Dissecting the New TEAM FAQ

There’s a new FAQ on the TEAM web site. The following sections no doubt will spur much discussion here.

Do some people make money on the sale of TEAM leadership materials?

Yes, based upon the amount of total TEAM profits (if any) left over at the end of each month. Those who participate at this level are called Directors. The TEAM invites certain individuals to become Directors from a pool of business builders who have proven their ability to build and lead successful teams of people. Directors must exhibit high character, integrity, professionalism, teamwork, people skills, consistency, and the ability to help the other Directors run and manage the TEAM training environment.

This is one of the few written declarations that there is money to be made in TEAM (i.e. not just in the LIFE, MonaVie, or formerly Amway/Quixtar businesses).

How did the TEAM get its start, and why? And how do those economics work today?

When Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady began their business careers they unknowingly joined an organization in which profits were weighted towards those who “got there first.” They didn’t like this situation and vowed to fix it. As a result, in 1999 they formed the TEAM, with the goal of developing the fairest, most equitable plan to share 100% of the profits remaining each month. This, in fact, caused many rival organizations to attack them as they made an issue of, made public, and sought to end the unfair distribution of profit from training materials.

Orrin and Chris unknowingly joined Amway or InterNET (Dexter Yager’s Amway Motivational Organization)? I’d like to hear that story explained a little better. I especially like the line about them not liking the situation and vowing to fix it. Seems like this is the reason why many MLM training organization leaders break away from their uplines — to form their own systems. To me, it always boils down to greed; Orrin and Chris wanted more money for themselves, so they broke away from Yager and started TEAM.

The TEAM FAQ continues with:

No one, not Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, nor any of the other Team Policy Council leaders makes any money from ownership of the TEAM. Nor do they receive consideration for any travel related (or otherwise) expenses necessary for their responsibilities therein. All profits (revenue minus expenses) are pooled at the end of each month and disbursed based upon each Director’s performance. In other words, any character-based leader can build an organization bigger than the founders on a per-organization basis and make more money than anyone else.

I’d like to see an example of how someone can build a TEAM business that’s bigger than someone like Orrin Woodward or Chris Brady, two individuals who “got there first.”

What if someone who was previously invited to become a Director doesn’t maintain the standards of character and ethics requisite to that honor?

The TEAM is a “grace” organization, seeking to restore people in a spirit of love and understanding. However, if someone continues to violate the core principles of character, integrity, and conflict resolution, then he or she will not be invited to continue as a Director. Until he or she address the character-based issues, it is simply too dangerous to the rest of the community.

Has anyone ever been disinvited as a Director?

Yes. However, and thankfully, there have been less than five instances out of nearly five hundred Directors over the course of twelve years in which character issues have not been resolved. The TEAM wins when others win, so the goal is always to restore relationships where possible. With that said, however, no one will be allowed to exploit others for their personal gain within the TEAM community. Anytime lack of character is displayed, the Policy Council will and must act out of duty to protect the entire community against destructive behavior.

There is also the condition wherein a Director stops leading his or her organization and thereby stops contributing to the work requisite to leading and managing productive teams. In these cases, character and ethics are not the problem but rather leadership and participation. In these situations, obviously, Directors are not invited to continue participating until their contribution becomes requisite with the position.

Curious to hear how those former high-level TEAM members think about what’s written in the TEAM FAQ. It’s clear to me that these last two sections are talking about some of the ex-TEAM members who have been commenting on this site.

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