G'Bye 2008 and Why I'm Happy to Leave it behind!

Good Riddance, 2008!

The end of another year and what a year it was! In my household alone, 2008 was by far the most challenging year my husband and I have ever had professionally. We are both in the mortgage industry and have about 40 years collectively of experience. That should count for something, right? Wrong!

My husband was laid off twice in 2008...first by Bear Stearns (we didn't get the 6 month severance package that the Wall St. guys got!).....and again, two weeks before Christmas from a mortgage technology company.

My job as a retail loan officer started off with a fizzle in January '08 and continued to deteriorate as South Florida property values plummeted and mortgage lending tightened. Commission only doesn't pay the bills when there are no loans to close!

So, what are two talented sales and marketing mortgage people to do? Wallow in self-pity and live on "Woe Is Me Island"? Well, maybe for a couple weeks but after that....you just gotta pull yourself up by the bootstraps and get busy finding a way to bring income in. For my husband, that meant getting resumes out and networking with peers....it also has meant working odd jobs....painting a friends house, landscaping a neighbors yard...etc. One thing about my husband that I love...he's not too proud to get his hands dirty to support his family.

For me, it meant finding a way to start my own business where I could make some quick cash without having to invest a huge amount of money to start it. And, no....it isn't a business that would make my Pastor blush! The business that I started in September of '08 that has been very rewarding and is building every day is......network marketing. I know what you might be thinking......oh, brother....another one of those crazy sales people who joined a network marketing company and have sipped the Kool-Aid and they're off the deep end. Actually, what I've found in the past few months is quite the opposite. There are some really great, professional and intelligent business people in network marketing! Why?

Here's what attracted me to my Network Marketing Business:

• It's a self-employed business! I don't have to worry about lay-offs or cutbacks.
• Network Marketing businesses thrive in bad or sluggish economies.
• My business is online, so I don't have to sell product or stock inventory!
  
• I can use my business to help non-profit organizations fundraise (alot of non-profits are in crisis mode from low contributions due to the economy)
• I can work the hours that I want from home (no office to rent)
• I made my initial investment back within 2 weeks and made $4,200 in my first 30 days
  
• I save money for my family by shopping on my own website and earning cash back
• It's an easy concept for people to understand, so there's no selling!
• I can build a team that I motivate and help others be successful, which I love doing.