The Professional Chef |

Copyright © Jagraj Gill

http://www.payitforward4profits.com/jaggiegill

Does the idea of being your own boss, making your own hours and your own business decisions sound incredibly attractive to you? But does it seem like a pie-in-the-sky dream? It doesn’t have to be. There are lots of ways to be your own boss and make a respectable living with a home-based business. One of these ways is to get involved with mlm opportunity work.

What is mlm? It’s multi-level marketing. Don’t worry; though they have similarities, mlm opportunity work is not the same as pyramid schemes. No one is being defrauded. You become an independent consultant or distributor for a product, one that has true value for the purchaser. These products can range from cosmetics to herbal supplements to distinctive cookware and gadgetry for the kitchen.

One of the benefits of mlm work, other than the whole being your own boss angle, is a low start-up cost. This type of home business can be started for as little as a few hundred dollars used to purchase a sample kit of the products you’ll be selling. Using these samples, you start developing contacts and taking your new home business on the road. Talk about your mlm opportunity with both potential customers and others who might like to get into the business on their own. If you sign them up, you earn part of the commissions on their sales. They’re making money. You’re making money. Everyone’s happy in their home-based mlm business world.

What are some of the companies that provide home business mlm opportunity work? Familiar names like Arbonne, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Pampered Chef, Herbalife and Longaberger come to mind. These companies have been around long enough and have good enough reputations that you don’t have to deal with the ugly reputations attached to some companies. Thousands of women use Mary Kay cosmetics every day. And Longaberger baskets are holding fruit and magazines in homes around the world. The products are high quality, which helps your home business thrive because people want quality products for their hard-earned money.

Once you’ve decided which company looks most attractive to you, learn all you can about that company so that you feel comfortable in your new home-based business endeavor. You’ll also be able to answer any questions that come from potential customers. You don’t want to be faced with a question you can’t answer. This doesn’t reflect well on you as an independent product distributor or the company whose products you are selling. After you’ve made the decision, done your homework and actually made the capital outlay for a sample kit, it’s time to hit the road to showcase the product and generate the first sales in your new home-based mlm business.

If you’re interested in starting a business that you can run from your own home selling products, you might want to look into a Direct Sales business opportunity. You may have heard of Tupperware, Avon, Pampered Chef or Home and Garden. They are just a few of many business opportunities available that a person could join to begin a product-focused business. Everyone loves hosting a get together in their neighborhood even if its just to get a hostess gift. You may find this style of home business is much more fun than you think.

Direct Sales products vary from books to educational toys to food. The hardest part may be deciding which product you want to sell and finding the company that is a perfect fit for you. Don’t be afraid to do your research. Ask around, survey your friends, get in touch with others doing the same thing.

What skills and tools are needed to be successful in a Direct Sales Business?

Most business opportunities require you to pay a startup fee, so decide ahead of time how much you’re willing to spend to begin your selling adventure. When you find products you like, learn everything you can about the company behind the products. Check out their websites, and find out if they’re a web friendly company and provide websites to their representatives. Learn about their internet marketing rules as some companies are restrictive to the point of really making it difficult for you to grow beyond your own community. Some companies will not let you do any internet advertising at all, so, if you plan to grow your business online, ask the hard questions in advance to avoid frustration later.

To start your own Direct Sales business you will need good selling skills and the passion to succeed because, despite popular opinion, products do not sell themselves. You will be working with people a lot, and building relationships, so good customer service skills are a must. It would be a good idea to learn some light book keeping skills as you will be keeping track of orders and payments etc.

The tools you will need for a business like this will depend on the type of business you choose. Some basic tools are a computer with internet connection, telephone and a starter pack of items that the company usually provides you in your starter kit. A website is also needed to promote the goods you’re selling even if the company does give you a rep site, you will be smart to develop your own personal online presence for marketing.

A Direct Sales Business can be a fun and easy way to earn some income while enjoying time with people and filling your home with products you love. It’s simple to get started and doesn’t usually cost much to get a business like this off the ground compared to many other home business projects.

If you’ve been entertaining this thought, chances are you’ve met various women who sell Arbonne, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Creative Memories, to name a few home-based businesses targeted at SAHMs and WAHMs. These are all great businesses–I personally know and/or have coached women in these kinds of direct sales businesses who love their work. But is direct sales for you?

There are as many possibilities for self-employment as you can imagine. But to start with, what compels you to want to work? Is it something you need to do, want to do, feel you should do, or a combination? And what do you need from your work–flexibility, time off, high income potential, low investment, security, working by yourself or as part of a team…?

