posted October 01, 2002 11:57 PM
Good post, Lynn! Thanks for sharing that with us!
smiling_mom WAHM.com regular
posted October 02, 2002 08:10 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Lynn_wsn:
If so, are there still opportunities for others to get a piece of the pie?
You can have a piece of the pie, make your own pie from scratch, have a store-bought pie... Its all up to you!
______________________
Love this answer to the piece of the pie!!! I've got a store-bought pie AND baked-from-scratch pie in my oven!! LOL!!!
The really cool thing is that Lyn, here, is going to help me take the store bought pie and put some more fruit into it, to help me target my markets even better!!! So in this case, what do we call it....? A hybrid pie!!
What kinds of pies are y'all cookin' out there!!! LOL!!
------------------ Affordable Healthcare! All Pre-existing conditions welcome! Dental Program, $19.95 per month per family! Fully loaded program including hospital, dental, physicians, chiropractors, veterinary, air ambulance and more is only $54.95 per month PER family! www.SaveOnMedical.Org
tupperwarelady New to WAHM.com
posted October 02, 2002 10:35 AM
I understand exactly what you are going through. I am a stay at home mom of 3 kids and was looking for something legitimate and worth while. I did join the MOM Team (which was a wonderful group) however, I had problems buying the monthly quota and paying for all the phone bills. I don't believe that MLM are truly the way to go. I think you need to sell products or offer a service. I did find something that I enjoy and I do make money (app. 500 or more a month). I am only away from my family one night a week. I enjoy it because it gives me my "mommy" time. You will find something. Just make sure you check it out. Weigh the positives with the negatives. See how long the company has been in business. If they are a reputable company then you shouldn't have any problems. No job is perfect! I wish you luck!!
posted October 02, 2002 11:43 AM
I have been lurking for awhile and I have to put my 2 cents in on this thread!
I started working at home two years ago. Before that I did serious leg work. I went to a local agency and took a career class they had for women. I spent 8 weeks with a diverse group of women takings assessments, looking at various skill groups and seeing how they translated to jobs, rewriting my resume and really pumping myself up with an awareness of what I am GREAT at and what my goals were. You really have to do that to start!
Then I started talking to everyone, asking them what THEY did (people love to talk about themselves). I found all kinds of women who worked at home and started networking with them. When a job opened up, one called me and clued me in. That job paid a salary (30k), full benefits, vacation the works. I worked that job for one year. Then some changes in the management direction made me decide to reassess. Yes, working at home is great, but I needed to change my hours and find something that met some of my other needs. I found a lead through this site to another website, I think it was sohomoms and found another great job where I work from home, no selling, and am paid as a subcontractor.
The jobs are out there - but you have to look in the right place. Most are not listed under "work at home" - they are listed under the specific skill area, like sales, counseling, mortgage processing, advertising, etc. The scams seemed to be listed under work at home.
Not everyone wants to own their own business, and not everyone can! There are jobs at home for the rest of us, though. Keep looking and do your homework. Figure out where your unique skills and experience can take you and network like crazy. And once you have a job, keep looking. Something even better may be out there!
smiling_mom WAHM.com regular
posted October 02, 2002 11:45 AM
Just curious, Tupperwarelady....you say that MLM's might not be the way to go, but doesn't Tupperware have an MLM aspect to it? If I decide to be a tupperware rep and sign up on your site, wouldn't you be my mentor? Wouldn't you get a little off my sales?
Perhaps I misunderstood....because I know there are two different kinds of MLM....the kind that just recruit, recruit with a monthly commitment on product....an there are the MLM's who actually sell mostly product with a recruit aspect. Is that what you meant?
Anyhow, frankly, I'm only posting this because I wanted to keep this thread going!! LOL!!
