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October 14, 2005
Examine The Tool Business
By QBlog in A/QMOs
Last month I asked the following (somewhat rhetorical) question:
Can you name a successful Quixtar Diamond who achieved his "financial freedom" by using the prescribed motivational tools and training systems but who is not also profiting from the motivational tools and training systems?
Nobody has provided a name to answer my question and I suspect that no one ever will.
Purpose of Tools?
Quixtar IBOs are required to train and motivate their downline (Business Reference Guide). It's not an option, it's a contractual obligation. And that obligation demands that IBOs perform such training without any direct compensation.
However, most IBOs use tools to assist them with their training obligations. According to the BSMAA (pdf) an IBO "should purchase Business Support Materials only if [he] decide[s] they assist [him] in building a more successful and profitable Independent Business."
The "tools" were developed to provide useful training and motivation not offered by Quixtar. A few IBOs (mostly Quixtar Diamonds) independently produce those tools and receive significant revenue from their sales.
The Results
If the Business Support Materials were developed to help IBOs build Quixtar-powered businesses then the value of those tools can be measured by examining the number of IBOs who've accomplished that goal. And indeed, many IBOs have built large and prosperous businesses by utilizing the tools. Yet I must return to my original question, how many of those successful IBOs aren't also profiting from the very tools they credit with assisting them in their success?
The Dilemma
Here's the dilemma as I see it — the tools function primarily to train IBOs to build profitable tools businesses, not Quixtar businesses. Maybe an example will better explain my point?
Example: State University has an engineering program. Students spend thousands of dollars to learn how to become engineers. Most graduates of State University's program immediately land high-paying engineering jobs. However, virtually every graduate also gets a second job selling the $100 books to new engineering students. Oddly, every engineering graduate starts selling books to new students and the school begins growing rapidly as the graduates (motivated by the high-profit margins of the book sales) work tirelessly to get more students into the program.
Interestingly, all the graduates earn almost 80% of their total annual income from selling books to new students.
Now, is State University developing engineers or book salesmen? Or both? Does such a scenario present a dilemma for State University? Can you see the parallels with the Quixtar tools business?
Ask Questions
Personally, I believe that the Quixtar motivational tools are virtually worthless. You're free to disagree. I just hope that you ask lots of questions about the nature of the tool business and make sure that it's providing the results you expect.
Are the tools teaching you to build a Quixtar business or a motivational business? Do the tools have value outside of your Quixtar business? Do the Quixtar products have value outside the Quixtar business? What percentage of a tool-profiting Diamond's income is derived from tool sales and does that present a conflict of interest?
Finally, why aren't there any Diamonds who've used the training system but aren't also profiting from that training system?
Comments
I just got back from a Men's Leadership Seminary for TEAM (formerly Team of Destiny).
I was "in" the business and "on system" when I first started several months ago. Something didn't click.
I'm a pastor. I couldn't match the pitches I was being sold to what the Scripture says - even though the business claims to have "Biblical" foundations.
That led me to research the system. I began to see that I wasn't being told the 1/2 of it.
This "Leadership" seminar was nothing more than a high-level testosteron filled environment to push the system. EVERY speaker pushed the CD's Tapes and Books. It was sickening to me, being on the "outside" looking in.
The last speaker, Chris Brady (co-founder of TEAM), had everyone do an exercise. We all wrote out what we spend each month in various areas (non-essentials: cable, smokes, sodas, cd's, books, eating out, etc). Then as everyone stated their (shockingly high) numbers, he said, "don't you think if you pinched some of those things you could easily make room for the system?"
Sure, who coulnd't.
But, what he glaringly left out is that to be "on system" means that not only do you have to spend 6$/week on a .48 cent CD, but you also have to:
- Go to the Tuesday Open each week (5$/week = 20$/month)
- Go to Men's Leadership each month (10$/month)
- Go to the Seminary each month (25$/month some of my upline go to two-three of them!)
