I came across this brief story recently in a book and thought it worth retelling -
This was maybe fifteen years ago, a time when it began to seem as though Envirosell might succeed as an ongoing concern. Up until that point, though, it was an open question – I was borderline broke all the time, working like a dog but plowing every nickel I had back into the company. Things were tight: If I had a meeting in Florida, for instance, I would take the last flight of the day down there to get the cheapest ticket, arriving in the middle of the night. Then I’d pick up my rental car, drive to my destination, sleep in the car, shave and brush my teeth in a gas station bathroom, and go to my appointment trying my best to impersonate a successful research firm founder. Tight. Anyway, on the day in question it became clear that I and my company were going to be all right. And on that day I just happened to visit the Pathmark supermarket near South Street Seaport in New York City. Standing in the imported goods aisle, it suddenly hit me that I afford to buy anything I wanted. If, say, I wished to try some of the English ginger preserves I remembered from my youth, I could just pick up a jar and pay for it, heedless of the fact that it cost maybe four or five bucks. I no longer had to sweat over my food budget, I realized, and at that moment I began to cry. Right there in front of all those imported jellies, jams and preserves.
Stories like this abound in the lives of entrepreneurs. In an episode of the Dragons’ Den I heard one potential investor query a budding young entrepreneur -
How long are you willing to go without money for food to build this business?
Amway business owners are entrepreneurs. They go through the same challenges and struggles as other entrepreneurs. It’s hard to keep going – and easy to quit. Many Amway critics don’t seem to understand this. A story like the above, from Paco Underhill, if given by an Amway Diamond would be disparaged. Having it suggested that perhaps you could go without food to support your Amway business? Merely evidence that Amway leaders are evil.
No – It’s merely evidence that Amway entrepreneurs are just like other entrepreneurs.
I’ve built other businesses than Amway, and had to deal with well meaning relatives – “you’re not spending enough time with your family” … “why don’t you just get a job” … and the pressure (both externally and from within) to just quit and take the easy road is substantial. With Amway, it’s even easier to quit. The money spent is trivial compared to most businesses, and for most new people the “ownership” is less. As author Allan Pease says – if it’s your idea, it’s a good idea. The corollary is that if it’s someone else’s idea, like the Amway business plan, then it’s easier to dismiss it. It hurts less to let it go.
A few years ago, thanks to being an entrepreneur and not an employee, I got to spend 6 weeks travelling Europe with my mother. At one stage, as we walked through a park in Paris, she told me “now I understand why you didn’t just get a job”. It’s almost enough to make you cry in the condiments section.
It’s the times like that, and dreaming of times like that in the future, that keep you going.
Ibofightback,
Splendidly simple, pointed, and well articulated…this is a wonderful piece of writing that not only deserves praise for what it says, but for the emotions it reflects.
Nice work.
I’ll second that. Great post and spot on.
Awesome post Ibofightback! I hope I am not breaking any copyright laws by posting this story I got from the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book. I like to read this every so often to remind myself of the sacrifices others have made.
Please take it down if you think it violates any laws. If not, enjoy!
Willing To Pay the Price
When my wife Maryanne and I were building our Greenspoint Mall hair salon 13 years ago, a Vietnamese fellow would stop by each day to sell us doughnuts. He spoke hardly any English, but he was always friendly and through smiles and sign language, we got to know each other. His name was Le Van Vu.
When he and his wife arrived in Houston in 1972, they were flat broke and spoke no English. In Vietnam, family takes care of family, and Le and his wife found themselves ensconced in the back room of his cousin’s bakery in the Greenspoint Mall. We were building our salon just a couple of hundred feet away.
Le’s cousin offered both Le and his wife jobs in the bakery. After taxes, Le would take home $175 per week, his wife $125. Their total annual income, in other words, was $15,600. Further, his cousin offered to sell them the bakery whenever they could come up with a $30,000 down payment. The cousin would finance the remainder with a note for $90,000.
Here’s what Le and his wife did:
Even with a weekly income of $300, they decided to continue to live in the back room. They kept clean by taking sponge baths for two years in the mall’s restrooms. For two years their diet consisted almost entirely of bakery goods. Each year, for two years, they lived on a total, that’s right, a total of $600, saving $30,000 for the down payment.
Le later explained his reasoning, “If we got ourselves an apartment, which we could afford on $300 per week, we’d have to pay the rent. Then, of course, we’d have to buy furniture. Then we’d have to have transportation to and from work, so that meant we’d have to buy a car. Then we’d have to buy gasoline for the car as well as insurance. Then we’d probably want to go places in the car, so that meant we would need to buy clothes and toiletries. So I knew that if we got that apartment, we’d never get our $30,000 together.”
Now, if you think you’ve heard everything about Le, let me tell you, there’s more: After he and his wife had saved the $30,000 and bought the bakery, Le once again sat down with his wife for a serious chat. They still owed $90,000 to his cousin, he said, and as difficult as the past two years had been, they had to remain living in that back room for one more year.
