Yost, Dick & Dorrene Amway

Yost, Dick & Dorrene 

 "My boss was one year older than I and his mother controlled the company."

Dick Yost lives in Southern California with his wife, Dorenne. In Dick's case that's an appropriate double positive; he was a licenced private investigator with an international firm for more than a decade, and in that industry, he adds, positives were rare.

 "I was always hunting for downsides. I ascended the corporate ladder for ten years, gained seven promotions, but then was told I was no longer needed." 

He subsequently moved to work as a systems designer with a small electronic firm. "Three years later I recognised I had topped out. 

My supervisor was one year older than I and his mother controlled the company!" Dick and Dorenne grew up on Nebraska farms. 

They went to the Univesity of Nebraska, Dorenne majoring in child psychology and education, Dick in mechanical engineering. Dorenne loves children, and in California she opened a pre-school that she ran for 17 years.

 The Yosts are business veterans, and their business continues to develop. Says Dorenne, "Assisting children by helping their parents achieve their goals."

Wright, Bill Amway

 Wright, Bill 

At the time we were shown the marketing plan, we had no notion that we needed to find another means to realise our hopes and aspirations for ourselves and our children. 

Even though we were strolling around smelling well and looking fantastic, we were broke. We had bought into the American dream.

We honestly believed we were on the correct path to achieve our financial security. We believed that our success and happiness would come by acquiring as many college degrees as possible.

When we met and fell in love, I was a sophomore in high school and Bill was a freshman in college. We became engaged two years later, and dropped out of college.

 Within three years, we had three children. We were resolved not to lose sight of our dreams and believed that detours should not be our stoplights in life.

Once our children were old enough to attend school, we both went back to college. Before we knew it, we were graduating with a doctorate and a master's degree. 

Our three children were close on our heels. We had done a terrific job convincing them of the significance of a college education. 

We were happy of our successes, but there was still no financial flow. About this time, we were beginning to feel some desperation. 

We were fortunate in that we were provided a marketing plan, which piqued our interest. It was clear to us that we would be able to make this venture a success. We had achieved our first aim within the first two years of our existence. 

We were able to enrol all three of our children in college at the same time because of this business. We never had to take out any loans, and they have no debts to anyone else. 

Taking advantage of the flexibility this business provides, Bill has been able to devote three to four hours per day to training in order to achieve his goal of competing in the Track & Field Senior Games.

 He competes in the 60-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter dashes. As we try to achieve greater heights in our profession, Matthew 6:31-33 serves as a guiding light for our efforts.

 

Woods, Jan Amway

 Woods, Jan 

When Jan and her husband, Walt, launched their networking firm around Thanksgiving, 1963, Jan never knew how much she would ultimately be thankful for. 

"Walt could dream large," Jan explained. "From the very first day he wanted to reach the greatest level possible and make $30,000 a year - a lot of money in those days.

" But for Jan, the highest amount of money she could foresee was $1,000 a month, and that became her goal."

After our fourth full month in the business we netted $1,500," stated Jan, still astounded at the accomplishment.

Jan giggles as she happily remembers the early years when Walt was alive. "He'd cruise the streets shining shoes with a product called Shoe Glo. 

When someone inquired if it would ruin their shoes, he promised them he'd buy them a new pair of $50 shoes if it did. Of course, the shoes they had on probably didn't even cost $10."

Jan now lives in her lakefront home and tells it's all she ever wanted. Always concerned how she would live when she reached her golden years, Jan proudly adds that not only is her life taken care of, so is her grandchildren's.

 They will never wonder how they will pay for their schooling.

"If there's one thing I learnt, it's that nothing ever just occurs for you - You follow-up, you follow-up swiftly, and you follow up often."

Wolf, Sylvia Amway

 Wolf, Sylvia 

3,000 miles separated us from the nearest source of supply."Physical conditions in the largest state in the United States can be difficult, to say the least. Isolation, rough terrain, and severe winter weather conspire to dissuade all but the most determined adventurers from attempting it. 

Sylvia Wolf happens to be one of them. She is regarded as Alaska's pioneer, and her storey is one that will live on forever. She desired to supplement her income as a homemaker in order to assist her husband, Dan. 

