My Journey Thus Far With Network Marketing

In the Spring of 2001, my friend Mary invited me to her house for a party. I didn’t get to see Mary very often, as we were both busy with our young families (my daughter was 8 months old, at the time, and my son had just turned three). So, I was excited to go see her … and to have a much-needed night out!

As it turns out, this was a Pampered Chef Kitchen Show — a direct sales presentation. I’d never been to one before, but I found myself really wanting to try these products! And so, I ended up booking my own party, after hearing how I could possibly earn the stuff I wanted, for free.

Now, when I went home that night and excitedly told my husband about these products, I was already thinking about possibly joining The Pampered Chef as an independent consultant, given that I’d always wanted to work for myself, and our family could use the extra income. With hubby being Italian, he loved the idea of the stoneware, so when I told him that I could get that, plus some other items, all at a discount, and potentially earn us some money, he said to go for it!

So, when the night of my party came, I signed myself up as a kitchen consultant, and my journey began.

For the next 3 years, I went to various homes, giving the same kind of demonstrations that I’d witnessed at my friend Mary’s house, that first night. As it turns out, I was pretty good at this gig — despite the fact that I hated to cook, hated wearing an apron, and really hated public speaking! Yet, none of it felt like “work” because I was getting paid to have girls’ nights out! It was fun!

In 2004, however, my well ran dry. I’ve never been “pushy”, so after I’d gone through my family and friends, and some of their friends, I wasn’t able to find anyone else to host shows for me, nor was I having any luck recruiting. So, I ended my stint as a consultant for The Pampered Chef. (note: I’ve since learned that it’s not really necessary to be “pushy” … you can learn to have people coming to you, rather than you “pushing” your stuff on them!)

Fast forward to 2016 . . .

In the past couple of years (2014-2016), I had thought that it’d been long enough, and I could try again with The Pampered Chef… so I re-joined in 2014, but it didn’t work out. Then I tried Jamberry Nails, but found myself allergic to the glues. So again, it wasn’t for me.

Around this time, my friend, Sarah, had joined Beachbody, and was having great success. She invited me, a few times, to take a look at the opportunity, but I’d just joined the gym, and was paying for a membership there, so it wasn’t until a year later that I found myself saying “yes” to Sarah’s invite. After all, I’d watched her have great success, over that past year, so I figured that if she could do it, so could I! And, I signed up to be a coach through Team Beachbody.

Shortly into my time as a Coach, I discovered a couple of things that got me questioning whether I should stay: (1) I was allergic to something in the shakes, so I couldn’t drink them; and (2) I didn’t really care for the method being taught for getting others to join as customers, or as fellow coaches. I was beginning to really love the Team Beachbody culture (it felt like family), and really felt I’d found “my people” – those who “get” me. Yet, I knew there had to be a better way to go about things. So, I started researching.

The more I researched, the more I fell in love with the network marketing profession, as a whole. There is so much potential for transformation, here… it was undeniable that I’d stumbled onto a part of my calling. A fire had been lit within me, and it was starting to change a lot of the things I’d previously believed.

For example, through network marketing, I’ve come to see:

1. It’s not about me … it’s about serving others. The more I help others to succeed, the more that I, myself, succeed.
2. It’s about so much more than the money — it’s about making an impact… making a difference in others’ lives… and about building a community, or team, of people who have this shared goal.
3. Network Marketing is a business-in-a-box! The “big” stuff is done for you (product creation, order fulfillment, shipping, customer service)… and you get to be self-employed and still earn a decent income!
4. The potential for changing your family’s financial legacy is incredible.

Network Marketing brought me the added benefit of helping me to become a better entrepreneur. I’d already had my own business, working from home, for 3 years, when I started to really explore this profession more seriously, in 2017. Yet, there were elements I was struggling to learn on my own. This profession taught me how to zero in on my audience, and how to become a much better marketer (which is a skill of the future, by the way), among other things.

This opportunity also changed my perspective around money. In the beginning, I had a really limited view of what was possible. I believed that there was only so much I’d ever be able to earn, and that some people were just luckier than others (luckier than me). Yet, after meeting –and becoming friends with– so many people who have stories of going from where I’m at, currently, to completely changing their family’s legacy, I found my perception changing about what was possible for me and my family. I no longer believe that a successful, financially-secure life is only for the “lucky ones”, or those who are somehow blessed with different skills or more talent than me. Instead, I know that it’s simply a matter of willingness — being willing to work hard for what you want, dream bigger, help others get what they want, and being willing to take action toward making your dreams a reality.

It took me a year, or so, of trying various companies, and refining what I was looking for in a network marketing company. I wanted something I could see myself building for the long-term, as I was learning that it’s going to take time to see any true growth from this. I also needed to find a company whose values reflected my own, and whose culture, leadership, products, and compensation all fit with my own needs, preferences, and situation. Funny enough, too, my final choice came down to what was going to best benefit my people — my future team — and help them to thrive in the way I knew they could.

I believe we need to always have more than one source of income, especially as entrepreneurs, and to never rely solely on network marketing. You may be self-employed as a network marketer, but the company doesn’t belong to you … you are only a representative of theirs. If something were to happen and that company was shut down, you’d have no business.

As such, I teach others to build network marketing as a side gig, and to also find their own path … to find a business you can own and build, that aligns with who you are, and what you were created to do. We walk through understanding your identity, overcoming the common mindsets and mistakes of new entrepreneurs, and discovering your God-given purpose.

So, see for yourself the amazing potential that network marketing holds for your future. You won’t regret it. [Note: As of 12/2020, I’m not currently in any company, as I needed to focus on building my main offerings, for now. However, I hope to return at some point in the future!]