American DreamWritten by Janet Ilacqua
American Dream” Success Model The present model of business and career motivation , one most closely associated with “American Dream” which emphases enterpreuneurship, individual achievement, competition, and domination has been around for at least last 50 years . Up to mid 20th century, predominant prosperity model was Calvinist work ethic originally derived from Puritan. The Calvinist work ethic emphasized hard work, saving for future, and foregoing vacations, paying bills in cash, and foregoing luxuries to save for a rainy day. On other, motivation for moneymaking is no longer saving for future, but, what Thornstein Veblen, famous 19th century economist characterized as “conspicuous consumption.” Luxury homes, luxury cars, fancy electronic gadgets, and exotic vacations create illusion of wealth. The philosophy of Amway Corporation, now known as Quixtel in U. S. is a good illustration of concepts involved. Amway Corporation is a direct selling organization that produces and markets products using a Multilevel Marketing system (or MLM for short). Multilevel marketing is a form of direct selling in which manufacturers authorize independent contractors to sell their products directly to consumers, bypassing intermediaries and retail stores. Using garage or a spare bedroom as a warehouse and a home office as a business hub, a distributor makes a profit by buying wholesale from his or her company and selling to customers at retail prices. MLM is also a recruiting business. A distributor is permitted to sign up other individuals to become part of his company’s distribution force--and is paid a commission on wholesale product purchases made by recruits. Both methods then furnish consumers with new options in acquiring consumer items they desire. The motivator for work and sole measure of success measured is money and goods that money can buy: This is a business, and a main reason people work at any business is to earn money that not only will help them pay their bills, but also meet other goals. Those may be short- or long-term goals, and they could be large (like buying a new house) or small (like saving for a vacation). A better standard of living is a common motivation and reward for people starting any kind of business. Money - and what it can buy - is universally recognizable indicator of success that distributors use to motivate and establish credibility for their business. (http://www.amway.com/InfoCenter/questions/question20.asp)
| | Individualistic Sucess ModelsWritten by Janet K. Ilacqua
Individualistic success models In individualistic success models, success is not due to individual’s relationship with his external environment or place in society, but, rather, a matter of individual accomplishment or, in some cases, a measure of his relationship with God. These models had their roots originally in Protestant Calvinism and are typical ones you will see in “Success” books. Examples discussed include The Protestant work ethic model The American success model New Age Model Protestant Work Ethic According to Max Weber (1904, 1905), it was John Calvin who introduced theological doctrines which combined with those of Martin Luther to form a significant new attitude toward work. Calvin was a French theologian whose concept of predestination was revolutionary. Central to Calvinist belief was Elect, those persons chosen by God to inherit eternal life. All other people were damned and nothing could change that since God was unchanging. While it was impossible to know whether a person was one of Elect, one could have a sense of it based on his own personal encounters with God. Outwardly, only evidence was in person's daily life and deeds, and success in one's worldly endeavors was a sign of possible inclusion as one of Elect. A person who was indifferent and displayed idleness was most certainly one of damned, but a person who was active, austere, and hard working gave evidence to himself and to others that he was one of God's chosen ones. Calvin taught that all men must work, even rich, because to work was will of God. It was duty of men to serve as God's instruments here on earth, to reshape world in fashion of Kingdom of God, and to become a part of continuing process of His creation. Men were not to lust after wealth, possessions, or easy living, but were to reinvest profits of their labor into financing further ventures. Earnings were thus to be reinvested repeatedly, ad infinitum, or to end of time. Using profits to help others rise from a lesser level of subsistence violated God's will since persons could only demonstrate that they were among Elect through their own labor. Selection of an occupation and pursuing it to achieve greatest profit possible was considered by Calvinists to be a religious duty. Not only condoning, but encouraging pursuit of unlimited profit was a radical departure from Christian beliefs of Middle ages. In addition, unlike Luther, Calvin considered it appropriate to seek an occupation that would provide greatest earnings possible. If that meant abandoning family trade or profession, change was not only allowed, but it was considered one’s religious duty. The norms regarding work which developed out of Protestant Reformation, based on combined theological teachings of Luther and Calvin, encouraged work in a chosen occupation with an attitude of service to God, viewed work as a calling and avoided placing greater spiritual dignity on one job than another, approved of working diligently to achieve maximum profits, required reinvestment of profits back into one's business, allowed a person to change from craft or profession of his father, and associated success in one's work with likelihood of being one of God's Elect. “American Dream” Success Model The present model of business and career motivation, one most closely associated with “American Dream” which emphases individual achievement, competition, and domination has been around for at least last 50 years. Unlike Calvinist work ethic that is based, motivation for moneymaking is no longer saving for future, but, what Thornstein Veblen, famous 19th century economist characterized as “conspicuous consumption.” Luxury homes, luxury cars, fancy electronic gadgets, and exotic vacations create illusion of wealth. The philosophy of Amway Corporation, now known as Quixtel in U. S. is a good illustration of concepts involved.Amway Corporation is a direct selling organization that produces and markets products using a Multilevel Marketing system (or MLM for short). Multilevel marketing is a form of direct selling in which manufacturers authorize independent contractors to sell their products directly to consumers, bypassing intermediaries and retail stores. Using garage or a spare bedroom as a warehouse and a home office as a business hub, a distributor makes a profit by buying wholesale from his or her company and selling to customers at retail prices. MLM is also a recruiting business. A distributor is permitted to sign up other individuals to become part of his company’s distribution force--and is paid a commission on wholesale product purchases made by recruits. Both methods then furnish consumers with new options in acquiring consumer items they desire. The motivator for work and sole measure of success measured is money and goods that money can buy: This is a business, and a main reason people work at any business is to earn money that not only will help them pay their bills, but also meet other goals. Those may be short- or long-term goals, and they could be large (like buying a new house) or small (like saving for a vacation). A better standard of living is a common motivation and reward for people starting any kind of business. Money - and what it can buy - is universally recognizable indicator of success that distributors use to motivate and establish credibility for their business. (http://www.amway.com/InfoCenter/questions/question20.asp)
|