Quixtar.com - Official Site of Quixtar Inc.
Reputation & Me & You
Tuesday, October 16, 2007

I was asked to write an article on reputation recently and, while doing so, it really impressed upon me again how important a topic this is not just for companies and brands but for individuals. Certainly a company's reputation is important if it hopes to spur some sort of participation on the part of the public, whether that be as a customer or a representative.

Personal reputation effects so many things that are even more important, in my opinion. For instance, a teen earns a reputation with his or her parents for being trustworthy or not. Caught in a lie about going to a party, the teen will have lost the trust of the parents who will now question every statement made about who, what, when and where. A husband who has been dishonest with his wife and is discovered loses credibility with her, causing her to question his fidelity and his love for her.

I'm a member of the Public Relations Society of America, and it is in the PRSA code of ethics that a member cannot spread lies as part of their communications programs on behalf of a client. I can honestly say that I have not spread lies. In fact, even when it hurts I think it's better to share the truth and maintain credibility and trust rather than be discovered in a lie. By the way, the lie is always discovered. I also become irate when asked to "spin" something. That's a political trick and one that's meant to confuse and obfuscate.

There are times I'm not able to talk about something. There are times I choose not to talk about something. But if I share information with you, it's because I believe it to be true.

I can speak from experience that, as a kid, I did things that probably eroded at the trust my parents had in me. The same is true for my relationships with my wife. After 20 years together (we started dating 20 years ago this month), I think I've come a long way. But I've had plenty of stupid moments. One thing I now know: Truth always is better.

Kari and me

In our business, sometimes sharing a truth may mean you lose a prospect. Sometimes a prospect will believe somebody else's spin and think that our business is not for them (and sometimes they're right--our business is available to anyone, but isn't necessarily right for everyone). I think it's better to share the full truth about our business with a prospect and keep their trust, rather than simply telling them what they want to hear. It's about managing expectations. In the end, they will experience our business for themselves and they will be matching up that experience with what they were told. It is at that point that personal reputations are born.



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Comments

Dwight Spaulding said:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 #

Rob,

Great post. A very good observation on life and honesty. We all have our stupid moments, but honesty is always the best policy. I also learned a long time ago the old saying 'If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything'. I think that could and should be applied to life in general. Before you open your mouth to say something, if is isn't something nice, just don't say it. I think some of the posters over on the Alticor blog should learn that one. Very little good helpfull discussion of issues, but lots of name calling and back biting.

I am glad you and the others here in the OZ have been very professional and helpfull.

Always lood forward to reading your posts.

God Bless!!

LM said:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 #

I think this is exactly why many in the field are so opposed to the proposed name change is because it causes us all to lose credibity.

DLSChicago said:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 #

Robin,

You say you become irate when asked to spin something.  Are you actually admitting that Quixtar has asked you to spin things or did I read this wrong?  

On your own honor and as a member of the PRS,  do you believe Quixtar has shared the full truth with its IBOs thus far?

 

Editor's Note: Over the past 15 years, people who don't understand PR have asked that we put a positive spin on things. I think that's true in all companies. We share the truth, or I wouldn't be here.  -- RL

Bridgett said:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 #

LM,

Why does the name change cause us ALL to lose credibility?

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I think it causes those who've been leaving out/avoiding/hiding the Amway connection to lose credibility, but not all of us.

.

We (my husband & I) have "lost" several prospects in the past b/c we were forthright about the Amway connection. But what's the alternative? To lie about it, and then have them find out in two seconds when they search the Net, and have them think poorly of us--and all IBOs?

.

Covering up, avoiding, doing a song and dance to distract, just takes up waaayy to much energy. It's exhausting--mentally and physically.

.

I'm not saying, when I first meet someone I jump out of the bushes and exclaim, "Hey, ya want to get in to Amway?!" But if it progresses to the point where we are going over the comp plan, we have GOT to be honest.

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IMHO, I think the name change is happening because of all the dishonesty which has occurred. It's the ones who are the most resistant to the name change, that are the reason for the name change. Funny. We reap what we sow, don't we.

.

Great post Robin.

Peter M Burr MD said:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 #

Au Contraire, LM

If you have the integrity to be up front with your current people and your future prospects, you'll maintain your integrity and win lots of style points, friends, and loyal partners.

