Network TwentyOne
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Network TwentyOne, also known as N21 or Network 21, is an education and training company supplying Professional Development Programs to Independent Business Owners (IBOs) working with the Quixtar and Amway network marketing business opportunities. It was founded in 1990 by Americans Jim and Nancy Dornan, IBOs in Amway and Quixtar. It represents a system for building stable, profitable marketing networks. Jim and Nancy Dornan are Founders Crown Ambassadors in Amway - the highest level achievable. Network TwentyOne operates in more than 36 countries supported by 26 local offices operating in 23 languages[1].
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[edit] History of Network 21
Jim Dornan, a graduate of Purdue University was an aerospace engineer and Nancy Dornan a speech therapist when they joined Amway in 1970. They retired from conventional employment while still in their 20s, having built a large Amway network. Jim Dornan reports that initially this involved plenty of trial and error - but over time, they found what did work and what didn't. Using his experience as an engineer, he set about systemizing their approach - and thus Network 21 was established as a business building system.
According to the book "The Power of Partnership" [2], when Amway launched in Hungary, only 10% of the people who signed up did so under Network TwentyOne. Yet, just 3 years later, 90% of Amway in Hungary was under the Network TwentyOne banner.
[edit] Principles
The point of any business system is to increase efficiency and improve results, as is also witnessed in the field of franchising. The Network 21 system's key points include:
- System: There are two components to any business - the product and the system. If you consider large international hamburger chains, they do not offer the best hamburgers, but they still sell more than other burger stores. The point is, they have a "system" which is how the product gets out there - and this is the role that Network 21 plays.
- Duplication: It doesn't make a difference what works, but what duplicates. (In other words, just because you can use it yourself to grow your network, if you can't easily teach it to others so that they can build a network, and if they in turn can't teach others to teach others - then it's not duplicatable - and thus not ideal.)
- Vital Signs: What gets measured improves. Amway levels say where you are, but there are other criteria for judging where your business is going. By focusing on areas such as width, depth and new IBO applications, and not just pin-level, your business is more likely to grow rapidly and profitably - and to be sustainable.
- Edification: You can promote others, but you cannot promote yourself. It does not help to tell others that you are a business expert, and that they should follow your advice - it sounds hollow. But support of others within your business team gives greater credibility.
- Teamwork: Network marketing is about building teams, and several aspects are taught in the system. Mentoring is an important component of this, where a person gets guidance from someone who has done what they are doing, and their mentor represents someone to whom they are answerable.
[edit] Tools
The training provided by Network 21 is done in several ways:
- CDs: These serve two purposes. (1) They can be used for personal training, and (2) they can be lent to others so they too can learn. This ensures:
- the group all learns about network building from the same source,
- people will not be limited by their personal ability to teach - they can always just lend a CD
- the focus can be on building networks and not just teaching.
- Books: Another form of training - people are encouraged to read 15 minutes a day from relevant business books, which cover sales skills, inter-personal skills, business, market trends, etc.
- Websites: An informational tool used to help people:
- ensure they have access to current information which is more recent than that contained on CDs
- conform their business proposition methods
- economize their network building time.
- Meetings: Again, these present a standard forum for teaching, and for sharing the business idea with others. This, as described above, means people are not reliant on their own skills, but can take advantage of more senior members of the team. There are different types of meetings, from public forums where the business plan is presented, half-day and one-day training, and weekend seminars.
[edit] Arguments for and against
- Opponents say that an education system is not necessary, where proponents argue that education is never be wasted, particularly in a field that differs from any training they may have received elsewhere in their careers.
- Opponents argue that money that is spent on an education system is a waste, whereas proponents say that if it results in a larger networking income, then it is money well-spent.
- Opponents say that money earned by networking is more from education-sourced profits, whereas proponents say it's about building large consuming networks. Either way, the bigger the network, the greater the income - so there would still be an alignment of interests, even if the opponents were correct.
- Opponents say that people are coerced into spending money on education, while proponents point out that Amway's terms and conditions make it clear that such expenditure is optional.
- Opponents say that people find out too late that the training doesn't add value, proponents point to Network 21's refund policy.
[edit] See also
[edit] Network 21 sites
- Network TwentyOne Corporate Site
- Network TwentyOne Global IBO Site
- Network TwentyOne Europe
- Network TwentyOne Asia Pacific
- Channel-21 Online Video Streaming
