From: BuzzSaw123@aol.com
Message-ID: <bc7.1ba50da2.34263b94@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2007 05:34:12 EDT
Subject: Quixtar/Team of Destiny
To: dst@cs.cmu.edu

Dave: Thought I'd put my 2 cents in. I spent 2 years trying to "build the  
business" , reached platinum level, made a profit over my expenses and  
eventually quit. I have both positive and negative experiences.
 
First, all the posters that do all the swearing, name calling and boasting  
about how much "passive income" they have are probably lying. We (TOD) were  
always "taught" to treat people right and to act professionally and to ignore  
those who are critical.
 
I enjoyed the people on my team and loved listening to the leaders  (Orrin, 
Chris, Mark, Don). They ARE inspirational and VERY entertaining and  funny.
 
I loved the idea of buying everything online and having it delivered to my  
house because I HATE shopping.
 
I loved the recommended books (and the discussions and book club meetings),  
particularly books not written by Quixtar/Amway diamonds. They helped me out 
in  many ways.
 
I enjoyed listening to tapes. They were motivational and  entertaining.
 
I believe in the team concept, helping others and buy "from your own  store".
 
I was taught to run my business like a business and did. That's why I was  
marginally profitable.
 
Many of the principles I learned I have applied to my own new business  which 
really has allowed me to make more money and work less hours then in any  
other job I had before (I am a professional with a Master's degree).
 
Here are the problems:
 
Although many products are good, they are way too expensive.
 
My team of downline kept quitting and I was always working too  hard just 
trying to stay even. The amount of people who said "no"  versus the number who 
said "yes". I continue to be amazed at how the leaders get  so many people in 
their downlines.
 
The real profits are in the books, tapes, different types of meetings and  
speakers fees. I wanted my business to grow through the products. I also  
believed that after a certain amount of tapes, you didn't need more. I never had  my 
trunk or basement full of books and tapes for my downline to buy. I  
encouraged them to buy from my upline. I also didn't go to the big seminars.  Couldn't 
afford it and I don't enjoy rah-rah rallys.
 
The time spent "building the business" was too much for the money being  
earned. The leaders always seemed to be working not having all this free time  
that was talked about.
 
The amount of mis-information or lies that came out. Like IBM,  Microsoft and 
Coca-Cola investing. They were either products being sold or  contracts that 
were paid for by the company(s) for services.  Amway/Quixtar/Alticor are 
privately held companies so how can any company invest  in them? The deception of 
not talking about Amway or Quixtar when making  presentations or when asked 
about it.
 
I thought that many vulnerable people would experience great financial  
difficulties because they totally "bought into the system" with using  independent 
thought, critical thinking and doing my due diligence (all concepts  taught to 
me by my leaders and upline by the way). Many of these vulnerable  people are 
the people who post much of the hate mail that you and  others receive using 
the foul language, bad grammar and terrible spelling.
 
I couldn't buy into the concept of not spending time with friends or  
families at special occasions if there was a function to attend.
 
My biggest disappointment is how people who I respected and valued stopped  
returning my emails or talking to me after I stopped building the  business.
 
'Nuff  Said! I think I'll stop now. I hope this sheds light on issues  for 
people with questions.
 
Barry