Jeffrey said:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 #

There is nothing more damaging to the reputation of this company than the Alticor Media Blog. It's nauseating. Kick these rule-breakers out and let it go. There is still quite a few more to go.

richard bligen said:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 #

Hopefully you can keep the Quixtar brand Amway has had alot of credibility issues with some rogue ibos distorting the truth.  Quixtar is on the rise lets keep it that way.

TWS said:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 #

Amway/Quixtar has both a positive and negative reputation depending on who you talk to. Truth is in the eye of the beholder. One persons experience/perception can be completely different than someone else. I agree that the only way to go is being honest, upfront and straightforward.

The negative this business has experienced boils down to two issues in my opinion.

1. individuals misusing the opportunity.

2. peoples lack of results

Thats the entire focus of the transformation. I have no doubt Quixtar and IBOs will take care of business and resolve these issues. And as an added bonus all of the web critics will be pretty bored with nothing much to complain about any more.

Jeremy said:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 #

How can someone help but put an imaginary question mark over your head when you say anything after you're caught in a bold face lie. Only action and time can heal that wound and it usually takes a 10 or 20 to 1 ratio (or more) of good to bad to compensate for mistrust. When Surveyed across the country, they #1 quality NEEDED for biz is INTEGRITY. There is not even a close second. Glad we're moving in a collectively positive direction. If we sensationalize the people with positive action, the media will catch the positive frenzy. And that my friends, is when people will be busting down OUR door. Can't wait.

ss3251 said:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007 #

Wow, when has scAMWAY cared about reputation?? Look what they are doing to their own reputation.  Suing bloggers?  C'mon scAMWAY already has a reputation lower than Tyco or Enron, now they are making sure they put the finishing nail in their coffin.

ibofightback said:
Wednesday, October 17, 2007 #

LM - it only causes a loss of credibility if you'd been claiming Quixtar had nothing to do with Amway in the first place.  

Bill Millios said:
Wednesday, October 17, 2007 #

Great post.  Your wife trained you well.  (laughs)

I'll be sure and share this with my team.

I second the motion about the people over at the Alticor blog.  The moderator needs to read "How to win friends and influence people."  Barnes and Noble is a partner store, they can get the book and get PV, too.

Keep up the good work.

Ronald Nottage said:
Thursday, October 18, 2007 #

Robin

Great post I totally agree with what you said. To some of the comments, Quixtar said they were not Amway it's a seperate business. So that is what people were told. I agree with you that your business is not for all of them (and sometimes they're right--your business is available to anyone, but isn't necessarily right for everyone). And It is not right for me!I am a Team member and see great potential in them that I do not see in Amway IMHO. That is why I want to leave, but you don't think I should be able to, and still make a living doing what I do! That is where the problem has arisen. Please stop the PR nightmare for you and us.

Sideways said:
Friday, October 19, 2007 #

Bridgett said:

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Ditto Bridgett > After 24 years in this business, I've never been embarrased by anything Amway, Rich or Jay have ever done, only some IBO's. Well, except for the changing the name to Quixtar and trying to change an image..

SW said:
Friday, October 19, 2007 #

If reputation is truely important, why doesn't Quixtar enforce the rules uniformly with all LOA's.  It seems some "chosen" LOA's are given a free pass as the legal staff looks the other way.  My wife & I were a part of TeamMMP until a little over a year ago and we were constantly told to use spin phrases such as "that was then, this is now" and "that was them, this is us".  All the while we were using the same Power Player techniques Jody and Garry Coles learned from Orrin Woodward.  We were also taught that we were "MMP" - NOT "Q" which was referred to as our "OCS - Order Consolidation Site".  Why is one group terminated and onther receives aaccredidation when they both do the same things behind the scenes?

Eric S said:
Sunday, October 21, 2007 #

Attended a function this weekend and heard about the origin of this business back to the door to door days. I'll admit I cringed when I realized that was our heritage but then heard the speaker explain that ALL the people that have gone befroe us are pioneers and if someone hadn't gone before us we wouldn't be here and my appreciation for their efforts magnified.

The name Amway does have issues but it also has a rich heritage that we can now utilize. It is transformation. It won't be easy but it will be right.