------------------ Affordable Healthcare! All Pre-existing conditions welcome! Dental Program, $19.95 per month per family! Fully loaded program including hospital, dental, physicians, chiropractors, veterinary, air ambulance and more is only $54.95 per month PER family! www.SaveOnMedical.Org
igloochik WAHM.com regular
posted October 02, 2002 11:56 AM
Legitimate MLM, or network marketing companies, DO offer products or services--usually better quality than what you find in stores, on average. The problem that occurs with some of them is that 1)either products are too expensive for the mainstream or 2) the marketing plan makes it nearly impossible to make any good amount of money, or 3) there's forced monthly purchasing involved, and, although you may WANT to purchase their products, I feel it's wrong for a company to make you purchase them. The whole idea of getting into a home business is to make money at home, not to spend MORE of it from home!
That's why your researching is important. It's okay to interview a potential sponsor, to ask them all the questions you have, over and over again if you have to, just so that you understand everything fully beforehand. Ask to see a copy of the agreement you'll sign before you start, and read it over thoroughly so you know what's expected of you. It's okay to talk to others in the business to see what they think of it as well...and I always suggest to talk to friends, neighbors, acquaintances and respected others you may know about the company you're thinking about going with, to find out if they've heard of it, to get an idea of whether or not they've used the products, and to get general impressions of what they think about the company overall. After all, you're going to take the product (or service) to the public, so it doesn't hurt to see FIRST if there's a market for it. When I did that with Watkins, I found many, many people in my local area who had used the products, but also found that most areas are lacking in Watkins associates. I even talked to people online and found out the same thing. Since then, I've gotten access to statistical numbers of Watkins associates, state to state, and found that most states are seriously lacking in active associates, and I think that's why more of my own new associates are experiencing good success when they go out to talk to people.
Overall, and I think we determined this already, you have to choose what you're going to be interested in, what you could be passionate about. Do your research, ask your questions, and make an informed decision. A home business is something that you might be doing for quite a while--it's going to be part of your life for a while! The decision is an important one, and you'll be happier in the long run if you take the time to do it RIGHT!
Good luck ladies--and let's keep this thread pushed up to the top! We've all collectively shared some great information!
posted October 02, 2002 01:18 PM
Response to *athomeworker*. Very good view point! You sound like a very smart cookie! Your response made me remember another web site for sub-contractors (dah!why didn't I think to mention this before!??!---see below)... And you're right....the "work at home" sites tend to attract a lot of scams which make it even harder for us who are working legitimate networking offerings. If you have a serious skill, there are a TON of work-from-home opportunities out there, not to mention the ones that evolve from something else. It's a matter of sticking to the focus. Here's that other website: http://www.sologig.com
------------------ Affordable Healthcare! All Pre-existing conditions welcome! Dental Program, $19.95 per month per family! Fully loaded program including hospital, dental, physicians, chiropractors, veterinary, air ambulance and more is only $54.95 per month PER family! www.SaveOnMedical.Org
smiling_mom WAHM.com regular
posted October 03, 2002 07:40 AM
Hey! Someone slackin' off in the bumping!! LOL!!
------------------ Affordable Healthcare! All Pre-existing conditions welcome! Dental Program, $19.95 per month per family! Fully loaded program including hospital, dental, physicians, chiropractors, veterinary, air ambulance and more is only $54.95 per month PER family! www.SaveOnMedical.Org
igloochik WAHM.com regular
posted October 03, 2002 11:41 AM
bumpity bumpity bump--
Mommy's Loves WAHM.com regular
posted October 03, 2002 04:28 PM
Great topic -- bump!!!
"For my 2 little loves, I am hoping to be a WAHM soon!" :)
igloochik WAHM.com regular
posted October 03, 2002 07:51 PM
I'm back.
Been busy today with many, many things...among them talking with one of the higher ups in Watkins, who asked me to speak on a managerial training conference. EEK! Don't know how I get myself into these things...and I gotta figure out how to quiet these little birdies that sneak things into corporate ears.
posted October 04, 2002 08:12 AM
Doing the bump! Trying to get this awesome thread back to the top where it belongs! I am sending all my inquiring ladies to this thread to read and study what has been said!!
posted October 05, 2002 10:04 AM
If anyone knows anyone who's looking to get into home business for the first time (or maybe not even the first time) would you send them here, to read this thread?
