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February 27, 2007
My Exit Interview
By Truth in Miscellaneous
After reading a post about performance reviews over at the Real Quixtar Blog, Dave Robison left a comment with a link to an exit interview that he put together for IBOs who quit the business for whatever reason. I read through it and found it interesting and figured "why not?", and decided to sit down for the exit interview. The questions will be in bold and my responses will be in normal text.
Name Drew
Immediate Sponsor We will call him Dwayne.
Date 2/27/2007
State Clear-minded and feeling good
Date Sponsored April 2003
Date of Separation Date I quit was October 2004
REASON FOR RESIGNATION
Another MLM Company Nope
Regular Employment Conflicts Nope
Unsatisfactory Income I think this is an understatement
Hours of Work Unsatisfactory For the compensation, most certainly
Family Conflicts Not really, nothing major
Other Oh I am sure I could think of a few.
1. What are your reasons for leaving? And, what prompted you to leave now?
Well the reasons can get quite long, but in a nutshell I just don't feel like this is worth the effort that is being put into it, this same effort channeled elsewhere would be more productive. What prompted me to leave now is that I have gotten involved in another opportunity, and my upline's reaction to this has told me all I need to know about them, and I know it's time to move on.
2. What was the most enjoyable part of representing this company?
The people. I enjoyed contacting people (even though I felt like a stalker) and showing plans to them. I really enjoyed many of the folks as part of various teams. Lots of memories and good stories to tell.
3. What was the least enjoyable part of representing this company?
The deceit that goes on in the business. Not mentioning the Quixtar name, things that are said just to get someone to a meeting, things that happen in the open meetings, etc.
4. Was this business opportunity what you expected? Please explain.
Not really. I thought there would be an even focus on the aspects of the business and in reality the major focus was on sponsoring new IBOs, and very little, if any, focus was placed on actually selling the products.
5. Would you have made any changes to the way your business operated? If yes, please describe.
Yes, first I would do away with SOT and Book of the month. I would encourage people to buy their books through B&N partner store. There are plenty of resources out there to find good motivational and business related books. I would put more focus and training on selling the products rather then stalking people at malls and trying to sponsor everyone with a pulse. Just to name a few things I would do different.
6. Would you ever consider representing this company again? If not, please explain.
No, not because of my experience so much, but rather because I have moved on to other things that take the time I have. They are much more enjoyable and profitable for me and I would choose them over Quixtar.
7. What did you like most about this company? And, what did you like least about this company?
Didn't I already answer this? As far as Quixtar the company goes I liked the Ditto Delivery program, it was very handy. I didn't like how everyone just seemed to clam up when it came to discussing the criticism of this business. To much secrecy about nothing, made me wonder what everyone was afraid of.
8. Would you still recommend this business opportunity or team and our products in the future
I would not recommend the team I was with. However, I will side with Robert Kiyosaki and I would recommend network marketing for the skills that one can learn from trying to build a network marketing business. I would not recommend Quixtar for it's compensation.
9. As a new distributor, was your training helpful for what you were actually doing six months later? If not, please explain.
No, many of the things I was taught to do was very counter-productive. Such as don't sign up anyone who is not willing to get on tools. I learned some things from upline, but most of my learning just came from experience. I ended up using very little of what I learned from the system.
10. What could have been done to prevent you from leaving?
Most likely nothing. There was nothing that could have been done at the end, it would have had to have been a different experience all together.
11. What was the quality of supervision you received? Good? Fair? Poor? What could your sponsor or team do to improve his/her management style?
Communicate? Motivate? Facilitate? Recognize? Other? Please explain
Depends on what your idea of supervision is. I would say it was pretty much micro-management. My upline needed to stop meddling in the downline group so much. Many times my sponsor and upline stepped way over the line, and in some cases got just downright rude.
12. What does your new company offer that this company does not offer?
Much, much better money for my efforts.
13. What points would you make if you could tell your entire upline how you feel about this company?
Basically the points I have made in this entire interview. I don't hold anything against them personally, I just don't agree how they handled situations and how things were done in general.
Final comments
So there it is, that is my exit interview make of it what you will. I am sure many of my answers could spur some follow on questions. So if you have other questions feel free to ask and I will answer them the best I can. I am sure there will be some of you who will do nothing more then make snide comments about how I was lazy or how I wasn't willing to do this or that, etc. But I guess that just comes with the territory.
