So...You Want to Stay at Home (Part 3)

So, You've Decided to take a Leap of Faith 

How Does Your Future Look?

And now it's time to build your wings on the way down.  There are some things you need to decide:

·  What things you like: This will determine what kind of company you choose and I really do hope you choose mine.

· How much money you wish to make: This will determine whether you stay on your job and work on your business as a hobby or part time OR if you can leave your job and work on your business full time.

· How many hours you wish to work: again your considerations are Hobby, Part Time or Full Time. And..Will the Benefits outweigh any perceived risk?

· Can I really do this, Do I have what it takes? Of course you can do this. Do you consider yourself friendly? Are you a good talker? Are you confident? If the answeres to any of these questions is yes... you can do this and do this well.

Recruit with this R. E. C. I. P. E.

In direct sales, recruiting is considered the life-blood of your business.  When you learn how to create

Recruiting is like putting together 

a puzzle; You just have to follow

the steps to success. 

duplication by adding new team members you will leverage your income with this R.E.C.I.P.E.

Recruiting

To get yourself in the right mindset for recruiting, understand all you’re really doing is realizing in your heart that you have something special to share with people and it comes wrapped up in a product or service and a business opportunity.  That business opportunity can be a gold mine if you share it often and don’t pre-judge. If he or she doesn’t want the opportunity at that moment, that’s ok. You shared it and you’ll never know, maybe at another time it will be something that they would be willing to hear more about.

Party With A Purpose: A Book Review

So you are in the Home-Based, Direct Sales/Party Plan business and you are wondering what types of books you should have as personal growth and business education on your book shelf. And you are wondering what types of books you should be recommending to others. Well here is a book for you:

Party With A Purpose

The Psychological Secrets to Recruiting and Retaining Party Plan Partners 

by Pat Pearson  -  MSSW

Your Parties are not just for showing off your products!

According to the author, the key to success and longevity in the Party Plan Business is recruiting.  Sharing the Marketing Plan of your Party Plan Company is a must. Because this business is a people business, and people are emotional creatures, "life strategies" must be developed. This book gives the Party Plan Consultant a Psychological Blue-Print  that will help her/him recognize and deal with the emotional issues  that always come up in this business. This book is designed to help you understand the major emotional roadblocks that keep people from coming into or staying in the business. You will learn to empower yourself and your team members in the Art of gaining new business associates. You will learn how to enjoy the benefits of the business: Making a Difference in the lives of others, while you are Having Fun and Making Money!

This slim volume is a fast paced, easy-to-read  must read for anyone who wants to understand the ups and downs of a party plan business. You will find insights and have "Ah-Ha" moments that are valuable for you and your team members. This book is for the rank and file consultant as well as the seasoned leader. Chapters Include:

• Gratitude Recruiting
• Retention the Elephant in the Room
• Cycles of Change
• Stopping Self Sabotage
• Balancing on the Emotional Teeter Totter

among others. Have pen and paper available and be ready to Recruit, Recruit, Recruit!  Get your copy TODAY!

This book can be found on Amazon.com or on PatPearson.com

So... You Want to Saty at Home (Part 1)

Would you like to stay at home?

You're tired of your job...You can't stand your boss...You miss your kids...You hate getting up in the morning...You have too little time and waaaay too much to do...You have waaaay too much month at the end of your money...You are busted, disgusted and you don't know who can be trusted... So...You Want to Stay at Home? And I don't blame you. But, you can't make any of your ends meet, so you'll just walk away from your dream, forget it and contimue to work a boring job, with a boss you hate, for not enough money, while getting up way too early, trusting your children to someone else and having way too much to do that it seems you don't get anything done and the thought of catching up is just simply too ridiculous for words. I say to you "Not so Fast".

Help Yourself and B. E. G. I. N Again

Have you ever struggled with starting over; perhaps thinking it appears as if you are standing still of moving backward? Perhaps you have the feeling of failure or resignation? Guess What. You are not alone.  Even with your self recriminations and emotional baggage — (the feeling of not being enough or having enough or the problem is all your fault), from time to time having the choice to B.E.G.I.N. Again is the best option and can be your best friend.