We all feel strongly that this is beneficial reading--almost required reading--for anyone thinking about getting into a home business.
posted October 05, 2002 11:09 AM
To *really* spread the word, take the advice that you shared here and turn it into an Article that you can post publicly to be used in Newsletters, on Websites, etc - It would spread like wildfire!
For some good resources, and more information, read Write For Publicity . It will give you a list of Article Announcement Lists and other promotional resources. Hope this helps
------------------ Lynn Terry, TN Author of Self Starters Weekly Tips ~ A free weekly newsletter *full* of free and inexpensive marketing tactics for the new online business and website owner!
Web Service Network ~ Web Development & More Free resources & downloads for your online business, including web design software, ebooks with distribution rights, & more...
AFTERmom2 WAHM.com regular
posted October 05, 2002 01:54 PM
I love that link, I am going to use it! Thanks Lynn!
posted October 05, 2002 03:27 PM
You're Welcome - some of this info is so good it NEEDS to be widely distributed!!
P.S. If you do put together an article of this nature, feel free to email it to me for inclusion in a couple of newsletters I publish as well
------------------ Lynn Terry, TN Author of Self Starters Weekly Tips ~ A free weekly newsletter *full* of free and inexpensive marketing tactics for the new online business and website owner!
Web Service Network ~ Web Development & More Free resources & downloads for your online business, including web design software, ebooks with distribution rights, & more...
[This message has been edited by Lynn_wsn (edited October 05, 2002).]
igloochik WAHM.com regular
posted October 06, 2002 11:53 AM
Doin' the bump.
igloochik WAHM.com regular
posted October 06, 2002 09:31 PM
bump
Ross WAHM.com regular
posted October 07, 2002 04:33 AM
This is definately a good thread with lots of helpful advice.
My advice would be when searching for a legitimate opportunity is to first check out the management.Who's at the helm? Does the company list with and have a very good BBB track record? If they do have complaints were they handeled correctly ?
Do they have a proven track record ? Most MLM start ups are usually gone in 5 years time, don't be quick to jump on the latest craze unless you are 100% sure they have a viable system.
Product is everything, one of the biggest considerations should be if you would buy the product or subscribe to the service yourself, if you have any reservations what so ever then go with your gut instincts and move on.IMO you must be behind your product 110%.
Support is critical, not only from a company standpoint but upline as well, what I will do is join opps looking for who is running the show, I want to find people that are going places and making things happen, you can usually find out pretty quick by contacting upline or your personal sponsor, ask hard questions, don't be afraid to really get into it with your upline, this will show what kind of people they are.
Compensation plan's are the hardest to follow in todays MLM's, you really gotta get into the plan to see if long term this can work, the biggest thing to watch for is break away volume, if you notice any mention of breakaway volume in a compplan run don't walk away Are the goal posts raised too high, has the company set unrealistic requirements to earn the big money ? It's hard to know unless you have been around for awhile but always ask someone about a comp plan before getting involved.
I notice many different opps discussed here and i'm sure each person would be happy to help you understand what's involved.
Lastly I want to touch on the saturation point, it may seem that the web is saturated with online opportunities but the sky is still the limit as long as the opp you promote has global appeal.
I run a downline of over 25,000 affiliates in one of the internets most well know home business and to this day I bring in close to 20-30 affiliates a day from search engines alone, my dowline is also duplicating very well and we have over 7 Million affiliates world wide.
The thing is there will always be someone looking for a way to earn money,heck there are people that aren't even born yet that will be in your business and go on to do great things, when building a web based MLM you gotta look long term and think outside the box, there is nothing stopping any of you from going on to do great things in your respective business', yes there is a 95% failure rate in MLM the reason for that is simply this, only 5% have figured out how to stay consistant and motivated enough to see it through, if you develop a don't quit attitude you will make it.
I like to throw this stat out when I can...100% of the people who decide they will succeed in MLM do, that's the bottom line.
posted October 07, 2002 08:13 AM
New here, hope to be a WAHM someday. Question to Smiling_Mom I went to the website http://www.sologig.com and there is a $35 fee for 3 months, just wondering if you have used this yourself or know anyone who has before I possibly try it. Thanks, Karen
smiling_mom WAHM.com regular
posted October 07, 2002 09:24 AM
Karen, No, I have not personally used Sologig.
