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Even if I was not extremely successful in Network Marketing, learning the skills needed to be successful taught me so much about owning a business and about life in general.

It was almost a year ago when I joined DoTERRA, a network marketing company that sells high quality and medicinal level essential oils. I was really big into essential oils at the time and natural forms of health care. I was looking for natural ways to help with my mental illnesses, and good quality oils really seemed to work.

After finding a local DoTERRA team, I dove in head first into the world of network marketing.

I had a great and enthusiastic leader, a loving and supportive team and was putting 110% into building my business. I was doing everything I was told to do and I was reading what I was supposed to read. Dutifully, I was going to all of the events, and hosting X amount of classes a week, recording videos and doing live Facebook feeds. Mostly though, I felt like I was annoying everyone I know and their mom’s about joining me on this business venture.

I met people in coffee shops, and had call blocks daily, and was up all night doing research on what classes I could do. There was piles of notebooks, and class supplies, and sticky notes everywhere. I had lists everywhere and so many print-outs that my filing cabinet was full. The problem was apparent when I ran out of printer ink within the first couple weeks of buying a printer.

After 6 months of pouring myself into it, I realized this is not what I wanted in a business.

I didn’t want to work my ass off, for little to zero profit monthly (in the beginning), bothering people about a product they might not even be interested in so that I can help build someone else’s company. No offense to DoTERRA. I think all of the owners and everyone I’ve met through the company are wonderful people. Everyone I have personally met was in the business for the right reasons; To help heal people.

That’s the part I want; I want to be able to help heal people in my own way.

Yes, I will always recommend using essential oils, and promote DoTERRA as a company, but it isn’t my dream to build their dream. (If you know what I mean.) I want to build my own business and I want to sell my own products. Even though it is all so new, and I’m in the very baby steps of creating my brand, I can’t wait to see where it goes and what it blossoms into.

Right now, my brain has a million and one ideas about what I want to do. It can be overwhelming at times, but I feel like have a journal specifically for my business ideas has been really helpful. It is how I’ve gotten everything done that I have, along with many sleepless nights of research and educational youtube videos.

I have so much gratitude for everything that network marketing has taught me, not only about business but also about life.

It taught me that when building a business, be patient. It isn’t going to happen overnight. After six months of grueling and exhausting effort, I wasn’t getting any closer to breaking even of what I had put into it. I knew that it was going to take some time, but it was so mentally wearing that I lost sight of doing that forever.

For that reason, it taught me to have a lot of respect for the people who break through the difficult part of network marketing and become successful with it. I have personally witnessed people who have had tremendous success and have been able to quit their jobs to pursue network marketing full time. They made enough to supplement their income, doing the same things that I didn’t want to do. The difference was that they had passion. Even though I was passionate about natural forms of medicine, I wasn’t passionate enough about DoTERRA to truly be successful in it.

Of course, being a consultant for a network marketing company taught me a lot about sales.

The main thing it taught me about sales, is that if you truly believe in what you’re selling, it doesn’t feel like sales. At first, it felt natural to want to tell everyone about this miracle product that had helped me so much. I was excited and it showed. However, most people just aren’t going to care about the product I’m trying to sell them.

What we are selling could be an item that will save their life. However, I learned that if I didn’t build that trust and listen to them about what they actually want and need, the connection just won’t be made, and they aren’t going to buy.

Connection is the key factor in being a successful salesman. Unfortunately, I learned this after I’ve already shoved my product down everyone’s throats. Selling really is a skill that is learned and some people have a knack for it. Sometimes people use that skill to con people into buying something they don’t really want or need. Some people will use that skill and share a gift with that world that lifts people up, heals them, or helps them in some way or another.

This is where I’m at now; I want to use everything I’ve learned and built my business for me and I want it to be under my terms. I want to be my own boss like most people. The blog and my YouTube channel are the first steps. I also want to sell my own products and services and that is what I’m working on right now. I am getting an Etsy started for all of my products that I make. (Crystal pendants, art prints, etc.)

I’m also trying to figure out a more efficient way to offer the services I do. I give Tarot Reading and Palm Readings, but I don’t know where to put that. It feels like it’s own business in itself, but I want to incorporate it somehow because the cards are such a huge part of my life. They are a huge part of my healing and believe they can help so many people.

Above all,  I want to help people.

I want to be there for people who, like I once did, feel like there is no way out. For the people who feel trapped, or are dealing with mental illness alone, or are surviving addiction whether they are recovering or not, or people who are thinking that their life isn’t worth it anymore. That’s who I want to help. I have been in that low place where every day is contemplating if life is worth trying to survive anymore. Yes, there are things that can help, like essential oils, drinking enough water, medical attention if needed, getting sunshine and being in nature, meditation and so many other natural things that are helpful.

Sometimes, just having someone to listen is the best medicine of all.

If you are in a place where you are contemplating life and thinking about suicide, please call these people (US only) —> 1-800-273-8255 ←- They are here to help and will listen to you without judgment. Please know how much you’re needed here. The worst times of our life build us into stronger people. These versions of ourselves are the ones who are able to have the best times of our lives. I always think of this saying, “There wouldn’t be compassion without suffering.”

I know it can feel like the world is collapsing around you, but it will settle eventually. Just hang in there.

You can always reach out to me using the contact page. It goes straight to my e-mail and I would love to talk to you. Thank you so much for being here. Comment below if you’ve ever had a network marketing experience and if what you learned from it. I love interacting with everyone and getting to know people in the world. There’s so many of us, and to the core are all connected.

I love you! Keep being an awesome human being and surviving this crazy thing called life.

xoxo