging with you in the hope that it will (in some small way) help you become a better blogger.
November 13, 2004
Jody Victor Caught On Tape
By QBlog in Arbitration
You remember the Quixtar BSMAA don't you? Sure you do. It's that document new recruits are encouraged to sign when they register as IBOs. My wife signed it when she became an IBO and I bet you signed it too (if you're an IBO).
It's really a nifty little agreement and the more I learn about it the more I agree with Missouri Judge J. Miles Sweeney who said that the BSMAA system is "fundamentally unfair."
Why is the BSMAA "fundamentally unfair?"
Well, the short answer is that if you ever have a problem with your upline (or Line of Affiliation) that can't be resolved amicably then you're basically bound to enter an arbitration process. That process is secret and you MUST abide by the ruling of the "neutral" arbitrators. What Judge Sweeney objected to (in part) is that the arbitrators are trained and essentially selected by the IBOAI. That seems a little unfair in my book. (The lawBlawg has more information about the BSMAA)
Jody Victor And The BSMAA
So what does Jody Victor have to do with the BSMAA? I'm getting to that. Last year some former tool distributors (Brig Hart, Ken Stewart and Charlie Schmitz) sued Alticor, Amway and Quixtar in Missouri. Judge Sweeney's sharp criticisms of the BSMAA resulted from that complaint. And because the BSMAA and it's confidentiality requirements are still being debated, most of the suit's details aren't available to the public.
However, one interesting document (pdf) is available to the public. A summary description of a "newly surfaced" videotape was recently obtained from PACER (a public records database). The document describes the videotape as showing an arbitrator training session and reveals some startling details.
Here are some highlights from the document:
- The Plaintiffs received belated discovery from Defendants in the form of a partial videotape from the May 2, 2003 Quixtar/JAMS session. (JAMS is the Arbitration service)
- The partial videotape contains a number of key admissions against Defendants (Quixtar, et al.) respecting the issues of arbitration and unconscionability.
- On the tape, a Quixtar executive can be heard telling the JAMS arbitrators that "the disputes that arise from there (BSMs) are not specifically covered by the (Quixtar) Rules." The executive continued saying that "the big difference is it doesn't come back to the company for us to make a decision, because it's not covered by our Rules." His statements contradicted his earlier deposition testimony where he said that "disputes relating to the sale of independently-produced BSMs are covered by Rule 11 in the Rules of Conduct." Oopsie.
- There's a moment when a Quixtar representative is telling some JAMS arbitrators that "some of the disputes may even question the arbitration process." That comment is followed by laughter from the entire room.
- The JAMS arbitrators are repeatedly told that Quixtar is "fair and equitable," has "integrity" and "character" and that it's "not a pyramid." That may not seem like such a big deal unless you understand that nobody is providing similarly positive comments about you. So much for neutrality.
- Jody Victor, not realizing the camera was on, is seen "woodshedding a JAMS facilitator" about a Plaintiff in a Florida arbitration case. Jody Victor then discusses another confidential arbitration case with the JAMS facilitator explaining that the Plaintiff "knew what they were doing was wrong." Gee, that's fair.
- Jody Victor then compares training JAMS arbitrators to "training cats, dogs, seals (and) elephants." Why did he omit monkeys from his list?
Sex, Lies and Videotape
Frankly, I must agree with Judge Sweeney when he says that the Quixtar arbitration process is "fundamentally unfair." The big question on my mind is how much similarly alarming information is still under a protective order? What would we think about the arbitration process if we knew ALL the facts. I shudder to think.
November 12, 2004
QBlog's Farcical Help Desk - 1
By QBlog in Farcical Help Desk
Every Friday, the QBlog Farcical Help Desk™ answers the Quixtar questions that nobody dared to ask. Additionally, each Help Desk answer is guaranteed to end with some form of punctuation or we'll refund your money. No fooling!
Question: I was in Barnes & Noble last night and
I think some guy tried to recruit me into Quixtar. What should I do?
Answer: Next time, try curling up in the fetal position and moaning loudly.
That usually gets rid of them and makes the Barnes & Noble employees chuckle.
