Viva Mexico!

So, it has been a while since I've written... Like 5 months. I'm so sorry about that, my dear reader. I've just been outrageously busy with things other than this business. That is the wonderful thing about working with this company, though-- I can put it on the shelf for as long as I need to take a break, and the checks still keep coming. And they're not tiny checks-- I earn enough per month to pay for the monthly tuition for my twins to go to Catholic school. It's fantastic, really. I keep thinking about if I started back in 2009, when my best friend Dionne introduced me to the company. I've been working with this company for a little over two years, and I have earned just under $28,000. From home. In my pajamas. Without any investment. Without any sales. I set my business up once and have been paid on it ever since. That never happened with the other at-home businesses I tried before this one: Mary Kay, PartyLite, Pampered Chef, Aloette, Monavie, Avon and Mary Kay. If I didn't leave my house and do sales, I didn't earn any money. Period. Last month, I worked 7 hours and made just under $600. Not too shabby.

As you may already know, I own Candy Cain Travel. I go to Mexico a lot. I have a lot of friends in Mexico. Well, guess what? My company just opened for business IN MEXICO!!!! I cannot even begin to express to you how excited I am!! I am able to share this amazing company with people in my favorite country (besides the USA, of course). I'm really thrilled. If you live in Mexico and are interested in working from home, email me for information and I am happy to tell you all about it.

Even if you don't live in Mexico, I can share what I do from home with you. You just have to be 18 years or older and be able to work in the country in which you live. 

I love this business, and I would love to share it with you.

Call me crazy...

Sally, Antonio and Me - Goofing off at Convention!

I am a fun-loving individual. I am boisterous. I am out-going. I don't sugarcoat anything. I used to be a professional actress and even had my own television show in development. I have never done well with the 9 - 5 job, so I've always thought outside of the box. I owned a theatre company. I own a travel and event planning company, Candy Cain Travel.  I've done PartyLite, Pampered Chef, Aloette, Monavie, Avon and Mary Kay, and I learned that I stink at sales. I've looked into Amway and Shaklee-- Not interested in sales. I tried Instant Rewards-- too much effort for too little return, plus it's a scam that won't let you opt out if you want to. I signed up for Rippln, thinking that it was going to be free, and it turns out that there is a financial risk that I'm just not willing to take.

I'm your average, ordinary, American mom that wants a better life for her kids, but also gets to spend as much time as possible with them while working. Is that too much to ask?

My son, Charlie. I don't miss ANYTHING now!

Fortunately, I was introduced to a company in 2009 that I partnered with in 2011 that allows me to do just that: Spend time with my kids and make money from home. 

I paid $29 to enroll and do some of my monthly grocery shopping through the company. In return, I get to make as much money from home as I want-- Unlimited. It depends on me and what I want to put into it. I'm shopping somewhere else anyway, so why not?

I first started my business on August 6, 2011 and I worked for 5 hours per week. In my first year (working about 260 hours total), I earned $10,075.86-- That's $38.75 per hour! I decided to put more time into it. In 22 months, I have earned a hair over $23,000. I don't pay for gas, which is a big deal because I currently drive a gas-guzzling 2006 Jeep. I get a ton of tax deductions. I make what I want to earn, and I get to help people do the same. I love my job. I love this company. It has changed my life, and I really consider it a blessing.

I am a big believer in blessings. I donate to charity. I help as many people as I possibly can change their lives for the better. I believe that I am an inherently good person, and I really go out of my way to help people.

My daughter, Catie, who is my mini-me!

So, when someone named Amy added me to a FaceBook group called the Blessing Gold Club, I didn't remove myself the way I usually remove myself from groups that people add me to without my permission. (Considering I have over 3600 FaceBook "friends," I get added to a lot.) I let it sit and watched it grow...

And grow...

And GROW!!

I was one of the first people in this group. There are now over 20,000 people in it. Why? Because of word of mouth. People refer others who refer others who refer others... And so the beat goes on. 

So, what do you do with the Blessing Gold Club, exactly? You "Bless" someone by sending in $109 to a PO Box in PA. You must send it in cash and fill out a statement saying that you do not expect any money in return. Then, you wait. Eventually, you will receive "blessings"-- Money sent to you in cash. There are eight rounds. In the seventh round, you receive $24,600.  The total "blessings" you receive for sending in that $100 is $38,100. But you also get blessed with a couple of other positions, and it turns into more. But, let's just use the $38,100 total. that is 381 people PER PERSON that has to send in $109 in order for someone to make the entire promised amount.

The math doesn't work for me, but whatever. I think the hope is that this NEVER ends, and people just keep recycling money over and over again. Like I said, there are 20,000 people in the group. Let's say that 10,000 of them send in $109. That's $1,009,000! 

Can you imagine what would happen if all of those people decided to save money on their groceries, spend $29 to enroll and start earning money from home? It would just be extraordinary-- So many people to help.

A fool and her money?

So, guess what I did? I filled out the "here's your $109, and I don't want anything back" form and will be sending it in tomorrow. Do I expect anything back? Absolutely not. I'm a member of a club that blesses other people. 

Now let me clarify something: I am not a financially rich woman. (Yet.) I am rich in other parts of my life, and my finances are finally catching up. If someone needs to keep the $109 because they have something bad going on in their life that they need to get out of, so be it. I don't have money to just throw away. SOMETHING is telling me to do this, and I always listen to that little voice, so I'm doing it. If I get my $109 back, fantastic. If I get more than that back, I am going to "bless" someone new each time.

