Eric Blomdahl’s Friends Were Right: It Was a Scam and a Pyramid
Eric Blomdahl, is one of many TEAM leaders who has his own leadership blog. According to his bio, he was introduced to the business by Renee Oettinger around 2002, eleven years after graduating from college:
It was at this point in my life that Renee Oettinger introduced me to Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady, the current #7 and #12 Leadership Gurus in the world, respectively. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that was one of the biggest days of my life.
Now remember that in 2002, Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, and Renee Oettinger was part of Quixtar/Amway, not MonaVie and certainly not LIFE. Blomdahl goes on to describe how he was skeptical at first about this opportunity, but was convinced by Renee’s excitement and belief:
My friend and co-workers said how this was a scam and a pyramid and I almost let them convince me that they knew what they were talking about. Once again, I leaned on Renee’s excitement and belief and over time learned that all my naysaying friends and co-workers were totally wrong.
A few years later, Amway/Quixtar kicks Orrin Woodward and TEAM out of the business. What does Orrin Woodward and TEAM do? They called Amway/Quixtar a pyramid scheme! Here’s the quote from the original class action lawsuit:
Quixtar holds itself out as a legitimate, multi-level home-based business opportunity, but in fact operates as an illegal pyramid recruitment scheme. Quixtar leads participants to believe that they can build a viable business retailing Quixtar products; but once the participants sign up and pay their initial investment into the pyramid, it quickly becomes evident that Quixtar’s products cannot be retailed because they are hopelessly overpriced. Quixtar knows its products are impossible to sell, and that its business opportunity is therefore not viable except as an illegal recruitment pyramid.
Here we have Blomdahl’s “leadership gurus” agreeing with his friends and co-workers. Looks to me like they were totally right from the get-go, no?
What about MonaVie, the business opportunity that Blomdahl, Woodward, Brady, Oettinger, and others hawked for three years after their termination and exodus from Amway/Quixtar? How many bottles of MonaVie did you retail (at $40/bottle)? How’d that work out for you?
Of course today, Blomdahl is trying to sell LIFE. Let’s look at what you have to pay to succeed in LIFE:
- LIFE Series: $50/month for 4 CD’s and a book. CD’s that were produced years ago and books that can be obtained at far lower prices (or even free)?
- LLR Series: $50/month for 4 CD’s and another book.
- AGO Series: $25/month for 1 CD and another book.
- TEAM Tools and Meetings. More money each month to attend TEAM seminars and to purchase monthly tools.
How can anyone who knows the history behind TEAM — Amway, Quixtar, MonaVie, and LIFE — not tell me that they are doing the same thing over and over and over and over again? Products that are hopelessly overpriced. Products that are impossible to sell. A business opportunity that is therefore not viable except as an illegal recruitment pyramid?
Finally, at the end of Eric’s bio:
The difference is that they took the time to educate themselves with the truth about Orrin Woodward and this industry (not rumor, hearsay, and popular opinion) and in the process learned for themselves that this is the “real deal”.
Read the rest of this site for the truth about Orrin Woodward and this industry.
Eric Blomdahl. You should have listened to your friends.
Eric Blomdahl
Why don’t you tell people how Raquel Peters (Samuels) was Tim Samuels sponsor as he is her cousin? Why don’t you tell them you didn’t even know Tim and Jennifer Samuels from adam, until Raquel contacted Tim’s wife about Quixtar and introduced you later?
Why don’t you tell people that you hit Diamond in MV only because they removed the requirement for star 500 legs, hence no more need for you to have sponsored personals?
Why don’t you tell your followers how lucky you really got to have some great leaders below you like the Peters and the Edwards and that is why you are where you are today?
Why don’t you tell everyone that while you were supposedly “retired” in Team in the Quixtar days, you were living with the Samuels while secretly doing side jobs for Tim Samuels and his dad because you were broke?
Or how about the secret meetings you held with the Samuels? Or the fact that you caused a lot of discord in the Peters’ teams with your meddling?
How about the fact that the Peters blew by you with pure work ethic ? Or the fact that the Peters were Round Tables before you and you only had to build 25 people on system? You had at least a leader in each leg that was a Platnum for years. Peters hit it in what @mid to late 2004?
How do we know the Peters did a lot of the work? Easy to prove when people know the Peters were near the top of your original second leg, and took their second leg (hawkins) and built it bigger than their first leg and bigger than your first leg, eventually the group became Guzzardo’s main taproot.
How about the fact that you tried to manage the leader below you for years from a position of smaller results?
What about the threats you made to the Peters in the MV registration?
Or the fact you tried to get them to give away all but three of their personals in the registration into MV when they could see their other leg the Hawkins below them hadn’t done that?
How about the fact that at the time, you admitted to Raquel you were going to register the Winklers and their second team, who were shown the plan by the Peters, into your other MV business (above the Peters?) And that mysteriously the Winklers and the few in their second leg, showed up in your Team EBC, their system counts and tickets were missing from the Peters EBC? (John Morgan had that one fixed)
How about the fact you told Raquel she wasn’t a leader when she confronted you, after you know damm well she built your 2nd leg almost alone without scarecly, if any direct depth from you! How bout the fact you had not registered scarecly one personal under the Peters teams for years!
Why don’t you tell your followers after all the crap above, how you magically inherited the whole Samuels leg in your EBC in Team Profit Sharing in 2009? And how you had no problem taking it from your own downline leader who built it for you? How those system counts and tickets were put above them (the Peters), under yourself so you could earn more money? You know how it was stolen out from under the Peters EBC and given to you in Team based on a letter George Guzzardo asked the Samuels to send the Team office requesting the Peters not be their upline, so in effect he and Woodward than could take the Peters earned profit sharing money away?
Yeah you know the Peters? Raquel, the lady who built almost all of your second leg for you, leaving her small children, night after night for years, while you tried to manage her from where you were living hours away in Northern Wisconsin?
So Eric, let’s cut the crap! Shame on you for what you have done to the Peters!
What a POSER but hey birds of a feather flock together! LOL!
