Well that didn’t take too long. It’s been a month after the official launch of TEAM/LIFE’s Mental Fitness Challenge (MFC), and I am already receiving search engine hits to my site with the following terms:
- mental fitness challenge scam
- mental fitness challenge is a scam
- is the mental fitness challenge a money scam
- 90 mental challenge scam
- mental fitness challenge a scam?
Former WWDB leader and current Amway Diamond, Dean Kosage, is on the Division of Child Support’s Most Wanted List in the state of Washington. He has a monthly obligation to pay $1,100 and has accrued a debt of $7,700. Here is a screenshot from the web site (as of May 20, 2012):
It’s definitely not good to fall behind on child support payments! This news is in direct conflict with how much importance Dean himself places supporting families and being with his daughter. Read what Dean has to say about this on his LinkedIn page (current as of May 20, 2012):
That list of projects includes supporting families in need, funding musicians to help record CDs and music videos, and planning to get involved in the movie business, an ideal outlet for his creativity and charisma Dean is also passionate about traveling and spending meaningful time with friends, but his top priority is to create new exciting memories with his only daughter, Teagan.
Dean’s last tweet was made on March 29, 2012, and his last blog post was made on March 15, 2012.
There’s a Submit a Tip button on the DSHS website to let the government agency know about Dean’s current whereabouts. They would do well to follow his blog and Twitter stream to know where he’ll be speaking next.
Since Orrin can speak no ill will of Amway following the confidential settlement of their respective lawsuits, let’s hear what TEAM/LIFE Policy Council member Dan Hawkins has to say about Orrin’s past with Amway/Quixtar. The post seems to be in response to the Pokorny Class Action Lawsuit settlement and is an attempt to cast Orrin in the whistleblower limelight. Hawkin’s missive is too long to copy in this blog post, but the points that I’d like to comment on include:
- Orrin saw the problems with regards to IBO profitability, high-priced products, etc. with Amway/Quixtar back in 2005. Orrin writes a letter to Doug Devos outlining these grievances and his solutions.
- 40,000 people followed Orrin into the unknown after his dismissal from Amway/Quixtar in 2007.
- No mention of MonaVie during period of time after dismissal from Amway/Quixtar and launch of LIFE in 2011.
- LIFE “addresses and fixes almost all of the problems spelled out in the letter to Doug DeVos.”
- Critics of Orrin Woodward are “Amway Drones”
Here are my questions:
- How did Orrin promote Amway/Quixtar during the time between his letter to Doug Devos to his dismissal from Amway/Quixtar? Did he promote it as the best business opportunity in the world? Please refer to this video of Orrin Woodward in which he states, “World-class products brought to you at world-class prices,” and “We have the greatest opportunity… not a good one… the best one… the best one.”
- Does TEAM currently have 40,000 members today? Photos from their major seminars show what looks to be at most 15,000 people in attendance. Where did the other 25,000 people go?
- Why didn’t Hawkins mention the three years in which Orrin was hawking MonaVie juice products to TEAM? In many posts (since removed from his blog), Orrin talked about how MonaVie was such a better business opportunity than Amway. What changed? Why is Orrin now just talking about how great the products are, but not talking about or promoting the MonaVie business opportunity?
- How does LIFE address and fix all the problems of Amway/Quixtar when the analyses show that it has many of the same problems?
Calling the critics of Orrin Woodward “Amway Drones” is laughable when it’s abundantly clear that we’re most certainly not fans of Amway1.
I’ll close with this quote of Orrin’s from Hawkins:
I was with him one weekend during probably the hardest part of this fight when he said to me, “If Laurie and I have to sell everything and move back into a trailer, that is what we will do to make this right.”
Actions speak louder than words. Last I checked, Orrin’s house in Florida is no trailer, and his boat is no canoe.
1 With a pseudonym like Amthrax, do members in TEAM/LIFE really think I’m a fan of Amway?
Mental Fitness Challenge
At last weekend’s Spring Leadership Conference, TEAM LIFE rolled out their latest tool/product, the Mental Fitness Challenge. The MFC is a program that aims to change people from “the inside out.”
The press release announcing the MFC is especially interesting:
The Mental Fitness Challenge (MFC) is here, and it is an adventure like no other. Developed by seven of the country’s top leadership gurus, nationally acclaimed speakers, and personal transformation experts, with NY Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling authors Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady leading the way (visit their highly acclaimed blogs here: (http://orrinwoodwardblog.com and http://www.chrisbrady.com ), this program will awaken the mind and change lives. The MFC is a rare, comprehensive personal development program that provides those struggling with the opportunity to “Live the Life You’ve Always Wanted.”
Seven of the country’s top leadership gurus? We know it’s a stretch to place Orrin and Chris among the country’s top leadership gurus, but now all of the TEAM Policy Council members are top leadership gurus? Looks like they took my “advice” to heart!
Puleeze.
Consisting of a variety of new materials combined with updates of materials that have proven timeless and effective year after year, the MFC format is presented as three modules – one for each month – that are packaged in stylish, protective casing. The MFC is strategically and effectively designed to exercise the mind and teach success thinking in the thirteen aspects of life covered in Orrin Woodward’s book RESOLVED: 13 Resolutions for LIFE. For 90 days, a mere three months of life, anyone has the chance to make an investment that offers a lifetime of returns.