I don't have a lot of friends, especially in my area. Blessing Gold Club has put me in touch with a lot of like-minded people, and many of them have asked me about working from home. A lot of them have actually been really encouraging to me. A few of them have hit me up to recruit me for their home business. And two have flat out asked me for money.

I am not expecting any "blessings" back, to be completely honest with you. I really wanted to connect with people that are looking to earn money from home-- And these people clearly want to bring in money. I'm not going to harass anyone, but if they ask me about what I do, I'm happy to let them know. Who knows? Maybe the Blessing Gold Club is going to be a bigger blessing for me because it put me in touch with the people I want to connect with.

People that I can bless with a real way to work from home-- And you don't have to sign anything that says you don't expect to receive any money. In actuality, you have to sign a form with my company and give a social security number (or social insurance number if you're in Canada) because you are EXPECTED to make money. (CLICK HERE for more info on my company.)

With that, I leave you with a video that my friend and business partner Carole sent me about what we do. It's a good laugh for those of you that already work in my field:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZiw15VgWoI

Money For The Holidays

I remember this time of year before I started working with the company I work with now. I used to do direct sales with Aloette, Mary Kay, Avon, Pampered Chef and PartyLite. In October, I would do whatever I possibly could to get my friends and family to have parties just so that I could meet my quota. When it was all said and done, I ended up making less than $200 in profit. That really wasn't the kind of money that I was looking for when I signed up to do direct sales. Pairing that with the fact that my upline did NOTHING to help me, it was outrageously frustrating.

So, I tried to go the retail route. I worked at JC Penney, Macy*s, Bath & Body Works and Old Navy during various holiday seasons. I was on my feet for hours, working with rude people, trying to keep the inventory in the store neat, and making minimum wage. I would wear myself out and not get paid what I was worth. Talk about frustrating.

I know that there are a lot of people in this world that want (and need) to make extra money for the holidays. Fortunately, I am able to help a lot of these people. As a matter of fact, I can help you, dear reader, earn money from home. You can start earning cash for the holidays NOW, if you really wanted to. No begging your friends to have parties. No pressuring loved ones to "just buy something" from your catalog.

I have phone overviews every weeknight at 9pm EST that you can call in and listen to. I'm the one giving the overview, so you'll be speaking to me on the other end. I will answer any questions you might have-- No obligation. And I will help you earn some holiday cash. Heck, I can help you build a business to last a lonnnnng time, if you want. I will teach you everything.

If you are interested, either email me or fill out the form below.

A No-Brainer Business (Part I)

When I tell people about this business, it doesn't surprise me that the first words out of their mouths are usually, "What's the catch?" There is no catch. You enroll. You share the business with others (usually by setting appointments in the very beginning). You shop. You earn money. Period. If you want to be a leader, that is GREAT and you will probably earn more money, based on your own efforts. If you don't want to be a leader, that is fine, too. You get to do this business at YOUR own pace. You don't have to dea with a boss; just business partners that YOU choose. My main business partners are my best friend of 20 years and my neighbor (and other BFF) across the street.

Dionne & Me - BFFs for 20+ years AND business partners

I love being able to work with friends. I love making new friends in this business. I know that sounds cheesy, but it is so true. Take me and Dionne, for instance. I met Dionne when I was 15 years old. I'm 35 now. We're working together, and our relationship is stronger than ever-- Even though Dionne lives in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I'm on Long Island, NY. Dionne has a degree in Sociology from St. John's University and I have a degree in Dramatic Literature from The George Washington University. We come from two very different backgrounds, but BOTH of us can excel with this business. We are both Director V with our company. We both get to stay home with our kids. We both make a nice paycheck because we work together.

Me and Sarah, my neighbor directly across the street

Even though I LOVE working with Dionne, nothing beats working with my neighbor, Sarah. You see, I have 4 year old twins. Sarah has three kids, ages 3, 5 and 8. It is SO convenient to have someone that understands working from home right across the street. If I need help, I know that Sarah will be there for me-- And vice versa. There have been many times where we have watched each other's kids during the times the other was working. It just makes it soooo convenient to have someone that is so close by in pretty much the same situation I am (husbands working all week long, kids at home). I love having someone to celebrate with and complain to about the business that is so close. To be perfectly honest with you, Sarah bought me a fabulous bottle of strawberry vodka for my birthday this past September. I said we would only drink it for special occasions. Now we call it our "Advancement Shot" whenever either one of us advances our business.

Our company also has something called Director Celebrations, where they take you to dinner whenever you advance your Director business. Sarah and I have gone together to several Director Celebrations, and will be going to one on July 7 with another team member, Melissa. It's so much fun and FREE) to celebrate with my team. I really don't go out very often with my friends, so I look forward to this celebration every single month.

NO-BRAINER REASON 1: THIS BUSINESS IS FUN.

There are so many people "out there" looking for a way to make some money from home, whether it be full-time or part-time. The leaders on my team (Dionne, Sarah, Samantha and I) have developed a way for ANYONE to succeed at a business that is already geared to the average person. I mean, I did my entire first month (August 2011) on FaceBook, and I earned $839.26. I can teach ANYONE how to do this business on FaceBook. Furthermore, we have set it up so that people just set appointments during their first month and listen to our presentations with the people that have appointments, so that they get on-the-job training. The people that join our team learn quickly, and have a strong understanding of what it takes to earn money with our business.

