Posted on September 17, 2019 by dragonspitapothecary
Why are we so worried what other people will say or think when we share we are doing direct sales?
Why do we feel so rejected and disappointed when they don’t seem happy or even supportive of our decision?
Why does their opinion take away the glitter and excitement of what we felt was right for us?
When I first started my direct sales business I was super excited but I was also shy about telling people about it. What would people think? Would my friends stop talking to me? Nobody likes direct sales so why in the world am I doing this? These questions and more rolled around in my head on the verge of overshadowing my initial excitement of starting this new adventure. Why was this happening? I had a really legitimate reason for starting this business. I had vetted this opportunity thoroughly and felt good about my decision but yet here I was mumbling when telling people about it. How in the world was I going to be successful if I couldn’t even admit to people this was now my new side business?
The negative stigma that can be attached to direct sales can sometimes carryover to our businesses and we suddenly feel defensive of it. Like we personally are somehow the reason people are turned off from direct sales and that everyone who has this type of business isn’t really a small business owner. They are real business owners first of all. Secondly, the tide is turning for what it means to work in this type of business. Yet, regularly we find ourselves awkwardly trying to deflect telling people what we are doing. This makes us uncomfortable and is probably causing us to miss a potential great opportunity to work with someone as a customer.
Direct Sales Isn’t a Dirty Job
Mike Rowe, a popular TV and radio personality hosted a show called Dirty Jobs. In these shows Mike would participate in performing manual labor jobs that were as disgusting, dirty, smelly and unpleasant as you can imagine. The shows were comical yet showed that many hardworking people performed some pretty incredibly gross jobs to make their living. Despite how the job smelled or how dirty they got, each person was extremely proud of what they did and here they were on TV with Mike Rowe showing him how it was done. It was actually very humbling to watch.
Is what you do every day for your business to thrive something you should be ashamed of and hide from others knowing about it? Have you ever mumbled or deflected in response to what you do for a living when it comes to your business? Why aren’t we lifting our heads and proudly saying THIS is what I do and I love it!
The minute I realized that by hiding what I did was not doing my business justice and I was leading it to its demise by doing that I changed how I responded to that question. I started a blog and learned to use my voice. I opened other forums like social media to actually start promoting my business. I told all my friends and if they were confused or dismayed at what I was doing that was ok, I continued on anyway. There were lots of people surprised but there was also lots of loving support. Whether they supported me or not I was committed to being proud of my choice to have my own business and taking that journey selling what I do. Becoming more and more comfortable in my own skin as an entrepreneur has enabled me to take it to the next level and actually create my own products to sell in addition to my doTERRA products. What an opportunity missed had I continued to hide what I was I doing.
If you can’t look someone in eye and proudly respond to the question about what you do for a living then ask yourself why? There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of in this type of work and in fact it is one of the most lucrative financial opportunities available. You are exactly like me with a strong reason this was right decision for you. You are not having to roll in manure or stick your arms into sticky gross situations to earn money either. You are just selling something. It’s as basic and good as it comes. Unfortunately an application to the Mike Rowe TV show would probably not be approved as being dirty enough for him to spend a day with you too.
Frozen by Fear
Our own limiting beliefs is often what causes our businesses to struggle. We can complain about not having any new customers, good sales volume or results but if we dig under those complaints we see that often we are a large part of the cause. Like it or not, when you are in business for yourself everything falls to you whether it is your fault or not. So it is really your fault and you may be in your own way frozen by fear.
When we are in our own way and limiting our business it looks like this most commonly:
We don’t initiate conversations with new people to introduce ourselves.
We avoid telling people we have this business
We don’t follow up with someone because we don’t know what to say and don’t want to sound pushy so we just don’t make the call
We hold off asking someone to host a class for us because we know they couldn’t afford what we have to sell
We find 1000 other things to do besides focus on an income producing activity for our business
We think it will just happen on its own if it’s meant to be
Oh it simply breaks my heart to even type these things and realize how many I easily slipped in along the way too. Yes, it’s so easy to go focus on something more pleasant when you’re hearing no for the 10th time. Yes, it’s super comforting to avoid calling someone because well they probably wouldn’t return our call anyway so why bother them. I seriously understand and personally know it’s not easy or even comfortable at times but if you want a successful business of your own sometimes you’re going to need to give yourself that little nudge and stop hiding what you are doing.
Interested in more?
It’s ok to feel awkward, nervous and shy but don’t let that get in the way of doing what is right for your business. Trust your instincts, be confident and don’t let fear stop you. You have the strength, grace and support to do this!
Being successful in your new business starts with you! Your talent combined with my Choose Your Path set of tools and support along with doTERRA’s beautiful natural products is the formula for success. I am here to help you reach your dreams and be successful in direct sales. Join me today by clicking here!