Smooth Sailing

The Direct Selling Association (DSA.org), the national trade association for the direct sales industry, reports that estimated 2010 direct sales in the United States was $28.56 billion. Yes, that’s billion with a B! The U. S. direct sales industry is comprised of over 16 million salespeople, all of whom were, at some point, sitting right where you are now. They understood the incredible opportunities direct sales offers and made a decision to join the legion of entrepreneurs.
While there are many, many different types of home-based businesses, direct sales opportunities have low start-up costs, require no prerequisites, and offer incredible training. Direct sales is filled with people looking to pay one bill a month, add a little extra to the family budget, build 6 figure (and beyond) incomes, and people just looking to get out of the house for adult conversation every now and then. Young people, retirees, and everyone in between are recognizing the benefits of direct sales. (Note: I am using the umbrella term Direct Sales to cover network marketing as well.)
This book is designed to help you navigate the sometimes murky waters and avoid potential pitfalls BEFORE you select a company and begin business. Many times, people jump into direct sales without knowing what questions to ask, which opportunities are good fits for them, and exactly what to be aware of. Sometimes they’ll get lucky. More than likely, however, their expectations aren’t met, they don’t generate the kind of success they imagined, and they quit before they get started, assuming there is no way to make money in this industry.