WAHM Forums

Hi All,


I learned a valuable lesson this weekend.


My husband's secretaryis a very nice lady and we talk on the phone all the time. We have even socialized at company sponsored events.


Do you know it never occured to me to ask her to host a party for me? I pre-judged, I thought she won't want to come. I didn't even send her a catalog via my husband!


Well, she invited me to a party she was having. A Latasia Home party. I had never heard of this company. It turns out that they sell jewelry. The jewelry was beautiful by the way. The lady who did the partywas fanastic. I mean the jewelry was prettier than what I had on from my company and a lotless costly.


When I got back home and my husbandI were talking, I got really down. I was thinking is direct sales really for me? I mean, did I pass up an opportunity for a party? Would she have said yes to me?


I am reviewing other companies but I feel like what's the point. It always seems as if the grass is greenier.


Thanks for letting me vent.


Irene

I know I tried several party companies with several types of products before I found Fantasy, Inc. I have had the best success with it than I ever had with the others combined!!


You have to find what is best for you and what you are the most passionate about.


And I know what you mean about pre-judging people, I approached an older lady about Watkins instead of Fantasy because I 'thought' she would be more interested. When she turned me down over the Watkins and I showed her my Fantasy biz card she was all ears! She plans to book a party soon!smileys/smiley9.gif


MK

I think that everyone has had that happen to them.I know that it has happened to me,the point is,is that you learneda lesson and now you will know for next time.Just because you didnt grab the opportunity doesn't mean that you do not belong in direct sales!I just started with White Lily Candles and my friend and babysitter told me that she would love to host a party!I didnt even think about asking her lol,I do have problems sometimes in approaching people,but its the people that you would least expect!Keep your head up!smileys/smiley2.gif

Hey! How cool is that? You are the first person I have ever saw post about Latasia here besides me!!!! I'm so glad to see that you liked everything! I did my first party with them Friday night and felt fantastic about it. The sales closed at $291 but I got 3 bookings off of it which is what carries us! It was my first jewelry party so I'm not up on all the tricks of the different things you can do with the jewelry either so I still feel great!!!


Did you talk to the consultant about signing on with Latasia? Our kits are half price til tomorrow if you are interested. I'd love to have you on my team if you don't know the lady that did the party.


And, I know how you feel about making the right choice and being down. I was a Director with Petra Fashions and on top of the world. I made almost $12,500 last year from them in 10 months. I think that's pretty great for a lil ole country girl like myself and I know God had His hand on my business. I was also only a month and a half away from winning $10,000!!! They ripped the carpet out from under us on Oct. 21st and told us they had sold our line to an adult company. I left, I could have made ALOT of money with them but it wasn't worth it to me so I left. I was here used to making great money each month and my household had come to depend on me and I had nothing. I signed on with Discovery Toys and absolutely love their products and what they stand for. My 2 year old son has never played with toys like he plays with Discovery Toys. They are so durable, so educational and so entertaining. I thought that it would go over so HUGE here. But, it didn't. I'm not saying it's Discovery Toys fault. I probably didn't put all I could into it. But I got really discouraged by not getting people to book with me. And so that probably started coming through in my voice when I would talk to someone new. So I decided I was going to work with people around here that DO appreciate educational toys, games and books...teachers! I did a small read a thon with 2 elementary school classes and one large one with a daycare and it went great! I can't get a party to save my life but these educators appreciate what Discovery Toys is offering the children they teach so that's who I'm going to work with now. But I still had to have something bringing in good money in the meantime. I was aggravated, discouraged and to be honest, totally not used to struggling for bookings. I talked to my old Director with Petra and she told me about how so many of the former Petra women have went with Latasia, how one of our former Sr. National Sales Directors is now Latasia's Vice President and how the kits are half price through the end of February. I couldn't pass it up. I trust my Petra upline and know they wouldn't be involved in anything that isn't true blue after what we went through in October losing our petra home. So, I prayed about it and felt led to go for it so I did. I got the $250 kit with the $1000 worth of jewelry in it. I hadn't even seen a catalog when I signed. I had just seen what was on the website. I knew that strongly I was supposed to give this a try. The jewelry blew my mind and I already had 3 parties booked, technically 4 because I had 2 girls going together and doing it and had each sent me separate guest lists. They had never heard of Latasia either. These are the same people I called when I started Discovery Toys and never got anywhere with them. But they booked a date on the spot. Now, I'm taking my Discovery Toys books with me to my Latasia parties. I have a couple ladies looking at the DT book from Friday night. If they won't do parties with me maybe they'll order or pass it on to someone who does want to earn some free toys for their children. I'm also going to be taking my Disciple's Cross necklaces to the parties to sell after we get through with the Latasia party. I truly feel like this Latasia business is going to help get the other 2 businesses I love out there as well. Oh, and the fact that I make 40% of the sales from the beginning and once I sell my first $1500 I'll make 50% doesn't hurt either, LOL.