I’m proud to tell you that in one year, my friend and mentor Le Van Vu and his wife, saving virtually every nickel of profit from the business, paid off the $90,000 note, and in just three years, owned an extremely profitable business free and clear.
Then, and only then, the Van Vu’s went out and got their first apartment. To this day they continue to save on a regular basis, live on an extremely small percentage of their income, and, of course, always pay cash for any of their purchases.
Do you think that Le Van Vu is a millionaire today? I am happy to tell you, many times over.
John McCormack
This business gives me hope for the future, so that is why I don’t quit. The other reason is that as soon as I would quit, one of my downline would go Platinum and I would miss all that 4% Leadership Bonus money.
Wise advise. I was always told if you sponsor 1 person DON’T QUIT.
This is why I like the business so much. I am in this business since last few years and taking a leaf out of Robert Kiyosaki’s books I decided to learn what this business is before jumping and telling all my friends. As a result, I have a clear understanding of the business, have many happy customers who buy from me and very soon will start sponsoring some more business minded folks.
I happened to calculate the money I will be able to earn using FV [Future Value] calculation in my job in the next 10 years and compare it with the IBO business for the same period – the IBO income will be just huge even if I sponsor x and 10% build it. India has a population of 1 billion people and till now there are only 500,000 IBOs. So the sky is not the limit.
Thanks to all for this great website.
Another reason people quit any multilevel marketing endeavor is due to a misunderstanding of the business in general. If their understanding of direct sales is off, they’re met with immediate frustration and, of course, quit.
Or maybe the opportunity is not what they were told and they felt misled.
Lots of people with jobs could travel with their parents for a couple months, it’s not a lifestyle confined to business owners.
While certainly not exclusive, very few employees have the ability to spend months at a time travelling privately while still earning an income . Re being misled, IMO you’re absolutely correct, as is Kevin. One of the biggest issues in network marketing in general is people “over-hyping” the opportunity. Many companies, including Amway, have been fined or otherwise taken to task for some reps being, shall we say, “over-enthusiastic”.
You’d be very hard pressed to find a regular 9-5 job that allows you to take a couple of months off, paid. Even if you have lets say 2 months of holidays, there isn’t one company I know in the IT industry in Edmonton that will allow you to take that kind of time off. Not to mention other companies.
Being an entrepreneur gives you those options and then some. I have a buddy that owns his own IT company and has been able to take time off and travel to his homeland in Poland. Yes he can do it, but he isn’t getting paid. So it’s a trade off for sure.
On the misled aspect, you are very right. There are a lot of people that represent the Amway Business Opportunity, not all of them are as honest and transparent. It’s a shame, but it happens.
***************
“How long are you willing to go without money for food to build this business?
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I understand why you quoted that comment in your post.
However, in the context of this business and the abuses that have happened over the years, I don’t think that quote helps your case.
Many US Diamonds have made comments from stage suggesting people go without basic necessities so they can afford the next function and more business support materials.
And I think Amway is trying to cut down on that kind of thing.
I’m not sure what your point is? This is major successful entrepreneurs, advising up and coming entrepreneurs about what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur. Why should leading Amway entrepreneurs be treated differently? Are you suggesting they should sugarcoat things and make it seem easier than it is?
I agree, price and prize ALWAYS correlate. ALL success books talk about paying the price. Why should the Amway Opportunity be taken out of that same success principal. Success is success no matter what arena you apply it to.
That is very true, honestly their is nothing wrong with “amway” in general. It does take time, I left back when it was “quixtar” due to the fact that the upline I had was always saying the typical “you have to” and you need to” read this and listen to that. I resigned up a few months ago and realized that if we were going to do this that we wont buy into “amway” no books and no dvd’s. as well no “board meetings” unless of course they’re in the mid afternoon round 3pm. If its not in my schedule then its not going to happen. as well I made a very simple rule “my free time is Saturdays and Sunday unless its a long weekend” Im in no rush, if I was I would have been a millionare 2 years ago.
Many Diamond groups in the US have over-promoted and over-hyped the concept of “investing in your own business.”
Some Diamonds have gone to the extent of teaching people that they should give up family necessities in order to afford the next function, the next cd pack, the next seminar, etc.
The difference between this entrepreneur’s suggestion to a generic audience and an Amway Diamond saying it to his downline is simple.
The entrepreneur has no alterior motive. He is not suggesting people go without groceries in order to afford mass quantities of his books and seminars.
The Amway Diamond DOES have a secondary motive. That “investment” by the ibo at that convention, is a large portion of the Diamond’s income.
Amway Corp has recognized that there should be balance in tool purchases. And hopefully, the accredidation process is helping/forcing those particular LOAs get back into balance.