You can sign up for any of a huge number of home-based businesses geared towards SAHMs, but if you want to be happy, satisfied, and successful, you should probably start by figuring out what it is you want. Not just what job you want, but what that job would get you, such as: a break from mommyhood, some spending money, an outlet for your creativity or self-expression, the opportunity to contribute to the family, some adult interaction, financial security, etc.

Once you know what you want (i.e., what motivates you), it will narrow down your choices and help you choose a business that meets your conditions of satisfaction. Make sure that the work you choose to do fits in with your family values and supports your commitments to your spouse/significant other. Otherwise, you could create some issues in a part of your life that might not already exist.

Motherhood is a fulltime job, and yet focusing our energy and brainpower on something other than diapers, Disney and the whims of the little humans we brought into this world can be very satisfying. By clearly understanding the reasons you’re compelled to work you can choose a business that recharges you while you raise your family.

Direct sales and home party businesses are booming. Direct selling is definitely the wave of the future as the world goes the current economic restructuring. With party plan companies blooming on every street corner how do you pick the right home party plan company for you? Do you like jewelry? How about make-up? Perhaps food is your thing, no fashion! Skin-care, that’s it! Seems as long as there are products being made, there is a party plan company selling it. The following are the 7 Pillars & Tips For Direct Sales Home Party Consultants for the success to consider when selecting a party plan company.

1) You, The Home Party Consultant: As an independent direct sales home consultant you are the company representative. People will judge the company by how you conduct yourself and your direct selling business. If you find people are a little resistant to what you have to say, don’t take it personally. I can guarantee they had a bad experience with another direct sales consultant. Now is your chance to build a new relationship.

Home Parties Tip: A home party business is not about the party plan company. A home party business is about the home party consultant.

2). Home Party Plan Company Leadership: Does your company of choice have proven MLM/Network Marketing/Direct Sales Experience? How long have they been in business? Are they ethical? –What about their integrity? Is the company privately held or publicly traded? (If the home party company of choice is publicly traded I hope it is one that Warren Buffet owns e.g., Pampered Chef) Have you actually read their Policies & Procedures? How Many pages? (Less is usually better.) WHY? Because the more paper work the less creativity and options you have. It means your every move will be monitored by the party plan company gate-keepers. You might as well get a job! Who does it protect? Comp plan set up to favor/protect distributors or company? Allow ‘walk away’ income? Loopholes to steal your commissions someday?

LONG TERM focus with a solid foundation, or “get rich quick” mentality? I recently read up on the ‘dead’ Circuit city company. The CEO said that their greatest failure was focusing on short term profits instead of long term value. Is your company of choice has not been in business for 5 years…think again

3) Timing of INDUSTRY and COMPANY: Did you know that jewelry home party plan companies are the hottest thing in the party plan industry? Yes Gold home parties are taking the nation by storm. Bill Gates willingly shares his secrets to success, he says:

1. Recognize the future of an industry

2. Take immediate massive action

3. Be at the right place at the right time!

If you can grasp this, success as a home party consultant is all but guaranteed! That said people will never be too young, too thin, too fashionable, too glamorous or too sexy. Any home party plan business surrounding these questions and problems will always be a hit! Run from Startups are to be avoided at all costs. This is what we call trending in the direct sales industry. E.g., once Mary Kay unveiled her company suddenly everyone had a beauty and skin care line you could sell from home. You want to find balance in your choice.

What phase is the Party Plan Company? Formulation? Momentum? Critical Mass? Plateau? Companies in the plateau phase offer more name recognition and less of an opportunity. (Under 5 year or 25 + I’d stay away)!

4). TARGET MARKET for your PRODUCTS: Is there huge demand for the home party products you plan on representing? Is the Future bright? Does the product meet Long Term TRENDS? The BIGGEST mistake people make is by making an emotional decision about their choice to become involved in direct sales. Sure your neighbor who is only a high school graduate jumped into party plan company ABC and made a killing and drives the car of your dreams. That is all well and good. However are you suited to the direct selling business? Is it the right time for you to jump in? More importantly have you identified a market for your product? Want to know why most home party consultants fail? because they found a product but have no one to sell it to. Your first step in succeeding is identifying a market for your product and then finding the right home party company. Trust me on this one, you will save yourself a whole lot of trouble!

5) Flagship PRODUCT(s): Products have to be REMARKABLE Not over-priced CONSUMABLE! Seth Godin, author of the best seller Purple Cow speaks at length on the issue of product remarkability. He talks about the mundane-ness of a regular black and white cow over a purple cow. A purple cow is remarkable. Remarkable incidentally doesn’t mean good or awesome

adjective

worthy of attention; striking

Is your home party product of choice one that will compel other to talk about and thus market for you? This is the essence of word of mouth. Is your product average or top of the line? Your product must be good enough to compel repeat buys and persuade me or any other person to tell a friend or ten about it!

