Amway Talk

Bridgett wrote:

TB 2 IBO wrote:

MichMan wrote: Ask to see bonus checks. Ask to see their 1099s.

This is the dumbest idea, see the above statement. When you go to college, do you ask to see the 1099s of your professors, or the checks they receive in the particular field you are studying? When you get job, do you ask to see the 1099s of coworkers or your boss? Give me a break!

I don't think asking to see one's professor's, one's boss', or one's co-worker's income statements, is a fair comparison to asking to see an Upline's. Seems to be comparing apples to oranges.

I don't know if it's the dumbest idea to see Uplline's info. I do think there is validity in "checking the fruit on the tree" of those from whom you are taking advice.

I wouldn't put pressure on a non-Platinum to have to show their bonus checks and 1099s, but one should also, if they are actively building, be counceling with a Platinum or above, anyway. Right?

I've had my upline share copies of their checks. Doesn't seem to really help much, though. Those that are gonna quit anyway, I show them the checks and they just move the puck to some other reason why they no longer wanna pursue this endeavor.

I have been approached a couple of times by other mlm businesses.

After being in AQ for years, I asked in a smart alek way to see their bonus checks or a copy of their 1099 from the previous year.

Neither time did the person shy away from the idea of disclosing how much money they made from their business. It was a total reversal from my experience in AQ where nobody is ever to question their upline. And nobody ever asks upline to substantiate anything they say.

In the real business world, if you were to purchase a franchise or any other business you would ask all of the same questions of other franchisees before making an investment of $100,000 or more.

You would not accept a simple "Ain't it great! Things have never been better. It's growing like never before. If I told you how well I was doing, you wouldn't believe me."

You would ask questions.... "How much did you invest to get your business started?... How long have you been open? .... How long did it take you to acheive profitability? .... Are you profitable now? If not, when do you expect to acheive profitability? ... What are your revenues? What are your expenses? "

All these are the type of logical questions that ibos should be asking. But in many LOAs, there is not enough openness to talk business person to business person as you would in any other venture.

MichMan wrote:It was a total reversal from my experience in AQ where nobody is ever to question their upline. And nobody ever asks upline to substantiate anything they say.

Your experience is limited.

You would ask questions.... "How much did you invest to get your business started?... How long have you been open? .... How long did it take you to acheive profitability? .... Are you profitable now? If not, when do you expect to acheive profitability? ... What are your revenues? What are your expenses? "

All these are the type of logical questions that ibos should be asking. But in many LOAs, there is not enough openness to talk business person to business person as you would in any other venture.

It would excite me out of my shoes to have a new IBO already business savvy enough to ask these questions. I asked a number of them of my upline when I joined and they had no problems answering them.

MichMan wrote:You would ask questions.... "How much did you invest to get your business started?... How long have you been open? .... How long did it take you to acheive profitability? .... Are you profitable now? If not, when do you expect to acheive profitability? ... What are your revenues? What are your expenses? "

All these are the type of logical questions that ibos should be asking. But in many LOAs, there is not enough openness to talk business person to business person as you would in any other venture.

They are not bad questions to ask, but to flay out say "I want to see your 1099" is a bit ridiculous. Also, they are good questions ONLY if they are being asked legitimately to the true counseling IBO--Platinum plus. You can't get a complete answer from the new guy that just got started or the veteran who had "life" happen and had to put his/her business on hold while they dealt with personal issues. Then take that knowledge and project to the entire rest of the Amway Global IBOs. Understand?

MichMan wrote:You would ask questions.... "How much did you invest to get your business started?... How long have you been open? .... How long did it take you to acheive profitability? .... Are you profitable now? If not, when do you expect to acheive profitability? ... What are your revenues? What are your expenses? "

"How long before achieve proftability?
How different to all the critics out there! They assume that an AG business should be profitable from day 1.
-"you could not by tools, attend any seminar or anything else, that cost money, if you not have an income from your AG business. Then you just is a part of the toolscam! Blablablablablabla.........you must learn an AG business, be profitable, BEFORE you could invest to bigger success! Redicoulus, when you think about it!

As every business, you have to invest, and spend some money, to learn, to be able to do the work you need to do to be profitable! Note! I said "to do the work" Yes, you have to do what you learn also!

