Working at Home

[DrHilieWho]

Ahh Liam, don't waist your energy. Some people will never learn that professionalism counts just as much before the sale as after.

[LiamFan!]

Perhaps we should be more clear about not allowing ads on the boards?

If you want ad space, I believe wowwomen.com has ad rates. You could inquire about those by emailing the sysop.

[Enda]

I don't think that women come to this board to be mocked about their use of the English language. Since it was used in the right context of the sentence it was obvious what she meant!

It is remarks like those from you and Liamfan that keep women from feeling as though they can freely express themselves which is what this board is suppose to be about. Not an English course where our words and sentences will be critiqued, picked apart, and made fun of.

Or maybe I misundestood the intent of your posts?

[Jendoc]

Hey now, don't go getting upset.
Everyone has got a point and an opinion. That I BELIEVE is what the boards are for. I too am a part of the MOM Team and there are NO ads allowed on this board guys. It's just for work at home moms to chat about working from home. People can e-mail you if they are interested in finding out more about your business. Be sure you read rules before advertising, and if you don't know then ask!

"You can make more friends in two weeks by becoming a good listener than you can in two years trying to get other people interested in you." --Dale Carnegie

[LiamFan!]

Hi Jendoc, and thanks for your post.

I really didn't know what "befeat the perpuse" meant...I wasn't trying to be critical.

After spending quite a while this evening checking out "The MOM Team" and various websites posted here, I'm still very unclear about what this is (other than a pyramid scheme, or multi-level marketing scheme, which I gleaned from the message boards, where people talk about working their way through "levels" and signing up members and associates).

Every night, I delete probably 3/4 of the email I receive because it's spam about improving ones credit rating, getting low interest credit cards, ads for the newest snake oil on the market (or not on the market, but only available through blah blah blah). Is this the kind of business people on those message boards are talking about?

Isn't there a point at which people are just fighting over who clicks on whose link and becomes another notch for whichever member happens to have snagged them?

Why aren't people's "products" or business advertised right there on their homepage?

I'm just curious.

[LiamFan!]

I recommend this link at pyramidschemealert.org:

http://www.pyramidschemealert.org/re...psabstract.htm

Briefly, from the article, an MLM/pyramid can be defined by these characteristics:

"1. A chaining hierarchy of levels of distributors -- more than is functionally justified -- is recruited without area limits, which leads to extreme leverage and perceived saturation in the marketplace.

2. RVE-EHI. Relative vertical equality (RVE) in compensation systems leads to extreme horizontal inequality (EHI) in payout over the entire network of distributors -- huge payouts to a tiny percentage of participants, while the vast majority wind up losing the money and effort they invested over a period of time.

3. Significant purchase or recruiting quotas are required (or incentives offered) to qualify for increasing bonus levels or purchasing discounts in an ascending hierarchy of payout levels (the "pay to play" feature)."

And...

"MLM recruiters should be required to disclose average net payout to distributors (total payout less purchases) from the company by percentiles. This would reveal extreme payout patterns typical of pyramid schemes. Significant resale of products at retail prices should not be assumed, as MLM products are seldom priced competitively.

"Because top upline positions tend to be locked in, the odds of success in achieving payout levels should be estimated by comparing the net increase in distributors at each payout level for a given year with the total numbers of distributors who joined the program for the same year."

Because WOW is intended as a "safe" place for women, I'm asking you to explain exactly what the MOM Team is, and what is required, without requiring people to give you contact information first, before discussing it here.

If it can't be explained, it probably shouldn't be discussed.

[LiamFan!]

One more quick link to an excellent article and a section that really rang true:

http://www.vandruff.com/mlm.html

"The People Machine

Chernobyl had a control system that failed. MLMs have no control mechanisms at all.

Where is the "switch" that can be flipped in an MLM when enough sales people are hired? In a normal company a manager says, "We have enough, let's stop hiring people at this point." But in an MLM, there is no way to do this. An MLM is a human "churning" machine with no "off button." Out of
control by design, its gears will grind up the money, time, credibility, and entrepreneurial energy of well-meaning people who joined merely to supplement their income. Better to just steer clear of this monster to begin with.

There is simply no way to avoid the built-in failure mechanism of MLMs. If a company chooses to market this way, it will eventually "hire" (with no base pay and charging to join) far too many people.

Thus, the only "control system" will be the inevitable losses and subsequent bad image the MLM company will gain after it does what it was designed to do: fail. And sooner or later we have got to stop blaming this particular MLM company or that, and admit that the MLM technique itself is fundamentally flawed."

[Wageslave]

Very interesting discussion...

Can one of the M.O.M. Team people explain, here, what it is the M.O.M. Team members DO to make money, without requiring the rest of us to be directly contacted by a M.O.M. Team member?

