A Word to Moms

I often think that the pressure of the modern world leaves much to be desired.  Where do you find time to give it all at work and still have anything left of family and for self?  For those of you considering leaving the job market for a work from home business opportunity, you tell me that the endless commutes, the long hours, the travel, the meetings, and your boss are all reasons for your departure.  Many of you have asked me to address low cost home based business start ups.

What I can tell you is that if you aren’t leaving with a handsome severance package and a firm business plan in your future, you must evaluate every home based business carefully.  I cannot stress that enough.  You will need to evaluate the money needed for start up, the money needed for implementation, the money needed for monthly maintenance, and the return you are expected to receive by the work required on your part.  Each MLM will have either available to you upon request, or on a webpage within their site, a diagram of the compensation program.  Can you live with what you will earn while you grow your downline?  Drawing up a budget for both your time and money at this point and realistically projecting sales will help you determine if the goals you set to meet the financial objectives are possible.

So, much of your success in an MLM is dependent on the long term.  Growing a downline and a customer base with the right marketing tools is crucial and timely.  What support is offered by your sponsors?  Much of your continued enthusiasm for your selection will depend on the help and success of the people who recruited you.  How long have they been in the business?  What did it take for them to get where you financially want to be? 

Is the product something you would use yourself?  If you can’t see the product in your lifestyle, don’t join.  And, be sure to ask the affiliate saturation point in your area.  In other words, are there so many people in the opportunity that getting where you want to go may be more difficult?  Many people have had negative experiences with MLM recruiters and sales meetings and are turned off immediately.  So, be very careful of reputation, sales tactics and anything else that might smell of deception, secrecy or the loss of your integrity.  If you can’t tell someone what you want to share with them without theater, you need to look elsewhere.  I have a long standing rule.  If it is not all laid out on the table, I am not interested.  Don’t pay anyone to look at an opportunity, ever.

Finally, if you find the right MLM learn all you can from the best people in the organization.  You will probably get a sense of who they are via phone conferences, meetings, and the company newsletter.  I once had an upline sponsor I did not mesh with and had to seek out others to work with in the company.  Don’t be afraid to find the folks that fit for you. 

Get the training you need in a way that works for your learning style.  If you need one on one help, find someone in your area that also works the business and ask them to teach you how the all the tools provided by the business work.  Keep asking questions.  This is especially important if your sponsor is in another state and is working with you via email or phone and you simply don’t learn that way.

Don’t panic.  It all takes time.  That’s why you need to get your ball in place before you exit the workforce.  A year of time is a realistic start up time, so you may want to go part-time with your new venture as you exit gracefully for the corporate world.  I spent two years in startup, so persevere. 

Finally, for those of you that are knowledge workers, it is never too late to create your own information products.  I work a successful online marketing review site.  This was a choice that I made because I am simply not MLM material, and it is a viable exciting way to share my knowledge with others.  This allows you to own a unique business, a unique website, and unique products all delivered electronically.  Consulting is a nice adjunct business to the information products.  You call the all the shots. 

So whether you go the MLM route or the route of independent business owner, don’t wait on your dream to work from home, spend quality time with your children and family, and find a life for yourself.  There was always another way.  It never had to be one or the other.  You can have it all with a home based business.  Your children are just down the hall.

I am only a phone call away.  I am an ordinary woman who gambled that the ultimate happiness for me was in owning my own destiny.  If you are interested in living the life you deserve consider information brokering as one of the best jobs for moms available.

Gracie Bowers
www.homebizcritic.com
www.empoweryourincome.com