So, You Want To Be Your Own Boss?

Some of the primary themes of the Amway® business are financial independence, freedom, and early retirement. One of the biggest draws to the Amway® business is to be your own boss. In most meetings, corporate politics are routinely lampooned, and the Amway® business is touted as the last bastion of financial independence on earth. Click here for audio by Crown Kenny Stewart and an unknown distributor. Here are some one-liners commonly stated at meetings:

In this business-it's not who you know or who you play golf with-it's how hard you work.

Does your boss tell you when you can go to lunch? Wouldn’t it be great if you could decide when and where you wanted to eat, and could take as long as you wanted?

What kind of commotion would you cause at your work if you called in well? You know—well boss, I just don’t feel like coming in this week.

Do you really want someone telling you when you can go on vacation? And if you decide to go on vacation, does your boss make you feel guilty?

At your job-does someone else decide how much money you make, what kind of car you drive, what kind of house you live in, what kind of jewelry your wife can have?

It is easy for most to relate to these one-liners. However, it is doubtful that this type of nirvana exists anywhere--especially in the Amway® business. In our opinion, the closest an Amway® distributor will get to this utopia is when he first joins the business. This is definitely the honeymoon period. It is only after you start to develop a downline organization and have something to lose that your upline will start trying to control you. While this occurs frequently in corporate America, it isn't supposed to exist once you reach the higher levels in the Amway® business. It is our experience that just the opposite is true.

The dominant belief in our organization is that once you reach the Emerald level, most can "retire" from their "rut job" and pursue building their Amway® (and tool) businesses full-time. Over the years, I have seen the videos and heard tapes describing the retirement parties of many Emeralds and Diamonds; and that's what everyone is shooting for. I was taught early on, "Three will set you free!" This means if you help three separate organizations reach the Direct level, you will be an Emerald and probably making enough to "retire." As the years went by, I watched this come to pass for several of my colleagues. That is what the environment is like. I liken it to college students chasing after a degree. For the most part, they've got tunnel vision and are focused on graduating. Likewise, most Amway® distributors who are actively building the business are focused on reaching the Emerald level.

To continue with the comparison, getting a college degree and going Emerald are similar in that once you get there, you look back and realize it took a lot of time, effort, and money to reach your goal. Once you go Emerald, you are expecting to make enough money to "retire." For many, this is true. The only catch is a good portion of it comes from the system. Once you find out that Amway® doesn't pay you a whole lot for going Emerald, you feel as if you deserve the money that comes from the system. To give you an idea, the first year I went Emerald, Amway® sent me an Emerald Bonus check around $2000.00 (that was for the whole year.) One of the first Emerald checks I received from my upline was over $10,000.00, and that was bonus based on the number of distributors in my organization who attended one Major Function!

I might also add that income from the system is considered to be a privilege and not a right. Since the system money is so secretive, there is nothing in writing that guarantees it or defines conditions for taking it away. The topic is often discussed at meetings, but we have never seen any formal documentation besides a price list. Because of this, there is a sense of uncertainty when it comes to the system money. We are only aware of one instance where an upline withheld an Emerald's function proceeds when the Emerald didn't attend a function.

From my own experience, three months after I reached the Pearl level, I was told I had to give some of my new tool money back to my upline because of a "policy change." By the way, where is it that you go to dispute a policy change with system money? Court is usually prohibitive for obvious reasons, not to mention even if you do win--you lose. How about the Busness Support Materials Arbitration Agreement (BSMAA?) That may not be any better. Click here to find out why.

So, what does this have to do with control? Well, if a vital percentage of your income is from something considered a privilege and not a right, it is easy to see where one would want to be sure to stay on the good side of the individuals extending that privilege (In other words, don't rock the boat!.) Furthermore, this gives the extender of the privilege a decided level of control.

The other carrot that is held out for Directs and above is speaking. Every month, there are training meetings all over the country. The speakers at these meetings are Directs or above. Now, who do you think picks the speakers? The upline; they are the ones putting on the meeting. Make no mistake about it, speaking is a privilege and not a right. Just because you reach a certain pin level, it doesn't mean you get to go out on the "speaking circuit."

