WAHM Forums

We're always hearing that we need to find our "passion", for a company and it's products. How do you find it? I've felt passionate about numerous products and companies, but in the end I lost it. How do you know when you find just the right thing?


I'm lost here. smileys/smiley5.gif





Pat

I'd say, without looking at party plans at all, just think about yourself and what you like to do ~ crafting, gardening, cooking, etc... Then look at the party plans in that catagory ~ ask questions and go with the one that you feel most comfortable & connected to ~ also a strong marketable one!


Hope that helps~


Kim

Hi Pat:


I know what you mean - I had that happen a couple times too - and then just looking for the man of your life - when I wasn't looking my company fell in my lap - and it's been passionate now for almost 4 years and growing -


Do think about what you like - also look for things that will SELL - I had the problem in the past - that the items I had were too high priced, not consumable, and how I could sell was too restricting for my spirit - so sometimes it takes time to find just the right match -a nd belive me when you do - you will know it :)))))


I have to be able to look in the mirror at night and say to myself that I am offering people top quality products at affordable prices and solving a problem for them - and also for the people that I help get started in the business -


I think solving problems, offering solutions and seeing people's lives just a little better is where the passion gets flamed for me - (OK money doesn't hurt either - LOL)


But I get those internal rewards and that's what keeps my passion alive.


Best wishes as you continue your search -


Megsmileys/smiley2.gif

Pat~


Hey there (was great talking to you btw!)...I think that deep down you just know because when you find it, it just kinda slaps you in the head LOL! In my case, I found a nitch that helps me help others in a field that I am completely comfortable with. You have to believe 125% in yourself AND in your product!


I did spa parties for a bit about a year ago and I wasn't comfortable with the products or with presentation (I loved the products mind you, just not the selling part)....it reflected SO much in my sales and in my self.


Look until YOU find that one thing that makes YOU go ....wow, THIS is what it's all about for me. Don't get pressured or sucked in by the things you can get, etc...youwon't if you're not feeling what you are selling!


Good luck on your search...you know I am here to help in anyway I can!


Tricia

For me I am excited about my company pretty much 24-7. But I think it is because I love working with children and I love giving back to the community. Both are something my company offers.

I have to agree with the pp's, it just happens. When I started thinking about working at home, I thought ok I can do Avon, big recognized name etc, but then I really thought about it and how much extra work it would be to sell. Only because the market is so saturated around where I live. Then I thought tupperware, love the products, have it in my cabinet, but I could buy it at the store. So back to the drawing board. I have always been a candle lover and decided maybe that was the way for me. So that's what I chose and I love it.


You def want something you can get excited about and feel you could tell anyone about. It will happen in time! Keep looking and dont' give up!

Like everyone else is saying, I picked my business based on the products. YOU MUST love the products! When I started my business, I was so excited about it. I couldn't think about anything else for the firstcouple ofmonths! After being in the business I missed a few of our Unit meetings and noticed my excitement fading a little. For me, the meetings help me stay inspired and made me realize how successful I can be running my own business. I don't miss ANY meetings anymore! That is what keeps me motivated and pumps me full of excitementeach month. I thinks it's normal to get into a slump sometimes with any business you do.Good Luck.smileys/smiley1.gif

I joined just because I wanted the toys, then everything else fell into play.


My question to you:


You found a product you loved and began selling. Then you lost the passion. Why? What happened? Did it have to do with a party cancellation? Did it have to do with an upline? Were you bored? Look futher into your reasons, not excuses, but your reasons it didn't work. That will give you a lot more insight then looking for your next passion.


Best of luck!


Debbie

Truth???


I had never heard of Southern Living At HOME when I was invited to a party. The girl that invited me was actually a friend from MOMS club and she was the consultant. She handed me a catalog before the party and asked if I could come. One of our close friends was hosting. I was a Partylite hostess for 2 years and had considered joining at one time, but the requirements, minimums and inventory scared me out of it.