We've got an AWESOME FaceBook group for people on our team, and our team alone. Everyone that joins our team gets added to our FaceBook group so that they can be in touch with people that will help them with ANY questions that they might have about the business, or just for support. I love the FaceBook group. Heck, I'm the one that started it, to tell you the truth. I'm a FaceBook addict. I wanted to bring my business to my addiction-- And it worked. FaceBook is a phenomenal business tool, and I teach people how to use it as such.

ANYONE can do this business, as long as they are at least 18 years old-- And I mean ANYONE. It doesn't matter what gender, race, age or sexual orientation you are. It doesn't matter where you live. It doesn't matter if you don't want to or just can't leave your home. It doesn't matter if you don't want to talk on the phone. It doesn't matter if you are blind, deaf or mute. Anyone who takes a shower qualifies for this business. Period.

NO BRAINER REASON 2: ANYONE CAN DO THIS BUSINESS AND SUCCEED.

The twins on vacay in June

I built my business around my twins. I played with them during the day, and worked after they went to sleep at night. I still have it around them-- They mean the world to me, and I wouldn't change it for a thing. I just feel very blessed to have this business in my life. I am trying very hard to make it my primary source of income. Another reason that I love this business is that I can travel whenever I want, and not be strapped down to working set hours. If I want to work, I can do everything online or at whatever phone number I am using on vacation. This means that I can bring my family on fun trips, which is what I remember the most about my own childhood. My mom would bring my and my sister to different places around the northeast USA, and we would spend time together. I want to do that with my family as much as possible.

It doesn't matter where I am; I can share my business with absolutely anyone. I am able to enroll people from all over the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, UK, Germany, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and any US Military base in the world onto my team. That is a LOT of people. If ever I move, my business will move with me. I can travel and not worry about being fired. How many people can say that? (All 190 people on my team can...)  I had to travel a lot with my "other business" last year, and just watcched this business grow and grow while I did. It was surprising-- And thrilling. I went to Vegas and the Dominican Republic in March. I got a check for $1811.45 with this company, which you can see from a previous blog entry. My travel had ZERO effect on my income.

NO BRAINER REASON 3: THIS BUSINESS TRAVELS WITH YOU.

Alright, three reasons is enough for now... I don't want this to be an epic entry. I'll add more reasons why this is a No Brainer Business in my next entry. Thanks for reading! And, if you're interested in joining my team or just getting more details, shoot me a message.

I Will NEVER Be Fired

A few months ago, a good friend of mine told me how 49 teaching positions were eliminated from her school district-- And tenure didn't matter. Last week, an entire department was eliminated at my husband's place of work and 135 people will lose their jobs. In this day and age, it seems that NO ONE has any job security. This economy has been morbidly depressing over the past three years (if not longer). The jobs report came out last week and it went from an unemployment rate of 8.2% to 8.1%. Not a big change.

Everytime I get a check working from home, I think of all of the people in the USA that could easily do what I do. No sales, no parties, no investment, no risk. It doesn't make sense to me why people wouldn't want to give this business a shot. Anyone can do it, regardless of education, experience, race, gender and sexual orientation. Everyone has a chance (provided they are at least 18 years old). I just don't get why people complain about not making money or how badly they need money, yet they don't do something so simple to change their circumstances. If you want your circumstances to change, YOU need to change.

On Thursday morning, my four year old son came into my bedroom, curled up next to me and asked, "Is today Charlie/Mommy Day?" I promised Charlie a day with me, but hadn't set up a day to do so. Knowing full well that I could work my business around my boy and my own life, I answered, "It sure is, Charlie. Where do you want to go first?" He was so excited. All he wanted to do was go to Toys R Us and Friendly's for lunch. I took two hours out of my day and spent it with my son. (Grandma watched his twin sister, Catherine.) The point of my story is that my business gives me the flexibility and freedom to do what I feel is important-- Such as spending quality time with my children. I can do Charlie/Mommy Day or Catherine/Mommy Day whenever I want to. I can go on vacation without having to give notice. I don't have to worry about missing work and losing my job. I know that my check will still come next month. No one is going to give me grief for spending time with my family, of fire me for taking a two hour lunch.

On Friday, I was finishing up a phone call with a new team member and I fell. I tripped on the kids' toys and fell right on my side. I knew that I was hurt, but I didn't know how badly. I got off the phone and got some help... And ended up in the hospital shortly thereafter. Sarah - one of the directors on my team - took over the presentation call that I was supposed to do at 4:00 for someone else on our team. I was there for about three hours. (Incidentally, I fractured my ankle, sprained my wrist and strained my ribs.) I came home and did a group presentation (with the support of Sarah) as I was lying on the couch and welcomed four more people to my team. Today, I was literally in bed all day long while my husband took our children to the Children's Museum of the East End. I did a few more presentations for other people and welcomed four more business builders onto my team. From bed. While in my pajamas. No, I am not kidding. In March, a Director III on my team literally did not work one day-- And she still got a check for over $400. What would you get if you didn't work for an entre month? Would you still receive a check? Heck, would you still have a job to return to?