While the income for speaking is not significant until you reach the Emerald level, at the very least it is a boost to your self-image. You are typically flown in to an area, met at the airport, treated like a foreign dignitary, and then you get to stand up in front of thousands of people and you get to talk about how you succeeded. Once the experience is over, you get paid. As you recall, you are paid based on your level of achievement in Amway®. To put things in perspective, if you reach the Double Diamond level, Amway® will pay you a yearly bonus of $20,000.00. If you speak at a Major Function and you have reached the Double Diamond level anytime in your life, you are paid $20,000.00 for your appearance that weekend.

Just like in corporate America, the "old boy network" dominates this choice of speakers. Case in point: a few years ago, I got a call from an upline who wanted me to put another Emerald in to speak at a meeting I organized (booked the meeting room and submitted it to the newsletter.) The reason my upline wanted this Emerald to speak was because he had experienced a recent financial hardship due to a natural disaster (the Emerald was also his father-in-law.) Somehow, I doubt I would have received the same consideration if I were experiencing the same type of hardship. Of course I am aware that this type of thing happens all the time in any type of organization--that's the reason why people get in the Amway® business.

The upline uses an unwritten list of criteria to determine who can and can't speak. Usually, this standard is so high that no one could meet all the criteria. The reason for this is so if they don't want you to speak, they can always find something to hang their hat on as to why. Currently our speaking criteria are:

1) No bad checks to your upline.

2) No instances of crosslining Click here for audio by Diamond Marc Hellinghausen.

3) Must be a Go-Getter (showing 15+ plans per month.)

4) Must be counseling regularly.

5) You must be personally sponsoring new people.

These criteria were given to us at a Direct’s retreat at the Pearl/Emerald meeting by Mike Collinsworth. Mike further stated these criteria were given to him directly from Kenny Stewart. Oh yes, Mike further stated that even if you are doing all the above, your upline Diamond has the final say as to whether or not you can speak. Moreover, before speaking for another group you must get permission from your upline Diamond, because they might have something else in mind for you. And before you ask someone to speak you must also ask the permission of your upline Diamond. Click here for audio by Diamond Marc Hellinghausen. The point is your upline has control over who speaks when, where and how often.

By the way, if you build your Amway® business as a single there are some organizations that will not allow you to speak in the same capacity as a husband and wife team does. If you are single, and wish to speak you must find an Emerald of the opposite sex to speak with. This is the case in the Stewart organization. Since I went Emerald as a single, I know this all too well. The reason they will give is that you can’t relate to husbands and wives if you are single. Click here for audio by Diamond Marc Hellinghausen, "...I think you're a great teacher, and I think you do a fine job-uh, but I have a problem in the fact that there's not gonna be somebody you know a partner with you..." Since about twenty percent of the people building the business are single we believe this to be ridiculous. In case you didn't realize it, if you are single this also means that you split the speakers' fee with someone else.

Just in case you are wondering, our upline doesn't want us to speak right now (more time to work on the site!) The point of all this is to let you know now how the game is played. If you're good at corporate politics, you'll be right at home. If you're not, it's probably best you find out now instead of later. Furthermore, if you like to question things and don't jump through hoops too well--don't quit your job too soon.

Now that you know how the upline uses the system money to keep the organization, here are some other examples of how they try to keep a tight rein on the group.

There is an Amway® rule, often referred to by the upline as "rule 4", concerning dealing with distributors whom you do not personally sponsor. The rule basically states that, as an Amway® Distributor, you can’t solicit the sale of non-Amway® produced products or services to anyone that you do not personally sponsor. That’s it! There is no rule about communicating with a crossline distributor. If you don't believe us, contact Amway® and inquire about "crosslining." In contrast, here is our upline's version of what crosslining is:

1) Speaking to a distributor who is not in your upline or downline about the Amway® business.

2) Having a social encounter with a crossline person, such as lunch. We are told, "If you have the time to be eating lunch with a crossline person, that time would be best spent with your upline or downline."

