Values

Crestom is a good example of a company that talks about having values. When it comes down to the bottom line they are nothing more than money grabbing hucksters. They only see your money in their pockets. They found a way called "franchising" to peddle their shoddy product on a trusting public.

Greed will do us in.

Not to take away from Gordon Gecko's speech in the movie; "Wall Street." Greed is not good. Striving, pursuing, achieving and working for greater goals are admirable. But, without the knowledge of God men are left with greed. This will be our downfall unless we return to God's ways. Crestcom is a good example of greed at other people's expense.

Job,career or survival?

In the book of Genesis it describes how man 's fall effected his work. It is by the "sweat of our brow" we earn our livelihood. Work is now toil and struggle. But, we had somehow been told that work is to be our identity. Should we return to the notion that work is what we do and Christ is our identity. But we are also told to do our work as unto the Lord as our calling. So, we pour ourselves into our work without losing our identity. Just pray we have work to occupy till He comes.

Positive thinking?

A new book, "Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking has Undermined America," by Barbara Ehrenreich caused me to reflect on my own worldview. Has American Christianity been corrupted? I have been weighing this since I became a Christian in 1979. I was caught trying to harmonize Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale with Jesus. Maybe Joel Osteen, Robert Shuler and others have co-oped the gospel. I think Zig Ziglar is somewhere in between. I don't know the answer. I think that the answer lies somewhere in the book of James.

Due Diligence

Yes, I did my due diligence on the Crestom franchise. However, as I now know anyone who has lost their franchise over a year drops off the list. So that leaves people who are still involved with the business or are trying to sell their franchise. So, they tend to not be to negative as this impacts their investment.
Again, in my due diligence I was told over and over all you need to do was follow the system. The only ones who fail don't not follow the system or can't memorize the 30 minute word for word presentation -verbatim. Well I did this. It took a huge effort to memorize a 30 minute presentation word for word. I was told not a single word to be changed. These words are almost magic. Word-smithed by the collective genius of Crestom gurus. Well, they scapped the whole thing and re-worked it in my first few months in business. How much confidence was I supposed to have? So much for due diligence.

Crestcom Rebuttal

If Veronica from Canada reads this blog you will see an extremely detailed account of the devastating effect of Crestcom on people they dupe. You may think I didn't try. Well, if you lose your 401 K on this crappy franchise, you think I didn't work hard at it. My wife and were counting on this for our retirement. But read this before you post any more of your "cult like" devotion to Crestcom. It worked for you great, some people in Vegas come out ahead. I didn't know buying a franchise had worse odds. I should have spent my 60 K in Vegas where Meg went belly up with her franchise.

Getting weary

I've been going back to the beginning of this blog and realized I've been chasing the job/career part of my life for the last 3 years. I wonder what God's purpose is in all this? Why would He lead me into the Crestcom scam? What do I learn from this? But, I am growing weary of the same old chase.

Crestcom International Franchise

I wonder if the Crestcom and TES guys are having a happy "Thanksgiving?" Giving thanks for all the people they have been able to con and rip off?

Why we are in trouble

Two schemes are robbing people of their wealth and dreams. Both perfectly legal. Franchising and MLM's. Both of these are legal loopholes to make rich hucksters even richer. If you can legally steal and defraud they have found a way. Shame on us, shame on them. God will judge.

Crestcom International Franchise

These people are nothing more than "dream pimps." Stay away from Crestcom and The Entrepreneurs Source they are all smoke and mirrors and they are only in the business of selling franchises, not helping you succeed, but only in lining their own pockets.

What's my beef with Crestcom?

All right so I bought a franchise and it didn't work out. So, there are no guarantees, right. Well when you spend 60 k for "dated" references, marketing and sales material that are a "work in progress" and no support would you feel reamed. Yes, this guys wouldn't even lift a finger to help buy back or sell the worthless garbage they pawned off on me. The rules are you get dropped off the UFOC so the other poor saps can't even contact me or any other suckers who they ripped off. When your trying to sell training (an intangible product) to small business owners you think you have a finished product. NO, after having memorized a 30 minute script word for word it was scrapped and redone. By this time I was out of money and unable to support the business. They could have cared less.

What Crestcom did to me

Someone posted this on the internet I liked it so I borrowed it. I don't have anyone to attribute it to though.
I guess you could make money if you can defraud
the unsuspecting, honest
job seeker and retailer as
well. Now days moral integrity means failure.
The financial ambush of
honest hard working
Americans is astronomic.
If you haven't sold out
you are already counted
as the wounded and an
easy to finish off prey.
Take it like good folks.
They can't buy your
body, mind or spirit.
Stand the test, for you
are the meek.

crestcom liars cheats thieves

If you are so great how come you changed your marketing material right in the middle of my 3rd month.

http://www.franchisesolutions.com/franchise-business-video/index.cfm?fileName=videos-movies-clips/Crestcom-Franchise.flv

Smoke and mirrors. You'll walk away feeling like you were abducted by aliens and given an anal probe. They got your money, you got worthless crap.