MichMan, advice doesn’t automatically become bad just because someone giving it to you may profit from it, that’s just part of the equation for evaluating the advice. Doctors recommend surgery and drugs they may profit from all the time. Lawyers recommend paths of action that may lead to them profiting. Everyone from pharmacists to grocers to hardware store owners to car salesman to whatever make recommendations they have a stake in. Guess what … Amway Diamonds (and indeed pretty much everyone else in Amway) also recommend you buy and sell Amway products! Guess what? They have a stake in that too. Are you suggesting an Amway Diamond who says at a seminar you should acquire retail customers and sell Amway products shouldn’t be trusted because he has an ulterior motive?
Now don’t give me some rubbish about IBOs not knowing about tool income, it’s been in Amway paperwork and on Amway websites for what … well over a decade now.
As for “balance in tool purchases” – sure … and it’s up to each individual IBO (and not Amway nor upline) to make a judgement about what the balance is. Having said that, I’ve been to an awful lot of seminars over the years and it’s extremely rare.
The point of the post is that it’s normal for entrepreneurs to struggle. It’s normal for entrepreneurs to be spending money and have little income. It’s normal for entrepreneurs to work hard, often for years, with little to show for it and well meaning relatives trying to convince them they’re doing the wrong thing. Heck … it’s even normal to go to seminars for entrepreneurs and have speakers who will promote stuff they make money from.
It is always helpful to look at someone’s ulterior motives for giving you advice.
Two examples:
One man of faith quotes the Scripture that says: “Give and it will be given back to you many times over.” He suggests you give to the poor, single mothers, disadvantaged or a church in your local area.
And a televangelist quotes the same Scripture telling you to send the money to him.
Two preachers using the same Scripture differently because they have two different motivations.
Regardless, I think Amway would agree that the sentence “How long are you willing to go without money for food to build this business?” should be NOT used by Diamonds to promote the purchase of business support materials or the next function.
MichMan, I never even remotely suggested it should be.
The main problems I have with the “training” systems is that they seldom do any real training. This business is so simple. All that needs to happen is for an upline Platinum or sponsor to sit down with a new or existing IBO and finds out what they want, how soon they want it, and get a time commitment from them, like how many hours per week are they willing to work. Then the upline needs to lay out the basic steps of making the list, helping the new IBO get a good number of customers, help them with personal use by finding out what they are already buying at the store for their lifestyle, then show them how to prospect and get an organization started. Instead, it’s “You need to buy tickets to the next function in Slabobia, the tickets are $120 each and all the leaders will be there.” I literally saw people attend major functions for a decade and were still at 6%. The thing that frustrates me the most is that nobody at the company wants to hear it. They just keep looking the other way. If the Diamonds want to have training materials, then let them do it; just submit them to the company and then everybody can take advantage of them. It would be real simple for the company to do all the training, but they just refuse to do it. It’s too bad. I would be willing to bet that, rather than sales being stagnant in North America still, if the individual training systems were eliminated, and we stood united as one company, we could hit 5 billion in North America within 3 to 4 years. The way it is now, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
Jeffrey,
Pretend you’re a new IBO. Who do you want teaching you how to build a business? The guy who joined last week and sponsored you, or the guy who has been doing it for years and make serious $$$$? Ok, now imagine you’re the guy who has been doing it for years and making some $$$$ – a platinum say. You’ve got at least 30 new people a month joining your business. Do you sit down with all of them and teach them how to do a list? How to invite? And then help them with it again a week later when they’ve forgotten? And wouldn’t you prefer they learned how to invite from that new crossline Diamond who is brilliant at inviting, when you’re just average at it? And why not get the best prospectors teaching to prospect?
I’ve no idea what seminars you attend, but I ALWAYS learn stuff. Always. What I suspect is going on is that you might be missing the teaching and training because a substantial part of it is done in the style of narrative – teaching through story telling. Now we also get powerpoints and whiteboards and that kind of stuff, but a lot is done through storytelling. If you have any doubts about whether this is real teaching, ask a follower of Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, or anyone of a multitude of great leaders over the eons.
Now you also say … “I literally saw people attend major functions for a decade and were still at 6%”
So what? I’ve attended many functions in the last decade and haven’t progressed further in Amway. Now I fear some guy is looking at me and saying “see, the system doesn’t work!”. It’s nothing to do with the system. I’m not working, not the system. In the past when I have worked as per the system, then it’s worked for me pretty much exactly as advertised. No Amway system I’m aware of says “come to the seminars, don’t do anything else, and you’ll succeed”. Now, in my case not working has pretty much been because of choice and circumstances. I went to the seminars often anyway because I enjoy them and get value out of them for what’s going on in the rest of my life. It seems you interpret that as a “failure”. It’s not.
As for North American sales, as was pointed out here a few weeks ago, they superficially seem to have been “stagnant” … even after the loss of as many as a third of IBOs thanks to the team debacle and name change. However, while the overall picture might be “stagnant”, a contextual view shows some pretty damn significant growth must be going on.