Tomorrow, I will hobble to the Bellport Country Club for lunch with my family. I take Sundays off because I can. Sunday is my day to spend time with my family. I get to choose when I work and when I don't. I know that I'm going to make money this month that is going to pay off a big chunk of my student loans that I still have from George Washington University. It will also pay for a Disney vacation for my family.

And on Monday, I will start helping people changing their lives all over again... Will your life be one of them?

Whoops... I've Neglected You!

I was so outrageously busy in March, I neglected to post here. Oops. So sorry. It won't happen again. I was SLAMMED last month: two destination weddings, my twins' 4th birthday, my mom's 60th birthday and surprise party, my sister coming into town, yada yada yada. Oh, and I built my business as much as I could. Of course, I received a check for the work I did in February:

I must say, I was actually a bit disappointed with this check. I mean, $472 is a good check for working from home for anyone. I also received a rebate check at the end of February:

And I received another rebate check for $10.71, but I didn't scan it. I've earned $4,648.67 since joining in August. I can't wait to get my check next week for the work that I did in March-- Even though it was a very busy month for me.

OH! A lot of people have listened to my presentation and said that they are "too old" to start a business. I disagree. My mom, who turned 60 on 3/31, started her business in January. She became a Director last night. Last month, she earned a check:

No, it is not a large check, but the check she earned for last month (and will get next week) is double that. The one she will get next month will be 5x the above check. This business is all about helping people build their own organizations and earn money for their own wants and needs. I'm thrilled to help people achieve their financial goals and fulfill their dreams.

I've been on vacation with my family for a week. During that week, I helped my mom become a director (and get a $200 bonus) and have watched my team grow by five people. I am looking forward to going home tomorrow and starting my presentations again on Monday. Most of all, I cannot wait to get my check next week, which I know is going to be at least $1800.

Oh, by the way, if you are looking to earn money from home, let me know... There is a $1,000 guarantee this month and I would love to help you achieve it.

The Armchair Millionaire tally:

Amount earned: $4,648.67

Needed to earn: $995,351.33

The Proof Is In The Pudding

To all of the people that have said nasty things to me and people on my team, calling this business a scam or a hoax, saying that we would never make any money, I have a few things to show you:

Barbie's Check for January

My Check for January

Sam's Checks for January

Between the three of us, we earned $1947.65. That's just three of us on a team of 158 people.

Take that, nay-sayers.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy myself a new pair of shoes.

ARMCHAIR MILLIONAIRE TALLY

Total Earned: $4,161.53

Remaining to $1Million: $995,838.47

What Would $1000 Do for YOU This Month?

Me "walking on water" for the budget "miracles" I pull off.

I learned something important yesterday: People really do read this blog. Many of the people that read it are folks that I went to school with in the South Country School District (I graduated BHS in 1994). They read for a while, then they send me a message. Even if they don't want to join my work from home team, they send me a message. My friend, Rebecca, reads my blog and sent me such an encouraging and uplifting message a few months ago, it really kept me going and got me through a very rough time. (So, thanks for that Becky! I won't forget it-- You don't know what your words meant to me.) Two friends from school messaged me yesterday because of my blog entry, and it was really encouraging to me. Not because it means that I'll probably have another two team members by the end of the day, but because it means that I'm not talking to the wall. I put a LOT of writing out there - whether my blog or on Yahoo! Voices -- and I never really know if it means anything to anyone. The fact that people have reached out to me makes me realize that my words are not going unread. It's an awesome feeling.

I can't tell you what a great feeling it is to be able to help my old friends - even if I haven't spoken with them in years - change their financial lives just by working from home. They can work part-time or full-time, and make a real dent in their debt. Knowing that I had a hand in helping them do so is so gratifying, I can't even put it into words. Making a difference in the lives of strangers is awesome, too. Knowing that I can help people has given me a sense of purpose that I never knew that I could have.

That being said, how would $1000 change things for you this month? I've gotta tell you, this is the first month that I haven't stressed about money. Would an extra $1000 change anything in your life right now? If it would, please send me an email. I would love to help you. The $1000 is guaranteed-- You just have to follow instructions. If you're coachable and can follow directions, I can help you get that grand.

My "Why"

People get involved in work from home businesses for different reasons. I figured I would take this space to write about my reasons for choosing a work from home business, and my reasons for still going with it.

Let's start at the very beginning... It's a very good place to start. (Please tell me that there are some musical theatre buffs out there that get the reference...) Back in 2001, I moved out to Los Angeles to follow my dreams of becoming a professional actress. I wasn't up for being famous or anything like that, but I certainly wanted to act and that's it. Well, my dreams came true and I was a working actress. I did a lot of television shows and movies. I was able to survive on acting alone. I loved acting, because it was a new project every week. I didn't have the same boss, didn't work with the same people, and remained interested because things kept changing. If I didn't like working with someone, I wouldn't worry about it because I'd end on a new show a few weeks later. Believe it or not, I enjoyed the instability. I enjoyed the change. I enjoyed being a paramedic one week and a crazy neighbor the next.

When I moved from LA back to New York, I was still acting. I did theatre and a few movies. I married my husband in 2005, and had my first miscarriage in 2006. Between January 2006 and April 2007, I had five miscarriages. My husband asked me to stop acting, so I focused on a travel company that I started before we got married so that I was able to get discounts on travel. I also tried a throng of at-home businesses that i did not succeed with: Mary Kay, MonaVie, PartyLite, Pampered Chef, Aloette, Avon... The list goes on and on. Long story short, my twins were born on March 14, 2008 and I did not have a full-time job. I worked freelance writing and planning travel every now and again.

