An Alternative? Screw.

I was reflecting on a few posts that have been made in respect to Quixtar, the pros and cons etc.. and I see that a lot of IBO's seem to believe that if you are dissing Quixtar, you should be providing an alternative. Why is that? How is it someone else's resposibility to find you something to do, just because they give you reasons that what you are doing won't work?

The guy in the rather lengthy banter with Scott Larsen right here seems to think its Larsen's job to find an alternative. To wit:

"SHUT UP IF YOU DON'T HAVE BETTER SOLUTIONS TO OFFER" .... i can assure you, you won't be able to show me programs or projects that would help me at least become where i am today than i was years ago... i dare you!!!! show me or shut up!!!! that's your challenge big mouth!!!"

Why is it that you require an alternative? I think it's pretty obvious what's going on here. All arguments for Quixtar fail, and this is a last bullet out of the chamber as you fall down, hoping against hope that this brilliant analytical person is wrong.

Don't expect people to give you an alternative. Look for it yourself. Otherwise, it's you that's the loser if you can't pave your own way.

Where Do They Go?

I was just thinking tonight about some of the commenters on QBlog's site. Off the top of my head, I can think of a few that are no longer there.

"Chris" - Who refused to see anything wrong with Amway/Quixtar. Novelesque posts, and shameless (overpriced) product promotions were his forte.

"Jennifer Lee" - Who seemed to have her act together, but couldn't answer the really hard questions (not that many can)

"Emminem" - Who started off hot to trot, but just sort of petered out.

"Ryan Hicks" - Either wised up or is still on the apparantly infalliable path to diamond.

"Tony" - Who thought a lot of things, but rarely came up with any new material. This Kung Fu ninja wannabe is off the wall, but passionate. I think his ideas are not very well thought out, but I do admire his passion, in kind of a weird way.

What the hell happens to these people? I personally think "Chris" was some sort of damage control flunky, but the rest, I mean, really, where are they now?

Are they still in? Do they still read QuixtarBlog? Why are they silent? Are they embarrassed about their involvement with Quixtar?

Even more importantly to me, did they choose to continue on and discount everything they were told? Or did they quit because they learned the truth?

Are they upset? If so, at who? Me? Other Critics? Quixtar? Amway? Diamonds who have moved on to bigger and better things? The motivational business Kingpins?

You'll notice that this particular post has a lot of questions. If you have any answers, I'd love to hear from you.

I don't think I'm the only curious person out there.

Am I?

Just Ask Why

Let's just look at something realistically here.

IF motivational tools ensure your success, thus your upline's success, then why would it not be sold to you for as cheap as possible?

If your upline and you are truly making money off of the volume of Quixtar/Amway products, then why not focus on moving volume? Why the big "system" promotion, not product promotion?

Why is the system not utilizing technology to have that motivational support available for virtually no cost via the internet? You can download audio & video files anywhere on anything else. If people getting motivated with "system" motivation was so crucial to making money because of the higher volume moved because of said motivation, it would be much cheaper, if not free.

Just think about it for a minute.

I'd tell you why, but you'd never believe it.

Ray Kroc Said It...

Another Sunday, and a great CFL doubleheader today. Here's the weekly quote from a successful business person, again, Ray Kroc.

In this entry, Kroc is now the proud owner of the San Diego Padres, and is writing about the time he got on the loudspeaker after some bonehead plays by his team, and apologized to the fans for it. He denies regretting it, and in fact, accepts full responsibility for it.

" I also introduced a novel concern to baseball. It was my insistance, well known to McDonald's employees, that customers receive a quality product for their money. Apparantly, I was the first owner ever to suggest that players owe top performance to the fans who support them."

Compare Kroc to Quixtar/Amway "leaders". Do they accept accountability to the people who are loyal to them? Not from what I've seen.