Crestcom International Franchise

Why do I continue to vent? Because I refuse to accept we should remain silent while these "snake oil salesmen,"continue to prey upon folks dreams. They are the lowest form of human life that possibly man can fail into. Pimping their old outdated crap. Shame on you guys. You may be "bullet proof" but when judgment day comes you will be held accountable.

Crestcom International Franchise

I would like to know, if you sold somebody something and it turned out to be useless because you didn't have it fully ready when you sold it, wouldn't you feel a least bit remorseful about it? Wouldn't you try to make restitution? Not Crestcom, they have no other care after they got your money. The guys who broke into my house are in jail. These guys stole much more and are free. At least for now. There's a judgment coming.

Crestcom International Franchise

You sold me a worthless, tired, old, broken franchise. Are you ever going to own up to this or are you going to hide forever. TES is also complacent in this nonsense. You can rip off people and take their money like common thieves. But there is a judgment coming.

Franchise's and MLM's

I guess these two types of ways for most middle class folks to have a dream, are like shark infested waters, swim at your own risk. I've been burnt by both. I guess I trust people to be at least somewhat honest. Well TES and Crestom are sharks looking to feed off you. BEWARE! Franchise's and MLM's are the new way the sharks smell blood (your money.)

Venting

I'm taking a break from my usual R&R (ranting and raving about the Crestcom pirates.) I'm now going to vent a little about the job search. It sucks. Can't we at least improve that. It is no better now than 1967 when I first went on the hunt. Then they posted jobs in the newspapers, state agency, and word of mouth. What has changed? Job boards are a monumental joke, the state agency's are still just as clueless, and word of mouth is now called "Networking." Either way "It's not WHAT you know it's WHO you know." Can't we improve?
By the way Crestcom sucks.

Crestom International

I am going to continue to speak out about this has been franchise. They peddled me a tired old worn out franchise and then did nothing to help me make it go. Shame on you Hal & associates.

Beware of Crestcom International

This franchise had more bugs in its franchise's "so called magic script" than a 4th of July picnic on a Mississippi riverboat.

Crestcom International worthless franchise

I'm going to keep on until I get my message out. These guys sold me a "franchise." What is the purpose of buying a franchise as opposed to going it alone? Well the franchise is supposed to offer the expertise and success formula. These guys sold me a product in major revision. As far as success, most of their franchises are barely staying afloat. This franchise is all "smoke and mirrors." Please don't continue to take peoples dreams and life savings. Have you no sense of decency?

Crestcom International

I wondered the other night if these guys were born in another area who would they be? Snake oil salesmen, pirates or ordinary charlatans. They found franchising and exploited it. Just like the every generation has done. The bad guys find a way to exploit others. But there is a judgment day coming. You will answer for your deception. Run, hide or enjoy yourself while you can. You will be held accountable.

Risky business Crestcom Franchise

Crestcom franchisees sell a high priced intangible product. This is tough enough with the proper support and marketing. But with their outdated references and marketing materials that were so poorly produced they had to be redone, a franchisee doesn't stand much of a chance. Add to this the restrictions they put on you and their indifference as to any help. I have to concluded that my experience with those guys left me wondering what kind of people they actually are?

But does it work? Crestcom bad investment!

This is what they say:

(I wonder if an advertiser gets a good rating? Maybe it means the other management and sales training franchises are just bigger money pits.)

Crestcom International a Business to Business Franchise

If you are searching for a top-rated business opportunity ... Crestcom is the answer!

Rated Entrepreneur magazine's #1 management/sales training franchise in four of the past six years. Crestcom Distributors are active in numerous countries and the training is available in several languages. Master distributorships are still available in some countries

Crestcom International Franchise are dream crushers!

Crestcom International over promises and under delivers. They offer a franchise but only a few people succeed either by luck, they have an incredible network, or they are extremely gifted salespeople. I was sold a franchise because they were supposed to give me the support and back up I needed. They did neither. They changed their marketing and sales formulae right in the middle of my first few months. They sunk me and crushed my dream.

When its broke don't fix it franchise it!

This is the worn out mentality of Crestcom ,these guys are old dudes past their sell by date, trying like crazy to squeeze a few last bucks out of the unsuspecting public, thinking they will win, 'cause they died with the most toys. God will judge you.

Crestom International

This quote is from Rip-off Reports about the company that hooked me up with Crestom International. Crestcom is so worthless. They have a few hot shot salesman who catch a good market but for the most part this shouldn't even pretend to be a franchise. They really have nothing to franchise. They should just sell their training material to salesman and let presenters facilitate the training. Not enough money in doing business with integrity I guess.

Many of the clients we unknowingly placed (as well as other TES consultant placements) with the franchises represented by TES have failed. Many of the 100+ franchises that work with TES are very poor business models.

Day will come

You guys at Crestcom continue to amaze me. Changing your material constantly refining the process and then passing this crap off as a "franchise." The people who make it are the" top line best of the best" closer type sales people. That's not what you told me. You said YOUR script and marketing material will work IF I STICK TO THE SCRIPT. Well you didn't stick to the script you revised it. How was I to have confidence in it when it was admittedly flawed?? I wish I was "Bullet Proof," because you guys shot me in the back! Your day will come. God will repay you . REPENT!