In 2009, I started focusing my travel business on destination weddings. It was so successful, that my company and I became the subject of a reality show (which is still in development), Wedding Lane with Candy Cain. At that same time, Dionne - my best friend of 20 years - started with this work from home company and tried to get me involved. Since I signed a contract with the production company that I would not endorse any companies or products, I used that for my excuse to not join Dionne. I've written about this several times throughout this blog, so I'll spare you the details.

In August 2011, I decided to get involved with the company to help Dionne with her business. She didn't have anyone on her team that was doing much of anything, so I decided to help her. That was my "why" back in August: To help my friend. When I got that first check of $839, my "why" changed.

In September, I had some things going on in my personal life. I had just finished my last wedding of the year-- 24 weddings in 2011-- and I needed a break. I started traveling back and forth to Mexico and once to Los Angeles to teach a destination wedding course that I designed for the Association of Wedding Professionals International. It was lucrative, but I was traveling a lot. I kept up the at-home business and made another check just under $800. I decided that I would focus more on doing my seminars around the world, and summplement it with the at-home business. I kept it that way for a few months.

Right around Christmas, I had a very bad experience with one of my destination wedding clients. I'm not going to give any details, except to say that it was unbelievably stressful and I was on the phone with my good friend, Christine, crying about how much I can't stand doing these weddings anymore. Something that I loved and built my business around was making me miserable. I decided that I would focus my efforts on my at-home business and do destination weddings less. Oh, I'll still do the destination weddings, but take a less directorieal role. I have a few people that work for my travel company that would love the extra income. I just need a break.

Plus, I really like this at-home business. I get to work with people that I like, and help them change their lives financially. It's a lot of fun helping people succeed and seeing the absolute joy in their eyes and hearing it in their voices when they get a nice check. The company isn't a scam, and my husband has even volunteered to talk with the people that do think it's a scam. He's a police sergeant, and he thought is was a scam in the beginning. Now, he's completely into it.

So, my "why" has changed again. I am now doing this for my children. When I reach Director VI with the company, I promised my son that I will take them to Strasburg to see the steam trains. When I reach Director VII, I promised my daughter that I would take them to Disney World. They hold me accountable and ask me about my business every single day.

I love this company and the life-changing opportunities that come with it. I'm in this one for the long haul. If you want to join my team and change your life, too, send me an email. You can earn $1000 this month - guaranteed. Let me help you change your life the way that I've changed mine.

Just to Clarify

For some reason, people have been messaging me to join my team, thinking that it is for Candy Cain Travel. This is NOT the case. I started a side business as a favor to a friend. Now I want that side business to become my primary source of income. The travel industry is SO sporadic. The income comes in waves. It's completely unstable. you don't get paid until 4 - 6 weeks AFTER people travel. Plus, why in the world would I hire people to work from home that have never been involved in the travel industry before??? It just doesn't make sense.

People have this romanticized view of the travel industry... They get to travel around the world for free, they get to plan trips for amaaaazing clients, there is no stress.... None of which is true! Yes, I travel around the world, but I WORK extremely hard. I teach people how to do destination weddings. I teach hotels how to make a profit working with American clients. I bust my butt, and I have been doing it for a long time. Ask anyone that has seen me work the travel business, and they will tell you how hard I work. So, no, I'm not hiring for Candy Cain Travel.

The side business I have is something that ANYONE can do. If you are over the age of 18 and live in the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Netherlands, Australia or New Zealand, you can join my team. I'm looking for people full-time or part-time to start immediately. I will HELP you achieve your goals. I've earned a little over $3400 in four months, very part time... I am now focusing on this full-time, and I expect a check for at least $1500 next month.

I hope to hear from you. Thanks for reading my blog!

My Story.

You may have read my story in bits and pieces throughout this blog before, but bear with my. I'm going to take this entry to write a bit about myself and my journey with working from home. I want you to understand who I am, where I come from, what I do and why I do the things I do. I'm not a complex person, really. I'm pretty much right in your face, letting you know exactly what I think. Yes, I can be loud and - dare I say it? - obnoxious at times, but only when I get annoyed. Aside from what I am when I get upset, I really am a very generous person that wants to help others. A lot of times people think that there is some sort of "catch" with me helping them, but there's not. I'm the person that will help an old lady load groceries into her car or fly across country to help a friend in distress... I bend over backwards to help people, and I often find myself getting burned. Such is the case for the successful travel and event planning business that I built from the ground up, Candy Cain Travel. I don't charge service fees, and I do whatever I can to get my cleints the best deals. Even then, they think that I am scamming them somehow, and sometimes end up booking their own trips online or something. It is outrageously frustrating. To quote Popeye, "I am whats I am and that's all that I am." (Or something like that.)

For two years, my best friend Dionne tried to get me to enroll in the work-from-home company that she was working for. In 2009, I had a reality show in development (Wedding Lane with Candy Cain) and was contractually bound not to endorse any companies or products, so I used that as my excuse. Frankly, I had enough of these work-from-home companies. I had done a throng of them and never made significant money: Aloette, Pampered Chef, MonaVie, PartyLite, Avon, Mary Kay... I tried it all and never really succeeded with them. I still have inventory and kits left over from ALL of them in my basement, which will one day find itself on eBay.  But, I digress. I didn't want to do it. 2009 wasn't the right time for me. 2010 wasn't the right for me. In July of 2011, Dionne called me and asked me if I could go to Convention with her because her mom had to cancel at the last minute for work. Since I'm a travel agent, I was able to get a ridiculously cheap ticket to Minneapolis and went. I hadn't seen my best friend in about three years, and it was our 20th anniversary. How could I have not gone?