*Note to Dingbat - If you can refute any information on Scott Larsen's site, then I will cease referencing it. Otherwise, I will accept any of his site as fact, since none of it has been proven incorrect to the best of my knowledge*

Do Amway Quixtar people receive quality product for their money? Product wise, some may feel it is a good value. If it was truly a good value, there would be many, many Quixtar/Amway customers. The products are very expensive, in my opinion, and I have yet to find anything I could not get cheaper somewhere else, save obviously for their core line products.

Let's talk about the value of motivation. Are diamonds really concerned about people receiving value for their motivation dollar? How many are successful in Amway Quixtar?

A fan of this blog advised me in a comment section that he and his diamond are setting up a webpage to have motivation more accessible for less money to the rank and file IBO. If that's true, then that may be a step in the right direction.

However, in my opinion, the only thing giving Quixtar motivational tools value, is the fact that you have to pay for it.

As far as diamonds giving away motivation, I'll believe that when I see it.

Then Do It That Way, Dingbats

Happy Saturday! I was out surfing at the other dude's blog, and for once, I have to say, I was impressed with the actual original (for once) content.

He was obviously referring to my "Doing Something But Not" article the other day.

"It seems as though some people think that just because you drive 200 miles to show the plan, or even if you show the plan and you get regected (sic) you aren't doing anything to achieve success."

Uh, no, what I'm saying is what you've done is wasted your time. It's obvious that you are going to get (more than) a few no's. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying if you are driving 200 miles, listening to a tape all the way there and all the way back, and still get a no, don't just accept it as "Doing what it takes". Learn from it! Figure out how to NOT do that again. You've wasted time! Figure out a better way! Don't be a road warrior! You're wasting your time and gas!

"FYI We have the internet, some even have phones now, you don't need to drive 200 miles to show a plan anymore unless you have an area that has a large group"

OK, so use it. Obviously an MP3 file can do what a tape or CD does at an absolute miniscule fraction of the current cost. I understand the power of the internet, and obviously your "leaders" do too, since its a web based business. Why can't it also be web based motivation? Download Dexter Yager talking about how he knows what it's like to be Jesus, and about all his girlfriends in school, burn it to CD, and fill your boots on your next road trip. I wonder why they wouldn't do that if motivation is the key to your success?

"I can show someone the complete business in 5 minutes."

Any business worth anything takes a little more than 5 minutes to explain. Sorry, that's pretty sad. You should regret saying that.

"FYI also, when I mentioned you can put 7500PV on ditto delivery, I am not talking about stocking up on products, I am saying you can put all of your clients on ditto delivery."

Yep, you sure could, IF your products weren't priced out of the market. Don't worry, my pricing study is in the works. WOW! Your shipping costs are really high! You should lobby Quixtar toi have them put the motivation and products together to shave a few bucks off shipping! As it is, you will have one hell of a time getting enough people on ditto (especially with your insane shipping fees) to achieve 7500 PV.

Good Luck Though.

Friday's HELPFUL Quote

I saved this as a draft a while ago, and I thought it may be helpful for a dork like Tony to read prior to either attending a function or bothering people trying to enjoy their weekend. I see the original raison d'etre has been accidently deleted by a nefarious dingbat. ENJOY!

Your weekly REALITY CHECK

VISUALIZE THEN ACTUALIZE YOUR SUCCESS (If it's feasable)

Your mind is your mental workshop.You can build anything you want in it. (Just make sure you can get it out the door when you're done)

Visualize what you want in your mind.See it. Feel it. Taste it. Believe in it. (Unless you want to get spanked lightly on the bum with licorice sticks by another man)

Make your mental blueprint and then begin to build.
(It helps if you actually have a real plan. A hotel floating a mile above the earth on thin air would be nice, but it's not possible)

First, think about what you want out of life.The beginning always takes place in your imagination.Then organize your thoughts into definitive plans.Next, it's time to transform your thoughts into realityby taking some positive action.
(This is a great couple of sentences that make it sound like I believe in you and am giving you great advice, but I am not offering you any real help, just fluff)

You can live your dreams. (If they are based on reality, not a pipe dream)

Take It or Leave It.