Comments
Bill,
I don't think I rated it as bad. I even said I would recommend for the skills that one could learn. Just not for the compensation. I can tell you are new by the comments you make. They are pretty much the standard.
I am glad you think your group is different, but the bottom line is there are many others out there with an experience that was not a positive one.
I still cannot for the life of me understand why and IBO would use a tax write-off as a promotion for this business.
I completely disagree about tools needed for this business and your comment about investing in as many as possible signals that you have bought into what your upline is selling....TOOLS! With a downline having a mindset that they need the tools, who needs to force it on them.
I find it amusing that because one person doesn't stay persistant with the Quixtar oppurtunity that they rate it as bad.
Where Drew called it bad? He has stated otherwise repeatedly and how he don't hate them.
I find it amusing how person having bad experience is blamed responsible for 'bad experience'. Is there any chance that 'opportunity'? could have some problems? Owner / Founder Rich Devos stated those problems in directly speaking. What a loser eg!
There are many teams and not all are run the same.
How is your team run differently? Specifics please. Do you not have open every week that says same thing over and over? Do you not drive across USA? Do you not buy tools? Compensation plan different?
most people want the money to pour in right away and that isn't how it works.
How it works?
I'v been in the business for just a few months and things have been awesome for me.
Define awesome? How much profit? What PV level?
no one forces anyone to buy the tools
No, they do.
to run any successful business you need tools
"Tools" is too general. Computer is a tool for me. Office supplies are tool for me. They justify their cost ten times over. A tape that says says same thing that I hear in every function and in every meeting is, IMO, not a tool. So please don't say "Quixtar Motivation Tape" as a tool like "Printer" or "Car".
if you want to build a successful business you need to invest in as many as possible.
Wrong. Rent / borrow, keeping expenses minimum until established. A small business should rent server for $50 bucks a month than buying one at 5K.
And let's not forget that it is completely optional.
So is success? Or that you tell to your downline only.
And everything you do in this business is a tax write off.
Writing off against what? Your J.O.B. income? Profits? What's your profit?
I think people just quit because they are lazy
Yeah, that must be it. And ppl who are shot are too weak to defend themselves. And Enron employees were stupid to get scammed.
If people would just get over the small things they could build awesome businesses
What things?
and if you didn't enjoy how your team did things you could have started your own.
What about finding other better, more enjoyable opportunities and more profitable opportunities? It's not that hard to make more than $115 / month.
I think it's awesome that you found something you enjoy but please don't spread negative about Quixtar because not all teams are the same.
He is negative? And how is your team different?
All I know is that i'm getting paid to shop at places i already was shopping at and that just makes sense.
You were already buying vitamins / artistry from Quixtar?
Not every business needs tools. Sure a McDonald's needs a grill and deep fryer.
But in quixtar, what do you need to sell stuff, buy stuff and tell others about it? You certainly don't need an endless supply of tapes books and seminars for such a simple concept.
One thing I found to be deceptive/misleading was their definition of "residual income." That's the major hook they try to snag the newbies with. But the income through Quixtar's system is anything but residual; it's typical salesperson income - i.e., performance and numbers-based.
Real residual income is being in a movie and getting paid everytime someone rents it or watches it on TV. Not so with Quixtar: you have to keep hitting a certain mark (and so does everyone else in your line of sponsorship, and if they don't, you don't get the PV/BV bonus, which equals no money) in order to get the check.
Funny...I don't think they mentioned that at any of the meetings.
Interesting. I believe IBOs must deceive prospects because telling them the straight up truth would result in everyone running in the opposite direction.
If people would just get over the small things they could build awesome businesses
What things?
1) financial cost
2) emotional cost
3) health cost
What you get in return : Freedom to define 'awesome' the way your upline likes :-)
I think that pretty much sums it all up.
Imran, it's almost like you did that in your sleep!
I think we should create a tape/CD to give to the damn IBO's that come here saying the same lame assed things over and over and over again...
@T.Sides
...mind if i say your ignorant? There are lots of sources of residual income. From quixtar, its ditto'd clients and active downlines.
@BillsDead28
Are you new or something?
"...mind if i say your ignorant? There are lots of sources of residual income. From quixtar, its ditto'd clients and active downlines."
Were you actually expecting an answer from T.Sides to your classy question?
Actually, I will say T.Sides has a much better understanding of true residual income then you do. With Ditto you have customers that generate "repeat sales", you can look at that as residual if you want to, but once customer goes bye-bye so does your repeat sale and so does the dinero.