I do, however, think that Sologig is totally on the up and up. I posted it in this thread because one of the posters in here gave VERY good advice about finding and starting a "work from home business". If I had a specific marketable skill, like accounting or paralegal, engineering, architecture whatever....and I wanted to do my own contracting, I'd advertise in the local papers, but I'd also use Sologig to enhance my marketing strategy. As it stands with me, my skill is "sales" and I have a VERY specific lead-generating source for my health care business, and a very specific market for my wholesale "baby shoe" business that I run out of my house. So Sologig doesn't fit my venue right now. As Sologig says in their website, it would potentially increase your business by about 17%. Only you can decide if 17% more then the usual "word of mouth" and "newspaper" advertising is worth the $35 for 3 mos. There's also another website I found a while back that posts REAL work at home "telecommute" jobs...and there was a fee for the person who was looking....it was a great resource for corporations who were looking for specific skills and willing to pay to have you set up at home to telecommute, but I've lost it....will go check it out for this board.
What is your skill? (if you don't mind my asking in this forum....don't answer if you're not comfortable.)
------------------ Affordable Healthcare! All Pre-existing conditions welcome! Dental Program, $19.95 per month per family! Fully loaded program including hospital, dental, physicians, and more is only $64.95 per month PER family! www.SaveOnMedical.Org
igloochik WAHM.com regular
posted October 07, 2002 07:44 PM
bumping this back up!
igloochik WAHM.com regular
posted October 08, 2002 05:42 PM
Has everyone forgotten to bump this up but me?
smiling_mom WAHM.com regular
posted October 09, 2002 06:24 AM
------------------ Affordable Healthcare! All Pre-existing conditions welcome! Dental Program, $19.95 per month per family! Fully loaded program including hospital, dental, physicians, and more is only $64.95 per month PER family! www.SaveOnMedical.Org
ctlady WAHM.com regular
posted October 09, 2002 08:53 AM
Try ProCard International!! It's commission base but I do this and alot of other people do this full time or part time and make enough to pay bills,and put food on the table. They have 3 different positions you can go into all of them really good..I work all three. Email me if you want to know more about them or you can visit the site at in my sig line at the bottom. Good luck with your search and I hope you find the perfect Home opportunitie! Christine
------------------ Work AT Home For ProCard International NO KITS, NO INVESTMENTS, FREE LEADS AND FREE LONG DISTANCE! click here for more info:
------------------ Affordable Healthcare! All Pre-existing conditions welcome! Dental Program, $19.95 per month per family! Fully loaded program including hospital, dental, physicians, and more is only $64.95 per month PER family! www.SaveOnMedical.Org
igloochik WAHM.com regular
posted October 10, 2002 08:40 PM
I'd like to see this thread permanent somewhere... (without the spam ads, of course).
Mommy's Loves WAHM.com regular
posted October 11, 2002 01:14 PM
Wow Ross! Thanks for all the great info!
------------------ "For my 2 little loves I am hoping to be a WAHM soon!" :)
posted October 16, 2002 02:29 PM
Ross, I think as long as you have a "Going to Succeed" attitude in most of our businesses your going to!
Tupperware has the sales aspect but if you do recruit someone, you do make some money off of it. It's called the friendship bonus.
My first recruit kind of made my mind up for me. I wasn't going to work the Tupperware business. I was just going to buy my products below retail, sell some on eBay, and give them as gifts. (I am one of those weird people who want others to think that the gifts that I give either cost a WHOLE lot or they are homemade. It's a quirk with me.) Then my cousin approached me, said he and his wife wanted to join, but couldn't stand her sister in law-who was the only rep they knew. They saw it in my sig line...and BOOM I have a recruit. So I decided to take a look further into it. I decided I COULD AND WOULD make this work. It has really turned around.
I have a little rock on my desk with this engraved in it
"Whether you think you can or you can't-Your right."
