Monday Mingle Business Edition #1

Welcome to my first ever Monday Mingle Post! I’m super excited about this series. I want to take a moment and thank Mama Diva AKA Lynsey Jones of The Party Plan Coach and Party Plan Divas for giving me and other direct sellers the opportunity to share our businesses.

This Week’s Topic is:  How Did You Get Started in Your Business. 

Well grab some popcorn ladies this is going to be an epic tale!

Ok I was invited to a Passion Party by my good friend Mia.

*Now a little history, Mia would have these parties fairly often and I would come and maybe buy a shave cream, or a game, little stuff and my orders never were very large. Now the consultants that did these parties were always different. The parties were never high dollar ones, and the consultants never followed up with my friend.

At the party I was entertained and I wanted everything that came out of the consultant’s case. When I found out that I could get free products by hosting a party I was like “For Real?” Then I found out that if I have a party my friend gets more free stuff. So I had decided that I was going to host a party half way through the presentation.

Later we played the Ask Me About My Job Game and I asked lots of questions. I had no knowledge of Direct Sales. I thought she was like a traveling salesman, or worked for a larger company. I thought I had to be hired. (lol)  When I found all I had to do was purchase a starter kit and allow myself to be trained on how to do this business I was hooked. I never knew getting into business could be so easy. I had long wanted a business of my own. A way to work for myself. I was in Social Work at the time and was totally drained of all energy. It didn’t help that my superiors made my working environment as hostile is humanly possible.

Unfortunately I had just paid bills and only had about $50 extra until payday. I purchased a bottle of Pure Satisfaction so that Mia would get the credit then I booked my party. The consultant shared with me a kit that was on sale and I (very embarrassingly) shared with her my current financial situation. We made plans for me to purchase my kit on my next pay day and the party I booked would be my business open house. She agreed to drive down to do my starter party and help me with all the details.

I was so excited I began sharing with everyone that I was going to be starting my own business with Passion Parties way before I had even ordered the kit. When Payday finally arrived I purchased my kit and was eager to start selling.

When the date for my starter party arrived I was given shocking news. My sponsor had recently lost her mother and would not be able to attend. Not only that, but I had invited a ton of people and only 4 attended the party and only two placed orders. I felt sort of defeated at that moment, and thought I had wasted my money on the kit. I obviously didn’t have what it takes. Later after talking with my sponsor and upline I realized everyone has bad parties and I should stick with it.

A week later I had 2 fairly good parties so I stayed. I made my first month’s fast track, an incentive program to help new consultants succeed in business, and I felt I was on the right track. Then I had a the shock of my life. I was being laid off from my job of 4 years. So I knew I had to kick my business into overdrive in order to make it. Trouble was I didn’t know how to do that.

My sponsor had a baby and I believe her focus changed. Within a few months she had quit Passion Parties in order to spend more time with her daughter. I always thought this was a funny notion because we’re always teaching others that this business is designed to work around your life, but everyone’s choices are their own. I then rolled up to my upline and things got a bit better. Now I was in business for a year before I knew how to hostess coach, or book parties etc. I was pretty much flying by the seat of my pants and had no idea what I was doing.  I started before Passion Parties started their Invest in People campaign. Before there was a Training Gateway, Before there was a such thing as New Consultant Training, any of that cool stuff that supports new consultants.

I started having kitnappers (someone who buys a kit and never does a party) fall in my lap and lets just say I wanted to be a leader but it wasn’t working out for me.

Before long my upline decided she wanted to do something different and I rolled up to my new sponsor and now Bestest Friend ever! And I couldn’t be in a better place.

Now the moral of the story is Perseverance!

A Life Lesson from Yoda

I had every obstacle in my way. An unsupportive family, no training, and no one to turn to. But I kept going . Recently I was promoted to Team Manager and I am well on my way to another promotion. I AM IN LOVE with my business. I adore going to parties, to selling awesome products to help women improve their love life, and to introducing so many divas to an opportunity that will change their lives forever. This is just the beginning of what Passion Parties has to offer me and I hope you divas will join me on this adventure.