YankeeIBO said:
Sunday, October 21, 2007 #

Robin,

There is nothing like the present to show us how important integrity is as an issue that pervades our lives at all levels. When it comes to business, that is doubly so--since we have customers (both retail and downline) whose quality of life depends on us being honest and open, saying what we will do, and doing what we say. OUR quality of life depends on how well we do that.

It is our responsibility to represent ourselves and our businesses accurately--as well as all the products we sell. Therefore, it is also our responsibility to make sure that we are doing just that.

When we were kids, we used the old "I did it because HE/SHE told me to!", with varying degrees of success. In my case, I mostly got the "and if so-and-so told you to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you do that, too?" line! But I learned from that. I learned that just following anyone or anything blindly could have dire consequences, and I needed to evaluate the cost/benefit ratio for myself--as well as checking on the facts. No one else represents me but ME, and I have to live in the house that I build--I like bricks made from solid facts and glued together with true concern for other's happiness as a building material. Those who build straw houses because the building materials are plentiful and the build is fast--then blame others when they collapse--will never succeed in this or any other business until they accept responsibility for their own results. That is also integrity.

I had an English teacher, whose favorite phrase was, "Say what you mean, and mean what you say!". There was never a class when we didn't hear it--and it was a good lesson! It was an older version of "walking the talk".

I don't mean to sound preachy, but this is such a huge issue everywhere, and lack of integrity hurts so many people that I get carried away!

For those who know the story of Pinnochio--listen to Jiminy Crickett, or you could end up growing long ears and a tail!

Chuck Lia said:
Monday, October 22, 2007 #

Ronald Nottage,

We can't help you with your "PR" nightmare, only you can.  This isn't as much a public relations nightmare as it is a personal reputation nightmare.  Your "PR" nightmare is your own personal reputation and how it is being eroded by your unwillingness to keep the terms of the IBO contract you have with Quixtar.  If you had kept your word and followed the terms of the contract you signed you would have maintained your integrity and enhanced your personal reputation -- and your "PR nightmare" would have been over.  I'm amazed at the number of you who appeal to Quixtar to do what is right while you at the same time cannot see fit to do what you agreed to do when you signed your IBO contracts.  It's clear you don't value your own integrity and personal reputation as much as you think others should value theirs.  Even if you folks were 100% in the right about everything your leaders have said, it would not change the fact that you signed contracts and should demonstrate enough integrity to keep them.  Anything less is sheer hypocrisy on your part.  

DLSChicago said:
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 #

Chuck Lia,

Your integrity argument regarding the non-compete rings hollow to me.  Any company that changes a contract knowing that people are on auto-renew and does not make an effort to point out a change as significant as a 6 month non-compete is not demonstrating integrity.  

Anyone who chooses to challenge this clause has a valid reason to do so in my opinion.  This does not mean they do not have integrity.  Many rules and contracts get challenged every day in our society.  That is is what makes our country great.  Women would still not have the right to vote and slavery would still be in place if laws went unchallenged.

Chuck Lia said:
Wednesday, October 24, 2007 #

DLSChicago,

Any mature adult who does not read a contract that he is putting his reputation on the line for and his signature to is extremely foolish at best -- even if he is on auto-renew -- and needs to take responsibility for his lack of due diligence and maturity on a personal level.  When the no-compete clause was added I was on auto-renew.  I read the new contract and found the new clause immediately, and then had to decide if I was comfortable with it.  I had four months to decide what I wanted to do in light of it.  That was enough time for me to make a decision.  

The Bible talks about "swearing to our own hurt", meaning that if we have made a commitment or vow and later discover that keeping that vow will cause us great loss or pain, we must still keep our vow.  That is why the Bible reminds us not to take or make vows lightly.  

If an IBO has made a commitment by renewing, manually or by auto-renew, integrity would mandate that he keep that commitment, even if he failed to read the terms and conditions of the contract he was committing to.  I have two close friends who are Superior Court judges and they told me not reading a contract you committed to would never be a defensible position before them.  My dad used to call it taking responsibility for my personal behavior and mistakes in judgement.  What did your dad call it?

By the way, the fact that some people challenge clauses in contracts does not mean they have integrity either.  It may mean they don't.  Kind of like the current TEAM debacle.