Q: No, seriously. I gave him my name and number and
he's trying to get me to go to some GlobalWide Fantasy Constructors meeting.
What should I tell him?
A: Do you want to go?
Q: Well no, of course I don't want to go.
A: Gee. I don't know. Why don't you just tell him something like — "I
don't want to go!"
Q: Hmmmm. That just might work. Thanks QBlog Farcical
Help Desk™.
A: Don't mention it.
Q: I've got this itchy rash on my...
A: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down there partner. This is a help desk, not a doctor's
office. Take that rash somewhere else.
Q: But see, it's spreading here and when I lift up my
shirt you can see how it's turning green.
A: Hey. Speaken de English? No rashes. Get your nasty rash to the doctor.
Q: But I need help and this is a help desk right?
A: *Sigh* Yes but not for that kind of help. Security. Little help here.
Q: Ok, ok. I'm going.
A: Good. Now scoot.
Q: So how's this help desk thing going?
A: Not so good I'm afraid.
Q: Gee. That's too bad. But it looked so easy and funny
when Moltz
did it. What happened?
A: Well, for starters I'm no John
Moltz. And secondly, the subject of Quixtar is a little more difficult to
lampoon than Apple Computers.
Q: Really? Why's that?
A: I think it's because everyone is so serious about Quixtar and there's
the fear that something satirical will be misunderstood.
Q: I see. That is a pickle now isn't it?
A: Yeah but I'm sure part of it is just finding that groove. Rome wasn't built
in a day and let's face it, Quixtar is RIPE for lampooning. If there's any MLM
that deserves a good satirical kick in the pants it's the Big Q.
Q: True enough. Good luck to you then and hope next
week's installment isn't such a stinker.
A: Thanks. I think it will work out.
November 11, 2004
Let's Keep Secrets
By QBlog in
I've just learned (via PACER) about a stunning development in the TOD vs. Larsen lawsuit (TOD is now TEAM). Both parties in the suit have seemingly agreed to a protective order thing preventing anyone from discussing the details of the case (pdf copy). There are a couple of items in this agreement that interest me:
- Everyone has agreed to be present at the November 22, 2004 mediation. This includes Larsen, Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady.
- They've all agreed to keep everything about the mediation process confidential. This is a blanket agreement that would seem to cover anything discussed.
- Larsen has agreed (as of October 26, 2004) that he won't post any entries on the Internet critical of Plaintiff (Team of Destiny) or its members.
It's that last one that really concerns me and makes me think that maybe Larsen is going to lose this case. Why would anyone agree to just shut up like that? The very last thing I'd ever want to agree to is silence on any issue. It's a free speech thing.
Think about this hypothetically for one second. What if we learn tomorrow morning that Orrin Woodward is illegally running guns up from Mexico and selling them to his downline. This is obviously not true but we're thinking hypothetically here. Now, according to this agreement, Larsen is prohibited from saying ANYTHING critical of that hypothetical gunrunning. That's just stupid in my opinion. Now, I'm not Larsen and I don't know all the details of his situation but this sure looks like the same silence that we see in virtually every other Quixtar-related lawsuit. And the real puzzler here is that Larsen isn't even bound by arbitration (the BSMAA).
So why is Larsen being silent now? No idea. I haven't talked to Larsen about this and it looks like he couldn't say anything about it if I did. All I know is that I have a gut feeling that this is bad news for Larsen and good news for Orrin Woodward and Team of Destiny (or TEAM or whatever they're called now).
November 10, 2004
For The Ladies
By QBlog in
"Is that what I think it is? Oh, hell no. It is what I think it is. No he didn't. No he didn't."
"Oh yes he did girlfriend. Yes he did. I think it's kind of cute. Don't you?"
Qrush is on a single track
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
Qrush is on a single track - "Come clean about your involvement as a hired minion of the IBOAI"
- It just. Won't. Die.
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- It just. Won't. Die.
"Quixtar... is a pretty euphemism for a complex, multilevel marketing scam"
November 9, 2004
Google Guidelines
By QBlog in
Do you run a blog? Do you regularly read blogs? If so, are you aware of Google's Information for Webmasters?
