FiredUp Letters - Section 3: Values & Lifestyle
The following are letters which were received and published by Shad Helmstetter's The Helmstetter Report.
The greatest decision my wife and I ever made was to become Amway distributors. When we saw this opportunity we were at the end of our ropes. Our marriage was very rocky, financially we didn't think we could make it more than a couple of months, and we had no hope of anything or anyone being able to help us.
We have been in the business for two years now and we are like a totally different family now. The positive atmosphere and books and tapes have changed our whole perspective on life. My wife and I have the greatest marriage and it gets better everyday. I am so blessed to have her.
Financially we are 100% better off. My wife has already quit her job of 12 years with the state and we have zeroed in on a date for my retirement in just 10 short months. My children are like different kids after a year of having mom at home instead of going to daycare for 9 hours a day.
If we never made another dime in the business it has been worth the effort just because of the people we have become after two years of being in such a positive environment.
Thank you Amway for changing my life.
As I work in my traditional business, I come across a lot of people who are so negative, and have been beaten down. The Amway business is so totally opposite, that, if we let the support team work with us, I find that the attitudes I pick up in it carry over into my personal and business life.
We've seen the difference it has made in the attitude of our youngest son (our two older girls didn't get quite as much good influence early on, but do now, even though they're in college and trying to make it on their own). Our son even reminds us sometimes when we get discouraged.
—T.L. and C.L., Lander, WY
With a teaching degree from EKU, all of my adult working life has been spent in insurance, real estate, finance, and retail marketing.
Until, one day, a stranger dropped off an ad pack with a blue dot tape. I listened to the tape several times, then called him back. That call was the most important call out of thousands of calls I had made in the past.
My life has been slowly transformed from a workaholic to a husband, father, and leader that is one hundred percent happier than I have ever been in my 47 years on this earth.
My life now has worth and meaning that nothing can ever take away.
—D. M.
The first time I went to attend an Amway meeting, I couldn't fully understand the business concepts, though it made sense to me. But, even then, I couldn't fail to notice the positive environment and positive people. I couldn't find a long face among a hundred people.
That led me to investigate the reason for the upbeat attitude and positive influence of the people involved. I found that the Business operated on honesty and trust among the people. I found people who trusted each other, and more important, had faith in themselves. People stood for values.
I have seen more and more professionals entering the business, software consultants, doctors, private business owners . . . people with faith, courage, and determination to succeed.
I personally thank God for plugging me into a positive environment, where no one is telling me, "You can not do this," or "You can not do that." Instead, what I am told is that if one man can succeed, then you can succeed too.
—D. N., Los Angeles, CA
I first saw the Amway business when I was a N.Y.P.D. Detective. At that time I was assigned to the Narcotics Division. I worked in many of the Ghetto area's of New York for almost 12 yrs. A good friend was involved in the Amway business and offered to take me to a meeting, but I declined for 5 months. I finally agreed to come to the meeting which has changed my whole life.
The first night I attended the meeting I went there as a Detective looking for what was wrong but I couldn't find anything. When they started to show the potential of the marketing plan and the facts I almost came off the chair. But the thing that sold me the most was when my friend invited me to a business seminar. This was the key for me because for the first time I found good people.
You see, I worked in a very negative world and I was becoming convinced that there weren't any good people in the world. I wasn't a fast pacer in the business, but eventually I got started and built the business so it would supplement my pension, and I was able to retire from the Police Department. This was also another important part of the Amway business. My father was now 87 years old and I never really knew him.
Well, thanks to the Amway business, I was able to spend the last two years of his life with him, laughing, fishing, and finding out about events of his life and my family. You could never put a price on that time which you can never buy back at any price. These are only a few of the reasons why I believe the Amway business is the greatest business of all time. I will always be thankful for Rich and Jay for giving me my life back.
—M. G.
We have been Amway Distributors for almost 11 years. Not one time have we ever been displeased with the company and can honestly say that year after year things continue to get better and better.
The opportunity to create more options in your life is there. The opportunity to surround yourself with quality people is there. Knowing that the business knows no prejudice, only work and results, gives everyone an equal opportunity to succeed. The fact that Amway is successful around the world should be of no surprise to anyone. They do the right things for their distributors.
We went Diamond a few years ago. Life continues to be wonderful. Amway works for those that are willing to work . Dreams can and do come true.
—J. & J. M.
Thank you for the great web site! I am 33 years old and my wife and I have been building our Amway business for a few years now. We have had some financial success, having acheived the Direct level after our first year and a half.