I am born and raised Southern California, but anything but southern! I wasn't into anything in the catalog. I didn't need anything nor did I have any money to spend. I bought the cheapest thing in the catalog because I just wasn't into the style...but, the consultant mentioned in her presentation that they were a ground floor opportunity and the fastest growing party-plan company in the history of direct sales. That's my spark! I wanted to be in the ground floor, ready to work hard to become a director and know my market wasn't saturated...because, if I had never heard of it and lived there my whole life...then who else didn't know that I could share it with.


I was right! The products grew on me...now I'm obsessed and my house looks southern now! Every catalog makes me warm and tingly...it will grow on you if you believe in making your dreams come true and having the stamina to make it happen...I was #1 of 150 women last year in Sales for 2005...this month, I'm #24 of 800 in sales for March already...you will be rewarded for your hard work and your enthusiasm for the company will make others want to join you...no matter what you sell...when your dreams start coming true, you'll embrace what you sell if it's a product that sells itself.


Everyone has a home and everyone wants to feel welcome. With us, it's easy to embrace the hospitality mission.

Hi Pat:


I think passion is very important but you can just like and use the product too. When I first started, my passion was always make-up so I tried three different companies without any success. It boiled down to I did not want to do home parties nor did I want tons of products to have to stock and recommed to people. I have always loved to burn candles so I started looking into the pros of this type business. I found that I don't have to do parties if I don't want to, it's a consumable product (very important so you can get repeat customers), there weren't tons of items, and you just put a jar under someone's nose and you have a sale.


You need to look into all different aspects of what you want out of a business and go from there.


Best of luck in your search.


Barb


www.BurnForSuccess.com (http://www.BurnForSuccess.com)

I lost my passion for being a PartyLite consultant because of some of the things Debbie mentioned. It was no longer fun and the candle scents started to give me asthma attacks.6 years I was with that company.


Then the offer came to join BeautiControl and it never occurred to me that I would actually be good at this business! Like Jessica, I couldn't think of anything else. 3 years later and that feeling is still with me!


My Director is great and I get tons of support, encouragement and recognition for all I do. That helps when I get reschedules or my calendar isn't as full as I like.


I wake up every morning with the excitement of what the day will bring as I share the products, services and opportunity!


Take your time and ask lots of questions. There has to be a company out there that you would be excited to tell everyone about!


Good luck!

I understand what you are saying pat.. I was with a skin care party plan and i was all excited at first.. but then dud .. but i am w/ spice it up and i love it.. You have to love teh company as much as the products you sell.. Now I am really not into all the adult stuff.. But I love the products.. I know alot about the, I love doing the parties and I love making 50%.. your upline needs to keep up with you.. as excited as you are.. and show it!.. I have been doing this for 2 years and I still get excited when I book a party.

I want to thank you all for responding! I knew I asked the question in the right place.


I have an answer to your questions, Debbie. Fear of success and failure, I guess. Just because I liked something, I never thought anyone would really care. Didn't trust myself to know a good thing when I saw it. I'm working on it.


I have a desperate need to make money and I'm afraid this is clouding my judgement. I believe direct sales is the way for me because of the flexibility. Whatever I choose, I want it to be something I will enjoy so much that traveling, getting and doing parties will be things I look forward to everyday for the rest of my life. Nothing like putting too much pressure on yourself. lol


Thanks again all!


Pat

Great Pat! I'm glad you identified your what went wrong. Deal with that before joining your next company so you don't have the same thing happen. Follow your heart and open your mind. It's also important to have fun. Sometimes we do better when money is second to wanting to help others, and we take the pressure off and just do what we love.


Best of luck!


Debbie

Everyone has given some great advice. I was with a company I was passionate about for 6 years when I was offered a ground floor opportunity. I thought I would be with that company forever, but the offer was just too good to pass up. I gave up my Directorship before I ever saw a catalog. All I knew was that it had a great business plan, and I was familiar with a few of the products I got to see on the website.


