Wendy’s Coach You To Success Blog

Direct sales are a multi million dollar industry in America today. Amway paved the way for multi level marketing and Tupperware started the culture of direct sales in the United States. People who started this trend are multi millionaires and their companies are raking in the money.

When you directly approach the customer your sales double as you are able to convince them to buy your product. Another advantage with direct sales and marketing is that the price can be competitive and lower than the market price of a competitor’s product. Instead of paying the dealer and distributors commission, the price can be reduced and the savings passed on to customers.

From handbags, to jewelry to household curios and cosmetics everything is available in this personalized home based business. That doesn’t mean that direct sales will out do retail market. The interest to shop at a mall or boutique cannot be out done. This will only be advantageous for a niche product. People have home parties, invite people to show their stuff and advertise through fliers or e-mail. Even your local newspaper can carry an advertisement.

Direct sales have grown up from its infancy and it is no longer only Tupperware that is selling. Even toy manufacturers and cosmetics industry has caught on to the bandwagon. Insurance is another product that needs a lot of explanation and direct sales is the best way to sell insurance. There are more than 10 million people involved in direct sales. Interestingly most of them are women who like to work from home.

Woman entrepreneurs are using innovative techniques in direct sales. Sarah Stoub, a direct-selling representative for Wild tree, who produces all-natural food, quit her steady job to start her home business, to make time for her infant son. “It allows me to be more flexible with my time,” she said. It’s about doing something she is passionate about and working for herself, which is liberating. After all human beings cherish their freedom above all and nobody likes to listen to a grumpy boss on a bad weather day. Due to home based businesses direct sales has picked up pace and woman are happy that they are working on their own terms. Whatever they are doing is for themselves and nobody else can take credit for their hard work.

The Internet is another place where direct sales have maximum business. Start your own website and sell your product online. Beauty is big business now. Awareness for beauty products has increased with Miss World and Miss Universe contests. Girls and women especially in the 15-40 age groups opt for most of these products like hair coloring, herbal skin pack, face creams, and many more. Here direct sales help the seller spin money. Websites are used as virtual offices to sell products. Some even write books about their products and how to use them. By selling the book besides their product there is double sales.

Direct marketing is a lucrative tool which has been introduced in this century by American companies who started selling home based products. Having a team with a team leader to supervise and get the sales going can be done from home. Only you should have the necessary permission and papers in order as your district or town authorities may have certain conditions and rules for home based businesses.

There are many well known Chinese metaphysics of Feng Shui practitioners and they are called soothsayers. They consult and try to solve people’s problems. A book written by you (or ghostwritten) about your work can also sell well. This is a wonderful home based business as you can consult from your basement office or convert your garage or a corner in your house as your office. Having a receptionist gives the professional appearance and shows that you are serious about your job. In this business advertising is word of mouth and your past clients become your advertising tools. Though it takes time to settle in this business but once you are sincere and serious about your work people throng at soothsayers offices like patients at a doctor’s clinic. After all everyone has problems and all want them sorted out, right?

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

Popularity: 49%

When a Punjabi settled in the USA, he started an Indian restaurant with Indian menu, serving the whites as well as Indians. He had a part of his house converted into an eatery. That was in the 60’s. in the 80’s, Chinese, Thai and Mughlai restaurants began mushrooming in the vicinity and business for the Indian dropped significantly. His grandson who belonged to today’s generation had a brainwave. He observed how the other restaurants prospered and incorporated a few changes into his grand dad’s hotel. He changed the ambiance to represent India with warm Indian colors. Tossing the statue of Liberty curio, he filled the room with Indian murals, earthen lamps and brass lamps, furnished the place with gold colored brocade work. Every month, he included a cuisine from one Indian state and changed the murals and curios to resemble that Indian state.

It was hard work, but realizing the youngster’s enthusiasm, the old man gave in and let go of his ego. An Indian way of greeting guests won more customers and out of curiosity people began to drop by and were of course delighted with the delectable delicacies!

Change is the only constant force and if you need to succeed, you must move along with the times. Sometimes, you got to let go and flow with the tide. When you monitor a staff, not all will be co-operative and submissive to your ideas. There will be some who may oppose, some who may want to lead like you, some who may have different ideas. If you as the head are going to be rigid, you’ll not only lose staff to better opportunities, but also pave the path of your business to stagnation. People want changes and get bored very easily with repetitions although they also like to return to old ways. However, not giving something different and unique can result in complete boredom.