I think that those of us building a business are determined to make it work. I would be willing to be the majority of us got burned at least once. That doesn't mean that opportunity was a scam or bogus, sometimes it just means it wasn't the right fit for us at the time.
I would love to see each of us list what all we have tried! I think it would give us a some good "goto" people when we have questions about specific opportunities.
Thanks for the great posts Ross!
------------------ Have a Tupperiffic Day! Tiffany Stanton Tupperware Consultant
posted October 17, 2002 06:53 PM
Hi. i would love to talk with you. i have something very important that means a lot to me to share. please email me directly at [email protected] i know how you are feeling - i felt the same way!!!
ginariginal WAHM.com regular
posted October 28, 2002 04:13 PM
Wow,
I checked my stats and thought about how long it had been since I visited here so WHY oh why was I getting so many hits from this??
I see it was continually kept near the top by bumping. WTG! It's a subject near and dear to my heart.
Can anyone tell me if or show me where this was made a permanent thread as someone suggested?
G i n a R. R i t t e r Personal Coach http://www.id-Energy.com Find the happiness and time you deserve with work, family, and women's issues!
kenyaw WAHM.com regular
posted October 28, 2002 06:30 PM
Bump This is a great discussion and has helped me alot. I have been trying to start a work at home business for six months but have not had any luck in finding the right opportuinity for me. I finally decided to start selling on ebay and go from there. I come here everday sometimes twice a day to read all the posts and get some great advice from some wonderful people. Thanks you all . This is a truly powerful thread. Kenya
AFTERmom2 WAHM.com regular
posted October 28, 2002 08:18 PM
quote:Originally posted by igloochik: [b]Hard Truths in Home Business
1. You're going to have to sell.
Yes, I know, you may not think you're good at selling, but 99.99% of all home businesses sell a product or a service, and it's because of those sales that you will make money, and the company will make money. Selling is NOT that difficult. We do it all the time. Women are natural networkers, and we're constantly selling to other people--we just don't get paid for that everyday "selling" we do. If you've told a girlfriend about a new eyeliner you've tried, or told someone about a good movie you've seen, a restaurant you've eaten at that was great, you're already doing it. Why do we do that? Because when we are passionate about something, when something excites us or makes us feel good, we WANT to tell others. That's why it's vitally important that when you choose a home business, it HAS to be in line with your interests, or will be something that you could continue to be interested in for a long while. You have to BELIEVE in what you're selling, so make sure you are also using the products or services. Lastly, if someone tells you that you don't have to sell to be in their business, be super wary. It's most likely a "pay to play" kind of deal.
2. You're not going to get rich nor build a successful business selling to only your family and friends.
Yes, they may be the first ones to purchase something from you when you're new to a home business, but if you keep on going back to them time and time again without expanding your horizons to include the REST of the planet, they're going to watch for you coming so they can get as far away from you as possible. A successful business will require you getting out of your comfort zone and talking to other people--as many as you can. Learn how to fit your new business into conversation--learn to smile more, so that when you smile and make eye contact with someone, you can talk to them, listen to them, bring your business up, and perhaps give them a business card or catalog. Get involved in your community so people know who you are and what company you represent. Join clubs or organizations that do fundraising, help out at school, whatever, but get exposure (and business!) by participating in the community you live in. It'll make you a more well-rounded person, your business will benefit, and so will your community.
