Use Your Passion

As seen in USA Weekend Sept 14-17

I like to talk about my working life online because I've done it all: I've worked in a mousetrap factory, designed jewelry and been a jet mechanic in the Air Force.
Now I have my own work-from-home business, leading a sales team for Dove Chocolate Discoveries. I'm selling something I have a longtime passion for -- chocolate!
The Web is a great tool, especially when it comes to expanding my customer base. You also can get candid advice online on career-focused forums.
In turn, I try to help fellow moms on these forums take advantage of the positive aspects of a bad economy by finding great bargains or getting their home loans refinanced at a lower interest rate. Good times or bad, nothing lasts forever, so you take advantage of "down" cycles so you'll be in a position to enjoy the better days ahead.

My top tips
Family first. For every business opportunity, ask yourself, "How will this affect my family?" My business allows me to be home for my kids when I'm needed.
Quitting isn't an option. I've seen many people who've given up on a challenge, and then they regret it. If something isn't working, don't quit it. Change it.
Be passionate. A lack of enthusiasm will hurt your job performance. Passion will drive you through the low spots that happen in every career.
Pay with cash. By using cash, I've built my company without adding unnecessary debt. You need your money to work for you, with interest on investments.
Stay connected. Networking on the Web is a wonderful way to get the word out about what you do or to help you find a job.

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An added note: I want to add a couple of my favorite networking groups here for all of you to take a look at. Each group is unique. Visit all of these sites to see which group fits your "style" the best.

MomsLikeMe.com is where Moms gather on-line. They are stay at home Moms, professional Moms, working Moms, and Moms who are Moms to Moms. This is also the "birth place" of the article above. A special thanks goes to Valentina and her dedication to our Denver area group!

LinkedIn.com is for the professional. This is a wonderful place to meet and network with other professionals who share your business interests.

BehindtheMoonInc.com holds networking meetings all over the Metro-Denver area. Each meeting has plenty of time to meet and share business with others. Take a look at their calendar to find an event near you.

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Here is the direct LINK to this story.

Now - On to Something More Fun

Every once in a while everyone has to Blog about something that is dry and boring and I am not immune to such things as proven in the last post I did. I wrote that story about 3 years ago for my local on-line newsreel and I thought it would be worthy information to include here. Well, it is worthy, but I really have to get on to the fun stuff now!

Anyone like chocolate??

Yes. Now that's what I'm talking about! Chocolate is one of those things that makes you smile. It is one of those things that brings comfort to your soul no matter what state it is in. I love the idea of a food that can be found at every social gathering that has ever been put on. It doesn't matter why people have gathered...the chocolate is always there.

Throughout history the cocoa bean has led a life in society unlike any other food. In its youth, chocolate was reserved for royalty only. The commoner rarely got a taste of the bitter elixir. In the early 1500's cocoa beans were used as currency. Imagine being able to buy a rabbit dinner for 4 beans or, for just 10 cocoa beans, you could buy the services of a prostitute. By the 1600's, 200 small cocoa beans were valued at 1 Spanish real, or 4 cents. Can you believe it? Money really did grow on trees at one time!! *

I love all chocolate, but my favorite is dark chocolate (have you taken my poll yet?). You all might be thinking that it is for the health benefits that I love dark chocolate. Granted, there are many reports and studies that show health benefits, but if you really knew me you would know that I'm the last person sitting on the health food train. I could live on chocolate if my body would let me. Alas, I do have to eat real food sometimes. In reality I love that bitter bite that is combined with a sweet swirl in my mouth. Add a bit of bitter coffee and you have a Mocha Java that is to die for!

My daughter would rather eat milk chocolate. She loves it on her face, her hands, her knees, and even her feet! No matter how carefully she eats her chocolate it can be found everywhere...including on the back of her neck. How she manages these feats is beyond me. I knew the answer to this when she was 4 and 5 years old. What can any mother expect of a dear young one? Now that she is nearly 17 I have to ask, "How did that chocolate find its way to the bottom of her feet??"