Is this by any chance the same Christian that was posting over at the Quixtar Inside Out Forums.
Yeah it is, i use the same net name for both. Whats that have to do with this discussion?
Really? He has a better understanding. So Real Residual income is being in a movie. I know extras and i doubt they get royalties. But then again, once an actor, unless more sources of income are added, becomes old/ugly/dead, so does their residual and dinero(lots of writeoffs for the bank)..and unlike actual real residual..i dont think you can easily pass on your role in a movie to your spouse/kids/grandkids
So tell me again whats real residual income. My definition is a type of income which requires the least amount of work, or even none in the coming months. Its also possible to pass on.
Or are you just going to dismiss that quixtar does have the possibility of real residual income just because you werent able to get any whatsoever?
@Drew
btw, i do agree with most of your points at the exit interview.
"But then again, once an actor, unless more sources of income are added, becomes old/ugly/dead, so does their residual and dinero(lots of writeoffs for the bank)..and unlike actual real residual..i dont think you can easily pass on your role in a movie to your spouse/kids/grandkids"
Actually, Elvis was at one point or another old/ugly/and now dead. I don't know the exact number but his estate made something like $45 million last year, not too shaby for a dead guy, and some of that I believe came from movie royalties.
As for your Quixtar income you cannot pass that to your spouse/kids/grandkids. Unless of course they are willing to step in and become IBOs and run the business. Quixtar makes it clear in the rules they have no obligation to pay bonuses once you are dead. I think you just made it very clear to everyone your limited understanding of residual income.
I also think you might want to read the rules, but I just remembered that you openly admit you don't obey the rules. You are the one that has no issues with going back on your agreements.
@Drew
So, the royalties are passed on to the kids from the movies? Dont include the estate, as thats a seperate source of income. Were talking about movie only. Not real estate, much like im argueing that its possible to also have residual income from clients and active downlines ONLY
Thats what i meant. To pass the business to your kids/other people. I didnt mean JUST THE INCOME.
Im reading through the Rules of Conduct, and i cant find any rule stating that the beneficiaries dont get paid bonuses once the the original IBO dies. Mind telling me which line of code it is?
Heh, so you im assuming you always follow the rules huh?
Limited knowledge/understanding of residual income? I dont know it all, but i do know what real residual income is. Enough to argue with you, that you dont know it all either.
"So, the royalties are passed on to the kids from the movies? Dont include the estate, as thats a seperate source of income."
Royalties from his music, movies, and anything else that still generates income is part of an estate. Do we need to define this as well?
I don't know what royalties his benefactors get, but I know they don't need to become Elvis in order to get them.
"Thats what i meant. To pass the business to your kids/other people. I didnt mean JUST THE INCOME."
...and if your kids don't want to be an IBO, all of that INCOME goes bye-bye.
"Im reading through the Rules of Conduct, and i cant find any rule stating that the beneficiaries dont get paid bonuses once the the original IBO dies. Mind telling me which line of code it is?"
I didn't know it was written in code. The Rules I have from about a year ago show it in 3.16 and here is a piece of it for you:
3.16.4. The trustee (all co-trustees, if more than
one) must sign and file a registration form and receive
authorization to become an IBO, and must
annually file a Notice of Intent to Continue.
I also have a bulletin addressing this issue and here is a bit from that:
The Corporation has no
legal obligation to continue paying Performance Bonuses, Leadership Bonuses, Monthly Depth Bonuses,
Emerald Bonuses, Diamond Bonuses, Executive Diamond Bonuses, or sales incentive awards to anyone
other than an authorized IBO.
"Heh, so you im assuming you always follow the rules huh?"
When it comes to business agreements, Absolutely! If the terms of the agreement are not agreeable to me I certainly don't sign my name to it and then go out and knowingly violate the terms of the agreement.
"Limited knowledge/understanding of residual income? I dont know it all, but i do know what real residual income is."
Actually No you don't! You know what a repeat sale is and that is about it. With your comments here you not only don't understand what residual income is, but you even struggle to understand what an estate is.
So elvis makes money, but your not sure what his benefactors get?
If my kids dont want to become IBO's? Then ill transfer it to a corporation or LLP. Which will be transfered to my kids. They dont have to become IBOs, but they still get the income. Someone else can do the downline counselling
Code 3.16.4 is still there. I tried looking for pieces from the bulletin, but i cant find it. So, i dont think its still in effect.
