I used to sell makeup through network marketing.
Oof, that felt a bit hard to admit! The industry as a whole is controversial, and I get that. To some, it seems scammy and annoying. To others, it feels empowering and a great way to earn financial freedom on your own terms.
It was that second part that got me. When my first was born, money was tight. I had gone from working full-time to only about 15 hours a week. We needed more income, and I thought direct sales could work, because I could fit it into the “nooks and crannies” of life. The concept wasn’t new to me; my mom had her own ventures in networking marketing when I was a kid (and that was largely pre-Internet), and when I signed up, I joined through a friend who had already experienced enormous success. So, I thought, why not me?
The Benefits of My Network Marketing Experience
Honestly, I had some relative success with it. Slow and steady success (not the ricochet to the top like some in network marketing would have you believe), but success all the same. Shortly after Buster was born, I achieved elite status and even earned an all-expenses-paid trip to Puna Cana for my family. It also paid for unexpected expenses, like car repairs, and more than once, it allowed my kids to take part in extracurricular activities we wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise.
Then there was the educational aspect. I had already worked in social media, but the things I learned at our conferences and trainings with my upline were enormous. I learned about attraction marketing, building email lists, making videos, how I could grow my business authentically, and so much more.
Beyond the financial and educational benefits, I grew as a person, too. Not only did I regularly step out of my comfort zone through in-person events, but I also met a ton of people. My network grew exponentially over five years, and I still keep in touch with many of the people I met.
One of the biggest reasons I can’t regret network marketing entirely is that it taught me about myself, like what I was capable of when I set my mind to something. It taught me to step outside my comfort zone, try new things, to put myself out there, and to not be so afraid of what people might think. After all, as we all know, there will always be “haters,” but you gotta do your own thing anyway.
But I Wish I’d Never Gotten Into Direct Sales
Despite those benefits, looking back, I feel like getting into network marketing was a mistake, and I’ll tell you why…
I wanted a “quick fix” for income, and the business I chose wasn’t aligned with what really lit me up. I am 1000% sure my friends thought I had lost my mind; when they think of me, they never associated with ‘makeup and skincare.’ I wasn’t honoring who I was and what I really wanted to do: write and share stories.
Don’t get me wrong; during my five years of network marketing, I still wrote—my journal was a huge part of that—and I started this blog in 2015, about one year after Little Miss was born. I even submitted stories off and on to publications, like Chicken Soup for the Soul—but the key phrase here is “off and on.”
SO much of my energy went into my network marketing business and making it work, and we all know that where focus goes, energy flows.
What if I had put that energy into my writing? To querying? Submitting my work more?
I know I can’t think like that. This type of hindsight thinking doesn’t do anyone any good.
But I’m writing this post now because I felt like I needed to get these thoughts out there. Plus, I figured another mom like me might be wondering what’s next for them, about what they might do to “re-find” themselves, and about how they might want to make extra money.
My advice?
Focus on something that lights you up, truly. Don’t focus on only the short term; consider the long term, too. Journal about it. Write your list of pros and cons, and choose the thing that excites you. With the internet now, the world is full of possibilities for jobs, but sometimes it’s almost too much. (Shiny object syndrome, anyone?) Focus on what brings you joy and get creative in how you approach it. Network marketing is definitely not the only way to work from home; my career in freelance writing and editing is also a testament to that.
My writing journey has been full of ups and downs, but telling stories is what I’ve always come back to, each and every time. Back in 2018, I even wrote in my journal, “I want to help people tell their stories,” even though I wasn’t quite sure what that would look like. Plot twist: it’s taken a whole lot of different forms over the years, including ghost writing.
It took me time to really “own” that writing and telling stories is a core part of who I am, and I might have network marketing to thank for that in ways. After all, like I said before, it taught me quite a bit about who I am.
That’s why my thoughts on network marketing aren’t black and white. I regret getting into the industry, but I also don’t. And ain’t that just a fact of life? All we can do is move on from those experiences, learn and grow from them, and focus on what’s next.
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If you want help embracing your own creativity and path forward, let’s chat.
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