With the current financial crisis, Americans are going to need to re-invent themselves.Your life will not change unless you change your life!

Because I was the VP of our family business and now in the Health and Wellness Industry as an Independent Distributor in network marketing, I can give some insight to what to look for as an alternative to the typical "go to work for someone else" mentality!

Since this is for discussion, I'll give you some background first. I have 30 years experience as a Registered Dental Hygienist. So, I too had an employee mindset. My husband and I purchased the family business in 2000 so I left to work as VP in business with him. As a traditional business owner, you have control over HOW you do business. However, the business investment is hundreds of thousands of dollars and you work 6 days a week minimum and usually 10-12 hours a day! So freedom is not what you think it would be for a business owner. Vacation time is limited and when the boss is away the mice will play is not just a whimsical statement! :)

Fast forward to 2005 and a divorce. This action put me back into the Corporate world as an employee and I DID NOT like it! I looked at Franchises to take control over my financial security but the territory restrictions and small customer niche just didn't add up to a very successful career. Plus... not many people have $100,000 to $1,000,000 to invest and then WAIT for a profit.

I was on a patented product with a company for a year and did not even consider network marketing as a career choice. After all....it was only a hobby and no one can make real money. That is what I perceived. However, after looking into the company and compensation plan I realized how very wrong my interpretation was about this industry.

Caution here....NOT all network marketing companies are created equal. This is why I chose to write and add this to the discussion. Here are some tips if you are considering owning your own distributorship.

1. Be sure the product and company has been around many years! There are too many fly by night companies who start a network marketing company and don't even have a product to market yet when they start. Make sure the product came first!
2. Make sure the company is part of the Direct Selling Association. These companies have high integrity and have business and customer protections for you.
3. Is the company on the NASDAQ or NYSE?? Pyramid companies are not allowed on these stock exchanges so you can be more sure that they are legit.
4. Do you have to buy a certain amount of product EVERY month to stay active as a distributor? You should NOT be involved with this type of company. You will end up just stocking up on supplies!
5. Does the company have the compensation plan set up that it is willable to your trust?? This is a huge asset and benefit. Not many companies provide this for your heirs.This income will pay your children and grandchildren after you are gone!
6. Don't get involved with companies that have tons of products. Keep it simple.
7. Make sure the products are patented and that a customer can ONLY get these products from you as a distributor.
8. Choose a product that "Makes a Difference" in the world. Don't just get involved to make money. Make your time MEAN something.
9. Most of all ...the products must be consumable! This means your customer MUST use up the product every month because of NEED. Don't choose a product that is a luxury item like jewelry or baskets, kitchen ware, toys or makeup. People can live without these items and don't need to order every month. In the Wellness Industry our products change a person's life so now there is a large value and need to use the products.
10. Make sure your product can be used with infants, adults and the elderly. Men AND women. Then you will have the world as your office.
11. Make sure you do not have territory restrictions! Some companies are in other countries, but you can not help customers elsewhere unless you are licensed in that country. I chose to be involved with our company Reliv International because I can help people in ALL 15 countries. With access to the web this makes my business International!
12. All businesses traditional or otherwise must start with some inventory. Don't let this scare you but make sure you do not have to carry inventory constantly or deliver products to a person. Make sure your company drop ships directly to your customer.
13. A VERY important business move is to make sure they have training provided weekly for you and that your sponsor is in a leadership role so you are getting the proper business mentoring. Nothing worse than signing up with someone who does not know how to help you!!!
14. Finally...you must WORK. It is call netWORK for a reason. This is a business like a franchise. You do work, but you have freedom that traditional businesses and franchises do not offer!

Enjoy the research and "think outside the box". Even if you start this venture very part time, you will see great rewards and growth. Don't try to do business YOUR way. Learn from the leaders in your company and go to ALL of the training. A couple of years of hard work will reward you with residual ongoing income from helping people years before!! It is like compounded interest except it is compounded income!

By the way... Business owners to nurses to teachers to engineers can all succeed at the same rate because the training is the same for all. Take a leaders hand and ask for help. You can change your life forever AND make a difference in the lives of others at the same time. What a gift to give!!

Take the opportunity in these financial times to research and learn. Once you have gathered enough information to make an informed decision, then GO FOR IT! Walk through the "fear". Fear can be a healthy emotion to stimulate you to learn quickly and work fast. Use it to make your FIRST STEPS!!

Best of luck!
Kim