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May 4, 2005
QBlog - The Book?
By QBlog in
So I'm at the bar tonight celebrating some work-related blogging accomplishments (yes, my job also involves blogging) and the conversation shifts to Quixtar. At first I'm a little hesitant about telling my "Quixtar story" but but with a little prodding (ok, not that much prodding) I explain about the Quixtar BLOG and my experiences since launching it over two years ago.
What was truly bizarre is that both of my companions were genuinely interested in the Quixtar story. I told them about the Team Of Destiny lawsuit against Scott Larsen and about how TOD changed their name to TEAM in midstream (which got some chuckles).
I told them about Dexter Yager and the sexual harassment complaint filed against him. I explained the tool businesses and the why that business interested the FTC. I recounted the events that transpired while my wife was involved in the business and how this blog seems to currently impact Quixtar policies. I kept telling and telling and they kept listening and asking questions and never once appeared bored. Ok, maybe a couple of times but only when I was explaining Quixtar's bonus payout structure.
What's really interesting to me is that one my my companions, an editor, suggested that I turn my story into a book. Actually, she said I absolutely must turn this into a book and gave me the names of agents and friends who could at least point me in the right direction. And the more I thought about it, the more I like the idea of writing a book. It would be a way for me to lay out all my experiences and knowledge in a narrative form that will, hopefully, be interesting to read.
What do you think about QBlog - The Book? Good idea? Bad idea? Do you think you'd read it? Do you think others would read it? I guess the best question is "what would the book specifically be about?"
I suppose I'd have a chapter or two on the Blakey Report. And definitely a chapter on the Qrush saga. Maybe a few chapters about the Quixtar Web Initiative and who knows what else.
I've actually considered doing a book for quite some time but I've always envisioned a blog book, something that shared the knowledge and skills I've learned from running this blog. But now I'm seriously considering a book about my sometimes surreal experiences connected with this Quixtar BLOG.
I don't know. For now, I'm open to the idea and pleased that at least a couple of folks believe that my story is worthy of a book. I'll keep you posted.
Comments
Dude, I'd be first in line at Chapters to get an autographed copy.
I think it is a fantastic idea. It would be a very credible book from somebody with above average writing skills.
While you weren't as involved as some other authors on this subject, you have a very unique perspective that has yet to be rivalled.
I would also love to read about some of the stuff you haven't shared here yet.
GREAT IDEA!!!
I think it's a fantastic idea. Please make sure we can get hold of copies in the UK.
Just looked at that Qrush site LOL
Love the way he suggests that Scott Larsen is gay, as if just because of that it invalidates any info on his site.
He doesn't make mention of Eric Scheibeler!!!
Lots has been written about amway over the years, and regurgitating that it is a cult, that it is a zero sum game, the tools business, etc, etc, blah, blah, blah is pointless.
A timely book now would be the impact of the internet on the amway business, its morphing into quixtar, and the foibles of amway, quixtar, and IBOs in their futile attempt to control the information on the internet. Make the reader laugh, and I'll read it.
Qblog,
Definitely do the book!
It's time to force Amway/Quixtar to change their name again, and a book would be a good way to do that. :)
I think your book could incorporate info on developing a blog through the story of your Quixtar Encounter....
Good idea,
If you titled it right you might even get an unwary pro IBO to buy it off the shelf.
Like "What not to do to build a successful Quixtar biz"
Or
War of the Blogs' a sci-fi adventure where a blog spaceships sweeps down to threaten the worlds best business.
LOL
Go for it...
contest tor the title would be fun.
For publicity Paul Hartunian has great ideas
Do it! I like the idea of naming it "What Not to Do to Build a Succesful Quixtar business," like someone said above. I think it would really be a hit, especially if it was fair and balanced. you could include posts made on this site from people on both sides of the aisle. In my opinion, it should not be a "Bash-fest", but should mirror this blog, but with more of your personal story and thoughts.
It is also safe to say that this site would get a few more hits!
I am second in line, if it is balanced. Tenth in line if it's not! I'm buying either way.
Ha! go for it. I'll buy it, read it and promote it. Great Idea. You may sell eBook like Eric S or paper stuff so I could read it in bus :)
As an Amway employee for 15 years, I would like to see a book that not only exposes exerything to talk about here (greed), but what is really the central focus of the 'free enterprise global agenda', and that is the spread of fundamentalist christianity practiced by the co-founders families.
While this didn't start out as the mission/objective, it certainly is now. If you truly want to use your journalist talents, investigate this angle globally, and you will have an incredible story to tell. Simply beginning with the Rich and Helen DeVos Foundation and what it supports, including the funding of the Schiendler family (Terri Schiavo's parents) tells you the impact these billions are now having on the politics of America, and further investigation will show the global impact.
The families, the very high level IBOs, there is a lot of political influence being financed in the support of the very far right religious agenda. It is timely, it is interesting, and it is an angle nobody else has ever covered. From a global perspective, there are major consequences that could come from uncovering their involvement in these activites.
Do it! Do it! I'll buy a book and beg your autograph!
