Sunday, February 10, 2013

Amway and Leadership team Development (LTD)

In my last post I talked about LTD or Leadership Team Development. Today I feel the need to classify this a little. Amway and LTD are not the same company. They are two different companies that work together to help the IBO (Independent Business Owner) to grow within the Amway business. Amway Provides the products and some product demonstrations where LTD provides the Training and support to any new IBO who joins Amway. 

There are a lot of companies like LTD out there. Each one with it's own training method. I will not be talking about those other companies due to the fact that I am not familiar with them. 

I often reference my first experiences with the LTD team and some of there training. This is because it opened my eyes to a new way of thinking. When I joined LTD and Amway I found that the idea of a company that was not focused on money but who's core values were as follows: 

"LTD has eight core values: Faith, Service, Unity, Honor, Freedom, Vision, Duty, and Courage
These eight core values exemplify a character of excellence. They are the standards by which our affiliated business owners operate."

I felt very comforted that a Company would put FAITH first. It is a rare thing that any company would put FAITH first in anything.

1)Faith"We believe in having complete trust and a firm belief in something for which there is no proof."
Faith-  I found this to mean not Faith in any cretin religion or God but Faith in people. As a person it is hard sometimes to look at my self and said "I HAVE FAITH IN MY SELF" I have faith that I am more than what the world says that I am. I love that quote by Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
LTD not only opens the door to the people that it works with that they are powerful beyond measure but it also teaches them how to do the same for others. It has given me FAITH in my self. What a WONDERFUL group of people to put that as there FIRST CORE VALUE>

2) Service"We believe helpful acts and contributions to the welfare of others are important."
This value was one that really touched my heart deeply! When I was 18 years old I was in a car wreck. I was driving 20 miles Per Hour and rolled my car into a frozen corn field and shattered my skull. This was January 20, 2006. I was rushed to the hospital and now have 7 plates and 28 screws in the right side of my head. Two years later is when I had my first experience with LTD and Amway. In February of 2008 I became and Amway IBO and joined LTD for the Wonderful training and people that gave me dreams to hold onto in life. April of that year I started to have seizures. October 2009 I had to have Open brain surgery. My up-line were wonderful through then entire time. I could not ask for more service to be given to me by a group of people that did not know me that well. The wonderful acts of kindness and just words of friendship still stick dearly to my heart. Although this is a situation that most people do not need to go through in there lives there are many other examples that I can give you.
When I first joined business my up-line Laura helped me to show products to my family so that I could get some of the customers that I have today. They helped me understand the product lines that through Amway I sell and they drove me accost the county for a Large training session were I was introduced to some of the most influential people in my life.
Service comes in many forms. It is how you look at service that matters. LTD and Amway are both companies that are very active in serving there fellow man/woman/and children through-out the world. 

3)Unity"We believe and find value in the continuous purpose or action of becoming one."
With any Team if everyone in the Team does not have the same goals in mind then the end result is not going to be accomplished. It is said, "Unity is Strength, When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved"
This is Very true- LTD is Leadership TEAM Development for a reason. It all hinders on the Strength of one another. With LTD there is always someone to call or training to read or listen to that will help strengthen the situation. LTD has been built on the backs of people who have been there and done that so for any situation that any member is going through there is always a way to get an answer. The Unity of the Team is the leadership of the team and the fact that at any time the materials that are available can and will if you let them provide the answers. They can strengthen you.
Everyone Wants a team of there own but before you can have a team of your own you must be ready for that team your self. so just like the quote, "Unity is Strength, When there is teamwork and collaboration..." you must be able to collaborate with your up-line team first and be able to strengthen that team before you can build your own. With unity as the smallest man you can then slowly become stronger and ready for Unity and have the Strength for more responsibility. It all hinders on how unified you are with your self and your up-line. Everyone must learn to fallow before they can lead.

4)Honor"We believe in building reputations, good names, and public esteems. We believe that success is rooted firmly in moral excellence."
This is Probably my favorite of the 8 Core Values. Honor I feel is often Overlooked in today's society. It is easier to say, "Oh yes I am ____" when you are not then tell the truth. Lies have become a staple in today's world. but I have Great Respect for the fact that a Company would hold a Group of people to such a high standard. Not only hold them to that standard but remind them often that Everything they do not only say but do reflects on the reputations of every member of LTD.
Like a building has a foundation, the foundation of any business is based on its "reputations, good names and public esteems." For a company to put the foundation on the back's of its members says a lot about the way it feels about the business owners that are a member of the LTD team. That they ARE honorable, that they ARE trustworthy and that they will do what they say. What a wonderful feeling it is to know that YOU have the back of an entire business on your shoulders that you are the keystone of your business. Because you can't be fired it is up to you and your Honor code to keep your teams reputation alive.
It has been proven that the more trust children are given the more they will achieve. I feel that this Core Value is very similar to that. LTD is not putting it's trust in one or two people to show the world what a "Wonderful Business" LTD and Amway are, they are putting that in the hands of Each person.

