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Has anyone out there initially felt they weren't cut out for party plan business, and signed up for it and ended up being successful at it despite yourself??

I'm considering joining a plan; I'm a pretty quiet person, better in smaller groups, although I'm comfortable with public speaking. I went to a conference recently for the company I'm considering, and I came away more overwhelmed after it.


Here's my doubts: Calling friends/acquaintances; pressing a sale on anyone; my own view of me doing this ("I got my MBA for this??"); will I make enough to justify the time (not just parties, but calling, organizing, placing orders, etc...)smileys/smiley5.gif


Here's why I'm considering it:Want to work (something) and my kids' schedules are crazy, so I need something flexible; LOVE the products; GREAT company early in it's life-cycle; virtually no reps in my area; potential to earn things like TRIPS!


I am really struggling with this - If any one has found they've been able to overcome themselves, I'd love to hear your story! Thanks!smileys/smiley4.gif


TeresaEdited by: tphilly

I did! I used to be a very shy person as well. The thought of public speaking FREAKED me out. I also have two kids AND a full-time job. My first week into the business I thought to myself, "What in the world am I thinking!???" Then I went to a few unit meetings and had a few parties and now I can't imagine not sticking with it!!! It has made me a better person. I really do believe you have to step outside of your comfort zone and go for it...you will overcome a lot of fears and insecurities...TRUST ME.

Teresa, you are so me 2 years ago!!! I knew I needed to work to help my husband out with our money situation. We had a 7 month old son at the time and I refused to put him in daycare. Unlike you, I don't have an MBA so I would be making around $9 an hour IF I could get an old job back and them put me back in at $1 more an hour than I was making when I left. I figured up what I would be clearing after taxes, daycare, gas and lunch and I would have only been bringing home around $35 or $40 a week.Missing my son growing up was not worth $40 to me or my husband. So I had tried finding the dream clerical job, nothing, I don't have a degree in anything, just lots of experience but that doesn't make me stand out in a crowd. My husband was reading Woman's Day magazine one day and when we got home he called me over to the computer and had Petra Fashions' home page pulled up. It was a sales position. He told me that he knew I wanted to work and that he thought this would be something I would have fun with and still be able to be at home. So we submitted for info. When my Director called me I found out it was party plan and almost said no right then and there. But something inside me told me to wait for a bit. That was God. So, here I was, a frumpy, overweight stay at home mom that felt worth nothing, didn't feel like I'd be fun to watch do a party, didn't feel like I was pretty enough for people to want to buy from, didn't think I was smart enough to keep up with everything and didn't want to have to be pushy because obviously that takes self confidence and Lord knows I didn't have that then. But, it kept making my heart skip a beat with excitement everytime I thought about it. So, I prayed. For several days I prayed that if this was something the Lord wanted me to do for Him to show me. He knew we didn't have alot of money for me to take another risk at working from home (I had lost several hundred dollars falling for get rich quick schemes over the last several years). About a week later I talked to my Director again and it was possible for me to get in to Petra without putting a cent out but I had to do it before the end of June.This was about the 2nd week of June by then. I knew right then and there that God had opened up the door for this and that He wanted me to do it, regardless of how I felt about myself. And I prayed that night after I had told Tina I was going for it for Him to take over the business, bless us with it but also to bless others through me and Petra. And boy did He ever!!!


This is what I got out of my year and a half with Petra. First and foremost, I got to see God work miracles. In my life, our finances and in me. From the very first party I did, I never felt like I was pushing anyone to do anything. Quite the opposite. I did my demo and went and sat down and visited and waited on people to bring their order forms to me! I didn't feel ugly or scared standing up there. These people actually paid attention to me! I had made them laugh! I had gotten to talk about God to them and what He was doing for me! They wanted to talk to me! I was worth of being paid attention to, I was worthy to be liked and I was worthy of the blessing that God had given me to make money while being home with my child! He blessed me with being promoted out to Director with Petra in just 10 months, He provided me with over $5000 in cash prizes and a very good and regular income! I was blessed with meeting many women that may or may not have been in need of some encouragement and talking about how God was taking care of me and my family through Petra may have planted seeds for them to seek Him first when everything seemed bad. I got to help a lady get saved!!!!! I wouldn't have gotten to be a part of any of this if I hadn't given it to God and asked Him to take care of everything and actually LET Him take care of everything.


Petra has since went out of business and I'm now with 2amazing companies and my husband and I are making our own product now. I have gotten so much out of party plan when I thought I wasn't good enough or pushy enough to do it at all. I'm still an overweight girl who doesn't think she's all that but I know I am worthy now for everything I have been blessed with and know that this change in me is all because I took the leap of Faith that God had presented me with.


Teresa, what's the worst that could happen if you give this a try? It's not going to hurt you physically if you don't succeed wildly right out of the gate. It will just teach you. Please don't walk away from something you feel so good about because of doubts that you have. You feel excited about this for a reason. Go with it. Some people have been with several companies before they've found the right one but they felt inside that party plan was something they could succeed at and be blessed with so they kept going until they found the right fit. Others have been blessed with the first company they ever join. You owe it to yourself to give it a try. You are excited! Have you ever been this excited over an outside of the home job? Have you ever been even given the opportunity to earn a free vacation for your family? Try it Teresa and see what happens! Give yourself the chance to truly see if it's for you or not. And if you are a Christian or believe in God, give it to Him, pray about it and trust in Him. He wants us to be happy and to succeed and He will make that happen if you give to Him to make grow!!