When you spot a staff that seems bossy and pushy, see if you can channel his aggression effectively. His aggression is not a threat to your leadership. By encouraging him or giving him responsibilities to manage an important task, you will empower him to achieve his target. Very soon, he may become your loyal right hand!

Remember, innovation is the key to uniqueness. Even if that staff leaves you to start separately, never take it personally, as anyone can rise and shine under the sun. Moreover, due to the freedom you give him, he’ll value your mentorship more and will never be a threat to your business.

In a class of 15, 8 year old Janette would weave essays that were unusual, the norm. When the class was asked to write about her family, instead of the usual, she chose not to mince words and wrote about her mother’s nagging nature and her father compelling her to visit church. And in her essay, she’d mention that she owned a pet tiger that was blue in color! While the rest of the class presented a decent account of their family life, eulogizing parents, Janette wrote facts that never hurt. Which family on earth doesn’t argue and which parents never shout? Nevertheless, Janette won a certificate for her exemplary creative writings.

Harry Potter, Dan Brown and Lewis Carroll would never have been recognized for their rare stories, had it not been for their uniqueness. Blatant presentations do sell and identifying the talent and tapping such a staff’s potentials will only earn you respect and your company a name!

When Paul 33, experienced a sense of ennui being an investment banker for a decade, he left his job and with the help of his wife Matilda, started a home based theater troop, which specialized in training high school students in Shakespearean plays. Matilda’s brother John was the script writer. Although initially Paul had to convince local schools, once he bagged contracts, there was no looking back. He conducted rehearsals at his own home.

However, after staging several of Shakespearean plays, John wanted to experiment with world epics. Initially Paul was opposed to the new concept as he was doubtful whether the audience would receive world ideologies. However, when John was given a free hand, the audience lapped up every idea and Matilda was busy throughout the year creating costumes that represented the entire world from Asia to Africa!

Had Paul not given John the freedom to experiment, John would’ve been bored with repetitions and might have even quit working with his brother-in-law to start on his own! Initially, new and unique ideas always face stiff opposition seeped in doubt and impossibility, but remember change is a necessity and necessity is the mother of invention.

Keeping an open mind always helps. Always give to the client more than what they expect and make them come back for more. By doing this, you are striving for personal excellence. Ultimately, your company will stand out for its uniqueness. Give credit where it is due. You will be respected as a self-assured human being.

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

Popularity: 45%

Linda aged 33 was growing increasingly weary, managing a full time airline career, three children and a pet dog. The hour long commute to work exhausted her so much that she resented having to return to a messy house, howling dog and moaning children. Her toddler, aged 2 was much in need of her attention, despite her having an able nanny. She finally gave her resignation. However, she had thoroughly planned what she would do once at home. Her interest in the occult prompted her to study the art and science of Feng Shui and is today a successful consultant. She also freelances as a writer, as she possesses a flair for writing too. She invested a good chunk of her retirement benefits to accumulate knowledge from renowned Chinese masters. After a couple of year’s rigorous training, she is on her own, earning enough money and reputation. Home owners as well as small businesses consult her and she makes good money giving advice to them. She has written a book on Feng Shui which is selling well. She also conducts workshops and training programs at her home office for those who are interested in the art of Feng Shui.

Despite a tightly packed day, at the end she’s satisfied that she has worked according to her whims! Juggling her interests, children’s studies and domestic duties makes her a better time manager, and supervisor. Says she, “While anyone can replace me at my corporate job, none can replace me domestically; besides not everyone is as talented as I am. It will be a criminal waste of talent if I don’t put my creativity to proper use.”

Globally, there are a growing number of women as well as men who don’t bat an eye-lid before tossing a well-paying job to settle in the comfortable confines of home and starting on their own, especially those in their mid-thirties who’ve been to the corporate houses and done a great deal of high profile jobs. This streak of entrepreneurship, dislike for taking orders from narcissistic bosses, the desire to etch their names in a particular field, the boredom that comes with a desk job, the need to run their lives and make the world a better place is prompting many to mind their own businesses and running their lives on their own terms.

