Making it to Diamond marked a major milestone for the Merrises - their reward for years of tireless work by John and Cathy, and a bright future for their children: Julie, Natalie, Jessica, John, Nicole, and Joseph.
Yet, they once had such severe financial problems, that Cathy despaired of ever finding a way out.
"To earn extra money, I climbed out of bed at two o'clock every morning to deliver newspapers," she recalls.
"The seriousness of our situation really hit me when my car was repossessed."
Always a hard worker, John sold vacuum cleaners while in college.
After graduation, he stayed in Texas and continued as an independent distributor for the company, until, discouraged by the high turnover, he decided to try corporate life.
He relocated to North Carolina, and became a branch manager for a large computer company.
"There, I had a good income," he says, "but I didn't feel fulfilled. I said to myself, 'Go to work, come home, go to work, come home... is this all there is to life?'"
In 1983, John moved his growing family back to Texas, and accepted a position as regional manager for a smaller computer company. A few months later, the company folded.
While in North Carolina, John and Cathy had started their business, but they hadn't paid much attention to it. Now, with John out of work, they made a total commitment.
With help from his upline, John learned to train and nurture the people he registered - watering, fertilising, and cultivating the seeds he planted in their hearts, often through a long incubation period.
Five years later, the Merrises reaped the harvest. In one year, they earned both Emerald and Diamond qualification!
Now, John and Cathy are enjoying the lifestyle they always wanted. "Being a decent wife and mother is the number one priority for me," Cathy adds. As Cathy explains,
"I like travelling with John and seeing my children participate in dance performances, piano recitals; soccer games; swim meets; and other activities."
She has served as PTA president and is an enthusiastic supporter of local candidates and ballot initiatives.
When John thinks back on their accomplishments, he believes that they owe a great deal to their willingness to defer gratification.
"We put our attention on our dream and put off some of the activities we enjoyed doing," he explains. "For example, I enjoy golfing but put it off while I was building the business.
Now that I have more money and time than ever before, I golf on courses all over the world.
In addition to being well-known figures in the direct selling sector, Merris, John, and Cathy Amway are often regarded as being among the most successful and influential businesspeople in the world. They have played a vital role in the development of the direct sales sector and have had a big influence on the lives of millions of individuals all over the world.
The Amway family—Merris, John, and Cathy—began what would become Amway Corporation, now one of the most successful direct sales organizations in the world. Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos, along with Merris, John, and Cathy Amway, were instrumental in the establishment of the business in 1959 in the city of Ada, in the state of Michigan. The company's initial focus was on providing cleaning products for the home; however, during the course of its existence, it has branched out into other product categories, such as those dealing with nutrition, beauty, and personal care.
Not only did Merris, John, and Cathy Amway play a role in the establishment of the company, but they also spent a significant amount of time actively participating in the day-to-day operations of the business over a period of many years. Cathy was in charge of the company's product development and marketing, while John and Merris were in charge of the company's manufacturing and logistical operations.
Amway grew to become a multibillion-dollar corporation under their direction, and it now has operations in more than one hundred countries across the globe. Amway is a well-known brand name in today's society thanks to the millions of independent business owners (IBOs) that sell the company's products to customers all over the world.
One of the reasons for Merris, John, and Cathy Amway's success was that they placed a strong emphasis on developing strong relationships with their Independent Business Owners (IBOs). They were of the opinion that the success of the IBOs was directly proportional to the success of the company, and as a result, they exerted a lot of effort to encourage and motivate the IBOs. They established a culture of cooperation and teamwork, which contributed to the development of a staff that was loyal and committed.
In addition to their business success, Merris, John, and Cathy Amway were well-known for the charitable work they did. They were strong backers of a variety of different charity projects, and in 2003 they launched the Amway One by One Campaign for Children. The campaign offers assistance to children in need all around the world and has contributed to the enhancement of the lives of millions of children in over one hundred different countries.
In addition to the work that Merris, John, and Cathy Amway did for charitable organizations, the Amway family was also politically engaged. They were noted for their generous contributions to numerous Republican politicians and causes, in addition to being steadfast supporters of the Republican Party.
Merris, John, and Cathy Amway have maintained their modesty and groundedness in spite of their prosperity. They never wavered from their core beliefs, which included putting in lots of effort, being honest, and having integrity. They taught their employees and independent business owners (IBOs) to uphold these principles since, in their minds, success required them to do so.
To summarize, Merris, John, and Cathy Amway are revered names in the field of direct selling and have made an enduring impression on the business world.
They have become role models for businesses all across the world thanks to their leadership, vision, and unwavering dedication to their core beliefs.
Their accomplishments will live on as a source of motivation for aspiring businesspeople for many years to come thanks to their legacy.
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