CONTENT
40 Happy Birthday QNET
31 Touching A Billion Hearts Special
45 Beauty, Inside Out with Irene Steffen
The Touching a Billion Hearts Issue
14 Reliving V-Malaysia 2013
SUCCESS STORIES 18 20 22 24 26
Tran Van Binh Ghada Hamdan Sachin Gupta Ibn Abbas Sharfun Shaikh
SPEAK OUT 28
MESSAGE FROM CORPORATE 7 9 11
QNET Managing Director JR Mayer QNET Executive Chairperson Donna Imson The V Managing Director Pathman Senathirajah
NEWS
12 QNews! 14 Reliving V-Malaysia 2013
LIFESTYLE 52 54 56 58 63
Touching A Billion Hearts Special Going Back 15 Years Interview with Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran Interview with Donna Imson Changing the World, One Heart at a Time Happy Birthday QNET InService Brotherhood, at your Service
SPORTS 64 67
FEATURE
Beauty, Inside Out with Irene Steffen The Future of Education QNET Welcomes a Ban on Pyramid Companies in Egypt
Touching Hearts with F1 Living the Dream with John Booth
COUNTRY IN FOCUS 69
Welcome to the QNET Family, Vietnam
SUPPORT 70
45 47 50
Books from My Library with Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran Taking Care of Body and Mind with Joseph Bismark Digital Diva UAE’s Must-Dos What to Watch this Weekend with VP Adly Hassan
A QNET Love Story
TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS SPECIAL 31 32 34 36 38 40 42
38 Changing the World, One Heart at a Time
Global Support Centre (GSC)
3
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Issue 15 | May 2013 — September 2013
Corporate Messages
Happy Birthday QNET!
The 15th edition of our aspIRe, the 15th anniversary of QNET, what an occasion… The team has given this issue a lot of thought – we wanted it to be one that will be remembered. As the QNET world grows bigger by the day, we enter new countries and inevitably engage more people from different languages. We want to deliver our messages to you in your language so that we can be close to what you do and what you need. For us, it’s all about making it relevant to you.
Editor-in-Chief
Donna Imson JR Mayer Pathman Senathirajah Sheena Flannery
Assistant Editor
Ploi Phayakvichien Clara Tehrani Tanaphon Sujirapinyokul
Contributors
Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran Joseph Bismark Zaheer Merchant Adly Hassan Hamed Ramya Chandrasekaran Gil Cadiz ‘Bridge’ Radha Balagtas Clara Tehrani Nathan Brown Ploi Phayakvichien Sandra El Lackany Gordon Leach
And in fact, we hope we have achieved that, by delivering you a bilingual magazine filled with profiles on the people you want to hear more about and stories you want to be able to tell your friends and family. Writing is our passion and bringing you our stories closer is what we live for. That is how we touch hearts. Sheena Flannery Editor-in-Chief Art Director Assistant Art Director Graphic Designers
Production Manager Digital Production Photographer Localisation Team
Puddhi Dheppratum Tanakorn Anakvatcharakul Nahatai Thammanuchit Sukanya Thanamatee Yusri Bin Din Sarayoot Teparos Watchara Hanchava Pravit Nuntanasirivikrom Sandra El Lackany Ash Sharifi
General Disclaimer:
The products featured in this magazine may not be available in all countries. Interested parties should contact the QNET Global Support Centre (GSC) or visit the QNET eStore for product availability. QNET provides all content in this magazine as is without warranty of any kind to the extent allowed by applicable law, including without limitation, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement of intellectual property. Any content published in this magazine should not be relied on for important personal, financial or business decisions. Readers are advised to seek professional help for appropriate advice. QNET reserves the right to change and/or modify the content and presentation of the magazine without prior notice. Twitter, Facebook, Apple, iPad, iPhone, iTouch, Nokia, Pirelli, Blackberry, RIM, and all other associated or related marks are, or may be, trademarks or registered trademarks of their related companies and/or such other related or other entities. Other products and/or company names mentioned herein may also similarly be trademarks or trade names of their respective owners. The marks and their use are thereby duly governed by the respective owners and any and all rights in connection with the same are entirely reserved. You are hereby advised and notified that you are under obligation to understand and know the same, and ensure compliance as required. We shall not accept any responsibility or liability arising out of, or in connection with, any breach or misuse of the same, which shall remain your sole obligation to ascertain and comply with. Copyright © QNet Ltd / 2013. All rights reserved.
MESSAGE FROM CORPORATE
7
15 Years and Going Strong! Can you believe it – 15 years of QNET? I am still in awe and so unbelievably proud of what we have achieved over these years.
JR MAYER Managing Director QNET Ltd
15 years ago, our founders and mentors, Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran and Joseph Bismark decided to take their future into their own hands and create their own business – a business that would enable thousands and thousands of people to follow their footsteps and become financially independent. Having said that, our success cannot be pinned to only one single event or decision. QNET is fortunate to have a very dynamic corporate team, the best Uplines in the world, a highly attractive compensation plan and unique high-value products. But if I had to name just one thing that clearly put us on the map, it was another decision made by the Founders in the first 6 months of QNET’s foundation: they saw that the power of the Internet would erase all global boundaries and so they pioneered an entirely new business model: combining eCommerce and Network Marketing. In my humble opinion, this decision single-handedly created the limitless opportunity that QNET presents today. QNET turned the industry upside down by saying goodbye to the old fashioned brick and mortar approach. The world was open and, in a way, we handed the steering wheel of our QNET vehicle to our Global Network of Independent Representatives. Taking QNET to every single corner around the world, faster than anyone had ever done before. From South Asia to the Middle East, from Africa to India – pioneering markets that had never heard about this industry. Today, QNET is an international powerhouse in the Direct Selling industry, mentioned in the same breath of air as the biggest in business and featured in renowned magazines like Forbes and Direct Selling News. We are on the map now guys! We are a force to be reckoned with and we are here to stay.
From Flab to Fab
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MESSAGE FROM CORPORATE
9
15 years of QNET– 15 years of touching people’s hearts It has been an exciting journey: an extraordinary 15 years that we are all proud of. This 15th issue of aspIRe coincides with our 15th anniversary and for this auspicious occasion, we want to revive the values that our company has built itself upon and have been at the core of QNET’s everyday activity for the last 15 years. These values, as you all know, are incorporated in RYTHM, Raise Yourself to Help Mankind. Touching a Billion Hearts How do we raise ourselves to help others? We do it by touching their hearts, by helping them to stand on their own feet so that they, in turn, can help others to also touch hearts and rise up to reach their goals. So, for this very special milestone, we want to make it QNET’s goal to touch a billion hearts. QNET has pursued our goal of touching and changing people’s lives through many ways, be it our GSC that you can contact 24/7 or our array of high-quality lifestyle products. We offer online courses to people who might not have access to the traditional educational system. We empower women in certain regions of the world where they have fewer opportunities to prosper. Everything we do can be translated into one simple concept: touching hearts. Why we touch hearts Let me ask you: how have you touched someone’s heart? And how has someone in QNET or through QNET touched your heart and changed your life? DONNA IMSON EXECUTIVE CHAIRPERSON QNET Ltd
Let’s all stand united and pass on the message of touching hearts and supporting each other in the QNET family. Our goal is to touch a billion hearts, not just once and not just for one year, but always and forever so that we can look back and be proud of the legacy we have left behind. Why? Because this is who we are.
MESSAGE FROM CORPORATE 11
Raising the Bar Higher for a Better Future Greetings, dear QNET Family! We are now moving into the final quarter of 2013 and this year has been one of tremendous progress and growth in our organisation. My fingers actually tremble as I write this because I am so excited for the GREAT things that have been coming to us throughout the year. Everyday I hear about the lives we have touched and I am infinitely grateful that I am part of the grand goal our founders Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran and Japadas Bismark set for all the QNET family: to touch a billion hearts. But before I go any further, I first would like to wish everyone in QNET and The V family a very happy 15th anniversary! Can you believe it? Fifteen years since inception, and we continue to experience development in our existing territories and see promising of growth in new territories we step into. Hello, Europe! This year, we convey our tagline and message of change to all of you through the concept of Raising The Bar Higher. The beauty is in the simplicity of this phrase and that it entirely boils down to how far you are willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Do what you’re doing but do it bigger and do it better! Or do something entirely different and excel! Nobody can push you to be great if you are not willing to push yourself and go the extra mile. Stick to your systems but change the magnitude of your efforts! The rules are simple and the only missing ingredient is your initiative. It is not easy but what is the price you are willing to pay to put smiles on the faces of your children? How much effort are you willing to invest for all your dreams to come true? Ask yourself this then set your standards higher than ever and take the world by storm! Pathman Senathirajah Managing Director The V
Aside from Raising The Bar Higher in your QNET business, Raise The Bar Higher at home too! Make it a lifestyle, a beautiful journey of rediscovering your strengths and capabilities, with your families. From the time you wake up ask yourself ‘How can I Raise My Bar Higher today?’ All of us must step up our game and show the world that we are the dreamers who do. We are the wild ones. When people stare and ask you why you are switched on all the time, tell them “I’m raising my bar higher. What about you?”
12 NEWS
QNEWS! QNET News & Events
QNET For Team India From 5-7 April 2013, Bangalore city had the privilege to host the tennis Davis-Cup Asia/Oceania relegation play-off between India and Indonesia. QNET was right at the heart of this exciting event by being the official sponsor of the Indian team. The QNET Indian Davis Cup team fought bravely and won the play-off in a clean sweep with the score of 5-0 against the Indonesian team.
QNET Ahead of Game in Tech In June, QNET showcased its cutting-edge technology and new cloud, mobile and social CRM solutions at the Asia Pacific Customer Service Consortium’s 2013 in Hong Kong.
This play-off was also an emotional event as Mr S. P. Mishra, India’s non-playing captain wore the captain’s hat for the last time. He ended his long professional journey with a resounding win and received a luxury Chairos® watch from QNET as memento commemorating the occasion. QNET India CEO Suresh Thimiri also presented all players with a Chairos® watch. QNET Regional General Manager for South East Asia Stevenson Charles presented the Indonesian team with an Amezcua Chi Pendant.
The APCSC Leadership Summit provides an international platform for industry leaders and experts to share valuable insights about achieving excellence in customer service and customer relationship management (CRM). QNET was represented by social media whiz, Rita Suttarno and research and development expert, Sinamar Reyes, who spoke about QNET’s experiences with utilising the cloud; the value of mobile and social media to CRM; and what QNET has in store for its tech-savvy, social, mobile and ‘always-connected’ customers. The event also featured an interactive panel discussion which debated current social media challenges, the type of training they give their customer service teams, how they manage and integrate content and how they re-purpose content across different social media channels for the benefit of customers and to achieve business goals.
The Mater Heart Run in Kenya a Success On Saturday, 25 May 2013, the Mater Heart Run was held in Kenya. The event was a complete success! As one of the main sponsors of this important event, QNET supported the goal of raising funds for children suffering from Rheumatic Heart Disease and needing treatment or surgery. Many QNET IRs attended the event, cheering and supporting the racers on. The participation of one of QNET’s leaders from Kenya and a QNET booth setup at the event made the day even more special!
NEWS 13
Hello Europe! This summer, QNET hit the road for its first ever European tour in July and August. The tour which marked the first major push of QNET into Europe started in Moscow, Russia, stopped in Gothenburg, Sweden and finished in Frankfurt, Germany. Top QNET leaders were invited to hear from QNET Managing Director JR Mayer who was joined by V Managing Director Pathman Senathirajah and Regional Director for Europe Joachim Steffen. The events also introduced QNET’s General Manager for European Markets Rudi Neidhardt. “I see this tour as an important catalyst for sparking rapid growth in Europe. Entering the European continent is a strategic move for us and we are really proud of being one of the few Asian direct selling companies that have made this move,” said Mayer, whose home country is Germany. To celebrate QNET’s expansion into Europe, QNET has also added German to the list of languages already available – English, Arabic, (Bahasa) Indonesia, French and Russian. This way, German-speaking IRs will be able to use the Virtual Office and eStore in their native language, which is expected to help the expansion of the company in Europe. “I’m excited to be bringing QNET to Europe. For me it carries a feeling of having come full circle. I have seen my family’s line of watches and jewellery flourish with QNET and now I look forward to seeing the brand and QNET’s other great products expanding their presence from Asia back into Europe,” said Mayer.
QNET Runs Almaty to Astana A group of QNET-sponsored professional athletes in Kazakhstan participated in 1,200 km marathon from the city of Almaty to the capital city, Astana. The run took place on 2-5 July to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Astana City on 6 July. The impressive feat, named My Heart Astana, included the participation of 15 athletes from the Almaty Marathon Club, many of whom were QNET IRs. The runners divided themselves into three teams and would take turns running the enormous distance. The Astana Day celebrations included hundreds of events spread over the week which led up to the main celebration, highlighting Astana as a comfortable and stable city, an investment destination and a spiritual and cultural centre for the Central Asian region and the rest of the world.
GSC Wins Big at APAC Our Global Support Centre has once again made QNET very proud by placing among the APAC Contact Centre World (CCW) Top Ranking Performers for 2013. Roughly 200 delegates from 14 countries (Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Russia) participated in this year’s competition, with the QNET GSC team competing in three categories where they managed to excel in ALL categories! QNET took home one gold and two silver awards: GOLD Medal Winner for Best Small Contact Centre, SILVER Medal Winner for Best Operations Manager and SILVER Medal Winner for Best Supervisor.
14 NEWS
Reliving V-Malaysia 2013 By Ploi Phayakvichien
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The final highlight of the night… the iconic gathering of all the V Partners on stage. V Founding Partner Japadas Bismark welcomed the most awaited speaker of the evening – V Managing Partner Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran who took the stage to welcome his family home. And did you hear? QNET had our very own daily newsletter available exclusively at V-Con!!!
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Even as people poured in to register themselves, the QNET Pavilion opened its doors. The highlight of the day, we must say, was definitely the inaugural ceremony marked by a ribbon cutting. The moment we had all been waiting for – the official V-Malaysia Opening Ceremony! We either go BIG or go home, right? And my, did we go BIGGGG! The ceremony started out with traditional dances and an EPIC battle between beatboxer and drummers. The much awaited international flag parade showcased the true spirit of RYTHM Nation.
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NEWS 15
Day 2: Today, Tomorrow, Forever QNET! It was unbelievable! The energy and the passion of QNET IRs at V-Malaysia 2013 was even stronger than Day 1.
