| Comment Number: | 522418-08087 |
| Received: | 7/12/2006 11:41:19 AM |
| Organization: | TEAM |
| Commenter: | Jennifer Haeger |
| State: | MI |
| Subject: | Business Opportunity Rule |
| Title: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking |
| CFR Citation: | 16 CFR Part 437 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
I have been a part of TEAM for almost 3 years now. This business has given me an opportunity that I would never have otherwise had to achieve financial success. I am extremely concerned about this proposal and the way that it may negatively affect my business. I remember when I got started and the openness and honesty of the business owners who sponsored me. I never felt like information was being withheld from me, and if I felt that I needed more information, my sponsors were happy and readily willing to answer all my questions. I cannot stress how detrimental I feel that this proposal, if already inacted, would have been to that monumental decision of my life. If I had had to wait seven days to sign up, I definately would have felt that I was doing something that someone else perceived as dangerous (ie. there is a seven day waiting period to purchase a firearm). If I had been given a list of stangers names and addresses and asked to call them if I wanted to verify the business, I would have been extremely put off. It would not have given me any more confidence in the business to cold contact strangers to ask them if they were involved and what their experience has been. What gave me a lot of confidence in the business was meeting other members face to face at seminars (which is greatly encouraged, with a money-back guarantee, BEFORE you join the business). I also do not feel that a list of legal litigations would have done anything at all, since I do not know of any establishments that I have ever worked at that have not had legal problems either founded or unfounded. In short, if it had been any more complicated to become involved, it would have greatly shaken my confidence in the business, rather than strengthened it. I am very glad that I have become an IBO. I am a part of something larger than myself, yet am personally responsible. I have not met all my goals for the business, but my business continues to grow each month and I have no regrets. I am learning all the time how to strengthen my business and increase my profits. I am not discouraged by the time and effort involved in building my business because I know that it is not a "get rich quick" scheme, and I have not met anyone INVOLVED who thinks that it is. I must also mention that the quality of people and materials (ie. tools) available to me are outstanding. All have excellent morals, ethics, and character. I am proud to be involved with such an exceptional group of individuals. Another issue the proposal deals with is disclosure of income. I would feel horribly violated to have to disclose my income with prospects. I feel that is completely inappropriate, unethical, and misleading. As I said before, I am part of an organization, but I build my business FOR myself, just not BY myself. Therefore, everyone's experience, and income, is totally different based on effort alone. Everyone has a different committment level to the business, and has a RIGHT to increase or decrease that level at any time without fear of their past performance (ie. income) tainting their current efforts. If I am asked, I do not withhold information, or lie about my income from the business, but I DO point out the financial success of model IBO's in the business (whom I strive to emulate). I do feel that this proposal brings up extremely important issues in the IBO industry. Unfortunately, I feel that many of the proposed changes will hurt legitamate businesses like ours more than it will punish illegitamate ones (who do not follow the rules already in place). Please reconsider this proposal and the harm it could do to IBO's like me who are blessed with this opportunity and would like nothing more than to give it to as many others as possible.