The Wizard of Oz: A Business Parable

No, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore Dorothy! In fact, I don’t think we’re in Oz either. Where we are is at a crossroads in life and we have to make some very important  decisions if we are to survive. Because, the days (and ways) of doing business (or creating an income stream to earn extra money) are changing rapidly and we just can’t sit around and wait for someone else to make something happen or to  make choices for us. As Mary Kay once said "You are either going to make things happen, or watch things happen or you are going to wait until it's too late and ask 'What Happened'" So, we have to adjust and grow  WITH the times or we are going to be left behind! (I’m not saying that there are flying houses or monkeys in your future, but you get the picture, right?)

Is Mary Kay A Scam? - NO!

I heard a negative comment the other day that made me want to answer that question.

A Viable Business Opportunity
Which Has Stood the Test of Time

Mary Kay is a cosmetics company that sells a variety of products, primarily skin care and color cosmetics, through a direct sales approach.  This means that an independent sales force member, also known as a consultant, of the company sells to an individual and makes a certain commission from the sales.  Because some people don't understand direct sales, they often relate some companies with being pyramid schemes.  This may lead you to ask if Mary Kay is a scam or is it a viable business opportunity for making money?

Direct Sales: The Great Equalizer

I recently read an article entitled Coping with Being Disabled, Disadvantaged and Discouraged in The Braille Forum a monthly magazine from The American Council of the Blind. The article starts out with the premise that people who are well-educated, financially fit, physically attractive and upbeat have better coping skills when it comes to lifes little problems. Conversely, those of us who are struggling with a disablility have a tendency to be more discouraged because of certain disadvantages. True the world is a “sighted”, “hearing” and “physically ambulatory” world, but I say that those of us who do have disablilities, learn coping skills because it is an imperative to do so to get along in a world that is “hostile” and far less tolerant than it should be.

Finding the Correct Direct Sales Company: A Six Point Checklist (Pt 2)

Finding the Right Company Becomes
Simple Onec You Do Your Research.

After cautiously scrutinizing and pain staking examination of many companies that had a  solid reputation for long term vision for growth and success goals  for their Independent sales force members, and some “fly by night” companies, I have assembled a list of 6 areas that would  help you find the company that could be right for you. With literally thousands of Network Marketing, Direct Sales and Party Plan companies to choose from, it is really important that you ally yourself with one that will be advantageous for you once you sign on. We learned that the first step begins with you. You have to evaluate your purchasing, passions and presentation style. This takes you from “thousands” to Hundreds. From there, it’s all about the “possible” company vision and the leadership within.  This will narrow the field from “hundreds” to a “few” dozen and it also makes the search easier. Now we look at the last 3 criteria which will take the field of a few dozen down to about a handful and will make your ultimate decision simple. As Jerry McGuire said, it is now time to “show me the money”.

Finding the Correct Direct Sales Company: A Six Point Checklist (Pt 1)

With literally thousands of Direct Sales and Party Plan companies to choose from, it is particularly important to that you align yourself with one that will be beneficial for you once you partner with it.

After careful observation and research  of companies that have a strong and solid reputation with a long term vision for growth and success for their Independent contractors, versus the fly by night companies, I have assembled a list of 5 areas that you should consider to help you find the company that is right for you, BEFORE signing with any company.

Great Teachers Lead to Greater Business Skills

Hello and Welcome to today's Post. It just happens to be a part of the MEME, Monday Mingle Business Edition hosted by the Party Plan Coach, Lynsey Jones. This post is part of a weekly Blog Hop where I get to tell you a little about our businesses as well as a little about ourselves.  We become one big happy community where the doors and windows to our inner selves and our respective businesses. You as the reader gain insight to how Home Based Business People Operate and Think. If you are new to this process and are not quite sure as to how all of this works and how it relates to business, you may want to check out Lynsey's video explaining it all  right here.