*** All my comments on this blog and above are my opinions of Team, Orrin Woodward and Co., Blomdahl etc. and are from mine and others experiences being associated with them.
Blomdahl…Just another man/liar with integrity eh. I saw many fakers in my team days. Most were crossing stage for recognition…fake recognition to give others belief that it was working.
Blomdahl,…..put…..down…..the…..pineapple….boat.
Tell me something….would you like to see me stuffing my face with one of your pineapple boats on a m.v. diamond destination that I never earned?
Not cool, eric.
This truthfully is disgusting.
This ‘business opportunity’ is fake. Been there, done it. I regrettably have family members 100% committed to this ’cause’, and I feel guilty for introducing them to this conspiracy of a ‘Lifestyle’. I shamefully recall my ten years experience with Team as a complete single minded pursuit of success, similar to a Honey Badger, my only concern in life was where my next meal was coming from. I too only focused on who I was ‘getting’ next. The system trained me to think this way. Plus, I hung out with my up line PC all the time and heard many private conversations I shouldn’t have heard. I’ve seen too many people turn a blind eye and after a while your conscience catches up with you.
Intelligence is only as good in comparison as the next person in line who knows just as much.
When a couple showed signs of non-configuring with the ‘TEAM’s Philosophy’ of being ‘plugged-in’ and the alarm bells started to sound in your head. An urgent phone call, email, txt, BBM or meeting was called to inform my upline leader/PC that a “Leader” is falling off the band-wagon and a strategy is implemented immediately to salvage the rest of the active team members and minimize the damage. No one cares if the leader is falling off, all they care about is capturing the rest of that leaders team. This is the truth. I’ve personally seen it happen dozens of times, even between my own up line PC’s.
Truth Hurts. Not the searching after, but the running from!
I ran from the truth for too long. I truly feel we were/are deceiving people with the pursuit of success by way of this opportunity. An organized effort to deceive the people. There are two great enemies of thought and progress, the aristocracy of royalty and the aristocracy of gold. We hunted for gold and where there was no gold we created it within our communities.
Gradually I became aware of details, and I broke formation and realized my true gifts were going unnoticed, submerged, trapped like a caged cat without hope because I was told to stand in single file, march to the beat of a drum and was told to jump when commanded. My freedom was based on the attention of my leader and not the attention of my heart and mind. My gifts were dying and my soul was crying, it was truly a captive life, and I had no ‘REAL’ control of the decisions I made with my money. Unless of course I wasn’t the leader of my group. My gut feelings were right. I was constantly making wrong decisions with my money and time… and now I can live the rest of my life with a purpose. Truth.
As my good friend Donald says, “Everything in LIFE is luck!”
KC- …”realized my true gifts were going unnoticed, submerged, trapped like a caged cat without hope because I was told to stand in single file, march to the beat of a drum and was told to jump when commanded. My freedom was based on the attention of my leader and not the attention of my heart and mind. My gifts were dying and my soul was crying, it was truly a captive life…” AMAZING. What a profound post!
Thank God we are free!
Thanks for sharing and welcome!
KC- Thanks a lot for sharing your story on here. I can echo a lot of those comments sadly. Any interesting in those conversations that you shouldn’t have heard? Keep up the fight for truth it is very much appreciated.
Welcome KC and thanks for sharing your story. There are many more stories that need to get out.
Thanks for sharing your story KC. You have a way with words! When I get a chance I will share my story, as well. I know the more stories shared, the more damage we do to LIEF! Keep up the good fight everyone!
Thanks KC, I have to disagree, everything in LIFE is not luck, everything in LIFE IS BULLSHIT.
AND another one joining our team!
Welcome KC!
Switch- Pineapple boat…… you kill me! Lmao!
Hell all the money and time we spent while with Team, we could’ve went to Hawaii every year, easy!
Welcome KC and thanks for sharing. Great post. This is THE place to revel in your new found freedom; a place where your conscience can be your guide instead of the pursuit of money; no need to ever bow down and kiss the feet of con artists again. The ball is in your court now. Feels good doesn’t it?
KC- It must be heartwrenching to watch family and loved ones live the lie…..I’m so sorry
Forgive yourself, “when we know better we do better.”
You were decieved and indoctrinated like the rest of us.
If I could….I would recommend a book, Combatting Cult Mind Control by cult expert Steve Hasan. It may help deal with your family member and help you and them understand what happened to you.
Hey guys aint it great that our team is growing yet no-one is using the pattern? That says something about the “difference” we make huh?! Things that make ya go hmmmm…
Vogel – I so appreciate this past year and all the kind words and support you have shared with every hurting soul. You lifted us up when we were terrified, lived through the rants, anger and sadness, and crushed anyone that came here to try to hurt us or tried to shut us up. (sometimes perhaps a bit too direct for my tastes but that’s ok
lol)
You helped us gimp along to freedom of mind, truth and helped us get our critical thinking back. You always are backing us up finding the facts, etc. at your detriment.
I wanted to say a year ago when I found this site, I was in a bad place, feeling alone and afraid of telling the truth….not anymore.
Thanks my friend………. for being strong when I felt weak.
I could really say this to all of you. Thanks.
Enough! I cannot wait to hear your story!
KC~
Thanks and ‘deep’ post! I am glad you have found the site where you can be truly honest and more importantly I see through your post the painful recognition of regaining your true self back through this journey of excruciatingly painful experience. We welcome you with open arms.
Webelieved~
I agree and am more grateful than words can express to Vogel, Amthrax, you and all those on this site and off, who have supported (those you are reading
), helped us heal and have allowed us to ramble, share, and forgiven us for our mistakes, and most important find ourselves again…through this most vunerable and painful journey.
Webelieved — Thank your for your kind words my friend. I can’t even begin to describe the emotions that well up when I read the posts on this site and reflect on the incredible community that’s emerged here. It often makes my eyes misty and puts a huge smile on my face.
This has all happened organically too. No money changing hands; just good people looking out for each other and trying to make the world a better place — paying it forward. It’s been an honor to be at your side throughout this ordeal. We are foot soldiers and our weapons are honesty and compassion — isn’t it amazing to see how powerful they are?