A talk show with QNET Managing Director JR Mayer and V Chief Pathman Senathirajah helped us relive QNET’s amazing past and how it had brought the company this far. Mayer says, “We are 15 years old now… by our 20th anniversary, we want to be among the top 10 network marketing companies in the world. We have an incredible product platform to expand on… this is how we are going to make the top 10.” QNET Executive Chairperson Donna Imson gives a most inspiring session on how all networkers need to learn
how to embrace the word ‘no’. Within minutes of her session, she had the whole stadium excited and ready to ROCK! “What is it that stops you from signing up people? The fear of what people think of you… the fear of them judging you. You don’t like to hear the word NO. But the process of getting a YES is to go through the NOs. NO is good. It makes you better.” – QNET Executive Chairperson Donna Imson QNET CEO Mr Dave Osh is a fitness guru. We won’t tell you his age, but he
certainly doesn’t look it, which is what made him the perfect candidate to go up on stage and introduce our latest products – the InShape Meal Shake, the InShape Toning Belt and the InShape Gel. “The secret ingredient behind this product range is LOVE and CARE!” he said. Q LifeStyle MD Joachim Steffan and GM of Hospitality Vacation Products Q Lifestyle Bruce Keats got up on stage to announce the amazing enhancements to QVI Points – the nominee programme, the group travel search function and an additional 200,000 resorts and hotels and 4,000 car rental services worldwide. For more information, don’t forget to check out the Q LifeStyle booth! The QNET booth also had a magnificent fashion show where QNET staff got to strut their stuff down the aisle modelling QNET products while wearing the latest Primavera Spring Collection and Marussia F1 Merchandise.
16 NEWS
Day 3: Let’s Rock This World
Day 4: An ActionPacked Day! Day 4 of V-Con was a busy day for all those involved. Although nearing the end of V-Malaysia 2013, the fever was still running high and everyone was pumped up for even more V-Con action. You want action? We deliver. V Founding Partner Joseph Bismark made a special visit to the QNET Pavilion! He even took a group picture with all the staff, we couldn’t be happier. The winner of The Pitch!, Sangeeta Motupalli, received a cheque of USD 10,000 for her charity – The Li’ll Hearts Education Centre. She was awarded by none other than RYTHM Foundation Executive Director Datin’ Sri Umayal Eswaran and QNET Executive Chairperson Donna Imson. From India, Sangeeta Motupalli pitched the idea for the Li’ll Hearts Educational Society learning centre to build 6 to 8 new classrooms and a new computer
Day 3 saw the V-Con spirit brighter than ever. Even after QNET IRs continued to grow and more passionate. Here highlights of the day.
burning 2 days, stronger are the
V Founding Partner Joseph Bismark gave an exclusive book signing and photo-taking session at the QNET Booth. V Managing Director Pathman Senathirajah got up on stage with QNET Managing Director JR Mayer. Both are the ultimate role-model for anyone wanting to give their all, for anyone who wants to give 100% to everything they touch and make a difference in all they do. Our very own fitness guru, QNET Chief Executive Officer Dave Osh helps man the Weight Management booth while answering any questions regarding InShape. Go QNET CEO! You rock! Chancellor of Academics of SMC Dr Ted Sun took the stage with QNET Product
Marketing Manager of eLearning Bernhard Gaksch to announce some of the latest and soon-to-come education courses… QNET’s very own university QIUP, Swiss eLearning Institute’s Wealth Management course, SMC’s Accelerated Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration. QNET Product Specialist Ashley Williams and Research Professor Dr Jeon Hyoung-Tag announced the launch of the latest HomePure product, the Alkaline Stick. “An alkalise body is the key to a healthy diet,” says Williams. Many V-Con attendants found the product so interesting they flocked to the Alkaline Stick Booth during the remaining days of V-Malaysia 2013 to find out more and purchase the product. An exclusive book signing-session took place at the QNET Pavilion by V Partner Sathi Senathirajah, V Partner Adly Hassan and V Partner Arun George.
NEWS 17
lab, and also upgrade facilities such as the library to provide basic academic and holistic education for underprivileged children. Next, was an event that jam-packed the QNET Pavilion with cheers and whoops – the QNET Achievers’ Club. New Gold Star IRs were duly recognised and congratulated as they received their Gold Star Pin amidst the cheers of fellow IRs and QNET and The V super VIPs. We even had the Swiss eLearning Certificate Award Ceremony that day. The entire QNET Pavilion gathered around the QNET Booth to congratulate IRs for their life enhancing achievements. The certificates were given out by RYTHM Foundation Trustee Bernhard H. Mayer and QNET Managing Director JR Mayer! The QNET Pavilion was surely a big hit by IRs who wanted to make the most of the final days… we’ve even had some Turkish journalists visiting us! The day ended with a massive concert and party in the stadium.
Day 5: Good bye V-Malaysia 2013 Day 5 of V-Con was bitter-sweet. The end of an amazing 5-day event was inevitably coming to an end. However, within those 5 days, friendships were made, memories were shared, cups were emptied and people learnt from the very best in the business! …It was also the last day for shopping and the QNET Pavilion was packed full with last-minute shoppers. Some of the most popular products this year at V-Malaysia 2013 were the HomePure Alkaline Stick and Amezcua Chakra – the newest addition to the vast line of QNET products. QNET also would like to thank all of you because without everyone, V-Malaysia wouldn’t have been possible. So until next V-Con…
18 SUCCESS STORIES
the buy-in product – that’s how bad the financial situation of a middle class family in Vietnam was! After that, our lives didn’t become immediately easier. Due to the ban on eCommerce-based companies in Vietnam, we had to constantly move offices. Many people saw the opportunity and wanted to join QNET. The business was going well and expanding at such a rate that we knew this would work. During that time, my daughter and I had to fly to Hong Kong, Malaysia or Singapore every 2 weeks so the prospect could receive their products faster. With the network’s help, we started preparing the plan to register QNET in Vietnam as soon as the law was updated, which happened in 2012. And for the past year, we’ve been handling all the paperwork, localising all the materials and, I’m very happy to say, we finally managed to have an official QNET office open in Vietnam this past July.
Interview with
Tran Van Binh
BIO Name: Tran Van Binh Age: 50 Country of origin: Vietnam Country where you’re active: Vietnam Years with QNET: 9 years Team: Team Rose Describe QNET in 3 words: Young, Unique, Dynamic Favourite QNET product: Amezcua Bio Disc and Amezcua Chi Pendent Favourite quote: “We cannot change other people until we change ourselves.” How did it all start for you? How was life before QNET? “Before QNET, we were a typical Vietnamese middle class family. My wife had a relatively good position in an insurance company and I was working with the police, enforcing economic laws. Hence, when she came home after first hearing about QNET, back in 2004, my excitement didn’t match hers. eCommerce was new in Vietnam, a business where buyer and seller never saw each other and many people had doubts about its legitimacy. I myself had some reservations. “Nonetheless, we visited the website and studied the business opportunity because we wanted to send my daughter, Canna, to a good university. We decided to travel to Hong Kong and check out the QNET offices. The professionalism of all the workers, the amazing facilities, the products, all of it convinced us that this was the way to change our lives.” You played a crucial role in relaunching QNET in Vietnam. Can you tell us that journey? “After we decided to join, we had to wait 2 weeks to be able to afford
“The opening of the office means better support for the IRs and shorter delivery times, as the products can be shipped domestically. But more importantly, it means trust: prospects can come over and visit a real, physical space.”
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“So people should not be ashamed of explaining what they do and sharing the business opportunity with others. It’s as legitimate as any other business.” How important is Vietnam in the Southeast Asian context? What can we expect from your country? “I believe it’ll change the game. Vietnam is a country of over 90 million people, many of them without a job or earning very low salaries. QNET can, at the very least, be the financial complement to their earnings, allowing (hopefully) thousands of families to be able to afford good education for their youngsters and good healthcare for their elders. “QNET can expect a rapid and steady growth, I think. Most MLM operating in Vietnam only sell nutrition or beauty products. With such a wide range of products and a better compensation plan, QNET can easily steal the show!” One of the challenges IRs face when joining this business is lack of support from their families/friends, who don’t understand the business very well. What is your advice to them? “People’s expectations when working with the established corporate world have been managed for a very long time and people are conditioned to accept that a ‘nine-to-five’ job is safer and more stable. This is no longer the case. The world has changed dramatically in the past 20 years. Direct Sales (DS) and MLM might very well be the solution to fight rising unemployment rates. “So people should not be ashamed of explaining what they do and sharing the business opportunity with others. It’s as legitimate as any other business. That’s my advice: before anyone believes in you, you must have enough knowledge and belief in yourself.” What did you discover about yourself in these past years with QNET? “QNET has changed the way I see and think about life. It has granted me the knowledge to face problems as they come. All problems are relative and we
should give them the importance they have, to start with. By facing them with a positive attitude, we can see the solution more clearly and act towards it faster. “It has also allowed me to understand our power to change other people’s lives. Sometimes by sharing the opportunity to achieve financial freedom.” Can you tell us a story that has had a deep impact on you as a networker? “My wife is a spirit of this business but after we’d been with QNET for 2 years, she got cancer. It was terrible news for my family. Everyday I’d spend time with my wife and I’d go with her to the hospital. I was hardly able to do any work for a year so many people from my team left QNET to work with other MLM companies. Just a few loyal people stood their ground. “They say a problem never comes alone and we’re the living proof of that… treating cancer costs a lot of money and so do good schools and universities in Vietnam (when my wife got sick, my daughter Canna was going to the first year of University and my son Khang was midway through secondary school). Despite our financial problems and her health situation, my wife said, ‘when we started this, it was just you and me, but now we have more people. You can rebuild the network with the loyal people and our daughter is grown-up, she can help!’ “And so I did. Together, we got through the challenge and built the big team we now have in Vietnam (Team Rose, in memory of my wife who, sadly, passed away). Today, my daughter is my strongest leader in the left. My son just started this business on my right. My son-in-law also joined us and my recently-born granddaughter will do QNET in the future, I’m sure. We are a QNET family. We live together, eat together, work together and talk about QNET together!”
What dreams has QNET enabled you to fulfil? “One of the dreams I’d had for quite some time was to open the office in Vietnam. I just fulfilled it and it feels great! “Other than that, obviously building my family home, a big place where we also host Team Rose meetings and giving my children a better life. Team Rose and QNET will always be the heritage my wife and I left for them and one we’re both very proud of.” What advice would you give someone that is starting this business today? “Never give up. The start might be slower than you wished for, but keep doing it the best you can and you shall succeed.” How did QNET touch your heart? And how has it helped you touch others’? “If I had been just a normal employee in a traditional business, I couldn’t have spent so much time with my wife when she got cancer. Thanks to QNET, our best friends and best partners could help us a lot, simply by working hard for themselves. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the people who walked this long journey next to us from the beginning until now. “One very special person, who came to us with a very good heart, ready to help, is VP David Sharma. He is my benefactor and my mentor, who has helped us change our lives when we faced so many challenges! It really touched my heart. I promised myself that I would do the same to my Downlines if they ever need my help.” If you could change anything in the world, what would it be? “Everybody is a small world, if we want to change the world, we must change ourselves. Like our mission RYTHM, I want to change to raise myself first then I can help many people.”
20 SUCCESS STORIES
Interview with
Ghada Hamdan
BIO Name: Ghada Hamdan Age: 36 Country of origin: Egypt Countries where you’re active: Egypt, the UAE, Palestine, Nigeria, USA Years with QNET: 4 Current rank and date you achieved it: Platinum since September 2012 Team: Diamonds Describe QNET in 3 words: The Better Way Favourite QNET product: Himalayan Crystal Love Pendant – Diamond Favourite quote: “It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, it’s about the size of the fight in the dog.” As a child, what did you want to be? Astronaut, TV presenter, a filthy rich businesswoman! ...Anything but a bored employee!
QNET opportunity, jumped at it and signed up instantly! I grabbed it and built it up bit-by-bit, everyday.” How easy was it to grow from a dream into the reality that is your life now? “Well, as with everything, it takes time and dedication to get to the right speed. “At the start, I was pitching to my contacts who were, coincidentally, my colleagues from work. My boss was the first I presented to but he laughed and said I was doing something ‘stupid’ (funny how, a few years later, he’d be calling my Downline asking to be signed up!). When he learnt what I was doing, he started warning me that I’d get fired for not focussing on the job and my career! He also went to everyone I signed up in the office and passed on the same warning.
How was life before QNET? “Life before QNET was not a life! When I saw the plan, I was miserable: a single mum, fighting to give my daughter the best life I could. Finances were very tight and I had to take more than one job to barely pay my bills! I had a job as a marketing manager at one of those ‘things’ (large multinational companies) where people live in cubicles, compete with each other, fight for a place at the top, get stressed, get fired and eventually die broke. All this for what? To build someone else’s dream? “It was eating up my life! So, at age 32, I decided that by my next birthday, I would have my own business and my current job was going to be my last.” So, did you go looking for QNET or did QNET find you? “I guess life throws multiple opportunities at us but unless we’ve taken the decision to change our lives, we can’t even see those opportunities. Since I had taken the decision of changing my life even before meeting my Upline, I immediately saw the
“This forced me to prospect like crazy which made me very good at prospecting! You see, everything happens for a reason, even bad things. I worked, worked, worked and signed up people both in the UAE and in my home country, Egypt, until I built my pipeline. 10 months later, I was able to match my salary simply by presenting everyday for 3 hours after work, watching a DVD by our unbelievable Chief Pathman to learn how to motivate myself, and by attending trainings on weekends. “That was when I decided to quit my job. I thought that if I put in 8 to 10 hours a day I could double, triple, even quadruple my income and that is exactly what happened! Today, I work out of choice,
fun and love. I no longer have stressful days. I travel to countries to spread this opportunity and tell people that they should give themselves the chance to do the same!” How did you get to where you are now? “I fell in love with QNET and worked at it consistently, everyday. QNET was my way to financial freedom – and it was the only way. I burned all the bridges behind me! During summer vacation in Egypt, while my family went to the beachside, I stayed back in the city to present to at least 5 to 10 people per day. My family used to tell me ‘You’re giving up your hard-earned vacation…’ to which I replied ‘And you’re giving up your life!’ I was doing this so that in the future I could relax on any beach, anywhere in the world, anytime I wanted in my life.” What would you say was the defining moment in your QNET journey? “V-Con 2009 took place two days after I signed up and, since my Upline had edified it so much, I went. When I watched VP and single mother Donna Imson on stage, I made the decision to be standing with her on stage in 3 years time. Also, seeing VP Adly Hassan on
stage – an Arab like myself – reinforced my idea that QNET offers ‘equal opportunity regardless of race, creed or religion,’ as Chief always says. And I thought, ‘One day, I’m going to be like VP Adly’.” Tell us about the challenges you faced since you have been with QNET and what that has taught you. “It was January 2011. On the same week, the Egyptian Revolution happened, I went from being maxed out to almost zero: the Internet was down and there was a curfew, no one was allowed to be in the streets after 3 pm. People were scared and no one wanted to spend the little money they had. That was a challenge! For the following 6 weeks, I worked harder than ever and, by March of 2011, I was able to max out again.”
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in these 4 years with QNET?
“I discovered I am not a QUITTER. I’m a QNETer! QNET has helped me discover the persistence to never give up my dreams and the dreams of my Team Diamonds! I guess I am in love with QNET and with Diamonds, and so I will keep going till the end, no matter what.” Can you tell us a story that has had a deep impact on you as a networker? “My daughter and I were going to watch a movie one day when we came across a car showroom inside the mall. Dana, my daughter, was 12. I stopped at the showroom and told her ‘Pick your car!’ She couldn’t believe it! She said ‘I am 12, I cannot drive.’ I said ‘I know, I just want you to try the back seat of any car and tell me the most comfortable one!’