Beans! Listen to the people that have an interest in you success, stay away from the most critic sites, ask questions to different people, and step by step, adopt to the habits that have helpt other to grew their business!

It works, and it will for you to, if you decide!

TB 2 IBO wrote:

Bridgett wrote:I don't think asking to see one's professor's, one's boss', or one's co-worker's income statements, is a fair comparison to asking to see an Upline's. Seems to be comparing apples to oranges.

Perhaps not your boss. Surely your professors in college though. Are you not relying on them, in much the same way you would an upline for guidance, mentorship? The only difference I see is that the professors do not have a vested interest in your success--in most cases.

I didn't specifically ask my professors how much money they make, 'cause I didn't wanna be a professor. But I did "check the fruit on the tree" of the University I attended, i.e. seen what kind of money (and life, really, which was more important to me than the money actually) the graduates of that school, in the field I studied, were making.

TB 2 IBO wrote:

Bridgett wrote:I don't know if it's the dumbest idea to see Uplline's info. I do think there is validity in "checking the fruit on the tree" of those from whom you are taking advice.
I wouldn't put pressure on a non-Platinum to have to show their bonus checks and 1099s, but one should also, if they are actively building, be counceling with a Platinum or above, anyway. Right?

I believe I mentioned this...twice.

Yes, I believe I am agreeing with you--that the Platinum or above, who is active, is the "fruit" that should be checked and not the "fruit" of the brand new guy, or the guy who's been "in" for a decade and not done any work.

Bridgett wrote:I didn't specifically ask my professors how much money they make, 'cause I didn't wanna be a professor. But I did "check the fruit on the tree" of the University I attended, i.e. seen what kind of money (and life, really, which was more important to me than the money actually) the graduates of that school, in the field I studied, were making.

Well now you are talking a whole different story, with regards to the intangibles. However, wouldn't you want that professor to have experience in the field you are endeavoring to achieve? To clarify...not ask the professor for his 1099 for professing, but rather his 1099 for his accomplishments in the field you are learning (where it applies). Either way, it is ridiculous to ask.

TB 2 IBO wrote:not ask the professor for his 1099 for professing, but rather his 1099 for his accomplishments in the field you are learning (where it applies). Either way, it is ridiculous to ask.

I like that. I can recall a certain someone in the online community who insisted on seeing Ruby or Emerald or Diamond 1099s. Why? ... Who cares? LOL I understand that many people can't wrap their head around a pin level, and they only care about the money at first. But if anyone who knows anything about the business knows, just the Emerald and Diamond Growth Incentives are huge!!!! Now it's very difficult for a founders Diamond to NOT make over a million dollars a year. That tax bracket's gotta hurt since the overhead in this business is so low. lol

Like many in my group have pointed out that yeah, the money is nice (debt sucks right?), but some of the biggest rewards come from being ale to help others meet their own financial goals. My franchise's slogan is "Giving Hope and Freedom to the Warriors of the Future" and it seems to fit well with where the economy is moving.

Even though I can't back up a plan showing with five to six digit checks like veterans can, but I can pull out the checks I do get and prove that I'm making money. I've had maybe three people ask me that "How much you making" question. I tend to throw it off because my goal is higher than what I'm making now. People tend to think in the limits of what a salary will ring because that's what they get. So, they hear that you made $300 your first month and you saying, "Well, it's not a lot and it's not what I want" they'll go elsewhere. Instead you gotta be positive and when you do that, all of a sudden that new person is ripped and excited about that first $300. And now with all the new money being thrown at IBOs we'll see a LOT of new people making a fast $1-$3,000 their first year. Course, there's some folks crossline from me who might even beat me to Platinum here in a few months. We'll see though...

joebrueske wrote:Even though I can't back up a plan showing with five to six digit checks like veterans can, but I can pull out the checks I do get and prove that I'm making money. I've had maybe three people ask me that "How much you making" question. I tend to throw it off because my goal is higher than what I'm making now. People tend to think in the limits of what a salary will ring because that's what they get. So, they hear that you made $300 your first month and you saying, "Well, it's not a lot and it's not what I want" they'll go elsewhere. Instead you gotta be positive and when you do that, all of a sudden that new person is ripped and excited about that first $300. And now with all the new money being thrown at IBOs we'll see a LOT of new people making a fast $1-$3,000 their first year. Course, there's some folks crossline from me who might even beat me to Platinum here in a few months. We'll see though...

