First let me start by explaining what the term entrepreneur means; is someone who has possession of an enterprise, or venture, and assumes significant accountability for the inherent risks and the outcome. I guess the surefire way to find out if you are an entrepreneur is to give it a try. To be an entrepreneur is to be a creator and a visionary; a person who recognizes opportunities, cultivates a strategy, and creatively organizes resources to turn passion into profit.

Being an entrepreneur means to me that I own my time, I live my life to the fullest without worrying about finances. Being an entrepreneur means loving day in and day out what you have chosen to do whether times are going great for your business or if they are going horrible for your business. Why stay in the dead end job you’ve had for years when you could be making a lot more money and have the freedom of working for you?

When you are in business for yourself; you wear many hats at once: janitor, salesperson, human resources, finance and PR are just a few. Being an entrepreneur means risking everything on your own abilities, so it’s not for the faint of heart. If you think being an entrepreneur means more available time for your family and/or friends you’re wrong.

The entire purpose of working for yourself is that you get to do something that you think is valuable, instead of doing someone else’s bidding. Working for yourself can be an ideal career path, especially in today’s tight job market, but it is also ripe for failure if undertaken without the right tools–and mindset.

Are you willing to get up and work hard every day (most days), even when success seems crazy? Are you a risk taker; seizing the enormous opportunities before you, and taking calibrated risks that will help you make your dreams a reality? Money makes the world go around and starting your own business working for yourself means you have a greater potential to see more money then if you are working for someone else.

When you’re working for yourself you do not have the luxury of relying on people to look after your books, take the phone calls, sell your services and products, design, develop, and market. Being an entrepreneur means thinking about the business all the time, accepting its responsibilities and its failures. Not waiting for things to happen but rather to be the agent of change. Working for yourself is incredibly difficult but with time and patience you can build up a name for yourself and eventually you will find people coming out of the woodwork looking for you rather than you having to seek them out

A move toward working for yourself will dramatically impact your freedom of time and movement, and greatly improve your happiness. Working for yourself at home can be lonely because there’s no one to challenge you and push you towards your goals. No matter what type of business you are in, being an entrepreneur means working your butt off and shouldering all the responsibilities. Successful entrepreneurs are risk-takers; being an entrepreneur means having the ability to trust your hunches and acting on them.

Now I realize that the mere mention of the words black Friday is enough to send shivers down many spines. Thus, if you’re thinking about buying a specific item anytime within the next 6 months, black Friday is a great time to do it.

Black Friday is a term for the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, which is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season when major retailers around the country discount products to help kick off the Christmas shopping season.

Today, black Friday is not a crucial source of profit to retailers, but is important in driving traffic into stores. The myth of black Friday is that the Friday is black because shoppers will buy record volume of merchandise on that day and will help retailers be in the black (or be profitable). The other myth associated with this is the fact that black Friday is the busiest shopping season of the year and this is not necessarily true in some years where the Saturday before Christmas can be even busier.

With the recession, it is unclear if consumer confidence has come back, but black Friday is always the day where the most jaded of shopper or consumer will come out from the dark to do some shopping to get black Friday deals. Black Friday is the best day of the year to get good deals at pretty much any big box store (and some small ones), on pretty much anything.

Black Friday is no longer a big surprise for shoppers as many retailers are rolling out their ads early to create some shopping excitement. Black Friday is the super bowl of shopping, as the kickoff to the season approaches they are unflinching in their desire to be first, and they are willing to be bloodied to get what they want.

Black Friday is for die-hard shoppers. I have done cyber Monday as well, but black Friday is more fun. In more modern times the term black Friday comes from a reference that many retailers use to express that black Friday is the first day that they actually turn a profit for the year, although some sources protest that this reference to the term black Friday is perhaps more fantasy than fact.

If you dig into the numbers, black Friday is one of the worst days for retail establishments, not one of the best. Savvy shoppers know black Friday is merely the kick-off for the Christmas and holiday shopping, but not necessarily the best day for bargains… But remember, black Friday is first come first serve so layoff too much eggnog before you go to sleep.

Black Friday is hard for both the consumer and the retailer; they have to handle the huge number of shoppers passing through their doors, as well as make certain that they try to have enough stock of a sale item. Even car companies are offering great sales option and a reviewer has rightly said that black Friday is the best time of the year when you can buy cars and automobile products as it is cheapest during black Friday.

Black Friday is for looking, testing and researching and cyber Monday is for pushing the button to buy. Black Friday is almost upon us yet again, and the one day of the year when bargain hunting is regarded as a national pastime needs to be taken seriously or you’re likely to come away empty-handed.

