Starting a business—for many people, it’s a dream that they hope to make a reality. One route that people with a talent for entrepreneurial thinking take is working for a firm that employs multi-level marketing in its model. MLMs, or network marketing firms, are seeing a boom as people of every generation seek a variety of things: greater flexibility, earning potential and company missions that resonate.
Whether someone is looking for a side gig to supplement income or a long-term career, the opportunities and support that building a business through an established company provides is attractive. And, as always, Haworth College of Business alumni are seizing these opportunities and making the most of them.
Glenn Schrauben, B.S.’07, M.S.A.’11, Malena (Remynse) Schrauben, B.S.’07, M.A.’09, Isagenix
Glenn and Malena Schrauben
For Glenn and Malena Schrauben, selling Isagenix products was the perfect fit. Like many who start in a MLM firm, they loved the products as consumers first, eventually taking the next step and becoming part of the Isagenix network. The Schraubens describe themselves as “health and wellness innovators” and provide their clients with products centered around five pillars: health and nutrition, weight wellness, energy, performance, and healthy aging and skincare.
The Schraubens, who have reached the executive rank within the company, were drawn to Isagenix because top leaders in the company have years of experience in direct sales, largely from being in the field.
For anyone thinking of an opportunity in an MLM, the couple recommends doing extensive research. “Join a company that is well-established,” says Glenn Schrauben. “Ensure senior leadership has been in the industry at multiple levels, not just the executive level. Make sure the products you will be sharing are products you enjoy, can stand behind and will weather economic ebbs and flows.”
The Schraubens have many resources at their disposal for training and marketing their business. This support from the parent company has been helpful to the duo throughout their entrepreneurial journey, especially when they first started.
The couple kept their initial expectations conservative, not knowing where this business would go, and they recommend patience for those looking at network marketing opportunities. “Realize that you should not expect immediate gratification. It takes time to build a team, develop a steady income and to perfect the craft.”
Friend or follow Malena and Glenn on Facebook
Christa Lee, B.B.A.’04, Younique
Lee
The mission of Younique as an organization that uplifts, empowers and validates women and drives a portion of profits into a charitable foundation that provides a healing retreat for women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse is what drew Christa Lee to the company. The mission spoke to her spirit, and the model catered to her desire for unlimited earning and advancement potential.
Leading a team of 10,000 consultants as a Younique presenter, Lee has a simple tenant for her business, “Care more about the paychecks of those working for you than your own, and your business will bloom.” And her business is a case in point. “What we do at Younique is servant leadership. I always think, ‘What can I do for my team? How can I provide positive feedback that will help them build their businesses?’ I believe strongly that managers often become too focused on what’s going wrong or lacking, rather than building on strengths first. The concept of building others up is very much in line with what Younique is about—building women up and not tearing them down.”
Lee is a black status presenter, the highest level within the company, and is a featured speaker at Younique’s 2018 national convention. Having her own business has allowed Lee to have the freedom to work when she wants and where she wants, which allows her incredible flexibility in her work life.
Lee always knew she was destined to do something different with her life and take the road less traveled. She didn’t know how she would become an entrepreneur but she was confident that she would one day own her own business and be her own boss, and her skills from the college have helped provide great building blocks for the endeavor.
Her advice to others thinking about starting in network marketing?
- You will get out what you put into the business. There is no finish line in this business; you can always take things to the next level.
- Don’t overthink things. We all learn as we go, and mistakes will happen and will help you grow.
- Be authentic, especially in social media promotions. People want to see someone who they can relate to as well as a great product—it’s ok to be real and let your vulnerabilities show.
- If you are thinking about network marketing, try it.
Lee recently made Younique her full-time job, and is enjoying every minute.
Learn more about her business at:
- Website: www.youniquebychristalee.com
Heather Nickerson B.B.A.’08, LuLaRoe
Nickerson and family
Heather Nickerson started her business in November of 2015. At the time, she was working remotely for a company in Seattle but living in northern Michigan. She would travel for work every four to six weeks, but between those times, she was at her house, glued to the phone and computer, by herself. “I decided I needed to get out of the house and meet people in the community, so I started with LuLaRoe as a way to connect,” says Nickerson. “I quickly realized how passionate I was about this business when I helped my first few customers try on clothes, and they left beaming and feeling so confident in themselves.”
From there, it has been a quick ascent to the top for Nickerson who never thought she would have a business of her own. Here are just a few milestones she has reached.
- She left her full-time job five months after starting her business. Well on her way to earning the six-figure income she had with her day job, she realized that she could make the business her full-time occupation while also being able to take her children out of day care and be with them every day.
- Less than a year and a half in to the business, she and her husband were able to pay off all debt (not including their mortgage) … student loans, a home remodel loan, credit cards. Soon after, the couple was able to buy their dream home.
- In May 2018, Nickerson’s husband left his job to help grow the business, giving the couple more time to spend with their children, making memories as a family.
“If there is one thing I have learned through this business, is not to set your goals low,” says Nickerson. “All the things we have achieved were ‘farfetched’ dreams of ours in the beginning, just two and a half years ago.” The freedom that has resulted from Nickerson’s LuLaRoe enterprise is something that she never imagined.
Nicole Wildeman, B.B.A.’06, Beachbody
Wildeman
When Nicole Wildeman started her own health and fitness journey three and a half years ago with Beachbody, she had incredible results. Her own experience led her to want to help others with their health goals, which is why she joined the Beachbody organization.
“Providing, at-home health and fitness solutions, nutrition planning and daily accountability is the focus of my business,” she says. “I was very nervous to put my own results out there, but I was also excited that I found a solution to make health and fitness work in a busy mom lifestyle and wanted to help others do the same.”
Today, Wildeman is full-time with Beachbody and setting her sights on achieving performance goals within the organization.
She notes that it is easy for life to “get in the way” both in terms of health and fitness and in terms of goal setting with an MLM organization. Her advice? “Passion and daily commitment are vital to the success of your business. Small activities you do every day can add up to reaching amazing heights, but you have to believe in your mission and let it drive you. If you aren’t 100% behind what you are doing, it can be easy to get sidetracked.”
Communication, relationship building and general business knowledge gained at the Haworth College of Business aided all these alumni in their success, along with a willingness to try and persist.