UK Entrepeneur

It’s going to be okay.

Just give things a little more time.

And in the meantime…

keep believing in yourself;

take the best of care;

try to put things in perspective;

remember what’s important;

don’t forget that someone cares;

search for the positive side;

learn the lessons to be learned;

and find your way through to the inner qualities;

the strength, the smiles,

the wisdom, and the optimistic outlook,

that are such special parts of you.

It’s going to be okay.

Brian Taylor

This subject has been heartbreaking in some cases and it is something that people struggle with a lot more than we all think. This is a universal problem in business, whether it be a network marketing venture, whether it be a home based business of any sort, or a family business, meaning, for example a family run restaurant .Many couples and many families get along just fine, they support each other, they talk things over and work things out together and have good relationships, and all of a sudden things go a bit wayward when a home based business enters the picture.

When deciding that you want to have a Plan B and want to start a home based business it is important to include your partner and family in the business decision from the very beginning, once you have decided that is your goal to start a home based business, have a family meeting and write down your goals together as a family, and decide what is going to be important in the business life and what is going to be important in the family life.

Sometimes the only reason that a spouse is not supportive 100% is because they have not taken an active roll in the decision making of you becoming a business owner, and they feel left out, if you include your partner or spouse in the decision making from the start you have a much better chance of their support.There are really three levels of support from your spouse or partner; we can call them positive, neutral, and negative.

The positive support would be actively working together and have a good communication within the family, and help to contribute towards the business. A neutral spouse or family would be, not really contributing towards the business but saying “go ahead “I support you but I am not really going to be active in the business, and then there is the negative side, one of the problems that you can get from a spouse or family, is that they don’t believe that what you are doing is a real job, you hear that all the time “get a real job” that isn’t bringing in any money.The first thing about a comment like that is the people aren’t thinking long term and they don’t really understand the entrepreneurial spirit, and about 90% come from an employee attitude, and that attitude is very slow to change, and some people just don’t want to change it.

The other problem is that so many people have been stung by scams and it is really difficult to get people to understand the difference between a legitimate network marketing company and a pyramid scam, if people don’t want to know the difference there is really no point talking to them about it.One way to describe to your spouse is that network marketing is just another way of delivering goods or services, so you could get goods and services downtown from a store, or from the internet, or signing up for a service from a traditional company, or you can get the same goods or services from a network marketing company, it’s just the structure that is different, so it’s a legitimate business. It’s not a scam and not a pyramid.

One of the problems in relationships, is the spouse see’s you going off to work and now you want to be self employed, and they know that you don’t have the skills yet, and so they are looking out for you in fear that they don’t want you to fail. So if you include them in on the process that it will be a learning experience for both of you, and as you learn you will be setting the PLAN B in motion, so give yourself a time line, as building a business is not an overnight success, So if you can work this out with the family that it may be a two or five year plan, then they are not going to be constantly be saying when you have a hiccup or problem “I told you so” ,because in any business you are going to have challenges, and if any challenge occurs and the family wants to throw in the towel, then you are not going to be in business very long.

Also the most important thing, with that kind of stress level you are not going to be able to do your business very well, if you have challenges that you are bringing into your business life, your prospects, your customers, they are going to feel that, they are going to hear that in your voice, and it’s going to be really important that you have a positive a day as you can, as that is going to reflect in your business.

If you want to spread your entrepreneurial wings but have little or no business experience, don’t have a product or service to offer or are simply looking for a proven system for success, direct selling might be the ideal opportunity.


