Success Story
Elaine Camyn, Changes International
Elaine Camyn was one of those behind-the-scenes people who make corporate America tick. As an executive secretary for a big company, Elaine worked 8am to 5pm, five days every week, making sure the bosses knew what was up.
"I had a great job," she remembers, "but I didn't have a life. I was living to work, and the paycheck just barely covered my living expenses. I felt controlled, caged. My job wasn't taking me anywhere-- fast. I knew there had to be something else in life."
Seven years ago, Elaine was introduced to Network Marketing by an acquaintance. She liked the idea of residual income, and jumped in feet first. But it didn't work out quite like she thought it would....
I really knew nothing about Network Marketing. The girl that first got me started said I had to put $3,000 of products on my credit card, which I did. Then she ditched me. It was so scary. It took me three years just to retail that stuff and get my money back. So two years into Networking, I had just broken even.
That just made me more determined. I had learned enough about the industry to know that it really does work. I just had to find the right company and the right people to work with. In my heart, I wanted to be one of those successful people, one of the people on stage. I wanted to tell my story. I didn't see a chance for anything like that to happen if I stayed behind a desk, so I kept trying.
Somebody cold-called me about another Networking opportunity, and I decided to give that a try. Two years later, I still hadn't made any money. I did everything I knew to do, but no matter what I did, I couldn't turn a profit. By then I was four years into Network Marketing, and I hadn't made the first dollar! My husband started to roll his eyes, the people at work were making fun of me, but I didn't quit. I had a passion about it, and that kept me going.
In April of 1996, I got something in the mail about Changes. I learned more about it and decided to get involved with the company. I worked hard, at night and every weekend, and made the sacrifices you need to make. After just ten months, I was making three times what my job as a secretary was paying me. I quit my job and went full-time into Networking. I walked out of corporate America with my head held high-- making more than my boss!
If you want to make it in Network Marketing, you have to learn to manage frustration-- and I mean a lot of frustration. It's frustrating having to talk to so many people who aren't interested. You run into no's, into negative people. People teased me for four years, made fun of me, called it a pyramid. People said that I couldn't do it, that nobody ever made money in those things. That's so frustrating, especially when you're not making any money and you wonder if maybe they're right.
It's frustrating when people tell you they are interested, and they give you these big promises about the work they're willing to do, and then they quit and disappoint you.
All the frustration you encounter can be overcome with one question that you ask yourself: What's my "why"? If you know deep in your heart why you want to be successful in Networking, and commit to it, then the frustrating things don't matter anymore.
I didn't make any money in Network Marketing for four years. In fact, I was losing money! But I had my "why"-- I wanted freedom. And I knew that as long as I had that, and stayed in motion, it would happen for me one day.
When people say `no' or tease you, remind yourself about your "why." That's all that matters. It works, believe me. It keeps you on track. People can make as much fun of me as they want-- I'm laughing all the way to the bank.
This is a business, and a business never stands still. It either goes forward or backward. If you don't do something every single day to push your business forward, it will slide backward.
You have to constantly be filling the pipeline every day. I don't care if it's five calls a day, ten calls a day, whatever. You've got to constantly be talking to people anywhere and everywhere because if you stop, then all of a sudden-- bam! Everything will slow down. You'll lose momentum, your business will stop moving forward, and you'll get disappointed. That's when a lot of people quit.
Look, there is no secret formula in Network Marketing. Sometimes people come into the industry thinking they can find a secret system. But it doesn't exist. The keys to success are simple: a "big why" and lots of hard work. That's all there is to it. Be willing to work, manage your frustrations, commit to the long haul, and it will happen for you. You can't just sit there and wait for it to come to you. You have to go out there and get it.
My philosophy for success in Network Marketing is put people first, products second, and money last. Get straight with those priorities, and you will be more successful in this industry than you can probably imagine.
It's all about people and relationships; about friendships and compassion. Be patient with your people. Everyone comes to the business at a different point in their lives, with their own unique reasons for being involved, their own concerns, their own fears, and their own unique talents. Invest in your relationships with these people, and the money will follow.
Hands down, the best thing about my experience with Networking has been the freedom that comes with success. I'm not talking about money because you can't put a price on getting up when you want to get up; running your day how you want to run it; being in charge of your own schedule; never having to listen to an alarm clock; and never having to answer to a boss. It's priceless.
I come downstairs in the morning when I feel like it, make my coffee and pet all my cats-- while everybody else is off at work. I turn on my computer, check my email, check my messages, drink my coffee; and the day is mine. You can't put any money amount on that.
I have the ability now to bring such joy to people, and to affect people's lives in a positive way. I'm making a difference. I have a life now.
ELAINE CAMYN is a full-time Networker with Changes International, a division of TwinLab, Network Marketers of health and nutrition products. Elaine is a Five Star Executive and member of the Presidential Advisory Board and has been with the company for three years. Elaine lives in Spokane, WA with her husband John and their four cats.
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Reprinted with permission from Upline, Camyn - Success Story - May 1999, 888-UPLINE-1, http://www.upline.com
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