Wendy’s Coach You To Success Blog

Vision and passion go together. A compelling, clear and lucid vision is a must, to start with but the real engine of success is passion and the will to implement the vision, to bring your dreams to fruition. Many a businesses falter because of a conflict in objectives. Most often, these businesses are built with only one thought and that’s to make money. I don’t say that the objective of making money is perverse or undesirable. It is in fact the prime objective of a business. But money alone cannot be the motivation.

Vision and dream

There is a vast difference between dreaming and having a vision. Vision is a positive energizing and ‘call for action’ activity as against a passive, disjointed, dream. Granted, that the seed of vision is a dream. But what is important is to make this dream, cogent, realizable, practical and executable. The vision should be clear and lucid with all parts sewn in to project a unified thought process.

I have seen many business people flaunting their vision statement, because it is trendy and ‘everybody has it’. There are so many books recommending the ‘Vision statement’ that it almost feels as if your job is complete as soon as you have your personalized vision statement out. Contrary to it, a vision statement is a powerful tool to express your true desires, to expose and celebrate your ambitions. It is the ultimate goal of your business. But what do I really see? Most of the vision statements are made to be forgotten. What are the consequences of this casual attitude? No one really knows what your business is all about. Your vision statement calls for producing quality products, but you are actually in high volume selling. The employees are confused and the customer is unhappy. Why not simply say that you are in a high volume business? It may not be fashionable, but after all it is the truth. By speaking out the truth, you would give clear direction to your staff as well as focus on that segment of business.

Your vision is yours alone, imbued with its own unique personality. It is not trendy, fashionable or glamorous. It is a personalized road map with directions about how to reach that ultimate goal. The right approach is to sit down in earnest and write down all your desires, hopes and yes, dreams. From this mishmash of ideas a clear idea or goal should eventually emerge which would form the core of your ideals and vision. From this seed, you must build a full fledged garden with the fruits and flowers in all their glory. The second step is to share your vision with your colleagues. You would be surprised at the kind of comments and suggestions you receive. This is the stage to accept and modify your vision, infusing it with fresh new ideas. Sharing your vision with others would unify the thoughts of everyone in the organization and make them stakeholders. Being a part of the process automatically drives everyone to achieve that common goal.

The importance of a common, shared vision cannot be overemphasized. All action will flow from this unified vision. The goal would be clear and the role of each player would be well defined. This collective involvement can truly galvanize and electrify an organization and it can be catapulted to an unimaginable level of performance. This is what is called a dream run. The endeavor of a ‘vision statement ‘should be to elevate, enhance and ensure highest level of sustained productivity.
It is possible that your vision statement requires small alterations and modifications, as time goes by.

By all means go ahead and realign your vision. It is not a crime to be flexible and accommodating. Some business persons feel guilty in changing with the times. This is a big mistake. The environment is in a flux all the time and we have to adapt ourselves and our vision to absorb these changes. We should remember that our ultimate goal, whatever it might be, remains the same. Only the direction and emphasis may get altered with time.

• Remember that your vision is yours alone.
• A vision is not a fancy, fashionable concept.
• A shared vision can catapult the productivity of your organization.
• Change with the times. Altering your vision with time is not a crime.

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: 37%

“Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Golden rules of leadership

1. Be a thought leader: Business success is all about leadership. Leadership means having a compelling vision, setting up a goal and working towards its success. If you have no idea where you want to go, then how are you going to reach there? Imagine driving towards your destination without a road map. Most of us start off on our entrepreneurial journey without the big picture in mind. Without vision, we crash at the very first hurdle which we face on our way to success. Think big. Let the sky be your destination. No one can stop you from dreaming in multi color. Your vision and enthusiasm will rub on everyone you come across and the combined energy will transform your vision into reality.

