Complaint Review: Mike Putnam Quantum Winners Advertising Harmony HuntKeith Certo Smart Circle Larry Tenenbaum - Woburn Massachusetts

I realize your posting is from 2012, but on the off-chance you might see this, I would like point out something to you:

SLANDER is verbal.  I think the word you were fumbling for is LIBEL.  Libel is written. Got it?  

I would expect a self-described highly compensated VP to know the difference.

That is all.  Class dismissed.

P.S.  Should I have addressed you as Bobby eat Crow?

Hi, Mr. Truth Hurts,

I'm fascinated with your account as a Business Owner and find it mind-boggling that it follows a structure identical to Credico, another pyramid scheme that's basically run by former executives of Cydcor and Smart Circle. I worked for a subsidiary of Credico last year and found myself toiling 60 hours a week, 12-hours a day for six days each week for a paltry commission and had no minimum wage or labor protections. I worked on a 1099 contractor form, to put distance between the owner and her responsibility to her employees. This was a literal sweatshop where indentured servitude was justified with the promises of "being your own boss" and "starting your own business." They called it the "Management Training Program."

As I woke up from the indoctrination, I did my research and realized that there have been many schemes like Credico, starting with DS-MAX and Smart Circle's founder Larry Tenebaum. Disgusted this was allowed to exist, I got former employees and former owners together to file a class action lawsuit against Credico (Vasto et al v. Credico (USA) LLC et al), because as you've drawn it out, this is a pyramid scheme, and so-called independent owners are independent in name only. Smart Circle, just like Credico, uses HUBs to control your business's bank out, so the many you receive in the wire is what Credico/Smart Circle allows you to have. Consultants and VP's make large percentages off the labor of the independent offices and direct them while putting distance between themselves and the workers to shirk liability.

I really want to make a difference and shut these guys down (Smart Circle, Credico, Cydcor) for good. I know you want to retain anonymity on here, and I respect that. But you know a lot about Smart Circle's practices and most likely have saved documents and handouts proving their illegitimate control. I'm starting a national media movement and would like an opportunity to speak with you. If you're truly interested in bringing these crooks to justice and helping a lot of people, contact me.

I hope to speak with you.

E-mail: [email protected]

Facebook: Phil Vasto

You've won tons of incentive-based vacations, so you say, that were rewards for your top performance... Doubtful.

Funny how you seem to be omnicent with business, but you couldn't see through the "red flags" during the MLM interview process... and took a job with them... Dumb.

I worked for, with, and trained quite a few people you are referring to... and I will say again that 95% of those within the company are honest, hard-working people... Trying to get ahead in business. The other 5% are no worse than your typical corporate tycoon.

I spent 2 1/2 of the hardest years of my life chasing the dream they sell... and I fell short. Was it hard? Absolutely... Was it fun? Mosty not... We're there times I hated the job? Certainly...

But...

I am now a highly-compensated VP with the company I work for... ALL due to the mindset and attitude I learned from working in the afore mentioned business. Without the sales knowledge I learned, very quickly, through Harmony Hunt and the like, I would not be the person I am today. I am reminded, daily, of how impactful the mental lessons I learned from the business has vaulted me to the top of my current profession...

Mr. Bad Example, the fact that you spend so much time focused on these negative posts leads me to believe that you couldn't possibly be as successful as you claim... No one with an attitude so powerfully-negative can/will be consistently successful. I'm not sayin you're a bad person, but you are bitter.

Take the discretionary effort and intensity you have used to spread negativity, and place it face-first into reading a book on successful thinking such as, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad"... Only then will you be free from that awful mind-crypt of yours.

P.S. Try posting Slander like this using your full name rather than "Mr. Bad Example"... Only the weak hide behind a screen name... Busted.

I worked at Smart Circle's San Diego office, Foundation Marketing, Inc. run by Ian Laird, the San Diego branch Campaign Manager and Sandy El-Rayes, assistant manager. Because of their bad practices the company changed names (like many of the beaches do) to Keystone, and Sandy El-Rayes left to open up the Encino, CA office called Diamond, Inc.

These offices are in the cosmetics division selling Makeover Essentials products.

You are recruited in under deceptive means, they tout marketing of Fortune 500 clients, but don't tell you it's really door-to-door sales, soliciting. I still needed a job so I stayed, put in the required 72 hours a week.