How do you guys sleep?

I wondered how the guys who sold me that crappy franchise at Crestcom sleep at night? I look at my 60 year old wife who has to go to to work everyday (and probably till she drops over dead cause you sucked up our 401 k) and wonder how would you like it if you were me? Sleep well, I don't. Thanks for the golden opportunity. Thanks for the worthless scripts and material you pawned off on me.

Why all the fuss?

Shouldn't I just admit I failed and that Crestcom did all they could do. I agree they didn't guarantee success. But they gave me marketing materials and presentation materials that needed major revisions. That helped cause my failure. On top of that they refused to buy back or help mitigate my loss in anyway. Do you think if you bought a McDonalds or KFC franchise and find out they were working on the special sauce and secret recipe and had to redo it would you feel cheated? Well Crestcom Management Training? Maybe not so "bullet proof training" after all. Crestcom Franchise is not telling the whole story. Not really out for you. Huh Mr. Crestcom? I'm no longer on the UFOC list so prospective suckers, I mean buyers, can't call me. This is my only way of warning unsuspecting people who only want a fighting chance. Franchise opportunity? Yeah, like trying to compete in the Daytona 500 in a 1991 k-car with retread tires. They blame the driver!!!!!

Researching Franchise Opportunities

Scamming has a long history in the franchise business. This is in part due to the fact that when the idea of franchising first got put into motion over five decades ago, it presented an extremely enticing and lucrative opportunity for many eager entrepreneurs. Indeed, it was - and still is - a very powerful tool for enterprise expansion that has provided great opportunities to countless business people throughout the world. Unfortunately, as with many business negotiations and investment opportunities, those who wished to defraud others definitely had their place in the early days of franchising - and traces of these fraudulent activities remain franchise business practices today.

read further: www.franchisefoundations.com

Just how clueless these guys are.

I noticed not much of Crestcom is up to date. Just like the material they gave me. Like their founder, they're stuck in a time warp. Look at their website. www.crestcom.com site is 3 years behind. Look at one of the covers of a magazine that they say endorses them - states; "Is Your Business Ready for Y2K?" Just a suggestion spend the money you fleeced me out of on maybe update your company, so that franchisees have a fighting chance.

No Win.

When your broker is a fraud too, then you might as well bend over and grab your ankles .

From Rip-off Report:

Even if you find a client who wants to work with you to find a franchise, many of the franchisors we work with are terrible. We are telling our clients that franchises have a 90% success rate. This is an outright, boldface lie!!! Franchises really don't have any better success rate than do independent businesses. That's because franchisors don't count the franchisees who sell or close down their business as a failure. As a matter of fact, when I was validating the TES franchise and I checked through the UFOC there were only about 10-15 TES consultants who had left the system. In reality there were more 50 and maybe even 100. That's because people who were considered inactive or who had just closed down were not counted as terminated. This is a very common practice with all franchisors not only TES.

The bottom-line is The Entrepreneur's Source is a fraud. There is currently a huge lawsuit involving about 20 former consultants with damages over 1 million dollars. Complaints have also been filed with the Federal Trade Commission and the Connecticut Attorney General against TES.

This Is what American capitalism has turned into.

The people at Crestcom who stole my money and dreams are what is wrong with America and free market capitalism. They find loopholes and exploit them. The sell worthless franchises and then show utter disdain and contempt for you, once they have your money. Did the help by buying back or helping me sell my worthless franchise? Not on your life. They can't be sued see article.
Caveat emptor (buyer beware) and competent, professional advice are your best and only defenses. Of course, you could try to save money up front, get involved with a questionable franchise, and lose your entire investment (including perhaps your home, savings and retirement accounts), then hire a litigation attorney (who in turn hires a franchise expert for review and guidance) to try and recover damages. Problem is, you're probably broke at that point and could never afford the $10,000 or $20,000 retainer it takes just to get things started and learn what you should have learned initially - and at a small fraction of the cost. (unless of course like in my case the franchise broker is just as corrupt!)
All I can say is these people's lust for money, apparently, is exceeded only by their contempt for the hardworking people who's lives and dreams they shatter and ruin. Justify your actions all you can. Assuage your already seared conscience. Keep on doing what your doing, because you helped ruin our way of life one person at a time. Feel proud, sleep well.

Franchises

Read this and you will see how easy it is to get duped. Hal Krause and the Crestcom thieves are part of this madness. I will speak out against your piracy.

http://www.franchisefoundations.com/franchisearticlesii.html

What do you do?

The prevailing wisdom is to do what you love and the money will follow. Well, that may be the case if you happen to be Tiger, Kobe, Lance or Gates. The rest of us need a job. I can't get "out of the box" yet to find out how to make my dreams pay my bills. If I do I will then let you in on the secret. Until then, Hi ho, hi ho its off to work I go!