We are all our brother’s keepers, and on this site, we are upholding the biblical principles that the TEAM scammers paid lip service to but totally ignored when it mattered most.
To those who are feeling strong and feisty, keep fighting the good fight; and for those that feel broken and still need time to heal, just know that you’ve found the right place to make it happen. Together, we can move mountains.
Oh there you go making me cry again….
I totally agree. He’s one of a kind. What would we do without him?
I also have to give a huge thanks for EVERYONE contributing to this blog. You’ve helped me see the truth for what it truly is.
Please don’t get upset webelieved….. help is on the way.
“We are all our brother’s keepers, and on this site, we are upholding the biblical principles that the TEAM scammers paid lip service to but totally ignored when it mattered most.”
AMEN! Awesome way of saying what was on my heart. Even though I am fairly new on here I can’t thank you guys enough for helping me through this.
That reminds me of lyrics from Matt Maher’s Hold Us Together
Love will hold us together
Make us a shelter to weather the storm
And I’ll be my brother’s keeper
So the whole world will know that we’re not alone.
This is the first day of the rest of your life,
Cause even in the dark, you can still see the light,
It’s gonna be alright, It’s gonna be alright.
ok now we’re getting sappy…. :p
Gees, you all left me feeling a bit heartless, I just want to kick some a**. Seriously though, I love the truth, and there is not better place to find it than here. Thank you all.
Oh Brent……. I’m over that now! I’m ready to kick some a**!
Welcome KC! And as the others stated, what a deep and profound post. Thank you.
To all the others: Vogel, Switch, Webelieved, Freedomhaha, Speak Your Truth, Brent Hanson, Amthrax, and everyone else that has posted: I just can’t thank you enough for the way your posts have helped me! I almost hated to mention names because if yours is not mentioned you still brought just as much to this site for me.
And yes how awesome it is that with nothing financial to gain a community has been formed that truly CARES about people and are willing to invest their time -for free- to help others. Thank you all for your time.
Keep on telling your stories and helping others get information from both sides and make a decision that is best for them.
Keep up the good work here. I remember getting chased down at Wal-Mart by a guy swearing up and down that he knew me from Michigan State. After spending way too long trying to figure out how we knew each other and talking over my every sentence so I couldn’t politely escape he asked if I was interested in making more money. He was working with Orrin Woodward and Team of Destiny, blah, blah blah. This was about 2002-3. I told him I wasn’t interested in Amway, even though he never mentioned Amway or Quixtar. Since I wasn’t wearing any MSU gear that day he must have spotted my MSU license plate and chased me inside from the parking lot. Sounds like fun, where do I sign up?
Anyway, I went online to search Team of Destiny and Orrin Woodward and found a site called Amway Memoryhole or Dreambook or something to that effect. There was a guy there claiming Orrin Woodward lived in this $2M house with no mortgage. A quick look at Genesee County online Register of Deeds showed there was indeed a mortgage on the property. I posted this to dreambook and got a quick response to the effect of “his financial advisor said it was the best move”. If I remember right the mortgage was discharged not too long after and all comments were removed from that website. I thought it was just a lowly IBO defending his hero but it looks like it may have been someone in the know. Looks like they’ve had web initiatives going on for years.
Group hug!
Now let’s all kick some a$$!
You guys are incredible. Your blatant honesty is drawing the wounded souls that have left TEAM and don’t know what to do with their pain out, like a mom bringing you into her bosom to keep you safe and warm. I just read this blog every day and watch you all help others navigate their pain and confusion, you really are remarkable people. You also still have a great deal of compassion and can recognize when someone is still fully entrenched in the cult, and come on here defending Orrin to the death. You don’t judge because you have all been there.
It truly is a beautiful thing to watch and I encourage each and every one of you new people that are sharing. to keep exploring and learning about what you have endured, so that you can move past the pain, learn how to trust again and how to TRULY live and love life again.
This is a cult war. You survived it. You are ALL heros.
DH- Welcome! Wow that is some insight I wish I knew years ago! It was probably Orrin who had it all fixed. Word is he watches the critic sites all the time. I bet he’s already read your comment!
Problem for him now is he has a lot of insiders that have left him that are willing to stand up and tell the truth, they are sharing information that was hidden from them, and he knows it! Such a bind to be in…….
What you do in the dark will always come out in the light.
Robin-
Not a problem. Glad to have you here and from the looks of it, the Amthrax team is growing as we speak.
Some pretty interesting facts coming forward, isn’t there? And it’s only gonna get better. One just can’t ignore these facts that have been covered up for years. I’m sure there’s been plenty of questions asked towards these statements. AND the new people will get the same ol’ beat around the bush, bullshit answer we all got when they ask the same questions down the road.
Try being honest from the “get go” team liefers….your foundation will last a lot longer.
I just hope we can do more to get this blog in front of new people. I am sending the link to everyone I can to spread the word, but this ship can’t sink fast enough. The longer the scam keeps going and Orrin and the rest of the PC scam artists are out there ruining our country the more people get hurt. Spread the word help people get free from the cult of TEAM/LIEf.
DH~
Glad you found this site and Thanks for your testimony! Sounds like you were desperately chased down…lol. It is just one way; but commonly used tactic and another example of an old trick out of the book of MLM prospecting…(‘pretend’/deceptive that they know you from some where), this shows how desperate and deceiving they are to ‘contact’ someone, anyone and it doesn’t matter how even if they have to trick you.. You have them pegged!
Thanks and I am glad you didn’t fall for it!
Kick some butt!!!!! The one thing that they will never be able to hide from is the TRUTH!Until this and other sites like this the truth was what they said from stage or CD. They hate this site because they know deep down that the peeps on her are real and we know too many intimate details. That is what they can’t stand. People they thought would never speak out or do anything against them are. And we are not motivated by money but rather the truth. They do have deep pockets and are counting on the fact that no one will take them on………..I guess that is a strategy……….however……well i won’t go into however. Let orrin and Co. worry about when the hammer will fall on them and for what. He knows what he has done in the past was illegal and he banked on the fact that there was not the personal available to come after him. The money was worth the risk so to speak, and for awhile that may have been true……………..not anymore
Finally~
Great Post! I must have missed this one. I agree with all you have said and am so glad this site is available for others to read, think, and decide for themselves. (Facts, Experience, and Success!)