3) Calling a crossline distributor on the phone. We are told only to call our upline.

4) Going to a crossline person’s home to visit.

Click here for audio by Diamond Shelli Hellinghausen. We have been told not to even inquire about someone’s family as that is crosslining and can lead to conversations that will "destroy your business." That was Diamond Nolan Dunlap at a "Go Diamond Weekend". Most people do some covert "crosslining" by the standard of the upline. They are scared enough or smart enough to hide it since the repercussions can be socially and financially devastating. Joni and I never ratted out anyone else for this heinous crime of talking to crossline distributors. Click here for audio by Diamond Marc Hellinghausen.

A Direct once asked my wife, Joni, what her feelings were on two direct ladies having lunch together to swap some clothes. Joni said that she thought it was fine and dandy. The direct told Shelli Hellinghausen who is one of our upline Diamonds. Shelli called Joni and told her, "You are messing with MY business, and I have a problem with that." Shelli asked Joni, "You understand why we don’t allow that, don’t you?"

On another occasion, we needed tickets to a Free Enterprise Function. Joni bought some from a crossline Emerald who had a distributor in their group who had bought too many tickets and would be stuck with them (no-they won't buy them back in most situations). Joni then called and informed the Hellinghausen office, knowing there were bonuses involved for the Diamonds. That caused a commotion that you wouldn’t believe. After which, we were told, "NEVER to call anyone crossline, and not to buy tickets from them either." The other Emerald was severely lectured as well. After that same Free Enterprise Function we were chastised for sitting with crossline. Click here for audio by Diamonds Marc & Shelli Hellinghausen.

Some time last year, we received a call from Rick Maxwell. He told us he wanted to discuss a crosslining issue. We asked him to tell us what it was. He told us that if we didn’t sit down he would take us before the ADA Board. Jeff said, "ok, fine!" We haven’t heard anything back from him. That was about two years ago. Click here for audio by Diamond, Rick Maxwell. The reason we never heard from him again was that we hadn't broken any Amway® rule. This was an empty threat.

Here is some irony from a Book of the Month which was sold to most of the distributors in Kenny Stewart's organization and probably others:

Sometimes the threats seem implied. Click here for audio by Diamonds Marc & Shelli Hellinghausen. Much of these issues, to us, seem to fall under the category of employer-employee relationship. But we are our own boss- right!? If you want to financially and socially equal you may be better off not crosslining- at least until you go Diamond. Click here for audio by Diamond Marc Hellinghausen, "There's a little deal that goes around that says Diamonds are the worst crossliners-and there's some truth to that-and they come-you can't imagine how many of 'em come and ask me stuff."

On many occasions, we have learned about double standards from cross-line distributors. Oddly enough, if we questioned the upline about these double standards, the majority of the discussion was about crosslining—and why it is wrong. "Now you see what happens when you crossline?" This is definitely a control issue. Crosslining often leads to questioning—and questioning is looked down upon. If you don’t believe us, ask around.

Here is another area that seems out of control to us. Here are some choice audio cuts to prepare you for this topic. Click here for audio by Diamond, Shelli Hellinghausen. Remember, if you don’t counsel on a regular basis you are not eligible to speak, and are looked upon as a rebel. Click here for audio by Diamonds Marc & Shelli Hellinghausen, "...When you start making up your own definitions, then you start getting in trouble." Click here for audio by Jeff Probst, "As far as-you know-wanting people to counsel with me-that- it doesn't matter- it doesn't make a bit of difference to me if they do or not...I respect their decision as an independent business owner to decide who they want to counsel with for their own best interests...I'm not demanding anybody do anything- I let'em do what they want to do because I think if they have the ownership and they think they're doing what's right for their business they're gonna work a lot harder building their business."