Doing Something But Not

You know what I think bothers me most about Quixtar being considered a real business?

You are lauded for attending the funtions and listening to tapes, but you aren't really doing anything.

You are doing what it takes, but you aren't doing anything. Really.

Listening to a tape can hardly be considered doing what it takes. Going to a seminar is helpful to many businesses, but as long as you are moving product and creating sustainable volume, the seminars are negligable.

When you drive 200 miles 1 way to STP, you may not be successful, and the person may be smart enough not to get involved. You've driven 400 miles for nothing, and probably wasted 2 hours in between showing the biz. You can NEVER get that time back, despite what the "leaders" may claim.

In a REAL business, when you drive 200 miles 1 way, rest assured, it's for a specific purpose, and not for a fishing expedition. If not, a few of those 200 mile trips will run you out of business.

Why don't people see this? Because they aren't allowed to it seems.

Greetings from Manitoba's Capital!

Hello All! My wife and I decided to get away for a night, so we are meeting friends at the Super 8 hotel in Winnipeg.

That's actually where I'm writing this post from. Pretty good hotel, actually. Pool with waterslide, hot tub, free breakfast, free soup anytime, and each room has its own computer.

I got a post in the works, I'll let it out when I get back

Gotta go, surf's up dude.

Happy Thanksgiving?!

Yep, In Canada today is Thanksgiving. Good CFL Football today, and a day off!

See you tomorrow.

Ray Kroc Said It...

It's time once again for the weekly successful person quote. Again, we're going with Ray Kroc.

Kroc is describing the challenges faced during the period before the McDonald's Company went public. His partner and he were having minor disagreements about how to control the company.

At this point, McDonald's had 637 stores, and it was becoming more difficult to keep on top of all the business matters, since the Co. was headquartered out of Chicago. Kroc and the future CEO and Prsident of McDonald's, Harry Sonneborn did not agree on how to direct the franchisors.

"Harry didn't quite see things my way on these matters. He wanted tighter corporate controls, a more authoritarian posture. I maintained that authority should go with a job. Some wrong decisions may be made as a result, but that's the only way you can encourage strong people to grow in an organization. Sit on them and they will be stifled. The best ones will go elsewhere"

What is the way to succeed in Quixtar? It seems that people who make a lot of money off of the motivational business feel differently than a REAL successful business owner. The Quixtar "leaders" do not think that "Independant" business owners need bother thinking for themselves.

Craig Loupelle "We used everything the Yager system offers - no picking and no choosing, no adapting, no innovating. We followed the system exactly"

Louie Carrillo "Do you want to be wealthy in Amway? Do you want to stand on the stage and claim victory over your life..and claim it that you overwhelmed whatever challenge you had?... Do you really want to do that? You'll have to come to a dream weekend. You'll never make it without a major function."

Jonathan Ritzen "My whole goal here is to make sure I do the best job I can do to duplicate what I have been taught.....I'm duplicating a rubber stamp that's already been made. It's not my role to change that duplicatable rubber stamp, or else I will fail and everybody behind me will fail too."

I thought Quixtar was supposed to be "your business"? If it's my business, then why is everything so set in stone? Why can't IBO's decide how to build their own business?

Quixtar "It's not just a business ... it's your business."

So if it's your business, why do people who obviously have something to gain tell you how to make them money?

Diamonds and Ray Kroc have NOTHING in common. Kroc had integrity, guts, courage, stick-to-itiveness. He created something real. He created something that is successful based on what it is.

Diamonds are not free thinkers. They are told what to do, when to do it, and their whole lives, based on what I've seen, are essentially a lie. Even if they do make a bunch of money, it's not like it's an honest living. Everyone knows that the money they have is from selling useless motivational crap. This is NEVER included when the plan is shown.

I look at it more simply

Quixtar "leaders" are icing.