Forgiveness

I never want it misunderstood that although I desire justice and want somehow for God to intervene that I don't forgive those who have stole from me or wronged me. I do forgive you, even if you don't ask me to. I harbor no personal ill will towards anyone. I pray also for forgiveness to those I have wronged intentionally or inadvertently. This is hard sometimes and sometimes I don't "feel" like it. But only by the power of God through His Son and Holy Spirit can this be done.

The Crestcom phoneys and the rest of you (you know who you are) need to read Psalm 10

Why are you far away, LORD? Why do you hide yourself when I am in trouble?
Proud and brutal people hunt down the poor. But let them get caught by their own evil plans!
The wicked brag about their deepest desires. Those greedy people hate and curse you, LORD.
The wicked are too proud to turn to you or even think about you.
They are always successful, though they can't understand your teachings, and they keep sneering at their enemies.
In their hearts they say, "Nothing can hurt us! We'll always be happy and free from trouble."
They curse and tell lies, and all they talk about is how to be cruel or how to do wrong.
They hide outside villages, waiting to strike and murder some innocent victim.
They are hungry lions hiding in the bushes, hoping to catch some helpless passerby. They trap the poor in nets and drag them away.
They crouch down and wait to grab a victim.
They say, "God can't see! He's got on a blindfold."
Do something, LORD God, and use your powerful arm to help those in need.
The wicked don't respect you. In their hearts they say, "God won't punish us!"
But you see the trouble and the distress, and you will do something. The poor can count on you, and so can orphans.
Now break the arms of all merciless people. Punish them for doing wrong and make them stop.
Our LORD, you will always rule, but nations will vanish from the earth.
You listen to the longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help.
You defend orphans and everyone else in need, so that no one on earth can terrify others again.

no more middle class

I was just reflecting on the fact that the so called "middle class" in the USA is gone. We have working poor and poor working the system.. We have some rich who earned it and most rich who where born into it or cheated everybody to get it. But no middle class. You can't "work your way up" anymore. I guess the new socialist takeover was inevitable. Hope the new regime gets around to wealth redistribution soon. But they won't, Jesus said, "The poor will always be with you." But He also said "It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven." Just some thoughts.

Right on

The guys at despair.com got it right. Visit their website.

Can't tell the good guys

Sad to say there is no real way to tell the good guys from the bad guys. I tried to institute a website that would evaluate and expose these kind of scam artist and con men. But they may have gotten the upper hand. I have to wade through all the bs just to stay afloat.

An example

(I may publish the name later, but this jerk is in a lawsuit frenzy right now.)
This was published by a co-worker, this is the truth!!


I worked for *****for a short time and there is no pay (100% commission) no benefits, no salary, no sick time and employees were only paid when they sold large up front retainer fees, the employee usually gets $1000. I am not a disgruntled employee but i sure am sorry i wasted my time there. It sounded so good when i interviewed. Fortunately i found a good company when i left. When i was hired by*******he told me that i should be able to make millions. No way. Employees did not stay there long enough to make any significant money.

The business model is to get as many companys to pay as large up front retianer fee as possible and then send someone out and make presentations to overseas buyers who are comonly lined up at the last minute. The u s customer is told about 15 customers will have their products presented but from what i heard they would be willing to take any number. There were 20-25 customers on average per trip. Many times a customer would have numerous products, but usually only one sample item would be taken overseas depending on how many could be squeezed into one suitcase.

Employee turnover is huge. After a couple of weeks it becomes evidence what is going on there. The only money you make is money from potential u s customers who are willing to fork over anywhere from $1500 to $3200 depending on whether global trade base needs the money for current operating expenses. The only income they have seen in 2008, according to management is from the retainer fees charged for overseas trips. I was told that they have not made a product sale yet. When an employee quits, then any of the accounts that were signed up by that employee are placed in limbo and not followed up on. Current employees do not want to get old accounts because their only source of income is newly collected retainer fees and current customers are usually upset from a lack of communication. That is why it is hard to get a response along with not having good news to give the customer. Even if they make a single sale, one sale out of 25 clients is not very good odds.

Reps were hired strictly based on the ability to close retianer fees and no one according to the management had any exporting experience except **** which was back in 1994. The business model up until jan 2008 was email, fax and phone marketing. The trips did not start until early 2008 and trade experts were not sent overseas. Instead reps with no overseas exporting experience were sent and they are learning as they go. I was told the first two trips were a total bust and the reps never even followed up with the customers. When reps are hired they are told that they can travel if they want to, even without exporting experience. In many employees opinion, the sales trips were an attempt to make good on the promised presentation of the customers sample. If there is no guarantee then there is no expectations. If the product is so good and the exporter is so successful then why is a retianer required? Need references? There are no references to give according to the people i talked with except a reference from belarus which they never made a sale there. All export companys require a non disclosure agreement and still advertise the brands they represent on their websight. Dunn & bradstreet shows no trade experiences for ****** and the classification of the type of company is listed wrong.

If you do some research on the internet you will see places showing yearly sales anywhere from 100,000 to 5 million yet the dunn & bradstreet says low 8 figures (unsubstantiated) which is $10,000,000+. If they were making any overseas sales, much less 10 million, it seems that each employee would have their own office or cubicle instead of doubling or tripling up employees in each of the small offices. The desks do not have computers. Most employees who works upstairs must go up and down steps to get to the computer room downstairs to do anything on the internet or to send emails. The computers are old, slow and problematic and there is no accounting software or databases to keep track of potential clients being called. As a result many customers are called numerous times.