So what do they consider a regular basis? Mike Collinsworth told us he has never seen anyone succeed in this business that doesn’t counsel on a regular basis (we weren't sure if this was a reference to system money). Marc Hellinghausen tells us he counsels with Mike about every plan he shows. Rick Maxwell says that if Ron Rummel told him to go stand on the highway with a sign in his hand he would do it without question. While that may be fine for Rick, we just don't believe those who wouldn't should be considered disloyal. Click here for audio by Emerald Phyllis Speck, "We never questioned-if something came down that we were needing to go to or promote-we did it- we didn't ask why...So you need to take that kind of attitude."

Here are some areas where it is "recommended" you counsel with your upline on:

1) What kind of car to buy, and when. Kenny Stewart wants you have a Cadillac as your first car. When asked about this by another a distributor in our group, Marc Hellinghausen said, "We’re trying to talk to Kenny about that so he’ll approve a Lexus instead of a Cadillac." Another Emerald was told by Rick Maxwell, "Buying a car without counseling is the kiss of death." In counseling about a car purchase, you would tell them the financing information, including how much you’re putting down, etc. They would offer advice and approval or non-approval. You are looked down on if you buy a car without first asking.

2) Jewelry. There are some distributors who acquired nice jewelry, cars, etc. prior to starting their Amway® business. They are encouraged by their upline not to wear the jewelry or drive the car because it will inhibit their upline’s ability to effectively work in their group—thus hurting their business. Furthermore, they shouldn’t use it because the car, jewelry, etc. was not purchased with money from the Amway® business. This is unbelievable but true. What may be even more unbelievable is that people go along with these rules. I guess in some cases they’re afraid not to. My wife Joni was sitting next to a crossline Emerald, Debbie Drury, at an Emerald meeting at a Major Function. Debbie was wearing a five carat diamond ring. Joni noticed it and asked her if it was new. Debbie told Joni that she had acquired it years before she and her husband got into Amway®. Joni asked her why she never wore it. Debbie replied that her upline wouldn't let her wear it because only Diamonds should have that kind of jewelry. The same held true for Debbie's presidential Rolex. Only Amway® Diamonds should wear things like that. Amazing, isn't it. My wife asked all of our upline Diamond ladies what kind of watch she should get right after we got married. Joni was told not to spend any more than $300. It so happens my wife found a perfectly terrific watch for less than $200. That may be one of the only times we ever earned a brownie point for counseling! I can assure you it was an accident as my wife would have gotten whatever we decided to get.

Some of us in the business have coined a phrase, which is, "drinking the Kool-Aid". In case you don’t get the reference it comes from good old Jim Jones who was the leader of a large cult . There seems to be a large desire on the part of many to follow someone without question. I’m no psychologist, and I can’t explain it, although I can see it all around me. In certain Amway® groups, I have heard this cult issue being explained away by stating, "This isn’t a cult because in a cult people do what you tell them to do." It is explained away by pointing out that not everyone participates in the cult thinking. I’m sure not everyone in the Jim Jones church went over to Guyana. I’m sure not everyone at the compound in Waco agreed when Koresh announced he alone was permitted to sleep with their wives. In Amway®, not everyone who is told to go to a function does so; not everyone who goes to a function keeps going; however, there is a large group of distributors who seem to do exactly what they are told without question.

The upline will tell you that there is no danger in counseling because, "We would never tell you anything that would hurt your business! If we tell you something that hurts your business, we are just hurting our own." That’s not always a good thing! If your daughter’s graduation fell on the same weekend as a Major Function, which activity is the most profitable for your business? Just because an activy is profitable, it doesn't mean it is always the right choice (J. Paul Getty can tell you about that.) There are several tapes titled, "He Who Shows The Plan The Most Wins." We take exception to this.

There was a time when we fell into some of the thinking we have described. That is an embarrassment to us now. It is also difficult to explain, but in our defense, they are darn good at what they do. If you are looking for freedom, financial or otherwise, we would encourage you to think twice when considering the Amway® experience. It is our observation that the Diamonds are the hardest working people we have ever known. Joni had lunch with Melanie Rummel at her house about two years ago. When Joni arrived Melanie was apparently very ill. She had been throwing up all morning. Joni told Melanie she should have called her to reschedule. Melanie replied, "Oh honey, if I cancelled today I couldn’t have seen you for months- I am completely booked." This is how they seem to live. Doesn’t sound like retirement to me.

