By Shan Eisler
Business Builder Extraordinaire
Wife, Mother, CEO
One of the truly remarkable benefits of direct selling is that it can bind your family together. For that to happen, the first sale you must make is to your family members. They are part of your business, too, and can be a tremendous help if you let them. Key to making that sale is your commitment to making the business work for you. I found I had to be very creative to balance and fulfill all my commitments.
My kids were five and six when I started. I made a large Smiley Face sign and a Stop sign to post on my office door. When I could be interrupted, I put up the Smiley Face. When I was making calls, I put up the Stop sign. The kids understood and supported me, even though they were small.
My kids had two sets of toys. The premium, really fun stuff came out when I had the Stop sign on my door. These special toys were put away when the Smiley Face went up. A favorite was an easel and art tools. We were careful to prominently display their art in the kitchen so they got recognition for helping to build Mommy’s business.
I paid a neighborhood teenager to come in and play with my kids during times the Stop sign was up. This way, I was accessible to them but could focus on work until they needed me.
I enlisted the help of my husband early on. This wonderful man has taken on much of the work behind running our home. To help that happen, we agreed on specific tasks that he could do to allow me the time to grow my business.
Managing Your Time and Resources
Open your business every day. In direct selling, you get to decide whether you are employed or unemployed every day. You are only employed if you are open for business—doing the things required to conduct business.
I found out early on that I needed to have a fairly detailed schedule for integrating family activities with work. A clear idea of what needed to happen allowed us to make sure the family was fully cared for, even when deeply involved in business.
You need to figure out whether you are a morning person or a night person. The best hours for your business doors to be open are from 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. These are the hours when you can work with people. If you are a morning person, do your paperwork in the morning, before 9 A.M., if a night person, do your paperwork after 9 P.M.
I also did the math and found that if I was earning $35 per hour it didn’t make sense for me to do my own cleaning if I could pay someone else $10 per hour to do it for me.
I plan menus by the month. On the evenings when I need to be out, or if I have a heavy afternoon’s worth of work, we enjoy crock-pot meals. This way, I have no wasted time wondering what to feed the family and meals are served on a regular schedule.
I never shop for office supplies. Most office supply stores deliver if you order online or by phone.
I have learned to think before making a commitment. My immediate response is “Let me get back to you.” I then weigh the time costs of accepting a commitment against the emotional costs of declining, and then make a final decision.
My children are now 18 and 19. Far from feeling neglected, they have both thanked me for working in my direct-selling business from home and teaching them a strong work ethic. By working from home, we have always been there for each other.
Today’s Actions for Family and Business
Are you treating your business like a business or a hobby? Gain your family’s support by:
Taking an action that expresses your appreciation for their support—special toys, outings, or other rewards.
Closely managing your calendar and keeping everyone in the family in the loop about expectations and plans.
Increasing your productive hours by taking advantage of free and inexpensive services such as delivery and babysitting.
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Shelley Penney is a network marketing and internet marketing specialist with 7 years in the field. She is currently mentoring a small group of people to achieve financial freedom from home.
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