Today we said good-bye to the captain of the HMCS Amway Canada as we celebrated Jim Hunking’s retirement.
As the Managing Director – Canada & the Caribbean, Jim’s had a three-plus-decade run in various roles at Amway Canada. Starting in the finance department, Jim worked his way through the ranks and has been an integral part of the success this company has enjoyed.
I’ve worked in a few places in my day and when it comes to senior management, I can honestly say that Jim’s at the top. I’ve had owners/managers that could share an elevator with you and not have a clue that you worked for them (I’ll leave their names out to protect the not-so-innocent). Jim isn’t like that.
He knows everyone’s name, always has a kind word or greeting, and has a wicked sense of humour (I know! For a finance guy!) That type of attitude from a person in his position is far more rare than it should be – and we were lucky to have Jim steering this ship.
Beyond what he did for Amway, Jim also was a presence on the national and international stage as part of the Direct Selling Association of Canada. He’s a winner of the organization’s prestigious Ivan P. Phelan award – the industry’s highest individual honour — which is given to the person who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of the direct selling industry in Canada, and he spent nine years representing all of North America with the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations.
So now he’s off to greener pastures (well, hopefully greener, but there will probably be some sand traps and deep rough in his future, as well.) It’s safe to say he’ll be missed. I know many of you, both in the IBO world and in the direct selling industry, have had the opportunity to get to know Jim. We’d love to hear your thoughts – feel free to share your memories and well wishes in the comments section below.
Driving into work today, I heard an advertisement on the radio, promoting some computer-based opportunity. The announcer was blustering away, in a full hyperbolic frenzy, about how your computer could do the work for you! That's right! No need to go to a job… just buy our program and sit back and relax! In fact, you can sell high-end merchandise without ever seeing it, warehousing it, or touching it…
Seriously. Does anyone ever fall for that? I'd like to think that the old adage of, "If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is…" still holds.
Unfortunately, our industry often gets tarred and feathered because of this mentality. Whether it's someone operating an illegal pyramid-style business, or someone overzealously overstating income potential, every legitimate business opportunity and independent business owner across the direct-selling spectrum suffers.
Obviously, this type of marketing must work. My e-mail SPAM box attests to that. I mean, if you read my e-mail, you'd think I have serious problems with both my length AND girth! Of course, that physical impediment has not stopped thousands of nubile young Russian girls from throwing themselves at my (allegedly diminished) manliness. And let's not start with the fact that all of Nigeria apparently requires my bank account to rescue the prince's funds… (How many princes does Nigeria have anyway? And as a Federal Republic, do they really need a Prince?)
But somewhere, some lonely sort is on the computer must be thinking to themselves, "I really could add inches in just minutes? And Anastasia Natalyia Grabwalletovich is really, truly, interested in me? And think of all the time I could spend with her as my computer does all the work!"
And as they sprain their fingers in their zeal to click on that link, somewhere, someone profits.
The thing about this business is that it does require work. You need to get out and introduce people to this business, whether it's to become an IBO, or buy products. They're not going to come to you. And most people are honest about this fact — but across this direct-sales spectrum there are those who choose to bend the rules, stretch the truth, and/or outright lie. And that hurts everyone trying to make an honest living.
Your thoughts? Have you — or do you know of someone — who's actually tried one of these radio offers? How do you deal with skepticism caused by others? How do we fix this, system-wide? Or am I wrong, and are you enjoying blissful evenings with Tatiana as the laptop hums away in the background? Comments are open!