5)Freedom"We believe independence and liberation from the slavery of others is imperative.  We value the absence of necessity, coercion, and constraint in choices or actions."
I think this sentance states it's self. Is it not a form of slavery to work for someone else that you have no idea if you can be fired at any time? Is it not a form of slavery when you have no idea what tomorrow will bring?
LTD helps to close the gap in the UN-known. If wanted it is a way to know every month what you will have in your business. If wanted and with a LOT of hard work it is a way to not have to worry about having to file for unemployment. The key words here are HARD WORK. Freedom is not easy and never has been.

6)Vision"We believe in our dreams, our strongly desired goals and purposes."
What did you want to be when you were a child? Since I was 4 years old I wanted to be a teacher. Right now I work in a call center. I am 25 years old. Why you ask, am I not in school to be a teacher; Like I said I was in a car wreck that changed my life. As an Epileptic most school districts will not higher you. I gave up on that dream. Through LTD I can be a teacher. I can teach my self and others to have self-worth and self-confidence. I can teach many things. I have always wanted to be a stay at home mother when I have children. Through LTD I can do that IF I WORK HARD and get the residual income to that level that I can pay my rent. Vision all comes down to what do you really want to do? What will it take to get there? How hard are you willing to work to get there?
"Work smarter not harder!" Many, many people now a day's are going to school for years and years and still can not find jobs. I read today that even though many students can not find jobs, Pennsylvania State is suing former students over "uncollected tuition and loans" So much for going to school for 4 years. They can't even get a job and now they have to go to court. What kind of vision what that?
LTD costs WAY less and teaches so much more. It is a "Work smarter not harder" I am not saying that college is a bad thing!!!!!! I know many many doctors who have saved my life many times! But they still don't have there dreams or goals reached. It is nice to know that LTD not only asks up to dream but is there to HELP US reach them if we want the help. All we have to do is ask, and be willing to take advice and WORK. Again the key word is WORK. No one is going to do the work for you.

7)Duty"We believe that binding tasks, conduct, and service arising from our positions in life are forces of moral obligation."
This is yet another statement that I feel does not need me to elaborate on.

8)Courage"We believe in both the mental and moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty."
Winston Churchill-"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." Courage is probably the thing that is needed most in any business. LTD is the portion of Amway that you do need to sit down and listen because it teaches you to stand up and speak but before you can stand up and speak you need the courage to just sit down and listen. LTD is the part of Amway the teacher of that portion of courage. Once you have that part down then LTD will help you stand up and speak. it will help you to stand up and speak to gain the two ways to make money with Amway ; 1) customers 2) franchising: But without Courage there is nothing. All you have is an empty plate an imagination. We can do a lot of talking with imagination, but in the end it gets you nothing.


I love the fact that the 8 CORE VALUES of LTD each tie in somehow with Amway. The best way to get acquainted with all of the Core values is through the advice of your up-line and with the products. If you don't know what product line you like or you just want to try them all then I would recommend looking at the Amway Fast Pack:retail price 406.53$ IBO Cost: 304.60$ -- It has a little bit of everything in it. I would even have your Up-line help you after you got it with the Service Core Value and throw a Party to help you show customers some of your products.


~Diane












Tuesday, February 5, 2013

ScamWay vrs Amway with LTD (Leadership Team Development)

When I first got into Amway I can remember my father telling me, "Scam-Way have fun with that one" (or something along that line) so when looking into Amway a little further I found that a lot of people who were once part of Amway and who had never even been a part of Amway called it Scam-Way. So today I decided to express my experience between Amway and Scam-Way.

When reading threw what a lot of people have put about Scam-way I have found that the number one issue is that they feel it is a "Get Rich Quick," Pyramid business. With all of that being said I think it is best that I also get into the business team that I have worked with for All of my training and help to expand my business LTD or Leadership Team Development.

Considering the fact that when I was working at Denny's it was members of LTD who came in after there training meatings to hang out and evaluate what information was just given to them I feel it is best that I start there.