So, the next time I go blogging I will remember to eat some chocolate as I write. It will keep my mind on the fun of this business rather than the business of this business. I invite you to sit back, open a box of sweets, find your favorite chair and savor every bite. I hope your day filled with chocolate!

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*http://www.chocolatemonthclub.com/chocolatehistory.htm

What is This Business Anyway?

Whenever someone asks me this question I have to smile and ask them if they have a few minutes. Direct Sales is not easily defined like a restaurant or an IT firm. Sure, most people have heard of it, but they assume they know the definition based on "out of date" facts. In a nut-shell, it is one of the best marketing plans a business can use to get their products in front of the consumer.

Direct Sales (Network Marketing, Mulit-level Sales, etc.) has become a fast growing piece of the business world today. Whenever the phone rings or an e-mail comes it could be that invitation to change the way you see the business world. What is this phenomenon that is taking the lead in home based business? Who is leading the charge and why would anyone really want to do this? Have you thought about joining this multi-billion dollar industry, but were afraid to ask? Here are some answers that will help you understand this industry without feeling any pressure from overzealous business builders.

Direct Selling is a way for a manufacturer of goods to get their product to the consumer leaving out the middle steps of the wholesaler, warehouser, advertiser, and the retailer. Instead the manufacturer goes straight through the consultant and immediately to the consumer. Companies save millions of dollars annually, and these savings are passed to the people in the network in the form of bonuses, commissions, and added incentives.

This might lead one to think this is a sham, a pyramid, or a rip off, yet most direct selling companies are not. To begin, pyramid schemes are illegal in the United States and the government has been very strict in what a direct selling company is allowed. For you, the consultant, direct selling is a viable way to make a business on your own terms. It is not a get rich quick sham. One must work very hard and for at least 2-3 years to begin to reap the benefits of this business. In every way it is a small business that one must work to make large. Once the upper levels are reached the business owner does not sit back and watch the paychecks roll in. On the contrary, one must continue working to maintain a viable company. I have never heard of any CEO in a traditional business that has gotten to the top and quit. If that happened the whole company would crumble. The same is true in direct sales.

Choosing a company is an important part of the journey to a great business. Key factors to look for are: demand, consumables, trends, your ability to make time, and your passion for the products offered. Is there a demand for the product? Is it something that can be used then needed again and again? Do the market trends indicate a need for the product? Are you able to create time to present the product or business to potential buyers? Do you really like what you are selling? Researching the company is also an important part step. Going to the Direct Sales Assoc. website http://www.dsa.org/ you will find a listing of all the direct selling companies that are members of the DSA. This not for profit group is the watch dog of direct sales companies, and they set high standards for its members.

The final two keys to choosing network marketing is the company's start up costs and their compensation plan. Check into this thoroughly as this can vary widely from company to company. Most companies do ask for a fee that can range from $15.00 a year to $100.00 per year, or a one-time fee that could include products to help get the new seller going. These fees are normally used to defray the costs of memberships, start up kits, periodic newsletters, or training packets. Compensation plans can also vary greatly from one company to another. One company may compensate with bonus checks based on the amount of retail volume you earn each month, or it may base it on a combination of the team and volume. Usually the bonus is a percentage that can be a straight forward amount or it could be an obscure formula that calculates the bonus based on several factors.

Now to the big question, are you ready to jump in with a direct selling company? Well, don't sign on the dotted line too fast. Like any business decision you should never make a hasty choice that you may regret later. Direct selling is an excellent choice to say yes to, but be prepared to work hard for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It is there for anyone who wants it bad enough, but you will have to make sacrifices to get there. You will have to have dedication and perseverance through the ups and downs that come with this market. If you should answer that phone call that gives you the opportunity of network marketing, stop and think before saying, "No." It just might be that once in a lifetime opportunity that will change the rest of your life. Someone once said, "If you want something you have never had before, you must do something you have never done before."