In other words, the MFC will consist of recycled material from previous TEAM/LIFE tool packs. Current TEAM/LIFE members will have to buy these tools once again. After all, you have to have the latest version in the shiny new box!
Participating in a challenge or boot camp is usually done with the goal of losing weight, toning one’s body, and/or building muscle. In the bigger picture, it’s about feeling good and gaining a sense of accomplishment. These programs are great, and highly recommend; however, the one failing component of these programs is that they are temporary. Once the typical challenge or boot camp ends, there is a perceived ending—an invisible but powerful sensation. For some, the challenge may be the spark that leads to a life changed forever. However, for the vast majority, it was an undertaking that required all the motivation one can muster just to make it through, so continuing to follow the program is highly unlikely.
Grammatical mistakes aside, can’t this same analogy apply to TEAM’s quarterly major seminars?
This 90-Day Challenge never ends. Sure, the Challenge itself will only take 90 days to complete, but unlike a new diet or exercise boot camp, the transformation achieved is permanent. The Mental Fitness Challenge (MFC) will certainly require work, dedication, and persistence. There are no promises for instant results or miracles of any kind, but with faithful adherence to the program, thought processed will be renewed.
Of course, it never ends. That’s because TEAM LIFE wants you to stay on the program forever.
The same material that you can get in the MFC or in the TEAM LIFE tools, you can get for free at the local library or via the Internet. If you’re serious about improving your life, don’t look to one source for all the answers, look to multiple, independent sources.
If you have concerns about TEAM LIFE, read the TEAM LIFE Primer and the 50 Questions For TEAM/LIFE. Take the challenge of questioning your TEAM LIFE leaders, and see through their smoke and mirrors.
On the Cover of the Amagram
For those TEAM LIFE members in need of a history refresher course, check out this video:
Fast forward to:
- 1:01: Bill & Peggy Florence
- 1:13: Randy and Valorie Haugen
- 1:46: Orrin and Laurie Woodward (love the caption, “Their Moment in the Sun”)
Lest people forget, the Legacy and TEAM/MonaVie/LIFE leaders had their roots in the granddaddy of all multi-level marketing companies, Amway. Today, Amway is euphemistically called, “our former supplier” by Orrin Woodward and company.
One of Orrin’s (many) blogs wrote about the achievement here back in 2004. Here’s a screenshot in case the blog post mysteriously disappears in the future.
Pokorny v. Quixtar Class Action Settlement
Former Quixtar IBOs have been receiving a notice in the mail regarding the Pokorny v. Quixtar Class Action Settlement. Basically, a bunch of ex-IBO’s (Jeff Pokorny, Larry Blenn and Kenneth Busiere) sued Quixtar and certain BSM companies (i.e. tools companies), arguing that they violated several state and federal laws, including:
- Recruiting IBOs in an illegal scheme
- Misrepresenting the amounts of profits that IBOs could earn
- Persuading IBOs to buy overpriced products and business support materials
The settlement exists to avoid the cost and risk of going to trial. If you were an IBO between January 1, 2003 and February 21, 2012, you have a right to a cash payment or free products. Agreeing to be part of the settlement class means that you cannot sue Quixtar nor tools companies regarding these claims in the future. You can also object to the settlement, but you would still be part of the Class — and as a result, cannot sue in the future.
The final option — the one that keeps retains your ability to sue Quixtar and BSMs in the future — is to exclude yourself from the settlement by writing a letter to:
Quixtar Settlement Exclusions/Objections
PO Box 8035
Faribault, MN 55021-9435
Include your name, address, phone number, and a note saying you want to be excluded from the settlement.
More information about the class action lawsuit can be found here: http://quixtarclass.com
Why Don’t They Just Give Every TEAM LIFE Policy Council Member Leadership Guru Status?
Saw this tweet the other day:
@Orrin_Woodward and Chris Brady (@RascalTweets) have been recognized as #6 and #11 on the #Leadership Gurus list.
bit.ly/HDMmY7—
Matt Foote (@Matt_Foote) April 13, 2012
Sigh. Arthur Carmazzi might as well just give every TEAM LIFE Policy Council member “Leadership Guru” status. Read this article about the sham that is LeadershipGurus.net.
Though the list states it’s for 2011, it’s actually a little different than the list on December, 2011 (archived on July 23, 2011). Compare them below. In the second column, the previous ranking is displayed in parentheses. New entrants have been listed in italics.
| December, 2011 | April, 2012 |
|---|---|
|
|
Falling out of the “revised” 2011 list are:
- Anthony Robbins (6)
- Jim Clemmer (14)
- Richard Chang (25)
- Jonar Nader (28)
- Rosabeth Moss Kanter (29)
- Andrew Grant (30)
I see that Bo Short is on the list at #25. Carmazzi should get Orrin and Bo together to talk about Amway and Qrush. I wonder if there will be any “conflict resolution” happening between the two of them.
To me, it’s simply a re-arranging of the deck chairs on this sham leadership list run by Arthur Carmazzi and his Directive Communications company. At least he didn’t rank himself higher than he did the previous year.