6) Compensation Plan: The comp. plan should be the least of your worries, but I will discuss it for your benefit. The home party, direct sales and direct selling industry are all victims of the recruitment scam. You see you are paid for volume not the number of recruits you get. Look it this way what benefit is it to enroll 100 people who buy nothing? However if you make get 10 customers, and each buy $100 of products then you have a percentage of $1000 home party sales. The compensation needs to pay the average person fair percentage. Party plan companies reward home party consultants for selling products NOT for recruiting reps. Avoid comp. plan that pay on levels. Volume is quantifiable. Levels is cut throat and breeds the scams and failings that network marketing has a bad reputation. Paying on VOLUME not levels – drives BEHAVIOR in the field. Do you have a break-away plan? I would be cautious and careful. Best ’statistics’ to determine comp. plan include

‘TAC’ Total Average Commission? ‘PTV’ Percentage of TOTAL volume ?

7) Training, Education, Experience & Personal Development: Duplication is all well and good. Remember what I said at the beginning a home party plan business is about you. You are the single most important determinant of how successful this home party business. There is no such thing as proven SYSTEMS, UPLINE SUPPORT. The only thing that will help you build a successful business is personal development, training, education and experience. Do you have an Action Plan / Game Plan? It is one that can be taught to others i.e., duplicatable while still leaving room for creativity, innovation and expansion? Times have changed. Some things that worked just a few years ago, do not today. Many companies and TEAMS are using outdated systems and methods. Most people (92+% of population) do not like to sell or be sold. Are you building a home party business using 8 track methods in an iPod world? Don’t get caught in a rut!

Wishing you success,

Party Plan Pat

Jesus Leon asked:


Networking is a great way to do business. In fact, there are so many of them around so before you join any, it is best to know which ones out there are considered to be the top networking marketing companies.

One of the top network marketing companies around sells cooking utensils and recipes. People know them as the Pampered Chef. The company has been around since the early 1980’s and it has more than 12 million members nationwide.

For those who use the microwave often, one of the top network marketing companies happens to be Tupperware. The company debuted in 1946 and since then offers glassware, churners, peelers and a lot more which you can see in their website so even if other companies are able to offer something similar to what they started, it is still doing very well. Another first which this company can be proud of is the fact that they introduced Tupperware parties so agents can sell a few items and recruit people at the same time.

If you want your skin to look good, you can become a member of a top network marketing company that sells skin care products namely NuSkin. What makes them different from the others is that theirs is designed to whiten the skin and hide away the visible signs of aging.

Another top network marketing company doing well selling a variety of products is Amway. They have beauty products as well as other items that are carried by the others which is why many refer to them as a one stop shop.

If you want to have a healthy lifestyle, you should watch what you eat and you can get that with a little help from one of the top network marketing companies around that sells supplements and drinks namely Herbalife. The company has been around since February of 1980 and by taking it regularly, you can either lose or gain weight.

When you work for one of the top network marketing companies, you can do this on your own time and do it at home. This means the only thing you will invest on is your inventory. Aside from the products, you will also get help looking for leads and learn various techniques to help you succeed in this business with through the relationships you will build with your partners and upline.

In closing, there are many different network marketing companies out there all claiming to be the best of the best. The best way to know what company suits you is to look at your passion and pick a company which is going to complement that passion. If you like cooking, maybe the pampered chef might be right for you, you say you like your skin looking healthy maybe Nuskin is the way to go. No matter which way you go make sure you don’t waste your time or money, invest only in one of the top network marketing companies that has been around for many years.

Anmol Taneja asked:


Family Dinners are a beneficial way to increase the overall commitment of each family member to the other. In a world of two income families that translates into both parents having to work outside the home and the kids are at daycare or home alone. If both parents get off work after 5pm, getting dinner on the table any earlier that 6:30 is a dream or the night the family eats takeout while seated at the dinner table. In a world that moves this fast, kitchen gadgets make getting dinner on the table that much easier.

Pampered Chef is a kitchen company that strives to create products and recipes for the family that promote and facilitate the family meal every night of the week. Pampered Chef focuses their recipes and kitchen gadgets on the idea that every family should have dinner together every night. Many of their items are job focused kitchen gadgets that help the family chef get dinner on the table fast.