It seems to me that if you can discuss it here, and it is legitimate, and you aren't protecting a potential downline (which is a hallmark of a MLM type pyramid scheme), you ought to be able to give some hint here, or on ANY of your identikit web sites what it is you are doing.

Right now it seems very much so like the Wizard of Oz; you want us to ignore the man behind the curtain. I mean, all I'm asking is sort of what Joe Strummer once asked... Let me see your other hand. So, excuse me if it seems I've dropped my dog.

While I'm here, is M.O.M. Team in any way related to, or doing business with or through or in conjunction with Melaleuca?

[Wageslave]

I'm not sure why people asking others not to express their opinions always seem to hide behind the expressing their opinion card.

Isn't asking someone not to criticize, if they feel it is warranted, very much the antithesis of allowing everyone to express their opinion?

Does allowing everyone to express their opinion really require that the first person to express any particular opinion gets "first mover" advantage and gets to direct everyone else's opinion?

[chatterasmom]

Hi Y'all!!

Summertime presents a challenge each year for home-based working moms around the country. Continuing to run one?s business while keeping the kids entertained is a task too daunting for almost any super mom. Kids need attention. They want to have fun. They want to play, go to the park, have friends over, go swimming and so on. Meanwhile, clients are calling, the email box is filling up, and those day-to-day tasks are stacking up by the minute.

It?s enough to make anyone?s head spin. So what?s a home-based working mom to do? Don?t despair. I have found some great tips and advice from real home-based working moms to make your summer less stressful and more enjoyable.

? Have a teen come watch the kids while you work. Since teens are closer in age to the kids, they usually have a blast playing, and you can have some dedicated work time.
? Try to keep a regular "work" schedule, so that the kids know which days are fun days and which days are mom's workdays.
? Set up various summer programs. The kids can choose which programs they want depending on affordability and location. Try to spread the sessions out evenly throughout the summer. Those weeks plan the bulk of your work.
? Plan workdays while the kids, depending on their age, arrange to have friend over. The other days plan day trips and do not count on working. After all, being a Mom is the most important job.
? Look for half-day activities such as swim lessons, tennis lessons or day camps.
? Send your kids on short family vacations to visit family who would love to spend time with them.
? Start a beach or play club with a friend and share watching the kids while you bring along the laptop.
? Try to have everything planned out and let your prospects know if you are going to be ?out of the office? (i.e. having a play day or going on vacation).
? Get a used laptop to take on vacations or outings.
? Work less during the day and more at night. (I WISH!!)
? Use an autoresponder to let your prospects know when you?ll be back in the office.
? Use a cell phone as your business line. But remember turn it off occasionally when you have other important stuff to do (such as watch your three-year-old squish ants and bring them to you).
? Sign your kids up for recreational day camp. You can work three or four days on your business, then take one or two days to dedicate quality time to them.
? Look for enrichment programs such as museums and music camps.
? Set goals for your business, family and yourself. Balance is important. It doesn't do any good to be working at home if your kids get neglected and vice versa. Set up your activities weekly or daily and prioritize.
? Keep a couple of bags of simple crafts handy that the kids can do themselves. The bags should have everything inside they need to do the craft.
? Trade watching kids with a neighbor one or two mornings a week. Then each mom gets one full morning without the kids and it doesn't cost anything.
? Set aside kid time and work time so that you are able to focus on the kids when you are together and focus on work when it's work time.
? Transfer your business line to your cell phone. Work while sitting on the beach with your family.
? Let the business follow you rather than sitting around waiting for calls.
? Attend story time at the local library and trade weeks with other Home-Based Working Moms so that you can spend that time catching up on work
? Organize a babysitting co-op with other Home-Based Working Moms to trade babysitting with.
? Outsource some of your work to other HBWMs and take time to enjoy your children during the summer.
? Get your kids involved. Give them "pretend" jobs to do. Set up a desk next to yours with their own office supplies (crayons, paper, tape, kid scissors and an old phone).
? Get a used computer for your kids. Learning programs are great fun and they teach them while they play.
? Check out books at the library weekly. Reading or just looking at books helps your children?s mind and imagination grow. Also look for activity and craft books to give your children other things to do with or without your help.

The key is balance and planning. Balance your work and your family by planning dedicated time to each. The reason many moms choose to work at home is for the freedom and flexibility it allows. Use that flexibility to your advantage. Look at it as a way to enjoy each stage and each day with your children. The summer will be over before we know it and those memories will be worth making.

I know some of these "suggestions" sound crazy, but hey, we have to start somewhere. And let's face it, the next 90 days are going to be hectic........But we can do this!!!! :-)

Melissa L. Merrill

***edited by sysop. see profile for contact information***

[Jendoc]

Great advice Merrill!