Photo by Cassandra Mooney

So, I went. I met Dionne in Minneapolis, and I was a stick in the mud. I had a destination wedding in Mexico the week before and was still exhausted from all of the running around that I did. Plus, I just wasn't interested in the business. I was there with Dionne, who was totally gung-ho about her business, and I didn't support her the way that I should have. (Again, I'm sorry, Dionne!) I skipped out on the workshops and tooled around on my computer in the hallways, chatted with a few of the presenters, even headed back to the hotel every now and again. I did go to a few workshops, though, including one with this Corporate Director II with the company, and I liked what he had to say. Going in, I thought that this was just another Mary Kay or, even worse, Amway... Coming out, I realized that building a business didn't have to do with sales, but had everything to do with marketing. Hell, I wrote a book on marketing! I could do this business. An hour before the banquet, I enrolled.

I remember sitting around the banquet table with a bunch of strangers. They were all talking about how they had been with the company for YEARS and how the products were do fabulous... And I realized that was why they were all the way in the back of the banquet hall, not all the way up in the front. As I watched two new Corporate Directors open checks on-stage for over $160,000 each, I decided tight then that I was going to take this business to heart and FINALLY - after two stinkin' years - team up with my best friend. I advanced to Director after nine days. After eight more days (17 days total), I advanced to Director II, which catapulted Dionne to Director III. This was a major achievement, as Dionne has been sitting at Director II for over a year. My first check was $839.26, and I had spent $68.13. That was a profit of $771.13. My husband, a police sergeant, took one look at my check and said, "You'll never do that again." I was determined to prove him wrong.

The next month, my check was a little over $781, and I had spent $238 on the Value Pack plut tax and shipping. My profit was about $543. My husband saw my check and said, "You're going to jail. I don't know what you're doing, but you're going to jail.

My third month's check was $712 and change. My husband saw the check, shrugged and gave it back to me.

My fourth month's check was over $750 again. My husband looked at the check and asked, "Is there a meeting or something that I can go to with you?" He went to the Director Celebration Dinner with me as well as the January Launch. Now, he understands the business, and is helping me achieve my goals. He gets it. Some of my friends are starting to get it, too, and have begun enrolling on my team. I currently have 116 people below me, 38 of whom I have personally enrolled. Almost everyone is getting a check - more than 70% - and that really makes me feel good. People understand it. They see the business. They grow. I grow. We all win.

To come full-circle, that is what attracted me to the business: I get rewarded for helping people, which is something that I go out of my way to do, anyway. My business grows when I help others build their businesses. A perfect fit, don't you think?

I have had my fill of demanding clients that want something for nothing and just don't appreciate the hard work and effort I put into every single trip, group and wedding that I do. Not all of my clients are like that, mind you. I have a FABULOUS wedding coming up in March that I am really looking forward to. But, I have had it with being treated like some second class citizen - or worse, a thief - when I try to deal with unreasonable people that want a week-long luxury vacation for less than a weekend at a moderate hotel, then blame me for price gouging. I love, love, love the travel business, but I need a break. So, for the next three months, I am going to put everything I can into my work-from-home business and bring it to a point where I can pass on the reservation requests I receive to the travel agents that work for me, and be a bit more selective on the people that I choose to personally work with. I need the break from travel and events for a month or two, or I am going to completely self-destruct. I know myself well enough to know that I need to take a break. I can't NOT do anything for work, so I'm going to focus on working from home, and helping others to build their own businesses.

My Amazing Team

I love working from home. I do. The thought of having to go into an office and report to a boss and earn money for someone else's company without being rewarded my true worth makes me cringe.  I have a problem with authority, which I fully admit. I'm coachable, but I do not like being told what to do. I prefer suggestions and constructive criticism. That's why I never had a "real" job for longer than 6 months. I hated corporate America (and I still do), so I would leave.

When my best friend Dionne started working from home, she asked me to join her team. Not only did I want no part of it, I couldn't endorse any companies or products because I was under contract with a production company that was creating a reality show on my destination wedding business. (The show is still in development.) It took me two years to join Dionne and start building our work from home team.

Candice & Dionne at Convention

Dionne asked me to go with her to Convention-- This is a story that I've told so many times. Long story short, I liked what I saw, so I enrolled right before the awards gala. We were sitting at a table with a bunch of Canadians who pretty much didn't believe us when we told them that I literally enrolled an hour before the banquet. That was in August. Dionne was a Director II at Banquet, and I was just labeled "customer." In a month, Dionne jumped to Director III and I was Director II. Three months later, Dionne became a Director IV and I had already achieved Director III.

We would not have been able to build our business without our amazing team. There are 95 active people on my team. The majority of them are moms that want to stay at home with their kids, and this company offers a way to do so without investing any "new" money, except for a one-time enrollment fee-- Which, by the way, is usually just $29, but now it is $1 until 1/18. Our team is spread all over the USA and Canada, and I have the ability to enroll people in Austraila, New Zealand, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom and Ireland.