- Attend the Major once/quarter (100$, or 33$/month)
Which ends up being a 140$/month adjustment (that isn't counting the 150-200$/month increase in spending through the Quixtar hub)
AND, that isn't counting the expenses that go into going to these functions. Last night we drove over 300 miles round trip to go to the Men's Leadership. 300 miles x .48 cents/mile = 144.00$ - and that is just ONE such event.
And that doubles when you consider that these men's wives all went to the Ladies Seminary the same night!
What that means is is that if your wife is involved then there another 140$/month. That's 280$/month to be "on system" (not including expenses).
And they pay this money to go and hear THE SAME THING. Over, and over again all I heard last night was the same thing! Over and over again all I heard last night was the same thing! Over and over again all I heard last night was the same thing! Get the picture?
Not only that but...they are going to spend 6$ for each of the talks given last night when they come out in the system in a couple months!
Astounding!
Why not have all the men and women who signed up to the Leadership deals last night get FREE copies of what they just heard?
Why not have the conference in the SAME LOCATION so the expenses aren't so high?
Why not have the conferences be broken down so you can really focus on LEADERSHIP abilities/qualities than having a three out prep ralley?
Now, I will say that I enjoyed parts of the conference. A lot of what was presented was good, Biblical, and helpful. But it was clouded so much by system manipulation that it was hard to soak the good stuff in.
Lori Woodward spoke to the men on being men and being husbands and making their families their priorities, etc. I champion that! She was the best of the bunch because she didn't push system, she encouraged and challenged the men to do the right things.
I hope that that message was heard loud and clear...
Toby >>The last speaker, Chris Brady (co-founder of TEAM), had everyone do an exercise. We all wrote out what we spend each month in various areas (non-essentials: cable, smokes, sodas, cd's, books, eating out, etc). Then as everyone stated their (shockingly high) numbers, he said, "don't you think if you pinched some of those things you could easily make room for the system?"
ME>> Does that include XS drinks, Team CDs, Team Books, and fast food/restaurants after the meetings?
The system, as Toby describes it, can serve no purpose but it's own... and that is to support itself and the prople profiting from it and not to help the buyers improve their AmQuix business.
The various TEAM buyers are not the problem, I am sure many of them (who are equally hoodwinked by the system) do genuinely care about their fellow TEAM buyers. I refuse to call them "members" unless referring to Orrin and his cronies who are profiting, they are the only ones who are "members"... all others are buyers.
BUT, in getting more people on the buying of TEAM tools, doesn't even help the other buyers... sure, the new people might buy a little AmQuix products and there could be a few $$ added to some small bonuses, but the "motivational tools" do not improve, nor are they designed to improve, your AmQuix business. They are designed to create a feel-good dependency on the tools so that Orrin and Chris' "tools business" profits, whether your AmQuix business does or not.
ME
It's pretty evident that the tools business exists to make the kingpins wealthy. Now granted as some pro-q folks will say, there's a value to hearing what a diamond has to say about the business. I don't dispute this, however, when the success rate is so low, you have to question the value of these tools.
I'm an IBO and I've asked many Diamonds & Platinums about the tools business. All of them told me that they shared profits from the tools income. I personally don't care how they split it because it's like buying books and wanting to know how much the author, the publisher, the distributor split the profits. As long as I'm happy with the book and the value, I can careless.
Tools in this business are like books for college students. You can go to the classes and listen to the professors and TA's without purchasing the books. Can you come out with a decent grade that way? Mmm... I'd say highly unlikely, but it's your call. Buying BSMs for the Quixtar is the same way. I've never been "pressured" to buy the BSMs. I've been highly encouraged to use them to save me time. My mentors always make time for me when I need their assistance but I also listen to CD's and read books in cracks of time.
Now whether the motivational materials are useful or useless really depends on the perspective. If you are a avid musician having little or no interest in learning about the game of basketball, basketball books or whatever materials print or multimedia related to helping someone learn the game or become a better basketball player/team player will probably find them useless. Not a judgement on the material or the game of basketball or you as a musician. It's just different perspectives on the same thing.