When I first came to this site and was trying to figure so much out of what had happened and the fog began to lift; this information wasn’t available, but started to unfold… but oh man…it would have made a huge difference, had all the comments, the stories, and facts together been here then…Wow, how can anyone not see it..Now?
People are either choosing to not see it because they want to ‘believe’ the bill of goods they have been sold on their desires and have fallen for; it is their means to everything they currently lack or are fully brainwashed, getting paid a few cents to deceive themselves, or they are the PC and are not willing to give up their rock star image, money and power (control), no matter what the cost…even if; they sell their soul… the price the PC are willing to pay is to lie to others and themselves, steal, be fakers and posers, to deceive others. Not the life or legacy I want to live!
I know this site does deliver truth and one only has to read all the comments from those with the Experience and Facts and then those who have said it themselves and have thanked Amthrax and all those on this site for validating the truth for them; of what they already knew to be true!
This weekend I had a good friend come to my house touting the new business opportunity he had discovered and wanted to share with me. It turned out to be LIFE which smelled a lot like Amway to me, so I did a little research and here I am. I’d like to talk my friend out of this cult before he gets in too deep (he’s pretty far gone as far as believing in this crap goes). Any additional ammunition you can supply me with would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
@Life’s not Mea Culta – Check out the <a href="“>Freedom of Mine BITE Model link for general information on how cults work. Read the LIFE TEAM Primer for information about the background and history of LIFE. You may also want to brush up on the LIFE Policies and Procedures to know what your friend has gotten himself into. Read the Forbes article on Orrin Woodward too, written when he had joined MonaVie.
Let us know what happens after you talk to your friend.
Thanks Amthrax, will follow those up!
Life’s not Mea Culta- Welcome! Thanks for sharing. I really hope you can help your friend get out of the group. I would like to reccomend you also read the threads below. There is a lot of advice there on how to help a loved one get out. Also I would like to recommend a book called Combatting Cult Mind Control, as you are dealing with people under thought reform, in my opinion.
http://amthrax.wordpress.com/2011/04/13/beleaguered-boyfriend-asks-for-help/
http://amthrax.wordpress.com/2011/08/22/tyson-from-the-midwest-wants-his-brother-out-of-orrin-woodwards-life/
Thank you webelieved. Many years ago my husband at the time was introduced briefly to Amway and I talked him out of it. He never got any further than buying a bunch of crap we didn’t need and couldn’t sell. Years later someone tried to introduce the boyfriend I had at the time to Quixtar and I talked him out of it. When my friend started to talk I thought I’ve heard this before. He is a little further entrenched though. He’s absolutely convinced he will be rich inside of a few months and expects to be able to “retire”. He has stars in his eyes and is already telling me I’m negative. Despite my earlier brushes with the various incarnations of this business I really don’t know enough to give him good solid reasons to run. Hopefully everything you and amthrax have pointed me towards will convince him.
Wow, did I come to the right place or what?! I was invited to go (this coming Sunday) to a “motivational meeting” hosted by our best friends. I had spoke to them about this and they had told me how much better they are doing at home just by reading and listening to thses tapes. I called my friend today to get more info. I swear, it wasn’t him! He was so different. Not that change is bad. But, he just seemed like he had been brainwashed by someone or something. It was weird. We spoke a little about it. He said he didn’t want to tell me too much, I just needed to come and find out. But, I got the name of this company… and that was allI needed. He told me of this person ( whom I later find out was Orrin Woodward) who was shy and had nothing. But figured out what he was doing wrong in life and now is this multi millonaire. He spoke to me of all the money these people make etc..etc.. But, he said the name was either “Life” or “Team”. He said they use both. So, I researched. How many different names has this company used before? If there is so much money to be made… why have i found 3 big wigs that have filed for bancruptcy and one that went through foreclosure? I need some help and guidance before Sunday! I don’t want to see my friends already struggling,getting into something over their heads. This company sounds like it is ba news all around. I have read of people getting threats! Help! Please! Or direct me to the right place to go! Thanks!!
@Kris – Start by reading the LIFE TEAM Primer and the LIFE Policies and Procedures document on the right-hand sidebar. You may also want to read some Ex-TEAM member and Reader Stories (also on the sidebar).
Check out the Forbes article on Orrin Woodward as well. It was written back when TEAM was just joining TEAM. One question you could ask your friend is how they are promoting MonaVie TODAY, seeing that it was the thing to do for TEAM for the past three years.
Kris- Follow Amthrax’s advice and you can also read the links I posted in the comments above for info on how to help someone get out of the group.
Team/LIFE a motivational organization, has had many names over @20 years of Orrin’s existence in MLM industry. Team of Destiny ( with Quixtar/Amway), Team ( still Amway) , Team Leadership (on it’s own), Team Monavie( with Monavie) , now Team /LIFE (on it’s own). Interesting to note, cults change their name a lot as well.
Team of Destiny originally changed their name to more generic words as Orrin told some leaders, to hide critical infomation about the group, from google search engines.
Interesting Team /LIFE leaders have recently been gaming google search engines by creating copycat websites all reportedly at the direction of their leadership guru, sham of a best selling author (in my opinion), Orrin Woodward.
They obviously don’t want your friend/ prospects or followers to know all sides of the Team story. Let us know how it goes and welcome!
Have any of you guys thought about becoming full-fledged counselors for MLM cult victims? You;re getting so good at this now and have gained so much insight and wisdom that I think you could perform a very valuable public service. Perhaps combine that experience with a diploma in social work or counselling/therapy. I wonder what kind of opportunities there are out there. Probably wouldn’t pay much but it would be rewarding work; maybe a good part-time volunteer position if one has the time to spare.