Soon though I realized management was corrupt. Scott Williams, the Smart Circle VP of this division, Ian Laird, and Sandy El-Rayes kept saying put in your 6 months of hard work and you'll be promoted to take over your own office. However it became clear they'd pick favorites. Top ethical leaders in our office were shunned, slandered, harassed. There was rampant drug use, sexual harassment, music depicting racism. The office was out of control. And those who raised these issues to management were fired.

Worst job I've ever had!

I am an ex-owner of one of these companies. I moved halfway across the country to begin as a "marketing representative" after college. I was given the same spiel about building a team and becoming a manager. I found it doable, and was interested in the nonprofits we "helped". I became a "leader" after 3 days of "ringing the bell". I was then told once I had a team of 12 I would move up to Assistant Manager. After 3 months of making an average of $300-$400 per week and working 60 hours/week, I had a team of 12.

Only whenever I asked when I'd be promoted I was given a bullcrap excuse. So after waiting 3 more months to be promoted as promised I quit. The owner of that company called me back, said he'd finally promote me and I'd get commission from two campaigns going on instead of just one. So, I went back, made a decent amount of money for a few months, then met with Hilary. Between her and my owner, I was convinced to open an office in the midwest (where I was from), and that I would be able to do a particular campaign there (certificates/American Breast Cancer Foundation), but I had to do FW1 for the time being until I was certified to work with the nonprofit.

So I spent about $2,000 of my own money to move there and open the office. Did really great for about 2 months. I asked over and over when I could do the certificates, and I kept getting more bullcrap responses. I was only able to pay myself $400/week. By September/October, it got cold. (Yes, it gets very cold in the midwest, as I had told Hilary and my owner several times which is why we needed certificates - it was an indoor campaign). Well, we started doing bad, because who wants to watch a wax demonstration when it's snowing outside? No one.

Then I was told I couldn't do Certifications because Quantum was no longer going to work with American Breast Cancer Foundation. Well, that was the ONLY reason I agreed to open an office where I did. I knew nothing else would sell as great there (my home state). So we had to do the Direct TV and the road shows. Neither of those made ANY money for the office. Then, Larry wanted me to open a second office in a different location. I was told we had a committment from the chain gas stations there so doing FW1 would be easy and I could get someone into the Assistant Manager position quickly and go back to my first office (where I lived).

Okay, so I went there (10 hours away), rented a second apartment, hired staff and guess what....we have NO committment from Circle K gas stations (the ONLY gas stations there). So I'm stuck with two leases, about 10 new staff, and nowhere to send them. All I got from Hilary and my owner was "oh really? I'll look into it." The response I get after they do is "We don't have Circle K's." So, after about a month there of doing TERRIBLE for the obvious reasons, being told by Hilary to not pay myself because the office wasn't making enough money (while I was working 60-70 hours/week), being about $6,000 in debt due to the 2 moves, living expenses for myself, and credit card interest, I finally quit. This was after being with the company for 1.5 years, and being a manager for only 4 months.

Worst year and a half of my life. My advice to anyone out there is this: the big shots of this company (Quantum/Smart Circle) can not be trusted. I was told anything and everything to get me to go where they wanted me to and I ruined my credit for it. I was set up for failure from day one. My experience with this company was the worst one I've ever had. I would encourage anyone looking into working with them to step back and find something else. I am currently working part-time as a Director of a nonprofit and making more then I ever did with them. Their theories are fascinating, and they do work for some people, but probably only for about .25% of the people.

I also found Hilary and my owner to be incredibly unprofessional, disgusting, immature, and uneducated. As a "owner training" I had to follow Hilary around and she talked with staff about the color of females genitals. She went on to discuss what color mine would be. My owner, also good friends with Hilary, would constantly discuss sex, sexual positions, sexual partners, and similar things. He'd call staff fat and ugly, then would ask me incredibly personal questions. I could have sued him for sexual harassment or discrimination any day of the week. He also slept with one of our staff that was 15 years younger then him. Just an incredibly unprofessional and disgusting environment. Quiting as an owner was the outmost best decision I have ever made.

Time for a little statement parsing folks.

To:MillionDollarGal - cary
From: Mr Bad Example

Opening remarks: I worked for (for now) an unnamed Smart Circle affiliate. I've read the original posters story and I've read yours. In reading both a few questions arose. Mostly from your letter. I'm sincere in my wish to hear your reply to my questions.