Ok, you asked for a story and you sure got it didn't you, LOL. I'm sorry for talking for so long. I am just very very thankful that I didn't walk away when I wanted to. Party Plan has been such a blessing in so many ways to my family and I and I know it has been and will be for millions of other women as well. I wish you all the best!!

So much of it is a mindset or the way you look at things. IF you want something to work, you are in control!


Debbie

Hi Teresa,


Having those thoughts are normal--as long as you are a human, you will have those thoughts, and doubts about yourself. They can be obstcles that holding you back, or opportunities for you to cause a breakthrough for yourself, and experience yourself as someone you cannot yet imagine.


You may say to yourself, "I am shy."---that may not be who you REALLY are, but you THINK or you KNOW yourself to be, and you have a lot of "past" to prove that you are the way you are. Those thoughts can really play tricks on your mind, and our mind is pretty powerful at it. What works for me is as soon as I notice I am nervous, afraid, and try to talk myself out ot it, Itell my mind--you know, the voice that is always there talking---"Thank you for sharing", and being in actions. There is no way any of us can get ride of fear or doubt--if you find someone or someone book says they can do that, let me know!!!--because being human is being afraid from time to time. What is powerful and couragous is you can be afraid and still take actions.


Teresa, you have all it takes to do this, and there is nothing you need to do to overcome yourself because you are perfectly fine (smile). There are only barrierthat is holding you back. Discover what your barriers are,move them aside.They may come back, and you just move them aside again. :-)


Have fun and keep creating what is possible!!!

Hi there,

I think that most of us have some doubts when starting with a company. It's the unknown I think that got to me the most. It's perfectly normal and I think we all go through that in some degree.

I believe there are a few keys to this. First is that you are representing something you can be proud of. Something you would use and believe others will want to have too.

Second have a plan. You mentioned will you make enough, so contact some other reps for the company you are interested in. Talk to them about what their goals were and what it took to acheive them. Most of us are very willing to talk about our companies.

And have some support. You mentioned that you weren't sure about calling friends and family. Of course it's possible that they will be more supportive when you are successful, but it's much easier when you have their support from the beginning.Talk to them ahead of time and see what they think. Talk to your friends too. Find out who is going to be supportive and talk to them about it. It really helps to know that you have them there to talk to about it as you get going.

My family is behind me with Taste of Home Entertaining and help with sharing the catalog or knowing enough about my company to talk about it. My company is one that appeals to both sexes so it's not hard to get people talking about it because of the branding we have.

Bottom line is, you'll never know until you try. And if you're going to try, give it all you've got.

One thing I will say, before you sign with anyone, make sure you will have someone that is going to be there for you. Find out what kind of team support systems are in place. A bad upline can really put a damper on anyone's efforts.

Best of luck to you and these ladies on the board are a great resource so come back and keep us up to date on how things are going for you.

Brenda P.

Hi Theresa!


I know exactly how you feel! I used to look at people in party plans as "those people" and roll my eyes or cringe whenever I was asked to host a party or even go to one. Looking back, I missed out on some great hostess gifts and meeting some great ladiesbecause I was so closed minded.


It's natural to be afraid of the unknown, but even the big shotsstarted the bizwith 0 experience and 0 customers. It's all a matter of making a decision, and following through.


If you believe you can succeed!

Oh man, you guys are awesome. I'm gonna save all the responses and look at them when I need a boost!smileys/smiley4.gif


The speaker I saw (terrific!) said she told herself "They've ain't got nothing I don't have"


Now to put it into action...


Thanks again!!

I'm in the boat, too. I was a Physical Therapist before MK, and I told all my co-workers that I would NEVER sign up to sell ANYTHING. But then I went to this incredible event where I saw classy intelligent women making great money, and I knew I could do it. It was my goal to stay at home with my son, which I have been able to do. Go with your passion, and if you are excited, others will feel that excitement from you. It's worth every "no" you will ever get to be your own boss, and be an "executive mommy"
Blessings to you,
Valerie
Sr. Sales Director

Don't let anyone tell you (and discourage you) that you don't fit the mold for a party plan or anything else. I am a full time health care attorney (50 hr + per week) and am a Traveling Vineyard Independent Wine Consultant. I got a lot of criticism when I first started talking about doing this, and bottom line, I signed up in Oct, I really enjoy it, I already made the first stair step in our leadership structure and I know this works for me. Just because you have an MBA or a JD or whatever doesn't mean that this isn't for you...


I think party plan consultants get a bad name because some are so aggressive and into high pressure tactics.... but you can make a good name for yourself by conducting your events in a manner that you believe is professional ... I haven't used any high pressure tactics (I don't even do booking incentives, I just sign people up that really want to do it). As far as bugging your friends, that was a concern for me, but I hosted a kick off party at my home with friends and family, some people bought a lot, some bought a little and a few booked, but it was very low key. I am sure you could make this work for you too, no need to pester people, if you just tell them about the genuine excitment you have for your product and your new job, those who are interested will just come to you. Actually, my first two recruits just fell into my lap. One had a friend who came to my event, told her about it, and she attended my next one and then signed up. Another was a guest who, one week after the event, emailed me to ask about consulting. You don't have to be annoying to be sucessful.


In short, don't be discouraged ! PM me if you want to vent about being a "professional" and in this business.


Lori Sievers





PS sorry, its a bit late, there are probably a bunch of typos :(Edited by: Lori Sievers

Oh yeah, I had never in a million years thought I'd be doing "this"! I was a stay at home mom - cutting the corners and everything to be able to stay at home - then this opportunity came up, and still I said "well, maybe I can do 1-2 parties a month" Two years later, here I am!


Nora