Just a thought. I’m riffing.
Kris~
“Wow, did I come to the right place or what?!”
Welcome Kris! Thanks for the laughs!
And yes you came to the “right place” to get the full story and facts that they desperately try and hide with the name changes as webelieved stated!
Amthrax and Webelieved gave some good advice, but I think for “fun”.. you should take advantage of the “opportunity” you have at your disposal by being “invited” to this “meeting” and have some fun with this.
Print off the Policies & Procedures and the Analysis (brush up on the content) and for every
“Promise” and statistic etc. (ask for a copy in writing on the “45 year plan..LOL or where you get it) Also the “promises” of such things as: “passive, residual, on-going, willable, for the rest of your life income.” Raise your hand and loudly point out the fact that would be a flat out lie, just read the P&P. Ask what the “attrition rate” is? LOL
Ask what are the “odds” of each individual in this “meeting” of making a Return on their “investment”? If they give you the BS line of: “100% of those who decide”, then point out loudly again the ‘fact’ that in analysis that it is impossible because it is not about “effort or decision” it is that the failure rates (96%) are built into the comp plan and they will NEVER get a ROI; and that is a guarantee!
Ask them why Orrin the fake (voted for by the masses being told to vote) guru sued Amway (BTW- everyone only has til March 1st to VOTE for him to be a “guru” haha); alleging Quixtar/Amway was a “pyramid scheme, with hopelessly overpriced products” after a DECADE of buying those products and having everyone else build those numbers… when in fact their comp plan and system is almost identical to Amway. Where in Fact Orrin himself learned everything from on how the ‘system’ works; so he created nothing! He also got paid millions off that copy-catted and parasitically attached himself and hide behind the Amway and Monavie business to sell his system (and still does from MV) products flowing from everyone else! Make sure you print out the “foreclosures”-Facts (from the credible sources) Forbes article that calls Orrin a pyramid on top of the pyramid and the Salt Lake City Tribune article that states Orrin got a 3 million dollar contingency “loan” from Dallin Larsen/ Monavie and then Why aren’t they “loyal to and promoting for others to buy the Monavie, “juice?”
Play dumb and act “excited an interested” haha! Write down every “promise” they make in the “plan” they will be showing you at the “meeting”. It may take a couple attended “meetings” for you to point out all the lies and compare to the facts, but it will be informative and fun…hahaha!!
Also loudly point out such things as; they will imply or tell you it is a “B–type” (Robert Kyiosaki) Lief business you will be building, not a “loser “E”mployee or “Self-employed” (trading time for money) business! Raise your hand and loudly ask: Who owns the “system-b-type” lief business?If they don’t answer YOU own it and give you that in writing, then loudly say: Do you mislead or lie to all these people in EVERY meeting by telling them they own and run a “B-type”, otherwise it is irrelevant to all of these people, when in FACT Orrin OWNs the b-type “system.” ( it would be impossible, then for anyone in the audience to have a ‘b-type’ business). And the P&P states they can take it at any time, then ask what they mean by if anyone in your family embarrasses them they also can take your team and money away. Ask for specific examples and you could ask if bankruptcies would be included in that embarrassment?
Take your “brief case” full of (LOL…fun, fun, fun) copies to hand out that you can print off from Amthrax site! Oh what “Fun” you could have…haha..I think you get the picture…just have some fun, after all it is one of their “8-F’s” they will be blasting you with! And as with your ‘friend’ if he is already “sold out/all in and brainwashed”, he has already lost his critical thinking and probably won’t listen to you anyway and there would be a good possibility he will have to learn the lessons and loses the hard way, if this information and facts doesn’t faze him or he ‘believes’ the lies they tell.
The good news is when he leaves the group, it won’t be permanent (the brainwashing at least eventually fades, but not without suffering, unfortunately depending on how long it takes and how much loss before he realizes it isn’t going to happen do him! Good luck and let us know how much fun you had! You could get some good understanding and what works from Steve Hassan’s website and books on cults. 
Vogel~
One of my great friends and I have talked about that very thing many times. And I do believe it would be very rewarding! Nothing would trump experience and the compassion we feel for those who have suffered because of this. That is why we personally quit, we could not sit back and watch people be destroyed.
ditto on what Speak Your Truth said. Very well put. And that folks is called facts!
Kris~
I should clarify, although Orrin “owns” the Team Lief business, and even though ‘owning’ it is a prerequisite for it to be a “b-type” business; Orrin doesn’t even have a true “b-type” business, he has to constantly be ‘working’ it for it to work!
No? Well, remove him completely…and see how long it will sustain itself! And they have built in their P&P that if you don’t perform you don’t get Paid..of course this doesn’t apply to Orrin…but He can’t leave it ever, just like no one else can either because it is a build and replace business and is built on a Top heavy comp plan and flawed deceptive foundation. So, without him replacing and unduly influencing the mis-leaders that he (keeps in by deception, brainwashing and controlling them) it will not sustain itself because of the attrition rates, nor would anyone hold his cross-line groups in!
They almost lost it all during the lawsuit with Quixtar/Amway and the judge put Orrin under a gag order that he deliberately and unlawfully violated;(integrity, honesty, Christian?) that is why the PC sold out everyone and anyone because they were Not willing no matter how unethical, immoral, or illegal the game had to be played. They were not going to do the right thing and lose their ill-gotten gains and their greedy lifestyles, period! But eventually they will pay the price for selling others out and especially for selling their souls.
I just wanted to say thank you to all of those who replied to me. I have a lot to read to get ready for Sunday. I know that there is no way that me and my husband will be signing up. But, for my friends… they are too far in already for them to willingly walk away now. We realized that our friends have been preyed upon, so to speak. They were going through a rough patch (like everyone else) and the tapes go to them. The heard what they wanted to hear and from that point on, stopped looking at the big picture. The oly thing they can see now… is where thy think (or were told) they would be soon. My friend even made the comment that they were gonna go to Home Depot to look at new appliences. He said that they have already recieved money in th amount of $10. He said that they did nothing! They did nothing and got a check because he said something about points.That they had enough points so, they got a check. I know I have read somewhere that when tehy issue a check, it costs you $7.50. Plus, all of the “earnings” are of course taxed as well. I have not found out too much about these points besides that when you become a memeber you need to “earn” 50 points eachmonth and they give you a 6 month grace period to do such. Question- How do you earn these points? And what happens if you don’t “earn” the 50 each month?
