Tex said:
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 #

Wow, all 3 major adatudes corporate blogs (this one, Beth's and Jim's) have the Sales Speak launch. Appreciate the extra emphasis on this second most important topic, how about a new blog for the tool profit issue, the number one most important topic?

Kia said:
Thursday, July 26, 2007 #

Tex, why would we need a separate blog devoted to tools when you (almost singlehandedly) have turned all of the Opportunity Zone into that?  :-)

Bridgett said:
Thursday, July 26, 2007 #

LOL!

Josh said:
Thursday, July 26, 2007 #

I second that motion!

Tex said:
Thursday, July 26, 2007 #

Kia,

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That's it, exactly.

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If you had a separate blog devoted to tools, I wouldn't have to keep the visibility to the single largest problem facing this business by pointing out how the tool profits have a direct impact on virtually every other issue. We could discuss these topics in a blog devoted to this issue, and if anyone was tired of reading about it, they don't have to go to that blog.

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Everyone wins.

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That's also why I suggested (twice, ignored both times) adatudes put a "top 3" threads on their front page, based on the importance of the topic.

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Let IBO's nominate what they think are the top 3 issues, describe why, and have the blog owner decide which 3 are the most significant.

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This would also help a new visitor get the "big picture" prior to being overwhelmed at the massive volume of comments that are constantly growing on the various blogs.

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We could post most tool profit related ideas on that thread, which would remain visible, rather than going to the back pages.

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Or, we can stay with the status quo. Your blog, your choice.

Bridgett said:
Thursday, July 26, 2007 #

Tex,

These are the EMPLOYEES' blogs. These are not your blogs, or my blogs, or any IBO's blogs. We participate on THEIR terms, which is totally fine with me. I'm here because it IS a corporate blog. I wouldn't participate in any other kind.

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So go somewhere else with your agenda. It's boring. I mean, really. It's just plain boring. It's the #1 most important topic--FOR YOU.

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You're like the cousin that talks about the same thing over and over again at the family picnic, regardless if anyone's interested. And you prey upon the newcomers at the picnic, who haven't been sufficiently warned not to engage in your lunacy.

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Robin, on other blogs I've seen online, users (like us, the non-bloggers, the "commenters") can sign in and have a profile. If we have this here, then all the participants can lay out in our bios what's important to us. And Tex can put, all in one place his view on HIS #1 important topic.

Kia said:
Friday, July 27, 2007 #

Thanks Bridgett. I agree that we should offer the ability for people leaving comments to create their own profiles.  It was an option for the software we are using, I believe, but for some reason we didn't use it. Anyway, it's a recommendation I've already made to IT.

Tex said:
Saturday, July 28, 2007 #

Bridgett,

These are the EMPLOYEES' blogs, but they were started to get OUR input, which I am doing. These blogs are hosted by employees, but the nature of blogs is they are EVERYONE'S. Blogs are, by definition, an open exchange of ideas.  We participate on THEIR terms, which is totally fine with me as well. I'm also here because it IS a corporate blog. I  participate in other blogs because no single blog has all the strengths and none of the weaknesses of the other blogs.

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Why don't you go somewhere else with your agenda? It's a shame you can't see the tool profits are the largest problem this business faces, and fixing every thing else EXCEPT this problem will do very little to improve the overall situation. I mean, really. It's just plain ridiculous to think otherwise. It's the #1 most important topic--FOR YOU AS WELL, WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT. An analogy - let's say you had a severe health condition you were not aware of, does that mean it isn't important? So it is with the tool profit issue.

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"You're like the cousin that talks about the same thing over and over again at the family picnic, regardless if anyone's interested." There are others who are interested, just not you. Just as I don't speak for everybody, neither do you.

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"And you prey upon the newcomers at the picnic, who haven't been sufficiently warned not to engage in your lunacy." I prefer "inform", rather the "prey", but recognize you have the right to have your own perspective on things, but I also have the same right to have my own perspective as well. And as I mentioned above, not all other readers consider my input "lunacy", but you have the right to have your point of view, as I do.

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The "prey", "lunacy", and implying nobody else is interested in my tool profit comments are considered by me to be personal attacks, and similar posts I have made were rejected for being personal attacks. That's Kia's judgment, I simply disagree with it. I'm not going to pout and whine about him "preying" on me, or being a "lunatic" for not posting my comments, I am going to state I disagree and make a judgment whether it is still worthwhile posting here. So far, it is.      

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"Robin, on other blogs I've seen online, users (like us, the non-bloggers, the "commenters") can sign in and have a profile." Again, a blog is a free exchange of ideas, not one "leader" who gets everyone else to "fall in line" to their ideas. There is very little power in that arrangement, free flow of ideas will maximize the benefit of this blog.

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"If we have this here, then all the participants can lay out in our bios what's important to us. And Tex can put, all in one place his view on HIS #1 important topic." This would help, but would not be able to replace a highly visible, high priority short list of hot topics.

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The bottom line, Bridgett, is we don't have to agree on everything to get along, nor do we have to walk in lock-step with all our ideas (unless you insist, which is your choice, not mine). However, if you want to ignore the "major health issue" (tool profits) while focusing on relatively minor issues, go right ahead, because I will be here to keep the main thing the main thing.  

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Kia, you mentioned you have already made the "profile" suggestion to IT, but were silent on my "hot topics" suggestion. Is this a "final answer"?  