My point is, don't get discouraged. Maybe you aren't with the right company. Do what you have to do to get going. So you missed out on a booking with your husband's secretary this time. Don't let it pass you by next time. If you change companies tell her how awesome a party she gave and how much she seemed to enjoy it and would she help you get started with your new company? No's are part of our business. The more you ask the closer you are getting to a yes. And from my experience on making calls with Latasia, I haven't hit a no. Of course I booked the first 4 people I called so I stopped. I wanted to see how the bookings from the parties went and got a great feeling for that Friday night with the 3 from there. I feel like I'm back on track to being like it was with Petra. Once you get a "feeling" about a company and things start to fall into place when you start working it, you'll know you are good to go. If you want to stay with the company you are with, close your eyes, take a deep breath, let all the frustration and anxiety go and pick up the phone. I don't practice this like I should but I do know it works!! Tell yourself you want to get 2 bookings or whatever and don't quit calling til you get it.


If you want to talk to someone about Latasia, I'll be glad to get you more info and even get you on the phone with someone from my upline to address any concerns you have. We have been through heck with Petra and know all about frustration and feeling lost and questioning ourselves and our decisions. Or if you just want to talk period. I can see how down you are from your post. You need some major encouragement right now girl!!!


I'll say a prayer for you!!!!

Irene,

Sounds like your confidence has been shaken by this other competing
company/product. This is a tough issue, and is not a single answer
question...

#1. If you feel that this other company/product/opportunity may be
better than what you have now, you HAVE to consider what will get you
closest to your personal goals... Re-Evaluation can be a good thing as
long as you don't make it a habit to jump from one company to the next,
as you will lose credibility, a most valuable asset. As far as I can tell, now
that you have seen the other company's products, you would have an
even MORE dfficult time asking folks to host for you. Am I right?

#2. Please do not make important decisions when you are feeling down
and discouraged.

#3. You must have unshakable belief in yourself, your company, and
your product line if you hope to do well in Direct Sales. Do what is
necessary to either FIND those things in your current situation, or face
that it may be time to do a major re-evaluation.

I absolutely believe that I am with the right company for me. I do have
that unshakable belief that this is going to be a HUGE success for me and
for those like me who see the same things...

My best,

Nondy

Edited by: UltraSkinPro

Well said, Nattiesmom!!! This is a business in personal development and leadership training. It is all right to feel down, and not want to continue this journey. But it certainly has an impact on you when you are down---the impact is you start wondering if this is for you, and doubt yourself and your company. What happened really did not matter!!!But what you make it mean about yourself and the company can mess you up!!


Feel bad all day, or going out there and make things happen---it is your choice!!


Hsiao-Ling

Love what everyone has said so far and totally agree.

One thing I would add is that it's alright to switch companies. I know we are all trying to do as many parties as possible and build a team in the process, but sometimes our first choice isn't the right one.

I stayed with a company for about 1 year longer than I should have because I felt a loyality to the company and my team. I am not suggesting you shouldn't feel a loyality to your team and I have been trying to make sure my team is well taken care of before I leave, but my loyality to the company cost me.