They were constructing a new home in a new neighbourhood, and a serious medical issue affecting one of her children provided yet another reason for her to find a means to generate money without taking on an outside job.

 "We took on every challenge that the world had to offer," Sylvia recalls. Obtaining products was the most difficult physical business obstacle to overcome in the beginning. 

3,000 miles separated us from the nearest source of supply. When your company grows too quickly, people will leave since they will be unable to obtain what they purchased. 

For a number of years, she worked as a warehouse manager for the Independent Business Owner to deal with the situation. However, overcoming physical obstacles was only a portion of the narrative. 

Sylvia's unwavering resolve to achieve her goals was the deciding factor in her success. Today, she and Dan take pleasure in "having the freedom to live anywhere we want and control our own time." 

This can involve spending quality time with the grandchildren and spending quality time together with the spouse.''

Wilson, Mike & Karla Amway

Wilson, Mike & Karla 

 "The best perk of this business is freedom."

"We started our business because we had three ambitions for our life," says Mike Wilson. "1. Love our lives. 2. Have a family. 3. Have financial options.

 I became a tennis pro because of my desire to appreciate my life." Mike participated on the international tennis circuit and was head professional of numerous prominent clubs in Southern California. 

Carla was a bookkeeper and worked in retail management. "Even at the $25 or $30 an hour I made at the time, we understood we would never be personally free that way. It was difficult to envision how we could start a family without both our paychecks.

 When he looked at the business, Mike was teaching tennis from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. "'What do you want from the business?' I was asked. 

'Everything.' 'When do you want it?' 'Yesterday.' This would provide us with the financial possibilities we desired as well as the time we needed to create a family, if we could make it happen. 

We had no idea how much we would come to like the business until much later on in our lives." During his time in senior management in the financial industry, Mike claims that his company's revenue remained steady throughout the years.

 "Personal independence is the most significant benefit of this business," Carla says of her endeavour. "Work-at-home husband and wife, as well as being a mother and father for our children, are all personal freedoms.''

Wenzel, Bill & Marilyn Amway

Wenzel, Bill & Marilyn 

When the concept of network distribution is first introduced, many people see magic circles and dollar signs; Marilyn, on the other hand, thinks of airline tickets.

Marilyn had decided to retire from teaching in order to spend more time travelling with her children, who lived on both coasts and one in another country.

 But, as a result of her decision to stop teaching, she discovered that she had less money to travel. She entered the business "on the strength of my sponsor and my husband's faith in me."

The Wenzels are now free to travel wherever they want. They have the resources, including the time and money, to travel to see their children and grandchildren.

 Bill, a former insurance executive, claims that he has always believed in the importance of education "I followed the fifty-week plan to the letter. I worked hard all year in order to have two weeks of vacation."

Hello, Bill and Marilyn. "There are no longer only two weeks of vacation available. 

We have more time to spend with our children, to enjoy our home, to take care of our family responsibilities, and to volunteer at our church. It is an excellent way of life!"

Wead, Douglas & Miriam Amway

 "After getting to know a number of the leaders, I'd had enough of the situation. I, too, had a desire to start a business."

Doug Wead has travelled the world as the assistant to the President of the United States, meeting royalty and commoners, potentates and legislators. 

He is completely at ease in that environment. He is the author of 23 books, some of which were written in collaboration with Presidents, and he is a student of history, a compelling interpreter of the present, and an advocate of tried-and-true ideals. 

Several of Doug's accomplishments were preceded by his entrance to the business world. "Over a period of two years, I travelled the country as a motivational speaker, which included a number of corporate rallies. I was blown away by their performance. 

After getting to know a number of the leaders, I'd had enough of the situation. I, too, had a desire to start a business. 

I subsequently spread the word to my friends and neighbours, just like everyone else had done." When Doug's friends and neighbours turned out to be governors of states or members of the federal cabinet, Doug's social network developed to include an interesting cross-section of American political leadership.

 He was a founding member of MercyCorps International, one of the world's premier relief groups, and he was instrumental in raising millions of dollars for famine relief in Asia and Africa, among other causes.

 Doug and his wife, Miriam, are the parents of two young children.

Related Links

• http://www.dougwead.com
• http://www.mercycorps.org
• http://dougwead.wordpress.com