3. Someone WILL tell you that you're crazy or insult you for starting a home business. The reason I mention this NOW is that so when it happens, you'll remember that the Igloochik told ya so. Don't let it get to you. Some well meaning person (or idiot) in your life is going to make belittling comments with the meaning of "Gee, isn't it swell..the little lady's got herself a cute little hobby to keep her busy." People may not immediately respect what it is that you're doing, and many people who don't understand home business will also make their well meaning comments. They may tell you that you'll never make enough money off of this to stay home on...they may tell you that this is some "pyramid thing" you've joined, and that people won't want what it is that you're selling. They may try to talk you out of it, or tell you that you need to find a "real job". Whatever their comments are, they're entitled to their opinions, but DON'T let them influence how you feel about your business. Your belief in your legitimate company has to be unshakable. If you want people to respect what you're doing, you will need to treat it like the respectful company it is. Don't go out in your sweats and dirty breakfast-stained t-shirt, with your hair all over the place, looking like you just rolled out of bed to promote your business. LOOK like a business person--even if you don't go full business dress, make sure you are presentable, neatly dressed, and equipped to do your business. That means that you have catalogs, samples, business cards and other appropriate business literature in your vehicle at all times, or carried in a bag or whatever. You never know when an opportunity to talk to someone who may be interested in your business will arise, so make sure you're not caught without the tools of your trade. With looking like a business person comes the ACTING like one, too. Follow up when you tell people you will, take care of your customers promptly and with a good attitude, and they'll tell others about your business--and word of mouth is one of the BEST ways to get the word out. It's also one of the best ways to get the BAD word out on you as well, so make sure you're doing your business properly and with good ethics. As one of the other ladies said previously, if you treat your business like a business, it'll pay like one, and if you treat it like a hobby, it'll pay like one. You choose.
4. Even if a company offers you a free website to sell your products, unless you know a great deal about internet marketing, you won't get rich selling products on the internet. I know some people may beg to differ with me on this one, but unless you're going to spend a lot of money on advertising, or you know something about internet marketing, it's a whole lot harder than just having a website. The adage, "If you build it, they will come" does not necessarily apply to the internet. You will probably still have to promote your business offline.
5. If you belong to a network marketing company, you will most likely have to sponsor others if you want to make long-term income, or make a decent amount of money. No company will make you sponsor, but look at the hard facts. There's only so much you can make retailing. If you're comfortable with the little bit you'll do in that manner, then that's great, and you're achieving what you set out to do. However, if you're looking for enough income to stay at home on, you will most likely have to sponsor others for the long-term income. Sponsoring can be difficult or easy--it all has to do with your own attitude, whether or not you learn your business well, and whether or not you are working your business consistently. If you are working your business on a regular basis, you will be talking to many, many people over time. Some of them will be interested in being customers, some will be interested in your business, and some will be interested in neither or both. Don't prejudge people and assume that you know what they'll be interested or not interested in. They may surprise you.
6. You may not make a huge amount of money immediately. Besides, what you make initially through your first six months to a year should, for all purposes concerned, be put back into your business so you have the necessary funds to help it to continue to grow. Having a business means you will have costs, and you cannot do your business efficiently without the proper tools.
7. You will have to work your business for at least a full year, consistently, before you'll see serious progress. You cannot join a business, work it for a couple of weeks and be able to make an informed judgment or decision on whether or not it'll work. If you are being a student of your business from the very start, taking the time to learn everything you can about it, staying in contact with your sponsor on a regular basis, asking questions and DOING the business consistently, you should make progress, and it will continue. More often than not, when people join a home business, one of the biggest reasons that they fail is that they don't WORK their business consistently, they don't make contact with enough people, they don't talk to enough people, etc. If you get discouraged along the way, give your sponsor a call--look back at why you started the business in the first place (Was it that you wanted to be home with the kids? Make enough money to contribute to the finances? Take the family on a much-needed vacation?) Re-examine your reasons and start again TODAY, renewed and ready to keep on working towards your goal. Invest time or money in finding books, tapes or other materials that will help reinstill belief in YOURSELF. It's money and time well-spent.
I hope my rants and ravings have helped at least ONE person. If it has, then the time I spent here has been well-spent as well.
posted November 02, 2002 01:13 PM
Don't ever give up! If you want to work at home, then be persistent and go for your dream!
I have been a successful WAHM since 1994 and it is because I was willing to do whatever it takes to be my own boss and it was worth it. Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done. You can do it!!
You may want to take a look at what I do. Just click on the website address below. Or call me toll free at 866-515-5262 I would love to encourage you in your path to self-employment.
Just do it! You will have a life you never imagined that you control and create for yourself.
------------------ Jana Kodysz Unhappy accountant turned incredibly happy and fulfilled Health Coach www.aperfectbalance.com Toll Free 866-515-5262
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posted October 01, 2002 11:57 PM