Direct Sales: Fact or Fiction (Part 2)



Find Out What Gets
Asked Often!



To help give you insight, more questions are answered about the Direct Sales/Party Plan Industry.  These responses may help you share accurate information and help you deal with the many false impressions about the business.  Since negative statements are passed from one person to the next, it is time to address any misguided information.

Some frequently asked questions that are often posed are:

Direct Sales: Fact or Fiction (Part 1)

What are the Answers?

Over the years, common misconceptions about the party plan business have mounted dramatically. These negative assumptions have been passed on from one inexperienced network marketer to the next, adding more fuel to the fire. So how are these incorrect notions different from the truth?

To address these challenges, some of the most common questions that many people have regarding the industry will be answered.  

5 Great Benefits to Joining a Direct Sales Company

What's In It For Me?

Joining a Direct Sales or Party Plan Compapny may seem scary at first. You may be apprehensive or feel a little trepidation. Feeling this way is normal because this is a big step.You may even ask yourself, “Do I really want to do this? Is this really right for me? What do I have to gain from joining a particular company?” These are all good questions that should be considered and addressed before you take on an undertaking like a Party Plan (Direct Sales) Business no matter which company you choose. Here are some answers to the question “What do I have to gain from joining a Party Plan/Direct Sales company?”  The answers may give you some clarity and help you in the decision making process.

What is The Party Plan Business?

Are you interested the Party Plan Business and a little curious about the industry? Or are you thinking about joining a business like Mary Kay, PartyLite or Premier Jewelry soon? Before you make a decision, let’s cover a bit of the basics and thoroughly define what the Party Plan Business really is.



How is this a Business?



The Party Plan Business (or Direct Sales), is a legitimate business model whose method of selling is by distributing a company’s products or services, like skin care or home decor, through a network of independent distributors who are usually called consultants. These independent consultants use direct selling and network building to market the products and services to potential customers. They act as a franchise (like KFC or McD’s)  to the company and earn commissions based on the volume of merchandise sold as well as team building and leadership.

Is A Party Plan Business For Me?

Has someone ever asked you where did you get those shoes, what grocery store do you shop at, what kind of pots do you cook with, ever recommend a movie, or TV show? That’s Network Marketing at its best. The difference is that you’re not getting paid for all that FREE advertising you are doing. When was the last time CBS, JCPenney, Twitter or Facebook sent you a check?

Direct Selling, Party Plan, Network Marketing, MLM, Internet Marketing, Door-to-Door Salesman, The Tupperware Lady   -  whatever name you choose to give, is and always will be a viable business model. And, we are all in  the same business, SELLING.  We are commissioned based earners and represent the largest segment of Millionaires.  What do you think is happening when Beyonce goes on tour? Do you realize she is selling her cd’s?  Yet no one is calling her tour a scam or pyramid scheme. That’s called Marketing! You don't want to be a salesperson or  sell anything? Well, you do everyday when you tell your children that vegatables are good for them or when you call in and tell your boss you are so sick, you can't move out of bed.

Conternt To Come, But While You Wait...

Hi, my name is Carla Kennedy and I am a Party Plan Consultant. I created this blog to discuss different aspects of the Party Plan and Direct Sales Business. I am including this video for two reasons. 1) because my business is misunderstood and 2) because I would like to bring this misconception to light.




Of Course, this video brings forward the statement,  "This is a Pyramid Scheme", but let me start by saying, pyramid schemes are illegal. In a Party Plan or Direct Sales Business, a procuct or service is sold. The product is usually consumable, so, you will get re-orders for that pfoduct. You collect sales tax which in turn goes directly to your state and local governments. And you pay the IRS taxes on the money you make. You may not have a solid "brick and mortor" store, but you are still a business.  A business which can go everywhere that you go. 

There will always be some people who do not understand this business, but if you are willing to learn, you will find that this IS a viable way to earn an extra or primary income. This business can be as small as you want it or it can be as large as you are willing to work for it, with wonderful income potential and the financial freedom that comes with it. But like anything, it takes work.