 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Education |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Jim & Nancy Dornan |
| Headquarters | Atlanta,Georgia,United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Website | n21corp.com |
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 Amway. Network TwentyOne operates in more than 36 countries, with 26 regional offices.[1] It was founded in 1989 by Americans Jim and Nancy Dornan, IBOs with Amway.[2] The Dornans were recognized as Founders Crown Ambassadors 50 FAA by Amway in 2009. [3]
History
Jim Dornan recounts in his book The Power of Partnership [6] that he is a graduate of Purdue University and was an aerospace engineer and Nancy Dornan a speech therapist when they joined Amway in 1970. He states that they retired from conventional employment while in their 20s, having built a large Amway network. The financial burdens caused by the birth of their son, Eric, with spina bifida was one of the reasons the Dornans started building their business seriously. Later on he started his own training and motivation organization, and named it Network 21. Most IBOs in the Amway/Quixtar business are affiliated to some such IBO organization which are typically started by successful IBOs after having grown their business significantly.
People and Culture
Jim Dornan has also coauthored the book Becoming A Person Of Influence with John C. Maxwell. Jim Dornan has been a committee member of National Charity Awards [7] organized by Doug Wead. Maxwell and Wead are among frequent speakers at seminars organized by N21 [citation needed]. As of 1995, Jim Dornan was one of the several Amway business leaders on the board of Gospel Films [citation needed]. As of 2007, Jim Dornan was on the board of directors of Equip Foundation[4] founded by John C. Maxwell.
Business Methodology
Network 21 provides training programs to help IBOs grow their Amway/Quixtar businesses. The system consists of books and CDs, and organizing seminars where successful business persons, specialists and motivational speakers speak, both from within and from outside Network 21. Network 21 teaches a method of business building which it calls the "TEAM21 strategy".[citation needed].
The Network 21 Business System
The basic N21 business building system is the following [5]-
- 1. Define your goal or dream
- 2. Learn about and become Core (see below)
- 3. Make a list of potential business partners and customers
- 4. Learn how to do a professional business invitation, and invite them to see the business presentation
- 5. Show the business presentation
- 6. Followup with interested business prospects and customers
- 7. Evaluate your results with your mentor/coach
- 8. Repeat
Core
"Core" is provided as a series of activities that IBOs should engage in to order to maximize their potential to build a successful, profitable Amway business. N21 recommends doing the Core activities every month consistently over a period of 1-2years to achieve Silver Producer level in Amway.[5]
- 1. Show the Business Plan to a minimum of 8 people per month, preferably at least 15
- 2. Use and learn about the products and generate a minimum level of personal volume each month (including both personal consumption and retail clients)
- 3. Have a minimum of 10 personal clients
- 4. Listen to an educational/motivational CD daily
- 5. Read a personal development book daily (min 15mins)
- 6. Participate in the N21 system of seminars
- 7. Work as part of a team
- 8. good income
Vital Signs
Network 21 uses a method known as "Vital signs" to help measure the ongoing "health" of a business. Data is collated from IBO businesses and those statistics that reflect growing profitable businesses are supplied to IBOs as "goals". Statistics indicate that matching that data tends to result in a business of similar size and profitability. The statistics collected include how much personal volume an IBO is generating (through personal use and retail customer sales), how many retail customers the IBO has, how many IBOs in a group are showing at least 15 business presentations a month, and how many IBOs a group are participating in ongoing education programs. The actual "Vital Signs" statistics vary from market to market.[5]
Philanthropy
Network of Caring
Network of Caring was founded in 1994 by Jim & Nancy Dornan as the charitable arm of Network TwentyOne[6][7][8], originally to help AIDS orphans in Uganda[6]. Through enlisting the help of other Amway IBOs associated with the organisation, more than a million dollars a year is sent to that country. In partnership with World Vision, Network of Caring and affiliated IBOSs have donated over $30 million to the feeding, housing, and education of over 60,000 children in Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe. [9][10] World Vision has recognized Network of Caring and Network TwentyOne's members as their largest corporate network of child sponsors. [11][12] On September 1, 2006, Jim and Nancy Dornan, founders of Network TwentyOne, accepted an achievement award from World Vision President, Richard Stearns, on behalf of Network of Caring.[13]
Fernando Foundation
Jim and Nancy Dornan, and their son Eric Dornan also created The Ambassador Fund and the Fernando Foundation, in honor of Fernando Ruelas, the late long-time caretaker of Eric.[14] The Fernando Foundation supports numerous outreach programs in support of the world's children, the construction of homes and schools for street children in India organised under the Karuna Project.[14] The foundation is also heavily involved in promoting and supporting Power Soccer.[15]. In June 2006 the Ambassador Fund opened Ambassador High School in Karuna, India with an enrollment of 700 students including 100 area orphans.[16]. The Fernando Foundation and Ambassador Fund are largely funded by associates of Network TwentyOne.[17]
Controversy
In 1994, in the parliament of New South Wales in Australia, the minister for consumer affairs was questioned regarding the methods used by Amway and N21, to which the minister replied by saying that the complaints and evidence received were too few to indicate any cause for concern.[18]
In May 2007, Amway stated on its media blog that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in its complaints against Network 21, made serious allegations about the way Network 21 represents the Amway business opportunity in the UK. The DTI also alleged that Amway did not do enough to police the misrepresentations made by Network 21 and other organizations. Amway announced a ban on sale of Business Support Materials (books, tapes, CDs, meetings, websites) by IBO organizations, including Network 21, in UK, and announced a thorough review of its business practices globally. Amway refused to stand by assertions in a response letter from Jim Dornan to IBOs, calling it an "unproductive spin" created by Network 21. Dornan's letter suggested that Network 21 is not a party to the DTI complaint. Jim Dornan subsequently issued a second letter, stating that Network 21 (UK) is named in a separate complaint by the DTI and hence the issue should be taken seriously and addressed. [19] [20] [21].
References
- ^ Network 21 :: Company Overview
- ^ Network 21 :: Corporate Time Line
- ^ Achieve Magazine - Vol 2, Issue 4, December 2009
- ^ Website of Equip Foundation [1]
- ^ a b c Network 21 System for Success
- ^ a b The Christian Businessman, May 1998, pp28-34
- ^ IBOAI Members Take Action for Others Through Network of Caring
- ^ Network TwentyOne Founders Jim and Nancy Dornan Launch the New Network of Caring
- ^ Network of Caring - About Us
- ^ Network of Caring - From the Field
- ^ World Vision - Network of Caring History
- ^ A REPORT of NETWORK 21 ACTIVITIES In Partnership with World Vision
- ^ World Vision recognizes the Network of Caring
- ^ a b Fernando Foundation - History
- ^ Blaze Sports - Power Soccer Athletes Head to Georgia for USPSA National Tournament
- ^ Quixtar Independent Business Owners help Children Live Better Lives says Jody Victor of IBOAI
- ^ Ambassador High School Opens Its Doors
- ^ Parliament of New South Wales, discussion on Amway and Network 21[2]
- ^ OK, let’s talk UK, on Amway Media Blog [3]
- ^ Misrepresenting, on Amway Media Blog [4]
- ^ Un-spun, on Amway Media Blog [5]