While it’s still considered glamorous to work for a multinational corporatation as an investment banker or a doctor in a world-class hospital or an air-hostess for an international airline, a few brave hearts have taken the plunge, chucked a prominent day job to pursue their dreams.

Home based business is most suited to people in their mid-thirties with years of experience of working under someone, with children to tend for. Although, even people in mid-twenties want to make a fast buck by becoming their own masters, it’s wise for this latter age group to accumulate experience by working under someone. This injects a certain discipline which is desirable. Moreover, in mid-twenties, people prefer exciting careers, meeting new people and having varied experiences. The company of peers and the competition that comes with it also propel people to move forward. However, by the thirties, with weariness setting in, wanting to spend quality time with children, nurturing talents and being on your own, gain precedence.

When you have a hobby and are passionate about something, it is certainly wise to nurture that dream and give it shape and make it earn you money too. You will never feel guilty of wasting your talents.

Although initially, the pay-offs maybe sparse, if you’re dedicated to your vocation and render unflinching service, home based businesses not only give rich dividends, but also make you your own master, besides making you prominent.

If you have the luxury of ample space, converting a room into a home-office is rather a good idea. Invest in a PC and arrange the room as you’d have an office arranged to seat clients etc. I know of a lady who wears full make-up and professional clothes, as this induces the feeling that she’s a professional working for a company. Except taking professional and urgent calls, courtesy calls are scheduled for another time. Frequently, she also updates herself by seeking training program and learning market trends.

Look at what you are good at, study market trends, seek help of professionals from your field to mentor you, update yourself often, be passionate and proud of your chosen profession. Surround yourself with positive people who’ll motivate you. Motivate and treat yourself each time you make profits. Being zealous and positive in your attitude exudes confidence and creates confidence in others regarding your products.

Start small and don’t run when all you can do is walk. Build slowly but steadily. Maybe initially, a sense of fear may engulf your senses, but perseverance pays off.

Freelance-writing, fashion designing, crystal ball gazing, practicing Feng Shui, interior designing, selling gardening equipments, plants, flowers, landscaping, baking and home tuitions are some of the most satisfying career options to choose from.

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

Popularity: 28%

As the name indicates Direct Sales is selling of products or services to consumers directly. There are no middle men like a dealer or distributor involved. The advantage of direct sales is that the product can be sold at a cheaper price than when sold through the distributor network. Generally a direct sale is done through sales promotion campaigns including presentations, demonstrations, and phone calls. Personalized visits always transforms into sales even if your product is not an essential good. This is needed where the products like in insurance, needs more explanation and cannot be purchased off the shelf.

Direct sales can be a money spinner especially if you are working from home as you will not have any overhead expenditure. Direct sales when it was introduced first targeted women and household stuff. It is interesting to have people sell products to clients directly by going to their homes. The entrepreneur in a woman comes out when she has a team to supervise and spin money out of the sales. The sales people are paid a commission for the sales they make.

This is a multi million dollar industry that is growing by leaps and bounds in America. Direct sales encourage companies to start home based businesses as this doesn’t need much in the name of infrastructure. Flexible timings and freedom to do what you wish to do are some of the reasons for starting home based business.

This culture of direct sales started in U.S and has now spread all around the world. In Germany there are direct sales associations that have given themselves codes of conduct which lead to a fair partnership both with customers and salesmen. Most of the national direct selling associations are represented in the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (WFDSA).

There are prominent people in the society who started their careers with direct sales. Zig Ziglar, the famous American author and motivational speaker started his illustrious career by direct selling cookware. The founders of Amway were actually direct sellers of Nutrilite before revolutionizing the sales market. Brian Tracy, the author of many self help books, who also runs a human resource company all around the globe also claims experience in direct selling. There is a management institute on the internet run by him for entrepreneurs and business men.

It is interesting to note that many work at home people were into direct sales. Being a successful direct sales person can often be intimidating and an uphill task because of the many challenges you face from day to day. Not only are you competing with many other companies but also other sellers in your own company. Some people may not be good to you as others, so the fear of rejection and not able to sell even a single piece is always lurking in the mind.

Direct selling is getting more fun and creative now. It’s no longer only Tupperware that is selling but also cosmetics, kid’s toys, insurance policies, credit cards, magazines and many more. It’s not easy to sell, but you can try doing it and when you succeed making a sale you feel you have achieved. This sense of satisfaction and the freedom to do what you wish to do, make direct sales a good home based business. After all as humans we all want our freedom to live life on our terms and not be dictated by somebody else.

