One of the strongest marketing points of an Independent Business affiliated with Amway North America (formerly Quixtar) is that you are never alone in the business. Your sponsor is there to mentor you, to support you. In fact, your sponsor and your upline organization are obligated by the Rules of Conduct to provide you training and education. This can take many forms and it is often referred to as professional development.

Because every organization is different, each has its own professional development program and professional development materials. Together, IBO Leaders and Amway are committed to making sure that Business Support Materials reflect their shared high standards.

Accreditation Sets Standards
The IBOAI Board, IBO leaders, Amway, and a Business Support Materials Task Force created the Accreditation  Plus (A+) Program to set standards and recognize leadership in professional development, setting an example for others to follow.

Accreditation is a recognized and proven way that many businesses and organizations ensure their products, programs, or services possess specific attributes.

Approved Providers offering BSMs focus on business and “treat others as you would like to be treated,” satisfying specific program criteria:

• Provide a professional development curriculum that includes business-building, product training, and personal development components.
• Use professional development compensation plans that are transparent, written, and contractual.
• Engage in communications that reflect compliance with Quality Assurance Standards (QAS).
• Demonstrate a commitment to best practices and ongoing education.
• Be in good standing and compliance with Amway Rules of Conduct.

Professional development is a recognized way to acquire knowledge, gain skills, and improve performance and is available in all areas of today's business world. You will find professional development programs in nearly every industry, including sales, marketing, publishing, information technology, financial services, and manufacturing, to name just a few.

Professional development programs are tailored to your business, and come in many formats: video, audio, digital, print, and interpersonal education programs. They involve technique training, business building tips, product spotlights, and motivation sessions, among other topics.

Costs for the programs vary, depending on the format and length of the course. In some instances, attendance is free as in the case of one-on-one meetings and initial group meetings. Experts in their fields are often the main feature, and they sell their own materials as part of professional development programs.

Professional Development programs can help provide you with:

• Effective business-building techniques
• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Specific product and marketing information
• Valuable leadership principles
• Time management expertise
• Presentation techniques for prospective business associates

Professional development programs are also important in our industry. You can take advantage of the power of IBO professional development programs from those who have already built successful Independent Businesses.

Here are 4 key facts that Independent Business Owners should know.

1. Professional Development programs are everywhere.

Teachers, doctors, mechanics, and countless other professionals rely on training and motivation to learn industry trends, stay focused, and keep skills up-to-date.

2. Professional Development programs can be effective.

A good doctor is an educated, motivated doctor. A good engineer is an educated, motivated engineer. Professional development and continuing education is found in virtually every field, and it can be very effective.

Through professional development programs, Independent Business Owners learn more about business, products, marketing, time management, and more. They learn these techniques from the experts—other Amway powered business owners—who have built successful businesses.

Recorded media, books, and seminars can be a valuable and effective way for more people to gain the skills they need to achieve their business goals.

3. Professional development programs used in an Amway powered business are part of the growing training and motivation industry.

• Professional development and education is an international multibillion-dollar business. Authors such as Dr. Stephen Covey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) profit from the sale of books and other materials. Book stores everywhere offer hundreds of “how-to” books, tapes, and videos on a variety of topics.
• A number of Amway powered IBOs also operate companies that produce and market training materials to help others build their own independent Web-based businesses. The fees from professional development programs help these business owners pay for a multitude of expenses, including: production facilities, equipment, technicians, accountants, attorneys, employees, leases, taxes, insurance, transportation, union charges, and convention hall rentals and commissions.
• They incur the expenses and, of course, realize profits from their efforts, as with any other business.
• Moreover, many Amway powered business leaders are compensated for promoting and selling professional development programs to their customers, as is the case with other sales businesses.
• Most money made through Amway is from the sale of products associated with its business ownership plan. Profits from the sales of business support materials are generally invested into building the Amway powered businesses of those involved in making those sales.

4. Investing in professional development programs is an optional way to build your future.

• As an Independent Business Owner, you’re free to choose how much time, effort, money, and training you want to spend on your future. In fact, it is your responsibility.
• Through professional development programs, you can learn from those who have “gone to the head of the class.” You can learn a great deal about building an Amway powered business from those who’ve been there and done that.
• The option of using professional development programs is yours to choose—only you know what might work best for you.

Professional development programs are one way for a sponsor and an organization to provide training, education, and support. Most are very proud of the materials they create and enthusiastic about the results they feel the materials produce. However, you are never obligated to invest in these materials and should only purchase what you feel will benefit your business.