Yossarian is incredible. Tim Darnell very effectively uses his background in psychology (his minor in college) to defraud people.
yossarian 07-07-2006 06:01 PM Re: Advantages Conferences / Tim Darnell

I wrote the following post in response to SBD's claim that their President's interview was "unique" to their business and served to filter out people who really aren't cut out for AC.

Originally Posted by SoapBoxDad
SoapBoxMom, leave it to you to twist the truth and make something that is unique in the industry to prevent all the abuses out there, and make it bad. I guess I should expect that. I know OpenQuestion thinks this is a tactic, but even he will admit this is a pretty straightforward interview if my instincts are correct. Candidates can make up their own minds. Yes SoapBoxMom, you would not be approved unless you lied--which you are stellar at.
Originally Posted by SoapBoxDad
To everyone else, I challenge you to find another home-based business that requires an interview and approval. Folks there is a lot of garbage out there, spend your time more wisely. I appreciate the opportunity to share this.

AC’s interview is by no means even remotely "unique to the industry." You have made this claim in many of your posts, and it is time to refute it.

This is standard operating procedure for this type of company. Out of the several I can point to, one that I have extensive personal experience with is Robert Alan's "No Money Down" mentoring program (at least, that's what it was called back when I went through their 'stringent' interview process; now, I believe it's called "The One Minute Millionaire.") Theirs was almost identical to the interview posted above, both in content and underlying motive. There was a written questionnaire/interview followed by two phone interviews.

Here's how it works: by the time the prospect is filling out the initial qualifying interview, he is already partly sold on the concept.

The company has planned this out very carefully and deliberately. They know that everyone filling out the form has already whetted their appetites on the company's website, which lists testimonial after testimonial of affiliates who say they became wealthy using the program. These people look pretty normal, he thinks to himself. I don't see why that couldn't be me. The prospect has begun to salivate: Mission One accomplished.

The problem the company now faces? – the prospect does not yet know about outrageous price tag, which they realize no rational human being in their right mind would ever pay. ‘Right mind’ are the important words to focus on here.

To solve this dilemma, Mission Two’s purpose becomes to gradually move the prospect away from rational, objective thought and toward a mental state that facilitates a situation where the prospect is practically begging you to let him pay the $10,000 fee, and when you eventually oblige him, he feels as though he just got the deal of a lifetime. This may sound like an impossible task, but it’s Salesmanship101 and fairly simple to achieve, and it is where the 'interview process' comes into play.


The Interview Process Accomplishes Two Important Things:

1.) It provides the company with the appearance of legitimacy. If this was a scam, they wouldn’t be so careful about who they let in, would they? It is used to build up that all-too-important credibility factor, which, due to the program’s exorbitant cost, will be vital in closing the prospect.

2.) It utilizes reverse-psychology (and to great effect) to manipulate the situation to the point where the prospect begins selling himself to the company – as if it is an actual interview, and he is speaking to the manager of a Fortune 500 company! You would be amazed at how quickly they can move a seemingly intelligent person into this frame of mind. In fact, it has very little to do with intelligence and everything to do with the prevailing thoughts running through the prospect’s subconscious at this time.

Their questions are geared toward making the prospect want to convince the company how hard-working and dedicated he is:


Quote:
Are you a positive, enthusiastic person and are you able to maintain “Positive Expectancy” for the long run and amidst all circumstances?

“Winners never quit” - can you be consistent and persistent for an extended period of time – however long it takes to accomplish what it is you want to accomplish (question #5)?

“Quitters never win” - do you understand that should you quit you will lose your money, time, and any contacts you may have introduced to your business?.

Once he has completed the written portion, he is invited to speak with a representative. Whew! he thinks to himself. That was pretty thorough, but I made it to the next step.

The phone interviewer asks questions similar in nature to those found on the questionairre. They are targeted at the prospect’s sense of self-worth, and ever-hinting at the company’s "strict selectiveness" in choosing those it will accept.

In addition, the rep makes intermittent comments that seem to suggest he is constantly on the verge of turning the prospect down. “I don’t know, John -- we only want the most serious and motivated people to join us, and it sounds like you might not be right for this…” which elicits from the prospect a gut response: Wait! No, I’ve got what it takes. I’m dead serious about this and am willing to go the distance!

He does this without thinking; he almost can’t help it. Human beings possess a strong emotional desire to appear valuable and capable in the eyes of others. Our gut reaction is to defend ourselves and our abilities, which is precisely the purpose behind the company’s ‘cautious’ approach. Consequently, the interviewee does his best to prove himself, touting is work ethic, dedication, etc… shifting even deeper into a defensive state of mind, and unconsciously elevating the company’s prestige (as he perceives it) in the process.

The company rep has now effectively done his job; he no longer has to try to sell the prospect on the program; the prospect is now trying to sell him on his own worthiness to become a member. The interviewer will push the prospect as far on the defensive as he possibly can, and, once he has reached the ideal point – once the tables have turned a complete 180-degrees – he closes the deal.

The prospect hangs up the phone, both exhilerated and relieved that he made it through the phone interview, and that the company has agreed to take his $10,000 payment and given him the chance to reap the vast riches that surely await him.

These are nothing more than slight-of-hand parlor tricks. Salesmen and con artists alike have used reverse psychology for hundreds of years and will continue to use it as long as the human psyche possesses the capacity to be taken.

deepsouth 07-08-2006 12:16 AM Re: Advantages Conferences / Tim Darnell



Originally Posted by Wishyouknew
I know for fact that 5 or 6 people have filed complaints againts AC with the BBB and Attorney General.
There's also a lot of people like me that haven't filed that would highly recommend people not lose their hard earned money with AC.

I haven't filed because I know I'll never see one cent of my money.

If I had to guess, I would guess that 95%+ of those that join AC wish they had never heard of it after about six months. I know that's how I feel.
Bingo!!!

Page 37 of 95.pdf

Soapboxmom