2. Lead by example: It is often seen that the boss is strict when it comes to punctuality but he is himself late for meetings. What kind of impression does it leave on the subordinates? What example will he set? A leader has to lead from the front. There is a misconception that a business owner can act differently from his staff. After all he owns the business. But it is exactly due to this reason that an entrepreneur has to be careful not to contradict himself by talking one thing and doing another. The morale of the team is dramatically affected by double standards of the boss. Their commitment and enthusiasm would be considerably diminished by such behavior.

3. Encourage, enthuse and reward subordinates: There is thinking among some business persons that it is sufficient to give monetary incentive to subordinates to get the best out of them. We tend to forget that we are human beings and our needs and desires go much further than the fulfillment of our basic needs. A pat on the back of an employee and that too in front of his colleagues can enthuse him to much greater heights of performance than just a monetary reward. A few words of praise, a well written note of appreciation for a job well done or a public announcement of their achievements can transform a work place and give outstanding results. Mind you, it would not cost you a cent.

4. Appreciate in public, criticize in private: We all make mistakes. The only person who doesn’t make mistakes is the one who doesn’t do anything. Risk and reward are always a part and parcel of any business activity. At times people have to be criticized and told about their mistakes. This is unavoidable. But this should always be in private. If admonished in public, it will damage their reputation and act as a dampener. Secondly, others would not dare do anything for fear of retribution. Appreciation on the other hand should be doled out in plenty and in public. Who doesn’t like being praised? It will send positive signals to the staff and enthuse them to emulate the behavior of those who are appreciated.

5. Empower and enable: Empowering the subordinates is a sure way to success. As an entrepreneur you only have a pair of hands and legs and one brain. If you can empower your men to work and perform the same way you do, what would be the result? You would have many more pairs of hands and heads working for you. Delegation however is a tough act. It is difficult to let go of the reins. But a true leader has to learn to delegate and empower his subordinates. There is no alternative. But once we gather the courage to delegate authority, we will soon realize the immense potential which will be unleashed in the organization. The resulting increase in productivity can be amazing.

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: 37%

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%

We are living in a world of abundance. There are so many opportunities and so less time to rest and taste the fruits of our success. It is a problem of plenty. We don’t know what to choose. The challenges are many, both within and outside the business environment. Smart entrepreneurs have known the art of focusing on their core competence and to be effective, successful and wealthy, as a consequence.

1. Sell what you love: The advice looks simple, yet it needs some thinking. Everything you love can be transformed into a business opportunity. But you have to identify it first. For example, a person who loves music has various options. They can become singers, start a band or play their favorite musical instrument for profit. One can promote sale of albums and organize performances. One can set up a studio for others to record their music. One can become a radio jockey or a disc jockey. Obviously, there are many options but only one can be chosen.

2. Identify the business opportunity: Taking forward the logic of selling what you love, it is essential that you clearly identify the business opportunity. Maybe your neighborhood does not have a good outlet for selling music albums. Setting up a music shop may be an excellent idea. Just because you love music, doesn’t mean you have to do something related to music without considering its financial viability. If say you already have a shop catering to music, there is no point in starting another one. May be a music school?

3. Gather resources and conduct research: If you have finally chosen to start a music shop, the next step is to gather all the resources required to make the venture a success. What are the things you would look for in a music shop? What is the latest trend in music? What sells? What is hot? If you like classical western music does not mean everyone likes it. Research is very important on the tastes and preferences of buyers. You may hate Hip-hop but that may be the latest craze. Look for what your customers will purchase, not you. This is a mistake which we make so often. There is a famous story of a saleswoman who filled her shop with fashionable shoes, because she liked them. When she saw sales dwindling, she looked for answers. She discovered that customers visiting her shop were working women, looking for daily wear shoes, which she had stopped stocking. Just goes to show that our business is meant to cater to our customers, not ourselves.

