Becoming an entrepreneur can be exhilarating and freeing, but also very scary and daunting. After being in the corporate world for 15 years, I decided that real estate was where I could make good money.
I prepared myself with a 5 year plan, sold a house that I had a lot of cash invested in, and bought a very small and practical condo. It was just enough for me and my dog.
Several years passed and I built a strong business and I was living off my real estate income. I was not shopping at Nieman Marcus anymore, but I was not getting groceries from Walmart anymore like I did in the beginning of my real estate career. Life was good and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I was not prepared for what happened when the real estate market crashed in 2008. I literally had no income for a year and I was in panic mode. I was losing all my savings, my dignity, and myself. Those were very dark and dim days and I was suffering from depression and anxiety.
A friend of mine reached out to me and told me about a new start up company that sold couture costume jewelry. The jewelry was sold online and via in-home trunk shows. It was a direct selling company and all I could think of was that it was a scam and it was icky. “No way I am going to get involved, I have a college degree and I am not going to be a part of this shady business”.
After several conversations with my friend who had signed up to be a Stylist, I decided I had nothing to lose. I loved the jewelry, the price point, and I saw potential to make a significant amount of money. I jumped in not knowing where to start but I worked my business the best I knew how.
Along the way I made many mistakes, but also had a lot of successes. I was learning the retail business, how to recruit, motivate others and help people achieve their dreams.
Direct selling is not for everyone, it sometimes looks easier than it is.
It is a career, you have to work as if you are working a job. The magic to the business is loving the product you are selling and being passionate about it. You have to work your business a little everyday, I usually gage 10-15 hours a week. You need to be consistent, never give up, set personal/business goals, mentor your team, and most of all lead by example.
The rewards in direct selling are over the top! You have flexibility, you dictate how much you want to earn, you make wonderful friends along the way, and you will grow as an entrepreneur.
After 5 years, I grew a team of over 400 stylists and sold over a million dollars in accessories. It was a very rewarding experience and I recommend this business to anyone. You do not have to be a great sales person, so do not be afraid.
When you go to a department store and need to buy a camera, the salesperson is there to give you the features of the camera. Let’s say you decide to buy it, you are so pleased and you go back days later to tell the salesperson that you are happy with your new camera. What if the salesperson asked you if you wanted to sell a camera just like the one you have to your friends. Would you want to do that? You loved the camera and you could make money for letting them know how great the camera is and it’s features.
This is what direct selling is and I can tell you that it was one of the best choices I made for myself.
I am in control of my destiny now and you can too.
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Website: www.danasellers.beautycounter.com