By Paul Peccianti, President of Global Sales, livethesource

Make some coin.

As employment rates continue to decline and health insurance costs remain at an all-time high, most Americans are living in constant fear of finding themselves in financial ruin.  Even those who are still working full-time are looking for ways to supplement their income, and many are turning to the world of direct sales.

1) Am I a People Person? Before you jump into this self-made world, it is imperative for you to ask yourself the all-important question: “Am I a people person?” If you did not answer with a resounding “Yes,” chances are that you would not be happy in direct sales.  In fact, companies like Avon and livethesource believe so strongly in the value of “People Helping People” that they have chosen their corporate mottos based on these core promises.

2) Can I Be Open and Honest? Since the direct sales industry relies so heavily on interaction with others, it should then come as no surprise that maintaining open and honest communication with your circle of partners, distributors, and customers is critical to success.  Remember to support your people with proper step-by-step training too so that they understand where and how to grow their business.

3) Does the Company Have Potential? Equally important, of course, is ensuring that the company that you choose to represent has all of the necessary “ingredients for success.”  A product that is exclusive, serves a need and that makes people excited are all at the top of the list.  It is also imperative to look at company financing, do background checks on the executives running the business, and find out if the compensation plan will allow people to both earn money early on and also have the opportunity for larger residual income in the long-term as well.

4) Am I Excited about the Company? Finally, choose to represent a company that makes you excited.  If you believe in the product, even if you feel that you may not be a natural salesperson, your genuine enthusiasm will come forward in everything you do, and it will be contagious.  It will also give you the courage to share this enthusiasm with others.  As your web of contacts grows and your business begins to thrive, knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each of these people will be a driving force in helping your business boom.  More importantly, however, is finding out your own strengths and weaknesses, because this will be what determines your level of success.

And finally, never, ever give up – selling, especially in this economy, is tough, but it also reaps enormous rewards!

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Wednesday, August 19th, 2009, 3:00 am   |   General Marketing  |  RSS feed |  Respond  |  Trackback