As a manager for a large insurance group, I was dissatisfied with corporate life, knowing that my future was being determined by management decisions that had nothing to do with my performance.
I took the time to get the facts, knowing that what my grandparents had done 20 years in the past did not equate with the program I had been exposed to. We made the decision to get started and that decision was one of the most important decisions of our lives.
We have made fantastic friends, travelled to places we never would have went to, and made some money. But most importantly, our daughters are exposed to a positive environment where we set goals and talk about our dreams. How many families actually do that today?
—G.O.
There is so much negativity in the world today. Since I have been involved in this business I have never seen so much encouragment. It's wonderful. Everyone is uplifting, confident, caring, and loving. It's so great to be associated with such a fantastic group. I am proud and excited to be involved in this business and with these people.
—V. L.
Our family has been involved in the Amway business for about six months. I have always been one that has looked at all opportunities to do some type of business on my own. I attempted to do that once before and the problem of cash flow was too much to handle. I didn't let that "failure" stop my dream of being my own boss.
As I kept working the J.O.B. and looking for opportunities our lives changed forever with the premature birth of our son. It has been a struggle, but he is worth all the effort. We didn't really see a financial escape because he may be dependent on us for the rest of his life, until we saw the Amway plan.
At first I didn't realize the enormous potential to this opportunity. We looked at this as a way to make an extra $200-300/mo., to help ease the financial strain of losing my wife"s income. (She stays home with our son to help him with his therapies). Now we honestly see this as a way to allow me to come home in 3-5 years and help with my son's development, too.
I know that there are skeptics saying to themselves, "That poor couple, putting their beliefs in this!" But I wonder if those same skeptics are going to set up a trust fund to aid my son later in life if he needs it?
—C.T.
When we first received information about Amway, my husband saw the concept immediately. I didn't. Then I analyzed the pros and cons of becoming a distributor. I couldn't find any solid reason for not giving it a try based on the following factors: the track record and commitment of the corporation, the ethical base upon how the business was and continues to be built, the quantity and quality of the products, the fantastic educational program to provide us with training, and finally, the extremely low-risk cost: under $200 to start with!
We have worked together on this endeavor and it has enhanced every aspect of our lives. We plan goals, reach them, and reset them higher. We work hard at this business about 5-10 hours per week. We have turned off the TV and turned on to reading, listening to motivational, wholesome family cassette tapes, and having wonderful family discussions with our 4 young children about goals, dreams, and how a good work ethic will get one far in life.
We are still relatively young in our business; however, we already see the future laid out for us. We will be successful in this Amway business...we see the wonderful opportunity it is, the facts reported by financial experts about Amway's explosive growth rate, and the ultimate reality of living debt-free. Free Enterprise is alive and well in the U.S. and all over the world, thanks to AMWAY!
Sincerely, — D & M, Yaklin Riviera, Texas
I'm writing this to you because I think that it is time for others to know the real story of Amway.
I have always been a team oriented person, from playing sports all through school to serving our country in the United States Marine Corps. After leaving the Corps due to a severe injury, I entered the world of corporate America and dreams of security and happiness.
In the early 80's the company that I was employed with was a close family knit company. In the late 80's we had our first of many layoffs. Real quickly the dreams became nightmares, never knowing when I was next. In the mid 80's I married a lovely woman, and we have 2 great boys. With the constant fear of layoffs, I began more studies in College (for a better JOB) and started looking for other opportunities. Between 1990 and 1998, I had been approached about the Amway business 5 different times. In every case, I was not ready to sell and go door to door. So needless to say this was not for me. I would not allow anybody to tell me anything different, I knew everything about Amway(at least I thought so).
Late 1997 to Jan of 1997, my spouse and I were going through some a terrible time. Our marriage was not very strong and not really sure how long it would last. In February of 1998, we had a new family move in next door. We became good friends. I had noticed that they were always very happy and seemed like they had the world in their hands. My wife and I wanted to know what they did, and this is when we found out they were in the Amway business. At this point in time we were ready to listen to almost anything. Well, we decided to do get into the business and try it.
Now, my marriage is stronger then ever. Both of my sons are excited about our possibilities. We are able to help others with meeting their dreams and filling their goals. My present job is becoming a memory with no worries. It won't be long before I've duplicated my salary and I can say bye to corporate America and hello to Freedom! Yes it works! Yes it takes work and Yes it is a possible dream. Like my diamond upline says "If you are not showing then you are not growing". I'm helping others.
Thanks and God bless!!! —J & K, Charlotte, NC