To succeed in Direct Sales keep your costs low and start with nominal profits. People who are greedy are losing money instead of making money. They run many different promotions blindly without knowing if they will work or not. Plan accordingly and keep your price competitive so that people don’t hesitate to try it the first time.

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

Popularity: 31%

The trend of working from home is fast picking up all around the world. It is no longer necessary for a business man to have an office downtown or wear a suit to meet their client. All that is impasse. Pick a home business idea that interests you and for which you have a talent or expertise. The product or service you choose should have demand and one you can afford to finance. Some businesses do not need any investment.

1. Do your market research. In a home business, as in any business, try and gain knowledge about your customers, competitors, vendors and how big the market is for your product before you start your business. With all this information, you will have an idea of the success you can achieve in your business. Make a complete business plan right in the beginning, including financial planning. You will know the amount of investment required for the venture.

2. Get all necessary licenses, permits and registrations for your line of business. This includes checking with your city/town/state to see if it’s legal to operate your business from home. Some housing societies may have objections. So keep all licenses and clearances with you before you start your business. Check all government rules and district regulations in your area for home based businesses and keep your papers in order. Check if any extra insurance is needed. Shop around for policies and make sure that you’re adequately covered.

3. In business, contacts and references are essential. Secondly dress and address are also very important. Have business cards, stationery printed with your company logo and name, brochures, etc. These give authenticity to your work. A polished, professional look is particularly important for home-operated businesses.

4. Publicity and advertisement can also give visibility to your business. If you are in retail, use bulk Email facility to reach out to prospective clients. Have a website where there is detailed description about your product and services. Sell your stuff online through E-bay.

5. Self-market your product. Go to stores, companies, etc., to market your service or product in person. Be sure to spend some time finding out about your potential customers before you try to “sell” them.

6. Though you are working from home, create a niche for yourself and keep the office area separate from your family area. For example, if you are using your basement or garage, install a separate business phone, fax and Internet connections. Be professional and keep kids and family members out of that area. It is always the lack of managerial expertise which is the main reason for failure of a business. Learn bookkeeping and hire help with accounting.

7. Attend seminars and party’s where business is discussed. Talking to a few persons other than known people can help. You can learn more by interacting with other small business owners. Join trade associations, business community associations, business networks or clubs to help establish contacts. Do not feel that you are running your business from home, so it is something small and no big deal. Although your business may be small, you have to be sincere and serious about it.

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

Popularity: 27%

With the advent of technology, life is changing for the common man. He no longer has to travel long distances to reach his office. In a busy city like London a person has to travel by public transport for nearly two hours to reach his work place. This adds to the stress and strain for people. To avoid this tension of traveling long distance, home based businesses are the best option. There are many home based businesses which are in vogue today. A person can convert a room in his/her home, may be his garage or basement as home office and work from there. This has been possible due to the introduction of computers and internet. Online transaction can be carried out with clients and vendors alike.

Attending online meetings and video conferencing saves time, effort and money. For women it is a blessing in disguise as they can be full time moms as well as balance their careers. The fear of whether the nanny or babysitter is looking after her kid is no longer there. Nor does she need to pay half her income to day care.

For men who are on their own, they can identify their niche and start working around it. For example, a person who is a software programmer can take up work online and upload the files once the work is done. This way he can save time in traveling and meeting his client, at the same time devote more time to his work. Corrections can be done online, then and there, since he can simultaneously chat with his client over the net.

Writing and translation work is another interesting home based business. Having freelance writers, your job can be done at half the cost, since there are no overhead expenses. Many people do ghostwriting work from home. There are websites where jobs are posted and people apply for the jobs online. The major advantage is you can reach out to talent all around the world. The client may be in U.S but his writers may be in U.K or India or any other part of world.

Fashion designing is another job that can be done from home. All creative work can be undertaken at home and the retailing can be done either online or by supplying to retail outlets. Garments and clothes are always in demand and they never go out of fashion. Art is another hobby cum career which can be carried out from home and can then be sold at art galleries and mall outlets. Candle making, catering and various other home based businesses generate a decent income.