One of the challenges IRs face when joining this business is lack of support from their families/friends, who don’t understand the business very well. What is your advice to them?
“I bought the car she chose, interviewed drivers and hired the best one for her the following day. She was so happy! The freedom and ability to be able to do this has made us both decide we will network with QNET forever!”
“Love yourself. They will thank you later.” What is the one important thing that you have discovered about yourself
What advice would you give someone that is starting this business today? “Burn the bridges behind you! There is no other way you will get to what you can achieve with QNET!”
“I discovered I am not a QUITTER. I’m a QNETer! QNET has helped me discover the persistence to never give up my dreams and the dreams of my Team Diamonds!”
How did QNET touch your heart? And how has it helped you touch others’? “Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran touched my heart through his books, trainings and teachings about life! Do you know any other company in the world that has such an amazing founder and one that you get to meet, be personally trained by and share a common vision and mission with? “Learning and applying RYTHM (Raise Yourself to Help Mankind) has changed my life and many others’. Getting messages from Downlines thanking me for changing their lives and helping them cross out dreams from their dream list is just overwhelming. I could give a man a fish and feed him for one day but today I prefer to teach a man how to fish and feed him for a lifetime…”
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Interview with
Sachin Gupta
since you have been with QNET and what that has taught you.
BIO Name: Sachin Gupta Age: 36 Country of origin: India Countries where you’re active: India & the UAE Years with QNET: 5 Current rank and date you achieved it: Platinum since launch of QInfinite Team: Infiniti Describe QNET in 3 words: Life Changing Opportunity Favourite QNET product: QVI Club Favourite quote: “Delays will happen but what you think, speak and do during that delay will decide how long this delay will last.” As a child, what did you want to be? A businessman
How did it all start for you? How was life before QNET? “I come from a middle class background with my parents being government employees with a typical Indian middle-class mindset. I started by doing what was expected of me, got a corporate job and, 8 years into it, I saw no future. I had already maximised what I could take out and I was not ready to live my whole life as an employee. I was a top-performing employee in 3 fortune 500 companies in 8 years and was regularly getting promoted but realise that this is not something which can retire me fast. I was desperately looking out for something to do on my own when QNET came into my life, in 2008.”
How was your journey with QNET? How did you get to where you are now? “What I got from QNET, materially and financially, is very important. But even more important is what I became thanks to this journey. I had to struggle a lot and ended up changing a lot. Before, I was a ‘normal’ man with no extraordinary education or skill. The only thing I did have was the clarity of my dreams and work ethic. Thanks to QNET, I learnt to raise myself to help mankind. And look at where I am now…” What would you say was the defining moment in your QNET journey? Tell us about the challenges you faced
“I was fully switched on to QNET from day 1 and, as smoothly and pleasant as the journey might have been, there are always challenges you need to overcome, whatever you do. The good thing about these challenges is that it makes you stop and think of what you really want. And, after you’ve made the decision, you are more reassured about the path you’re taking than you were before the challenge. A good example of this happened on my 4th month into QNET. I was promoted in my other job, my corporate job, which would imply more responsibilities and dedication i.e. longer hours and less time to dedicate to QNET. So I decided to quit that corporate job even though my QNET commissions had yet to cover my salary. I became a full-time QNETer very early into the game and I was confident that would be my future – and a good one. But then, a few months after, my referrer decided to leave the business and I was left with no ‘physical’ support as all my other Uplines were in other countries. As a result, I really had to step up my game and learn the business the ‘hard way’. What good came out of it? I know the business inside out and, after a slightly more difficult start, my growth was exponential. “Every thing started moving fast after I attended my first V-Con in 2009. My biggest leaders today were not active until that V-Con. But after attending it, we started to really dedicate ourselves the right way and they became full-timers in only 2 months.”
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One of the challenges IRs face when joining this business is lack of support from their families/friends, who don’t understand the business very well. What is your advice to them? “My wife VC Kavita – who is one of the biggest leaders in business today – was also not very active before the 2009 V-Con. But after the event, she came out as my biggest supporter. So my advice to people who do not get support from family members is: do not push them. In their own time, they’ll come to understand what you do and, who knows, might even become active. Take them to V-Con. Show them what it’s all about. You also need to show your family how dedicated and committed you are if you’re expecting their full support.” What is the important thing you have discovered about yourself in these 5 years with QNET? “I got to know that I’m not a quitter; if I start something, be assured I will take it all the way. I had never realised that about myself and I think it’s a good feature.” Can you tell us a story that has had a deep impact on you as a networker? “The Secret had a deep impact on my life. I am a firm believer in The Secret.” What dreams has QNET enabled you to fulfil? “There is a long list: I left my corporate job; paid off all my home and car loans
“It gave me the opportunity to travel the world, be with my family and have a lot of real friends, who will always be there, in thick and thin.” within the first 2 years in business; bought a BMW 5 series outright in the third year into the business; in the fourth year, I bought 4 properties in India and a BMW X5 in Dubai, to where I shifted my entire family – including my parents and pet; and this year, I bought myself a supercar red Ferrari as a birthday present and have started producing a Bollywood movie with both my leaders in partnership. “My parents, who had never travelled abroad before QNET, went to V-Con 2009. It was their first time out of India and now, in just 4 years’ time, they live
in Dubai, which is a big paradigm shift for them.” What advice would you give someone that is starting this business today? “Think long term. Give this business 4 years minimum before you think of leaving it. You’ll work, work, work, for the first 4 years. But after that, it’ll work, work, work for you.” How did QNET touch your heart? And how has it helped you touch others’? “It gave me the opportunityto travel the world, be with my family and have a lot of real friends, who will always be there, in thick and thin. And thanks to QNET, I’ve helped change many peoples’ lives: 20-25 people in my organisation bought German cars, which was not even their dream, as all are coming from middle class background, and hundreds of people are now free from their corporate job.” If you could change anything in the world, what would it be? “If I could change anything in the world it’d be the exiting education system,which is more focussed on creating employees than entrepreneurs.”
24 SUCCESS STORIES
Interview with
working hard, I had no results and no commissions. But I kept going. I felt I was lacking something and that’s when I decided to go to V-Dubai 2004. I had no money and I struggled to collect the needed amount from family and friends but I managed to go!
Ibn Abbas
BIO Name: Ibn Abbas Abdelsalam Soliman Saad Age: 34 Country of origin: Sudan Country where you’re active: Egypt Main markets: Sudan, Egypt, the UAE, Burkina Faso, UK, Malaysia, and Syria Years with QNET: 11 Current rank and date you achieved it: AVP since V-Malaysia 2013 Team: Pathfinders Describe QNET in 3 words: Vehicle to My Dreams Favourite QNET product: Bernhard H. Mayer® watches Favourite quote: “If it is to be, it is up to me!” As a child, what did you want to be? I’ve always dreamt of being an independent businessman, owning a business. How did it all start for you? “I grew up in a humble Sudanese family. We were 5 children and my parents. My dad, who was my role model of dedication, discipline, loyalty and hard work, passed away when I was 19 and that had a big effect on my life. At that age, I promised myself I’d do whatever it took to make it big in this life so that I deserved my dad’s name, and would make my mum proud. I studied hard and thought that all my degrees and certificates would make me achieve my childhood’s dream. But unfortunately, I was wrong. I hardly found a job and the salary was so ‘miserable’ it wasn’t enough for one, let alone to help my family, get married and build a family
of my own. I was really frustrated with not being able to achieve anything. That’s when I found out a b o u t Q N E T ’s b u s i n e s s opportunity. It was 2002 and I had found the key that opened doors so I could make my way to success. I felt blessed.” What would you say was the defining moment in your QNET journey? Tell us about the challenges you faced since you started with QNET and what is has taught you. “It was surely V-Con Dubai 2004. My first two years in the business (2002 to 2004) weren’t a big success. Although I was
“When I reached Dubai, I found that, by mistake, my name wasn’t in the accommodation list, I had no room and the hotel was full! I spent the first couple of nights sleeping on a sofa in the lobby. I had no choice, I had come for V-Con and it wasn’t easy for me but I couldn’t allow anything to get me out of the mood. I couldn’t leave Dubai without finding that ‘click’, that ‘x-factor’ I was lacking to succeed. And I can say that I found it! When I went back home I was a different ‘Ibn Abbas’, with bigger belief and more determination. The month after that V-Con I made 20 times my salary’s worth and that’s when I decided to quit my job and become full-time QNET representative. “Here started a successful journey with QNET despite all the challenges. The
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toughest challenge I had to face was leaving my family and my kids behind and going to build new markets in other countries. I had to leave for several months each time, and it was so painful for me to see my kids not recognising their father. It took me 5 years to settle down with my family again. It was a big price that I had to pay but I kept going because I was doing it for them.” One of the challenges IRs face when joining this business is lack of support from their families/friends, who don’t understand the business very well. What is your advice to them? “This was a big challenge in the beginning. My family wasn’t supporting me in the business because they didn’t understand it and they were worried about me. I had to hide from them that I was doing this business. However, this was also the ‘sweetest’ challenge I could’ve had. Because let me tell you: their reaction towards me was simply because they love me and they wanted the best for me. I couldn’t argue with them when there were no results. I kept silent, listening to my family advise me against this business, but I felt blessed for having such a caring and loving family. That was a strong motivation to succeed in this business.” What is the one important thing that you have discovered about yourself in these 11 years with QNET? “Life before QNET doesn’t have much to tell as I didn’t really achieve anything despite being desperate to help myself succeed. Since I joined QNET, my life stopped being subject to other people. Today, I enjoy ‘shaping’ my life the way I want and dream of. But most importantly, this guy, who couldn’t even help himself 10 years ago, is today able to help others to better their lives. And I can say that this is the most important thing QNET made me realise about myself.
“The ability to help others, starting with my family and friends, is about more than being a rich man who makes some donations. I offer them the opportunity to help others while helping themselves succeed in this business. And I cannot describe my happiness when people come to me after each event thanking me for having touched their hearts, telling me how I’ve motivated and helped them to make good decisions in their lives by simply sharing my testimony.” Can you tell us a story that has had a deep impact on you as a networker? “When I started, the first person I showed the plan to was my cousin, and best friend, Marwan. Unfortunately for me, he totally rejected the business. He turned into a very negative person. His reaction was so hurting and annoying to me that I decided to stop any kind of communication with him for more than 2 years. But after V-Dubai 2004, I made the decision to talk to him again. This time he joined immediately, became a great leader and, within a few months, he conquered several markets. Today, he is V Council Marwan Talodi and I am really proud to have him by my side with me during my journey. I have learnt that there is no ‘final no’ and that I shouldn’t give up on my people, no matter how negative he/she seems to be.”
“Life before QNET doesn’t have much to tell as I didn’t really achieve anything despite being desperate to help myself succeed. Since I joined QNET, my life stopped being subject to other people.”
What dreams has QNET enabled you to fulfil? “QNET enabled me to fulfil a lot of things, some I couldn’t even dream about before. Apart from cars, villas in several countries and bank accounts, today I can have family vacations at any time and in any place I want. Today, my kids are going to the best schools! But most importantly, today, I am able to fulfil my mum’s dream of having a comfortable life after all she went through when her children were young. My mom is this amazing person who raised alone 5 kids in Sudan, this powerful woman who taught me how to be a man, tough and strong but also caring and loving, she is for me, the Queen of the queens!” What advice would you give someone that is starting this business today? “It’d simply be: have the right attitude when doing this business. Network Marketing is a lifestyle that should be treated like a ‘real business’. No one can expect success from something they’re treating like a hobby. I believe I made it in this business because I always believed that I was born to be a networker, a skill I am proud of! I treated this business as my only option to succeed in life. And I did it!” How did QNET touch your heart? And how has it helped you touch others’? “When I was first introduced to QNET, RYTHM for me wasn’t just a slogan. It made me believe more and more in this company. It touched my heart and became my lifestyle! And my goal became to raise myself first in order to help others!”
26 SUCCESS STORIES
Interview with
Sharfun Shaikh
BIO Name: Sharfun Shaikh Age: 39 Country of origin: India Country where you’re active: India Years with QNET: 4 Current rank and date you achieved it:Platinum since August 2012 Team: Infiniti Describe QNET in 3 words: Way Of Life Favourite QNET product: Physio Radiance, Alkaline Stick, Amezcua Bio Disc Favourite quote: “Even water drops can corrode the hardest of the rocks if they’re consistent.” As a child, what did you want to be? A farmer.
life. And believe, with all your heart, that you will succeed.” How was your journey with QNET? How did you get to where you’re now? “What they say is true: it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. And I’ve been having a tremendous ride with QNET. Thanks to QNET, I have not only achieved a good financial position – a pretty good one, I must say – but, even more importantly to me, is the knowledge of HOW to achieve things in life. I have learnt to learn and learnt to lead; without the first, you can’t achieve the latter. “I’d say I have grown as a person thanks to QNET.” What would you say was the defining moment in your QNET journey? Tell us about the challenges you faced since you have been with QNET and what they taught you. “Soon after I joined QNET, some people I considered to be my good friends started making revolting comments on Facebook about me doing this business. It was obviously upsetting but I decided I was going to make it big time with QNET. I wanted to be so successful at this business that no one would dare comment on what I do ever again. I needed to be successful to survive.
How did it all start for you? How was life before QNET? “Before I started working with QNET, my life was a mess. Financially, I was doing all right, I had a ‘secure’ job and many people around me, but I was miserable and lonely. I failed to see the point of living a corporate life that didn’t make me happy or being surrounded with people that didn’t make me feel special. Then, I met QNET and my life changed. “After I attended my first V-Con, I knew with all my heart and mind that this business would be my life. When I heard VP Donna Imson and AVP K. Padma share their stories on stage, I knew this company was for people like me and I’d find true friendships here. And that’s why I quit my job and became a full-time networker even before my ‘tree’ was providing me the ‘fruits’ that would ensure I could keep having a comfortable job. “That slightly impulsive decision made me go through some really rough times but I’ve never regretted it. For one and a half years, I had several periods when I was struggling for money and even had to borrow from my maid. But with a balanced patience-action ratio and with my strong, unshakeable belief in this business and the company, I overcame every challenge and, slowly but surely, results started to come. And that’s my advice for someone who wants to make it in this business. Give it time but don’t stand still, waiting – take control of your
“These challenges have taught one very important lesson: if a personal decision can shake a relationship, it’s not worth having such relationships in your life. People who judge you are not worth your time and preoccupation.” One of the challenges IRs face when joining this business is lack of support from their families/friends, who don’t understand the business very well. What is your advice to them? “Do not push your family. Our families are watching over us, all they want ultimately is our success so just keep building your business and be good to yourself. When you start achieving your goals, which will naturally make you a happier person, they are the first ones to feel proud of whatever you have achieved.”