Safetynet,
Welcome to the blog. I know you said that the diamonds admit that they shared some profits from tools. I also agree that there is some value in getting information from someone who is successful in the business.
However,
When I was in the business back in 1997 and 1998, I was told that there was no profit from tools, and that any money made from tools was reinvested into the future functions to make them cheaper. After it was discovered that money was made from tools, now the diamonds admit it but do not disclose exactly how much they make.
Some former diamonds and emeralds who left the business have gone onto explain that a diamond probably make a majority of their income from tools.
Safetynet:
If you are interested in learning about business, then get a degree in business from an accredited university.
If you want to learn about the AmQuix way of doing things, then spend money on the tools.
Just know this -- there is a major difference in the two. A-Q is a pyramid scheme in a legitmate business's clothing !!!
So "A-Q", as you put it, is a pyramid scheme? How about your job? How about the government? Are those pyramid schemes? If you don't think so, then you better wake up. I own a traditional business and the likelihood of any of my employees being the owner is 0%. Therefore, I will always make the most money. Hmmm. One person mentioned the success rate being so low. How many people that attend college actually finish with a degree? And how much money do they spend? Do they get it back if they don't finish? Hardly. I've had all the college and then some, and they don't teach you anything about success or how to be successful. If you study the top people in this country, be it any profession or any business, you will find the principles which helped them to become successful are all the same. Success principles are universal. The "system" is nothing more than teaching these principles.
Also if $200 to $400 is a lot of money to run your business per month, then try to run my traditional business on that budget! You won't last a day! It costs pennies to run this business, if you know anything about business. Other people have been right-it's not for everyone. It's only for those who want to own a business.
Dr. Sizemore
There is a lot to unpack in your post. Most people's job's are not pyramid schemes because all parties are aware of the terms upon agreeing to enter into the employer employee relationship. You don't tell your workers that they are independent businessmen who will be able to retire in 5 yrs working 10 - 20 hours a week. They exchange their labor for an agreed upon salary or wage. The compensation in Quixtar is not based on productive labor. If the IBOs all left their jobs upon entering would the business stay afloat. I doubt it, because most of the sales are to IBOs, who use money they make at their other jobs to pay for the products. What percentage of sales are to non IBOs? Not enough to keep the structure standing. While the occasional gym or bar might stock energy drinks or supplements, does this lead to enough business allow for the IBOs to retire?
As for the government, I don't have anything good to say about any government at any time ever. The state by its very existence nullifies the rule of law, it sustains itself off of theft, and uses the loot to fund various projects aimed at violating individual liberty. It is wholly wretched. I will actually say something good about Quixtar here, in that they have tried to get out of paying taxes,good for them, but this single act of virtue does not make up for their numerous vices.
I will grant you that college is not for everyone, some people get very little out of it. Most people do learn something though, even if it does not aide them in their future careers it is up to them to determine if it was worth it. Value, in the economic sense, is subjective. If a person learns valuable life lessons from their Quixtar experience they might well say it was worthwhile, but Quixtar IBOs pitch the plan as a foolproof way to "financial freedom", so by the standards they have set, it is a sham. Now some people might go on to make good money, but this will be by working a lot more than 15-20 hours a week and by getting others to join by filling them with a false sense of hope.
As for learning valuable principles from the system, these principles are usually common sense, or could be learned from any successful person for a lot less. I'm sure any of your employees could learn a lot from you regarding how to be successful without you charging them a bunch of money or making them feel guilty for not showing up at some paid function. Most people could find books at the library that would teach them these things if no one they knew was willing to act as a mentor.