Accounting and financial consulting are also home based businesses. Trading at the stock market can be done from the luxury of your study with just a P.C and one can make quick and good money at stocks if you know your job well. People burn out due to stress and tension at work place. Especially at the stock markets where volatility is high and you need to be really sure before you buy your stock. You can also give tips to clients from home. This way you earn your commission as well as make money trading stocks.

Business consulting, insurance agent, real estate broker are all businesses that can be conducted from home. All you need is a website detailing your work and how you can help people with a computer and internet connection at home.

The major advantage with a home based business is that you needn’t invest money upfront and then wait for the returns. Commuting is another hassle that can be avoided. You can reach out to people all around the world online. And last but not the least, you can have enough time for your family. Having a home based business is a double treat as you can have the cake and eat it too.

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

Popularity: 29%

With hundreds upon hundreds of people desiring the life of working from home, the criminals in our society see this as an opportunity to take advantage of these dreams. Aspiring entrepreneurs the world over end up getting sucked into the promise of a life of ease and wealth, with virtually no work involved. Multi-level marketing scams also take place, giving multi-level marketing a bad name.

Many sites promising wealth for the work at home entrepreneur are filled with outlandish promises. They say that you can work from the comfort of your home, in your pajamas and wake up to thousands of dollars in your account. Think about it. If this were true, wouldn’t thousands or even millions of people be doing it? Wouldn’t the word have gotten out to every single US citizen and every person on your block be signed up and making millions?

Where do the testimonials come from on these sites? Are all these people for real? No telling. Some may have made a success at it at one time. Some may be on the upline of some network marketing business and signed up others and made a small fortune. But those on the downline (you) wouldn’t be so lucky. Any entrepreneur must be alert.

You can read much about multi-level marketing and direct sales and work from home opportunities on the Internet, and you should really investigate them thoroughly before engaging in any of the opportunities out there. Check the Better Business Bureau for a listing of the company you are thinking of joining. Put the company name into a search engine and read some blogs and forums that talk about them.

One thing to seriously consider is that if the company is asking for any money to start up with them, and the price is more than you are willing to lose, don’t do it. They will be making their money by selling their opportunities and that will be all they are concerned with.

Just like anything you are going to invest in, it is a “buyer beware” market, so ensure you look into any work at home opportunity thoroughly before you make a decision. Realize it won’t be an option sometimes in getting your money back, no matter what the promotion states.

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

Popularity: 31%

Deciding to start a home based business can be a very scary thing. There are so many different opportunities out there it can be very difficult to figure out where to start. Not only do you have to figure out which opportunity is best for you, you also have to learn how to identify the scams.

I have two basic rules that I use whenever I come across a new opportunity:

1. Never pay for work. The only time this is not true is in Network Marketing. The only reason network marketing is different is that you will need to buy the products in order to sell them. Only buy if you truly believe in what you will be selling.

2. The other rule is to follow your gut. If it sounds to go to be true then it probably is. One major red flag is being asked to handle money and/or shipping out goods. It is a fairly new scam where you are asked to either open a bank account and deposit money orders you receive or someone ships you goods and you repackage and ship them to someone else. Both of these are illegal and ultimately involve stolen credit cards. The truly unfortunate thing is that in many jurisdictions your ignorance of the actual illegal act doesn’t matter. I have known of people who had the police show up at their door!

There are hundreds of legitimate and truly wonderful opportunities out there. I just want to educate people of the dangers and hopefully help them avoid what could be costly mistakes.

Check out different websites and get yourself educated before you decide to jump in and start a home business. Remember most businesses fail due to lack of planning. Don’t let yours be one of them. There are a lot of great resources on the web, your local library and many other places. Seek out a mentor who has done it bigger and better and ask them for assistance. More than likely they would be happy to help you. If you are too afraid to ask then you are too afraid to get into business for yourself.

There are limitless number of work at home business models. There are virtual secretary services, eBay stores, telemarketing even crafting mom’s selling through their own websites. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination and determination. Do your research and find what excites you. With a little common sense and knowledge you too can find a home based business that works for you.

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

Popularity: 26%

Every 11 seconds in America a person is starting a new online business. These days, more than ever before, you don’t have to work for a large corporation to make your mark on the world. You can work from home! Some of the greatest business success stories of recent times involve work from home companies. Even the larger corporations are beginning to outsource to work from home employees, because they’ve found it saves them time and money, and workers are happier and more productive.