Google's Information page includes the Quality Guidelines which "outline some of the illicit practices that may lead to a site being removed entirely from the Google index. Once a site has been removed, it will no longer show up in results on Google.com or on any of Google's partner sites." Ouch.
Let's review a few items.
- Make pages for users, not for search engines. Don't deceive your users, or present different content to search engines than you display to users
- Avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings. A good rule of thumb is whether you'd feel comfortable explaining what you've done to a website that competes with you. Another useful test is to ask, "Does this help my users? Would I do this if search engines didn't exist?"
- Don't participate in link schemes designed to increase your site's ranking or PageRank. In particular, avoid links to web spammers or "bad neighborhoods" on the web as your own ranking may be affected adversely by those links.
- Avoid hidden text or hidden links.
- Don't load pages with irrelevant words.
- Don't create multiple pages, subdomains, or domains with substantially duplicate content.
- Avoid "doorway" pages created just for search engines, or other "cookie cutter" approaches such as affiliate programs with little or no original content.
Google takes efforts to manipulate its search results very seriously. If you run a blog that does not follow the guidelines listed above, you may want to re-evaluate what you're doing with that blog. If you know of a blog that isn't following those guidelines, Google has a page that enables you to report such sites.
I love Google. I believe it's the finest search engine on the planet. I've been using Google since it first began and the service has only improved over the years. I hope you'll work to keep the quality of Google's search results as relevant as possible.
True Dat
By QBlog in
If you're a blogger you can probably relate (in some way) to the following Jim Borgman cartoon.
Thanks to BoyHowdy for the toon
November 8, 2004
Q The Blog
By QBlog in
Coming soon to the QBlog Shop
Happy Second Anniversary
By QBlog in
It was two years ago today that I made my very first post on the Quixtar BLOG. At the time I had no idea that this little blog would end up affecting so many people in so many different ways.
This weekend I spent some time reflecting on the past two years and the changes that have occurred in my life since that first post. Most of those changes have been positive and some have specifically resulted from publishing this blog. One of the best things about this blog is that I've been able to "meet" so many wonderful people and develop some strong and enduring friendships with folks I never would have met otherwise. There's power in blogging my friends.
Anyway, it's been two years and I decided to celebrate by holding a little contest. I'm sorry if you didn't get a chance to participate but there's always next year.
The Contest
The QBlog Anniversary Contest was a way to celebrate the last two years of sharing "Just one man's perceptions." The basic premise was to allow you, the reader, to come up with a catchy slogan to replace the one that's been here since the beginning. There were only eight official entries and of those eight, the entry from "dmm" was chosen by the contest judges (Dwighty, David Robison and LawDawg).
Each entry was rated on a scale of one to ten, ten being the best and one being the worst. The winning entry (submitted by "dmm") received a total score of 21 (9+9+3), edging out two other entries tied with a score of 19. For winning the contest, "dmm" will receive one item of his choosing from the QBlog Shop and get to see his winning slogan (Read for yourself and teach others to do so) on the QBlog site for a while.
Thanks to all who participated and thanks to the judges for giving up their chance to compete as well as spending time judging the entries. I know some of you guys want to know what all the official entries were and how they scored, so here they are in no particular order.
- Seeking The Truth (scored 1+3+8 = 12)
- Quixtar Blog - It pays to discover (scored 5+8+6 = 19)
- Read for yourself and teach others to do so (scored 3+9+9 = 21)
- I Report. You Decide. (scored 10+5+4 = 19)
- A balanced opinion amongst the madness (scored 4+4+7 = 15)
- Show me the money (scored 1+6+1 = 8)
- The business about 'the business.' (scored 1+4+10 = 15)
- Quixtar Blog: A Glimpse Through the Fog (scored 4+5+5 = 14)
And finally, a big thanks to all who have made this blog an exciting place to visit. I genuinely appreciate you, no matter what your opinions of me or this blog.