As for the cost of running your business, the real question is: how profitable is it? If it is not profitable now, when will it be? Most businessmen have to answer these questions. If a business is not profitable now, it must have a good supply of capital to consume while it works toward profitability, this usually means loans or investors. Do IBOs get bank loans for their business? Do they have investors backing them up? If not, that $200-$400 is a greater expense than a much larger figure for them than $20,000 - $40,000 is for many other businesses (this is an example of marginal utility). It is far different from a real business.
Frankenberry,
That was an excellent post. Yes, in most conventional businesses, they will have enough capital to start and sustain the business for a certain number of months. During that time, the business must make enough profits in order to stay afloat.
It the quixtar opportunity, the vast majority of IBO's would go out of business immediately if they were not sustained by their jobs. When you consider the philosophy of buy from yourself and teach others to do the same, the IBO's need their jobs to keep their quixtar businesses going. In the absence of retail customers, any quixtar business is doomed unless you're able to sponsor more IBO's faster than the rest drop out.
I think Frankenberry sized up the differences between my j-o-b and the A/Q pryamid structure. I don't there is much there that Doc Sizemore can refute.
I am curious though Dr. Sizmore, what type of "traditional" business do you run? What type of schooling have you had?
The difference between a job and quixtar is that a job gives you a paycheck. You can pay for your house, car, and living expenses with that. Yes you have a boss, but you and the boss work towards the same goal.
In quixtar, you work long hours in addition to the job. You upline is your boss in the business. You spend money on products and tools which makes your upline wealthy. You are not working towards the same goal because your goal as downline is to build the business while your upline diamond is working towards getting you to buy more tools and get more recruit to do the same.
I'll take the J-O-B.
Frankenberry, you seem very wise in the ways of business, but I have to disagree with you on this comment,
"As for the government, I don't have anything good to say about any government at any time ever. The state by its very existence nullifies the rule of law, it sustains itself off of theft, and uses the loot to fund various projects aimed at violating individual liberty. It is wholly wretched"
I am not sure where you are located, but if you are referring to the United States government you are wholly wrong. It only takes one trip outside of America to realize this. Just remember, you have the right to vote for the people you think are wretched. As for believing the states existence nullifies the law, you have a poor understanding of the constitution and you might want to find another country to reside in.
As a defender of this nation and the Constitution, I have to say your attitude is almost as bad for America as Quixtar is. The great thing about the state is if you don't like it, you can change it. If you don't want to change it, don't complain about it. If you want to complain about it, leave it!!!!
In what way do the "tools" help you run your business?
Practically speaking? How?
And, can those things be condensed into a two-ten cd package that would be more affordable than buying a 6$ cd each week for the rest of your life (especially when you just paid 10/25/100$ to hear it live?)?
Another IBO
While this is hardly the place to engage in an abstract discussion of political theory, since something I wrote did prompt your response, I will briefly address your concerns. First, law and state are separate concepts, laws emerged before states (common law) and states later codified common law, and added in a lot of liberty infirnging statutes as well. Proper laws (those that defend the individual) are great, but the state acts as a monopolist on enforcing and enacting them, laws only apply to them to the extent that their legitimacy rests on them. We would be better off following the model of competing defense agencies, which would serve to regulate eachother as well as arresting bad guys. This probably seems like an absurd proposition but there is plenty of literature advocating this positon stretching back to the work of 19th economist Molinari. As for voting, the issue is not who wields power but whether that power should be available to be wielded. Getting to select who will steal your money and boss you around is no great privilege. As for the love it or leave it idea, let me say one can love his country without loving the government, though Bill Clinton would have us believe otherwise. Besides, the government of America, while far too large and oppressive, is still better (to its own citizens) than those of other nations, but this is not because of a better designed system or better politicians (with the exception of Texas congressman Ron Paul, they are pretty much all crooks), it is because the citizens of the United States haven't completely swallowed the Socialist (though now it is called Social Demoratic) Kool-Aid. For those of you who consider yourselves progressives, this is not an attack on you, I am just pointing out that increasing the scope of the state to bring about an egalitarian order turn out badly far more often than not. So anywhere I would go would be just as bad or worse, besides I love the USA, its people its culture, the best parts of its heritage (it was founded by people who hated taxes and government interference with their lives) I assume you are in the military, defending the nation from foreign aggressors is a noble undertaking, my quarrel is with the politicians who have spent the last hundred years sending US soldiers all over the world to act like a super policeman stamping out injustice wherever they see it. I have probably angered enough people with this post, that was not my intent, also I don't think this is the place for continued debate on this, if anyone is interested in any of these ideas, do some research on Libertarianism and anarchocapitalism, pro and con. When the dust clears some of you might agree with me, some won't which is fine. I'm not trying to win converts here. So, anyone want to go bowling?