There is a whole population of people like myself who have been out of the business for years (8 in my case), but will be following the fate of the business for the rest of our lives. I like the blog, but don't have the time to go back and read the archives or all the messges- would love a book format to catch up on what I've missed.
Hell, I volunteer to write the Foreword!
Qblog,
I still think you should do a useful book like a blogging 101 book, and combine it in with your quixtar commentary, just how this blog is based.
I think you have a new york times best seller! I'd buy a copy as long as David Robison wrote the forward(hint hint). ;-)
Also, Would that go into our tools program? You could make a FORTUNE! LOL
Thanks for the feedback. One suggestion made (one that I had already considered) to me is writing the book online, chapter by chapter and allow feedback as it evolved and unfolded. A lot like the Red Couch book.
Of course, if I did do a book via traditional methods (agent, publisher, etc.) I'd demand that the book be licensed under a Creative Commons license and available to people freely with some minimal CC restrictions.
By the way, this blog is under a CC license so if you ever want to grab stuff posted here, read the license and then get busy.
Finally, if I did write a book and sold it and it happened to do really well I'm afraid my conscience would demand that I give all proceeds to some charity (probably the EFF). So, no. It would not get into the tools program.
However, I'm really attracted to the idea of doing a "What Corporations Should NOT Do on the Web" type book and use Quixtar's multitude of mistakes as a foundation. Something to consider. I have a lot of things going on right now and want to be sure I focus my energy on something that will be the most beneficial to me and my goals while also achieving the highest possible impact with the audience, whoever they may be.
Does this mean we won't be seeing it as a book-of-the-month?
PW
Maybe you can club together with Scott Larsen, Eric scheibeler,Jonas dad et al.
You would make a formiddible team
WRITE IT!!!! Dont forget to get a good laywer so you can fend off the "sue happy" idiots in Grand Rapids.
For me, the Qrush saga was the mad one. He just upped sticks on Christmas Day!
Does anyone have any idea who he was?
I thought Qrush's main downfall was that his blog ended up turning into an 'anti-passport' blog rather than an 'anti quixtar critic blog'.
What about Qrushed? Does anyone remember him? For those who don't he was the antithesis of Qrush. Boy could he use swearwords!
His blog disappeared completely not long before Qrush stopped posting.
Sad really.
Buzzard,
Qrushed is still there.
http://qrushed.blogspot.com/
I just looked...."Qrush is the Scarecrow" article that first comes up from Oct, 17.
Remember, QBlog, the money is in merchandising. Imagine, QBlog: The Motion Picture. Qblog the doll. Qblog the lunchbox. Qblog the action figure. Qblog the breakfast cereal. Qblog the toilet paper...
QBlog the Contraceptive. Not quite sure what I meant by that!!!
i would like to hear more about this team/quikstar. and what it is all about. i have some one trying to get me in this TEAM thing and i need to know if it is just like all the rest of the internet scams that eventually fall on thier face. please give me some insite on this TEAM venture.
thank you
jason kelley
read archives, and forum. A lot of info about team and quixtar is already here, yours to read.
try Amquix.info as well. Also, jump on the forum and use search. You'll find some info about team.
whataboutquixtar.com has some good info.
I have an idea for a TITLE and subtitle...
BOOKSTORE BROWSER BEWARE - They Want You
or
BOOKSTORE BROWSER BEWARE - You're Being Watched
Or, something along those lines.
Though it is old news to most of us, my mom was telling me she was talking to a co-worker about my child custody battle dealing w/ Quixtar. She mentioned the three criteria of a cult. When she mentioned deceptive recruiting, the co-worker asked if they frequent Barnes & Noble. Her husband was approached w/ the classic "you look like a future entreprenuer" pitch. Luckily, she freaked out that this person was jack the ripper or something. They drove by where he was supposed to meet w/ the IBO and the guy was just sitting there waiting, they never met with him. They were lucky. My mom says she'll see familiar faces of IBOs from our court cases at Barnes & Noble frequently. They're like parasites. Somebody should inform that establishment and all others these IBOs solicit innocent folks.
Well, FYI IBOs have been reported in Barnes and Nobles, AND even in Wal-mart. Some places have banned it.
BT don't forget to do a POD version of that book. And I don't need any body else doing podcasting othe then you. It'll be super awsome if ur wife could do some of the part. You guys are great pod partner :)
Just an idea :-) POD casting would be better if it slants towards goofiness so I dunno if it'd be equivalent of a serious book. On other hand, I can't stop laughing and Quixtar web blunders so ....
Just an idea.
Jason Kelley,
TEAM is a "motivational organization" for Quixtar - which is just Amway reinventing itself as an "internet business". If you need to know details, as Imran said, there is a lot of information on the QBlog forum.
How many ex-Quixtar IBOs are there? 750,000 in the last 5 years? Is that right? I guess if you thought even 10% might buy your book, it might be worth it. It's hard for me to be clear in thought about this since I'm so deep in still. My first thought is: Huh? Give me a break! But, heck, I'd buy it! (And then hide it :) ).
You definitely do have a unique perspective having put yourself in a central position for Quixtar commentary.
Go for it!
Posted by: Dorothy | May 4, 2005 6:01 AM