1.- I've done the math, it just doesn't add up to the promised $800 to $1000 per week claimed in the interview process. Take the Restaurant Dessert Company $8.98 cake sold in Sam's as an example. Compensation is 20% of net sales. This means I earn $1.78 per unit in Commission.  This means that in order to make the $1,000.00 in income presented at interview I have to sell 562 pies per week or 94 pies per day working 6 days per week the full 10 hours I'd be in Sam's Club not counting the 2 hour morning "atmosphere" required pep rally's. Not counting travel and clean up this works out to 72 hours per week or put another way, $13.88 per hour. Given this, would you kindly explain why anyone with an IQ above room temp would do this job? Oh and for the record, the Asst. Mgr and top producer averaged 68 pies per day. Mr Bad Example says, BUSTED

2 - You make claims that you earn over 100K as an owner. OK how? What's the override schedule? How many reps do you need on staff to earn that rate of return? How many months have you had that many reps? Have a tax return to prove your income? I do! Care to explain why I drive an Audi TT Quattro Roadster and you have a use 15 year old Honda? Mr Bad Example says, BUSTED

3.- Are you always so smugly arrogant or did you save it for your post? How many long term employees? How many that have been promoted into ownership are still owners? If this is the opportunity you say then the retention rate of owners should be well above 80%. Is it? Mr Bad Example says, BUSTED

4.- What is your turnover percentage? Under or over 100%?

5.- Why would someone come to work for you when you can make owner level money 2nd or 3rd year selling Office Products, work 9-5 and have weekends off? Plus a salary and benefits?

Bottom line is your business opportunity in a fraud unless you can answer the above openly and forthrightly and to date NO ONE from Smart Circle has been able to refute me and I've asked Putnam, Hawley and others of that ilk the same questions and they can't or won't answer. Before I invest my time, I do my due diligence. I smelled a rat the day I started and I wrote it off to me being cynical. Turned out that my initial gut reaction was correct. The whole program is a rigged deck. I came in and asked good questions the kind any investor would ask and all I ever got was my "Attitude" questioned and told I wan't being a team player. It went down the drain when they told me there "Was no I in Team" and I replied, "Yeah but there is a me". Right then they knew I wasn't going to be one of their Kool-Aid drinking sycophants.

Before you embarrass yourself I've won trips to Hawaii, Cancun, Vegas, Barbados, Ireland for outstanding Sales performance so don't lecture me on being "lazy" or a "loser" because fact is you can't carry my bag on a Sales Call. Keep lying to yourself if you must, but cut it out with the pie in the sky lies to employees and customers. How's that?? I call it, "5 Steps to a Flip Off"

How do they avoid the Minimum wage laws? I know draw vs Commission compensation and I'm OK with that as far as it goes. So I'm in store hawking pies for 10 hours and I exceed my draw. That's cool. But I'm required to attend the "Pep Rally/Training" which is two hours unpaid as is the half hour clean up which on the date in question put me below Minimum wage for the hours worked. How do they get away with not being reported and fined etc.

I want to pull the rug out from under these thieves and get my areas office shut down by a state or federal agency. Also do you know if the executives at Sam's Club and Costco are aware of how the company does business or do they know and don't care.

I don't like being talked down to and indoctrinated like the Hitler Youth and somebody is gonna catch hell for this. So I'm looking and taking all the help I can get. Yours would be appreciated

FYI Scam Update!  It appears that MIKE PUTNAM, LARISSA HAWLEY, JULIA DAVIS and others are on the move again as they were recently on stage at a Dallas "LEADERSHIP" conference associated with PURE GLOBAL ENTERPRISES located in Houston, TX.  They were touting their brainwashing tactics on new "recruits" by showing them the path to their dreams!  Sadly, the company names continue to change almost on a daily basis, but the scam remains the same as above.  Now PURE GLOBAL ENTERPRISES hires unsuspecting individuals from coast to coast with rapid advancement from "leadership" to "management" and "ownership" by having COMMISSION ONLY employees work "ROADSHOWS" in local Sam's Clubs across the U.S. selling items that are readily available on the Internet.  These employees spend countless unpaid hours a day listening to brainwashing "pep rally" conference calls designed to obscure reality and serve no other purpose than psychological abuse.  In the end it's all the same.  PURE GLOBAL ENTERPRISES wants to make everyone a "manager" to recruit more team members, and on, and on.  The ultimate goal is to have everyone an "owner' to BUY into the scam and make more money for PURE GLOBAL ENTERPRISES.  Please WAKE UP people and avoid anything to do with PURE GLOBAL ENTERPRISES, MIKE PUTNAM, LARISSA HAWLEY, and JULIA DAVIS!  You will definitely make more money flipping burgers at Micky D's then wasting your time with this scam!  AVOID!  AVOID! AVOID!