The analogy about women voting and the slavery issue is a non-sequitor, has no bearing on this discussion, directly or indirectly, and wouldn't pass muster in a Logic 101 class.  We're not talking about changing laws, but upholding the terms of contracts.  Big difference.  

Michael, Texas said:
Thursday, October 25, 2007 #

Explain to me how a company can ask IBOs to a 6 month non-compete when Alticor parent company of Amway, bought the cosmetic company Laura Mercier, http://modernatelier.blogspot.com/2006/07/laura-mercier-brand-sold-to-alticor.html

...to compete directly against Quixtar/Amway IBO's, who are encouraged to push Artistry brand?

Whom are they looking out for, other then their own already money laden pockets? How can IBOs rally around a company who seems to be the Wizard behind the curtin. ..."Don't Look over there, it is not for you best interest!" mean while, they suggested, "you're an independent, ...go out and sell more stuff for us, but don't compete or complain, or compromise y-our integrity!"

So, if I where an IBO looking for a better way, and I bought into the notion to the Quixtar/Amway system, and I owned a store, where I sold: energy drinks, cereal, wellness care products, shampoos and soaps, and just about anything else that Quixtar/Amway has available, I couldn't sell any cause of the non-compete ruling, and I could not do it for 6 months? I thought IBO meant INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OWNERS, and Quixtar/Amway was a supplier, and IBOs were not employees?

There as been so much mud thrown, everyone is in a hole as reputations go, IBO, Quixtar, and AMWAY alike. It seems to me, as an IBO, if I am to learn how to build the business, tools and meetings are the same as franchise meetings, and are not for profit!

All the franchise meetings, I have gone to, were sponsored and paid for by the host company, and not by the franchisee! Mainly, because the franchise company was "ecstatic" to reward the franchisee for their loyal roll in the distribution chain and the revenue generated which they all shared.

That does not seem to be the way it works in this case. every one chips in money to support the training (i.e., CDs books tapes, and meetings) and a select few see a cash flow, of which they are able to participate in, from the already thinning wallets and pocketbooks of the wanting masses, who would love to have product priced at a more reasonable wholesale pricing structure, which is another issue all together.

The long a the short of all of this is..., there are many who want more out of life, there are those who talk a good talk, and there are those who just want what is fair. but money and the "love" of money, can and will, confuse the line integrity of the most well intentioned person.  All we want is a level playing field as we try our harder, to be better, to get better, to have better.

Troy F said:
Saturday, October 27, 2007 #

I liked reading your post. It sounds like you mean what you say.

I have been relatively quiet with the team/quixtar issue. I am a firm believer in letting time go by when hot heads are in the way.

But I have just read a blog and I am a little bit concerned and I could get really annoyed if what I read is true.

We were as IBOs or even former IBOs with the TEAM organization, supposedly, called "cattle" by the legal personnel in open court?

I've been called many things in my life, even a few I may have earned, but I never have been equated to bovine. I do not think that would even be considered "funny" under most polite situations.

If this is indeed the case, where we were described as..."cattle being rustled"... I am offended and am owned an apology.

The appropriate person would be the individual who made the analogy, but I would settle for someone from the company legal dept.

No need to contact me privately, an open apology in this blog will do fine, thank you.

Thank you for your time,

DLSChicago said:
Monday, October 29, 2007 #

Chuck Lia,

I stand by my position that anyone in this country has the right to challenge anything they feel is unjust. That's why we have a Supreme Court where your friends work for justice in these United States.  Challenging a rule, law or contract does not constitute a lack of integrity.  

Chuck Lia said:
Monday, October 29, 2007 #

DLSChicago,

I agree that anyone has a right to challenge a rule, law, or contract.  However, I also believe that challenging a contract when the stipulations of that contract being challenged could be understood by any ten year old demonstrates a clear lack of integrity.  The law says we are not to steal.  However, if someone stole something and tried to get free of their trouble by challenging the law against stealing I would still say they had a tremendous lack of integrity.  I am very aware though that thieves, drug dealers, and their ilk do just that everyday.  In the same way, avoiding the terms of the Quixtar IBO contract with a lot of tap dancing around the clear meaning of the words and the stipulations of the contract shows a similar lack of honesty to me.  You are free to disagree with me and I am fine with that as it is, as you say, your right.  But that doesn't mean you are, in fact, in the right on this matter.