What is the talk about this “juice”? I guess I haven’t read enough yet to figure it out. Actually, if it takes all of that to figure out about a company… it must be bad. So, with the “products” they offer, is that why no real legal action has taken place? Since, I think- not sure, that a pyramid scheme co does not offer products they just recruit. And since there are products offered, they get around it??
I was scammed once back in the day by a “potential job” lol One thing I have learned… If it is too good to be true- it probably is! You just don’t become a millionaire by doing nothing. No, you work your ass off! You don’t go and get followers! Followers…hmm… cult! Which, because of my mother, I also have experience with due to her choices in churches. But, that is another story and I am just here to get facts.
Again, thank you all for responding. I will begin reading all of the material. Too bad my friends are without internet right now or maybe this would not have happened. But,did I read somewhere that they DO NOT want you online? Anyways… THANKS!!!
Kris – I agree with ‘Speak’. Think of how many people you could truly help. there are A LOT of people at those meetings that have no idea what is truly going on.
I would seriously recommend doing what Speak sugggests. Go to a meeting. Don’t be malitious. But go in with the attitude of being able to help save the financial future of the kids & grandchildren of the people in that meeting.
Print off the Life Primer on this site. Print off the foreclosure articles. Print off the Forbes article. Print off the Life Policies & Proceedures. Take them with you and ask some serious questions of the speaker during the presentation. Make them answer your questions for everyone to hear.
You might literally save someone from ruining their kids financial future.
Kris asks-
“What is the talk about this “juice”?”
Mona Vie was the juice company that team fronted to push their inspirational tool scheme after their huge fallout with Amway/Quixtar.
Would you like to hear their ridiculous, illegal claims/testimonies they loved to tout about the “juice” (Mona Vie)??
1. Cures cancer
2. Cures heart disease
3. Helps you sleep at night
4. Gives you more energy
Dallin Larsen (president/founder/ceo of Mona Vie) was a HUGE part of a previous company called Royal Tongan Limu that was shut down by the FDA for very similar bogus/illegal health claims.
Wow, all of this info is just… Really, I have no words. But, I will do my research, print out lots of things to take with me, take notes, write down questions that I already have checked on the answers for and on and on. I must say, I am fearful. Not of this company or what they may threaten. But, of how my friends will react to my questions etc. I have a bad feeling that after all of this, things will change. They will end up cutting us out of thier and their kids lives becuase we see it differently. They see it as a way out of poverty maybe. I see it as them just being nieve to say the very least. And the thing is… it was my friends own brother that ” bought their way in” So, it will be hard to get them to see it clearly when they have trust in their sibling. Hopefully, it won’t turn into the old “blood is thicker than water:. But, that all will be seen in time.
And the juice!… They have not spoke a word yet about any “products” besides the CD’s and books. I had just heard people talk about it on here and was unclear as to where that came into play. Cures cancer, huh? Well, then… who got cured? And why isn’t it everywhere?
Anyways… thanks again. You all are so very helpful, imformative and a pleasure to chat with.
from Kris…”And the juice!… They have not spoke a word yet about any “products” besides the CD’s and books. I had just heard people talk about it on here and was unclear as to where that came into play.”
This is very interesting. I wonder if Dallin Larsen and the executives at MonaVie are aware they were dupped? I’d be willing to be they honestly believe Orrin & Crew are still showing MonaVie plans with the Life business off to the side. And not aware they are only showing the Life business and barely ever mentioning MonaVie.
any MonaVie executives reading this – pay attention to what this recent prospect said. Orrin has basically stopped promoting the company that paid him millions of dollars. Could it be that MonaVie was merely a front, to use until things quited down with the Amway/Quixtar lawsuit? Hmmmm
LOL. Kris, welcome to team-mona vie!…..oh wait, I mean team LIEf.
Kris- I am most certain your friend will shun you. Be prepared. It happens to almost everyone outside the group, because Team creates an US vs THEM doctrine in their system. If you cannot be prospected into the group and it is clear you disagree with the group, you will become the enemy in their minds. Some in the room may not listen to you, but I agree you have the posiblitiy of waking up some of the people as they have been decieved. You will have to be very strong to do it, but you have a lot of facts on your side that many followers do not know about as they have been led through an indoctrination process that teaches them not to look at critical sites. Most have no idea all the people who left Team and/or were stolen from, etc. Followers have NO clue what a controlling group of people they are involved with or what a sham the passive residual income claims on the Team are.
The majority of leaders even at Round Table level are not making a profit much more than a regular job as the expenses to build the Team business are so horrendous. Of course they will never disclose that fact. You could ask to see their tax returns to prove their inome claims and to see their planners to verify they have their time back. If they do be sure to chek out their milage and expenses and planners.
I bet no one will show you, because that is where the truth will show up about what a sacrifice it takes in time and money to build this so called “business” .
You could also ask where it says you own anything in the contract and why they imply it’s “your business” as you own nothing! Orrin owns it all!
Good Luck! Please let us know what happens.
Good morning everyone! I have been reading up on all of the articles, posts, policies and procedures etc… I have some questions… The P&P states that each “member” must reach 50 points each month from the products etc. It says that you have a 6 month grace peroid. So, what happens if you do no reach the set goal? I can’t seem to find ananswer for that.
Also, I am having trouble trying to locate the Analysis stuff. I am sure it is right in front of me and I just haven’t noticed it yet.
