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June 30, 2005
DeVos Speaks - Direct Distributor
By QBlog in DeVos Speaks
"DeVos
Speaks," is special series that features comments made by Amway co-founder
Rich DeVos. Each DeVos quote is published without comment and includes a link
to the source material (for context) when available. This series doesn't have
a regular publication schedule but all posts are available under the Category
listing on the Archives page.
Someplace along the line, we lost sight of the fact that the Direct Distributor is the operating head of their organization. All due respect to the upline. I don't care who they are; I don't care what pin level they are. Many of you have heard me talk over and over again about the fact that if your sponsor did nothing more than tell you about Amway, they opened a door of opportunity for you; but only you can walk through it.
And those of you that I'm talking to today are Direct Distributors; you took the challenge; you walked through that door, and you became a Direct Distributor in the world of Amway. In our book, that makes you the head, the star the outstanding performer, who, unlike many others who looked at it and listened and either turned it down or did nothing with it, you did, and you are to be commended.
I'm disturbed, because I find too many people are putting Directs down and saying, Oh, what are you? "You don't know enough," a Diamond's where it's at. And you know, it's true; we have a lot of awards at Diamond. But we decided a long time ago in this company that Direct Distributor is where it's at. After all, a Diamond is only a person who has six Direct Distributors, and a double Diamond is one who has twelve; but this whole Plan revolves around the leadership of the Direct Distributor. And that's, of course, why we're talking to you.
- Rich DeVos, Directly Speaking - 1983
Comments
It is important to anyone who reads this comment to recognize that when DeVos speaks of "Direct Distributors" he includes all IBOs: "Diamond is only a person who has six Direct Distributors..." Well first of all this quote is from the 80s when it was only Amway; with Quixtar, you basically must BE the equivalent of a 'direct distributor' to HAVE 6 'direct distributors'.
Second of all, buying tools IS optional. Our mentors have given us all the tools we have used: tapes, CDs, and books. I think this simultaneously corrects the erraneous thinking that 1) uplines have no leadership skills and 2) you must spend hundreds of dollars on tools to succeed.
Cassandra,
Once you decide to make tools "optional", that will end your working relationship with your mentor. There will be no mentorship if you choose not to buy their teachings or buy the products at inflated prices.
Most larger pins judge their own success based on the number of tools and tickets to seminars and conferences sold. That is where their real incomes are made. They also know that with those tools sold, people will buy the product creating the PV whether they need those products or not.
Show me one of your larger pins that didn't spend thousands on tools and convince others to do so.
The bottom line is, this is a bad business opportunity.
show me one college grad that didn't spend thousands on tools (books, CD's, tuition), and tell others to do the same. Thats what we're taught, go to school, get good grades, to get a good job. What college grad hasn't told a new HS grad, "you better go to college". or maybe even that they should go to the college that They went to.
Oh, and Kendall, just so you know - I've had downline get off Standing order... I still work with them. I've had some never get on STO, I still work with them too! You guys are stereotyping and judgmental!!
That's kind of what you have to do when evaluating a business. You have to stereotype (evaluate based on success percentages) and be judgemental. That's the point.
You may be the best guy in the world, but if I judge your business to stereotypically be a bad opportunity, then I will choose not to partcipate and encourage others not to participate as well.
See I encourage others to do their own legitament research and make their own decision. Which is what one of my most recent new guys did. He said he reseached network marketing as an industry and the company as a whole, and that he saw it as a lowcost way to make potential residual income, and he was very pleased with the Company's numbers and rating of the products. He also owns his own "traditional" business, in the IT field.
10 bucks says that guy will be out in 6 months.
Paypal bet? Any Ampires?
"show me one college grad that didn't spend thousands on tools (books, CD's, tuition), and tell others to do the same. Thats what we're taught, go to school, get good grades, to get a good job. What college grad hasn't told a new HS grad, "you better go to college". or maybe even that they should go to the college that They went to." - Tony
Here we go again, Tony.
First of all, Quixtar is NOT college. Not even close.
Second, when a college grad tells the HS grad "you'd better go to college", he's not looking to make a buck off of the transaction.
Third, motivational tapes are not equal to or even equivalent to college textbooks, nor is a university education the same as a Quixtar education. Your Quixtar "diploma" won't help get you a job when you fall out of qualification. I still use the learned knowledge of accounting, finance and economics in my business today; I rarely fall back on my LOS's teachings to overcome the market saturation objection to Amway. The Quixtar teaching are not all universal knowledge; most college learning is, if just a start.
Just remember, Tony: using good judgement is not by definition being judgemental. In my mind, being judgemental implies looking down upon someone - I don't look down upon you at all.
Though based on my experience, I do feel sorry for you.
My diamond was more accessible than most. I was only 4 "down" from him (Kumar) and I knew him when he was just a platinum. I really like my diamond as a leader and as a person. I just did not get along with the rest of his directs. Despite the fact that I had worked side by side with these people not one of them could remember which country I was from. But they all expected me to learn Hindi. My wife's an american desi and even she had problems "associating" with the women in the group.
I was in the business less than a year. I saw platinum doing all the work. Diamonds were.....hard to reach at the least. I was just a 1500 PVer, Vishal came to our house only once. But again, diamond can't visit their downline as much as they have a bigger group.
Platinum push for volume, train, motivate, open, sign up ppl for new IBOs, host pace, sell / push seminar tickets, and all the dirty work there is.
Remove tool, they ARE profitable. Like a day job. A good day job. Add tools, and boom, their expenses are sky high. Hardly breaking even!
Posted by: Imran Aziz | June 30, 2005 6:35 AM