The Downside of the Ground Floor

by Traci Anderson | More from this Blogger

21 Jan 2007 04:18 PM

I am a member of numerous work at home forums where women (and some men) network with one another about various work at home opportunities. If I had a dime for every time I read the phrase, "ground-floor opportunity", I wouldn't have to worry about working at home any longer.

If you've looked into any "ground-floor" opportunities (whether it be network marketing, direct sales or other related multi-level-marketing businesses) someone has probably tried to convince you of all the many reasons you should "get in on the ground-floor".

"You can be the first to introduce the products to your friends and family".

"You will not have any competition".

"You can build a team of consultants before the market is flooded".

Trust me, it is easy to get caught up in the hype of a ground-floor business opportunity. Can you imagine what the very first consultants for companies like Tupperware, Avon and Pampered Chef are earning now? (That is...if they stuck it out?)

You see, that's the problem with many ground-floor opportunities. The businesses are brand new. The products are not well-recognized and it takes twice as much work to earn the publics' trust. While launch consultants, "charter leaders", and "founders" may find it quite easy to build a team of consultants, they also have to deal with problems that every new business faces in the early years such as supply problems, shipping issues, packaging problems and basic brand recognition issues.

Should you join a ground-floor business? That depends. Do you have thick enough skin to handle the bumps in the road that are sure to follow? Are you doing it for the right reasons? Ground floor opportunities are not "easy-money" opportunities. While the rewards of joining early can be tremendous (if the company lasts) the initial work involved is often much more difficult.

Related reading... MLM and Direct Sales - Why they Rock Direct Sales

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Learn more about Traci Anderson

Traci is a work-at-home-mom (WAHM) from beautiful Big Sky Country (Montana). She spends most of her time trying to keep up with two extremely energetic (but hysterical) Irish twins.

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