that should be nineteenth century economist Antonio Molinari.
Frankenberry,
Your post explains your position and I understand your reasoning. The way it was previously stated did tug at some heart strings because I am in the military, and sometimes I believe most Americans do not realize the sacrafice a few people make so others can enjoy the American way of life. A lifestyle often taken for granted.
Now, to bring this back to the proper forum; Q* recruits a large number of military and former military because of the their credibility, leadership ability, and mostly because they are easily exploited by the DREAM. As most Americans are unaware of the lower pay scale offered to the military, the dream of big money can be very appealling to some. I know first hand because the guy who tried to sponsor me was a former army officer ( I hold neither one against him) and he tried to exploit the commaraderie of my fellow servicemembers as a selling point and unlimited supply of customers/prospects.
I guess that had nothing to do with tools, but it is just showing another angle quixtar uses in its prospecting practices.
Another IBO
Sorry about the ambiguity in my first post. My father is a Vietnam veteran and spent over twenty years in the Air Force.
That is okay, I have 15 years in and at least five to go
How can anyone possibly POSSIBLY consider comparing a college education with that of the "system".
It's not even a system by any normal definition. Just a bunch of motivational rallies to keep your hopes up, more tapes of the same rallies. Throw in some embarrasingly poorly written books that teniously convince you that you're doing the right thing.
Then the final 5% of some books that are actually worth reading (mostly not related to the business - Robert K stuff, Relationship books, even books on nutrition that are interesting, but no use unless you can sell the stuff). And the odd useful tip on how to "build the business".
Building the business being recruitment, and not sales.
First of all, college does not advertise that you can be finaniclaly free when you graduate. If you take and pass classes, you will graduate in 4-5 years and more than likely you will earn more than non -college attenders. Yes the college makes money off your tuition and books but you leanr and take these skills into the workforce and you will be able to gain respectable employment.
In quixtar, you have no set timeline. They have a 2-5 year plan but there's only one (1) quixtar only diamond. So are thousands of IBO's not learning or is the system flawed? I would guess it's the latter. And take a look at the tapes and seminars. They teach you nothing about running your business, filing taxes, analyzing profit/loss. The tapes and seminars are where the kingpins try to motivate you but most of these are uselss based on the very few success stories produced by the "system".
Interesting thread and discussion about formal education versus the education of the "system."
I was an IBO from 1995 to 2004, mostly inactive from 2001 on. Never got above 1500pv. But for many years (some of which during college) I was on tapes and went to most functions.
One thing I can say about the system in support of it. While in the course of my college education I academically learned many things that were taught in the system (goal setting, reward and incentives, motivational techniques, both self and for other people, etc.), what college could not teach was me the underlying spirit of any of this. College could not teach me the tenacious and unrelenting pursuit of one's dreams. It was seeing and hearing those stories of achieving dreams and overcoming obstacles that has given me the ability to achieve success in life, through examples by mentors. So I guess my point is, you get what you decide to get from it. If what you get is an attempt at brainwashing, then that's what you get. Some people respond well to academic instructions, some people respond well to other means of information and instruction.
I believe the initial intention of BSMs was honorable in the early days of cassette tapes. However, once the realization was met that the system was a great profit center, then many people in the business exploited that, and the end result was corruption. This was followed by the unraveling of that corruption that has been happening in the past few years.