Everyone who worked for ****or currently works for ****knows most of the truth.

From what i understand the owner had an employee meeting and explained his 2004 conviction, but i believe he failed to mention the 2000 arrest and later conviction for a much more serious charge. He is on high risk probation until 2010 and it just so happens that this is the same time he said he is opening up a office in amsterdam (what a coincidence). All of this can be referenced on the texas department of public safety-crime records service.

Any person going to work for ****** or any company considering partnering with them should do research and verify as much information as possible. Is very easy to find past employees and u s customers, should you spend the time. Another place to research would be mugshots dot com. If potential customers or employees do the research and decide to partner with **** then at least they will have the information to make a informed decision.

Former Employee
Hurst, Texas
U.S.A.

Last days?

From the Bible: 2 Timothy 3:1,2: But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money.......

So many greedy company's and people out there in the business world. Not just greedy but unethical. Scams and people just outright taking advantage of folks for dishonest gain. I been on so many interviews with company's that were so dishonest you just wonder how these guys sleep at night. I worked for a company for 3 weeks till I found they were not being honest with their clients and people who worked for them. They almost had me. But seeing so much of it out there and being victimized, I understand why the USA is in the shape its in. Were no better in a lot of ways than some third world corrupt"banana republic."

The Names Exposed

I thought I would reveal the names of the two companies I felt were deceitful and helped bilk me out of everything I had. The last two posts are from "Rip Off Report." I'm not alone. Maybe something needs to be done to further regulate these greedy parasites from the free market system. But regulation alone would stop them. They and their lawyers will find a way. When they finally bring enough people down they can gloat about their successes. There will be a final judgment though and when they stand before God I hope and pray they have a strong defense.
Personally I forgive them. My only hope is to help others from being taken by these greedy people.

Rip-off Report: The Entrepreneur's Source, Terry Powell, CEO The Entrepreneur's Source Continues Fraudulent, Dishonest, & Deceptive Business Practices!! Southbury, Connecticut

Rip-off Report: The Entrepreneur's Source, Terry Powell, CEO The Entrepreneur's Source Continues Fraudulent, Dishonest, & Deceptive Business Practices!! Southbury, Connecticut

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Rip-off Report: Crestcom International Sold me a worthless franchise and wouldn't help me out Greenwood Village Colorado

Rip-off Report: Crestcom International Sold me a worthless franchise and wouldn't help me out Greenwood Village Colorado

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To all you guys at CC

Yes, this is you Hal, Kelly, John and Mr. B.S. you're no better than this guy. May the same fate await you.

Going on or hanging on?

I just had to let go. They weren't about to help me out. To add insult to injury the country club I joined won't let me out of the yearly membership commitment. So I had to pay and couldn't afford to play (green fee's cart fee's etc.) How ironic. I felt God was punishing me at this point. Life lost any color or flavor.

My dream

This is the feeling I had on September 18th 2006. I felt God had lead me into this. At least I had every indication He did. If so, why? I prayed and prayed. What meaning could this have?

The end of the dream.

After a couple of appointment cancellations. I call them cancellations because these clowns made appointments confirmed them and then just plain didn't show up. At their own business! No call no nothing, great example to their employees. Now I am told by the franchise that I'm going to have to start paying them $2,500 a month for unsold seats. That's right these pirates stole my money with a worthless crappy product and they have the big brass cojones to want to nickel and dime me. Pirates, thieves and bandits have some honor. Not these con men. Well my only alternative was to put it on hold or start to leak 10k a month out of my already depleted 401k. I then went back to the franchise finder and asked him to help sell this "good luck," he said. Then the franchise company wouldn't do anything but "try" to sell it- right.
Now after 6 months and spending my 401 K I had to start looking for a job. Which is when I started this blog. See the earlier posts for that story.

Happy Birthday

Well I spent my 55th birthday giving my first (and to be my only)2 hour presentation. This business had 15 people attend. It was supposed to be for managers only but I guess in this business model they had a lot Chiefs and few Indians. It went OK. We uncovered a company problem. One of the conditions we had for giving out these free 2 hour seminars (they were supposed to be valued at $2,500, whatever,) was that they were to give me a yes or no answer at the end. We had clearly stated all final decision makers were to be present, no interruptions and we would get a yes or no answer, clear. Well I got a non answer.
I felt maybe this was going to be the start of the turnaround.
I spent the rest of of my day playing golf with my pastor at my country club. Little did I know that would be the last time I could afford to play golf.

Breath of fresh air.

Well I was beginning to see that the end would be inevitable. So I freelance a little or a least as far as they would let me. The pressure in a sense was off. Because desperate times call for desperate measures. I got some results. At least some appointments. Then I got my first presentation. In the way our sales model worked this one step away from a big first sale. I scheduled my first presentation on my 55th birthday. Maybe a sign.