Can I just say, that I know for a fact, that you are lying. #1. I wasn't just an owner, I had outside deals, and I too was once like you, going to battle for a company whose ideology is so far from "REAL", that it makes reality TV look....well.....real. I had 3 outside deals, and yes I had money too, just so were clear on "you must not keep good books", Are you really an owner, cause if you were, you would  know, "THE OWNER" doesnt get to keep the books, your "HUB" does, and if your aware they keep your money in a "SECURITY ACCOUNT", so you think that is for your security or theirs.......MISS MILLIONAIRE OWNER, your a joke! Watch your "SECURITY ACCOUNT" dwindle as you have to close down owners, and pay that money back.....YES....IF YOUR OUTSIDE DEAL CLOSES DOWN....YOU PAY THEIR DEBT! Thats at least $5,000 per shutdown if your lucky.....cost of doing business right? NO, because when your brought on they don't tell you that you will be sending your friends, WHO YOU DO LIE TO and SAY YOUR MAKING MONEY, back into the job market, OWING THOUSANDS IN STATE TAXES, You the uneducated cult leader, will find out soon enough your nothing to them except another stroke. I have been to the VP's houses and the National Consultants houses, seen their cars. I hope some of your reps are reading this cause I knowthe smoke and mirrors and by you responding I can tell you have no idea what you are doing, you tell your reps you pay  yourself a reasonable income and you drive a reasonable car and live in a reasonable house, to save for the future...lies and deciet. To anyone reading this, ask your owner to see their books, ask not to leave the room, every OWNER gets an email weekly of their INCOME.....ask to see the books, and for you not to leave the room as they pull them up. It will be on a spreadsheet....hopefully they have gotten smart and are at least using some software program by now, but either way if you see a number in () parenthesis....that means your owner is negative. I am not disputing that you or any owner can make money....the problem is maam, its not really yours....you see I am somewhat of a snoop and these "HUBS" have a lot of "clients" I have been emailed other owners statements, who were supposedly making money, and they were negative too...haha.....thats when it was over for me. But also in Orlando, I got to ride in a National Consultants car, who I rode to the grocery store across the street with, he spends time trying to build a realtionship, telling me he paid cash for it, like he was made. He goes in, I open his glove box.......IT WAS A LEASE Girl!!!! Anybody in your position should be able to pass this off, I did it for years, but let me ask ALL of you something.......Do you know ANY OWNER that retired rich? Where are those stories, I can only imagine LT has money........but its all in the moment, you might have money NOW....please update your post in 12 months then again in 24, I bet your still in your first year.....
One thing this woman is right about though....it teaches you SO SO much, spend 6 months there, writing everything down and study it. And you will ABSOLUTELY have an amazing future.....Once you apply the principles they teach you in a different career path. I mean you would think such a lucrative field.....this "organization" would have someone publicly speak out about the AMAZING BENEFITS of being an owner in your circle, right? I have been to hundreds of leadership meetings and tons of owner meetings and weekends....its always some Motivational Speaker with a fantastic story to tell, right? Dont you think a company BREEDING managers who make 100,000/yr, would bring their success stories to these functions.....oh yea....wait.....nobody ever leaves the business with money...so they cant do that..haha......THINK ABOUT THAT...the only speakers they have are people currently making money....so JUICE by you fancypants.....just do me a favor....if  your a single mom, apologize to your kid, because I know what it takes to be an owner, you work all day everyday, you eat, sleep and dream work......he/she misses you!!! I promise.