Ray Kroc, and other hardworking REAL business owners are the Cake.

R.I.P. Extreme Freedom?

It would appear as though the Extreme Freedom Team has taken down their website which seemed to have been created in celebration of money.

I guess Tony-bot was wrong when he thought the Extreme Freedom Team Played all the Crit-bots by having them linked to critical sites. If this were true, it would not have been taken down.

Obviously, the Extreme Freedom Team doesn't feel it's in their best interest to have non-IBO's exploring their leadership's success stories.

I wonder why?

Anyone have any ideas why they took it down?

A Name, My Kingdon For A Name...

Thanks to Truth and xanadustc for their assistance with the prices. Anyone else out there who can provide an IBO # and password would be great!

I need a cool name for a project I'm going to work on. In the 80's they had stuff like the Manhatten Project, etc.. so I'm looking for a cool name to call my experiment. Any feedback will be considered, even from ?!

My plan is to take 1 week, and chronicle everything I use, then compare those things' cost with Quixtar. It should be interesting.

There are a number of things you cannot obtain from Quixtar's site, if you are not an IBO. I'm not sure if the prices they show are the IBO or retail prices. One item I think is rather pertinent is the shipping cost. I searched high and low on the Quixtar Canada website, to no avail. I even phoned the customer service line, asking for shipping costs. The CS rep attempted to direct me to the shipping costs on line, but then she realized that it was not accessible to non-IBO's. I didn't want to take up any more of her time, even though she tried hard to direct me to the shipping dept., who were apparantly at lunch. The customer service rep. I spoke to was very nice, and I believe tried to be helpful.

So I guess what kinda bugs me is that someone deciding on whether or not they want to get involved is really at the mercy of their sponsor, and what the sponsor decides to disclose. Any business that was attempting to promote itself to a potential investor/partner would lay it all out on the line.

If they don't, the investor will likely wonder why not. A smart investor would not participate without all the facts.

I think there's a reason that prices aren't talked about until the person is "in". I think the reason for that is that the prices are not competitive.

Trying to fix up my email link so I can be reached. I don't get what's wrong, but I'll figure it out.

Later, Skaters

A Little Help?

Is there anyone out there who would be able to provide me with a price list for Quixtar, or at the very least, a password to check it out?

I have had people give me this information in the past, and it would be beneficial to a few posts I'm working on.

I assure you, your identity will remain secret, even if I am beaten by some crazed lunatic who has OD'd on Double X and XS.

Promise.

Measuring Success? Rebuttal....

Just when he had graduated from Dingbat status, he had to try and piss me off. There are so many things wrong with what Dingbat wrote today, but I'll just snag a few.

"In my experience the best way to measure how successful you are is by looking at how many people rubbish you. How many people criticise what you stand for. How many people go out of their way to ridicule you."

So if I am a crack dealer, and people criticize me, I'm successful? If I break into people's homes and steal things, I'm successful because I'm criticized? Yeah, judges are not people to be judging...

Ahh, here's another gem....

"It doesn't matter to them that given the same opportunity that you grasped and worked for they would have let pass as being too difficult. No. The point is they just can't resist complaining and criticising."

Um...No. I see your little opportunity as non-viable. That's all. You can dream all you want. It's not what you're hoping it is, that's all. You still have yet to present to me a diamond who made it by way of doing retail. It's because there isn't one.

This one kinda pisses me off....

"They want to go through life on minimum effort so the last thing they need is you showing them that by making effort you can succeed. To them the fruits of their labors are simple and regular, they don't need you and people like you showing that with a little commitment the fruits of your labor can be enormous. They do not need people like you showing the world what is possible."

Again, you know nothing about me. How do you know that I produce minimum effort? How do you know that I don't go above and beyond in anything? I should smack your name right out of the phone book for insinuating that. You have absolutely no idea what you speak of. So shut it.