Thanks to the internet, we are all able to keep in touch and keep each other motivated. It is so, so easy to fall into the trap of saying you're going to do something and not doing it because no one holds you accountable. Dionne and I have established a FaceBook group where everyone can post and chat, not to mention a Chatzy chatroom where we hold each other accountable. We want to build our business and help the people on our team build THEIR businesses, too. When people on our team succeed, WE succeed.

Sam & Candice, the night Sam decided to join.

What is cool about my team (if I do say so myself) is that EVERYONE helps everyone else. For example, Barbie is enrolled under Samantha. Barbie couldn't get in touch with Sam to enroll Christen. I saw her post in the FaceBook group, so I called her and conferenced in Christen. I explained everything to Christen and she ended up enrolling under Barbie. (By the way, I didn't enroll Sam... Dionne did and placed her on my team because I did the presentation for her.) People are scattered absolutely everywhere, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Team members can meet each other at the different Melaleuca-sponsored events, which is awesome. I just recently started adding people to my team that live locally. It doesn't matter if they are next door or in Austraila, everyone is connected and willing to offer help to others on the team.

I am very proud to be a part of this team, which we have dubbed "Armchair Millionaires." I am very excited to work with others that, like me, want to establish a lucrative business working from home. Finally, I am more than happy to welcome anyone else on our team that wants to join. If you would like to join our team, just shoot me an email to CandyCain(at)wedeliverwellness.com.

Anyone can do it. Everyone can succeed. It is your choice or not whether you want to open the door to the opportunity that is knocking.

My Epiphany

I figured out what my problem is with this business. I see that it is a simple business. I see how it works. I see the income potential. I have deposited nice checks into my bank account. I enjoy what I do. I know how to network. I know how to approach people. It is a simple, simple busines, and I am really excited about it.
So, what is my problem? My problem is that I see everything. I automatically assume that others can see the same things that I do and share in my excitement. Then I get frustrated when they don't get it or aren't excited. My problem is that I am so over-excited about this business that I scare people away. I just want everyone to see what this business is, get excited about it, and succeed.

I hate getting the objections, but that is a part of the business. And the cancellations from the people that I have enrolled on my team are part of the business, too. I have enrolled 51 people since I joined on August 7. FIFTY-ONE!!! Of those 51, 17 have cancelled so far and I believe at least three more will be cancelling next month. Still, I have 34 people that I personally enrolled onto my team, and a total of 89 people on my team. There are going to be cancellations. One of the training CDs that I listened to compares the business to driving. If you park your car, you aren't going to get any exhaust. If you drive slowly, you're going to get a little exhaust. If you put it into high gear, you are going to have a lot of exhaust. You can't worry about the exhaust, but just focus on the road in front of you. That's some advice that I really, really need.

The business is a simple one: You enroll people, you shop for your own products, you earn money.  Is it easy to get people to enroll? Not necessarily. A lot of people think that it is a scam, and it's not. A lot of people overthink the business, which is silly because it is such a simple concept. Many people approach the business as a sales job, which is TOTALLY wrong. A lot of people get frustrated when they get objections. Objections are a part of this business, as are cancellations. You just can't get discouraged.

My epiphany? I need to take my own advice.

ARMCHAIR MILLIONAIRE TALLY:

GOAL: $1,000,000.00

TOTAL EARNED: $3,095.58

REMAINDER UNTIL GOAL: $996,904.42

MY Business, MY Terms!

I hate when people try to shove things down my throat about things I "have to" and "don't have to" do. When I started this business, it cost me $1 to enroll, plus 9 cents for tax. I went shopping for $67.04. My total money spent my first month came to $68.13 and my check was $839.26. With the $67.04, I bought some hand soap, dog shampoo (which reminds me, my stinky chihuahua totally needs a bath), crackers, toothpaste, foot spray and a couple of other grocery items. The second month, I spent $238.06 and earned $754 and change. The third month, I spent $71 and change, and made $712. The fourth month, I spent $62 and earned $862. I have earned $3,095.56 and have spent under $450. My profit so far with this company is over $2645, if you include what I spent on shopping for my own items.

I like this business because it is so simple: Refer friends and earn money. Enroll them as either customers or as business builders, and you earn money. Of course, enrolling business builders is more desireable simply because business builders that you enroll help your business grow. Customers are great, too, because that is residual income ALL of the time.

The ladder of success with this company is a simple concept. "All you have to do" is achieve the following rungs to achieve success:

1) Enroll 8 people. You will earn a minimum bonus of $100. You have achieved the rank of Director.
2) Enroll a minimum of 10 people, and have 10 others below you that either you or someone else enrolled. You will earn a minimum bonus of $200. You have achieved the rank of Director II.
3) Help someone you enrolled become a Director. You will earn a minimum bonus of $300. You have achieved the rank of Director III.
4) Help four others you enrolled become a Director. You will have earned a minimum of $6,600 in bonuses while developing these directors. You have achieved the rank of Senior Director. Congratulations! You have qualified for a $400/month car bonus!

That is the first ladder that I am climbing. Right now, I am in-between rungs three and four. It gets SO frustrating that people don't understand this business. The first rung of the ladder is to become a director and enroll eight people. That's it. I enrolled eight people in nine days. (I actually enrolled 23 people in 17 days, and double advanced to Director II in my first month.) One of the people that I developed to director stopped working her business because she decided to open her own baking business. Three people cancelled, dropping her to Marketing Executive IV. She cancelled. I get it.