What is the one important thing that you have discovered about yourself in these 4 years with QNET? “I discovered that I have a huge ego that keeps reminding me it’s only up to me to decide what I can and can’t do. Other people have no control over my capabilities. My own success only depends on me.” Can you tell us a story that has had a deep impact on you as a networker? “When I initially joined QNET, I was very lonely. I loved the business opportunity, I could clearly see it was my way of achieving the financial freedom I was after but I couldn’t relate to AVP Dev Wadhwani or VC Michael Ferreira’s stories. They had done so much with their lives even before QNET and that made me doubt I could achieve what they had achieved. “Then, I heard VP Donna Imson and AVP K. Padma share their life stories. Like them, I had also been lost before, desperately looking for something worth my energy and dedication. As a woman, relationships play a big part in my life and I felt like I finally had found the inspiration I need to go out there and make my dreams come true, as they had. “Now, I want to be an inspiration for other women, show them we don’t have to depend on anyone, we can change our lives if we want to, it’s not a matter of
SUCCESS STORIES 27
“I love my life now. I get to go abroad every year, I’ve managed to buy a car and 2 houses for my parents, I have gold jewellery and other material comforts. But above and beyond that, I’m happy with myself.” gender but of will power. I dream of having a club for women – women unplugged – that will inspire, empower and create independent successful women.” What dreams has QNET enabled you to fulfil? “I believe in the law of attraction. When I read The Secret, my life changed. I realised I was the driver behind the wheel and the time to blame the road for my poor performance was over. Firstly, I needed to know where I wanted to go, I needed to set my goals and dreams clearly and honestly. After some soul searching, I decided I wanted to become the CEO of a company so I started working to achieve that. I woke up at 5 am to write down my dreams and, after 6 months, I got an offer for a CEO position but I still had a boss and it was suffocating me. So I rewrote my dreams: to have my own business, to have my own life. So when I was introduced to QNET, I knew that was the way to fulfil my dream of having my own business. Another dream I fulfilled was to help out
my maid and her family. She was very kind to me in my worse moments and I always wanted to ‘pay’ back her kindness. Her daughters used to work as maids as well and now they don’t need to anymore. Her whole family is happy today and that makes me thrilled. “I love my life now. I get to go abroad every year, I’ve managed to buy a car and 2 houses for my parents, I have gold jewellery and other material comforts. But above and beyond that, I’m happy with myself.” What advise would you give someone that is starting this business today? “The change you’ll see in your bank account and in your relationships is directly proportional to the change you manage to create in yourself. That’s the one change that truly matters, making a mindset and lifestyle shift that will allow you to get to where you want to be.” How did you QNET touch your heart? And how has it helped you touch others’? “When I see my Downlines fulfilling their dreams and see them working hard to fulfil their Downlines’ dreams, I feel touched. It’s how families run in general, everyone wanting everyone else’s success, there is no jealousy, no evil intentions. After all, when someone wins, everybody wins. “All the care, coaching and w o r r y i n g t h a t d e fi n e s t h e relationship between Upline and Downline reminds me of the parent/child relationship. And the fact that sort of intense, pure relationship can happen between 2 grown-ups touches me deeply.”
28 SPEAK OUT
A QNET Love Story By Sandra El Lackany and Gordon Leach
Egyptian Students Develop a ‘Diamonds Pavillion’ for QNET
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oth Mai Mostafa El Sayed Shaheen (21 years old) and Nouran Alaa El Din Fayek Saleh Fattouh (22 years old) joined QNET almost 2 years ago while at Alexandria University and that’s when they found a novel way of combining their dedication to the business with their graduation project. Now that they have finished their studies, they look back at how QNET has benefited their academic lives and careers. Inspired by V-Indonesia 2012, Mai explains its influence upon her and how it continued to play on her mind after returning home, “I was in a lecture; only half of my brain was present while the other half was in another world, remembering how magnificent V-Indonesia was and how it affected me in every possible way. It was like a dream and so it hit me… Why don’t I create something like the convention centre we attended V-Con in?” Nouran, also present at V-Con, continues, “I remember being overwhelmed and frustrated as I wanted to give more time to QNET. The graduation project needed my full commitment and so did the business. That’s when it hit me, why not focus on QNET? I was then very excited that I could combine the two things I’m most passionate about.” Both set about designing the ultimate convention centre for their team, Diamonds, although their enthusiasm was met with scepticism from certain teachers and fellow students. Nouran elaborates, “They perceived it sarcastically and with doubtful remarks about the company.” Nonetheless, they turned this to their advantage, giving them the opportunity to correct misconceptions about QNET and explain how working for the company is the opportunity of a lifetime. Mai also felt that some professors were against the idea but she stood
her ground, truly believing in the project. Her former classmate Nouran credits her grand Upline and mentor VC Ghada Hamdan for having “taught me to stand up for what I believe in, even if it meant standing alone.” Mai agrees, “QNET has helped me a lot, not only in my studies, but also in my life in general; it gave me hope and the confidence I needed. It gave me the capability of dreaming and believing in myself.” Other aspects of their studies influenced by the Company include time management, commitment and professionalism. “I also learned from leadership camps the importance of time and how to benefit from the 24 hours I have each day. These qualities sure did come in handy when it came to my studies as I became a much more organised person. QNET also helped me a lot in planning my work and setting goals and targets for myself and actually achieving them,” says Mai. Nouran agrees, “Not only did QNET help me become a more confident person and have more belief in myself, but it also helped me become more passionate about my education,
especially in wanting to be successful in my graduation project”. The desire to present something special continues to this day and while a degree in interior design may not at first appear to have many transferable skills to QNET, creativity and zeal for their work propel them. Mai is quick to stress that “studying interior design will definitely help me with my dreams of creating a convention centre for Diamonds here in Egypt.” Nouran feels the same way and concedes “although I would like network marketing to be my ultimate career, interior design is a craft that I do not want to lose. Accordingly, in the future, I would like to help design a building for QNET in Egypt, where all business activities can be held, from group presentations and meetings to V-Con and bigger events.” Mai hopes that, one day, this aspiration is possible “in real life and not just on paper.”
SPEAK OUT 29
more successful in Egypt and abroad.” Looking towards the future, Mai also wants to make a difference through network marketing. She would like “to become a V Partner and inspire thousands of people around the world. I want to be an Upline in many countries and contribute to expanding the Diamonds team internationally.” Nouran is in agreement, “I wish to unite people of different backgrounds from all over the globe in one family: Diamonds. In the long run, I plan to become an official investor in Diamonds-related projects.” While all of that may seem a long way off at present, one thought remains after speaking to these fresh graduates: that their firm drive and ambition, as well as fierce loyalty to Diamonds and QNET as a whole, ensure they have a bright future ahead of them. As Mai puts it: “QNET has touched my heart in every possible way. It has given me the ability to dream big and actually
Both talk about the strong union within Diamonds. Nouran says, “I am proud to be a member of another family called Diamonds. We share an unbreakable bond of respect, support and love. I wish to help make this team all the
believe in those dreams and believe in myself. It gave me the reason to love life, it made me see that there’s still good in the world, in people; that there are still people who love each other and want the best for each other more than anything! QNET made me believe that I can make a difference, it made me realise I have a purpose, It gave me a reason to be a better person. It opened my eyes to this magnificent world we live in. Before QNET, I was blind! Now I can see clearly!”
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QNET is a modern company built on family values. We believe that it is possible to make a difference in the world. The trick is whatever we do must come from the heart. If our actions are not truthful, it is impossible to ignite change. Therefore, our mission has always been ‘Raise Yourself To Help Mankind’ (RYTHM). For, if we do not raise ourselves first, we will never be the change we want to see in the world. That’s where every IR’s journey begins: by learning to raise him/herself first from poverty, from negativity, from self-doubt, from laziness. Once IRs become better, stronger, freer, they can help their friends, family, neighbours and even strangers to do the same, partaking in a chain heartfelt intervention that can, eventually, change Mankind. Our goal has been set: we want to have touched a billion hearts by 2015. And that’s why, every day, in everything we do, we try our very best to touch peoples’ hearts. Changing the world might seem like an overwhelming task but, if we all partake in it and inspire people to be the difference we want to see in the world, it is possible. As QNET celebrates its 15th Anniversary, aspIRe publishes a 15-page special on the hearts we’ve touched and our aspirations to touch many more in the future.
32 TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS
GOING BACK 15 Years By Ramya Chandrasekaran
M
ilestones have a way of making people go down the memory lane. Birthdays and anniversaries are always reminders of how far we have come and what we have accomplished.
At QNET, we are no different. This is our 15th year. We are in the prime of our teenage years! The future looks bright and we have the world to conquer in pursuit of our vision to touch a billion hearts. And what an amazing journey it has been. From humble and rather unusual beginnings, we have risen from the ashes, conquered adversities, triumphed over challenges, been on a great many adventures, established a footprint halfway across the planet and continue to grow stronger with each passing year! It’s hard to believe that it has only been 15 years since this journey began. On this milestone 15th anniversary, we take a walk down memory lane and go back to 1998, when it all began‌.
A small group of people from different parts of the world were brought together by a twist of fate in the dusty, vibrant city of Manila in the Philippines in the late 90s. A group so diverse, culturally and ethnically, that one could never imagine them having anything in common. Together, they envisioned a dream in a little flat in a crowded by-lane in Manila in 1998 and that dream today is a reality many times over. A journey that brought together an ordinary group of young people together and turned them into extraordinary leaders in pursuit of that dream. A journey that has been constantly marked by challenges, pitfalls, rejections and obstacles and yet, continues unabated, triumphing over all odds, spreading the message of the dream. This is the story of that dream.
Let’s start at the very beginning… After spending 13 years in the West, a young Malaysian business major returned to Asia, disenchanted with the cultural apathy, corporate sluggishness to change and the glass ceilings that inhibited upward mobility and growth for Asians. That was in the early 90s, right before the Asian economic crisis. A young Filipino martial arts expert with the most unusual background having grown up in a remote Hindu ashram in the Philippines as a monk from the age of 9 was getting restless… In the mid-nineties, the two met in Manila and their spiritual inclination brought these two gentlemen from drastically different backgrounds together in business and friendship. Having found reasonable success in network marketing with an American company that was doing extremely well in the Philippines, the two joined forces and their group called the V-Team consisting of bright, motivated and talented men and women, soon became the largest revenue earner for the American company.
TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS 33
“A small group of people from different parts of the world were brought together by a twist of fate… Together, they envisioned a dream in a little flat in a crowded by-lane in Manila in 1998 and that dream today is a reality many times over.”
believed in the V-Team leaders had joined the team. What were they going to tell them? The easy way out was to tell them what the American company owners did and wash their hands off any culpability. Then Vijay and Japa did something unexpected. They gathered the entire network of 1,500 people, went up on stage and laid bare the facts to the audience and told them the truth; that they were all being ripped off.
But soon they realised the American firm was being dishonest with them and was slowly and deliberately reducing the number of cheques being sent into the Philippines. Investigations revealed that the owner was stealing from them.
A myriad of voices around the room asked – “Why can’t we run it ourselves?”
After all efforts to rectify this failed, the V-Team and a few of their leaders, sat around Vijay’s kitchen and stared at the giant brick wall before them. About 1,500 people who had
The answer to that was almost overwhelmingly unanimous. “We don’t know them (the Americans). We know only you and it is you that we will follow.”
And they said, “If you are willing to place your trust with us, we can do it. How many of you are going to follow us?”
With the fate of thousands of their team members at stake, and a liability in excess of USD 250,000, the two young men, along with their core team members, made a bold and crazy decision with the sole purpose of looking after the interests of the people that had trusted them and put their life’s savings into their hands. On that fateful day in September 1998 in the Tektite Tower in Manila, Philippines that also houses the Stock Exchange, an anxious crowd of 1,500 people were informed that they were now part of a new company, led by the V-Team founders that would ensure that business would continue as usual. That company today known as QNET, was born in these unusual circumstances on 8 September 1998, a date that has gone down in history as 9898. Vijay Eswaran the Malaysian business major and Joseph ‘Japa’ Bismark the Filipino martial arts expert and monk along with several of the core team members, mortgaged their homes, scraped the barrel of their savings and sold their valuables to ensure that the thousands of people who had entrusted them with their future, would not be let down. In time to come, that decision would have a tremendous impact on our leaders and subsequently our network, and has created a bond of trust that has stood the test of time.
34 TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS
With Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran To kick-off the Touching A Billion Hearts campaign, aspIRe sits down with our Founder Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran for a heart-to-heart talk of how he has touched hearts and improved lives.
In a nutshell, what does ‘Touching a Billion Hearts’ mean? “As a company, our mission has always been to inspire people to raise themselves so they can help mankind. When we manage to touch a billion hearts, be it by directly impacting the lives of those seeking financial freedom, be it by the impact these changed people have on their communities, we shall have succeeded. Touching a billion dollars in revenue is an easy target, but to touch a billion hearts around the world truly makes an impact.”
us all and disappeared and there was nothing we could do, or take on the liabilities and harness the power of our team to start a company of our own. “Right from the beginning we were very clear that we cannot let down anyone who depended on us. These people had put their faith in us because we had promised them a better life. So, Japa and I with two others pooled our resources and started a company! Due to the unusual nature of our inception, wherein our ‘why’ was not a business goal, but one that focussed on our people, it gave us a different foundation from other companies.
How was the idea born? “QNET was founded 15 years ago on the premise that we need to be the change we want to see in others. Not many people may be aware of how and why we started. Japa and I belonged to an American network marketing company in the 90s building their Philippines market. We were doing very well and were possibly their best performing team anywhere in the world. Suddenly one day, the cheques stopped coming. We soon found out that the guys running the company had cashed out and disappeared, leaving us high and dry. We had a network of approximately 2,000 strong people at the time in the Philippines. We had two options. Either tell the team that the company had cheated
“At the heart of the company is RYTHM. We started this company so that we could help those who believed in us. That belief has helped us grow to a position where we can today focus on ambitious business goals. And RYTHM continues to be at the heart of everything we do. Profits and turnover will always be important, but the positive social impact we make will be our legacy.” Why a Billion? “Why not? As Mahatma Gandhi said ‘Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the welfare of his fellow-men.’ If we aim to become a billion dollar company,
TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS 35
we must far and foremost aim at touching a billion hearts, changing a billion lives.
What’s the biggest difference someone can make in another person’s life?
“One Billion is a special number, the Big B line that most companies look up to and dread at the same time. We must go beyond the fear of failing and internalise this target. Only thus will we be able to achieve it.”
“If you are able to mentor and guide someone to become a better version of himself, you leave the world a better place than the one you were born into.
(laughs) “You’ll see, you’ll see.”
“Many years ago, when we had just started, I used to make business presentations personally. One day, at one of these presentations in a small town in the Philippines, I met this old lady who was very eager to do the business, as she had to take care of her grandchildren.
Corporate Social Responsibility is usually an almost compulsory activity in most companies. Yet, for QNET, it’s much more, it defines our mission, statement and, basically, everything we do. Why?
“She came up to me and said, ‘These are my life’s savings. It’s a lot of money for me to get into the business. Should I do it? ‘If you are asking me this question, don’t do it’ I replied.” Surprised, she asked, ‘Why?’
