I am a beauty consultant drop out. The first step is in admitting it. The next step was finally purging my office (ahem…dining room) of anything that reminded of the failed attempt at being the next pink Cadillac driving Mary Kay lady. I had all the fixings for a start at a new business. Promotional goods such as pens, mugs, postcards, tote bags and anything else I could get for free from Vistaprint. In addition, I had order forms galore and catalogs or all the wonderful lipstick you could buy. I ended up keeping all the samples and make up bags that came with basic beauty consultant kit and recycling the rest. The only thing I could not throw away or recycle was the website, which by the way, I still have although I have forgotten how to access it so please don’t buy anything. All that is left of an almost $300 investment in a new business was the knowledge that outside sales is not for me. It was something I suspected but decided I would give it ole college try anyway.
So why did I fail, you ask?
I assumed that since I was experienced in retail sales that I would be good at outside sales. Now, for many this is the case. However, outside sales takes a certain kind of personality. It’s easy to work in a store where the customer walks up to and asks for merchandise. It’s not so easy to walk into someone’s personal space and say, “hey, you want to buy this?” Shameless self-promoting is the core of outside sales and if you are uncomfortable doing that or rejection, then stay away from outside sales. Sure you will find those who say they never believed they could do it yet they are making $1000 a week or more. However, I suspect those are the people who secretly want to be salespeople but didn’t have the confidence until their new business. It’s not my personality to sale in this fashion or this product.
A business is not a business if you don’t put the work into it. Without the work and time, it’s simply paper, samples and a website. For an outside sales business to work you have to work it. You have to have a schedule, a plan, a goal. I just wanted spending money. I had no interest in really selling the merchandise. I especially had no interest in keeping up a quota. I don’t even like going to selling parties much less be the seller!
Even if you are someone gifted with outside sales, it is best to find a company you feel strongly about. Mary Kay is a great company. They have wonderful products that never disappoint. The company is top notch. Yet, I did not have a passion for it. Which caused me to put more time into other things in my life and allowed my Mary Kay business to go by the wayside.
Find your passion and you found your business. I am happy to report I have started my own business with friend. It is one I am passionate about and while we just began I am already seeing the fruit of our labor. In addition, I love to work on it as much as possible. If your business does not mean that to you then no matter success you may have in quotas you will retain none personally. Business is personal.