I am sorry for those who do not know how to keep your books straight or secure the right team.  I do know a lot of people in the Smart Circle business that did great at the bottom but just could not make it to the top and it happens.  Maybe you were just one of those who was better at sales then actual Ownership.  I am a VERY successful owner, as well as a single mom.  In all honesty I have built my office and my team and have my kids' college tution already set up and they are not even in high school yet. 
This job can make or break you, BUT it will teach you self disapline and hard work!  It is not for the weak, and in all my time with the company I have to say I have never had so much fun as I have had with this job.  I have got to travel (on comapany dime, not mine) I got to design new campaign layouts, I have been able to meet owners and mgrs of some of the top sports teams in the US.  I am sorry but I love my job and company.  I have never lied to anyone who has walked into my office and asked me questions.  I will honestly tell people you make your own paychecks, if you want the 9 to 5 job, then go somewhere else cause this is not for you.  If you want to earn the same every week, then find something else.  BUT if you want to own your own company and make 6 figures a year then you are in the right place but it takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get there and you must be willing to work to get there.  Now I own my own office and vacation often with my kids and I know I can count on my leaders and assistant mgrs to help with the office and to keep people motivated!
You can complain all you want but when you are looking at an owner in the eyes and they triple your income without blinking an eye then maybe it is not the company but you!  Maybe you do not know how to pick a successful team, maybe you were not good at finding good running campaigns.  Obviously you were not good at managing your books or you would not of ended up in the hole, and the fact that you are telling people to run with others who work hard for their paychecks just shows the kind of person you really are and I am glad that you are not apart of our company!

Thank you for leaving  :)

The TRUTH is, you have no idea what you are talking about. One thing you did get right is the SALES. When I was an employee, I made just as much, as when I was an owner. The business educated me, but it came at a huge cost. All the numbers they quote to you are LIES LIES LIES, ask your owner to see their BOOKS. You see Bobby, its not really ever your company. I recieved calls from the higher up...cough cough PUTNAM, that I couldnt pay myself unless I went in the field. Since when did the business owner not get to tell himself how much he gets paid. Second of all, your money is not yours....THEY HAVE A HEAD OFFICE ACCOUNT, YOU CANT TOUCH YOUR OWN MONEY WITHOUT PERMISSION. IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH THEY WILL SEND YOU A CHECK....HAHA. I AM HERE TO TELL YOU, I PROMISE YOU WONT MAKE ANY MONEY UNLESS YOU HAVE 5 OUTSIDE DEALS.....THEN WHEN THEY CLOSE, YOU LOSE ANYWHERE FROM $2000-$10000, AND THEY JUST PULL IT RIGHT OUT OF YOUR ACCOUNT. YOU HAVE NO CONTROL AS AN OWNER. I WORKED 90 -100HRS A WEEK, SUNDAYS GETTING ROAD TRIPS OUT COUNTING INVENTORY. I own a REAL BUSINESS NOW,I worked 37 hours last week, no sundays, NO SATURDAYS!!! made $1700 (bring home) and the business made $2000. I control everything. So to all you current owners out there, and if your an employee, get INCORPORATED!....when your account goes negative...(guarantee it will), or if youve been "bottom lined", STOP MAKING deposits......take your Tues-Sat cash, empty your office on sunday..TAKE EVERYTHING, anything to prove you have been working for nothing...so EVERYTHING....leave the merch....and RUN!! This will help you get back on your feet, cause by now they have sucked you dry and you live with other employees, or your husband or wife has left you for being so guillible! CAll your bank on sunday, cause as the primary you will want to take your hub managers name off your account, and or just close it out and switch accounts all together. You have to do this because the payroll company they use will try and draft out money..dont let them, let the SNAKES who got you into this mess figure it out. With the checks that you havent cashed, get your business account close to positive by depositing all of them ONLY after you are the only one who can touch that account. After all this, you will have alot of people that are angry, but I would rather hurt someones feelings, than be left on the street with nothing. You see thats what they dont tell you, alot of owners call their promoting owner and "BLOW". If you choose that route, all thie things you purchased as an asst mgr, or owner become.....i dunno whose they become....not yours I know that. YOU WALK AWAY...no self esteem, no confidence, and no assets. Some other sucker takes over your office, and your stuff..PC's, phones, desks, everything..you walk away with nothing.....if you think I am wrong, post your contact info....I will show you my books from my "INCOME STATEMENT" from the acounting firm STARTED BY LARRY TENNEBAUMS PARENTS, sounds strange huh??? I sold over 2 million dollars in product and averaged a $400 paycheck as an owner, with a net worth in the NEGATIVE!!!! HAHA I AM AN IDIOT!!! But it taught me a lesson i am choosing to share, do with it what you want!!