Thanks and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
November 7, 2004
? Oh then there is quixtar
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
? Oh then there is quixtar
"It's very conservative, hyperreligious, and cult like. but it's a cult of accomplishment"
Blogging 101 - Graphics
By QBlog in Blogging 101
Adding
graphics to your posts is a great way to spice up your blog and make it more
interesting — at least visually. And let's face it, graphics can also
add some much needed context to your comments about the giant spider that tried
to eat your mouse. It's up to you to decide which graphics to use, how often
you use them (daily, weekly, whenever, etc.) and how many to use in each post.
Just remember that dropping a few colorful images into your blog can really kick
it up a notch (as Emeril
would say).
How To Add Graphics
If you're hosting your own blog then adding images is pretty simple. Just upload
a graphic to your server and include the image code in your blog post. That
code should look something like this:
<img src="myImage.jpg">
The path to "myImage.jpg" should reflect the path that's on your server. If your unsure of your directory structure, just use the full URL path such as "http://www.myblog.com/myImage.jpg." So the code would look like this:
<img src="http://www.myblog.com/myImage.jpg">
Many blogging tools have WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) editors that make including images even easier. Just follow those instructions and you're in business. The main thing to remember when including graphics is to make them look nice on your blog. You don't want them to be so big that they break your blog template and you don't want them so small that they lose their impact. Use your image editing program to size your graphic to something that fits your blog (maybe 300 pixels wide).
I believe that graphics in blogs should usually allow the text to flow around them. This isn't always possible (depending on the graphic of course) but when possible, align that image to either the right or left. This can be done by inserting the image html at the beginning of a block of text and adding an "align" instruction like this:
<img src="myImage.jpg" align="left"> Here is the text and the image is BEFORE the text.
If you're using a free blogging service and don't have access to a server to host your images you may want to try something like Blogger's Hello service or the free TechImage service. There are other methods so search around and find something you like.
Hotlinking
Hotlinking is when
someone uses the image tag (<img src="http://notyoursite.com/img.jpg">)
to display a graphic hosted on another site as if it were hosted on their own
site. This is a common practice among people who don't have servers of their
own. Some refer to the practice as "bandwidth theft" but I haven't
found a single law or court case specifically defining it as illegal. I also
take the view that the person hosting the image has a certain level of control
over how that image is used and can take steps to prevent Hotlinking if he chooses.
For instance, one can disable the display of images on Web pages not hosted
by that server. This renders Hotlinking useless. For more perspectives on Hotlinking
read one man's experience
with Getty Images and Hotlinking.
Personally, I think Hotlinking is fine in certain situations. If I blog about the new iPod, then doing a Hotlink to Apple's iPod graphic seems fine to me. And because I'm Hotlinking, instead of hosting the graphic myself, I may be avoiding some potential copyright issues. It's probably best to avoid Hotlinking in most cases but sometimes it may be a good way to highlight a specific graphic. Use your common sense.
Examples
If you'd like to see examples of some blogs that really benefit from regularly
including graphics check out these links:
- Gizmodo - A gadget review blog
- Chicagoist - Well, the name sort of says it all
- Fresh Perspective - "Thinking Out Loud"
What blogs do you enjoy that regularly make use of graphics?
Blogging 101 publishes every Sunday (it previously published on Fridays) and provides tips, tricks, advice and tutorials that may help improve your blogging.
November 6, 2004
Some Good Advice
By QBlog in
Do yourself, and your family (if you have one), a favor and go see "The Incredibles" as soon as possible. It's an absolutely wonderful film and Roger Ebert gives it 3 1/2 stars. I think I'd give it four stars. I saw it yesterday with my young son and I'm going to see it again tonight at the Drive-In with some more family members. I think it's the best Pixar film yet. If there's still time, Disney should do ANYTHING to extend it's Pixar contract (Mickey News).
Anyway, go see "The Incredibles" and tell me what you think about it.
- Merchants of Deception: The Blog
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- Merchants of Deception: The Blog
"An insider's view"
- Today's Diary
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- Today's Diary
"People are systematically manipulated by Amway/quixtar motivational systems"
November 5, 2004
Moving Blogging 101
By QBlog in Blogging 101
Blogging 101, a popular and helpful feature of this blog, is moving to Sundays. Don't fret kids, all that great blogging info you've come to love will still be here but on a different day. It's like when the TV Networks move a great show to a new time slot. Only this isn't TV and I'm not moving a show.