Cool, so you already have some business of some sort?
Actually, yeah i do. And my bad for mixing estate with real estate. This time, i did some looking around from dictionaries and stuff, and residual income is a term thats linked with network marketing. So how about giving a source of your definition, unless its your opinion.
"So elvis makes money, but your not sure what his benefactors get?"
Only in the fact that I don't know what his contract states for movie and music royalties. If he had a contract that paid royalties, then his benefactors are getting them.
"If my kids dont want to become IBO's? Then ill transfer it to a corporation or LLP. Which will be transfered to my kids. They dont have to become IBOs, but they still get the income. Someone else can do the downline counselling"
Point is, there is still managing of it involved in order to keep the money flowing. Basically, the future of the money is in the hands of those still doing it.
"Code 3.16.4 is still there. I tried looking for pieces from the bulletin, but i cant find it. So, i dont think its still in effect."
Well my ROC is about a year old, so it might not be that para anymore. I highly doubt they just did away with the rule completely, but I will try and get my hands on a current compendium.
"Cool, so you already have some business of some sort?"
Yes, and the worst thing I could do is make agreements and then knowingly break them. I never sign my name to an agreement that doesn't work for me. I either seek to have the agreeement amended, or I move on.
"Actually, yeah i do. And my bad for mixing estate with real estate. This time, i did some looking around from dictionaries and stuff, and residual income is a term thats linked with network marketing. So how about giving a source of your definition, unless its your opinion."
Dictionaries eh? Look up independent in the dictionary and see if that matches independent when it comes to IBOs. Point remains that the only example you have given is a repeat sale.
When you find it, tell me also. Cuz that is one big flaw in one my uplines say.
Just repeat sale? I also mentioned active downlines
Im independent. My uplines help me out in the start but i do the rest myself now. If i werent independent, id still be thinking stocks and real estate is not a good source of income ...yeeaahhh..dont compare me to brainwashed IBOs aight?
I am not talking about independent from you upline, I am talking about Quixtar....aight!
Aight =).
But..how can you be independent of quixtar, when you use their source of products/services/partner stores? If your going to think of it that way, then nobody is independent.
"But..how can you be independent of quixtar, when you use their source of products/services/partner stores?"
In the same way an independent salesperson usually is. My wife and I have both been contracted to sell for other companies since Quixtar and none of them had the kinds of restrictions that Quixtar imposes on it's "Independent" Business Owners.
Just wanted to say thanks Drew for posting your exit interview, and also those of you with opposing viewpoints for posting as well. I am considering joining a team at the moment and visited this forum to try to flesh out the possible pros and cons. Thanks for your help in sharing your experiences!
Laura,
You are welcome, and I wish you the best whatever you decide to do in your endeavors.
It is so nice to see that there are other people out there that think Quixtar is a waste of time and $$$. My parents are involved in it and spend so much money buying products, getting rid of the 'negative products' in the house, when did Listerine and Degree become negative??? When they started 5 years ago, they were told they would be Diamond, making millions within 3 years. They are not even close but still buying into the lies. They work themselves to death, meetings every night, buying the 'tools' for what? To only associate with people that buy into the business? Everyone else is written off as being stupid, even people they have known for years...I really despise the whole system and what it does to people. It was nice to see some of the same thoughts.
@Laura
No prob. Welcome to the site. And just remember that these are viewpoints. Who you sponsor with and your mentality will tell how your experience will be.
@Sammy
I think its time your parents either quit or change their tactics. Infact, this is common sense, but if something doesnt work, its time to change something, instead of constantly doing the same thing expecting the same result (ironically, i learned this from quixtar and i actually apply it outside quixtar)
Maybe it shouldnt be called negative. I eat meal replacement bars, but i still eat actual meals and subway ^.^ eat fresh! =p
I'm very impressed with all the negative individuals in this blog. Typical negative and insecure. Look Ladies and Gentlemen, the bottom line is this. This is what it is....A business opportunity that anyone can target but it takes more than that just like any other bussiness opportunity out there. The tools that they suggesst one buy are simply tools you don't have to buy them you decide you will need to be successful in you business. It's too bad that some of you were involved with individuals that were micromanaging their teams. I will tell you one thing. Not everyone have the people skills to do a business. You need them to be successful anywhere.