“When Japa and I founded this company 15 years ago, we wanted it to be everything we were unable to find in our many years of working for both multinational corporations and other network marketing companies. We had to be in business for the right reasons. RYTHM is about empowering people. Giving them the opportunity and the necessary tools to raise themselves, so that they can pay it forward.
“‘If you are starting off by asking me if you should do it, you are not ready to do it. Don’t even bother to start. You should only get into it when you are absolutely sure. There should be no doubt. I cannot be the one to decide whether you should do it or not. It’s entirely about you, I’ said.
What plans and activities are in the hall to help achieve this goal?
“This meant that the people who joined us had to believe in our mission. We needed people who believed in the concept of serving and who shared our values. We didn’t want people who were looking for a job. We wanted people who wanted a career with a purpose. We have been lucky to have attracted some very talented and committed employees who have been with us almost from the very beginning. Not many companies can boast of that.” Among the countless causes we support, which would you say has a special place in your heart and why? “My wife and I have always been involved in working with charities involving children. It was her dream to set up a school for children with learning disabilities and she made it a reality with the establishment of Taarana in Malaysia two years ago. “This is not an easy task considering the specialist skills and educational tools required. While there are other such schools in Malaysia, they are not always within reach of families from low economic backgrounds and our aim was to provide an opportunity to any child who needs it, irrespective of his/her background. “It took a lot of hard work, research and extensive fund raising through events and generous contributions of our friends, employees and customers, and today Taarana is helping more than 50 kids between the ages of 6 and 12 who face challenges in delayed development in academic, social and adaptive skills. Many of them have shown remarkable improvement since they joined Taarana. Every time I see these kids, especially at the annual concert and sports day, the greatest surprise to us all involved in this project is how much we have learnt and have been enriched, how much we have grown, by watching and being with these children.”
“Then I asked her, ‘How badly do you want to succeed? If you ask me, you don’t really know if you want to succeed badly enough.’ “She thought about that for a while and went away. I assumed I would never see her again. “A year later, when I came back there to do a training session, this same old lady came up to me and said, ‘Thank you very much, sir. Thank you for what you’ve done. Your words remained in my mind and you inspired me. Today, I’m able to bring up my grandchildren comfortably and able to send them to school, all due to you.’ “Then she did something that moved me immeasurably. ‘Sir, I want to give you something. I know you are a vegetarian and I hope you will enjoy this,’ she said. And with that, she dragged a gunny sack towards me. “Curious, I asked what was in it. She opened it up and gestured for me to look in. The sack was full of beautiful, fresh vegetables. ‘This is from my garden,’ she said. She had planted the vegetables for me. “This gift was better than any cheque I have ever received. It is moments like these that make me realise I have chosen the right path.” What would your advice be to the aspIRe reader who also wants to make a difference and touch other people’s hearts? “Let me quote once again my personal hero, Mahatma Gandhi, ‘A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history. Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.’”
36 TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS
With Donna Imson Touching A Billion Hearts, though an ambitious goal, we are determined to get there. We sit down with QNET Executive Chairperson Donna Imson to see how she plans to Touch A Billion Hearts.
In a nutshell, what does ‘Touching a billion hearts’ mean? “Touching a billion hearts’ is our RYTHM mission in action. It’s about placing value on each person and adding value, whether it be with the products we offer, the commissions we pay out, the service we provide, the training we impart, the support we give or the community projects we support. And it’s about empowering them to in turn share it forward.” How was the idea born? “The concept came from Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran while he was casting vision for the leadership of the company several years into our business. In essence, it’s about going beyond the USD 1 billion target and staying true to our mission, our WHY. It’s a cause that our employees and IRs believe in and have taken on as their WHY as well, helping define who we all are and creating something bigger than ourselves that we belong to. USD 1 billion in annual revenue will be the by-product.”
Why a Billion? “USD 1 billion has always been a goalpost that companies aim to hit because getting into the Billion Dollar Club is only for a chosen few. But, to be able to touch 1 billion hearts is far more important to us as a company as it is through this that we will achieve our goals.” What plans and activities are in the hall to help achieve this goal? “We have a lot of exciting plans in the pipeline so do watch out for them as we roll them out in the upcoming months.” Corporate Social Responsibility is almost a compulsory activity in most companies. Yet, for QNET, it defines our mission, statement and, basically, everything we do. Why? “Because for us, it’s not about ‘Corporate Responsibility’. It is about WHO WE ARE. It is the very reason for our
TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS 37
existence. There are other ways to do business but, for us, it wouldn’t make sense to do it any other way. And, we’re just fortunate to have employees and IRs who share the same passion for serving; who align the development of their careers with the RYTHM ideals.” Among the countless causes we support, which would you say has a special place in your heart and why? “Taarana is closest to my heart because caring for children with special learning needs is one of the most challenging causes to espouse. The commitment, passion, belief required to do this goes way beyond feeding or housing children or funding their school tuition – all causes that we have also supported. Establishing Taarana required a lot of heart and hard work from the RYTHM foundation team led by its Executive Director Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran. Seeing the impressive improvements in the kids now assures us that all the efforts of those involved in this project have truly paid off and we can do so much more. “Taarana epitomises the heart of our founders, the RYTHM heartbeat of QNET.” What’s the biggest difference someone can make on someone else’s life? “I believe helping someone to dream again, think possibilities, and act on these is the biggest difference anyone can make. And it’s something that any dreamer and doer can and must do each and every day.”
“I believe helping someone to dream again, think possibilities, and act on these is the biggest difference anyone can make. And it’s something that any dreamer and doer can and must do each and every day.”
You’ve helped change so many people’s lives. At every V-Con, the line of people waiting to thank you is simply flabbergasting. Do you still feel touched every time you see you’ve touched someone’s heart or does one get used to it eventually? “The more I know, the more I realise what I don’t know. And the more people thank me, the more I know it’s God moving in and through me. It’s humbling, sobering, inspiring. I am more compelled today to BE better so I can DO more for more people.” Can you share a moving story on how QNET touched YOUR heart? “QNET more than touched my heart; it changed, transformed, enlarged it and continues to do so. Each and every time I meet an IR, hear his or her story, I am touched and challenged. Because in their story I see mine; and in my story I see so much reason to dream with them. And it pushes me. “They say people join the business because of the money but stay on because of relationships. That’s true. In addition to that, and beyond success, I believe people stay because of the personal growth and sense of significance that comes from fulfilling one’s life purpose. “My purpose in life is to serve God and serve others. QNET provides such an awesome platform for me to do so!” What would your advice be to the aspIRe reader who also wants to make a difference and touch other people’s hearts? “Transform yourself so you can help transform others. Dream bigger so others can dream again. Achieve more so others can be inspired to do the same. Find a problem to solve for someone else, apart from yours. Love yourself more so you can love others more.”
38 TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS
Changing the World, One Heart at a Time
Above and Beyond CSR By Ramya Chandrasekaran
The gift of books.
Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran presents a Box of Love to a boy from the Praise Emmanuel Children’s Home.
A
Building confidence and trust.
t the heart of QNET lies a strong purpose. Anyone who has been a part of the company, either as an employee or an Independent Representative, knows that the common philosophy that brings together people from all over the world is RYTHM – Raise Yourself To Help Mankind.
Our leaders and network are truly inspiring in their hunger, passion, commitment, heart and work. Our founders have always advocated the need to work for a common purpose beyond money. They believe that money is primarily a tool that must be used to raise peoples’ lives, to touch someone’s heart and make a lasting impact.
It transcends being just a successful business. “RYTHM is our why, what and how,” says QNET Executive Chairperson Donna Imson. “It’s embedded in our DNA. Our founders have instilled a very strong culture of service above self in both the company and the network, evidenced by our InService team. Unlike other Network Marketing companies, we actually have a perennial challenge in getting our top leaders to wear suits and sit in the VIP area during our conventions. They would much rather wear an InService uniform and endure grueling 20-hour days as part of the event crew. The network sees this and leaves the event knowing we walk our RYTHM talk.”
And it is this ideal that has been the lifeblood of the RYTHM Foundation (and its Malaysian chapter, the Vijayaratnam Foundation). The RYTHM Foundation focusses on fostering education, community development, preservation of the environment and promoting art and culture in developing countries.
We strongly believe that it is that culture, along with the company’s leadership, helmed by Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran and Joseph Bismark that is the reason for our success.
Since our inception, approximately 10% of our net profits have been allocated towards corporate social responsibility. This has helped the Foundation work hand in hand with QNET to give back to the communities in which it operates. The QNET Pays Forward (QNPF) programme was launched as the company’s way of ‘paying it forward’ and ‘giving back’ to the communities in which it operates. Through QNPF, the Foundation has been involved in a number of projects around the world in the last decade,
TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS 39
the latest of which was the very successful initiative called The Pitch!. QNET IRs from around the world pitched a project to the Foundation that was deserving of a grant of USD 10,000. Following an overwhelming response, three winning projects were chosen from India, Egypt and Uganda. From Uganda, Emmanuel Emodek pitched the idea to launch the ‘Shiri Skills With A Mission’, a programme that will provide vocational training in bike mechanics, sports, and other skills to underprivileged children. From Egypt, Shaimaa Amir Ahmed Ali pitched the idea to support the ‘Resala Organization Centre for Teaching and Qualifying Mentally Handicapped’, a school focussed on providing education and skills for disabled children in Cairo. From India, Sangeeta Motupalli pitched the idea for the ‘Li’ll Hearts Educational Society Learning Centre’ to build 6 to 8 new classrooms, a new computer lab, and upgrade library facilities for the students who come to study from nearby slum areas. Earlier this year, the Foundation helped build 14 RYTHM libraries in the remote mountainous regions of Ladakh
“Changing the world might seem like an overwhelming task but if we all partake in it and inspire people to be the difference we want to see in the world, it is possible.” in partnership with the Avalokitesvara Trust, that works towards improving the standard of education for children with limited access to mainstream education due to the treacherous terrain. Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran is the Director and Trustee of the RYTHM Foundation and spearheads all of the company’s CSR initiatives. “For those who are part of the business, QNET is not only a tool or vehicle to change their own lives, but also an opportunity to make a difference in their communities, cities and nations,” she says. “Through sheer hard work and determination, my husband and I have built our lives together to be in a position today where we can help others. And not just by giving money away. That’s easy. Giving your time to help someone is much more difficult.” It is this concept of helping others in whatever way one can that is entrenched within the culture of the company. Employees participate in various community initiatives, whether it is volunteering to clean up beaches, planting trees or donating blood, throughout the year. One such significant initiative driven by the employees and facilitated by the Foundation is the Footprints program. Modeled on the same principle as the Big Brother, Little Brother programme popular in the United States, Footprints partners employees of the company with children who come from economically backward families or broken homes or are orphans. The Foundation provides training to the employees to help mentor these adolescents who are at an impressionable age and in need of guidance to ensure they do not stray down the wrong path at a crucial juncture in their lives.
Paying it forward.
The P
itch! w
Footprints
me.
program
inner.
While Footprints started as a pilot project three years ago, initially only in Malaysia supported by Vijayaratnam Foundation, it has now also taken off in Hong Kong and Singapore with employees and senior executives participating in the programme donating one weekend a month to spend time with these children. Changing the world might seem like an overwhelming task but if we all partake in it and inspire people to be the difference we want to see in the world, it is possible. Ultimately, making a difference is quite simple: it is the humble act of doing good, with a sincere heart.
40 TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS
15 years it is!! Heartiest Congratula tions to QN shattering (b ET for reaking) all barriers an proving that d we are indee BIG BOY o f Network M d the next arketing. Lo Live Dato’ Sri & Japa ng so that they the welcom ensure ing of anoth er 15 years ‘Touching L of ives’ and re aching ‘A Billion H earts’ soon . Cheers!!! – Vinit Parm ar, India
Looking back over the last 15 years, it is remarkable to see the growth and development of the company. It is very evident in the lives of the people it touches as it enters their hearts. I truly believe in the second chance of opportunity that it offers to millions of people and look forward to further growth in the future! Happy anniversary QNET! – Sarah Samiey, Bahrain
o years ET for almost tw new Working with QN ole wh a shown me ds. I has taught and ien Fr e tru d an Family, be n clarity of Love, ca I at and proud th this am very happy th wi d an ily m ET Fa a part of the QN nderful wish QNET a wo to e lov uld wo I ore to m y an m d th day an ecial Happy 15 Birth sp is all cherish th erful come. May we nd wo a ve er and ha occasion togeth Anniversary!!! ksch, – Bernhard Ga an ting M ager, Product Marke eLearning
The with Q partnership NET h great as b o been a ne for Maru een a b le activitie to par ssia. We’ve ticipat s e in Mala like visiting the Ta in great y s ia and b r faces a ana S ring of c carry t the children ing smiles t hool o the . I’m re he QN ET log ally pr race. S oud o on o, I want on this won my car wh to en I derful to wis h o Happy everyone a ccasion, th t 1 QNE 5 – Max Chilto Anniversary. T a n, Ma rus Team Drive sia F1 r
TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS 41
ars of to 15 ye wering Cheers empo g lives, ss and changin efining busine re d nd re ’s to mo minds a cellence! Here lives to x e service reach and more QNET! , to worlds niversary r appy An tant Manage H . h c ri is en s s s A ation adiz, – Gil C al Communic – Digit
It has been 15 good years since QNET started its journey to make this world a better place for many of us. I believe that our visionary leader Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran and his team are not just building the best company in the world, but are building heaven on earth. I would like to thank the RYTHM Foundation for giving a hand to the underprivileged children in Uganda through The Pitch! competition that was held early this year. Shiri Skills with a Mission Foundation won a prize of USD 10,000 and the project has kicked off with the construction of our own office... thanks to the one and only company QNET. I am so humble to be part of this team with a mission to touch a billion hearts. Long Live QNET. – Emmanuel Emodek Winner of ‘The Pitch’, Uganda
My sincere congratulations to QNET on its 15th birthday. I recall the time I started my journey with QNET 12 years ago. At that time I didn’t ever realise the impact this company would have on my life; all I was interested in was making money to achieve my dream. Over the last 12 years, QNET has truly transformed my life, its mission of reaching out to a billion hearts has certainly touched my heart. Yes QNET is a commercial enterprise but with a major difference: QNET creates entrepreneurs all over the world thus making this company really special. I shall keep contributing my services to QNET to make it truly a global company reaching out to potential entrepreneurs all around the globe. – David Kiran Sharma, V Partner
15 yea going str rs and a real ins ong! QNET is I have lo piration to me an ve d the IRs o d meeting so m a ut there during m ny of the vario us y trips or to. Every V-Conventions I one at Q have bee N n E energy a T has un nd a believab le me smile lways manages to make and belie ve e what I lo ve doing ven more in .C another 15 years heers to of QN – Bernh ard H. M ET!” ayer
42 TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS
Serve, Yes, Serve! InService Brotherhood, at your Service. By “Bridge” Radha Balagtas
TOUCHING A BILLION HEARTS 43
T
hough his office has the best view from the top, ‘Direct’ Manolette Gonzalez may as well be the most down-to-earth boss one will ever meet. He is the man behind the design and development of the InService Brotherhood (ISB) Bootcamp, an immersive 6-day training that aims to make IRs even better leaders by teaching them the way to live a life devoted to service. “For when one serves, he becomes powerful, and the one he has served becomes indebted to him,” he says with words borrowed from V Founding Partner Joseph Bismark. Inspired by the practices of V Managing Partner Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran, Direct conceptualised an organised way of engaging one’s ability to lead. He did his research, prepared the necessary paperwork, presented the idea to V Managing Director Pathman Senathirajah, and before he knew it, a brotherhood was born. The first-ever ISB Bootcamp kicked off in Baguio City, Philippines back in 2007, and then in Nakon Nayok, Thailand in 2008. Both Bootcamps had a military feel, as the first was held in Camp John Jay while the second took place in Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy. Since then, the ISB Bootcamp has become a staple annual training event held in different parts of the world. This year’s Bootcamp was held at Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. “Many are called, but few are chosen,” as Direct puts it, referring to the fact that every year, more and more IRs sign up for the Bootcamp. However, stringent qualifications and standards must be met and only a handful of men and women are selected. The comprehensive screening procedure involves recommendations from Associate V Partners (AVPs), V Councils (VCs), Business Development Managers (BDMs), and V Leaders; along with the applicants’ records of involvement in previous V events. Direct clarifies that participating in the Bootcamp is neither an assurance of being InService at future V-Cons nor a vehicle for recognition and edification. Rather, it is simply a process through which one can improve oneself, both as a person and a networker.
