Tough Pill to Swallow

Happy New Year ya'll! I hope your holidays were spent making memories with family and friends and not behind the screen of your phone! 

I have never been one to back down from a challenge, nor do I like to keep my mouth shut. Over the last few weeks, I have seen some social media posts surrounding "those things" and the " schemes" that people are a part of. And I have to put my two cents out there - because enough is enough. 

Yes, there are people out there in the direct sales world that are aggressive, and they need to learn how to approach the topic in an organic nature. HOWEVER, if someone reaches out to you to share something that they  have had success with, instead of shutting them down, be grateful that they considered reaching out to you in the first place. That could not have been an easy step for them. There's no need to create a negative energy around work from home businesses/side hustles. 

We are living in a society where paychecks aren't cutting it (thanks student loan debt..) so we have to find another avenue to supplement the income. This could be a side job at a retail store or part time at a brick and mortar store. This could be some makeup that we got our hands on that has helped keep breakouts at a minimum and look flawless. It could be all natural products to clean our homes that aren't on shelves in stores. It could be adorable, monogram-able tote bags that kick our style up a notch. It could be a health and wellness program that has helped us get ourselves on the right path and live our best lives. We may have found a shampoo/conditioner that are giving us incredible results after only a few washes. 

Regardless of what it is - if someone is reaching out to share their opportunity with you, they want you to have the same success. They want you to live your best life. They want you to have incredible confidence. They want you to understand that there's more than just working till you're exhausted to make ends meet. Instead of shit talking them on social media, take a step back and appreciate that they considered you. Sure, there are mass messages sent out and those are THE WORST. But what about the ones that are personalized? What about the ones who have a relationship with you? 

I am a part of a direct sales/MLM company. I have been for almost 6 years now. I used to be that person - "I am not getting involved in that system. It's not for me." Wrong Kat. So wrong. Have I been successful in my side business? When I put my mind to it and put in the effort that's needed, yes. If I sit back and wait for someone else to do it for me, then no. I took a step back from promoting my side hustle because I needed to focus on myself and get back into the right mindset. I cannot promote a healthy lifestyle if I am not living it. That's not how it works. 

I took a chance back in November of last year and changed up my hair routine. I wanted to see how healthy it would be if I washed it less, and with quality products. Well, 2 months later I am happy to report that it's the healthiest it's ever been. I cannot wait to do a before and after next month after giving it the 3 month trial process I always tell myself I need to do when trying a new product. After giving this line some time to transform my hair - I am considering picking up the side hustle that is available through the company. 

Watching my close friends make residual income while hustling full time - is inspiring to me.  We are moving away from brick and mortar stores, and doing a lot of our shopping online. Why not take a chance on some products that have changed friends' lives? Why not take yourself out of your comfort zone and see how it changes? Why continue to live paycheck to paycheck and struggle? Because it's easier? Get off your high horse. 

Do people spamming us with messages, or posting a relentless amount of pictures about their side hustle drive us crazy? Of course! There's a way to build a business without turning everyone off. However, judging people because they are trying to better their lives by trying these direct sales companies - is not only wrong, but unnecessary. How does their devotion to a direct sales company hurt your life? Rather than condemn them publicly and try to shame everyone, take a step back. You'd want support if you started a new venture, wouldn't you? 

Different programs work for different people. None of us are the same. The things we decide to partake in on our own time - are our own decisions. The next time you want to shit on someone's program, take a second. You do not know what they are fighting through, or why they decided to join the company they chose. Instead of being so negative, ask them about it. Ask them to explain it to you. A few things could happen.. 1. You will learn why they decided to partner with the company they did. 2. You may find something you want to try. 3. You won't spread negative energy around the already bogged down direct sales market. 

I will leave you with this.. if someone reaches out to you regarding their MLM/direct sales company, and you're not interested - be kind. There's no reason to speak ill of what they are doing. Instead, try "Thank you so much for reaching out to me to share your side hustle. I am simply not interested, but wish you the best on this venture!" and see how the conversation changes.