You may be successful Mikey, but you still have a job, so until you become free, like your leaders on my new link, save your little stage talks for when you produce something more than a webpage that talks about it, but accomplishes nothing. Until you are what you want to be, you're just talking.

You must understand that just because people don't agree with you, it does not mean they're wrong. Examine the realities. It's not going to happen for you dude, seriously.

That's It. You're back to Dingbat Status.

End Of Rant.

Ray Kroc Said It...

Still finding excellent material while reading "Grinding It Out".

In this next quote, Kroc is having a talk with one of his franchisors who is having trouble with the competition being potentially unethical. The competition is a large southern restaurant chain, who is having massive promotions at the one store in their organization, in order to run the local McDonald's franchisor out of business. Ray Kroc writes of his pep talk with that franchisor, who is considering getting lawyers involved to attempt government intervenement:

"Litton, you are getting your ears beat down, and that's not right," I said. "We can agree on that But I'm going to tell you something I feel very strongly about. The thing that has made this country great is our free enterprise system. If we have to resort to this - bringing in the government - to beat our competition, then we deserve to go broke. If we can't do it by offering a better fifteen-cent hamburger, by being better merchandisers, by providing faster service and a cleaner place, then I would rather be broke tomorrow and out of this business and start all over again in something else"

I know McDonald's has been involved in various lawsuits, some about making people obese, and about their french fry cooking methods, but I haven't seen anything about people trying to undercut their prices in an unfair manner. I'm talking about Lawsuits regarding unfair business practices, against McDonald's by either their franchisors or past owners. People actually involved in either owning a franchise, or working at one. I'm not saying there aren't any, undoubtedly there are. They're just not too high profile, in my opinion.

One needs only to visit Scott Larsen's site, and view the staggering amount of lawsuits being brought to court by Amway/Quixtar Distributors.

One thing I've noticed is when you look at the lawsuits, how many lawsuits are due to inferior products, or allegations of how Amway/Quixtar dealt with individual IBO's when there were PRODUCT concerns?

How many are about motivational tools businesses?

Check out Scott Larsen's compiled data on the Amway/Quixtar Lawsuits.

Lots of stuff about the various motivational tools businesses , isn't there?

The people bringing these lawsuits to court aren't too upset about an inferior product being supplied by Amway to them, or their "downline" Also of note, Amway/Quixtar becoming better at distributing their products won't even make a difference in these lawsuits, by that I mean it won't solve any of the problems which led to the lawsuit(s).

Isn't it interesting? I wonder what Amway thinks of this, since their company is the link between the litigants, even when they are not involved in the suit.

Apologies and an Explanation

Hello folks! Wow, it's been a while! My last post was about our hero who made a dramatic comeback. He's gearing up to sell a bunch of coffee soon.

Last week was absolutely bananas at work. We have a replacement guy coming in soon for the guy that left in July. Things should be a little more manageable then.

Took last Friday off and headed in to Winnipeg, MB for my mom's 60th birthday. Many relatives from all over Canada came by and spent the weekend with us at a hotel. On Saturday my wife and my daughter (her stepdaughter) went out with my mom and sister to get pedicures and manicures. I stayed in the hotel with my 7 month old daughter and watched sports. That was a good time, and when she wasn't sleeping, we just hung out and bonded.

Also hit the pool with my 10 year old, and threw the frisbee around with my brother. It's nice to be with family on those special occasions.

Good thing I'm not in Quixtar when I would've been encouraged to go to a function instead of this. These things don't just happen, and people may not necessarily be around and ready to have a get together when you are.

My wife and I also met with some friends on Friday night and went to a fondue place, which I had never done. I'll tell you what, if you ever get the chance, go do it. It is fun, especially when you are around good friends. You focus more on talking at a place like this, simply because the very nature of fondue is to eat little bits at a time. I honestly can't remember ever being so full though. Great Times!

I realize that I missed my Sunday Feature of a successful person in a REAL business (ie. not MLM). It shall be done soon.

Fret not.