Beth's Blog

The trip was great for the family and I think Billy is going on a diet after all those hotdogs! Lol… Aside from me having a huge sense of accomplishment, Billy and the kids are very interested in my business now. Molly had to write a school paper on leadership and she used me as the subject matter!

I need to figure out how I’m going to keep my business growing. What are some of the important aspects I need to focus on now? What kind of new skills do I need to acquire? Where can I get help and direction?

I made it to day 100 and I’ve been able to save enough money to pay for our family trip! I’m glad I was persistent and didn’t judge myself too early. Had I given up before six months I never would have really known the true potential of myself. Direct sales might not be for everyone but it provides a great opportunity for people to take charge of the life and become their own boss. Success in business is attainable and directly tied to the amount of time and energy you invest.

What were you able to do with the extra income you made in direct sales?

Well success is definitely not guaranteed in this business and I realize that it’s too early to reassess my decision of becoming a consultant. Any reward worth achieving requires a level of risk. I need to focus on the positive and stay focused for at least six months in order to make an appropriate determination/evaluation. And I’m not alone…! Everyone that starts their own business faces setbacks and roadblocks. What’s important is not if they develop but if you are willing to overcome them.

“Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.” -Oprah Winfrey

How has becoming a consultant increased your confidence? Have your family and friends noticed a difference in you? If so, how?

“It’s incredibly important to understand that failing is part of learning…By avoiding failure, you’re also avoiding life’s richness. And what happens if you fail? It can be liberating.” This is a quote from Maria Shriver’s commencement address May, 1998 and I think is sound advice. Even if my business doesn’t work out for me there are a number of non-financial benefits in direct sales. Becoming a consultant has taught me a lot about business and leadership which can be applied in my everyday life. Additionally all the great new friends and time I’ve spend with existing ones has become very important.

How has becoming a consultant increased your confidence? Have your family and friends noticed a difference in you? If so, how?

Wow…This is becoming really hard now… I’ve invested over a month with some success but really don’t have much to show. Maybe I don’t have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Thursday and Friday of this week didn’t go so well… Not sure I have the right stuff…

Has anyone ever felt this way? What were some difficult moments during the beginning stages of being a consultant?

The majority of my sales efforts are now focused on people that I don’t know directly and though I’m well prepared, some of them don’t seem to be too interested in speaking to me. No matter how many “yes’s” I get the “no’s” don’t seem to be getting any easier to take. The worst is when people are rude or just ignore me.

How can I overcome the rejections? How do I lower the number of no’s for my business? How can I get over them so they don’t affect me emotionally?

I’ve sold some products and really enjoy spending time with all my friends and their networks. I really think I’m getting the hang of this…! The money I’ve been making goes straight into our savings account for our trip. What really helps me is that I personally love the products and believe in my company’s mission statement. It gives me the confidence to share my products and story with other people. Thinking about myself as a buyer also helps me keep things in perspective when talking to potential customers.

What are some of your success stories?

I have my contact list together and I am completely surprised by how many people I know! After breakfast tomorrow I’m going meet Jake’s history teacher, Teresa. I mentioned my business when we were talking about Jake’s grades. She said that she would meet me for 5 minutes but she didn’t seem too enthusiastic or interested. But even if she doesn’t buy anything I did read about referrals and how important they are in building your direct selling business. Maybe she knows some people that would be interested in buying my products?

This was my first meeting with someone I wasn’t completely comfortable with. What are good ways to ask for referrals?

On my way into the house today the product brochure from my starter kit had apparently fallen out of my purse. Mary, my neighbor, found it on the driveway while walking her dog and showed up just before dinner to ask if it was mine. While I was thanking her for returning it she asked about a few products she saw. Well the next thing I know she placed an order for a couple items and I actually made a sale!

I was able to talk to Mary about my products/business because I knew her and she approached me but how about complete strangers? I’m not exactly the life of a party so how do I go about doing so without being pushy…? I’m definitely apprehensive about just talking to anyone about my business. What are some good approaches and/or some ways to build my contact list?

So I received my starter kit and boy, am I excited to start! I love the products and hope that everyone I talk to does too! Billy is still a little skeptical but he and the kids are on board…at least for now. He gives me a little chuckle every time I bring it up but I’M JUST GOING TO GIVE IT MY BEST SHOT! I’d be so happy if I can make enough money so that we can do our annual trip to Disney, the kids always have so much fun and Billy loves the hot dogs! ☺

I’m so glad that the family is supporting me! What are some good ways to overcome self-doubt and deal with fear?

I am thinking about ordering a starter kit today and need to talk to Billy and the kids, but how and when? It never seems like the right time to talk about it. When Billy gets home from work he just wants to relax and have quiet time with us. Between the after school soccer practice for Jake and piano classes for Molly, not to mention the mountain of homework…Argh! Maybe this is a silly idea! I want my family’s support and don’t want to sacrifice the important responsibilities I already have to them.

Are there other people out there that experience this with their family? If so what issues came up and how did you overcome them? How do you best talk about the positives and assure your family of how to deal with the negatives?

The right decision is…

There sure does seem to be a lot of fun, exciting and rewarding aspects to getting into direct sales. It is something I’m really going to give a try… I must admit though, I am a bit nervous and unsure about taking that first step. How much time is this going to take away from my current responsibilities, and possibly my family? What are my husband and friends going to think about my decision? I don’t want to neglect or let down the people I care about. What if I fail?

What can I do to best prepare myself for starting my own business in direct sales? Billy never takes me seriously when I start new projects…how do I get his attention that I want to do this for the family without making him mad? I want to be a good wife and mother to my children.

My friends Jayni and Martin have been talking to me about direct sales. It is a type of business where you work for an existing company as your own boss. It gives you flexibility and control while providing business guidance and support. This would be something new for me, and I feel I need to learn more before making a decision. I do like the idea of being in control of my own destiny. If I start my own business, results and my income will be directly tied to the amount of effort and energy I put into it.

What have you found are some of the fun and great benefits in starting your own business in direct sales?

Hi, I’m Beth Branch.  My husband Billy is an accountant, and is the breadwinner in the family.  We have been married for 12 years and have two wonderful children - Jake is 10 and Molly is 8.   I have been working part time in a jewelry store to add a little extra cash in to the family coffers.  It’s not much lol, but we we’re hoping it would be enough to help us afford that family trip to Disney we have been wanting.

I received some bad news on Monday…

What am I going to do now?  I don’t want to look for another part time job where I am simply a number in someone’s budget.  I want to control my own destiny.  But where can I find another job which puts me in control and is flexible enough to work around the kids’ school and sports schedules?

Does anyone have any suggestions?