Entrepreneurship: The Commission Decison

When talking to people about entrepreneurship in the network marketing industry and as an independent startup, the number one question is always about how and how much cash flow can be relied on. These questions are very valid! I am aware that bills don't pay themselves and creditors do not accept excuses or allow extensions while you're trying to figure things out.

I am an entrepreneur in the network marketing arena and in the start-up arena as well. There are three basic and very important skills that an individual needs to be aware of before making the journey to entrepreneurship and making the commission decision. Most Americans have an employee/guaranteed paycheck mindset, and due to the "commission" nature of entrepreneurship, you'll need to develop these skills to survive!

Coachability: You must be coachable. If you are a start-up entrepreneur, you will NEED a mentor. Read books, hire a coach, and focus on personal development. The more willing you are to learn and deflect to wise counsel, the better off you are in the long run. You will be able to learn without the critical mistakes that most entrepreneurs have made.

System: Follow a proven system! If you are a network marketing entrepreneur, FOLLOW THE SYSTEM THAT YOUR UPLINE TEACHES YOU! This will ensure that you can maximize your chances of having the same results that top earners in the company have achieved. Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Just implement the skills that you are learning from your mentor.

Effort: Do you put in the same effort when you're alone that you do when you're around others? I have to be honest here. I truly believe that the issue with the commission decision is hat most people don't work their hardest when no-one is looking! I believe that we have come to a place where individuals are goofing off and doing just the minimum for a guaranteed paycheck! As an entrepreneur, you will need to work harder than you've ever worked.You will need to be accountable to yourself and your family as well as your upline (if you're a network marketing entrepreneur).

If for any reason you can not master or practice these skills, you are set for a truly bumpy experience! Challenge yourself more so that when you step out into the market, you are ready for the chllenges that are sure to come!

~Shanta

The Reaper Effect

What happens when a person dies? Their families lose everything they've ever worked for and move to an apartment a few blocks away from the projects, the children leave their home, their school, and their friends, and the remaining parent or caregiver struggles to make ends meet while the child struggles to cope with the loss of a parent and making new friends!

Wouldn't it be terrible if that was the grim reaper effect? Total loss? For far too long people have lived this reality and families have gone without proper protection from the reaper, and this has to stop! With the growing rate of single parent homes, we need to be educated on how to properly plan for our futures so that our children can grieve us properly! Death is inevitable, but it doesn't have to effect our children's lives any more than our loss already does.

Over the next few weeks, we will be talking about life insurance: dispelling the rumors, educating the masses, and how to get people the coverage they need on their budget! Let's change the reaper effect from total loss to plain grief. You can rebound from both, but loss lasts much longer!

As a single mother, this information truly changed my perspective on some things! Now I can truly say that my son will be financially established if I pass away.  Let's start the talk about insurance! Let's not stop until everyone has the coverage that they need!

~Shanta

My Take: The Natural Hair Debate

I am personally natural and have been for over 10 years, but when I made the decision it was frowned upon! People that I love told me that I looked "thrown away" with my curly tresses or that I "needed to do my hair." Now that it has become popular and is often a trending hash tag (#teamnatural #curlyhairdontcare etc) people are more accepting of it; however, it is still not accepted as a lifestyle change, and many people do it for what I consider the "wrong reasons."

My reasons for going natural...

1. To make sure that my hair was healthy.
2. As I traveled on this journey, it was also a step to embracing myself in my rawest form.

Other people's reason for going natural...

1. "I wanted hair like Joan Clayton from Girlfirends (Tracee Ellis Ross)."
2. "I wanted hair like Freddie on A Different World (Cree Summers)"
3. "I had 'good hair' when I was a little girl before they permed it!"

When people go natural for any other reasons than healthy hair and lifestyle changes, it usually ends badly. Natural hair is AMAZING, but it does require work! If you don't moisturize, wear protective styles, comb from the ends (if you comb at all), and keep it moisturized (LOL), it's very difficult to manage! Then this happens...

1. "I can't walk around with no nappy hair on my head like that!"
2. "I tried that natural thing, and it was not for me! Those naps were too hard to deal with!"
3. "Girl, you DO NOT want to do that! That nappy hair is not where it's at!"
4. "If you do that, you can't get a good job!"
5. "If you wear your hair like that, you'll look too ethnic!"
6. "Mh mh, what is that? A bird's nest? Oh, a twist out... Mh, ok..."

Natural hair comes in many different styles!! The curly waves, ringlets, tight coils, loose coils, and the KINKY! Whatever kind of natural hair you have growing out of your scalp, be proud of it and who you are! If you get braids, wigs, extensions, relaxers, etc, be confident in your decision and don't put down another woman for choosing not to. If you choose to wear your hair in its natural state (curls, locs, shaved, etc), don't down other women who choose not to. Let's remember to support and uplift one another as sisters, NOT COMPETITION! After all, we are not defined by our hair but by the spirit in which we interact with our fellow sisters!

3rd big chop

~Shanta

How to start in business: LLC or Network Marketing

Let's talk business. There are many firms in the marketplace and in every industry that claim to be "just right" for you and everyone else, but if you are a business man or woman, you are very specific about what you are looking for in business and what you want to do. When it comes to starting a business from scratch, consider the following:

1. You are on your own. No one is there to help you figure things out. You are likely pioneering this business.
2. You accept all risk of failure or success. There is likely no system in place and every thing rests on your own actions. You are only accountable to yourself.

