Mike Johnston Interview

TMII agent, Mike Johnston of Oregon, kindly agreed to be interviewed on his experiences at the TMII ‘Social Entrepreneur Boot Camp’, held on February 21st, 2009.

Here is the original flyer which was used to publicize the event in early 2009:

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Did you receive anything specific to this seminar, before you attended?

No, nothing specific.

How was it marketed by TMII/your up-line/Presidential Leaders? (Must-attend, pushed to attend etc.?)

Just the hype from Richi (Roane) on live conference calls and other agents. Specifically our up-line, Kevin Fugate.

What was promised to you, if you attended?

All of the attendees would be highlighted in the “Your Business At Home” magazine that TMII was supposedly to be featured in.

Richi said that the magazine had contacted him.* Kevin is the one that told us all would be in the magazine that went to the boot-camp.

What did you expect to get from the trip?

We fully expected to get the much needed training on how the whole compensation plan worked. And how to properly prospect, as well as get some prospecting tools and materials etc.

Ha,ha,ha….none of the above happened.

Did you have to pay for accommodation/travel expenses to get there? If so, may I enquire how much the trip cost, including seminar fee?

Yes, we had to pay $79 a night x 2 for a total of $158 for lodging.
Gas was about $200, plus $100 for food for 3 days. $1590 for the wife and I for the boot camp.
The grand total was $2048!

Where did the seminar take place? If more than one location, can you name them?

It was at TMII’s corporate headquarters.

What was your perception of the building/suite and staff?

The building was very nice. TMII’s office was very cold looking, no pictures on any walls. No TMII or MadeBig.com signs.

It was also unorganized looking. Piles of network marketing and home business magazines everywhere.
Staff was nice, but there was absolutely no organization and very little professionalism.
The actual boot camp seminar took place in the mutual conference center for the building.

During the lead-up to the seminar, how was the subject of the keynote speaker covered?

Mainly just in the advertising on the Boot-Camp flyer/sign-up form. It was mentioned several times by Kevin (Fugate) in some of our phone conversations.

Was a keynote speaker ever discussed in calls before the trip or in e-mail?

No, it was supposed to be a BIG surprise as to who it was going to be.

Did anybody realize that the keynote speaker bio listed in the original TMII flyer was for Dr. Stephen R. Covey?

Yes, Kevin told me that is who he figured it out to be.

At what point did you realize that the agenda for the seminar had changed?

When we got there. They keep saying that Richi had mentioned on a webinar that the agenda was going to be a little different.

My wife does remember him saying that we were going to roll up our sleeves and team up for some brain-storming ideas.

To the best of your recollection, what was the agenda of the seminar, over the weekend that it ran?

Brain-storming new catch phrases, which was mentioned by me to Richi as being ridiculous and that is what professionals are paid for.

And mostly listening to one of Richi’s friends that owns a rapid dialer company, teaching how to become a telemarketer, using the rapid dialer.

It went on most of the day!

Which leaders/corporate staff/presidential leaders were present?

Richi (Roane), Ashley (McKellar), Amie (Stanley) and we do not recall the other guy’s name that was trying to help keep things flowing.

Who was leading the workshops?

Only Dan Putnam, the owner of the rapid dialer company.

How many attendees do you estimate were present?

There where 40 agents

What was the ‘vibe’ you could detect amongst the attendees? Mostly happy with things or disappointed that the agenda was different to what they expected?

It was hard to detect. I got mixed feelings that most were o.k. with what was going on but a few looked pretty frustrated, as we were.

Kevin had agreed with me at first

How many voiced open criticism of any part of the seminar? If any, what were their complaints?

I am the only one that I know of. Kevin would not say a bad word about Richi if his life depended on it. I did speak to three other agents regarding what took place and two agreed that it was a big flop but I doubt that they complained.

Levi Thomas was one that agreed. Another one was Mark Schafer, from Philadelphia. Greg Johnson told me that he thought that things went great – nothing but positive comments, trying to get me to change my mind.

Did you ever hear anything back from the Utah Better Business Bureau?

Yes, a phony reply from Ashley with more lies.

Anything else you would like to share?

I will help you any way I can and very much appreciate your hard work in getting these people stopped!

We appreciate your input Mike and good luck with getting your refund.

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* Note that “Your Business At Home” magazine is a PAID ADVERTISEMENT and companies request to be featured in it and pay for it as a service. The magazine is more a printed infomercial than an objective journal.