Someone else that I enrolled and helped get to Director last month had two people cancel, dropping her back down to Marketing Executive IV. It seems to me that she has given up trying this month, which is SO frustrating to me. I know that she'll make Director again, but I really need to get someone to Director by the end of this month. (How about YOU? Would YOU like to work from home?)

I can't MAKE people want to build their business. I can't MAKE them want to earn money. It is unbelievably frustrating, since there is such a simple formula to make money from home: Enroll friends; shop for your own products; earn money, repeat. It isn't rocket science. It's a simple formula to make money from home.

Yet, people do not seem to grasp the idea. They overthink it. They over-analyze it. They think it's too good to be true. They won't try. Why not?? Can someone PLEASE tell me why it is so difficult to grasp and follow this concept? YARGH.

The items that the company sells are products that people would buy in the store ANYWAY... Shampoo, deodorant, conditioner, soap, laundry detergent... It's not like having to lay out extra money for an inventory or for products you wouldn't normally use. You are just switching stores. The products are better quality, all-natural and less expensive. I don't get it.

When I did Mary Kay, I was told that I HAD to purchase a minimum of $200 every two months as an inventory. I HAD to do skin care classes and parties and whatever. My Unit Director was ordering inventory for everyone and sending it to herself so that she could keep her title. It was awful. I haven't sold Mary Kay in two years, and I still have products that I'm listing on eBay.

When I did PartyLite, I HAD to buy a $199 kit with all sorts of products in it. I HAD to have parties. I HAD to meet a quota. I hate selling, so what was the point of me even trying this business? And I still have PartyLite products that I'm listing on eBay.

The same story went for Avon, Aloette, Pampered Chef and MonaVie. I was DONE with these businesses, so I started my own travel & event planning business, Candy Cain Travel. I didn't want to go work for someone else, so I started my own business. When I started with this work from home company in August (2011), I was skeptical. But I've made just under $3100 in four months. It is residual income that I can count on. I get it. Why doesn't anyone else???

Change Your Life For $1

I haven't written in a while, and I'm sorry. I have been outrageously busy this month with traveling, getting ready for the holidays, working with new people, trying to help others with their business, growing my own, etc. You get the idea. UNBELIEVABLE busy, and my blog is what has suffered. Sorry about that. I'll try to be better.

First and foremost, I made Director III this month. I'm so excited! With that came a $600 bonus, which is being paid out in three monthly installments. My check was over $700. Take a look:

So, that brings my total to $2,271.87 since August 7 of this year. That averages to over $750 per month. Not too shabby, if you're asking me-- Especially since this is something that I am still doing on a part-time basis. I don't have the ability to do it full-time at the moment, but I hope to in 2013. (2012 is riddled with seminars, destination weddings and conferences all over the world.)

It is usually $29 to join my team. Until November 30, it is a mere $1. You enroll, confirm, and go shopping for products you would buy at the grocery store anyway. Oh, did I mention that you are guaranteed $500 if you enroll eight (8) people by the end of the month? Yeah, you heard me. $500 guaranteed for enrolling eight people that confirm and shop, too.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I am thankful that I joined my best friend, Dionne, and started this side business. This is a major roller coaster ride with all of the ups and downs, but it is also a lot of fun. Email me if you'd like to get on the ride, too. And, hey, it's a buck until the 30th.

ARMCHAIR MILLIONAIRE TALLY:

GOAL: $1,000,000

EARNED: $2,271.87

TOTAL NEEDED UNTIL GOAL: $997,728.13

That's Why it's Called WORK From Home, People...

I apologize for not writing for a few weeks. Things have been so stinkin' busy here with my "real" job. I've been traveling quite a bit this month. As a matter of fact, I went to Denver / Cheyenne this week and became a Gold Member with American Airlines. Considering that this was on my "Bucket List,"I am totally thrilled. I can't wait to put my elite status to use when I fly next.

I must admit, I have gotten a little frustrated with my WORK from home team. Notice I write "WORK" in all capital letters. That's because there are so many people on my WORK from home team that forget that they have to WORK in order to make money. These people get frustrated when they "only" get small checks based on the WORK that I have done. (Yes, work that I have done, as everyone on my team has the opportunity to earn commissions from the people placed below them in the organizational tree.) Most of the people that I have personally enrolled have earned some sort of check, even if it is just $2. However, they do not understand that their checks will be a lot bigger if they actually did some WORK themselves.

I've given the instructions. I've held hands with people. I've pretty much done the WORK for them, yet they still don't understand that they still have to do something in order to earn money. It isn' a welfare system where you don't do anything and get checks sent to you. Sheesh.

The problem is that I want this change for me and my family. I own a very successful travel agency, but it has a lot of headaches. I'm not going to lie-- There are some days where I wish I didn't have the agency at all. Should this business keep going well, I'm going to close my business and do it full time.

I can't make people want to change their lives for the better. I can give them the opportunity, the tools and the instruction, but I certainly can't give them the drive. They have to get that themselves and want to change their lives for the better.

My best friend said, "You can either make money or you can make excuses, but you can't make both." Words to live by. If you want to change your life for the better, I can help you. I will help you. but, if you don't want to WORK towards changing your life, find someone else's business.