The beginning of the end

Appointments were getting few and far between. I was running out of qualified leads in my whole county. I was focused on getting one or two presentations. Now the franchise gurus came up with the brilliant idea of approaching former clients. Apparently over the years a certain number of them had been sold by former franchise owners but had not used their service. We were supposed to call them and give them a sort of credit. This ended up in futility. I was starting to get concerned that time and money were running out. Why Lord did you lead me into this??? This became more and more of my focus? Prayers and increased effort were not returning any harvest. Why?

This became so true.

The "Sciript " was in beta version!!!

The class I was in was the first to use a new roll out of "the script." We were all faltering. That's right the magic words that were from day one touted to be golden were in get this, "beta testing." If you follow the script you will succeed. Every failure was attributed to not following the script. After the big global pow wow the new version was being rolled out to everyone else. The veterans all were saying the new version was weak, ineffective and badly done. Mr "by the book Bob big BS" was writing the material on the fly.This is all the script I had known. I felt like the kid in the story of "Jack and the Beanstalk," I had sold all I had for a handful of worthless beans. Now why again did I buy a franchise? If you by a KFC franchise you don't get a new roll out of the secret receipt or a MacDonald s and get a beta of the special sauce. But this is what we got. I had no doubt this is why my few appointments were failing I was delivering crappy stuff. Remember I had memorized a 30 minute presentation verbatim. This is the material they gave me. I was warned not to make even one little change. Now how much confidence could I muster? The were hurriedly sending out new updated revisions and what gall they were charging us for the new material and we had to eat the cost of the beat version. These guys are shameless.

The Unraveling

My first appointment after the big pow wow was with a crusty ball-busting kind of guy. I let him trap me into holding our meeting at Starbucks. Bad move. He just was out for a ego message. However, he asked me for some references in his area and this started to reveal a serious flaw in this so called franchise. The letters of reference they provided us were written on a typewriter circa 1993. Nothing newer and none of the network of global franchisees had anything better or newer. It wasn't like he was in some obscure industry either. The company website was no help either. Old stale references. What exactly did I pay for? Oh yes the "magic words, the Script!"

Big Global Conference

Well I flew to the company HQ for their annual global conference and rah rah show. Some people were making money and we were supposed to hang around them and learn from them. In fact the few real producers pretty much hung around together shunning us other 80% leaving us to share our sad tales of woe. Didn't learn a thing. Pretty much got the impression that there was no formula for success. The winners didn't know if they had a hot territory or that they were that good. The rest of us were left with the magic words, "follow the script." Flew back on the plane and felt even more let down. Back to work.

They are watching me fall and don't care

The pressue mounts

After leaving the mentor and returning home I had just a few weeks before our mandatory meeting at company HQ. Things were going nowhere and my spiritual battle worsened. I blogged most of that and my life since at: http://wilderness.blogstream.com/
Now the few appoints I had ended in futility. World wide meeting coming up and I had nothing to show.

Mentor or not much help

Well I traveled to my mentors city. Real nice guy. Let me stay at his house. But he was some former "hot shot" salesman. He didn't help me much in the area's I felt that were the problem, qualifying leads and marketing. Instead he uses the sales manger approach. I was told you didn't need those techniques if you follow the script. This guy made me nuts. Stand here, sit here, say this, do this, he was a hard boiled seasoned sales pro. Well if that what it takes why was I lied to?
The whole way home on the plane I prayed to die. I had sunk to a new low.

A lot of prayer

Well as I was working out of my house and not getting any appointments. I had increased my mailings to 15 a week (recommended max.) After making that 15 or so phone call follow ups 3 times a day and memorizing my materials I had a lot of time left over. I began to read my bible and pray much more. This set off now a spiritual battle that would add to the mounting pressure.
Not having much success making appointments I was then advised to travel to my mentors house for some personal coaching.

Summertime blues

First appointment went OK. Kind of lost the guy during the 30 minute presentation. Oh well, my first under my belt. The second was harder to get. Several weeks passed and nothing happened. All my mentor could do was pick apart my deliveries of scripts this is why I'm am getting phone rejection. Instead of mentor and franchise it was more like I bought into some crappy telemarketing company complete with jackassed sales managers.
There solution was to call these business owners 3-5 times a day an press for an appointment. I was advised to introduce myself as president of the company, so I could be on equal terms. What president cold calls another 3-5 times a day. But these guys are the geniuses. My summer of 2006 was getting crappy.

Magic Words

Ever since I did my original do diligence into this franchise I was told by everybody, "The only way to succeed is to follow the scripts." These are the magic words. The scripts are wordsmithed by geniuses of the business. You buy a McDonald's you don't tweak the special sauce nor do you mess with the Colonel's recipe. So, you don't fuddle with the words, every thing by the book. Mr. B.S. referred to himself as "by the book Bob."
I had them all memorized and was ready for my first appointment.

Unraveling

I'm a country club member

I came from lower middle class Appalachia.The thought of a country club was never in the collective mind of any friend, acquaintance or relative I ever knew. Now I have lived next door to a country club for 6 years. I need to hold my meetings someplace. I join the country club. Now I can hold meetings , play golf, and dine my clients. I can tell future customers that my meetings will be held at, "My Club," makes sense.

