Choosing a Direct Sales Company

As a Mom juggling not only my 7 year old, husband, 2 cats, vaation home rental, and full time job; the thought of adding something else to my plate might seem a bit insane! On the contrary! For an A type personality that likes to burn the candle at both ends by choice, Direct Sales is the ultimate thrill seeking ride.

There are actually many just like me wondering what it will take to help them alleviate themselves from the corporate handcuffs that have trapped them for so many years. A desk job with a time clock and micro managing leadership is not the inspiring dream that we paid college tuition for. For that matter, some of us that did pay college tuition never graduated. This is from the fact that we found it more challenging to work three jobs on campus and that biology and physics classes were never going to make us a buck. So here we land years later in our 30's wondering how we're going to live the American dream and somehow be a responsible parent and not lose our house in the mean time.

Sound familiar? If not, you should bail out now. If yes, then keep reading my friend! Becoming an entrepreneur in this wonderful country is truly how we can reach our dreams and feel fulfilled. My father did this in the early 80's by becoming a financial advisor. He taught folks how to save for retirement, protect themselves from financial piranhas, and save their money in great American companies instead of the bank. I trotted in his footsteps for quite awhile, becoming licensed and working with clients and recruits of my own. What I learned from him and that fine company is worth its weight in gold; however, I could never get super passionate about it. My friends and family embraced the crusade to help others financially, but the incredible thing about direct sales is there is a niche for every type of personality; you just need to go and find yours!

There are so many choices it can seem really intimidating. Websites like WAHM.com, CWAHM.com, DirectSalesMoms.com, Internetbasedmoms.com, Womenscommunity.com, etc. are great resources when trying to find your perfect company or business idea. You need to really ask yourself deep down the following questions:

1. Why do I want to take this on?
2. What is it about this opportunity that really hooks me and where others might feel the same way?
3. If it doesn't work in the first 3-6 months the way I had planned it, do I have the determination and tenacity to stick with it?
4. Do I really believe in this venture no matter what my friends and family say?
5. Am I willing to sacrifice all of my free time and energy for the next 3 years to make this happen?

I think if you can say yes to the following questions in all sincerity than you have found the perfect business for you. I must say that in the beginning of my chosen path I felt a lot of resistance from family and friends. It's really difficult when your spouse is not on board 100% as well. You have to be willing to stay positive and focused amidst the shark infested waters. Many of my teammates fight this same battle with their loved ones. It's so funny how the ones that matter most to us can sometimes be our biggest obstacles. I can tell you one thing that really helps to alleviate that battle... PAYCHECKS. Show your significant other the "money" and they will become much more supportive. Showing them the money can take a month or even a year depending on your investment into your business. Luckily for me that was a short process and I was showing the money in about 6 weeks. Since then I have invested in ads, shows, and other events that have put us back in the negative temporarily but the results from these investments have been incredible and I'm starting to see the light again for being in the black.

Be sure not to go to crazy with your marketing to the point you get yourself in debt. A little can go a long way and there are so many options under $100 for you to advertise online or locally that you can really monitor your success with marketing before dumping more money into it. Make sure that you are getting at least what you put into it or more before continuing down the same path.

In closing, if you can answer the five questions above with a yes, begin to show profit from your business to alleviate the negativity of loved ones that influence your attitude, and continue to be motivated and rejuvenated by the business you choose, than direct sales becomes the key to your financial freedom and ticket out of your corporate job.

Shawna Straub

Manager

Urban Botanic

www.urbanbotanic.com/shawna