Posted by Mike Akins on June 30, 2000 at 19:49:35:
In Reply to: mlm.com post posted by Mary Evans on June 30, 2000 at 19:43:10:
Hi Mary,
You must have been on my mlm.com right have I posted my response. I just stopped by this site before I put my computer to bed. Here is the post.
Mike
I was notified by one of my distributors that I was a subject of commends on mlm.com. I would like to share my perspective. First, I will compliment Mr. Umphred; he seems to have experience and insight into this industry. Actually, his advice is “good” advice. I believe each individual should approach information shared by someone who is marketing a program with the caution that is encouraged by Charles.
I would caution you to be objective in analyzing the information. There are individuals in our industry that has successful experience and “earned” insight into the dynamics that influence your success. If a leader is and has been successful, generally, they will be involved in an opportunity of some type. Just because they are involved in an opportunity doesn’t mean the information shared by that individual is incorrect.
The website that was given to read my synopsis from, is a marketing website. Of course you should keep in mind that the website is there to attract and to market a program to visitors. That fact does not in anyway subtract from the contents of the information available on the site.
Although I am very convinced of what I believe, I have been in the industry long enough to realize that I may be wrong on some points. You the reader have to be the judge for your own lives. So many people can seem so logical it becomes difficult to discern the truth. Logic is not always truth. Logic is the arrangement of ideas in such a fashion that is makes sense. Logic is dependent on the information included in the equation that logic considers. There can be other information not included in the equation that can change the validity of the conclusion.
I don’t feel attacked in this discourse. I feel that Mr. Umphred was approaching this topic from a generic perspective, giving general advice on how to consider such information. I would like to address certain points in his discourse and how they do and do not relate specifically to me.
Charles uses MLMTruth as an example of information shared through a presumably neutral channel which in reality is very biased and used as a sponsoring tool. I have to mediums through which I share information. I have a website that is obviously used to market, what I believe is the best opportunity in our industry. The other is an e-zine that I use to share general information that I believe will help marketers and improve our industry. I am interested in this industry as a whole. We can do a great job of marketing and lose everything we have worked for because other individuals who are less learned as cautious, destroy the industry, either by bringing legal authorities down on the industry or by ruining the image of the network marketing.
Charles refers to my “advice” a basically a “spin” to get you to “believe” that I have research systems that will save you in your question for the proper mlm program. Again, I don’t take this as he is personally saying anything directly about me, but is speaking in general about a technique used by many “hitters.” Since the reader may read this as addressing me in particular, I would like to respond to this.
I am one of the few individuals in the industry would has actually financed a real study of the industry. I am a partner in two convention consulting businesses, Research & Marketing Consultants and ABM Investments. I financed these companies to study the industry for me in order to assist me in making a very important decision. I have developed a few organizations in existing companies over the three decades that I have been involved in this industry. These programs are outdated and not viable opportunities to bring a large number of individuals into. These existing organizations are full of primarily product users. Five years ago I came out of retirement to build my last program. I have 32 employees who serviced and still do service my downlines. The names and pictures of these individuals are on my website.
Coming out of a seven-year sabbatical, I wanted to up on the paradigm shifts taking place in this industry. The study researched information covering a 40-year history of MLM. Marketing trends, marketing strategies, product philosophies, attrition rates, purchasing trends, growth patterns and number of other factors where studies. 300 current programs were examined. I selected six programs to test market on a limited basis. This is unprecedented in this industry. I could only do this because I have 32 employees.
A number of people think this is hype or a spin. I don’t blame them. They think this because it has never been done. I still have distributors who are in the test marketed programs. My staff still supports them. I do not personally build in these programs because I build in the one I believed to be the best for my distributors and me.
A number of individuals have tried to create the image of being an expert and become self-appointed authorities. As far as you know I may be one these individuals. You can be the judge for yourselves. You should be. No one should be the judge for you. That is the beauty of life, you get the enjoyment and fulfillment of pioneering your own journey through this life. I just one person you can listen to and see if my information makes sense.
Keep in mind there are people who know a little more about some things than the next person because of their experience or insight. I believe I am one of these types of individuals. I do have 32 years of experience and the most of these years were successfully experienced. I do have distributors who have been in their original programs with me for 27-28 years. That is very unique in the industry. I have pictures of a few of them on my website. It is not likely that I would put untruthful information with actual pictures of individuals up for the whole world to see.
I have developed an organization in my final venture of more than 22,000 members in 18-19 months. That is unusual for a legitimate business (common in fly by night businesses). I have been appointed to the Advisory board to the company I represent. I am the number one distributor in that company. Does all of this mean that I am “right?” No! But it does indicate that you might check what I say out and consider it.
There are so many people in our industry bragging about things that they “spin.” They’re so many experts who, in reality do not really understand the dynamics of this industry (my opinion). All of us should take Charles advice and beware of the self appointed experts, but I suggest to listen and scrutinize the information closely. There may be some nuggets of truth that could open your eyes to another dimension of understanding. Am I in the only great opportunity in this industry? Of course not. What kind of industry would it be to have only one great program? Do I think it is the best? Yes, of course. What kind of leader who I be if I selected less than what I thought was the best. Does that mean it is the best? Only God knows. I do take it very seriously my responsibility to the individuals who trust me to make a good decision on what opportunity to work. MLM opens your heart up to hope, like you have never hoped and dreamed before. To crush that hope and destroy those dreams is a crime. “hypers” who are selfish and do not consider who are following them into these programs injure people.
I received calls every week by the “super hitters” who want me to join them in the Destiny’s, the KM.com’s, the Skybis’s, the BigSmart’s, the binaries, matrixes, the straight line downlines and the next “wave” that hits the industry. They tell me that with my reputation and resources I could be earning an extra million this year. I refuse to be a part of programs that in all good consciences, I do not think will be best for the “grassroots” distributors. They tell me “Mike so it will not be around in a few years”, invest your money and take advantage of the moment. My answer has always been no, and always will be no, no, no.
Good luck in your search. It can be a wonderful industry. I have been able to work with my loved ones for the past couple decades. I have been able to finance a special school for the disadvantaged children, support street ministries for the homeless, nutrition therapies for the terminally ill, special ministries for the children lost on our streets, etc. I could not have done this outside network marketing. I began life in deep poverty and very backward. Only network marketing allowed me to express all that I could be. Thanks for listening.
Highest regards,
Mike Akins
PS To the other gentleman’s question, yes I still receive residual income from my ForMor business along with six other businesses I have developed during the past three decades (I am 53 years old not as old as I sound). Although, it is not my focus, ForMor is the highest paying program in the industry (actual pay out according to financial statement, not a theoretical bonus schedule). My focus is on 4Life.