But the thing that seems to be getting missed in these threads is the fact the the odds are stacked against you in life, anywhere and everywhere. If I start a conventional business, odds are I'm going to fail. If I had put the right effort into Quixtar, I still could have failed. Sucess is a factor of both the amount of effort and the quality of the effort.
People seem to believe that the system is just a sham to try keep people's hopes up to achieve something that numbers and statistics show are not likely, in order for the "kingpins" to make their money. While that could very well be true for those less than honorable people who are now suing each other and destroying the business from within, there were many people who sponsored honestly, and truly believed in the potential of those they sponsored. They used the system to help their people improve upon themselves, their skills, their confidence and their belief in the possibilities of their lives. But of course, the system can only be honorable when you're not yet a Platinum and not in on the profits!
I can say that I've seen great and positive transformations in some people over the years, which otherwise would not have happened if they had never been introduced the the motivational system.
For those of you aware of the Baboon Brief, I know Bruce Anderson personally, although I haven't seen him in about four years. He's a good guy. What's happened to him is an utter disgrace.
The Quixtar opportunity in its pure form is a good opportunity. The support system, void of profits, is well intentioned. The odds are stacked against anyone who pursues it, but so is anything else they will pursue in life. I hope that there may be some honest people left high up in the business that will weed out the corruption. If the business can get back to the heart of what it stands for, it can become a great company - one that doesn't have to use the "curiousity approach" (a.k.a, "Don't tell them it's Amway!") to recruit new IBOs.
Good post BizQuitter
I am sure some people gain something from the motivational material, but my objection is that the structure of the QMOs makes abuse likely, and that it furthers a peculiar mindset that resembles a cult in many respects. I am not saying that it is a cult or that all or even most of the members are "brainwashed", just that the potential for this type of thing is very strong.
It is true that it is difficult to succeed in any small business, but I would suggest that we need to evaluate what we mean by success. If the goal is to become very wealthy, I think one has a better shot at it in a regular business, some people way up in the LOSs qualify as being very wealthy (though one wonders if they are as rich as they act), but how rich would they be without the motivational system? The way one becomes wealthy in a traditional business is by earning his way in a competitive market, some people are not able to do this (this doesn't make them losers), in Quixtar the path to success is too often based on other people losing money. MLM is not my cup of tea, but it might work for some people depending on what their goals are. I am sure that there are MLM opportunities out there that don't cloak themselves in dishonesty, these are probably more suitable for most people than AmQuix. Once again, good post. Also what is this Baboon Brief? Did this Anderson fellow do something reprehensible? Where can I find out more about this?
Frankenberry,
I think you can find the baboon story here:
http://www.amquix.info/amquix_whats_new.html
Joecool
That was interesting. I feel really bad for Bruce Anderson, and as for this Hal Gooch, what a disgusting human being. Here's a question to those of you with better perspective than I, is there any LOS that is not a cesspool? Could IBOs who want to focus on retailing without the pyramid aspects find a home anywhere? I hasten to add that even if they could, I still think MLM is only a good option for a small minority of people. You guys are always helpful, thanks.
Here's Bruce's direct account of the situation. Bruce is not the most well versed in writing, and the site is hard to follow, but if you watch the video files, it explains his theory on why Gooch and his upline turned on him.
http://www.baron55.com
There are a few people that have had incredible success without the system and BSM, although you won't hear too much about them from your upline. I do recall hearing about an Asian couple in Cali once that became diamonds by focusing on and selling the cookware. The wife did luncheons where she demonstrated the cookware, then sold the cookware by registering people as IBOs in order to get the discount. They then taught a handful of people to do the same, and the result was a diamondship. Usually when people achieve success outside the system, you don't hear about it, because it takes away the argument for needing the system. You would also have to speculate that those that achieve that level of success without the system didn't need the system to develop themselves anyway, and could achieve success in many other aspects of their lives.