For more than 100 years, direct selling companies have offered independent representatives the ability to purchase products at wholesale prices and earn a profit by selling them at retail prices. Most direct selling companies also allow representatives to earn commissions for introducing new sales reps to the business.
This business model relies on independent contractors, rather than traditional advertising, to spread the word about a company’s products or services. The word-of-mouth marketing approach works for several reasons: Consumers appreciate the personal service, the convenience of shopping from home, and the comfort of buying from those they know and trust.
Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s Mad Money, is bullish on direct selling, especially during a slowing economy. “Direct selling is a great model…with high gross margins, low capital intensity, lots of free cash flow,” he said on a recent show. “It’s a fragmented industry with gigantic room for growth. The top 15 players only account for about half the market.”
Amy M. Robinson, Direct Selling Association Vice President of Communications and Media Relations, points out that, while many people seek additional income during lean economic times, “in all honesty, direct selling is hot because it’s a fun, convenient way to shop that people enjoy. So, poor economic times or not, people fi nd direct selling to be appealing. Great products, personal service and income potential are elements of direct selling that make it a strong economic contender at all times.”
“People motivated to get started in direct selling typically share certain attributes,” she says. “Most seek supplemental income, either short-term or long term. The social aspect also is appealing for those who love to meet new people and many enjoy buying products and services they already use—at a discount.” 
With a direct selling business opportunity you can: Join an industry where business is booming and there’s always room at the top. Direct selling, sometimes referred to as network marketing, is a $32 billion industry in the United States and a $110 billion industry worldwide. The millions of individuals building direct selling businesses determine for themselves when they want to move up the career ladder and exactly how high they want to climb.
Tap into a proven system for success. Avoid wasting time or money by learning from others’ experiences and wisdom. Direct selling companies often provide high-quality, high-impact marketing tools, including personal Web sites, brochures, catalogs, DVDs and CDs to help direct sellers present a professional image—at a fraction of what it would cost to produce the same tools on their own. Additionally, training in best practices is frequently offered online and via conference calls as well as at local and national conferences.
Start a business for £200 or less. Direct selling companies offer big opportunity with minimal startup costs. For a small sign-up fee, new reps receive access to training and marketing materials, discounts on products and sample products to show and sell. You can set up office at your kitchen table with phone and laptop. Low overhead combined with minimal(if any) inventory expenses make direct selling businesses affordable. And because many companies handle online orders and deliver directly to customers, independent representatives can focus their time on connecting with potential clients and team members.

Experience flexibility and time freedom. The flexibility to work around full-time jobs or to create an income stream that fits into their families’ schedules is a huge perk. Becauseeach representative is an independent contractor, not an employee, there is no set schedule or required number of hours. On average, part-time direct sellers devote three to 10 hours per week to their businesses. Those who pursue the business full time invest 15 to 35 hours per week. In either case, representatives can set their own schedules and build their businesses during off hours and lunch breaks or on weekends.


Earn what you’re worth. When you’re the boss, you don’t have to ask for a raise—you simply go out and earn one. A results-driven industry, direct selling levels the playing field by offering the same opportunity to everyone regardless of age, ethnicity, gender or socioeconomic background. Equal opportunity, a clearly defined career path and no earning restrictions mean there are no limits on what successful direct sellers can earn. While some in the industry are earning millions, it’s more common for direct sellers to use their businesses to earn extra cash per month to pay for dinnersout, private school, college expenses, cars and family vacations.

Maximize your earnings with residual(or passive) income. By building a team of people who love the products and are excited about telling others about the opportunity, direct sellers can leverage their time and maximize their income. Capitalizing on a team’s efforts means a business owner can devote 10 hours a week to their business, but with 10 other people also devoting 10 hours to their businesses, the team leader earns a commission from the collective sales and team-building results of 110 hours’ effort. It also means a team builder’s business has the potential to grow, even while he or she is on vacation.“I like the honesty about direct selling,” says economist Paul Zane Pilzer, author of The Next Millionaires, “because it openly tells people the way to get rich is residual income: Get paid tomorrow for something you did yesterday—and let it accumulate.”
Reap the rewards of helping others succeed. Building a team definitely makes financial sense, but it also offers significant intangible rewards. Though representatives run their businesses independently, they often develop a family-like connection with their team members and others in the business. The friendships formed and the experiences of helping others improve their personal and financial lives are often as meaningful to direct sellers as the money they earn.
Get the recognition—and prizes—you deserve. In the corporate world, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, much less free vacations, luxury cars or fine jewelry. Direct selling companies know most people work more diligently and with more enthusiasm for a reward. First-class incentive trips to exotic locations, free cars or car allowances, fine jewelry and cash bonuses are offered by many companies to those who excel. And the opportunity to earn such rewards is open to everyone.
Become a better you. Direct sellers are faced with numerous comfort-zone challenges, and by overcoming those challenges they grow personally and professionally. The encouragement and training these independent business owners receive from their companies’ leaders as well as others in the field spur them to step outside their comfort zones to achieve success.

(Source: mlmtheroadtosuccess.blogspot.com)