Many companies and organizations appealing to enthusiastic participants, many of whom may share common values, have been labeled as cults by their detractors. As a company supporting the efforts of hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic Independent Business Owners (IBOs), Quixtar is no different.
A common definition of a cult is: an extremist or false religious sect, its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
Quixtar hardly meets the dictionary definition of a cult. Quixtar is a subsidiary of a multi-billion dollar international company founded almost 50 years ago. Quixtar IBOs are from every walk of life - professional athletes, doctors, lawyers and teachers. And there are thousands of leaders, not one central leader exerting any undue influence.
It's true that some of the IBO Lines of Affiliation have a very loyal following and a strong sense of identity. Perhaps that has led some detractors to inaccurately accuse these businesses of being cult-like.
Quixtar IBOs and employees share a vision of helping people live better lives and embrace the common values of:
- Partnership
- Integrity
- Personal worth
- Achievement
- Personal responsibility
- Free enterprise
Quixtar IBOs are entrepreneurs who share the common experience of building a business and all that it entails - sharing the business opportunity with others, overcoming rejection, retailing product, motivating others, and motivating themselves.
IBOs within specific Lines of Affiliation (LOA) often gather in meetings, large and small, to share information, exchange ideas, and celebrate achievement. Their shared experiences and common viewpoints often are evident in their organization's functions and communications. Some LOAs have particularly strong identities and members who embrace shared personal views and interests outside of their Quixtar business.
Such common ground, however, should not be mistaken for the appearance of a cult. With nearly a thousand employees and hundreds of thousands of IBOs across North America, Quixtar is inclusive of every race, religion, ethnicity, political party, and walk of life. There are thousands of leaders in the Quixtar business, as opposed to one central leader. Every IBO who registers with the business has the opportunity to build a larger business and to become more successful than the IBO who sponsored him or her.
A close examination of the Quixtar business and the IBOs who build it reveals that they are clearly not members of a cult, but a strong culture based on entrepreneurialism and achievement.
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