I knew earlier than now that the company and I weren't a good fit, but I had met so many great people that I felt like I would be letting them down by leaving. But it was at the cost of my personal happiness.

Well, then I found the company that I had been waiting for and I KNEW from the first contact I had with my upline that it was the perfect fit for me. Like I said, I am trying to do all that I can to make sure my current team is well taken care of, but I had to make the move that was best for me and my family. After all, that's what most of us get into DS for in the first place.

So, now I have bet a whole new great group of women (and even have run into some of the same). Nondy and I are team mates and now I can see that the grass is greener and it wasn't my imagination. LOL I'm all over this green grass and LOVING IT!!!!!

You'll find your green grass too. It's really out there. It may be that other jewelry company or maybe something completely different. There are some great sites that list direct sales company. One that I am with is www.partyplancompanies.com and you can go through the list and read about the companies and then request information from as many as you'd like to hear about.

Best of luck to you,
Brenda P.

You have to truly believe in your product and sometimes you won't see
immediate results. I just received a $100 + jewelry order from a woman
I gave a catalog to over a month ago. I love my jewelry, wear it daily
and always get compliments. I think the prices are great for genuine
sterling silver and semi-precious stones. My jewelry is going to
get a lot of exposure now that I am in real estate too and I carry my
catalogs with me everywhere. I hope you don't get discouraged. I am
sure we have all done that at one point or another. Have you since
shown your husband's secretary your</span> catalog? She might be interested in your jewelry too!

I think that no matter what business you're in, you can always find someone else whose products seem better, less expensive, or people who are more successfull, happier, getting more bookings, etc. It's all a distraction, and it isn't necessarily true. The book "Your First Year in Network Marketing" devotes a chapter to such distractions. If you haven't read it already, I think it's great for anyone in mlm or direct sales.

Great book, I highly reccommend it also!

Irene--


What is your passion? What drives you? What do you love about your current company?


Anyone can make it work IF you want to make it work. BUT, you will have to try new things. (And to be honest, not everyone wants to do the work/step outside their comfort zone to make it work.)


It's very much like riding a bike. When you fell off, did you quit? (OK, actually, I hate riding a bike. But I do it when I have to--I know, I'm wierd). The point is, we all have to learn when to pedal, when to push ourselves up the hill, when to brake. For some people, it's natural, others of us have to practice and work harder to keep up with the pack.


Why do we do it? Maybe to join our friends on their bike ride, or maybe as a form of transportation. But when we learn to ride, we know why we are doing it. Maybe just because mom said you had to since she bought you the darn thing!


Yet, some of us put it in the back of the garage and don't pull it out or use it to it's fulliest potential. Maybe you only ride to the end of the block instead of using it to see the world.


To see the world takes daily practice and stamina building. You can't just go out on day 2 and bike30 miles!


And even the best of the best fall off some times.


SO, my long answer to your short question is why do you want this to work? Do you really want it to work? And are you willing to learn from you mistakes vs. focus on them? If so, you can do it and you will do it.


Best of luck and I look forward to following your success!


Debbie

And as for prejudging, I've kicked myself many times for not asking someone to host or join my team! Just happened with a friend of mine who moved to California! She just signed up with Arbonne! I just never thought she'd do direct sales though I always thought she'd be good.


Oh well, my bad! I just need to remember to offer it to everyone, because we don't know. Sometimes that ACE, actually says no too!


smileys/smiley2.gif

I liked your first statement. "I learned a valuable lesson". It is like saying the glass is half full rather than half empty. This is a positive statement and tells me that you are passionate about your success.


I am also with a jewelry company and very new to direct sales. I am learning a lot. Direct sales is a simple concept, however you have to workit as with any other business or career. How long have you been with your company? Have you had many shows? My sponser said that you have to do something at least six times to become comfortable with it. And, I am finding that true. If you would like to pm me I would be glad to chat privately.


It takes a brave person to admit your own missed opportunity which you have done. Look forward and learn from this. Good Luck!