Beginning to smell a rat

As I start to make calls and ramp up business, I get this e-mail from Mr. B.S. saying that if I want help, I need to enroll in a mentoring program with one of the other franchisees. I thought training and help were included. Now I find I got to give one of my peers half of my sales commission just to talk to me on the phone. What exactly did I pay 60k for anyway, a handful of dvd's. They made me pay for all my marketing material and my MAGIC handouts. Now I am dinged for mentoring.
So, I get 1 appointment and 1 maybe after my first mailing and follow up phone call. I'm feeling O.K. End of first week in business.

Pressing on

I had to have foot surgery so that gave me time to practice and get ready to start mailing out my marketing material. This material they said was so fine tuned and perfected that it will bring results if you follow the scrpit and could deliver it "word for word." More practice.
I mailed out the first introductory letters. Everything by the book. Had everything in place.
Next step set up my meeting place and then follow up on my mailings.

On my own.

Well I was assured that when I bought this franchise I would get training and support. Well if you call a handful of dvd's training, I guess. As for support; I met with my fellow area franchisee, the one who was holding his sessions at my group leaders business office. He shall I say, was less than enthusiastic about me being I in the area. I had been told this would be a real plus and beside the territory was big enough to support 6 or more franchises.
I then set out to get my business started I had to set up a corporation out of my 401 k money. Get an accountant (his name was Dave.) Then I had to memorize word for word a 25 page script. This was in order to give a 30 minute presentation to the VITO. This I was told were the golden words and the magic presentation that my success would depend upon my knowing this and following it exactly. Practice, practice and more practice.
Then after a couple of weeks I can get to work and make money.

Well now I'm in

There was a scene in the movie, "The Magnificant Seven," were the bandits made a point about robbing peasants. Their rational was that God didn't made them sheep therefore he wants them fleeced. Well now that I'm in and on my way home. The franchisee has my money,the fleecing is done.
BAA

Enjoy, Bob,Sharleen,Hal and Steve!

The one that got away!

The five of us that were in the class were now all in except for one. The guy from Chicago who was in banking had his eye on another franchise and was holding out. He told me he was looking at a check cashing franchise. The was lucrative and can't miss. In retrospect he's the one fish that got away clean from the bait these guys used to real us in. But I thought, "See I'm in this for the ministry and he's in for the money. My heart is right. This can't fail."
Well, now I'm in and the next step was to call my boss and resign from my job that I had for 20 years. Yes, my dream job. Making tons of money doing very little and enjoying the good life. But I'm trading that for a life with a purpose a mission or so I thought.

Bought the deal

Well we got back from riding with Dave and decision time has come. We are waiting for the franchise founder founder to bring us in to make the close. Then while awaiting my turn Dave says to me, " I have my doubts about the other guy, but I think you'll make it in this business. That was the closing of the deal for me.
After all I had been reading about knowing "God's will," I had done everything possible too ascertain that this was the right path.
Godly counsel.
Spouse in agreement.
Open doors.
Confirmations.
Pastor in agreement.
Word from fellow Christians.
Well I signed the papers. No turning back now, I had bought a franchise and I was on my way.

This is it!

We then spent 2 days of going through the training we'll be selling. All my fellow prospective buyers are enthused and are convinced we can be successful.
Then I get to ride around for two days and attend a training session held by superstar
Dave. During the ride around with Dave I become even more convinced this is God really lining things up. Dave was everything I had been praying to become. everything Dave in Florida and everything Dave the story I was reading when I got the call was. This job was his ministry. He used this to launch his second half life. He also had a connection to the founding father of the sales and motivation business from a Christian standpoint. If ever I needed confirmation this was it.

Another Dave enters the mix

Now after Mr BS. has to leave to check on his wife they had to improvise. First we saw videos of Mr Franchise with the greats of the success and motivation field. It was like watching a video of the founding fathers.
Then local franchisee shows up a true superstar. Just happened to be named Dave. Third Dave confirmation. He goes on to tell us how we can all be huge successes at this business. But he reminds us of a key point. YOU MUST FOLLOW THE SCRIPT! Well this was what I had been told by every franchisee and now it was becoming apparent. We are buying a franchise. So it must be done their way and they have the magic words and marketing and if you follow everything you can't lose.
Thus the Dave confirmation again.

No BS

On our first day our trainer meets us in the lobby. We share some small talk and I mention golf. He says he tried it but it was too easy. Golf! Even Tiger won't say that. So we get to class and he no more than introduces himself when he gets an emergency call. His wife had her purse grabbed and was injured in the process. He had to leave, no more BS and those also were his initials. But then the other BS really started.

The Pitch

The next step Is to travel to their corporate HQ. They wanted $2,500 as good faith money to receive 3 days of their training and 3 days to ride in the field with their local agent to see how it was sold. The money would be applied to our franchise fee if we chose to sign on. The had their hook. So, I went.
My fellow recruits were top notch individuals. They included a CEO, former college basketball star and sports trainer, investment banker, and a headhunter from the Netherlands.
First day the trainer and current franchise superstar meets us in the lobby. We talk a little and I feel this guy is full of it up to his eyeballs. If these are the type of people its going to be a short visit.