First I would like to start by saying that this company is not a scam, rip-off, pyrimid scheme, or anything of that nature. It is truly an OPPORTUNITY and not a JOB. If you are looking for a week-to-week paycheck or have no interest in personal growth, NO NOT APPLY. One must understand what they are getting involved with before they dive in, and they should understand the level of sacrifice that is involved with the position they are applying for. Yes, I am a former employee of this company. I started fresh out of college in Savannah, GA. Being a broke college student and having no experience I gave it a shot. I actually relocated from over 3 hours away to have a chance at becomming an owner. The first couple of weeks were definately different with regards to office environment, and daily work duties. The office environment is not typical of your standard corporation... There is high-fiving, cheers, and the occasional use of accronyms to motivate. The system they have in place can definately be applied to ANY future career path you choose to pursue. This position does require a lot of self-discipline, an entrepreneurial mindset, and the ability to take control. If you do not possess these qualities... DO NOT APPLY! If you do then this corporation can offer you a chance to gain knowledge, experience, and self-awareness required to become a successful business person and salesperson. After 6 months with the company I built a rather substantial team of reps meeting the company qualifications for owner promotion. I CHOSE, as a strong individual, to relocate to Redlands, CA in June of 08' in order to better place myself among the top VP's and territory. One of the VP's in the company, Harmony Hunt, was extremely generous to me and my team. She helped with Housing (even allowing us to stay rent-free in her home.) All she ever asked from me was a positive attitude and consistent performance. The fact that she let me stay for free was never held above my head and in fact, she commented several times that it was unfortunate that we didn't get to spend enough time in CA developing my skills. It was not her fault, running a division in any corp is time consuming and sometimes the "top guys" don't get the attention they should. She helped me several times allowing me to head new campaigns and build my experience. For that I will always be greatful. Without her strong coaching and motivation I would not have become the business person I am today having the opportunities to work with Fortune 500 companies such as: Home Depot, DirecTV, and Pilkington Glass. In May 09 I was given the opportunity to move to Seattle, WA to build a team and get incorporated. I began to build an office from the ground up. Doing interviews, training and conducting motivational meetings... all of which I would have never had the opportunity to do if I had chosen another corp to work for right out of college (had only been with the corp for 18 months). I CHOSE to move to each new location. I was not forced or coerced into doing anything. If you feel like you were brainwashed by this company then you don't have what it takes to be an entrepreneur anyway... you're weak. You are weak in spirit, motivation, and taking control. If you feel like you were taken advantage of, then look in the mirror to see who's at fault for getting up each morning and putting yourself through a job that you aren't cut out for. If you think it's a pyrimid scheme... do some research and find out what a real pyrimid scheme is... Only the top of the pyrimid makes money... that's not how Quantum, Smart Circle, Innovage, etc conducts business. They give you an opportunity to be in business for yourself. Not many companies will give an uneducated, unskilled person that opportunity... PERIOD. There are many examples of people that have come from nothing and created a situation through this business to have families, houses, cars, etc. I however have decided that I would like a change in industry. I did not quit due to mistreatment or abuse... I merely walked away with a sense of accomplishment and a free education in business and personal development. I was always a top performer in the company and for that I am proud. I will take what I have learned: Time management, taking control of situations, business sense, the understanding of professional and personal overhead, an amazing sales system, and personal growth; and use this experience to further my life. In no way do I feel bitter or used by this company. Without this company I would not have the skills or personal strength to pursue other career opportunities... For any college student this is one of the best places one can learn about themselves and about the business world in general. For those "over-qualified" applicants, don't waste your time, or the companys'. If you go into an interview feeling that you are over-qualified then you have a wake-up call comming soon in your future. Looking back, I was thinking about bashing this company on this site... then I stopped and thought about how much it has helped me grow personally and professionally. All in all it was one of the best personal decisions I have ever made and I will continue to believe so. And on another note, for those former employees that put in the effort to write a 3 page note on here bashing the corporation... Think back to when you worked there, did you put as much effort into your position as you did on this site?!? DEF NOT! If you are going to attempt to slander and mame a company, at least have the courage to put your full name at the bottom, and not some unidentifiable screen name. Bobby Crow