So what exactly can one expect from an InService Brotherhood Bootcamp? Direct tells aspIRe that it’s a 50-50 mix of networking and experiential training. The first day is just a matter of welcoming the IRs who made the cut, setting expectations, and ‘emptying one’s cup’. Day 2 to 5 comprise the main attraction of the camp, where attendees are exposed to modules and training seminars on how to improve themselves and their business, on top of the physical and hands-on exercises in practical service. A set of events ranging from learning medical and security protocols to fun team-building assignments such as food preparation and production coordination help transform the participants into well-rounded individuals once they graduate from the camp on the 6th day.
“Take good care of yourself. Feed yourself with food for the mind, body and spirit. Eat healthy. Exercise. Spend time with yourself by communing with nature and meditating” With a plethora of activities, ISB Bootcamp is a new and unique experience that truly creates a resilient bond between IRs. Having gone through challenges that take them out of their comfort zones, participants feel an immense connection with one another. Moreover, the Bootcamp becomes a vehicle to enlighten participants on the ISB’s key values and principles that they will surely carry with them for the rest of their lives. According to Direct, the core message of the programme is derived from what ISB is all about – Service. Every aspect of the camp focusses, either implicitly or explicitly, on a person’s aptitude in becoming a servant leader. “To be able to learn to raise yourself to help mankind, the very basis of this is for us to learn how to serve,” as V Founding Partner Joseph Bismark reminds everyone. The camp therefore exists to examine one’s level of arrogance, and to change any attitude of superiority acquired from the wealth a person has gained. Pride in a leader should be fought to avoid hatred from his or her followers. Humility instead should be the manner by which one should exercise genuine leadership. The ISB Bootcamp is just the beginning of something that will shape The V for the future. Direct Manolette has bigger plans in the upcoming years for ISB, and The V Family will be there to back him up. “My dream is to accomplish a professional and dedicated group of InService comrades in each country,” he enthusiastically shares. At present, the ISB has more than 1,000 representatives the world over, but only one-third are left active and eager to render themselves to whatever needs to be done, 24/7, with not a single complaint. Now, the question is, ARE YOU READY?!
FEATURE 45
Beauty, Inside Out Mrs Asia International Irene Steffen is the New Face for Umayal Collection
BIO Name: Irene Steffen Age: 33 Country of origin: Indonesia Country of residence: Singapore Years married: 9 Children: Tamara Angelina and Tiara Abigail (twins), 7 years old Describe QNET in 3 words: Great online shopping Favourite QNET product: BioSilver, Veloci-Ti, Umayal Collection Favourite quote: “Motherhood is the most difficult but the most rewarding.” Favourite hobbies: Yoga, travel Favourite food: Healthy salad
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t’s not winning a beauty pageant that makes one beautiful. But for the lovely mother-of-two Irene Steffen, it has brought her the confidence to partake in new, exciting challenges. At last, she feels ready to take the spotlight as the new Umayal Collection brand ambassador. Mrs Steffen was in Bangkok this past July for a photo shoot and aspIRe caught up with her to chat about her awards, motherhood, fitness and her favourite QNET products. First of all, congratulations on your accolade! Can you tell us a little about the competition: why did you decide to enter? How was the atmosphere there? Did you ever think you could win? How did if feel to win? “I was curious and wanted to experience a beauty pageant. My husband convinced me to join Mrs Asia International in Malaysia. It’s a bigger competition. Many beautiful ladies came from Asian countries like Japan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India etc., all of them married with children. These women have talent, are smart and in a good shape. I never thought I’d win after I saw them, but I kept my positive attitude going thanks to the big support from my husband and children, who always believed in my beauty with a heart. I was shocked when they called my name. I stood for couple of seconds until I realised they’re cheering for me. I was very happy but in shock. It was a very interesting feeling.” What category did you win? And what did this award bring? “In May, I won the title ‘Mrs Singapore Asia International 2013’. After that accolade, I was invited to the Mrs Asia International
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competition in Malaysia where I won ‘Super Mum’, ‘Super Talent’ and ‘Mrs Asia International 2013’. Through these awards, I’ve gained a lot of self-confidence that will help me to do many other things in the future.” Was this the first time you entered beauty pageant? “Yes, it was and I am very happy that I have won a couple of titles. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to participate and also for my family’s unconditional support.” How do you manage to look so stunning with a household and children to manage? What’s your beauty regimen? “Exercise, healthy diet and sleep for 8 hours every night. It sounds boring but it works. I’m still learning and trying to manage my twin girls everyday. This is an adventure for me but we’re having so much fun.” We’ve heard you’re a huge yoga fan. How does the Veloci-Ti pendant you’re wearing around your neck right now help in your practice? “I have been using the Veloci-Ti pendant for almost 3 years now. It gives me extra energy from the inside which is great for my power yoga and kettlebell. Plus, it looks good on me as well.” You’re going to be the brand ambassador for QNET’s Umayal Collection. What do you think of the collection? “I received a necklace as a gift from Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran. I remember I was wearing that necklace with my traditional kebaya dress and a few of my friends were saying how beautiful the design is and how well it matched with my kebaya. I must say the design is very unique, it’s a beautiful collection. I really like it.” What’s your favourite Umayal Collection piece? “The one Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran gave me: the Sylvan necklace. It matches my Asian look wonderfully and has a very pretty design.” What other QNET products can’t you live without? “BioSilver gel and Veloci-Ti pendant. They are like magic to me.” What’s the most important life lesson you want to teach your kids? “Self-control. Children who are able to accept limits tend to be happier and more successful.” In which way has QNET touched your heart? And how has it helped you touch others’? “Actually I am a part of the Singapore Footprints programme (a RYTHM Foundation initiative). I like to help others, especially children.”
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The Future of Education By Nathan Brown
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he way we acquire knowledge is changing. Digital education or eLearning scarcely existed a decade ago but now accounts for a 30% slice of the total education market. Already a major force, over the next decade, eLearning is expected to grow 15 fold according to a recent report by IBIS Capital and the Edxus Group. eLearning, it seems, is at the centre of an education revolution. The reasons for this monumental shift are wide-ranging. However, two related global developments have played a role. The world has become increasingly digitalised at the same
time as information production and flow has become one of the defining features of the global economy. Digitalisation and the emergence of the information economy was aided, without doubt, by the development of the Internet. The ability of the web to bring huge amounts of data to our fingertips anytime, anywhere has revolutionised the way we do business from eCommerce and banking to learning. In the book The Death of Distance: How the Communications Revolution Is Changing Our Lives, Frances
Cairncross describes three great revolutions, “The nineteenth century, dominated by the steamship and the railway, saw a transformation in the cost of transporting goods; the twentieth century, with first the motor car and then the aeroplane, in the cost of transporting people. The new century will be dominated by the transformation in the cost of transporting knowledge and ideas.� The old on-campus style of education is creaking under the strain of ever increasing tuition fees and burgeoning student debt. Universities have struggled to cut costs at a time of fiscal
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constraint and are pressured to spend more on expanding infrastructure. Even though young people know they need degrees and skills for their careers, they worry that the pay-off appears to be decreasing in relation to rising tuition fees. Slowly, the old universities are accepting that eLearning breaks the inequality of a geographic barrier between the teacher and distant learners. They are starting to embrace and utilise communications technology that replace the idea that we must be somewhere physically to learn and absorb knowledge. But will they be able to let go of all their stone buildings – from which they get so much of their ego – fast enough? The costs of brick and mortar education are just so high compared to connecting teachers and students digitally. The classroom is no longer an essential element for learning. At the same time that geographic barriers have fallen, a corresponding need has arisen for learners in all parts of the world to gain new and previously unavailable knowledge so that they can participate in the rapidly globalising economy. Currently, employment levels are stagnating across the globe and companies are reporting difficulty in attracting the right people. This suggests a skills shortage on a global scale and means there is a gap between where people’s capabilities are and where the economy needs them to be in order to grow. Our old methods of learning are just not coping with the present demands of society and the problem is not just a geographic one.
Campus based education requires learners to radically reorganise their lives to accommodate the demands of a fixed learning schedule. For many learners, this conflicts with the reality of daily life. This is especially so in many emerging economies such as South East Asia, the Middle East or Africa, where work life often conflicts with family and community obligations leaving little room for taking time out for further education. One of the criticisms of eLearning in the past was that online platforms are difficult for those unaccustomed to computers. Now, newer generations have adapted easily to the use of technology for learning because they grew up with it. It seems that as times have changed, so too have the attitudes of learners. A recent study from Saudi Arabia asked students what they thought about digital learning and discovered that they found eLearning was easy to use and beneficial. The study recommended the immediate expansion of eLearning in Saudi Arabia. It is clear that traditional universities and learning establishments are failing the societies and economies that they support. Their failure to meet the needs of today’s learners is clearly driving a massive transformation of the way our children will learn. For those that have already chosen to complete an eLearning course, this is a transformation that is already being felt.
CREATE YOURSELF George Bernard Shaw once said:
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself.” So why not start creating a better you today? SMC’s Accelerated Bachelor of Business Administration (ABBA) is the quickest way to further your studies when you don’t have a University degree. In as little as 6 months from today, you can be starting your Master in Business Administration with SMC. Accredited worldwide, but taken from the comfort of your home, SMC’s MBA is the tool you need to advance in life. Find out more at www.qnet.net.
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QNET Welcomes a Ban on Pyramid Companies in Egypt The Need of the Hour is Appropriate Legislation By Zaheer Merchant
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he recent investigation by the Public Funds Authority into the eight companies allegedly involved in pyramid schemes in Egypt and subsequent media reports around it has created a great deal of confusion around marketing concepts such as Direct Selling (DS), Multi-Level Marketing (MLM), Network Marketing (NM) and Pyramid Schemes. QNET Director of Corporate Affairs Zaheer Merchant helps explain what differentiates QNET from a Pyramid Scheme and stresses the need for clear legislative guidelines to regulate the industry in Egypt. What do the terms Direct Selling, Multi-Level Marketing and Network Marketing mean and how are they different from each other? Direct selling is simply the marketing of products and services directly to consumers in a face-to-face manner, away from a retail location. Direct selling encompasses a variety of distribution methods; multi-level marketing and network marketing are two types of distribution and compensation methods.Â
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Network Marketing and Pyramid Schemes are currently under the scanner in Egypt. What does QNET have to say about it? Based on media reports, it is clear that there are several misconceptions about this industry in Egypt. This is why QNET strongly advocates the creation of legislation to govern this industry. Fast-growing economies such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Singapore all have a specific statute that regulates, and more importantly, facilitates direct selling. We are more than willing to help the relevant ministry produce guidelines based on our experience in other legislated markets. Globally, direct selling is an industry worth approximately USD 154 billion and there are more than 91 million people involved in it as distributors of a wide range of products and services. The socio-economic impact of this industry is well documented in many countries especially in reducing youth unemployment. If the government decides to ban Pyramid Schemes, how will it affect QNET? We would welcome a ban on pyramid companies. Genuine direct selling companies like QNET will benefit if pyramid schemes are banned. Currently, the lack of guidelines and legislation leads to genuine direct selling companies being bracketed with pyramid schemes that disguise themselves as direct selling companies, which negatively impacts the entire industry.
Direct Sellers do not earn commission solely through recruitment. Recruiting new members is NOT a requirement for real direct sellers to earn a commission. Legitimate direct selling companies are structured to reward people for promoting their products. In a pyramid scheme, there is no financial return unless others are successfully enrolled. Genuine network marketing opportunities have a solid training system. Direct selling companies place great emphasis on training their network marketers. Companies that genuinely care about their distributors and want them to succeed are the ones that provide business tools and training to help them grow their business. Organisations such as QNET have qualified trainers equipped with the expertise and experience to help their members better understand the business, the products and to serve as mentors and motivators. Direct selling companies have proper policies and procedures, as well as ethical marketing codes. Genuine direct selling companies aim to achieve sustainable growth by fostering a culture of ethical marketing. QNET places great emphasis on an ethical code of conduct by its Independent Representatives and provides them with a detailed set of guidelines on professional marketing as well as its Policies & Procedures.
Here’s a general guide on how to differentiate between a legitimate Direct Selling company and a Pyramid Scheme. Direct selling is NOT a ‘get-rich-quick scheme’. Direct selling may be very lucrative, but it is also a tough business. Right from the start, genuine businesses will tell you that the results happen only if you put in the time and effort. Any company that promises you an easy way to riches should be regarded with caution. QNET for example, has a detailed Earnings Disclaimer available on its website and in all marketing materials. Direct selling companies deliver quality products or services. Pyramid schemes have no legitimate products or services. Good direct selling companies dedicate substantial resources to research and development to create quality products that are of actual use to people. QNET offers more than 30 different products in 9 different product categories. Direct selling companies have restrictions in their compensation plan. Reputable direct selling companies limit the number of people who can earn a commission through sales. This is to level the playing field for its members. In a pyramid scheme, the ‘Uplines’ or the ones at the top make all the money, while the ‘Downlines’ or the ones at the bottom, and lag behind due to late participation.
QNET is launching a training programme to help IRs understand the differences between direct selling, multi-level marketing, network marketing and pyramid schemes. It’s called the QNET IR Growth and Development Training. To know more about it or for any questions, doubts and concerns related to the subject, please contact your Virtual Office or GSC.