Next Coincidence

Now I'm convinced I should at least take the next step. I ask counsel from my pastor and elder, both positive. My wife is in full agreement. So happens as I'm getting ready to go to visit the franchise and check out this place. I get a call from the local franchisee. He tells me to be wary of their numbers. But he wants to hire me as his salesman. HUM, I'm thinking this guys problem is he can't sell, maybe we can work together. Then in my small church group of only about 10 people I ask for prayer and guidance when I go to check these folks out. Turns out my elder and group leader not only knows local franchisee, the guy works out of his offices. Small world, coincidence or conformation?

The Call

Just a little background. I had been in transition for 3 years or so. I was reading "Purpose Drive Life, Hearing God, and following my own church's weekly material." I was seeking Gods plan for my life. I had read a book called Half Time that was about what to do for God in the 2nd half of your life.
I sat down to do my church's weekly material it was centered around a story about the mature years of a guy named Dave (my name) who was wondering what he could do with the rest of his life. I then get a call from a Dave in FL who was with this franchise. He then went on to say that this business gave him an opportunity to minister in the 2nd half of his life, he even mentioned the book halftime. He went on to say how much good could be done and how he made a great living. I started to see something unfolding.

chance of a lifetime

My wife and I had a little over 125k in our 401K and we were pushing 60. I was 19 years on my job and it was dying. The wife was in a miserable dead end job. So I prayed that something would break loose. I got a new offer from the "franchise finding company. A leadership and management training franchise that couldn't miss. I got a list of names of franchise owners who I could contact to see how they are doing. This is called "due diligence" or something like investigation.

So I called and everybody gave glowing testimonials as to how they were making a good living at this business, all said I could make money in only 3-6 months. Except when I got to the one guy who was already in my dfw territory.

Then I get "The Call" that changed everything.

next step

The franchise test came back and said I liked training and sales. They first put me in contact with some nut case PHD who told me that my test did not align with the profile test the franchise company had sent him. He then accused me of being crazy or a liar. Needless to say this was a short evaluation. They then really tried hard to sell me on their franchise finding company. But I couldn't see how I could sustain this business because they had a long delay between the time they had a client sign on to the time that they would get paid.

The next company they sent me to would eventualy ruin my life.

Franchise rip off

About 4 years ago I began to see my current business was getting me nowhere. So I began to explore my options. One of which was a franchise finding company. They promised to help me find a good fit for my skills, interest and investment level. I should have "smelled a rat" when one of their first 3 matches came up as their own company!!! Anyway the put me in touch with a company that would be a total rip-off.
(to be continued)

Bad business

I was suckered in by two companies that over promised and under delivered. They both bordered on fraud and deception. I am considering blogging their names. But for now I am going to just going to begin to recount my story...more to come.

Finishing Strong

1Co 9:22 I became to the weak as weak, that I might gain the weak. To all I have become all things, that in any and every way I might save some.
1Co 9:23 And I do this for the gospel, that I might become a fellow partaker of it.
1Co 9:24 Do you not know that those running in a stadium indeed all run, but one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain.
1Co 9:25 But everyone striving controls himself in all things. Then those truly that they may receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 So I run accordingly, as not uncertainly; so I fight, as not beating air;
1Co 9:27 but I buffet my body and lead it captive, lest proclaiming to others I myself might be disapproved.

Great to be back

I have landed another job. I will be starting in a couple of weeks, hopefully sooner. In this economy one is thankful to be able to secure a job. I could go on and on. But, this country needs to be re-invented.

New Ventures

I'm starting two new ventures. I'm looking to start 3 or more things. This is the way of the 21st century. I will succeed.

Prophetic

If you look at my first posts in 2006 you'll see something very prophetic about today's economy. I'm looking into 2 or more jobs to make one decent one.

the Shack

Worked at Radio Shack for 3 months. What a trial. I initially thought I'd just hang out selling RS stuff working long retail hours, so what. Well what this turned into a nightmare. Between remodeling a store and the holiday season upon us I ended up working 60-70 hours a week for basically minimum wage. I had a certifiable nut job for a boss and the district manager was on some tripped out power ride. This was the worst retail situation I was ever in. But, I endured it and led the place in sales. The president of RS shook my hand (Julian Day is the most clueless individual making 5 million a year God has ever stretched skin across -no wonder the USA is in the shitter and his lackeys Sharlene and Dana are **holes & Bob the store mgr is seriously demented.) Julian said good job you drove sales during the peak weeks. But I worked for nothing. Black Friday week and Christmas week with 70 hours and being #1 in sales I earned $595 a week with commissions, bonuses, holiday pay, and overtime for 70 hours of work and abuse!!! Wow wee!!! This was a true test of my patience and endurance. But I did learn I can endure all things. The Lord really tested me this time... For you people and you know who you are; in management at "the shack." this one's for you...