What this taught me is that it's good to have a passion for your products, but you can learn to love something once you have it and use it. The important thing is to know that you can be successfullong term and that the business plan will support what you want from the company. Do you want a good commission rate because you're a true salesman and like to do 15 shows a month? Do you want a big override % because you're a team builder? (that's me) Or do you want a big discount because you like to get the products? Do you want something consumable? (important for many, not for me. I've not run out of business in 6 years of non-consumable products and havemany return hosts/customers who want more products)


When you know what you want from the business plan, start asking questions. I have what Iconsider to be a great list of questions on mindherownbiz.com in the message boards (brand new board for people looking for a biz, not for people looking to recruit) under the work from home tips topic.


Good luck!Edited by: tasteofhomesa

Hi Pat


You have received some great information here. I guess everyone is afraid of failure when they get into a home business of any kind but you don't know until you try. You know that old saying, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Well the same goes for business. If one day is not successful, the next day will be. You just can't give up. You have to stick with it.


As for passion, I think its a little of both, it grows on you and you also have that feeling right away if its a business you will enjoy or not. I got into Watkins 6 years ago because I love the products. As for parties, I wasn't into doing those but as time went on, it changed my feelings towards them. I love meeting new people and with my business its a great way to do this.


I am constantly thinking of new ways to perk my business, I gather as much information as I can from people I meet and talk to. That way, I know how I can help them out and what their likes are too.I know I picked the right business for me because I am doing well with it, I love the products, the company is super and so is my team.


I think you will find that the business you begin will be the one for you. Just take your time, ask a lot of questions and it will all fall into place for you. You will know when its right.


Good luck to you.


Krina

Pat,


Pray for a passion, then watch for the open door!

You've probably heard this before, but take money completely out of the picture for a moment. Ask yourself what you would want to sell and share with others. With both of my companies, I know that I would continue to be a customer, and be excited about the products even if I never made a dime. I was a customer with TNI first, and the product made such a difference for me, I had to share it with others. We focus a lot on finding our passion, but business is business, so there does have to be a market for your passion. But, try taking the pressure off as far as the money goes, and see where your heart takes you. Take your time, and keep us posted.


Jennifer

Hi Pat,

Everyone has offered some great insight into why they got into and
stayed with their business. One thing I would like to focus on is
the market. What is the market place for your product? Will
it appeal to a large or narrow audience? You can feel so passionate
about your product/company but if noone else does, it will not
matter. You have to have a receptive market. Also, is it an
audience you can see yourself doing business with for an extended
length of time? Is it an audience that will be around in 5-10 years
down the road? That is key.



Most businesses take at least 3 years to get established and start to
be profitable. You want a product/company that will appeal and be
received by a wide audience that will still want your product 5 or more
years down the road, or you will have to find a new
product/company. And will you have fun conducting your business
on a day to day basis?
You need to maintain your level of commitment and if it is not
something you can take some pleasure in, your enthusiasm will wane and
so too will your business, as you have experienced.



I started with my company because it was a groundfloor opportunity and
because it was a unique concept with a broad audience (all age groups
over twenty one and male female alike.) I had not even tried the
product when I signed. I recognized the growing popularity of
wine and a fastly growing audience that wanted to learn more and
experience great wine. I looked at the market and recognized the
growing trend and it has paid off. Wine is outselling beer for
the first time. With all the health benefits being identified in
wine the market will continue to grow. I am with a proven company
(20 years this year) with a fantastic and fun product and love what I
do.



Was it my passion, no, but it has become a business I have fun doing with a product the market loves. And now I do too!smileys/smiley36.gif
Everyone is different and we all have our own "why" we started the
business. When I am feeling overwelmed or underwelmed as the case
may be, I remember why I started this business (to get out of the
house, have fun and make enough money to pay for my kids school.)
I also attend regular meetings and hold them for my team. That
will always help to keep you focused and motivated.



Wishing you the Best!



"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined."

Henry David Thoreau








Edited by: The Wine Lady

Once again, I want to thank everyone for their input! I believe I will be referring back to this thread often. So much great advice!


I hope this thread has been helpful to others too. It was meant to be.smileys/smiley1.gif


Pat