Don't be impatient and don't blame others because you are not liking the experience move on creat your own team if you are already in Quixtar and run your business like you want to run it. Tell the people above you that you don't want their help anymore that you will do it by yourself but do the right thing and be respectful of everyone it doesn't mean you have to like them.
I'm part of the business and I tell people what I make and I tell them I want you to be there also and so I will help you get there and make even more. I'm in it for me but in order for me to be successful I have to help others get there.
As for the products, the products are there they are what you already buy and why not get paid to purchase them? It makes sense. Come on people get over it. You are being very childish. If this doesn't work for you move on and look somewhere else. Some of us are taking advantage of it and I don't hunt people down or harrass them either. I call them I talk to them because it's a business. It's like working as a salesman and calling people up and seeing if they need anything else from your business. Get real people and too bad if you were left in the outside looking in. Come on over and I will teach you success!!!
Quixtar is like Sysco Foods of the Restaraunt Industry, tons of companies get there products from Sysco, like Golden Corral and Hilton Hotels Room service, but none have the same business model and that is true of quixtar.
I am very disappointed that so many people have confused the team they are involved with and Quixtar. Quixtar is a mall of products with different prices. There are many different teams from LTD to BWW and many more. Each has a different approach. I heard from one of my newest guys that he was in Quixtar before and he was told he had to " get me one" before his upline would spend time with him. I have one lady who has not pumped her first PV point and has been in business for 6 months. She is not ready to build, and her financial situation doesn't let her buy much of anything, but we still train her, provide Cds, Books, and one on one council. She maked me laugh when she says she has information constipation, I tell her one day she won't be able to hold it in anymore and her business will explode. She will know when the time is right. The group I am working with has never asked me to buy a cd or book. In fact they were given to me free and I passed them through my downlines for free. I have never felt pressure to buy anything as far as "tools", but i have bought them of my own accord because while I put them on my ipod to listen to them I have more than one downline and feel that I should provide my lines with tools for free. If they follow the lead this shouldn't be a problem in our group. I will make more money from helping them succeed then I will ever get from a CD bonus. Our team knows that if we don't serve each other than noone wins. I follow my uplines examples and drive the miles, work the late nigths, provide tools, encourage, edify, game plan, with my downlines. Is the system Perfect "No" because people aren't perfect! If you believe in the prosumer concept and that both manufactures and you win by doing business online, then find a group you connect with. I only accept 2 people on my team every three months. Some people may have uplines that say get everyone that is still warm. But many groups know that its quality people that make money in this business not quanity. If you have no quality ( Honesty, Accountability, ambition, teachable)then you won't have a successful organization.
To the comment about your mom having negative product, I wonder again who taught her to carry inventory?? Our group doesn't they teach to carry enough for your personal use. I wonder if your mom shops at Sam's club? Is your feeling the same there?
please let me know what you think!
Who's being negative? It's the TRUTH that most people who register don't make any money and the ones who buy "tools" lose money over 98% of the time.
On the forum part of this website, there are documented former platinums and rubies who had a net loss.
Very interesting all. Just like people, every business is different and isn't neccessarily a good match for every person.
Drew,
Thanks for starting this thread. I too am a strong believer in the strategies of Robert Kiyosaki and if you have come across another business opportunity that you'd be willing to share, I would appreciate hearing about it.
yo, im just newie. im from nyc. tell me is this real Quixtar helping anyone and making more money in life or what?
I find it amusing that because one person doesn't stay persistant with the Quixtar oppurtunity that they rate it as bad. There are many teams and not all are run the same. I feel sorry for the guy having a bad experience but in my oppinion most people want the money to pour in right away and that isn't how it works. I'v been in the business for just a few months and things have been awesome for me. If there is just one thing i can put out there to people it's that no one forces anyone to buy the tools but any person with a pulse knows that to run any successful business you need tools and if you want to build a successful business you need to invest in as many as possible. And let's not forget that it is completely optional. And everything you do in this business is a tax write off. I think people just quit because they are lazy that's not to be mean either it's just how I feel. If people would just get over the small things they could build awesome businesses and if you didn't enjoy how your team did things you could have started your own. I think it's awesome that you found something you enjoy but please don't spread negative about Quixtar because not all teams are the same. All I know is that i'm getting paid to shop at places i already was shopping at and that just makes sense.
Posted by: BillsDead28 | February 27, 2007 5:22 PM