The criticism of Dallin Larsen’s announcement by the IBOAI is contrary to the wisdom and principles of Rich Devos, Jay VanAndel and Joe Victor. Rich and Jay founded Amway after leaving Nutrilite with their group and selling competing products while still promoting Nutrilite. Yes, this actually happened in 1959 when companies believed in service to keep customers not non-compete clauses. Joe Victor built the largest networking community that supported the Amway business and served the people faithfully. They were able to build their businesses without the non-compete rules, data management rules, arbitration provisions, etc. They knew that true success came from serving the customers and they did this successfully - without the need or desire for a non-compete clause. The IBOAI needs to learn from General Douglas Macarthur’s statement, “Your security is in your ability to perform.” All great companies and business people know and follow this concept, including the original founders of the Corporation and Board.
Bob McEwen, a fabulous speaker who has spoken at nearly every LOA associated with Amway/Quixtar is a strong free enterprise advocate. In many of his talks he jokes about the communist/socialist systems. Bob teaches that the rhetoric of the communist is that their system is superior to the free enterprise way. Everyone is guaranteed a job and security. Bob will then crack a smile and ask, “How many walls have they built to keep people in the
I am still shaking my head that an advocacy group for the IBO’s would promote a system of top down control and promote guaranteed security by building walls to keep people in. I have attached the article and will make a few comments after each paragraph. It is this type of thinking that led the free enterprise portion of the board to make a stand. I will never condone a system where customers freely go into a store and then the doors are locked to keep them in the store. Can you imagine shopping at Wal-mart and then being told you must always shop at Wal-mart because they worked so hard to get you into the store in the first place? This thinking is absurd in my opinion! I encourage you to think for yourself. Who is the Board truly representing? Enjoy the article. God Bless, Orrin Woodward
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - (Business Wire) The Board of Directors of the Independent Business Owners Association International (iboai.com), the primary advocacy organization representing hundreds of thousands of independent business owners (IBOs) powered by Quixtar/Amway Global (quixtar.com), today issued this statement in response to an initiative announced by MonaVie, a direct selling organization that competes with Quixtar/Amway Global.
“The so-called ‘Global Free Agent Initiative’ announced by MonaVie on April 2 is, we believe, nothing more than a publicity stunt, as they cannot actually expect to overturn scores of Court rulings that support the concept of short-term non-compete agreements for independent contractors. Independent contractors in direct-selling organizations such as Quixtar/Amway Global possess unique knowledge and networks that they have built with the extensive support of their parent organization. The parent organization, and other independent contractors who do not wish to change their affiliation, deserve a degree of protection when any individual wishes to resign or is terminated from his business.
The ‘Global Free Agent Initiative’ announced by MonaVie sounds to me like a clarion call for free enterprise. I cannot imagine the Major League Baseball Players Union fighting for a salary cap and against free agency. Look at the history here! Baseball player were grossly underpaid until the reserve clause that forced players to stay with the same team was eliminated. Once the reserve clause was removed the salaries of all the players increased greatly. Who is doing the work to build the communities in Network Marketing? If it is the field, then reward the field or allow them to go! Isn’t the IBOAI position more in tune with communism than Rich Devos’s talk Selling America. I believe the apple has fallen a long way from the tree! Freedom is the ability to have choices and free enterprise is the ability to freely choose who and when to do business. If a company cannot satisfy the distributors, then they should be allowed to go where they will be satisfied. The advocacy group should read Adam Smith and learn that Amway/Quixtar would quickly increase their bonus plan and reduce their prices if forced to compete. Joseph Schumpeter called the process of free enterprise – Creative Destruction. Creative Destruction meant that the non-competitive enterprises, ideas and process would lose to the newer better companies, ideas and processes. Building walls around struggling companies will not improve the company anymore than quotas on imports will improve struggling companies in the
“There is also no coincidence in the timing of MonaVie’s announcement, coming on the heels of their being joined, with great fanfare, by terminated Quixtar/Amway Global distributor Orrin Woodward. Woodward, along with certain associates, is already the focus of a lawsuit alleging that he has encouraged thousands of independent contractors to violate their non-compete agreements in order to join with him at MonaVie and in his other business enterprises. MonaVie is also the target of a similar complaint. Starting with the day of his termination, Woodward has orchestrated an Internet-centered propaganda campaign which has hurt those to whom he was previously loyal, including thousands of Quixtar/Amway Global independent business owners.
I appreciate the IBOAI taking the time to do a press release promoting my new MonaVie business venture. When over 50 former diamonds pack it in and climb over the proverbial prison walls to obtain free enterprise away from Amway/Quixtar - it has to make the discerning individual go ‘hmmm’. The Alticor family of companies has taken the last eight months to attack me personally vs. fix their antiquated business model. Now the IBOAI has taken up the banner for the company! I guess they believe in the thinking, “Tell enough lies long enough, something will stick.” The Amway/Quixtar Corporation has sent threatening letters to tens of thousands of IBO’s. The IBO’s were taught free enterprise principles for years and that they owned their own business. One of the basic rules of business is to not offend your customer. Amway did offend their customers by sending threatening letters and reaped the consequences of this foolish action. Instead of accepting responsibility and realizing they have much to learn about leadership, they are improperly attempting to make me a scapegoat. I am not sure how many sites were spawned by Quixtar’s threats and intimidations, but I can assure you that they do not need my permission to blog on the internet. There are thousands of qualified and competent writers and thinkers that were threatened and Quixtar should be thankful it wasn’t much worse. It sounds to me that many people who were damaged by Amway/Quixtar’s actions practiced forgiveness. The more I see the actions of the legal team the more I think of how the communist countries attacked the dissidents who ‘insanely’ believed in free enterprise and freedom. The Board statement even uses the words “targets” to label MonaVie and me. I would encourage the IBOAI and Quixtar to target your remaining customers and participate in free enterprise - not the repressive practices and name calling.
“It is no coincidence, we believe, that MonaVie is not a member of DSA, the Direct Selling Association (dsa.org), and will likely never be while they take this stance in favor of improper and damaging behavior. We are sure that the DSA itself and Quixtar/Amway Global, the company to whom our independent business owners are contracted, will make their own statements on this matter, but we felt it was critical for us to speak up quickly, and forcefully, so that our marketplace understands what is really happening. We are not going to let MonaVie, or Mr. Woodward, pull the wool over anyone’s eyes.”
MonaVie does not need titles and positions to feel secure. People who are willing to serve are not impressed with titles, but are more concerned with testimonies. I find it interesting that a company that has blocked my free speech rights for nearly 8 months, sued the former board members who called them out, locked up all of our documents with outrageous confidentiality claims, and disparaged the Team and me non-stop - would now say that MonaVie and I are pulling the wool over anyone’s eyes. Only someone who is hiding the facts and punishing those who have stood up for truth could be accused of pulling the wool over people’s eyes. The spinning never stops. IBOAI, please go back and read you’re the founders initial principles and learn the lesson of, “It is more blessed to give than receive.” Instead of building walls, start building bridges and serve your communities. In free enterprise, it is not your last name that counts, but the commitment to serve the needs of the customers. If people are treated with dignity and respect, they will be loyal to that company. The MLM industry is big enough for some competition and competition is what makes free enterprise the best system in the world. Dallin Larsen has a right to say what he believes in. He is a true leader and I am proud to be on his MonaVie team.