Reading through all of this stuff… I think I am more confused that before. How is it possible that they tell new “members” (or anyone) that they are business owners without getting ANY of the proper licenses or documentation?? To be a lega business owner whether it is an LLC, corporation or whatever… you need to go through the federal/local governments to ge all of the documents needed to have ANY type of business. So by them even stating that you are “operating a LIFE business” is by far false. They state very clearly that this is in no way a joint venture, partnership or that they are NOT your employer. Thye also state that if anything legal happens… you are on your own. When it states that you are just an “independent contractor” for them… doesn’t that mean that you ae contracted by them to perform some sort of servce? Ah, but I see now!! And I am sure they DO NOT tell ya… it states that YOU must abide by all laws (federal, state, local) So, by each person that does sell something… is that then illegal because they do not have proper licenses???
I do agree with webelieved…I am sure that we will be shuned. But, since I now found out that they were able to talk the rest of our friends in coming… I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING!!! One of my other friends had been in a horrible accident and has brain damage. He will listen and fall for anything! Especially if a good friend is leading the way. I have half a mind to call my friend that is setting it all up now, but, I will need to do more research first. I want to make sure I can answer and show proof of it al.
Thanks again to all to you!! I see how this can ruin people so hopefully we have time to save them before it is too late!!
“How is it possible that they tell new “members” (or anyone) that they are business owners without getting ANY of the proper licenses or documentation??”
This is all part of the “game” they like to play. One of the biggest lies they love to spew to lure the innocent.
Katie~
I can relate, it can be overwhelming but you are smart to be prepared. Don’t be discouraged but they are very slick with their canned answers (handling objections) that they have been trained to shut you down with. I believe you are looking for the comp plan anaylsis and you could find that under the Life Primer on the right side bar (under #5). You are courageous and are doing the right thing…Cheers!
[editor's note - I believe Speak's message was to Kris, not Katie]
@Kris – You could have a sole proprietorship in your own name which may not require you to fill out any paperwork with the local government (this may vary from state to state). You would be responsible, however, for filling out a Schedule C on your taxes for any profits/losses from your business. Read this article from Peter Reilly; while he talks about taxes and an Amway business, the information applies to most any MLM-type business such as TEAM LIFE.
http://riles52.blogspot.com/2011/06/selling-soap-as-hobby-amway-ibos-in-tax.html
Here is a link to one of the LIFE compensation plan analyses on this site:
http://amthrax.wordpress.com/2011/11/12/reader-report-figures-dont-lie/
Here’s a post on the One Time Cash Awards which they may refer to at the Sunday meeting:
https://amthrax.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/life-one-time-cash-bonus-awards/
Kris- Be sure to point out for @20 years Orrin has promoted Team now called LIFE as a residual, willable, btype, pipeline income/business and yet he has stolen his own leaders incomes and communities without sending so much as a letter. He did this after many leaders built the Team community for years! Mark and Raquel Peters sponsored Dan and Lisa Hawkins, Policy Council members into the community back in 2003/04 and then had their income taken away! The Morgan’s built PC George Guzzardo’s largest leg for him for @14 years and had their income taken away! I have heard the PC also did it to the Raatz, Ron Day and others! So much for their lie of residual income!
Neither the Peters/Morgan’s signed any contracts stating Team (Orrin) could take their income/teams away for any reason. In fact after taking their teams and supposedly residual incomes, Orrin himself refused to give them copies of their contracts! These actions prove the promises Team/LIFE makes about residual income, getting your time back etc. are lies!
Recently LIFE actually put it in their P & P’s that they (TEAM/LIFE) can take teams and income away from distributors, at any time, for any reason!
I bet they don’t tell you that in the meeting!
See the Morgan’s, Peters, Raatz stories etc under the LIFE Primer.
Hello all! Yesterday, I got an email from my friend. Guess she had gone back to work. I asked her if she was just as excited about things as her husband. I told her that now since she is sitting in front of a computer, to please use it. To do some research. I told her to read the Forbes article etc…I asked her to call me. She emailed me back with this video- http://youtu.be/4VmCYyNSkVU
Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything yet. But, I did and now my ears are ringing. I didn’t tell her I thouhgt it was a scam. I didn’t tell her she was crazy for believing. No, I told her how much we care for them and do not want anything to happen to them so to please educate themselves. Guess they don’t want my help or input. But, then again, they were always looking for the easy way out. And they seem to think that they will sit back (for the most part) and watch as the money just rolls in. I am a realist. I look for facts and the big picture. I am feeling very down today because of all of this. Feeling like thay are already gone and do not want us as a part of thier lives.
Hello. Well, everyone wanted to know how it all went yesterday. The day started out… first thing, I found out that my email account had been blocked and I could no longer access it. I can not prove that it had anything to do with me posting the video but… seems funny to say the very least. I had a horrible migraine all day. But, we headed out the door anyway to the
“meeting”. We pulled up and saw some people in suits going into our friends house. UGH! We sat in the car for a minute still debating if we were going in. We looked around for some of our other friends cars… we saw none! But, we gave our word we would be there. So, we got out of the car and knocked on the door. We were greeted by our friends, dressed in their Sunday best so to say. Also, we were greeted by “other members”. We were out numbered by far. My head was pounding. We listened to what we had to say. They outlined parts of the company, compensation and an overview of some products. (which, the only products they are pushing now, IS books and CD’s! ) My husband told them we didn’t want to sign up for anything. We were given some CD’s to listen to. They just make it seem like it is so easy. My friends are already going to other “members” homes (well mansions) to talk about this stuff. I told my husband, that of course this is how it works. You want people to see what you have and have them think it was so easy to get there. Anyways, it was just what I had expected. No one really pushed too much. I am sure they were told about my email to my friend. And I would have freaked if they really pushed (or were loud- with my head pounding!) It reminds me just of other scams. And to tell ya what… Yes, I think that everyone could use some motivation. But, the people on these CD’s well… amusing. LOL
Kris- I was wondering how it is going with your friend now?
