by Robert T. Stephan

On December 15, 2006, I had the honor and privilege of presenting the naturalization speech to 84 new citizens in Kansas City. Among other things, I told the new citizens that America is a wonderful land of opportunity where a person can be anything they want to be. The only impediment to success is one's lack of desire to do what is necessary and what is right.

Some of the new citizens came from nations where rules of conduct were based on the whim of a dictator. Not so in America. Every one has the right to live in freedom and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The one guarantee each would have is that the institutions of government are here to serve and protect. The rule of law applies to all - the powerful and those without power, the rich and the poor.

Guided by Laws and Rules

The strength of the American system lies in the strength of its foundations, which are guided by laws and rules. The same thing is true in every area of our society and is especially true in the business sector. All too often those that are the head of a large corporation forget that they must adhere to law and not make up the rules as they go along.

Certainly the strength of ACN lies in the opportunity it affords to people under rules of law and procedure. ACN has standards of conduct in its Independent Representative Agreement and its Policies and Procedures that apply to all - the Co-Founders, corporate management and Independent Representatives. Without a strong foundation built on fair and equitable rules, a business entity will not prosper.

ACN's Expectations

ACN expects its Independent Representatives to comply with the rules of the company which are based on consumer laws. There is an old adage that ignorance of the law is no excuse. That is certainly true at ACN. Each Independent Representative is expected to know what needs to be done to comply with the legal rules set out by ACN. Such an expectation is the only way to ensure continued prosperity and success.

Just as is the case in the conduct of legal jurisprudence, ACN has rules of procedure that set out proper conduct that its Independent Representative are expected to follow. If not, there are penalties for violations. The enforcement of rules protects the business opportunity for all Independent Representatives.

Each Independent Representative should vow to conduct his or her business in an ethical and legal manner. Such conduct is the key that unlocks the door to American freedom as well as the door to business success.