Per my first post I asked about what LTD was and what they did. After that I was invited to one of there meetings were it was explained the two ways that threw Amway you can make money.
1) Customers-- it is a business and as a business you need customers the more customers the more money you can make
2) Multi-level-Marketing-- This is were I find that most people have the biggest issues with Amway and the business teams they work with. They way that this works is just like a local franchised store. In my area there are many many Fast Food restaurants. If you look any one of them up you will find that the over all company has a President over All of that chain that you are looking up.
    --- But there are so many "owners" of Fast Food chains all over the world how is there only one person on top?
 That is an easy question: Someone started a business and others liked what they were doing and wanted to be a part of it so they purchased the chance to use that food chain's name and open there own business with the understanding that they would fallow the OVERALL company rules, colors, packaging, exc.... Some of those people opened up only one store and some have opened many, Some have opened a store in an area and then one of there friends have wanted to become part of there chain also so they go threw the same process. With this being said Amway's second way of making money is modled off of this.
The more people you help get into business the more money you will make and the more the person above you will make and so on and so on until you reach the start with Amway Corporation and there Presidents and stock holders.
I have also found that the thing that many many people who refer to Amway as Scam-way have a BIG issue with this part. They feel that because the more people you help it has become a Pyramid when in reality it is only franchising with individuals and not large buildings. 

I have also found that they feel that --'"They love people who are broke because they're weak," says Fort Worth resident Lori Mauldin, who had a brief but memorable experience with Amway during the past year. "They really prey on the desire of materialism. They constantly show the material gain and say, 'You can have this, too.' When you're recruiting people, they tell you to ask people what their dreams are. They love to find the people who want the Mercedes, the boats, the big houses. That's exactly what they're looking for."'

As far as the people that I know around me in my area I don't know of anyone who is "broke because they're week"  In Central Illinois were I live, within the business team of LTD there is a Doctor, a Self Business owner who's had there own business for years, prison guards, students in college/university's, and others. I don't know any Doctor, or a Prison guard who is "Broke because they're week."

Yes within every business there is talk about material gain and yes "YOU CAN HAVE THIS TOO" IF YOU WORK HARD. Never at any one of an LTD meetings have I had anyone say that I got into this business because I wanted a Mercedes, a boat, a big house." Most of the conversations have to do with what do you want and if YOU are willing to work at your own business then We can help you and these are the possibilities.

I also found this when looking for why people are so upset with Amway, ""But why in the hell would someone consider taking a commissioned sales job where all kinds of phony numbers are thrown at you and you’re told about all the money you can expect to make in Amway? Ha! Yeah right! Especially since no one in our upline ever showed us a profit and loss statement, their income tax returns, or copies of monthly commission checks from Amway. Nobody had any proof of the fabulous income they were making in Amway.""

With LTD you can go online to youtube and there are video's of members cashing in there checks from Amway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYEAx2XO8g8
That one right there is a guy named Greg Francis from Chicago Illinois who I have met my self. Him and his wife Jackie are amazing people. What even put the prof online for the entire world to see. So don't tell me that no one has ever had any proof of the fabulous income from Amway. it is right there for you.

 I can't see if anyone were to ever ask how much money are you making by doing Amway and can I see the proof Anyone Ever saying, "NO." the point of a business is to make money and I can tell you I am excited when I do. That does not mean that I have gotten a check every month or that even some months it is a lot of money but I can tell you that the money that I have gotten is from the work that I have done. One month I was sent a check for 0.68$ and I just got in the mail the other day a check for 29.98$ The best part about the check that I just got.... I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO WORK ON MY BUSINESS IN MONTHS, THAT WAS ALL RESIDUAL INCOME ON WORK THAT I HAD ALREADY DONE.
I have needed to have Open Brain Surgery due to a car wreck I was in when I was in high school that has been causing me issues with seizures and such. With the Brain Surgery and recovery I have not been out looking for customers, or people to expand my franchise with in months. But the customers that I already have because of work that I have already done are still ordering products.

SO YES YOU CAN MAKE MONEY, YES IT IS A FRANCHISE, AND YES YOU MAY NOT MAKE MONEY EVERY MONTH BUT IF YOU WORK AT IT YOU WILL MAKE MONEY. THE MORE TIME AND HARDER YOU WORK AT IT THE MORE MONEY YOU WILL MAKE.

There is a man in a near bye town who joined Amway and LTD the same time I did. When he was 21 and his now wife was 18. Because of the hard work he has done he is now retired and so is she, he is 24 and she is 22. When we talk about being "free" it is not free to stop working the business but rather free to pick what you are going to do that day. It is free from worry about your boss and the stress of the possibilities to get fired. 


If you have any questions please feel free to email,  Look around at the products before you decide Amway or Scam-way.


~Diane