There is a myth that black Friday is the annual break-even point in American retail sales, but in fact retailers generally break-even, and indeed profit, nearly every quarter.
One final thought to remember is that black Friday is not some magical time where everything you desire is 90% off.

Good customer service is all about bringing customers back. Reliability is one of the keys to any good relationship, and good customer service is no exception. The irony of good customer service is that over time it will bring in more new customers than promotions and price slashing ever did!

Excellent customer service is the ability of an organization to constantly and consistently exceed the customer’s expectations. Providing excellent customer service is one way a small business can distinguish itself from the competition.

If good customer service is so important to a business’ success, why do so few businesses have it? I think the main culprit in poor customer service is bad company management. When I make decisions about with whom to do business, customer service is at the very top of the list. Customer service is the best advertisement of a business.

Customer service is so important to any kind of business more than ever. Excellent customer service is the key to gaining new customers and customer retention. I agree that customer service is the oldest form of marketing, but these days retail (especially internet retail) establishments need to be reminded of that.

If customer service isn’t number one on your list of priorities, you are gonna lose big. Good customer service isn’t about being nice only when things are going along swimmingly. Customer service is the new marketing; has important insights for how any company – startup or Major Corporation – promotes their product and builds loyalty from their customers.

The key to customer service is not treating people like customers but like people. In the age of social marketing, I think more than ever, customer service is becoming increasingly important. Primarily, customer service is something that many business owners think later and concentrate more on the marketing part. I believe good customer service is the best way to create viral marketing and we all know that there is no better marketing then viral marketing.

Training your staff for consistent and excellent customer service is vital to your survival. As a business owner or manager, you must help everyone understand that customer service is an attitude that governs how we deal with everyone including fellow employees and suppliers. Customer service is a major responsibility and privilege for every company. People often forget that once you get the client that you must keep the client and customer service is the key component.

First, you will want to evaluate whether a Network Marketing business is for you. Network Marketing is an equal opportunity business. It doesn’t require special degrees, unusual talents, and is open to everyone regardless of gender, race or age. However, it’s definitely not for everyone!

Choosing the right company doesn’t guarantee success, but it does increase your odds. Ultimately, your success in network marketing is determined by what you do. It’s all about building a network of people all buying or using the products or services you’re selling. Your job is simple: Provide information about your business, answer questions and objections, make the sale, and follow up, sponsor, train and support.

Go to the corporate website read all about the company.

• How long have they been in business?
• How did the company start?
• What is the drop off rate?
• Are the consumers happy with the product?
• Are there any complaints against the company?
• Are they a member of the DSA (Direct Selling Association)? Why is that important, because the DSA has strict guide lines regarding inclusion into their association.
• Who are the owner/operators?
• Are the consultants happy?

Choosing a company that is not financially sound and well established could end in disaster. An established company will be able to offer much more support and typically a better chance at success than a new company. The fact is that a large number of opportunities for the home based entrepreneur will fail, and drag down a number of poor innocents with it.

You must feel good about the company and the products you will be promoting. Uniqueness in the product also counts, if the product is something that cannot be found in your normal stores and has a market then there is a good chance that you can sell it.

Concentrate and understand the business itself and know the money making potential. Most importantly, always go with your gut instincts and use common sense. If an opportunity doesn’t seem right to you…Don’t Do It! I have yet to come across a “once in a lifetime” opportunity so there is ALWAYS time to take a breather and do some research. Don’t worry, the program will still be there tomorrow.

The question is when you are looking at a network marketing opportunity which is best to work with? Marketing a product or marketing a service. This is really a personal opinion type of question. I have seen people have great success marketing both products and services. It also depends on the personal preferences of a particular individual which would be better for them.

If you are marketing a product you may need to consider if the product will need to be inventoried by you or will it be drop shipped by the company. Another thing that I would look for when it comes to product based companies like this, is this. Are you required to purchase more products than you could reasonably sell or that you could consume yourself?

If so you may just end up in that position of having a garage full of product that you can not seem to unload. Something else to consider is customer service. If your customer is unhappy with the product will the company take back the un-used portion of the product and will it issue a refund to you or your customer?

This is the most crucial part of the decision making. You absolutely have to love the products and believe in them. You’ll want to have a passion for the products you’re going to be selling. If you don’t like the merchandise or believe in the merchandise yourself you’re not going to be able to be a good sales person. The best way to test this of course is to try the product yourself.

Ask the consultant you’re working with for a sample. If samples aren’t available I highly recommend purchasing at least one thing. Being in sales you’re going to have to know you product. The product most sold is the product most recommended. YOU have to be your best own customer.

