People Helping People Help Themselves: Selling or Sponsoring: Which is more Important?

[ A collection of writings by Rich DeVos & Jay Van Andel; Co-Founders of Amway Corporation ]

It depends on you. If you joined Amway for the sake of a good part-time income, merchandising is it. You can be well repaid simply by developing a list of customers - and serving them well.

But if you're out to build an independent business of your own, merchandising and sponsoring both count. Few Distributors ever build a truly independent business through merchandising alone - there just aren't enough hours in the day. But "building a business" through sponsoring alone is like building a house on a week foundation.

Why? Because the people you sponsor - and the people they sponsor - look to you for leadership and example. When they see you're not merchandising, they feel they shouldn't either.

On the other hand, when a Distributor starts by selling and sponsoring, the business works because both halves of the business are being built at the same time. A business build on this solid foundation will endure and grow.

Sponsoring may look more impressive than selling - just as a skyscraper looks more impressive than a cement foundation extending deep into the ground. But without that foundation, no skyscraper can long exist.

Build - and constantly maintain - a strong foundation of retailing in your business, and your sponsoring "skyscraper" can reach to the stars!