I think there are people who succeed without the system. However, the kingpins will either discredit, sabotage, or ignore those businesses because it would make their tools business less credible to know that someone can succeed without tools. When I was in the biz, my upline told me that no one has ever gone diamond without tools. I knew that wasn't true because in the early amway days, there had to be a diamond or two that preceeded tools.
Gentlemen
Thank you, you are a wellspring of knowledge.
The point of the system is to be a mentorship tool. The two best ways that learning flows are: 1) Mentorship and 2) Mistakes. The tools are a mentorship program, which personally I prefer mentorship to...well making mistakes. I know that there are some hardcore anti-system people on here, but the truth of it is you have a choice. You can go at it on your own and make mistakes that the successful ones made and learned from or you can get in the system and listen to what they did and not make the same mistakes. Mentorship is what it is all about. They push the tools because they help you grow the business.
As for college vs. BSM's, I went to a traditional school and did business courses and in every one of them I realized they were not teaching me to own my own business, I was being taught to be an employee. In one of my very few, business owner style classes I realized that I was being taught by an employee how to own a business, and that did not make sense to me. That is why I listen to the CD's and read the books and go to the functions. I believe if you want to get some where then you need to learn how to get there from someone who has been there. These men have been through the tough years, they know the dumb mistakes. That is why I listen, because I know the one of the only ways to duplicate their success is to duplicate what they did. Mentorship!
This business is not for everyone. It is only for the men and women who desire to do this business and want to find a better way than working forty years and retiring. Personally, I am tired of waking up early to go to work and build another man's dream. That is why I am in the business. I want to spend time with my kids before they go off to college. I want to see my kids first steps and let them travel the world. This business is only for dreamers and people who have enough backbone not to go back to the "easy" way when the going gets tough. If you cannot do it, that is fine, don't. Why do you think that 98% of the world are employees and only 2% have a residual income? More people would live that way, but we do not have the fortitude to do it.
Also, the tools do help you outside of the business. They have changed the way I live my life and even how I conduct my self at work. I am a better person because of them. You may ask how, but unfortunately I cannot even put into words what this system has done for me and my life. Even if I did not make a dime from it, it was the best experience I have ever had.
In closing, please do not patronize me with petty arguments of what I have said because they pertain to my life and how I choose to lead it. Just because you or a friend may have had a bad experience in this business does not give you the right to ruin the dream for countless others that are looking for a better way. People do not criticise things unless they do not fully understand them. I get that you do not understand, but why criticise. Why ruin the reputation of a business because you do not understand it. That is like saying the USA is a bad country because they went to war in World War II, without knowing about the German and Japanese transgressions. Please make sure you know what you are talking about before you post things on this bathroom stall that we call the internet.
For those of you reading this and have a true desire to learn more about the business and the system. Ask your upline or the person who is trying to sponsor you. Make sure you fully understand the way it works before you say yes or no. Because you do not want to get in or stay out because of a lack of knowledge. I pray that those of you on here who want to sit around and jaw about how bad this system is and all that have the best of luck sitting in your cubicles and in you mediocre lives. I do not mean that as an insult, I just mean you are living at your potential. I believe I have more potential than to build another man's dream. God gave me a dream and I plan to go out and make it a reality.
I know its difficult to quantify, but I think an important question for an IBO to ask is: Are the tools and motivational systems helping me profit in my business of selling products. If you're inesting $200/month and not seeing steady profit - or at least a steady decrease in losses - WITHOUT considering new IBOs, just your own sales business, then you might be gaining something from the tools and motivational systems.
If that's not working, consider finding some tools that actually focus on selling products. Although I am not a Quixtar advocate, in my time as a Barnes & Noble employee, I was pitched-to by several IBOs looking for books on sales and negotiations in the business section - so consider that as an alternative to the tapes.
Posted by: Brian | October 15, 2005 2:54 PM