Given the facts that:
1) immediate money can be made in the Amway Business via retailing because they are plenty of people interested in purchasing, at full retail price such lines as Nutrilite, Artistry, and Legacy of Clean;
2)the Amway business is designed to be built part time, thus allowing a person to maintain their current source(s) of income;
3) not everyone would like a large income from the Amway Business (meaning they don’t want to put in the effort right now or ever–and THAT’S OK!) but prefer a small one.
the “hardships” building the Amway Business need not be that of a “traditional” entrepreneur.
It all depends on what the IBO wants out of the business. Really you need to sit down and discuss where they want to go, figure out a game plan and then work towards it.
Your right sometimes people’s ambitions or dreams or goals are just not big enough or they only want a little side income. That’s fine.
Just make sure the expectation is set and meet people with where they are at. We have much more success that way instead of trying to ram something down someones throat they are not ready for.
No of course they don’t. They don’t have to be in traditional business either, especially if your goals are modest.
Nevertheless for larger goals in pretty much any endeavour, it’s likely there will be “hardships” of some variety or another. It might be turning down a social invitation because you have business related goals or committments. It might be doing without holidays for a year or three. It might be throwing out the TV (something I’ve heard more than one non-Amway entrpreneur recommend).
I’d also point out that (2) of your points, while you make it sound “easy” is actually extremely difficult for any kind of sigmificant goal. Putting 10 or 20 hrs a week into a business is not much, and it doesn’t sound much. But to do that on top of 40 or 50hrs of traditional income is damn hard to maintain. Heck, ask anyone who’s taken a degree at night, or trained 8-10 times a week in a sport, while working full-time
It’s damn hard to keep it up
Many Amway critics would seem to think that means there’s somehow something wrong with Amway.
There’s not – it’s the very nature of most significant achievement. Heck … as I wrote of that I thought about being a new parent as another example!
Jeffrey,
I believe that its BECAUSE of the system I’m in that my downline have stayed in and still believe in the business. In other words, the functions have kept them in the business.
I guess that’s one of the beauties of the business–we can all find a way that works for each of us, as long as it is within the rules of conduct. Wishing the best to everyone.
IBOFB,
I am not of the opinion that a brand new IBO should, nor should be encouraged, taught, trained, whatever, to put 10-20 hours a week in to building this business.
That would be a good reason to quit!
Most of the population simply cannot handle that for a long enough time to garner any significant results.
Look at the last function you were at. Most of the people were not putting in probably even 10 hours a MONTH. And yet, their upline currently qualified pins–Plats, Emeralds, Diamonds are making good Amway money.
In other words, one can build a very nice Amway income by having MOST of their organization doing very little–nowhere near 10-20 hours a week.
I think people quit Amway because they are taught to only find those with the BIG DREAM. And, quite frankly, those people are few and far between. How about lots of little dreams?
J. Paul Getty said something like, “I’d rather earn 1% from what a 100 people do, than 100% from what I do.”
Why didn’t he say:
5% from 20 people or
10% from 10 people or
20% from 5 people?
Because he understood that most people ain’t gonna give 5% let alone 20%. But rather than kiss off that 1%, he capitalized on it, and made a fortune.
Bridgett,
I’m really not quite sure where you comments here are coming from. They seem to be arguing “against” something, but I agree with pretty much everything you are saying and never said anything different in this post or the comments.
I can only think you think I’m saying that there’s only a place for you in Amway if you’re in to pain and suffering! I never meant any such implication. The folk you are talking about who are happy doing whatever they’re doing, that’s great! Really though, they’re hobbyists, not entrepreneurs. And please … that’s not a criticism in any shape or form. That’s what most of Amway consists of!
I used to go for meetings and functions but was not very keen building the business actively, so we decided to stop going to these meetings as they take up lot of time and money, iconsidering travelling, preparation etc. But at the same time I have seen people who are almost at the same level or fluctuating 20-25% up and down, but haven’t stopped going to each and every meeting…so basically it all comes down to individuals perception of importance and impacts of these meetings. While going to meetings and listening to CDs definitely make you feel good and positive, but if actions does not follow the teachings they quickly turns into frustuation.
I am not sure about other LOS, but in BWW they heavily put pressure of attending all meetings and major functions…which after sometime start to feel like a burden..something you have to do. And I have seen the behavior of people from other LOS change when they don’t see you come to meeting regularly, as if by not coming regularly you are doing some crime.
I am nor in support or against these meetings, but clearly they are only good for people who wants to build business fast, otherwise they will keep wasting money indefinitely.
Hello IBOFB,
I am late to this party, but I must say, I highly appreciate this post of yours, simply because I can relate to it – very well!! And my gratitude goes also to visioneer and his story on Le, it was just extremely well written.
Your posts have brought me to tears, and I thank you for it.
Keep it up!