DLSChicago said:
Monday, October 29, 2007 #

Chuck Lia,

The right to challenge is simply that, no exceptions.  I am merely defending everyone's right to challenge. Challenging an injustice does not show a lack of integrity in my opinion. It's what this country is built upon. Maybe it does to you, so I guess we can agree to disagree on that.

DLSChicago said:
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 #

Chuck Lia,

I disagree.  Whether you think a contract's stipulations can be understood by a 10 year or not does not determine whether a contract, law or rule can or should be challenged.  

I can think of several reasons why anyone might challenge their entire contract with Quixtar including the non-compete.  The name change to Amway alone is one.  

Challenging a contract, rule or law regardless of how simply it seems to be worded does not constitute a lack of integrity in the least.  If an injustice is perceived, the right to challenge is appropriate.  The court will determine if the challenge is valid.  

Bridgett said:
Wednesday, October 31, 2007 #

Perhaps this has nothing to do with a name change and has everything to do with the fact that the guy was/is making a ton of money selling his so-called leadership principles rather than selling products and the business opportunity available from the Quixtar.

Don't get sidetracked.

DLSChicago said:
Wednesday, October 31, 2007 #

Bridgett,

There are lots of big pins still in Quixtar that are making a ton of money on tools.  You have made many blazing criticisms of Quixtar for some of the same things Orrin and former IBOs had issue with.  Don't get sidetracked either.

Bridgett said:
Thursday, November 01, 2007 #

There is a way to make "blazing" criticisms without trying to destroy the reputation of a company and the reputation of hundreds of thousands of IBOs/ABOs across the world by suing the Corp claiming that their business is illegal.

.

A man of integrity would do something like this? A man who cares so deeply for people would do something like this?

.

It just doesn’t add up, does it?

.

“Contradictions do not exist. Whenever you are thinking you are facing a contradiction, check your premises. You will find that one of them is wrong.”—Ayn Rand, “Atlas Shrugged”

DLSChicago said:
Thursday, November 01, 2007 #

I apologize for getting snippy with you by using the word "blazing".  I've read most of your posts and find you are pretty sensible.  I felt you were open minded early on regarding the TEAM situation and then some of the bloggers hit below the belt.  That is being done on both sides.  Tex has some points but he is so insulting, I don't even read his posts at all anymore.  

Regarding this argument though, I feel that Quixtar read the lawsuit and had the opportunity in their hands to at least try to prevent it from getting filed but impulsively chose not to.  Quixtar ultimately made the decision to "do this" to all it's people including me.  Quixtar also made the decision to threaten it's own IBOs without just cause and now wonders why they are leaving in droves.  This is what adds up to me.  I don't know whats ahead for TEAM or me.  I may go my own way but one thing I know is that it won't be with Amway.  The integrity is just not there based on my personal experience.

BTW, I loved "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Fountainhead"- both interesting pieces of art.

Bridgett said:
Thursday, November 01, 2007 #

"impulsively"

.

??

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There was a six-year history that the Corp had with the organization trying to get them to be in compliance with how the Corp's business is to be built.

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Yes, it IS the Corp's business.

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Quixtar/Amway/Alticor OWN the Compensation Plan (formally known as the Sales & Marketing Plan).

.

And then that organization threatens with a lawsuit.

.

So are you saying that the Corp should have allowed itself to be blackmailed?

I am sorry. I do not agree. I would prefer NOT to do business with an organization that operate that way.

I have way less tolerance than the Corp does. Six years is a heck of a long time.

Thomas said:
Friday, November 23, 2007 #

Coming from someone who has worked with other 'large' corporations, Alticor measures up pretty well. Yes, I am an IBO who currently is not actively investing any time or money into developing my business, but I have in the past. I will have to say, the truths that I learned while I was active in the business have served me well. Success prinicles work no matter what you do. This is why I now enjoy my own online retail business (that has NOTHING to do with Quixtar/Amway/or Alticor by the way) and I am enjoying what I consider a successful life with my wife of eight years and five children. Maybe some day we will persuit the business again, but for now, we enjoy the value in the exclusive products that we can purchase though Quixtar. It's not all that bad. :)

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