So, Blogging 101 moves from Friday to Sunday. And yes, that means a new entry will be here THIS SUNDAY. SUNDAY. SUNDAY (read that with your deepest monster-truck announcer voice).
What is Blogging 101? Well, if you're asking that then you're obviously new around here but I'll explain anyway. It's this thing where I share my vast knowledge and opinions about the art of blogging with you, the reader. If blogging isn't your "thing" then Blogging 101 might not be either. Of course, this doesn't mean that Blogging 101 will be the ONLY thing here on Sundays. There may be other wonderful perceptions and witicisms as well. And of course, there is the QBlog Radio which updates EVERY SINGLE DARN DAY!
What's Replacing Blogging 101 on Fridays?
So glad you asked. It's a brand new, never before seen feature called the "QBlog Help Desk" (blatantly ripped from the Crazy Apple Rumors's "Crazy Apple Help Desk"). I'm a longtime fan of the feature and I thought, "why not do the EXACT SAME THING at the Quixtar BLOG?" See how clever I am.
So, tune in Sunday (SUNDAY, SUNDAY) to read the next installment of Blogging 101 and tune in next Friday for the brand new "QBlog Help Desk."
+ Your Friendly Amway/Quixtar Distributor
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
+ Your Friendly Amway/Quixtar Distributor
"Share your experiences with using Amway/Quixtar Core Line products"
- I will never ever sell Amway
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- I will never ever sell Amway
"DON'T ASK ANY MORE QUESTIONS!"
- Pyramid Schemes and the Like
By QBlog in Quixtar Chatter
- Pyramid Schemes and the Like
"At the lowest level, they're peddlers of overpriced 'health' products to consumers."
November 4, 2004
Things To Do Instead
By QBlog in
Don Hargraves runs the fascinating Alticor Memory Hole site which is "dedicated to Ashley Wilkes." Ashley Wilkes is said to have published the very first Web site critical of the Amway Motivational Organizations, pre-dating even Sidney Schwartz. Hargrave's Memory Hole site offers a great deal of historical information about Amway and the AMOs as well as a some commentary. There's one bit of commentary that I especially enjoy (and MO reminded me of it yesterday) and Hargraves has given me permission to republish it on this blog.
Things To Do
With Your Life Other Than Amway
- By Don Hargraves. Republished with permission
It should be obvious, but there are people out there who think "If I don't do this, what will I do?" So I've put together a list of things that one can do with the extra time no longer taken up by snowing the recruits and showing the plan.
You will note that I don't put up "Get a Job." I've tried to avoid the obvious, plus I would like people to think of things to do that don't specifically revolve around the gathering and spending of money. In short, lose the hyperfocus on money and possessions and you might find yourself.
-
Sleep
America is badly sleep-deprived. CEO's spend eighteen hours per day figuring out new ways to squeeze workers for the sake of their shareholders, working stiffs work as much overtime as they can to afford the latest SUV's, Urban Poor work three jobs just to afford rent and the car that's constantly on the verge of falling apart, college students study and attend classes and do extracurricular activities so they will be able to get that "good job waiting at the end of the rainbow," mothers juggling children job andhubby -- all these people cut back on sleep and pay for it.Recent studies have shown that when you go without sleep, you use more Cortisol than you should. Cortisol is a steroid that increases awareness of the environment and makes the body burn energy efficiently. This steroid is so powerful that the body turns its Cortisol supply off whenever one goes to sleep.
And the results of increasd cortisol usage? I have three female friends who have had excessive cortisol in their body for an extended
time -- one from athsma drugs, the second from psychotropic drugs, the third from ten years of incest. All three of them are heavy, have trouble going to sleep (having night terrors during the early part of the night), and have fought years of depression. The scientific studies I have read say pretty much the same thing about others who don't get enough sleep.Get your sleep -- death will be too late.