4. Delegate and then monitor: There is a tendency among many entrepreneurs to look over the shoulders of their employees and give a running commentary on their performance. This is distracting and also annoying to the subordinates. More than that, you are forcing your staff to under perform. People get used to being supervised and are unable to work without it. Meanwhile, the work which requires maximum attention suffers. If your core competence is sales, then employ professionals for manufacturing, accounting and personnel. You should concentrate on increasing the sales, which is your area of strength. There is no point in interfering with manufacturing. At the same time an entrepreneur cannot ignore all other activities. Monitoring the output by defining some critical parameters is a must. The elements you wish to monitor should give you a picture of the entire operation. Empower your staff to be effective and then monitor their performance on a regular basis.

5. Outsource non-core activities: The phenomenon of outsourcing is as old as business itself but has a larger impact in the modern world. There was a time when, an enterprise would mange all its activities and employ full time workers to execute them, from keeping the premises clean, managing the office canteen and also maintain its own fleet of vehicles for the employees. The realization dawned that their core competence was in producing goods and services in which they specialized, not in performing these jobs, however important they may have been. Soon, the cleaning was done away with, the canteen outsourced and the fleet hired. The new enterprise has gone a step ahead. They are outsourcing the accounts, manufacturing, recruitment and all non core activities. The core function of sales and marketing is the focus of the whole organization. This results in savings, as well as improved performance by focusing on their core competence.

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: 42%

“I have no time. I have no rest. I can’t seem to keep up with my work”. How many times have you heard this refrain? The problem lies not with the availability of time but how we make use of it. Time is one commodity which cannot be purchased. If it were, it would be the most popular item on sale. Since it isn’t, we have to find ways and means to utilize time more effectively. Here is a list of ten things a business entrepreneur needs to do, to master time.

1. Stop procrastination. Use your will power: many a times we all want to postpone our work. The human mind is such that we always try to justify our behavior. Ultimately the work just piles up and a point is reached when we are no longer able to cope with it. The only way out of this dilemma is to consciously avoid delaying our work. It does take an effort to get going but there is no other option.

2. Make a short term plan: You must have a task oriented approach. When confronted with a huge chunk of work, it is human to avoid working on a problem right away. The magnitude of a task may lead to fears about ones capability to finish it successfully. One has to break down the big tasks into small manageable chunks. How do you eat an elephant? Bite by bite. A tusk, a leg ……. and ultimately the tail.

3. Create a long term plan: Long term goals and aspirations is what keeps a person going during the tough times. Just imagining yourself at the proverbial pot of gold at the end of rainbow makes you undergo suffering and pain during the process of getting there. Having long term goals is critical to business success. You will inevitably face problems on the way, there are going to be many hardships, tears and triumphs. Only a vision of the future will keep you moving ahead in spite of hurdles.

4. Change with the times: Keep pace with life. When you are young there is plenty of energy and the youthful fervor takes you ahead. As time passes, you are mellower. Plan for more period of rest.

5. Delegate: Delegation of duties and work is the best way to save time. You can’t do everything. There is no time. Let go and give responsibility to your subordinates. The time you save can be effectively used to make you more productive. If you cannot delegate you cannot be a successful person.

6. Make it a habit: The most successful people are the one’s who have successful habits.

7. Define targets and assign time to each activity: Most often, we hear people moan that they have to accomplish so many tasks and have so less time. If you do not assign a specific time period for completing tasks, chances are that the task would never get completed. For effective time management, it is essential that we evaluate each task for the time it will take to complete and ensure that it gets done by the deadline. The importance of assigning time frames to activities cannot be overemphasized.

8. Habit of getting on with things: There are perfectionists who just cannot accept that a particular work has to be completed in time. They will not give up until they have the ideal solution in hand. They spend an enormous amount of time, tweaking the small nuts and bolts, till they are completely satisfied. A successful entrepreneur should avoid falling into such a trap. We have to understand that every task has a time and value attached to it. We have to get on with things, though we may not have an ideal solution.

9. Motivating yourself: Let us accept that the everyday grind of a businessman’s life can be frustrating. We have to keep ourselves motivated at all times if we are to succeed in business as well as in our lives.

10. Give time off for yourself: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Rejuvenate, refresh and recharge yourself at regular intervals. You will bounce back with renewed vigor when you are back from a break.