$300 is a a lot of money. I used to poo-poo it, 'cause I make more than that in a day when I work at a job.

But my perspective completely shifted about six months ago when I had a man who does $3 million in revenue (who know how much he actually gets to pocket at the end of the day) validate the retail side of my business.

He's one of my husband's clients in his other business, and my husband was carrying an XS or something during one of their meetings. The guy started asking questions about it, and they got in to a discussion about health and nutrition.

One thing led to another and my husband said that his wife markets this drink as well as other blah blah blah blah.

The business owner asked, "Is she making any money?"

My husband said, "Yes." (I had just a day earlier told him we made over $500 in retail profit the previous month).

The business owner said, "$500?"

My husband said, "Why, as a matter of fact, yes, about $500."

And the business owner said, "Pays the groceries."

To be honest, I was stunned that his man would validate, what I thought a piddly amount of money.

But I guess it's perspective. How much does he have to do in revenue, and pay all his employees, pay for all his equipment and supplies and rent and yadda yadda for him to be able to bring $500 home to his family?

As a very part-time business, $500 aint bad.

Put in a little more effort, duplicate that profitable business, and things start to get really fun!

You're in good company with that story, Founders Crown Ambassador Mitch Sala tells about how he had an appointment booked with an incredibly successful man involved in the banking industry. He was all prepped up to highlight all the benefits of the residual incomes and ability to launch internationally etc etc. When asking questions before getting in to the plan proper, the guy says - "man, if I could just make a couple of hundred bucks a month to help pay for my kids piano lessons I'd be delighted".

I was sitting down with a guy today. Had one of the most successful restaurants in Stockholm. Lost the lot a couple of years ago. He currently owes 7 figures to the the tax department. He hasn't even got the cash to register. Setting up a few skin care clinics with his wife is more than an attractive proposition for him!

Bridgett wrote:

joebrueske wrote:Even though I can't back up a plan showing with five to six digit checks like veterans can, but I can pull out the checks I do get and prove that I'm making money. I've had maybe three people ask me that "How much you making" question. I tend to throw it off because my goal is higher than what I'm making now. People tend to think in the limits of what a salary will ring because that's what they get. So, they hear that you made $300 your first month and you saying, "Well, it's not a lot and it's not what I want" they'll go elsewhere. Instead you gotta be positive and when you do that, all of a sudden that new person is ripped and excited about that first $300. And now with all the new money being thrown at IBOs we'll see a LOT of new people making a fast $1-$3,000 their first year. Course, there's some folks crossline from me who might even beat me to Platinum here in a few months. We'll see though...

$300 is a a lot of money. I used to poo-poo it, 'cause I make more than that in a day when I work at a job.

But my perspective completely shifted about six months ago when I had a man who does $3 million in revenue (who know how much he actually gets to pocket at the end of the day) validate the retail side of my business.

He's one of my husband's clients in his other business, and my husband was carrying an XS or something during one of their meetings. The guy started asking questions about it, and they got in to a discussion about health and nutrition.

One thing led to another and my husband said that his wife markets this drink as well as other blah blah blah blah.

The business owner asked, "Is she making any money?"

My husband said, "Yes." (I had just a day earlier told him we made over $500 in retail profit the previous month).

The business owner said, "$500?"

My husband said, "Why, as a matter of fact, yes, about $500."

And the business owner said, "Pays the groceries."

To be honest, I was stunned that his man would validate, what I thought a piddly amount of money.

But I guess it's perspective. How much does he have to do in revenue, and pay all his employees, pay for all his equipment and supplies and rent and yadda yadda for him to be able to bring $500 home to his family?

As a very part-time business, $500 aint bad.

Put in a little more effort, duplicate that profitable business, and things start to get really fun!

This is a great story. 500 profit is much more than many many many businesses can say today...and they wish they had $500 realized profit. My traditional business included...at least this year.