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Books From My Library By Dato’ Sri Vijay Eswaran
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f you have read my previous column on aspIRe 14, you will know that I am an avid reader and an advocate of the benefits of reading. In fact, just as I was about to pen this column, I came across an article on Facebook about how reading makes one empathetic, sexy, cultured – and even healthier. According to this article, scientific evidence shows that reading provides definite benefits to your mental health, sharpening the mind as it ages. But then, those of us who love the written word already knew that reading makes us all the more interesting, didn’t we? For this issue of aspIRe, I continue to recommend some of my favourite books that are good for the mind, soul and for life itself. As I sit here in my vast library, I would like to urge you to make the effort to do the same thing that I do; to walk into the minds of great thinkers, philosophers, writers, and walk out refreshed. Through my personal experience, I have found that just by reading a particular book, my entire mindset can change. My life can change course, I can redirect my thinking and see different ways. It can make me stop, slow down, or even leap forward depending on what I gain from that short experience. I feel myself diving head first into the mind of these various authors. Seeing what they see, not always accepting how they think, but always becoming richer, knowledge-wise. So I give you from the past, two very innovative, inspiring, intelligent and very charismatic authors from my library.
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The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran I have found Kahlil Gibran to be one of those authors who can, with a single phrase, evoke an entire paradigm shift in thinking. Of the many books I have read by him, my favourite would be The Prophet. What makes The Prophet unique is that it talks freely about a myriad of subjects. It takes poetic license in challenging your perceptions of life. But what has enthralled and amazed me is the beauty of his prose and the depth of his wisdom. In this book, when Gibran, an eternal romantic, talks about love, he says, “Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself; Love possesses not nor would it be possessed: For love is sufficient unto love.” How brilliantly put, how superbly potent! And it needs to be read and understood over and over again. And then once more. Within the pages of the same book, Gibran talks to us about teaching. He says, “No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the dawning of your knowledge.” How profound and perfect in its dealings with the imperfections of man. When he refers to freedom Gibran is truly compelling. “If it is a despot you would dethrone, see first that his throne erected within you is destroyed. And if it is a fear you would dispel, the seat of that fear is in your heart and not in the hand of the feared.” The fascinating thing about Gibran’s writing is the wisdom interwoven with the beauty of his prose and poetry. His brilliance and evocative thoughts shine through the pages of everything he has ever written and, more than half a century since he has passed on, his thoughts continue to astound the reader. One can love Gibran or even hate him, but no one who’s read his books could ever ignore him. Thick Face Black Heart, by Chin-Ning Chu For my second recommendation, we travel all the way from Kahlil’s Lebanon to meet a warrior philosopher in Taiwan. The incomparable Chin-Ning Chu is one of my personal heroes and her words have guided me many a time through the years. The common theme between these two authors apart from the fact that they are no more with us, is that they both left their native lands and spent their formative years in the US, thereby bridging two totally distinct cultures, traditions and lifestyles. And it is by merging the two that they evolved and crafted their philosophical treatises. The most famous of Ning Chu’s books and the one that impacted me the
most has to be Thick Face Black Heart. This is the book she refers to as the warrior philosophy for conquering the challenges of business and life. I find Ning Chu to be brilliantly incisive in her introspective observations. A key lesson from Ning Chu’s book that I have believed in and practiced all my life is “Dare to succeed by cultivating the courage to fail.” The main message of this book is that, in order to achieve success in professional and personal lives, one must ‘thicken’ one’s face to create a shield that preserves natural self-esteem, and ‘blacken’ one’s heart. The result is a definition of the successful modern business hero as a person of unceasing contemplation and unfettered action. In Thick Face, Black Heart, Ning Chu has been very pragmatic in her approach to transposing lessons from ancient Chinese military classics like Tsun Zse’s The Art of War and The 36 Strategies. One of the most powerful phrases from the book that never fails to move me is about character: “Character is not made of sunshine and roses. Like steel it is forged in fire between the hammer and the anvil.” Another important passage from the book that I think resonates with my own philosophy as described in the Sphere of Silence goes like this: “Self-observation is essential for self-growth. You must first understand the motives for your own actions in order to understand others. It is especially important to look within yourself in times of great distress and misfortune. If you can succeed in detaching yourself from the misery of your experience, you will see, with complete clarity, the real nature of the situation. The proper course of action will then shine forth”. There can be no better description of the practice of Sphere of Silence or Mouna. What I love about both these authors is that they come from a totally unexpected direction to challenge our commonly held opinions and beliefs about life, ourselves, our challenges, and our successes and failures. Both of them have the single compelling ability to make us rethink, pushing us to analyse and thereby giving us a clearer view of the path ahead. Kahlil Gibran, a Lebanese who grew up in America and Chin Ning-Chu, who escaped communist China for Taiwan and eventually migrated to the US couldn’t be more different. They lived 50 years apart, came from very different backgrounds and circumstances, and yet they evaluated opportunities and challenges with a similar approach. As I read their writings, I find that while they were so different, they were alike in so many ways. But then so is life. In every challenge we will find similarities and what I’ve always valued and treasured the most is simply the need for a fresh paradigm. Hence, I give you two of my great mentors, Kahlil Gibran and Chin Ning Chu.
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Taking Care of the Material Body and the Person Inside By Joseph Bismark
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s we celebrate the 15th anniversary of QNET, I would like to share with you all my thoughts on a subject that’s very close to my heart – how to achieve overall soundness of body and soul.
If you think you’re the material body, you become the senses that comprise the body. So what would be your goal in life? Sense gratification. However, that should not be the case. You are doing that only to fill up your emptiness inside.
We all have ego. The real meaning of ego is the self – ‘I am’. But sometimes, we put on a false ego. This false ego takes on many shapes and forms. For instance, if you identify yourself as a doctor and that’s what you call yourself, that’s a false ego. You are using a label to describe yourself; it’s not who you really are. You were not always a doctor or may not even be a doctor for the rest of your life. This goes for any other label you may give yourself. The false ego is the conditioning of a person to his/her environment. It is influenced by factors such as occupation, religion, nationality and name, among others. This false ego becomes your identity. This false identity then makes up who you are. Your success or happiness will be based on who you think you are. If you have misidentified yourself as a material body, false identity equals false goals. If I identify myself with my material body, I would automatically think that the more I indulge or gratify my senses, the happier I will be. I’ll associate my happiness with food or buy all the latest fashion just to keep myself happy.
You have to understand that you’re not just the material body. There’s a person inside that you’re forgetting. Let me use a birdcage as an analogy. A cage is not just a cage. There’s usually a bird living in it. If you don’t feed the bird every day, it will die. If you’re just cleaning the cage and neglecting the bird, it will without a doubt die. What’s the point of having a nice, shiny cage if it’s empty? Similarly, what’s the point of taking good care of your body but neglecting the person inside? If you speak of success, what is it to you? Is it having a lot of money but ending up destroying your body by drinking, smoking and eating junk food? Does that equal success? Do you work so hard to make money only to engage in activities that would end up harming your body? Or, can success be something else? Such as, using that money to become a better person, a better citizen of the world? Do we not all want to be better people? The real ego is you – the self, spirit-soul. The spirit-soul is the consciousness that sustains the whole body. Without my
consciousness or awareness, I would not be able to type this message. When the soul leaves the body, the body dies. When the body is unable to function properly due to disease or old age, the soul has to leave. Essentially, death only pertains to the material body because the soul is eternal. So, take good care of yourself. Feed yourself with food for the mind, body and spirit. Eat healthy. Exercise. Spend time with yourself by communing with nature and meditating. Read books that give you spiritual enrichment and enhance your understanding of the human experience. Love and respect all living beings. Contribute to the betterment of society. Happy Anniversary, everyone! Joseph T. Bismark www.facebook.com/JosephBismark www.twitter.com/TheDailyGem
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DIGITAL DIVA So, you are on Facebook. What now? By Ramya Chandrasekaran
The consequence of spamming is being forever banned from someone’s social network either because they block, delete or, worse case scenario, report the spammer.
A common mistake I see a lot of network marketing professionals make online is not knowing how to use social networks the right way for business success. Social media and network marketing seem almost made for each other, what with their power to connect people at various levels. But when done the wrong way, just like in real life, you stand to become a social (media) pariah! Let’s talk about what you shouldn’t be doing, first. SPAMMING! Do you like it if people you barely know, keep sending you unsolicited emails about something you know nothing about or tag you in posts about stuff that makes no sense to you? My guess is you would either block them or delete them from your social network. Some people believe that they can convince others about their business opportunity by constantly posting links to their Facebook or Twitter or any other social network they use. What happens in reality is that they end up spamming the newsfeed or timeline of their friends or contacts and they eventually get ‘unfriended’ or blocked. Not only will this affect your personal reputation, but will also affect the company negatively. Let me illustrate with a true incident involving QNET recently. A prominent media personality (let’s call him Mr X) in India received a friend request from a guy (Mr Y) in the same city. Since they had some mutual friends on Facebook, Mr X accepted the friend request. Five minutes after he hit the accept button, Mr X received an email from Mr Y telling him that he wants to discuss an important business opportunity
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with him. Mr X was taken aback that a guy he doesn’t even know expects him to start discussing business with him all because they are now connected on Facebook! What followed was even more disheartening. Mr X told Mr Y that he doesn’t discuss business with complete strangers, especially within 5 minutes of being connected with them. And business is about relationships ultimately. Unfortunately, Mr Y didn’t seem to understand and he continued to send non-stop messages to Mr X about the fantastic business opportunity he was representing, which just further irritated Mr X. What was even more unfortunate is that Mr Y told him he was representing QNET and continued to spam his inbox. A highly irritated Mr X took to social media to vent his anger at being stalked and spammed by a QNET representative. Now, being a media personality, Mr X had a large following online on his Facebook, Twitter and blog. His postings expressing his irritation at QNET soon went viral on multiple social networks and a large number of people started getting involved in the discussions about how they have also been similarly spammed. Soon the tone of these conversations took a different turn and some people started talking about how QNET is an unprofessional company for encouraging such behaviour. This further evolved into discussions about legitimacy of QNET, the business model and the network marketing industry and most of these discussions were negative in nature. That, my friends, is the power of social media. An incident between two individuals on a social networking platform turning into a reputation crisis for the company! Being passionate about your business is a good thing. But being misguided in that passion has the potential to not just set you back, but also cause long lasting damage. So, what is the right way to engage with people on social platforms? • Build relationships – People like to do business with those they trust. This doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, effort and nurturing. Comment on worthy posts with thoughtful remarks. That is a good way to get noticed. • Be interesting – Create reasons for people to want to know more about you. Post about your interesting lifestyle. People tend to get curious and ask questions. It’s a great icebreaker. • Be Positive – Some of the most popular posts on social media are inspiring quotes, stories and pictures. Staying motivated in network marketing is one of the hardest things to do. Find something positive to say to your connections or share something motivational with them. You never know, you may have helped someone having a bad day.
• Be Yourself – No one likes fake people. Humility goes a long way in building bridges and relationships. If you pretend to be something you are not, on an online platform, it takes about 10 minutes for someone to figure that out when they meet you. • Be Helpful – I truly believe that success comes from helping others. RYTHM is not just a catch phrase. To be successful with QNET, you need to truly embrace the RYTHM philosophy in all aspects of your life. If you are paying attention to what other people are saying online, you might find that you can provide them with a solution to their problem. In short, do the same things you would do out there in the real world. All it requires is some common sense. If used properly, social media is a very powerful tool to help you build your business. Join us on QNET’s social profiles and tell us about your social media success story. You can find us using the keyword ‘QNETOfficial’ on all major social media platforms.
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UAE’s Must-Dos By Sandra El Lackany and Clara Tehrani United Arab Emirates The UAE is a young vibrant country in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula. Growing in popularity with international travellers, it has become one of the top tourist destinations in the world. Dubai alone is expecting 15 million tourists in 2015! Comprised of seven emirates (Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaima, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain and the capital, Abu Dhabi) individually governed by an emir, there’s plenty to be done and seen in the UAE. So if you’re planning to visit the Emirates, here are a few of the top sites you shouldn’t miss.
The Old and the New Meet in Ajman 1. Ajman Museum Once the palace of the Emir of Ajman, this must-see museum showcases the country’s history and allows you to get a feel of how people used to live in the UAE. 2. Ajman City Center A renowned shopping and entertainment complex that boasts a wide variety of retailers as well as numerous dining options.
Zay heikh
and ed Gr
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ue
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Dubai Mall &
3. Sheikh Zayed Ajman Mosque A beautiful house of worship with impressive and rich architecture, the mosque shows Moorish, Mughal and Arab influences in its design.
A Different Landscape in Fujairah 1. Ain Al Madhab Gardens Located in the foothills of the Hajar Mountains, the Ain Al Madhab Gardens are more than a collection of exotic plants. The attraction also includes a mineral spa, an outdoor theatre used for traditional music festivals and a heritage village. 2. Al Hayl Castle Established more than 250 years ago, this restored fortress used to be the headquarters of the ruling family. During the visit, you can step back in time with a guided tour and learn how the Arabian aristocracy lived.
Wadis
3. Wadis Fujairah is very well known for its impressive dry wadis (the Arabic word for riverbed) such as Wadi Saham and Wadi Siji. Wadi Hamis is the largest and longest in the emirate while Wadi Tawian is also worth a visit because of its mountainous setting.
Dubai Founta
in
Man-made Fun in Dubai 1. Burj Al Arab Dubai One of the most popular and famous attractions in Dubai, this seven-star hotel has taken luxury to an even higher level with its suite rooms, 24-carat gold iPads and exquisite facilities. It is also famous for its underwater restaurant. 2. Dubai Mall & Dubai Fountain The largest shopping centre in the region, it also boasts an ice-skating rink, underwater zoo and an aquarium that even houses a whale shark. The host of activities available ensures a great time for shoppers and non-shoppers alike. 3. Wild Wadi & Jumeirah Beach Packed with rides, a waterfall and a wave machine for surfers’ enjoyment, this water park is located on Jumeirah Beach, the most famous in Dubai. This glamorous beachfront, long-favoured by expats residing in the emirate, is 7 kilometres long.
Time Travel in Ras Al Khaimah 1. Al Sawan Camel Track Camel racing, a unique Arabian experience, takes place most Fridays and Saturdays. 2. Khat Hot Spring This therapeutic hot spring is the ideal sanctuary for those seeking relaxation. The water is around 40oC and offers abundant benefits due to its mineral content.
Jumeirah Beach
3. Ras Al Khaimah National Museum The museum is situated in an 18th century fort and emphasises the history and culture of Ras Al Khaimah.
Sand and Sea of Sharjah 1. Museum of Islamic Civilization A converted souq (indoor market), this golden domed museum has over 5,000 unique pieces from all over the Muslim world, arranged according to theme.
Al Sawan Camel Track
2. Sharjah Desert Park Nature lovers will enjoy the four different venues available: Sharjah Natural History Museum, the Botanical Museum, the Wildlife Centre and
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Emirates Palace
the Children’s Farm. The Breeding Centre of Endangered Arabian Wildlife, a notable research facility but closed to the public, is also located within the park. 3. F1 Powerboat & Sharjah Water Festival Taking place every December, the history, culture and marine heritage of the UAE are celebrated in style. The grand finale of the weeklong festival is the final round of the World Formula 1 Powerboat Championship. The Sharjah Grand Prix is also held at the Khaled Lagoon.
3. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi The largest indoor and first ever Ferrari theme park is located on Yas Island. The park has more than 20 unique rides in addition to a variety of eateries.
2. Islands of Umm Al Quwain Idyllically lying to the east of the mainland peninsula, these islands are separated by narrow creeks. The islands are sandy with dense mangrove thickets, making an excellent escape from the built-up areas.
Explore the Nature of Umm Al Quwain
3. Umm Al Quwain Fort Once home to the ruler of the emirate, it also protected the old town due to its strategic location overlooking both the sea and creeks. An interesting museum about the weapons previously used in the area is housed within.
1. Dreamland Aqua Park A huge family destination which includes a 250,000 square metre water park, an overnight camping area, beach volleyball and go-karts.
SPLURGE in Abu Dhabi 1. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque The late president of the UAE initiated this mosque and it is his final resting place. The mosque is large enough to accommodate over 400,000 worshipers. It has seven massive chandeliers imported from Germany, made of millions of Swarovski crystals. 2. Emirates Palace A seven-star luxury hotel with its own marina and helicopter pad, it is the second most expensive hotel ever built. Many of the suites are furnished in gold and marble while the expansive gardens and glistening domes make it an iconic Abu Dhabi landmark.
Ferrari World Abu Dhabi
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What To Watch This Weekend
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By Tanaphon Sujirapinyokul
Adly Hassan Hamed’s Must Watch Movies Movies mean different things to different people. They can take us to places that we couldn’t even imagine. They can tell stories that touch our hearts and change the perception of who we are. They can inspire us to raise the bar higher. These are some of the wonderful things movies can provide us with. Here is the list of movies that V Partner Adly Hassan Hamed thinks everybody should not miss.
Malcolm X (1992) A film by Spike Lee
The Pursuit Of Happyness (2006) A film by Gabriele Muccino
What’s it about? The story of Malcolm X who is regarded as one of the most important civil rights activists of our time.
What’s it about? This movie is based on a true story of a father and his struggle to provide for his son after he loses everything.
Why should you watch it? “I recommend this movie because it is the true story of an African American figure that made a difference in his life and in the lives of hundreds of thousands in the United States. He rose from being a gangster in prison to becoming a very influential leader. I value the role he played in the civil rights battle in the 50s and 60s. When I watched this movie in the 90s, I was moved by his ability to change even his extreme opinions. I was touched and inspired to aspire for a change in my life. I admired his love of independence and his initiatives, which have influenced many of my decisions before and after joining QNET.“
Why should you watch it? “I recommend this movie because it is also based on the true story of Chris Gardner who had been struggling for a period of time in his life. He was homeless, a single father of a 5-year-old son and at the same time trying to be a successful entrepreneur. He faced so many failures before he was able to succeed in his life. This movie is yet another example that proves how success can be the result of many failures. The movie inspired me to fight my battle when I faced any obstacles during my networking journey.”
Kung Fu Panda (2008) A film by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson What’s it about? A cartoon animation about a lazy Panda who is unexpectedly chosen to fulfill a prophecy that will save his entire village from an evil snow leopard. Why should you watch it? “For me, this is a must-see movie for every networker because it represents exactly the life of a networker who should always believe in their dream and to go after it, no matter at what cost. It also teaches us to believe in the capabilities of ourselves and to realise that the key to limitless power lies within ourselves. And this is the secret of success.”
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Touching Hearts with F1
D
By Clara Tehrani
irect selling and sports are both platforms for performance. Athletes, like networkers, are driven to improve, to achieve the challenging goals they set their hearts to; both are more life choices than professional paths; both need the discipline, the coaching, the concentration, the courage to try and a lot of will-power and self-confidence to succeed. Sports have always been very important for QNET – after all, we started the business dealing numismatics for the Olympics and Word Cups (see the article ‘15 Years of QNET’ for more on QNET’s history). Besides the Veloci-Ti collection of pendants that help athletes achieve higher levels of concentration and performance, QNET has been investing big in sport sponsorship for many years now. From football to rugby, basketball to badminton, golf to cricket, in several countries around the world. QNET’s main investment has nonetheless been motorsports: GP2, Formula BMW, Formula V6 and, since 2010, the prestigious Formula One™.
SPORTS
selling partner – a partnership that has captured a lot of media attention to the glossy QNET logo on the car and helped catapult QNET’s worldwide reputation to higher ranks. Aren’t you proud to have QNET’s logo paired with the Marussia F1 Team’s on the cap you’re wearing while watching the race with your family and friends? Isn’t it great to see YOUR company’s logo on the forefront of one of the world’s top machines? How amazing is it that you can actually see behind the scenes and watch the race from the pit with the whole team like some VFans did? It all started late in the 2010 season: the then Marussia Virgin Racing Team was in its second year in racing motorsport’s most demanding competition and QNET’s logo made its F1 debut at the Abu Dhabi race, becoming the first ever Direct Selling company in the race. Over two years have gone by and QNET is still the only direct selling company in the race.
There are several similarities between QNET and racing sports. As V Managing Director Pathman Senathirajah puts it when the contract was signed, “Racing is a very fitting metaphor for the business of network marketing. Both are incredibly fast-paced endeavours, requiring an almost instinctive knack for spotting the opportunity to take the lead, as well as the lightning-quick reflexes necessary to seize that opportunity and make the most of it. Both pursuits demand strength of character and year-round dedication to endure ten months of hard work during the racing season, and two months of even harder work during the off-season. Lastly – and this is my favourite – both are true team efforts, no single member is more important than the other, if the team is to emerge victorious.” As the company celebrates its 15 th anniversary, it’s also time to celebrate the 3rd year as Marussia F1 Team’s direct
A lot had changed in just 2 years. Virgin gave up its name as the main sponsor and the team became simply Marussia F1. Timo Glock, Lucas di Grassi and Jérôme d’Ambrosio have given up their seats as drivers to 2 talented and hard working rookies, Max Chilton and Jules Bianchi. The design of the car was refreshed and, last but not least, the QNET logo was moved to the front of the car.
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And what a thrill it is to see people’s excited and curious faces when the Marussia F1 car goes on a publicity tour. For the past 2 years, QNET has exhibited the car in Malaysia, Indonesia, Lebanon, Russia and Kazakhstan, just to name a few. Dazzled crowds gather around the car for pictures. And you know what will be in their pictures, all over Facebook and other social media platforms? That’s right, QNET! Now, what if we told you that every F1 race is seen live by an average of 60 MILLION people all over the world with over 240 million watching delayed, partial or condensed coverage per race*? You’ve probably experienced it. You’re in a sports café watching an F1 race and the hook to prospect the business is right there, in front of you, on TV. Or when you start a new presentation on QNET and an arm rises in the back of the room ‘Is this the same company that sponsors that F1 Team?’ And just imagine when Marussia F1’s engines are powered by Ferrari – which has been announced to start happening in 2014! A really exciting addition that will surely improve the team’s exposure (and thus QNET’s) even further. And that’s what makes QNET and the Marussia F1 Team such a natural fit: both young and hungry for success, aiming to be the best at what they do. Go QNET! Go Marussia!
* Source: www.jamesallenonf1.com. James Allen is one of the most experienced and insightful broadcasters and journalists working in Formula 1 today.
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Living the Dream
J
JOHN BOOTH, Team Principal
ohn Booth is the living proof that no dream is too big when you put your heart and your mind to it. After 10 years as a butcher in the family business in South Yorkshire, John discovered his true passion for motorsport. At the age of 25, he decided to become a race driver, bought a car and started competing in Formula Ford. He was a natural! With no or little experience in motorsports, he became a regular winner. Later, he would create his own F3 Team and, from there, F1TM was the obvious destination. The way wasn’t easy but John Booth made it. Here’s a bit more on the man behind the team, from the man himself. PROFILE Name: John Booth Hometown: Sheffield Birthday: 18th December 1954 Position: Team Principal
Describe Marussia F1 Team in three words. A racing team. What Grand Prix is your favourite on the calendar? Singapore. The atmosphere that the night race creates is very special. What is your favourite part of a GP race weekend? The whole weekend is very intense but nothing beats the buzz of a race start. What is your favourite car and why? A BMW X3 because it gets me from A to B. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A pilot.
Can you give us a brief description about your role and what it entails? As Team Principal and Director of Racing, my prime responsibility is to ensure the smooth running of the race team and making sure they have the resources to carry out their duties. What’s the biggest advantage and the biggest challenge at this point for the Marussia F1TM Team? The biggest advantage is that we are still a small enough unit to be a cohesive team and operate efficiently. Our biggest challenge is the amount of time that it takes to build the knowledge within the company to compete at the very top.
What made you step into F1TM? How did it all start for you? I have been involved in motor racing for most of my working life and a unique set of circumstances came together in 2009 for us to make the jump to F1TM in 2010, and it is obviously every racer’s dream to be in F1TM. If you didn’t work in motorsport, what would you be doing? Probably something in aviation as that was also an early passion. What’s the motto you live by? Talk straight and treat people with the respect they deserve. What animal best reflects your personality? A grizzly bear.
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Welcome to the QNET Family, Vietnam
COUNTRY IN FOCUS
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Country: Vietnam Office Address: Mezzanine Floor Gemadept Tower 2Bis 4-6 Le Thanh Ton St Ben Nghe Ward, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Tel: +84 866 816 206 Email: vn_supportcentre@qnet.net
V
ietnam is the latest country to establish its very own chapter of QNET. The doors of QNET Vietnam opened on 28 July 2013, making it the latest in a string of localisations for QNET as the company rapidly grows. Vietnam was always a strong candidate for localisation due to its vibrant market for direct sales. First appearing in 2006, annual industry sales quadrupled to USD 133 million by 2010. The early success of QNET in Vietnam occurred thanks to Team Rose led by the phenomenal determination of Tran Van Binh, his late wife and family (See aspIRe’s interview with Tran on page 18). But it was a law change in 2012 that finally made it possible for QNET Vietnam to become a reality.
As the industry matures, it is expected regulation will occur to protect consumers and weed out bad players. When this happens, QNET will be well positioned due to its global standing with on-the-ground professional resources and support to ensure the highest standards of operation.
More than 60 companies selling everything from nutritional supplements and cosmetics to household utensils and other products compete for a share of the multi-level sales market in this country of more than 90 million people.
QNET Vietnam aims to become the number one direct sales company in the country not only by having the most sales but also by showing leadership in the industry and being a proactive member of the Amcham Vietnam Direct Selling Committee. “Stronger relationships must be developed with the government, business and media to build a better understanding of the positive impact that direct selling companies are having on the country’s social and economic development. A good example is the level of employment they provide for women,” says QNET Vietnam General Manager Chris Honour. About 100 Vietnamese Independent Representatives attended a function to mark the opening of QNET Vietnam. Representing QNET were CEO Dave Osh, QI Group Director of International Operations Richard Zinkiewicz and V Partner Sathi Senathirajah. Staff of the new QNET Vietnam officiated at the event. Among them were QNET Vietnam General Director Chris Honour, QNET Vietnam Finance Manager Nguyen Son and Global Support Centre Team Leader QNET Vietnam Ly Thuy Nhi.
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• AFFILIATED COMPANIES QNET Malaysia QNet (M) Sdn Bhd Level 2, QI Tower, Block C, PJ8 No. 23, Jalan Barat, Section 8 46050 Petaling Jaya Selangor, Malaysia Tel: +603 7967 9800 Fax: +603 7967 9801 QNET Philippines 20th Floor, One Corporate Center Julia Vargas Avenue corner Meralco Avenue Ortigas Center, Pasig City 1605 Philippines Tel: +632 626 2200 Fax: +632 626 2201 QNET Singapore 72 Bendemeer Road Unit #02-20 Luzerne Singapore 339941 Tel: +65 6922 0888 Fax: +65 6922 0889 QNET Vietnam Mezzanine Floor Gemadept Tower 2Bis 4-6 Le Thanh Ton St Ben Nghe Ward District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Tel: +84 866 816 206
• FRANCHISE COMPANIES India Vihaan Direct Selling India Pvt. Ltd PO Box 4332 Kalyan Nagar Bangalore 560043 Tel: +91 96866 89974 +91 99000 63901 Turkey Qnet Promosyon, Pazarlama ve Turizm LTD. Ştİ. Büyükdere Cad. Likör Fab. Sok. 78/80 Mecidiyeköy Istanbul, Turkey 34387 Tel: +90 212 356 56 76 Fax: +90 212 356 56 51
• AGENTS Algeria Zenati Belazzoug Import Export Cite 1200 Logements Batiment A No. 02 Bab Zeouar, 16000 Algiers, Algeria Tel: +213 555 032 729 Armenia Mix Trade LLC Apartment 1 24 Moskovyan Street Yerevan 0002, Armenia Tel: +374 96 006878 Burkina Faso Burkindi Sarl Porte 01 Avenue John F. Kennedy Koulouba, 01 BP 1713 Ouagadougou 01 Burkina Faso, West Africa Tel: +226 50 30 08 54 +226 75 53 63 83 Ivory Coast Trading CI Codody 2 Plateaux Vallon Rue Des Jardins, Villa 2094 Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire Tel: +225 22 42 84 84 +225 02 64 20 07 +225 07 48 47 27
Jordan Al Faori and Abu Hamour Company 14 Ibn Khozayma Street Assalheen Avenue Khalda, Amman, Jordan Tel: +962 79 5555366 +962 77 7344000 +962 79 5261234 Kazakhstan Diamond Agencies LLP No. 111A, Zheltoksan Street Almaty, 050000 Republic of Kazakhstan Tel: +7 727 330 2979 +7 727 330 2779 Kyrgyzstan Romax LLC No. 80, Timeryazeva Street Bishkek, 720017 Kyrgyzstan Tel: +99 63 1264 6391 Lebanon Shen S.A.R.L. Zalka Highway Sakris Group Center 4th Floor Beirut, Lebanon Tel: +961 1 888061 Libya Alquawqeb International Company Building No. 107-B, Algadisiya, Ghut Ashaal Near Hamza Mosque, Tripoli, Libya Tel: +417 9777 2020 +218 9121 29822 Morocco Societé IEDNET Immeuble 75, Appartement 1 Boulevard ABOU ALAE ZAHR Quartier des Hôpitaux Casablanca, Morocco Tel: +212 656 934110 Nigeria Mabik General Enterprises Ltd No. 14, Road 622 Gwarimpa, Abuja Federal Republic of Nigeria Tel: +234 80 3284 3199 Syria Humam Abdulkarim Holding Real estate no. 1306/31 Gamiliya Iskandaroun str Aleppo, Syria Tel: +963 94 434 5114
• AUTHORISED DISTRIBUTORS Russia Filuet RS Ltd. 11 Derbenevskaya Embankment Moscow 115114, Russia Tel: +7 495 913 66 88 Fax: +7 495 913 67 35
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