Our “friends” no longer contact us. I hear bits and pieces from here and there… they are still going to the seminars, found themselves their own church and never got to walk across stage yet as they didn’t get enough appointments or whatever it is for the month. It has been a few months, at least. I figured it would end up like this. I told them (when they came to see if we would join) that changing our lives is great. That as soon as we get paid, putting 10% back is great. Paying off debt is great. Not wasting money on stupid little things all adds up. And by reading the one book they gave, we knew we didn’t need to spend money to join anything or buy any products or literature/ CD’s or whatever. I said that just didn’t make sense to give money for something like that. Especially when I can get any book cheaper then what they sell. So, we said they would do it their way, and we would do it our way. But, if they becomes milllionaires, we would sign up.Lol So, haven’t talked since. I guess we just are not… worthy. Thanks for checking in!!
Kris- Unfortunately that is what they teach, and US VS Them mentality, so if someone says no, they move on and take it like you are just ignorant to the greatness they have available to them. You just dont get it, and they can’t understand why, because they really want to help you. They may even take your millionare comment as a challenge to work harder, I hope they don’t and they come to their senses soon.
The sense of belonging in the group is strong in Team/LIeF, what many don’t get is as soon as you quit, your upline who cared so much about you dissappears! They could give a dam about you if you disagree with them or stop spending your money. Sick isn’t it?
In the mean time, they have no balance, team keeps them so busy they have no time to reflect on what they are doing to loved ones etc. So sad, when they wake up their friends may have moved on…..too bad.
Oh, one more thing… when we were talking about the whole TEAM thing with them, I did at one point get my friend a bit angry. I was TRYING to get them to see they didn’t need to PAY to improve their lives, situation, kids lives etc. ( since they say- “if it makes me a better person/father/mother etc…). They had asked about the CD’s they let us borrow . I had listened to all they had given while I did my work. But, when they asked they wanted to honestly know what I thought. I laughed and said that they CD’s had no real point to them. They do not teach. They do not show/ tell you any way to improve yourself etc. They are just story time, just “members” saying about fishing trips, yachts, big mansions,etc…Why [ay for that? And my friend got angry, I saw it in her. She said ” well, you buy products to sell, don’t you?” ” And you are spending money to do that” ” “That is exactly how this is, you have to put money out first, but then you make money” “We already got a check for doing NOTHING!” And her demeanor ticked me off by then and I told her- Yeah, I buy stuff. Yeah, I sell it. Yeah, it’s a business. BUT- I get a hefty return on my investments. A lot of stuff I get for free! Anything else, I never spend more than $10 on something and STILL get back well over what I paid. I make money. I don’t go and have to hustle my friends and family. No, I don’t have to do anything- just put it out there and people buy. I don’t sped every day, dressed up, going around to “seminars and meetings”. No, I sit in front of my computer for a few days and on weekends, I got “shopping ” for more products. ( At yard sales, markets, auctions etc…) And they got a check for $10. That was the end of our conversation, really. It ticked me off that they seem to think TEAM will save them and change their lives and give them all of this income because all they are told about is ” bringing their wives home so they do not have to work anymore” They can’t see past the glory to see the truth. Just hope they don’t fall too hard in the end.
And, no, I am not surprised they have abandoned us. We watch tv, listen to music, don’t go to church and swear at times. They used to do all that and then on top of that, they were drunks. So, guess they are a bit better off in a sense. Not drinking up all their money anymore. But, oh well. It is their life. Just wish they still wanted us in their lives. I miss their kids. But, anyways… thanks to all!
Wow that is very telling. You know in Life, if you are in the tree and their is anyone below you you will get a rebate back. I call it that because it was the same in Quixtar, we put people in below our group and everyones reabate got bigger up to 25%. The reason it is done that way is to build belief, however. 95% of them were spending more than they were making, and it is a way to keep them in and believing. Not too many built a second leg big enought to actually come out with a profit. And it took YEARS to make a profit, the expenses were so high. Ask to see a leaders last few years of tax returns, that would be very telling. I would bet even the ones claiming a life style were claiming a loss on their taxes. Can’t have it both ways I’m afraid. When we were all out building it cost thousands a month to run the Team business and we NEVER got our time back, neither does Orrin or any of the PC. They have to spend time plotting the next move they are going to make.
Kris- I loved what you said about your business, you don’t have to hussle your family and friends. I would also add you don’t spend near the time away from your family, and you don’t have to decieve anyone, they know up front what you are selling. No games. Straight up sales. Good for you! I would assume you are selling on ebay?
Funny- they made $10!! That’s it?People on this site are saying they got paid the first few months and now nothing. Doesn’t suprise me.
The more truthful they get in what they are really selling, the less people are buying into their crap.
Yes, selling on Ebay. My family is with me the whole time. We love it! We get to spend time together, find cool things to sell ( and to keep!) and we do it well. We make out good on what we do, I stay home. It’s great. So, no time is spent apart.We also sell at markets and by word of mouth, people find us. When we get home, we unload our new findings and usually spend the rest of the day doing whatever. And we do this on weekends. During the week, I put it out there, sell and ship. Only until everyone else is home from work/school. Then for the rest of the eve… all we have is time to do whatever. Unlike the, where the spend their week running here and there and on the phone, and this and that. Even going out of state for seminars to see Orrin. And I wonder where the kids were.
I get that they have to have people under them to get a kickback of any sort. And they are trying to have their money make some money for them. But, it just doesn’t work like that. Or at least it shouldn’t the way they try to do it. And you said it right, belief. That is the purpose of most of it. To get you to believe if you do what they say…you will have what they appear to have. It’s all just a bunch of smoke and mirrors. When I asked them if they knew about the bankruptcies or foreclosures of some members, they said they had. They told me I see what I want to see because I am negative. So, of course I would see it that way. Really? It’s not just that I am not as gullible or naive?
Hopefully, they will find out sooner than later. Since they were last here, we have paid off a good bit of debt, have a good amount in savings, have done a bunch of around our home and are now ahead of things. Not sure how it is for them.
I am sure they are going backwards fast. Good for you Kris! Sounds like a fun, family business!
The kids when they are gone, are a a sitters. Sitters all of the time. I know from experience. And when the parents are with the kids, they are probably on the phone, listening a cd, reading a book, getting ready for a meeting, rush, rush, rush. No quality time spent with their kids for most parents actively building team, going power player etc.