Micro-Cooker, An Innovative Kitchen Gadget That Gets Dinner To The Table Fast

An innovative product that they introduced a few years ago is the Micro-Cooker. This specially designed micro-cooker comes in a small and large size. The 2-quart size is ideal for all microwave ovens and provides a quick easy method to get dinner on the table fast. The Micro-Cooker is a kitchen gadgets that is designed to rapidly cook meat, vegetables, melt chocolate or butter. It is a very quick and easy way to create a side dish or main course in a matter of just a few minutes. The dual handles and pouring spouts make it easy for left or right-handed chefs to use. The micro-cooker is dishwasher safe when placed on the top rack and it comes with a one-year guarantee.

Kristi Ambrose asked:


Of course there are many different “jobs” you can do at home but one of the most popular things to do is something called a Home Show. These shows allow you to sell different products such as kitchenware, chef ware, candles, herbs, sauces, food, wine, etc. You can either sell them online with a website, or you can go to people’s homes and do a show. These people will hire you on as a representative of whatever it is your selling. You take all your products to the people’s houses and the person invites friends and family members to buy your products. A lot of the times these businesses allow you to “try” the products as a seller. You will receive a package that has things you can try and things you can sell. My mom did one of these one time, where she sold herbs and sauces and stuff like that. The company sent her herbs and things she could try on her own to familiarize herself with the products, as well as things she could sell. These aren’t like the Tupperware parties your mom used to have! Here is a list of a few you can check into.

Wild Tree Herbs -

Gourmet culinary blends, infused oils, grapeseed oils, dressings and sauces

These products are not only meant to be convenient but tasty and healthy, they don’t include things like preservatives

Host a party, career ops, culinary clubs, recipes, and products can be found on their site

PartyLite -

Candle products and spa treatments

The candles come in all sorts of fragrances, colors, shapes, sizes, prices and more

Host a party, career ops, and products are available on the site

Pampered Chef -

One of my favorite! This site offers kitchenware, bake ware, cookware, and much more

You can find gift certificates, recipes, products, and career ops on the site

Traveling Vineyard -

This site offers champagne, all sorts of wines from different parts of the world, and wine accessories

They have career ops, passport wine club, accessories, host tastings and much more on the site!

Of course there are thousands more just like the ones above, including Home Decor, Books, Entertainment, Electronics, Shoes, etc. All you have to do is find Home Shows online or find a Home Show Directory. These directories are nice because you can take a look at different categories you might be interested in selling products for. Usually they also have a comparison of what different sites offer, different pay rates, percentages for profits and much more. Yes, these businesses are “bought” into. Usually for a few hundred dollars you can get everything you could ever possibly need to start selling the products. And what’s better, you can do this when you want. If you want to do 7 parties a week or 2 parties a day every week, you can. Your success depends wholly on you. You are your own boss. No one looking over your shoulder, no one telling you how to do things. It’s all you!

Diep Tran asked:


The battle of the Network Marketing companies, all competing to rise to the top of the multi-level marketing business and sign the most important person in their business, you. In network marketing, companies rely of the training and the “passing of the torch” from one marketing associate to the other in order to gain more employees. More employees mean one thing to network marketing affiliates, more sales, more media coverage, and more promotion.

In marketing, nothing works as fast as word of mouth. How does this work? Say Suzie Q decided to be a stay at home mom but still needs some extra income. She wants to work from the home and still have the time she needs in order to help raise her family. Suzie Q might try a network marketing company such as Pampered Chef or Avon (These two have been around for quite some time and have a solid reputation) in order to set her own business hours and goals for her income. Suzie Q tries her company, works a couple or more hours per week and is seeing some money coming in. Suzie Q is ecstatic, she just can’t believe how much she’s earning and loving her new home-based business, so Suzie Q tells Jane, her best friend that’s working full-time but just needs some extra income for those odds and ends that she’s wanted to save up for. Jane signs on and tells her friend Sally who tells her friend Tammy. See how this works? And guess what? Suzie Q is making a percentage of everything all of those people are selling. And before you know it, because of Suzie Q, the entire town knows about Pampered Chef and many are buying and selling.

Many find this type of marketing brilliant and many do not. Why? Well, mainly because of the different companies. When the network-marketing craze began about 20 years ago, like with anything, some wonderful companies emerged and hot on their tails where the not so reputable companies with scam artists leading the way. Taking money for their services and promising riches and giving nothing in return. This hurt the network marketing market for a little while but they’re bouncing back with a vengeance.

Many wonderful companies have combated the negative image and have gotten positive returns. If you’re looking for a reputation Network Marketing Company to begin your home-based business, or if someone has approached you with an opportunity and you’re still leery, it’s best to check out the reputation of that company before signing. Check with the Direct Sales Association for company affiliation. It’s an organization that holds Network Marketing Companies to a higher standard. Contact the Better Business Bureau and ask questions about specific companies and most importantly go with your instinct. If something sounds too good to be true, chances are it is.