IBOFB,
I’m not arguing. I’m offering a different perspective. The picture you paint in your post, and in your comments, of how a success Amway Business is built is unpleasant. And not accurate for many people. And it is this self-perpetuating, self-fulfilling prophesy that, IMO, leads people to quit.
(And this post is titled: Why people quit Amway)
Do you believe that you have to put an insane amount of effort in from the get-go, and that you will have little or no growth until you put in that kind of effort?
Unless one has a LARGE organization to work with, what in the world would he/she be doing for 10-20 hours a week?
I know Diamonds who didn’t put in that kind of effort until that were already very profitable Rubies–when they already had first-hand knowledge of the good money in this business and they were excited about putting in the effort.
This business is designed to be worked PART-TIME.
But yes, I’ll grant you that if one is only looking for “entrepreneurs” who are TOLD and BELIEVE that they will only be successful if they work this business 10-20 hours a week, then, yes, they will be waiting a very, very long time to make any money…
…that is, if they don’t quit first. But then, I guess they weren’t truly entrepreneurs, huh?
Actually Bridgett, I find it extremely unlikely that anyone has built to Ruby and worked less than 10 hours a week. I also do not consider 10-20 hrs/week an “insane amount of effort”, and I do consider 10-20hrs/week to be PART-TIME.
As for “why people quit”, I make no pretense this is the only reason. Indeed, the main reason is they never try it in the first place!. 50% of IBOs in North America never even order a product after joining.
Another reason people quit, as highlighted by others above, is unlrealistic expectations. Telling people they can build a Ruby business on less than 10hrs/wk is in my opinion extremely misleading and perhaps even dishonest. Sorry, unless there’s some exceptional circumstances (like say an extremely successful personal trainer converting his clientele to Nutrilite) I simply don’t believe it’s possible to build a Ruby business on less than 10hrs/wk.
Part time is subjective, just look at this post
http://www.businessinsider.com/americans-40-hour-work-week-not-enough-2011-6
Hmmmm, I don’t agree with your second to last paragraph Bridgett. If someone did put in that kind of hours from the get-go, I think it’s very possible that they would be profitable very quickly. Working their name list, creating volume, getting referrals, working a business contact list, the list goes on, on what they could be doing with that kind of effort.
I’ve heard of a couple that went into Platinum qualification in 57 days by showing the plan everyday.
I always speak from experience. I have found that, since most people don’t build it big right from the start, they lose sight of their dreams or goals. That is when the CDs, books, and functions (especially the major functions) become a burden. If they are pressed to stay on the system, it usually leads to them quitting. I have tried to continue to work with IBOs that have lost their dream, but they have usually decided by then that they are not going to build it no matter what. That is when I reassure them that they are welcome to either stay an IBO and just purchase products, or they can become a customer, save the renewal fee, and I will continue to let them buy it at cost. That is better than no volume from them at all. I just wish that I had all the IBOs still buying products that I used to have, but got worn down by the system and quit. So when people say that the system has kept people in, that might be their experience, but it certainly hasn’t been mine.
Of all the people in my original group that is left, only one IBOship is still on the upline’s system. Since I left my upline Diamond’s system, many of my downline have decided to stay with me and some of them purchase quite a bit of product each month, since they know I’m not going to harass them about attending functions and buying support materials.
I would be willing to bet that a LOT of former IBOs would come back as customers if they knew their sponsor or upline Platinum was not going to get them to build the business and be on the system. Someone NOT being on the system certainly does NOT make them a loser. All former IBOs are welcome in my business as wholesale customers.
And if the systems are so great and wonderful, why is it that when a Diamond or Double Diamond quits the business, it is usually over a conflict about the system? You never hear of a big pin quitting because he or she didn’t like SA8.
Jeffrey, I think you’re mixing a “system” and (over-)promotion of the system. In the system I associate with, the approach you just described is pretty much what we do. A significant percentage of my business is formerly active IBOs, they’re no longer “on system” but regularly buy products. Heck – I’ve been one of them myself for years!
Now, if “a” system includes recommendations or whatever which include over-pressuring people to stay on the system – well that’s IMO is a bad system and you can blame that “system”.
Jeffrey,
I agree with IBOFB, we’ve been taught that for years. Look at their circumstances and meet them at their needs. If we can upgrade them from a customer to an IBO, that’s great. If you have to downgrade from an IBO to a customer, then that’s great!
@visioneer,
If someone goes Platinum (Silver) in 57 days, then they wouldn’t be a picture of anguish that IBOFB portrays in this post. They’d be profitable and happy!
Here’s a question to ponder: What is the likelihood of this Silver finding others to duplicate their work habit from the get-go? That’s where major disappointment can set in–when one realizes that they are the most ambitious person they know. So then what? They would become that lovely picture of the toiling IBO.
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@IBOFB,
Well…the Founder’s Crown of my LOA worked this business 1, sometimes 2 nights a week for two years to go Ruby.