-
Spend Time With Your Children
Kids will not wait until you can "walk the beaches of the world" and travel in your land-yacht with them. They need your attention now, while you're struggling with the rent for your tenement apartment, or in your suburban home where it seems every week you're money's gone before you get it. Time not spent with them now cannot be made up later in life, no matter what anyone says. -
Vacation -- on a budget if need be
I remember the first time I went to New York City. I stayed in a place that was $15 a night, went everywhere either by subway or foot, and bought a single momento of the trip. While visits into the museums were pricy, they were worth it, and the subway took me everywhere I chose not to walk to. Only thing I missed: The twin towers, and that's because I thought they would still be around today.Similar story with my most recent trip to DC: el cheapo snoozing, lots of walking and no momentos. Transport to and from DC was the most expensive part of the trip, and that's because I didn't think of hitch-hiking.
And for those with children, think different. Don't think "Florida;" think some place within a couple of hours of where you live. There's still plenty of places a ways off the expressway that would fill a kid with awe and you with appreciation of the past.
Moral? You don't need to spend tons of money to enjoy a vacation.
-
Own Your Own Business
I know and have known people who've run their own used items shop, pet care store, sold used cars, sold bowling equipment to bowlers, and ran restaurants. In each case, the people running these businesses were able to make plenty of money and, when they got out of the business, got out with money. Don't let fearmongers fool you, most businesses make money. Interesting fact: seventy percent of businesses that close shop do so with a positive balance. And if you can make it as a businessman, more power to you, it means you can live better than most of your customers. -
Learn rollerblading, lift weights, bowl, play tennis or basketball
When you exercise, you burn up fat and add muscle mass to your body. Both make you fitter, thinner and happier. -
Continue your education
The brain has been found to be much like a muscle in that exercising it will keep it active, while running it on long-learned information will cause it to fall apart. Continued education is one way to keep your mind healthy and active.Surely there must be something you've always wanted to learn about or read but never had the time for. Maybe now you'll have the time and focus to learn or read that item you've always wanted to do.
-
Do something artistic, learn a hobby, learn a craft
I've always believed that anything worth doing is worth doing atrociously. That means you'll end up falling on your face, doing stuff that's better left undone. Do it anyway, for the love of thedoing -- and if you practice it enough, you might find yourself improving. -
Learn HTML, make a web page
There's over 100 free web page sites in cyberspace (I'm using one right now), a few free email sites, hundreds of books offering to teach HTML, lots of web sites to help you with the details, programs with varying forms of ease, and scanners are getting cheap. Some people actually make a living doing HTML, and with today's programs one can put up web pages without much work.
From that list, there should be enough to work on that will improve both you and your life. Not only that, but you'll slowly work your way back into the good graces of your family and friends, and won't have to spend your way into the poorhouse for success.
November 3, 2004
QBlog Reminders
By QBlog in
Don't forget...
- The QBlog Anniversary Contest ends November 6, so enter today!
- The QBlog Radio is an exciting way to discover new music and enjoy tunes you've always loved.
- The Quixtar Backbone Project is still a work in progress. Jump in to participate now.
- Christmas is right around the corner. Wouldn't your loved one appreciate a nice hoodie or coffee mug from the QBlog Shop? There's a $2 discount on select products till November 16th.
- The QBlog News (Beta) is a great way to quickly catch up on all the latest blog headlines about Quixtar and MLM.
Quixtar Admits Google Bombing
By QBlog in Web Initiative
Quixtar is waging an aggressive Google Bombing campaign in an attempt to manipulate search engine results. The primary component of the "Quixtar Web Initiative" is specifically designed to exploit blogs in an unprecedented manner. Unlike businesses that utilize a few blogs to communicate with employees, associates and customers (NY Times and Search Engine Guide), Quixtar has hired "geekoids" to manufacture hundreds of blogs designed to confuse (rather than inform) information seekers.
And while most businesses would try to distance themselves from such spam-like activity, the Quixtar Leadership boasts about its Google Bombing efforts. I received the following message from an IBO who recently attended a Free Enterprise Day rally where Greg Duncan was one of the featured speakers.