WAHM Forums

For those of you who have multiple businesses, have you found that
people don't take you seriously if you have more than one? Or if you have
changed your business a few times?
My heart is not totally with my businesses any more but I love direct
sales. I have found another business that excites me but I don't want
people to think that I'm a bad business woman or that I have too many
businesses.
How do you deal with it?
How do you break away?
Do your family and friends dread hearing from you thinking you are just
trying to sell them something new?

Thanks in advance!

NIcole

I think having multiple businesses are totally okay!If you can handle them and you have a system for each one.For me it is just getting out of handsmileys/smiley19.gifI am letting go of one of my buisnesses,I need a break!Go with your heart!There is no law that says that you have to stick with the same biz the rest of your life!There are alot of people on this board that will offer you great advice!To me there is nothing wrong with having multiple biz's,you just have to manage your time and keep organized!Good Luck!smileys/smiley1.gifEdited by: nattiesmother

I left PartyLite after 6 years. It was not an easy decision, but I no longer had the customers to support the monthly minimum. My Mom was disappointed, but understood.


Passions change! Corporate people do not stand still. They change jobs for all kinds of reasons.


No one will think you are a bad business woman! They will see your enthusiasm for your new product!


How did I handle leaving? I called my upline and told her Ihad to"retire."


My friends wereinstrumental in getting me to joinBeautiControl! So it was great to have the support right away. They encourage me to sign up by booking spa parties with me. My Mom isn't in to spa and makeup. So I book parties with PartyLite so she can still get her candles, etc.


One business is plenty for me. It keeps me busy!

Hi Nicole--


Have you ever talked to a friend who said, I just got a new job? Have you ever talked to a family member who said, I'm moving?


We are allowed to make changes in our lives. If you are not having fun, you are not going to get far. So go for your passion!


Now if businesses compliment each other, you can work them side by side. Someone said, does Donald Trump just own one biz?


If they compete with your time and resources, you may want to step back on one. To me doing 2 party plans is hard because often you have sales goals and recruiting goals and you will find yourself pushing and pulling the businesses together, vs. keeping them seperate.


Follow your heart. Create a game plan.


If you decide to let go of one, the hard part is letting go of your current team. Be fair to them and help those who want to continue move up by creating a rapport with your upline.


When talking to friends, let them know: "I love PC, but I found something that fits into my life even better and have to share this with you! Blah, blah, blah." When talking to past customers, let them know "I am no longer doing XYZ, and wanted to give you the name of a consultant who can service you if needed. I've started with ABC now. Are you interested in learning how this new service will benefit your family?"


Hope I said something useful!


It's bed time,


Debbie

I agree with the previous posts... you aren't obligated to stay with
something if it's no longer your passion. I wouldn't change every
few months, but an occasional change in your goals and interests should
be understandable to most people you know.



I think having multiple businesses can be iffy. I know a lot of
people do it, but having 4 or 5 businesses makes you look a bit flaky
to me, like you don't take any of them seriously. I think two
businesses which complement each other, or can be run in significantly
different manners is another story. And I don't have a problem
with people who have lots of businesses because they just want the
products for themselves. I just prefer to see a focus...



I'm just getting started, but I chose BabyCrazy and Greeting Cake
Co. The Greeting Cakes were initially just a way for me to have
hostess gifts, and for personal use However, I have had a lot of
interest in fundraisers and business incentives, so I'll probably put
more focus on that than I originally planned. I won't do parties
(at least not in any volume) for the Greeting Cake Co., and I am
currently not looking for high quantity sales for BabyCrazy. I
think they lend themselves more towards different markets (but time
will tell).



Anyway, life's too short to stick with something that you're just not passionate about.



=},

Christy

Hey Nicole you have to go with what you are passionate about and what works for you. I just recently had a team member leave for a different business and I totally support her decision because it is something she enjoys. You have to do what works. I was with another company for two years and did quite well. But I love my new company so much more. I do one DS company but than I also incorporate other kids of children's parties as well that I can offer. So I guess I would look at it and see if maybe they compliment each other.

Hi Nicole!! smileys/smiley4.gif


I agree... if you found something that really excites you, then maybe it's time to move on! If you're not excited/thrilled with your business anymore, then you may not be giving it all you can, and that'll only hurt it.


Can't wait to hear about what you found!! smileys/smiley2.gif

There has been some fabulous advice on this thread and I agree, you should feel comfortable changing companies if your passion has changed. You must be excited about what you're selling when in a party plan company. You're in front of people, talking about a product, so you have to be excited!


As far as being with more than 1 company, I agree with majority of the posts on this one. It can be done, but I think it is difficult. I havea fairly large team and the gals on my team who are the most successful do SLAH and SLAH only. I think it would be difficult to concentrate on the different incentives and such. Also - my customers know me as their "Southern Living Lady" and I like that! They know me for that one thing. I think it wold be confusing if I represented more than 1 company.


But you do what is right for you. Everybody is different. One company is right for me, that doesn't mean you can't handle more.


Susan Scarborough SmithEdited by: SusanwithSLAH

Hey Nicole - Don't get yourself worked up over it. I loved Deb's example - "Have you ever talked to a friend who said, I just got a new job?" It happens. And you have to do what makes you happy.


I (very recently) quit a company. It was taking up way too much of my time and they were going through some major changes. Every month we'd get a newsletter saying this was changing and that was changing which is fine if that's what they feel they need to do. However, the as advertised as a direct sales business is quickly turning into a distributorship. The one and only thing this company was really offering for support (message boards) was being taken down. Well, I won't ramble anymore about all the changes ... you get my point. The whole idea here is ... this company was so changing into something I didn't care for and just was not right for me. It wasn't the samecompany I joined. Actually, the hardest part of my quitting was I felt as though I was abandoning my downline. Heck, I don't even know my upline so I have no idea who they were going to be moved under. I explained to them deeply why I needed to do what I was doing and you know what? The response I got back was FABULOUS! They all cheered me on and told me to do whatI needed to do. Phew... That made me feel so much better. If only I had known that a couple of months ago ... I might not have waited so long!


But seriously ... things happen and you need to make YOU happy smileys/smiley2.gif


Take care,
Anita smileys/smiley17.gif

Nicole,


If your passion and interest is gone, you must move on. Not only for yourself and your family, but for those you prospect and your customers.


For most people, the passion has to be there in order to succeed!


And, if you started once, you can start again. When I left my first company, I had a downline of thousands and a very nice paycheck. But, I knew I could not ethically stay there and be effective or honest with myself and others.


I didn't make a big scene, I just quietly started with another company.


Today, I am at the top of another business and love what I am doing. I feel my success is related to my passion, my ethics and the fact that I BELIEVED I could start over and be even more successful. You can too!