Of course it's not that simple, but these are two truths that I have found to be very relevant over the last six months. In a network marketing company, there are many other benefits Let's take a look at two I found in PHP.

1. I have a team. My marketing director and business partners all have my best interest at heart. They keep me focused on the system so that I can be successful.
2. I am accountable to others. My team keeps me honest! I can't waffle no matter what legitimate excuses come up in my personal life.

 Another thing to consider is that most network marketing firms are proven in their industry unlike an individual start up firm. In my recent Marketing course, we discussed branding. This YouTube video regarding social media marketing was one of the resources used for our last assignment. It may surprise you to know that 90% of consumers trust peer recommendations while only 14% trust advertisements! This is why network marketing, along with social media, are the wave of the future. As we become more "social" and interdependent, person to person recommendations are key to convincing the public that anything is worth their dollars!

Think about your life. I am passionate about healthy finances and healthy skin. Since I was not able to gain experience in the financial arena on my own, I decided to make my own experience. PHP is the vehicle that I am using to make that a reality. It's not for everybody, but there are many network marketing firms in the marketplace that can fit into anyone's passions and feed the need for entrepreneurship! Franchising is still entrepreneurship, and the skills that you learn will help you avoid costly mistakes when you step out on your own. Here are a few lists to get you started doing your research for the Network Marketing firm that fits your passions! I'll be talking more about PHP and why I am passionate about this firm in the coming weeks!

Top 100 Global Direct Selling Companies 2015

Network Marketing Central 

~Shanta

SUMMER VACATION SALE

Morning Glory Olive Oil Soap

Whooooooooooo baby it's HOT out there! It's time for a little cool down for the Summer! Blessed Body Brand will be taking a hiatus until the Fall/Winter season. Once all of my inventory is cleared out, I can begin restocking for the Fall/Winter product line! That means savings for you! From now until I am sold out, all products are 30% off with code VACATION on the Blessed Body Market Etsy shop! This doesn't mean that some (or all) of these products won't come back, but I need to clear the space to create!

Shea Butter Solid Lotion Bars

This sale includes all of our top selling soaps, body butters, lotion bars, and lip balms! The only products not included are custom orders! We will begin accepting custom orders again in the Fall/Winter season. I look forward to continued opportunities to serve you and your family! Please like, share, comment, and tell a friend :) Be blessed!

~Shanta

BLESSED BODY BRAND OUTLET STORE

 Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to announce the opening of the BBB Quick Shop! This is the place to go for hot deals on quality BBB products! Like COACH and Crazy 8 we have our very own outlet shop!! I'll be posting some great deals there as I go through my inventory throughout the year to declutter and make room for new products! Be sure you save the link and visit frequently! The BBB Quick Shop is open for business!



~Shanta

Mompreneurship: How can I find the balance between being a mom and an entrepreneur?

How can I find the balance between being a mom and an entrepreneur?

I ask myself this question on a regular basis, and I could not find the answer! Between running Blessed Body Brand, Prosperity Legacy, LLC, PHP, and another opportunity that is just getting started, I was running out of ideas to keep my child and my ventures in balance! It was getting way out of hand! My son had barely any structure, he was going non-stop because I was going non-stop. In April, when i got my "new" car, I drove over 2,000 miles in less than 3 weeks. he was with me for just about every mile. By the time we got back home, we were both exhausted, but it wasn't until I connected with Soribel Martinez that I realized how much my efforts to build my business were interfering with my efforts as mom!!

I wasn't neglecting my son by any means. He was fed, bathed, hugged & kissed, and told many a bedtime story, but I wasn't talking to him as a person! During my first session with Soribel, she helped me to discover my actual parenting style and how I could become a more active parent. In our next session, we discussed some strategies to implement to begin the process of balancing my businesses with my most important relationship! I'll share a few with you.

1. Set a schedule and be CONSISTENT!
2. For every hour of work, spend at least 15 minutes interacting with him.
3. Create a vision board to help explain why mommy is working and give him his own job to do while I work.
4. Take better care of myself: relax in a hot tub, paint my nails, talk on the phone, read a book, etc. A cared for mommy is a caring/capable mommy.
5. Set clearly defined expectations, consequences, and rewards.

I immediately set to work putting these things into place, and although I am still working on being consistent, I can see such a marked improvement in my son's behavior! He loves doing his Morning 4, and he loves talking about our goals! His goals include a Thomas Train table, a big birthday party, and a trip to the GA Aquarium! I had no idea that he had so much input until I actually took the time to sit down with him and talk. Having a conversation with a three-year old is not always fun and giggles. He is such a well rounded individual that I can't help but to be amazed at the way he speaks and what he wants from life at such a young age!

Don't make the mistake of assuming that just because your child is young that they don't have an opinion and they just go with the flow. You will likely find that when you start to include them in the process, they are very receptive to helping and are full of ideas!! I am so excited to spend more time with Sori!! The next class is going to be June 6th, 2015. Sign up for Active Parenting Training for MOMS and learn how you can become a more active and balanced mompreneur!! I am so glad that I did!!!

~Shanta