To answer Liamfan and Wageslave, we sure can tell you more about it here. It just gets a bit lengthy, so I will try to keep it brief while explaining the most I can.

Okay, The first big thing is this is the real deal. I'm not here to convince anyone of anything. We don't believe in trying to push anyone into our team that would make for
many unhappy people! I have been with The MOM Team for almost 8 months. I have been getting paid every month since I started, so I know I know it's for real.

Our Team is made up mostly of moms although we have dads and others too. The team is really there for support. We train each other, mentor each other and support each other
in any way we can. I have made many wonderful friends in the last 8 months, I am happy to say.

We work with an exceptional company that is in the Wellness business. The company is called Melaleuca. We can not mention the name in advertising due to one bad apple
several years ago. I am not advertising here, so I can mention our company name now. We are in the business of financial wellness, physical wellness and mental wellness.

We are a catalog shopping company that manufactures and distributes environmentally safe, non-toxic, non-poisonous household consumables. They use Tea Tree Oil in all of
their products to make them safer and healthier for the consumer.

What we do with The MOM Team is called Consumer Direct Marketing. It differs from MLM by way that we don't actually sell, stock or deliver the products. We refer people to
the company to do their own personal shopping and we earn a residual income from it.

I feel like I am helping people personally. To me it's more than money. I am informing people about toxic chemicals that are in most homes today in our cleaning and personal
care products. For more on toxic products in your home you can do some research here:
http://momsforeverhome.homestead.com/index.html

There are some great links to other sites on there too.

The compensation plan is lengthy as well, so I'm going to leave that out before this gets too long. I will say there is a $29 "start up". I hate that phrase. The cost does cover a business kit that explains everything in detail. We do not ask for that before giving more info. In fact we expect people to research our company before starting. It is also 100% refundable. I know this is brief, but I hope it gave you an overview of what we do with the MOM Team. If not let me know. I don't want anyone to have the wrong idea about us!

" Never be afraid to try something new: Professionals built the Titanic, And amateurs built the Ark."

[Jendoc]

I meant great advice to Melissa. I looked at your last name before I typed that. Sorry!

[Wageslave]

I'm happy to see that the MOM Team asks that people research Melaleuca before going to work for them.

Melaleuca remains a company that tests on, and kills, animals; or at least refuses to certify that they no longer test on/kill animals.

As of 4/25/01, for example, PETA was asking that people write to Melaleuca to request that they end their lethal dose tests (LD50):

<font color=red>PETA has dropped Melaleuca--manufacturer of cosmetics and household products--from our "Don't Test" list after learning that it commissioned two animal tests. In 1996, in the course of litigation, Melaleuca commissioned an LD50 test on a competitor's product which resulted in the suffering and deaths of 10 rats. More recently, PETA learned that Melaleuca commissioned another animal test--this one resulting in the deaths of an undisclosed number of dogs--on its nutritional product Provex.

Please let Melaleuca know how you feel about this. Write or call:

Mr. Kenneth Sheppard
Vice President
Melaleuca, Inc.
3910 S. Yellowstone Hwy.
Idaho Falls, ID 83402-6003
208-522-0700 </font>

If I might ask:

Once a MOM Team member "refers" someone to Melaleuca, does this person become part of the referers downline in any way?

Thanks, I truly appreciate your open attitude towards questions!

[Jendoc]

Hi Wageslave

I don't mind answering questions at all. The first thing with the animal tests. I researched it myself. Peta says that they would have kept Melaleuca a part of their list, but due to FDA regulations they had to test the Provex on animals before allowing humans to use it. The animal shampoo also had to be tested on animals since it was to be used by animals. I had not seen anything on the Peta site before about the rats. I have not checked the Peta site for several months however, so it must have been added since I was last there.

In answer to your other question, yes when someone is refferred to Melaleuca by a marketing executive (that's what we call ourselves) they do become a part of that person's downline. They do not have to pursue a business unless they choose to. They can also cancel at any time. The $29 start up is 100% refundable for 3 full months after signing up. The products are at any time refundable.

I hope that helps! Let me know if you need to know anything else!

[Wageslave]

Originally posted by Jendoc
Hi Wageslave

The first thing with the animal tests. I researched it myself. Peta says that they would have kept Melaleuca a part of their list, but due to FDA regulations they had to test the Provex on animals before allowing humans to use it.

Jendoc, I'm sorry but your information is faulty. Perhaps you should request that those who gave it to you substantiate any information they give you in the future.

As I posted, Melaleuca is currently on the PETA list and there is no reference to PETA saying what you say here. None.

You can check this by visiting http://www.peta.org and entering "Melaleuca" as your search term in the search box.

Melaleuca was not required to perform any LD50 tests, and (indeed) others do not.