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: 42%

The one thing that inspires people including children, mitigates fears, soothes frayed nerves and propels people to perform better than their best is nothing other than ‘Motivation’. Although for many, money is the main motivating force, sooner or later, people prefer reputation to money. Extrinsic motivation maybe used for children where parents often bribe them with presents and toys as rewards. Soon, excellent performance becomes a motivating factor, which then is called ‘intrinsic motivation’-a motivation that comes from within.

When you run a home business and manage a handful of staff, motivation is the only thing that binds your staff to you, at least when you’re yet to carve a niche for yourself. Mike had a tough time retaining staff when he started a home tuition for school drop-outs. Many of his staff quit to join bigger schools in search of more money and identity. After training a bunch of employees, he’d be marooned by them soon.

He then decided that academic results were far less important than building the self-esteem of children. He summoned all his employees and over the weekend, spent time vacationing. Here, he talked about his own childhood; his failure to meet his teacher’s and parent’s expectation, etc. He encouraged his staff to speak about their childhood experiences, why they chose teaching as their profession and allowed them to come up with better ideas to deal with tough students. His staff returned home light-hearted and with hope that they could make a huge difference in the lives of children who needed it the most.

Every week, Mike held a meeting discussing not about the fee structure or performances of students, but what problems a child was encountering and what the teacher did to mitigate the problem. He noted the special efforts taken by each tutor and announced that publicly. This motivated the other staff and soon, the staff became a second family to the students. He hired the best of teachers, trained them to not only monitor studies but also be a mentor and guide to each student. Naturally, the grades of students showed marked improvement, and their personality’s exuded confidence!

Mike then developed a unique system where, his staff was appraised by students and a paragraph was written by each student about each teacher. Thus, he was able to guess which teacher made an effort to go that extra mile. He publicly announced the name of that teacher and also rewarded the staff. He made it a learning ground for students, as well as teachers, where apart from academics, life’s lessons and values were freely imparted.

While initially rewarding staff financially may not be viable, simple encouragement, seeking the advice of even the person on the lowest cadre, asking about the staff’s family and working out common problems together, taking a day off to enjoy a drink, vacationing with family of staff all these are motivating factors. We take up a job or a task by asking ourselves, “What’s in it for me?” Building trust and camaraderie helps in assuring staff that soon they’d be paid enough. Transparency in the accounting system also ensures that none feels cheated.

Once your staff feels appreciated and a sense of belongingness is created, they’ll adhere to your company even in the face of temptations. Ultimately, the aim of any business is not just making profits, but creating goodwill-goodwill not only amongst customers, but also amongst staff. For any business to run smoothly, we certainly need help from those around us.

If you are in a business that pitches sales, definitely, commission is one way of rewarding your salesmen. Another way is by being their mentor. When you head a team of people, it will be wise for you to stop assuming that you are the ultimate boss. Be a leader, lead by example. Share your thoughts on what made you do what you’re currently doing and how others are contributing to the team’s success.

And never forget that ‘you’ have employed staff only because ‘you’ needed people to manage your show, thus it will be wise to share your profits decently. True, you are the investor and must’ve invested the capital, and certainly need to stash away a sizable portion of profits, but never be stingy. Some companies award their best staff with certificates as the best manager etc. However, just a wall hanging will not appease someone’s hunger.

Brenda is an enterprising woman, who runs her own beauty parlor from home and is known for her efficiency and dedication. Apart from selling quality products and treatments, she discerned what attracts customers and what puts them off. She trained her staff consisting of women and one feature she ensured was that none of her staff would go about work with the blues, none would talk unnecessarily and all would use mouth fresheners while treating clients. She was sensitive to the client’s need for peace during a full body massage and how annoying a bad breath could be when clients come in contact with such masseurs.

Clients were given an array of treatments by an array of beauticians, who were appraised according to their services. Whenever she sported a member of staff who treated customers well with promptness, she’d allow them to be pampered with complementary treatments!

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: 39%

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%