No Hard Feelings

I don't hate Quixtar. I don't even dislike them. And I still shop on their website and sell their products. This post isn't about me.

I got a call recently from my upline, who works closely with Joe. No, I'm not going to name names and I'm not going to say how close - you're just going to have to trust me. And when have I ever lied on this blog? I don't lie. Not on this blog and not off of it. Lying is bad for business, any business. He works right up alongside Joe. He's been a keynote speaker an MC and made several speaches in several conventions. He is well known by all in AllianceNet and a good friend to Joe. And that's all I'm going to say about him personally.

He gave me a call the other day, asked how I was doing and what I was doing. He knows what I'm doing but it's only polite to start a conversation with small talk. I jumped straight to the point and brought up that I knew he and Joe and the others had been given the boot by Quixtar. Here's what he said:

Quixtar sent them a twelve-day notice. The next day, they terminated their business. No conversations. No other warnings. Just 24 hours and zip they were gone.

When I expressed how upset I was he calmed me down and said, "It's all right. Look, none of us are mad at Quixtar. Quixtar is like a big guerilla. And do you know what you do with a big guerilla?"

I said, "No."

He said, "You get out of the way."

He made me smile then and we talked a little more and here's the deal... A lot of people who don't know Joe Land and don't know AllianceNet and hate them on the sole basis that they are (or were, rather) part of Quixtar, have said a lot of things about them and this situation. And one of the things that has risen is the idea that somebody's going to suit. Well shut up. That's not what's going to happen.

Quixtar gave them the axe and by contract that's all they can do. And given the fact that many of us live in Right-To-Work states, it's questionable that they can't even do that. But guess what, nobody cares. Joe doesn't care. AllianceNet doesn't care. With integrity, they nodded and bowed out of the room.

AllianceNet wishes Quixtar well without any ill feelings. Even my upline warned me to watch what I say just so I can continue being an IBO in Quixtar. He's watching my back because he doesn't want me to fail at a business he still sees as ligitimate. There aren't any hard feelings at all. Disappointment - yes. But I think there's a fine line drawn between that and Distaste.

Everybody sigh, shake your head and move on. There's nothing to see here!

Oh, I beat Max Payne 2 a while back. Guess I should have said something. When my new memory chip comes in, I'm gonna pop in Mafia. So many old games I need to actually play! Grrrr

Fight The Man

Sorry for the neglect. My world has been encompassed by the likes of Christmas, new computers, hopscotch between Dawn of War and Max Payne 2 (yes I know, I'm behind) and several auditions because that's what I do when I'm not working my J.O.B. (Just what the heck does that mean anyway?) or Quixtar. Yes I have a life outside of this blog and the businesses that go with it. Be amazed. Be very amazed. And let's not forget my show and my ever-contuing quest to find a woman. So many things, so little time.

So Quixtar, yeah I'm not too happy with them at the moment. And I'm not eager to jump on their defense, either, as many of you may have expected me to. Yes, I do believe there is a possibility that this whole Oasis fiasco is nothing more than the legal department having an excuse to collect a paycheck from a company that could otherwise care less. But that doesn't mean that I think Quixtar is completely in the clear.

Don't get me wrong. I love the company and I love their products. I always have and that's what this blog is really about. But right now, there's no telling if I'll be an IBO tomorrow or not. Joe made a gamble, expanding his business, diversifying his income as Kyosaki would put it. And now he's reaping a harvest of punishments and rewards for it. I just pray and hope for the best with him in what he does.

I don't like how Quixtar figures their stuff. I don't like how they mismatch terms and definitions. When I see "Independent Business Owner" I see a person who owns their own business, Independent of other people's iron hammer. Quixtar apparently doesn't see it that way. They see it as another way of saying "employee." So I guess I'm gonna have to treat this like the IRS and until they fix their faulty system, I'm going to try and find ways around it. And if they give me the boot, then so be it. But one thing is certain, I will always be my own IBO. And this blog will stick around until I get bored with it.

I don't like their use of the word "Competition" either. Their initial rule was fine and expected. After all, nobody wants their business associates screwing them over. However, they then went on to add a clause to that rule, an added rule: 6.5.1. For purposes of this Rule 6.5., "Compete" means to own, manage, operate, consult for, be employed by, or participate as an independent distributor in (a) any other direct sales program using a multilevel or "network" marketing structure...

So in other words they're saying "By compete, what we really mean is don't go out and try to start another business." Kyosaki would be proud. What a bunch of arrogant S.O.B.s and the sad part is that I don't think they saw it that way. I think they were trying to protect themselves from businesses like Passport, which sell pretty much everything or some variant of what Quixtar sells. The problem is that while Oasis is network marketing, Quixtar hasn't really developed any type of cell reproducing formula for ageing inside-out. There is no tangible competition between the two because while I might by Oasis' Ageless Xtra formula, I'm still going to need my toothpaste and laundry detergent. I think it's time for a new rule. Either that, or get rid of the archaic ones lingering within the vast halls of that prison we call "rules of conduct." Have any of you IBOs seen it lately? If printed, it'd be a freaking tome. I have to ask what kind of Business we're supposed to be running because at the moment, it's everything but independent.

So yeah, I'm not too happy with Quixtar. I'm not happy at all. Does that mean I want the founders burned at the stake? That we should all gather and take them to court or begin our conquest of the outter neighborhoods warning innocent vulnerables about the dangers lurking in the MLM cult of Satan? Well, I mean, if you want to then be my guest, but I'm certainly not in the mood for that.

I'm still stuck on the third chapter of Max Payne 2's third act.

Cut the Costco

Saying that Alliance Net is only about Quixtar is like saying Campaign Creations is only about StarCraft.

And saying that Quixtar and Oasis are competitors is like saying Costco and Taco Bell are competitors. They're not. Just because both happen to sell tacos in some shape or fashion doesn't mean they're mortal enemies or that they even give a damn about eachother.

Now, look, I don't know what Joe Land's "ultimate intentions" are. I would like to think they include something along the lines of making money. I'll back him up all the way, though, because I believe in his ethic and I believe he is trying to do right. If he thinks that Oasis is the way to go, then I'll give it a shot. Why not? It's not like I'm leaving Quixtar.

I still sell the products, I still use the products. Oasis' herbal shot doesn't make SA8 any less better than Tide. Speaking of, I need to make an order, 'cause we're out. But that's besides the point.

You know what I was doing while taking a break from passing out gift bags full of Ageless Extra? Selling gift baskets of Artistry. Yes, it is possible.

If Joe decides to ditch Quixtar, I'll probably sign on to somebody else's group, if that's the way it works. But I'm not going to join this hysterical bandwagon that the world is ending because Joe Land expanded his horizons. People do it all the time.

Some better than others.