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I have been working in direct sales for a year now. Not "like a year," not "almost a year"; a year. One full year. Today. It blows my mind.
Now — before we start, you should know that before I was one of these women, I used to judge them. I used to make fun of them. I used to call what they did pyramid schemes and think that they would never really make any money...
And then I was desperate. I hit my all time low. I needed money and I needed it bad. I was already working two jobs. My wallet was as slim as it had ever been and I was looking up every way possible to make money. Then I saw her... A girl I knew decently well; we had gone to school together, I was good friends with her brother in high school, and she had worked for my dad at one point too. I saw her on Facebook posting all about a direct sales team she had just joined. When I asked about it, I'm not going to lie, I was still skeptical.
But she held my hand. She walked me through it. She helped me sign up. She helped me start a Facebook page for it and learn how to market myself. I've told her time and time again since joining her team that she should be a motivational speaker. Her team grew quickly and the amount of powerful, inspiring women I knew grew quickly. Without her, I'm not sure I would be where I am and for that I don't know if I'll ever be able to thank her. I don't even quite know how to put into words how exactly it is that she helped me — and I call myself a writer.
My life changed pretty quickly. Not because I was suddenly rolling in dough. Don't get me wrong, I was making money. Not enough to quit my job, but enough to help pay for my daughter's daycare. Which, if you've ever paid for childcare, you know is not cheap or attainable on any kind of single starting salary. So, I was proved wrong. I am not good at admitting when I'm wrong but I was very, very wrong. Direct sales is an amazing side income and if you are able to market yourself and put the time and effort in to it — it's just an amazing income.
But that wasn't why I was glad I joined. I was glad I joined because every Sunday night, we have a team meeting and I get to listen to these women going through — basically the same things I was. But I get to listen to them tell each other to keep working, I get to listen to them make jokes about it and help each other cope, help each other learn the business world and how to market, listen to their advice and their praise. I'm going to school for business but I honestly believe I have learned more about marketing from these women and just jumping into direct sales than I have doing massive amounts of studying for school.
The direct sales world — I thought — pinned these people against each other. But each situation is what you make of it. I obviously can't speak for every direct sales group, but the group I'm in is one of the greatest things that's ever happened to me. They lift me up when I'm down. I barely know any of them in real life but they know about my daughter, they've listened to my struggles and offered help or just a listening ear, they've listened to my successes - especially in this business and jumped for joy at my promotions even if they weren't being promoted. These women are the first real life experience I've had of women helping women outside of my own family. No one is in competition in these groups. They offer help and advice at every turn. When we're releasing something new, we post images in our group chat and on our team page to help each other market. If one of us is winning we're all winning. And no — we don't do this because if one of us gets paid all of us gets paid. That's not true at all. It's really not a pyramid scheme, at least not the one that I'm in. The team that I'm apart of is not a pyramid in any way, shape, or form. The girl that helped me get started never acts like she's above any of us — although I look up to her in so many aspects.
These women, you might still seem them like I did. You might see their posts on Facebook and think they are annoying or pushing their product for a small profit. But maybe they really love it. Maybe they love the team that they are apart of. I truly love the products I sell. But watching my team and hearing them talk in honesty about what products they loved of ours and which they weren't crazy about inspired me to legitimately try all of them. It didn't seem like a bunch of women just posting on Facebook to make a living anymore once I opened the back door. Most of these people really love their products. I know I do. I know my team does. You just need to stop looking at these people as ad people and read their posts as if you're reading a motivation book.
I joined a direct sales team at a low point in my life. Not the lowest, but still pretty down there. I was in a depression that I couldn't seem to get out of by myself. Direct sales didn't save me from living paycheck to paycheck — I still do. I make a better amount than I did a year ago when I started but still not enough to quit my day job. However, I'm so much happier. I feel like no matter what happens, I have a team with me. It brought me back to realize that I really can do it — anything really — if I put fourth the effort. It just took me admitting I was wrong and realizing I'm not above anyone but rather in need of them. Sometimes the people you seem to be judging the most are exactly the people that you require in order to move forward.
Tomorrow I'm doing my first real vendor event. I learned just a few hours ago that I will be doing this while also watching my three year old daughter. This task will not be easy. But I'm going into it knowing that. I'm also going into it knowing that no matter what happens, I can share the experience with my team. I can tell the story and I know I'll be confident enough to laugh at what I'm sure will be some difficult parts of the day with the people who know best what I'm going through.
About the Creator
Michelle Schultz
I'm mostly an editorial writer. I love to share my opinions and experiences. I don't hold back and I swear so if you take offense easily, my articles probably aren't for you. I'm a single mom just trying to stay sane.
@loreleismom
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