Work…

We moved to northern Westchester almost nine years ago, at which time I did not work outside the home.   Over these past few months, many have asked me why I decided to go back to work and why did I choose network marketing for my new career path.

My generation grew up with the idea that network marketing was synonymous with pyramid schemes.  These schemes, where many pay a fee to join a company and only a few at the top profit, are illegal in all 50 states and most countries.  Network marketing is actually the same as direct selling, which simply means that one distributes products or services directly to the consumer from the manufacturer or supplier.  The revenue normally spent by a corporation on marketing and advertising is spent on compensation.  Multi-level marketing refers to the different levels of compensation available to the distributors.    Examples of network marketing companies include Arbonne and Ambit, as well as Avon, Mary Kay, Silpada, Stella & Dot, Tupperware and Pampered Chef.

Within the ranks of corporations, there are some companies that shine in how their management takes care of their employees and others that do not.  This is the same amongst direct selling companies.  In my opinion, the best direct selling companies are those whose products or services are completely guaranteed, competitively priced, whose compensation plans are fair and attainable and upon which staking one’s reputation is worthy.  When studying a direct selling company, look at the compensation plan very carefully.  There must be a sensible relationship between how much time is spent on one’s business and how one is compensated.

The fact that many direct selling companies are looking towards or are already global is very appealing.  Thanks to the use of technology, I am able to hold a training session anywhere in the world.  This week our daughter, Danielle, will launch her new business in Scotland, alongside many of her friends.  The nice people who invented Skype made this possible.

Finally, the direct selling model allows me to build businesses with infinite growth potential while helping others do the same thing.  There is no fear that someone’s efforts or ambition will cost me a job.   As long as I behave as a leader should and continue to work on moving my business forward, the entire team will benefit.  If someone works more consistently than I do, he or she will simply earn more than I do, and that is fair.

Our children will live in a world where, according to the experts, direct sales will outpace retail sales by 2050.

I now have the opportunity to set my own hours and work with people I enjoy.  Like many women, I chose to put the needs of others before mine for too long.  I am now able to choose my own career path and build a legacy of residual income that may be bequeathed to my children and my grandchildren.  Most importantly, this is the happiest I have been in a long, long time.

Thanks to Aviva Goldfarb and her website, The Six O’Clock Scramble, my family may survive the kitchen renovation. There are a multitude of quick, nutritional recipes in their database, including those for the crockpot and the toaster oven! The best part is being able to create a weekly menu and have the shopping list created on the spot. Brilliant.