Want to start the New Year off right by finding a new job and becoming your own boss? Look no further. Some people may set this as a goal for themselves as part of their New Year's resolutions. Avoid getting engaged in a pyramid scheme such as Amway or any multi-level marketing scheme where less than one percent of the victims make money. And the only way they can make money is by taking advantage of others and defrauding their downline of their money. There are a variety of different professions to explore, many of which have lower overhead costs than Amway. When participating in the Amway fraud, it costs an average of $700/month to purchase Amway products in order to attain minimum PV, purchase monthly CDs and books, attend functions, and pay for travel expenses.
On Yahoo, I came across an article titled "8 jobs to get out of the rat race."
Many of the occupations on this list may be completed from the comfort of your own home, and because the vast majority of people already own computers and automobiles, getting started is rather inexpensive. In any case, it would be comparable to the cost of spending a year in the Amway hell hole, hurling money at the great Amway gods that sit atop the pyramid. I'll provide a quick comparison between the two. After a year, the majority of Amway distributors abandon their businesses with nothing more than debt, a deflated bank account, discontent, and mental scars as a result of their efforts. When you make an investment in yourself through a legal business opportunity, you can find satisfaction, a new profession, and even financial freedom.
So, here are the eight occupations that would allow you to get out of the rat race that I discovered on Yahoo. Some of these jobs are performed by people I know. Following is a list of them in the same order as they appear in the Yahoo article:
1. Yoga instructor - I've taken a lot of yoga sessions and know a number of yoga instructors. Among my acquaintances is an instructor who hires a hall to host classes several times a week and who also travels to clients who prefer not to be in a classroom setting. Some people choose to practise yoga in their own backyard, at the beach, or in another natural setting in order to reconnect with nature. Yoga videos are sold by the individual featured in the Yahoo article. I'm not sure what kind of training is necessary to be a yoga instructor. Most of the yoga instructors I know have been students of yoga for a long time and have simply transitioned into teaching as a means of staying in shape. Perhaps yoga studios and gyms need their instructors to have some form of accreditation, which can cost several hundred dollars, but teaching yoga independently may not require anything more than years of study and the willingness to share what you have learned. Drop-in yoga lessons are approximately $10 per session. It just so happens to be the same price as paying to attend an Amway conference. The advantage is that yoga classes are only an hour long, as opposed to Amway meetings that might continue for hours. Yoga lessons are very quiet, with gentle background music playing in the background and only the instructor speaking quietly to guide the students through the positions. In contrast to Amway meetings, when attendees are yelling "Yeah!" "Freedom!" "Hallelujah!" and other such phrases,
2. Massage therapist - There's nothing quite like a good massage, and I'm acquainted with a number of them. Some are in the business of providing mobile massage services, and they will come to your home with a folding massage table. Others operate from health spas. Another has a home-based company, so people come to her house to receive various types of massages.. They all charge about the same amount per hour, which is approximately $100/hour if tax and tip are taken into consideration, making it a reasonable wage. They've all gone through training to become massage therapists, where they've learned about different types of massages and how to deal with injuries. Training courses to become a masseuse can cost anywhere from $5000 to $10,000. In other words, for about the same amount of money that most Amway IBOs waste in a year, they could study to become a masseuse and have a lifetime profession earning around $100/hour, picking their own hours, and probably very little overhead once they have purchased their equipment.
3. Technical writer - I'm not familiar with anyone who works in this industry. Taking it a step further, there are many different types of writers, and the majority of people may operate their own writing business from home. There may be some classes to attend, the cost of which is unclear and which most likely varies based on the type of writing, but there is unlikely to be any extremely formal or expensive training if one already possesses a natural aptitude for writing.
4. Make-up artist - once again, this appears to be the type of employment that may be obtained through formal training or with years of experience and a natural aptitude for this type of work. In terms of make-up artists, I do not know anyone, but I do know a hair stylist who operates out of her basement and has a business set up there. She attended hair cutting school several years ago, and I believe she has a natural talent for arranging hair, similar to other artists. Another friend of mine went to hairdressing school years ago but had to leave out because she was allergic to the colouring treatments, proving that it is not for everyone to pursue this profession. I'd want to point out that being an Amway Independent Business Owner (IBO) selling overpriced, bad quality, and limited variety Artistry cosmetics and claiming to be a make up artist does not qualify!
5. Internet tutor - This is not a job that I am aware of that anyone does. Expanding my horizons, I am acquainted with someone who has a home-based computer repair business. He provides a pick-up and drop-off service for his clients. I'm not sure if he went through any formal training or if he's just one of those naturally gifted computer geeks who is skilled at disassembling and reassembling electronic devices. This is a lucrative business for the individual.
6. Social media consultant - Ah, this is exactly the type of job that IBOFB performs for clients. Companies hire professionals like him to help them establish an online presence, primarily through social media sites such as blogging, commenting on other blogs, Twitter, and Facebook, and to make them appear professional and knowledgeable. Most businesses want to project a great image on the internet, and I see company consultants attempting to resolve customer service issues, offering prizes, holding contests, apologising and attempting to resolve difficulties, and other such activities. IBOFB faces an uphill struggle in trying to restore a shattered reputation to a firm that, in its attempts to do so, has only succeeded in making himself and the Amway corporation appear to be a bunch of assholes. Those jerks have made no attempt to do the right thing and refund people's money or apologise for the abuse they have received from their uplines. Their strategy is to mislead, deny, and point fingers at other people and organisations. But, really, what else could you expect from con artists? Other social media consultants perform significantly better, but this is due to the fact that they are working with trustworthy organisations that care about people and do the right thing. There is no particular training required; all that is required is proficiency in social media and interpersonal skills. Alternatively, they may be inept at interacting with individuals and attempting to resolve disputes, as in the case of Amway and IBOFB. Having said that, Amway is one of those rare companies that doesn't give a damn that their victims are posting their experiences on the Internet and has no interest in speaking with unsatisfied consumers, addressing the issue, or refunding their money.
7. Private chef - A friend of mine owns a catering business, which she can generally handle on her own, though she occasionally hires one or two other workers for major events. She accomplishes this either in her own kitchen or, if a hall has been reserved and includes a kitchen, she may be able to handle some of the cooking while on location. She also offers frozen meals that can be defrosted and reheated, as well as baked dinners for folks who lead hectic lives. She hasn't taken any cooking classes, but she does have a natural talent for preparing delicious dishes.
I know someone who works as a personal trainer and runs a mobile business, visiting clients at their homes or in their gyms. She also conducts exercise courses in nearby parks when the weather permits. Once again, she had modest overhead, but she did enrol in classes and become certified as a fitness instructor. Not sure how much the classes cost her, but let's estimate it was roughly $5000 for the entire semester. This is less than the amount of money some people spend in a year chasing the Amway fantasy.
So I conclude that for about the same amount of money that people throw at the great Amway god in a year, they can start up their own business, often running it right out of their own home or going to client’s homes. And be able to generate enough revenue from this business to last a lifetime, or at the very least several years. The majority of IBOs left Amway in less than a year, having suffered losses ranging from $5000 to $10,000.
What is your New Year's resolution? Stay as far away from Amway as possible and consider one of the vocations listed above. Your sanity and your bank account will thank you!
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