Usananananana!!!

I revisited my Groupies!!! The Usananites! I missed them. At first I thought it would be weird showing up again out of the blue, but only two people sort of blew me off -and I didn't know them that well so I didn't care.

It was a Saturday training, and I took notes.

First valuable thing I learned was a recent covering of a corrupt drug company selling medication that was suppose to decrease Diabetes, but instead was causing increased heart attacks and stroke leading to the injury or death of 80,000 people. Avendia or Avandia was the drug. The government ended up suing the company for $3Billion dollars -which sounds like a lot but they had profited $100 Billion from the drugs sales. They also payed off scientists to write articles claiming the drug produced good effects.

So I learned a lot about Diabetes today, which is good to know.

The other thing I was taking notes on were the Strengths and Weaknesses of Usana and WFG presentations and structuring.

Usana Issues:

1)The associates there speak in unison during presentations. They will respond to whatever the speaker says at the same time with phrases like, "That's right", "Mmmhhhmm", "Yah", "Uh huh"... It's Cultish.

2) You have to stand outside 2 hours before you can go in. I was there at 8am. It as freakin cold and windy out. A girl I'd just met took pity on me and she had her guy friend lend me a coat to wear. My feet were frozen by the time I went in. Not cool.

3) Their Presentation room could use a little redecorating... maybe it's just my inner-designer.

4) You still can't bring guests on the same day as presentations. Sucks. I want my friends to meet my Usanamite friends and they can't meet them all if it's not a Saturday training.

5) Saturday trainings aside, the week trainings are weak trainings. I was talking to Emily about this today and she said that because of the language barriers and varied levels of education, the leaders at Usana kind of have to spoon feed and baby the associates along so they can keep up and follow along. And for Emily and I, honestly being two of the few people there who have been to college for more than one year -we are ahead of the program. But people keep getting frustrated for Em for not achieving a higher position despite her creativity and depth of understanding. We're Pisces. We take forever when it comes to action. We're instant when it comes to ideas and dreams though.

*Another interesting side note: Since getting a Home Office, Usana's numbers have dropped down pretty drastically. It's weird. The spot is 10 minutes away from the Hotel they usually go to and during the week they were always finding cramped houses in random neighborhoods that would always move around. Now that they are stable and nested in, my peeps have flown the coop. Ok...

Usana Strengths:

1) Great mentors. WFG has great mentors -but they don't speak as often and there are fewer of them.

2) Unity: This group is more like a club of friends. Everybody connects on facebook and is in constant communication with each other. The leaders honestly support their underlings (which they kind of need to do anyway) and there seems to be a greater sense of comradery and respect among members. They call each other family members -which at first was kind o weird, but now it's kind of comforting.

3) Greater energy -Maybe it's because they're younger and have been to rallys more recently, but the Energy in the room is amazing. You can feel it. And everyone is lively and they all participate. At WFG, it can occasionally b more of a snoozer -not Boring, but a lot less Energetic.

4) Better Award Ceremonies -They hand out plaques in WFG and the people come up, get them, and everyone applauds. But in Usana, a girl hit Silver Director and she was given flowers and the floor to say whatever she wanted. This was my second time witnessing an award like this being given -she cried. They always cry. Even the guys. It's so overwhelmingly moving for them. I felt like crying. And as a gift instead of an award, they got her a belt. At first I thought, why? An accessory... really? But it was a Higher-Vlue than Gucci belt that the girl had really wanted. It was on her Aspirations to Obtain Wish-List. And they knew. They knew her well enough to know what they could get her that would truly showed they supported and cared about her. Not a plaque, but flowers and a real gift. It was moving.

5) Multiple Speakers for 1 Presentation. Juan... bless his heart... talks a lot. It's nice when they break it up into 1-3 speakers just to add variety and more points of view/topics.

6) They give Facts and Testimonials. The notes in WFG have gotten a little redundant. I really wish they'd post hard facts like the ones they've covered in the past about Annuities or filling out Applications. The Usana testimonials are also really personable and informative.

7) They have food and snacks. Em was actually bummed out because they said she couldn't cook food for them anymore. They're selling strait up Usana products and the money goes to the office. Which is why I'm going to try to hook Em up with WFG. We need snacks and beverages over there. The meetings take place from 7-10pm on weekdays and from 10-1pm on Saturdays. Snacks would be appreciated, especially by guests who now have food to enjoy so they will feel more compelled to come back. Just like pigeons at the park...

8) These are the greatest potential new recruits into WFG you could ask for. Young, desperate for work, energetic entrepreneurial, know how to dress for business because they've been groomed by Usana, know a similar business structure, have been selling expensive products in a recession instead of helping people plan for retirement or save money from being lost, have great manners, seek personal improvement, easily taught and instructed, have a lot of family and friends, and Goal oriented. Score!

WFG Issues:

No snacks :(
Smaller presentation/mingling space
Less Unity and Energy... for now...

WFG Strengths:

Great Leaders, a better SYSTEM, better at building people and getting them promoted, they re-emphasize structure and rank, better business strategy -getting recommendations from people (Usana does this, but far less successfully), Better names for Ranks**

** Names for Ranks:

WFG -> Usana

Associate -> Believer
Senior Associate -> Director
Senior Marketing Director -> Gold Director
Executive Marketing Director -> Ruby/ Emerald Director

The last thing is the pay system. Holy crap. I am so glad I'm in WFG. I get payed more for doing easier work.

In Usana:

If you have 1 Businss Center you get 10% commission.
If you have 3 Business Centers you get 20% commission.

After that, depending on rank, you get company shares which usually pay $250-500 a week. You get more shares with the higher the rank.

Gold Director: Makes $1000+ and1 Share = $1500 a week
Ruby Director = $2000+ and 2 shares = $3000 a week
Emerald Director = $3000+ and 6 shares = $6,000 a week ($24,000 a month)
Diamond Director = $6000+ and 21 shares = $16,500 a week($66,000 a month)

Most make it to Gold. Not many go much further. And those people are Full-time selling Usana products.

In WFG...(bless me or writing all of my notes in Micorsoft Word)

For One IUL Policy:

$250 (Policy) x 12 (years paid ahead of time) = $3000.

3000 x 136.5% = 4,095 (Points)

4,095 x 0.35 (35% - Contract Pay) = $1433.25

$1433.25 x 0.4 (40%) = $575

575 x 2 = $1150 (Average income for selling a $250 policy)

Part-time will usually get 3-5 policies a week, $3-5000+ a month (like Ayu).

Full-time it can be 20+ policies a week, $10-50,000+ a month.

Training Associate = 30% Commission (Me)

Associate = 40% (Ayu)

Senior Associate = 55% (Soon to be Ayu)

Marketing Director = 62%

Senior Marketing Director = 81% (Juan)

The odds of making a "sale" are much larger in WFG, more frequent, and give a grater return on commission. And once you hit SMD they also give you company stock options.

Usana is great. But WFG is greater. I'm going to make it in WFG, become a leader, and give free samples of Usana to people.