Josh said:
Sunday, July 29, 2007 #

It is not that your perspective is "lunacy" Tex.  It the frequency and often times irrelevent add in that your perspective interjects into other's "free exchange" of thoughts.  That is what is lunacy!

Ben said:
Sunday, July 29, 2007 #

Tex, you've made your point like you said you would, can we now stay on the topic of this blog? Sales?

I've been successful in converting some of my customers to online ordering and ditto, but I'd like to ask for other IBO's input in what they've done to encourage and get their customers to do these two critical things.

rdknyvr said:
Sunday, July 29, 2007 #

Tex, with due respect, there's no need to push or confront Robin for a "final answer." The Corp seems to understand that your 'conflict of interest' cause(because that's what it is, at the core) is also a 'can't ignore' issue with many others and we will likely see changes by Sept./Oct. (I'm guessing) that will show it's actually high on their agenda too. Re-read their posting on the Amway blog about "never again" wrt to the UK situation. A little controversy over how much posting on that issue is enough or too much is all part of the give and take here, and my read is that Robin and others seem to be OK with or at least accepting of the current balance. The 'profile' component of posting, if it's implemented, will still allow the person posting to control how much they want to say or reveal about themselves, as I understand it.

With respect and appreciation,

Bridgett said:
Monday, July 30, 2007 #

At the Ada-Tudes blog (http://adatudes.opportunityzone.com/2007/07/09/Its-Not-About-One-Issue.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage) on July 26th at 2:11pm, Tex said, "I'll "give it a rest" when it has been fixed, and THEN go build my business,"

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Tex, I very much appreciate your transparency. I was under the impression you were an active IBO. I have been treating you as such. Apologies.

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With this new piece of information, I will adjust my conversation (if any) with you accordingly.

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Warm regards.

ibofightback said:
Monday, July 30, 2007 #

Actually Tex, "blog" is short for "WebLog". Just a web-based diary.

You don't even need to have comments enabled to be a blog, let alone an "open exchange of ideas". The blog owner can do as he pleases.

Tex said:
Tuesday, July 31, 2007 #

Josh/rdknyvr,

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As I have explained to Kia and many other blog owners, my repeated posts regarding tool profits are designed to ensure the new reader gets this message, and in the case of the corporate blogs, to keep up the pressure until the changes are made. I have offered solutions to this issue, and they have so far been ignored. I would prefer not to have to repeat myself as well, but until the issue of critical topic visibility is fixed, this is the only reasonable alternative I can think of.

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Ben,

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Go for it. You don't have to pay attention to my posts, just like I can ignore yours.

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Bridgett,

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I already responded to this post on another adatudes blog.

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ibofb,

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Thanks for the history lesson. Of course they can do as they please, and if they want a one-sided, one-way path of communications, they can easily do that via the existing tool systems. However, Amway said from the beginning they wanted our input, so the blog owner has spoken. Just like you and other blog owners have spoken by "banning" me from your blogs. You even go as far as having links to the latest adatudes entries, but even "ban" me from the listing. But when the visitor goes to the link, they often see my name and probably get even more curious. That's why I say "banned" in quotation marks. Thanks.

B Nichols said:
Wednesday, August 01, 2007 #

The BEST "tool" any of us have is our ability to talk to people.  How many people did you talk with yesterday, about your business.  With the new Ribbon product, we have everything we need. What we need to talk about is "product profit" and ideas about how we go about increasing that profit.

Whoever (team) designed the Ribbon program did a superb job!  I have sold and used the Amagift product for years.  Ribbon runs circles around Amagift.  What a professional job you did.  The only tool you need, to make it work for you, is a right hand.  Go out and shake someones hand and show the product.  It is simply numbers from there.  Now Tex, you can start building your business, good luck!

Tex said:
Thursday, August 02, 2007 #

B Nichols,

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I could build my business before the Ribbon program came out, and I could do it after it came out. However, if the tool profit issue isn't fixed, there may be no long term business, regardless of how many terrific programs are started.

Mike Noel said:
Tuesday, August 07, 2007 #

What is it about the tools that is so bad?

Jeffrey said:
Tuesday, August 07, 2007 #

Even though the tool scam is still going on, some are building their businesses and others are sitting and pouting about it. I guess any excuse will work if you don't want to do something.

B. Nichols said:
Thursday, August 09, 2007 #

Tex,

I have an idea about the tool profit issue that that seems to bother you.

If it makes sense to you that you should have something that will help build your business, buy it. If there is no profit, guess what, no product. Only you can decide whether a tool is worth the price.  Price is only an issue, in the absence of value.  How many things have you EVER bought that didn't have a profit associated with it for someone?  Beware the person who offers you something for nothing.  That is how people get hooked on drugs. A business cannot exist without profit.  Profit is an honorable thing Tex. You could always manufacture the tools yourself if you had the time and money. And maybe I am missing the point you are trying to make.  Please clear my thinking if I am out of line on your issue.

Tex said:
Tuesday, August 28, 2007 #

B. Nichols,

The point is the upline pushes tools very hard, many IBO's listen to them, because they don't have much business experience, and the business model/profit is not built on product volume, but tool volume.

Beryl Nichols said:
Thursday, August 30, 2007 #

Tex,

I think that is the major issue with TEAM.  They push tools and meetings without traking the PV/BV alongside.  Everyone is excited, but where is the volume in product?

They seem to disregard the "warm" market.  Friends, relatives, and neighbors, where it all started.  

As long as the profits are good with the tools, why really bother with the products anyway? Garbage!