If you’d like to have a go at making some money from the current internet and information revolution then get ready to join those bullish entrepreneurs. It’s time to ditch your job for more benefits emotionally and materially than a 9 to 5 existence.

If you are one of those with the will to make their dreams come true, and you want to do it without compromising family responsibilities, join millions who are already working from home or doing an online part-time project that helps then earn extra cash.

The fact is, millions of people are working from all over the world from locations such as home or a café. The good news is, to do this you can be any age or have any level of qualification. If you’re smart about it, there’s no need to have gone to Harvard.

Here are some of the benefits:

1. You decide when you want to work.
2. Be with your family when you want.
3. Be your own boss.
4. Earn as much as you want and work as much as you want.
5. Enjoy low startup costs.

Options worth trying from home:

There are almost unlimited ways of making money from home these days, from serviced-based jobs such as writing for business websites and producing search engine articles, to selling manufactured goods made cheaply abroad.

Affiliate marketing and drop shipping are worth looking into, because they come with flexible working options and unlimited earning potential. But do take care to find legitimate business opportunities as there are a large number of scams in operation.

SCAMS: Beware!

It is very easy to get carried away and fall into the trap of thinking you may be able to earn millions in a few months. Please be careful when you choose your business partners. The golden rule is that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Scam artists are renowned for their tricks using online forms of communication. Sometimes job opportunities are real, but they don’t pay what the employers say they will – and you may be carrying out an illegal activity. Spamming is one example, and you could do jail time if you’re caught getting involved with any kind of email spamming projects.

Here are a few suggestions for projects to avoid. They’re not necessarily illegal, but they may pay very badly for hard or tedious work.

1. Assembling products at home.
2. Medical billing jobs
3. Data entry jobs
4. Processing email (these sorts of jobs are basically spamming)
5. Envelope stuffing

Build your business gradually, and keep your costs low along the way. Do your research thoroughly, and if possible, get references from past clients or employers on any key person you do business with. Good luck!

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

Popularity: 33%

The phrase ‘Networking marketing’ has been branded by about everyone, ranging from genuine people to fakes. To some, it connotes another effective marketing channel and to some others it is cheating people out of their hard earned income. There are a portion of Network Marketing practitioners who have given it a bad name. Mainly, multi level marketing has been misunderstood rather than anything else. I will broadly cover some of the aspects of network marketing, to clear the air so to speak.

Modest money, beware of schemes promising astronomical profits: The entry level barrier for most of the network marketing companies is low. Because of this there are many dubious people working the network. To attract prospective marketers, astronomical profits are being claimed. Going by some of the promotional material, you are likely to become a millionaire overnight. This is the time to pause and press the think button. Can one really do all those things that it is promising? Does it look realistic? If it is a get rich quick scheme, you better avoid it like the plague. Let us face facts. In this world, there is no way one can get rich overnight, unless you are ripping off others in the process.

A genuine network marketing company would promise reasonable returns in exchange for your hard work and sweat. The products on sale would be real, and marked with a modest profit margin. A genuine company would demand your time and attention and compensate you in proportion to your ability and hard work.

Genuine products and services: not some exotic product promising to cure AIDS: Don’t be carried away by tall promises. Look at the product. Would you buy such a thing? If yes, then the product can be sold by you. If no, don’t expect people to buy something which you yourself will not touch with a barge pole. Once your reputation among your friends and peers is tarnished you can do very little to regain it.

You have to work hard: Another misconception among the prospective network marketers is that one need not do much to start earning. The money will just pour in without putting in any effort. Remember there are no free meals on offer in this world. You have to work hard like in any other profession. Having business experience is a plus. You would then know what is involved in selling and your expectations are likely to be realistic. I am not suggesting that a network marketing opportunity cannot be full time. Contrary to it, many entrepreneurs have been highly successful and have made millions. It is only that they have put in the effort to achieve their goals.

Research: Research your product well. Sometimes you may like a product and feel comfortable selling it. But your personal choice should not be the only reason you should join a network marketing company. I would advise you to ask around a bit. Sample testing and feedback are important to judge the marketability of a product. You can ask your friends and family to comment on the product and most important whether they would like to use it in future. Armed with this information, you can move ahead confidently, since you already have clients lined up by now.

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

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