He had thirteen customers before he ever sponsored his first person.
Don’t know if any of his first ‘batch’ of Distributors ever obtained a high pin.
He had zero System at the time.
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Maybe the “problem” is that people are focused on the wrong thing (including myself and my LOA), and so that’s why they are not having the growth, and sustainability, that they could have, and therefore they quit?
This Founders Crown has made it crystal clear in the last couple of years that you can’t even ask someone if they want to go Diamond (put in the effort, and have that mindest) until they’ve first built a Founders Rubyship.
Since Ruby is a VOLUME pin, you can create a very profitable Rubyship with not even one “leader” (aka your definition of an “entrepreneur”; a bunch of “hobbyists” as you’d call them) in your organization.
And once someone’s built a solid Rubyship, I would think they’d be pretty good at teaching and HELPING someone else to do the same. And those who SAW them go Ruby, and helped them achieve that level, would have a significant amount of belief that they too could do the same.
Let’s get back to basics. That’s all I’m saying…
Bridgett, if you’re working 2 nights a week then you’re almost certainly doing more than 10hrs/week. Given back then it required product pickup and delivery as well, sorry, I just don’t believe he was averaging less than 10hrs/week with anything remotely approaching a ruby business.
Apart from that, again, this post was not meant as a be all and all post of why all people who stay in Amway say and why people who quit, quit. Sorry I didn’t express that better.
IBOFB,
I’m not going to argue with you about what my Upline did or did not do.
You sure are funny sometimes.
Cheers.
Bridgett, don’t argue, back it up if you can. If you can supply me with an audio or statement of your upline saying they built to Ruby putting less than 10hrs/wk into their Amway business, I’ll accept it.
I can fully accept building it to Ruby with 2 committed nights a week on the road, and maybe a few hours on the weekend making calls and doing paperwork, but I’m pretty confident it will add up to more than 10hrs.
Still, I could be wrong, in which case I REALLY want to know in detail how he did it. And I mean that sincerely. I’d love some details.
Is what the uplines do that make a difference or how they go about their business.
How can you tell me that amway can really help me,on this hard times……….Help me understand…..
Hi Anthony, I’m not sure what you mean? Amway is really just a tool available for you to use to help yourself. A hammer can be used to build a house, or it can sit in a draw, or heck, it can even be used to destroy a house. What matters is what you choose to do with it.
My husband and i have been building our amway business since 2008 and how our lives have changed for it. We love the people, the environment, the products, the business system and we love mostly that we are dreaming again. Amway has changed our lives and we wouldnt quit for anything, there will never be enough ‘No thanks, im not interested’ in the world to make us quit.
We are at the leaders club level, going 12% this month..(hopefully) and plan on going diamond.. our dreams are big.
When we do meet people who say they were linked in but it didnt work for them, we ask them did they go to the functions, no they didnt.. Were they on the CEP, no they werent.. Did they use the products..no they found them expensive or they didnt like them..? NO WONDER IT DIDNT WORK FOR THEM.. They obviously werent really open to business ideas to start with, they were not prepared to do something different in their life to have a different life.. and clearly that is the key here, lets not be like sheep and do as one sheep does, lets do what no-one else wants to do and GO DIAMOND!
Happy Business Building everyone. So what if you get a million ‘NOs’, you only need a few ‘YESs’ from some key people and you will succeed. Keep searching for those key people, dont give up, its not worth it.. the rejection and dissapointment you feel when that happens will all fade away very soon when you meet your key person.
Eric and i dont care if people dont want to join our business, by them saying no immediately makes it less work for us trying to follow up with them and you cant get hold of them cos they are avoiding you like the plague.. we are too busy to waste time with people like this, we want people we can work with, clearly its not those people.
Strength to you all. Grow thick skin peeps. Its not that bad.
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Your still a newbie I admire that. Try going to all the functions for almost ten yrs, burning thru your list of names, cold contacting people, running up credit card debt, not paying bills so you can buy 150 to 300pv of product every month plus go to ALL the functions and late nights. Cold contacting. BUYING ALL THE SYSTEM TOOLS and being fake platinums. THEN keeping doing what you are doing and remain excited, NO THANK YOU !
Get really good at puttin people in cause as fast as you put them in, others go out the other side, why do you think there are so many first timers at functions. Cause a large portion of the ones who came before aren’t back!
But it will be ok just show some more plans or PQs or whatever your guru upline is “teaching” to keep you in and buy more cds and come to more functions.
Rich, your comment is a lesson in how NOT to build an Amway business. Thankfully a world away from what I’ve experienced, but unfortunately your experience hasn’t been a unique one either.
Tanisha said, “…by them saying no immediately makes it less work for us trying to follow up with them…”
This is a good point. There are three categories people can fall into regarding this business (and life, really):
positive
negative
neutral
OR
yes
no
maybe
It’s been our experience that the neutral/maybe folks take up the most time and reap the least rewards. Not just leading up to registering/sponsoring them, but more so afterwards.