First I would like to start by saying that this company is not a scam, rip-off, pyrimid scheme, or anything of that nature. It is truly an OPPORTUNITY and not a JOB. If you are looking for a week-to-week paycheck or have no interest in personal growth, NO NOT APPLY. One must understand what they are getting involved with before they dive in, and they should understand the level of sacrifice that is involved with the position they are applying for. Yes, I am a former employee of this company. I started fresh out of college in Savannah, GA. Being a broke college student and having no experience I gave it a shot. I actually relocated from over 3 hours away to have a chance at becomming an owner. The first couple of weeks were definately different with regards to office environment, and daily work duties. The office environment is not typical of your standard corporation... There is high-fiving, cheers, and the occasional use of accronyms to motivate. The system they have in place can definately be applied to ANY future career path you choose to pursue. This position does require a lot of self-discipline, an entrepreneurial mindset, and the ability to take control. If you do not possess these qualities... DO NOT APPLY! If you do then this corporation can offer you a chance to gain knowledge, experience, and self-awareness required to become a successful business person and salesperson. After 6 months with the company I built a rather substantial team of reps meeting the company qualifications for owner promotion. I CHOSE, as a strong individual, to relocate to Redlands, CA in June of 08' in order to better place myself among the top VP's and territory. One of the VP's in the company, Harmony Hunt, was extremely generous to me and my team. She helped with Housing (even allowing us to stay rent-free in her home.) All she ever asked from me was a positive attitude and consistent performance. The fact that she let me stay for free was never held above my head and in fact, she commented several times that it was unfortunate that we didn't get to spend enough time in CA developing my skills. It was not her fault, running a division in any corp is time consuming and sometimes the "top guys" don't get the attention they should. She helped me several times allowing me to head new campaigns and build my experience. For that I will always be greatful. Without her strong coaching and motivation I would not have become the business person I am today having the opportunities to work with Fortune 500 companies such as: Home Depot, DirecTV, and Pilkington Glass. In May 09 I was given the opportunity to move to Seattle, WA to build a team and get incorporated. I began to build an office from the ground up. Doing interviews, training and conducting motivational meetings... all of which I would have never had the opportunity to do if I had chosen another corp to work for right out of college (had only been with the corp for 18 months). I CHOSE to move to each new location. I was not forced or coerced into doing anything. If you feel like you were brainwashed by this company then you don't have what it takes to be an entrepreneur anyway... you're weak. You are weak in spirit, motivation, and taking control. If you feel like you were taken advantage of, then look in the mirror to see who's at fault for getting up each morning and putting yourself through a job that you aren't cut out for. If you think it's a pyrimid scheme... do some research and find out what a real pyrimid scheme is... Only the top of the pyrimid makes money... that's not how Quantum, Smart Circle, Innovage, etc conducts business. They give you an opportunity to be in business for yourself. Not many companies will give an uneducated, unskilled person that opportunity... PERIOD. There are many examples of people that have come from nothing and created a situation through this business to have families, houses, cars, etc. I however have decided that I would like a change in industry. I did not quit due to mistreatment or abuse... I merely walked away with a sense of accomplishment and a free education in business and personal development. I was always a top performer in the company and for that I am proud. I will take what I have learned: Time management, taking control of situations, business sense, the understanding of professional and personal overhead, an amazing sales system, and personal growth; and use this experience to further my life. In no way do I feel bitter or used by this company. Without this company I would not have the skills or personal strength to pursue other career opportunities... For any college student this is one of the best places one can learn about themselves and about the business world in general. For those "over-qualified" applicants, don't waste your time, or the companys'. If you go into an interview feeling that you are over-qualified then you have a wake-up call comming soon in your future. Looking back, I was thinking about bashing this company on this site... then I stopped and thought about how much it has helped me grow personally and professionally. All in all it was one of the best personal decisions I have ever made and I will continue to believe so. And on another note, for those former employees that put in the effort to write a 3 page note on here bashing the corporation... Think back to when you worked there, did you put as much effort into your position as you did on this site?!? DEF NOT! If you are going to attempt to slander and mame a company, at least have the courage to put your full name at the bottom, and not some unidentifiable screen name. Bobby Crow