How MLM Changed One Girl’s Life
by Nancy On (San Jose, California, USA)
The Unexpected Entrepreneur
I was definitely an “unexpected entrepreneur.” Before, I was everything that an entrepreneur was NOT. You wouldn’t imagine someone like me would ever be doing business, or anything that involved so much interaction with people!
I was way too reserved, private, and quiet in terms of the standards of entrepreneurship; my network was small and tight. People often wonder how my network marketing organization began to grow so big.
I was 20, almost 21, years old when I was introduced to network marketing. Prior to it, I was a student attending a community college, and held three jobs to keep myself busy. I really didn’t have much passion in school, nor any field that was available. I was living life; doing things that didn’t feel purposeful, and didn’t make me happy. I just didn’t think there was any other way, and I didn’t have any true goals that would bring me true fulfillment. I was pretty depressed imagining my future, which consisted of getting stuck in traffic every morning going to my nine to five.
I Only Joined to “Support My Friend”
I guess one day the person above heard my prayers. My old friend from middle school called me and invited me to a presentation to check out a business with which she just got involved. I really didn’t think too much of it, but I said, “Okay, I’ll go.” I was hesitant because I was never interested in business, nor was I interested in networking with people. Back then, I was extremely quiet and private. I never liked to socialize much, and I kept to a very small circle of friends. It always surprises me how I ended up in this field and became successful at it.
I joined the business mainly to support my friend. I didn’t want to say no and turn her down. I didn’t think that I would do well at it, so I basically told her, “I’m only doing this to support you; I don’t plan to really go full force in it.” How ironic! After a few trainings, I saw that this could really change my life, and the system was quite simple to grasp. I saw the bigger picture after realizing the possibility that this could be what I’d always been seeking. Finally, I found an environment that didn’t judge me for my past. It gave me a clean slate to earn as much as I wanted without being capped. Finally, I could do something without sitting in traffic every morning, and I could grow this thing as big as I wanted.
It’s Not Just About the Money
Network Marketing has changed EVERY aspect of my life! Being that I am in the health and wellness business, it first and foremost changed my HEALTH. I was a very sickly child. My company’s products have dramatically changed my health for the better. Secondly, it gave me a place to build my confidence because I worked in a very encouraging team environment. I had mentors who helped me and pushed me to do things I never thought I could do.
After that, my team continued to grow because I was growing as a person. My income from network marketing has given me the ability to take care of myself and live on my own since the age of 22. At 23, I was able to buy myself the car I’ve always wanted. And over the years, I have been able to travel to more than 13 different countries. I recently came back from spending two weeks on the island of Santorini, in Greece, as a spiritual gift to myself. Life has been so good to me. I cannot complain, and I am so happy that I get to share what I do for a living with others who want to do the same. I get to wake up when the sun comes up, and I live with a true sense of purpose.
Experiencing Life Through Travel
One of the most amazing things I’ve been able to do because of the financial stability in network marketing was travel. I’ve learned so much about myself and the world by being in different places and meeting new people. It really makes you feel small, and puts everything into perspective. After every trip, I always come back a little different. From hanging out in the Darling Harbor of Australia, to zip-lining in the jungles of Puerto Rico, cave tubing to Belize, enjoying the view on a catamaran in Hawaii, to learning art history in Rome, to meeting such friendly people in Canada, and being fascinated with the culture in Mexico, it’s all amazing. I’ve still got to say that…
One of my most memorable trips was to be able to go to Greece for two weeks by myself. All of my trips before that had been with other people, and they were definitely fun-filled and action packed. However, I decided that I wanted to do something random and outside of my comfort zone.
Traveling solo during an offseason where tourists were not around, was something I will never forget. It felt like I had the entire island to myself. I got to meet the locals and learn the history of Greece from the Greek natives. Most importantly, I discovered things about myself that I never even knew. It felt so good to know that my business had allowed me the ability to pack my bags and fly anywhere in the world at the drop of a dime, even at such a young age. That sense of freedom is unmatched in any career field.
My Secret Tip to Success
I’ll tell you a secret. It’s not all about you; it’s about helping and training your people and tapping into their networks. Once I understood the concept that I didn’t have to be the best, and I could leverage off people who were better than me, my business took off. I loved the idea that all I needed to do was to be a good supporter of my people and to learn from others who had done it before me. This business is really ingenious if you take time to understand its concept.
Overcoming Doubts from Family
Personally, becoming successful in Network Marketing was very difficult for my parents to grasp. They did not support me at all in the beginning. But when I kept moving forward, their doubts eventually subsided. It repaired the relationship that I had with them. That would have not been possible had I taken another route, one about which I wasn’t passionate. I am a passion-driven person. I wouldn’t have succeeded in any other field because I just didn’t love it. Proving to my family that I found the right path for me here, gave the reassurance they needed. They are now consumers of the product, as well as super supportive of me.
Richard Branson is one of my favorite people. He said, “Having a personality of caring about people is important. You can’t be a good leader unless you generally like people. That is how you bring out the best in them.” Leadership is so important when you are building an organization from scratch. But the coolest thing is that leadership can be learned. After you practice things that leaders do, eventually it will be a habit, and after awhile, it will come much more naturally.
Self development is the #1 thing that got me to where I am. There is no possible way that I could have remained the old Nancy and become successful. The old me didn’t understand how to be a magnetic person. I didn’t understand that building relationships is one of the biggest factors in building a business, or becoming successful in every area of life. Once I understood that, I worked at it day-in and day-out to get better. And the better I got, the bigger my team grew.
Nancy is a Diamond Director, and the youngest ever to reach that rank in her company. She is the founder of Team Era, and can be reached at www.nancyon.com