by Amanda Vittitow

Created on: January 04, 2009

When my husband and I were shown "the business plan" about three years ago, it looked good to us. We liked the idea of buying products and getting paid for it. We liked the idea of having downline, and we especially like the idea of laying on the beaches of Peter Island while everyone else worked their "J.O.B" So sad to say, we signed up as IBOs and tried to make that dream a reality. Yeah okay- that dream lasted about eighteen months or so, and after that, I was seeing if I could break my leg just so I wouldn't have to stay up late after the two hour meetings.

I can say that since I've been on the inside that Quixtar people are very unusual people, and in some ways it is very much like a cult. You're taught to believe (whether they come right out and say it or not) that you are better than everyone else, that you have something everyone wants. You are to talk to everyone about Quixtar, and if they're not interested, you are not allowed to talk to them anymore. You are taught to believe that Quixtar is a family circle and that you're not really allowed to talk to your non-Quixtar friends or family because they'll bring you down. You're only allowed to seek business advice from upline- not cross line. You're not allowed to wear jeans to meetings or to the conferences- it's gotta be Sunday best all the time because you're setting an example for your downline or any newbies that come through. If you want to make any money, you buy products from your business and not from the "outside world." You're not allowed to drink alcohol or cuss, blah, blah, blah. After a while, it's just like, "Give me a f'in break!"

I can not tell you how many times my mother asked me if Quixtar was a cult. I would get defensive and say no, but you know- maybe it was. Besides all the rules, it changes the kind of person you are. While you're taught to be "positive" and not let other people bring you down, it can also make you arrogant and put you on a high horse. It changed my husband's personality, and he'll be the first to tell you that. They teach you not to speak of negatives, and if you do, you're only bringing bad to yourself (if that makes any sense). One time I had the flu and going between being hot and having chills, I had no appetite, and I was just downright sick. Do you think he would let me stay home from a meeting? No. On top of that, some big upline was coming through and it was strongly encouraged for me to be there. Pardon my French but screw being sick and feeling like I was going to pass out- Gotta go to the meetings, gotta go. One time he thought I was faking a migraine even though I was in tremendous pain and nauseated. How do you fake a migraine? I went shopping with some friends and almost bought him some shoes but was told, "No. If you're going to buy me shoes, buy them out of OUR business." He even mentioned to me that he wanted me to give up writing- me give up writing! Can you imagine that?

Quixtar was starting to come between us, and like I said before, I was hoping that I would break a leg going down the stairs so I wouldn't have to go to a two hour meeting. Finally I said, "I'm not doing it anymore," and we got out. Of course the close bonds we thought we had, we don't have anymore because we're not in the cult circle anymore.

A guy that we used to see in the meetings actually came through the other day and tried to talk me back into it, but all I said was, "Oh that's nice... did I tell you that I have a book published?"

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