The really big one for me is the product itself. Is this a product that is somewhat of a fad or a product that people normally use and will continue to use? In other words is this a product that is the “latest, greatest new thing in candles” or latest thing in weight loss?” Is it something your customer is going to need to try for awhile to see if they like it or if it “works” for them? These are just some things to consider when looking at a product based company. Then there are service based companies. These are companies that market services such as telecommunications, energy or health care benefits for example.

The bottom line is that network marketing is a great business to be involved in. Most any of them will work as long as it is a good fit for you. I know that some people have great success marketing candle products or nutritional products and prefer to market those kinds of products just as I know some people that have success marketing services. Like I said at the beginning it is really a personal opinion type of thing. You really need to consider what would be a good fit for exactly what you are looking for in your own home based business.

There are many great products in the world, but they aren’t all great for Network Marketing. The best products for the business are unique, exclusive, and highly consumable.

When choosing a network marketing company, are the products consumable or non-consumable? Should it matter? Yes and no!

With consumables you have the potential for repeat business; because once the product is finished you can always sell more to that same customer…

With non-consumable products once a customer purchases from you they may or may not buy again. Because the product is not being used up; case in point jewelry. Jewelry is purchased for a special occasion maybe a birthday, Christmas or anniversary present.

Repeat consumers are the way to grow a business. Business built on expensive one time purchases mean that you are always on the outlook for new customers who can afford your product. It is often better to make the profit on consistent volume.

Consumable products allow you to grow by multiplication. When you have consumables, a new consumer is added to ongoing consumers. When you have one-time purchase products, you are growing by addition. Everyone knows you increase quicker by multiplication than you do addition.

History has shown that non-consumable products like water filters and air purifiers don’t sustain themselves long-term. Likewise history has shown companies with products like these can create some initial excitement through front-end loading or hype, but they don’t pan out in the long haul.

If you were to establish a successful home-based business over the next few years, how often would you like to receive a paycheck? Annually? Quarterly? Monthly? I know what your answer will be, but unless you select the right product line, you’ll be bound by how consumable your product is.

You should demand maximum profits from the time and effort you put into your business. You should be paid monthly, weekly, or even daily for your marketing efforts. Some of the most consumable products in the world include personal care items, household products, utilities, and especially nutritional products and food items.

The more product consumption that happens in the average household, the more income you’ll make. Remember, you only have a certain amount of hours to put in every day. You might as well leverage your time with a product that will truly reward you with residual income for life.

Don’t stocking stuffers always turn out to be the most fun holiday gifts? When your loved ones go to peek in theirs, make sure they find some scentsational surprises. So many Scentsy warmers and fragrances fit just perfectly! Like the affordable Scentsy Car Candles. Their size isn’t just perfect for stockings; they’re compact enough to add a touch of freshness everywhere: gym lockers, dresser drawers, closets, kids’ rooms. Consider adding a Scentsy Room Spray or two for another convenient way to bring Scentsy fragrances to any space. For holiday budgeting, you can’t beat these gifts. If you buy five of any of these items, you receive one of the same items free!

Another great way to save on smaller items is the Scentsy Plug-In System. You’ll get to choose a Scentsy Plug-In Warmer plus three Scentsy Bars for just $25 – a $5 savings. (Canadian customers save $6). Whether you choose one of our adorable new Plug-In Warmers from the Holiday Collection or one that your little elves can use year-round, this is a can’t-be-beat combo for any stocking!

When you’re shopping for bigger gifts, take care of almost everyone on your list with Scentsy’s extensive collection of Full-Size Warmers. Our selection just keeps growing, so it’ll be easy to find one that suits the taste of even the pickiest relative! Look at the classic beauties in the Isabella Collection, the black-and-white Boleyn, or the soothing Sendai. Of course, we have a money-saving bundle for you – the Scentsy System – that will help stretch your holiday dollars. Combine a Full-Size Scentsy Warmer with three Scentsy Bars of your choice, and save $5 U.S. or $6 Canada.

Scentsy offers some great specialty items, too, like the DIY Scentsy Warmer that allows you to personalize warmers with Scentsy’s fun rub-on transfer DIY Theme Packs. Order a few Theme Packs and your gift recipient can update the look of their warmer throughout the year; it’s like multiple gifts in one! Hint: Keep your kids busy while they’re home for the holidays by turning your own DIY Scentsy Warmer into a fun family project. Sweet Princess or On the Edge DIY Theme Packs are fun for kids of all ages!

Need help planning your gift list? I’d be happy to help, and I can offer even more budget-saving ideas! Call (702) 741-1698 or email me today.

Why is this important? Because if there are say 6000 consultants selling the same products where does that leave you? Fighting for a little piece of the pie, a little competition never hurt anyone but a lot of competition could cause some problems.