Cherry Picking

Our most recent personal experience that fits into this category of control comes out of the Philippines: We will let you decide what may have happened here.

When new markets (countries, territories) open up for Amway®, there is usually a period of confusion while everyone tries to figure out what the rules are as they are all different. Then, we decide if we want to get involved in the new foreign market. There is usually someone from the US that goes to the country to oversee the initial sign up period. The Philippines opened in the summer of 1997. A crossline friend of ours and Pearl, Paul Dabney, decided to go over and set it up. Everyone who wanted to be involved gave him their check for $85.00 and Paul signed them up when he got there. We also had the option of giving Paul names and numbers of Philippine prospects. We did that as well. We have upline Diamonds, Rummel and Maxwell, who decided they did not want to be included. They probably had other markets they were working in and didn't want to spread themselves too thin.

Paul had filed a "pre market" sheet which included information on how he planned to structure the names from the US he had received who wanted to get in. This was filed with the Amway® Corp. Paul structured his pre market sheet so that we, Jeff & Joni Probst, were at the head of a line of sponsorship that included Collinsworth, Hellinghausen and Vallee. He then went to the Philippines, had lots of meetings and added lots of new people to our Philippines business. This may sound strange, but it is the norm when starting a new market.

When Paul got back, he called us and informed us of the success of his trip and the condition of our Philippines organization. We thanked him profusely. Then a few weeks later funny things started to happen. Paul started calling and even coming over for visits. He told us the upline was trying to cut us out of the Line of Sponsorship we were a part of in the Philippines. He said the pressure had been incredible. He was very upset with them, to put it mildly. Paul faxed us some correspondence that Ron Rummel sent to him:

This was when we began to realize that we may be in danger of being removed from the current line of sponsorship. We called Distributor Relations and were told not to worry because Ron Rummel or whoever could not move us or anyone in our organization without our signature.

Then, we called Distributor Relations a month or so later to see if the upline had tried to move us. During a conversation with International Inquiries, we discovered the Line of Sponsorship was a bit different from what we had initially been told. Here is the way it is now: Note this is exactly how Ron Rummel had asked that it be changed. We will let you, the reader, draw your own conclusions...

Oh, you may also have noticed the appearance of Rummel and Maxwell on the printout. As you may remember, they had decided not to become involved in the Philippines. Well, it seems that after they saw the results from the initial sign-up, they decided to add themselves to the line of sponsorship--at the top, of course. They would probably say they want to maintain the same order as in the US. They didn't have that same concern before Paul went to the Philippines. It must be nice to be able to add yourself in there after the fact. Oh, a direct leg in the Philippines counts as a direct leg here in the US if you have two direct legs here in the US already. This could help in re-qualification as- let's say- Diamond here in the US. I don't think that would effect a Diamond's income very much if they have already gone Diamond in the past. This is due to the phenomenon in the system where once you go- you always get the Diamond system bonuses. BUT, Diamonds like to re-qualify as Diamonds because then they get to go to Diamond Club in Hawaii. Diamond Club is a trip paid for by Amway®. It is undoubtedly embarrassing for them when they don't re-qualify and don't get to go. Speaking from Emerald Club experience (Achievers) for the past six years that I have attended Achievers, there is always talk about who is and isn't here this year. In other words, who didn't re-qualify. I think the foreign markets are a boost to many Diamonds by helping them re-qualify and even move on to higher levels.

Does any of this have that familiar ring called corporate politics? Isn't it ironic? Click here to learn about Politics & Religion in the Amway® business.

	Click here for audio by Diamond Marc Hellinghausen, " It's real neat that y'all are crosslining-and y'all are just all sweet to each other-and y'all are just on the techno-edge and all that kinda crud".
	Diamond Marc Hellinghausen

So, You Want To Be Your Own Boss?

Cherry Picking

Last modified: July 14, 1998