And since my husband is a very likeable person, we have always had a really high sponsoring rate. The “problem” is that these people weren’t really interested in putting in any effort into making any money, or changing to have sure a desire. They just liked us! Now this may seem like a positive thing, especially when common basic people skills are not so common.
But it’s a “negative” when you think you have built a network of business BUILDERS.
Same goes for customers. The longer it takes to follow up, the less chance of making the sale (at least for a particular product or product line—but that’s what’s great about the Amway Business: we have more than just one thing to offer people).
Frank Bettger’s book, “How I Raised Myself From Failure To Success In Selling” really was an eye-opener in this area.
Anthony, click on my name and my site will come up, then click on “contact website owner,” write me an e-mail and let’s chat.
Good points about following up. It’s been my experience that if people aren’t excited enough to do SOMETHING the first night, like at least even ordering a product, there’s probably a 90% chance that they will never make a decision about the business, and we all know that not making a decision actually IS making a decision; they usually just don’t have the guts to say NO.
Of course, there are people that say they “need more information.” That is certainly all there on the web for them to see, with our assistance to get to the RIGHT sites, like this one. On the other hand, it is not like they are looking at a $40,000 car and need to look around to get the best deal. This IS the best deal. When I looked at this the very first time, it sure didn’t take me a week to decide. I was IN!
if somebody read the books of Robert Kiyosaki, he would understand what is the value of having ‘B’ quadrent business.. and very scared thing is that many dont know about it even they are Masters in Business Administarations from leading university. Amway opportunity is a B quadrent business opportunity. when people understand this they can never quit. generally people carelessly ignore this opportunity as they have opportunities waiting outside their house.
As Thanisha said ” The quitters dont follow the success formulae and the successful people in this business.So many quitters dont undestand this is a business and they dont take the ownership of their business.The people who really beleive this business and their sponsor they are willing to learn about this business and they search for the opportunities to know what they will get out of it where others dont.This business also got some mechanics and techniques to follow to succeed which you will get it from the experienced and successful people in this business.
Finally i ll tell you the truth that why people Quit AMWAY.
1.They dont take adequate knowledge about this business.
2.They dont listen to their Active sponsor.
3.They dont attend the seminars to gain knowledge and motivation.
4.They dont try to create customers
5.They will give false promise to others like its a get rich quick scheme.
6.They fear about the initial failures in this business because they think that they never failed in anything.
7.Ultimately their Dreams and Goals are not Strong enough..
they expects GOD TO DO EVERYTHING FOR THEM.
Even the bird will get food from outside, not god is going to put inside the birds house.it should take some initiative.Same way you can also stay and succeed in this business.Listen to your active Upline.All the best Tanisha and all of you to succeed in this business.
Can anyone give me some idea on how to convince someone who have heard bad experience about AMWAY from people who failed (due to their own mistakes and not Amway’s business strategy)…
I dont find anyways to convince them and even they are not ready to attend any meetings and do some initiatives to understand even the business…I am 100 % confident on the business, but i need to get their involvement to make myself involved in this business…Any suggestions on this would be highly appreciated…
ask them if they like their job. Be honest and know what you’re talking about. Follow the “k.i.s.s rule” (Keep It Sweet Simple)Ask them if they are open for opportunity as well if they want to meet for coffee to talk shop. if its important to them they will make time for you. Just stick to your guns n do not lie with why you want to meet, Honesty goes all the way where lies will cut you short. Have fun and enjoy knowing that you’re going out side of your comfert zone.
Being aware of a new IBO going Silver in 30 days with 55 IBOs in his organization weeks ago – perhaps our biggest challenge is unlearning what we “know” that ain’t neccesarily so …
Before y’all go lampooning this … we’re not talking about a spam campaign either … just a realignment of thought process coupled with dynamics of duplication …
It’s a wonderful thing …
I am an ABO on the educational team with N21, there is a man named Eric Schiebler who wrote Merchants of Deception where he discovered a tatalitarian environment when he built the business.
I suggested to the Amway norway office that instead of frustrated ABOs write to him, instead they come to Amway.
I also suggest that every ABO gets a questionnaire form where they confidentually they can come with their opinions and concerns, expenses and profits.
There needs to be more of a Glassnost as Gorbachev stated with Amway. However I believe they can learn more from Jesuses principles and teachings which applies to any business and living.
Hi John, while I think he had some legitimately bad experiences, Schiebler exaggerated somewhat in his book. It’s also interesting that his upline “zack” is no longer in the business.
All IBOs can contact Amway on their websites if they feel the need, as well as post anonymous questions and comments on the Opportunity Zone blogs, or on sites like mine.