Your local area, be it suburb, city, region, state or country is your target area for sales.

If you do not know how many distributors are already in existence in your locality, you do not know whether or not to concentrate your efforts in your local area.

In Network Marketing it is IMPOSSIBLE to tell how many people might target your local area, state or country at any given time – or any other area anywhere in the world. In Network Marketing there are no “franchise boundaries”. Anyone from any state or country serviced by that Network Marketing Company may recruit or retail in any other state or country.

Because of the nature of the geometric progression recruiting structure, it is possible to very quickly recruit hundreds of people into your group. If others are doing the same at the same time, then the resources to find recruits, i.e., the internet and public media, become quickly saturated with advertising.

What does that mean to the person trying to start a home based business? Do you just write off Network Marketing companies as something that can’t work? Not necessarily.

The smart Network Marketing companies will be looking proactively at the level of demand for their products. They will spread the risk of demand around by offering an ever changing variety of products. They will also likely focus on reusable products in their business model. The market saturation factor is somewhat different when you talk about reusable products. Smart Network Marketing companies realize this and focus on reusable products as opposed to products people buy only once in a while (or once in a lifetime).

Now as I mentioned also a little bit of competition won’t hurt. Actually competition tends to keep people on their toes and holds them accountable for their actions. Some would even go as far to say the more the merrier. Two consultants from the same area and company could join forces, share the workload and split the profits. (Be very careful and picky of who you choose if you should do this.)

Ultimately the best thing would be to do your research on your own area and find what will work best for you. Make a list of the pros and cons of the ratio of consultants to population and use your best judgment. If you are still unsure then I would recommend looking for another non-competitive company.

So you have chosen a company, hopefully because you like the products and can see yourself selling them. And by now you should have chosen a sponsor, someone who will tell it like it is and not sugar  coat the effort it will take to succeed. Now comes the training…

Having a strong support system in place is important for your success. You should be able to contact your up line (sponsor, recruiter, etc.) at any time with any questions, comments and/or concerns. If for some reason your up line cannot answer your questions or you are unable to contact her you should be able to contact a corporate office or another alternative.

I believe in supporting and training my team. My goals are the same as yours…to have a successful and profitable candle business.

Team Support

Being a member of our team is really your secret for success. We focus on having fun, helping friends, creating wealth, and reaching dreams. And we provide plenty of encouragement and support for our Consultants.

Team training as well as Scentsy corporate training is free and you are under no obligation to attend.

Our Team is Unique…

• Exclusive Team Member Training Site – www.iMatchless.com
• Downloadable Training Guides for all aspects of your business.
• Live Training Calls and Webinars, plus recorded calls for your convenience.
• Team Yahoo Group
• Company Sponsored Message Board
• One-on-One Coaching /Training and More!

As a member of our Scentsy Team, you can get personal assistance from me and from experienced Scentsy leaders. So, even though you will be your own boss, you’ll know exactly where to get answers, advice and encouragement.

Scentsy Support

Your Scentsy business starts with the commitment from a company that believes in supporting their Consultants and is open to listening to new ideas and suggestions. They support you, so you can devote your time and energy to growing your business. Scentsy Corporate holds weekly training calls and webinars for all interested consultants Scentsy consultant support is available 5 days a week to answer any and all questions.

If you would like more information about becoming a Scentsy Consultant, contact me or visit alycia.scentsy.us/join to learn more!

Here is the scenario you attend a home party or presentation where you love the products, the consultant made it fun and look easy; you could easily do this business, except you weren’t feeling the consultant!

Bottom line people do business with people they like… And you’re definitely not going to join somebody you don’t like, because then you would have to work with them.

Network marketing is a relationship business, it’s a business about helping other people; how many people have jobs where the owners or upper level management, and supervisors want to teach and help the people below them to do better then themselves? Have you ever had a job where your boss encourages you to do better than they did?

What should you look for in a sponsor? You must understand that there are sponsors and then there are recruiters. A recruiter is only interested in getting as many people as possible in their down line. A real sponsor understands why people join their team and they help them to achieve a long term plan through focus and commitment.

You want a sponsor with one key character trait – You want someone who is going to TELL YOU THE TRUTH!

Tell it like it is. No sugar coating.

You want someone to tell you what you NEED to hear, not what you want to hear.

So what kind of sponsor should you be looking for?

 Not the biggest money earner
 Not the easiest to get along with
 Not the one who will hold your hand

You want a person who will help you when you need it by showing you HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM ON YOUR OWN.

You want a person who will STRATEGIZE with you, not do it for you.

You want a sponsor who will help you to develop your LEADERSHIP SKILLS.

You want a sponsor who will EMPOWER YOU TO LEAD, not enable you to follow.