Santhosh, if someone has had a bad experience, probably nothing will change their mind. I have spoken to a few and most will never do the business again, but some of them might become customers. You need customers, too. Perhaps if they have a good experience with you, later on they might join the business again.
hi, santosh, first of all you convience yourself, if you could do, ask yourself how would you convience if you were negetive, and then try FFF, feel felt found, if this doesnt work, leave on GOD and move to next…….
Hi Mr.Santosh,How old are you in this business?if you are less than 3 months what you need to do is understand the business.That is what you will get out of this business.The query what you are asking here is normal and right question.But the answer as follows.
1.They may joined long back where the products are less.Now the Number of Products are more.
2.Even you can show the tie up catelouges
3.You can give the Successful Diamonds ,Emeralds CDS and tapes to him.
4.Try explaining him about the concentration of products.
5.Now the Joining fee reduced that info you can forward it to him.
6.Now the technology of Mobile phones and E ordering makes our work much easier to order the products.
7.There are plenty of info available to convince yourself.then them.
I have done so many networking business in my life and I quit as I have seen there is limited future but AMWAY is such an opportunity where money is not the important thing but here a person can get what ever he wants in his life besides money. I am very proud to say that I am an ABO of AMWAY
I just started with the bussines a month ago and I already started thinking about quiting because I just don`t know how to convince people to join to the groups ? Can soeno tell me that ?
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@Rommel, it’s better for you to learn from your upline, LOS and follow the system.
Have a great business!!
Amway works, whatever the comments and the sharing in this post was brilliant. Thanks for motivating me many times over.
I thank too the people who laughed at me, for they made me stronger. I thank the people who left my team, because they made me more hardworking and go out to look for people who treasured the opportunity. I thank the people who tried to discourage me, for they made me more stubborn. I thank the people who ordered the vitamins, and didn’t take them, for they made me healthier….true, they got the PV, but I got the health, and it is still my Group PV. This business has made me tougher and more humble at the same time.
This is the freedom zone, and I am sure many of us (disregard the dream-stealers) are gonna succeed. We are going diamond!
Ohh… It was very interesting to read your comments about Amway!!! I’m with mom in this strategy since 2009!!! Amway is changing us to great side!!!I’m happy now!!I won’t give it up no way!!because I know it works!! I have no doubts it will be difficult to achieve success at once,,, it needs had work,time,and your knowledge in this way,also it needs Patient!!! I’m sure everybody can do this business,, everybody can make himself stronger!! P.S. I’m from Kazakhstan!!!
Amway is the greatest opportunity in the world at present.
I love Amway.
It must be known to the people that human instinct is always of opposition. He always opposes change. Because it hurts.
But The Change that Amway has brought is utmost positive.And Powerful to make whole world united.That much that The new age is now of Amwaynization.
It is so attached to people like heart and Human,like thirst and water, like eyes and vision…………….
The people of Amway, Echo your voice so trumble that negativity go in core of the earth and dissolve…………..
I am A Diamond.
I think people want to get rich quick that they forget that they actually have to work for it. It’s amazing the amount of work people will do for someone else to make money, but put in minimal effort in their own business to make money. I do agree that one should not have to choose food over business, but like you said, it is a decision that new business owners make everyday, including Amway business owners. There has to be some sacrifice for a business to grow. I think most people look at internet companies and form as social commerce as a way to get rich quick with little effort. When the “get rick quick scheme” falls fails, then the business is no good. It has nothing to do with the fact that they didn’t do any work (I’m being sarcastic lol)
I think people want easy things and there is no free lunch in this world as a twelve percenter what i m getting , i know the business works and my efforts won’t go waste because i see many people with whom i associate are successful . At least Amway has given us a different direction to walk at instead of walking in the same direction in which the masses are going.
Thanx a tonne and Go Diamond.
Baldev Satwant Bhambra say I think people want easy thigs and there is no free lunch any where in world amway has one golden chnace to show u r man & woman or….any man 16 year no dream u can oil if he 60 year he has big dreamer u can say stll young come join amway go D.D and go diamond then see what is amway respect like king u have money money 24 hr your on time boss when buy any thing from market no see price u happy your family and other happy u has big car big house and amway free world trip may be u thank i an tel lie come jion go diamond god bless u
If you have to give up somethings now to profit later is that to much? Maybe this is wrong with most people! Walk through any shopping center there is not a single America born business owner there. People want handout, America is a welfare nation. Simply put if you are happy putting your savings into SSI or 401k Fund which they are doing away with, have at it. Until you realize that you hold your own destiny in your hands then you will go through life blaming others. If you are lazy now you will have nothing later!
I remember my wife and I with two little ones eating sandwiches and cereal all day everyday, about eleven months of that. We when to hamburger helper about ten months of that. Here we are seven years later nice little 5 bedroom 3 bathroom house, In southern California, eating okay with four kids. Only you can change your life nobody cares about your future as much as you. If you have only time to complain then you will never have time to change.
BUILD IT!!!